The Moment of Impact

Have you ever felt the oppressive weight of guilt that accompanies sin? Have you lain awake in bed wondering why you made the choice that you made and feeling that gnawing feeling that follows a departure from the will of God? As I was sitting in church this morning, the preacher mentioned the fact that Jesus was born and was without sin and died as a result of taking our sins upon himself. This may not be news to anyone reading this, but I hope that the feeling that it prompted in me casts a new light on this event for you. Let's refer back to the feeling of guilt that comes from our sinful decisions. Let's apply it to the story of Jesus. We know that one of the great causes for pain in Jesus was the spiritual separation from his Father in Heaven. Let's think, however, about the physical, human existence that Jesus led. We know he had hunger, we know that he had tears, we know he felt alone. What about guilt? Did this man who had done nothing to deserve our guilt get hit with the guilt that rightly belongs to all of a sinful mankind? Can you imagine that terrible feeling after you know you have done wrong multiplied endlessly and then bearing that weight of all those feelings you never deserved. We as sinful beings have no trouble earning our guilty feelings. Jesus did not follow this path. He took those feelings from us and bore them on the cross. On this week before Christmas, when the beginning of the sacrifice takes place, think about the mind of Jesus as he was tortured and killed. That mind may have been weighed down by the lie that you told, or the sinful way you talked to your family, or a whole world of sin that flashed through his mind. Yes, sin separated us from God, and it separates us from God as well, but think about all of the guilt of the world's sins being included in that misery. Do not take your sin lightly as the guilt attached to it is shared by one who is far greater than yourself. He did not deserve your sin, but he took it because He loves you. Know this and let it impact the choices that you make.

What Are You Looking For?

This morning I set my alarm and got up at 6 in order to attend a missions group meeting at 6:30. I placed my trust in my GPS and as I headed out into the rain I was pleased with the idea that I would be on time. I had never been to the restaurant before, but had seen a restaurant that shared the same name, so my mental image of what I was looking for planted itself firmly in my mind. It turns out that all restaurants named Peppermill do not look entirely the same. My GPS found the restaurant and directed me exactly where to go. When I arrived where it told me to go, I did not see the restaurant. At this point, my faith in my GPS began to fade and I assumed that somehow it had malfunctioned and I continued to drive in circles, muttering under my breath at the failed nature of technology. I spent the next 10 minutes driving in circles, hoping and actually praying that I would stumble across the right place. All this time, my GPS kept telling me to make a U turn, take a left, take a right, or do anything that would get me back to my original destination. Running out of options, I decided that I would once again entrust myself to the guidance of the GPS. I followed the arrows as it urgently directed me back to where I did not see the restaurant that I had pictured in my head. This time, my mind began to explore the possibility that the thing I had expected to find was different than what I was intended to find. I followed the GPS and eventually saw that the restaurant that I expected to be bold and blazing in it's advertisement of itself was tucked away neatly in the corner of a strip mall. My faith in my GPS was restored, and although I was late for the meeting, I had made it after all. How many times in our lives do we look at the signposts and expect that we know exactly what we are looking for? We stubbornly pursue the wrong direction and ignore guidance from the One who know where we have been and where we are going. (I know, it is a little trite to compare God to a GPS, but I am doing it either way:) We often take the wrong turn, sometimes unplug ourselves from the direction of our Guide and stubbornly press on in the absolute wrong direction. Our end goals may be wealth, status, friends, travel,sports or any other thing that we picture in our minds as the culmination of our journey. Know this, that a path has been chosen for you, the markings and arrows make it very clear where your destination lies. There is a plan for you. There is a destination for you. Don't waste time driving in spiritual circles, leaning on your own understanding, ignoring the blinking arrows that point you back to the right path. Trust that God is taking you where you need to go, and get rid of the distractions and misinformation that steer you away from His path. God, help us to focus on where you want to take us, and when we try to lean on our own understanding, be gentle in bringing us back to Your path.

