I Want the Good Life (Ps. 128:1-6)

Everyone wants the "good life." That probably means different things to different people. For some that's riches. To others it means notoriety or fame or position. Still others it might mean a life without stress and worry, not necessarily filthy rich but comfortable. That would include good jobs, nice home with all the modern conveniences and creature comforts, relatively new vehicles, a couple of kids doing well in school and whatever extra circular activities they have chosen. Good neighborhood with great neighbors. Life going smooth with no hiccups.

Psalm 128 paints the picture of what I would consider the good life. Dad has a good and secure job in which things are going great. His wife is fulfilled and happy with her home and life position. The kids are healthy and growing and doing well. Meal times are enjoyable as the family gathers round the dining table each evening. Life couldn't get any better than this. The psalmist goes on to talk about a long healthy life in a community that is prosperous.

That sounds good to me. That's the life I want! So where is this place and how do I get it? The psalmist does add this caveat, those who have a deep relationship with God and follow His ways enjoy these things. He's not saying accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and all your problems will disappear. What he is saying that living by the principles and precepts laid out by God will lead to the happiest most content form of life.

Following God's principles for finance are going to keep you out devastating debt. Following God's principles for business will keep your company strong. Following God's principles for relationships enhances all your interactions. Following God's principles for marital relations will maintain a healthy vibrant marriage and sex life. Following God's principles for raising kids leads to bright, healthy, obedient, solid children. Following God's principles in how you treat neighbors, strangers, and even enemies transforms those relationships. Follow God's principles on eating leads to a long healthy life. Following God's principles on drinking will keep you out of trouble. Following God's principles for our community and poor and widows and orphans ensures a prosperous society.

Do I believe that we could live in this utopian society? Probably not. Somehow our selfish human nature always gets in the way. However, I do believe that pursuing God and his precepts would bring our world, our country, our community, our workplace, our neighborhood, our home, our dining table, our marriage a whole lot closer. God desires for us to live a full, abundant life, free from many of the worries of this world. By following Him and His truths we can minimize the pain and damage and destruction we face in life and maximize the "good life."

God, the good life sure sounds good to me. I would love to live in world with the least amount of headaches. I want to enjoy each day. I want to enjoy my life and family and wife until I die an old man. I want to experience your blessings, your prosperity. I want healthy long-lasting relationships. I want to live in a wonderful, gracious, caring and prosperous community. I know all that starts with me pursuing you. Transform me, Father, as I seek you and your ways. Let me be a catalyst for my family and neighbors to pursue you as well.

Daily Reflections on 2 Cor. 4:5-10 (I'm Not That Capable)

In the mind of many followers of Christ, the responsibility of sharing the Good News or discipling the nations is really not for them and should be left to the professionals. Yet a quick study of the New Testament proves that although Paul and the other Apostles were key figures in proclaiming the Word, the church grew exponentially because the average persons were sharing their new found faith with their neighbors, coworkers, family members and so on.

Alan Hirsch has said a study of the New Testament brings one to the conclusion that every Christian is a church planter and every church a church planting church. By that he means that every believer should naturally be sowing the message of Christ into their community of relationships. In time, as that community of relationships becomes followers of Christ, it inevitably becomes a "church" that "meets in the house of" the original follower, just like the church that met in the house of Aquila and Priscilla. That church then becomes a church planting church because the individual members of that "newly formed church/biblical community" all have relationships other than those of that newly formed church. The cycle should then continue to repeat itself.

However, the average church goer doesn't feel qualified to share their faith or to extend Christ to their community of relationships. Most feel intimidated to even bring up the subject of their faith in Christ. Yet, it's obvious here in chapter 4 of 2 Corinthians that Paul says that's when the gospel is the most powerful. Sharing our faith or the Good News isn't about selling ourselves or our eloquence. He says it's simply a process of allowing the light that God shined into our darkened heart to illuminate His glory to others.

Paul likens us to jars of clay that contain an incredible treasure. Sure we're not worthy to encase such a valuable commodity. That's what is so powerful. Our inadequacies only allow God to shine all the more for more people to see His glory. If people see us, then God and His message of victory gets lost. But if people experience the love of God through us and see the transformation God has made in our life, they will be drawn to the life changing power of God for their own lives. So what if we take a few shots or a little abuse for our faith once in a while, as long as God is seen and glorified?

