pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Monthly Archives: January 2014


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The Tools in Your Toolbox

In the “New Beginnings” series we have looked a lot at the call to share our faith. Peary developed the idea that once we come to know Christ within, then the journey becomes outward as we seek to serve Christ. Keihwan continued the concept with the idea that our call is to make a difference in our world, one person at a time, one moment at a time. Last Sunday we looked at Jesus being our new BFF. The overall idea was that we so grow in our relationship that Jesus is our best friend and that through this we share Him with those in our worlds.
The primary means through which we can share Jesus are prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. All of these are important to have in our ‘toolbox’ of faith. All of these need to be ready to be used. After all, a dull tool will not cut anything very efficiently. Similarly, a jumbled up and rambling story of faith will not be effective. So… which do you need the most practice at? Or, put another way… If you were presented with an opportunity to share Christ with someone desperately in need and I were to randomly draw one of these five out of a hat and you had to go with that means, which would you really hope I did not draw?

If you are like me, and I believe like most people, you were hoping that ‘witness’ was not the one drawn. So that is the one you and I need to work on, to hone into razor sharpness so that when presented with that opportunity, we can nail it.

The natural means through which most of us share our faith is presence. We try to live out our lives as a loving, caring person. We often back this up through our prayers that we follow up a situation with. Many share their faith through their gifts – be that time volunteering at church, through financial support of the church, as so on. And some are natural witnesses. Some are able to naturally work God and their faith into a conversation as easily as some of us talk about the weather!

But to wrap up, again, it is about being prepared to use whatever tool the opportunity requires. If someone is hungry and you have $5 in your pocket, don’t tell them you will pray for them. That’d be like using a screwdriver to cut down a tree! But if someone needs to hear your faith story at that point in their lives, you better be ready to share it. If they just need you to be there to listen, you better pull up a chair. Practice each of these means and be a willing and faithful servant. The world needs Jesus and we are the ones to bring Him to them.


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Gettin’ Fish in the Boat!

Our Lord and Savior calls us to love and serve Him. We are called to take up our cross, to deny self, and to follow Him. We are called to share the good news of Christ with all we meet – to take the message global – to the ends of the earth. In this week’s gospel lesson we see the calling of the first disciples. Jesus calls Andrew, Simon, James, and John to be “fishers of men.” (John 4)

As I thought and journaled about this passage this morning, I came to realize how limited our call is. We are called to simply be fishers, to help get people into the boat. In the devotional I read this morning it called it the ‘boat of shalom’. It referred to this as a place where everyone is known, loved, served, and celebrated. Terrell McDaniel went on to say that this place of shalom is a place of healing, restoration, and fulfillment of our potential. What a wonderful image of the church!!

Our role as disciples is again to get people into the boat. Although we can (and should) have a role after this point, it is truly the work of the Holy Spirit to go from there. We are not called to land, clean, cook, and serve the fish. We are just to get them into the boat.

It is the Holy Spirit that enters in and begins the work of washing away the old self so that a person may be born anew. Then the Spirit continues to work on this newby to bring God’s word into their hearts and minds. As the Word stews and churns inside it takes root through the action of the Holy Spirit. And lastly the new disciple comes to see those seeds grow and to spring up into new life. As the Spirit continues to work, the disciple begins to bear fruit in the world as they too become a fisher of men.

Do we have a role after they are in the boat? CERTAINLY!! Our role as a fellow member of the boat is to know, love, serve, and celebrate their journey of faith. Our role is to help them as we can – to find healing, to understand the scriptures, to lift them up when they stumble, to help guide them to being all they can be for Christ. And as we do these things, we too grow in our relationship with Christ. What a wonderful place the church is!!


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Come and See

In the Gospel lesson for today, John the Baptist sees Jesus and proclaims him the Lamb of God. As Jesus passes by two of John’s disciples follow Jesus. As they do Jesus asks them what they want but instead of answering they ask him where he is staying. His response isn’t an answer either, but an invitation: “Come and see.”

This is what Jesus says to us too: ” Come and see.” It is what we are called to say to others as well. We are called to evangelize – to share the good news. For many this is a scary word. But we need to realize that our call is not to sell Jesus or to convince someone they have to go “all in.” We must simply enter into people live’s and say, come and see.

It may be saying, “Hey, can I tell you about Jesus and what he has done for me?” Or it may be stepping into a need and loving your neighbor. It may simply be living your life as an example of what it means to be a Christian. Ultimately, it is about drawing people in so that they can come and see who Jesus is.

In the devotional I read this morning there was a great analogy. It spoke of our relationship with Jesus as a series of concentric circles. Each layer a bit closer to Jesus. When we invite others to ‘come and see’ we are asking them to step one circle closer, not to leap all the way to the middle. May our words, actions, and deeds today help people to come and see Jesus, to draw closer to the Savior of the world.


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All Those in the Middle

“He must become greater; I must become less.” That really is the crux of the matter for us as followers of Christ. How do we come to be able to say that about everyone – that our wife, our kids, our friends, that homeless person – that they get considered before we consider ourselves? To know that as Jesus becomes the Lord of our life, we become less and less?

