The Great Liberator

5 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God.6 He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— he remains faithful forever.7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets prisoners free,8 the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous.9 The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.10 The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations.

Praise the Lord

-Psalm 146:5-10

Good morning. What is that binds your faith? What is that shackles your hope? Like you, I have moments when I feel unable to escape lingering doubt when God's will appears hidden. Other times I see no way out of loitering fear when God's presence seems elsewhere. In such difficult moments one must not lose sight of the hope conveyed in Psalm 146, which proclaims how the God of Jacob can liberate us from the bonds of doubt and fear. 

Psalm 146 is quick to provide justification for putting its hope in the Lord. For not only did God create all things, all things created by God are good. Besides God's constant goodness, Psalm 146 shares its certainty in God's everlasting faithfulness. Incredibly, Psalm 146 does not succumb to naive daydreaming where God's goodness and faithfulness protects us from all danger. Psalm 146 readily accepts the possibility of suffering injustice and enduring famine, while at the same time clinging to the hope that God always helps to secure justice and provide our daily bread. 

Psalm 146 also distinguishes God from the corrupt rulers of this world. While immoral tyrants continue their quest to put the weak and defenseless under their thumb, Psalm 146 serves a God committed to freeing us from being enslaved by anything or anyone. Though cruel despots make themselves blind with hate, Psalm 146 worships a God dedicated to clearing our vision of any spite or malice. Should one be knocked down by tyrants, Psalm 146 assures him or her that God will be there to pick them help. More than a desire for us to respond to despots in kind, Psalm 146 declares that God becomes most pleased when we choose to pursue righteousness instead. 

Finally, Psalm 146 speaks of a God in firm control of benevolence and wickedness. According to Psalm 146, God cares for those who don't even know Him and provides for those left to fend for themselves. Though the wicked may succeed in their deceit and greed, Psalm 146 trusts that they will not prosper under God's rule.

Whether by death, revolution or election, all rulers inevitably lose power. Psalm 146, however, concludes by stressing the fact that God's eternal rule keeps itself impervious to blood lines, revolts, or term limits. If God's rule endures forever, then Psalm 146 suggests that our praise of God should also persist throughout all generations. 

Now the question remains, what does one do once God liberates him or her from their doubt and fear? What can we add to what God has already done? Well I believe Psalm 146 calls us to rescue what is lost and provide what is needed. We should see to meeting the needs of orphans and widows, while ensuring that the successes of the wicked are short lived.   

If we claim God to be A Wonderful Savior, then this week let us not allow hate-spouting leaders cage our love for all of God's children. If we believe God to be The Perfect Emancipator, then this week let us not permit violence-inciting rulers imprison our commitment to peace. And should our vows to love and pledges for peace ever land us in jail, then let us not stop praying for our release to come at the hands of The Great Liberator.    

CJE

Keep The Lamps Burning

32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. 

38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. 39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

- Luke 12:32-40

Good morning. Few moments produce more anxiety or trepidation than those moments we find ourselves unprepared. Some feel such worry when they wonder if they need to study more for a test or exam. Others experience such apprehension when they doubt their project or presentation will be complete before a deadline. In Luke 12, we read about a similar fear taking hold in servants should they hear the Master's call to service and find themselves unprepared. 

So what should one do to prepare himself or herself to prepare for the master's return and His call to service? According to Luke 12, we must first accept the kingdom that God has to offer us. However, Luke 12 makes it clear that to receive God's kingdom requires us to exchange our love for possessions with a heart for the poor. While such a trade appears difficult, the believer needs nothing else when he or she takes possession of God's kingdom.

Unlike shiny trinkets that vanish and glimmering trophies that corrode, Luke 12 describe God's kingdom as a treasure that cannot be stolen or damaged. And if it be true that one cannot bear being separated from their treasure, then the believer would do well to receive God's kingdom as that treasure he or she cannot give up.  

Having taking possession of the kingdom, Luke 12 advises the believer to ready themselves for their duties as a servant in God's kingdom. I absolutely love the imagery Luke 12 uses to portray the meaning of readiness. In Luke 12, the master knows his servants are ready for his arrival when he returns to find the lamps burning.

