ACT OF GOD

I had stopped putting my messages on my blog, until I received a few requests from some of our church people (www.gbcwestlake.org) to do so. Apparently, some of them would rather read my message as a review than listen to it online; or want to do both. So, sorry to those of you who don’t want to read my messages; but for those who do, I will try to remember to include these once a week.

This is the very time I have preached through the book of Exodus; and I am absolutely loving it! I am learning so much and growing personally through it. I hope, that if you read these messages or listen to them (by going to the site above), you will also find Exodus to be a great book for learning about God, ourselves, and to grow spiritually. ENJOY!

ACT OF GOD
Exodus 6:28-7:13

Please turn in your Bible to the 2nd book of the Bible: Exodus and find chapter 6…Exodus 6.
According to the news reports: On the morning of December 26, 2004 a magnitude 9.3 earthquake struck off the Northwest coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, at 6:58 a.m. local time. The earthquake deformed the ocean floor, pushing the overlying water up into a tsunami wave. A tsunami is a series of waves that is created when a large volume of a body of water, such as an ocean, is rapidly displaced.

The tsunami wave devastated nearby areas where the wave may have been as high as 80 feet tall and killed nearly 300,000 people from nations in the region and tourists from around the world. The tsunami wave itself also traveled the globe, and was measured in the Pacific and many other places by tide gauges. It fanned out over the Indian Ocean causing severe and sudden flooding in Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Indonesia and other areas.
Over a million people have been reported as homeless in Sri Lanka alone, at least 5 million were left without the basic necessities of life. Over 100,000 are reported dead in Indonesia. This tsunami was one of the largest ever in terms of casualties because it hit in heavily populated low lying coastal areas that were not well prepared.

This is one of those events, to which people would use the phrase: “It was an ACT OF GOD”. That is a phrase that has been used described an event, normally catastrophic, which cannot be blamed on anyone in particular; or something that seems to be outside of human control. People are not necessarily saying that God caused something; but are just excusing any human responsibility. People who do not even believe in God might use this legal term.

Now, let’s bring this phrase into the story of Exodus, in the Bible. Let’s bring this phrase: “Act of God”, into what we are about to read in Exodus, chapters 7-12 concerning the 10 plagues. When people talk about the tsunami being an “Act of God”, some people are simply stating the legal term that might be used on an insurance form. Some might use it, saying that God was bringing judgment on a certain nation or individuals, because of their sin. Some might try to leave God out of it all together and talk about “mother nature” or other human deficiencies that might be at blame. Depending on the perspective people are coming from, they are going to interpret disasters in their own way, either blaming God, or blaming something or someone else.

By the way, the article I read to you earlier ended with this exhortation: “To prepare for future tsunamis, we encourage everyone to educate themselves about what they can do now, and in the event that they should ever be threatened by a tsunami.”

As human beings, we like to think that we can somehow control natural disasters; or at least guarantee that we, ourselves, would not be harmed. But, as we move into this section of Scripture today, we are going to learn that when God specifically claims responsibility for something, there is no other way to interpret it than to say: This is an act of God; whether we agree with His actions or not. The fact is, attributing disasters to God’s specific action causes us all kinds of emotional and intellectual problems. It is something, in our lives, that we have to wrestle with; and dealing with it as it relates to the 10 plagues will be instructive, challenging, and good for our spiritual growth today. Are you ready?

In Exodus, chapters 3,4, God had appeared to Moses, telling him that he was the guy God had chosen to go to Pharaoh and then to lead His people out of Egypt. Moses argued with God, listing all of the reasons why there was no way he was the guy to do this impossible job. And God agreed with him, making sure Moses knew that he would not be doing it, in his own power; but despite his personal weaknesses and inability, God would be doing it through him, by the power and ability that God alone possesses. And he gave Moses a helper in his brother Aaron, and commanded them to go confront Pharaoh and deliver His message to him.

In chapter 5, Moses and Aaron confronted Pharaoh, king of Egypt for the first time, giving God’s message:
Exodus 5:1 – “…Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, Let me people go…”
Pharaoh responded:
Exodus 5:2 – “…Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go?”

