This morning (Wednesday before Christmas)...

I looked into our front room and sighed. It has not been all that long since we cleaned, rearranged and refurnished (moving around furniture we had refurnished sounds so much more…well just more). Today it is a mess again with wrapped presents stacked on the table and under the table and only one under the Christmas tree.

Clutter builds up like that. You clean, organize, straighten and before you know it it is stacked as high as before not with the old but with new “goodies” (they are so good there was no other place for them).  It just never stops. I have no solution to this problem as I am a pack rat as well. I never have the right place for something until it has set in a stack for a while. Then I thought about the packages.

Those beautifully wrapped packages cluttering up the front room are for two other families who needed some help this Christmas. They are given in love to others who could not help themselves. Do you get where this is going? That clutter, those stacks, are the result of ministry the product of loving and giving. It’s Christmas. That is Christmas clutter at its best for its best because of the best gift ever given Jesus. Born at Christmas as a gift for those who could not help themselves like me and you, Jesus is God’s best and only, the greatest gift given because of love God’s love for the world. The Christmas story is messy. It is definitely not clean and it gets messier as Herod has killed all of the male children in Bethlehem less than 2 years of age. That is messy because of this gift of love.

His ministry (Jesus) was constantly stopped by misunderstanding and strife. It would have been easier to just go along like it always had. Not as many problems that way easy, simple, boring, faithless, life in the ordinary. Ministry is anything but boring or ordinary.

As we consider one year past and another beginning let’s evaluate the past and make plans for the future. Consider have we played it safe or been on the front lines? When did we choose easy because we are lazy? Is that how we reflect Jesus the best? If not, what would reflect him more clearly in the coming year? What ministry have we been avoiding simply because it is messy and difficult and God is a God of order and easy (in our mind). He could not possibly be messy, could He?

For the coming year let’s look at the WORD Jesus for our pattern of life and ministry. It won’t be easy and it WILL be messy like our front room. As I thought about this I decided it was good that it was messy.

It’s Christmas!       

Who deserves a Christmas present??????

...the other evening as I was returning home I was listening to the local station that has been playing Christmas music 24/7 since before Thanksgiving. My wife says there are only 50 Christmas songs but thousands of remakes and anybody can remake one. They shouldn’t but they do. I don’t know about that but You’re a Mean one Mr. Grinch Began to play. According to Wikipedia:

"You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" is a Christmas song that was originally written and composed for the 1966 cartoon special How the Grinch Stole Christmas!. The lyrics were written by Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel, the music was composed by Albert Hague, and the song was performed by Thurl Ravenscroft. The song's lyrics describe the Grinch as being foul, bad-mannered and sinister using increasingly creative metaphors and synonyms, beginning with the opening line "you're a mean one, Mister Grinch". The song has six verses.

I had not heard the song in years and we listened to all of the non-rhyming words of all six verses.

 The song begins

You're a mean one, Mister Grinch You really are a heel You're as cuddly as cactus You're as charming as an eel Mister Grinch You're a bad banana with a greasy black peel. You're a monster, Mister Grinch… I wouldn't touch you with a Thirty-nine and a half foot pole… You're a foul one, Mister Grinch You're a nasty-wasty skunk… You have all the tender sweetness of A seasick crocodile Mister Grinch…Given the choice between the two of you I'd take the seasick crocodile…

The last verse #6 puts the stink in the stunk with…

You nauseate me, Mister Grinch, With a nauseous super "naus" You're a crooked jerky  jockey and you drive a crooked horse Mister Grinch.

You're a three-decker sauerkraut and toadstool sandwich With arsenic sauce.

That guy is bad! He definitely does not deserve a Christmas present. He is the one who would steal presents from sweet children.

Or does he?

Does anyone deserve a Christmas present?

Well I do! I’ve been good (for the most part more nice than naughty). I deserve………a……………..Christmas     pre………. No, I really don’t deserve a Christmas present. At times I am all of those vile descriptions of Mr. Grinch. If we are brutally honest about ourselves, that could be said of each and everyone of us.

Could it not? No one really deserves a Christmas present and yet!

We get one anyway because we do not deserve it. That is called Grace.

That IS the Christmas story even for Mr. Grinch! No one deserves a Christmas gift but “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son.”

Isn’t that just like our DAD!

I wish you a very merry Christmas blessed beyond measure because you unwrap more of Jesus than ever before!

The Rev

Before Thanksgiving we purchased a new...

...refrigerator while it was on sale. It took a week to come back in stock and was delivered a day or two before Thanksgiving Day.

Larger and with more doors it also is the first for us with water and ice through the door. The delivery personal were unable to hook up the water line because it was “too short.” It is an existing line previously installed by a previous tenant. When I came home I looked at it and hooked it up. It was just the right length. I installed the water filter and turned on the valve, got a cup and filled it up two or three times to flush the line and fridge. The first cup was lukewarm and so I thought must be water sitting in the line. The second cup was a little warmer but the third cup was hot. So hot I had to put the cup down. I thought what is up with this.

I looked under the sink to trace the connection for the water line our previous refrigerator had an ice maker that never kept up especially in the summer time. This new one has two ice makers. Recently the old one made ice cubes that were hollow never completely frozen solid like you expect. When I found the source of the water line I discovered the problem. The water line for the icemaker and water dispenser had tapped into the HOT water line of the dishwasher. No wonder the water was hot in my test cup.

That previous icemaker had been making ice for 7 years with hot water. No wonder the cubes were sometimes hollow. Honestly, it did a pretty good job considering the supply source temperature. This week as Christmas gets into full swing I thought of this in light of our Christmas celebration and preparation leading up to Dec. 25^th.

The heavenly host spoke to the shepherds “tidings of great joy.” Is that how we feel in the rush to party and shop and cook and wrap and…? It seems we are doing pretty good considering that our source is often times NOT the Savior but the season. But that source, like the ice cubes, leaves us hollow inside. We watch the warm and fuzzy Hallmark Christmas specials and the commercials that make us feel good for a moment but never tap into the Joy of Christ at Christmas. We fail to take time to unwrap the gift of Jesus that Christmas is all about. He alone is the source of joy that never ends, never runs dry and never, ever fails. The angel told Mary nothing is impossible with God. Joy to the world can be for a follower of Jesus a lifestyle and not a season. It all depends on the source!

Well, after discovering the source of hot water I purchased the necessary valve and hose to correct the supply. Now both ice makers are supplying more ice than we use daily. Cold water flows through the door unto waiting cups all because of the source being wrong.

Wrong source hollow fragile ice!

Right source sold hard ice!

IT is easy to tap into the wrong source in any season of life. Jesus has always been the only source that develops sold, stable, hardened lives that last for eternity. Consider your source this Christmas.

