Spiritual Health

What’s your spiritual health quotient?

Over the years, a lot people have come to me for guidance or direction. I think they believed God was going to rescue them from a bad situation at work or miraculously intervene for them while they’re going through a tough spot in their marriage. This mindset reminds me of the ‘get out of jail free’ card from the Monopoly game my brother and I used to play when we were kids. I think God fully expects us to grow up and take responsibility for the life we’ve been given and the choices we’ve made. That may mean taking time to discover what put us ‘in jail’ in the first place. It can also mean learning how to have that difficult conversation at work and doing the hard work of relationship building with your spouse. It requires us to stop avoiding, complaining about and blaming others and do the hard work of self-examination first.

So, ask yourself, why are some people successful at work? What does a great marriage require of me? Why am I experiencing my current results?

Think about this for a minute. Are you convinced that you are worthy of having a great career and marriage? Do you get to a certain point and then fail to move forward? Sometimes we stumble over the same old obstacles of guilt and shame. Guilt is an emotion of conviction. Guilt says, “I made a mistake” or “a mistake was made.” Once we recognize there was a mistake, we can work on fixing the problem. People actually make a living discovering mistakes and fixing them. They are called 'trouble shooters.' The key is to begin the hard work of trouble shooting in our own lives. Don’t aim for someone else’s trouble. 

I believe we confuse guilt and shame. Guilt is meant for course correction. Shame is very destructive. It’s not about a course correction or making amends. Shame drives deep into our soul. It says, “I am the mistake. I am shameful. I am unworthy because of who I am. There is nothing I can do to change.” Shame is a lie. It’s origin is with the father of lies.  Brene Brown calls shame the epidemic behind many forms of broken behavior.

According to Matthew’s gospel, Jesus says he can do something about both of these problems. It’s as if Jesus equates sin with illness and Jesus is the doctor. Look it up for yourself in Matthew chapter 9. We all have the problem. Who among us is sick? There is a remedy for this sort of thing. You can have a healthy work life and a rockin' marriage. But, there is some work to do. Imagine going into that troubling work situation or relationship challenge with a clean slate because that’s exactly what is possible and available to you. You simply need to see the doctor.

On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. Matthew 9:12 NIV

Christmas Story

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6, NIV)

In my family, every single year on Christmas morning, before we dig into our stockings and unwrap our presents, we pause for a moment to read the Christmas story from Luke 2.  You know the story, it’s a familiar one about a census and an engaged couple on a journey, a manger and no room in the inn.  There is an angel choir and a bunch of terrified shepherds.  There is Mary, Joseph, and a child who is a Savior, the Messiah, Lord.

Every single year we read the same story.  It never changes.  I vaguely remember one year on Christmas morning (long before I became a pastor, I’m sure) asking my mom why we had to read the same story yet again.  “I know the story!” I reasoned somewhat irrationally, really just wanting to get to the good stuff waiting under the tree.  I don’t remember what she said to my protest, all I know is we still read the story and I survived.

Every single year we read the same story.  It never changes.  

But we do.

And that’s why we read it over and over and over again, year in and year out.

Our story is always changing.  One year there is laughter and celebration; the next year there is failure and despair.  One year there is a graduation, or a marriage, or a newborn child; the next year there is a diagnosis, or a fractured relationship, or the death of a loved one.  One year there is love and joy; the next year there is desperation and sorrow.

There are some stories worth repeating, and then there are other stories that need repeating. This is one of the latter.  We need to hear this story again and again and again.  We need to hear again and again and again “do not be afraid.”  We need to hear again and again and again this “good news of great joy for all people.”  We need to hear again and again and again that the glory of the Lord shone around them, that a Savior has come, that God is with us.

Regardless of who you are, or where you are, or what’s going on in your life, this is the story you need to hear: “To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”

Merry Christmas!  We look forward to seeing you at one of our 9 Christmas Eve services in Naperville, Oswego, or at the Barn, as well as on Christmas morning at 10:00 a.m. in Naperville and 10:30 a.m. in Oswego.

“All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.  But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.” (Luke 2:18-20, NIV)

-Pastor Derek 

Prince of Peace

The Prince of Peace

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

   and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

   Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

--Isaiah 9:6

It can be overwhelming—the barrenness of sin that perpetuates oppression, destruction, and lifelessness. The sex trafficking of women and children; refugees fleeing for their lives, being blockaded by numerous countries; and social shooters killing in public places are all overwhelming systems of injustice and sin. Looking at such turmoil, the prospect of peace may seem unimaginable. Yet, despite what seem to be impossible situations, the longing for peace never truly fades. And it is precisely in that space of longing that we ask the question, “from where does the hope of life arise amidst such barrenness?”

The Advent season is also a season of longing. Placed on the church calendar right before Jesus’ birth, Advent reenacts and remembers the deep-set longing of the Jewish people for their Messiah. The Messiah was an Old Testament figure who God would use to restore Israel and bring about peace upon the earth. If anyone understood what it meant to yearn for peace, it was the First-Century Jew. The land of Israel was a hotbed for political turmoil and empire conflict. Because of its geographical location, Israel was in the middle of a constant tug-of-war between major empires. To make matters worse, before Jesus arrived on the scene it had been over four hundred years since God had last spoken to Israel. Talk about barrenness!

The Gospel of Luke sheds light on the theme of barrenness and life. Luke introduces us to Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, who was unable to conceive a child. Elizabeth’s womb was barren. Amazingly, Zechariah (the husband of Elizabeth) would experience a vision while tending to some duties in the temple. In this vision, an Angel of God would reveal the good news that life would be brought from Elizabeth’s barrenness. A husband and wife would bear a child through the life bearing work of God. Barrenness would be overcome by life.

Luke does not stop there. The narrative continues with Mary who is without a husband and is clearly stated as being a virgin. Why bring that up? Because Mary’s barrenness is of a completely different nature. This is not a husband and wife who are unable to conceive. It is a situation where life is completely impossible apart from God. Like her cousin Elizabeth, Mary would also be visited by an Angel revealing the astonishing news of the life to come. From barrenness, in which life is completely unexpected, a virgin gives birth to a child and his name shall be called Prince of Peace.

