We began our study by exploring Whole faith: essential ingredients for a life of complete faith. Using Richard Foster’s book Streams of Living Water as a launching point, we began by examining what it means to live a Christ-centered life. We then reviewed the major traditions and practices of the Christian faith including:

• the Evangelical tradition (with its emphasis on the Word),
• the Social Justice tradition (with its emphasis on compassion),
• the Holiness tradition (with its emphasis on personal character),
• the Charismatic tradition (with its emphasis on the Spirit),
• the Contemplative tradition (with its emphasis on prayer), and
• the Incarnational tradition (with its emphasis on being light in all spheres of life).

Our conclusion: we are often people who have “holes” in our faith because we neglect one or more of these biblical emphases in our lives. However, as people of “whole” faith, we should embrace them all. 

--David<><

“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.” 1 Peter 3:15

Today in our country, there is a lot of debate about what type of society we should have. Wrangling among political parties and their supporters is often loud and vociferous. Competing views are critiqued by pundits and pollsters.

In thinking about what type of society we should have or what initiatives we should support or oppose, we Christians need to heed the warning of C. S. Lewis in Mere Christianity.  There he writes:

“Most of us are not really approaching the subject in order to find out what Christianity says:  we are approaching it in the hope of finding support from Christianity for the views of our own party. We are looking for an ally where we are offered either a Master or a Judge.”

In other words, our decision-making is often wrong-headed.  We settle into the view of our favorite political party and then seek to justify it, arguing that surely “God is on our side”. But the real issue is whether we are on God’s side. With God, we have two opposing options. We either yield to Him as Master or face Him as nothing but Judge.

So, as Christians, our positions on issues of the day should not merely mimic the positions of a particular political party or prattling pundit. Our support for or opposition to an issue should never stand or fall on whether the issue is supported by the Republicans or the Democrats, by the “conservatives” or the “liberals”. In fact, no party should have our undying allegiance. That’s called idolatry. Our undying allegiance is to the Master. We are to care first and foremost about what He thinks and wants. We are to seek after the type of society that He desires, applying biblical principles to our decision-making. The positions of political parties or politicians or the results of opinion polls do not set the standards by which we live, vote, or take action. 

For, you see, as Christians, we follow neither an elephant nor a donkey. We follow the Lamb who is the Lion of Judah.  May we think, speak, and act like it. 

--David<><

Part 2: “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2

One important lesson of love is illustrated by Christ’s story of the Good Samaritan. Here, a man from an ethnic group often despised by the Jews, is the only one in the story to exhibit agape. He alone stops to help an injured man who, as implied by the story, is Jewish. Yet, the Samaritan gives of his time, his effort, his possessions, and his money to help this Jewish man who is ethnically and religiously different. He demonstrates agape, unlike the “religious” people who simply passed by, offering no aid to the injured man.

You see, agape, rightly understood and applied, is revolutionary. It is never self-centered, but is self-sacrificing. It always desires what is best for the other person and works to make that best a reality. It is patient, kind, and keeps no record of past wrongs.  Agape is not so much about how we feel but about what we do. It is a love that is to be extended not only to our friends but to our enemies, to the unlovely as well as the lovely, to the worthy and the unworthy. Agape always protects the beloved and always perseveres, even when love is not returned. Agape is unfailing and unending. It is best illustrated in the life of Christ who died for us.

In a world often fractured by physical violence and verbal attacks, divisive hate and destructive behavior, we, as Christians, should be a healing balm.  Do you want to change the world?? All you need is love (agape); all you need is love; all you need is love, love; love is all you need.

--David<><

Part 1: “Do everything in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14

It happened June 25, 1967—the first ever live television show to be broadcast globally using satellite transmissions.  400 million people in 31 countries viewed the 2 hour production that featured various artists and musicians from around the globe performing live. The broadcast opened with the Vienna Boys Choir singing a song in 22 different languages. But the highlight of the evening was the appearance of the Beatles performing a new song for the first time for this international broadcast. The song—All You Need is Love—became an instant hit.

Understood rightly, All You Need is Love, provides an excellent theme for our lives and relationships. Now the Beatles, I would submit, had some wrong-headed notions about real love. But biblical love—agape—is the central ethic in the teachings of Christ and the New Testament.  It is a virtue that should pervade our lives.

--David<><

Madeleine L’Engle, author of Walking on Water and other works, was once asked, “What do you think you and Hugh (her husband) have done which was best for your children?” She responded immediately, “We love each other.”

In God’s divine order, other than our relationship with Him, no relationship is of greater importance than the one we have with our spouse. My children will fare best--educationally, socially, emotionally, financially--when I love their mother and my wife more than I love them.

As a lawyer who once did family court work-- dealing with divorces, custody disputes, visitation issues, and other family crises--I often heard one spouse say, in effect, “I love my children and want what is best for them, but I cannot stand my husband (or wife).” Such a statement reveals a fundamental misunderstanding about family dynamics and child-rearing.  If we truly, sincerely love our children and want what is best for them, we will intentionally, desperately, and resolutely love our spouse, the other parent.

On the other hand, if we dislike, despise, or hate our spouse, we communicate a harmful message to our children, often unintentionally. For you see, if what produced our children is unlovable or unworthy, then we imply that our children’s own lovability and worthiness is in question.  In other words, if I view the mother of my child as a “bitch”--a term I have heard on more than one occasion when spouses are at odds with one another--then my child is a “son of a bitch” or a “daughter of a bitch.”

