Aaron Lewis with the band Staind wrote a song titled, "It's Been Awhile". This is a "Parental Advisory" song that tells about just how messed up Lewis felt his life was. It's about everything being messed up and Lewis being the one who messed it all up. As much as he would like to blame someone else for his problem, he knows he can't.
"It's been awhile since I could hold my head up high; it's been awhile since I said I'm sorry."
Poignant words that get to the heart of the matter. How often we mess things up in our lives. How frequently we are the cause of our own difficult times. How often we choose to hang our heads in shame and walk away rather than say we're sorry.
Simple words yet so hard to say. Simple words right on the tip of our tongues, yet we hold our tongues. What if we gave it a try? What if we heed Lewis' warning and don't hold back our apology? What would happen?
You've caused your spouse pain; what if you say you're sorry? You've yelled at your children; what if you told them you are sorry? You haven't given your best at work; what if you apologized to your boss? Would it make a difference? I suspect it would!
This is what it's all about! This is literally the foundation upon which Christianity is built! We come before God asking His forgiveness and He gives it to us! He picks up our hanging heads and allows us to look ourselves straight again!
Has it been awhile since you confessed your sins? Do it today. Has it been awhile since you said you're sorry? Say it today.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Missionary Me
Jesus has been very clear with me about what I should do as His follower: teach everything He has commanded and baptize. That's cool; but where do I start? I think the ideal place to start is with a recognition that there are not two "Corey's", Regular Corey and Christian Corey, but that in fact, there is only one "Corey" who is a Christian. That simply is to say, I don't cease being Jesus' follower when I leave church!
I am a Christian; and to be a Christian is to have a mission; and to have a mission is to be a missionary! But when do I do this missionary work? Where do I go? How do I do it?
Simple! If there is only one "Corey", then missionary work happens where I am, when I am there, as I do whatever task I have to do at that given place and time!
It is crucial to always remember that "Corey" does not save people. "Corey" does not bring people to faith in Jesus Christ. "Corey" doesn't convince people that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. "Corey" cannot do these things.
Yet as I go about doing whatever work I have been given to do, the Lord Himself brings me into contact with all kinds of different people. On an average Tuesday, I play racquetball with a group of people at the gym, speak with a handful of people on the phone, work with a few people at the office, enjoy lunch and conversation with 50-60 people at the Lion's Club, shop alongside of people at some store, attend a function at one of my children's schools, get my mail at the same time as one of my neighbors, and probably do other things I'm not even considering! That means that on an average Tuesday, I probably come into contact with over 100 different people!
That's a lot of people! And I believe it is no accident that I am connected with these people, but that we are there for a purpose. It starts with being a good neighbor (in the broad sense, i.e. everyone is my neighbor). A good neighbor is someone who is there for people. Through this, the Lord provides opportunities to share the hope I have in Christ Jesus! It's amazing and true! The Lord Himself opens doors for sharing the truth about Jesus Christ. Not only that, but He also gives me what to say.
There is darkness in people's lives. The Lord sends me to these people to shine the Gospel light into their darkness and bring about healing and restoration. This is missionary work! The mission has been given to me by Jesus. Jesus has made me a Christian. There are not two "Corey's", but one "Corey" who is a Christian with a very important mission. Not only does Jesus send me; He also goes with me!
I am a Christian; and to be a Christian is to have a mission; and to have a mission is to be a missionary! But when do I do this missionary work? Where do I go? How do I do it?
Simple! If there is only one "Corey", then missionary work happens where I am, when I am there, as I do whatever task I have to do at that given place and time!
It is crucial to always remember that "Corey" does not save people. "Corey" does not bring people to faith in Jesus Christ. "Corey" doesn't convince people that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. "Corey" cannot do these things.
Yet as I go about doing whatever work I have been given to do, the Lord Himself brings me into contact with all kinds of different people. On an average Tuesday, I play racquetball with a group of people at the gym, speak with a handful of people on the phone, work with a few people at the office, enjoy lunch and conversation with 50-60 people at the Lion's Club, shop alongside of people at some store, attend a function at one of my children's schools, get my mail at the same time as one of my neighbors, and probably do other things I'm not even considering! That means that on an average Tuesday, I probably come into contact with over 100 different people!
That's a lot of people! And I believe it is no accident that I am connected with these people, but that we are there for a purpose. It starts with being a good neighbor (in the broad sense, i.e. everyone is my neighbor). A good neighbor is someone who is there for people. Through this, the Lord provides opportunities to share the hope I have in Christ Jesus! It's amazing and true! The Lord Himself opens doors for sharing the truth about Jesus Christ. Not only that, but He also gives me what to say.
There is darkness in people's lives. The Lord sends me to these people to shine the Gospel light into their darkness and bring about healing and restoration. This is missionary work! The mission has been given to me by Jesus. Jesus has made me a Christian. There are not two "Corey's", but one "Corey" who is a Christian with a very important mission. Not only does Jesus send me; He also goes with me!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
The ELCA and Homosexuality - What's the Issue?
Recently the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has made the decision to call and ordain openly homosexual men and women to be pastors in the church. At first glance, we may be tempted to think the issue is all about homosexuality. On the contrary, homosexuality is a secondary issue at best. The Lord is quite clear about who the good gift of sex is for: a husband and a wife. After God had created everything and declared it individually "good", He looked at the man He had just created and declared (for the first time ever) that something was "not good". "It is not good for man to be alone" (Gen 2:18). To rectify the situation, God created Adam's wife and gave her to him. Eve was the person Adam had waited his whole life for! She was literally the woman of his dreams! And she was a female! Male and female, God created them (Gen 1:27). When God sought to change a "not good" situation into one that was "very good", God chose to create complementary creatures. A woman to complement the man. In so doing, God established the family in which one man marries one woman for life. Anything outside of this is not God-pleasing, but sinful. Homosexuality, cohabitation, premarital sex, adultery, and divorce are all sinful acts. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23).