The Advent season is a time of acknowledging the barrenness in our lives: the systems of injustice, the pains of sickness and disease, the wounding of friends and family, and the loss of those closest to us. And yet Advent is also a season of hope. It is a season of longing for Christ to enter those barren places in our lives and birth his peace and life in those spaces. In a mysterious way, Mary and Elizabeth represent all those who long for the hope of life. We too can clutch to that same hope in the midst of barrenness, in the midst of injustice, in the midst of sin, in the midst of mass pain and suffering. Rather than remaining aloof from such places, Jesus brings his very self by the Spirit and enters into the barren womb. It is Jesus who can bring life from the impossibility of life. It is in Jesus that our hope is found. During the Advent season, we prepare with eager expectation for the peace of Christ to come. My prayer is that we would not forget that what we often see as hopelessly barren places, God sees as fertile ground from which Jesus, the Prince of Peace, may be birthed.

May the peace of Christ be with you.

-Corey Ashley

Everlasting Father

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6, NIV)

In his prophetic writing Isaiah lets us know that this long anticipated Savior-Messiah will be called Everlasting Father.  Now for us as New Testament people we are very familiar with this title.  We’ve come to know God as precisely this, a Heavenly Father.  Jesus uses the expression more than 150 times to refer to God.  Most notably he taught us to pray to “Our Father in Heaven.”  And the Apostle Paul also urges us to cry out to God our “Abba, Father.”

But for the first audience hearing Isaiah’s message, it would have been almost completely unheard of to refer to God as Father.  In fact, while the word Father is used over 1,200 times in the Old Testament, less than ten of those instances refer to God as the Father.  Isaiah uses the title the most, four times alone, nearly half of all the references to God as Father found in the Old Testament (9:6; 22:21; 63:16; 64:8).

Now I fully understand that a lot of people are hesitant at, even resistant to, this idea of calling God their Father.  Usually because there is a lot of negative association between them and their earthly fathers and so they can’t bear the connection.  As someone who personally didn’t really grow up with a Father because he took his own life by suicide, I get it. I really do.

But I think to ignore or avoid this title of Everlasting Father because of those negative associations would be a huge mistake.  

Because what we see beginning to happen here with the prophet Isaiah is a revolutionary shift.  The more familiar understandings from that day and age of God as almighty, unapproachable, impersonal, mysterious, and all-powerful are slowly being replaced with an image of God as personal, intimate, and relatable.

For people who had gone their whole lives thinking of God as some distant supreme entity, think about what it must have been like for them to consider God as a person instead of a power, as someone focused on relationship rather than requirements.

Not only is there a shift happening here to a concept of God as more personal, intimate, and relatable as denoted by this title “Everlasting Father.”  But this revolutionary concept is carried even further in the incarnation, which we celebrate this season of Advent.

It is through the birth of Jesus that we can come to know God for ourselves in relationship, because he has taken up residence among us.  This God who would otherwise be thought of as distant or impersonal or detached from our lives, is suddenly intimately involved and entirely relatable.  We can now personally come to know him as a Father, a parent, someone who gives life, loves unconditionally, provides for our needs, encourages, and protects.  This happens on a worldwide scale, but it can also happen on a personal level in each one of our hearts and lives.

Part of what it means for us to search for the Savior this season, is to search for this God who is personal and relatable.  And to learn to live into this new revolutionary reality that he is our Everlasting Father, but also that we are his children.  All of which, we’ll be exploring more this coming Sunday, so see you then!

“But you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us or Israel acknowledge us; you, Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name.” (Isaiah 63:16)

-Pastor Derek

Mighty God

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6, NIV)

When the prophet Isaiah recorded these words of promise and hope that he received from God, things looked pretty bleak.  Judah was on the verge of moral and political collapse.  The nation was surrounded by their enemies.  The great Assyrian Empire, who had already overtaken all the surrounding neighbors, was breathing down their necks.  The people of God were on the brink of defeat.

Yet, God revealed to Isaiah that He was still on the throne, still in control, still in charge.  He was at work in the present—as he had been all throughout their history—as the Mighty God who would rescue his people.  Those living in Jerusalem had forgotten all the previous events that had been told and retold from generation to generation where God had stepped in to fight for them, to stand up for them, and ultimately to save them.

How often is this the case for us as well?  How often do we need reminding that we have the Mighty God on our side who promises to never leave us or forsake us?  How easily do we forget the amazing ways that God has stepped in at just the right time in our lives to rescue and redeem and deliver?  How often do we believe in the lie that God doesn’t care about us, that he isn’t concerned about us, that he’s not even there?

This season of Advent is a reminder to us, just in case we had forgotten, that God is most decidedly for us.  The birth of Jesus as the Mighty God is living, breathing evidence of hope and promise even when things look most bleak.  He has come to dwell among us, to meet us in our places of pain, helplessness, despair, and fear.  He not only does for us what we could never do, but he also empowers and emboldens us to do what we could never dream of doing on our own.

To be sure, this Mighty God, doesn’t always work in ways that are expected, or even preferred by us.  He doesn’t work on our schedules, and often we don’t get the results that we would have liked.  But that is not for us to complain.  We are simply to trust and obey.

This Sunday we’ll be exploring more of what it means for us to put our trust in the Mighty God.  In the meantime, consider what places in your life that you need a God who is mighty to fight for you.  Confess the ways you have sometimes forgotten or refused to trust in the promises of the Mighty God.

"Energize the limp hands, strengthen the rubbery knees.  Tell fearful souls, 'Courage!  Take heart!  God is here, right here, on his way to put things right and redress all wrongs.  He’s on his way!  He’ll save you!’"  (Isaiah 35:3-4, The Message)

-Pastor Derek 

In Search of the Savior

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6, NIV)

During this season leading up to Christmas we enter into a season of searching.  We head to the malls moving from store to store in search of the perfect present to get for that special someone.  We search our basements and attics for where we stored the Christmas decorations and wrapping paper the previous year.  We search the cupboards and pantry for the ingredients needed for that favorite family recipe.  Children are secretly searching high and low for the hidden presents to get a sneak peak before Christmas morning.  This is truly a season of searching.

During this season, we at Wheatland Salem Church, embark on a search of our own.  It’s a search for something more than presents or sweets; it’s a search for meaning and purpose, a search for hope and joy, a search for peace and goodness.  It’s a search for the Savior.

This coming Sunday is the first day of Advent.  Advent is the season that counts down the days leading up to Christmas.  Advent is marked by anticipation and expectation, waiting and hoping, searching and seeking as we eagerly prepare for the coming of the Lord, the birth of the Messiah.

