How should we describe the "place" we call the local church?

Oasis:

Fertile land in the desert - fertile ground in a desert where the level of underground water rises to or near ground level, and where plants grow and travelers can replenish water supplies. Place or time of relief - a place or period that gives relief from a troubling or chaotic situation.

Swindoll's helpful hints from Nehemiah...

I discovered a little book on my shelf the other day about Nehemiah written by Chuck Swindoll. It's only 46 pages long and the print his huge which might lead one think that the content was lacking. Not true. In the last couple of pages he gives 4 major hints to remember after looking at the life of this determined biblical leader. He suggested memorizing these hints and I'm pretty sure that would be a good idea for all disciples of Jesus Christ.

Hint # 1 - "Never let life's difficulties surprise you. Hardships, disappointments, and struggles are inevitable. They will happen."

Hint # 2 - "Keep a positive perspective. Nothing dissuaded him (Nehemiah) from that all-important pursuit (rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem); no criticism, no conspiracy, no clever scheme, nothing."

Hint # 3 - "Fight your fiercest battles on your knees." We simply need to pray more and fight less.

Hint # 4 - "Stay close to others. God never meant for us to be lone rangers. None of us is totally self-sufficient."

Hope these help you as much as they did me. Let's strive to follow Nehemiah's determined example.

The things you find in a wall...

Our current sermon series at Haven is "Nehemiah: Getting it Done!" This week we are looking at chapter 3 which outlines how the restoration of the wall began. In the chapter is listed 10 gates, all of which were in need of repair. Dr. Harold Willmington in his huge volume Willmington's Guide to the Bible draws a helpful parallel between Jerusalem's gates and the summary of a Christian's life to serve as a reminder to us. I thought it to be a clever observation so I share it with you here.

The sheep gate - reminds us of the Cross

The fish gate - reminds us to share our faith ("fish for men")

The Jeshanah ("old") gate - reminds us of our old nature

The valley gate - reminds us of suffering and testing

The dung gate - reminds us of the works of the flesh

The fountain gate - reminds us of the Holy Spirit

The water gate - reminds us of the Word of God

The horse gate - reminds us of spiritual warfare

The east gate - reminds us that Christ will return

The inspection gate - reminds us of our future reward

A requirement, not an option

John 17:20-21 (NLT)

"I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one - as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. "

It makes me sad when my boys don't get along. I know that they are only kids and I'm praying that as they get older they will develop a super strong bond like that that I've seen in other grown siblings I know. I can't imagine how sad it must make parents of adults when their children fuss, bicker and treat each other worse than an enemy. How sad must it make our heavenly Father when we, His children, don't (or won't) get along? Sometimes we won't even try. We think we're showing how spiritual we are when, after coming to a point of disagreement with another follower of Jesus Christ, decide to avoid them or write them off. I know there's a huge spectrum on which these things can fall and some folks are just not healthy to be around because of how argumentative they are by nature. What I'm referring to is our quick trigger to write off folks just because we disagree on non-essential issues of theology or life when Jesus has clearly called (required) us to unity. Sure we're going to disagree. That's healthy. It sharpens us and, funny thing, we can actually learn from one another if we will. Not if we're in the habit of fatally choosing sides though. I'm just say'n.

No explanation needed...

Jeremiah 17:5-8 (NLT)

"This is what the LORD says: Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the LORD. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land. But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried about long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit."

Passion Week: FINISHED!

RESURRECTION SUNDAY!

"Christ was resurrected from the dead (Matt. 28:1-15; Mk. 16:1-13; Lk 24:1-35; Jn. 20:1-18). He was a type of the offering of the first fruits which was offered the day after the Sabbath (Lev. 23:9-14; 1 Cor. 15:23)." H. Hoehner

He is alive! Sin and death have been defeated! Satan has lost! What God had planned before creation has come to pass and He stands victorious! On the cross He waged the war but in resurrection He has claimed the victory!
Are you a follower of Jesus Christ? Have you ever by faith accepted as true what the Bible has revealed about what God the Father planned, God the Son obeyed and God the Holy Spirit empowered? You can be his follower, a believer, like me. Click here to learn how you can, by faith, accept Jesus Christ as your Savior.

