What is Your Hope?

Be prepared to give an answer for the hope that is within you with gentleness and reverence” (1 Peter 3:15)

If someone asked you to tell them about hope what would you say?

Hope is a forward looking word.  It anticipates something beyond this world.  But what?  Paul talks about people who have hope and those who don’t (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14).  Jesus is described as the “hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).

Ask most any Christian about hope and why they have it and they will quickly respond;  “Jesus died for the sins of all mankind (Romans 5:6-11)!  He has set us free through his death in our stead. He saved us!"  Of course, there are scores of texts that make that point.  But, what does being saved mean?

But, let’s fast forward this conversation past the part about Jesus' death as atonement for our sin to something else…something that has often been missed in our discussions about hope.  Jesus’ death is a critical piece of the gospel story, but so is the resurrection.  In fact without the resurrection everything else falls flat. 

Hope is not about going to heaven.  It is about living for the resurrection. 

Sound crazy? Odd?  Heretical?

Truth is, we have more Plato in us than we would like to admit.  Ask most Christians and they will say something like, “We die, our body decays, our soul goes to heaven and, after the judgment (whatever that is and however it happens) we are with God in a blissful “spiritual” existence forever.  Most often the conversation about the afterlife is about “going” to heaven and staying there. 

Yet, isn’t it interesting that when the apostle Paul speaks about the next life for the believer he speaks of heaven as a “weigh station” of sorts.  It’s a place we go for “a while” until our final destination occurs. 

The final destination for Paul is the resurrection and a new creation (Romans 8:19-24).

1 Corinthians chapter fifteen is a riveting and thorough discussion about the resurrection.  Paul lays out an exciting vision of the life that is to come.  Adam’s sin in the garden brought death…literally…into our lives.  Scripture emphasizes the fact that we are mortal beings – not immortal.  Only God possesses immortality (1 Timothy 6:16; Romans 8:9-11).  Jesus brought life and immortality to light through the gospel (2 Timothy 1:9-10). 

Believers in the city of Corinth were confused on this point.  They leaned more toward Plato and the concept of the soul (disembodied spirit) than what Paul had taught them in the gospel, namely, the resurrection of the body.  In 1 Corinthians 15:35-57 Paul explains this in detail.  Our future as believers is the resurrection of the body although it will be magnificently different in ways that Paul cannot describe.  “We are waiting to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven” (2 Corinthians 5:1-4).

Death is beaten on the very turf where it beat us…our bodies. 

Jesus’ resurrection was more than a show of divine power.  It serves as a precursor to what is coming.  Jesus is the first born from among the dead ones (Ephesians 1:20-21; Colossians 1:16-18; 1 Corinthians 15:20-23).  The angels said after his ascension that he would come in “like manner as you beheld him going into heaven” (Acts 1:11).  Paul says the “dead in Christ will rise first” and then believers who are alive at his coming will rise with them to meet him in the air (to welcome him!) when he comes with his mighty angels (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10). 

The Jews in Jesus day, for the most part, held the belief of the resurrection (John 11:20-25).  Jesus said that a day would come when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice.  Some would come forth to a resurrection of life (1 Cor. 15) and others would be raised to be judged and destroyed (John 5:25-29). 

When Jesus spoke about eternal life he did so with resurrection in mind. 

When someone asks us about our hope, we should tell them what Jesus accomplished for us in his death for our sins.  BUT, we should also emphasize what he accomplished in his resurrection.  He is the only one who was raised from the dead and, as they say, “stayed up.”  He has the power to give us life…literally…in a new body…forever.  His invitation to join him in his kingdom now and forever is the most fascinating and exciting experience we can participate in.  Paul says that the sufferings of this world are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us (Romans 8:18). 

Scripture doesn't spell out the particulars of what all “glory” means.  Then again, we are given some small portholes in scripture that give us glimpses of what the resurrection world will be like. Scripture says, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered into the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).   

How we envision what Jesus, Paul and others said about resurrection matters.  And, it should be a major piece in our conversation with people about what “hope” means. 

Choosing to be a Christian involves more than pleasing God and proving our obedience to His will.  As much as these things matter – and they do! – there is more. 

God is inviting us to be a part of something. That's the part that is undeveloped in our thinking and sharing of the gospel. We are living, serving, suffering, and teaching the gospel to ourselves and others toward something.  God will welcome us into a new creation.  His kingdom will be full of surprises, magnificence and adventure.  