People for generations and generations, stretching back hundreds of thousands of years have embarked on this search.  The prophet Isaiah, who wrote during the 8th century BC, gave us words to describe what it is that we’re seeking.  The one you’re searching for will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Over the coming four weeks of Advent, we’ll be looking at each of these names of the Savior in turn.  Each of these titles gives us a slightly different glimpse or perspective into who Jesus is for us.  

First up this week, is the designation that He will be for us a Wonderful Counselor.  A counselor is someone who we go to in the midst of problems or difficulties.  A counselor is someone who is quick to listen and who gives advice and counsel.  A counselor is someone who wants the best for us and who stands up on our behalf when the going gets tough.  This week, we’ll explore the many ways that Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor as we collectively seek him during this season.

We all are in need of a Wonderful Counselor.  We all are in need of a Savior.  Join us this week, as we embark on our journey of searching.

“A shoot will come up form the stump of Jesse; from his roots a branch will bear fruit.  The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—and he will delight in the fear of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:1-3a, NIV).

-Pastor Derek

Your Mission

“Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted.  Stay wide-awake in prayer.  Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it.  Love makes up for practically anything.  Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully.  Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help.  That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything” (1 Peter 4:7-11, The Message).

Years ago, the television show Mission: Impossible always began with a scene in which the team leader, Mr. Phelps, would receive a tape describing his next mission.  The tape invariably began, “Your mission, should you choose to accept it…”

This iconic line came to my mind as I read through the final chapters of Peter’s letter to the early church.  The early Christians of Peter’s day, many of whom were pagan converts, were faced with a nearly impossible mission.  First, they had the difficult task of living out their faith in families, workplaces, and communities that largely rejected and were hostile toward their commitments and belief.  And second, they had the even more daunting task of speaking up and sharing this Good News they had come to believe with those very same people and even as far as to the ends of the earth.

When you think about it, our mission today is just as difficult and daunting.  We, like those early Christians, are called and sent out to our families, our workplaces, our neighborhoods, and even to the ends of the earth.  We face discouragement, rejection, doubt, and disdain just like the people Peter is writing to in this letter.  But yet, this is our mission, should we choose to accept it.

Peter gives advice to his first audience that holds true for us today.  Don’t get bogged down, don't be discouraged, don’t give up in spite of hardship.  Start small.  Be intentional.  Love.  Give.  Share.  Small acts repeated over and over again, in faith, can have monumental impact.  The ripple effects of one small faithful act magnified and multiplied over time can make all the difference in the world.

Early on in my ministry I was given advice by a Bishop in the United Methodist Church that I remember to this day.  He said that what made all the difference in his life and ministry were the small things that he did over and over and over again, week in and week out without fail.  They weren’t big things, they were small things like writing thank you notes every Monday morning, connecting in a meaningful way with one person a week, and praying for each member of his congregation on a regular basis.

Being on mission to the world can seem like an impossible task, but as the old adage goes “the best way to eat an elephant is to take one bite at a time.”  What is one thing that you can do over and over and over again, week in and week out without fail, that will make all the difference?

Is it prayer?  Is it a Faith Promise offering?  Is it serving in a local ministry?  It is inviting a friend to church?  This is your mission, should you choose to accept it…

**A reminder, that this Sunday we will be collecting your Faith Promise Commitment Cards in all worship services.  Be sure to bring the card that you received in the mail earlier this month (additional cards will be available on-site if needed).  If you are unable to attend this weekend, please mail or drop-off your commitment card to the Financial Office as soon as possible.**

-Pastor Derek

Always Be Ready

“Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence.” (1 Peter 3:15-16a)

You may have heard the often quoted saying from St. Francis of Assisi that goes, “Preach the gospel at all times.  If necessary, use words.”  On the surface, this saying has an important message to it.  We should live our lives in such a way that by our very behaviors and actions we are in essence preaching the gospel.  That’s certainly a way of life we should all aspire towards.  There is no denying that.

However, there are a couple of problems to this saying.  The first problem is, St. Francis of Assisi never said these words!  There is not a scholar or historian of Francis who can find any evidence to the contrary.  In fact, the first recorded instance of this phrase came almost 200 years after St. Francis’ death.

But that’s the lesser of the two problems.  The second, much bigger, problem with this saying is that it is not supported by the Bible.  To be sure, all throughout Scripture there is emphasis placed on living out the Gospel.  But always tied intricately with the living out of the Gospel is the speaking of, telling about, and preaching on the Gospel.

We are called to perform our faith: “Live such good lives among the Gentiles that, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits” (1 Peter 2:12).  As well as, proclaim our faith: “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9)

We often err on the side of performing our faith because it’s easier, less daunting, and less intimidating.  And we often shy away from proclaiming our faith because we’re convinced we’re not equipped and we don’t want to come off as judgmental or pushy.  Scripture reminds us, however, that in order to truly be “on mission” we are called to both perform and proclaim our faith.  It’s not either/or it’s both/and.  “Always be ready,” Peter prompts us, “to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are.”

This week we will be looking at how we can tie those two aspects together as we are on mission in our communities and neighborhoods, and specifically how we can “be ready” to tell our story.  We’ll be thinking about our own personal stories of faith and how our own life story can be a means of sharing the Gospel.  So in preparation for Sunday, be thinking about your life.  Think about the significant events that shaped your life, the important decisions you have made in your faith, and the ways God has changed and is continuing to change you.

“But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed?  And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard?  And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him?  And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent?  As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” (Romans 10:14-15, NIV)

Pastor Derek

Night & Day

“You are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.”  (1 Peter 2:9-10, The Message)

Take a close look at the two pictures below.  Notice the difference between the two images.  Take all the time you need to figure it out.

I’m just guessing you had no problem with that little exercise at all, right?  The difference between night and day in the two pictures is blatantly obvious, isn’t it?  There is really no confusing the two.  The differences are immediately noticeable.  You don’t have to think about it, or analyze it, or get out the magnifying glass and examine it.  You just know day from night when you see it.

In the same way, Peter tells us that we as God’s people should be just as significantly different than everyone else we run across in the world.  He says that comparing the life of a believer to the life of a non-believer should be like comparing day and night.  You should immediately be able to tell them apart just by looking at them.

