Saturday “Newness”

My word for today: New!

Life is new today! Each day is a new gift from God, a day never before seen or experienced, with new opportunities, new challenges, new abundance, and new evidences of God’s presence and power.
Today life is new because Jan and I are in our new house in Tulsa. Our few personal possessions have also made the move, but many of those things are still in boxes. The unpacking process is part of the newness.

Life is renewed today! God renews us day by day internally, even as our outward physical body wears and weakens. Life is fresh and vibrant. The calendar says it is fall, and the lower temperatures suggest summer may be near its last hurrah for this year. Fall gives opportunities to celebrate the abundance of life and the bounty of the harvest.

The possibility of life renewal is always present. The newness that matters most of all is the newness that is possible in Christ Jesus. This newness comes through Christ as we are raised to walk in newness of life following our baptism. This newness continues in the daily walk of a Christian with God.

It’s Sunday Again: My Family

Today I will be with my local church family again–I have been away on missionary travels for the last three weeks. I have enjoyed the time with hundreds of brothers and sisters in Ecuador and Colombia, but I have missed my time with the local church family, and I am anticipating the joy and celebration of our shared precious faith today, looking forward to greeting dearly loved helpers in the Lord. Sundays are always special for me–perhaps because of 40+ years of filling the pulpit almost every Sunday, but the habits developed across the years are for me a source of stability and anticipation, almost always up early, meditating, praying, preparing mind and heart.
How special is the fellowship we share! I had a brief taste of what I can expect last Wednesday as I greeting brothers and sisters in Christ and taught a Bible class. I am thrilled with the opportunity to teach a Bible class this quarter–the early letters of Paul, understanding the gospel that looks backward and forward.
I hope you have a special church family that grounds you and strengthens you, encourages you and uplifts you, edifies you and brings you closer to God daily.

“Today, Father, I thank you for his work and blessing in my life. Thank you, Father, for this special family that helps keep me going spiritually!”

Little Things

I am reminded almost daily that life is lived in the little things, not in the big spectacular splashes. Big projects may grab attention, but much of what moves us forward happens in small, unnoticed, almost invisible ways. Yesterday provided me a good reminder that investing life in things that can ultimately matter and make a difference is often less than spectacular.

  • A couple of hours of phone conversation with a minister seeking direction in his ministry setting.
  • Work on my website and meeting about various details of maintenance and hosting.
  • A series of emails to facilitate a major gift to a missions project.
  • Several hours working on details of a Letter of Understanding, multiple emails and phone calls back and forth, and summary communication with all involved.
  • An overdue chairman’s report finished and sent.
  • Update a mission website.
  • Continuing preparations for the presentations to be shared in the next three weeks in Ecuador and Colombia.

    • Just a summary of the most time-consuming activities related to my work in ministry and missions. But then one adds personal things like evaluating a resume for my son, working with the realtors on inspections and the upcoming home sale and purchase along with various moving details, touching base with our family by phone…. Add the spiritual side of life with prayer and hearing God’s Word.

    Nothing spectacular, a lot of “little” projects that fill the day from very early to late. Thankfully, God turns little things into things that ultimately change us and change our world, little by little.

    It’s Sunday Again: FutureChurch

    The church is not God’s gift to the world. Christ is God’s gift to the world. The church is a part of God’s plan. The church is the repository of those who are saved by Christ. The church is a demonstration of God’s power and wisdom in uniting diverse people. The church willingly accepts the commission of telling others of Christ. When the church understands itself, it escapes the illusion that “it is all about us.” The message of the church is not the church. The message of the church is Christ. The head of the church is Christ. The church is controlled by the head, not by the desires of the body. Church is not about my “druthers” or your “druthers.” This is not who wins. This is not whose preference is best.

    The church must move from focusing on itself to focusing on Christ. The church must escape its tendency toward self-centeredness. The church in God’s plan is open and inclusive, desirable and inviting. Too often the modern church has become closed and exclusive, undesirable and uninviting. The church easily becomes club more than community. Sects are about self more than salvation. The church is not limited or threatened by its context. The church is not changed by its context, but neither does it seek isolation that leads to irrelevance. The church must communicate Christ in contextually consistent ways.

