As hard as it is to believe, I wasn't surprised.
I was listening to a radio program the other day while going home from work, the host was interviewing a man who had spent 3 years (off and on) as a homeless man.
He was a college student who wanted to know what life was like out on the streets and he was a Christian.
Maybe you can see where I'm going.
The host asked how he was received at the churches he attended, in the cities he did his homeless act in.
The responses he got from the churches didn't surprise me, some escorted him off the church grounds, some asked if they could help him. It was a pretty even mix.
But then he told the story of asking a pastor of a church if the church could help him get some food. The guy was really playing the part of a homeless man, he hadn't eaten for quite a while and he hadn't showered in a week.
The pastor's response?
"We don't do that, we feel God has called us just to worship".
Am I surprised by that?
No.
You see if we are honest we at least feel the same way about dirty people or lost people or hurting people as the pastor of that church. We just don't say it.
It makes following Christ pretty easy, I don't have to care about anybody or anything else. We just want to worship in our little club. There is no risk of being taken advantage of or being deceived. The best part is we can keep the undesirable people out while keeping the "good" people in.
Now I think most churches have figured out that some people simply work the system to keep from working. It's sad when the church has to look out for con artists.
But we are not talking about money in this case. We are talking about food. Driving somebody down to Mickey D's.
I wonder how the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand would have went, "I'm sorry about the fact you are all hungry, I didn't come to earth to feed you". "That's not my thing, my Father called me to die on the cross for you, that's it". "Get a job or eat before you come next time".
I don't think the story would have worked as well.
God has called us to take care of "the least of these". Like it or not (and let's be honest, you and I don't like it) the church has been called to help people. We are to worship, but it can't end there. We cannot wrap ourselves into the church and take a blind eye to the needs around us.
Now before you think I'm perfect, don't. I struggle here as much as anyone else. I have a bad habit of judging people by what I see. I have to make that leap of faith, and begin the relationship process. As I have grown older, I find it a little easier to do. I still have a long way to go.
You see our love is so conditional, I will love the people like me, who think like I do, who believe like I do. I'm really glad that Christ's love for us isn't conditional, we would all be in trouble.
I hope the dirty, lost and hurting find love when they come to you.
Or will they find that the love you claim to have for Christ leaves you with no room to love others.
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Friday, March 24, 2006
Your gonna, and you do, but you may not realize it
You will worship.
Now you may be reading this and think, "I don't worship anything or anybody".
But your wrong.
I never really thought about it until I read the "Purpose driven life". The part where it says we are created to worship.
You know I really had not looked at worship that way.
I don't know how your day starts, but mine starts with a 35-40 minute commute, and I see all of you Earnhardt people. I don't think a day goes by that I don't see a number "3" on the back of somebody's windshield (also I think I have seen Calvin pee on everything that a kid can pee on). You may not think you worship the man, but I think several worship his memory.
The more I thought about it, even good Christian people worship things besides Christ, take me for instance. I have composed a list of the things I worship;
The LA Dodgers (I have enough Dodgers stuff to make a Giants fan go into a rage).
My shop (it's really cool, concrete floor and everything).
The TV (where I spend way way way to much time).
My Kubota (bigger than a garden tractor).
The Green Bay Packers (only when their winning).
Honda Ridgeline (I don't even have one of those, but man they are so cool).
The old Dodge Chargers (see old blog on that one).
My money (I don't have a great deal of this, but I can tie up what I do have in more cool stuff).
Naval history (I have enough books on this subject to start my own library).
My computer (spend way to much time playing games that make the free world safe from any possible threats).
And that's just the short list.
Now I have poked a little fun at myself, but if we are really honest with ourselves we can find all kinds of things that we chase after, cheer for, and well, worship and since God created us to do that, we are only doing what comes natural.
But here is the problem, our God is a jealous God.
Now I'm not saying that we shouldn't have hobbies or other interests, but we have to be careful that these things don't become our gods.
Even our own children can become our objects of worship.
