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Burning Hearts

0 Comments 24 January 2012

Scripture
“Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:32

Observation
We should want to start fires with our words. It is a cold world outside and the chill has gotten into human hearts. We should want to speak words that make hearts burn warm with hope. There is a listening that forgets about time because of the feeling that the words make on the inside while the talking is going on. There is a feeling that one could listen forever because words leave hope.

How then did Jesus set hearts on fire? It’s simple. He told others what the Bible said about himself. If Jesus could find himself in the book of Numbers, then the entire Old Testament is a field of opportunities to find Christ.

Application
When I preach, I need to mention myself less and jesus more. When I speak I need to make everything about Jesus. Then hearts will burn.

Prayer
Father, let my preaching feel as intimate as taking a walk with Jesus. Amen.

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Did You Spot God in the Crowd?

0 Comments 19 January 2012

Scripture
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!”

“…You did not recognize the time of your visitation.” Luke 19:39, 40 & 44

Observation

God visited their city and the leaders missed it. The implications are staggering.

God came to their community, and the leaders asked for the sound to be turned down. I guess when you’ve lived in a cemetery the sound of life is obnoxious.

Application
I don’t want to be the leader of the unwelcome committee when Jesus comes to visit my church. Churches have times of visitation just like Jerusaelem had theirs. I’ve been in churches that saw it, embraced it and followed it. I saw others that ignored it to their own peril. No matter how old I am, I want to be a leader who recognizes the advent of Jesus and blesses it.

Prayer
Jesus I ask you to come to my church. I pray over the doors week by week that they will open to you. Now ride into your church. Amen.

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God Romances Us

0 Comments 12 January 2012

Scripture
When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, Jacob went up and rolled the stone from the mouth of the well and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted his voice and wept.  Genesis 29:10-11

Observation
Jacob and Rebecca is like a romance from a western. Jacob has just arrived at the corral. There’s no water in these parts for critters. Just to be sure none is wasted, a heavy boulder is placed over the mouth of the well. It’s too heavy for a woman. It takes several men to move it. No one is allowed to open the well until all the riders and their livestock are rounded up.

But then love breaks in. Rebecca spies Jacob. Jacob fancies Rebecca. It’s more than romance, it’s relief. Jacob had been on the run from his brother Esau for weeks. The sight of a friendly face was like aloe vera to the sunburnt soul.

See Jacob’s big, brawny arms wrestle the boulder free. Powered by romance, he is able to open the well single handed. That was a love story told many times over in the years to come. The day when a cowboy from far away rescued a cowgirl with one macho act.

Application
I like the fact that there is romance in the Bible. This story is there for a reason, if for no other reason than to tell us that we can achieve great things when we know that we feel love. It asks of me, how much do I allow the love of my wife affect my work? How much do I give love to others so they will prosper?

Prayer
Father, romance my soul to follow you. Amen.

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Don’t Forget Your Destination

0 Comments 11 January 2012

Scripture
Genesis 28:15-16
Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” 

Observation
We may imagine that we are making up our own path, but in truth God is leading us every step of the way. Jacob was running away from his brother, but he stumbled upon the front door of heaven on earth. 

Life is a long journey, one do long that it is easy to forget our destination mid way through the trek. Most are lost not because they cannot find the way to where they are going, but rather because they forgot that they were actually going someWHERE.

In midlife this is acute. There is nothing like marriage, mortgage, kids and college bills to lose the pursuit that seemed so clear in our early days. 

Thankfully God does not forget his plans for us simply because we have forgotten them. The God who remembers and fulfills unread prophecies won’t forget his promises to us. 

Application 
I remember receiving this verse as a promise in 1986, when I first started as a pastor. It seemed significant then; that God would do his work in me in Australia then return me to the USA. I’ve been back 5 years this year. Now do this greater work Lord in me. 

Prayer
Help me to see Lord what is do plain to you. Amen. 

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0 Comments 09 January 2012

Scripture
So they called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?”
“I will go,” she said. Genesis 24:58

Observation
If ever three words changed the course of history, they were these. One young adult woman agreed to marry a man a six month journey away, whom she had never met, because it was of the Lord. Her descendants would change world history.

