Tuesday, November 27, 2012

What Am I Thankful for?



What am I Thankful for?

   November arrived and as of this blog post it is on his way out with a cold blast! The elections are done and over with, thanksgiving came and went, the Holiday shopping season “officially” started. The timing of this blog post is at the beginning of the Christmas season. The opportunity for being all pious and super religious is so tempting and so easy. Yet I would like to think of my readers as people who do some critical thinking and examine their world around them. So instead of going for the easy answers I will present to you some hard questions that we all need to ponder from time to time.
 
   It amazes me how we designate a single “official observance day” for holidays that should be an everyday thing. Should we not honor our moms and dads everyday instead of just one day in May and June? Thanksgiving Day, a whole entire day dedicated to the act of giving thanks. Do we spend the entire day doing that? Far from it, we have a list (in some cases legendary) of things to do to get ready for a once a year feast. Then there is the matter of, the football game. Whether is watching the one on TV or the traditional back yard “Golden Drumstick trophy” contest (that somehow the weakest team wins every year in some families), the thoughts of the day are on who will win this year. What should we give thanks for, the regular things; health, family, friends, good food? What are you thankful for?

   Are we thankful like Psalm 42 for the memory of the things God has done for us? Are we thankful for our calling as servants and followers of God as Colossians 3 speaks of? Do we give thanks out of obligation or out of the uncontainable joy of what God has and is doing in our lives, (Psalm 100)? Do we thank God in proclamation of His deeds, Psalm105? Have you thanked God for his faithful love for you, Psalm 106? Do you remember His name when you think back to the day you were crying out to Jesus for your Salvation and He heard you and rescued you, Psalm 118:21? Will you give thanks for who God is, Psalm 118:28? Can you stop in the middle of adversity and thank God for being God, Daniel 6:10? Are we thankful for what we already have, Matt15:36? Will you remember to say thanks for whatever comes next, Matt26:27? Are we thankful for the opportunities to share in others burdens, Luke22:17?

   What am I thankful for? That the God creator of the universe felt that heaven would not be complete unless I was there, and in an inexplicable display of mercy send His only son to die a brutal death for my sins to be erased. That on the third day He rose from the dead so I too could have eternal life with Jesus in heaven. The rest as they say…well, is just gravy.  

RH

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

What is at stake?



What is at stake?

   The month of August has brought us the Summer Olympics. What an amazing string of events. A great number of nations were represented, athletes from all over the world with the same goal in mind; to represent their country and win a medal. Some of the most compelling stories of the Olympic Games have been told during these games. My favorite one is the story about the 10,000 m women's champion Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia. Since the running of the 10,000 m was added as an Olympic sport for women somebody in Dibaba’s family has won a medal in the event except for 1988 Olympics. The dedication and training that takes to get to that level of athletic competition must be grueling. For many of these athletes winning is everything. For some of these countries your reputation and how you're treated hangs in the balance of winning a medal. Some of these athletes trained their whole lives and don't even make it to the podium. They have won their event in their countries and in world championships, but the Olympics are the pinnacle for a lot of these sports that they compete in. Once an event is over and the winners are announced the reactions are priceless. They fill the whole range, from joy and vindication to surprise and disappointment. There chase is over and you can see in their faces that all the anticipation and the sacrifice has either paid off or not.

   The Olympic Games have been around since 776 BC.  My guess, in reading through scholars, is that some form of athletic competition existed in the time of Paul that resembled the Olympic Games. In 1 Corinthians 9: 24-27 the apostle Paul writes: Do you not know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. However, they do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. Therefore I do not run like one who runs aimlessly, or box like one who beats the air. Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”
   
   The apostle Paul is speaking to the church in Corinth about the Christian life and persevering sharing the gospel. It always fascinates me how the Apostle Paul describes things to the common folk. We have to look at this from the point of view of a Christian and our Christian walk. On the surface it looks like Paul is saying that there's only one price and only one person can win. In reality there is only one price but everyone who accepts Jesus Christ as Lord can win it. His metaphor is more to encourage the brothers and sisters to continue to strive forward and never lose faith. How many times in our Christian walk we get to a point where the odds seem insurmountable. At that point in our walk what do we do? At this point in our walk who do we turn to? Do we know what's at stake? We get to a point of desperation, we are stuck in a rut, and we justify every excuse not to share the gospel. Our Christian walk will always be filled with ups and downs but our purpose never changes. To share the gospel, with as many people as we can, is that purpose. The gospel is an incredible historical event of sacrifice and triumph like no other event. To share with others the fact that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, and is through the gift of grace and his sacrifice that we can come before God and ask for forgiveness. Olympic athletes strive for medals that will become a distant memory to others until the next Olympic Games. As Christians we strive for a prize that will never end, eternity with God. Now there is a prize worth going for!

