Comparing Tones.

When I read from the Book of Psalms, I tend to treat each psalm as an independent lyric work. However, there are a few exceptions. For example, I usually combine my reading of Psalms 42 and 43 (which in Hebrew tradition are treated as a single work), and Psalms 95 and 96.

During my quiet time on Sunday afternoon, I was thinking of Psalm 51. Then, all of a sudden, I had an epiphany: Psalm 50 and Psalm 51 are next to each other. I don't mean just in terms of sequence, but also in terms of topic. They do not have to be treated as independent works, even though they are attributed to two different people (50 as a psalm of Asaph, and 51 as a psalm of David). These two psalms allow us to see what I call the divergent paths of the calloused versus the contrite. 

King David was a man who knew both paths. He experienced the hard, unyielding, self-satisfied mindset of a man refusing to fully submit to God. And he experienced the broken, penitent mindset of a man who realized that the Lord of all creation can remove just as easily as He grants (see Psalm 75:7).

Today, let's take the time to read Psalms 50 and 51. And let's place ourselves in the center of each one. There are questions to ask: 

*Am I withholding anything from God?

*Am I engaging in self-justification?

*In what areas of my life am I thinking, 'God doesn't mind'?

*Does God have my heart's complete devotion?

*Does my life show that I want to please Him more than myself?

Lord God, You who know all things, speak to our hearts. Show us the path we tread. Plant in us the spirit of contrition and repentance. May we never approach Your presence and work with a calloused heart. Teach us anew today through Your word, which is forever settled in Heaven, and give us the wisdom to obey You. Amen.

Click here for Psalm 50

Click here for Psalm 51

Inventory.

As we share our vision  to "teach people to develop a servant's heart in radical obedience to Christ", we operationalize the vision by creating awareness, being advocates for those in need, and by acting in accordance with the word of God.

Today, let's consider how we are helping to make our vision a reality.

• Of what issue has God made you aware? What has He helped you to notice?
• For whom do you advocate? Who supports you in the effort to, as Pastor Sam said in Sunday's sermon, "Be a voice for the voiceless"?
• What actions have you taken in the process of making Bronx Bethany's vision (or the vision of your home church) come to pass?

Action/Ability

"Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.'" (Exodus 14:15-16)

During this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Sam reminded us of the predicament of Moses and the directive of God. In response to the prayer of Moses, the LORD said, "Why are you crying out to Me?... Raise your staff and stretch out your hand..." On the surface, the resources seem scant and useless-- a walking stick and an outstretched hand. But God used Moses's seemingly insignificant action to initiate a miracle. The Red Sea parted, and the people of God walked through it on dry ground.

Our pastor shared a thought that I would like us to remember today: "When you act in faith, you don't need to have everything." We who are servants of God have a desire to serve Him through our actions. We can serve, and we can act, even if our resources are limited.

In yesterday's post we considered the feeding of the five thousand men, noting the concerns of the disciples (which can be boiled down to "Lord, we don't have anything of substance for these people.") The disciples felt that there was no action they could take to resolve the need of the crowd. But Jesus showed them that, if they gave Him the little they had acquired, He would bear the task of multiplication and miraculous supply.

Are you serving the Lord? Do you sense He has asked you to do something beyond your ability to resource? Do what He has asked. Act with whatever limited ability you have. Trust in your Lord's ability to accomplish His will in the earth. And watch Him do the miraculous.

I Have An Advocate. I Am An Advocate.

In referencing Rick Warren's book The Purpose-Driven Church, Pastor Sam said (and I paraphrase), Not all Christians recognize the need to be convicted; but, according to Titus 2:11, God moves us to do what He desires.

A couple of days ago, I posted commentary on the issue of awareness. Today, let's continue with the second aspect of service: advocacy.

If I may borrow from Pastor Rick and Pastor Sam, Not all Christians recognize the need to be advocates for the people of God. As we read the accounts of the feeding of the five thousand men (not counting women and children), let us eavesdrop on how the disciples responded to the plight of the people.

1. "Philip answered Him, 'It would take more than half a year's wages to buy enough bread for each one to have just a bite!' Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up. 'Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?'" (John 6:7-9)
2. "By this time it was late in the day, so His disciples came to Him. 'This is a remote place,' they said, 'and it's already very late. Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.'" (Mark 6:35-36; also see Matthew 14:15)
3. "Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to Him and said, 'Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.'" (Luke 9:12)

Is this our response to the crowds of the twenty-first century? Are we content to see the people attend our church services, yet malcontent when Jesus points out needs that require us to step over the bounds of church service and move into community service? What is our attitude toward advocacy?

Jesus, no. You know we don't have the money available. This would wipe out our budget, and the people will be hungry again in the morning.

Jesus, no. You know this is a remote area and not the safest at night. Just say the benediction and get these people out of here.

Jesus, yes. I can sleep on the couch this week so that one of the visiting missionaries can sleep comfortably in my room. He shouldn't have to sleep on a church pew.

