Thanksgiving to Christmas

Our Thanksgiving dinner conversation included these two questions:

1) Have you ever lost something of great value and then found it?

2) Have you ever experienced being rescued from something?

I couldn’t think of any good rescue stories, but I did have a good “lost and found” story. About 6 years ago, I lost my wedding ring and could not find it to save my life! It’s such a helpless, restless feeling to lose something of value. Then, one day, Laura was dusting some votive candle holders that were hanging over our kitchen sink, and my ring was in one of the holders! Apparently, Micah (age 3 or 4 at the time) dropped my ring in the holder and forgot about it. I was overjoyed to have found my ring!

How about you? Any good stories?

The reason we asked those questions is because thanksgiving and gratitude erupt from those places of the “lost being found” and the “helpless being rescued.” Those are also the places that best describe the essence of the Gospel.

The Gospel is not about good people making good decisions to get their act together, get religious, do what God wants you to do, and be miserable (though that’s probably the story of most religious people we know).

The Gospel is about bad people making bad decisions to rebel against God and only do what we want. But God, in spite of our rebellion, pursues us with His love, finds us and rescues us, and we are filled with gratitude and joy.

The Gospel is not at all about what we do for God, but about what God has done for us. Thus, the manger. How’s that for a transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas!

Have a great day knowing that, in Christ Jesus, you have been loved, pursued, found, and rescued. May gratitude, joy, and love be the overflow of our hearts.

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“So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.” – Luke‬ ‭15:20-22, 24‬ ‭

A Lens of Gratitude

Published in the Perimeter Church worship bulletin on 11-28-18

A couple of years ago at Thanksgiving, in an attempt to develop more of a lens of gratitude through which I would view and experience all of life, I challenged myself to write down one thing, every day for which I was thankful. The challenge was to do it for an entire year and to not repeat things that I had already journaled!

Now, two years later (almost to the day), I have to say that this has been one of the most beneficial practices that I’ve undertaken in my spiritual journey.  While I often feel like I’m not nearly as grateful as I’d like to be, I’m quite confident that my lens of gratitude has developed and continues to develop.

I’ve been challenged to not just be grateful for the big, obvious things in my everyday life, but to pay attention to the smaller, less noticeable things that I otherwise would probably miss altogether. As I’ve taken time this Thanksgiving to read through the 18 pages of specific and unique things I’ve been thankful for each day of this past year, I’ve been reminded in detail, of God’s great love and provision for me, in ways that I would have most definitely forgotten.

As we transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas, perhaps this might be an opportunity for you to be more intentional towards developing a greater lens of gratitude in your own life. Make it easy. Use the Notes App in your phone (that’s what I do) or pick up a journal and jot down a brief entry at the end of each day. You’re probably going to miss some days (like I have), but you can go back and fill them in or just don’t worry about it and keep going. One thing is for sure, our faith and love for God will be bolstered by every day that we spend intentional time reflecting on specific ways that we have experienced God’s goodness and faithfulness in our lives.

The heart and outflow of the Christian faith is a deep sense of gratitude for what Christ has done to lavish His love upon us, to make us acceptable to God by clothing us in His own righteousness, and to make us adopted sons and daughters of the Most High God, whom we can now call… Daddy (Galatians 4). Let the truth of the gospel wash over your heart, mind, and soul, and ask God to increase your experience of gratitude for His great love for you. As we become a people of gratitude, the natural outcome will be for the Source of our gratitude (which is the love of Christ) to overflow out from us and into the lives of those around us.

Called to Suffer

Published in the Perimeter Church worship bulletin on 12-30-18

One of the great advantages of the Christian life is to know that our sufferings are included in God’s good plans for us. I’m learning more and more that suffering, desperation, and distress may actually be the best place in life to be (as agonizingly painful as it is), because that’s the place where God meets us like no other place. Not only that, but suffering is the place where God transforms us. In Isaiah 48:10, God says, “I have refined you, but not as silver is refined. Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering,” and in the midst of painful loss and intense suffering, Job says, “…when he (God) has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”

I want to share the following journaled thoughts from one of our church members, a young married father, who has been battling and suffering through cancer these past two years. He writes as follows.

“Did I ‘get’ cancer?  Or, was I ‘called’ to cancer?  Believing that I simply ‘got’ cancer, has resulted in feeling angry, depressed, feeling like a victim, and focusing on myself more than on God.  Believing that I was ‘called’ to cancer, has resulted in great comfort (knowing that God is in control), perseverance, thankfulness, and even a sense of purpose (knowing that God has a good plan in all of it).

