People In - People Out

We all have people who come in and out of our lives. Some are friends. Some are family and some you are really not sure who they are. When people come in your life you might like them, love them or hate them. When people go out of your life you might like them, love them or hate them. When people come in and out of your life you feel a multitude of emotions. When people come in and out of your life questions are asked. When they come in questions are asked in an effort to get to know each other. When they go out of your life it seems the questions are of a different nature. The questions for many become more personal. “What did I do wrong?”, “What could I have done differently?”, “Did I dress wrong?”, “Did I comb my hair the wrong way?”, “Why am I taking it so personal?”. Or, “Why did they have to leave so soon?”, “Can I go with you?”. As a child, my parents divorced and I remember the times my father went out of my life. As a child, I watched my mother struggle and die. As a pastor, I have seen people in – people out. I have learned a great lesson it the people in – people out events of life. Make sure you ask the right question. “What impact did God want them to have in my life while they were ‘people in’?” So today, see how God is using you in other people’s lives and how God is using them in your life.

Tiger Woods, Mistakes and Choices

As I watched Tiger answer the questions of the media yesterday, I was glad he took the time to answer questions. I am not sure why I had those feeling because I do not know Tiger and he owes me nothing. There is one point that grinds within me. I keep hearing people (not Tiger) say that he made a mistake. Well, to me a mistake is something that is done inadvertently. Let me give you a few examples:

· A child riding his bike runs into the car in the drive way. That is a mistake.

· A house burns because the iron was left on. That is a mistake.

· A cook drops a pan in the kitchen. That is a mistake.

Mistakes happen all the time. But, when someone does something with a clear understanding of what they are doing it ceases to be a mistake.

· The same child gets spray paint and paints the car he hit by mistake. That is a decision.

· The house burns because someone set it on fire. That is a decision

· The cook gets mad and throws a pan across the room. That is a decision.

The lesson we all have to learn is the serious nature of sin. We must quit minimizing it as a mistake. Few of my sins are mistakes. Most are very conscious decisions. Tiger did not end up in bed with a women who he thought was his wife. He knew what he was doing. It was no mistake. It was a decision, sin, wrong. Tiger said what he did was wrong and he is correct.

So, what choices are we making that are sin?

If there are any misspelled words in this blog, please know it was a mistake.

Consumerism and Christ

There are so many opportunities in America today it is amazing. Many boast that they can change your life for the better. Commercialism seems to be at an all time high. Sex sells almost everything. Everything from sex pills to chewing gum will bring you the ultimate fulfillment in life they say. According to the commercials if you will just use their product you will find the ultimate fulfillment in life. Their desire is to make you dissatisfied with what you currently have. If they can achieve this, you will buy. Well, I am thankful that Christ does not continue to change what He is offering and on this symbolic day in 2010 we celebrate His substitutionary atonement offered through His death on the cross. Christ’s offer is a one-time, no returns deal. You accept Him as Lord and Savior and no one can offer you anything better. Have a great Good Friday.

Forgiveness

Today is referred to as Maudy Thursday. It is sandwiched between Holy Wednesday and Good Friday. It commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles. Matthew writes this in his account of what Jesus said, “And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’” Forgiveness of sin. Isn’t it amazing that all the wrong you have ever done was covered by the blood of Jesus. It was for the forgiveness of sins. Make sure today you spend time in thanksgiving for the price He paid because of your failures. He took our punishment and there is no more punishment for those in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Betrayal

Have you ever felt betrayed? I mean when someone very close to you turns their back on you. Someone leaves you. It hurts. It is most likely that on Wednesday Jesus was betrayed by Judas and Peter (Luke 22:47-62). These were two very different men yet much the same. It is clear that Judas had an agenda to make sure that his relationship with Christ was turned into a personal benefit at any cost. Peter was a man who loved Christ and had proclaimed he would die for Him. Judas betrayed Christ by saying ,“I know Him”, while Peter denied Him by saying “I do not know Him”. Judas’ “I know Him” was tainted with “but He means nothing to me”. Peter’s “I don’t know Him” was tainted with “but I really do”. Neither man made the second statement but history tells us of the truth of them. Judas sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Peter denied Him to save his own life and to fight off pressures. Judas went out and hung himself. Peter went out and wept bitterly. Judas’ life came to a bitter end. Peter’s life turned and made a huge impact in the early church. Will you live a Judas life and try to use Jesus for your own advancement or will you live a Peter life and repent and make a huge impact in the church of today. The choice is yours.

Dancing the Christian Dance

I have watched Dancing with the Stars for the first time ever. It is amazing how difficult it is to learn to dance. It all comes down to getting the steps right. Seems simple until you try. The teachers have done it so long they do it without much thought while the stars or students struggle with it some. This is often seen in the Christian life as well and we dance the Christian dance. We have to get the steps right. Look at Jesus’ advice on dancing the Christian dance.

Jesus began teaching many truths after cleansing the temple. In addition, He found himself challenged by the religious leaders, pronounced the seven woes to the Scribes and Pharisees and taught through parables. There is one teaching during this time that I feel is very important and kind of puts everything else in perspective.

"But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?' And he said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the Prophets." Matthew 22:34-40, ESV.

I like a systematic plan that is clear and concise. The question asked Jesus is basically, "What is most important?"

Concise Answer: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

Now that is clear. No ambiguity!!!

Jesus knew we would not be the quickest of learners so he also gave an answer to a question that was not asked.

Concise Answer #2: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Again, it is a clear answer.

The longer you do it the more natural it will become. If this is your first week to try it, you might look rigid or out of step. Stick with it. Listen to the teacher. He will never lead you wrong.

So, this week, Holy Week, make sure you get step one and step two down - Love God and Love others.

Scrubbing Bubbles

My wife, Mary Anne, loves to clean. One of her favorite cleaning solutions is Scrubbing Bubble. You can spray it on all kinds of surfaces and it will clean it. I love the commercials for Scrubbing Bubbles. The bubbles scrub and everything goes down the drain. It is gone! Disappears!! Sometimes I think it would be great if there were something we could drink that would cleanse us. More about that later. Today, by some people’s calculations, would be the day that Jesus cleansed the temple (Luke 19:45-46). As we approach Easter Sunday, let each of us have a day of cleansing – spring cleaning. What is it in your life that competes for your total commitment to Christ? The temple had people that were religious in nature but had lost sight of the purpose of the temple. Paul writes, “Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple” (1 Cor 3:16-17). We as the Body of Christ are His temple. It is you and I. We are a holy place. We are where the Spirit of God dwells What is it in your life that makes you like the robbers in Luke 19? Let us take time today to pray and seek God to show us what it is in our life that is messing up our spiritual life in Christ. “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God” (2 Cor 7:1). So is there is something we can use as our Scrubbing Bubbles? Yes, John gives us clear direction how to cleanse ourselves. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us (1 John 1:9-10). Today, “bring holiness to completion in the fear of God”.