Then, Pharaoh made it even more difficult on the people of Israel in their slavery; and this caused the leaders of Israel to condemn Moses and Aaron, and blame them for the increased hardship they were experiencing. But, none of this surprised God, and it was all a part of His plan. So, here, at the end of chapter 6 and beginning of chapter 7, God repeats His plan:

Exodus 6:28-7:2 – “On the day when the LORD spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, the LORD said to Moses, I am the LORD; tell Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say to you. But Moses said to the LORD, Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips. How will Pharaoh listen to me? And the LORD said to Moses, See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell pharaoh to let the people of Israel go out of this land.”

A Review (6:28-7:7):

The People (6:28-7:2): Who were the people that were going to bring God’s deliverance about? First, the most important player in this (6:29):
· I am the LORD
He has stated this over and over again, in revealing His plan to Moses. As we have mentioned before, this name for God: LORD is sometimes to referred to as Yahweh or Jehovah; but translated LORD, it refers to God as the promise keeping God, who wants relationship with His people. That was the name by which He wanted to be known. And then we are reminded of whom God chose to use:

· I am going to use Moses and Aaron to deliver my message
Despite Moses’ continual objections, such as “I am of uncircumcised lips”, God reiterated that He would use him despite his inability. Moses did not feel he could deliver God’s message or be followed by 2 million Israelites out of bondage; but God kept saying that he was the one He chose to deliver this message; and He provided Aaron to help as well. This was God’s plan.

The Plan (7:3,4)
Question: What was God going to do? Let’s tackle the most difficult part of this plan first:

Exodus 7:3,4 – “But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, Pharaoh will not listen to you…”

· I will harden Pharaoh’s heart so that he will not obey right away

O.k. We need to take a few moments here to consider this. Now, this is still review, because God had actually already said this very thing earlier.
Exodus 4:21 – “…But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.”

Did that say that Pharaoh would harden his heart? No, God said: I will harden his heart. You can try to interpret this by saying that God knew that Pharaoh would harden his heart and that this is what it means; but you cannot get around the fact that God said, several times, I will harden his heart.

First, let’s be clear on what it means to have a hardened heart. This is something we all experience, even Christians, from time to time. Here is a definition I like:

A hard heart is a heart that is unresponsive to the truth; and it usually revolves around power and control. A hard heart is a heart that is unresponsive to the truth; and it usually revolves around power and control. We are going to see that is definitely true in this case. If you have a hard heart, you have basically determined you are going to do what you want to do, regardless of what God says. You want to be in control of your life, even if that means disobeying God’s Word.

Consider this: 3 different times in Exodus, God says: “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart.” 6 times, Exodus tells us: “The LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart.” 7 times, Exodus reveals: “Pharaoh’s heart was hardened.” And 3 times, we read: “Pharaoh hardened his [own] heart.”

There is no doubt that this King was going to have a hardened heart. We have already seen it. What can become a problem for us is whether or not we want to say that Pharaoh hardened his own heart or that God hardened his heart. The answer is clear, and the answer is: BOTH. Pharaoh hardened his heart AND God hardened it. But, we cannot leave out the fact that God did harden Pharaoh’s heart also. In fact, the first time we read about Pharaoh’s heart being hardened, it is in 4:21, when God said that He would harden Pharaoh’s heart. And here, in 7:3, we read it again, before we get to verse 13, where we will read that Pharaoh’s heart was hardened; and it will not be until 8:15 that we read for the first time that Pharaoh hardened his own heart. So, what do we do with this?

Please turn in your Bible to Romans 9. In the Bible in front of you, it is on page 945.

I want you to see this with your own eyes; so keep something here in Exodus 7, and turn with me to the New Testament book of Romans, chapter 9: Romans 9. If you are using the Bible in front of you, it is on page 945.
Just accept the truth for what it is, even though you cannot fully understand it. We are talking about God and His ways here, so there comes a point when our human minds cannot fully comprehend it; but we can believe it, even though we cannot fully explain it. Let me quote for you from the Bible Knowledge Commentary:

“Pharaoh’s heart was not enabled to heed the message and demonstrate repentance by releasing the people. God demonstrates His absolute sovereignty over mankind by using them as He pleases; some, like Moses, to honor Him and others, like this Pharaoh, to dishonor Him. Both kinds of people bring glory to God though it is beyond man’s finite ability to understand how this can be.” True.

