Ecclesiastes 7:21 "Don't pay attention to everything people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you; for you know that many times you yourself have cursed others."
As broken people it is inevitable that at some point we are going to say something that will hurt, or we will hear something that will hurt. While it is important to "be at peace with everyone" (Romans 12:18) we simply can't all be perfect this side of heaven.
So just realize that sometimes people will say stupid things that upon later reflection they wished they had not said. You do the same thing, right?
So give people the benefit of the doubt and some grace and patience. Perhaps there'll come a time when you can honestly share with them how their words hurt, rather than 1) lash out at the time or 2) pull away and not be friends with them anymore.
Pastor Tom
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
What Gain in Pleasure?
If there was every anyone who had it all together it was Solomon. He was the son of the greatest king Israel ever knew. He was a writer, a scientist, a king. He has more money than you could dream of. He was king of the most prestigious realm of his day. He had as many wives and lovers as he wanted. Oh, he was also smarter than anyone, anywhere.
Solomon, in all his wisdom, decided to try to figure out life.
"All that my eyes desired, I did not deny them. I did not refuse myself any pleasure." (Ecclesiastes 2:10)
What was the result? "I found everything to be futile" (vs 11).
Solomon tried this with pleasure and wisdom and justice and many things. In everything he found it to be a waste of time.
Solomon's conclusion: (5:18) "It is appropriate to eat, drink, and experience good in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of his life God has given him, because that is his reward. God has also given riches and weatlth to every man, and he has allowed him to enjoy them, take his reward, and rejoice in his labor. This is a gift of God, for he does not often consider the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart."
There is nothing to be gained by wealth, pleasure, power, or prestige. But we should enjoy life as a gift from God. There is nothing better than realizing we were made by God for God. Now that's pleasure!
Pastor Tom
Solomon, in all his wisdom, decided to try to figure out life.
"All that my eyes desired, I did not deny them. I did not refuse myself any pleasure." (Ecclesiastes 2:10)
What was the result? "I found everything to be futile" (vs 11).
Solomon tried this with pleasure and wisdom and justice and many things. In everything he found it to be a waste of time.
Solomon's conclusion: (5:18) "It is appropriate to eat, drink, and experience good in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of his life God has given him, because that is his reward. God has also given riches and weatlth to every man, and he has allowed him to enjoy them, take his reward, and rejoice in his labor. This is a gift of God, for he does not often consider the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart."
There is nothing to be gained by wealth, pleasure, power, or prestige. But we should enjoy life as a gift from God. There is nothing better than realizing we were made by God for God. Now that's pleasure!
Pastor Tom
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Pressing The Point
Proverbs 30:33 For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife. ESV
Have you ever found yourself in a place where you just don't feel heard? Have you experienced put-downs by others who disregard your opinion or say things that are actually hurtful to you. Do you find yourself reacting with a hot face and a hot attitude?
While it's okay to acknowledge that you are having feelings, it is what you do with those feelings that matters. Anger at sin is okay, but often our anger is really the product of hurt pride.
Psalm 4:4 says "Be angry and do not sin; on your bed reflect in your heart and be still."
Our tendency is to shoot off our mouths first and seek clarification second (if at all). Anger that is "pressed" produces strife and brokenness. Anger that is taken to the Lord in a time of quiet can result in proper self-reflection and a more positive response to those who have made you upset.
Proverbs 15:1-2 A gentle answer turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath. 2 The tongue of the wise makes knowledge attractive, but the mouth of fools blurts out foolishness. HCSB
Pastor Tom
Have you ever found yourself in a place where you just don't feel heard? Have you experienced put-downs by others who disregard your opinion or say things that are actually hurtful to you. Do you find yourself reacting with a hot face and a hot attitude?
While it's okay to acknowledge that you are having feelings, it is what you do with those feelings that matters. Anger at sin is okay, but often our anger is really the product of hurt pride.
Psalm 4:4 says "Be angry and do not sin; on your bed reflect in your heart and be still."
Our tendency is to shoot off our mouths first and seek clarification second (if at all). Anger that is "pressed" produces strife and brokenness. Anger that is taken to the Lord in a time of quiet can result in proper self-reflection and a more positive response to those who have made you upset.
Proverbs 15:1-2 A gentle answer turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath. 2 The tongue of the wise makes knowledge attractive, but the mouth of fools blurts out foolishness. HCSB
Pastor Tom
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Who Teaches You?
Proverbs 22:24-25 Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, 25 lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare. ESV
I thought this was a particularly insightful proverb. It shows us that who we hang out with is who we will become. Do you find yourself spending time with people who are given to being quarrelsome? Do they get angry a lot and everything seems to bug them?
You should be careful because by the process of osmosis you will begin to pick up on their habits and outlook.
2 Timothy 2:24-26 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. ESV
Pastor Tom
I thought this was a particularly insightful proverb. It shows us that who we hang out with is who we will become. Do you find yourself spending time with people who are given to being quarrelsome? Do they get angry a lot and everything seems to bug them?
You should be careful because by the process of osmosis you will begin to pick up on their habits and outlook.
