The Beauty of Redemption: A Modern Day Parable

She was only 12, but her tired eyes gave away the years of abuse she had suffered as a child prostitute in an Indian slum. Her name was Bandhura, which means pretty in her language. Despite the obvious scars on her face and the deep bruising where she had been struck repeatedly by her master and the men who used her, she was still a beautiful little girl.

I first spotted her as I walked down the dirt, trash-filled alley. She was caged, literally like an animal, her head bowed low as though she were unable to look at the next man who was going to use her for his own personal pleasure. Anger rose inside me at the blatant injustice; how much pain had this little girl endured? What had she possibly done at such a young age to deserve this? But greater still, I knew the love that my God, her God had for her. I knew the love I felt for her and a holy anger burned inside. I could not walk away. I would not walk away; not without her.

I boldly approached the man who I assumed was her owner. He looked eager to meet the perverse needs of an American tourist; and clearly saw an opportunity. My eyes must have flashed the anger that was seething inside of me. I asked him sharply, 'How much for her?' He quoted an amount in Rupees, and I knew he didn't understand. "No. I am going to buy her from you," I said. "I want to redeem her. Name your price." He replied, "I make my living off of this trash; and not much at that. She's not for sale."

I knew love would not let me leave. I had to take her with me. I had to set her free. This was not what she was created for. This was not the end of the story. "You don't understand," I said. "There is no cost too great; even if it is my own life." The man looked almost as if he was afraid. I could see the questions forming in his head. Yet, he quickly managed to muster a
response. "What if you traded yourself for her? You come to work for me. I can hire you out for manual labor." "If that's the price I will gladly pay it," I said without hesitation. He stood amazed. The man clearly thought I was crazy.

"You can have her for one thousand American dollars," he finally managed to mutter. "You will have the money in the morning," I said. "But right now, she's coming with me." One look at her face, and I knew that grace was what I would give; undeserving, unmerited freedom to a little girl I didn't even know. She had done nothing to earn it. I owed her nothing. Yet, I loved her. Grace was a gift that I wanted her to have so desperately.

If you have yet to see, you and I are Bandhura and God our Redeemer. It was grace that caused Him to take our place. No price was too great. Satan tried to steal Him away with temptation. Yet, His great love for us would not let Him leave. This is His story; it is our story: the history of grace.

For more information on how you can be a part of helping end the horror of human trafficking please visit http://www.thehomefoundation.net/. It is a non-profit organization founded by Christian music artist Natalie Grant. Women and children around the world are being sold as sex slaves. Give the gift of grace.

GOD Is Mighty: Part IV

There is no doubt that the greatest act of God's might occurred because of the cross. His death was the perfect sacrifice. Our sins were forgiven, yet the deal would not be sealed unless He was raised from the dead. Thanks be to God that on the third day He rose from the grave! I see such parallels between the Israelites and us. We too were living in bondage. Humanity had lived so long as slaves to sin. We were crying out to be free. God heard us, and just as He sent Moses to the Israelites, this time He sent His Son Jesus for us.

Most of the time we hold our heads high, defiant of the Enemy. But there are those rare times when, I don't know about you, but for me I wonder why Jesus ever saved me. What was the point of the cross if I don't get to always walk in victory? Sometimes my sin seems safer, easier, and offers security. Even though I was miserable, I at least knew what to expect. I begin to doubt the God who saved me. Where is He? When the whole time His master plan is that He get the glory. Remember what Paul writes? That His power is made perfect in our weakness. It's not all about you. It's not all about me.

Like those in the Exodus, we often fail to see beyond our own need. Yet, just as God did in ancient Egypt, He will get the glory in the end. His Son will be crowned with it. From Genesis to Revelation we see the greatness of God.

The fear that God caused in the hearts of the Egyptians and in the eyes of the Israelites was so they would know His name. The whole point of his mighty show of power displayed was so that they would give Him glory. That they would recognize that this is His story. God intended for His miracles and signs to be seen by the world with the intent that they would worship Him. The question may come up, 'Was God showing off?' and the answer is YES! God is not trying to impress man; He has no need for that. What we do or believe does not change who He is. But He is trying to impress upon us that He is mighty and because of that we are to fear and revere Him. We are to bring Him glory!

Fear and pride keep us from recognizing God's might. Fear says we can't do it; pride is confidence that we can. But both arise when we try to do it on our own.

So, what do we do with this truth that God is mighty? We do what Moses commanded the people of Israel to do. There are times in our lives when are simply supposed to stand still, not be afraid, and watch what the Lord is going to do. But as God commanded them, we keep moving! You gotta love the irony. Be still and move. Don't allow yourself to be paralyzed. And once God gets the glory, we respond just like the Israelites...with worship. They sang a victory song. They called him their strength, their song, and their salvation. They called Him a warrior.

I have to ask you. Is God getting the glory for the victories in your life? Or are you walking out with your head held high and defiant like the Israelites? God is mighty; He will get the glory. So, why not willingly give it to Him?