In our minds, we start thinking things like: “Wait a second. That seems unfair. Pharaoh really didn’t have a chance. Well, the Apostle Paul, in the New Testament, knew that we would be struggling with this issue, as it relates to salvation; so he wrote this:

Romans 9:14-18 – “What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! For he says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.”

That is hard to get our minds around, isn’t it? It is. The key is not necessarily being about to fully comprehend this; but to accept it as biblical truth; and to make sure we do not get a hardened heart against God because of His choices. Paul continues to try to answer the obvious questions and objections we might have to something like this:

Romans 9:19 – “You will say to me then, Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?”

In Romans, chapters 1-3, it explained that every person is responsible to believe in Jesus Christ for salvation; and if they do not, they are held accountable for it. But, in cases like Pharaoh’s it almost seems like he had no choice (in our minds); and we are tempted to almost argue with God on this point. Paul continues:

Romans 9:20-21 – “But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, Why have you made me like this? Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?”

Paul’s argument is this: Listen, God is God, and you are not. He made you, not the other way around. So, when it comes right down to it, when there is something like this that is hard to accept and comprehend, remember that you, who were created by God, have no right to tell God what to do, or what is right, or what is fair. God is always right, and will do what will bring Him the most glory.

Was Pharaoh responsible for his own actions? Yes. Did he harden his own heart? Yes. But, before we read that, do we also read it correctly: that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would not let the people go? Yes, that is the truth. Do we fully understand that? No. Does it cause some difficulties for us? Yes. But, can we trust in God and His Word, and know that He will only do what is right? YES!

Let’s get back to Exodus 7. I know I took some extra time there with this one phrase: “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart”; but it was important for us to lay this foundation, since we will be reading more about this in the next several chapters. The second part of God’s plan was this:

Exodus 7:4 – “Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment.”

· I will bring my people out of bondage with acts of judgment

This is where the plagues come in. God’s plan, as is reviewed here, is to do incredible acts of judgment, on the nation of Egypt, and to cause them to release His people, at just the right time (from God’s perspective). Finally, after God reviewed the key people involved, and the basic plan, He reminded Moses of His:

The Purpose
This will answer the questions: Why would God harden Pharaoh’s heart? Why wouldn’t God bring His people out of bondage much more quickly and more easily? Why is God going to act with such harsh judgment on Egypt? Here is the reason, as He has explained before:

Exodus 7:5 – “The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD when I stretch out may hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them.”

This was God’s purpose for the coming plagues and for not allowing Pharaoh to let His people go, until He was finished. He wanted all the people of Egypt, His enemies, Israel’s enemies, to know that He was the one and only true God. We are going to see how the 10 plagues were in direct competition and in opposition to the many gods of Egypt. God was going to show who He was compared to their lifeless, impotent gods. And God had already stated that these acts would also help His own people know who He was:

Exodus 6:7 – “…and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.”

His purpose in all of this?
· I want everyone to know who I am

That is what God was after, when it came to these plagues. He wanted them to know who He was, that He was the only true God, the God who kept His promises, and the God who wanted a close relationship with His people. And then, this review section is closed out, with a reminder, once again, of who God chose to carry out this plan, and how they did obey God in it:

Exodus 7:6,7 – “Moses and Aaron did so; they did just as the LORD commanded them. Now Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh.”

The headline on June 14, 2008, in the Los Angeles Times read: “40 years after brutal murders, Susan Atkins asks for mercy.” On an infamous summer night in 1969, young followers of Charles Manson entered a Benedict Canyon mansion and murdered five people gathered on the compound. Actress Sharon Tate, 8 1/2 months pregnant with the son of director Roman Polanski, begged one of the knife-wielding killers to spare her life. The attacker was Susan Atkins, and her response was cold and unequivocal.

