Praises!

How can things go so wrong so fast? Palm Sunday is a day of celebration. It is a day when the disciples must have felt the Kingdom of God was only hours away. They may have thought about freedom from Roman rule. They may have thought about places of honor and responsibility that each of them would be given. They DID NOT think about being in hiding and in fear for their lives four days later. They DID NOT think that imprisonment and execution would be their own fate at some point in the future.

This was supposed to be the highlight of the ministry to date. Jesus had entered the city to the cheers of a multitude. Obviously, the people were on Jesus’ side, and the authorities were scared. They had asked Jesus to keep it quiet, to calm the crowds. Jesus, in what must have seemed like an outburst of emotion to the disciples, said, “This is a moment that requires joy and celebration. If the people are silenced, the rocks themselves will proclaim the same message!”

We all recognize that the Christian life has its ups and downs. We, like the disciples, have been ecstatic when we feel the presence of God working in and through us. We love the march of the victors, heads high, shoulders back, chest out!

However, we also know the lows that come when we think all is lost, and God has abandoned us. We know anxiety and fear. We have experienced doubt and uncertainty. We have our own moments of faithlessness, leaving only the stones to cry out our Savior’s praises.

As we end Lent and begin Holy Week, let us commit to the proclamation of the Gospel in good times and bad. May we not be only among the cheering throngs on Palm Sunday only to disappear on Good Friday, or even to find ourselves calling for crucifixion.

Pastor Craig

New, Not Just Improved

My parents received a unique offer this last week. A local auto dealer offered them what they paid for their car when they bought it new several years ago. The first thought they had was very similar to thoughts you probably are having. “I’m going to be expected to upgrade and buy something closer to the top of the line from this manufacturer.” Or, “I will have to choose from cars that are currently in stock, and all that will be in stock will be high end, fully loaded vehicles that cost two or three times what we paid for this other vehicle when we bought it.” In fact none of those were true.

My mom and dad will be allowed to choose from any car the manufacturer makes. If that vehicle is not on the lot, it will be shipped or ordered at no additional cost to my parents.  Frankly, that leaves me asking, “How do I get a deal like that!?”

Well, here it is. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new!” Yes, it is the deal of a lifetime. Everything old can be turned in, broken or not, dirty or clean, and something brand new will be put in its place. You won’t get a something assembled from the old, broken parts of your life. You will get a new life, a new outlook, a new point of view!

If that be the case . . why do we hang on to the old? Do we expect the fine print from God? Do we think he will back out of the deal and we will end up with nothing? Do we expect him to be a liar and we will find out that we have something that only has a new paint job on the outside and is all busted up and rusted out on the inside and underneath? Do we view God the same way we would view a used car salesperson?

The reformed faith does not believe that to be sinful does not necessarily mean that we are as wicked and evil as possible, so that truly sinful people are people like Hitler, Osama bin Laden, or someone on Death Row for some awful crime. No, the reformed faith believes that to be sinful, or totally depraved, simply means that sin has entered every nook and cranny of our lives. It is not just the things we do; It is the things we do not do. It involves our attitudes, our unforgiving heart, the things we worry about instead of resting in the provision of our Creator, and so much more.

Life in Jesus Christ allows us to leave behind the old junk we carry around and move on to something new and fresh, something that allows us to better live out the life Christ lived, something that allows us to forgive and to accept forgiveness, something that allows us to reach out to those in need with true compassion, to understand rather than judge, and to live in peace rather than to suffer with anxiety. Come and trade in the old for something totally new!

Pastor Craig

Where is God?

 It is said that Martin Luther was once asked, “Where was God before heaven was created?” It is reported the Luther gave the answer, “Off building hell for such idle, presumptuous, fluttering spirits and inquisitors as would ask the question in the first place!”

While the response probably does give rise to a chuckle in most of us, the question does remain. Where is God? Where is he now? Where was he when. . .? Fill in that void with the question you asked when you needed him and he felt far away.

There are, of course, the theological answers, answers with big words but lacking in practicality. Then there are the answers we give our children, “Up in heaven’” or “He’s in your heart,” answers that are long on the practical aspect, but short on depth.  Both of those answers are, for their own part, good and adequate.

The question must have intrigued Luther somewhat for in another place, when he was lest testy he gave a more complete answer. Luther said, “After he had created all things, he was everywhere, and yet he was nowhere; for I cannot fasten nor take hold of him without the Word. But he will be found where he hath bound himself to be.”

There are two VERY important parts to that statement. I cannot fasten nor take hold of him without the Word. God has chosen to rest fully and completely in the Word, the Word being Jesus our Christ. If you desire to know God, know Jesus Christ. In fact, God cannot be found through any other means. It was Jesus who said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but by me.” There is no back door. There is no alternative way. Other religions won’t get you there. Sincerity isn’t the answer. A relationship is the answer. God has made a way for you to find him. Isn’t that marvelous?

The second part is just as amazing. He will be found where he hath bound himself to be. The infinite God is not like a feather tossed on the breeze, one minute hear and the next somewhere else. No, through his amazing grace God has revealed his location and will remain there, calling your name.

Where is this place? Once again we go back to the foot of the cross. God promises to be found in no other place, in no other philosophy, in no other religion other than that to which he hath indeed bound himself.

Jesus Christ has come to make God known to you. The one that is everywhere but can be found nowhere has chained himself to the person of Jesus Christ, the same Christ who wants to come and set up residence in your heart, the same Christ who wants a relationship with you.

Where is God? Out looking for you!

Pastor Craig

What is the chief end of man?