If homosexuality is not the primary issue at hand, what in the world is? Simply this: how we deal with the Word of God is ultimately being challenged by the ELCA's decision. God created sex as a good gift in the context of a life-long, heterosexual, marriage relationship. Saying that something outside of that is okay (if not even desirable) contradicts the very foundation of God's Word. Even more, it contradicts the very core of creation itself! For a church body to turn so radically from what God has established and ordained as good and right is outright heretical, wrong, and dangerous to all the people who associate themselves with the church body.
The argument in favor of the ELCA's decision is basically that we must be accepting of the person and his/her lifestyle choice for the sake of love and the Gospel. This is a good idea to a point. Yet it is in fact far from loving to sit by and do nothing as a brother or sister in Christ makes choices that are against the very foundation of creation. It is far more loving to first tell the individual that we care about them and love them. In care and love, we are then compelled to share the truth with them. We must tell them that their choices are sinful. We must also be ready and willing to patiently stand by them as the Lord works major life changes. We should ever be ready with the sweet words of Jesus Christ's Holy Gospel. That although they are struggling, the Lord is right there with them working healing and bringing about change. That the Lord forgives sins! That all our sins have been removed from us and sent to Hell when Christ had them nailed to the cross! It is our duty as Christians to speak the truth. Woe to us if we do not speak the truth (cf. Ezekiel 33, esp. v 8-9!!!).
I love homosexual people and want to share the truth of Jesus Christ and His gospel with them any and every chance I get. I will not lie for the sake of telling someone what he/she wants to hear. Rather, in love, I will share the truth of sin and grace; Law and Gospel. In love, I will work in any way I can to help people repent and turn to the Truth.
Join me in praying for all people struggling with their slavery to sin. Pray Christ, the One who holds the key to our chains, will free us from sin. Join me also in praying for the ELCA and all its members as they struggle with the repercussions of there recent decision. Pray the Lord will use this as an opportunity to move this church body back to the Truth. That those within the ELCA who oppose this and other recent decisions will stand on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ and His Truth and be fearless in their proclamations!
If homosexuality is not the primary issue at hand, what in the world is? Simply this: how we deal with the Word of God is ultimately being challenged by the ELCA's decision. God created sex as a good gift in the context of a life-long, heterosexual, marriage relationship. Saying that something outside of that is okay (if not even desirable) contradicts the very foundation of God's Word. Even more, it contradicts the very core of creation itself! For a church body to turn so radically from what God has established and ordained as good and right is outright heretical, wrong, and dangerous to all the people who associate themselves with the church body.
The argument in favor of the ELCA's decision is basically that we must be accepting of the person and his/her lifestyle choice for the sake of love and the Gospel. This is a good idea to a point. Yet it is in fact far from loving to sit by and do nothing as a brother or sister in Christ makes choices that are against the very foundation of creation. It is far more loving to first tell the individual that we care about them and love them. In care and love, we are then compelled to share the truth with them. We must tell them that their choices are sinful. We must also be ready and willing to patiently stand by them as the Lord works major life changes. We should ever be ready with the sweet words of Jesus Christ's Holy Gospel. That although they are struggling, the Lord is right there with them working healing and bringing about change. That the Lord forgives sins! That all our sins have been removed from us and sent to Hell when Christ had them nailed to the cross! It is our duty as Christians to speak the truth. Woe to us if we do not speak the truth (cf. Ezekiel 33, esp. v 8-9!!!).
I love homosexual people and want to share the truth of Jesus Christ and His gospel with them any and every chance I get. I will not lie for the sake of telling someone what he/she wants to hear. Rather, in love, I will share the truth of sin and grace; Law and Gospel. In love, I will work in any way I can to help people repent and turn to the Truth.
Join me in praying for all people struggling with their slavery to sin. Pray Christ, the One who holds the key to our chains, will free us from sin. Join me also in praying for the ELCA and all its members as they struggle with the repercussions of there recent decision. Pray the Lord will use this as an opportunity to move this church body back to the Truth. That those within the ELCA who oppose this and other recent decisions will stand on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ and His Truth and be fearless in their proclamations!
Monday, August 3, 2009
Some Thoughts on Two Years
On July 15th, I celebrated my second anniversary as a called and ordained pastor in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. I think it's always good to take a minute to reflect about the past in order to help guide the present and future.
I remember my installation Sunday. The church was packed that night. The choir, which I later learned hadn't sung together for some time, sang their hearts out. Pastors and seminary students laid their hands on me and gave me a blessing. Leadership from St. Paul instructed me to preach and teach them the Word of God and to administer the sacraments of Holy Communion and Holy Baptism. What an exciting day!
Installation day has been followed by countless other exciting days. Festival Sundays like Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost. Goals achieved like introducing the new hymnal, bringing back Vacation Bible School two years in a row, and putting into action a three-year ministry plan, none of which could have been accomplished without the help and support of wonderful workers and faithful members at St. Paul. I have presided over many weddings and many funerals. The Lord has used my hands to baptize many children and adults, to give out His body and blood, and to reach out to those in need.
I love to teach and preach. I'm not sure the number of sermons I've preached at St. Paul, but I am confident the Lord works in the hearts and lives of the hearers as He promises to do. I've taught about Two Kinds of Righteousness, Family Life, Genesis, and Revelation. I've been on several retreats with the confirmation students and with adults.
Over two years, I have gotten to know some very great people! The members of St. Paul are great, loving, supportive people who truly care about me and my family. You don't get that sense of community and relationship anywhere. It's a direct result of being brought into the body of Christ together; unified by the Lord Himself!
