"And the Survey Says..."

On Sunday, 5/8/22, Pastor Cameron preached on twelve elements of being the church. After he shared, the congregation took time to ask God, "what are two or three of these areas in which you have gifted me?" We wrote down these giftings and brought them to the foot of the 12-ft cross in the corner of the room. It was a way of saying, "God, I see where you have gifted me and I will bring this gift to the community to share it."

We see that we have many strengths in our congregation. Fellowship, Worship, Generosity, and Hospitality all were very strong, but also Prayer, Steadfastness, and Unity. There is a principle of productivity that teaches you’ll gain more by developing your strengths, so these are the areas our church should lean into and continue to see growth through these expressions of our faith.

We also need to give attention to our weaknesses, and this chart clearly points out one—Salvations. In a similar survey we did with our leaders a few years ago, evangelism was indicated as lacking in our gift mix. This led us to invite Curtis Hinds to come and teach on evangelism, which we had intended to do annually until the pandemic shut things down. Additionally, we’ve already planned to teach a series next month on “Good News - sharing the good news of the gospel through our actions, words, and by participating in global missions.” So this is an area we are intending to build.

I think an important lesson from this survey is that we can use our strengths to improve our weaknesses. Inviting people into a group that knows how to connect through fellowship, generosity, and hospitality is actually a very powerful way to share the gospel. When non-believers witness genuine worship and prayer, they can encounter God personally and are often very open to committing to follow Jesus. In John 17:21, Jesus prays that Christians “all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” And in John 13:35, Jesus says, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." Unity and fellowship and hospitality are all effective means of evangelism if we take the important step to invite non-Christians into our community and communicate how all of this is an outworking of accepting Jesus as Lord.

Fan the Flames

I grew up camping, and a big part of the camping experience is playing with fire! Is it just the engineer in me, or is this everyone’s experience?! Moving the firewood around to get it to burn efficiently makes me happy. Laying a new piece of wood in just the right spot shows skill. Getting the coals set for roasting hot dogs or marshmallows is a true camping art!

But there is one fire-related move that surpasses them all…fanning those roasting coals back into flames! There’s nothing like it. Just imagine it for a moment. Your family makes a fire, sets the coals, and roasts the marshmallows. Then everyone runs down to the lake for sunset. You’re the first one back after dark and the coals are all yours. You add some fresh firewood and arrange things just right. You grab a plate, frisbee, or other flame-resurrecting device nearby and start fanning at the base of the fire. You fan hard and fast for a few seconds. Then you pull back and watch the flames jump up off the coals. What a satisfying feeling as the warmth of the fire washes over you!

The Apostle Paul writes as a mentor to Timothy and draws on the flame-fanning metaphor to encourage him. He acknowledges Timothy’s sincere faith. And he encourages Timothy to fan the gift of God into flames in his life (2 Timothy 1:6).

Maybe you and I need the same encouragement today. Maybe we have sincere faith like Timothy. But maybe, like Timothy, we need a flame-fanning season in our spiritual life. Maybe there are gifts in us just waiting for a little fanning to burst into fervent flame. Maybe the prophetic words spoken over us just need a little fanning to come to life. Maybe now is the time we catch on fire for Jesus like never before.

In Acts chapter 2, Jesus’ followers were gathered together, there was a mighty rushing wind, flames of fire, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Let’s follow their example. Let’s gather and look for what God wants to do. Let’s fan our flames! Let’s be filled with the Holy Spirit! And let’s live with purpose the life we are called to in our savior Jesus Christ.

"Do Not Be Afraid"

The Israelites were entering the Promised Land, led by Joshua after Moses their longtime leader had died. They battled five Amorite kings at the same time and, in a massive victory, conquered the combined Amorite armies. Joshua told the people, "Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage, for thus the LORD will do to all your enemies against whom you fight" (Joshua 10:25).

This was almost verbatim what the Lord had told Joshua when he was inaugurated as leader of the people of Israel: “No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them” (Joshua 1:5-6).

From this we see that Joshua fully believed the words that he heard from the Lord and had integrated that prophetic promise into his life, to the degree that he spoke it out to those he was leading. I think there is a lesson in this. We also need to hear from the Lord through prayer, Bible study, rhema words, and our conscience, to the degree that it becomes evident in our lives that we are living out the word spoken over us. Then we are to take from what God has told us and share it with others. The courage and encouragement Joshua received from the Lord he shared with the rest of God’s people. In the same way, we can share testimonies from things we have overcome in our lives and promises God has spoken to us to encourage others. 