God, I confess I feel pretty inadequate as a messenger of your Good News. I'm so inconsistent in my own life. How can I ever be effective in proclaiming your truth? I'm an old clay pot for sure. In fact, I probably have plenty of cracks. I'm just a nobody with no talent and no special skills. I'm definitely not a people magnet nor am I eloquent in speech. All I can do is let people know that I care because Jesus cares. So God, I'm making myself available to you. You're gonna have to shine through me because I'm pretty dim myself. Thanks for bringing light to my life. Let me be a reflection of your light to someone else.

Daily Reflections on Obadiah 1:1-4, 15-18 (Political Confusion and Every Day Life)

At an interview for the pastorate at a church I once served I was asked an unusual question. It was one that I'd never been asked before. I was asked who I voted for in the last election. I'd been asked a lot of seemingly out of nowhere types of questions in these type of interviews before, but nothing like that. I realized that I was dealing with a group of politically conscious Christians.

Interestingly enough, many of the high profile members of that church were active in local politics within the both the city and county. In fact we had the mayor, the presiding county commissioner, another county commissioner, several school board members, a county roads commission board member, library board member, parks and recreation board member, various community action groups, and more. We had people in the police dept., the sheriff's dept., community feasibility study groups, etc. It was quite an active group.

We also had a lot of people into the national political scene in those days. Rush Limbaugh was extremely popular. Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority was big. Many were avid listeners of James Dobson and his political opinions and efforts. We even had people line the streets with abortion protest signs.

My concern was that as a congregation we were more concerned about political issues than we were about people issues. I often told them in those early years of my ministry there that the most politically active thing they could do was to lead someone to Jesus Christ. If they really wanted to change the world or our country or even our community, lead their friends, neighbors, political opponents to Christ. It's the most effective way to change a person's value system. When they are changed by Christ, life takes on a new perspective.

As we made the switch from fighting politics to ministering to people in real need, our church began to grow. We still had plenty of people involved in politics, but our energies as church begin to shift to making a difference through ministering and trusting God, not our government.

When I left the congregation, our influence in the community had actually increased. Whenever there was a need or issue in our community, they looked to our church for leadership, ideas and answers. We hosted health fairs, business expo's, business leadership meetings, art fairs, school events, club gatherings, kids athletics sign ups, conventions, conferences. And when the community faced a tragedy whether 9/11 or the death of significant person or teen in our community, they gathered at our facility.

Governments and governmental programs all have their place in society. They are God ordained. But trusting in and investing all our time in them causes us to lose sight of God, His truths, His standards, His ability, His calling. We get off base when we think our political ideology is the answer. Sorry to break it to you, but it's not. God is the answer and the truths found in His Word.

God, forgive my arrogance. I never want to lose sight of my calling as a believer in Jesus. Help me make a difference in the lives around me. Help me to see your bigger picture. Help me to remember that you're the one sets up and takes down governments. Help realize you're always in control.

Daily Reflections on Mt. 9:35-38 (Eyes)

The print was getting to hard to read. I'd stand on stage with my thinline Bible and try to read the scripture. It was almost embarrassing as I stumbled through the words. I switched to my larger print Bible, but after speaking for five services a Sunday, my arm got so sore holding it up. I'd be getting cramps in my arm by the last service. You try holding out 5 lbs for 3 and 1/2 hours a day.

I finally broke down and bought a cheap pair of reading glasses. Unfortunately, before I could wear them "in the pulpit" one of my girls knocked them off the kitchen bar and stepped on them when she went to pick them up. She inadvertently broke off an ear piece. Being the cheapskate I am, I wore them anyway with only one ear piece. Needless to say, the audience that Sunday had a good laugh at my expense. In the crowd that day, my now eye doctor met me at the door informing me of my appointment with her the next day.

After my eye test, she said to me, "As we mature (words not normally directed at me) our vision sometimes deteriorates." "Let's try some corrective lenses to get you seeing clearly again," were the next words from her lips. Corrective lenses? Seeing clearly? My experience in the eye doctors office opened my eyes in more than one way. Not only was I able to read God's Word more clearly, I could see God's will more clearly as well.

As we mature in Christ or the longer we hang with only "church" people, the dimmer our vision gets toward the needs of people around us every day. It's not that we're completely blind, it's that everything gets a little blurred. We are so involved in living our own life, fulfilling our "church duties or responsibilities" that we lose sight of the needs of people in the world.

In my quest to be "spiritual," I cannot ignore the needs of people who are struggling through life right next to me. It's important to keep my eyes on Jesus, to celebrate personally and corporately in praise and worship and to dig into God's Word. However, Jesus calls me out of my pew, out of my Bible study, out of my prayer closet, out of my rich fellowship to the "harvest field." In a parallel passage Jesus says, "Lift up your eyes...." In other words, "take a look around, see what I'm seeing. Can't you see how great the needs are? We need more people making a difference in the lives of their neighbors and communities."

