Concerning Carlton (or Dude, What Just Happened?)

Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart. (Psalm 37:4, Amplified Bible)

Bronx Bethany deeply mourns the loss of Carlton Salmon.

My heart’s desire was for Carlton to experience divine healing, and to live to come back to Bronx Bethany, stand at the pulpit, and give his testimony of healing. But Carlton died, and outside of a miracle of resurrection (which I long for!) I will not see him again until I, too, die and am translated into eternity.

This morning, the LORD led me to reflect on what it means to be given the desires of our hearts. There is a heart desire generated by my own mind and flesh, and there is a heart desire given to my spirit by God Himself. God, in His goodness, gives His prayer agenda to those persons who make Him their delight.

Where we sometimes get confused is in moments where, led by the Lord, we pray earnestly in a particular direction, a direction given by the Lord, but God’s answer appears to be in stark opposition to the very thing we believe He asked us to pray for. And in our weakest moments we ask, Hey, what just happened? You positioned me to pray and fast and do night watches and my prayers didn’t get answered the way I thought You’d answer. I know You answered in Your own way, and I know Your way is perfect, but I still don’t understand.

There is a type of praying noted by the apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:18: “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”

As we pray all kinds of prayers, those prayers include public petitions and secret petitions. They include prayers in known languages, and prayers in Divinely prompted utterances unintelligible to man but understood by God. Scripture appeals for prayer not merely to the Spirit, but prayer in the Spirit. And our security is not wrapped in the manifestation of the answer we want, but is instead wrapped in God’s commendation as we obediently engage the process of prayer.

The apostle Paul was absorbed in this sort of prayer. The work of intercession by Paul did not rescue him from imprisonments and beatings. His practice of prayer, therefore, was not as a means to an end. Paul obediently engaged an earthly routine reflective of a Divine norm: devoted, continual dialogue with the Christ and Lord of all the earth. No wonder he could say, “I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus”: in the presence of Christ and His gospel, what more was there for Paul to want? He had no problem with even letting go of his right to a peaceable life. (see Acts21:10-14)

Guess what? I am not the apostle Paul. I am a malcontent in recovery. I want more than just the presence of God; I long to see His action. I want an amazing testimony of the miraculous on the level of a Smith Wigglesworth or a Daniel Nash. A modern-day parting of the Red Sea would make my day. I have a long way to go before I reach Paul’s level of contentment in Christ alone, a contentment unshaken by disappointments or sufferings… unshaken by those answers to prayer that throw me for a loop.

I don’t understand the ways of God. (Who can?) But I do understand our assignment according to Ephesians 6:18. At any place, at any time, and in all sorts of ways, we are tasked to pray. And God, who instructs us how to pray, holds the prerogative concerning the ways in which those prayers are answered. A very dear friend of mine has said to me, on several occasions, “Deal with it.” In other words, Nevermind what you see. Just keep doing what you were called to do. (I am, my friend. The prayers won’t stop.)

And here we are. Lord, give us the grace and courage to continue obeying You, with no clauses or riders attached to our obedience. Your people will pray, continually.

Sign Me Up!

Now to the eternal King, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen. (First Timothy 1:17)

In this past Sunday’s sermon Rev. Ronald Benjamin (Pastor Benjie) shared, and I paraphrase, The soul delivered from disillusionment enlists in service to the King and offers up worship to the eternal King. In this phrase, Pastor Benjie hinted at the dual imagery of a soldier and a priest.

What are some of the characteristics of a person who has chosen to enlist? What are some of the characteristics of a priest engaged in the rites of worship?

·         Loyalty – Soldiers and priests carry out the orders of their Commanding Officer and reject the command of any opposing entity.

·         Accuracy – soldiers and priests are conscious of the rules and regulations of their order, knowledgeable about the way their individual role fits into the larger picture, and consistent in the application of role to task.

·         Uniformity – the soldier’s personal preference for how to dress is subsumed by the need to be identified as a member of a larger unit; the priest chooses to wear vestments (literal and/or figurative) which allow others to easily identify the priest as a servant in the kingdom of God.

·         Dependability – members of the larger unit (whether military or spiritual) can trust that the soldiers and priests have all subscribed and given allegiance to a known code of conduct… and that they are bound to carry out said code.

Pastor Benjie, who did not preach in vestments this past Sunday, nonetheless identified himself as a man enlisted in service to the King and engaged in worship of the King. He said: “And even when no sound is coming out of my mouth, my thoughts are on Him.” What an identification of enlistment and worship! When we are given over to a cause, when we are sold out, then our words and actions and thought life show the world who we are and where we stand.

