God's Extravegance...

Back in 1994, a couple in the church I was pastoring called up and said that they needed to visit with me... That always makes me nervous.  I set up a time.  I worried that maybe I had done something to hurt or offend them.  I prayed and prayed... and worried some more.
The day of our meeting finally arrived.  I took a big breath and sat down with them.  Being a good pastor, I volunteered to open our time together in prayer.  I remember praying something about "love" and "communication" and "forgiveness"... just in case.  
Then they dropped the bomb shell.
They had paid some money down to go on a tour of Israel that was being led by my mentor.  Because of an unexpected family schedule conflict, they would not be able to go on the trip... I felt bad for them but still didn't get what they might be upset with me about...  I know, I can be sort of dense sometimes.

They wanted to give the trip to Israel to me.  WOW!  I was astounded.  What an extravagant gift.  I almost couldn't believe it.  They were paying several thousand dollars for me to take their place on this trip.  I still owe them a debt of gratitude for giving me that wonderful opportunity.
What is the most extravagant gift you have ever received?  A new car? Jewelry? How about this...
"You see , at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a  good person someone might possibly dare.  But God demonstrates his won love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."  Romans 5:6-8
What an extravagant gift from God!  While we had no reason to expect anything from God, He chose to give us the very thing we couldn't afford.  Like the gift I received from that couple, this gift from God was not deserved.  It was something I couldn't have paid for myself, no matter how much I wanted it.  Yet, God wants us to have this great gift... so much that He was willing to give what it required for us to receive it. 
I have always thought it a wonder that God gives this gift for the ungodly, while they (I) are (am) still ungodly.  He doesn't expect us to somehow become deserving of it before we can receive it.  "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." 
Thank you, Lord for such extravagance.  Thank you, for loving us so much.  Help me, today, to live in such a way that I reflect your extravagance by extending that same love to all whom I meet.
Grace and Peace in Jesus,
Pastor Bill

The Lord is my shepherd...

Psalm 23 is one of the best known passages from the Bible... most any English speaking person on hearing "The Lord is my shepherd..." can say the next line..."I shall not want".

"The Lord is my shepherd..."  I know this is true, yet, I still worry.  "What if's..." can clog up my mind.  I worry about my kids... I worry about my wife... I worry about my church... What if...
something happens...
to me?
to them?
to us?
What if... what if... what if... so many what if's!
"The Lord is my shepherd" doesn't mean "what if's" don't happen.  It simply means that God is the God of "what if's", too!
In the Joseph stories found in the book of Genesis, Joseph doesn't fear the unknowns.  He knows that the God he worships is the God of the unknowns.  Nothing that will happen to him is beyond God... So, Joseph meets each new challenge knowing that he has to trust in God's wisdom and timing.
Would Joseph choose to be a slave or in prison?  No!  Was Joseph willing to see slavery or prison as the work of God in his life?  Yes!  As he said to his brothers on meeting them at the end of the story (Genesis 50:20)  "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good..."
May all your what if's turn out to be God's... "YES!"
Grace and Joy in Jesus,
Pastor Bill

Sing unto the Lord a new song!

O sing to the LORD a new song;
          sing to the LORD, all the earth.
²   Sing to the LORD, bless his name;
          tell of his salvation from day to day. 

Psalm 96:1-2

Listening to the radio the other day I heard a song I hadn't heard before... that isn't unusual, I suppose.  This particular song was very effective at reaching into my heart and drawing me out... causing me to see Jesus in a way I hadn't thought of before. A new revelation... well not new to the world, just new to me.  When I have my eyes opened to a new view it helps me see not only God in a new way, but I see myself in a new way.  That is what some call the "ahah!" moment.  I love those.  When I have those moments, it produces a sense of wonder in me... a joy!  That joy can also be called a "blessing" or a gift.  

A gift... something unforeseen, unexpected, even un-asked for.  We all love receiving gifts... almost as much as God loves giving them.  It is God's intent that we experience great joy.  Joy speaks to His character.  That is why the Apostle Paul says that the "Kingdom of God is about Joy and Peace".  Those are blessings God gives to us.  What are the blessing we give to God? 

"Sing to the LORD, bless his name;
          tell of his salvation from day to day. "

Yep!  Tell others about the ways God has blessed you... tell of His salvation... tell of His greatness.  In other words... Sing a new song!

Peace and Joy 

Pastor Bill

"The Death of a Man"

My friend and colleague in ministry is Dr. Steve Van Ostran.  He is a person who has exhibited a lot of wisdom in our various interactions, so when I noticed in the American Baptist Churches Rocky Mountain Newsletter that Steve had written the devotional I was very pleased...When I first heard the news of bin Laden's death, I had a mixed reaction... both pleased yet also sad.  I was having difficulty justifying or understanding my own reactions, until I read Steve's devotional on the subject.  I have asked him for permission to share it with you all here.  So here are Steve's thoughts... that reflected so well my own feelings in a way I was not able to express.  Thanks Steve for your wisdom and leadership.  Pastor Bill

The Death of a Man

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” - John 10:10b (NIV)

I have watched with interest the announcement of and the reaction to the death of Osama Bin Laden. I have racked my brain to consider Biblical parallels to this event. The death of the Pharaoh as the Egyptians escaped came to mind. Perhaps David’s triumph over Goliath. But neither quite fits.
In the case of Pharaoh, it was clearly God’s hand at work to kill Pharaoh and there was a clear sense of deliverance from bondage at the hand of God. While I trust and pray that our government was acting at the leading of God, the use of a Seal team is not quite so clearly the “Hand of God” as the rolling back of the sea. And with David and Goliath, the two combatants were clearly on the field of battle. David didn’t go into the home of Goliath in a raid to kill him. Neither of these really works. Maybe there is something somewhere else that fits.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I believe the U.S. did what needed to be done. I believe that Bin Laden signed his death warrant when he orchestrated the first terrorist attack, period. There is a reality that justice was served in his death as the team sought to capture him. And there is a sense of pride and satisfaction in knowing that the US military was able to demonstrate its strength and even superiority by successfully planning and executing this raid. But I still have trouble rejoicing in the death of this man.
Oh, I understand those who do rejoice. For many of us, Osama has become the personification of evil, just as Jesus personifies goodness. His death for many of us is like the death of Voldemort in Harry Potter or of the Ice Queen in Narnia—it is the ultimate triumph of Good over Evil. For many, Osama’s death is sign that God is still in Heaven, reigning over us and protecting us.
And that is true.
And in God’s providence and protection we can rejoice.
But Osama was not the personification of evil.

He was only one expression of it.
He was a man, just like any of us. A man who—in my mind—was led by Satan down the wrong path; A path that but for the sake of Christ, I might also have walked.
And while Jesus allowed His own Death, He did so in order that we might have victory over death.
In other words, it seems to me that Christ’s desire was that none would die. And as Jesus wept at Lazrus’ grave—as He was saddened by Niccodemus’ inability to accept the life that was offered to him. An so, I have to wonder how Christ responded to the death of Bin Laden—this one, this man—that He also created.
Somehow, I don’t think He was playing bagpipes.

Prayer: Oh, Lord, as we experience incredible relief in knowing this one has been brought to justice, we long for the day when death will be no more, even the death of our enemies. Amen.

Steve Van Ostran ABCRM Executive Minister