Black Friday World

Where is peace in a “Black Friday” world? One of the worst examples of our consuming culture was reported by The Daily News. “A shopper who collapsed while shopping at a Target store in West Virginia went almost unnoticed as customers continued to hunt for bargain deals. Walter Vance, a 61-year-old pharmacist, who reportedly suffered from a prior heart condition, later died at the hospital. Witnesses say some shoppers ignored and even walked over the man's body as they continued to shop. Friends and co-workers saddened to learn of his death, expressed outrage over the way he was treated by shoppers.

"Where is the good Samaritan side of people?" one co-worker asked. "How could you not notice someone was in trouble? I just don't understand if people didn't help what their reason was, other than greed because of a sale."

We know that before the compassionate Samaritan showed up to help, others (a couple of preachers in fact, devout religious people) acted in much the same way as these Black Friday shoppers. They were all guided by something other than our God, which is idolatry. But perhaps the real point of connection is how the injured man in Jesus story got into that situation to begin with. Jesus says, “he fell into the hands of robbers.” These robbers “stripped him of his clothes, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.”

Jesus told us that there is one who came to steal, kill and destroy. Our all consuming culture robs us of our humanity to the point that people could step over a dying man, completely ignoring his condition, to save a few hundred dollars on their most coveted items. There is something seriously wrong with this whole scenario. There is something sinister… something evil about the rampant greed and materialism all around us.

Jesus went on to say, “I have come that they may have life – real, full, abundant, eternal life!” In this season we worship a King who was born to peasant parents in simple surroundings. This Messiah was laid in a manger. We call Him King of kings, Lord of lords, Prince of peace… Emmanuel – God with us. During this Christmas season, let us not get caught up in the culture of consumerism, which only leads us to consume and use one another. Instead, let us be guided by a star to come and bow before a simple Savior, offering ourselves to Him once more.

Pilgrim Song

It's not easy to walk in the rain,

And I walk with my eyes to the ground,

And I often ignore the rainbow above,

And the coming of the sun.

When I started on the journey

I was so energetic

And I didn't know

that it would be so slow.

Just a helping hand for neighbors

And a smile to cheer the pilgrims

And the Book to show us

clearly where to go.

But so many fell behind,

some didn't even know

About the journey we could

take towards the sun,

And I find myself bewildered by the needs of those around,

Struggling in the cold rain.

There is beauty on the journey

As the crippled and the poorest

Carry others' burdens too, to my surprise.

And I find we need each other

As we struggle with the darkness

Often spurred by rays of light in clouded skies.

But the spirit of so many dies in all the gloom

And many others starve and fall along the Way,

And I find myself in anger that the strongest will not share,

Deafened to the cries of pain.

There have been times of heavy weather

When I've thought of giving up

And questioned whether anyone has made it through.

But I stake my life on what I know of Jesus and His love

And see the rainbow as my sign that it is true.

And the power that comes from sharing all the power we have,

And the glimpse of peace and justice on the Way

Is enough to make me lift my eyes and take another arm

Strong enough for one more day.

It's not easy to walk in the rain,

And I walk with my eyes to the ground,

And I often ignore the rainbow above,

And the coming of the sun.

And the coming of the sun.

~ Ross Langmead

Rebuilding the Altar

I have been reflecting today on that powerful encounter on Mount Carmel. Not a mountain of caramel, that would be something one might find in Willy Wonka’s factory. If you ate a mountain of caramel, you might just look like our youth pastor in this picture. ;) No, I’m thinking of that fateful day when Elijah, the prophet of the one true God, faced down 450 prophets of baal. It is a familiar story for most of us, but if you want to read it again, it can be found in 1 Kings 18.

I have always been fascinated by this episode – what faith, what trust Elijah must have had and what a display of God’s presence and power they all witnessed that day. I wonder what it would have been like to be there and watch it all go down. What it would have been like to hear Elijah taunt the prophets of baal as they cut themselves and called out to their false god. What a moment.

Recently someone pointed out to me that the first thing Elijah did, once the prophets of baal failed, was to call the people together to rebuild the altar of the Lord. The altar was in ruins. The place of sacrifice and prayer to the Lord was in ruins. As a result there was no rain. The land was desolate, barren, and unfruitful.

Elijah rebuilds that altar – the place of sacrifice, the place of prayer – and a fire falls from heaven to consume their offering. God moves in a mighty way. And soon a healing rain begins to fall on their dry and parched land.

