Transformed Lives Transforming The World

A Personal Message

Worship this past Sunday was a different experience for me, and I had a blast. Let me take just a few minutes here to explain...

First, everything that happened, from the first note of the first song to the graphics on the big screen and the painted panels hanging on the wall, to the final, "Have a great week; see you next Sunday," focused our attention on the transforming nature of the Gospel. The entire hour was filled with messages of hope, encouragement, enlightenment and genuine goodheartedness (is that a word? It is now) as our worship team drew our attention and energy toward Christ, and his role as redeeming Savior and Lord. It was fun, too. We were happy to be there, and when we left we were all glad that we had spent that hour together. 

Second, most of the people that made the hour so compelling and real and relevant were volunteers. People whose lives are already packed with more to do than they can get done in a week's time, still gave significant amounts of their time and energy to help make that hour sacred. And it worked. My, oh my, how it worked.

Third, Mike Crain taught us, convincingly and thoroughly, through a superbly crafted lesson that peace (a rarely captured but constantly desired commodity these days) comes to us through Christ, even when we're afraid all hell is going to break lose.

Fourth, that message was the result of a new teaching strategy that our teaching pastors have been using for the better part of a year; the five of us (Joel Reynolds, Mike Crain, Mark Kincannon, Kevin Thompson, and me) meet every Wednesday morning to study and share our research and thoughts, months ahead of the date the lesson will be delivered, and "team up" to produce a manuscript that will be used for both campus locations. Each week, though some personal aspects of each sermon will be different, the message is essentially the same. It's been weird for an old dog like me to learn that new trick, but I absolutely love it. Thanks and congratulations to Kevin for bringing this to the table for us.

Fifth, I was afforded the privilege to sit through the worship service without a single responsibility other than to enjoy the hour with my wife, which I did...immensely so. 

I don't know what else to say other than to say I'm so very proud of each of you, and so very privileged to be here working with you...all of you.

(Ed Saucier)

Unless

"Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe." (John 20.25)

These words of Thomas seem to be a passionate, heart-felt line in the sand between belief and unbelief.  Itwas a strict description of what it would take for him to firmly believe.  As wrong as it was, there is something comforting in someone being so honest about their unbelief and what it would take for him to believe.  Most people in our culture would not be nearly that honest, instead they would hedge the appearance of belief while living in unbelief.

So what is your line?  What prevents you from truly buying into everything that Jesus said?  Do you need a physical manifestation?  Would it take a specific miracle?  Do you need one situation taken care of?

What strikes me about this story is that Thomas didn't really know his own line of belief.  A forgotten aspect of this story is that Thomas never touched Jesus.  At least there is nothing in the text that says he touched him.  So Thomas said, "I won't believe until I touch."  Then Jesus showed up and Thomas believed. 

The fact is, we only have one line when it comes to faith.  Claim that it is whatever you think that it is, but the line is hearing Jesus.  When the ear of our heart hears the voice of Jesus, we will believe.  As long as our ears don't hear, we will waffle in unbelief. 

So have you heard him?  Have you experienced him speaking to you?  If you have, you believe. 

(Kevin Thompson)

A Heart of Wisdom

Psalm 90:12- "So teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

Yesterday Kevin mention this text as it was going to be a part of his message during a funeral.  I was at the funeral and heard him speak about this issue of numbering our days.  Shortly after the funeral I had the pleasure of eating lunch with a man that I consider to be one of my mentors.  Each time I'm with him he speaks wisdom into my life.  Ironically today he talked about this same verse.  Apparently God wanted me to think about this verse today.  While Kevin talked about the numbering our days aspect of this verse at lunch we talked about the idea of gaining a heart of wisdom.  It is interesting that Moses has had a long full life at the time of this Psalm's writing.  Yet he is understanding the need for a heart of wisdom.  Why would he be requesting a heart of wisdom so late in life?  I think he understood what my mentor (who is at or near retirement age) understands and that is that we must constantly be asking God for wisdom.  In an age of information there are tons of ways to gain knowledge and many ways to try to be more informed.  I'm the type of person that tries to be careful to make good decisions and there are many voices out there telling us what decisions we need to make, but there is only one source that is truly 100 percent reliable.  

As I reflected on my lunch meeting I realized that in my quest to make good decisions and use all of my available resources to make those decisions it is easy to over look the wisdom of God.  With the amount of information that is generated everyday and quickly made available to at our finger tips the culture can be swayed in an very short period of time.  And because the changes occur so quickly and so often this verse becomes that much more important.  We must constantly be seeking a heart of wisdom or we will get swept up in the information tidal wave and be led astray.  

