I should be excited, because when that happens it’s almost always God trying to speak.

I guess it’s time to listen (c’mon McFly… McFly!).

Although there is a bit more depth to it than this, the nutshell idea from the Lord is simply this… it’s more about Jesus than you think.

Colossians 1:27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

My first conversation with a CrossPointer back in the states (vacation in Costa Rica, awesome, by the way) was another example of this reoccurring theme.

A friend had been reading the Old Testament, kind of for the first time since hearing the sanitized versions in children’s Sunday School years ago. It’s hard to show David finishing off Goliath with a bloody decapitation on flannel board in children’s church, so, we generally stop right before that.

But, now he’s diving into all the gory details and is struggling with the brutality and sternness of God in those stories. That’s legitimate, but why do we struggle with the Old Testament so much?

First of all you need to understand that you are not alone, nor are you in a new circle of thought if you have ever wondered, “What’s  with the Old Testament anyway?”

In the middle of the 2nd century A.D. there was a break off movement in the church called Marcionism which entirely rejected the Old Testament. They claimed it was not the same God and they chose to only accept the New Testament.

For this, and probably many other reasons, they don’t exist anymore, but the questions they had are still questions we have today. By the way, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with having questions.

True,  the Old Testament is not the quintessential picture of God’s love, mercy and grace we see in the New Testament. But, the truth is this has much more to do with our definition of love than with God having some kind of conflicted nature.

In the Old Testament, we see a God of wrath, justice, anger, vengeance and severe consequences. But, do not miss the mercy hidden in these stories as well. God’s justice is never flippant, it is never baseless, it is always a waited for, endured, prolonged and delayed sentence passed upon individuals or peoples who have willfully defied, repeatedly, the Word/instruction of the Lord.

The prophets screamed, “Turn, run… or else!” These were warning shots fired by God again and again.

Then we read of God’s acts of justified justice and are confused, shocked and feel betrayed.

Why?

As parents, we have standards for children. We provide them with expectations and responsibilities. We warn them that continued disobedience will have consequences in two forms.

First, the natural process of their disobedience will bring its own heartache. We warn them the results of touching a hot pan will be a burn… consequences.

Second, we ensure them that continued neglect of our word will eventually bring punishment… consequences.

Why?

Because we know them, love them and know more than they do!

Disobedience requires correction. Anything less and we are unloving, weak-willed parents who care more about personal peace than correction. We become people who want our kids to be our friends more than wanting to create/forge strong adults. We become parents who give in to children allowing them to wander where they want, whine until they are catered to, and allowed to do what is right to their own eyes… not because of our love for them, but because… it’s easier.

Hmmmm…

Maybe we have trouble with a tough, disciplinarian of the Old Testament because we want Him to be the kind of parent we are.

• The thought of punishing wrong… no, no, it’ll just push them away.
• The thought of setting difficult standards… no, no, they will scream about that.
• The thought of loving our kids so much we’d say no, and mean it… heaven forbid, we might crush their spirits.

Psalm 51:8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.

The God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament are the same. But, we often have to find the mercy of God in between the lines of the Old Testament.

Genesis 15:13 Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. 14 But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. 15 As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. 16 And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”

The seemingly vicious nature of the Old Testament as “God’s people” rolled through the promised land was a response to 400+ years of God meeting with and waiting for a rebellious and pagan people to respond to Him. God refused to  give Abraham what he had promised simply because he was preoccupied with mercy for the Amorite people.

All the while, forcing His own children, the descendants of Abraham, to play a generational waiting game in slavery in Egypt.

Why did God the latest promise for the chosen Hebrew people? Because God was not done displaying His mercy toward the Amorites!

Yet it is difficult for us when reading the Old Testament because all we can see is the sever and graphic punishment, but don’t miss the centuries of mercy!

Still, this mercy is so much clearer in the New Testament. Why is it so easy to see, picture and perceive this grace in the Gospels and beyond?

In a word- Jesus!