Have you considered what is already yours...

 ...what is already a benefit for you to claim as you need or want? In the ancient world to be a Roman Citizen was a high prize. Most people had to pay great sums of money to get the prize. The Apostle Paul was born a citizen of Rome and therefore was entitled simply by his birth certain rights granted by the state. Those rights are what got him to Rome for an appeal before Caesar. Those rights saved him from a beating at the hands of Jews.  Those rights were powerful and precious.

Last week I thought of Solomon and his opportunity to ask of God whatever his heart desired. He asked for wisdom to rule God’s people well. God was pleased with his request and granted that plus wealth beyond measure. So much wealth that if Solomon awoke and only had Warren Buffett’s money or Bill Gates or even those combined Solomon would wonder what was wrong and what happened. God granted his request and much more. Yet if we continue to read Solomon’s story we find in the end that wisdom was not enough for a successful life. IN FACT Solomon was a colossal failure as a king and as a man of God. Wisdom that he had asked for was not enough. You can read his words to that effect in Ecclesiastes. What should he have asked for? I give you this answer, the presence of God.

The presence of God in his life would have changed his whole reign but that’s not what he asked for. Did Solomon ask for enough? I say no. So if you had the same opportunity what would you ask for? You may say “hey Rev that’s not going to happen so why even think about it?” I would have to answer with truth “you are right that’s not going to happen” and then add “because what we need most has already been given.” Today for a believer of Jesus you already have the presence of God within you. He is already there. No asking, no begging, no wishing it is already done for you. Jesus said he would never leave you nor forsake you. He will meet our every need. Wherever you go he is already there and he travels with you. “I am the way the truth the life,” Jesus said the whole enchilada all in Him. That’s what we’ve been given, already yours. Now, have you considered what is already yours?

Thanksgiving is just such a time to count and remember just what is yours. Are you thankful for Jesus? There is so much given in and by him to all who follow. There are not enough words to recount what he has given us. But, that is no excuse for not trying anyway. We have an opportunity weekly to say thank you. We call that worship. Max Lucado in a book titled The Eye of the Storm writes:

Worship is when you are aware that what you’ve been given is far greater than what you can give. Worship is the awareness that were it not for his touch, you’d still be hobbling and hurting, bitter and broke. Worship is the half glazed expression on the parched face of a desert pilgrim as he discovers that the oasis is not a mirage. Worship is the “Thank You” that refuses to be silenced…Worship is a voluntary act of gratitude offered by the saved to the Savior, by the healed to the Healer, and by the delivered to the deliverer.

Thanksgiving is to consider what is already yours and be grateful. I don’t know what is already mine really. I know I am not grateful. Maybe this is my opportunity to count my blessings and “give thanks to Lord for HE is good.”

I hope you will too!

Friday 11.11.11 Veterans day and I sit here with a tie around my neck...

that is not my usual outfit. IN fact it rarely is an outfit at all for me with the exception of funerals, weddings and graduations. But today is an exception, it is Veterans Day and I had a small part in the annual program at the Effingham Veterans Park here in Springfield. So, I donned the tie and coat (I should have added sweater, overcoat etc. It was cold with the wind at the park) to fit in with others on the program.

Isn’t that funny that we dress up for ceremonies that remember or sanctify (set aside) actions that were anything but pretty or dressed up. War is a dirty messy business. Soldiers and sailors are not pretty in combat. They are often dressed in dirty, bloody, stinking clothes having not bathed in days or weeks because of their duty, the call to combat. Yet because of their enduring of filth and grim I can wear a tie to an event to honor their service.

The veterans were in the clothes of their service today, hats marking the conflict of their service, uniforms from active duty now or in the past, medals commending service above and beyond the call of duty proudly worn on coat lapels all clean and proud and nice for the unimaginable. The color guard was dressed in uniform and ceremony for the flag of our country the clean symbol standing out of brutal conflict. We sang the national anthem with its text of a flag waving in the wind following a night of brutal bombardment yet still there. We remember but not dressed like it was.

In heaven the saints will found in white robes the symbol of purity and wholeness bought by the spilling of blood. Not unlike our Veterans Day remembrance ceremonies and parades, the redeemed, the free will be pretty and white and here the redeemers (veterans) too are dressed in their very best. Not so in heaven, the Redeemer, The Lamb, the Son of the Living God will be dressed in symbols marked by the sacrifice of the conflict.

¹³ He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.  Rev 19:13 NIV 1984

Blood that was his own in our place (Gal 3:13) that’s why our robes are white and his is blood stained. Recently a report made the national news of the oldest serving soldier who is in his 50’s. When asked why he was serving overseas he replied “So that a 19 year old doesn’t have to.” Why is Jesus dressed in a blood stained robe with scars on his hands and feet so we don’t have to.

Freedom has always come at a very high price. Usually blood stained the field and combatants so that others didn’t have to. To remember the sacrifice parades and memorials, ceremonies, uniforms and nice clothes are fine even a tie but not really enough are they? No, a sacrifice of that kind of price demands a life lived in the freedom that was purchased. A life lived with utter commitment and devotion to the one who gave his all.

Freedom is free but not cheap.             

Friday night was special for us...

It was senior night at the ECHS football game. The seniors in the fall sports and the marching band are recognized before the game individually along with their escorts (usually their parents). Carolyn is a senior this year and was recognized. In preparation for this each senior completed a survey about their family, past accomplishments and future plans. Included in the survey was a line for the names of their escorts. Barbara completed this line by writing “The Rev. and Mrs. George Pabst.” She assumed it would be read “The reverend and Mrs. George Pabst.” As Carolyn’s name was called and we walked towards the sideline the announcer says “escorted by The Rev and Mrs. George C. Pabst.” We laughed so hard that we failed to hear anything else said over the public address system.

I tell you this because I very rarely use the title Reverend. My name is George. It has been for as long as I can remember so, that’s who I am. When mail comes to the house and it is addressed Reverend George Pabst I immediately know they know not who I am. I guess titles bug me. I don’t know. The title thing has been a joke at our house for a long time. The Rev became a conversation spark for several people.

Several years ago while attending a choral festival at AASU I had the opportunity to speak numerous times with Kimberly Webster. As far as I knew she was Mom and wife of a career army officer. She told me of moving numerous times and how their family adjusts and adapts. It wasn’t until later that she told me of her husband’s rank Brigadier General. Her husband was Brigadier General William Webster commander of the 3^rd Infantry Division. I felt stupid. I asked how that worked with his authority at work and then at home. She told me when he comes home he takes out the trash. Kind of keeps you grounded. Titles don’t mean much in some places.

