The Society Of Professional Bench-Warmers.

Minister Vivian Talbot took a moment from sharing his testimony to exhort us, as a community, to be fully engaged in the work of the Lord: "God did not save you in order for you to 'warm bench'."

Brother Vivian, you hit the nail right on the head.

For those of us at Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene, this was not a new word. Several of our pastors, over the past few years, have been led by God to exhort us to live out the mission and vision of our church in practical ways.

Our example is Christ Himself, who did not spend His earthly years seated in a room waiting for people to come to Him. Instead, He went to them. He walked miles upon miles, bringing hope, healing, and salvation to the people He encountered on the roads. He went to peoples' homes for meals and conversations. He attended weddings and religious festivals.

In light of our mission, Bronx Bethany cannot justify simply coming to church and warming the benches when God has called us to "respond practically and compassionately to human need in the name of Christ." The question of ministry has never been concerned with whether to go, because every believer of Christ Jesus is called to go (see The Great Commission, noted in Matthew 28:19-20 and Mark 16:15-18). The question is, Where does God want me to go, and what does He desire for me to do?

We note in the book of Acts that the early church engaged in various ministry opportunities. Some people were itinerant preachers. Some were table-waiters, ensuring that local widows were fed. Some worked miracles of healing and deliverance. Some extended hospitality by opening their home to travelers. Some transacted in real estate and other sales, donating the proceeds to the church. Some were immersed in cross-cultural ministry. The early church was a dynamic, vibrant, moving church, and people served Jesus within the bounds of their specific callings and spiritual gifts.

Scripture warns each of us against being the type of person who, in light of the goodness and gifts our Master bestows, opts to do nothing (see The Parable of the Talents, Matthew 25:14-30). The parable notes that bench-warmers are not only lazy, but also wicked, and have no place in God's eternal kingdom. Our loving God sent Brother Vivian to remind us, because we needed to be reminded: there is work for us to do.

Are you a worker, or a bench-warmer?

Lord, we long to be found living in joyful obedience to Your word. Inspire us to be glad doers of the works You have called us to do.

"Brethren, I Want To Know That God."

"We're talking about the saving grace and the miraculous hand of God into the life of anyone who will dare to trust Him... There's no rocket science to it, you know. Because that's where I was when I couldn't even read and write." -Minister Vivian Talbot

In this past weekend's sermons, Minister Vivian Talbot shared with us how he was miraculously delivered from being killed by a group of dozens of fellow inmates. Although he was not adept at reading or writing, he had cultivated a relationship with God that allowed him the privilege of praying. Brother Vivian conversed with God as his dear Friend, not worrying about finding "the right words" to pray to the Lord. In moments of crisis, our concern is not to sound good or look good. As our brother told us, "God is not impressed with our intellects. God is impressed with our hearts."

Brother Vivian had no ministerial education. All he had was a love relationship with God and a trust in Him, and that was sufficient for God to hear and answer the prayer of his heart. And, true to His nature, our great God answered above and beyond the original prayer. A fellow inmate, who Brother Vivian had in past time prayed for God to destroy, was instead brought to salvation because of the miraculous way in which God rescued Brother Vivian from the gang that conspired to kill him. What was supposed to be a day of death became the day that Jesus poured life into a prison community.

Do you know the God who saves lives?
Do you know the God who can turn enemies into friends?
Do you know the God who can pull joy out of devastating situations?
Do you know the God who redeems hopeless cases?

I know Him. I have a love relationship with Him. I trust Him. How about you?

Trusting Our Trustworthy God.

Over this past weekend's English-language services, Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene had a guest speaker. Minister Vivian Talbot, who was recruited into gang activity when he was only twelve years old, was miraculously saved by God and is now a living witness to His power. We at Bronx Bethany had the privilege of hearing his testimony.

Brother Vivian shared with us that while it is fine to laugh and hear nice stories in church, the key is to recognize and comprehend the action of God in the story. When we by faith "see" God's divine action in the lives of His people, we can also by faith "hear" His divine speech to us as individuals. The Lord uses circumstances, our own and others', to speak to our hearts. Minister Vivian Talbot shared: "I am trusting God to speak to your hearts." "If we become one with God's Spirit, then we will understand God's heart."

