On the first Wednesday of every month, my wife (Kelley) takes a group down the the MUST center in Smyrna to help serve the poor in our community. MUST ministries is an organization that was started years ago to meet needs of the homeless in Marietta and surrounding areas. They do a tremendous job of meeting these needs.
Of course, MUST could not do this without countless volunteers and donations for individuals, businesses and churches. Kelley has made it simple for our congregation to get involved in this ministry effort.
Yesterday I went with Kelley and 4 others to serve and these are my findings:
1) It is a small building in the middle of Smyrna where local residents can get food and clothing
2) The evening shift is relatively new so not many people took advantage of it being opened.
3) The love they show to this community is incredible. Reaching out to them with physical needs as well as training and job opportunities.
4) I had a great time hanging out and discussing DEEP theological topics. Well, at least they were deep for me.
Taking time to serve in this way is a great opportunity to reach out to the poor. It is an opportunity to meet others in our congregation and find out who they are. It is an opportunity to become more like Jesus.
When you check it out, let me know about your experience.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Love
If I am honest, there are many times when people just get on my nerves. I mean nothing about them makes me want to be around them much less love them. Honestly, that even happens on Sunday morning. As a matter of fact, it happened this past Sunday morning, TWICE!
And then I read, 1 John 4:7-19. John begins here with,"Dear friends, let us love one another,..." Notice that he didn't say, "Dear friends, let us be lovable,..." That would have been much easier for me because, I wouldn't have to love those that aren't lovable. However, it doesn't say that. As I have said before, the Bible is written for me to apply to myself, so I have to LOVE "one another". I am no english scholar (anyone will attest to that) but I believe "love" is used as a verb here and best I remember verbs are the action words.
If love is an action word and the Bible is written for me, then I have to take away that I am to perform the action (love). I must love other believers simply because they are believers. No other motivation is necessary. They don't have to love me or be nice, or cute or my children or whatever. Because they are a believer qualifies them. Why?
Verse 11: "Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."
Verse 19-20: "We love because he first loved us. If we say we love God yet hate a brother or sister, we are liars."
God loved me when I was terribly unlovable. (I know, it is hard to imagine me that way). Yet he loved me anyway. He wants me to love those that He loves.
I am so thankful that God loved me unconditionally when I was the most unlovable. Because of this love, I want to love others unconditionally when they are the most unlovable.
Pray for me as I strive toward this.
And then I read, 1 John 4:7-19. John begins here with,"Dear friends, let us love one another,..." Notice that he didn't say, "Dear friends, let us be lovable,..." That would have been much easier for me because, I wouldn't have to love those that aren't lovable. However, it doesn't say that. As I have said before, the Bible is written for me to apply to myself, so I have to LOVE "one another". I am no english scholar (anyone will attest to that) but I believe "love" is used as a verb here and best I remember verbs are the action words.
If love is an action word and the Bible is written for me, then I have to take away that I am to perform the action (love). I must love other believers simply because they are believers. No other motivation is necessary. They don't have to love me or be nice, or cute or my children or whatever. Because they are a believer qualifies them. Why?
Verse 11: "Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."
Verse 19-20: "We love because he first loved us. If we say we love God yet hate a brother or sister, we are liars."
God loved me when I was terribly unlovable. (I know, it is hard to imagine me that way). Yet he loved me anyway. He wants me to love those that He loves.
I am so thankful that God loved me unconditionally when I was the most unlovable. Because of this love, I want to love others unconditionally when they are the most unlovable.
Pray for me as I strive toward this.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Light or Dark
I began reading 1 John today. It starts off by letting us know who Jesus is. Then changes to what Jesus told the disciples. I saw something that was very interesting here.
First of all John says, "God is light; in him there is not darkness at all." (verse 5) He goes on to tell us that we are liars if we claim to have fellowship with Him, yet walk in darkness. That seems a bit harsh, since I am a sinner and will sin so I want to know what the phrase "walk in darkness" (verse 6) means.
