The Flawed thinking of a "Retired" Pastor

Next Year...Rest?

I had an older brother say to me some time ago, "If you are God's child, you will seek your Father's face and live in your Father's love."  I probably need to have someone say that to me every day.  How easily we forget.  Why is it that I allow so much "stuff" to get in the way of my living in my Father's love?  Maybe I'm not spending enough time seeking His face.  I think of how much time I wasted this past year in anxiousness and worry.  How many times I let things block my vision and the blessings of my Father.  Why do I do that?  I guess because I'm me.  How often this past year have I tried to orchestrate some kind of awesome prayer life rather than just allow God to meet me and touch me as I lisped my words and groaned through my struggles?  I've spent a lot of time this past year being uptight about "stuff".  A new year begins tomorrow.  The grace of God never fails me; but I often fail the grace of God.  By His grace I look forward to the rest that He has prepared for me.  My prayer for you:  "Perhaps this year, you may truly rest in Jesus."  (Charles H. Spurgeon)

( The above is a section from my book, Journey Through the School of Groaning. )

Finishing Well

So we've reached the end of another year and in a couple of days face a new one.  When we stood on this spot 362 days ago, we looked ahead to what the Lord was going to teach us in the coming year and we anticipated the many ways we were going to see Him at work in our lives.  Perhaps you said, "By the end of 2011 I will discover that God has wondrous things for me which I would never
have known or experienced had I not accepted the challenge that changes inevitably bring."  Today, as you look back over the past weeks and months, what do you see?  How have His grace and His love and His joy touched your life?  When I personally began this year, I journaled about finishing well.  The reality is, of course, that we are not finished.  The race is not over.  Our lives are still being perfected.  We need much more of the Master's touch in our lives (in my life).  "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith."  (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Boys to Men

"Shaping men begins with shaping boys."  (Personal Journal - 11-17-08)

God is at work, reviving the church and restoring men.  It is to be our priority in leadership to lead men to a place of humility, responsibility, and servanthood.  Whoever else I influence as a leader (defined:  pastor, elder, husband, father, grandfather, teacher), whatever else I do, shaping men is a call to which I must answer--a call that first requires my being shaped myself as a man.  Guess where that starts?  Not with men; but with boys.  We who lead WILL multiply something.  What am I multiplying?  I am to be a bearer of the promise that His grace shall reproduce "sons through me."  In the lives of all the boys God leads into my life, I have a call to seed, and to feed, and to lead!!  God give me the wisdom to do just that.  Yup!!  Shaping men begins with shaping boys.

Disappointed? No Way!!

Many people still accept the "holiday myth" that the suicide rate goes up every holiday season.  That's statistically not true.  It isn't any higher in December than a lot of other months.  And New Year's Eve isn't the most dangerous night to drive, either.  (Actually, the most dangerous day to drive statistically is the 4th of July).  Which brings me to to the whole matter of the holidays and disappointment.  I couldn't stop chuckling over the video clips I saw in church last week of youngsters opening some really lame gifts and their reactions and disappointment.  They were set up.  Actually, we can all set ourselves up with a culture filled with rampant consumerism which offers hollow promises that new goodies and stuff will fill our deepest longings.  We know better.  Rolicking holiday parties will not provide the relationships and connections we crave.  And the quest for the "perfect" Christmas can obliterate the whole purpose of why we celebrate the season in the first place.  We in the body of Christ KNOW that Christmas is more than the perfect meal or the gifts or the beautiful decorations.  Christmas is about the profound love of God.  It is the celebration of the arrival of Messiah-our Savior.  Authentic Christmas will never disappoint; it will never break its promise to transform our lives.  Talk about subversive!  Praise God for the gift of His Son.  "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!"  (2 Corinthians 9:15)

A Salty Manger

It was a dark-and-bland society into which Jesus was born.  It was a cold (literally and otherwise) world.  The birthing suite was an animal barn.  The attendants were cattle and sheep.  The crib was a mat of straw in a feeding trough.  The King of kings had come; and his only subjects that night were a bunch of outcast shepherds.  Just a few miles away was a politician who wanted to kill Him.  And we think ours is a rugged, wicked world.  And, yes it is.  We are a stubborn, warring people.  Outside of riots and wars, studies have concluded that the most dangerous place to be is in the American home!  Domestic violence and child abuse are on the rise in our hard, hostile society.  Makes one wonder what possible influence the servants of this King of kings can be.  How much clout do the "poor in spirit" really have?  The odds seemed stacked against us.  I mean, servants of Jesus will always be in  the minority.  Can our presence do much good?  Isn't it pretty much a wasted effort?  Jesus, the One who first painted for us the servant's portrait, both in words and in His own life, did not share this skepticism.  Read the Beattitudes in the Sermon on the Mount lately?  Yes, it's true, He never promised us a rose garden.  He has always been up front with us and admitted that the arena of this world is not a friend of grace to help us to God.  Nevertheless, strange as it may seem, He went on to tell us as godly servants in all generations that our influence can be nothing short of remarkable.  He says we will be "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world."  Without the influence of His servants in this culture, this old world would soon begin to realize our absence.  Even though it may not admit it, society needs both salt and light.  And that's what God has called us to be - Salt and light servants in a dark-and-bland society!!

