Anchored or Propelled?

Uplifting stories have a way of making the rounds… generation after generation. The following story is a popular Facebook post these days. I first saw it over 40 years ago, but some evidence indicates that this story of unknown origin may have originated hundreds of years ago.

A man walking by a construction site sees three men laying brinks. He says to the first one, “Whatcha doin?” and the guy says: “Geeze… I’m laying bricks, what does it look like?"

Then he asks the second guy, "Whatcha doin'?" and that guy says: "I'm working; I've got bills to pay. Scram!"

Finally, he asks the third guy, “Whatcha doin?” and the worker stops, looks up, looks around, smiles, and says: “I’m building a cathedral.”

While researching the origins of this story, I found a huge number of people that spent a lot of time, and many words, explaining its deeper meaning. Like the story itself, its meaning seems absurdly simple to me. Do you see yourself anchored to the perceived reality of menial tasks? Are you tied to the realities of the world… just getting by? Or are you propelled by a vision… do you see the bigger picture of what you do… of who you are… and of how you fit into God’s plan?

Take a minute, and ask yourself: What am I building for God’s kingdom? What vision propels me?

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

Do-It-Yourself

All I wanted to do was install a new faucet in the bathroom. It sure sounded easy from the description on the side of the new fixture. You’d think that by now, I’d have learned my lesson with plumbing… that it is always best left to the professionals! There is a plumbing maxim that has applied to every plumbing project (and most other home improvement projects, too): Any project will require at least 3 trips to the hardware store.

This project was no different. It seems that it’s impossible to replace just the faucet. Anything I touched… even just in passing… either broke, or started to leak in ways I had never seen before. Before I was done, the pressure fittings at the wall had to be replaced; the shut-off valves, the feed hoses, and the drain, too!

Who knew that grime, crud, and corrosion could be so structural?!?

Aren’t our lives like that, too? When we neglect our spiritual lives, grime, crud, and corrosion builds up. We don’t really notice it until we try to do something about it. But since we are unable to fix our own spiritual problems, all we do is make things worse… our lives seem to spring leaks everywhere. It sure seems easier to not disturb the grime and corrosion… even if our spiritual water pressure is close to zero.

Jesus doesn’t want to scrape the grime, crud, and corrosion off your heart. He doesn’t want to make you spring all kinds of new leaks in your life. If you call him, he won’t fix your heart, he will give you a new heart. A new heart with strong couplings, and connected to the water of life.

You’d think that you might not be able to afford God’s help. The good news is that Jesus has already paid your bill. Besides giving you a new heart, and connecting you to the water of life, he will also connect you in fellowship with others.

So call Him today, and then come connect with us on Sunday… or any other day, for that matter.

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

Still

I'm dying. Well, not right away, but eventually. We all are. It comes with being human... once we are born, we start dying. Most of us don't live our lives like we were dying, though; we live our lives as though we expect to live forever.

I've been struggling with a health issue for months now. The doctors are all stumped. All the poking, prodding, measuring, testing, and other indignities they have put me through have yielded exactly zero information as to the cause of why I often feel like I'm about to pass out when I'm walking. It doesn't happen at any other time, or in any other situation... just walking... and it doesn't happen all the time. Usually, when it occurs, I just stop for a few seconds, the feeling passes, and then I continue on. There seems to be no discernable pattern or trigger. Sometimes I'll go for days without an occurrence; other times it happens with frightening regularity.

Now, at my age, I don’t care too much about being an athlete, but I would like to be able to play with my grandson, walk across our church campus, or even walk around the block… without worrying about passing out. There must be a lesson in all this for me. There is probably a lesson to the doctors, too. I just hope they figure out what their lesson is before I bump up against an expiration date.

I’ve prayed for years to be set free from gardening. My wife loves to garden, which happens to mean that she expects ME to cut, and prune, and weed, and dig, too. “Be careful what you pray for, as you just might get it.” Remember that old saying? Recently, I’ve been released from many of the yard work chores, but it’s not the sweet victory I had envisioned. Right now, I’d be happy to trade this mystery ailment for a continued lifetime of gardening and yard work.

Truly, you feel in bondage with something like this. I never know when I will feel its lash. I carry the weight and the burden of it, and it has robbed me of my freedom. Its random (but ever increasing) attacks are both disturbing and frightening. Each time I am attacked, I cry out to God to literally hold me up. He does, and… I continue on.

