I'm Just Fine...I Think

How am I?
Fine.

(And I dare you to try to find out how I really am.

I wish I could tell you what’s really going on with me.
Please try to really know me; I want to tell you how I really am.)

It may be difficult for some of us to be open and intimate with others, but doesn’t Paul make it clear that, as the Body of Christ, that is God’s plan for the Church?

“If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it” (I Cor. 12:26.) God designed His church in such a way that we are not meant to be independent. We are to depend on one another for the care each can provide. If you are one who prefers to take care of yourself and not need others, this truth can be a bit unsettling.

So when the answer to “How are you?” is “Fine,” what does that mean?

It probably means that nothing terrible has happened to me or my family recently; that I am alive, in reasonable health, and not anticipating any imminent catastrophe.

But sometimes, Fine really isn’t.

Fine could mean:
“I’m lonely, but I’m embarrassed to tell you because everyone wants to be your friend.”
“My heart is breaking because of what’s going on in my family, but there’s no way I could share that with you because your kids are perfect.”
“I’m desperate; I don’t even know if I can pay the bills this month, but you wouldn’t understand and I don’t want anyone to feel sorry for me anyway.”

“My arthritis is so bad today that I don’t know if I can make it to the car, but there’s nothing you can do about it, so I don’t want to tell you about my weakness.”

“I’m depressed, but I don’t want you think of me as needy or pathetic.”

“My faith is wavering, but I can handle it, and I don’t want you to think less of me.”

“My heart is cold; so cold that I don’t really care, so how could you care?”

So, we groom ourselves carefully, dress in our best clothes, put on our best smile, and go do Church. But what God deems our Sunday Best is our open hearts, our honesty, our true selves.  As I thought about picking up my Bible and my mask when I leave the house for church, I remembered a poem called Masks written by Cheryl Mariano.

In my bedroom drawer neatly tucked away

What mask to church will I wear today?

There are four from which I have to choose

Today, I’ll wear the one that hides the Blues

My Smiley mask, I’ve nearly worn out

It hides so well my fears and doubts

My Spiritual mask works like a jewel

It hides me when I’ve been mean and cruel

The mask I call my Ace in the Hole

Hides me when my heart is cold

Sometimes, I wish others could see
Right past the mask an into me

And help me find my way back home

To God’s dear arms from whence I’ve roamed

But others seem to do so well

My failures I wouldn’t dare to tell

Then, the question to myself I ask

“I wonder if they too, wear a mask?”

We as a church are called to live together openly, but that’s really hard to do. It involves tremendous risk, so sometimes we hide behind masks, trying to look as if we have it all together in our relationship with God, our families, or our work. The idea of complete vulnerability can feel like a dangerous way to live. Transparency is another word for openness and vulnerability. The problem is, when I think of something transparent I think of something filmy, gauzy, or vaporous. Those are things I never wanted to be. I want to be the one to tell you what’s back there behind that curtain; I don’t want you to see right through me!

I don’t think I’m alone in my difficulty with transparency; I don’t know too many people who find it easy to be open and vulnerable. (In fact, the most transparent people I know are under the age of 9.)

Jesus didn’t wear a mask. He told Peter, James, and John, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me” (Matt. 26:38.) He wasn’t ashamed to show his agony or ask for their help, even if they let him down. He didn’t say he was Fine, or he could handle it himself. In fact he asked 3 times for them to pray and keep watch for him, even though they failed him by falling asleep 3 times.

Father, forgive my pride. Help me to be open and vulnerable so that those who love me can care for me as you intended. And please forgive my self-centeredness. Show me what I can do for others, even when they aren’t able to tell me what their needs are. When I do know of the hurting and sickness and sadness of others, may I be the kind of friend who shares their pain and lightens their burden, through Jesus. Amen

Lynn Anne Hughes

Stephenville, Texas

Will God Do It Again?

When you read about the the people of Israel from the time they left Egypt until their final return from captivity, you have to wonder what on earth they were thinking when it came to their relationship with the Lord.  The people griped right from the get-go as they left Egypt.  They lost sight of who had performed great and mighty signs from Egypt to the promised land.

Then, as you recall, the Israelites finally settled in the land of “milk and honey” and again soon forgot all the great wonders Yahweh had performed in getting them there so that they could take over cities and homes they did not build and vineyards they did not plant. In response, the Lord sent armies to inflict punishment on them because of their desire to follow after and do detestable acts for gods made of wood and stone. Time and time again they cried to the Lord for help and he would send relief.  After Joshua died, the judges would rescue the people from their enemies, one after another.  As soon as a judge would die, the people would go right back to their gods of wood and stone.  Finally, they started down a new path where they rejected the Lord as their king and instead demanded an earthly king to fight their wars and take care of them. Some of these kings were god-fearing but most did evil, leading the people to follow after gods of wood and stone.

