What a Glorious Bride!

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Recently my wife and I had the joy of being in four different churches in four weeks. I can truly say “JOY” because of how the Spirit used each worship experience to paint a glorious picture of what He is up to. There may be many challenges facing the church today, as we hear or know of scandals and failures. Yet, in spite of this, the Spirit is busy behind the scenes dressing up the glorious bride, the church to be made ready for the return of Jesus, the Bridegroom.

We saw this beauty in multicolored ways in gatherings which represented every tribe and nation in the Southern most part of Africa. The services varied in length from 4 hours to a hour and the worship expressed the different cultures represented. One was filled with exuberant dancing and movement and another with reflective songs on a screen led by piano.  There was a choir of kids and teenagers with angelic voices, testimonies of praise for God’s faithfulness that went on for over an hour, baptisms, communion, food given out to needy families, celebrations members joining the church, altars filled with broken people needing prayer and salvation, and always the Word of God preached pointing to Christ.

Even though none of these churches can boast in their buildings, budgets, or being a mega church, they each are transforming the community around them. One church had the a large group of young children who came on their own seeking a place of love and safety from their difficult home environments. Another church which was built on a former dump was filled with single moms, drug dealers, gang members, abused children, Muslims, all looking for hope in the midst of extreme poverty.

At another service we talked to a man named John, who has been the head boss of one of the gangs in our city. He was invited to an 10 week Alpha course at church and at the end of the course gave his life to Christ and was one of the people being baptized that day. I could fill up several blogs telling story after story of how the Holy Spirit is using each of these bodies to bring the message of a new Kingdom that has broken into the world through the resurrected Christ.

These four very diverse and culturally different worship experiences gave us so much hope and joy for what the Holy Spirit is doing in our world. Over 2000 years ago Jesus was crucified and raised from the dead and placed on the throne as The Sovereign ruler over the earth until He comes again. At His ascension the Holy Spirit was released and the gates of hell simply cannot stop the Bride of Christ. This powerful Gospel message transforms the darkest of souls.

We as followers of Christ should be the most hopeful people living on the planet. Our God is busy dressing us and making us glorious to glow before the nations with His love and He extends an invitation to the wedding celebration that is soon to come.  We are thankful for what He showed us those four weeks and hopeful that the best is yet to come!

“Come’, says the Holy Spirit and the Bride in divine duet. Let everyone who hears the duet join them in saying, “Come” and let everyone who craves the gift of living water come and drink freely. Come!” (Rev. 22:17)

 

 

 

The Power of a United Vision

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Living in South Africa we have come to realize that the game of rugby is synonymous with South Africa. On Saturdays we love cheering on young athletes or gathering for a “watching party” with friends. The other week we attended a rugby birthday party! The highlight was a professional rugby coach teaching the young boys skills used by the pros.  In case you aren’t familiar with the sport it is similar to US football but without the pads and with nonstop action. Every time I watch a match I’m amazed at the strength these “oaks” (South Africa word for tough) as they get smacked and get back up to compete even with splats of blood on their face.

The South African national team is called the Springboks. When they play in the World Cup or a national tournament the entire nation shuts down to watch. I have never seen anything like it. This diverse nation with so many cultures, creeds, and customs unite to cheer on their beloved Springboks. For 90 minutes all that ills the country: poverty, corruption, racial issues, floods etc seem to vanish as people dawn their green and gold jerseys shouting out their united support.

What has made the Springboks so successful and beloved by their nation is how they play. They may not be the fastest, biggest, or the most well funded program but they are united in vision. Their legendary coach has instilled in them a sacrificial humility and love for teammate as well as countryman that creates a powerful bond. Their united passion is a joy to watch and has created a winning formula.

What does a rugby match and our faith have in common? Well, recently I read a book by NT Wright about the life of the apostle Paul and the which highlighted the circumstances of his day. It emphasized how the early church not only survived but over time thrived in such a way that communities and cities were transformed. What is amazing is that for the most part these the believers had no political power or social position, limited resources, and no paid professionals leading the movement.

What was it that made the early church an unstoppable force against the greatest of odds? A United Vision! God united Jews, Gentiles, slaves, masters, the rich and poor. People came together from various backgrounds and social positions linked by the love of Christ. This unity in the Spirit of Christ would shake up the demonic strongholds that held the hearts of people and release the Kingdom of God in the most unexpected places.

Don’t you long to see that happen in our day? Paul encourages this newly established church in Ephesus to unite around the vision of Christ’s powerful love.  In the center of this letter is a prayer pointing out what a united vision can do to transform hearts, churches, and communities.

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have the power together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled with the measure of the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:14-21).

So the next time you are cheering on your favorite team, pause and take a moment to think about how such passion for a game can be transferred to our faith AND what an even greater impact our unity and love because of Christ can have on our family, friends, and community.

What on Earth are we Missing?

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The news feeds have been saturated with one scandal after another. Daily we get updated on a famous billionaire entertainer who found himself in jail for a lavish lifestyle that included hedonistic parties with Hollywood elites, other news is about professional athletes, pastors, politicians, and the worlds most powerful people. The details coming out are horrific and leave you feeling sick to your stomach.

But before we can point the finger at the “world” we are daily hearing reports of yet another ministry leader falling. I was recently reading about a well known pastor in his 70’s that I have heard preach, who comes from the same tradition I do, caught in a five year affair with a lady in her 20’s.  Anyone who listened to his powerful Christ-centered sermons would not have believed this to be possible.