Our guest pastor shared with us that in First Timothy 1:17, the apostle Paul breaks out in praise to the One who rescued him. For the reader of First Timothy, there is no doubt as to where Paul’s loyalty stands. For the persons who attended Sunday’s English-language services, there is no doubt as to where Pastor Benjie stands. We have seen ancient and modern instances of men who are zealous and passionate in their loyalty to Christ Jesus. We who are believers are happy to be counted among the faithful.

Today, you and I might encounter other people via phone, in person, or through technological means. Will they have any doubt as to where we stand and Who we serve?

"Canon" Ball.

"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." This saying is true, and it can be trusted. I was the worst sinner of all! But since I was worse than anyone else, God had mercy on me and let me be an example of the endless patience of Christ Jesus. He did this so that others would put their faith in Christ and have eternal life. (First Timothy 1:15-16)

It is interesting to note that the apostle Paul refers to himself as "the worst sinner of all" just a few sentences after he lists the persons for whom the Law was given. "The Law wasn't given to control people who please God, but to control lawbreakers, criminals, godless people, and sinners. It is for wicked and evil people, and for murderers, who would even kill their own parents.  The Law was written for people who are sexual perverts or who live as homosexuals or are kidnappers or liars or won't tell the truth in court. It is for anything else that opposes the correct teaching of the good news that the glorious and wonderful God has given me." (First Timothy 1:9-11)

We live in a context today where, in the church universal, several denominations have opted to "oppose the correct teaching" of the good news. At the core is not the question of whether we like correct teaching or not; whether we feel sound teaching is relevant in twenty-first century cultures or not; nor whether correct teaching will or won't lead to the imprisonment of all who teach it.

And, though I am writing this at a kairos moment in the life of the United States of America, opposition to correct teaching is not a new thing: the apostle Paul lived in the same context then that we do now. Imperial Rome was a society in which practicing homosexuality, crime-ridden neighborhoods, bribery in legal matters, and opposition to the gospel were the norm. In that context Paul taught the good news of Christ with zeal and passion, led many to salvation in Christ, and was frequently persecuted and imprisoned for his teaching.

But again, the opposition to correct teaching is not the core. What is at the core? At the core is redemption. Paul says in verse 16, "God had mercy on me and let me be an example of the endless patience of Christ Jesus." God, through Christ, was patient with Paul, and at the time of God's choosing Paul experienced redemption.

What is even more interesting is that, to the external observer, Paul might not have appeared in need of any sort of redemption. He was a religious leader. He was an upstanding Roman national, born into his citizenship. He was intentional in vehemently opposing what he believed were "fringe groups" whose worship of Jesus ran counter to the traditions of Judaism. As a Pharisee, he knew the law of God as impeccably as he knew the laws of his region. But in spite of the external picture of spiritual and civic goodness, Paul's confession was "I am the chief of sinners... but God had mercy on me."

Millennia pass, and God has not changed. He is still merciful. God has mercy on me. Our Christ is still patient with denominations and systems and individuals that have set aside His glorious gospel in order to avoid controversies, escape sufferings, and/or satisfy their own personal agendas.

Lord Christ, I am grateful for Your patience... but how long should You, the King of Glory, have to wait for we who claim to be Your children?

In this season of the patience of God, our Lord has sent out a few modern-day Pauls to live and teach the glorious gospel, correctly, with no modifications to the canon. May their lives and ministries bring a new Great Awakening by the power of the Holy Spirit, to the glory of God.

God's Calling Trumps Name-Callers.

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry. (First Timothy 1:12)

Yesterday afternoon, on the twenty-first ballot, Dr. David Busic was elected the fortieth General Superintendent in the Church of the Nazarene. [Has anyone else noticed that those numbers, 21 and 40, are reminiscent of Scripture's accounts of intercessory prayers and fasts?]

Shortly after the election, an individual (tag named "ProgressiveNaz") posted negative comments on a Nazarene web page. He (or she) referred to Dr. Busic as "Mr. Busic" and stated, among other things, "I'm just disheartened about this" (referring to the election result).

ProgressiveNaz's response, interestingly, relates to the sermon Rev. Ronald Benjamin shared with us on Sunday. Pastor Ronald made the point that Jesus "grew in favor with God and men" (see Luke 2:52) until He assumed His prophetic role. From that point forward, His life reflected what was written by the prophet Isaiah: "He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him." (Isaiah 53:3)

After referencing Luke and Isaiah, Pastor Ronald then said, and I paraphrase, Timothy was in good company. Timothy, like his Lord Jesus, remained faithful in spite of social rejection (generated by persons who claimed to serve the same God).

