20 seconds on the clock. A whistle blows as the ball gets tied up by two opposing players. The score is tied, tensions are high and, oh yeah, I'm the ref. Because of the flu, our regular ref had to cancel, and since we don't play in a conference and are therefore not bound by referee qualification rules, or have a conference to appoint a substitute referee, the only resolution was for the person in the school who knew the most about basketball to ref. That would be me. The head coach. Talk about a conflict of interests. I ran it by the other team's coaches and they were okay with it (another benefit of playing Christian schools). So now I find myself in a tight game praying that the teams play clean and keep it out of my hands.
That's when it happened. I turned from checking the scoreboard for the possession arrow only to find our star player pushing an opponent and slamming the basketball to the ground. Any level, any time, a basketball slammed to the floor is an automatic technical foul. Add to that the pushing of the opposing player and now I have a dilemma on my hands. Do I call the foul which not only gives the other team two foul shots, but also possession of the ball, or do I turn my head and let the call go? Do I risk our team's first win of the season or do I give them the ball... and the chance to win the game?
Integrity. It's not always easy. I had a decision to make in a split second. There was no time to call a trusted friend and ask for advice. There was no opportunity for me to spend a "quiet moment" with God. In one of those moments when a million thoughts are rushing through your brain faster than you can comprehend them I blow the whistle and put my hands in that familiar "T" for Technical. The deciding factor? I realized if any other team had committed those actions I would make the call, and so in that instance I could not make an exception. I was not a coach. I was the referee. My players were upset. My assistant coach just lowered his head and the other team was relieved to have the foul called.
The outcome: another loss. This time by a mere two points. My star player was heart-broken. My team was angry, and I was hating myself. But then God intervened. He often works through people without them knowing it. Our starting center, a kid who has a lot of promise, but also has a tendency to foul came up to me. He was well acquainted with referees and bad calls. He has a tendency to complain about bad-calls and non-calls, and to be honest, when I saw his gangly form approach I had that sinking, "oh no, not more criticism" feeling. Instead, he extended his hand and complimented me on a well-reffed game.
I don't know if I reffed the game that well, or if he was simply trying to cheer me up, but I took it as God saying, "You did the right thing and your team has learned a more valuable lesson than winning would have ever taught them." I hope they did, I know I did.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Big Things First
I hate moving. I loathe it. I despise it. There are not enough synonyms of hate to describe how much I hate to move. All the stress. All the headaches. All the backaches. Every time we move I swear it's my last. Unfortunately that doesn't free me from the obligations of being a guy who is way too willing to help. Recently we helped a friend move and I can still hear him saying, "Let's get the big things on the truck first." Yeah, you know what "big things" mean. They are the refrigerators, washers/dryers, sofa beds and some insanely heavy coffee table designed to dislocate your toe in the middle of the night. Yep. The first things on the truck and the last things off. That's right, after a day of moving boxes, climbing stairs, tying down loose items and feeling stressed, you still have the big things to worry about.
Sound familiar? To many of us it sounds like our everyday lives. We wake up in the morning and the "big things" confront us. A refrigerator of bills, a sofa bed of health problems and a coffee table of doubt that trips us up when we least expect it. These are the first things we pick up when we start the day. We carry them with us all day long, and after a day filled with pestering people, frantic phone calls and the normal stresses of life, they are the last things we take off. The "big things" cause us to be tired out, stressed out, and put out with life.
Now consider Jesus' words: "Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest... my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Jesus invites you to let go of the appliance dolly and walk with Him. He says, "I will take the burden. I will shoulder the load. Give me the big things of your life and rest." Can he do it? Can He bear such a load? Absolutely! The shoulder that carried a cross to Calvary can surely heft your trunk of worries. The back that bore the load of our sins will easily hold up under the weight of your heaviest fears. Yes, Jesus is strong enough. The question is, will you let go?
Jesus. Give Him your big things first. If you do, it will be the last you have to worry about them.
Sound familiar? To many of us it sounds like our everyday lives. We wake up in the morning and the "big things" confront us. A refrigerator of bills, a sofa bed of health problems and a coffee table of doubt that trips us up when we least expect it. These are the first things we pick up when we start the day. We carry them with us all day long, and after a day filled with pestering people, frantic phone calls and the normal stresses of life, they are the last things we take off. The "big things" cause us to be tired out, stressed out, and put out with life.
