I counted up today that I have attended over 6,000 church services in my life! For many of them I had little desire to be there. I think it was because it was "just another church service." I can't tell you how many times I rolled my eyes when a Sunday School teacher asked a simple question that I had heard a million times, the number of sermons I have slept through, or the number of church pot lucks I have eaten.
Unfortunately, I didn't realize how good I really had it. I fell into a very common trap. Paul talks about it in 1 Corinthians 11 (the Message) "You must never let familiarity breed contempt." Even though I rarely said it out loud, I felt like church was the most boring place on earth and didn't understand why I had to be dragged there. I guess I didn't realize how ugly contempt for the things of God really was until I heard it come out of my friends mouth.
I was staying at a friends house who went to my church. We had played together on a Sunday afternoon and it was time to go back to church for the Sunday night service. He started arguing with his Mom about how his favourite TV show was on and he didn't want to go to church. As the argument began to escalate he started shouting things like, "I hate Church" and "Church is stupid." Even though I did't like church, I knew better than to say things like that. I stepped away from him because I thought God was going to strike him with lightening bolts.
Today as I look back on all of those church services that I had to go to, I am so grateful. What a privilege it was to worship with my parents and grandparents. I will never forget the sound of my grandfathers voice singing to the God he had followed for decades. I won't forget watching my grandmother as she flipped through the well worn pages of her faithful Bible during a church service. I can't shake the amazing feeling of kneeling down at an altar to pray with my parents and little brother. But because I experienced those things so often, I didn't realize the mountain of blessings that I was taking for granted.
Now I strive to see the sacred in the every-day ordinary. When I walk into "just another church service," I get chills and can't help but thinking to myself, "I love this church." As I hear the word preached, I strive to mentally "sit on the edge of my seat" waiting for that priceless wisdom of God's word that I get to hear.
I repent of letting familiarity breed contempt in my life! I realize that cynicism, and a critical spirit can callous my heart beyond recognition.
I challenge you to watch your cynicism meter and to ask yourself a difficult question:
Where have I allowed familiarity to breed contempt in my life?
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
I have failed as a father!
Becoming a father was without a doubt one of the greatest moments of my life! I will never forget seeing our baby for the first time. I was so emotional I about destroyed our video camera with the tears of joy that were dripping off my face onto the camera. I knew my life would never be the same after that moment. The joy of being a father has been overwhelming, but I must admit the responsibility has been overwhelming as well.
My wife and I have strived so hard to be the best parents we can be. We read to them from the time they were born for their mental development. We have fed them, bathed them, changed them, and gave them vitamins for their physical development. We have almost suffocated them with love in the form of hugs, kisses and encouraging words for their emotional development. But it pains me to admit that I fear I have fallen short in the most critical development area.
Some people naively believe that the home of a Pastor must be a spiritual Disneyland. Everyone gets along and the Pastor/Husband/Father walks around quoting the word, singing hymns and constantly praying. That place may exist but it isn't my house. The area that it pains me to admit that I have been found lacking is caring for the spiritual development of my kids.
By the grace of God all 3 of our children have confessed Jesus as Lord over their life and have experienced the baptism in the Holy Spirit by speaking in tongues. If anyone has taken the lead in this area it has been my amazing wife Dianne! She had the privilege of praying with all 3 of our children to become followers of Christ. Thankfully, I did get the joy of baptising them in water.
My problem is that I have followed the advice of Proverbs 22:6 (the Message) "Point your kids in the right direction--When they're old they won't be lost." I have been guilty of doing what I think that many Christian parents do. I have pointed my kids to the church. My assumption has been "If my kids are in church they are being trained in their faith." Fortunately, my church has a phenomenal children's ministry that does just that: training them in the faith. But the problem is that it isn't the church's job to train my children in the faith. It is my job as a parent!