GOD Is Mighty: Part III

This picture of Israel makes me think of fainting goats. Do you know what I'm talking about? It just so happens that my friend Tim Drane actually raises them. They look like your average goat, but they have a genetic condition called myotonia congenita. When they are startled or scared, their muscles lock up. Their legs stiffen and most of the time the young ones fall over, while the older ones simply spread their legs to support themselves. It only lasts about ten seconds, but of course that’s long enough for an enemy, a coyote or maybe a bear to catch up to them and well, you get the picture.

The people allowed the situation to change their perception of God's strength. They doubted what they knew to be true. They had been eye witnesses! But that's exactly what we are tempted to do in our own lives. We have seen what God is capable of, and yet we’re tempted to think it was a one-time thing. Unfortunately we also share another fatal mistake with the Israelites. Their main concern was their freedom; God's was His glory. See the difference? One is about us. The other is about Him. It never seemed to occur to them that God was going to look great in all of this. Dick Nelson of Fellowship Church NWA puts it this way: "God would make His name great so Israel could make His name known."

What about you? What is it that He is leading you through? Are you more concerned that you survive or that God is glorified? The evidence of God's might in our lives will cause the world to know that He is the Lord. When, we deny that God is mighty, we are telling our friends, family, co-workers, neighbors and anyone else that’s close enough to us, that we really don’t believe God told us the truth about himself when he said he was mighty enough to save us. denying that He alone is the one true God. If His power is not supreme, then another's must be. In the end, we are denying Him and of that I don't want to be guilty.

We of course know the rest of the story, God split the sea and drove the waters to the sides. The Israelites walked through on dry ground and as the Egyptians followed, God gave them a permanent bath. This is where it ends up in verse 31: "Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses." The people, saw, they feared, and they believed. They admitted openly that God is mighty. They finally got it.

GOD Is Mighty: Part II

Exodus 14:4-15

4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD." And they did so.

5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the mind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, "What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?" 6 So he made ready his chariot and took his army with him, 7 and took six hundred chosen chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. 8 And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the people of Israel while the people of Israel were going out defiantly. 9 The Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and his horsemen and his army, and overtook them encamped at the sea, by Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.

10 When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the LORD. 11 They said to Moses, "Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: 'Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness." 13 And Moses said to the people, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. 14 The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent."
15The LORD said to Moses, "Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward.

In verse 4 God says that He will "...get glory over Pharah and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I AM THE LORD." It becomes clear that While God has heard the cries of His people and He is intent is to lead them to freedom, He is going to make sure that He gets glory in the process.

In verse 11 we read that "...the people of Israel were going out defiantly." I can't help but wonder if they were giving themselves some credit for what was taking place. In the chapter leading up to this, the people basically plundered the Egyptians. Their captors gave them anything that they wanted on their way out of town. So, at this point their heads are held high, and the question in my mind becomes 'Is this pride on parade?' Where they so sure of themselves? If they were, it didn’t last for long. That’s a lot like us; think about it. If we are so convinced of God's greatness, of His power and might, then why we so quickly become scared out of our minds when the boss gives us our 2-week notice? It says "...they feared greatly..." I’m sure they did, and I’m sure I would have felt exactly as they did, and I’m pretty sure you would have, too.

And then the questions are posed to Moses..."Why did you bring us out here, to die? We could've stayed in Egypt. We would've been miserable, but at least we would be alive." At this point it appears as if everything and everyone has stopped; save the Egyptians who seem to be closing in. I try to imagine what was going through their minds...the whispers among the crowd. "If a group goes to the left of the sea and another to the right, some of us might survive." "Do we stand and fight or simply surrender? They are prepared for battle, we've basically got our moving trucks loaded with our stuff."

Where is the confidence they once had? They had just seen God do ten unexplainable miracles…miracles done on their behalf, witnessed God's might, yet here they are acting like they’d never been the object of a single act of his grace and mercy. They are questioning His power. Don't we do that? How many times have we seen what God is capable of, what He has done and yet the very next time it's as though He's completely helpless. Therein lies our sin: God is mighty, but we deny His power.

Let's look at Moses' response to the people in verse 13 is classic: "Fear not, stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord"; verse 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent." I love that! See the salvation of the Lord. People you are about to be witness to God's power. Oh, I know you've seen what He's capable of, but He's about to finish what He started. You've seen the plagues but wait until you get a load of this. God is going to see you through.

It gets better. Look again at what God asked Moses: "Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward." That's great. He's essentially saying, "Stop whining and keep moving." This was not part of the plan. The Israelites were paralyzed by fear.

When we fail to recognize that God is mighty, we begin to feel weak and powerless. It paralyzes us. I go into what I call 'survival mode'. I stop where I am, and I don't move. I love the irony here. Moses has just told them to stand firm, and God is telling them to get a move on. Clearly Moses is telling them to stand firm in their faith and God is saying, follow my lead. Just because you are watching to see what I will do doesn't mean I won't accomplish at least part of it through you. You have responsibility, too!

