A Rich Man's Witness

My brothers, show NO PARTIALITY 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if YOU PAY ATTENTION to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become JUDGES WITH EVIL THOUGHTS? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not GOD CHOSEN those WHO ARE POOR in the world TO BE RICH IN FAITH and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?

This verses in James (2:1-5) are pretty straight forward. There are three guiding rules. First, Show No partiality. In other words, don't play favorites. Secondly, Don't Give Special Attention based on how a person looks. Thirdly, Don't be Judges, who render a verdict, through the offering of preferential seating. The writer concludes, that kind of thinking represents evil thoughts. That's such a tough verse to swallow because we do this all the time, whether in the church, or through routine encounters in life. 

Several years ago, there was a man, I'll call him, "James," who had just transferred to our congregation because his old one had recently closed. I was a young pastor, who had one desire in mind, that being to grow the church. Unfortunately, James represented an obstacle to this intrinsic desire of mine. He walked into our church barefooted. To make things worse, instead of making his way to the back, he preferred to sit in the front row where everyone could see his toes. Anyhow, as the leadership and I discussed this situation, we concluded the best thing to do was to buy James a pair of shoes as a "token" of our spirituality and appreciation. 

When presented with this gesture, James politely declined and told me that he had shoes at home. I wasn't sure what to do because there was no plan b. He was supposed to accept the shoes and wear them to our services for the rest of his life! I hate when a plan is foiled. In times like those, you simply conclude that God had a sense of humor, and like a rubber band, he is STRETCHING you.  

After meeting with an elderly lady, whom James took care of in her home, she told me that James had been kicked out of several churches because of the "No Shoes, No Worship Service" policy. Anyway, I was stuck. On one hand I wanted him to wear shoes so we would appear as a normal church, on the other hand, it did not seem right to have him leave. My thoughts would migrate from frustration to anger, to compassion. I wanted to grow the church. I wanted to have "normal people" join. I wanted to have a church with great role models, people who could help us both spiritually and financially. 

I was concerned more about what I wanted, not what God required of me. Scripture taught over and over that I was not to show favoritism. Consequently, my mind, according to God's Word, was filled with partiality. With favoritism. With Evil thoughts! Often in life, it is hard for us to acknowledge that the way we perceive people is not the way God does. God does not  concern Himself with how a person looks on the outside, he is more concerned about what is on the inside, specifically, the heart. 

Well, one day, I decided to do what no one had done with James. I decided to ask him why he did not want to wear shoes in our church. Now, James was not much of a talker, and pretty much kept to himself, but I will never forget his response. He told me that several years ago he was in an accident and had nearly lost his life. It was in that context that he made a bargain with God. He told Him, "If you let me live, I will go back to church. If you let me live, I will consider the church "Holy Ground" and like Moses, I will take off my sandals." Wow! Now I could understand what God meant when he inspired James to write...

⁵ Listen, my beloved brothers, has not GOD CHOSEN those WHO ARE POOR in the world TO BE RICH IN FAITH and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?

You see, James was not just rich, but filthy rich, when it came to his faith. When he was kicked out of one church, he would simply go to another that would accept him into their fold. He simply would not compromise his oath to the Lord. In the end, his relationship with God was more important than what others thought. He may not have looked good on the outside to us, but to God, that man glowed with radiance. He was chosen to demonstrate to us what spiritual wealth truly looked like. May you reflect on this man's beauty. 

Thankfulness = Happiness

I had the privilege of baptizing my five year old son recently. Holding him with pride, I could not help but rejoice at the gift God had bestowed in my arms. Seeing Trajan. Hearing Trajan. Holding Trajan. I was just so thankful. My son makes me happy. Not all the time, but most.

The feeling inside reminded me about a devotion I read on Thanksgiving. 

It is not Happy People who are thankful.

It is THANKFUL people who are HAPPY. 

There have been many times I have pondered happiness. There have been many times I have said, "If only I had what he had. If only I had made that decision. If only I had a couple things differently. If only I had that one big break, I'd be happier." I think when we are yearning for happiness, we continue to look for that missing we internally think is the missing link in our quest for happiness.  

Many theologians I've read write, "We are not called to be happy, we called to have joy. Happiness is fleeting and conditional, joy is eternal." To be honest, hearing these statements sometimes makes me feel like being happy is a bad thing. 

