Can what’s happening in your local church or life be explained in normal terms?
In this final chapter of his book, Chan challenges us to think about our personal life and our church’s life and wonder this question. Essentially he’s asking if our church is supported by the same gifts that other religions or organizations run on. The question is making us wonder if our life would look much the same whether we were a Christian or not.
Does your church and your life show signs that the power of the Holy Spirit is really making things different?
Some examples for a person to think about. We speak of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:16-26), something that should make us unique as receivers of the Holy Spirit. So do we really have more self-control than Muslims? Do we show more kindness than Mormons? Do we evidence more peace in our lives than Buddhists? More joy than New Agers? Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: chan, forgotten god, Holy Spirit, supernatural church
Don’t you love worship Easter Sunday?
Strange way to start off a post in the middle of June right?
Well, here’s my thinking. There is no equal to the way worship starts off Easter Sunday. You know that feeling. There’s almost a tension in the sanctuary as people are gathered together. Packed closely. And there’s anticipation for the service to start. And it starts with booms- “He is risen!” “Alleluia!”. With trumpets. With loud songs
I love it!
But there’s a reason we always worship on Sunday. Every Sunday is supposed to be a little Easter. That’s actually why we worship on Sunday instead of Saturday, the original Sabbath. So I’m thinking we should burst into worship with that kind of anticipation regularly. Kind of like Psalm 95 does. Listen to the words. Maybe say them along with the video.
Doesn’t it feel like the worship inside people is just bursting forth? So maybe this is teaching us something. Maybe we should be thinking words like this as we prepare for worship. Get into the pew a couple of minutes early. Build ourselves up. Get ready to sing for joy, to shout to our rock, to bow down and kneel before our great God (to pull some of the words from Psalm 95). Be thinking these words throughout your worship. Let’s keep our hearts focused on bursting forth this Sunday, almost as if it were Easter all over again (just minus the lilies)
“Forget about God’s will for your life!”
That’s the provocative chapter title and lead in statement of chapter 6 in the book, Forgotten God. Whoa! What’s that mean exactly?
The author is not saying to ignore God- exactly the opposite. What Chan is challenging us to do is not always be thinking solely about the future of God’ will for us. He notes that many people are paralyzed by this kind of fear. For some, he says it’s kind of an excuse to sit around. We’re afraid that if we really are listening to God, he’s going to ask us to do something really hard and so as long as we say we’re just evaluating God’s plan, we can talk spiritually and look good.
For others, it’s probably genuine fear of doing the wrong thing. You’re worried that you’re going to pick the wrong path and that’s going to make things worse.
Chan says that we need to quit being paralyzed by this fear of the future and start focusing not on God’s will for our entire life, but rather think about responding to the Holy Spirit today. He notes how many Biblical stories show us this kind of example. How much did Abraham know about what his life would be when he followed God’s lead to leave his home, country, and much of his family behind? Not much. How much did Paul know when God called him on the side of the road? Enough for the next day and some general direction. If that was enough for these men, it should be enough for us as well.
Now is there a place for visioning for the future. I certainly think so and maybe Chan starts to lose some of this as he pushes the other direction. I think much of this emphasis is meant to be a jolt to get people started moving again. Visioning is great as long as you make decisions and start moving forward. Looking for God’s will and visioning is not great if you ignore it or just stay in one place.
There are some pretty challenging statements in this chapter, yet the reality is that Jesus challenges disciples- he calls them to take up their crosses and follow him. So often we think of the cross as our daily burdens- bills, fights, being a little sick, etc. But the reality is that when Jesus spoke of the cross, his hearers did not think about normal daily burdens, they thought about a painful death. Jesus’ death on that cross was the ultimate sacrifice. And so if we want to actually follow Jesus and take up our crosses . . . then we should be prepared to make some real sacrifices and face some burdens beyond that of normal daily life.
Chan just keeps pushing in this chapter, but I think we need it. After all, we often get our order out of whack and so I want to close with a quote that I think really helps us reprioritize how our lives are led- “Jesus Christ didn’t die in order to follow us. He died and rose so that we could forget everything else and follow him to the cross, to true life.”