GOD Is Mighty: Part I

God is mighty...I love the sound of that. He goes by so many different names. There are so many dimensions to His character, His personality, and His being, and each of the different names reveals an aspect of who He is. But One of my favorite names for God is found in the Old Testament. He is called 'El Shaddai,' (from the Acadian word shaddock -mountain) which translated means 'God the Mighty' or 'God Almighty'.

When I was about 10 or 11 years old my best friend and I were camping behind his apartment complex. Now, why we were doing that in town when I lived in the country I don't know. But there we were with my brand new tent my parents had given me. We had made hot dogs out on the grill, and so John decided that we needed to put the embers out responsibly. I followed him around the building and up the stairs where he got a huge bowl and filled it with water. Why he didn't grab a pitcher or a bucket, I don't know. But there we were with this big bowl of H2O.

We started outside and he decided that he needed to go down backward so that the weight of the water wouldn’t send him flying down the stairs. My role was to go in front and have his back. When we neared the bottom of the stairs, these two big guys who were all of probably 14 or 15 by the way, came out of the apartment on the ground floor. They had made a name for themselves at school as the tough kids. I vividly remember one making judo jabs and kicks in our general direction. What I didn't realize was that most likely he was a little intoxicated. I remember being afraid and feeling like he had all the power in the situation. I wished that I was the Karate Kid.

What seemed like minutes was only a matter of seconds. My best friend leaned over to me and whispered, 'Get ready to run.' I'm pretty sure I peed my pants at that point. I knew what he was going to do. Remember that big, ole bowl of water he was carrying? He threw it in the big kid's face. Everything else is pretty much a blur...perhaps that's because I was running for my life. It should go without saying, but it won’t, that within the hour we were both completely drenched, and I had to borrow a change of clothes. But anyhow...the point is that this kid had made a name for himself. He wanted people to know that he was large and in charge. He was powerful...and I feared him.

The Israelites were powerless and weak

The people of Israel best understood fear and the feeling of being powerless. The book of Exodus explains that they have been in captivity for more than four hundred years in Egypt. When God decided to deliver them, they were living and working under the harsh hand of a new Pharaoh The king himself was afraid that the people had become too great, so he basically decided to work them to death to prevent the possibility of them ever trying to take over. But God said He heard the cries of His people and in doing so, He sent Moses to lead them. As we all know, the Pharaoh said 'no'. Ten times to be exact. In response to each of Pharoah’s “nos” God's response was to send a plague on the land and people of Egypt; everything from the water of the Great Nile turning to blood... to the deaths of the Egyptians' firstborn. But the Hebrew houses went untouched by the despair. I have to wonder what the Egyptians were thinking...it was as if a line were drawn in the sand. And what about the Israelites? Even though Moses kept coming home with a 'no', they could clearly see God was working.

Here's the thing: the people had great expectations. They expected God to deliver them--to set them free. God agreed, but He was just getting started and had a much greater plan as we will see.

Grace By Definition

We use the word amazing to describe grace...A LOT. In fact, you probably hear those two words used together about as much as any others. But what's so amazing about it? It's almost impossible to go any further without a definition of something that's so simple to accept and yet complex to understand. One of my professors describes grace in this way: that which cannot be gained through any effort of our own--it is pure, unrecompensed or unpayable kindness and favor. Simply put, we get something amazing for nothing.

I don't know how much you are familiar with the writer of Amazing Grace. I am talking about the hymn of course. I knew very little until I began to do some research for a discussion at our home group. I knew that he had been a slave trader and had come to Christ, but I didn't know much more. What I didn't know was just how many years came between his conversion and his public denouncement of the slave trade.

John Newton grew up in London and spent a brief stint in the Royal Navy before beginning his career in the slave trade. God got his attention in much the same way he did Jonah...while he was at sea in the midst of a violent storm. One night a crewmen who had just taken his place on the deck was swept overboard. Newton commanded the ship for the remainder of the storm, but later confessed his helplessness and his need for the grace of God. He began to treat his so-called human cargo with kindness, but Newton continued to traffik them nonetheless.

He eventually suffered a stroke and was forced from sailing the sea. He would eventually become an ordained minister. A friendship developed between he and a young parlimentarian by the name of William Wilberforce. Wilberforce became the driving force behind the abolition of the slave trade in the United Kingdom. He sought the advice and eventual support of John Newton.

Again, it would be years before Newton would publicly oppose the abolition of the slave trade, but it's said that the words for the song Amazing Grace were inspired by a New Year's message he preached from 1 Chronicles 17.

Let's look at verses 7 through 21. We find the prophet Nathan speaking to David after he had resolved to build the House of the Lord. But God spoke to the prophet saying that David was not the one. Here is the message that was delivered:

7Now, therefore, thus shall you say to my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people Israel, 8and I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 9And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall waste them no more, as formerly, 10from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover, I declare to you that the LORD will build you a house. 11When your days are fulfilled to walk with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. 13I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you, 14but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever.'" 15In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.