Thankfully, we are not called to physical warfare as the Old Testament Israelites were when they were clearing the land promised to Abraham from those that inhabited it. This is made extremely clear in Scripture: “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). But we are nevertheless in a very real war. In fact, the warfare we wage is all the more difficult because it is a spiritual war and it is often hard to realize the battles we are facing. We need to be strong and courageous, just as Joshua and the Israelites needed to. And we have the opportunity and responsibility to encourage one another in this struggle with the words and promises God has given us. Encouragement is a powerful weapon—let us all learn how to use it well!

Easter Awe

Many of us have heard the beautiful story of Easter year after year. God gifted his precious son to die in our place, be raised from the dead, and provide a way for us to have our sins forgiven and restore our relationship with Heavenly Father. It's absolutely wonderful! 

This year I'm pondering how wild this circumstance was and how it might have felt to experience it for the first time over 2,000 years ago. I was inspired to revisit a poem I wrote a few years back.

I invite you to reflect upon Easter with renewed awe along with me...

No one could have imagined it.
No one could have fathomed it.
No one could have dreamed up such a harsh, audacious plan.
How about the God Of Heaven come and die for man?
How shocking and unthinkable such an ask would be!
No human would have thought up such absurdity:
“King of Kings, please leave your throne, come live here as a man!
O, and live a sinless life, ‘cause we need a spotless lamb.
Then die the most agonizing, painful, bloody way,
With the weight of every sin upon you alone to pay.
After torture of the cross brings your life here to an end,
Confusion and deepest sorrow consuming every friend,
Being placed inside a tomb won't conclude your story,
God will resurrect you, alive again in glory!
Jesus, would you do that, pay the consequence for sin?
Then we could all be close to you, healed, forgiven.
Yes, that plan sounds great to me.
Are you up for it, God Almighty?”

“God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4:16)

You see, only God, who is love, could have dreamed up this harsh, audacious plan. It is laughable to think a human could have come up with this magnificent restoration/rescue mission. Love knew it was the only way that would work to rescue us. So Love dreamed it up and Love did it! That’s Easter! And my awe is renewed yet again.

Resurrection Hope

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5)

The word hope is used in our day more like wish, as in “I hope this works out.” It expresses a desired outcome but no assurance. But in the Bible, it means something quite different. The Greek word can be translated as “confident expectation.” The hope we have in Christ is a confident expectation, an assurance that in the end we have an inheritance that will never fade away and cannot be taken away. This confidence enables us to endure the hardships and the times of uncertainty we face in our daily lives. 

There are very few things in life in which we can have confidence. If the last few years have taught us anything, it is that institutions and ideas that may have formerly been held secure are not anywhere near as stable or trustworthy as we may have believed. When I was in England, I was explaining to some friends that throughout my life the recommendations of the CDC were considered trustworthy and the best advice medically available. But throughout the pandemic, that assurance has been obliterated. Another example might be that the assurance we had in our judicial system and the election process has been seriously eroded as they are being challenged by seemingly every side. Our economy is another example. No one seems to be able to define what “The Great Resignation” is, let alone how to overcome it and the other breakdowns we are seeing economically. 

“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead” (1 Corinthians 15:19-20). Paul, like Peter in the passage above, directs our hope to the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus overcame every obstacle, even death, to rise from the grave. This is our “Living Hope.” Christ is alive, and that fact is able—through faith—to infuse every circumstance in our lives with hope. Not wishful thinking, nor positive thoughts, but a confident expectation that in and through everything this life throws at us, we know that we, like Jesus, will rise to a life eternal, free from sin, sickness, Satan, breakdown, burnout, brokenness, oppression, injustice, and every form of suffering. We have HOPE because Jesus LIVES!

