Transformed Lives Transforming The World

Pit Stops

When things go haywire--that's a theological term--and you haven’t done anything to cause it, life can be confusing. If I smoke a pack of Marlboros or Winstons or Camels...you get the idea...every day then I shouldn't really be too surprised when the Doc tells me I’ve got emphysema, cancer, or both, or blah, blah, blah. But if I’ve really tried hard to take care of myself by eating the right kinds of disgusting foods and exercising routinely and all that sort of thing we all know we should do, and then the Doc gives me that kind of news, I think I’ve earned, at the very least, the right to be confused. We usually don't like these times...

I call them "Pit Stops." You know...times when you have to pull over and sit idle while things get fixed. And I get the name, not from Nascar, but from Joseph in Genesis 37, whose brothers got mad at him and chunked him in a pit to fix him...

I don’t know about you but I get scared when I’m in the pits. Depending on how deep and dark the particular pit is, I can be just a little scared or a lot. One of the most scary things, to me, is the thought that I might never get out. And that’s real close to another scary thing about pits: the notion that nobody who cares about me knows where I am, or that those who do know where I am and could do something about it don’t seem to care very much that I’m where I am. Pit-stops... Ever been there? Sure you have.

Ruth's story was a major pit stop. It's a quick read but covers a lifetime of confusing and contradicting messages for her and her family. I don’t think it’s within most of us, anymore than it was within Ruth, to understand all of the reasons for pit-stops, I have to believe they exist...the reasons I mean. Let me take a stab at identifying what I think the major reason for them may be.

Pit stops hide me in the secret of God’s presence and away from the pride of my humanity. It is in that place alone that I discover my vision clearing sufficiently, like silt falling from the current of a too busy life, that my faith begins at last to reach for God's own hand to the exclusion of all other things my hands desire to have and hold. Only then am I fit to be a channel for the manifestation of his life and power. I think I'll stop right there and let you ponder the significance of that statement. I hope you will.

(Ed Saucier)

Lingering Thoughts for Monday...

Lingering Thoughts for Monday March 30th, 2009

Sunny and 80 Degrees in the Morning...

I just spent the week in California at Saddleback Church.  It was a joy to be in Orange County to participate in the Purpose Driven Youth Ministry Conference.  I received four days of top notch youth ministry leadership training and was able to steal a morning at Disneyland and an afternoon at Laguna Beach and Newport.  The conference was amazing, the location was scenic and the weather was perfect.

In fact the day the Fort Smith area was under tornado warnings...I was eating yellow fin tuna at a beach side restaurant.  Needless to say I was a bit melancholy to board my plane on Saturday.  I stepped off of the shuttle and breathed in the cool, clear, sunny California morning.  It was already almost 80 degrees and perfect!

The next bit of fresh air I had was leaving Northwest Arkansas Airport last night.  I exited and was almost knocked over by the 32 degree temperature and the snow/rain/sleet mix.  I was bitter, shocked, and cold.  The sad part is that I had only been in California for five days! 

(Joel Reynolds)

Note: I will be blogging all week about my California adventures as well as things learned from the conference at the Converge Students Blog! Join me there.

How quickly we get used to sunny days. One or two of them in a row and we are grabbing our flip flops and beach chairs.  We get so used to it that the moment a cold front comes we retreat indoors, bundle up in our snuggie, and shake out freezing fists at the heavens.

As much as I did not want to face the cold weather I plowed on through it.  As much as I wanted to turn around and board the next flight to anywhere sunny I keep moving forward.  Why? Well forward (into the cold) was home.  My wife, kids, church family, and ministry awaited me.  Honestly, no foul weather could keep me away from that.  

Did I like the cold weather?  Of course not! Was it worth pushing through to see all of the people that enrich my life....ABSOLUTELY.  As we close the book of Ruth we finally see a sunny day.  The birth of Obed and the start of the Davidic dynasty.  it had been many cold days spiritually and emotionally for Ruth.  Nevertheless, she was faithful to God.  Even without the promise of a sunny day she pushed on.

I hope you have more days of Sunny and 80 before you.  If you do not push on, stay the course, remain faithful to the one who put the sun in the sky!

(Joel Reynolds)

Note: I will be blogging this week at the Converge Students Blog about my California Adventures as well as notes, thoughts, and ideas from the PDYM Conference.  

Arrows

The book of Ruth ends with people celebrating the birth of Ruth's son, Obed. It seemed like everyone was making a big deal out of this kid. That makes sense, because kids are a big deal. Psalm 127.3-5 says "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb are a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver." The Bible refers to children as arrows. It seems a little odd to me, but it also makes sense that children are like a weapon that can be used to bring glory to God. A child brought up in the Lord is a weapon for God's kingdom as it advances against Satan and the darkness of the world. Right now I'm at the father-son camp out, watching some mighty warriors invest time in sharpening theirs arrows. It is a joy to see parents pouring into their children. For those of you don't have children the people that you are discipling and pouring into spiritually are also like arrows. Paul called both Timothy and Titus his children in the faith, because he was so involved in their spiritual growth. "Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth." Psalm 127.4 (Mike Crain)

The last chapter...

Since this Sunday we are studying the final chapter of Ruth, and it might be the last time we study out of the book of Ruth as a whole congregation for awhile it is easy to make the mistake of seeing this as an end.  

