Let the Sparks Fly

As iron sharpens iron,
    so a friend sharpens a friend. Proverbs 27:17

When I hear this verse, I often picture two swords clashing. But two swords striking each other actually damages the swords. To sharpen a sword, you must know how to use the right tools. The same can be said of friendships. Using the right tools to sharpen a sword can create sparks. How true this is for our relationships with one another! As we go deeper in relationships with one another, sparks will inevitably fly. The healthy way we deal with conflict brings growth. 

I’ll be the first to admit that conflicts are hard. I can’t say I embrace them or chase after them. However, when I avoid conflict, it leads to misunderstandings and anxiety and often makes the situation worse. Conflicts, when handled appropriately, can forge stronger relationships and help each person develop spiritually. As we are able to challenge one another and respect each other's differences, we become stronger. 

We are called by God to live in community. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” While living in a community, we will encounter conflicts with one another. I encourage you today to find ways to deepen your relationships with one another. I encourage you to find ways to connect with others at New Day. Get involved in a community group, join a serve team, or initiate a conversation with others outside of our meeting times. And when conflicts arise, embrace them, work through them, and watch your friendship grow deeper.

We have the opportunity to have healthy relationships by working through the sparks of conflicts. In doing so, we can build each other up and be the church Christ calls us to be!

Waiting for the New Age

Last week we finished the Old Testament in our Arc of the Bible series. We took a whirlwind tour of thousands of years of history, and saw how our God is constantly faithful to his purposes and his promises. This Sunday we will begin looking at how God’s story continues in the New Testament. But what happens between these testaments?

In your Bible, these two sections are separated by a single page that reads “New Testament.” This mostly-blank page can make it seem like we simply move from Malachi and the next chapter of the story is Matthew. However, that page represents 400 years of waiting. 

Israel was waiting for a “new age,” a time when God would finally step in to cleanse and renew creation. It would begin with Israel, and then they would extend God’s blessing and restoration to the nations. This was thought to be the end of days when God would pour his Spirit out and the present “evil age” would be finished. They were waiting for God’s messiah to come and save creation from sin and death.

Israel was waiting for the kingdom of God to be restored. You will hear more about this on Sunday, but, the Kingdom of God was a time when there would be no king but God. The nation of Israel would be liberated from their oppressors. The presence of God would once again inhabit the temple and all things would be set right again.

So they waited. And they waited. What kind of messiah would come? When would he come? How would he do what needed to be done? But the Lord God had something unexpected in mind. He was not sending a military or political leader. God was not sending a messiah that anyone would recognize. He sent a Middle-Eastern man, born in the middle of nowhere. He sent a carpenter with no rank, title, or power. He sent Jesus, and Jesus turned the world upside down.

This week, my hope is that you see that Jesus’s story is built on and birthed out of Israel’s story. He is the promised heir. The seed of Abraham. The son of David. He is Isaiah’s suffering servant. He is the faithful king who will usher in the kingdom of God: not through power, but through self-sacrificial death.

Don’t Look Back

Luke 9:57-62: “As they were going along the road, someone said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’ To another he said, ‘Follow me.’ But he said, ‘Lord, let me first go and bury my father.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’ Yet another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.’ Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’”

The Kingdom of God is not about returning to what it used to be—the “good ‘ol days.” Nor is it about maintaining the status quo. The Kingdom of God is about moving forward and changing our world by the demonstration and proclamation of the Gospel. Many people may like the idea of following Jesus, but there is a cost, and if we just want a comfortable life, we may disqualify ourselves. 

God wants to bless His children. Throughout Scripture there are many places where we are promised life to the abundance. But the call to follow Jesus must be understood as a call to live sacrificially. In the passage following the quote above, Jesus sends out 72 disciples, commissioning them to go heal the sick and preach the Kingdom of God. Even though the disciples knew the cost of following Jesus, they were ready to go. We are in a time when we must be ready to go. Things have changed—have you noticed? So many of the routines of life have been turned upside-down in the past year. This has caused a lot of discomfort and pain. But it also creates opportunities. 

Embrace the opportunities that change brings. As a church, our purpose has not changed. A well known saying in Church leadership is “Marry the message, not the method.” Our message will never change, but how we communicate it must change. As we learn how to minister the gospel in our day, let’s not fear taking risks or enduring discomfort to share Jesus. Maybe that means you wear a mask as a way to respect others' health concerns, even if you are not concerned. Maybe it means learning how to interact online in ways that build community and open up others to hear the love of Jesus. Maybe it means setting aside your opinions in order to better understand and love your neighbors. 

