One Person at a Time...

Wrong Day...Right Memory

I wrote a post yesterday remembering my Mom, who I said had died 18 years ago on the 28th of January (Yesterday).  As I reflected on that throughout the day, I realized that she died on the 30th of January.  How could I get that wrong?  I remember it as vividly as if it just happened.  It was the last Tuesday in January.  I checked the calendar all the way back to 1990, and sure enough the last Tuesday in January of 1990 was the 30th.  The points I made are all just as valid.  That I was two days off just shows that human beings are prone to error!  I think about her at one point or another most days.  Something one of our daughters does reminds me of her, or makes me wish she could see them.  Or I just want to ask for her opinion.  Or I'd like to have some of the nut rolls she used to make.  I don't obsess over her.  I just think of her.  Paul told the Philippian Christians that every time he thought of them, he thanked God for them (See Philippians 1:3)  In the same way, when I think of Mom, I thank God for her, and I count the blessing of being her son.  I live in the present, have great hope for the future, and give thanks for much that happened in the past, and sometimes for the truth that the past is OVER, and Jesus has paid the price for any sins I committed then.  I'm so glad for memories, even painful ones, (even ones that are off a couple of days!) because they show me how much God has done, and how far He has brought me from where I began.

Light or Heat?

I've always been told that the 95% of the standard incandescent light bulb's energy is heat energy, and only 5% is light.  It's one of those truisms that may or may not be true, but let's say it is for the sake of this entry.  When Jesus said, "You are the light of the world..."  He wasn't talking about being incandescent bulbs---with 95% of our energy being HEAT.  He was talking about being 100% light of Jesus energy to others.  What's my point?  Often as I listen to discussion between Christians and non-Christians, or Christians and Christians there seems to be a great deal of "heat" and very little light.  A quick example:  a Christian enters a room filled with non-Christians.  They're all smoking, cussing and "carrying on."  What's the Christian to do?  BE a light! Right?  What do we do in the situation?  Typically the response is one of two extremes.  We "blend in," that is we don't say or do anything to show those in the room we are light.  We're "neutral."  After all, what right do we have to be "judgmental," is the question such Christians ask.  At the other extreme are those who come in with the "blast furnace" approach.  We give them a little hell, so they don't have to endure the big, real HELL one day.  We condemn the language, the behaviors and we think we've been "light" in a dark place.  All we've done is give off heat.  A better approach is Jesus' approach.  He joined in the crowd and continued to BE light.  He didn't blend in.  Nor did he "scorch" everyone.  The only time JEsus turned up the heat was with the religous folk of the day.  But that's an entry for another day.  For today, let's remember that being "light" as Jesus called us to be "light" means nothing more or less than REFLECTING Him.  When people see Jesus in us, then, and only then, are they exposed to the light, and will they see us as AUTHENTIC, rather than as hypocrites or mealy-mouthed weaklings.  LIGHT not heat, that's the challenge!

Remembering Mom...

Eighteen years ago today, I received a phone call from my Dad that changed everything.  He told me that my Mom had suffered a stroke and "...it doesn't look good."  I was in a meeting at the church, actually the last staff meeting before I moved back to PA to serve my first time as a "senior pastor."  I drove home to tell Nancy that I was driving to PA to see my mother.  Abby was only 8 months old.  Nancy told me to wait for them to get ready.  I said I couldn't wait.  The phone rang.  My Dad said, "No sense hurrying.  Your mother is gone."  Gone.  Dead.  The words eventually describe each of us--unless Jesus comes--but how could they describe my Mom?  She was so alive, so vibrant.  How could she be dead at 67?  But she was.  Grief mixed with anger.  Why would God do this?  How could He take my mother away, just when we were moving back to PA?  For nine years we had lived a six hour drive from "home."  Now we were to be about two.  Where was the justice in this?

