Truth is Our Reality

A few weeks ago I wrote about the power of affirmation as I shared an experience of being affirmed by several young adults. Affirmation is speaking life into a person, or as Jesus would likely put it, speaking truth into a person.  For example, in John 8 when the woman was caught in adultery and brought before Jesus, he spoke the most powerfully affirming words she could hear, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and stop doing things that hurt you, you almost got yourself killed.” (Yes, I paraphrased a bit.) Imagine the power of the words, “Neither do I condemn you.” Jesus spoke truth – he did not come to condemn, but to save and to give life.
       Later, in that same chapter of John, Jesus was talking to a group of Jews about who he was – the son of the Father. Then he said, “If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you.” (The Message) I love this translation because I believe it really hits what Jesus was trying to say.
       What did Jesus tell us that we can live out? The truth that we are already INcluded in him. He is the 2^nd Adam who took all of humanity upon himself and became sin for us. He has redeemed us. He has reconciled us to the Father. Through Jesus we are forgiven. Through Jesus we have salvation. We are the new creation spoken of in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. In Colossians 2 Paul emphasizes that Jesus is our reality, we have been filled up in him. We’ve been raised with Christ and are already in the presence of the Father. This is the truth we live in. This is the truth that changes the way we think about God and the way we think about ourselves. This truth is our new reality. This is the truth that sets us free.
       The problem is, we forget this truth and we try to live in another reality. We look in the mirror and see the old man and start to believe that’s who we are. We see sin in our lives and believe we’ve got to start over and somehow convince God that we are improving. We think we’ve let God down and we’ve disappointed him, therefore he is disappointed in us. We know our thoughts and our words and our actions aren’t good enough to be considered holy and righteous so we look at holiness and righteousness as something to acquire, something to pursue and we miss out on the reality that we already have both holiness and righteousness because of Jesus and because of the love of our Father who is more committed to us than we can ever be to him.
       We forget our reality when we look around at the problems in the world and start to worry. We see the economy crumbling and we get scared about our future and we wonder if God is removing his blessings from our lives. We do this because we’ve taken our eyes off the promises of God’s faithfulness and our trust that he has things in control as part of his plan and our belief that Jesus is an exact representation of his Papa/Father. If he is good, the Father is good.
       Experiencing the truth is living in the assurance of God’s commitment to us. It is knowing God is our Papa/Father which means we are his children. It is knowing that our Papa/Father loves us intimately and will never let go of us. It is knowing we are secure in our relationship with him and nothing will change his love for us. The truth sets us free because we know who we are in him.
       The beauty of the gospel is that the truth also sets others free. God has invited us to participate with him in sharing this truth with others. Freedom comes when they know their Papa/Father and they know they are already forgiven, redeemed, reconciled, loved and INcluded.

Love - Our Real Purpose

What is the purpose of the church? My answer to this question has changed a number of times in my journey with Jesus. I'd rather not go over some of the answers I have given in the past, some were OK, some were just ridiculous. The answer, I believe, starts with acknowledging the church is the body of Christ.
     If the church is the body of Christ, the church should reflect Christ. So who is Jesus Christ? He is first and foremost the Son of the Father. Who, then is the Father? He is God. Further understanding points out that God is Father, Son and Spirit. So if the church is the body of Christ, who is part of the Triune God, it stands to reason the church should reflect God.
     Who, or what, then is God? God is love.
     Would you not agree that if the church is the body of Jesus, who is part of the Triune God, who is love, the church should be known for it's love? This is exactly what Jesus said, "Then they will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." Love for whom? For one another - in the body first, and also outside the body. 
     Paul said to do good to all, especially to the household of faith.
     This makes sense. If we want to reflect who God is, and God is Papa/Father, Son and Spirit God who are in a love relationship with love that is overflowing, should the church not reflect this love relationship that is overflowing? It reminds me of what we read in Acts 3 about the early church. They devoted themselves to that relationship of love - fellowshipping, sharing meals, praying together, selling their stuff so they could share with those less fortunate. And their love for each other showed others that they were true disciples, and others wanted to be part of this community that was known for their love for each other. And God added to their number daily.
     Wow! 
     Why has it taken me so long to see that the main purpose of the church is to reflect the love of the Father, Son and Spirit? When a church community is filled with love that overflows, that overflowing becomes a blessing to the community outside the church doors who want to be part of something so alive, and vibrant, and exciting, and fulfilling, and encouraging. God starts to move in their hearts as they begin to see the value of relationship and the value of being a disciple of Christ. And then the church grows - because God adds to the number daily.
     May we reflect God's love amongst ourselves so powerfully that it brings glory to God and shines as a beacon of hope to the world. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

The Ultimate Love Letter

The Ultimate Love Letter

"The Bible is like a love letter, until you actually encounter the One that it is talking about, you really don't understand the letter.” (Elmer Colyer ).

