Light

Lord, what a Light this morning.

"…to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ Acts 28:16

This week has just been dark.  The events of Sunday in Texas, added to the seeming unending violent happenings in our land of late, things have been dark. Yesterday was cold, murky, and on top of that came the first of many periods of snow that will happen this winter, I suspect.  The day was just simply dark.

And I have been yearning to see the light through the ever present haze.  Hard to see it through the dimness, through the lament, and through the grief.

A time of prayer with a friend yesterday made me realize something. Maybe it was a word from the Lord, maybe not. But it is truth.  Darkness, at least at times, is a choice. Lament may be necessary and certainly biblical, but I’m not so sure it is always healthy, at least for me. Today.

And so I do some random Bible reading this morning. (Yeah, like God’s providence is somehow random.) The reading is a snippet of Paul’s testimony before King Agrippa about both his conversion to Christ and the ministry Christ had given to him.   A ministry that he had to the Gentiles that “they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God….”

And then word is confirmed in my heart. Darkness, at least at times, is a choice. And if so, then so is the Light.

Let’s be honest. Evil is real. Satan is real. Darkness is real.  We’ve seen it manifest itself far too often in our land in recent years. There is no other explanation.

But this morning, the sun is out. The sky is blue. The trees that still have leaves are glowing hues of red and orange. There is light. Ample light. And I choose this morning to see it.  Let’s also be honest. Goodness  is real, Jesus is real, Light is real. And there is no other solution.

Turn from darkness and let’s walk in the Light.   Will you join me today?

Rabbit Trails

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son." - John 3:16-18

I preached on this passage a few Sundays ago–for a very different reason than the obvious.  Tagging off of a few articles I had read, I’m did a message on the things that Jesus didn’t die for, but as I did my study for the sermon, my mind went off on a rabbit trail. It frequently does. Sometimes rabbit trails are good. Occasionally they are bad. Some might be deadly.  But they are almost always interesting.

Looking at the passage from John 3, I think it is safe to say that we all know verse 16.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  What always jumps out at me is the clause in the sentence.  Whosoever believes. You see its not automatic.  It’s really not unconditional because there is a condition. Belief.

You see I’ve long wanted to be a universalist. That is one of the bad rabbit trails that I want to meander on. Wanting to believe that anyone and everyone gets into the thing called eternal life. I’ve admitted that in sermons and in other writings. But the clause in verse 16 always sends me into a mini depression. Because what I want to believe seems to be countered by that verse. The aforementioned rabbit trail ends here. And a realistic trail begins.

Oh verse 17 offers a bit of relief. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”  I like that. It reveals the very heart of our Father in heaven.  Jesus came to save…not condemn.  For years, admittedly, I stopped at that verse because it seems to take the harsh edge that I feel verse 16 contains. Especially if one wants to trot on the universalist trail.

But…

Verse 18 lowers the boom.  “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”

Darn (language cleaned up).  Not only is belief a condition of salvation, but those who do not believe...already stand in condemnation.

Those who know me understand that I actually derailed off the universalism track back in 1990 when I wrestled with John 14:6; but verses like John 3:18 should troubles my heart. And it should trouble yours. It’s devastating. Because you and I know people – perhaps close family members -  who do not believe. People we deeply love, people perhaps we have a profound respect for, perhaps a neighbor who has shown a time or two or twelve how good a neighbor they can be.

It’s easy to dismiss the people who rub us the wrong way, but we shouldn’t do that either. All stand condemned by a loving but just God for the lack of belief.  All.

My hope is that sorrow might drive us.  God does so love the world that he gave his one and only Son. In a similar way we need to so love the world…that we share with people what Jesus did do, not just us, but for them. If they so believe.

Who do you know who needs to know this inconvenient truth (to borrow a phrase). Minimally, who do we need to be praying for we know…does not believe. Yes there are other steps we need to take, but the most important thing to do is pray.  Think of someone now. Lift their names up to the Lord. Call, beg,  plead, upon the Holy Spirit to intervene.

And then ask the Spirit to lead you on a good trail that might be of help to those you have just prayed for. Sometimes rabbit trails are good. Occasionally they are bad.

Some…might be deadly. 