2 Timothy 2:24-26 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. ESV
Pastor Tom
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Self-Justifying
Proverbs 16:2 "All a man's ways seem right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the motives."
A recent Time Magazine article showed that science has learned that our brains are the most self-justifying entities we know. It's how people can do crazy things and not go insane. Our brains basically tell us that what we want to do is "right" as this proverb says.
But notice the second part of verse 2. Though our brains will automatically tell us what we want to do is okay, there needs to be an objective outside judgment on whether our motives are actually good or not. That outside judgment can only come from someone who is not infected by sin, as all of humanity is. Sin clouds our judgment and "sears" our consciences.
How do we get that judgment - from God's Word, the Bible.
Hebrews 4:12-13 "For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as to divide soul, spirit, joints, and marrow; it is a judge of the ideas and thoughts of the heart. 13 No creature is hidden from Him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account."
The Bible gives us a character sketch of what a good God is like, and thus a comparison to our own character which reveals our deficits.
So what's the answer? I like what Proverbs 16:3 has to say: "Commit your activities to the Lord and your plans will be achieved."
No matter whether we really know if we are doing something out of pure motivation or just snowing ourselves, if we are sure to commit it to the Lord and be ready and waiting for His opinion, then our plans will be achieved according to God's good character!
Pastor Tom
A recent Time Magazine article showed that science has learned that our brains are the most self-justifying entities we know. It's how people can do crazy things and not go insane. Our brains basically tell us that what we want to do is "right" as this proverb says.
But notice the second part of verse 2. Though our brains will automatically tell us what we want to do is okay, there needs to be an objective outside judgment on whether our motives are actually good or not. That outside judgment can only come from someone who is not infected by sin, as all of humanity is. Sin clouds our judgment and "sears" our consciences.
How do we get that judgment - from God's Word, the Bible.
Hebrews 4:12-13 "For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as to divide soul, spirit, joints, and marrow; it is a judge of the ideas and thoughts of the heart. 13 No creature is hidden from Him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account."
The Bible gives us a character sketch of what a good God is like, and thus a comparison to our own character which reveals our deficits.
So what's the answer? I like what Proverbs 16:3 has to say: "Commit your activities to the Lord and your plans will be achieved."
No matter whether we really know if we are doing something out of pure motivation or just snowing ourselves, if we are sure to commit it to the Lord and be ready and waiting for His opinion, then our plans will be achieved according to God's good character!
Pastor Tom
Monday, October 11, 2010
Do You Have a Clean Manger?
Proverbs 14:4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox. ESV
I like this proverb. You might want a clean stable, but if you don't have oxen feeding and, um, doing the things oxen do after they eat, you won't have them around to do work for you in the fields.
Now I know most of us don't even live on farms anymore ("where does food come from, Mommy?" "Why, from the store shelves of course, dear!"). But I think there is good application to life as well. Because we as humans are basically only as active as we need to be, the tendency is to want to get things with as little effort as possible.
When it comes to growing in our relationship with Christ, the same thing applies. We'd rather God just download His character into our lives like a computer program. It doesn't work that way, though. God works His character in us through diligent study of His Word, active access to our lives by the Holy Spirit, difficult trials that seem to bend and break us, and constant choices as to whether we follow our conscience or ignore it.
We want the character (the crops produced by the oxen) but we don't want all the mess of the process (a very dirty stable). But just as crops don't come except by the strength of the oxen, so too the character of God does not come to us without effort.
Paul said: "...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Phil 2:12). This could also be translated "put your back into it!" You don't earn it by works, but you work at it as God works through the messes in our lives to work in His life and your salvation.
Pastor Tom
I like this proverb. You might want a clean stable, but if you don't have oxen feeding and, um, doing the things oxen do after they eat, you won't have them around to do work for you in the fields.
Now I know most of us don't even live on farms anymore ("where does food come from, Mommy?" "Why, from the store shelves of course, dear!"). But I think there is good application to life as well. Because we as humans are basically only as active as we need to be, the tendency is to want to get things with as little effort as possible.
When it comes to growing in our relationship with Christ, the same thing applies. We'd rather God just download His character into our lives like a computer program. It doesn't work that way, though. God works His character in us through diligent study of His Word, active access to our lives by the Holy Spirit, difficult trials that seem to bend and break us, and constant choices as to whether we follow our conscience or ignore it.
We want the character (the crops produced by the oxen) but we don't want all the mess of the process (a very dirty stable). But just as crops don't come except by the strength of the oxen, so too the character of God does not come to us without effort.
Paul said: "...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Phil 2:12). This could also be translated "put your back into it!" You don't earn it by works, but you work at it as God works through the messes in our lives to work in His life and your salvation.
Pastor Tom
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Going All The Way
In reading through the accounts of the kings of Judah I noticed something. Though many of the kings did "what was right in the eyes of the Lord," the Bible also points out this fact "but the high places were not removed." Normally we just read right over that and it doesn't make much sense.
The high places were left over shrines from the people's that had occupied the land. Before the temple was built the children of Israel would sacrifice to the LORD at these high places. The problem was that they didn't stop worshiping there when the temple was available and they increasingly became places to worship gods other than the LORD.
