07.20.09
Posted in New Testament at 11:15 am by Administrator
Mark 2:22
“And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins.
This verse was in a recent devotion and it really challenged me. Not because I like good red wine, but because I don’t know if I am really ready for all that is new. What do I mean?
As I study Mark 2, Jesus makes it clear that He is bringing a whole new way of life into this world. I believe He introduced this new way of life during his earthly ministry. Yet, I don’t think the newness ended when he ascended into heaven.
Daily I am faced with new ways of doing church, new ways of reaching an increasingly underchurched world, new ways of thinking about “world superpowers”, new people, new places, new on and on and on, etc….
The only thing that I know that does not change is God and His Word!!!
Maybe the Christian life is about being open to new ways; new wineskins. Yesterday’s skins will not hold today’s wine. Many mainline churches have forgotten this. May Christians are afraid of what the church is becoming. Many are fearful about the new, no matter what the new is.
In embracing the new around us we more tightly cling to the certainly of God and His Word.
Yet, many people are all about the old wineskins, the way it was, the way it always has been and the comfort that the old brings. Yet, that is not where our comfort should lie. Our comfort is not in the old, but in the unchanging God of heaven. If I seek comfort from what has been, the past, the old, I am making that my idol. It means I can have faith in what I know rather than faith in a God who is always with me.
So bring on the new wine and the new wineskins.
My prayer.
God give me the grace to cling to you and nothing else. Give me the grace to embrace the new and to creatively see the future as a place where you already exist. Help we celebrate the new wine you daily bring into my life and give me patience with those who cling to old wineskins. Help me find ways to help them embrace you and the newness you offer.
Oh man, let’s see what God brings my way. I’d better hold on….
Let me know what you think.
Blessings
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07.15.09
Posted in New Testament, Old Testament at 3:16 am by Administrator
(NIV) Joshua 22:5
But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul. ”
My prayer today.
“Lord this starts with choices that are made daily in harmony with you. Strengthen me to be able to do that. I am so weak and easily swayed. I want to be faithful and useful to you, your kingdom and your creation.”
(NIV) Acts 2:25-28
David said about him: ” `I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. [26] Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, [27] because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. [28] You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’
Seeing the Lord always before me, that is the key. Keeping the Lord always in view. That is not always easy because we don’t want to see Him. We want to look the other way. This allows us to act out of God’s will. How could you act out of God’s will as you stand before the cross or stand behind the King of Glory. Yet we remove Jesus from our everyday. We put him in a church or in a book and keep our distance. We convince ourselves we are disconnected from Jesus. We pretend He is locked away or in another place. “I saw the Lord always before me” that is where Jesus is. That is His true place, before me. Regardless of my thinking he is before me. Lovingly watching me stumble like a toddler. Waiting for me to allow his hand to grab my hand.
My prayer…
Lord take my hand and ever walk before me. Lead on to the places you want me to go. Please hold tightly because I am weak and afraid.
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07.14.09
Posted in New Testament at 8:33 am by Administrator
Ouch!
This was part of my devotion today and again I say ouch.
It is easy to point fingers at those whom I believe to be greedy and self-indulgent, but what about when I look in the mirror. What do I long for and how do I indulge myself? Hmmmmmm. Let me count the ways.
I want a church that works the way I want it too.
I want to feel cared for.
I want independence from people, but I want to be needed and to need people. (How does that work?)
In reality I want whatever I don’t have at the moment.
“Seek first the Kingdom of God”
“Where you treasure is, there also will be your heart”
“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit”
Oh yea, I too am a greedy and self-indulged sinner, who needs the grace of Jesus to pull me out of myself. I too have a tendency to seek the way that most suits my desire rather than seeking first the kingdom of God. I find my heart grabbing for things like houses, cars, expensive wines and things that make other people say, “WOW, that’s cool.” I use my feeble might and fleeting power to do the work of God. Father, forgive me, for I have sinned and fall short of your glory.
Who joins me in that conviction? (You don’t really need to identify yourself to me, but you do need to identify yourself to God.)