Assembling with other Christians, standing up under pressure, standing our ground in the presence of evil and embracing the reign of God now should be empowered by this great vision of what God will do one day through the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9-11) at the resurrection. 

Paul said, “If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation.  The old things have passed away; behold new things have come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Resurrection.  New things.  I can only imagine.  How bout you?

Randy Daugherty
StephenvilleTexas


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I Don't Like the Cross

Yes, it’s true. I really don’t like the Cross. Mind you, I’m not talking about the one

we normally see in our “Christian culture.” You know the one of which I speak, the

cute one we see on T-shirts and pendants. I’m pretty OK with that one. Occasionally

I’ll see one on a billboard as I drive down the highway – no problem. Crosses adorn

walls of homes and offices – no issues here. I see them for sale all over the place…

polished wooden ones, roughhewn ones, iron crosses intended to look rustic, plastic

ones, etc. Those don’t bother me in the least. Those crosses are decorations and

are worn and displayed as a message to others. “I’m a good person” they say.  “I’m a

‘Christian.’” “I like Jesus.” There is nothing painful or offending about those crosses.

I’m not trying to be cynical or overly critical. I think most of the time people use

these things with good intentions. But allow me to be direct: they’re neither offensive

nor painful. How would the message be different if I displayed a picture of an electric chair on my wall? Or what if I showed up on Wednesday night wearing a T-shirt with a hangman’s noose prominently displayed on the front? Yes, that’s different, isn’t it? These things mean death in horrific ways. These machines of death are

offensive, not quaint. They’re shocking, painful, and contrary to my life. This, friends, is the Cross I don’t like – and for the very same reason.

The Cross I don’t like is the one upon which I must nail my Self. My Self is offended

that it must die. Death is neither quaint nor cute. I hate death, especially as it applies

to me. An aesthetically pleasing cross on a wall as a message to others about

who I am isn’t painful or offensive, but an ugly cross shoved in the dirt of my flesh

and upon which my will, nature, and desires are harshly nailed until they writhe,

gasp, and finally, reluctantly die is a message to me about who God is… and that

message is offensive to my Self. The cute cross that I like is about me and says I am

good. The Cross I hate is about God and says I am corrupt. The Cross I hate casts a

dark shadow that chills the warm feelings I get about how “good” I am in comparison

to others. The Cross I hate offers scorn, ridicule, and embarrassment as my Self

is displayed in all its naked, shameful ugliness. Nothing can hide when it’s nailed to

a Cross. Neither can anything live. I know that if I nail my Self to a Cross – not the

cute one, but the ugly one like Jesus had – it’s not coming down… it’s going to die

painfully.

The Good News is that Jesus offers resurrection. Not for the old Self that died. It,

thankfully, won’t return if it really died. The resurrection of Jesus offers a new self,

one that is dead to Self but alive to God. That’s the thing about resurrection… you

can’t have it without death. And cute crosses don’t kill the Self; they keep it alive.

James McGee 
Abilene,Texas

I've Been Set Free

Often, early in my faith journey, I felt the burden of the battle for my soul.  God called me to righteousness, which is what I desired, but Satan deceitfully convinced me I could be “holy” on my own.  This self-reliant attitude created a cycle of joyful “mountain-top” experiences when I performed well, followed by “valleys” of guilt’s imprisonment when I didn’t measure up to expectations.  Somehow, I had come to believe God only loved me when I was good.  In Romans 7:7-8:17, Paul gives a thorough explanation for this struggle between good and evil.  I share Paul’s appreciation for God’s answer to this conflict,

Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.  Romans 7:25-8:2

Because of what has been done for me through Christ Jesus, I am able to transform my thinking (see Romans 12:1-2).  I am no longer naively open to accepting Satan’s lies.  Yes, I still struggle with sin.  But now, instead of self-reliance, I humbly acknowledge my need for a savior.  The “law of the Spirit” gives me life.  I am no longer condemned.  I am redeemed.

Therefore, I feel victorious, not defeated.  I have been forgiven.  I choose to serve God out of a motivation of joy and conviction, rather than guilt and merit.  I choose to obey God… living in a way that honors His name.  I am confident and hopeful of His saving grace. 

I’ve been set free!