God, in His goodness, moves us to do His will. We may look with eyes of doubt, but He invites us to see what He sees. He invites us to consider what we might be able to do in order to extend His grace and love to the world. Sometimes, the extension of His grace means that we must bear the "inconvenience" of a longer service, or the implementation of a program we have not planned for, or the provision of food and lodging to house the people to whom we are ministering (or, who are ministering to us).

Advocacy says yes to the question of meeting need. It is a "yes" that trusts God to make things happen. Our advocacy begins not with financing nor square footage; it begins with a heart open to God, a heart that trusts the Lord to do great and mighty things on behalf of His people.

Listen today to the voice of the Lord. Who is He asking you to help?

Spirit of the Lord, make us to be like You. Make us advocates.

Orchard, Preach.

Ochs Orchard, Warwick, New York.

[Today we take a short break from the blog posts on Sunday's sermon. Our reflections on awareness, advocacy, and action will resume tomorrow.]

In our walking through various trials of life, there are moments when God allows His people to come alongside and support us with their presence and prayers. There are other moments when all seems mist and darkness and looming shadows of death, paths full of rocks and potholes, journeys that we cannot walk in the company of men… dyadic moments where it’s just one servant and One Master… and in those moments we discover the incredible love of God as He sustains us.

But in the moments where it seems that only God cares, there are stirrings and undercurrents. There are communities and connections, ordained by God, that suddenly become aware that there is a need to pray. They do not always know why the need exists. They just know that God has supplied a name, so they kneel before Him and call the name of the one who is taking his turn in the valley. Such is the great gift of Spirit-led prayer.

I am blessed to belong to a community like that at my home church. I am blessed to have connections like that outside of my home church—some local, some very far away. And I hope that you, too, are blessed to experience that sort of community in your own life.

I mention all of this because I had an interesting experience this past Monday. On a day trip to a country farm, I spent a few hours walking through an apple orchard. There were many trees, old and young. All were well-tended. Some were bearing fruit in season. Some were not. For the first time I saw with my own eyes a tree that had cast its fruit: its once-beautiful apples now rotting and lying on the ground, a once-full tree now completely empty and finished, through the amazing phenomenon of pitching its own fruit from its branches. Fruit useless for man, but still useful for ants and small creatures. (God, in His mercy, even pulls blessings out of decaying fruit.)

And, some trees were on their way to bearing. Their fruit was not yet ready for consumption, but it was growing. It was beautiful. Trees whose fruit will not be brought to any table today… but perhaps in two or three weeks.

On Monday, as I walked in the country farm, God used this fine orchard of apples to stir my heart to prayer. Not scatter-shot prayers for comfort and safety. Not foxhole prayers for rescue. But prayers for having the patience of the farmer. Prayers for understanding and embracing the cooperative intervention of heat and cold and sun and rain. Prayers for wisdom to know the times of planting, pruning, picking, and pitching. Prayers of gratitude for God’s harvests here and abroad. Prayers for the people of the world who walk with the support of seen communities, and prayers for those who, though apparently alone, are being undergirded by the prayers of unknown others.

Today, readers, be encouraged. The Lord knows where you stand in His orchard. His people stand with you in prayer. May you be found as a bearer of good fruit.

Yes: even though I am walking through mist and darkness, I am completely fearless. Have you met my Lord? He is here, walking with me, explaining to me the times and seasons. And He is there, in all the places “there” exists. He is breathing men’s names into His trusted communities and sending His Spirit to interpret the prayers, to erase the lines between earth and heaven, and to make pathways for the entrance of profound miracles. One cannot ask for a greater assurance than this.

Thank You, Lord, for the lesson of the orchard.

Crowd's Source.

When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" He asked this only to test him, because He already had in mind what He was going to do. (John 6:5-6)


From time to time, Jesus asks questions. Why does the Lord of all creation need to ask any questions? Well, He doesn't need to ask. But He asks for our benefit, inviting us to reflect on the concerns of His heart.

Awareness. Pastor Sam shared with us that Jesus, in asking about the crowd, gave Philip an opportunity to understand the need at hand. Yes, Philip, we can preach to people. But they need more than just a serving of spiritual food. They need physical food. And, Philip, we are going to give them physical food. Start brainstorming: what are your ideas regarding how to feed them?

• Sometimes we get so absorbed in "doing our own thing" that we fail to see the need for doing other things. If we are truly interested in living lives modeled after the life of Christ, then our ministries must move beyond the venues of tradition. We are called to more than the music ministry or the trustee board. We are called to see the people we serve.
• Sometimes the needs of people are masked by external veneers that appear to indicate no need. There happened to be a large number of people who had come to follow Jesus's ministry of healing the sick, and those people decided to go to hear Jesus preach. On the surface, their presence presented nothing unusual. But when Jesus saw them approaching, He saw that there was a deeper concern, a sort of by-product of their zeal in making the journey to hear Jesus: they were experiencing lack. They had made the journey without carrying provisions.
• Sometimes Jesus, though He is the Answer, asks us to answer. Just as Jesus tested Philip then, He tests us now. We have made the choice to follow Jesus. This does not mean that we simply walk around saying nice things about Him and occasionally tossing in a Scripture or two in order to sound credible. It means that we engage in the hard work of reflection and forward-thinking so that we might address the relevant, current, "in-your-face" needs presented by our modern-day crowds. 

