Thursday, November 8, 2012
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Human Pastors
I know...it sounds like an oxymoron...maybe just a moron! But it is true and I was reminded of it today. I had the attitude of a badger awakened in the middle of the day. Not the best thing to have when you are around people. Why was I acting this way? That is the human part...no reason...I just was. So for those who might even read this blog [seeing that I haven't posted one in almost a year!] and who were at the church working on VBS stuff...I'm sorry.
What brought me to this point of confession? My wife. Plain and simple. I married an honest woman. And by honest, I mean, will tell me it the way it is. I can brag on her because I'm pretty sure she doesn't read my blog! God put her in my life for many reasons and one of those being to keep me attuned to my very, very, human/flesh side - my faults and rebellious nature that raises its head more times than I would care to confess.
So...I just want to first say, "Thanks God for my wife." And second...everyone else remember - even the apostles could be meatheads!
Walking [very humbly right now] with Jesus,
Pastor Matt
Thursday, August 25, 2011
If I Were Smart
How many questions have you inwardly said, "If I were smart...." Well thankfully we don't have to be "smart" to have the answers for some of the hardest questions in life. I believe they are all found in the Bible...the tough part is finding them and then the REALLY hard part is how to put it into words [and I mean more than "just have faith" kind of answers].
I am wrestling with several BIG questions that have been laid on my desk. I most definitely don't feel adequate to answer them [not the "off the cuff" kind of questions]. I'm going to have to search and thing, search and think, search and think... you get the picture. They are all eventually a matter of faith. That is to say, are you going to believe the answer found in Scripture or not? Are you going to be satisfied with a "non-answer" answer if we, as humans, can't possible know the complete answer? These are the tough ones.
Never the less...a searching I will go! Why? So that I might know God better. So I might encourage someone in their faith journey. So that person might have answers for others when they ask the same question. On and on goes the reasons to dig into the Scriptures.
Happy digging!
I am wrestling with several BIG questions that have been laid on my desk. I most definitely don't feel adequate to answer them [not the "off the cuff" kind of questions]. I'm going to have to search and thing, search and think, search and think... you get the picture. They are all eventually a matter of faith. That is to say, are you going to believe the answer found in Scripture or not? Are you going to be satisfied with a "non-answer" answer if we, as humans, can't possible know the complete answer? These are the tough ones.
Never the less...a searching I will go! Why? So that I might know God better. So I might encourage someone in their faith journey. So that person might have answers for others when they ask the same question. On and on goes the reasons to dig into the Scriptures.
Happy digging!
Thursday, May 12, 2011
True Fasting
Fasting is not a spiritual discipline that many follow any more...why is that? Perhaps the denial of anything from self is simply not acceptable. Perhaps ideas such as Lent have taken its place [by the way, I just read from a scholar that the concept of Lent started under the pagan Babylonian cult of "false mother-child" worship...will have to read more about that]. What is true fasting? Is it simply the denial of food for an extended amount of time in which we devote that time to spending with the Lord?
Read Isaiah 58. The whole thing? Yep!
Now let me ask again...what is fasting? As you read you have found out that true fasting is the following: loosing the chains of injustice [untying the cords of the yoke = oppression], setting the oppressed free [breaking every yoke], sharing food with the hungry, providing shelter for poor strangers [and, oh, clothing him too] and, finally, taking care of your family [v.7]. Isaiah also throws in, for good measure, a novel idea...keeping Sabbath [v.13f].
Whew! That sounds like a lot of hard work! I know, I agree! But hey, I'm not coming up with this on my own. This is God's word to us! Now comes the part that I like in His plan...there are rewards! It is true...there are real treasure to follow when we are obedient to His word. Not treasure that can rust, or be taken from us, or that we have to leave behind when we die. Rather, they are treasures that we have for all eternity.
First, our light will rise [v.10]. This is the joy and salvation brought by the Lord. Second, our lives will have matter and meaning [v.11-12]. God will allow us to grow when nothing else will and give us God-appointed tasks to do. And ultimately, we will find true joy [v.14]. And, I believe, that is just the tip of the iceberg.
Read Ps. 58 again, but first read 57 & 59 so you see the message surrounding it. Allow God to speak to you through His word. Then let us go obey it!
Read Isaiah 58. The whole thing? Yep!
Now let me ask again...what is fasting? As you read you have found out that true fasting is the following: loosing the chains of injustice [untying the cords of the yoke = oppression], setting the oppressed free [breaking every yoke], sharing food with the hungry, providing shelter for poor strangers [and, oh, clothing him too] and, finally, taking care of your family [v.7]. Isaiah also throws in, for good measure, a novel idea...keeping Sabbath [v.13f].
Whew! That sounds like a lot of hard work! I know, I agree! But hey, I'm not coming up with this on my own. This is God's word to us! Now comes the part that I like in His plan...there are rewards! It is true...there are real treasure to follow when we are obedient to His word. Not treasure that can rust, or be taken from us, or that we have to leave behind when we die. Rather, they are treasures that we have for all eternity.