This is where I think that the Message translation of Proverbs 22:6 is way off. A literal translation says "Train up a child in the way he should go." "Point your kids in the right direction" seems a lot easier than "training up a child." Anyone can point someone else in the right direction, training is a whole lot more difficult than that. If you have ever done any athletic training you understand the difference.
What I love about God is that it is never to late to make a U-turn. From this moment on I take full responsibility for the spiritual training of my children! I will no longer shirk my duty as a Husband/Father/Man of God and count on anyone else to do it for me.
I leave you today with a couple of questions:
Are there any other men reading this that are willing to join me?
As a child, have you resisted the spiritual training of your father?
My wife and I have strived so hard to be the best parents we can be. We read to them from the time they were born for their mental development. We have fed them, bathed them, changed them, and gave them vitamins for their physical development. We have almost suffocated them with love in the form of hugs, kisses and encouraging words for their emotional development. But it pains me to admit that I fear I have fallen short in the most critical development area.
Some people naively believe that the home of a Pastor must be a spiritual Disneyland. Everyone gets along and the Pastor/Husband/Father walks around quoting the word, singing hymns and constantly praying. That place may exist but it isn't my house. The area that it pains me to admit that I have been found lacking is caring for the spiritual development of my kids.
By the grace of God all 3 of our children have confessed Jesus as Lord over their life and have experienced the baptism in the Holy Spirit by speaking in tongues. If anyone has taken the lead in this area it has been my amazing wife Dianne! She had the privilege of praying with all 3 of our children to become followers of Christ. Thankfully, I did get the joy of baptising them in water.
My problem is that I have followed the advice of Proverbs 22:6 (the Message) "Point your kids in the right direction--When they're old they won't be lost." I have been guilty of doing what I think that many Christian parents do. I have pointed my kids to the church. My assumption has been "If my kids are in church they are being trained in their faith." Fortunately, my church has a phenomenal children's ministry that does just that: training them in the faith. But the problem is that it isn't the church's job to train my children in the faith. It is my job as a parent!
This is where I think that the Message translation of Proverbs 22:6 is way off. A literal translation says "Train up a child in the way he should go." "Point your kids in the right direction" seems a lot easier than "training up a child." Anyone can point someone else in the right direction, training is a whole lot more difficult than that. If you have ever done any athletic training you understand the difference.
What I love about God is that it is never to late to make a U-turn. From this moment on I take full responsibility for the spiritual training of my children! I will no longer shirk my duty as a Husband/Father/Man of God and count on anyone else to do it for me.
I leave you today with a couple of questions:
Are there any other men reading this that are willing to join me?
As a child, have you resisted the spiritual training of your father?
Saturday, August 27, 2011
I declare bankruptcy!
The story behind this clip is that Michael Scott finds himself in deep credit card debt and is looking for a way out. His co-worker suggests he declare bankruptcy. Even though this TV character's foolishness is laughable, I wonder how often we have been guilty of the same thing. Have you ever been in a church service proclaiming at the top of your lungs "I LOVE JESUS," but then find yourself at work Monday morning wondering where your faith went?
Michael Scott's words were hollow because he didn't put the actions behind them to make them legal and binding. Jesus said, "If you love me, obey my commandments." Don't just sing songs about your love for me, make those songs real by living them out.
I have a friend who finds himself in a difficult stage of life. I have told him time and again "If you need my help just call me." I really meant it when I said it, but when he calls for help sometimes it is a real inconvenience. In those moments that I don't find love gushing from my heart, I realize that love is often times rolling up your sleeves and doing what is right even though you don't feel like it.
1 Corinthians 13 (the Message) says "No matter what I say, what I believe, what I do, I'm bankrupt without love." It is interesting to me that it seems like the church spends all its time on what we say, what we believe and what we do, but little time on what Paul says is more important than all of that combined: LOVE!
As Paul says, "Let me ask you something profound yet troubling?" Is it time to declare bankruptcy? Have we as Christians really missed the mark that badly? What if we took an honest look at our lives and our "spiritual activities?" Do we really believe that we are bankrupt without love? Or do we think that God is proud of us when say and believe the right things?
