Sermon Video: The Shepherds' Tale - Luke 2:8-20

Why were lowly shepherds chosen by God to be the first to hear the message of the newborn Messiah?  Imagine their amazement when not only one, but a whole choir of angels sang in praise of Christ's arrival in the flesh.  That God chose to speak to shepherds should come as no surprise, he has a long history of working with those that society has forgotten and using our weakness as his strength.  How did the shepherds prove that God made the right choice?  They went quickly to see the Christ-child, and just as quickly went out and told others of the wonderful things which God had done.

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Sermon Video: Christmas with Mercy and without Fear - Luke 1:49-50,68-75

Long before our favorite Christmas carols were written Mary and Zechariah spoke words of poetry to commemorate the wonders that God was doing with the birth of John and Jesus.  In their words we learn that God, whose mercy had sustained his covenant people in the past, is now extending that mercy through the advent of his son.  The birth of Immanuel will allow men to approach God without fear because his holiness will fulfill our obligations before the holy God who created us.

To watch the video, click on the link below:
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Making a list, checking it twice.

Well, I'm not Santa Claus, but I've been making a list too.  Those of you who know me know that I don't like to make lists, I'd rather keep all of my obligations and projects in my head.  When you're moving to PA in three weeks a list becomes necessary.  Yesterday I had about twelve things on my list and managed to take care of nine of them.  I'm sure some new things will pop up in the next few days and join the list too.  Today is Nicole's last day of teaching at LCC, Monday is my last day at PACE.  After that we're in full fledged packing mode.
And to think, Mary and Joseph probably just packed a handful of things, got the trusty ol' family donkey, and headed off to Bethlehem.  How would Christmas have been different if Joseph was hauling all of his stuff in a 26' U-Haul?

Praise to God, gratitude to many others.

As he would have even if the answer from Franklin has been "no", God deserves my praise.  Job knew that the Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away; in my years of waiting the same lesson has been learned.  Not that my situation compares in any way to the suffering of Job.  I've had two jobs during this waiting period and a loving, if weary of waiting, wife at my side (instead of Job's less than helpful grief stricken wife).  In the end, God deserves praise because the will of the Lord is that we prosper and grow in our spiritual transformation process of becoming Christ-like.  For some, God blesses them to cause growth, for others, he sends trials and tribulations, and for a few, he simply tells them to wait.
Now that our prayers for direction have been answered (and a new avenue of prayer for this new ministry begins), Nicole and I have a mountain of thanks to spread out to our supporters that begins with our families, extends to our friends and my former church family at Galilee, and ends with my church family at Palo.  All have been what we needed from time to time.  Some have offered regular prayer, even on days that I found it hard to pray.  Some have offered words of encouragement, even on days when I felt stuck in a rut. 
From the beginning, the wonderful people at Palo have been understanding of my search process.  I came to them out of the blue, as it were, five years ago and grew to love the people, the old stone building, and the chance to preach God's Word each week.  I'll take with me my fond memories of Sunday school with Marjorie, Joy, Linda, and Jimmie; I'll chuckle at memories of Tony telling me whether or not a new iworship song was a keeper, and Wilma interrupting the service anytime she needed to let everyone know about the news from Camp Lake Louise.  I'll remember the quiet way in which Bruce was the board chairman, and the diligent way in which Sue kept the bulletin and newsletter in shape.  I'll miss Marion telling me thank you for helping her up off of the chair lift, and Sue's infectious enthusiasm for the school at Palo.  That's the tip of the iceberg.
Lastly, I need to thank my wife.  I promised her before we were married ten and a half years ago that I would support her and ease the burden she was lifting when I was able to secure a full-time job.  I imagined as a worse case scenario that it would take two years.  When I began teaching at Portland I thought it would only add a year to her wait, it ended up being nine.  There were plenty of times that all the words I had to offer her rang hollow, times that all I could do was hold her as she wept and express my regret.  What can a husband say when he sees his wife's health deteriorate through over-work and he is powerless to work more because the job offers aren't coming?  The one thing that I could say, the same thing I've told her every day of our marriage, I love you Nicole; always and forever.
Thank you Lord for answering our prayers, thank you all for helping lift them up to his throne, thank you Nicole for believing in me.

A long distance call from Franklin.

"They're singing now, what does that mean?"  Nicole and I were wondering that same thing as we waited in the hallway outside of the sanctuary of First Baptist Church of Franklin yesterday.  About ten minutes earlier the church had begun a business meeting to vote upon my candidacy; a simple yes/no vote (in which 70% was needed) to determine if the search committee's recommendation would be adopted by the congregation as a whole.  How long would it take?  We had no idea, these things can be over quickly or they can go on for a long time if there is much debate before the vote.
And now they were singing; the song was "Joy to the World", but that didn't really tell us anything; afterall, it's only three weeks until Christmas.  A few moments later the search committee chairperson came out into the hall to tell us that the vote was over; the church was officially calling me (and because of our marriage bond, my wife Nicole) to become their next pastor.
After dealing with searches and looking at job postings for the past couple of years, the news was a relief.  For the first time, I will be able to focus full-time on ministry.  No longer will other interests compete for my time and energy.  I was asked on Saturday what a bi-vocational pastor was (as that is what I've been the past five years); my answer was that a bi-vocational pastor is someone whose life is divided.  The time/energy required of the M-F job are always at war with the job God has called you to.  At last, I can move past that tug of war.
There will be exciting new ministry opportunities, a new town and new people to get to know, and a chance for Nicole to decide what she wants to do instead of what she has to do.  There will also be some tears as we say goodbye to the only home we've lived in as man and wife, to the town that I grew up in, to friends I've hung out with since I was a kid, and to family that I've always lived close to.  There will also be an end to my ministry at Palo; a church that has allowed me to be their minister for five years where I've added experience to the knowledge I've had before, and built some friendships that will last far beyond the present.  For that opportunity, they will always have a piece of me, as will this my hometown, family, and friends. 

"They never stop to ask if they should do something"

Those are the words of Michael Crichton expressed through the character of Ian Malcolm in Jurassic Park.  Malcolm is explaining his objection to the creation of dinosaurs by Hammond's scientists by insisting that the only type of questions science can answer are whether or not something is possible; never whether or not something is right.  One of the themes throughout Michael Crichton's writings is that science is a tool like any other.  When put in the hands of people with evil intention, it can cause grave consequences.  In this he is most correct.  The same could be said of politics, economics, psychology, and a host of other disciplines.  The thing that sets science apart is that in the modern world it can clearly lead humanity down paths that endanger us all without 99% of the world even knowing it.  Our latent fear of science, as evidenced in countless science fiction novels, comics, and movies comes to life more and more as new breakthroughs are announced on a regular basis.
I wrote recently that we need both faith and science.  The complete lack of morality within the scientific process is another reason why.  The Christian needs to utilize both science and faith, and the scientist certainly needs to let faith enlighten his/her decisions as well.  Faith certainly can enlighten science on issues related to the sanctity of life; not only life between conception and birth, but also quality of life issues and end of life issues.  There have been recent articles explaining that a "reliable" test to determine if a child will likely have Down Syndrome is now available.  Can science really be expected to see the value in the life of that child and not simply encourage frightened parents to abort? 
Added to the mix of moral ambiguity surrounding science is the pressure that many researchers are under to make their efforts pay off financially.  Science cannot possibly make moral choices when dollar signs are the determining factor.  It may seem naive to try to contain the influence of money in the realm of scientific research, especially when other less scrupulous countries would do research that scientists of conscience balk at, but if we give up and don't even try to instill a Christian morality in the research lab and medical facility, what will prevent us from walking down the paths that the late Michael Crichton's fiction spoke of?

The shocking story of Christmas

Do you sometimes wish that you could re-read your favorite book, or watch your favorite movie, over again for the first time?  After a while, even with our favorites, we tend to lose the sense of suspense and wonder.  After all, we know how the story ends.  Christmas can be the same way for Christians.  We've heard the story since we were children, most of use could recreate the Gospel accounts from memory (if not word for word, at least in substance).  This is a story that we know.
And yet, wouldn't it be helpful to look at the Gospel account through the eyes of the first century readers who are hearing the account of Jesus' birth for the first time?  How would their reaction to the events surrounding his birth differ from our own?  One way which we can be relatively certain that our reactions would differ is in the area of how shocking the story would have seemed then, versus how tame it seems now.
We aren't surprised at all that angels spoke to Mary and Joseph (although I bet Mary and Joseph were surprised!), that our Lord was born in a manger, and that his first visitors were lowly shepherds.  We've grown accustomed to the story of a humble king born in this way because we're familiar with the servant attitude that Jesus champions.  In contrast to our comfortable feeling, the Gospel accounts are actually full of surprising twists and turns (not just in the birth narrative) that would have been far more stunning to those who were hearing them for the first time than they are for us today.
We have the benefit, and it certainly is one, of two thousand years of Christian culture and history to draw help frame our experiences and deepen our understanding of God's Word.  And yet, that same background can insulate us from seeing and feeling the Gospel from a fresh perspective.
This Christmas, when you're hearing about the old familiar story of the birth of Jesus, take a moment to look for the scandal and try to see the sudden twists and turns.  Ask God to give you a fresh understanding of his Word so that you too can read about the birth of Christ for the first time.

