Spiritual Lupus, Dry Bones, and Reconciliation

It has been some time since the last blog. Several significant events have occurred since my last blog. One of the most significant was the time I spent with fellow pastors and church members from the International Baptist Convention and the ministry of the guest speaker to the convention. It was a blessed oasis of spiritual refreshment. Recently the Lord has been very present to guide in significant messages for ministry, and a spirit of renewal seems to be growing among His people in His body at IBC Munich. It is an exciting time for the church.

Today I am mindful of a devastating disease which attacks joints, tissue, and blood cells of the body. Lupus for some unknown reason turns on the body and attacks it. It can have a tragic effect on the organs of the body and will severely limit the function of the body and the quality of life of the person afflicted by it.

As I think of this disease I am reminded of the words of the Apostle Paul in Colossians 1:18 as he speaks about the preeminence of Christ, who is the head of the church. He then identifies the church as His body. The image of the church as the body of Christ is used by Paul in I Corinthians 12 to describe the importance to the body of each member of the body. I highlight this in order to suggest that often we find the body of Christ afflicted with Spiritual Lupus as the members of the body seem to turn on one another. The consequence is that the body is so focused on itself that it eventually comes to a place of compromise and defeat. This can even result in the destruction of a local body of Christ. Spiritual Lupus is devastating when it afflicts a church, because it can reduce the church to a "valley of dry bones" as seen by the prophet Ezekiel.

The question which is put to Ezekiel is, "Can these dry bones live?" (Ezekiel 37:3) Dr. John James answers this question for churches that seem to be devastated by this dreadful disease of Spiritual Lupus. He declares it in the title of his book: Dry Bones Can Live: How to Be a Part of a Healthy Church. Dr. James emphasizes that the treatment of reconciliation and covenant should be applied when a church appears to be a "valley of dry bones."

Dr. James focuses us on Matthew 18:15-20. Today I want to highlight two points made by Dr. James. First, when we are offended, hurt, or perceive ourselves to be the object of someone else’s negative judgment of us, we should go to that person and seek to be reconciled. Second, if the person does not hear us, then we are to take one or two others along with us. These two points will determine our personal spiritual health and the health of the church, and could even provide the cure for Spiritual Lupus.

Note how this can be the cure. First we are to go to the one we believe has offended us and speak directly to him or her in love. This is a cure for Spiritual Lupus, because we often go to those that we know will support or empathize with us, and we deliver a negative report to them about the “one who has offended us.” I wonder if any of us have ever been guilty of doing such a thing. (Perhaps we should all read I John 1:8 before we answer the question.) The moment we deliver such a negative report, we introduce the dreadful disease of Spiritual Lupus into our spiritual lives and the life of our church.

Next note that if our brother/sister doesn't hear us, then we are to take one or two others with us. This will necessitate a discussion of the offense with others. It is here that those who are receiving the report bear the responsibility. Dr. James points out the question which must be asked when one person begins to share a negative report about another: "Are you telling me this in order for me to be part of the reconciliation process?" This question is the preventative medicine we need to have in our hearts and minds in order that we do not introduce Spiritual Lupus into our lives. We must apply the preventative medicine, but the cure also requires restitution. We need to be able to go to those about whom we have given a negative report, and we need to ask their forgiveness; then we must covenant with the Lord not to deliver a negative report about another in the future.

If Spiritual Lupus is affecting your life and the life of our church, then let me recommend that you reconcile with your brothers and/or sisters and covenant with our Lord not to do so in the future. Such action is, after all, the only cure. Let us be reconciled that we might fully abide.

Seasons, Life, and The Preacher

Today my morning walk took me through our beautiful little community south of Munich, along a gorgeous path through a beautiful park, and on the way into a very peaceful forest. As I walked, I noticed golden leaves floating from the branches where they lived and thrived through the seasons of spring and summer. The leaves fell and joined others, as together they formed a golden carpet over the paths along which I walked. As the cool breeze of autumn refreshed my face, I began to think how seasons change to offer a continual feast of beauty to those who can have the desire or capability to perceive it.

Such an experience often calls my attention to life and life experiences. I of course reflect on the glory of our Heavenly Father expressed in and through His creation, but today I was caused to think of the grief which had suddenly invaded the lives of people who are in some way very significant to me. Some from many years ago, others more recently, have been thrown into a time of grief. As I reflected on their lives and their losses, I allowed my thoughts to once again reflect on the realities of life. Life is beautiful in every respect. It is unimaginable that one could witness the birth of a child and not be humbled by the majesty of God as He once again bestows life. We then witness children growing up, and so often we fail to appreciate the beauty of all the changes involved in their lives individually and in their family’s life as they change and mature. Maturity brings with it preparation for an ultimate independence as they make their way through life.

The joys experienced, achievements made, the challenges overcome, relationships formed and relationships lost all can join together to weave a beautiful tapestry of life. Some tapestries portray a life filled with hope, even when loss is very real and often repeated. Even when joy fades, failures disappoint, or life becomes uncertain, hope sustains. Lives filled with such hope portray a special beauty through all the seasons of life, and this beauty glorifies God and sustains a joy. Other tapestries seem to picture lives lived in hopelessness. These lives seem to be characterized by despair, often bitterness, emptiness, and a tragic self-focus.

Life is wonderful, but no life is free from loss—and all loss will cause a sense of grief for each one who has experienced it. What makes the difference between the two is the subject of many explanations, philosophical discussions, sermons, and thoughts. As I walked, I thought of those who had suffered recent loss and the words of our Lord echoed in my mind, "Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted." The question is, “From where does this comfort come?” The Bible explains that hope is not only the basis for our endurance, but it is also the source of our comfort. For hope flows from the very nature of our Heavenly Father's love revealed in His Son Jesus Christ, who has loved us so much that He gave Himself for us.