"She asked me to let her baby live," Atkins told parole officials in 1993. "I told her I didn't have mercy for her." Almost 40 years later, it's Atkins who is asking for mercy.The Manson 'family' member has been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, but her victims' relatives say that doesn't mean she deserves to get out of jail.”

Just like the Kings of Egypt, who ordered the midwives to kill all baby boys; and then ordered all Egyptians to throw any baby boys they found into the Nile River, so Susan Atkins is an example of a hardened heart that leads to death and destruction. That is where all hardened hearts eventually lead. This is an extreme example, perhaps, but a true story of a woman with such a hardened heart, that she had no mercy to give to her victims: a young woman and her unborn child.
But, unlike the king of Egypt here in the Exodus story, Susan Atkins professed to turn her life over to Jesus Christ, and is now dedicated to sharing the good news of His love and mercy. You see, the story of Susan Atkins, the story of the plagues in Exodus, and your story, is all about how the mercy of God can make a life changing difference, if you will respond with a humble heart.

Here, in Exodus 7, before the details of the plagues are given, we had a review of the truths about what God was doing and who He was using to do it. He is now going to get into how He is going to do it. Still, before the 10 plagues begin, we have what could be called:

A Preview (7:8-13)

Exodus 7:8-10 – “Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, When Pharaoh says to you, Prove yourselves by working a miracle, then you shall say to Aaron, Take your staff an cast it down before Pharaoh, that it may become a serpent. So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD commanded. Aaron cast down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent.”

Just before the plagues began, God sent Moses and Aaron to do a miracle before Pharaoh, which would really give a preview for how the plagues were going to go and how people would respond. God had already showed this miracle, of the staff turning into a snake, to Moses, and now it was time for Moses and Aaron to show it to Pharaoh, in the context of demonstrating that it was the LORD who had sent them with the message of deliverance. Something that happens here that we will see throughout the plagues is this:

· Moses and Aaron obeyed God and delivered His message

Despite their failures and shortcomings, throughout this story of the plagues, we will see Moses and Aaron do what God asks them to do, time and time again, in delivering His specific messages to the King of Egypt. There is something else we will see at play during these plagues, especially during the first cycle (plagues 1-3).

God did a miracle, through Moses and Aaron, in the sight of the King of Egypt. It was meant to show that God has the power, and that Pharaoh should obey and let God’s people go. Remember, in response to the first thing that Moses said to Pharaoh in 5:1 – “Thus says the LORD.”, Pharaoh responded: “Who is the LORD that I should obey Him”?; and then his servants responded with: “Thus says Pharaoh”, just before making their bondage much more unbearable.

There was a battle that was being waged here, between the servants of God and the servants of the King of Egypt.

Exodus 7:11,12 – “Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and they, the magicians of Egypt, also did the same by their secret arts. For each man cast down his staff, and they became serpents…”

This is something else we will see in the plagues:
· God’s enemies seemed to have as much power as God

Pharaoh wanted to show that maybe the God of Israel wasn’t so great and powerful after all. So, he called his magicians and sorcerers, and they were able to reproduce the same miracle, casting down their staffs, and seeing them become snakes right before their eyes.

For those present at that moment, it would seem that God’s enemies had just as much power, or maybe even more than the God of Israel did. Yes, Moses and Aaron were able to make their staff turn into a snake, but each of the sorcerers and magicians, were able to throw their staffs down and the same thing happened. As they were watching all the snakes slither around, it seemed the enemies of God had the upper hand.

Are you making the connection to our world today? Every since the days of Moses and Aaron, those who have not trusted in God sometimes seems as though they have as much or more power than God Himself. They want to show they are wiser than God, if there even is a God; and they are in control of their own lives and eternal destiny.

In today’s world, those who do not accept God as He has presented Himself to be, try to prove that He is not really needed.

In a U.S. News and World Report, there was a section, where readers could write in their comments. This is what John, from San Diego wrote: “Many thanks for Jay Tolson’s thoughtful [article] ‘The New Unbelievers’. What is new about the new atheism is that science is just beginning to explore religion as a natural phenomenon of the brain, not the supernatural phenomenon of gods, spirits, and demons that most people still believe it to be. Atheism is a positive and uplifting worldview. Liberation from darkness, superstition, and irrationality of religion often brings great happiness, along with a serious commitment to do what is right for our fellow human and for our natural world – the only world there is.”