First, our light will rise [v.10]. This is the joy and salvation brought by the Lord. Second, our lives will have matter and meaning [v.11-12]. God will allow us to grow when nothing else will and give us God-appointed tasks to do. And ultimately, we will find true joy [v.14]. And, I believe, that is just the tip of the iceberg.
Read Ps. 58 again, but first read 57 & 59 so you see the message surrounding it. Allow God to speak to you through His word. Then let us go obey it!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Worlds Away
Wow! It has been way to long since I have last written on the blog...my apologies! As I was catching up on the latest news this morning before coming into the office I was hit by this simple thought - when a tragedy strikes anywhere other than your own life it seems worlds away. Seemingly zero impact is felt. Why is that? Am I just an calloused old toot now [ya, now that I'm 40!]? Is it because I am truly not effected by the actions or words? What causes the heart strings to resound? Where does the word compassion fit into this?
You know as well as I do that if we were to respond to every call of need or help we would cease to exist as ourselves and be pulled by such a plethora of directions we would either explode or implode! Nevertheless, I believe there are calls of need or help that, if given a large screen to put all of them on, would be highlighted with our name by them. Ones we are called to get personally involved in. How do we know which ones?
I believe the answer to this is a both/and situation in our lives. I believe we are both called to pray and act upon our "heart's duty" [to quote Mulan II][not used in the eastern mysticism context of the movie though]. God moves within us and we are called to be not only aware of that movement but to also follow His leading. Hear me straight...I don't think this is always an easy thing to do or figure out. Sometimes the obvious action is right in front of us and we are simply called to obey the overwhelming "divine push." But, sometimes it is not as clear.
It is those unclear aspects that we must stop and really pray over. Example: am I to go to Haiti to minister because of a great cry for help or am I to go to Omaha to rub shoulders with the homeless and bring hope to their lives? Both are good and right things to do. Both are within my abilities and gifts that God has granted me. Both are "do-able." Is it both? Is it one over the other? Or, am I called to something totally different and am not seeing the true call on my life? I know one friend that will say there is only one "right" answer [you know who you are!]. I'm not so sure. Therefore, it is now time to pray. Not just a quick table prayer so that I can check it off my list of "correct spiritual practices." I mean really pray. Fast. Search God's heart and ask Him to show it clearly to me so that I might follow it.
Guess what? You are called to do the same thing. I believe it is a constant in our lives. We are to be so dependent on God's leading that we are constantly going to Him to ask what He desires of us each and every day. This is not to be a paralyzing thing that causes us not to do anything at all; rather, it is a motivating aspect that causes us to be propelled into each and every day looking for God's movement in our hearts and lives...then it is simple obedience to follow or not. From the mundane to the magnificent, we are called to follow...even worlds away.
May God grant you open eyes today,
Pastor Matt
You know as well as I do that if we were to respond to every call of need or help we would cease to exist as ourselves and be pulled by such a plethora of directions we would either explode or implode! Nevertheless, I believe there are calls of need or help that, if given a large screen to put all of them on, would be highlighted with our name by them. Ones we are called to get personally involved in. How do we know which ones?
I believe the answer to this is a both/and situation in our lives. I believe we are both called to pray and act upon our "heart's duty" [to quote Mulan II][not used in the eastern mysticism context of the movie though]. God moves within us and we are called to be not only aware of that movement but to also follow His leading. Hear me straight...I don't think this is always an easy thing to do or figure out. Sometimes the obvious action is right in front of us and we are simply called to obey the overwhelming "divine push." But, sometimes it is not as clear.
It is those unclear aspects that we must stop and really pray over. Example: am I to go to Haiti to minister because of a great cry for help or am I to go to Omaha to rub shoulders with the homeless and bring hope to their lives? Both are good and right things to do. Both are within my abilities and gifts that God has granted me. Both are "do-able." Is it both? Is it one over the other? Or, am I called to something totally different and am not seeing the true call on my life? I know one friend that will say there is only one "right" answer [you know who you are!]. I'm not so sure. Therefore, it is now time to pray. Not just a quick table prayer so that I can check it off my list of "correct spiritual practices." I mean really pray. Fast. Search God's heart and ask Him to show it clearly to me so that I might follow it.
Guess what? You are called to do the same thing. I believe it is a constant in our lives. We are to be so dependent on God's leading that we are constantly going to Him to ask what He desires of us each and every day. This is not to be a paralyzing thing that causes us not to do anything at all; rather, it is a motivating aspect that causes us to be propelled into each and every day looking for God's movement in our hearts and lives...then it is simple obedience to follow or not. From the mundane to the magnificent, we are called to follow...even worlds away.
May God grant you open eyes today,
Pastor Matt
Sunday, January 9, 2011
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