We live in a broken and hurting world. So much so that people take liberties that are not rightfully theirs to take, and, in so doing, harm individuals in ways we were never meant to be harmed. For example, some friends of mine suffered a home invasion this week. Yes, without respect for person or property some criminals identified an empty home that did not belong to them and accessed the home through a window that is unseen from the front of the home or the adjoining road. What cowards. They didn’t steal too terribly much and, thankfully, no one was injured in this particular crime. In fact, indications may be that the criminals were spooked during the robbery and left before they could finish the job – thank goodness.
There are things that are stolen, however, that go beyond that which we can taste, touch or see. For instance, your sense of security is robbed for a time and your sense of peace and stability is eroded just a bit when you become the victim of such actions. As one who has lived through such before, I know how very real those intangible thefts can be and how long they can last.
We tend to recover. I wonder, “Why?” Why do we not linger in the frailty of fear that such actions bring to the forefront of life? After all, who is to say it will not happen again? How does one freely and fully protect oneself in a world where people no longer enter your home as invited guests through your front door, but choose to enter through force - undetected, uninvited and, often unpunished?
Perhaps we do not linger in fear because as real as crime is in a fallen, sinful world, we experience an even greater reality. This reality says that the world is moving toward being restored. Yes, restored. While it may not look like it, I think an indication of this truth can be found in our own ability to heal, move on, get over it, trust again, forgive, get better, let go of the past, etc. Yes, all of these realities point to the deeper reality that, though stained by sin, we and the world are being and indeed have been redeemed. We have been reclaimed and we are being restored! While we do not fully taste this restoration now, nor is it fully experienced, it is evident in every nook and cranny of life.
The Bible indicates on nearly every page that the world has been horrifically disfigured and, as such, human behavior has been altered at its core. Our hearts, once righteous before God, became the seat of wickedness as a result of our sin. This wickedness is so deeply rooted in life and experience that we are told further that it has stained the entire creation. Yes, the creation itself now groans. She groans for the glory that she once knew and will one day know again.
Life, my friends, is a groan. In the groan we experience pain. In the groan we experience betrayal. In the groan we experience theft. In the groan we experience heartache. In the groan, however, we also experience hope. In the groan we experience growth. In the groan we hear the deep sigh of the human heart that exclaims, “One day we will groan no longer – one day we will be renewed.” Yes, in the groan there is glory!
There is glory because God has reunited all things in Him - in and through the person of Christ. Scripture reminds us that Christ holds things - all things - together. Even now, when so much seems fractured, hope is not lost because and only because Christ holds all things together. The culmination – the new heavens and earth – is yet to come. But, even now, in the groan, the Christ child reminds us, Be still my child, I have brought you peace; a peace that never ends and one that is felt daily, even as we groan!
See you Sunday!
Biz
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
The Glory of . . .
It's like cosmic volleyball of immense verbal proportion. The words, like the ball flying over the net, are tossed back and forth to one another. And, as if for emphasis, they are tossed again and again and again. The words are not light. No, these words have some weight to them. They carry with them the thickness of respect, worship and awe. Take it even one step further and consider this - those who are uttering the words, those weighty, awe inspiring words, are not mere beings. No, in fact, those uttering the words are angels - angels unlike any depicted in modern novels or media. These are not the simple, chubby, cuddly angels we often see - no, these angels inspire awe in and of themselves - they are indeed spectacular beings volleying words of immensity and grandeur to one another in a manner intended to make those who hear pause and ask, 'of whom do you speak?' Here is the volley:
"Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of Hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!"
Simply amazing! These seraphim, seated above God Himself, speak of God and proclaim this simple, yet life changing truth: God is indeed holy and the whole earth is full of this holiness they proclaim. In his own day Isaiah was so moved by this revelation given by God that he himself responded, "woe is me, I am lost, I am undone - I am a man of unclean lips." This is really the only appropriate response one could have when faced with the glory of God. A moment like this can bring us to our knees and cause us to acknowledge our own frailty, insecurity, sin and shame in the presence of such goodness, holiness, righteousness and glory. The ancients referred to this as 'the weight of glory.' Today we refer to it as, 'do what?'
