An uncomfortable Sunday...

For the past several years, we have elected to devote the entire month of January to issues connected to the sanctity of life.

Often, we relegate this topic to abortion/Republican tenet/pro-life mantra talking points rather than considering the issues connected to the biblical idea of the Imago Dei. This calls us to a womb-to-tomb outlook and asks us how the dignity of each person intersects with each stage or situation.

As such, tomorrow is a difficult topic, but one that needs to be discussed in churches across America: human trafficking.
Depending upon your age, the term either seems foreign entirely, invokes the movie scene with Liam Nesson telling an abductor that he is "...a man with a particular set of skills.", or seems overblown by paranoid parents.

Unfortunately, this topic is as relevant and crucial as ever...but that is nothing new in human history. Exploitation has been a part of our sinful history from the earliest accounts in the Bible and culture. God's Word has much to say on the topic of exploitation in the OT Law and the NT epistles; He enables and expects His people to stand righteously against it and act on behalf of those afflicted by it.

How are we equipping ourselves to understand this matter (at a level) and put our faith into action about it?

1. 10AM- During this assembly time tomorrow, we will welcome Mandy from Dear Dinah in Dayton, ladies from Mercy & Truth ministry, and Detective Williams of the Dayton Police Department. We will hear about the issues facing our neighbors in our communities.

2. 11:15AM- We will offer three unique tracks to participate in.  

• First, we encourage all our 3rd-6th grade young people (and their parents if they would like) to help assemble "give away bags" for Dear Dinah ministry. This will include sanitizing wipes, gloves, a pictured colored by one of our young people, etc. This will take place in the Steadfast classroom. 

• Second, Mandy will conduct a training about human trafficking training seminar. We encourage teenagers and their parents to consider this one specifically, but anyone is welcome. This will take place in the Victory classroom.

• Third, we will watch the documentary entitled In Plain Sight: Stories of Hope and Freedom. This video is age and content appropriate for teenagers and up. This video will be shown in the Sojourners classroom.

We will conclude our day by walking through 2 Samuel 13, where we see this topic take place in the Scripture. Though it is a difficult passage to encounter, it is particularly important for us to consider it as followers of God and considering the day's subject matter.

I want to encourage each follower of Christ to prepare their heart today and clear their schedule for tomorrow in order to receive the equipping that is being offered.

Serving together,
Pastor Paul

Say when...

We have just enjoyed my favorite holiday of the year- Thanksgiving!

It might be my favorite due to the various traditions our family enjoyed throughout the week and over the years.

From visiting friends every other year, to playing RISK throughout the week, to eating too much pumpkin crisp, or playing football outside, the week was filled with enjoyment.

Family traditions can be so enjoyable and fun, especially when you are a dad! One tradition that my dad has is that anything that could be poured was accompanied by the line, "...say when...". If you did not say "when", then you were going to be drowning in whatever liquid it was or cleaning up a mess from the overflow.

Orange juice in your cup? "Say when" or it would be pouring all over the table.

Gravy on your turkey? "Say when" or your cranberry sauce would be floating in a sea of brown liquid.

Water for your mop bucket? "Say when" or you would be adding water to the floor you were moping.

The delight dad had on his face each time was hilarious!

I am proud to say the "tradition" continues with my own family.

Psalm 68:19 speaks of God's goodness that overflows our capacity to receive or understand it each day; even the overflow of future deliverance from death!

This is a common theme for the Psalmist as he would speak of each day being packed full of the evidence of God's goodness.

David's word choice reminds me of a suitcase that is too full, bulging from being closed or standing under a waterfall with a cup to get a drink or standing in the soda aisle at Jungle Jim's trying to select just one- it is just TOO MUCH!

I fear I am often SO focused on the person, place, or thing that seems to be robbing my happiness that I willfully climb over the mountain of blessings God has given me and is to me as if they did not exist.

How do we fix this?

As David began his text, so should we- blessed be the Lord. Focusing on the WHO before we move on to any what that we want to thank Him for or any what we are upset about, grants us the proper perspective biblically. His nature and character should command our attention due to our relationship with Him rather than the goodies He gives. Jesus said something like this, "...Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name..." as a good starting point. (Mt. 6)

Recalibrate our view to an eternal one regarding what He has given and allowed in our lives. David spoke of God's blessings being a perpetual, daily allotment. God, in His holy kindness, has blessed us as His crowning creation, as able to receive salvation, as able to have a relationship with Him, as able to enjoy His creation, and as able to find His sustainment through any ailment. In fact, Jeremiah reminded us that it is His mercy upon us that we even draw breath and are not judged today. (Lamentations 3)

Remember the future He has promised us- David remembered that God's overwhelming blessings do not stop on earth but are merely a shadow of what is to come when we are delivered from death to enjoy eternal life with Him. CATCH THIS- all of the layers of blessings in your life- spiritually, emotionally, relationally, tangibly, sexually, intellectually- are all still somewhat shallow compared to what lies ahead for us fully as children of God. Paul mentioned something about our brains not having the full capacity in this realm to comprehend what eternity with God will be like (1 Cor. 2).

This reality is challenging to us in our current frail, finite existence because of the curse of sin on our bodies, the difficulties of sin in our relationships, and the deceitfulness of sin in our minds. We go through real and perceived hardships that test our faith in God's goodness. Without sounding insensitive to real pain, tragedy, or frustration, it is often true that we must force ourselves into faith-based thanksgiving rather than it coming naturally or fully.