Solomon wrote a truth thousands of years ago which is relevant to life for each of us today. After his reflection on almost every aspect of life he wrote, "The end of the matter; all has been heard, fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of mankind." To understand this ultimate truth about life is to be able to know the beauty and wonder of life and the comfort of our Heavenly Father's love in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

This leads me to once again encourage us to abide in Christ, for to abide in Christ is to know the hope of the very love of God. This hope reminds us of our purpose of life, and it provides the hope in the love of our Heavenly Father, which enables us to rejoice in life through all of its seasons and, yes, be comforted in our grief.

Good Seed, Weeds, and Harvest

My practice is to maintain a routine schedule of prayerfully reading through the Bible and interacting with the Scripture. As I do so, I experience the Lord's ministering to me through the Holy Spirit. Sometimes I receive much needed encouragement; other times I receive instruction and wisdom concerning matters about which I am seeking answers and/or guidance. Often times I am convicted or even rebuked by the Spirit as I am confronted in the Word.

Recently I have been reading through the Gospel of Matthew. Each time I begin to read through Matthew I always look forward to the parables of Chapter 13. This past week I once again was enjoying reading these parables. My attention was arrested as I read "The Parable of the Weeds" in verses 24-30 and our Lord’s explanation of the parable in verses 36-43.

Most who are reading this remember the story. A farmer sowed good seed in his field, and he did so with the anticipation of a productive harvest. His success in raising a crop which would produce a good harvest was threatened when his enemy came and sowed bad seed in the field.

As I read this portion of the story, I was reminded of a conversation I once had with a wheat farmer. He explained that he had to be careful each year as he harvested his crop because there was a weed he called "cheat" that would grow in his wheat field along with his crop. He explained the problem was that the "cheat" (weed) would look just like the wheat until it was almost mature and ready for harvest. He also explained that he could not get rid of the "cheat" until harvest time because he would damage too much of his other crop to do so. He had to wait, and then when harvesting the wheat he had to be careful to sift out the "cheat" because he would destroy the integrity of the crop if it were allowed to be included with the wheat.

The dangers the farmer spoke of are represented in the parable told by our Lord. The first danger is that of the crop being destroyed by the weeds sowed by the enemy. We realize this danger and realize the weeds cannot be allowed in the final harvest. We therefore are often tempted to go and root them out of the field in some way—the second danger. Our Lord explains that if we were to make such an attempt, we would destroy the good crop while doing so. Our motives would be correct, but our self-reliant approach would be destructive.

This reminds me of those times when I have been guilty of falling prey to being the spiritual policeman for a congregation. I also am reminded of the destruction of churches and of many spiritual lives that have been compromised when the self-righteous of a congregation take it upon themselves to attack others because they have judged them to be weeds. Such people seem to have a sense of self importance and arrogance in their approach, which has more to do with their pride or agendas than it does with the holiness of God. Weeds can be destructive in more ways than just by contaminating the crop. They can be used by the enemy to tempt sincere people to wrong attitudes and actions which will be more destructive than contamination.

Weeds however cannot be allowed to be part of the harvest, or the harvest will be ruined. Here we find much instruction from our Lord concerning weeds. They are among us, but we must be guided by our Lord's wisdom in our relationship with them. First we must live as the good seeds—by honoring the ways and will of our Lord as we grow as citizens of the Kingdom of God. We must not allow ourselves to be tempted to hatred, resentment, or self-righteous behavior toward the weeds, but we must continue to trust our Lord. The harvest is the end of the age. The weeds may grow alongside the good wheat and may even look like wheat, but when the harvest comes (the end of the age) the weeds will be recognized for what they are and will be gathered out from among the children of the Kingdom and will be destroyed. How tragic for them. Perhaps if we remember the counsel of the Apostle Paul in Galatians 5:6 "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love," some of the weeds might become true wheat and be included in the harvest.

As I read this parable once again I am encouraged, instructed, and challenged. I am encouraged to know that the harvest does not depend on my being the spiritual policeman. I am instructed by my Lord in how to continue, even when it seems like some weeds are around me, and I am challenged to take account of the hope that is within me.

Every person born of the Spirit knows and recognizes the destructive nature of unrepented sin in one’s life. All too many churches understand how the spiritual power of the congregation is limited by sin. In the same way many churches have experienced the destruction and compromise of their witness by the manner in which they chose to deal with the weeds. So let us so abide that we can respond to the weeds [and even those who destroy others as they try to remove the weeds] out of the Lord’s counsel, out of our trust in the Lord, and out of the Lord’s love.

Wisdom, Arrogance, and Peace

Today I am mindful of how dependent I am on wisdom. Not just any wisdom, however, will do. I must have wisdom from above. This being true, a legitimate question is How do we know wisdom which is from above?

To answer this question I turn to James 3:13-18. In this passage I find a type of wisdom which can best be described as arrogance. It seems everyone has an opinion, and everyone has a dominant yet basic motivation behind what he or she does. This is true in the Christian community as well as outside the church. It is even true of those who are faithful in attendance at church and in ministry.

According to this scripture arrogance is the expression of wisdom which is motivated by impure and selfish ambitions or desires. These ambitions can be legion. Motivations can be pure, or they can be selfish. Normally ambitious wisdom is characterized by a desire for and an insistence upon control or self-advancement. It is the kind of wisdom that cultivates important relationships, uses deceptive ploys, and manipulates people to achieve what one has determined to accomplish.

Ambitious wisdom normally breeds resentments, judgmentalism, self-righteousness, and even hatred toward others. It often seems to disregard the good of others and even the ultimate impact upon the witness of the name of the Lord and His church. It divides and condemns in order to justify itself.