David’s Prayer
16Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said, "Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? 17And this was a small thing in your eyes, O God. You have also spoken of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and have shown me future generations, O LORD God! 18And what more can David say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant. 19 For your servant’s sake, O LORD, and according to your own heart, you have done all this greatness, in making known all these great things. 20There is none like you, O LORD, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 21And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making for yourself a name for great and awesome things, in driving out nations before your people whom you redeemed from Egypt?

In his sermon, John Newton makes three points...the first is this: LOOK BACK. David was reminded what he had been and where he had come from. In verse 7 God says, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people Israel. David responds that he has not forgotten by asking: Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my house... The John Newton project parallels the passage to the lines from the song: Amazing grace...that saved a wretch like me. Do you remember what you were before grace?

Newton's second point is to LOOK AROUND. I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you...God tells David in verse 8. The king begs the question asking why God has brought him this far. And from there came the lines for the song: Through many dangers, toils, and snares / I have already come / 'tis grace hath brought / me safe thus far...

Lastly, the former slave trader encourages us to LOOK FORWARD. God makes a promise to David. Let's go back to verses 11 and 12: When your days are fulfilled to walk with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. Again, David responds in verse 19: For your servant’s sake, O LORD, and according to your own heart, you have done all this greatness, in making known all these great things. You can see from where Newton draws inspiration, writing: The Lord has promised good to me / His word my hope secures / He will my shield and portion be / as long as life endures.

Like Newton, I have three thoughts regarding grace; although mine relate to a trio of people types. First, there are those who cannot or simply will not accept the fact that grace is free. They expect to earn it in some way. But in Ephesians 2:8 Paul makes it perfectly clear: For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God... If you are trying to earn grace, all I can say is this: you will never have it. That's the harsh reality. Why would you want to live that way? Without grace? Those who try to live a life worthy of grace in their own strength will find their attempts rooted in pride or low self esteem. Both of which have to do with self. Ironic isn't it? God and His grace can be found somewhere in between.

The second group of people I like to call forgiveness users, grace abusers. This is the group I've spent a lot of time in. Maybe you can relate. That's those of us who whether consciously or unconscionsly think we can commit the same sin again and again because of God's grace. He will forgive us. We try to take advantage of it. The author of Hebrews rebukes such thinking at the beginning of chapter 6. 1What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

Then, there are those who simply accept grace for what it is: free. They realize they cannot earn it. The recognize they are not worthy of it. But God offers grace and they in turn are grateful. The don't beat themselves up with the unworthy whip. They don't actively seek sin while thinking they can get away with it. Oh, I'm not saying they don't fail and fall. What I am saying is they have no agenda when it comes to God's grace. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus...

Grace is a gift. We are made right with God. In His mercy God did not give those who believe what we deserve, and that of course is hell. But in His grace, He gave us what we do NOT deserve: the gift of salvation; the promise of eternal life with Him.

Pastor, speaker, author, and chancellor of Dallas Theological Seminary, Chuck Swindoll tells the story of a fellow seminary student he knew years ago. He noticed that when the guy would come to the mailroom to pick up his exam, he would always write a word on it before he ever took a look. Dr. Swindoll later learned that while many of the students were comparing their grades and trying to top one another, this particular student was struggling in school. The word that he would write at the top of paper was grace. Grace if he passed, grace if he failed. That guy recognized that whatever he got, he didn't deserve. Anything good would be a gift from God.

What about the big life stuff? God, why do their children believe in you and mine no longer do? They were raised the same way. The answer: grace. God, why do they have a nice home and a big boat while my family is struggling just to pay the bills? His answer grace. My professor Dr. Tim Ralston made this statement: Grace is not fair. I don't like that, but it's the truth. God gets to choose.

I'm beginning to learn that if I want God's grace, then I can't deny it to others. I can't expect God to give it to me but not to them. The grace He gives me is my business. The grace He gives them is their business. What I do with what He's given me is my chance to offer grace.

There is a lesson my dad taught me not very long ago. It's perhaps the most important thing I've learned from him so far. And it is this: my dad and his siblings had to decide how they would divide my grandparents' estate. It was not going to be even and all of them knew it. Some of them would get more. Therefore, the others would get less. I remember asking my dad what it was that he wanted and begged him to be gracious at the table. But it was he who taught me a great lesson about grace. He said, "Jared, there's nothing I want that badly. None of it belongs to me anway. I've lived without it until now, and I can live without it in the future. Whatever I get is a gift from your grandparents."

Grace...amazing grace.

I want to end this blog with a famous quote from John Newton. It has become on of my favorites: "Although my memory's fading, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior." Such is the story of grace.

Spring Cleaning

It's amazing to me just how simple sin can be. I mean, sure Satan may give me a little push every now and then but in the end it's me taking the plunge from high above. We love the risk, enjoy the reward, and hope that there aren't repercussions. Let's face it, if we're going to give credit where credit is due, the credit belongs to you; and me, too!

Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but sin is seen by all. In 1964 Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart tried to define 'obscene'. He couldn't but said, “I know what it is when I see it.” Sin isn't so. We all know what it is. Obscene is what offends us—it is ambiguous. Sin is what offends Him—it is explicit. Sin is direct defiance of a holy and righteous God.

