The Symbol of Hope

Happy Fourth of July!
Sanctuary Church’s youth group, Revolution: Youth, has started their own blog for the summer on super heroes. Following in the same manner, I thought we might join in on the discussion! Check out their blog, Revolution Heroes, for more.

How much more All-American can you get than Superman? Recently, I went to go see “Man of Steel,” as I’m sure most of you did as well. The part of the movie that struck me the most was the discussion about what Superman’s shield symbol stands for. In one scene, Lois asks Superman what that “S” is all about and he responds that it’s the Kryptonian symbol for hope. Lois’s reply laughs it off with the comment that on Earth it’s an “S.” Like Superman, Christians all carry the symbol for hope branded upon us even in our name – “Little Christ.” Shouldn’t we all boldly wear it plastered over our hearts in the same red and blue manner as Superman?

Mark 10:45 says, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Jesus bore the symbol of hope as he was crucified on the cross. Shouldn’t we at least–as followers of Christ Jesus under His name, endowed with the Great Commission, and filled with His Spirit–bear that same symbol of hope in our conversations with others, through our actions, and everyday life? It should be an honor, not taken lightly, to be put under the same name as Christ and carry His same message of faith, hope and love.

Unfortunately, however, the world has put a PR spin on the name “Christian” and distorted it’s meaning. Much like how Lois re-brands the symbol for hope into one for “Superman.” It is up to us, as believers and members of the body of Christ, to re-claim the word “Christian” and walk in it with pride. We are “little Christ’s” given the authority of His name to walk this Earth as light and salt sent to serve and not be served, to seek and save, and to proclaim the hope that through Christ we are saved, set free and empowered.

Jettison

A late night of packing and preparing to take students to youth camp this week has me thinking… as with any other adventure, packing can be the most stressful part. You have to balance any unanticipated happenings (you never know when you’ll need an extra pair of socks, a hair dryer, or a box of Little Debbie cakes) with the practical concerns of Tetris-ing your luggage into your vehicle (not to mention not packing so much that you have to leave at least one kid at home to have enough room).

So it is in the journey of life. As believers we all are headed for eternity with our Lord, trying our best to experience Him along the way, to live right and to love others… but how do you pack for that? We accumulate spiritual, emotional and, yes, even material baggage that we drag behind us. Some of it makes us better equipped for our journey, some of those things are true assets, but some only weigh us down and keep us from reaching our maximum potential cruising altitude.

If there are memories, hurts, or even “stuff” that you’ve been making room for at the cost of the journey (or even worse, the destination) maybe it’s time to unpack a little. Don’t be afraid to leave some things behind for the sake of what’s ahead. Whatever you lose you’ll gain, and without the extra weight you might just make it further that you think.

But please… bring the Little Debbies.

Inspiration: Everywhere

It’s everywhere.

God’s poetry is everywhere.

From the glorious canvas on which he paints the sky to the lush melody of the birds in the trees, evidence of our creator is everywhere. In the splendor of the observable world to the mysteries of the microscopic and the vastness of the universe around us, if the art is any reflection of the artist, what a wonderful God we serve. Is it any wonder we were created to praise Him?

Perhaps one of the finest gifts in all creation is that the world around us is not merely observable in some limited capacity, as if creation were a menagerie to be seen but never touched. Rather, our world is fantastically interactive, designed to be enjoyed and explored. Across history, cultures and languages, spanning political, social or any other man-made obstacles, it seems certain that God set our world into motion with the express intent that we would share in the joys of creation to the effect that we would ultimately see and glorify its creator.

We see it in the universal pleasure we share at a child’s laughter, the pleasant smell of fresh flowers, warm sun and cool breeze, it is felt in the embrace of a loved one or something as simple and easily overlooked as the refreshment of a cool drink on a hot day… as if God has given us a Rosetta Stone of sorts, a common language of the sublime. How then do we so often neglect to see the love and wonder of our creator every day, evidenced in creation?

We call to memory Romans 1:20. “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made”

At the majesty of the earth around us to the infinity of the stars above us, let us stand in awe. From the complex construction of atoms and molecules to the mechanical miracle that is the human body, let us marvel at the master architect. From the elegance of mathematics and logic, to the boundless capacity for creativity that He shares with us–His creation–let us be challenged to see the beauty, the wonder, the awesome power of God’s world… and in seeing, let us respond in the way we were certainly formed to… let us praise Him.

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” Revelation 4:11

Who are you?

The character of a person is discovered in their response to success or failure. How you rise or fall is who you are. – Dr. John Alexander, Senior Pastor

Proverbs 3:6

Just a little thought: The Lord only asks that we trust and move in Him. It is not our responsibility to worry about where the path may lead but to simply walk in it.

The Secret Place

“When you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place, and your Father who sees in the secret will reward you openly. ” Matthew 6:6

God has really been challenging me lately to go deeper in my walk, to be closer to him.  I know how difficult it can be to set apart time to pray, and I’m not just talking about a now I lay me down to sleep prayer.  I’m talking about that deep fervent prayer, praying until you know that you have been in the presence of your Father.

