God’s Unchangeableness

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Photo by AS Photography

God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? Numbers 23:19

Morning rush hour in Atlanta is often dangerous and chaotic, but can you imagine if there were no consistency in traffic rules?  At least when you come up to an intersection, you know to stop on red, go on green, and speed up on yellow (partially kidding).  Traffic signs provide a measure of safety since they are based on consistent rules and regulations that never change. You may have a different thought on how fast you should go, but you follow the signs that tell you what you can and can’t do, what speed to drive, and which way to go.

Life is filled with moments when we never quite know how a person will react to us. Maybe the one exception is going through the Chick-fil-A drive-through, and you always hear “My Pleasure.” We are not always guaranteed outcomes in life, as illustrated by the story of six-year-old Brandon. He had great intentions, but things went from bad to worse.

Little Brandon decided one Saturday morning to surprise his mom and dad by fixing pancakes before they woke up. He found a big bowl and spoon, pulled a chair to the counter, opened the cabinet, and pulled out the heavy flour canister, spilling it on the floor. He scooped some of the flour into the bowl with his hands, mixed in most of the other ingredients, all the while leaving a floury trail on the kitchen floor.

Brandon was covered with flour and getting frustrated; he only wanted to surprise his mom and dad. He didn’t know what to do next, whether to put it all into the oven or on the stove, but he didn’t know how the stove worked! Suddenly, he saw his kitten licking from the bowl and reached to push her away, knocking the egg carton to the floor. Frantically, he tried to clean up this growing mess, but slipped on the eggs, getting his pajamas white and sticky.

Just then, he saw his dad standing at the door. Big crocodile tears welled up in Brandon’s eyes. His valiant efforts to do something special had turned into a terrible mess. He was sure a scolding was coming, maybe even a spanking. Through teary eyes, Brandon watched his dad walking through the mess, who gently picked up his crying son, hugged him, and reassured him that it was ok, even getting his own pajamas white and sticky in the process. (adapted illustration from unknown source)

Does that father sound like someone you know? God walks into our failed attempts to do something good, looks over the mess we made, and pulls us into His caring arms and holds us close to Himself. No scolding, just caring. No rejection, just acceptance. No ridicule, just love. Most of us are somewhere between finishing up one mess and starting on another.

Brandon’s dad extending grace that morning makes it a nice, feel-good story. But what if Brandon’s dad has a horrible week at the office and isn’t in the mood for messes? Or maybe Brandon’s dad had already told him not to be in the kitchen without one of them, but Brandon decided to disobey him? Unfortunately, we have all been in situations where the outcome was totally unpredictable. Brandon’s dad is human, and all of us humans react differently in different circumstances depending upon our emotions, situation, or perspective at any given point in time.

Thankfully, the same can’t be said about God. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17 NIV)

How God responds isn’t dependent upon how He feels, His mood for the day, or the current fad of the day. His reaction is based upon His unchanging character, purpose, truth, and promises. When we blow it, God sees and responds not on how He feels but upon his unchangeableness. The external circumstances don’t impact His nature, which gives us a firm foundation for our lives. God’s unchangeableness is captured in a rich, powerful theological term: immutability. This is not a word we use very often, but we can be thankful for God’s immutability. If God changed with the wind, then what kind of god would he be?

“The immutability of God is grounds and encouragement for worship, “wrote Puritan writer and pastor Stephen Charnock in the 16th century. “What encouragement could there be to lift up our eyes to one that is of one mind today, and of another mind tomorrow? What comfort would it be to pray to a god that, like the chameleon, changed colour every day, every moment?” Charnock went on to write, “God’s immutability is the greatest encouragement to prayer. Prayer is an acknowledgment of our dependence upon God. Our dependence could have no firm foundation without God’s unchangeableness.”

You may not discuss immutability very often with your friends at Waffle House unless you want to impress them with big words! What will come up in the conversation will be the crisis you are facing and how much you are depending upon God to help you, or problems your children are facing and how you trust God to help them deal with the problem. How thankful I am that God listens to our problems. “You can’t base your understanding of God and what he is doing on your own interpretation of your circumstances. No, it’s your knowledge of who God is and what He does that allows you to understand your circumstances properly.” (Paul David Tripp)

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8; The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever. Isaiah 40:8”

When you find yourself at the intersection of disaster and hopelessness, it is reassuring to know that God is already there for you and will gladly take over, even if you made the wrong turn to get there.

 

God is great!

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Just A Glimpse For Now

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Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.” –Luke 9:18-20 NIV

I didn’t recognize you! These are words most of us have said at one time or another over our lifetime. Perhaps you met the person in a different setting, or he/she had changed hair color or lost weight. Whatever the reason, you simply didn’t recognize him.

Connie and I were in Richmond for our appointment service with the Foreign Mission Board (now International Mission Board), and one of the new appointees got on the elevator with then-President Keith Parks. In good Southern hospitality form, she “struck up a conversation”. Now, by this point, all of us who were being appointed had received a ton of mail, information, pictures, and documents, many signed by Dr. Parks himself. Unfortunately, she didn’t recognize the president and asked him, “So, what work do you do here?”