A good friend called me a while back upset at something he heard a well-known Christian leader say about the Bible. This person claimed the Bible was not an instruction book; it was simply a narrative of God’s love for his people. My friend went on and on about how frustrated this made him fell and how wrong this Christian leader was and then he said, “Rick, what do you think about this statement.”

He was shocked to find I agreed with the Christian leader. However, I pointed out, I would not use the word simply. The Bible tells the story of God’s faithfulness to his people regardless of what they do. It’s a story of mercy, patience, forgiveness, reconciliation, redemption, adoption and salvation. In other words, it is the story of God’s love for you and for me.

It is the story of God’s amazing plan to share the fellowship and communion of the Father, Son and Spirit with his creation. It’s the story of God saying to his people, “I will be your God and you will be my people,” regardless of what his people do.

It’s the story of how humanity rejected that communion by saying “No” to God. And it’s the story of God saying “No” to our “No,” and rejecting our rejection. In essence the Bible tells the story of God saying, “I said ‘Yes,’ and I mean it. I am your God and you are my people. I will not break my word or my commitment because you are my children and I love you.” 

It’s the story of Jesus who redeems and reconciles us to the Father who loves us. It’s the love story of a Papa/Father who never gives up on his children.

Do you want to understand the Bible? Read it as a love letter from a Papa/Father who adores you. – Rick 

God in the Clutch

Every spring Cheryl and I watch a pair of robins make a nest in the tree just off our patio. This year, because of the mild winter, the robins built a nest in early March and by Easter the baby birds had hatched, grown and flown away. I was surprised to see the nest empty so quickly and sad I missed the young robins learning to fly.

     I thought about taking the nest down just so we wouldn’t have that mess in our tree, I’m glad I didn’t.

    A week or so after the first birds flew off, Cheryl noticed a robin in the nest again. I was surprised and figured it was a new robin taking advantage of the nest. But after doing a bit of research on the Internet, I found out robins can lay two sets of eggs (clutches) in a season if the first clutch is laid early – as in this year.

     As we enjoy round two of watching the cycle of a robin’s life, you can’t help but be in awe of the One who designed and created that cycle. God is in the clutch.

     You can’t help but be in awe of how a robin knows exactly how to build a nest; she knows when to lay her egg – mid-morning after she’s filled her belly with worms. She knows not to incubate the eggs till all four eggs are laid – one each day. Till all four eggs are laid, she keeps the eggs a bit cool so the birds don’t start to develop. This way all the birds develop together and are born the same day.

    The mother robin knows to carefully use her beak to turn her eggs each day so the babies stay warm and don’t stick to the sides of the shell. She also knows when the eggs are getting too warm and she moves around to keep them the same temperature. When the babies are born, she shelters them and she and the father feed them several times a day.  The father also often feeds the mother when she is incubating the eggs.

     When the small robins leave the nest the father stays close to them for a few days to keep them safe. All this knowledge we call instinct. If God takes such good care of robins, imagine his love for you.

The "Other" Side of Papa/Father

Jesus revealed the Father, but he did not reveal the Father as a masculine “He-man.” Quite the opposite in fact. In one case God is described as a mother hen who gathers her chicks. Jesus was emphasizing what we learn from the very beginning of the Bible: “So God created human beings in his image. In the image of God he created them. He created them male and female.” (NCV)

     Both men and women are created in the image of God.  This means femininity is as much a part of God’s nature as is masculinity. The Bible refers to God as one who is tender, compassionate and protective of the young – characteristics we often associate with motherhood.

     Together men and women make up what you might call a composite image of God. In marriage, you learn how the other half of the image of God thinks and learns and responds and acts. The French say, “Viva la différence”, reminding us to celebrate the uniqueness of men and women, because together we reflect the image of God.

     When we think of Papa/Father in terms of motherhood we see the following characteristics:

     The love of a mother is a child’s foundation and it is basic to the nurturing of life. This is also true of God’s love.

     A mother’s love is unconditional, as is God’s love.

     A mother’s love is sacrificial, and we see the same in God.

     A mother will lay down her life for her child. This love comes from God who did lay down his life for us.

     God, who created male and female in his image, is the highest, and most perfect expression of what is masculine and what is feminine. All things that make a woman beautiful, tender, compassionate, loving – in other words, feminine – comes from God the Papa/Father who created her in his image.

