Unleashed – As You Go – Pray

“Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah? They came out of the town and made their way toward him.” John 4:28-30

“WHAT’LL YA HAVE.. WHAT’LL YA HAVE?” This legendary greeting at The Varsity in Atlanta has been shouted out to Presidents, college students, business people and countless others since 1928. It can be a little overwhelming the first time you walk into the restaurant, trust me, it is better to go with an experienced Varsity patron the first time! These welcoming words provide the opening needed to satisfy one’s hunger and thirst.

“Will you give me a drink?” are gentler, quieter words spoken in John 4. However, these words will prove to be much more life altering than “What’ll ya have..what’ll ya have?”  Instead of asking for a “Chili-Cheese-Slaw-Dog” with a side order of onion rings, a fried peach pie and a “frosted orange drink” this woman will finally ask for food that gives complete life.

A nameless, broken woman has trudged along the same dusty path, in the blazing heat of noon, day after day for years. Never looking up, she has walked this same path from her village in Sychar to fill her water jug at the community well. Unlike the Varsity that says, “there’s not a faster, fresher, or more fun-filled dining experience like it anywhere,” the well is a lonely, isolated place for this woman. There are no sounds of laughter from other women. There is no one to help her pull the heavy bucket out of the well. There is no one to share stories.   Lonely, rejected, tired – that is, until one day she hears a man asking for water.

John tells us that Jesus was tired from his long journey from Judea. Finding a place in the shadow of a well, Jesus sits down. In the distance he sees this broken, tired woman making her way to the well. As she lowers the pot, Jesus begins a life changing conversation with the simple question, “will you give me a drink?”

The exchange is still as powerful today as it was then. We live in a world still building walls – ethnic, racial, economic, and gender.  Not Jesus! He is breaking down these walls, inviting us to a new life.

“You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman.” The woman runs to get behind her ethnicity wall. Jesus will not let her!

“Just then his disciples return and are surprised to find him talking with a woman,” The disciples try to put her behind the wall of her gender. Jesus will not let them!

“Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” The woman tries to get behind her religious tradition walls to hide. Jesus will not let her!

“The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” The woman tries to hide behind the wall of easy ‘believism’. Jesus will not let her!

“I have no husband.” The woman tries to hide behind her wall of guilt and shame. Jesus will not let her!

“Meanwhile his disciples urge him, “Rabbi, eat something.” The Disciples try to hide behind the wall of momentary pleasure. Jesus will not let them!

“The woman said, “I know that Messiah is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” The woman tries to hide behind her wall of doubt and lack of knowledge. Jesus will not let her!

A conversation asking for water ends up changing a despised, broken woman into a beloved child of God. A timid announcement gets the attention of the village folks who end up welcoming Jesus as their Savior. A gentle reprimand to the disciples to “open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”

“You are no longer faced with an argument which demands your assent, but with a Person who demands your confidence.” –C.S. Lewis

“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35

Pray for those you meet to be ready to ask the question, “will you give me a drink?” A simple request that could began a life-changing conversation for you and them.

God is great,

Pastor Lynn Burton

Unleashed: As You Go – Pray

Some of Jesus’ disciples remarked about the beauty of the temple. They pointed out all the lovely adornments and how it was built with excellence from the gifts given to God. Jesus said, “The day will come that everything you admire here will be utterly destroyed. It will all become a heap of rubble!” Luke 21: 5-6 The Passion Translation

One can only imagine the look of shock and bewilderment on the disciple’s faces that morning when Jesus spoke these words captured in Luke 21. Already a little confused over the lesson on giving, they now get thrown another blow. “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?”

There are volumes of books on the various end time theologies and interpretations. However, we often overlook the hope that Jesus shared in these verses. I have a sense that every generation since Jesus spoke these words could have applied this question to their situation. I could almost agree that these last few months could be written for us as we stand on our current stage in history. Daily on the evening news, we have seen things we hold dear being destroyed, wars and rumors of wars, epidemics, pandemics, plagues and the like.

