"To Him be glory forever": May 2019

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Making The Cut

May is coming to an end, and so that means that football season is getting closer. The picture is from an article just before the beginning of last year's season for the Green Bay Packers. On the first day of the last season there were 53 men on the roster. As preparation begins for the 2019 season some of those 53 men will be returning. Some will have retired or had their career end through injury. Others will have joined new teams through a trade or free agency. And others may be barely hanging on to a roster spot. They will enter training camp wondering if this will be the year that they get cut and someone else gets the spot that they had on the roster.

The other night Robin and I were reading from Luke 7:11-17, which says:

"Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country."

It's an absolutely amazing miracle by Jesus. A large crowd. Someone who is very clearly dead. At the words of Jesus, and nothing else, the man comes to life. The witnesses praise God and spread the word about Jesus.

It is an absolutely amazing miracle, recorded by Luke, but not even directly hinted at when we come to John's gospel. A powerful miracle that doesn't make the cut. John has seven miracles scattered through the first 11 chapters and as far as the remainder of Jesus' miracles are concerned he says this:

"Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."

John freely admits that Jesus did many miracles, but he only needs seven to make his point. Read these and follow where the evidence leads, to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now as good as football is, there is something about the gospel that is infinitely better.

Each of the 32 NFL team has 53 players. That’s 1696 players beginning the season with the goal of being one of the 53 who will win a Super Bowl ring on the last day. Some won't make it through the season due to injury. Some will lose their place to better players as the season progresses. Some teams will emerge as strong ones, and the weaknesses of others will become apparent. And then bit-by-bit teams, and their players, will be eliminated in the playoffs.

To end the season as a champion there is a matter of being in the right place at the right time. But that won’t happen unless you have the basic ability in the first place, in terms of having the skill set needed to make the cut and stay on the team.

One aspect of the good news of Jesus is that making the team is fairly easy. Just show up with faith in Jesus. Paul puts it this way:

"Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

Skilled player, even a superstar, or not…it doesn’t matter. There is a place for you with Jesus. Injury that won’t heal? No problem. Jesus has a place for you. Don't like your coach? Don't worry. The coaching of Jesus will be perfect for you. Perhaps you play quarterback and think that Jesus already has too many? Come anyway, because there is no limit to the depth chart. Afraid you won’t get a ring if you don't get into the game? Fear not. Everyone who is on the team, be it in the game or on the sidelines, when the final whistle blows receives the same reward.

"Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing."

Thursday, May 23, 2019

Didn't. Wouldn't. Couldn't.

I've been spending a bit of time on the road the past few weeks. Taking a church group to Oklahoma. Going to run a marathon in Shiprock. My daughter's graduation in Tempe. A few trips to Pagosa Springs, and once to Durango. Lots of miles. Lots of time to think. And lots of bumper stickers to read.

One sticker in particular caught my attention and has stayed on my mind. It said, "Jesus Didn't Tapout," with the Tapout logo being used in lieu of the word.

Tapout, I believe, comes from the world of mixed martial arts, which I will admit I know next-to-nothing about. It refers to that moment in a match when one person has their opponent on the mat in a position from which escape is impossible. The person "taps out" by hitting the mat as a sign of submission and defeat, ending the match.

Shifting our attention to the bumper sticker I think that the sticker intended to show that at what would seem to be certain defeat in Jesus' battle with sin and Satan, that Jesus refused to submit. The language of the sticker would suggest that Jesus could have surrendered, but didn't. Instead of submitting to Satan, Jesus achieved the defeat of sin and the redemption of all sinners who would have faith in him as their savior. This is all well and good, and basic Christian teaching about sin and salvation in Jesus.

All that time on the road and that sticker got me to thinking a bit more. Not only is it true that Jesus did not submit, but that he would not submit, and that he could not submit.

At the time in the garden, shortly before his arrest and his approaching death, Jesus prays in Luke 22:42, saying:

"Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done."

A hard, and likely brutal death is coming, and yet Jesus would not turn from it and its purpose in God's plan.

The second half of 1 John 3:8 says:

"The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil."

The high purpose in all the things that Jesus did while living a fully human life were not to end in defeat, but to fight a victorious battle against Satan. Jesus could not submit, no matter how fiercely the battle raged.

Tapout? Jesus did not, would not, and could not, defeating Satan and the power of sin, for your salvation. This, truly, is good news of the very best kind. Amen.

Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Iron Sharpens Iron

This is a picture of the inside of Jicarilla Apache Reformed Church, the place where I have served as pastor for nearly six years. It is a view from the back, looking towards the front. It is kind of old-school. Wooden pews and a raised pulpit. Hard wood floors that show a lot of wear. In the back there is a large open area, with a table on one side where on Sunday mornings there is coffee and whatever snacks people bring to share. On the opposite side there is a table with crayons and coloring books for use by the kids who do not go to Sunday school. On occasions where many people are expected to be present the open area is filled with folding chairs, facing forwards. In this picture there is a group of chairs gathered in a circle.

The circle of chairs is the set-up for our Sunday evening Bible study. In the six years we've been here there have been mixed results with adult ministry. We'll get something going but for whatever reason it doesn’t seem to last. Earlier this year a few people asked about having an adult group and so four weeks ago we got started again. It's exciting!

Here's what happens. Each Sunday evening 7 or 8 people make the trip back to church. Some come on their own and some come bringing their children for the children and youth ministries that we began at the same time. The adults sit together and talk a bit. Then I offer a prayer and read a passage from the Bible. After I read then we take turns reading aloud, working through a short chapter from a book we are using and which is drawn from the Bible passage we read. Then we talk.

