Facebook Is No Substitute For The Front Porch!

"Love your neighbor as yourself." -- Matthew 22:39

The world is more connected today than ever before in history. We have Facebook, Facetime, Twitter, email and a myriad of other ways to socially connect with those whom we desire to know and interact. But are we connecting in ways which matter most? It is a great question and one we should consider carefully. Interaction via social media is great but actual time spent in the presence of another human being is still irreplaceable!

God created us to be social people and the internet certainly helps to facilitate some of our needed social interaction. However, the need to feel a hug or see the smile on the face of someone next to us cannot be satisfied through a computer screen or telephone. We still need to make the necessary effort to be in the same room with other people! One of the great wonders of the 20^th century was the front porch and the friendships which were nourished over a cup of coffee or piece of homemade pie. These relationships were strengthened and developed by the real “face-time” given one another on those porches. There is no substitute for these “front-porch moments.”

Take some time this week to consider how much you depend upon the computer for the relationships you have with your family, friends and church. There is nothing wrong with the use of social media as long as it does not replace more meaningful ways in which to interact with those we love. Go visit someone this week! Take someone a plate of cookies and see with your own eyes the smile it brings to their face. Visit your friends or family and experience a little “porch time” this week. Rediscover some of the more simple ways we might fulfill the command of Christ to love one another!

Pastor James

What We Do Matters...To Everyone!

*Note* The flu threw me for a loop pretty good and changed my plans for Lenten devotional writing. So...on to other plans for Easter!

Flu season is upon us in full force. The doctor tells me we are experiencing a late “flu season” and judging by how difficult it is to get Tami-flu at the local pharmacy he seems to be right! I know of what I speak for I am just getting over a bout of the sickness. The flu bug entered our home and paid a personal visit to both me and my son. My wife escaped any sickness which, since she did not get the flu shot this year, I can only attribute to God’s mercy toward me and the boy; we were both completely worthless for about a week and needed mom/wife/nurse Kim! If I were Catholic I might believe she to have earned her sainthood last week! We are both very thankful both to God and Kim for nursing us back to health!

Unfortunately, my flu was a malady I suffered this year for the simple fact I procrastinated and never got a flu shot. Who am I kidding? I have yet to receive a flu shot in any of my 41 years of life on this earth. Somehow I have missed the flu during this span (at least in my adult years) but recent experience has caused me to rethink my annual roll of the dice. Knowing me and my short memory, I might be tempted to skip the flu shot or procrastinate again next year had I been the only one to suffer the ill effects of my foolishness this year. But, my son suffered for my poor decision. I did not get a flu shot, caught the flu and brought the bug home to my son (who did not receive his flu shot because the doctor was out of the vaccine at his six month check-up). The flu was tough to endure but it was a cakewalk compared to watching my son suffer its ill effects. I would do anything to keep him from ever experiencing that again! If only we had the same understanding of how our sin affects those closest to us.

Some years ago, at another church where I was pastor, I noticed a young woman crying following one of our worship services. I walked over to her in order to find out if she needed prayer or help and discovered her heart was broken because her father’s extra-marital affair had been discovered the week prior. In the heat of his passion and lust this young lady’s father thought very little of how his decision to cheat would bring brokenness into the life of his daughter. Her life would be forever changed because of the sin of one close to her. So often we bear the consequences of the sins of those around us and are left to pick up the pieces. As the poet once said, “no man is an island” and our actions affect everyone around us.

The flip side of this is the opportunity we have to impact the lives of others for good and the Kingdom of God. It does not take George Bailey, Clarence the angel or a movie to show us we can have a “Wonderful Life.” Scripture has already told us how this happens as we follow Christ and His purpose for our life. When we share our faith or live the love of Christ, others are affected in a positive sense. Take a look at your life and consider how your decisions are affecting others for the Kingdom of God and good or creating hurt and hardship. Do not fall into the trap of believing you and your decisions are purely of a personal nature! What you do affects the heart of God as well as the lives of so many others!

Lenten Revival Day 3: Jesus in a New Light

John 12:12-19

How often do we, like the apostles in our passage today, fail to understand something God is doing in around us? We often fail to see things for what they really are until Jesus is glorified. Once the power and character of Jesus are revealed we see the circumstances of our past and present in a much different light. We see Jesus "come through" and show Himself faithful, powerful, capable, trustworthy, etc, and realize the bigger picture; we understand our life in a new way. The disciples often experienced this in their time with Jesus. Jesus would tell the disciples things which seemed strange or even absurd! Just imagine what they must have thought when Jesus told them they must eat His flesh in John 6! Only later, when Jesus was more fully revealed and the circumstances of His death, burial and resurrection more completely understood, did they truly comprehend. The metaphor could then be understood as it was intended; Jesus is the giver of life and only those who come to Him can be saved to eternal life.

Ask Jesus to reveal more of Himself to you so your circumstances might be seen in the light of who He is and what he is about the business of doing in your life!

James

Lenten Revival Day 2: Abandoned to Christ!

John 12:1-11

Just a side note here...All of the devotional blogs I will write during Lent will come from a Scripture reading plan specifically for Lent. This plan can be found through the "Youversion" application for your iPhone or Android phone.