Such is the power of a willing spirit. Followership is one of the most powerful forces on the planet. That is why we so distrust it. The twin word “submission” has an abrasive feel to it leaves it untouched. Yet the power still remains.

Application
Every day I receive the benefit of those three words. God has given to me the gift of Leslie, who on November 27, 1982 said to me, “I will.” She has followed me to Kansas City, Brisbane, Honolulu, Colorado Springs and now Seattle. Her “yes” to me is the power that pushes me forward in every aspect of life. How deeply grateful I am. Although her willingness strengthens me, it also weakens me with humility. Such trust cannot be abused by me.

Prayer
Father, help me to reward the bride you have given me for the faithfulness she has shown to me. Amen.

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Position the Light

0 Comments 08 January 2012

Scripture
“Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light.

So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.” Luke 8:16 & 18

Observation
When God gives us a light, he expects us place it where it is useful to others. If we don’t, he will put it out.

Gulp.

Just to be sure we get the point, Jesus says more. If we use what we have, we will be given more. If we don’t use what we have he will take it away.

Double gulp.

Application
A lamp on a stand is explained in the story of the demonized man who was healed. Jesus left that disciple behind to tell everyone what the Lord had done for him. When I look at 2012 for the church I serve, I see that I must proactively and purposefully position our light for the maximum impact in our community.

Prayer
Father, give me wisdom to lead something that is greater than me. Amen.

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Put Into the Deep

0 Comments 05 January 2012

Scripture
4 When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” 6 When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; 7 so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!” 9 For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.” 11 When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him. Luke 5:4-11

Observation
When I read these words, I feel that there is something God is saying to me as a leader and to our church, Evergreen Community Church in Bothell, Washington.

But first, what was Jesus saying to his disciples?

He wasn’t talking about fish. Nor was he talking about expanding Peter’s business. Jesus had more in mind.

They were standing on the shore of a landlocked sea, that had no connection with the oceans of the world. None. They were fishermen who were working in the town they were born in. Two men worked for their father. Another lived with his mother-in-law. Their lives were going no where, in circles around a landlocked sea.

Jesus foresaw the Day of Pentecost and the 3,000 who would believe after Peter preached. He saw the church in Samaria explode in revival. He saw Antioch mushroom into a church planting church. He saw Cyprus, Galatia, Ephesus, Corinth, Rome and Spain all filled with vibrant churches. The fishermen saw fish. Jesus saw potential of developing leaders who would make converts and plant churches around the world.

The deep was deeper than these men could have imagined. They would stand before Jewish leaders, Greek leaders, Roman leaders and in foreign cities. They would sail right around the Mediterranean Sea. And of course, none of them would die in the place where they were born.

Jesus saw fishers of men. Simon, however, just saw fish. Somehow Jesus had to expand Peter’s perspective. So he spoke Peter’s native language. He talked to him in fish stories. Every fisherman has the story about the one that got away. Jesus gave Peter a fish story that would be spoken of in hushed and reverent tones around camp fires on Galilee for decades. It was a story that broke through in Peter’s mind every limitation he had on his own development.

We can limit God’s development of our lives with thinking that is as landlocked as the Sea of of Galilee. He needs to break through so we can see what he sees.

Application
Here’s what I see for my church. We need to put into the deep. We need nets, which are people woven into relationships of serving to catch many fish. We need a catch, which means we have put our nets where the fish are. We need a boat and boats big enough to hold all the fish that will come in. And we need partners to come in from afar to help us haul in the load. But first, we must put into the deep. We must take some risks for the sake of growth. Peter would one day be pushed to the front of the crowd to speak for Jesus. Deep waters were on the day of Pentecost or before the Sanhedrin, or an angry church meeting after he had visited the home of a Gentile. We need to step into places where success is not guaranteed and if God does not show up we will be humiliated.

Prayer
Father, help my church to launch into the deep. Let us not be those who hug the shore. Amen.