Sermon Video "O Come, O Come Immanuel!" - Isaiah 7:14, 9:2,6-8

How long would you wait for something you wanted? The prophet Isaiah tells the people of Israel, God's covenant people, that the promises to Abraham and David will be fulfilled. Little did they know that they would have to wait 700 years for the virgin Isaiah spoke of, Mary, to hear from the angel announcing the coming of the Messiah. In addition, Isaiah tells us that the one to come will be a light in our darkness, will institute a government of justice and righteousness, will establish the throne of David, and will save all of us from our sins.


To watch the video, click on the link below:
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Prostitutes are people too

What are weird title for a post; the thought occurred to me because I was reading a novel where a spoiled rich youth in Victorian England had learned to his own discomfort that the prostitutes he frequented were women making desperate choices (in order to have food to eat, a place to live), whereas he had spent his whole life not having to worry about anything.  His private frivolity was their very public humiliation, and when he realized the truth of the matter his eyes were opened up to all new observations about poverty and crime.  It reminds me also of  story I read in the paper recently that chills the heart about the child sex slave trade in South East Asia.  These children, likewise, have not chosen to live such a life, they literally have no choice...In the end, such things should remind us that our own default judgemental superiority for those less fortunate is a very dangerous thing.  It allows us to separate the world into categories of "us" and "them" that are in direct conflict with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It was no accident that Jesus spent much of his time ministering to and witnessing to prostitutes and tax collectors.  He was mocked and criticized (Mt. 11:19) by the "righteous" people of his day who felt no such need to try to save the sort of people to whom Jesus' message of God's love and forgiveness appealed. 
Which group are we in?  The one that Jesus belongs to which considers all men, women, and children to be God's own, that puts compassion before judgmentalism and holds out a hand in hope; or, are we members of the group the Pharisees belonged to that is content to work with our kind of people and forget that there is a dark side to this world that we live in where people make choices far less free than our own?
What were Jesus' words to the woman caught in adultery when the Pharisees brought her hoping for a stoning?  "Go now and leave your life of sin." (John 8:11)  When confronted with the wickedness of the rich, Jesus reacted with anger, when confronted with the wickedness of the poor and wretched, Jesus reacted with compassion.  There's a lesson to be learned there.

Sermon Video: "Devote yourselves to prayer" Colossians 4:2-4

What things are you devoted to in life?  What are your priorities and passions?  Paul explains that the Christian should always answer prayer as one of his/her answers to those questions.  Not only is prayer important for the individual, it is also a key element of community worship and helps build bonds between believers in Jesus.  Finally, Paul stresses the need for prayer in the spread of the Gospel message where doors need to be opened to give grace a chance.

To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video

Some hurts can't be healed

"The realm of Sauron is ended!"  said Gandalf, "The Ring-bearer has fulfilled his Quest."  I just reread that portion of Tolkien's The Return of the King (For the 15th time?  Maybe, I know I've read the series at least that many times; it is, afterall, my favorite.) today.  In the book, a great evil is removed from the world with Frodo's victory over Sauron.  Sauron hopes to enslave the world in his lust for power but is done in by a humble hobbit who has no desire to lord anything over anybody.  That moral lesson is itself a profound one for Tolkien, but another emerges as you read the last few chapters of the book.  Over time, it becomes clear that all of the hurts caused by Sauron, and others, cannot be healed.  Some of the wounds are too deep, some must be lived with even when evil has been defeated.  Tolkien's brilliant novels are a work of homage to those who risk everything in service to a greater good and whose sacrifices he witnessed first-hand in life on the Western Front in WWI.  His service in war taught Tolkien that evil cannot be wholly removed from our world.  The "war to end all wars" only put a stop to war long enough for a new generation to grow in its shadow and start a new bloodier war.  For many veterans, Tolkien's words hit especially close to home.  They may have returned "whole", or nearly so, from war, but a part of them has been forever left behind with the brothers in arms they lost and the horrors they witnessed.
In the end, Tolkien's hero Frodo, and his trusty servant Sam are permitted to sail over the sea to the Undying Lands where they can find rest and peace at last.  In our world, we can offer comfort to those who mourn, honor to those who have sacrificed, and gratitude to those who have served, but we cannot heal all wounds.  It is beyond our power to do so. 
Is there hope, for healing in the end?  How can troubled souls find peace?
"Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them.  They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."  - Revelation 21:3-4
There is hope, there will be peace, and sorrow will be turned to joy when one day we all stand in the presence of our savior and feel the warmth of the embrace of God's own Son.

Sermon Video: "I am the way and the truth and the life" John 14:6

"How do I get to heaven?"  What is the answer to that question?  Is it a place, a thing, or an idea?  Jesus tells his disciples that the answer to that question is a person.  Jesus himself is the way to heaven, he is the truth that we long for, and he is the life that our hope is in beyond the grave.  Are there any other options?  No, as Jesus makes clear, nobody is getting to the Father except through him.

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You have to do more.

The philosopher Edmund Burke wrote, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing".  It seems that in all of the explosion of coverage about Penn State this sentiment hits the nail right on the head.  Evil doesn't take vacations, evil doesn't call in sick, evil doesn't turn a blind eye when good is at work.  We live in a world where the lines of obligation have been blurred, where strangers can walk by a child dying in the streets and do nothing (as happened recently in China).  You may think that this is a testament to the downfall of modern man, but remind yourself that Jesus spoke the parable of the Good Samaritan with this same theme in mind.  In the parable (Luke 10:25-37), Jesus warns against those who feel that only a select part of humanity is their neighbor.  He reminds us that we all are created in the image of our Father, and therefore it doesn't matter who is in need or in trouble, our obligation remains the same.  We must act.  We must do whatever we can to safeguard the weak, to protect the innocent, and yes, to save children from those who would prey on them.
It isn't a choice we have, it is a moral obligation.  One of the students protesting the decision to fire Paterno mentioned that she was aware that he had violated "morality or whatever", but she didn't see what the big deal about that was.  Why let something as uminportant as morality get in the way of football.  There is money to be made, fans to satisfy, and entertainment to be produced.  Why would anyone object on moral grounds?  Sad, but true, and very un-Biblical.  The reason we have a faith that can save us from our sins is because Jesus considered us all worth saving.  We hadn't done anything to warrant God's love, in fact we were in rebellion against him, but Jesus came just the same.
In the end, you have to do more.  I don't care about the legal obligations, they always fall short of our duty to others.  I do care very much about our moral obligations.  Everyone is your neighbor.  Any child in danger is your business.  You have to do more.

Sermon Video: "the word of Christ" Colossians 3:16-17

As Christians, we're supposed to "let the word of Christ dwell" in us "richly".  What does this mean.  Paul explains that in order to mature and grow in our faith we must be willing to teach each other and learn as well.  In addition, we must embrace worship of God as a way of expressing our gratitude to God and ensuring that whatever we do will be done in the name of Jesus.

To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video

A new ministry, a new beginning

On December 4th of this year, Nicole and I will be in Franlin PA where I will be preaching at the First Baptist Church of Franklin.  After the service the members of the church will be voting on whether or not to call me as their next pastor.  As many of you know, Nicole and I have been looking for a full-time ministry position for several years.  I love my church at Palo, and have had a wonderful ministry experience there, but in the end, I need to be a full-time minister.  For the past nine years I've been teaching alternative education in Porltand, but it is time to move on.  Earlier this year it was hoped that I could become a reserve chaplain in the U.S. Army and stay with my current ministry.  When that fell through, another path was needed.  We've had several churches that I've talked to that seemed to be the proper fit, only to have them choose someone else.  Finally, after speaking with members of the search committee in Franklin, and going down there to preach at a nearby church last weekend, it appears that our prayers (and those of many others to whom I owe a debt of gratitude) have been answered.
It is not a move without its challenges.  It will pain us to leave the family and friends that we've found at First Baptist of Palo, the Cathedral of St. Andrew, and here in Saranac as well.  It will be difficult to be a sizeable distance away from our families, and I will certainly miss the weekly basketball game that has been a part of my life for the past twenty years (that leaves you, Russ, as the only one of us left from those youthful days).  I will be accepting a major responsibility and a significant task in the ministry in Franklin, but for the first time in my life, I will be able to concentrate all of my working time and effort in one place.  For that reason, and many others as well, it is time for me to move on to a new challenge in my calling as a minister of the Word of God.
This blog will continue, as will Nicole's, and we'll continue to return to Michigan on a regular basis for holidays and vacations.  Our hearts will remain here, at least in part.
God bless you all for your support, it has meant so much to me when disappointments have wrecked so many of the plans I had hoped to lay out.  In the end, God is good, he had a plan for us, and we will continue to serve him who saved us from darkness and brought us into his wonderful light.

