Hopelessly Well-Off?

One day Elisha came for a visit; he went into the upper room and rested. He told his servant Gehazi, “Ask the Shunammite woman to come here.” So he did so and she came to him. Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tell her, ‘Look, you have treated us with such great respect. What can I do for you? Can I put in a good word for you with the king or with the commander of the army?’” She replied, “I’m quite secure.” (Second Kings 4:11-13)

In this past Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Richie shared with us a profound insight on the face of hopelessness: When we have had a dream unfulfilled for a long period of time, we opt to abandon the dream.

Like the Shunammite, we can say we are quite secure-- even though we have lost hope.

And, to her credit, she was quite secure. She was a property owner. She had a prominent position in the community. She and her husband had the means and ability to build an addition to their home, giving the prophet a place to rest when passing through their town. She had enough food to be able to, as we are told in Second Kings 4:8, “insist” that Elisha have his meals at her home. On the surface, all was well.

The prophet, though, knew there was an unfulfilled dream buried in the heart of the Shunammite woman.

Pastor Richie asked us a question that I would like us to reflect on today: What is your unfulfilled dream? What is the thing you long for that, to date, God has not provided? What is the petition that, to date, God has not answered? What is the desire that you hold deep inside, that you have not even shared with your best friend? What is the thing you have given up on ever seeing, or doing, or experiencing? Where have you resigned yourself to hopelessness?

Today, we can trim the wick and re-light the flame of our abandoned dreams. It is not an easy thing to do, especially in the face of having lived through decades of unfulfilled dreams. We may even think that, because God has blessed us in so many other areas, we can let go of our heart’s desire. But Scripture says, “Trust in the LORD and do what is right! Settle in the land and maintain your integrity! Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desire of your heart.” (Psalm 37:3-4) We see these verses fulfilled in the life of the Shunammite woman. And God, who is no respecter of persons, can fulfill these verses in us.

Yes, Lord! That is where some of us stand today. We are doing well, but at our core is one unanswered prayer, one unfulfilled dream, one unmet desire. We have resigned ourselves to hopelessness; but You are the God of hope! Please give us Your Grace, the power of Your Spirit, so that we will trust You, do good, and honor You in the way we care for our property and ourselves. Make us men and women of integrity. Pour into us a delight of You. You have promised that as we delight in You, You will give us what we desire most. The dream You planted in us will not die, but live. We thank You for Your word and we receive it today. We love You, Lord.

Exiting Exile.

This is what the LORD says, the one who made a road through the sea, a pathway through the surging waters, the one who led chariots and horses to destruction, together with a mighty army. They fell down, never to rise again; they were extinguished, put out like a burning wick: “Don’t remember these earlier events; don’t recall these former events. Look, I am about to do something new. Now it begins to happen! Do you not recognize it? Yes, I will make a road in the desert and paths in the wilderness. The wild animals of the desert honor me, the jackals and ostriches, because I put water in the desert and streams in the wilderness, to quench the thirst of my chosen people, the people who I formed for myself, so they might praise me.” (Isaiah 43:16-21, NET Bible)

In this past Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Richie shared with us this amazing promise of God. Our God, who has done awesome things for His people in days of old, calls the people of today to forget about the past promises and look for the current ones.

As Isaiah spoke prophetically to the people of his day, there would have been none there who were alive when God used Moses to deliver the nation out of bondage. Everyone knew the story, but no one had lived the story. In fact, Isaiah’s contemporaries were in the midst of their own experience of bondage. They had been forcibly removed from their homeland, and in their minds there was no chance of their ever returning home. In their worldview, exile was a permanent state.

Perhaps some of us are in the same situation. We are earning less as food and shelter costs rise. We are watching unsaved loved ones revel in their fallen state. We see so-called “believers” hardened to the voice and leading of the Holy Spirit. We are second-guessing God’s promises because, as our pastor shared, years have passed and we have no earthly evidence of the promises being fulfilled. Our current state feels and looks like it’s permanent.

But God has spoken.

“Don’t remember these earlier events.” Don’t dwell on the miraculous moments of old. Yes, I am the God of Moody and Wesley and Wigglesworth and Finney. Yes, I am the God of your ancestors. But I am also your God, and I will do miracles for you. Watch Me send floods to places where rain is not the norm. Look for Me to cut a road in the desert and plant a raging river, evidence to you and to the world that I have never lost My power to act in behalf of My people.

