Words Mean Things

How many times have you heard a church talk about making passionate disciples (or followers) of Christ?  I bet if you surveyed a number of church websites, you may find that phrase quite a bit. 

Memorial Day is a reminder to me of what these words really mean.  In particular – the word passionate.

When you hear "passionate", what do you think of?  Excitement?  Enthusiasm?  Maybe even a little bit of craziness?  Actually, passion comes from the Greek word pathos (πάθος).  It means...to suffer.  It's a willingness to endure pain and suffering.  That's a whole lot different than excitement, enthusiasm and craziness.

Those of us, who live in the West, have a pretty cushy life.  As a matter of fact, our church even hired a pastor who is cushy(ing).  Sorry - couldn't resist.  

On Memorial Day, when we think of the service men and women of our country, I think it's safe to say they had a passion for the United States.  Many of them have suffered.  Many of them have given their lives.  If you are one of those people (or a parent or spouse of one) and are reading these words -- Thank You!  Words are a weak response to what we really owe you.

But back to being a passionate disciple/follower.  Being a passionate disciple is not someone who shows up to church every Sunday without fail.  It's not the one who sings loud and raises their hands in praise.  It's not someone who gives 10% or even more in the offering bag.  None of those are wrong, but now that we've looked at what passionate really means, what is it?

Here's an example from the Bible.  One of the disciples, the one who is tagged as "Doubting Thomas", was actually quite passionate.  Here's the situation -- Jesus is well into His ministry and yet many Jews are questioning Him.  As a matter of fact, they are more than questioning Him.  They are quite hostile.  In John 10, there is a confrontation between Jesus and some unbelieving Jews.  In verse 31 they pick up rocks to stone Him.  (It says "again".  Apparently, this is a somewhat regular occurrence in Jesus' ministry.  Probably pretty fun to a disciple of Jesus, huh?)  But somehow or other, Jesus escapes the situation and goes to safety on the other side of the Jordan River.

A very short time later, in chapter 11, Lazarus, a good friend of Jesus, dies.  Before he dies, his sisters send for Jesus.  They want Him to come and heal Lazarus.  They want Jesus to come back to the part of the country where the people want to stone Him.  Do you think the disciples maybe suggested sending a Get Well card instead?  I wouldn't think they were too anxious to head back to that region.  Would you?

But check out "Doubting Thomas".  Read verse 16 in chapter 11.  Thomas says, "Let us go also, that we may die with Him."  Wow.  Now that is a passionate disciple!  His life is not his own.

When you now hear the term "passionate", what will you think of?  Emotions or excitement?  For me, it’s easy to get emotional.  Music, a powerful story etc. can get me emotional fairly easily.  But passionate?  For me, it's a gut-check. 

I am thankful for soldiers passionate enough to give their lives.  Most of the disciples, in their passion, gave their lives as martyrs.  But there is One whose passion really means something.  Only One whose passion makes an eternal difference.  Long before Mel Gibson made his movie, the church fathers coined the phrase, The Passion of the Christ.

So today, join me in offering a Soli Deo Gloria to the One who is passionate for you and me.

How Would You Respond?

A couple thoughts hit me this morning following our Good Friday service.

I was reading John 20.  For whatever reason, I was struck by Mary Magdalene.  This lady had seven demons cast out of her by Jesus.  Obviously, she had much to be thankful for.  She was there at the cross, watching the whole wretched crucifixion.

After what was probably a sleepiness night, she gets up early and arrives before sunrise at the tomb where Jesus was buried.  Seeing that Jesus is gone, she runs back to get the disciples.  I'm betting she can hardly breath!  Her head is swimming with all kinds of thoughts.  Two disciples come back with her, verify what she said is true, and then leave Mary at the tomb to tell others.

Two things strike me.

1)    The disciples leave Mary at the tomb crying.  Nice guys.

2)    The other thing though, is that Jesus then appears to Mary.  She's shocked.  I'm wondering how I would respond in that situation?  How would you?

Later that day, as I'm running some errands, I hear the song, "I Can Only Imagine" on the radio.  I know that song is about arriving in heaven, but I couldn't help but think about Mary's response that First Easter Morning and imagining how I would respond.

The chorus goes:

Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel?

Will I dance for You Jesus or in awe of You be still?

Will I stand in Your presence or to my knees will I fall?

Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all!

None of these responses are wrong.  Each is different.  But yet, all are right.

But which one are you?

Whatever your response, enjoy the presence of our Risen Savior this Easter Morning.