(Mark Kincannon)

The Answer to Despair or Denial

Today I am speaking at the funeral of a 41 year old church member who died of cancer.  At every funeral two crowds gather--the family/close friends and everyone else.  To the family we try to speak words of comfort and to everyone else words of challenge.  Here are my basic thoughts to the everyone else.

There are two natural human responses to the fact that we all will die--despair and denial.  At moments the thought of our own mortality strikes us so strong that we despair over the thought that our lives are finite.  Yet most of the time we simply live in denial.  We leave things unsaid or undone.  We leave relationships fractured.  We live with a reckless abandonment as if nothing will ever touch us.  

The Bible offers a third option to the fact that we all will die.  In Psalm 90.12, Moses prays "So teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom."  This is neither denial nor despair.  This is accepting the sober reality with optimism and eyes of faith.  If we learn to number our days we will know that our time on this earth is limited.  We will be reminded that opportunities may just come once, but surely will not be open-ended.  By numbering our days we will give them a value and meaning reminding ourselves that each day is a gift.  

Those things that go unnumbered either have little meaning or a limitless quantity.  Neither can be said of the days we are given to live.  They have great meaning and they are far too few.  So we need God to teach us to number each one and in so doing we will gain a heart that thinks like His--wisely.

(Kevin Thompson)   

Missional Living

Earlier this week our worship pastor, Donnie Todd, sent our staff a great article on being missional.  This post was written by Jonathon Dodson, a church planter in Austin, and it also found its way onto Johnny Roberts' blog for the BOD.TV, a church plant in Roland.  I wanted to share this with you, because it contains great practical tips that can help us live out our calling as a church, Transformed Lives Transforming the World.

8 Ways to Easily be Missional

Missional is not an event we tack onto our already busy lives. It is our life. Mission should be the way we live, not something we add onto life: “As you go, make disciples….”; “Walk wisely towards outsiders”; “Let your speech always be seasoned with salt”; “be prepared to give a defense for your hope”. We can be missional in everyday ways without even overloading our schedules. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Eat with Non-Christians. We all eat three meals a day. Why not make a habit of sharing one of those meals with a non-Christian or with a family of non-Christians? Go to lunch with a co-worker, not by yourself. Invite the neighbors over for family dinner. If it’s too much work to cook a big dinner, just order pizza and put the focus on conversation. When you go out for a meal, invite a non-Christian friend. Or take your family to family-style restaraunts where you can sit at the table with strangers and strike up conversations (Mighty Fine Burgers, Buca di Peppo, The Blue Dahlia, etc.). Have cookouts and invite Christians and non-Christians. Flee the Xn subculture.
   
2. Walk, Don’t Drive. If you live in a walkable area, make a practice of getting out and walking your neighborhood, apartment complex, campus. Instead of driving to check the mail, go to the convenience store, or visit a neighbor, get out and walk. Say hi to people you don’t know. Walk the dog. Take a 6-pack. Bring the kids. Make friends. Get out of the house when your neighbors are out (weekends, after work, holidays, afternoons). Take interest in your neighbor’s hobbies. Ask questions. Engage. Pray as you go. Save some gas and the planet.
3. Be a Regular. Instead of hopping all over the city for gas, groceries, haircuts, eating out, and coffee, go to the same places. Get to know the staff. Go around the same times. Smile. Ask questions. Be a regular. I have friends at coffeeshops all over the city. I pray for them. They give me free drinks and food. I give them the free gospel of grace. I know a professor that used to wait by his trash can each week for the garbage collector and gave him a drink. Be a Regular.
4. Hobby with Non-Christians. Pick a hobby that you can share with your city, community, town. Get out and rub shoulders doing something you enjoy with others. City League basketball, football, soccer. Local rowing and cycling teams. Teach sewing lessons, piano lessons, violin, guitar, knitting lessons.  Be prayerful. Be intentional. Be winsome. Be gracious. Have fun. Be yourself.
5. Talk to Your Co-workers. How hard is that? take your breaks with intentionality. Get a drink with your team after work. Show interest in your co-workers. Pick four and pray for them. Form mom’s groups in your neighborhood, just don’t make them exclusively non-Christian. Schedule play dates with the neighbors’ kids. Be sociable.
6. Volunteer for a Local Non-Profit. Find a non-profit in your part of the city and take Saturday a month to serve your city. Bring your neighbors, your friends, or your small group with you. The options are endless here. Just do it.
7. Participate in City-wide Events. Instead of playing X-Box, watching TV, or talking to your mom on the phone every weekend, go to the city garage sale, fundraisers, the festivals, the clean-ups, the summer shows, SXSW, ACL, Pecan Street Festival, etc. Go and meet people. Study the culture. Reflect on what you see and hear. Pray for the city. Love the city. Participate with the city.
8. Look for opportunities to Serve your Neighbors. Help a neighbor by weeding, mowing, building a cabinet, fixing a car. Stop by the neighborhood association or apartment office and ask if there is anything you can do to help improve things. Stop by your local Police and Fire Stations. Ask if there is anything you can do to help them. Get creative.