In the New Testament, the wrath of God was satisfied, and justice meted out, His anger diffused by pouring it all out on the innocent and the only One capable of bearing, surviving and overcoming the weight of punishment of all time for all the sins of all the people in the world… Jesus.

Romans 3:23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past.

It’s all about our sin.

God’s anger, severe actions and Old Testament fury are because of and entirely in response to our rebellion, neglect and sin. These completely just attributes of God are seen with crystal clarity in the Old Testament because they are chronologically prior to Jesus, the cross, the grave and the resurrection.   Also, the coming of the Holy Spirit which enables us to see with more Godly eyes does not happen until after the resurrection of Jesus Himself.

Grace, mercy and love are in high def in the New Testament era because Christ has become the spiritual shock absorber soaking up all the wrath and judgment of the world while on the cross, taking our punishment to the grave.

The resurrection is proof we can find protection, forgiveness and hope in Jesus!

The name of Jesus splits the Old Testament from the New Testament, and proves that there is one God in both halves of this book.

Without the prophecies and the messianic waiting of an Old Testament, there would be no credibility to the claims of One called Savior in a New Testament.  And, without a New Testament Savior there would be no fulfillment of Old Testament hopes and it’s worth would be devastated.

Jesus splits the Testaments and ties them together at the same time.

He portrays a God who is just yet loving, strict yet forgiving, a disciplining father and a loving “Abba” daddy.

There is an Old and New Testament, but only one Word.

There is a righteous Judge and a loving Father, but only one God.

There is an uncreated Creator and incarnate baby Savior, but only one Jesus.

Pause.

Believe.

Follow.

It’s more about Jesus than you think.

Most of my fellow churchgoers would not argue with this definition of worship. In fact, I have personally defined worship as anything that captures your attentions and affections.

What strikes me most though is the verb “clings” used by Beale. In my mind I can picture myself latching onto the thought of having a girlfriend in the 7th grade… I knew what I was worshiping.

I can vividly recall my almost sociopathic pursuit of great grades and accolades through high school… bowing low at the altar of achievement.

There’s no denying the idolatry of my early 20s when, even in ministry, I was worried about

who I knew and who knew me… in the cult of personality.

I could go on and on, but the examples from the latter half of my life are still a bit too fresh. Actually they’re still open wounds.

I think the reason the first commandment is to have no other gods before Him and the second is to have no idols or graven images is obvious. Humans have a horrible tendency to replace God with anything convenient.

Again, Beale’s definition screams out at me with that word “cling.”

Let me paint a picture of the mental visual this quote created in my mind and see if you don’t have the same concerns.

I can imagine myself praying passionately, continually and powerfully to a holy God for something as noble and pure as the health of my children. But, moving past the veneer of my prayer I realized that the purpose powering my prayer is not my zeal for God. In fact my prayer is fueled by my idolatry… my family.

I turned to God not because He is what I worship, but because I hope He can help protect what I am worshiping. I often get caught in cycles of pseudo-spirituality where I am praying to God and feeling like I’m where I should be, but all the while I’m just trying to use God to further my agenda, protect my interests, and serve my idolatrous lord.

I know these are pretty tough words, but if this happens in our lives it’s a sin that needs to be rooted out viciously.

Don’t get me wrong, we should be people of prayer taking every concern to Him.

Praying for your family. Praying for health. Praying for blessing. But, when my purpose and focus is anything other than Him and His glory, I am simply trying to use God for my own purposes.

Again, we should pray for our children, for health, for blessing, for any and everything. Simultaneously though, we must continue to monitor what we are truly “clinging” to, and make sure that it is God alone on the throne.

Maybe this is a spiritual heat check for you, or maybe it’s just confession for me. Either way, may God be what He deserves to be in both your life and mine: Lord of all.

5Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,1 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

(Philippians 2:5-11 ESV)

You know, one of those moments when your breath is taken away by the hugeness of the moon hanging low in the sky. You may have even thought, or said something like, “The moon is huge tonight!”

You might find it disturbing to know that your eyes are playing tricks on you. It’s still a beautiful moon and totally worthy of your pause and admiration of its Creator, but just so that you know… you’re wrong.