While most would wish to answer God's call to service during normal business hours, Luke 12 declares that believers must prepare themselves to serve in times of darkness. Whether it be the caring for a sick relative late into the night or addressing the grief in dark recesses of the heart, there will be moments when believers will need their lamps to serve. 

Finally, Luke 12 encourages believers to prepare themselves for unexpected attacks and unanticipated arrivals. Though it is preferable to believe that sin tricks or defrauds us, Luke 12 seems to argue that sin most often breaks into our hearts in the same manner which thieves break into houses. Like the thief catching the master of the house by surprise, sin break into our hearts because we are not ready. 

 There is no denying that all believers yearn for Christ's return and the kingdom coming in its fullness. Yet Luke 12 assures us that this magnificent moment will take us all by surprise. It's true the idea that judgment can come at any moment makes us anxious for those who have rejected God's kingdom offer and life-resurrecting grace. However, I would contend God's salvation proves just as capable of appearing at any time and in any place.  

So this week allow the capacity of God's salvation to suddenly reveal itself make us ready for service in a world teetering on the brink of madness. Let the indestructible gift of God's kingdom equip us for giving in a world saturated with poverty. And no matter how late the hour, no matter how deep the suffering; may all believers make preparations to keep the lamps burning.

CJE

There Is No Equal

“My heart, O God, is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all my soul. Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.” Psalm 108:1-5

Good morning. This summer at Way of Life camp we spent our class time reflecting on the Psalms. I helped teach a group of teens on the emotions expressed in the Psalms which include disappointment, grief, thanksgiving, and praise as proclaimed from Psalm 108. 

Besides great love and towering faithfulness, it is God’s glory that the psalmist incorporates into his praise of God. So may our service, our prayers, and our hope become more infused with God’s glory. Because whether this violent world wants to admit it or not, it stands in desperate need of God’s glory. In times of atrocious greed, it is God’s glory that can be the difference-maker. In places of gross injustice, it is God’s glory that can be the game-changer. In spaces of brutal violence, it is God’s glory that can be the life-saver.

But what does God’s glory look like? What does it feel like? There are those who would say we can’t see or feel God’s glory until Jesus returns. Well that’s not entirely accurate. Make no mistake, God’s glory will be on display for all to see when Jesus returns. However, I would argue in big pieces and small fragments that God’s glory has been seen before and can most certainly be seen today.

In Ex 33:18-19, Moses says to God, “Now show me your glory.” And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion."

Here in EX 33, we have a powerful and informative demonstration as to the look and feel of God’s glory. First, God’s glory is shown to be good. Therefore, we need not look for God’s glory where evil and wickedness reside because it simply isn’t there.

Nor is God’s glory seen in the corrupt oppression by the strong upon the weak, nor is God’s glory exhibited in the immoral exploitation of the poor by the rich. No, God’s glory appears in the provision of the widow and the orphan; God’s glory is displayed in the washing of feet. For God’s glory is good.

Second, in EX 33, God’s glory is expressed in mercy. Consequently, we should not search for God’s glory where revenge and retribution are the law of the land. For God’s glory does not reveal itself in the electric chair or in a lethal injection, nor is God’s glory witnesses in the wearing of a suicide vest or in the donning of automatic weapons. Rather. God’s glory demonstrates itself in forgiving the one caught in the act of adultery; God’s glory comes in the form of absolving the ones nailing you to the cross. For God’s glory is merciful.

Third, in EX 33, God’s glory is manifested in compassion. Subsequently, we must not look for God’s glory where hate and malice are grown. For God’s glory is not found in the spiteful discourse of inter-denominational conflicts, nor is God’s glory observed in the malicious treatment of one’s adversary. Instead, God’s glory appears in the love of enemies; God’s glory emerges any time God’s people reconcile with one another. Though passages like EX 33 give us beautiful glimpses of God’s glory, it would be dishonest to pretend that there are not moments when God’s glory can seem hidden from us, times when God’s glory feels like it is purposefully avoiding us.

It is in such times and places that we need our strength renewed and our hope restored. While teaching my teens at camp I was reminded of that which renews and restores me…. It’s God’s glory. It is in both the glory I can see now and in the glory waiting to be unveiled as indicated in Romans 8:18.

