Archive for May, 2008

Unity in the Ranks

May 30th, 2008

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”Romans 15: 5-6 

Through the last few weeks I have had a lot of time to think about unity, unity within a family, unity within friends, and unity within the church to name a few. Something most Pastors and Theologians miss in their sermons is the need for unity. The unity that they preach is usually in response to something. “Let’s unify our ranks against _____” is a common refrain, and we need to do such things. However, God does not want us unified against something; he wants us unified as a people period.

 

Jesus prayed in John 17:23 “…May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” When we speak and act in unity with one another we show the love of Jesus not only to other believers, but more importantly to people who are unsaved. Our job as Christians is to live as a model of the love of Jesus to others around us.

 

I challenge you this week to ask yourself where you might not be unified with Christ. I am not just speaking of in church either. How about in your home life, in your relationship with your spouse and family, your relationship with your neighbor, your relationship with someone you might consider a stranger? When we show unity, true Biblical relational unity, love flows freely and abundantly and the world will begin to ask “what does she have that I do not?”

 

Answer the call of Paul to the Colossian Church “12Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Col 3: 15-17)

  

The Greatest Folly

May 22nd, 2008

The Greatest Folly

I was cold and dark and full of fear as I

contemplated my plight. I thought, I felt,

I knew that I was right, but, oh, how pale

am I.

I searched my soul, I searched my

mind from the depths unto the high. My

heart, my light, my destiny was to obtain

my inner light.

Oh, what a wretch am I.

I would glimpse and I would see what a

wonderful me I could be and I was the best

a man that I could see. Oh, what a wretch

am I.

What I did not see is that which I

sought, the light that was missing in me.

In the heart’s darkest places with my mind

so blighted, I failed to see my need. His

light was so bright and his station so

small… but I never saw. Oh, what a wretch

am I.

God is so gracious, God is so kind,

yet I never saw the great light. As I

stand here now, I do declare, oh what

a wretch am I!

(C) 2008 Carl Holmes

Saint Francis of Assisi

May 19th, 2008

“…if we endure not tribulation well, we shall never attain to consolation eternal. It is a meritorious thing and far more blessed to endure injuries and reproaches patiently, without murmuring, for the love of God, then to feed a hundred poor men, or to keep a perpetual fast. But what profits it a man, or how does it benefit him, to afflict his body with many fast, vigils and disciplines, if he cannot endure a little injury from his neighbor? And yet from this might he derive greater reward and higher merit than from all the sufferings he could inflict upon himself of his own will; for to endure reproaches and injuries from our neighbor with humble and uncomplaining patience, will purge away our sins more speedily than they could be by a fountain of many tears.

Blessed is the man who has ever before the eyes of his mind the remembrance of his sins and of the favors of God; for he will endure with patience all tribulations and adversities for which he expects so great consolation. The man who is truly humble looks for no reward from God, but endeavors only to satisfy him in all things, knowing himself to be his debtor; every good thing which he has acknowledged to come from the free bounty of God, while every evil that befalls him proceeds from his sins alone.”

Dreaming and the Womb (sermon outline format)

May 14th, 2008

FROM DREAM TO WOMB

 

1:26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the angel Gabriel83 was sent by84 God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,85 1:27 to a virgin engaged86 to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of David,87 and the virgin’s name was Mary. 1:28 The88 angel89 came90 to her and said, “Greetings, favored one,91 the Lord is with you!”92 1:29 But93 she was greatly troubled94 by his words and began to wonder about the meaning of this greeting.95 1:30 So96 the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid,97 Mary, for you have found favor98 with God!

 

What was it that Mary did that caused her to be called the favored one? (1:28)?

 

KJV Words it as “…Hail, thou art highly favored, the Lord is with thee; blessed are thee among women.”

 

1)      The verbiage specifically says blessed is Mary among women, not ABOVE women. Catholicism and other religions try and place Mary as super human or in some way different then you and me. She was not.

2)      Mary was just another young woman, hoping to marry as soon as she could to an upstanding Jewish man. Her favor I believe came from her willingness to be used by the Lord.

 

POINT 1

            Are YOU willing to be used by God, however crazy it might be? Are you willing to say “Lord, none the less not my will but thine be done? (Lk 1:30 1:38)

           

We are easily deterred by a number of things. Circumstances, wisdom of the world, wisdom of man, negative attitudes, inability to comprehend the goodness of God etcetera.