Wow, quit being so sensitive. I’m just trying to teach you something.

The truth is that what you see when the moon is “so big” is really an optical illusion in fact, the moon is always the same size in the sky. Let me give you a few sources:

“First of all, let me make it clear that the effect is an optical illusion. If you measure the moon with a ruler held at arm’s length (a paper clip bent into the shape of a calipers will also work), you’ll find it’s always the same size no matter where it happens to be in the sky. If anything, the moon is slightly smaller at the horizon than it is at the zenith, mainly because it’s 4,000 miles (the radius of the earth) farther away.”
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/831/why-does-the-moon-appear-bigger-near-the-horizon

The Moon illusion is an optical illusion in which the Moon appears larger near the horizon than it does while higher up in the sky. This optical illusion also occurs with the sun and star constellations. It has been known since ancient times, and recorded by numerous different cultures. The explanation of this illusion is still debated.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_illusion

Sometimes you can’t believe your eyes. This week is one of those times.
Step outside any evening at sunset and look around. You’ll see a giant moon rising in the east. It looks like Earth’s moon, round and cratered; the Man in the Moon is in his usual place. But something’s wrong. This full moon is strangely inflated. It’s huge!
You’ve just experienced the Moon Illusion.
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2005/20jun_moonillusion/

For you skeptics, just make sure you note the last one was from NASA.

While its not certain why the human eye/mind does this to us, all of us, it is for certain that we all fall prey to this illusion. While an optical illusion sounds benign, almost fun, there is a sinister side.

The Thesaurus shows several alternative ways to describe an illusion as an erroneous mental representation, semblance, phantasm, phantom, shadow, apparition, something existing in perception only, misconception, head game, delusion, deceit.

I don’t know about you, but I find it a little disturbing, if not irritating, that my own eyes deceive me. Still, it is a good reminder. There are so many things we trust, that just aren’t trustworthy: our senses, cable news, the Internet.

I know, you agree with two out of three on that list, but if you can’t trust your own senses what can you trust?

Good question…

• I won’t believe it till I see it.
• Seeing is believing.
• I saw it with my own eyes.

What a big moon we had last night, eh?

So, if our own senses can deceive us, how are we ever going to get this life figured out?

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

Maybe it’s time we start following that which will not deceive or lead astray. Obviously, even our own senses aren’t doing a very good job at that.

As a man who is vexed with irrational fears and burdened with worries detached from reality, I know the struggle to not believe our eyes, let alone our mind’s eye. If we believe sin is real, then we must admit we are broken.

Without looking through the lens of the Lord we have no hope of seeing any better than a grade schooler straining to see the chalkboard through shattered spectacles.

So how do we see with His eyes?

When it comes to our relationships, let’s get into the Scripture.

When we have financial troubles, let’s ask the hard questions of how obedient we are with what we already have.

When we are confused, hurt, lost or in any need, let’s lean on the Lord and nothing else.

May we develop a new habit of turning to God for real understanding, and trusting Him even more than we trust ourselves, our senses, or very often even our own mind.

Don’t fall for the tricks of the eye.

I know that if you’re invited to be part of a think tank it is a compliment to your intelligence, experience or abilities. But, personally, I can’t think of much else I’d rather not do.

The thought of thinking about thoughts while discussing other peoples thoughts on their thoughts and your thoughts… wow… I think I could find other things to do. Maybe like doing, er, anything.

Don’t get uptight, I know there are a very legitimate and real needs for a think posse, and they probably accomplish much more than you and I could ever really appreciate. But, it’s definitely not a job for me.

Processing, thinking, mulling over, contemplating are all necessary, but I’m more of a “let’s get on it” guy. In fact here’s a few of my favorite phrases:

• Just do it
• Pull the trigger
• Time to fish or cut bait
• Get off the pot
• Trial and error has begun!
• It’s go time
• Worth a shot
• I’ll call you from the finish line

If think tanks represent one end of the spectrum (over processing), I find myself just as frustrated with the other end of the spectrum where some ignore/deny the issue (under processing).