Some days are hard. Some days are easy. Whether hard or easy, the Lord has proved time and time again that He is with me through it all, leading and guiding. Apart from the grace and guidance of Jesus, I would most certainly screw everything up. Instead, the Lord is guiding His church and He's changing my life! Day in and day out, He makes me a new creation, washed in His blood, equipped with His good gifts. Ready to get up and get to work each day!
Looking ahead, the Lord is leading us into the missionary field. Clearly He has placed us in the field of Paducah, KY. We are also going to explore what we can do outside of our community with the prayer that we bring back what we learn into our community!
I remember my installation Sunday. The church was packed that night. The choir, which I later learned hadn't sung together for some time, sang their hearts out. Pastors and seminary students laid their hands on me and gave me a blessing. Leadership from St. Paul instructed me to preach and teach them the Word of God and to administer the sacraments of Holy Communion and Holy Baptism. What an exciting day!
Installation day has been followed by countless other exciting days. Festival Sundays like Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost. Goals achieved like introducing the new hymnal, bringing back Vacation Bible School two years in a row, and putting into action a three-year ministry plan, none of which could have been accomplished without the help and support of wonderful workers and faithful members at St. Paul. I have presided over many weddings and many funerals. The Lord has used my hands to baptize many children and adults, to give out His body and blood, and to reach out to those in need.
I love to teach and preach. I'm not sure the number of sermons I've preached at St. Paul, but I am confident the Lord works in the hearts and lives of the hearers as He promises to do. I've taught about Two Kinds of Righteousness, Family Life, Genesis, and Revelation. I've been on several retreats with the confirmation students and with adults.
Over two years, I have gotten to know some very great people! The members of St. Paul are great, loving, supportive people who truly care about me and my family. You don't get that sense of community and relationship anywhere. It's a direct result of being brought into the body of Christ together; unified by the Lord Himself!
Some days are hard. Some days are easy. Whether hard or easy, the Lord has proved time and time again that He is with me through it all, leading and guiding. Apart from the grace and guidance of Jesus, I would most certainly screw everything up. Instead, the Lord is guiding His church and He's changing my life! Day in and day out, He makes me a new creation, washed in His blood, equipped with His good gifts. Ready to get up and get to work each day!
Looking ahead, the Lord is leading us into the missionary field. Clearly He has placed us in the field of Paducah, KY. We are also going to explore what we can do outside of our community with the prayer that we bring back what we learn into our community!
Monday, June 1, 2009
Confirmation Vows
I love Confirmation Sunday! Every year, it takes me back to the end of eighth grade. I remember being questioned about Luther's Small Catechism, Scripture passages, and the Christian Faith! Talk about a nerve-racking experience! But what a day of shear excitement and joy as I was confirmed in my Christian Faith! The choir sang; friends and family visited and gave gifts; we were greeted and welcomed by the entire congregation (at least those who worshipped at the 10:45 service!); and I got to pick the meal for the day!
Thinking back, I especially remember the vows I took with the 12 other individuals in my class. Vows to come to church and receive the Lord's Supper regularly. To live according to God's Word in everything I do. And to remain faithful to my confession, even if it costs me my life.
I spent a lot of time thinking about these vows. Can I live up to them? Looking back over the past sixteen years, the answer is clearly "no". During college I didn't go to church all that often. It started with just missing one Sunday here and there. Later, that turned into a few Sundays in a row. Finally, I even found myself at work on Easter Sunday rather than celebrating the Resurrection of my Lord with fellow Christians. I was miserable that day. I felt so guilty for making the choice to work.
My faith life was wavering. I found myself making up my own faith. Starting to believe that it really doesn't matter what you believe, as long as you believe something. Believing I could "worship God" just as well out in the beauty of the Black Hills as I could in some hot old sanctuary somewhere.
What happened to my vows? I promised this wouldn't happen, yet I was slowly excluding myself from the communion of believers. It's not like I ever stopped believing in God, but I was moving dangerously in the wrong direction.
This is yet another example of God's gracious mercy toward His children. Although I was moving away, He never let me go! He stayed right there with me! Through a couple pastors who kept track of me and were genuinely interested in me. Through theological discussions with my closest friends. Through event after event that continued to lead me back to Him.
I did not keep my end of the bargain. I broke my confirmation vows. The fact of the matter is, I cannot live up to them. They break me. They crush me. And they send me back to the cross of my crucified Lord and Savior. He took the punishment for my broken vows. He calls me to His altar to receive life through His body and blood. And He strengthens me in my confession and vows. When I break them, He restores me!
Now I'm a pastor in the Lutheran Church. Obviously this is more of God's work! It's miraculous that God can take me, broken and crushed as I am, to be used to such awesome purposes as teaching the faith to others, administering the Lord's Supper, baptizing people, and preaching the Word of God to a congregation of people struggling with their own confirmation vows! The Lord holds it all together as He holds us all together.
Thinking back, I especially remember the vows I took with the 12 other individuals in my class. Vows to come to church and receive the Lord's Supper regularly. To live according to God's Word in everything I do. And to remain faithful to my confession, even if it costs me my life.
I spent a lot of time thinking about these vows. Can I live up to them? Looking back over the past sixteen years, the answer is clearly "no". During college I didn't go to church all that often. It started with just missing one Sunday here and there. Later, that turned into a few Sundays in a row. Finally, I even found myself at work on Easter Sunday rather than celebrating the Resurrection of my Lord with fellow Christians. I was miserable that day. I felt so guilty for making the choice to work.
My faith life was wavering. I found myself making up my own faith. Starting to believe that it really doesn't matter what you believe, as long as you believe something. Believing I could "worship God" just as well out in the beauty of the Black Hills as I could in some hot old sanctuary somewhere.
What happened to my vows? I promised this wouldn't happen, yet I was slowly excluding myself from the communion of believers. It's not like I ever stopped believing in God, but I was moving dangerously in the wrong direction.
