As You Journey Enjoy the Journey!

Wednesday was a great day to fly. The skies were clear. From way up high in the sky you could see the ground below. There was not a cloud in the sky.

As I flew from Dallas to New Orleans, I looked out the window to see if I could tell where we were in the journey. It didn't take me long to see the Red River and recognize Shreveport where I had spent many days. From Shreveport, I was able to discern the Interstate 49 that paralleled the Red River. Natchitoches was easy to recognize from the air. I could see the airstrip where one Christmas Eve, a church member flew me to pick up my children.

It was not long before I knew that Alexandria would be able to be viewed. I knew the old Air Force base was now the airport. And, of course, I recognized the golf courses that were near it. From there, I began to look for the Mighty Mississippi River which would lead me to Baton Rouge. South of Baton Rouge I knew we would turn east towards New Orleans.

The plants below told me that we were almost to New Orleans. We would fly along the Mississippi, then over the city of New Orleans to make a final descent into the New Orleans airport from the east.

I thought about what this journey could teach me about a faith journey. Most people do not realize that Jesus stayed within a thirty mile circle around Jerusalem. As he traveled, he would meet the people that he had met before. Lazarus' house was one of his favorite places. I imagine that much like my airplane ride, he would take notice of familiar places remembering their significance in his life.

Sometimes great meaning comes as we make the journey. We need to take note of where we were as well as where we are heading. Sometimes we may find ourselves heading in the wrong direction. Sometimes we might miss some of the most significant places in our journey if we do not keep our bearings. And many times, we come to appreciate where we are by knowing where we have been.

When Moses leads the Israelites to the holy mountain where he would receive the Ten Commandments, he is in familiar territory. This is the region where he has been before. As he traveled, there is no doubt some familiar signs of his previous travels. And as he travels with new companions and new direction, his understanding of journey changes. God has given him new directions!

For Christians, the journey towards home--the heavenly prize--is as significant as the arrival.. Along the way, we come to appreciate those whom we have traveled with. Along the way we come to realize those who have given us direction. And when we are near home, we recognize it as our destination.

As you journey, enjoy the journey itself!

God is Number One.

It is one of the Big Ten. You shall have no other gods before me.

Most folks do not realize that this was written in a time when there were few people who believed in one god. Obviously the argument about having many gods was not the focus at the time. This argument would become central much later--about the time of the prophet Isaiah. But the message was clear: no other gods before me. God wanted to be number one. Numero Uno. There was not to be a weekly poll where the top god would be selected on their record. God is to be at the top--all the time.

This is the season of life where many choose to serve the lesser gods of this world. The service is rationalized in many ways. One does not have to be in church to worship. Everyone needs a break sometime. I will listen to the sermon online. I will spend a little extra time praying. I have heard all of these over the years. I am always reminding folks that it is not me that you are going to have to explain this to as I point upwards.

But it is hunting season! Or as I tell many of my friends, it is not hunting season. It is animal training season. Many of these folks spend little time reading the Bible or praying. Giving to the church or a mission is minimal. But then hours are spent growing their plots, preparing the animal training ground, or shopping for the latest scent. And no expense is spared for the latest accessory, corn, or for the lease to hunt.

Now before you get too irate, there is nothing wrong with hunting or even animal training if it does not take the place of worshipping God. A faithful hunter does not compromise worship attendance, giving, or daily devotion for the sake of the hunt. In fact, maybe if your hunting has not been what it should be, God may be trying to tell you something.

But it's football season or soccer season! Pick your sport. The service of this lesser god leads many apart from the living god. I do not know who thought it was a great idea to have kid's soccer on Sunday. Obviously it was someone who had little or no knowledge of God's big ten. We struggled with this as our son, Noah played. But we tried to keep him and us focused on the bigger picture of life. There was never a doubt for us as to what place God took in life.

I am afraid that Jesus would have a tough time in some of the polls taken in the frenzy of college football. I envision a headline that would say, "Jesus falls out of the top ten this week". If worship attendance after major games is an indication, then it is obvious that the lesser god wins out. If your tailgating and attendance at the game prohibits your worship attendance and your faithful witness, then maybe you ought to rethink that.

I love sports as much as you do. Those who know me know that I enjoy having a good time as much as anyone else. I enjoy being able to participate in the excitement of life. However, I just want all to be aware that the service of lesser gods can lead us away from the God that will give us life and life everlasting.

Make sure God stays number one.

Are Jesus' Teachings Too Hard?

Apparently there was a time when Jesus was discouraged by his followers. There is a passage in scripture where Jesus says to his most intimate followers, "Will you too leave?" There were people jumping ship. They were shaking their heads at Jesus and saying, "You are asking too much!" (John 6:66)

There is a movement in today's world to push people to live by the minimum standards of relationship. A part of this movement is to be politically correct. Another part of this movement is to have little or no moral standards. What each person does is his/her own business. Who are you to criticize? Who are you to judge? These are the barbs that are thrown at us.