Thankfully, unlike Jesus, we have a place to lay our heads. But let’s not allow ourselves to be lulled into complacency by being intoxicated by comfort. Let’s be like the 72 disciples willing to risk it all to see Jesus change lives.

Reflections

My daughter Aleeya and I recently had some fun taking pictures of our reflections in the handle of a spoon. Depending on the angle, you can get some fun and crazy distortions. I’m sure this is something you all do while you’re sipping your hot chocolate too, right?

It got me thinking…imagine what I would think of the world if I truly saw everything reflected off the handle of a spoon. I would run into things, trip, and fall down. I might see stuff that looks pretty weird or even scary due to how distorted the handle makes things look. 

My view of the world and your view of it might be drastically different. After all, we don’t own identical spoons. And we might even have some sharp disagreements about what we think we see and how to deal with it.

I see this very thing happening in our world today. Folks are looking at the world reflected off different spoons, depending on who they follow on social media and what news channel they watch.

As Christians, our view of the world should come from Scripture. The Bible is straight and true. We get a look at things as God intended when we look into His Word.

Every opinion we form, stance we take, word we speak, and action we make should be in alignment with the way of Jesus found in Scripture: love God, love your neighbor. Love is intended to be the marker of Jesus’ disciples.

John 13:35: “All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other."

If you find yourself slipping out of a place of lovingkindness, adjust your view. Dump the spoon and pick up the Bible. Look at Jesus as our example of how to live.

Hebrews 12:1-2: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross…”

The author of Hebrews must have been thinking of us in 2021 when he wrote this! We carry weight! Sin wants to cling to us! We need endurance! The only way to endure is to keep looking at Jesus, the living Word of God.

Without You We’re Not Us

We need you in order to be us. Does this make sense? Each person brings something to the whole, and if you are intended to be part of New Day, we absolutely need you. Psalms 68:6 says, “God places the lonely in families; He sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. But He makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.” The church is the family of God that is designed to be the place where every person can find community, acceptance, and love, as well as the opportunity to serve, learn, grow, and mature. 

Ephesians 4:16: “He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” This verse emphasises the importance of each member having an essential role in making the church whole. Each one of us is vital to everyone else. You are vital. We need you. You need us. That’s the tremendous, ridiculous, outrageous plan that God decided would transform our world. 

But how do we do this, given all the constraints associated with Covid-19? Well, guess what—there are always constraints. There are always health concerns, financial troubles, divisiveness in politics, and differences in opinion. John 13:34-35: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." How are we doing with this commandment? Are we really loving the other members of our spiritual family (and all those around us) in the same manner that Jesus loves us? Really? 

How did Jesus demonstrate love for us? He not only risked death—He came knowing that death was inevitable. This means Jesus put everything on the line to show His love for you. Now He asks us to do the same to those in our church and our community. I absolutely respect each person's choice concerning attending in-person services during the pandemic. But that cannot be used as an excuse to isolate and stop loving one another. It may make it more difficult, but in fact it also makes it more essential. 

We have in-person and online options for nearly everything. But we need each of you to participate, to actively love others. This may mean a phone call or a text. It can include commenting on the livestream or posting on our Facebook page. If you are willing to go to a restaurant and other activities with equivalent exposure, then you should be attending church in person. But if you genuinely prefer not gathering while the risk of infection continues, then push through the difficulty and find ways to stay connected, to love and receive love. Love is always difficult and costly—but that is our calling. It is the essence of being Christlike! 

In Christ Jesus

I want to invite you into a moment. A moment to tune out the distractions and busyness of life and just receive something from the Lord. Take a deep breath in through your nose and out through your mouth. Now do that again. Isn’t that relaxing? 

Paul, in his letter to the church in Galatia, said:

“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:26-29, NIV)

This passage has something important for us today. It has a message about our identity. We are not abandoned, forgotten, and insignificant. We are part of a family, truly known, and have significant purpose. According to this passage, every Christ-follower is in Christ. It then goes on to unpack what that means.