Divine Face Time

“Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of meeting. And it came to pass that everyone who sought the LORD went out to the tabernacle of meeting which was outside the camp. … So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle.” (Exodus 33:7-11)

Wow. Can you imagine experiencing what this verse describes? A tent set up dedicated to talking with God. Everyone who sought the Lord would go to this tent. When Moses entered the tent, God’s cloud of glory would be visible above it. Moses and God would talk face to face, like friends. What would you give to have a turn in the tent of meeting? What would you pay to listen in on God and Moses, and even speak to God and hear from Him personally as well? What was special about Moses? Why did God give him this special privilege, this respect, and not others? 

Well, the truth is, there wasn’t anything special about Moses. He wasn’t sinless; in fact, he had murdered a man in Egypt and then fled to escape the authorities. He spent his life hiding in the desert and apparently had a speech impediment. We see from Scripture that he often was angry, overwhelmed, and frustrated. Many theologians believe he would have been diagnosed with depression or at least an anxiety disorder if he were alive today. Yet God showed up when he went to the tent of meeting. 

The truth is, “There is no respect of persons with God” (Romans 2:11, KJV); or from a more modern translation, “God does not show favoritism.” (NLT). Just because the Bible says that God talked to Moses like a friend doesn’t imply that God doesn’t talk to others in the same way. 2 Corinthians 3:8 says that the glory, ministry, and access we have to God in the new covenant far exceeds what Moses had in his day. You and I have access to far more of God than Moses did. Do you believe this? Does your prayer life reflect this truth? Are you taking time in the tent of meeting to talk with God?  

We now have a “tent of meeting” time before our church services to gather with other believers and pray. Will you pay the price to enter the tent? The price of getting up earlier and getting to church. The price of praying with others. The price of praying aloud. The price of expending time, energy, and expectation, so that God’s glory will show up. Saints, let’s not miss this opportunity to get some “face time” with the Lord!

Transformation Takes Effort

Ephesians 4:21-24: “Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.  Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.”

Oh, what joy to become new again! We all know that the work of salvation is nothing that we do but is only by His grace. But the life of a Christian doesn’t stop there. We are to be transformed into the likeness of Christ. In verse 24 of the passage above, it says we are to “put on [our] new nature.” That means we are to take action. 

Throughout Scripture, we learn that we are to continue to change to become more like Jesus. We are called to be active in the process of our transformation. 

Ephesians 4:3 tells us to “make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.” And again, in Hebrews 12:14, we are to “work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.” Our relationship with others matters to God. We need to actively pursue peace with others. In doing so, we are transformed. 

In 2 Timothy 3:15, it says to “work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive approval. Be a good worker.” God cares about our work life as it also affects our spiritual life. 

Even in times of rest, we are called to actively pursue it.  Hebrews 4:11 says “so let’s do our best to enter that rest.” We need to plan our Sabbath rest times and make them happen.

And while we are waiting for the Lord’s return, we are instructed in 2 Peter 3:14 to “make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in His sight.”

Our salvation is free! We don’t have to work for it; however, we do have to work at our transformation. We are called to become more and more like Jesus. What are you doing to heed His call?

Align My Heart With Yours

I’ve been contemplating three things Jesus said in the book of Matthew and how they may connect.  

Matthew 9:36 
36 And what pity he felt for the crowds that came, because their problems were so great and they didn’t know what to do or where to go for help. 

I picture Jesus walking into any crowded area today.  No doubt he would have compassion for the crowds “because their problems were so great and they didn’t know what to do or where to go for help”.  Abuse, betrayal, death, depression, divorce, no love, no purpose, unemployment—the list goes on.   

Matthew 22:37-38
37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.

How can the second commandment about loving our neighbor be “equally important”?  Other translations say the second commandment is “like the first.”  Could the connection be that it is through loving our neighbor that we love God?  

Matthew 25:44-45
44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’  45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’”

How easy it is for me to live my life ignoring the hurts and problems of all those around me.  I can attend church and read my Bible, and then check loving God off my to-do list while completely missing the heart of Jesus.  How many times have I ignored the practical, emotional, physical, spiritual, mental, and financial needs of others?  I think of my own problems and I talk to God about all my issues while ignoring the people that Jesus clearly is calling me to love.

Jesus, forgive me for not loving my neighbor.  I pray to the Lord of the harvest and ask you to align my heart with yours so that I may love the refugee, the prisoner, the foreigner, the orphan, the widow, the poor, the downtrodden, the neglected, and the ignored.  Teach me what it means to love my neighbor and, in turn, teach me what it means to love you.