So that's why Hezekiah sticks out from among the list of the kings. It is almost a side note when 2 Kings 18:4 "He removed the high places and shattered the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah poles."
It says he also destroyed the bronze serpent that Moses had set up to heal the people. Instead of worshiping the God of the healing, they worshiped the serpent as an idol.
For us the application involves how far we are willing to go in serving God. We come to faith in Jesus and He enters our lives to "transform" us into His good character. But sometimes, like the other kings before Hezekiah, we "do what is right" but we don't go all the way. We need to recognize those things in our lives that are leftovers from the days when we belonged to the world and not let them start to have prominence in our lives again.
Tear them down by the power of the Spirit - those attitudes, and behaviors that mirror the world's values rather the Lords. Don't be satisfied with just looking right, be right!
Pastor Tom
The high places were left over shrines from the people's that had occupied the land. Before the temple was built the children of Israel would sacrifice to the LORD at these high places. The problem was that they didn't stop worshiping there when the temple was available and they increasingly became places to worship gods other than the LORD.
So that's why Hezekiah sticks out from among the list of the kings. It is almost a side note when 2 Kings 18:4 "He removed the high places and shattered the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah poles."
It says he also destroyed the bronze serpent that Moses had set up to heal the people. Instead of worshiping the God of the healing, they worshiped the serpent as an idol.
For us the application involves how far we are willing to go in serving God. We come to faith in Jesus and He enters our lives to "transform" us into His good character. But sometimes, like the other kings before Hezekiah, we "do what is right" but we don't go all the way. We need to recognize those things in our lives that are leftovers from the days when we belonged to the world and not let them start to have prominence in our lives again.
Tear them down by the power of the Spirit - those attitudes, and behaviors that mirror the world's values rather the Lords. Don't be satisfied with just looking right, be right!
Pastor Tom
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Latent Hatred
Normally a lot of people skip Genesis 36. Essentially it is the genealogy of Esau's descendants. Esau, if you remember, was Jacob's brother. Esau was not the chosen son, and when he got cheated out of the blessing of his father Isaac by Jacob, Esau wanted revenge. That's why Jacob went to find a wife in a country far far away.
When Jacob returned to the land of Canaan he did so in the very real fear that Esau's promise that he would kill Jacob would come to pass. It didn't, though Jacob avoided living near Esau and only saw him at their dad's funeral.
So you might conclude that the feud was over. You'd be wrong.
One of the reasons why Esau's descendants are mentioned in Genesis 36 is that they later form the Edomites and the Amalekites. These two people's were ruthless against Israel and caused them no end of grief.
So why is that important to us? We too have an enemy, Lucifer, who hates anyone who loves God. Don't be fooled into thinking that just because it seems the enemy's temptations and attacks have ceased that he has forgotten about you. He hasn't. Like a descendant of Esau, he is just waiting for a chance to trip you up.
That's why Peter says in 1 Peter 5:8-11:
"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen." ESV
The word isn't to be afraid, to watch under every rock and around every corner, but to resist temptation and cling to God..
James 4:7 Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8: Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
Pastor Tom
When Jacob returned to the land of Canaan he did so in the very real fear that Esau's promise that he would kill Jacob would come to pass. It didn't, though Jacob avoided living near Esau and only saw him at their dad's funeral.
So you might conclude that the feud was over. You'd be wrong.
One of the reasons why Esau's descendants are mentioned in Genesis 36 is that they later form the Edomites and the Amalekites. These two people's were ruthless against Israel and caused them no end of grief.
So why is that important to us? We too have an enemy, Lucifer, who hates anyone who loves God. Don't be fooled into thinking that just because it seems the enemy's temptations and attacks have ceased that he has forgotten about you. He hasn't. Like a descendant of Esau, he is just waiting for a chance to trip you up.
That's why Peter says in 1 Peter 5:8-11:
"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen." ESV
The word isn't to be afraid, to watch under every rock and around every corner, but to resist temptation and cling to God..
James 4:7 Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8: Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
Pastor Tom
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Provision and Protection
I was reading about the life of Jacob in Genesis. Jacob really deserved a lot of what happened to him. He lied and cheated his way through life and when he wanted a wife he met an uberJacob in Laban who out-lied and out-cheated the cheater!
The wonderful thing about Jacob is that through it all, God was teaching him to trust, not in himself and his own wits, but in God.
The thing I noticed was that when Jacob was in the midst of being mistreated by Laban in Genesis 31, Jacob said: "But the God of my father has been with me." Jacob got the "bad" spotted and speckled sheep in Laban's flock for his wages and suddenly all the strong ones were spotted and speckled. Then when Jacob fled from Laban and was pursued by him, God appeared to Laban and said "Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad."
So what we find is that God provided for Jacob and protected Jacob, but it was in the presence of Laban. Often times we want God to bless us and protect us but we want to be as far away from temptation and attack and trial as possible. But God, it seems, provides for us in the midst of bad circumstances. He protects us while under attack.
Don't worry about the Laban's in your life. Trust God anyway. You may feel cheated, but God will provide you with rich spiritual blessings despite what the world wants to do to you. You may feel attacked but God will make sure you arrive safely to His heavenly kingdom.
