Following up the letter to the congregation about our decision to conclude our ministry at the church next year, December 2011, Abe Fisher (current Chairman of the Elders) and Doug Denlinger (new Chairman of the Elders) addressed the congregation before the morning worship services on November 14, 2010. I also shared the following comments:
“Life is essentially a series of phases that God sovereignly leads us through. As we leave one phase we understand that that phase is closed and will not be altered. We also realize at the same time the Lord is sovereignly opening up a new phase of life and he wants us to enter into it by faith. We are to confidently move ahead embracing the truth that the next phase may be unknown to us, however the Lord already has the path well charted. Calvary Monument Bible Church, Doris and I are entering into a new phase.
"As we move into this next phase, I want to assure you of something. Our relationship to this church will remain special, but different. In the letter you received, I hope you understand how special you are when I wrote, “This church represents people we deeply love, a ministry we fully support, and a part of God’s harvest field were we have invested half our lives.” Yet things will be different.
"A ministry friend drew an analogy between pastors who move from a ministry with the father of the bride. I have pondered that analogy. The father stands at the end of the church aisle and realizes in brief moments the relationship between his daughter and he will soon be very different. It creates a tug at the father’s heart. But even after a 'new man' enters into his daughter’s life, the love for his daughter does not change. The relationship is indeed different, but on another level, a relationship remains because the love remains. I expect the same will be true in the leadership change that will be occurring in our church. The relationship will be different, yet a relationship will remain.
"I will be praying for you as the Lord leads this congregation to a new man, a new pastor, who will enter into this congregation’s life. I pray that he will love you and serve you. I pray that you will love him and support his ministry among you.
"I am asking that you support the rest of the ministry team – my fellow “under shepherds” of the pastoral staff and the elders. They will be walking with you through this process and will need your prayers for wisdom, spiritual understanding, and patient endurance. They will be taking on more responsibilities and will need your encouragement and helpful efforts to lift some of the load. I am praying for unity and love to abound as this phase of our church’s life. We cannot allow Satan to have any foothold in our congregation through the manifestation of ungodly attitudes or actions.
"I will continue serving here for the next year. So don’t turn this time into a funeral dirge. Doris and I are excited for what God has ahead for us. We take this step of faith fully convinced that we are to “Trust the Lord with all our heart, and lean not on our own understanding; in all our ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct our paths” (Prov. 3:5-6). I pray too that our church will have this same conviction."
Thanks for praying for us as we will be assuming the title of Minister-at-Large in about a year from now. The position is described like this: "As Minister-at-Large, Pastor Reid will serve beyond the walls of Calvary Monument Bible Church to the larger universal church through the teaching of Scripture, the strengthening of the body of Christ, and the encouragement of churches and Christian workers, in the U.S. and around the world. He will be free to serve whenever and wherever he believes the Lord has provided the opportunity. He will report annually to the elders of Calvary Monument Bible Church, and may seek their prayer and counsel regarding opportunities for ministry."
Saturday, November 20, 2010
An Attitude of Gratitude
Sometimes I have fantasized about what it would be like to receive a million dollars. Before you jump to the conclusion that I play the lottery, let me assure you that I do not. Nor would I follow the example of a person who was tying up a line at the register in a convenience store. He justified his multiple lottery card purchases by saying he was trying to pay off the mortgage on his house. I think he would have had greater success by applying the sum of money he paid for the tickets toward his mortgage!
I suppose in these moments of fantasy, I flash back to my childhood remembering the late 1950's TV series The Millionaire. The weekly story line was about a multimillionaire, John Beresford Tipton, Jr., who found gratification by giving away one million dollars to individuals he has never met. Then the rest of the story revealed how the million dollars impacted the recipient’s lives. The result was sometimes positive I suppose, but the stories I recall most often recounted how disruptive the windfall was to the individuals.
Recently I read an account of an elderly couple, Allen and Violet Large, who live in rural Nova Scotia. They won $11 million in a Canadian lottery. Four months after their windfall they decided they had no need for the money and have given virtually all of it to churches, the Salvation Army, the Red Cross, hospitals, and charities that fight Alzheimer, cancer, and other diseases. Incidentally, if you didn’t get a check from them by now, you probably will not have any better chances of doing so than if you had bought a lottery ticket!
What ever possessed this elderly couple in their late 70’s to be so generous? Perhaps it was an attitude of gratitude. In reading portions of an interview with them, I discovered how they may have arrived at the decision they made. First, I noticed an attitude of contentment. Violet Large, 78, commented, “We have an old house, but we’re comfortable and we’re happy in it.” He husband, Allen, 75, added, “We were pretty well set, not millionaires, but comfortable.” They live in their 19th century house lacking such advantages as a microwave and voicemail. For transportation they drive a 13-year-old car and a 5-year-old truck. How does Violet assess their situation? She puts it simply, “I have no complaints.” She adds, “Why spend money when you have everything you need?”