I had a friend once tell me that Jesus wasn't happy, he was a man of sorrows. Honestly, judging by some of the medieval paintings of him; it doesn't seem like he smiled much. Yet is happiness really a bad thing? Honestly, there is something I find attractive with happiness. It's something I desire. I'm just being real.  

I do think that joy and happiness are two different feelings, though sometimes they seem to merge together and feel the same. Happiness is typically thought to be transient; while joy is something that should be present no matter what the circumstances. However I must admit though joy is taught to be eternal; there have been many seasons in my life where I have felt the absence of joy.

Yet, there is a common denominator when I feel empty of joy or happiness. I tend to lack thankfulness. I get caught up so much with what I don't have, that I cannot grasp firmly in my heart what I do possess. I honestly believe if I were more thankful in life, I would be happier and more consistently filled with joy.

Despite the medieval paintings, I believe that Jesus was happy and filled with joy. I believe that Jesus smiled and that made a difference on people. Think about it? Have you ever been around people who were miserable? I'm not a psychiatrist, but those types of personalities don't promote personal growth. There is a reason for the phrase, "misery likes company." Yes, Jesus knew many sorrows, but he had a heart that was thankful. 

• He gave thanks for a small portion of food (John 6:11)

• He was thankful for bread and the wine that symbolized his brutal death (Matthew 26:27,38)

You see, he saw opportunities that would lead many to be discouraged and see them as opportunities to see God work in the miraculous. He rejoiced at the big picture and was not held captive by his bleak present circumstances.

Jesus was happy because he was truly thankful.

Here is my prayer.

"Lord, help me to be thankful for what I have, even if it is less than others. Help me to see my present bleak situations as an opportunity to see you do amazing things and get the glory. Help me to be thankful for the things I take for granted, my life. Thank you for this playground called earth. Thank you for my health, my mind, and the opportunity to live out another day.

Help me to be more thankful so that I can be happier in my spirit and a better witness for all that you have given me."

I hope your days are filled with thanksgiving.

 

My Own Loss & Good Friday

Today is Good Friday, the bleakest moment for us in the gospel story. To refresh your memory, here are the four Gospel accounts of the story.

§  Matthew 26:14-27:66

§  Mark 14:12-15:47

§  Luke 22-23

§  John 18-19

Reading the story of Jesus’ arrest, trial, and crucifixion today, we have the benefit of knowing that it’s all leading up to the triumph of the Resurrection. But to the Jesus-followers present at the scene, it must have seemed that the world, as they knew it, was falling apart.

One of the challenges of reading the crucifixion story more than two thousand years ago is that it is difficult for us to empathize with its participants.

The best way to mildly experience Jesus and his crucifixion is to take time to meditate on each day leading up to his crucifixion. Read the passages repeatedly, meditate on them in silence, and pray to the Lord in a personal way. If possible, pray and dialogue with others so that you can talk about it and think of the event through different lenses.

Another way to experience to some degree the gamut of emotions the followers of Jesus went through is to think about those closest to you that you have lost.

My Story of Loss: For me, it is my father. Although I was only seven-years-old, I can practically remember everything that led up to his death. You see, my father was someone I put my hope in as a child. He was someone I trusted. Someone who I could turn to amid my pain.

I remember leaving a juvenile detention center the night that he died. My brother and I had stayed there for an extended period of time because the courts did not know where to place us kids. Finally, they decided that my brother would live with my mom and I would be sent to a Foster Home. 

When my parents found out about the arrangement, they did not want to lose me, so they got back together for my sake. It was a happy day, one that I had longed for in my young life. 

When we made it home to Fort Lewis, Washington, while my brother and I were playing with his pinball machine upstairs, my father had a heart attack and was taken by ambulance to Madigan Hospital. They were not able to revive him. He was dead. 

Later, my mom told me what had happened, and, I was in total shock and disbelief. I could not understand it, I had experienced such joy that day, knowing my family was back together.  The pendulum had swung from extreme joy to ultra-extreme grief.

I remember the next day I woke up, I had hoped it was all a bad dream. It wasn’t, it was as real as the heaviness in my heart. I had lost someone I had given my life to as a seven-year-old.

Good Friday: As I reflect on my steps of loss, I can to some degree understand how all those followers of Jesus felt. Their hope in life was gone. The person that gave them value and worth had now left the building. No doubt they were in disbelief and trying to process what happened. No doubt they woke up the next day and hoped it was a bad dream. It was not, it was as real as the intense pain in their soul.