This is probably not the best way to start your missionary career, but at some point or another, all of us have failed to recognize someone. A long-running TV reality show works on that very premise: Undercover Boss. The show aired for the first time on February 7, 2010, with an estimated 38.6 million viewers, garnering 32% of the market share. It did help to get the series off to a good start since it followed Super Bowl XLIV, when the underdog New Orleans Saints won their first Super Bowl with Drew Brees as Quarterback.

Undercover Boss had a simple format: the owner or one of the high-level executives went undercover, disguising his or her appearance, creating some fictional story, and starting as an entry-level worker. The purpose was to gain an understanding of the inner workings of their own company, what’s good, what’s not, and highlight good or poor performers in the company. Through the years since the show has been on TV, these high-powered executives have cleaned porta-potties, changed sheets in hotel rooms, cleaned swimming pools in 110-degree heat, and done all the things that it takes to make a company successful.

Towards the end of the episode, the executives reveal their true identities after being undercover for a week, inviting some of the employees into their office. As the producers admit, it is a reality show with a bit of embellishment for entertainment purposes, but in the end, the executives admit they have learned a lot about their own companies, the spirit of the workforce, perceptions about their companies, and, more importantly, a bit about themselves.

Last week, within several streams of the Christian faith, Believers observed the Feast of the Transfiguration, a commemoration of the occasion when Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on a mountain, where Moses and Elijah appeared and Jesus was transfigured. “About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John, and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. …While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” (Luke 9:28-30,34-35)

St. John of Damascus wrote in the 7th century, “Christ is transfigured, not by putting on some quality he did not possess previously, nor by changing into something he never was before, but by revealing to his disciples what he truly was…For while remaining identical to what he had been before, he appeared to the disciples in his splendor; he is indeed the true light, the radiance of glory.”

Undercover Boss may capture an embellished situation of the boss taking on a subservient role to better identify with those who work in their company, but the Transfiguration represents a life-changing encounter for the three disciples, when God Himself revealed His true identity. Jesus’ identity revealed to these disciples what they knew in words but now experienced in real time. Can you imagine the three, coming out of a sleepy fog, standing face to face with Israel’s greatest prophets, Moses and Elijah- the greatest of the prophets, talking reverently with their Rabbi Jesus. As they tried to grasp everything that was happening around them, all of a sudden a cloud descended, enveloping all of them, and a voice boomed out, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen, listen to him.”

This was a life-changing experience, a moment that became a milestone for them. This Jesus, whom they were following, had grown up with, played games with as boys, fished together, knew his mother, and over the last several years, walked miles together on dusty roads. This Jesus, their Rabbi, was the very Son of God. A.W. Tozer wrote, “Christ dazzles me and stirs within me such feelings of amazement that I can never get over him.” I have a feeling Peter, James, and John would have echoed these words.

The Transfiguration provided these three beloved disciples and the others, as they later would hear the story, the hope and encouragement needed because in a very short time their Rabbi would be nailed to the cross. This milestone moment allowed them to understand more deeply who Jesus was before their world was literally turned upside down. Peter’s declaration, “You are the Messiah,” now became a living declaration.

“Truly, we live with mysteries too marvelous to be understood…Let me keep my distance always from those who think they have the answers. Let me keep company always with those who say “Look!” and laugh in astonishment and bow their heads.” (Mary Oliver)

Jesus allowed Peter, James, and John at the Transfiguration a glimpse into who He is. Jesus walked out of a cold, lifeless tomb to give us a glimpse of who He is! “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”

God is great!

 

The Blank Canvas

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God isn’t hard of hearing; he’ll hear all their cries. God isn’t blind. He who made the eye has superb vision, and he’s watching all you do. Psalm 94:9 TPT

“A picture is worth a thousand words.” This quote has been used and reused millions of times, is found in different languages, and is familiar to most people. Without a picture to illustrate the point, it has probably taken a few million words to unravel the meaning of these seven words.

Long before George Eastman launched the Kodak camera that revolutionized the “one picture is worth a thousand words” generation, itinerant painters roamed the countryside in search of the wealthy, influential leaders of the city. Those were the ones who could afford to have their portraits painted. These “folk artists” came with varying degrees of talent and abilities.

Early American poet and writer Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr, called these painters “Thugs of Art.” Holmes wrote, “Recollect those wandering Thugs of Art, whose murderous doings with the brush used frequently to involve whole families, who passed from one country tavern to another, eating and painting their way, feeding a week upon the landlord, another week upon the landlady, and two or three days apiece upon the children, as the walls of those hospitable edifices too frequently testify even to the present day.”

Regardless of Holmes’s criticism of these roving painters, they left a vivid picture of early American life. Their brushes captured the stories of life and personalities across the country. Few would be remembered as a Rembrandt, van Gogh, or Monet; yet their pictures were worth a thousand words. It is a different time since now we capture our stories with an iPhone. I have to be a master storyteller since my phone has over 19,415 pictures and another 1,341 video clips, mostly of grandchildren.

