New Resolve?

How would you fill in the blank?
 
This year, if only ____________________ would happen/change/move I would be able to __________________.
 
Whatever you said in the first blank, it is probable that if you wait for that to happen, the second will never happen.

In other words, perfection isn't the basis from which we lead.  Press on and watch events unfold.

Prayer Support for the Mission

The first and most critical component to kingdom building in the church militant is prayer.  The disciples looked as Jesus after years of talking, after years of Jesus' modeling, after years of His miraculous events ad requested, "Lord, teach us to pray."  They didn't say, "Lord, teach us to heal."  They didn't say, "Lord, teach us to walk on water."  They said, "Teach us to pray."  They came to recognize that the role of prayer in mission and in this life of faith is critical.

Before every significant event in Jesus' life, He was first in prayer. (In fact His life was and is a life of prayer before the Father even though He is 100% God.) He went off on His own to pray before He called the Disciples. He lifted His voice in prayer before feeding the thousands who came to listen to His teaching. Jesus was in excruciating prayer before He was betrayed and led to the cross. I know you can identify other prayer/event connections.

Such is the case today. As a District we are looking for a miracle. We are looking for the miracle of changed hearts that would trust Christ with their soul. We are asking the Lord of Life to bring life to the thousands upon thousands who are moving next door to us in Texas, and we are asking that He use us to do this. Indeed, we would be honored if He would use us to add to His kingdom.

We are organized for this; we have check lists, priorities, coaches, and enthusiasm. We are eager and burdened for this to occur as a District. But the question stands: are we convicted to pray concerning this Divine mission?

To be sure, we recognize that the growth of the church is a supernatural event calling for a supernatural turn of heart toward Jesus. After years of ministry, the disciples recognized this reality and finally suggested to Jesus or pleaded (I can not tell which from the text), "Lord, teach us to pray." Is that our request? Or are we still hoping, "Lord, teach us structure" or "Lord, teach us to better schedule"?

The challenge before us in Texas is so profound that a significant call to prayer is called for.  It is my prayer and our goal to realize 10% of the Baptized membership of the Texas District LCMS congregations to be in prayer for the mission in Texas.

As the Lord leads you to pray for the mission of the church in this district and beyond, I encourage you to subscribe to the Texas District Prayer Initiative.  When you do, you will receive a weekly prayer page through your preferred email account.  The content of this page for 2011 includes scripture readings, reflections by missionaries and leaders in the Texas District, and items for you to include in your personal prayer time.

To see prayer pages or to sign up to be a prayer supporter click here.

God Bless!

Biblical Creation and Faith

The following is an email response to an inquiry about Biblical Creation and the role of Faith.  As you read you will notice that there has been previous communication.  It is the second exchange. 

Thank you for your kind words.  My question was an honest one to be sure.  Email tends to convert some statements in inappropriate ways.  I would ask for your patience in applying the best construction on what I write. Thank you.   I am glad to learn that you have degrees in Geology and Math.  I appreciate your passion for this subject. 

In addition, I am glad to learn that your daughter has survived a struggle with cancer.  Such events are life focusing and priority challenging to be sure.

I am not surprised to learn that you know Bible passages.  While I do not know your faith I do know that there are many in the church who embrace the proposition of macro-evolution as the explanation of all things rather than the Biblical proposition. That broader reality saddens me because there is a larger question in play at this point concerning the veracity of Scripture.  The bottom line question is: "To what authority does one submit?" 

I do agree with you, a deep understanding of Science does not preclude belief in a Creator.  In fact I would go so far as to say that a deep, full, and complete understanding of Science requires such a belief.   The question is then, "What kind of Creator is He?"  Is He the one characterized by the phrase, "Survival of the fittest?" or is it the one who looked at His Creation and said, "It is very good!" (Genesis 1:31)

I can tell you that I would hate to know of the Creator without also knowing of the Redeemer.  Knowing the first alone would terrify me to the point where I would intentionally become an atheist.  However, because of the promise of the Word (Gen 3:15 and a multitude of other passages) the Holy Spirit, in His mercy, has called me to faith in Christ, addressed the fall of mankind in Genesis chapter three (before which there was no death) and provides for me hope in this life and the next.  And since the vicarious atonement calls for God incarnate to be born of a virgin, to live without sin, to be punished for my sin and the sin of the world (John 3:16), to die on a cross and rise from the grave three days later, to ascend into heaven where He now sits at the right hand of the Father, (all miracles greater than speaking the Universe into existence 6,000 or so years ago simply by His word) I have to ask, which is lest tenable?  Is it Creation or Salvation?  I would suggest the answer is Salvation is the more difficult proposition to accept.  How could Jesus be fully God and Man?  How could he raise the dead, heal the sick, give sight to the blind, calm the wind, and control nature in such ways?  And then I read John 1:1ff and learn that Jesus was before everything.  At this point, if I am prepared to accept such Christology and Soteriology by faith, Creation is a piece of cake.  And so I ascribe to both by faith alone.  Then I go from there looking at everything through the trustworthy eyes of Scripture.

