Courage Seen, Courage Shown

"Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.” 

 --Paul, to the Philippian saints (Philippians 1:14)

Being imprisoned for one’s faith in Jesus Christ was not news to Christians in ancient Philippi.  When Paul and his friends first brought the message of Jesus to this European city, he and Silas were thrown into prison…in the inner cell”. (Acts 16:23ff.)  Years later, imprisoned in Rome for his faith in Jesus, Paul wrote to encourage the Philippians who now also were suffering.   “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.” (Philippians 1:29ff.”)

Thus the courage Paul demonstrated through his trials proved a blessing to others that observed such.  They were “encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.”  (1:14.) Similarly, we draw strength from the noble endurance of others amid trials who are suffering for Jesus’ sake.  Believers in Asia Minor faced “painful trial” from a pagan world and it rulers.    Peter described such as “…the devil…as a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”(1 Peter 5: 8.) What can one do under such duress?  “Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (v. 9.)

Faith and fellowship are two great counterattacks God enables us to employ when Satan attacks us. Faith assures us that God is alive, and in control, and that it pays to serve Him. (Hebrews 11:6.)  Fellowship reminds we are not alone, and that others understand, have endured, and are ready to encourage us.

It may be the faith of ten Laotian believers imprisoned in Vientiane for sixteen months for meeting to study God’s word in the home of a teen-aged sister in Jesus. She and another young Christian lady spent the nights in a male prison, taking turns to lie on the floor of a broom closet, seeking sleep. Some days they were compelled to sit on a corrugated tin roof in the prison under a blazing Southeast Asia sun, or in the daily deluge of monsoon rains.  The saints had been betrayed to the atheistic authorities by a false brother.  It may be the faith of their wives with their babies, continuing to trust God while they waited in hope for their loved ones’ release.  It could be the quiet example of a mother, serving God as she cares for her children while praying night and day for the conversion of her husband, the children’s father. It may be seen in the acceptance of an older saint, burdened with the weakness and diseases of age.  It may be the answers of a babe in Jesus to unfriendly questions about faith in a righteous God, while burdened with concern for friends deceived by the post-modern mantra that “there is neither an Eternal God nor an absolute moral standard.”  Notwithstanding, God as He has in every age, by the faith, courage and hopeful endurance we see in the daily walk of faith by others encourages us.  

In God’s strength let us be such an encouraging example to others around us in our own generation.

Ted Kell

Brownwood, Texas

Dining with the Messiah

Her example is inspiring and fascinating.   She brought her most-valued possession. A courageous and humble act, she washed his feet with her tears, used her hair as a towel to dry them, with great affection she kissed His feet and anointed them with perfume of great value.

 Simon hosted the Messiah in his home.  He doubted Him to be a prophet.  Simon overlooked common hospitality of the day:  no water to wash dusty feet,no kiss of salutation, nor refreshment of anointing oil before the meal.

Jesus knew the hearts & thoughts of both.  He commended her faith, recognized her acts of service expressing great love.  He sent her on her way, reaffirming her forgiveness and blessing her with peace.

Jesus masterfully taught Simon through a parable of debtors.  Simon saw only the sinful past of the woman-seemingly unaware of his own sinful ways, sins tucked away in the heart, yet clearly visible through his actions; pride and doubt among them.

Following her example-let us grow in grace, humility, gratitude, generosity, loving and worship of our Savior. Avoiding Simon’s example-let us be faith-filled, sensitive & repentant of our own sinfulness, less judgmental, hospitable and aware of our desperate need for the forgiveness found in Jesus alone.

Find the complete story in:  Luke 7:36-50      

A well-known Christian song explores the heart of the woman and our own identity within her story.

Alabaster Box by Cece Winans

The room grew still as she made her way to Jesus
She stumbles through the tears that made her blind
She felt such pain

Some spoke in anger heard folks whisper
There's no place here for her kind
Still on she came
Through the shame that flushed her face
Until at last, she knelt before his feet
And though she spoke no words
Everything she said was heard
As she poured her love for the Master
From her box of alabaster

I can't forget the way life used to be
I was a prisoner to the sin that had me bound
And I spent my days poured my life without measure
Into a little treasure box I'd thought I'd found
Until the day when Jesus came to me
And healed my soul with the wonder of His touch
So now I'm giving back to Him
All the praise He's worthy of
I've been forgiven
And that's why
I love Him so much

And I've come to pour
My praise on Him
Like oil from Mary's alabaster box
Don't be angry if I wash his feet with my tears
And dry them with my hair
You weren't there the night Jesus found me
You did not feel what I felt
When He wrapped his loving arms around me and
You don't know the cost of the oil
Oh, you don't know the cost of my praise
You don't know the cost of the oil
In my alabaster box

Each moment we have a choice to live one of these examples; which will the world see in you & me today?