Time is the key to a portrait painter’s success as he or she strives to know who is in front of them. It requires multiple settings to identify the characteristics that should be captured on canvas. The painter needs to know his subjects, who they are, their character, and their passion. Edward Burne-Jones stated, “The only expression allowable in great portraiture is the expression of character and moral quality, not anything temporary, fleeting, or accidental.” Aristotle similarly said, “The aim of Art is to present not the outward appearance of things, but their inner significance, for this, not the external manner and detail, constitutes true reality.”

Sitting before God, the Master Portrait Painter, you realize how realistically He captures our picture. The Psalmist writes, “Lord, you know everything there is to know about me. You perceive every movement of my heart and soul, and you understand my every thought before it even enters my mind. You formed my innermost being, shaping my delicate inside and my intricate outside, and wove them all together in my mother’s womb.” (Psalm 139:1,2;13 TPT)

If you were sitting for your real-life portrait, what would he capture?

Hannah modeled brokenness before the painter as he captured her in prayer. “In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly.” (I Sam. 1:10) David modeled sorrow, “David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and spent the nights lying in sackcloth on the ground.” (2 Sam. 12:16)

Susanna Wesley, mother of nineteen children, nine of whom died in infancy, endured a difficult marriage and primarily raised the other ten children single-handedly. Susanna was a world-class educator, prayer warrior, and she believed that Christ’s Great Commission to the nations began at home with her children. Two of her children, John and Wesley, would be used by God to spark a spiritual renewal.

“Whenever Susanna Wesley wanted to pray in her busy household with the demands of ten children, she simply pulled her apron over her head…Susanna’s children quickly learned that when her apron was over her head, their mother was not to be disturbed. In this unusual posture, she would pour out her heart to God.” (John Whitehead, from The Life of Rev. John Wesley)

Would an artist capture us on canvas as portraits of disciplined prayer warriors?

Abram and Sarai had a good, status quo life until God said, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” (Gen 12:1) Abram and Sarai modeled obedience before the painter. Obedience led to their transformation, and later, this was signified by name changes. Ultimately, this led to the birth of a nation. “Despite the fact that he was 75 and, even though his elderly wife was barren, Abram put his faith more in God’s voice and in his character than in his current circumstances. God promised to show him where to go. To make something of his heart and his life. To bless people through him.” (Jill Weber)

Would an artist capture us on canvas, leaving our comfortable life to go where God said?

John Stott, theologian, pastor, and writer, started each day praying the fruit of the Spirit in his life. Just as an artist sitting before an empty canvas, Paul beautifully captured in Galatians 5 the picture of two different trees, the rotten fruit that falls from the tree of godlessness, compared to the life-giving fruit from a Spirit-filled life. “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” The fruit of the world results in bitterness, despair, hunger, and sickness. The fruit of the Spirit results in life, beauty, filled, and healthy.

Would an artist capture us on canvas as portraits of Spirit-filled vibrancy?

Lord, today find us open and vulnerable to your touch. As you paint our portraits, we pray that you will find us filled with the Spirit, gentle, kind and seeking you with all our heart, mind, and soul.

We want our final portraits to resemble Jesus in every way.

God is great!

God, the Master Rebuilder

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And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. I Peter 5:10-11 NIV

Crowds quickly flock to the scene when they hear fire engine sirens. Curiosity or concern draws people toward the flames, neighbors and passersby watch as the flames destroy, and firemen fight to contain the fire. How much more is this true when the fire involves a historic building or monument? Such was the scene on April 15, 2019, when fire alarms were sounded at the 860-year-old Gothic Notre-Dame Cathedral as flames engulfed the cathedral. Firefighters worked hard over the next 15 hours fighting to contain the fire that left the once magnificent structure scarred and unusable.

The easy, and probably economical decision would have been to salvage what you could, demolish the structure, and rebuild from the ground up. However, French President Emmanuel Macron made the bold statement that the cathedral would be rebuilt within five years, and the painstaking task of rebuilding this world treasure began with over 1,300 skilled artisans working on the project.  Pres. Macron addressed the workers on a final site visit before the inaugural reopening with the words, “You are the alchemists of this project, and you transformed coal into artistry. The furnace of Notre-Dame was a national scar, and you were its healing balm.”

Scars will always remain on the cathedral from the fire, but people will again visit and worship because of the workers’ loving efforts. Nehemiah faced opposition and ridicule as he undertook the massive challenge of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. “Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?” Nehemiah 4:2. Nehemiah understood the challenge, but he also believed God was able to overcome any opposition. He could have looked at the crumbling walls and given up on the task, but he rallied the people to begin the work: “So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height for the people worked with all their heart.” (4:6)

God has been in the business of turning ashes into art since the beginning of time. I imagine a conversation in the hallways of heaven going something like this, “That person is a total loss, why bother restoring him, just start over.” Thankfully, God doesn’t listen, but out of his grace, He reaches into the broken rubble of our lives caused by our mistakes, failures, and sin. He then takes the remnants, begins to rebuild until we hear the words, “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here.” (2 Cor 5:17).