That’s hard to do! But we see in John 1 an example to follow. John the Baptist drew people out into the wilderness to hear his message of repentance. Lots of people. Many who heard him stepped out into the water to be baptized. Pretty heady stuff! I wonder if I could be so humble. I wonder if I’d drift off into the “Look how well I am doing!” mentality and become self-absorbed. It is hard to keep a humble perspective when we are successful and popular.

Yet in spite of the crowds John continues to proclaim Jesus and continues to point toward Him. John realized his call in life was to draw people toward Jesus. He also knew that as Jesus’ ministry grew his own would decline. “He must become greater; I must become less.” And John was absolutely, 100% happy to say that. And he meant it!

As our faith deepens and the relationship with Christ becomes THE relationship in our life, we too can come to say those words of John – I must become less. As we humbly kneel at the foot of the cross and look up into the loving eyes of Jesus, we ask, “What can I do for you today Lord?” As we enter our worlds today, may we seek to be the lesser – to treat all as somewhere between Christ and ourselves.


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Self-Sufficient or God-sufficient?

As a kid growing up I learned that if I worked hard and followed the rules, there would be rewards. If I did really well at work, on the team, or in school there would even be praises and maybe even recognition. Sound familiar?

When things got tough the message was just to work harder. The underlying implication was that I wasn’t trying hard enough. Just do more and it’ll get better.

As we grew older we learn that our job is important. We learn that others notice our position and our possessions. We come to think the who and what we are is pretty important. Being self-sufficient and independent tend to become valued commodities in our lives.

Somewhere along the line some of us hear this small voice saying, “Hey, I’m still right here.” And we realize that we have lost sight of God for it is Him calling. For others it is life crashing in around them at the sudden onset of cancer, or the company’s downsizing, or …Then they wonder where God is. As they seek to make sense, God is there.

In Isaiah 1, God’s strength and grace are promises to those who live in fellowship with Jesus. His presence in our lives allows us to release the need to be in control because we can rest in His wisdom and grace.

I admit it is a struggle. I like to be in control. I like to hear praises and be recognized for my efforts. It is important to come before our Lord each day and to ask Him to be that – the Lord of our life. It is important to remind ourselves that He is in control when we start to drive the car. May the giver of grace give us the weakness today to rest in Him who loves us far more than we could ever imagine!!


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Citizenship and Our Gifts and Talents

In 1st Corinthians Paul opens by sharing his love for the church and all he sees in it. He recognizes the grace they have, the way they have been enriched in speech and knowledge – gained through Christ. Paul reminds them that they have been given every spiritual gift they need. He closes the opening with a reminder that Jesus will keep them strong and will always be faithful.

Paul is reminding the church in Corinth that they do good things through Christ and that together they are equipped with all they need. The key here is ‘together.’ Each and every one of us has a gift given to us by the Holy Spirit to be used for the building up of His kingdom here on earth. When I think about our body of believers, the variety of gifts we possess is astonishing. Some are singers and some play instruments. Some teach and some meet and greet. Some help provide a meal and some lead an art project. Some care for babies in the nursery and some drive a bus so others can come to worship or class. Some clean, organize and restock and some say hello on the phone. Some encourage and some pray. The list is long, but I know there are many gifts I missed.

Also running through this opening to the Corinthians is the thread that they are all part of the church, all part of the body of Christ. Some of the gifts people have extend outside of the church world. For example, a person with skill in dealing with money and investments may serve on the Finance committee. The gifts and talents God gives us to use in the world can and are used in the church as well.

But we must also be careful here. We are first and foremost a child of God. If we do not also use the gifts and talents that make us a good doctor, a good teacher, a good banker, a good… to build His kingdom, we are missing the point. We are called to first serve God. Many do serve in our church and in various organizations in our community. Yet more certainly could. Before we identify ourselves as a nurse, lawyer, officer or as a father, husband, grandpa or as a wife, mother, … we must first identify ourselves as a child of God. As a child of God, we love, care for, and serve the body of Christ. Through your gifts and talents, are you building the kingdom?


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Always Calling Our Name

“You are my strength when I am weak,
You are the treasure that I seek.

Seeking you as a precious jewel,
Lord to give up I’d be a fool.”

These words from an old Dennis Garrigan song came to mind as I read Psalm 40 this morning. No, the song above is not based upon this Psalm (For that honor, I think that’d be Jesus, Lover of My Soul!) In the Psalm, David seeks God. He allows God to fill his heart and this leds him to desire to do God’s will. David sings of God’s love and salvation in the assembly and rests assured that God will protect him.

When we look at our lives, we will see times that we wander from God. We may go for long stretches where God is central in our lives, but occassionally go through a valley. In the Upper Room today the author told a childhood story about when he ad his brother were lost in the woods during a snowstorm. Just when they felt all was lost, they heard their Dad’s voice calling out to them. When we are in our valleys and feel lost from God, we just have to pause and we will hear Him calling our name.

Yet for some, lost is where they are. Many people feel that they can do just fine on their own. Problems can be solved, errors can be fixed. Life hums along with its slight ups and downs. No need for God. Until something comes along tht they cannot solve or fix. In the times of desparation they cry out to God. And God does NOT turn a deaf ear to them. For in their time of need or loss is when He comes to them – still full of love and grace and mercy. For He always loves us. All of us!