Even preachers struggle with this. To talk about the Biblical standard of tithing is difficult for many. To preach that there are consequences--alienation from God--to continue to live a life ignoring sin is seen as alienating the congregation. To preach a higher moral standard for living is viewed as hypocritical or not filled with grace and mercy. The great power of the Gospel to compel persons to change their life is watered down to gospel of accommodation.

One day I came to a realization that has become very important to me. I share it with you. My inability to do what Jesus asked me to do, does not change what Jesus asked me to do. It is at this point that I need the work of the Spirit in my life--to do what I alone cannot do. Sounds weak doesn't it? But it is actually a strength.

Let me give an example. I understand fully the meaning of Jesus' teaching, Love Thine Enemies. For some of us, the words are in red in our Bible. My reaction to this is to say that Jesus obviously does not KNOW my enemies. He would understand that loving them is not even in the ballpark. I would prefer Jesus to say something like "God will toast my enemies!" or like the Psalmist says, "dash their heads upon the rocks!" But noooooooo. Jesus says, "Love" and "Pray".

My initial inability to love and pray for those who do not wish me well does not change the standard of Jesus. It is only through the character of Jesus working in me--the work of God's Spirit--that I can BEGIN to understand and to do what Jesus plainly has instructed me to do. It is in this Spirit that God begins to reshape me. But only when I yield myself.

So I find that some folks become angry at what I preach. However, I preach what God would have me preach trying to intentionally NOT water it down. I try to explain that if you have difficulty with what is said, the difficulty is not with me, but with God. It is what the Biblical tradition says! And I invite folks to join me on the journey of obedience, hoping that though the teachings seem hard, we are not alone in the struggle.

The teachings of Jesus are too hard if you rely upon your own strength. With God's help, things become different.

God Wants All of You

The truth is that most of us would like to be seduced.

I think it is a part of the human nature. Seduction is being lead astray or won over. It is the subtle art of persuasion. Sometimes it is not so subtle. Sometimes it is so subtle we do not even recognize it until it is too late.

Eve was seduced by two things. It was the appearance of the fruit of the tree along with the suggestions of the serpent. Talking snakes are dangerous. Notice that one of them is visual and the other is verbal. What we see is able to lure us or persuade us as well as what we hear. But the old adage is true: it was not the pear in the tree but the pair on the ground.

There are some of us that would live in the illusion that we are never seduced. We like to maintain that we are independent of such nonsense. To fall into the trap of seduction would be a weakness. Usually these folks are surrounded by the newest gadgets of the day. No evidence of seduction there huh?

Power is seductive. Usually power appears in our business track of life. It is coercion to move away from our values. "If you do this it would not be a good career move." or "If you don't do this, you will not be considered for that next big promotion." The next promotion may cost you more than you think. But everybody else is doing it so why should I be different?

Then there is God. God is trying to seduce you into a love relationship. Although God does not use all the most sleek and gorgeous things or people. God uses an old rugged cross. And God will not settle for just a part of you in this relationship. God wants all of you. Like the covenant of marriage, God wants your faithfulness--all of it.

To be captured by this seduction will change you life. The force that changes you is love. It is love that is unconditional. It is a love that will not let go. It is a love that seduces you into a life of sacrifice filled with joy.

The world only wants your money. The serpent only wants to watch you fall. God wants all of you.

You Can Be Emotionally Well

Emotions are a gift from God. It is what makes us uniquely human. The difficulty with emotions is that like any other gift from God, they can be abused or misused. But you can be emotionally well.

Now there are some of God's children who need help with their bodies' makeup to be well. There is in imbalance in terms of how their bodies function. If this is true, it is wise to use the medical knowledge of our day. To not use this, is to miss out on one of the gifts from God. It does not make one weaker.

For most of us, the ability to control our emotions has to do with controlling our thoughts. I say this often to my congregation because I believe it to be one of the most important statements I can make as a pastor. Thoughts give birth to emotions. Emotions give energy to actions. Actions determine our destiny.

Have you found yourself thinking something and therefore feeling strongly about something. Then you act only to find that you were misinformed in your thought! You thought that your friend said something about you. You were hurt. Out of being hurt, you did something to express your hurt. Then you find out you were wrong. But the damage is done.

Paul wrote in his writings often about having the mind of Christ. A part of the Christian growth is to develop this mind of Christ--through prayer, study of scripture, worship. Once the mind of Christ is functioning, then one begins to feel like the love of Christ. You fall in love with God. That love permeates all of life's relationships. You find yourself acting very differently in all of life.