The enemies of God in Moses’ day would have liked to show that, by their own power, they could re-create what God supposedly did, to show that God wasn’t involved in the so-called miracle at all. People are still trying to demonstrate that same message today.

In an article by the American Policy Roundtable, they included a picture and then described it: “Richard Dawkins, the world’s most prolific and profitable atheist, standing before a public bus in London. On the bus is a huge sign reading ‘There probably is no God. Now stop worrying and live your life.’ The campaign began when atheists in Great Britain got angry over Christian advertising appearing on buses. So they tried to raise $8,000 to put their godless message on the same trams. A few weeks later they had raised over $200,000 to advertise atheism on 8,000 buses.”

There is a battle going on between those who follow Jesus Christ and those who want God out public life, for good. There may be times, when you feel outnumbered by those who put down Christianity and try to squeeze God out of public life.

But, just as with Moses’ experience here in Exodus, you can trust that, at some point, God will do what He did back then:
· In the end, God’s power overcame all other powers

Look with me, again, at chapter 7, and verse 12:
Exodus 7:12 – “For each man cast down his staff, and they became serpents. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs.”

“But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs.” Don’t you wish you could have seen that! They were able to duplicate the miracle; but in the end, it was the power of God that proved superior, as Aaron’s snake swallowed up all the other snakes. This is a preview of what will take place in the first few plagues, as the battle continues.
There is one more part of the preview to the plagues that needs to be seen, here in:

Exodus 7:13 – “Still Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said.”

Even after Aaron’s snake, from the Moses’ staff, empowered by the God of Israel, showed who was superior, Pharaoh’s heart was still hard. This should be of no surprise to us, however, since God told us exactly what would happen. And this is only the beginning! This is a pattern that will continue:

· Regardless of God’s superiority, Pharaoh would not obey

If someone’s heart is hard, it doesn’t matter what proof there is of creation. If someone’s heart is hard, it doesn’t matter how God’s way makes so much more sense. If someone’s heart is hard, you cannot even beat the truth into them. I am sure you have seen that with your own children. You may have seen that, in your frustration with others, who will just not listen to the truth. And, if you are honest, you will admit, along with me, that we, at times, also have a power struggle with God over who is in control.

SO WHAT?

Follow the example of Moses and Aaron:
1. Obey God, even in the midst of uncertainty.
Moses and Aaron questioned at times, and not everything went according to their timing or plan. But, even in the midst of uncertainty, they obeyed God anyway. That is a great lesson for us. God has called you to do certain things that are uncomfortable, and not everyone is going to appreciate them. Your responsibility is not to wait until everything seems safe. Your job, before God, is to understand what He is asking you to do, and then to do it.

Perhaps, in the midst of financial uncertainty, God’s command to give of your money joyfully, voluntarily and sacrificially is a hard one. Or, you have a relationship that seems unstable…the other person is not responding the way they should; and yet God has asked you to love anyway, and to do the right thing regardless of their response.

2. Trust in God’s choices, even if you don’t understand them.
It is very hard for us to understand what God said: “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart”; but it is, nonetheless, what God chose to do, for His own glory. There will be many, many times, when you just won’t understand why God is allowing certain things in your life, or not allowing certain things you think He should. We could continually question God on His choices; but you don’t have to. You can choose to trust Him, instead. You don’t have to fully comprehend God or His ways. In fact, that Bible tells us that it is impossible, in this lifetime, to do so. What you can do is this: When you read something in the Bible about God and His ways, you can study it; but in the end, just accept it as truth. You aren’t expected to figure everything out; but God does expect you to trust Him.

