Unleashed: As You Go – Pray

Unleashed – As You Go – Pray

“The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.” Revelation 1:13-14

This summer has been filled with lots of interesting events. Among them have been the push to remove paintings and statues dating back centuries of the “white” Jesus. Unfortunately, the movement doesn’t have anything to do with being Biblically correct, it has all to do with the new “cancel culture” movement sweeping our nation.

Thankfully Jesus chose a time in history when his disciples couldn’t pull out their iPhones and snap a selfie with him. The Bible doesn’t say a lot about Jesus’ physical description. A very powerful description of Jesus is found in Revelation 1:13-14 written by his good friend John, but equally powerful is John’s follow up description of Jesus. “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Revelation 1:17-18

We now live in a very ego-centric age that is totally self-absorbed with ourselves. We have at our finger -tips information about anything and everyone. We have access to more books, more pictures, more video clips than all the combined generations who lived before us. We are information statured but drowning in self-righteous indignation of the past. It does cause me to wonder how I would have depicted Jesus if I had been an artist living in a by-gone age without access to the internet, TV or modern printing capabilities; if I lived without the rich interrelationship of other cultures, ethic groups and languages; if I had never left my home town. Yet I wanted to share with my little world a reflection of the One I loved deeply, the one who had given me life. What would my Jesus look like on canvas? Somehow the finished piece would probably resemble the people in my world.

Connie and I have a fairly extensive collection of nativity sets from around the world. They are sets collected from the Maasai, Kikuyu, Shona, Tswana, Thai, European, Chilean, Peruvian, and countless other people groups. A most interesting feature common to each of them is that they picture Jesus looking just like them. As I take each set and unwrap each piece at Christmas I never get tired of marveling at the beauty and variety of the cultures of the world that call Jesus their Savior.

Billy Graham once shared a story from Cecil B. De Mille, a movie producer from an earlier era. Graham wrote that “Cecil B. DeMille once told me that his picture “The King of Kings” made during the silent-movie era, was seen by an estimated 800,000,000 people. I asked him why he did not reproduce “The King of Kings” with sound and color. He replied, “I will never be able to do it, because if I gave Jesus a southern accent, the northerners would not think of him as their Christ. If I gave him a foreign accent, the Americans and the British would not think of him as their Christ.” He said, “As it is, people of all nations, from every race, creed, clan, can accept him as their Christ.”

The writers of scripture didn’t concern themselves describing the physical qualities of Jesus, they solely focused on his character, his nature, his message to mankind. The problem comes when we expect every Jesus to look like us instead of us looking like Jesus.

We look like Jesus when we wash the feet of others who are struggling, broken and defeated.

We look like Jesus when we bring peace into the midst of conflict.

We look like Jesus when we take a loaf of bread to our neighbor.

We look like Jesus when we care for the sick and offer comfort to the dying.

We look like Jesus when we tuck our children into bed at night.

We look like Jesus when we share the love of Jesus with a lost world.

We look most like Jesus when we let Jesus take the brush from our hands, and he paints the picture of what He looks like for the world to see. A portrait where “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)

God is great,
Pastor Lynn Burton

Unleashed: As You Go – Pray

While Paul and Barnabas were in Antioch, some false teachers came from Judea to trouble the believers. They taught, “unless you are circumcised, as the law of Moses requires, you cannot be saved.” Acts 15:1

The battle for the truth that frees every man, woman and child continues to be fought just like it was in the first days of the early church.  There have been and continue to be those who teach a “Jesus is not enough” theology. They will agree that Jesus is important but there is always something missing that you need to do to be saved.

In this current page of history, the battle seems to grow more intense each day for the souls of each person. Just one in three adults believe salvation is only through Jesus Christ.  “New research shows that unlike past generations, who readily recognized the reality of sin and the need for salvation through Jesus Christ, American adults today increasingly adopt a “salvation-can-be-earned” perspective, with a plurality of adults believing that if a person is generally good, or does enough good things during their life, they will “earn” a place in Heaven.” (Cultural Research Center)

Luke shares an early account of a faith vs works debate in Actus 15. “Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.” (v5) Paul and Barnabas engaged in a heated exchange with this group of believers who taught a “works plus Jesus” salvation.

