“The wallpaper fell off the wall,” Margaret said.
She was following-up on what her husband Jim had just said: “If you really want to test out this church bit…” The measured cadence of his words, along with Jim’s wisdom about church life, silenced everyone.
He added, “What does church really mean to me? Am I just taking it for granted?” So Jim told how he had tested “the church bit.”
He simply stayed home. Would he feel any different? Would he miss church? Did it have real meaning in his life?
He and Margaret put up wallpaper on one of those stay-home Sundays. As previously reported, it ended up on the floor.
The Bible says, “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know Him better.” Who wouldn’t want this—to know Jesus better? Through wisdom and revelation. And then a few verses later it says, “And God placed all things under His (Jesus’) feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.”
These scriptures are saturated with the profound importance of the church. To the point of showing that the church is: “His Body.” The Body of Jesus. Wisdom and revelation from the Spirit of Christ caused Jim to embrace this truth; not fallen wallpaper. Trial separation from the body, the Church of Jesus Christ, proved beyond a doubt to be harmful.
“…taking church for granted?” Jim’s question resonated deep within me. For granted?
No…not me.
I’m grateful. God allows me to be a member of His glorious body. It’s not “the church bit.” It is the way this world will see Jesus.
4/28/08
4/19/08
Is Your Work Glorifying God?
He grabbed one box and marched it to its destination. Then he grabbed an even a bigger one. This one obscured most of his stout upper frame.
Efra’s grandparents, Merna and Ron were unloading two minivans full of boxes and bags into our ministry building. And this six-year old was doing almost as much work as each one of us.
When we finished I said, “Wow, he’s a great worker.” Efra heard my words. My intension. He just stood there with a quiet dignity. But his grandma spoke, affirming my observation, giving a couple of examples of this little guy’s work ethic.
Then Merna added, matter-of-factly: “He’s got Jesus in his heart.” Her words tightly tied together Efra’s Jesus-influence with his being a diligent, motivated worker.
Jesus said, “I have brought You (Father God) glory on Earth by completing the work You gave Me to do.”
Glory to God. That’s what Jesus did through His work on Earth. He honored God, magnified God’s goodness, and revealed God’s praise worthiness. This is what “glorify” means.
Several years ago I worked as construction manager on a church remodeling project. There were many specialized sub-contract crews involved. Through the numerous challenges of the job, many of the most frustrating situations were caused by a crew which was owned by two Christians with several other Christians working for them.
Watching eyes noticed. Verbal complaints followed—from the church’s pastor, workers on other crews, and spiritually-needy jobsite neighbors.
God was not glorified. And their work reflected an absence of God-powered living.
There’s a song that goes: “They will know we our Christian by our love…” So True.
Can I add a verse? “They will know we are Christians when we work to glorify God…” Conversely—can we rightly glorify God if our work-life is shoddy?
Efra’s grandparents, Merna and Ron were unloading two minivans full of boxes and bags into our ministry building. And this six-year old was doing almost as much work as each one of us.
When we finished I said, “Wow, he’s a great worker.” Efra heard my words. My intension. He just stood there with a quiet dignity. But his grandma spoke, affirming my observation, giving a couple of examples of this little guy’s work ethic.
Then Merna added, matter-of-factly: “He’s got Jesus in his heart.” Her words tightly tied together Efra’s Jesus-influence with his being a diligent, motivated worker.
Jesus said, “I have brought You (Father God) glory on Earth by completing the work You gave Me to do.”
Glory to God. That’s what Jesus did through His work on Earth. He honored God, magnified God’s goodness, and revealed God’s praise worthiness. This is what “glorify” means.
Several years ago I worked as construction manager on a church remodeling project. There were many specialized sub-contract crews involved. Through the numerous challenges of the job, many of the most frustrating situations were caused by a crew which was owned by two Christians with several other Christians working for them.
Watching eyes noticed. Verbal complaints followed—from the church’s pastor, workers on other crews, and spiritually-needy jobsite neighbors.
God was not glorified. And their work reflected an absence of God-powered living.
There’s a song that goes: “They will know we our Christian by our love…” So True.
Can I add a verse? “They will know we are Christians when we work to glorify God…” Conversely—can we rightly glorify God if our work-life is shoddy?
4/12/08
Bulldozed
“Someone should bulldoze that house,” Will said.
It was around the corner from where I lived. I owned it at one time. So I knew Will’s suggestion wasn’t a reflection on the house’s quality.
A few years earlier we stood near the same spot. That day Will said, “The Kedler’s are dead.” I already knew. Our words were few that day.
The Kedler’s had been long time residents of the house. Will’s next-door neighbors and friends. After they moved out their oldest son killed his mom, dad, and little brother. And then himself.
