February 19, 2010

"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." Ephesians 5:21

I just listened to Tiger Woods' press conference.

I conditioned myself to hear it sincerely and not with cynicism. Even though I bought into the hype about his image and therefore, was seriously disappointed when the truth about him was exposed. Also, I deal in grace and redemption, so I extended him grace.

Having listened sincerely, I heard some sincerity. He took full responsibility for his behavior and showed an understanding and disdain for the thinking that lured him into that behavior. He recognized those whom had suffered most from his selfishness and humbly apologized to them.

Obviously, I would have much rather have heard him say that he had repented to God for his sins and turned to faith in Jesus Christ. Instead, he shared his intention to return to his Buddhist faith. I will pray for him and hope you will, too.

The timeliness of Tiger's statement did not escape me. On the eve of our 40 Day Focus on marriage, his highly publicized transgressions remind us of the relevance of what we will be studying.

Everything that Tiger did wrong, you are capable of doing. So am I. Every temptation he faced, you have faced. So have I. Therefore, learn from him. Hear his confession. Feel his pain. Just as he fell, so can you. The sort of self-centered entitlement mentality that sucked him into the decisions and behaviors can do the same for you and me.

The only hope for Tiger, for you or for me, is to hear the truth of Ephesians 5:22-33. Only by submitting to God - "lining up with Him and giving up your rights" and by submitting to your partner - "lining up with him and giving up your rights" - will you ever truly be able to honor God. Not only will you honor God but you will receive His love, mercy, grace and peace. Only as you receive those blessing from Him can you extend them to your spouse.

As you see Tiger in the news and as you hear his statements replayed and critiqued and discussed and dissected over these next few days, let it serve to remind you that but by the grace of God that could be you. And by the grace of God, humbly submit to Him so that you can make sure it never will be you.

February 18, 2010

"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." Ephesians 5:21

Charlie Brown once confided to Lucy, "I love the world - but it's people I can't stand".

That is the rub isn't it? How do we get along with all those other people? They sure have a way of complicating life!

As long as we have to get along with people, why not begin with the ones we have to live with? How about the one you are married to?

In this verse Paul gives us the basic principle for not only get along with others but actually enjoying it.

What He tells us sounds simple, "Submit" to one another." Literally that means "to line up under" or "to give up rights".

You say, "Wait a minute! Why should I submit to them? Why can't they submit to me?"

Actually, they should. But you have no control over that. You do, however, hold the power to decide that you will submit to them. And why should you do that? One really good reason, "out of reverence for Christ".

Sort of sounds like there is a connection between our relationship with others and our relationship to God doesn't it? Absolutely! We cannot be in a right relationship with God until we become rightly related to others. And we cannot get right with others if we are not right with God. Submitting to another person is evidence that you have "lined up under" God and given up your rights.

The Apostle John put it this way, "We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother." I John 4:19-21

So you want to get along with other people? It seems that this submission thing is a pretty big piece of the puzzle. If you want to get it right, give up your rights.

February 17, 2010

For the Western Christian Caleendar Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and occurs forty-six days (forty days not counting Sundays before Easter. It is a moveable, falling on a different date each year because it is dependent on the date of Easter. It can occur as early as 4 February or as late as 10 March.

Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of adherents as a sign of repentance. The ashes used are typically gathered after the Palm Crosses from the previous year's Palm Sunday are burned. This paste is used by the minister who presides at the service to make the sign of the cross, first upon his or her own forehead and then on those of congregants. The minister administering ashes recites the words: "Remember (O man) that you are dust, and to dust you shall return", or "Repent, and believe the Gospel."

Ash Wednesday is a day of repentance and it marks the beginning of Lent. Ashes were used in ancient times, according to the Bible, to express mourning. Dusting oneself with ashes was the penitent's way of expressing sorrow for sins and faults. An ancient example of one expressing one's penitence is found in Job 42:3-6. Job says to God: "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. The other eye wandereth of its own accord. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." (vv. 5-6) Other examples are found in several other books of the Bible including, Numbers 19:7, 19:17, Jonah 3:6, Matthew 11:22, Luke 10:13, and Hebrews 9:13. Ezekiel 9 also speaks of a linen-clad messenger marking the forehead of the city inhabitants that have sorrow over the sins of the people. All those without the mark are destroyed.

It marks the start of a forty day period which is apparently an allusion to the separation of Jesus in the desert to fast and pray. During this time he was tempted. While not specifically instituted in the Bible text, the 40 day period of repentance is also analogous to the 40 days during which Moses repented and fasted in response to the making of the Golden calf. (Jews today follow a 40 day period of repenting during the High Holy Days from Rosh Chodesh Elul to Yom Kippur.)