In his commentaries, Matthew Henry uses the word practice to explain the meaning here. So to "walk in darkness" could say "to practice darkness." To me, this distinction is important.
Practice: to do or perform often, customarily, or habitually
So if I perform often, customarily or habitually an act of sin I am then walking in darkness and therefore a liar if I say I have fellowship with Him. Why is this distinction important to me as someone who is trying to figure this "walk" out? Keep reading.
Verse 7: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his son, purifies us from all sin."
If I walk (perform often, customarily or habitually) in the light (that is, after Jesus) the blood of Jesus will purify me from all sin. Notice it didn't say I would not sin. That is huge for me. It says His Blood will purify me from the sin. Read verses 8-10 on your own.
What a relief! Not that I don't have to worry about what I do. It does say that if I "walk in the light" I will be purified. I have to walk or practice the ways of Jesus and that is no small task, but I am not expected to be perfect. Which is good news for someone like me.
First of all John says, "God is light; in him there is not darkness at all." (verse 5) He goes on to tell us that we are liars if we claim to have fellowship with Him, yet walk in darkness. That seems a bit harsh, since I am a sinner and will sin so I want to know what the phrase "walk in darkness" (verse 6) means.
In his commentaries, Matthew Henry uses the word practice to explain the meaning here. So to "walk in darkness" could say "to practice darkness." To me, this distinction is important.
Practice: to do or perform often, customarily, or habitually
So if I perform often, customarily or habitually an act of sin I am then walking in darkness and therefore a liar if I say I have fellowship with Him. Why is this distinction important to me as someone who is trying to figure this "walk" out? Keep reading.
Verse 7: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his son, purifies us from all sin."
If I walk (perform often, customarily or habitually) in the light (that is, after Jesus) the blood of Jesus will purify me from all sin. Notice it didn't say I would not sin. That is huge for me. It says His Blood will purify me from the sin. Read verses 8-10 on your own.
What a relief! Not that I don't have to worry about what I do. It does say that if I "walk in the light" I will be purified. I have to walk or practice the ways of Jesus and that is no small task, but I am not expected to be perfect. Which is good news for someone like me.
May you and I WALK in the Light of Christ and be purified by His blood!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
On Guard!
2 Peter 3:17-18
Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from you secure positions. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
We have been forewarned. Now we must be "on guard"
I think you would agree that it is easy to be carried away. I really have to be focused to stay on my guard. So how do I do that? I have to work on my relationship with God. I have to speak to Him and read His word. I need people in my life that will challenge my thinking and my actions.
These things are not easy to do when we are in the throws of living, but they are necessary to be who we really want to be. When I wanted to get a degree in college I spent a lot of time studying. When I wanted to fool Kelley into marrying me I spent a lot of time getting to know her.
If I want to be "ON GUARD", I must study His book and spend time to get to know Him.
Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from you secure positions. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
We have been forewarned. Now we must be "on guard"
I think you would agree that it is easy to be carried away. I really have to be focused to stay on my guard. So how do I do that? I have to work on my relationship with God. I have to speak to Him and read His word. I need people in my life that will challenge my thinking and my actions.
These things are not easy to do when we are in the throws of living, but they are necessary to be who we really want to be. When I wanted to get a degree in college I spent a lot of time studying. When I wanted to fool Kelley into marrying me I spent a lot of time getting to know her.
If I want to be "ON GUARD", I must study His book and spend time to get to know Him.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
False Teachers
2 Peter 2 is a warning to the followers about false teachers that will come. And come they will. Why is that? Why do people want to join in on a growing, hot, energetic entity only to distort the message and lead people astray?
Look at this example. It may not be perfect but I think it fits. You borrow some money, buy a home, and pay back with interest. Pretty simple. But enter Mr. whoever, and you have "interest only", a loan that only requires purchasers to pay interest on the borrowed money. This also allows buyers to borrow more money than they would have originally borrowed. But bigger than that, now an entire group of people who couldn't have qualified for other loans can make the interest only payments and now buy homes. I don't want to politicize this post, but it is fairly easy to see how this contributed to where the economy is today. Why did someone change the message of mortgages (and therefore home buying)? Was it to help us?