Don’t make the mistake of making “missional” another thing to add to your schedule. Instead, make your existing schedule missional. Check out this related article on integrating Gospel, Community and Mission into everyday life.

Choices

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." (John 14.26)

I heard an old preacher tell the story of a well respected bank President training a new associate.  The President was well-known for his wisdom so the young associate ask the old President, "how did you become so wise." 

The President didn't hesitate when he said, "I made good choices." 

The associate asked, "how did you learn to make good choices?" 

The President responded, "I learned from my bad choices."

The nature of humanity says that we will all make bad choices--its our genetic condition.  What separates humanity is that some of us have the ability to learn from our bad choices while others of us simply repeat them.

In every situation, the Holy Spirit is at work in the lives of believers teaching us.  He instructs us in the things of Christ assisting us to understand our current circumstances in light of who God is.  The question is are we teachable and are we listening.

How tragic it would be to come to the realization that we are repeating mistakes all because we are not learning from those mistakes.  Yet mistakes are guaranteed, the lesson from them is what is uncertain.  

The Spirit desires to teach you and one of the greatest tools at his disposal is our own mistakes.  Are you learning?  

What's the greatest lesson you have ever learned from a mistake?

(Kevin Thompson)     

After Easter

In church life it is easy to get geared up for Easter and then to have a let down the following few weeks. It's easy to get fired up about a record number of people showing up on Easter Sunday even when we are having a monsoon outside. Here are a few things I think are cool about this past Sunday that I got to personally experience:
• The guys that got soaking wet helping people get out of the rain. And in Crawford County I should add muddy.
• The people that helped work in the very busy children's rooms. Should I say abnormally busy?
• The conversation I got to have with a lady that is in membership class who has been attending for awhile. She told me how much Community has meant to her since her friends invited her to come with them. She told me with tears in her eyes how thankful she was that her friends invited her.

Sometimes the coolest things about being Christ follower are the things that seem like no big deal but end up having the greatest impact.

(Mark Kincannon)

Signed in Blood...

In spite of all that had been done to him you can’t get past the feeling that he was in charge all along. He was calling the shots, and he had one more left that no one, literally, would believe—the centerpiece of everything—the resurrection.

“No matter how many times I have lived through his crucifixion, my anxiety about his resurrection is undiminished… Anyone can be sentimental about the Nativity; any fool can feel like a Christian at Christmas. But Easter is the main event; if you don’t believe in the resurrection, you’re not a believer.” (John Irving, A Prayer for Owen Meany)

Some say the disciples just made it all up to jump-start their own religion. But they were the most suspicious of all when they were told he was alive, especially Thomas. It would have been easier, and more natural, to honor a dead Jesus than to have insisted that he was alive—but that was a choice they no longer had.

“The resurrection is not a belief that grew up within the church; it is the belief around which the church itself grew up.” (C.H. Dodd)

As for the conspiracy theory, that falls apart real fast too. They weren’t telling people that Jesus was alive—just the opposite. They were hiding out in clandestine locations behind locked doors, afraid that they would be next to die. They were even too afraid to bury the dead body of Jesus, a chore they conveniently left to the ladies. These men were incapable of faking the resurrection of Jesus and incompetent to concoct a cover-up.

If the disciples were trying for a cover-up they goofed big time. In ancient Palestine a Jewish court wouldn’t let a woman testify in court much less accept it as evidence. If the disciples had made this up, surely they’d have taken that fact into account and wouldn’t have named women as corroborators. They’d have chosen a man. And they wouldn’t have told everyone that Mary Magdalene thought he was a gardener when she first saw him. The only conspiracy was the one the soldiers were putting together to explain why the tomb they were guarding was empty.

