Spiritual GPS

I like acronyms. Through the years, I have enjoyed making them up. Now one can find long lists of acronyms on the web, acronyms for just about everything.

I like it best when an acronym has a dual meaning. A number of years ago, I entered a new ministry and one of the first activities was to have each member fill out a worker questionnaire. In the days before computers and easy tabulation methods, we tabulated the results the old-fashioned way—by taking each questionnaire and writing the member’s name on the appropriate worker lists. It went a lot faster when we scotch-taped the worker lists to some tables in the fellowship hall (tables and lists in order), and then had volunteers help get the names from the questionnaires onto the worker lists. We promised those who would help pizza afterward. Thus, a PIZZA party—a Precise Inventory of the Zeal and Zest Available.

Perhaps my love for acronyms explains why the sign in front of the church building caught my attention. “Use GPS: God’s Plan of Salvation”. The sign caught my attention because the phrase is one that is used frequently in the churches I minister with. I do not know what the church displaying the sign teaches about GPS. It really doesn’t matter. Nor does it matter what I teach about GPS. What matters is what God teaches about GPS.

Perhaps 2011 would be a good time to read through the New Testament again, trying to understand as completely as possible the purpose and plan of God for the salvation of the world. God has acted for the salvation of the world. Not everyone will be saved—the New Testament rejects universalism. Those God saves obediently respond to his love and grace according to his instructions, not according to human preferences or teachings. Further, responding to God involves more than one’s initial salvation experience. Salvation involves our daily life committed to God’s purpose and buoyed by God’s presence.

Use GPS.

God Sightings: Seeing God Every Day Everywhere

Some days I am not very good at seeing God. That is why I am working and writing on two new blog categories: “God Sightings” and “Life Savors”. I admit that some of my purpose in establishing these two categories is selfish.

For most of us who live in the U.S. the last week has brought some wicked weather–frigid air, bone-chilling wind, and more snow and ice than normal. Last Monday, with an eye on the weather forecast, Jan and I returned home a day early from last weekend’s appointment. Now the television commentators and news broadcasters are warning of seasonal distress, cabin fever, and the challenges of being cooped up with the family that we are supposed to love but often have trouble getting along with. Lots of plans have been put on hold, activities and commitments rescheduled. I am not exempt. I have had to postpone a church consultation scheduled for today–it is simply not safe to make the road trip.

Even though I have stayed pretty close to the house, I have been working on details of upcoming speaking appointments. Of course, a part of those emails tends to be commentary on the weather. One brother wrote, “The snow and the cold have been a blessing for me personally for I have been more conscious of the things of God.” Another wrote, “I’m sorry your travel plans were messed up by the weather, but it might be a blessing to be trapped and unable to carry on a frantic pace.” You will be able to tell that the brother writing this second comment is a missionary in a different climate by his next sentences, “My wife and I feel a little sorry to miss the excitement of the storm. Then we come to our senses and realize how nice this spring-like weather is.”

These comments remind me that God’s presence is not limited to Sundays. Did you see God in the storm? Do you see God when the weather is pleasant? Do you see God in the normal things of life? Or does it take something especially good or something especially bad for us to see God?

He is there, and he is not silent. Sometimes we are not tuned in. This week, make a conscious effort when you get up each morning to “set your tuner”. Set it to receive the “God Channel”. Then you will see God in your life and in our world–every day, everywhere.

Our God Who Is God All By Himself

The wording of the prayer caught my ear. “We are thankful that you are God all by yourself.” What a unique way of saying that God doesn’t need any help being God. He has no competition, no equal. In fact, that is what being God is all about. He is the supreme, all powerful, all knowing Being who is above all else. Yet he knows and cares about us.
I like the prayer. “Thank you God, for being God all by yourself.”

God Opening Doors

When we decided that we would terminate our full-time local ministry obligation in order to be available to participate in a larger number of ministry and mission opportunities, we had no idea how it would work out. We did know one thing–God has always looked out for and guided us in marvelous ways that we describe as miraculous because we do not understand how he works in our lives. He provides when we cannot see the way. He surprises with the unexpected. He overwhelms with opportunities beyond imagination.

After six months, we marvel at what God has already allowed us to do. We look to the future and see him opening doors, even if they do not always open on our timetable. In recent months we have been involved in an extended interim ministry, weekend leadership seminars, a gospel meeting, mission emphasis Sundays, and ministry with several different churches including teaching and preaching in a U.S. Hispanic congregation. We have participated in various mission activities, and have several more scheduled for the coming year. I have had more time to write and am working on several projects.

God uses his people to open doors. We want to serve where we can do the most good for the kingdom. If you are among those God might use to open doors for our future ministry, we would love to hear from you. Regardless of whether our paths cross this side of eternity, we ask your prayers as we continue to minister in the kingdom.

Holmes Road: A Special Place in our Hearts

It is hard to believe that almost two weeks have passed–careful calendar watchers may point out that it was really only 12 days. It is also hard to believe how much has occurred in so short a time. Two special Sundays, Bible studies, three baptisms, multiple responses and recommitments, lots of invitations issued and visitors present, a fellowship meal to honor new members, a new minister now in place….
Those are just the things that can be seen and recorded. The reality is that what has occurred in the unseem realms of human hearts may be much more important that the visible things that history will record. Jan and I have been doubly blessed–blessed by our dozen years of ministry at the Holmes Road church, blessed again to have served over the past six months in a periodic interim role.
If home is that place you go expecting to be received, Holmes Road is one of our homes. We look forward to being part of the celebration of fifty years in just a few short weeks. We prayerfully anticipate the future God has in store for this church. Yesterday’s sermon noted that in Christ God is Able to Meet Every Need. AMEN! That is the God we serve.