Title and labels are our conventions to define people and places in a unique way. They really should exist out of an experience or the nature of the individual or place so that the person is the title not the title making the person. Labels can do the same thing. Sacred and secular, Christian, believer, follower of Jesus are to indicate who the person is not to define them as a person. Often it gets turned around as an individual begins to believe their press releases more than the mirror.

In recent weeks I have studied Esther and Ruth. The most interesting idea that has surfaced from those two women and their God stories is how unreligious their stories are. No “and the Lord spoke” or “God caused” in those stories but rather two women living their lives in their very unique situations faithful to who they are and the God they worship and in the midst of living the providence of God was shaping not only their own story but the story of history as well. What seemed to be a secular setting became sacred by the providence of God’s hand. This has led me to conclude there is no secular for a child of God because God’s faithfulness is not dependent upon me but rather upon His character no title him. I AM that I AM.

That’s what this transformation called salvation is all about. Who I am in HIM!               

In HIS Service and Yours,

The Rev the preacher formerly known as BroG

Last week was eventful to say the least...

Sunday due to an apparent power surge a video projector and laptop were rendered useless except for the door stops. So the quest is on to see if they can be repaired and how much that will cost and is that the best value and as of yesterday throw in insurance coverage with its requirements. That makes me frustrated.

Insurance companies are in business to make money. You make more when you reduce costs (pay out as little as possible). I understand that but it still frustrates me. I typically have a preaching plan for several weeks if not months. My plan ran out so I have been looking for inspiration as to speaking this Sunday. That is frustrating.

Frustration is the key. It occurred to me that frustration is nothing more than a symptom of selfishness. I am frustrated because I didn’t get what I wanted the way I wanted it. That’s selfish. That’s what aggravates us about insurance companies. We just want it fixed but they have to protect their investment. That is not what I want, frustration. I contend that is our natural state, selfishness. We don’t teach toddlers to be selfish. We teach them to share. Don’t we? Selfishness is the sin. All the others boil down to that. That is why it is so hard to overcome.

Thursday and Friday I was at a conference called Catalyst. The conference is for leaders in and around the church world. It includes music, video, comedy and some of the rising speakers in the country. The theme was Be Present. Judah Smith lead us in worship by reminding us that Moses asked God to see his glory. No man can see God and live, so God instructs him to hide in the rock. God (see that) would cover him until he passed by and Moses would be allowed to see his back as God passed by. Moses followed instructions and God passed by. As a result the face of Moses glowed for days from a glimpse of God’s glory. He had to cover his face because the people could not stand it. Judah Smith went on to read from John 1:1,14 NIV 1984

¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,^[d] who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jesus is the complete incarnation of God (as much of the infinite God that can fit in the finite body). Whereas Moses got just a glimpse of God’s back we have the opportunity to see the full glory of God in Jesus full of grace and truth. God complete right here and as a believer now the one who lives through us. Paul tells us “for I am crucified with Christ and yet I live, not I but Christ who lives in me.” God the creator of all in his full glory lives in me and you. Then Judah Smith kicked me in the head when he asked “since when did Jesus cease to be enough?” Did you read that “since when did Jesus cease to be enough?” We just read he is the complete incarnation of the living God but when I’m frustrated he is not enough.

When I’m frustrated, angry, hurt, worried, depressed etc. Jesus is not enough! That means most days I don’t think Jesus is enough. Ugh what a wretch am I. If He is not enough then who is?

Reality check, He is enough!

                   
Last night one of my Life group members said, “If I would just slow down and let Jesus be enough.”  That’s where I live too fast, too much on my plate. That is not how Jesus lived. He never seems to be in a hurry in the Gospels does he?

Let’s “slow down and let Jesus be enough.”

How would you describe your week?

Thursday evening my Life Group gathered and I asked for individuals to describe their week up to that point. To a person they did with the good and the bad and the triumphs and struggles. I noticed that all had not a “good” week but one of frustration, struggle, aggravation, and turmoil. Would that be your description of this past week?

I probably would describe this past week with all of those terms. Sometimes it just goes like that. This week has been filled for me with health care woes in two of our children. Geoffrey continues to have periodic acute pain in his abdomen. This week we have seen two doctors and been to the ER once with no definitive cause or certain treatment option. We are trying something but so far not improvement. That is frustrating. He so wanted to march in the south game this week but can’t. I decided last night I would take on the pain in a heartbeat so that he could do that Friday. I think I would give it back Saturday morning bright and early. If I could do that I would have already done it. Elizabeth is waiting for some pathology results from a biopsy. The doctor is pretty sure of the results. They will not be what we would like. Waiting is a struggle. I think the word wait is the nastiest FOUR LETTER WORD in the English language. What about you? Add to that the aggravation and turmoil over the Troy Anthony Davis case on Wednesday. I was in a turmoil just waiting and listening to the rollercoaster ride. It is a tragedy for both families.

I believe that those in ministry are often attacked by evil through their families. If evil cannot entice you through division with your spouse, the attack will come upon your children. I wonder are Geoffrey and Elizabeth paying a price because of me. That’s not fair! But that has happened before; I don’t know why I would think it would not happen again. Like I said earlier, all of this living has added up to a week of frustration, struggle, aggravation and turmoil for me and others I am finding out. Then there is God.

I was reading this devotional book that is a collection of Max Lucado’s writing over the years. One of the days I read Thursday morning. I don’t read the right day on the right day. The scripture was the Word of Jesus from John 14:1 Jesus said, "Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in me.” Max Lucado went on to elaborate by writing when you mind cannot comprehend what is going on God takes on the role of parent by saying “trust me.” Just as we do when our children are afraid, we come alongside of them telling them you know me and we have been through much so trust me we will get through together. Isn’t that just like God to say the best thing at the right time?

I hope you know that too!

We have a new family member a three year old (Part 4)… beagle named Anne.

I told you in Part 3 that she ran away after writing about the first adventure well after writing last week’s continuing saga she disappeared again. The usual components were involved Barbara (my wife), Jake (the cat) and Anne (the spooky dog). Yes, she was gone that night and yes she was in the driveway the next morning no worse for wear.

A missing pet, keys, homework, project etc. all can be aggravating. The loss is bad, the questions worse. What if I’d…always leads nowhere and to no solution but we go there anyway. If we are not careful it will define our day and in the most extreme situations a traumatic event by our own hand or others can define us and our lives.

What defines you? Who and or what do you allow to define you and your day? Does traffic make of break your day? Do you co workers make or break you day? The coffee pot running over or failing to make that morning, does that define the day. Does that spill on your blouse ruin your day? Does that horrible trauma that you suffered as a child define you as a victim? Sure, any one of these moments may require us to change our direction for a short while. They may cause a drastic change in how we live and where. But do they define us, all of us? Do we allow the events of our lives to define us rather than us defining them?