And, just as he trusted God to speak to us, Brother Vivian encouraged us to trust God in our individual circumstances.

"The only responsibility we have, and it's so easy-- can you imagine that?--, is to trust Him... once you trust God, prayer will line up; praise will line up; reading the Word will line up; faith will line up; everything will fall in line once you trust God."

In saying this, Brother Vivian brought out a concern of our individual faith-walks: some of us are engaging in external spiritual disciplines, but the disciplines are being exercised apart from the necessary element of trust in God. As we are instructed in Scripture, trust is the key that opens our hearts to recognize and understand the counsel of God. Without trust, we will not see; we will not hear; we will not know.

Do you trust Him today?

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones. (Proverbs 3:5-8)

Build And Keep Building.

"Don't stop at the building. As much as we need it, and we need it, don't stop there, because that's only a launching pad for what God is going to do..." -Reverend Art Alexander

One of the things I appreciate about Reverend Art Alexander is that he doesn't have a problem with being prophetic. As District Superintendent, and as our brother in the Lord, he came to us last Sunday and told us what we needed to hear. Today, let's consider the implications of the above quote.

The physical building is a necessary means of adhering to our mission. We recognize that God has placed us in the Bronx, and we have a responsibility to serve the community in which our main properties exist. Part of our strategy in having "a place for everyone" is to create spaces where everyone can be served. For years now, our community children and youth have been relegated to spaces that are inadequate; today, we are on the threshold of opening new spaces of service for the youngest in our faith community. With our donations and our construction, we are going beyond words and moving into actions that fulfill our mission and vision.

"Don't stop at the building." Pastor Art noted that the building is only one of several steps our church must take in fulfillment of mission and vision. There are some actions that have already begun, as evidenced by our Summer Serve initiatives. We are showing the love of Jesus to our community not merely through providing food, but also through connecting with local community leaders and politicians. Being "practical and compassionate" goes beyond Bible study. We are cleaning sidewalks. We are informing residents of educational and civic concerns. We are getting out of the church buildings and into the neighborhood, because the neighborhood also needs to be built up.

The launching pad. Pastor Art, in tagging our new building as a launching pad, hinted at our Christian responsibility to not just serve, but also to send. Our Lord allowed us to see a glimpse of this last summer as several people from our church went on their first missions trip to Colombia, South America. In its first few decades of existence, Bronx Bethany was known as "the singing church". Today, we are moving into being identified as a serving church. Our future, if we are to be "a redemptive influence in the Bronx and in the world", must involve a significant number of persons being sent from our church to the far reaches of the world as true ambassadors of Christ. Let us pray that over the next few decades, we will be identified as a sending church.

"... for what God is going to do." Over all these things, Pastor Art reminded us that any work "we" accomplish must be made manifest by the work of God's Spirit in and with us. God has graciously allowed us the privilege of participation in His project. We must never forget that without God's hand upon us, Bronx Bethany cannot do anything of merit. Let us continually submit ourselves to the Lord, giving ourselves completely and exclusively to Him, so that He can freely do His works through us.

Yes, Lord, we submit individually. We submit corporately. We serve faithfully. Please teach us and position us to be sent as Your ambassadors locally and globally. Thank You for the physical and spiritual buildings You have spoken into being. We look forward to the future You have planned for Your people. We love You, Lord Jesus.

Art, And Signs Of Propulsion.

"We all just have a short window of history to live in... God wanted you here at this time." -Reverend Art Alexander

"Get ready! Cross the Jordan River!" (from Joshua 1:2)

In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Art reminded us that Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene is in a kairos moment. He shared with us that now is our time to move into the future; to go where we have never been before; to cross the river.

Our guest pastor used Joshua chapter 1 to illustrate where we are today. Moses's work was finished, and Joshua was called to take the people of God into new territory. As a community of faith and as individuals in the Christian faith, we are grateful for the generations who laid the groundwork for where we are today. But our God has called us beyond gratitude for the past; He has called us to take steps forward, moving into the new things He has ordained for us.

We have a strong sense of our corporate act of moving forward. It's a tangible thing: a building to serve our growing population of children, teens, and young adults. But what of our individual acts of moving forward? Are you and I aware of what God has asked us to move into? Are we prepared to face our own Jordan Rivers that God has called us to cross over, even though they rage at flood stage?

