Open Our Eyes

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press forward toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3: 13 - 14 NKJV

I've found myself wondering these past few days just how long the current situation in our nation will last.  That much I cannot tell.  However, what I do know is that once it does, with each passing day it will become more and more of a memory.  We might look upon our situation now and feel as if it will be with us forever, but that is simply not true.  What we have here is a bit of inconvenience.  Most of us have a difficult time dealing with that.  As for me, I want to be able to do what I want when I want to.  Unfortunately, in this current climate of things, that isn't possible.  So we wait.  We wait, and we ponder what life will be when the storm finally does pass.  How many people outside of Portland recall May 26th, 2017?  I'd guess that not too many do.  I do, I lived it, in a matter of speaking.  May 26th would have been just a normal day had it not been for a hate filled man by the name of Jeremy Christian.  It was Christian who, after a hate filled rant on public transit, stabbed three men, killing two of them.  In the wake of this tragedy, Portland police were a heavy presence on the city's mass transit system.  There were those who even began to think that this was the new normal for our city.  I knew better.  In the span of one month, the police presence on Portland's transit system had but diminished.  Although the events of that day were tragic, they have been all but forgotten but save for a few people.  This is what usually happens with major events in our lives.  What's news today may just be yesterdays news in the near future.  I'm not making light of any of the tragedies we face, it's just how we deal with events.  How many people can explain what it is they were doing two years ago on any given day?  Probably not many.  However, ask someone where they were on September 11th, 2001 and suddenly their memory returns.  Most everyone who was alive then will recall the events of that morning in New York.  I had just returned home after working the graveyard shift when I turned on the tv and watched it unfold.  What do I remember about September 11th, 2001?  The silence.  Walking outside I noticed a silence all around me.  There were no airplanes or bustling traffic, only silence.  Of course, over time, those events of September 11th have become...yesterdays news.

We should not look back unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors, and for the purpose of profiting from dearly bought experience.
~George Washington~

I would suggest that once the current virus scare recedes, that it will indeed become yesterdays news along with other long forgotten events.  How many people recall the H1N1 virus outbreak of 2009?  We should, over 1,000 Americans died.  However, true to form, it is now simply yesterdays news.  Imagine looking out your window and seeing a massed foreign army ready to attack your city.  Well, this is exactly what the servant of Elisha witnessed when he woke one morning.  Immediately, he approached the prophet with the obvious question, "what shall we do?"  For those who don't know the story, Elisha already knew how to handle the situation.  As he explained to his servant, "those who are with us are more than those who are with them" {2 Kings 6:16}.  Immediately, Elisha prayed, "LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see" {2 Kings 6:17}.  What did the servant see?  Legions of warriors of the Lord riding horses and chariots of fire.  What moments before had been a dire situation, was now the assurance of the deliverance of the Lord.  I've written before that all too often we fear that which we do not know.  However, we can learn a lesson from Elisha whenever we are faced with troubles in our own lives.  We, also, can ask God to open our own eyes to that which is going on around us.  One thing is certain, God knows much more than we do.  I believe that He delights in revealing His plans to those who seek Him.  I also believe that we are never really alone when we walk through life.  We can be assured that it is Christ Jesus who experiences each and every moment as we do {Galatians 2:20}.  Knowing this, we can be assured that He who is with us is more than adequate.

And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots.  And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master, what shall we do?"  So he answered, "do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them."  And Elisha prayed, and said, "LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see."  Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw.  And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
2 Kings 6: 16 - 17 NKJV

~Scott~

Lest We Forget

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1: 7 NKJV

I have a co worker who should be the poster child for anyone who looks at life as that half empty glass.  No matter the positive news, he will do his best to put a negative spin on it.  Normally, I try not to spend too much time in the company of these types of people, but inevitably more than a few of them cross my path.  We all know people like this.  People who, despite life's best efforts to show them something positive, choose to find fault in it.  In light of recent events in our country, pessimists seem to be having a field day.  I'll admit that much of the bad news is put forth by our mainstream media, but that's their job.  Bad news and heartbreak keep us tuned in and make them money.  However, we have a choice as to what we choose to allow into our own thoughts.  I'll admit that I see myself as a optimist, always have.  No matter the bad news, I try to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Believe me, I've taken plenty of criticism over the years for holding on to my belief that not everything is as bad as it seems at first.  Even with the recent China virus scare gripping our country, I can see the positive side.  I see a president who is as eager as I am to get this proud nation back to some sense of normalcy.  We have never been a nation of pessimists.  We, as a people, have always gravitated towards finding solutions, solving problems and taking the lead when the rest of the world sees the glass as half full.  Even now, the United States is leading the way in the fight against the COVID19 virus.  We are a nation of opportunities, and that is never more apparent than in times of crisis.  I heard a radio pastor the other day lamenting the fact that God would use such a illness to "punish" His people.  Of course, I know that this is old covenant teaching and is simply not true.  However, there are plenty of pessimists out there who will absorb the pastors words thinking that they are indeed true.  The apostle Paul, in writing to young Timothy, advised him of fears proper place in life.  In Paul's words, we were never created with a "spirit of fear" {2 Timothy 1:7}.  When I see Jesus, I do not see fear, I see hope.  Hope in a wonderful future.  See, there I go being an optimist again.  I believe that it is never our Lords intention to keep us trembling in fear.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.  But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
1 John 4: 18 NKJV