The world will not understand the extravagance we give to Christ. Jesus asks that we die to ourselves and give everything to Him! This is contrary to the sin nature and natural man. In our scripture today, Judas could not understand why Mary "wasted" the ointment on Jesus. It was worth over three month's wages! It could have been sold and the money used for so many useful things (like lining the pockets of Judas)! The sinful nature of Judas was exposed in the face of sacrificial giving to Christ.

Anytime we give something of ourselves to Christ it will seem unnatural to those who do not know Him. The bigger the sacrifice the more foolish the world will determine it to be. We must not be deterred by the world's wisdom when it comes to living wholeheartedly for Christ. We will not find encouragement to live abandoned to Jesus from those who have yet to know know Him. In fact, many times, the lost will do all they can to keep us from glorifying the God Whom we serve! This is seen clearly on the part of those who sought to kill Lazarus rather than see his life point others to Christ.

Be encouraged! Give all to Jesus! He is worth all of our love and life!

James

Ash Wednesday: The Beginning of Lent

Ash Wednesday occurs 46 days prior to Easter each year and represents the beginning of the Lenten season; a time of prayer and fasting as we focus on repentance from sin, our need for revival and the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Lent ends on Maundy Thursday of Holy Week (the week of Easter), the day on which Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper with His disciples in the upper room. Lent means “40” and while the time between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday is 46 days, Lent itself is 40 days. The reason for this discrepancy is because Sundays are not counted as days of Lent; Sundays are a day on which we always celebrate the resurrection of Christ.

Many Christian denominations celebrate Ash Wednesday by putting the sign of the Cross on the forehead of believers with ash. Ashes are seen as a symbol of repentance many times throughout Scripture (Job 42:6; Matthew 11:21; Numbers 19:9). Whether one chooses to use ashes or not, Ash Wednesday should be a day for reflection and repentance. As we begin the Lenten season be sure you have no un-confessed, un-repented of sin in your life. Pray, admit your sins, turn from them and ask God to help you walk in the freedom He won for you on the Cross; in Christ we are free from the bondage of sin (Romans 8:2).

Many Christians choose to fast during Lent (in conjunction with prayer) as a way of fostering greater intimacy with Christ and His suffering for our sins. Fasting is a way in which we put Christ first and eliminate some of the distractions which compete for our affections. While the word “fast” usually means the absence of food, it can mean abstinence from things other than food as well. Pray and ask God if He would have you abstain from something during Lent so you might better focus on Christ and His Cross. Many people have found their faith strengthened by fasting from food one day a week during Lent while others have felt these benefits by giving up all drinks other than water during this period. Whatever God puts on your heart make sure you accompany your fasting with prayer! Lent is not a fad diet! We fast so we might have greater intimacy with God and prayer is an important part of our relationship with Him.

I hope you will participate in Lent this year and see how God might use it in your life. I believe Lent is a great opportunity to know Christ, His sufferings and His forgiveness better! I will put up a short devotional each day of Lent this year in the hope God will use them to help guide your personal devotions during these next 40 days. May Lent and Easter be a time of revival for all of us this year!

Lenten Series Coming!

Next Wednesday, February 22nd, I will begin a devotional series on Lent. If you have never been part of a church which celebrated Lent this series will help you understand both what Lent is and how it can be beneficial to your hope for personal and corporate revival. Please be in prayer for me as I prepare this series! And, please begin praying how God might use Lent to help you have a closer walk with Him!

James

Can We Really Change?

“Your life is what you make of it.” This statement is made by a lot of successful people and warrants our attention. Can we really make our life anything we want it to be? Can I be the starting center for the Boston Celtics if I just work hard enough? Can I become a millionaire, president, or 6’3’’ with enough determination and effort on my part? Obviously, there are some things we are stuck with because of our genetics but there are many things in life which can change with the help of Jesus Christ.

Throughout scripture there are men and women who were radically changed by answering God’s call to repentance. “Repentance” means a change of direction to a new way of living. Paul was a Pharisee and persecutor of the church but repented from such a life after his encounter with Christ, becoming a great apostle and missionary of the early church. Matthew was a tax collector, dishonest and a thief but after an encounter with Jesus he repented, becoming an apostle and eventual martyr for the faith. Mary Magdalene was a woman of low morals and reputation until she met Jesus and became a great woman of faith. She was greatly honored by God to be the first to report the resurrection of Jesus to the disciples! Each of us can experience change in our life but the power for real, lasting, significant change, comes with through an encounter with Jesus Christ which leads to repentance.

Are you living the kind of life God wants you to have? Is there something about your character or vocation which Jesus wants to change? Are you willing to allow Christ the opportunity to radically change you? Are you willing to repent? Our part in the process for real change is the submission of our life and will to the God who created us. In doing so, we become far more than we could ever have imagined for ourselves. Paul thought he was serving God by persecuting the church but found true service to God through relationship and service to the Jesus he was persecuting. Paul’s heart found joy and significance far beyond anything he could have found in his own plans. Mary Magdalene’s search for significance and love was found in a relationship with God. Matthew found true riches and a life of honor in his role as disciple of Jesus Christ. Whatever it is we have planned for ourselves pales in comparison to what God has in mind for us.

The hopes, dreams and passions God has placed in our heart find their greatest fulfillment in the plans God has for us! Be ready when God tweaks or radically changes the plans you have made for yourself! Repent, follow His plans and fully experience the abundant life God has in store for you!