Gone Caving.

In February of 2013 I did a brief review of a play I saw at Crossroads Tabernacle. Pastor Joe, who wrote the play, also happens to be a gifted musician and songwriter.

What does this have to do with Bronx Bethany's Lenten Meditations on the Love of God? Nothing... and everything. 

There is this curious thing that happens during Lent: God calls us to give up the things that are the norm. Some people stop eating certain foods. Some people give up watching television. From yesterday afternoon through this morning, I struggled with the idea of stopping my normal sermon post in order to share my thoughts on one of Pastor Joe's songs.

The struggle is over.

I'm assuming that not too many people get to share concrete thoughts about the mental, spiritual, and musical hoops they jump through when listening to music. It's much easier to just say "I love/hate that song" without delving into details. But every now and then, it's good to engage process. So, here are my musings on The Cave of Adullam. It is one of the songs from the album The Psalter Remixed, Vol. 1, an MP3 album released last November by Joseph Henry Cortese (downloads available for purchase via iTunes or Amazon).

The first time I heard the song, I felt like someone had reached into me and tapped some primordial nerve. I said to myself, "That's it. That hits me where I live." The second time? Same thing. And the third time too. And every time afterward. I felt an overwhelming gratitude and joy in knowing I'd encountered a song that understands me and that speaks to my core every time I hear it. This song, without words, says what I could never say out loud. What a wonderful thing to experience.

The Cave of Adullam brings to my mind images from the narrative in First Samuel 22, beyond just David in the cave. There is David getting help from Ahimelek in chapter 21; David securing a safe haven for his parents; David realizing that dozens of priests were killed because of Saul's zeal in hunting him down; David knowing he was anointed king, but destined to wait in the wings for decades; David looking into the faces of men who had devoted their very lives to his cause. And beyond King David, the song speaks to me of the modern-day Davids: my friends who are dealing with crazy stuff; issues of fanatics, haters, and stalkers; delays in realizing the ministry call; seeking protection and care for parents; seeing other people suffer pain from raging, modern-day Sauls. The Cave of Adullam makes me cry in sadness for the sick life of the Sauls, and it makes me cry in gratitude for the One who continues to shield the Davids.

In the song I hear echoes of Mersey Beat, slowed to the pulse of a mid-life adult: no longer frenetic, but no less passionate than the music that introduced me to the beat in my infancy. (Perhaps that is part of the primordial connection.) I hear artistic infighting and questions of where the line is between rock, fusion, and jazz, and I hear the "something else" that refuses to be labeled and put in a box. I hear the background vocals and am drawn back to haunting Jewish-Messianic harmonies, where suffering and hope are both expressed in a minor key. And I hear the emptiness, the silenced voices that underline the stark reality: the true king lives in a cave while the deposed king wields the crown. We cannot protest, because we have no words. We can only groan as we watch the story unfold.

The Cave of Adullam is my redemptive rock anthem, and it is my prophetic signpost. What is the prophecy? Stay quiet. Stay hidden. Nevermind King Saul. Saul's rantings will soon be a distant memory. You will soon move from the cave of Adullam to the palace in Jerusalem. 

If you have an affinity for pop, rock, and jazz, you'll have no challenges listening to this song. If you hate guitars and drums but have an openness to step away from what you normally listen to, I encourage you to take a listen. After all, this is Lent. It's a great time to give up what you'd prefer, and I trust that you will be blessed for having stepped out of your comfort zone.

You can click here to hear the song on SoundCloud. As you listen, think of King David in the cave. Think of yourself and your own life challenges. Think of God, who is as present with us in our season of hiding as He is in our season of elevation. And as you think of these things, may the realization of God's goodness shift you from thinking to thanksgiving.

Blessings and peace to you.

-Genise

Are You Hedging On Healing?

One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. (John 5:5, NIV)

The account of the lame man at the pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-18) is a story that demonstrates the love of God through the ministry of Christ. In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Althea noted that God's love is a love that moves His people out of the "status quo."

In John 5:5 we learn that the lame man had been at the pool for thirty-eight years. Pastor Althea shared with us that this man had grown accustomed to, and perhaps even comfortable with, life lived in a sick community. Jesus asked him a pertinent question: "Do you want to be well?" (John 5:6b)

Our pastor explained to us the danger of status quo: we sometimes plant ourselves in situations that are not optimal, then grow accustomed to living life in that condition.  We then spend the remainder of our years making excuses as to why we remain bound to something that we know is not God's choice for us. We see this in the John 5 account. The man responded to Jesus's question with a lengthy excuse as to why, over a period of thirty-eight years, he remained a sick man in a sick community.

Fast-forward to 2014.

Is there something in your character that has, figuratively speaking, crippled you? Is there some sickness that has become an integral part of who you are, yet you know in your heart that the Lord has presented you the option for healing? Be it pornography, gossip, hatred, idolatry, or some other agent that has gripped your soul and hijacked your true identity, the Lord Christ is here to set you free.

Jesus knows the things that have beset us for years, or even for decades. Today He asks each of us the same question asked of the lame man at the pool: Do you want to be well?

My reply? "Yes, Lord. I desire to be healed by You."

What is your reply?

Tell Me The Story Again...

In yesterday's sermon, Pastor Althea Taylor continued with our Lenten series on the love of God. We will be reflecting on some of the sermon points as we go through this week. For today, though, let's take the time to review the account of the lame man who was healed at the pool of Bethesda. Beneath the reading are a few questions I'd like us to consider today.

John 5:1-18 (New International Version)

Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.” But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ” So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?” The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well. So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

Questions for personal reflection:

• Where am I in the narrative? Am I more like the lame man, the Lord Jesus, or the Jewish leaders?
• Is there anyone in my life who has been sick for so long that I have ceased to pray for their healing? If so, why?
• When the Lord asks me questions concerning what I want, do I tell Him what I want? Or, do I instead focus on my current condition?