In Christ Jesus, you are a child of God. You are individually a son or daughter of the King, but also part of a diverse worldwide family. Through our baptism into Christ (the mode of our being brought in), you have been clothed with Christ. Your identity is Jesus. Through allegiance with Christ you are declared righteous and you are accepted. You are one in Christ Jesus. This means that there are no second-class citizens in God’s family. Your ethnicity, your social rank, your gender, your education, or your zip code have no bearing on your value as a child of God. You are Abraham’s seed and heir to the promise. What is the promise? We get the answer in Galatians 3:8: “All nations will be blessed through you.” You not only are a recipient of the promise through Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection, you are also a bearer of the promise. You are a bringer of blessing in the world.

Take another deep breath in and let it out. Now, declare these truths:

• I am a child of God

• I have been brought into the family through baptism

• I am clothed with Christ

• I am one with Christ

• I am blessed to be a blessing

We’ve Got Style—Community Group Style, That Is

Community groups at New Day are designed for you to successfully engage with your journey of becoming more and more Christlike. That process is called discipleship, and the self-evaluation aspect of our community group style helps to facilitate that end. You hold yourself accountable, being honest and open with a small group of fellow believers whose role is to support you in love along the way. 

You share with your group how your walk with God is going: This is what I’m reading... This is what I felt God said when I was journaling... This is what happened when I was talking to a friend about Jesus... When you bring your report, you are spurred on by the others as you run your spiritual race. We need encouragement from each other, prayer, and inspiration. 

“And let us run with PERSEVERANCE the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith...”  (Hebrews 12:1-2)       

Consequently, your engagement in your walk with God throughout the week is necessary. You will thrive in your group if you desire to grow and are putting in effort toward that end. Like the apostle Paul, our Christian goal is to run the race well and finish strong.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” (2 Timonty 4:7-8)

Another primary goal of our community groups is to have a small group of people who really know you and whom you really know. In all churches, no matter how big or small, there will be people who attend, maybe even volunteering in some capacity, yet still have no one who really knows them. Entering into a small group format will provide opportunity for deeper knowing.

Community groups are a confidential place to share and develop friendships as we:

1. Share a highlight from Sunday’s sermon. How did it impact or challenge you?

2. Give opportunity for each group member to answer the question, “How is your S.O.U.L.?” Self-evaluating how your relationship is going with Scripture, Others, Upward (God), and Life helps track your spiritual state and growth. 

3. Share prayer requests and pray together as a group to close the meeting.

While growth in discipleship can be achieved through other avenues, community groups are a primary format New Day provides to those committed to this body to develop spiritually.

Our community group style is not primarily about learning something new. You may learn from others as they share what God has been highlighting to them, but this is not an information-driven group like a Bible study. It’s a transformation-driven group where our time together is focused on how we are applying what we’ve learned throughout the week. The goal of this style of group is to achieve practical results. We share where we have struggled or experienced victory, and discover together how we can love and uphold one another as we live out our transformed life with Jesus.

Our Commission

Matthew 28:18-20: “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.”

Jesus spoke these words to his disciples just prior to ascending into heaven. These were His final words on the earth. Jesus had been crucified by the Roman government in response to influence of the Jewish religious leaders. According to a worldly viewpoint, it wouldn’t seem like Jesus had all authority. But He had overcome the power of death and was now resurrected. He demonstrated His authority over everything by conquering death and the grave. Since the ultimate threat of any worldly power is death, and Jesus defeated death, no worldly power could threaten Him. 

Based on this truth, Jesus commissioned His disciples with a very clear goal: “Go make disciples.” Jesus had all authority in heaven and on earth, but this didn’t mean the church didn’t face opposition. Far from it. The Roman Empire and the Jewish leaders continued to oppress the church. Throughout all of history, the church has been oppressed by political and social powers that sought to limit or eliminate it. But throughout the ages, the church has survived and THRIVED. 

Our hope has never been based on our standing with the political powers of the day. Nor is it based on the popularity of the message of God’s Word with the culture. Our hope is based on the resurrection of Jesus. We show that we believe this truth when we obey this great commission and make disciples. The enemy and the world know they can never eliminate the church. Their strategy is to either intimidate us to keep quiet about the truth of the Gospel, or distract us from our calling and get us entangled in meaningless arguments that keep us from making disciples. Paul said it this way in Titus 3:9: “But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless.”

