1Apr16

Psalm 13:1-3
How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?
Look on me and answer, Lord my God.

I spent a good amount of time sitting with Soldiers yesterday and just answering questions about faith, God, and religion. Some of these questions I could see had been ones that they had wanted to ask for a while and were just not sure who to ask or think anyone would care to answer them. Of course I did my best to give them an answer from my background and if I didn't know I was honest and would say, "that's a tough question I wrestle with too. But, this is where I'm at with it."

You see, I think a lot of us have questions we want to ask God or things that we struggle with in our minds. But, that's as far as it goes. We are afraid to ask God these hard questions because it would seem petty, or insolent, or even disrespectful. As we can see from David's Psalm today... He's good with it. God would rather us ask him then try and come up with the wrong answer on our own. He would rather us ask the hard question to Him because that means we actually are talk with Him. In our frustration and fears we have a lot of questions for God... why don't you ask them? What's holding you back? Are you afraid of the answer? God isn't. It's ok. Cast your cares on Him because He cares for you.

31Mar16

Ephesians 4:2
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

When I was in elementary school there was a kid that was so annoying. He wasn't a bully or anything. He just had this way about him that drove me insane. He would say the wrong thing at the wrong time, his voice was that pitch that made you want to scream, and all he talked about were POGs (kids, ask your parents about POGs). I didn't even want to know his name and avoided him at all cost. Later on in the year, or possibly even the next year, I was dealing with some things in my life and found myself on the outside looking in. Guess who was there with me? Yup...Pog kid. I had been indifferent to him and yet he was there for me. Turns out that he is a pretty cool guy.

Sometimes people do things that get right up under our skin. Sometimes that happens consistently. But, we are called to be humble (putting others before ourselves) and gentle (like a basket of puppies in a spring field)and patient (waiting without wanting to punch someone). I like how the rest of the verse goes..."bearing with one another in love." Bearing. Does that sound like fun? Nope. Sometimes bearing with someone in love takes effort. Sometimes it's pog guy. Sometimes it's your roommate. Sometimes it's your spouse. But try doing the first three things first and the last part becomes less "bearing" and more natural.

30Mar16

Proverbs 19:14 ESV
House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.

Marriage is a wonderful thing! Are you blessed by God through your marriage? When I first got married, and sadly for the first little bit of my marriage, I thought I was hot stuff. I thought I was the "catch." Whenever there would be a disagreement I would think, "well, she's just lucky to have me." I thought a lot about myself and what she could do for me. For a lot of the couples I get to talk to this is a real problem. When we married our spouses we were thinking about what they were going to be bringing to us, about what we were going to be inheriting through the marriage, not what we were going to be doing to make their life better for the rest of our lives.

Luckily, I was blessed with a prudent wife who saw through my crap to the man I could be and wanted to be. She didn't, and doesn't, need me to be her savior because she has a Savior already. She doesn't need me to define her, because God has already told her who she is. She doesn't need me to love her, because she is fully loved by a greater source. She is the catch. She's the one who is forced to put up with me. It took me years to realize it. It took a lot of failure on my part and a really hard look at who I was as a person to understand that I don't deserve her at all. I don't possess her. She is the greatest blessing God's ever given me. I didn't earn her.

Once we recognize that about our spouse, about how precious they are, and get over ourselves, then we can start to appreciate out marriage. Once we appreciate our marriage, then we can rest in that relationship. Once we are able to rest in that relationship, we can be happy because we have chosen to value what we have right in front of us. Love isn't a feeling... it's a choice. Will you choose to recognize the blessing you've been given and love your spouse today? Or do you think you somehow deserve better? Enjoy your blessing from God.

29Mar16

Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

A lot of people have heard and read this verse. We tend to look at it and find hope that we can persevere. There is this tendency to read this and say, "just keep going, I can make it." But, in fact the opposite is true. We like the second half of this verse but, we struggle with the first half. In order to mount up, run, and walk without weariness we first have to wait. Yes. Wait. That means stopping. That doesn't mean keep on going and going thinking God is going to give you the strength. God calls us to stop and wait so that we can go and accomplish.

I hate traffic lights. In fact, I really like how Koreans view them... as optional. They seem to impede my progress from one place to the next. They seem to be an utter waste of time. Why can't I just go go go all the way to the end? Well, part of that is because I am not the center of the universe! I have to make way for others. I have to keep them safe and be safe by stopping. The surrounding verses of this passage all point out that we are not the center of the universe. God is. He calls us to wait so that He can do what He wants to do in us... not what we think should be done.

This isn't a call to laziness. When God gives us the green light the pedal should be on the floor and we are ready to go as long and hard as He wants. But, when the tank is empty you have to ask yourself where are you getting your fuel? Did God give you enough for this or are you trying to do something He hasn't called you too yet.