Now consider Jesus' words: "Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest... my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Jesus invites you to let go of the appliance dolly and walk with Him. He says, "I will take the burden. I will shoulder the load. Give me the big things of your life and rest." Can he do it? Can He bear such a load? Absolutely! The shoulder that carried a cross to Calvary can surely heft your trunk of worries. The back that bore the load of our sins will easily hold up under the weight of your heaviest fears. Yes, Jesus is strong enough. The question is, will you let go?
Jesus. Give Him your big things first. If you do, it will be the last you have to worry about them.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
January's Article
I Am Resolved
A new year dawns and an old one passes away. This time of year we often make promises for the upcoming year. These promises, or 'resolutions', usually reflect our goals and desires for the next twelve months. Whether it be to lose pounds, stop a bad habit, or start a good one, our resolutions define for us what our ideal self is. Unfortunately, as far too many of us know, these promises are fragile and are all too easily broken.
This upcoming year I would like to propose that we as a congregation make a resolution. In fact, it can be the only resolution you make this year. That's right, just ONE resolution. It's my opinion that if we keep this resolution, we will have one of the most spiritually fulfilling years ever in the history of our body of believers. (NOTICE: I said "spiritually" not physically. God doesn't see things the same way the world does.) What resolution could carry such promise? What could we possibly resolve to do that would bless this corner of the Kingdom so greatly?
The answer is found tucked away in Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. As he strives to promote unity in a congregation that struggles with everything from false teachers to marital infidelity to the abuse of spiritual gifts, he reminds them of the secret to his success in planting the assembly at Corinth: "For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified" (I Cor. 2:2 NIV). Why such an extreme resolution? "so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power" (v. 5). The point Paul is making is simply this: if you trust in yourself or some other earthly person, you will fail in what really matters. If you put your trust in God, you will succeed.
If we determine to know nothing except the gospel message of Jesus, God will grant us everything we need in life (remember that whole "seek ye first..." promise in the Sermon on the Mount?) If we determine to know everything through the lens of Christ, we will be able to accomplish whatever God desires for us (Phil. 4:13). When we focus on God's ability rather than our inability and His strength as opposed to our weakness, we will see God's power perfected in us (2 Corinthians 12:9). If we determine to know only Jesus, we will make decisions according to God's will and act according to His purpose.
There is a catch however. Paul's use of the word "resolve" is tricky to define into English. It carries the connotation of a conscious decision that requires critical thinking (the Greek word is, in fact, the root word for critical). In other words, Paul "chose" to know only Jesus. It was a conscious choice that required constant effort. The same will be true of our resolution. We must choose Jesus. We must "determine" (the NAS and NKJV translation of the same word) to be steadfast. We have to look at the world and look at the cross, weigh the options, and choose the cross. Then, and only then, will we truly succeed at being resolved.
Until Next Time,
Dave
A new year dawns and an old one passes away. This time of year we often make promises for the upcoming year. These promises, or 'resolutions', usually reflect our goals and desires for the next twelve months. Whether it be to lose pounds, stop a bad habit, or start a good one, our resolutions define for us what our ideal self is. Unfortunately, as far too many of us know, these promises are fragile and are all too easily broken.
This upcoming year I would like to propose that we as a congregation make a resolution. In fact, it can be the only resolution you make this year. That's right, just ONE resolution. It's my opinion that if we keep this resolution, we will have one of the most spiritually fulfilling years ever in the history of our body of believers. (NOTICE: I said "spiritually" not physically. God doesn't see things the same way the world does.) What resolution could carry such promise? What could we possibly resolve to do that would bless this corner of the Kingdom so greatly?
The answer is found tucked away in Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. As he strives to promote unity in a congregation that struggles with everything from false teachers to marital infidelity to the abuse of spiritual gifts, he reminds them of the secret to his success in planting the assembly at Corinth: "For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified" (I Cor. 2:2 NIV). Why such an extreme resolution? "so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power" (v. 5). The point Paul is making is simply this: if you trust in yourself or some other earthly person, you will fail in what really matters. If you put your trust in God, you will succeed.