Unfortunately we do not recognize the glory of God that is so very present all around us. If Scripture is to be believed, then all of creation testifies to this glory. The irony of this is that the pinnacle of creation - humanity - fails to see this glory at every turn. I think it is because of the fact that we know little of 'glory' these days. We glory in ourselves, we glory in our possessions, we glory in our achievements, etc. It is this elevation of 'self glory' that has robbed glory of its own thickness and replaced it with a very thin, meager comparison of what it once was - or at least how it was once seen. Today, one might argue, that glory has become weightless and thin - like ‘butter spread over too much bread.’ It looks like something that had promise, but has become something that constantly leaves one 'wanting.'
How does this fit at Christmas? Simple - Christmas has lost her glory. In fact, Christmas may be responsible for replacing the glory of the Christ narrative with something of far less weight that leaves us wanting for more than before. Christmas has become that time in our life when we hone the art of 'spreading ourselves too thin.' It has become a story of a jolly old guy who spreads cheer by bringing . . . toys. Huh? Yes, toys. When a costumed man replaces the true gift giver and elves angels and reindeer replace the heavenly hosts, then we have lost our sense of glory. Perhaps we haven't lost it as much as replaced it with a 'thinner' version - glory that is 'weight free.'
I know, I know. You are thinking to yourself, come on all those 'traditions' point to the true reason for the season. I get that. In fact, we celebrate Christmas in our home and enjoy the trappings of it (to an extent). But what really points to the reason for the season is the Reason himself! What really points us to the reason of the season is the seraphim and their divine volley; Holy, Holy, Holy! Perhaps it is time to pause during this festive time of year and consider for yourself: have I replaced ‘glory’ with something far less? If so, the remedy is simple: hit your knees and proclaim the glory of God! That is what this season is all about and it is His glory that is exclaimed on the night of our savior's birth! The sky lit up and the angels chorused, 'glory to God in the highest.' Now, that is the choir I want to hear! That is what glory is and should always be - that is a word of 'weight.' "Can you hear it?" Or, perhaps a better question, "do you recognize it anymore."
Glory to God in the Highest!
Biz
"Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of Hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!"
Simply amazing! These seraphim, seated above God Himself, speak of God and proclaim this simple, yet life changing truth: God is indeed holy and the whole earth is full of this holiness they proclaim. In his own day Isaiah was so moved by this revelation given by God that he himself responded, "woe is me, I am lost, I am undone - I am a man of unclean lips." This is really the only appropriate response one could have when faced with the glory of God. A moment like this can bring us to our knees and cause us to acknowledge our own frailty, insecurity, sin and shame in the presence of such goodness, holiness, righteousness and glory. The ancients referred to this as 'the weight of glory.' Today we refer to it as, 'do what?'
Unfortunately we do not recognize the glory of God that is so very present all around us. If Scripture is to be believed, then all of creation testifies to this glory. The irony of this is that the pinnacle of creation - humanity - fails to see this glory at every turn. I think it is because of the fact that we know little of 'glory' these days. We glory in ourselves, we glory in our possessions, we glory in our achievements, etc. It is this elevation of 'self glory' that has robbed glory of its own thickness and replaced it with a very thin, meager comparison of what it once was - or at least how it was once seen. Today, one might argue, that glory has become weightless and thin - like ‘butter spread over too much bread.’ It looks like something that had promise, but has become something that constantly leaves one 'wanting.'
How does this fit at Christmas? Simple - Christmas has lost her glory. In fact, Christmas may be responsible for replacing the glory of the Christ narrative with something of far less weight that leaves us wanting for more than before. Christmas has become that time in our life when we hone the art of 'spreading ourselves too thin.' It has become a story of a jolly old guy who spreads cheer by bringing . . . toys. Huh? Yes, toys. When a costumed man replaces the true gift giver and elves angels and reindeer replace the heavenly hosts, then we have lost our sense of glory. Perhaps we haven't lost it as much as replaced it with a 'thinner' version - glory that is 'weight free.'