I realize it is only one scripture long, but as one kid at camp said in my class, “sometimes it only takes one verse to change a life.” And I believe Romans 8:18 does just that as it says, “18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

Now as my class on praise headed toward its conclusion, I posed a question to the teens that essentially posed the question, “how do we sustain our praise of God when we experience grief, anger or disappointment?” “can we praise God if everything around us falls apart?”

As I sat there listening to the teens share their ideas, a consensus began to take shape on how we should respond. Soon I realized it was the same response uttered by both the Psalms and the writer of Romans 8:18. For the teens in my class, the Psalms, and the apostle, Paul, have concluded that our response to grief, anger, and disappointment in our lives should be this… DO NOT GIVE UP.

I believe Romans 8:18 says to us that there is no pit of heartache so deep and dark that the light of God’s glory cannot reach. There is no loneliness so bleak and cold that the glow of God’s glory cannot warm. There is no sin so great and terrible that the waters of God’s glory cannot cleanse. How do I know? Because this glory-yet-to-be-revealed is located...IN US.

So do not give up. Especially when it comes to your prayers. As prayers themselves, one of the most important lessons the Psalms teach is that all prayer ends in praise. With a one or two exceptions, even the lament psalms with their deep heartbreak and profound agony end their prayers with praise.

I believe all of us find it easy to start a prayer, but there are times when praying a prayer through completions feels impossible. Perhaps too many years go by or too many doors close on us, but whatever the case all of us have started prayers that we’ve stopped praying. But it’s not too late to resume those prayers if we can hold to the belief that all prayer, no matter desperate or frustrated its beginning, ends up in praise. It does not always get there easily or swiftly; in reality the journey can take a lifetime for some prayers, but the end is always praise.

In a previous post I mentioned my dear Shiloh friends, Ryan and Teresa, and their powerful example of sustained prayer. Ryan and Teresa experienced numerous delays and setbacks in their efforts to have a child. For four excruciating years their prayers for a child seem to go unnoticed, and yet they kept praying. And in February 2017, their prayers ended in praise with the birth of their son, Marshall.

So I say again, do not give up. Especially when it comes to your loss. In the two to three months after losing Marcus there was one question I constantly had to fight off. And the question was this, “At age 30, had I already lived the best part of my life?”

It took awhile, but with the help of verses like Ro 8:18 I had my answer, “Absolutely not.” For no matter the heartache or disappointment, God’s glory is ready with divine eagerness to reveal and bestow to us something so much better than we had known previously. Regardless the disease or the trial, God’s glory is prepared with holy impatience to unveil and dish out to us something so much sweeter than we’ve ever tasted before.

I would dare say the same holds true even with the greatest joys and successes we've known up til now. As glorious as the last sunset you saw was, isn’t it always the case that another sunset will come along that was better than the one before? As glorious as the birth of a child or grandchild is, there remains an even greater glory waiting to be experienced. As glorious as life-long marriage could ever be, the still exists an even grander glory to be witnessed. With this in mind, God’s people may want to temper their responses to questions that ask us to name the best this or the best that. I think the most honest answer we could give is, “I’m not sure I’ve seen it or tasted it, but I know it’s out there.”

As for what to do when waiting on God’s glory feels like it is taking longer than we think it should. Like Psalm 13, all of us have had moments in our lives and in our prayers where we’ve asked God, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?

While such feelings are natural and should always be expressed in our prayers, they are void of perspective. This is not surprising considering the self-absorbed ego of our fallen nature. Unfortunately, to accuse God of procrastination and indecision comes quite naturally to us. Have we ever entertained the notion that we might have a backwards understanding of our waiting on God’s glory?

Now it’s not my intent to split the spiritual atom this morning. However, could it be possible that it is not always a matter of us waiting on God’s glory, but rather the issue is God’s glory waiting on us? Just maybe God’s glory is waiting on us to stop trying to fix our problems by ourselves. Perhaps God’s glory is waiting on us to let go of some habitual sin. Or suppose God’s glory is waiting on us to say yes to a mission it has for us to complete.

When like Moses we say to God, “Show me your glory.” I hear God reply back to us, “Show me your ready.” If there’s one thought that frightens me, it’s the idea that some piece of God’s glory passes me by and I don’t notice it because my heart and spirit were not ready.