Which begs a much tougher question for us.  Is the difference between you (as a Christian) and some other person out in the world (not a Christian) as noticeably, blatantly, and obviously different than the two images above?  If not, why not?

The reason this is important is because living differently in the world is part of the way we are “on mission.”  Peter says it this way a few verses later in 1 Peter 2:12, “Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that, though they malign you as evildoers, they may see your honorable deeds and glorify God when he comes to judge.”

We’re called to obviously, noticeably, blatantly, and significantly live different.  To live differently among the people we work with and the ones we go to school with.  To live differently among our neighbors and co-workers.  To live differently at the grocery store, and the coffee joint, and the gas station.

Why?  So that… When people interact with us, they can see the night-and-day difference in us and eventually and hopefully come to glorify God through our example.

This week, we’re continuing our “On Mission” sermon series.  Last week we talked about being on mission in our own homes and to our own families.  This week we take a step out to widen the circle a little more.  Besides our family the people we spend the most time with on a regular basis are the people with whom we work, this is our second mission field.  

We have the privilege of having guest preachers Wes and Joy Griffin of the International Leadership Institute who will be helping us to consider how we can be on mission in our workplaces.  Also, this week in Oswego (and November 13th in Naperville) is our Mission Experience where you can learn about the local and global missionaries we partner with through Faith Promise.

-Pastor Derek

On Mission

“I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” (Matthew 16:18, NIV)

You’ve heard of Peter, right?  The often brash and outspoken disciple of Jesus.  The former fisherman, turned fisher of men.  The guy full of so much faith (or was it sheer craziness?) that he stepped out of the boat and walked on water.  He’s the man who first confessed Jesus as the Messiah, but then turned around and denied he even knew him not once, not twice but three times.  He’s the same guy who ran as fast as he possibly could when he received word that the tomb was empty.  Peter—a prominent voice in the early church, a performer of miracles, baptizer of eunuchs, receiver of a vision of God’s new creation.  Peter—an apostle, the rock the church is built on, a martyr for the faith.

Do you ever wonder how Peter became Peter?  I mean, what set him on his course?  What brought him to Jesus in the first place?  Many remember the story recounted in Matthew, Mark, and Luke of Jesus walking along the Sea of Galilee, and seeing Simon (soon to be renamed Peter) and his brother Andrew fishing and Jesus called out to them to follow him.  

But have you ever noticed the corresponding story in the Gospel of John?  In John 1:40-42, it’s his little brother Andrew who follows Jesus first and cannot contain his excitement over finding the Messiah that he runs to tell big brother Simon.  It was Peter's little brother Andrew who led him to Jesus.

We are all called by Jesus to be “on mission.”  To be so compelled, so overjoyed, so inspired by our own encounter with the Lord, that we go and tell and lead people to Jesus ourselves.  Many are daunted by this idea.  Scared by the concept of walking up to strangers, knocking on neighbor's doors.  But we don’t have to be.  We learn from Andrew and Peter that mission can begin in our own homes, with our siblings, our parents, children and grandchildren.  

We don’t have to jump on a plane to some far off country to lead someone to Jesus, it can begin with a conversation at the dinner table, a bedtime story, an invitation to a loved one to come along and see for themselves.

This week we are kicking off our month-long Faith Promise focus at Wheatland Salem Church.  As we explore what it means to be “On Mission” in our homes, our places of work, our communities and the world.  This week we’ll consider what we can learn from Andrew and Peter (along with a few other modern day examples).

Until Sunday think on this: Who can I lead to Jesus in my very own home?

As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness.  God said, ‘I am holy; you be holy.’” (1 Peter 1:14-16, The Message)

-Pastor Derek

Cookie Jar

Let the LORD lead you and trust him to help. A Psalm of David. Psalm 37:5 CEV

Let the LORD lead me? Trust him to help. 

• Follow God's lead without knowing where he's sending you.
• Wait for God's timing without knowing dates, times or places.
• Expect a miracle without knowing how God will provide.
• Trust God's purpose without understanding the circumstances.
• Believe in a vision without details. 

• It sounds so easy. I can say the words, "I surrender and give God control." I may even believe at some level that I surrender and give God control. But, then I stealthily sneak it back like I’m stealing a cookie from the forbidden cookie jar. I already know I get into trouble every time I my hand reaches for that cookie but I go ahead and do it anyway. There are a lot of cookies between me and becoming a fully devoted, connected and generous follower of Jesus Christ. There is even more required of me if I truly want to become a valuable leader. I must surrender to God’s authority and leadership in my life if I’m going to have any integrity in his kingdom. I have to accept I can not outmaneuver him. I must give up trying to manipulate others, force my agenda or control the situation to get my preferred outcome. I am supposed to trust him more instead of trying so hard to get my way. Munch. Munch. Munch.

I’m pretty sure King David may join me as I dunk my Oreos. I think he and I could have a laugh or two if we compared our leadership notes. Over the years, I’ve learned to consult the contents of the Holy Bible as a leadership manual. Leadership development requires an enormous amount of resources. I am convinced only God can truly develop leaders because He’s the only one with enough resources to invest in the process. Just consider the valuable lessons forged from the chapters of experience. Leaders must learn how to negotiate the chasm between knowing what has to be done and actually doing the hard work.

David was selected by God to become a leader. This was not an over-night process. God promised David he would make his name great and build a house through him. God did not reveal the exact details to the plan. He did expect David to trust him and to live into the relationship they constructed together. I wonder if it was the awkwardness of trying something he couldn’t do on his own that eventually eroded David’s confidence. He did a lot of things that were not God honoring and mostly self-serving. He started out well but like so many leaders throughout history, David did not finish well. God still kept his promise regardless of David’s behavior. God is far more faithful. We can trust his lead.

It’s still astonishing to me that God chose to do amazing work through David. God elected to make Jerusalem his holy city. God eventually built the temple and established the Davidic dynasty which paved the way for the ultimate King of Kings to reign in the hearts of men and women. God did build a house in his own way. Sunday we will talk about David’s legacy. God remains faithful. We can trust his lead and he continues to select people for his own purposes. Maybe it’s time to consider what leadership resources have already been invested in you. If you would like to talk about leaders and leading, I will bring the Oreos. We can learn together.

If you do what the Lord wants, he will make certain each step you take is sure. Psalm 37:23 CEV

Lights, Camera, Action!