And here we are. God, through His community of faith, tapped Dr. Busic on the shoulder... and ProgressiveNaz launched the dart of stigmatization. What shall we do in the presence of naysayers? Love! "Love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith." (First Timothy 1:5)

To Timothy, my true son in the faith: grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord. (First Timothy 1:2)

Dr. Busic, true son. Receive the grace, mercy, and peace of our God and Christ.

Lord, give us grace to engage intercessory prayer for our leaders, and also for their detractors. We all need You.

Hello, My Name Is True Son.

"Timothy, my true son in the faith." (see First Timothy 1:2)

In the opening salutation of his letter, the apostle Paul encourages Timothy with a significant name tag: "True son".

In this past Sunday's sermon, Rev. Ronald Benjamin noted that Timothy's ethnicity was the source of stigmatization. Timothy grew up in an environment where being mixed-race led to being despised in the community. And, though he did not choose his earthly parentage, Timothy bore the brunt of insults because he was not a "full Jew".

However, Timothy had the blessing of being born into another family: the family of faith in Christ Jesus. In that family, he no longer bore the stigma of his earthly parentage. And Paul, speaking prophetically, identified Timothy on the basis of his spiritual heritage: Timothy, you are not fake, you are not 'half', you are not despised. You are authentically Christian, you have been made whole by faith, and I am not afraid nor ashamed to be associated with you. In fact, I give you the closest association I can: we are father and son in the faith.

At Bronx Bethany, and at most churches in the United States, congregations have a tendency to pool into ethnic and cultural divides. One of the dangers in this is that persons who don't fit the profile- "full White", "full Black", "full Jamaican", "full Japanese", or other designation- might be subjected to the same stigmatization as Timothy experienced.

How do we address this concern? By looking at each other not through the eyes of culture or ethnicity, but through the eyes of faith. We, regardless of our earthly backgrounds, are siblings by nature of our spiritual lives. Because of the love of God, we have come into an eternal inheritance: we are true sons.

Be Thou my Wisdom and Thou my true Word;
Thou ever with me and I with Thee, Lord,
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one. 
(Dallan Forgaill; translation/verse by Mary E. Byrne/Eleanor H. Hull)

Selective Hopelessness?

Our guest speaker for yesterday’s English-language services was Ronald Benjamin, a former member of Bronx Bethany’s pastoral staff who is now the senior pastor of Metro West Church of the Nazarene. He shared with us from the book of First Timothy. The passage he focused on is reprinted here as our reflection for today.

As I have been thinking about the passage and the sermon, the phrase “selective hopelessness” has come to my mind. It is a state I, and perhaps you, fall into from time to time. It is a state in which I have no problem praying in faith and assuredness for the needs and concerns of my friends (and even my enemies), yet when it comes to myself my prayers do not carry the same depth of assuredness. Could it be that I don’t believe God will help me as He has helped others? Could it be that I am so overwhelmed by my problems that my spiritual vision gets lost in a fog?

Yesterday’s sermon was a timely encouragement for me. Christ Jesus is the hope of the world… and Christ Jesus is my hope. Therefore, I can choose to be hopeful. My hope is that you, too, are a person of hope!

God bless you as you cling to Christ Jesus, the hope of the world.

First Timothy 1:1-17 (NET Bible)

From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, to Timothy, my genuine child in the faith. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord!

As I urged you when I was leaving for Macedonia, stay on in Ephesus to instruct certain people not to spread false teachings, nor to occupy themselves with myths and interminable genealogies. Such things promote useless speculations rather than God’s redemptive plan that operates by faith. But the aim of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. Some have strayed from these and turned away to empty discussion. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or the things they insist on so confidently.

But we know that the law is good if someone uses it legitimately, realizing that law is not intended for a righteous person, but for lawless and rebellious people, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, sexually immoral people, practicing homosexuals, kidnappers, liars, perjurers – in fact, for any who live contrary to sound teaching. This accords with the glorious gospel of the blessed God that was entrusted to me.

I am grateful to the one who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me faithful in putting me into ministry, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief, and our Lord’s grace was abundant, bringing faith and love in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” – and I am the worst of them! But here is why I was treated with mercy: so that in me as the worst, Christ Jesus could demonstrate his utmost patience, as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life. Now to the eternal king, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen.

Every Day Is A Day To Pray.

During last night's prayer meeting, Pastor Andy spoke from Acts 12.

