Romans 4:6-8 :: To Whom Much is Given, Much is Given

Romans 4:6-8 (The Message and TNIV)          Reading Plan

Paul isn't teaching something new.  From his perspective, this is how it's always been.  Works have never made us right with God, but rather our believing that "only God sets things right": FAITH.  In verse 6, he uses David to support this.  David was the king of all kings for the Israelites.  When he says David, everyone's ears peak.  David did many great things in his reign as king and was known as "a man after God's own heart."  But...if we think our leaders have made mistakes, take a look at his life.  David made mistakes, most notably a affair covered up with a murder, that many may have seen on TMZ...okay, maybe not.  Nonetheless, David was keenly aware of his inability to set-things-right-with-God on his own, but that only God doing it for him could it happen.

The people I know with "greater sins" in their past seem to be the most in touch with the FAITH Paul speaks of and the grace that wraps it up.  Outside of the church, the people who have made the largest mistakes are often the most compassionate and less judgmental people.  Inside the church, we too often see that the most vocal people against a particular sin, secretly struggle with that sin.  It's not a rule, and thankfully so, but it happens too often.  Of all people, we ought to be people who understand the depth of failure and reach out and into the lives of others who have failed also.  Much grace is given by people who have received much grace.  Judgment and holier-than-thou attitudes arise when we lose touch with our sin or our capability of sin.

The way we respond to shocking news from others says a lot about our view of the grace we've been given.  How would you respond if a good friend opened up and told you they were gay?  How about if someone told you they were tired of being married and were going to leave their family?  How about if someone told you they don't know if they really believe God exists?  How about being addicted to drugs?  Maybe gambling?

Romans 3:1-4 :: When a Leader Stumbles

Romans 3:1-4 (The Message and TNIV)

Romans Resources Link

Yesterday, I heard some very disturbing news.  Not surprising, but disturbing nonetheless.  I was told that another minister blew up his ministry because he had an affair.  As I thought about it, I went through various emotions - anger being the prominent one.  However, this led to a solemn reflection later in the day.  This was someone I trusted.  I had only met him a couple of times, but he held a special place in our family.  He is a worship leader and one whose music rings in our cars, in our kitchen and in our ears.  What do we do now?  Do we stop listening to the music?  Do we boycott the stores that play his music?

What a day to pick up Romans 3 and read the first 4 verses.  Paul says, "So, what if in the course of [caring for God's revelation], some of those Jews abandoned their post?  God didn't abandon them.  Do you think their faithlessness cancels out His faithfulness?  Not on your life!"

No matter how faithful we are, God's working in us is all about Him, not our faithfulness.  Therefore, no matter how faithless we end up, God's working is still all about Him.  No matter if this was a worship leader, a pastor or a close friend, their screw-up is not a negation of the faithfulness of God.

How would you respond?  How do you think we should respond when a "church leader" messes up?

Acts 27 :: Shipwreck

Acts 27 in the Message and TNIV translations

Two things strike me in this chapter, so I want to mention them both today...

Leading Up
Although Paul is a prisoner on the ship, he still sounds authoritative every time Luke quotes him.  He's giving advice to his captors, warning them, encouraging them, expressing confidence in God--not the kind of behavior one would expect from a prisoner.  And apparently his captors listen.  In fact, for the last several chapters, Paul has spent most of his time with people in authority over him.  Yet he has their attention. He is subject to them, but is still influential.

How are you at "leading up"?  Do you live a life before those in authority over you that earns their attention and respect, and encourages them to consider your God?

God's Will as a Closed Door
By Paul's own testimony, this trip to Rome was God's plan for him.  He was supposed to go there.  Why, then, was the trip so difficult and dangerous?  The weather won't cooperate, the centurion won't cooperate, the crew tries to abandon ship, the crew considers killing the prisoners...good grief, what a list.  When I think about the times I'm trying to discover God's plan for my life, I often look for "open doors" and "closed doors."  Open doors are opportunities or directions in which it seems the obstacles have been removed, and I conclude God is leading me in that direction.  If I apply that strategy to Paul's journey, the whole thing is one giant closed door.  Yet, Paul continues with certainty that God is leading him.  He wasn't looking at the closed door, but the size of the opportunity.  God was giving him audiences with the most powerful people in the world.  This perilous journey will bring the gospel to Rome, the power center of the world.  I think Paul was willing to beat the door down to follow God's will.

Per Aspera, Ad Astra. "Over rough paths to the stars."  Sometimes the very best and very greatest opportunities of our lives lie on the other end of very paths, filled with obstacles.  Only those with the core virtue of Faithfulness endure those paths, or are even willing to walk them.  Sometimes God calls us to attack the closed door, take the rough path, and steel our resolve to follow His will.

Acts 23 :: Where is the Nugget?