Look. See.
Look closely. See clearly.

The Fed.

In yesterday's sermon Pastor Sam shared more details on the final section of our church's vision statement: Teaching people to develop a servant's heart in radical obedience to Christ.

Today, let's focus on the Scripture narrative used in yesterday's sermon.

The account of the feeding of five thousand men (plus an unknown number of women and children) can be found in all four gospels. As we continue in obedience to our Lord's appeal to draw near to Him by accessing His word, let's take time today to read each of the gospel accounts of this miracle of multiplication. Each passage can be accessed by clicking on the links below. Tomorrow, we will begin our review of the ways in which we express Christian servanthood in our community: awareness, advocacy, and action.

• Matthew 14:13-21
• Mark 6:30-44
• Luke 9:10-17
• John 6:1-15

Lord God, thank You for this profound example of "teaching people to develop a servant's heart in radical obedience to Christ." Give us Your grace so that we might follow the example of Jesus, who taught His disciples to address the needs of people. Help us to go beyond the mere sharing of spiritual insights. Teach us to effectively address the needs of the whole man, that there might be true and complete deliverance experienced in the communities we serve. We thank You for helping us to do the works to which You have called us. We thank You for Your leading and provision. We love You.

James's Bond.

During last Sunday's sermon Pastor Sam referred to James chapter 5. I pray that as we read through these verses today, we will benefit from James's instruction and encouragement. God bless you.

James 5:7-20

"Be patient then, brothers, until the Lord's coming.

"See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop! See how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains!

"In the same way, you, my brothers, be patient. Stand firm. Why? Because the Lord's coming is near.

"Don't grumble against each other, or you will be judged. The Judge stands at the door.

"Do you want an example of patience in the face of suffering? Look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We count as blessed those who have persevered. You know about Job's perseverance. You know what the Lord finally did for him. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

"Above all of this, don't swear. Not by heaven, not by earth, not by anything. Just let your word stand on its own. "Yes" means yes. "No" means no. Adding to that invites condemnation.

"If you're in trouble, pray. If you're happy, sing. If someone is sick, call for the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned he will be forgiven.

"So, confess your sins to each other. Pray for each other so that you can be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and is effective.

"Elijah was a regular person, just like you and me. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain. It didn't rain on that land for three and a half years. After that he prayed again, and the rain came down, and the earth produced crops.

"My brothers, if someone wanders away from the truth and someone else brings him back, keep this in mind: Whoever turns sinners away from the error of sinning will save them from death, and will cover over a multitude of sins."

Remember the farmer. Be patient.
Remember Job. Persevere.
Remember Elijah. Pray.

T=Teaching People

For my blog readers who regularly attend Bronx Bethany (or who obtained a CD of the most recent sermon), you will note that I am now venturing into territory that Pastor Sam did not discuss in detail on Sunday. You may have also noticed that in yesterday's post I left out some incredibly valuable moments that we experienced when Pastor Sam discussed the fourth point. However, I felt that it was important for us to re-acquaint ourselves with every section of our vision statement, and therefore have chosen to move on to the final section.

Today, then, is the day we consider the final point in the vision statement: Teaching people to develop a servant's heart in radical obedience to Christ. 

The tandem relationship is vital. Why? Because there is always the danger of service without obedience. And there is always the danger of radical obedience offered without a corresponding heart-desire to serve others. 

In our small groups (care groups), we are taught to develop a servant's heart in radical obedience to Christ. The teaching occurs in a number of ways:

Formal instruction. There is a book, chosen by our pastoral staff, that each care group reads and reflects on over a period of several weeks.

Informal instruction. In times of fellowship and socializing, care group members learn the value of service and obedience from the other members of their group.

Prayer. As the members of each care group petition God, the Spirit of God changes their hearts. Service is given in the name of Jesus not because we have to do it, but because 1) we recognize the privilege of being chosen to do something for the sake of Christ and His Kingdom and 2) He has developed in us a longing to do His will.

What sort of lesson does our service to God teach to the people of God? If our service in the court of the King is marked by our yawning disinterest, or by our "going through the motions" with no heart involvement, or by faithful service conducted with an undercurrent of disobedience, then perhaps we ought step down for a season of refreshing and renewal. I pray that we all will take time today to reflect on where we stand concerning this part of our church's vision.

A=Attracting Men, Women, And Youth

"This is not a social club. This is warfare." (Pastor Sam)

As we continue our review of Bronx Bethany's vision statement, we now turn to the fourth point: Attracting men, women, and youth to a nurturing and healing fellowship.