For me the equation is simple.  We should not fear as there is no fear in love...and God is love {1 John 4:8}.  It is no secret that a lot of our own fears are based on the unknown.  We fear what we don't know.  We fear any outcome we're unsure of.  Believe me, I've been there.  I remember my mother, whenever those tough times in life would come along, would immediately kneel down and pray.  Yes, she was afraid, but she also knew a God who transcended her fears.  She knew a God who would speak into her heart words of comfort, not fear.  I believe there are a good number of our fears that come about because we're unsure of what God is going to do in any given situation.  I get it.  Will He provide for me?  Will He calm me?  Will He accept me?  I think I can answer this in a one word answer...YES.  God has never been in the business of bringing fear upon His children.  He is our loving Father.  Wait, weren't the Israelites afraid to speak to God?  Was it not the people who, having seen the lightning on that mountain said to Moses "but let not God speak with us, lest we die" {Exodus 20:19}.  Those Israelites were afraid of the unknown.  Seeing the lightning and hearing then thunder, they trembled in fear.  We know, however, that this was simply how God chose to exhibit Himself to His people.  There was no need for them to fear the Lord.  So, how is it that God shows Himself today?  What is that image in which we see Him?  God is simply not a photo we stare at in times of need.  He is as alive and real as you and I.  In fact, it is here where God chooses to show Himself to the world.  Paul tells us that it is Christ Jesus who lives in us today {Galatians 2:20}.  How does God show Himself?  Through the lives of those He lives in.  I know that each day, God shows Himself to the world through me.  This might be difficult to wrap your understanding around, but I believe that it goes hand in hand with Paul's words in Galatians.  If Jesus is in us, then God is in us.  There's nothing there to be afraid of.

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."
Romans 8: 15 NKJV

~Scott~

All We Find Important

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
Colossians 2: 8 NKJV

What is it that you find important in life?  What are those things you turn to in order to get through your day.  Is it money?  Possessions?  How much more you know than other people.  We all have those things we hold dear to us in our daily life.  For me it was my financial freedom, not having to want for most things.  If I needed something, I would buy it.  It was also my daily schedule.  I would go to work and then after that I would go to the gym.  I became accustomed to my daily life.  Well, in the wake of recent events, that life has been turned on its head.  No longer am I able to conduct my life as I had been.  We are, indeed, in challenging times.  Our schedules, as well as our daily lives, are being disrupted.  The COVID 19 virus might not have affected us physically, but it has in other ways.  We may still have the freedom to go about our daily life, but to what end?  We may decide to go shopping, only to find bare shelves once we arrive at the store.  We might fancy a cup of coffee on a Saturday morning, only to find the coffee house we once frequented is now closed.  I was reminded of the importance of this the other day in a conversation with a friend who still chooses to remain nameless.  The conversation turned from Jesus' encounter with the rich young ruler we find in Matthew 19.  In his attempt to gain life, the young man was dismayed when Jesus told him to sell all of his possessions.  In his mind, Jesus was asking him to put aside all he valued in life.  Not even the promise of life was worth that price so it seems.  The question then arose, what is it that we find important?  What are those things that we value so much that we would give up life with Jesus for?  Most of us have heard the scriptures concerning idol worship, yet walked away thinking "that's not me."  Really?  We might do well to think that way, but our actions tell a different story.  I was free of idols as well, so I thought.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
1 John 4: 1 NKJV

I suppose that the reason I believe that I was free from idolatry was because of the example given in the bible.  Yes, I was free from worshiping golden idols and images of God.  However, what I was engaging in were things in my life that, at times, drew my attention away from Jesus.  I don't know the circumstances of most people, but I would wager that most everyone has those things in their lives that can momentarily take their focus off of Christ.  It might be your job, a favorite tv show or a much anticipated vacation.  Whatever it is, there are often those things in our lives which draw our attention away from what is most important.  For the young ruler who came to Jesus, it was his own wealth.  I believe that our definition of a idol has been misunderstood.  A idol does not need to be a golden image of God in order to have the same devastating effect.  All a idol needs to be is something which draws our attention away from Jesus.  I admit, I've had more than a few idols in my own life.  Pornography, money, success all, for a brief time, took my eyes off of Christ.  While wealth and success were never provided to us to be idols, they all too often competed with Jesus for our attentions.  It's not as if Jesus is removed from our own daily lives, either.  Paul assures us of this in Galatians.  It is Christ who lives through us {Galatians 2:20}.  I can't think of anything in my life that could ever compete with the love of Christ Jesus.  In times such as these, we need the realization of the truth of Jesus more than ever.  We're not here simply waiting for Jesus to return to make everything better.  On the contrary, Jesus is already here and working through us.