C.S. Lewis wrote in “God in the Dock” that “The world might stop in ten minutes; meanwhile, we are to go on doing our duty. The great thing is to be found at one’s post as a child of God, living each day as though it were our last, but planning as though our world might last a hundred years.”

“We have, of course, the assurance of the New Testament regarding events to come. I find it difficult to keep from laughing when I find people worrying about future destruction of some kind or other. Didn’t they know they were going to die anyway?”

Jesus’ Disciples, just like us, wanted a date in time. It would be so much easier to have a date to put into our planning calendar when the world comes to an end. However, Jesus didn’t give them a date. He simply gave them Himself. When the impostors come, and they will, Jesus said don’t look to them. Jesus reminded them that “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified.” Jesus encouraged them when arrested that “this will give you an opportunity to testify.” He told them “simply speak with the words of wisdom that I will give you that moment, and none of your persecutors will be able to withstand the grace and wisdom that comes from your mouths.”

Maybe this verse was in the mind of NBA Orlando Magic’s Jonathan Isaac when he chose not to kneel at the start of the game. During the after-game interview he responded, “We all sin and the answers to all of the world’s problems, not only racism, is the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.” (The Associated Press)

How do we respond to our “Luke 21” times? Jesus reminds us “Be careful that you never allow your hearts to grow cold. Remain passionate and free from anxiety and the worries of this life. Then you will not be caught off guard by what happens. Don’t let me come and find you drunk or careless in living like everyone else.” (The Passion Translation)

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, writing from his jail cell at Tegel Prison, wrote that “Blessing means laying one’s hand on something and saying: Despite everything, you belong to God. This is what we do with the world that inflicts such suffering on us. We do not abandon it; we do not repudiate, despise, or condemn it. Instead we call it back to God, we give it hope, we lay our hand on it and say: may God’s blessing come upon you, may God renew you; be blessed, world created by God, you who belong to your Creator and Redeemer.”

Bonhoeffer’s words still ring true for us today as we struggle in our pandemic, violence and persecuted days while praying for our world to see the love and hope found only in Jesus Christ. Calling them back to God. “The righteous respond to their suffering…by blessing. This was God’s response to the world that crucified Jesus Christ—blessing. Without blessing, there is no hope. “ (Donald McKim)

Today may you “Keep a constant watch over your soul, and pray for the courage and grace to prevail over these things that are destined to occur and that you will stand before the presence of the Son of Man with a clear conscience.”

God is great,

Pastor Lynn Burton

Unleashed: As You Go – Pray

Unleashed – As You Go – Pray

“Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:21-23

I was in Mrs. Parrish’s 4th grade class when Mr. Conover announced on the loud speaker that President Kennedy had been assassinated. I can still hear the explosion and feel the building shake sitting at my desk in Nairobi, Kenya, when the bomb blast destroyed the America Embassy and several blocks of buildings. I still can picture the images from that early morning newscast in Kenya of wounded people being carried out of the bombed-out Alfred P. Murrah Federal building in Oklahoma City. I can still picture the faces of stunned colleagues at the IMB office in Richmond as we watched as two planes flew into the NYC World Trade Center buildings. Everyone of us have asked and answered the question, “Where were you when _______?”.

These and countless other events will be etched forever in our minds. It is amazing how the most minute detail of “where we were and who we were with” can be described in detail years later. The same vivid description can be recounted of personal life-changing events. Forever etched in my mind will be the night, as a third-grade boy, I finally grasped Jesus’ invitation for Him to be my Savior. Forever etched in my memory is the day I watched my future wife walk down the aisle of our church in Oklahoma City to begin our life together. Forever etched in my memory is the birth of each one of our children. These memories are forever etched that I may remember God’s grace and goodness in my life.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote “Just as the ancient sun rises daily anew, so also is God’s eternal mercy new every morning. Being able to grasp God’s ancient faithfulness anew each morning, being able to begin a new life with God daily in the midst of one’s present life with God, that is the gift God gives us with each new morning.”

