A Great Easter Weekend

Wow! What a great weekend! It’s so exciting to watch God at work and doing great things for His glory–and this weekend certainly was just that.

First, we had an outstanding and effective Easter outreach event at the local mall here in St. Joseph. We had a set-up of 20 tables for kids to come through and make their own set of “Resurrection Eggs” while church members told them the real story of Easter. Being married to the woman in charge has it’s perks–I got to do the empty egg at the end! There’s nothing much better than telling hundreds of kids for three hours straight about the resurrection of Jesus, His love for them shown through the cross, and that He wants to have a relationship with them. Awesome! Kids also had the opportunity to make resurrection-themed crafts, play games, and the CYA (Christian Youth Arts) team from our church performed all morning.

Second, we had such a meaningful Easter worship service Sunday. The worship music was great, the kids and youth did a wonderful job focusing our hearts and minds on the crucified and resurrected Savior, and there was such a spirit of anticipation and joy in the congregation. Add to that a baptism, another young lady receiving Christ, and you had the makings of a great morning.

We need Easter to remind us that we do serve a Risen Savior who changes lives and offers us more than just life–life abundant, a life of freedom, a life of joy, and the promise of eternity in His presence.

Enjoy this great song about the power of the Resurrected Savior for our lives.

Another Singer for the Ages

I finally heard someone who might be able to give John Daker (a musical genius in his own right) a run for his money–Eduard Hil.  This Russian songster combines not only a powerful voice (something that John Daker might arguably lack) but has a stage presence second to none. I hope you enjoy and are as inspired as I was.

A Proud and Thankful Dad

Kelsie last summer, 2009

A couple of weeks ago my daughter, Kelsie, came out of her bedroom and told Dana that she thought she needed to ask Jesus into her heart. Earlier that evening,  Dana had talked about salvation during family devotions, and it was very apparent that the Spirit was really dealing with Kelsie’s heart. When I got home, Dana and I had the privilege of talking with Kelsie about what it means to receive Christ by faith and repentance, trusting in what Jesus did on the cross and through the resurrection rather than on being good, or going to church, or trying hard. We had no doubt that Kelsie understood the Gospel intellectually, but we wanted to make sure she understood what it meant to really trust in, believe in, and commit her life to Jesus. After listening to her share her heart, Dana and I were both confident that she was, indeed, able and ready to receive Christ. I have never had a more humbling, beautiful, and incredible experience than watching my little girl surrender her life to Christ. It’s amazing to see God answer a prayer that we’ve been lifting to Him even before our kids were born. I only hope this Daddy can make it through her baptism this Sunday.

Please pray for Kelsie and her continued spiritual growth. God has entrusted, in Kelsie, such a precious soul to Dana and me. Thank you, Father, for such a holy privilege.

The Intolerance of the “Tolerant”

Many of you have probably followed the ongoing drama of the Tim Tebow Super Bowl ad. In case you haven’t…Tebow, the University of Florida’s Heisman Trophy winning quarterback, and his mom are set to be featured in a a pro-life ad that will be aired during the upcoming Super Bowl. Tebow, an outspoken Christian, has taken a lot of flak, along with CBS and Focus on the Family–the people who paid for the ad– as word of the ad has circulated through the media. Not surprisingly, the pro-abortion crowd is up in arms, insisting that CBS pull the ad, while some pro-abortion groups are scrambling to  air their own “Counter-Tebow” ads. In the middle of this frenzy, Sally Jenkins, a self-proclaimed “pro-choice” sports columnist for the Washington Post, has written an incredibly sane, thoughtful, and well-timed article. I encourage you to follow the link below and read it.

Sally Jenkin’s article “Tebow’s Super Bowl ad isn’t intolerant; it’s critics are”

“Mr. Fix-It”

Someone forwarded me this really funny picture. The caption appropriately read, “Highly Appropriate Quotation Marks.” So true! It kind of reminded me of the family car that we had growing up that required us sticking a bent screwdriver through the trunk lock mechanism to keep it closed.

This picture also reminded me of a key spiritual truth that I preached about last Sunday. In Romans 1:16-17, Paul reminds us of our utter inability to fix our own sin problem:

¹⁶I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. ¹⁷For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Almost every human being has an innate desire to better him or herself, to find meaning and purpose in life, to find peace. The great danger is that there are so many different ways to find some shade or degree of that meaning, purpose, and peace. Self-help gurus, philosophies, and religion are just a few of the temporary, surface fixes that are readily available for consumption. The problem is, they are only surface fixes for what in reality is a foundational problem–our sin.

Romans 1:16-17 reveals the true source of hope for broken and sinful man–the Gospel.

First, we’re reminded that the power for true salvation–which is ultimate peace and purpose– originates with God. It is not something found in a philosophy or self-help book, or certainly not from within one’s own self.

