generations

Generations Pt 2

Last night, Pastor Pete, our Children's Pastor baptized a number of kids. For those who don't know, baptism in water is a practice which dates back to before the time of Christ. It is an indication of a person's desire to walk out the special kind of life that Jesus walked. Jesus himself was baptized.

Before we baptize people we often ask them publicly why they want to be baptized. We don't want it to be simply a traditional act when it is intended to be an indication of the person's heart and a very personal decision.

All of the kids answered the question from their hearts (which was very cool) but one little girl's response gave a response which is as close to the meaning of life as I can come.

"Why do you want to be baptized?" "Because I want Jesus to know I am thankful for everything he has done."

As long as their are children who have gotten to know Jesus well enough that they are overwhelmed with what he has done and want to live their lives as a "thank you" to him, we have reason to hope and celebrate.

BTW - My thanks to all the Pastor Pete's in the world and the moms and dads who are making sure their kids know the love of God.

Generations

Here's what happened. My granddaughter turned five last week. I called her on her birthday. She wasn't home so I left a message "after the beep" as instructed. Actually, I've left three or more messages since that time and haven't yet gotten to talk to her. I have been increasingly disappointed as any grandparent out there will understand.

This morning I was thinking about her and calling again. I realized that I was torn between thinking that it is completely acceptable that I haven't talked to her in a while and the nagging sense that this isn't right.

Why the conflict? In my growing up years I had one set of grandparents living about eight states away and a grandmother several hundred miles away. I always enjoyed seeing them but it was a less than yearly occurrence. It was not until this morning that I realized I had come to accept infrequent contact with my grandchildren as normal, maybe even good because that's the way it was for me.

Fortunately we have a better guide for life than "the way it was for me." God's much wiser counsel is that we should take advantage of every possible opportunity to impress our kids, grandkids, and great grandkids with the greatness of God and His ways. BTW - you can read it yourself if you want to in the Bible (Deuteronomy 6).

It's humbling to "learn" something so obvious at this stage of life but I would rather pay attention to what I am thinking and examine it in light of God's better counsel than just repeat the way it was for me.

You?

Not Alone

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.

Well... what are you waiting for?

Man Up

Finally, after April and May rains we have some great weather - the kind of weather people in the Northwest crave all year. It's also the kind of weather known to bring out stupid stunts and injury to muscles which haven't had much stretching. As a man a little over 50, this is more real to me than it used to be. Men will be men, the saying goes.

I was reading about the biblical King, David. Maybe you think of him as a poet and singer - and therefore kind of a wimp. You would be right about the fact that he was both poet and singer, but he was no wimp. I don't know the grand total of battles that he was personally involved in but let's just say he cleaned a lot of blood off of his sword. He was a man's man - and a poet and singer.

At the end of his life he spoke to the son (Solomon) who was following him as king and essentially told him to "man up." This is what he said.

"I'm about to go the way of all the earth... So be strong, show yourself a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires. Walk in His ways, and keep His decrees and commands, His laws and requirements..."

Someone has said, "Real men fight best on their knees."

I think prayer is one of those things that is pretty mysterious to men. We're bent to take action and "do something" and prayer doesn't seem to fit that model.

For the next few weeks I'm asking you to send me what you've learned about praying - like a man. Warfare on your knees so to speak. Are there particular things you've read from the Bible or other writers which have put something into you to understand how to pray as a man? Send them to me at daves@cityharvestchurch.com

Happy Mothers Day

My diary

This morning I was born. Mom was there before me, of course. Later I learned she worked hard just to have me. That was just the beginning.

Today I actually saw my mom. My eyes have been pretty blurry since I was born but today I actually saw her. Or maybe it was an angel. I couldn’t tell for sure.

Wow – this is cool. I did something. I’m not even sure what it was but my mom laughed and smiled at me. I think I’m gonna like this lady.

Oops. Pooped a lot today. Mom told everyone it (the poop I guess) went everywhere.

Today I pooped again. Mom said it was even worse than the last entry so I’ll just leave it at that. I’m not going to be writing for a while because pooping and sleeping seem to be about all I can do and I don’t want you to get bored.

Real food is not all that. I was kind of liking the other stuff. Mom said she hoped I would sleep now so she can sleep. I didn’t realize I was being such a problem.