If we determine to know nothing except the gospel message of Jesus, God will grant us everything we need in life (remember that whole "seek ye first..." promise in the Sermon on the Mount?) If we determine to know everything through the lens of Christ, we will be able to accomplish whatever God desires for us (Phil. 4:13). When we focus on God's ability rather than our inability and His strength as opposed to our weakness, we will see God's power perfected in us (2 Corinthians 12:9). If we determine to know only Jesus, we will make decisions according to God's will and act according to His purpose.
There is a catch however. Paul's use of the word "resolve" is tricky to define into English. It carries the connotation of a conscious decision that requires critical thinking (the Greek word is, in fact, the root word for critical). In other words, Paul "chose" to know only Jesus. It was a conscious choice that required constant effort. The same will be true of our resolution. We must choose Jesus. We must "determine" (the NAS and NKJV translation of the same word) to be steadfast. We have to look at the world and look at the cross, weigh the options, and choose the cross. Then, and only then, will we truly succeed at being resolved.
Until Next Time,
Dave
Monday, December 15, 2008
"And the Word Became Flesh"
What is a word? Is it significant? What power does it hold?
These are powerful questions; important questions. Their answers are staggering. It was by the power of a spoken word that the universe was made (see Genesis 1-2). It is by the hearing of the word that we are saved (cf. Romans 10). We all know that words are imbued with power. We have all felt the sting of insults and the warmth of well-spoken compliments. History has been altered by words spoken emotionally, rashly or ill-advisedly. "Give me liberty or give me death" echoed in the hearts of the original American patriots while English resolve during WWII was strengthened by Churchill's, "never, Never, NEVER give up!" What Christian has not been comforted by Jesus' words in John 14 or heartened by David's 23rd Psalm? The word is an alarmingly powerful thing and when we speak of God's Word, the power is limitless.
So what is a word? It's an expression. It's a communication. It's the attempt to convey an idea into something tangible and real. Now consider John's phrase in John 1:14, "the Word became flesh..." All the power of God's Word wrapped in swaddling cloths. The ultimate expression of the Divine idea of love is contained in the weak fleash of a newborn baby. All this power, all this love, all this expression, wrapped in the most unlikely of packages. Why? So that God could communicate His love for us in a way we would understand. Flesh to flesh. Face to face. Mouth to ear. The Word became flesh.
The next time you see a nativity set up, whether it's in front of a church or in a store display, I pray you will recall the mystery of the Word becoming flesh. God did this so that he could "dwell" among us (John 1:14b). I love the KJV translation: "The Word became flesh and tabernacled amongst us." The tabernacle is where God said He would meet His people and communicate His will for them. When Jesus came in the flesh the message is clear. God is communicating His will for us and He desires to meet with us. That's the message of the baby in a manger. That's the message of Christmas.
These are powerful questions; important questions. Their answers are staggering. It was by the power of a spoken word that the universe was made (see Genesis 1-2). It is by the hearing of the word that we are saved (cf. Romans 10). We all know that words are imbued with power. We have all felt the sting of insults and the warmth of well-spoken compliments. History has been altered by words spoken emotionally, rashly or ill-advisedly. "Give me liberty or give me death" echoed in the hearts of the original American patriots while English resolve during WWII was strengthened by Churchill's, "never, Never, NEVER give up!" What Christian has not been comforted by Jesus' words in John 14 or heartened by David's 23rd Psalm? The word is an alarmingly powerful thing and when we speak of God's Word, the power is limitless.
So what is a word? It's an expression. It's a communication. It's the attempt to convey an idea into something tangible and real. Now consider John's phrase in John 1:14, "the Word became flesh..." All the power of God's Word wrapped in swaddling cloths. The ultimate expression of the Divine idea of love is contained in the weak fleash of a newborn baby. All this power, all this love, all this expression, wrapped in the most unlikely of packages. Why? So that God could communicate His love for us in a way we would understand. Flesh to flesh. Face to face. Mouth to ear. The Word became flesh.