The Source Of Love.

Then Jesus, in the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and news about him spread throughout the surrounding countryside. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by all.

Now Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue  on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and the regaining of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:14-19, NET)

During this past Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Shane shared a few points concerning the role of the Holy Spirit in our experience of the love of God:

• When the Spirit of God is present, His love moves us to love ourselves and to know ourselves.
• When the Spirit of God is present, His love opens our ears to hear and obey the voice of the Lord.

We see the Holy Spirit’s work exemplified in the life of Jesus Christ. Pastor Shane referred to Luke 4:14-19, in which we see Jesus begin ministry with a clear announcement of His role and purpose. This ministry, as we see in the Luke passage, was launched in the power of the Spirit.

In addition, we are reminded that dependence upon the Spirit of God is necessary for our own success in ministry. Jesus informed His disciples of this reality: “While He was with them He declared, ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait there for what My Father promised, which you heard about from Me. For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’” (Acts 1:4-5, NET)

It is through the Holy Spirit that we are able to demonstrate God's love for the world in ways that are pleasing to God, and in ways that are beneficial for the kingdom of God.

Is your ministry filled with authentic Love?

Is the Spirit of God at work in you?

What A Great Gift!

“In a world of billions, God knows us as individuals.” –Pastor Shane Burt-Miller

For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16, NET)

In this past Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Shane noted that God’s demonstration of love is personal: God’s sending of Christ was a personal act on His part, done for us personally.

The love of God is not casual. It is intense. God loves you. God loves me. Our God loves us individually. Pastor Shane reminded us that, according to John 3:16, God’s intense love for individuals is found in Christ. And, as individuals, each one of us has the opportunity to accept Christ as God’s personal expression of love.

The God who made each of us unique has given us His one-of-a-kind, unique Son.

The God who loves each of us has called us to love His Son.

The ever-present God has given you a present: His Son.

Have you accepted the Gift?

The Environment Of Love.

But the one who practices the truth comes to the light, so that it may be plainly evident that his deeds have been done in God. (John 3:21, NET)

Yet Jesus Himself frequently withdrew to the wilderness and prayed. (Luke 5:16, NET)

In yesterday's sermon, Pastor Shane shared with us from the gospels of John and Luke. Continuing our Lenten theme of meditations on the love of God, our pastor took time to speak on the discipline of solitude as a means of growing in love.

Solitude serves as a catalyst for the expression of authentic love. Pastor Shane noted that solitude does two things. Solitude allows us time alone with God so that 1) we might learn of Him, and that 2) we might learn His perspective concerning people we meet. As we learn to see in the way God sees, we are more able to love in the way God loves.

I take encouragement from the stories told of Susanna Wesley, the mother of several children including Methodism founders John and Charles Wesley. An oft-repeated detail of her life tells that she would sit in her kitchen and cover her head with her apron, Bible in hand, and engage in prayer and solitude. Her children, when they saw her head covered, knew not to disturb her.

Perhaps we do not have the privilege of being able to leave town for a retreat, or even to take a short walk in the park. But my prayer is that God will help each of us to engage this discipline of solitude. We develop intimacy by getting away from the crowds and spending time with the one we have grown to love. God loves you and wants you to develop intimacy with Him.

Will you get away from the crowds today?

Lord God my Father, as I spend time alone with You, please show me Your perspective; please develop in me Your compassion; please teach me of Your love.

Receiving Line.

During this past Sunday's sermon Pastor Sam quoted some verses from John chapter one:

"He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:10-12, NIV)

As we continue our meditations on the love of God, we are reminded that our best response to God's love is to receive His love. And, our receipt of this love is marked by our belief in Jesus, the One who God sent.

Pastor Sam shared a story about a tightrope walker who received accolades from the people watching the show, but who got no volunteers when he asked for one of the spectators to join him on the high-wire for part of the tightrope-walking act. Perhaps that is where some of us stand. We say we understand that God loves us, and we say that we believe He can do amazing things, yet we have not taken hold of His hand. We have not become active participants in His work. We have not placed our full trust in Him. In other words, our lack of response is an indicator of our lack of love.

Our pastor shared Dr. Gary Chapman's research in this area: in love relationships, we reciprocate love in terms of what the lover understands. God's love is shown through His giving of Himself to us through Jesus, completely, at incredible cost. How do we reciprocate? By giving our lives to God through our faith in Jesus, completely, no matter what the cost. Pastor Sam referenced Romans 12:1-2-- verses that are not typically read in a discussion of love, but verses that make perfect sense in a discussion of the God-kind of love.

"Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice-- alive, holy, and pleasing to God-- which is your reasonable service. Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God-- what is good and well-pleasing and perfect." (Romans 12:1-2, NET)

To give our lives over to the One who gave His life for us: this is love.

In Private Practice.

At the beginning of this past Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Sam noted that the season of Lent (forty days, not counting the Sundays) is one in which we engage particular practices as a means of deepening our devotion to God. Today, let’s be reminded of a few Lenten practices:

Fasting and prayer. During Lent we choose to remove from our everyday lives something that we consider to be natural, normal, and necessary. For some people, the fast is from particular types of foods. For others, the fast may involve ceasing certain activities (such as watching television). And, as Pastor Sam has said in previous sermons, the fasting opens up space and time for more prayer. For example, if we don’t take an hour to have a meal, we then can spend that hour in prayer to God.

Scripture reading. There are many options available for those of us who use Lent as a time to be intentional in our reading plans. Lent is an optimal time to re-familiarize ourselves with the life and ministry of Jesus as shared in the Gospels, or to consider the significance of “forty” in Scripture beyond the Lenten season.