"About that time King Herod laid hands on some from the church to harm them. He had James, the brother of John, executed with a sword. When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too. (This took place during the feast of Unleavened Bread.) When he had seized him, he put him in prison, handing him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him. Herod planned to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. So Peter was kept in prison, but those in the church were earnestly praying to God for him. On that very night before Herod was going to bring him out for trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the prison cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, 'Get up quickly!' And the chains fell off Peter’s wrists." (Acts 12:1-7)

There is a kind of prayer that dispatches angels and releases prisoners' chains.

"The angel said to him, 'Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.' Peter did so. Then the angel said to him, 'Put on your cloak and follow me.' Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening through the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. After they had passed the first and second guards, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went outside and walked down one narrow street, when at once the angel left him. When Peter came to himself, he said, 'Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from everything the Jewish people were expecting to happen.'" (Acts 12:8-11)

There is a kind of prayer that God responds to via tangible evidences.  

"When Peter realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many people had gathered together and were praying. When he knocked at the door of the outer gate, a slave girl named Rhoda answered. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she did not open the gate, but ran back in and told them that Peter was standing at the gate. But they said to her, 'You’ve lost your mind!' But she kept insisting that it was Peter, and they kept saying, 'It is his angel!' Now Peter continued knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were greatly astonished. He motioned to them with his hand to be quiet and then related how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, 'Tell James and the brothers these things,' and then he left and went to another place." (Acts 12:12-17)

There is a kind of prayer that frees us to do the works we are called to do.     

A small community of believers gathered to pray last night at Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene. God answered.

Do not doubt, but have faith and believe. God is working on behalf of His people throughout the world. Prayer is the work, and prayer works.

Lord, give us the grace to pray without ceasing.           

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

On Second Thought...

After a few days, the younger son gathered together all he had and left on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered his wealth with a wild lifestyle. Then after he had spent everything, a severe famine took place in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and worked for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He was longing to eat the carob pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. (Luke 15:13-16)

In the account of the prodigal son, we see that his first response to crisis was to find employment in a land of famine. We are given a sense of the severity of the famine by the diet of the pigs. Carob tree pods were an inexpensive, fattening food commonly fed to pigs. They were also used as a food source by the poorest people of the land: Pods were cheap to acquire, and useful in preventing hunger pangs. However, Scripture informs us that the young man was not even able to get any pods.

What is our first response to crisis? Often it is to attempt to make our own way—even if the odds are against us, even if we are transacting in unfamiliar territory, even if our hunger (literal or figurative) remains, even if our employment stands in direct conflict with our personal ethic. There is an element of human nature that convinces us we can make it on our own, but going it alone carries a devastating price tag.

What a blessing to know that the story did not end there. After a period of time, the young man came to an epiphany. Wait! My father has an abundance of food. Though I have squandered my inheritance I will return to him, apologize, and ask him to let me work in his fields. (Luke 15:17-19, paraphrase mine)

Are you in crisis today? Don’t go it alone. Appeal to your Father. Return to the familiar territory of love, grace, provision, and peace.

Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, even God our Savior. (Psalm 68:19)

From Reckless To Redeemed.

“I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent.” (Luke 15:7)

“In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10) 

According to Jesus, the company of heaven rejoices when a sinner repents. It makes sense, then, that in the construction of our model for prayer, Jesus has instructed us to ask for forgiveness of our sins (see Matthew 6:12). We confess that we did something wrong, we are sorry for the wrong we have done, and we are seeking to renounce that wrong and return into right fellowship with our heavenly Father… and heaven rejoices.

In Luke 15, the elder brother stood outside of the circle of rejoicing. Why? Because he knew that his younger brother had spent money on prostitutes and riotous living. The elder brother, in his heart, had determined that there was no room for forgiveness.

However, the elder brother couldn’t stop the party. And the elder brother couldn’t stop their father from forgiving the younger brother. The father forgave the reckless son.

Repentance releases a powerful act of grace! The Father forgives the reckless one.

Are there persons you know who have repented and returned to the Father, and yet you have continued to harbor unforgiveness towards them? Today is a good day to forgive. After all, Scripture states that if we do not forgive, we will not be forgiven (see Matthew 6:14-15).

The reckless son, destitute and dirty, has repented and returned. Lord, give us grace to enter into heaven's celebration.

Having Sinners For Dinner?

Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” So He spoke this parable to them. (Luke 15:1-3)

During this past Sunday’s sermon Pastor Sam noted that the Pharisees and scribes were not complaining to Jesus directly, but Jesus heard their complaint. Perhaps some of us are in the same crisis: we see people drawing near to God that are not like us (or that we don’t like), we complain to our contemporaries, and in the act of our complaining we are heard by the LORD.