Acts 23 in The Message and TNIV translations

I'm afraid some people think that every time I read the bible, I find something inspiring or challenging or encouraging to write about.  I'll admit that most of the time I do.  I do believe that the bible is the inspired word of God and is useful to us today.  It's like panning for gold...sometimes it's easy and other times it's not.

Today is one of those chapters that is not easy.  I've read it twice and parts of it more than twice.  I may be tainted from my post two days ago, thinking that Paul's trip to Jerusalem shouldn't have happened.  Whether it's my disposition to day or the point of the story, I'm just not finding anything incredibly inspiring to write about from these verses.

So, what do we do when something like this happens.  Do we just check our box to show that we did read that day?  Do we beat ourselves up because we aren't spiritual enough to find the nugget here?  Or is there some solace in realizing that we are reading a story and stories have ebbs and flows.  There might be a time in my life later when something in this chapter jumps out at me and does inspire me or challenge me.  For someone reading this, you may have found that nugget today, and I'll hear from you and maybe receive my inspiration from God speaking to you...and that would be cool.

We believe the bible is God's word and has the right to command my belief and my action (Belief: Authority of the Bible).  "Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another - showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way.  Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  We also believe that Christ-followers study the bible to know God, the truth and to find direction for our daily lives (Practice: Bible Study).  It is "sharp as a surgeon's scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or disease, laying us open to listen and obey" (Heb. 4:12).

I believe it's useful, but I'm just not finding that today - can someone help a brotha out?

Matthew19::Divorce

Matthew 19

Have you ever read something, knowing that you had the opportunity to post something and you could hardly make it through because you were so excited to write about what you were reading? Yeah, that's not me this morning.

Jesus' teaching in chapter nineteen is difficult. It's difficult to discuss when over 2/3 of marriages in our culture end in divorce. I hope you know that I do not take this subject lightly, nor do I expect the teaching to sit well with everyone who reads these words. I do, however, want to respond to what I read in the first twelve verses this morning.

The Pharisees were badgering Jesus again, hoping to catch him in a slip-up when it comes to the letter of the Mosaic Law. They ask if it's legal for a man to divorce his wife for any reason. These were not honest, broken people who are struggling in a marriage that exhibits nothing but heartache, anger, frustration, pain, etc.. These were men with an agenda - and the agenda had nothing to do with marriage.

Jesus responds directly to these men. There is no need to be sensitive, no need to be compassionate and no need to be empathetic. He states the letter of the law emphatically back to them. A man and woman were made for a union that was not intended to be broken by anything. Concessions were made because of our hardheartedness, not by God's design. If there is infidelity in the marriage, there is wiggle room when it comes to divorce. If there is not, it doesn't appear so according to the law. It is important to remember that permission is a concession, not part of God's plan. There you go. You have your answer to all your questions. You can call Elin Woods and tell her that she has permission to divorce Tiger.

How are we supposed to respond to this? What if we weren't Christians when we got married, are we still bound to the same "laws" that govern a Christ-follower? What if one spouse is not a Christ-follower? What if there is abuse? What if we just can't get along? What if...what if...what if...what if? I realize that we can come up with all kinds of scenarios to fit our situation and make our situation sound different and more justified. The bottom line is the bottom line, though...isn't it?

Based on my reading of this passage, I know that divorce is not God's plan. Period. It's not his plan in ANY situation. If we divorce, we fall short of God's plan for our marriage. If we divorce, we miss the mark that was intended. If we divorce, we sin. In eight days, we will read a chapter that explains what happened to that sin. We will see how ugly our divorce was in the eyes of the Father. We will see what our divorces cost. The price tag on our divorce is no different than the price tag on my slander, or my gossip, or my lust, or my jealousy, or my...or my...or my... If you have never been through a divorce and feel like you've got a special place in God's little world because of your "faithfulness," remember that the log in your eye might just be blocking your view. If you have been divorced, I hope you know that the Father has not left you or turned his back on you. He still has plans for you and His purposes in you do not have to be thwarted because of a failure on your part OR a failure on the part of your spouse.

If it's a struggle right now and you don't see hope, it's still there. Father can redeem the most dire of situations and breathe life into any relationship. If you have been wronged or violated, you have every right to be angry, hurt, upset and maybe to even leave, but God might have something larger in store for you. If you have wronged or violated your spouse, you screwed up. Yes. But it's not the end of His relationship with you. Father wants you...He wants your heart. He wants to redeem you through humility. Don't give up.

I realize that it's hardly fair to open up a subject like this, but I wanted to remain faithful to my commitment through this book - read and open up what stands out to me. I know I could have studied more and brought more to the discussion. I could have probably been more sensitive or more definitive in spots, but this is where I am and what I felt like sharing. I'd love to hear some of your thoughts. We are not Pharisees trying to trick you, but we would love to hear your heart regarding this sensitive subject. What has Father taught you?