This is yet another example of God's gracious mercy toward His children. Although I was moving away, He never let me go! He stayed right there with me! Through a couple pastors who kept track of me and were genuinely interested in me. Through theological discussions with my closest friends. Through event after event that continued to lead me back to Him.
I did not keep my end of the bargain. I broke my confirmation vows. The fact of the matter is, I cannot live up to them. They break me. They crush me. And they send me back to the cross of my crucified Lord and Savior. He took the punishment for my broken vows. He calls me to His altar to receive life through His body and blood. And He strengthens me in my confession and vows. When I break them, He restores me!
Now I'm a pastor in the Lutheran Church. Obviously this is more of God's work! It's miraculous that God can take me, broken and crushed as I am, to be used to such awesome purposes as teaching the faith to others, administering the Lord's Supper, baptizing people, and preaching the Word of God to a congregation of people struggling with their own confirmation vows! The Lord holds it all together as He holds us all together.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Jesus Online!
Where is Jesus in the world today? It used to be clear where He was. People knew right where Jesus was when He walked the earth, talked to people, taught about the Kingdom of God, and performed miraculous wonders! Where is He today though? Is Jesus on Facebook and MySpace and Twitter? Or does He stand along the sidelines and simply observe the world passing by? Is He up in the clouds somewhere just waiting for that special day when He will return? Where in the world is Jesus today?
Jesus is God and can be anywhere and everywhere He wants! Facebook? MySpace? Twitter? You bet! But maybe not as you'd expect. I don't believe the Facebook profile of "Jesus Christ" is the "real Jesus". But where Jesus' followers are found, there Jesus is found! As followers of Christ interact with the world on Facebook and MySpace and Twitter, Jesus goes right along with them! In words of comfort and support when someone is feeling down, people get a glimpse of Jesus in the world today!
Where the followers of Jesus go, there Jesus goes with them! That's where in the world Jesus is found! Even more profoundly, Jesus is found where He promises to be! When His gospel of forgiveness and love is proclaimed, there is Jesus! When a newly baptized person is welcomed into the family of God Almighty, there is Jesus! When Jesus' followers gather at His altar and receive His body and blood in Holy Communion, there is Jesus. There in the world is Jesus today! Right where He promises to be. In the community of His faithful followers. In the bread and wine. In the water of baptism. In your words of comfort and hope! There in the world is Jesus today!
Jesus is God and can be anywhere and everywhere He wants! Facebook? MySpace? Twitter? You bet! But maybe not as you'd expect. I don't believe the Facebook profile of "Jesus Christ" is the "real Jesus". But where Jesus' followers are found, there Jesus is found! As followers of Christ interact with the world on Facebook and MySpace and Twitter, Jesus goes right along with them! In words of comfort and support when someone is feeling down, people get a glimpse of Jesus in the world today!
Where the followers of Jesus go, there Jesus goes with them! That's where in the world Jesus is found! Even more profoundly, Jesus is found where He promises to be! When His gospel of forgiveness and love is proclaimed, there is Jesus! When a newly baptized person is welcomed into the family of God Almighty, there is Jesus! When Jesus' followers gather at His altar and receive His body and blood in Holy Communion, there is Jesus. There in the world is Jesus today! Right where He promises to be. In the community of His faithful followers. In the bread and wine. In the water of baptism. In your words of comfort and hope! There in the world is Jesus today!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Maybe It's Just Me, but . . .
Every single day, I open up the Paducah Sun Newspaper and see new signs of economic trouble. Yesterday was no different. In an article reporting the income and expenditures of our great nation, it turns out we will have to borrow half of what we plan to spend! This equals some two trillion dollars! $2,000,000,000,000! Okay. So the theory must be "by borrow more money we will get out of debt". That's exactly the business model of an "Easy Money Lending" establishment. A little short on cash? No problem, just come on down and we'll advance you! People all over our nation have bought into this. The catch is that the money isn't free! These people who just needed a little extra to make ends meet are now struggling to get their heads back above water as they try to pay back astronomical amounts far greater than what they borrowed. On top of that, the threat and actuation of job loss is a very real danger.
Borrowing to get out of debt is a bad idea. It doesn't work. Borrowing by its very nature gets you further into debt. This is the exact mentality that got us in our current dire situation. It's time for each American to find where he or she can cut costs. It's time to save money and delay gratification. It's time to see the needs of those around us and sacrifice of ourselves to help. Our Lord has blessed each of us with various gifts- talents, friends and families, and money. None of these gifts should be hoarded away. Rather, it is time for us to share our gifts with each other. We do not need our government to take our money in taxes in order to give it to a less fortunate brother or sister. This is something we can do without the middle man!
It's time to take ownership of this problem and do what we can to make a difference!
Borrowing to get out of debt is a bad idea. It doesn't work. Borrowing by its very nature gets you further into debt. This is the exact mentality that got us in our current dire situation. It's time for each American to find where he or she can cut costs. It's time to save money and delay gratification. It's time to see the needs of those around us and sacrifice of ourselves to help. Our Lord has blessed each of us with various gifts- talents, friends and families, and money. None of these gifts should be hoarded away. Rather, it is time for us to share our gifts with each other. We do not need our government to take our money in taxes in order to give it to a less fortunate brother or sister. This is something we can do without the middle man!
It's time to take ownership of this problem and do what we can to make a difference!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Life After Death
In my Sunday Morning Bible Study, we are studying John's Revelation. This is a fascinating book of the Bible. The apocalyptic symbolism jumps off the page and you can't help but wonder about what is to come for us as you read through these challenging chapters of text. We begin each class with prayer and by reading Revelation 1:1-8 (in fact, this would be a good time to pause for prayer and read this passage in your Bible). These eight verses serve as John's introduction to the entire book. The "revelatory unveiling" of Jesus Christ by God the Father! Basically, John is letting the reader know ahead of time that the following pages are going to be loaded with meaning and they all have their origin in Christ!