Bill and I were there when it happened. Our daughter Hope called us and set up the appointment. Kayla was going to eat her first ‘real food’. We plopped Kayla on set for her first Hollywood photo shoot with backdrops, lighting and music. Bill and I were cast to be gaffers, lighting technicians and terrific audience members in charge of “ooo’s and ahhhh’s". Hope mixed up the perfect blend of water and cereal—we didn’t want it too soupy or too chunky. Everything was on target. Lights. Camera. Action. Kayla’s First Food, take one!

The look on Kayla’s face was priceless. A little mix of fascination and confusion. Her interior wheels were turning. She seemed to savor every spoonful her mom could get to those tiny little lips until the entire quarter cup was gone. We got it all on video. Satisfaction. Maybe even contentment. That day was a joyful achievement. High fives all around.

Now, fast forward, at two and a half years old, Kayla’ eating endeavors are no longer Hollywood moments. Abbie, the dog is Kayla’s favorite mealtime friend. Kayla can do it herself. There was a glorious moment long ago when Kayla reached for her food with great joy. Her mom was extraordinarily patient as she reached for more and made a mess. Hopeful Abbie was seated only millimeters beneath the high chair waiting for morsels. We loved watching Kayla try to eat birthday cake. That was definitely a Hollywood moment caught on tape. However, now we take great care choosing mealtime and snack selections. It’s more like Goldylocks moments. Nothing too big nor too small. Everything is just right. Abbie, is still millimeters away, of course.

No parent wants to spoon-feed their child for their entire life. We are designed to mature in every way. The bench marks can be obvious: reaching for food, riding the bike, driving a car. Other maturity moments could be telling the truth when it’s easier to lie, doing the hard thing instead of taking the easy route or being good when being bad is really tempting. Maturity is reflected in all of creation. And so it is with our spiritual lives. I believe it is God’s design for us to mature in our spiritual lives, to hunger and thirst for righteousness, to reach for more and no longer passively sit back waiting to be spoon-fed.

There were many Hollywood moments in the life of King David. Fortunately for us, the lights, cameras and media of his time caught more than just the high points. The same paparazzi lined up to watch the king dance and shell out party favors at the Jerusalem Party of the Century witnessed and recorded the juicy details of his personal failures. 2 Samuel 12 captured the details of what could be determined as a maturity moment miss. A child’s life was on the line. David spent days pleading with God. Tragically, things don’t turn out well. It appears as if David did not get the outcome he wanted. God did restore the loss with a beloved son who would be included in the line of the Messiah—who would take away the sins of the world. Restoration wasn’t on David’s heart or mind. His relationship with God had come to a serious stop.

David quit. Passivity crept across his life like an evening sunset. Darkness took over his heart. David’s relationship with God had always effected the people, especially Jerusalem. Relationships that took years to develop ventured toward a perilous end. David’s ambitious son Absalom watched the deterioration of his father and took advantage of the situation. Tragedy ensued. You have to read 2 Samuel 12-20 to believe it.

No growth comes by being passive. We have to reach. Make a mess. Start again and create something from the rubble. Giving up reveals a lot about our maturity level. Consider what is lost if we don’t step up. Consider what is gained if we do step up. Which life do you think Jesus died to make possible for us? Come worship our awesome God who never gives up. He never quits. He’s willing and ready when you are. It’s up to you.

Here’s a song that inspired me. One Thing Remains. 

Seasons of Life

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139: 23-24 NIV

 Difficult Seasons in Life

The bible records a very difficult season in King David's life from 2 Samuel 11-20. It's almost as if God's presence and voice are absent from these pages. Cracks developed in David's foundation. His spiritual and emotional life crumbled beneath the weight of poor choices and sin. David's later years were fraught with disappointment, family disaster and leadership failures. Alas, David was human. I am thankful to God the details of my difficult seasons are not recorded for others to interpret for all eternity. I believe God included the down and dirty details because he intends for us to learn important life lessons from this Shepherd Boy-Musician-Warrior-Superstar-King.

Difficult seasons can be prime time for us to take a time out and assess what is really going on in our lives. Mistakes can happen. People fail. Family and friends will act in ungodly ways. Our response to these normal human frailties reveals a lot about us and our belief about God. How spiritually healthy are we, really?

Consider the Top Ten Symptoms of emotionally UNHEALTHY spirituality:

1. Using God to run from God: I create God activity and ignore difficult areas God wants to change.

2. Ignoring the ungodly emotions of anger, sadness and fear: I was taught emotions lead to instability and are not to be trusted.

3. Dying to the wrong things: I am to die to defensiveness, arrogance, stubbornness, and judgmentalism not pleasure, joy, laughter, recreation and nature.

4. Denying the past's impact on the present: sanctification demands we go back in order to free ourselves from unhealthy and destructive patterns that prevent us from moving forward.

5. Dividing our lives into 'secular' and 'sacred' compartments: I separate my weekday life from my Sunday life. Jesus has little or no impact in my daily decisions at work or in my marriage.

6. Doing for God instead of being with God: I base my spiritual life on what I produce for God instead of who I am to God.

7. Spiritualizing away conflict: I hate conflict and move quickly to smooth it over but become resentful when there is no change.

8. Covering over brokenness, weakness and failure: I feel pressure to present myself as "having it all together." I could never be vulnerable with others.

9. Living without limits: I routinely add more to my life without subtracting anything. I can handle it all myself.

10. Judging other people's spiritual journey: I was taught it was my responsibility to correct others in error or sin. I secretly feel that I am more spiritually mature than others.

Be honest. Are you living the spiritual life you always dreamed about? Or is there something unhealthy about the way things are?

David was in a very unhealthy place during his later years. I believe he'd want us to learn from his mistakes. I think if he could write this blog, he'd say, "Connect with God daily. Stay humble. Don't let your life get so busy that the next generation pays the price for your arrogance."  

 I invite you to take the Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Course I am leading this fall. Orientation begins Tuesday, October 11, 2016 at 6:45 p.m.  Click here to register.