I’ll be honest, there have been times when God hasn’t seemed so “good” to me during this battle. As we read the Bible, we know that God eventually delivered the Israelites from Egypt and took them into the Promised Land, but while they were slaves in Egypt or when they were wandering around in the desert for 40 years, do you think God’s plan seemed good to them? Probably not! In fact, some probably didn’t believe there was a plan at all!  Why? Their view of God’s purposes was limited. In Romans 9:2, the Apostle Paul says “…I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.”  This is the same Paul who said, in several instances, that he was rejoicing in suffering.  How is that?  Paul understood that his suffering was about so much more than just himself.  He was ‘called’ to suffer (Acts. 9:16) for God’s great purpose – the sake of the gospel.  Think about it…if Paul wasn’t put in prison, we wouldn’t have half of the New Testament!

This battle has been hard.  I’ve been sad, angry, cried (uncontrollably at times), cussed, and asked why.  I hate watching my family suffer because of my affliction, but by God’s grace, in all of this, He has granted me the capacity to trust His plan more than my desires.  I would never attempt to compare myself to someone like Paul… but, I can say that I have experienced both deep anguish in my heart and rejoicing, at the same time.  And time after time, the joy conquers the anguish! The pain is still there, but so is the rejoicing. 

 Are you suffering right now?  Maybe it’s so that you can be used for a much bigger plan…maybe it’s not even about you. Don’t hole up and hide. Engage others. Share your struggles. Be vulnerable. Surrender to the Lord. Ask Him to use you and your suffering in His Kingdom. You never know how He may want to use you.”

 If you’re suffering or going through a hard time, let us know so we can walk with, pray for, and encourage you. That’s why we’re here.

Everyone Needs a Shepherd

Published in the Perimeter Church worship bulletin on 1-27-19

Several years ago, we were having our flooring replaced in our home. The installer (whom I had never met) arrived early on a Monday morning to get started. He wasn’t there fifteen minutes when he started telling me about the pain and sadness he was experiencing from the recent, unexpected death of his 18 year old son.  It was a tragic story to listen to as he wiped away tears from his eyes. I was stunned and didn’t really know what to do. So, as he started to install the flooring, I jumped in my car and left. While in my car, I began praying out loud, “God, It’s Monday morning. I wasn’t expecting this. My heart breaks for what this man has been through, but I’m tired and this is overwhelming. What am I supposed to do?”  That’s when I sensed God say, “He’s hurting and he needs a shepherd. It’s no accident that he’s at your house, because I sent him to you.” That’s when I realized that everyone needs a shepherd.

The Bible tells us that people are like sheep and God is our shepherd.  The Old Testament gives a beautiful picture of this shepherding relationship.  “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want (Psalm 23:1). He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart (Isaiah 40:11a).” In the New Testament, Jesus says in John 10 (paraphrasing here), “You know the Shepherd talked about all throughout the scriptures? That’s Me!” 

Even more, Jesus established His Church and ordained pastors and elders to serve as his shepherding assistants. 1 Peter 5:2-3 says that they are to, “Care for God’s flock with all the diligence of a shepherd… not bossily telling others what to do, but tenderly showing them the way.” In response, God’s people were instructed in Hebrews 13:17 to, “Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account.”

 At Perimeter, every church member has been assigned their own elder shepherd (which is sort of like having your own “personal pastor”). We encourage you to get to know your elder shepherd. You can find yours at perimeter.org/parish. Reach out and let him know how he (and his wife) can be praying for you and your family, and how you can be praying for them.

Since everyone needs a shepherd, if you’re in God’s family, in some senses, you’re a shepherd, too!  God has placed people all around you (in your family, neighborhood, workplace, and maybe even your flooring guy), who need the compassion of a shepherd.  They may not yet realize it, but when you reach out to others in the way that Jesus has reached out to you, they’ll know they’ve been missing out on something very special.

Breathe

Published in the Perimeter Church worship bulletin on 2-19-19

Every so often, I get a wrist buzzing notification on my watch that simply says, “Breathe.” It then guides me over the next minute to take deep breaths in and deep breaths out. My first reaction is to laugh off the notification with the thought, “I’m already breathing. I don’t have time to stop everything else I’m doing to just breathe!” Then the thought hit me to let the breathe notification not just be a focus on physical health, but on spiritual health, and to let it be a regular reminder throughout each day to reconnect with Jesus. When I looked at it that way, I realized that I do need this reminder!

