Perhaps Abraham Lincoln's words from his second inaugural address also apply to our current political situation:
"With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle...to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and all nations."
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
Mushrooms
While walking in Pioneer Park this morning, noted a mushroom (or related fungus)on the side of a trail that was at least eight inches across. Imagine the time that went into its development! Imagine how large it could become if left alone (not likely)!
The mushroom reminded me of growth in our lives. On the negative side, we are often tempted to allow small sins or fears to grow in our lives - then one day we have a huge problem. On the positive side, God plants seeds in our lives (see Matthew 13 for an example) that often grow into surprising virtues, character qualities and actions.
Have a great weekend!
The mushroom reminded me of growth in our lives. On the negative side, we are often tempted to allow small sins or fears to grow in our lives - then one day we have a huge problem. On the positive side, God plants seeds in our lives (see Matthew 13 for an example) that often grow into surprising virtues, character qualities and actions.
Have a great weekend!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Marriage Message (for those who want a sneak peek)
There is an incredible amount of confusion in our culture about marriage. We hear voices saying that the institution itself is passing away – that living together is a better option – that gender should not be an issue in marriage – that divorce is simply the termination of a contract between two individuals who no longer want to stay together – that an occasional extra-marital affair can actually be good for marriage – not to mention all the internal issues like child raising, joint career development, sexual fulfillment, and numerous others.
Of course, I have all the answers and will be happy to share them with you this morning:)
What’s important is to hear God’s voice above the other voices, including our own. Last week we concluded that if we are going to follow Jesus, we must listen intently to His word, and obey. Scripture has much to say about marriage, let’s look at five areas this morning.
Marriage is not for Everyone
- We forget this teaching, to our shame. Read I Corinthians 7:1-2, 8-9, 32-35.
- God has called some to singleness. Single believers can devote themselves more fully to the Lord, and this pleases Him. We need to honor the singles among us who have served the Lord passionately – as well as the widows and widowers who made this choice after their spouse’s death.
- But for most this is not an option, and Paul is frank – it’s better to marry than to burn.
Marriage is a Life Long Commitment
- We admire long term commitment. George Blanda played quarterback and kicker for 26 years, longer than anyone in the NFL. Ella Fitzgerald sang for 57 years. Jessica Tandy acted for 69 years. Strom Thurmond served his country politically for 72 years, including eight terms in the senate. Liu Yung-Yang and Yang Wan were married for a little over 86 years, while Bill & Claudia Ritchie of Kentucky only made it 83.
- Yet only 60-70% of American marriages will make it to “death do us part”. First marriages that end in divorce only statistically last eight years, second marriages only seven. Only 33% of American marriages make it to their 25th anniversary, 20% to their 35th (these statistics do include deaths).
- What does God say? Matthew 19:1-9, I Corinthians 7:10-11, Malachi 2:16. Seems pretty clear that marriage is a life long commitment, with divorce reserved for only the most extreme situations (adultery being the clearest scripturally).
- Before moving on, I want to be abundantly clear about something. If you have been divorced in the past – which a number of you have - that does not make you a second class citizen of the kingdom or unwelcome here. Rather, understand that what God’s word says is for your present, and for your future. Close the trap door, remove the divorce option from your “now” and your future, work at your marriage. If there are past relational sins that need to be taken care of – with your current or past spouse – take care of them, and move forward.
Marriage is for Spiritual Equals
- Many have lost this concept. Marriage is for two believers to enter into, or two unbelievers. Don’t mix believers and unbelievers, it rarely works.
- The Old Testament is full of this concept – Solomon’s pagan wives led to his downfall – revivals under Ezra & Nehemiah both emphasized spiritually pure marriages – many spiritual or governmental leaders in the OT crashed and burned because their spouse didn’t follow God.
- Read I Corinthians 7:39 & 2 Corinthians 6:14. This is very clear – if you are a follower of Jesus Christ, marry a follower of Jesus Christ. It’s easy to deceive ourselves into believing we will convert our spouses (happens sometimes) – or that we will be able work out a good spiritual arrangement – ask those who have gone through it for their input.
- Again, this is not a second class citizen concept. If you are married to an unbeliever, deal with any past sin involved and move on. And please don’t divorce your unbelieving spouse, I Corinthians 7:12-16 is quite clear that you shouldn’t.
Marriage Requires Submission, Love & Respect
- Read Ephesians 5:21-33. There are multiple sermons in this passage alone.
