Shine On

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:14-16

If we seek, listen to, AND act on the Word of Christ, God calls us the light of the world.

A while back, I was speaking with a young man from Iran, and I noticed that he was reading a book about the making of movie ‘The Passion of Christ.’ I saw this as an opportunity, and asked him how he came to seek Christ, coming from a region of the world that doesn’t officially tolerate anything but Islam?

He told me that when he first came to the United States to attend the university, he stayed with an American family. Though they were Christian, they didn’t try to tell him that the religion he was raised with was wrong. But they DID welcome him into their home without reservation, they did pray together, they did study God’s Word together, an they did worship together. They did all the other things families do, as well: they argued, they disagreed, they got on each other’s nerves… but they also apologized, they forgave, and they loved… not just their own family, but those around them, too. This family planted seeds of love in this young man’s heart. They are a light in the world.

Mel Gibson is a famous personality who has certainly had his ups and downs with the press and public opinion. He felt compelled to work within his artistic medium to produce a film about the last few hours of Christ’s life, ministry, and sacrifice. This same young man has seen the film several times, and has been deeply moved, and actively seeks the presence of Christ in his life. Mel Gibson could have listened to all the people who said that the film he was driven to make didn’t make sense; either socially OR economically. Instead, he became a light in the world.

So what do an ordinary family and a famous actor have in common? Part of the answer, of course, is that each let THEIR unique light shine into the world. Another part of the answer is that each of those lights helped light the way for a young man… toward the salvation of Jesus Christ.

We are cautioned NOT to hide our light. The simple truth is that people in darkness are attracted to the Light of Christ. We are NOT told to beat people up with Scripture, or to drag them kicking and screaming into church. Christ never forced himself on anyone. Instead, He gave us a new message. He taught NOT of hate, nor of violence, nor fear, nor retribution, nor jealousy, or revenge. His message, as important today as it was during His ministry, is a simple and powerful message of love and forgiveness. His message IS the Light of the World! Have you merely only listened to His message, or have you RECEIVED the Light of the World? If you HAVE received the Light, are you hiding it, or are you letting it shine before all people? By all means, shine on!

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

The Spirit of My Grandfather

You ever get really frustrated? I mean pop-your-cork frustrated, lash out at somebody frustrated? We Christians tend to think it can’t, or it doesn’t happen to us, but we are hugely mistaken. This week I got really, really, frustrated; to the point of becoming explosively angry.

I could defend my actions, and even remind you that Jesus got angry and frustrated, too (remember Jesus driving the merchants and money changers out of the temple?). I could give you a big list of my frustrations (who, and what), but then I realize that many of my close friends have frustrations that trump mine by a mile. Perhaps you know what I mean.

Often, one of our greatest sources of frustration comes from those we love. Certainly, the disciples provided Jesus with no end of frustration. Yet, he loved them. As a disciple of Christ, this greatly encourages me when I miss the mark… when I sin… when I am far from Christ-like. He loves us, too. Jesus understands our flaws and loves us anyway. It doesn’t matter what our flaws are as long as we accept the salvation that Jesus paid for with his suffering and death, and as long as we declare Him to be the resurrected Lord of our lives. I’m in constant awe that God can use us… flawed and broken though we may often seem… as a conduit for His perfect Holy Spirit in the world today.

When my wife Patti is really frustrated with me, she sometimes gets rid of things. Our daughters learned early on that when their mother got too frustrated with the state of their rooms, she would clean their rooms herself… getting rid of many items she felt were useless, unused, or unwanted (in her estimation, but not always in the estimation of my daughters). She was always a lot less frustrated after filling several trash bags with old toys, clothes that no longer fit, and useless bric-a-brac. Yesterday, being very frustrated with me, she began going through stuff in our closet, and found a box of old letters. She threw out many that held no meaning anymore, had her mood lifted by some letters from her brother Richard, and found a letter from my Grandfather that she gave to me.

It was a letter my Grandfather wrote in 1979. To be honest, I don’t recall ever having read the letter back then. Since I didn’t accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior until 1988, it seems that God’s Holy Spirit was guiding my Grandfather to speak to me through the letter in some future time. My Grandfather was a strong willed man with an unshakable faith, a special way of looking at the wonder of God’s creation, and certain that the Lord was a part of his daily existence. Here is a portion of his letter:

Thank you and my God bless and love you for your thoughtfulness in sending me the lovely card while I was in the hospital. Thank you too for remembering me in your prayers. The condition when I entered the hospital for tests was to find out why my blood count for red and white cells was down to 25 to 30% of normal. Was it internal bleeding or was the blood not being manufactured? Dave, it is now just a little of a mystery like your magic, it may be one or the other, or both. Hopefully, the doctors will uncover the mystery and find the answer. The spleen is slightly enlarged and may be blocking the blood formation entering the body from the bone marrow; possibly, since receiving 7 units of blood (red cells) there may be a normal functioning of the Spleen. Time will tell. However, the Police force (white cells) count is still the same as before.