One of the primary founders of the Church of the Nazarene once said: A genuine revival will come only by the fire of God from an open heaven, in answer to some soul or souls who dare to rebuild the altar of God and put the wood in order and place upon it a complete sacrifice, and trust God against all odds. ~ P. F. Bresee

May ROC Church come together to rebuild the altar in our community. May we become a place where people offer themselves as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, in a genuine act of worship. And may we begin to experience the presence, the power, and the healing rain, that only God can bring to our land.

Integrity

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,

but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.

~ Proverbs 10:9

As we explored the life of Joseph and talked about the importance of integrity yesterday, it reminded me of a story I recently heard about a High School basketball coach. After coaching Blue Collar Bulldogs basketball team for 18 years, Coach Cleveland Stroud finally won a state championship game. Stroud recalled that "it was the perfect night" when they won. "A night you dream of." He was carried around the gym on the shoulders of his triumphant players and their proud parents. The local paper put his picture on the front page. But the excitement was short-lived.

Two months after the championship, during a routine grade check, Stroud discovered that one player was academically ineligible. The young man had only played 45 seconds during the regional qualifying tournament. He struggled for a little bit with the decision, but finally reported the error to the league and forfeited their trophy. When the team gathered in the locker room to lament their loss, he told them, “Boys, you’ve got to do what is honest, what is right, and what the rules say. People forget the scores of basketball games, but they don’t ever forget what you are made of. Winning is an important thing for any team, but your principles have to be higher than your goals.”

May we, like Joseph, learn to be people of integrity who honor God by doing the right thing simply because it is the right thing to do. And don’t forget to thank God for the fleas! (If you weren’t there Sunday to hear the message, ignore that last sentence… or better yet, ask someone who was there what that’s all about.)

The Monarch

God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning – the sixth day. ~ Genesis 1:31

About a week ago, while Sara was getting lunch ready after she brought Ephraim home from preschool, he came running up to her and said, “Look what I found!” That phrase coming from a young boy can often strike fear into the heart of any mother. You never know what you are going to see when they open up their hand. This time, thankfully, it was just a harmless, little caterpillar. Ephraim asked if we could keep it, and so we now have a new pet (like we needed more living things to take care of in our house).

Sara did a little research and found out that it is a Monarch Caterpillar and will soon enter into the process of morphing into a beautiful butterfly. She also found out that it only eats one kind of plant. Guess who got to go trekking all around the neighborhood looking for milkweed? That’s right, your esteemed pastor. For several days I hunted for this elusive plant, not knowing exactly what it looks like, only to find out there are two big vines of it growing right by our front door, with about six other monarch caterpillars crawling all over it.

My loving wife has been studying all about these fascinating creatures so that she can teach Ephraim his first real biology lesson. The truth is that she is way more excited about it than he is. In fact, I think she is a little obsessed with that silly caterpillar.

Last night we had a big scare. It looked like the caterpillar was sick and might not make it. He was throwing up, which I didn’t even know caterpillars could do, and was thrashing about. Sara was so concerned… I think she was about ready for me to bring out the anointing oil and pray for the little guy. She must have said several prayers on her own because he seems to be doing better today.

I have gotten a few chuckles out of this whole incident, I hope you have too, but it has also reminded me how amazing and creative our God is. It is fascinating to think about the transformation process for this one, little creature. And then to think about all the diversity, life, and beauty of this world that God created. Indeed, it is very good! That silly caterpillar has inspired me to say, “How great is our God!”

Sara’s loving care for this creature has me thinking even more about one statement I made in the message yesterday. How we treat the creation reflects how we feel about the Creator. If we think about it, we are all part of His creation. How we treat one another and how we care for creation tells us what we truly think about God. May our actions toward one another and our loving care of His creation become genuine acts of worship toward God.

Empty Worship

What worship sometimes seems like...

Communion

This is the Body... This is the Blood... broken and poured out for all of us. Gather with us as we continue to learn what it meant to be a sacramental community, broken and poured out for others, this Sunday.

Another Testimony...

One of the members of Tori's Bible Study group at El Reno Federal Penitentiary sent me his testimony. It touched on a lot of things we are talking about in our "Each One Reach One & Teach One" emphasis and was just too powerful not to share. Here it is:

July 31, 2011

Church,

God bless the very air you breathe… I am told by a brother, whom I hold dear to my heart that you would like to hear my testimony.