~Scott~

Good Deeds Gone Bad

Jesus said to Him, "If you want to be prefect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."  But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.  Then Jesus said to His disciples, "assuredly, I say to you I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.  "And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Matthew 19: 21 24 NKJV

I read the other day of a wealthy Christian man who, during this time of national panic, donated supplies to those in need.  All too often we criticize the rich among us for being uncaring or having no empathy for their neighbors.  Mostly, it is the democrats in America who engage in this income shaming.  However, Jesus did His part to put a rich man on the spot as well.  This all came about with one simple question...who can go to heaven?  Now, most of us have grown up being taught that in order to go to heaven, we need to do our best to be "good."  So, is that the only requirement for joining Jesus in Gods kingdom?  I mean, you wouldn't want to be left behind, right?  To not be invited into eternity with Jesus would be something many of us would not want to contemplate.  The traditional teaching is that we do our best to be good and in the end we're rewarded with eternal life in heaven with Jesus.  Of course, we know that the habit of being good is something most of us fail at more than a few times.  So, it is on these merits that we base our own eternity.  If I do good now, then Jesus will reward me in the end.  However, there's a problem with this approach.  The apostle Paul tells us that there is nothing that we can do that can guarantee our own salvation {Ephesians 2:8}.  So, who can enter heaven?  Anyone.  God never discriminates in His requirements for salvation.  I believe what Jesus was attempting to show the young ruler was that his priorities were a bit skewed.  This becomes clear when He asks the young man to give all he owned to the poor and follow Him.  At this the young man leaves Jesus and goes away disappointed.  Obviously, the young mans riches were more important to him than following Jesus.  His wealth WAS his life.  It is ironic that he would approach Jesus seeking life, yet when Jesus offers him life he turns away.

That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10: 9 NKJV

I believe that we have skewed the idea of our own eternity.  Is heaven the eternity we're shooting for, or is there something more?  Well, as Jesus repeatedly mentioned, the kingdom of heaven is AT HAND.  What?  Yes, Jesus was referring to Himself in this narrative.  Jesus spoke that the kingdom of heaven was not some reward we will receive in the future, but a reality of our present life.  Paul introduces us to this when he claims that it was Jesus who lives through him {Galatians 2:20}.  When we see Jesus not as some future reward, but as our present reality, then we will see the truth of our eternity.  That is, our eternal life IN Christ Jesus.  Our life in Jesus is at hand now.  He lives through us.  As Jesus claimed, the kingdom of heaven is at hand.  Jesus is not a reward, but a reality.  Our thought should never be who can enter the kingdom of heaven, but following the lead of Jesus and claiming that He is our all in all.

~Scott~

In Times Such As This

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4: 16 NKJV

I've talked to quite a few people recently who are understandably shaken by the current events unfolding before us.  The other day, California governor Gavin Newsome issued a statewide "shelter in place" order in a attempt to halt the spread of the COVID-19 virus.  For her part, Oregon governor Kate Brown has said there are no plans for a similar order here in Oregon...yet.  Stores are hit and miss for buying essential needs.  Local restaurants are open only for to go orders.  Many people are indeed panicked over these events.  I get it.  In my lifetime, I have never seen times such as this.  I've experienced trials of my own, as many of us have, but I've never seen something like this on a national scale.  I can understand the panic, every day the news fills us with stories of just how far this virus has spread.  We are indeed in challenging times.  If I were to offer advice to someone, I would simply say that we will overcome.  Our history is filled with stories of how ordinary people who, when faced with difficulty, managed to succeed anyway.  The other day I read the story of a young girl who was lost on the Clackamas River trail while hiking.  I've hiked this trail, it's not for the faint hearted.  However, due to the efforts of two Clackamas county deputies, the girl was located and led to safety.  I can only imagine the panic she must have dealt with.  Unfortunately, times like these do not come with a manual to guide us through.  That we have to do on our own, or so we thought.  The apostle Paul voices our assurance in Hebrews as he tells us to "come boldly to the throne of grace" in our times of need {Hebrews 4:16}.  One thing we can count on, is that when our world seems to be falling apart around us, God is ever present.  In times like these, I refuse to buy into the institutional church thinking that God is somehow punishing us for our sins.  Remember, Christ has already dealt with that sin issue {Romans 6: 6-11}.  The belief that God is somehow separated from us is, for lack of a better word, crap.  It is Paul once again who assures us that this is simply not true.  Paul understood that he, his own nature, was dead and gone.  What remains now is Christ Jesus who is in us {Galatians 2:20}.  Good times or bad, Jesus remains.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1: 7 NKJV

Understandably, one of our first reactions to any kind of crisis is that of fear.  We are afraid of the unknown.  We have a fear of that which might harm us.  But, is this who we really are?  Is this the spirit that God has created us to exhibit?  I would say no.  Knowing that it is Christ who is in me, fear doesn't seem to find a foothold.  We were not created to exhibit a spirit of fear, but of the power, love and sound mind of Christ Jesus who is in us.  When we finally come to grips with this reality, we began to question why we are afraid.  I have a huge fear of heights, almost debilitating at times.  However, it was on a hiking trip with a friend who still chooses to remain nameless a few years ago where I was faced with the truth of my own fears.  The heights could never kill me.  If my body shell ceases to exist, does Jesus die?  Certainly not!  If Christ is in you, and a virus takes your flesh body, does Jesus die also?  Can you see where I'm headed with this?  Our bodies, simple vessels for the indwelling Spirit of Jesus, are only temporary.  If we believe that we will be with Him for eternity, then why do we fear that which cannot take that away from us?  Can a virus take away our future with Jesus?  No.  However, like I said, we always fear the unknown.  I truly believe that God uses times such as these for His purpose.  Our question should not be why is this happening.  A better question would be, what are You showing me?

