Resource Room!

On this past Sunday, Pastor Brian summarized some of the resources we engage as believers in Jesus:

• Reliance on the Holy Spirit
• Reading God's Word
• Putting our faith in to action
• Focusing on Jesus Christ

And, because each of us in Christ has been given spiritual gifts, we also have the benefit of our spiritual siblings as resources.

With these invaluable tools, we can run the race of faith successfully!

A Day To Pray VI

Please pray for our pastors:

Pastor Sam, Pastor Benji, Pastor Joy, Pastor Martha, and Pastor Richie.

Serious Race. Serious Gear.

On Sunday Pastor Brian shared with us that we are all "running the race of faith". As we reflect on this analogy, we must keep in mind that there are certain characteristics of the sport and industry of running. Let's look at just one.

The sport of running requires certain equipment. Anyone who has spent time in a sporting goods store knows that footwear worn by runners is distinct and different from other sports footwear. Clothing, too, is specialized. No runner would show up at the starting line wearing swimming goggles or soccer cleats!

The race of faith requires certain equipment. Yes, we hear the echo of Hebrews 11: "Without faith it is impossible to please God" (Hebrews 11:6). What is the "serious gear" for the people of faith? Praying to God. Hearing from God. Believing what Goad has said. Acting on that belief. And, like runners exercise their muscles, we can exercise our faith by continually using it in the situations we face in life.

So, friends, do you have on the right gear?

On Your Mark...

On Sunday our guest speaker, Pastor Brian, spoke on First Corinthians 9:24-27. It was an interesting continuation of the sermons we have heard over the past two weeks. God's theme remains constant, shared through the words of pastors who literally are from all over the world:
"Church, you have work to do!"

For the next few days we'll reflect on the analogy found in First Corinthians 9: runners in a race, seeking to win the prize. Today, I'll just leave you with a few questions to think about for yourself:

• How do you prepare for engaging in the work of the Lord?
• Are you willing to risk everything for the sake of the kingdom of God?
• If someone else were to evaluate you, would they say you're "giving your best" to God?

"Hasta La Bye-Bye!"

"Hasta la bye-bye!" is a direct quote from Pastor Benji's sermon during the second service. Amidst the roars of laughter, though, we realized he was absolutely right.

If God has given you a clear and direct promise that He intends to fulfill (contingent upon your obedience to Him), and you are in the company of people who tell you that God is not going to fulfill His promise, then you need to get away from those people.

Even the secular world follows this rule. The reason rock stars have an entourage is so that they are constantly surrounded by people who support them. If a professional sportsman is not working well with a team, then the team owners trade him for someone else who shares the vision and goals of the team.

For them, it's just business. For us, it's a spiritual truth. The Bible is chock-full of verses warning us to stay away from wicked people. What is the spiritual definition of wicked? Those who don't fall into line with God's program (Psalm 106:25-26). Those who are not joyful and generous in their support of God's program (Second Corinthians 9:7). Those who grumble against the leadership that God has set into place (Proverbs 24:22).

Friends, what has God said? Are you keeping company with others who are in full agreement with what God has said to you? Who's in your entourage?

First Things First.

On this past Sunday Pastor Benji shared a point found in Genesis 18:19: the blessing of Abraham was embedded in the proper management of his children and his household. In fact the verse shows a conditional clause: "For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him."

In other words, the promise is brought about in the context of a family and household that keeps the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just. How do they know to do what is right and just? They are directed by the head of the household.

Pastor Benji made a powerful statement: "Do you want to be a pastor? Pastor your household!" Sometimes we get very excited about things outside of the home, not fully understanding the influence we have on those closest to us. His statement echoed First Timothy 3:5: "If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?".

LORD, help us to do the right thing by keeping the family first. You set up family as the first institution on earth, and we know it is of paramount importance to you. Help us to live in a way that shows the world that Your prerogatives are our prerogatives too. In Jesus's name, Amen.

Who Blessed Who?

What's going on in Genesis 18?