The next time you see a nativity set up, whether it's in front of a church or in a store display, I pray you will recall the mystery of the Word becoming flesh. God did this so that he could "dwell" among us (John 1:14b). I love the KJV translation: "The Word became flesh and tabernacled amongst us." The tabernacle is where God said He would meet His people and communicate His will for them. When Jesus came in the flesh the message is clear. God is communicating His will for us and He desires to meet with us. That's the message of the baby in a manger. That's the message of Christmas.
Monday, December 1, 2008
What have we become?
In the past year there have been some very disturbing news stories that reveal much of what we have become as a nation. In June of 2008 a story aired on Fox News that showed video surveillence of a hit and run during which a 78 year old man was hit by one of two cars that were "racing" each other through downtown Hartford, CT. What appalled me was that this man lay in the street for over 3 minutes while over 30 people walked past without assisting him. Later, in July of 2008, another story got my attention that reported how a woman in a Brooklyn, NY emergency room collapsed. She lay on the floor for over an hour before a nurse finally walked over and discovered she was deceased. Once again, what raised my eyebrows was that in this crowded waiting room no one got up to help her. Most recently, what comes to mind is the poor man trampled to death on Black Friday as he opened the doors to his neighborhood Wal-Mart. I am most baffled by the shoppers' reaction to the news that the store was closing due to the death. They were actually angry, not because of their own carelessness, but because they had waited so long to get inside the store and were now being forced to leave.
All this leads me to the conclusion that in many ways, America has become a self-centered society. All the new, technological toys that we buy that range from the incessantly ring cell-phones to the blackberries that dominate our minute to minute activities, serve only to insulate us from the concerns of others. Our thoughts become dominated by the "me" mentality. Who's calling ME? Who's texting ME? What's on MY agenda for the day? What's going to interrupt MY schedule? How dare they inconvenience ME? The death at Wal-Mart is a loud condemnation of our selfish, consumer driven, self-serving mentality. But should we expect anything more from a society that sacrifices the unborn on the altar of convenience and tries to teach us, through public schooling, that we descended from animals and are therefore driven by a "survival-of-the fittest" mindset?
Now the question arises, "Is there any hope?" Well the answer is both good and bad. It's good because there is hope. The Bible clearly teaches that our focus is to be on God first ("Seek first HIS kingdom and HIS righteousness...") on others second ("regard others as more important than yourselves...") and, finally, ourselves. So there is hope. But the negative side of this answer comes in trying to get the self-centered person to see the sense of putting God first, others second and yourself last. The self-centered person is focused on pleasing himself, serving himself and looking out for the good of himself, and thus, consequently, they do not wish to focus on someone else's will for them. Such inward focus leads to a calloused approach to life. If any good comes of these astounding stories perhaps it's a tool to pierce through the calloused heart and open the eyes of a nation to see just what we have become.
All this leads me to the conclusion that in many ways, America has become a self-centered society. All the new, technological toys that we buy that range from the incessantly ring cell-phones to the blackberries that dominate our minute to minute activities, serve only to insulate us from the concerns of others. Our thoughts become dominated by the "me" mentality. Who's calling ME? Who's texting ME? What's on MY agenda for the day? What's going to interrupt MY schedule? How dare they inconvenience ME? The death at Wal-Mart is a loud condemnation of our selfish, consumer driven, self-serving mentality. But should we expect anything more from a society that sacrifices the unborn on the altar of convenience and tries to teach us, through public schooling, that we descended from animals and are therefore driven by a "survival-of-the fittest" mindset?
Now the question arises, "Is there any hope?" Well the answer is both good and bad. It's good because there is hope. The Bible clearly teaches that our focus is to be on God first ("Seek first HIS kingdom and HIS righteousness...") on others second ("regard others as more important than yourselves...") and, finally, ourselves. So there is hope. But the negative side of this answer comes in trying to get the self-centered person to see the sense of putting God first, others second and yourself last. The self-centered person is focused on pleasing himself, serving himself and looking out for the good of himself, and thus, consequently, they do not wish to focus on someone else's will for them. Such inward focus leads to a calloused approach to life. If any good comes of these astounding stories perhaps it's a tool to pierce through the calloused heart and open the eyes of a nation to see just what we have become.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
December's Article
No Ordinary Night
It was just another night, until the first pangs of labor struck. With all the usual efforts and pains that accompany birth, a child is born. But this is not just another child. No, this is a child who was prophesied about, who was eagerly anticipated, not merely by his family, but by a nation and by the world. This child would revolutionize how man perceives God and how God relates to man. This child was the "anointed one", the "Prince of Peace" and "Immanuel: God with Us." Yes, this was an extraordinary child.