We can take these ingrained images of the past as gifts that allow us to never forget the faithfulness of God in our lives. Out of the tragedies of life events we can rest in God “and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.” (Ps. 61:4) We can know “he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand” (Psalm 40:2) when we faced difficult challenges. Recalling these past events remind us that “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.” (Ps. 18:2) In these captured memories of life’s special events we can “sing out with songs of thanksgiving to the LORD! Let’s sing our praises with melodies overflowing.” (Ps. 147:7)

Our storehouse of memories, when anchored to God’s steadfast and unceasing love, allow us to face the present difficulties with courage, the present tragedies with confidence, the present sadness with peace, the present blessings with thankfulness and the present moment with humility and gratitude.

Bonhoeffer wrote that “gratitude is just another word for the faith that remains unshaken even when God seems to be concealed for a short moment, faith that is joyous amid tears because it knows about Christ the redeemer, has its foundation completely in Christ, and holds fast to his good news.”

2020 will most likely be one of those pivotal moments forever ingrained in your soul. We are so often like the disciples in the boat, “Master, Master, we’re sinking! Don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” Then we see Jesus turn and say, “with great authority Jesus rebuked the howling wind and surging waves, and instantly they stopped and became as smooth as glass. Then Jesus said to them. “Why are you fearful? Have you lost your faith in me?” (Luke 8:22-25)

Lord, in the midst of today’s health, cultural and political storms, I do get scared. I can’t see any way out for this nation, yet when I keep my eyes upon you I can feel the calm, I can feel the hope and I can see the morning light. You stilled the stormy sea, you can still the storm of today.

God is great,
Pastor Lynn Burton

Unleashed: As You Go – Pray

“God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, in order that, as it is written, Let the one who boasts, boast in the LORD. “  I Corinthians 1:28-31

Gathered around the campfire after the miraculous feeding of the 5,000, Jesus asked the life-changing question that He still asks us today, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” The disciples thought for a few minutes and started giving names: John the Baptist, Elijah or maybe “one of the prophets of old has risen.” Jesus gets a little more personal and asks his disciples, “But who do you say that I am?” This is the million-dollar question or, better yet, the eternal question. Peter finally gets it right, you are “The Christ of God.” (Luke 9:18-21)

“I have heard some people complain that if Jesus was God as well as man, then His sufferings and death lose all value in their eyes, “because it must have been so easy for Him.” Others may (very rightly) rebuke the ingratitude and ungraciousness of this objection; what staggers me is the misunderstanding it betrays. In one sense, of course, those who make it are right. They have even understated their own case. The perfect submission, the perfect suffering, the perfect death were not only easier to Jesus because He was God, but were possible only because He was God. But surely that is a very odd reason for not accepting them?” (C.S. Lewis)

Over the course of time, people continue to be confronted with the same question. Over the years, the crowd has answered that Jesus was a teacher, a good man, prophet or even the leader of Christianity. Yet, as Peter confessed, there is only one answer; Jesus is “The Christ of God.”

A crowd-type answer was made a few weeks ago by CNN TV host, Don Lemon, that Jesus Christ was not perfect. “Here’s the thing,” Mr. Lemon said to Americans upset over criticism of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and other historical giants. “Jesus Christ, if that is who you believe in, Jesus Christ, admittedly was not perfect when He was here on this earth. So why are we deifying the founders of this country, many of whom owned slaves?” (Washington Post)

Honoring and deifying someone are a world apart. I rather doubt if Washington, Jefferson or Lincoln would desire to be deified. Lincoln, in the midst of the Civil War wrote, “Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us. It behooves us, then, to humble ourselves before the offended power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.” He knew the nation had only one place to look for the right answer and that it was not him.

The Apostle Paul understood the heart of the question, “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” (I Cor. 2:2)

Every person in every generation will be asked the same question: “But who do you say that I am?” How you answer has eternal consequences; just a teacher will not work, just a prophet will not work, just a good man will not work.

What we do have is a perfect Savior. “Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16)

God is great,

Pastor Lynn Burton

Unleashed: As You Go – Pray

But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me.” Mark 14:6

Jesus’ model of leadership is so very different from what we have been taught and modeled in our modern age. Jesus modeled a servant attitude and putting others before himself. He never doubted his abilities or mission because His focus wasn’t on dispersing information, seeking a position or setting in motion a new political movement. His focus was solely upon life-changing transformation through His mission of redemption by His resurrection.