However, wisdom from above, that is authentic wisdom, is discernable as well. Wisdom from above is first pure in its motives. It is wisdom that rises out of a sincere commitment to and love for the Lord Jesus Christ. Such wisdom enables obedience to His command to love God, oneself (appropriately) and others. It is reasonable—that is, it is willing to yield and give way when it recognizes an equal or more effective way of accomplishing the Lord's purposes.

Wisdom from above considers others and does not insist upon its own. Wisdom from above is peaceable. It may require sacrifice, but it will always defer to the truth of God. It does not compromise, but holds forth the teachings of the Scriptures as an authority intended to bring peace to life, family, community, and church. It is peace that flows from above through an abiding relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Here is the descriptive authority:

James 3:13–18 (ESV)
Wisdom from Above

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

The final word in this portion of scripture is highly instructive to me: A harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Jesus said it this way, "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God."

Let us never call right wrong or wrong right, but let us be sowers of seeds in peace. Let us abide that we may know and exercise wisdom from above, be peacemakers, and avoid the evil traps of arrogance.

Church Growth

The commission of our Lord Jesus Christ to His people is to "... go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe all things which I have commanded you, and lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age." He is the one who has formed His local assemblies (church) through whom He desires to fulfill this commission. Each and every believer is sent into his or her home, workplace, community, and church with this commission. Every church must be sensitive to this commission.

It seems to me evangelical churches take this commission very seriously. There are many books describing many excellent methods for doing church growth, advancing philosophies of ministry, and many courses which teach leaders how to organize in order to accomplish church growth. Church growth is advanced as being obedient and fulfilling this commission. I admire and embrace many of these concepts, but I have being thinking about the basics. What is true church growth, and how do we really accomplish it, even after we are organized, mobilized, and philosphised up?

Two scriptures come to my mind as I think on this. Both are from the gospel of John. The first is John 4:13, "...whoever drinks of the water I give him (her) will never be thirsty again. The water I give him (her) will become in him (her) a spring of water welling up to eternal life." The second verse is John 7:38, "Whoever believes in me as the scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.' Now this He said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified."

These words clearly indicate that true ministry is about people. Yet, it’s not just caring for human needs or providing encouragement through human efforts or affections. It is all these things, but it is much more. True ministry is first loving God, and as a consequence of encountering the infinite joy of His character, ministering to others. Then true ministry is bringing care to others out of the joy of knowing Him, in order that those who will can encounter the ministry of their Heavenly Father, in the Lord Jesus Christ, by the Holy Spirit. This seems to be the Lord's plan and provision for fulfilling the Great Commission.

It seems to me that church growth at its very basic level is about loving God and caring for people. Let us abide, so His divine power will meet the needs of those around us in family, workplace, community, and church. Let us fulfill His commission with His plan, knowing His promised presence, and in the joy of our daily encounter with Him.

Gratitude

Once again I have been considering life and ministry, and as I do so, one word comes prominently to mind. It is the word gratitude.

Through the story our Lord tells of the day laborers, our Lord reminds us of how central the mindset of gratitude is for our lives. The apostle Paul in Philippians includes the practice of thanksgiving as an important part of rejoicing in the Lord and prayerfully presenting our anxieties, needs, and even desires to the Lord. Paul explains that gratitude is central to knowing the peace of God, which only God can bestow upon us in the Lord Jesus Christ.

I was reminded of this recently as a member of IBC Munich was discussing the world circumstances and some of the devastation so many in the world are experiencing. The normal approach would have been to compare the pleasant circumstances he and those who are a part of our church normally enjoy with those who are experiencing devastation and say, “I am grateful we are not experiencing such circumstances." That however was not the attitude expressed. Rather, his comment was, "We see these things others are going through, and yet we complain about every little thing." The comment is both an encouragement and a rebuke—a very insightful way of reminding us of how important it is to maintain a sense of gratitude.

So what am I grateful for today? I am of course grateful for my life circumstances, the security in which I live, the privilege of living in a country I can enjoy, the relatively good health my family and I are experiencing, the wellbeing of my children at present, the friends with whom I share life. I am grateful for these things, but I am reminded that our gratitude rises out of a much more profound reality—hope in Christ.

I recently stood at the bedside of a critically ill person, and as we spoke together, I was reminded in a very, very profound way of what we as believers have that cannot be taken away and that undergirds all of our life. It is the love of God, which provides an incorruptible hope that cannot be tainted by any earthly or eternal experience or circumstance. His love has been demonstrated for us through the death on the cross of the Son of God and through the power of the resurrection. When thinking on this hope and how much our Heavenly Father loves us (He allowed Jesus, who lived in perfect righteousness, to die for my unrighteousness so I can live with hope), I can only humbly say, "Thank you, Lord.”

Let me commend the reading of Romans 8:31-39 to you today, as we continue to abide with hope and gratitude in fellowship with Him who has loved us and given Himself for us.

The Best of Times and the Worst of Times

The quote from A Tale of Two Cities, "it was the best of times and it was the worst of times" is an appropriate description of this past month since my last posting. The anticipated visit by some friends was very much on my mind and deterred me from a focus on the visit to Interlaken, Switzerland, which our church had provided for my wife and me. However, the day of my arrival in Switzerland, I was reminded of the joy it is to be a part of the International Baptist Convention and to be the pastor of the International Baptist Church of Munich. Meeting old friends, and the fellowship we enjoyed with new ones, was an encouraging experience. The opportunity to travel around the lakes and view the beauty of our Lord's creation and to enjoy laughing with friends from all across the convention was truly refreshing and energizing.

The first evening of the conference worship set an expectation of tremendous teaching and preaching from the word of God. The remainder of the services did not disappoint. Each time either Stuart McAllister or Anthony Carter spoke, I was lifted in spirit and edified in my relationship with our Heavenly Father in Christ Jesus. There were many times the Holy Spirit challenged me in the word. These moments required that I spend time reflecting and praying. This resulted in much encouragement and a strengthened hope and faith in the Lord. There was also need for repentance and planned adjustments in my life, as I continue life with the Lord.