Harvest Alliance

“From Christ the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love,” Ephesians 4:16. The church is often compared to a physical body and each of us are like parts of that body. “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.” 1 Corinthians 12:12. Every part has a unique function and the body is dependent upon each part doing its share in order to be whole and healthy.

In the same way an individual needs to be part of a church body, churches need to belong to a larger network or affiliation. To continue the metaphor, if a local church is a body, that body must belong to a community. Isolation as an individual or as a local church is not healthy. We need one another to thrive. 

Harvest Alliance (H.A.) is an international network of churches and ministries pursuing revival. It was founded in 2019 after our former association, Partners In Harvest, was dissolved. At the time this was very difficult for me. I had invested 20 years into, and was involved in the top leadership of Partners. But circumstances beyond my control led to its dissolution. Now I believe that in order for growth to happen it requires a new “wineskin” or organizational structure. Harvest Alliance continues with the same F.I.R.E. values we have held dear - Father heart of God; Intimacy with God and others; Restoration of our heart, soul, mind, and body; and Equipping through the Holy Spirit. 

Unlike Partners which was a top down hierarchical leadership, Harvest Alliance is a true alliance of churches and groups of churches working together. God is far from finished and as a church and a network of churches we are called to chase after that to which God has called us. Harvest Alliance has over 60 churches in 9 nations and is growing.

Our sister churches in Vandalia and South Carolina are also members of Harvest Alliance. We gain a great deal of strength, encouragement, and resources from being linked together with a larger expression of the Body of Christ. Throughout the past two years we have conducted monthly meetings via Zoom to equip and encourage the leaders of churches. In October 2021 we held our first in person gathering in England. In February we held a retreat hosted by New Day S.C. My trip to Turkey to support our sister church there is supported through Harvest Alliance. And on the way back I will spend 4 days in England at an H.A. leadership conference. It is an honor to be part of this vibrant growing affiliation. Find out more at www.harvestalliance.org.

Jesus is the Way

I have been really edified with the daily reading and commentary from the Bible in a Year podcast. I keep finding myself moved by the Holy Spirit. I’ve been impacted routinely, and I have been filled with great thankfulness and appreciation as I read (or hear) Jesus’ words. He is so wise and so compassionate. He is SO REAL. Hearing his assurances, over and over, to his disciples is bringing me a lot of peace, even in the mist of some challenges and trials in the current season of life.

How often, when we are going through a challenging time, do we wonder what the Lord could possibly be up to? It is hard to wait on the Lord when we really need an answer to prayer! We desperately want to know what is happening, and how he is going to come through for us. Sometimes we can’t see him working in the middle of the circumstance or situation. We ask, “Where are you, Lord?!”

In John 14, Jesus is speaking to his disciples and telling them that he is going to prepare a place for them, and tells them they’ll know the way to the place where he is going. Thomas responds that they definitely don’t know where he is going, nor the way to get there. In answer, Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

I think Jesus is saying that we actually don’t have to know the way. We have to know WHO the way is. If we follow Jesus closely, walking with him daily, we don’t really have to know the exact destination or how long it’s going to take to get there. But we can know HIM, and the more we know him, the greater the sense of peace we’ll have, waiting on the answers to our prayers. He is WITH us.

So, friends, keep reading his word to learn about his character. Keep listening to his assurances contained therein. Keep talking to him and seeking him in prayer. Grow in knowing Him, and he’ll keep leading the way by being your Way. 

“War and Rumors of War”

As a child I remember watching the daily reports of the Vietnam War. My brothers and I often played army, even receiving matching army uniforms for Christmas one year.  I recall the many years of the Cold War when the Western nations opposed the Soviet nations in a constant push for influence. I recall vividly in 1980 when the Soviet Union sent troops into Poland attempting to crush the fledgling Solidarity movement. That eventually led to a free Poland and the end of the Soviet Union. I recall the 1980s Falklands War when Britain battled Argentina over territories. I remember the Eastern European and African wars in the ‘90s. 

I met a man in Thailand while doing street evangelism who was blind in one eye. When he found out I was an American, he told me the story of being a young soldier in Bosnia. He was overtaken by an enemy soldier and they wrestled to the ground. The enemy pinned him to the ground and removed one eye. Then, in an act of mercy, they left his other eye intact and him lying in the field. He was crying when he told me this story. He was extremely grateful to the USA, as we sent military aid to end that conflict. President Bill Clinton was his hero because the aid was sent during Clinton’s term. 