It’s Sunday Again: People Matter

God’s plan is people-focused. God’s plan is for re-creation of a marred humanity–a humanity twisted and torqued by sin. Simply put, God’s plan is to save people and keep them saved. An oversimplification might suggest that Christ’s mission was to provide salvation and the Spirit’s mission is to secure and preserve.
Jesus taught the value of human beings. Consider the Gospel of Matthew. The old religion has gone astray and lost its focus (Matthew 5-7). So Jesus sends out his disciples to share a new message and power (Matthew 10). He illustrates the possibility of a changed reality (Matthew 13). One essential dynamic in this changed kingdom view is a fresh understanding of people as God’s image-bearers (Matthew 18). Living out these realities demands constant readiness and watchfulness from those who seek to follow and serve Jesus (Matthew 25).
Today’s sermon focuses on the fourth of these five Matthean discourses. No church can reach the potential God has placed before it without understanding the value God places on his human creation. This chapter (Matthew 18) is apparently spoken in response to the disciples’ discussion and question about greatness. Consider how Christians can live out the reality of the kingdom. Consider how we by our actions and attitudes declare that people matter.

Be humble. Find yourself and your place in God’s plan with humility.
Be accepting of others. Do not discard others and deny their place in the plan of God.
Protect others from sin. Do not be a cause of stumbling.
Protect yourself from sin. Watch yourself.
Value one another, even as the shepherd values the one lost sheep.
Correct one another with love and compassion, seeking restoration not alienation.
Forgive one another.

God blesses our efforts

Perhaps the church in too many places has forgotten a fundamental truth of Scripture–God’s power in this world is unleashed through the faithful actions and efforts of his people. I wonder if the church has too often come to expect God to act when we are not fully committing ourselves to his plan and purpose. I wonder if a lot of our activities have little impact on the long-term health of the church and the advancement of God’s saving purpose in the world.
Late yesterday afternoon, I received a phone call. Put late afternoon and early evening plans on hold–delay dinner. A young man involved with the college ministry wants to be baptized. A little after 7 p.m. on a Friday evening, eight of us assembled to witness the baptism of yet another soul into Christ.
This story in itself would perhaps not be amazing. What makes it noteworthy is that this is the third baptism in this congregation of about 200 members in the last 10 days. What happens when the gospel is being shared, salvation is being preached, Christians are reminded of their responsibility to talk and invite and study and encourage? What happens when sermons focus on God’s eternal plan and purpose, when the expectation is that God’s people will assemble for one reason–to find power and encouragement for going forth as God’s representatives into a dark world? What happens when the church quits assembling for itself and focuses on Christ? What happens is that God’s power is unleashed and that souls are saved, the kingdom spreads.
Many of us have seen it happen again and again in foreign mission fields. Many others have concluded it cannot happen in the U.S. and have almost ceased God-glorifying, people-saving teaching, preaching, conversations and interactions.
Here is what I want you to know. God blesses our efforts when they are devoted to accomplishing his eternal plan and purpose.

Living at a Special Time

I admit it–sometimes I think about strange things.
Today I am thinking about the special blessing I have had to live at this particular time in history. In Bible classes, we try to think about what it would have been like to live in the time of Abraham, or Moses, or Jesus, or at some location described in Acts during the early development of the church. Last night in Bible class, we contemplated life during the last half of the first century A.D. Have you thought recently about the uniqueness of your time in history?
Today I am thinking about the people I have known–those who have lived through some of the same time in history as I have. I am thinking of the rapidly changing nature of our world during the last half-century plus. I am thinking about some of the countless thousands of people we have met and known. My life has been blessed by those whose lives touched, connected, and intertwined.
If you are reading this blog, there is a good chance you are among the special people I am referring to. Today I celebrate life in the moment. Thank you for being part of my life.

Life Savors–we see what we are looking for

The thermometer said it was cold—near 10 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. It was hard to believe the thermometer when one looked out the window on the beauty of God’s creation, lightly blanketed with snow. The morning was dawning bright and clear, the morning sun casting beautiful hues of oranges and reds, yellows and purples across the sky. I could not resist walking outside to experience firsthand the calm and stillness. The sporadic snow flakes sparkled in mid-air as they fluttered slowly through the air, catching the first rays of the sun.

I was impressed anew with the beauty of God’s creative genius. The picture my brain snapped into place captured something I had not experienced in recent years. I savored the moment, and wondered why many shrink back from such beauty, choosing rather to see only the negative. I rethought some of life’s basic lessons–all of life is filled with both negative and positive…things sometimes appear quite different from what they really are…we tend to see what we are looking for…our natural human responses often keep us from seeing and experiencing God’s wonderful blessings.

Seeing God at Work

Jan and I arrived last Friday to finalize our interim ministry commitment. We were met with excitement and anticipation—the news of the baptism of a university student on Wednesday night and the arrival of the new minister and his wife during the week. In the midst of several ministry opportunities that arose spontaneously during the week, the church was abuzz with excitement.

The faith and expectation of the elders was apparent as we met and prayed on Saturday morning. I preached on Sunday, and we had the privilege of witnessing another soul added to the church as a young lady received forgiveness of sins and began her walk with the Lord in the waters of baptism. The service concluded with the church and the new minister prayerfully committing themselves to one another. Given that it was the coldest Sunday of the winter thus far, attendance was superb (it was above recent averages).

Sunday evening we received news of the baptism of the grandson of a former deacon, and marveled again at the continuing power of the gospel in our world. Sunday evening, four brothers renewed their commitment to God and his work. At times, we are tempted to lose hope and give up. Then God reminds us that we do not live in a totally unreceptive world—our world is filled with people who are interested in God’s work and will. To Him be the glory!