This past Sunday, after we read John's introduction to Revelation, I asked the class what John meant by the words in verse 5, "the firstborn from the dead (NIV)". What an intriguing reference to Jesus! Firstborn, as if the tomb gave birth to Him! This Easter Sunday reference screams the refrain "He is risen! He is risen indeed, alleluia!" It defines what we mean to say Jesus is resurrected from the dead. He lives. He was dead. He is dead no more. He will not die again. He lives forever. Life after death.
But what about others who had been raised back to life? What about the widow's son raised back to life by Elijah OR the Shunamite woman's son restored by Elisha OR Lazarus brought back by Jesus OR Eutycus by Paul. What about all of these people? Were they not raised from the dead? Absolutely! And what a beautiful foreshadowing of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. However, the widow's son, the Shunamite's son, Lazarus, and Eutycus all died again. They had not been raised to new life, but to the same old life. So they, like us, await life after death.
When I say "life after death", I'm not talking about what happens when we die. That's not life; it's just plain death. Our body is reverently laid to rest in the grave or tomb while or soul "goes to be with Jesus" (Philippians 1:23). This is the very definition of the state of being dead. This is the exact opposite of life. Thus, it is not life after death. Yet we believe in Jesus Christ's resurrection. We celebrate it like we celebrate few other events! We actually dare to find hope in Jesus' life after death. We take comfort because Jesus lives! He is not dead! He is alive - body and soul together - ALIVE!
This is what awaits each of us who trust Jesus! Life after death is what our friends and loved ones who died in faith are looking forward to! They certainly are "in a better place" because they are with Jesus! But they know, just as you and I know, there's much more still to come! The living Jesus Christ will soon return to bring back life to those who are dead! Life after death! Life that will never end! Life no longer threatened by death! Jesus is the firstborn from the dead! The grave has already given birth to life for Jesus. In the same way, the graves of those with faith in Jesus will give birth to new life for the saints! We will have life after death! (For further reading, check out Romans 6!)
This past Sunday, after we read John's introduction to Revelation, I asked the class what John meant by the words in verse 5, "the firstborn from the dead (NIV)". What an intriguing reference to Jesus! Firstborn, as if the tomb gave birth to Him! This Easter Sunday reference screams the refrain "He is risen! He is risen indeed, alleluia!" It defines what we mean to say Jesus is resurrected from the dead. He lives. He was dead. He is dead no more. He will not die again. He lives forever. Life after death.
But what about others who had been raised back to life? What about the widow's son raised back to life by Elijah OR the Shunamite woman's son restored by Elisha OR Lazarus brought back by Jesus OR Eutycus by Paul. What about all of these people? Were they not raised from the dead? Absolutely! And what a beautiful foreshadowing of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. However, the widow's son, the Shunamite's son, Lazarus, and Eutycus all died again. They had not been raised to new life, but to the same old life. So they, like us, await life after death.
When I say "life after death", I'm not talking about what happens when we die. That's not life; it's just plain death. Our body is reverently laid to rest in the grave or tomb while or soul "goes to be with Jesus" (Philippians 1:23). This is the very definition of the state of being dead. This is the exact opposite of life. Thus, it is not life after death. Yet we believe in Jesus Christ's resurrection. We celebrate it like we celebrate few other events! We actually dare to find hope in Jesus' life after death. We take comfort because Jesus lives! He is not dead! He is alive - body and soul together - ALIVE!
This is what awaits each of us who trust Jesus! Life after death is what our friends and loved ones who died in faith are looking forward to! They certainly are "in a better place" because they are with Jesus! But they know, just as you and I know, there's much more still to come! The living Jesus Christ will soon return to bring back life to those who are dead! Life after death! Life that will never end! Life no longer threatened by death! Jesus is the firstborn from the dead! The grave has already given birth to life for Jesus. In the same way, the graves of those with faith in Jesus will give birth to new life for the saints! We will have life after death! (For further reading, check out Romans 6!)
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Living on "Indian Time"
A few years ago, I had the privilege of doing ministry on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South-central South Dakota during June and July. From start to finish, this was a summer to remember. My family (of four at that time) lived with Pastor Andrew and his family (five total, plus his mother and father for awhile!). We were on the reservation during Vacation Bible School (VBS) time, and my job was to make sure we had ample activities and crafts for the kids each day, to teach the Bible stories, and to present the daily flannel graph.
Every day we would arrive in one of the communities and drive up and down all the streets letting the children know Bible School was about to start! This was a highly anticipated annual event for the children so they knew what to do: jump on the trailer and get a free ride to the VBS site! We were officially scheduled to start each day at 10am, so naturally I began to worry when 10:30 rolled around and we were still setting up. I was also concerned that we didn't have very many children. This was my introduction to what the locals called "Indian Time"! We start when everyone is here, which in many cases was about an hour later when word spread that VBS was starting!
You have to understand something about me at this point, "Corey time" and "Indian Time" are polar opposites! If I'm supposed to start teaching children about Jesus' love for them at 11 o'clock, the kids need to be seated and open to the right page in the book at 11 o'clock! Well, that just plain wasn't going to happen. Boy did I have a lot of learning to do!
My other job that summer was to lead worship each Sunday and preach a couple times. I thought that surely worship would start on time. On the contrary, as my first Sunday's experience taught me, "Indian Time" rules the day on the reservation. In fact, Pastor Andrew and I didn't even arrive at the church on time! To be quite honest, all this being late for everything was driving me crazy. It wasn't until about 45 minutes after the scheduled start time that we finally settled down for worship. Not only did I have a lot of learning to do, I was getting a hands on lesson!
