Musings from SHDZ ARK

The Parable of the Blue Blazes

2010-11-12T09:25:00.000-08:00

Last month, my son and I decided to pursue an “ultimate” adventure . . . take a trail along the ridge of Massanutten mountain, seeing how far we could get in one hour! Amazingly, we reached the two mile marker at exactly an hour . . . but it took us an hour and fifteen minutes to get back! And . . . my aching bones are still complaining three weeks later!

However, while on the trail, it was so easy to reflect on spiritual principles. One of the most important was what I call “The Parable of the Blue Blazes.” The trail was marked by blue signs on trees or blue streaks on rocks. In many places, there was no way to see a quarter or half a mile ahead . . . we could only determine the next 10 yards or so.

As a result, the blue blazes were so critical for helping us decide what our next steps would be. A couple times, especially on the way back, we couldn’t tell where we were going . . . but at each of those moments of indecision, one of us would catch a glimpse of a blue blaze just a little ways ahead.

Generally, this is how God leads us through life. Oh, He may give us a “big picture” vision . . . but for the precise details, so often His verse for us is found in Psalm 119:105—“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Culturally, a lamp was used inside the house, and a torch was used outside on a path. Either way, the light given would only help for the next few steps. The understanding of this verse is that God’s Word provides guidance for just the next few steps . . . and once we’ve taken those steps, God gives us light for the next few steps, etc.

God's Shield

2010-10-16T12:23:00.000-07:00

There is something more to learn in Genesis 15:1 . . .

The first words that God says are, “Do not be afraid.” Do not be afraid?? These words are spoken to the man who just took 318 trained servants and defeated four kings!! I imagine, however, that Abram could have been afraid that God would “forget” or “overlook” him, that He would not follow through on what He had promised, that He would not provide for Abram when he had just refused to profit from others.

God’s answer to these fears was, “I am your shield.” God is the best protection that we could ever have. No insurance policy can touch the way that God surrounds us and protects us!

God then says, “I am . . . your exceedingly great reward.” (NKJV) I like this translation . . . because it is saying that God Himself is the greatest reward or treasure that we could ever have!

Later in Abram’s life, God tested this (see Genesis 20) . . . because God wanted to make sure that no one or no thing else would take God’s place in Abram’s heart.

How about you? Is God truly your shield? Is He your exceedingly great reward? Or . . . have you convinced yourself that some person or some possession is actually a better protection or better reward than God? If so, repentance today is always in order!

The Revelation of God

2010-10-16T12:19:00.000-07:00

How many of us would like God to speak directly to us? Or, at least to receive fresh revelation from Him?

Genesis 15:1 gives us an interesting insight. The first three words are simply, “After these things” . . . and then the word of the Lord comes to Abram! Obviously, we need to determine what “after these things” is . . .

Looking back in chapter 14, we see that Abram demonstrated his heart for God (by tithing to Melchizedek—v. 20), his concern for his family members (by rescuing Lot’s family—v. 16), and his lack of greed (by refusing to profit from his rescue mission—v. 23). Clearly, Abram demonstrated attitudes and actions that reflected qualities of God!

In our desire for God to speak to us in fresh new ways, let’s do our part by going after God with all our heart, caring for others like God cares for them, and by refusing to value the things that the world values. It may not be exactly like Abram, but I’m convinced that God WILL speak to us when we pursue His priorities!

Which Caesar do you worship?

2010-10-01T08:12:00.001-07:00

Continuing my study of Matthew 27, I read the account of how Pilate’s soldiers mistreated Jesus after He had been scourged. It says that they put a scarlet robe on Him. In my research, I learned that scarlet was a cheap imitation of the royal purple that was reserved for Roman Emperors.

They then placed a crown of thorns on His head. Why? Because all Caesars were adorned with a laurel circlet, and this was their mocking substitute.

Next, they gave Him a reed in His right hand, directly imitating the scepter that Caesar likewise held. And then they bowed the knee and cried out, “Hail, King of the Jews!” This was their own variation of the common cry throughout the Roman Empire—“Hail, Caesar!”

There is such tremendous irony here. The Roman soldiers thought that they were mocking a false Caesar, One who in no way compared to their great Emperor. However, in reality the tables were turned—their beloved Caesar was severely limited in his actual authority and grandeur, while this bloodied and beaten man before them was truly the one and only Caesar, the only Emperor with true authority and deserving of full honor.

So . . . which Caesar (or Caesars) do YOU worship? Do you worship the one true Christ, who is “before all things, and in Him all things consist” (Colossians 1:17)? Or . . . do you worship some other Caesar—an authority who is only recognized by this world, and who has little power to make any true or lasting difference?

Which Caesar commands your attention, your resources, your honor?

Which Jesus do you choose?

2010-10-01T08:11:00.000-07:00

I was reading recently in Matthew 27, and I came to the familiar passage where Pilate is seeking to secure Jesus’ freedom. Starting with verse 15, it reads in the NKJV: “Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. And at the time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.” The interesting thing, however, is that my margin for the NKJV says that Barabbas in some manuscripts is actually named “Jesus Barabbas.”