The promises of God for our church were renewed in my heart and in my mind. I was encouraged to remember the joy that is available to Christians, even in the midst of the life’s struggles.

The week was not without difficulty. However, the teachings of the apostle Peter, in I Peter 1:3-9, continue to be true. It is in our trials of various kinds that our faith is purified—the dross of selfishness and misguided priorities or attitudes surfaces. The real motives for our actions, even our ministry involvements, become apparent; and we are required to look to the Lord for forgiveness and encouragement in our personal growth. His faithfulness in both serves to strengthen our faith.

Another passage I reflected on is Paul’s letter to the Philippians. In Philippians 4:4-9 Paul gives us three important aspects of remaining steadfast in the Lord. First, rejoice in the sovereignty of God, knowing He relates to His children in steadfast love. This knowledge is the source of our strength, joy, hope, and help. Then Paul encourages us to manage life by faith in the Lord, who has so powerfully demonstrated His love for us. Paul says we are to seek the Lord, who is our resource, through prayer, supplication, and with gratitude whenever the daily experiences, or great struggles or disappointments tempt us to anxiety. Seeking the Lord in these ways enables us to receive the peace that God bestows— peace which we do not understand but can experience. In verses 8 and 9 Paul challenges us to remember that knowing the presence of God in our lives is a matter of where we set our minds. We can choose to set our minds on the negative experiences and realities of a very corrupt world, or we can choose to set our minds on those things which are pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy. To choose the latter is to choose to know the Presence of the God of Peace in our lives.

Let us abide in the best of times and in the worst of times.

Heaven on Earth

Today as I was returning from a long walk in the forest I encountered a very precious young lady out enjoying the sunshine. She greeted me as her pastor and began to speak to me about her life and her recent experience of love after lamenting her life for several months. It reminded me of a common experience of many believers or churches.

We find ourselves having made the wrong decision in the face of temptation, or we say the wrong word in a moment of insecurity or anxiety. Churches find themselves embroiled in conflict and confusion without many, if any, knowing the real reason why. When these experiences occur we are heartbroken, and we grieve. Oh, how we wish we could take back the word, back up the clock and make a decision led of the Lord, or somehow unwind the confusion created by conflict in relationships and churches. We grieve and wish we could undo them, but sadly new beginnings and correction for past sins are not possible for us.

What is not possible for us, however, is possible with God in our Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot undo our sin or wipe away some of the consequences, but we can be reconciled to our Lord by admitting our mistakes, asking Him to teach us and to strengthen us in Him at the point of our weaknesses. Such confession brings His forgiveness, and we are reconciled to Him. When we are restored we rejoice in His goodness and are able then to demonstrate the same goodness to others as they need our grace to be restored to relationship as well.

We cannot undo our sin or our mistakes, but we can be forgiven through the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we can forgive others. Such restoration calls us beyond ourselves and our failures or our difficulties. It lifts us above the shortcomings and mistakes of others and draws us ever upward with an attitude of joy and thanksgiving for the love and grace of our Heavenly Father expressed in the sending of His Son Jesus Christ.

We at IBC Munich turn to the Lord with rejoicing and thanksgiving for His goodness. We invite all who will to come and join us as we learn and celebrate Heaven on Earth. This Sunday we begin a series of sermons from the life and teaching of Christ entitled “Heaven on Earth.” In the Pastor's Club we will be telling the story of a man named Christian, and in the youth time we will continue looking at how we can avoid wasting the life our Heavenly Father has given us. Come join us as we continue to abide.

Life Stability

Perhaps I am unique in life, but I suspect many can identify with me. I have always felt myself capable and believed that somehow I would make it through the difficult moments or the trials of life. This however does not prevent me from moments when I am filled with anxiety or times when stress seems to be the most dominant aspect of life for me.

However I know another experience as well. I have known and continue to know peace in conflict, rest in uncertainty, love when rejected, and hope when all seems lost and desperate. How do we know these things? For believers the word "faith" jumps into one’s mind. We are quick to declare life stability is by faith, and we are normally even quicker in prescribing "faith" to others.

Recently while reading the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) again my mind, and yes, my heart was impressed with the words of our Lord in Matthew 7: 24-27. You will recall this passage as our Lord's conclusion to His Sermon on the Mount. Here He describes faith as He prescribes "faith" as the ultimate remedy for anxiety. He says the ones who hear these words of mine and who do them will be like a house (life) built on a rock which withstands the torrents of life which may assail it with a barrage or threat, one after another.

This seems to be a picture of "faith"—believing enough to “do” what He teaches—and it is His plan for life stability. Let us abide, that we can "hear" and have the strength of the Spirit to "do" what He teaches as the way to life stability.

Blessed Are They Who Mourn

I have recently been drawn back to another passage of scripture from the Beatitudes. It is recorded in Matthew 5:4. One cannot easily understand this passage without understanding the first of the Beatitudes which states, "Blessed are the poor in Spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of God." One very concise understanding of who the poor in spirit are is that the poor in spirit are those who have come to understand they are in reality lost and adrift in the sea of opinions, experiences, and futility—all of which are detached from the knowledge of God. The opposite of poor in spirit is arrogance; and arrogance shuts the door to the illuminating Spirit of God and denies one the ability to discover, rejoice in, and marvel at the goodness of God's glory.