I still don’t do it, though (at least not as often as I’d like). It’s so easy for my busyness to snowball during the hours of the day, and then at day’s end, I’m exhausted. Add up the days, months, and years and, if we’re not careful, exhaustion will define our lives. Exhausted is not the definition of life that God wants for us. Jesus said, “I came that you might have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10) and that My joy may be in you and your joy may be full (John 15:11).”

So why do I / we run at such a hectic pace? I think it’s partly that we’re walking by sight and not by faith. We’re not trusting that Jesus will give us everything we need throughout each day to do what He’s called us to do, at a pace that leaves space for conversations, relationships, and rest.

If there was ever a person who might have felt the pressure to get a lot done in a limited amount of time, it was Jesus.  Yet, He modeled what spiritual breathing looks like, working at a slow and steady pace, while leaving  plenty of room to breathe (and to be refreshed in His relationship with the Father). So, what does that look like for us?

First, remember Jesus’ words, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  Not only will Jesus give us rest, He is our rest (see Hebrews 4:9-11). In Jesus, we can breathe and find refreshment for life. He is the stream of living water that overflows from within our hearts (John 7:38).

Second, offer a simple prayer asking the Lord to help you to stop and call time out. “Lord, I repent of my busyness. Help me to remember that You are my rest. In You, I live and move and have my being (Acts 17:28). Help me to surrender. I no longer live, but Christ lives in me (Galatians 2:20a). And, help me to enjoy Your splendor (by gazing on the beauty of Jesus, who is the radiance of God’s glory. – Psalm 27:4, Hebrews 1:3).”

Third, breathe… and know that, because of Jesus’ work on your behalf, you are loved.  Oh, and if you don’t have a watch that tells you to “Breathe,” rest easy. God’s Spirit will do that for you.

 

Shortcuts

Published in the Perimeter Church worship bulletin on 3-24-19

We love shortcuts. I know I do!  I’m all ears when someone shares a tip on how they were able to find a quicker way to anything. Unfortunately, what I’m discovering more and more is that, in life, there are very few (if any) shortcuts worth taking, because while the end results may come quicker, they seldom last. The shortcuts that I hope to bring such satisfaction, in the long run often only ends up costing more time, money, and joy than the long road I was trying to avoid.

Anything of lasting worth, value or impact, takes time. The value of wine increases with time. The more time invested in relationships with neighbors, the more potential impact of the gospel when shared. Reading the whole Bible (versus only listening to sermon podcasts about parts of the Bible) usually results in deeper, longer lasting spiritual growth.

It’s not only better to go longer, but it’s also better to go slower. A few years ago, I stumbled upon a short film (that I now would highly recommend especially on this topic) titled, “Godspeed.” It’s about an American pastor, running at a frantic pace of life, whose world came grinding to a halt when he moved to a small Scottish parish that values walking more than running. At the start of the film, the pastor says, “I’ve been running for most of my life, running through life to get somewhere else. But the thing about running is that you miss things, and if I kept running, I was going to miss everything.” In the film (which you can view at www.livegodspeed.org), they talk about Jesus as being the “three mile an hour God” because Jesus walked everywhere He went. Unlike driving (45 MPH) or even riding a bike (15 MPH), when you walk (3 MPH), you notice things. You can stop and pause for a conversation. Life slows down and brightens up. Going for a walk (for example) is longer and slower, but going longer and slower can be a valuable instrument of spiritual refreshment and renewal.

The paradox of life is that, true rest happens, not in the shortcuts, but on the long roads. “This is what the Lord says, ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls’ (Jeremiah 6:16a).”

 This week (and next), I’d encourage you to add “long and slow” to your pace of life. Invite Jesus to go with you on this new, slow adventure!  When you see a neighbor, take an extra moment to say hello. Instead of praying as you drive, sit for a few quiet minutes and ask God to speak to you. Instead of running into the store, park at the back of the parking lot, grab an outlier buggy (walk it in with you), and take time to look up, look around, and look for the people and opportunities that God might put in your path, and remember… He loves walking the long roads with you!

Now What?

