This morning on the way to the office I stopped at a Valero station to fill up (I always like to wait until gas goes up 10 cents OVERNIGHT before I buy).
As I exit my car, I catch the smell of what I think is bacon (McDonalds is in this station). After just a few seconds at the pump the initial fragrance has become quite flagrant, assaulting my senses. I don't know if it is the clouds on this overcast day that are pressing the odors down on us or what, but the "bacon" smell is really rancid, nothing that would make your mouth water (which is good for me since my mouth waters too much and my taste buds follow through waaaay too much).
The odor is nasty...by the time I've finished at the pump I'm trying to hold my breath until I can jump back into the car. It is absolutely sickening. (Now I'm thinking about going by there every morning as a way of suppressing my appetite).
As I got into the car, thinking about the smell, I thought of certain cities I have been in on mission trips that had a "distinctinve" (sickening) aroma. Some places have a smell you can never forget (especially small blue places - can I get an A-men from Elaine Hinson?).
Now I don't know why my mind goes these directions, but as I thought about some of the noxious cities I have been in, I wondered what the world must have smelled like to Christ. I don't mean the cities He was in and the smells that you can pick up with your physical sense. I wonder what it smelled like spiritually. Surely He had a spiritual sense of smell. He could see the spiritual condition of people (Matthew 9:35ff). Could He smell it? Could He smell the death around Him? Were there some areas/people that smelled worse than others? He did say the Pharisees were like white-washed tombs - looked good on the outside but filled with stinkin' death and decay inside.
My experience reminded me of the words penned by Paul in II Corinthians 2:14-16: "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life..."
I wonder what I smell like to Him. I wonder how I smell (spiritually) to the people around me - those in the office, my neighbors, those I do business with (the waiters at Mi Ranchito). Am I stinkin' up the places I go or am I a fresh breeze, the fragrance of life? That Valero station could have used a fresh breeze this morning - that would have gotten my attention. No one wants to hang around a smelly place if they don't have to be there.
Lord, help me to carry the aroma of life, the freshness of Christ to the people and places I go. Assault my senses from time to time with stinking smells to remind me of the importance of being a pleasing aroma. Help me to not be a stinker!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
My Sweet Spot
I know, I know, I just get so busy I forget about this blog thing. I guess I haven't gotten serious enough to be disciplined about it, to make it priority. I really don't know that I often have that much worth saying.
But, a good lesson today. I am in Cajamarca with a team from GS. When I come here I try to just be like everyone else, just a servant. The Peruvians hold pastors in high regard so it's hard to be a nobody. Yesterday, the pastor at the main church mentioned that a little church up in the mountains was struggling. He wanted some of our group to go up to encourage them and asked if I would preach there (he said a "white man" in the pulpit would encourage them - guess that qualified me).
I agreed to do it, only to find out later that he also wanted someone from our group to speak in the main church this morning. My flesh immediately said, "Send someone else to this tiny mountain church and you speak at the bigger church." Fortunately, I have come to be pretty perceptive at recognizing the voice of my flesh. I have never spoken at the main church and was tempted to be jealous, but I knew without a doubt that God wanted me to go encourage these villagers.
The journey was difficult. I'm o.k. driving on mt. roads but riding in a van is altogether different. Long story short, we get there and there are six of us, eight Peruvians who went up from Cajamarca with us, and six people from this little church. They had once been 50 until there were some difficulties that caused them to close the doors months ago. My flesh began to rear it's ugly head again, "All this for six people? I don't feel like even being here. This won't work." I remembered this was the assignment God gave me today. We had a wonderful time together - the message was simply about the work God calls every church to do. It was incredible to worship and share the word with believers a world away from us (in distance and experience). At the end of the message we got to pray over two men who decided to step up and lead. We got to see the commitment of the people from the main church in Cajamarca who are going to go up weekly to help (that will mean getting on a bus at 2:00 a.m. every Sunday). It was an awesome and convicting moment to see such commitment by people who firmly believe God has called them to reach that village.
Bottom line for me: I was exactly where God wanted me today. Much as I love preaching at GS, even that could not have been as fulfilling as being in a tiny little church with dirt floors challenging six simple people who simply love Jesus; I'm so glad I went where He sent - nothing like being in the sweet spot.