The answers to these questions trouble me to my core. Because the body of Christ, which I am a part of leading, which I have devoted my life to, has a long way to go. The truth that is even more troubling, as I look in the mirror I realize I have a long way to go. So here is my conclusion: I DECLARE BANKRUPTCY! God help me to see how bankrupt my life is without love?
Friday, August 26, 2011
Is "Work" really a swear word?
I was talking with an acquittance once and he asked how I was doing. With a huge smile on my face I said I was loving life. I asked him how he was doing and his response shocked me. He said,"Brad, you are the only person I know who loves their job." I thought to myself, "What a sad, sad statement."
It wasn't as if I could argue with him. We live in a world that promotes the idea that the only time when you are really living is on the weekend, on vacation, or avoiding work in general. We even have hilarious TV shows like "The Office" based upon how miserable people are at work.
Even Christians have this misconception that work is a part of God's punishment on the human race for Adam and Eve's sin. The reality is that God gave Adam and Eve work to do before they ate the deadly fruit. Genesis 2:15 (the Message) says, "God took the man and set him down in the Garden of Eden to work the ground and keep it in order." Granted part of their punishment for breaking God's only law at that time was that their work would become more toilsome, but work was still a part of God's idea of a perfect world.
God also gives indications in his word that there will be work in heaven. GASP . . . Work in heaven? Bite your tongue! I know it sounds crazy. Though if we are honest with ourselves, we will acknowledge that there is a deep satisfaction in a job well done. Our culture has down played that God-given feeling of accomplishment and has over emphasized the monetary rewards that comes with hard work.
Here is what I found today in 1 Corinthians 15 (the Message) "It was God giving me the work to do, God giving me the energy to do it." To those whose lives are surrendered to Christ, He gives us the joy of working, but will also give us the grace to accomplish it.
Paul also tells slaves in Ephesians 6:7 "Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people." Your job may not be a walk in the park, but trust me you are far from a slave.
I challenge you to wrestle with these questions today:
If I hate working, where does that attitude come from?
How can I trust God today to give me the energy to accomplish the work he has given me?
It wasn't as if I could argue with him. We live in a world that promotes the idea that the only time when you are really living is on the weekend, on vacation, or avoiding work in general. We even have hilarious TV shows like "The Office" based upon how miserable people are at work.
Even Christians have this misconception that work is a part of God's punishment on the human race for Adam and Eve's sin. The reality is that God gave Adam and Eve work to do before they ate the deadly fruit. Genesis 2:15 (the Message) says, "God took the man and set him down in the Garden of Eden to work the ground and keep it in order." Granted part of their punishment for breaking God's only law at that time was that their work would become more toilsome, but work was still a part of God's idea of a perfect world.
God also gives indications in his word that there will be work in heaven. GASP . . . Work in heaven? Bite your tongue! I know it sounds crazy. Though if we are honest with ourselves, we will acknowledge that there is a deep satisfaction in a job well done. Our culture has down played that God-given feeling of accomplishment and has over emphasized the monetary rewards that comes with hard work.
Here is what I found today in 1 Corinthians 15 (the Message) "It was God giving me the work to do, God giving me the energy to do it." To those whose lives are surrendered to Christ, He gives us the joy of working, but will also give us the grace to accomplish it.
Paul also tells slaves in Ephesians 6:7 "Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people." Your job may not be a walk in the park, but trust me you are far from a slave.
I challenge you to wrestle with these questions today:
If I hate working, where does that attitude come from?
How can I trust God today to give me the energy to accomplish the work he has given me?
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Who cares if you know the Bible?