The Sounds of Silence

As my students read quietly in class, (for that I have Andrew Peterson's Wingfather Saga to thank, they actually want to read it), it occurs to me that our world today rarely has any peace and quiet.  From the moment we wake up, until our day ends, most of us are surrounded by noise.  The proliferation of ipods and mp3 players has only made this trend more complete.  If we want to, we can avoid silence altogether.  This need for noise has advanced enough that some people cannot sleep when it is quiet, nor can they concentrate without background noise.  (Some of my students listen to their ipod while reading, "I can't read, it's too quiet" has been said often enough). 
How does this impact our ability to "listen" to what God has to say in our lives?  If we don't take the time to stop and think, to ponder our lives, won't we miss out on that "still small voice" with which the Holy Spirit prods us?  One of the reasons that I prefer to run in the wood is because the solitude and quiet are invigorating.  In those moments, my mind is open, much more so than it can be when the TV is on, or simply the sounds of an industrialized world surround me. 
Do yourself a favor, make the time in your busy schedule to get outside and enjoy God's Creation, or curl up with a good book and shut out life's distraction.  You'll be amazed at what it does for your mood.  Remeber, even God needed a rest on the 7th day.

Faith or Science: Choose Both

I saw that statement on a billboard this week.  (It was an advertisement for Calvin College, a Christian Reformed college in Grand Rapids)  The question is, are faith and science at war with each other, indifferent, cooperative, or something else?  There are some who believe that science and faith occupty different spheres so that neither of them has much to say about the other.  Another thought is that faith and science are in a perpetual war with each other, when one gains, the other loses.  The idea that the billboard was striving to promote is that faith and science, when both are functioning properly, are actually partners.  Which is it?

To the Christian, the only real answer is the last one.  If faith and science have nothing to do with each other, both would  be diminished.  Faith wouldn't offer any help in many areas of life, and science would be left hollow and purposeless.  If they are at war with each other, we are doomed to either a faith that is not based in reality or a science that has no knowledge of God.  Neither of these choices is acceptable.

Because God created the world, including us, the study of science is ultimately the study of the handiwork of the Creator.  As such, it is not a threat to faith.  Likewise, faith enables science to answer the "why?" questions that would otherwise elude it.  In the end, both faith and science are enriched when viewed together.  Why then do we have such constant tension between the two?  The answer is simple, there are plenty of people on both sides working to keep it that way.  There are people of faith who shun knowledge, and people of science who belittle belief in anything beyond our senses.  Will it be easy to create harmony between faith and science?  No, but it is necessary.  Christians have nothing to fear from science, our world is God's creation, the laws that govern it are his own.

Sermon Video: "walk in the light" I John 1:5-7

How do we know the Truth?  What is our guide in the darkness to find our way to the light?  John writes that God IS light.  He has no darkness at all in his essence.  If we're going to fellowship with God, we're going to need a remedy for the sinfulness (darkness) of humanity.  That remedy is the blood of Jesus which enables us to begin walking in the light.

To watch the video, click on the link below:
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Sermon Video: "the peace of Christ" Colossians 3:15

Mankind has never known real peace.  We are always at war with each other, at war with our God, and at war within ourselves.  Jesus Christ offers a solution: Peace with God through his shed blood.  Peace within through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, and peace among men through the shared purpose and calling of his Church.  The world seeks contentment through hedonism and immorality, but only finds despair.  Jesus offers to use peace, freely.

To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video

Let them laugh

When the Top Ten for this year's Artprize contest were announced (Artprize is a massive public art showing in downtown Grand Rapids MI that last 3 weeks, has public voting, and sizable prizes) there was considerable criticism from art critics about the peoples' choices.  That ordinary people and art critics differ on what they like should be no surprise, we're used to seeing movies, TV shows, and songs win awards that have nothing to do with popularity.
One of the critics working for the Grand Rapids Press wrote about one piece in particular, Mia Tavonatti's "Crucifixion" (a large glass mosaic of Christ on the Cross), that if this particular piece were to win the top prize, that Grand Rapids would become a "laughingstock" in the art world.  Evidently, religious art isn't meant to be taken seriously.
When the final results were revealed, "Crucifixion" won the top prize, and I can't help but wonder how many additional votes were cast for Mia's piece precisely because plenty of those neophytes who don't know anything about art didn't really appreciate being told that their Christianity should be publicly scorned.  We all remember how loudly critics came to the defense of "art" funded by the NEA that depicted the cross in a jar of urine.  It seems a bit odd that mocking Christianity in America gets you critical applause, but creating a beautiful piece of art that celebrates Western Civilization's most iconic image is somehow to be laughed at.
My wife and I were at the announcement of the winners in downtown GR and I certainly know that I cheered and clapped louder when "Crucifixion" won the contest.  In the end, the world is going to mock Jesus.  They always have, they rejected him when he came to this world to offer salvation, it is no surprise that those who have not found his grace continue to mock him still.  Are we a "laughingstock" now?  Let them laugh, one day every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Sermon Video: "clothe yourselves with compassion" Colossians 3:12-14

How does a Christian become Christ-like?  What do we need to do to imitate our Savior and set our minds on 'things above"?  Paul offers us the strategy of developing compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  As we work on building these character traits, we also need to learn to forgive each other as God forgave us.  In addition, the glue that holds this process together is love.  Love binds us together and love makes our transformation into a holy people possible.

To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video

“In death, my love, I loved you best.”

This is a profound line from one of the characters in Andrew Peterson's "The Monster in the Hollows" (book three of the Wingfeather Saga, book four is yet to come).  The trilogy is full of Biblical allusions and metaphors, but this one captures the Christ-like willingness to suffer and die for others in a powerful way.  It is not in his life here on Earth that Jesus proved his love, although he certainly loved the many that he healed and he wept at the tomb of Lazarus.  Rather, it was in his death on the cross that Jesus proved once and for all the limitless love of God for his children.  A love that would no accept defeat, a love that would bear the ultimate burden in order to redeem us and bring us home.  Most parents will understand this type of love; they would choose in an instant to trade their life for the life of their child.  We can understand this type of love.  What God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit chose to do goes beyond parental instinct.  Even before this world was made, God knew that making mankind in his own image would result in our rebellion and doom.  To make us without it would be to make us lesser beings; beings not capable of freely choosing to love our Creator.  Knowing all this, God chose to create us and planned from the beginning to send his Son, Jesus, to save us.  You see, it was in death that Jesus best showed how much he loved us.
In case you're wondering, I whole heartedly recommend the Wingfeather Saga; Peterson's books are entertaining and powerful with a Biblical morality woven into the framework and a redemption story at its heart.

Sermon Video: "your earthly nature" - Colossians 3:5-10

What is the Christian to do with all of the bad habits and vices that plagued us before we accepted Jesus?  Paul explains that the only solution to our former sin addiction is to put those very sinful tendancies to "death".  They cannot be managed, they must not be kept around for later, they need to be removed.  We have been given a clean slate by Christ, it's time we put the past in the past and begin to walk in the light.

To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video

Walking on the light side - I John 1:5

I John 1:5 says, "God is light; in him there is no darkness at all."  This verse uses light and darkness imagery to help us understand what exactly it means that God is Holy.  We need help with the concept because nothing in our world is 100% pure.  Everything has flaws, everything has impurities.  Every day we deal with the imperfections of htis world.  They can simply be minor irriations, or the hurdles that make life difficult to bear at times.  Either way, we live in a world of second best options.
Not so with God.  One of the reasons why God is worthy of worship is because he has no flaws.  God has no compromises in his character.  He never acts based upon prejudice, greed, or fear.  Does that make God an emotion-free force, like a law of nature?  A quick look at Scripture reminds us that God gets angry, feels joy, knows sorrow, and laughs.  And yet, God's character remains the same, holy.  It isn't something that is easy for us to grasp.  We often fall into sin because our emotions "get the better of us" or we allow our thinking to become self-centered as we fail to act in accordance with our new life in Christ.
When John tells us to, "walk in the light, as he is in the light" (vs. 7), he is saying that the direction that our lives are going in need to be toward more holiness, righteousness, and Christ-likeness.  It is certainly beyond our ability in this life to be 100% free of darkness, as God is, but thanks be to God that our savior Jesus Christ was.  The only way we will ever accomplish such a monumental task is to stop trying on our own and accept that Jesus' life will stand in for our own in God's judgment.  Only then will we be able to start the process of purging darkness from our lives with the stength of the Holy Spirit.  One day, we too will walk in the light, as we stand in the presence of our holy God.

Sermon Video: "My Father's house" - John 14:1-3

What is the value in knowing how the story ends?  What benefit do Christians have from knowing that we will spent eternity in God's presence?  Jesus tells his disciples to not let their hearts be troubled because they can trust him to go and prepare a place for them AND return.  Our hope is based in our trust of God, that gives us comfort for today, and allows us to live for eternity.

To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video

Sermon Video: "Praise the LORD" - Psalm 113

Why does the LORD deserve our praise?  What's so special about God?  This psalm reminds us that God is worthy of our praise because he chose to "stoop" down to our level in order to help the poor, need, and barren woman.  This attitude of God is ultimately on display when Christ becomes a man and takes on the nature of a servant in order to bring salvation to the world.

To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video

Where heroes come from.