Back in Jerusalem Peter and John have seen the empty tomb and they tell the rest what they now believe; Jesus is out there somewhere, and he’s alive…when, suddenly, without warning or fanfare, he’s right there among them; no ghost, no dream, but a real, flesh and blood man with scars in his hands, feet and side.

He spent forty days with those eyewitnesses… He had about six weeks to establish his identity for all eternity. The church would stand or fall based on how persuasive those eyewitnesses would become. It’s my opinion that he pulled it off.

His resurrection made his identity so obvious that no disciple would ever deny him again, and none did. From that point on those men became his fearless followers.

His resurrection forever removed the choice of believing or disbelieving. They knew what happened. They were there. They could no more disbelieve in his resurrection than they could deny the sun’s rising each morning. They’d seen it—to a man they died defending it. People don’t die for a lies when they know they’re lies. It is my most profound reason for believing their story—they proved the veracity of their testimony by signing it in their own blood.

(Ed Saucier)

Lingering Thoughts on Monday, April 13th...

"Read What I Suggest Not What Books - A - Million Does"

4/13/09

As I was leaving Books-A-Million the other day I noticed their Easter display poster in the window.  Here is a picture of that display.

I do not know why I am surprised by the suggestions for "spiritual" books from a secular store.  It just hit me as interesting that on the holiest day of the Christian calendar the suggested reading would include, the Shack, the Gosselin memoirs, and Tony Dungy's biography.  Easter is a great time to refocus our minds on the work of Christ.  For many Christians this time of year serves as a great reminder to return to consistency in their quiet times and reading other Christian books.

I hope this season of Easter has been a wonderful time of worship and renewal.  I challenge you this week to begin reading something that will challenge your mind and heart with the power and mystery of the gospel.  Being that this Easter only Books-A-Million is suggesting titles I thought I would give you my own humble list of Christ-centered works that would be challenging and attainable books to read this resurrection season. 

Below are five somewhat recent titles that I wholeheartedly commend to you.  Obviously there are other great books to read that would provide great inspiration to believers. f If you have a suggested title please add it to the comment section below for blog readers consideration. If you click on the title of the book you will be redirected to Amazon where you can learn more about the book.  Happy Reading!

1. Living The Cross Centered Life by C.J. Mahaney

Devotionally written Mahaney's book is both practical and profound.  A wonderful place to start for those wanting to be challenged to live a life of cross-centeredness beyond the holy week. This book is a compilation of Christ Our Mediator and the Cross Centered Life both by Mahaney.

2. The Gospel for Real Life by Jerry Bridges

A modern classic that provides both basic introduction to the theology of the cross but also real life application.

3. The Prodigal God by Tim Keller

A dramatic look at the parable of the prodigal son.  This book will change the way you view the gospel and the God behind it. 

4. Death by Love by Mark Driscoll

A challenging look at the completed work of Jesus Christ on the cross and the ramifications for our day to day choices.

5. 50 Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die by John Piper

A very accessible book that would be a perfect devotional to read for the 50 days following Easter.

One Advanced Suggestion...

The Cross of Christ by John R.W. Stott (25th Anniversary Edition)

This is a must read for any and all Christians wanting to grasp the work of Jesus on the Cross.  This is a very thick and challenging read.

Acrostic

Just so, I tell you there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:10)

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock (Matthew 7:24)

Soon after he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God.  And the twelve were with him (Luke 8:1)

Until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all has been accomplished (Matthew 5:18)

Son, your sins are forgiven (Mark 2:5)

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28)

Hosanna. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord (Mark 11:9)

Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand (Matthew 4:17)

I know him, for I come from him and he sent me (John 7:29)

Stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming (Matthew 24:42)

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:5)

(Mike Crain)

The Cross: Our Shame

   An instrument of death has become a symbol of life.  The tool of torture has become a good luck charm worn around the neck and an image carved into stain glass.  The ugly cross has become a beautiful reminder of the life of Christ.  And rightly so.  However, the cross is still humanity’s darkest hour.

   Lost amidst the glory of the resurrection and the hope of the Revelation, it is easy to forget the actions of average humans which led to the death of the ultimate man.

   Peter preached to the people at Pentecost that God had given them a gift.  This gift was confirmed by miracles.  Christ was given by the foreknowledge of God.  He was provided by a loving God seeking the best for his creation.  Yet God’s gift, his own son, was murdered by blood thirsty humans. 