• Abraham sees three strangers. He implores them to allow him to bring water to wash their feet, rest for a while, and have something to eat. They agree, and Abraham blesses them with a meal.
• Afterwards, the LORD tells Abraham that his previously barren wife Sarah will bear a son the next year, Abraham will become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on the earth will be blessed through Abraham. The LORD states that He chose Abraham, and He will bring about for Abraham what He promised.

I wonder what would have happened if Abraham didn't stop to bless those strangers.

"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it" (Hebrews 13:2).

Assigned Territory!

Well, it got VERY quiet in church when Pastor Benji was explaining that Abraham's promise of land was not figurative, but literal. I'm not sure why people weren't responding- after all, the Genesis 18 passage is crystal clear in indicating that God promised to give Abraham land. We looked at Genesis 22:17 in yesterday's blog, and the idea is there too: "Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies". Friends, it doesn't get more plain than that.

Maybe some people were upset because Pastor Benji called their bluff. Sometimes we claim to have great plans, but then there is no preparation to support the plan. How can we promise to care for five grandchildren when we are just sub-letting a room?

Maybe we get mad because we think this is a subtle way for the church to ask for more support. But, the text indicates that it was not the church who made the assignment. GOD assigned territory to Abraham, and Abraham was expected to be obedient to GOD in how that territory was managed. What do we see? Even in the state of wandering, Abraham demonstrated hospitality (see Genesis 18:1-10).

Pastor Benji shared a wonderful example. The South African pastors who visited us recently had come to General Assembly, but did not have lodging for the week after the assembly. A pastor from another church had offered to allow one of the pastors to sleep in the basement of his church. When our church found out, we asked the South African group to come to us. Each pastor and family was able to be hosted in the homes of some our our BBCN congregants. Like Abraham, our congregants stopped what they were doing and made provision for the guests who were passing through.

But, to host several guests, we have to have more than a rented bedroom. We need sufficient physical space.

Has God given you a heart to help others in need of housing? If you have the space, don't be stingy! You can be a blessing just like Abraham was!

And what about people like me who are living in a one-bedroom apartment? PRAY! Surely God would not put within you a heart to host without also providing the space to host (that means sleeping quarters, food, and maybe even time and means to take your guests to see some of the sights of New York). In the meantime, let's do what we can. Last month I invited someone over for tea. All I had was tea and crackers, but we shared that and had great conversation about the love and ministry of Jesus in our lives. I'm believing God that as we are faithful with the little we have, He will give us more.

The days of "Bronx Bethany, the singing church" really need to be over. How I pray that our reputation will shift:

Bronx Bethany, the community-serving church.
Bronx Bethany, the missionary-supporting church.
Bronx Bethany, the pastor-preparing church.

Yes, it can happen. God gives territory for His children to possess in obedience to His desires!

Iron Fences, High Hedges, And Cultural Microaggressions.

"Jamaican Christians within the tri-state area are being invited to fast and pray for Jamaica from 6:00 am - 6:00 pm culminating with special prayer services at designated prayer centers throughout the tri-state area." (This, unfortunately, is from a real ad. Keep reading to see why I said "unfortunately".)

Here is the way I, as someone who's not a Jamaican, interpret the ad:

"If you are a Jamaican, you're invited to fast and pray with us. If you're not Jamaican, don't bother. We don't need intercession from outsiders. We don't want you to know our deep prayer needs."

This ad stands in stark contrast to the sermon shared by Pastor Benji this past Sunday. Pastor Benji focused on the need for Christians to shift from a mentality of individualism to one of universalism: we represent the message and mandate of Christ to all nations of the earth. The sermon was perfectly in line with the mission of BBCN- to be a redemptive influence in the Bronx, and in the world, to the glory of God. I believe that a huge part of that influence takes place in the intercessory prayers of Christians around the world.

So, I remain a non-Jamaican praying for Jamaica. And though I was not invited by the ad, I think that God would be cool with it if I fasted and prayed along with the Jamaican Christians. I'm tempted to say something about the use of the term "Jamaican Christians", but I'll hold my thoughts on that for now.

Let's make the shift from self to world! Please visit the blog for the rest of this week as we park in Genesis 18, reflecting on God's assessment of Abraham. Here's a verse to consider in preparation:

I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me. (Genesis 22:17-18)

Deon Won't Be Here When It Happens.