Passion Week: Saturday

"As Jesus was lying in the tomb during the Sabbath, the Pharisees secured Roman guards to keep watch of the tomb (Matt. 27:61-66; Mk. 15:47; Lk. 23:55-56)." H. Hoehner

Passion Week: Friday

"Early in the morning, Jesus was tried by the Sanhedrin, Pilate, Herod Antipas and Pilate again (Matt. 27:1-30; Mk. 15:1-19; Lk. 22:66-23:25; Jn. 18:28-19:16). Jesus was then led to the cross and crucified at 9:00 a.m. and died at 3:00 p.m. and was buried later that day (Matt. 27:31-60; Mk. 15:20-46; Lk. 23:26-54; Jn. 19:1-42). Christ the Paschal Lamb (1 Cor. 5:7) died at the time when the Israelites were sacrificing their Passover lambs." H. Hoehner

Behold, the Lamb.
See Him.
Watch the brutality.
Observe the inhumanity.
Hear those that hate - their curses, their jokes and jeers.
Feel with those that loved - the loss of a friend, the loss of a leader, the loss of a son, the loss of hope, the loss of all that they had believed...loss.
Yes we know the end of the story, but today...let us dwell on today.
Anger.
Hate.
Revenge.
Destruction.
Rebellion.
Rejection.
Pain.
Suffering.
Darkness.
Separation.
Sacrifice.
Love.
Grace.
Forgiveness.

Death...

"Love so amazing, so divine; demands my soul, my life, my all."

Passion Week: Thursday

"On this day, Jesus and His disciples prepare the Passover lamb (Matt. 26:17-19; Mk. 14:12-16; Lk. 22:7-13), and He and His disciples had their Passover meal in the Upper Room (Matt. 26:20-30; Mk. 14:17-26; Lk. 22:14-30; Jn. 13:1-14:31). Leaving the Upper Room, Jesus had a discourse with His disciples and offered an intercessory prayer in their behalf (Matt. 26:30-35; Mk. 14:26-31; Lk. 22:31-39; Jn. 15:1-18:1). They arrived a the Garden of Gethsemane, and it was here where Jesus suffered in agony (Matt. 26:36-46; Mk. 14:32-42; Lk. 22:39-46; Jn. 18:1). Later that night Jesus was betrayed and arrested (Matt. 26:47-56, Mk. 14:43-52; Lk. 22:47-53; Jn. 18:2-12). During the rest of that night, Jesus was (illegally) first tried by Annas and later by Caiaphas with the religious leaders (Matt. 26:57-75; Mk. 14:53-72; Lk. 22:54-65; Jn. 18:13-27)." H. Hoehner

If you did not click on the scripture passages in bold, go back right now and read each of them. Don't listen to what I have to say until you first hear what God has said.


There are many different things we could focus on in all these passages. One, however, sticks out more than all the others to me. That scene is found in John 13. Jesus put on the attire of a servant and began washing the feet of His disciples. The King of Kings, the LORD of all creation, the God of heaven and earth took on the role of a slave and washed the feet of the twelve. Yes, there were still twelve in the room at that time. Yes, He took the feet of Judas and cupped them in His holy hands. Yes, He brought refreshment to the very one who had already made plans to betray Him. Friends, is a preview of the great grace of God to be demonstrated and offered at Calvary!

Before you drop off to sleep tonight try to remember that Jesus, on the night He was arrested, was allowed very little sleep. Already exhausted from agony in prayer Jesus began the final stages of His examination. See Him for yourself. He is the Lamb without spot.

Passion Week: Wednesday

"Wednesday, on the way to Jerusalem, the disciples saw the withered fig tree (Matt. 21:20-21; Mk. 11:20-26). At the temple in Jerusalem, Jesus had a day of controversy with the religious leaders (Matt. 21:23-23:39; Mk. 11:27-12:44; Lk. 20:1-21:4). That afternoon Jesus went to the mount of Olives and delivered the Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24:1-25:46; Mk. 13:1-37; Lk. 21:5-36). Two additional things occurred that day: (1) Jesus predicted that in two days He would be crucified at the time of the Passover (Matt. 26:1-5; Mk. 14:1-2; Lk. 22:1-2); and (2) Judas planned the betrayal of Christ with the religious leaders (Matt. 26:14-16: Mk. 14:10-11; Lk. 22:3-6). " H. Hoehner

One of the most difficult passages in the New Testament to wrestle with is the Olivet Discourse. Many hundreds of books have been dedicated to explaining this part of Matthew's gospel particularly. Someone will generally understand this passage through the filter of how they believe the Bible relates to us those events of the "end times." All true Christians believe that what Jesus revealed will come true just like He said it would. Yet not all Christians will agree on when those events will take place. They disagree because there are multiple approaches to the doctrine of End Times or Eschatology. I see this passage through Dispensational, Pre-Millennial, Pre-Tribulational lenses. What does all that mean? I was afraid you'd ask that. I'll try to explain.

