I HATE Tests...

“I HATE Tests…”

“Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind.”
– Psalm 26:2 (NIV)

I do believe that I have a little test anxiety.

This would fit nicely with the other 1,268 anxieties I have in life (I’m exaggerating here, of course, but I do have some “doozies”). I actually never even realized there was such a condition until I saw it featured on shows like “20/20”, “Primetime”, “60 Minutes”, and other such shows. I remember being wide-eyed throughout the broadcasts, saying essentially – “That’s me! I have that!” For those who may be wondering, test anxiety is defined as:

“a psychological condition in which a person experiences distress before, during, or after an exam or other assessment to such an extent that this anxiety causes poor performance or interferes with normal learning.” (Wikipedia – for a more full explanation, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Test_anxiety.)

When I was in middle school, my parents took me to a psychologist because, while my tested IQ was in the genius range and I could articulate a wide variety of subject matter with adults (including waxing eloquent on any subject matter of tests and quizzes), I did terrible at actually taking said tests and quizzes.

I now believe that I had/have something of test anxiety.

King David in the Bible didn’t have such issues, apparently. He begins chapter 26 of Psalms by asking God for vindication, and then says something that is shocking to me. He says, “for I have led a blameless life.”

REALLY?

DAVID?!?

The same David that had an adulterous affair?

The same David that had a top general and friend murdered to cover up that sin?

THAT David?

But wait, he goes even further – he invites the God of all the universe, the Holy God of Israel, the Righteous Judge of all the earth… THAT God… to “test him” and “try him” and “examine his heart”.

Whoa.

Talk about test anxiety.

Do I really want to invite the very personification of perfection, the quintessential hallmark of holiness, the whole and complete image of righteousness to have access to every nook and cranny, to every skeleton-lined closet, to every depraved recess of my mind? {*SHUDDERS INVOLUNTARILY*} That’s some serious stuff, man. But, you know what? Here’s the thing: He already does have such access, whether I offer that invitation or not – the Bible clearly says He already knows our every thought.

Still – did David have any idea what he was asking?

Here’s what the “Life Application Bible” has to say in commentary about that:

“In asking God to declare him ‘blameless,’ David was not claiming to be sinless – that is impossible for any human being to achieve. Instead, he was pleading with God to clear his name of the false charges made against him by his enemies. We also can ask God to examine us, trusting him to forgive our sins and clear our record according to His mercy.” – “Life Application Study Bible, NIV, pg 851.

I want to live my life in such a way that, if permission were ever required of God to do so, I would have no compulsions about giving it to Him to “test me, try me, and examine my heart”. I may not ever be perfect in the sense of perfection of performance, but I can have a perfection of heart intention that comes in an instant, sanctifying me “through and through”, while living out that sanctification in a daily willful submission to Him.

He forgives. He cleanses. He blots out any record of wrong to the point to where even He doesn’t remember it any more.

You know what? I think I’ll take “David’s test” today in my prayer below. Want to join me?

Father God,
Try me and test me.
Examine my heart.
And if You find anything there that is wicked, opposed to You, evil, and/or sinful –
please bring it to the surface level of my conscious mind
so that I may turn from it, ask forgiveness, and be cleansed of all unrighteousness.
In Jesus' Name,
AMEN!

Don't JUDGE Me!

“Don’t JUDGE Me!”

“Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults
– unless, of course, you want the same treatment.
Don't condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang.
Be easy on people; you'll find life a lot easier.
Give away your life; you'll find life given back,
but not merely given back – given back with bonus and blessing.
Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity."
– Luke 6:37-38 (Msg.)

I think it can become problematic when we attempt to verify the "Christian-ness" of someone else. The problem lies with the fact that this attempt it leaves no room (makes no allowance, gives no grace) for "Christian growth". Even if we are to judge someone else by the standard of our own Christian walk - is that really fair? Perhaps we've been walking with God longer. Perhaps we've had more revelation than they have.

Don’t misunderstand me. I fully believe there should be standards and there are things that are clearly spelled out as right and wrong in Scripture, but this doesn't give us license to go around questioning a persons salvation based on whatever miniscule fragment of what they have chosen to reveal about their lives, does it?

Certainly there are those who are clear in their antagonism of Christianity, and are so far removed from "right and wrong" that it's readily apparent that they are not Christians in the way that we would commonly understand and affirm.

This is not what I’m talking about here.

What we are discussing is the questioning of the validity of a person’s salvation based upon limited knowledge.