He has so much more planned for each of us than we can plan for ourselves.
My prayer today was, “Jesus, by the power of your Spirit, help me say no to my greed and self-indulgence. Help me say yes to your provision, your plans, your ways. Let me see the riches I have in You and You alone. Amen.”
I will let you know where that leads.
Blessings,
Greg
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07.13.09
Posted in Old Testament at 7:40 am by Administrator
This is part of the Old Testament scripture I am preaching on this coming Sunday, July 19.
I have been challenged as I put the sermon together to see if such a statement can be said about me.
We may think of a prophet as some ancient person who was called to live a strange and distant life from the rest of the community. Someone who ate strange food or wore strange clothes. Someone who was always on the point of getting arrested or just a heart beat away from another stoning. That is certainly not you or me. We are normal, everyday people who do the best we can to live a normal life.
Yet, the real definition of a prophet is a person who proclaims the truth of the Word of God.
It is true that throughout the Bible we read examples of people who proclaimed the truth of the Word of God, which resulted in alienation, condemnation, and ridicule. Yet, are we not called to live and speak the truth of the Word of God today, in our workplaces, in our schools, in our neighborhoods. We may not be called to stand upon a soapbox, but we are called to be a living witness. We are called to live in such a way that others will know the God we worship and the life we live to His glory.
Our words and actions may alienate us from those who do not want our witness. Our words and actions may bring condemnation and ridicule, but that is when we fall back on the grace of God. A grace that is sufficient to uphold and sustain us.
May it be said of each of us, by those around us, a prophet has been among us.
My prayer is that my words, actions, and lifestyle will help show the world the God I worship and the unending love of the Lord who has saved me. May the Spirit of God raise me up and move my feet in such a way that others will be drawn to God.
Is that your prayer also? Let me know.
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07.10.09
Posted in New Testament, Story at 11:04 am by Administrator
I studied Matthew 9 in my devotions today.
I know I have read that chapter many times, but sitting on a deck in Hong Kong overlooking the village where I will be living, this chapter took on new meaning. The quick gist of the chapter; Jesus heals, Jesus calls the twelve, Jesus raises a dead girl, heals a sick woman and then casts out demons. He then turns to the twelve and tells them the workers are few. Then chapter ten begins with the twelve being sent out. Today the idea of faith before the Call and faith before the mission hit home.
Jesus step by step reveals to his disciples the power he has and the power he wants them to share with the world. How could the disciples not be excited about what they were about to do. I am sure we too would be excited about being sent if we were able to see Jesus do such miracles.
Sitting on the deck today I could not help but think, do we not see miracles everyday.
Kerrick and I just got off a plane that stayed in the air for 15 hours, kept us safe over the North Pole and landed gently on the other side of the world. Yes, there are laws of aviation that can explain how all that works or a simple faith would say, Jesus is an amazing God to allow such things to happen.
I am overlooking a 41 story building jutting out from the side of a cliff. There are rules of architecture that can explain how that works, or again a faith that says, Jesus allows amazing things to still be created.
Sitting here I realized that Jesus still shows us miracles everyday. We just have ways to explain them away. As I begin to spread the Good News of Jesus on this side of the world, my prayer has become, “Lord, let me see your daily miracles and let those works empower my faith and fuel my service to you.”
That is my prayer for each Christian, that we can see the miracles around us and then proclaim what a great God this world has.
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07.09.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 2:04 pm by Administrator
Well I am in Hong Kong and am looking forward to beginning my ministry here. After a year away from this ministry, I am excited to be back on this side of the world. I am looking forward to preaching on Sunday. I already have a baptism scheduled for Sunday, July 19. I am excited to share that sacrament with the family. God is good.
Jet lag is setting in a bit so I am going to keep this short, but I look forward to writing more in the next few days.
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07.03.09
Posted in Story at 8:10 pm by Administrator
I cannot take credit for that line. So many people have used that phrase to describe the movement between chapters in their lives. I am not unique in thinking it fits this time in my life as I move back to Hong Kong. I am saying good bye to really dear people in Michigan, but saying hello to God’s people in Hong Kong.