It turns out, you can worship and teach people about Jesus a little later than planned and still share the same message of hope and love as if you did it right on schedule! It also turns out that if you live on the reservation you will be living on Indian Time, so a wrist watch is of little value. I placed mine on the night stand on that first Sunday night and didn't pick it back up until the end of July! It also turns out that when I stopped worshiping the clock and my schedules, I was able to concentrate more of my energy on the Lord and the work He brought me there to do!
As I look back on those wonderful summer days on the prairie of South Dakota, I reminisce with fondness. I actually grew to enjoy not wearing a watch or being bound to a schedule. The important thing is in getting together and sharing our faith! I learned you can do this any time! Now if I have those days when I feel like I'm just running from one thing to the next or that I'm spinning my wheels but not getting anywhere, it's helpful to relax and remember those summer days of starting when everyone got there. It's calming to remember Indian Time and remember "the Lord's work will get done because the Lord's in charge of it!"
Every day we would arrive in one of the communities and drive up and down all the streets letting the children know Bible School was about to start! This was a highly anticipated annual event for the children so they knew what to do: jump on the trailer and get a free ride to the VBS site! We were officially scheduled to start each day at 10am, so naturally I began to worry when 10:30 rolled around and we were still setting up. I was also concerned that we didn't have very many children. This was my introduction to what the locals called "Indian Time"! We start when everyone is here, which in many cases was about an hour later when word spread that VBS was starting!
You have to understand something about me at this point, "Corey time" and "Indian Time" are polar opposites! If I'm supposed to start teaching children about Jesus' love for them at 11 o'clock, the kids need to be seated and open to the right page in the book at 11 o'clock! Well, that just plain wasn't going to happen. Boy did I have a lot of learning to do!
My other job that summer was to lead worship each Sunday and preach a couple times. I thought that surely worship would start on time. On the contrary, as my first Sunday's experience taught me, "Indian Time" rules the day on the reservation. In fact, Pastor Andrew and I didn't even arrive at the church on time! To be quite honest, all this being late for everything was driving me crazy. It wasn't until about 45 minutes after the scheduled start time that we finally settled down for worship. Not only did I have a lot of learning to do, I was getting a hands on lesson!
It turns out, you can worship and teach people about Jesus a little later than planned and still share the same message of hope and love as if you did it right on schedule! It also turns out that if you live on the reservation you will be living on Indian Time, so a wrist watch is of little value. I placed mine on the night stand on that first Sunday night and didn't pick it back up until the end of July! It also turns out that when I stopped worshiping the clock and my schedules, I was able to concentrate more of my energy on the Lord and the work He brought me there to do!
As I look back on those wonderful summer days on the prairie of South Dakota, I reminisce with fondness. I actually grew to enjoy not wearing a watch or being bound to a schedule. The important thing is in getting together and sharing our faith! I learned you can do this any time! Now if I have those days when I feel like I'm just running from one thing to the next or that I'm spinning my wheels but not getting anywhere, it's helpful to relax and remember those summer days of starting when everyone got there. It's calming to remember Indian Time and remember "the Lord's work will get done because the Lord's in charge of it!"
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
The Shack
Last night, my wife led a book discussion on The Shack by William Paul Young. She did a fantastic job. If you have read the book, you can imagine conversation was not difficult to generate! Conversation, in fact, flowed freely without a lull for ninety straight minutes!
Leading up to the discussion, my wife did some online research about what people (especially pastors) are saying about the book. She showed me a couple. I was disappointed to hear one pastor say, "How many of you have read The Shack . . . If you haven't, DON'T" (emphasis his). First of all, I'm not comfortable telling another Christian what he can and cannot read. Discussing a work that you dislike can be as edifying as discussing one you can't get enough of! Second, I think this comment comes out of a misunderstanding of the book itself.
If you are reading The Shack in search of your Doctrine of the Trinity (or the doctrine of anything for that matter) you're looking in the wrong place. To say it better, you're reading the book with an inappropriate goal. The Shack is first and foremost fiction. God is not a black woman named Papa! He's also not a white man named Father! For the fictional purposes of the book, however, it was quite appropriate and (dare I say) even entertaining to have God the Father depicted as Young chose to present Him! I don't get the feeling from this work of fiction that we are supposed to finish the book and say, "Oh, now I understand the Trinity!"
Rather, in a profound and emotionally participatory way, Young brings the reader into a fictional setting in which God shows the main character, Mac, exactly what it is to be loved by God! Papa is especially fond of saying he is especially fond of people! The entire shack experience, from start to finish, was God giving Himself fully to Mac. Everything that took place during that episode was for Mac! Jesus was working on a casket for Mac's daughter. Sarayu was preparing a place in Mac's heart to bury his "great sadness". Papa took Mac on the painful journey to recover Missy's body! In a fictional way, Young has led the reader through an exploration of just how "for us" God really is! (Cf. Romans 8:31) Ultimately, God led Mac to forgive the man who so radically changed his life forever.
Since The Shack is but a fictional work, can the reader learn anything from it? Should we allow ourselves to be affected by the book? I think the answer to that should be left to the individual reader. For me, the answer is emphatically "yes to both". I know, in my head, on paper, dogmatically and doctrinally, that God is love and that He loves me. Young took me on an unexpected journey that showed God's love in a very real (yet fictional) way. It has not changed my understanding of God, but helped me in my understanding of who God is in relation to me!
Unlike my colleague in ministry mentioned above, I would say "read the book if you want to!" I would also strongly encourage that if you do read it, you also discuss it with others afterwards. When read as it is meant to be read, as a work of fiction, The Shack is a powerful piece of writing! I enjoyed reading it (twice so far) and discussing it with others! Happy reading!
PS- If you would like to discuss the book with me, please comment on this post or email me at pastoraker@paducah.com.