And if it’s not our pride or our sin, then it’s our schedules that keeps God’s glory waiting on us. Movies, Concerts, Soccer games, basketball games, mindless facebook surfing, unproductive instagram posting. I could go on listing the countless endeavors we undertake before participating in the work of God’s glory. So many times I see God’s glory standing at the front door with its mop and bucket saying to us, “Ready when you are.”

What is it about our pride, our sin, and our schedules that persuades us to think that there is something or someone more worthy of our time and effort than the glory of God? I’m not sure.

If it’s because our pride has underestimated the grave-shaking goodness of God’s glory to heal what ails us, then may we take this moment to admit that when it comes pondering God’s glory and its goodness...there is no equivalent.

If it’s because our sin has minimized the chain-breaking power of God’s glory to forgive what binds us, then may we use this time right now to concede that when it comes to considering God’s glory and its mercy...there is no rival.

If it’s because our schedules have undervalued the cross-nailing force of God’s glory to unconditionally love those He created, then may we spend the rest of our lives confessing that when it comes to reflecting upon God’s glory and its love, there is no equal.

CJE

If Ever I Had A Wife

Good morning. Over the last month I've taken to express feelings that I usually save for me alone. Having spoke about the sort of father I would be, there remains the question as to what kind of husband I would be should I find my wife. 

Each morning my wife would wake to the sound of my voice saying, "Good morning, beautiful." I'd proceed to make the kids' breakfast and pack their lunches so my wife might have a moment's peace to start her morning. When she ready to head out for the day, my wife would find me standing at the door holding with her cup of freshly brewed coffee. All that I would ask for in return is a sweet kiss good-bye. 

When I was suppose to busy at work, I would often take time to call or text my wife and have her answer the thousand different questions running through my mind. My questions would range from, "what are you doing right now?"..."What are you thinking about right now?"...."what's your favorite...?"..."do you miss me?"....", and of course, "what would you like for dinner?" Because after a day's work, my wife would come home each evening to find a fresh and delicious dinner prepared for her and the kids.

Though I would gladly clean the dinner dishes by myself, I tell my wife how much more enjoyed washing the dishes with her. As evening faded into night, my wife and I would look over our kids' homework and make sure they took their baths. At bedtime, my wife and I would teach simple worship songs to our kids and read their favorite bible stories even if they wanted to hear it twice. Once the kids were asleep, I would join my wife on the living room couch and I'd say to her, "so tell me about your day." Depending on which ached the most, I'd massage her shoulders or her feet while she told me about her successes and frustrations of the day. 

When we weren't working, I would take my wife with me to discover new hiking trails and pretend that we were the first two people on earth to have ever walked them. When we had an urge to be out on the water, I'd put my wife in the canoe I bought for her birthday and we'd paddle downstream to some quiet cove where we could watch the sun set over the water. I'd take her to hear JJ Grey & Mofro concerts, listen to symphonies play, and watch musicals like Wicked. Whether a collection of history or art, I'd bring her to any and every museum where we lived and the places we visited. We'd take turns being the tour guide and pretend to be experts about the exhibit. 

Never ever would I let my wife's beauty go unnoticed, nor could I allow my love for wife to go unsaid. Numerous times in the week, I'd used every word the dictionary held to tell her the infinite ways her beauty affects me.  Countless moments in a day, I used every synonym the thesaurus could offer to say to her all the innumerable ways her love comforts me. My wife would discover safety and warmth in my hugs, while finding passion and fire in my kisses. And if I may be so bold, I would make sure my wife understood the difference between having sex and making love; and we would perfect the latter. 

Besides hearing about her exquisite beauty and my love for her, my wife would always hear me tell the truth. She would listen to my candid confession of my every sin no matter how embarrassing. She would hear my forthright expression when she did or said something that hurt me, and she'd listen to my earnest apology when I said or did the same to her. Above all, she would hear me promise to love her with what days remain of my life. Yeah, that's the kind of husband I would be if ever I had a wife. 

CJE

If Ever I Had A Daughter

Good morning. In my last post I talked about the father I would want to be if I had a son and this morning I thought it appropriate to share what it would be like for me as the father of a daughter. Now at the start, I must confess that the prospect of raising a daughter scares me more than most normal phobias.