3. Keep a humble heart before God.
Probably the greatest thing we can take away from these passages that talk about God, His unbelievable acts, and His judgment on hard hearts, is to evaluate our own hearts. The opposite of a hardened heart is a responsive heart. And a good description of a responsive heart, I believe, is this: The responsive heart says: “God, just tell me what to do. I will humbly receive it; and I will do it.” A humble heart does not think he has everything figured out or that he can do God’s will in his own power. He is open to learning, more every day, about God, His Word, and what He wants for his life. Are you willing to go to God in prayer, reading His Word, and being sensitive to how He wants you to live? If so, then you are responding to God’s Word, here in Exodus, in an appropriate way.

CARDBOARD FOR EASTER

Every Easter Sunday, I feel this expectation that it needs to be special; that there needs to be something different, in order to mark the incredible celebration that it is. We are celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and it is the singular event that makes Him different and Christianity different than any other religious leader or religion. And, of course, this is not about a religion of trying to do enough good works to be known as religous; but it is about having a growing, personal relationship with the person of Jesus Christ. Therefore, Easter Sunday is extra special. It is one of the only times I cease whatever series of messages I am involved in, whatever book we are studying through, and I focus on Resurrection Sunday.


Last year, I wrote a drama that served as our message: a court trial, where witnesses to the resurrection, as described in the Bible, gave testimony as to what they saw. This year, I was not up to writing another drama, and it didn't seem that it is what God was leading me to do. Then, we remembered that a woman in our church had sent our pastors a youtube video months ago entitled: cardboard testomonies. It stuck in our minds and that was the first thing we thought of that needed to be included in our Easter service.


This is especially for all those who attend Grace Baptist Church of Westlake, Ohio, as I would like for you to consider being a part of this powerful testimony to God's grace in your life. Easter is about new beginnings, and about what Jesus Christ has done in our lives. So, I am encouraging every attender of Grace to give glory to God by giving a very easy, simple CARBOARD TESTIMONY.


What is a cardboard testimony? Very simply: you take a piece of cardboard or posterboard (I have posterboard in my office that any of you are welcome to take). That was easy, right? Then, take a marker and write, on one side of the poster a word or short phrase that describes a negative circumstance or struggle or hurt that you have experienced in your life. Then, on the other side of the poster, write a word or phrase that describes the difference Jesus Christ has made concerning that very thing.


For example, on one side of the poster, you might write: despair, attempted suicide; and on the other side, you might write: new hope, pursuing joy. Another example might be: working my way to Heaven (on one side); and then: trusted in Jesus for salvation in March 2009, on the other side. Hopefully, you got the idea. Every person, if they desire, can think of some way that Jesus has changed their life or is changing their life, in one way or the other. It just takes some time to think about it. If you need any ideas about what you could write down, please contact me, and I would be happy to help!


During the service on Easter Sunday, probably near the end, we will have everyone who is going to participate line up in the hallway outside the worship center. If you drop your posterboard off in my office, I can have it ready for you that day. Then, with an appropriate song playing in the background, we will come, one by one, to the center of the platform, and show our testimonies, without speaking, by showing each side of our poster. Then, we will go off to the side aisles to wait for everyone to be done, and then we will gather back in the front.


If you would like to see the video I first saw that gave us the idea for this, you can see it for yourself at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvDDc5RB6FQ

Watching the video may give you an idea of how you could give a testimony that day that can give glory to God. That is what this activity is all about. It is what our church is all about. Seeing God change lives and then giving glory to Him is absolutely the best thing we can do on Easter Sunday!


Thanks for considering how you can be a part of this.

Growing in Grace,

Greg

IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR

Some of you, even in March, read this blog title, and are still thinking back to Christmas. You think I'm 3 months late, writing about Christmas time: Wrong.
Some of you, my spiritual reades out there, think I'm talking about Lent season: Wrong.
Some of you, who believe you have some type of seasonal disorder, and hate winter, think I must be talking about the soon coming of spring: wrong.

Let me give you a hint: It has 2 m's in it. No, you chocoholics: I'm not talking about the M&M candy (although I love it). Let me give you another hint: it has to do with something round, something orange, something beautiful. Have you figured it out yet? If not, you must be a woman or alien (or both). I know it sounds like a disease, but are there any more wonderful than these two M words put together?

MARCH MADNESS!