This is a great quote because it both challenge us and tells us the truth, that what God has in store for us if we’re willing to follow is real life, it’s a better life than anything we might try to plan for ourselves.
Tags: chan, forgoteen god, god's will for life
What was your thought the first time you looked at the oceans?
Maybe you’ve just recently gone on vacation to the ocean. . .
There’s no doubt about the power stored up in them is there. They’re just so immense. And the waves are so powerful. As a Minnesota kid, I didn’t see a lot of oceans. Lakes are nice to see, but oceans are a different experience. They’re just so much greater. Of course, as a Minnesota boy, I did love nature. I loved being in the woods. Seeing the trees. Hearing birds. Watching rivers flow. . . All that good stuff.
And as you experience nature, I think for most Christians there is something that just points you to God. In fact, for most people, observing nature, makes them see that there’s something greater out there. And as you read Psalm 93 or listen to the words of Sons of Korah as they sing it, there’s a powerful connection being drawn between God and nature.
God is over all of nature. Those pounding surfs and massive ocean waters. They roar and foam. They are mighty. But that’s because he made them mighty. They are his. In the ancient world, the ocean was often seen as dangerous and scary. Yet this psalm affirms that even the oceans are his. They are nothing compared to the might of God.
So this summer as you travel and appreciate nature, think of God. Whether you’re on the ocean, or in the forests, or seeing wildlife that is just amazing, let it point you to God and his majesty. The one who created it is so much greater even than the creation.
Tags: god, nature, oceans, psalm 93, sons of korah
Last week I spent four days (and nights!) with 90+ kids as we had our annual confirmation camp. Each year I get back and people greet me with. . .
Did you survive?
This is most certainly true!
I did survive, and so much more. Each year is an amazing experience as we live the faith out with kids for most of a week. We’re in the Word constantly, praying , singing, and playing together. And of course, if you have people together night and day for that long, you will also be handling conflict and trying to help them learn what it is to live as Christians together. There are ups and downs, but it is definitely a joy.
As I was thinking about this experience, and what will be happening this Sunday as our kids walk forward to confirm that God has brought them this far in the faith, and that they look forward to moving ahead on the journey, I was thinking about my own experience. I was remembering the classes with our pastors analyzing Crossway pictures. I remember special summer sessions when we dealt with tough issues for teenagers (yes that included the topic every teen loves and hates to talk about S-E-X).
And most of all, I remember that day when I was confirmed, and I remember the pastor looking us in the eyes as he spoke to us. I even remember him asking us that very solemn question, “Will you remain faithful to Christ, even unto death?”
So I’m curious- what do you remember from your confirmation experience? What still stands out to this day?
It’s a universal truth- the time when almost everyone wants to reach out to God is when they’re in trouble.
Listen/watch the words from Psalm 80 (this connects to a number of psalms, but Psalm 80 is at the 16 minute mark).
Sometimes this kind of bothers me. Not that I don’t do it myself. I do, but have you ever been bothered by this instinct in others and yourself to call out to God suddenly when trouble comes. Why not at other times? Isn’t he your Father, your Creator, your Friend. . . He’s got so many titles. Would you treat your father or friend this way- only calling out when in trouble? Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: god rescues, psalm 80, sons of korah
“The richest man is not the one has the most, but the one who needs the least” (Spanish Proverb)
Psalm 73 takes us on a journey that defines one of the most difficult experiences for a believer. It starts by dealing with the question, “Why do good things happen to bad people while bad things happen to good people?” You know you’ve thought this before. You see people who are not nice and they get ahead. They have so much. Just turn on your tv- watch some reality tv or celebrity interviews and you can see all these narcissistic folks who seemingly are rewarded for their self-aggrandizing behavior. And then you can think of so many solid Christian friend who’ve lost their jobs. . . or lost homes in floods or tornadoes. . . it doesn’t make sense does it.
It can be so frustrating that in Psalm 73 the author states that he’s almost ready to give up and slip to the other side as he envies the wicked (vv. 2-3). He’s almost ready to say that living a life devoted to God is worthless (v. 13) and he’s almost even ready to say this to others (v.15).