It was just another night as nearby shepherds tended their flocks. The faint bleating of sheep is the only sound that disturbs the cool night air. Weather-worn men, weary from a day's work, prepare to bed down for the night when the sky explodes. A cacophony of music dispels the quiet as the brightest of light chases darkness away. Men accustomed to dealing with dangers ranging from wild beasts to armed thieves now shake in absolute terror as an army of heavenly beings proclaim the birth of God's own Son. It's as if God is proclaiming that He is the God of everybody, from the pious, religion-minded priests down the social ladder to the blue-collar, work-every-single-day-of-the-week, shepherd. Yes, this was an extraordinary proclamation.
It was just another night, until God stepped into flesh. He traded a throne for a bed of hay; the songs of angels for the bleating of cattle; the streets of gold for the dirt-packed streets of the first-century. now instead of robes of white linen, he was wrapped in the rough homespun of swaddling cloths. Instead of the riches of heaven, he saw the poverty of his earthly parents. Instead of assuming the all-powerful role as the creator and sustainer of the universe, he sacrifices everything to become as helpless as a newborn babe. Yes, this is an extraordinary God.
It was just another night, until Christmas came, then it was extraordinary.
It was just another night, until the first pangs of labor struck. With all the usual efforts and pains that accompany birth, a child is born. But this is not just another child. No, this is a child who was prophesied about, who was eagerly anticipated, not merely by his family, but by a nation and by the world. This child would revolutionize how man perceives God and how God relates to man. This child was the "anointed one", the "Prince of Peace" and "Immanuel: God with Us." Yes, this was an extraordinary child.
It was just another night as nearby shepherds tended their flocks. The faint bleating of sheep is the only sound that disturbs the cool night air. Weather-worn men, weary from a day's work, prepare to bed down for the night when the sky explodes. A cacophony of music dispels the quiet as the brightest of light chases darkness away. Men accustomed to dealing with dangers ranging from wild beasts to armed thieves now shake in absolute terror as an army of heavenly beings proclaim the birth of God's own Son. It's as if God is proclaiming that He is the God of everybody, from the pious, religion-minded priests down the social ladder to the blue-collar, work-every-single-day-of-the-week, shepherd. Yes, this was an extraordinary proclamation.
It was just another night, until God stepped into flesh. He traded a throne for a bed of hay; the songs of angels for the bleating of cattle; the streets of gold for the dirt-packed streets of the first-century. now instead of robes of white linen, he was wrapped in the rough homespun of swaddling cloths. Instead of the riches of heaven, he saw the poverty of his earthly parents. Instead of assuming the all-powerful role as the creator and sustainer of the universe, he sacrifices everything to become as helpless as a newborn babe. Yes, this is an extraordinary God.
It was just another night, until Christmas came, then it was extraordinary.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Stolen Symbols
The hype is finally starting to die down after a truly historical election. I wanted to wait to write my thoughts down because I didn't want my objectivity skewed by emotions. America has watched a man with great charisma, eloquence and influence win the highest office in the land despite a short record and very serious questions as to his qualifications. Now, I am not going to waste my time bashing our future president, but I can't help but wonder, how in the world did this happen?
Everyone has a theory. Some say it's a knee-jerk reaction to an unpopular president/war/political party. Others feel it's due to a questionable economy. Yet others feel it's a sign of the times as America drifts further into a post-Christian culture. I think all of these have some veracity to them, but ultimately, I think America chose someone that made them feel better. Love him or hate him, Obama has a command of language that captures an audience and holds them in his sway. As I watched him give his acceptance speech, I saw a man with great passion deliver a message that moved many to tears, others to applause, and others to solemn reflection. His was a campaign of hope, and that struck a chord with the American people.