I spoke of the story of David and Bathsheba last Sunday. That story is filled with opportunity and the willful disregard of the opportunity. David was in the wrong place, at the wrong time, looked too long, learned too much, went too far, arranged a cover-up, underestimated honor and premeditated murder. Anywhere along the way he could have stopped but he did not. Sin always takes you farther than you want to go and costs more than you want to pay. In this case the price was continued war, a family of calamity and death; the child conceived in the adultery would die all of this from “a man after God’s own heart.”How can that be?

How can a man after God’s own heart, of whom it was said “from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon” (1 Sam. 16:13) do such things? How can the boy who killed a giant not defeat his own lust? The answer is found not “blowing in the wind” but rather in the mirror. The one you look into each day and see yourself. How could you do that or how could you have said that and you call yourself a Christian? It’s easy when we allow our circumstances to dictate our actions, when we allow our situation to define us, when we allow our feelings to be our compass. Does it have to be like that? The answer is No.

David knew this. After his child died as a result of his actions, David was told his son was dead and he 20 Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate. (2 Samuel 12:20 NIV). That’s just not normal is it? His son has just died because of his sin. He is responsible. Any good Christian would beat himself up every day of his life for the rest of his life, certainly not wash, smell good, put on clean clothes worship God and eat! God had defined David into this King and was using this horrible series of events to define David. He was a man after God’s own heart and knew God would forgive him not without consequences but forgiven.

Hear these words of God 17…Where you are right now is God's place for you. Live and obey and love and believe right there. God…defines your life. (1 Corinthians 7:17 The Message). God uses people, places and events to transform us into the image of Christ. God is shaping us even in our sin. God is at work defining us into his children. Christ defined the cross forever. The cross has never had the same meaning. Instead of a symbol of death Jesus defined it as life. Instead of a symbol of hopelessness Jesus defined it as a symbol of hope for all mankind. In all things allow God to define you the situation, event and your feelings. Look what he did with the cross and the tomb? He is doing that in you!

In HIS Service and Yours,

BroG

Today marks half of September gone.

Can you believe it?

I was thinking the other day that 20 years has gone by in a flash. I often mark times passage by the growth in the children of friends. Now they are graduating college and entering the work force. It all seems strange. Yet our lifetimes as long and important as they seem are nothing when compared to the breadth and length of eternity.


The realm of God.

It is only when we see ourselves in the image of Christ do our short inconsequential lives take on a vast new meaning and importance. Within the vastness of eternity there is ONLY the Kingdom of God. Jesus makes it possibly to live now AND forever within that kingdom.

That is meaning.

So time does not go faster or slower as it is not the ultimate reality but merely a subset within eternity. Time continues because God considers it important.

We have a new family member (part3)...

beagle named Anne.


From the previous post...
…We must choose.


Free will.


How it must hurt his heart waiting for us to choose!


God will wait!


I guess our new addition is an allegory for God’s love for us and our fear of the unknown love he wants to flood over our souls.


It does seem odd to be afraid of Love. But, we are odd people whom God lavishly loves.


We haven’t given up. She warmed up some last night and this morning (Friday). Love is always the ace-in-the-hole.

I wrote the above last Friday morning…Friday night she (Anne) ran away!

She was on the leash outside with Barbara after the football game (11pm) and got spooked by the cat and who knows what else (probably a leaf in a tree). She yanked on the leash and it left Barbara’s hand. There goes leash behind dog into the woods. So we got flashlights and the three of us went hunting in the woods for the dog calling her name. With leash still attached, I thought for sure she would get hung up after all pull a hose, rope, extension cord or sting behind you for any distance and grass blades become like bridge supports. That rope, string, hose will hang up 10 out of 10 times. I thought for sure her leash would do the same thing. It is a retractable 16’ leash. No such luck.

We did not find her.
We were sick.
We went to bed.

I woke up before the sun came up and almost got up and went looking for her. I decided it would be just like the previous night and waited for sun up. I walked our property, the neighbor’s property and the property next to that looking for a beagle hung up on a leash.

I did not find her. Ugh!

My fear (key word there) was she was hung up unable to get water or defend herself all alone…(you know how that conversation goes in your head). So I came back in got some breakfast and the three of us went on the hunt again over the same ground. We then expanded out search down the road to the next two subdivisions and the woods across the road. No dog, No sign of no dog (don’t you love my English usage) nothing to be found. It was not a good day.

Regularly throughout the day I would open the front door step out on the porch and look for the dog. Hoping but not seeing. I wonder how often the Prodigal’s Father scanned the horizon hoping to see the silhouette of his son. How many times did he turn around back to life such-as-it-was having not seen his son? God knows where we are and yet looks for us too, waiting, longing hoping for us to return to him and his home. We placed notices on facebook and all five of us made a plan for posters on Sunday.

We did not find her.
We were still sick.
We went to bed.

I get up first most days. Sunday is no exception. My alarm went off and I started my Sunday routine. I looked out the front door as the tea pot whistled and saw the day dawning but no dog. I made my tea let it steep while I looked at e-mail. Fixing my hot tea with sugar and lemon I gathered my notes for that day’s message and headed to my chair for prayer and review. I set the paper and tea cup down and thought I would look one last time before the day took off in its normal busy start. I stepped out on the porch. I looked to my right and then left and in the driveway was a dog. I really looked and it was Anne. She saw me and her tail wagged. When I got to her she was fine with pink halter on but no leash and no worse for wear.

We did find her.
We were elated.
We all got up!

But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. (N) He ran, threw his arms around his neck, [k] and kissed (O) him. Luke 15:20 HCSB


But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' " Luke 15:31 HCSB

What a Father!

In HIS Service and Yours,

BroG

We have a new family member a three year old Part 2...

beagle named Anne. She is still timid. I don’t know why. Sound is her greatest enemy. If it is loud she will shake and cower in fear. If the TV is loud with shouting or gun fire she is gone like a shot back to Lizzy’s bed. That is where she sleeps at night and most days too if we let her.


In the mornings it is my custom to read and pray in a particular spot in the house. I have a platform rocker with matching foot stool (a garage sale find), lamp table, Bibles and books all in one location in the house. When I pray I rest my knees on the floor and my torso on the rocking foot stool. It’s comfortable but not too comfortable (no sleeping). Well, the last several mornings as I have prayed Miss Anna has come and stood by me. Not next to me or bothering me just in the area. In fact, Thursday she laid down on the floor next to the stool. Wednesday she was standing there and I thought of how I just wanted to love on her so she would feel comfortable, loved and happy. Then I recognized that is what God wants for us.