And here’s the key- Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: contentment, needs, psalm 73, sons of korah, wants
If you’ve watched the Skit Guys before, you know most of the time their movies are focused on the silly and funny. At the same time, they’re designed to have a point.
This one still has the tinge of humor, but it’s definitely focused on a much more solemn and profound point. And I appreciate that. Because Memorial Day is a serious holiday. Memorial Day is about remembering those who’ve fought and died to protect us. Memorial Day is about appreciating the freedoms we do have in this country. Remember, no matter how long the wars we’re involved in have gone on, they are not old news for those who still fight. And yes, there are still men and women giving their lives almost every day. In fact, just today I spoke with a pastor whose son gave his life in Afghanistan. His mixture of emotion was clear, but he spoke strongly of his hope in the Lord and his pride in his son as well.
And we need to pass on this knowledge to our children. No matter how young they are, teach your children to appreciate that which so many have given up. Teach your children to honor soldiers. Teach your children to pray for them and their families. This may be a “cultural holiday”, but as Christians we remember that our Lord rules over all the world, and he has gifted us with men and women willing to serve and sacrifice. That’s certainly something to honor.
Tags: memorial day
I had a lot of favorite songs growing up, but one of them was this one right here, “Sent Forth by God’s Blessing”.
And what I liked about it was a couple of things. One, I have to admit as a kid that sometimes I was excited because it was a always a closing song and I knew it was time to get moving. But there was also a holier side to my appreciation. I liked how energetic the song was and how it captured the idea that we were getting up and receiving the blessing of God so we could be sent out into the world. That’s what the video with the song kind of captures.
And that’s the idea in Psalm 67. The psalm starts with a prayer for God’s blessing to be upon us. It echoes the words of the benediction. We do indeed look forward to God’s blessing. God wants to bless his people. And during worship, we know he’s given us incredible gifts- in his teaching and the sacraments. That’s exciting!
But he’s not blessing us so we can go out and sit around enjoying it for ourselves. Or just as families. Notice that after v. 1, psalm 67 is talking about all the peoples and nations. The goal is that our blessings spreads out to others. That all the peoples would experience God and his grace.
Think about the words of God to Abraham as he spoke that incredible word of blessing in Gen. 12:1-3. He gives Abraham all these promises of blessing, but it’s done with a purpose- that Abraham and his descendants might be a blessing to all the nations.
Psalm 67 is trying to make us think in this way. As you leave church, or small group Bible study, or even your private devotions and prayer time, part of what you should be telling yourself is this, “God, thank you for this time of building up. Now Lord, please let me use exactly what you’ve just given me so I can strengthen someone else and direct them to you.”
Tags: blessed to be a blessing, psalm 67, sent forth by god's blessing, sons of korah
What kinds of barriers do we erect to deeper relationship with God?
That’s where chapter five is going. So often we talk about desiring the Holy Spirit in a deeper way, but we do erect barriers and Chan does a good job of making us think about these.
One of the barriers is our own insecurity. We get into this pattern in life where we talk about our relationship with God, but we live it tenuously, almost in fear of God. We just hope God forgives us and we keep telling him we’ll “try harder next time”. That’s not what God is seeking. He gives us the Holy Spirit which is a sign that we’re his sons (Gal. 4:6-7). What a gift! Don’t act like you’re barely in. Enjoy the security God gives and act like a son!
Another barrier is comfort. The Holy Spirit is often referred to as our Comforter or Helper. Chan challenges us with this- if you’re already comfortable, why would need a Comforter or Helper? So many Christians feel relatively secure in the world based on their financial prosperity, family situation, etc, that they’re not really seeking significant help from God. Sometimes if we really want a deeper relationship with God, that means getting out of our box where we might be a little uncomfortable. Then we’ll really feel the aid of the Helper (note- this doesn’t mean doing something sinful or throwing away God’s gifts, but rather, a pious and thoughtful call to do godly things that might move you into uncomfortable situations).
Finally, what’s the volume like in your life? You’ve heard this before, but it bears repeating- when the rest of life is too loud, it’s hard to really listen to God. What I like about this point is his encouragement to just read through John 14-16 where God really speaks about wanting to be in us and to be part of us constantly. Don’t let him be drowned out, but let him be part of daily life!
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