It brings us back to our need for Christ and His grace, because as I am a blaring example, we are not a perfect people. Having said that however we do need to take a serious look at what or who we worship. I remember Christ telling His would be followers that the cost of following Him would be high. It would mean to follow and worship Him only. For some the cost was simply to high.
I have heard it said that you can tell what or who a person worships by looking at their checkbook and by looking at how they spend their time.
We might find that the person we worship the most is...ourselves.
Now you may be reading this and think, "I don't worship anything or anybody".
But your wrong.
I never really thought about it until I read the "Purpose driven life". The part where it says we are created to worship.
You know I really had not looked at worship that way.
I don't know how your day starts, but mine starts with a 35-40 minute commute, and I see all of you Earnhardt people. I don't think a day goes by that I don't see a number "3" on the back of somebody's windshield (also I think I have seen Calvin pee on everything that a kid can pee on). You may not think you worship the man, but I think several worship his memory.
The more I thought about it, even good Christian people worship things besides Christ, take me for instance. I have composed a list of the things I worship;
The LA Dodgers (I have enough Dodgers stuff to make a Giants fan go into a rage).
My shop (it's really cool, concrete floor and everything).
The TV (where I spend way way way to much time).
My Kubota (bigger than a garden tractor).
The Green Bay Packers (only when their winning).
Honda Ridgeline (I don't even have one of those, but man they are so cool).
The old Dodge Chargers (see old blog on that one).
My money (I don't have a great deal of this, but I can tie up what I do have in more cool stuff).
Naval history (I have enough books on this subject to start my own library).
My computer (spend way to much time playing games that make the free world safe from any possible threats).
And that's just the short list.
Now I have poked a little fun at myself, but if we are really honest with ourselves we can find all kinds of things that we chase after, cheer for, and well, worship and since God created us to do that, we are only doing what comes natural.
But here is the problem, our God is a jealous God.
Now I'm not saying that we shouldn't have hobbies or other interests, but we have to be careful that these things don't become our gods.
Even our own children can become our objects of worship.
It brings us back to our need for Christ and His grace, because as I am a blaring example, we are not a perfect people. Having said that however we do need to take a serious look at what or who we worship. I remember Christ telling His would be followers that the cost of following Him would be high. It would mean to follow and worship Him only. For some the cost was simply to high.
I have heard it said that you can tell what or who a person worships by looking at their checkbook and by looking at how they spend their time.
We might find that the person we worship the most is...ourselves.
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
My Prayer
I need a minute with you.
I know it seems like I ask you for a lot of stuff, like your Santa Claus. I guess it comes from hearing others pray for stuff. It just seems natural to ask for people to be well, blessings for me, my family, my church.
I've tried talking to you like I would talk to my friends, but it just doesn't seem right. Besides I find myself asking my friends for stuff too.
Why do I find myself asking for this or that? Is it my selfish heart? Probably, I can be selfish, and if anybody would know that, you would.
I can find so many more things to do than spend time with you.
I know that's not fair, you have given me far more than I deserve. You have blessed me in so many ways, my work, my family, my home, my friends, my church. Not to mention that eternal life thing. That's a pretty good return for what little I have given you.
I guess that brings up something that I know we have talked about before.
You know what this is about.
Man have we been over this ground before.
And I have a simple way out of this.
Just tell me what you want me to do. I mean it.
And I don't want the still small voice thing, I want the answer in a LOUD CLEAR VOICE.
Let's not mess around. I'm 40 for pete's sake so I've only got a few good years left.
Also, while were at it, and me being selfish of course, I hope you take into consideration what I have now. My boys love the school they attend, my wife has her dream job, and as far as my job goes, this is the best place I have ever worked. You wouldn't throw a wrench into all of that, would you?
Look, a lot of people have told me I should do this, but I'm very interested in what you think.
So let's have it, yea or nay. Tell me what you want, and then let's move on. I need to know what you want from me. This question has been driving me nuts for years, so let's finish this, here and now.
Do you really think I have the heart for this? I'm curious as to why you made me with the gifts I have. Am I doing all that you want me to do or do you have something bigger for me?