In a book titled Gentle Thunder Max Lucado writes,
       “For all its peculiarities and unevenness, the Bible has a simple story. God made man. Man rejected God. God won’t give up until he wins him back.”

That’s it! Now I didn’t make the dog but she does not trust us yet and I have not given up. We have tried treats, hugs, praise but we are not there yet. As she stood close but out of reach I thought how God loves us so much that he has taken every step needed to win us back save one. He is so close but out of reach because we choose not to reach out. He lets us choose. He wants us to choose him and his love. Not have it forced upon us (He could do that you know). I want Anne to choose us but all I can do is provide for her, love her letting her come to us. That’s exactly how God deals and treats us. He waits for us to choose; a choice to come back after running away, a choice for us to come to him for the first time; a choice to admit our wrong and be forgiven for the “umteeth” time.

We must choose.

Free will.

How it must hurt His heart waiting for us to choose!

God will wait!

I guess our new addition is an allegory for God’s love for us and our fear of the unknown love he wants to flood over our souls.

It does seem odd to be afraid of Love. But, we are odd people whom God lavishly loves.

We haven’t given up. She warmed up some last night and this morning (Friday). Love is always the ace-in-the-hole.

In HIS Service and Yours,



P.S. Has God surprised you recently? He has me! More about that next week!

We have a new family member in our house a three year old...

beagle named Anne. She is the most timid dog for 20 lbs. and 13 inches tall. Jake the cat has become a green eyed monster to quote Berenstain Bears. He is the cat who came to the half-way house for cats (my house) and made it a whole-way house instead. Anne has invaded his kingdom. Another problem is Anne used to play with her cat but this one (Jake) does not play. No blood yet but today is another day.


For the first few days Anne stayed on the couch. She would not come off for anything. Not food or treats nothing, we were bringing her food and treats to her. She would eat but not off of the couch. When we took her outside she would walk at the end of the retractable leash. As far away from me as she could get. Last Saturday I took her outside and the leash left my hand so there goes Anne. She was not running but those four small legs were moving her along at a fine clip anywhere away from me. So I started calling her and walking after her. I was closing in on her she looked and took off into the neighbor’s woods. She got so far ahead of me that I lost sight of her. I kept walking/running but could not see her.

It didn’t last long because she was dragging that retractable leash. Just like a hose, rope, string anything that drags it will hang up at the least convenient moment. Yes, it did just that for Anne and for me. I saw her stuck because the leash was wrapped around a tree and would not come loose. Got her, that’s when I saw the rest of the family in the woods too. Dressed in their finest get-out-of-bed-on-Saturday-morning-not-expecting-to-be-seen-by-anybody-outfits. You know the kind. We were a sight. Even Jake was out there in the woods. He was probably cheering Anne on, “go faster, farther run away.” Cats will do that you know.

Tuesday I took her outside the same way on the leash etc. and what happens again? You guessed it, the leash left my hands and Anne left the porch. Scooting away at about the same clip headed to the tall grass and the neighbors woods. So I followed calling her name etc. and she kept going. This time I stopped to watch where she went trying to make a plan to go get her. I looked up and she stopped, sniffed the air and looked at me. I had squatted down close to the ground waiting and called her name. Slowly she came back to me finally crouching and close so I could touch her. I was thrilled.

The Sunday before I had preached from Genesis 3 about the fall of Adam and Eve, several things were new to me:
• Genesis outlines the entire Bible, 11 chapters cove the beginning of time to Abraham and 35 chapters cover his life: emphasis
• There were many trees to eat from only one to not eat from
• When sin is exposed and consequences handed out, God provides for future salvation first (v.15) present punishment second (v.16-19) and makes particular provision today (the making of garments out of skins.

I was thrilled Anne had come back. I chose not to chase her but let her come back on her own of her own free will. It must thrill God when I come back of my own free will. I thought of Adam and Eve. Their sin separated them from God so that they covered themselves and hid among the trees from God. Guilt does that. He called for them until they revealed themselves and their situation naked and exposed. I thought of God heartbroken over their choice and the consequences yet he loved them still. He provided for their future salvation and for their present need (the first sacrifice provided by God I add (can you say foreshadow?)). He does the same today for sons of Adam and daughters of Eve.

Like I said I was thrilled Anne had come back to me as I waited for her. I took the leash in a firmer grip and we went sniffing and exploring for a few minutes. She got a treat when we went back inside. Now she is up and down, down and up on and off the couch exploring the new house. If she gets spooked she is right back to the couch but not for long. She is hoping the cat will play (we won’t get our hopes up for that).

Continue to pray for rain in Somalia…It WILL rain in Somalia.

In HIS Service and Yours,

This week has been funny (strange)...

...it started with the downgrading of the US debt standing from AAA to AA+. I don’t know what that means. They (talking heads) tell me it means the US government is less credit worthy than before. The Dow plunged 634 points Monday, soared 429 points Tuesday, and dove 519 points Wednesday. It's the first time the Dow has ever had four straight 400-point days and up 423 points Thursday.


Typically folks in the stock market run to Treasury Bills for security but with the down grade they are not as safe as before. Not-so-fast, it seems downgraded Treasury -bills they were safer than the stock market. Hummm maybe things are not all of what they seem?

Take for instance your 401K retirement plan. It’s not looking all that good this week most likely. All of this volatility has hit the value (or at least the wall street value) of many companies and your retirement account. Maybe the washer went on strike this week at your house and the value of the replacement part has skyrocketed out of sight. Maybe we should invest in household replacement parts instead. They seem to be gaining value just sitting on the shelf. Apple may soon replace Exon-Mobile as the most valuable company in the world. Really? Entertainment and consumer electronics are more valuable than energy. They take energy to run. It’s been a funny week.

This past week I studied and spoke about the spiritual gift of peace. I guess that was in preparation for all of the chaos or as one man puts it “confusion” that would go on this week. Not to mention all of the personal chaos in relationships, families, addictions, health and famines across the world. Every time I saw and heard a story about people in Somalia my heart hurt for them and their situation and my utter helplessness to resolve it. The “confusion” for them is on a massive scale (430,000 in a refugee camp built for 40,000). No food because there has been no rain for 3 years and no central government for almost 30 years. One woman walking 17 days with her children to get to the camp and along the way two of her children died. I cannot imagine that. What can I do? It’s a funny feeling adding to a funny week!

Out of the blue (not really) came this thought process. What would solve the famine? Food of course dummy was my answer! But I have not enough food for all those people. An established solid government would help as well. That’s not something I can do. Then came…Rain. Rain I thought I can’t do that but I know who can! I can pray for rain for Somalia. I can do that! When we find ourselves without peace over whelmed with life and its complexities Paul wrote our solution to the Philippian church.

