Grateful Hearts Overflow with Generosity

As I have observed the political extremes lately, I’ve noticed a common thread – greed. The Occupy Wall Street protestors are accusing corporate America as being greedy at the same time they are declaring, “We need to take it back from them.” It seems to me that the “poor” and the “rich” in this case equally share in the greed. The tea party movement is not to be left out either. While they would never advocate taking back money from people who have worked hard for it, they are reluctant to help people who are needy perhaps for the first time due to the struggling economy. That is greed as well. On the contrary, I believe grateful hearts overflow with generosity. If those in both movements were to reflect and be grateful for what God has given us in this country, maybe through our generosity we could get America back on track. The Bible tells us in Ephesians 5:3-4, "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving." Since gratitude is the answer to all these ills, it is basic to our Christian walk. This Thanksgiving, therefore, whom can you help? In the picture my wife Mary was playing checkers with Gerald, a blind/deaf resident in Los Angeles. Likewise your grateful heart will overflow with generosity.

Taking Time . . . . for simple pleasures

Yesterday I had a rare experience. On my second cast into the Gunnison River I caught a 14-inch brown trout. I love to fish but usually have low expectations of myself – often I come home empty handed with just memories of the “one that got away.” So I was overjoyed to land this fish and Mary and I enjoyed him for dinner last night.

Simple pleasures are part of what God wants us to experience on a Sabbath. My Sabbath is Monday because I preach and teach on Sunday. I rarely miss a Sabbath and usually spend it year-round enjoying God’s creation. I find that enjoying creation slows me down, simplifies my problems and helps me to focus on God. I can’t explain how casting a fly-line helps me to look up to God when I’m looking out horizontally to where I want to place the line, but it does. And the uncommon surprise (not skill believe me) of catching that fish yesterday made my Sabbath extra special.

Have you taken a Sabbath rest? God has designed us for a repeated pattern of 6 days of work and then one day of rest. He does that so we will refocus on what is most important. God desires for us on a Sabbath to reflect on the past week, be recharged as we worship Him and anticipate what He will do for us the next week. If you take a regular Sabbath, my friend, God will renew you. And find a place where that best happens for you – for me it is admiring and musing on His wonderful creation.

Human Creativity

Recently I had the privilege of traveling to Glen Canyon Dam and the next day Hoover Dam on my vacation with my brother. What marvelous examples of human engineering. I actually found myself thankful for engineers. So you might ask since those are human creations what do they have to do with God’s creation? You are right except that God gave the engineering principles to enable the engineers to design and the builders to construct those dams years ago. I’m amazed how we see God’s creation in human creativity and ingenuity.
Whatever knowledge is available, it is God’s knowledge. My seminary professor the late Vernon Grounds said, “All truth is God’s truth.” We need to give him the glory for it. I praised God for Hoover Dam as I observed it with a birds-eye view from the new bridge that was completed last year. I praise God for the narrow canyons cut by the Colorado River and his hand that allowed for concrete to back up water creating the largest reservoirs in the US. I praised God they provide irrigation for farmlands in Arizona and California through which we receive much of our fruit, vegetables and produce. I praise God for the stark beauty of the rugged cliffs and shorelines creating new habitat for countless species of fish and waterfowl. Our God is an amazing God. Psalm 104:13, NIV reads, “He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work.”

To the Least of These . . .

What does it mean to minister to the least of these? Just ask our youth. Our Valley Baptist youth took a mission trip to Los Angeles, California from July 26-August 8, 2011 to minister to the blind/deaf at the bind/deaf ministries of L.A. also known as the Commission on Compassion.

Forty years ago most of the blind/deaf were put into mental institutions. Muriel Hersom started this ministry back then and now they house over 20 blind/deaf, blind or deaf people in their facility. Diane Grubb left our church over 20 years ago to assist Muriel. In addition to Muriel and Diane they have a pastor for the blind/deaf church, a maintenance supervisor and other hired help as well as blind/deaf workers and volunteers. It was amazing to see our youth become part of the team and compassionately respond to these precious people.

Since every human being is created in God’s image, the bind/deaf are no exception. In fact they are exceptional! They have learned to cook, communicate, write, read Braille, use computers and the internet, design artwork and a host of other interesting activities in this independent living facility. The ministry provides one meal per day for them. Our youth were part of that for a week.

As our youth learned to sign and tenderly communicate with the blind deaf with their hands it touched my soul. In many ways they felt the hand of God as they touched the hands of the deaf/blind. They found the blind/deaf are real people with passionate desires and inspiring aspirations. Our hearts were deeply touched by these beautiful people.

Two of our team suffered chess losses to blind/deaf chess players that felt their way around the board. I was one of those who were picked off by a sniper blind/deaf chess player.

One of the youth used the teletype to communicate the sermon during the worship service. She typed the entire sermon for Chris to understand.

I guess I never thought of “the least of these” being blind/deaf image bearers who have so much to offer our sighted and hearing worlds. My life was enriched as were the lives of our youth. So find someone who is less fortunate to pour your life into today.