Yet, and this is hard for many to understand, this tragic outcome had to happen for there to be hope for our tomorrow. In the end, there just was just no other way to solve the criminal problem of sin. You must remember, Jesus did not dread having to die, he had prophesied that reality on several occasions throughout his ministry. What he dreaded the most was that you and I would not be able to have that relationship with God that would guarantee your joy and peace now, and your eternity for tomorrow.

So, as you reflect on Good Friday, remember the One who valued you to such an extent that he gave his very life for you. Why would he do such a thing? Jesus did it so that you would experience life to the fullest now, and throughout all eternity tomorrow. May you find strength as you reflect on the magnitude of what happened on that Good Friday. History was changed now and forever! 

Betrayal and Redemption

Wednesday Morning Reflection

Have you ever been betrayed? Have you ever had someone you considered a friend take advantage of you, abuse you, steal from you, lie about you, or tell others something you shared in confidence? If you have, you have experienced what an empty feeling that is, it damages you on the inside. Once you come to terms with that betrayal, you begin to slowly mourn inside because you know that relationtionship will never be the same again, it is hard to repair and reconstruct intrinsic damage.  

Although Jesus knew Judas would betray him, I am sure it still hurt intrinsically, like a punch
to the gut. You see, it's one thing to suspect a betrayal coming, quite another to experience the heaviness of its weight. What we learn here is that no matter how good you are (Jesus was perfect), people can and will betray you, disappoint you, and grieve your soul to some extent. 

What’s the verdict here? Quite simply, something wasn't right with Judas' soul. Somehow, he felt thirty silver coins were more valuable than his relationship with the one who loved him more than anyone had ever in his lifetime. Most know what happened to Judas afterward, he hung himself, intrinsically covered with guilt and shame. It is hard to find compassion for someone like Judas, some people never will. Yet if you take a step back, and look at his life from the big picture, you can to some degree, grieve for Judas. He was a troubled soul.

In the end, this story of betrayal reminds us that no matter what happens in life that reeks 

of selfishness, betrayal, and evil, God can still turn that experience into something positive that can eventually help others. Jesus proved that reality by dying for our sins on the cross. He turned something evil into goodness. He would not allow evil to win! Neither should we! 

Some ask, if Judas will be in heaven. Most people say he was destined for damnation, prophesied as the son of perdition. Some say his suicide prevented that heavenly possibility. Many write such conclusions because they can't find an alternative scenario, or they simply don't want to look for one. However, you must remember Jesus' death on the cross was for all humanity, not minus the exception of Judas.  

Reflecting on his life from that perspective, it becomes apparent that the sins of Judas were forgiven at the cross. The death of Jesus covered the lives of everyone, past, present, and future.

The real question, was whether Judas received this forgiveness. Ultimately, that is the same question for anyone who has wronged us or denied and betrayed Jesus during their lifetimes. Judas was a troubled soul, a flawed man, who at that moment in history, felt thirty coins where worth more than his relationship with the Savior of the world. What a tragedy! What a sad end to someone’s life! 

Yet, Jesus, demonstrated how to turn a tragedy into our redemption. He showed us that no matter what happens in life, we can overcome evil with good. I don’t ever want to minimize the hardships others have encountered throughout their lives, the trail to forgiveness can be steep and intensely difficult climb.

However, we must remember that forgiveness of sins cost Jesus greatly, yet he fought through it to bring us to the entrance of eternal life. Now, we must make that decision, whether or not to accept his efforts and enter. Jesus, would not allow one mans sin to define him; the betrayer cannot be allowed to win, evil must not prevail. So, let us reflect, on the path Jesus take on the cross for our ultimate redemption.

Let us, know that forgiveness is possible, though extremely difficult. Let those who have been the betrayer also understand that redemption is never out of reach. You just have to seek it in Christ. 

Why Christians don't Pray for their City

Today of course is the Day we have dedicated to Praying for our City. Now several of you do not live in Fountain Valley, but that’s okay, God, the Father, still wants you to pray for YOUR City and leaders. But here’s the deal. Many Christians never pray for their city? In general, there are three primary reasons why Christians seldom pray for the city and its leaders

First, We Don't Think About It. We have been conditioned to pray for health concerns or situations involving our immediate family, friends, acquaintances, or those friend of a friend, uncle’s, nephew’s, step dad prayers, which tends to damage your brain cells just trying to remember.

