Verse 13: Then Haggai, the Lord's messenger, gave this message of the Lord to the people: "I am with you," declares the Lord.
Four small words that mean so much... I am with you.
These words can be scary and comforting at the same time.
We go places in life that we should not go and do things we should not do... and God is with us there, which is scary. I'm sure, if we really think about it, we have all taken God places that we are ashamed of.
We have great moments, days when we are at our best, when we graduate or get a promotion... and God is there.
Then we have moments when life throws us a curveball and we are overcome with anxiety... and those are the times we need God the most... and God is there.
A great philosopher once said "wherever you go, there you are" ... and God is with you.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Zephaniah 3
Verse 11-12: "I will remove from you your arrogant boasters... But I will leave within you the meek and humble."
I was watching the Celebrity Apprentice a couple weeks and one of the contestants called another contestant meek. It didn't go over well, the contestant apologized and said it was a poor choice of words.
Why do we think that being called meek is a criticism when it is a quality that God admires?
I looked up the definition for the word meek:(Merriam-Webster.com)
1. enduring injury with patience and without resentment.
2. deficient in spirit or courage.
3. not violent or strong.
For the purpose of this blog I prefer definition #1. I think that is the definition that rings true to the biblical use of the word. However, I think when the word is used in America today definition #2 would be more appropriate.
Sometimes things don't go our way and stresses pile up. It's easy to lose patience and begin resenting everything that is causing us stress. It's easy to resent God, if you want a reason you don't have to look very far.
I have a friend that has been battling a very serious form of cancer for 18 months. There were many times when things got very scary and real, times when there were more questions than answers. It would have been easy to lose hope, easy to lose faith, easy to become resentful. Now, it seems that she is well on the road to recovery. I would be lying if I didn't think her recovery had something to with her attitude.
It takes strength to to be patient and to not become resentful.
It takes strength to be meek.
I was watching the Celebrity Apprentice a couple weeks and one of the contestants called another contestant meek. It didn't go over well, the contestant apologized and said it was a poor choice of words.
Why do we think that being called meek is a criticism when it is a quality that God admires?
I looked up the definition for the word meek:(Merriam-Webster.com)
1. enduring injury with patience and without resentment.
2. deficient in spirit or courage.
3. not violent or strong.
For the purpose of this blog I prefer definition #1. I think that is the definition that rings true to the biblical use of the word. However, I think when the word is used in America today definition #2 would be more appropriate.
Sometimes things don't go our way and stresses pile up. It's easy to lose patience and begin resenting everything that is causing us stress. It's easy to resent God, if you want a reason you don't have to look very far.
I have a friend that has been battling a very serious form of cancer for 18 months. There were many times when things got very scary and real, times when there were more questions than answers. It would have been easy to lose hope, easy to lose faith, easy to become resentful. Now, it seems that she is well on the road to recovery. I would be lying if I didn't think her recovery had something to with her attitude.
It takes strength to to be patient and to not become resentful.
It takes strength to be meek.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Zephaniah 2
Zephaniah writes that God will destroy more lands, including Moab and Ammon. In verse 10 he tells us why "This is what they will get in return for their pride, for insulting and mocking the people of the Lord Almighty."
They will be destroyed because of their pride and because they insult and mock God's people.
Have you ever made fun of someone? Have you ever mocked someone? I have.
Am I proud? Do I enjoy being better than others at certain things? Yep.
Do I deserve to be wiped off the earth? Probably.
Do I deserve to be loved by God or anyone else? Probably not.
Do I show God enough gratitude for all the blessings I have? Not a chance.
Is this blog just going to be a bunch of questions? I think so.
They will be destroyed because of their pride and because they insult and mock God's people.
Have you ever made fun of someone? Have you ever mocked someone? I have.
Am I proud? Do I enjoy being better than others at certain things? Yep.
Do I deserve to be wiped off the earth? Probably.
Do I deserve to be loved by God or anyone else? Probably not.
Do I show God enough gratitude for all the blessings I have? Not a chance.
Is this blog just going to be a bunch of questions? I think so.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Zephaniah 1
Zephaniah writes that God is going to destroy the world.
In verse 2 he writes "I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth."
In verse 17 he writes "I will bring such distress on all people... Their blood will be poured out like dust."
Scary words, but this never happened... We are still here.
So did God bluff?
I think God, compelled by love, changed plans. Instead of sweeping everything away from the face of the earth, He came to earth to live amongst us. Instead of getting rid of us, God joined us.
Instead of pouring out our blood, Jesus poured out his blood... In place of ours.
But we still become dust. Last night we had our Ash Wednesday service and were reminded that we are dust and to dust we shall return. Each and every person alive has one thing in common, we are all going to die. We will all be swept off the face of the earth someday.
But that's ok, because we can leave our bodies behind when leave this world... We won't need them anymore. We won't have any use for the cancers and pains that settle in these imperfect piles of skin and bones.
God will give us new life. A life free from pain and sorrow, from greed and guilt, from debt and death.