Please don't tell me that you still don't know what I'm talking about. This is the time of year, when most men, and some women, have this unexplainable magnetic draw to sit for hours in the lazy boy and watch basketball game (college basketball!) after basketball game, game after game, after game after game. They call in sick even if they are not sick, the children go hungry and the spouses feel lonely. But, how can you blame us? It's the newest disorder, that has been around for decades: We are inflicted with March Madness! It's a wonderful sickness.

It has already begun, with over 300 division 1 basketball teams in college, they have been having tournaments to decide who gets to go to the Big Dance (the tournament of 64 teams, that begin play this coming Thursday). That is what the whole season of college basketball is about. That is the desire of every division 1 fan, coach and player: make it to the tournament. And if you watch any sports these next couple of weeks, that will be the main story. This weekend, it will be: who are the bubble teams (teams that might not make it into the 64 team tourney)? Who are probably going to be the four #1 seeds for the tournament? And on and on the questioning goes. The big leaue tournaments finish today or tomorrow; and the final selection of the 64 teams happens on Sunday afternoon. I think there might still be a 65th team that is selected, and a playoff early this next week to determine who the 64th team is.

So after all the league tournament championships and the selection of the 65 teams on Sunday and the playoff on Monday or Tuesday; then the anticipation builds for Thursday, when at about noon, all television sets somehow turn automatically to the tournament, every worker suddenly feels ill and has to go home; or hides in his cubicle and finds a live stream for the opening round of the NCAA tournament. Then, he goes home and stays up until midnight watching the final West coast game. Then, he does the same thing on Friday, as the teams go from 64 to 32.

On Saturday and Sunday afternoons and evenings of that first weekend, nothing but basketball (I would suggest going to church in there somewhere as well. I am a pastor you know!). Then, when all the excitement dies down late Sunday night, we crash into bed and have a basketball hangover on Monday. We take a couple days to recover and do it again the following weekend as we watch the final 16 teams (the Sweet 16 as it is affectionately called) go all the way down to a final four (outside of winning the championship, making the final four is the goal).

Then, there is an entire week of waiting and talking about it. Of course, during the waiting of these few weeks, the lesser teams, who couldn't make the real tournament, are playing in the 3 letter tournament (NIT), in case you just have to watch more basketball! And then, the final four on the final weekend, on Saturday and Sunday; and then the anticipation builds to the following Monday for the national championship game.

So, there it is: the full explanation. Now, do you understand? Is there anything bette than that?There can be no doubt, right, that this is truly: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!
Let the games begin!

Will you mentor me please? NO!

I probably didn’t word it in this way; but it is the basic question I have asked a few people. There was a particular, well known youth speaker, when I was in college, that I wanted to learn from and stay in contact with. I asked if he would be willing to be a part of my prayer partners. These are guys that agree to pray for me once a week, I pray for them once a week, and I send them prayer and praise updates monthly. I was hoping this particular spiritual leader would be willing to build into my life into the future. He said: “No thank you. I don’t have the time.”

Over the years, I have learned from many guys. Some were friends, some were younger, some older. I really learned a lot from my youth pastor, Greg Bishop, who was a great model of someone who built into the lives of young men. I learned a ton from Robert Smith, my pastor when I was on internship in seminary. He taught me about how to think through ministry philosophy and strategy. I have certainly learned from my dad, who I grew up admiring and still admire today. He has show me what it means to follow God wholeheartedly and allow that relationship with God affect every aspect of life. He taught me to make the most of my time and to work hard with integrity.

But, my search for someone older in ministry to help mentor me in ministry and life has not worked out so well. First of all, it is very difficult to find someone that I feel has a close philosophy of ministry to mine. I think that is important so that he will be able to understand where I am coming from, in order to help me be more effective. It is also hard to find someone willing to open up his own life, including his failures and struggles. I can usually tell, even in casual conversation, whether or not a certain person would be a good mentor for me.