Second, I observed how much they valued relationships with people. Violet and Allen have been married since 1974. Violet is recovering from cancer having just completed her last course of chemotherapy. A reporter observed Allen choking back tears when asked about the money. Allen responded, “That money that we won was nothing – we have each other.” In July when they were notified of the windfall, Allen had also gotten choked up saying there was only one thing he wished he could buy, “For Violet to be healthy.” They valued people over money and it showed. They made good on their initial promise to help people. They discovered, “It made us feel good,” to give money to people and community organizations.
Finally, it appears that they discovered money can also be a burden. Allen described their winnings as “a big headache,” and Violet expressed concern about the “crooked people” that began to call them trying to get their money. With the money out of the way the couple was focusing upon Violet’s recovery.
I have no information about the Large’s spiritual lives so I do not know what part that played in their decisions. I do recall, however, a biblical passage that says something about developing an attitude of gratitude that may relate to the couple’s actions. Paul wrote, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction” (1 Timiothy 6:6-9 NIV).
That is a good insight as we go into this Thanksgiving season. May the attitude of gratitude be formed in us as we express contentment and thanks for what we do have. How easy it is to become discontent in a marketing culture that stresses our “need” for one more thing to make us happy. The blessings God gives us are often overlooked as we fixate upon what we do not have. Our vision perhaps needs adjusted so that we may, as the hymn writer puts it, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.” Let us let our Thanksgiving be saturated with an attitude of gratitude.
I suppose in these moments of fantasy, I flash back to my childhood remembering the late 1950's TV series The Millionaire. The weekly story line was about a multimillionaire, John Beresford Tipton, Jr., who found gratification by giving away one million dollars to individuals he has never met. Then the rest of the story revealed how the million dollars impacted the recipient’s lives. The result was sometimes positive I suppose, but the stories I recall most often recounted how disruptive the windfall was to the individuals.
Recently I read an account of an elderly couple, Allen and Violet Large, who live in rural Nova Scotia. They won $11 million in a Canadian lottery. Four months after their windfall they decided they had no need for the money and have given virtually all of it to churches, the Salvation Army, the Red Cross, hospitals, and charities that fight Alzheimer, cancer, and other diseases. Incidentally, if you didn’t get a check from them by now, you probably will not have any better chances of doing so than if you had bought a lottery ticket!
What ever possessed this elderly couple in their late 70’s to be so generous? Perhaps it was an attitude of gratitude. In reading portions of an interview with them, I discovered how they may have arrived at the decision they made. First, I noticed an attitude of contentment. Violet Large, 78, commented, “We have an old house, but we’re comfortable and we’re happy in it.” He husband, Allen, 75, added, “We were pretty well set, not millionaires, but comfortable.” They live in their 19th century house lacking such advantages as a microwave and voicemail. For transportation they drive a 13-year-old car and a 5-year-old truck. How does Violet assess their situation? She puts it simply, “I have no complaints.” She adds, “Why spend money when you have everything you need?”
Second, I observed how much they valued relationships with people. Violet and Allen have been married since 1974. Violet is recovering from cancer having just completed her last course of chemotherapy. A reporter observed Allen choking back tears when asked about the money. Allen responded, “That money that we won was nothing – we have each other.” In July when they were notified of the windfall, Allen had also gotten choked up saying there was only one thing he wished he could buy, “For Violet to be healthy.” They valued people over money and it showed. They made good on their initial promise to help people. They discovered, “It made us feel good,” to give money to people and community organizations.
Finally, it appears that they discovered money can also be a burden. Allen described their winnings as “a big headache,” and Violet expressed concern about the “crooked people” that began to call them trying to get their money. With the money out of the way the couple was focusing upon Violet’s recovery.
I have no information about the Large’s spiritual lives so I do not know what part that played in their decisions. I do recall, however, a biblical passage that says something about developing an attitude of gratitude that may relate to the couple’s actions. Paul wrote, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction” (1 Timiothy 6:6-9 NIV).
That is a good insight as we go into this Thanksgiving season. May the attitude of gratitude be formed in us as we express contentment and thanks for what we do have. How easy it is to become discontent in a marketing culture that stresses our “need” for one more thing to make us happy. The blessings God gives us are often overlooked as we fixate upon what we do not have. Our vision perhaps needs adjusted so that we may, as the hymn writer puts it, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.” Let us let our Thanksgiving be saturated with an attitude of gratitude.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Thinking About Death
We are entering into the season of Halloween when death is somewhat romanticized, fictionalized, or relegated to the realm of the unknown. People dress in costumes depicting ghosts, vampires, zombies, and a host of other creatures associated with death, yet give little attention to the reality. Frankly, people sometimes wonder about people that talk a lot about death.