Perhaps it's because I can avoid almost any phobia that makes me uneasy. I am not too fond of heights so I simply don't seek out tall ladders or cliffs higher than 15 feet, nor do I enjoy being in a crowd gathered in a confine space so I don't rush towards mosh pits or crowded elevators. However,  there is no escape once nurse puts a baby girl in my arms.   

From the beginning I would have a fixed need to protect my daughter from all danger, and a enduring charge to defend her from all the antiquated expectations that this broken world has for girls and women alike. As with having a son, I think about what praise songs would stir inside me as I watched my daughter fall asleep in her crib. Perhaps it might be "I Stand In Awe," "Great Is Thy Faithfulness," or "God Is So Good." It wouldn't matter which; just so long as the tune taught my daughter to appreciate the gift of God's grace. 

I would do my best to slow down time so as to extend every moment with my baby girl, but then I would wake one morning to find that she was old enough to read.  Each night before bed we would read stories about courageous women in Scripture. We would read about the faith of Sarah or recount the leadership of Deborah. We would take turns narrating the advocacy of Esther or reciting the loyalty of Ruth. We would immerse ourselves in the hope of Hannah and become fascinated by the humility of Mary.  

In doing so, I would commit myself to teaching my daughter that there were no chains restraining her, nor any cages barring her from any kind of service in God's kingdom. If she wanted to offer up a song or a prayer, my daughter would sing with confidence and pray with assurance. No matter if she wanted to minister or advocate, my daughter would minister with determination and advocate with zeal. Whether she wanted to counsel or heal , my daughter would counsel with wisdom and heal with love. 

When she reached a certain age, I would want to convince my daughter that beauty was not found in make-up or yoga pants. Rather, I would persuade my daughter to embrace the cosmic truth that God does not make ugly, nor does God leave anyone incomplete. To the point of being annoying and embarrassing, I would take multiple opportunities each week describing to my daughter the beauty I see in her smile and in her eyes. And it would be my most fervent prayer that some day she would choose a husband who would do the same.   

Besides never doubting my avalanche of love for her, my daughter would know that I was always dependable. She could trust on my hugs to comfort and rely on my shoulders to cry on. She could depend on my compassion in her failures and expect my excitement with her successes. She could assume my readiness to hike the next trail and presume my willingness to canoe the nearest body of the water. Yeah, that's the kind of father I would be if ever I had a daughter.

CJE

If Ever I Had A Son

Good morning. This coming Sunday I have a dear friend who will celebrate Father's Day for the first time. Just a few days shy of his 37th birthday, Ryan became a father when his son, Marshall, was born on February 7, 2017. If having a child came easy for you, then it is almost impossible to fully understand the long and difficult journey that Ryan and his amazing wife, Teresa, endured to become parents.

For four long years their prayers for a child went seemingly unanswered. Imagine, four years of fielding the aggravating questions of well-intentioned relatives and friends who mistakenly thought it appropriate to ask, "so when you and Teresa having a baby?," or even worse, "what are you and Teresa waiting for?" 1,460 days of expecting that the joyful news of pregnancy was just around the corner. 35,040 hours of having to entertain the possibility that the deepest desire of their hearts might never be fulfilled. 

And yet at no time did Ryan or Teresa abandon their faith in God's love, nor did they surrender their hope in God's promises. Despite the setbacks, they persisted in pouring out unconditional love to the children of Shiloh so that they might come to know Christ.  Regardless of the delays, they continued their fervent praise and worship of God with their Manhattan church family. So a much deserved Happy Father's Day Ryan.

As for myself, I too will be turning 37 years old this November. I am so grateful for stories of faith like Ryan and Teresa that nurture my own dreams of what it might be like to become a father. Despite the opinions of my family and friends, I have not completely surrendered my hope in the ability of God's faithfulness to create such a possibility for me. Yes, I confess that my doubts make it feel like the windows of time and the doors of opportunity are closing fast. However, I still have moments where I think about what kind of father would I want to be if ever I had a son. 

In the beginning I would start my days by lifting up my fear of revolting diapers and projectile vomit to the Lord. When evening came and all the diapers had been changed and the vomit cleaned up, I would stand over my's son crib every night and quietly sing a melody of lullaby hymns as he drifted off to sleep. "Be Still and Know," " I Love You, Lord," or "Oh Lord, You're Beautiful," it wouldn't matter which; just so long as it made him feel safe and loved. As soon as he could talk I would stop singing over him and start kneeling beside him saying our prayers together. 