Published in the Perimeter Church worship bulletin on 4-28-19

Last Sunday, the entire world celebrated Easter – the most amazing, most wonderful event in all human history, the resurrection of Jesus Christ!  One week later, if you’re like me, it’s easy to ask the question, “Now what?”  Yes, we believe in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, that Jesus died in our place and for our sins, and that because of Jesus’ work on our behalf, we are now received by God as perfectly righteous in His sight. We believe and we’re filled with gratitude. However, if we’re honest, it’s easy to find ourselves reverting back to a business as usual unamazed life of routine and survival. Screech!!! Let’s not do that! Let’s put the brakes on that line of thought and change gears. How do we do that? Take time to think and reflect. On Easter Sunday, I posted the following comment on social media, “If Easter is true, then…” and I asked people to finish the sentence. Here are a few of the comments.

If Easter is true, then…
– I have hope.
– I can know that I am loved by God.
– Life has meaning and purpose.
– I’m no longer a slave to sin.
– I am free from the fear of death.
– I get to see my mom again.
– I can trust that there is a good purpose in my sufferings.
– I don’t need to strive to be accepted by God. I already am!
– All the stuff that seems so big, just isn’t.
– I can stop worrying and start loving.
– What would you say? Think about it and add to the list.

If Easter is true then, in the words of Martin Luther, “The heart overflows with gladness, and leaps and dances for the joy it has found in God. In this experience the Holy Spirit is active and has taught us in the flash of a moment the deep secret of joy. You will have as much joy and laughter in life as you have faith in God.”

So, what is it that connects us to Jesus and enables us to experience everything in the list above? The answer is “faith” (which is also a gift of God)! So, back to our question, “Now what?” Now, faith! Invite God to activate Easter in your heart, soul, and mind, by faith, such that, instead of fading from memory, it will compound and multiply with fruitfulness and joy.

Remember

Published in the Perimeter church worship bulletin on 5-27-19

Have you ever been in a situation that required being rescued? One of the greatest military rescues of all-time took place on December 9th, 1950 during the Korean War, in the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir (N. Korea). On November 27, 1950, 30,000 U.S. forces had advanced into North Korea. They had been virtually unopposed until they were surprised and encircled by 120,000 Chinese troops. Outnumbered 4 to 1, U.S. soldiers fought for their lives for 13 days in the minus 40-degree temperatures. On December 6, the Chinese army blew up a crucial bridge and cut off their last possible route of escape. They were trapped. When all hope seemed lost, U.S. air support saved the day on December 9^th and air-dropped a prefab, portable bridge via parachute that was quickly assembled and effectively provided rescue for the remaining U.S. troops. It was a Red Sea parting-like experience (Psalm 77:19)! Today, the 1,500 living survivors (known as the “Chosin Few”) gather regularly to remember and reflect with gratitude their miraculous rescue.

The act and discipline of “remembering” is really important. Colossians 1:13 reminds us that, “He (Christ) has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” The call to remember reverberates all throughout scripture (i.e. Deut. 8, Psalm 66, Psalm 78, Luke 22, Acts 7, and more). Even though we so easily and so quickly forget, God knows that when we remember how dearly we are loved, our hearts will be filled with gratitude and we will be drawn towards Him. In Jeremiah 31:3, God tells us, “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness (hesed)” – this is the same love we have seen all throughout our study of the book of Ruth. As we take the time to reflect and remember God’s rescuing love for us, we will naturally find ourselves living responsively as a joyful expression of His glorious salvation.

In addition to remembering what Christ has done for us in rescuing us from sin and death, take time this Memorial Day Weekend to remember the more than 600,000 American men and women who, throughout the history of our nation, have given their lives to secure, preserve, and protect our freedom. A great resource to help us do this is the annual “National Memorial Day Concert”, which airs on PBS tonight (Sunday, May 26), at 8pm (and 9:30pm). My family watches this outstanding tribute every year because it produces in us a great sense of humility, gratitude, patriotism, and inspiration to serve others, all of which we might miss unless we take time to… remember.

Secure

Published in the Perimeter Church worship bulletin 6-23-19

The beauty of the gospel is in the unconditional love of God shown to undeserving sinners. The comfort of the gospel is the security in that love. When you think about it, just about everything we do in life is fueled by the need, want, and desire for security. We are constantly working to ensure our safety and security. We pay hundreds of dollars each month for “insurance,” so that if something bad happens, insurance will be the financial net to catch us. We invest in 401k’s, so that we’ll be financially secure. We have keys, locks, and alarms on our cars and homes and passwords to everything on our phones and computers to keep everything, even our identity, secure. If we’re honest, all of this investment in security can result in a lot of insecurity! We know that no matter what we do to make our lives secure, ultimately, we have no control over any of it, and that can be super scary!

