What Happens At The End?

The end seems to be a popular topic currently. Christian literature has its Left Behind series. Popular and classic literature is filled with stories about ultimate endings and everlasting beginnings. The Lord of the Rings is about the end of the age of magic and fantasy, of dwarves and elves, and the beginning of the age of men, the ordinary.

I am currently reading a book called The Forever War. Imagine Vietnam with time travel and you’ve got it. The time travel idea means the warriors are out of sync with the chronological time of the universe. The interstellar jumps put the soldier out of the proper timeframe. Hundreds of years have passed as he, or she, goes through interstellar jumps fighting an alien threat. The problem is that this lack of chronology is only experienced by the warriors of each side and not the population of their individual societies. The soldiers fight simply because that is what they are told to do. A peace treaty may possibly have been signed hundreds of years ago, but they cannot know about it because their time is out of sync with that of their societies. They live in a time unique to their situation as they travel across the Galaxy. Their skirmish begins a new series of confrontations between the two races. Neither wishes to continue the war, but neither knows how to stop. They want the end that never comes.

The Gatekeepers tells the story of five adolescents that reappear throughout history in new reincarnations to save humanity of its cyclical desire to destroy itself.

Will the world be destroyed in a fiery holocaust as some believe Scriptures prophecy? Will we destroy ourselves by not caring for creation? Will the sun supernova at some date billions of years in the future? We seem to want to know? We probably don’t want to be here for it, but we want to know

These aren’t things most of us fret about on any regular basis. I doubt it keeps you awake at nights, but Jesus does think about it. In fact, he has it figured out to the very end. He knows your end and mine. He mentioned it to his first disciples. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If this was not so, I would tell you. I am going to make yours ready. I will make sure the banquet to receive you is ready, your bath is drawn, and your bed is made. When all is ready, I will return and gather you to the homecoming. Then we can finally be together for all eternity.[1]

Pastor Craig

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[1] John 14:3ff

What Is the Real Mission of the Church?

In The Warrior Ethos by Stephen Pressfield the author asks this question, “Why do young men and women in a free society enlist in the military? The act seems to defy common sense. Why volunteer for low pay, lame haircuts, and a chance to be killed – particularly in a society that rewards such behavior with little of more substance than a ‘Thank you for your service’ or a yellow ribbon on a bumper sticker?’”

Fortunately he offers us his insight. As someone who served in the Marine Corps, he has some insight into the issue. “We want to be part of something greater than ourselves, something we can be proud of. And we want to come out of the process as different (and better) people than we were when we went in. . .We want to grow up.”

He puts it best in what he calls The Warrior Ethos.

• I will always place the mission first. 
• I will never accept defeat.
• I will never quit.
• I will never forsake a fallen comrade.

What if we adopted that attitude for the church? What if we really believed that we were a part of something greater? What if we believed that engaging in the mission of the church and putting it ALWAYS first would, indeed, make us different and better people? What if we reached out to all people, not just the ones like us, who believe like us, look like us, talk like us, and probably vote like us.

What if we took the words of Paul as true and acted upon his claim, If Christ is for us, who can stand against us?[1]

What if every human being was a comrade, and we refused to leave behind those who have stumbled or fallen? What if our arms were always wide open in forgiveness and forbearance? What if we didn't give up when the Gospel became difficult? What if we gave until we were poured out, as Christ was poured out for us? I know, it is a VERY scary thought. However, the world indeed would know our faith by our love for our Savior and one another!

Pastor Craig

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[1] Romans 8:31-32

HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TO FIGURE OUT GOD?

I have heard it said that trying to figure out God is like fishing in the Pacific Ocean with a 1 ft. long piece of dental floss. I guess that means it is frustrating, to say the least. 

Consider the season of Easter we are currently celebrating. Aren’t there many other ways God could have gotten our attention? I am sure that a marketing agent would have suggested Jesus make some changes to the last few days and weeks with his disciples. I am also sure that agent would have scheduled nonstop appearances for Jesus after the resurrection. Sometimes, we must simply bow to God’s wisdom and have faith. Isn’t that what it is all about anyway?! Jesus gave many clear messages as to how and why events would unfold as they did. The disciples, so much like us in so many ways, were just too thick headed to believe. They could not get out of the possibilities to which their mind limited the Son of God.

Well, God seems to love a good surprise doesn’t he? He delights in blessing us with wonderful thing we never could have seen coming our way. He loves showing up when, and where, we do not expect him. He thrills at the idea of constantly pushing our boundaries back when we tend to go for the “God in a box off the shelf” mentality.

Really, we should have seen it coming. Look at all the times in the Old Testament God brought the impossible into reality –

• Old people giving birth to children!
• Slaves gaining their freedom and plundering their former taskmasters!
• Cross a huge body of water on foot and not getting your sandals muddy!
• Giants being brought low by children!
• Raising the dead!

All of these only as a warm up to his greatest event of all!

Making you and me children of God, brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ and obtaining an eternal inheritance for us! What could possibly be next?

Pastor Craig

HUMILITY

Humility is the possible fruit of being humbled. I say “possible” because there are those who have had chances to learn humility; they have indeed been humbled; but the lesson was not assimilated into the individual’s life.

It is said the General Robert E. Lee was one of the most humble Christian men of his day. Here is an account showing his humility.