Those old enough cannot forget the powerful images of the tragic attack of 9/11 in 2001, which plunged our nation and many others into a decades-long battle against terrorism. I have seen war, from a distance, far too often in my short life. This past week, war erupted again as Russia invaded Ukraine. I’ve been to Ukraine. I have friends who live there, and there are churches at which I have ministered. Again we see the images of suffering and destruction in the news reports. 

Jesus said in Matthew 24:6, “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” Because this is in a chapter in which Jesus discusses His return, many mistake that war is a sign of the end. Jesus actually says the opposite when He states, “See that you are not troubled … the end is not yet.” In other words, wars and rumors of wars are and have always been a constant in human history. Until Christ returns as the Prince of Peace, the world will be at war. 

As Christ-followers, we should not be overcome with fear or become complacent. We are on a mission from our commander-in-chief, Jesus, to influence those around us with the message of hope. We have the weapons of the gospel. As we communicate the truth of Jesus and the promise of salvation, we can change lives which results in a changed world. We have the mighty power of prayer to call upon God’s mercy to end suffering and injustice and to deliver those in need. Each of us can do our part if we remain faithful.

Travel & Missions

As a boy I dreamed of traveling the world. I loved geography and social studies, as we studied how people around the world lived. I devoured every issue of National Geographic magazine I could get my hands on. I was 40 when I finally was able to travel to another country (not counting Toronto). My first trip was to Japan for the dedication of the new building for our sister church Every Nation Izu. It was an amazing trip and it opened my eyes to the world.

Another trip that fundamentally changed how I saw the world was to Morocco, a Muslim nation in northern Africa. We stayed with an indiginous Berber family in the High Atlas mountains. It's difficult to describe how simply these people lived. Their houses were constructed of layers of mud and straw. But they were not mud huts. They were nice homes, large with many rooms and incredibly clean. They had absolutely no furniture, and would cook on a fire built on the floor. Once cooking was done, the fire was removed and the area cleaned up as though it had never happened. The food was amazing. There were raised platforms with mats used for beds, and we sat on mats for meals. On the way home I purchased the National Geographic magazine for that month. The cover story was about the Berber tribes in the High Atlas mountains. I was actually there, in the very region the current issue of National Geographic magazine was featuring—a childhood dream fulfilled.

Jesus said, in Mark 16:15, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” When Jesus said this to his disciples on the mountain, it was beyond the capabilities of his listeners. Jesus’ command was not just to the 11, but to all his followers, including you and me. They did manage to travel great distances. Peter made it to Rome, where he was martyred. Paul is believed to have gone as far as Spain. Others traveled throughout northern Africa. Thomas traveled the farthest, reaching India. To this day, the church in India recognizes the Apostle Thomas as its founder, and I have met a man who is an ordained pastor from that denomination.

I am fortunate to go to the nations for short-term missions. Others devote their lives long-term to missions. But all of us can help fulfill the call by supporting financially. Before every missions trip I’ve taken, I did not have the finances when I made the decision. I decided it was right, and then believed God for the provision for the vision. In March, I need to travel to a region where the church is currently under oppression. I will share about this on Sunday 2/27. In addition to providing for my travel, I feel called to bring a generous gift to both the new pastors of the church, and a gift to the church. This church is incredibly effective at ministering to those who have never heard the gospel before, even though the church has suffered greatly. Please prayerfully consider financially supporting this endeavor as we work together to fulfill the Great Commission by indicating an amount to “March Mission” on your offering.

Invitation to a Healthy Heart

The Healthy Heart sermon series is an invitation to you: Come enter the world of the heart, look inside yourself, and be transformed to live the life God intended for you.

“From the moment we claim the truth of being the Beloved, we are faced with the call to become who we are… Becoming the Beloved means letting the truth of our belovedness become enfleshed in everything we think, say, or do. It entails a long and painful process of appropriation or, better, incarnation. As long as ‘being the Beloved’ is little more than a beautiful thought or a lofty idea… nothing really changes.”  –Henri Nouwen, Life of the Beloved

Nouwen says it so well! We must become who we are in Christ! This “becoming” happens in the core of our being—our heart. Being a Christian means we work to align ourselves with the will, word, and way of Jesus. The Healthy Heart sermon series at New Day is designed to help you do just that. The sermons are focused on ways you can cultivate a healthy heart.