The United States was founded on Christian-Judaeo principles yet today the signers of the Declaration of Independence would have trouble recognizing many, if not most, of our practices and our lack of religious zeal, especially from our leaders and judges.  For most of those who still hold that Jehovah God, Father of Jesus Christ, exists, He at best plays second fiddle in their lives.  The “god” of most Americans exists in money, power, and pleasure.  These have become our “gods of wood and stone.”

I do not know if God "will do it again" and turn His back on us and allow the United States to fail.  I pray He does not.  I remember the story of Abraham when he was told that Sodom and Gomorra would not be destroyed if but ten righteous people could be found.  If God chooses to allow us to fail, I do not know if He will rescue us from the hands of the enemy.  However, I do know that He loves us and has provided everyone with a path to salvation through Jesus.  Only you and I can reject God’s offer of salvation by turning our backs and clinging to the “gods of wood and stone.”

The story is only the beginning for those who accept our Lord’s invitation to follow Jesus.  Regardless of what happens in this life, to this country, or to this world, God is in charge and will take care of his children.  When I think about the majesty and greatness of God, I cannot help but remember the words of the song “Father and Friend, Thy Light” penned by John Bowring.

Father and Friend, Thy Light, Thy Love,

  Beaming thro’ all Thy works we see;

Thy glory gilds the heav’ns above,

  And all the earth is full of Thee.

Thy voice we hear, Thy presence feel,

  While Thou, too pure for mortal sight,

Enwrapt in clouds, invisible,

  Reignest the Lord of light and life.

Thy children shall not faint nor fear,

  Sustained by this delightful tho’t;

Since Thou, their God, art ev’rywhere,

  They cannot be where Thou art not.

WOW! They cannot be where Thou art not!

Father, you are our great and wonderful King.  We approach you through your blessed son Jesus in whom we all have hope and redemption.  We beg you to not forsake our nation for the sake of the righteous.  We beg you to help us be your servants and bring the saving grace of Jesus to the lost and dying of our country so that we can be a light to the world. Please let not your Holy Spirit leave us. Let it be so.

Paul Schulze

Stephenville

The Day the Sun Stood Still

Now Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had taken Ai and totally destroyed it, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and that the people of Gibeon had made a treaty of peace with Israel and had become their allies. 2 He and his people were very much alarmed at this, because Gibeon was an important city, like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai, and all its men were good fighters. 3 So Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem appealed to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish and Debir king of Eglon. 4 “Come up and help me attack Gibeon,” he said, “because it has made peace with Joshua and the Israelites.”
 5 Then the five kings of the Amorites—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon—joined forces. They moved up with all their troops and took up positions against Gibeon and attacked it.
 6 The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal: “Do not abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill country have joined forces against us.”
 7 So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army, including all the best fighting men. 8 The LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you.”
 9 After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua took them by surprise. 10 The LORD threw them into confusion before Israel, so Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely at Gibeon. Israel pursued them along the road going up to Beth Horon and cut them down all the way to Azekah and Makkedah. 11 As they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Horon to Azekah, the LORD hurled large hailstones down on them, and more of them died from the hail than were killed by the swords of the Israelites.
 12 On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the LORD in the presence of Israel:
   “Sun, stand still over Gibeon,
   and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.”
13 So the sun stood still,
   and the moon stopped,
   till the nation avenged itself on its enemies,
   as it is written in the Book of Jashar.
   The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. 14 There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened to a human being. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel!  (Joshua 10: 1-14 - NIV)

Can you believe this??!!  The sun stood still!  AND, because Joshua, a human, asked God to make this happen! 

If you live in Texas or even the continental US, you do not experience the sun not setting or the moon standing still.  I realize this actually can be observed in regions near the earth’s poles, but since I have never been to Alaska or Antarctica, I haven’t witnessed this!  The sun setting and rising every day is something so routine yet important to my day.  I take for granted that the sun came up today and will set this evening.  This same occurrence happened yesterday and I anticipate it happening tomorrow – that is, assuming our Savior doesn’t return by then!

I absolutely love this bible story!  The bible is FULL of accounts of battles won by the Lord, miracles, supernatural powers, and God demonstrating His AWESOME - ness!  But this particular story resonates with me.  Joshua, chosen by God to lead an army, came to the rescue of the Gibeonites. 

The Lord spoke to him and said ”Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you.”   I think it’s interesting that more men died from the hail than from the hand of another man!  God completely orchestrated this encounter!  Add to that, Joshua asked the Lord to make the sun and moon stand still for a full day!  AND GOD LISTENED TO HIM!  God shows His power all of the time, and I am so amazed by this!  During creation, God set into motion the cycle of life, day and night.  This is how we keep time!  It’s as if time stood still!  That there was an interruption in a cycle that had occurred uninterrupted for hundreds of years is really amazing! 