   Peter desired to remind the people that their actions had led to Christ’s death.  We need to be reminded of the same.  We see the cross and see life, but when we look at the cross, we should also see our great shame. 

   My sin is best exemplified by Christ’s suffering on the cross.  In desperate need of God, humanity sacrifices God’s very gift.  The sins of this tragedy do not lie solely in the soldiers who executed him, nor in the judges that sentenced him.  The blood lies on the hands of all humanity.  We have no greater shame than the cross.

   And yet in a way which only God can accomplish, he takes our greatest shame and makes it his greatest glory.  Despite our actions, Jesus was raised from the dead to accomplish God’s eternal purpose.  Our sin was taken away by God’s own love.  See the cross.  Understand its beauty.  Experience its greatness.  Endure its reality.  But never forget its shame.  For it is only in the shame of the cross that we remember God’s most amazing action.

(Kevin Thompson)

Leading or Being Led?

"And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." Matthew 10:38

A person being crucified has little choice.  Try as they may to be a leader, the must simply be led.  They do not choose when they will die.  They have no choice of how to hang, facing the sun or not.  They have little say in the decision making process of where the nails will be placed, at what angle, with what force.  A person being crucified can only submit to those who are doing the crucifying.

   While our penalty has been paid Jesus reminds us that we must take up our cross and follow him.  That call is for consistent and daily crucifixion.  It is a call for consistent and daily actions of submitting to the one’s crucifying us.  Try as we may to lead, we must simply be led.

    There is a major difference in the crucifixion of Jesus and our daily crucifixion.  Jesus was crucified by ravaged murders with the hope of putting an end to his faith.  We crucify ourselves with the aid of the Holy Spirit and with the hope of deepening our faith.  Criminals led Christ, but Christ leads us.

   While this is comforting in thought it is not easy in practice.  We like being the leaders, making the decisions, calling the shots.  We lead mainly by our own desire.  We do what we want and then call it the best decision for the group. 

   Being led is far more difficult than leading.  Decisions are made that we disagree with.  We are led to places we otherwise would not go.  Trite actions are required which are below us.  Demanding actions are required which are above us.  Being led takes trust.  Trust is something that is often at low supply.

   When we look at the cross, it becomes clear that Jesus demands we daily die in a way similar to his death.  It is not an easy road, but it is far less expensive than going our own way.  Follow the leader.  He has our best interest in mind.  He will not take us where we do not need to go.  He will take us farther than we could ever go alone.
(Kevin Thompson)     

The Body Of Christ

Yesterday we celebrated the body of Christ through communion. It's always a wonderful occasion. But there's one part that sometimes gets a little confusing. It's the part where Paul tells us to be sure that we don't take part in the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner... I'm convinced that we wouldn't dream of doing so, if we just knew what it meant. Maybe I can help...

“Religion” can trace its roots directly back to The tower of Babel. The descendants of Ham, one of Noah’s three sons, built a tower designed to “reach into heaven” (Gen. 10:9-10, 11:4). Their leader was Nimrod, a great-grandson of Noah. God confused their languages, and as a result, they were scattered “abroad over the earth” (Gen. 11:7-8), where they formed settlements, and where they would plant and cultivate the dark seeds of “religion.”

Nimrod’s wife, Semiramis I, is thought to have been the first high priestess of the “Babylonian religion.”  Following the fracturing of their solidarity at the tower of Babel those who scattered and settled in other places began to idolize and deify her. Under various names she became their goddess and the object of their worship:

·      In Syria she was known as Ishtar:
·      In Phonecia, Astarte:
·      In Egypt she was Isis:
·      In Greece, Aphrodite:
·      In Rome her name was Venus.

Semiramis gave birth to a son. According to legend, he was conceived by a sunbeam, and became known by various names:

·      The cult of Ishtar referred to him as Tammuz:
·      The Phonecians called him Baal:
·      The Egyptians called him Osiris:
·      The Greeks, Eros:
·      In Rome he was known as Cupid.

Have you ever heard of Lent? It may interest you to know that the celebration of Lent has no biblical basis. It’s origin is traceable to the legendary forty days of mourning by Semiramis for her slain son Tammuz who, supposedly, was killed by a wild boar and who, again supposedly, following forty days of mourning by his mother, Semiramis, was raised from the dead (cf. Ezk. 8:12-16).