~Scott~

A Crisis Relationship

"But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is to this day, to save many people alive."
Genesis 50: 20 NKJV

There is something that has been instilled into our Christian teachings for generations.  That is,  whenever we run into a crisis we should immediately pray that God would deliver us from said crisis in a timely manner.  Many of us are impatient and simply will not tolerate discomfort for any extended period of time.  I get it.  I was reminded of this fact this week when I requested prayer from a friend for a infection I was experiencing.  His response got me thinking about how it is we approach our own prayers in times of need.  "How would I know how to pray?"  Of course, he was right, for if I am the one experiencing the difficulty, only I know what might truly be on the Fathers heart.  It was God who caused Josephs own brothers to mistreat him badly and sell him into slavery to Egypt.  It was also God who blessed Joseph while he was in captivity.  So much so that he eventually became one of the most powerful men in Egypt save for Pharaoh himself.  Was Joseph blinded by revenge over his brothers treachery?  Not in the least.  When his brothers came before him in need, it was Joseph who showered love and mercy upon them.  I'm sure that his brothers were expecting Joseph to take his revenge, but as he said to them, "you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good."  If we, in our moments of crisis, cling to the belief that God is some kind of rich miser who only showers his blessings upon those who treat Him well, then you have a heavily distorted view of God.  It is never in Gods nature to treat His children badly, that's not who God is.  The apostle John reminds us of the Fathers true nature in his own description, "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love" {1 John 4:8}.  Joseph loved, to the point where he reconciled with his own brothers who had harmed him.  It is never Gods intent to harm His children.  However, as He did with Joseph, He may just allow our lives to be a bit uncomfortable every now and then.  In these times, our first prayer should be one of asking the Father what it is that He is trying to show us through our circumstances.  Yes, we're going through a hard time, but it is never the Lords intention to punish us just for the hell of it.  Remember, God is love.

Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.  And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, My strength is made perfect in weakness."  Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12: 8 - 9 NKJV

Say that you have some affliction which occurs in your life.  Some illness you can't seem to shake.  So, being a believing Christian, you pray that God would remove this affliction from you.  Not just once, mind you, but three times you pray for its removal.  Such was the story of the apostle Paul when he prayed that God would remove the thorn in his flesh.  What was the Lords response?  "My strength is made perfect in weakness."  Bingo!  Through all of our whimpering and wishing, it is in our own weaknesses that the grace and power of Christ Jesus shines most brightly.  If we were all perfect, what need would we have for Him?  The thorns in our flesh can, at times, break us down.  I'll admit that I DO NOT like to be inconvenienced.  I hate being sick and I hate having bad things happen to me, so I guess I'm just like everyone else huh?  Sometimes I wonder why God can't do things on my schedule.  Maybe Paul wondered the same thing.  The truth is that we, at our most human moments, are weak and helpless.  It is in times such as these where we should take a moment and step back to see just what Jesus is doing.  For it is Christ who is walking through this life with us {Galatians 2:20}.  I realize that it might sound like bad advice, but I'd much rather trust in Jesus in my times of need.  When Paul claimed that he would "boast in my infirmities," he knew that when he was at his weakest, Jesus was at His strongest.

~Scott~

As A Child

But when Jesus saw it He was greatly displeased and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.  Assuredly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."
Mark 10: 14 - 15 NKJV

Jesus used many references in His teachings, but that which we find in Mark 10 as He received the children unto Him is important to understand in context.  So, will we lose our salvation if we somehow don't accept Jesus as a child would?  Certainly not, but there is definitely some meaning behind what He said.  Interestingly enough, this topic was part of a conversation a friend who shall remain nameless and I had the other day.  When we think of a child, what comes to mind?  For me it's curiosity.  For we all know that children will explore anything, they're naturally curious.  I do remember as a young Christian seeing Jesus with that same curiosity.  This was all new to me, and I wanted to know what Jesus was all about.  While this may have been the reason for Jesus' analogy, I don't believe it is what He was referring to.  What is something else we associate with children?  Well, for me I associate children as being weak, fragile and helpless.  Why would Jesus desire someone who is weak and helpless?  Well, I believe that it is when we are weak that the strength of Jesus shines.  The apostle Paul realized this in the midst of his own weakness.  We may recall the thorn in Paul's flesh which caused him much discomfort.  Paul pleaded that this thorn sent from Satan would be removed from him, but Jesus had other plans for him.  His response to Paul?  "My strength is made perfect in weakness."{2 Corinthians 12:9}.  The strength of Christ made perfect through our weakness?  This fly's in the face of the traditional church teaching which I was raised in.  If I were to know Paul and his situation, I may have told him that it was his own sin which had caused God to punish him with that thorn in his side.  This has been the traditional church teaching for some time.  At its heart is our mistaken belief, lie if you will, that we are somehow separated from God.  God is seated on His throne in heaven, and since He cannot be in the presence of sin, He remains there apart from His children.  The only time we may come into contact with God is when He is disciplining or blessing us.  As I said, this has been the prevailing church teaching for generations.  We see it with Jesus as well, we're told that we need to be "more like Jesus."  Well, again, Paul blows this teaching out of the water when he claims that it is Jesus who lives through us {Galatians 2:20}.  This is Christ in us.