Last year, I was really convicted about asking a particular someone, more seasoned in ministry, to help me through a variety of challenges I was facing. So, I took him out to lunch and asked him to help me. He put me off, and put me off, and put me off. Finally, a few weeks ago, he called me to let me know that he could not mentor me. And we had previously agreed to only meet once a month or so; but still this was too much for him. Believe me, I do understand. He has physical challenges, and so does his wife; but to see how a godly man works through those challenges to still serve God humbly would have been a great thing for me to experience.

Recently, I had the opportunity to hear someone speak who leads a ministry in another state. I knew that he could not mentor me long term, but I did fully believe that he could help me think through a couple of things, and since some of his past experiences are mirroring my present ones, I was sure he would atleast give me a single phone conversation. No such luck (ok – all you theologians out there – don’t criticize me for using the word luck!)

He said, in his e-mail, that he used to help pastors, but no longer. He could not give me any time and if I wanted help, he would suggest a strange pastor in my state that could help me. I guess I expected something like this; but it was still disappointing. Why is it so hard for men who have been in ministry so many years to give back, just a little bit, to younger guys (no, I’m not calling myself young…just younger), to encourage and help them?

I have made a decision. If I ever get asked by anyone to help them grow in their spiritual life and ministry, I will not turn them down. I will, at the very least, have a conversation with them to determine how I can be a long term help; or if there is someone else that can truly help them (and I will help in that process). I don’t have any great ministry successes to share with others (or that would cause them to ask me for help); but I can offer a listening ear, support, encouragement and prayer. Perhaps God would use me in someone’s life; even though I have not seen it modeled for me.

I know this lies with me. I need to keep praying, keep looking, and keep asking men if they would allow me to learn from them. At some point, somewhere down the line, I bet (again, no crticisms for using the word "bet", plesae) I will actually hear the answer: "YES, I would be happy to!"

When I grow up, I want to be a youth pastor and a regular dad

When I heard the statement, I laughed. Then, I felt excited...then, I felt terrified. Why? Because, it was my 8 year old son that made the statement. First of all, any statement he or his twin sister make seem cute; and it doesn't take much for us to laugh with joy when they say something that we don't expect. The way he said it made me laugh, along with his use of the work "regular". Many times, we ask a question and then everyone goes around the table and answers it. But, we weren't asking the question about what you want to be when you grow up. In fact, we weren't asking any questions. He just kind of came out with it. That added to the element of surprise.

The excitement I felt was 2-fold. First, when he said he wanted to be a pastor, that automatically gets me excited since that is what God called me to do. We never push our kids to desire certain occupations in the future; and we know that, within a short period of time, his desire to be a youth pastor might turn into a desire to be a pilot, garbage man or ballet dancer! I understand this. But, to hear it was as equally exciting as when, in the past, my 9 year old daughter has said she wants to be a missionary. I feel like I have to give all these disclaimers here. I know being a pastor or missionary is no greater in God's eyes than being anything else, as long as it is what God has called someone to. But, I won't apologize for my excitement when my kids say such things!

The second part of my excitement came from his desire to be a "regular" dad. I assumed he was thinking that I also was a regular dad, and this means that he wants to be like me. That is also very humbling, but exciting at the same time. Yes, yes, I know what you cynics out there are saying: "just wait, Greg...in a few years, he won't want to be a regular dad anymore, he will want to be like a certain professional athlete or his youth pastor or someone else, rather than you." Yes, I know; but stop trying to ruin my moment of joy, will you?

And then, the terrifying part. This means that what my son knows about being a pastor or a regular dad, is, at least for now, going to come from me. That is humbling and causes me to have, what I think is a healthy fear. We want our children to see ministry as a blessing from God; and protect them from some of the nasty elements that come "with the territory." We want to appreciate the positives of being in a pastor's family; and to see how God uses other people to be a blessing to us as well. Here in our present church (Grace Baptist of Westlake, OH), we have recounted for our children, often, how God has used the great people in this church in our lives; even providing, at times, for some basic needs.

If my son decides, in the future, that God is directing him into some other type of work (I do realize - another disclaimer - that any work we do can be ministry), I pray it will not be because of my example. And I trust, that if he marries and has children some day, that his desire to be a regular dad will bring back memories of his dad, failing, but trying to love him and lead him to God.

Amen.