IMHO

I was taking part in an on-line conversation awhile back, and came across the acronym “IMHO”; to which the next person replied with a “IMNSHO.” I had to turn to someone younger than I to get the translation, “In My Humble Opinion;” I figured out for myself that the extra NS stood for “not so.” It made me wonder, how often are my “humble opinions” stated in a way that is not so humble after all? Ted Turner (not exactly the poster child for modesty) once said “If I had a little bit of humility, I’d be perfect.”

In his book, Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis calls pride the great sin, saying, "There is one vice of which no man in the world is free; which everyone in the world loathes when he sees it in someone else. Pride is spiritual cancer, it eats up the very possibility of love, or contentment, or even common sense. If anyone would like to acquire humility I can I think tell him the first step. The first step is to realize that one is proud. And a big step too. At least nothing whatever can be done before it. If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed."

How could Jesus be so humble? He had more to be proud of than anyone! His identity as Messiah, all the miracles, his faithfulness to God, his sacrifices for the sake of the Kingdom… to say nothing about his divine nature! Yet we constantly see Jesus taking the humble position. He never demands that others serve him, and never complains about being mistreated. He did teach “as one with authority,” not just sharing humble opinions. And he did tread on a few toes in the process. But it was more about the truth, not about building his own reputation.

Humility is a process of dying to self. It involves giving up the need to be the important one. It is never easy among our peers. I’ve noticed, though, that when we are in the presence of someone truly great it comes more naturally. We turn our focus to them.

When we are in worship, we recognize that we are in the presence of God. There is no room for personal pride in worship because it is about Him, not about us. The more we are aware of His awesome presence the more humble we will be.

But what about our normal day to day interactions with our Christian brothers and sisters… can we recognize Christ living in them? They may not be letting His light shine through very brightly at the moment, but that does not reduce His presence. May God help us to see Himself in each other.

IMHO, the light of Christ shines beautifully in your eyes.

School Days

School days are here again…can fall be far behind?

School memories are a mixed bag. One of my least favorite memories is running to catch the bus, only to be tripped by the school bully. The gash on my hand didn’t hurt as bad as the bruise to my ego.

Why are some people so mean? Why, after all the years of working on “self-esteem”, psychology, new medications, and social work, do we still have bullies in school? Why, with our increased knowledge of human behavior, do we have more people in jail and prison than ever? Easy to label the problem as SIN, but we still have to deal with the suffering.

Paul writes in Colossians 1“Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, the church.” I wrestle with how to understand this. Obviously Paul does not mean that the Cross is insufficient, that more suffering is required to atone for our sins. But somehow he claims that his suffering works for the good of the church.

What is it about suffering that can work out for the good? We’d just as soon avoid it all together. We might each have a different image of “the good life”, but rarely does it include suffering!

Could it be that in our suffering we can participate in the sacrificial nature of Christ? His sacrifice was much bigger than the cross. Jesus was constantly giving of himself for the sake of others. He viewed all of life, including his suffering, in the light of his highest goal – fulfilling God’s purpose.

So what about the bullies? I don’t think they are doing God’s will, but the way we respond to them gives us the opportunity to fulfill God’s purpose.

"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." Phil 3:10-11

School days are here again…can fall be far behind?

School memories are a mixed bag. One of my least favorite memories is running to catch the bus, only to be tripped by the school bully. The gash on my hand didn’t hurt as bad as the bruise to my ego.

Why are some people so mean? Why, after all the years of working on “self-esteem”, psychology, new medications, and social work, do we still have bullies in school? Why, with our increased knowledge of human behavior, do we have more people in jail and prison than ever? Easy to label the problem as SIN, but we still have to deal with the suffering.

Paul writes in Colossians 1 “Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, the church.” I wrestle with how to understand this. Obviously Paul does not mean that the Cross is insufficient, that more suffering is required to atone for our sins. But somehow he claims that his suffering works for the good of the church.

What is it about suffering that can work out for the good? We’d just as soon avoid it all together. We might each have a different image of “the good life”, but rarely does it include suffering!

Could it be that in our suffering we can participate in the sacrificial nature of Christ? His sacrifice was much bigger than the cross. Jesus was constantly giving of himself for the sake of others. He viewed all of life, including his suffering, in the light of his highest goal – fulfilling God’s purpose.

OPPOSITES ATTRACT

This has been kind of a whirlwind summer for Lyn and me. VBS was followed by Solid Rock Church Camp. Then we left for the 4-C Family Conference (with David and Sandy) in Iowa. As soon as we got back from that, we were switching our suitcases to head over to Hungary to witness our daughter getting married. Weddings are always wonderful occasions, filled with beauty and pageantry. This one was even more, because of all the different traditions. Since the happy couple is also planning an American wedding (September 12, and you are invited) reflecting American traditions, they made the first ceremony truly Hungarian. Translators made it possible for us to follow along. The reception lasted till 3am, and included a “second supper” after midnight! The food was quite different – even the cake – but very delicious.

As a father, I can see that Meg and Gabor have some challenges ahead of them. Cultural differences usually pop up in surprising little things. Things that you assume “everyone knows this.” Like how to celebrate birthdays, for instance. Or how to paint a room, or how to raise kids.

