Concern-Responsibility

This is a great post by Pastor Mark Driscoll
http://theresurgence.com/concern-responsibility

He Who Has The Son Has Life

"The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes know to them his covenant." Psalm 25:14.

The books of Exodus and Leviticus have been often wrongly thought of as irrelevant and misleading.  People will ask "how can a loving God kill people and such".  The books of Exodus and Leviticus simply raise a profound question, the question that Jesus Christ has answered--how can a holy God dwell in the midst of a sinful people?  In the book of Leviticus, the sinfulness of God's people renders his closeness problematic, even dangerous.  The book of Leviticus also teaches that the relationship between a holy God and sinful people can be maintained by sacrifice. Leviticus 16 describes the Day of Atonement.  Aaron the high priest is to first make atonement by blood-- just for the tent, as unclean people have been in and out of it.  He is then instructed to take two goats.  One is to be killed and its blood is to be sprinkled on the tent and altar, the other is to be left alive--for awhile.  Aaron was to lay both his hands on the live goat's head while confessing all the sin of the people over it.  After this the goat was to be led away into the wilderness (Azel) which means "cut off".  Throughout Leviticus, we find that to be excluded and cut off from the camp of Israel was absolute punishment.  A terrible fate is in view here, entailing both exclusion, and the certain expectation of death.  All of this foreshadowed  the work of Christ in the new covenant, where God's wrath against all his people was propitiated by the once-for-all substitutionary death of his Son.

The Israelites often abused the sacrificial system in two ways.

1. Presumption:  The people thought that as long as they just did a ritual once in awhile they could simply live a lifestyle of sin that would be pleasing to God.  Sadly the sacrifice of Jesus is often thought of in the same way without the understanding that life apart from him is death.  Thus the trying to delight in eating cow-pies.

2. Syncretism:  The attempt to combine the worship of the Lord with paganism.  Oftentimes they would try to bring in pagan statues into the temple.  The Lord will not tolerate this: his people must worship him alone, and in the way he stipulated. It often shocks me how churches try to draw people by tricks and gimmicks.  I have been through many church services where the name of Jesus is not even mentioned.   This is why we are all about Jesus!

These are the same abuses today.  God has made it clear that we can only come to him through his Son.  "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him." (Jn.3:36).

His Dying Breath Has Brought Me Life--I Know That It Is Finished

The doctrine of penal substitution proclaims that God gave himself in the person of his Son to suffer instead of us the death, punishment and curse due to fallen humanity as the penalty for sin.  This understanding of the cross of Christ is the very core of the gospel.  There is a wondrous beauty in the sacrificial love of a God who gave himself for his people.  It is this that first drew me to the Lord Jesus Christ, and this that will draw us to him when he returns on the last day to vindicate his name and welcome his people into his eternal kingdom--no wonder every knee will bow and tongue confess. Can you imagine what you will do when you see him?   That the Lord Jesus Christ died for us--a shameful death, bearing our curse, enduring our pain, suffering the wrath of his own Father in our place--has been the wellspring of the hope of countless Christians throughout the ages.  Although he was fully God, he accomplished this all as a man, in reliance upon the Holy Spirit.  Every month I drive up to Seattle for re-train.  My favorite moments  have been our worship times together.  We sang How Deep The Father's Love For Us, and as we sang the words "his dying breath has brought me life, I know that it is finished" all the men in the room began to hoop and holler--you can't help but praise him when you begin to understand the atonement.  When the gospel is preached, worship will rise.  

C.H. Spurgeon preached these words with all his heart,

 "Would you have me silence the blood of sprinkling?  Would anyone of you attempt so horrible a deed?  Shall we be censured if we proclaim the heaven-sent message of the blood of Jesus?  Shall we speak with bated breath because some affected person shutters at the sound of the word blood? or some 'cultured' individual rebels at the old-fashioned thought of sacrifice?  Nay, verily, we shall sooner have our tongue cut out than cease to speak of the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ."