Mom let me stand up on my own today. And then she left me standing there and told me to come to her – how the heck am I supposed to do that?!

I did it! I moved this one foot and then I moved the other. Everyone clapped. It was cool.

I’m pretty fast. I ran away from mom today when she called me. She got mad. I’m actually not sure what I think about this new freedom thing.

Trouble. I got in real trouble. This other kid took my toy and I shoved him over. He cried and mom got upset. She told me I had to share. I’m going to have to think about that.

I haven’t written for a while. I’m going to this place without my mom today. Wait! This can’t be right…. Even my words and crying didn’t work. Someone help me!

It wasn’t that bad. We did some cool stuff. Mom told me she was proud of me when I came home. I am sensing that this is just the beginning of something I’m going to be doing a lot of.

Well, well… there is an opposite sex. Basically, I think that’s a little weird – but also kind of OK. I don’t know… Mom said she’d talk to me about it later.

Jr High is stupid. My teachers are stupid. School is stupid AND lame. Even mom is stupid sometimes. I didn’t think that was possible but – oh yeah – she’s human. She got mad and cried when I told her she was stupid. I was just trying to express myself. I thought that’s what she wanted. How did I get into this mess? It’s her fault, right?

Mom was awesome today. We went on a hike. She made it all the way to the top and back. I thought she was too old for that but she surprised me. Actually, that’s the story of my life. Mom has always surprised me.

· The way she gets excited about the things I have accomplished.

· The way she gets upset about things I think are no big deal.

· The way she really seems to understand me. There are days when I think she doesn’t have a clue but then she surprises me with how much she really does know about me and my life.

· The way she loves me – pretty much no matter what.

One other thing – she knows God in a way I haven’t yet learned. I can see it in her so I know it’s real and possible for me to know Him that way, too. I guess, like everything else in my life, it’s going to take me some time to figure it out.

Mom is my example. She’s human. She’s not perfect. But she really works at this. Basically she has been laboring to help me from before the time I was born.

I think it is only right that I say, Thanks.

Thanks, mom.

Power

No question about it. God demonstrated His power when he brought Jesus to life again. A human heart quits beating. The regenerating process of oxygen to the brain is cut off. Without life continuing to touch every cell, every cell starts to fall apart (decay).

So then, after several days of this, Jesus' body is brought back to life. That's power. In fact, it's not simply the power to start what has stopped. It has to be the power to reverse the destruction that has already occurred.

Sometimes I meet someone who says, "You don't want to shake my hand. I have a bad cold." I appreciate the person's concern and I am aware of how bacteria/viruses spread, but my usual response is to shake their hand or give them a hug anyway as I tell them, "There is more life working in me than there is death in you." OK, call me strange. But I truly believe it. Not only was my body spectacularly engineered to fight off attack but now because the "same Spirit that raised Christ Jesus from the dead" is in me, I have resurrection life in me.

I am not anti-medicine nor do I think the pharmaceutical companies and medical profession are involved in some evil plot. Still, you have to admit; the list of potential side effects from the drugs you hear advertised to "cure" some problem and the costs of medical treatment sometimes create more problems than answers. One honest doctor told me, "that's why we call it practicing medicine."

So, God bless them for their efforts and you for your desire to be healthy. I wonder, though, if we give God enough credit for His power to separate life from death and give "life to our physical bodies." I wonder if we have let the medical profession come between us and a God who gives life in abundance.

Next time your body is achy or feverish and you can tell something is not quite right, make the doctor appointment if that's what you think you need to do, but also try getting a second opinion - God's. Seriously. Say something like this. "God, you made this body. Nice job, by the way. Right now, though, something is going on that I don't understand. Since you do, would you let me know what I need to do? Thanks." Then, just be as quiet as you can in your thoughts and pay attention.

Note: It might seem strange at first to talk to God. The truth is that He is real and wants you to know him not just as a doctor with a second opinion but as the parent none of us have ever had. The way Jesus took care of people and healed them is a reflection of what God is like - so there you go. He can be talked to. He always responds to a request for healing, life, wisdom, and any other question you have. A relationship with Him will be like no other you have ever had. Some people have a really hard time believing in a God who cares or having the kind of relationship with Him that I'm describing. If you want to talk more about it you can contact me at daves@cityharvestchurch.com

Some of the quotes above come from the Bible. Google the following to see it for yourself - lookup rom 8:11