Today, I pray that Pastor Art's words will resound in our hearts: God wanted us here at this time. So here we are. And He has things for us to do, beginning with the scary, necessary, prophetic act of crossing the Jordan. We cross for our church. We cross for our community. We cross for ourselves.

Get ready.

Lord God, we trust You unequivocally. We will take steps forward, crossing our Jordan and believing in Your power to tame the raging current. Take us into a new place in You.

Art-postolic.

This past Sunday's guest speaker, Reverend Art Alexander, spoke to us under an apostolic anointing and gave voice to the deep concerns of our hearts. Pastor Art took pages from the life of Joshua and transplanted them into our own lives, giving us insights and counsel to help us in our individual walks of faith. Today, let's consider one point that Pastor Art unpacked for us:

• If you want to be used of God, let go of doubt.

"If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won't correct you for asking. But when you ask for something, you must have faith and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a storm. If you are that kind of person, you can't make up your mind, and you surely can't be trusted. So don't expect the Lord to give you anything at all." (James 1:5-8, Contemporary English Version, italics mine)

Pastor Art said to us, "A lot of people believe their doubts and doubt their beliefs." Every day we face the hazards of life with competing voices in our heads: the words of knowledge from God and God's faithful servants and God's written word clash with the voices of discouragement and hopelessness. For some of us, this has become a constant fight. And, like the description found in James chapter 1, we have become completely untrustworthy. Our faith is so wishy-washy that no one, not even God, will position themselves to respond to our needs. Why? Because our actions say, "Well, Lord, we're here in church and we read the Bible and pray, but we really don't trust You; we have to try to make our own solutions."

Severe pressure has a way of causing us to doubt ourselves. Pastor Art noted some of the issues faced by Joshua: he was the successor to Moses, Israel's famed leader. He was tasked to lead battles against several enemy nations. He had to lead hundreds of thousands of people into unfamiliar territories. All his mentors and colleagues had died in the wilderness except for Caleb. Joshua, feeling the pressure, came into his promotion filled with doubt.

Doubt is a slippery slope that often results in fear. Perhaps that is why God, in calling Joshua to leadership, repeated the admonition to not be afraid. "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified: do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9)

What about you? Where is your heart today? Are you afraid? Are you terrified? Are you discouraged? Is there one area of your life where you feel that failure is imminent? Take heart, and appropriate the word of the Lord to Joshua: it is a word for all of us. Be strong. Be courageous. Be careful to obey the law of the Lord. Be diligent in meditating on His word. Be happy and eager to do what God says. Be filled with faith.

Lord, You know our hearts. You know who trusts You and who doubts You. Give us grace to always be found as Your trusting and trustworthy servants. We give to You the areas of our lives in which we have been doubting and wavering. You, our Captain, have called and equipped us; we will do as You say. We love You exclusively. We trust You unequivocally. We give ourselves to Your service completely.

Joshua... And You.

For several years, the story of Joshua has cycled through Bronx Bethany: from time to time, guest speakers will pass through and remind us of God's word to Joshua. It's an old story that some of us are very familiar with.

One of the dangers of "old stories" is that, after a few rounds of hearing them, we stop listening to the words. We stop asking God to show us new things. We start assuming that because we have heard the passage before, God must be repeating it for some other person and not us.

In Sunday's sermons, Reverend Art Alexander spoke from Joshua chapter 1. The temptation is to solely ascribe the message to persons in leadership positions; however, it is a message for every person who heard. As Pastor Art shared, we cannot exclude ourselves from the call of God because of assumptions about our age, station in life, or preparedness for the task.

For today, let's read Deuteronomy 34:9 and Joshua 1:1-9, taking the time to think about what these passages say to us.

What has God granted to you?
What has God asked you to do?
How have you responded to God?

Rest And Restitution.

"Every valley will be exalted; every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places plain." (Isaiah 40:4)

As Bronx Bethany continues its weekend-long commemoration of forty-nine years in ministry, she also eagerly awaits year fifty. In last night's Anniversary Service Pastor Sam reminded us of Leviticus 25, the passage in which Jubilee is explained. Our pastor shared that after year forty-nine, we enter into Jubilee; we stand back and see God work; and no one else can take the credit.