Antipsalm

Anti-Psalm 23

I'm on my own. No one looks out for me or protects me.
I experience a continual sense of need. Nothing's quite right.
I'm always restless. I'm easily frustrated and often disappointed.
It's a jungle — I feel overwhelmed. It's a desert — I'm thirsty.
My soul feels broken, twisted, and stuck. I can't fix myself.
I stumble down some dark paths.
Still, I insist: I want to do what I want, when I want, how I want.
But life's confusing. Why don't things ever really work out?
I'm haunted by emptiness and futility — shadows of death.
I fear the big hurt and final loss.
Death is waiting for me at the end of every road,
but I'd rather not think about that.
I spend my life protecting myself. Bad things can happen.
I find no lasting comfort.
I'm alone ... facing everything that could hurt me.
Are my friends really friends?
Other people use me for their own ends.
I can't really trust anyone. No one has my back.
No one is really for me — except me.
And I'm so much all about ME, sometimes it's sickening.
I belong to no one except myself.
My cup is never quite full enough. I'm left empty.
Disappointment follows me all the days of my life.
Will I just be obliterated into nothingness?
Will I be alone forever, homeless, free-falling into void?
Sartre said, "Hell is other people."
I have to add, "Hell is also myself."
It's a living death,
and then I die.


Psalm 23


The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Work To Rest-Rest To Work

 Song 2:10 My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. 


As I grow older, I realize more and more that I need to incorporate cardio into my life.  I hate running because it hurts my legs (baseball seasons have taken their toll) so I have been swimming weekly at the Western pool.  I was intimidated by all the college swimmers at first, but I eventually bought myself some goggles.  On one occasion, someone even stole my underwear and tee-shirt from my locker--I felt pretty weird walking through campus without my shirt on, not to mention the weird factor of someone possibly wearing my undies.  So, to even get in the habit of swimming was quite an adventure.  The first few weeks I would swim 10 laps (down and back), as I would freestyle--I would need to take a breath at every 3 strokes.  But as the weeks went by, exuding 4 strokes to every breath became no problem.

I am realizing that life has the same rhythms.  I need to work and rest.  Gathering strength and then expelling that strength, and then back again.  Our homes should be places of rest and gathering.  Or at least a bedroom in our homes needs to be set apart for completely gathering rest.  When we have computers in our bedrooms and bills strung out all over the place it is like trying to swim 10 strokes before taking a breath.  Sometimes we have to work to rest.  You may need to fight for rest.  

On a real practical level.  Do you have a place completely set apart for rest in your home, if not, it's worth working to rest.  Miranda and I have been working real hard and even sacrificing rest in order to make a room in our house a sanctuary for us to rest.  Environment for rest is critical.  Time to rest without an environment to rest, will not equal rest.  So sometimes we need to work to rest.

Learn From God The Father, What True Fatherhood Really Is Like

       Let's consider a few applications of God the Father and how He fathers us, especially in connection with those of us who are fathers.  On one hand, God the Father insists on our respect and obedience.  Remember the Lord's prayer, which addresses the Lord this way: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name"(Matt.6:9).  God who is Father wants his children to approach him with respect and honor.  Malachi 1:6 says, "A son honors his father, and a servant his master.  If I am a Father, where is my honor?  And if I am your master, where is your fear? says the Lord of hosts."  God as Father requires that his people respect him.  Our Father is not our "homeboy" as many tee-shirts express.  As fathers we should also cultivate an atmosphere of respect in our homes with our children with a proper sense of fear and authority.  We do harm to our children by allowing them to speak and act in disrespectful ways.  When we allow our children to disrespect us we are only allowing their hearts to breed more and more disrespect which is ultimately directed towards God himself.

      On the other hand God fathers us by lavish, generous, even extravagant in his care, provision, and protection for his children (Bruce Ware).  "He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?" (Rom.8:32).  Lavish, generous, extravagant care for his children--this also marks the true heart and action of God, our Father.  In light of this every father should ask, do my children know how much I love them?  Do you lavish your children with every good gift?  For many fathers who never experienced love and affection from their fathers this is a missing ingredient to reflecting our Father in heaven.  As fathers, in order to reflect the image of God we must provide a godly authority with equally as much love, affection, lavishing good gifts at an extravagant level of love.

Propitiation and Expiation

Propitiation and Expiation are the two sides of the coin in regards to the finished work that Jesus the Christ has accomplished through his blood, to reconcile us to the Father.  I've split up Romans 5:6-11 in order that you can see the two sides of the coin.