I think that some of the problem lies in this: many people are more than willing to accept Jesus as Savior... they just struggle with making Him Lord. What I mean by that is there are those who are more than content with a mere saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, but are completely devoid of the sanctifying lifestyle that Scripture indicates goes hand-in-hand. My understanding of being a disciple of Christ means that one necessarily follows the other. But at what point is the line of delineation drawn for those who wish to determine whether one is “truly” a Christian or not?

And what if that person does get everything "right"? I mean whatever one's "checklist" of what it means to be Christian - what if someone fulfills everyone of these and passes with flying colors? What have they really achieved by this alone? Didn't the Sadducees and Pharisees do the same? John Wesley has been quoted as saying that sanctification is not about "perfection of performance, but perfection (used in this sense as "in the process of completing"; or "moving towards making whole") of the heart". One's heart intent may be in the process of completion; be moving towards making whole; be in the act of perfecting; i.e. being sanctified... even when one's actions are not yet.

This doesn't give us license to sin; no, Paul said "God forbid!" to that kind of thinking. But it does help us to understand that we cannot expect the same maturity of an infant than we can a toddler; a toddler than we can a child; a child than we can a teenager; a teenager than we can a young adult; a young adult than we can an adult; an adult than we can a senior. There are definitive life stages that we all must go through in the physical, and therewith are to some degree defined. The same is true in the spiritual.

However, having said that, it should be noted that it is certainly true that some people become stuck in these various stages, to their own detriment. I cannot believe this pleases God. Still, grace applies, does it not? We’ve seen some snow since we’ve been here in Denver. I've seen many vehicles stuck in the snow. So when someone is stuck, what should we do? Chastise them for getting stuck? Argue with them that they should know better by now? Yell at them for not having a 4-wheel drive vehicle by now? Shake our heads sadly at them and keep on driving (after all, we don't want to get stuck with them, do we)? No, of course not. We don’t do any of those things, because that would be wrong. What we do, is stop and help them get unstuck.

Genuine transformation occurs by a purposeful changing (the Bible calls it a "renewing") of our minds. This doesn't happen overnight. It happens over time through trust, love, and gentleness with one that we have earned the right to have relationship with. It happens in natural, organic, "teachable" moments that arise out of healthy relationship. I think this is why Jesus spent so much time with sinners.

This doesn't mean that any compromise need occur. Did Jesus compromise with his "sinner friends?" Did He point out all of their sins? Did He give them the Four Spiritual Laws and urge them to "make a decision" RIGHT NOW - BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE? No. He "did life" with them, and waited for natural, organic, "teachable" moments with them that arise out of healthy relationships. No, no compromise need occur to achieve this kind of discipling. Quite the opposite, in fact.

The Church of the Nazarene somewhere once had a statement about ourselves that I thought was just beautiful. The statement said (in part) that we are "conservative in doctrine (which we are - quite possibly one of the most conservative denominations out there), but liberal in love."

I like that.

That is the kind of balance I seek to achieve with both my brothers and sisters as well as those who don't yet know what they believe, if anything at all. And there is a balance to be achieved here. The Scriptures that led up to our text today concerned themselves completely with the subject of love. Our text talked about being careful in judging others. And the one that follows next speaks about how we can determine what kind of tree any given tree is by the fruit it bears.

What do I determine from all of this, then? Why, that we are to be loving, careful, fruit inspectors. Achieve that balance in your life, and we will be on our way towards “perfecting our hearts”.

Father God,
Help us to be encouragers, not discouragers of those who are weaker in the faith.
In Jesus' Name,
AMEN!

Friends with God

The Bible tells us that in our natural state; our sinful state; our pre-Christian existence – that we are at odds with God; at enmity with God; truly “enemies of the state” in the most extreme sense of the phrase.

But Scripture also tells a different tale – of when we come into relationship with God the Father, through Jesus Christ the Son, we then “who were once far off” are brought near unto Him. We are made “heirs and joint heirs with Jesus”.

“So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God
because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God!”
– Romans 5:11 (NLT)

What does it mean to be a friend of God?

A popular song has been playing on the airwaves lately:

“I Am a Friend of God”
(Phillips, Craig & Dean)

“Who am I that You are mindful of me;
that you hear me when I call?
Is it true that You are thinking of me?
How You love me – it's amazing!
(Repeat)

~Chorus~
I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God!
I am a friend of God!
He calls me friend!