Are you feeling tired today? Worn down? Then maybe it's time to wait on the Lord instead of trying to push forward in your own strength. Pay attention to the traffic signals in your life. If you feel like waiting will only bring you further from your goal... then maybe you have to reassess if it is YOUR goal or GOD's goal for you. Wait on the Lord and renew your strength today.

25Mar16

John 15:12-14 ESV
"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you."

Today is Good Friday for the Christian community. But, really there's little "good" about it. This is the day we remember the brutal death and crucifixion of our Savior Jesus at the hands of the world. This one man died for the many. This one man suffered for the masses. This one man gave all so we could have all. It's a theme that is repeated over and over again in the Bible... God wants us to give for others. In the Army, many have chosen to serve because of this one ideal. Many have given their lives for the cause of the many. That is great love. Today is a moment to reflect on our own shortcomings and meditate on why we need a Savior but, it is also a day to evaluate whether we are living this standard as well. Are you giving of yourself more or for others? Are you doing what you do to fulfill a need in someone else's life or are you doing it just to further your own goals? Look to your right and left... have you done anything to make their lives better?

I've said it before in these messages but, it bears repeating, it is one choice you make to die for something. It is a much harder thing to choose every single day to live for something. This man Jesus suffered greatly on this day for others. For you. What are you doing to honor that memory?

24Mar16

Matthew 18:6
"If anyone causes one of these little ones--those who believe in me--to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea."

Jesus was always really fond of children, the brokenhearted, and the outcast. What he was always upset with was legalism and "religion" that restricted people from encountering God. Multiple times Jesus encounters those that would put a gate in the way of people coming to him and spending time with him and in every instance Jesus smashes it down with a vengeance. He wants it to be easy for people to have a relationship with God in a very personal way and gets upset when people try to get in the way of that. He lays out a warning in this passage to anyone who would try to put rules and restrictions on those who would come to him. This is a warning and an encouragement to us today. God wants us to come to Him as we are and will break down opposition to that cause. What are you allowing to stand in the way of your personal faith? Are you using an obstacle to justify not being close to God? Are you making it difficult to know God or for others to know God by placing obstacles in their ways?

As we approach the Easter holiday more people will attend church services than at any other time in the year. It is the Christian's highest holiday. Are you going to go and encounter God on that day? Are you going to reach out and have that personal relationship or are you just fulfilling some kind of self-imposed obligation? Are you standing in the way of someone being able to celebrate by making them dress a certain way, or be a certain way, or stop a certain activity, or maybe even physically making it impossible for them to be there? Let's join together and be a light to the world not a closed gate with a bouncer.

23Mar16

Proverbs 22:16-17
A person who gets ahead by oppressing the poor or by showering gifts on the rich will end in poverty. Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my instruction.

When I was younger I always thought that certain things were totally "unfair." In fact you could hear me a mile away yelling, "But, that's not FAAAAAIR!" I felt oppressed and pushed down by the rules an requirements of my parents and teachers and so many other people in authority over me. I'm not saying that what they did and enforced was right all the time, by any means, and you may find yourself in an unjust situation where you are the "poor" being taken advantage of so someone can look good to the "rich." But, what I realized very quickly as I grew up is that I have the tendency and capacity to do the EXACT SAME THING.

We all want approval. We all want to succeed and look good. Sometimes the way we do that is by making other people look bad or by taking advantage of the power we have over them. But, ultimately one who succeeds in this way comes to ruin. They are building a false face to a house that is molding on the inside. Once we realize that we are no better than those who are "beneath" us then we are able to succeed together. Then we are able to build a strong house that has a foundation in which all are invested in. Look around you. Are you doing this for them or yourself? Are you willing to push anyone around you down to get just a little further up? Are you working as part of the team or do you see the team working for you?

The way to success is in the second part of the verse. Listen to wise counsel and seek instruction. Be humble enough to know you don't have all the answers on your own. Don't judge those who you may see as doing what you have the capacity to do yourself. Make sure you are building yourself up in righteousness and in the truth with your whole heart instead of just complaining about a bad situation. Check yourself in every small decision you are making and in the ways you are interacting. Form the team you want to be a part of where you are at today.

22Mar16

Proverbs 17:3
The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.

Sometimes we go through things in life that hurt. We have those moments that we wonder, "why does this have to be so hard?" There are a lot of ways to face a trial. There are many avenues of approach. But, what ultimately matters is if you pass or if you fail. Do you win or do you quit? I've met a lot of people with excuses as to why things haven't worked out the way they wanted them to. There are people who are so used to blaming others for their own inadequacies, even blaming God, that when the trial comes they don't even try anymore. They continue to be as they are, never growing, never achieving. I had a pastor of mine once tell me that if you aren't growing then by definition you are either dead or dying. There's a lot of dead or dying people out there. They are afraid of the challenge. They are afraid of the cost. They are afraid of the pain and they will never see who they could really be.