Rom. 5:6 ¶ For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Rom. 5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

Rom. 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Christ died "for us". The word "for" is "huper"  which means not only for the benefit of but also in place of.  Jesus was crucified in my stead.  Many don't understand why it was necessary that Christ would have to die.  If God is God why can't he just sweep our trespasses under the rug and just forget about it? The reason being God is just.  God is perfect, holy, and just.  He hates sin and rightfully must condemn it.  Those who preach a false gospel will fail to explain that we are in desperate need of a payment for our sin.  They will say "Jesus died for your benefit" but will fail to explain "he died in your place".  In the book of Romans Paul builds the case that on our very best day we are at best the worst of sinners who stand condemned before a holy, righteous God.  Who has every right to turn away from us forever (Rom.3:19).  

Rom. 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Rom. 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Rom. 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. 

Here is the other side of the coin!  If a payment has been made in full, why in the world would I try and pay it myself?  A false gospel will lead people to bondage.  The scriptures are clear we cannot lift a pinky to save ourselves.  If Jesus has made a full payment--as the resurrection proves he did--then the other side of the coin is expiation.  We are free (those who have placed their faith in Christ)!  You cannot separate propitiation from expiation(reconciliation).  Should I sin that grace my abound?  No, that is completely stupid--sin leads to death.  That's like saying can I eat cow pies in order that the doctor can pump my stomach.  But as the apostle John says,

"My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.  He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world."

Satisfaction In God

by John Piper

1) We are commanded to pursue satisfaction.
Psalm 100:2: “Serve the Lord with gladness!” Philippians 4:4: “Rejoice in the Lord always.” Psalm 37:4: “Delight yourself in the Lord.”
2) We are threatened if we don’t pursue satisfaction in God.
Deuteronomy 28:47-48: “Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart . . . therefore you shall serve your enemies.”
3) The nature of faith teaches the pursuit of satisfaction in God.
Hebrews 11:6: “Without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
4) The nature of evil teaches the pursuit of satisfaction in God.
Jeremiah 2:12-13: “Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the Lord, for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.”
5) The nature of conversion teaches the pursuit of satisfaction in God.
Matthew 13:44: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”
6) The call for self-denial teaches the pursuit of satisfaction in God.
Mark 8:34-36: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?”
7) The demand to love people teaches the pursuit of satisfaction in God.
Hebrews 12:2: “For the joy that was set before him [Jesus] endured the cross.” Acts 20:35: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
8) The demand to glorify God teaches the pursuit of satisfaction in God.
Philippians 1:20-21: “It is my eager expectation and hope that . . . Christ will be [glorified] in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain (final and total satisfaction in him).”
Therefore, I invite you to join George Mueller, the great prayer warrior and lover of orphans, in saying, “I saw more clearly than ever, that the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was, to have my soul happy in the Lord.” In this way, we will be able to suffer the loss of all things in the sacrifices of love, and “count it all joy.”

How I Light A Fatty Fire

I love to build a big fire at the beach after a long surf session and roast hotdogs while contemplating every wave I just got to ride.  The fire did not just appear on the beach unless we hijacked someone else's, even still--that fire had a beginning as well.  Oh I have a lighter in my house, and matches in the cupboard, but that will not become a serious fire unless I do some things that will erupt it into a mackin' fire.  So too, I know the Holy Spirit resides within me, but I also know I need to give Him something to burn.  I also know I have been lit by others who were already lit on fire by the Holy Spirit.  Now I need to be careful and make sure I explain what it looks like to be "on fire".  That's really easy--it looks like Jesus.  Jesus was always walking in the Spirit.

I made a list of the top 10 things that I have found turn my affections towards Jesus and build in me a fire.  You should try and make a list of ways you too are lit up.

.05  Ask Seek Knock!
1.  A nice hot cup of (good) coffee mixed with a sermon by C.H. Spurgeon.
2.  Times of complete solitude and prayer (listening).
3.  Wrestling with Toby and Chase.
4.  Writing
5.  Hanging out with passionate people who love Jesus and love to talk about him and the mission he gave.  Passion is highly contagious.
6.  Listening to good instrumental music.
7.  Doing the dishes while singing.
8.  Confessing my sin to God and others close to me.
9.  Surfing while admiring God's creation.
10.  Listening to people's stories (really listening) not trying to think about what I'll say next.
11.  Remembering people's names
12. Enjoying a really good meal to the glory of God.
13. Celebrate the gospel.
14.  Write a sermon
15.  Sleeping like a calvanist.
I know there is only supposed to be 10.  I'm sure in any given season your list will change.  For more study reference  the post I made in August "how do we track connecting with God" .