When we started this study as a teaching team I remember feeling and saying I'm having a hard getting excited about this book.  Mainly because I always saw its value only in the continuation of God's promise made to Adam and Eve and Satan in chapter three of Genesis.  God told them that Adam and Eve's offspring would crush Satan's head.  Their offspring went through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob continuing on through David, and Solomon eventually to Jesus who would defeat Satan as he rose from the dead after being crucified.  Stuck in the middle of this family tree is this woman named Ruth who helped to continue this family tree with Boaz.  Look at Luke 3.  Especially notice verse 32.  I've tended to think that this was the only reason that this book was in the Bible.  Basically to show that God would use a non-Israelite to continue His plan to save His people.  While I continue to think that this is part of God's grand scheme, I think that God has shown me through this study how His wisdom is so much deeper than I can imagine.  He as used this book not only to show His faithfulness to His promise made to Adam and Eve, but to show me a great example of how Godly people should live in the midst of difficult circumstances.  It has been useful as I've counseled people that are currently experiencing life's difficulties and I hope that the lessons remain etched in my head as difficulties arise in my life.  

In many ways this story of Ruth is not ending but it has just now begin to really come alive in my life.  I hope you feel the same.

(Mark Kincannon)

A Listener's Thought

Sunday was a rare day in which I listened to a sermon instead of preaching one.  It is something that should probably happen more often.  As a preacher and as someone who wrote part of Sunday's sermon it would be tempting to listen with a critical ear toward the preacher instead of listening with a critical ear toward myself.  Its the great temptation with preaching--to critique the sermon instead of being critiqued by the sermon.  Yet as I listened to Ed on Sunday and to Mike's CD on Tuesday I noticed something I really hadn't paid much attention to before. 

Sunday's sermon was born from Ruth 3 and based on the idea that when life falls apart we should live out our prayer.  In Ruth 1.9 Naomi prays that Ruth and Orpah would find husbands so that their lives could be restored.  In chapter 3 Naomi is living out that prayer by devising a plan that would give Ruth an opportunity to find a husband.   She so desired her prayer from 1.9 that she did something about.  Ed and Mike made it clear that there is a human responsibility that matches divine sovereignty. 

What hadn't hit home prior to hearing the sermons was the subtle difference between Naomi's prayer and what she was actually living out.  She prayed in 1.9 that God would grant Ruth a husband, back in Ruth's homeland and near Ruth's family.  Yet when Ruth chose to stay with Naomi and to go back to Bethlehem, the context of Naomi's prayer changed.  She had basically prayed, "Dear God, give this woman a husband when she goes home."  Translation:  God do something for this girl.  However, when Ruth stayed near Naomi, the responsibility of Naomi changed.  If Ruth was in Moab, Naomi would have no responsibility, but with Ruth in Bethlehem Naomi had major responsibility.

Isn't it just like God to subtly reject my prayers when I pray for things that require nothing of me?  He so often changes them just enough that I will be required to do something--to actually live out my prayer.  By Ruth staying with Naomi, Naomi could no longer ask God to do something unless Naomi was willing to act as well. 

It is easy to pray prayers that require nothing of us, but it something far different to pray something that requires us to act along with our prayer.  Naomi could not pray for God to act while at the same time refusing to do anything herself.  She prayed in faith, and acted in the same way.  Prayers and actions of faith bring great glory to God.  

It is far more fun to critique a sermon rather than to be critiqued by it, yet every time God's word is opened and I listen to the Spirit, He speaks. 

What did God say to you through Sunday's message?

(Kevin Thompson)

Right Now

It's March Madness and for many of us in Arkansas the madness comes from the fact that the Razorbacks are not even in the NCAA tournament.  We tired of a coach that won a National Championship, and maybe he was past his prime, but we have had two coaches since and neither have totally turned things around as of yet.  I think we gave Stan Heath 5 years and now we have given John Pelphrey two years and many people are ready for Mike Anderson, Nolan Richardson's protege, to be in charge of the Razorbacks basketball team (or is that just me).  I think we Razorback fans are also expecting Bobby Petrino to turn the football team around next year.  It is a shame that we don't want to give these guys more time to turn things around, but we are in a right now culture.  We want, what we want, and we want it right now.  I don't think this right now culture exist solely with our desire for the Razorback basketball or football team to be better, but I think it is apart of most of our lives.  At least I know that it is in my life.  I want to be in shape right now.  I want my boys to be respectful and obey right now.  I want my daughter to sleep through the night right now.  I want the leaders of our country to fix the economy right now.  I want the Greenwood campus to be functioning right now.  I want the guys that I'm discipling to be passionate about Christ right now.  I want perfect communication with Michelle right now.  I want to overcome sinful attitudes and actions right now never to be tempted by them again.

This right now mentality is one of the reasons that many of us tend to struggle to trust God after we pray to him regarding some issue in our life.  We don't like to deal with things that require patience and/or perseverance.  Naomi prayed a prayer in Ruth 1:9, and I don't know exactly how long it was before she saw the fruit of that prayer.  I assume just the fact that they had to travel to another country on foot meant that it took quite awhile.  She could have wanted her prayer to be answered right now but it wasn't.  She could have lost faith since it didn't happen right now, but she didn't.  She could have quit trusting in the sovereignty of God since it didn't happen right now, but she didn't.  She could have prayed the prayer and then just waited on God, taking now initiative to be obedient, but she didn't.  She prayed the prayer and then began to obey God as she knew to do, remaining faith knowing that her God was an all powerful, all wise, all knowing, sovereign God.

Don't let our right now culture keep you from achieving those difficult things in life that require patience and perseverance.  Especially when it comes to remaining faithful to God.  

Do I want my children to learn to follow God? Yep, but it will require 18-22 years or more of me leading them and modeling for them how to follow God for that to happen.  

Do I want to have great communication with Michelle? Yep, I've known her since 1992 and we are still working on getting it right.

Do I want the Greenwood campus to be booming?  Yep, but it took a year of moving tables and chairs that had peanut butter and jelly all over them in Van Buren, for about 30-40 people, before we got to where we are now with 250 people showing up on Sunday Morning and us having to bring in more chairs in the worship center.