Carl Smith

Stephenville, Texas

Words Can Hurt You

A current insurance commercial makes me chuckle. A cowboy riding off into the sunset is unexpectedly knocked off his horse by "THE END" as he rides under (but not quite clear of) those words on the screen. Words can really hurt you!

Proverbs 16:28 "A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends."  NIV

Proverbs 16:28 "A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends." ESV

In the same chapter of Proverbs, the opposite result comes from encouragement:

Proverbs 16:21 "The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction." NIV

Proverbs 16:21 "The wise of heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness." ESV

In Children's Bible Hour we listen to a song about gossip. The song was written by Keith Lancaster to encourage young list

eners to watch what they say behind someone's back. We all need to think before we speak about someone without knowing facts.

Don't Be Talkin' 'Bout Friends

Words and music: Keith Lancaster © 1989 Anthony K. Music (ASCAP).  The link below will let you listen to Acapella sing the song      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsG1mx9u8H0

Lyrics:

Of all the things to do to a friend

You hurt them by your tongue.

Relationships will fatally end

Without a knife or gun.

Waitin' till you're back behind them,

Then you put them down

How could you be talkin' 'bout them

When they're not around?

Chorus:

Don't be talkin' 'bout friends when they're not around

Don't be cuttin' their hearts and puttin' them down.

Don't be temptin' the Lord and makin' Him frown,

Don't be talkin' 'bout your friends when they're not around.

How all the gossip falls on our ears

It doesn't make much sense,

How we can cause the innocent tears,

Not helping their defense.

Listening, we all should fear it,

Listening is wrong.

If there were no one to hear it

It could not go on.

Repeat Chorus

Too many friendships have been broken

By just a simple, careless word spoken.

Repeat Chorus (x2)

Don't be talkin' down, throwin' down, cuttin' down friends

Why not treat them more like friends (when they're not around)?

Don't be saying lots of things, overlook the hurt it brings

Don't be talkin' bout your friends (when they're not around).

Speak directly to someone rather than about a person without knowing facts. Find the truth first. Encourage, don't discourage and dishearten.

Matthew 18:15 "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother." ESV

 

We may not recognize that we are spreading gossip. What we say to others may be disguised as "conversation" or "concern". If you have a concern about a brother or sister, the directive from Matthew 18 should be followed. We cannot build up the Church if we allow the evil one rein over our tongue rather than the Spirit of God.

Don't listen to gossip. It is divisive. It will grow and morph as it spreads to others. Churches have split over untruths. Guard your heart from the evil one through Christian love.

Dear God, Please continue to guide our thoughts and words. Help us to encourage others, and build them up. We need your Spirit in us to prevent discord that festers and breaks apart our Christian family.

Sherilyn Svien

Stephenville, TX

The Courtyard

Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.    Matthew 26: 69

Only a few hours earlier, with Jesus and facing an angry mob Peter was ready to fight.  Now in the courtyard, the focus of the enemy is on Peter.  If Peter acknowledges he is a follower of Christ he faces death.   He has no time to think and nowhere to hide.  A life or death moment, and he falls.

We don't get to choose the timing of these crucial faith moments.  They sneak up on us like a thief, catching us off guard.  My moments have not been life or death yet still they are the same.  I either deny Christ or confess Him by the choices I make.  If in the small things I do not resist the enemy there is no way I'll be ready when I am confronted with......     Even this is a scheme as I begin to categorize and rationalize my "little" weaknesses with the false security that I would never fall to a greater, more evil temptation;   not realizing I am already trapped.  The danger is I am drawn away from the love and protection of Christ by my own choosing, satisfying myself rather than allowing Christ to satisfy me.   It is my selfish, willful leaving accompanied by a loss of self-awareness.  And I lose sight of the wonder and joy of being with Christ.

Peter was ready the next time he was confronted by the enemy.  He lives from the direct experience of encountering firsthand the incredible mercy and forgiveness of Jesus despite denying him 3 times.  He's guilty, he knows he deserves punishment and he is overwhelmed with shame and regret, yet Jesus forgives and calls him back.   With that experience and a new understanding of the Kingdom Peter is a changed man.  In Acts there are multiple imprisonments and life or death encounters by Peter as he shares the story of Jesus.  There is no longer any fear or confusion in Peter in claiming Christ.  Ultimately history says Peter was crucified upside down.   He was ready, even to die for The One who had already saved him.