Disciplines. While most Christians give verbal assent to the importance of spiritual disciplines, the modern life has made some disciplines appear archaic or even impossible to engage in this twenty-first century. Lent is a season in which we can choose to add to our lives disciplines beyond the more common exercises of prayer and fasting. We can engage solitude, silence, watching/tarrying, journaling, or other disciplines that modern-day churchgoers tend not to do on a regular basis.

Though we are already seven days into Lent, it is not too late to begin engagement of these practices that are designed to draw Christians closer to the Lord. We engage these practices as part of our response to the love God has shown towards us. We don’t do these things in order to get something; we do these things because we are grateful.

Let your love grow by drawing nearer to the One who loves you.

The Real 'Endless Love'.

"God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, so that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but will have eternal life." (John 3:16)

As we continue our reflections on this past Sunday's sermon, let us allow ourselves to be captured, confronted, and challenged again by the love of God.

Pastor Sam reminded us that this love of God is marked by amazing sacrifice. God gave His greatest gift: The Father tore Himself apart and sent His Son to the earth. There was no other gift so valuable, so precious, and so dear to the heart of God than Jesus. And, God's gift is an indication of how deeply God loves the world.

Who would offer a costly, one-of-a-kind gift to all people? Only God! This is what God does: He gives His best. He pours His love. He reveals His truth and opens the door to eternal life, so that the people all over the earth can realize the greatness of His love.

Sadly, though, and I speak primarily of the church, there is the disturbing possibility of hanging out in the presence of the Giver without ever opting to receive the gift He has offered. As Pastor Sam noted, this is not an issue of giving mental assent to the presence of the Giver and the value of the gift. Our hearts have to be involved. Our lives have to be involved. Saying 'yes' to God's offer of life in Jesus is not merely a word from our mouths: the authentic 'yes' is an experiential yes. It is found in our behavior, our lifestyle choices, our spiritual disciplines, and our inner character.

Clearly, we are loved.
But, are we in love?

Lord God, thank You for loving me. I love You too: not just with my words, but with every area of my life.

Lenten Meditations On The Love Of God.

Yesterday Pastor Sam began a new sermon series, Lenten Meditations on the Love of God, that will continue for the next several weeks. As we hear this series we are not called to merely listen, but to reflect on 1) our personal relationship with God and 2) the ways in which our love of God is demonstrated to Him and to the world.

Our pastor referenced some of the work of Dr. Gary Chapman, best known for a series of books based on what he terms "love languages". Dr. Chapman's theory is that relationships are best served when the parties involved make efforts to express love in the way it will be most appreciated. For example, some prefer love to be expressed through physical touch, while others best understand love if it is expressed through words of affirmation or acts of service.

What is God's love language to us, and what love language does God want us to express towards Him? As we go through this week, we will take another look at some of the Scriptures mentioned during yesterday's sermon. My prayer is that we will take interest in deepening our love relationship with God, and that this Lenten season will be one in which our lives are transformed anew by the love of God.

A Prevailing Win.

Wednesday night was the closing night of the revival series at Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene. Our guest speaker, Reverend Dimas Salaberrios, shared with us about the battles and victories we experience in our Christian walk. Here are a few points for us to reflect on today:

We encounter challenges. Our Christian faith is distasteful to anti-Christian forces-- so much so that we may find ourselves initially afraid to do what the Lord has called us to do for His kingdom, for fear of reprisal. However, challenges are a component of the Christian faith-walk that we must expect to experience. Pastor Dimas referenced Jeremiah 1, in which God instructed Jeremiah to move forward into ministry without regard to the opposition he would face.

We employ strategies. We were encouraged to be bold in our prayer life, and to engage (or re-engage) spiritual disciplines as a means of drawing near to God. When we do so, we are creating an environment in which His Spirit is welcomed. It is through spiritual disciplines that we are empowered to stand strong in our faith. Our guest pastor spoke with particular emphasis on memorizing the word of God, prayer and fasting, and tarrying (waiting on the Lord).

We experience victories. As we demonstrate faithfulness in spiritual disciplines, our God brings spiritual victories for the sake of His name. An important caveat here is that the victory may not look the way we expected it to. Victory may not exempt us from personal injury, mistreatment, or ridicule. Faith can cost us much, up to and including our lives, and the Christian battle over the millennia has seen many casualties on the road to victory.  However, the Lord will use our experiences to glorify Himself. Over the revival series Pastor Dimas shared stories of threats and persecutions he experienced in ministry projects. Some of the examples were intense, but at the end of each story was a testimony of victory.

God, through Pastor Dimas, has shared with us the call given to Jeremiah in days of old. It is time for us to speak, boldly, His interests and His agenda. Let us be obedient in stepping onto life's battlefield, confident that God will use us to bring His life and love to people all over the world.

"Therefore prepare yourself and arise, and speak to them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed before their faces, lest I dismay you before them. For behold, I have made you this day a fortified city and an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land-- against the kings of Judah, against its princes, against its priests, and against the people of the land. They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you. For I am with you," says the LORD, "to deliver you." (Jeremiah 1:17-19, NKJV)

Attitude, Controlled.

“I want to talk to you about a word that is extremely important, a word that is critical... the one thing that can single-handedly determine the job that you have, the friends that you have, the place that you may land in life… is a word called attitude.” –Rev. Dimas Salaberrios

In Tuesday evening’s revival service Pastor Dimas shared with us about the importance of having an appropriate attitude towards God, and maintaining an appropriate attitude as we live out God's agenda.

Our speaker shared excerpts from the parable of the talents (found in Matthew 25:14-30-- click here to read the passage). He noted that if we believe God for “big and tremendous things”, do our part in working diligently, and avoid an attitude of laziness and finger-pointing, then God will honor our faith-filled acts.

Pastor Dimas also noted that our Lord increases our responsibilities as we demonstrate:

v  Faithfulness in obeying God;

v  Fearlessness in doing what God has called us to do;

v  Execution of God’s work without waiting for “the perfect conditions” to start doing what He has said;

v  Willingness to be countercultural, not attempting nor craving the acceptance of the world.

v  Openness to always seeking the will of God in every situation we face;

v  Rejection of evil alliances and attachments.