Secondly, the way to access this power is through faith–not self-improvement, not increased morality, not sincerity or good works. These are nothing more than spiritual cardboard and duct tape. It is found only in the receiving, by faith and repentance, the finished, complete work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

Finally, we see the ultimate definition of meaning and purpose in life–a life of righteousness. Righteousness means literally to be made right in the eyes of God. As sinners, we are, on our own, unrighteous. On our own, when God looks at us, He sees the stain of our sin. On our own, our unrighteousness separates us from God. On our own, our unrighteousness means that we cannot exist in the presence of a perfect and holy God.

But the incredible message of the Gospel is that God chooses to give us HIS righteousness—He has placed His righteousness on us. The biblical term is He has imparted is righteousness upon us. We are still unrighteous and sinful. We are still imperfect. We are still corrupted and corruptible humans. We still fall short of God’s glory. But because of His great love and grace, God chose to make us acceptable in His sight by giving us His very own righteousness.

Maybe you are trying to be your own spiritual “Mr. Fix-It.” If you are, may I suggest you pull that truck over, set down the cardboard and duct tape and seek the One who truly can make eternal and lasting repairs on the human heart?

Cool Kids!

Dana made some cool outifits for the kids’ upcoming “50s Day” at school. What a bunch!

 

 

A Great Time Sledding With My Family

This afternoon I had an absolute blast sledding at Krug Park here in St. Joe with Dana, the kids, and Chloe, our 5-month old chocolate lab. I hadn’t gone sledding in a long time and remembered quickly why I loved it so much as a kid. However, there was a new twist–I’m already so sore I can barely move! As fun as it was when I was a kid, nothing compared to the fun of taking my own kids and watching them have so much fun. Dana and I are really blessed with three great kids–and a pretty good dog, too.

Haiti, Earthquakes, and God’s Judgment

Last week, Pat Robertson used his public platform on the “700 Club” to speak very irresponsibly concerning the source and meaning of the tragic earthquake in Haiti. As has happened before with Robertson, those of us on the front line of Christianity in the local church, in the real world trying to minister to and share the Truth with real people are forced to answer the questions of those who are left confused in the wake of his theological ignorance and personal arrogance. Setting aside the questionable veracity of the Haitian’s making a pact with the devil, the theological inaccuracies of Robertson’s statement are mind-numbing. For a much more biblical and theologically responsible assessment of the earthquake in Haiti and the nature of God’s judgment, I encourage you to read Dr. Albert Mohler’s article entitled, “Does God Hate Haiti?” on his blogsite. Any time we try to understand such uncertainty and tumult, it is wise to let God speak from His Word, rather than  listen to the “wisdom” and musings of man.

A Mistaken Opportunity

Dan McLaughlin, one of the pastors here at church, just noticed a typo I made in the published list of  “Victory Verses” we are memorizing together through 2010 as a church family here at McCarthy. For Sunday, March 7, it simply says “Corinthians 7:1″. He noted that I probably intended to choose 2Corinthians 7:1-(¹Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God) rather than it’s counterpart in 1Corinthians- (¹Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry.) Thank you, Dan, for several reasons, for catching that one

I do think my typo, though a mistake, gives me an opportunity to say what I don’t say often enough to my beautiful wife, Dana–thank you for being the kind of wife, best friend, mother, church leader, and pastor’s wife that fulfills another (and more applicable) truth in God’s Word from Proverbs 31:

¹⁰ A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.

¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.

¹² She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.

²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:

²⁹ “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”

I love you, sweetheart. Thank you for being who you are, and sharing that blessing with me.

The Father’s Grace

I just listened to one of my favorite songs, “He Knows My Name”, and was reminded of something I wrote in my  journal a while back. I wrote this right after I had listened to the same song to begin my quiet time. I hope that these thoughts and the song will remind you what a privilege it is to call Him Father.

As I was praying during my quiet time–or rather as I began praying–I addressed God, as I always do,  as “Father.” At the moment I said that word in my heart, I became overwhelmed with the  thought that God truly is my Father. I’ve addressed Him hundreds, if not thousands, of times as Father, but I’m not sure that the real meaning of that truth has ever penetrated my heart. For ten minutes, all I could utter in my heart was the word “Father,” as my mind was was overcome with images, thoughts, and feelings of what it meant that the God of the Universe calls me His child. The safety of being held by someone so much stronger than myself. The warmth of being cared for with such compassion. The assurance of having someone to turn to when I’m hurt, afraid, lonely and overwhelmed by my failings. The joy that comes from knowing I have a Father who cares enough about me to disicipline me when I sin, yet does so out of perfect mercy, grace, and immeasurable love…At times I can feel so alone, so disconnected, so shattered by life–or, more honestly, by my sinfulness and rebellion. Yet you remain faithful–ever-faithful. You remain constant. You remain loyal.

Thank you, Father.