Let Everything Praise the Lord

             Have you heard the “pinkletinks”? That’s what they call them on Martha’s Vineyard. Don’t ask me why. Maybe you’ve heard the name “tinkletoes” – sometimes used in New Brunswick? Probably not. The small chorus frog found throughout the northeastern U.S. is also called a “spring peeper”, or just “peeper”. Oh… those! Have you heard them? Just about any place you find even a small body of water you will find peepers this time of year. Actually, you will more likely hear them. They are very difficult to find. Just like crickets, you hear them at a distance, but if you come too close, they stop “peeping”. And since they are typically in dense brush/growth, and since it usually is dark, there’s almost no chance that you will see one. They are especially easy to hear due to their extremely loud mating call which gives them the name "peeper", but it is often hard to pinpoint the source of the sound, especially when many are peeping at once. Here’s a link if you want to hear one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhBsNqF7Hkk&noredirect=1.

            If you could see one, you would find that spring peepers are tan or brown with a dark cross that roughly forms an X on their dorsa (backside), thus the Latin name Pseudacris crucifer, meaning cross-bearer. This frog has a vocal sac located by its throat, which expands and deflates like a balloon to create a short and distinct peeping sound. Only the males have the ability to make this loud high-pitched noise, and they use it to attract mates. These one-inch frogs seem to only want to be seen/found by a female of the species. Yet we all get to enjoy the chorus every spring when the sun goes down each day.

            God’s creation is certainly amazing. Every species resounds in appearance and in sound to the glory of God. When I hear the peepers I think of them simply doing what they were created to do. But as they do so, they glorify their Maker. They aren’t conscious of being cross-bearers, but they are. They were designed by God in a unique way. In a different way, of course, we who follow Christ (the new creation) have been designed to be cross-bearers as well. We were created in Christ Jesus to do good works. What we do for the Lord and for others… and what we say that represents the Lord faithfully… all of that is a chorus of praise as well. People both hear and see us. When they do, do they see and hear the worship of our lives unto Christ? May the Lord give us “large voices”… may we together in Christ be a “large chorus” of praise to His glory, doing what we were made to do. The next time you hear the peepers, remember that you were designed by the Lord to join in the praise – in a way that is unique to you. No one else can do it for you.

Psalm 96:11-13 (NIV) ¹¹  Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; ¹²  let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; ¹³  they will sing before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth.

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) ¹⁰  For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Romans 12:1-2 (NIV) ¹  Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. ²  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

PRAYER: “Lord, thank You for the song of the peepers. As a springtime sound, it lifts us with joy about warmer and longer days ahead. Thank You that all of Your creatures so naturally glorify You. May I glorify You as well.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

 Jesus Christ is Lord!

Scott

Bless and Do Not Curse

          On our way home Sunday afternoon from a week’s vacation, we were just beyond Portland on I-295. I set my cruise control on about 67-68. After a little while I came up behind a vehicle and moved out to pass. Because I was going only a few miles per hour faster than this vehicle I was not passing him very quickly. In the meantime, as is wont to happen, a vehicle came up behind me traveling faster than I was. He had to wait a short while for me to pass the vehicle on my right. I did not increase my speed in order to pass.

            I found out after I passed and signaled, and returned to the right lane that the driver behind me was not very happy with me. As he “roared” past me he beeped his horn. Now, we all know that the beeping of a car horn means different things. There is the quick “Hi, how are you doing!” double beep. Then there is the “I didn’t mean to beep!” beep, which is followed by gestures indicating “I’m sorry!” along with physical expressions of contrition. There is also a “Watch out!” beep, which we appreciate when we don’t see someone and are about to move into them. None of these were what I heard in those moments. Instead, I heard the “Hold your hand on it… sustained for at least a few seconds… get out of my way you jerk!” beep. This is the beep that communicates, “You are an idiot and I am angry at you. You have gotten in my way and slowed me down. How dare you!” This is the beep that sometimes begins an escalation of road rage.