Pastor Dimas said that as we ask Jesus to show us His good ideas, and as we engage in His work with an attitude of enthusiasm, we will be positioned to labor faithfully for Kingdom business. We serve a God who is interested in us doing our best, and who longs for us to put forth our best efforts in order to accomplish His will in the world.

What do we believe about the LORD?

What do we believe about ourselves?

How do our beliefs influence our work ethic?

Trial Date...

Dear friends, do not be astonished that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice in the degree that you have shared in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice and be glad. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory, who is the Spirit of God, rests on you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or thief or criminal or as a troublemaker. But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear such a name. For it is time for judgment to begin, starting with the house of God. And if it starts with us, what will be the fate of those who are disobedient to the gospel of God? And if the righteous are barely saved, what will become of the ungodly and sinners? So then let those who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator as they do good.

(First Peter 4:12-19, NET Bible)

In Monday evening’s revival service, Pastor Dimas Salaberrios shared frankly with us about the war we are in as Christians. We are in this war because, in a world filled with hatred for the gospel message, we have chosen to take our stand with Jesus. Our speaker said, “We must begin to prepare ourselves… The times ahead are not going to be easier. You are not going to be accepted. You are not always going to be well received. You have got to brace yourself and come to this reality.”

Today let’s reflect on a few questions generated from the message:

v  Will we “sell out Jesus” because of fear or greed?

v  Is our love for the Lord demonstrated by our actions?

v  If we knew that persecution was coming to our community, would we stay or leave?

Pastor Dimas also noted that Christian suffering is accompanied by joy. Although the persecution is real, we also have the reality of God’s Spirit being present with us. It is the Spirit’s presence that allows us to endure and overcome hardships. It is the Spirit’s presence that causes us, as First Peter 4 indicates, to rejoice in trials.

Hard times are upon us. Rejoice and be glad.

Spirit of Christ, as long as I have Your presence, I will gladly endure persecution.

"Needs Work"

"Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" (Matthew 19:16b, NKJV)

In Matthew 19:16-30 we find the narrative of the rich young ruler. And, in some measure, we may also find our own story tucked between the lines.

When I was in elementary school, report cards had a column that was labeled "Needs Work." It meant that there were some concepts that had been mastered, but one or two key concepts had not been grasped by the student, and those concepts were vitally important in the process of progressing to the next academic level. An assessment that said "needs work" had to be addressed immediately.

Sometimes we want a teacher, a good teacher, to give us counsel. And that's fine. We in Christendom have a fantastic Teacher. Jesus, I've been doing such-and-such. Can You give me a report card? Am I on the right track?

In Sunday evening's sermon, Pastor Dimas Salaberrios noted that God piques our interest by shining light on areas of our lives that need work. We see this in Jesus's response to the rich young ruler. After Jesus asks the man about his obedience to some of the commandments, our Lord then taps into the one area that needed re-direction. Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." (Matthew 19:21)

What will our response be when we are asked to find our identity not in what we have, but in Who we belong to? Pastor Dimas shared with us (paraphrased here) that the rich young ruler was very comfortable in the realm of "commercial Christianity"-- on the surface there was obedience, but beneath the surface there was no passion for God. And our God, who loves us, has called us to love Him more than we love the accoutrements of the world.

At the close of Sunday evening's sermon, Pastor Dimas made reference to Revelation 2:2-7. Today, let's reflect on this love letter: it is our personal letter, and it is Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene's love letter, and it is also a cautionary letter. I pray that as God sees us living our lives, He is finding in our hearts a joy and passion for addressing the areas of our faith-walk that fall into the "needs work" column.

The rich young ruler decided that his earthly riches were too much a part of his identity to be given up. Rather than doing the work needed to move to the next level of faith, he left Jesus's presence.

What about you?

‘I know your works as well as your labor and steadfast endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil. You have even put to the test those who refer to themselves as apostles (but are not), and have discovered that they are false. I am also aware that you have persisted steadfastly, endured much for the sake of my name, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you: You have departed from your first love! Therefore, remember from what high state you have fallen and repent! Do the deeds you did at the first; if not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place – that is, if you do not repent. But you do have this going for you: You hate what the Nicolaitans practice – practices I also hate. The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will permit him to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God.’ (Revelation 2:2-7, NET Bible)

Oh, To Live Again...

During our three English-language services on Sunday, our guest speaker was Reverend Dimas Salaberrios. Pastor Dimas, a prayer ministry leader who has a heart for serving God, will minister at Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene for our March revival series (click here for schedule).

In yesterday's morning services, Pastor Dimas spoke with us from Luke 4, Isaiah 61, and Leviticus 25. He encouraged us to take Jesus's ministry objectives and make them our own. According to Luke 4:16-21, Jesus came into ministry with a particular mandate:

Now Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives

and the regaining of sight to the blind,

to set free those who are oppressed,

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to tell them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled even as you heard it being read.” (Luke 4:16-21, NET Bible)

Though we might be tempted to say something like “Well, that was Jesus and He was perfect—I can’t do all that,” our Lord has also given us a particular mandate. We are called to be ministers of the gospel of grace, and God has given us His strategic plan. As we go through our day, let us check ourselves against the Luke 4 passage:

v  Are we filled with the Spirit of God?

v  Are we intentional about proclaiming the good news of Christ to the poor?

v  Do we work towards helping captive people gain release from bondage?

v  Do we actively pray and fast for the healing and deliverance of others?

v  Are we committed to making Jubilee (see Leviticus 25:35-42) a realized experience?

Lord God, thank You for giving us this privilege of participation in Your work. Give us Your grace and boldness, so that we might be effective ministers of Your gospel.