Remember, LOUD CLEAR VOICE.
Well I'm going to wrap this up, but before I go, do you remember the love letter I sent the girl I would eventually marry? I know you do. I told her that I thought you had something special planned for my life, I just wasn't sure what that would be.
Well here I am, twenty years later, and I'm still not sure.
I'm glad your a patient God.
Amen.
I know it seems like I ask you for a lot of stuff, like your Santa Claus. I guess it comes from hearing others pray for stuff. It just seems natural to ask for people to be well, blessings for me, my family, my church.
I've tried talking to you like I would talk to my friends, but it just doesn't seem right. Besides I find myself asking my friends for stuff too.
Why do I find myself asking for this or that? Is it my selfish heart? Probably, I can be selfish, and if anybody would know that, you would.
I can find so many more things to do than spend time with you.
I know that's not fair, you have given me far more than I deserve. You have blessed me in so many ways, my work, my family, my home, my friends, my church. Not to mention that eternal life thing. That's a pretty good return for what little I have given you.
I guess that brings up something that I know we have talked about before.
You know what this is about.
Man have we been over this ground before.
And I have a simple way out of this.
Just tell me what you want me to do. I mean it.
And I don't want the still small voice thing, I want the answer in a LOUD CLEAR VOICE.
Let's not mess around. I'm 40 for pete's sake so I've only got a few good years left.
Also, while were at it, and me being selfish of course, I hope you take into consideration what I have now. My boys love the school they attend, my wife has her dream job, and as far as my job goes, this is the best place I have ever worked. You wouldn't throw a wrench into all of that, would you?
Look, a lot of people have told me I should do this, but I'm very interested in what you think.
So let's have it, yea or nay. Tell me what you want, and then let's move on. I need to know what you want from me. This question has been driving me nuts for years, so let's finish this, here and now.
Do you really think I have the heart for this? I'm curious as to why you made me with the gifts I have. Am I doing all that you want me to do or do you have something bigger for me?
Remember, LOUD CLEAR VOICE.
Well I'm going to wrap this up, but before I go, do you remember the love letter I sent the girl I would eventually marry? I know you do. I told her that I thought you had something special planned for my life, I just wasn't sure what that would be.
Well here I am, twenty years later, and I'm still not sure.
I'm glad your a patient God.
Amen.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
The church revival in today's culture
Are they still relevant?
My church just completed a 4 night revival. Every spring we try to plan a revival, and we have had some great speakers.
Our latest revival was no different.
Pastor Brian Miller came and shared his heart with us. He brought his worship band from his church and they rocked.
As I listened to his messages I had to cover up my toes. Maybe Brian and I are so close that God used him to speak to me. It was the message my church and myself needed to hear.
I find that revivals have changed a lot over the years. In the old days, revivals were places where the lost came in droves to find Christ. Some revivals were extended because people just kept coming and accepting Christ. That still happens at some crusades. But church revivals have changed.
The truth is that the lost in our world are not coming to revivals, or church for that matter. In the old days people had at least grown up in or around church. They had learned some stuff in Sunday schools when they were young because almost everybody went to some church. If you didn't go to church, you were a heathen and no self respecting person wanted that label.
Fast forward about 40-50 years and we find in today's culture that many are growing up without ever stepping into a church.
What changed?
You can point your finger at many things, the church not changing with the times in respect to it's worship and it's ministries, ignoring the needs of the communities that it served, internal scandals and strife, the focus on itself. That was just the short list.
I have some other ideas, and Brian touched on them beautifully.
Reason #1
We don't want imperfect people in our midst.
That sounds strange, you know, since nobody's perfect, but I'm afraid it's true. We like order, we like to be around people who know the rules and abide by them. Sit down and shut up, keep your kids under control or take them out. You see that way everybody can come and worship without feeling uncomfortable. Of course the problem with this is two fold. First we forget that we AREN'T perfect and second, no lost person wants to come within 10 miles of the church for fear that they will have to become perfect or get "the look". People don't need to be looked down upon and guess what, they won't make an effort to get up, get them and the kids ready, just to come and feel like they don't belong. Stick a thousand "welcome" signs on the church if you want to, but it's just not going to happen. The church thinks that it's friendly, and they are, to the extent that we will stick out our hands (sometimes), but really develop a relationship?