- We are to submit to each other, and wives particularly to their husbands (command is repeated in five separate passages, and exemplified elsewhere). The submission concept is used with governmental & spiritual authorities, servants to masters, demons to Jesus, of the church to Jesus, children to their parents, and younger men to older, among others. We are all in submission relationships. It’s not an oppressive word, our culture has only made it such. It’s an obedience word, and in my personal opinion is only invalidated when we are asked to do something outside of God’s revealed will.
- Husbands are to love their wives – I Corinthians 13 defines this as patient, kind, not envious or boastful, not proud, not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered, doesn’t keep record of wrongs – it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. The companion passage in Colossians commands husbands to love their wives and not be harsh with them – which captures the concept well.
- And wives are to respect their husbands. This is more key than we think – men are easily brought down inside and outside their marriage when their wives don’t respect them. And it’s not a conditional command, we can’t say, “well, I would respect him if he was respectable” – in fact, one can make a case that respecting him helps make him respectable.
Marriage is a Symbol of a Greater Reality
- Paul says an astonishing thing here in verse 32 of Ephesians 5 – he’s actually thinking of Christ and the church. The husband-wife relationship is symbolic of an eternal relationship the church has with Jesus Christ – complete with our engagement here and a wedding feast in heaven.
- The two most profound truths that arise out of this is that husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the church – self-sacrificially – and that the church is to live in purity (found in 2 Corinthians 11:2).
So, what have we learned or been reminded of? Marriage is not for everyone, singleness is at least as good, and often a better, option. Marriage involves a life long commitment, divorce is not to be an option except in extreme situations (like adultery, and I’ve seen adulterous couples come back together and make it work). Marriage is for spiritual equals, believers with believers, unbelievers with unbelievers. Marriage requires heavy and continuous doses of submission, love and respect – a concept that probably needs more development in a different message. And, finally, our marriages are a life time picture of an eternal truth – we will live in intimate relationship with Christ forever.
Of course, I have all the answers and will be happy to share them with you this morning:)
What’s important is to hear God’s voice above the other voices, including our own. Last week we concluded that if we are going to follow Jesus, we must listen intently to His word, and obey. Scripture has much to say about marriage, let’s look at five areas this morning.
Marriage is not for Everyone
- We forget this teaching, to our shame. Read I Corinthians 7:1-2, 8-9, 32-35.
- God has called some to singleness. Single believers can devote themselves more fully to the Lord, and this pleases Him. We need to honor the singles among us who have served the Lord passionately – as well as the widows and widowers who made this choice after their spouse’s death.
- But for most this is not an option, and Paul is frank – it’s better to marry than to burn.
Marriage is a Life Long Commitment
- We admire long term commitment. George Blanda played quarterback and kicker for 26 years, longer than anyone in the NFL. Ella Fitzgerald sang for 57 years. Jessica Tandy acted for 69 years. Strom Thurmond served his country politically for 72 years, including eight terms in the senate. Liu Yung-Yang and Yang Wan were married for a little over 86 years, while Bill & Claudia Ritchie of Kentucky only made it 83.
- Yet only 60-70% of American marriages will make it to “death do us part”. First marriages that end in divorce only statistically last eight years, second marriages only seven. Only 33% of American marriages make it to their 25th anniversary, 20% to their 35th (these statistics do include deaths).
- What does God say? Matthew 19:1-9, I Corinthians 7:10-11, Malachi 2:16. Seems pretty clear that marriage is a life long commitment, with divorce reserved for only the most extreme situations (adultery being the clearest scripturally).
- Before moving on, I want to be abundantly clear about something. If you have been divorced in the past – which a number of you have - that does not make you a second class citizen of the kingdom or unwelcome here. Rather, understand that what God’s word says is for your present, and for your future. Close the trap door, remove the divorce option from your “now” and your future, work at your marriage. If there are past relational sins that need to be taken care of – with your current or past spouse – take care of them, and move forward.
Marriage is for Spiritual Equals
- Many have lost this concept. Marriage is for two believers to enter into, or two unbelievers. Don’t mix believers and unbelievers, it rarely works.
- The Old Testament is full of this concept – Solomon’s pagan wives led to his downfall – revivals under Ezra & Nehemiah both emphasized spiritually pure marriages – many spiritual or governmental leaders in the OT crashed and burned because their spouse didn’t follow God.