Because I am Dispensational, I believe that God has and will deal with Israel in a special and unique way. The promises that God made to Israel were and are for Israel only. That doesn't mean that all followers of Christ won't enjoy some benefits of the promises but it does mean that I believe God never promised me any land. So I see that what Jesus is referring to in the Olivet Discourse has to do with Israel specifically and not the church. Incidentally in this passage, I also believe that in several places Jesus refers to the near and distant future without much indication of when He shifts.

I believe in a thing called the Tribulation. I believe that scripture clearly describes a time when God will pour out his judgment on the nation of Israel for rejecting their Messiah. I believe that the books of Daniel and Revelation (among others) also have much to say about this time as well. I believe that Jesus, in the Olivet Discourse, is referring to events that will happen in A.D. 70 (when Jerusalem is destroyed by the Roman general Titus) as well as events that will happen in the time many refer to as The Great Tribulation. Because I am Pre-Millennial, I believe that the Tribulation will occur prior to Christ returning to rule on this earth for 1000 years, which is still in the future.

I believe in a thing call the Rapture. I believe that the scripture clearly describes a time when Christ will "snatch away" his church - those who have placed their faith and trust in His death and resurrection. Because I am Pre-Tribulational, I believe that the Rapture will occur prior to The Tribulation. Since I believe that Jesus is referring specifically to Israel in the Olivet Discourse, I don't believe that it has anything to do with the Rapture. I don't believe that 24:40-41, which talks about one being taken and one being left, refers to the Rapture. Some might disagree but I believe they will uncover many more problems to deal with if they try to see the Rapture in this passage.

Some dear brothers and sisters might read this post and disagree with almost everything I have written with the exception of the following: (1) they will agree that what Matthew wrote was inspired and inerrant; (2) they will agree that what Jesus said was and is true and that it will or has happened just like He said; (3) they will agree that Jesus will return to this earth someday and (4) they will agree that the Olivet Discourse "is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16-17). That's the beauty of the body of Christ. In the essentials - unity. In the non-essentials - liberty. In everything - charity.

I walk away from the Olivet Discourse and see that God is in control, that God's promises are sure, that God must be approached on His terms no matter who your ancestors are and that God's judgment is eminent. God help us to see that Lamb that will be honored, one day, by all.o

Passion Week: Tuesday

"On the way from Bethany to Jerusalem, Jesus cursed the fig tree (Matt. 21:18-19; Mk. 11:12-14) and then He went to Jerusalem to cleanse the temple (Matt. 21:12-13; Mk. 11:15-17; Lk. 19:45-46). The religious leaders began to seek how they might destroy Him that evening, and that evening Jesus left Jerusalem, presumably returning to Bethany (Mk. 11:18-19; Lk. 19:47-48)" H.Hoehner

Since I generally take Mondays off (from the office at least), Tuesday is the day when I try to get my week started and I often feel like I don't get much accomplished. For Jesus, however, on this Tuesday what might seem small to us (only 8 verses) was actually the opposite.

Consider first the fig tree. I'm no horticulturalist but based on what I have read on this event, it's quite a telling and fitting illustration of the nation of Israel (primarily their leadership). As I understand it, though it was not the normal season for figs, it was not improbable for the tree to have either late fruit from the Fall or early fruit in the Spring. The issue was this; on a fig tree, the full leaves that cover the tree always follow the fruit. The tree was "demonstrating" it's fruitfulness by presenting it's leaves. However, when Jesus arrived he found that the tree, like the nation of Israel, was barren of fruit. The tree was a hypocrite - like Israel's leaders. So Christ cursed the hypocritical tree - like Israel's leaders. The Jewish leadership was responsible for pointing the nation to Messiah. There's no way that they could have been mistaken about who Jesus was yet they refused to acknowledge Him as such. Examine the Lamb for yourself. He is true.

Lastly, consider the temple scene. And what a scene it was. This was the second time Jesus had taken strong action on those who turned the temple into a Farmer's Market (see John 2:13-16 for the first account). If you think of Jesus as this soft-spoken, mouse of a man, then you need to listen carefully to these verses. For the second time in just 3 years, Jesus is dumping tables and chasing people (and evidently animals) out of the house constructed for the worship of His Father. Jesus was not a weak man; He just chose his battles well. He refused to let "the house of prayer" be used for anything else. Did this man, Jesus, have the authority to do this? Examine Him. You will find that, indeed, He did. It royally ticked off the chief priest but they knew better than to try and stop Him. Examine the Lamb for yourself. He is without blemish.