When Isaiah spoke to his people, and they slept and woke the next morning, they were still in exile. When Pastor Richie spoke on Sunday, we may well have gone home to face the same exilic sorrow, lack, and devastation. But God has spoken. We are called to receive His word by faith, even if the manifestation of the promise has not yet come. I pray that His word will encourage our souls today.

“I am the LORD. I am God. I will act.”

A Psalm Of Richard.

From time to time, Glossa Water steps away from its sermon summaries in order to share other aspects of the worship service. Today will be one of those times.

In Sunday morning’s 7:45 service, as Pastor Richie stood to bring the sermon, he shared a few pre-sermon words with us. At that point, I was focused on my own worship experience and did not really focus on what our pastor said and how he said it. But when I got home and had time to reflect on the service (and time to listen to a recording of the sermon), I began to understand Pastor Richie’s words as a psalm of praise. There was a tone, a cadence, and an exuberance that echoed the psalms of ancient times.

So, for today’s reflection, I want to share with you our pastor’s spontaneous psalm. I pray that it will be a blessing to us, particularly those of us whose lives are in crisis. Who knows? God might even give each of us a psalm of our own, a few words from the heart in worship of our King.

“Anybody wanna shout hallelujah with me?

Anybody wanna shout hallelujah with me?

“Hallelujah, Lord. All honor and praise.

Something happens in the atmosphere when the people of God begin to worship Him and to say ‘Hallelujah’,

and to ascribe to Him the praise that He’s due.

Hallelujah, Lord.

“In the midst of everything that’s going on,

Hallelujah.

Like Paul and Silas in prison at midnight,

Hallelujah, Lord.

When everything around you tells you that you shouldn’t be praising,

Hallelujah, Lord.

“Anybody know what I’m talking about?

“When everything around you tells you that you shouldn’t be praising,

and then you just start to praise,

and something shifts in the atmosphere:

And it feels like an earthquake, shaking in this place.

“Bless Your name today, Lord.

Hallelujah, Jesus. Hallelujah, Jesus.

We say Hallelujah to the impossible God.

We worship the magnificent, holy, limitless God.

Hallelujah, Jesus.

Oh God, you are able, you are able, you are able, you are able.

Hallelujah, Jesus.”

(Reverend Richard Griffiths)

Just Saying.

Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for nothing-- if it really was for nothing? Does God give you His Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard? Consider Abraham: he believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. (Galatians 3:3-6)

In Galatians chapter 3, the apostle Paul takes time to reflect on the faith-journey of Abraham. Abraham is a profound example of a man who lived as the recipient of God's grace. It was God who sought out Abraham and sent him away from his homeland. It was God who blessed Abraham with wealth. It was God who promised Abraham and Sarah a miracle: a son in their old age.

What did Abraham have to do? Galatians 3:6 gives a succinct, profound insight: Abraham believed God. This man Abraham, who lived and died long before the advent of Mosaic law, lived by faith. We are called to do the same. However, in order to exercise our faith, we need to hear what God has said (see Romans 10:17).

God spoke to Abraham way back then. God still speaks today: through His word; through the preaching of faithful ministers; and through the Spirit that God has given to work in, with, and through us.

Are you hearing Him?

Lovers' Lane.

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25)

Pastor Sam shared with us that his sermon series on Galatians will be in tandem with Bronx Bethany's current care group cycle. Between now and Ash Wednesday our care groups are engaging in study of the fruit of the Spirit, and the verses Galatians 5:22-23 are central to the study.

Our pastor shared that, as we go through this season, we will learn "what it will look like when the fruit of the Spirit is present, pre-eminent, and partnering with us."

Let us consider these questions for today:

• Is the fruit of the Spirit, as detailed in Galatians 5:22-23, present in my life? Or, is my life still marked by the works of the flesh shown in Galatians 5:19-21?
• Is the love of God pre-eminent in my life? Do people, when they interact with me, experience that love? (Galatians 5:13-14)
• Do I partner, enthusiastically and exclusively, with the Holy Spirit? Does my life and lifestyle demonstrate a desire to please God, or myself? (Galatians 5:16-18)

Lord, give us grace to daily experience Your presence, pre-eminence, and partnership. Cause us to look, live, and love like You.

Who's In Charge Here?

"God's Spirit in us will move us to do what God wants us to do." (Pastor Sam, referencing Ezekiel 36)

From time to time, candidates running for office will stop to visit Bronx Bethany during a service. I recall an occasion during which a candidate's staff members walked into Bronx Bethany shortly after the start of The Key, which is our Saturday night service.