- Read I Corinthians 7:39 & 2 Corinthians 6:14. This is very clear – if you are a follower of Jesus Christ, marry a follower of Jesus Christ. It’s easy to deceive ourselves into believing we will convert our spouses (happens sometimes) – or that we will be able work out a good spiritual arrangement – ask those who have gone through it for their input.
- Again, this is not a second class citizen concept. If you are married to an unbeliever, deal with any past sin involved and move on. And please don’t divorce your unbelieving spouse, I Corinthians 7:12-16 is quite clear that you shouldn’t.
Marriage Requires Submission, Love & Respect
- Read Ephesians 5:21-33. There are multiple sermons in this passage alone.
- We are to submit to each other, and wives particularly to their husbands (command is repeated in five separate passages, and exemplified elsewhere). The submission concept is used with governmental & spiritual authorities, servants to masters, demons to Jesus, of the church to Jesus, children to their parents, and younger men to older, among others. We are all in submission relationships. It’s not an oppressive word, our culture has only made it such. It’s an obedience word, and in my personal opinion is only invalidated when we are asked to do something outside of God’s revealed will.
- Husbands are to love their wives – I Corinthians 13 defines this as patient, kind, not envious or boastful, not proud, not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered, doesn’t keep record of wrongs – it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. The companion passage in Colossians commands husbands to love their wives and not be harsh with them – which captures the concept well.
- And wives are to respect their husbands. This is more key than we think – men are easily brought down inside and outside their marriage when their wives don’t respect them. And it’s not a conditional command, we can’t say, “well, I would respect him if he was respectable” – in fact, one can make a case that respecting him helps make him respectable.
Marriage is a Symbol of a Greater Reality
- Paul says an astonishing thing here in verse 32 of Ephesians 5 – he’s actually thinking of Christ and the church. The husband-wife relationship is symbolic of an eternal relationship the church has with Jesus Christ – complete with our engagement here and a wedding feast in heaven.
- The two most profound truths that arise out of this is that husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the church – self-sacrificially – and that the church is to live in purity (found in 2 Corinthians 11:2).
So, what have we learned or been reminded of? Marriage is not for everyone, singleness is at least as good, and often a better, option. Marriage involves a life long commitment, divorce is not to be an option except in extreme situations (like adultery, and I’ve seen adulterous couples come back together and make it work). Marriage is for spiritual equals, believers with believers, unbelievers with unbelievers. Marriage requires heavy and continuous doses of submission, love and respect – a concept that probably needs more development in a different message. And, finally, our marriages are a life time picture of an eternal truth – we will live in intimate relationship with Christ forever.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
How Intimate?
Would appreciate feedback on this question:
How intimately is Jesus involved with Princeton Free Church? Can you sense His presence or involvement with us?
Thanks!
How intimately is Jesus involved with Princeton Free Church? Can you sense His presence or involvement with us?
Thanks!
Worship
As human beings, we often want our words to have a single meaning. If our spouse serves hamburgers for supper, we may expect a burger with lettuce, tomato and ketchup on a hamburger bun – so the following would all be surprises:
Hamburger patty on a plate with raw onions
Turkey burger with mustard and pickles
Steak burger with steak sauce and fried onions
Rare hamburger steak on a plate (as in parts of Europe).
Ground beef in pita bread.
Yet each would be a burger, even though we aren’t used to thinking of them as such.
Worship is very much the same, but much more complicated.
Looking at the Hebrew, Greek and English concepts, worship can mean:
Service in a religious building
Devotion, love, honor for God
A posture of submission, acknowledgement of God’s sovereignty (bending the knee or bowing down in reverential fear)
Sacrifice (in New Testament, often self-sacrifice in service to others)
Raising hands to God
Singing, including accompanied by instrumentation
Celebration, make a show
To address in a loud tone
To dance or jump for joy (this is not a comprehensive list).
Unfortunately, we often boil worship down to music, and each of us has a favorite style based on our experience (I’ve identified at least five favorite styles in our congregation alone, and there certainly could be more).
Let me encourage you to think biblically about worship, which includes thinking broadly – much more broadly than a particular approach or style. Let’s worship Him together!
Hamburger patty on a plate with raw onions
Turkey burger with mustard and pickles
Steak burger with steak sauce and fried onions
Rare hamburger steak on a plate (as in parts of Europe).
Ground beef in pita bread.
Yet each would be a burger, even though we aren’t used to thinking of them as such.
Worship is very much the same, but much more complicated.