Jesus, Elmo, Lightning McQueen, Speed Racer, Facebook

Time seems so fleeting and fickle.  Opportunities come and go, and sometimes slip from your fingertips.  I have been watching my life and how I spend my time after I read Jonathan Edward's book on spiritual affections.  He points out that we ought to do things that build up our affections for Jesus.  What I am realizing is that there are many "morally neutral" things that can suck the life right out of you.

When I was in college I took a marine biology class.  I don't remember a whole lot from college--but this video I watched in this class on this particular "beast" I will never forget.  The merciless predator is called the Sea Whelk.  I watched to my amazement, how this slug like beast moves as slow as a snail.  It moves this slow so that it's prey (crab) does not feel it crawling on its back.  Once the Sea Whelk is on the back of the crab it protrudes its radula (drill) and breaks through the crabs shell injecting a venom that liquifies its guts.  The Sea Whelk then slurps up the crab like an oyster shooter.  This is how it is with "morally neutral" things in our lives.

Listening to my 4 year old son has been enlightening.  His mind is a mixture of Jesus, Elmo, Lightning McQueen, and Speed Racer.  What I am realizing, is that already at 4 years old there is a battle for his affections.  All these affections except one have been "created" by imagination.  It now occurs to me that we are created to recreate and redeem culture.  The only way we can see a new culture birth in our lives is by being moved in our affection for Jesus in a creative life-giving way transforming the culture around us.   Our affections begin to turn away from 24" rims, elitism, sexiness, extravagant vacations, retirement, envy, and pride--and then move towards Jesus and the gospel, valuing the mission, love, giving, and thinking  about yourself a whole lot less.  Sounds fun to me!

Rhythm: Bless

What are the everyday rhythms of life?  It's simple.  God in his infinite wisdom created everything including us, and he set in order the rhythms by which his creation would dance. We have been studying together at West Valley what our IDENTITY(who we are) really is--family--worshippers--servants--missionaries.  I want to now begin to explore God's RHYTHMS(how we live) and see how our IDENTITY(who we are) is lived out in the regular RHYTHMS(how we live) of life.  I will post a new rhythm throughout the week. 


Rhythm: BLESS


We intentionally bless others through words, gifts or actions.
God desires that all nations--all people--would be blessed through Jesus. And now, as his Body (West Valley), we believe we live out this mission as we bless others. We intentionally seek God's direction for who he would have us tangibly bless each week.


The promise begins with Abraham.  Gen. 12:2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.


You see this was God's intention from the beginning--that he would bless us so that we would bless others.  This should be a rhythmic part of our lives.  

1Pet. 3:9 yDo not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 

According to James we actually make ourselves an enemy of God when we think that God blesses us just to bless US FOR US. 

James 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 

James 4:4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 

The word "give" is used 963 times in scripture.  The word "receive" is used 134 times. 

How might you live out your identity as Family, Worshipper, Servant, and Missionary while you bless.  Sounds pretty natural to me!

Rhythm: Story

Everyday Rhythms Of Life

What are the everyday rhythms of life?  It's simple.  God in his infinite wisdom created everything including us, and he set in order the rhythms by which his creation would dance. We have been studying together at West Valley what our IDENTITY(who we are) really is--family--worshippers--servants--missionaries.  I want to now begin to explore God's RHYTHMS(how we live) and see how our IDENTITY(who we are) is lived out in the regular RHYTHMS(how we live) of life.  I will post a new rhythm throughout the week. 

STORY FORMED:  As I was growing up I always pictured the Bible as a bunch of stories randomly put into one big book called the Bible.  This of course was false but I believe this is a common view of the Bible.  Jesus pointed out that the scriptures were one big story book that is about him, Luke 24:27 And nbeginning with oMoses and pall the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. 

Luke 24:44 ¶ Then he said to them, k“These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, lthat everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”

It is key that as Christians we begin to understand "the story" not just random stories.  They all point to Jesus.  As we begin to understand "the story" we will begin to understand how our lives fit into this story, and will see the importance of sharing our stories with each other.  I should be able to see how the events of my day, year, life intersect with what God is doing in the world presently.  The Bible is full of people telling their stories.  They are communicating what God was doing in their life, moved by the Holy Spirit, to understanding of "the story".  

There is great joy in knowing that the story is about Jesus and how he has finished the work in totality on the cross.  If we know "the story" we will better know how to gospel each other on a daily basis, and leave off from legalistic morality that is a complete misinterpretation of the story of God.  Every Bible study we do ought to be interpreted in light of "the story".  Now there is no separation between life and Bible stories.  