“Jesus” was actually a very common name in the Hebrew culture. It’s actually the name for “Joshua,” and it means, “Savior or deliverer.” The angel told Joseph to call the baby “Jesus,” for He would “save” the people from their sins.

Now, here in verse 17, the contrast is made more clear: “Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, ‘Whom do you want me to release to you? [Jesus] Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?’” Pilate essentially asked them, “Which Jesus do you choose?”

Which Savior do YOU want? Do you want the savior who works through worldly means, who attempts to use worldly force to achieve a worldly salvation? Something that only lasts for the here and now, if even that long? Or . . . do you want the Savior who is called the “Anointed,” the One who uses heavenly means to achieve an eternal salvation? One that does not initially seem to meet what you’re looking for, but in the end is truly the ONLY thing you are looking for?

Which Jesus do you choose?

Cutting to the True Issue . . .

2010-08-11T07:37:00.000-07:00

I was reading recently in Matthew 26:47-50 about Jesus’ betrayal. Amazingly Judas decided that the sign of his betrayal would be a kiss of his “Master.” Verse 49 says, “Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, ‘Greetings, Rabbi!’ and kissed Him.” As I researched this further, I learned that this was the ultimate sign of insolence—in those days, the disciple would not greet/kiss the Rabbi first . . . it was always the Rabbi’s initiative.

The next verse is what’s most interesting: “But Jesus said to him, ‘Friend, why have you come?” (NKJV) or “Friend, do what you came to do.” (ESV) There’s a lively debate among commentators about whether this was a question or statement. But in either case, here is the key: Either way, Jesus is cutting through the pretense of Judas to the true issue . . . Jesus ALWAYS does that. How many times have we attempted to “cover” our true motives with seemingly innocent words or actions . . . and yet in our heart of hearts, we know that Jesus sees right through it?

Let’s stop pretending (it doesn’t work with a spouse or children, either, by the way!), and let’s allow Jesus to cut to the true issues in our own lives . . . We, and everyone around us, will be much better for it!

The Greatest Glory of the Cross

2010-08-06T03:00:00.000-07:00

This is another great excerpt from Dug Down Deep by Josh Harris. Here he shared his encounter as a young man with a life-changing message by John Piper:

Then Piper pointed to the Cross. On Calvary, God displayed His justice and His love. He was glorified in the death of His Son. He loves His glory that much! And how great was the glory of the death and the resurrection of the one and only Christ—the very Son of God! “The foundation of your salvation,” Piper said, “is God’s love for His own glory.”

I’d never heard anyone speak that way about Jesus’ death on the cross. I had always heard it explained in terms of my great worth. I am so valuable that God would send Jesus to die. The question Piper closed his message with deeply challenged me. “Do you love the Cross because it makes much of you?” he asked. “Or do you love it because it enables you to enjoy an eternity of making much of God?”

I left Austin with an unsettling thought that has never left me. If I love the Cross only for what it does for me, I will have reduced it to a monument to myself. But the greatest glory of the Cross is what it tells me about God. A God of justice and mercy. A God who loved helpless sinners like me so much that He came to die so we could be free to know and worship Him for eternity.

“God loves you” is certainly a message of the Cross, but it’s not the whole story . . . may we become more “God-centric” and less “me-centric” when we next gaze upon the cross!

What does it mean??

2010-08-04T03:00:00.000-07:00

Recently our family reviewed Genesis 9 as part of our household worship . . . so I was intrigued by this link that I found recently:

Hiker Sees Double Rainbow

It’s supposed to be a “funny” video, and in one sense it is, because it seems like this hiker is way overreacting to the beauty of seeing a double rainbow. But . . . as I thought about it further, and I reflected on the hiker’s emotional question “What does this mean?”, I realized that this was Genesis 9 “coming to life.” Whether he knew it or not, this hiker was coming face to face with a sign from God—a promise that He would never again destroy the earth with a flood.

Once again, Romans 1:19-20 is fulfilled . . . even a “godless” hiker who seems simply overwhelmed with a beautiful moment in nature is actually getting a glimpse of God’s personal handiwork and intervention. May we be quick to share the meaning of the rainbow with our own household . . . and with anyone else who might ask “What does this mean?”

The Reason for Doctrine

2010-08-02T03:00:00.000-07:00

This is a great passage from Josh Harris’ book Dug Down Deep. In this excerpt, he explains why doctrine is so important:

Doctrine can never take the place of Jesus Himself, but we can’t know Him and relate to Him in the right way without doctrine. This is because doctrine tells us not only what God has done but also what His actions mean to us. A theologian named J. Gresham Machen, who wrote in the early part of the twentieth century, helped me better understand all of this. His explanation of Christian doctrine helped me see how it connects to the living person of Jesus. In one of his books, Machen explains that while Christians in the early church wanted to know what Jesus taught, they were primarily concerned with what Jesus had done. “The world was to be redeemed,” Machen writes, “through the proclamation of an event.”

Of course, the event he’s referring to is Jesus’ death by crucifixion and His resurrection from the dead. The first Christians knew they had to tell people about this event. But simply telling them wasn’t enough. They also had to tell them what the event meant. And this, Machen explains, is doctrine. Doctrine is the setting forth of what Jesus has done along with the meaning of the event for us.