Hophni, Phinehas, And Me. (Or, "Nice Necklace.")

"God is looking for some people who will take Him at His word." -Rev. Althea Taylor

"Why did the LORD bring defeat on us today before the Philistines?" (from First Samuel 4:3)

First Samuel 4:3 relays a tough question asked by ancient Israel: "Why was God not with us?" In Sunday's sermon, Pastor Althea shared that there is no problem with asking God the "why" questions. But, sometimes, we are challenged because we may hear an answer that we didn't want to hear. God had an answer to the Israelites' question:

Why was I not with you? Because you disobeyed Me, and there are consequences to disobedience.

How sad is the life-story of Hophni and Phinehas. Surrounded by icons and articles of worship, these two men appropriated for themselves sacrifices that were reserved only for God. (In other words, they were stealing.) As their worship of God deteriorated, so did their watch-care over God's people: their narrative became one of spiritual and sexual abuse of the people who came to Shiloh for worship (see First Samuel 2:12-25). It's an shocking decline in faith and practice.

And, after years of stealing sacrifices and engaging in fornication in the doorway of the temple, Hophni and Phinehas boldly took the ark to the battlefield. The First Samuel 4 passage shows that they, and all Israel, made an amazing assumption: they believed that the mere presence of the ark of God would bring victory. There was no indication that anyone had prayed for God's help. There was no indication of repentance from Hophni and Phinehas. In a way, the ark of God had become a sort of amulet or good-luck charm; the people seemed not to take into account their own lives and behavior as factors in God's presence being with them.

Let's turn the story to ourselves. Icons are valuable, meaningful tools when God leads us to use them as symbolic expressions of our worship life. The function of an icon is to usher us into the worship and adoration of our God. But perhaps we, too, are guilty of embracing icons without engaging worship. It's easy to put a cross on the wall or to wear a cross necklace. It's not as easy to set aside time for prayer to our Lord who went to the cross. In this country, it's usually an easy thing to have access to the Bible. It's not as easy to be intentional in reading God's word and remembering what we've read. It's easy for us to listen to Christian music, but perhaps not as easy to live the Christian life.

Are we like Hophni and Phinehas, who neglected to obey God but then assumed that the ark would ensure His presence with them?

Lord God, You have asked us to give our lives to You. So, today, we give ourselves to You once again. Please help us to live out every aspect of our lives-- in worship, through service, at work, and at home-- in ways that are honorable and pleasing to You.

Sold, To The Highest Bidder.

Our pastor mentioned something on Sunday that I'd like us to reflect on for today. Pastor Althea said (and I paraphrase), It's not that it's hard to follow God; it's easy to follow God. It's just that it's easier not to follow Him.

It is a profound thought. I don't know if the people listening on Sunday agreed or disagreed. But let's ask a few questions of ourselves.

• If we were to record every thought and action of our day, would we find our hearts turned towards God or towards the world?
• In our Christ-walk, are we found to be people of prayer and people of the Word?
• Do we love being engaged in works of service to God, or are we showing up out of grudging obligation?
• Are our decision-making processes based on cultural tradition and current trends, or are they based on what God has said?

My prayer for us is that we all hold in our hearts a deep desire to be found in the company of our Lord, hearing and obeying His word, and doing His work.

Do not lack in zeal, be enthusiastic in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer. (Romans 12:11-12)

"When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die." -Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Simply Intellectual?

In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Althea made an observation: for some in the community of faith, Scriptural truths are merely a source of intellectual knowledge. Though they have an interest in acquiring data, they do not have an interest in growing in grace or living in obedience to the word they so faithfully read.

I wonder if we all at some point, and in some measure, are guilty of chasing data without seeking to draw nearer to God. In Sunday's sermon we considered Eli, Hophni, and Phinehas. These were men who served in God's house while demonstrating overt disobedience to His laws. Sadly, it is not just a story from long ago: it is the story we face in our time.

For today, let's read the Scripture text from Sunday with an intent to approach the word of God prayerfully and reflectively. Let us seek to hear from God as we read. Let us expect for God to show us something that we might not have realized on Sunday. Let us be ready to repent for the wrongs we may discover in our own souls as we reacquaint ourselves with this narrative.

Lord God, as we read Your word, please transform us and move us into a deeper relationship with You.

First Samuel 4

Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines at Aphek. The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand of them on the battlefield. When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the Lord bring defeat on us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Shiloh, so that he may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies.”

So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. And Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. When the ark of the Lord’s covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook. Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, “What’s all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?”

When they learned that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp, the Philistines were afraid. “A god has come into the camp,” they said. “Oh no! Nothing like this has happened before. We’re doomed! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness. Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Be men, and fight!”

So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line and went to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dust on his head. When he arrived, there was Eli sitting on his chair by the side of the road, watching, because his heart feared for the ark of God. When the man entered the town and told what had happened, the whole town sent up a cry. Eli heard the outcry and asked, “What is the meaning of this uproar?”

The man hurried over to Eli, who was ninety-eight years old and whose eyes had failed so that he could not see. He told Eli, “I have just come from the battle line; I fled from it this very day.” Eli asked, “What happened, my son?” The man who brought the news replied, “Israel fled before the Philistines, and the army has suffered heavy losses. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured.”

When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man, and he was heavy. He had led Israel forty years. His daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near the time of delivery. When she heard the news that the ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she went into labor and gave birth, but was overcome by her labor pains. As she was dying, the women attending her said, “Don’t despair; you have given birth to a son.” But she did not respond or pay any attention.

She named the boy Ichabod, saying, “The Glory has departed from Israel”—because of the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband. She said, “The Glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.”

Jesus On Speed Dial.

At the beginning of Sunday's sermon, Pastor Andy shared the title: Promoting Freedom Through the Power of Jesus. He then added, "I didn't say 'promoting freedom through the pastoral team'."