The Certainty of God's Plan

The story of Esther is one of my favorite Bible stories. It has all of the elements that any good story should have. It has rags to riches, government oppression, political intrigue, murder plots, hangings, and the eventual rescue of a whole race of persecuted people. The part of the story that really intrigues me is in CH. 4 v. 14. Mordecai is asking his niece to stand up for the Jewish people in risking her life to seek an audience with her king. He warns her that she must intervene on behalf of her people, and eventually her people are spared, but a different aspect of this story jumped out at me from verse 14. Mordecai's request went something like this. "Listen, Esther, I know that you have access to the king. I also know that Haman wants to kill all of our people. I also know that God has promised our people that we will survive this, but my question to you is do you want to get on board? Oh yeah, by the way, Esther, if you do not help, Haman will kill you and all your family but the Jewish people will be saved either way. Mordecai knew that Esther was strategically placed to help deliver the Jewish people, but he also knew that God would deliver His people either way. This assurance came from the promise that God had given Abraham regarding his people numbering like the sand in the sea and being the line of the Messiah. Mordecai grabbed ahold of this promise and knew that no matter what, the Jewish people would be spared because if they were not, then God's plan would have failed. Mordecai just had to tell Esther to hop on board in the fulfillment of that plan. She could have ignored the welfare of her people and God would have saved them either way. He would not have saved her and her family though. She had a choice to make, follow God's will or face death. We have the same choices to make in our daily lives. God's plan is going to happen. God does not necessarily need us in order for this plan to work out. God offers us a spot on board. We may not know where this train is going, how many hills or snowdrifts that we may climb up or plow through, but we can be assured that God's plan will be fulfilled. Make the decision each and every day to find out God's plan and follow it. If you don't see a destination sign posted at the station, read the Bible, it will help you know what God's plan is for you. Pray that God will give you clarity on His plan, but know that whether we see our destination or not, God is placing us in the position we need to be in, and we need to move in the direction He wants us to go.

I Would Officially Like to Invite you to Walk on Water

If you were to ask the average person, which individual in the Bible walked on water, most people would tell you that it was Jesus. Although this is a pretty cool feat, it pales in comparison to some of the other miracles such as raising the dead and casting out evil spirits. What are we supposed to get out of this miracle other than reinforcing what many people already believe about Jesus? It is my opinion that none of the miracles in the New Testament are meant as bragging points for Jesus or as mere displays of his power, so there must be a deeper meaning in this. The most impulsive and irrational of Jesus' disciples saw Jesus walking on water and asked, "do you want me to come to you?" This is the same Peter who cut off a soldiers ear and who swore that he would not deny Christ, yet did it 3 times. Acting before thinking was not abnormal for Peter. I can envision his rush of loyalty, or love, or even belief that carried first one leg and then the other over the side of the boat as the balls of his feet touched water, not knowing what sensation would come next, but believing that Jesus would be there for him. I can see Peter focusing on the face of Jesus and boldly taking the first couple steps. I then hear the crashing of waves, and the spray of sea foam and can almost feel a tangible doubt enter into Peter's mind as his peripheral vision starts to take in these fear inducing distractions. I can see his glance dart away from the face of Jesus as these doubts take hold and his attentions shift from the face of his Saviour to the immediate danger that he faced. Save, me!! he cried as these doubts and fears overcame his faith and he sank into the sea. The hand of Jesus reached out and pulled him up from the sea and the story ends with Peter being safe and accounted for. In our Christian walk we often experience this same thing. We start off with the best of intentions, but as things such as accolades, trials, or worldly distraction begin to creep in to our field of vision, we begin to sink under the weight of our own independence. We may be knee deep, waist deep, or may be even breathing air through a straw we are so deep in the sea, but we have the assurance that if we reach out our hands, Jesus will lift us up. As amazing as this sounds, I would implore you to avoid this as much as possible. Do not avert your eyes from Jesus. Keep focused on the One who sustains you as you walk through the storm sea of life. Do not wait until you are over your head in self importance and disbelief to call out "Save Me". Stay focused on the Creator and Director of the universe and know that with His help you do not have to sink into the depths, but can instead walk in new life with your eyes firmly placed on Him.

The First Life Jesus Died For.