Let’s make the Great Commission our personal commission and make disciples. Find ways you can communicate the love of Jesus to those around you. Tell someone how you have been influenced by your relationship with Jesus. Share practical help as a demonstration of God’s grace in you. Pray for those you interact with. All of us have a role to play in fulfilling the Great Commission, and as we work together as a church, we can see the fruit of it through changed lives.

What's the Point?

Now what? I’ve been a Christian for awhile; what’s next with my walk? Have you ever felt that spiritually monotonous feeling? I know I have from time to time, and I’ll tell you where I’ve landed. The point for the Christian is twofold: glorify God and represent Jesus.

Glorify God in everything. Whether I’m alone, with a friend, with an enemy, or with a large group, it makes no difference. My pursuit is to glorify Him in all things. I may be doing something simple and seemingly insignificant, like vacuuming or driving. I can glorify Him there with my attitude and the meditations of my heart. I may be doing something seemingly more meaningful, like teaching a child or sharing a talk in front of a crowd. I can glorify Him still with my words and actions. 

“Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus…” (Colossians 3:17)

Represent Jesus to everyone. As I go about my life as a Christian, I have the privilege of showing others what Jesus is like. I became His representation when I said, “Yes” to being His follower and the Holy Spirit made His home in me. When others watch my life and work, or hear me speak and interact, it proclaims to them what Jesus is like. My kids are watching, my family and friends are impacted, new believers are learning from me. What I do day-to-day matters greatly. It’s not just ho-hum, meaningless. I certainly want Jesus to be represented well. I know how amazing He is, and I don’t want others to get the wrong impression about Him. If someone doesn't know Him yet, my aim is to encourage them to be united with God. 

“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:20-21)

That’s what it boils down to for me. That’s what it’s all about. Glorify God and represent Jesus.

Don't Settle for a Cheap Substitute

Jesus says in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” During this season of living with restrictions, but also pursuing heaven’s agenda through prayer and fasting, this warning coupled with a promise has been on my mind. The enemy takes things with the intent of harm and destruction, but Jesus takes things with the sole intention of giving better things, and not only that but abundant life. Think of the things Jesus is in the business of removing: sin, shame, condemnation, loneliness, addictions. When these things are removed, there’s new life! 

For this fast, I chose to fast all food. It’s been challenging, but I’ve already been contemplating what foods I’ll continue to omit from my diet now that I’ve broken the stranglehold of things like sugar, caffeine, and junk food. These things are bad for me. So now that I’ve cleansed my body, why would I go back to consuming them?

Proverbs tells us “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly” and “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.” I’ve given up sugar multiple times in my life, but I’ve always gone back to eating it. I could kick myself! My human nature continues its folly. I turn to this cheap substitute for comfort or enjoyment, knowing that it’s bad for me. How true can that be of other sin in our life? What substances are we turning to, rather than seeking the comfort of the Comforter?

Ephesians 5 exhorts, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Let’s encourage one another to maintain these good habits we’re creating with this corporate fast and help each other continue leading a life of prayer and worship, giving us the ability to keep from falling into our past follies! If you are using a cheap substitute for fulfillment, cast it aside and ask for more Holy Spirit!

Richard Foster on Prayer

Since we are in the middle of our church-wide “21 Days of Prayer”, I thought I would say something helpful and encouraging on the topic of prayer. As I thought, I pulled out Richard Foster’s classic Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home. He is such a helpful guide in this area. I will let him speak to us today.

“We today yearn for prayer and hide from prayer. We are attracted to it and repelled by it. We believe prayer is something we should do, even something we want to do, but it seems like a chasm stands between us and actually praying. We experience the agony of prayerlessness.

We are not quite sure what holds us back. Of course we are busy with work and family obligations, but that is only a smokescreen. Our busyness seldom keeps us from eating or sleeping or making love. No, there is something deeper, more profound, keeping us in check...It is the notion—almost universal among us modern high achievers—that we have to have everything “just right” in order to pray. That is, before we can really pray, our lives need some fine-tuning, or we need to know more about how to pray, or we need to have a better grasp of the great traditions of prayer. And on it goes.”

Foster continues by saying that these are important ideas that deserve some attention, but we should not start in prayer this way—as something that we must master. This idea “puts us in the ‘on-top’ position, where we are competent and in control. But when praying, we come ‘underneath,’ where we calmly and deliberately surrender control and become incompetent.”

Foster here hits the nail on the head. There are so many things that keep us from actually praying. But let’s be willing to be incompetent, to merely bring our fallibility and foolishness to the Lord and pray. 

“Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong” (1 Cor. 1:26-27).

New Beginnings

I remember as a boy realizing that I might be alive for the next century. I imagined that those who lived in the 1800s and saw the 20th century unfold must have been amazed. When I realized that I might live to see the 21st century, I would have that same experience. Little did I realize that I would live well into the 21st century! And I am AMAZED at the changes I’ve seen in my short life. 

Many things that were science fiction when I was a boy are now commonplace. My phone has more computing power than the entire planet had. Private companies are sending rockets to space. I just had a video call with people from three countries on two continents from my office this morning. The population of the planet has more than doubled, life expectancy has increased (6 years longer for men in the USA), and conveniences we hadn’t even thought about are commonplace. Yet, with all these advances there are just as many challenges. 

2020 had many challenges. Many people are hoping to “get back” to what we used to be, but I believe that is not the right way to think. We read an amazing promise in 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” I believe we need to begin to think of new beginnings, not of going back. I believe God’s purpose is to bring about a massive RESET to His church, our lives, how we reach our world,  and to every aspect of life.

Let’s not waste this opportunity to start fresh, start new, make lasting changes, and become more in line and on time with God's purpose to reach a desperate world. One obvious area is our ability to leverage the internet for the Gospel. Online church will NEVER take the place of meeting in person. A “like” will never substitute for a hug. 

But online and other technologies are excellent additions to in-person services. And there is an entire generation of young people that are “digitally native.” This means that they feel more at home online than in person in many ways. Instead of criticizing this, we need to leverage it.  We need to learn to speak their language in the same way a missionary learns a language and culture to minister the love of Christ. 

I am entirely committed to making 2021 a new beginning. Church, let’s all strive to thrive in this new day and new world. Let’s be flexible and committed to being Jesus to our world. Let’s be like Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:22: “I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”

2020 Year in Review

As 2020 comes to a close, I feel the Holy Spirit encouraging us to reflect on the lessons we learned that we can carry with us into 2021. While the difficulties of this year may cause us to want to erase 2020 from our memory, I dare say that in the midst of it, there was much good gained that we ought not soon forget. 

Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.
Psalm 103:2 

Remember how we began 2020 with “Joy Wins!”? While weeping may remain for the night, JOY comes in the morning. We learned in every circumstance, in Christ, Joy Wins! The “Emotionally Healthy Community” series carried us through March where we discussed how Christians must be both spiritually and emotionally mature since God desires for us to be whole in every aspect of our being: body, soul, and spirit. How appropriate the timing of those topics were for the wrecking ball that would hit in March. 

April’s focus was Easter: the celebration of Christ's resurrection! At our Nichols location, the Stations of the Cross were posted along our prayer and nature trail. It was delightful to see how many neighbors came through and enjoyed it. Spring continued with May bringing the “Living Exiled” series. The church to which James wrote his letter had a severe experience of exile, being scattered and persecuted. As we faced the implications of the pandemic, being thrust out of our normal life into a form of exile, we discovered this letter had much to say to our situation too.

You may remember how June brought the “Stand Firm” series, which emphasized the need for perseverance. We studied characters from Scripture and history, like Daniel, Moses, Harriet Tubman, and Joseph, who persevered as examples for us today. In July we discussed “New Day Flavor”. Every church has areas they tend to excel in or emphasize. We discussed our value for discipleship, community, the presence of God, our F.I.R.E. values, and multiplying churches. Summer concluded with the August series called “Fear Not”. We spoke into the issues of the day (like the pandemic, unknowns, political upheaval, and the divisiveness of our culture), highlighting that we need not fear because our all-powerful God is always with us and has already defeated the enemy!

Fall began with the “Soul Search” series. We introduced the S.O.U.L. acronym as a metric to use in accessing how we are doing in regards to our relationship with Scripture, Others, Upward (God), and Life. Our fall community groups used this model in their discussions. The October series called “Under God?” encouraged us to keep our politics subject to the principles of Christ’s kingdom and Biblical truth in order to make Kingdom-informed decisions when engaging in our politically-charged world. November was all about “Practicing the Presence” because spiritual disciplines like prayer, worship, hearing God’s voice, and soaking are valuable parts of the Christian life and will improve when practiced. 