My back hurts....

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 

1 Corinthians 10:31

My back hurts....

Yesterday, as we were re-purposing a closet, I had the opportunity to add a receptacle in a bathroom (feeding the power from the closet), and then adding a light, switch and a feed from the garage to the closet itself.

And I learned (or re-learned) two things.

If I still had to make my living as an electrician (as I did for 22 years), I'd starve to death. I've gotten so slow at it. I've known this for a while, but the occasional reminders kind of hurt.
And...I'm aging. Twisting around on a ladder and reaching in odd positions to paint/mount lights/strap cable has my back in turmoil today. As I sit this morning and consider next Sunday's sermon, my back reminds me of what all we did get done yesterday.

And we did get much done.

The passage I've quoted above is a reminder. I think, first of all, that I should feel blessed that I have a few tangible skills that I occasionally place into practice. But secondly, I should give the glory to God in all the things I am able to do. Because, as James 1:17 states, "every good and perfect gift is from above...."

Including working at the house on Labor Day. Thank you Lord, for being even able to do so.
My back will heal; eventually I'll go to the garage and splice in the feed I dropped into it so that the closet, and the new receptacle in the bathroom, can have power. And hopefully when I do the "smoke test" (electrician lingo for powering something up for the first time), all will be well, and a new project will beckon.

And in it all, may the glory of God be obvious.

Have a great week everyone....

Manna

Our home in Indiana, PA

"But now we are dried up, and there is nothing at all before us except this manna!" Numbers 11:6

It is easy to take if for granted and not appreciate what you have. In a time of what could have been famine, the Hebrews complained about God's persistent provision of manna.

And so I can remember thinking in early March, "Will this winter ever end?" (and it had been a mild winter). And now winter is a distant memory, hidden by the explosive flourishing of springtime. But can we remember God's provision is with his people no matter what the season is. Because spring is about to meld into summer, then summer into autumn, and it will be winter again.

But God will be here the whole time. Appreciate the manna, look at his blessings in season and out of season. They are always there.....

Hurt

But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.  - 1 Corinthians 12:24–26

Yesterday I woke up to the news that a several churches, while celebrating Palm Sunday, had been attacked in Egypt, as of this writing at least 49 people had died…  Lord, in your mercy….

A member of the congregation I serve had a close family member, only days after hearing a dire diagnosis, die yesterday afternoon...  Lord, in your mercy….

And then I learn of a family who is in the process of losing much of what they have. I don’t know what all they are going through, but I can imagine…. Lord, in your mercy….

So yesterday evening, even after a long but fruitful day of ministry, I felt hollow.  Because on a human level, I can offer very little help in these situations that came to my attention. Theologically, I can sum it all up to the fallen nature of humanity. That’s not a lot of solace, but it’s a start.  But that fact doesn’t erase the hurt. 

Hurt

I think l of some words, written by Trent Reznor but stunningly sung by Johnny Cash not long before he died in 2003,

“I hurt myself today, to see if I still feel

I focus on the pain, the only thing that's real….”

And as I consider the writings of Paul about the Body of Christ (the church), I focus on these words… “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it….”

Hurt is appropriate. Suffering is real, and hearts should break. Hurt is part of being His church. It’s part of being alive. When one of us hurts, the whole church should hurt with it. Often it does.  It is what we are supposed to do; it’s in the job description.

And so it is Holy week, and…things are about to hurt even more. And we will commemorate once again the death of Jesus.  Jesus knew all about hurt, and in that hurt  he is going to be brutally nailed to several pieces of wood. Hurt. And left to die.

His death on the cross did many things, certainly the most important being that with those nails our sin gets left tacked to those wood beams with him.  But I can’t help but think that he also carried our hurt, our anguish, our questions, our anger... to the cross with him.

He knows how we feel. He knows how we hurt. And he loves and graces us anyway.

While that doesn’t necessarily provide all the solace we may need in times like this. It does point directly to what we need to be able to see through the indignities of the moment.  That the day is going to dawn very soon where that cross that Jesus was tacked to proves, once again, to be empty.

Hurt is real.

But the love, grace, truth and redemption of Jesus is also real and it is strong enough to overcome the hurt.  It may take time – this week may seem to be dark, but Easter is coming.