In a sense, all marriages are somewhat cross-cultural, since “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus.” Yes, men and women are wired differently in many ways. It is curious that God chose to design a world where opposites attract. And though those “opposites” can create a lot of tension in a marriage, they also give it strength and vitality.

One of the strange things about Culture is that it largely operates behind the scenes. We do not hear the accent in our own voice. People from the South or from Minnesota have accents, not us. People from England have really strong accents, but we talk plain English.

It is hard for us to realize how much our Culture affects our religion. The great missionary statesman, Dr. Ralph Winter, always urged his students to be aware of how their own culture influenced their understanding of the Bible. Our upbringing shapes how we interpret the Word. It determines which verses we read, and persuades how we obey.

That is why we need the church. It protects us from getting lost in our own narrow views. And that is why it is so healthy for us to have a wide network of relationships. Even though I am fully committed and fully invested in Whetstone Church, I make it a point to have friends who are Baptist and Methodist and Lutheran and Assembly of God and Independent.

And that is one of the big values in taking missions trips. Traveling outside our culture helps us to see our own culture in a clearer light. It has helped me to see that God is far bigger than my preconceived notions. When I see the power of the Gospel transforming lives in India, I know without a doubt that we follow the one True God!

Talk about “opposites attract” – how is it possible that the infinite holy God could be attracted to me? When the Body of Christ becomes the Bride of Christ, that will be the most cross-cultural marriage ever! But oh what a day that will be.

How Long Is 20 Years?

That depends, of course. Looking forward it might seem forever; looking back, the same 20 years are but a moment. The 20 years I spent in school seemed pretty long at the time, even with summers off. The 20 years a child takes to grow up lasts as long as an ice cream cone in July. And 20 years spent doing what you love tends to fly by.

It doesn’t seem possible that I’ve been pastor of Whetstone for 20 years. When I look at the pictures of our family when we came, it seems like ages ago. Yet it feels like just a little bit. How many hospital visits? Funerals? Births? Baptisms? Weddings? I haven’t counted, but I know it is not enough yet!

I never would’ve guessed 20 years ago that we would still be here today. But the future is a funny thing. We never know how it is going to turn out. We can make predictions, but it is not in our control. We can and should make preparations, which definitely have an influence on how tomorrow turns out. But there are many more influences and circumstances in the mix. That is why I am so glad to say with Psalm 23, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” When we trust in Him, He keeps our feet on the pathway that leads to life. And Psalm 121, “The Lord will watch over your coming and your going, both now and forevermore.” He holds the future in His hands.

A few Sundays ago we read from Philippians 3:14, “forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward.” It has been really nice living in the same house for 20 years. But nice as it is, this house is nothing compared to the one God has prepared for us. And even a whole lifetime here is only a moment compared to the eternity God has in mind for us.

We can look backward at 20 years or 40 years or 80 years and celebrate victories, or bemoan the defeats. All of us have had plenty of successes and failures. As a congregation we can look back at 135 years of continuous worship and discipleship and ministry here on the corner of 60^th and Madison (or, Whetstone Road and Brown Street Road). Plus 10 years before that in homes and schools. Do you think those early church planters had any idea of how things would turn out today? Did they dream that one day those corn fields would be filled with houses, and this country church would be part of the city of Anderson? Neither do we know how the future will turn out. But because of their faithfulness Whetstone Church was here for us.

I look forward to our church picnic this month, as we celebrate our history. How many lives have been shaped for the good, how many souls drawn to Christ through the ministry of this congregation? I have no idea of that number, but I do know this – not enough yet! Let’s keep pressing on to win the prize. God is calling us heavenward. Don’t give up till we get there.

Join the Parade

 

With nicer weather, we are entering into Parade season. Don’t you love hearing the marching bands? First the drums, then the tubas, with the full music swelling as it approaches. But before you know it, this band fades into the next one in line.

This is also the season of flowers. Have you noticed the pictures at worship? We’ve tried to show a weekly progression of the blossoms around the church. Every springtime is like a parade of flowers! First the crocus and the daffodils, then tulips. The blooming trees burst out, each in their turn. As one fades, another marches down the street blaring out its beauty. Lilacs are just beginning, peonies are on the way, and a host of others just beginning to push their way out of the ground. How easy it is to see the hand of God behind it all, in beauty revealing His love to the world. Spring would be pretty if the only flower were tulips, and the only color red. But don’t you appreciate God’s exuberance?

You might say that the Bible is like a parade also. We read about one character after another who was faithful in serving God in their day. Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Sampson, David… none of them perfect, but all of them making a contribution. In the New Testament we read about Peter and John and Paul continuing the march. Jesus, the Grand Marshal, came in the middle.

You could read church history and see that the parade has continued on over the centuries. Again, easy to see God’s hand guiding, His word inspiring, His Holy Spirit empowering. God has a purpose and a design for this world.