God wants to mature you in the inner world—the world of your heart. He wants to walk you through the process of becoming the Beloved. The Apostle Paul describes this process in Colossians 3:9-15 when he calls us “as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved” to put off the old self and put on the new self. Jesus talks extensively about the world of the heart (Matt 5:8, 12:34, 13:15, 15:19, 18:35, Mark 11:23). Check it out! God is looking for men and women “after his own heart.” People like David (Acts 13:22) who will do his will, and people like the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) who are full of compassion for those in need.

Adopt for yourself the approach of David and the persistence of Paul. David was open and willing to let God bring heart issues to the surface and lead him to a new life of freedom and wholeness. Paul never counted himself a finished product, but vowed to always “press on” in the “upward call” of God. Let’s be persistent like Paul, taking the same approach as David, who wrote:

Psalm 139:23–24 (ESV): “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (emphasis mine)

The Healthy Heart sermon series is an invitation to you: Come enter the world of the heart, look inside yourself, and be transformed to live the life God intended for you.
Link to the first sermon in the series: https://youtu.be/nMoYk2sCbG0

No Regrets

In Acts chapter 20, Paul is compelled by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem, not knowing what would happen to him there, knowing that in every city the Spirit warned him that prison and hardships would face him.

Paul says, “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may FINISH THE RACE and COMPLETE THE TASK the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace” (verse 24, emphasis mine).

Before Paul departs for Jerusalem, the elders of Ephesus share an emotional farewell with him. They kneel down and pray and weep as they embrace and kiss Paul, knowing they will never see him again. What a heart-wrenching farewell with his dear friends and co-laborers for the gospel.

I am deeply impacted and motivated by Paul’s drive to complete what the Lord gave him to do and his confidence in having NO REGRETS upon departing. Paul declares he can say so because he had never hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to them, but taught publicly and from house to house, declaring to all that they “must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus” (verse 21).

He goes on to encourage the Ephesians to keep watch over themselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit made them overseers. He tells them to be shepherds of the church of God, which Jesus bought with his own blood (verse 28). He warns them to be on guard because wolves would come after them to draw disciples away.

Would it not be amazing to one day come to the end of a chapter of our lives or ministries and have NO REGRETS, and like Paul, to be able to say we lived in a godly way, having boldly declared, “Turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus”? 

What could we do now in order to later say, “I’ve completed the task God gave me and I have no regrets”? Maybe our current priorities would change; maybe our focus would be fixed on the ultimate goal even in the midst of tending our present troubles; maybe our boldness would be greater; maybe our fear of man would be tiny in comparison to our fear of and passion for God. What might it look like for you?

Spiritual Tune-Up Time

I’m sitting in the car repair shop waiting for my car to get its 20,000-mile service. I have to admit that this car has received the most regular service of any of my cars, even though I’m pretty good about it. This car has a bothersome notification that comes up on my dashboard when service is needed.  It’s such a bothersome notification that I schedule an appointment as soon as it pops up. Another reason I’m diligent about regularly servicing my cars is because I didn’t know the importance of it with my first car.  I bought a metallic blue Chevy Chevelle when I was in high school.  It was used, but in great condition and had low mileage. I tricked it out, adding an amazing stereo, deep dish aluminum wheels, BF Goodrich Radial tires, air shocks, and fog lights.  It was a sweet ride.  

But after driving it for probably a year, I was getting gas and told the station attendant to check the oil.  Yes, it was a full service gas station; in fact, self service wasn’t even heard of back then.  The attendant checked my oil multiple times and brought over the oil dipstick and showed me that I didn’t have any oil in the engine. He was amazing and asked when the last time I checked it, or changed the oil, was, and I sheepishly said I hadn’t in a year. Thankfully he was able to add oil and the engine wasn’t hopelessly damaged, but from then on it burned oil.  Neglecting the regular service resulted in long-term damage, a reduced life for the engine, increased cost of repairs, and embarrassment for not knowing better. 