When it came time to learn how to read, I would surround my son with books of every kind so that a love for reading might take hold in him. Though I would not say yes to every toy, I would never say no to any imagination-generating book he desired. As for music, I would introduce my son to the Beach Boys when he needed cheering up, James Brown and Wilson Pickett when he wanted to dance, and Otis Redding when he fell in love. 

Most important, I would want what Hannah wanted for her son, and that is for him to give his heart to the Lord. When he reached a certain age, I would find the courage to not keep my past sins from him and confess all my failures so that he might succeed where I did not. I would often take my son to the neglected corners of our city and we would make friends with the forgotten people living there. I would do my best to convince my son that there was no man or woman who was untouchable, unreachable, or unlovable. 

Besides understanding the bottomless depths of my love for him, my son would know that I was always available. I would be available in times he wanted to laugh and in times he needed to cry . I would be available for his moments of achievement and for his moments of disappointment. I would be available if he ever needed me to share in the grief or wanted me join in the fun. Yeah, that's the kind of father I would be if ever I had a son

CJE

When Community Is Literal

...All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. - Acts 2:44-47

Good morning. Some years ago my church established a relief fund to support one of our members who could not work while undergoing intensive treatment for cancer. Our church also felt that the fund required a name before fundraising could begin. With the help of the Spirit and much prayer, the fund eventually took its name and mission from Acts 2 where the early church endured every kind of persecution and disease by coming together not holding anything back from one another. 

Since its creation, the Acts 2 fund has evolved to relieve a variety of burdens weighing down the body of believers. Whether it be helping with medical bills, funeral expenses, or food assistance; the Acts 2 fund continues to bare powerful witness to what a group of imperfect people can survive and accomplish when they commit to one another. While relief funds like the Acts 2:44 fund are critical to creating and maintaining the spirit of community, I want to suggest this morning that community is more than spirit.

Yes, I propose that there exists an anatomical component to the kind of community we read about in Acts 2. You see though the believers in Acts 2 most certainly knew that community was a feeling, they also understood that true community that needed to be something they could reach out and touch. Despite their efforts to experience community in worship and service, most American churches and their congregations seem disinterested in coming together geographically.

The church to which I am committed represents is a example of the indifference to proximity that pervades in most churches in America. The vast majority of members live several miles outside the neighborhood where our church is located. And beyond living in a different neighborhood, there are a handful of members who live in a different STATE. Depending on distance and traffic, I would estimate that the average DRIVE-time for members at my church is approximately 20 minutes. 

If it sounds like I'm being judgmental, let me say that I completely understand and totally respect the unique factors and needs each family must take into consideration when deciding where to live. If you're parents were like mine, then you obviously want your family to live in a neighborhood with great schools even if it means you have to drive farther for work or church. If you don't have kids, then perhaps you either want to live close to work or near family. Not that there is necessarily an answer to such a question, but why is it among all the considerations of moving that the location of one's church often ranks last?

Now if you were to ask me to define what I meant by choosing to LIVE in the community where your church is located, then I would employ the concept of WALKING-distance as my measure. For those Millennials who've never heard the term, walking-distance indicates the area and time needed to reach a particular destination. Depending on one's fitness, I would guess that walking-distances covers any distance that can be reached on foot within 30 to 45 minutes. 

As for those justifiable concerns surrounding schools, work, and family; is it possible that all such concerns could resolved if a family chose to live in walking-distance to their church? Could not families of a neighborhood church organize some kind of home-school co-op that ensured every child received a great education? I propose such a idea if only to keep one from dismissing the prospect of living in their church's neighborhood as impractical.

For there is no mystery to the ever growing hateful division and violent discord consuming our communities. Whether it be the interstates that take us away or the locked gates that keep others at bay, we are cut off from one another. Few remember each other's name let alone remember each other's pain. We know not the answers to the conflicts that confront us because we simply don't know each other. And what better why to show a community that you love them than to LIVE among them?

So this week I don't suspect anyone will put out a for-sale sign and move near their particular church. Regardless of how it happens, may the American church strive to move beyond being symbolic places and occupy concrete spaces. May the American church work to shift from constructing clever metaphors and start building real conversations. And though the figurative has its charm, may the American church come to know the perpetual beauty that awaits when community is literal. 

