Aug 01

The Settled-for-Life

So much of life is just consumed with living.  Getting the bills paid, getting to work, getting the kids, getting groceries, getting the dog to the vet, getting the yard done; you know, just living.  Some look at this and ask, “Is this all there is?”  Most just accept it and live what I call, “the settled-for-life.” 

Those few moments that we can squeeze time for the Scriptures, we are confused by the way life should be for those with faith.  We read that those with faith in God, “through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.  Women received back their dead back to life (Heb 11:33-35).”

I guess when we read this picture, we assume it is just some fantasy, a grand illusion of something far beyond any of us.  Yet, this is not an abnormal picture of the life of faith, it is just the life that cannot be lived by accepting just the settled-for-life.  We are challenged by Scripture to “lift up our eyes.”  God told Abraham to lift up his eyes and see the land promised to him and his descendants.  Jesus tells his disciples to lift up their eyes and see the fields that are ready for harvest. 

There is a quest for us to lift up our eyes and see what we could do by faith.  This week’s sermon is about David and a spiritual quest he undertook for God.  It has valuable lessons for us as we attempt great things for God.

Read 2 Samuel 7:1-14

Pastor Greg

Jul 25

Character in Daily Values

Character in Daily Values
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,
so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body,
whether good or evil. (2 Corinthians 5:10)

Our “spiritual life” is most strongly expressed in our outward character.  Here is some thoughts I found helpful by Lee McGlone.

Character.
One of the most frightening of the ancient heresies that rises in each age is that of Gnosticism. It suggests a blatant distinction between things spiritual and physical so that all that matters is spiritual. The physical has no lasting meaning or value. This philosophy characterized itself in two ways. First, as a call to asceticism: total self-denial, complete abstinence of any earthly thing. Hear no evil, see no evil, and speak no evil. Second, it led to indulgence in things physical and carnal. Because the physical world doesn’t matter, and all that matters is spiritual, what one does with one’s physical life is of no regard. Such a view legitimizes every kind of abhorrent behavior. Modern-day stories abound. Without naming names, we must admit that ministers are not immune from such abuses. Behavior does matter. Character is all that matters.

Pastor Greg

Jul 18

An Alternative to Prayer

An Alternative to Prayer
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray
and not lose heart. Luke 18:1

Here is an interesting article on prayer and worry by Lee McGlone.

Prayer.

Prayer is the alternative to worry. Instead of wringing our hands in a frenzy, we are to be busy at the great work of prayer. How glad I was, only a couple of months ago, when our liturgical dance team traveled to New York City and shared a word of hope in and around Ground Zero. When I watched the videotape of our young ladies reaching out to share the love of God in downtown firehouses, on street corners, with people in need, I was overwhelmed. They proclaimed the God of all comfort who comforts us in our affliction, who stands by us faithfully when the earth shakes and the mountains are cast into the sea. The video ended with these words from Jeremiah 31:13: “The young women will dance for joy. I will turn their mourning into laughter. I will give comfort—and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing.” As the video ended, I cried. I cried because what I saw wasn’t about a performance; what I saw was a prayer. It was a bold declaration of grace and the all-sufficiency of God to heal our deepest wounds. And I thought, in a troubled world like this there really is hope, as long as there are young people like this who so boldly declare faith in God.

          How often do we seek for an alternative to prayer?  We do every time we choose to worry.

Pastor Greg

Jul 11

Just Ignore the Owner’s Manual

Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart to revere your name.
Psalm 86:11

How foolish would it be to buy a new car, but then just toss out the Owner’s Manual?  Then when the light comes on the dashboard, just think it is a nice color or a cute picture.  We would call that practice foolish.

The Bible has been compared to an owner’s manual.  Not that it’s full of maintenance schedules, but that it is our Maker’s guide to us for living.  How often do we encounter a problem, but not seek the Lord’s answers to it?  How often do we simply ignore the warning lights of life, thinking it will get better sooner or later?  That is often how we treat the direction given to us by God in the Word of God.  The oil can symbol on the car is not a genie’s lamp for us to rub and get three wishes.  It is a signal that we have a problem and must follow the prescribed solution given by the manufacturer.  You may get the oil light to go off by putting water into the oil reserve, but the engine will not go much longer.

In Proverbs the admonition that there is a way that seems right to us, but the end of that way is the way of death (Prov 14:12; 16:25.)  That is the bottom line this week, are we going to do it God’s way, with God’s wisdom, and God’s righteousness; or we going to do it our way, that often does not end up very well? 

Pastor Greg