A few days ago I posted, without commentary, Isaiah chapter 58. Pastor Sam mentioned this chapter during his sermon, asking us to read it on our own. In the chapter, the Lord lists various things that are preventing the people of God from experiencing healing in their community:

• Rebellion and sin (verse 1);
• Forsaking God's commandments (verse 2);
• Self-serving behavior and exploitation of others (verse 3);
• Quarreling, strife, and fighting (verse 4);
• Reducing fasting to mere external exercise, absent of internal commitment to God (verse 5).

God also details His criteria of things that must exist in the community in order for healing to occur:

• The freeing of people who are oppressed, and the addressing of injustice (verse 6);
• Compassionate provision for the poor, the hungry, and the naked (verse 7);
• The avoidance and rejection of gossip and malicious talk (verse 9);
• Joyful honoring of the Lord's command to engage Sabbath rest (verse 13).

Our pastor appealed to us, "Do not be content with religious ritual when you can experience the reality of being the people of God." May we all be earnest in our desire to experience that reality.

Lord, turn our hearts away from routine... give us the wisdom to shift from fighting one another to fighting our true enemy, the devil... move us into the place where Your healing can break forth.

E=Experiencing Forgiveness And Fullness

The third part of Bronx Bethany's vision statement reads: "Experiencing forgiveness of sin and the fullness of the Spirit."

Recently a friend of mine recommended the excellent book How People Change, written by Timothy Lane and Paul Tripp. Below is a quote from the book that I would like us to reflect on today, as it helps to underline this portion of our church's vision.

It is so easy to coast! We have been accepted into God's family, and someday will be with him in eternity. But what goes on in between? From the time we come to Christ until the time we go home to be with him, God calls us to change. We have been changed by his grace, are being changed by his grace, and will be changed by his grace. What is the goal of this change? It is more than a better marriage, well-adjusted children, professional success, or freedom from a few nagging sins. God's goal is that we would actually become like him. He doesn't just want you to escape the fires of hell-- though we praise God that through Christ you can! His goal is to free us from our slavery to sin, our bondage to self, and our functional idolatry, so that we actually take on his character! (Lane and Tripp, 2008, p. 15, emphasis mine)

• The first step is "acceptance into God's family": have you asked God to forgive you of your sins? Are you sorry for having grieved His Spirit? Do you desire to change?
• The ensuing steps involve answering God's call to change: are you aware of the grace He has extended you? Are you willing to reject habitual sin and embrace the character of God, daily pursuing holiness?

As Pastor Sam noted during his sermon, we as Nazarenes are custodians of the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition. It is a tradition in which we seek forgiveness of our sins, we place ourselves in small groups for accountability, we seek to increase in our love towards God and man, and we seek the power of the Holy Spirit so that we might develop an aversion toward continual sin.

Look back one year... five years... ten years... and more. Can you see a difference between your Christian walk then and now? Can anyone else around you testify to that difference? Has your change been a change for the better?

Lord, You have made the way for us to be changed! Give us Your grace in abundance: we will be changed, and we will be agents of change, for the sake of Your glorious Name.

R=Reaching Our Communities

As we continue reflecting on the vision of Bronx Bethany, we move on to the second phrase: Reaching our communities at the point of their need.

Pastor Sam shared with us that we have several types of communities. There is the geographical community in which Bronx Bethany stands (the Northeast Bronx). There is the demographic community within and without the church, which is multicultural and multilingual. There is the sociological community, represented by varying levels of income and education. These communities have particular concerns, and part of our role is to be present to address their concerns through a Christ-centered lens.

Our church leadership has a three-part test, called the F.S.T. test, that each of us can use to assess where we stand concerning our community service.

1. Are we a fort, or a force? Do we come together to lock ourselves in the church and shield ourselves from the world, or do we boldly step out from behind the church walls in order to touch the communities we have been called to serve?
2. Are we engaged in satisfying ourselves, or are we engaged in serving? Does our programming revolve around the things we like, or does it revolve around the things the communities need?
3. Are we concerned about ourselves, or are we concerned about them? Pastor Sam reminded us of Rev.Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s comment concerning the parable of the Good Samaritan: The priest and the Levite avoided the wounded man because their concern was, "What will happen to me if I touch him?" The Good Samaritan's concern was, "What will happen to him if I don't touch him?"

So, on this Today that we will never see again, God has given His people opportunities to serve. Be a force for good. Be engaged in serving. Be concerned about the "them"s of the world.

You are called to carry the love of Jesus to a hurting and dying world. Who will you reach today?

G=Glorifying God

"Greatness in the kingdom of God is defined by the King in the kingdom of God." (Pastor Sam)

Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:42b-45)


The vision of Bronx Bethany helps us to see what we will look like when the components of our mission statement are accomplished.

The first phrase in our vision is Glorifying God by excellence in everything we do. Our pastors and leaders have, by the leading of God's Spirit, offered the following litmus test. Let us reflect on these points today as we consider our standing with God.