However, when someone we knew and loved dies, we are forced to consider death from a different perspective. Death takes on a stark reality and is seen as a genuine part of the human experience. It is in these moments, even if only in the brief minutes of a funeral service, that death is addressed and questions are raised about the meaning and brevity of life. It is a time when we experience the pain and sorrow death causes as the reality of separation settles into our world. Then we learn that death is not just a seasonal thought, it is an invasive reality. President Andrew Jackson was right when he wrote: "When death comes, he respects neither age nor merit. He sweeps from this earthly existence the sick and the strong, the rich and the poor, and should teach us to prepare for death."
In the last several weeks there have been five funerals in our church. The ages of those who have passed from this life have ranged from seven months to ninety-two years. There were both males and females who died. Deaths occurred after a prolonged illness and in one instance after a tragic accident. In this context it seems rather bizarre not to think about life and death even if I might prefer other topics to occupy my thinking.
One of the major themes that has crossed my mind is that life should not be measured in years alone. Among other things, life should be measured by impact. There are many who have lived long lives yet made little impact. Others, who only lived a brief time, none-the-less made a significant impact. Sadly, the impact a life has upon individuals is often not expressed until after someone has died. Then the imprint of their life surfaces as people take time to process the way the person has touched their own life. Wouldn’t it be nice to engage in that process before a person dies and then encourage them by articulating how loved and important they are to us? One woman perhaps captured those sentiments when she said, “I told my husband to send me the flowers now and not wait for my funeral!”
Another thought that crossed my mind is, “Stop living life thinking it will go on forever in this world.” How often have I said that “sometime” I will do something I have always wanted to do? Death reminds us that sooner than we expect that time is gone and the “sometime” will never come. Several years ago there was a movie called The Bucket List about two terminally ill men who leave a cancer ward for a road trip with a wish list of things they want to do before they die – or in their terms “kick the bucket.” One man was a flamboyant millionaire and the other a quiet mechanic, but both faced the end of life realizing that they had unrealized dreams. The story focuses upon them trying to squeeze what they wanted to do in life into the remaining time they had. Wouldn’t a better plan be to live each day with reckless abandon to the glory of God, doing His will, and living by faith? Perhaps our “bucket list” would then be pretty short!
Tomorrow I will officiate at another funeral for a friend. He probably had a pretty short “bucket list” when the Lord called him home. It was not just because he lived a long life. It was because he lived a life of impact. He lived each day with the excitement that “This is the day that the Lord has made we will be glad and rejoice in it” (Psalm 118:24). He desired to make his Savior known and found his greatest joy in telling someone the good news of the Gospel because he knew that he was Christ’s ambassador (2 Corinthians 5:20). He wrote to me that he wanted to live life “going the last mile” – and that he did. He held nothing back. He lived a life fully invested in the Savior he loved, because he knew he served the Savior, Jesus Christ, who loved him so much that He died for him (1 John 4:19).
Perhaps this is a good time to think about death. It may not be a pleasant exercise, but certainly a wise and necessary one. You prepare for death while you are alive, not after you have died. Life on earth is briefer that we think and eternity is longer than we can imagine.
However, when someone we knew and loved dies, we are forced to consider death from a different perspective. Death takes on a stark reality and is seen as a genuine part of the human experience. It is in these moments, even if only in the brief minutes of a funeral service, that death is addressed and questions are raised about the meaning and brevity of life. It is a time when we experience the pain and sorrow death causes as the reality of separation settles into our world. Then we learn that death is not just a seasonal thought, it is an invasive reality. President Andrew Jackson was right when he wrote: "When death comes, he respects neither age nor merit. He sweeps from this earthly existence the sick and the strong, the rich and the poor, and should teach us to prepare for death."
In the last several weeks there have been five funerals in our church. The ages of those who have passed from this life have ranged from seven months to ninety-two years. There were both males and females who died. Deaths occurred after a prolonged illness and in one instance after a tragic accident. In this context it seems rather bizarre not to think about life and death even if I might prefer other topics to occupy my thinking.
One of the major themes that has crossed my mind is that life should not be measured in years alone. Among other things, life should be measured by impact. There are many who have lived long lives yet made little impact. Others, who only lived a brief time, none-the-less made a significant impact. Sadly, the impact a life has upon individuals is often not expressed until after someone has died. Then the imprint of their life surfaces as people take time to process the way the person has touched their own life. Wouldn’t it be nice to engage in that process before a person dies and then encourage them by articulating how loved and important they are to us? One woman perhaps captured those sentiments when she said, “I told my husband to send me the flowers now and not wait for my funeral!”