Story is the highest mode of communication.  Every culture, from every period of time, has communicated through story.  God knows what he is doing in giving us a gigantic perfect story delivered by the Holy Spirit breathed out by God. It's ok to talk about Jesus and the gospel (good news) this true story has a great ending.  

A great resource for further study would be "God's Big Picture" by Roberts.  

Everyday Rhythms Of Life

What are the everyday rhythms of life?  It's simple.  God in his infinite wisdom created everything including us, and he set in order the rhythms by which his creation would dance. We have been studying together at West Valley what our IDENTITY(who we are) really is--family--worshippers--servants--missionaries.  I want to now begin to explore God's RHYTHMS(how we live) and see how our IDENTITY(who we are) is lived out in the regular RHYTHMS(how we live) of life.  I will post a new rhythm throughout the week.

Celebrate:  God commands his people to celebrate often.  All throughout God's story he sets up celebration as a regular rhythm of life for his people.  Ezek. 45:21 ¶ h“In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, you shall celebrate the Feast of the Passover, and for seven days unleavened bread shall be eaten Luke 15:32 It was fitting eto celebrate and be glad, for this your brother iwas dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

1Cor. 5:8 Let us therefore celebrate the festival, hnot with the old leaven, ithe leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Jer. 30:19 oOut of them shall come songs of thanksgiving,

and the voices of those who celebrate.

pI will multiply them, and they shall not be few;

I will make them honored, and they shall not be small. 

Now consider what it would look like if you were (and you are) a family member in the household of God, a worshipper, a servant, and a missionary who regularly celebrates. Just think how often God does something in our lives and instead of celebrating we simply move on to the next thing to stress over until we experience his provision again--and the crazy cycle continues.  We can only celebrate to the glory of God as we remember his faithfulness in the past as we celebrate in the present looking forward to his faithful provision in the future.  So true celebration involves looking backward and forward.  

Ex. 12:17 And you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for yon this very day I brought your zhosts out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day, throughout your generations, as a statute forever. 

Next time you are thankful--celebrate.  Invite anyone, and open up your home to celebrate. This was a way the children of Israel were to be a light to the gentiles.  Serve the Lord with gladness and stop being a stress monger!  Celebration is to be a regular rhythm of life!

Next time you throw a birthday party think of why you are celebrating.  Something we do is pray before the candle blowing and thank God for his faithful provision and love of our children.  This not only ministers to my boys but it melts the fear out of my own heart.  There is probably a million ways celebration can be redeemed in our culture.  

How To Help Your Pastors

This is an article series from the resurgence.

Pastor, how can I help? Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the greatest revivalist preacher of the 19th century, was asked this by many parishioners. His response to this question was to establish a serving and prayerful church. His ministry became the largest prayer-based evangelical work in the Christian church since the days of the apostolic era.

How to Help Your Pastor

• Understand. The first way to help your pastor is to develop understanding and sensitivity to the stress and demands of a pastor's work.
• Pray. Secondly, pray for your pastor. A very active prayer ministry to support the pastors in their evangelical work is fundamental to the health of pastors and the church at large.
• Grow. Thirdly, mature in the faith. Grow and work to preserve the work of God in your sphere. Do not contribute to confusion, gossip and bitter attitudes. Get involved in action, service, and financial contribution, which are all vital to the health of the Christian mission of proclaiming Christ in your community and the world.
• Lead. Finally, faith in action is serving others above what you want in support of the ministry of the church. Don't just get involved in ministry; actively work with the leadership to provide healthy momentum in ministry and to become a personal preacher of the ways of Christ!

Preachers Are Human

Your pastors can become physically, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted. Again, C.H. Spurgeon shares his afflictions and trials throughout his ministry to demonstrate that it was in his weakness that Christ's strength within him was magnified.

Spurgeon was afflicted with spiritual agonies, slander and scorn, the weight of preaching, emotional trials of depression, ministry burden, and physical illnesses of gout, high blood pressure, and kidney disease.

Saved From Much, Called To Much

His journey began with the foundation of suffering and by his own words he gives a clear picture of his agony before his conversion. "The justice of God, like a ploughshare, tore my spirit," he recalled. "I was condemned, undone, destroyed--lost, helpless, hopeless--I thought hell was before me... I prayed, but found no answer of peace. It was long with me thus." Thus, he clarifies through his life that the present suffering he encountered in ministry was no match for the devastating bitterness of soul he experienced before living for Jesus. This taught him to pursue the holiness of God and to loathe sinful living.