Finally, December– ahhh, the marvelous season of Advent to reflect on Jesus’ arrival and all the fulfillment surrounding his coming. We learned to prepare ourselves and others as we expectantly look forward to his return. In looking back on the themes that defined 2020, what good things will you remember and carry with you into 2021?

If you would like to revisit, watch or listen to any messages from 2020 on our website (click here).

"So This Is Christmas..."

John Lennon released his song “So This Is Christmas” way back in 1971. The subtitle for the song was “War is Over.” It was a protest song against the Vietnam War that was still ongoing. Wikipedia states that Lennon “conceived ‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’ as a means of elaborating upon the themes of social unity and peaceful change enacted through personal accountability and empowerment.”

We may think that this Christmas is the worst with the limitations thrust on us as a result of the pandemic. With the uncertainty of what is to come, given the economic impact and social unrest of our days, as well as the political disruption we are experiencing, it is bad. But, you know, it’s not that different than many Christmases in the past. I shared with a friend that today’s problems seem so much worse than when I was younger, although objectively what is happening today is nowhere near as severe. Back then the Vietnam War was raging, the fear of the Soviet Union was constant, presidential assasination attempts and hijacking were almost common, as well as many other threats. My friend’s reply was simple but wise: “Today’s problems feel more intense because we are in them.” 

Think of the first Christmas. Was it a pleasant, happy time? Absolutely not. A teenage unmarried (although betrothed) woman was pregnant. Her fiancé was contemplating leaving her. They had to travel while nine months pregnant to a distant town because of some government mandate. While there, they couldn’t find a hotel and ended up sleeping in a barn. And sure enough, that’s when the baby came. Sure, we sing carols about it now, but I bet young Mary and Joseph must have thought their world was falling apart. In addition, their nation was under occupation from a feared and powerful enemy—the Roman Empire. They were just kids facing an uncertain future during bleak times. 

But it was then that God chose to send His Son into the World that He so dearly loved! A light in the darkness. Hope to the hopeless. Joy to the world! 

The light of Christ is just as bright today as it was then, or ever. We must choose to look at Jesus and let the things of this world grow strangely dim—in the words of the famous song. Regardless of the present difficulties we may be facing, we must focus our hope and joy on the reality that this is most certainly not the end of the story. Christ has come! And Christ will return. We celebrate the birth of Jesus that brought our salvation when He carried our sin and shame on the cross. And we celebrate with expectation His return when He comes in power to put an end to all pain, sickness, suffering, sin, evil, and yes—war! Saints, let’s remain JOYFUL in Jesus this holiday season!

Consistent Faith

After Jesus, Peter, James, and John come down off of the mount of transfiguration, they find the rest of the disciples in an argument with a large crowd (Mark 9:14-29). Jesus walks up and asks, “What are you arguing about?” A man tells him that his son is possessed by a spirit and the disciples were trying, unsuccessfully, to cast it out. The man then says to Jesus, “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

“If I can?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

Then comes my favorite part. The man replies, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.”

How often is this my response? A lot. I choose to believe in spite of the lingering doubts swirling around in my mind. And I am confident that this is okay. That this is normal. The word in Mark 9:23 and 24 translated as “believe” is pistis: a Greek word most often translated faith. Too often we think of faith as merely believing in something, but a better understanding would be to think of it as “a vow to faithful relationship.” You see, faith is not just a mental practice, but a lifestyle. Faith is about commitment and loyalty. 

If faith is “a vow to faithful relationship,” the man in our story is saying to Jesus, “I am committing myself to you. To follow you, to listen to you, and to do what you say. Even when it is hard, Lord, help me to overcome my desire to put my trust in anything else.”

In Luke 17:5, the disciples ask for faith (pistis). They ask for big faith. But Jesus tells them that they don’t need big faith—they need consistent faith. The consistent faith of a servant to his master (Luke:17:7-10). The consistent faith of the persistent widow (Luke 18:2-8). 

In this season of Advent, we don’t need big faith. We need consistent faith. Consistent faith to hold fast to Jesus and his ways in the midst of a dark, corrupt world. Consistent faith to persevere in action and in prayer, to bring about the kingdom now as it is in heaven. Consistent faith to bear witness of Jesus as we await his return to set all things right again.