The challenge, the test, is what makes us stronger. It is what is necessary to remove the impurities from our hearts like gold or silver to the fire. After you persevere, pass, the test you are changed into something stronger. The flip side is that consistent quitting, flaking, excuses, only allow the impurities in. What is required is the test to draw them out. We don't have to like the test but, we can get through it by knowing what it is doing for us, to us, in the meantime. We can even take joy in the test because we know that when it is over we will be better. What is your test transforming in you? What is God working on in your heart? He loves you just as you are but, He loves you way too much to leave you that way. How will you respond to the test?

17Mar16

1 Corinthians 9:22b-23
"I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings."

In honor of St. Patricks Day yesterday (today in the USofA) I thought I'd just give a little background on St. Patrick so that we can all truly appreciate the holiday for what it was founded on... not what it has become.

The man called Saint Patrick was born to a wealthy family in AD 387 in Kilpatrick, Scotland. His real name was Maewyn Succat. It was his extensive missionary work in Ireland for which he is famous. History records that Saint Patrick, at age sixteen, was captured by Celtic raiders and spent several years as a slave in Ireland. It was during this time that he learned the various rituals, customs, and language of Celtic Druids. He later had a dream in which God spoke to him saying, "Your ship is ready." Saint Patrick was then able to escape by ship back to Britain. Shortly thereafter, he experienced another dream in which he received a letter which claimed to be the "voice of the Irish." When he opened it, he heard the voices of all those who he had met in Ireland begging him to return.

Saint Patrick then began a course of study to become ordained a bishop in the Catholic Church and returned to Ireland to establish the church. Though the task was difficult and dangerous, he persisted and was able to build a strong foundation for Christianity. The Irish people were receptive to his teachings, especially in light of the fact that he was able to take several of their Celtic symbols and Christianize them. The most prominent of these is the green shamrock, a certain type of clover. He used this plant, which was held sacred by the Druids, as a symbol of the Trinity. He died on March 17, 461.

Who are you called to serve? How can you communicate to those around you so that they can hear your message?

17Mar16

1 Samuel 22:2
"All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him."

Last night at the Camp Stanley Bible study we discussed this chapter of Samuel. I kept coming back to this one verse. It stood out to me and I wanted to share it with you all this morning. At this point in his life David is being chased by king Saul. He had been on the top of his game and loved by the entire nation and now he is hiding in the hills from the king because he got too popular. But, people start to hear about him and start to come to him. He doesn't choose who he gets. He doesn't get the best of the best like he once had. No. He gets those in distress, debt, and discontented. But, rather than saying, "nope, you'll never make a good Soldier." Or, "You've got too much baggage." Or, "I can't deal with your attitude." David accepts them... and transforms them. He pays attention to their needs and ensures that they are accepted. He creates loyalty in a way that he never had before.

Later in his life these men are talked about in a very different way. They are no longer those in distress, debt, and discontent. They are David's "mighty men." These men risk their lives just to get David a drink from a well surrounded by enemy combatants simply because he mentioned he was thirsty. These men wrestled lions in pits on snowy days. These men became the men that David thought they could be because he was loyal to them in their distress, pain, and discomfort. He accepted them at their worst and they became their best.

Sometimes we don't choose what, or who, we are given to work with but, it is important that we understand that a great leader transforms those around them for the better instead of using them up and throwing them away. They recognize that the greatest investment they can make is in meeting the needs of the Soldiers around them. David could have easily have used those men as fodder or ransomed them to gain status... but, instead he transformed them through his loyalty to them. Who have you been given? Who are you accepting and transforming today?

16MAR16

Revelation 3:15-17
"'I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked."

This morning when I woke up throwing up at 0500 the word of the day was pretty clear to me. The Greek word that is so nicely translated into "spit" in the above passage is more literally translated "vomit." What is it that makes God Himself vomit? Complacency. Comfortable people who don't think they need anything else. People who think that they have achieved something and so, no longer need God. Or worse they relegate Him to a quiet corner of their lives and say, "please sit quietly over here. I've got this myself. I just need you for fire insurance."
Throwing up isn't fun. I don't know anyone that enjoys it. It's the opposite of the way things are supposed to work. I don't think God wants to vomit. I don't think that was the intent. But, when something gets into you that isn't supposed to be there, when something is infecting or poisoning you, your body does its thing and gets rid of it. We need to realize that we, in and of ourselves, are nothing. We are broken and in need of healing. We cannot accomplish the great things without the help of God. Are you the good feeling of a full meal or are you the poison? Are you useful? Are you functional?