For so long my walk of faith was focused on the wrong things.  Being right, being good, doing, going and it was all about my kingdom.   I was in the courtyard like Peter, watching from a distance and not really with Jesus.    Just like Peter, and in my own life Jesus calls us back with great love and incredible mercy.   He never gives up on us and He will do more than we can ask or imagine when we choose Him each day.

Father, every day I face choices of staying at a distance in the courtyard or being right at your side.   Draw me ever nearer to you until I can never let go.  In Jesus name.

Scotty Elston
Shallowater, Tx

You're Not Strong Enough

You’re Not Strong Enough

Have you ever been confronted with something so difficult that you did not know how you could go on? It is in those times that often you will hear trite Christian platitudes designed to make people feel better with bumper-sticker theology.  But these quotes do little in the face of the actual brokenness of the world.  

I have a friend who is currently going through one life-threatening struggle after another. He has leaned on God all the way and God has strengthened him to face each new day. The emotion of despair has not overtaken him. One day a well-meaning Christian said to him, “God won’t give you more than you can handle.” I am sure you have heard those words before.

A limp, anemic statement such as that will not stand up in a broken world.

The primary problem with the quote is that it is not in the Bible.

There is, however, a statement that sounds like it.  In 1 Corinthians 10:13 we read, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humankind.  And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.”  Notice that the verse is about temptation.  That’s it.

The Bible reveals quite another story when it comes to struggles.

The apostle Paul faced many struggles in his life. He wrote, “For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers and sisters, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. We were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.  Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves, but on God who raises the dead" (2 Cor. 1:8-9).

Take note of these scriptures as well.

 “But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me.” (2 Timothy 4:17).

“I can do all things thru Him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

When you find yourself struggling and you have nothing left to give – when life’s difficulties are beyond your capability to cope, it is in those times you must rely on God.  Approach Him with an authentic faith that engages Him with the full brunt of your emotion and pain.  Then, the strength of the God of resurrection will be seen.

Dear Heavenly Father, life is often difficult. We sometimes feel overwhelmed and  don’t understand why you choose to leave us in the midst of the struggle. I hurt for my friend and his struggles, but I thank you for giving him strength. He is courageous because you stand by him! Thank you for our friendship and for showing me an unwavering strength in the face of weakness. I ask that you continue to hold him up. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Terry Smith 
Stephenville, TX

Things That Are Not - But Are

  "As it is written, ‘I have made you a father of many nations.’ He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed – the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.”   (Romans 4:17)

         Daily, every person believes. Even one who scorns the idea of faith in the eternal God daily leans on faith.  He believes the floor will support him as he steps from his bed.  He trusts the light will come on as he touches the switch.  He is confident the water is safe as he brushes his teeth.  He is convinced that his eyes accurately assess reality that he sees.  No person lives without faith in something, or in someone.

         Abraham was 75 years old when God promised him a son by his 65 year-old wife, Sarah. (Genesis 12:1ff.) Twenty four years later, the 99 year old Abraham and 89 year-old Sarah were yet childless.  “…his body was as good as dead – since he was about a hundred years old – and…Sarah’s womb was also dead.” (Romans 4:19.)  A gambling spirit could sooner win the Texas Lotto than this couple in history could have had a son – and through him, beget “many nations”.              

        The Bible is not recording some boondoggling myth.  The Jews you know meet on the street today came – ultimately, from Abraham’s body, “…as good as dead…and from Sarah’s womb…also dead”!  Such is the reality of the history of God’s promise to them, and of its fulfillment in the lives of today’s Jews we see with our very own eyes.  Yet, we wonder, “How?”

       “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, ‘So shall your seed be’…he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” (Vs. 18-21.)

         Therein lies the lesson, and encouragement, for us.  God has power to do what He promises.  The Bible records such power at work in his raising his Son from the grave, and in his fulfilling the promises He has since made to countless servants of Jesus our Lord.  No wonder we indeed profit from daily Bible reading, and meditation.  Such reasonable faith “comes from hearing the word of God.”. (Romans 10:17.)

                                                                                                                                                                --Ted Kell

Brownwood, Texas

Jesus Changes Everything

And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at this feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.  Luke 7:38 (English Standard Version)

Jesus was not popular with the religious leaders of his day.  They ridiculed him, lied about him, and plotted to embarrass him.  They would ultimately murder him and call it capital punishment.