Slander and Scorn Go With the Territory

During the early years of his ministry he encountered intense slander and scorn, and his response to this was, "If I am able to say in very truth, 'I was buried with Christ thirty years ago,' I must surely be dead. Certainly the world thought so, for not long after my burial with Jesus I began to preach his name, and by that time the world thought me very far gone, and said, 'He stinketh.' They began to say all manner of evil against the preacher; but the more I stank in their nostrils the better I liked it, for the surer I was that I was really dead to the world."

The Crushing Blow of Scorn

Spurgeon's again on his deepest emotions regarding the scorn and slander he faced: "Down on my knees have I often fallen, with the hot sweat rising from my brow under some fresh slander poured upon me; in an agony of grief my heart has been well-nigh broken; ...This thing I hope I can say from my heart: If to be made as the mire of the streets again, if to be the laughing stock of fools and the song of the drunkard once more will make me more serviceable to my Master, and more useful to his cause, I will prefer it to all this multitude, or to all the applause that man could give."

Don't contribute to the sufferings of your pastors by gossiping, backbiting, or scorning. Instead, get in the trenches with them!

To be continued.

Calling To Mission

The mission of God is to restore all things to himself in and through the work and person of Jesus Christ. His chosen vehicle through which he is accomplishing that mission is the church. The church is the family of God called to together to himself and sent out on his mission. Missional Communities are the primary means through which West Valley mobilizes people together on mission and connects people to a caring community.

WHAT IS A MISSIONAL COMMUNITY?

A Missional Community consists of a committed core of believers (FAMILY) who love Jesus (WORSHIPPERS) and live out the mission of God together (MISSIONARIES) in a specific area or to a particular people group by demonstrating the gospel in tangible forms (SERVANTS) and declaring the gospel to others— both those who believe it and those who are being exposed to

To clarify, a Missional

Community is NOT primarily a small group, Bible study, support group, social activist group, or weekly meeting.

Our hope is that every person who is committed to the West Valley family and mission will be fully involved in a missional community and eventually the missional communities in a region will multiply and together form a new expression of

West Valley.

Consider this… The life of the church as recorded in Acts 2:42-47 came as a result of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit into the lives of a people collectively committed to the mission of God. The description we read about in Acts was not the means of becoming a great church, but the results of God working through a people committed to him and his

mission.

We believe God is still more committed to his mission being accomplished then us having our preferred church experience. Missional Communities exist to join in with God to further his mission in every part of our region.

EACH MISSIONAL COMMUNITY WILL:

1. Be led by a team committed to leading, shepherding, equipping and organizing a community on mission

2. Grow together in understanding and application of the Gospel to who we are (Identities) because of God’s work in and through Jesus.

3. Live out the weekly Rhythms of a family on mission together (Story-formed, Listen, Celebrate, Eat, Bless, Create) – BE the church together throughout the week

4. Identify, equip and release new leadership to begin new Missional Communities

Pastoral Great Expectations

Pastoral Great Expectations

John Catanzaro at The Resurgence recently posted on Healthy Expecations as part of his Healthy Pastors series. Good stuff.

I have the privilege of being a pastor to the pastors in coaching and praying for their wellness. The expectations parishioners place upon pastors in this church age are both complex and demanding. For the last two decades I have observed the continual decline in the heath of pastors in the Pacific Northwest. It is both distressing and grievous when pastors share some of the pressures of the ministry and the criticisms and burdens they carry. I believe the best place to begin is to clarify the pastor’s responsibility list.

Unhealthy Expectations

* They are not substitute parents
* They are not shrinks
* They are not janitors, plumbers, or construction workers
* They are not crisis managers
* They are not perfect problem-solvers
* They are not corporate executives
* They do not have wireless access to the Holy Spirit concerning your problems
* They are not responsible for your sin
* They are not constructed for long-term bashing
* They are not required to shoulder repeated harsh criticisms
* They are not celebrities
* They have families with real problems too
* They are not always available and tireless
* They are not God in human form
* They can burn out

Healthy Expectations

* They serve
* They teach
* They lead
* They inspire
* They pray
* They cry
* They get tired
* They are human
* They need family time
* They must be renewed

Clayton's Story

Turns Out I'm Sexy After All

In all cultures of all times "sexy" has changed dramatically.  Fat used to be sexy, to have super pale skin used to be sexy--was so desired that women would attach leaches to their bodies to look pale--what a drain.  Having a ridiculously tiny waste used to be sexy, so they would squish themselves into a tiny corset until they passed out, or permanently damaged their internal organs--sounds like freedom.  I remember how women used to wear shoulder pads when I was a kid.  After football practice I would go to church and sometimes flinch as women walked by.