I know, I know. You are thinking to yourself, come on all those 'traditions' point to the true reason for the season. I get that. In fact, we celebrate Christmas in our home and enjoy the trappings of it (to an extent). But what really points to the reason for the season is the Reason himself! What really points us to the reason of the season is the seraphim and their divine volley; Holy, Holy, Holy! Perhaps it is time to pause during this festive time of year and consider for yourself: have I replaced ‘glory’ with something far less? If so, the remedy is simple: hit your knees and proclaim the glory of God! That is what this season is all about and it is His glory that is exclaimed on the night of our savior's birth! The sky lit up and the angels chorused, 'glory to God in the highest.' Now, that is the choir I want to hear! That is what glory is and should always be - that is a word of 'weight.' "Can you hear it?" Or, perhaps a better question, "do you recognize it anymore."
Glory to God in the Highest!
Biz
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Christmas Top Ten
Here we are at the beginning of the advent season. I love this time of year! I love the lights everywhere, the smell of the tree, the yard decorations, the Christmas music and all that comes with our Christmas celebration. It seems, however, that every year we fly through this great season. One day it is December 2nd and in the blink of an eye it is January 2nd of the New Year. All too often we are looking back wondering, 'what in the world happened - where did Christmas go?' Sooo, this year I have developed a 'top ten' for Christmas. I am calling it:
'Biz Gainey's Top Ten Things He Wants to Be Able to Say When Christmas 2010 is over'
(Drum roll, please)
• 10 I gained 7 and 3/4 lbs, and I do not care one bit!
• 9 I gave more than I got - a lot more!
• 8 I got in the '10 items or less' line only to find that I had gotten behind someone with 24 items - and I didn't even care!
• 7 I shared the sugar cookies with my wife and kids - finally.
• 6 I successfully used NORAD to track Santa's every move - and finally caught him in the act of trespassing!
• 5 I drank deeply from the relationships God has given me through Westside as we celebrated our best Christmas yet!
• 4 I ate monkey bread - lots and lots of monkey bread!
• 3 I worshipped deeply and celebrated greatly the birth of our Savior and King, Christ the Lord.
• 2 I will not spend 6 months paying off bills for gadgets and games that will not last longer than 3 weeks!
• 1 Thank you, Lord - for you have done it yet again.
Okay, there are my top ten - what about yours? What would you like to be able to say when this year's season has come to an end and we are once again looking into a brand new year?
Celebrate the Season, rightly!
Biz
'Biz Gainey's Top Ten Things He Wants to Be Able to Say When Christmas 2010 is over'
(Drum roll, please)
• 10 I gained 7 and 3/4 lbs, and I do not care one bit!
• 9 I gave more than I got - a lot more!
• 8 I got in the '10 items or less' line only to find that I had gotten behind someone with 24 items - and I didn't even care!
• 7 I shared the sugar cookies with my wife and kids - finally.
• 6 I successfully used NORAD to track Santa's every move - and finally caught him in the act of trespassing!
• 5 I drank deeply from the relationships God has given me through Westside as we celebrated our best Christmas yet!
• 4 I ate monkey bread - lots and lots of monkey bread!
• 3 I worshipped deeply and celebrated greatly the birth of our Savior and King, Christ the Lord.
• 2 I will not spend 6 months paying off bills for gadgets and games that will not last longer than 3 weeks!
• 1 Thank you, Lord - for you have done it yet again.
Okay, there are my top ten - what about yours? What would you like to be able to say when this year's season has come to an end and we are once again looking into a brand new year?
Celebrate the Season, rightly!
Biz
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Humans, Longing and the God who Fills!
"For He satisifies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things.” Psalm 107:9
The human heart beats to a rhythm known as “longing.” It is this rhythm that so much of our society has learned to captitalize on and, in turn, make a profit from. The consumeristic urge at Christmas is simply another expression of “longing” and an example of our society's ability to leverage that longing into a sale.