This week, while searching for something else, I bumped into this beautiful and powerful song by Reuben Morgan that helped me lose some of the anxiety I’d been feeling lately. There was instant recognition when I first heard this song, as these were the words my heart had been singing for months… OK, so perhaps not in quite so beautifully a poetic fashion… but close. [; )]

Still
by Hillsong United
Words and Music by Reuben Morgan

Hide me now
Under your wings
Cover me
Within your mighty hand

When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with you above the storm
Father you are king over the flood
I will be still and know you are God

Find rest my soul
In Christ alone
Know his power
In quietness and trust

How are you under attack? Is it something physical, like me? Is it pressure with family? Are you under stress at work? Is school overwhelming? Is there an addiction that never ceases to torment you? In all these things, and more, the words of the song resonate with me:

Find rest my soul
In Christ alone
Know his power
In quietness and trust

I hope you enjoy hearing the song on the embedded video.



Your brother in Christ,

Dave

Artistic Voyage

Come enjoy an evening of art and music on May 22, 2010
6:30 pm Gallery and 7:30 pm concert

From its very beginnings, the Christian church has been a place of fellowship. Over the centuries, that fellowship has often reflected the character of geography, society, customs, traditions, and the spiritual gifts of God’s people. Christian fellowship expands into church life to include communal worship, prayer, study, teaching, sharing, giving, and more. There is this fellowship in virtually every aspect of the church… from building projects, to building maintenance… from sharing of resources, to sharing of time and talent… and from loving God to loving one another.

At Messiah Lutheran Church in Yorba Linda, California, the members (partners in ministry, as they call themselves) have a long history of sharing their time, and their amazing talents. The Messiah Fine Arts Ministry gives youth and adults an opportunity to develop and share their acting and dramatic gifts with the congregation and the community while working cooperatively to produce high quality stage presentations. There is also an excellent adult choir and an amazing children’s choir called Soul’d Out that is a performing arts group for grades K-6. Both the children’s music program and the adult choir are key parts of Messiah’s commitment to music as an important part of worship. All age groups have regular opportunities to contribute their gift of music to worship services and other special events. There are literally dozens of ways artistic gifts manifest themselves at Messiah: audio-visual presentations (which include worship materials, photography, and video), set building, architecture, construction, electronic media, music, drama, and art… to name just a few.

Messiah’s fellowship extends much further than their campus in North Orange County, as they support dozens of local charities, relief efforts, benevolence, and partnerships with other organizations and churches. In addition, the people of Messiah have a global vision to match their local efforts, and as such, support missions in Uganda, Peru, Mexico, and global missions throughout the world through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Messiah is also home and patron to a developing cultural and artistic center in North Orange County where people can celebrate music and art.

Artistic Voyage is a Yorba Linda-based classical music and art exposition series with a worldwide vision. The series uses the transformative power of music and art to inspire people from all walks of life to unite behind a common purpose to make a difference in the world. A portion of the proceeds from each event within the series are donated to worthwhile humanitarian causes throughout the world.

Imagine for a moment the church as concert hall and art gallery. It’s not all that difficult to do if you’ve toured the great cathedrals and basilicas of Europe. The church as patron of the arts is one theme that has persisted in the church for centuries. Imagine an evening of art and music to bring attention, benefit, and give hope to worthwhile causes.

Each month, a new Artistic Voyage transforms the walls of Messiah’s Life Center into new and exciting artistic visions. During the gallery opening, patrons have the opportunity to stroll through the gallery, chat with the artists, enjoy a glass of wine and tasty hors D'oeuvres, and perhaps acquire a bit of fine art at a reasonable price.

As the gallery showing concludes, the Artistic Voyage continues in Messiah’s Worship Center; transformed for the evening into an intimate concert hall. Different world class musicians, bring their talent and musical artistry to each unique concert performance. Musicians from the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Julliard School, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and the Colburn Conservatory, are just a few of the artists that bring great music to life in these incredible concerts.

One of the key ingredients that make the Artistic Voyage series so successful is world renowned pianist, Yana Reznik; founder and director of the Artistic Voyage series. She has been described critically as: “Phenomenal talent… expressing the extremes of human experience with textural refinement and blistering virtuosity.” Originally from Moscow, she has performed as a recitalist, chamber musician, and soloist with orchestras throughout North America, Europe, and Russia. In 2004, she gave a sold-out Carnegie Hall debut performance in New York as winner of the Artists International Competition. Ms. Reznik is also the choir director and organist for Messiah Lutheran Church in Yorba Linda; the host of the Artistic Voyage series.