The Importance of Rhythm

Rhythm is the beat and tempo of a song. Drums, bass guitar, and the strum of a guitar set the rhythm while the chords or individual notes establish the melody. Rhythm provides us with a sense of continuity—we know the form of the song. Musical rhythms get us up on our feet to dance; they can encourage or inspire us, or cause us to feel mellow and relaxed. Such is the power of rhythm in our lives. Like music, our lives need rhythm and routine—otherwise we can lose track of our purpose, get bogged down and even depressed. 

Gen. 6:5-8 says: “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, ‘I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.’ But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” God told Noah to build the ark to preserve a remnant of mankind and to save the animals. Once the ark was finished it began to rain—40 days and nights of constant rain. Can you imagine endless rain, so much that it covered everything? Life came to a halt for all of mankind.

Only eight souls were aboard the ark, and for them, everything they’d known was gone. But it lasted more than 40 days. They had to remain while the water slowly receded. It was a year before they were able to leave the ark. Once on dry ground, Noah offered up a sacrifice of thanksgiving and God established a promise. Gen. 8:22: "While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, day and night, shall not cease." God established the covenant, and would preserve the rhythm of the seasons and the days so that mankind could thrive.

This year, nearly all of our normal rhythms have been disrupted—going to work, school, and church; when and how we get groceries; going to restaurants and coffee shops; enjoying friends and family; and now the holidays. The rhythms of our lives have been shaken. This has been difficult for all, and for some overwhelming. But there is hope in the story of the Flood. “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD” is the first time grace is mentioned in scripture. It was grace that enabled Noah and his family to endure the flood. And the very same grace is available to you and me to endure this pandemic and the disruptions associated with it. I encourage you to look to God and find grace as Noah did. Let God’s amazing grace carry you through each day, and continue to offer up the sacrifice of thanksgiving!

"Look at the Birds."

Jesus gives us this simple command in Matthew 6:26: “Look at the birds.” I’ve always loved watching birds. Whether it is a flock of birds maneuvering as one mass, twisting and twirling through the air; a V-shaped flock of Canada geese flying; the gulls on the lakeshore; a hawk or eagle soaring high and alone—all are beautiful. Jesus likely said this to a group of people as he taught them on a hillside, possibly as a flock of birds flew by. He was saying we need to live without worry, like the birds. The birds aren’t even aware of the Covid pandemic. The birds haven’t been following the Tweet-storm related to the recent election. The birds, as The Message puts it, are “ free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God”. Careless in the care of God. The idea is that knowing how much God cares for us enables us to live a life free from anxiety and worry. 

This is not a command to be a bird-brain—someone who is silly or scatterbrained or simply being thoughtless. Birds do work constantly in search of food and water. They instinctively know when to migrate and how to build nests and care for their young. Crows, which are common in our area, are part of the Corvid (not covid) species that include ravens and a number of other birds. They are highly intelligent and effectively communicate details between birds. They’ve been shown to recognize themselves in a mirror (self-awareness) and they use tools—skills formerly thought that only humans and a few higher primates could do. When we cast our cares on the Lord, it doesn’t mean we no longer take care of ourselves and those around us. It means that we no longer worry about the outcome—we do our best and trust God to ensure the results.

In this year of tumultuous events and challenges that seem to be coming from all sides, it’s good for us to listen to the advice of Jesus: “Look at the birds … do not worry … But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Jesus is not advocating for apathy. Instead of wasting our energy with worry, we are to redirect it toward seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Worry is most often a reaction to things outside our control. Seeking God’s kingdom and righteousness is something we can actively pursue. It changes us from being pursued to pursuing, from being chased to chasing after something worthy of our time and energy. I encourage you to pursue God through prayer, worship, soaking, fasting, digging into Scripture, Christ-centered fellowship, and in every way you can so that your life is too full to fit any worry in!

Worthy of Worship

God is truly worthy of worship! Can I get an AMEN?!

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (Revelation 4:11)

In light of that truth, the question I’d like us to consider is: How does this pandemic season affect our worship of God?

For some of us it’s been almost a year since we’ve gathered corporately. For others we’ve popped in and out of gathering in person as things have ebbed and flowed. And still others have gathered whenever the option was available and have felt the impact of worshipping with many less in the room than before. 

How have these dynamics affected your expression of worship to God? I don’t think it’s reasonable to wait until things “get back to normal” to worship Him in all the various ways due Him. We don’t know when that will be, and yet God remains worthy of worship every day.