Pastor Tom
The wonderful thing about Jacob is that through it all, God was teaching him to trust, not in himself and his own wits, but in God.
The thing I noticed was that when Jacob was in the midst of being mistreated by Laban in Genesis 31, Jacob said: "But the God of my father has been with me." Jacob got the "bad" spotted and speckled sheep in Laban's flock for his wages and suddenly all the strong ones were spotted and speckled. Then when Jacob fled from Laban and was pursued by him, God appeared to Laban and said "Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad."
So what we find is that God provided for Jacob and protected Jacob, but it was in the presence of Laban. Often times we want God to bless us and protect us but we want to be as far away from temptation and attack and trial as possible. But God, it seems, provides for us in the midst of bad circumstances. He protects us while under attack.
Don't worry about the Laban's in your life. Trust God anyway. You may feel cheated, but God will provide you with rich spiritual blessings despite what the world wants to do to you. You may feel attacked but God will make sure you arrive safely to His heavenly kingdom.
Pastor Tom
Monday, March 29, 2010
As You Are
In reading the book of Genesis, especially in the middle portion of the book, I'm struck by a theme: deception. Both Abraham and Isaac lied about the fact that they were really married. They did it because they were afraid. Later, Jacob lies to Isaac about his true identity in order to get the blessing. The tables get turned on Jacob as Laban lies about who he is giving to Jacob as a wife.
But what is interesting is this idea of not presenting who you really are. Why is that? I think that deep down we are ashamed of who we are before God. We want to put the best face forward, we want to justify ourselves, we want to hide the truth because we are disappointed in who we are.
We think that if we get ourselves to looking good that God won't see the real person. How foolish is that? God knows not only what you say and do, He knows what you think and even the intentions of your heart - things that many of us don't even know.
Isaiah 1:18 says “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool."
We don't come to God to reason with Him like telling him reasons why He should like us. We come in the nakedness of who we really are - the truth. And that's when God says "I can make you clean." He can do it through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
But don't try to lie to God about who you are. He knows you and still wants to receive you. Pretty cool, huh?
Pastor Tom
But what is interesting is this idea of not presenting who you really are. Why is that? I think that deep down we are ashamed of who we are before God. We want to put the best face forward, we want to justify ourselves, we want to hide the truth because we are disappointed in who we are.
We think that if we get ourselves to looking good that God won't see the real person. How foolish is that? God knows not only what you say and do, He knows what you think and even the intentions of your heart - things that many of us don't even know.
Isaiah 1:18 says “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool."
We don't come to God to reason with Him like telling him reasons why He should like us. We come in the nakedness of who we really are - the truth. And that's when God says "I can make you clean." He can do it through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
But don't try to lie to God about who you are. He knows you and still wants to receive you. Pretty cool, huh?
Pastor Tom
Thursday, March 18, 2010
The Role of the Father
It's interesting to me when something in a familiar story hits you in a new way. That's what happened to me in Genesis 22. It's the story of Abraham taking Isaac to be sacrificed.
Here Abraham is in the role of the father, taking his son to Mt Moria in order to sacrifice him. It's a picture of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, God's Son. In fact, it's likely it happened on the same mountain where the temple would be built, perhaps even at the site of the Holy of Holies, where the blood of the sacrificial lamb was sprinkled on the mercy seat.
The little thing that struck me in this picture was verse 9 where it says that "Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar on top of the wood." In this picture, God the Father bound His own Son to the wooden cross. The Father sent Jesus to the cross. Jesus, just like Isaac, went obediently to what would be His certain death.
Isaiah 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
The Father had to "chastise" Jesus in order to gain peace for us. So next time you think of the cross, think of the Father's hands binding Jesus to it like Abraham did to Isaac, except the Father let it go all the way. It's a powerful picture.
Pastor Tom
Here Abraham is in the role of the father, taking his son to Mt Moria in order to sacrifice him. It's a picture of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, God's Son. In fact, it's likely it happened on the same mountain where the temple would be built, perhaps even at the site of the Holy of Holies, where the blood of the sacrificial lamb was sprinkled on the mercy seat.
The little thing that struck me in this picture was verse 9 where it says that "Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar on top of the wood." In this picture, God the Father bound His own Son to the wooden cross. The Father sent Jesus to the cross. Jesus, just like Isaac, went obediently to what would be His certain death.
Isaiah 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
The Father had to "chastise" Jesus in order to gain peace for us. So next time you think of the cross, think of the Father's hands binding Jesus to it like Abraham did to Isaac, except the Father let it go all the way. It's a powerful picture.
Pastor Tom
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
When God Says No (we think)
We're all pretty familiar with the story of Abram and Sarai, how God promised Abram "your very own son shall be your heir." (Genesis 15:4). Years passed and no child. Sarai finally said "The Lord has prevented me from bearing children." She told Abram to marry her servant and when she got pregnant she was jealous. The son Hagar had has hassled the children Sarai eventually had to this day.
So it's interesting to me that Sarai lacked two things: trust and patience. It seems she didn't fully trust that what God said He would do, He would do. She lacked patience because as time passed she concluded that God was purposefully not fulfilling His promise - that He had taken back what He earlier said.