C.S. Lewis calls this "sexual taste".  He says speaking of demons,

 "It is the business of these great masters to produce in every age a general misdirection of what may be called sexual taste. They do this by working through the small circle of popular artists, dressmakers, acctresses and advertisers, who determine the fashionable type.  The aim is to guide each sex away from those members of the other with who spiritually helpful, happy, and fertile marriages are most likely."

I pull this quote out every winter and remind my wife when I want to grow a big beard!

Lewis also points out that even in their day all of the advertising was "messed with". He says,

"It is all fake, of course; the figures in the popular art are falsely drawn; the real women in bathing suits are actually pinched in and propped up to make them appear firmer and more slender......as a result we are more and more directing the desires of men to something that does not exist--making the role of the eye in sexuality more and more important and at the same time making its demands more and more impossible." 

Of course it is the same today, models are airbrushed on every part of their bodies.  Even with photoshop we can airbrush our teeth whiter and touch up our humanity.


1John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 

1John 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 

If our affections are ruled by our eyes, not admiring beauty but lusting after man-made ideas of sexy we are far too easily satisfied.  

What is ‘Spiritual’? by Michael Wilson

What is ‘Spiritual’?

Most mornings I try to wake up early and spend time in prayer and reading the Bible. I often judge the success of my morning and day on how much I learned and how passionately I prayed. In my mind a ‘spiritual’ day can be measured by the amount of time spent in prayer or the number of pages of scripture I read each morning.

Today is my wife’s birthday and the kids wanted to get up early to decorate the house to celebrate her. They were so excited to get up early while it was still dark and make a birthday sign, hang streamers and blow up balloons. This all sounded great except that it would interfere with my time studying and praying, not to mention the behavior of two kids who hadn’t had enough sleep. How could I have a ‘spiritual’ day if I missed my time in prayer and study? Would my day be a bummer because I had missed my chance to connect with the Lord?

My kids incessantly pestered me until I agreed to their plan. I quietly got out of bed at 5:00 a.m. and snuck into the kids rooms. Normally it is difficult to get my daughter out of bed even at 9:00, but today she hopped right out, excited to make a Happy B-day banner. My son was also anxious to get up and told me he went to sleep early so he would be ready for the morning. We created a banner, hung streamers, blew up balloons, wrapped presents and enjoyed each others company. We all had so much joy spending time together serving, blessing and celebrating their mom and my wife.

As I left for work this morning, with the house decorated, the kids back in bed, and having missed my ‘quiet time’ I began to reflect on what it means to have a 'spiritual' day. Can I connect with Jesus apart from prayer and reading the Bible? Does time with the Lord need to be subdued and reserved?

This morning reminded me again of the joy of being married to an amazing woman and the delight I have in my children. The Lord reminded me of his blessings in my life and his grace and mercy to me. My kids were able to serve and bless their mom and were filled with joy in the process. As I reflected on the morning my view of what ‘spiritual’ looks like was challenged.

God wants us to have joy in him and enjoy who he is and his blessings in our life. God was so concerned with the suffering and lack of joy of his people in Egypt that he sent Moses to deliver them. Read why he wanted his people to be free.

Exodus 5:2 "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, 'Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.'"

God wants us to enjoy him and be satisfied with him. Studying God’s word and prayer are vital to the life of any follower of Jesus, but they should not be the only way we connect with him. Throughout scripture God tells his people to celebrate. At times this can be far more ‘spiritual’ than anything else we do.

Start "Kidding" Around

  When they had  finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,  “Simon,  son of John,  do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed  my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him,  “Tend  my sheep” (John 21:15-16).

In this famous passage Peter is told to do two things in a particular order--feed lambs and tend sheep.  

What is a lamb?  Answer: A Child

What is a sheep? Answer: An Adult

Jesus spoke to us very pointedly regarding children.