In each case the religions spawned from Nimrod’s tower fiasco degenerated into extremely base, sensual and dramatic cults. It was from within the context of that cultic background that the church in Corinth was birthed. People from various backgrounds walked into the church and brought with them all of their prejudices, pagan philosophies, cultist doctrines, rules for worship, and their attachment to sensual and sensational ritual. The church at Corinth was filled with priests, priestesses, religious prostitutes, fortunetellers, diviners, soothsayers, clairvoyants, psychics and other such remnants from the mystery religions of the East—all claiming to represent a particular god or goddess. Each of these groups determined to prove their claims and venerate their particular god or goddess through the possession of and demonstration of supernatural powers—which they theatrically displayed in the church, sometimes all at the same time—in the form of what they called "spiritual gifts." Some of them were so tied to the past and so deeply entrenched in their paganism that they were “prophesying” that “Jesus was accursed” (1 Cor. 12:3).

The strange Christian church in Corinth taught--among other strange things--baptismal regeneration, the Hindu practice of yoga, as well as transcendental meditation, the practices of Ecstasy (supernatural, sensual communion with a deity where the practitioner and the deity become one), and Enthusiasm (mystical experiences involving mantic formulas, divination, revelatory dreams and visions), and many other bizarre rites common both to ancient cults as well as current New Age religions.

With that background information 1 Corinthians 12:1-7 is understandable.1 Corinthians was a letter of correction and instruction—and it needed to be. Their church had become well known in the community—but for all the wrong reasons:

• In order to get their way and do whatever they wanted in their church they were taking each other to court to settle church fights.
• Some became devotees of Paul, while others claimed allegiance to Apollos or Cephas, with another group claiming superiority based on the fact that they followed no one but Christ.
• Their celebration of the Lord’s Supper was notorious; some left hungry, some stuffed, while others left drunk.
• One man was living in an incestuous relationship with his stepmother, and they believed his behavior was proof of their advanced spirituality.
• Some claimed the ability to communicate with angels by speaking with “tongues of angels.”
• Some even thought they possessed “all knowledge”.                                                            

Their elevated view of themselves, resulted in a low view of other church members, and the arrogance of a significant number of influential people had served to incapacitate the entire ministry of the church.

The heart of the Corinthian problems centered around the attitudes and actions of this “elitist” group—who referred to themselves as “spiritual persons,” (pneumatikoi). But in 1 Cor. 3:1 the Bible indicates that they were not “pneumatikoi” in any correct sense of the word. Though they enjoyed thinking of themselves as spiritual, their behavior proved otherwise. They had a horribly distorted image of what it meant to be a spiritual person. Nowhere was this distortion more pronounced than in the area of “spiritual gifts.” They claimed these eye-catching and flamboyant kinds of things were proof of their advanced spirituality:

• The term “puffed up” is used 7 times in the New Testament; 6 of those uses are in 1 Corinthians.
• The word “boast” is found 53 times in the New Testament; 35 uses are in 1 Corinthians. 
•  They claimed to possess special wisdom and knowledge that provided them unique insight into the mysteries of God’s plan (1 Cor. 2:6-9).
• They had what an “overrealized eschatology”—a belief that they already possessed all of the supernatural power and ability God would ever give anyone, either on earth or in heaven (1 Cor. 4:8).
• They viewed themselves as so spiritual that they needed to observe no rules, their slogan being, “All things are lawful (for us)” (1 Cor. 6:12, 10:23).
• For this reason they could allow themselves extreme and lax permissiveness in areas of morality and sexuality—which they did.

They believed that their “spiritual gifts” offered sure proof that they were spiritually superior to others. They were wrong, not about the facts only, but about even thinking or considering that within the body of Christ any are superior or inferior to any others.

Here's the point... If any person, for any reason, believes that he/she is superior to anyone else, that person is guilty of "sinning against the body and blood of our Lord," and failing to "recognize the body of Christ" (1 Cor. 11:27-29).

As weird and warped as the Corinthian theology was, our own can be just as distorted even if we don't share any of the particularly weird and warped theological nuances that plagued the church in Corinth. To recognize one's place and to accept and attend one's own responsibility within the body of Christ with humility and fervor is required of all who claim membership within his body. To do otherwise is to regard his body and blood in an unworthy manner, and is as aberrant to our faith as the cult began by Nimrod and perpetuated by the mystery religions of Corinth.

The immense privilege of belonging to his body is matched by the equally intense responsibility of belonging to his body.