If you are prone to the latter, you probably have apps on your phone that are great ‘time killers.’

Why would you even want to do that?

Don’t kill your time, release your parental rights, I’ll adopt it.

Maybe I  start a foundation for unwanted time, or at least write a book: “A Convenient Truth: You have the time”

Think tanks can represent active avoidance and denial can represent passive avoidance. I just want to get rid of the “avoi,” let’s “dance.”

Again, if your a thinker and love to process, many blessings on you.

If you love to loligag and your favorite sport is dodgeball, feel the love.

But, personally I’m the guy who’s leg is bouncing under the table just waiting for someone to say, “Ok, let’s give it a shot.”

Even though I really appreciate action I have to admit, sometimes taking steps is difficult.

In the book of Revelation, John sees multiple visions of things to come and in one small instance he is asked to do something odd.

Revelation 10:9 So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll. And he said to me, “Take and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.”

While there are lots of possible applications for this verse related to John’s personal ministry, end times theology and all kinds of stuff I don’t understand (maybe I should start a think tank to figure it out), there is a simple, practical thought that blesses me.

Often it tastes good to learn something, but using it can be a foul experience.

Learning about the character of God in a Bible Study or worship experience is far from practicing the faith in real life. Making plans and dreaming about the future may be a sweet experience, but we feel the burn when the rubber hits the road.

Resolving to lose weight and workout, planning to get your budget under control, pledging to work out the relationship kinks are all fantastic thoughts. But, once you hit the gym, shut of the cable, and talk about/to the inlaws, things can start to leave a bitter taste in your mouth.

Still, this is what needs to happen.

Ideas are sweet, but application is good (but nasty) medicine.

So, whatever you have decided to do, do it. It will never get any easier and there will never be a better time.

The sweetness of the original idea may dissolve into some bitter disciplines, but have no fear.

Eat what’s on your plate. It’s good for you.

After a great night with my family filling our home, eating way too much (my wife can really rock the holiday turkey), and watching the kids tear into the presents, we collapsed into bed. That’s when the loving reprimand came my way.

“You haven’t told me anything you want for Christmas,” she said.

“I told you I wanted a harmonica,” I responded.

It’s at this point I can’t blog what happened next, I can’t even really describe it in person, but let’s just say my wife has learned to roll her eyes even when they’re closed.

It’s pretty impressive.

The problem is, she’s totally right. I have racked my brain trying to answer her question for weeks. There is just nothing that I want, let alone need, that I could put on the Christmas list.

I have to admit it puts someone in an awkward position during the giftgiving season, but every time I try, I just come up empty.

So, before I drifted off to sleep last night, I was thinking about our discussion and I remember that song so popular during the season “My Grown-up Christmas List.”

 Do you remember me

I sat upon your knee

I wrote to you

With childhood fantasies

 

Well, I’m all grown up now

And still need help somehow

I’m not a child

But my heart still can dream

 