In reality, God was waiting. A few years later He made sure Sarai was nearby when He proclaimed that in a year there would be a baby crying in their tent. Sure enough, that's exactly what happened.
God has made many promises to us, but we must trust that even when it doesn't happen in the way or the timing that we choose, it doesn't mean God doesn't care or has taken back His promise. Often times, like in Sarai's case, further revelation is needed. For you, perhaps God has things He is doing in your life or in the lives of others before it is time to fulfill a promise. Often times the fulfillment comes in a way we never would have guessed, but it is for our ultimate good.
It pays to trust and wait for God. The alternate isn't much fun at all. Just ask Sarai.
Pastor Tom
So it's interesting to me that Sarai lacked two things: trust and patience. It seems she didn't fully trust that what God said He would do, He would do. She lacked patience because as time passed she concluded that God was purposefully not fulfilling His promise - that He had taken back what He earlier said.
In reality, God was waiting. A few years later He made sure Sarai was nearby when He proclaimed that in a year there would be a baby crying in their tent. Sure enough, that's exactly what happened.
God has made many promises to us, but we must trust that even when it doesn't happen in the way or the timing that we choose, it doesn't mean God doesn't care or has taken back His promise. Often times, like in Sarai's case, further revelation is needed. For you, perhaps God has things He is doing in your life or in the lives of others before it is time to fulfill a promise. Often times the fulfillment comes in a way we never would have guessed, but it is for our ultimate good.
It pays to trust and wait for God. The alternate isn't much fun at all. Just ask Sarai.
Pastor Tom
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Together We Can Do It! (Not)
If you've read Genesis 11 you know the story of Babel. Basically after the flood, God told the people to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth - God's "Control-Alt-Delete" reset of humanity. But given the fallen nature of humanity, instead of doing God's business, they went about doing their own.
In chapter 11 they decided to settle on a plain, build a tower, "so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth."
God took a look at the building project and said "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them."
It sounds like God was panicking - that the people were going to do a hostile takeover and so God needed to do something quick! Nothing could be further from the truth of course. In reading this what struck me was that God was saying, "if I let them continue down this path they will think they can do anything and not realize how much they need a relationship with Me."
When mankind gets together we convince each other that nothing is impossible for us - that we can create a utopia here on earth and that everyone is okay and good on the inside and that we should just trust each other.
In truth humanity is fallen, our hearts are wicked, but deceive us into thinking we are okay. It's like a person who has terminal cancer but chalks up the symptoms to indigestion.
It is only by following after God that we find our true purpose and escape from our own endemic evil. That path out of our mess came not with the lifting up of a human-made building but the lifting up of a human being, a perfect human being, on a cross.
Pastor Tom
In chapter 11 they decided to settle on a plain, build a tower, "so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth."
God took a look at the building project and said "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them."
It sounds like God was panicking - that the people were going to do a hostile takeover and so God needed to do something quick! Nothing could be further from the truth of course. In reading this what struck me was that God was saying, "if I let them continue down this path they will think they can do anything and not realize how much they need a relationship with Me."
When mankind gets together we convince each other that nothing is impossible for us - that we can create a utopia here on earth and that everyone is okay and good on the inside and that we should just trust each other.
In truth humanity is fallen, our hearts are wicked, but deceive us into thinking we are okay. It's like a person who has terminal cancer but chalks up the symptoms to indigestion.
It is only by following after God that we find our true purpose and escape from our own endemic evil. That path out of our mess came not with the lifting up of a human-made building but the lifting up of a human being, a perfect human being, on a cross.
Pastor Tom
Friday, March 12, 2010
In The Beginning ...
When Eve was presented with temptation by the serpent in Genesis 3, the serpent made a statement about what God had said.
Genesis 3:1 He said to the woman, 'Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden''?
Eve responded by saying "You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it."
Interestingly, what God "actually" said was "but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in that day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
What I find interesting is that Eve misquotes God just as the serpent misquoted God. She did it in two ways. First she did not correctly identify the tree how God identified it. She just called it a tree rather than "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." Secondly she added that they were not allowed to touch it.
Had Eve correctly remembered and applied God's word, she might have thought more before taking a bite. She might have realized what she was getting herself into.
I think this is just the first of many examples that show us the importance of knowing and correctly applying the Bible, the Word of God. That's why at Calvary Chapel we study the Bible from beginning to end. It would do us all well!
Pastor Tom
Genesis 3:1 He said to the woman, 'Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden''?
Eve responded by saying "You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it."
Interestingly, what God "actually" said was "but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in that day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
What I find interesting is that Eve misquotes God just as the serpent misquoted God. She did it in two ways. First she did not correctly identify the tree how God identified it. She just called it a tree rather than "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." Secondly she added that they were not allowed to touch it.
Had Eve correctly remembered and applied God's word, she might have thought more before taking a bite. She might have realized what she was getting herself into.
I think this is just the first of many examples that show us the importance of knowing and correctly applying the Bible, the Word of God. That's why at Calvary Chapel we study the Bible from beginning to end. It would do us all well!