Just a thought: The Lutheran Reformation of 1517 returned the church to the truth of the Gospel, and provided the theological and philosophical foundation for science to thrive and move forward.  The world-view that sees God's word as non-negotiable and removes fear provides the context for greater advancement in history more than any other world-view.  (I have found no exceptions.)  In other words, the reason mankind ended up on the moon has nothing to do with evolution.  Rather it is the freedom of the Gospel provided by Jesus' death and resurrection that removed fear, superstition, and the obligation to please God with our actions (Matthew 11:28). 

I would like to suggest a few reading resources and a couple of websites for you to consider:

            The Ultimate Proof of Creation: resolving the origins debate, by Dr. Jason Lisle

            Refuting Compromise, by Dr. Jonathan Sarfati

            Thousands Not Billions, Dr. Don DeYoung

            The Greatest Hoax on Earth?, Dr. Jonathan Sarfati

Team Mission

I had decided to quit golfing. That was it. I do enough stupid things that I don't need others to know about without actually going out with three other people to demonstrate yet another area of inadequacy. "It's about the fellowship," say some. I say no. It's about competing and winning. The last time I won at golf, well I haven't.

So one day, as I was driving home, I decided to quit golfing. I called my wife to give her the news, but before I could say anything she said, "Steve, we need to buy the boys golf clubs." I almost said, "Well, they can have mine now, before I die" but I didn't. I said, "Well, okay." Maybe I shouldn't give up yet.

The boys can hit the ball about like I hit the ball. If I were a baseball player I would be hitting about .300. That would put me in All-Star territory. We all would be in All-Star territory. But in golf hitting .300 is a bad day. Some days better. Most days worse. In a rare moment, the last for many years I'm sure, my two sons and I were together in Borger. So we went golfing. (Go figure.)

I suggested that instead of playing against each other, we play against the course. We played best ball. So here you have three players, all able to hit about .300 (.300 translates into a score of 110 or so) competing not against each other but against that nasty golf course. Game on. At the end of it our score was 78! I couldn't believe it. And everyone contributed.

To start out there was some competition within the team with everyone trying to keep track of whose ball was "best" most of the time. That element of competition evaporated completely within about six holes. We can all mess up pretty well on our own. As a team we could do great things that as individuals would be impossible.

Translating this into other areas of life is not difficult. Where we try to go through difficulties alone, we find ourselves inadequate and unfulfilled. But linking to a team and relying on the gifts and abilities of others actually develops three critical areas:

1) humble fellowship;
2) recognition of others;
3) fulfillment of mission.

Humble Fellowship is something you learn when a team is working well together. Arrogance does not advance the mission. Paul says this in Philippians 2 when he exhorts the congregation not to consider themselves better than the other person. Instead, humble yourself as Christ humbled Himself.

There is also a necessary Recognition of Others on the team. One of the lessons that I have learned as a leader is to make room for personalities that I don't prefer. My role is not one of exclusion but rather of discovery and facilitation for contribution. A person may not think the way that I do, but that does not allow me to preclude their contribution in the pursuit of the mission. God has gifted them as He has gifted you.

Fulfillment of the Mission is the goal, but such is not done in isolation. Even Paul, who seemed to be the individual who just moved ahead, needed support and companionship to the end of his involvement in the Great Commission. I would remind you also that Great Golfers, even though they golf alone, have great caddies who encourage, coach, and rejoice with the one they serve.

I enjoyed golfing with my boys that day. Truth be known, we were disappointed that we shot a 78. We wanted it to be lower, but that is a man thing. Still, given there are not many super-heros in the church, it was a great lesson to learn again; we need each other as we move out with the Gospel to a world that is lost. And as we move together, the task is not as much labor as it is delight.

Maybe I'll continue golfing. Only God knows what else I can learn.

Being the Church in a Recession

We have been blessed in Texas with a robust economy in good times and a resilient economy in times when the rest of country is struggling economically. Still, people are moving into the state at high levels and businesses are struggling. There are communities dependent upon government contracts when the Federal budget is being redistributed. The result of this is employment numbers are declining. People are looking for jobs. The challenge for the unemployed to find employment is growing, and some economists say economic struggle will continue for years to come.

