Wednesday, September 28, 2011

"Blessed are the merciful..."

This Sunday, through your actions during our "Don't Go to Church, be the Church Day," you will preach the message on Jesus' 5th beatitude: "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."

Jesus explains what is meant by this beatitude in the story he shares found in Matthew 18:21-35:

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.[a]

23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold[b] was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins.[c] He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’

30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.

32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Those who do not show mercy have either never asked for forgiveness and so have not experienced mercy or they have forgotten all the times God and others have shown them mercy and so in their forgetfulness they do not extend mercy to others.

Mercy is not giving one what they deserve. That is called justice. Mercy is about being offered forgiveness and love even though you do not deserve it.

My wife, my kids, my friends and above all else my God have shown me mercy of which I have no right to claim, but for which I am eternally grateful. In view of the mercy I have been shown, how can I not offer mercy to others?

Sunday morning you will be participants in mercy. Whether what you give is appreciated or in your opinion deserved, give out of a heart of love. As you work along one another perhaps someone will say or do something that rubs you the wrong way, instead of taking offense make a choice to show him or her mercy.

As you choose to act out of a heart of mercy, this Sunday will turn into one of the most meaningful worship experiences you have ever experienced and you will understand why Jesus said "Blessed are the merciful..."

Thank you for being the church!

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

"One Slow Bagel"

On Tuesday, I had a breakfast meeting at Tim Horton's. I meet at this particular Tim Horton's regularly and have come to know the owner on a first name basis. I always compliment him on how smoothly his team handles the crowds that pull through the restaurant in the morning. However, this Tuesday I just kept my comments to my self because there was nothing smooth happening.

I was there when the problem occurred. Right after my order a new trainee started working the bagel station. Apparently, the newbie got the order wrong. Then in trying to figure out was wrong and make the order right, he fell several orders behind. Then in trying to catch up he messed up more orders causing him to fall farther behind. I felt for him.

Actually, I can do more than feel for him, I can relate. It is very easy in life to mess up, fall behind and before you know what has happened stuff has piled up higher than you feel like you can dig your way out. Do I need to make up examples or can you insert your own? I know i can insert my own. Whether it is in relationships, finances, health, spiritual vitality...all it takes is a little mess up and the next thing you know stuff starts piling up fast.

The look of panic on the poor guys face made me want to climb over the counter and try to help. Fortunately, the owner stepped up. He did not yell or criticize, he simply started helping the new guy out. Did the new guy say, "No, I got this" and refuse the help? No way! With a look of great relief, he let the owner help him.

Will we humble ourselves and let God help us through others? Isn't that what James 5:16 is all about. I have mentioned Scripture enough that by now, you probably know what it is. If not, I encourage you to revisit it. Come on...what are you waiting on...stuff is piling up this minute and help is available in James 5:16.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

"Spinning"

Our kids love rides that spin. We climb in, sit in the circle shaped capsule and then it is, "Faster, Daddy, spin us faster!" With all my strength, I spin us round and round as Anna and Seth scream and giggle in enjoyment.

There is only one problem...these rides make me sick. Seeing the world spinning faster than my eyes can keep up with makes my stomach feel like I have chugged a gallon of sour milk and my head feels like someone is hitting it with a hammer. However, since this is my kids favorite ride I had to figure out a way to enjoy the ride with them while not becoming sick for the rest of the day.

Of course, the solution was simple: I can ride this ride, spin as fast as possible and not get sick, by simply keeping my eyes fixed on what is inside the ride and avoiding, at all costs, even peeking at what is spinning outside.

I found the same to be true on this ride we call life. I don't know about you, but most of the time I feel like life is spinning faster and faster than with which I can keep up.

When you look outside and see life spinning faster than you can focus on it is easy to become overwhelmed, discouraged and just ...well... get sick. I am convinced the fast speed spin of our daily lives is why so many of us experience the consequences of spiritual, emotional and physical illness. We have spun ourselves into a whirlwind that is impossible to keep up with and it literally makes us sick in one way or the other.

So, what do we do? Some decide to simply get off the ride. These folks shut down spiritually, emotionally or physically. They can't keep up, so they figure the only way to survive its to get off the ride. However, this option back fires. Instead of saving us, when we shut down, it actually kills us.

How many relationships have been killed because one or both people have gotten off the ride and simply shut down? How many people have fallen into complete financial ruin simply because it was less overwhelming to do nothing with their failing finances than to try to do something? How many people have invited otherwise preventable health problems simply because they decided to stop taking care of their bodies and let whatever happens happens? How many people have gotten distracted by the things of this world that won't matter past tomorrow and have run after them while leaving behind their faith in Christ? Yes, getting off the ride...shutting down...is an option, but instead of giving us relief from a life that is spinning out of control it actually makes chaos spin faster and the symptoms of its related sickness turn fatal. However, there is another option.

When the world is spinning faster than you can keep up with, the best thing to do is take your eyes off what is spinning and focus on the One that is the same today, yesterday and forever. The writer of the book of Hebrews in the Bible understood this and wrote the letter with an urgent plea to the church to not get off the ride called faith in the face of persecution. Many in the church at that time had had their property confiscated, been imprisoned, beaten and even killed all because of their faith in Christ. Persecution was spinning around them, some had jumped ship and many more were considering that as their only option. But, the writer to Hebrews reminds them that they and we have another option.

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for
the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at
the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition
from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart" Hebrews
12:2-3.

When we try to focus on what is spinning, we will get sick. When we fix our eyes on Jesus, we do not grow weary and lose heart. To those who would say, "If only it were that simple", I would push back and say, "Why do we make it more complicated than that?" If the ride called life is spinning faster than you can keep up with, then the worst place to try to focus on is what is spinning and the best place to focus on is what is constant. Not only will such focus keep us from puking our guts out, it will even let us enjoy the ride.

Can I share something from my heart with you as my brothers and sisters in Christ? That is why we do the "Don't Go to Church, Be the Church" day each year. It is a way of both reminding us of where our focus as a church needs to be and measuring whether or not our focus as a church is actually where it needs to be.

Are we a church of people who go to church on Sunday or are we a church of people who go from church services on Sunday to be the Church every day? Right now, we have 110 people signed up for "Don't Go to Church, Be the Church Day" (Thank you to you who have led the way!). In the next two weeks, we are asking at least 200 more of you to help us get our focus where it needs to be on Jesus who said all that matters hinges on loving God by loving others.

Each year, this "Don't Go to Church, Be the Church day" becomes more and more important as it is a litmus test of where our focus lies. If we as a church have our focus on what is spinning we will fight over things that do not matter, we will become self-righteous and judgmental and we will be more interested in being fed than feeding others. But if we will get our eyes off what is spinning, and that includes ourselves, and on to what is constant, and that is Jesus who lived, died and rose again to show us what it means to love God and others,then we will never grow weary and lose heart...who knows you may even find yourself screaming and giggling, "Faster, Daddy, faster!"

It will be great to be back with you this Sunday!