Although we are not as liturgical as the Catholic church or some of the more formal Protestant groups, Lent has spiritual significance and should be commemorated. That is why we do an yearly 40 day focus to sharpen our spiritual sensitivities and strengthen our faith. Sometimes that requires fasting - voluntarily giving up something that is important to you in order to concentrate more on spiritual disciplines. Fasting is a powerful spiritual practice. Equally powerful as denying yourself of something is beginning a new spiritual routine that will aid your growth in the faith.

That is why we are observing the 40 Day Focus this year at FredWes. Our focus for the next 40 Days is to develop more godly relationships, especially in the area of our marriages. The very spiritual principles that strengthen marriages and relationships with strengthen our church fellowship and contribute to its growth.

Our 40 Day Focus will have three focal points: Sunday Morning Messages, Sunday afternoon LIFE Groups and the 40 Day Love Dare. This comprehensive approach will allow you to grow in the context of worship, fellowship and private personal devotion. For us, this begins on Sunday, February 21st. That is the equivalent of our Ash Wednesday.

But today should be a day of reflection and a day of commitment in view of the significance of this period in the life of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And since the practice of fasting for 40 Days has had spiritual signifcance in the life of our spiritual heroes, why not join them in a spiritual journey toward holiness?

February 16, 2010

On their 50th wedding anniversary, a couple summed up the reason for their long and happy marriage.

The husband said, "I have tried never to be selfish. After all, there is no ’I’ in the word ‘marriage.’”

The wife said, "For my part, I have never corrected my husband’s spelling."

MARRIAGE: A DEFINITION - Marriage is when you agree to spend the rest of your life sleeping in a room that’s too warm, beside someone who’s sleeping in a room that’s too cold.

In my pre-marital counseling I tell the couples, "With all due respect to the Marines, marriage is the hardest job you will ever love."

Many don't make it.

Divorce Statistics:

In 2005 there were 2.3 million marriages and 1.2 million divorces. (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2006)

Almost 20 million Americans (9.9% of the U.S. population) are currently divorced. (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2006)

About 50% of marriages today will end in a divorce. Statistically, 40% of first marriages, 60% of second, and 73% of third marriages end in divorce. (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2006)

About 75% of individuals who divorce will eventually remarry. (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2006)

After 10 years of marriage, it is predicted that only 25% of couples will still be happily married (Glenn,1996)

More than 1 million children are affected by divorce each year. (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2006)

If building strong satisfying marriages was easy, everyone would have one – and hardly anyone has one! But over these next 6 weeks we are going to commit ourselves to making marriage a priority and to doing the hard work necessary to strengthen our marriages. I am excited about the impact this is going to have on our families and on our church family!

Our 40-Day Focus officially kicks off next Sunday, but we have been talking about attitudes I thought it will be good to use this as a transition Sunday and talk about the best marriage/relationship concept that I have ever found. It really helps clarify how healthy relationships grow and prosper.

Relationships develop and grow just like bank accounts. By that I mean you make deposits and you make withdrawals. When you put in more money than you take out that is called a withdrawal. But when you take out more than you have put in you overdraw your account.

If you understand how bank accounts operate then you can know how emotional bank accounts work. You have to invest more into your relationships than you take from them. The bigger the balance in your emotional bank accounts the richer your relationships will be.

How are deposits made?

One deposit is understanding the person. Taking the time and effort to get your heart and mind around who that other person is earns you a deposit their account.

Paying attention to little things will earn a deposit. Tending to details shows evidence that you care for that person.

A third way to invest into the emotional account of another is by keeping commitments. Promises are easy to make and harder to keep, but keeping them earns big dividends of trust in your account with them.

Deposit number four is clarifying expectations. One of the leading causes of major withdrawals from accounts is conflicting expectations. It is important to make sure the other person knows what you mean and not just hears what you say. Until you share identical expectations you have not communicated.

Living with integrity is a fifth way to make a deposit. If you are not consistent in how you live and how you believe, others will have trouble buying into you.

The final deposit is offering a sincere apology whenever you have to make a withdrawal. That can turn a potential loss into a possible win.

What price would you put on healthy relationships? What are you willing to invest to build better friendships? Have you checked the balance in your emotional bank account?

February 15, 2010

"And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." Matthew 14:32-33

These disicples had devoted their lives to Jesus and had followed Him 24/7 for the last few years. They knew that He was the Son of God and yet only after they were delivered from the storm did they cry out in worship "Truly you are the Son of God!"

What was that about?

It is our final Lake Lesson - You worship God better after you weather the storm.

Faith is a colaboration between the head and the heart. To have faith you must gain knowledge in your mind, but you also have to apply that knowledge to daily living. You encounter God in the Scriptures to understand His will and His ways, but you also must prove Him in the everyday issues and experiences of living. If His truth doesn't provide solutions for daily life then why believe it?