Is it human nature to seek out the pastoral team before doing anything else? I ask this because I know my own knee-jerk reaction to crisis. If I am very ill, or if I think I need advice, or if a deadline is approaching and I am getting nervous about what may or may not happen, or if anything happens that even remotely resembles spiritual bondage, my first instinct is to pick up my phone and call a pastor or two. Why? Because it's much easier for me to call a pastor first than it is for me to pray first, fast first, or wait first.

I'm not alone in this boat, and I say that based on academic research and practical experiences with pastors from several churches (in addition to reflecting on my own sad track record). We congregants give great lip service to the love and power and presence of Christ Jesus in the life of the believer, but when the rubber hits the road we're not so inclined to call on Jesus. Instead, we call Pastor-so-and-so. And, because part of their role is to serve the community of faith, our ministers will typically do whatever they can to assist. That's great, and that is even appropriate, but I wonder if we are grossly short-changing ourselves by mediating our entire Christian journey through ministers instead of experiencing direct, dynamic encounters with the very Lord we claim to have given our lives to.

There is only one way to set captives free and resolve seemingly impossible situations. That way, that power, is found in the presence of Jesus. The Christian prescription has not changed: it is all about Jesus, our Lord. Worship the Lord. Pray to the Lord. Read and meditate on the word of the Lord. Give liberally to the work of the Lord. Obey the counsel and promptings of the Lord. It is this practice of complete, intimate communion with the Lord Jesus that increases our faith, trust, and patience... and it is the Lord Jesus who positions us to experience real, lasting freedom from demonic influences, oppression, and possession. That was the story of the man in Mark 5:1-20. That can be our story as well.

...Where Devils Fear To Tread.

You also know that the angels who did not keep within their proper domain but abandoned their own place of residence, He has kept in eternal chains in utter darkness, locked up for the judgement of the great Day. (Jude verse 6, NET Bible)


In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Andy noted that the demons mentioned in Mark 5 had an orthodox theology. What did they know that we should also know?

Hierarchy. They understood the positions and roles of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As soon as they saw Jesus in human form, they addressed Him according to His heavenly rank: "Jesus, Son of the Most High God" (Mark 5:7).

Worship. They understood that the only appropriate posture to take in the presence of Jesus was to bow before Him (Mark 5:6).

Eschatology. The demons were aware that a day would come when they would be judged (Mark 5:7; Jude verse 6).

When Jesus came on the scene, the actions of the demonic spirits shifted into alignment with Divine order and protocol. How does the presence of the Lord inform your actions?

The Next Boat Leaves At...

When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had once been full of demons. He was sitting there with his clothes on and in his right mind, and they were terrified. Everyone who had seen what had happened told about the man and the pigs. Then the people started begging Jesus to leave their part of the country. (Mark 5:15-17, CEV)

In this past Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Andy made an important observation concerning the above passage: No one rejoiced that the man had been set free from demonic bondage.

It’s a hard pill to swallow, but it is true: there are communities and groups that seem not to mind if a person remains bound and entangled in demonic systems. And, they get nervous when God steps in and does what they thought would never be accomplished.

The residents of the Gadarene region had their reasons for being terrified instead of praising God for the astounding act of deliverance they had witnessed. Interestingly, though, the Bible does not specify why they asked Jesus to leave. We can speculate on whether there were economic, psychosocial, or other reasons... but after all our speculation, we are left with the same conclusion: the community didn’t want Jesus in their region.

As for me, I love to see the Spirit of Jesus doing amazing things in the community where I live. And I am begging Him to stay.

How about you?

Deathtrap, Remixed.

When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, you must not learn the abhorrent practices of those nations. There must never be found among you anyone who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, anyone who practices divination, an omen reader, a soothsayer, a sorcerer, one who casts spells, one who conjures up spirits, a practitioner of the occult, or a necromancer. Whoever does these things is abhorrent to the Lord and because of these detestable things the Lord your God is about to drive them out from before you. You must be blameless before the Lord your God. Those nations that you are about to dispossess listen to omen readers and diviners, but the Lord your God has not given you permission to do such things. (Deuteronomy 18:9-14, NET Bible)

Thirty-five years ago, a play titled “Deathtrap” debuted on Broadway and ran for four years. The play highlighted the fact that engagement in abhorrent practices leads to a cycle of deception and death. A key character in the storyline is a psychic, who by the end of the play became entangled in the same deathtrap she had revealed through divination.

In this past Sunday’s sermon Pastor Andy spoke on Mark chapter 5, which contains the narrative of the demon-possessed man who lived in the tombs of the Gadarene region. Our pastor also took a few minutes to reflect on Deuteronomy 18:9-14. He reminded us that God’s desire for His people is that they never engage in any form of abhorrent practice. Our pastor noted that engagement in activities such as magic or the occult is never a one-time occurrence: such engagement plants the participant into a demonic system in which the participant becomes trapped, and from which she or he might never escape.

Deuteronomy18:12 indicates that engagement in abhorrent practices opens the door to one’s dispossession (being "driven out"): a loss of one's lands and habitations. This is what happened to the demon-possessed man in Mark chapter 5: a loss of property internally and externally. 

Internally, his body (which God had designed and tailor-made as a habitation for his soul) was no longer his own. It had been inhabited by demons—a group of demons so large that they identified themselves as “Legion”, a term used to describe a band of Roman soldiers numbering between one and six thousand. 

Externally, the man was no longer able to reside in his hometown. He was driven by the demons away from his household, out of his hometown, and into the demons' preferred home: a graveyard. 

It is no surprise, then, that the demon-possessed man was out of control—so much so that, as our pastor noted, the man could not even say his own name when Jesus asked him to identify himself: instead, the demonic community in the man responded.

And in light of this, it makes it all the more curious that persons who claim to be Christian would engage in practices that will result in their souls being accessed by demonic spirits, their voices being subsumed by the voices of darkness, and their covenant blessings cancelled.