A few months ago my family went to Conner Prairie in Indiana. Conner Prairie is one of those places that recreates a time period such as the 1830's. I really felt like you went back in a time machine. While we were there we went to the Blacksmith's shop. He was creating something out of metal and was conversing with us. He asked my 9 year old son if he knew what were the ingredients to steel were. Of course my son knew the answer. I loved what the Blacksmith had to say next. He said "That is great that you know that, but I hope your cup isn't already filled up." After a pause and strange looks from us, he said, "When your cup is all filled up that means that you already know everything and no one can pour into your cup and teach you anything. I have decided that my cup will never be filled. I want to learn every chance I get."
You don't have to go very far on the Internet before you run into a "know-it-all." Let's face it, these kind of people drive everyone crazy. Why? Because their cup is full and no one can pour into their life. 1 Corinthians 8 (the Message) says "knowing isn't everything. If it becomes everything, some people end up as know-it-alls who treat others as know-nothings. Real knowledge isn't that insensitive."
Have you ever been a part of a Bible study or an old school Sunday school class where it seems like the point of the class is for everyone to prove to everyone else how much they know about the Bible? I don't last long in places like that, because it either feeds my own know-it-all spirit or I am appalled at everyone else's know-it-all spirit.
When Jesus was on this earth he had a tremendous amount of patience for "know nothings", but very little patience for "know-it-alls." His attitude was basically this, "I really don't care if you know the Bible, if you are not willing to follow it."
I leave you today with 1 Corinthians 8:1 (NIV) "we know that 'we all possess knowledge.' But knowledge puffs up while love builds up." I have made a commitment that I will no longer read God's word to get puffed up but to get built up so I can build others up. That is the purpose of this blog. I invite you to wrestle with the truth of Scripture with me.
So here are today's questions: (Feel free to leave a comment with your answer)
Do you ever feel like your "spiritual activities" (e.g. church attendance, Bible reading) leaves you feeling puffed up or built up?
How do we practically keep our "glass from becoming full?"
You don't have to go very far on the Internet before you run into a "know-it-all." Let's face it, these kind of people drive everyone crazy. Why? Because their cup is full and no one can pour into their life. 1 Corinthians 8 (the Message) says "knowing isn't everything. If it becomes everything, some people end up as know-it-alls who treat others as know-nothings. Real knowledge isn't that insensitive."
Have you ever been a part of a Bible study or an old school Sunday school class where it seems like the point of the class is for everyone to prove to everyone else how much they know about the Bible? I don't last long in places like that, because it either feeds my own know-it-all spirit or I am appalled at everyone else's know-it-all spirit.
When Jesus was on this earth he had a tremendous amount of patience for "know nothings", but very little patience for "know-it-alls." His attitude was basically this, "I really don't care if you know the Bible, if you are not willing to follow it."
I leave you today with 1 Corinthians 8:1 (NIV) "we know that 'we all possess knowledge.' But knowledge puffs up while love builds up." I have made a commitment that I will no longer read God's word to get puffed up but to get built up so I can build others up. That is the purpose of this blog. I invite you to wrestle with the truth of Scripture with me.
So here are today's questions: (Feel free to leave a comment with your answer)
Do you ever feel like your "spiritual activities" (e.g. church attendance, Bible reading) leaves you feeling puffed up or built up?
How do we practically keep our "glass from becoming full?"
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Sometimes I don't feel like the Bible is true.
I know this probably isn't something your used to hearing a Pastor say, but I must admit that it is true. Sometimes I don't feel like the Bible is true. For instance I was recently reading in 1 Corinthians 11 (the Message) "No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it." I have heard this "God will never give you more than you can handle" argument before and I have a difficult time with it. Because when I am in the middle of temptation it feels like I am being pushed past my limit. I can relate to the old "the Devil made me do it" rhetoric. Can anyone else out there identify with me?
Or there are other times when it seems like the deed is already done before I realize I have done it. I think to myself "wait a minute, what did I just do? That wasn't right." I hate to break this popular Christian myth that Pastors just walk around praying and quoting scripture all the time, but it simply isn't true. At least for this pastor it isn't. I live in the real world like everyone else does, and what I just read says that we all face the same temptations. It also says that God will "always be there to help you through temptation." So I guess what I am really faced with in temptation is whether or not I will trust my feelings or what I know to be true.