It seems that every year our Christmas season gets longer and our Thanksgiving joy gets shorter. In fact this year it was not too deep into November when I began to notice Christmas decorations adorning the hallways of our supermarkets. Last week I even noticed a lawn already decorated with the fullest of Christmas joy - two weeks BEFORE Thanksgiving. Now I love to decorate our lawn and Melissa loves to decorate our home, but two weeks before Thanksgiving is a little much. Some might argue that its okay to get into the Christmas spirit a bit early. In fact, such a course might even help us extend that good old Christmas cheer a few more weeks this time around.
However, I have a hunch (though I could be wrong) that such a pursuit of Christmas cheer might actually be another expression of the longing we sense in our hearts that we all too often seek to fill with resources that leave us wanting yet again. After all, it was not all that long ago that we celebrated last Christmas. The longing was satiated, if ever so briefly, and then we got back to the real world and had the thrill of paying those credit card bills that purchased our satisfaction. Of course, this just lead us to another longing … one to be able to pay the bills and perhaps even a sense of regret over resources misspent on a longing unfulfilled.
There are, however, times when we do leave the table satsified. I suspect that for many of us this will be the case come next Thursday. We will not only leave the table satisfied, but we may even have enough left over to satisfy ourselves again later that night and even on into the next day. I, for one, look forward to that opportunity! I love the gathering of family I haven't seen in years and the opportunity to laugh, pray, converse and just be with them for a short period of time. Yes, in that moment - in those moments - there is a sense of satisfication. There is a sense of contentment. That is a what I call a right way to fill up. That type of filling comes from the depth of our human relationships. It comes from the love we share, the hope we have, and the joy we take in being with one another.
Yet there remains a problem even with this type of filling up. The problem is that we will hunger yet again. You see, you and I were made to hunger. You and I were made to desire and to long for things in this life. What we were not made to do or what we were not made for is the rat race of satisfication that our temporary world over-sells and under-delivers day in and day out. We were not made to jump on the hamster wheel and run longer in our pursuit of satisfaction. No, our longing was made so that we might find ultimate relief and hope from the hand of God and Him alone!
As we move into another holiday season, as we embark upon another Thanksgiving and celebrate another Christmas, let's not forget that the attempts to fill ourselves with temporary resources will prove to be just that - temporary. Let's not forget that there is a resource Whose well never runs dry and Whose ears never grows deaf! There an endless resource and, as the Psalmist reminds us, He truly and finally fills the longing of the human soul and satisfies the hunger within!
Celebrate Thanksgiving this week by longing for God and His resource in the midst of a land full of false hopes and temporary remedies!
See you Saturday night for our Community Thanksgiving Dinner at Wekiva High School. Bring a friend, neighbor, and/or family member, and let's kick off this season by longing for God together!
Grace and Peace!
Biz
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Resignation, Resentment and the Radical Love of . . . Man's best friend
Okay, it's probably not the best of titles. In fact, since I am your pastor you probably expected the words following “Radical Love of” to be something like “the Lord,” “Jesus,” or “Christ.” This is something that we all know and believe - His love is radical and life-changing. But this week I have been impressed by the love my little (somewhat dumb) dog has shown me - without fail. Yes, dogs are faithful to a fault. He doesn't care what type of decisions I am making nor whom they affect. He doesn't care that he will be crated for a little trip and have to figure out a new yard, neighborhood, home etc. Nope, when I come home (everytime!) he does the same thing - he wags his tail in excitement and jumps all over me trying to lick me (my wife calls them kisses – yuck!) with mad affection. And, boy, have I needed that this week. That silly little dog has no idea how amazing it is when he jumps up on my lap and says, without sound, “Big person who feeds me and gives me drink, I love you.”
This past Sunday, most of you know by now, I publically communicated to this great church that we love deeply, that I have resigned as the Senior Pastor in order to pursue a calling in the Vero/Sebastian area of Indian River County that I believe, with passion, that the Lord has placed upon my life. This calling necessitates radical commitment and transition not only for me and my family, but the congregation at large. I know this is so and because of that truth, the decision came only after months of laborious prayers and calling out to Christ. It was evident, and still is, that to fail to pursue this would constitute disobedience on my part - a reality I would not wish upon my own life or that of the congregation of WCC.