Let's think about this: Paul writes that we are to evaluate ourselves realistically and individually.
4Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5for each one should carry his own load. -Galatians 6

Now, I don't know about you, but if I'm responsible for giving myself a grade I get an 'A'...and put a plus sign out beside it while you're at it. It's so much easier to see sin in in others' lives. You know why? Pride. We don't want to admit that we've swept our dirty little secret sins under the rug. Spring cleaning requires moving things around and we're perfectly comfortable letting sleeping dogs lie; on the rug of course. We don't want to give the appearance that we're not perfect or at the very least God forbid be seen as less in another human's eye. Never mind that the God of all creation has X-ray vision.

3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? -Matthew 7

Laziness is another reason we don't want to face ourselves in the mirror every morning. If we see what we really are then we'll be convicted to change. That requires real effort on our part. We might actually have to get off our Bibles and start living them out in our lives. No one wants to look at themselves naked. Well, some I guess, but those who do have a pride issue. The ironic thing is, the rest of us do, too! We're afraid of what we will see; someone who is out of shape. It reveals our failure to care about our health and lack of discipline in doing what is right. Our hearts are no different. We need to work out.

12Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

-Philippians 2

For it is God who works in you to will and to act... I love that! Thank goodness it's not up to me. Sure I can't pack my Bible away or fail to pray anymore than I can go through the fast food drive through everyday expecting to be the picture of health. But there are things out of our control. We have to depend on him. So maybe it's time to bare your heart before God, sin and all, and allow Him to do a little spring cleaning in your life.

$how Me The Money

Money, money, money…so Abba sings. Must be funny/ In the rich man's world/ Money, money, money/ Always sunny/ In the rich man's world/ All the things I could do/If I had a little money/ It's a rich man's world. And it is a rich man’s world there’s no doubt. How much of our life is spent in resentment and envy of what others have? What a waste. I’m beginning to realize that by living my life in that way, I am coveting a blessing that wasn’t meant for me. And to be perfectly honest, James doesn’t believe money to be much of a blessing; at least that’s how his book of the Bible reads.

Meanwhile, on the big screen Cuba Good, Jr. wants you to ‘show me the money’ in the famous scene from Jerry McGuire. Let’s face it, more is never enough when it comes to greed. We use money to get what we want, but in the end we don’t always want what we get. Still, that doesn’t seem to stop our quest for more of it.

I like to think that I need just a little more to be content; X amount to pay my bills, buy a house, and live comfortably. But then again, that’s all relative isn’t it? I well remember an example our associate pastor once gave in a message on money. Kevin told the crowd to think about how much money it would take to make them content, not rich, but content. He said, ‘If you’re like me, you probably doubled your salary.’ Then he directed everyone to look around the room assuming that someone else probably made the salary you had just settled on, and they too doubled that amount of money.

If I’m going to be honest, I must confess that I don’t like what the disciple James has to say on the matter of money. This is what he writes: “The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position.” James 1:9 Really? You’ve got to be kidding me. Who wants to be that guy? I don’t. At least not in my flesh anyway; but he goes on to shoot down my dream of it always [being] sunny in the rich man’s world. “But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower.” James 1:10 Now, I don’t want to wilt and become mulch any more than I want to be strapped for cash. Yet, those are my only options. I’m left to weigh which one will bring me peace; although the choice is clear.

After my grandparents passed away, my dad and mom became executors of the estate. Grandma and Grandpa did not leave a will so it was up to their four kids to sit down and come up with a compromise or allow a judge to sort it all out. I have always had great respect for my dad; he’s a good man. But in the midst of all of this he said something that I hope to never forget. He told me that no matter what the family decided he could live with it because none of it belonged to him to begin with. Dad said he didn’t earn it; the money, the land, all that had been left behind was a gift. He simply said that he had lived without any of it before his parents died, and he could live without it now that they’re gone. That’s not to say that there were not things that are important to him that belonged to them. It’s simply that he wasn’t willing to get mad when money doesn’t really even matter. In the end it will one day be spent or he’ll leave it to his kids.

So, the question is this: are you taking pride in your humble circumstance? Are you grateful for what you’ve been given and learning to live content? Abba the band wants you to think the rich man has it all; the American dream, the good life that we are all supposedly striving for. But Abba [Father] God wants you to see that it is He who will provide all that you need. His Heavenly dream is different and eternal life is what we are really supposed to be seeking.

Weather or Not

I don't like storms. I never have. It's not that I'm necessarily afraid, they just make me uneasy. Perhaps on the verge of fear. Either way, I could live without them. I have friends who find them fascinating and love them. I find them depressing. Not long ago I was leaving Wal-Mart when the clerk told me to try and stay dry. As usual I hadn't given the forecast a second glance. I kind of figure it's going to do what it's going to do, and so I'll just look out the window before I go. But anyhow, as I got out of my car to walk into the house, the wind suddenly began to pick up and the gusts became great. I carried my stuff in and could hear the wind still howling outside. It wasn't a big storm, but it was enough to remind me of how strong a storm can be.