Matt. 18:5    “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, 6 but  whoever causes one of these  little ones who believe in me to sin,  it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

Matt. 18:10   “See that you do not despise  one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven  their angels always  see the face of my Father who is in heaven.  12  What do you think?  If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 So  it is not the will of my  Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish

Jesus even points out that the angels over-watching children, cut to the front of the line so to speak, to the Father.   He also makes it clear that he leaves the 99 sheep to pursue the one in the context of children.  We love to apply this verse to wandering drunken prodigals, or the girl who moves in with her boyfriend, which is all applicable, but the immediate context of Matthew 18 is all about children.  

It always grieves me when people ask me how many "real people" are coming to church referring to adults.  I guess kids don't count--they aren't quite souls yet.   We aren't seeking out "kid's helpers" we are looking for people longing to be obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ in making disciples--disciples in particular the Lord is very, very, concerned about.  Yes, the church should be all about their kids.  God also makes it very clear that the ultimate place of ministering to our kids is in our own homes.  We don't take them to church with the hope that the church gathering will provide for my lack of teaching my children at home. 

Ask parents what they want most for their children and the garden variety of sadly Christians, and non-Christians will answer, "a good education".  We are more interested in them making the grade rather than knowing Jesus.  In fact that is exactly what George Barna found when he interviewed Christians and non-Christian parents.  The number one goal they had for their children was a good education, or achievements athletically.  Our primary goal for our children is that they walk with the Lord. If I can teach my kids how to keep their eye on the ball but fail to teach them to keep their eyes on Christ, I have failed as a father.  God has commanded fathers, 

Deut. 6:7  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 

Here are some tips when it comes to sharing with your kids as you sit in your house, walk by the way, lying down, and rising........

1.  Grab "Jesus Story Book Bible"  and read it for your own good.  Get excited about it and start reading it out loud and watch as little ones drop what they're doing to drink in your excitement. 

2.  Crank up the stereo for fun at night before bed (with some rockin' worship music-David Crowder etc.) and explain how God created music, and fun, and dancing--then dance with them. I can't dance, so dancing at our house looks like 4 white boys running around in circles colliding with each other like in a mosh pit. 

3.  On your walks, point out God's beauty in creation, and allow yourself to be transformed as you share with them how cool it is that God in his infinite wisdom has made certain leaves to be fuzzy. 

4.  Lay them down at night, and pray over them and sing songs with them that they can learn.  Listen to them--listen to their hearts.  

5.  Confess to them your sin when you lose your cool with them, let them see you are in need of Jesus.  

6.  Give them loving affections and then tell them Jesus loves them far more than mommy/daddy ever can

Affections

1 Peter 1:8 "Whom having not seen, you love; in whom, though now you see him not, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory."

Last night, before the boys went to bed, we cranked up the stereo and danced our hearts out to the living God.  It was the most fun I had in a long time, to see little Chase's face light up with the thrill of joy as the electric guitars rocked and the kick drum thudded--Toby and Chase could not contain themselves and the dance was on.  Their excitement and freedom was highly contagious, I would highly recommend you try it.

I have just started reading Jonathan Edwards, A Treastise Concerning Religious Affections.  

His main doctrine is that: True religion, in great part, consists in holy affections.

He says, "Such seems to be our nature, and such the laws of the union of soul and body, that there never is in any case whatsoever, and lively and vigorous exercise of the will or inclination of the soul, without some effect upon the body, in some alteration of the motion of it's fluids...true religion which God requires, and will accept, does not consist in weak, dull, and lifeless wishes, raising us but a little above a state of indifference: God, in his word, greatly insists upon it, that we be good in earnest, "fervent in spirit", and our hearts vigorously engaged in religion."

The scriptures do place our walk with Jesus very much in the affections; we are told to fear, hope, love, hate, desire, joy, sorrow, gratitude, compassion, zeal, broken and contrite, and the list goes on and on.
The truth is we are moved by our desires.  You, right now, are pursuing what your affections are stirred towards. We are very inactive unless we are influenced by some affection.  If you take away, love, fear, hope, anger, zeal, from mankind the entire world would become motionless of any pursuit whatsoever.

Duet. 30:6 says, "And the Lord thy God will circumcise your heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all of your heart, and with all of your soul, that you may live."

Each of us are being moved at something, we desperately need God to circumcise our hearts that our affections would be moved towards him.  If you are lifeless today ask God to turn your heart of stone into a heart of flesh.  Help me God to feel what I should feel, to love what you love, and to fear what I should fear.