You know, leadership is tough and lonely at times. It is so because the decisions a leader makes impact so many others and have far-reaching ramifications. The only way a leader - or better, a servant of the Lord - can make such decisions is to know that at the end of the day his or her decisions are held accountable at the highest level with the greatest ramifications. There have been a host of reactions to my resignation (I had a host myself when Christ began to reveal His will), all of which are to be expected and are okay! As a pastor, as your pastor, one of my responsiblities in this transition is to shepherd you (along with your elders) through these reactions to the Cross of Christ and His purpose for Westside Community Church (which by the way does not change one bit with my departure).
The reactions, as I noted earlier, have been manifold. Yes, there are resentments concerning my resignation. There is also deep loss, sadness, and a sense of “what is next?”, which always bring with it an air of anxiety. But there is also excitement and encouragement. There also vision and hope. There is also trust and obedience and belief in a Sovereign Lord who picks and chooses His ambassadors and moves them at His will, and, then, amazingly, provides even better than before for that area and those people who remain committed and dedicated to the call of Christ in the life of the local ministry and congregation.
To be honest with you, I am thankful for the anger and thankful for the pain, as much as I am thankful for the excitement and the encouragment. I am thankful because (in my mind) it indicates the depth of love that you and I have for one another and the recognition of the amazing and wonderful season of minsitry our Lord has allowed us to conduct together over these past 6 1/2 years! It illustrates the truth that we have walked very difficult roads and that you have seen my life and my family in ways no other people have seen us - especially as you walked so closely with us through the battle of cancer my dear wife faced just three short years ago. It is also illustrative of the fact that you, this great church, have grown to love and appreciate the ministry God has given to me in your midst and that I, your pastor, have grown to love you and take joy in the growth God has provided in and through the lives and ministry of Westside Community Church.
My prayer is, in the midst of emotion and wondering, that we will, as we have always done, bring everything (emotion, wondering, questioning, excitement, all of it) to the Cross of Christ and to trust Him once again to do for us that which we are unable to do for ourselves. God has something for all of us in this time of trial, confusion, transition, trust, and obedience. You see, as you well know, this is really not about me. Nor is it about you. It is about disciples bringing glory and honor to our Lord in and through all things, times, situations, and circumstances - especially the tough ones.
Over the next few weeks you will hear more from my heart in regard to this new calling and vision. The Lord has given me several sermons and thoughts that I believe, in His time, will begin to reveal and unwrap not only the next step I am taking, but also the next steps Christ is calling Westside to take. As we gather together, I want to ask that you continue to seek the Lord and find strength in His Word. There is much more to be done and much more ministry to be accomplished in and through this great church. Also, I am still going to challenge and enourage you to get behind this plant effort and see it as part of the Lord's fulfillment of His vision for this congregation!
You know, I am thankful for my dog. He is really awesome. I am more thankful for you and the love and patience you have shown me and this ministry over these past years. I am even more thankful for my dear bride and children, who have always been a constant source of support, love, and encouragment in minsitry. Yet I am most thankful for our Lord and Savior and the gracious calling He invites His people to step into and then provides as we do!
Grace and Peace for today and Beyond!
Biz
P.S. The elders will keep you apprised regularly of the transition plans, timetable, search team direction, etc. as we move forward together! Call out to the Lord and ask that we hear Him and see Him during all this and ask for His guidance as He leads us to His next Pastor for this great church!
This past Sunday, most of you know by now, I publically communicated to this great church that we love deeply, that I have resigned as the Senior Pastor in order to pursue a calling in the Vero/Sebastian area of Indian River County that I believe, with passion, that the Lord has placed upon my life. This calling necessitates radical commitment and transition not only for me and my family, but the congregation at large. I know this is so and because of that truth, the decision came only after months of laborious prayers and calling out to Christ. It was evident, and still is, that to fail to pursue this would constitute disobedience on my part - a reality I would not wish upon my own life or that of the congregation of WCC.