• Is everything we do for God first-class? Has God been given our first and our best, or the leftovers? (Genesis 4:3-7)
• Is everything we present to God flawless? What sort of an offering do we offer to Him? Is is pure, or is it lame? (Malachi 1:10-14)
• Are we ensuring that our service to God is not fraudulent? Are we pretending to give our best, while holding back something for ourselves? (Acts 5:1-10)
• Are we confident that the things we give to God were not acquired for free? Are we offering a sacrifice that cost us nothing? (Second Samuel 24:22-24)

Lord, we are Your servants. Our hearts' desire is to give our best to You. Deliver us from taking the easy road of offering You anything less than our best efforts, our best offerings, and our complete devotion.

Fifty-Eight.

Isaiah 58

“Cry loudly, do not hold back;
Raise your voice like a trumpet,
And declare to My people their transgression
And to the house of Jacob their sins.

“Yet they seek Me day by day and delight to know My ways,
As a nation that has done righteousness
And has not forsaken the ordinance of their God.
They ask Me for just decisions,
They delight in the nearness of God.
‘Why have we fasted and You do not see?
Why have we humbled ourselves and You do not notice?’
Behold, on the day of your fast you find your desire,
And drive hard all your workers.

“Behold, you fast for contention and strife and to strike with a wicked fist.
You do not fast like you do today to make your voice heard on high.

“Is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to humble himself?
Is it for bowing one’s head like a reed
And for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed?
Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to the Lord?

“Is this not the fast which I choose,
To loosen the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the bands of the yoke,
And to let the oppressed go free
And break every yoke?

“Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry
And bring the homeless poor into the house;
When you see the naked, to cover him;
And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

“Then your light will break out like the dawn,
And your recovery will speedily spring forth;
And your righteousness will go before you;
The glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

“Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
You will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’
If you remove the yoke from your midst,
The pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness,
And if you give yourself to the hungry
And satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
Then your light will rise in darkness
And your gloom will become like midday.

“And the Lord will continually guide you,
And satisfy your desire in scorched places,
And give strength to your bones;
And you will be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.

“Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins;
You will raise up the age-old foundations;
And you will be called the repairer of the breach,
The restorer of the streets in which to dwell.

“If because of the sabbath, you turn your foot
From doing your own pleasure on My holy day,
And call the sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable,
And honor it, desisting from your own ways,
From seeking your own pleasure
And speaking your own word,
Then you will take delight in the Lord,
And I will make you ride on the heights of the earth;
And I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father,
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Window-Watcher.

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. (Daniel 6:10)

“He knew that people were out to get him.” (Pastor Shane)

Daniel was committed to the One true God, and his commitment to God was not shaken by the leaders who sought to remove him from his position.

What would you do if someone threatened to harm you if you were “caught” in the act of praying? Pastor Shane noted that, for some of us, our strategy would perhaps be to change our routine: pray in secret, pray silently, or pray somewhere else. But Daniel continued to live out the routine he had established.

• His prayer was public; the windows were open.
• His prayer had a specific posture; he got down on his knees.
• His prayer was positional; the windows opened toward Jerusalem, the beloved land from which he was exiled.
• His prayer was positive; he did not wail about having been exiled, but rather gave thanks to God.

In fact, it seems that Daniel did not concern himself at all with his detractors. He knew that petitioning God was the right thing to do.

After Pastor Shane's sermon, Pastor Andy took the podium and said, “We stand in the midst of Babylon, open our windows, and declare that we trust in our God.” I pray that is true for all of us.

Where do you stand today? Are you a person of prayer? Are you afraid to be “caught” praying? Do you have a place to pray? Is your prayer life consistent?

Just Trust.

Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies so as not to serve or worship any god except their own God. (Daniel 3:28, NASB)

During Sunday's sermon, Pastor Shane shared a brief illustration of trust. He asked a child to face away from him and lean backwards into a fall, promising that he would catch the child.

Did the child trust Pastor Shane? Eventually, yes. But initially, the child looked back at Pastor Shane several times, evoking laughter from the congregation.

Can I really trust you to catch my fall?

In Daniel chapter 3 we read the famed story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego being thrown into a fiery furnace. The three young men offered an astounding testimony to King Nebuchadnezzar just prior to their being thrown into the flames: Our God can save us-- but we will take our trust in Him a step further. We will remain loyal to Him. Even if He doesn't save us, we will not bow to the idol you set up.

What about us? How sure is our loyalty to God? Will we still love Him if He doesn't rescue us?

I wish we could all avoid crises. But as we go through our challenges, people around us have the opportunity to see real faith in action: the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (see Hebrews 11:1). We trust God even as modern-day King Nebuchadnezzars rant and rail over our refusal to bow to the "ism"s of the postmodern age. We trust God as the flames are increased, destroying even the lives of those sent to toss us into the furnace. And we trust God as we walk in the midst of the fire. Why? Because we are accompanied by the Chief Fire-Walker, the One with burnished feet (see Revelation 1:10-18) who keeps us alive and well in the raging flames.