The above scripture isn’t about the Pharisee who may have invited Jesus to his home to entrap him.  It’s about a prostitute who had probably been among the crowds of people who heard Jesus preach.  His words gave her hope.  His message changed her.   She came to him a sinner; penitent, humble, heart overflowing with gratitude for the way his unconditional love changed how she saw herself.  Her tears say it all.

God has always taken disobedience seriously, but he is equally serious about his love for us.  We are his first priority.  How amazing is that?  

Jesus did nothing wrong yet he allowed himself to be executed for our lawlessness so we could live.  That act in itself elevates the worst sinner to a kinship with the King.  Jesus changes hearts.  He changes lifestyles, and ultimately destinies.  His life, death, burial and resurrection changes everything.

Pray with me:

“Father in Heaven, like the woman with the alabaster flask of expensive ointment, I weep with gratitude because of your priceless gift of salvation.  I know you love all of me, strengths and weaknesses.  Because you love me as I am, and because your arms are always open and welcoming, I want to give you my best self every day.  I love you back.  Amen.”

     

Sandra Milholland – Abilene, Texas

In Between

I was reading a fellow’s thoughts on I Peter, chapter 4. He brought up the idea that between Jesus’ ascension and His return at the second coming is where we live. This time He called “the between time”.

I like that! The between time! Between the time when I was baptized and when I, too, ascend. The between time between the time I was adopted into God’s family and when I go home.

What happens during these between times?

Peter says you may suffer, but take heart. This is your time…the time you live as lights in a dark world. The time you live in fleshly bodies but you also live in the spirit of God.

This is your time to demonstrate to the world that God is real. The Bible is true and Jesus is coming back.

Angels would love to have our job…to represent God to the world…to praise Him here…to live lives of faith in this world.

So, what are you going to do with your “between time?”

Dear Father, Here I am in between. In between birth and death...baptism and resurrection. I have stumbled many times. I have wasted so much. But here I am…forgive me for my sins. Help me to use what time I have left. I want to finish well. I must finish well. Guide me. Guard me. Help me. Lay down every sin that besets me. Help me to look to Jesus. Keep my feet from stumbling. Bring me home.   In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen. 

Paul Shero

San Angelo, Texas

Heart Checkup

Confession time!  A few weeks ago, I gave a lesson on the heart. Lessons about the heart were easier to give back in my twenties.  Perhaps it’s because I’ve become more aware of my own heart – both its joys and its flaws.  Texts about the heart have taken on a more practical edge for me.   

Here is a sampling of some texts we reflected on.

Proverbs 4:23: “Watch over your heart with all diligence for from it flow the issues of life.”   

Matthew 5:8:  “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” 

Jeremiah 17:9: “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick.  Who can understand it?’ 

Psalm 19:12:  “Who can discern his errors?” 

Psalm 139:23:  “Search me, O God, and know my anxious thoughts, and see if there is any hurtful way in me.”   

As I thought through these and other texts and talked through them with our congregation, I was again reminded how often and easily I recited them when I was younger.  As the time drew nigh for me to share a lesson about “spiritual heart health”, I thought about how innocent (another confession) my appreciation of these texts had been in earlier years.  Some of that comes with just being young and not yet battle tested.  I also thought about how true it is that as we grow older we become more acquainted with our inclination for sin.  In other words, we learn how volatile and impulsive our hearts can be.  We reach, for example, for Proverbs 4:23 knowing that we live smack in the middle of the reality Jeremiah 17:9 describes.  We encounter thoughts and impulses that can take us into dark places.  Have you ever found yourself struggling with things you never thought would be on your radar?

Someone remarked to me a while back, “I look forward to getting on the other side of forty.”  I said, “What’s on the other side of forty?”  They quipped, “Less of the stuff I’m dealing with on this side of forty.  I just think life will be simpler and easier spiritually when I get on the other side.”  I had to think about that one for a minute.  “Easier…?  Hmmm.”  I remarked, “I think you are in for a surprise.  When you get to the other side of forty, I think you will discover that you are still ‘very human!’”  Sin and its deceitfulness doesn’t stop with “more birthdays”.   Our growth spiritually should certainly see us developing a resistance to some of the things that used to “get at us” at an earlier point in our lives.  But, other spiritual challenges come along that search for new holes in our spirtual armor.  Luke 4:11 says Satan left Jesus after the wilderness temptation experience, lying in wait for another opportunity!