I am from Lubbock, TX. I am 33 years old. I have been in gang life since I was 13 years old. By that time, I already smoked weed and drank most of the time. My older brother schooled me in the street life and taught me to fight and sell drugs. Love was not expressed in my world the way that I hear other people talk about it. To this day, I still don’t know who my dad is. I never made it to the 8th grade due to a shooting I was involved in. I ran from the law and created havoc everywhere I went. I hurt people, lied, stole and used people to get my way. That way of life only has two for sure outcomes: death or prison. While most kids my age were at football practice or getting ready for prom, I was on my way to prison with grown men. Life behind these walls are not easy for anyone, let alone a kid.

The first time I heard about Jesus was in prison, and to be honest with you when you are around nothing but hate and violence, love sounds real good! I knew that I needed to change and I had a little boy to look after. I did not want my son to be anything like me. I wanted him to know his dad. I gave my life to Jesus, but no one explained to me what had taken place. Yes, I read my bible, but it made no sense to me. Once I was released from prison, I tried to live for God but lacked the power to stay strong. I backslid and allowed the enemy to lie to me. I turned on the only good thing in my life and returned to my old ways…

I have been in the Federal System since 2003 serving a 16 year sentence for selling drugs. While serving time at the maximum security prison “USP Florence Col,” I was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. I can boldly say that I have never been the same since that day! He has been the driving force behind all that God has done through and in my life. If you would have told me 8 years ago that God would be using me to teach known gang members, ex-drug dealers, murders, etc. the word of God, I would have laughed at you. But today it humbles me to tears that God would use someone like me to spread His word.

For the last 6 years God has been moving here in El Reno. We use to have Bible Study Sun. – Wed. out on the rec. yard. I preach every Thursday and every 5th Sunday in our Church service here. I’ve lead many men and a few women to our Lord, but I believe that my ministry is to those who are already saved and are trying to learn how to walk. I wish someone would have been there to teach me who I was in Christ.

In prison you only have your word, so you better be sure what you go around saying. I stake my life on the credibility of God’s unfailing love and power on a daily basis.

In closing, learn to trust in the One who formed you. God bless you and yours.

Your brother in Christ Jesus our King!

Jason
A.K.A. Joker

p.s. I am sending an “In Christ” confession so that you can start saying what God already says about you. Philemon 1:6
Read it. Speak it. Live It!

In Christ

This "confession" was sent to me by an inmate at the El Reno Federal Penitentiary. I will post his testimony soon.

In Christ I live and move and have my being! What a vast storehouse of power. In Christ my Savior and Lord I have life, energy, and strength for the impossible. I abide in Christ. I live in Him. He is the vine, I am His branch. The life of God is in me. His love is in me. Just like blood flows through this body, His life flows through me, and I will let His life and love dominate me. I am a new creature in Christ Jesus, my past is over, I’ve been forgiven, I have the ability of God within me. I am the Righteousness of God in Christ. My standing with God is secure. My prayers are always answered, and everything works out for me! Christ Jesus, my Lord is my wisdom, He is my Righteousness. He is my Sanctification. He is my Redemption. I have abundant grace, I reign as a king in my domain, in this life through Jesus Christ. By Jesus’ stripes I’ve been healed, God’s word says that 2000 years ago I was healed, if I was healed then, I am healed now! Healing belongs to me. He is greater than the devil. He is greater than disease. He is greater than any circumstance, and He lives in me! The law of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from sin, death, poverty, fear, and guilt, because I am in Christ. Through Christ, my Lord, I can do all things, He strengthens me, I cannot be conquered. I cannot be defeated, because I can do all things through Him. I am crucified with Christ. Yet nevertheless I live! And Christ lives in me. He was quickened and made alive, I was quickened and made alive with Him. I was raised up together with Him and made to sit with Him. I am seated with Christ! All my needs are supplied, He has already made provision for me. Everything I will ever need He has blessed me with. It is mine and I accept it now in Jesus’ Name!

Story Behind the Song

Horatio Spafford, a successful Chicago lawyer, penned the hymn “It Is Well with My Soul” after several tragic events in his life. In 1871, the Spafford’s only son died at the age of four. Shortly after his son’s death, Horatio endured the great Chicago fire, which destroyed all of his investment property and ruined him financially. Then in 1873, the family planned a trip to Europe. Horatio was delayed by business, but sent his wife and four daughters on ahead, promising to follow them in a few days. While crossing the Atlantic, their ship was struck by an iron sailing vessel and sank rapidly, killing over 220 people, including all four of the Spafford’s daughters. His wife Anna survived and when she arrived in Europe she sent back the telegram, “Saved alone.” Horatio left immediately to bring his grieving wife home. As he passed near the spot of his daughters’ death, he began to write these words:

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

In the midst of the darkest days of his life, Horatio maintained a deep sense of God’s sustaining presence. Stripped of everything but their faith, the Spafford’s moved to Jerusalem to begin a mission work there and impacted many lives with the message of our hope in Christ.