But, a good lesson today. I am in Cajamarca with a team from GS. When I come here I try to just be like everyone else, just a servant. The Peruvians hold pastors in high regard so it's hard to be a nobody. Yesterday, the pastor at the main church mentioned that a little church up in the mountains was struggling. He wanted some of our group to go up to encourage them and asked if I would preach there (he said a "white man" in the pulpit would encourage them - guess that qualified me).
I agreed to do it, only to find out later that he also wanted someone from our group to speak in the main church this morning. My flesh immediately said, "Send someone else to this tiny mountain church and you speak at the bigger church." Fortunately, I have come to be pretty perceptive at recognizing the voice of my flesh. I have never spoken at the main church and was tempted to be jealous, but I knew without a doubt that God wanted me to go encourage these villagers.
The journey was difficult. I'm o.k. driving on mt. roads but riding in a van is altogether different. Long story short, we get there and there are six of us, eight Peruvians who went up from Cajamarca with us, and six people from this little church. They had once been 50 until there were some difficulties that caused them to close the doors months ago. My flesh began to rear it's ugly head again, "All this for six people? I don't feel like even being here. This won't work." I remembered this was the assignment God gave me today. We had a wonderful time together - the message was simply about the work God calls every church to do. It was incredible to worship and share the word with believers a world away from us (in distance and experience). At the end of the message we got to pray over two men who decided to step up and lead. We got to see the commitment of the people from the main church in Cajamarca who are going to go up weekly to help (that will mean getting on a bus at 2:00 a.m. every Sunday). It was an awesome and convicting moment to see such commitment by people who firmly believe God has called them to reach that village.
Bottom line for me: I was exactly where God wanted me today. Much as I love preaching at GS, even that could not have been as fulfilling as being in a tiny little church with dirt floors challenging six simple people who simply love Jesus; I'm so glad I went where He sent - nothing like being in the sweet spot.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
The Cross
Been too busy to post much with preaching responsibilities on top of everything else. That is definitely not a complaint - getting to preach on the cross and resurrection the last four weeks has been awesome. I get a lot out of the study and proclamation of what Jesus did for me - weekly I am reminded of areas I need to work on, change, grow in, etc.
So, for what it's worth, here's one quick application that has stuck with me the past month. The Sunday before last (March 21 - message is on the web at www.gsfcb.org) I was preaching on the crucifixion, the actual hours Jesus was on the cross (9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.). It was a powerful day with the time in the Word and our experience in Worship. Many people responded that next week with how much the message meant to them. Several times I responded to a text or e-mail with the comment "I love to preach on the cross." Each time I said that, I thought about how sad it would be to be moving past Easter and my time in the pulpit and the opportunity to proclaim what Jesus did on the cross. As clearly as if He had spoken it audibly, God said to me, "You can preach the cross EVERY DAY."
You know, that's exactly what I should be doing. If I really love telling the story of the cross, I can tell it every day. Every day is Easter, every day the cross can be preached, every day there are people who need to hear about the cross. If the story is so meaningful to me and evidently to so many others, let's go tell it and let's keep telling it! Easter is not just a day or a season - it is a message that is timeless and unbounded.
God help me preach to one as enthusiastically as I preach to a crowd.
So, for what it's worth, here's one quick application that has stuck with me the past month. The Sunday before last (March 21 - message is on the web at www.gsfcb.org) I was preaching on the crucifixion, the actual hours Jesus was on the cross (9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.). It was a powerful day with the time in the Word and our experience in Worship. Many people responded that next week with how much the message meant to them. Several times I responded to a text or e-mail with the comment "I love to preach on the cross." Each time I said that, I thought about how sad it would be to be moving past Easter and my time in the pulpit and the opportunity to proclaim what Jesus did on the cross. As clearly as if He had spoken it audibly, God said to me, "You can preach the cross EVERY DAY."
