God's Glory is for Real!

My Tie Values: Trust and Dwell

Easter weekend of 2014 was really awesome for me. Besides a weekend of enjoying our Good Friday service, fasting and praying, watching the sunrise, worshipping, and celebrating, I had the experience seeing “Heaven is for Real” movie after our Good Friday service.

At first, I felt a bit disappointed in going to the movie alone. However, this was quickly erased as I entered a packed theater where single seats were the only seats to be had. The seat that God reserved for me was in between a couple who told me they came to the movie to watch the stupid Christians react and a Christian family with young children. 

As the movie started, I was interested in three conversations. The couple on my right were really having a great time being cynical about the pastor and the congregation. They saw hypocrisy of how the characters in the movie portrayed themselves one way at home and work while being another way at church. This couple would have renamed the movie “Hypocrisy is for Real.”

     Despite the warning “PG: Not recommended for young children,” the Christian family on my left saw this movie as a way to deepen their family conversation about faith and life. They had two children below the age of 10. Each child had their questions like.

• “Why did the pastor’s family get mad?”
• “How did that boy see Heaven?”
• “Why did people in the church not believe him?”

     It was a joy to hear the parents’ converse with their young children about faith, death, and the struggles of life in a way that their children understood. I wished more families would take time to live more genuinely together. This family would have renamed the movie, “Life is for Real.”

     Then the conversation of the movie changed the way everyone was watching this story unfold when the doctors had realized that the young Colton’s appendix had ruptured for at least a day. Everyone watching knows that this can be a serious condition that can be fatal. Who hasn’t had the fear of a ruptured appendix happening to them at some point? The movie did justice to the story to highlight regardless of one’s view about the possible experiences in heaven that a miracle had taken place in the lives of the pastor’s family, church, and young Colton that transformed their lives forever. 

     It was amazing to see a story that brought together the messiness of life with the glory of heaven without making heaven as an escape from life’s hardships.

Then I had a My TIE Moment

     What about the conversation that was taking place in my heart? I must admit that it is hard to watch a movie that shows some of the unpleasant realities of the pastor’s occupation. I felt like disappearing each time the:

• Financial realities were portrayed
• Family arguments about children, relationships, and faith emerged during hardship
• Ministry job insecurity when key church members are not happy with their pastor.
• Struggle in being transparent with the church and community about struggles, and experiences when God is at work. Especially when it conflicts with the image of how people see the pastor.

     I like to be genuine to my congregation by not maintaining the unrealistic false pastoral images. Yet, I found myself in this story as one trying to tell Pastor Burpo, “Don’t tell them that or you will regret it!” Silly as it seems, I began to realize that I was talking to myself. Unfortunately, I do at times protect myself from the scorn of others by not fully trusting in the power of God’s Word in all of life’s circumstances.

     As Christians we need to understand that people need to hear about how:

• Sin complicates all of our lives.
• The Good News that God can restore the brokenness that happens to us as well as the brokenness we cause in the world.
• The blessed life in God is not described in the comforts of prosperity but also in the discomforts that birth His glory.
• We are all saved from God’s eternal judgment because of our sins.

     Through the story about Pastor Burpo’s family, I realized that God’s glory is all around us on the verge of breaking through. Sadly, we all fall short of living for God’s glory because we often allow our own preferences and comfort get in the way.

     Since Good Friday, I have taken refuge in these words from Psalm 37:3, “Trust in the Lord and Do Good. Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.”

     On Easter Sunday I revealed to my congregation how the power of Christ and His church have enabled me to overcome hate that was in my heart because of what others have done to me.

     In all reality, all of us often choose to protect ourselves from future pain by secretly hating others in our hearts. We surround ourselves with people and communities who make us feel comfortable while we shut out all others that remind us of our pain. It is time to let Christ resurrect us from our own tombs so that we may reach people who we consider too uncomfortable for our reach.

     By the way, I would rename the movie “God’s Glory is for Real.” 

Jesus is My Life!

My TIE Value: Delight in the Lord [especially in His Resurrection]

The word "Value" is on my mind during this Easter season.

  

Webster’s defines value as, 

(1) The amount of money that something is worth or price or cost of something. 

(2) Something that can be bought for a low or fair price. 

And (3) usefulness or importance. 