Forget about it.
Reason #2
The church stopped jumping.
I guess you had to be at the revival to get that one, but in a nutshell the church got comfortable and it just sat down. God wants to give us an adventure, but we would rather sit on the bench. There are so many people in need, so much work for us to do, and God is waiting for His church to move. I have to agree with what Brian said, instead of moving we decide to wrap ourselves into our church so much that we stop listening to what is going on outside the four walls of our sanctuary. Following Christ becomes tradition, service times, and announcements in the bulletin. But it's safe, nice and comfortable. God gives us what we want, and our church slowly dies a quiet death.
I think that there is a need for revival in our churches today, and Brian addressed that need. The Christians of today's church need to be reminded on what the cost of following Christ is.
And if anybody needed to be reminded, that person is me.
My church just completed a 4 night revival. Every spring we try to plan a revival, and we have had some great speakers.
Our latest revival was no different.
Pastor Brian Miller came and shared his heart with us. He brought his worship band from his church and they rocked.
As I listened to his messages I had to cover up my toes. Maybe Brian and I are so close that God used him to speak to me. It was the message my church and myself needed to hear.
I find that revivals have changed a lot over the years. In the old days, revivals were places where the lost came in droves to find Christ. Some revivals were extended because people just kept coming and accepting Christ. That still happens at some crusades. But church revivals have changed.
The truth is that the lost in our world are not coming to revivals, or church for that matter. In the old days people had at least grown up in or around church. They had learned some stuff in Sunday schools when they were young because almost everybody went to some church. If you didn't go to church, you were a heathen and no self respecting person wanted that label.
Fast forward about 40-50 years and we find in today's culture that many are growing up without ever stepping into a church.
What changed?
You can point your finger at many things, the church not changing with the times in respect to it's worship and it's ministries, ignoring the needs of the communities that it served, internal scandals and strife, the focus on itself. That was just the short list.
I have some other ideas, and Brian touched on them beautifully.
Reason #1
We don't want imperfect people in our midst.
That sounds strange, you know, since nobody's perfect, but I'm afraid it's true. We like order, we like to be around people who know the rules and abide by them. Sit down and shut up, keep your kids under control or take them out. You see that way everybody can come and worship without feeling uncomfortable. Of course the problem with this is two fold. First we forget that we AREN'T perfect and second, no lost person wants to come within 10 miles of the church for fear that they will have to become perfect or get "the look". People don't need to be looked down upon and guess what, they won't make an effort to get up, get them and the kids ready, just to come and feel like they don't belong. Stick a thousand "welcome" signs on the church if you want to, but it's just not going to happen. The church thinks that it's friendly, and they are, to the extent that we will stick out our hands (sometimes), but really develop a relationship?
Forget about it.
Reason #2
The church stopped jumping.
I guess you had to be at the revival to get that one, but in a nutshell the church got comfortable and it just sat down. God wants to give us an adventure, but we would rather sit on the bench. There are so many people in need, so much work for us to do, and God is waiting for His church to move. I have to agree with what Brian said, instead of moving we decide to wrap ourselves into our church so much that we stop listening to what is going on outside the four walls of our sanctuary. Following Christ becomes tradition, service times, and announcements in the bulletin. But it's safe, nice and comfortable. God gives us what we want, and our church slowly dies a quiet death.
I think that there is a need for revival in our churches today, and Brian addressed that need. The Christians of today's church need to be reminded on what the cost of following Christ is.
And if anybody needed to be reminded, that person is me.
Monday, March 06, 2006
War
Okay, I have a question.
Think about the battles that the people of Israel fought with the surrounding nations. The ones that God told them to fight.
Got it?
Now my question, why did God make them fight?
I mean look, God could have simply said the word and blammo! Enemy dead.