Take David for example.  David does some fantastic things in his life.  He also faces some enormous life challenges.  In his younger years he endures Saul’s antagonism – even his plots to destroy him – refusing to take Saul’s life when he had the opportunity on more than one occasion.  He absorbs the blows on the way to becoming Israel’s next king.  After Saul’s death, he composes a song about him and encourages every Israelite to learn it.  Pretty mature…right? 

But later in life, David leaves Jerusalem as a wounded king to protect the city from civil war at the hands of his son, Absalom.  On the way out of the city, a mean, hateful man named Shimei walks alongside him mocking him, cursing at him and throwing stones his direction (2 Samuel 16:5ff).  A member of David’s entourage wants to “fix the guy’s problem” but David begs him off.  They walk away from the situation and travel on.

Now, fast forward to the end of David’s life.  As he lay upon his death bed (a dying king with a great memory can call attention to a lot of unfinished business!), he calls Solomon’s attention to what Shimei did a “long time ago”.  “Make sure he doesn’t die a natural death”, David says (2 Kings 2:8-9).  And, that’s exactly what happened (2 Kings 2:36-46).

Pre-forty…post-forty…the battles come and go.  They change form, type and degree.  We live in strength in one moment but have to be vigilant for “Shimei” episodes in moments when we are frail.  One thing is certain.  They keep coming.  Paul was right:  “I have not arrived nor have I become perfect” (Philippians 3:12-14).  I think our challenge and calling is to hear the wisdom of Proverbs 4:23 in the awareness of the frailty of our flesh mirrored in David’s cry in Psalm 19:12 knowing that we walk with the One who has passed every test this world could throw at him and who lives to make intercession for us as One who sympathizes with us (Hebrews 7:25; 4:15).  We live in the mix of all of that.  And, in that mix we exercise diligence in matters of the heart.  .

Prayer: O God, save us from both the naiveté and the arrogance that seduce us into becoming less vigilant over our hearts.  As your servant James said so we request that you help us “implant” your word into our hearts so that we might think rightly about our lives and detect the deceitfulness of sin in its many forms.  We know our hearts.  Heal us.  Convict us.  Encourage us.  Restore us.  Equip us.  We need your presence in our hearts.  May the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart be acceptable in your sight…now and always.  Amen.

Randy Daugherty
Stephenville, Texas

Just Expressing Myself

“Life and death are in the power of the tongue.” – Proverbs 18:21

Words matter.  They always have.  Take social media for instance.

A woman lamented, “We have never been so wounded and hurt by anything…ever."  

She and her family recently lived through a social media “beating.”  

To be fair, social media has some upsides.  But, the downsides are destructive to say the least. 

One of the things that is often overlooked in the angst about social media is the connection between ethics and speech.  To be short….there is one!

Our culture’s penchant for drama and our unwillingness to self-regulate has turned everything from twitter, to yik yak, to texting to facebook into a Darwinian jungle.  Only the fittest survive!  Unfortunately, the casualty rate is climbing especially among teenagers.  Adults are a close second.

What's happening?  In a nutshell, there is no recognition of boundaries.  Human dignity is being abandoned in a window of literally seconds in favor of "my freedom" to say whatever I want to say or text or tweet.  Don’t like it.  Don’t read it.  Is it that simple?  I don’t think so.

If you are mad, spray a page, a tweet or a text with rancorous speech.  Don’t worry.  You can re-tweet it later.  

Don’t like something down at church…vomit on facebook.  If you have screened your friends just right, there is a strong probability you will get some “likes.”  

But, there is a big difference - albeit a fine line - between “expressing a viewpoint” and attacking people and groups in the name of free speech.  

In fact, free speech can become a cover for hateful discourse and slander of every kind.  Speech and expressing yourself still matters on an ethical level.  Jesus said so.  So did Paul.  Ephesians 4:30 says that words can grieve the Holy Spirit regardless of the disclaimers and emoticons that enclose what is said.

Much more could be said.  But think about the following:

• You are free but not really.  1 Peter 2:16 says, "Act as free men but do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bond slaves of Jesus Christ."  We are free in America to do a lot of things.  But, the Lordship of Christ should interpret how we exercise every kind of freedom the law gives us (1 Corinthians 6:12-14).  Paul says that we are free to serve Christ (Romans 6:12-14).  Our bodies, and that includes our fingers and mouths, belong to the Lord.  