 

1:31 Listen:99 You will become pregnant100 and give birth to101 a son, and you will name him102 Jesus.103 1:32 He104 will be great,105 and will be called the Son of the Most High,106 and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father107 David. 1:33 He108 will reign over the house of Jacob109 forever, and his kingdom will never end.” 1:34 Mary110 said to the angel, “How will this be, since I have not had sexual relations with111 a man?” 1:35 The angel replied,112 “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow113 you. Therefore the child114 to be born115 will be holy;116 he will be called the Son of God.

 

In Leviticus we are told that the union of a sinful man and a sinful woman produces only one thing, a sinful child. By the Holy Spirit Impregnating Mary God contravened the system and when Jesus was born He was born sinless.

 

 

 

 

POINT 2

 

            What is in your womb? By your womb I mean in your spirit. What plan, idea, thought or action has God put in your spirit? God knew each of us before we were even in our mothers womb, He knows our very desires and dreams, He put them there. God is omnipotent and omniscient. He knows all and sees all yesterday, today, tomorrow and 1000 years forward and backward. He sees it all.  

(Humorous anecdotes here) What do you want on you womb (stone?)

What’s in YOUR womb? (Capital one)

 

Your Spirit and Womb Comparison

 

SPIRIT

 

Innermost protected place of your body.

Place where spiritual growth is done.

A place where we can rest in the knowledge that God is taking care of us and developing us. It is a place wholly (holy) devoted to growing and nourishing.

 

 

WOMB

Innermost protected place of a woman’s body.

Place where physical growth is done. 

A place where we can rest in the knowledge that God is developing and taking care of us. It is a place wholly (holy) devoted to growing and nourishing.

 

I have had the privilege of listening to people’s dreams and God given ambitions. I sit across from them at lunch, I go to church with them, and I am neighbors with them. I consider it an honor to hear them because I know God is working his perfect plan in them and through them. We are all Imago Dei meaning we bear the image of Christ. That is not a metaphorical statement; that is truth. It is marred by our sinful nature and by our desire to serve ourselves, but it is there.

 

POINT 3

“…for with God nothing shall be impossible”

 

The angel proclaimed that nothing shall be impossible with God, but Mary already knew that. She just had to be reminded. The Angel Gabriel reminded told her that Elizabeth was already in her 6th month, and she had been told that she could not conceive. Elizabeth was listening to the wisdom of man and medicine (remember, Luke was a physician) and not to God. God then intervened. Same went for Mary. God intervened in her life.

 

What is it in your life that seems impossible? What is it about that dream that God has put on your heart that you think is so impossible? Why not start now and remember that God put that dream in your womb, and in the right time it will be harvested and used to his glory?

 

(Personal story here about going to Bible College and never thinking that it could be 1) affordable 2) something I could do without having to quit work and go in debt and 3) I could never stand in front of a group of people and teach. I am a writer (or so I thought)

 

SUMMARY

 

God owns it all. It is all in and for His glory. The good, the bad, the things that happen in life happen for one thing, Solo Deo Gloria. This means for God’s own glory.

 

It is OK to ask questions. Mary asked the very logical question “…how shall this be?” She knew the birds and the bees, and she knew that she was not pregnant by mans own power. She was not hiding anything; she just was making a factual statement. When you ask questions remember:

 

1)                          Questions do not always have answers quickly. Some questions God wants you to ask again and again and pursue the answer with all vitality and strength. Remember to search the scriptures daily as the Bereans did. In doing so they showed themselves approved unto God (scripture citation needed)

2)                          Asking questions grows our faith. When you ask the question and God does not answer it during your prayer time, look to other sources. He uses people, places, circumstances, the church, just about anything to answer our questions. You have to practice the art of listening. God has answered my inquiries more then once out of the mouth of my 6 year old son.

 

God put the desires in your womb to be grown and cherished, but a day does come where you need to give birth to that dream and let it grow in God’s timing and to his glory. Labor is painful, sometimes it is real long, other times it happens and you see fruit immediately. Do not get discouraged if you pursue that dream God has in your heart and you meet resistance, discouragement, disappointment and pain. After you give birth you must nurture and grow the child (dream) and it is not always easy. God does not promise an easy road, He promises us His presence.

 

Remember to PRAISE HIM for what He has done!