I am sure you have walked past once beautiful old houses that now stand in various stages of decay. These grand old houses are dilapidated because of time and neglect, broken windowpanes, peeling paint, and overgrown grass. These are houses that were once filled with laughter from children playing in the yard, family get-togethers, and simple daily activities of life.

One day, you walk past and see white panel vans parked out front. Workers are busy unloading and assembling scaffolding, new windows are being installed, and painters are scraping off old, peeling paint and applying a fresh coat. The grass has been cut, flower beds cleaned out, hedges trimmed, and roses planted. You can hear workers inside the house tearing down walls, rebuilding staircases, and hauling out trash and debris. Soon, a moving truck is parked at the house, and a new family is moving into the once-decaying home, now restored to its former glory. The sounds of laughter and joy will once again drift out of the front door.

C.S. Lewis beautifully illustrated God’s restoration business in Mere Christianity. “Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of – throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”

Throughout Scripture, God does not leave humanity to rot but continually seeks to redeem and restore. God’s redemption, his rescue plan of grace, is always far greater than the brokenness and sin from which He seeks to save us. “Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain” Psalm 127:1. “From the time of Noah, through the time of Christ, right up to this present moment, the promises of God are the surest foundation in all of history” (Pete Greig)

One of the walking paths that Connie and I take is past an old, abandoned farmhouse. Over the years, we have watched it slowly deteriorate a little more each year. There is no attempt to salvage the house, letting time take its toll. Gratefully, God has other plans for our lives. Paul David Tripp says it well, “Your Lord begins by restoring you so that you can live as he designed you to live. But there will be a day when he will make all things new. In almighty mercy, he will reverse every bit of damage sin has done, and we will live forever in peace and righteousness, in a totally new world. This broken-down house that we call home will not be broken forever.”

“For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.” 2 Corinthians 5:1

So maybe that conversation in heaven sounds more like this, Wow, look what God did in that person’s life. Can you believe the amazing transformation! I am thankful God is a Master Rebuilder. How about you?

God is great!

 

 

Community, The Inner-Journey

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Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Colossians 3:13-15 NLT

“A community is like a ship; everyone ought to be prepared to take the helm.” The words of Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen powerfully display the role of each person in community. God’s gift of community has been on display as we watched “strangers” responding to the crisis of the Guadalupe River devastating flood. God gave us the precious gift of community to journey with us in times of life’s disasters. God also gifted us with community to be part of our inner spiritual life and development.

God empowers the community to be His hands and feet when we face natural and physical disasters. God equally empowers community to walk with us in our spiritual journey. Without community, individuals would have a limited impact on the world’s needs, and without community, we would be limited and often stagnant in our personal spiritual growth. We need each other in times of natural disasters, as we need each other in our personal struggles and growth.

Dave Booram, an Indiana pastor and retreat leader, shared some of his story and his search for spiritual healing in a recent blog post. “For several years after I was betrayed by church leaders, I actively and passively struggled to find another faith community. Slowly, as my wounded spirit began to heal, I recognized my need and longing for human/spiritual companions again.” Booram writes that he was able to connect with others who walked with him in his spiritual journey. He now writes that, “My spiritual life seemed lighter, more authentic, more loving, more relevant to my life’s experience. So, when I was asked the question, ‘What do I need from my church?’ I found myself answering simply: I need to be reminded of Jesus. I still need that. During the ups and downs, the inner and outer convulsions of my week, I need a sacred community that reminds and recalibrates my heart, head, and hands to Jesus.”

What do you need from your sacred community? Parker Palmer, in his book A Hidden Wholeness, writes, “The journey toward inner truth is too taxing to be made solo: lacking support, the solitary traveler soon becomes weary or fearful and likely to quit the road. The path is too deeply hidden to be traveled without company; finding our way involves clues that are subtle and sometimes misleading, requiring the kind of discernment that can happen only in dialogue. The destination is too daunting to be achieved alone. We need community to find the courage to venture into the alien lands to which the inner teacher may call us.”

We all need community, a place where we are challenged, encouraged, and occasionally reprimanded. The different seasons of growth result in our maturing to become more like Christ. The writer of Hebrews set the standard for how community should impact our lives. “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Heb 10:24-25)

Sebastian Junger covered the war effort in Afghanistan for over a decade, living mostly with the troops in military barracks. Most of the soldiers talked about the day when they would return home, but what Junger noticed, a great many would reenlist for another term within six months. He started asking questions on why they would give up comfort in the suburbs for a hard life in the barracks. His observations led to his book, Tribe, and the conclusion that “a robust sense of community and an embodied counterculture does more to draw out the human heart than comfort, wealth, ease, or social “progress” ever could.”  (from Tyler Staton, The Familiar Stranger)

Jesus modeled the power and beauty of oneness, knowing we would need each other if we were to become all that we could be. Jesus prayed for his followers, “that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:21-23)

Our modern society can be defined by mobility and individuality as a core value. Junger made the point in his book that, “A person living in a modern city or a suburb can, for the first time in history, go through an entire day—or an entire life—mostly encountering complete strangers. They can be surrounded by others and yet feel deeply, dangerously alone. The evidence that this is hard on us is overwhelming.”