Eighteen years later, questions remain.  The timing still stinks as far as I'm concerned.  My Mom who so wanted grandDAUGHTERS, having grown up with only brothers, having reared only sons, now has four granddaughters, and three great grandaughters, and she only saw one of them.  But eighteen years has helped me realize that for Mom the blessing of being in God's presence, of receiving the reward that comes to all "good and faithful servants" of Jesus, is more important than my comfort or sense of fairness.  Mom taught me to trust Jesus.  She showed me the unconditional love of Jesus.  She served God and others faithfully and nearly always joyfully.  She passed on a godly heritage.  I still wonder "why" sometimes.  Why didn't she get to be here to love and influence our daughters, and the rest of her long-awaited granddaughters and great granddaughters?  Then I realize--she DID.  In her influence on me, and my influence on them. That's the way it works in the family of God.  The blessings of godly parents are visited on their children and grandchildren.  That's no less true in our family, even though Grandma Ruth didn't get to be around long personally or at all for them.  Now, it's up to us--to her children to pass on the faith we saw in her, to the next generations.  Paul pointed that out to Timothy.  Timothy's faith "originated" in his grandmother, came "through" his mother and then to him.  Of course Timothy had to claim it for himself, but what a blessing to have the heritage!  Our daughters have claimed the heritage and are living its blessings even now.  Thanks, Grandma Ruth!  Thanks, Mom, for being a godly woman!

Next Step #35

Hi Everyone,

This week’s next step comes to us from the Gospel of Mark, and may seem a bit extreme. Jesus was telling the disciples of what would happen as the “end” draws near. Notice what will happen to believers in this time, and the role of the Holy Spirit in what happens: 

    ⁹“When these things begin to happen, watch out! You will be handed over to the local councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me. ¹⁰For the Good News must first be preached to all nations. ¹¹But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.  Mark 13:9-11 NLT

     We live in a nation where we’re free to speak God’s word to others. Many believers around the world are not afforded that luxury. When (not if, since Jesus said the time will eventually come!) the time comes that we are not free to speak about Jesus (if it comes in our lifetimes!), then we may take the comfort of knowing that as we live in the power of the Holy Spirit, He will speak through us to local councils, governors and kings that they may know the Good News of Jesus! When we realize that our lives are not OURS, but HIS, then we begin to understand how important it is for us to live with the Holy Spirit leading every moment. Even for us, who have the freedom to tell others about Jesus, relying on the Holy Spirit to speak through us is the only sure way for our words to have His impact. The key from Jesus’ words is for us to BE READY! Whether the time is short or long, it is nearer than it once was and as those who are living in the Holy Spirit everyday, by His grace and power we will be ready!

Next Step #35

Hi Everyone,

This week’s next step comes to us from the Gospel of Mark, and may seem a bit extreme. Jesus was telling the disciples of what would happen as the “end” draws near. Notice what will happen to believers in this time, and the role of the Holy Spirit in what happens: 

    ⁹“When these things begin to happen, watch out! You will be handed over to the local councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me. ¹⁰For the Good News must first be preached to all nations. ¹¹But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.  Mark 13:9-11 NLT

     We live in a nation where we’re free to speak God’s word to others. Many believers around the world are not afforded that luxury. When (not if, since Jesus said the time will eventually come!) the time comes that we are not free to speak about Jesus (if it comes in our lifetimes!), then we may take the comfort of knowing that as we live in the power of the Holy Spirit, He will speak through us to local councils, governors and kings that they may know the Good News of Jesus! When we realize that our lives are not OURS, but HIS, then we begin to understand how important it is for us to live with the Holy Spirit leading every moment. Even for us, who have the freedom to tell others about Jesus, relying on the Holy Spirit to speak through us is the only sure way for our words to have His impact. The key from Jesus’ words is for us to BE READY! Whether the time is short or long, it is nearer than it once was and as those who are living in the Holy Spirit everyday, by His grace and power we will be ready!

Sabbath...