A life of joy.
We need not fear the broom when it sweeps toward us.
In verse 2 he writes "I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth."
In verse 17 he writes "I will bring such distress on all people... Their blood will be poured out like dust."
Scary words, but this never happened... We are still here.
So did God bluff?
I think God, compelled by love, changed plans. Instead of sweeping everything away from the face of the earth, He came to earth to live amongst us. Instead of getting rid of us, God joined us.
Instead of pouring out our blood, Jesus poured out his blood... In place of ours.
But we still become dust. Last night we had our Ash Wednesday service and were reminded that we are dust and to dust we shall return. Each and every person alive has one thing in common, we are all going to die. We will all be swept off the face of the earth someday.
But that's ok, because we can leave our bodies behind when leave this world... We won't need them anymore. We won't have any use for the cancers and pains that settle in these imperfect piles of skin and bones.
God will give us new life. A life free from pain and sorrow, from greed and guilt, from debt and death.
A life of joy.
We need not fear the broom when it sweeps toward us.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Jude
Verse 22: "Be merciful to those who doubt."
I was talking to a friend last week about faith. This is a friend from outside the church that I've known since before I became a pastor. I asked him why he didn't go to church. He gave the usual response, he is busy and lazy and blah blah blah...
I followed by saying "so it has nothing to do with faith, you just have better things to do on a Sunday?"
He said "Well, I have a hard time believing, and not to offend you, but I have always thought faith was for kind of weak-minded people."
I told him that he hadn't offended me and that, I believe, the only weak-minded people are those who have stopped struggling with the mysteries of the universe. I challenged him to keep struggling with it and not to give up just because he doesn't understand. Then I confessed that I don't really understand either.
And that's ok.
Faith is not something we figure out, it is something we experience. The story we tell is a hard one to believe.
- God spoke and the world appeared. (I can do that with pizza, but it takes 30 minutes)
- The Red Sea parted for Moses. (Even if the sea parted, wouldn't everyone get stuck in the mud at the bottom of the sea?)
- Jesus was born of a virgin. (Joseph isn't the only to question that.)
- Jesus died and was raised from the dead and we are all forgiven of our sins. (Talk about a productive three day weekend.)
It is a hard story to believe, so it is understandable that people have trouble believing. This text urges us to show mercy to those who doubt instead of condemning them to hell.
I believe in God because I have experienced God, mostly through the love of others. We cannot tell the story in such a way that it makes perfect sense, but we can love.
Maybe someone will meet Jesus when they met you.
I was talking to a friend last week about faith. This is a friend from outside the church that I've known since before I became a pastor. I asked him why he didn't go to church. He gave the usual response, he is busy and lazy and blah blah blah...
I followed by saying "so it has nothing to do with faith, you just have better things to do on a Sunday?"
He said "Well, I have a hard time believing, and not to offend you, but I have always thought faith was for kind of weak-minded people."
I told him that he hadn't offended me and that, I believe, the only weak-minded people are those who have stopped struggling with the mysteries of the universe. I challenged him to keep struggling with it and not to give up just because he doesn't understand. Then I confessed that I don't really understand either.
And that's ok.
Faith is not something we figure out, it is something we experience. The story we tell is a hard one to believe.
- God spoke and the world appeared. (I can do that with pizza, but it takes 30 minutes)
- The Red Sea parted for Moses. (Even if the sea parted, wouldn't everyone get stuck in the mud at the bottom of the sea?)
- Jesus was born of a virgin. (Joseph isn't the only to question that.)
- Jesus died and was raised from the dead and we are all forgiven of our sins. (Talk about a productive three day weekend.)
It is a hard story to believe, so it is understandable that people have trouble believing. This text urges us to show mercy to those who doubt instead of condemning them to hell.
I believe in God because I have experienced God, mostly through the love of others. We cannot tell the story in such a way that it makes perfect sense, but we can love.
Maybe someone will meet Jesus when they met you.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Six truths about Jesus: Truth #6 - Jesus crosses cultural boundaries
In John chapter 4 Jesus talks to a woman at a well. At first glance this doesn't seem like that big of a deal, but it is.
She was a woman. Men were not supposed to speak to women in public. Especially a Rabbi, which is what many people considered Jesus to be.
She was a Samaritan. Samaritans were considered half-Jews and looked down upon by the "real Jews." They were Jews that had inter-married with foreigners, they were second class citizens.
She was at the well in the middle of the day, when it was hot. No one went to the well when it was hot, she was there then so that no one would see her because she had a reputation. She was adulterous, she had many husbands and was now living with someone else.
So here is Jesus, talking to a woman with a past, a woman that was a "second class" citizen, and he is offering her new life.
I have a friend that I have invited to church on a number of occasions and have gotten the same response, "if I walk through the door the place would catch on fire." No, you are the one that Jesus wants to talk to. You are the one that Jesus wants to love. You are the sheep that the shepherd has been chasing for years.
