When Jesus Died Again

I wanted to scream,“What are you saying?”

Michael, who I love dearly, had just let me know, he thought I attended a “dead church.”

He was wondering why God had sent me to this church. He made an observation: “Maybe God called you out there to wake them out of their deadness.”

I despise calling any church, which follows Jesus Christ: “A dead church.” I will even go further; using these kinds of words is borderline heresy.

But I admit, these same words have come from my mouth.

1 Corinthians 12:27 says: “Now you are the Body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it.” This is just one of many, many references to the church being the body of Jesus Christ. Each one of us and every church, who truly follow Jesus, are part of His Body. The church I attend qualifies.

Would a person say to Jesus, “Jesus, I noticed part of Your body died. That dead-church part.” Careful Jesus, if enough of You dies, You’ll die again.

No.

Those kind of words mock Jesus. And in essence, claim He is not powerful enough to keep all His parts alive and functioning.

Not one part of Jesus’ body is dead. And no church is functioning optimally.

Consider this: the biggest problem with the church is that the body keeps attacking itself.

From 1 Corinthians, these words need to guide us. “Now the body (of Christ Jesus) is not made up of one part, but of many…but in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.”

And every part is alive.

Fan Frenzy

"Jesus entered and walked through Jericho. There was a man there, his name Zacchaeus—the head taxman and quite rich. He wanted desperately to see Jesus, but the crowd was in his way.

He was a short man; he couldn’t see over the crowd. So he ran on ahead and climbed up in a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus when He came by.”

As you read this account in the Bible, don’t you just wonder about Zacchaeus? We aren’t told why he wanted so desperately to see Jesus. All we know is how he acted. And it was; well, a little crazy.

Could his motivation be found in a contemporary parallel?

From the September 21, Sporting News Today: “2008 Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings Training Camp…there have been fans climbing trees to catch a glimpse of a Red Wings player golfing…on Saturday, Red Wings fans started arriving at 6:00a.m…fan hysteria…Red Wings-mania that's gripped Hockeytown North…fan frenzy.”

Why? One player gave his view: “It’s 6:30 in the morning…it’s crazy, but it also shows the passion.”

Passion. Desire. Enthusiasm. This is what drove Zacchaeus to run ahead and climb a tree. A glimpse of Jesus fueled his emotion-charged pursuit.

When Jesus reached the spot, He looked up, saying: "Zacchaeus come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." From the frenzied crowd around Him, Jesus welcomed the over-the-top-exuberant-passion of one.

Red Wing hockey-heroes said of their fans, “It’s awesome, we’re just enjoying it.”
Jesus responded to Zacchaeus-the-tree-climber with delight and revealed a desire of His own. He wanted to hangout with Zacchaeus.

Jesus is still ready to come near. Jesus responds to people who are desperate for Him. And you’ll get more than a glimpse. Passionate seekers will hear Jesus say, “I must stay at your house today.”

Oozing Money

It was a case of having too large an offering. Essentially way too much money was coming in.

The leader sent his word out: "Men! Women! No more offerings for the building of the Sanctuary!"

The official word on the project was: “The people were ordered to stop bringing offerings! There was plenty of material for all the work to be done. Enough and more than enough.” Now, how many times has this happened at your church? Your ministry? How about relating to your household finances?

The leader was Moses. He was building the Tabernacle—a place to meet with and worship God. His problem was having too much.

Too much…I’ve been pondering this lately.

A couple weeks ago my wife and I took a nine-mile spin on our bicycles. We kept finding money as we traveled a combination of rural roads and small-town streets. We each found a quarter, she found a dime, and a penny or two and I found at least one more coin. All from different places along the route. And I even found a misplaced dollar coin after our bike ride.

It doesn’t end there. My wife walks to work and also for recreation. She often takes the same route. Yet usually five days a week she spots coins on the ground. And picks them up.

Is the ground oozing money?

Now tracking down each coin’s story is impossible. But may I suggest? This reflects a carelessness regarding money. Sure it’s a tiny amount. Yet simple math shows us; tinys add up to smalls. Smalls add up to modest amounts. On and on. Until it is possible to arrive at: “Too much.”

Jesus said, “Whoever can be trusted with very little, can also be trusted with very much.”