Hope. People are thirsting for it. They thirst so much, that they are willing to drink whatever this man offers in the name of hope. But the hope they thirst after is not a hope that any politician can fill. They may hope for a "better America" or a "better economy" or merely a "better president," but their hope will go unfulfilled. For the hope that the human soul longs after is not one born of this physical world. The only hope that will slake the thirsting of our souls is the hope offered in Christ Jesus.
Do we want a better America? Then reach people with the true Message of Hope: the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Changed lives are what will change America. Changed hearts are what will alter her course. Changed souls are what will turn her back to God. Changed policies and an idealism based on pure personality will never change America for the better.
Obama ran a campaign based on a theme stolen from Christianity. I don't believe he stole it on purpose, but he did realize that the chord of hope resonates deep within our souls. This world is stealing the symbols of our message and redefining them for their own purposes. The sign of God's protection to Noah, the rainbow, has been distorted to become a symbol of the homosexual movement. The cross, while a symbol of God's love for us, has become to many nothing more than a stylish piece of jewelery. And now the symbol of hope has been reduced to a campaign slogan. Obama may say he supports a woman's "reproductive rights," but in reality he supports state-sanctioned murder. He may support gay rights, but what he is advocating is the degeneration of the divine institution of marriage and the family. Why all the verbal gymnastics? Obama wants to be politically correct and popular. What he doesn't realize is the spiritual reality of what he is saying/doing. Satan is redrawing the battle lines by redefining terms. Why? To confuse the message of Christ. To make Christ-followers look intolerant, insensitive and out-of-touch. Now, more than ever, we must make sure we speak plainly on moral issues while offering God's message of grace and mercy.
Let's take back our symbols. Let's proclaim a true hope. A hope that says we serve a God that changes hearts and lives everyday. Now there's a change we can believe in. We have to if we are to have any hope for the future.
Hoping in Christ,
Dave
Everyone has a theory. Some say it's a knee-jerk reaction to an unpopular president/war/political party. Others feel it's due to a questionable economy. Yet others feel it's a sign of the times as America drifts further into a post-Christian culture. I think all of these have some veracity to them, but ultimately, I think America chose someone that made them feel better. Love him or hate him, Obama has a command of language that captures an audience and holds them in his sway. As I watched him give his acceptance speech, I saw a man with great passion deliver a message that moved many to tears, others to applause, and others to solemn reflection. His was a campaign of hope, and that struck a chord with the American people.
Hope. People are thirsting for it. They thirst so much, that they are willing to drink whatever this man offers in the name of hope. But the hope they thirst after is not a hope that any politician can fill. They may hope for a "better America" or a "better economy" or merely a "better president," but their hope will go unfulfilled. For the hope that the human soul longs after is not one born of this physical world. The only hope that will slake the thirsting of our souls is the hope offered in Christ Jesus.
Do we want a better America? Then reach people with the true Message of Hope: the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Changed lives are what will change America. Changed hearts are what will alter her course. Changed souls are what will turn her back to God. Changed policies and an idealism based on pure personality will never change America for the better.
Obama ran a campaign based on a theme stolen from Christianity. I don't believe he stole it on purpose, but he did realize that the chord of hope resonates deep within our souls. This world is stealing the symbols of our message and redefining them for their own purposes. The sign of God's protection to Noah, the rainbow, has been distorted to become a symbol of the homosexual movement. The cross, while a symbol of God's love for us, has become to many nothing more than a stylish piece of jewelery. And now the symbol of hope has been reduced to a campaign slogan. Obama may say he supports a woman's "reproductive rights," but in reality he supports state-sanctioned murder. He may support gay rights, but what he is advocating is the degeneration of the divine institution of marriage and the family. Why all the verbal gymnastics? Obama wants to be politically correct and popular. What he doesn't realize is the spiritual reality of what he is saying/doing. Satan is redrawing the battle lines by redefining terms. Why? To confuse the message of Christ. To make Christ-followers look intolerant, insensitive and out-of-touch. Now, more than ever, we must make sure we speak plainly on moral issues while offering God's message of grace and mercy.
Let's take back our symbols. Let's proclaim a true hope. A hope that says we serve a God that changes hearts and lives everyday. Now there's a change we can believe in. We have to if we are to have any hope for the future.
Hoping in Christ,
Dave
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