So here’s my lifelong wish

My grown up christmas list

Not for myself

But for a world in need

I guess I do have a Christmas list…

• I want children to act like children. Every day the news is filled with stories of bullying, hazing and hurting. Teachers are powerless and the administration is overwhelmed because of funding needs and crazy regulations. And the children pouring into the system are being raised on a diet of monstrously violent video games, sexually explicit reality shows and disrespectful self-indulgent music. I want homes that shelter, schools that build up, churches that lead and friends that love. I want the innocence of our kids back.
• I want husbands and wives to start acting like husbands and wives. To realize that the vows they took were meant to solidify their commitment to selfless acts of love toward the other, and not a contractual obligation you could hold over your spouse. I want husbands and wives to try harder. I want them to love as a choice and not as an emotion. I want them to build a home, not a future.
• I want the church to start fighting the enemy, and not itself. I am worn out on petty bickering, name-calling and pointing. One church looks at another and paints them into a corner without ever really knowing what the other believers across town are all about. Assumptions, jealousies and stupidity lead one congregation to expend the majority of its energy tearing down another. There is an enemy, and we are an army. I wish we’d fight on the same side.
• I want to punch poverty in the eye. In my country we spend enough on ice cream and deodorant to provide food, clothing and shelter for almost everyone on the planet who doesn’t have it. I give up my dessert and be willing to stink, if 6000+ children didn’t die every day of starvation. I’m tired of solvable problems going unsolved because it’s inconvenient. I’d love to have less, so that those who have none might have some.
• I want government to just shut up for a little while. They talk, they debate, they argue and they philosophize… but when are they going to listen. I don’t mean that head nodding, visual affirmation that I’m with you and understand but all the while the politicians are just wanting you to be quiet so they can talk some more. I’d like my representatives, bare minimum, to at least represent what I believe, want and desire.
• I want to bring love back. I don’t mean random acts of kindness, or evidence that you’re in my thoughts. I mean selfless, sacrificial, often anonymous and totally undeserved displays of what’s really going on in another’s heart. That we would give the benefit of the doubt to complete strangers. The road rage would turn into prayer. That our social cliques would be shattered. That our practice of passing judgment would drown in a pool of tears for and with others. That we would instinctively, inherently and passionately give of our resources, our time and our very selves just because it’s the right thing to do. And, we couldn’t stop ourselves because we are so in love with those who need love.

Wow, I guess I’m a bit more needy than I thought. Somewhere in the back of my mind I must have believed that not having anything on the Christmas list was honorable and proved I wasn’t greedy.

But, there it is. I have a list.

Sorry Kathy. I know this doesn’t really help your Christmas shopping, but thanks for reminding me there really are some things I want for Christmas.

So, for all who read this, I must admit that our world and its needs seem a bit overwhelming. There is no denying that.

Still, as a man of faith, I believe that the God of the universe has always used individual lives to change the course of humanity. One man or woman living selflessly for others under the direct instruction of God can change the world: Moses, King David, the apostle Paul, Mary…

Even as daunting as this Christmas list may sound, I need to remember (and you need to remember) what God said through an angelic voice to that teenage girl from a nowhere town who gave birth to the God of all creation:

“For nothing will be impossible with God.” Luke 1:37

By the way, if you’re reading this Kathy, I just remembered my Starbucks card ran out…there’s an idea? Merry Christmas!

Twas the night before Christmas and the service begun

     The church was all decked out, for holiday fun!

Church members were nestled all snug in their pew

     With wreaths and lights and poinsettias in view

The auditorium was warm to instill Christmas cheer

     And singers were ready with carols near and dear

Then up at the front with sermon notes handy

     A Christmas message, for sure, from old Pastor Andy

The music was great and the message…okay

     But everyone’s thoughts were for the breaking of day

For morning would come with presents and joy

     Mom getting clothes and Dad, of course, toys

When out on the parking lot there arose such a clatter

     We sprang from our seats to see what’s the matter

Running out through the foyer and down the long hall

     We stood in the doorway to watch, one and all

A few feet away was a broken down car

     Dented and scratched, an eye-sore for sure

Then out stepped a man from this beat up ole caddy

     And three youngsters inside, they each called him “Daddy!”

The little old driver was lively and quick

     Worked fast on the engine and gave it a kick

You might think he cursed if you did not listen close

     But, sitting on the bumper, a real prayer he spoke

“For TASHA, and SHELLY, for LISA and I

     God, we don’t ask for much, just to get by

We’ve nowhere to go and no presents to share

     But we need this old car to get out of cold air

“Their mother has left us, and I’ve made some mistakes

     But, I love them so much it makes my heart ache

I can’t give them a thing except a night on the road

     There’s no Christmas for them, just darkness and cold

“So please hear me God, I feel so alone

     I don’t have a future, I don’t have a home

I just need for you to make my car start

     And maybe some help for the pain in my heart”

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

     Rubbed dirt off his hands; shut the hood with a jerk

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

     He wiped off a tear, and down the street he drove

Quiet and shocked we retreated inside

     To our tinsel and greens and soft candlelight

And the words of a carol seemed to ring out just then

     Saying “Peace on earth, and joy to ALL men”

We looked at each other with confusion of heart

     Our Christmas experience now saddened in part

By a man and his girls on a cold Christmas night

     With miles before them and no end in site

Christmas should be about praise and thanksgiving

     Not “How in the world can I make a living?”