Leading up to the discussion, my wife did some online research about what people (especially pastors) are saying about the book. She showed me a couple. I was disappointed to hear one pastor say, "How many of you have read The Shack . . . If you haven't, DON'T" (emphasis his). First of all, I'm not comfortable telling another Christian what he can and cannot read. Discussing a work that you dislike can be as edifying as discussing one you can't get enough of! Second, I think this comment comes out of a misunderstanding of the book itself.
If you are reading The Shack in search of your Doctrine of the Trinity (or the doctrine of anything for that matter) you're looking in the wrong place. To say it better, you're reading the book with an inappropriate goal. The Shack is first and foremost fiction. God is not a black woman named Papa! He's also not a white man named Father! For the fictional purposes of the book, however, it was quite appropriate and (dare I say) even entertaining to have God the Father depicted as Young chose to present Him! I don't get the feeling from this work of fiction that we are supposed to finish the book and say, "Oh, now I understand the Trinity!"
Rather, in a profound and emotionally participatory way, Young brings the reader into a fictional setting in which God shows the main character, Mac, exactly what it is to be loved by God! Papa is especially fond of saying he is especially fond of people! The entire shack experience, from start to finish, was God giving Himself fully to Mac. Everything that took place during that episode was for Mac! Jesus was working on a casket for Mac's daughter. Sarayu was preparing a place in Mac's heart to bury his "great sadness". Papa took Mac on the painful journey to recover Missy's body! In a fictional way, Young has led the reader through an exploration of just how "for us" God really is! (Cf. Romans 8:31) Ultimately, God led Mac to forgive the man who so radically changed his life forever.
Since The Shack is but a fictional work, can the reader learn anything from it? Should we allow ourselves to be affected by the book? I think the answer to that should be left to the individual reader. For me, the answer is emphatically "yes to both". I know, in my head, on paper, dogmatically and doctrinally, that God is love and that He loves me. Young took me on an unexpected journey that showed God's love in a very real (yet fictional) way. It has not changed my understanding of God, but helped me in my understanding of who God is in relation to me!
Unlike my colleague in ministry mentioned above, I would say "read the book if you want to!" I would also strongly encourage that if you do read it, you also discuss it with others afterwards. When read as it is meant to be read, as a work of fiction, The Shack is a powerful piece of writing! I enjoyed reading it (twice so far) and discussing it with others! Happy reading!
PS- If you would like to discuss the book with me, please comment on this post or email me at pastoraker@paducah.com.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Easter 2009
I have now been a pastor for two Easters. Thinking back to last year, I was NERVOUS! We had just installed a new sound system the week before and I forgot to put my microphone on! I had to run all the way around the church, take off my vestments, quick put on the mic, re-vest, and run all the way back around the church! All this running certainly got my adrenaline rushing! The Lord blessed the service and things went very well!
This year's Easter service did not require the same level of physical fitness, yet the Lord still blessed it! The standout for me was during the children's message in both services. I brought my set of "Resurrection Eggs" along with me to help share the story of Holy Week and Easter with the children. It turned out several of the children had their own set of this story telling tool and were pleased to see my set matched up with theirs! "Hey Pastor, ours has a thorn in it too!" "Hey pastor, ours has nails and a cross too!" What a joy to see the excitement of the children as they heard the Gospel !
In the second service, we came to egg number twelve. I asked the children what they thought might be inside. All the hands shot up, but one brave girl shouted above the rest "CANDY!" How precious! How blessed I am to be their pastor!
No one seemed too disappointed to find the egg was empty. In fact, the children were able to explain to me why the egg was empty. The empty egg is the "Easter Egg"! It represents the Empty Tomb! The Empty Tomb is good news for all of us because it means our Savior is God's Son and He lives!
My prayer for you is that God would build your faith in the Empty Tomb, that is, in your Living Savior! If you would like to watch my Easter sermon, check out www.stpaulpaducah.org and click on the "sermons" link at the left.
This year's Easter service did not require the same level of physical fitness, yet the Lord still blessed it! The standout for me was during the children's message in both services. I brought my set of "Resurrection Eggs" along with me to help share the story of Holy Week and Easter with the children. It turned out several of the children had their own set of this story telling tool and were pleased to see my set matched up with theirs! "Hey Pastor, ours has a thorn in it too!" "Hey pastor, ours has nails and a cross too!" What a joy to see the excitement of the children as they heard the Gospel !
In the second service, we came to egg number twelve. I asked the children what they thought might be inside. All the hands shot up, but one brave girl shouted above the rest "CANDY!" How precious! How blessed I am to be their pastor!
No one seemed too disappointed to find the egg was empty. In fact, the children were able to explain to me why the egg was empty. The empty egg is the "Easter Egg"! It represents the Empty Tomb! The Empty Tomb is good news for all of us because it means our Savior is God's Son and He lives!
My prayer for you is that God would build your faith in the Empty Tomb, that is, in your Living Savior! If you would like to watch my Easter sermon, check out www.stpaulpaducah.org and click on the "sermons" link at the left.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Thoughts on Holy Week
Beginning with Palm Sunday, moving through Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and culminating with the celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord on Easter Sunday, Christianity has a really cool tradition of remembering the Passion of the Christ!
The first Holy Week was full of amazing and astonishing events. The same people who were welcoming Jesus as a royal king one day were calling for His immediate execution only a few days later. And executed He was. Although there was really no one who could bring any evidence against Him, Jesus was severely beaten and sentenced to death by crucifixion. These are the historical facts of Holy Week. In and of themselves, this is a rather sad story. The Passion should evoke raw emotion at the unbelievable unfairness of it all.