Gracious, Loving Father,

Your great love and faithfulness amaze us.  Thank you for the precious gift and sacrifice of Jesus.  May we live forgiven and free to love all.  Thank you for the blessing of abiding peace.  May we live as gracious and generous “kingdom” people.  May we never forget the debt we can never repay-keep us humble, Father.

Through the name of Jesus, Amen

Mischelle Oliver, Stephenville TX

WARNING: This Post Could Offend Regular Churchgoers.

“I miss seeing you.” - God

That’s the message on the sign outside a church in my rural community.  I feel certain the people who meet there are good, well-intentioned folks.  I feel certain they love God and try to live good lives.  

I just wonder if they believe God only misses seeing people at the building where they meet.

Now, I have no doubts God is pleased to see people at worship services.  I am sure he rejoices at the sight of his people rejoicing.  

My problem with the sign is that I feel like it sends a message that God wants to see us in church and leaves out the greater message that God wants to be present in our lives everyday, in every situation.  Always.  God sees me Monday through Friday at work.  At the gym.  At home.  He sees me on Saturday too.  Where I go, he goes.  

I have been a clock puncher.  One of those people who showed

up at church 3 times a week.  I even showed up at times when I did not want to go because I heard I would feel better if I went.  Does God really want me to feel better about doing something I don't want to do?  Or, does he want my heart and my life every minute of every day?  Does he want me to “go to church” or be the church in every nook and cranny of my life?

“Go and make disciples by baptizing them and bringing them to church…”  Huh?  That’s not what scripture says but it represents my take on the gospel at certain times in my earlier life.  “Do not forsake the assembly” is a phrase that was pounded in my head.  I still believe assembly is important and something I desire but now I think the message should be “do not forsake living as the church at every moment so the lost and hurting will desire to be a disciple, will desire to give their life to Christ.”  I don’t want church attendance to ever be the most important message I can put on my sign.  I want to go much deeper with God and his desire for my life.  

As I write this, I realize people may read it and think, "He's on a soapbox!"  I’m not.  I’m talking to me. You see, I used to follow the Gospel of doctrine and church attendance.  I used to believe if I followed the “rules” and showed up at the building, I was doing God’s will.  It struck me recently when I heard a professing Christian say that “my Christianity does not have anything to do with my job.”  Wow!  Then I realized that is how I have lived most of my life.  I was a Sunday Christian but the rest of the week was mine.  At work, I focused on work and not people.  On weekends, I had fun because we worked hard and played hard and it was time to play.  

God did not miss seeing me at church.  He missed seeing me “be church”.  And, I think, he missed me seeing him anywhere besides a big building.  

Community and relationships are core to the Gospel message.  Church attendance is not.  Love the Lord your God will all your heart, mind and soul is critical.  If I do that right, forsaking the assembly won’t be a problem.  

God wants me to be a disciple.  God wants to see me every day and know that I am living to glorify him. God wants so much more from me than just seeing me on a pew on Sunday and, I am confident he misses seeing me more when I don’t show up to help the hurting and lost than when I fail to show up at the meeting place.  

I hope you enjoy your worship experiences.  I hope you long for them and can’t wait to meet together with the saints.  And, I hope you show up every day knowing God misses you when his disciple isn’t at work, at the gym, on the streets, wherever he needs us and has called us.

Grace and peace.

Jeff Jones

Decatur, Texas

THE POWER OF AN INVITATION

Most of us have difficulty in realizing the value of as simple a thing as an invitation to a worship service. 

A professor of English and an instructor of Russian at the Oklahoma College of Liberal Arts in Chickasha, does not question the worth of a personal invitation. He recently penned the emotions of one who responded to such a call. It is hoped that his experience will encourage you and me to invite “that person” to hear the

gospel of Christ.  Here is what he said!