Our pastor asked a question that we would do well to reflect on today: Have we made a hierarchy of sins while we try to pursue holiness?

What is the response of the Pharisee? “Well yes, I sin, but at least I’m not as bad as that person over there.”

Sometimes we forget that God does not rank-order sinfulness. Scripture reminds us that “all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. We are justified by His grace” (see Romans 3:23-24), not by any thing we have done in our own strength.

In considering this, we don’t want to condemn the devotions of Pharisees and scribes. It’s wonderful to memorize Scripture, to be devoted to God and to godliness, and to be positive influences in the community. But it is never a good thing to seek to exclude others from the opportunity to learn about Jesus. The Pharisees and scribes made a particular judgement call: “Those tax collectors and sinners don’t deserve to get any attention from Jesus. They’re beyond redemption.” Wrong. On the contrary, everyone is welcome to sit at the feet of Jesus and learn from Him.

What does Bronx Bethany say? We are a Spirit-filled community of love with a place for everyone. People from all walks of life are coming to hear the wonderful words of life from our Lord. Don’t despise His grace in drawing them near to hear… after all, “they” are we.

Have we made a hierarchy of sins while we try to pursue holiness?

Servant "Lieder"!

In yesterday’s sermon, Pastor Sam spoke on Luke 15. In discussing the chapter’s closing parable (the story of the prodigal son and his loving father), our pastor spent a moment talking about characters in the story who we often overlook.

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.’” (Luke 15:22)

In this moment of profound joy at the return of his brother, the father’s first-born son chose to stay outside and sulk instead of joining the celebration. However, the father had servants around him who were capable of carrying out his commands. The parable makes no mention of delay, back-talk, or bitterness on the part of the servants. The prodigal son’s restoration to his family, facilitated by these servants, was not hindered by the attitude of the older brother.

And here we are today. How do we feel when our wanderer returns home? Do we rejoice in her return, or do we resent her transformation? Lord, make me a servant...

For His Purpose.

As we close this week, let's consider a thought shared by Rev. Dr. Donovan Thomas (paraphrased here): God works things out even when circumstances appear chaotic.

I hope this thought will be an encouragement to us all, particularly those of us who are in the midst of very trying circumstances. Take heart! God is faithful and He will walk with us. As our guest pastor shared, God comes through and meets people at their point of need... and we are included in the tally.

Our God knows, hears, sees, loves, and acts. Have no fear! The storm is breaking and the sun will soon shine forth.

Hear Here.

So Mary said, “Yes, I am a servant of the Lord; let this happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:38)

In this past Sunday’s sermon Pastor Donovan shared (paraphrased here) that Mary didn’t negotiate; she wanted what God wanted.

Some may ask, “How can I know what God wants? No angel has come to me.”

Before we consider that question, let’s consider where we stand. Are we fully committed to obeying the Lord we love, with gratitude and joy? Can we, like Mary, say “I am the Lord’s servant” without adding qualifiers or conditions? Do we want what God wants?

Some of us may have to grapple with the issue of trust. Do we trust that God, who made us, is able to make His will known to us? Do we trust that He will equip us to “hear” Him, in whatever ways He deems best?

If we are not sure of what our role is in God’s program, we can at least begin with the basics of our faith. If we are blessed to have access to a Bible, then we can know what God wants by reading His word. If we are blessed with gifts of grace, wisdom, or talent, then we can use those known gifts in the service of the church and the world. There is plenty for us to do while we wait for a specific direction from God.

Mary leaves us with a wonderful example. She was not looking for a Divine encounter, but her day-to-day life earned the commendation of God... and, at the right time, she was made aware of her assignment. Perhaps we, if we live as His word calls us to live, will also experience a Divine encounter that serves to clarify our purpose and calling.

Lord God, give us grace to hear You with our ears, our eyes, our hearts, our minds… speak, Lord. We are listening.

Favored And Fearless.

The angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled by his words and began to wonder about the meaning of this greeting. So the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God! (Luke 1:28-30)

It is interesting to note that Scripture records Mary’s initial response to the angel’s greeting as troubled. 

What is our response to the Divine proclamation of God’s favor?

I can think of a few reasons to be troubled. Perhaps there is a sense of unworthiness. Perhaps we are plagued with memories of past sins and hurts that we think have disqualified us from serving the Lord. Perhaps we are reluctant to be tagged as central figures in the plan and program of God.