At the end of the day, God gets the glory. What did King Nebuchadnezzar say? "Wow, those guys are cool..."? No. He said, and the canon records, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego."

Lord, that is what we want! Take us through fires, floods, challenges, and crises. We are not afraid to walk through the fire, because we have full assurance that Your Spirit will not leave us. Spirit of Christ, thank You for sustaining us in the midst of ranting kings and raging flames. You prevail. You receive glory and honor. We promise that we will never abandon our faith and trust in You.

At Your Service...

Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, the chief of his officials, to bring in some of the sons of Israel, including some of the royal family and of the nobles, youths in whom was no defect, who were good-looking, showing intelligence in every branch of wisdom, endowed with understanding and discerning knowledge, and who had ability for serving in the king’s court; and he ordered him to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans... As for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom; Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams. Then at the end of the days which the king had specified for presenting them, the commander of the officials presented them before Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and out of them all not one was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s personal service. As for every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and conjurers who were in all his realm. (Daniel 1:3-4, 17-20)

Talk like a servant of the king. When King Nebuchadnezzar carried captives into Babylon, he was deliberate in his choice of captives. He only took the persons who appeared to have "ability for serving in the king's court." But, after taking them, he ordered his chief to re-educate them in the Chaldean way. After three years of re-education, the king took the best students. Daniel and his three friends had successfully mastered the Chaldean way, so much so that they were chosen to be the king's personal servants. Even though they were foreigners, they were given the highest serving positions available in the land.

But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself. Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials, and the commander of the officials said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink; for why should he see your faces looking more haggard than the youths who are your own age? Then you would make me forfeit my head to the king.” But Daniel said to the overseer whom the commander of the officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days, and let us be given some vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance be observed in your presence and the appearance of the youths who are eating the king’s choice food; and deal with your servants according to what you see.” So he listened to them in this matter and tested them for ten days. At the end of ten days their appearance seemed better and they were fatter than all the youths who had been eating the king’s choice food. So the overseer continued to withhold their choice food and the wine they were to drink, and kept giving them vegetables. (Daniel 1:8-16)

Live like a servant of the Lord. Daniel knew that the food and wine provided by the king would defile his body, and he spoke to his commanding officer to request that he and his three friends not be forced to defile themselves. Although Daniel was in Babylon, the ethic of Babylon was not in Daniel. Over the years of his captivity, he remained faithful to the directive of God.

What about us? How do we conduct ourselves in light of the pressure to live "the Chaldean way"? Let's take a lesson from the lives of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. They did not pretend they were ignorant. They did not fight against the re-education process. God had given them wisdom and understanding, and they learned all that they could possibly learn. They were not embarrassed to be at the top of their class. At the same time, though, they understood that their true service was not to King Nebuchadnezzar. They were forever servants of the Most High God, and their choices of worship and lifestyle reflected their love for the Lord of all the earth. When the day came where they had to state their loyalty, it was clear to all that their loyalty was to the God of Israel.

Lord God, give us the wisdom to know all... and the wisdom to serve One.

Please, Please, Please, Read.

"I encourage you to dig into Daniel." (Pastor Shane)

In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Shane echoed Pastor Sam's appeal of the previous two Sundays: it is the appeal of the Lord. Read your Bible. Read these passages that My servants faithfully documented. 

Pastor Shane noted that the first six chapters of Daniel give us the story of how Daniel came to Babylon (and what he experienced there). The storyline also takes time to recount the experiences of Daniel's three friends.

The book of Daniel is a snapshot of radical, revolutionary faith in God. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were not the only four individuals carried off to Babylon in exile. There were other young men, from nobility and from royal families, who found themselves conscripted into the service of a pagan king. But Daniel and his friends chose to remain faithful to the God of Israel, while the other young men bowed their knees to foreign gods.

Why does God keep pointing us to these stories of life in exile? Why does the Lord keep appealing to Bronx Bethany to become absorbed in these narratives, to learn from them, to study them, and to live them out in this twenty-first century? In this year which our leaders have themed Pursuing Holiness, Promoting Healing, why are the lives of Joseph and Daniel (and Esther) continuing to resurface? I will leave you, readers, to answer the questions. But I hope that you are noticing the move of God, and that you are heeding His call to "dig in" to His word.

In a world of quick fixes and lives lived by third-party hearsay, even the act of reading for one's self is a revolutionary move. I pray that we all will heed the call. Have you still not read the book of Daniel? Please read it, even if you have read it before. God desires to speak to each of us through His word. There are keys to appropriating revolutionary faith which the Lord desires to show us. Those keys, though they will be touched upon over the next few days of Glossa Water, are better and more fully discovered as we read our Bibles and seek God's wisdom for ourselves.

Do you desire to hear from your Lord today? Fix your eyes on His word; hear Him speak.

Consider Daniel... consider yourself.

No Fear Here.