So what can the church do? An even better question is, what can the church be to their communities in a time when circumstances threaten to turn lives upside down? In one of the ubiquitous blue boxes in the Economist (Feb 20-26, 2010), a short two column piece appeared, addressing this very issue. Here is some of what this secular publication observed.

The church can be a gathering place. Many congregations across the country are providing both spiritual and professional counseling for people who have lost their jobs. They come together in prayer and praise, they network or fellowship, they highlight people who have recently become employed. For those who have been unemployed for the longest period of time, congregations hand out gas cards and gift cards to help them travel to where they need to go and to prepare for an interview. One lay leader said, "We believe that God should be a part of the job search." Then they break out into workshop sessions.

In these workshops they review their resume` writing and learn how to construct an “elevator pitch” for why an employer should hire them. (An elevator pitch is a statement the length of the time it takes for an elevator to reach the selected floor. Not a bad idea to develop for a witness statement as well.)

An interesting component to this growing activity across the country is that the goal is not to add members to the congregation. Indeed, there is a great deal of anxiety and even hopelessness in the ranks of the unemployed. The church can certainly address fear, but opening the doors of a congregation for job searchers unconditionally (without the call to join the congregation) reduces anxiety for those unfamiliar with the church culture and encourages people to become acquainted with principled, hard-working members of the body of Christ.

Such attention to the community may not be forgotten when a job is secured. Still, a cup of cold water given without qualification serves the kingdom of Christ very well.

Stewardship: There is Still Time

The word "stewardship" has always had an effect on people. In fact, my guess is that as you read the title, this eleven lettered word, you were either saying, "go get 'em" or you were saying, "I'll go to the next blog and skip this." Not unlike the word evangelism, at the mention of the word "stewardship," people either become impassioned or their eyes glaze over. "All they want is money."

Here's the thing. And there is no way around this. Discipleship is stewardship and stewardship is your job. While this is not what you put on your tax forms indicating occupation, it is easily arguable that this is why you are here; to be a steward. If you think about it, you were a steward very early in your life. When you were instructed to make your bed and pick up your toys, you were being trained in stewardship. As I reflect on my reluctance to follow instruction at that age, I realize how resistant I was and how much I needed to learn about being a good steward.

To be sure, stewardship is more than straightening up the garage, washing the car and taking out the garbage. It includes family, being a good husband or wife or child. It includes being a good neighbor. It includes the use of your time. How do distribute your time? Do you set time aside to read the Word of God, to prayer, and to worship the Lord? Stewardship includes the call to mission.

Do you use your gifts and personality for the kingdom of God as well as your vocation? I once had a visit from a man who was a great salesman. He was selling me on becoming involved in his business. Ok, I turned him down. I am not in the business of getting into business. When my visitor was done with his presentation, I asked him if he was involved in evangelism in his congregation. He said no. I told him that he may be gifted in evangelism and should not miss the opportunity of being a good steward in this. I said, "Speak of Christ with the same passion and you will be a blessing for the kingdom of God." I don't know what happened after that, but I am certain he never had a "sales visit" like that before or after. The point is, use what God has given to you for the good of your neighbor and it will also reflect God's kingdom to the world. In so doing, recognizing that God is the owner of all things, you joyfully praise God in all that you do by taking care of and managing that which God has given to you.

Money is included. The Scriptures do not tip-toe into this issue. In fact, statistically, twenty percent of the New Testament deals with financial concerns. It talks about management of money, misuse of money, the consequence of loving money, and the proper place of money in our lives. When Jesus speaks in the parables about the kingdom of God, He is discussing stewardship and many times illustrates His point using money. The Pharisees tried to trip Jesus up over financial issues. He would not be distracted. In fact, Jesus used money to illustrate reconciliation, servant leadership and love. Money is used to demonstrate your love for God and all that He has done for you. It is used to demonstrate your love and responsibility also to your neighbor. First-fruit giving is a major component in praising God with all that you have. Stewardship, in this regard means learning to budget and learning to prioritize the budget to reflect your faith. (My family, at a minimum, has tithed all income for my entire ministry. Praise God, we have never gone without. My children have learned to tithe. I don't say this other than to encourage and perhaps challenge you.)

There is another word that has great effect on people. It is a word that softens hard hearts and minds. It is a word that causes congregations to pause when they are out of sorts with each other. It is a word that reunites families and neighbors. It a word that leads people to an even higher level of stewardship. The word is "forgiveness." In Jesus' death and resurrection, you are offered forgiveness. Adam was given the responsibility of stewardship of creation before the fall. Adam needed to hear that eleven-lettered word when he "dropped the ball" in his own stewardship and caused the human race to fall. You need to hear that word when you fail to manage the things you have and the gifts you are to use. Read Luke 19:11-27 and you will learn that our Lord has exacting expectations. The great thing about forgiveness in Christ is you can start again. There is still time to start again.