Once one comes to a poverty of spirit and begins to taste the goodness of God, one can understand the paradox of "Blessed are they who mourn for they shall be comforted." All of us are aware of the grief which invades one’s life when experiencing loss of one kind or another. The loss of a job, financial security, a valued friendship, one’s health, or the impending loss of the life of a loved one or friend all create a deep sense of grief. The one who relies on the Lord Jesus Christ and the counsel of Holy Scripture can find much comfort in these times. In fact such comfort is a part of the riches of the Kingdom of God.

The mourning this beatitude speaks of includes a deeper mourning over the realized sin in one’s life and the sin in the lives of others who reject the goodness of God. For me one of the most grievous of times is when I encounter an arrogance in myself (which is far too often) or in others upon whom I rely, which substitutes a shallow or simple pragmatic human opinion for a true understanding of the nature, ways, and will of our wonderful God. Such mourning always draws me back to the word of God and self-examination before the Lord, which allows for the ministry of the Holy Spirit to draw me closer to the heart and nature of my Heavenly Father. In these times I am brought to a purer dependence upon the Lord, and I find renewal through conviction and repentance, through instruction, or through the comfort of my Lord's renewed promises and presence. Thus, I am blessed by the Lord's comfort in my mourning.

This past week I was humbled to see just such comfort displayed by a child of God who is in a life-and-death struggle with metastasized cancer. As she was lamenting her health condition, she broke out into a beaming smile and a confident joy as she spoke of the hope which is hers in Christ Jesus. She is an abiding saint of God displaying the reality of comfort in response to her mourning.

Meekness

Two weeks ago I was asked to give a short explanation of why I understand the Lord's assignment for me at this time to be the under shepherd of IBC Munich. My reply was an honest but brief recounting of how my wife and I came to this unquestioned understanding. In the context of my reply I made a statement I have since come to regret. I stated I had to consider the life circumstances I was enjoying at the time as I was prayerfully considering the call back to Munich. I stated, "I was living the good life."

The "good life" was a reference to the fact that I was enjoying adequate and stable income; I was enjoying developing relationships; I was becoming more and more comfortable in the church we had joined; my job security was as reliable as it could be. In short, I was comfortable. We think of these as the characteristics of the "good life," but such thinking reflects the common values of a culture not conditioned by the ways and will of God. When we accept this definition of the "good life," it forms the foundation for our purpose and pusuits in life. We seek it by pursuing wealth or desiring to gain and assert power or influence in order to advance ourselves as we long for true happiness. More often than not we become self-centered, self-reliant, arrogant and consequently unhappy without even knowing it.

Our Lord Jesus Christ speaks a word in Matthew 5:5 which explodes this myth or mirage of our world. He declares wisdom which flows from the heart and nature of God as He says, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." Imagine inheriting the ability to live with a sense of fulfillment, of contentment with ourselves, and with an ever-increasing sense of love for others--to enjoy the beauty of this world as we experience the goodness of our Heavenly Father in Christ Jesus. It seems to me this concept of "inheriting the earth" brings a state of blessed joy and happiness which can be correctly defined as the "good life." Obviously standing between the words Blessed and the inherit the earth is the one character trait which enables one to experience "God's good life." It is meekness.

In both the Old and New Testaments meekness is always associated with quietness, gentleness, submission and humility. It has been defined by some as a quiet strength under the control of the Spirit. The study note in the ESV Study Bible describes the meek as "... those who do not assert themselves over others in order to further their own agendas in their own strength, but who will nonetheless inherit the earth because they trust in God to direct the outcome of events." Yet, another description of meekness is "the ability to live life with commitment to fulfilling the will of God as one lives in the ways of God and recieves His response with gratitude."

Meekness is a powerful life source, yet one cannot simply decide to be meek, for true meekness is bestowed by God in Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit. Meekness is dependent upon one's faith in God, and one's faith in God will always result from an ever-increasing growth in one's understanding of the Heavenly Father's nature (His glory) as revealed by and in Christ Jesus.

To be blessed through meekness one must repent of unbelief and trust God for the forgiveness of unbelief based upon the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. To grow in this character trait of meekness one must continually seek knowledge of the very heart and nature of our Heavenly Father. Therefore, let us abide to live the true "good life."

Two Choices for Life

For serveral days now a very curious statement made by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Galatians has been coming to mind over and over. It is found in Galatians 2:20. In Chapter 2 Paul adamantly declares that no one is justified by keeping the law of God, but that one can only be justified (declared to be just by God) by one's personal belief in Christ Jesus. Yet, Paul is very concerned that those who are true recipients of an additional birth by the Spirit of God do not think they can simply do as they please without regard for the holy nature of God. They simply cannot go on sinning, rebuilding those sinful habits, attitudes, and values; but rather they are to live a new life which is only available to them as followers of Christ. Thus he declares, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (ESV)

This statement of Paul in Galatians is similar to the one he makes in

Romans 6:9-13.

9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. (ESV)

These verses from Paul's teaching in Romans 6 and from his own personal testimony in Galatians 2 make it abundantly apparent that everyone has a choice of two lives to live. One choice has devastating implications for life. A person can refuse any connection with God, either by ingnoring Him as the giver and sustainer of life or by relying only on one's ability to satisfy the law of God for acceptance with God. For those who would make this choice, they have only themselves to depend upon.

Those who make the choice now to accept Christ Jesus by faith have the ability to turn from the futility of life lived without hope or direction. They are the ones who do not rebuild the life of sinful attitudes, habits, or values; but rather they live by faith in Christ. They become aware of the soul-satisfying nature of the God of Creation, and His glory changes them into Christ-likeness and changes them to live in His ways, reflecting His glory.

The poem "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost is often used to emphasize these choices which are available. The last stanza of his poem challenges each of us to consider how we will look back on life in the end. It reads,

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

I wonder today what road we are choosing to travel, what life we are choosing to live. For those of you who are belivers in the Lord Jesus Christ, let us abide in the One who is living in us. For all of the members of our church, let us live unto God by faith in the One who has loved us and given Himself for us.