Short Sentences for Christmas

Prophecy.  Virgin.  Immanuel.  Wonderful.  Counselor.  Mighty God.  Everlasting Father.  Prince of Peace.  Mary.  Highly favored.  Holy Spirit.  Joseph.  Dream.  Jesus.  Savior.  Caesar Augustus.  Census.  Bethlehem.  Journey.  No room.  Animal cave.  Birth.  Word becomes flesh.  Swaddling clothes.  Manger.  Cattle.  Shepherds.  Sheep.  Angel.  Terrified.  Glory to God.  Peace on earth.  Go and see.  Amazed.  Spread the word.  Magi.  Star.  Herod.  Gold.  Incense.  Myrrh.  Worship.  Rachel weeping.  Escape to Egypt.

“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19)

 Lord, this day before Christmas, may I treasure and ponder all of these things in my heart.      

Others and Us

"Therefore, however you want people to treat you, so treat them for this is the Law and the Prophets."  (Matthew 7:12)  One man has called this verse the "Everest of ethics."  In some ways, the cornerstone of true Christianity.  What's the principle?  Modeling must accompany our message!!  You want to be forgiven?  Forgive.  You need affirmation?  Affirm.  You feel hurt, wounded, broken, and could stand a gentle touch?  Be gentle with others.  The examples are endless.  Unfortunately, models of such great-hearted behavior are rare.  Is it any wonder the non-Christian world looks with suspicion in our direction?  Do you know the greatest message we can deliver...the greatest Christmas gift we can give?  The gift/message of Christlike character to those around us!!  No message on earth is more needed or more powerful.  It's been said that the only Bible most folks ever read is the daily life of the Christian.  Perhaps the world needs a revised version.  Our problem is not that too many of us are being ignored...it's that we are all being observed.

Journey Through the School of Groaning

PRAISING GOD!!  My second book is at the printer's.  It's been a long "journey".  This prayer devotional (with 366 daily readings will be available within the next few weeks.  Copies are available in both hard cover and soft cover and can be purchased from Amazon.com. Barnes and Noble, Authorhouse publishing, or directly from Helen and me (at a discounted price).   I am excited to be sharing this facet of my ministry with you.  "True prayer is measured by weight, not by length.  A single groan before God may have more fullness of prayer in it than a fine oration of great length."  (Charles Spurgeon)

PS.  My ealier book, Seasons of a Pastor is now available for e-reader from either Amazon or Barnes and Noble.  Thank you so much for those of you who have prayed and labored with me through this project.

Do the Unexpected

There are different ways to say it--turning the other cheek...going the extra mile...doing good to those who hate us...loving our enemies..pourng coals of fire on another's head.  We may say it in different ways, but the action amounts to the same thing.  By doing the unexpected, we accomplish a 2-fold objective:  (1) We put an end to bitterness, and (2) we prove the truth of the age-old axiom, love conquers all.  What keeps us from doing the unexpected for the undeserving (as if I'm deserving) so that we might watch God accomplish the unbelievable?  Why?  Because it goes against our human nature.  And it's a risk to forgive someone else.  But what about our new nature in Christ?  What about trusting the Lord to take that risk?  Christmas is just around the corner.  How about giving the gift of forgiveness, a cup full of kindness, a sincere phone call of grace to someone who would never expect it and might not deserve it...with no strings attached?  That's pretty risky...Yeah it is...But you wouldn't be the first to try it.  God's gift to us came wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  Talk about doing the unexpected for the undeserving!

Older to Younger

I had a lengthy conversation with a sophomore in high school yesterday.  In my job as a secondary teacher I have the blessing and privilege of speaking into the lives of over 70 kids every day!!  As I was browsing through one of my journals this morning, I came across a list I had made in 1995 from scripture.  It's a list of Paul's (an old guy) admonitions to his young friend (TImothy).  Here are some of the items on the list:

• Do all you can to encourage others
• Fan the flame of God's gift in you
• Don't ever be ashamed to tell what God is doing in your life
• Be strong in GRACE toward all
• Be an good example to others
• Endure hardship if necessary
• Avoid gossip and godless chatter
• Flee from youthful and evil desires
• Pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace
• Don't have anything to do with stupid, foolish arguments
• Be kind to everyone
• Gently deal with those who oppose you
• Have nothing to do with false religionists
• Live godly lives (by the way, you probably will sometimes be persecuted for it)
• Keep on keeping on!!
• Be a man of the Word and a man of your word!

Occasionally old guys do have something beneficial to share with younger guys.  I have nothing to add to that, Jacob (the kid I was talking to yesterday).  Thanks, Paul.