Pastor Deon, in the middle of his sermon during the second service, gave a prophetic warning: "We can fool one another. We can come to His presence with a reverent mask. But I'm telling you- the day God will unmask you... I don't want to be around."

Let's close this week with the warning of the LORD from Ephesians 5:

• Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (verse 2);
• Among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality (verse 3);
• Obscenity, foolish talk, and coarse joking are out of place (verse 4);
• No immoral, impure, or greedy person has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God (verse 5);
• God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient (verse 6);
• Have nothing to do with the deeds of darkness (verse 11);
• Be very careful how you live (verse 15).

Lord, You know how we need Your help in all these areas, so that our lives are true reflections of our authentic relationship with You. Please help us to obey Your word and live in such a way that everyone will know we are serious about our relationship with You. In Jesus' Name, let it be so.

Apparo, Comparo, Instruo: Get Ready To Fight.

Pastor Deon shared with us regarding the necessity for Christians to be prepared for the spiritual battles we will face every day. "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes" (Ephesians 6:11).

The indictment expressed by our guest pastor, which I will elaborate on here, is that there are many who call themselves Christians but they seem to be allergic to the battlefield. If there is food being served, then a multitude shows up (see John 6:26-27). If singing is going on, then Bronx Bethany sings loud and strong. If it's time to pray, or witness, or stand up for Jesus, then no one shows up. It seems we would rather eat or sing than pray. In fact, if you take an inventory of the amount of time Bronx Bethany spends in food preparation and music rehearsals in comparison to the amount of time spent in actual corporate prayer (that means the amount of time praying- not singing, not listening to other people preach, not asking your friend how their week has been), you will be shocked at the ratio.

Life on the battlefield, authentic Christian life, is not about food and music. It's about prayer, confession, submission, and obedience to God. If we are not about life on the battlefield, then we can never claim to be an imitator of Christ.

So, my friends, are you ready to fight?

Oh, Positive.

Pastor Deon reminded us of the importance of maintaining a positive attitude in our relationships and in our responses to situations that we encounter as a natural part of life. He recalled the initial response of Job, who upon hearing the news of multiple crises befalling him simultaneously, worshiped the LORD (see Job 1:20).

I will ask the same question Pastor Deon asked on Sunday, though my wording is a little different: what happens to your worship when life happens to you?

In times of plenty, do you forget the One who blessed you?
In times of famine, do you resent the LORD for withholding provision from you?

There is a basketball player who I will not name here, but over the past several years I've noticed a pattern: when things are going his way, he seems very amiable and personable. But when a call is made against him, he immediately becomes belligerent and angry. Many "Christians" are, unfortunately, just like that. We love the blessings of God, we're so happy to receive them, but then we suddenly go deaf in the moments He calls us to suffer for His name's sake. And we act as if Christianity is an 'exemption card' that keeps us from experiencing pain and loss. Friend, if that's you, wake up. The rain falls on the righteous and the unrighteous (see Matthew 5:43-45).

What do we do in the midst of suffering? Perhaps we should follow the example of Jesus: love, forgive, pray for our enemies. If we are indeed Christians, then imitating Christ shouldn't be that hard!

The "Worship" Cabaret.

Pastor Deon's first sermon point was not as simple as it sounded. I believe it is the foundational, root cause of the failure of Christianity to impact the world as it did in the early church.

Imitators of Christ must have a personal experience with God.

We have somehow come into a notion that church attendance is sufficient for individuals to claim that they are Christian, and that is wrong. Christianity begins and is sustained not by sitting in a worship service, but by confessing our sins and asking the Lord Jesus Christ to live in us and rule over us.

If I may add an addendum to this, I would argue that most people who claim to be Christian are not- because their lives do not adhere to the above definition. They have never made confession of their sins, and they have never asked God's opinion concerning the way in which they live their lives from day to day.

Friends, who do you rely on? And what is your proof for that reliance?