But, those near our churches will miss Christmas this year

     Unless we all tell them the Reason for cheer

Out past the front door and beyond these four walls

     The message must go with a very loud call

“For those lost in sin your Saviour is near”

     We must show the World…King Jesus is here!!!

With words of love, acceptance and grace

     And a helping hand to finish the race

Loving the world with our words and our deeds

     We prove Christmas love by meeting their needs

Go tell it on the mountain

     Over the hills and everywhere

Go tell it on the mountain

     That Jesus Christ is born!

When was the last time you participated in productive waiting? Check out this 3 minute audio thought recorded while I was waiting for my turn…

Psalm 38:15 “But for you, O Lord, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.”

For most of us, plans are in full swing and expectations are high. Finishing a shortened work/school week leading into a day of over indulgence (fancy talk for pigging out) followed by even more decadence (another fancy word for waste) as we shop till we drop, we see why it’s the most wonderful time of the year!

At least, it better be, since we will be paying for it on the treadmill and out of the checkbook for months.

Still, Happy Thanksgiving!

If I asked most people what Thanksgiving was about, we’d get the standard three “F”s:
* Family
* Food
* Football

Then, once we got past all that honesty we’d remember that somewhere between the trip to Grandmas and the tryptophan coma, we’re supposed to be thankful for something, right?

So, what are we thankful for on Thanksgiving? I know, I know, I know we covered this right? Family, food and football, duh?

Agreed, but lets probe the depths just a little bit and let me ask you to make this a season of reflection.

Psalm 107:21 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man! 22 And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!

Sacrifice and singing… that would change the old family gathering, now wouldn’t it?

Let me challenge you to spend some real time in reflection this Thanksgiving by offer to the Lord some new words of thanks.

Sit down with a piece of paper, notebook, journal, etc and start a list of all the things you have to complain about. Yep, put together your personal gripes list. Here is a ‘for example’ list:
* House payment and bills
* Stupid vehicles breaking down
* The never ending battle to keep the kids healthy
* Headaches at work
* Weird family members
* Too busy

Obviously, a list like this could go on and on, but don’t let it. Take this very list to your prayer time and sacrifice it to the Lord.

In you prayer time, admit that we humans have a tendency to be whiners and don’t know how good we have it until its gone. Finally, ask Him to reveal to you how these very things contain the secret ingredients to thankfulness if we just look with His eternal eyes:

For instance…

I complain about my house payment and bills, but first of all I have a home and second I’m constantly bemoaning that it needs to be picked up because of all the stuff we have… we are blessed, thank you Lord.

I complain about our stupid vehicles breaking down, but then I remember that I said vehicles, plural. Ninety-two percent of the world doesn’t own a car and I am griping because the AC on these newer models just doesn’t get cold enough… yeah, I am picky. Thank you Lord, and sorry.

I complain (and worry) about the never ending battle to keep the kids healthy and worry about growth patterns, vision tests, cavities and fear the onslaught of puberty. Then I see the smiling mother pushing her wheelchair-bound child here at the clinic and it hits me… I have absolutely no idea what I’ve been given. Thank you Lord.

I complain about all the headaches at work, but I have a job, a career and get to feel like I am making a difference everyday. Thank you Lord.

I grumble about weird family members, and the truth is… well, okay, they are weird, but they’re mine. Despite the idiosyncrasies and ‘flustrations’ (yep, more than one of my precious family members says it just like that) they are family and I have them. Thank You Lord.

And, it doesn’t matter what time of year it is, I always have the opportunity to gripe about being too busy. But, you know what busy means? People need you, care about you and what you do, and you matter to more than just yourself. Thank you Lord.

It’s an interesting spiritual exercise to turn your complaints into Thank Offerings, but one that’s well worth the reflection time.