How much do you want God to trust you with?

I’m a Wimp

“I’m an atheist,” Jim said.

I have a great deal of interest in people’s spiritual concepts.

So asked Jim if I could ask him just one question.

He was open. I said, “So what is your best evidence that there is no God?” He told me he believed in God. From there Jim turned into a what-I-believe spout, flowing with an odd potpourri of firm beliefs.

His central theology was the idea of being born, dying, and coming back again. The concept would aim toward an ever-perfecting human who would eventually be worthy to live with God.

I responded, “I’m a wimp.”

I’m too wimpy too climb this million-step ladder, one life at a time, approaching even near-perfection by my own efforts.

Me? I’m a one-steper. One life. One death. One chance to be right enough to spend eternity with God.

The Bible says, “But trusting God to shape the right living in us is a different story--no precarious climb up to heaven to recruit the Messiah (Jesus)…”

Jesus climbed the ladder down to us.

The Bible continues: “The word that saves is right here, as near as the tongue in your mouth, as close as the heart in your chest. It's the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us.”

“Say the welcoming word to God--"Jesus is my Master"--embracing, body and soul, God's work of doing in us what He did in raising Jesus from the dead. That's it. You're not "doing" anything; you're simply calling out to God, trusting Him to do it for you. That's salvation.”

“With your whole being you embrace God setting things right, and then you say it, right out loud: “God has set everything right between Him and me!"

Dump Disagreeing

“Come on Rick, there must be something we disagree on,” Dan said.

He had walked over from the church across the street, inviting me to a special series of services. I’ve known Dan for over twenty years.

We were actually having a nice conversation—mainly about the things of God. But Dan kept gently arm wrestling me down on acceptable differences in our beliefs. I either shifted our subject or squirmed from each potential disagreement.

Standing near my mailbox; glancing right, left, and straight ahead, I could see four churches. And if I turned around, I would have been looking at the location of a house church. So, five churches within sight.

The Bible says, “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel; but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient and in humility…”

I’ve attended four of the churches in our view, including Dan’s. And the fifth, I am familiar with their beliefs. Each is filled with servants of the Lord—followers of Jesus, Christians, part of the Church of Jesus Christ. Yet walls of disagreement between them thwart overall, Jesus-focused effectiveness in the community.

It’s no new revelation, but one of the most significant problems in the church today is a near zealous pursuit of finding fault and quarreling among different churches.

Jesus prayed for us believers hours before going to the Cross. “I pray also for those who will believe in me through their (the Apostle’s) message, that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”

Standing right there by the edge of the road, Jesus’ prayer was answered. Dan suggested: “Let’s pray.” We did.

We became one.

Stamped on Steel

Wow! A Bible verse referenced on their car’s license plate. This put me at ease somewhat, as I knocked on the door of a stranger.

Stamped on the plate was 1Cor926. I didn’t have it memorized, so I used it as a conversation starter: “What verse is that?”

Todd hesitated, “Let’s see...I’m not sure.” Shifting my question, I asked, “Well what’s the verse about?” Todd looked puzzled: “I don’t remember; we put it on quite a while ago.”

Oh. O.K.

My hope of connecting through what I thought would be a familiar passage fizzled.

Later I looked the verse up: “Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.”

The Apostle Paul, a devoted athlete for Jesus; is conveying a serious, focused, disciplined dedication to preaching the message of Jesus Christ.

A contemporary paraphrase reads: “I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me!”

This must have been pulsating in Todd’s life when he upgraded his plates—his choice verse permanently stamped in steel for the world to see. But then…stamped-on-steel was forgotten.

God offers a solution for this: “Do not be afraid... earnestly remember the Lord and imprint Him on your minds.” Be imprinted by God—bear His indelible and distinguishing mark of influence and effect.

Furthermore, the New Testament declares the help we will receive from God: “This is the agreement...I will imprint My laws upon their hearts and I will inscribe them on their minds.”

A favorite hymn says it best: “On my heart imprint Your image, Blessed Jesus, King of grace. That life’s riches, cares and pleasure never may Your work erase; Let the clear inscription be: Jesus, crucified for me.”