Do I want to be in shape right now? Yep, but it takes months of consistent healthy eating and working out to achieve that. 

Do I want the guys I disciple to be fired up and ready to lead other people?  Yep, but if it took Jesus three years to get Peter on the right path, how long is it going to take me.

The economy won't be fixed in the first 100 days of the new Presidents administration it is crazy to think that it could be fixed that quickly.

Do I want to overcome years of struggle with sin? Yep, but it takes serious determination and reorganization of our lives in order to succeed in overcoming years of habitual sin.  It takes consistant focus on God and His word in order to understand the ways of God to help us make these changes.  It takes uncomfortable accountability questions asked by our brothers or sisters in Christ to help us overcome sin.  It takes relying on the Holy Spirit to help us to overcome sin.  In other words it is a lot of work.  It is way more than just praying that God would change us.

What is it in your life that you are praying about that this right now additude is causing you some discouragement?

We have a great example in the book of Ruth, of Naomi praying, trusting, and obeying through a long period of hardship.  We can learn from her, and on top of that example we as Christians have Christ living in us.  Galatians 2:20 says, I have been crucified with Christ, It is no long I who live but it is Christ who lives in me..."    

(Mark Kincannon)

Lingering Thoughts on Monday...

Lingering Thoughts on Monday March 23rd, 2009

"Love Songs..."

"Who else is gonna bring you a broken arrow? Who else is gonna bring you a bottle of rain?"

Ok, name that tune and artist.  Use the comment space below for your guesses at an answer.  First correct answer gets a soda next Sunday from Mark Kincannon!

Whether you know the name of song and artist you most likely have heard the tune.  It was one of those sappy love songs that left you scratching your head wondering who would ever do something like that.  Well I know someone who did!

My best friend in high school was a hopeless romantic.  He had a girlfriend who he thought put the stars in the sky who unexpectedly dumped him.  In an attempt to win her back he actually had me drive him to the three sporting good stores in hopes of finding archery equipment so he could buy a perfectly good arrow...and then break it!  While this was happening for weeks he had a coffee tin outside collecting rain (it was the middle of a Virginia summer drought so it took a while).  Then we took it over these items to her.  

I love my good friend but it was one of the stupidest things I have ever seen from one of the stupidest songs I have ever heard.  Nevertheless, he did it...and I helped! I had that broken arrow and bottle of rain in my mind today as I listened to the sermon. 

Naomi helped Ruth go to great lengths to not only find protection for their crumbling family but to also find love.  Ruth went to great lengths to present herself as a possible fiance to Boaz on the threshing floor.  Boaz when to great lengths to bring Ruth (and Naomi) into the love and care of his family.  

It is difficult to understand all of the specifics of this courtship.  Questions linger in my mind every time I read the third chapter of Ruth. Was Naomi using Ruth's feminine wiles to lure Boaz?  Was Ruth sexually manipulative of Boaz in the storehouse? Did  Boaz take advantage of the situation?  Both a casual and informed reading of this section of the narrative can lead to these questions.

However, never did I think I would be helping my buddy collect a bottle of rain in his backyard.  Love and the means we go to find it and share it are often bizarre.  I do not understand much of the love expressed by Ruth and Boaz.  However, I do not understand the love Jesus would show to me, the chief of all sinners.  We cannot always wrap our minds around the love shown by others be it Jesus, Ruth, Boaz, or my best friend in high school...but maybe we do not have to today.  Just know that the love of those people (perhaps friend included) was passionate, hopeful, and life changing.

(Joel Reynolds - www.convergestudents.typepad.com)

Reputation

A few thoughts on reputations:

• The reputations of Ruth and Boaz
  
  •  A worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. (Ruth 2:1)
  • (Boaz to Ruth)  All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me (Ruth 2:11)
  • (Boaz to Ruth) For all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman (Ruth 3:11)
  • Ruth and Boaz are the two exemplary characters in the book of Ruth.  They both continually show loving-kindness and faithfulness throughout the story.  Ruth and Boaz are the two characters that are shown to have good reputations.  Their good reputations are a result of their worthy character.  

• It's not about reputation for reputation's sake -  We should not act a certain way or do certain things just in order to gain a reputation.  The desire to have a good reputation or to be thought of highly should not cause us to project a false image of ourselves.  That is exactly what the Pharisees did.  They did a lot of religious activities and put on a spiritual facade so that they would be respected by the people, but their hearts did not match their reputations.  Jesus called them hypocrites, which comes from the Greek word for actor.  Jesus had some other unflattering names for these men who were attempting to earn a reputation they did not deserve: brood of vipers, white washed tombs, blind guides.

• Reputation reflects character  
  • Proverbs 3:3-4 - Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around th your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.  So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.
  • A good reputation should overflow from a godly life.  This verse from Proverbs shows that love and faithfulness, which begin in the heart and are displayed in our actions, are what truly gains us a good reputation, both with God and people.   

•   Self Reflection
  •  What is your reputation?
  • If you looked at your life objectively as an out observer what things would you notice as characteristic of who you are? 
  • Is you life marked by steadfast love and faithfulness?   

(Mike Crain) 

Lingering Thoughts on Thursday...

Lingering Thoughts on Thursday March 19th, 2009

"The Best Day Ever!"

One of the things that I love about the book of Ruth is that the routine and the mundane events of the story are the ones that change everything.  They are special because as people of faith we can see God actively at work in these moments.  Is this not where God changes our lives too?

I wrote this email tonight to two of our children's ministry staff at CBC after picking up my daughter from the last, "Community Kids" of the spring.

Dear Matt and Julie,

Rachel talked my ear off tonight on the way home form Community Kids.  Her exact words were, "this has been the best day ever!"  Great job at Community Kids this year! Rachel will miss it so much.  She said she, "could not wait until August."