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 NLT

So, I am praying for rain for Somalia and thanking God for all he has done. Funny how we can get all caught up in one thing and never see the more important issue. The stock market is one thing but starving people are another. Our personal confusion is hard but hunger is harder. Funny how God does that, reveals his word before we need it, then causes us to use it how we never expected it. What seems so pressing is not so pressing at all. Wise investors are hanging on counting on their long term goal and strategy. Sounds like faith to me! What is your long term strategy and who are you counting on? It’s been a strange week…but peaceful too.

He will make it rain in Somalia.

It's Friday or at least it was....

Some years ago Loverboy had a hit song titled Everybody’s Working for the Weekend. This week the school schedule made that easier as we started on Thursday and then came Friday. The weekend is upon us. What we have been working for right? That is a funny thing about us. We never seem to be content. When we are children we are always eager to be the next year in age never mind that our 5th birthday was yesterday when asked we will soon be 6. As a teenager, we can’t wait to be an adult. We are “too mature” for that. When an adult we can’t wait to be married and when married to be a parent and so on and so on. We are just never content! What is so much better about what’s coming than where we are?


This same attitude exists for what should have been. A child that has been held back a year for any reason always insists they should be a ___ grader not where they are. Never mind their maturity, health or anything else. “I could have been” or “I should have been” are common phrases. What about where we are? Are we living to the fullest extent each day? Living every moment in such a way that at the end of the day as we lay in bed there are no regrets?

I am not suggesting that there should be no balance between today and future days. There needs to be planning and preparation for future goals and objectives. But they are just that FUTURE goals and objectives. How much life today are we missing focused on the future tomorrow? Working for the weekend on Monday discounts the living for Monday-Friday. What about the blessings of each day, the opportunities for growth and progress for love and grace that each day offers in and of itself? Jesus said for us not to worry about tomorrow for today has enough problems. The Israelites of the exodus were provided by God food called manna on a daily basis with the exception of the Sabbath. On the Sabbath preparation day they could gather two days of food so as to rest and not work on the Sabbath. If they gathered too much the manna would spoil. No stockpiled shelves with food in the cupboard. Of course they were nomadic and had no cupboard. They were dependent on God to provide every single day for their existence.

I see this as an example of grace and how it works in our lives. “For it is by grace through faith you have been saved.” There is enough grace for today and tomorrow there will be enough for tomorrow. Our very lives depend upon grace for our rescue in eternity but today as well. This makes for day to day living one moment at a time dependent on God to provide everything, depending on God for our very lives.

1 As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Psalm 42:1-2a NIV 1984

We live by a plan of God’s design and purpose not ours. God’s is not working for the weekend. He needs no rest, no sleep. I suggest we work each day to live the fullest life possible in Christ allowing us to fall into slumber nightly or for eternity with no regrets. We cannot ask “what if I had given everything?” because we know we have!

Back to the basics...

When everything is a mess, when the storm rages around us and there seems no end to the confusion getting back to the basics that center and refocus us. The basics help us see once again the BIG picture of who we are and how we relate to the world around us and the larger world in which we live. How big am I? How big is this storm now? How big is it compared to eternity?


Max Lucado, in a collection of his writings titled Grace for the Moment lists seven “God-given, time tested truths” that get us back to the basics. I think they remind us of the BIG picture and the small picture. They along with some comments follow:

• Love God more than you fear hell. It is real easy to fear evil more than love God. Love is the most powerful force in the universe after all God is love.

• Make major decisions in a cemetery. If we considered every decision as to how much it will matter one nanosecond into eternity (nano means one billionth) we might choose differently or be more confident about our choice.

• When no one is watching, live as if someone is. In a word integrity.

• Succeed at home first. These are the folks who will care for you when you are old or broke or broken.

• Don’t spend tomorrow’s money today. Washington are you listening? (sorry couldn’t resist)

• Pray twice as much as you fret. Twice? I don’t think that is enough do you? Prayer is a focus on the solution fretting is looking at the problem.

• God has forgiven you; you’d be wise to do the same. It’s easy to be all righteous hen that’s not your issue. Let’s never forget There but by the grace of God go I.

Rick Warren is pastor of Saddleback Church and author of The Purpose Driven Church and The Purpose Driven Life he posted these words recently via twitter:

Build ur [your] ministry on 2 confessions:"HE is the Christ, Son of the living God"Mt16 & "WE are just human like you"Acts14

Jesus gave us the basics in Matthew 6:33

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. NIV

It is funny how easy it is to get away from the most basic principles of life and how comforting it is to remember them.

Drama, Drama life's a drama...

...tell me about it I have a teen aged daughter at home. There is always drama going on with her or one of her friends or somebody. It’s the drama that entertains and infuriates us at the same time. Let’s consider reality TV.


          Not long ago two of my friends were talking about the new season on Dangerous Catch. For those uninformed, the show chronicles the lives of the crab fishermen during the fishing season in the Bering Sea. Crab fishing has long been considered the deadliest occupation, hence the name of the show. My friends were not talking about the danger or the catch but rather about the men and captains who would be back and what they were like etc. It was almost a soap opera, Deadliest Catch a soap, go figure. That is the key to the success of a show, the lives of the characters. With reality TV real characters have lives in view of millions each week. Survivor, Big Brother, The Bachelor, Ice Road Truckers and a new one (for me) Swamp People are about interpersonal relationships, drama. You might think that day to day drama would be enough but no, we hurry home to see more on television. People and their stories are entertainment for others. Real life is always more incredible than fiction and more important.

          Donald Miller the author of Blue Like Jazz and other books spoke some years ago at a conference I attended. He told in a very funny way of how we look at life as if it is a movie we star in. We have two cameras we call eyes and the story is about me. I am the star. You thought you were the star but no it is I who stars. You, I am sorry to inform are a bit player in my movie called life. That’s how we roll through life. Everything we do is so important. Everything we say is amazing. Every decision is life and death, our drama.