Jesus at Wal-Mart

Red-light. My turn signal blinked left as tears welled up in my eyes. Close to my destination, I could see where I would be in two minutes.

Wal-Mart.

Nearing 10 at night, I wasn’t heading there to shop. I was going to work. This was week three at Wal-Mart as an O/N STOCKER. Over/night—10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Stocking shelves.

For any significant life-decision I rely on what the Bible says: “My sheep will hear My voice.” I pray, seeking God’s direction.

When I did this, I felt led to apply for a job at Wal-Mart. God quickly presented me assurance this was correct. Within a few days, I received calls from two stores with job opportunities. This was as newspaper headlines were proclaiming: “Worst Unemployment in Fifteen Years.”

Still, I couldn’t help asking, “God, why did you give me this job?”

God, I’ve been the boss at every job I’ve worked at for the last 28 years. Now I put Drano, bleach, toilet paper, and a blurring-stack of stuff on never-ending steel shelves.

God, I’m a writer. Did you know I write for a bunch of newspapers? I wrote a book. I’m a pastor with a degree in Christian ministry.

The light turned green. I sucked in my emotions. Stifling the urge to flat-out start crying.
I could even be asking, “God, have you forsaken me?”

Actually, the tears were because: “I love my job.” I’m serving God at a location and capacity off the radar of my human reasoning. People need Jesus at Wal-Mart too!

The Bible says, “For, You LORD have never forsaken those who seek You.”

Forsaken: deserted; abandoned. Never. Not even in the middle-of-the-night at Wal-Mart.
Human reasoning will fail us. There is a better way—the faith-adventure. Listen to Jesus, “Hear My voice…follow Me.”

What Door Are You Opening?

Eddie thought his decision to skip church on Sunday would be uneventful. He never envisioned he was opening the door to three years in prison.

Months before, while visiting jail, I met Eddie. His crimes were significant enough to receive prison time.

But his trial went well and within a few months he was a free man. And during his stay he made a decision to become a follower of Jesus Christ. When released, he immediately got involved in church. Eddie’s life was on the upswing in all areas.

So taking a Sunday off seemed harmless. A stroll around the neighborhood on this pleasant day would be enjoyable.

But then he ran into an old “friend.” Or maybe more appropriately, a drug dealer sent from the devil. Eddie succumbed to temptation. He figured he could handle taking crack cocaine just one more time.

A lie from the devil. And Eddie agreed with him.

Once turned into twice. Twice into a habit. And the habit into a crime spree for drug money. Within three months he was in prison.

Eddie’s life started to implode all because of one decision. Eddie opened one door, one Sunday morning. 1Peter 5:8 says: “Be watchful and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

Be watchful. We need to continually ask ourselves: “What door am I opening?”

Be alert. Small decisions or seemingly small ones can easily stack up to becom the main direction of our life—the person we are.

Our enemy. The devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to destroy. His sights are set on you.

The opening of the next verse, 1 Peter 5:9, offers our clear plan to success: “Resist him. Stand firm in the faith.”

Your Dream Retirement

“I’m retired,” Joe said, “Now I’ve got to figure what to do with the rest of my life.” Joe’s sixty-two. Retired—but now he needs some life-direction to fill a couple of decades.

What does the Bible say regarding retirement?

A single verse references “retire” in the same context. “The LORD said to Moses: This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years old or more shall come to take part in the work…but at the age of fifty, they must retire from their regular service.”

Does this mean the easy life should start at age fifty?

The verse continues: “They may assist their brothers in performing their duties.” Endlessly maneuvering large carcasses up a ramp to be sacrificed on the altar plus stoking this massive altar fire was an extremely physical job. The “retire” mandate shifted an older Levite into a less strenuous job. Even, Moses worked until just before he died—at age one-hundred and twenty.

This is what I advised Joe: “You’ve got to find something big to bite off.” Go for a big challenge.

Here’s one.

Does this verse sound like our society? “Justice is driven back and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets. Honesty cannot enter. Truth is nowhere to be found and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. The LORD looked and was displeased…He saw that there was no one, He was appalled that there was no one to intervene.”

Choose to intervene. Step in. Go to work. The opportunities are endless.