What a difference an energized, Christ-filled, unified community can make in our world. Together we “carry each other’s burdens” (Gal 6:2); encourage one another in worship (Eph 5:19); “admonish one another with all wisdom” (Col 3:16); as we “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Eph 5:21) and ultimately living as “the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (Eph 4:16)

“The community of the saints is not an ‘ideal’ community consisting of perfect and sinless men and women, where there is no need of further repentance. No, it is a community which proves that it is worthy of the gospel of forgiveness by constantly and sincerely proclaiming God’s forgiveness.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Together, making an impact outwardly and inwardly!

God is great!

 

 

 

In God, Our Solid Ground

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Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. Habakkuk 3:17-18 NIV

The night sky had been brilliant with the 4th of July fireworks, but now the sky was dark.  Tired summer campers collapsed in bed after camp counselors finished their nightly devotions. Along the edges of the Guadalupe River, hundreds crawled into their RVs, tents, and cabin beds, unaware their world would soon be upended forever.   An unknown and raging monster was awakening in the Guadalupe River in the Hill Country of Texas. At 3:45 A.M, the levels began to spike, and within an hour, the calm, peaceful river had risen 22 feet, unleashing unbelievable terror along its once gentle banks. The river claimed 129 souls, with over 150 still missing as of Friday.

That night, Camp Mystic’s heart was torn apart as 27 of their campers and counselors were swept under the restless rage of the river, including the beloved camp director. Dick Eastland. The grandfather of 11, a third-generation manager and passionate guardian of the girls, lost his life trying to save “his” girls. Generations have been impacted since University of Texas coach “Doc” Stewart founded the camp in 1926. The vision was to provide young girls with a “wholesome Christian atmosphere in which they could develop outstanding personal qualities and self-esteem” (Camp Mystic website).

In the aftermath of a tragedy, there are lots of questions, but few answers. However, one question worth asking is, what does God do for us when He knows our world will never be the same again? The first and greatest answer we get is God Himself. The Texas floods left families devastated, homes destroyed, and lives upended, but the presence of God continues to hold them, love them, and encourage them. Through all the tragedies of this past event and all that will come, He assures us He will never leave us alone:

“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

“The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

Joshua, who had always been in the shadows of the legendary leader Moses, found himself thrust into the role of leading a nation into their new homeland. When fear and doubt most likely overwhelmed Joshua, God came alongside him and told him three times, “Be strong and courageous.”  God’s reassurance to Joshua still holds true for us today: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

Your assurance of God’s presence came with the final benediction of Jesus before he ascended into heaven, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt 28:20) Whatever happens in life, you have the final promise of Jesus that He will be with you. That will see you through the darkest days!

The second answer to the question of what God does for you is to give you community. God never expected or desired for us to walk this journey of life outside of community. Paul reminds us in Galatians to “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (6:2) Luke captured the heart of the early church with the words, “All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.” (Acts 2:44-45)

Solomon understood the value of togetherness as he wrote, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

Jesus closed out the question about which was the greatest commandment in the Law with the simple yet difficult response, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt 22:39). Henri Nouwen once said that true community is the place where “the individual we least like always lives next door.”

Community has been on full display this week in central Texas as countless thousands of volunteers have come from all over the United States. Though the majority hadn’t experienced a loss or even knew anyone impacted by the flood, they still needed to go and help. Joining others, they have walked the riverbank searching for the missing, cleaning out strangers’ houses, fixing meals, and simply being the “hands and feet” of Jesus.

Community can be described either as a beautiful symphony or a bunch of screeching, out-of-tune instruments. Jacob Collier, in a YouTube lecture on harmony in music, said, “Harmony is what happens when you put more than one note next to each other and they all happen at the same time. Harmony gets more exciting the more notes you add.”

God planned for community to be that expression of harmony. South African pastor Nkosinathi Mbuyazi said it well, “Harmony is beautiful in music, but far more beautiful in relationships. I am an individual note, being composed in Christ into perfect harmony. When I live a reconciled life, I come together with a community of others appreciating our differences and choosing to find the ways we fit together like pieces of a puzzle. The gospel has a remedy for my places of friction; seek a reconciliation that values all unique stories and differences and put on love which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”

“In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song.

This cornerstone, this solid ground, Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are stilled, when strivings cease.

My comforter, my all in all, here, in the love of Christ, I stand.” (First stanza, In Christ Alone, Keith & Kristyn Getty)

God is great!

Living Free in Freedom

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It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 NIV

Can you think of any better way to celebrate the 4th than eating 70 hot dogs?  Joey Chestnut, 16-time winner and competitive eating legend, returned to the Coney Island stage Friday and reclaimed his title as champion in the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, demolishing 70.5 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. Chestnut, truly the GOAT of the event, said, “I’m thrilled to be returning to the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest. This event means the world to me. It’s a cherished tradition, a celebration of American culture, and a huge part of my life.”

I am not sure George Washington ever envisioned citizens celebrating Independence Day by eating 70 hot dogs in 10 minutes, but then that is what freedom is all about! Last Friday, the United States celebrated with parades, cookouts, homemade ice cream, lots of fireworks, and even hot dog eating contests.