No matter who you are, no matter what you've done, Jesus wants you.
Just because Christians can be self-righteous, judgmental hypocrites doesn't mean Jesus is.
Jesus is waiting for you.
She was a woman. Men were not supposed to speak to women in public. Especially a Rabbi, which is what many people considered Jesus to be.
She was a Samaritan. Samaritans were considered half-Jews and looked down upon by the "real Jews." They were Jews that had inter-married with foreigners, they were second class citizens.
She was at the well in the middle of the day, when it was hot. No one went to the well when it was hot, she was there then so that no one would see her because she had a reputation. She was adulterous, she had many husbands and was now living with someone else.
So here is Jesus, talking to a woman with a past, a woman that was a "second class" citizen, and he is offering her new life.
I have a friend that I have invited to church on a number of occasions and have gotten the same response, "if I walk through the door the place would catch on fire." No, you are the one that Jesus wants to talk to. You are the one that Jesus wants to love. You are the sheep that the shepherd has been chasing for years.
No matter who you are, no matter what you've done, Jesus wants you.
Just because Christians can be self-righteous, judgmental hypocrites doesn't mean Jesus is.
Jesus is waiting for you.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Six truths abou Jesus: Truth #5 - Jesus is not impressed with religious people
In Mark 12 Jesus said "Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and they have important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely."
In Matthew 23 Jesus also said "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are."
In these two verses Jesus tells the religious leaders of the day that they are a "child of hell" and that they will be "punished most severely."
There are some things that Jesus said that we can debate over whether we are to take literally or not, like when he said to put a millstone around our neck and throw oursleves in the middle of the sea... but this is pretty hard to debate. Jesus is simply not a fan of the religious people in the gospels.
Does Jesus like us?
To answer that we have to look at why Jesus didn't like the Pharisees and teachers of the law. They were all about self glorification. They like sitting in places of honor and being treated with respect, being a Pharisee was a pretty good gig. They had the best education and made a good living. They wore special clothes and people really believed what they said... They had a place of power, prestige, and influence... and like most humans would do, they abused their power, but they did it in the name of God.
I'm finding more and more that being a pastor means that I get to sit in some honorable places. Last week I attended a luncheon with the mayors of both Dallas and Fort Worth. Next week I will meet with the mayor of Southlake because I am a member of his advisory committee... I have special access to important politicians. Is Jesus talking about me?
On Tuesday I gave the prayer of invocation at the Southlake City Council meeting. There were a couple hundred people there so I gave a really good prayer, hoping that because my prayer was so awesome people would come to Abiding Grace, because we are awesome too! Is Jesus talking about me?
Being a pastor is a scary job. People look to me for my advice, thinking that it is coming from God. The problem is that sometimes my ego jumps in too.
What does God want from religious leaders?
That is a good question and I think I know part of the answer. God wants religious leaders to spread the message of love, which is shown most beautifully on the cross. God wants us to challenge people to live a more loving life, a life of service not of self-glorification. God wants us to check our egos at the door and work for the glorification of God and the kingdom of Heaven.
God wants us to be more like Jesus...
Lord knows I'm trying, because I don't want to be punished most severely.
In Matthew 23 Jesus also said "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are."
In these two verses Jesus tells the religious leaders of the day that they are a "child of hell" and that they will be "punished most severely."
There are some things that Jesus said that we can debate over whether we are to take literally or not, like when he said to put a millstone around our neck and throw oursleves in the middle of the sea... but this is pretty hard to debate. Jesus is simply not a fan of the religious people in the gospels.
Does Jesus like us?
To answer that we have to look at why Jesus didn't like the Pharisees and teachers of the law. They were all about self glorification. They like sitting in places of honor and being treated with respect, being a Pharisee was a pretty good gig. They had the best education and made a good living. They wore special clothes and people really believed what they said... They had a place of power, prestige, and influence... and like most humans would do, they abused their power, but they did it in the name of God.
I'm finding more and more that being a pastor means that I get to sit in some honorable places. Last week I attended a luncheon with the mayors of both Dallas and Fort Worth. Next week I will meet with the mayor of Southlake because I am a member of his advisory committee... I have special access to important politicians. Is Jesus talking about me?
On Tuesday I gave the prayer of invocation at the Southlake City Council meeting. There were a couple hundred people there so I gave a really good prayer, hoping that because my prayer was so awesome people would come to Abiding Grace, because we are awesome too! Is Jesus talking about me?
Being a pastor is a scary job. People look to me for my advice, thinking that it is coming from God. The problem is that sometimes my ego jumps in too.
What does God want from religious leaders?
That is a good question and I think I know part of the answer. God wants religious leaders to spread the message of love, which is shown most beautifully on the cross. God wants us to challenge people to live a more loving life, a life of service not of self-glorification. God wants us to check our egos at the door and work for the glorification of God and the kingdom of Heaven.
God wants us to be more like Jesus...
Lord knows I'm trying, because I don't want to be punished most severely.
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