September 11th, 2001 was just another day in the beginning.  All over the country people got up and went to work, life went on as usual.  That it was to be the last day for countless heroes, was beyond their knowing.  These men and women, mostly firefighters, first responders, and cops responded to a distress call like they had as part of their jobs each day.  This distress call was however, unlike any that came before.  They didn't know it at the time, but America was at war.  They were asked to respond to a cowardly act of war that cannot be compared with the Day of Infamy witnessed by the Greatest Generation.  Pearl Harbor was an undeclared act of war by a nation against another.  Armed forces fought each other that day, and those who lost their lives in the Arizona or elsewhere died in the service of their country.  9/11 was an act of terrorism against unarmed non-combatant men, women, and children.  It was no better than walking into a pizzeria and blowing yourself up.  Moral outrage is meaningless to those who don't value human life.
Such was the situation that these public servants rushed to confront as they converged on the burning towers.  Most did not return.  They left behind wifes, family, children; but they brought out of the fires thousands who would live to hug their own families because of their sacrifice.  They didn't know when they put on the uniform to start another work day that the ultimate sacrifice would be asked of them.  Were they scared?  Sure.  Hesistant?  Perhaps.  We honor them today because they went forward anyway.
Ten years have passed.  Wars have been fought in retaliation.  Thousands of soldiers have joined these men and women in sacrifice, and tens of thousands have returned home wounded in body and spirit.  Time will heal all wounds.  Decades from now few will be left who remember that day, as a new generation grows to adulthood in the shadow of the freedom provided by those who know that it is not free.
So where do heroes come from?  Most don't make a choice ahead of time to be a hero.  Heroes choose to put others ahead of themselves each day through small acts of service and sacrifice.  By dedicating themselves to help those in need they have already made the choice to trade their own lives for those of others.  All the men and women who put on uniforms that day (and any day) were heroes, some were asked to pay for that honor one last time.

Sermon Video: "Set your hearts on things above" - Colossians 3:1-4

On this anniversary of 9/11, the question remains, how can a Christian focus upon heavenly things when this earth is so full of evil?  The Apostle Paul tackles this question by encouraging us to use the death and resurrection of Christ as inspiration and as power to focus our hearts and minds upon heavenly things instead of earthly things.

To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video

The real reason why writing a sermon each week is hard.

Some of you may think that writing a sermon each week would be hard because you find writing to be a difficult process.  For some people it certainly is, but that isn't what trips me up.  For others, it could be the prospect of having something fresh and insightful to say each week, but God's Word has so much more to say than I can possibly fit into a weekly sermon that it isn't really hard to find enough to say each week.  The reason why writing and delivering a sermon each week is difficult is because you need to have your mind/heart/spirit in the right place in order to do the work.  I can mow the lawn when I'm distracted or even upset, but I can't write what God has for his people from Scripture if I'm either of those.  A lot of the things that I have to do each week can be done regardless of what else is going on, but writing a sermon isn't one of them.  There have been times when I simply have to walk away from the effort for the rest of a day in order to come back again when things are sorted out.  Today I wrote the first page of my message for this week, but when I got to the phrase, "set your hearts on things above" (Colossians 3:1), I had to admit to myself that there were too many other things intruding on my thoughts to continue.  I'll come back and write some more of it tomorrow; hopefully.  As always, the hardest thing about writing a sermon each week is being ready in your own mind/heart/spirit to hear it from God's Word.

Sermon Video, One Man Should Die - John 11:45-54

Following the resurrecition of Lazarus, many who witness the miracle of Jesus put their faith in him.  Some, however, run to warn the Pharisees about it.  The Pharisees, led by Caiaphas, determine that Jesus needs to die in order to save the nation.  In an ironic twist, Caiaphas speaks the truth without knowing it, Jesus will indeed die to save his people; not from the Romans, from their sins.

to view the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video

Sermon Video: The Raising of Lazarus Part 3, "Lazarus, come out!" - John 11:28-44

In the finale of the raising of Lazarus, Jesus demonstrates both his humanity and his divinity.  As a man, Jesus is overcome by grief and weeps at the grave of a friend.  Moments later, Jesus proves that he is indeed the Son of God by raising Lazarus from the dead.

To watch the video, click on the link below
Sermon Video

Lessons from Lazarus

Tomorrow I'll preach the 3rd message in a row from the raising of Lazarus from the dead in the Gospel of John.  Those of you who know what has been going on in my life (and that of my wife Nicole) know that we suffered a setback this week.  Plans that we thought were God's will for us fell through and took us back to square one.  I've been on a quest during the last 15 years to discover how God wants me to glorify him.  When I was first starting down the road to becoming a minister of the Gospel I prayed, "Lord, make your name great through me."  It was the best way I could think of to ask God to use me in a mighty way without letting pride get involved.  Of course, in my mind, that meant God using me to lead a church whose ministry was a clear city upon a hill, or perhaps even at some point writing a book that would inspire and teach others.  I do lead a church, and the people there are God's servants, but we're not on a hill, we struggle to be a light in our small town.  I have written a book, but few have read it.

So how is God planning on using me to glorify his name?  The life and death of Lazarus points the way.  You see, Lazarus was a man of God, a friend of Jesus, but his contributions in life will forever be overshadowed by his contribution in death.  I'm sure it wasn't the plan that Lazarus would have chosen, nor one that his sisters Mary and Martha could have understood as they mourned his loss.  God's will to them was hidden; they had followed the Lord faithfully, but God hadn't answered their prayers.

And yet God did answer the prayers of his people.  The Messiah, his only Son, Jesus was here on Earth to show the make the way to God available to us all.  Lazarus was used by God for the noble purpose of showing those who knew Jesus his divine nature so that they might put their faith in him.  Imagine how many people in the last two thousand years have put their faith in Jesus in part because of how God's glory was revealed in the resurrection of Lazarus.  Nobody wants to volunteer for that role, but when we put our hope and faith in Jesus, we also put our trust in the will of the Father.  When we do, God will use us to make his name great, because we will help lost sinners find their way home.

I may not understand God's will for my life, and I wouldn't have chosen to take it in this direction, but the wisdom of God is at work because I have chosen to be God's servant, and he will make his name great through my life as long as I continue to follow him; and I will.

Sermon Video: "I am the resurrection" The Raising of Lazarus Part 2 - John 11:17-27

In the second part of the story of the resurrection of Lazarus, Jesus speaks with Lazarus' sister Martha whose continued faith in him defies the disappointment that she must have been feeling.  Jesus tells her that her brother will rise again because, "I am the resurrection and the life".  Jesus' bold claim to being the power over life after death is a fundamental belief of all Christians.

To watch the video, click on the link below
Sermon Video

Where's a new Christian to start?

A long-time friend of mine asked me where in the Bible a new Christian should start reading.  In the beginning, at Genesis and just read it through?  At the start of the New Testament, in Matthew? 
My own suggestion would be to have anyone who wants to learn about the Bible, and new Christians in particular start with the Gospel of Mark.  Mark offers the easiest to understand account of the life of Jesus, and one that can be read in a short period of time.  You've got to start somewhere, and the account of who Jesus is and what he did for us should generate plenty of questions that will help spark the dialogue that leads to understanding and growth.
It also seems like a good idea to read the letter of James for its practical moral advice about living an active faith, and then perhaps the letter of I John because of John's teaching on what makes a person a Christian (oddly enough, the subject of my book; free to read, download, or print with a simple click; just click on the "documents you can read" topic in the index).
In the end, new Christians and those who are curious but not believers, both need help from someone who can explain the basics of the Gospel message who is also at the same time living that message in his/her life.  The Bible can work wonders, it is of course God's Word, but most people want to see that we take this Bible seriously, that we follow its teachings, and that we love each other if they themselves are going to join our family.
Where's a new Christian to start?  Hopefully, reading God's Word and spending time in a local church that can help him/her nurture that newborn faith.  In the end, perhaps where a person starts to read isn't as important as who is walking alongside them to help them.  We all should be eager to lend a helping hand to those who, like us, have found redemption in the blood of the Lamb.

Sermon Video, "so that you may believe" The Raising of Lazarus Part 1 - John 11:1-15

In John's Gospel Jesus is confronted with the news that a close friend named Lazarus is very sick, but Jesus decides to wait two days before returning to help.  Lazarus dies before Jesus arrives, but Jesus tells his disciples that he is "glad" that he wasn't there because they will soon see his power (when he raises Lazarus from the dead), "so that you may believe".  Why does God have the right to use our lives (our hurt, pain, even deaths) to further his will?  And How could Jesus stand by and let someone he loves die?  The Love and Wisdom of God are revealed by Jesus.

To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video

A Lesson from my dog...