It just reiterates the point that God does listen to us.  He is with us always and His power to orchestrate such magnificent occurrences should create a sense of awe within us.  So many great stories can be found in the Old Testament and I encourage you to seek these out.  You might find that they help spark a greater awe for our Lord and His majesty.  Each of these scenarios were for the greater plan – His plan to redeem His sinful children and to provide the ultimate sacrifice.  We can experience His AWESOME-ness as we learn more about these stories!

Father, thank you for protecting your people and for providing opportunities to experience your love.  Help me to seek you more and find you in ways I have yet to experience.  Thank you for sending Jesus to be the ultimate rescuer.

In His name,
Michelle Tittor
Grapevine, TX

Church is a Team Sport

A team is a group of two or more people working together to accomplish a task.  Nowadays a lot of people associate the idea of "team" with sports.  But, team can be applied to many areas of life.  Just as each member of a sports team has a different role to play and skills to offer, so do members of “Work” teams. The same goes for a church setting. Many, including myself, do not see or consider members of a church as a team working together toward the same goal.

This past week I attended a Teambuilding exercise called MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.) The objective of this event was to enhance Teambuilding in the professional environment. Teambuilding is the process by which a group of individuals are encouraged to learn about themselves, each other, their leaders, and how all these components fit together to boost team success. As I interacted with others in this event I could not keep my mind from wandering to how this very concept applies to the Church. Each person in the church brings individual preferences for their “Source of Energy” (Extraversion-Introversion,) “Taking in Information” (Sensing-Intuition,) “Decision Making” (Thinking-Feeling,) and “Lifestyle” (Judging-Perceiving.) Based on these four preference dichotomies you can derive up to sixteen unique personality types.  By participating in this exercise an individual is able to better understand their personality type and the relationship of each individual’s preferences to the way you and other team members interact.

Although, this particular exercise was not a foreign concept to me from a professional standpoint I had never participated in a real life event putting this into practice.  The more I thought about it, the more aware I became of how this relates to the “Church” Environment.  People makeup a church.  Each and every individual brings to the table a different set up preferences that define their make-up and shape how they believe, feel and express their desires.  And, this makes me curious about two things as I look at the makeup of the Church today:  1.)  “What are the constraints individuals have with one another that inhibits their ability to help each other get to heaven?  2.) What are the constraints that inhibit us from completely and totally turning ourselves over to God?” As I pondered these questions several things caught my attention.  I narrowed my list down to 6 important items that I think can help the church team become a healthier experience.

* Fostering openness and trust.

* Providing a language with which to discuss differences.

* Underscoring the value of diversity.

* Teaching the Church team to value and work with the strengths of others.
* Helping increase productivity by aligning an individual’s preferences to the particular goal of God’s plan for us.

* Identifying the Church teams assets and blind spots.

Colossians 3:12-14... Says, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

 

“Church is a Team Sport” and it's all about making disciples, caring for people, following up on stray sheep, and teaching what it means to love God and obey him.  This is what transforms Christians from Monday-morning quarterbacks into dynamic players.

 

Jesus, thank you for your unconditional love. Help us, Lord to have a soft heart and love one another more. Jesus, clear our vision so that we may realize “Church Is a Team Sport” and help us have an open mind to understand others preferences to enhance our personal growth and renew our spiritual strength. We love you. Amen.

Landon Kribbs

Springtown, Texas

A Home for My Heart

As I was contemplating a topic for my article this month, phrases relating to the heart kept surfacing. I found myself or someone else saying things like, “My heart is just not in it”, “It just breaks my heart when----“, “The message was heartfelt”, “…..Oh, that tugs at my heartstrings”, The heart of the matter is ….”, “My heart is so heavy”, “My heart hurts”, and you can probably add others.

According to Webster, our physical heart is the vital organ that by its rhythmic contraction acts as a force pump maintaining the circulation of the blood to the body. It occupies the most important place in the human system. The word ‘heart’ is used over 800 times in the Bible. The heart, in its moral significance in the Old Testament, includes the emotions, the reason and the will, according to W. E. Vine’s Expository Dictionary. The first time we read of a “broken heart” is in Genesis 6:5, 6: “The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.”

In the New Testament, it denotes the seat of physical life, the seat of moral nature and spiritual life, the seat of grief, joy, the desires, the affections, the perceptions, the thoughts, the understanding, the reasoning powers, the imagination, conscience, the intentions, purpose, the will, and faith. Is it any wonder we use “heart” phrases so often? They seem to express so much with so little effort.

You have heard the cliche, “Home is where the heart is.” But, what about my church home? Where is my heart when it comes to commitment to a church family? Do I have the same responsibility there as in my physical home? Can I just come and go from one congregation to another without becoming a member of a congregation of people who have identified themselves as Christians? Do I really want to be identified with them? Where is my heart in this matter? Is it possible there is no church family deserving of my fellowship?