Don't stop there! Jesus didn't! Keep moving past Good Friday. Past the day of death. Past the hours of darkness. Past the politics. Keep moving to the third day. Join the women at the empty tomb of a Savior who just wouldn't stay dead. Join Peter and John as the angel confirmed what Jesus said would happen. Walk with the disciples on the road to Emmaus and hear Jesus unfold the Scriptures and cause your heart to burn within you. Celebrate the Lord's Supper and hold in your hand the body of the Lord, just as Thomas touched and believed. Don't stop with the sadness. Keep moving to the triumphant joy of a living Savior. Jesus is risen! Jesus lives.
Don't let the story stop with Jesus either. Jesus doesn't! This story works its way right into your own life. That sad day of Good Friday; that unfair death is for you! That joyous day of Easter; that day of life is for you! I know you have suffered from something in your life. Maybe recently, maybe long ago, but you have suffered. Unjustly, you have suffered. I know this because I know the conditions of this imperfect world. Don't stop with the suffering. Keep moving past and see the hope. Hear the Lord's words to you. Words of love and comfort. That although you suffer, although you hurt, there is much more out there than suffering and pain. There's life! There's perfect and timeless life! This is what Jesus' unjust death and victorious resurrected life gives you!
Is your pain and suffering caused by uncertainty? Be certain that Jesus is for you and will see you through all times! Is it a result of sickness and injury? Jesus brings healing and promises to wipe away every tear! Is it the loss of a loved one that causes you pain? Jesus brings life where once was death! Life in Christ will never end!
Dwell on Good Friday for a time; concentrate and focus on your pain and suffering for a time. But keep moving past to Easter. Move forward to hope. Be grounded in the certain hope of a Lord and Savior who literally gave up His own life because He loves you! If He would go this far for you, what wouldn't He do for you?
The first Holy Week was full of amazing and astonishing events. The same people who were welcoming Jesus as a royal king one day were calling for His immediate execution only a few days later. And executed He was. Although there was really no one who could bring any evidence against Him, Jesus was severely beaten and sentenced to death by crucifixion. These are the historical facts of Holy Week. In and of themselves, this is a rather sad story. The Passion should evoke raw emotion at the unbelievable unfairness of it all.
Don't stop there! Jesus didn't! Keep moving past Good Friday. Past the day of death. Past the hours of darkness. Past the politics. Keep moving to the third day. Join the women at the empty tomb of a Savior who just wouldn't stay dead. Join Peter and John as the angel confirmed what Jesus said would happen. Walk with the disciples on the road to Emmaus and hear Jesus unfold the Scriptures and cause your heart to burn within you. Celebrate the Lord's Supper and hold in your hand the body of the Lord, just as Thomas touched and believed. Don't stop with the sadness. Keep moving to the triumphant joy of a living Savior. Jesus is risen! Jesus lives.
Don't let the story stop with Jesus either. Jesus doesn't! This story works its way right into your own life. That sad day of Good Friday; that unfair death is for you! That joyous day of Easter; that day of life is for you! I know you have suffered from something in your life. Maybe recently, maybe long ago, but you have suffered. Unjustly, you have suffered. I know this because I know the conditions of this imperfect world. Don't stop with the suffering. Keep moving past and see the hope. Hear the Lord's words to you. Words of love and comfort. That although you suffer, although you hurt, there is much more out there than suffering and pain. There's life! There's perfect and timeless life! This is what Jesus' unjust death and victorious resurrected life gives you!
Is your pain and suffering caused by uncertainty? Be certain that Jesus is for you and will see you through all times! Is it a result of sickness and injury? Jesus brings healing and promises to wipe away every tear! Is it the loss of a loved one that causes you pain? Jesus brings life where once was death! Life in Christ will never end!
Dwell on Good Friday for a time; concentrate and focus on your pain and suffering for a time. But keep moving past to Easter. Move forward to hope. Be grounded in the certain hope of a Lord and Savior who literally gave up His own life because He loves you! If He would go this far for you, what wouldn't He do for you?
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Wanting To Help
Whenever a tragedy strikes, people everywhere want to know what they can do to help. That's awesome! At the same time, in many tragedies, it is not immediately apparent what might be helpful. This leaves a couple of options. The first option is to pray. Pray for those suffering as a result of the tragedy. Pray for healing. Pray the Lord will guide us and show us how we might be helpful. The second option is to patiently wait. Although it is not immediately apparent what might be helpful, it generally does not take long for avenues of support and aid to make themselves obvious.
Waiting is difficult. We want to be doing something. We want to be put to work. If someone is ready, willing, and able to help and there is a clear task, take the person up on the offer. Understand, however, that this is often not the case. Often the only thing to do is pray, wait, and pray.
Yet waiting remains difficult. It is hard to sit by and do (seemingly) nothing while people are suffering. It is not in our make-up to sit and wait because sitting and waiting leads to thinking and ruminating. Thinking and ruminating leads to questions and thoughts we are not quite ready to deal with. Keeping busy prevents these thoughts. Or should I say it delays these thoughts. Nothing will prevent them. They will come around. You will need to process them.
So when you have offered your services at the time of a tragedy and found there is nothing available for you to do, start by praying. Then, allow yourself to think and ponder and ask questions. Then pray some more that God would guide you through your thoughts.
Waiting is difficult. We want to be doing something. We want to be put to work. If someone is ready, willing, and able to help and there is a clear task, take the person up on the offer. Understand, however, that this is often not the case. Often the only thing to do is pray, wait, and pray.
Yet waiting remains difficult. It is hard to sit by and do (seemingly) nothing while people are suffering. It is not in our make-up to sit and wait because sitting and waiting leads to thinking and ruminating. Thinking and ruminating leads to questions and thoughts we are not quite ready to deal with. Keeping busy prevents these thoughts. Or should I say it delays these thoughts. Nothing will prevent them. They will come around. You will need to process them.
So when you have offered your services at the time of a tragedy and found there is nothing available for you to do, start by praying. Then, allow yourself to think and ponder and ask questions. Then pray some more that God would guide you through your thoughts.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)