Each Artistic Voyage event brings a focus on a different humanitarian cause. These have included Giving Children Hope (GCHope), St. Jude Medical Center’s Care for the Poor Program, and in May… Hope 4 Kid’s International’s: Hope for Women. Not only do a portion of the proceeds go toward the selected cause, but the humanitarian organizations are highlighted and have the opportunity to reach potential future donors and supporters.

Every event in the Artistic Voyage series has lived up to the billing: An evening of art and music to benefit a worthy cause. The next event is scheduled for May 22nd, 2010 and is billed as: Classical Gone Jazz. Tickets are only $20 for adults and $10 for students. Tickets, gallery and concert times, performance details, artists, and Hope for Women information can be found online at:

     http://www.artisticvoyage.org/

There are only a limited number of tickets available for each Artistic Voyage series event, so get yours today. Bring your sense of wonder and love of beauty, and bring oxygen, too… the art and the music are certain to take your breath away! I’ll see you there.

Your brother in Christ,

Dave Hoag

God’s Creative Spirit

Wednesday nights are really special to me. Every Wednesday (well, almost) I am blessed with the opportunity to hang out with a bunch of fun, delightful, exciting, and insightful people… as we study and open ourselves to God’s Holy Spirit while delving into His Holy Word. In other words: we meet for Bible study. Pastor Ron usually leads us, often sets us up for amazing revelations, and always challenges us to think, consider, and be open to the Holy Spirit. Schedules being what they are, the attendance fluctuates a bit, but… overall it is a very faithful study group.

Sara Stuckenberg is a part of our study group. She is not just a church member, or even a partner in ministry… she is a disciple of Christ. On Wednesday nights, we study for about an hour and a half. That time flies by so fast, that many of us usually hang around “in discussion” for a while. Recently, Sara was telling us about some Spirit-led art she had created. Knowing how well she writes and organizes her thoughts, I asked Sara to send me the pictures and some descriptive prose for the blog. So… today I share Sara with you. Enjoy!

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Though I do believe the gift of visions is still an active gift of the Spirit, I have only recently begun to explore what this gift looks like. Though I rarely paint, and have no talent as a artist, every once in a while I began to feel as though images or “visions” (if you can call them that) come to me as a gift from God with a story to tell. Sometimes they arrive during a favorite song or in the course of silent prayer; it always seems God imprints these images on my mind and moves me to complete them.

So, here are two of my most recent images. The person with the heart and cross I call: “Life from the Love of Christ.” The image came one Sunday morning during a sermon on love. A comment was made about how the love of God and Christ comes forth from within, almost exploding from your chest… and suddenly I had this image in my mind. It was powerful to watch this image unfold with the light of the love of God shining from within a grey person in a dark space. The original painting sits in my bedroom and is a constant reminder that the love of God and Christ is what really gives us life and light to the world.

The 2nd painting came during the song it is named after: “Lead Me to the Cross.” While singing this song a few weeks ago, I closed my eyes to hear God, and poof… this image appeared. It took me a while to draw it because sometimes the image provides an optical illusion and honestly, crosses are hard to line up straight. I remember thinking... “If I am truly living for the Cross, I leave it all behind me, all my sin and sorrows and frustrations...” and that is where I got the black mess from at the bottom. Obviously the cross and what Jesus did for us is what stands out and truly… the light symbolizes us drawing into the death and resurrection of Christ. Once again, the person becomes a shiny grey “essence”, pointing to the lost and undefined character of our selves.

I believe deep down a 3rd painting is near, and will somehow connect all three paintings together. Though faint images have appeared in my mind, nothing has stood out. God always surprises me though, on his timing and with his love; with his talents and his created masterpieces.

Thanks Be to God!
Shalom In Christ!
-Sara

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How about you? I have published lots of stuff from lots of people. How has God’s Holy Spirit inspired you in your writing, in music, in art, in photography, or in video? Since there are infinite ways that God inspires us, I’m pretty sure I left out a couple of ways YOU might have been inspired by God. Don’t be shy. Don’t hide your light under a bushel basket. Share it with us. Share your inspiration as a comment, or… if you want to include additional media, send it to me for consideration as a blog post (check out my profile on how to contact me).