I have few things that bring me greater joy than to see my child excited and wanting to go to church. The only thing that is better is her telling me every week on he way home all of the things she has learned about Jesus. During our drive she will recount every craft, game, and major points of the Bible story. She doesn't even mind the "loud" music anymore!  What a gift Wednesday nights have been for her this year...for Becky and I as well!

I have great hope that she will one day come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and your excellent and tireless work at Community Kids and on Sunday mornings will be a great reason why.

Thanks you to you both and to your entire team.

From,

A Thankful Father (not just a co-worker who should write these things)

I know my child is not the best listener or the best behaved. However, I want our children's team to know that it is the week to week (and often routine) worship of Jesus that is connecting my 6 year old with the great message of the gospel.  As her father I can see it, hear it in her words, and notice the change in her behavior. I our Children's ministry team to know that their day in and day out work helps my daughter have the, "best day ever."

I also want you to know that reader.  Your often routine and mundane daily faith journey influences so many.  You won't often see it or hear about it...but know that it is.  You desire to let the gospel change you not just on Sundays but every day is something that world needs.  Do not give up on the routine things that allow God to be glorified through you...it might just help those around you have the best day ever too!

(Joel Reynolds - www.convergestudents.typepad.com)

 

Prayer and Lipstick

As I read the book of Ruth one idea comes to mind for single women--never pray for a man until you have bought some lipstick.  I doubt that is the exact Biblical teaching, but it is what comes to mind. 

The book of Ruth opens with a prayer from Naomi for her daughters-in-law after their husbands have died, "The Lord grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband." (Ruth 1.9)

As we study chapter three this weekend, Naomi still desires a husband for Ruth, "Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, 'My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?'" (3.1)

What intrigues me about the book is that Naomi prayed the prayer in chapter one, but in chapter three she devises a plan.  The plan is in full accord with her prayer.  She didn't plan without praying, but she didn't pray without planning.  It seems as though that for Naomi planning and praying went hand in hand.  Her plan couldn't answer her prayer, yet her prayer could probably not be answered without a plan. 

So it is with this strange relationship between God's sovereignty and human action.  We try to separate the two, but for God they seem to be joined.  Far too often I am guilty of either planning or praying; I far too rarely do the two together.  Yet if I truly desire that my prayer be answered, it only makes sense that I would try to be part of that answer.  If I truly think my plan is important, it only makes sense that I would ask God to do more with my plan than I could accomplish.

I think a plan without a prayer is arrogance.  A prayer without a plan is hypocrisy.  If your prayer is for a man, it would be crazy to pray that God would send you someone and then for you to sit at home all the time not understanding why you never meet anyone.  If you are praying for a man, at least buy some lipstick.

Have you prayed for something, but not planned for it?  Have you planned for something, but not prayed for it?

(Kevin Thompson)

You Never Know...

If you want proof of just how little we know about life, compare the science textbook you used, or at least that you were supposed to use, when you were a freshman in high school to the ones they’re using this year. If you want further proof of how little we know about life, including the very life we call our own, compare what’s actually happened in your life to what you imagined might happen, thought would happen, or intended to happen. Sometimes the only thing those lists have in common is that they’re written in English.

It was my earliest dream to be a professional athlete followed by a successful business career or maybe I’d go to Hollywood like Broadway Joe did and make a lot of money as a non-talented actor. I liked to play ball—why not get paid for it? Made sense to me…just not to anybody else, including some very key people whose various roles in my plan would prove to be defining ones; scouts, recruiters, coaches and the people who were passing out the scholarships. They never got on board. But I used to have dreams about it…sometimes I still do.

You want to know what I never dreamed about? I never dreamed about becoming a pastor…ever. Is there anything that sounds more boring and inert than being a pastor to most teenagers? If there is I can’t imagine what it would be. The only pastors I’d ever seen (I didn’t know any) were these baby soft, delicate sorts who wore neckties to go pick up the morning paper in the driveway and carried every pen they’d ever owned in one of those little plastic pen holders that fits in your shirt pocket. They were against just about everything that sounded like I wanted to do, were insistent that I needed to listen to what they had to say—three times a week—although I couldn’t figure out why and seemed for all the world to take satisfaction in boring people to death with their endless droning and sermonizing. I remember driving by a church on my way to Lake Ouachita one summer morning watching what I assumed to be a family pile out of their car and make their way, without any obvious signs of enthusiasm, into the church building. I remember how lucky I felt that I wasn’t going in with them. Who wants to go to church when you could go to the lake? Things do change don’t they?

It’s my guess that for most of us there have been some changes in our lives that we didn’t plan for, count on or even want. I can’t help but wonder why. I don’t intend to suggest that life is the victim of a rigid fatalism on the one hand or of a whimsical capriciousness on the other. My inference is that sometimes the life we’ve planned changes in ways that are beyond our ability to predict, control or prevent.

Precisely where the hand of God fits into those changes is often difficult for us to discern, if not impossible. But that his hand is there, regardless of what we encounter, somewhere and somehow working for the singular purpose of making good things happen in our lives, is knowledge we can count on. That IS the message in the book of Ruth.

Without warning, circumstances force our hand and everything changes whether or not we wanted it to, despite the fact that we’ve done nothing to warrant it and there’s not a single thing we can do to stop it. Sometimes we get blind-sided. Sometimes it’s financial—and it costs us everything we have. Sometimes it’s physical—an illness that destroys our dreams and it costs us everything we’d hoped for. It comes out of nowhere and we’re left to deal with it. Life changes in ways that are beyond our ability to predict, control or prevent.

Life is hard isn’t it? It takes its toll on all of us. Maybe we haven’t figured out that life isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon. I learn that from Ruth also.