“These two elements are always combined in the Christian message,” Machen continues. “The narration of the facts is history; the narration of the facts is doctrine. ‘Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried’—that is history. ‘He loved me and gave Himself for me’—that is doctrine.”

Doctrine is the meaning of the story God is writing in the world. It’s the explanation of what He’s done and why He’s done it and why it matters to you and me.

I hope this helps you as much as it did me! We need to declare both the “event” and “what the event meant”! Let’s do that today, starting in our households!

Announcing the Arrival of Brennan James Shedd!!

2010-07-30T09:59:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone--

It's been quite a month for the Shedd Household! I'm including our special announcement below . . . And I hope to get back to MWF blogging starting NEXT week! I've been doing lots of musing recently, but it's mainly been looking at an amazing gift of God's creation to the Shedd family!

We are pleased to announce the Birth of

Brennan James Shedd

Born at 4:31 p.m. on July 19, 2010

8 lb. 14 oz. – 20.5 inches

He joins his deeply grateful parents and siblings—

Olivia (13), Sophia (11), Stephen (9), Ava (7), Susanna (5), Laura (3), and Juliana (2).

Brennan means “Little Raven,” and its spiritual connotation means “Gift of God.” We pray that like the ravens that fed Elijah, Brennan will feed God’s People . . . and that as much as he is a “gift of God” to us . . . he might be a “gift of God” to many others!

James means “Nurtured by God” and is named after Brennan’s maternal grandfather, as well as James the Just—the first leader of the Jerusalem Church, the brother of Jesus, and the author of the Book of James.

We have been declaring Isaiah 58:11-12 over him since the point that we knew he was a “him” :)

Isaiah 58:11-12 (NKJV)—“The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought [interesting how Chesapeake has been in a moderate drought the past month], and strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. Those from among you shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to dwell in.”

Thank you so much to everyone who has joined us in prayer for the safe, healthy delivery of this little one . . . it’s a joy to have God’s people surrounding us! God answered our prayers—he (and Alyson!) are both doing terrific! (For those of you who are familiar with this, the Apgar score was 8/9!)

May your lives be richly blessed today, just as we are rejoicing in His blessings!

Brad and Alyson Shedd

Using Biblical Language with our Children

2010-07-26T03:00:00.000-07:00

How much should we “simplify” biblical words and vocabulary for our children? I found this passage from Answers Magazine (July-September 2010, p. 18) to be very helpful:

Have you ever attended a kindergarten program? If so, you were probably amazed that such little children could learn and recall so much.

Children understand and can learn a lot more than we think they can.

So why downgrade the education in Sunday school and other settings? Obviously children won’t understand everything an adult would; they need a foundation before tackling more difficult concepts. But does that mean we should avoid unfamiliar words or soften definitions? Does that make our teaching easier to understand, or does it simply give a false concept of truth?

One example of a mature word that can enrich a child’s vocabulary is abide. Christ commands in John 15:4, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” Here the word abide has a definite meaning, and it is the word used in most English translations.

If a child is taught some other, less specific word here, what will he do when he comes across this word in the Bible later? It is much better to use the biblical language and explain what it means. That way, we develop students’ understanding of biblical language in general and prepare them to pick up on connected thoughts in Scripture later.

Let’s do our best not to eliminate key Biblical concepts in our attempt to make the Bible understandable! Our children can truly understand more than we realize!!

Our Job as Christians in the World . . .

2010-07-23T03:03:00.000-07:00

What is our job concerning those who do not yet know Christ? Certainly we are to be in the “disciple-making” business (Matthew 28:18-20), but it’s very helpful for us to clarify what is our part, and what is God’s part . . . Here is a helpful answer from Carl Kerby in the latest Answers magazine (July-September 2010):

Our job is not to convict or convert. That is the Holy Spirit’s job. Our job is to converse (Mark 16:15). Christians must become more visible in the culture. We’ve been hiding our light under a basket far too long.

If we say we love Jesus with our mouths, our actions should also reflect that love. To quote a friend, “Jesus paid much too high a price for us to pick and choose who should hear the gospel” (Romans 10:14-15).

Let’s do some “conversing” today . . . and let’s be free to converse with all! Maybe that brief conversation will be just the seed that will sprout into spiritual life in the near future!

Resting on the Resurrection

2010-07-21T03:00:00.000-07:00

It’s amazing how Christ will show up in what seems to be the most unlikely places in the Bible! I was working through Genesis 8 recently, and I discovered this comment from Dr. Henry Morris concerning Genesis 8:4—

This “resting” of the ark, after protecting its precious cargo against the terrible cataclysm for five long months, occurred exactly 150 days after the Flood began. It may be significant that on the anniversary of this date many years later, Jesus Christ rose from the dead. The seventh month of the civil year used by the Jews (almost certainly the calendar used in the Flood narrative) was later set as the first month of their religious year. The Passover was on the fourteenth day of the first month, and Christ rose three days after the Passover. Thus, He “rested” in Joseph’s tomb and then rose from the dead on the seventeenth day of the seventh month of the civil calendar.