There was not a singular path that ignited the American Revolutionary War, ultimately bringing about independence, but most historians agree that one line from one speech ignited the fire for freedom. Patrick Henry’s “I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death,” became the rallying cry of the minutemen as they fought in what many considered a hopeless cause against a superpower. Yet on Friday, we celebrated our 249th Independence Day.

The American Revolutionary War was not a one-time military conflict. There have been very few July 4th celebrations when a military conflict was not taking place somewhere in the world that found American soldiers being needed.

Freedom is seldom celebrated in isolation from competing ideas or conflicts. Learning to live free in freedom requires determination, commitment, and vision. The road to freedom never looks the same and often arrives in some surprising ways.

Freedom surprisingly arrived for Joseph through the treachery of his brothers. Freedom was only a dream as he sat in a dark, cold cell, having been sold into slavery by his own family. The once favored, though arrogant son, found himself alone, enslaved, and with little future. Yet in his enslavement, he learned humility, faith, and trust, which allowed God to use him to bring salvation to many. “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Genesis 50:20

Freedom surprisingly arrived for a nation at the edge of a mighty river. Moses had led the nation of Israel out of their enslavement through the miraculous display of God’s power, only now to be pinned against the lapping water and a powerful army bearing down on them. Freedom seemed short-lived, that was, until God intervened! “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.” (Exodus 14:16)

Freedom surprisingly arrived for Peter, chained between two guards. His friend and co-worker James had been executed, and now the same fate awaited him. Peter peacefully slept while the church prayed for him. There wasn’t much hope until God intervened, and did He ever intervene. “Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists…They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate…It opened for them by itself, and they went through it…Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me.” (Acts 12:7-11)

Freedom surprisingly arrived for you and me, even while we were drowning in sin. Three simple spoken words changed the course of eternity: “It is finished.” With those words, Jesus gave up his life for you and me. We are growing and learning how to be free in freedom. “But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Cor 3:16-18)

Max Lucado writes about Lt. Col Brian Reed, who served in Baghdad, Iraq. Leading his unit on regular street patrols to protect neighborhoods and build peace, his unit came upon a small Christian church. Col Reed and his men, in full combat mode, entered the building. Instead of the hate and anger they faced daily on the streets, they were welcomed by the Arabic-speaking Coptic Christians singing and praising God. Though they didn’t understand the words, they recognized they were with others who knew the Lord. “The language was foreign, but the observances were not: fellowship, prayer, the teaching, and the breaking of bread.” Invited by the Coptic Christians to partake in the Lord’s Supper, Col Reed and his men joined the Iraqis in celebration of true freedom.

Col Reed wrote, “Jesus was there. He showed up in the very place some of us were ready for our air force brethren to blow off the face of the earth. God spoke to me that evening…Celebrating the Lord’s Supper and remembering Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins was the most important bridge builder and wall destroyer we could have experienced.”  (Max Lucado, Stories for your Soul)

Freedom, a simple word that is often hard to fully grasp!

God is great!

Praying for those devastated by the floods in central Texas. Praying for the families who have lost loved ones, especially the children.

 

 

 

 

 

Surprise!

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The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. John 3:8 NIV

Surprise! Undoubtedly, this one simple word has been shouted millions upon millions of times throughout the years to birthday recipients. Normally, the unsuspecting person walks into a dark room, and then the lights come on with family and friends shouting, Surprise! Now, for some folks, like me, they were truly surprised; others were half-expecting something.

Connie truly surprised me on my 40th birthday when we were living in Johannesburg. We had gone out for dinner with a few friends. Coming home, under the pretense of coffee and cake, we walked into the room filled with American and South African friends shouting, Surprise! I am sure somewhere in my Myers-Briggs personality profile, there is something about not wanting to be surprised; I prefer knowing what is happening. That night caught me off guard, but what a memory to have special people in my life as part of the surprise.

God has a long history of standing at the door, shouting surprise. We are often caught off guard since we were expecting one thing to happen, and a different action takes place. We pray one way for something, only to see a completely different answer. We make decisions expecting one thing, only to get a completely different result. The longer we live, the more surprised we will be at what happens.

A lot of people are confident that the end of religion has finally arrived. They have watched over the last couple of decades the declining number of people identifying as Christians, read the statistics of declining church attendance, and the weakening of the church’s role in society. If you read only the reports, looked at the numbers, and watched the declining number of people in church, your thoughts would also be gloom and despair.

Yet the God of Surprises is hard at work if we are ready to be surprised. Paul wrote in Ephesians, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you…” (Eph 1:18). As we open the eyes of our heart, we get to be surprised at what God is doing. Pastor and writer Joshua Luke Smith writes, “I’ve heard it said that familiarity breeds contempt, and I’ve found this to be true. At times, I’ve grown indifferent, even numb, to the reality of Christ in my life. But these words from Paul awaken my dimming zeal. Oh, that the eyes of my heart may be enlightened. My dream is to be an old man who still hasn’t got over the hope to which he has called me, living on the edge of tears, moved by his grace in my life.”