RH

Friday, July 13, 2012

Idol Worship


Idol worship
           The month of July brings so many images to mind for so many people. Summer is in full swing, vacations are up and running, summer camps are roaring and just getting strong. In America July brings memories of Independence Day. A celebration of all things USA takes a life of its own. I would like to stop at this point and say for the record, I love this country. I served this country for 14 years of my life in the U.S. Army. I have the form 214 honorable discharge and commendation awards to prove it. Our form of government and democracy is what I am counting on to allow me to write this blog post. With that in mind I will like to tell you that I hate when worshiping God has to take second place to worshiping country, when any “God and country” holiday falls close to Sunday. Before you stop reading the rest of my post and send me all your “here is why you are wrong Rick or Go move to another country” emails, here me out. In the book of Exodus 20:1-6 God says this: Then God spoke all these words:  I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. Do not have other gods besides Me. Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. You must not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the fathers' sin, to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commands.” I am not a legalistic guy by any means. I am just pointing out that this first commandment has to be honored at all times in our worship services. More often than not we come to worship that Sunday and we see the bulletin with so much red, white and blue that it looks like a parade program instead of a church service. There are acknowledgements about our country’s accomplishments before announcements, before prayer, before the sermon and after, not to mention the six patriotic hymns that glorify our country and place her at the same level as God. I’ve seen it, I’ve been there, and it just saddens me. We designate one day of the week to worship the creator of everything and we take his stage away with what? We already are limiting ourselves to one hour of sharing the gospel with someone in our congregation, who came lost to our church that day. Instead we speak with pride about what our country has done and how great we are and how on the surface God has blessed us more than any other country. Don’t get me wrong that is a good thing to do; Sunday’s worship service it is just not the place or time for it. Perhaps we need to re-define worship and respect; we should respect and honor our country, but we should only worship God. I know many of you can quote scripture that calls for honoring the king and the nation or government, but none of them say to do it during corporate worship time. In Mat 22:36-40 Jesus was asked; "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments."(HCSB) Maybe you can relate with this video from my friends the Skit Guys; http://skitguys.com/videos/item/idol-worship.

          Idol worship is not just golden calves; it is TV, movies, actors, video games, politics, country, boyfriend, girlfriend, Facebook, etc. worshiping anything that is not God. I am not saying that you can’t have any of these things in your life. In and of themselves they are not bad. When they take away from your appointed time with God (Bible study devotions, prayers time, worship) then you have to take a step back and see how to get back to Worshiping God only.


Monday, June 11, 2012

Worship is...


Worship is…
   The word worship is used to describe the way we feel about many things. We use the word in different contexts. If a guy is head over heels over a woman we describe it as, he worships the ground she walks on. If we cannot get enough of our favorite band we are labeled as worshiping our band. When we eat a meal that is so good, our experience borders on worship, because the food is that good. Most of our understanding and definition of worship is based on Webster’s dictionary; reverent honor and homage paid to God or a sacred personage, or to any object regarded as sacred, to feel an adoring reverence or regard for (any person or thing), to attend services of divine worship. Maybe is me but there seems to be something missing. The Hebrew words most often used for worship are; shâchâh (shaw-khaw') A primitive root; to depress, that is, prostrate (especially reflexively in homage to royalty or God): - bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship, and; âbad (aw-bad') A primitive root; to work (in any sense); by implication to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.: be, keep in bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear, execute, + husbandman, keep, labour (-ing man), bring to pass, (cause to, make to) serve (-ing, self), (be, become) servant (-s), do (use) service, till (-er), transgress [from margin], (set a) work, be wrought, worshiper.  The Greek word that describes worship is; proskuneō (pros-koo-neh'-o) to fawn or crouch to, that is, (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore): - worship.
If I am reading and understanding these Biblical definitions of worship, it looks to me that worship is not passive and it requires our complete involvement.
   My narrow view of worship has totally driven me to start to search and research what Biblical worship looks like. Tom Kraeuter says this; “Worship should honor God, be 100% directed towards God and it requires our involvement.” Scripture in Psalm 29:2; Psalm 96:9 and Matthew 4:10 describe what that looks like. As we read and meditate on these passages we need to ask some questions. When we come to worship do we “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name”? Do we worship Him in the “splendor of his holiness”? Do we worship Him and Him only and serve Him and Him only? When we come to worship how have we prepared our hearts? Were you harried because you could not get out of your house on time for Sunday school? Did you have your weekly argument with your spouse about why he or she is not joining with you to church? Did your children linger around not getting ready in hopes that you will leave them behind? Did you leave you house later than you wanted and traffic just stole the last bit of peace you had left for church? Does the music in your car connect you with creation (you) or the creator? Are your thoughts about the length of the service keeping you from being aware you are in the presence of God? Did you go home thinking that the music was too modern, too old, too loud, and too patriotic or not your style? Is there a problem, situation or circumstance in our lives that is more important than worshiping God? If I may, I can answer that last question with conviction with a loud NO!
   In pursue of pleasure, achievement and identity we let other things take our time to worship God away from us. Everything must fit our schedule. We select an hour or so on Sundays to be the “only appropriate” time to worship God. To that time we add even more restrictions; dress code, sitting arrangements, music preferences, Sunday school attendance, scripture preferences, out of context theology, parking spaces, homemade or store bought coffee cake judgment, the list goes on and on. In a few words, our pride rules our lives. These things in and of themselves are not bad things, but when we try to imposed the ones we value on everyone, that is when things get out of hand. Worshiping God has to do with us humbling ourselves before a great and merciful God who loves us in spite our faults. A God, who needs nothing, that did not want to spend eternity without us at His side. A God whose love for us fueled his desire to sacrifice himself in our place through Jesus Christ, that we may have eternal life with Him. Worship is us down on our faces surrendering and humbling ourselves in service, with all our gifts and talents, before an awesome God who loves us more than anyone will ever love us.
RH
  