CJE

Love Starts With Grace

4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.  Titus 3:4-7

Good morning. This morning I want to center our thoughts on the simplicity and the complexity of love. Jesus, himself, delivered several commands to love including  “Love the Lord your God,” “Love your neighbor as yourself,” “Love one another,” and even, “Love your enemies.”

Having received such hefty instructions, it’s only natural to ask, “where do we even start?” How can sinful creatures like us begin to love the Creator of the universe? Who could I start to love when loving myself is hard enough? Where do I begin to love those who drive me crazy? Why would I want to start loving those who only want to see me defeated?

And if we’re honest with ourselves, we admit there is a part of us that wishes such questions might go unanswered so as to avoid the vigorous work that love demands. However, if we open our hearts to Titus 3 this morning, then I believe we will have found the place from which we can start evincing the kind of love Jesus commands.

No matter the nature of the relationship, Titus 3 says that love has the same starting point. Ask any friend who loves Chris Ewing, ask any parent who loves their child, ask any spouse who loves their husband or wife, ask a faithful God who loves an unfaithful people; ask any of them and they’ll tell you that all love starts with grace.

When I was a kid, I heard the adults at church often engage in spirited discussions as to whether it was works or grace that secured one’s salvation. And yet Titus 3 asks, what is there to discuss? Though we go about good works, Titus 3 does not pretend good works save anybody. According to Titus 3, the only work that can save us is the work of grace and mercy performed by God on the cross.

Moreover, Titus 3 speaks of no human invention or any herbal remedy capable of sanitizing sin or deodorizing death. Rather, Titus 3 trusts that the Holy Spirit alone possesses the power to wash away the stain of sin and remove the stench of death. You see not only is grace the root of love, it is the wellspring of life itself. Lest we deceive ourselves into believing we somehow “earned” the life we have, Titus 3 wants us to remember that it is only because Christ’s life was put to an end that our lives were able to begin.

If there be anyone not yet on their knees in complete awe of God’s matchless grace, our passage in Titus 3 contains one more mind-blowing certainty. While some might doubt how long such grace can endure, Titus 3 remains convinced that the life that grace makes possible is a life that will never cease, but will go on and on into eternity. And if we accept the premise that love, life and grace are interconnected, then it is reasonable to assume that one of the features of eternal life is eternal love.    

So this week I pray we all seek a greater understanding and appreciation for God's grace, and by doing so may loving the Creator of the universe not appear so implausible.  May loving ourselves not seem so inconceivable. May loving those who push our every button not feel so unimaginable. May loving those who only want to see us fail not look so unthinkable? Remember, all you need is a place to start. And for those who confess Jesus as Lord, love starts with grace.

CJE

All That Is Good

Praise awaits[b] you, our God, in Zion;
    to you our vows will be fulfilled.
2 You who answer prayer,
    to you all people will come.
3 When we were overwhelmed by sins,
    you forgave[c] our transgressions.
4 Blessed are those you choose
    and bring near to live in your courts!
We are filled with the good things of your house,
    of your holy temple.

5 You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds,
    God our Savior,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
    and of the farthest seas,
6 who formed the mountains by your power,
    having armed yourself with strength,
7 who stilled the roaring of the seas,
    the roaring of their waves,
    and the turmoil of the nations.
8 The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;
    where morning dawns, where evening fades,
    you call forth songs of joy.

9 You care for the land and water it;
    you enrich it abundantly.
The streams of God are filled with water
    to provide the people with grain,
    for so you have ordained it.[d]
10 You drench its furrows and level its ridges;
    you soften it with showers and bless its crops.
11 You crown the year with your bounty,
    and your carts overflow with abundance.
12 The grasslands of the wilderness overflow;
    the hills are clothed with gladness.
13 The meadows are covered with flocks
    and the valleys are mantled with grain;
    they shout for joy and sing.

- PSALM 65

Good morning. From where do bad things come that bring us so much pain? Sometimes the answers come easy in the poor choices we make. Yet even when we succeed in living for God, there are times when bad things still come. While our minds concede that God is not the perpetrator of bad things, there are moments our hearts wonder if God serves as an unwitting accomplice when God seemingly does nothing to stop bad things.