And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."  Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12: 9 NKJV

Throughout scripture we see Jesus bring comfort to those who are weak and in need.  This is where He is at His best.  If I were perfect and without blemish, what need would I have for Jesus?  I believe that this explains wonderfully our own creation.  How God created us in His own image with all of our human faults and imperfections.  I believe that He delights in lifting us up from our despairs of life.  After all, He is our Father, and what parent does not relish being there for their children?  What parent does not long to hold their child close to them when they are hurting?  In contrast, a relationship where the child does not need the parent will soon become strained.  I think it is a common accepted truth that we were never meant to go it alone in life.  Even the most strong among us are weak and helpless, in need of the Fathers touch.  It is in these times where, as He told Paul, that His strength is made perfect.  The strength of Jesus was made perfect through those He healed.  His strength was made perfect as He stared down the Jewish authorities who were set on stoning a woman caught in adultery.  Above all, His strength was made perfect when He took our sins upon Himself to the cross {2 Corinthians 5:21}.  Understand that Jesus also exhibited His own weaknesses during His life.  I'm sure that there were plenty of times where He wished that He was strong enough.  After all, Jesus was flesh as we are.  Was the Fathers strength made perfect in the weaknesses of Jesus?  I have no doubt it was.  I believe that this gives us a new outlook on our own infirmities.  I refuse to follow the church teaching where negative circumstances are seen as a possible punishment from God.  No, I believe that Jesus uses these circumstances in our lives to show His own strength through us.  When we are unable to rescue ourselves, it is through the power and love of Christ Jesus that we are delivered.  How many times has the strength of Christ delivered you in your life?  I seem to have lost count, but I admit that He has delivered me many times when I felt as if there was no other way out.  It is in times such as this where Jesus shines brightest.

"Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.  The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak."
Matthew 26: 41 NKJV

~Scott~

Martha, Martha!

But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?  Therefore tell her to help me."  And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.  But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."
Luke 10: 40 - 42 NKJV

This week has certainly been a eventful one here in the Pacific Northwest.  Not only are we in the middle of a health crisis (or so it seems) in our country, but this morning I awoke to snowflakes sticking to the ground.  Of course, the local weather gurus hyped this up during the week to include a few travel warnings on account of those few wayward flakes.  The schools are closed, many government offices have shuttered their doors and it seems that more people than ever have seemed to find a few more things to fret over.  Of course, I have no doubt that there are more than a few Christians out there who have prayed to Jesus to help them through this time.  I prayed the other night as well.  Not for help, mind you, but for clarification.  I prayed that Jesus would remind me of what it is He was trying to accomplish through all of this hysteria.  I have often marveled that all too many people, when their backs are to the wall, suddenly find the desire to call upon God for help.  This goes to the popular Christian narrative that we are somehow separated from our heavenly Father and that He exists only to help and to judge His children.  This, of course, is flawed thinking when we dig deeper into scripture.  The apostle Paul tells us in Galatians that we are not separate from God at all.  On the contrary, it is Christ Jesus who is alive and well in us today {Galatians 2:20}.  Yes, IN us, not in heaven watching and waiting for us to mess up.  Knowing this would certainly ease the fears of more than a few people.  However, this truth of Jesus is seldom told but for a few voices in the wilderness.  My first thought as the recent COVID 19 scare broke out was not one to run to the local Costco and stock up for doomsday, but to wonder what it was that Jesus was trying to accomplish through all of this.  Of course, I've seen this before, we all have.  This past winter, a few days of below freezing temperatures brought out every weather geek in Portland with a worst case scenario forecast.  As if on cue, people flooded the stores, clocked out of work early and ran home to hunker down.  No snow arrived.  If God indeed has a sense of humor, and I believe He does, I believe that He is somewhat amused by all of His children scurrying about in abject panic.  Of course, I also believe that He is filled with compassion for those whose worries overtake seem to overtake their lives.  We can see this in Jesus' words in the sermon on the mount.  Jesus spoke to His audience in a way they would comprehend that their worries were misplaced.  He mentions the birds of the air, who never sow what they eat, yet God feeds them {Mathew 5:26}.  He mentions the flowers of the field for those who were worried about what to wear.  Indeed, God has clothed them beautifully {Mathew 5:29}.  Bottom line, Jesus knew that being worried was not a good thing for us physically and emotionally.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.  sufficient for the is its own trouble."
Mathew 5: 33 - 34 NKJV

I am one of those voices in the wilderness.  One of those voices who tells of the indwelling Christ.  Along with a few friends and a few noted Christian authors, the truth of Christ in us is told.  However, the problem with this is, I still worry from time to time.  This doesn't mean that I've forgotten who it is that I am, only that I have retained a bit of my human side as well.  Of course, it never fails that when I am overcome by my worries, that it affects me physically as well as emotionally.  I believe that the person who originated that old saying worrying oneself sick knew what they were talking about.  I also believe that there are more than a few people in this this country who have become so worried over the latest virus scare...that they themselves become sick.  It's no secret that worry can reduce our own immune qualities as well.  For it places undo stress on the body.  However, this is who we are and how we were created.  I don't believe that blaming God for creating us with all of these human emotions is the right thing to do.  Remember that we were created in His image {Genesis 1:26}.  Remember also that we are all that Jesus is {Galatians 2:20}.  We know that, being flesh, that Jesus indeed felt the emotions of His human side as well.  Did Jesus ever worry?  I believe that He did.  If I do...then you can bet that Jesus did as well.  What in the hell would Jesus have to worry about?  Bullies, discipline, you name it.  Everything that a young boy worries about, I'm sure that Jesus encountered.  In fact, I would suggest that it was because of the negative affects of His own worries that He taught others not to worry.  Jesus knows that we have better things to do with our time than to waste it on worrying about what MIGHT come to pass.  This is why I often pray and ask Him what His intentions are in a situation before worrying about what may happen.  Of course, I don't always take this approach.  There are times when, like Martha, Life can get so overwhelming that I wave that white flag of surrender and give in to my own worries.  Of course, I can always count on Christ Jesus who is in me to provide a calming voice to all of my fears.  He's been there, He knows how I am.