I know.  That’s not what people usually intend to communicate to their children. But our children get it. They know instinctively what we should know by thinking clearly--a father who truly loves his children will also love their mother. A father who despises their mother can say all he wants about loving his children and wanting what is best for them. But our children know the truth. They get it. So should we.    

--David<><

A prayer for all of us who fail

Lord, teach me when I fail. Remind me of my imperfections. Remind me that apart from You I can do nothing. Remind me that humility is a great virtue. Remind me to trust in You more completely. Remind me that, even in my failures, You are at work in and through me. Remind me that You are MY Shepherd who walks with me through every failure. Remind me that You will lift me up when I fail. Remind me that to love You above all else--above my success, above my pride--is essential and necessary at all times, in all places, before all people. 

David<>< 

Starvation that brings life

The part of our nature that inclines toward sin must be starved--starved until it dies. We must not feed it with unholiness or impurity at any time. This part of our nature is tenacious. With only a little feeding, it is infused with continuing life. Lord, help me to be strong enough to deny myself, to starve to death the sin within me so that I may truly live. 

David<><

What is best for us

This is what the Lord says--your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:  "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.  If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea."  Isaiah 48:17-18

God's commands are always best for us. We ignore His commands at our peril. If we truly desire peace, wholeness and well-being, we will listen to him and obey His moral will. So much of the pain, hurt, degradation, frustration, depression, anxiety, and failure in our lives are the direct results of our disobedience toward God. 

God has not given us His commands and statutes to make us miserable. He is not a cosmic killjoy who wishes us to have no fun. In fact, it is just the opposite. God loves us and want us to enjoy life. But, like any good father or mother, He directs us in ways that will result in healthy and joyful living and that will avoid the deep pitfalls that threaten to harm us.

God's commands are like an early warning system. When heeded, we avoid problems that so often result in injury and suffering. When ignored, we expose ourselves to pain and perplexity, sadness and sorrow, frustration and failure.

Let us learn to listen to God's voice and to obey His commands. For, you see, God, our Father, really does know best.

Those who have ears to hear, let them hear.

God's Glory

"I (God) will not yield my glory to another."  --Isaiah 48:11b

Why does God so emphatically assert that He will not yield His glory to another?  I submit that there are several reasons. 

First, God alone is the Supreme and Sovereign One.  He is the LORD Almighty.  If God yielded His glory to another, it would imply that somehow the "other" has status above Him.  It would be to deny the reality of who God is.

Second, God will not encourage idolatry.  If God yielded the praise that is due Him to another, then God would be encouraging idolatry, at least indirectly.  Our worship should go to the highest and greatest being that exists.  God will never allow us to live in the fantasy that another is higher or greater than He and somehow more deserving of praise than He.

Third, God loves us and wants what is best for us.  Our best is found in a relationship with Him.  God will never play second fiddle to anyone, for He wants us always to realize that our highest and best in life is found in Him and Him alone.

Fourth, God's emphatic refusal to yield His glory to another is a warning to us.  We must never elevate ourselves above God in our own minds or hearts.  We must never seek the praise of others that rightly belongs to God.  We must always recognize that whatever skills, strengths or gifts we have are the result of God's grace and mercy toward us.  We should constantly remind ourselves of this reality and verbalize it as we minister in the name of Christ.

Those who have ears to hear, let them hear.

David<><

My Pledge: 

It seems that one ought to take some kind of pledge when one is ordained.  So I wrote out a pledge that I make tonight in your presence.  It is not a pledge I make to you.  It is a pledge that I make to Christ.  Here is the pledge.

As a servant of Christ, my Lord and King, I pledge to Him my highest love, my utmost loyalty, and my complete obedience at all times, in all places, and under all circumstances for His glory and the advancement of His kingdom.

No one, especially me, will keep this pledge perfectly.  But that is my intent and desire and, with God's help, I will do the best that I can to keep it.

If I truly intend to keep this pledge, then there are certain things that I will need to do, certain attitudes that I must have, and certain things that I must remember.  Here is my list.  There are certainly more things that I will need to do, and if you think of other items I should add to the list, please let me know.  But here is my list.

• If I intend to keep this pledge, I will delight in God first and foremost and will never forget His amazing grace that saved a wretch like me.

• I will always remember how God turned my grief at the loss of Joshua into dancing. So I will laugh more and celebrate more and dance more because God is good and His love endures forever.

• I will go to more parties and make new friends like Jesus did--a great way to spread the message of hope.

• I will enjoy the unique wrinkles of God's image in every personality.

• I will take more walks with Louise and gaze in wonder at all of the colors of the setting sun.

• I will do less in order to do more of what truly matters.

• I will be kinder and gentler, less judgmental.

• I will figure out how to teach God's truth while reflecting God's love and grace.

• I will pray more about everything.

• I will engage in acts of compassion to help the poor, the sick, and the disadvantaged like Jesus did.

• I will feel the pain of the approximately 30,000 children who die every day in our world because of malnutrition and related causes and will do something about it.

• I will grieve more about the roughly 50,000 people who die every day without Christ and will do something about it.

• I will point people to the Prince of Peace and will work for the day when nations will train for war no more and will beat their swords into plowshares.

• No matter how deep the valley, no matter how dark the day, I will always trust in God, remembering that one day He will set all things right.

• I will never forget that there is a Name that is above every name and that one day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Until that day, we will invite all people to bend the knee to Christ in this life.

Glory to God.  Amen.