You know, that's exactly what I should be doing. If I really love telling the story of the cross, I can tell it every day. Every day is Easter, every day the cross can be preached, every day there are people who need to hear about the cross. If the story is so meaningful to me and evidently to so many others, let's go tell it and let's keep telling it! Easter is not just a day or a season - it is a message that is timeless and unbounded.
God help me preach to one as enthusiastically as I preach to a crowd.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Desperate to Preach
Following is an update written by my son Jordan, regarding a mission trip to China in December and January. I needed to be reminded of these truths and I thought his explanation was profound (not just because he's my boy!).
(Jordan) "Every time I come back from a trip overseas I find myself desiring more and more to give away whatever money the Lord blesses me with to help the poor. I know that his heart is soft for the orphans and widows, the poor and the down and out. However, in China it was a bit different. It wasn't just the physical need that moved my heart to want to give more of my money and material possessions away, I was so broken over the spiritual need. Many mornings I stood behind the big glass windows on the 6th floor of our hotel, staring down at the busy intersection below, my heart staggered at the thought that the majority of these people will never hear the name Jesus. That scene still lives in my head. It drives me to desire to give whatever I can that the Gospel might be preached. There are people who are desperate to hear his name and that greatly surpasses all my temporary wants. This is something that I need to continually be reminded of. But not only does that view drive me toward giving more, it also presses upon my heart the need of people to go. If for a month, or a week or a day, if across the world, or across town, or across the street, we must never ignore our calling to go to all the nations. First for the sake of the Gospel and second for the sake of ourselves. It's when we really get out of our comfort zone that the Lord can teach us. I pray God breaks all of our hearts to go."
"God also showed me a lot about the Gospel and how we should chase it here at home. Because of the language barrier there obviously weren't abundant opportunities to talk to anyone we wanted. This caused us to recognize the value of those opportunities that we had. So throughout every conversation the constant thought in the front of our minds was how do I turn this conversation back toward Christ? We could even be talking about chicken and the thought would be, ok, now how do I get from chicken to Christ? And this thought wasn't resting in the back of our minds waiting for something to trigger it, it was an active thought because we knew that our time was short and our opportunities would be numbered. But here's where the Lord really stopped me in my tracks: nothing is different here at home. People are desperate. Our time is short. Our opportunities are few. And if that's the case then the obvious conclusion is that we should be acting the same way here. Every conversation we enter should be entered with the thought of how might I turn this conversation back to Christ, because if He really is important and I realize how lost we are without Him then context doesn't matter, all that matters is that the name of Christ be preached."
(Dave) God, help me be as desperate to share the Name as people are to hear it.
(Jordan) "Every time I come back from a trip overseas I find myself desiring more and more to give away whatever money the Lord blesses me with to help the poor. I know that his heart is soft for the orphans and widows, the poor and the down and out. However, in China it was a bit different. It wasn't just the physical need that moved my heart to want to give more of my money and material possessions away, I was so broken over the spiritual need. Many mornings I stood behind the big glass windows on the 6th floor of our hotel, staring down at the busy intersection below, my heart staggered at the thought that the majority of these people will never hear the name Jesus. That scene still lives in my head. It drives me to desire to give whatever I can that the Gospel might be preached. There are people who are desperate to hear his name and that greatly surpasses all my temporary wants. This is something that I need to continually be reminded of. But not only does that view drive me toward giving more, it also presses upon my heart the need of people to go. If for a month, or a week or a day, if across the world, or across town, or across the street, we must never ignore our calling to go to all the nations. First for the sake of the Gospel and second for the sake of ourselves. It's when we really get out of our comfort zone that the Lord can teach us. I pray God breaks all of our hearts to go."
"God also showed me a lot about the Gospel and how we should chase it here at home. Because of the language barrier there obviously weren't abundant opportunities to talk to anyone we wanted. This caused us to recognize the value of those opportunities that we had. So throughout every conversation the constant thought in the front of our minds was how do I turn this conversation back toward Christ? We could even be talking about chicken and the thought would be, ok, now how do I get from chicken to Christ? And this thought wasn't resting in the back of our minds waiting for something to trigger it, it was an active thought because we knew that our time was short and our opportunities would be numbered. But here's where the Lord really stopped me in my tracks: nothing is different here at home. People are desperate. Our time is short. Our opportunities are few. And if that's the case then the obvious conclusion is that we should be acting the same way here. Every conversation we enter should be entered with the thought of how might I turn this conversation back to Christ, because if He really is important and I realize how lost we are without Him then context doesn't matter, all that matters is that the name of Christ be preached."