Looking at the Hebrew, Greek and English concepts, worship can mean:
Service in a religious building
Devotion, love, honor for God
A posture of submission, acknowledgement of God’s sovereignty (bending the knee or bowing down in reverential fear)
Sacrifice (in New Testament, often self-sacrifice in service to others)
Raising hands to God
Singing, including accompanied by instrumentation
Celebration, make a show
To address in a loud tone
To dance or jump for joy (this is not a comprehensive list).
Unfortunately, we often boil worship down to music, and each of us has a favorite style based on our experience (I’ve identified at least five favorite styles in our congregation alone, and there certainly could be more).
Let me encourage you to think biblically about worship, which includes thinking broadly – much more broadly than a particular approach or style. Let’s worship Him together!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Sacred & Sent
These two verses are right next to each other in John 17, Jesus' prayer for His followers:
"Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world."
Sanctify means to make sacred or holy. If you think about the sacred or holy objects in the world, we tend to hide them away from public view, or put them under glass, or somehow protect them. Jesus is asking His Father to do exactly the opposite: make His followers sacred through your truth, then send them out into the world.
In other words, God has made His followers special through truth & holiness - but then we are to be "totally out there", not worrying about our self-protection, reaching those who are not yet followers of His. God protects His people (see the preceding verse, John 17:15), but not by taking them out of the world.
You and I are sacred and sent - do we act so?
"Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world."
Sanctify means to make sacred or holy. If you think about the sacred or holy objects in the world, we tend to hide them away from public view, or put them under glass, or somehow protect them. Jesus is asking His Father to do exactly the opposite: make His followers sacred through your truth, then send them out into the world.
In other words, God has made His followers special through truth & holiness - but then we are to be "totally out there", not worrying about our self-protection, reaching those who are not yet followers of His. God protects His people (see the preceding verse, John 17:15), but not by taking them out of the world.
You and I are sacred and sent - do we act so?
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
How Long in Hell?
Many in & around our congregation are going through very difficult times. After one conversation, this question came to mind:
* How long are we to stay in hell for heaven's purposes?
This question was quickly followed by a response (not sure if it was the Lord or not, but I'm suspicious):
* For as long as the Lord will stay with you there.
Guess that means we can make it through today. And the one that follows.
* How long are we to stay in hell for heaven's purposes?
This question was quickly followed by a response (not sure if it was the Lord or not, but I'm suspicious):
* For as long as the Lord will stay with you there.
Guess that means we can make it through today. And the one that follows.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Revised Lord's Prayer
How often are our prayers more like this:
My ship come in,
My will be done....
Then "your kingdom come,
Your will be done...."
My ship come in,
My will be done....
Then "your kingdom come,
Your will be done...."
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Following Jesus, Union Eagle Article
Following Jesus
Jesus stood by the Sea of Galilee, teaching the crowds that were following Him. Acoustics were difficult, so He borrowed a boat, asking a local fisherman (Peter) to put out a little ways from shore. This enabled Him to sit down and share stories about God more easily & thoroughly with the people.
Jesus finished His presentation, turned to Peter, telling him to put out into the deep water for a catch. Peter respected this teacher – but He was certainly no fisherman – so explained that they’d worked all night and caught nothing. Jesus just looked at Peter, so he decided to humor his teacher. After all, what was one more cast before bed?
The fish exploded into the net. Peter and his brother could not haul them all in, to they signaled a second boat for help. Both boats were so filled that they began to sink.
Peter, typically, overreacted. “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man”. Jesus assured him that everything would be OK, but a career change was in order: now was the time to fish for men.
Matthew worked the tax booth diligently. Locals needed to file by him at some point during their week; he would remind them of their financial commitment, loudly if necessary. Matthew worked for the Romans, took excessive taxes from rich and poor alike; he was a despised man.
Except by Jesus. He ambled by the booth, looked into Matthew’s eyes, invited him along for a lifetime. The decision didn’t take long – riches with a poor reputation or poverty with a chance for significance – he took the poverty.
He also threw one whale of a party and invited his prior cronies: tax collectors and local sinners. The local leadership was outraged, Jesus was delighted. These were the people who needed Him. He was here for them.
John the Baptist was working the crowd, preaching, teaching, baptizing, arguing with the religious leaders. His ministry had tremendous impact. People were streaming in to hear him, to repent, to seek the Lord’s face for forgiveness. Then Jesus walked by.