The Bible has notifications for us as well.  In Proverbs 4:23, it warns us to “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” In many ways our heart is the engine of our lives. It certainly is physically, but this verse is speaking about our “inner man, mind, will, heart, and understanding” (BDB Bible Dictionary).  We need regular maintenance on our hearts, and often we need repairs and upgrades. Too often we think our lives are driven by external forces outside of our control, but this verse tells us that what’s on the inside determines the course of our lives.

Jesus says the same thing in Matthew 12:35: “A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.” Our February teaching series will focus on developing a Healthy Heart. Let’s all consider this an opportunity to get a spiritual tune-up!

The Community of Trees

I love trees and I always have. There is just something so majestic and awe-inspiring about them. 

The church—and I mean the people—are so like trees. Ps. 92:13 says, “For they are transplanted into the LORD’s own house. We are God’s family with our roots in our faith in Him.” 

While Ray and I were walking through a nature preserve, I took a picture which showed some trees whose roots were intertwined aboveground. I was fascinated that the roots were tangled together. I had no idea that the roots of different trees actually “talk” to each other.

In the book The Hidden life of Trees, Peter Wolleben explains that different species of trees communicate with one another in what is called the “Wood Wide Web”. Research has shown that trees will warn others of drought, insects, and other dangers through their root system. Likewise, we are to share our trials and triumphs with one another. Philippians 2:4: “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.“

According to Jessica Stewart’s article “Research Shows the Incredible Way Trees Help Each Other Survive in the Forest”, a stump can continue to live by receiving nutrients from its host tree. Their roots are connected, so it will continue to support the stump. God instructs us to protect one another. Rom 15:1-2: “We who have strong faith should help the weak with their problems. We should not please only ourselves. We should all please our neighbors. Let us do what is good for them. Let us build them up.”

We see that the trees can lend so much to each other, even those of different species. So should we—who may be very different from each other—support, love, encourage, warn, and protect one another. Heb 10:24-25: “Let us consider how we can stir up one another to love. Let us help one another to do good works. Let us not give up meeting together. Some are in the habit of doing this. Instead, let us cheer each other up with words of hope. Let us do it all the more as you see the day coming when Christ will return.”

Study for Life

The theme verse for our January series is 2 Tim. 2:15: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” In the KJV it reads as, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God…” The word “Be diligent” or “Study” is also translated elsewhere as endeavor and labor. It takes work and diligence to properly understand God’s Word. We can easily be edified by Scripture simply by reading or singing a verse, but in-depth study produces a deeper understanding and releases greater authority in our lives. 

Bible study is not only for preparing a teaching or sermon. The Bible honors the people in Berea because they studied the Scripture. Acts 17:11-12: “And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul's message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men.” The result was not only convincing them of the truth, but also many Jews and Gentiles coming to faith. Bible study led to revival! 

The Old Testament required the same diligence. Deut. 11:18-19: "So commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.” Reading, studying, memorizing, and meditating on Scripture is a vital part of a believer's life. 

If you hear a sermon or podcast or read something that catches your attention, look to the Bible and learn how that issue is addressed. Identify a keyword, like “freedom.” A quick search of the word will lead you to many promises, like John 8:36: “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” and 2 Corinthians 3:17: “Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” But there are also warnings, like Gal. 5:13: “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” and 1 Peter 2:16: “Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.”

Digging deeper will always lead you to greater understanding of God’s Word and the ability to live out the nature of God in our lives. I hope that this month of sermons on the importance of studying Scripture empowers and motivates you to dig into the riches of the Bible and that we all develop a habit to study for life. 

Sanctity of Human Life

“You made all the delicate inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13 (NLT)

This Sunday, churches across the country will observe National Sanctity of Human Life Day.  Together as a body, we will have the opportunity to come before the throne of God on behalf of those affected by abortions (including the unborn).  It is a sobering reminder that there are many in our community who, when facing hardships created by an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy, feel they can find no other alternative.

Just as each abortion represents a life created in God’s image, so does that of the mothers and fathers who made the choice to abort.  My heart breaks for each of these people.  I do not know their life’s circumstances.  I may never understand the struggles they wrestled with that brought them to that decision.  What I do know is that each person, each Image Bearer of the Most High King, is deeply loved by their Heavenly Father.  This Sunday, as we remember the unborn, let’s also remember those in our community who are in pain and in need.  Those who are battling addiction.  Those who are living in poverty.  Those who are in abusive relationships.  Those who are desperate enough to end a pregnancy.  