(Ed Saucier)

The Equality of the Cross

The old proverb says, “The ground at the foot of the cross is level.”  This statement reminds us that all of humanity stands equally before God.  While we judge others based on their appearance, income, race, gender, background, employment, and other criteria, we all approach the cross the same way. 

   This idea is appealing for a few, but it is a turn-off for many.  We like a leg-up on the competition.  We like advantage.  We like perks.  The line is long, but we get to go to the front.  No other candidates get to interview because we got the job through inside contacts.  The check comes but no cash is required, because the manager took care of it. 

   We live in a world of inequality.  When the scales are tilted against us, we either cry out at the injustice, or we avoid the situation.  When the scales are titled in our favor, we simply enjoy the benefits.  The first is unfair; the second seems just.  We all deserve a kickback every now and then.

   This inequality gives an eerie feeling concerning the cross.  We are expected to involve ourselves in a situation in which we are no better (or worse) than everyone else involved.  Our first thought is suspicion.  We don’t buy retail, and we don’t get involved unless we are guaranteed advantage.  Yet no advantage is offered. 

   We are offered an invitation to the cross, but it is the same invitation that everyone gets.  It is an invitation to come and lay our lives down in the same way that Christ has.  Christ may have died in our place, but that does not remove our burden to die. 

   The invitation is the same and the expectation is as well.  The cross can only be experienced when we ourselves lay down our lives.  No extra perks, no kickbacks, no skipping to the head of the line.  The ground at the cross is level.

(Kevin Thompson)

John 14

"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.  In my Father's house are many rooms.  If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.  And you know the way to where I am going."  Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not where you are going.  How can we know the way?"  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.  If you had known me, you would have known my Father also.  From now on you do know him and have seen him."  John 14.1-7

This is a beautiful passage.  Read it one more time.

Here is what I took away from this passage:

• And If I go and prepare a place for you-  Christ did the preparing, not us.  We have a place in the Father's house not because of the what we have done, but because of the work that Christ did on the cross.  Salvation is a gift of grace
• that where I am you may be also-  As I read this passage a couple of times on Thursday this is the line that stood out most to me.  The great purpose of Christ preparing a place for us is that we may be with him where he dwells.  This idea makes me feel secure.  What is more stable, more secure, or more comforting than being with Jesus Christ.  To me this is the great promise and hope of believing in Jesus, that he will take us to be with him for eternity.
• I am the way- I am struck by the simplicity of this.  The way is simply Jesus.  His charge to his disciples is simply "Follow me".  Often times I want to make following Christ complicated, and like Thomas I end up saying to God, "How can I know the way to go."  but Jesus simply says, "I am the way."
• From now on you do know him and have seen him- If we follow Christ we have a relationship with God.  There is no division between the Father and the Son.  They are distinct persons within the Trinity but there is no division between them.  If we know Jesus we know the Father.  The scary question then is how well do we know Jesus?  Are you going to get to know him better today?   

(Mike Crain) 
  

When Prayers Go Unanswered

It’s rare for a week to pass that I don’t get involved in a conversation that goes something like this: “But Jesus said, ‘Ask and it shall be given, seek and you shall find, knock and the door shall be open?’ Didn’t he say that?”

Yes. I reply. Jesus said that…and I can even tell you where it’s recorded (Matthew 7:7; Luke 11:9). I’m fairly confident where conversations like this are usually headed and sometimes I jump right in and ask: “What have you been praying for that you’re not getting?” And they tell me. It’s been the open door for a lot of people to really pour out their heart. I’m keyed in to this sort of thing because I identify with their confusion and frustration easily.

I couldn’t begin to count how many times this sort of thing happens—and sometimes it’s agonizing. There is deep mystery surrounding our practice and understanding of prayer. If you’ve been praying and nothing seems to be happening, maybe it will help if you think about what’s happening, or not happening, in relation to these thoughts…

If The Request Is Wrong, God’s Going To Say, “No.”

• I Am Capable of Making Wrong Requests. ___(yes) ___(no)
  
• I Am Capable of Making Requests That Are Totally Self-serving. ___(yes) ___(no)
  
• I Am Capable of Making Requests That Are Patiently Materialistic, Convenience-oriented & Probably Immature. ___(yes) ___(no)
  

GOD LOVES YOU TOO MUCH TO SAY “YES” TO WRONG REQUESTS.