(Dave) God, help me be as desperate to share the Name as people are to hear it.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Numbering My Days
So, turning 49 this past week was really no big deal. Just another day, but also another opportunity to think about death. Not death in a morbid, depressive kind of way, just in the sense of being realistic about what is coming and what I want to have accomplished. Hopefully I think about what I'm doing often, but at least once a year I have opportunity to be reminded that there is an end.
Even at 49, it is a little hard to remember your mortality: I haven't really slowed down much at this point (o.k., maybe a little mentally), I don't feel significantly older than I did in my 30's. But, you know, at any age we need to remember that we have a limited amount of time to make our impact for Christ, to establish a legacy worth living and leaving.
Several years ago I was speaking at a discipleship conference. Before my session I sat in and listened to another speaker that was in his 60's. He got up, pulled out his daytimer, looked at the top corner and said, "If the Lord gives me my three-score and ten, I have ____ days left." I don't remember the number of days he said but I was impressed that this guy lives daily thinking about how many days he has and what he'll do with them.
The reality is we don't know, but in practice, it's probably good to focus on a set number. I may die in an accident or from an illness long before my three-score and ten, but if I'm not putting some end time out there I'll live like there is none and will accomplish nothing.
We need an end date. We need to remember our mortality. We need to remember while we are young that we won't have as much energy and opportunity when we are older. Now is my time to make a real difference, to leave a mark, to make a significant impact. I don't want to miss it.
Lord, "Teach us to number our days aright that we may gain a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12)
P.S. If the Lord gives me my three-score and ten, as of today, I have 7666 left. Seems like a lot unless you factor that I started with 25,567 (including leap years). Do the math for yourself - may help you use what's left wisely.
Even at 49, it is a little hard to remember your mortality: I haven't really slowed down much at this point (o.k., maybe a little mentally), I don't feel significantly older than I did in my 30's. But, you know, at any age we need to remember that we have a limited amount of time to make our impact for Christ, to establish a legacy worth living and leaving.
Several years ago I was speaking at a discipleship conference. Before my session I sat in and listened to another speaker that was in his 60's. He got up, pulled out his daytimer, looked at the top corner and said, "If the Lord gives me my three-score and ten, I have ____ days left." I don't remember the number of days he said but I was impressed that this guy lives daily thinking about how many days he has and what he'll do with them.
The reality is we don't know, but in practice, it's probably good to focus on a set number. I may die in an accident or from an illness long before my three-score and ten, but if I'm not putting some end time out there I'll live like there is none and will accomplish nothing.
We need an end date. We need to remember our mortality. We need to remember while we are young that we won't have as much energy and opportunity when we are older. Now is my time to make a real difference, to leave a mark, to make a significant impact. I don't want to miss it.
Lord, "Teach us to number our days aright that we may gain a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12)
P.S. If the Lord gives me my three-score and ten, as of today, I have 7666 left. Seems like a lot unless you factor that I started with 25,567 (including leap years). Do the math for yourself - may help you use what's left wisely.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
A Great Awakening
This morning I spoke at a conference for worship pastors. Before I spoke I sat in a session where they were on a skype call with some innovative worship "designers" who were in Hong Kong working with Chinese pastors and worship leaders. They are working with the Chinese because there is a great revival happening over there, and not just in China, but lots of places in the East.
Back in November I read an article in World Magazine about the leading economist in Beijing, Zhao Xiao. He became a Christian in 2004, but because of his status as a leading economist, he is still a member of the Communist Party and is held in high esteem in his government. Zhao has sold his government on the need for morality in markets and has convinced Party leaders that Christian ideals are what will bring China a sustainable society and economic development.
Let's not forget that this is a nation with a horrible human rights record, especially concerning their dealings with believers. When I first heard about "awakening" in the East several month ago, I was skeptic. How could that be happening in such a repressive nation? After reading the article about Zhao it became a little more plausible that an awakening may be occuring there, maybe even the next Great Awakening.