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

Overcoming the Blues

On Sunday, Pastor Ron Baesler was talking about the let-down that comes right after Easter. His message included him reciting his original Easter Blues. Being a fellow poet, I immediately wanted to post it on the blog, so… as Jeff Askew softly played a blues riff in the background, this is what Pastor Ron recited to the congregation:

Losing your job? Losing your lover? Gotta be singin’ them blues.
Waiting too long for economy to recover? Gotta be singin’ them blues.
Down in the dumps, takin’ your lumps? Gotta be singin’ them blues.

You know, the blues are music full of tears and sighin’,
Mournful low down music full of weepin’ and dyin’
Strange music, I know, to start an after Easter address
But trust me, this is more than just a pastor’s silly madness

Easters come and Easters go. Has anything ever changed? Does anyone really know?

Most of us got way up for this Easter season
We dressed pretty, did some cheerin’ …and all for good reason
The Lord had risen, the day was bright,
Yes, last Sunday was lily white…
But today sad to say, some of us are singing the blues.

Some of us got the grumps, the down in the dumps, the nothing ever changes blues.
Easters come and Easters go. Has anything ever changed? Does anyone really know?

I’ve stopped watching TV news; it always gives me the impression
That God is losing, the devil is winning; it drags me into depression.
It seems more people are angry these days; they all seem bent out a shape,
Instead of engaging and digging into life, they all are trying to escape.

Easters come and Easters go. Has anything ever changed? Does anyone really know?

Now I’m a Christian, and a pastor, and I believe in the resurrection
But neither my titles nor my believing give me any guaranteed protection
From those gloomy grumps, the bitter down in the dumps,
The nothin’ ever changes after every bloomin’ Easter blues.

Ron always challenges us to examine our thinking, our emotions, and our direction.

Easter; so what’s the big deal? It’s great that Christ died for our sins. I mean… REALLY… big deal! So He’s our savior?!? What’s really changed in my life from the days before Easter to the days after Easter? What’s really changed in YOUR life? Shouldn’t all this change something? How come our lives are still such a mess?

If you read my last blog post, you might remember that I mentioned that ANYBODY can be a savior. Of course, nobody but Jesus could be a savior of the entire world, but let’s ignore that for a moment. Let’s say you got pushed out of the way of a runaway truck, or saved from drowning, or given CPR after a heart attack. Certainly, you’d be grateful to your savior (rescuer), but your life probably wouldn’t change much because you got saved. So whatever was screwed up, unhappy, and out of kilter in your life is still screwed up, unhappy, and out of kilter.

Spoiler alert! Don’t read any further if you don’t want your life to change. Stop reading now if you don’t want to hear the Good News… if you don’t want to know the end of the story.

On Good Friday, Jesus died on the cross as our savior, but on Easter he rose from the dead. He has defeated sin and death (one in the same)! He is our conquering Lord! If you only recognize Jesus as your savior, don’t expect any change in your life. He calls to us, for us to make Him lord of our lives, as he called many times to Peter:

“Follow me!” - John 21:19

As Lord, Jesus calls gently to each of us to follow him. Only when we submit in faith to Jesus as lord of our lives will our lives change. If we still have the last word on what we do in our lives, then Jesus is not our Lord. It is necessary to open the door to your heart, and let Jesus take over.

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” - Revelation 3:20

With Jesus as Lord, your life WILL change. It may not get easier, but it will change. There is no description I can give you that will allow you to comprehend the incredible joy that is in a life where Jesus is Lord. With Jesus as Lord, there is no post-Easter letdown… there are no day-after blues. With Jesus as Lord, Easter is just another celebration… a remembrance… a tradition. With Jesus as Lord, every day brings new joy… as we follow Him.

If all this is NEWS to you, start a conversation with your pastor, or contact me, or just talk to me (if you find yourself on the Messiah campus). Don’t let another minute go by only knowing Jesus as savior… Jesus wants you to have the abundant life that God has planed for you… if only you accept Him as Lord.

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

Your Savior… or your Lord?

Happy Easter!