Pastor Tom
Thursday, January 07, 2010
Made Up Your Mind?
There is an interesting exchange that happens between Jesus and some religious leaders shortly before the crucifixion. In Mark 11 the chief priests, scribes, and elders demanded that Jesus give His authority, His credentials, as the Messiah. Jesus answered their question with a question - wanting to know if they thought John's baptism was from God or was just John's idea.
31"And they discussed it with one another, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?' 32But shall we say, 'From man'?" they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet."
So Jesus refused to answer.
Later, a law expert heard another discussion about the resurrection and asked Jesus which command was the greatest. Jesus answered that you should love God and love your neighbor. The scribe said "You are right." and Jesus replied "You are not far from the kingdom of God."
So why did Jesus engage the one man, and not the other group? I think it was their heart attitude. The religious leaders had already made up their mind about Jesus, but the scribe seemed to really be curious and open to Jesus response.
Jesus isn't wanting us to have all the answers, but He does want us to be open to asking questions and getting answers from His word.
Some people say they are open minded, but are so open minded their brains fall out and they form no opinions at all. The scribe wasn't just interested in a debate, he was interested in ultimate truth. Are you?
Pastor Tom
31"And they discussed it with one another, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?' 32But shall we say, 'From man'?" they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet."
So Jesus refused to answer.
Later, a law expert heard another discussion about the resurrection and asked Jesus which command was the greatest. Jesus answered that you should love God and love your neighbor. The scribe said "You are right." and Jesus replied "You are not far from the kingdom of God."
So why did Jesus engage the one man, and not the other group? I think it was their heart attitude. The religious leaders had already made up their mind about Jesus, but the scribe seemed to really be curious and open to Jesus response.
Jesus isn't wanting us to have all the answers, but He does want us to be open to asking questions and getting answers from His word.
Some people say they are open minded, but are so open minded their brains fall out and they form no opinions at all. The scribe wasn't just interested in a debate, he was interested in ultimate truth. Are you?
Pastor Tom
Monday, December 28, 2009
How's Your Hearing?
Jesus is famous for His parables - The Parable of the Sower, the Mustard Seed, the Weeds, etc. A parable is a story with a spiritual or moral point. At a certain point in His ministry Jesus spoke only in parables. His disciples, not known at the time for deep thinking, scratched their heads and had to come to Jesus for an explanation.
At one point they asked: (Matt 13:10-14) "Why do you speak to them in parables?" 11 And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand."
Why would Jesus purposefully hide the truth? Didn't He come to save the world? Why would He keep that news away from people then?
Well, here's one answer. Jesus was not interested in groupies, He wants disciples. The people got fed and healed and thought Jesus was a great genie. But Jesus is Lord. If you think you can just come to Jesus when you need something then you miss the entire purpose of His coming: to give dead people new life.
So you really have to think when you hear a parable. You have to dig deep and do what the disciples did - ask questions, get answers, and respond.
So how is your hearing? When you hear the words of Jesus are you only thinking in terms of what you get or in terms of what He is offering to do in your life?
Pastor Tom
At one point they asked: (Matt 13:10-14) "Why do you speak to them in parables?" 11 And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand."
Why would Jesus purposefully hide the truth? Didn't He come to save the world? Why would He keep that news away from people then?
Well, here's one answer. Jesus was not interested in groupies, He wants disciples. The people got fed and healed and thought Jesus was a great genie. But Jesus is Lord. If you think you can just come to Jesus when you need something then you miss the entire purpose of His coming: to give dead people new life.
So you really have to think when you hear a parable. You have to dig deep and do what the disciples did - ask questions, get answers, and respond.
So how is your hearing? When you hear the words of Jesus are you only thinking in terms of what you get or in terms of what He is offering to do in your life?
Pastor Tom
Friday, October 30, 2009
When God Causes Pain
Most of us don't like to think about pain - painful relationships, sickness, accidents, and situations that bring discomfort.
We like to think that bad things only happen to bad people and that when bad things come our way we must have done something to deserve it.
How about I add to that the fact that sometimes it is actually God who brings pain into our lives - and not always because we've done anything to deserve it?
The difference is that when God allows trials, it is for a redemptive purpose. He is trying to bring about good ultimately.
So I ran across this verse in Lamentations that really intrigued me:
Lamentations 3:31-33 For the Lord will not cast off forever, 32 but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; 33 for he does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men. ESV
Like a good parent, God knows that sometimes pain is better than pleasure to remind us of things, challenge us in things, and spur us on to depend on the Lord more than we are.
End by considering another verse you may not have known came from Lamentations - which is probably one of the most depressing books of the Bible - written by Jeremiah as he surveyed Jerusalem, ravaged by invading armies. Yet this verse is so encouraging!
Lamentations 3:22-24 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." ESV
So let's hope in the new mercies of the Lord each day. Though he causes pain, he also brings healing!
Pastor Tom
We like to think that bad things only happen to bad people and that when bad things come our way we must have done something to deserve it.
How about I add to that the fact that sometimes it is actually God who brings pain into our lives - and not always because we've done anything to deserve it?
The difference is that when God allows trials, it is for a redemptive purpose. He is trying to bring about good ultimately.