Yes, in His mercy.  The cross will once again be empty…..

Here is a link to Johnny Cash's version of Hurt.

deSire

“Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” 
-Psalm 73:25-26

  

I am rather fond of saying that there are times in all of our lives when the only thing we really, really have is God.  Years ago I was taught that all our earthly relationships tend to have a beginning and end; ebbs and flows.  But the one relationship we, if you believe and trust in Jesus, always have is with God.

The passage above takes my “rather fond” saying and sharpens it critically.  It’s not that “there are times in all of our lives when the only thing we really, really have is God.”  It is all the time.  Our father desires a relationship with us in the good times and the bad, in the sunshine and in the ashes; in our prosperity and in our poverty.  You get the point. Not just in our needy times.

Ultimately our desire for God needs to be a 24/7 yearning.  Needs to be.  And, if you are like me, it isn’t. Maybe that why season like Lent (that I honestly have some issues with) are important for us fallible humans.  Many people see Lent as a time of penitence, where we give something up in honor of and hopefully in remembrance of what Jesus did for us. There is great truth in that.

But I’m in a season personally of not feeling the need to give anything up.  But to take something on. To grow in my relationship with the One who wants us 24/7.  To focus my desires on my Creator.  That will be my Lenten discipline…perhaps sharpened by giving up a couple of things that I enjoy.  Maybe. But only for this one purpose.  To help me focus on my desire for God over anything on earth. Anything.

What about you? What are you giving up/adding on for Lent…and why? Why seems to be the crucial question here.

I’ll see how my focus is for the next six weeks.  And I’ll pray for yours if you would like….

Mom

Yesterday (January 11), as I was preparing for my small group, I broke out my guitar and started playing “In Christ Alone,” the brilliant song from Keith Getty and Stuart Townend. It’s simple enough to play on guitar. The chords are easy. But it’s the words that always get to me.  And yesterday I more deeply realized the elegance of this musical statement of faith; in fact, I’m thinking of using it as our corporate “Confession of Faith” in an upcoming worship service.

“In Christ alone my hope is found; He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground, Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace, 

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all— Here in the love of Christ I stand.”

A few minutes after I was done working on the song, my phone rang. It was my brother, and he delivered the news that Susie and I had known was imminent. My mother, at age 93, had died.

Patricia Enoch was one tough woman. Not tough with other people, but just tough when it came to her personal circumstances. Maybe it was her upbringing of struggling through the deep poverty of Spokane during the depression that set her resolve, but the years since my father’s death in 2004 were not kind to her physically. She sacrificed her knees caring for dad, and her general health after his passing did not allow her to have the replacements she had needed for years.   Add a broken hip into the mix and her mobility became difficult, but that rarely stopped her. 

           

Deafness and blindness eventually took their toll, although I was still able to hold a brief conversation with her a week and a half ago over the phone.  She had been terribly ill for several months, and under hospice care since August. And heartbroken since Sept.1 when my sister died. I’m indebted to my brother Steve and his wife Kris, for all the care and help they have been to her, first in Sacramento, and in recent years, Bozeman.

Needless to say, I have many, many memories flowing through my brain at this time.  But one keeps floating to the top. After my father died, my mother approached me about being baptized. She never had been, and she decided it was time.

We had some deep talks about Jesus first; I made her join a church near where she was living in Beaumont, CA, and in June 2004 I was invited to preach…and baptize her in a service at her church. At age 80.

She is not the oldest person I have baptized, but she was the only one that was my mother. And I had that privilege.

When I last saw my mother at the end of October, we talked more about Jesus. Deep…and trusting. I can say that I believe she is with him now….

When I led our small group in singing “In Christ Alone” last night, the words became even more poignant for me….

“No guilt in life, no fear in death— This is the pow’r of Christ in me;

From life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny.

No pow’r of hell, no scheme of man, Can ever pluck me from His hand;

            Till He returns or calls me home— Here in the pow’r of Christ I’ll stand.”

Amen.

Bye mom.  I love you.

-Chris

Click here to listen to "In Christ Alone"

"In Christ Alone" Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend Copyright © 2001 Kingsway Thankyou Music