"In the past ten years, it has been my privilege to stand within the walls of some of the great cathedrals and churches of Europe. I have attended services in the Cathedral of Notre Dame of Paris, in Westminster Abbey of London, in St. Stephens Cathedral of Vienna and in a host of other religious buildings, both large and small, both grandiose and simple, in 16 foreign countries. I have visited in synagogues and in Greek and Russian Orthodox shrines. I have had contact in the past ten years with 500 religious groups. And my attendance at each of these services came because of an invitation from a person who was a member of the faith involved.

But never, in my entire lifetime, had I been inside a church of Christ until five years ago. I had never been invited. Yet, as I have gone back in church directories of towns where I have lived and worked, I have found that more than half of them in this country have had congregations of the Lord’s church—including my home town where I spent the first 18 years of my life.

Still it was not until I moved to Chickasha and not until I had been here two years that I was invited to and did attend a service of the Lord’s church. Nor do I recall knowing, until five years ago, a person who said he was a member of the church of Christ. I must leave this thought with you! Had someone in the church taken the initiative years earlier, I, today, might be a member of the church of 21 years’ standing rather than of five

years. What about those you know?"

T.W. Pickard

With the Ink of His Life

I lost a friend a few days ago.  Yesterday, I had the privilege of standing by his family, a family that has been a part of my life for a long time.  They are as dear to me as anybody on the planet.  A small but close-knit group gathered to remember his presence among us and the true gift that he was to each of us.  It was my privilege to share some thoughts about his life.

He is one of the kindest, most tender-hearted human beings I have ever known.  His physical presence was humble and unassuming.  His physical abilities were limited.  

As I thought about his 58 years, from the first day I met him, he always reminded me of a 747 jet. They fly at 30,000 feet or better.  Moving at a high rate of speed, high above all the hustle and bustle of life, they nonetheless move along smoothly and quietly.  Human existence with all of its messes and struggles carries on beneath you....out of sight.  John's simple and unadulterated joy had a way of taking you "above it all" and reacquainting you with the simple joys of life...of faith, too.  He didn't do it intentionally; that's just who he was.  It's how he was wired.  

As I reminisced and scratched out words that were an understatement of the work of art that was his life, I couldn't help but think about the world and in particular the culture we live in.  It glamorizes the sheik, the powerful, and the accomplished.  John didn't have a resume.  Didn't have much to put on one...by our standards.  He didn't go to school.  He met few if any "movers and shakers."  His social circle was small. 

Late in the night and early into the morning, my mind kept reflecting back to an episode in John chapter nine. Jesus' disciples, having drunk from the well of tradition-history on the subject of evil and suffering, misframed a question and put it before Jesus.  I can imagine Jesus sighing, looking in the direction of the blind man, and waving aside their shoddy assumptions with his crisp reply: "He was born so that the mighty works of God could be displayed through him."

In our vernacular, he says, "God is at work here if you have eyes to see it!"

I couldn't help but think of the ways in which we are programmed by our culture to look at people - size them up.  We are conditioned to look at the wrapping.  We don't look deeper.  We don't see persons.  We don't ask the big questions.  John was a teacher.  He taught what was central to Jesus and His kingdom.

As I wrote, reflected, and wept, I was led to Matthew chapter eighteen.  Irony of ironies, the disciples ask who is the greatest in the kingdom.  I imagine Jesus sighing...again.  He looks at some children playing, eyes one and says, "Come over here....sit right here. Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus didn't say, "Give it some thought...toss it around...do it on Mondays."  No.  All or nothing.  My friend was a walking demonstration of this truth every day of his life.

All of this sends a few questions through my heart:

• Do we think about what we see in people and why we see it?
• What should we be looking for in people? 
• What is God screaming at me every day that I am too drunk with all the wrong thoughts to recognize?  What if we sobered up and saw rightly for a change?  
• In what ways do I look "whole" by cultural standards but severely lacking by heaven's standards?  It's a hard question.  It's a necessary question.  
• Am I a grownup...really?  How much does vanity rule my life?  How much time do I spend thinking about...me?  
• And, what if I could bring to a day of life what John brought to a day in his life?  How would I be different? How would my relationships be transformed?  What could God do with me that He can't do because I'm too drunk on all the wrong things to see and hear as I should?

More questions come to mind, but I will stop with these. Preparing for his memorial took me on a beautiful journey into the past, bringing into the foreground of my mind the names and faces of people just like him who had imprinted on my life in quiet but profound ways. The pen God gave them was simple looking at a glance but God wrote with it in breathtaking ways.