Just Stop to Thank for a Moment

Did you ever develop a list of things for which to be thankful? I'm not much on lists but I like this one. This is a list that will take you past Thanksgiving, the holiday. Against this list, a closet filled with clothes, an end of year bonus, or even good health, even though we appropriately give thanks to God for His provision (!) , simply fades into a secondary level altogether.

We learn in the Bible that thankfulness and joy is not simply something we do but it is who we are as a believer. Scripture keeps reminding me of this. Read Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."

Paul will point out in Romans that in this world of sin and decay, one can rejoice and be in sorrow at the same time. Lutherans understand this in the "sin/sinner" typology. Paul and Silas were in a jail, bound and shackled in the most desperate of ways and yet they were not desperate. In their physical constraints they were unconstrained spiritually, singing praises to the Living God. Peter will also say the same thing. This kind of giving of thanks and rejoicing is counter-intuitive to the natural man. It is not natural. But there it is. Rejoice always, and again, just because you need to know this, I say, rejoice.

If at this point you should be saying, "That's impossible, what he's saying is impossible, it can't be done," I agree. Giving thanks and rejoicing in a manner recorded in both the Old and New Testament is impossible, except that it is supernatural. We're not talking about giving thanks simply because something happens to be good. We are talking about a thankfulness that can only be understood by the movement of the Holy Spirit. Now, rejoicing and giving thanks is an emotional response to what I know to be true about God, His grace and His mercy. This kind of thankfulness can only be expressed by faith. That is the substance of such thanksgiving. It is the wonder of contemplating the unconditional, eternal relationship we have with God the Father through the shed blood of our Lord, Jesus the Christ.

So giving thanks is a matter of faith. Perhaps you say, as do I, "I mess up on this. I'm not thankful nor do I rejoice all that much." At such a spiritual junction, we are back to the cross, to forgiveness, to God's grace and mercy, and then, as Luther says, "All for which it is my duty, to thank, praise, serve and obey. This is most certainly true."

With that, let me suggest one list for your consideration.

One: The work of Christ.

I love the response of one man to the question, "How you doin?" He says, "Better than I deserve." As one Lutheran I know the two extremes. I recognize the depravity of sin and the work of Christ to satisfy God' wrath upon that sin. Take time to stop to realize what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for you, though you be utterly and completely unworthy, undeserving. That is why the angel said in Luke 2:10, "Do not be afraid, behold I bring you good news of a great joy." Then the angel says, "Today is born for you a savior."

John 15:11, records Jesus saying, "These things I have spoken to you that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be made full." Everything Christ did is for the fullness of your joy.

Speaking of the redemptive work of Christ and His atonement on the cross, Paul tells the Christians in Rome, in the fifth chapter that "It is in this great work of Christ that we exalt, that we rejoice."

Two: The work of the Holy Spirit.

Paul writes to the Romans and says in 14:17, "You have joy in the Holy Spirit." It is the Spirit of God who is producing joy. He is interceding for you constantly according to the will of God. So says Romans 8. It is the Spirit is the one who points you to Christ. He fills you for service and strength. He enables you, He gifts you. Out of thankfulness to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, we rejoice always. Nothing can touch the work of Christ and diminish it. Nothing can harm the work of the Spirit of God. The Living, Triune God is at work, drawing you to the cross and into His glory and that is plenty of reason for unceasing joy.

Three: The spiritual blessings that God has given to us.

This is big and worthy of a series of blogs in and of itself. But consider this. Ephesians tells us that We are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ. Stop to think that you have been given all things pertaining to life. In Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily and you are declared complete in Him by Him. Because of that you have become partakers of the divine nature. On top of that, God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus. This goes on and on. These are things for which the world longs. And yet for you there is no end to the continual flow of gracious blessing in your life and that is reason enough for unceasing joy.

Four: God knows . . . (rejoice and be thankful for that)

Paul would say it this way in Romans 8:28. "All things work together for good to them that love God and are the called according to His purpose," Romans 8:28. No matter what's going on in your life, unceasing thanks and joy over the divine providence is more than appropriate. God is able to keep you from falling away from faith, and holds you fast.

Five: The certain promise of Heaven.