One of our dogs hasn't been feeling very well of late.  Not eating, stomach problems, lethargic, that sort of thing.  The problem is that we can't ask her what is wrong.  Was it something she ate, is she in pain, is she sad that she misplace her favorite bone?  Who knows.
The thought occured to me that many people act the same way.  They go through struggles, difficulties, and troubles without ever letting those who care about them know it.  Why do people hid their pain?  Usually it is some mixture of shame, fear, pride, or stubborness.  What will people say if they know what I've done?  What will people think if they know what I'm afraid of?  How will people look at me when they know how much I've let them down?  I don't care how much it hurts, I'm going to fix this myself.
Maybe you've had some of those thoughts, maybe you're saying something like that right now.  There are two very good reasons why you should let other people help you through tough times in your life.  The first is that we're not meant to fight those battles alone.  God created us to be social, to lean on each other, to offer mutal support.  We're designed this way.  When we try to do everything on our own, we make things much more difficult and miss out on the love that our friends, family, and church would offer if only we would let them.  The second reason why we should ask for help is because we deny those same friends, family members, and church members the chance to be Christ-like when we don't go to them for help.  As believers in Jesus Christ, we have an obligation to support and help those in need.  The only way that we will grow as Christians is by serving others.  If we all try to solve everything on our own, none of us will grow to be the mature Christians that God wants us to be.
The next time you face something difficult in life, rather than digging a moat around yourself so that nobody can get in, try instead to build a bridge so that someone can show you how much they love you.  As God's Word reminds us, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (I Peter 5:7)  Go to God, go to his people; we are his hands, his feet, here to serve each other, here to carries the burdens of those in need.

Sermon Video: Restraining Sensual Indulgence - Colossians 2:20-23

Do groups that attempt to isolate themselves from the world, like medieval monks or the Amish of today, hold the key to holiness?  What is the value of self-denial (Asceticism)?  Paul explains why this belief is misguided and ultimately fails to accomplish its goal, the restraint of sensual indulgence.

To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video

The 4th Annual Ecumenical Sunday: Music from the choir

The King B9's choir from the Cathedral of St. Andrew (Grand Rapids)
Performing at the First Baptist Church of Palo under the direction of Tom Good

"Jesus Met the Woman at the Well"
"Here I am Lord"
and a duet by Nicole Powell and Tom Good
"And all these things will be added"

to watch the video, click on the link below:
Music Video

Sermon Video: "A Tale of Two Child Kings" - II Chronicles 33-35

The lives of these two child kings of Judah, Manasseh and Josiah illustrate the responsibility that each man and woman has before God.  Manasseh had a righteous father, Hezekiah, but turned into one of Judah's most wicked kings.  Josiah had a wicked father, Amon, but became one of the nation's most God-honoring kings.  In both cases, these men defied that "apple doesn't fall far from the tree" mentality.  In the end, we must all answer to God for what we do with the situation we find ourselves in.

To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video

Ecumenical Sunday

We've just completed another of our annual Ecumenical Sunday services at the First Baptist Church of Palo.  What this service entails is primarily a visit from the King B9's choir (that Nicole and I sing with on Sunday night) from the Cathedral of St. Andrew (in Grand Rapids, under Tom Good's direction).  The choir sings several songs of course, but the purpose of the service is to foster fellowship between these two groups that might not otherwise have any interaction.  It may be a small step in the direction of inter-church cooperation and worship, but it is one we're glad to be part of.
There are many churches, but there is only one Church.  All those who follow Jesus Christ belong to his Church; we're just keeping the pews warm, he owns the place.

Sermon Video: "I am the Good Shepherd" - John 10:1-18

In this well known figure of speech, Jesus calls himself the "good shepherd" who cares for his sheep.  Jesus also claims to be the gate through which the sheep must enter.  In this dual role, Jesus is the way to the Father, AND the means of guiding and protecting those who have found God through him.  Jesus also warns his disciples that there are others who will try to lead the sheep astray if they don't listen carefully to their message.  In addition, Jesus offers abundant life to those who believe in him which he was able to achieve by choosing to lay down his life on our behalf and then taking it back up again.  This message of Jesus in the Gospel of John makes clear that Jesus is the exclusive path to God, all others lead to false hope.

To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video

With much Freedom, comes much responsibility

As Americans once again celbrate our independence this July 4th with all of the variety and excitement of such a free people, I was reminded of a line from the movie Spiderman.  Peter Parker's uncle Ben tells him, "with great power comes great responsibility".  The same notion holds true for each and every American.  We have been given, by Almighty God and the sacrifices of those who fought for this country, a measure of freedom that would have been beyond the imagining of the writers of the New Testament.  They lived in a world where constraints upon each person's choices were commonplace.  People couldn't live where they wanted to, they couldn't choose the occupation they desired, and they certainly didn't enjoy much in the way of religious, speech, or political rights.  Slavery was commonplace in our world until recent history.  Participation in the political process was reserved for only a select powerful few.
All of this began to change with the American Revolution, and just as important, the Bill of Rights.  It was not an easy road; we too have prejudice and denial of rights in our nation's history, but the end result is a nation in which each man and woman enjoys immense freedom.  The question then becomes, what do we do with this freedom?  How do we live as free men and women?  The Apostle Paul wrote to the Churches in Galitia about the new freedom that Christian enjoyed to live according to the dictates of their conscience.  He reminded them that, "You, my brothers, were called to be free.  But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love." (Galatians 5:13)  Freedom is the birthplace of service to others.  It is when we are the most free that we must choose to set aside our own indulgences to serve others.  This is the great responsibility that comes with freedom.
As men and women created by God, we will all stand before the throne of God and answer for how we served others.  As Americans, we will also answer for how we used this extraordinary gift of freedom.  Did we use our freedom to indulge in selfish pursuits, or did we show gratitude to our Maker by using our gift of freedom to help others? 
Today is our independence today.  Celebrate the freedom that we enjoy with joy and passion, but also remember that as Jesus said, "from everyone who has been given much, much will be required" (Luke 12:48)

Sermon Video, "Alive with Christ" - Colossians 2:11-17

Paul expains that our Spiritual baptism with Christ enables us to receive new life when we were dead in our sins. It also allows God to forgive us, destroys the written law which convicted us, and allows us to live a life free of legalistic attitudes. We must all die with Christ, and be raised with him to new life.


To watch the sermon video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video

Sermon Video: A Father's Faith - Genesis 22:1-18

Abraham is put to the test by God who asks him to sacrifice his son Isaac.  What is God up to, Why would he ask something so contrary to his nature of Abraham?  What does the test tell us about Abraham, and what does it reveal about God?

To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video

Sermon Video: The Day of Pentecost, Acts 2:1-13

The coming of the Holy Spirit marks the beginning of the Church as God sends the Spirit to guarantee the redemption in Christ and inspire believers to become Christ-like.  The Spirit allowed the believers to speak in many languages on that day, foreshadowing the spread of the Gospel message throughout the world.

To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video

Sermon Video: "Why do you stand here looking into the sky?" - Acts 1:1-11

Jesus, in his last instructions to his disciples before ascending into Heaven, teaches them that the restoration of the Kingdom of Israel is not their current mission. Through the power of the Holy Spirit his disciples will be spreading the Good News of Jesus in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the world! From these eleven (and Jesus' other followers) will grow a worldwide Church that stands for two thousand years. Only the continued presence of the Holy Spirit could make such a remarkable success story possible.
To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video

Herman Wouk and the Holocaust

I've been rereading Herman Wouk's WWII novels this spring, Winds of War and War and Remembrance, and coupled together with teaching Lord of the Flies this spring (and watching Schindler's List with that class), I've spent a lot of time thinking about the nature of humanity.  Questions such as: Why were people blind to the Final Solution while it was happening?  Herman's novel, and Spielberg's movie make it clear that most of the Jews of Europe couldn't imagine that the Nazi intended to murder all of them.  I pointed out to my class each time a character in the movie says, "this is the worst"; sadly, it happens over and over until the train mistakenly rolls into Auschwitz.  Throughout the novels, various characters try to understand how such evil could take hold in Germany, but each theory falls flat because the Holocaust wasn't the only example of hatred and persecution of the Jewish people; until the mass killings began, it wasn't even the worst example (the Inquisition leads the list, but also episodes during the Crusades and Black Plague, among others).
So how could this happen and how could people have been so blind to it?
The short answer is: human nature
We are capable of unspeakable evil because humanity is rotten to the core.  The few examples of "good" people who have done the right thing in history cannot blot out the casual evil that exists each and every day in our world.
We are also at times blind to that evil because humanity, as a whole, isn't interested in facing the truth.  We'd much rather believe that we're civilized, that we've risen above the primitive nature of our ancestors and somehow fixed the problems of the ancients through education, psychology, or laws.  We haven't, the only thing that modern man has achieved is to convince ourselves that our problems can be fixed, despite the vast evidence to the contrary.  Not convinced?  Consider the vast amounts spent on education in the world today (certainly a higher percentage of people in the world today can read/write, etc. than ever before), and yet the genocides continue despite 24/7 coverage on CNN.  Psychologists and Sociologists can diagnose mental issues, can help some people to overcome their problems, and yet the world's prisons are full (and then some) of men and women guilty of every type of inhumanity.  America is the most prosperous nation in the history of the world, and yet our teens flee to drug use and reckless sexual behavior to escape their hollow existence.  (I could continue, but the point is made)
Where is the hope, where is the peace??
The Gospel is humanity's only hope, and transformation of individuals by the power of the Holy Spirit is the only solution.  We will never fix the problems in our society until we begin to transform lives one at a time.  The Holocaust happened because mankind IS that depraved.  After WWII the slogan was, "never again", but that didn't last very long. {see Pol Pot in Cambodia, the Serbs in the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda, the Sudan, Somalia, 9/11 etc.}
Is remembrance important?  Very much so, but it won't stop us from walking down the path to another Holocaust.  Humanity doesn't need a make-over, it needs an overhaul.  Only Christ has the power to save us from ourselves.