Two are better than one

Most will recognize the title of this blog as a quote from Ecclesiasties 4:9-12 in which we are reminded of our need for companions as we move through life. I was reminded of this wonderful life truth as I was contemplating a sermon I heard yesterday. The illustration of the Sandhill Crane was used to explain the relationship between those who lead and those who are led. One highlighted characteristic of these migrating birds was the fact that when one of the birds in someway becomes unable to fly and must land, a second bird drops from the sky and lands to be with the crippled or incapacitated bird. This illustrates that "two are better than one."

After declaring that two are better than one, the author of Ecclesiasties goes on to explain the benefit of having with us a friend, spouse, accountability partner, or other person who is abiding in Christ as we journey together into the presence and heart of God. The author says if one falls, the other can lift him up; the warmth of true Christian friendship warms the cold and difficult moments in life; there is a strength for the journey which rises from such true fellowship.

The value of such fellowship has been proven in my life as recent as this week. I was ill for a couple of days, I had not been sleeping well, and I had begun to think in critical and ungrateful ways. This led to my sharing with a friend, who challenged me to rethink life from the Lord's perspective and encouraged me toward a more thankful heart. Such a blessed experience should be shared by all of the Lord's children. At times one will be the weaker, the other the stronger. These roles reverse at other times. Let us not only abide, but let us abide together. For as we do so, we will form a three-fold cord with each other and our Lord; this cord is not easily broken. We are in fact a gift and provision to one another, given by the Lord for our journey together through life into the heart and presence of God.

Fruits as indicators

Enmity, strife, and divisions are discouraging and even devastating when conditioning relationships between family members, friends, Christians, and churches. I wonder what the causes are. The letter written by James in Chapter 4 informs us that the causes of war and strife are the unsatisfied selfish desires we have. He even explains that seeking only to fulfill one's own desires, ambitions, or agendas reveals we are not living in humility in relationship to our Heavenly Father.
Paul in Galatians 5:19 explains our attempts to justify ourselves or advance ourselves will always produce "fruits of the flesh," among which are counted enmity, strife, and divisions. Knowing these are the product of a life dependent on own efforts to fulfill God's will or advance oneself or one's agenda or unrepentent sin should challenge us when we find we are experiencing these "fruits of the flesh."

Perhaps we should look to see if we are truly humble before the Lord. Do we truly recognize how poor in spirit we are? Do we truly know the work of the Holy Spirit? The major questions we must ask are, are we truly alive in the Spirit and do we seek to keep in step with the Spirit, or are we doing our own self-exalting, controlling thing? James tells us God has a better life for us and then challenges us to humble ourselves unto Him. (James 4:1-11)

These things are a matter of daily prayer. Let us abide with a humble attitude, seeking to keep in step with the Holy Spirit of God.

Faith in Action

Hebrews 11:1 declares, "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the convictions of things not seen..." This statement provides a simple way to live life with confidence and at peace. It is by faith. Faith however is not some abstract concept, nor a logically deducted conclusion, nor is it based on a fleeting feeling . When we look at the list of the those who exercised faith in the remainder of the chapter, we are assured that faith is not founded on circumstances. Faith is centered in one's understanding of the very nature of God--to know Him in His power, in His holiness, in His steadfast loving kindness, and in His redeeming grace. Jesus said, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father."

We see Jesus

• in His compassion for all those who do not understand the nature of their God.
• as He calms the waters of the storms.
• as He provides for multitudes with the most meager of offerings.
• as He heals the sick.
• as He hung on a cross out of His love for us.

And we see Him in the power of His resurrection, all to glorify the Father as He redeems those who will trust in Him.

Let us hear the Lord say, "Come unto Me, learn of Me, and find rest for your souls..." (Matthew 11:25-30).

It seems to me that the first act of faith is to abide in Christ through Bible study, prayer, and submission. In this we learn of the very nature of our God, and to know Him is to trust Him. "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the convictions of things not seen..." and faith rises from knowing the Father in His Son. From this we will live according to His ways, as we serve in His strength and are fruitful for His Kingdom.

Let us abide with Christ.

Lessons for the tongue

As I consider putting things behind me that are behind me, I have been reminded of the power of the tongue. About three years ago I was invited to serve in an important position. I accepted in the hope I could satisfy a long-standing desire to support people attempting to plant churches. Shortly afterwards I attended a conference for which a well-known, very knowledgable, and committed person was invited to speak. I was excited and anticipated being part of a wonderful experience in kingdom growth. The conference opened with a worship service. What I recall from the worship service was my being publicly ridiculed by a person I had never met before. The next evening I once again gave way to allowing myself to being wounded as I overheard a guest leader publicly asking what I was even doing in the room. Needless to say I did not benefit from the remainder of the conference. In fact I learned a significant lesson on the power of the tongue. I allowed these two experiences to so condition my attitude that several months later I resigned the position. The focus on my hurt did grieve the Holy Spirit. My hurt contributed to the hurt of others and denied the body of my support. Today I am grateful for the redeeming grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, for I and I alone am responsible for my response to the hurt I felt.

The lessons to be learned are significant. We must understand the importance of walking in the ways of our Lord as we experience the inevitable offenses that come our way. We must remember to bless those who would curse us (Matthew 5:43-47). We must forgive others (immediately) as we ourselves are forgiven (Matthew 6:12). Failure to observe these ways of our Lord will complicate our lives and lead us to be agents of hurt in the lives of others. The greatest impact this experience has had on me is the power of the tongue. It is an example how the use of the tongue can spark a fire which will generate compromise in the lives of people and taint the witness of the gospel of Christ. It is a flame which can spread from one person to another creating hurt and compromise that no follower of Christ who spoke it would desire and could never forsee. Once again the ways of God and instruction from scripture are vitally important.