I was tired, and since I didn't want to listen to the wind and rain anyway, I took a nap. When I awoke hours later, I looked up only to find the sun streaming through my bedroom curtains. The storm was over. It didn't last forever, although it seemed like it might in Luke chapter 8.

22One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and set out. 23As they sailed, he fell asleep. A storm came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
24The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!" He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25"Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him."

I've heard or read that section of Scripture dozens of times, but I never noticed that Jesus was not a light sleeper. Here it is the wind is rocking the boat back and forth, water is pouring onto the deck from the sea and the sky, and yet Christ is still sound asleep. I love that. Meanwhile, it's clear that the twelve men he's taken to train are freaking out, probably yelling at one another what they should do and not agreeing at all. Finally, they go and wake Jesus up...perhaps to break a tie. Why they bothered to wake him up isn't really clear to me. By the end of the passage, it's obvious that they didn't believe that He was capable of such things as commanding the winds and the waves. Maybe they blamed Him for their predicament and were frustrated that He seemed oblivious to it.

I love what Jesus asks them: “Where is your faith?” So, why were the disciples so afraid? They forgot who was with them. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, co-author of creation was on their sinking ship. But while we're talking about a literal storm, it still has application for the storms of our lives. Just look at Job...God has given Him over to Satan to freely test His faith. The only stipulation is that the fallen former angel cannot kill the man. That doesn't exactly provide a great amount of protection in my opinion. This man who God has called righteous begins to question why He is losing his wife, his family, his friends—why His possessions are being taken from Him. What has he done to deserve this? Then we come to chapter 38 of the book that bears his name:

1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said:
2 "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?
3 Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.
4 "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand.
5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? 6 On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone-
7 while the morning stars sang together and all the angels [a] shouted for joy?
8 "Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb,
9 when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness,
10 when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place,
11 when I said, 'This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt'?

12 "Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place,
13 that it might take the earth by the edges and shake the wicked out of it?
14 The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; its features stand out like those of a garment.
15 The wicked are denied their light, and their upraised arm is broken.
16 "Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep?
17 Have the gates of death been shown to you? Have you seen the gates of the shadow of death ?
18 Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? Tell me, if you know all this.

I find it interesting that God chose to answer Job out of a storm. God makes it clear that He will be the One asking questions. He points out although Job has great wisdom and understanding, He still has no clue as to the greatness of God. But my favorite is that after God goes through all of this, in verse 18 He asks a rhetorical question...'Tell me if you know all this?' He knows that Job has no answer.

It is the nature the law that we are punished for what we do wrong. It is what man has come to expect. There must be a reason; and yet the explanation given in Job is basically a surefire bet between God and his former right hand man. Satan asks God what reason Job has to not be faithful to him, saying that a hedge of protection is around him. Job has no reason to doubt or disbelieve. So, knowing the outcome God agrees to allow Satan to try his hand at getting Job to curse God to His face.

Another thing I find it interesting that with all his years of learning, it is a young man who comes and challenges Job's way of thinking just a few chapters before.

1 Then Elihu said:
2 "Do you think this is just? You say, 'I will be cleared by God.'
3 Yet you ask him, 'What profit is it to me, and what do I gain by not sinning?'

Isn't that just like us? We want to claim God's name when we believe it will benefit us and He will follow through with our requests and demands, and yet if it seems as though He's unaware or not there we begin to question why we do this whole Christianity thing. We ask, “What it's worth to us?” When we should be anwering with this: “He is worthy.” His worth does not depend on us, but our worth does depend on Him. Elihu points out that God does not get anything from us. It is us who receive from Him. Man's righteousness or evil does not change who God is.

6 If you sin, how does that affect him? If your sins are many, what does that do to him?
7 If you are righteous, what do you give to him, or what does he receive from your hand?
8 Your wickedness affects only a man like yourself, and your righteousness only the sons of men.

Job felt as though the storm would never end; but when it did, he prayed this to the Lord:

3 You asked, 'Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?' Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know... 5 My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.

Like the disciples we often believe that God is unaware or just doesn't care about what is happening. The storm is raging all around us, and it's as though He's sound asleep. We plead with Him to wake up and yet for us, He doesn't calm the wind and the waves. We take that to mean that He hasn't heard us. Yet Exodus is all the evidence we need for He told Moses that He had seen the misery of His people and heard their cries for deliverance. Keep in mind they'd been slaves for 400 years! God doesn't always act immediately. We may not understand why at the time. But I've found in my own life that He will often allow me a glimpse into His glory. I sometimes see why He allowed something to be. It's in those times that I realize my understanding is elementary.

Fear is one of our greatest enemies; for our submission to it is an indication that we do not believe in the greatness of our God. So, how will you react in the midst of the storm? Like the disciples? They were afraid for their lives, uncertain of the outcome, and had completely abandoned their faith. Psalm 23 is one of the most famous passages in all of the Bible. David wrote that even in the Valley of the Shadow of Death he would fear no evil. Why? Because he knew that God was with him. He remembered and recognized who God was and who He still is today and will be throughout all eternity. That is what the disciples had forgotten.