Well, that was a different Father's Day Service...

Well, Sunday was one of those days that we get to have as a young church plant that large, established churches don't often get to have. We played during our gathering. That's right, we played. We removed all of the chairs and sat in the bleachers of the gym, leaving the floor empty so we would have room for our obstacle courses. Cameron said after the service, "I felt like I was back at summer camp." We had dads and kids participate in three separate challenges which all centered around "dadhood." LISTEN HERE

Challenge #1 : Hearing Dad's Voice (Isaiah 30:21) - kids paired up with their dads and were blindfolded. They had to navigate through an obstacle course having only their dad's voice to lead them. There were physical obstacles on the floor and audible obstacles as other kids and adults attempted to drown out the voices of the dads.

Challenge #2 : Following Dad's Lead (1 Corinthians 11:1) - dads lead their kid with tethered rope (no talking) through a similar obstacle course.

Challenge #3 : Seeing Dad's Heart (Matthew 6:19-21) - two dads answered "or" questions that were asked to their kids prior to the gathering to see how well the kids knew their dad's likes and dislikes.

It was a great Sunday for our gathering of Springs. We laughed, we cheered, we celebrated. I don't think a dad left the room feeling discouraged or defeated. Our goal was to encourage and empower our dads to be all that God wants them to be. Many of our dads are doing just that right now, and continue to inspire us regularly.

If you missed the gathering, you missed out. We have posted the teaching portion of the gathering on our temporary media website, but you have to just imagine the activities.

For you dads that were there Sunday, let us know what you thought about the morning.

Core Virtue::Faithfulness

I have established a good name with God and with others based on my long-term loyalty to those relationships.

Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.

Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and humankind.
Prov 3:3-4

Faithfulness is an old-school virtue. It's reminiscent of your grandfather, who got a gold watch for staying at the same job for 25 years, and had a party because he and your grandma were married for 50. It takes us back to a time before before the average American moved to a new town every 7 years, changed careers 3-5 times in his or her lifetime, and changed churches even more than that, if he or she attends church at all; before the divorce rate was 50%, and before American businesses viewed older workers as insurance and pension liabilities. It recalls an era when principle almost always won out over expediency. Now we live in a world where faithfulness doesn't fit.

I'm not the guy who wants to go back to Mayberry. I grew up in a version of it, a small Texas town called Stephenville, and I don't view it through rose-colored glasses. I used to wear a t-shirt to school that said, "Welcome to Stephenville, please set your clocks back 200 years." But there is no denying that the benefits we have gained from our metropolitan lifestyle have been offset by unintended consequences. We came to believe that learning to love yourself was the greatest love of all, and that you can't expect anyone to look out for you. We lost our sense of belonging, our sense of trust, even our sense of family in some cases. We came to accept living among millions of strangers instead dozens of friends, and even sitting among them in our mega churches, to which we also feel no real sense of obligation.

But faithfulness is not just a relic of times past. It is a core virtue of Christianity, one of the Fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5. It is timeless and vital to the Christ-life. And while our grandparents may not be around to model it for us, our God--the Inventor or Perfecter of faithfulness--is still here.

So go old-school: rediscover the upside to being faithful to God, family, church, neighborhood, community, and maybe even work. Stay in the same place with the same people long enough to know and be known, love and be loved. Go long on principle instead of selling short on temporary gain. You'll be the salmon swimming against the stream of culture, but you may be surprised how good it feels.

This virtue is related to the following core beliefs: Eternity, Identity in Christ, Church

This virtue is related to the following core practices: Single-mindedness, Biblical Community, Giving Away My Life

Parenting this Virtue

KidsKreed: I am loyal to God, my family and my friends.

Perhaps more than some other virtues, faithfulness is learned over long periods of time, as children see and experience the benefits of their parents remaining faithful to God, family, church and community. By all means, make changes in your family's life with your modeling of this virtue in mind: what will our kids learn about faithfulness from this relocation, job change, church change, school change, moral decision, or family decision?

A note to divorced parents: divorce is a direct challenge to every family member's belief in and understanding of faithfulness, but it's not the end of the road. Remember that God's grace applies to this and every competency. Not only can you recover your own belief in faithfulness, you can model and teach it to your kids. Here are a couple of places to start:

1. Beware of the temptation to justify your decisions to your children by bashing your ex. They can still learn important lessons about faithfulness by how you and your ex respond to one another and to them as parents. Whenever possible, honor their mother or father.
2. Prioritize faithfulness in the kids' other areas of life, especially in the season right after divorce. If at all possible, don't make major changes like moving to a new town, new school or church. There is a little voice that tells us in such times that we would be better off to just run away and start over, but the voice is very often wrong. You and your children can learn an incredible lesson about God's faithfulness, and that of His people, but staying put and walking through a difficult season with your community around you. Most people never have this wonderful experience because they never stick around long enough.