Memorial Day observance Video

This is the video of our Memorial Day observance at the Palo cemetery, including my message honoring the eight Medal of Honor recipients from Iraq and Afghanistan.

To watch the video, click the links below:
Memorial Day Video
Memorial Day Video - Part 2

Sermon Video: The Union of Doctrine and Devotion - Colossians 2:2-6

Paul writes to share his joy that the Church at Colassae is "encouraged in heart and united in love" as well as having an "orderly and firm faith".  This combination of emotional and rational health helps the church remain true to the Gospel despite the temptations of "fine sounding arguments" which seek to lead it astray.  As Christians, we have the same need, to be emotionally and intellectual involved in our faith so that we as individuals, and collectively as a Church, will not fall prey to ideas that would take us away from the Gospel.

To watch the sermon, click on the links below:
Sermon Video Part 1
Sermon Video Part 2

Remembrance

“Remember the Alamo!” We certainly do. “Remember Goliad!” Not so much. And yet, both were used as rallying cries by the forces that defeated Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto. Why is the Alamo remembered to this day, its legend celebrated in movie and song, but Goliad is known only to the few who paid attention in U.S. history in high school. In the same vein, the defeat at Pearl Harbor became “A date which will live in infamy”, but the defeat of American forces in the Philippines which occurred later that same day has been forgotten. What is the purpose of remembering the tragedies of the past? Why will we all tell the next generation years from now about what it was like on Sept. 11th 2001, much as our parents told us about the day that JFK was assassinated?


We remember the past because it helps us to understand the present. The tragic past also inspires us to make choices today which we hope will prevent us from repeating it. As Americans, we honor and celebrate those who risked their lives in service to their country throughout our history each Memorial Day. We have parades, go to the cemetery, and listen to speeches, often including a reading of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. We honor them because we know that our present freedoms were purchased with blood, and we honor them because we hope to avoid the wars that interrupted, and for too many ended, their lives.

As Christians we do the same thing. We celebrate Christmas and Easter every year to remember what Christ chose to do for us. Jesus chose to enter our world as a man, subject to the same pain that we feel. He chose to walk up to Jerusalem, knowing the Cross would be the ultimate destination, but also knowing that the empty grave awaited beyond it. We remember because it is “altogether fitting and proper” to honor Jesus for his sacrifice on our behalf. Likewise, we will always honor those who give the “last full measure of devotion” to America.

Sermon Video: The Trouble with Strife, Proverbs 17:1,9,14

What's so bad about a little strife in life anyway? Why should Christians want to live in Peace? Proverbs offers us wisdom about the need for a peaceful existence, and also some tips and how to begin to find it. In the end, peace isn't simply found, it must be sought out and worked for.


To watch the video, click on the links below:
Sermon Video Part 1
Sermon Video Part 2

Sermon Video: "I will have nothing to do with evil" - Psalm 101

In this Psalm David explains the process of how a follower of God can proress and grow in the faith. The five steps related in the Psalm are this: (1) Know who God is, (2) Set the goal of being like God, (3) Stay away from bad influences, (4) Stay close to righteous people, and (5) Help purge evil from around you, beginning with your own family.

To watch the video, click on the links below
Sermon Video Part 1
Sermon Video Part 2

Osama Bin Laden and the Lord of the Flies

One of the world's most famous villians, a man who cared nothing for the murders of innocents and celebrated their deaths in his twisted vision of the future, is dead.  Will terrorism die with him?  Could the death of this one man put a stop to the global Jihad that has been declared against the West and Christianity?

The short answer is no.  That isn't what everyone wants to hear, but it's the sad truth.  There are still plenty of evil men (and some women) in our world eager to commit similar acts of sin against their fellow man.  When Hitler envisioned the destruction of the Jewish people he would have been just another racist if there weren't millions of "good" Germans willingly joining in the killing.  Remember, Hitler was elected by popular vote before he took power in Germany.  Osama Bin Laden too was very popular among the millions of young Muslims who share his hatred.

How does any of this relate to William Golding's novel, Lord of the Flies?  In the book, the character Simon seeks to explain to the boys who have been stranded on the Pacific island with him that "mankind's essential illness" is what they have to fear.  The boys on the island have been growing increasingly afraid of an imaginary "beast" whose existence they have tried to deny, but the fear of which continues to grow just the same.  Simon explains that there is no external beast to fear, but rather "the beast is us".  The only evil they have to fear is the evil within themselves.  Humanity's essential flaw is that we are depraved.  We are mired in sin and unable to live together in peace. 

As shocking as it may sound, the evil in men like Osama Bin Laden and Adolf Hitler is not different in kind from the evil that resides in humanity as a whole.  It is certainly different in degree; most people never approach such scale in the evil that they do, but as Romans reminds us, "all have sinned".  We have all fallen short of perfection, we have all commited sins against ourselves, our neighbors, and our God.  We have all taken steps down the path that leads to Hell.

Is it a good thing that Osama Bin Laden is dead?  Certainly.  Did he deserve to die because of his crimes?  Absolutely.  Will terrorism cease now or in the future?  Sadly, no, this form of evil may be new, but the depravity that spawned it is not.  So what should we do if the battle that we're fighting cannot be won?  Even if we cannot win a battle against evil in our world, we must still support and honor those who try to protect the innocent and administer justice.  We must all strive to instill virtue in the next generation, work to protect the innocent as best we can, and tell the world that the only cure for our self-destruction is the saving grace of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Sermon Video: "I am sending you" John 20:19-21

As the disciples huddle behind locked doors on the evening of the first Easter, Jesus suddenly appears in their midst and tells them, "Peace be with you."  These words and the proof of Jesus' resurrection later form the basis for the remarkable willingless of ten out of eleven (all but John) of the disciples choosing martyrdom over abandonment of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Even today, Jesus offers his peace to any who are willing to accept him.

To watch the video, click on the links below:
Sermon Video Part 1
Sermon Video Part 2

If God is Love...

The modern world doesn’t like absolutes. It recoils from calling even the most vile acts evil. It dismisses the idea of hell as an antiquated notion that the Church needs to rid itself of. It looks at the morality of the Bible as a suggestion, something that can be changed when needed. That is why it is so interesting that this same mindset has latched onto the declaration of the Letter of First John that “God is love”. If God is love, they say, he wouldn’t send anyone to hell. He wouldn’t fault anyone for believing in a false religion, or no religion at all. The God who is love will always choose love over any other quality.


Sadly, this particular God doesn’t resemble the God of the Bible. He isn’t the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Nor is he the God who revealed himself to Moses and gave his Covenant people the Law. To reduce God to a one-dimensional principle (even one as fundamental to his nature as Love) is to treat God like a force, and not a person. But the God who chose to reveal himself to us through the Scriptures is clearly a person. God has emotions, God gets angry, God laughs, and yes, God loves.

God cares about holiness. He can’t accept rebellion, he can’t ignore sin. How do we know, besides the fact that the Bible is full of God saying exactly that, consider that God cared enough about sin that he tossed Adam and Eve out of the Garden. He flooded the world in disgust in the day of Noah. He leveled Sodom and Gomorrah, and put the sons of Eli to death for their blasphemy. God made his people wander in the desert for forty years because of their unbelief, and he decreed that the people of Canaan were so evil that they must be wiped out, all of them. God takes holiness serious in his people too. When David sinned, the unborn child died as a consequence. When the whole nation of Israel wandered away from him, he sent them into captivity. When Judah did the same, they followed suit. God cares enough about holiness that he sent his own Son to die on the Cross to save us from ourselves. God is love. No doubt about that, why else would he go to such lengths to try to redeem us?

Is hell real? You’d better believe it. Either hell is real, or God is a liar. Either hell is real or Jesus died in vain. Is there any point in worshiping a God who lies to us? Any reason to worship a God who would put his Son through torture for no real reason?? So, go ahead, tell everyone that God is love, just don’t forget to also tell them that God is Holy. And oh, by the way, we’re not. Either we fix that problem through faith in Jesus Christ, or we’re going to hell. Not because God sends people there, but because we earned it.