Who am I that You are mindful of me;
that you hear me when I call, yeah?
Is it true that You are thinking of me?
How You love me…
It's amazing, so amazing, it's amazing!

~Chorus~

God Almighty;
Lord of Glory;
You have called me friend!”

What does it take to have this kind of friendship with God? How do we get in on the club? Is it open to anyone who wants to say that they’re friends? Or is it something deeper? Scripture says that it’s an exclusive club; one that has a special place reserved for those who :

(Repeat 3X) “Friendship with God is reserved for those who reverence Him.”
– Psalm 25:14a (LB)

Do we know what it means to “reverence” God? And how are you friends with someone that you revere? I want to do something different with this e-zine. This week, I really want your feedback! What do you think it means to “reverence God”? Apparently this is a very important thing to understand, comprehend, and find the “right” answer to – after all, friendship with Him depends upon this. Please e-mail me back with your answers to this question, and I will publish them next week (anonymously, of course), and we will revisit this verse one more time.

Father God,
Show us what it means to reverence You so that we may be called “friends of God”!
In Jesus' Name,
AMEN!

“Ridiculous Odds!”

“Any one of you can defeat a thousand enemy soldiers,
because the LORD God fights for you, just as He promised.”
– Joshua 23:10 (CEV)

The movie “300” finally came out on television the other day. This was good news for me because I’m getting to be cheap in my “old age”. I’ve always been frugal, but it’s getting to the point that not only do I not go to movies anymore (not even the “reduced cost” late-running movies); but I now don’t even rent videos anymore – I just wait until they come out on television!

This distresses my children to no end. But I digress.

At any rate, it was a pretty good flick. I guess that the primary tale was somewhat based on “reality” (as much as mythic tales such as this can be, anyway), but I have to admit that there were parts that just got to be downright silly after awhile. The fight scenes were magnificent in their detail and multiple-angle, slow-motion shots caused Linda and I to say on more than one occasion – “Whoa!”

No, it wasn’t the fighting itself that was the problem – it was the sheer number of people that these 300 Spartans dispatched with little effort and with almost no casualties whatsoever on their side. Over and over we saw scenes in which a single Spartan warrior would simply mow down the Persian enemy in vast numbers in the space of mere seconds. At first, I was “into it”; suspending my disbelief for the first few seconds, and thinking it not only possible, but even likely. They were, after all, some of the best trained warriors in the world at that time. A few minutes later, my initial reaction faded and was instead replaced with a nagging doubt. It was somewhere around this time that Linda said something like – “You’d think they’d at least be getting tired by now with killing all these people...” A few minutes later, and for me, it had turned into a comic affair; I couldn’t stop shaking my head, smiling, and muttering “Oh, for heaven’s SAKE – this is ridiculous!” every now and then.

Reason dictates that there is only so far and so much that one person can do.

But our God operates outside, beyond, and around the parameters of human reason – He is a God that is not limited by what man dictates! God is capable of truly doing anything… do we really believe that? I mean truly, deep down within the recesses of our souls; in our heart of hearts – do we really believe that nothing is impossible for our great God?

I love Joshua. Joshua was a fighter through and through – a warrior brother in every sense of the word. Yet he was very “real” and down-to-earth at the same time. Over and over again, repeatedly our God has to tell this warrior “do not be afraid”, “do not be terrified”, “be of good courage”. And now we find him at the end of his life, giving his “farewell speech”, and it’s Joshua who is now in the position of the encourager. The words from our text are actually his words to the leaders that will follow him – “Any one of you can defeat a thousand enemy soldiers, because the LORD God fights for you, just as He promised.” – Joshua 23:10 (CEV). Why the change? Where did Joshua get this newfound courage? Why, because Joshua had been through the battles with God, and he found that He is a trustworthy God for Whom nothing is impossible!

When we partner together with God for His purposes in our lives and for the Kingdom, “any one of us”, from the least to the greatest (in human estimation) is capable of doing what is impossible in the “natural”. Why? Because “the LORD God fights for you, just as He promised.”

And the “1000 to 1” odds? Those – well, those are just “RIDICULOUS odds”, aren’t they? Yes, they are… but in our favor.