The key to true leadership is found in Jesus. “You are to lead by a different model. If you want to be the greatest one, then live as one called to serve others. The path to promotion and prominence comes by having the heart of a bond-slave who serves everyone.” (Mark 10:43-44 The Passion Translation)

Jesus’ model of leadership is so critical in this election year. Unfortunately, so many of the men and women running for office are career politicians, who have spent their energy in seeking political success for their own motivation. Jesus set an example on how you can truly impact your world. “For even the Son of Man did not come expecting to be served by everyone, but to serve everyone, and to give his life as the ransom price in exchange for the salvation of many.” (Mark 10:45)

You listen to the evening news and begin to think what impact you can have on the events of the day. You most likely will not run for public office. You may not have the unlimited financial resources of a George Soros or a Charles Koch to impact political direction. You may not have the name recognition of a Hollywood elite to influence opinions. However, what you do have is a relationship with a God who does have ultimate influence.

A most significant encounter is recorded in Mark 14 that will set in motion the final unveiling of Jesus’ purpose. Mark shares the story of a woman who breaks all social norms and etiquette when she pours an alabaster jar of costly perfume over Jesus. The religious and social elite go berserk, reprimanding her for this waste but even more, her impetuous action. This solidifies Judas’ plan to betray Jesus, since his hope for a political messiah is dashed. This powerless woman’s action set in motion the betrayal that would lead to Jesus’ crucifixion. It is a simple act of love and devotion that would have life changing significance. Jesus knew the power of this act when he praised her by saying, “She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.” (Mark 14:8-9)

“Self-realization leads to the enthronement of work; whereas the saint enthrones Jesus Christ in his work. Whether it be eating or drinking or washing disciples’ feet, whatever it is, we have to take the initiative to realize Jesus Christ in it. Every phase of our actual life has its counterpart in the life of Jesus. Our Lord realized His relationship to the Father even in the most menial work.” (Oswald Chambers)

In the midst of chaos and uncertainty, God gives hope to our world because of the impact you can make. Never lose heart, knowing what you do does have a life changing impact on our world. Time in prayer will have greater impact that the most connected social media influencer. An act of kindness from you can be the door into a hardened heart. A gentle response you give could open the conversation for a person to come to know Jesus.

God is great,

Pastor Lynn

Unleashed: As You Go, Pray

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7

“History fails to record a single precedent in which nations subject to moral decay have not passed into political and economic decline. There has been either a spiritual awakening to overcome the moral lapse, or a progressive deterioration leading to ultimate national disaster.” Gen. Douglas MacArthur

I can’t help but wonder if we haven’t crossed over and are now reaping the words found in Proverbs 1:24-31. Reading these verses as you watch the evening news seem to go hand in hand – the careless disregard for the lives of people, the wanton destruction of people’s homes and workplaces and the growing fears of uncertainty.

“I called you so often, but you wouldn’t come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention. You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered. So I will laugh when you are in trouble! I will mock you when disaster overtakes you—when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster engulfs you like a cyclone, and anguish and distress overwhelm you. When they cry for help, I will not answer. Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me. For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD. They rejected my advice and paid no attention when I corrected them. Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way, choking on their own schemes. “ (Proverbs 1:24-31 NLT))

Could it be that we allowed fools to be our leaders?

Could it be that we no longer value nor desire civility?

Could it be that we listened to voices of the world instead of God’s word?

Could it be that we tolerated injustice of those who couldn’t defend themselves?

Could it be that we tolerated sexual immorality by calling it enlightened?

Could it be that we tolerated broken homes and abused children because we were too busy?

Could it be that we sought religious structures instead of freedom and truth in Jesus Christ?

Could it be that we replaced God with our own versions of god?

Could it be that we used our prayers to voice our preferences instead of repentance?