You know as well as I do that feelings are pretty fickle things and can't always be trusted. Even though it feels cathartic to be honest about how we feel, being ruled by our feelings is no way to live. Immaturity is always following your feelings. Maturity is following what you know to be right and hoping your feelings will get in line. So in conclusion, even though I don't always feel like the Bible is true, I know that it is! My prayer for you is that you can be daily convinced of the truth of God's word, because our mind can often carry us through when our heart begins to waver.
Or there are other times when it seems like the deed is already done before I realize I have done it. I think to myself "wait a minute, what did I just do? That wasn't right." I hate to break this popular Christian myth that Pastors just walk around praying and quoting scripture all the time, but it simply isn't true. At least for this pastor it isn't. I live in the real world like everyone else does, and what I just read says that we all face the same temptations. It also says that God will "always be there to help you through temptation." So I guess what I am really faced with in temptation is whether or not I will trust my feelings or what I know to be true.
You know as well as I do that feelings are pretty fickle things and can't always be trusted. Even though it feels cathartic to be honest about how we feel, being ruled by our feelings is no way to live. Immaturity is always following your feelings. Maturity is following what you know to be right and hoping your feelings will get in line. So in conclusion, even though I don't always feel like the Bible is true, I know that it is! My prayer for you is that you can be daily convinced of the truth of God's word, because our mind can often carry us through when our heart begins to waver.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Why I think I am better than you.
At least a couple of times a week I drive past a guy who begs for money at the side of the road. Yes, we all know it is a scam job. Because of this I feel justified in looking down my nose at him and somehow thinking that I am better than him. I must admit this isn't the only instance where I am tempted to think that I better than someone else. It happens more than I would like to admit. I find it interesting that no matter what station of life you may find yourself in, their will always be someone you can look down on.
I have a friend who was in prison. He told me that everyone got treated pretty equally except for one group of people: the sex-offenders. They were the ones that all the other prisoners looked down their noses at. They were harassed and abused. Sometimes other prisoners would refuse to serve them their food. I found it interesting that even in prison there is a pecking order. There is a group of people that others think that they are better than. Murderers and thieves think "Well at least I am not a sex-offender."
I was reading in 1 Corinthians 10 where Paul continues to talk about the Israelites and what we can learn from them. "We are just as capable of messing it up as they were. Don't be so naive and self-confident. You're not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it's useless. Cultivate God-confidence."
Whenever I am tempted to think that I am better than you or anyone else I am living in self-confidence, which Paul says is useless. So I have tried to start a new habit. Whenever I see anyone else and am tempted to make the false assumption that I am high above them, I quote this phrase from a 14th century martyr, "But for the grace of God, there am I."
So I leave you with these sobering words from Paul, "You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence, Cultivate God-confidence."
I have a friend who was in prison. He told me that everyone got treated pretty equally except for one group of people: the sex-offenders. They were the ones that all the other prisoners looked down their noses at. They were harassed and abused. Sometimes other prisoners would refuse to serve them their food. I found it interesting that even in prison there is a pecking order. There is a group of people that others think that they are better than. Murderers and thieves think "Well at least I am not a sex-offender."
I was reading in 1 Corinthians 10 where Paul continues to talk about the Israelites and what we can learn from them. "We are just as capable of messing it up as they were. Don't be so naive and self-confident. You're not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it's useless. Cultivate God-confidence."
Whenever I am tempted to think that I am better than you or anyone else I am living in self-confidence, which Paul says is useless. So I have tried to start a new habit. Whenever I see anyone else and am tempted to make the false assumption that I am high above them, I quote this phrase from a 14th century martyr, "But for the grace of God, there am I."
So I leave you with these sobering words from Paul, "You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence, Cultivate God-confidence."
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