Monday, May 14, 2012

Last 40 Days with Jesus.


Last 40 Days with Jesus

         Starting on the day of His resurrection Jesus spent, on and off, 40 days with his disciples. Can you imagine how eye opening those days were. His plan for redemption, phase one, had come to a completion. Finally a way of redemption was in place. A way that can be achieved by everyone without ridiculous rules or steps that were so complicated only a few could achieve. Salvation is now available to anyone and everyone who truly and faithfully wanted to be saved and serve God. 
      
          Jesus embarked in a series of appearances, of which five are recorded in the gospels, which were both amazing and intentional in their purpose. First he appeared to the women. They were scared and worried that someone had stolen the body. The pain of Jesus’ loss fresh in their minds and now this, an empty tomb and angels proclaiming he has risen. Jesus then appears to them and takes away their fears with a greeting of joy, the Greek chairō used in Matthew 28:9 is a greeting of rejoicing. Scripture describes the next thing that happens after Jesus’ words to them. In Matthew 28:9 we see their response to this encounter with the resurrected Jesus; taking a hold of him and worshiping.  What the women need most was their joy restored to them; intentionally Jesus does just that for them.  Are you missing your joy? Take a hold of Jesus and worship him!  

         In the gospel of Mark we are told the conversation that happened between the women and the angel. The women were told to tell the disciples what they have just seen and to tell Peter and the others to meet up with Jesus in Galilee. Jesus intentionally leaves instructions that single out Peter as one of the people that He is eager to see. I believe that aside from his mom, the one person who was hurting the most because of the death of Jesus was Peter. Having made eye contact with Jesus, (Luke 22:60-62) after the rooster crowed at his last denial of Jesus, must have been the worst memory to have ever. Jesus wants Peter to know that forgiveness abounds and has already been granted. He left a personal message to Peter, he called him by name. You might think your transgression is unforgivable, yet Jesus is calling you by your name. 

         The disciples had many doubts and fears that must have kept them up at night. Even though the women told them what they saw and Peter and John ran to the tomb and found it empty, their doubts still persist. Cleopas and Simon came back from walking and talking with Jesus to tell the disciples that Jesus was alive. Yet they just could not believe. Their spirits were troubled and they were in desperate need of peace. The Jesus appears to them in their closed door room and intentionally the first thing he offers them is “Peace to you”. He goes on to show them he is indeed alive in the flesh and sits down to eat fish with them to erase any doubts and fears they might have. Thomas was missing at this first encounter with Jesus so when he was told about it he wanted proof. Eight days later Jesus gave him proof Thomas was so in awe of Jesus that he declares Him for who He really is; God and Lord. Do you need peace in a situation in your life? Do you have doubts? Just spend time with Jesus in prayer and ask for the peace that can only come from him. The proof will come when you need it most and in His perfect timing. 

        The final encounter recorded in scripture is the appearance on the shore(John 21). If you have not read this passage you are missing out on one of the most intentional moments in Jesus’ teaching. Picture the scene. A few of the disciples go fishing and spend all night at sea without any results. As they approach the shore they see Jesus. Jesus asked them if they have caught anything, knowing full well that they had caught nothing. He then tells them to throw the net to the side of the boat; suddenly the net is full of fish. The disciples try to reel in the fish but it is too heavy, remember that! Peter get’s off the boat and goes to the shore to eat breakfast with Jesus. The rest follow Peter, Jesus had started a fire with a few fish but they needed more. Jesus then tells Peter to bring the rest of the 153 fish in the net. Scripture says this: "Bring some of the fish you've just caught," Jesus told them.  “So Simon Peter got up and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish--153 of them. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.” John 21:10-11 (HCSB). Did you see that, it was not until Jesus commanded to bring the fish that Peter was able to bring them to shore on his own. The picture of evangelism is like the one in this story. We can cast our nets with the Gospel but until Jesus commands us to bring them in and we obey, nothing will happen. The word of God has power beyond our understanding. Intentionally after this Jesus restores Peter and erases his denials with three professions of love affirmation and commissions him to take care of His sheep, but notice this; it wasn’t until Peter was fed the Jesus asked him to feed others. Be careful to keep your spirit well fed with God, only then will you be able to feed others. When we minister to others we take care of God’s sheep, one person at a time.

RH