John knew that he was not here for his own sake – not to build his own ministry or reputation - rather, to proclaim the one who was to come, Jesus. He pointed Him out to the crowds; then, the next day, specifically pointed Him out to two of His disciples. Look, there He is, follow Him – and they did.
John’s reaction: “He must become greater; I must become less.”
Did your Jesus completely change your life direction? Did He rejoice to reach out to you, and to others very much like and unlike you? Is He so important to you that you are willing to take a lesser role to share Him with others?
He did, and does – and I will - and that has made all the difference.
Jesus stood by the Sea of Galilee, teaching the crowds that were following Him. Acoustics were difficult, so He borrowed a boat, asking a local fisherman (Peter) to put out a little ways from shore. This enabled Him to sit down and share stories about God more easily & thoroughly with the people.
Jesus finished His presentation, turned to Peter, telling him to put out into the deep water for a catch. Peter respected this teacher – but He was certainly no fisherman – so explained that they’d worked all night and caught nothing. Jesus just looked at Peter, so he decided to humor his teacher. After all, what was one more cast before bed?
The fish exploded into the net. Peter and his brother could not haul them all in, to they signaled a second boat for help. Both boats were so filled that they began to sink.
Peter, typically, overreacted. “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man”. Jesus assured him that everything would be OK, but a career change was in order: now was the time to fish for men.
Matthew worked the tax booth diligently. Locals needed to file by him at some point during their week; he would remind them of their financial commitment, loudly if necessary. Matthew worked for the Romans, took excessive taxes from rich and poor alike; he was a despised man.
Except by Jesus. He ambled by the booth, looked into Matthew’s eyes, invited him along for a lifetime. The decision didn’t take long – riches with a poor reputation or poverty with a chance for significance – he took the poverty.
He also threw one whale of a party and invited his prior cronies: tax collectors and local sinners. The local leadership was outraged, Jesus was delighted. These were the people who needed Him. He was here for them.
John the Baptist was working the crowd, preaching, teaching, baptizing, arguing with the religious leaders. His ministry had tremendous impact. People were streaming in to hear him, to repent, to seek the Lord’s face for forgiveness. Then Jesus walked by.
John knew that he was not here for his own sake – not to build his own ministry or reputation - rather, to proclaim the one who was to come, Jesus. He pointed Him out to the crowds; then, the next day, specifically pointed Him out to two of His disciples. Look, there He is, follow Him – and they did.
John’s reaction: “He must become greater; I must become less.”
Did your Jesus completely change your life direction? Did He rejoice to reach out to you, and to others very much like and unlike you? Is He so important to you that you are willing to take a lesser role to share Him with others?
He did, and does – and I will - and that has made all the difference.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
What Would You Fight Over?
I received an email this afternoon from a person who was upset about eternal security - he disagreed with another's viewpoint that one could lose their salvation.
I can understand his frustration, this does seem to be a key issue - and that debate has raged for over 500 years. It's important, but I'm not sure I would fight over it. There are more similarities to the two sides than one would initially think - and they can meet over how one should reach out to someone who has made a profession of faith, but does not follow the Lord over an extended period of time (deal with them as an unbeliever first).
What would I fight over, stand up for, even die for? I would "fight" for Christ's person and work - particularly for salvation by faith. I would fight for our freedom to worship - not necessarily in a church building or formal way - but together with other believers, even "underground". I would fight for scripture being inspired by God, inerrant. I would fight for our "right" to share our faith - or I would at least go ahead and share anyway. Many of the Evangelical Free doctrines are basic enough to "fight" for.
I doubt that I would fight for one particular position on the Lord's coming.
How about you?
I can understand his frustration, this does seem to be a key issue - and that debate has raged for over 500 years. It's important, but I'm not sure I would fight over it. There are more similarities to the two sides than one would initially think - and they can meet over how one should reach out to someone who has made a profession of faith, but does not follow the Lord over an extended period of time (deal with them as an unbeliever first).
What would I fight over, stand up for, even die for? I would "fight" for Christ's person and work - particularly for salvation by faith. I would fight for our freedom to worship - not necessarily in a church building or formal way - but together with other believers, even "underground". I would fight for scripture being inspired by God, inerrant. I would fight for our "right" to share our faith - or I would at least go ahead and share anyway. Many of the Evangelical Free doctrines are basic enough to "fight" for.
I doubt that I would fight for one particular position on the Lord's coming.
How about you?
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