As I contemplate writing some profound, possibly world changing piece of Easter literature, my mind keeps being drawn back to what Easter really means. To those who would claim Christ as their own, it is a time of celebration at the completion of His redeeming work defeating death. What about the other guys. What are they celebrating? In reality this celebration is one that Christ's followers should hold to, and those who do not accept Him as Lord and Saviour have no capacity to understand the nature of the celebration. This in no way means that all people are not welcome in God's presence, it just means that they might not grasp the profound importance of this event. There is actually no way to understand this event unless you travel back 3 days earlier to when Jesus made himself the substitute for all sin. It is at the point that the unsaved man or woman can begin to comprehend what the Resurrection means. Without the death, there is no rising again. Seems simple enough, doesnt it? If you are in the catergory of not really understanding the Resurrection, don't feel alone, we were ALL there at one time. It is not that far away from you either. Let me share a story from the Bible that might give you clarity on the choice that lies in front of you. When Jesus was first captured, the people were given a choice betwen Jesus, a man who had committed no crime, but had upset the powers that be by making claims that they could not comprehend and a common criminal. They chose to set the criminal free. Like most human beings, they feared what they could not understand and they chose to rid themselves of the threat of Jesus instead of actually trying to understand His words. I caution you, do not be like these men. Try to understand the message of Jesus before you cast Him away. The second man the people could choose to set free was a notorious criminal and all around scoundrel Barrabas. The people chose to free the criminal that they knew and understood instead of freeing the man they could not understand. My question for you is what do you think Barrabas did at this point? Did he stand there, in front of crowds of angry people, some of who may have been his victims, or did he accept the gift of his freedom? What semi intelligent human being would choose bondage when the road to freedom lay in front of them. We receive no word from the Bible that Barabbas chose to remain in prison. We can only assume that he had enough sense to trade his life for the life that was offered to him. A single man remained in front of that crowd. A man who had every right to go free, but was sacrificed so that this man, Barabbas, who had nothing worthwile in him could go free. This same offer is being made to you today. You stand there on the stage, next to a battered and beaten Jesus. He looks at you and you know His gaze is asking you if you will choose His freedom or a life of bondage. Do you shake the shackles from you hands, or do you turn to the jailer and slowly make your way back to your cell? I implore you, choose the way of life. Make the sacrifice count for you. Do not let the battered and beaten Jesus go to your death having done so in vain. Take the freedom that is offered you, run from what has caused your imprisonment and breathe the fresh air of a new life. Make this Easter different than any other you have experienced. Jesus did indeed rise again, take advantage of today to rise with Him.

The Seven Words I Never Have to Say.

Today is a momentous day for those who adhere to the Christian faith. It is the day that our freedom was bought. It is the day that a world of possibilities that do not include eternal death became available to us. It is the day that our impending death was substituted for a fully vibrant New Life. As Jesus died on the cross, He spoke the words that we will never have to say. "My Father, why have you forsaken me?" It is the ultimate injustice that the one man who actually did not deserve to be abandoned by God in Heaven was the one who took our place and was separated from God for us. For our greed. For our pride. For our selfishness. For our murder. For our thieving ways. For our adulterous thoughts. For our ultimate sin of making our own way without God. This spotless sacrifice spoke the words that will never pass my lips. God will not forsake me. Despite my tendency to take my own reigns and wander in stubborn circles, God will not cast me away. I will never have to wonder where God has gone. I will never have to look for a bridge back to Him as he is by my side all the times that I have tried to run on my own course. God knows that I am going to attempt to forsake him for pleasure and profit and pride, but he still will not leave me. He has enduring mercy. This mercy was bought and paid for by the death of His son. Do we deserve this mercy? Not likely. Have you received this mercy? Hopefully. Take a closer look at the quality of the decisions you make. Are they free from condemnation? Do they fall short of perfect? Remember, perfect is not really good, perfect is no blemish, no mistake, no sin. His son was perfect and as His death approached, asked His own father why he had forsaken Him. Due to that magnificent sacrifice, we only now have to ask ourselves the question, "My God, why have I forsaken you". There is time to turn around and run back into his arms. There is time to apply the sacrifice of His perfect Son to your life. There is time to enter God's loving arms and know that you will never be forsaken. Those arms will lift you and make you new. Do not waste this chance to guarantee that you will never be alone. Do not waste this chance to choose a new life. Do not hesitate to give your life to the one who bought it many years ago. It is a simple choice, but will have an amazing impact on your life. Never again have to wonder why and if you have been forsaken. You will not be. You cannot be. Revel in this promise and choose to join hands with the one who has been reaching out for you since the day you were born. Never walk alone again. This is His promise and I know it to be true.