Perhaps David has some answers for us. God says, “I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all my will.” Acts 13:22 (NKJV) In Psalm 51:10 David prays, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” And, later in Psalm 139:23-24 we find, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Proverbs 4:23 is well-known: ”Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”

Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37) In the book of Philippians, Paul addresses his letter to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi. “Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. I always pray for you, and I make my requests with a heart full of joy because you have been my partners in spreading the good news about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.” (Philippians 1:3-6) Paul continues in Philippians 2:12, 13, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”

The truth of the matter is that we must nurture our hearts to keep them “right with God”.  The overall superiority of Christ and the Christian life is the central theme of Hebrews. It contrasts the Old Testament system of animal and crop sacrifices with a new life in Christ, God’s Son, who died for our sins. “Moses was certainly faithful in God’s house, but only as a servant. His work was an illustration of the truths God would reveal later. But Christ, the faithful Son, was in charge of the entire household. And we are God’s household, if we keep up our courage and remain confident of our hope in Christ…...Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. You must warn each other every day, as long as it is called “today”, so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.” Hebrews 3:5, 6, 12-14 (NLT)

We, as God’s children, make up the body of Christ. We belong to Christ’s Church. Christ’s home is where my heart is!

Loving, Father, as David prayed, I pray that You create in me a clean heart, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. It is with a grateful heart I come to You, praising You for the privilege of being your child and for the eternal home you have prepared for those who love You and obey Your will. Thank you for Christ’s Church and for the faithful who have shown me the way home. In the precious name of Jesus, Amen.”

Jan Alderfer,

Stephenville, TX

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The Aroma of Christ

The sense of smell is one of the most powerful senses God has given us. An aroma can trigger memories of past people and events whether good or bad. Right now spring is in the air. The early morning aromas of fresh dew on the new grass and honeysuckle blooms overwhelm my senses. It brings back memories of warm sunny days to come.

It happens this time of the year all across the country. Young boys like my 12 year old are eager to enjoy spring by playing baseball. Unfortunately, in my past experiences, an unpleasant aroma contaminates the game with parents and sometimes grandparents, who have difficulty maintaining control and respect for others. Simply put, they just plain stink!

In II Corinthians 2: 14-16, Paul says “For we are to God the aroma of Christ”. When our actions are fueled by our relationship with Jesus, we are to God the aroma of Christ. A positive attitude is like a fragrant aroma that pleases and reflects God.

When we go to places, do we leave the sweet and powerful smell of Christ?  Our aroma will carry over to our children, one they will remember and reflect on through their adult life.

What kind of scent does your life give off? Is it one that points to God?

Dear Lord, teach me how to be a sweet fragrance. I pray that you are evident in my life and that other’s see you in me. In Jesus name, Amen.

Carla Henson

Tuscola, Texas

God's Wonderful Grace

“These are the times that try men’s souls.” I’ve heard that statement several times in my short existence on this earth. It seems to me that “hard times” are never-ending! I have been blessed all my life. But, this week I've been challenged more than any other time in recent memory. I changed jobs, packed for a move, been alone without my family, etc. – all this week! It has been somewhat frustrating. (I can’t seem to find enough time in the day!) I’m sure that others have had more challenging weeks than mine. However, in the process of feeling overwhelmed, I was blessed to read 1 Peter 1. What a wonderful and encouraging chapter!!

Starting in verse 10, Peter talks about the promise of salvation:
Concerning this salvation, the prophets who predicted the grace that would come to you searched and investigated carefully. They probed into what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified beforehand about the sufferings appointed for Christ and his subsequent glory. They were shown that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things now announced to you through those who proclaimed the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from Heaven – things angels long to catch a glimpse of.

The prophets prophesied about Christ and about the many blessings of grace through Christ. Examples of these blessings of grace are as follows:
Redeeming grace – from sin, Satan, death, and the grave
Justifying grace – through his righteousness witnessed by all
Pardoning grace – as a blessing of the new covenant and received through faith in Christ
Adopting grace – not for one people, but for all
Regenerating and Sanctifying grace – in giving a new heart and spirit, in baptism
Persevering grace – those that believe in God will not depart from him, his loving kindness will not depart from us, our salvation (God’s free gift)

God will never give us more than we can handle – we all know that. Therefore, in my opinion it’s important to remember what matters most everyday. Amidst all of the things going on around you we need to remember Jesus Christ died for us, and, because of that incredible, free gift of grace, we get to live forever with Him. I heard a wise man once say – “Grace is like water in that it runs downstream and pools in low places. No matter how crazy or low we get, that gift of grace saves and covers us. Thank you, Lord!

Casey Dacus
Graham, Texas