Faith

Faith is an interesting concept. Is it real, imaginary or illusory? Does it change things or is it powerless? Is it here one minute and gone the next? In Jesus Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5-7, you find the word faith only once in addressing worry. So if faith is so important why didn’t Jesus use it more in his sermon?

These are great questions. When you look at the beatitudes in Matthew 5, the beginning of the sermon, you see the attitudes of faith displayed. When Jesus tells his followers to be salt and light, influencers in their culture, he is describing an active faith. Later in the sermon when he encourages them not judge others, he is showing them the tender side of faith so others can see God. Since only God is good enough and smart enough to judge, then we choose to grace people instead. Thus we take the plank of self-righteousness out of our own eye so we can help our friend see righteousness as found in Jesus. In this way display true faith.

At the end of the sermon Jesus uses three illustrations, a narrow and wide road, a good tree versus a bad tree and practicing and not just hearing the word of God. So he shows what it means to be a woman or man of faith. These are the people who take the narrow high road of reconciliation, bear the fruit of non-retaliation, and sacrifice for others by living the ideals of the sermon. It is not an easy road. Faith is very arduous like climbing a mountain. But the view from the top is spectacular because that view incorporates the world from God’s perspective.

So faith that is active, alive, affirming, aspiring and accepting is a genuine faith. It is a life-changing faith. It is a messy faith. It is a marvelous faith. It is an alarming faith. It is the faith that Jesus gives us.

Easter

Easter is that time of year we think of newness - new life, new starts, new experiences and the resurrection of Jesus. I was thinking about 2 Cor. 5:21 from the Bible. It reads from the NIV: God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. This is what really matters. Jesus, the sinless one, became sin for us when he died on the cross. I call this the great exchange. He took on our sin and did not deserve it. In exchange we, the sinful, received the righteousness of God and do not deserve it. This is totally unfair to Jesus and yet God so loved the world . . . . . God loved us that much to sacrifice his son so that we can have a relationship with Him through faith and receive His righteousness. This is what matters. And yet at times we live as though this makes no difference. Our new nature is to be filled with grace, kindness, love, faith, encouragement and acceptance. But let's be honest and admit that often we are filled with the old nature of anger, rage, bitterness, rivalry and pride. The good news is you and I can change that. We have to embrace what is new through faith in Jesus. Once we do Jesus helps us to live by our new nature. Our true nature will be revealed, old or new. Therefore are you righteous? It is what really matters.

Dignity

The picture you see is from a small town in central India. You can see the man straining under the weight of his load. Yet he is working and surviving. As a creature made in God's image he has inestimable worth in God's eyes. God says in Psalm 139 that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. Thus this man's life and work have dignity. All of God's image bearers, therefore, from the least to the greatest have worth. That includes you too! Whatever you are going through rest assured that God loves you. The penultimate expression of that love is found in his son Jesus who died a criminal's death on the cross for you and for me. Have you embraced that truth? Do you value all humans as God's image bearers?

Indian Humility

India is a land of contrasts. From opulent wealth to extreme poverty, from huge modern cities to rural backward villages and from dense forests to arid highlands India betrays a unique beauty. It is the largest democracy in the world. It now has over a billion inhabitants and is rich in resources; but its most valuable resource is its people. I saw the beauty of humility in her people. While the young people are very attractive, the most endearing quality is their humility. They treated us with respect and honor. As we taught at a pastor's conference, ordained two young pastors and attended a Bible College graduation, my heart was touched by these kind and humble people. The president of the Bible College and his family humbly and sacrificially served us all week. The staff at the leprosy hospital humbly cared for the patients with such dignity. The teachers and administrators of the boys and girls home taught and led these children with love and affirmation. I saw Jesus in each of these. Likewise we have people here in America who emulate such humility. We have to look a little harder but it is there. I see our church's vision statement fulfilled in all these humble people. It reads: we will be living messengers for Jesus whom God uses to love people and change lives. Over two weeks in India affirmed for me the centrality of humility. Would that my humility show as well. I have a long way to go.

Winter Rest

With the 4th day of subzero weather, I began to think how God gives creation a rest in Colorado at this time of year. Two days ago the snow crystals hung in the air propelling me to ruminate about winter rest at -14 F. My breath just floated in the air as well. As the morning light came over the eastern horizon, it beckoned me to a new day. My mind paused as I thought about what our Creator would have me do with this day. Will I live it for Him or myself? Thus taking the time to reflect helps bring order and purpose to the day.

I'm amazed at the order of creation. Its cycles have continued for millennia. So we have spring, summer, fall and winter. We have the regular diurnal changes of day into night. Moreover God faithfully provides all we need to hold this planet in place. Plus He watches over it as a loving mother tenderly cares for her infant.

And if I just pause for a few moments and reflect on His creation, it helps me to be grateful for this beautiful planet on which we exist. Have you taken time for just a few moments to rest in and reflect on His creation? Tomorrow morning go outside wherever you live and enjoy a winter's rest.