My adult experiences have confirmed that all three definitions really do reflect our societal values.  If one is not worth much it is reflected in their wage, title, status, and on and on. There is no consolation in valuing people as bargains.  As a person who has chosen a theological education from Bible College and Seminary, people often told the 20-something me, “What value is your education outside the church?”

In 1995 this question was put to the test as a new graduate from Talbot School of Theology. Seven years of theological education was the only formal degrees that I held. Through a series of hardships, I found myself out of a pastorate job and into a world of temporary employment. I would not be in a ministry job until 1999. So what did I learn during these four years? 

(1) God gave me opportunities to serve Him outside the church

     My first job was given to me from a gracious church member who was going through struggles in life and in work. He brought me into his department in order to fulfill the internal education requirements for industry certification. My skills for study, auditing, and teaching was used on a daily basis. After this project was completed I got employment through a temporary agency. I was placed in a technology, insurance, and sports equipment industries in contracts that lasted anywhere from 3 weeks to 18 months.  

     The cool thing was that none of these companies knew my education background. They knew I had two degrees including a Masters and they could see the value in my work. I was offered 3 full-time jobs in these 4 years. One of them was for executive training for a large insurance company.  

(2) God showed me my daily mission

     More than utilizing my abilities to study binders of materials, teach, and organize work processes, I discovered there were people who had real life issues. Whenever, I stayed in a place longer than a week, people started talking to me about their problems. Perhaps at a human level, I was perceived safe because of being a temporary worker or because I seemed like a good person. But on a Divine level, I noticed that these conversations about work, family, and life only came up on days that I cried out to God about my frustration of not being in ministry. Then after I was finished venting to God, He would reveal my daily mission.   To my amazement, I learned that it is possible to listen to others while praying to God at the same time before I speaking!

(3) God revealed Himself in the workplace

     It is the reveal that is that makes the home shows fun to watch. Likewise it is most fun when God reveals Himself to people who have made up their minds about Him. Usually at the end of a contract or in a private conversation about future employment opportunities, I would be asked, “So what are your degrees in?” I would reply, “What do you think?” According to my supervisors and co-workers they guessed that I had degrees in business, psychology, sociology, political science, journalism and pre-law (I did earn a certificate in 1998 in legal studies at the UC-Irvine Extension).

     They were astonished when I revealed my degrees are in theology from a Bible College and Seminary. They were puzzled that someone had the ability to do well in a job outside of an education discipline.

  

     At this point I would answer, “It is God who loves all of us that gives us the ability to use our heart, mind, and strength to accomplish His mission in our lives. God’s living truth makes the sum of our education and experiences transferable and valuable.” It is fun to see people speechless but in awe of God.

My TIE Moment

     It was 1997 the exact middle of my ministry desert when God revealed the value of the His daily mission to me. I spent two years frustrated with God. My attitude was more like Jonah who loathed the thought of going to the undeserved people of Nineveh.

    A new employee had been processing work for a week after completing her two week internal training.   Her work was filled with errors. She was getting files back for correction and new files for processing at the same time. She would exclaim, “Jesus Christ!” every time a highlighted mistake and new file that came her way. The next day the other workers began to keep count how many times she would say, “Jesus Christ!” By noon she was averaging over 30 times per hour.

    As a file clerk, I had to deliver more files to her during this particular afternoon. Knowing the other workers had their score cards in hand, I asked her, “Do you know Jesus?” To my surprise she began talking about her church, being a Christian and loving Jesus. Then suddenly she realized that she had been profaning the name of her Savior.

Then God revealed Himself.

     I sat down with her and showed her how to solve some of the issues that were leading to mistakes. Then when I was done, another co-worker came to show her how to solve other more complex issues. And when she was done, there were two more workers who walked her through other work issues. By the end of the day, 6 of the 8 workers in this office revealed they are Christians too! While they were not outwardly profaning Jesus’ name, they realized that they were profaning His works of mercy, grace, righteousness and all His commandments to love.

     After this day, the office changed to reflect the light of the Good News. People helped and encouraged one another. They began to open up their lives to one another. And as for me, all they knew was that I was a Christian.

     What I experienced that day was not too much different than the disciples locked in a house fearing for their lives after the crucifixion of Jesus. Yet, somehow walking through the locked doors in His transformed body, Jesus stood among them and said, “Peace be with you” (Jn 20:21). He forgave, and restored them. Then when He left them, He gave His Spirit to His disciples who gave them the ability to boldly proclaim the Good News even in hostile places. Paul tells us in Ephesians 1:18-23 that it is the same power of His resurrection that gives the church the ability to be the visible evidence of His presence in our world today.   