OK, whether you agree or not with that example is irrelevant, hopefully it illustrates what I am getting at. We could all come up with examples of how something good has been distorted by a change in wording 0r description. But again, why would this be done?
Verse 3a:
"In their greed, these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories."
The root cause of sin is me. I want what I want and I want it now. I will use most any means to get it. I will confuse people with double talk and half truths to get them to "believe". I will change little by little until I have led people miles from where they should be headed.
You have heard put a frog in boiling water and he will jump out, but put him in cold water and turn on the heat and he will boil to death. The same is true for us. We don't notice small changes.
The problem with man is and will always be man. I am so consumed with myself that I struggle to lead people to the God who has saved me.
Do not believe everything you hear or see. I have said many times, "everyone is selling something." God has given us His Word for learning. He wants to be our ultimate teacher.
Look at this example. It may not be perfect but I think it fits. You borrow some money, buy a home, and pay back with interest. Pretty simple. But enter Mr. whoever, and you have "interest only", a loan that only requires purchasers to pay interest on the borrowed money. This also allows buyers to borrow more money than they would have originally borrowed. But bigger than that, now an entire group of people who couldn't have qualified for other loans can make the interest only payments and now buy homes. I don't want to politicize this post, but it is fairly easy to see how this contributed to where the economy is today. Why did someone change the message of mortgages (and therefore home buying)? Was it to help us?
OK, whether you agree or not with that example is irrelevant, hopefully it illustrates what I am getting at. We could all come up with examples of how something good has been distorted by a change in wording 0r description. But again, why would this be done?
Verse 3a:
"In their greed, these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories."
The root cause of sin is me. I want what I want and I want it now. I will use most any means to get it. I will confuse people with double talk and half truths to get them to "believe". I will change little by little until I have led people miles from where they should be headed.
You have heard put a frog in boiling water and he will jump out, but put him in cold water and turn on the heat and he will boil to death. The same is true for us. We don't notice small changes.
The problem with man is and will always be man. I am so consumed with myself that I struggle to lead people to the God who has saved me.
Do not believe everything you hear or see. I have said many times, "everyone is selling something." God has given us His Word for learning. He wants to be our ultimate teacher.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Abundant Grace & Peace
I began reading 2 Peter this morning and found something interesting. Peter says in verse 2:
"Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord."
So abundant grace and peace are ours through the knowledge of God and Jesus. That sounds simple enough. So why did this stand out to me?
Read verse 8:
"For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
If abundant grace and peace come through the knowledge of God and Jesus I certainly don't want to be ineffective in that. I want to know what these qualities are. Verses 5-7 hold the key:
"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love."
I don't know about you but reading this list I am far away from qualifying for that abundance! Realizing my short coming, the question becomes what am I doing to move in this direction. As Andy Stanley says, "it is direction not intention that determines destination." (This is from his book "The Principle of the Path.")
I have Faith but what am I doing that is "good"? How am I adding "knowledge"? Do I exercise "self-control"? Am I "persevering"? Do I exhibit "godliness"? Am I showing "mutual affection"? Do I "love" others?
These are tough questions and even harder to accomplish but I must move forward. I must take steps. I must get on the path to abundant grace and peace.
"Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord."
So abundant grace and peace are ours through the knowledge of God and Jesus. That sounds simple enough. So why did this stand out to me?
Read verse 8:
"For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
If abundant grace and peace come through the knowledge of God and Jesus I certainly don't want to be ineffective in that. I want to know what these qualities are. Verses 5-7 hold the key:
"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love."
I don't know about you but reading this list I am far away from qualifying for that abundance! Realizing my short coming, the question becomes what am I doing to move in this direction. As Andy Stanley says, "it is direction not intention that determines destination." (This is from his book "The Principle of the Path.")