The staff members walked in and looked around. I noticed them through my peripheral vision, but stayed where I was and continued worshiping the Lord as the band was playing. Eventually, one of them walked up to me with a perplexed look on his face. He said, "Excuse me. Who's in charge here?" I pointed to the stage and said, "Do you see the young man there, playing the piano? He's the pastor over tonight's service."

Looking back now, I realize that my answer was incomplete. Why? Because even though our pastors oversee various aspects of ministry, they in turn are charged and led by the Holy Spirit of God. (It is a good thing to be a member of a church where the pastors are joyfully, obediently under the charge of the Holy Spirit.)

Paul was a man who, from the start of his ministry, followed the leading of the Holy Spirit. "Now I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. For I did not receive it or learn it from any human source; instead I received it by a revelation of Jesus Christ... When the One who set me apart from birth and called me by His grace was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I could preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not go to ask advice from any human being... I was personally unknown to the churches... They were only hearing, 'The one who once persecuted us is now proclaiming the good news of the faith he once tried to destroy.' So they glorified God because of me." (see Galatians 1:11-24 for full text)

In the Church of the Nazarene, there is a small book simply referred to as "The Manual." Like most manuals, it contains policies and procedures. It is intended to help the denomination function to the best of its ability. We Nazarenes are not alone in this venture: many denominations have published guidelines for its pastors, congregants, or both, in an attempt to outline practical helps as we live in our communities of faith. But here is the problem: when a manual becomes the go-to source for all things at the expense of the word of God and the grace of the Holy Spirit who drew us into the faith, then we set ourselves up for all sorts of problems. The early church in Galatia experienced this phenomenon first-hand, and their situation got so out-of-hand that Paul had to write a letter of rebuke and correction.

And, if anyone was qualified to write the letter to the Galatians, Paul was. He knew that legalism, even through the lens of religious duty, would never produce life in the Spirit. He knew that God was glorified not through the proclamation of regulations, but by the proclamation of God's gospel. He knew whose opinion mattered the most. "Am I now trying to gain the approval of people, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ!" (Galatians 1:10)

Today let's take a look at our lives, and ask ourselves one question:
Who's in charge here?

Do Not Mix.

I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting the One who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God's curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: if anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God's curse! (Galatians 1:6-9)

During Sunday's sermon Pastor Sam shared that it is a very serious thing when someone is preaching bad news instead of good news. The church in Galatia, in a short period of time, wandered away from the good news preached by Paul and attempted to adopt a "mixture" of things that don't mix: the sinful works of the flesh, a legalism demonstrated by observation of ancient Jewish law, and the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Where is our salvation? Certainly not in our sinful nature, and not in our embrace of legalism. It is God who saves. The Spirit of God touches our hearts and opens our minds to the Truth, and we accept the new covenant which was effected by the body and blood of Christ. We can say as Paul said, "I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside God's grace, because if righteousness could come through the law, then Christ died for nothing!" (Galatians 2:20-21)

Are there areas in our lives where we have opted to "set aside God's grace", thinking that the Lord will excuse our indulgence of the sinful nature? Are we thinking that engagement in legalistic actions will somehow offset our failure to obey God's word? Or, are we solely grounded in the gospel of Christ, knowing that any other "gospel" is perversion?

"I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your body and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you; I will take the initiative and you will obey My statutes and carefully observe my regulations." (Ezekiel 36:26-27)

The Walk-Through.

Yesterday, Pastor Sam began a new series that will walk us through the book of Galatians. As has been the case in his past few sermons, our pastor asked us to take the time to read Galatians in its entirety.

Will you read (or re-read) it today?

If you do not have a Bible of your own, you can read and/or listen to the Bible online. Biblegateway.com has dozens of Bible versions available, including several languages, free of cost. If you read without stopping, the six chapters of Galatians can easily be read within the space of an hour. For fast readers, the book can be read in as little as fifteen to twenty minutes.

Lord God, Creator of time, I am happy to spend some of Your time in Your word.

I'm Still. Waiting.

In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Martha shared some insights concerning King David that I'd like us to reflect on today.

David's life can be viewed as a series of preparatory cycles. As a teenager, David was anointed king in obscurity. Although David was still too young to serve in the army of Israel, he learned to fight effectively in the secret place of the wilderness, defending his father's sheep from lions and bears. David was then "promoted" to the task of carrying provisions from his father's household to his brothers on the battlefield. Eventually, the day came when his years of training in the wilderness resulted in Israel's victory over the Philistine army... but his victory did not win him the kingdom. Over the next decade, David's tenure as King Saul's armorbearer served as additional, patient preparation for David's adult life as a reigning king.