Whatever you are going through this week, may this song become your prayer. As you hold on to God’s promises, may you proclaim “It is well, it is well, with my soul!”

Tori's Message

I spoke about experiencing every dimension of freedom in Christ on Sunday. Deep in our bones we know that we were created to be free beings, which is why we react so strongly to bondage, slavery, and oppression. This week I received another letter from my friend Tori who is serving time in the federal penitentiary. The last time that I visited him, I told him that I don't want any more of our young men and women to end up rotting away in prison. We were created to be free. I asked him to share with our teens some things from his experience that might guide them in the right direction. The powerful message below is what he wrote. It is meant as a letter to our ROC Youth, but I wanted to share it with you because it is deeply connected to some of the things we are exploring in Romans 8. Continue to keep Tori lifted up in your prayers.

This is a picture of Tori with "the Christian brothers I'm really close with... my prayer group on the dorm."

July 6, 2011

The Family,

Hello everyone, my name is Tori Q. Hill, but everyone used to know me as Baby PB from Play Boy Gangster Crip. It’s taken me a long time to get this far. Seen things you may have never even heard of. I’ve done things I hope and pray none of you ever have to experience. At the young age of 22 years old, I’ve graduated into manhood by way of the penitentiary. A place I wish I’d never had to come to, and somewhere I pray to God in Heaven, that none of you ever have to see the inside of.

It’s hard times any time you do time. Whatever the security, whatever the yard, doing time is time. This is not for human beings, let alone grown men. I’ve watched guards let rival gangs kill each other. I’ve seen a man get his head pushed in with a lock over an argument. I know a guy who got stabbed over a cheese biscuit. Tension and bad vibes run the compound in the prison system. C.O.’s doing and saying whatever they want, men kissing other men. It’s enough to drive a brother crazy. Your line of friends and family, who will remember you, will also dwindle and even fade into nothing. You get a chance to see who really cares for you. You have nobody but yourself, God and those you least expect to make the trip to come see you. And trust me; “Homies” are not going to look out.

It gets deeper: When you’re in the cell, looking out the window, when everything finally sinks in, it can bring tears to any man’s eyes. He’ll tell you different, but he’s probably lying. Unless he enjoys being away from civilization and family, kids, mother and siblings, he’s felt the pain of hard time. The loneliness can break a man. The thought of that out date being so far away can eat you alive. I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemies. This is not a life for anyone.

But, when all is said and done, I understand that this is what it took, like a lot of guys, to get me in the position to be used by my Heavenly Father. He may not have put me here, but He and I are positive that this experience will not be wasted. My siblings, I would like to be your sacrifice so that you gain from this experience. It is only fair that you get a chance to see that you don’t have to come here to know where the streets lead. This is my blood, sweat, and tears so that you may choose a different path. Don’t follow me little brother and young sister. Follow the right Way. There is more waiting for you than you can see. God has a beautiful ending for us all, even me. I’m not perfect. I wish I was, but truth is, I’m not there yet. Not yet. I know what I want. And I know where peace is and this it’s waiting for me.

After all the pain and suffering, after all the drugs, guns and street living, I finally know where peace is. I know how to fill that void in my life. God has given me another chance to live. I’ve been dead for so long, I am now home. Free from this mental prison that lurks in the street life. I refuse to be another victim any longer. What about you?

In the upcoming months, I’ll be writing you all to share some deep things. The way I see you guys is as family. So I’ll treat you like it. A few of my brothers would like to send their testimonies as well. If you are okay with that, then I’ll give them the green light. But I must warn you, there are raw and uncut brothers. 100% real, and now about Christ.

I grew up where you live. I’ve made a name for myself as a drug dealing, trigger happy individual. Now I know the damage I’ve done. The families I’ve destroyed. The lives I’ve taken. Sometimes I can see their faces. Hear their voices. Feel their pain. It’s not worth it. Never was. And now that I’m back home in Christ, I will forever love you – my younger brother, my younger sister. For my only wish is to stop the bloody beast that eats our young.

I love you and I’ll be writing soon. Take it slow and safe.

Love ~ Tori

p.s. I hope you enjoy the pictures. Would love to see some of you guys soon!

