Moonwalk II

If you don’t recognize the picture, you must have been spending the last month walking on the Moon. It is, of course, the casket of the King of Pop as it was on display at the Staples Center during the Michael Jackson memorial. Millions around the globe mourned his passing. Thousands attended a star-studded memorial tribute. Now the question is: Where will his final resting place be? Will there be some grand memorial for the tourists and fans to flock to? Will there be a Graceland west?

He might have been proclaimed the King of Pop. He might certainly have been a musical genius. He might have changed his appearance more than a chameleon. He also stood accused of improprieties with children; he might, or might not, have been guilty. He had many detractors, but millions more loved him for his music and performances.

Although television, newspapers, tabloids, and many pundits will try to judge him, it is not for them… or us… to judge. The Bible reminds us that:

“For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
Romans 3:23-24

In the end, Michael Jackson is just like me… is just like you. We are born, we live for a few short years, and we die. The most important thing a person can seek is NOT fame, or wealth, or recognition, or position, or power, or friends, or security, or peace. These are not bad things, and if God has blessed you in any of these areas, be thankful. You needn’t be ashamed of any success you have worked hard to achieve. Still, above all those worldly successes, the most important thing any of us can seek is to hear and accept the words of the gospel.

What is the gospel? It is the simple truth that all of us are separated from a holy God because of our sin. Jesus came to pay the penalty for our sin by dying on the cross. Because He is the sinless Savior, the Son of God, death could not hold Him. He rose again from the dead and that same resurrection power is available to each person who, by faith, receives His offer of forgiveness and a new life. By believing this message, we can be forgiven of all our sins and both be saved now, and be with Him forever in heaven. This is a simple but wonderful and life-transforming truth. This is the gospel.

As brothers and sisters in Christ, we are led by the Spirit to not just hear and receive the gospel, but to live as a new creation in Christ. We should reflect and share the life-transforming truth of the gospel! It is good news… it doesn’t take special training to share good news… it just takes a willing heart.

I wonder if anyone ever shared the gospel from their heart with Michael Jackson. If you knew you couldn’t fail, who would you share the gospel with right now? Guess what? You can’t fail! It’s impossible for you to fail. All you have to do is SHARE the gospel… God’s Holy Spirit will grow the seed you planted.

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

Moonwalk I

Forty years ago, the United States space program put men on the Moon. On July 21st, 1969, the world heard Neil Armstrong… stepping down onto the lunar surface… say:

“That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.”

We haven’t been back to that playing field lately.

I’m reminded of the sermon series we are just finishing up: “Get in the Game – Moving from the Sidelines to the Playing Field.” To land men on the Moon took more than just a few being on the playing field. It took the commitment, the resources, and the support of a whole country. There were tens of thousands of active support and supply personnel, hundreds of Command Center specialists, three astronauts on the mission, two that landed on the Moon, and one that took the first step onto the lunar surface. I vividly remember listening to Neil Armstrong describe exiting the Lunar Lander, climb down the ladder, and go where no man had gone before. It’s been estimated that the global audience at that moment was around 450 million people!

At that moment, it seemed like EVERYBODY was on the playing field.

What happened? We were quite successful in placing people and equipment on the Moon. Six more missions followed that first Moon walk; five of those missions would place astronauts on the Moon. We had astronauts explore craters, plant flags, hit golf balls, perform experiments, delight in the lower gravity of the moon, and even race around in a Lunar Rover. They could place Lunar Modules on the surface with precision, lift back off to achieve escape velocity, and dock with orbiting Command Modules with equal precision.

After a win, everybody leaves the field.

The Apollo program was a big win, but it died early. There were three more missions scheduled, but cost concerns closed Apollo to help fund the Space Shuttle, and unused Apollo equipment went to support the Skylab program. After a while, it’s not so new and exciting anymore… “Been there, done that.” Dreamers and leaders have a way of inspiring and getting things done. When agencies or committees or boards take over, they have a way of counting every cost… and finding it too expensive. After a while, there seems to be no reason to remain on the field.

Churches can get caught up in the same cycle, too. A strong leader has a vision, builds a team, inspires the support of what becomes a thriving congregation, and sees huge success and growth. After a while all the effort just seems mechanical. Committees and managers are put in place to keep things running smoothly, and then, in the midst of all this success, the team walks off the field. “Since we’re winning, there’s no reason for me to be on the field all the time.” That’s the mindset that comes with complacency.

