My Easter Hallel (Praise)

Beaten and shamed.
Struck with fist and whip.
Wore a thorn crown peircing his head.
Spikes in his hands and feet.
Sword in his side.
On a cross, my Lord was crucified.
The only Healer chose not to heal self.
The only Savior chose not to save self.
My Savior.
Your Savior.
Our Savior.
Bled upon the cross, and we take it for granted.
Lord, forgive us all for our sins; bury them in your tomb.
He is alive!
I am alive!
Hallelujah!
What a Savior!

Should Christian's Be Involved in Politics?

Augustine said those who are citizens of God's kingdom are best equipped to be citizens of the kingdom of man. Historian John Hallowell wrote, “Only through a return to faith in God, as God revealed Himself to man in Jesus Christ, can modern man and his society find redemption from the tyranny of evil.”
 

Who is better to govern us than our Creator? It is Christian involvement in government that gave us hospitals, civil liberties, abolition of slavery, modern science, the elevation of women, regard for human life, great works of art and literature, a workable system of justice, education for common people, the free-enterprise system, and much, much more. Personal faith, biblical principles, and the recognition of God's sovereignty are spread throughout the writings of our nation's founding fathers. The Bible's solutions make sense and we should vote to keep out of office those who attempt to oppose God's authority, regardless of their political affiliation.
 

Where we have a voice and can elect our leaders, Christians should exercise that right by voting for those whose views most closely parallel God's principles.
 

Recommended reading:  The Stewardship of Politics, by Timothy J. Carlson, The Restoration Herald, Sept 2012. Let Me Tell You How You Should Vote, by Ben Cachiaras, Christian Standard, Sept 2012. Should Christians Vote for a Mormon President?, by Bob Russell.

I Hope He Learns His Lesson!

In my 20 years at FCC, I have had blessings too many to count. Our FCC family, though not perfect, is warm, caring, and generous.

 

I've also had a few blunders along the way. (Okay, more than a few.) I'm talking about the kind of blunders that cause a more sensible person to say "I sure hope he learns his lesson." Translation: "I hope he pays for his stupidity."

 

I've done and said some really stupid stuff. Oh, I'm not talking about things like having a jr. high lock-in with no other adults to help, or saying from the pulpit "there's so much sex on TV it's no wonder they call it the boob tube," or scheduling three weeks straight of camp, youth conference, and another week of camp all the while my wife, Kim, was at home with a 4 and 1 year old, or...(it's a long list). I'm sure you have your list, too.

 

I've learned lessons a lot bigger than those -- most of them the hard way. Why is it that some of our biggest and most important lessons learned come out of pain I caused in others and in me? I'm sure it has something to do with the hardness and stubbornness of my own heart -- it takes a greater blow to break it.

 

Thankfully, with all my blunders and moments of idiocy, I am still surrounded by the arms of a loving God and others who love me unconditionally.

 

Life and ministry is a series of mistakes, lessons, and blessings. Often, they run together in a pack. So, here are a few (more practical) lessons I've learned in ministry to this point.

1. God does more than we can ask or imagine.
2. My wife, Kim, is my best friend and my greatest supporter and co-laborer in ministry.
3. It's not a job, but a calling. If you ever see it as a job then you need to get out of the ministry and do something else.
4. You cannot please everyone, nor can you make everyone happy. So don’t sweat it.
5. Church bulletins are a necessary evil.
6. Get out of the office and among people. You can’t sit in an office all day and do ministry.
7. Sometimes you have to let people leave the church.
8. Prayer needs to be our first choice, not last resort.
9. You can’t do it all, so trust others to help.
10. Extend mercy and grace first...ask questions later.
11. It’s okay to rest, relax and sometimes go hide. Jesus did.
12. Seek wisdom from others. There are some smart people out there.
13. Far more important than your ministry and only second to God is your family. Don’t neglect them.
14. God's Word changes people.

Still learning,
Phil

Dirty Shoes

Social media is an odd fellow. In many ways it has drawn us closer together as we reconnect with old friends and connect with new ones. Yet, it reminds us how divided we can be as hot issues are debated. I have engaged it such debates from time to time, but I'm not so sure it has always been time well spent.

Yes, Christians should proclaim the truth, but not in places where God's truth is unwelcome. Jesus said, "I stand at the door and knock" (Rev 3:20). The image we see is Jesus patiently waiting for us to let him in -- he does not barge in where he is not wanted. So, why do we insist on carrying His truth into hostile arenas where it is not accepted nor wanted?

The sad reality is that those who are still under the influence of the sinful nature are incapable of understanding spiritual things because sin blinds them from the truth (Romans 8:6-7). Sin creates a disdain for God's commands. Sin separates us further from God and His truth. So, don't get frustrated when non-believers misuse Scripture in an attempt to prove their point. Don't be surprised that they don't understand your point of view. Don't be shocked by their brashness toward that which is precious to you. Without the Holy Spirit's guidance, they do not and cannot fully understand God's eternal plan from Genesis to Revelation (1 Cor 2:10-16).

What, then, should we do? Love them as God loves them. Share the Good News with them as we are commanded to do in Matthew 28:19. Valiantly defend the truth of God's Word without shame (Romans 1:16). But don't continue to throw seed where it will be trampled. As Jesus put it, "Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you" (Matthew 7:6). If the person, after hearing the gospel, is still hostile toward God's truth, perhaps it is time to shake the dust off your shoes (Luke 9:5).