Living System Ministry

One topic that we have been discussing.

Introduction to Living Systems from EmmSanuel Gospel Center on Vimeo.

Speak Until Justice Wakes

(A recent reflection on Speak Until Justice Wakes.)

O Lord, give me a backbone as big as a sawlog,
And ribs like the sleepers under the church floor.
Put iron shoes on me and galvanized breeches,
And give me a rhinoceros hide for a skin;
And hang a wagonload of determination up in the gable end of my soul.
And help me to sign the contract to fight the devil as long as I have got a fist, and bite him as long as I've got a tooth, and then gum him till I die.
All this I ask, for Christ's sake. Amen.
~ Uncle Bud Robinson

cour•age (kûr′ij), n. 1. the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc.; without fear; bravery. The English word “courage” is derived from the Latin word “cor” which means “heart”, it in essence refers to one’s “core”, that is the very heart, the center, the core of one’s being. In order to take up the mantel of prophetic preaching that speaks truth to power, it requires a great deal of courage. We must be pure in heart, which as Kierkgaard informed us, “…is to will one thing.” Uncle Buddy Robinson’s prayer powerfully reminds us, this one thing is to stand with God against the principalities and powers; against the forces of evil, destruction and death in this world and fight the good fight of faith until the end. The core of our being must be cruciform; shaped in the image of Christ who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. In a time when it seems that many Christians have simply lost their Way, don’t speak the Truth, and are devoid of Life, we desperately need to hear the message of Dr. J. Alfred Smith, Sr. He is a man of great courage.

As Dr. Smith instructs us, this kind of Christ centered ministry will result in scars. What else would we expect if our telos is to be like Christ? We follow a wounded healer who invites us into the ministry of reconciliation, a ministry that inevitably leads to the cross. In this dog eat dog world, our Lord invites us to be sheep among wolves. We are bound to get bit. We won’t escape this world unscathed. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NIV)

It takes courage to confront evil. We struggle not against what we can see, but against those unseen forces that invade our world. We need the Lord to strengthen us, to give us a backbone the size of a sawlog and rhinoceros hide for skin that we might stand up and speak until justice wakes. That we might speak “until wrong has been made right, till the oppressed have had their day in court, and until the truth can stand tall again, clothed in righteousness.”

The dehumanizing forces of evil devalue and destroy the dignity of God’s creation. Our future is embodied in our children. “No wonder the destructive forces of evil work visibly and invisibly to destroy the child.” I have come to understand that poverty is not a lack of resources, but a loss of hopes, dreams and a future. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10 NIV) We need a wagonload of determination so that we may continue to speak light into the darkness, life into their dead dreams, and love into the depths of their hearts.

True justice recognizes the intrinsic worth of each person. It recognizing all as children created, valued, and loved by God. We work, in step with the Spirit, to value and give worth, to encourage and empower, to restore hope and a future. We must value testimonies over titles, the eternal work of God over the fleeting works of man. Rather than elevating ourselves above others, we chose the path of downward-mobility so that all may be built up into one body and empowered to love and serve our Lord. In Him “there is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male or female; for all of you are one in Christ.” (Galatians 3:28 NIV)

It takes courage to confront reality. Yet we know that even when the road is long and lonely, we’re never alone. Jesus is with us just as He was with the two discouraged disciples on the road to Emmaus. “Therefore we will not fear, though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging… The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” (Psalm 46:2-3 &7 NIV) “When we come to the end of our earthly days, may we look back at the way we lived and conclude that we lived with courage, so that we might say with the apostle Paul, ‘We have fought the good fight. We have finished the race. We have kept the faith.’” (p. 4)

Beyond Cheap Grace

This is a message I shared on Friday in our Vine service. It is deeply influenced by my recent reading of Eldin Villafane's work and my own reading of Bonheoffer. Excuse the rough draft format, it is just some food for throught. I would highly recommend the book, by the way.

I have been thinking about this quite a bit lately… you know, they are putting up a nice outlet mall just down the road from us… with all kinds of high end, name brand stores… just what my wife needs, another place to go shopping. I got to stop saying this kind of stuff… I keep forgetting that she is in here and then I get myself into trouble. They are putting in the kind of stores with stuff that we can’t afford anyway… it never ceases to amaze me the amount of money people will spend on clothes, or shoes… or really anything for that matter… all for a label, a tag, an image.