Relax. I’ve got good news! When it comes to the gospel, we have perfect security. It starts though, in acknowledging that we have failed miserably to keep anything secure. Our (apart from God) efforts to secure our own well-being have resulted in the worst thing imaginable, separation from God and condemnation for our rebellion and pride, but… that is exactly where God meets us!  God’s love comes to us in our worst badness, not our best goodness. That’s important to know, because if we can’t gain His favor when we’re good, then we can’t lose His favor when we’re bad. Romans 5 tells us that when Jesus came to die for our sins, He was dying for bad people (enemies even), us. In Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, He was erasing our wretched failure and securing our eternal favor with God. The Bible talks a lot about being “in Christ,” because it is in Christ where we are utmost secure. “Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” – Romans 8:1

Being “in Christ” is being held by God. We don’t hold Him. He holds us. Think of a little child walking down the beach with his/her father holding hands. The false gospel has the child holding onto the father’s hand. The true gospel has the father holding onto the child’s hand. It’s subtle and seems insignificant, until the child stumbles. If it’s the child holding onto the father, then when that child stumbles, he/she will lose their grip and fall, but if it’s the father holding onto the child, then when that child stumbles, the father will keep that child from falling because his strong hand will hold that child secure. If you’re “in Christ,” then you can know you’re secure in the hands of your loving Father. If you’re not sure, then run to Jesus and tell Him that you want to be secure in Him. When you do, you’ll hear Him say, “Child, you’re mine. I love you and I’ll never let you go. Now get some rest.”

 

Brussels Sprouts

Published in the Perimeter Church worship bulletin on 7-28-19

I’m guessing that the first word that came into your mind after reading the title of this article was, “Yuck!” If so, you’re not alone. In survey after survey, Brussels sprouts rank as the #1 Least Favorite Vegetable (with Turnips, Beets, Radishes, and Eggplant all close behind). So, what’s the point? Well, I was thinking about the theological brain cramp of trying to reconcile God’s Sovereignty with Man’s Free Will, and I know that one of the errors of our thinking is to believe that God infringes upon our free will by forcing us to choose stuff we don’t want to choose, and keeping us from choosing stuff that we want to choose. That’s not true at all!

The misbelief is that God works at the level of our decisions, but the truth is that God works at the level of our desires. So, back to Brussels sprouts. We know that Brussels sprouts are good for us. Brussels sprouts are a top “super food” source of vitamins B, C, and K, as well as, fiber, manganese, potassium, choline, and protein. Brussels sprouts also possess antioxidants and other phytochemicals, which have been proven to fight chronic diseases, including cancer! But, most people don’t eat Brussels sprouts. Why not? Because they’re disgusting!

So, what if God changed your taste buds to where, all of a sudden, you LOVED the taste of Brussels sprouts? And now, instead of craving French fries, you craved Brussels sprouts! How happy would you be? Well, that’s a lot like how God works in us. We are born hating God (Gen. 8:21, Ps. 51:5, Ps. 53:1-3, Jer. 17:9, Rom. 3:23, Rom. 8:7-8). Our bent is not towards God, it’s away from God. In our natural, sinful flesh, we want nothing to do with God, but God (because of His great love), by the power of His Holy Spirit, changes the desires of our heart (Deut. 30:6, Ezek. 36:26-27, Jer. 32:40, Eph. 2:8-9, 1 Pet. 1:2-3, 23).

So now, that which we hated, we begin to love. Instead of hating reading the Bible, praying, going to church, listening to worship music, etc., we now find ourselves craving all of it. How does THAT happen? God has given us the greatest gift imaginable. He changes our heart’s desires such that we now love that which is best for us… Jesus.

By the way, God changed my taste buds for Brussel sprouts. In fact, one time after a dinner at home, I started having intense chest pain. I rushed to the E.R. and after running all the tests, it was determined that I only had a bad case of heart burn, from eating too many Brussels sprouts!  The great thing about Jesus, is that with Him, overindulgence is encouraged! And if you find that you’re not craving Jesus, ask God to change your desires and keep asking until it happens. Take comfort knowing that, if you’re asking, He’s already working!