~Scott~

That Jewish Kid

But we preach Christ Crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness.
1 Corinthians 1: 23 NKJV

I was thinking the other day about how it would sound were I to speak a Sunday sermon from the pulpit of a local church.  Of course, I already know that it would be different from any other sermon I or anyone else had ever heard.  You would never hear me utter the words that those in attendance needed to be "more like Jesus."  You would also never hear me warn others about the dangers of sin in their lives.  None of that foolishness about how our own salvation is in the balance depending on how we live our lives.  Dare I say that were I to speak my sermon that I more than likely wouldn't be invited back by a shocked church leadership.  Exiled once again to the halls of heretics.  So, what is it that I would say?  I would speak, as the apostle Paul claimed, Christ Jesus crucified {1 Corinthians 1:23}.  I would speak to the freedom of not a relationship with Him, but a UNION with Him {John17:23}.  Talking with a friend the other day we agreed that the word "relationship" when it comes to our life in Christ has been hijacked and become normal Christian speak.  No, not a relationship with Christ, but our own union with Him.  For it is Christ Jesus who has provided for that union in me today {Galatians 2:20}.  You see, Christ Jesus crucified is only part of the story of Jesus.  All too often we trivialize it when we speak of His crucifixion then in our very next breath speak to the evils of sin in our lives.  The truth is, Jesus not only eliminated sin in my life, but He put sin to death PERIOD {Romans 6:6-11}.  It is Jesus who became sin that it would no longer be an issue for us {2 Corinthians 5:21}.  Many Christians see Jesus as a all perfect super man who can do no wrong.  They're right, to a point.  What would you say if I were to tell you that Jesus was...flawed?  Flawed?  Jesus?  Before you excommunicate me yet again, hear me out.  It is accepted that Jesus came in the form of the flesh...of man.  This we can agree on.  However, we might not agree on what I have to say next.  Are you ready for a Jesus who had bad breath, farted and endured all of the physical difficulties which we do?  Well, if He indeed was in the flesh, He certainly endured all that we do.  We're told that He suffered all which we have {Hebrews 4:15}.  Jesus can indeed sympathize with our own weaknesses because He Himself has faced them.  Some superman huh?

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Hebrews 4: 15 NKJV

Are you one of those Christians who sees Jesus as someone who woke up every day, prayed and proceeded to teach?  While that may be true some of the time in His older years, I'm pretty sure that His day to day life as a child and teenager was much different.  I see a young Jesus who was, as many young boys are, adventurous and curious.  I see a Jesus who was bullied by other kids because of His birth situation.  Remember, in the Jewish society of the day, children born out of wedlock were essentially seen as, for lack of a better word, bastards.  There is a reason that His own father considered "putting His mother away secretly" {Matthew 1:19}.  Joseph knew the shame that would befall his wife and child were he to marry her.  Fortunately for us, the angel convinced Joseph of Gods ultimate plan for good.  Knowing this, imagine now the day to day life for a young Jesus.  I'm sure that He was bullied and teased by the local kids to the point of tears many times.  We all know from our own experience how cruel kids can be, right?  I'm sure it was no different for this kid from Galilee who was born to a mother and father who (GASP!) weren't married when He was born.  Along with being tormented by the locals, I see a young Jesus who rolled in the mud, fished with His friends and got Himself into trouble on more than a few occasions.  Did Jesus need to be disciplined?  Absolutely!  I think of all the things I have done in my own life and I wonder if a young Jesus Himself faced them as well.  Can we assume that Jesus was tempted by girls?  Yes!  Remember, He was indeed tempted in all things...yet without sin {Hebrews 4:15}.  That is, Jesus was tempted...but never acted upon those temptations.  What do you think His girl chasing friends thought of Him when He wouldn't follow their lead?  Oh, this Jesus kid doesn't like girls!  Once again, more ridicule.  Does this sound like the Jesus you know?  Maybe not, but it was most certainly the way He was.  For He cannot have lived in the flesh without the imperfections that come with it.
I was thinking the other day of creating a new Christian bumper sticker.  We've all seen the one that reads "my boss is a Jewish carpenter" right?  Well, are you ready for a bumper sticker which reads "my boss was a belching, farting bastard Jewish kid?"  Maybe not.

"I in them, and you in me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent me, and have loved them as You have Me."
John 17: 23 NKJV

~Scott~

Generation Disconnect

At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me, may it not be charged against them.  But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the gentiles might hear.  Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.  And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom.  To him be the glory forever and ever.  Amen!
2 Timothy 4: 16 - 18 NKJV