            My new “friend” decided that the blowing of his horn was insufficient to convey his feelings. So, as he passed he also held out his right hand to me with the universal one-finger signal of contempt. And, for good measure, after he had gotten all the way past, he repeated this with his left hand out his driver’s window. I said to Joanne, “There goes a very angry man.” It was probably good (for me) that I was out of audio range. He probably had a few choice words that I was glad not to have to hear. For my part, I felt sorry for him. I had done nothing wrong except to slow him down briefly. His response was way out of bounds.

            Have you ever had this happen to you? It gives you a terrible feeling inside. Instantly I felt sorry for anyone I had ever acted angrily toward. And my heart ached for spouses and children who are the victims of verbal abuse. There is something disorienting and disturbing about unchecked anger directed at others. A recent World magazine article I read was about the increase of cussing (profanity) on the part of people who profess Christ. In the article, Carolyn Arends describes contempt as “a mixture of anger and disgust, expressed from a position of superiority. It denigrates, devalues, and dismisses.” Contempt – from mere eye-rolling to profane and abusive language to all manner of aggressive gestures – is a true relationship destroyer. Such words, gestures, and actions – in one form or another – are all a means of cursing and not blessing. Showing and speaking contempt is a way of cursing another person.

            How much more desirable is blessing. How often have I seen “hurry” leading to bad things happening! Our impatience with people can very easily lead us into sin. Cursing someone is, indeed, a serious… and a bad… thing. The transforming power of Jesus Christ, however, leads us to be peacemakers. It leads us to bless and not curse. It leads us to defer to others. It leads us to keep “hurry” from becoming our spiritual enemy.

            I encourage you to monitor your body – from your eyes to your face to your hands to your lips and what comes from them. Monitor your tone of voice. Look for signs of contempt trying to get control of you and get out of you. When you become aware of these things, then work at training yourself in the godly response of blessing… especially if it involves returning good for evil. The Holy Spirit helps those who seek to be faithful to Christ. Let’s live surrendered lives – placed at His disposal and filled with His power and grace.

Romans 12:14-21 (NIV) ¹⁴  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵  Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶  Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. ¹⁷  Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. ¹⁸  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹  Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. ²⁰  On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." ²¹  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

 PRAYER: “Lord, may I not only experience Your peace within, but may I be a peacemaker who honors you in my everyday interactions with my spouse, children, siblings, parents, schoolmates, teammates, co-workers, and neighbors. Train me in the use of my face, my gestures, and my words to be like Jesus. Forgive my failures in this area and teach me to bless and not curse.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!

Scott

Making God Famous

            The author of the book (Unexplainable, by Don Cousins) my CARE Group is reading and discussing our way through wrote something that caught my attention. He writes that the bottom line of success in life is “making God famous”. He describes four ways we do this. One of them stood out to me. He writes, “We make God famous when we give Him the credit He deserves.” Since reading that statement I have been thinking about this question: “What can you give God the credit for right now?”

            I think this is such a great question for disciples of Jesus, because our joy rises the more He receives glory. Our sense of success grows deeper the more God is exalted in our words, attitudes, and deeds. How would/could you answer that question? You could answer it by giving Him credit for the things you have. For most of us, that’s a lot of credit to give to Him. If doing this isn’t easy for you, I recommend reading Deuteronomy 8 (especially verses 17-18). You could also answer this question by giving God the credit for your job, your intelligence, your good ideas, your creativity, your wisdom, your athletic skills, your musical ability, your computer/technology skills: your ability - in fact - to do anything in your life that you are capable of doing. This includes even all the small things you and I take for granted every day – reading, speaking, thinking, communicating, caring, sharing, listening, breathing… and the list goes on and on.

            I think I can safely say that we all would be disappointed with someone (at the least), or even hate someone (perhaps at the worst) who took the credit for something inappropriately. Taking the credit for inventing the internet in a slip of words certainly did not help Al Gore in his presidential bid a few years ago. I remember how much it bothered my daughter in high school when she was given “group assignments” with several other students. Invariably what would happen is that she would do all the work and the whole group would end up getting credit (the same grade) for it. Don’t you hate that… when you have a great idea, or do something nice for another person, or do some hard work… and someone else “steals” the credit? It’s a powerful feeling of injustice that sweeps over us. Sometimes it includes a feeling of indignation. We want to set things straight, “put them in their place”, and make sure people really know who deserves the attention or acclaim. We feel it’s not right for someone to do such a thing.