Time magazine cover on April 8, 1996, was “Is God Dead?” Yet within a few short years, their June 21, 1971 cover had the words, “Jesus Revolution”. From dead to revolution in five years, or as Pastor Greg Laurie commented, “What a difference a few years can make, especially when God intervenes.” It has been five decades since the Jesus Revolution, the last great spiritual awakening, but the God of surprises is blowing new fires around the world. Is the world ready for another Great Awakening?

Great Awakenings have been in times when a nation was in transition, grappling with rapid social, economic, and cultural changes. Awakenings happen when people are spiritually hungry and are searching. Does this sound familiar?  Laurie, who was a product of the Jesus Revolution, writes, “While we can’t plan or manufacture a revival, we can prepare the ground for one. Or, as I like to say, we can “pre-prayer” the ground. Our job is to rebuild; God’s job is to pour out His Spirit.”

The God of surprises is moving in the United States. According to Barna, nearly thirty million more US adults are following Jesus today than was the case just four years ago. Barna CEO, David Kinnaman, called this “the clearest trend we’ve seen in more than a decade pointing to spiritual renewal…this movement is being led especially by younger generations.”

The God of surprises is moving in places where the death of the church has long been predicted. Jim Denison writes that in France, 10,384 adults were baptized on Easter Sunday; the number of teenagers following Jesus was ten times higher than in 2019. Bible sales in the UK increased by 87 percent between 2019 and 2024. According to the UK Bible Society, churchgoing increased from 8% in 2018 to 12% in 2024. “That means for every two people in England and Wales who went to church back in 2018, there are now three.”

What are hungry people wanting? I found Carey Nieuwhof’s thoughts helpful in one of his recent podcasts. Here are some of his highlights: Pray with boldness — people want a powerful God. Preach deeper –assume they are starving and don’t want entertainment. Cut the fluff — be real. Assume intelligence, not background. Avoid Christian insider language – define your words and meanings. Don’t ignore felt needs, talk to people – connect people to Scripture.

God is moving. Are we ready to be surprised? May this prayer from the Book of Common Prayer open the eyes of our hearts and “pre-prayer” us for what can be.

Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated unto you; and then use us, we pray you, as you will, and always to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen

“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29: 12-13

Happy 4th of July on Friday. Pray that the United States will again experience a nationwide spiritual awakening, beginning with each one of us.

God is great!

Sound of Summer

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Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. Prov 6:6-8 NIV

What sounds define summer for you? Those who have camped outdoors would probably rate the chirping of crickets both comforting and irritating. Summer means the buzzing of cicadas, the obnoxious croaking of frogs, the forlorn hooting of the screech owl, and a myriad of other midnight sounds.

Fifty summers ago, a simple, repetitive two-note motif played on a tuba created a heart-stopping, suspenseful drama that caused thousands to jump out of their seats and cancel their beach holidays. These two little notes changed summer vacations after watching the movie, Jaws. John Williams, the composer of the 2-note ostinato, described the music as “grinding away at you, just as a shark would do, instinctual, relentless, unstoppable.”  June 20 marked the 50th anniversary of the movie Jaws, and even if you have never seen the film, you have most likely been gripped by the soundtrack.

There is something special about the sounds of summer. Granted, each season brings a melody of unique sounds, but the summer sounds remind us of the fullness of God’s creation. Last Friday marked the official beginning of summer—the end of school bells, early morning alarm clocks, and quiet walks on the beach. We gladly welcome this new set of sounds and grab the summer rhythm, because, as John Goodman writes, “How quickly time goes by now, compared to when you were a kid. Summer used to last forever. Now it is twelve weeks.”

We welcome the summer sounds of children’s laughter echoing across the backyard fence as they recapture memories of a simpler time. Do you remember the summer excitement when life seemed simpler, less hectic? Summer is a great time to turn off the TV, forget about social media, and enjoy the beautiful outdoors. When was the last time you took a rock and skipped it across the water, counting the number of skips from your throw? Instead of the well-laid-out vacation itinerary, you might try a road trip in your car. However, set your GPS to avoid interstates. Connie and I did that a few years ago, and it is amazing what you see along American highways and through small towns. You do need to factor in lots of stops to enjoy those unique, unknown museums; it will be worth it.

We welcome the summer sounds of lawn mowers as they help remind us of God’s creation. Yes, I know the sounds can be annoying when trying to catch an afternoon nap on the porch, but that’s another story. I don’t know about you, but there is something deeply satisfying within my soul after a morning working in the yard, realizing that I am partnering with God in maintaining His creation. “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” (Audrey Hepburn) “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” (Gen 1:26 KJV)

We welcome the summer sounds of thunderstorms as they awaken our senses to the immense power of God. Summer brings unexpected afternoon storms with the sudden darkening of the sky, the rumble of thunder, and the repeated lightning strikes. The devastation of storms often leaves behind communities struggling to cope, individuals whose lives have been upended, and neighborhoods demolished. Yet in the aftermath of these summer storms, there is the calm assurance that God is still in control. Even after the summer storms of life, the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 46: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.” (vvs 1-5 NIV)

We welcome the evening refrain of summer night sounds as they wrap us in a cozy hug of comfort. John Steinbeck wrote, “What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness?” Solomon wrote similarly in Song of Songs, “See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.” (Song of Songs 2:11-12)

Lord, I am forever thankful for the life lessons you give through the simple acts of nature and life. The changing seasons equip us for the challenges that life will bring.