In such moments the heart of the believer can turn to Psalm 65 to have strength renewed and faith restored. Psalm 65 makes it clear that God has absolutely no affiliation with the bad things that descend upon us. Rather through prayer and provision, the psalmist professes the enduring truth that God provides ONLY that which is good. Far from being the accomplice of bad things, Psalm 65 teaches that God stands as the great manufacturer of ALL the good we've known or will come to know. 

How can we know God to supply and produce only that which good? First, Psalm 65 reminds the believer of God's earnest desire to keep us close. Being the Creator of the universe, this faithful God could have chosen keep His distance from an unfaithful people. Yet Psalm 65 proclaims God is so close to us that He can hear our prayers. And how reassuring is it to know that God chooses us before we can choose Him. Even when our sin threatens to take us away, Psalm 65 tells how God is always ready to forgive in order to keep us near. 

Second, Psalm 65 recounts the goodness of God through His awesome deeds. For it is through His breathtaking works that Psalm 65 sees God bringing order to chaos. Psalms 65 discovers hope for all of creation in the power contained within God's righteous deeds. Psalms 65 finds that joy permeates every inch of God's creation. 

Finally, Psalm 65 possesses a conviction that the goodness of God's love will ensure we want for nothing. When our commitment is feeble and our assurance parached, Psalm 65 believes that God's love will come to enrich our every vow and drench our every doubt. While isolation and rejection can leave us hungry and afraid, Psalm 65 trusts that God's love will nourish all our loneliness and clothe all our naked fears. What grief mutes and suffering silences, Psalm 65 relies on God's love to overcome by shouting our every praise and singing our every song. 

If bad things have found you this week, then I urge you to hear the encouragement of Psalm 65. For there is no bad thing that keep God from staying as close as we need. Nor can any bad thing confiscate the joy teeming in God's creation. Above all, there is no bad thing that can prevent the God of the universe from blessing us with all that is good.  

CJE

After Grace Comes Peace

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— 2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life[a] was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power[b] by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from[c] faith for his name’s sake. 6 And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. 7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ

- Romans 1:1-7

Good morning. Have you ever asked yourself, where would I be without grace? How much better would it be to live in a world at peace? Me too. In Romans 1, Paul greets his audience by saying, "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ." I don't know why, but I am intrigued by the arrangement of Paul's greeting.

Could it not just as easily read, "Peace and grace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ." Yet for some reason Paul chose to put grace before peace. Perhaps it was mere coincidence or the Spirit working in Paul's subconscious, but I find profound meaning in the manner which Paul composed his greeting. It says to all believers that we need grace before we can have peace. As for grace itself, Romans 1 makes it clear as to the where and how we received it in the first place.

At the start, Romans 1 says that grace first took form in the gospel of God. Whether it be as an apostle or a disciple, Romans 1 declares that the call of the gospel is a call to set ourselves apart for the business of servant-hood. More than a calling, Romans 1 indicates that the gospel is an ancient promise made long before grace manifested itself in Jesus Christ. And should anyone doubt the might of the gospel, Romans 1 asserts that Christ's resurrection from the dead proves the unmistakable and undeniable the power of the gospel.

Before peace, discipleship, or anything else for that matter; Romans 1 says that we first receive grace. While the world often distributes grace to a select few, Romans 1 says that the gospel heralds God's grace is available to all. Though the world prefers obedience through force, Romans 1 indicates that the gospel desires an obedience by faith. 

Now answering the call of the gospel is not a decision to be taken lightly. Romans 1 says that to answer the call of the gospel is to let Christ take possession of us. Though marked by suffering and sacrifice, Romans 1 wants all believers to understand that the life of a saint under Christ's control is our true calling. Moreover, the longer one lives the life of a saint the more he or she realizes that to live any other life is to settle for so much less.

Often we wake each morning to discover new fears that threaten peace in our world and peace in our hearts. However, no fear can destroy our peace when we exchange chances to dominate for opportunities to serve. No worry can overcome our peace when we trade the might of force for the power of faith. No anxiety can conqueror our peace when we swap our control for Christ's will. Though at times such trades and swaps may require unbearable amounts of grace, we can take comfort in truth of Romans 1 that after grace comes peace.       

CJE