• Maybe the request is a cop-out on your part, an unwillingness to face a real issue. 
• Maybe the request is destructive in ways you don’t understand. 
• Maybe the request is self-serving and shortsighted. 
• Maybe the request is too small; God might have something better in mind.  

Because of God’s omniscience and because of his great care for you, if the request is wrong, God will say, “No.”

If The Timing Is Wrong, God will Say, “Slow.”

The little kid in us still hates hearing the words, “Not yet,” even when they come from God. The child inside wants God to meet every need, to grant every request, to move every mountain…NOW!!!

• But God, I want it right now, right now!
• You don’t understand how badly I need this right now!
• How can you say you love me and not give me what I’m asking for?
• Not three years from now, not three months from now, not three weeks from now, not three days from now…read my lips as I pray to you, God. I want it now, now, now!

You’ll never intimidate God… God is no more intimidated by your childish fixation on instant gratification than wise parents are. Kick and scream till you’re blue in the face if you want to, but “Not yet” is still his answer. And he won’t budge.

You’ll never manipulate God… It’s a mistake to believe that you know, better than God does, when a prayer request should be granted. You think you know as much as your Creator, but you don’t…not even close. He’ll do what’s best, but only when the time is perfect…

REMEMBER…GOD’S DELAYS AREN’T NECESSARILY HIS DENIALS… 

Sometimes the thing we’re asking for is good and proper and right…but, for reasons known only to God, it’s not the right time for him to give it to us, and his “Not yet,” is part of his careful orchestration of something far greater than we asked for.

If You Are Wrong, God Will Say, “Grow.”

    It’s a lot easier to point the finger at God for not answering prayer than it is to look in the mirror and to say, “Maybe I’m the problem.” If I’m leading a life of disobedience to God, he’s not likely to answer any of my prayers…for a lot of reasons. Primary among them is this; if I’m ignoring him it’s a better than even bet that what I’m praying for is way off base… Maybe God’s refusal is his way of saying…

• Come on, grow, grow.
• Put that sin away…it’s the only thing standing in the way.
• Change your attitude on this or that.
• Stop that practice.
• End that pattern.
• Get off that merry-go-round.
• Reconcile that relationship.
• Soften up in your spirit.
• Repent; receive forgiveness.
• Come on, grow, grow…it’s the only thing standing in the way!

I already mentioned that I’ve talked with lots of people about the mystery and the agony of unanswered prayer…strange that only a small handful ever seem willing to say, “Ed, you might be on to something…maybe I am the problem here.” It’s almost always, “Tell me why God isn’t helping me.” It’s just human nature. I’m not trying to burden you with guilt. It’s just easier to point your finger at God than it is to look in the mirror and say, “Maybe it’s me.”

When It’s All Right, God Will Say, “Let’s Go!”

I’ll bet all of us underestimate how badly God wants to move immovable mountains that stand in our path and answer our prayers. Still, If the request is wrong, God will say “No.” If the timing is wrong, he’ll say “Slow.” If you are wrong, he will say “Grow.”

But when all of those get lined up, as it fits into the plans that he has for you and for this world, you’ll be amazed at how often God will say, “Let’s go,” because you matter to him and it’s in his heart to meet your needs and grant your requests.

(Ed Saucier)

 

Snakes

"But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness." (1 Timothy 6.11)

A few years ago I was mowing my yard in the late fall when I came across a couple snakes.  They were young and small so I played with them a bit.  Even though I hate snakes, there was no fear on my part because nothing that small could do that much damage.  The winter went by and I never considered those snakes again.  Early the next spring when it was well past time to mow, I was mowing when I came to my snake spot and it suddenly hit me--those snakes are probably much larger now.  Suddenly all I could think about were snakes.  I considered how far they could strike and how much danger I must be in.  After pushing the pedal to the plastic underbelly (my mower is too cheap to have metal), the thought hit me--"the snake you play with today, plays with you tomorrow." 

This was my thought on sin.  It starts small.  It starts as a game that can't do much harm but it takes us from the boring life we are in.  Yet over time that small sin grows and long before we ever realize it, we lose control.  The sin begins to play with us.  It can make us do whatever it wishes.  We don't control it, it controls us.

The Bible says that sin is nothing to play with, it is something to flee from.  We must flee while we have a chance for if we play with a sin long enough a time will come where we will lose our ability to control it and it will control us.  

It can be fun to play with a snake for a moment, but it is no fun to have that snake play with you.  The only solution is to flee at first sight.  

Have you ever been controlled by something that you once controlled?

(Kevin Thompson)