However, we are called to broaden our prayer scope. Praying not only for health concerns and people we know, but also for other areas like our spiritual growth, praising God with words of thanksgiving, and like I mentioned today, praying for our leaders nationally and on a local level in our own cities. 

The Second Reason is Indifference!  Indifference toward our city and its leaders. We just don’t care either way! As far as we are concerned we just happen to live here.

We must remember however, God doesn’t just place you where you are for no purpose. There is a reason you are here, whether it is job related, family related, school related or simply for a transitional period in your life.

Make no mistake, God has you here, so you can make a difference, and to be a witness to your neighbors, to your volunteer organization or even your Bunco group. You see, God has provided a circle of people in your community for you to make an impact. God doesn’t like indifference, Scripture says He would rather spit you out if your neither hot nor cold (Revelation 3:15-16). He wants you to make a difference in your city, so pray that you will no longer suffer from indifference, but rather that you will make a difference!

The Third Reason is Dislike. Some Christians don’t pray for their city because they don’t like where they live. They don’t like the leaders and the direction the city is headed. Unfortunately, they can go out of their way to make it known to others.

Many times, when some think of their ideal city, they long to return to the good old days, where they grew up, where they had better relationships, where people believed more like them.

That kind of attitude makes this passage more intriguing here, because God’s people,the Jewish nation, did not like their new city nor its leaders. They longed to return to their ideal homeland. Yet the Lord wanted them to have a change of heart, make Babylon their new home. 

4 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. 6 Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. 7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

You see, as verse 4 indicates, all of them where exiles who had been deported, forced to move from their home in Judea to Babylon, where they underwent a culture shock, a plurality of gods to choose from, and leaders who were prone to use violence to promote their city's agenda. To add insult to injury, the Babylonians burnt down their sacred city, their beloved Jerusalem. So, if you don’t like your city or its leaders, can you imagine how they felt?

Yet, believe it or not, this was all a part of God’s disciplinary plan. Generations of bad decisions by Judea’s leaders, abandonment of the Lord’s instructions, lack of compassion, pride, etc., led to their city’s demise. Therefore, intrinsically, you can bet your bottom line they longed to return to their city were life was simpler.

Yet, as verse 4 states, He sent them there to be exiles in a foreign land. In fact, God had declared thru a prophet that his people would be exiled for 70 years. As a result, they needed to get used to this reality and make Babylon their home.

That is why the Lord tells them in verse 5, to build houses (Stake their claim, plant their flag), to plant gardens (Add character to your neighborhood and contribute to its agricultural economy), to marry and have children, to make sure their children married and make a family (Leave a family legacy).

The Lord wanted them to make the most of their time in their new home, so they would be stronger and better people when they left to rebuild Jerusalem generations later. Babylon was by an imperfect city, yet God wanted his people to be role models as citizens in a foreign land, contributing members to welfare of the city of Babylon.  

The Welfare of the City: If you want God to change a city, you must do your part thru community involvement and by praying for it.  That’s what God communicates when he says in verse 7, to seek the welfare of the city and to pray for it.

In my experience, attending city council meetings and even worse, reading on various forums on social media, I often hear or read about what people disapprove of, like “that” decision, “that” building project, “that” new measure, etc., etc. Furthermore, this rhetoric is often accompanied with criticism, even character attacks on the city leaders.

Now, I am not saying you must agree with all their decisions, but what I am saying is that as Christians, there is a wrong way to deal with disagreement and a right way. So instead of having a critical spirit we need to voice disagreement in an appropriate forum.

Make sure you do your homework and vote for the leaders who you believe will represent and serve the city the best. If you have ideas that would make the city better, share them with your council members, or form a committee that will present, petition or protest with integrity.
In the big picture, we must understand that we are always witnesses for Jesus, whether in a negative way or a positive one. Consequently, the Lord wants to make sure that His people seek the welfare of the city and to be actively praying for it and its leaders.

Why? Verse 7 concludes, in the city’s welfare, you will find your own. If the city is doing well, you will reap some the benefits. If not, the opposite effect is true. Pray, even if you don't like the direction because ultimately God is in control. He has a master plan that dwarfs what you think is best. So, let’s pray for our city and its leaders, wherever we live, because in its welfare we will find our own!