You know, leadership is tough and lonely at times. It is so because the decisions a leader makes impact so many others and have far-reaching ramifications. The only way a leader - or better, a servant of the Lord - can make such decisions is to know that at the end of the day his or her decisions are held accountable at the highest level with the greatest ramifications. There have been a host of reactions to my resignation (I had a host myself when Christ began to reveal His will), all of which are to be expected and are okay! As a pastor, as your pastor, one of my responsiblities in this transition is to shepherd you (along with your elders) through these reactions to the Cross of Christ and His purpose for Westside Community Church (which by the way does not change one bit with my departure).
The reactions, as I noted earlier, have been manifold. Yes, there are resentments concerning my resignation. There is also deep loss, sadness, and a sense of “what is next?”, which always bring with it an air of anxiety. But there is also excitement and encouragement. There also vision and hope. There is also trust and obedience and belief in a Sovereign Lord who picks and chooses His ambassadors and moves them at His will, and, then, amazingly, provides even better than before for that area and those people who remain committed and dedicated to the call of Christ in the life of the local ministry and congregation.
To be honest with you, I am thankful for the anger and thankful for the pain, as much as I am thankful for the excitement and the encouragment. I am thankful because (in my mind) it indicates the depth of love that you and I have for one another and the recognition of the amazing and wonderful season of minsitry our Lord has allowed us to conduct together over these past 6 1/2 years! It illustrates the truth that we have walked very difficult roads and that you have seen my life and my family in ways no other people have seen us - especially as you walked so closely with us through the battle of cancer my dear wife faced just three short years ago. It is also illustrative of the fact that you, this great church, have grown to love and appreciate the ministry God has given to me in your midst and that I, your pastor, have grown to love you and take joy in the growth God has provided in and through the lives and ministry of Westside Community Church.
My prayer is, in the midst of emotion and wondering, that we will, as we have always done, bring everything (emotion, wondering, questioning, excitement, all of it) to the Cross of Christ and to trust Him once again to do for us that which we are unable to do for ourselves. God has something for all of us in this time of trial, confusion, transition, trust, and obedience. You see, as you well know, this is really not about me. Nor is it about you. It is about disciples bringing glory and honor to our Lord in and through all things, times, situations, and circumstances - especially the tough ones.
Over the next few weeks you will hear more from my heart in regard to this new calling and vision. The Lord has given me several sermons and thoughts that I believe, in His time, will begin to reveal and unwrap not only the next step I am taking, but also the next steps Christ is calling Westside to take. As we gather together, I want to ask that you continue to seek the Lord and find strength in His Word. There is much more to be done and much more ministry to be accomplished in and through this great church. Also, I am still going to challenge and enourage you to get behind this plant effort and see it as part of the Lord's fulfillment of His vision for this congregation!
You know, I am thankful for my dog. He is really awesome. I am more thankful for you and the love and patience you have shown me and this ministry over these past years. I am even more thankful for my dear bride and children, who have always been a constant source of support, love, and encouragment in minsitry. Yet I am most thankful for our Lord and Savior and the gracious calling He invites His people to step into and then provides as we do!
Grace and Peace for today and Beyond!
Biz
P.S. The elders will keep you apprised regularly of the transition plans, timetable, search team direction, etc. as we move forward together! Call out to the Lord and ask that we hear Him and see Him during all this and ask for His guidance as He leads us to His next Pastor for this great church!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Be and Become A People of Prayer!
In the latter chapters of the Gospel of Luke Jesus begins to teach His followers concerning that day that would come in the future - that day when He would wrap up all things and call all people unto Himself. Interstingly enough, in telling them of that day’s coming He doesn't tell them all the tools and methods they need in order to be ready for it. Nor does He give them a checklist of items they need to purchase in preparation. Rather, He tells them (and us) to become and be a people of prayer!