If you tell me that you rely on God, yet you have no idea where your Bible is (because you don't read it), you only pray when you're in a crisis, and your church attendance is done out of routine rather than out of a love for God, then perhaps you're not really relying on God. I would say you're kidding yourself. You can sing and shout and dance all you like, but your physical expressions don't make Him your Lord: your obedience and submission to Him do.

Lord, help us to stop putting on a show every Sunday, and to really demonstrate our personal experience with You: we will obey You, and we will submit to You. In Jesus' Name, let it be so.

Not-So-Foreign Exchange.

This week our reflections will be based on this past Sunday's sermon, which was preached by Pastor Deon. He and several other clergy and friends have been visiting us over last week, and they will be returning to their homes in South Africa this week. It has been a great blessing to meet them and to receive spiritual instruction from them.

Pastor Deon spoke from Ephesians 5:1-7, on imitating Christ. Let's begin with a recap of some of the insights he shared as a pre-sermon mini-message.

• One of the key problems of the church around the world is that we have a form of godliness, but lack the power that is present in authentic relationship with Christ.


• The mandate is not merely to believe in Jesus, but to live out our beliefs in a way that draws others to Him.


• We are called to shift our behavior: Christianity is not a venue for spectators. Authentic Christianity is accomplished in our participation in the work of Christ.

Pastor Deon, in many ways similar to our own Pastor Sam, used alliteration to help us with remembering the message. Please join us as we spend the next three days reflecting on his sermon points.

Let The Work Go Forward: A Testimony On The Audacity Of God.

Audacity: Boldness, without regard for apparent restrictions.

During the second service, I went to the altar to pray. In the midst of the voices around me and the voice of Pastor Sam praying from the pulpit, the voice of God spoke clearly: "Build your business." Now, mind you, I'm an underemployed doctoral candidate carrying six-figure student loan debt. At the time I'm writing this (July 7) I have five dollars in my personal checking account. I have no prior business experience.

You know, God has said things throughout Scripture that seem audacious. He asked Noah to build an ark in a land that never knew rain. He told Abraham to leave his father's household, and Abraham left without a clue as to where he was going. I'm sure you could add several other examples of God's audacious commands.

Apparently, God doesn't have a problem with my student loan debt, my lack of savings, and my lack of experience in the business realm. He is seeing a bigger picture. And that, my friends, is the heart of the exilic experience. We have to hear and obey Him without regard to what we see. Or, to quote Scripture, we walk by faith and not by sight, so we make it our business to please God (see Second Corinthians 5). He is pleased when we joyfully do what He says.

• In the face of unfamiliar territory, become engaged in the community.
• With your hands full of strange seeds, dig up the foreign soil and do some planting.
• When God says "do not decrease", make it your business to increase.
• If God made the plan, then the plan must come through.

I'm a little slow, but I am learning to hear God and to obey Him by doing what He says.

What has God said to you? Keep Pastor Sam's summary of Jeremiah 29 close by: Relax in God's plan. Rest in God's promises. And, most importantly, remember God's principles.

See you next Tuesday, my friends.

Remember.

Well, it seems that not one week goes by without God graciously warning us of the consequences we will face if we are disobedient to His word. This past Sunday was no exception.

Pastor Sam, paraphrasing C.S. Lewis, said it well: in considering the image of Christ as the Lion of Judah who is also the Lamb of God, we would do well to remember that our Lord cannot be domesticated. He is God, and though His mercy is great His judgements are final. Ignoring His word leads to eternal death.

What Was The Problem In Jeremiah's Time?

• False prophets ignored God's word. In their desire to please the people, they insisted that Jeremiah was wrong and that he had not heard from the LORD, but was a madman deserving of removal from ministry.
• False prophets imparted their own word. They insisted that the Babylonian exile would be short-term, and in doing so they encouraged the people to not become engaged in the life and times of the community in which they lived.

You know, it seems we have the same problem in our time. Television and radio are full of men and women who are happy to sell lies to the people of God. Men and women who claim to love the LORD, but who are bound to their own self-interest, are sitting ducks for the lies of those who promise a life of ease and comfort in a context where God has clearly indicated that we should expect to live the life of an exile.