These water-logged disciples knew Who He was. Who He was was the very reason they were following Him. They had heard the teachings and seen the miracles watched His life and felt His touch. Just prior to getting into the boat on the other side of the lake they had witnessed a miraculous feeding of thousands. BUT, when He came to them and rescued them in midst of a terrible storm, they came to know Him in a new way. What they had known in their heart worked in the need of their life.

It was in the throes of one of the fiercest storms of a stormy life that I came to a new understaning of Who Jesus is. I have worshiped Him better since. While the waves were tossing me and the winds had turned against me I challenged God, "If these things I have been teaching about and preaching about for years don't work for me, I am out!" When they did work for me, I got in like never before! When I cried out to God, "I have lost everything that matters to me, all I have is You." God responded, "What else do you need?"

Are you in the middle of a storm? Are you struggling to stay afloat? Is your mind wanting to doubt what you heart wants to believe? Is the storm inside you greater than the storm around you?

You are ripe for a Lake Lesson! You are about to know God in knew ways as Jesus proves He is beyond belief, He is bigger than life! He knows where you are in the storm, He knows about the storm within you, He knows how to get to you, He is probably on the way right now, and when He gets there He will calm the storms. After He calms the storm you will believe stranger and worship better!

We worship better after we weather storm!

February 14, 2010

"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" Matthew 14:28-31

The ultimate result of thinking out of the boat for Peter was that - well, he got out of the boat! Once he realized that it was Jesus Who was coming to Him on the water he wanted to be with Jesus. The storm had not kept Jesus from getting to them, why should the storm keep him from Jesus? So when Jesus called Peter to get out of the boat - he did!

Peter stepped out of the boat and onto the storm-tossed waves and began walking on the water. Only two people I know about that ever walked on water. One of them was Jesus and the other was Peter! That is pretty select company, eh?

We don't really know how far Jesus walked over the waves but HE DID WALK ON WATER! He was so focused on getting to Jesus that he focus on the Savior rather than the storm.

Somewhere between where Jesus was and where the boat was, Peter momentarily took His eyes off of Jesus and began to sink under the waves.

What caused him to sink under the waves that He had just been walking on? Jesus identified the reason as doubt. But was it doubt in Jesus that brought him down or was it doubt in his own inability to walk on water?

I guess in the final analysis it really doesn't which it was, the fact remains he walked on water while He kept his focus on Jesus. But the moment he focused more on the storm and less on Jesus he went from being a walker to being a swimmer.

That brings us to our next Lake Lesson - When you are in the storm stay focused on Jesus! focusing on Jesus is the difference between being IN the storm and being ON it!

February 13, 2010

"When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus." Matthew 14:26-29

Storms have a way of getting our attention. I guess that is why we ave these lessons on the lake. So far we have learned:

Lake Lesson #1 - During the storm it helps to know that Jesus put you in the boat.

Lake Lesson #2 - Jesus prayed for you while you are steering the boat.

Lake Lesson #3 - Jesus knows where we are in the storm.

Lake Lesson #4 - Jesus know the perfect time to come to us in the storm.

This morning I have another lesson for you. It is this: When In A Storm, Think Outside th Boat.

Because Jesus knew exactly where the disciples were and because He knew how to get there and because nothing could keep Him away, He came walking to them on the water! That's right! On the water through the storm!

If you were in a boat in a storm being blown by the wind and tossed by the waves, who would you most want to see? Jesus! Me too!

Well, He came walking on the waves through the wind and in the darkness. Apparently they weren't looking for Him because when He got in eyesight they thought they were seeing a ghost! They cried out in fear. What would you do?

Jesus called out to them so they would recognize Him. Peter did.

This is one of the points I want to make, we need to learn to look for Jesus in new ways. He is always doing new things and He loves to do them in new ways. Our tendency is to look for Jesus in the last place where He appeared to us. He rarely does that!

When you are in a storm things that work in calm weather don't always work. So, a storm can force you to think outside the boat and look for God in new ways and allow Him to come to you like He hasn't before.

If you are in a storm and the old things aren't working, think outside the boat! If you are looking for Jesus to move in the way He did last time, think outside the boat!

Also, thinking outside the boat will cause you to take some risks you have never taken before. Peter had never walked on water before. It had never occured to him. Why would it?

But when he saw Jesus coming to them in the storm, he took a risk. He thought outside the boat and so he got outside the boat. Risky? Yes, but you know what? The boat was going to sink anyway as things were going! So maybe, getting out of the boat to go to Jesus wasn't that risky afterall!

You may be just one big risk away from finding help in your storm!