So I ran across this verse in Lamentations that really intrigued me:
Lamentations 3:31-33 For the Lord will not cast off forever, 32 but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; 33 for he does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men. ESV
Like a good parent, God knows that sometimes pain is better than pleasure to remind us of things, challenge us in things, and spur us on to depend on the Lord more than we are.
End by considering another verse you may not have known came from Lamentations - which is probably one of the most depressing books of the Bible - written by Jeremiah as he surveyed Jerusalem, ravaged by invading armies. Yet this verse is so encouraging!
Lamentations 3:22-24 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." ESV
So let's hope in the new mercies of the Lord each day. Though he causes pain, he also brings healing!
Pastor Tom
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Deceitfully Yours
A friend of mine recently went to the doctor for some tests. He said he felt fine but the doctor wanted him to take a look inside his heart. After it was all over he told me that 90% of one of his arteries was closed and another was completely blocked. He said "I was on deck for a major heart attack." Fortunately the doctors were able to fix it without a bypass or open heart surgery. It reminded me of a verse the prophet Jeremiah wrote:
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? ESV
My friend thought his heart was okay, but it had deceived him. In reality he was indeed desperately sick.
Jeremiah wasn't talking about the physical heart, of course, but our souls - that part of us that is our personality, our needs, wants, and desires - what makes us unique. The prophet says that our own souls deceive us. The heart (pardon the pun) of deception is that you don't know something is wrong. We go along our merry way thinking we are okay with ourselves and our universe.
What we don't realize is that we have been infected with the sin bacteria - given to us at conception - the result of one sinful act long ago in the Garden of Eden. That bacteria spreads and leads us to do other things that are outside of God's character. It separates us from a relationship we desperately need and makes it so that even if we think we are doing the right thing, most often we are not!
So Jeremiah goes on to say:
10 "I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways,
according to the fruit of his deeds." ESV
My encouragement to us today is to go to the doctor, The Doctor, and ask for a checkup. The good news is that when this Doctor finds problems in the heart because of our ways, His procedure involves not just unclogging arteries but giving us a brand new heart and a new life.
Ezekiel 11:19-20 And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, 20 that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. ESV
That "heart of flesh" comes from Someone who was not born with the sin bacteria - Jesus Christ. In relying and trusting on Him, the saying of Paul comes true:
2 Cor 5:17-18 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. ESV
The doctor will see you now.
Pastor Tom
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? ESV
My friend thought his heart was okay, but it had deceived him. In reality he was indeed desperately sick.
Jeremiah wasn't talking about the physical heart, of course, but our souls - that part of us that is our personality, our needs, wants, and desires - what makes us unique. The prophet says that our own souls deceive us. The heart (pardon the pun) of deception is that you don't know something is wrong. We go along our merry way thinking we are okay with ourselves and our universe.
What we don't realize is that we have been infected with the sin bacteria - given to us at conception - the result of one sinful act long ago in the Garden of Eden. That bacteria spreads and leads us to do other things that are outside of God's character. It separates us from a relationship we desperately need and makes it so that even if we think we are doing the right thing, most often we are not!
So Jeremiah goes on to say:
10 "I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways,
according to the fruit of his deeds." ESV
My encouragement to us today is to go to the doctor, The Doctor, and ask for a checkup. The good news is that when this Doctor finds problems in the heart because of our ways, His procedure involves not just unclogging arteries but giving us a brand new heart and a new life.
Ezekiel 11:19-20 And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, 20 that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. ESV
That "heart of flesh" comes from Someone who was not born with the sin bacteria - Jesus Christ. In relying and trusting on Him, the saying of Paul comes true:
2 Cor 5:17-18 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. ESV
The doctor will see you now.
Pastor Tom
Monday, October 19, 2009
My Holy Spirit GPS
I was using one of those new GPS units the other day to guide me to my niece’s wedding rehearsal. The thing is supposed to pick up signals from outer space and turn them into turn by turn directions from one place to another. As we approached Portland on I-205 the voice kept insisting that I get off onto 82nd Avenue. I ignored it, of course, knowing that 205 was a much better route. Every time we would pass an exit the voice kept telling me to get off. It got pretty annoying. Pretty soon I wanted to just chuck the little voice out the window! Finally I figured out how to mute her and I continued on my merry way.
It wasn’t until I was well passed the possible turn off that I realized what was happening. As the cars slowed to a complete halt on the freeway I understood that the annoying little GPS voice was trying to route me around stopped traffic. Had I listened, understood, and acted upon her advice, I would have arrived on time and less stressed.
A few days later the Lord brought this little incident to my mind and reminded me of His Holy Spirit. Isaiah 30:21 says: Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." God promised that for the person who trusts and relies on Jesus, His Spirit, His Mind, His Voice actually lives in us. It can work through our conscience, through His Word in our memory, even through our intuition—that “still small voice” trying to get us to avoid the downfalls of sin and temptation.
At each intersection He tries to point us in the right direction. The question is, are we listening, understanding, and obeying?