I wonder what delightful transformations await us when we value that Jesus is our complete Life!

Jesus is my Anger?

My TIE Value: Commit your way to the Lord

     I had the privilege to coach for two days (grades 7-9) at our local Teens Conference that is organized by Ambassadors for Christ East.  One of the hallmarks of this event (besides lives changed by God) is that teens come up with cheers that represent a God focused challenge to follow Him with our lives. My team was “Together.” We had a cheer based on the High School Musical song “Together” about how believers come together under Christ. My son was on “Sheep.” They had a cheer about Jesus being their shepherd.  

     While most teams had songs and cheers, one particular team had a chant that made me chuckle every time I heard it. This team was called “Anchor.” Their chant was about how Jesus is their anchor that keeps their faith stable during life’s storms. However, when 20 teens chant “Jesus is my Anchor” very loudly while jumping up and down it sounded more like “Jesus is my Anger!”

     Matthew 21 came into my mind as I was thinking through some possible lyrics to for a good Christian metal song. This is where Jesus entered into Jerusalem on a donkey to crowds cheering “Hosanna” meaning “God save us!” Jesus’ first order of business is to go to the temple where he cleansed the “Court of the Gentiles” from the money changers and restored that place for prayer and teaching.

     Jesus was intensely angry about the misuse, abuse, and corruption that took over such a sacred space. The money changing was a pyramid scheme that exchanged Roman currency for temple money that could be used for the purchase of sacrifice. The scheme made the priests wealthy. What I see as even worse is that this court was so cluttered with the tools of corruption that there was no space for people to pray or be taught about God. In effect, God was squeezed out of His temple! No wonder Jesus said, “You are making it a ‘den for robbers’” (Matt. 21:13b).

    Whenever I have talked to individuals about the chant in my head, “Jesus is my anger!” The most common reply has been, “Yeah but Jesus has righteous anger.” I know it is easy for us to sin in our anger by being caught up in our own selfish space, but is there anger that brings about God’s righteousness without sinning as we follow Jesus?

My TIE Moment

     I believe the answer is “Yes” but with caution.  In short we are not the instruments of God’s condemnation or wrath, but we can be angry about the unrighteousness that is first in our lives and churches before we can hope to lovingly introduce God’s righteousness to our world. We must commit our ways even anger to the Lord.

What kind of sin must anger us?

     First, we must be angry about sins of deception disguised as righteousness. The religious leaders in Jesus’ day made a big deal about tax collectors that they labeled them as “Sinners” who were beyond God’s reach of salvation. Tax collector gathered money by the governments and charged people on top so they could get paid. What made these people hated was they excessively collected money for their greed and not their need. That is why John the Baptist told the tax collectors to show the fruits of repentance by collecting only what they need (John 3:12-13).  The temple priests ran a similar scheme only they charged people a large mark up in sinful Roman currency to buy temple money that would then be used to purchase sacrifices for their sins. They disguised their inner greed with outer holiness. Which was the largest reason Jesus chastised this group the most when they confronted Him about the sins of the tax collectors.

     We are like the priests when we choose a church for the…

•           Career network instead of the best community to be equipped and serve God’s Kingdom.
•          People we like to be with instead of including or reaching the people God loves.
•          Comfort of our lifestyle instead being in the place where God will transform our lives.  
•          Having our friends’ back instead of helping them to be restored to holiness.

     And second, we must be angry about sins of clutter that pushes God out of our sacred spaces.   The priests cluttered the “Court of the Gentiles” for the purpose of being more effective in moving people on with their sacrifice. This space was supposed to be purposed for the teaching of God’s Word to all people regardless if they were able to offer a sacrifice.  Jesus daily taught in the temple after He cleansed it. What does this say about Jesus reclaiming space for the purpose of teaching us through prayer and His word?

We are like the priests when we choose to be…

•          Involved with numerous fun activities at the expense of gaining sound Biblical teaching.
•          More interested in our own opinions rather than learning sound doctrine.
•          Clutter in our churches with stuff and programs that there is no room for active prayer.
•           Busy at church rather than PRESENT with God and His people at Church

     Are we willing to clear the deception and clutter so that God can cleanse our sacred spaces?