David understood that he could not save himself. In Psalm 51 we see King David, the successful warrior, confessing his failure to save himself. He notes that 1) he was born in sin; 2) his actions against Bathsheba and Uriah were ultimately sins against God; and 3) outside of God's intervention, there was no way that David could be restored into fellowship.

David recognized and craved the presence of the Holy Spirit. The central plea of Psalm 51, "Do not take Your Holy Spirit from me," shows us that David was aware of the work of the Holy Spirit in his life. As our pastor shared, David knew that everything he had accomplished was not because of his own strength or skill, but because the Spirit of God was working in and through him.

Perhaps we can walk with these three points today: not just as a reminder of where David was, but also as a litmus test for where we are. Are we joyfully obedient to God as we endure decades of training for the works God has in store for us? Are we free to admit that, without God, we have nothing and are nothing? Are we fully submitted to the Holy Spirit, taking on His desires as our own?

Lord God, thank You for reminding us of the life of King David. In him we see our own pressures, struggles, failures, and victories. You say David was a man after Your own heart: God, how we pray You can say the same for us. Make us a people who love You, long for You, and live in obedience to You.

At The Core.

(At The Salvation Army Manhattan Citadel Corps, New York)

Look, I was guilty of sin from birth, a sinner the moment my mother conceived me. Look, You desire integrity in the inner man; You want me to possess wisdom. Cleanse me with hyssop and I will be pure; wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Grant me the ultimate joy of being forgiven! May the bones  you crushed rejoice! Hide Your face from my sins! Wipe away all my guilt! Create for me a pure heart, O God! Renew a resolute spirit within me! (Psalm 51:5-10)

I was grateful that, during this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Martha made the connection between Psalm 23 and Psalm 51. In seeing the David of Psalm 23, we are better able to understand and connect with the David of Psalm 51.

There are verses in Psalm 51 that once made me cringe. One of them is "Then I will teach transgressors of Your merciful ways, and they will turn to You." (Psalm 51:13) I used to wonder, How can a rebel teach anything to a transgressor? In referencing Psalm 23, Pastor Martha revealed the answer to my question. Though rebellion was found in David's heart, rebellion was not the foundation of David's life. His contrite confession in Psalm 51 erased the scaffolding of transgression, leaving behind the solid core of integrity and faithfulness expressed in Psalm 23.

Psalm 23, the Shepherd's psalm, reminds us that as a young man David logged many a day in the wilderness. His task was to tend the sheep of his father. Our pastor shared that David would spend his days equipped with "a slingshot and a harp, to protect and to praise." He had an understanding of what it meant to be immersed in authentic worship. He knew what it was to fight against wild animals and prevail. He took these transferable skills onto the battlefield and into the palace, and for many years he held his post faithfully. A series of poor decisions changed his life forever. But, because he knew he had a solid foundation, he was able to petition God with the hope of regaining his core values.

Recently I returned to where my Christian walk began, and to where God built my foundation. Last weekend was the 125th anniversary of The Salvation Army Manhattan Citadel Corps (photo above). One of the hallmarks of the church, then and now, can be found in the lives of men and women who were taught there. The corps has a core: solid faith in Jesus Christ, deep love for the community, passion for holiness, intentionality concerning the preached word of God, and demonstrated forgiveness and reconciliation. Is it perfect? No. But its community of believers does bear a striking resemblance to King David. They are trained in worship and the word. They are on the front lines of the battle for justice and protection of the weak. They are quick to confess and repent. They are teachable, and they are teachers.

I've made mistakes. Have you? Take heart. We can be encouraged today: the God who trained us in righteousness is the God who can restore us to Himself.

O God, creative, restorative, loving King, search us today. Strip away the mess we've made. Restore us, so that our exterior matches our core.

Recall. Restore. Rescue.

Create pure thoughts in me and make me faithful again. Don't chase me away from You or take Your Holy Spirit away from me. Make me as happy as You did when You saved me; make me want to obey! I will teach sinners Your law, and they will return to You. Keep me from any deadly sin. Only You can save me! Then I will shout and sing about Your power to save. (Psalm 51:10-14)

In one part of Sunday's sermon, Pastor Martha noted that David's most familiar psalms are Psalms 23 and 51. She shared with us that David was able to write about the steadfast love of God in Psalm 51 because 1) he knew God's character and 2) he was aware of the relationship between a shepherd and his sheep.

How does a God-loving, God-fearing man recover from acts of lust, adultery, contract murder, and a hardened heart? By recalling the character of God and by restoring his relationship with God.