In titling his sermon "Don't Be Afraid To Be Radical", Pastor Shane tapped into the paradox of post-modern life: We want to be unique, but we don't want to stand out.

Our pastor shared, and I paraphrase, that it takes a radical commitment to Christ in order to function as the the body of Christ. To represent Christ in the world is to choose to stand out as righteous representatives of an eternal kingdom, rejecting the lure of decadence and moral decay.

Pastor Shane showed a video that referenced the Azusa Street revival. At one point the narrator in the video asked, "What about now?" Good question. Where are the revolutionary moments of the twenty-first century? Where are the new conversions to Christ (as opposed to inter-church transfers)? Is the Lord's Christ still drawing men to Himself by means of the hands and feet and hearts of faithful workers? Are people still willing to stand out, apart from the world, as ambassadors of Christ?

Thankfully, the answer is yes. The Lord has called, and the people of the Lord have responded to the call. My prayer is that you, reader, are one of those people.

Are you radically committed to bearing the cross of Christ, no matter what? If not, why not?

Active Duty!

As we consider Bronx Bethany's strategy for mission engagement (loving God, growing together, serving the world), let's take a few minutes to reflect on how our church recently approached the strategy of serving the world.

Over this summer, our pastoral staff launched Summer Serve, a series of workshops and community events designed to serve persons and create awareness of issues outside of Bronx Bethany. For the first time, our annual Street Fair included a health and wellness component (including a mammogram van, children's dental care van, stations for checking blood pressure and blood sugar, and mini-workshops on health and nutrition). Several Wednesday evenings were devoted to classes on immigration law, caring for children with special needs, health insurance, boundaries and relationships, and social justice. There were also off-site service projects (painting community fire hydrants and cleaning up trash near the I-95 entrance ramp in our district), and a month-long missions trip to Colombia, South America. This evening, Summer Serve wraps up with a "Back-to-School" youth rally at a local public school, where our teens and young adults will give away school supplies and share the love of Christ with our community.

It's been a busy summer, one in which we have fully given ourselves to this strategy of serving the world. And, interestingly, this process of serving the world has re-ignited in some the excitement of serving Christ. We have heard testimonies from men, women, and teens who spoke of the impact of Summer Serve on their prayer life, their level of compassion for the disenfranchised, their reading of the word, and their diligence in preparing themselves for works of service "in the Bronx and in the world".

The summer will soon be over, but the call to serve the world remains. May the fire that was ignited in Summer Serve continue to burn brightly, to the glory of God.

Why Didn't Anyone Visit Me? (Because No One Knew You Were Sick.)

As we continue our reflection on Bronx Bethany's process of mission engagement (loving God, growing together, and serving the world), let's consider the aspect of growing together.

Our discipleship model stresses the importance of ministry moments with small groups. If you have attended Bronx Bethany for any length of time, you will have heard our pastors urging us to be connected in what we call "care groups". These groups generally meet once a week in the fall and early winter for fellowship, prayer, and study of a topic that has been selected by our pastors.

The value of being in a care group really emerges in moments of crisis. In a church with hundreds of members scattered over four services, it is not surprising that persons outside of care groups can be out of church for weeks without being missed by anyone. However, our experience has been that persons connected with care groups have a network of between five and ten people whom they can contact (or who will contact them). Persons in care groups are known, loved, and cared for.

Is a choir a sort of large-scale care group? It is not. Choir rehearsals are scheduled for the purpose of rehearsing music, not for the purpose of spiritual development. Choir rehearsals, at best, only block out a few minutes for devotions and prayer. Fellowship is limited and accountability is virtually nonexistent. If you are reading this and you are in a choir, please do not be offended when leadership encourages you to join a care group. It is in the messy, risky, loving care group setting that we journey from spiritual infancy to spiritual maturity.

The intimacy of the care group setting also gives us a wonderful opportunity to use our spiritual gifts for each others' benefit. If God has given you the gift of encouragement, but you never speak to any of your fellow congregants, then you are depriving them, and yourself, from being built up and strengthened in the faith (First Peter 4:10). How do we grow? We grow together. Remember: we are in a spiritual war. To live the Christian life as a loner is to invite the devil to devour you, just as a lamb separated from the flock becomes an easy kill for a wolf.

I encourage all of us to pray and seek God as we approach this next season of care group ministry. You need a care group. A care group needs you. Let's make it happen this year.

Going Back To The Hurt Of Worship?

From time to time, Pastor Sam shares a little story with us. The gist of the story is this:

A man tells his wife that he is leaving town for a short period of time, for work-related purposes. As he goes through the airport, he decides to order some flowers to have them shipped to her. The intent of the floral shipment is to give the indication that he misses her and is thinking about her. The reality, however, is that he is not working. He has made arrangements to spend his days with another woman with whom he is having an affair. He is actually not considering his wife at all. The floral arrangement, an international symbol of affection and care, is being used as a cover for treachery.

Our pastor's story is an allegory for our worship experience. Is our worship of God a floral arrangement of love, or a flowery veneer covering treachery?