Thursday, October 01, 2009
New Bible Hits the Streets
I know it has been forever since I posted to this blog, and I hope to get back to regular posts soon. But I wanted to share a recent contribution I wrote for a couple of blogs on the new Holy Bible Mosaic. The post is a kind of "behind the scenes" of why I wrote the meditation on worship.
You can find the Holy Bible Mosaic on Amazon.com. Anyway, here's the post:
An email crossed my computer way back in February of 2008. The email was from the editor of a unique project and the invitation it contained was exciting – the opportunity to contribute a meditation to a new and unusual Bible project.
As an author I am always interested in new opportunities to use my craft. As a pastor I am always excited to help promote the teaching, understanding, and application of God’s Word. When I took a look at the subjects, the choice for me became obvious right away – worship.
My wife and I started leading worship at a then small Calvary Chapel in Santa Barbara California back in 1978. We met in the YMCA and were so poor that even to mike my guitar I had to jury rig a holder to my vocal microphone stand! That didn’t stop us from falling in love with worship. We’ve spent the last thirty-plus years learning about and helping people come into the presence of God. Having the chance to put some of those thoughts down in a permanent form was a wonderful blessing. I accepted the invitation right away. Then came the hard part: how to present worship in a meaningful way in just a few hundred words!
The guidelines for my worship meditation read: “Through worship, we find a way of reflecting back to God His glory. Worshipful environments are places where God's people can express their adoration to Him through various mediums.”
The words “worshipful environments” stuck out at me. What are some of the places and situations in the Bible where worship was the focus?
I first thought of Joshua. In Exodus 33:11 there is a great statement about Moses’ young assistant: “Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.” The “tent” was the tabernacle in the wilderness – God’s presence among His people, the children of Israel. While Moses conversed with God, Joshua stood by – he wasn’t the main focus there, God was. But when Moses left to speak God’s word to the people, Joshua stayed behind, perhaps to linger in the afterglow of God’s presence. There was something that held Joshua. He didn’t just visit God’s presence, or even just spend time with God. Joshua refused to leave God’s tent at all!
I thought of our headlong flight in and out of the presence of God on Sunday’s. We rush into church just in time for the music to start. We’re hassled and hurried and try to close our eyes and focus on the Lord but our minds are moving so fast that before we know it the music is over and the sermon has begun. Instead, what would it be like if we never left God’s presence? I’m not talking about walking around singing praise or with eyes closed. But I am talking about living a life where God is right beside you all the time – where you live in his presence. You may not be in conversation constantly but you remain in proximity to the almighty.
Next I thought about one of my favorite Bible people: Jehoshaphat. In 2 Chronicles 20 Jehoshaphat had come from a place of major error and God’s discipline. He may have thought that his positive response would save him from difficulty, but in reality it merely prepared him for the battle to come. Old enemies approached and threatened to destroy his nation. Jehoshaphat reacted with fear, and then faced God. He sounded the alarm and invited everyone to join him in seeking the Lord. The answer came from an unusual source with a very unusual method of fighting. Jahaziel came along to give God’s answer to their plea. The man was descended from Asaph, David’s worship leader, and he told Jehoshaphat that they need not fight in the battle to come. Instead of taking up spears, they were to take up songs of praise. In this wonderful miracle the singers sang and the enemies dropped like flies.
How many times do we fret and worry and panic when trouble hits? If we would only come before God with honesty, then sing before Him with all of our hearts. What victories would we see? More importantly, we could be still before Him, casting our cares to Him, running into His strong tower, being enfolded in his wings. What peace we would see in the midst of the storm?
Finally, though, my mind went to another section of Scripture – one not used often to teach on worship. At the time I was teaching through the gospel of John and remembered Mary. In John 12, as Jesus’ crucifixion approached, he joined His good friends Martha and Mary for one last meal before the trial. While others may have enjoyed the time, oblivious to what was to shortly transpire, Mary did something shocking – she took a jar of very expensive ointment and anointed the feet of Jesus, wiping them with her hair. It says “the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”
There was something so all consuming about what Mary did. Yes, she anointed Jesus for burial. But thinking about all that Mary did, I could sense that something much more beautiful was taking place. I imagined her feeling the jar in her hands – a year’s wages in one flask. I could hear the sound of her breaking the jar open, I could feel the ointment on her hands as she approached the Lord. What expression was on the Lord’s face as she came near, then bent down on her knees? Then the soothing cool ointment applied to the warm flesh of a Savior – whose feet would soon feel the sharp pain of a Roman nail. The smell of the nard filling not only her nostrils, but the entire house!
It got me to thinking about the all consuming nature of worship. Jesus was to die for her –t o take the blame for her sins, and ours. Worship, I realized, isn’t just about living in God’s presence, it isn’t just about focusing on God as we see Him move on our behalf and give us peace. Worship is the expression of a whole life given wholly over to the One – the Lamb of God, who will always bear the scars of our sin, but whose hands are always held out to us in love.
That’s when I knew this would be my text. It wasn’t the most obvious choice, but an unusual passage fit this unusual project.
I hope you enjoy reading my meditation on worship. You can find it in the 10th week of Pentecost. I pray it spurs you to study, meditate, and worship – like you’ve never done before!
Pastor Tom
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