I know that Easter Sunday is filled with all kinds of commitments for you. There’s probably sunrise service, singing with the choir, putting on an Easter breakfast, setting out baskets and eggs for Easter egg hunts, hosting family and friends, and many other things that I haven’t even thought to include in my incomplete list. But before you turn away from reading this to bite the ears off a chocolate bunny, consider the following this Easter:

“A person can become a savior by dying, while saving your life. But they must be ALIVE to be LORD, because a Lord is in charge - He has the ONLY VOTE! If Jesus had NOT risen from the dead, would your life be different? Are you ONLY taking advantage of His death, as your Savior, or also His Resurrection, by making Him LORD?”
- Mark Gorman

As Lutherans, I like to think that we know Christ as Savior, but that we walk with Him daily as Lord. There is a deep truth in the greeting and response that Lutherans give each other on Easter:

“Christ has risen.”
“He has risen, indeed!”

Happy Easter!

Your brother in Christ,

Dave


The quote by Mark Gorman comes from the teachings in his book, "The 3 Heavens" on Spiritual Warfare. Mark is a friend of mine that I’ve often quoted. You can find more information, as well as his books and resources at http://www.markgorman.com/.

Singing with the Lutherans

SINGING WITH THE LUTHERANS
by Garrison Keillor

 

I have made fun of Lutherans for years - who wouldn't, if you lived in Minnesota? But I have also sung with Lutherans and that is one of the main joys of life, along with hot baths and fresh sweet corn. We make fun of Lutherans for their blandness, their excessive calm, their fear of giving offense, their lack of speed and also for their secret fondness for macaroni and cheese. But nobody sings like them. If you ask an audience in New York City, a relatively Lutheranless place, to sing along on the chorus of Michael Row the Boat Ashore, they will look daggers at you as if you had asked them to strip to their underwear. But if you do this among Lutherans they'll smile and row that boat ashore and up on the beach! And down the road!

Lutherans are bred from childhood to sing in four-part harmony. It's a talent that comes from sitting on the lap of someone singing alto or tenor or bass and hearing the harmonic intervals by putting your little head against that person's rib cage. It's natural for Lutherans to sing in harmony. We're too modest to be soloists, too worldly to sing in unison. When you're singing in the key of C and you slide into the A7th and D7th chords, all two hundred of you, it's an emotionally fulfilling moment.

I once sang the bass line of Children of the Heavenly Father in a room with about three thousand Lutherans in it; and when we finished, we all had tears in our eyes, partly from the promise that God will not forsake us, partly from the proximity of all those lovely voices. By our joining in harmony, we somehow promise that we will not forsake each other. I do believe this: People, these Lutherans, who love to sing in four-part harmony, are the sort of people you could call up when you're in deep distress. If you're dying, they'll comfort you. If you're lonely, they'll talk to you. And if you're hungry, they'll give you tuna salad!

The following list was compiled by a 20th century Lutheran who, observing other Lutherans, wrote down exactly what he saw or heard:

1. Lutherans believe in prayer, but would practically die if asked to pray out loud.
2. Lutherans like to sing, except when confronted with a new hymn or a hymn with more than four stanzas.
3. Lutherans believe their pastors will visit them in the hospital, even if they don't notify them that they are there.
4. Lutherans usually follow the official liturgy and will feel it is their way of suffering for their sins.
5. Lutherans believe in miracles and even expect miracles, especially during their stewardship visitation programs or when passing the plate.
6. Lutherans feel that applauding for their children's choirs would make the kids too proud and conceited.
7. Lutherans think that the Bible forbids them from crossing the aisle while passing the peace.
8. Lutherans drink coffee as if it were the Third Sacrament.
9. Some Lutherans still believe that an ELCA bride and an LCMS groom make for a mixed marriage.
10. Lutherans feel guilty for not staying to clean up after their own wedding reception in the Fellowship Hall.
11. Lutherans are willing to pay up to one dollar for a meal at church.
12. Lutherans think that Garrison Keillor stories are totally factual.
13. Lutherans still serve Jell-O in the proper liturgical color of the season and think that peas in a tuna noodle casserole add too much color.
14. Lutherans believe that it is OK to poke fun at themselves and never take themselves too seriously.