A favorite quote of mine over the years is from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, “Let everyone sweep in front of his own door, and the whole world will be clean” and it has merit for today. I do think changing a couple of words in his quote might be even more powerful for us – Let everyone pray in front of his own door, and the whole world will be changed.

As followers of Jesus we are reminded in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 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.”

My prayer for you and for me: Yet Lord you love us, cry over us, seeking us, asking us to return. Lord Jesus we are broken, come now and heal our land as we ask for you to heal our souls.

God is great,

Pastor Lynn

Unleashed – As You Go – Pray

Unleashed – As You Go – Pray

“The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.” Psalm 145:8-9

Throughout the Bible, God inspired the writings of scripture, capturing the whole story, including the failures as well as the victories, of men and women. Granted, it might have made for more edifying reading if some of the dark stains of failure had been left out, but for our benefit and teaching, the writers included the whole story. They captured the close relationship that Adam had with God but also his disobedience. We read of the faithfulness of Noah but also read of his drunken stupor. We read of the valor of Samson along with his character flaws. We learn that David was called a man after God’s own heart yet we have to read of David’s adulterous affair and murderous plot. The cowardly denial by Peter is shared and the nitpicking complaints of Martha. The religious legalism and zeal of Paul is highlighted. Yet God made sure the full stories were captured so we could read of their redemption and restoration. These were men and women who didn’t stay in their sins, but allowed God to restore them. Their flawed stories were not revised but redeemed.

 
Our story may not be mentioned specifically but how marvelously implied it is, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” (Genesis 1:27-28)

 
However, God knew our hearts well and that we would fail to live up to the lofty declaration that He made for mankind. Seminary professor Scot McKnight taught a class on Jesus and would start every semester with two surveys. “The first was a set of questions about the student: what they liked, disliked, believed, and so on. The second was the same set of questions, but this time about Jesus and 90 percent of the time, the answers were exactly the same.” Mark Comer writes “Here’s how you know if you’ve created God in your own image; he agrees with you on everything. He hates all the people you hate. He voted for the person you voted for…And above all, he’s tame. You never get mad at him or blown away by him or scared of him. Because he’s controllable.”

 
Oswald Chambers wrote, “Jesus Christ never trusted human nature, yet He was never cynical, never suspicious, because He trusted absolutely in what He could do for human nature. The pure man or woman, not the innocent, is the safeguarded man or woman. You are never safe with an innocent man or woman. Men and women have no business to be innocent; God demands that they be pure and virtuous. Innocence is the characteristic of a child; it is a blameworthy thing for a man or woman not to be reconciled to the fact of sin.”

 
God didn’t bother to sanitize and revise the stories found in Scripture since “human ways are under the eyes of the LORD, and he examines all their paths.” (Prov 5:21) The writers of Scripture didn’t respond like the latest trends we are seeing where statues are being removed or damaged, streets, buildings and universities renamed because of the past sins of the person. Thankfully God takes us where we are and begins his work of restoration and redemption. “Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.” Hebrews 11:16b

 
Personally, I am thankful that, next to the statue of David’s adulterous affair, the cross of Jesus overshadows the affair. Next to Peter’s statue of denial, the cross of Jesus overshadows the failure. Next to my statue of sinfulness, the cross of Jesus now overshadows all my failures. Instead of trying to tear down your statues of failure and sin, let the cross of Jesus overshadow your statue.

 
“Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. For you, O LORD, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you.” Psalm 86:4-5

 
God is great,
Pastor Lynn

Unleashed: As You Go – Pray

Unleashed: As You Go – Pray

“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.” 2 Chronicles 7:13-15

Preambles are important to set the tone and expectations of a book or program, and especially nations. The original signers of the Declaration of Independence sought to set in motion a government for all the people. A mighty river begins from the tributaries of small rivers and creeks, coursing through the many bends and turns of its path until growing into a powerful, rushing river; so it is with nations.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Stephen Lucas writes that these words have been called “one of the best-known sentences in the English language”, containing “the most potent and consequential words in American history”. For 243 years the people of this nation have sought to capture the ideas set out in these words. Though our history has often been blemished and stained from our failure to live up to these challenging concepts yet the soul of our nation was filled with hopes and aspirations to be greater than any one event. It was the passion and desire of those who ratified the constitution to change the course of history and events until the goals of these words were achieved for all. For every wrong thing there have been multiple rights. Men of clay feet drafted the constitution but they had a desire that their children and their children’s children would someday embellish the heart of these words and make a better nation.