It is crazy to spend that kind of money on this stuff… but, I wonder, how many of you have ever bought a cheap knockoff? Come on now, don’t lie to the pastor. It seems like a good idea at the time, doesn’t it. Our kids all want to fit in… they just have to have this bag or those jeans… of course, sportswear is expensive… if you kid just has to have Adidas equipment and you can’t afford it… the easy solution is to buy them some Abibas equipment…

or maybe they are more into Nike, well we’ve got that covered too… just buy Neki… close enough, right?

Jeans are the worst, I cannot believe the amount of money people will spend on a pair of jeans… you really want some Ralph Lauren jeans… it is a lot cheaper to get some Polo, Ralphi House pants…

you can’t afford Lee… no problem, just get some Lgg…

I really don’t understand what it is about bags or purses with you ladies… but if you really want that Gucci bag… I can tell you right now that the Cuggi one is going to be a lot more affordable…

and my favorite… items with characters can be the worst… don’t pay the extra money for snoopy, when snooby will do just fine.

You know, I remember when I was in junior high – those brutal, brutal junior high years, how many of you are glad that you are not in junior high anymore? – all the cool kids wore the expensive name brand clothes… but we couldn’t afford that stuff… I got hand me downs, thrift store clothes and knock offs… I ran track, cross country and played a few sports… that was right around the time when Oakley sunglasses got really popular… all the cool kids had a pair of Oakley’s… It was going to be a cold day in you know where, South Texas, wait what were you thinking… there was no way my parents were going to buy me $150 pair of sunglasses… and I didn’t have that kind of money… one day I found a $5 knock off… they were probably called Oxley’s or something… I thought I was so cool… but it was obvious that they weren’t real… they were just a little off… they were obviously a lower quality… and pretty soon the trademark “O” began to rub off… the cheap knock off is just not the same, and everybody knows it.

What I am concerned about, these days, is that many have bought into a cheap, knock off version of Christianity… do you know what I’m talking about? It is best expressed by this idea that Dietrich Bonheoffer wrote about. He called it “cheap grace.” Many of you know that Bonheoffer was a pastor in Germany during WWII. He was part of a Christian moment at the time called “the confessing church” that opposed the Nazis, and even at one point attempted to put together a plan to assassinate Hitler… Bonheoffer was arrested, thrown in prison, and executed by the Nazis… He is a modern day martyr.

In his book The Cost of Discipleship, Bonheoffer wrote: “Cheap grace is the deadly enemy of our Church. We are fighting today for costly grace…

Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession… cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate…

Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which one must knock. Such grace is costly because it calls us to take up our cross and follow, it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ.”

You see, cheap grace Christianity is the kind that doesn’t cost much… It says, “Please don’t ask too much of me”; “Don’t place any demands on me.” As long as everything is going well and you’re blessing me, I will follow… I’ll believe… but when the going gets tough… when the road gets rough… well, I might just sit this one out Jesus. It is like we have a sign on the door of our heard that says “Do Not Disturb.” Jesus is knocking, inviting, calling… but we don’t really want to let Him in… because if we truly encounter Him… the same Jesus we meet in Scripture… He is going to mess with our lives… He will turn everything upside down… He won’t just leave you the way that you are… He will change you and rearrange you. If you are looking for the easy way… don’t become a disciple of Jesus Christ… it is not the easy way, but it is the only Way to the Father.

Too often we come into Christian fellowship to be entertained… fed… to get warm fuzzies… to get our needs met… and there is a good deal of that that happens in Christian community, there is nothing necessarily wrong with that… but that is a by product, that is not the focus… because that is all about us, but the reality is that it is not about me, and it is not about you, it is not about us, it is all about Him… and He calls us to something deeper.

The world doesn’t need a cheap knock off version of Christianity… a safe, soft, fragile version just won’t do! What we need… and what our world desperately needs is real Christianity… costly grace… one that has the marks of the cross in its hands! We follow a Jesus who said, “If anyone wants to come after me, let her deny herself, take up her cross and follow me.” That is the cost of discipleship… our life.

We would have to totally ignore our Bible if we are going to buy into the knock off version… Cheap grace flies in the face of the call that we find from Paul in Romans 12…

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Renewing of our Minds: What is the pattern of this world? Selfishness, self-centeredness, greed, idolatry… do not conform to the pattern of this world any longer… but be transformed by the renewing of your minds…

Tony Robbins, the self-help guru, once said, “What creates an extraordinary life is an extraordinary mindset!” I don’t necessarily agree with all that self-help stuff that we encounter these days… but, I think that he is on to something here… only I would rephrase it to say, “What creates an extraordinary Christian life is an extraordinary mindset – the mind of Christ!”