What does it mean to be “on the playing field?”

Well, we’re not NASA. We don’t have a 10-year goal… we have an eternity goal! We don’t have to move by committees and Congressional funding. We move when the presence and the power and the guidance of God’s Holy Spirit is a functional reality in our lives and our fellowship.

As believers, we receive a new nature that draws us naturally off the sidelines, and onto the playing field. This new nature does not make us a new and improved version of the old nature, but a completely new and wholly different nature. As a new creature in Christ, we partake in a union with God. With that knowledge, with that energized spirit, we can don the spiritual armor of God, get on the playing field, and be part of God’s awesome program… for our lives, our families, our communities, and our churches.

I pray that we can be led by the Spirit, alive in the Spirit, and ready to meet God in the Spirit!

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

Come Home

I’ve often written about my friend and brother, Diehl Martin. Though we were separated by distance, Diehl and I enjoyed a close relationship through his blog (http://diehlmartin.com/cancer.html), email, and phone calls… right up until his death in October of 2007. Diehl recorded his journey right up until 2 days before he died. He wrote about his experience with cancer, but his focus was always on God.

Today, I found myself humming an old hymn. This is exceedingly rare, as I was brought up Roman Catholic, and never experienced the old-time spirituals and hymns. Well, the hymn reminded me of an email I sent Diehl in response to a blog entry. I’m going to share both with you. From the date, you can see that Diehl would continue to run his race for another month before he would come home to God.

From The Cancer Blog:

Sep 15, 2007

Something went further wrong last night. It looks to me like more pulmonary embola have formed, or it has otherwise progressed. I now have problems breathing while just sitting down, with the oxygen running. Getting up and going 20 steps exhausts me and I get a heart rate of 160+, and become very dizzy immediately. If this goes one bit further, I could see going Home this week.

The Lord is absolutely faithful. I have nothing to fear in all of this. This is merely a body failure, and says nothing negative about His love and care. I hear people say, “Why me?” Well goodness gracious… that is a crazy question. Don't you ever want to get to go Home? I don't know about anyone else, but I will be happy to be “Promoted to Glory.” So when I go, please have a rousing sendoff, and invite everyone who comes to meet Jesus. Because, after all, my life is not about me, it is about Him.

Hymn time!

As a very happy Baptist, I have usually heard this hymn as an altar-call, at the end of a service. However, during this very difficult time, it has become one of my all-time favorites.

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.

Come home, come home,
You who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!

Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
Pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not His mercies,
Mercies for you and for me?

Come home, come home,
You who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!

Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,
Passing from you and from me;
Shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,
Coming for you and for me.

Come home, come home,
You who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!

O for the wonderful love He has promised,
Promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon,
Pardon for you and for me.

Come home, come home,
You who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!

You can find more about this and other hymns in The Cyber Hymnal.

Here is my response to Diehl’s post. I wrote it to Diehl, but upon reading it again, I find that most of it applies to ALL my brothers and sisters in Christ who are alive in His Spirit!

Diehl,

Every day, I look forward to reading your latest blog entry. It is an incredible gift and an awesome blessing to those of us that read what you share each day. It's obvious that, although your body is growing weary, your spirit is stronger than ever.

Did you feel? Did you hear? "Prison singer" though I may be, I sang the entire hymn... including the refrain following each verse. Since the windows are all open to allow the night air to cool the house, I'm sure some of my neighbors were wondering if a coyote might have been attacking a cat. You may recall that a "prison singer" is someone who is behind a few bars, and can't find the key. Yet, sing I did. While I sang, I imagined your wonderful voice accompanying me. Who knows, perhaps you were. I do so love the refrain:

Come home, come home,
You who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!

The refrain really moves me. It speaks to each of us, no matter what our current situation. We are all being called home. When we turn and listen to the sweet call of Jesus, we can turn our weary selves toward home... no matter what our estate, situation, or physical condition.

Though we are separated by a continent, I feel closer to you than ever. You remain my most amazing and steadfast brother; ever the example and ever leading the way. When I was born again, I was born into a spiritual family. There is no denying that there are a lot of astounding people in my spiritual family, but YOU are by far my closest brother! I love you.

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

In Bondage No More

Today is the Fourth of July. Happy Independence Day!