    The church as a community is bound together by relationships. Commandments do not make a community. Rules do not establish relationships. Rules may establish respect and regulated lives, but rules do not guarantee relationships. The church must escape consumerism–both internal and external. Consumerism is not a valid way to run a church; it is a good way to ruin a church. Churches that cater to members to make them happy are not part of the church of the future. They will not be around.

    These basic truths remind me that the church is about Christ. The church is “of Christ.” Christ is its head, its builder, its sustainer, its savior. If the church is about Christ, then a genuine church will be a place where all whose allegiance is to Christ can find a place and a home. Let us seek fresh eyes. Let us see God, see ourselves, see one another, see our community, see our world.

    Discipleship Simplified

    We have misidentified discipleship. We have distinguished being a Christian and being a disciple. We have made it two decisions instead of one. The decision to become a Christian is the same as the decision to become a disciple (follower of Jesus). Our tendency toward two distinct decisions has had disastrous consequences. People want to be cleansed (baptized so they can be Christians) but they do not have plans to fill the vacuum with the things of the Spirit (genuine discipleship). Thus we have a whole host of folks who appear to have begun but have not continued. I say “appear to have begun” because of the possibility that they never really began.

    Jesus said that discipleship demands counting the cost. Discipleship means that Jesus is first–above all else. Jesus is before any personal concerns for possessions, power, prestige, prominence, parents, family.

    A familiar song suggests how simple discipleship can be: I have decided to follow Jesus….

    Fruit is Natural–Not Forced

    Galatians 5 contains a list of the fruits of the Spirit–love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and self-control. The text contrasts works of the flesh with fruits of the Spirit. Some, because of this contrast (unconsciously and unintentionally) treat the “fruits” of the Spirit more as “works” of the Spirit. But the fruits are the result of the healthy presence of the Spirit in our lives; the list is not to be used as a behavior modification list, works to be achieved. The description is of how a Christian naturally behaves; Paul’s purpose is not to describe how a Christian should act.
    The distinction may seem minor, but this “shouldistic” (legalistic) attitude toward life in the Spirit changes how we approach the Christian life. Jesus took exception to this attitude in the Pharisees. Failure to see the damaging results of this attitude continues to have a negative impact on the Church. The fruit of the Spirit comes naturally, as a result of continual surrender to the Father’s will and care in all of life.

    It’s Sunday Again: Grateful

    Sunday is many things to me. Some Sundays I contemplate one aspect of God and the Christian life, on another Sunday my thoughts take a different turn.
    Today I am grateful. First of all, for the forgiveness and restored relationship God provides in Christ. Second, for the blessings he provides–especially family, Christian family, and friends. Third, for the opportunity to serve and be used in some small way in God’s purpose and plan.
    Today my gratitude will motivate my worship.

    A Barnabas Spirit

    We give thanks to the Lord for those persons who continually refresh our spirits. Such people are often said to have a Barnabas spirit. Sunday evening, Mitch Wilburn described Jan and me as Barnabas people. We want to be that kind of Christians–and Mitch was reflecting his own Barnabas spirit in his words.

    The name “Barnabas” means “son of encouragement.” Barnabas is known in Scripture for his generosity and encouragement. He is the one who paved the way for Paul’s acceptance at Jerusalem (Acts 9). Barnabas was the one who believed in John Mark and restored him to useful service (Acts 15:36-41; 2 Timothy 4:11).

    About 35 years ago, I spoke at the Annual Day at Shults-Lewis Children’s Home. I remember what I spoke about: “While I Was Busy Here and There….” Even more, I remember the words used to introduce me that Labor Day: “Here is a brother who gets behind and pushes every good thing he possibly can.”

    The church would be well served in the present age if there were more persons with a Barnabas spirit.

    • I will speak encouraging words about other Christians and every good work–always. I will get behind and push good works, doing everything I can to move them forward.
    • I will try to understand other people and work together to share mutually encouraging ministries.
    • I will not cast doubt on others; I will actively work to build them up and make their Christian life and service easier.
    • I will get myself out of the way; I will do everything I can to support the ministries and good works of others.
    • Although I don’t agree with or understand everything that brother says or does, he is doing a good work and I will not tear him down.
    • That brother has made his share of mistakes, but I will persevere and endure and help him move ahead in ministry rather than depending on past assumptions.
    • Nothing is gained by casting doubt on other Christians; I will do everything I can to work with and encourage every other Christian to love and good works.