A few years later the next owner accidentally ran over his wife in the garage; killing her.
I thought, “Maybe Will’s right.” Because now the house had witnessed another tragedy; its newest owner had committed suicide.
I felt a lot more like crying than bulldozing. But, is either one a solution? More important—how do we keep tragedy from our own homes? To some degree, this is part of our earthly journey.
The Bible tells us: “For every house is built by someone, but He who built all is God.” This God- built-everything truth must be bulldozed into our hearts. Essential to know, to believe, and to tenaciously live by.
Then we open the door to God’s protection. Psalm 91 concurs: “…the LORD who is my refuge…then no harm will befall you…He will command His angels…to guard you in all your ways…”
We open the door for the Holy Spirit to reside inside us. He will warn us when temptations contrary to God’s ways arise. Actions which could lead to a wasteland of calamity.
We open the door for Jesus; allowing His death on the cross to continually be a combative force against sin and evil.
What door are you opening? Who will be the builder of your house?
It was around the corner from where I lived. I owned it at one time. So I knew Will’s suggestion wasn’t a reflection on the house’s quality.
A few years earlier we stood near the same spot. That day Will said, “The Kedler’s are dead.” I already knew. Our words were few that day.
The Kedler’s had been long time residents of the house. Will’s next-door neighbors and friends. After they moved out their oldest son killed his mom, dad, and little brother. And then himself.
A few years later the next owner accidentally ran over his wife in the garage; killing her.
I thought, “Maybe Will’s right.” Because now the house had witnessed another tragedy; its newest owner had committed suicide.
I felt a lot more like crying than bulldozing. But, is either one a solution? More important—how do we keep tragedy from our own homes? To some degree, this is part of our earthly journey.
The Bible tells us: “For every house is built by someone, but He who built all is God.” This God- built-everything truth must be bulldozed into our hearts. Essential to know, to believe, and to tenaciously live by.
Then we open the door to God’s protection. Psalm 91 concurs: “…the LORD who is my refuge…then no harm will befall you…He will command His angels…to guard you in all your ways…”
We open the door for the Holy Spirit to reside inside us. He will warn us when temptations contrary to God’s ways arise. Actions which could lead to a wasteland of calamity.
We open the door for Jesus; allowing His death on the cross to continually be a combative force against sin and evil.
What door are you opening? Who will be the builder of your house?
4/5/08
Jesus’ New Commandment
My ire spiked. Eight-year old Tyanna told me about a ritual she, her siblings, and a friend had undergone at a church down the street. They were told to lay on the floor as the pastor’s wife prayed over them. The thrust was to get these children to speak in tongues as part of their salvation experience.
A day later my ire spiked again. A Preacher was analyzing the Jesus-walking-on-the-water event. When Peter saw Jesus, he desired to walk on the water also. He took a couple of steps and sank. This nationally known Pastor, in essence, concluded and taught that Peter could have succeeded if he had had enough faith in himself.
Ire number one. Think about this. All of these children would significantly fail in correctly explaining the fundamentals of a salvation relationship with Jesus. Yet speaking in tongues had been elevated to the highest order. My suggestion—teach Jesus and the cross above…above all.
Ire number two. Believing enough self-faith could propel Peter across the water is flat out silly. Furthermore this high-impact Preacher’s attempt at authenticating this teaching is highly misleading. And spiritually dangerous.
Jesus said: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” From my observations, those who were the target of my negative emotions are disciples of Jesus.
My ire was not love.
Jesus’ new commandment declares that a hallmark of a Christian is to show Jesus-like love to anyone who is a follower of His. Jesus left zero loopholes for exclusion.
If a person is a follower of Jesus, love them—no exceptions.
This means I need to change. How about you?
A day later my ire spiked again. A Preacher was analyzing the Jesus-walking-on-the-water event. When Peter saw Jesus, he desired to walk on the water also. He took a couple of steps and sank. This nationally known Pastor, in essence, concluded and taught that Peter could have succeeded if he had had enough faith in himself.
Ire number one. Think about this. All of these children would significantly fail in correctly explaining the fundamentals of a salvation relationship with Jesus. Yet speaking in tongues had been elevated to the highest order. My suggestion—teach Jesus and the cross above…above all.
Ire number two. Believing enough self-faith could propel Peter across the water is flat out silly. Furthermore this high-impact Preacher’s attempt at authenticating this teaching is highly misleading. And spiritually dangerous.
Jesus said: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” From my observations, those who were the target of my negative emotions are disciples of Jesus.
My ire was not love.
Jesus’ new commandment declares that a hallmark of a Christian is to show Jesus-like love to anyone who is a follower of His. Jesus left zero loopholes for exclusion.
If a person is a follower of Jesus, love them—no exceptions.
This means I need to change. How about you?
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