Actually, with the taxes we pay today, the ever growing intrusion of government into our daily lives, and the wholesale export (theft) of our production, jobs, and technologies... I wonder if our founding fathers would even recognize the country they risked their fortunes, lives, and honor to create. And yet, the dream is still alive, for only in this place have our founding principles survived. The hearts of most Americans beat to the pulse that all men are created equal and that we have the RIGHT to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Politics and greed are a darkness that threatens us always, but the flame of liberty cannot be extinguished from the hearts of any who have ever tasted freedom.

I worry that while most of my fellow countrymen are celebrating their independence... they still find themselves in bondage; not to British rule, but to sin. God made you a masterpiece! Yet so many voices tell you that you are nothing, worthless, a slave, and that you will always be in bondage to sin for your entire life. Christ freed us ALL from sin… this means you, too… all of us!

So, celebrate our country’s independence, but also celebrate your liberation from sin and death!
Let tonight's fireworks reignite your heart, and I’ll see you at worship and in fellowship on Sunday.

Speaking of YOU being God’s masterpiece, the following link to YouTube is something that you really should watch. It’s by The Skit Guys, and is really awesome. Just turn up your sound volume, and click on the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXut0HxncvY

Happy 4th of July!

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

Your Attitude Determines Your Altitude

A topic came up in a conversation this week. Before I get to the topic, I’m going to publish a disclaimer:

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The following is probably NOT about you!
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Why the disclaimer? Well, the topic is one that could possible be sensitive to all of us, and more than a few will read on and take immediate umbrage. So before you decide to come after me with tar, feathers, and pitchforks… please re-read the disclaimer.

So what was the topic that might generate such outrage? It was pretty simple, and was asked in a moment of innocent frustration:

“Do people just get mean as they get older?”

I happen to know that the question was asked because of somebody’s direct interaction with a few older folks, but it got me thinking. As a matter of fact, you may have asked yourself the same question at some time. Our language often describes older people as “old AND crotchety”. And we all know that crotchety is just another (somehow nicer?) term for “mean”.

As we began to discuss the topic further, I mentioned that much of it has to do with a person’s attitude, or personality. And that your personality is somewhat a product of your upbringing, your environment, and other forces that mold your development. I was immediately jumped on with the following observations and questions:

“That’s true enough for a child, but can’t we choose how we treat people when we become adults?”

Some of the traits and attitudes we learn as children can be very difficult to put aside as adults. Look at racism! A child growing up in a household that only sees the negative in life will most likely only see the negative in life, too. But full up negativity and meanness are not well tolerated by society in general, so people learn to wear masks. They wear masks to fit in, to get what they want, and to avoid being social outcasts. Most people do pretty well keeping their masks on, until… death takes most of their friends… old age, disease, and infirmity rob them of their mobility and independence… or they are beset by constant pain. Since most of these things usually don’t occur until we are well along in years, it’s not all that unusual for older people to be the ones we most notice dropping their masks.

We all wear our masks. Let me say that again: We ALL wear our masks! The Bible says that none of us are perfect. Actually, the Bible puts it this way:

“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”
1 John 1:8

Just substitute “mask”… or “baggage”… or “chains” for the word “sin”. Charles Dickens made it simple to understand in his story “The Christmas Carol”. The masks of old Jacob Marley have all fallen away because he is dead. What’s left, what haunts Ebenezer Scrooge, is the ghost of Jacob Marley… wrapped in chains, and weighed down with his own heavy baggage. And just like Scrooge, if you point out their meanness (sin) they deny it and get angry. It seems that more of 1 John applies here:

“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
John 1:5-10

As we have found at Messiah, it is important, not just to walk in the light, but to be in fellowship with one another, so that the blood of Jesus can purify us from sin. In fellowship, I see caring and sharing as our brothers and sisters age. I do not see mean and petty attitudes. Instead, I see attitudes of joy, and love, and service.

As I age, I pray that I can keep my eyes off of myself. I pray that I can continue to focus on running the race that God has set before me. Rather than demand attention, how can I help someone else? My sins, my masks, and my chains can only be removed in that fellowship with Jesus Christ. If I’m demanding, and harsh, and critical, and mean, I’m walking in darkness… even if I claim fellowship with Jesus. The good news is that if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. To get back on track toward God, we need look no further than the words on our fountain:

“Love God - Love One Another.”

Disclaimer #2:

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Before you print this out to give to an aging parent, grandparent, co-worker, or acquaintance… consider printing a copy for yourself… you might need to re-read this yourself in 20 or 30 years (maybe much sooner).
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Your brother in Christ,

Dave