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Psalm 51:10-12 NIV

No Secrets to Success

There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure. Colin Powell

Recently, I meandered through an airport bookstore while I waited for a connecting flight. I was amazed how much stuff was jammed into one of those little stores. All the food items from bananas to Z Bars were strategically placed at eye level. The walls were plastered with flashy magazine covers touting the greatest business or management insights collected from top names in industry. I have a tendency to flash-read the articles while paging through the magazines. Most of the time, the articles summarize the 'top ten' things or the 'fantastic finds’ creating the illusion that leading during tumultuous times can be accomplished in effortless, simple, easy ways. The slick packaging reduces enormous human endeavors to the sterile academic environment. What the printed stories often leave out is the blood and guts of how the wisdom was actually gleaned or the cost of having such incredible business acumen.  

There’s nothing like the wisdom of shared experience.

The biblical account of the rise and fall of the Shepherd Boy-Musician-Warrior-Superstar-King could be read like one of those biographies available at the bookstore. Each chapter of 1 & 2 Samuel recounts the rise of King David’s kingship, first over Judah and then over all Israel. As a bonus, those action-packed chapters also include the major challenge to David’s superstar role—his own sins. I wish I could summarize it and make it easy for you. But, then I would leave out all the blood and guts. God has a way of applying his word to our daily lives with personal precision. There is a big difference between reading scripture and a biography. I believe we can be tempted to create messages that minimize the impact of scripture by trying to be like those slick magazine articles. I just won’t do that to you.

David was successful. God blessed David. God’s blessing allowed for great military advances which expanded the Kingdom of Israel. Some very saucy narratives are sprinkled in-between the expansionist military success stories. One scenario from 2 Samuel 9 includes what I consider a shrewd political move by David. The king invited the crippled son of his best friend to live with him in the palace: "to dine at his own table.” Mephibosheth was Jonathan’s son and the grandson of Saul. Inviting the remaining remnant of the enemy to live within the palace was pure genius in my mind. “Keep your friends close—but keep your enemies closer.” Thanks Sun Tzu. The second divulgence from 2 Samuel 11 is so brilliantly written I fear we lose the impact of what really happened. Chapter 11 is blood and guts—pure and simple. Hearts were broken. Careers and lives were eternally affected. The complex reality of human depravity all but destroyed the shining career of a hopeful superstar and left many who rode on his coat tails wondering what could have been.

Been there. Done that.

The blood and guts is what makes this narrative so applicable in every age. I wish this drama had a story book ending and everyone involved lived happily ever after. But, that’s not the case. The temptation may be to single out the ‘greatest moments’ of David’s life and career and only identify with David's success. But, I believe God also wants us to identify with his lowest moments. The ‘top ten things you need to know’ or the ‘fantastic finds’ are discovered during the deepest, darkest valley moments. These are often the ones that create the greatest impact because they are deeply personal. We can identify with moments like these because we trudged through them ourselves and lived to tell the story.

So, settle in. Sit back in your chair. Allow the Spirit free access to your mind, heart and soul as you read 2 Samuel 9-12. Create your own article. I’ll look for it next time I’m at the airport.

Going through the motions doesn’t please you, a flawless performance is nothing to you. I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don’t for a moment escape God’s notice. Psalm 51:16-17 The Message

Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen

Praise the Lord! Sing a new song to the Lord; praise him in the assembly of his faithful people! Be glad, Israel, because of your Creator; rejoice, people of Zion, because of your king! Praise his name with dancing; play drums and harps in praise of him. The Lord takes pleasure in his people; he honors the humble with victory. Psalm 149:1-4 GNT

The city of Jerusalem holds special prominence in the heart of God and in the story of David. King David moved the royal capital to Jerusalem and established it as the City of God. Jerusalem became known as the City of David, Zion, and the place where God and the People of Israel are joined together in a unique way. A relationship is formed. Throughout the epic story we will discover how the relationship develops. We will discover a pattern with Israel and God. So, goes Israel’s relationship with God, so goes the city of Jerusalem. Oddly enough, the word marriage comes to mind.

Let’s move in together.

King David decided to make Jerusalem the capital. He routed out the Jebusites and moved his family from Hebron to Jerusalem. Afterwards, he declared the Ark of the Covenant was to be moved into the capital. Some drama developed heightening concerns about moving the Ark of the Covenant which amplified everyone’s nerves. Just like preparing for a wedding celebration, there is always pre-wedding drama. Always. The drama gets even more amplified when people lost sight of their priorities. Emotions ran high. Maybe you’ve heard the saying, “too many cooks in the kitchen?” Well, Jerusalem was filled with cooks in a very small kitchen.

I’d like to focus on this unique relationship between God, David and Jerusalem. David’s priority was God. His energy went into the relationship with God, then people and finally to the city of Jerusalem. Scripture described David as a man after God’s heart. (Acts 13:22) However, David's priority made being married to his wife Michal problematic. David is hardly the text book husband as far as Michal is concerned.  Michal was Saul’s daughter and in my opinion, used very badly as a pawn in this very political story. Michal was certainly raised with certain values as King Saul’s daughter. Imagine the expectations put on Princess Michal. She would’ve been educated in royal protocol and taught how to act in public. Royal families live within very strict narrow lines—even ancient ones. I believe Michal would’ve expected to be the priority in David’s life. But, she was wrong. Scripture says Michal lost all respect for her husband as he publicly danced before the Ark of the Covenant and paraded the Ark to it’s proper place. (2 Samuel 6:16).

Yes, the public spectacle of the king dancing in the street may have been embarrassing for Queen Michal. But, I think as she watched, her heart hardened because she realized she would never have the priority in David's heart. Her position or marriage would never be in the place where God would be. I think this situation, written so brilliantly in 2 Samuel 6, captures the essence of what many married couples struggle with even to this day. Queen Michal’s character was revealed. Perhaps she realized where her true position would be and just gave up. Michal faded from palace life and never had any children of her own. Her legacy was over. Or was it?

Spouses, I believe this story reveals a deep truth for us. Marriage requires prioritization in our lives. Only God would create such a demanding relationship. Because it requires us to give up our rights or expectations and believe God has the better way. We struggle to handle priorities every day in marriage. Marriage is also where we learn about sacrifice, repentance and resilience. Relationships will often require more from us than what many are willing to give. We must yield or we get stuck. Marriages will go through desert seasons. but, God promises we find great wells of living water when we truly yield to him. 

A little self-inventory.

So, here is my suggestion. Do a little self-inventory with regards to your priorities. Is God really first in my life? Spouses, do a heart check. Is there unresolved resentment or disappointment in your heart in regards to your marriage? I think if Queen Michal were to sit down with us, she may offer some sage advice. She may say something like this, “Keep your heart open to God. Don’t let your own expectations drive an agenda that is contrary to God’s. It doesn’t end well for you. But, if you put your trust in the LORD, he will make your path straight and fill your heart forever.” 