God, I need constant vision correction. Help me to see with your eyes, to feel with your heart, to act with your passion. Give me the wisdom and insight and strength to work in your field.

Daily Reflections on Acts 9:26-31 (Suspicious Minds)

Suspicion and skepticism is the order of the day! We question the intent and motives of virtually everyone with whom we do business or even interact. It's everywhere in our society. And unfortunately it's crept into the American church. Perhaps the national scandals have contributed to the cynicism in and around the church, from the sexual abuse of boys by priests, to the drug use and homosexual rendezvous of Ted Haggard, to the Jim and Tammy Faye Bakers and Jimmy Swaggerts. It's no wonder the church is disrepute with the world.

But it isn't just the high profile cases that are giving the church a bad name. The personal agendas, power struggles, and disputes in local churches are ripping apart the growth and development of the church in America. Research by a friend of mine found that there is not one county in the US that has a greater percentage of believers today than it did just 10 years ago. At the current rate of decline, only 12% of the nation will consider themselves a "Christian" by the year 2050.

Division, fights, splits, disunity, wrong motives, gossip, selfishness, personality conflicts and personal animosity are wrecking the church. It's not the church that Jesus established. That's part of the problem. It's gone from being Christ's church to MY church. Isn't Christ supposed to be the head of the church, every church? Not the pastor or bishop or governing board or denominational head quarters or ladies group or the guy with the most money or influence or been there the longest.

When the apostles in this passage dealt with the controversy surrounding Paul and sent him home to Tarsus for a season of growth, the text here says the church enjoyed a time of peace. It also says the Holy Spirit could then strengthen and encourage the church which in turn led to growth in the number of people accepting Christ and becoming a part of God's family and growth in living in the fear/respect of the Lord. Peace led to more than just a succession of hostilities. It led to more people being drawn to and accepting Christ and a deeper spiritual walk with God.

Isn't it time we drop all the personal opinions and agendas, dealt with the personality conflicts, bickering, backbiting, finger pointing and selfishness? I don't know about you, but I'm ready for a season of peace. I'm ready to be encouraged and strengthened by the Holy Spirit. I'm ready to grow as a church in a deeper intimacy with God. I'm ready to see hundreds, thousands of lives come to know Christ in their life.

God, help me be an instrument of your peace, not a source of controversy and consternation. Help me lead through your Spirit. I want to sense your presence deeper each day. I want to be a vessel that extends your good news. I want our church to model you, grow in you, serve like you, submit like you, love like you, offer hope like you.

Daily Reflection on Ps. 14 (Suspicion, Cynicism, Safety and Refuge)

Selfishness! That's the result of a world that rejects or ignores God. It's the logical end for those who have chosen to be their own god or to act like God. In this "all about me" world we live in, even the most giving of people have to be cautious. I get tired of constantly trying to keep from being scammed or taken advantage of.

It's not just about locking my car or my house anymore. I'm wary of the auto mechanic, the repairman, the businessman, the advertiser, the salesman, virtually everyone with whom I do business. I have to protect myself against identity theft, spam, computer viruses, hackers, theft, arson, liability, false suits, bogus websites.

I confess, society has taught me to be suspicious of everyone and always on my guard, defensive. It causes me to be cynical about people and trust no one. I'm always attempting to decipher the angles others are working on me. I guess it causes me to become cold and demanding and self-protective. I'm less sensitive to needs and less responsive when I see one. I'm tired of expecting to be conned or ripped off every time I turn around.

I really feel the cry of King David in the last verse of this Psalm. Will it ever stop? Will I ever feel safe? And if I feel this way, what about the weak and defenseless who are prime targets for the purveyors and perpetrators of evil? Who will stand for the innocent and helpless? Who will minister to the poor, hungry, homeless, aged, defenseless?

The church should be a community that is a place of refuge and encouragement and giving. It should be a place where we can trust one another and share with one another and seek to meet each others' needs. The aged, weak, poor, abused, forgotten, addicted are all around us. Unfortunately we, The Church, have developed the attitude of letting the government take care of things and people.

God, I truly want to be a light shining in the darkness. I want to be salt that seasons and preserves. Forgive my cynical and suspicious spirit. Forgive my cold heart and blind eye. Show me how to be more giving, more gracious. I want to be your hands and feet and touch. I want people around me in need to find refuge, strength and security in You through me.