Do you see how this is so differently from conventional worldly wisdom? Instead of people making you feel a certain way, you are at the controls of your emotional wellness. You can be emotionally well!

A woman had been beaten down by the world. She believed everything the demons of life had told her. She was a failure no matter what she tried to do. She believed the lie that she was not attractive. She wept often in the loneliness of her life until one day she chose to believe differently. Yes--believe differently. She began to believe that she was loved. She believed she was special. She believed she was capable. As time passed, each day she changed her thoughts. She filled her mind with scripture. She became a new person. She became instead of an emotional wreck a beautiful woman created in the confidence of Christ. Her whole world changed.

You too can be emotionally well--it begins with the mind of Christ. Fill your thoughts with the good words of God!

You Can Get Better

"It is going to be the same. However you are going to get better!"

We began our griefshare group last Sunday night. It is a place where those who have lost loved ones--husbands, wives, sons, daughters, mothers, sisters--come to experience the healing of God. These were the words that I shared. The one they loved will not come back. The reality of the death will not change. But you are going to get better.

It has almost been two years since my sister, Sharon died suddenly. She walked into the hospital on a Friday evening and within 24 hours her life was gone. The music stopped.

Sharon was one of the most naturally talented musicians I have ever known. If you could hum it, she could play it in any key on the piano. In fact one of the things she did was play the hymn, Holy Holy Holy changing keys with every holy. If you had any musical ear at all, it would make your skin curl. She would play it for those with no musical ear and they would say, "How nice!" We would chuckle. She had a beautiful soprano voice. Music filled her life as she filled others life with music as well.

I found out that she was in the hospital only hours before she died. It was too quick. There were things we were still going to do as brother and sister. There were words that were meant to be said; moments still left to be shared. And yet, there was nothing I could do to change the reality of her death.

But I am better--most of the time. There are times when I remember both of my sisters who have passed away with great fondness. It is almost as though they are still alive--for they are-- in my living memories. These memories bring life to me.

Then there are times when there is what one of my friends describes as a hole in the heart. Sadness is all around me. It encompasses me. Sometimes it paralyzes me but only for a while. It comes when I hear a particular song or a random thought enters my head. But now I am better. Time has made me better.

In the coming weeks, my family will have a family wedding. Both of my sisters will not be there, but then they will be. They will be remembered and missed. We will laugh and cry. We will remember.

The loss of a loved one is something that never changes. However you can get better. Grief is best cared for when it is shared. It takes time. It is a unique journey that has some common trails where people meet. Resist the temptation to be strong and go it alone. Worship your way through the loss of a loved one.

I think this is what Jesus meant when he talked about giving peace in John 14. It is not the peace that the world gives, but a heavenly peace. It is this heavenly peace that has helped me get better.

You too, can get better.

Throw The Flag!!

Well it is football season again. For some it is the best time of the year. For others it is a time that their spouse, friend, or co worker goes missing in action. Unfortunately during this season, some forgo their religious habits for a lesser god. One man prayed, "Whatever you do Lord, just do not come during the fourth quarter of the game!"

I have a brother in law who loves football games to yell at the referees. He has been kicked out of more sporting events than some have attended. I always urged him to become a referee. He quickly dismissed it as he thought it would be embarrassing to yell at himself or a colleague.

There are some penalties that should be called in the church setting. See if you can recognize these in your church. When you see them, carry a yellow flag and throw the flag!!!

Too Many Men on the Field--the attempt by a family who insists on sitting on one pew that is built for fewer people. Or if you use chairs, the chairs are put in the aisle with no regard for the walking space needed.

Illegal Use of Hands--the "hugger" of the church who insists on hugging EVERYONE, even though who prefer to keep their personal space.

Holding-What most do with the offerings! Compare what those season tickets cost with your offering.

Illegal Receiver Downfield-a child that escapes from parents to run down the aisle. Everyone usually laughs but the parents who crawl underneath the carpet or chair. Moms usually look at Dads like, "it is your job to keep the little heathen in tow!" Dads have a blank stare--they were daydreaming about the game this afternoon.

Offsides-When someone moves from their regular side of the worship space to sit on the other for no apparent reason.

Offensive Pass Interference--When one is caught by the complaining or gossiping church member as you attempt to leave the church. This person has to tell you all the things that is wrong with the pastor, the choir, the nursery, the parking lot, your neighbor, Congress, city government, and the list goes on. This is offensive behavior to the body of Christ!

Roughing the Passer/Kicker-Criticism of the pastor or church staff in inappropriate words and places. Usually happens when the pocket that is to protect has failed.

Whatever you do during this season, do not be tempted to serve a lesser god. Football is a season. Keep proper perspective. Keep the faith and you will enjoy the seasons of life AND life everlasting.