You have turned my sorrow into joyful dancing. No longer am I sad and wearing sackcloth. I thank you from my heart, and I will never stop singing your praises, my Lord and my God. Psalm 30:11-12 CEV

Relationship City

I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous, your handmade sky-jewelry, Moon and stars mounted in their settings. Then I look at my micro-self and wonder, Why do you bother with us? Why take a second look our way? A Psalm of David, Psalm 8:4 The Message

David

The complex story of David is told in the biblical texts 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings and 1 Chronicles. David was the eighth and youngest son of Jesse of Bethlehem.  As a teenager, David became a giant killer. He befriended Israel’s Crown Prince Jonathan and was appointed to become court musician and armor-bearer for Israel’s first king Saul. Through a tumultuous unfolding of events, David eventually succeeded Saul as king. Under David’s command and leadership, Israel’s regions unite to win battles against their surrounding enemies. Jerusalem becomes known as the “City of David” and the center of government, commerce and worship.

This charismatic leader influenced the world. Prayers and songs from the book of Psalms are connected to David. He is mentioned in Islam’s holy book, The Koran, and identified as a prophet (Sura 6), noting in Sura 38 his repentance for his sin with Bathsheba. Michelangelo created a world renowned sculpture of David that is considered a classic from the Renaissance era. The Star of David became an important Jewish symbol which now appears on the flag of the modern state of Israel. David has been portrayed many times in films by actors including Gregory Peck (David and Bathsheba, 1951), Richard Gere (King David, 1985) and Max Von Sydow in the TV movie Solomon, 2005.

David: his relationships and his city.

David’s meteoric rise was fraught with turbulent relationships. His relationship with God was a key factor in determining how events unfolded in his marriages, with his family and ultimately with the sacred city of Jerusalem.  The Lord was with David through all the turmoil which included his affair with Uriah’s wife Bathsheba and the death of his own rebel son, Absalom. David identified and anointed Solomon the next King of Israel just before he died. David’s lineage holds an honored place in two religions: Judaism, which awaits the coming of the “Messiah, son of David,” and Christianity which already celebrates Jesus as the "Messiah, son of David."

Why Jerusalem? The nationhood of Israel is defined, first and foremost, by its communal relationship with God and secondly, by the Jewish people's historic mission. And it turns out that there is no better place to relate to God than Jerusalem. After David makes Jerusalem his capital, he buys the upper part of the hill above the northern boundary of the city from its owner Aravnah, the Jebusite. The purchase is recorded in the Bible in two places (2 Samuel 24:24 and 1 Chronicles 21:25).

This hill is Mount Moriah. It is a mountain of spiritual greatness. From the earliest period of Jewish history, the Patriarchs of the Jewish people recognized the tremendous spiritual power of Mount Moriah. This is where Abraham went up to offer Isaac as a sacrifice and later remarked as the Bible records:"The Lord will see," as it is said to this day, "On the Lord's mountain, He will be seen." (Genesis 22:14) Mount Moriah is where Jacob dreamed of a ladder going to heaven, and said:"How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven." (Genesis 28:17) 

It’s no wonder every major conqueror in all of human history wanted to own this sacred plot of land. Jerusalem has been conquered or destroyed 36 times in 3,000 years. It is said God's presence can be felt here more intensively than any other place on the planet earth. Therefore, this was the logical place to build a permanent resting spot for the most holy and sacred object that the Jewish people have ― the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant.

Relationship City is the title of our next series. We will focus on David’s life while he resided in Jerusalem. Jerusalem continues to be one of the most influential cities in the world. I’ve travelled in Israel-Palestine on a number of occasions. A rabbi once said something to me that stuck. “So goes Jerusalem-so goes the world.” Consider what we can learn from the sacred texts of the bible. Discover how we might apply what we learn as a nation while we continue to relate to Jerusalem. Is there something prophetic we might glean from David’s relationship with God, his people, his beloved city Jerusalem and his relationship with the world? Let’s study and find out together. See you in church.

Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah. I Samuel 16:13 ESV

I Keep My Grip on Hope

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 NIV

But there’s one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope: God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! Lamentations 3:21-23 The Message

What I saw after 911 was an amazing outpouring of compassion and generosity. Courage and fellowship, honor and integrity came from everywhere. Our ongoing 911 commemoration can be to live each day with a sense of pride in serving others and finding hope in the midst of great tragedy. The greatness of who we are was tested and I believe we met the challenge. Ordinary men and women did extraordinary acts of bravery. What I heard over and over again from  “I was just doing my job.”

Tragic events can bring out the best in us. 911 certainly was a tragic event but our response was truly amazing. We’ve learned so much since then about overcoming adversity and what it means to belong to a resilient community. I’ve included a number of videos that can help you remember some of the best and brightest moments. The History Channel has multiple videos you may want to watch. The Remembrance Rescue Project is an educational tool you may want to learn from and share with friends and family. It is designed to teach new generations about the event. 

Sunday is September 11. We hope to reinvigorate our collective memory of how everyday Americans stepped up to respond in life giving ways. What we choose to remember and how we choose to tell the story reveals much about us. Join us as we remember at all Wheatland services.  

1. Tom Hanks narrates a video about the greatest water evacuation in history from Lower Manhattan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDOrzF7B2Kg

2. History Channel commemorates the hope, compassion and generosity experienced in our greatest hour of need. http://www.history.com/topics/9-11-attacks/videos/after-911-fifteen-septembers-later?m=528e394da93ae&s=undefined&f=1&free=false

3. Remembrance Rescue Project helps us educate new generations about 911 and why we remember those who lost their lives serving others. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlkeRLCGoL4

Journey Towards Recover

As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 2 Timothy 4:5 (ESV) English Standard Verson

You do not want to miss the final week of Making of a Champion series; A Champion Bounces Back. Wheatland welcomes Tim Ryan at our Naperville campus and Brad Gerke at our Oswego campus from Man in Recovery. These men are called by God to share their story and help others on their journey toward recovery. You can learn more each week from these two giants Thursday nights at 7 p.m. Wheatland's Recovery night is for addicts and the people who love them.