What has God said? “The Lord your God has not given you permission to do such things.”

May we never be found standing in opposition to God’s directives. Never.

Observation Check.

This past Sunday’s message on honoring the Sabbath was the fourth sermon in the series “Can My Prayer and Fasting Really Work?”, a series of reflections on Isaiah chapter 58. We have been focused on this chapter during the forty-day period of prayer and fasting undertaken by Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene (January 1 through February 9).

How do we observe the Sabbath? Pastor Sam shared some points that we can remind ourselves of today:

• Sabbath rest- time to step away from our usual routine of work.
• Sabbath reflection- time to recall the goodness and greatness of God in past situations.
• Sabbath repentance- time to confess our failures in trusting and obeying our Lord in the present situations we face.
• Sabbath recreation- time to embrace the creativity and giftedness God has given us.
• Sabbath renewal- time to spend in the presence of God so that we can be made strong in Him.
• Sabbath re-commitment- time to declare our intent to remain faithful in honoring God by honoring His word.

It is perhaps all the more important that Bronx Bethany keep these points in mind as we move away from the contemplative stance of our prayer period. The temptation for some is to mindlessly rush back into their previous way of living life, moving back into the activities and routines that caused us to over-extend ourselves, with no inclination to engage Sabbath-keeping. It is a temptation we must resist with all our strength, with the help of the Lord Himself.

If someone were to follow you around for seven days, would their observation of your life confirm that you are a Sabbath-keeper?

Throw In The Trowel.

At the start of Bronx Bethany's forty-day period of prayer and fasting, there were a few days where the wind chill caused our local temperatures to feel as if they were well below zero degrees Fahrenheit. Although it was bitterly cold, a small group of people braved the weather and came to church for prayer during that time. On a frigid Tuesday evening, as Pastor Martha shared from Isaiah 58, Pastor Sam heard from God: It was not just a Scripture passage for the handful of people present to hear. It was a word to be shared with the entire congregation.

We are blessed to have pastors that obey God's promptings. This past Sunday was the fourth in our series on prayer and fasting, and our senior pastor focused on Isaiah 58:13-14.

The thirteenth verse begins: "If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath...". We are called to be intentional in our efforts to avoid the attitudes and actions that constitute Sabbath-breaking. The verse goes into some detail concerning the things we are to avoid:

• "doing as you please on My holy day";
• "going your own way";
• "doing as you please";
• "speaking idle words".

I have wondered about the double emphasis of "doing as you please", and perhaps the answer lies in Genesis chapter 11. Pastor Sam referenced the Tower of Babel incident (Genesis 11:1-9), in which the people decided that they would do as they pleased: build a tower in Shinar (Babylonia). Their reason for constructing a tower that would reach the heavens? "So that we may make a name for ourselves."

Apparently, the people's way to make a name for themselves was to make an icon of exaltation, encroaching upon the territory in which only the name of God was exalted.

That was a long time ago... and that was twenty-four hours ago... and that is right now. We're still trying to build Babel.

We live in a world where we continue to attempt self-exaltation by making inroads into God's territory, seeking to erase His great name and replace it with our own. And, the brick and mortar of our efforts is this act of doing what we please: resting on our own laurels, and making up our own life-rules, in defiance of God's desire for us to rest in Him and obey His word.

Today is a good day to avoid doing as we please.
Today is a good day to embrace Sabbath-keeping.

Lord God, help us! We are surrounded by messages that tell us to abandon rest and to rush through our lives, building systems and social mores that fly in the face of Your love and truth. Today we lay down our bricks and mortar. Why should we build a frail structure when You have already set forth a glorious kingdom? Give us grace to hear and obey You. Give us grace to rest in You.

The Genise Formerly Known As An Artist.

If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath
and from doing as you please on My holy day,
If you call the Sabbath a delight
and the LORD's holy day honorable,
And if you honor it by not going your own way
and not doing as you please and speaking idle words,
Then you will find your joy in the LORD,
and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land
and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. (Isaiah 58:13-14)


Towards the end of yesterday's sermon Pastor Sam touched upon a subject that we often don't discuss out loud: the abandonment of things that bring us joy.

Whether it is art, songwriting, walks in the park, or something else, we are often guilty of having laid aside "non-paying" activities in favor of doing things that will result in some sort of paycheck. It's the logical thing to do: times are hard, and money has to be earned. But in the laying aside of the things that bring us joy, our hearts can become hardened and our countenances downcast.

Pastor Sam challenged us to understand Sabbath rest as not simply a day off, but a day in which we engage in the things that God has provided us for our pleasure and His glory. It is the one day each week that we can set aside to pick up the paintbrush, grab a few sheets of manuscript paper, lace up the hiking boots, or do some other joy-filled activity.

My prayer for us all is that, as 2014 progresses, we can eradicate from our narrative the phrase "I used to be a...".

Are you an artist?
Are you a songwriter?
Are you an avid hiker?
On the day of Sabbath rest, don't do what you please: do what pleases you.
Rediscover, and reclaim, what you are.

Hater Lover.

And if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. (Isaiah 58:10)

In this past Sunday's sermon, we were reminded that Isaiah 58 calls us to return to what was once a basic cultural value: sharing and caring.

There was a time where it was not unusual to see people, whether themselves rich or poor, freely extend a helping hand to neighbors in need. However, our pastor took the reflection on neighborliness to another level by referencing Exodus 23.

If you come across your enemy's ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to return it. If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help them with it. (Exodus 23:4-5)

We are called to demonstrate sharing and caring to those we know; to the stranger; to those who love us; and to those who hate us. The Exodus passage, in particular, makes it clear that the act of sharing and caring is risky. It may involve difficult or dangerous labor on our part. It may result in continued hatred or malice being poured upon us from our enemies and those who hate us. Our purpose in sharing and caring is not to gain friends nor accolades, but to make space for the light and love of God to be experienced through our actions. As Isaiah 58:10 reminds us, light can dispel darkness when God's people are found spending themselves on behalf of those in need. It is the sort of light that blesses others, and it is also the means by which our own petitions are heard and answered.