Jesus said pray to Your Father who is in the secret place… Prayer is an effort of the will.  By us not spending that time with God, we are simply telling him through our actions that we don’t want Him.  He also said shut your door, which I know is not an easy thing to do all the time, but through this scripture we know that God abides in the secret place. I believe when He says shut the door it means to go to a place where we can’t be bothered by anyone or anything.  We have to be disciplined enough to shut our minds off to any distraction and be totally focused on Him. 

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:21-23

This scripture tells me that in order to Know Him we have to be in relationship with Him. It also tells me that we can be working for God and not even Know Him.  I really just want to challenge you to go deeper in your walk with God.  He just wants to spend time with you. Find that secret place where He is waiting.

Here I go Again On My Own: A Lesson from 80s Rock

No, I don’t know where I’m going
But, I sure know where I’ve been
Hanging on the promises
In songs of yesterday
An’ I’ve made up my mind,
I ain’t wasting no more time
Here I go again
Here I go again

Tho’ I keep searching for an answer,
I never seem to find what I’m looking for
Oh Lord, I pray
You give me strength to carry on,
‘Cos I know what it means
To walk along the lonely street of dreams

An’ here I go again on my own
Goin’ down the only road I’ve ever known,
Like a drifter I was born to walk alone
An’ I’ve made up my mind
I ain’t wasting no more time

If you are like me, you sang every last line of those lyrics with all of the inner Hair Band Rockstar you can muster.  It’s fun to remember old times and bad hair.  But if we look closer at the 80s rock ballad we can find an unintended spiritual lesson.

How many of us at one time or another in our spiritual journey have looked to heaven with all sincerity and said, “Lord, I am completely confused.  I have no clue where I am going”?  I would say that all of us at some point have felt this way.  As the song says, we are trying to hang on to yesterday’s promises but have no direction for the future.  So what do you do when you don’t know what to do or your path seems uncertain?  While many Christians find ourselves in this position, amazingly few know how to react in this place of uncertainty.  Some panic, believing that somehow they have wronged God and now he is punishing them.  Others will simply stand still, either too scared to take a step or because they don’t believe God wants them to go any further.

I can tell you that with God you are always on a Journey (no I’m not going to bust out into “Don’t Stop Believing”).  The worst response comes from those that choose to turn around and walk back down the way they came.  There are many reasons for this response; that way is familiar, it’s comfortable, we know how to navigate that road, nothing scary awaits us….No challenge, it’s easy.  Scripture describes this road in Matthew 7:13 as being very wide and broad with many travelers.  But those who choose that road are bound for destruction.

THE PROBLEM

The man in our rock ballad makes a crucial error in his decision making.  It is the same error that many of us make too often, “Here I go again On My OWN.”  We try to do everything alone.  We try to walk our path, our way, in our time.  The problem is that this conflicts with God’s plan for our lives.  God’s will has never been and will never be for us to walk through this life alone.  In the beginning Adam walked with God in the Garden of Eden.  In the Old Testament, the Arc of the Covenant, symbolizing the presence of God, went with His people where ever they went.  Knowing that the Old Testament relationship was not enough, He then sent his Son to this Earth to destroy the barrier of sin preventing our intimate relationship with Him.  And when Jesus returned to the Father, he tells us in John 14:16 “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another helper, that he may be with you forever.”  So you see, never has it been God’s plan for you to ever walk a day in your life alone.

THE SOLUTION

God’s desire is to have a close, intimate relationship with you every day of your life.  This relationship will produce guidance as we begin to recognize the voice of his spirit leading and guiding us.

John 16:13 says, “But when he. the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”

The amazing thing is that this wonderful gift of God’s Spirit is intended for every soul on Earth.  No one is excluded.

Jesus said in Luke 11:13, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

So when you find yourself in a place of uncertainty, maybe you are unsure of a job decision, a ministry decision, maybe you’re unsure of even your place in His Kingdom, don’t try to do it alone.  God has given us the gift of His Spirit to help lead us and guide us through every decision in life.  Remember, through relationship with Him we never have to walk alone again.  All we have to do is ask, simple yet powerful.  Besides, it’s a lot more fun to walk with a friend! So, here I go…

I Propose a Toast

There can not be a more universally hated thing than burnt toast.

The smell of burnt toast brings an acrid misery to any breakfast environment, such that even a tall glass of orange juice can not wipe away its offensive pungency. This blackened bread brisket is a sure sign that somewhere you have failed, and as you scrape the charred surface into the sink with a butter knife you can only lament that your once golden toast, neglected but for a moment too long, has become an inedible shadow of what could have been.

I digress… This morning as I passed on to my son my patented technique for toaster waffle perfection (which is simply “Set toaster to MEDIUM,”) he asked me a question that staggered me with its simplicity and yet provoked me with its profundity.

“Daddy, if the darkest setting burns your toast, why did they even put that setting on the toaster?”