Another thought that crossed my mind is, “Stop living life thinking it will go on forever in this world.” How often have I said that “sometime” I will do something I have always wanted to do? Death reminds us that sooner than we expect that time is gone and the “sometime” will never come. Several years ago there was a movie called The Bucket List about two terminally ill men who leave a cancer ward for a road trip with a wish list of things they want to do before they die – or in their terms “kick the bucket.” One man was a flamboyant millionaire and the other a quiet mechanic, but both faced the end of life realizing that they had unrealized dreams. The story focuses upon them trying to squeeze what they wanted to do in life into the remaining time they had. Wouldn’t a better plan be to live each day with reckless abandon to the glory of God, doing His will, and living by faith? Perhaps our “bucket list” would then be pretty short!
Tomorrow I will officiate at another funeral for a friend. He probably had a pretty short “bucket list” when the Lord called him home. It was not just because he lived a long life. It was because he lived a life of impact. He lived each day with the excitement that “This is the day that the Lord has made we will be glad and rejoice in it” (Psalm 118:24). He desired to make his Savior known and found his greatest joy in telling someone the good news of the Gospel because he knew that he was Christ’s ambassador (2 Corinthians 5:20). He wrote to me that he wanted to live life “going the last mile” – and that he did. He held nothing back. He lived a life fully invested in the Savior he loved, because he knew he served the Savior, Jesus Christ, who loved him so much that He died for him (1 John 4:19).
Perhaps this is a good time to think about death. It may not be a pleasant exercise, but certainly a wise and necessary one. You prepare for death while you are alive, not after you have died. Life on earth is briefer that we think and eternity is longer than we can imagine.
Are We Still In Our Terrible Twos?
The two-year-old boy with a tangled mass of blond curls and deep blue eyes had his gaze locked upon his dad’s. Standing in front of his father he was at best petite and in reality just a miniature person. However, at this moment, his dad’s physical size meant nothing. The child was again preparing to declare his independence from the “establishment.” The directive from his father was clearly and lovingly given, but the mind of the cute little boy was busy processing how he was going to respond in such a way that he would declare and establish his independence. After a pause, defiantly he stuck his little tongue out toward his dad as if to say, “I’m going to try it one more time. I don’t want anyone – even someone who loves me – to tell me what to do.” The response of his dad was the same as it had been numerous times that day. The corresponding results were: a child disciplined, tears flowed, assurances of love from a patient father expressed, and little arms tightly hugged his father’s neck. The words formed in my mind, “When will he ever learn? He is not going to win!” Then I mused, “Welcome to the terrible twos!”
Just using the phrase “the terrible twos” conjures up all sorts of images. Despite the image we imagine, they seem to communicate the same thing, an immature child is trying to declare their independence from parental authority – and anyone else’s for that matter. Those who observe such rebellious encounters try and comfort exasperated parents by saying, “Don’t worry, they will grow out of this.”
However, it seems to me that some people have a hard time getting past their “terrible twos.” An individual may be in their 40s, but they still have a defiant spirit that sticks their proverbial tongue out at the world declaring, “No one can tell me what to do!” Their defiance creates havoc in their lives and yet they persist. They are just an older model of the “terrible twos.” They do not consider nor care now hopeless their action may be, they just feel better that they have expressed resistance to an authority.
Our Heavenly Father deals with rebellious children all the way back to the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve in a way “stuck out” their defiant tongues to God by ignoring His clear directive “not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:17). The result was God’s loving discipline and His gracious provision to restore them to fellowship with Him once again. What a display of amazing gracious love!
Humanity through the centuries has continued to display “terrible-two-defiance.” The Psalmist captures this spirit when he asks, “Why do the nations conspire and the people plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. ‘Let us break their chains,’ they say, ‘and throw off their fetters’” (2:1-3). It sounds like a bad case of the “terrible twos,” doesn’t it? As foolish as it is to defy an earthly father, it is even more arrogant to rebel against a Heavenly Father, who is all powerful and righteous. What an encouragement to realize that our Heavenly Father is even more gracious with us than our earthly fathers.
The terrible twos resurface in all of us from time to time. A clear biblical command is encountered and we seem to intentionally resist the directive rather than submit to it. In those times perhaps we need to reflect upon how immature and foolish that response is. To borrow the words of the Apostle Paul, “When I was a child, I talked like a child; I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me” (1 Corinthians 13:11 NIV). Perhaps we need to get past our “terrible twos” and start living as spiritually mature people who seek to practice unreserved obedience to our Heavenly Father. He loves us so much that He gives us guidance to live successfully in this world. He also loves us so much that he doesn’t let us get away with our “terrible-two-defiance” that ignores His directives. Is it time to grow up yet?
Just using the phrase “the terrible twos” conjures up all sorts of images. Despite the image we imagine, they seem to communicate the same thing, an immature child is trying to declare their independence from parental authority – and anyone else’s for that matter. Those who observe such rebellious encounters try and comfort exasperated parents by saying, “Don’t worry, they will grow out of this.”