Sola Deo Gloria 

Which Thief Are You

I woke up one morning last weekend thinking about the two thieves on either side of Jesus.  Weird way to wake-up, huh?  I know it's Easter Week and all, but really -- what a thought to wake-up to.  But I figured God put the thought on my mind, so I lay there contemplating and praying about them -- or more about my likeness to either of them.  

One is sarcastic.  He’s also bitter and tells Christ to save Himself -- "and us too while you're at it".  The other thief knows he belongs there.  He knows he's getting what he deserves.

I bet many reading this are like me.  I'm not quite as blatant as the bitter thief.  But am I as repentant as the thief who knows he belongs on the cross?

Do I comprehend that Jesus -- the One we sang about and called Wonderful Counselor, Savior, Almighty God, Immanuel and Prince of Peace just a few short months ago -- took my punishment?  Do I comprehend that His back was ripped to shreds? That part of His beard was torn out of His face?  That a “crown of thorns” was jammed down on top of His head so that many of the tips dug deep into His scalp?  That a spike was hammered into His wrists/hands as well as His feet?  That He was then hoisted vertically on a wood beam that rubbed that still raw back and which prevented Him from hardly being able to breath?

No.  If I'm honest, I don’t think I do.

And these are just the physical aspects.  Hundreds -- no, thousands of people -- experienced similar deaths. Many were punished just because they were willing to be called Christians.

But none of these other deaths mean to me what the death of Jesus did.  People in the Old Testament and in Jesus’ era knew what blood represented.  It was life.  Life taken from something (an animal) and given as an offering and sacrifice. 

But blood and death from God’s Son?!  For me?!  Seriously?

What this death and punishment represents is my sin.  

My ugly sin.  

My sins of commission (things I've done).

My sins of omission (things I should have done, but were too lazy or chicken to do).

I know God doesn't want us to live with a woe-is-me type attitude.  

But, if we really got our heads (and hearts) around what He did for us, I think we would have a    WHOA!! WHAT-HE'S-DONE-FOR-ME  type attitude!!!

Happy Easter.

He is Risen!

Solo Deo gloria

A Four Letter Word

I saw a headline this week in the Star Tribune that stated more than $18 million dollars has been spent on the Marriage Amendment vote that is coming up next week.  That's a lot of money!  And no doubt you have seen the yard signs, billboards, flyers in the mail, TV ads and countless articles and commentaries on this issue.

I believe it is an important issue.  But even more important, have been a number of blog posts, articles and even sermons from our own pastor regarding the bigger issue -- the eternal issue if you will. This issue is controversial and will remain so after the election, no matter which block of voters win.  But many in the evangelical world have encouraged other believers to use a four-letter word: love.

I was reminded this week of the story in the Bible about the woman caught in adultery.  There were many from 'the church' to accuse her; to stone her and actually kill her for her deed.  They bring her to Jesus and he quietly draws in the dirt.  (Someday we'll find out if it was anything in particular or if He was just thinking.  It's one of those; Why is this in the Bible questions.)  He suggests that the ones who were innocent should throw the first stone.  He didn't say; "Get a bigger stone."  He just showed her love, even though she was guilty.

The Bible doesn't indicate that this lady turned her life around and became a follower of Christ.  Jesus did say, 'go and sin no more'.  And perhaps she did change, particularly after someone showed her such love when she knew her life was on the line.

Paul Young (author of The Shack and someone familiar with controversy as well) once said; "It's easier to be right than it is to love."  Think about it.  That's really true, isn't it?

After November 7th, let's keep that in mind.  No matter the outcome of the vote, let's show the love of God to all people.  That's the bigger issue.

Prayer of a Martyred Zimbabwe Pastor

I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit's power.  The die has been cast.  I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made - I’m a disciple of His.  I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.  My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure.  I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals.  I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity.  I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded.  I now live by faith, lean in his presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer, and I labor with power.  My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions are few, my Guide reliable, my mission clear.  I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed.  I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the enemy, pander at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.  I won’t give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ.

I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till he comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till he stops me.  And, when he comes for his own, he will have no problem recognizing me. . . my banner will be clear!

Perspective

Last night, my son sent us an email that a friend in his small group from church died Monday from cardiac arrest.  It always stuns you when someone, in the prime of life, dies.

So it was with thoughts of how Eric and his friends deal with this news that I heard this perspective regarding our lives on the way to work this morning.  Pastor Craig Groeschel began a sermon commenting that…

…our souls are eternal and our bodies are not.  Our souls will live forever.  Our bodies will die.

Perspective....