"I know that the musicians are not Christians. But you know what? They show up on time; they are always fully prepared; their musicianship is excellent; and they don't give me attitude. They don't have to love God."

"I notice that she never comes to church unless it's her choir's turn to sing; and when she's finished singing, she just walks out without staying for the sermon. She works in my office and is always bragging about how indispensable she is to her choir, but her work performance is poor and she has a nasty attitude. You should see her emails."

"It's so unfortunate. God has been so good to the man, and he is so ungrateful. The other week when my pastor was preaching on giving, he turned to his friend and said loud enough for our whole row to hear, 'I ain't givin' nothin'.'"

At Bronx Bethany, we endeavor to have a simple, three-part ministry process. We love God, we grow together, and we serve the world. The first part of our process, loving God, is worked out in our experience of Him in corporate worship.

It is important to note that "worship" is not a synonym for "singing". Although singing can occur as part of the worship process, the definition of worship is "to ascribe worth". Our church joins together in community on Saturdays and Sundays, and together we ascribe worth to our great God who does all things well. How do we ascribe worth to God? We do it through obedience to His word, through individual and corporate prayer, through the joyful giving of our tithes and offerings, through our expression of love to Him (sung or spoken or played), and by our reflection of His love to others.

The church around the world sings, and gives, and prays. It looks good on the surface... but I wonder what God sees as He looks at each of His children.

Please consider your own worship experience. Why are you "giving God flowers"? To authenticate your love, or to attempt to cover your treachery? Does the worship from your lips accurately reflect the position of your heart?

"I have seen You in the sanctuary
and beheld Your power and Your glory;
Because Your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify You...
Because You are my help,
I will sing in the shadow of Your wings;
My soul clings to You;
Your right hand upholds me."
(Psalm 63, verses 2,3,7, and 8)

Gift Return?

During this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Sam shared a point I would like us to reflect on today (paraphrased here): We can appropriate entire sanctification that allows us to be forgiven from sin, and that empowers us to resist the temptation to sin.

It is curious, and even sad, that Christians do not seek to avail themselves of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. What has Jesus said of the Holy Spirit? "He will take of what is Mine and will disclose it to you." (see John 16:13-15) The gift of the Holy Spirit is the means by which we receive the revelation of God. He teaches; He warns; He loves. To refuse this gift is to refuse the Giver of Life, the Counselor, the Comforter, and the Intercessor.

Our pastor reminded us of a proverb: "God can keep the fresh fish in the salt sea." If we have received the gift of the Holy Spirit, then He will empower each of us to live a life of holiness and integrity even as we live in a world where sin and duplicity are rampant. There is a Helper who longs to stand at our side. There is no need for us to continue falling into patterns of besetting sin.

Where do you stand today? Is the person and work of the Holy Spirit a reality in your life?

Lord Jesus, You sent Your Spirit to live in us and remind us of all You said and did, for the sake of our soul's salvation and deliverance. Give us grace to joyfully receive Your Holy Spirit into our lives, so that we will be empowered to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions. Amen.

Work Performance...

"Jesus, go before us and do Your work Yourself; and You will get the glory." (Pastor Sam)

During Pastor Sam's pre-sermon prayer, he made this appeal to our Lord and Christ. It is an appeal very appropriate for today, a holiday on which persons in the countries of Canada and the United States of America take time to honor working people.

Christians are commissioned to carry out certain works of worship and service. Those of us at Bronx Bethany have been called to live out three particular mandates: we love God, we grow together, and we serve the world. If the Spirit of Christ is free to work in us, then His Light will shine through us as we engage these aspects of ministry.

Certainly, there are persons in the world who perform their work without the presence of God's Spirit. I have in my possession an incredibly well-thought-out, well-produced CD of an avowed non-Christian singing Christmas carols. In the liner notes the person stated that, though it was a Christmas CD, Christ was not the priority; performance was the priority.

And to be frank, there are avowed Christians who do not make Christ their priority; they too are "performing". As another of our pastors prayed over the weekend, our concern is that the Lord will find a percentage of our Bronx Bethany community who praise God with their lips, "but their hearts are far" from Him (Isaiah 29:13-14; Matthew 15:8-9). Let no man think that the Lord will reward such duplicity.

And so I echo the prayer of Pastor Sam. I hope you will do the same.

Jesus, go before Me.
Jesus, work Your works in me and through Me.
Jesus, may You alone receive all glory.
Amen.

Welcome To Year Six!

Victoria Falls (Livingstone, Zambia/Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe).
Photo Credit: Wikipedia.

Glossa Water began on August 31, 2008. Its purpose has remained the same over the years: to provide a means by which the sermons from Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene can be reflected on throughout the week. I am happy that you have walked with me into this first day of Year Six!

My prayer is that that you will always be found walking in obedience to Christ; always be found hungering and thirsting after His word; and always be found ready to share "the hope of your calling" with the world. God bless you all.

Love,
g-force