Psalm 51:16-17 says, "Burnt offerings and sacrifices are not what You want.  The way to please You is to feel sorrow deep in our hearts. The sacrifice of contrition is the kind of sacrifice You won't refuse."

Where are you today? Have you hardened your heart and refused to confess your sins? Have you turned your heart to someone or something that the Lord's Word has instructed you to avoid? Have you plotted the murder of a man's life, or character, by enlisting others to "draw away from him so that he will be struck down"? (See Second Samuel 11:14-15)

No matter where you are, there is hope. The God of King David is our God, and He has not changed. He still hears the petition of the penitent. He still forgives. He still rescues.

Unchangeable God, change my heart today.

Demoted By Man. Promoted By God.

"The School of Brokenness: Few people enter it. Even fewer finish." (Pastor Martha)

Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, "The Lord has not chosen any of these." Then he said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" Jesse said, "There is yet the youngest; he is tending the sheep." Samuel said to Jesse, "Send for him; for we will not sit down to eat until he is here." (First Samuel 16:10-11)

During this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Martha made an observation concerning King David: Like Joseph, David wasn't well-liked by his brothers.

We see a pattern in the book of First Samuel. In chapter 16, we read that David's father did not even bother to call him from tending the sheep ; the prophet Samuel had to insist that David be called. In the seventeenth chapter, we have record of the salutation of Eliab, David's brother: "Why did you come here? With whom did you leave the sheep? I know you are here to do evil..." (see First Samuel 17:17-28)

Psalm 51 is not just the recorded plea of a man who God reprimanded for doing wrong. It is the plea of a man who knows, intimately, what it means to be left out of the equation. It is the plea of a man who remembers what it was like to be tagged as a person with impure motives. It is the heartfelt cry of a man who understands that he deserves to be left out, but whose heart longs to be kept in the company of God's people. It is the prayer of a man who has logged time in the school of brokenness.

Are you there? Be encouraged today. God has not changed. He still hears the petition of the broken.

..."To Rid My Soul Of One Dark Blot..."*

"Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to the multitude of Your tender mercy and loving-kindness blot out my transgressions." (Psalm 51:1)

"Marriage is honorable, and the bed undefiled, but adulterers and fornicators will be judged by God." (Hebrews 13:3-4)

There is an old, sarcastic saying: "Oh, now you want to pray." The thought behind the saying is that when you lived life as you pleased, with impunity, you had no desire to seek God's presence. But when crisis confronted you, then you began to storm the throne of heaven with petitions for rescue.

I have found, though, that for many people this saying is not true. The man who is in love with Jesus will typically be found in constant communion with his Lord. The man who is disinterested and impenitent will typically not seek the Lord's company. And further, the man who seeks God's presence and the man who is impenitent both have the capacity to engage in severe transgressions against God.

King David was a man who, though deeply in love with God, struggled with sin. After marrying multiple wives (among them Michal, Ahinoam, Abigail, Maachah, Haggith, Abital, and Eglah), he then turned his attention to a married woman named Bathsheba. After committing adultery with her, King David arranged for her husband Uriah to be isolated in battle so that he would be killed. David continued his life as if everything were normal, but his fellowship with God was adversely affected. David did not repent until he was directly confronted by the prophet Nathan, months after the incident had occurred.

The Scripture does not tell us why David waited so long to repent of his known sin. But Scripture does tell us of the goodness of God. David was forgiven. David received compassion, mercy, cleansing, and the record of his sin was erased from God's book. It would not be brought against him anymore.

In Sunday's sermon, Pastor Martha shared with us four characteristics of God noted by David in Psalm 51:

• Compassion. God loves, and acts in accordance with His love.
• Mercy. God assesses situations fairly and administers righteous judgement from a heart of love.
• Cleansing. God lovingly does for us what we cannot do for ourselves; He purifies us from sin.
• Erasing. God, in love, opts to erase our confessed sins from our life record.

But there is something else to consider. Although David's sin was forgiven, there was an awful consequence to his sin: "The sword shall never leave your house." (see Second Samuel 12:9-10) For the rest of his life David was in a battle not with nations, but with his own sons. His record of sin evaporated: the consequence of his sin remained.

Today, I am grateful for the compassion, mercy, cleansing, and erasing of God. And I am praying that, in light of sin's consequences, I will never intentionally abuse nor take lightly His love for me. I hope you can pray the same.

[*Today's title is a line from the hymn "Just As I Am", written by Charlotte Elliott, circa 1835]

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