One of the joys of Jubilee is that we are reminded that God owns us. For those of us who are completely and exclusively His, we rest in the knowledge of God's ability to do whatever He pleases, on behalf of His own name.

Today, let's revisit Leviticus 25 and meditate on its messages to us:

• There is a time to let go of the things we've corralled.
• No one, and nothing, is dispensable.
• God will cause our land, literally and figuratively, to rest and to be replenished.

God bless you as you worship and obey our great God, our Lord of the Jubilee.

Forty-Nine And Doing Fine.

This weekend, Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene celebrates forty-nine years of ministry.

Thus far, Bronx Bethany has remained in the same geographic location. We believe that God has called our local body of believers to serve Him by serving the community in the Northeast Bronx, and that is where our local church will be based unless He says otherwise.

Our challenge, though, is that although we are called to rest in a particular geographic location, we are never called to rest on our laurels. It is fun and perhaps even appropriate to spend the entire weekend celebrating what God has done for us over the past forty-nine years. But we must also remain open to the call of God concerning the new things He wants us to do as we approach year fifty and beyond.

There is much I could say about particular programs or outreach efforts, but I think it might be more expedient to ask one question: If you worship at Bronx Bethany, are you moving forward with what God has chosen to establish in Bronx Bethany?

And, for those readers who are not members of Bronx Bethany, the essence of the question stands. Do you want to be found doing what God has asked His people to do? Or, are you exerting energy toward the undermining of His work?

Today, I invite us all to reflect on the first chapter of Second Thessalonians. May it teach us as we consider God's goodness toward His churches, His communities, and His people.

Lord, Ruler and Owner of all things, You have blessed Bronx Bethany! You have kept it alive and thriving these forty-nine years. We pray that You will always find her faithful to Your word, joyfully obeying every command You have given. We are deeply grateful for Your love toward us. Live in us. Work though us. Keep us holy. We are so happy to be identified with Your Son, Jesus, whose work on the cross bought our triumph. We ask that Your Spirit of truth will help us accurately represent You in the Bronx and in the world, to the glory of Your Name. Amen.

"Where Is Your God Story?"

This past weekend our guest speaker, Dr. Herman Norman, shared with us that our faithful obedience to God results in a "God Story": that is, we will be able to share our testimony of the miracles God has done on our behalf.

Dr. Norman said, "You can  have both Heaven and heaven on earth with a God Story." He referenced Luke 18:28-30, in which Jesus assures his disciples that their sacrificial giving will be recognized and rewarded by God Himself.

"I tell you the truth," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life." (Luke 18:30)

It's wonderful news! But, it is a promise reserved only for those who give all. As our guest speaker shared, the God Story cannot be told by those who stay in the boat. Like Peter, who obeyed Jesus's call to step out of the boat in spite of the raging winds (see Matthew 14:22-33), we must have ears open to hear and hearts willing to follow our Lord.

Do you have a God Story?

Lord God, some of us are like Peter: we can honestly say that we have left everything we had in order to follow You. Thank You for Your promise of abundant supply, a testimony to us and to the world that You care for Your servants. We are grateful for Your provision, sent on Your timetable, to the glory of Your name.

Circumstance And Evidence.

On this past Sunday, Dr. Norman shared part of his testimony concerning his response to God’s call to give. Our guest speaker said that when God asked him to give more to ministry efforts, his initial response was to look at his circumstances. The extreme indebtedness of his family, along with the looming costs of three children nearing college age, initially caused Dr. Norman to take a negative stance toward giving to God.

Are we in the same situation today?

Our God has called Bronx Bethany to prepare a building for the children and youth of our community. Our prayer is to raise at least another $250,000 (or, ideally, $450,000) by next Sunday. We are challenged, individually and corporately, to band together and give towards this goal.

Do you see it happening? Or do you see a thousand reasons why it can't or won't happen?

Dr. Norman reminded us that the apostle Paul did not browbeat any of the churches he visited. Instead, Paul had this stance toward giving: Friends, do what you can with what you have. That is our task. And that is what we do, regardless of our individual circumstances.