• Think!  Think before you write, post, tweet, text, and speak. Proverbs 12:18 says, “There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

• Haste makes waste!  If you are angry it’s better to get control of your emotions before you say something that is way off the mark!  James says the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God (James 1:20).  He says in verse 19, "Be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger."  

• Is this helpful?  Ask yourself, "How am I helping "good" (whatever it is) move forward in this conversation or with this person?  Hebrews 10:24 says we should "consider how to stir one another to love and good works."  In other words, "think on it...deliberate it."  How does this honor what the Spirit is trying to do in this moment?  If you have a taste for drama Hebrews 10:24 could be just what the doctor ordered!

“He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25).  Imagine a week of social media governed by those words.  What a blessing! 

Father, may the words of our mouth and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, our rock and our redeemer.  Amen.

Randy Daugherty

Stephenville, Texas

"Lettuce" in Hebrews?

My first serious study of the Book of Hebrews was at the feet of Dr. Neil Lightfoot a professor at Abilene Christian University.  His lectures were always stimulating to say the least.  I looked forward to every class! 

I remember him adding a touch of humor to a lecture one day.  He asked, “Can anyone name the most popular vegetable in the book of Hebrews?”  We knew there was a catch.  He waited patiently and then, with a sheepish smile, said, “It’s lettuce.”  And, then he took us on a journey through several texts in the book that had two simple but very powerful words:  “let us”.  He said, “This vegetable is never served by itself.  It is always accompanied by other nourishing things.”  His point was well taken!  

As we started our exploration of the “let us” texts we discovered something new in each one.  More importantly, we discovered that  “let us” is always calling us to “do something”. 

Want some great meditation texts for the upcoming week?  Read through these powerful texts and let the Holy Spirit guide your heart.  Insights for faith and living are sprinkled across each one! 

4:1 – Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.

4:11 – Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

4:14 – Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession

4:16 – Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

6:1 – Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God.

10:21 – Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

10:23 – Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

10:24 – And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,

12:1 – Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…

12:28 – Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe

Father, thank you for these special reminders about how to live out our faith in the One who is the same today, yesterday, yes and forever.  Amen.

Randy Daugherty

Stephenville, Texas

Everybody’s Scratch’n but Where’s the Itch?

Someone remarked the other day, “Church right now reminds me of a dog on a front porch scratch’n every ten minutes.  The dog can’t do what dogs normally do because he has to stop and scratch all the time.  Scratch’n has become his purpose for existing.”  Did I hear a chuckle?  

A dog’s life is about more than fleas…I hope.  And, church life should be about more than the collective anxiety that envelopes us and dictates our every move.  But how easy it is to just settle for scratch’n and howling about all the things – usually in a general way – that plague us. 

Living in the traffic circle of endless lament about why "this or that" is not happening has become normative in too many situations.  Healthy diagnosis of “this and that” is often a critical but missing piece in our anxious conversations about where we are as a congregation and what we should do next. And, let it be said, "This isn't simple or easy for anybody."  Getting the conversation and the questions right on the front end is easier said than done.  Mix in some congregational history and personality differences, ratchet up the anxiety in any system and you have a recipe for compounding our ability to converse meaningfully and reasonably about most anything.  

As you serve in your time and place, perhaps the following can be of service to you.  I stumbled across it a few days ago.  Perhaps it will be helpful toward our efforts to come to terms with the reality a lot of Christians and churches are living in at the moment.  Meditate on it and share your thoughts here or with someone else.

Hopefully, it will help us find the the right conversational roads and contribute something to rediscovering the adventure that is the good news of Jesus Christ as the centerpiece of church life.  Peace.  –Randy Daugherty

12 Reasons Why Churches Don’t Address Decline

By Chuck Lawless

I have never met a church leader who said to me, “I really want my church to die. I’m not that concerned that we haven’t grown in years.” At the same time, though, most churches in North America are plateaued or in decline. Many of those churches have been in that state for years, if not decades—sometimes under the same leadership.

Why do churches wait so long to address decline? Here are twelve reasons I’ve seen in my church consulting work.

Nobody is counting the numbers. I realize numbers are only one means to evaluate growth, but they are an important means. If no one is keeping a record of growth and attendance patterns, few leaders recognize the first signs of decline. No one is monitoring health, and disease sets in.