I love the way He words His call to prayer, "But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36). Can you imagine what might have been going through their minds at the time? He had just told them of a future that was certain to come, but did not give the specifics of that future. He had just told them of many amazing, trying, and difficult days to come. Yet in order to prepare for those times He says be and become a people of prayer!
In today's world, we are inclined to give each other “seven steps to handle” or “five ways to happiness”, etc. etc. Jesus didn’t do that. No, He reminds me and you that the key to our lives as His disciples is to keep watch in prayer! This begs the question, How do we handle uncertain times and to whom do we turn in those moments? Do we lose our focus and try to manage everything through control and manipulation? Do we avoid what is coming and pretend that it does not exist? Do we talk about it with all our friends and try to find a world's way answer to the dilemma?
While we may always and often do some or all of those things, as disciples of Christ our method, our hope, is to take the burden, the unknown, tomorrow to Him in prayer! We are called to “keep watch” and “stay alert” to the fact that, come what may, nothing changes the truth that Christ is King and He is still working in and through our lives and that He is one day going to return. At that time, in that moment, we will stand before Him and the question will be, have we been faithful? You want to know the answer to that? Then evaluate your prayer life and your dependence upon Him!
It is time, Westside, to Be and Become a People of Prayer!
Grace and Peace!
Biz
I love the way He words His call to prayer, "But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36). Can you imagine what might have been going through their minds at the time? He had just told them of a future that was certain to come, but did not give the specifics of that future. He had just told them of many amazing, trying, and difficult days to come. Yet in order to prepare for those times He says be and become a people of prayer!
In today's world, we are inclined to give each other “seven steps to handle” or “five ways to happiness”, etc. etc. Jesus didn’t do that. No, He reminds me and you that the key to our lives as His disciples is to keep watch in prayer! This begs the question, How do we handle uncertain times and to whom do we turn in those moments? Do we lose our focus and try to manage everything through control and manipulation? Do we avoid what is coming and pretend that it does not exist? Do we talk about it with all our friends and try to find a world's way answer to the dilemma?
While we may always and often do some or all of those things, as disciples of Christ our method, our hope, is to take the burden, the unknown, tomorrow to Him in prayer! We are called to “keep watch” and “stay alert” to the fact that, come what may, nothing changes the truth that Christ is King and He is still working in and through our lives and that He is one day going to return. At that time, in that moment, we will stand before Him and the question will be, have we been faithful? You want to know the answer to that? Then evaluate your prayer life and your dependence upon Him!
It is time, Westside, to Be and Become a People of Prayer!
Grace and Peace!
Biz
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Discipleship Defined
Voltaire, an immensely popular writer during the Enlightenment period, spent the bulk of his adult life and career as an atheistic philosopher castigating and attacking Christianity. It is, in fact, reported that he vowed that by his pen Christianity would find its death. Around 50 years after that proclamation, Voltaire was already dead and the home in which he used his might weapon, the pen, was a new home to a new group - The Geneva Bible Society. So, much for Volatire's assault upon the church.
This story reminds me of the great truth that it is God and God alone who will sustain His church and conquer His foes. He promises us that though the gates of Hell will assault His church, they will not prevail against her! While it is true that God's church has, does, and will always remain, it is also true that the testimony of His church has gone forth and expanded through the ages because God has always called out disicples who were willing to give their all for His church, even to the point of death. I don't think you could find a century since the advent of His Church when the assault upon her did not require of God's people complete and total sacrifice, even to the point of martydom. In our own times we hear constantly of Christians being attacked worldwide and willingly giving their life up for the cause of Christ. Yes, Christ is in charge. Yes, Christ is the Head of His Church. Yes, Christ will restore His Church one day as His Bride at the greatest wedding feast of all time.