We can do this because, far above the realm of circumstances, we see life through the realm of faith. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)  Those of us who were in last weekend's English-language services heard testimonies, some in person and some on video, of men and women whose faith in God's power transcended their seemingly hopeless circumstances.

In the midst of indebtedness, the Spirit of God inspired Dr. Norman and his family to embrace the grace of giving. They eventually obeyed by faith and through action, and experienced the joy of doing what God led them to do. If our giving is, as our speaker said, a spiritual decision, then we can rest in God regardless of the circumstances we face.

Have faith. Trust God.

Lord God, I pray that You will encourage us to give.  You, great Giver of life and all good things, have called Your children to reflect Your character. We pray that You will transform and change us from obligated donors to joyful givers.

A Message: Two: You.

Over last weekend's English-language services Bronx Bethany had a guest speaker. Dr. Herman Norman returned to us to encourage us in the Lord as we continue our Lifestyle Stewardship Capital Campaign. Dr. Norman shared with us that there was a time where the apostle Paul visited churches and asked them to give, then visited again a year later for a "progress report." Our speaker, who returned after a two-year absence, quipped, "I'm a year late."

Can you remember the previous two years of our lives? Some members of our church have moved; some have obtained new or better employment; some have become unemployed. But whether our lives have changed drastically or stayed the same, we as a community of faith continue to embrace this call to give.

Dr. Norman brought to our remembrance one of the sayings of our campaign: "Not equal giving, but equal sacrifice." He also noted that the apostle Paul was very frank in stating that his "giving" churches were in fact extremely poor, yet they gave joyfully to the work of the Lord.

Today, the Lord brings us to His side and asks us to confess where we stand concerning giving to His work. Yes, He already knows the answer. But He has given us confession as a means of spiritual discipline. We have the privilege of being open and transparent in the presence of our Lord who loves us. Will you take time to talk with Him today about your attitude toward giving to Him?

Lord God, give us the grace we need to give to You with authentic joy and gratitude.

And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. (Second Corinthians 8:1-2)

"Jam" Session.

Jimmy Jam (center). Audio Engineering Society Convention 2013. (Photo credit: Ramon Zuniga)

Forget what happened long ago! Don't think about the past. I am creating something new. There it is! Do you see it? I have put roads in deserts, streams in thirsty lands. (Isaiah 43:18-19)


This year I attended the Audio Engineering Society convention. I could not afford the All-Access registration, but was able to get a free badge for the exhibits and a few other events. One of those events was a keynote address by Jimmy Jam. Though his business partner Terry Lewis was not there, Jimmy Jam shared both their hearts concerning the intersection of songwriting, recording, engineering, and producing.

In the 1980's, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis were in Minneapolis earning less than $200 per week and spending their own money to fly to Los Angeles on weekends, bunking at a friend's home and recording tracks in the bathroom (the only room in the home with good acoustics). Their early work, often hailed as "innovative", was often done with minimal equipment under less than optimal conditions. They did their best with what they had. One day, though, "the new" appeared. Their work garnered public notice. The early days of limitation vanished. Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis became as well-known as the artists whose works they produced.

Fast-forward thirty years: Jimmy Jam, who has every right to rest in his accomplishments of the past, spoke of the importance of seeing "the new" of today. There are new songs to write, new tracks to record, new technologies to learn. He said, "See which way the wind is blowing today, and adjust your sails accordingly." In other words, Embrace the new. Navigate the new. Strong winds may be blowing, but you will learn to make your way through them. Don't be afraid.

In reflecting on this keynote, I was reminded of Pastor Richie's sermon. God has said, "Look! I am doing something new. Do you see it?" Our pastor shared with us a wonderful phrase: We serve a God who makes the impossible possible. A God who can take a Casio keyboard, bathroom acoustics, and a young man's love for the recording arts, and turn the mix into a stellar career. A God who can surpass the great things He did for us in the 1970s and 1980s and 1990s and 2000s, and astound us with the amazing new things He is doing today. Our God is awesome.

Today, let's take time to thank God for the new things He is doing in the life of His church... and the new things He is doing for us as individuals.

What's New With You?