            Does God do that with us? Yet how often do our actions, attitudes, and words communicate the idea that we are seeking or taking the credit for something in our lives – credit that really belongs to Him? The truth is that often we are “glory hogs”. We do not give credit to Him whom credit is due. And we fail to make Him famous. But the joy… the success… and the satisfaction comes deepest when we sincerely, humbly, and appropriately give the glory (credit) to God. One way of thinking about this is that it is our full time job. My full-time occupation in life is to find ways in my speech, attitudes, and behaviors that show God’s worthiness. Today is a good day to start.

Deuteronomy 8:17-18 (NIV)  ¹⁷ You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” ¹⁸ But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.

Isaiah 42:8 (NIV)  ⁸ “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.

Psalm 83:18 (NIV)  ¹⁸  Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord  that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.

PRAYER: “Father, may I be a vessel through which You glory shines through. May my life, my words, my attitudes – may all that I am – make You famous, as far and wide as Your will may allow it in me. Forgive me for the times I have not given You the credit… when I have remained silent when I could have spoken, and when I have let people praise me beyond that which displays Your glory. You deserve it all, and I thank You for Your amazing grace to me.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

 Jesus Christ is Lord!

Scott

Sleepless Nights

            I’ve had a few nights recently when I seemed to have a hard time going to sleep. Do you have those? It’s fairly rare with me, but once in a while something is either racing through my mind or I had too much iced tea during the day. There are times now and then when my mind is troubled by something. But then there are times when I just ate too much too late in the evening, too close to bedtime. Whatever the cause, difficulty in getting to sleep is never fun. My heart goes out to folks who deal with any serious condition of insomnia. It must be very difficult. We’re made such that sleep is critical to our mental and physical well-being. I think it also has an impact on our spiritual well-being.

            On those occasions when sleeplessness is due to a restless mind or a troubled heart, there is usually something keeping us from peace. While a glass of warm milk or a little TV watching may produce some benefit, I have often found that prayer is usually helpful. I don’t mean that prayer is some mindless technique to help or cure insomnia. What I mean is that prayer allows us to come into the presence of the Lord. I think of the chorus… “Where the Spirit of the Lord is… there is peace… Where the Spirit of the Lord is… there is love… There is comfort in life’s darkest hour; there is light and life, there is hope and power in the Spirit, in the Spirit of the Lord.” And I think of Isaiah 26:3 – “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee.”

            Remember the story about how the disciples learned this the hard way? One of Galilee’s fierce storms came upon them and Jesus while they were in a boat. It was strong enough to cause fear among seasoned fishermen, and sheer terror among the inexperienced. But, amazingly, Jesus is sleeping. They awake Him so that He will come to their rescue and are dumbfounded when He calms the storm. Then He chastises them for their lack of faith. They must not have fully figured out who Jesus was by that time. Because, if they did know who He was, they would know that they were actually in the safest place possible. In His will and in His presence is always the safest place – even when we are in danger. I certainly have little desire to fault the disciples. I have lost sleep over far more trivial kinds of things. But I think the principle is the same. On some of my sleepless nights, a lack of faith and the sleeplessness go together. Everything in me is focused on something (usually) beyond my control, but completely under His control. If I forget that I am typically headed for a restless night. But when I remember – when I turn it over to Him – I begin to move in the right direction of a solution.

            When you next face a restless night, may the Lord gently remind you that He is in control, and that you can trust Him, and may He give you perfect peace.

Matthew 8:23-27 (NIV) ²³ Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. ²⁴ Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. ²⁵ The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" ²⁶ He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. ²⁷ The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!"

 PRAYER: “Thank You, Father, for the peace You generously give to me when I trust You. In times of agitation, please guide Your Spirit to point my faith to You and to rest in the truth of Your sovereignty and control. Forgive me when I forget You and fret. I rest in You.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

 Jesus Christ is Lord!

Scott

Jesus - the Great "Underdog"?