QUESTION: What is the chief end of man?

ANSWER: Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever!

The question and answer above come from the Westminster Catechism. Some of you grew up memorizing the Catechism. For others of you, the term may be brand new. When the Church of England was going through its stage of restructuring the Assembly decided it was important to clearly lay out what they believed. The Assembly at Westminster gave birth to The Westminster Confession of Faith, The Westminster Larger Catechism, and the Westminster Shorter Catechism. The catechisms were used to instruct the congregants in matters pertaining to their faith. The question above is the very first question in both of those catechisms.

I hope you will take time to memorize this question and answer because it offers tremendous comfort to the Christian pilgrim. Read it again. Meditate on it.

Now think of all the answers this question could have had, meditate on your own private answer. Which one do you find brings the most peace to your soul?

I hope you see my point here. However, just in case. . .

·         The answer could have been that your purpose in life was to keep all the commandments. Well, we all know how we do with those!

·         The answer could have been that you were supposed to give up all your earthly possessions and live your life in some cave in the middle of nowhere.

·         The answer could have been that you had to perform some quest of legendary significance.

·         The answer could have been that you had to right some universal wrong or bring justice to some horrific situation in some far away land.

No! No! No! And again, No! Now engaging to some degree in any of those may be wonderful undertakings, and, in fact, they may bring great spiritual blessings to you. But, when it comes down to God’s greatest wish for you? He wants you to praise His name for what He has done, and He wants you to enjoy your relationship with Him. Christianity should be fun! It should be a blessing! It should bring joy into your life!

Your Heavenly Father does not highlight your failures. The scrapbook with your name on it that sits on his shelf is not a collection of your most embarrassing moments. No, it is a memory of your closest time with God that is so precious to you because that is precious to Him as well. It remembers the time on your knees when you confessed with tears, not because of your tears or your guilt, but because when you got back on your feet you knew you were clean! What a joy our relationship with Christ becomes when we recognize that is indeed the God we worship, serve, glorify, and enjoy forever!

Pastor Craig

Nothing I Cannot Fix

One of my favorite movies is The Bridge on the River Kwai. Unfortunately, many of the younger people reading this short article probably have never had the opportunity to see it. The movie is about a group of British prisoners of war held in western Thailand after the surrender of Singapore at the beginning of WWII.

Lt. Colonel Nicholson, played by Alec Guinness, strives to maintain the legendary British order and discipline while his men are forced to construct a railroad bridge over the Kwai. Nicholson believes that his men will have an opportunity to show forth English superiority by building the bridge in the best way they can, even suggesting improvements over the Japanese design. Some of the men under his command question the wisdom and the patriotism of helping the enemy construct a bridge that would be even better than the one they had planned.

The movie reaches its climax after the completion of the bridge. Just as a Japanese troop train is about to cross the Kwai, Nicholson comes to his senses and utters the famous line, “What have I done?!”

Many of us have had similar moments when we realized that we had been pursuing, struggling towards, and fighting for a misplaced set of values and priorities. We did it blinded, just as Lt. Col. Nicholson was, by that other voice encouraging us to press on. Finally, we too come to our senses recognizing that we are about to pull our own house down upon our own head, and we ask, “What have I done?”

Christianity calls that moment of awakening, repentance, or at least the beginnings thereof. It should never be a moment of embarrassment or shame because it is never shameful to correct one’s course away from disaster and towards health and wholeness.

The Good News during this Lenten season is that it is never too late to change course. Jesus Christ has not given up on you. It doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what you’ve done, or how far down that “wrong road” you have travelled. Christ has followed you, calling you to retrace your steps back to him, hoping with all the love that the Father displayed through the giving of the Son on the cross that you will ask , “What have I done?” Christ, himself, has the answer, “Nothing that I cannot fix and forgive. Follow me.”

Pastor Craig

Because Jesus Christ Is Lord. . .

For every theological truth there is a “because” statement, something that says, just as we said today, “Because Jesus Christ is Lord, I will seek to be subject to Him in all areas of my life.” You’re right. That should be one of those statements we take for granted. It DOES indeed come down to Jesus Christ is Lord of your life or He is not. There is no in between answer. God won’t meet you halfway on this one.

Think of something for which you gave the last ounce of strength you had, a time when you gave a true full measure. It’s hard to remember, isn’t it? Some of us may wonder if we have ever given all for anything in our life. We have been able to coast through. Life has been easy. The rough spots where just that, spots, on a long journey.

We recognize the commitment Christ gave to us on our behalf, but we have nothing to compare it to when we look around at our commitments and what has been asked of us.

It is with this in mind that we begin a 6-part series on the covenant of God with us. What is it he expects? What is it that we owe? Does grace demand, or expect anything in return?

Whatever is expected should clearly be the goal of every Christian.  We should expect to see it displayed in a real and ongoing way in the lives of our leaders. It is beyond the level of commitment we have given before. It recognizes a higher claim Christ has upon us.

The call to discipleship is not a call to give up only your Sunday mornings. It is not a call only to break bad habits. It is indeed a call to give up yourself, to pour yourself out at the foot of the cross as Christ poured Himself out for you that you might join Him at the foot of the throne. It recognizes shortcomings and failures, but it knows there is no turning back. It is the all or nothing step out of the airplane door for your first parachute jump. You don’t get to do it halfway.

It involves all areas of your life – No, it doesn’t leave you one little spot to call your own. It recognizes that you have been bought and paid for through the work of Jesus Christ. Jesus is not your co-pilot. He is your pilot, but he makes sure you travel first class.

Pastor Craig