However, it seems to me that some people have a hard time getting past their “terrible twos.” An individual may be in their 40s, but they still have a defiant spirit that sticks their proverbial tongue out at the world declaring, “No one can tell me what to do!” Their defiance creates havoc in their lives and yet they persist. They are just an older model of the “terrible twos.” They do not consider nor care now hopeless their action may be, they just feel better that they have expressed resistance to an authority.
Our Heavenly Father deals with rebellious children all the way back to the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve in a way “stuck out” their defiant tongues to God by ignoring His clear directive “not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:17). The result was God’s loving discipline and His gracious provision to restore them to fellowship with Him once again. What a display of amazing gracious love!
Humanity through the centuries has continued to display “terrible-two-defiance.” The Psalmist captures this spirit when he asks, “Why do the nations conspire and the people plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. ‘Let us break their chains,’ they say, ‘and throw off their fetters’” (2:1-3). It sounds like a bad case of the “terrible twos,” doesn’t it? As foolish as it is to defy an earthly father, it is even more arrogant to rebel against a Heavenly Father, who is all powerful and righteous. What an encouragement to realize that our Heavenly Father is even more gracious with us than our earthly fathers.
The terrible twos resurface in all of us from time to time. A clear biblical command is encountered and we seem to intentionally resist the directive rather than submit to it. In those times perhaps we need to reflect upon how immature and foolish that response is. To borrow the words of the Apostle Paul, “When I was a child, I talked like a child; I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me” (1 Corinthians 13:11 NIV). Perhaps we need to get past our “terrible twos” and start living as spiritually mature people who seek to practice unreserved obedience to our Heavenly Father. He loves us so much that He gives us guidance to live successfully in this world. He also loves us so much that he doesn’t let us get away with our “terrible-two-defiance” that ignores His directives. Is it time to grow up yet?
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
What I Learned from Vacation Bible School
This is the season for special summer ministries in local churches, one of which is Vacation Bible School. Each week as you look at newspapers and church web sites, you see a description of the creative teaching times offered in VBS for families and especially their children. I have discovered that Vacation Bible School is a great learning time too for the adults who volunteer their time and energy.
For the last two years, my wife and I have determined that we wanted to fulfill a goal the Psalmist stated, to “declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come” (73:18). Since I am qualified according to the first part of the verse because “I am old and grayheaded,” I thought a good way to “declare” the Lord to the next generation was to be one of the volunteer VBS workers. Since we have two granddaughters we infrequently get to see (they live in upstate New York), we thought having them involved in our church’s VBS would be an additional way to “declare” our faith to them. We expanded the “teachable moments” for our granddaughters by planning day trips to add to the VBS experience. It was a great week for the two grayheaded grandparents—and the granddaughters are already making plans for next year!
A side benefit to the week was to realize how much I learned about life by watching the interaction of the children at VBS. One lesson was that all people are different. The children came into the auditorium with a variety of emotions. Some were excited to be there and others entered literally kicking and screaming. All were different, yet all responded to the love that the dedicated VBS workers displayed for them. Even the most apprehensive children warmed up to the experience when they realized that they were in a place where someone loved them and wanted the best for them. I learned the importance of displaying love to the variety of people who enter the doors of our church, realizing some will have great apprehension.
Another lesson learned is that people don’t always play by the rules. During the game time, the game directors carefully explained the rules of the game and checked to see if everyone understood them. In the heat of the game, the rules were sometimes obeyed, but quite often they were forgotten, ignored, or resisted. When the game director enforced the rules, there were a variety of reactions, often reflecting the maturity of the child. Some compliantly yielded to the rule, while others loudly resisted with, “It’s not fair!” How often I have seen people in churches act the same way to the Word of God that has been taught. They know what the Word of God says, yet a variety of reactions occur. Perhaps those reactions reflect maturity too!
When snack time came—one of my favorite activities!—some children devoured the treats with gratitude, even expressing a word of thanks. On the other hand, there were some children who regularly expressed a complaint about what was provided. “It wasn’t like Mom’s,” or “It’s too messy,” or “Isn’t there something else?” were common comments. I learned the lesson that some people are generally grateful, while others… well let’s just say that gratitude is not their main attitude. How often in churches are people quick to complain and slow to express gratitude for what has been provided for them?
The Bible lesson time taught me something else. When exposed to the Word of God, people must do something with it. Our VBS teachers were excellent as they taught the Bible lessons. The strength of their teaching was not just the information they shared but also the application that they made. They gave practical suggestions and encouragements so the children could respond to what they heard. Too often people hear the Word of God but are not encouraged to “…be doers of it also” (James 1:22).