This experience has profoundly impressed the truth of James 3:1-12 on the tablet of my life. It has reminded me of the importance of the Apostle Paul's counsel in Ephesians 4:29-32. As we abide let us put that which behind us behind us. Let us reach out for the upward call in Christ Jesus as we are careful to edify each other, to be forgiving and tenderhearted toward each other, and to be mindful that we will give account of every word spoken. To do so will bless our lives, and it will ensure we do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.

New Growth Philippians 3:12-17

Our return to Munich was marked by edification and encouragement. We were met with much love and enthusiasm. The evening we arrived we were blessed to meet new people and be re-acquainted with others as the Lord was praised. We were encouraged through a word from our Lord as children quoted entire passages of scripture for us. The fellowship was positive and conducted prayerfully. The blessings continued. We moved through registration and official documentation easily, thanks to the preparation made before our arrival. Our return was capped by a wonderful worship service provided by our music leader and the members of the praise band. We focused on the "steadfast love of God" and authentic love for others in Bible study and in the worship message.

Our Lord also blessed us with a "chance" meeting with a fellow pastor along the way, who welcomed us back with great enthusiasm. Then as we entered the worship center, I was embraced by yet another fellow pastor and his wife as they affirmed their ongoing friendship and support of us. The deacon of the host church was next to embrace us with a welcome. Truly we have been edified by the heart and love of our Lord's people.

As we begin a new ministry, I am very much conscious of the need to seek my Lord and allow Him to examine my heart in order to discover anything which I must put behind me. Then I must put it behind me in a manner which honors the nature and ways of our Heavenly Father, i.e., granting or seeking forgiveness, repenting, seeking healing of the Lord, etc. As I appropriately put all that is behind me behind me, I must focus with a daily renewal on the upward call in Christ Jesus.

The more I grow to know and understand the heart and character of our Lord Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father revealed in Him, the more amazed I am at the privilege of calling the one true God, the Creator and Sustainer of all reality, "Father." To know Him is truly to love Him, and it is the only power which purifies His followers continually. Let us join in prayer for each other that we will continue to abide as we stretch out for the upward call in Christ Jesus.

Free to Accept

Acceptance is identified by most psychologists as a basic human need. Often people speak of the peer pressure which is so much of a force in the life of youth and young adults. The desire for acceptance is a force which motivates social involvements, career paths, pursuit of personal accomplishments, and desire for position. These things are pursued in order to find acceptance.

When we realize acceptance by others we can feel warmed and even secure. We find ourselves to be valued. When we do not sense an acceptance, it can give rise to all manner of resentment, bitterness, self-loathing, and depression. The desire for acceptance can be a tremendous bondage.

When a person looks to the acceptance of others for self-authentication or to feel valued, it is tempting to drink at a false well. This results in self-focus and concern. How then does a person avoid such bondage and defeat?

We look to the Cross and there realize just how much our Heavenly Father loves us. We understand his desire for us to know and enjoy relationship with Him. We find He has provided for us to be accepted unconditionally in Christ Jesus. When we come to Him we find Him to be the true well of living water. He invites all who thirst to come to Him and He will satisfy our thirst. In Him we find we are accepted and valued and discover His faithful steadfast love for us. The freedom which comes from His acceptance enables us to love others as we are loved by the Father. This is beautiful. This satisfying of our need for acceptance through our relationship to God delivers us from a self-focus. When we have a God Focus, we can accept others.

This is another "fruit" of abiding in Him - He continually enables us to live the abundant life.

Preparations for our transition to Munich are drawing to a close on this side of the ocean. We have experienced wonderful fellowship at the Northwood Church in Maple Grove, Minnesota. Through the ministry of the church, pastor, and through our small group the Lord has blessed and strengthened us for our joyful reunion with His people in Munich. Many of the members of IBC Munich have been active in preparing for us. They are graciously making preparation for our arrival, checking with the government offices to facilitate registration, visas, etc., and preparing the apartment. Our bags are packed and weighed, we have checked in for our flight, and looking forward to the trip to the airport tomorrow. These last hours are being spent calling our children, spending time with our youngest daughter , and praying that our hearts and our wills are prepared to be the shepherd our Lord would desire us to be in Munich. We are excited about our return to be with His people who are the IBC Munich.

Thinking of the Cross

It has been a very busy week for us as we continue the process of transition. I, or perhaps I should say "we," are beginning to feel a sense of relief and excitement as the day for our return to Munich draws closer. Today of course is the day we traditionally observe as "Good Friday." Today I, like many of you, am thinking of the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. As I thought about it today I was reminded of I Peter 3:18, "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous that he might bring us to God."

John Piper in his book God in the Gospel encouraged me to remember that Good Friday is not simply about God forgiving our sins and getting us to Heaven, but about getting us to God, to know a personal and real relationship with Him, to continually grow in our knowledge of Him and His Glory in Christ Jesus. When we realize the wonderful privilege of knowing such a reconciliation, we can truly and freely enjoy our relationship with Him and live with hope now and for the future. Our Lord gave Himself for us on the Cross so that all who believe are brought to God and His Glory revealed in Christ. In this we can know and grow in His grace and liberty.

One important aspect of liberty is on my mind as I am preparing to return to Munich. But for now, let us join together, praying for each other to behold His Glory by His Spirit in a fresh and deeper way than ever before. Let us think on the Cross and look forward to the celebration of His glory and victory on Easter Sunday.

Thoughts on Holy Week.

Yesterday was Palm Sunday, the Sunday Christians traditionally celebrate as the beginning of Holy Week. Palm Sunday recalls the entry of our Lord into Jerusalem. The people greeted our Lord with great enthusiasm as He came riding into the city on a donkey. They cried, "Hosanna!" They welcomed Him as a King, some as the Messiah, some as their earthly deliverer. But later that week many of the same people joined the enraged crowd and cried, "Crucify him! Crucify Him!"