            One of the great stories coming out of the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament (“March Madness”) is the Florida Gulf Coast University Team. There are four regions, each with 16 teams, playing off for an opportunity to go to the Final Four, when a national champion will be determined. Each region seeds their teams between 1 and 16. FGCU started as a number 15 seed. This means they had to begin the tournament by playing the number 2 seed (Georgetown). The higher seeded teams are generally expected to win, but upsets can happen. And FGCU did upset Georgetown, playing with an enthusiasm that makes them fun to watch and even to root for. While upsets do happen in this tournament, putting two together is extremely rare. But in fact, FGCU won their next game against 7^th-seeded San Diego State University. A 15^th-seed making to the “sweet 16” has never happened before. FGCU is the first. Today there are four teams from each region left. They play this coming weekend to narrow it to eight and then four – one winner from each region. Will FGCU - a team that lost to the University of Maine team before Christmas - continue its unlikely run at the championship…? Even now very few people expect them to go all the way. Every game they play, they are the underdog. Every game they play they have to prove they deserve to be in the tournament. We will have to wait until this weekend to see.

            2000 years ago Jesus was the ultimate underdog – at least from a human perspective. When the Jewish leaders made up their minds that He had to go, and began plotting against Him, the “odds” were definitely not in His favor. When the people were turned by the leaders, His “chances” sank even lower. Then the Roman government got involved, and determined Jesus’ “end”. When Pilate gave in to calls of “Crucify Him!”, Jesus really had no chance at all. When He was crucified, He was alone. Even His “friends” had abandoned Him. One of His closest disciples – Peter – had denied Him. The world could look at Jesus and easily give up on Him. In fact, it did. Everyone “counted Him out”. As far as they were concerned, His death on the cross was final, and irreversible. After all, why should Jesus be any different than every other human being who ever lived? In the end, the grave is seeded #1. It always wins, right? But Jesus was no common “underdog”. He won a victory that no one expected… one that no one else has ever won: He was raised from the dead by God the Father. And this is the foundation of our faith. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians that if Christ was not raised, then our faith is futile and we are still in our sins.

            I do not gamble, nor do I advocate it. But you could say I’ve “bet my life” on Jesus’ resurrection. I have totally trusted in His victory on the cross and over death when He rose again on the third day. And nothing more in the universe could be closer to a “sure thing” than these facts. My hope for eternity rests in Him. Paul writes that “if only in this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.” (1 Corinthians 15:19). A Christian is one who has given up trusting in anything and everything else and has come to trust in Christ alone for hope in this life and in eternity. While the world sees Him as the underdog – ultimately defeated by death like the rest of us – we see Him as the greatest victor in the universe. I pray that you have this hope in you, because our victory comes through His. His victory is the power that gives us new life. Thanks be to God for what He has done for us!

1 Corinthians 15:55-57 – ⁵⁵ “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” ⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17 – ¹⁷ “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

Romans 10:8-11 – ⁸ “But what does it say? ‘The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,’ that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: ⁹ That, if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. ¹¹ As the Scripture says, ‘Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.’”

 PRAYER: “I praise You, Father, for raising Jesus Your Son from the dead, and for the victory won there over death. Thank You for giving me faith to believe, and for the foundation in reality for that belief. Thank You that the tomb of Jesus is empty, and the new life that is mine because I am in Christ. May this Easter season remind me of all the joys of Your victory.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!

Scott

Slow Down

          Recently I paid a visit to my dentist in order to have the first step in having a crown done. Part of the procedure involves taking an impression. To do this the dentist injects some kind of soft polymer into the area to make a mold from which a “replacement” tooth can be made. The mold takes 5 minutes to set up. That doesn’t sound like all that long, does it? I was told not to open my mouth during this time. As the minutes passed I began to realize that this simple thing was not as easy as I thought it would be. Staying still and keeping my mouth closed is not something I’m used to doing. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to move and open my mouth, but I knew I couldn’t. If I did I would mess it all up and the impression would have to be done again. It did not become unbearable, but it was definitely noticeable. Keeping my mouth closed was different than keeping quiet. Not making noise and being still are not the same thing.