The Ark had gone through the most catastrophic event ever to occur upon the earth, and the day that it at last “rested” became the day of Resurrection so many years later. Likewise, our world went through such a season of darkness and unrest, and the Day of Victory began on that wonderful Easter morning. Our entire lives and faith needs to “rest” on this critical moment, just like the Ark foreshadowed this thousands of years earlier.

Forgiveness and Marriage

2010-07-19T03:00:00.000-07:00

Marriage is an amazing gift from God . . . and an amazing challenge! Elisabeth Elliot shares some helpful comments about how critical forgiveness is in the marriage relationship:

“Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who apologize” is the way many of us pray the prayer the Lord taught the disciples. Jesus told us to forgive those who trespass.

No marriage can survive without forgiveness. Marriage is a long-term, intimate, all-inclusive, no-holds-barred, day-to-day, and year-after-year commitment between two sinners. How will they get along without forgiveness?

How’s that for a tremendous definition of marriage?? If we’re married, let’s resolve anew to walk in the forgiveness of Christ, recognizing how desperately we contribute to the “mess” ourselves!

Life without Children

2010-07-16T03:00:00.000-07:00

I found this excerpt from a report entitled “Life without Children” recently (from The National Marriage Project, written in 2008). This was truly a “wake up call” in the sense of how a delay in parenting, a decline in births, and the de-valuing of parenthood is making America less open to children. Apart from God’s moving in our nation, the mythical land of “Vulgaria” in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang where children were shunned could become more and more a reality.

We are in the midst of a profound change in American life. Demographically, socially and culturally, the nation is shifting from a society of child-rearing families to a society of child-free adults. The percentage of households with children has declined from half of all households in 1960 to less than one-third today—the lowest percentage in the nation’s history. Indeed, if the twentieth century aspired to become the “century of the child,” the twenty-first may well become the century of the child-free . . . . It is hard enough to rear children in a society that is organized to support that essential social task. Consider how much more difficult it becomes when a society is indifferent at best, and hostile, at worst to those who are caring for the next generation.

What can you do to foster a love for children? May God help us all!

The Next Generation

2010-07-14T03:00:00.000-07:00

I discovered a most interesting research report by the Barna Group while I was looking up the statistics on Easter . . . This report explored what Christians believed about the Holy Spirit and specifically charismatic/Pentecostal expressions . . . Here is part of David Kinnaman’s conclusion:

“. . . the next generation of charismatic and Pentecostal Christians spends less time defending their views to others, but also seems much less certain what they believe or how to put their faith into action.

“It raises the question of what will define the next generation of young charismatics and Pentecostal believers in the U.S. Facing less criticism from within the ranks of Christians, they must focus on being grounded theologically and finding a way to live faithfully within the broader culture of arts, media, technology, science, and business,” commented Kinnaman.

Kinnaman also pointed out that because younger Christians are open to the Holy Spirit and to spiritual gifts but hold contradictory beliefs and behaviors, there will be a premium on the theological and spiritual development of the next generation. “Just like young Christians of various traditions, young charismatics are less likely to adopt their beliefs and practices based on deep, considered theological reflection. The future vitality of this portion of the Christian community will depend in part on connecting young charismatic and Pentecostal believers to better training on theology and doctrine.”

Once again, it seems to come back to the issue of passing on the essentials of our faith . . . if we don’t do so, then our children will grow up less clear and grounded in what they believe . . . A good reminder!

Blessings to you today as you seek to live for Him!

P.S. If you’d like to read the full report, just follow this link: http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/12-faithspirituality/360-how-different-generations-view-and-engage-with-charismatic-and-pentecostal-christianity?tmpl=component&print=1&layout=default&page=

A Great Definition of Humility

2010-07-12T03:00:00.000-07:00

Elisabeth Elliot shared this description of humility from E. Herman in her book The Mark of a Man. It’s worthy of some meditation and reflection!

We all tend to be infatuated with the idea of strength—but we fail to realize that all true strength is grounded in humility. We still relegate humility to the pale ranks of passive virtues and ornamental graces, whereas, in its legitimate development, it is a stout and soldierly quality. Humility, indeed, is simply a sense of reality and proportion. It is grounded upon a knowledge of the truth about ourselves and about God. “The reason why God is so great a lover of humility,” says St. Vincent de Paul, “is because He is the great Lover of truth. Now humility is nothing but truth, whilst pride is nothing by lying.”

I often like to say that humility recognizes that “God is God, and we are not!” Let’s live the truth about who we are and who God is today!

How the West Really Lost God

2010-07-09T03:00:00.000-07:00

I found this excerpt contained in the chapter addressed to leaders from It Starts at Home to be truly fascinating:

In a recent Policy Review essay, “How the West Really Lost God,” the Hoover Institute’s Mary Eberstadt demonstrated how a society that moves away from the priority of family also moves further away from God. “Something about the family inclines people toward religiosity,” Eberstadt wrote. She showed that in Western Europe an unprecedented family shrinkage (due to a decline in marriage and parenthood) “appeared sometimes before and sometimes in tandem with the unprecedented decline in belief.” In light of this historical precedence, Eberstadt suggested, motherhood and father should be seen to strengthen spiritual commitment because they are “the human symphony through which God has historically been heard by many people” and they are the means “through which people derive their deepest opinions and impressions of life.”