That is what Paul writes in Philippians 2 that fits so well with this Romans 12 passage, He says… Therefore, have the same mindset as Christ… in other words think the same way that He did… have the same attitude the same outlook as Christ… Paul goes on to say, who was in the form of God… in other words, He was God.. on the throne, in Heaven… He deserved all honor, worship and praise from every living thing… the Angels worshiped and served Him, He had all power and all authority… but, Paul tells us that he emptied himself… and took on the form of a slave… wow… this is the Jesus I know… He had every right to demand respect, to require service from others… You can’t get any higher than God… He was at the top of the totem pole… and yet He humbled himself, He left it all to become a man… to take on human form… as a human, over and over again, he stooped down to serve… he reached down to touch the sick, the hurting, the lost… I mean think about it, he washed his own disciples feet… can you imagine, Jesus, the Lord of all Creation… the one who spoke the heavens into existence, who created the galaxies and all the billions of starts… who spoke light and color into the world… who made every animal, all the creatures of the earth… every living thing… bending down today, kneeling, taking off your shoes and washing your feet… we should fall down on our faces before Him… worship and adore Him, but this is the mind of Christ, Paul says… it is an attitude of humble service.

Not only that, but Paul writes… He emptied himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross… obedience to the call of God even when it hurts, even when it is hard, even when it costs us everything…that is the mind of Christ. The cross is the ultimate symbol of loving sacrifice… Let me just say, our everything is nothing… what to we have to give up is worthless compared to what we have to gain in Him… what does it profit a person to gain the whole world, but lose their own soul… we have so much more to gain that what we give… and He gave His life for us… I’m reminded of one of my favorite hymns:

The Wondrous Cross:

When I survey the wondrous cross

On which the Prince of Glory died

My richest gain I count but loss

And pour contempt on all my pride

See from his head, his hands, his feet

Sorrow and love flow mingled down

Did ever such love and sorrow meet

Or thorns compose so rich a crown

Were the whole realm of nature mine

That were an offering far too small

Love so amazing, so divine

Demands my soul, my life, my all

That is true grace… costly grace… do not settle for the cheap, knock off version of Christianity… the call of Christ is the call to give our all, to come and die with Him, so that we might live… anything less, just isn’t the real thing…

Paul goes on to say in Philippians, “Therefore, God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Real Christianity means that we are transformed by the renewing of our minds… to have the same mindset as Christ… so that we might offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God… no longer living for ourselves, but living wholly for Him. Please, please, please… don’t settle for cheap grace… don’t stop until you find the real thing. Let me leave you with a beautiful blessing that I came across recently:

Benediction: May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and turn their pain to joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.

Conflicted

For the wages of sin is death… I am sure that all of you have heard the news by now of Osama Bin Laden’s recent demise. I have been reflecting all morning on the events of the last 10 years that have culminated in the hunt for and death of this one man, and to be honest I’m not exactly sure how to feel or respond.

Of course, part of me is relieved, even happy at the news. This man has been the symbol of hatred and violence for the better part of two decades. He orchestrated and authorized horrendous acts against innocent men, women and children. Hate seemed to be his primary motivation and he “deserved” the end result of his actions. I am certain that his death has brought a great deal of closure to the family and loved ones of those who lost their lives on 9-11 and throughout this ongoing conflict. For that I am thankful.

And yet, we know that Bin Laden’s death will not bring hatred and violence to an end. In fact, there may be an escalation of hostility in the days, weeks, and months ahead. We should pray for all who find themselves in hostile territory today, whether they are military, missionaries, or simply innocent families attempting to carry out daily life in a war zone. We pray for true peace that can only come through the Lord, Jesus Christ.

Despite the relief, I am experiencing other conflicting feelings. As a citizen of the United States and a human being who desires safety and security for my family, and seeks vengeance on my enemies, this is good news. But, as a follower of Christ, I am confronted and challenged by the Scriptures to think about the situation differently.

Ezekiel 18:23 “Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? says the Sovereign Lord. Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live.”

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Matthew 5:43 - 48 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Romans 12:18-21 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

I cannot rejoice in Bin Laden’s demise or the destruction of our enemies. Instead, I pray that all would have a genuine encounter with the risen Lord that hatred may be overcome with love and evil with good.