When I am struggling with the "grumble pants", it helps me to remember that my heavenly Father has and is pouring out goodness upon my life to the point I should say, “when".

Serving together,

Pastor Paul

Based on this last week's events, Jesus may be coming back...but what does it matter?

Ok, before there is a call to have an emergency vote as a congregation to fire me for heresy or irreverence, let me explain.
This past week, we have unfortunately watched in horror as wickedness has run rampant in the Middle East.
The response to those horrors, by some, has been nauseating as well.
Closer to home, we are watching Issue 1 be dominated by proponents of infanticide with misleading and completely false claims. 
These two poignant issues are on top of the already heinous matters taking place across Europe and the US regarding gender (particularly aimed at minors).
It is horrifying, shocking, and disgusting to watch and leaves us asking how God allows such matters if He is good.
His answer back, through His Word, is that He is equally long-suffering and just; we may never fully understand how these two virtues are not in conflict or competition on this side of heaven, but we can default to believing it to be true based upon God's goodness.
 
Back to my original heresy in the title...such moments typically get the, "Jesus is coming back" meme's rolling on social media.
People seeking signs, news reports being cited, and pastors on TV using their best "preacher voices" to call us to understand that Jesus' return is imminent.
I mean...how could He not be coming soon based upon all this wickedness?

So, let me turn this article on its head- it just does not matter. 
What I mean is that it matters very little if Jesus' return is today and we believe that wholeheartedly if it does NOT alter our state of obedience to Him (in thought, motive, and choice).

Let me put it another way- you can believe in the virgin birth, know Jesus freely died to forgive you as damned sinner, espouse the biblical view of sexuality, firmly hold to a literal six-day creation, claim to understand your identity is settled in Christ, know that the Church is Christ's primary vehicle for evangelism and sanctification, have confidence that your eternity is secured as Jesus is the Victor over the grave, etc.  
BUT- if all that does is translate to following Jesus in a way that is characterized by a consumeristic focus, what does it matter?
All the right belief in the world is of no value if it is not implemented in faith-based obedience. 
Actually, Jesus, Paul, and James made it clear that places us in a position of GREATER accountability for having the truth and not acting upon it in faith.

I fear that each of us (myself included) is so prone to self-deception about how we are doing as a follower, but have blatant, glaring areas of disobedience or consumeristic "following".

The same person who claims all the right beliefs cited above will also skip church for their kids' sporting event.
The same person who claims all the right beliefs cited above will also not give to the Gospel. 
The same person who claims all the right beliefs cited above cannot serve because they are chasing temporally driven goals.
The same person who claims all the right beliefs cited above will still vote for people who benefit their pocket book rather than uphold biblical values.
The same person who claims all the right beliefs cited above is arrogant in their heart towards and critical of their church, pastors, deacons, church members, other Christians, their child's teacher, their boss, etc. 
The same person who claims all the right beliefs cited above adopts the idea that forgiveness is optional in relationships and that accountability is intrusive.
The same person who claims all the right beliefs cited above does not honor their God-given role as a husband, wife, or young person in the home.

On we could go, but I think it serves the point- knowing calls us to obedience, not exception and exemption.
Eternity beckons us to create our entire life (day by day, week by week) around God's priorities rather than the pursuits of this realm.
I have heard more than one atheistic person, professor, or debater rightly identify this issue- Christians seem to be good at knowing much, but doing little about what they claim to "passionately believe". 
That if we believed what we claim to believe, then our choices would be dramatically different and it would be easy to identify us in our communities.

How can we assess, address, and act on this issue of knowing but not being altered?

1. Expose yourself to truth and make it your final authority- You need to read the Word. You need to hear the preaching in your church. You need to memorize passages. You need to ask what the Bible says about matters that come up in your daily life. While we have access to the Word of God in our language like never before in human history, it seems we can often just be familiar with it or dismissive of it if we are not careful. It is your authority, not your "side-chick". 

2. Consider brothers and sisters in the past- While Paul gave us warning about pridefully comparing ourselves to others, he also implored us to look to others as examples of faith-based obedience; they are an example of what living for eternity looks like in the lives of imperfect people. Read the Scriptures and Christian history regularly to see what "take up thy cross and deny thyself" means vs. what our current culture says is "good". Fair warning- this will upend your world and reveal how much idolatry is rampant in your life.

3. Ask yourself hard questions- Who have I actually tried to talk to about Christ this week?  What conversation did I steer to Christ? What act of love did I do for someone else that was inconvenient? What person, who I dislike, did I ask God to help me love? How have I helped my child towards Christ today? Did I care about my spouse's spiritual state enough to speak transparently about my own with them and about theirs? Would I describe my prayer time today as crucial to my soul or ...?

4. Invite others in- If you do not have someone that can ask or does ask you accountable questions regularly, that should change this week. We should qualify this- if they are not actively pursuing Christ, evangelistic, accountable to a local Church, generous towards the Gospel, and practicing the one anothers- they are not the right person regardless of how long you have known them or what you have been through. 

These are a few quick ideas to help push us down the hard but needed path of self-reflection towards the intersection of knowing and obedience. Again, not much else matters about what we say (particularly about Christ's return or any other doctrine) if our lives seem to indicate that we are the king we serve.

Serving together,

Pastor Paul