It’s interesting how this contemporary observation underscores what we observed in our previous blog—God works through households . . . as households decline, so declines God’s working and moving in peoples and nations!

Noah's Household

2010-07-07T03:00:00.000-07:00

There is much that we can learn from one simple verse in Genesis 7: “Then the Lord said to Noah, ‘Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.’” (Genesis 7:1, NKJV)

First, we see that God is in the business of saving households. He didn’t just attempt to save Noah, or just Noah and his wife, but Noah and all his household. God has a heart for entire households, and we should have that same heart as well!

Second, we see that God is in the business of saving the world through households. When God decided that it was time to “start over,” He decided to use a household. Once again, we need to remember that the key to saving a community is not through individuals, but through households.

Third, we see that God looks at the world in terms of one basic unit—the household. In this moment of total destruction and new beginning, God reduced the world to its most elementary foundation—the household. Households are the building blocks of our society. If we shatter or decimate the household, our society literally crumbles from the inside out.

Finally, we see that because of the righteousness of the head of the household, Noah, his entire household was saved! As the head of household goes, so goes the rest of the household. Heads of households, are you bringing salvation and blessing upon the rest of your household, or something else?

May we be like Noah and his descendant Joshua—may we declare, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord!” and in so doing, may we be part of the salvation and transformation of our generation!

The "Secret Formula"

2010-07-05T03:00:00.000-07:00

In this passage from It Starts at Home, Kurt Bruner discusses something that really isn’t that secret . . . and yet it’s so true and vitally important. Read on . . .

“Have you ever known one of those couples who have been blessed with terrific kids? You know the ones. They are the family you watch from afar, wondering how in the world they got so lucky, or did so well. It is almost as if they have discovered a secret formula for raising great kids.

“We have been fortunate over the years to build relationship with some of these couples, watching them over the long haul as they navigate the varied and perilous stages of parenthood. Their children have grown from little kids to young adults and, though imperfect, have turned out quite well. Many of them are approaching the end of the parenting journey and are reaping the rewards of having done some things right.

“What is this ‘secret formula’ for successfully passing on our values to the next generation? What is the common thread between these and other homes that seem to have beaten the odds in parenting? As we’ve watched over the years, we have noticed the same important ingredient. The specific tone and makeup of each family varies, but the ‘secret formula’ is the same. Every one of these couples discovered and mastered the art of enjoying their children and allowing their children to enjoy them. Put simply, they learned to create an environment where they had fun together!

“While much of this book is dedicated to principles and ideas for teaching our kids, it all assumes a context of enjoying our kids. That, we believe, is one of the most important ingredients for increasing the parenting odds.

“Everyone has the right to speak. We must earn the right to be listened to. As parents we must realize that when we play with our kids today, we are earning the right to shape their values tomorrow. Remember that they are more likely to embrace the values of someone they love and enjoy than someone they don’t. So let’s adopt the ‘secret formula’ that seems to have worked so well for so many parents. Let’s have fun with our kids!”

Nehemiah 8:10 says “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” Is your home filled with that joy? Not a cheap imitation called “entertainment,” but real, genuine joy and enjoyment of one another? Begin to look for ways to enjoy your family today . . . God will help you, and you and they will never be the same again!

We give what we live!

2010-07-02T03:00:00.000-07:00

Here’s another great excerpt from It Starts at Home. This passage is written by Kurt Bruner as he summarizes the multigenerational influence we can observe in Scripture (for good and bad):

“The scriptural examples we’ve seen show that we tend to give what we live. We can’t help but wonder how different Abraham’s family would have been had he maintained a proper relationship with God. The negative patterns that started with his sin might have been avoided by his obedience. So it is with us. We can’t pass on a positive spiritual legacy to future generations if we don’t have a right relationship with God ourselves. We can’t give what we don’t live.

“Some parents mistakenly think they can train their children spiritually without confronting their own spiritual condition. The message they give to their children is, “Do what I say, not what I do!” It doesn’t work. The first and most important step in the Legacy Principle is making sure our own hearts are right with God.”

What are you living right now? Be sure and know that’s what you’re giving!

Do you want to change the gift? Then start by changing your life! God stands ready and able to direct the process right now!

God AND . . . or God ONLY?

2010-06-30T03:00:00.000-07:00

I was reading recently in the book of Amos, and I came across these disturbing verses:

“I hate, I despise your feast days, And I do not savor your sacred assemblies. Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, Nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings.” Amos 4:21-22 (NKJV)

Why would God so despise these special days and times of worship? After all, weren’t these moments dedicated to Him?

We find the answer just a few verses later:

“Did you offer Me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel? You also carried Sikkuth your king and Chiun, your idols, the star of your gods, which you made for yourselves. Therefore I will send you into captivity beyond Damascus,” Says the Lord, whose Name is the God of hosts.” Amos 4:25-27 (NKJV)

Here’s the key—the Israelites DID worship God and give Him offerings, but they did not worship Him exclusively. For the nation of Israel at this time, worshiping God was summarized in the phrase “God AND . . .” How often does that describe our own worship and the worship of Christians in our generation? We do indeed worship God . . . but we ALSO worship so much else in our culture . . . from politicians to sports to money . . . to TV shows that actually include the word “Idol”!