I marveled at this insight. Why, indeed? Is there some demographic of masochistic toast munchers that need their baked goods singed at a setting somewhere between Mt. Vesuvius and the surface of the sun before they can top it with their favorite marmalade or preserves? If so, should we even trust these connoisseurs of third degree burnt breads with plug in appliances? I think they should just stick with a danish and call it a day. This toast, in my expert opinion, is neither fit for the land nor the dunghill.

More offensive, however, than wasted toast is a wasted life. Every day you and I are presented with choices, like a tray of butter, honey, jelly and jam. We face a myriad of ways to customize our daily experience by the way we relate to people, the places we go, the way we conduct ourselves…  every day is a choose-your-own-adventure story and YOU’RE calling the shots. In all this, amidst all these options, whatever you do, wherever you go, it all comes down to one of two things; have I honored God this day or have I not?

We are expected to love God, to  obey Him and keep His commands. In Deuteronomy 30:19 He says, “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life…”

Like the darkest setting on the toaster I do not understand why God would even make death or curses or rejecting Him an option. Clearly there are worse things to burn than toast, your soul topping the list. Beyond the “heaven or hell” issue, however, the choice of choosing life and blessings is one we make every moment, not only as we relate to God, but as we relate to one another in Love. Are we giving life in our words and deeds, demonstrating the commandments that Jesus reminds us of in Luke 10:27 when he said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”?

The answer is found not in religiosity, but your religion is demonstrated in the way you handle yourself toward, for instance, your family. The way you conduct yourself with other perhaps less considerate drivers on your commute. In the way you speak to your waitress at lunch when you’re anxious for your ranch dressing. In the respect and regard you give those around you, both above and below your station. In the words that casually cross your lips. In your deliberate devotion to God.

God’s Word says “whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:17)

So remember, let God’s grace shine through you, obey God in all you do, keep the toaster set to medium and set your love on high.

The Art of Appreciation

This weekend is Pastor Appreciation day.

We sometimes take for granted the things a great pastor does to care for his people, as most people usually only see an hour or so of their minister’s labor in action (prompting the often asked question “what do you even do all week?” Pro tip: Never ask your pastor that question.)

A pastor loves. A pastor prays. A pastor cares. A pastor prepares. A pastor has to be a teacher, coach, counselor, adviser, mediator, manager, businessperson, CEO, janitor, mentor, role model, entertainer, worshiper, 24 hour on call service person and sometimes that’s just before lunch. There is literally no bottom line on their job description, literally no time where they can “punch out” and just leave the ministry at the office.

If your pastor makes an impact on your life and in the life of your family, think about the time and commitment it takes that same pastor to touch the lives of all your fellow church members, and the community, and, if there’s time left, their own family. They seek God on how best to lead us. They find those good things in us that we have a hard time seeing just to encourage us. They speak truth into our lives, even if sometimes it’s not easy to hear. They are in the business of caring for people and their people is us.

If you’re a part of Sanctuary Church, you know what an amazing pastor God has given us. Take time to thank them.  If you’re part of another congregation, God has placed leaders in your life as well, to care for you and to share God’s truth into your life. Take time to thank them. And if you haven’t been to church in a while, if you haven’t got a church to call home, find one. There’s a whole world of love, acceptance, challenge and care waiting for you under the leadership of a great pastor. And once you’re in that place… take time to thank them.

After all, they only work an hour a week 😉

To Soar

Pastor John (@DrJLAlexander) shared a few weeks ago on the topic SOAR. What a great message (if you haven’t yet, check it out here)… I really love the imagery this stirs in my heart, the idea and feeling of leaving everything behind and reaching new heights in the Lord.

How many of us as children (and maybe a few of us well into adulthood) didn’t have a blanket that became a cape when we threw it over our shoulders and glanced upward? Who hasn’t gazed at the countless stars in the night sky in wonder and an overwhelming sense of the infinite? To leave the earth behind and live amongst the heavens, free as the proverbial bird? And yet we who yearn to fly consistently find ourselves grounded by something as quaint as gravity… a law of physics but a law we begrudgingly obey nonetheless. Our ambition is to soar, but our nature is, at the end of the day, decidedly more pedestrian.

I believe that God has designed us to be more than what we have become accustomed to. However I perceive that we, even as believers, default to a self-imposed “law,” an imaginary gravity of the routine, shackles to fear, and false labels of self-doubt. Glancing downward, we see ourselves as far less than we actually are in Christ. I propose that we begin to realign our vision of who we are in Christ; the chosen heirs, beloved children, blessed and favored, made to bear the image of the God of the universe. There is nothing mundane in that. Along with this identity, we must face that which holds us down, the weights and sins that so easily ensnare us, and make a choice to hurl them aside to the last, as the author of Hebrews instructs. Finally, perhaps most importantly, we must keep the immeasurable scale of God in mind. Again and again in the scripture we see demonstrated that nothing is impossible with God. If God never changes, and the Word says he doesn’t, why should our lives be any less amazing, incredible and fantastic than that of those who have gone before us?

Trust in God. Believe in yourself. Never stop looking up.