You may lack a young man’s stamina. Do as God told Gideon: “Go in the strength you have.” And hear these words from Acts: “In the last days, God says…your old men will dream dreams.”

So dream big. Don’t just fill your last days. Fullfill your God-given big dreams.

Completing Your Doctor of Theology Degree

Chuck hasn’t qualified for a Doctor of Theology Degree yet. Actually, he’s never taken any courses. But the other day he passed one of the most important and one of the most difficult tests there is to pass. One I’ve failed way too many times.

And you? How many times have you failed this one?

Chuck was visiting Steve. Ticked-off at a mutual friend, he was ready to tell Chuck the whole story in detail. Well…his side of it. Not more than a couple words left Steve’s mouth and Chuck got an A+.

He raised his hand, inches from Steve’s face, saying: “I don’t want to hear it.”

Chuck knew the words of Jesus: “Moreover, if your brother sins against you, go tell him his fault—between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.” Steve was attempting to do the exact opposite, while Chuck demonstrated his stubborn refusal to join in.

Following this Bible verse results in: “You have gained…”

And then, there is the disastrous flipside: “You have lost.” For those who ignore this Scripture’s command.

So what is lost? First, the battle against sin is lost. When we start talking about an issue we have with someone else before we have tried to resolve it one-on-one, we are sinning. Consequently, sin multiplies. And because human to human relationships are one of the cornerstones of life on Earth, there is no aspect of our lives which is not vulnerable to loss.

Yes, sometimes it feels impossible to stifle the urge to vent. Thankfully, Jesus gives us the solution: “Pray for those who spitefully use you.”

We have two God honoring options. Talk to the person privately. Talk to God--privately. A combination works the best.

God first.

I Disappeared

I stood right in front of Troy. We had started to engage in a conversation. Then I disappeared.

Not literally. But Troy was so engulfed in the piece of paper taped on the wall eighteen inches over my right shoulder; it was as if I didn’t exist. On it Romans 8:38-39 was printed.

I didn’t immediately realize it but, these Scriptures were piercing his heart. The Bible verse reads: “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Glancing back at the paper, I instantly understood why I had disappeared. Turning toward Troy, I said, “It’s true.”

Troy’s brain flicked back to the voice in front of him. He responded: “I needed that.”

He needed a fresh reminder of God’s unending love. Alcohol, drugs, unemployment, and despair were weighing on him. Sin and hopelessness were blinding him to God’s goodness.

At times this inner turmoil grips each one of us. Including the Apostle Paul...“For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want...wretched man that I am!”

But even after declaring himself wretched, Paul had the same I-needed-that flash of revelation: “Nothing can separate me from God’s love. Nothing.”

Smiling, Troy left with his message from God. No more words were spoken. None were needed.

Silently praising God, in awe, I had seen His Word at work. And then my own heart received a message. An Old Testament verse: “God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.”

The Simple, Easy Great-Marriage Plan

“You have a great marriage,” Richie said.

Richie, fourteen, has visited our home many times. There are few compliments which could top his words. And it’s true. Now if I was going to tell Richie our simple, easy great-marriage plan, this is what I would say.

For the simple part; “Do what the Bible says.” For the easy part: “Easy doesn’t exist.” However, marriage is much smoother and fulfilling when you do what the Bible says.

Here’s a Bible verse which consistently draws me when I reflect on the husband’s role in a marriage.

Ephesians 5:25 says: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.” Jesus died for the church—His ultimate expression of love. The application for us husbands is simply not getting our own way. Rather than taking a stand on the numerous life-decisions which fall in the category of personal choice and opinion, graciously let the final say go to your wife.

Example: What color do we paint the bedroom? Seems almost silly, yet many marriages begin their initial unraveling based on disagreements at this level of importance.

A husband must evaluate his response to these basic choices. Will you negotiate for your opinion to reign? Or will killing this desire, be your expression of love?

Additionally, we need to speak less and pray more. This can feel like dying when the men-can-fix-anything part of us feels compelled to offer a solution regarding changes we perceive our wives needs to make. Pray more; speak less.

When it seems like you are giving too much and not getting enough, reflect on the great discrepancy between what Jesus gave on the cross compared to what you can offer Him. And then let a renewed level of grace flow toward your wife.