I love the strong admonishment that Paul gives us in Colossians 3:1-5a as a way to prepare your room during this Easter Week:

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature… (NIV)

Be Mercy-Full!? Not without God’s Mercy

My TIE Value: Be Still

Blessed are the Merciful for they will be shown Mercy- Matt 5:7

     We were making the familiar 12 hour trek to Colorado Springs to visit family during the March Break 1983. The trip was going quite normal until we got to New Mexico where the weather conditioned changed dramatically from spring to winter to blizzard. Just outside the fine town of Des Moines, NM population under 200.  White-out conditions caused the state police to shut down the highway. As the freak blizzard continued, snow drifts began to cover cars and the police began to funnel people to the local high school to stay overnight. Amazingly, within a few hours there were over 1,000 people in the high school.

     The locals were amazing. They helped people trapped in the storm make it to safety. They brought whatever food they could spare in order attempt to feed the large number of stranded people. Most of the food was in whatever came in a can. The school allowed people to use the classrooms, gym, and library to hunker down for the night. They heated the entire facility to a comfortable setting. The only doctor in town came and stayed at the school just in case any medical emergency should arise. The local officer gave updates on the road conditions as often as he received information.

     All in all the people of Des Moines showed mercy to travelers who would rather be somewhere else. They opened up their town and gave the stranded travelers all they could with their limited supplies and facilities. Yet, several travelers showed no appreciation to the mercy they were given. Throughout the night people complained about the money they were losing on their ski resort reservations. They made fun of the beans and hot dogs that were distributed in meager proportions. They criticized the facilities they were staying in because there were no provisions to make them comfortable.  They berated the officer for not letting them try to make it through the blizzard in their 4x4 vehicles. The town was nice but the travelers where mostly miserable.

     From this day forward I pondered this question. Why was there little or no gratitude given by those who received mercy?

My TIE Moment

If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” (Matt. 12:7-8)

     As the years have gone by, I am more and more convinced that it is humanly impossible to be mercy-full without appreciating God’s mercy. As people, we rather be on the side of giving than receiving mercy. We would rather provide shelter and protection to refugees in a war torn country than be made to live in such a tent city if the conditions were reversed. Most of us would rather give to a soup kitchen than depend on one. In fact, mercy in a human sense is mostly a top down relationship. Those who give mercy would rather not be in position to receive mercy. And those who receive mercy will take it but perhaps with less than a grateful attitude.  Therefore mercy is not even handed. There is a top and a bottom. It is better to be on top than the bottom any day

     Jesus tells us that we must learn what mercy is. I suspect that the reason we must learn what we do not fully understand. First of all we must respond to God’s mercy upon us. Only God can choose to whom is eligible to receive mercy (Ex. 33:18-19; Matt. 9:12-13).  And I am glad to say that the people that God chose to extend His mercy to all sinners.  Sinners of all nations, races, and eras are eligible of God’s mercy. The worst of sinners as well as the not so bad sinners are eligible for God’s mercy. While all sinners are eligible for God’s mercy only those who HAVE received God’s mercy will be freed from their sins that will lead to God’s eternal judgment.

     Second, we must relate God's mercy to our world by following Jesus' mercy-full response. Matthew 12:1-14 demonstrates how Jesus revealed how we respond to our world even on the holiest day of the week. The disciples were hungry on the Sabbath and ate corn from a field. Jesus reminded his religious critics that seeking nourishment is not to be excluded on the Sabbath. Then as Jesus entered the Synagogue a man with a deformed hand came to Jesus. This man's deformity would have made him an outcast of sorts where his hand would have to be hidden from view. Again his religious critics challenged Jesus’ healing of such a man on the holy day. Jesus communicated that it was God’s will to show mercy more than sacrifice and to do good and merciful works even on the Sabbath. In this passage that both Jesus’ followers and the outcast who received his mercy. While the religiously proud criticized the mercy given when in fact they also were in need of God’s mercy as well.

     Therefore, until we can learn how to receive mercy we can never fully experience the blessing of giving and receiving mercy from one another. The only way we can be Mercy-Full is to learn to receive God's mercy then mutually live in a mercy-full community with other believers and give out blessings of mercy to our world.

How are you learning to be Mercy-Full as God intended?