The video I've included has adult content and language which may not be suitable for all audiences. We respect the honesty and authenticity of the story.   

Carpe Diem

"But if you listen real close, you can hear them whisper their legacy to you. Go on, lean in. Listen, you hear it? - - Carpe - - hear it? - - Carpe, carpe diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary.” Robin Williams as John Keating in Dead Poets Society.

I sat at the edge of my seat. The runners were called to take their mark. Commentators bantered with each other in subdued tones as camera angles were adjusted and focused onto one runner. All the world watched as the runner expected to win prepared for the race. The crowd hushed, followed by a moment of stillness and then it happened. The runner expected to win the 400 meter hurdles did the most unthinkable but very human thing. He lifted his head a split second before the starter gun was fired.  False start. He was disqualified. Inconsolable, the runner everyone expected to win dropped to his knees, covered his face with his hands and cried. Devastated. 

Restart. It’s hard for me to comprehend how those elite athletes managed their emotions let alone the adrenaline rush that had already hit their system. But, the remaining runners were called back for the restart. The commentators identified the obvious opportunity that opened for the other runners.  The restart was successful. The race progressed perfectly and the winner of the 400 meter hurdles was an American named Kerron Clement. Sometimes the best or chosen athlete doesn’t always make it to the podium.

Circumstance can become the revolutionary catalyst for a champion. 

Things happen. People act like human beings. Situations develop. All of the sudden, it’s your turn to accept or decline the opportunity given to you.  In quiet moments, you may have day dreamed about what it would be like to get the opportunity or perhaps secretly you hoped for it. But, deep down, you never really imagined it could happen. Then, unexpectedly, as all the world is watching, the very thing you dreamed and hoped for is offered to you. (okay, maybe not the whole world is watching…but it can feel like that!)

Champions seize the opportunity.

Champions know what it takes to triumph through the gauntlet of relevant emotions as they erupt. They know how to regulate body chemicals like adrenaline, norepinephrine and cortisol even as they explode and compete internally challenging our clarity of mind. Champions guard against guilt or shame sabotaging their performance. They operate with a clear conscience and accept the truth that someone else’s failure can become their opportunity to rise. All of this and more can happen in seconds! Friends, it is for this moment we train and when this moment arises, we need to seize it!

The Apostle Paul seized his opportunity and seriously trained to become a witness for Jesus Christ. Paul's rise to the podium was an ascent of submission and surrender. His words of truth written to the early Christian communities were a direct result of his personal descent toward holiness and humility.  Paul had firsthand knowledge of what it meant to be a devoted, connected and generous Christ follower.  Words like grace, salvation and faith took on new dimension when combined with the significance of Paul's personal journey.  He experienced devastating loss and ultimate triumph because of his relationship with Jesus. Paul’s most influential letters were written from prison or captivity. It is when Paul is in the darkest of chambers that the light of Jesus Christ burned brightest. Carpe diem, Christ followers, carpe diem!

‘You are saved by God’s grace because of your faith. This salvation is God’s gift. It’s not something you possessed. It’s not something you did that you can be proud of. Instead, we are God’s accomplishment, created in Christ Jesus to do good things. God planned for these good things to be the way that we live our lives.’ Ephesians 3:8-10 CEB

Trouble. Trouble. Trouble.

Take good counsel and accept correction—that’s the way to live wisely and well. Proverbs 19:20 The Message

The water turned kale green. There was no easy fix. The Olympic officials were hesitant to completely change out the water. So, they waited it out. But, Saturday night they acquiesced. Olympic officials drained, cleaned and refilled the pool Saturday night. I included an on-line article with more details here.* There was no danger to athletes but plenty of embarrassment for the Rio Olympic officials. Champions plan for trouble.

Be prepared. 

Since 1907, The Boy Scouts of America have used that motto for their inspiration and training. Military, aviation, EMS, Education and business fields spend millions of dollars on training for trouble. Consider all the time and money we currently spend on preparedness training through Homeland Security. We invest resources, time and creative efforts toward being prepared for trouble. But, all the training in the world doesn’t mean a thing until the preparedness meets the opportunity to be truly tested.

Consider God may be at work in the circumstances.

Sometimes the Holy Spirit is working to protect us but we don’t realize it until later. There have been times when I left my house late because I couldn’t find my keys or I meandered aimlessly around my house because I just couldn’t get going. Frustrated, I then rush to get to my purposed destination only to discover along the way that I could’ve been involved in a car accident and missed the collision by minutes. Sometimes we need to stop and let go of the steering wheel for a brief moment to say a prayer that goes something like this: 

Lord, if my delay this morning is because you are at work helping me to avoid a wreck, please continue your work protecting us. 

I will take a breath, humbly praise you for your work, adjust my attitude and slow down.

Please protect me, my family and others as we move about our day. Amen.

Be humble. Improvise.

I wish I could tell you why circumstances unfold the way they do, but the answer to ‘why' is almost always above my pay grade. I don’t understand why God works in the ways he does. But, Godly wisdom can eventually illuminate our clouded judgments with answers that are often profound and God-honoring. That’s why I encourage you to remain focused and be humble during frustrating ‘training exercises.’ We are all work in progress. That’s the truth about the Christian life. There are some days when everything makes sense. We can claim Jesus as Lord and we feel enthusiastically connected, deeply devoted and absolutely generous! Then, there are days when we question the very existence of the loving God who protected us yesterday. 

It’s normal to ride the rollercoaster of faith. Consider how you practice your Christian faith as training for when challenges come your way. Thank God for the small group you’re part of that comes alongside you during a challenging time recovering from surgery. Praise God for the scripture verse that seems to ‘pop into your mind’ just when you need it. Honor God for providing just the right amount of money to give your tithe and pay your bills this month. Thank God for the opportunity to develop new relationships as you serve the poor, the widow or the orphan because it is the mandate from Christ for the Christian life. All of that investment pays off for the Christ follower because God is at work.

This weekend we will discover how the Holy Spirit intervened as he redirected Paul and his companions on their way to share the Gospel. A vision of a man came to Paul during the night. The second mission trip of Paul was rerouted. The circumstances are not as important as the outcome for the Christ followers in Macedonia. Consider the outcomes the next time you’re rerouted. See you Sunday.

 ...for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Philippians 2:13 ES

*http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/rio-officials-drain-green-water-diving-pool-saturday-evening