The Lord is not looking for “God AND . . .” worship . . . He’s looking for “God ONLY” worship. May the Holy Spirit open our eyes and bring conviction to our hearts for the additional gods we have allowed to come alongside the God of hosts in our worship.

Conquering Comparison

2010-06-28T03:00:00.000-07:00

There’s a disease running rampant in our Christian community . . . the disease of comparison. Too often, we fall prey to the temptation to compare our lot with the lot of others, and in the process become convinced that we got the short end of the deal. We compare jobs, houses, families, and even spouses.

Comparison of itself is a dangerous thing . . . 2 Corinthians 10:12 states, “But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” (NKJV) When we compare, we are either filled with pride (which happens more rarely) or filled with despair (which is the more common response), but in either case, we are filled not with wisdom but with foolishness.

But the more lethal danger is that comparison often leads to covetousness—we begin to long for what we do not have. If only I had that job, that house . . . If only my children were like so and so’s children . . . If only . . . Discontent takes root in our heart, and ungratefulness permeates our being. Soon we find ourselves despising and tearing down the very things . . . and people . . . God has entrusted to us.

What’s more, covetousness leads to idolatry (see Colossians 3:5), and idolatry will dominate our life, effectively crowding out any meaningful worship of God. We become convinced that having whatever it is we do not have will truly solve our problems, and we become fixated on how “to get there.” In the process, we forget that only God is truly worthy of our worship, adoration, and focus.

So . . . how do we turn this deadly cycle around? We need to recognize its pervasive tentacles in our life, repent and put it to death (Colossians 3:5 again), ruthlessly refusing its continued access into the inner recesses of our heart. Furthermore, we need to choose an “attitude of gratitude,” giving thanks for what God HAS given us, first privately, and then publicly (see Colossians 3:15,17). The grass really is not greener in someone else’s lawn . . . they just have more weeds! You will be amazed how gratitude will change a toxic atmosphere that may have developed in your home into one that exudes life!

So . . . what are YOU going to do about comparison in your life??

The Greatest Threat to Passing on our Faith

2010-06-25T03:00:00.000-07:00

I think you will find this excerpt thought-provoking and challenging. Kurt Bruner in It Starts at Home makes these observations:

[Commenting on Deuteronomy 6:6-9] Once upon a time, godly parents considered this mandate a critical priority. When did that pattern change? When did moms and dads stop taking seriously their responsibility to equip the next generation with biblical beliefs and values?

In the observant Jewish family, faith was expressed first and foremost in the home, secondarily in the synagogue. When Christianity emerged, the church and parents worked together in an intentional manner toward the same end. But as time has passed, parents have allowed the church to take the lead when it came to the spiritual training of their children. Gradually, parents have become passive observers of this all-important process, abdicating their role to such a degree that many Christians actually believe it is the job of Sunday School to instill faith in their children. Certainly the church is an important partner. But the primary responsibility remains with Mom and Dad.

What is the greatest threat to successfully passing the compass of faith to our children? In a word: negligence. Our days are filled with activity and responsibility. We live at such a fast pace that it is difficult to even think about the spiritual development of our children, let alone to direct it. Most of us take our kids to church and hope the forty-minute lesson will get the job done. Deep within, however, we know it isn’t enough. We feel the guilt. We regret the pace. We worry about the outcome. But we can’t seem to break the cycle.

Every parent seeks to maximize their children’s chances to achieve success and happiness in life. But how do we do it? Where do we go for advice and guidance?

We must start with advice from the only perfect parent, God Himself. The Bible contains both specific directives and broad guidelines about parenting. . . . .

The old adage is true: Those who fail to plan, plan to fail. Sadly, we rarely apply this truism to the parenting process. Let’s break that cycle, shall we? None of us can guarantee that our children will find success and happiness in life. But we can increase their odds.

It couldn’t be more true—It Starts at Home . . . commit today to take responsibility for raising your children in the admonition of the Lord . . . simply making that commitment (and not relying on the church or anyone else!) is winning 90% of the battle!

Releasing Our Expectations . . .

2010-06-23T03:00:00.000-07:00

Unrealistic expectations so often get us into trouble . . . and there’s no place more damaging for wrong expectations than our marriage. Steve Stroope in this excerpt from It Starts at Home shares some great thoughts:

If we’re not careful, we may find ourselves seeking to remake our spouse into who we think we need them to be to ensure our happiness. Our desperate need to change them turns into manipulation, and the more they resist, the less we enjoy being around them—possibly even wondering if we married the wrong person.

What if we released unrealistic expectations before allowing them to undermine lifelong love? Sooner or later we need to rest in the reality that no spouse—regardless of how cute, perky, calm, or hardworking he or she may be—can meet all of our needs. . . . . God surely wants to meet many needs through our spouse. But only He can meet all of our needs. Plus, we must remember that not every perceived need is an actual need in our lives. Sometimes what we expect from a spouse is exactly the opposite of what God knows we need in order to become more like Christ.

As painful as it may be to accept, my wife, Marsha, is God’s primary instrument for making me a better person. Despite what I perceive as my needs in life, my deepest need is to grow up. I begin to do that when I stop placing impossible demands on the person God has called me to serve.