I had been a most bitter anti-South man, and fought and cursed the Confederates desperately, I could see nothing good in any of them. A ball shattered my left leg. I lay on the ground not far from Cemetery Ridge, and as General Lee ordered his retreat, he and his officers rode near me. As they came along I recognized him, and, though faint from exposure and loss of blood, I raised up my hands, looked Lee in the face, and shouted as loud as I could—‘Hurrah for the Union.’ The General heard me, looked, stopped his horse, dismounted and came toward me. I must confess I at first thought he meant to kill me. But as he came up he looked down at me with such a sad expression upon his face that all fear left me, and I wondered what he was about. He extended his hand to me, grasping mine firmly, and looking right into my eyes, said: ‘My son, I hope you will soon be well.’ If I live to a thousand years I shall never forget the expression on General Lee’s face. There he was defeated, retiring from a field that had cost him and his cause almost their last hope, and yet he stopped to say words like those to a wounded soldier of the opposition who had taunted him as he passed by! As soon as the General had left me, I cried myself to sleep there upon the bloody ground.

Of all the Scriptures on humility, maybe it is best that we remember this one first, as our example: For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).

Pastor Craig

Peace in Chaos

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6 NIV)

Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength. (Charles Spurgeon).

Concern is a normal part of life. There are things we should be concerned about. Our teenager is about to take the car out on his or her own for the first time. You may have confidence that they will not do anything foolish, but you also know that they lack experience in dealing with the unexpected things that may happen on the road. You are concerned. Your spouse, child, parent, etc. is in the military and is about to be deployed to a dangerous part of the world. You know that they are well trained. You know they will be on guard. You trust the people who surround them during their time over there, but. . . It is that but that causes you concern.

It is one matter to be concerned about situations that involve obvious and realistic dangers and unknowns. It is another matter to NEVER allow your teenager to drive on their own because of what “might happen.”

Over anxiety has a long list of health consequences.[1] In normal situations these consequences can actually help us as we deal with mild stress. It is those times when we allow the stress to take control that the harmful consequences begin to affect our lives.

Peace comes not from the passing of the event and the return of relative safety. True peace comes when we recognize that the one who holds the outcome of events in the palm of his hand holds our heart close to his own heart as well.

Pastor Craig

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[1] http://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/how-worrying-affects-your-body

Iron Sharpens Iron

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)

There is mutual benefit in the rubbing of two iron blades together; the edges become sharper, making the knives more efficient in their task to cut and slice. Likewise the Word of God is a ‘double-edged sword’ (Hebrews 4:12), and it is with this that we are to sharpen one another—in times of meeting, fellowship, or any other interaction.

The passage in Proverb also shows the tremendous benefit we have in gather for fellowship, reflection, study, encouragement, and, yes, even correction with one another. Man was not made to be alone. This was stated from the very beginning, even in the creation story before the Fall (Genesis 2:18). How much more, then, after the Fall of Man, do we need to come together with our brothers and sisters in Christ for seasons of fellowship and prayer.

The first Christians saw the need for this sharpening (Acts 2:42-47) who “devoted themselves” to the teaching, fellowship, communion, and prayer, all corporate activities that provided opportunities for sharpening one another. The result was that they were “filled with awe” and when they met together, they praised God for the favor they found with one another.

I have been very fortunate to have my life blend with five colleagues in Grace Presbytery. We meet monthly for prayer and fellowship. We call one another on a regular basis. We have counseled one another through personal and professional times of frustration, pain, and challenge. One of us is close to retirement and does not just want to “coast home.” Another is coming to the pastorate as a second career, mid-life vocational change. A third one is in his first call out of seminary. It doesn’t matter age or experience, we are there for one another. The knowledge of their availability to me has made me a better person, husband, and pastor. The accountability we submit to with each other keeps us honest and on track.

Who sharpens you?

Pastor Craig

The Challenges

If you are the Son of God. . .(Matthew 4:3ff)

Twice, Satan challenges Jesus with those words. There is a certain arrogance in the challenge, something that asks, “This isn’t too hard for you, is it Jesus?”

The first challenge has to do with making bread out of rocks. It is said that the rocks in the wilderness of this part of the world are often of the same general shape, size, and color as the round loves used by the Jewish people. In a way, it’s like saying, “Come on, some of the work has already been done for you. It shouldn’t be that hard for a deity!”

Certainly the world of that time could have used more bread. There were many hungry people, and to find this infinite supply of nutrition for starving people everywhere would have been world-changing. But, it isn’t Jesus job to feed the hungry people; it is ours.

The second challenge involved one of authority and affection. “Certainly, you have the authority to command legions of angels, and I am sure some of them would respond to protect you.” Or, “Certainly, every son has a loving father, and your father would not permit you to splatter on the temple pavement.” A leader does not allow himself to be goaded into rash actions, and a son who truly believes in his father’s love does not have to test it in a near suicide attempt.

While the above conversation is interesting, we are reminded of the times we have issued similar challenges. “If you are really God, you will not let my loved one die. . .you will deliver me from this situation. . .you will give me my heart’s desire. . .you will help me kick my bad habits and addictions. . .
An easy life is our first choice, but since few of us have been given that, isn’t it a comfort to know the true Son of God is by our side for every step of our journey.


Pastor Craig