I think I like what Hesh Kestin says in his book, Twenty-First-Century-Management, about how unprepared most people are for life in the long haul. He describes our society’s readiness to face life as follows:

“These are people who know how to handle what was, only sometimes are prepared for what is, and seldom if ever for what will be.”[1]

It’s tough to face disappointments and failures, especially when they come in bunches. And it’s hard to describe the incredibly alluring temptation for choosing the path of least resistance when they do. I won’t say it’s never the right choice but I will say it’s rarely the right choice to take the easy way. Ruth shows us this as well.

Sometimes life doesn’t follow our plans because it shouldn’t. Sometimes dreams die because they should die. They’re the wrong dreams for us. Sometimes none of those reasons is the reason. Sometimes there is no reason…at least none that we can understand. God works all that out. I can’t figure it out at all.

A great part of life is about learning how to adjust when things don’t stack up the way we want them to. It happens to all of us sooner or later. Oh yeah, Ruth teaches us that too.

(Ed Saucier)

---

[1] Hesh Kestin, Twenty-First-Century-Management. New York: The Atlantic Monthly Press, 1992, p. 143.

I have a hard time with God's Sovereignty...

But I trust it and I'm thankful He is Sovereign...

The idea of God's sovereignty can be overwhelming, when you really stop to think about how the idea shapes and drives every part of life.  I guess I've know the word since I was young, but never really knew what it meant.  It is a churchy type word that we use a lot without always thinking about its ramifications.  I remember the first time I was really forced to think about what God's sovereignty meant.  It was in seminary, and it blew me away.  The idea flew in the face of all that I used to think and all that I ever understood.  Sovereignty as the Bible described was different than what I was taught in church, it was different than what I was taught in school, in sports, or at home.  I was for the most part taught that I controlled my own destiny.  Which for awhile I felt like I did a pretty good job of controlling.  I have to admit that I didn't like this idea of not being in control.  What human being does like the idea of not being in control.  I couldn't get this idea off my mind, it even caused me to lose sleep at night.  I kept wanting to talk to people to get their views of the idea, and what I learned from asking people was that many of the folks that I asked had not really thought the idea all the way through.  

I think most of us want God to be in control of some parts of life, but we are uncomfortable with God being in control of all of life.  I think when you look at Ruth and Naomi it would be easy to say well God was in control of providing Boaz to provide for them, but when you think that God was in control of the reasoning for God needing to provide Boaz we would rather God not be in control of that.  Remember why Boaz was necessary in the first place.  Ruth and Naomi lost their husbands.  Most of us don't like to think that God's hand is even in the things that we might see as tragedy.  I would rather say God was not involved in that.  I like saying he was just there to take care of us after it happened.  Yet it would be limiting God's power to say that he couldn't keep the bad stuff from happening, but was only there to make things better after it happened.  

I have a hard time with God's sovereignty in many areas of my life.  I have a hard time with it when my family or friends have difficult circumstances in their lives, but one of the hardest things for me to conceive of is that it was God's will, it was in his control, it was his plan, it was his sovereignty which sent Jesus to be falsely accused.  It was his sovereignty that sent Jesus to suffer.  It was his sovereignty which sent Jesus to the Cross.  

Remember that Jesus asked the Father right before he was arrested to let this cup pass from him.  Jesus was asking for another way to save us.  He knew what was about to happen, and he didn't want to have to do it.  Yet it was the Fathers will for him to suffer and die.  How the followers of Jesus must have felt their life falling apart.  How they must have felt that Jesus' life was such a waste.  

But while our minds seem to be small and unable to understand the grand plan of God, how great it is to know that salvation is for us because of God's plan, because of his will, because of his sovereignty.

What a great reminder when we think that life is falling apart to focus on how it might have looked when Jesus was hanging on the Cross, but three days later everything changed and God's plan worked to perfection.  His plan will still work today in our lives.  No matter how bad it must seem.  We just have to realize that he is that big, that wise, that perfect.  He is faithful.  He is worthy of our trust.

(Mark Kincannon)

Writing the Story

Read Ruth chapter 2.

Notice how the chapter begins... with a fact about some man that we as the reader have yet to encounter so far in the story.  However we find out that this new character, Boaz, is closely related to Naomi's late husband.  Later in the chapter and later in the book we find out that Boaz will have a prominent role in the lives of Naomi and Ruth.  Interestingly, even though we find out about Boaz in the first verse of chapter Ruth is still ignorant of Boaz; she doesn't meet him until later in the chapter.  The narrator gives us a quick tidbit of info about Boaz to foreshadow what's coming.  The narrator knows more than the characters know.  He knows how the story plays out and who is going to factor prominently in the story, long before the main character finds out this information.  Ruth does not yet see how all the pieces of the puzzle fit together so unaware of what lies ahead she is forced to just do what she knows has to be done, go to the field to glean grain.  

How often do we find ourselves in Ruth's place?  Not knowing how a situation is going to work out we are left to just do what we know to be right.  Unlike us God knows how the story unfolds, Just like the narrator of Ruth's story.  God sees our story from beginning to end, when we can only see it one moment at a time.  And he is writing our story out perfectly, introducing the right characters at the right time and in the right way.  He knows who will be important and who will be insignificant long before we ever meet them, because God is continually working things out for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28).

Isn't that a comforting thought?  God has already planned the resolution to our drama even while we are still experiencing the tragedy that sets the story. 

(Mike Crain)

H.A.L.T

Last week at the Crawford County Campus Kevin mentioned something that we had not previously talked about in our sermon prep meetings.  I think that it is worth repeating for those that might not have been able to here it.  He told us about the way that many para-church ministries teach their staffers, to deal with tragedy.  I thought it was really appropriate in our sermon series on Ruth (When Life Falls Apart).  The idea is this.  When you are Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired you should H.A.L.T.  One of those four experiences often accompany a tragic situation.  When they happen you shouldn't make decisions, because there is a good chance that whatever decision you make will probably make things worse.