Each of us has our own store of resources, like money or time.  Let’s look for ways to spend those resources on those in need in our community.  We can be confident that as we care for the needy, we are serving our Lord.

“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you?  Or thirsty and give you something to drink?  Or a stranger and show you hospitality?  Or naked and give you clothing.  When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’  And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!” Matt. 25: 47-40 (NLT)

To those reading this who have chosen abortion, please know you are welcomed, accepted, and valued.  We love you and do not judge.  We are here for you.  Thank you for being a part of our New Day community, fellow Image Bearers.

Hearing and Obeying

"Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?” Jesus exclaimed in Luke 6:46. In the Message it is translated, "Why are you so polite with me, always saying 'Yes, sir,' and 'That's right, sir,' but never doing a thing I tell you?” I’d give just about anything to hear Jesus' tone of voice and see the expression on His face when He said these words. To me it sounds like He was frustrated, or maybe amused, or possibly being serious in questioning the motivation of those He was addressing.  

When we read this in the Bible, we have the advantage of knowing who Jesus is, that He will be crucified and later resurrected. We know that the people hearing Him speak were hearing the very words of God Himself! But the people standing there listening to Jesus didn’t know the rest of the story. They simply had this rabbi telling them profound truths and having to sort through how they should respond. Unfortunately, even though we should know better, we also listen, say “Amen,” and nod, but often don’t actually change our behavior or deeply-held beliefs and attitudes.  

I’ve often experienced times where I thought I explained myself thoroughly, and that those who heard me agreed to what I was saying and the plan for moving forward—only to find out later that people didn’t end up doing what I had envisioned. I, of course, am not infallible and I am most often the cause of being misunderstood or having unrealistic expectations. But I’ve experienced the frustration, at times have been amused, and at other times seriously perplexed at the response of others. Did they hear what I said? Did they understand what I meant? Were they serious when they agreed and made a commitment to a plan of action? Was it all real or did I imagine the whole situation? — these scenarios and more are a common thought process I have gone through. 

When we read or hear God’s Word, are we responding like these people in this passage or are we genuinely receiving the Word as the instructions of our Lord? Are we being polite and saying “Amen” but inwardly saying “What the heck” or “No way”? If we desire our lives to stand through the storms that come, we must not only hear but also DO what God instructed. I hope that we are able to hear Jesus and respond with genuine obedience and become all that He intends us to be. As James writes, “Don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.”

What is Seen is Temporary

Have you noticed that there is something in the human spirit that craves the supernatural? Whether or not a person is a Christian or believes in the realm of the supernatural, isn’t the human race always chasing what can’t be seen? Whether it’s in the realm of fantasy for the purpose of escape, or analyzing concrete explanations by way of science, isn’t the pursuit of the unknown and chasing the impossible built into our DNA?

As Christians, we subscribe to the belief that the kingdom of heaven is the stronger reality between heaven and earth. This earth is temporary, but the kingdom of heaven is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18 says, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” We chase God, knowing his kingdom is real, but all the while engaging our faith so that it grows more and more sure of his enduring reality.

That is why I’m so excited to be reading God’s Word together this year. To pursue the eternal Word, and to dig into the most absolute reality, is going to be so good for our spirits. It will fill us with even more wonder and craving for the supernatural things of God. Now more than ever, it is vital to be rooted and grounded in the truth. There is so much in this world that competes for our attention. There is so much influence out there attempting to water down or call into question the validity of God’s Word. There is so much fantasy that we could easily escape to in different forms of entertainment, but none of that is real, and none of that has lasting value or can satisfy your soul.

To read and study God’s Word is to fulfill Ephesians chapter 6, which is putting on the full armor of God. I encourage you to read it and to take up the challenge. Fit your feet with the gospel of peace. Buckle up with truth, and take up the shield of faith. Wear righteousness right on the front of you, and take up your sword—the Word of God. Protect your thoughts and mind with the helmet of salvation. These things will equip you and protect you in all the ways you need, so that when tough times come, you don’t crumble under the burden. Anything else you seek to comfort you won’t do the job in the end, and when distractions don’t work anymore, you’ll discover that you have what you really need in the concrete word of God!