The person you married has the potential to be a pretty good spouse. But he or she would make a terrible God. Releasing unrealistic expectation means accepting that my spouse is as imperfect as I am. It means recognizing that he or she can’t possibly meet all of my needs.

Good words here! God has given my spouse to make me into a better person! Our deepest need is to grow up! And our spouse would make a terrible God . . . May God help us to remember who is God and who is not . . . and may He help us to genuinely thank Him for the gift He’s given us in our spouse!

The Second Servant

2010-06-21T03:00:00.000-07:00

Matthew 25:14-30 gives us a fascinating look at how God operates in His Kingdom. Many of us are familiar with this story of the Parable of the Talents, and we often focus on the first servant, the one who was given five talents, and then gained five more. Or, we focus on the third servant, the lazy one who wouldn’t do anything with even the one talent he was given. But there’s a very important insight we can learn from the second servant . . .

The second servant was given two talents, which was “according to his own ability” (verse 15). He didn’t have the same ability as the first servant, but Scripture says that the second servant was just as diligent as the first servant, effectively doubling what was given him, just like the first servant.

Even more significantly, take a moment to compare verse 21 with verse 23. What do you see? The two verses are exactly the same. This is very important . . . the second servant received exactly the same commendation as the first servant . . . even though he had less ability and was given fewer talents to start with.

What we can we gain from this observation? So many of us feel like the “second servant” . . . others around us have more resources and abilities . . . what difference can we make? Why should we even try? Yet here we see that the same reward in the Kingdom is available to us if we will be diligent in our faithfulness with exactly what God has given to us.

Let’s stop comparing ourselves with the “first servants” that seem to get all the attention and press . . . let’s be “good and faithful” now, and look forward to God’s commendation “in that day”!

This insight was part of yesterday’s sermon. If you’d like to hear the rest, just go to http://www.harvestva.org/online-sermons.asp and by tomorrow you should see “Stewards, Talents, and Faithfulness” ready for download.

Blessings to all you “second servants” out there!

Father Noah

2010-06-18T03:00:00.000-07:00

It’s amazing what comes alive in Scripture! Recently I was reading in Genesis 6, and verses 8-9 struck me with interest. The first seven verses are pretty depressing—everything is turning out badly in the world (does that sound familiar?). However, in the middle of all this evil and darkness comes this verse, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” What a refreshing comment, and yet one filled with humility . . . because Henry M. Morris notes this appears to be Noah’s own words! Morris goes on to note that v. 9a—“This is the genealogy of Noah” appears to be “Noah’s signature concluding his personal record” from Genesis 5:29 through 6:9a. Noah’s “last word” was to emphasize how much he found grace in the eyes of the Lord!

Morris then notes that the rest of verse 9 would likely be the comments from Noah’s sons, stressing the godliness of their father. What a perfect Father’s Day moment—an example of three sons giving honor and tribute to their father! Sons, what will you do to give tribute to your father this Father’s Day?

Finally, putting verse 8 and 9 together, we have a wonderful picture of the process of salvation in our lives . . . First, we find grace in the Lord’s eyes. Then, we experience justification (“Noah was a just man”)—being made righteous (“just as if I’d” never sinned). Next, we experience sanctification, the process of being made blameless (complete and mature) in our relationship with God and man. Finally, we experience the joy of walking with God in total faith. Like Noah, his ancestor Enoch walked with God . . . and then “was not, for God took him.”

This Father’s Day, let’s honor Noah and the model he gives us in these two verses of Genesis, asking God to do the same in us. Moreover, let’s take time to give tribute to our earthly father . . . and most of all, our Heavenly Father!

"Falling" in Love . . .

2010-06-16T03:00:00.000-07:00

Hollywood has glamorized the concept of “falling” in love . . . However, as we seek to strengthen our homes, it’s helpful to remember that this concept is nowhere found in the Bible. Steve Stroope makes these comments in It Starts at Home:

We sometimes falling in love as if we were walking along life’s road before stumbling into a wonderfully refreshing pool of romantic bliss. We didn’t make a choice to love the other person. We “fell” into their eager arms. As thrilling as that may sound, the notion of falling in love carries with a very dangerous implication. You see, if we can fall into love willy-nilly, we can also fall out of love in the same haphazard fashion.

Don’t get me wrong. Romantic feelings are a wonderful, God-given part of dating and marriage. But they are the effect, not the cause. In a healthy marriage we choose to love even when we don’t feel very loving, often prompting loving feelings to follow. In an unstable marriage it works the other way around: We wait for loving feelings to inspire loving choices.
True, lasting love is more about conscious choices than chance encounters. We commit ourselves to another human being and accept the dual responsibility of learning and meeting their needs. The emotions of love will—in the soil of real life—shrink and expand with the circumstances of time. But the strong pier of commitment provides stability.

Choosing to love . . . commitment . . . these are the foundations of a healthy marriage and strong home. Let’s make some good choices today to love our spouse . . . and let the feelings follow our choices!

Water and Soil

2010-06-14T03:00:00.001-07:00

It Starts at Home by Kurt Bruner and Steve Stroope makes the compelling case for spiritual formation to begin at home, but this excerpt helps to clarify that both the home AND the church are needed in our family’s spiritual development. Read and ponder . . .