Two thoughts: (1.) What does your tree look like? Are you displaying the leaves of fruitfulness only to be found barren of fruit? (2.) What is your motivation for religious activity? Is it possible that you participate only for what you stand to gain? Jesus, on that day, refused to allow those in the temple who were there for the wrong reasons.

God, help us this Tuesday not only to see and hear the Lamb, but to be changed by Him.

Passion Week: Saturday, Sunday, Monday

Over the next 6 days we will follow the events of the last week of Christ's life leading to His death and resurrection. The Chronology we will be following is that of Bible scholar Dr. Harold Hoehner from his book "Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ" (pages 90-93). Please keep your Bible handy or click on the passages in bold to follow along in the text.

"A few days before the final Passover, Jesus drew near to Jerusalem (John 11:55), arriving at Bethany six days before Passover (John 12:1), namely the Saturday before the Passion Week. That evening, Jesus was anointed at Simon the Leper's house (Matt. 26:6-13; Mk. 14:3-9; John 12:1-8). On the next day (Sunday), there was a great crowd that came to Bethany to see Jesus (John 12:9-11).

The next day, Monday (John 12:12), was Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matt. 21:1-9; Mk. 11:1-10; Lk. 19:28-40; John 12:12-19), His visit to the temple (Matt. 21:10-11; Mk. 11:11), and then His return to Bethany. The day of the triumphal entry would be Nissan 10 when the lamb was selected for Passover. Hence, the triumphal entry was the day when Christ presented Himself as Israel's Paschal lamb."

We should not allow the proposal that Jesus' triumphal entry might have happened on Monday bother us. There is nothing theological hinging on a Sunday entry. It is simply the day traditionally recognized. The thing that we should allow to ring in our minds is that Jesus Christ came into Jerusalem in order to be God's perfect sacrifice.

In Exodus 12:1-6, as God was preparing His final judgment on Egypt, He gave the command and procedure for Passover. Each family was to choose a lamb on the 10th day of that month and examine it for 4 days to prove that it was pure and free from defect. Then, on the 14th day, the lamb was to be slain. Jesus Christ, God the Son, was selected by God the Father as a lamb without spot or blemish - God's perfect Lamb (Rev. 5:6-10). Then, over the next 4 days (Mon.-Thur.), He was examined. Examine Him. See, as you read, that He is pure and without defect. He is without one spot of sin. His worth is immeasurable.

God, help us to see your Son, God the Son, as the Lamb this week.

Trying to post my blog to Facebook

Trying to post a link to my blog on Facebook. Let's see if I can get it to work...

Love Problems

We just celebrated Valentine's Day (Valentimes to some). Our culture has a lot to say about love doesn't it? Lots of definitions floating around defining a little word that keeps our world in perpetual confusion about what real love is. This morning's reading placed me in Genesis 37 where we find the familiar background information about Joseph, his father Jacob and his half brothers. Within this most dysfunctional family were all sorts of love problems. First, Jacob the bar setter, had a love problem displayed in his favoritism for Joseph. The Bible tells us that Joseph was born in Jacob's old age and we know he was the son of Jacobs favorite wife Rachel (which was another problem). Jacob loved Joseph more than the others and that presented the opportunity for another love problem - jealousy.

Joseph's brothers were eat up with jealousy. Joseph received more love, Joseph received special attention, Joseph shared too much information at times about what God was revealing to him and so Joseph got "the shaft" from his brothers. They hated him - another love problem. You already know the story so I'll just leave the background there and share what hit me this morning as I read.

Joseph's brothers were so infected with hatred, pride and jealousy that they totally missed what God was doing right in front of them. God was demonstrating, by Joseph's dreams, how He was moving to provide for His new nation. But Joseph's brothers were so "insulted" by what he was describing that they missed it all together. The Bible even says that the best Jacob could do was ponder afterward what his son had shared. I read that and thought to myself, "How stupid of them." Yet within seconds of my thought came the Holy Spirit's clear reply, "How often do you act just like Joseph's brothers when you out of jealousy dismiss what God is doing through those you think are beneath you." God knows just how to hit you between the eyes doesn't He?

Christians are so vulnerable to love problems. Favoritism, jealousy, gossip, pride and on and on and on... Love problems. They steal our attention from and focus on God and His work/will going on all around us. We miss it. We miss out on it. We end up doing something stupid like selling our brothers down the river because we're too scared to see what's really going on.