As we talk, this is what happens:

"Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another."

We are all at different places in life, spiritually and otherwise. We all have different experiences and are dealing with different problems. But as we talk we are growing together.

This past Sunday we looked at John the Baptist. He gave powerful testimony when he had his own ministry, but later in jail he wondered if Jesus was really the one who was God's Savior.

Sunday that spoke to our group. Sure, we have faith, but what about those times when we wonder about things? Why hasn’t God answered my prayers? Why does God still allow this or that thing to happen?

As we talked we didn't simply turn to our experiences or feeling for answers, but back to our Bibles, which, unlike our experiences and feelings, always speaks the truth.

And then we closed in prayer, each of going home a bit closer and stronger in Christ than when we arrived. At least that was my sense of the evening.

I'm grateful for the new group and the opportunity for the people of our congregation to grow together as sisters and brothers in Christ. May God provide you with one or more people that you can grow with too.

PS: The book we are using in our study is Not By Sight: A Fresh Look at Old Stories of Walking by Faith by Jon Bloom. Here is a link for a free PDF download.

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

How's Your Form?

A bit more than a week ago I ran the Shiprock marathon. It was my first road marathon in two years and coming off last year's prolonged injury and recovery I was a bit apprehensive about the race.

When I crossed the finish line it was with the knowledge that, all-in-all, I had had a pretty good day. I had several different goals for an overall time, and after running for 3 ½ hours I had come within 17 seconds of the best of them. I had a bit of a struggle over the last miles with the increasing heat. My toes hurt and my feet hurt on the soles. In the past 10 years I've also developed a tendency for my left foot to clip my right ankle as my left leg swings through. When this happens my ankle gets sore, at best, and lacerated, at worst. Trust me when I say that this particular marathon was the worst I've ever banged up my ankle.

It was a good day, and just about all I could have hoped for, and yet as I saw some pictures and thought about the race it occurred to me that there were a few things I could have done better. A few things that I'm beginning to work on to run a bit better the next time.

The picture is from late in the race, maybe mile 22 or so. Robin says that it’s a nice picture of me, with Shiprock in the background. I won’t dispute that opinion, but I also see a runner who perhaps shows his age a bit compared to pictures from 25-30 years ago. He's a little less erect, and seen here, in the middle of his stride, his hands are a little bit lower.

As a result I'm making a conscious effort to work on my basic form. To run with my eyes up and set down the road, straightening my back and lifting my hands in the process. Perhaps that will also help to straighten out whatever imbalance causes my foot to scrape my ankle as well. And even if those changes don’t make me faster, they should make me more efficient, which will pay dividends in the marathon's late miles.

Form is also something of value in the Christian life. As I was running this morning I thought about the passage in Galatians 5:19-22. A list of things that Paul calls the "works of the flesh" followed by another list, the "fruit of the Spirit." And I thought about Ephesians 5:10-20, the passage talking about the armor of God.

Both passages are filled with things to consider as I follow Jesus as my Savior and Lord. Are there works of the flesh that I am leaning into, instead of fleeing from? Are their particular fruits of the Spirit that don’t seem to be evident in my life? Am I wearing the armor of God as I live each day? All of these are opportunities for me to work on the form of my walk as a Christian.

How is your form? Where do you need the Lord to shape you as his servant? Each of us has something to work on, something to tweak, as we are shaped more and more in the image of Jesus. To him be glory now and forever.

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

A Pleasing Theme

"My heart overflows with a pleasing theme"

Those are the opening words to Psalm 45, and when I read them before church began on Sunday morning they were just what I needed.

Last week had been a very full week, with a three-day retreat to Oklahoma in the middle of it. Nine people from our congregation had traveled all day Tuesday to a church camp a bit west of Oklahoma City. All together there were about 45 people connected with Native American ministry in the Reformed Church in America. Activities were planned for Tuesday evening, all day Wednesday and then Thursday morning, before getting back on the road and arriving home about 11 PM.

Friday morning it was back to work, with Sunday's sermon as the priority. I had spent most of Monday in sermon prep, taking my computer and notes on the retreat, hoping to work on it in the evenings, but that didn’t happen. Friday morning I intended to begin where I had left off Monday afternoon, but I wasn't so certain I knew where the sermon was headed anymore. Whatever "really good" ideas I had on Monday I seemed unable to find again on Friday.

I started to work and pulled a draft together Friday, and then I worked on it some more on Saturday. Sunday morning came and I looked at my notes, going over some parts aloud. I've learned, the hard way, that what looks good on paper can sound like a mess when spoken aloud. The general message seemed faithful to the biblical text, which was good. Application seemed particularly weak. I've been trying to work on bringing out ways in which the Bible's words have real meaning for the lives of those in the congregation. It's a weak spot in my preaching that I'm trying to improve. I wasn't crazy that in my view this sermon seemed so weak in that area. I know that God uses weak preachers and weak sermons to his glory, but I didn’t want to be a real-life example of that.

And so about an hour before worship I decided to read my Bible. Not the part I would preach, but something else. I checked the app for my Bible reading plan and saw that the next passage was Psalm 45. And so to Psalm 45 I turned and began to read. The first phrase brought me to a dead stop.

"My heart overflows with a pleasing theme"

Those words were a clear reminder of who I needed to focus on as I got ready to worship. I needed to focus on the Lord. My heart hadn't been overflowing at the moment, but

as I thought about who he was and what he has done I began to think much less about the sermon and much more about the God the sermon, and all of worship, was intended to praise.

May you also think about who God is, how he has shown himself to you time and again, and may your heart overflow with praise. Amen.