In our home group tonight we discussed what SHOULD you do when your not doing anything.  The folks in our home group came up with three main things that we should actually do when we are supposed to be HALTing.   The three things were pray, seek unbiased wise counsel, and go to Scripture.  After we finished home group I thought of one more...I hate when that happens.  That is trust.  Isn't that what Naomi and Ruth did?  They trusted in their God to provide.  In order for us to actually trust in God when the difficulties come it is important that we get to know who He is before the tragedy occurs. I think the greater our knowledge of the immeasurable wisdom and power of God the greater the possibility we remain faithful to God during times of suffering.  While Naomi trusted God she also renamed herself to show her grief, yet her knowledge and relationship with God provided what was necessary for her to continue to be faithful to God through the difficulties of her life.

Is your knowledge and relationship with God ready for any tragedy that might come your way?  As many of the New Testament authors remind us we should be prepared for difficulties in this life.  While the actual circumstances of the difficulties might surprise us the difficulty itself should not.  Is the God you know worth trusting through those difficulties?

A great resource on this subject is "The God You Can Know" by Dan DeHaan  

(Mark Kincannon)

Dumpster Diving

"And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, 'Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.' And she said to her, 'Go my daughter.'" (Ruth 2.2)

I assume that poverty can take one to some places that no one would ever imaginegoing.  When Ruth and Naomi return to Bethlehem they need to eat.  Without a man to provide for them, they are left to fend for themselves.  Instead of begging on the side of the road, Ruth offers to glean from a field.  Gleaning is the process of picking up the scraps leftover from a harvested field.  Its the task most often left for animals.  A modern day equivalent would be dumpster diving in which a person jumps into a dumpster behind a restaurant in hopes of finding some leftovers to eat. 

It intrigues me that God didn't save Ruth and Naomi from this shame, but he actually saved them through it.  The very place that God chose to turn their fortune is the very place that I can never imagine God allowing me to be. 

    Imagine if Ruth had prayed to God, "dear Lord, save us for we cannot rescue ourselves." 

    God hearing her prayer says, "Okay, find a dumpster, jump in it, and my man will find you there."   

A dumpster?  Seriously?  There must be a better meeting place--how about the library, a church, or maybe a local restaurant.  Yet God's plan included the dumpster.  It is funny to me that the very thing I would be praying for God to save me from is the very thing to which God is driving Ruth. 

    My prayer, "Lord, save me from the dumpster."

    God's reply, "Kevin, find me in the dumpster."

If this book show us anything, it is that God's design for my life is rarely understood by me.  As a matter of fact, I'm so confused about what is right that I actually have the ability to mistake God's perfect will for a tragic mistake. 

If Ruth needed to be in the dumpster, O Lord, where does that mean you want me? 

Have you ever been on a divine dumpster dive? 

Have you ever fought against going to the very place God wanted you to be?

What dumpster are you in right now?  Instead of fighting to get out of it, have you looked for God in it?

(Kevin Thompson)

For Example...

I tend to agree with Mark Twain's observation that, "Few things are as bothersome as the annoyance of a good example." Even fewer things are as potent. And that only bothers those of us that think about it. Because bothersome or not examples are the kinds of things where we're the "observe-ee" as often as we're the "observe-er." Maybe oftener...

That's why a picture is worth a thousand words. Actions have a way of proving what words never will. You have to do something about what you talk about before the rest of us are going to believe you mean what you say. On the other hand, if you'll just do something...you might not have to say much at all, and who wouldn't like that?

That's what I'm getting from the study of Ruth so far--the annoyance of a good example. She's the kind of person whose actions do most of her speaking for her. And it's bothersome to me, because if she can do it, then I can do it. So why don't I? Only one answer...and I don't much like it. I don't want to, and I just hate that about me. And that's more bothersome...again, only for those of us that think about it.

Every decision I ever make is mine alone to make. If I don't make the right one, at least when I know what the right one is (which is most of the time), it's because I don't care enough about following or leaving a good example. And I ought to... You're free to disagree if you want to, of course, but I think you ought to want to, too. 

(Ed Saucier)

Lingering Thoughts on Monday...

Lingering Thoughts for Monday, March 8th, 2009

"Vernal Falls"

One of the highlights of my life has been visiting Yosemite National Park in California.  One of the low lights of my life is only getting to spend one day there.  While working for a summer camp in California our team was a short drive from Yosemite.  Unfortunately we only had one day off a week so we had to make the most of the day trip to this jewel of the national park system.  Due to our short stay we did alot of driving and seeing the major sites of the park from scenic overlooks.  Getting to see Half Dome was a joy as well as sitting at the bottom of Yosemite Falls. However, we were all young college and seminary students who were in fairly good shape (emphasis on the fairly) and we would be remiss to not hike at some point.

We chose what we thought would be a short trail hike to a place called, Vernal Falls.  The trail marker where we started said the distance was less than a mile and a half.  What the trail marker failed to say is that the majority of that hike was at a 90 degree angle.  It was one of the most painful and tiring hikes of my entire life.  At one point we came to stairs that only the cast of the Lord of the Rings would climb but up we went. 

As the "short hike" approached well over an hour because of numerous stops for water and CPR I said to myself that nothing is worth this torture.  My weak heart was ready to give up and throw in the proverbial towel.  I am thankful that my friends would not give up.  They prodded, encouraged, and screamed at my sweaty body to get to the top of the hill...and it was worth it.

Not only was the view magnificent but you could swim in this amazing mountain lake!  The lake, scenery, park, and friendship shared that day made for moments I will never forget.  It has been almost 10 years since my summer in California and I can still vividly remember that day and those moments atop Vernal Falls.