Not long ago I was thinking back on a scene that I haven't forgotten from about two years ago when our fledgling satellite campus was just starting out in a school in Van Buren. Our now worship pastor's daughter was standing on stage, and he stretched out his arms and called to her to jump. Without hesitation she plunged from the stage into the safety of his arms. I remember thinking what a great dad he was and the bond he and she must have. But then I stopped and thought...Why did she jump? Why was she so certain that he would catch her? The simple answer is because she had faith in her father.

Do you have faith? Do you believe that God will catch you? That this storm that you're in right now will not last forever. We cannot change the forecast of the weather anymore than we can affect the forecast of the storms in our lives. But what we can do is choose how we will react in the midst of them. I well remember something that Louie Giglio, a well-known speaker, author, and founder of the college Passion movement said about Job. Louie said that what he learned was this...to simply say: 'This is a test. Am I passing it?' This is a test. Am I passing it?
Somehow that changes my entire perspective of the situation. It becomes less about me and more about God's glory. The whole point of Job's test was that Satan tried to prove that this righteous man would spit in God's face. And although he struggled and questioned, Job never did deny God. The storm didn't make sense to him at the time. But later it did. Several times the psalmist refers to God as his strength, his stronghold, his refuge in times of trouble.

You will not be able to calm the wind and the waves; but know that you serve a God who can. Do not forget that He is never far from you. He sees what is happening and is well aware of your circumstance. Be faithful, stand strong; pass the test. The storm will end—the question is, will you be found faithful? James says the testing of our faith develops perserverence. He says that those who doubt are like a wave of the sea blown and tossed by the wind. Basically, a storm is a disturbance of the normal condition of the atmosphere manifesting itself by winds of unusual force or direction. In the end, I think we all want to come out of the storm perhaps battered and bruised but better and stronger in our faith.

The disciples blamed Jesus for their predicament and were incredulous at the fact that He was slow to act. Job questioned why he even had faith if he wasn't going to benefit from it. Where was God in their storms? But David, the man after God's own heart, said that he would not be afraid, because 'You are with me. Your rod and Your staff they comfort me.' We not only can rest assured that God is with us, but that He will comfort us during these times of trouble.
I won't deny that storms can do serious damage; and we may not be doubly blessed as Job was in the end. But I always believe that there is purpose in our pain, because I've seen what God has done in my own life. So I encourage you to weather the storm.

One of my favorite bands, Casting Crowns sings that 'I will praise You in this storm'. They recognize that their help comes from the Lord. Do not forget what He has done. Do not forget that you are not here for your comfort or your glory. You are here to tell His story. And to do that, sometimes we have to weather the storm. How we do that will serve as a witness to the world that there is a God.

All Things New

The two most important events in Christ's life were clearly His birth and His death; the cradle and the cross. His coming had been foretold. The people were promised a Savior, and they were waiting for the sign that He had arrived. Micah, Jeremiah and Isaiah all prophesied. And then He came in Luke 2...today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. Those were the words of the angel to the shepherds. And what was the sign? That they would find him wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. A new baby...a new king...a new regime on the earth that He had created.

At age 33 He fulfilled God's promise. It's still amazing to me how from death comes new life. In Romans 7 Paul writes that we were dying under the law, but Christ released us so that we can serve in the new way of the Spirit. And in 2 Corinthians 5:17 Paul writes this...Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! There's that word again...new. He makes all things NEW! He redeems, He restores, and He transforms. All versions of becoming new.

I love dictionaring-dot-coming things...I know that's not a real phrase and not grammatically correct to use as a verb, but I'm going to anyway. When I think of the word new, I can't help but associate it with a creator. After all, how can anything come into being without a creator? Our God is the original Creator. Great artists merely mimic what He has already made. And so here is the definition that I found: to cause to come into being, as something unique that would not naturally evolve or that is not made by ordinary processes. To cause to come into being...isn't that what God did with you and me? 2nd Corinthians tells us that we are new creations because of Him. But lets think about the second part of the definition...something unique that would not naturally evolve or that is not made by ordinary processes. We would never come to Christ on our own. It's not natural in our flesh. And it definitely didn't happen by an ordinary process. It took a supernatural act of God.

The New Year is already here, and I haven't really though much about 2009. I'm pretty sure it will take me a few weeks, even a few months to finally get a grasp that we've started a new 12 month time period. But, I'll still greet the New Year just like the other 6 billion or so people around the globe.

The original New Year's festivities are attributed to the ancient land of Babylon. They would wait for the first new moon and their celebration lasted 11 days. Then, there are the Jews who celebrate, Rosh Hashanna or the Jewish New Year. Their holiday actually takes place several months before ours does. They celebrated back in September. Translated, Rosh Hashanna means 'head of the year'. Basically the Jews celebrate the creation of the world.

Of course in America, all eyes are on Times Square. We're either in Times Square or watching Dick Clark's New Years Rockin' Eve (now with Ryan Seacrest) on TV as if we were there. This was the 37th year for the show. New Years here in America and around the world means parties and confetti and all kinds of debauchery. It's no wonder that historically Catholics opposed New Years celebrations because of what they called “pagan extravagancies.” An estimated one million people were in Times Square and another billion around the globe were expected to watch the broadcast.