Our emotions can be stirred by this realization and we can even go to a place of judging them for their fickle nature, their lack of loyalty to the one they welcomed as king. But we should consider another picture from Scripture. It's the picture of Jesus on the Cross in the depths of physical and spiritual pain (such as those who are born again will never experience) asking God in the most tender way, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do."

When I consider this scene, a sense of humility begins to rise in my mind, emotions, and will. I am humbled because I have also cried, "Hosanna" at the beginning of the week but turned on Him, or at least drifted away from Him shortly after. I suspect that all of us can identify with this experience at times. I would encourage us to look to the Cross and witness the grace and love of our God in His Son, Jesus the Christ, as He speaks, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do."

This confrontation with the love and grace of our Father, in Christ, will convict us and bring us to repentance. Our confession and repentance will bring us sustaining joy as we celebrate the hope and love of God manifested through Jesus during this Holy Week.

Maintaining a warm heart toward God.

Friday was my last day in my present position. I'm now concentrating on preparations and the transition to Munich. As I do so, this concept of abiding in Christ is very much on my mind. Knowing the imperative of maintaining an abiding relationship with our Lord, I have to ask the question as I depart: "Is my heart warm toward God?" This question is important to me because I cannot do anything apart from an abiding relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the vine to which I must be attached to produce fruit. To maintain this imperative relationship, my heart must be warm toward Him. I know from scripture and experience the things which can make my heart cold to God and thus compromise the imperative abiding relationship. Things such as unrepentant or secret sin, bitterness, unforgiveness, resentment, and irreconcilable attitudes cause my heart to be cold toward my Lord. These things quench (stop) the flow of His life into mine, making it impossible for me to enjoy Him and be a branch which produces fruit.

"There is no temptation which has overtaken us except that which is common to all of us" (I Corinthians 10:13). We all run the risk of allowing our hearts to become cold toward our Lord. This is an important time in all of our lives as we continue to be excited about the new thing our Lord is doing at International Baptist Church Munich. Let us allow the Lord to examine our hearts to ensure we maintain our abiding relationship with Him. We can enjoy Him and He can produce much fruit through us as He magnifies His glory. Let us remember the wonderful lovingkindness which our Heavenly Father has toward us as He tends our hearts. Let us be warmed by His loving presence as we maintain warm hearts toward Him and all others.

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday. It is a good time to prepare our hearts for the celebration of the Holy Week and our Lord's resurrection.

Our preeminent need

As I continue to reflect on John 15:5...

In this verse our Lord describes our preeminent need as His people and as His church. He states, "apart from me, you (meaning any individual follower or any church as a whole) can do nothing." This is a sobering thought for me. The word "nothing" arrests my attention and causes me to ask - Is there anything I can do as a disciple of Christ to be faithful apart from an abiding relationship with Christ? Here we see that Jesus' answer to the question is an imperative no.

Today I write this at a significant time of the year (especially in Minnesota). The snow has melted, the temperature is rising and now we look forward to vines or trees growing leaves and fruit. These are the evidences of new life in nature and Jesus uses these evidences to describe the healthy life of a Christian or church.

This new life is made possible by the warming of the weather, which enables the nutrient-rich sap (saft) and moisture to flow from the roots, through the stalk of the vine and into the branches of the tree. It is significant to realize that this new life is possible only because of the warmth of the season. Symbolically the spirit of life can only flow from the True Vine (Jesus) and produce life and fruit in the branches (his followers & churches) when their hearts are warm toward Him.

Are our hearts warm toward God?
More tomorrow....

We are cared for by a wonderful Vinedresser!

Today, as I continue to reflect on John 15, I am smitten by the wonderful and awesome love of our heavenly Father. In John 15 our Lord declares a most beautiful thought. He identifies himself as the true vine, and the Father (the true, living and ever present God of creation) is the vinedresser. The God who created the world, sustains all things, and gave life to each of us is the one who is caring for the churches He establishes and the individuals who follow the Lord by faith. A vinedresser is concernced about the health of the vines, all of the branches. The vinedresser tends the vines with skillful, tender and loving care.

This is a wonderful reality as I consider growth and fruitfulness in my life as a follower of Christ. This is also a wonderful word of confidence as Kandy and I continue preparation for our exciting transition to join you, the Lord's people, in His ministry to and through each of you and the church as a whole. To know that the Father is intimately caring for us fills us with hope, confidence, joy and peace.

Why should we abide?

The title for the blog comes from the instruction our Lord gives his followers in John 15:5, "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." The importance of this instruction to all who will follow the Lord Jesus Christ is infinitely magnified for us as we realize the Lord Jesus was speaking to them shortly before his arrest and subsequent crucifixion.

He was instructing his followers to continue...

1. in their life as citizens of the Kingdom of God.
2. as faithful members of the churches the Lord would establish through them.
3. as lights in a world that is desperate for redemption.
4. as those granted the privilege of experiencing an abundant life.

We should abide because Jesus instructs us to abide. His ways are true.

Why I am blogging.

As Christians, when we share with one another it provides encouragement and sometimes growth in the lives of our brothers & sisters. As the pastor of our church, I am called to share my heart with you. My hope is that this "blog" will be another way of doing that.

This is my first attempt at blogging but I am excited about doing it! My thought is that I can post reflections, share what is going on with me (& Kandy) and offer additional insights about scripture texts, sermons & teachings. Ultimately, I want this to be an encouragement to you. I'll update this as often as I can so please check in frequently.

My first post will be about the title of the blog and the scriptures that inspired it...

Welcome to my new blog!

Check back, as postings will be coming soon...

Blessings.