In the craft time I learned that what seems simple for one person to do is difficult for another. Some children could rival Rembrandt in their artistic creations. Others…well, Picasso might appreciate the effort! Some children needed the guiding hands of the VBS craft instructors, while others were flying through their project with little guidance. It is the same in some Christians’ experience. Some need guides to disciple them as they walk through this project called life and do not do very well without assistance. I learned to be better at looking for individuals who need assistance.
Children learn a lot at Vacation Bible School. Let your children enjoy one! If you are willing to volunteer at one, be prepared not only to teach but to be taught!
For the last two years, my wife and I have determined that we wanted to fulfill a goal the Psalmist stated, to “declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come” (73:18). Since I am qualified according to the first part of the verse because “I am old and grayheaded,” I thought a good way to “declare” the Lord to the next generation was to be one of the volunteer VBS workers. Since we have two granddaughters we infrequently get to see (they live in upstate New York), we thought having them involved in our church’s VBS would be an additional way to “declare” our faith to them. We expanded the “teachable moments” for our granddaughters by planning day trips to add to the VBS experience. It was a great week for the two grayheaded grandparents—and the granddaughters are already making plans for next year!
A side benefit to the week was to realize how much I learned about life by watching the interaction of the children at VBS. One lesson was that all people are different. The children came into the auditorium with a variety of emotions. Some were excited to be there and others entered literally kicking and screaming. All were different, yet all responded to the love that the dedicated VBS workers displayed for them. Even the most apprehensive children warmed up to the experience when they realized that they were in a place where someone loved them and wanted the best for them. I learned the importance of displaying love to the variety of people who enter the doors of our church, realizing some will have great apprehension.
Another lesson learned is that people don’t always play by the rules. During the game time, the game directors carefully explained the rules of the game and checked to see if everyone understood them. In the heat of the game, the rules were sometimes obeyed, but quite often they were forgotten, ignored, or resisted. When the game director enforced the rules, there were a variety of reactions, often reflecting the maturity of the child. Some compliantly yielded to the rule, while others loudly resisted with, “It’s not fair!” How often I have seen people in churches act the same way to the Word of God that has been taught. They know what the Word of God says, yet a variety of reactions occur. Perhaps those reactions reflect maturity too!
When snack time came—one of my favorite activities!—some children devoured the treats with gratitude, even expressing a word of thanks. On the other hand, there were some children who regularly expressed a complaint about what was provided. “It wasn’t like Mom’s,” or “It’s too messy,” or “Isn’t there something else?” were common comments. I learned the lesson that some people are generally grateful, while others… well let’s just say that gratitude is not their main attitude. How often in churches are people quick to complain and slow to express gratitude for what has been provided for them?
The Bible lesson time taught me something else. When exposed to the Word of God, people must do something with it. Our VBS teachers were excellent as they taught the Bible lessons. The strength of their teaching was not just the information they shared but also the application that they made. They gave practical suggestions and encouragements so the children could respond to what they heard. Too often people hear the Word of God but are not encouraged to “…be doers of it also” (James 1:22).
In the craft time I learned that what seems simple for one person to do is difficult for another. Some children could rival Rembrandt in their artistic creations. Others…well, Picasso might appreciate the effort! Some children needed the guiding hands of the VBS craft instructors, while others were flying through their project with little guidance. It is the same in some Christians’ experience. Some need guides to disciple them as they walk through this project called life and do not do very well without assistance. I learned to be better at looking for individuals who need assistance.
Children learn a lot at Vacation Bible School. Let your children enjoy one! If you are willing to volunteer at one, be prepared not only to teach but to be taught!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
A Nation Under the Influence
On May 11, 1831, a French sociologist, political thinker, and historian named Alexis de Tocqueville came to New York for an eight-month visit. He was particularly interested in discovering what made the United States of America unique from the nations of Europe battling through the last vestiges of aristocracy. Upon returning to France he wrote Democracy in America in 1835, originally a four volume set in French which was later translated into English. In this major work he described some of the uniqueness he observed in this young nation. He wrote, “Upon my arrival in the United States, the religious aspect of the country was the first thing that struck my attention; and the longer I stayed there, the more did I perceive the great political consequences resulting from this state of things, to which I was unaccustomed. In France I had almost always seen the spirit of religion and the spirit of freedom pursuing courses diametrically opposed to each other; but in America I found that they were intimately united, and that they reigned in common over the same country."
I wonder what Tocqueville would write about the USA if he were writing today? Would he see the same influences “intimately united?” Perhaps he would draw different conclusions. Would he alter his observation that, "Moreover, almost all the sects of the United States are comprised within the great unity of Christianity, and Christian morality is everywhere the same. In the United States the sovereign authority is religious, and consequently hypocrisy must be common; but there is no country in the whole world in which the Christian religion retains a greater influence over the souls of men than in America, and there can be no greater proof of its utility, and of its conformity to human nature, than that its influence is most powerfully felt over the most enlightened and free nation of the earth.” He was not blind to the hypocrisies, nor was he blind to the influences of Christianity.