Spiritual formation begins at home, but it does not end there. The home cannot be the church any more than the church can be the home. Christianity is a communal faith to be experienced through corporate worship, under pastoral leadership and amid what many call “doing life” with other believers. God never intended a family’s faith to occur apart from local church engagement. But neither did He design the church to replace the home. Left to do the entire job by itself, a church can only impart enough of the faith to inoculate kids against taking it seriously. Church and home, like a watering can and the soil in a flowerpot, are both essential to the job.

To build on the imagery, I would just suggest that what is needed is the soil of the home, the water of the church, and the sun of the Holy Spirit! Together, they are a powerful combination for creating fruitful and bountiful plantings of the Lord!

A Powerful Visual

2010-06-11T03:00:00.001-07:00

I thought this picture was a very powerful illustration of how important the home is nurturing the roots of our “budding flowers”—our children . . . Enjoy this additional excerpt from It Starts at Home by Kurt Bruner and Steve Stroope:

Imagine four budding flowers representing my four children. I gently cradle them in my hand, careful to protect the delicate roots reaching out from the narrowing tips at the bottom of each stem. Aware of their need for the living water of the gospel, I bring to a watering can called the local church where pastors, Sunday School teachers, and student pastors pour the life-giving nourishment of the good news onto their lives. But the water simply drips off the sides of my hand, failing to penetrate the dangling roots of their thirsty hearts.

Concerned, I urgently look for another solution. Fearing my children will wither and die unless I find a more effective means of imparting strong faith, I grab a bigger, more contemporary-looking watering can—one with cutting-edge music and a cool-looking student pastor—hoping it will more effectively reach my kinds. But the heavy flow of water just splashes onto the ground.

Obviously, the problem is not with the size or style of the watering can. Roots only grow if planted in soil. Yet an entire generation of parents seems to have missed God’s design. Faith must be nourished in the rich soil of a God-honoring family. The church’s role is to prove the water. But lifelong faith requires deep, abiding roots.

Let’s make sure our budding flowers are firmly planted in the rich, God-honoring soil of our own homes!

What the Devil dreads . . .

2010-06-09T03:00:00.000-07:00

Here’s another tremendous excerpt from It Starts at Home: A Practical Guide to Nurturing Lifelong Faith by Kurt Bruner and Steve Stroope. In this passage, Kurt Bruner shares about the power of incarnational living . . .

No matter how creatively we proclaim God’s Word to children at church, they are more likely to believe their experience of the faith at home. That’s because incarnation trumps proclamation.

Incarnation literally means “en-flesh-ment.” God became a flesh-and-blood human being to reveal Himself to us in a way written words could not accomplish. . . . . No wonder every major heresy in church history has been an attack on the doctrine of the incarnation. Satan hates that God became flesh. He also hates healthy families because they serve as flesh-and-blood icons of the unity and love that flows within and from the Trinity. The Scriptures tells us that when husband and wife become one flesh in the pleasure of marital union, it creates a picture of the beautiful union between Christ and His church. It also reaps the gift of children, filling the world with more fleshy reminders of Satan’s mortal enemy.

Life comes from unity with God and others—moving toward others. Death means separation—moving away. Happy homes echo the intimate joys of heaven. Broken, troubled families, by contrast, imitate the loneliness, isolation, and anger of hell.

Do you want to make the Devil cringe as if hearing scratching nails on a chalkboard? Then celebrate fifty years of marriage or enjoy laughter with your children around the dinner table. Satan does not fear a religion that merely stencils words on a stone wall, or even preaches them in a sermon. What he dreads is when the Word becomes flesh and blood in the tangible context of a God-honoring marriage and family.

Let’s become a “flesh and blood” picture of Christ in our homes today!

It's about what's missing at home . . .

2010-06-07T05:46:00.000-07:00

I’ve recently discovered a great book entitled It Starts at Home: A Practical Guide to Nurturing a Lifelong Faith by Kurt Bruner and Steve Stroope. It reinforces so many of the messages that God has been showing us at our Household Worship Service, and it is exciting to see that the larger Body of Christ is beginning to wrestle with the same issues. Here is an excerpt from the foreword, written by Bill Hybels, as he comments on his support for the thrust of this book:

The time has come to innovate once again. The landscape of the world in which we minister has shifted dramatically during the past three decades. The upcoming generation confronts an obstacle to belief that goes beyond worship style, teaching relevance, or church-program excellence, because it is not about what’s happening at church. It’s about what’s missing at home.

You’ve probably read the reports. Even the most conservative estimates tell us that we are losing more and more of our own children to unbelief. Many of those most inclined to embrace the gospel—children, like my grandson, who attend church with their parents—are rejecting the Christian faith. Despite an enormous investment of time and money into some of the most innovative and effective church programs in the history of Christianity, generational faith transference is in serious decline.

If the local church is the hope of the world, then we must take seriously the church’s responsibility to call couples, parents, and grandparents to create God-honoring homes. Only then will we see the tide turn on declining generational faith transference.

What (or Who?) is missing at your home? Let’s ask God to fill our homes with His Presence, so that the next generation will truly run after Him with all their might!