And finally, you know when you're a Lutheran when:

• It is 100 degrees, with 90% humidity, and you still have coffee after the service.
• You hear something really funny during the sermon and smile as loudly as you can!
• Donuts are a line item in the church budget, just like coffee.
• The communion cabinet is open to all, but the coffee cabinet is locked up tight.
• All your relatives graduated from a school named Concordia.
• When you watch a ‘Star Wars’ movie and they say, “May the Force be with you”, you respond, “and also with you”.
• You actually understand those folks from Lake Wobegon, MN.
• And lastly, it takes ten minutes to say good-bye

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This is as funny today as when Garrison Keillor first collected these musings about Lutherans prior to January of 2005. Some things are still true to this day. Lutherans DO poke fun at themselves, and they DON’T take themselves too seriously. I especially love the part (and know it to be totally true) about Lutherans being “the sort of people you could call up when you're in deep distress. If you're dying, they'll comfort you. If you're lonely, they'll talk to you. And if you're hungry, they'll give you tuna salad!”

Here’s a thought: Why not come sing with us Lutherans? I’ll be looking for you on Sunday!

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

Encountering Grace

I encountered Grace today; what an incredible blessing!

I had just finished up with the Sunday school opening. This morning, I had a lot of ground to cover with the kids. The lesson touched on Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the clearing of the temple, the Last Supper, the Garden of Gethsemane, Judas’ betrayal, and the arrest of Jesus. It was way too much to cover in my allotted 10-15 minutes, so I had to pick my battles. I asked who could tell me about Palm Sunday, and one of the 4th graders gave a description that would have made a Pastor proud. Whew! No need for me to cover that, so I had them repeat the key verse of the day (John 15: 12-13), and then I launched into my story of how Jesus cleared the temple.

I had set up a table in the front with piles and stacks of poker chips. And I explained how the whole money-changing business worked: According to the Temple priests, real money was unacceptable to God, so you had to change your money into temple money… for a slight fee of course. I took out my ancient bull whip, but bits have snapped off over the years, it is half the length it used to be, and it just won’t crack anymore… no matter how hard you try. As a matter of fact, all I succeeded in doing was to whip my backside… to the amusement of all the kids.

I set the whip aside, and picked up a well wrung out, wet dish towel I had borrowed from the kitchen and rolled it into a tight rat-tail. I told the kids how the Bible says that Jesus wove a whip from cords, but that lots of things make for good whips… like the towel. Their laughter at my seemingly ridiculous statement gave way to surprised gasps when I snapped it at the edge of the table and got a loud “CRACK!”

Wide eyes were glued on me as I bellowed the words of Jesus as he overturned the tables of the money changers:

“My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers.”
- Matthew 21:13

CRACK… went my whip, and money chips went flying like mini-Frisbees for 30 feet in every direction!

CRACK… went my whip again, and money chips exploded off the table to rain down on all the children!

And then… the chips were everywhere, as I lifted the table by one end, and overturned it by flipping it upside-down!

The kids were surprised that Jesus could become angry. I asked them: “Who was he angry with?”

They replied: “He was angry at the robbers in God’s house.”

In the end, as the children helped pick up the scattered chips, they each got to keep one. We called it temple money, and they kept a piece as a reminder that God doesn’t want us to bring special ‘holy’ money, sacred birds, or blessed offerings when we pray to Him. God only wants our hearts; nothing else is required.

After a prayer, an offering, and a final song, the kids all go off with their teachers to their classrooms to work on the rest of their Sunday school lessons for the day. I had packed up my stuff, and was heading out of the Life Center, when I noticed a man with a little toddler. It looked like he had come from the service, and I began to tell him about the wonderful child care available just at the other end of the building. He smiled, and said that his daughter didn’t want to go into child care… she wanted to be in with her big brother’s first-grade Sunday school class. As a matter of fact, that’s exactly what she voiced (quite loudly, too) as they peered through the glass into his classroom.

I told her that all the Sunday school children got a piece of temple money today, and asked if she’d like a piece, too? She nodded, followed me to my bag of chips, and selected one for her very own. Now she was content to follow me and her Dad back out into the courtyard. There I discovered a bright, articulate, inquisitive, happy, and polite little girl of just 21 months.

This then, is the story of how I encountered Grace.

Mom soon joined us, and immediately wondered why her daughter was clutching a poker chip. I told her about the lesson (but without the dramatic special effects), and she was delighted. As Grace went off with her father in search of a donut, Grace walked up to me, pointed her little finger right at me, and said: “Thank YOU!”

At that instant, a thought washed over me… “This is exactly how we often encounter God’s grace.” Sudden… unexpected… pure… and it fills you with an uncontainable joy!

