Kingdoms in Conflict: Living for Christ Today! A Look at the Life of Daniel

This coming Monday we celebrate Memorial Day. This day is traditionally set aside to honor U.S. men and women who died while serving in the U.S. Military. Memorial day has a rich history behind it which began, I believe, sometime following the Civil War in the late 1860s. It reminds us of a few things that might be helpful for us to think about as we prepare for our time of worship together:

1. War is costly in both human and financial resources. To celebrate memorial day means that we don't really celebrate war, but we remember the cost that war has exacted on our families and country over the years of our history. As we remember the cost of war, we are better able to be thankful for the Freedoms that these costs have won for us today.


2. War is, sometimes, necessary. For centuries Christian's have debated the necessity of war. Many today, well meaning and Bible believing Christian's, believe that any war is immoral and a complete break with the core of Christian teaching. There is an old movie that we love to watch called Sargent York, which deals with this very topic. Others within the strand of Christian history have developed theories of war known that are called the 'Holy War' Theory, the 'Pacifist' theory or the 'Just War Theory.' There are others but these two seem to be among the most popular. These theories were developed out of experience and how Scripture speaks to our experience. While I stand more in the Just War (close to the Pacifist side) camp, I am inflexible in the interpretation of that theory and believe that much of the wars in which humans engage are anything but Just, at least in the classic definition of that theor

As we prepare to gather together this weekend, and then on Memorial Day for our Corn Boil, we would do well to remember the lives of those that were sacrificed to make it possible for us to assemble in the name of our Lord and offer Him praise. Every time we gather together as a people we celebrate the memory of slain soldiers throughout history, for it has been their blood that has purchased this freedom we so enjoy!

There is yet another reality of war that is more subtle but nonetheless real in today's time. It is the war for the human soul. The final victory has been not only determined but won in the person and work of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Yet, a battle wages on. You see, there is a kingdom in conflict with the kingdom of Christ today. That Kingdom is called various things and can be seen in various ways, but ultimately that Kingdom is anything -thought, action, belief, way of thinking, behavior, or worship - that denies that Christ alone is God.

You and I live in this world and we raise our children in this world. This war is also both costly and necessary and it is one that we must engage day by day by day! This weekend we will launch a new series I am calling Kingdom's in Conflict: Living for Christ Today. We will base this series on the life of Daniel and look at several important texts in the book of Daniel throughout the month of June.

If you have been struggling with this very thing. If you are discouraged by all that is going on around you and wondering how you can live for Christ in the midst of this great battle being waged, then this series is going to be just for you! Don't forget our 'one in one' challenge for the month of June that Pastor Pierre left with us. That means that we will commit to reach one person with the love and mercy of Christ in one way during the next month! Who will it be and how will you reach them?

Living for Christ Today!
Biz

The Life of Joseph - Overcoming Life's Challenges

For about a month now I have hammered what I consider to be three very important truths in life and faith. So, let me give you a reminder of them once again: God is in Control; God doesn't waste anything; We must keep our eyes on Him! We are moving toward the end of our look at the life of Joseph over the next two weeks. As we do, we are going to encounter some of the most moving, heartrending and emotional moments in the entire narrative. These moments all coalesce around the God - orchestrated reunion between Joseph (as a 'lord of the land') and his brothers who earlier in life seriously contemplated his murder before they decided on the more lucrative route of selling him into slavery.

Put yourself in Joseph's shoes and think for a moment how you might respond to such a situation. What type of emotions would be running through your head? Really, of all the dysfunctional family systems in our world today, this ancient family has got to take the cake. In fact, most of us moderns (if we didn't have such a thorough knowledge of the story) might think that a scene like this would be the opening trailer to one of our trashy day time talk shows. Picture it in your mind. The show opens to slow music that builds to a climax as the narrator says something like this:

'Our first guest today is 'Joe, I was sold into slavery by my dysfunctional family years ago.' Yes, that's right - years ago, Joe's family abandoned him - selling him - yes folks selling him - into the hands of a foreign slave trade (the audience goes 'boo/hiss' on cue). Then all of his brothers feigned (that means faked) his death and told everyone in his home town that he had been eaten by a wild animal. BUT (with the 'but' is a huge dramatic pause) what they didn't know was that this young man, proved to be too much for slavery and prison (YES, PRISON) and is now one of the wealthiest men in all the world (the audience 'applauds' on cue). The one wrinkle in all this is that Joe's brother's have no idea that he is still alive - today they will meet for the very first time -ON National television - you, the audience will get to see all the fireworks! You think your family is dysfunctional? Stay tuned to see a whole other dimension of family dysfunction NEXT on the 'I have nothing better to do with my time during the day so I sit here watching mindless entertainment' talk show!!

Well, you get the picture - our modern day responses of holding grudges, staying bitter, not forgiving people and getting even are the opposite of what happened in the life of Joseph. And, to be honest with you, I want to be someone who forgives others! I want to be someone who does not hold grudges and who lets go of bitterness!

If you want to hear more about letting go of bitterness and overcoming un-forgiveness, then join us this Sunday at either 9:30 or 11:00!

Overcoming Life's Challenges!

Biz

Overcoming Life's Challenges

There are three simple truths that you and I need to get - I mean really 'get' if we are going to ever truly live for God! They are these: God is in control; He doesn't waste anything; We must keep our eyes on Him.