But, here we are. And here He is, with a word for today: “I created you! I loved you before you were aware of My presence! I have watched you for years and I know your heart. And I have even given you a place in the work of My church. Don’t be afraid. Let Me work wonders in you and through you.”

Do not be afraid. You have found favor with God.

Lord, open our hearts to receive Your commendation: not with fear, but with deep gratitude.

Don't Be Afraid! Don't Be Dismayed!

This past Sunday, Pastor Donovan shared with us (paraphrased here) that sometimes we ask for prayer but we aren’t sure what will happen; then, there is a “reconnect” and we are strengthened.

I had the privilege of experiencing this yesterday. In the morning I had an encouraging conversation with a dear friend of mine, and later in the evening I had another encouraging conversation with a colleague I had not seen in months. Prior to these conversations, I had been in prayer for myself and for others, and was feeling grossly inadequate—weak in my prayer life, weak in my own efforts to remain connected to Christ, weak in my attempts to accomplish projects that are taking much longer to complete than I think they ought.

In the conversations my friends and I had yesterday, the Lord reminded us of some things He had said and done for us over the past few months. I remembered the profound ways in which God has answered the deep prayers of my heart on previous occasions, and my soul regained confidence in His ability to make the impossible possible. Before sundown, my anxieties had subsided and I was fully freed to engage in worship at last night’s service.

Pastor Donovan shared a wonderful statement with us that we can reflect upon today: “Possibilities belong to us, but impossibilities belong to God.” What a relief! We take encouragement in the presence and power of our great God, with whom all things are possible.

 My dear ones, don’t be afraid! I still calm the winds and waves. Rest in Me.

A Heads-Up From The Real Service Planner.

At Bronx Bethany yesterday, we had the joy of seeing and hearing Reverend Dr. Donovan Thomas, our beloved friend and occasional guest speaker. Dr. Donovan, though, “enjoyed” an additional experience: the trepidation of having the Lord change his agenda on the spot. As he sat in worship for Sunday’s second service, the Lord instructed him to preach a different sermon than the one he had prepared and already preached in the first service. [By way of explanation, Bronx Bethany has a tradition of conducting "identical services" for the English-language services on Sundays.]

For ministers, this can often be a wrenching moment. Aside from the “lost work” of having prepared a sermon (and accompanying PowerPoint presentation) that God then tells you not to use, there is the concern of preaching without really knowing where the Lord might take you (and the accompanying risk of looking incompetent or under-prepared). We are blessed that our speaker obeyed God, and we trust that God had His own reasons for sharing different messages with each set of attendees.

That said, I am not sure how the Lord will have me approach the blog posts for this week. I don’t know yet if there will be posts from just one sermon, or from both. But I do know what He would have us do for today.

Today, I’d like to encourage us to read the Scriptures that were central to each message:

Chapters 1, 2, and 3 of Habakkuk (First Service);

Luke chapter 1 (Second Service).

O Lord, our great God, You are never obligated to do the same thing in the same way. Give us grace to wait on You, ears to hear Your voice, and hearts to joyfully obey Your commands.

Another Look Into The 10-40 Window.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Yesterday morning, Bronx Bethany was privileged to have a meeting featuring missionary Linda Braaten, whose service to the Lord is based in South Africa. Her ministry encompasses the entire continent, as she assists the Church of the Nazarene through writing, editing, publishing, and supporting the work of Christian adult education in African nations through the medium of literature.

In past decades, we used the term “10-40 window” to refer to the physical location of areas of the world which were hotspots for persecution. Countries like India, mainland China, North Korea, and several countries in the Middle East were commonly known to be hostile to Christians. Interestingly, and not surprisingly, our decades of prayer for the 10-40 window have been part of God’s plan to make inroads into these nations. And now, in spite of continuing persecution in parts of the Middle and Far East, many men and women are choosing to submit themselves to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Northern Africa, though, was often left out of the 10-40 prayer equation. 

The continent of Africa, in recent years, has experienced extreme atrocities committed by its own against its own. But, in spite of the trials, revival is happening. There is a need for us to pray with urgency and with confidence that God, who loves His people, will be present to bring salvation and deliverance to those countries as well, for the glory of His name.

Our prayer agenda for Africa centers around three key areas:

• Prayer against the agenda of Islamic extremists, whose intolerance of religious difference has led to the division of families and the deaths of individuals who believe in Jesus as Lord and Christ;
• Prayer against the “prosperity gospel”, which supports pagan notions of the role of gods as mere suppliers of fertility and economic well-being as opposed to God being the source of our spiritual well-being above all else;
• Prayer against an animistic worldview, which purports that one can be “Christian” while continuing to maintain worship and lifestyle choices that run counter to the word of God.