In the 21st century there is a notion developing in the USA that Christianity is OK as long as it is personal and private. “Worship anyway you want,” some would say, “But keep your faith behind closed doors.” How can the Christian life, which Christ said was to be by its very nature public and pervasive, be reduced to such limitations? Christ depicts his followers as light that is to be displayed and salt that is to flavor its surroundings (Matthew 5:13-16). These are not qualities easily sequestered to the recesses of personal social conciseness only to be publically drawn upon in times of national crisis. Christianity is always to be on display in the marketplace of public opinion. Christianity always addresses both the hereafter and the here and now.
Christianity, when properly lived, is to reflect Jesus Christ in the public arenas of life. Such beliefs and behaviors may be criticized and marginalized by certain elements of society. People have had similar attitudes before when Christianity operated openly and promoted countercultural ideals. The accusations of the secular citizens of Thessalonica declared that Christians, whose faith was public and pervasive, “have turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6). That may be one perspective. However, a follower of Christ may conclude they are really just turning the world right side up!
Tocqueville concluded, “The Americans combine the notions of Christianity and of liberty so intimately in their minds, that it is impossible to make them conceive the one without the other; and with them this conviction does not spring from that barren traditionary faith which seems to vegetate in the soul rather than to live.” Perhaps such an attitude needs to be rekindled. At the very least, attempts to silence the Christian voice and influence in secular culture should be rejected. Christians also should not cower to intimidation but lovingly reflect Jesus Christ to a culture in desperate need of light in a growing moral darkness and salt to preserve a decaying culture. Tocqueville was impressed with the “habits of the heart” of our young nation under the influence of Christianity. He saw that they would “shape the mental habits” and develop the “moral and intellectual dispositions of men.” They have; they can again.
I wonder what Tocqueville would write about the USA if he were writing today? Would he see the same influences “intimately united?” Perhaps he would draw different conclusions. Would he alter his observation that, "Moreover, almost all the sects of the United States are comprised within the great unity of Christianity, and Christian morality is everywhere the same. In the United States the sovereign authority is religious, and consequently hypocrisy must be common; but there is no country in the whole world in which the Christian religion retains a greater influence over the souls of men than in America, and there can be no greater proof of its utility, and of its conformity to human nature, than that its influence is most powerfully felt over the most enlightened and free nation of the earth.” He was not blind to the hypocrisies, nor was he blind to the influences of Christianity.
In the 21st century there is a notion developing in the USA that Christianity is OK as long as it is personal and private. “Worship anyway you want,” some would say, “But keep your faith behind closed doors.” How can the Christian life, which Christ said was to be by its very nature public and pervasive, be reduced to such limitations? Christ depicts his followers as light that is to be displayed and salt that is to flavor its surroundings (Matthew 5:13-16). These are not qualities easily sequestered to the recesses of personal social conciseness only to be publically drawn upon in times of national crisis. Christianity is always to be on display in the marketplace of public opinion. Christianity always addresses both the hereafter and the here and now.
Christianity, when properly lived, is to reflect Jesus Christ in the public arenas of life. Such beliefs and behaviors may be criticized and marginalized by certain elements of society. People have had similar attitudes before when Christianity operated openly and promoted countercultural ideals. The accusations of the secular citizens of Thessalonica declared that Christians, whose faith was public and pervasive, “have turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6). That may be one perspective. However, a follower of Christ may conclude they are really just turning the world right side up!
Tocqueville concluded, “The Americans combine the notions of Christianity and of liberty so intimately in their minds, that it is impossible to make them conceive the one without the other; and with them this conviction does not spring from that barren traditionary faith which seems to vegetate in the soul rather than to live.” Perhaps such an attitude needs to be rekindled. At the very least, attempts to silence the Christian voice and influence in secular culture should be rejected. Christians also should not cower to intimidation but lovingly reflect Jesus Christ to a culture in desperate need of light in a growing moral darkness and salt to preserve a decaying culture. Tocqueville was impressed with the “habits of the heart” of our young nation under the influence of Christianity. He saw that they would “shape the mental habits” and develop the “moral and intellectual dispositions of men.” They have; they can again.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Welcome Home Prodigals
Tucked away in beautiful southern Lancaster County is the picturesque Rawlinsville Camp Meeting. For the last 123 years, people have gathered there in mid summer to hear the Word of God, worship the Lord, and for some to connect or reconnect to God through his Son, Jesus Christ. It has been a place where many spiritual prodigals have come home to the Lord.