Until that time, until that amazing day of restoration, God's people, His Church, will always be challenged and called to give all we have and follow Him. There is a word for this that is woven throughout the Gospels, discipleship. To be His disciple means to (variously) leave our nets (livelihood) behind and follow Him, pick up our cross (sacrifice) and follow Him, leave our family (prioritize Him above all others) and follow Him, to name only a few. In our text this week Christ defines discipleship once again through the illustration of a poverty-stricken and destitute woman. This woman, in Luke 21, gives a free will offering to the temple that, by our standards and measurements, would literally amount to nothing. Her gift was the smallest possible gift of the day. Standing around her, in fact, were those who had given considerably more and provided great wealth to the temple. Yet Christ praises this woman's gift above their own. In his own words, "For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
And there you have it - discipleship defined. It is in this moment when Christ tells us that He is not interested in our money nearly as much as He is interested in our lives! Christ wants an undivided, whole-hearted disciple who is willing to give up everything, all we have, for Him and His Kingdom work. It is this type of follower that recognizes that all we have is really a gift from Him anyhow. Yes, it all belongs to Him. This is, I believe, why giving is at the heart of the Gospel, because a giving heart is a heart that is owned by Christ already!
Christ will always sustain His Church. The way Christ sustains the witness of the church in any time or place, is through His people. It is through His people who are willing to give all, go anywhere and follow Him, no matter the cost. You and I have grown too complacent, haven't we?!? We have sought out, identified, and formed a safe place we like to call church. Funny, out of all the descriptions God provides for His church, that is not ever among them. Christ is protecting His church and, as He does He is looking for radical disciples willing to follow Him into a great unknown and trust Him with our very lives! Will we be that disciple, Westside? I, for one, can say (with no small amount of caution) sign me up.
Follow Him!
Biz
This story reminds me of the great truth that it is God and God alone who will sustain His church and conquer His foes. He promises us that though the gates of Hell will assault His church, they will not prevail against her! While it is true that God's church has, does, and will always remain, it is also true that the testimony of His church has gone forth and expanded through the ages because God has always called out disicples who were willing to give their all for His church, even to the point of death. I don't think you could find a century since the advent of His Church when the assault upon her did not require of God's people complete and total sacrifice, even to the point of martydom. In our own times we hear constantly of Christians being attacked worldwide and willingly giving their life up for the cause of Christ. Yes, Christ is in charge. Yes, Christ is the Head of His Church. Yes, Christ will restore His Church one day as His Bride at the greatest wedding feast of all time.
Until that time, until that amazing day of restoration, God's people, His Church, will always be challenged and called to give all we have and follow Him. There is a word for this that is woven throughout the Gospels, discipleship. To be His disciple means to (variously) leave our nets (livelihood) behind and follow Him, pick up our cross (sacrifice) and follow Him, leave our family (prioritize Him above all others) and follow Him, to name only a few. In our text this week Christ defines discipleship once again through the illustration of a poverty-stricken and destitute woman. This woman, in Luke 21, gives a free will offering to the temple that, by our standards and measurements, would literally amount to nothing. Her gift was the smallest possible gift of the day. Standing around her, in fact, were those who had given considerably more and provided great wealth to the temple. Yet Christ praises this woman's gift above their own. In his own words, "For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
And there you have it - discipleship defined. It is in this moment when Christ tells us that He is not interested in our money nearly as much as He is interested in our lives! Christ wants an undivided, whole-hearted disciple who is willing to give up everything, all we have, for Him and His Kingdom work. It is this type of follower that recognizes that all we have is really a gift from Him anyhow. Yes, it all belongs to Him. This is, I believe, why giving is at the heart of the Gospel, because a giving heart is a heart that is owned by Christ already!
Christ will always sustain His Church. The way Christ sustains the witness of the church in any time or place, is through His people. It is through His people who are willing to give all, go anywhere and follow Him, no matter the cost. You and I have grown too complacent, haven't we?!? We have sought out, identified, and formed a safe place we like to call church. Funny, out of all the descriptions God provides for His church, that is not ever among them. Christ is protecting His church and, as He does He is looking for radical disciples willing to follow Him into a great unknown and trust Him with our very lives! Will we be that disciple, Westside? I, for one, can say (with no small amount of caution) sign me up.
Follow Him!
Biz
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