What would New Year's be without our traditions? Do you eat black-eyed peas? They're supposed to bring you good look, but all they seem to leave me with is a brief lingering taste in my mouth: black-eyed peas. My grandma believed in them, so we of course had them every year, and she made sure they were on my plate. I ate them once every 12 months. I have nothing against them. I'm just not a big fan.

But the biggest tradition of all has to be our New Year's resolutions. We've all made them. Most off us have broken them. Take a look at this list of people's top ten priorities for 2008, last year:

1. Get out of debt or save money
2. Lose weight
3. Develop a healthy habit (e.g., exercise or healthy eating)
4. Get organized
5. Develop a new skill or talent
6. Spend more time with family and friends
7. Other
8. Work less, play more
9. Break an unhealthy habit (e.g., smoking, alcohol, overeating)
10. Change employment

A survey found that 35 percent of people had already broken their New Year's resolution by the end of January. That means within 31 days, 35 out of every hundred people had already given up. Only 23 percent of people said that they don't ever break their resolutions. Again, 23 out of 100 people say they are strong enough to stay the course. Don't ask me what happens to the other 42 percent of people...I guess they break their commitment somewhere along the way.

To me there seems to be something missing on this list. Everything on the list has to do with our lives in the world—the physical. Change employment...great, maybe you'll be happier or make more money. Break an unhealthy habit...wonderful. We all need to rid ourselves of things that aren't good for us. Work less, play more. That's why God created the Sabbath as a day of rest. We need it. Spend more time with family and friends. Relationships are important. God Himself said it wasn't good for man to be alone. That's why He created Eve. Develop a new skill or talent. Being good at something not only makes you feel good about yourself, it can also come in handy. Get organized. You're more likely to be productive and less stressed depending on your methods. Develop a healthy habit. If we're getting rid of the bad, doesn't it make sense to replace it with good? Lose weight. Not only will we fell better physically, but we're more likely to live longer. And finally get out of debt or save money. Pay back what you owe. Set aside some for when you are in need. But what about the spiritual aspect of these things?

Don't miss me here. I'm not saying that these resolutions are bad in any way. I'm simply asking if we're looking at them with the right eyes. My favorite resolution in all the Bible is found in 1 Corinthians 2...

1When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.[a] 2For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

And there it is...'For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified'. Again, back to dictionary.com. A resolution is a strong will. It is dedication, earnestness, it takes guts, heart, is relentless and requires perseverence. Paul was single-minded during his time with the church. He was soley focused on Christ and Him crucified. Why? Because that one line changes everything. Everything!

What happens if I resolve to know nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified? I will begin to reflect Him where I work. I will become content with where I am until He sees fit to send me somewhere else. What happens if I resolve to know Christ and Him crucified? I stop trying to break an unhealthy habit in my own strength, and I begin to rely on him. I begin to think about how what I'm doing affects my witness. What happens if I resolve to know just Jesus and think about His death? Rest and relaxation will become important because I recognize that Christ Himself took time to renew and went away to pray. What happens if I resolve to focus on the Savior and His sacrifice? I will work to better the gifts and talents that I've been given to tell His story and bring Him glory. What happens if I resolve to keep my eyes on the Prince of Peace and remember the price He paid? I will try to be more organized because we serve a God of order and not chaos. What happens if I resolve to identify with the Lamb of God and what He did? Then, working on my weight will be less about how I look and more about the fact that my body is His temple. And finally, what happens if I resolve to focus on the Father's son and His surrender to the cross? I will get out of debt and save money not so that I won't be a slave to my creditors or to have extra cash on hand but because I'm called to be a good steward of all that God has given me.

You are a new creation. What do you resolve to do? He is making all things new again. That's the beauty of who He is. What's been broken He restores. What's been sold for less has been bought back for more. What's not like Him Christ transforms. You don't have to wait until January 1st. We make such a big deal out of that one day. But the Bible says this in Lamentations: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. His compassions are new every morning. He never fails, but we do. Why beat ourselves up when we don't have to? He'll forgive us and we can start anew.

Keep in mind that 35 percent of people break their New Year's resolutions in a month. We as Christians can't go a day without sinning in some way. We need Him to make us new. Yet it takes resolve on our part. We must be dedicated to the cause, earnest in our quest, have guts to the point of death, take heart in who He is, be relentless in our pursuit, and persevere in the face of fear. I like what Paul writes in 1 Timothy 4:7-8.

7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

Okay, so I just threw the first verse in there because I though it was kind of funny since the reference about the whole black-eyed peas thing and old wives' tales. It's actually verse 8 that means the most to me. Paul writes that taking care of ourselves physically is a good thing, but being godly is of value today and throughout eternity. Again, resolving to know nothing but Christ and Him crucified. We become more godly.

So, what does this mean to you? What will you do with this truth? Behold: He is making all things new.

Read Revelation 21:1-5