As we practice the Presence this month at New Day, I feel stirred to encourage us to make our homes a place of worship. Worship cannot be contained to the sanctuary inside our New Day buildings. If it ever was contained only there, it’s time for it to bust out. Our living rooms must now expand beyond being only a place to watch TV, nap, chat, or read.

Let’s consecrate our homes as places of worship unto the Lord and worship him there regularly using the nine expressions of worship from the Psalms that we are learning about this month. While these expressions are fitting for corporate worship, they are dynamic necessities for personal worship too! 

“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.” (Hebrews 13:15)

Bless you, church, as you continue to navigate how to live wholeheartedly for God in every way during this unprecedented season.

Soaking

One of the reasons I love visiting Japan is the onsen: a hot spring or hot tub, but also much more than that. An onsen is a cultural experience. Smaller onsens will have two or three tubs, but larger ones may have up to ten. They are inside and outside, hot, very hot, cold, saltwater, sulfur water, and other varieties. The tubs can be the size of swimming pools and are often made of rock. Japanese will spend hours at the onsen, and often include relaxing times with friends and family. The water is all naturally heated by volcanic springs. Soaking in an onsen is a tremendously relaxing and refreshing experience. 

“Soaking prayer” is a modern term for an ancient practice called contemplative prayer and Biblical meditation. The term “soaking” began during the late ‘90s. In Charismatic meetings, people often fell to the ground while receiving prayer, but they’d hastily get back up. In this revival, people were encouraged to remain on the floor and spend time in prayer. Before long, people just lay down and focused on God as part of their prayer time. Soaking prayer as a spiritual discipline was a reintroduction of the ancient practice of contemplative prayer. 

Psalms 23:1-3: “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.” Every Christian has heard this Psam, but what does it actually look like? Restoration of our souls and being led in righteousness is a result of being made to lie down. Just because this may not be culturally normal, we can’t overlook this mandate. 

Psalms 4:4: “Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah.” Here is another verse about engaging with God while lying down and being still. Quieting our minds and our bodies can be a powerful way to open our spirits to the presence and voice of the Lord. Throughout Scripture we are commanded to rest, quiet ourselves, and meditate on God and His Word. 

I like to think of soaking prayer as prayer without an agenda. It is time set aside to listen, wait, expect, rest, to create an opportunity to interact with God. Like any discipline, it takes practice. Start with 5- or 10-minute soaking times, but the benefits normally are found by spending extended periods such as 30 to 60 minutes on a regular basis. Life is busy; my life is busy; I understand how difficult it is. But if you plan it like a doctor’s appointment, you’ll find it is possible. Playing instrumental music helps some. Others find listening to an audio Bible helps. I keep a notepad handy to write down thoughts, so I don’t have to remember things and can keep my mind and spirit open to hearing God or simply enjoying silence. During this month as we explore Practicing God’s Presence, I encourage you to give soaking prayer a chance and see what happens!

Will You Be the Answer?

In the book of Ruth we find the Gentile woman, Ruth, working hard gleaning in the fields of Boaz. Boaz recognizes Ruth’s hard work and the way she is caring for her mother-in-law. He comes to her and says, “May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge” (2:12, NIV).

Later, Boaz goes to take a little nap at the far end of the grain pile. Ruth approaches, uncovers his feet, and lies down. This, of course, surprises Boaz, who wakes up and asks, “Who are you?”

“‘I am your servant Ruth,’ she said. ‘Spread the corner of your garment over me since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family’” (3:9). Now, this is a bit odd to our modern ears, but in Boaz’s world, the spreading of a garment over a widow was a way of declaring your intention to marry her. But here is what is truly interesting. In 2:12, Boaz prayed that the Lord would cover Ruth with his wings. The Hebrew word translated as “wings” here is kanaf. Then, in 3:9, Ruth asks Boaz to cover her with his garment. The Hebrew word translated as garment here is...wait for it...kanaf! Boaz prays for Ruth’s care and protection, and then Ruth asks Boaz to be the fulfillment of that prayer.

I saw this kanaf connection in a great book by Kaitlyn Shiess. When I read it, I was struck. So often I pray these grand prayers for God to do this thing or that. This is valid and important; we should be talking to God about everything. But there comes a time when God asks us, “Will you be the answer to that prayer?”

I am challenged by this, and I hope that you are too. Where is God calling you to put your time and attention during this season of your life? Where is God leading you to put your prayer into action?