Friends, we are exiles on the earth. We have built homes and our children are in schools and we are engaged in community, and we are going to be here for a while. Our true home is heaven, but we cannot lay down in our beds and beg God to take us out of this world. He has placed us here to represent Him in every area of life, and we are responsible to fulfill the calling He has placed upon us.

So, plant your gardens of political influence. Build your homes as study halls in which family and neighbors can experience a taste of heaven's protocol. Forgive freely and live in love and peace, so that those around you can see the difference Jesus makes. Show the world that Christians are in the game, not on the sidelines. And watch God work.

Rest.

"For I know the plans I have for you..." (Jeremiah 29:11)

It is truly a blessing to have a pastor who is not afraid to read Scripture. In hearing Pastor Sam read the entire chapter of Jeremiah 29, we were given a real sense of the context in which the famous Jeremiah 29:11 exists. It is not just a generic promise! It's a promise given to the exiled, to those who have been uprooted and re-planted in cities and situations they are unfamiliar with.

What Has God Said? Rest.

• We must first embrace God's plan, which involves moving us into new situations.
• We must also experience God's presence. Knowing that we are in His will gives us strength to say yes when He calls us to move from our comfort zones.
• And, we must express God's purpose. As Pastor Sam shared, there is nothing more powerful than the persons who know who they are in Christ, and who subsequently make life decisions based on that knowledge.

We'll close today with one more comment from Pastor Sam: if God made the plan, then the plan must come through! Isaiah 55:10-11 echoes in the distance: God's Word will not return to Him void, but will accomplish the purpose for which He sent it.

Tomorrow we'll reflect on the third "R": Remember.

Relax.

Friends,
Let's continue our reflections on Jeremiah 29.

Pastor Sam shared a wonderful alliterative means by which we can remember the main points found in Jeremiah 29. For today, tomorrow, and Friday, we'll look at each "R" and get ourselves reacquainted with the insights we learned on this past Sunday.

First Point: Relax.

God gave a specific directive to the exiled Jews, and their error was that they chose instead to embrace false prophets whose agendas seemed more palatable. How do we avoid destruction? By doing what God says.

What Did God Say Through Jeremiah?

• Buy property.
• Raise family.
• Embrace community.
• Influence policy.
• Pray for the city's prosperity.

In other words, relax. You live here, so live here. As we used to say in the 1980s, "Get a life!" Be involved in community, in church, in politics. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior then you are an Ambassador of the kingdom of heaven, and we need you to make your voice heard while you're here on earth.

Tomorrow we'll continue with the second "R".

Bronx Bethany, Get Ready For A Showdown.

Showdown: an event, especially a confrontation, that forces an issue to a conclusion. (American Heritage Dictionary)

Well, it's been two weeks, but the blogs are back! This week we'll park in Jeremiah 29. Pastor Sam wrapped up our Fourth of July weekend with a dynamite sermon, and I'll be sharing a few of his points (as well as lighting a few firecrackers of my own) over the next five days.

In card games, a "showdown" is when all players have to lay their cards on the table, face up, so that everyone reveals what they have been holding. In the book of Jeremiah, the prophet reveals the plan of God concerning the exile of Jews, who are carried by force from Palestine to Babylon. In contrast, a company of false prophets reveal their counterfeit prophecies, lying to the people and causing them to believe that their exile would only last for a short period of time.

Pastor Sam compared this scenario to the state of those persons who, in the face of God's relocating them to new places and situations, refuse to accept that it is God who placed them where they are, and it is they who must adjust to the modern version of "exilic" life.

Has God placed you in academia? In corporate America? In New York? In Russia? Remember the prophetic utterance of Jeremiah 29, where the LORD reiterates His role: "I sent them into exile". Not chance, not conspiracy, but the decision of one: the Eternal One, the Holy One, the Perfect One.

If the Perfect One has placed you where you are, don't waste your time longing or scheming to be somewhere else. Such a move by you could have deadly consequences!

Lord, in looking back, I see clearly that You are the One who has placed me where I am. Please help me to obey You by remaining, in a spirit of joy and peace, where You have placed me. I promise to flourish in the place You have planted me.