30 Hour Famine

Our ROC Solid Youth participated in 30 Hour Famine this weekend to raise awareness about world hunger and raise money to help support the poor. Not only did they abstain from eating for 30 hours, but they also participated in service to others all day on Saturday through work projects and handing out food to the homeless. I am so proud of our youth and their leaders! Check out this video that highlights their activities this weekend.

Shining Eyes

Well worth 20 minutes of your day!

Swing Low

If you missed either of the last two Sundays at ROC Church, then you missed out on a powerful time in the presence of the Lord! The most moving moments for me have been the ongoing testimonies of God’s transforming power at work in our midst. We have heard of people overcoming addictions, gaining new insights, finding acceptance and forgiveness, and growing in faith. And, yesterday Marie Douglas blessed us all with a beautiful, spontaneous testimony in song that fit perfectly with the main point in our passage – only the Holy Spirit can orchestrate such things. I’ve been thinking all day about the powerful spiritual she shared:

Swing low, sweet chariot
Coming for to carry me home,
Swing low, sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home.

I looked over Jordan, and what did I see
Coming for to carry me home?
A band of angels coming after me,
Coming for to carry me home.

Sometimes I'm up, and sometimes I'm down,
(Coming for to carry me home)
But still my soul feels heavenly bound.
(Coming for to carry me home)

Swing low, sweet chariot
Coming for to carry me home,
Swing low, sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home.

In a real sense, we know that no matter what we face the Lord will carry us through – all the way home. We don’t need to worry. We are God’s children – Receive who you are! He will take care of us – Become what you have received!

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
~ Matthew 18:1-5

Lay down the weight of worry so that you can run and jump and play as His child. Enjoy the day He has created for you. This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it. Remember, as the wise, older grandfather said in the Grace Card, “Sunday is just the locker room. Monday through Saturday is when we play the game.” We need that time in the locker room, but now is the time we practice our faith. Play well this week!

Love Your Neighbor

This is an incredible image of Egyptian Christians who formed a barrier to protect their Muslim neighbors while they pray during the chaotic time of protest. We have much to learn from our brothers and sisters.

Snow-nami

Are you prepared for the snow-pocalypse? If you have been watching the news, then you are aware that there is a winter storm headed our way. Of course, our sensational media make it sound like the world is coming to an end on Tuesday. The sky is falling! Well, at least some white stuff will be falling from the sky. And we wonder why people respond with irrational fear.

I haven’t ventured to the store yet, but I can guess that they are already running low on basic supplies after the ensuing mad dash to get ready for the coming storm. People are planning to hunker down at home for several days. This is generally an appropriate response to the news that has been shared. What strikes me as odd is that we know how to respond and prepare when we hear about the weather. We generally even know how to respond to other current news stories. But how are we at responding to the Good News?

Jesus even said that we are good at reading the signs in the sky, understanding weather patterns, and yet we can’t read the signs of the times. We do alright getting ready for snow, but how are we doing at preparing for eternity? How are we practicing for the coming Kingdom of God? We won’t find those supplies at the store. It is only as we let go and die to self, daily take up our cross and follow Him that we participate in what God is doing and prepare for that coming day. No turning back… no turning back.

Wisdom from fellow Christ-followers - Marcella of Rome (325 – 410 AD):
Marcella had an enviable life as the daughter of a prominent Roman family who married a wealthy man. But less than a year after her wedding, her husband died. She was given the chance to continue living in wealth when she was proposed to by the wealthy consul Cerealis. She chose instead to convert her mansion into one of the earliest communities of women, where she and other noble women used their riches to help the poor. Marcella said she preferred to “store her money in the stomachs of the needy than to hide it in a purse.” In 410, when the Goths invaded Rome, they broke into Marcella’s home. When they demanded money, she calmly responded that she had no riches because she had given all to the poor. Though she was an elderly woman, they beat and tortured her mercilessly. Her attackers were eventually shamed by her piety and she was released, but she died within a short time.

Marcella of Rome wrote, “By heaven’s grace, captivity has found me a poor woman, not made me one. Now I shall go in want of daily bread, but I shall not feel hunger since I am full of Christ.”

One in the Spirit

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. ~ Ephesians 4:4-6

Today we honor the dream of Martin Luther King, Jr. I believe that his dream is not only rooted in the American dream, but is also rooted in God’s vision for His world. We were made for each other. We need each other. And it is my prayer that all God’s children will come together in unity in the Spirit. Let us remember King’s dream:

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."
And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

Watch an online documentary about King here.

Heart Menders TV

Check out an interview that I recently did about ROC Ministries for a local webcast. You can watch the interview here.