Yet, it seems God always trumps my deeply philosophical moments.
As I think about endings and beginning I am reminded by the Holy Spirit that in God there is really no ending or beginning. God is eternal and in Him we will live forever in joy and peace in a place where there will be no good byes or endings. People are in our life for a season to prepare us for the next season in our ministry. God works all hellos and good byes for his purposes when we are open to his working in our lives.
How is it that one can be consumed by sadness when one is walking with the Lord and doors are being opened by the power of God Himself.
I know there are many unknowns in this life. Yet, God is certain and in Him there are really no endings or beginnings, just a journey that ends in Jesus arms.
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07.02.09
Posted in New Testament, Old Testament at 2:25 pm by Administrator
The following are the thoughts that are going into my sermon for Sunday, July 12, 2009. They are based on Amos 7:7-15, Ephesians 6:3-14, and Mark 6:14-29.
Amos, a content shepherd until God Calls. John, a prophet from conception who spent his life following his Call. Both men, called by God to speak the truth, clearly and pointedly. Both men, rejected by the status quo. Both men, driven by the Spirit to be unrelenting. Two men who where found by the Holy Spirit and lived in the truth of the Spirit.
Ephesians 6: 13-14
13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
We live in a world that blurs the truth. We blur the truth. We make excuses for our behaviors. We look the other way. We blend in. I blend in. I pull back when it becomes uncomfortable to speak the truth. Yet, that is not the call of a Christian who has the truth of the Gospel in our heart. We have heard the word of truth and we are called to find ways to speak and live that truth.
May our prayer become.
Lord, by the power of your Spirit grant me courage to live and speak the truth in this present time. Give to me the same courage you granted to Amos and John. Empower my words to make a difference in the life of someone seeking the truth. Amen.
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06.19.09
Posted in New Testament at 3:41 pm by Administrator
On Sunday, I am preaching on Mark 4: 35-41. This is one of my favorite narratives in the entire New Testament.
Jesus has told his disciples to gather in small boats and to cross the Sea of Galilee.
Now if Jesus had suggested the trip one would think it should be easy, after all it was Jesus’ idea. He is responsible. Right? Well not according to the narrative.
As the small boats crossed the lake a furious storm blew in and the boats were tossed around like toys in a bathtub. All the while Jesus slept as his disciples and the other boats struggled not to sink.
Now think for a moment, between waves, wind, fear what would you think about Jesus sleeping? Here you are trying to save your life and the guy who suggested the trip is asleep without a care in the world. What nerve. This situation is his fault. He got you into this. Why doesn’t he step up and fix this mess. I am not sure if this is what the disciples thought, but I know that would have been my thoughts. In fact, those are my thoughts on a regular basis.
Who has not thought, “Come on Jesus, I am following you and look where it got me, look at this mess”.
These verses bring back to my heart that the truth is following Jesus is not always easy, clean, clear, and under blue skies. Yet, it is in the storm that we see Jesus’ tenderness. He answers our cries. He may remind us of our lack of faith, but he does not rebuke us.
Rather he rebukes the wind and the waves. He brings a calm to our hearts and lives. He shines as the Lord of All.
I love preaching on this story. It reminds me that the next time Jesus says to me, “Cross with me to the other side”, why would I not say YES. The way may be bumpy at time, but the one who is truly in charge issued the invitation and how can I fail with Jesus as my guide.
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05.15.09
Posted in Update at 3:58 am by Administrator
I only have a few more days in Hong Kong before heading back to the US.
There are been many good meetings and pages of plans laid out for the work in the Fall.
God has been so good in pulling all the pieces together.
I am still waiting for final word, that the lease on my flat is official. That continues to be in my prayers.
I need prayers for the upcoming move. June 1 will be here very quickly.
I am putting all the details in the hands of God and trusting that as I need to make decisions He will give me wisdom.
I do not know how people go through major life changes without faith in the Lord. He has been my rock for the past 14 months and He continues to be that place of security for me. God is good.
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