I am thankful that my pastor Ed reminded me today that faith is not easy.  He continued to tell me that, "if someone tells you that faith is easy then they are lying." My life, which is often like my hike to the top of Vernal Falls, is often straight up, rocky, and difficult.  My heart screams out to quit.  My emotions tell me to give up.  My instincts say to turn back.  That is why it is good to look to Ruth and see such a powerful Biblical character that did not make the situation in her life worse...rather she chose God.  It did not make her life easier then and she probably had some emotions telling her to run back to Moab.  Nevertheless she looked at her mother-in-law and said your God is now my God.

This is not just good drama, it is good theology!  God is the only one who is to be in charge of our life...our heart...our emotions.  Jeremiahreminds us that our heart can be deceptive above all things.  That is why Ezekiel reminds us that God will give us an entirely new heart.  For some of you reading today you are in the midst of life falling apart.  I beg you to pray for a heart like Ruth's!  One that cries out, clings to, and chases God into a life that is not perfect...but God h honoring.

(Joel Reynolds - Converge Students Blog)

coming or going

Where you are going is more important than where you have come from.

"...there was a famine in the land and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.  The name of the man was Elimelech..." - Ruth 1:1-2 

Elimelech had a solid religious pedigree.  He was an Israelite; he was one of God's chosen people.  He came from a people who were known for their God and the relationship that He had with them.  In addition, he was a resident of Judah, part of God's Promised Land. It would appear that Elimelech came from a place where he was pretty close to God.   Yet it seems that when adversity hit he willing left that behind.  He left the land that had been given to his people by God in order to move to a country full of people who worshipped other gods.  Elimelech went from Israel, the nation of God's people, into Moab.

"...Ruth said, 'Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you.  For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge.  Your people shall be by people, and your God my God.'" - Ruth 1:16  

Ruth is the antithesis of Boaz.  She did not have the same pedigree that he had.  Ruth started out in Moab worshiping other gods than the Lord.  However, when faced with the choice to go back to her own gods or to stick with Naomi and the Lord, she chose the Lord.  She began far from God and moved closer to him, where as Elimelech did the opposite.  Things worked out far better for Ruth.  The last thing we know about Elimelech is that he died in Moab, but through the book that bears her name we see that Ruth experienced the blessings and kindness of God. 

Where you are going is more important than where you have come from.

So, where are you going?  Are you headed toward greater closeness with God or toward greater distance from him?

(Mike Crain)

How the Bachelor made me think about Ruth and Naomi...

I confess that I must forfeit cool points, man points, or whatever you want to call them.  I don't watch The Bachelor, but I, like Kevin, watched the last episode.  To my credit I was not planning on watching it.  I came down stairs after putting one of the boys to bed and it was on.  Michelle was putting the other boy to bed so she wasn't watching it either.  She actually made fun of me when she came downstairs and saw it was on and I was sucked in to it.  I promise, it was just on the T.V. when I came down stairs and he was about to dump a girl so I thought I will watch just to see what her reaction is.  It's not everyday that you get to watch someone get dumped.  Then as I was about to turn it off I found out he was about to dump the girl he was engaged to, also.  I usually think those girls are getting what they deserve, how could they ever think that something good can come from a situation where one guy is dating a bunch of girls at the same time.  That whole show is just not right, on many levels.  As I watched I found myself wanting the girls to both kick that guy in the face (I know...a very Christ like reaction) as I started thinking that my daughter will one day probably get hurt by a guy that is clueless about what love is.

She will probably one day have some tragedy come her way, which she might or might not have contributed much to.  She will have to deal with pain.  She might feel like her life is in shambles and there is no hope.  Ruth had the opportunity to wallow in her sorrow, why didn't she?  Why do so many people tend to make life worse during difficult times?  Why did Ruth not do this?  How can I avoid making things worse?  How can I help my daughter not make life worse when she feels like her life is falling apart?   

After the Final Rose, You Might Look Like an Idiot

"Then they lifted up their voices and wept again.  And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her." (Ruth 1.15)

Let the record show that I didn't watch the whole season, but I have to admit that I watched the final episode of The Bachelor on Monday night and am watching "the show after the show after the final rose" as I write these thoughts.  All man points are now gone for me, but then again you are still reading so that's the pot calling the kettle black.  

To catch those up that are pretending they didn't watch, Jason the bachelor,who ask DeAnna to marry him on last season, asked Melissa to marry him this season before changing his mind and declaring his love for Molly.  All of that is fine, except for the fact that he kept repeating the mantra "I can't control my heart."  Instead of being a man and saying, "I have chosen not to love you anymore."  Jason kept claiming that his heart was in charge, yet out of his control. 

It sounds great, especially when you want to break someone's heart but don't want to take any responsibility for it, yet the thinking is ridiculous.  The Bible makes clear--we are responsible for our hearts.  We are responsible for the decisions we make.

In the first chapter of Ruth, Naomi's two daughter-in-laws are forced with a decision.  Ruth chooses to cling to Naomi and her God while Orpah chooses to leave Naomi and return to her gods.  In that decision is all of life.  Did Orpah follow her heart?  Who knows and who cares--the point is that she rejected the One True God in order to return to a location of multiple gods.    She is responsible for that decision.

We live in a day where it is in fashion to deny responsibility and blame something beyond us, or within us for the choices we make.  It might make us feel better, but it is not truth.  The truth is that we decide where our heart goes.  We decide to love or not to love.  We decide to obey or rebel.  We decide to be faithful or faithless. 

I wonder, what excuse have you made for your poor decision making?

What choices are you trying to blame on your heart or your personality or how you were raised?

Jason looked like an idiot as he wept over the damage that his unrestrained heart caused.  I look just as idiotic every time I make an excuse for a decision that I made.