Refreshing winds continue to blow through my heart as I ponder John's life.  In the germ of his simple world was the truth of what life and faith are really about. I pray that the ink God used in his life to testify to what really matters can bleed over into my pen, too.  My life story has been better for it.  I pray it continues.

Thank you, brother.

Father, for friends and teachers like John I give you thanks.  They help me and I pray each of us to live life in the trenches with a 30,000 foot perspective.  Amen.

Randy Daugherty

Stephenville, Texas

No Fancy Recipes

"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love."

- 1 Corinthians 16:13

Been discouraged about church lately?  Do you feel like it's three steps forward and two steps backward? We've all been there.

It's easy to get lost in the American business mentality of let's build it bigger and better. Healthy church - effective church - successful church....it's simply a matter of finding the right "model" or the right "recipe" and mixing it into the experience of church life.  We forget that church is not a business.  Church is ten times more complicated than any business.  The equilibrium in any church is subject to disruption from a variety of things and, settling things down is often much more complicated than a simple corporate announcement or a stern word from management.  Consequently, getting romantic about what we think church can be versus what it really is can set us up for a free fall into disillusionment, anger, anxiety and a host of other emotions.

But what are we to do?  

Each time I read the Corinthian letters four thoughts come to mind:

1. I am reading an apostle’s response to a dire situation.
     And, he was bringing his “A” game.
2. Considering their short timeline (50 -57 AD), how did they deteriorate in such a short amount of
      time?
3. Did everybody sit still for the reading of this letter?

4. Poor delivery boy! Did he have to do the Q and A after the reading? Not light work in the least. I can
     only imagine the banter that followed!

Paul spent approximately 2 years in Corinth.  I wonder how many lessons he taught?  How many conversations did he have with people, leaders and house churches?  When he taught them the gospel and nurtured them in the same, did he make it clear enough?  Several times he tags a theological reminder with "as you know" or with the question "do you not know?"  He says, "I delivered to you as of first importance..."  Paul taught them the gospel and nurtured them (1 Cor. 4:15-18).  Point?  They knew who they were in Christ and how they were supposed to live.   

Paul visited them on two other occasions and did more teaching and nurturing.  2 Corinthians 13 indicates that he is coming for a third visit which he isn't looking forward to in the least (2 Cor. 12:19-21).  

Interestingly, there is no indication in the letters that the church was evangelistic.  If they were teaching among themselves and behaving as the letters indicate, how in the world did their ministry leaders bring a credible word to the streets? 

Their assemblies were borderline chaotic.  If a guest were to happen in among them he might think they were crazy people (1 Corinthians 14).  Not a great testimony to the gospel.

They were ashamed of the gospel (1 Cor. 1-3) and the teaching of the resurrection of the dead (1 Cor. 15 - too much Plato influence!). 

Some of them possessed miraculous expressions of the Holy Spirit (i.e., healings, tongues, miracles, etc…) The fact that they had the evidence (miracles) of the presence of the Holy Spirit did not convince them to live “in the Spirit…in sanctification" (1 Cor. 3:1-3, 16-17).

The fact that a powerful leader was among them for two years had not change their hearts completely.  A significant number of them had reverted to their pagan ways (2 Cor. 12:19-13:5).  What is more, he reminds them that the signs of a true apostle were worked among them with signs, wonders and mighty works (2 Cor. 12:12).  They witnessed some amazing feats of power from Paul's hands via the Holy Spirit and yet...hmm.

Their current ministry leaders (1 Cor. 16:13-16) were largely disregarded.  They were told to be “nice” to Timothy when he arrived (1 Cor. 4:16ff).  What's that all about?

If Chloe’s people had not tattled who knows what would have become of them (1 Cor. 1:10f.).

There is no "upward trajectory" in the picture.  It isn't romantic by any standard.  And yet, interestingly, Paul does not pull a new rabbit out of his ministry hat.  He does not bring up anything new per se.   He takes their "needs" and wraps theology around them – theology they were taught again and again.  Why?  Because that was his only recourse.  He knew more miracles wouldn’t lead them deeper into spiritual maturity.  Israel proved that.  Jesus called his generation adulterous for seeking miracles every fifteen minutes.  No, he calls them to move more into the realm of the Spirit.  Why?  Because they are the "church of God at Corinth, saints by calling" (1 Cor. 1:1-2).