The way it worked out, they fought and they died. The battle was won (or lost depending on what God wanted them to do) but at a human cost.
I know the simple answer is that man sinned and because of that we die. I got that part, but why did God make his own people fight?
War is a horrible thing, nation verses nation. Young and old, soldier and civilian suffer. Families are torn apart, huge amounts of money are expended and the scars can last a lifetime.
The only answer I can come up with is that God wanted the victory to cost something. It would make His people appreciate their freedom more if it cost them.
It may not be the right answer, but it's the only thing I can come up with.
People have asked me about the current war, is it right or is it wrong? As a Christian I have the same thoughts that Alvin York had before he entered the fighting of WWI. The book says not to kill (the book being the Bible), so we shouldn't kill.
I have to remember that the same God who gave Moses those words also told the people of Israel that when He gave the go ahead to go to war, in some of the instances they were to kill EVERYTHING. Men, women and children, period.
So when God said "Do not kill" He must have been speaking of murder, outside of the war scenario.
The human part of me wants to see Muslim terrorists pay for 9-11, and I think that's a fairly common reaction to the attacks that were made on the United States.
So my problem is balancing forgiveness and revenge.
Pretty tough to do.
I've thought a lot lately about war and it's cost. I watch youngsters play war, cowboys and Indians and I wonder, where do they learn to fight?
If we are created in God's image (which we are) and the Bible says that God is a warrior, do we have the warrior instinct in us? Are we born with the instinct to fight to protect our loved ones and our way of life?
I have a great respect for veterans of all wars. They went when their nation called. Many didn't get the chance to come home. We owe a them a great deal.
Should we be in Iraq? You can argue that one pretty hard either way and I will not muddy the waters here. As long as their are Americans risking their lives in harms way, they have my support.
So for now wars and rumors of wars will be our lot. I'm looking forward to the time Isaiah spoke about, when soldiers will have no need for their boots anymore, and we will burn all of the bandages.
Peace.
Think about the battles that the people of Israel fought with the surrounding nations. The ones that God told them to fight.
Got it?
Now my question, why did God make them fight?
I mean look, God could have simply said the word and blammo! Enemy dead.
The way it worked out, they fought and they died. The battle was won (or lost depending on what God wanted them to do) but at a human cost.
I know the simple answer is that man sinned and because of that we die. I got that part, but why did God make his own people fight?
War is a horrible thing, nation verses nation. Young and old, soldier and civilian suffer. Families are torn apart, huge amounts of money are expended and the scars can last a lifetime.
The only answer I can come up with is that God wanted the victory to cost something. It would make His people appreciate their freedom more if it cost them.
It may not be the right answer, but it's the only thing I can come up with.
People have asked me about the current war, is it right or is it wrong? As a Christian I have the same thoughts that Alvin York had before he entered the fighting of WWI. The book says not to kill (the book being the Bible), so we shouldn't kill.
I have to remember that the same God who gave Moses those words also told the people of Israel that when He gave the go ahead to go to war, in some of the instances they were to kill EVERYTHING. Men, women and children, period.
So when God said "Do not kill" He must have been speaking of murder, outside of the war scenario.
The human part of me wants to see Muslim terrorists pay for 9-11, and I think that's a fairly common reaction to the attacks that were made on the United States.
So my problem is balancing forgiveness and revenge.
Pretty tough to do.
I've thought a lot lately about war and it's cost. I watch youngsters play war, cowboys and Indians and I wonder, where do they learn to fight?
If we are created in God's image (which we are) and the Bible says that God is a warrior, do we have the warrior instinct in us? Are we born with the instinct to fight to protect our loved ones and our way of life?
I have a great respect for veterans of all wars. They went when their nation called. Many didn't get the chance to come home. We owe a them a great deal.
Should we be in Iraq? You can argue that one pretty hard either way and I will not muddy the waters here. As long as their are Americans risking their lives in harms way, they have my support.
So for now wars and rumors of wars will be our lot. I'm looking forward to the time Isaiah spoke about, when soldiers will have no need for their boots anymore, and we will burn all of the bandages.
Peace.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