I like to read and remember our own church history, the pastors who have served here, the members who helped shape who we are today. Like Loretta McCombs teaching the Busy Bee class for over 50 years! Even though she has been gone for several years now, her service to Christ is still affecting lives. I love hearing the stories of our first VBS, or pouring the concrete for the basement walls all in one day.  It’s amazing how God has planned it so one generation flows into another and the music keeps playing.

Does it make you wonder what a future generation will remember about us? We are part of the parade! We didn’t start it; we didn’t even choose the music. We’re just trying to follow the Director.

Wait… if we are in the parade, then who is watching it? Our children, of course. They want to know if it is worth it to jump in line. Will our lives inspire them to take music lessons so they can play in God’s marching band? Those who have made wrong decisions, living apart from Christ, whose lives are in turmoil, are also watching to see if there might be hope for them.

I think there are more – the Saints who have gone before, who have already finished the course, are watching to see how we will continue. Not with a critical eye to point out our sour notes, but cheering us on and celebrating that the song goes on.

And ultimately God is our audience. He’s the one who really matters. He is the one who designed the parade in the first place. It’s His mind that planned the route. His hand wrote the music and set the tempo.

       Keep on Marching!

  

            Blessings!       

Heroes - part 2

            Moses had the right stuff – the stuff heroes are made of. When Pharoah gave orders to throw all Hebrew babies into the Nile, Moses had the good luck of being in the right place at the right time. All heroes start with a large dose of good luck – even Superman did not invent his superpowers, he had the good luck to be born with them. But a true hero does need to nurture and develop and hone his or her abilities. No amount of work will ever make me as good a basketball player as Michael Jordan; yet it certainly required a lot of work on his part to develop his natural abilities.

            Moses had the Mo. He was a rising star in Egypt. He had the connections, the training, the resources. He was a mover and shaker. When he wanted something, he made it happen. So naturally, when he began to think of his Hebrew heritage, he thought he could do something to make life better for his people. Who else was in a position to help?

            Ever notice in a ball game how easy it is for momentum to change? A team is down 20 points just minutes before the half, then intercepts a pass for a touchdown, then on the kickoff recovers a fumble and scores again. They are still down 6 points, but the momentum has shifted. Moses suddenly found himself running into the wilderness, a price on his head. Going from prince to pauper, all his hero dreams were dashed. He was trying to do something great for God, but failed.

            What Christian doesn’t want to do something great for God? Isn’t that why we signed up for camp? We use our skills, our training, our networks to recruit counselors and staff. We plan out what we are going to do when. We’ve got the Mo working our way! Then someone calls to cancel. Monkey wrenches get tossed into the gears, and everything comes screeching to a halt. Bills come due, and we wonder where the $$$ is going to come from.

            It must’ve been depressing out in the wilderness for someone like Moses, raised on hero dreams. Out there he had no fancy clothes to impress. No one cared what books he had read, or poets he had known. His social network was gone… replaced with a family of shepherds. Moses, the man who thought he had the right stuff to fix any problem, discovered he had very little.

            He must’ve learned the lesson well, because when God called from the burning bush 40 years later, Moses had no desire to respond. When God said “Go to Egypt and set my people free” Moses declined because he was a nobody. When God said “I will be with you, now go” Moses replied “I don’t even know your name… how can I claim to represent you?” When God said “I am who I am – the God of your fathers – I will reveal myself to you” Moses answered “I have no authority, no power; why should anyone listen to me?” When God said “What is in your hand, Moses? Throw it down,” and turned the stick into a snake, promising Moses the power of miracles, Moses came back with “but I can’t speak – I’m out of practice, and not eloquent.” When God promised to give him the words, Moses begged God to just send someone else. Anyone could do a better job – he had already tried and failed. He thought he was hero material, but it didn’t work out. Moses saw himself as better suited to be a shepherd. He was too scared to try again.

            As it turns out, that is just the kind of attitude that God was looking for. The world is full of hot-shots thinking they can fix the problems. And often they can, but they create 3 or 4 others in the process. They step on toes and break hearts and disappoint the people who love them most. God does not need our talents and abilities, as if we had something to offer Him that no one else could… He is the one who created our talents and abilities in the first place. “Humble yourself beneath the mighty hand of God, and in due time He will exalt you.” “If anyone would be great among you, he must become least of all.” “The first will be last, and the last will be first.” Get the point? God wants His power and His love to shine through us, not our talents and abilities.

            When we try our best to do something for God, we are surprised when God does not seem impressed. God should be grateful that we have given so much… far more than those other “lukewarm Christians.” Why does He let these great plans fizzle? We worked so hard for Him…

            Give God your nothingness. Remember Paul in Philippians 3:1-11, “Whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ….”

            If God wanted glorious service, He would’ve sent the angels.

            God wants the fellowship of working together with us and through us. His power is not something we can wield or control; but when we humbly submit to Him, He can wield us as a weapon to tear down strongholds. God wielded Moses to the destruction of the false systems of Egypt. God chooses the foolish things of this world to same the wise; God chooses the weak things of the world to shame the strong (1Cor 1:27).

            May God use our weak efforts, but submitted hearts, to accomplish His purpose at Solid Rock Camp 2009.