Leaders in “growing” churches don’t always recognize decline. This situation especially occurs when a church is experiencing additions, but the back door is even more wide open. The congregation sees people join often, but they fail to see the greater numbers of people leaving. The decline may be slow, but it’s still real.

Members live in their own relational bubble. That is, most members have only few persons with whom they build strong relationships. As long as their friends are still present, they don’t get too concerned about others leaving.

Leaders have given up on growth. Maybe the community is changing. Perhaps the young people have already left. It might be the leaders are just tired after unsuccessfully striving for growth for years. The need for rest trumps the call to reach others.

Members love their pastor. Sure, they realize the church is declining – but their pastor has been good to them. Their lives are marked by his care and concern. No one would ever want to hurt him. Consequently, they remain loyal to him even as the church dies around him.

The leaders don’t know what steps to take. They know how to parse verbs and formulate theological positions, but they do not know how to redirect an organization. They are captains who don’t know how to steer the ship into the right channels. Efforts end in failure, and failures become discouragement.

The church still has a sufficient number to survive. The larger the church was in its heyday, the more likely this situation occurs. The church that averaged 300 five years ago may still appear to be comfortably full at 200 now. The crowds are large enough to ignore the decline, at least for now.

Leaders over-spiritualize the situation. If you’ve read my posts before, you know how much I care about prayer – but “we’re just praying right now” can be a copout for leaders who fail to strategize. “God’s just reducing us to His remnant” may be true, or it may also be theological jargon to avoid taking responsibility for poor leadership.

The church has money in the bank. As long as the bills are being paid, lower attendance numbers don’t matter as much. If the church has a strong reserve account, that’s even better.

The congregation equates activity with life. Programs continue. Somebody gathers in the church building most nights of the week. The weekly bulletin is filled with events. The website carries current announcements. If all of these activities are going on, surely the church cannot be in decline.

Ministries are siloed in the church. Individual ministries may be doing well. Some small groups really enjoy their fellowship and teaching. The choir or praise team is prepared every Sunday. Members cocoon themselves in a few successful ministries, and few people see the overall church decline.

Even Christian leaders are filled with pride. That’s a primary reason leaders won’t seek guidance when the churches they lead are declining. “Surely,” the leader thinks, “I can come up with the solution. After all, I’m called. I’m trained.” And, ultimately, he may find himself alone because of his unwillingness to pursue help from others.

What other reasons would you add to this list?

Real Heroes

I was reading a story recently about someone who was deemed a hero because of something he had done.  Talk shows and the media snatched up the story.  It was front page news.  A few days later we learned that the story wasn’t the story and the real story was “elsewhere.”  It was disappointing.  It again reminded us of how quickly the media likes to report things for pure scintillation.  I couldn’t help but think about the hundreds of other stories that happen on a daily basis that are inspiring to say the least but never get a headline because they don’t come package with celebrity of some kind.  Do we know what a hero is…really?

A recent poll of 9-12 year old boys and girls in metropolitan Indianapolis revealed that ordinary people don’t rank high on their list of heroes.  The top spots belonged to sports figures, business moguls and celebrities of different stripes. 

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer."  Not exactly what our culture puts forth as the definition of a hero is it?

Who we choose as heroes tells as much about us as it does about the heroes we choose.

When the writer of the letter we know as “Hebrews” selected people to inspire his readers toward courageous faith, he chose ordinary people who responded to the call of God in their everyday moments.

Hebrews chapter eleven is one story after another of people living “by faith.”  No cameras.  No microphones.  No newspaper coverage.  No talk show circuit to ride.  Just people living in their moments according to what God asked of them.  Did they struggle?  Yes.  And that is a big piece of the story.  They weren’t special people.  They were people living out their lives to the beat of God’s drum…by faith!

Hebrews 11:35-38 says:

Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

We need people like that in our lives.  We need their stories of faith.  Why?  Because they show us what is possible.  They remind us how to live in our moments “by faith.”  They teach us how to struggle, fall, get up and keep going.  Crawling sometimes.  Running at other times. 

Who do you have in your life now or from your past who speaks to you about walking with God? 

“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.”  (Hebrews 13:7)

Father, thank you for people who show us how to live as disciples of Jesus.  May our lives be markers for someone in days to come.  Thank you for Jesus who is our greatest marker.  Amen.

Randy Daugherty

Stephenville, Texas