I’ve seen military wives thankful even though their spouses are overseas, because they know they are alive.

I’ve listened to cancer patients with no promise of healing or recovery who find thankfulness in the moment, realizing they at least have this holiday.

I’ve prayed with widowed spouses gushing teary-eyed thankfulness because they know where their partner is and that they will see them again.

This Thanksgiving, let’s add another “F”: family, food, football and faith.

Let’s take the things most unlikely to be praised around the holiday table and see them with the eyes of God.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Revelation 3:14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. 15 “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”

 

 

In the book of Revelation, Jesus spoke directly to seven different church communities, and there was a pattern:

• He introduced Himself
• He commends the church
• He rebukes the church
• He offers a solution
• He warns
• He promises

Oddly, this last church on the list (Laodicea) is missing one of these elements… a commendation.

Ouch.

Apparently, what Jesus has to say to the church at Laodicea has to differ from the way He talked to others because He has nothing good to say about them.

Again, I say, ouch.

What is weird is is that the community of Laodicea was a blessed place, or at least, it appeared so.

1. The community was wealthy and self sufficient to the degree that they denied imperial aid after a devastating earthquake in 60 AD… they could take care of themselves.
2. They were a tourist hot spot because of thermal hot springs that drew people in from miles around. They had healing waters in their DNA.
3. They were a cultural and economic pivot point. In fact, they were a center for the worship of the greatest of the Greek gods Zeus and even minted their own coins with his image on them.

Jesus, uses that realtime political/sociological reality as a backdrop for the condition of the church in that same city: “For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.”

As a church, they were saying they were blessed, happy and comfortable, but Jesus was saying you can’t even see how broke you are!

I wonder if this is not how the Lord will see some of our holiday gatherings.

We will gather with family and friends, celebrate with our great affluence and even use words like “blessed” and “thankful.” But, are we spiritual blind? Are we spiritually ignorant? Are we so numbed by our stuff, our safety and comfort that we mistake it for God’s approval?

If Jesus sat at our Thanksgiving table, would He say, “For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.”

I am not calling anyone else out, but I know the Lord is asking me this question? And, I really want to take it seriously. If I am blind, ignorant and numb to a reality… I want to know!

The good news is, I think the test for our spiritual accumen is right here in the same passage (God is awesome that way). At the very beginning of His word to this church, He says, “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”

We often wrongly interpret this verse in our culture. We think hot is good and cold is bad. But, read it again, cold water is good and refreshing and hot water is healing and medicinal. Both hot and cold were awesome. What is not good are waters that are lukewarm, tepid and neither hot nor cold.

Remember the last time you drank from a bottle of water that was room temperature, or a cup of coffee that had set out way too long… nasty right? That’s why Jesus said he would spit them out; I actually love some of the older versions that use the word vomit… seems to work better at youth camp.

This message is not unique, Jesus spoke it in the Gospels when He said a branch that does not bear fruit will be cut off and thrown into the fire. When the Lord looks at His church, He expects it to be good for something.

Hot or cold, it doesn’t matter, just don’t be lukewarm!

A church that is comfortable, secure and happy is really only a blessing to itself. That’s not pleasing to the Lord, and this passage depicts clearly that He won’t stand for that. Don’t forget, the church isn’t an institution. We are the church.

So pick what you want to be, hot or cold. WHAT you do for others and to make an impact really isn’t the issue. THAT you do something for the sake of others is the issue.

Pour yourself into another life, a church ministry, a community program, a needy family, or into wherever the Lord opens your eyes… just don’t be lukewarm.

A warm house, a full table and a gathering of family and friends are truly worth being thankful for, but if that’s where it ends…?

This holiday season make it your mission to be the blessing, as you have already been blessed, as an ambassador of Christ .

I pray that our church, your church, the church will be remembered for its hot and cold running, living water.

And, may the Lord be blessed by us in our thanksgiving.

Psalm 71:18

18 Even when I am old and gray,
do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your mighty acts to all who are to come.