Pastor Sam asked a question on Sunday that I would like us to consider today: When is the last time we shared sacrificially?

Fast. Pray. Share. Care.

Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. (Romans 12:13-14)

Forty-Nine At Forty-Nine.

During this past Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Sam mentioned an old sermon written by John Wesley. Catalogued simply as Sermon 49, it is an appropriate message for Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene as we approach the middle of our 49^th year of ministry.

The sermon, titled The Cure of Evil-Speaking, focused on the text found in Matthew chapter 18, verses 15 through 20. Wesley’s concern was that Christians, even under the guise of offering prayer support and genuine concern, violate the rule of God as found in this Scripture. How? By choosing to speak of persons, whether in truth or in falsehood, in the absence of the person. As Pastor Sam noted, absent people are unable to defend themselves, and often we speak of people differently in their absence than we speak when they are present with us.

The Scripture passage gives a clear protocol for addressing concerns of the spiritual community. First, we are to speak to the second party directly, and one-on-one.  If the person refuses to repent, then we are to attempt a second dialogue, taking a second believer (two-on-one) in the hopes of bringing the person to repentance. Wesley offers this petition: “If ye must be distinguished, whether ye will or no, let this be the distinguishing mark… ‘He censures no man behind his back: By this fruit ye may know him.’”

For most of us, it is not difficult to agree that we should not speak falsely of others, nor should we be accusatory, outside of their presence. Every person deserves opportunity for defense. The greater challenge, I believe, is to be transformed into a community which chooses even not to speak truth of others outside of their presence. Every person deserves opportunity for repentance, and our Lord Jesus has laid out the plan which He approves.

Let us pray that God will give us His grace, so that we can speak to each other with love and humility. Let us live life as a loving community, aware of the love and power of God, and conscious of His desire that no one be lost. Let us repent from, and renounce, all forms of evil speaking.

“The Lord enable us thus to love one another, not only ‘in word and in tongue, but in deed and in truth,’ even as Christ hath loved us.” –John Wesley

Consortium Agreement?

Then you will call out, and the Lord will respond;

you will cry out, and he will reply, ‘Here I am.’

You must remove the burdensome yoke from among you

and stop pointing fingers and speaking sinfully. (Isaiah 58:9, NET Bible)

Sunday’s sermon was the third in the series “Can My Prayer and Fasting Really Work?”, a series we have been focused on during this forty-day period of prayer and fasting being undertaken by our local church (January 1 through February 9). We have learned that our time of praying and fasting is not merely a season of petitioning God, but is a season of petitioning in tandem with obedience to God.

Pastor Sam shared with us an important point concerning prayer and fasting for the Christian: our prayer and fasting must be “accompanied by essential features that God looks for among those who identify themselves as His people.” The Scripture reveals to us these essential features. At Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene, we have been taking time to reflect on the essentials as recorded in Isaiah chapter 58.

In verse 9 of the chapter, we note that God warns us against finger-pointing and malicious talk. Our pastor referred to this sort of behavior as a diabolic consortium. It is the sort of behavior that moves Christians into an alliance with the devil himself, whose way of existence is to accuse and find fault with people.

The challenge with abandoning accusation and malice is that, for some in our community, it is culturally appropriate to find fault and express displeasure. The knee-jerk response is to, as our pastor said, “wake up in the morning and find something to be critical about.” However, we are encouraged by Scripture to change our ways, abandon our habit and/or cultural heritage of pointing out others’ faults, and instead seek God’s help in redeeming us from our own faults.

Do we long to be expressions of God’s character in the earth? Then let us resign from membership in the diabolic consortium.

Trade blaming for blessing.

May I Have Your Attention Please?

"You wonder why the LORD pays no attention when you go without eating and act humble." (Isaiah 58:3a, Contemporary English Version)

In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Sam noted a few reasons that we sometimes do not receive a response from God:

We are praying for things that have potential to hurt us. Our pastor noted: "We will not get God to give us that which is harmful for us simply because we are throwing a tantrum, because we are not eating for forty days, and because we have gotten our friends to agree that we are going to make a lot of noise. There are some things that it is not in your interest to get it... If you persevere in prayer, He will take you to where you should be."

We are not petitioning God for the thing we claim to want. Pastor Sam reminded us of James 4:2b: We do not have because we do not ask God. If God were to give us something we did not ask Him for, we may think we gained it because of our own intellect or beauty or strategy. Our Lord's desire is that we continually seek after Him, trusting Him to work out His will in us.

We are asking God for things that we will only use to satisfy our own lusts. In James 4:3 we are shown what it means when a person is "asking amiss": the reason for the petition is not to honor God, but to engage in promotion of self or in the denigration of another. Our pastor referenced Genesis 4:1-7: Cain opted to give a self-serving offering rather than the offering which God had ordained as satisfactory to Himself. The result? God did not regard Cain's offering.

Do we find ourselves in a position today where it seems God is not regarding us or the prayers we offer? Let us examine our hearts. Let us spend time in the presence of our Father. Let us wait on Him in prayer. He will open our eyes and hearts to recognize His interests, and to pray according to His will.

Checkout Lines.

In last Sunday's sermon, Pastor Sam noted that the word of the Lord through Isaiah (see Isaiah 58:6-9a) was echoed in the New Testament. As we close out this week of reflection on God's chosen fast, let's take time to remember what Jesus said in Matthew 25.  

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate people one from another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.’

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels! For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger and you did not receive me as a guest, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not give you whatever you needed?’ Then he will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.’ And these will depart into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Matthew 25:31-46, NET Bible