The ways of tradition and religious laws will always seek to place their heavy yoke of bondage on people. The same is true in our current generation. According to the 2020 American Worldview Inventory the report states that, “a majority of people who describe themselves as Christian (52%) accept a works-oriented means to God’s acceptance. Even more shocking, however, is that huge proportions of people associated with churches whose official doctrine says eternal salvation comes only from embracing Jesus Christ as savior, and not from being or doing good, believe that a person can qualify for Heaven by being or doing good.”

The study goes on to highlight some of the popular beliefs:

  • There is no absolute moral truth (58%)
  • Basis of truth are factors or sources other than God (58%)
  • Right and wrong is determined by factors other than the Bible (77%)
  • The Bible is not the authoritative and true word of God (59%)
  • People are basically good (69%)
  • The personal definition of success is not based on consistent obedience to God (79%)

Thankfully, God has consistently raised up teachers and leaders over the course of church history who could point people to the truth. They have stood, as Peter stood that day and recounted the truth of a “Jesus-only” salvation. “Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” (v10-11)

P.T. Forsyth wrote that we “do not tell people how they ought to feel towards Christ. That is useless. It is just what they ought that they cannot do. Preach a Christ that will make them feel as they ought.”  It is Jesus Christ that we proclaim. Frank Viola writes that “The apostolic message of Century One was so powerful that it brought Christ and His love to life before its hearers.”

Lord, I desire to see the power of Christ dramatically impacting the lives of people, culture, nation and world.  I pray that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is proclaimed fully as the way of salvation.

 

God is great,

Pastor Lynn

Unleashed: As You Go – Pray

Unleashed – As You Go – Pray

“The council members were astonished as they witnessed the bold courage of Peter and John, especially when they discovered that they were just ordinary men who had never had religious training. Then they began to understand the effect Jesus had on them simply by spending time with him.” Acts 4:13

 

We do things more often than we think simply because something is a habit — formed out of repetition, necessity or observing others. As others observe your actions, they begin to copy those actions. Often, as I worked at my desk in Johannesburg, I would put my pencil behind my ear—a habit. A missionary dad asked his son one day why he was walking around the house with a pencil behind his ear.  His response was, “That’s what Uncle Lynn does.”

A habit, as defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary, is “a settled tendency or usual manner of behavior. An acquired mode of behavior that has become nearly or completely involuntary.” Various studies come to different conclusions about how long it takes for an action to become a habit. In the 1950’s, Dr. Maxwell Maltz’s research showed that it requires “21 days for an old mental image to dissolve and a new one to jell.” Later research, from an intense study at University College London, determined “on average, it takes more than two months before a new behavior becomes automatic—66 days to be exact.”

It didn’t take long for the leaders of the church council to see the difference in Peter and John. Instead of cowering at the inquest, the council leaders were confronted by transformed men.  The council leaders realized they were different for one simple reason, they had spent time with Jesus. Jesus’ habits had become their habits. Jesus’ thoughts had become their thoughts. Jesus’ way had become their way. The years with Jesus had penetrated deep into these two disciples.

Today the world offers countless self-help books wanting to help you take an action and transform it into a habit. However, greater than the self-help books that focus on personal activities that become habits, and more important, is the inward change that comes when we spend time with Jesus.

Over the years I have found a habit that is most helpful in my spiritual life; keeping a journal. I doubt there will be many profound insights archived there, but I do hope that when my children and grandchildren someday read the pages of my journals they will know my heart. I want my journey to be one of hope, faith and prayer regardless of the circumstances. Yes, there will be entries of despair, failures and personal insights but through all the pages I want them to know that whatever the situation, God was my shelter and rock.

During these days when I may feel overwhelmed, uncertain and struggling it is important for me to capture my thoughts and prayers. Not to remember the hurt, but to know I came through it because of the time spent with Jesus. It is from these pages I can reflect on the hope, encouragement, joy and renewal to sustain me through anything.

An open heart, a quiet spirit and an open Bible allows time with Jesus that makes a difference. A lot of folks are missing out on some beautiful times. According to Life Way Research only, “A third of Americans who attend a Protestant church regularly (32%) say they read the Bible personally every day. Around a quarter (27%) say they read it a few times a week.”

This is my prayer for today:  “Lord, my desire is to know You, not what I can get from You, onlyYou. I will ask for things but let them always be with the desire to know You first and foremost. Never let ‘things’ be my prayer list but only that Your will be done. I want to be so in oneness with You that requests flow out of Your heart to my heart. I will never know the depth or the fullness of what You desire unless I am fully one with You.”

God is great,

Pastor Lynn

 

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