Are you struggling with any love problems today? Wait, don't answer that question. Let me say it this way, "YOU ARE STRUGGLING WITH LOVE PROBLEMS!" The question you can answer is this, "Am I being honest with God about my love problems and am I seeking His continual help in combating them?"

"Do Not Disturb" aka Spiritual Apathy

Prayer for Spiritual Revival
(by Sr Francis Drake 1540-1596)

Disturb us, Lord, when
We are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wider seas
Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.
We ask You to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push into the future
In strength, courage, hope and love.


(taken from "Holy Bible:Mosaic NLT" from Tyndale)

Busy with what?

Every adult has been here...you were present when the baby was born and then 15 years later you see this young man or young woman and you wonder where the time went. "It seems like just yesterday that you were in diapers" you might have said or thought. On a smaller scale is where I find myself today.

A moment ago I had this thought, "You haven't posted on your blog in a couple of days." In fact, my last post was January 21. Is my world passing by that fast or am I just too busy or am I just getting older and don't want to admit it. Probably all of the above.

Paul talks about his busy life in 1 Corinthians 9. He talks about his rights as an apostle and his desire to ignore them (he liked being able to do ministry for free). He continued talking about the one thing that consumed him - the gospel of Jesus Christ. He went to great lengths to preach the gospel. He altered his Jewish/Roman norms to relate to those he was trying to reach. Everything he did somehow had a connection to the gospel and his "compulsion" to share it with others.

If you lined up all the activities and avenues you pursue, how many of them actually have any connection to the gospel at all? How many of them are directly connected to the gospel? We're a busy people for sure. Busy with what?

Don't you worry about them...

The wicked plot against the godly; they snarl at them in defiance.
But the Lord just laughs, for he sees their day of judgment coming.
The wicked draw their swords and string their bows to kill the poor and oppressed, to slaughter those who do right.
But their swords will stab their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.
It is better to be godly and have little than to be evil and rich.
For the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the Lord takes care of the godly.
Psalm 37:12-17 NLT

Some times a particular chapter, paragraph or single verse of scripture jumps of the page and slaps me. For me, at least, they are not generally things I have never seen before or don't already believe. In fact, the things that jump up and slap me are usually truths that I wholly believe and embrace yet are not being fully lived out in my life practically. It's like God is saying, "Hey son, don't forget this about me (God)!" or "Why do you say you believe this but your thoughts and actions prove differently?"

Here's the thing; God has enemies. I think we would all agree with that. God's enemies are stupid to think that they can gain even a hint of an advantage on God. But they think it anyway. They are dead and doomed before they ever attempt to make a worthless advance. Again, I think we are all agreed. Psalm 37, along with a host of other scriptures, remind us that the enemies of God (the wicked) take out or point their aggression towards those who follow the God they hate. They may actually inflict pain on God's followers. They may actually kill some of God's followers. History proves this point in great detail. However, their aggression causes God to laugh because He sees their end. I imagine it to be the kind of laughter you might hear from a hulking professional athlete after hearing the verbose threats of a pre-teen.

God has not left us alone to fend for ourselves. He does not say, "Good luck out there" or "Keep trying & maybe you'll figure it out." No! Psalm 37:17 says the Lord takes care of the godly. He says, "Don't you worry about them (the wicked). They are idiots that I have completely under control. And don't you worry about yourself either. I've got you right where I want you."

The dry rivers of 2009 and the stones to remember...

My reading today took me to Joshua 3:14-4:7. The children of Israel, under Joshua's leadership, finally entered God's promised land! The priests carried the Ark of the Covenant into the then flooded Jordon river and as soon as their feet touched the water, the river reversed it's course upstream leaving a dry (not muddy) crossing for the people. Once the people were all safely across God commanded Joshua to erect a 12 stone memorial on the Canaan side as a reminder to them of what God had done at that very spot. Generations would also be born to these people who had not experienced this miracle and they would need a pointer to God's goodness and power.

Before you get too far down the road of 2010, take a moment to think back over 2009 and identify the places where you were standing on dry ground where, had it not been for God's faithfulness, you would have been over your head. Praise Him for who He is. Praise Him for choosing to use you as a part of His wonderful plan. Praise Him for opportunity to continue being used by Him. Consider setting up a few stones to remind you of the dry rivers of 2009.

Come quickly Lord Jesus. But if not quickly, give us the wisdom, courage and strength to do all you have called us to as we confidently labor and wait.