For some of us, the challenges of our own lives have served as a barrier to our taking the time to pray for others… but perhaps we can break through the barrier today.

Lord, help us to spend some time today praying beyond ourselves. Give us grace to point the world to You, through the power of prayer.

The Specter Of Cornelius, Pre-Christ.

So Peter went down to the men and said, “Here I am, the person you’re looking for. Why have you come?” They said, “Cornelius the centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man, well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to summon you to his house and to hear a message from you.” So Peter invited them in and entertained them as guests. On the next day he got up and set out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. The following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting anxiously for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. So when Peter came in, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and worshiped him. But Peter helped him up, saying, “Stand up. I too am a mere mortal.” (Acts 10:21-26)

Prior to conversion, Cornelius held certain character qualities that seemed to be Christian. He was a respected leader, he was righteous, he feared God, he prayed, and he was loved by the people of God.

Prior to preaching the gospel of salvation to Cornelius and his family, Peter gave Cornelius a “mini-sermon” before the sermon: “Cornelius, get up. Your worship is misdirected. I am a man just like you; there is no need for you to be falling at my feet.”

In this past Sunday’s sermon Pastor Sam shared with us (paraphrased here) that God does a radical and transformative work in us to change us: it is the work that changes a Cornelius.

The Cornelius spirit is perhaps the hardest to transform, because on the surface it appears that no transformation is necessary. The Cornelius spirit is found in our nice friends who never curse, who come to church when we invite them, who support every initiative with encouraging words and financial support… but they have not yet submitted themselves to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. And, until they submit themselves to Him, they are lost.

God, in His mercy, directed Cornelius to one man who would bring a saving word by the power of the Holy Spirit. Peter was faithful in delivering the word. Cornelius and his household experienced salvation.

Has God sent you to save a Cornelius? Or, are you a Cornelius?

The Specter Of Unforgiveness.

Pastor Sam shared a very important thought with us this past Sunday (paraphrased here): God has shown me grace; who am I not to show His grace to others?

"Who is a God like You: one who forgives sins and passes over the rebellion of the remnant of His inheritance; He does not keep hold of His anger forever, but delights in showing loyal love. You will return and have mercy on us; You will conquer our evil deeds; You will hurl our sins into the depths of the sea." (Micah 7:18-19)

"For if you forgive people their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins." (Matthew 6:14-15)

One of the points in our mission statement, "to experience forgiveness of sin", is carried out by both the Lord and His Church. Matthew 6:14 informs us that forgiveness is a tandem process. We who seek forgiveness from God are also mandated to extend forgiveness to others. If we do not forgive, then we are not forgiven. It's that simple.

Forgive swiftly! Forgive freely! Trust God regarding the future of relationships scarred by rebellion: some (like Peter) may be fully restored, while others (like Judas) may be lost forever. It's okay! The Lord has promised that He will "instruct us and teach us in the way we should go" (see Psalm 32:8). It is safe, and right, to open our hearts and spirits to His perfect counsel.

God does not keep hold of His anger forever. Neither should we. Forgive. No "if"s, "and"s, or "but"s.

Lord God, give us Your grace that we might experience this powerful, liberating, tandem state of being forgiven and being forgivers.

The Specter Of Selfish Sainthood.

Our mission is to be a Spirit-filled community of love with a place for everyone… (from the Mission Statement of Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene, emphasis mine)

“Master,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in Your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.” “Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.” (Luke 9:49-50)

In the Scripture passage above we see that the disciples had taken on a veneer of exclusivity, which Jesus had to correct. Yes, I chose you Twelve, but understand that there are others who I have empowered to do My works. Don’t prevent them from serving Me.

Pastor Sam shared, and I paraphrase, that we must not forget that God has accepted us as His people. Because God has accepted us, who are we to reject others who He has accepted as His people? We have been accepted in order to be accepting.

• Are we giving our fellow Christians, even those who are “not one of us”, space and place to serve God?
• If we perceive fellow Christians as “not one of us”, then what criteria are we using to understand them?
• What is God’s criteria for classifying who is or is not Christian?

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. (Romans 15:7)

The Specter Of Counterfeited Spirit-Fullness.

The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "When Pharaoh says to you, 'perform a miracle', then say to Aaron, 'Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh', and it will become a snake." So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD commanded. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians did the same thing by their secret arts: each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs. (Exodus 7:8-12)

In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Sam warned us that the element of Spirit-filled power can be counterfeited. Just as Pharaoh's magicians counterfeited the powers demonstrated by Moses and Aaron, there are also men and women in our day who are able to perform the miraculous, though not through the power of the Holy Spirit.