It has been a beautiful revelation to me, after getting the first 3 units of blood (a gift of some kind person) to have back most of my reserve energy; another precious two blessings to thank our Blessed Lord for when I am united to Him at daily Mass and Holy Communion. It was certainly a sort of Divine Revelation to me to learn of the great material strengthening that blood gives the body. And then from there, to more fully understand the more perfect and far-reaching spiritual strengthening of the soul and our body by partaking of our Blessed Lord’s real body and blood in Holy Communion.

It’s a mystery how my Grandfather’s spirit can suddenly speak to me over all these years, and yet it has. I don’t need to echo his beautiful message. Read his words again, and I’ll see you on Sunday… at Communion.

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

Finding New Purpose

Here at Messiah Lutheran Church in Yorba Linda, we seem to have a miraculous confluence of honor, duty, and helpfulness; either that or our fellowship is blessed with an abundance of Eagle Scouts. This manifests itself in Eagle Scout projects that benefit our church, our campus, and our community. Over the years, we have enjoyed Eagle Scout projects that have created permanent planters bordered by seating areas, information gazebos, walkways, room remodels, pocket parks, and more. This past week saw another such Eagle Scout Project installed on our campus.

Grant Bagne is an awesome young scout on his way to Eagle. For his project he envisioned turning a tired planter and walkway into a patio that would give us additional outdoor small group meeting space. The completed result looks great, has created a flexible space, and will be utilized by the various groups that meet in our Joy Center. Thanks, Grant!

Grant removed the big decorative stones, ripped out decades old plants, and created a hole… bordered by a concrete walkway that was still in great shape. Into the hole went the sand and gravel base, and then the paving stones were placed into a very organic space to create a beautiful and functional patio. Hedge plants that will create a privacy screen were then added to the edge, and … an area with no real use had suddenly found purpose again.

Marveling at how nice his project had turned out, and envisioning all the people it will bless, I couldn’t help thinking about God at work in our lives. As Christians we should accept finding new purpose as a given:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. - 2 Corinthians 5:17

We often struggle to keep the old; the old planter, the old habits, the old familiar way of doing things. If an old contemplation walkway, can find new purpose, we should be open to the times when God’s Holy Spirit goes to work on us… to create new purpose in our lives, our churches, and our communities. If we can give approval to a Boy Scout to give an area of our church new purpose, why can we not let God give US a new purpose? Too often God hears: “I’m fine as I am, Lord; I’ll come to church, but don’t ask me to change anything.” You can’t be a new creation in Christ sunk in the old foundations of tradition, ritual, and habit! It’s time to declare a new purpose… by faith!

I am… A new creation created in Christ, conformed by his love.

I am… A new creation created for worship and passionate praise.

I am… A new creation fearfully and wonderfully made.

I am… A new creation…
OLD things are gone;
OLD ways are gone.

We at Messiah are… A new creation…
NEW things are here;
NEW ways are here;
NEW hope is here;
NEW life is here!

Come visit with us on Sunday to find out about all the ways you can start to experience what being a new creation is all about. Come and find new purpose. In God’s purpose, you will find joy!

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

Freedom Isn’t Free

Happy 4th of July!

When I was a child in elementary school, I stood beside my desk at the start of every school day and recited (along with everyone else) the Pledge of Allegiance. I placed my hand over my heart, and pledged allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. In a few years, I came to realize that my allegiance was to the Republic for which the flag stood… one nation under God… indivisible… with liberty and justice for all.

As a child, I did not yet realize that the liberty we enjoy here in the United States of America, the freedoms we take for granted, are bought by the service and sacrifice of the men and the women who serve this country as part of the Armed Services.

God Bless our Military! They protect our Country and our Freedom. Thanks to them, and their sacrifices, we can celebrate the 4th of July.

Kelly Strong wrote the following poem in 1981. It is as full of meaning today as it was when Kelly first penned it.

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE
by Kelly Strong

I watched the flag pass by one day.
It fluttered in the breeze.
A young Marine saluted it, and then
He stood at ease.

I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud
With hair cut square and eyes alert
He'd stand out in any crowd.

I thought, how many men like him
Had fallen through the years?
How many died on foreign soil?
How many mothers' tears?

How many pilots' planes shot down?
How many died at sea?
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No, freedom is not free.

I heard the sound of taps one night,
When everything was still.
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.

I wondered just how many times
That taps had meant "Amen"
When a flag had draped a coffin
Of a brother or a friend.

I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea
Of unmarked graves in Arlington.
No, freedom isn't free!

Copyright 1981 by Kelly Strong

As you celebrate our country’s independence today, reflect on the freedoms we enjoy. Collect those around you today and take a minute to pray for all those serving our country. Of all the gifts you could give a U.S. Soldier, prayer is the very best one. God Bless Our Troops.

Your brother in Christ,

Dave