1:46 And Mary146 said,147“My soul exalts148 the Lord,149 1:47 and my spirit has begun to rejoice150 in God my Savior, 1:48 because he has looked upon the humble state of his servant.151For152 from now on153 all generations will call me blessed,1541:49 because he who is mighty155 has done great things for me, and holy is his name; 1:50 from156 generation to generation he is merciful157 to those who fear158 him.1:51 He has demonstrated power159 with his arm; he has scattered those whose pride wells up from the sheer arrogance160 of their hearts.1:52 He has brought down the mighty161 from their thrones, and has lifted up those of lowly position;1621:53 he has filled the hungry with good things,163 and has sent the rich away empty.1641:54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering165 his mercy,1661:55 as he promised167 to our ancestors,168 to Abraham and to his descendants169 forever.”

Death is never fun

May 13th, 2008

Sorry that I have not posted here in the last few days. I have thoughts bouncing around and will articulate them, but I have been with the family in San Diego this week because my Grandma took a quick and precipitous decline in health. She passed away last night.

Death is never easy, nor should it be. She was a believer so I have no doubt she is dancing in her new body with Jesus and the saints that went before her, but still we must pause and reflect.  Death is a mystery. We try to quantify it scientifically, we try and explain it and think it makes it easier. It is never easier because no one among the living knows what is on the other side. We step out in faith and know on the other side is Jesus, but we do not know the details. The old adage goes “God is in the details”, I am glad it is a detail known only to Him.

See you soon.

Sacred Ingress

May 6th, 2008

Life has a rhythm, one that is all it’s own, one that we are born into and in tune with. We are born into the celestial sphere with an innate and intact sense of the divine, and that sense is only dulled by the ravages of time and neglect. When we are not careful we grow out of tune with that rhythm, and our world begins to unravel like a ball of yarn in the custody of a kitten. It does not take long to find ourselves strewn all over the floor in a chaotic melange of color and pain, none of it making much sense.

One of the most neglected rhythms of life is that of rest. We buy into the lie hook line and sinker that to be productive means we must stay in perpetual motion. God did not do that, why should we?

In 2005 after a long and arduous trip through India I found that place of rest. That place of such serenity and peace that the spheres of my mind, my body, and my soul all aligned for those precious few minutes with the celestial call of my creator. I paused, and breathed it all in. I held still, and God drew near. I had to be half a world away, in a culture that I would die in if left to my own to survive, but He found me.

Watching the sun rise over the waters of the ocean, listening to the deafening, yet calming ingress and egress of the water against the shore reminding me that I am but a knat on the back of this great big world. I could depart the earth, then and there, and not even register a complaint from the world around me. However, in that moment, that fragile moment where I felt so small and so useless, God was there. I was not seeking him, but he was jealously seeking me on the sacred eastern shore of India. One of the mysteries of life is how we can go in search of nothing, but come back with everything. God was there with a purpose, the purpose of showing me more of Himself then I had ever seen. In Genesis 1 we see God “…hovering over the waters” just before He worked His new creation into existence. He was again hovering over the waters waiting to work a new creation in me.

Rest is commanded by God, rest is ordained by God, rest is sanctioned by God. Rest is divine. We should not expect to rest and hear God clearly and succinctly all the time. But we should rest knowing that God takes His pleasure in His creation and seeing it take time to listen, to listen to the music of the spheres. 

Henry David Thoreau in his conclusion to Walden makes the following observation:

“If you have built castles in the air,
your work need not be lost; that is where they should be.
Now put the foundations under them.”

If we are to dream and chase those dreams with the appropriate amount of vigor we must first learn to rest, for rest is the foundation of the spiritual world we live in. In order to egress and affect those around us we must first learn in ingress. When we ingress we take in the nutrients essential for life much like breathing. The act of egression comes when we have taken in those nutrients and then and only then can we affect the world around us as God would have us to.

 

 

This post is part of a writing project sponsored by Laity Lodge as part of The High Calling Blogs. You can keep track of other posts this week by going here.

I feel

May 5th, 2008

I

I feel

I feel like

I feel like a pencil

I feel like a pencil, a very dull and unobtrusive pencil.

God

God is

God is the sandpaper

God is the sandpaper that rought up the surface of my pencil. I want God to use it, use it to sharpen my pencil.

God 

God is

God is not shaping my pencil head. He is shaving, shaving down the extra stuff off the pencil. He is making me smaller. Weaker, yet stronger. He is making me more reliant on him and less reliant on me.

I

I feel

I feel like

I feel like a weaker pencil, yet I am much stronger. I am more reliant, more reliant on the gentle masters touch. He writes my story, dull pencil or sharp. Weak body or strong.

God

God is

God is good

God is good, all the time.  

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