There are some things that we are embarking upon here at CHC that may seem at first to be “ridiculous” in nature. But folks, we serve a GREAT… BIG… GOD!!! And either He is “in charge” or he is not. I am coming to believe more and more as I walk the walk of faith, and have “tried and tested” God in real life scenarios! Let me now be the encourager – that if God is for us, who can be against us? That all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose! That nothing is impossible for our God! That God is calling us to “pray first, aim high, and stay focused”! Some things that are before us now:

Finding the right Associate Pastor of Youth for our needs at CHC now, and where we want to be in five years. We are beginning the process of determining the characteristics of who that will be. This is a monumental task – please be in prayer for us as we undertake this.

Having a goal of 500 in attendance for Easter Sunday weekend (two services – one on Saturday evening and one on Sunday morning), using the “5 X 5 Principal”. The last time we had 500 or more here at CHC was Easter, 2004. Since then, we have only averaged 394 in attendance on Easter for the past three years. Because of this, at first glance this might seem like a huge goal, but again – I believe with God’s help, this will be easily attainable!

Having goals set on Sunday, February 3rd to be achieved within a single quarter (by the first Sunday of May):

o To reach 20 previously unchurched for Jesus Christ (who will become regularly involved in weekly Praise and Worship Celebrations, a S.S. class and/or a weekly Small Group
o To baptize 10 people
o To increase overall Praise & Worship Celebration attendance by 10% (from 190 average to 200 average)
o To increase S.S. and Small Group average attendance by 15% (from 132 average to 152 average)
o To become current on all debts (currently we owe $27,169 more than what we have cash on hand to pay)
o To throw three fun church-wide “get togethers”
o To increase total number of those involved in ongoing ministry by 10%
o To take in 10 new members

These are actually overwhelming goals. Truthfully, by human estimation, they are “not reasonable”. Most pastors would be a little uneasy at setting this kind of goals for a year, much less for just a quarter. At the same time, do we really want to set goals that we could easily attain on our own? That leaves no room for God to show His mighty power! “Pray first, aim high, and stay focused”!

Father God,
Help us to see that when we partner together with You for Your purposes
that NOTHING is impossible,
and that the odds are ALWAYS in our favor!
In Jesus' Name,
AMEN!

In His Image

My kids have no blood relationship with me. All four are adopted - one from one mother, and the youngest three from another couple. Still, when people see us together or see pictures of us, they will say something like - "Boy, I can see that he/she is your child! They look just like you!" I used to feel compelled to correct people, but now I just smile and say "Thanks." It's meant to be a complement, and I take it as such.

I have trouble sometimes reading Genesis 1:26, for there are times when I just don't feel very "godly".

In fact, there are many days that I am acutely aware of just how far I fall short of the perfection of a very holy and perfect God. This manifests itself in the ways I treat others, through my inmost thoughts, and the ways I act (or don't act) in certain situations.

Yet, God says we were made in His image.

It's true that as we read further we realize that, through the sin of Adam and Eve, the image of God has become marred by sin and we are far removed from God's original intent for our lives due to that sinfulness. Yet God forgives, God redeems, God gives "second chances". Throughout the Old Testament we read of the horrific failures of those people who were called "God's Chosen People", yet still He loved them and would not leave them even when they left Him.

The New Testament tells of the ultimate solution for the problem of broken relationship with sinful man and holy God. It tells the unbelievable story of redemption, of hope; of how God stepped out of heaven, and became one of us...just so we can have relationship with Him.

He became like us, so that we can become like Him - to restore that "image of God" once again.

I was not born into the Family of God. Many claim that we are all "God's children", but that kind of pithy saying has no Biblical support. In fact, according to the Bible, in order to enter into the Family of God we must be adopted in to it by accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. I don't look much like my Heavenly Father in my own estimation, but over the years I've been told by some that they see the image of God in me. Isn't that incredible?

I'm glad that I don't have to feel "godly"; I am godly. Not because of who I am, but because of Who He is and the work that He has done and is continuing to do in my life. I am a "Child of the King", not simply because I'm part of the human race, but because I've been bought with a price, I've been redeemed, I've been adopted into God's Family!

And I want to look more like my Daddy tomorrow than I do today.

Do you know what that's like? Do you want to?

Father God,
Help me to realize that there is NOTHING within me that looks like You,
EXCEPT that which I allow Jesus Christ full reign
and the Holy Spirit complete control in my life.

In Jesus' Name - AMEN!

Pastor Howie

God Works Out All Things For Our Good

We've all been there.

You know what I'm talking about...the times in our lives when we can't seem to get a handle on things. The times when everything comes crashing down around us. The times when the world seems to be spinning crazily out of control. The times when we wonder just where God is. The times when we cry out, "Why me, God?"; "What are You doing?"; and "Oh, please, God - just make it stop!"