Truth 1:God is in Control. I know we often give 'lip service' to this truth, but the real challenge comes when we have to really live it out day by day and minute by minute. If you were to assess your grasp of this truth on a scale of 1 - 10, where would you land? To be honest with you, I would probably land all over the place pending the circumstances going on around me at the particular moment!

As I study the life of Joseph more and more, I find that this is the central truth which governs all his behavior and his actions in life! In chapter 41 we find him isolated in prison. The chief cup bearer has long since forgotten about him and now, two years later, the Pharaoh has a dream that none of his brilliant magicians and soothsayers can interpret. At this point the Pharaoh's cup bearer remembers Joseph and tells Pharaoh about him languishing in prison. Well, the leader of the most powerful nation in the known world at the time is so disturbed that he sends for this Hebrew, foreigner, slave/prisoner in hopes that he can help him out with the dream.

Now the story really gets interesting because we have a young man who essentially goes from 'no status' to 'top status' overnight. He not only is going to get an audience with the Pharaoh, but he was actually invited by the Pharaoh himself to stand before Him and help him sort through a major, literally crisis sized problem in his life. Wow, what a change of circumstances. Immediately upon entering the court the Pharaoh tells Joseph that his reputation precedes him and his help, wisdom and foretelling skills are needed. This is where we see that Joseph gets the truth that God is in control and then lives His life in accordance with this truth. For, rather than taking credit for any skill he might display, he sets the record straight up frot and tells Pharaoh that God, not Joseph, will give the mighty king an interpretation.

This is one of those 'watershed' or 'pivotal' moments in the life of Joseph. In some ways, it serves as a test of how well God has prepared him. You see, it is a public moment for him. It is a moment in which he has a decision to make: will he take matters into his own hands or trust in God? It is a moment that has repeated itself throughout history. We see it again in the life of Elijah, Daniel, Hosea, Matthew, Paul, Jesus, and down into modern history - even the history of our own life! What you do with that moment in life illustrates the truth you hold onto and the thing(s) that you believe! Joseph stood not only strong in this test, but also confidently knowing that if anything were to come of this situation, it would be because of His God who had controlled His life and steered him forward in the most unusual but also most convincing ways for the previous 13 years!

Are you facing one of those moments right now in your life? Do you have the strength of faith to trust God to do that which you cannot and take you where you cannot take yourself. Can you trust him enough to stand strongly and confidently in His steadfast care over you - to rely on Him, come what may? If not, then you might want to ask yourself what is it that you really believe? - do you really believe that God is in control or do you rely on yourself to control things?

Join us this Sunday as we explore this important truth in the life of Joseph and how and can be real in your life an mine (oh yeah, we will explore the other two truths as well!

Overcoming in Christ!

Biz

Melissa's Hope in the Christian Story!

Mother's Day is an interesting celebration. The day has been around for some time now. Some would say since 1908 ('officially' recognized in 1914 with by an Act of Congress), over a hundred years ago. Ultimately mother's day is a celebration of the life of a mother in the family unit, the church, and community at large. It is a day that recognizes the significant impact mother's do have and have had on our life and in our communities.

That is, however, only one part of the day. There is another part of this day that is often overlooked or ignored - treated as if it doesn't exist. The part I am talking about is the experience of brokenness, barrenness and grief that mother's, women in general and really all of us from time to time carry in our lives! Everyday of celebration no doubt carries with it components of sadness. Some, on this day, will be reminded that they are unable to have children. Others, on this day, will be reminded that their children will not call and, perhaps, have not spoken to them in years. For others still this day will be a reminder of the grief they experience through the loss of their mother. Others will walk through different pain and hurts, even as they celebrate and recognize this day as a 'standout' day in our calendar year.

Our question for this Mother's day is this: Does the Christian Story speak to both the celebration and the sadness that will be experienced this Sunday? Is the Gospel thick enough to be spread over both parts of this piece of bread or is it too thin to be stretched to such extremes?

Some might begin to wonder at this point, 'come on, Biz, it's mother's day -focus on the celebration and ignore the sadness.' While I get this sentiment I believe that we too often take this approach in life. This approach would be similar to saying of Christianity - just focus on the resurrection (celebration) and forget the cross (sadness), let's focus on the positive. But to do this is to fail to acknowledge that without the cross there is no resurrection in the first place. Without the sadness, there is no reason for joy and celebration. The cross is the single greatest reason we can focus on both celebration and sadness this weekend. The cross is that which separates Christianity from ALL the religions of the world - that God would suffer sin, shame and death so that we might celebrate life, hope and fullness! If any story can speak to your celebration and sadness this weekend, please believe me: it is the Christian Story!

I hope you will join us this week for this journey to hope in the midst of both celebration and sadness. I am very excited about this weekend because my wife, Melissa will be sharing in the service her own story of finding hope in the midst of pain and celebrating in the midst of sadness. We both believe and know that it is time for her to share her story of Christ and the hope He offers! I believe that you will be moved into a new and transformative relationship with Christ if you will join us this weekend and hear from her mouth the testimony of the life you have seen her live with your own eyes!

Celebrating the Hope of Christ for Mother's Day and Every day!

Biz