Looking Backward & Praying Forward

Today -- July 5th -- marks 25 years since my moms passing.  I have reflected a bit on this by myself as well as with my sister via email and the phone.  Even as I begin to type this, emotions start to well up from deep inside.  About mid-November every year, the elder board has a practice of sending notes to those in the congregation who have lost loved ones over the course of the year.  Every time I sit down to compose one of those notes, it is truly an emotional effort as memories come flooding back in.

It's not that I mind it.  I think it is good for me.  Even though I tend to tear up a bit as I do it, it is a great reminder of not only my mom, but my dad as well -- who died seven years after mom.  I look backward and am so thankful for the Godly heritage I have been a part of.  And I pray forward, hoping that I can continue that legacy in my life; my children's lives;  and all who come after them.

Fortunately (or unfortunately), my car is old enough that it still has a cassette player.  A little while ago, I listened to my mom's memorial service driving to and from work.  Pastor Ken Meyer noted that the dash between a person's year of birth and year of death on the tombstone represents so much that goes on in our lives.  In her later years, mom had this side business of "coloring" people.  She would help them figure out what colors looked good on them and also, what colors to avoid.  You would end up with a little color packet so when you shopped for clothes, not only would you pick out something you liked, but you would also choose it in a color that made you look better!

Pastor Ken pointed out that mom's license plate was "CJ Color", and that she colored people's lives.  And he didn't just mean the color swatches.  She volunteered at the hospital; served with my dad in senior high ministry at church for many years; was on the Pastor's Reading Committee (to help with sermon prep); was involved in various other ministries at church.  She even had my grade school teachers over for lunch once a year (we had 90 minutes for lunch).  I can't say I really enjoyed that!

Someone had written a note to my mom as she battled leukemia during that last year, about how she exemplified Matthew 5:16, especially in illness.  A letter from one of my sisters' friends commented about how they always "sensed" a Christian atmosphere when she came over to our house.

One thing that I treasure is a recording that my folks made when the doctors told my mom she had limited days.  My sister, thinking ahead, came up with 50 questions to ask my mom so our kids could know -- at least a little bit -- about their grandma.  In God's providence, as my dad "interviewed" my mom, he also answered the questions.  When he died unexpectedly, seven years later, we had his answers too.  (If you would like a copy of these questions, for you or your parents, I would be happy to send them to you.)

Reminding our children about the importance of family; what we believe and why we believe it, is a great gift both to receive and to give.

Soli Deo Gloria

C'mon. You know what to say!

HE
IS
RISEN !!!!!!!

A Welcoming Church

The other day I was reading John 9. There you read the story about Jesus giving sight to a man who had been blind from birth. I proposed a question to the elder board that night; "What do you think the rest of that man's life was like?"

Think about it. He was blind since birth. People of that time figured that it was either a sin of his parents or himself that led to him being blind. Then, as an adult, he gets his sight. Now he can have a normal life! But the religious leaders bring him in and ask some rather pointed questions (he was healed on the Sabboth). They didn't really like his answers, so they bring his parents in.

His parents, fearful of being kicked out of the local church, defer to their son. "He's old enough. Ask him."

The religeous leaders intensified their questioning. Eventually, they "threw him out".

Seriously?! So much for a "normal life".

So, after mentioning this to the elders, we took a "field trip" to the sanctuary. We stood in the front and prayed for the upcoming Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services. As Pastor Brett prayed, he noted that on the platform a Christmas tree blocked the view of the cross. He prayed that nobody would be blocked or kept away from the Christ of the cross this weekend.

Please be in prayer for many this weekend - that they would feel welcomed to church and that they would see Christ, not the decorations.

SDG

Baseball, Christmas, Family

I just heard about the second part of this story this week.  Perhaps you heard about the first part this summer.  After the third out of an inning Texas Ranger All-Star and MVP Josh Hamilton flips the ball towards the fans in the stands.  In a very unfortunate incident, a father who is at the game with his young son, falls out of the stands and dies after reaching for the ball.

Now the second half of the story: during the World Series, the Rangers had the boy come to the mound and throw out the first pitch to Hamilton.  50,000+ fans in the stadium stood to their feet and applauded.   The next part was pretty cool.  Hamilton hugged the boy, then his mother. You could tell he was saying something to her that made it tough for her to control her emotions.

Hamilton said; "I just asked her if they were believers in Christ and she said they were. I said, `Well, we know where your husband is right now. Make sure that the little one knows who his daddy was and what he stood for."  

You can see how this all played out in this video link.

This story serves also serves as a reminder to us that there are many in our church family who will experience the Christmas holidays without a loved one because they passed away this year.  There are at least a dozen here at CrossPoint who are affected this way.  If you know who one of those people are, please remember to pray for them during the next few weeks.  Christmas is often a time when family gathers, so it can also be a very tough time emotionally.