The Lord of the Flies and Schindler's List

In a few day my students will begin writing an essay on the nature of humanity.  They've been reading through William Golding's excellent "Lord of the Flies" in which he seeks to show through the total breakdown of the society of a couple of dozen boys stranded on a small island that the evil that mankind confronts comes from within.  We can't hide from it on a island because we brought it with us when we came there.  Despite the best efforts of some of the book's characters, a meltdown into violence and chaos follows...Last year I used the heart-wrenching true story contained in "Schindler's List" as a way to further the theme and allow my students to write about human nature.  After watching the unspeakable inhumanity of the Holocaust, is it possible to still see good in man?  Can the redemptive acts of Oskar Schindler and Itzhak Stern stand up against the casual evil of Amon Goeth and the countless "good Germans" who didn't give a second thought to the massacre of innocents in their midst?
This is no small question, and one that occupies the minds of many Christians as well.  The level of evil in our world should, at the least, give us pause and send us back to Scripture seeking answers.  With Easter just ending, we are all aware of the injustice and inhumanity displayed when Christ was crucified.  This is nothing new.  God was disgusted with humanity in the day of Noah.  We haven't changed much.  The absolute reality of evil requires us to throw ourselves on the mercy of God and trust wholly in the Blood of the Lamb to save us from ourselves. 
In the end, this is why the Love of God isn't enough.  {Sorry, but it's the truth.  Love alone fails, without Christ we would all be doomed despite God's unchangeable love for us}To simply say that God loves us and it'll be ok doesn't cut it.  God cannot have any part in the evil that engulfs our world.  Holiness and sin do NOT mix.  There is no remedy for our desperate situation apart from Christ.
What will my students write?  How many of them will choose to see the courage of Oskar and the crazy Hope of Itzhak as proof that there is hope in humanity?  How many will recoil at the evil of children murdered simply because they were Jewish and conclude that humanity is beyond hope?
Is humanity evil?  Yes, none of us are free of guilt.
Are we beyond hope?  On our own, yes.
Thanks be to God for the nail-pierced hands that gave us hope.

Sermon Video: "Jesus had to rise from the dead" - John 20:9

The account of Resurrection Sunday in the Gospel of John contains a note from the author that Peter and John didn't understand that "Jesus had to rise from the dead".  Not simply that he did rise from the dead, but that it was predicted, necessary, and inevitable.  As the Messiah, the Lamb of God, and the sinless Son of God, the grave had no hold upon Jesus.  He had to rise from the dead.

To watch the video, click on the links below:
Sermon Video Part 1
Sermon Video Part 2

Sermon Video: "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" - John 12:12-16

Jesus enters Jerusalem at the beginning of Passion Week with the shouts of praise from the crowds ringing in his ears.  Unlike a Roman triumph, Jesus enters riding humbly on a colt.  The crowd wanted Jesus to be the conquering hero, but Jesus continues to predict that he will be the suffering servant.  What are our expectations of Jesus when he returns?

To watch the video clink on the links below:
Sermon Video Part 1
Sermon Video Part 2

No man knows the number of his days

Many who know me know that I have been dealing with several important life-direction choices in recents months and weeks.  For the most part, they've gone down in flames.  My attempt to join the Army as a chaplain was shot down (no pun intended) by a single doctor's opinion about the health of my knees (and yes, I'm still running and playing ball each week).  A couple of other opportunities have recently come to my attention, but there have been snags that may prevent them from working either.  In the midst of my own angst, and my genuine concern for the well being of my wife, I got a strange phone call this past week from my best friend.
I've received hundreds of call from him over the years, we've played sports together and hung out for almost thirty years, but this call was different.  The voice on the other end of the line was strained and sounded weaker somehow.  It didn't take long before he told me that he was in the hospital.  Having played basketball together six days prior I at first thought it was a joke; but it wasn't.  Long story short, my friend had been rushed to the hospital for an emergency situation that while treatable, could have been life threatening if no dealt with quickly.  We're both 36, our birthdays are a month apart; that's a wake-up call.  While I was worried about the direction of my career, my finances, and my wife (all legit things), my best friend was suddenly facing a very serious medical situation.  In the long-run, he'll be fine and this will be a blip on the radar, but it is also a reminder that none of us know the day or hour appointed for us by the Lord.  We don't know how long we have on this Earth to make a difference, how much time we'll have with our loved ones, or how many 2nd and 3rd chances we'll get to do the right thing.  Let's not waste any more of that time, it's too precious.
Get better soon, those 18 year old kids still need to be taught some lessons on the court.

Sermon Video: John 12:23-32 "When I am lifted up"

Jesus prepares his followers for the road to the cross by explaining that the Son of Man must be lifted up.  In God's ultimate act of love, his holiness and wrath are satisfied by the sacrfice that Jesus chooses to make on our behalf.  Jesus also reminds us that if we're going to be his followers, we're going to need to be servants who rely upon God for rewards rather than seeking after reward in this life.

To watch the video clink on the links below:
Sermon Video Part 1
Sermon Video Part 2

Sermon Video: "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" - John 9:26-38

One of the Bible's unsung heroes, the unnamed blind man healed by Jesus, stands up against the powerful Pharisees, a religious group with a reputation for piety and self-righteousness.  When he asks them if they want to become Jesus' disciples too, they throw him out.  Jesus seeks out the healed man and asks him if he believes in the Son of Man.  What was his response when Jesus told him he was looking at the same man who had healed him?  "Lord, I believe."  Jesus' care for this one forgotten man illustrates the lengths that God will go to in the ongoing effort to share his Grace and Mercy with us all.

To watch the video, click on the links below:
Sermon Video Part 1
Sermon Video Part 2

Play Ball!

Today is that quintessential American day, the opening day of Baseball.  In the tradition of the fans of generations past, most true-believers think that there team has a chance this year.  Well, maybe not in Cub fans, but just about everybody else.  There's something special about being able to start over fresh each year.  No matter how well, or how poorly, last year went, this year starts from scratch.  In life, most of us could use a fresh start from time to time.  Perhaps our career needs a restart, perhaps our finances, or perhaps it is our relationships that need to be revamped and renewed. 
In keeping with my firm belief that God must love baseball (you did see "Field of Dreams", right?), the Covenant that he made with the people of Israel contained this concept of starting over.  Every fiftieth year was a Year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25), a year when all property reverted to its original owner and all slaves were given their freedom.  The purpose of the Law was to give those who had fallen on hard times a second chance.  No family would be down and out forever, and nobody's wealth could grow to great at the expense of his neighbors.  This may not make economic sense in the modern economy, but it certainly makes spiritual sense.  We've all spent time heading down road that lead to nowhere, and we've all done serious damage to relationships that mean a lot to us.  As Easter approaches, consider the opportunities that you have to reconcile to those whom you've hurt, and take the God-honored step of going to those who have hurt you and letting you know that you've forgiven them.  What grudge is worth holding on to year after year, what offense is worth the destruction that it does to our own souls when we cling to it?
Our God is the God of second chances, he gave one to Moses, David, Rahab, Ruth, Elijah, Johanh, Peter and Paul, just to name a few.  Why not imitate our heavenly father and be the people of second chances?  A new season offers new hope, and a new chance.  Go Tigers!

Sermon Video: John 9:13-25 "I was blind but now I see!"

What is the response to Jesus healing a man born blind?  Wonder?  Gratitude?  No, controversy.  The healing took place on the Sabbath when "work" was forbidden.  What kind of man heals with the power of God on the Sabbath?  The healed man's famous response to being questioned on the matter, "One thing I do know, I was blind but now I see!"

To watch the video, click on the links below:
Sermon Video Part 1
Sermon Video Part 2

We are indeed all mortals...Isaiah 40:7-8

"The grass withers and the flowers fall,
because the breath of the LORD blows on them.
Surely the people are grass.
The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever.”

I came across this text today, quoted by Peter in I Peter 1:24-25, and it reminded me of conversations I've had in the last 24 hours with my mother and my mother-in-law about two of our relatives whose health is failing and for whom we've been praying.  We have a rather long life expectancy in America, but in the view of eternity, our time here is short.  What do we make of this?  Do we shout "carpe diem" and try to live each day like it is our last, or do we plan long-term and try to leave something behind that will last when we're gone?  The answer is both.  We must strive to make each day count, but we must also be wise builders who invest in the future and who take our responsibility seriously as members of the body of Christ.  God's Church will continue long after we're gone, his Word will endure forever.  God willing, the sacrifices we make for his kingdom will be enjoyed by the next generation.

Sermon Video: John 9:1-12, the Sin of the Man Born Blind

Why was this man born blind?  Jesus' answer to his disciples question shows us that we cannot view all suffering as a punishment for sin.  Sin causes suffering, but not all suffering is from sin.  God wants us to help the less fortunate, not blame them.  Jesus offers light in the darkness and truth for those who seek him.

To watch the sermon, click on the links below
Sermon Video Part 1
Sermon Video Part 2

When the Oceans Rise...

We sang an iworship song in church this week entitled, "Still", that has a line in its chorus "When the Oceans rise, and thunder roars, I will soar with you, above the storm"...In light of the tragedy unfolding this past week in Japan, those words seemed especially poignant.  As we sang the song, the thought occurred to me that whatever the particular storm may be that we're facing (in this case; a literal wave in Japan), the time to prepare to stand firm through it is well BEFORE the storm clouds darken the horizon.  I know the metaphor may be stretched a bit here, but we all will face a variety of storms in life, and none of us knows ahead of time how we will react to tragedy.  How then do we prepare?  As Jesus explained in the Gospel of Matthew: the wise man builds his house upon the rock (7:24-29).  The only sure foundation any of us can have to face the inevitable trials and tribulations of life is to plant our feet firmly on the hope we have in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  When we have placed our trust in God, not even the loss of our own lives will conquer us. 
As always, our thoughts and prayers are with those suffering in our world.