          Cosmic drama is playing out in the media and Washington these days as they talk about reducing the budget deficit by 4 trillion dollars. What does 4 trillion mean? Let’s compare, In cosmic terms light travels 5.8 trillion miles in one year ie, one light year. That is 186,000 miles per second or eight minutes to get from the surface of the sun (93 million miles away) to this planet. Light is fast. I am not. The universe is so big that we use light years 5.88 trillion miles to measure distances. The closest star is 4 light years away. The farthest galaxy observed is estimated to be 13-15 billion light years away. The galaxy we are a part of is one of billions of galaxies and our star is one of billions of stars in our own Milky Way galaxy. The Milky Way is estimated to be 100,000 light years across and our star 25,000 light years from the center. It is turning and the entire 360 degree rotation takes 250 million years. Our planet is one of 7 in our solar system (Pluto was demoted recently from planet status) with a diameter of 8, 000 miles and 6 billion human inhabitants. The cosmos are very,very, BIG. That leaves my head spinning and feeling very, very, small. You too? Wait there’s more Louie Giglio writes, “You are a galactic nobody—in fact 99.99999999999999999999999999999999 percent of the people on earth have never heard of you. But God knows about you and calls you His own.” (P. 52 i am not but I know I AM). Now that’s DRAMA!

          WOW the one who is bigger than the universe, older than time, faster than light knows about me and calls me by name even though I am very, very, small! I’m not even in the movie when I consider how small I am in the cosmic drama and how BIG is GOD. You know maybe what I think is so important and dramatic is not so important of the larger stage. Maybe the drama I make is really nothing. Maybe how people treat me is really nothing in the movie called the cosmos. Maybe I am not as important as I want to think I am. Louie Giglio continues,

“What more could we possibly achieve on earth that is greater than what we already have? We are already friends of God. What greater prize or position could we hope to gain? What praise of men could eclipse the voice of I AM speaking to us by name?" p.53

          Really, what other drama compares? What matches up with the knowledge that God who is bigger than the universe knows my name, my heart and my life and still chose to humble himself as a man so that I, the smallest of the small, could be in relationship with him the bigger of the BIG.

Now that’s drama.

That’s reality and NOT TV.

BroG

Last week while I was speaking I began to think...

that is dangerous I know. Speaking before you think and thinking while you are speaking. I said (not to take the credit I have heard this before) we are “human beings” not “human doings.” Have you heard that? What we are is determined by who we are and not what we do. Doing comes from being but being does not come from doing. However, in this sin infected, infested and affected world things get fouled up and reordered all the time.


Our current Washington political crisis is evidence of the backwardness of our thinking and doing. Do you think things would be different if we elected our political representatives based on who they are rather than what they promise they can do? I think so. Thank God that our founding fathers thought of country first and their welfare second. By what I see I am not so sure I can say that of too many in elected office. But, I am not immune.

I get caught in the doing rather than being. I think what can I do to fix… how can I affect… what is the next new thing. Several approached Jesus asking what they could do to have eternal life? If I go to… or serve on this…or read my Bible _times each day or give X$$$ to the church. I have heard folks ask, “am I good enough to go to heaven?” or state, “good people go to heaven.” Maybe you have heard that as well. All of this is about our being “human doings” rather than “human beings.” I heard the answer in contemporary terms recently when a person said, “I’m not good enough to go to heaven. I’m counting on Jesus.” I said exactly right You are not good enough neither am I but He is. Jesus said in various ways to his inquirers (those who want to know) you underestimate who I am and overestimate who you are. You can not do enough only I can. Then what is there to do? Just be.

“Be a follower of me.” Do this and you will be through Christ:

4-6…citizens of Heaven! For consider what he has done - before the foundation of the world he chose us to become, in Christ, his holy and blameless children living within his constant care. He planned, in his purpose of love, that we should be adopted as his own children through Jesus Christ - that we might learn to praise that glorious generosity of his which has made us welcome in the everlasting love he bears towards the Son.

7-10 - It is through the Son, at the cost of his own blood, that we are redeemed, freely forgiven through that full and generous grace which has overflowed into our lives and opened our eyes to the truth. For God had allowed us to know the secret of his plan, and it is this: he purposes in his sovereign will that all human history shall be consummated in Christ, that everything that exists in Heaven or earth shall find its perfection and fulfillment in him.

11-12 - And here is the staggering thing - that in all which will one day belong to him we have been promised a share (since we were long ago destined for this by the one who achieves his purposes by his sovereign will), so that we, as the first to put our confidence in Christ, may bring praise to his glory! Ephesians 1:4-12 J.B. Phillips

What is there for me to do? Nothing except to participate in the glorious transformation that Christ is performing from the inside out. He has brought me to this point in life and has not wasted a single moment. I him all is connected together. All the doings and happenings of life find meaning and purpose only in Christ who consummates and reconciles everything in himself. This world and the next are joined in Christ.

I can be a human being because Christ is doing on my behalf.

I was just sayin'...and thinking a little. 

Funny things happen...

...all the time. The other morning I fired up the computer (you know I have never seen a computer lit on fire) and a notice comes to the screen saying windows has found new hardware. That was news to me as I had not installed any new hardware. The next box said my wireless adapter had been found and it was busy installing the necessary software for the adapter. I did not know it was missing since it doesn’t come out. So, the machine finishes and I turn on the antennas to search for a wireless network that I know is there but cannot connect to due to a security issue (yes, I know the password. I set it up but even sitting right next to the computer (the wireless router) I could not connect. The computer finds the network and asks for the security password so I type it in just for grins. Low and behold the thing connects and has excellent service. That’s just crazy. It has never worked like that before. In fact, I am still in disbelief because I check it every day to see if it will still connect. Funny things happen all the time.

Today I posted to my Facebook page these words, “Have you noticed how we look to h$#@ (lies) for answers only Heaven (truth) can provide and then wonder what's wrong? You know the phrase “what the $#@! I am thinking about how peculiar that is to say. For a follower of Christ we are no longer hell bound but Heaven bound. We are being fitted for Heaven each and every day by the trials of the day. Those difficulties shape us and mold us to fit to Heaven’s environment. Heaven is different than here. We need to be different to live there. I think that is why it always seems earth is getting worse because we are not fitting in here so well. We struggle to make sense of the odd-fit. Funny things happen like that.

We relate Heaven and life there to earth and life here? Yes, here is all we know. Here is all we can compare it to but Jesus said we are being transformed. This is not our home. I think we all want to know what heaven is like. If we look in the Bible (go figure) and not the internet (go figure) we don’t find too many descriptions of heaven and even then they are hard to picture. I don’t do the names of colors well. It is hard for me to relate a word to a color. I think that is because words cannot describe Heaven. They just can’t do it. I earth is to Heaven as a pecan is to a pecan tree. There is no way to describe a pecan tree by studying a pecan. The funny thing is we try to explain Kingdom things in earth words and understanding. It doesn’t work. We look all around us for the answer (I call that horizontal thinking) when the truth is only found in vertical thinking. Vertical thinking is considering the nature of our new existence in Christ. Looking, Heaven ward for the answers and solutions that evade us instead of all around us. Looking to the one found in the Word of God and his Word Jesus. Recognizing we are being renewed and transformed over a lifetime to fit into Heaven’s environment/system. That’s how we will roll in the future. Funny thing is we are to be learning to roll like that now even while we are here. Earth has so many answers, solutions and experts it is indeed hard not to look at them and consider their advice, ill fitting though it will be. In the past, we have even taken their sage advice to heart and put it into practice with little or no success, funny how that seems to happen each time.