God set in motion a new nation in Genesis 12 when he appeared to Abraham with a most interesting preamble, “Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.” It is hard to imagine a great nation when you don’t have land or people or resources. God even goes one step further and enlarges the vision by telling Abraham, “I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you.” (Genesis 17:6)

Nations and governments have come and gone on the pages of history since God set in motion a great nation arising from Abraham. Yet a mighty nation did arise and continues to arise as each day people come to Jesus as Savior and Lord.

As we approach our 244th birthday as a nation. we can either mourn our failures or look with hope to the future. Today we face a multitude of challenges that can either weaken or strengthen us depending upon where we put our hope and faith.

The stains of our past, whether as a nation or individuals will always be with us but we are not condemned to live in our past. The stains of the past, when brought to the foot of the cross can be reshaped to display a beautiful mosaic of color and designs.  Believers find at the cross the only beacon of hope. On the cross the words, “forgiven” are etched through our past because of the grace of God.

The founders of our nation had a vision of what we could become when we are untied. This is a time our nation needs us, as a church, to pray for grace-filled reconciliation, spirit-led unity and Christ-centered forgiveness.  As we celebrate our 244th birthday, maybe part of the celebration should be reading aloud the words that God gave Solomon in 2 Chronicles on the night of the temple dedication. Truly seeking God’s face, turning from our wicked way and asking Him to heal our land. For only in God can we truly live out the dream of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

God is great.

Pastor Lynn Burton

Healing Bridge Clinic – Re-Opening News

202006 HBC News

As You Go – Pray

“The human spirit can endure a sick body, but who can bear a crushed spirit?” Proverbs 18:14

A crushed spirit seems to be a perfect description of how we are living through these first months of 2020. If the pandemic was not bad enough, during the last several weeks, newscasts have painted pictures of unwarranted deaths followed by destruction and anarchy. The ugliness of these months again raised questions about how we treat each other.  The picture painted by the world is one of despair. It offers false hope in the wrong ways and methods. When we hear the news and read the accounts of the day, we can quickly lose hope and seek to respond to the narrative in the world’s ways.

It is imperative that the church takes back the narrative that is being told. The church in America and around the world has not always responded well to race relations. We have blemishes in our history; yet when the church body is vibrant and walking closely with Jesus, the church has fought the injustice of slavery and its untold evils. We can offer the only true hope in how to care for each other regardless of race.

Andrew Murray penned the following powerful words in the late 1800s. Murray, a South African pastor and writer, knew the only hope for his nation would be in the unleashing of God’s power into the lives of the people.

“Note how God has placed the races side by side to see if our Christianity will enable us to overcome race hatred. Will we, in the power of Christ’s love, prove that “In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11)?”

What an opportunity there is for the church to prove the power of God’s love to change race hatred into brotherly love! God has abundant power to make this happen. As Christians, we need to pray for ourselves and for each other that we would obey the Word of God and live in the power of Christ’s love.”

Evil will always seek to divide and destroy. Only as we seek to daily abide in Christ will we be able to change the narrative that is so desperately needed in our time. Each generation will face the same challenges and the same response will be given to them as to us, “Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.” (John 15:4)

The narrative of the world will always be destruction and division. Our narrative must be one of unity and hope. C.S. Lewis wrote, “Jesus Christ did not say “Go into all the world and tell the world that it is quite right.” The Gospel is something completely different. In fact, it is directly opposed to the world.”

We change the narrative when we tell how from the foundation of time, “God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27).

We change the narrative when we proclaim, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

We change the narrative when we show the world the true church as being “a great multitude that on one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb…” (Revelations 7:9)

We offer a narrative of hope because “if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

God is great,

Pastor Lynn