In the late 1800’s, William James Kirkpatrick wrote a song entitled, “Lord I’m Coming Home,” at that camp meeting in Rawlinsville. Kirkpatrick, a church musician from the Philadelphia area, used his talent to compose over 80 songs. While at Rawlinsville, he developed a concern for the spiritual condition of the soloist at the camp meeting who was a nonbeliever. After Kirkpatrick prayed for the young man, the words to the song came to him. The song was loosely based upon the story Jesus told of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32. Kirkpatrick wrote the words down quickly, and after the soloist sang them that night, the young man saw his need as a spiritual prodigal to come home to his Heavenly Father.
Within in the heart of a prodigal, there often exists a secret desire to go home to where they really belong. In one sense, all of humanity is a prodigal. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “We’re all like sheep who’ve wandered off and gotten lost. We’ve all done our own thing, gone our own way” (53:6, The Message). While wandering around and doing our own thing, the Spirit of God pulls at our hearts, reminding us that this is not where we belong. Too often that “pull” goes unidentified and people simply seek panaceas to placate their lost and longing hearts.
Perhaps Ernest Hemingway best captured the longings of a prodigal in his short story, “Capital of the World.” The story begins with the narrator telling about a humorous event. According to the narrator, Madrid is full of boys named Paco, a nickname for Francisco. One father was estranged from his son, Paco. Hemingway tells of a father who seeks to restore their relationship and “came to Madrid and inserted an advertisement in the personal columns of El Liberal which said: Paco meet me at hotel Montana noon Tuesday. All is forgiven. Papa… The police had to disperse the eight hundred young men who answered the advertisement.” These 800 young men were looking for the opportunity to go home to their fathers and no longer roam as prodigals. In their hearts they had a longing exposed when they saw an opportunity to be restored.
Jesus tells a similar story. His story was to show why he was on the mission to “seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10) and to clarify why he was rubbing shoulders with sinners (Luke 15:1-2). He was announcing to sinners, to prodigals, that they could come home because they were loved. As Jesus claimed, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). He knew the way home would be through what he would do on the cross. Jesus “did not come to be served, but to serve, and give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Thus he told his disciples, “No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). The only way for prodigals to go home to their Heavenly Father was through the way he would provide for them.
The story Jesus told indicated how prodigals would be welcomed as those that returned to God by means of His Son. They would get an open-armed, joyful reception (Luke 15:20-24), a reception anyone would appreciate. Although you may not be named Paco and have a father looking for you, you have a Heavenly Father who wants to restore you and say, “Welcome Home!”
In the late 1800’s, William James Kirkpatrick wrote a song entitled, “Lord I’m Coming Home,” at that camp meeting in Rawlinsville. Kirkpatrick, a church musician from the Philadelphia area, used his talent to compose over 80 songs. While at Rawlinsville, he developed a concern for the spiritual condition of the soloist at the camp meeting who was a nonbeliever. After Kirkpatrick prayed for the young man, the words to the song came to him. The song was loosely based upon the story Jesus told of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32. Kirkpatrick wrote the words down quickly, and after the soloist sang them that night, the young man saw his need as a spiritual prodigal to come home to his Heavenly Father.
Within in the heart of a prodigal, there often exists a secret desire to go home to where they really belong. In one sense, all of humanity is a prodigal. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “We’re all like sheep who’ve wandered off and gotten lost. We’ve all done our own thing, gone our own way” (53:6, The Message). While wandering around and doing our own thing, the Spirit of God pulls at our hearts, reminding us that this is not where we belong. Too often that “pull” goes unidentified and people simply seek panaceas to placate their lost and longing hearts.
Perhaps Ernest Hemingway best captured the longings of a prodigal in his short story, “Capital of the World.” The story begins with the narrator telling about a humorous event. According to the narrator, Madrid is full of boys named Paco, a nickname for Francisco. One father was estranged from his son, Paco. Hemingway tells of a father who seeks to restore their relationship and “came to Madrid and inserted an advertisement in the personal columns of El Liberal which said: Paco meet me at hotel Montana noon Tuesday. All is forgiven. Papa… The police had to disperse the eight hundred young men who answered the advertisement.” These 800 young men were looking for the opportunity to go home to their fathers and no longer roam as prodigals. In their hearts they had a longing exposed when they saw an opportunity to be restored.
Jesus tells a similar story. His story was to show why he was on the mission to “seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10) and to clarify why he was rubbing shoulders with sinners (Luke 15:1-2). He was announcing to sinners, to prodigals, that they could come home because they were loved. As Jesus claimed, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). He knew the way home would be through what he would do on the cross. Jesus “did not come to be served, but to serve, and give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Thus he told his disciples, “No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). The only way for prodigals to go home to their Heavenly Father was through the way he would provide for them.
The story Jesus told indicated how prodigals would be welcomed as those that returned to God by means of His Son. They would get an open-armed, joyful reception (Luke 15:20-24), a reception anyone would appreciate. Although you may not be named Paco and have a father looking for you, you have a Heavenly Father who wants to restore you and say, “Welcome Home!”
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