We've all been there...
Maybe you're there now.

The truth of the matter is, life is cyclical - as much as I would love to live life skipping from mountaintop to mountaintop, that's just not reality. Both the Bible and experience tells me that life is more properly interpreted as a series of ups and downs; with both mountaintop experiences as well as valley-dwelling (and all of the climbing and descending that is necessarily inherent in the process). Actually, if anyone wanted to, most could honestly "map" themselves at any given time in their life as currently in the state of a valley experience, coming out of a valley experience, or gearing up for a valley experience. (Sound too negative? You are more than welcome to look at it the other way. The converse is also obviously necessarily true - i.e. most people can honestly "map" themselves at any given time in their life as being currently in the state of a mountaintop experience, coming down from a mountaintop experience, or gearing up for the next mountaintop experience. But for our purposes of our study today, I am intentionally affirming the "negative" side of this - the fact that we all go through hard times.)

When we recognize that we are in a "valley-dwelling time" in our lives, the devil will whisper strangely seductive nihilistic thoughts: "All hope is gone, everything is useless, all is lost, and no one cares - not even God." It is very important that, in those times, we remember God's promise that He is near - He has not abandoned us. In fact, the Bible tells us clearly that when we "draw close to God, God will draw close to you". (James 4:8).

Right now...
in the middle of your circumstances...
in the midst of your pain, your fear, and your grief...
in the center of your trials and your tribulations...
in the wash of overwhelming uncertainty...
God is as close to you as you allow Him to be.

Relax for just a moment and meditate on that last sentence and on James 4:8. Let the soothing peace of Christ wash over you today. Trust Romans 8:28 that says that we have a promise that we can "know" to be sure: that He is working "all" things (He's still at work; even in the worst thing you are going through) "for the good of those that love him"; those who are "called according to His purpose."

He's working out good things in your life today.
Can you perceive it?
If the honest answer is that you cannot
(which is where many of us are when hard times hit),
will you at least trust in His goodness,
knowing He's working that situation out for your good
even if you can't see His hand?

"Father God, Help me to sense Your presence in good times and in bad. Help me to trust Your whole Word and all of the promises contained within; that You are working out ALL things for my good!

In Jesus' Name - AMEN!"

Pastor Howie

God Answers

With apologies to Andy Rooney, you know what gets on my last nerve? Two things have got to be in my top ten annoyances in life: 1) when I call family or friends and leave a message, and they don't call me back within a reasonable (read: a day or two) amount of time, or even at all; and 2) when I write family and/or friends an e-mail and they don't respond within a reasonable (read: two to three days) amount of time, or even at all. Wow, that burns me! To me, this is the height of insensitivity and rudeness. There are times (especially after being repeatedly ignored) when I almost want to never call or write that person again - if they want to talk with me, let them take the initiative. While I may think that, I rarely ever actually do that, because that would be rude. And to behave in that manner would make me just as guilty as the person I'm upset with.

I suspect the reason why I (and many others I've spoken to on the subject) feel so strongly about this is because when this happens to us, somewhere deep down inside we feel rejected...unimportant...disrespected...ignored...unloved. This offends our sensibilities because we obviously held that person in high enough regard to communicate with them in the first place, and even that small, basic respect wasn't reciprocated.

While this happens often in life with fallen, imperfect people, what would life be like if God were that way? What if when we spoke with Him, He "snubbed" us? What if He didn't respond with loving grace to our pleas and our cries? What if God were always silent, always distant, never answering when we call to Him?

I love the way Psalm 4:3 begins - "You can be sure of this!" What can we be sure of? Two things: 1) God has set the godly apart for Himself, and 2) He will answer when I call to him. God answers! Isn't that great? He not only hears our cries, but His answer is a guarantee - we can be "sure" of it!

Knowing this truth encourages me. It gives me faith and hope. It reminds me that I shouldn't ever give up on talking with God regularly - every day, several times a day, "never ceasing" as Paul put it! Because He hears. He cares. And He is already answering - the question is: can you hear it?

"Father God,
Help me to trust the Truth from Your Word
that You not only hear me when I talk with You, but You ANSWER as well.
Give me eyes to see and ears to hear
ALL of the creative ways that You choose to answer me throughout the day.
Cause me to hear Your voice and see Your handiwork
in the manner in which You choose to reveal the answer to me.

In Jesus' Name - AMEN!"

Pastor Howie