Friday is my "Sabbath," my day of rest.  It has been for several years, but to be honest for the most part it has been my Sabbath in name only.  I fully believe in the concept of Sabbath--since it was given to us by God and is one of the Ten Commandments.  Jesus started each day with a Sabbath--a time or withdrawing from the world and communing with His Heavenly Father.  I call it a Sabbath, because it was more than just a prayer time that He checked off His to do list.  Mark 1:35 ff, makes it clear that Jesus got up in the morning--long before daybreak to pray.  This was Jesus' time to "rest" in His Heavenly Father.  As you read the text you find that soon the disciples would come looking for Him, and when they found Him they would pull Jesus to go back and "follow up" on the great day of ministry of the day before.  Jesus didn't go with the disciples' plan.  He had another plan--a plan to do what His Heavenly Father sent Him to do.  What I learn from that--or should say what I am LEARNING from that is I, too, must start each day, and take a day each week when I separate myself from the world, even from my family and the church family to communie with God, to rest in Him.  That way when others present plans that seem good, I'll know God's plan, which is always best.  Why am I writing this on my Sabbath?  Because I want you to know how important Sabbath is, and I ask that you will pray for me to honor a daily and weekly time of Sabbath with the Lord, that I may be all He calls me to be in 2008!

This Sunday at New Life!

You'll want to join us on Sunday at 10:00 a.m for sure as we continue our Back to Basics series: Generous Giving!  The message focuses on trusting in God rather than riches.  Jesus reminded us that we cannot serve two masters, and that the chief rival god in our lives is money.  Using an unusual illustration, we'll emphasize the importance of leaning on God and not on our "stack."  So, plan to BE THERE for sure!

Read Any Good Books Lately?

For the past seven years, I've had a study at Hampton Concrete Products on Route 8 in Gibsonia.  The owner, Virgil Knox, graciously offered it to me in April of 2001, when I was starting New Life.  With our move to Cabot last year, Route 8 seems a long way off, and I haven't used the study much since the move.  So, it seemed time to move the "study" to the house, where I already have a temporary study set up.  Today was the day.  Bill and Joe met me there, and we started unloading books from the shelves and into my car.  As I took the books off the shelves I'd stop to say, 'This is a great book!" Or  "I learned so much from this book!"  I have a LOT of books, and have read most of them, some of them over and over again.  While the world of technology is movingus more and more to "on line" everything, I'm grateful to God for the books I've read over the years and how they've shaped me.  I'm also grateful for the books that have been passed on to me by pastors, friends, relatives and acquaintances.  Of course THE BOOK--the BIBLE is the greatest source of wisdom and truth I've ever read--and continue to read, but I'm thankful for all the authors God has gifted with the ability to get across his truth in so many ways.  Have you read a good book and THE Good Book lately?

Fast Answer to Prayer...

Do you think Jesus cares about clothes dryers?  It's a serious question.  Ours died on Sunday afternoon.  It was one of those sudden things--no warnings.  Well, actually Nancy did tell me that it was "making a funny noise" for a couple of days, but then it just died.  We just started a series on "Generous Giving" at New Life and I just talked about "margin" on Sunday--about having a little extra set aside for emergencies--sort of like a dryer's untimely death.  Well, at the moment that wasn't in the margin.  Last night before we went to bed we were going over finances and I said, "God will take care of this.  He always has."  Nancy said, "I know," and we went to sleep.

This morning at prayer walking Chuck asked, "How are you today, Chris?"  I said, "I'm good, but I'd be better if my dryer hadn't died."  Frank said, "Dryer? I think we have an old dryer in the basement that we don't need.  Do need gas or electric?"  I didn't care.  When we built the house we put a connection for electric and gas.  The one that died was electric.  Frank's was gas.  Make that OURS is gas!  Hooked it up this afternoon, and it works great!  So, do you think Jesus cares about clothes dryers?  Can't say for sure, but I know that he cares about us!  And I'm giving Him the praise for providing for our needs as we continued to seek Him first.   Thanks, to Frank, too, for being the "vehicle" Jesus used to deliver the blessing!

Thanks, Leaders!

I want to personally and publicly thank our leaders at New Life for their participation in the leader retreat Friday evening and Saturday at the Hust "retreat center"!  We are blessed at New Life to have leaders who are seeking God's will for our life together, and who desire continue growing in their life as followers of Jesus.  The focus of the retreat was "Equipping."  The focus text was Ephesians 4:11-16.  As we move through 2008 the emphasis of all our leaders is going to be on maturing in our own relationship with Jesus AND equipping as many of the "saints"--God's people--at New Life as we can to fulfill our mission to share the New Life of Jesus Christ with the world--one person at a time.