    May each of us give God praise for women and may we honor all women, whether or not they are mothers and grandmothers. Let’s honor them for being the image bearers of God that they are. Happy Mother’s Day to all. 

The Power of Affirmation

I sat in a small circle with four young adults and thought, what have I gotten myself into? Our assignment was to speak words of life into each other. We were part of a group of pastors and pastoral interns who had just spent two and a half incredibly inspiring days together working on developing our denominational internship program. 

        Before heading home, we were asked to get into small groups and affirm each other by sharing the good things we see in each other.  In particular we were asked to affirm God’s calling. When I realized I was sitting among four young adults, I almost went to be part of a group of my peers. I’m so glad I didn’t.

We started with a young man (in his mid 20s) who said, “This is going to be awkward.” But after the four of us told him what we saw God doing in his life, and how he had positively impacted each of our lives he said any awkward feelings he felt were replaced with feelings of encouragement and empowerment. We not only affirmed his calling to ministry, but we also shared the impact he had on each of our lives and how blessed we felt being in relationship with him. In essence, we spoke words of life into him.

We affirmed one more young man and then the four turned to me.  I had no idea what they would say to a man more than 20 years their senior. I was literally blown away at the words of life they spoke into me – each one of them affirming that I was a personal blessing to them and a blessing to the denomination we are a part of. As they spoke I felt my heart filling with praise that God was using me to make a positive impact in the lives of these four people. I had no idea the impact I was for them. If they hadn’t shared this with me, I never would have known and thus I wouldn’t have been encouraged to keep doing what God has empowered me to do.

Have you had words of life spoken to you? The Bible is full of words of life. You are God’s child (John 1:12); you are Christ’s friend (John 1:12); you belong to God (1 Cor. 6:20); you’ve been anointed and sealed by God (2 Cor. 1:21-22); you are blessed with every spiritual blessing (Eph. 1:3); you are holy and blameless (Eph. 1:4); you are adopted (Eph. 1:5); you are God’s masterpiece (Eph. 2:10); you are included (Eph. 1:13). These words of life are there to encourage, empower and affirm you. This is God’s intent. He wants you to know how much he values you, how much he loves you, how proud he is to call you his child. And until you know this, it’s difficult to be motivated to share God’s love with others.

As ambassadors of Christ, as ministers of reconciliation, as the salt and light of the earth, I believe we are called to speak words of life into each other. I believe we are called to build each other up, to encourage each other, to empower each other, to affirm each other. This affirmation motivates us to do what God asks us to do.

May I suggest you ask God to lead you to someone who needs to be affirmed. Then sit with that person, look him or her in the eyes and speak words of life to them. You will be amazed at what transpires. – Rick

Intern Summit

I'd have to say it was the most inspiring weekend I've ever attended for a Grace Communion International conference.

Seven GCI interns – including our own Jason Frantz – and their supervising pastors – including myself – and others involved in the intern program met in Hendersonville, NC, April 13-16 for the first ever GCI Intern Summit. Knowing how important the intern program is for the future of Grace Communion International, program coordinator Greg Williams wanted to get the team together to discuss how to make the most of the intern program. The program is fairly new and we realized we are still building the foundation for what can be a powerful development for our denomination. 

On the first morning of the summit, we began with worship and communion with three of the interns leading. Starting with communion reminded us to make Jesus the center of all we were going to do in the next two and a half days. After communion, the interns and supervising pastors were split into separate groups and given a list of questions to address: What is working best? What are the greatest challenges? What do we want to do more or less? What new innovations should we consider? When the two groups got back together we found we had the exact same answers. Talk about a Holy Spirit moment. It enabled us to get focused right away.

By Sunday evening we were exhausted, but exhilarated at all we had accomplished together. When we started listing the positives from the summit we ended up with a full page of notes. We talked about the need to keep those positive points in mind. And it reminded us that more than anything else, we had become a unit in communion working to be a blessing for the future of GCI. It wasn’t all work, we ate together, hiked to a waterfall together, worshipped together and spent time together talking, sharing, laughing and building relationship. As always, highlight of the weekend was all about relationships. 

On Monday morning we broke into groups and took turns speaking life into each other. We did this by telling each person in the group how we saw God working in and through them and how thankful we are to be in relationship with them. This act of affirmation was the perfect way to end a successful weekend. Thank you for your prayers for this summit. We are excited about the future of our Intern program and our denomination. Keep praying that God provides more and more people who are willing to respond to the call to ministry.