            At times in the Scriptures we are commanded to be still. Important things happen when we are still. We are more apt to hear from and recognize God’s presence. Noise and busyness in life keeps us from noticing Him. But slowing down allows us to listen. Chuck Girard, an early contemporary Christian music artist performed a song called “Slow Down”. The neat thing about the song was that it didn’t just talk about slowing down. The performance of it involved places where Girard intentionally slowed the song. And whenever I tried to sing along I kept “jumping the gun” and finishing phrases too quickly. It was almost annoying, but very clever on Girard’s part. The song forced you to slow down, not just hear about it.

            How well do you respond when the Lord says “Be still” or “Slow down”? He only does it because we are bypassing Him in some way and not giving Him what He is due. May this simple reminder cause us to open our ears and hearts to His voice and to stop and enjoy Him. I don’t think He is particularly interested in us hurrying into and out of His presence. He always acts in His own time. So let us make time and take time for the Lord and obey His Word to be still and acknowledge who He is.

Psalm 37:7 – ⁷ “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.”

Psalm 46:10 – ¹⁰ He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

PRAYER: “Father, slow us down and still our spirits, so that we might be with You and listen to Your voice. Instruct us in the way we should go, and teach us not to be in a hurry whenever we are in Your presence. Thanks.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Areopagus

            You probably have heard about Daryl Witmer’s visit to our church (coming up Sunday). I have announced that he represents a ministry called Areopagus II America. Not everyone may understand the name “Areopagus”, so I thought I’d give you a little background. I was greatly blessed (back in 1995 was it?) by our church you when you gave me a trip to the Holy Land. It was a wonderful experience which included two days in Greece. While there we had the opportunity to tour the Acropolis. While on our way up to the Acropolis we stopped at Mars Hill, which is in its shadow. So many people have walked on it over the centuries that the stone is all smooth (treacherous when wet). There is a beautiful view of Athens there, but it is lower than the Acropolis.

 

            The name “Mars Hill” is a Roman term for (the Greek) Areopagus. It is 377 feet high and stands northwest of the Acropolis. In ancient times the Areopagus court assembled here. This court consisted of city fathers and in early times exercised complete authority over all political and religious matters. In the Apostle Paul’s time (Roman Empire) it was primarily educational and religious. In Acts 17 Paul delivered a famous speech there. I can imagine he would have been impressed by certain aspects of Athens. I know I was, and it was 2000 years later. In Paul’s time the buildings must have been magnificent. You can read about all of Paul’s experience in verses 16-33. Mainly what happens is that Paul meets a group of philosophers and preaches to them the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the resurrection. They bring him to the city fathers at the Areopagus and he speaks in a much more detailed way, giving them an “answer” for the faith he had in Christ. At the mention of the resurrection (at the end of his remarks) these men responded in three different ways: some sneered, some wanted to hear more, and some believed.

 

            This model has been a foundation of apologetics (the branch of theology concerned with the defense, proof, and rational justification of Christianity) ever since. The goal of apologetics is similar to Paul’s: to gain a hearing for the Gospel wherever and whenever possible, especially in the marketplace and in the marketplace of ideas. It is hoped that gaining a hearing for the Gospel will result in belief, though it is recognized that skepticism and uncertainty are two likely responses as well. Areopagus II America Institute is a contemporary, adapted construct of the original Areopagus, offering information and perspective on various worldviews and thought forms from a distinctly Christian perspective. I am very excited for Daryl’s visit and hope you will be too. Please keep Sunday in prayer, do your best to attend, and consider inviting a guest.

 

            Each one of us lives or works on or near an Areopagus of sorts. We interact with people in the realm of ideas. Like Paul, we have a Gospel to share. When we do, some may sneer. Others may want to know more. And some may trust Christ. One thing is sure. None of those responses will take place if we do not share Christ. God has given us something to talk about. Let us prepare ourselves to speak knowledgeably, boldly, and respectfully when we speak about Christ. But let’s talk about Christ.

 

Acts 17:22 (NIV) ²² Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious…

 

1 Peter 3:15-16 (NIV) ¹⁵ But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶ keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

 

PRAYER: “Father, thank You for those who are gifted and knowledgeable and can help us know better how to have an answer for the faith we have. Teach us to hunger for more. Thanks.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

 

Jesus Christ is Lord!

Scott