"Will you accept this rose, unless my heart changes its mind without my consent whenever I see someone hotter than you at which point I will want the rose back, but until then I love you too?"

(Kevin Thompson)

It's better to know a few things for certain than a lot of things that ain't so.

From the beginning I’ll tell you that I struggle, a lot, with this whole issue of pain, suffering, and unanswered prayers from the standpoint of a fellow human being who doesn’t always understand or appreciate what often looks and feels like inactivity or indifference of so powerful a God as is presented to us in the Bible. Some of the more perplexing experiences of my life revolve around trying to gain a proper perspective of how God relates to those he loves when we hurt. I admit freely that I know only a little about it…

I know bad things happen to good people and most of us would like to know why. If you don’t want to know…you’re the first person I’ve met like you…

I also know that bad things are not always a sign of God’s displeasure. Read the first couple of chapters in Job to make that discovery. No one “deserved” to suffer less—but none ever suffered more than Job.

And I know that good and bad are relative definitions. It may feel bad, but be good. You can read a good story about this very thing in Genesis 37-50. Joseph was thrown in a pit and left for dead by his own brothers (bad); they only rescued him so they could sell him as a slave (very bad); he was falsely accused of attempted rape by a post-menopausal sex-addict (very, very bad); for which he ended up in prison for several years (worse than bad). Listen to his conclusion: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20), and that’s a good thing…a very good thing.

I know this too; the issue is purpose, not power. His name is Yahweh—not Aladdin. My wish is not his command. His concern must always be accomplishing the highest good for the greatest number for the longest time—and no prayer I ever pray will cause him to behave differently.

And I know that his purposes are most often beyond my ability to comprehend. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9). If I only knew why… But what makes me think I would understand it? And if I did understand it, what makes me think I ‘d be satisfied with it?

At last, but not least, I know this; it’s a faith thing. Read Hebrews 11 for a crash course on faith… Start at about verse 17 and read through verse 40, and you’ll see what I mean.

That's why, "It's better to know a few things for certain than a lot of things that ain't so" (Josh billings).

 

(Ed Saucier)

Lingering Thoughts on Monday, March 2nd...

Lingering Thoughts...

"Dreams"

As a sixth grader at Woodbridge Middle School I joined the band program.  Well aware of my lack of athletic ability I sincerely wanted to contribute in whatever way I could to the football team.  To achieve this I wanted to do nothing more than play on the drum line at the middle school and eventually in the high school marching band.

During my first day of band class we went through a series of test to determine our musical proficiency.  At this point I was oblivious to the fact that i lacked musical ability almost as bad as I lacked athletic ability.  Nonetheless, I tested on with my mind dreaming of playing the snare drum.

The next day our band director returned with our test results and asked us for our top three choices for musical instruments to play for the band.  I, of course, put drums as my first choice and percussion line (cymbals, xylophone, etc.) as my second choice.  Of course, because I was the Charlie Brown of Woodbridge Middle School, I was given my third choice.  Seriously, who get's their third choice at anything?  I have always wondered why you even had a third choice...clearly it is not something you want otherwise you would have put it as a first or second choice!

Whats that? You want to know what my third choice was?  My hope was that my rambling would make you forget that I never shared a third choice.  I figured if I kept writing you would never realize that I never told you choice three...my eventual musical instrument.  Excuse me? Oh, I am doing it again.

Ok, ok, ok...as I was saying I got my third choice which was the bass clarinet.  Insert laughter HERE.  Now look I have no problem with the bass clarinet.  If my music proficiency test said that is what I should play then who am I to argue with standardized testing! After all standardized testing seems to be doing marvelous things for the American Educational system (clearly obvious by my keen grammatical insights, clarity of writing, and grasp of the English language).  My only beef with the test is that I was the only kid in 6th grade who tested for the bass clarinet.  Which leads me to the sinking feeling that I was the kid stupid enough to put it as their third choice thus opening the door for our Band director to fill a giant instrumental hole in the orchestra.

 I am sure your wondering is the bass clarinet a sexy instrument with a beautiful tonal sound.  Well the answer is simple...NO.  It is a background instrument.  There to play lower notes while the flutes, trumpets, saxophones, and trombones play the greatly wanted solo notes.  The bass clarinet plays in the background while my beloved drums provide the beat and rhythm driving our anthem.  With no disrespect due my fellow bass clarinetist I hated playing that blasted instrument. 

I hated being the only one in the entire orchestra with that blasted instrument.  I even hated lugging that blasted instrument home on the bus (of course it didn't fit under the seat so I had to hold the humongous case on my lap to and from school).

I will say this though (because my therapy blog session is running long)...I AM THANKFUL I WAS MADE TO PLAY THE BASS CLARINET.  Seriously! I am thankful today that I was assigned that instrument.  If I had gotten to play the drums, as I wanted and dreamed of doing, I might have stuck it out and continued into bigger and better bands.  I know if I had gotten to play the drums would have joined the marching band in high school.  I know that if I excelled at the drums would have tired out for county, region, and state level bands.  I know that if I had done well at those levels on the drums I would have sought music scholarships and chances to play drums at a college. 

BUT I did get to play the drums.  I was given the honor to play bass clarinet for two years.  This dream was not shattered or taken away from me.  This dream was not fulfilled because God loved me too much to see me go into music.  Come to find out but four years after giving up my musical dreams I was given a greater dream...a dream to preach, teach, and lead teenagers in the local church.  If I had sought after my musical aspirations it may have kept me from a divine call awaiting me in high school.

Am I sad my dream was never fulfilled...some days when I am alone in the student venue on the drum kit playing...YES I am sad.  Would I give up what I am doing today serving the wonderful students of Community Bible to fulfill that dream...NOT in a million years.

Joel