I have a co worker who, as with all too many young people of his age, seems to focus most attention on his Facebook and Instagram accounts.  Although he is by far and away a good person, he often feels lonely and left out.  This leads him to seek companionship not from those around him, but from Facebook dating posts.  Sure, he does interact with those around him, but most of his social interaction comes from social media.  Unfortunately, this is a disconnect that affects too many people in our younger generations.  Where Facebook and social media likes have taken the place of interaction with others.  This week, Wayne Jacobsen spoke to this issue on his podcast as he and his guest discussed the issue of loneliness among young people.  Apparently, nearly 40% of young people have no one to talk to.  Add to this the fact that regular church attendance has zero effect on these numbers.  So, we have a  younger generation looking for attention and affirmation but seldom finding it in those around them.  I can relate.  In the early days of the social media revolution, internet chat rooms took the place of the Facebook and Instagram's we have today.  I know all too well the draw of seeking affirmation from behind a computer screen.  I've been there and done that.  There were days when I would spend ten to twelve hours straight in front of my computer in these chat rooms.  If there were ever a dark corner of the internet, this was it.  I was right there in the middle of it all.  What drove me to spend so much of my time in these chat rooms?  What compelled me to become addicted?  The very same reason my co worker turns to his Facebook today.  I was seeking the social interaction and affirmation I wasn't getting from those around me.  Mind you, I was also attending church on a regular basis at the time as well.  Despite having a entire congregation of followers of God and a pastoral staff to turn to, I found myself in the darkest corners of the internet.  Does anyone see any correlation between my addiction and that of our young people of today?  What is it that throws someone into a false relationship in order to seek attention?  Perhaps it's a lack of social skills or simply a fear that we will not be accepted by those around us.  Whatever it is, it seems to affect a good number of people.  We will never find the solution for what we're searching for on our computers or cell phones.  Facebook and Instagram can never relate to us who it is we really are inside.  This can only be done through a relationship with Christ Jesus.

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8: 38 - 39 NKJV

What troubles me about our loneliest generation is that despite being involved in church worship, many still struggle with loneliness and affirmation.  It seems that the days are gone where the church congregation would take care of its own.  Instead we seem to focus our attentions on putting on a good show for all to see.  We value praise and worship rock bands over healing the hurts of those who fill our churches.  We count tithe and attendance numbers above bringing Gods love to our communities.  I get it.  In my own struggle, it was not a Sunday sermon or a worship song that eventually brought to me the affirmation I so desperately needed.  I needed to know that I was important.  I needed to feel that I was loved.  I didn't find that in any church I attended.  Where I did find comfort was in a relationship with Christ Jesus.  When we realize that all too many human and computer relationships leave us feeling empty, Jesus is one who will never leave us {Galatians 2:20}.  In the book of second Timothy, the apostle Paul tells of how the Lord God protected him when nobody else would {2 Timothy 4:16}.  It is also Christ Jesus who will be with us even when those around us fail us {Hebrews 13:6}.  How many people can we count in our lives who will be with us unto death?  I don't mean any insult to my own friends, but they will never be with me as Jesus will.  What further affirmation do I need if I live each day as Jesus who lives through me?  Do I place my trust in a computer or cell phone where any electrical glitch can wipe out my own confidence?  No, for the love of Christ transcends anything man can create.  It was Jesus who was here from the beginning {John 1:1}.  It is Jesus who, despite our own life deviations, never changes {Hebrews 13:8}.  It would be wonderful to describe our youngest generation as one connected to Jesus instead of our phones and computers.  For as long as we seek our affirmation somewhere besides Christ, we will remain disconnected.

~Scott~

Fingerprints Upon A Failed System

So no, I'm not too big on religion...and not very fond of politics or economics either...And why should I be?  They are the man-created trinity of terrors that ravages the earth and deceives those I care about.  What mental turmoil and anxiety does any human face that is not related to one of those three?
~Wm. Paul Young, The Shack~

I was talking to a friend this week who had grown up in the rigors of the Mormon church.  At first it was simply a discussion of the differences of their beliefs and my own.  However, it soon turned into a sort of healing session where she related the abuses she had suffered in the trappings of a man made religion.  I've listened to far too many stories such as this, from people who seemingly dabbled in religious beliefs for comfort or to look for their own answers to life's problems.   Sometimes, I will share the link to this page and I'm surprised by how much we share in common.  Now, I have written a lot of posts about the pitfalls of the organized Christian church, but I'm here to say that it's not just the Christian church where man has fallen short.  No, for the Mormon, scientology and others have fallen by the wayside in public support as well.  Now, I am not anti Christian...I am anti religious system.  There's a huge difference.  I have no issue with those who seek a belief which will guide and comfort them.  For that is how I see Christ Jesus who is in me {Galatians 2:20}.  Most people I talk to cannot seem to wrap their understanding around Jesus living amongst sin, until I tell them that sin is no longer an issue for us {Romans 6:6-11}.  In fact, the apostle Paul tells us that we should "reckon ourselves dead indeed to sin" {Romans 6:11}.  Once the roadblock of sin is removed, I can usually have a decent conversation with someone on the indwelling Christ.  I did not learn of the truth of Christ Jesus in me from a Sunday sermon or a church service.  No, it was shared with me by a dear friend of mine who desired for me to enjoy the freedom he himself had found in a personal relationship with Jesus.  It's no coincidence that he too was raised within the walls of a man made religion as well.  Perhaps that's why we both can see the freedom that a relationship with Jesus offers those who seek Him.  So, whenever I come across someone who has been deeply hurt by the religious system, I feel for them.  I feel for them because I have seen it for myself.  I have seen the church hierarchies, politics and failed relationships and understand why it is that so many people are leaving the church.  I think that we need to make the distinction that someone who leaves the church is not abandoning God, but the man created system.  Of course, for someone who leaves the church, they may come away with a distorted view of God perpetuated by the church.  I get it.  My own view of my heavenly Father did not change until I was removed from the church.  I went from seeing God as a disciplinarian to seeing Him as He truly is...a loving Father.