Second Kings 4:18-37 gives us the account of the demise and revival of the Shunammite’s son. In her moment of greatest crisis, the Shunammite’s response was to appeal to the man who had given her an accurate prophetic word in prior years. 

How do we react when our God-given dreams die? We can take a few pointers from the Shunammite woman:

• Don’t bury the dream just yet. What looks dead may only be asleep, waiting to be revived.
• Say what God sees. The Shunammite had a wonderful phrase: “All is well.” Even though nothing about her crisis seemed good, she spoke a positive word.
• Stay close to God’s representatives. The Shunammite did not discuss any details with her friends, servants, nor even her husband. She limited her communication-in-crisis to the ones who had been a part of God’s program from the beginning.

It’s pretty easy for us to read (or listen to) the Shunammite woman’s story. Perhaps it’s not as easy for us to live her story.

Let’s be real. There are some things, and some people, that we have completely given up on. There are some dreams that have faded into virtual nothingness. There are some options that we have dropped, because we are tired and we don’t want to waste time or energy on such things anymore. In that light, the word from the Lord through Pastor Richie is an extremely challenging one… but that is the word God gave, and we have to deal with it.

God is the Giver of new life, new hope, and new victories. He holds “the new” in heaven’s storehouses, and we are now in a season where “the new” will become our lived experience—on earth as it is in heaven. God has spoken: it will come to pass.

I pray that the promise of the new will encourage and sustain you.

Even If You Don't See Something, Say Something.

“What can we do for her?” Elisha asked Gehazi. Gehazi replied, “I do know that her husband is old, and she doesn’t have a son.” “Ask her to come here again,” Elisha told his servant. He called for her, and she came and stood in the doorway of Elisha’s room. Elisha said to her, “Next year at this time, you’ll be holding your own baby son in your arms.” “You’re a man of God,” the woman replied. “Please don’t lie to me.” But a few months later, the woman got pregnant. She gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had promised. (Second Kings 4:14-17)

“Don’t get my hopes up.”

What a response to a prophetic word! After all, the woman knew that Elisha was a man of God. She had made an incredible sacrificial offering on his behalf by building an addition to her home for his personal use. And her compassionate service resulted in her receiving a prophetic word. But, as Pastor Richie shared with us this past Sunday, in the face of being told the deepest desire of her heart would be fulfilled she replied, No thanks. Don’t resurrect my pain. It’s too late for me.

Isaiah 43:18-19 says, “Don’t think about the past. I am creating something new. There it is! Do you see it? I have put roads in deserts, streams in thirsty lands.” God invites us to use our eyes of faith to look into the future; to see what He sees; to bring Him offerings of praise and gratitude for the new thing that He is doing in, with, and through us.

How do we respond to God’s promise of doing something new? The easy response is to push away the prophetic word. For those of us who have lived through decades of unfulfilled dreams, it is indeed a painful thing to pick up the promise again. We are weary of the disappointments. We are afraid of being hurt again. We have decided that the dream, as exciting and fulfilling as it seemed, is no longer worth the wait. We are done. In our minds, it’s over.

But Scripture calls us to be concerned not with what is on our own mind, but what is on God’s mind. What has God said? What is His opinion? What word has He put in the mouths of His prophets concerning your dreams?

It’s hard to be hopeful after so many years of disappointments. But in the prophetic realm, we are no longer dealing with the fickle heart of man nor the instability of world systems. We are dealing with God, King of glory and Lord of all the earth. His word stands forever. His word is absolutely trustworthy. And if He says a dream is restored, then it is restored. No riders, no qualifiers. What shall our reply be?

There were a couple other instances of prophetic birth announcements in the New Testament, found in Luke chapter 1. Zechariah responded to the word of the Lord with doubt in his heart and was chastised for his doubt. Mary responded to the word of the Lord with humble acceptance and was commended. In both cases though, without respect to the faith level of the person involved, the word of the Lord came to pass.

Perhaps that can be our thought to meditate on today: The word of the Lord comes to pass. It may take a year, or ten, or forty, but God can be counted on to do what He says. Let us cast away doubt, embrace faith, and rejoice in the good He is sending to His people.

Mary said, “I am the servant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to what you have said.” (Luke 1:38)

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.