15Mar16

1 Corinthians 12:12
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

I think everyone can remember a time they were punished for someone else's mistakes. Basic training was an excellent introduction to this. One man failed and we all got scuffed up. One person forgot the right uniform and we all suffered. One person couldn't complete the task so we all did it again. Oh yes, I remember. But, what I don't think we often remember is those moments we were rewarded based on the effort of others. Where due to the work, focus, or resolve of a member of our team we all succeeded. No, those are harder to actually remember and come with much less of an emotional response. Why is that? It's because we like to take credit. We like to believe that, regardless of what the truth is, it was due to our small part, our leadership skills, our contribution, that the task was completed and the prize won. Ever had someone steal the glory from you?
We are one. In an organization this is supremely important. To be able to view the "lesser" with pride because they are a part of you. To be able to pass on the credit (truly, not in false humility) and perks, to be able to trust each other to look out for us. But, we don't do this. We don't trust each other. Because somehow the mistakes of someone else are so much easier to view than our own. That's why being a body with Christ is so integral. It's a realization that we are all broken, all make mistakes, and none is better than another... just placed in a different way to make the body function. True incorporation. True teamwork. All because the strength to move, and do, and be is found in that unity of faith. Who are you unified with today? Who do you trust and lean on? Who is your team? Are you a dependable part of the body? Are you a functional part of the body or are you the pancreas?

14MAR16

James 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

In yesterday's sermon I was able to preach about standing against the evil in your life and putting on the armor of God so that you can hold your ground. But, a part of that is understanding that it isn't our fight against the devil. That war has already been won. That fight already has a conclusion. Our job is to submit and resist. Submit to God and resist the devil.
You would think that would be an easy task. In the words of Kevin Nealon in Happy Gilmore, "In with the good. Block the bad. In good. Block bad. It's the flow Happy." You would think that would be so simple. The problem is that we are totally prepared to resist the devil when he comes at us looking like a demon. What we aren't prepared to do is submit to the LORD. If we aren't submitted to God then we end up not being able to even see the devil until he's already won. We can't put up a fight because we've invited him into our lives in the form of greed, or lust, or idolatry. Yes, it's easy when he looks like a demon but, it's hard when he looks like a friend or romantic interest.
This verse is a package deal. You can't have one without the other. You cannot resist the devil without submitting to God. You can't fight this fight your own way. Are you willing to do what God wants with your life? Are you willing to submit your stuff so that you can resist the devil? The battle is won. Easter is coming.

10MAR16

1 Corinthians 2:12
What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.

God is not afraid of our questions. I have to give a huge shout out to the Soldiers that came to Bible study at Camp Stanley last night (Camp Hovey is tonight at 1800 in the Bandog day room). The guys and gals that were there had an excellent discussion as we looked at 1 Samuel together. But, it wasn't just the "hanging out" that made it special. It was the questions. Here we had almost twenty Soldiers that were dissecting the Scriptures of Christianity with no shame. They weren't afraid to ask the hard questions. You see, God has freely given us an amazing gift in our relationship with him and he doesn't want that to remain hidden.
If you are in a relationship with someone you don't just try to find out where they go get coffee once a week. No. You dig in. You find out everything you can about them. You borderline stalk them! In order to do this you observe them and you ASK QUESTIONS. If they want to get to know you then they will answer. God wants you to know him so he gave us his spirit to answer our questions about who God is and what he wants for our life.
We don't do this in a vacuum. It's time to ask some questions and get to know God a lot better. This is why we have the church community! Do you have people you can trust to ask the tough questions about God? Do you take the time to do it like an obsessed pre-teen boyfriend? Chase after God and He will help you to understand Himself.

09MAR16 - Daniel 6:3

Daniel 6:3
Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other presidents and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.

   I don't think most people wake up in the morning and think, "Man, it'd be nice if I didn't accomplish anything today."  I'm not saying that people don't think it would be nice to not "do" anything during a day because even in not doing something we accomplish rest.  But, I think that most people want to make a name for themselves, they want to succeed, they want to leave a legacy.  But, in a world full of 7.3 billion people, how do you set yourself apart?  How do you become distinguished above all?  An excellent spirit.  A spirit of excellence.
   Daniel proved throughout his life that he was not willing to bow down, was not willing to break, and was not willing to compromise who he was and what he believed in in any way for any man.  He didn't go looking for fame, fortune, or position.  He just listened to God, served Him, and insisted on being the fullness of who he was meant to be.   I believe that God has a plan for everyone.  This plan isn't just to be alive but, to thrive in the environments He has placed us in.  But, that plan is side-tracked, diminished (if you will), by the person who either chooses to have an excellent spirit or an apathetic spirit.
   An excellent spirit does not compromise.  An excellent spirit does not bow down to challenges.  An excellent spirit does not break under the weight of adversity.  It is in the small things that we do every single day that determine whether we are going to be distinguished above our peers or just lumped into the masses.  Have an excellent spirit today.