I don't need to punish people for sin.  Sin is it's own punishment, devouring you from the inside.  It's not my purpose to punish it; it's my joy to heal it.
~Wm. Paul Young, The Shack~

Have you ever walked into a church service and right away felt as if you didn't belong there?  That the sin burden you were carrying within you was simply far to great for God to allow you into "Gods house?"  If you've experienced this, then you and I could share some stories.  In most of the churches I've been in, there seems to be a price of admission.  That price is to punish yourself for whatever wrongs that you've done.  The mantra is that God is holy and that He simply cannot be in the presence of sinful man.  The prevailing teaching is that God is somehow disconnected and separated from the lives of His own children He loves.  So, each and every day we're told that we must make every effort to "be like Jesus."  Of course, the deck is already stacked against us so we try and fail and try again.  If you've never been on a hamster wheel, this is the next best thing to it.  Living your life chasing the perfection of Christ which you can never attain.  That is the prevailing church teaching...and it sucks.  It sucks because it distances you from your heavenly Father who loves you.  It sucks because it fails to mention that you need not strive to be like Jesus...you ARE Jesus.  Galatians 2:20 is not simply a verse I refer to often, it is at the heart of my relationship with Jesus.  I need not strive to be like Him...I AM Him.  All that Jesus is...I am.  It is He who put sin to death that my relationship with Him would be possible.  It is Jesus who became sin to make that possible {2 Corinthians 5:21}.  Jesus isn't just a story some pulpit pounder tells on a Sunday morning.  It is His desire that we and the Father would be one {John 17:22}.  We will never find freedom in the midst of a man created religious system.  What we will find there are many things that are wrong with human behavior...all disguised as being done in the name of God.  When that time comes, you will find freedom the same place that I did...in a personal relationship with Christ Jesus.

"I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me."
John 17: 23 NKJV

~Scott~

Another Jesus Opportunity

Son I'd rather take ten seconds in the saddle
Than a lifetime of watching from the stands
~Chris Ledoux~

There was a time a few years back when I wasn't as confident as I am today.  I know that it's hard to believe, but I once shunned almost every opportunity which might have required taking a risk.  Then came the day where I was abruptly reminded by a friend of mine that taking risks is a vital part of a life in Christ Jesus.  To illustrate his point, he pointed to a song about a old cowboy lamenting his days in the rodeo.  Knowing that he would never be satisfied with never having tried, the old cowboy claims he would have rather rode than watched from the stands.  That song changed my life in a way.  Not only that, but the message from my friend changed the way I began to see myself.  Before that day, I saw myself not as a doer and risk taker but as someone who went along with the crowd.  Now, that might work for someone who lives a life void of contact with others, but I began to see that it wasn't a life I wanted.  I was done watching from the stands.  Granted, a lot of my attitude came from a low perception of my own self worth, but that began to change as well.  I will be the first one to admit that my transformation was nothing like turning on a switch, it took some time.  However, slowly the real Scott began to come through.  Another chance for a Jesus opportunity.  For those Christians who are not familiar, a Jesus opportunity is the chance to show those around us who it is that we really are.  The apostle Paul reveals our true identity in Galatians.  He recognizes that it is "no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me" {Galatians 2:20}.  It is this truth that is at the heart of our Jesus opportunity.  We are told that no one has ever seen God {1 John 4:12}.  So, how is it that Jesus was able to interact with people of His time?  He became as we are.  He became flesh.  This was the only way that He would be seen by those around Him.  Yes, this is still true today.  The Jesus opportunity is Christ revealing Himself through us.  I have no doubt in my mind that Jesus revealed Himself through my friend whose wisdom helped me see myself as I really am.  Another Jesus opportunity.  Think of it, how else can Christ reveal Himself to the world today if not through Gods children who He lives through?  Our own Jesus opportunities are a big part of our life.

Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us."  Jesus said to him, "have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known me, Philip?  He who has seen me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'show us the Father?'
John 14: 8 - 9 NKJV

I saw a Facebook post the other day from a friend who was talking of the "mighty power of God demonstrated through the wind in the trees."  While that may be true.  It believe that it pales in comparison to our Jesus opportunities.  Like a lot of Christians, my early days in the faith were filled with a doubt that I could not possibly believe in one whom I could not see.  Has anyone ever had this Philip experience?  Jesus, just show me the Father and I'll believe!  Well, the truth is, we're shown the Father each and every day.  We're told that God is indeed all in all {1 Corinthians 15:28}.  We see the Father in all that we are.  We see the Father in those around us.  Yes, we even see the Father in the wind in the trees.  Nothing we will ever experience is without the Fathers fingerprints upon it.  It is the Father who has breathed into us the breath of life {Genesis 2:7}.  Consider that verse for a minute.

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
Genesis 2: 7 NKJV

It is through the Father that I live.  It is through the Father that WE live.  It is the Father who breathed life into us.  As Jesus said, "How can you say show us the Father?"  What is it that you think the desire of Jesus is today?  Well, if you were Him wouldn't you want to be seen by Gods children?  Wouldn't you want to be a visible part of their lives?  Well, another Jesus opportunity in the making.  It is possible for the Fathers creation to see Jesus...through us.  Indeed He lives through us today, but He also reveals Himself to others through us as well.  That...is our Jesus opportunity.

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Galatians 2: 20 NKJV

~Scott~