What's sad in all that is that the next awakening will leave us in the West out. We are a post-Christian culture moving far, far away from the practice of Christian principles in our government and society. Who knows, maybe China will one day be the nation people think of when the term "Christian nation" is spoken. Too bad the Christian population in the U.S. has been too quiet and too docile far too long - what did we expect the end result to look like?
God, awaken me; help me to be renewed in what appears to be a non-renewable society.
Back in November I read an article in World Magazine about the leading economist in Beijing, Zhao Xiao. He became a Christian in 2004, but because of his status as a leading economist, he is still a member of the Communist Party and is held in high esteem in his government. Zhao has sold his government on the need for morality in markets and has convinced Party leaders that Christian ideals are what will bring China a sustainable society and economic development.
Let's not forget that this is a nation with a horrible human rights record, especially concerning their dealings with believers. When I first heard about "awakening" in the East several month ago, I was skeptic. How could that be happening in such a repressive nation? After reading the article about Zhao it became a little more plausible that an awakening may be occuring there, maybe even the next Great Awakening.
What's sad in all that is that the next awakening will leave us in the West out. We are a post-Christian culture moving far, far away from the practice of Christian principles in our government and society. Who knows, maybe China will one day be the nation people think of when the term "Christian nation" is spoken. Too bad the Christian population in the U.S. has been too quiet and too docile far too long - what did we expect the end result to look like?
God, awaken me; help me to be renewed in what appears to be a non-renewable society.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
The Face of Compassion
All that is happening in Haiti got me thinking about the role of Christians in portraying the compassion of God to our world. I heard a story on the news yesterday about how people in Haiti who had been heavily influenced by all the witch doctors and their voodoo are now becoming responsive to Christ. The reason? They don't see the witchdoctors or other demonic "religions" of their culture doing anything for them. They do see that the people bringing aid and comfort are primarily Christians, disciples of Christ, followers of a God of love and grace and mercy.
I know there are lots of organizations like Red Cross that offer aid all over the world, but the reality is Christians are typically at the forefront because we have been touched by the compassion of Christ for us and we are called to share that compassion with a world that needs to know a loving God.
I also was thinking this week about what life will be like when Christians are taken out of this world. There is so much suffering now and it is only going to get worse through the tribulation and all that will happen as the end of the age comes. Can you even imagine how horrible it will be when the face of compassion and grace is no longer looking over the tragic human condition?
Finally, I wonder how you and I are doing personally in being the face of compassion daily. I don't mean just whether we are compassionate and do something during tragedy. I mean just in day to day life. Are we the face of a compassionate, loving God toward the waitress who totally messes up our order, toward the clerk who takes forever, toward the people who get in our way, who slow us down, who just can't seem to get their act together?
Remember, we are salt and light. How are we doing at bringing the flavor of God (compassion and grace are flavors) to every situation and person we encounter?
God, thank-you for your compassionate grace. Help me to be Your face to the people I encounter daily.
I know there are lots of organizations like Red Cross that offer aid all over the world, but the reality is Christians are typically at the forefront because we have been touched by the compassion of Christ for us and we are called to share that compassion with a world that needs to know a loving God.
I also was thinking this week about what life will be like when Christians are taken out of this world. There is so much suffering now and it is only going to get worse through the tribulation and all that will happen as the end of the age comes. Can you even imagine how horrible it will be when the face of compassion and grace is no longer looking over the tragic human condition?
Finally, I wonder how you and I are doing personally in being the face of compassion daily. I don't mean just whether we are compassionate and do something during tragedy. I mean just in day to day life. Are we the face of a compassionate, loving God toward the waitress who totally messes up our order, toward the clerk who takes forever, toward the people who get in our way, who slow us down, who just can't seem to get their act together?
Remember, we are salt and light. How are we doing at bringing the flavor of God (compassion and grace are flavors) to every situation and person we encounter?