Hand over the Gun

" Jim gently caressed the trigger of his _____________ as those who knew him well dove for cover and those who did not know him at all were about to receive a rude introduction". Imagine any sort of weapon with a firing mechanism inserted into this blank (pistol, rifle, shotgun etc..) and it is easy to picture a scene of stark terror and impending tragedy. Some may picture mortal wounds, some may picture wounds that are survived but debilitating, while still others may think of the emotional scarring that would certainly follow such a brutal attack. We would be hard pressed to find anyone who could justify such an attack. Now, try to insert a different word into the blank. How about we try the word anger? The Bible makes it very clear to us that the tongue is a dangerous weapon. It is most often hurtful when it is employed in anger. How is our anger typically manifest? Through the use of a harsh tongue. While it is very unlikely that any of us will ever place individuals in danger by inserting a weapon in the blank, it is a distinct possiblity that our name and the word anger are a much more likely fit.
As devastating as any tragedy may be, I would even theorize that the effects of anger can even be much harder to recover from for the surviving persons as it often takes place over a prolonged period of time and has a tendency to shift causality to the victim. ie. "he or she is angry at me so often, I must have done something wrong". I know a little bit about anger. I can envision my siblings and I hitting the floor on many occasions knowing that a parent had an itchy trigger finger and a full clip. This is something that is not necessarily an exception when it comes to child raising, but when it becomes the rule then it is far more likely to become a problem. When I look back at my early life I recall the sting of anger as it wove its way into the very thread of my makeup as a human being. This umbrella of anger often leads to one of two extremes. It can lead to an increased conformity to make certain that whatever caused the trigger to be pulled will not happen again. (bad grade, detention, missed curfew) The second extreme is a dogged and persistent non conformity. "Can't do it right, won't even try". I feel like this is the catch all for victims of anger as it early on becomes apparent that not enough can be done right to take the weapon of anger out of someone else's hands. I did very little dabbling in the area of conformity as my way of dealing with the anger around me. I went straight to the non conformity. I was going to outduel this anger with cynicism and a perceived indifference. As the years passed, however, the true nature of these charactistics was revealed. "A rose is a rose" and 'anger is anger". I can still to this day be accused of "gently fingering the trigger of my own anger" all too frequently. I often tell my wife that I am not "mad" I am just frustrated. I guess I would rather come off as the victim than the perpetrator and frustration is more a victim thing than being mad. ie.. I am frustrated because I lost my wallet..implies that circumstances are beyond my control. "I am mad because I lost my wallet"..implies a conscious choice to use anger as a coping tool. As I think about it now, anger and frustration are merely a game of semanitics that in no way lessen the likelihood of my family hitting the deck when they see my trigger finger tense up. All I know is that I do not want this blight to continue in my family. I do not want my children to glance nervously around the house before I come home to make sure everything is in place. I do not want my wife to try to guess what I am thinking in order to lessen the likelihood that I will place her in my crosshairs. Most of all I do not want to mortgage my spiritual leadership for the sake of my own selfish desire to espress my displeasure at things around me. I know the debilitating effects that this can have on the spiritual growth of those around you, and I refuse, in the name of Jesus, to be the stumbling block for any. Sure, I will fail at times. It is a certainty. What is not a certainly is that I accept that failure as the status quo. I can accept that my home is a "weapon-free" zone. I can accept that my children and life will long to see me when I have been away, not afraid of what I will find when I return. I can accept that my children's only thoughts about my coming home is that they are ready to climb all over me, regardless if my day was bad or good. As my children age I want them to see less and less of this anger, and more and more of the love that we are commanded to show. I know it is not something that will be easy, but worthwhile things rarely are. I know I will not be perfect, but human being rarely are. I know that God will be there to guide me, and that He always is. I want to ease my finger off the trigger, unbuckle the gun belt and gently hand it over to the loving arms of the One who has shown us such patience and grace that to mirror Him is my lifelong goal and prize. Anger does not reflect well in His mirror, so it is time for it to go. 'Lord, I pray that you will forgive me for being angry, no excuses offered. I realize the root of anger is self pity, and there is no place for that in one of your children. Thank you that I do not have to hit the deck when I come into Your presence, but I can do so bodly. Help my children and wife to be bold in my presence as well, as I display charactersitics that would welcome them to me. Thank you for your promises and your ability and faithfulness in keeping them. Amen