How do we distinguish authentic Spirit-fullness from its counterfeit?

Our pastor shared, and I paraphrase, that when we are Spirit-filled, the character of God subsumes our character. How does God characterize Himself? Pastor Sam referenced John 3:16: There is an essential self-sacrificing quality, the love of God, which undergirds the power to do the miraculous.

Further, Pastor Sam noted that this love which comes from God must be produced in us by God Himself. On our own, we have neither enough skill nor enough will to make it happen. It is the Spirit of God who empowers us to love the unlovely, to love ourselves, and to love Him.

Today, let's look into the proverbial mirror. What reflection do we see? Is it the love of God poured into us and pouring out of us, so that we can authentically demonstrate His power? Or is it something else?

Lord, send Your Spirit that we might look like You, live like You, and love like You.

Addressing The Specter Of Mission Creep.

Pastor Sam returned to the pulpit of Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene yesterday, following a nine-week sabbatical leave. His sermon, which was in essence an inaugural statement of his next phase of BBCN ministry, reminded us of our mission and purpose as members of this local church.

At the heart of his sermon was the concern of “mission creep”: that is, the danger of drifting away from the call and role that God has assigned to us as individuals and as a community of faith.

Our pastor noted two key questions concerning mission:

Who has God called me to be?

What has God called me to do?

The order of the questions is of paramount importance. Our pastor shared (and I paraphrase) that if we do not know who we are, then we will not know what we are to do.

Who are you? Are you aware of who God has called you to be? If you are not aware, then today is a good day to ask God to tell you who you are. His word asserts that He has distributed gifts to all His people by the Spirit of Christ (Ephesians 4:7; First Corinthians 12:7). No one has been left out.

Lord God, help me to find my proper place in Your great kingdom… teach me who I am, that I might know where I belong.

Who Threw That Glove?

I own a small (very small!) collection of scripture memorization cassettes. At the time I bought them (back in the 1980s), the "praise and worship" music genre was still relatively new and radical, and some brave composers turned dozens of Bible verses into catchy choruses in order to facilitate the memorization process. But time marched on, the "new" became the "archaic", and my cassettes were relegated to a shrine-like clear plastic box, occasionally taken out for the sake of nostalgia.

On a recent road trip, I pulled those cassettes from the shrine so that I and my husband could listen to them as we traveled. This time, though, my nostalgia was interrupted with two questions from the Spirit of God: "Why did you stop memorizing My word? Why not start memorizing it again?"

As much as I want to say "I don't know", I do know the answer to the first question. I stopped memorizing because no one was challenging me to memorize, and I didn't have enough passion to engage the process outside of a dare.

The second question has brought me to a kairos moment. God has painted me into a corner. I cannot think of any reason why I should not re-embrace the work of hiding God's Word in my head. My prayer is that as I memorize and meditate on these timeless truths, His Word might miraculously be transferred from my head to my heart.

Perhaps the Lord has also asked you to draw closer to Him in some fashion: Scripture memorization, prayer, silent retreat, increased giving, community service, or some other form of devotion. If He has, I hope that your answer to Him will always be a quick, joyful, authentic yes.

Lord, give us the grace to be and do as You direct.

Mission Of Mercy.

Pastor Althea noted, perhaps prophetically, that the criticism poured against Jesus often originated from the community members deemed most wise and holy: the Pharisees. In Matthew 9:13, Jesus gave them a directive: Those of you who teach and lead others, guess what? Your hard work is falling flat; you have chosen to ignore the very ones who God wants you to rescue. Go back to study hall and reflect on what it means to be merciful.

Has the twenty-first century church, awash in technology, education, and performance, forgotten the value of mercy over sacrifice? Are we willing to go back to study hall and learn?

Matthew was doing a necessary work. Taxes had to be collected, and there had to be tax collectors who knew the language and culture of the people. But when Jesus passed by his desk, Matthew left the tax collection business in favor of the Jesus business.

On next Saturday, Reverend Linda Braaten will be at Bronx Bethany to share with us in fellowship and ministry. Here is a quote from her concerning her ministry:

"God confirmed His call on my life to Africa only after I resigned from my position as executive director of the charitable organization serving the victims of Chernobyl in Belarus to simply sit at the feet of Jesus."

Pastor Linda was doing a necessary work... a sacrificial work... and Jesus passed by her desk. She followed Him.

Where are you on the mercy-sacrifice continuum?