I have Faith but what am I doing that is "good"? How am I adding "knowledge"? Do I exercise "self-control"? Am I "persevering"? Do I exhibit "godliness"? Am I showing "mutual affection"? Do I "love" others?
These are tough questions and even harder to accomplish but I must move forward. I must take steps. I must get on the path to abundant grace and peace.
Faith + Goodness + Knowledge + Self-control + Perseverance + Godliness + Mutual affection + Love = Abundant Grace and Peace
Thursday, April 16, 2009
To Him be the Glory!
As I continue to read 1 Peter 4, there are many great nuggets but, today verses 8-11 stand out.
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. If you speak , you should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If you serve, you should do so with the strength God provides so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Love each other!
Offer hospitality!
Use whatever gift!
When I read these verses and remember that Peter is writing to "God's elect, exiles scattered throughout..." (1Peter 1:1) I am reminded, he is talking to me. I understand the following:
I am to love each other!
I am to offer hospitality!
I am to use whatever gift!
I know this. I have known it. I try to do these things and at times am reasonably accomplished at doing it. Where I stuggle is:
I am to love each other so that God may be praised!
I am to offer hospitality so that God may be praised!
I am to use whatever gift so that God may be praised!
Honestly, there are many times that I do things so that I may be praised. Just being honest! There are times when I want praise. Now I think that everyone needs to be recognized and praised for doing the right thing and hard work, but I can't have that desire. And I do. Now what?
In verse 7 Peter says, "The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray." Of course, I have a picture of what being unsober is, so I picture sober as the opposite. Well that is not entirely true. So we look at our old friend the dictionary.
Sober: marked by sedate or gravely or earnestly thoughtful character or demeanor; marked by temperance, moderation, or seriousness
So this is what I see. If I am seeking my own glory, I will be upset if I don't get it. After all I used "I" or "my" 4 times just to write that sentence. If I am alert (or using sound judgement as the NIV states) and I am of a sober ,or marked by an earnestly thoughtful character or marked by temperance or seriousness, mind I can allow the "glory" to fall where it belongs rather than wanting in for myself. Actually, when I am sober or thinking clearly in this way, I want the glory to fall on God rather than myself.
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. If you speak , you should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If you serve, you should do so with the strength God provides so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Love each other!
Offer hospitality!
Use whatever gift!
When I read these verses and remember that Peter is writing to "God's elect, exiles scattered throughout..." (1Peter 1:1) I am reminded, he is talking to me. I understand the following:
I am to love each other!
I am to offer hospitality!
I am to use whatever gift!
I know this. I have known it. I try to do these things and at times am reasonably accomplished at doing it. Where I stuggle is:
I am to love each other so that God may be praised!
I am to offer hospitality so that God may be praised!
I am to use whatever gift so that God may be praised!
Honestly, there are many times that I do things so that I may be praised. Just being honest! There are times when I want praise. Now I think that everyone needs to be recognized and praised for doing the right thing and hard work, but I can't have that desire. And I do. Now what?
In verse 7 Peter says, "The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray." Of course, I have a picture of what being unsober is, so I picture sober as the opposite. Well that is not entirely true. So we look at our old friend the dictionary.
Sober: marked by sedate or gravely or earnestly thoughtful character or demeanor; marked by temperance, moderation, or seriousness
So this is what I see. If I am seeking my own glory, I will be upset if I don't get it. After all I used "I" or "my" 4 times just to write that sentence. If I am alert (or using sound judgement as the NIV states) and I am of a sober ,or marked by an earnestly thoughtful character or marked by temperance or seriousness, mind I can allow the "glory" to fall where it belongs rather than wanting in for myself. Actually, when I am sober or thinking clearly in this way, I want the glory to fall on God rather than myself.
1 Peter 4:11b
To Him be the Glory and the Power for ever and ever. Amen
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