Maybe “that day” one day soon I will turn on my computer and on the screen a pop-up will appear that says “Found New Operator no installation required,” funny things do happen all the time.

FREEDOM...

As a country we celebrate on July 4th the anniversary of our independence another year of freedom. The declaration was signed on July 4, 1776 but freedom did not come until a war had been fought and freedom had been earned. It was challenged again in 1812 but freedom continued. It seems in the 21st century each year it gets harder and harder to be free. More regulations and complications are discovered and uncovered as to our conduct in society and politics. You hear more cries for more personal freedom regardless of any and all others. All of this requires us to work at this thing called democracy. The call of Christ is for freedom but not for independence but rather dependency.

For as much as we consider ourselves to be independent we are not. We depend on others every day to obey the rules, traffic laws, personal space, privacy you name on it we depend on them to “do the right thing.” It’s the breakdown of our common expectations that cause the great difficulty. Consider a rude comment. Yes, the commentator has the right to free speech but not at the price of another, a struggle is born. Political leaders are unable to reach a compromise for budgets, and other bills, conflict continues. That I-want-what-I-want-and-I-want-it-now design of ours comes to light in the most in opportune moments. That is our most basic struggle with freedom, Freedom from ourselves.

Jesus made that freedom possible by his own sacrifice but it comes with a struggle, the struggle to be more than our most basic passions and desires. We are not free yet even as we claim Christ as our rescue. No, freedom only comes through the struggle, for nations war, for individuals war as well but more on the inside rather than the out. Freedom for the inside is to “die to self” to serve others because we love them more than ourselves. Freedom, Paul called it slavery and gave his very life to being a slave to the gentiles for their freedom. Like William Wallace in Braveheart freedom was Paul’s passion, commitment and constrictor. It defined him and his life. He became more dependent upon Christ each day of his life.

His freedom did not come quickly it was some 14 years before his first missionary journey following his experience with Christ. Our national freedom has transpired over a 225 year period and it is still not done! The freedom Christ has paid for transforms us over a lifetime. We are still in process experiencing and learning this new found freedom of service. That is why grace is so important because others on the transformational process and in process too. Not perfected like us (so we believe) and so they are problems for us. “The beauty of grace is that it makes life not fair” so Reliant K said. It’s true I have not received all I am due by grace. Likewise others are not due all they deserve if I will extend the grace I have received to them, their freedom in exchange for mine, true independence by being completely dependent upon Christ.

Freedom for others is dependent upon me giving up my freedom for them. We see this is our military families who give up so much for our protection and the freedom of others. It is a struggle for each family and a great sacrifice. We see the same in Christ who died so we could be free. This Independence Day let’s protect our freedom by serving another. Love them more than ourselves. That let’s freedom ring. Yes, it’s a struggle remember it was born from struggle.

Freedom, it’s not easy the best things never are.

I had never thought of it like this...

It seems as the church has less and less impact and effect on the world at large. Politics and public policy seem less and less to be in harmony with the timeless truth of the Scripture. It appears we have no power or authority to impact and affect the world we live in. Some seek to change this by doing anything and everything and nothing they all having the same results little to no real change. It’s never been this bad! Or has it?

We are probably like the early church in Ephesus. Small, insignificant composed of non-important people trying to live in a way contrary to their world and culture seemingly having no impact on anything.
Paul writes to this church which he planted and has nurtured.
15That's why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn't stop thanking God for you—every time I prayed, I'd think of you and give thanks. Ephesians 1:15 The Message

He has heard of them! He has heard of their expressions of love for others. They are making an impact on lives and changing the world one person at a time. They are trusting Jesus to be real in them and real to others through them. It’s working Paul writes. He then goes on to pray for them to realize and experience the tremendous power of Christ. He prays that they would know more of Him who sits in authority and power over all of the universe. Now that’s a prayer. Where does this energy come from and have we seen it before? Paul continues:

20-23All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ's body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence. Ephesians 1:20-23 The Message

What I had not thought of is: At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. It sure seems the other way around. It must have seemed like that to the church in Ephesus as well. Two thousand years later we are the evidence of their faithfulness to trust Christ. We are the evidence that the world is peripheral to the church. Christ is the head of the church and the church is the body of Christ. Think of this the church is the crucified, dead, buried and resurrected body of Christ. The church is Christ's body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence. The church is no more insignificant than Christ. We are the world changing agent

‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty. Zechariah 4:6 NIV 1984.

The Ephesian church let the spirit of Christ be their power by placing their solid trust in HIM. They changed the world as we know it.

Let’s do the same.

Have you heard...

“I didn’t think Christians would do that” followed by the accusation of “hypocrite” there at the end for good measure. This typically comes from one who is hurt by an action or perceived action regardless of their complicity in the matter. I wonder, "How much do my actions determine my Christianity?"

That word HYPOCRITE caught my attention too. Am I one? The answer is yes. What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise [HYPOCRITE]. So if I can't be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God's command is necessary.
But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can't keep it [HYPOCRITE], and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it [HYPOCRITE]. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it [HYPOCRITE]; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway [HYPOCRITE]. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions [HYPOCRITE]. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.
It happens so regularly that it's predictable [HYPOCRITE]. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up [HYPOCRITE]. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge [HYPOCRITE]. I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question?
It’s pretty clear I am a HYPOCRITE. I behave like that. Did you notice something familiar about those words except the [HYPOCRITE] part that was mine, something that seemed clear? I hope so, the Holy Spirit reminded of these this morning. They are HIS words found in Romans 7:14-24 (The Message); the words from Paul’s pen regarding himself. I am in good company. So what is our hope?

Paul writes in verse 25:
The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.
Truth is our Christianity depends on our connection to Christ. Our commitment to Him determines the extent of our transformation. Some more transformed than others therefore more committed. That connection is between Christ and me. Yes, it is a better reflection on me when my words and actions are the same (let your yes be yes and your no be no). Christ alone determines my Christianity. I determine my connection and commitment and how I will allow friends to affect that.
Max Lucado writes in Grace for the Moment p.189: “The supreme force in salvation is God’s grace. Not our works. Not our talents. Not our feelings. Not our strength. Salvation is God’s sudden, calming presence during the stormy seas of our lives. We hear His voice; we take the step. ”

Know I am a hypocrite who is counting on Christ and His grace. That alone makes me a Christian. It does for you too.