You give us the springtime to teach us the importance of preparation. Sowing the seeds of faith which will be needed in the years ahead. Though we can’t see anything happening, the seeds are sprouting roots that will anchor us when the winds of adversity blow.

You give us summer to watch the seeds break through the hard soil, begin to grow, and bear the fruit from our labor. We know we will face unexpected storms that will blow hard against us, but the plants of faith, prayer, and trust will provide the roots to hold us against the unrelenting storms of life.

You give us autumn as a time of gathering in our harvest and times to celebrate and worship You. We can open the barn doors of our souls and see the abundance of what You have provided.

Finally, winter will come when we must learn to stop our labor and rest in your care. There is no more time for planting or harvesting by us, but the fields have been left ready for the next generation. We can now look forward with excitement and expectation of what will come.

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. Psalm 1:3 NIV

God is great!

Healthy Obsession

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As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God? Psalm 42:1-2 NASB2020

What is the greatest obsession that drives your day? It might be getting that job promotion you have been wanting, along with a nice salary increase. Perhaps it is moving into the big house on the corner with the manicured lawn. Many may find just getting out of bed in the morning without pain is their obsession.

John Hinckley Jr became obsessed with actress Jodie Foster after seeing her in a movie. Over the years, she became all-consuming in his thoughts and actions, an obsession that would drive him to attempt the assassination of President Ronald Reagan in March 1981. Hinckley traveled from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C. on a Greyhound bus with his plan to get Foster’s attention.

The day of the shooting, he spent the morning writing a letter to Foster. “As you well know by now I love you very much. Over the past seven months, I’ve left you dozens of poems, letters and love messages in the faint hope that you could develop an interest in me. Although we talked on the phone a couple of times, I never had the nerve to simply approach you and introduce myself…The reason I’m going ahead with this attempt now is because I cannot wait any longer to impress you. I’ve got to do something now to make you understand, in no uncertain terms, that I am doing all of this for your sake! (Excerpt from Hinckley’s March 30 letter)

We all have something that becomes an obsession for us; thankfully, few of us allow an obsession to drive us to the dark side like it did Hinckley. However, there is an obsession that gives life, purpose, and joy. It is an obsession that has been part of generations and continues to consume those who will allow it. That obsession is God himself. Jesus tells us that it is a total and unwavering devotion to God, encompassing every aspect of our lives – an obsession not of feelings but of a commitment that influences thoughts, emotions, and actions.

Jesus simply says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31)

Oswald Chambers writes, “The total being of our life inside and out is to be absolutely obsessed by the presence of God. If we are obsessed by God, nothing else can get into our lives—not concerns, tribulation, nor worries. To be obsessed by God is to have an effective barricade against all the assaults of the enemy.”

One of the most quoted verses in the entire Bible is Deuteronomy 6:4-9. Known as the Shema, they are recited every morning and every evening by Orthodox Jews and have been for generations. “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

The Psalmist writes of a hunger and thirst that can only be satisfied through God in Psalm 42.  Recently, my family and I had the opportunity to be in South Africa’s Kruger National Park. There is something always life-giving when watching animals in their natural habitat. It is amazing to watch these magnificent animals as they move about the day, but especially when they begin moving towards their water sources, totally consumed by the need for water, even knowing the dangers that may be there. We have that same innate need for God that pulls us toward Him daily.

Paul David Tripp on Psalm 42 writes, “Be honest today: Do you hunger after and long for God? Are you like a parched deer, panting for water? Does longing for God propel your devotional life, your relationships, and your participation in public worship? Longing for God will always produce love for the people of God and joyful participation in the public worship of God.”

Jesus calls us into an obsession with God, but only because God has been obsessed with us from the beginning of time. Without doing a thing, we are already deeply and completely loved by God. “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (I John 4:9-10)

David writes of the priceless love of God in Psalm 36:7 that people take refuge in His shadow.

John writes of a sacrificing love of God that articulates His love for us in John 3:16.

Isaiah writes of a surrounding love of God in Isaiah 43:2 when facing major obstacles.

Zephaniah writes of a comforting love of God in Zephaniah 3:17. “The LORD your God is with you the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Nancy Ortberg, in her book Looking For God, writes that in a dark hour of her life, God was there for her, even if she couldn’t see Him. “Slowly I began to understand that I had been seeing God from such a narrow perspective. I had boxed God up and compartmentalized Him into thirty minutes each morning. But in reality, He had been waiting for me to realize that He had invaded all the parts of my day, if I would just pay attention.”

We wake up every day with thousands of messages vying for our attention. Unfortunately, a few will become an obsession. Yet in God’s obsession with us, he seeks us with an unrelenting love. What will your obsession be today?

God is great!