The little girl was living up to her name. Awesome!

Then another thought struck me… here was a bright, intelligent, and joy-filled girl… worthy of my awesome 2 and a half year old grandson. No betrothal has been announced yet, but… you never know.

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

By the way… here’s a portrait of Grace and her family. Make sure you say “hi” to them on Sunday.

Living under Pharaoh

A few weeks ago, I overheard a snippet of a conversation. I was in front of the Worship Center, on my way to the Life Center to be part of the Sunday school opening. Since I know almost everybody (at least in passing), I often find myself overhearing multiple conversations at once… especially in the hubbub between Sunday services.

The gist of what I heard sounded fairly political, and as I already said, I only heard a tiny portion of the conversation. A command and a question stuck in my head, though. The command: “read Genesis 47.” The question: “Do you think we are in danger of living under Pharaoh right now?” When I got home, I just HAD to open my Bible to Genesis and read Chapter 47.

The condensed version of Genesis 47 is the story of Joseph administering Egypt during the time of the famine. During the 7 years of plenty, Joseph (in the name of Pharaoh) had taxed the people 20% (one fifth) of what they produced. This was stored up in the cities in anticipation of the coming famine. Remember Pharaoh’s dreams? Look in Genesis 41 for the back story. What’s really impressive is the amount that was collected. In Genesis 41:49 the Bible states:

Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.

When the famine came it was severe, but Egypt was prepared. As the famine spread over all the land Joseph opened the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians. Not only did he sell grain to the Egyptians, but to all the countries, as the famine was severe in the entire world.

Because of the famine, people were buying grain but unable to produce anything, so eventually their money ran out. They came to Joseph and begged him for food, lest they die. Joseph agreed to sell them food in exchange for their livestock. When the livestock was exhausted, the people sold themselves and their land to Pharaoh. Joseph gave them food to eat and grain to plant, and required that 20% of their harvest be returned to Pharaoh. This was the same deal they had during the years of abundance… expect now all the money, livestock, and land belonged to Pharaoh, and all of the people were now living (willingly) in bondage under Pharaoh.

Ok, now on to the question: Are we living under Pharaoh now? I predict (only somewhat jokingly) that many people would welcome paying only 20% in taxes. I’m sure many people would point to Social Security, government bailouts, federal jobs programs, and universal healthcare to make their point that the United States is already living under Pharaoh. I’m not so sure.

I think that the story of Joseph has been replayed over and over throughout history. I bet you can come up with many examples. People end up living under Pharaoh… in bondage to Pharaoh… when they turn away from God and look only to human rulers to save them.

Just substitute government for Pharaoh.

We beg government to bail us out of a financial famine. The government bails out car companies and ends up owning the companies. The government bails out banks and ends up owning the banks. Does that sound familiar?

We see a famine coming at us as we age and can no longer work, so beg government to save us. It taxes us to store up for future years of famine, and then it taxes what it pays out. Sound familiar?

A famine of joblessness sweeps over the land and we beg government to save us. Government creates jobs, and suddenly the people are in bondage to government.

But none of that could possibly happen to us, right? God has warned us of the consequences of living under Pharaoh. Surely we will heed God’s warnings, and not live under Pharaoh.

Who is Pharaoh, anyway? In the original story, he is the ruler of Egypt; a divine entity. His word was law and his every wish was to be carried out without question. Throughout history, kings, emperors, and tyrants have claimed to be divine… or at least claimed a divine right to rule over their subjects. It’s almost too easy for these rulers to get their people to willingly hand themselves over to them and into bondage.

When people turn away from God, and look instead to an earthly king to feed, protect, or save them, they have already turned themselves over to Pharaoh. But Pharaoh hides behind many guises. He goes by many names. Whatever his name, his goal is still the total enslavement of people. Fear, addiction, shame, lust, hatred… does one of these Pharaohs hold you in bondage? Usually, we don’t need to look as far away as the government to find a Pharaoh. Often he finds us; right in our home, our workplace, or even in our churches.

With Easter fast approaching, we need to remember that Christ died to free us from sin and death AND bondage! He’s already paid the terrible price to redeem you. Whatever it was that holds you enslaved to Pharaoh, Jesus has already paid for your release. Look up. Take Christ’s hand and let him lift you out of the slave pit.

Your brother in Christ,

Dave