Sermon Video: Psalm 19:7-11, "the Law of the LORD revives the soul"

This message explores the perfection and purpose of the moral
code of God revealed in the Law. Not only is God's law a guide to
right living, but the path to wisdom and joy as well.
 
to watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video Part 1
Sermon Video Part 2

Sermon Video: Colossians 1:23 "continue in your faith"

This sermon explores the need of the individual Christian, as well as of the local church, to maintain and defend faith.  Faith must be nurtured, discipline pursued.  Also, the historic essence of the Gospel message must continue to be our central focus.

To watch the video, click on the link below:

Sermon Video: Part 1
Sermon Video: Part 2

Justice Delayed...

The trial for the two men accused of killing Donald Dietz (my dad's neighbor) is finally beginning; the murder occured in Sept. of 2007; it has been almost four years...I know that the wheels of justice grind slowly, but this is fairly pathetic...it reminds me that we often have to wait until our lives here are over to know the justice of God that is missing in our lives.  It would be so much easier, we think, if God was sitting at his computer, hitting the "smite" key anytime somebody stepped out of line (ok, I stole that idea from a classic Far Side comic); at least then we'd know that justice does indeed prevail...It would be more satisfying perhaps, but would it be better?  Why does God wait so long?  II Peter 3:9 reminds us that, "He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."  We may want God to avenge us now, to put the bullies and the jerks in this world in their place.  God's reply to us: "my child, I waited for you to repent, why shouldn't I do the same for my other children?"  I guess God really does know what he is doing...as for Donald and his family, hopefully they will at least receive the small comfort of knowing that human justice does eventually come about from time to time.

Sermon Video: John 8:31-36 "the truth will set you free"

"you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free"
Are we really free, or are even Americans slaves? Jesus said that anyone who sins is a slave to sin. He also offered us all freedom is we choose to believe in and follow him. There is Hope, you can be free!
 
Click on the link below to watch the sermon:
Part One - Sermon Video - John 8:31-36
Part Two - Sermon Video - John 8:31-36

Who is the slave and who is free?

After preaching John 8:31-36 this week, I returned to the classroom to teach today with that thought in mind.  Who really is the slave here and who is free?  Jesus did promise us that the Truth would set us free from the chains of our bondage to sin, but are those chains evident?  Are those who don't have a relationship with God really as lost and hopeless as the Gospel says?...I've been teaching alternative education for over seven years now and I've had some wonderful students over the years.  Sadly, though, the vast majority of my students are so totally enthralled to their own desires that they have virtually no compassion or concern for others.  On top of that, the use of drugs and excessive drinking are for many a daily habit.  Their lives are so desperate and without hope that they need to escape from them every day! 
Who is the slave and who is free?  Am I a slave because I choose to abstain from drugs and alcohol?  Am I a slave because I choose to remain commited to only my wife and no other?  Am I missing out on all of the fun?  No, I'm not.  God didn't give us his commandments in order to ruin our fun, God gave us the Law so that we might see what holiness looks like.  God wants us to be like him because his existence is perfect. 
In the end, we all must choose.  Choose to live our lives for others, to dedicate ourselves to a hope and a calling beyond our own selfish ambitions.  Or, we can choose to live only for ourselves, we can choose to waste our lives on hollow pursuits that will never satisfy.
"if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." - John 8:36

Sermon Video: James 1:9-11, "the value of being rich"

This sermon is from James 1:9-11 and deals with the temporary nature of wealth along with the hidden value of being poor.
to watch the appx. 20 minute sermon, click on the link below
Sermon video: James 1:9-11

For those of you new to my blog...

I suppose there may be some people who view my blog who don't know who I am, for that a trip to the bio. page will suffice, but there may also be some who don't know that I have bunch of documents (a few essays, a play, some sermon videos, and one book) that I've written that are available to read/download/print to anyone who wants to utilize them. I wrote them for a variety of reasons, but if they can be any help to you at all in your personal spiritual walk or answer any of your questions, I'm glad to share my thoughts...The book is entitled, "Christianity's Big Tent" and focuses on the question of who is, and who is not, a Christian. How do we know the difference? What makes a church a Christian church? What's really important about the Gospel message of Jesus Christ, and what isn't crucial? These questions are addressed using the first letter of the Apostle John as the backdrop. Please feel free to direct anyone to the link who has questions about Ecumenism (the issue of churches getting along and cooperating), and don't hesitate to e-mail me with any questions at pastorpowell@hotmail.com.

Christianity's Big Tent

Christianity's Big Tent: Works Cited

The LORD giveth, and the LORD taketh away...

Ever had one of those weeks? When things go so wrong that you don't even know how to react. You could say that the last seven days have been that for my wife and I. We started off last friday with a nice evening; went out for pizza and then to a movie (saw Despicable Me, funny); we were in a good mood, looking forward to the weekend and driving home. The road about 3 miles from home was iced over because of the wind blowing snow across it (as it always is at this spot) so I slowed down to 35 mph. knowing that stopping there was next to impossible...after a couple hundred yards, lights in my rear view mirror keep getting closer, quickly. SLAM!! Our Taurus goes spinning around the road and into the ditch {long story short, the car is totaled, we don't get any money because MI is a no-fault ins. state); both Nicole and I were pretty sore, but at least not hurt badly. In an instant, I don't have a car to drive to work anymore {thankfully my parents let me borrow their 2nd car for a while}...what was a nice evening, a good time for my wife and I together, turns into a rotten night of waiting around in the cold for the cops and a tow truck. In and of itself, that would be enough. God has allowed us to be in financially rough times in the past, we've struggled to find the $ to pay our bills, but we're not as hard up as some; we can deal with this too....
Fast forward five days, I check my e-mail to discover that the Army chaplain recruiter has sent me a new one; nothing unusual here, he's been asking for additional info. for six months...when I open it I learn that the Army doctor who had previously approved my medical waiver (I have some knee pain and used to have migraines), has changed her mind and rejected it instead. The recruiter has told me that this is the end, there isn't anything else he can do {there are a couple of long-shot chances I'm yet pursuing, but they're not likely}; in one moment, my plans to go back to the Seminary to finish my MDiv and for us to have health insurance by this summer (we've been 2 yrs. without, neither of my 2 jobs have it, nor Nicole's adjunct prof. position); not to mention the long-held desire I have had to join the military; poof, gone...
Ok Lord, now what? How can I minister full-time when the hurdles in the way keep getting higher...I've been inches away from a full-time prison chaplain job only to have someone decide they weren't going to retire afterall; poof...I've been working for four years at my church, but we're barely keeping our heads above water. All the growth we would have had was negated by people moving away to find jobs. What now?
At times, it isn't easy being a servant of the Lord (I know, that's a shocker); if it wasn't for the support of family and friends, my church and my wife; I'd be hurting much worse...
to think, Job didn't have any of that, his wife told him to cuse God and die; his friends told him to confess to the sins he knew he hadn't commited; God's answer, "hey Job, I'm God, you let me worry about the future" (ok, that's a real big paraphrase)...
So, God, you're God, I'm letting you worry about the future; please help me to see what I'm supposed to do in the present...

The hero's homecoming

This past week the members of the 1st Squadron, 33 Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) returned home to Fort Campbell after completing their deployment to Afghanistan. Included in that squadron is one of my best friends, Captain (Dr.) Zach DeYoung {the man who was influential in my own decision to join the Army reserves as a chaplain}. Upon their return, the unit was greeted with the pomp and ceremony befitting the honor due those who have served their countries. They were then of course mobbed by family members. After a year apart, husbands and wives held each other once again, children were scooped up and treasured once more. Zach was reunited with his wife Karen and his daughters Isabella (3) and Sophia (1). It would be difficult to picture a more touching family reunion. The virtues of patience, duty, sacrifice, commitment, and love could easily be extolled upon by those looking to inspire others to make virtuous choices of their own. This scene has been, and will be repeated, all over the country as men and women return home from tours of duty. They deserve our thanks.
As I pondered this homecoming, I couldn’t help but imagine for a moment what the homecoming celebration must have been like when Jesus returned in triumph to his own home. He too had been away a long time on a dangerous mission, and he, like too many others, was asked to give his life in service to that mission. Unlike the sacrifices made in defense of freedom, the cause that Jesus was willing to die for was the liberation of the souls of mankind. As noble as those sacrifices are (Jesus honored them with his own words, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” John 15:13), they can never match the victory over sin and death achieved by Christ at the cross and vindicated three days later at the empty tomb.
When Jesus returned home to his Father, amidst the throngs of angels and men and women whose hope had been in the Lord, the shout of triumph must have put to shame the thousands who will cheer at this year’s Super Bowl. Not only had Jesus lived a sinless life in order to make his sacrifice worthy, he had also passed the test at the moment of trial by proclaiming his allegiance to his duty, “may your will be done” (Matthew 26:42). On that day, when Jesus returned home to the embrace of his heavenly father, he stood victorious over sin and death, a hero whose example inspires us to sacrifice for each other as so many honorable soldiers already have.