God, thank-you for your compassionate grace. Help me to be Your face to the people I encounter daily.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Wrestle With God
Well, it's been a long quiet month - just haven't had much to say since before Christmas. There was a preaching professor at Southwestern Seminary (where I attended) that regularly told his preaching class, "Have something to say, say it, and sit down." Now that's great advice. So, for those of you who had almost given up on me as a blogger...I just didn't have anything significant to say and I'm not inclined to blog about junk, meaningless dribble.
This past Sunday night, I taught on abortion at GS. It was a tough message, lots of material to cover, difficult topic. I did get a lot of positive response, people grateful to finally be hearing information from the church on a difficult issue. It was all good, but here was the difficult part for me: after I laid out all that info, after I talked about what's going on in our society and looked at what Scripture says, I felt like people were overwhelmed. When I stood facing the crowd at the end of the sermon and their eyes were on me, it was as if their eyes said, "This is horrible...I never realized...what to do we do?"
In that momemnt, I had no answer. There are many things to be done about many issues that plague our culture. The church needs to have awareness and the willingness to step up to the plate, but a pastor really can't tell every individual what to do. I have to admit, I was a little despairing myself when I looked at the people I dearly love and said, "I don't know what to tell you. You just need to take this information home and wrestle with the Lord over it."
It felt like a dumb answer, no help, but as I left that night, the more I thought about it, the more I realized it was exactly right. Every believer needs to personally wrestle with the truth. Every believer needs to get before the Lord and ask what He would have them do. Every believer is a priest and has the same access, same opportunity to hear from God personally about what they specifically are called to do.
I can give suggestions; I can prime the pump, but I can't lay out the game plan for anyone. I think having to wrestle with God is a good thing. In fact, those believers who still are on milk when they should be eating meat have been done a disservice by the church because they've never been allowed to wrestle. At some point the baby/child has to begin making his own decisions, taking responsibility, learning from consequences. I am grateful for the insight I received Sunday about being careful not to play God, telling people what they should do in every matter.
Well, all this rambling boils down to this: whether it is an issue such as abortion and what believers should do or just day to day decisions that affect your walk with God, are you willing to wrestle with Him and to spend time before Him or are you just looking for an easy, quick answer?
God, help me to not look for the easy solution, the path that takes no time and effort. Teach me and guide me as I wrestle with you, as I take the time and effort to seek you out.
This past Sunday night, I taught on abortion at GS. It was a tough message, lots of material to cover, difficult topic. I did get a lot of positive response, people grateful to finally be hearing information from the church on a difficult issue. It was all good, but here was the difficult part for me: after I laid out all that info, after I talked about what's going on in our society and looked at what Scripture says, I felt like people were overwhelmed. When I stood facing the crowd at the end of the sermon and their eyes were on me, it was as if their eyes said, "This is horrible...I never realized...what to do we do?"
In that momemnt, I had no answer. There are many things to be done about many issues that plague our culture. The church needs to have awareness and the willingness to step up to the plate, but a pastor really can't tell every individual what to do. I have to admit, I was a little despairing myself when I looked at the people I dearly love and said, "I don't know what to tell you. You just need to take this information home and wrestle with the Lord over it."
It felt like a dumb answer, no help, but as I left that night, the more I thought about it, the more I realized it was exactly right. Every believer needs to personally wrestle with the truth. Every believer needs to get before the Lord and ask what He would have them do. Every believer is a priest and has the same access, same opportunity to hear from God personally about what they specifically are called to do.
I can give suggestions; I can prime the pump, but I can't lay out the game plan for anyone. I think having to wrestle with God is a good thing. In fact, those believers who still are on milk when they should be eating meat have been done a disservice by the church because they've never been allowed to wrestle. At some point the baby/child has to begin making his own decisions, taking responsibility, learning from consequences. I am grateful for the insight I received Sunday about being careful not to play God, telling people what they should do in every matter.
Well, all this rambling boils down to this: whether it is an issue such as abortion and what believers should do or just day to day decisions that affect your walk with God, are you willing to wrestle with Him and to spend time before Him or are you just looking for an easy, quick answer?
God, help me to not look for the easy solution, the path that takes no time and effort. Teach me and guide me as I wrestle with you, as I take the time and effort to seek you out.
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