There is no other system of salvation (religion) that can present this with certainty, other than the Christian in Christ. Still, I have talked with so many Christians who are ambivalent on this point. They need not be. Every other form of religion says, "Maybe, if you've done enough and if God is benevolent at that moment, maybe you will be saved." Such lies! (Again, this blog is too short for me to include my conversations with non-Christians concerning the after-life but they are all over the map and their hope is always on them, not God.) We can be certain. Look at the hope of Paul. Speaking of his own dying Paul says, "I rejoice, I will rejoice." Why, Paul? "Simply for to me to live is Christ, to die is gain."

Listen to the Psalmist once again. "I have set the Lord continually before me. Therefore my heart is glad, my glory rejoices." Why? "He will never abandon my soul in the grave, He will never allow me to undergo decay. He will show me the path of life." I know that is a Messianic Psalm but it is also the resurrection. "I will be in His presence at His right hand to find the pleasures forever." The psalmist had the hope of future life.

Read the 15th chapter of first Corinthians and see what the resurrection of Christ brings.

Six: God answers prayer.

Are you thankful for answered prayer? When you cry out to God in Christ He hears and answers your prayer and shows you great and mighty things which you may not know. No matter what's going on in your life, unceasing joy is possible because in Christ your prayers are answered. God doesn't have to do that but He does it. He answers your every prayer according to His perfect will for your ultimate good in time and in eternity.

Seven: The Word of God.

The Scripture is a most incredible gift. In fact, it is more precious than gold. It is sweeter than honey in a honeycomb. (Psalm 19) And in Psalm 119:111, "I have inherited Thy testimonies forever, they are the joy of my heart." Verse 162, "I rejoice at Thy Word as one who finds great spoil." In Jeremiah 15:16, Jeremiah said, "Thy words were found, I did eat them, Thy word was in me, the joy and rejoicing of my heart." Paul says, "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly," in Colossians 3:16 he says, "As the Word is richly in you, you will speak to yourselves in psalms and hymns, you'll sing, you'll make melody." We can find joy simply in thanksgiving for the food and the nourishment of the Word of God that feeds your soul, reveals God’s grace in Christ and then is a compass and a guide to your life.

Eight: Christian fellowship (the Body of Christ)

I am so grateful for my family, past and present (and the family to come?). I hope that you are grateful for your family as well. How about the family that God has given to you? Do you give thanks for your church membership? I understand that there are times when those groups can be difficult. But in 1 Thessalonians 3:9, look at what Paul says, "What thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account?" In other words Paul says, "I don't even know words to say about how much joy there is in just knowing you...just sharing with you...just fellowshipping with you. I wish I could communicate that with you." Do you go to church with that thought? Do you establish and sustain that kind of church environment where you are? In 2 Timothy 1:4 Paul says to Timothy, "I long to see you even as I recall your tears so that I may be filled with joy." Just being with you is joy, source of joy. Or have we gotten to simply tolerate the relationships in our congregation? The love of the saints (of each other) is a source of joy. There can be joy in Christian fellowship; unceasing, unending joy. Do you thank God for your Christian fellowship? Here's the thing: the fellowship we have with one another in Christ will never be broken.

Nine: Gospel preaching.

I love to hear the clear Gospel proclaimed. Paul in Philippians 1 says, "Christ is preached and I rejoice." In Acts 15 perhaps even more focused on the point we're making, verse 3, "Therefore being sent on their way by the church Paul and Barnabas were passing through Phoenicia and Samaria describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles and were bringing great joy to the all the brethren." Do you receive joy out of the fact that the Gospel is proclaimed and people come to faith and are strengthened in their faith, reminded of their baptism, called to the Lord's Supper?

I thank God for the Pastor's and teachers, for members, for family, for fathers, mothers, children, and all who honor Christ by their words and actions and thereby communicate the Gospel to people who do not yet know the things for which we are thankful, supernaturally.

Ten: God is good.

In Mark 10:18 it says, "And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God." God is good. I am thankful for that and I am not alone.

2 Chronicles 7:10, "On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people to their tents rejoicing and happy of heart because of the goodness that the Lord had shown." As God's people, our delight and joy reflects God's goodness. Indeed, your list will reflect the goodness of God.

Psalm 28:7, "The Lord is my strength and my shield, my heart trusts in Him and I am helped, therefore my heart rejoices and with my song I shall thank Him." It isn't your context for living but rather the strength of the Lord that is cause for giving thanks.

Psalm 71:23, "My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to Thee and my soul which Thou hast redeemed."

Nehemiah 8:10 says, "The joy of the Lord is your strength." There is strength in the Lord's joy.

I know that this list can continue and it should, but what a great God we have who as been shown to us in the Word. No matter the circumstance I say to you, Happy Thanksgiving in Christ.