“Taking my sin, my cross, my shame,
Rising again I bless your name.

When I am down you lift me up,
When I am dry you fill my cup.”

As we grow in our faith we learn to walk more faithfully and more steadfastly with the Lord. We begin to know Him in our hearts all the time and begin to desire to do His will as a result. We come to rely on Him in the good and in the bad. As we are called to be God’s light in this dark world, hold your light up for all men to see. Let the world know what the song proclaims: You are my all in all!!


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The Rock and the Call

This past Sunday in church we had a ‘remembrance of your baptism’ during each service. The message was “New Promise” and PastorKeihwan Ryoo spoke both of what baptism is and what it promises. He also spoke of our call as Christians.

In case you were not there, Keihwan set two bowls of water on a small table in the front of the church. Within each bowl were many smallish rocks. Folks came forward and selected a rock and some spent time at the altar rail. The rock that I selected remains in my pocket and I encourage you to keep yours there as well.

Toward the end of the message, Keihwan defined the challenge – to serve God, one person at a time, one moment at a time. This is our call as Christians. In our baptism we became part of God’s family and the work of the Spirit began in our lives. At some point each of us made (or will make) the decision to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus. As this relationship grows, so too grows our realization of the call.

So why tote around the rock? Not because it is small and easy to carry – if it were truly symbolic it would be large and would take an effort. In part, the rock from the water symbolizes God’s promise and provision. When the 12 tribes crossed the sea, they selected 12 stones from the seabed and made an altar – to remember what God had just done for them. You rock can mean that too – a tangible sign to remember all that God does for you. BUT it can be more!!

The rock can also be a tangibe sign of God’s call in your life that began way back at your baptism and grows as your relationship with Jesus grows. It can be a reminder of that call to make a difference in our worlds – one person at a time, one moment at a time. SO as you feel that opportunity to be that difference, slip your hand into your pocket and feel God’s spirit enveloping you to guide and empower you as you step forward in obedience to the call!

[No rock? Missed church Sunday? Stop by this Sunday and visit the chapel. Take some time to thank God for your baptism and His love. Grab a rock.]


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Held to a Higher Standard

Last night at the young men’s Youth Small Group we prepared to study the book “Not a Fan” by discussing the difference between being a fan and being a follower. We talked about what a sports team fan may look like – wears a team jersey, catches the game on TV, reads about his team in the Sunday paper, … and about what the Christian fan might look like – wears a cross, sits in church on Sunday morning, respects/loves others, reads a Bible and/or devotional…

Then we moved into talking about what a follower would look like. How it would be different. If I were a follower of the Vikings instead of just a fan – I would know lots of statistics and facts about the players, I would be reading about who the next coach could/should be, I would be reading lots of blogs about who they should be looking at for the draft, … I would be invested in my team. What would it look like if you were a follower of Team Jesus?

As a follower it does involve things like being in church, reading and stuyding your faith, and treating others well. But isn’t it more than that? Lots of ‘fans’ do these things too. As we talked about the idea of being a follower, the idea that we must move into a relationship with Jesus became a necessity. Sam stated that you just don’t believe in Jesus but come to live for Jesus. Jesus becomes a part of who you are and becomes what makes the decisions you face in life. People come to see Jesus in you and come to see you as a new creation. They see what it means to be a Christian.

I asked the young men if their classmates look at them differently because they are Chritians. Dean told the story of a policeman that saw a lady angry in traffic – she had been cut off and was screaming and shaking her fist at the offending driver. After the officer checked her license and registration he returned them to her. She asked why she had been pulled over. He replied that when he saw her being so upset he also noticed the Jesus fish on her bumper. He had assumed the car was stolen and thought he’d better check it out.

The young men stated that others hold Christians to a higher standard. My reply was, “Shouldn’t they?”


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ALL the Time!

“We share a common calling from God to bear witness in the entirety of our lives that Jesus is Lord of all.” In this line from the Upper Room “Disciplines” book, my favorite part is ‘in the entirety of our lives’. Not just sometime, not just Sunday morning, not just Wednesday night. But all the time and everywhere!

My second favorite part of this line is ‘Lord of all.’ Not just part of my life, but ALL of my life. In bearing witness to Christ, we can do so by words, by actions, by deeds… As people encounter Christians they should know that we are different. It should show up in all areas of our life and in all sectors of our life.

To do these two things, somtimes we must ‘count the cost.’ At times there will be a price to pay for choosing to walk the path of God. We may make choices that cost us friendships, popularity, position, and so on. But in reality, God is only asking of us what He in return gives us. He isn’t just with us some of the time, He is with us ALL of the time. We can’t just call on his name between 8 and noon on Sunday, we can call on His name anytime.

In closing I’d like to share part of the prayer from the same reading today and would encourage you to pray it instead of just reading it: “Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ, for your peace and forgivenss and for making me new in you. Thank you for the many Christ-bearing witnesses you bring into my life and heart. In Your Spirit, Holy One, may I bear the light and love of Christ to others. Amen.”