As you have already guessed the point in all of this isn't simply to rag on the Corinthian church.  Not hardly.  It is an appeal for us to listen between the lines. Their letters provide us with some much needed insight into how we can regain our bearings on the other side disorientation of one kind or another. 

God’s people have always needed theological reflection and the stimulation that comes through theological reflection.  We make a mess of our lives and church in general when we put distance between ourselves and the Word.  It’s an historical fact.  For that reason Paul reacquaints them with how to think about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.  And he asks the question at various turns, “You are still interested in that aren’t you?” Their baptism assumes it but doesn’t guarantee it (1 Cor. 10:1-2, 12; 2 Cor. 13:5).  

We need this same discipline in today's church.  We, too, can "lose ourselves" a hundred different ways the moment we stop thinking rightly about who God is and what it means to live together in the Spirit.  We simply think about "doing church" as our primary task instead of thinking about ourselves as the "church of God" and taking our cues from the latter.  When our life together becomes disoriented and governed by our subjective whims, it is easy for us to grow numb, disinterested, angry or discouraged about church.  We shift into "let's push on a button and fix whatever" mode instead of asking the question "who is us?"

We need to read the first 9 verses of First Corinthians.  It's all right there.  Paul invites the Corinthian church out of the trenches of daily life and takes them to 30,000 feet.  "Look at yourselves," he says.  "This is who you really are.  Don't you remember?"  Here is what he says:

  To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints   

  together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their    

  Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

  I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ     

 Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— even as the  testimony     about Christ was confirmed among you— so that you are not lacking in any gift, as  you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the  day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son,  Jesus Christ our Lord.

The first nine verses are sewn into every syllable of 1:10 through the 16:24.  The "health pill" Paul offers them is reflection on and surrender to who they "already are" in Christ.  That was his appeal and hope for them (1 Cor. 16:13).  And, I bet it would do a world of good for us, too.  

Randy Daugherty

Stephenville, Texas

Sit Next to Me

“After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.

And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” – Luke 5:27-32

I recently stumbled across a very interesting story.    

A fifth grade teacher’s weekly exercise with her class was discovered recently and shared with the entire school where she teaches.   For several years it has been her practice to ask her students who they would most like to sit by.  Each week she also asks them who they think has been the best student citizen for the week.

She keeps all of the answers confidential and assures the students that she will do everything she can to fulfill their requests.  However, she makes no promises that they will actually get to sit by the person they chose. What she is really doing is looking for students who one week are the most popular but next week no one wants to sit by.  In short, she is reading the tea leaves of the classroom to find out who is the most vulnerable and on the verge of falling through the cracks.

When the administrator asked her when she started this exercise she replied, “After Columbine.”

Jesus had an eye for the margins.

He saw what others didn’t or wouldn’t.

He moved to the edge of society:  harlots, tax collectors, sick and diseased, sinners - whoever.  He interacted with people as persons. 

Every human being was in his eyes…human.

The polling data is in.  People are engaged as a “bump-and-run” experience every day.  People look past people every day.  They are a means to our consumerism. 

We are around lots of people but we don’t really “know” one another.

I cringe every time I hear about an attempted suicide or a suicide in particular.  Who knew them….really?  Was there no one to talk to? 

As children and teens move deeper into the world of the surreal in its many forms psychiatrists across the country are sounding the same alarm:  they are concerned about the dehumanizing effect all of it is creating in the lives of our young people. 

What an anonymous teacher did is definitely a step in the right direction. 

I wonder what that would look like for churches?  What would it look like for our assemblies, small groups and “congregating” throughout the week in the streets of daily life? 

To help our ailing world we have to be able to do this among ourselves…first.  Do we need to reimagine church?  Great!  Let’s do it.  Do we need to prioritize human need and the primary aims of the gospel above our heritage and comfort zones?  Great!  Let’s do it. 

A school teacher knows that being in a room together a “great class doth not make.”  The same goes for churches.   Our society is screaming for the “re-humanization” of humankind.

And that’s what church does…I think. 

Father, give us eyes for the margins.  Soften our hearts and reacquaint us with the compassion we need to engage people as persons made in your image.  Help us to rediscover the experience of “table” as disciples of the One who spread the first table.  Give us the stamina we need to fight the onslaught of cynicism and consumerism that daily attempts to fill our hearts and seal us off from people who need to encounter the hope of the gospel.  Thank you for so loving us in this way.  May we live in the power of that legacy. 

Randy Daugherty

Stephenville, Texas