I was trying to process these two very different people both publicly exposed for all the world to see as I hiked up the mountain the other day, and I said to myself, “what on earth are we missing?”  The billionaire did everything his heart desired and it was never enough.  The pastor had sound Biblical theology and a worldwide ministry, he spoke boldly against the sin he committed even as he was deep in it.

My question brought me back to Martha and Mary who I’ve been writing about the last few weeks. If you remember Mary chose to sit at Jesus’ feet even though it cost her a tongue lashing from Martha for not helping in the kitchen. Jesus lovingly sorts it out by telling Martha, “Mary chose the One thing most important!” (Luke 10:42),

Mary’s encounter with Jesus was life changing. She was able to see what others, including His disciples missed. If we fast forward to another dinner where Martha is again in the kitchen serving Jesus and the crew and Mary is once again at Jesus feet (Matthew 26:6-13)  Side note, I believe this time Martha is at peace with Mary’s choice, as Martha had taken time to learn from Jesus and was okay using her gifts of hospitality to demonstrate her love to Jesus  and the others by serving a delicious meal. 

Mary is overwhelmed by what she knows to be true about Jesus – He is Everything she ever needed!  She responds to this indescribable realization by presenting an expensive alabaster jar of perfume, worth a whole years salary. Then she takes this  oil likely composed of essential oils and spices and pours it over Jesus’s head. This was all quite surprising to those observing, and once again she is lambasted, but this time by the disciples thinking this was a waste of kingdom resources.

Once again Jesus silences the room and declares she did a “beautiful thing!”  He goes on to explain her act of love was to prepare him for his burial.  At this moment Jesus declares, Mary truly sees the gift that Father had given IN Jesus. This love gift would take Him to the cross to die. There He would die for the worst of sinners in order to bring them back into the loving arms of the Father. No gift was too big for the love she received!

Earth will never give us what we are looking for. Only when we see and receive this most precious gift from heaven in Jesus will we be satisfied with all that we need. I love this quote by CS. Lewis:

“Aim at Heaven and you will get earth thrown in, aim at earth and you will get neither.”

May we keep aiming at heaven by daily praying – “Father don’t let me miss the One Thing Needed in Jesus. Send your Holy Spirit to daily open my spiritual eyes to experience the only love that will satisfy the deepest longing in my soul, amen!”

 

 

 

What did Mary see?

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As we turned the corner on our walk we encountered a large group of people transfixed on the ocean.  The closer we got we heard the excited buzz of voices and people getting cell phones out trying to catch the incredible scene.

Patty and I joined in the fanfare as a pod of Southern Right whales visited the shores of South Africa to give birth. The 15 plus meter whales that weight up to 50 tons with their calfs next to them is an something to behold.

Time stood still as all the on lookers were mesmerized by these gigantic beasts only a short distance from shore. It is not an every day occurrence to view such enormous mammals in the ocean.

Last week I shared the story from Luke 10:38-42 about Martha and Mary.  If you recall Martha lost it at Jesus and Mary for not recognizing her need for help in the kitchen.  Yet, Jesus lovingly corrects Martha and in fact states that Mary has chosen “the One Thing most important…”

Encountering that incredible whale made me think of Mary.  She was so focused on Jesus and what he was saying that she didn’t even hear the dishes crashing in the kitchen or notice any glances from her sister.  What Mary saw so amazed her-she was transfixed on Jesus’ teaching, and even beyond that she was willing to break the traditions of the day. In Bible times a woman was supposed to be in the kitchen and not to be sitting at the feet of Rabbi Jesus with a group of men.

Truly Mary recognized something so big and so important in Jesus that time stood still and nothing else mattered. However it is good to remember that Martha  isn’t the only one to miss this in Jesus. How many times aren’t we distracted by the small things in this world and miss the Creator of the World?  Throughout the gospels, Jesus as the Son of God was right before crowds of people and they still did not recognize Him.

Oh how easy it is to spend too much time focussing on the small stuff, the things that simply won’t matter when we breathe our last breath.  Throughout the day we encounter many distractions, some can’t be avoided, but there are many moments in our day we can decide whether such things are worthy of our time and energy. It is a challenge to chose wisely what to do with the precious hours we have in a day. Each one of us has a choice to make to either sit at the feet of Jesus and seek His presence or get distracted by our screens and the screams of the world that result in anxious thoughts and fear of the future.

Mary chose to take time and look at the Creator of the World and listen to His heart. Yes it would cost her some pain but all that would be pushed away as she encountered the great glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ and to hear the loving words of Jesus say to her in the midst of her sister’s disapproval:

“Mary has discovered the one thing most important by choosing to sit at My feet. She is undistracted, and I won’t take this privilege from her.”

Each new day we are invited to sit at the feet of a big God-the God who made the Southern Right whale and the One who made us right through His life, death, resurrection, and who reigns forever.

So perhaps today is the day you decide to turn off your phone, take a walk in His creation, listen to His Word, to chose the One Thing you most need and then wait with expectation for the gift of His presence.

 

 

“I Always Thought I was a Mary!”

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“How has God spoken to you in this season of life?” This was the question I asked a few men gathered at a pristine setting next to a turquoise river surrounded by mountains in Colorado. Since I was leading the discussion I intended to go last-but no such luck as these friends wouldn’t budge until I shared first.

Uncomfortably I said, “I always thought I was a Mary!” Seeing their interesting expressions I went on to explain how a few weeks earlier Patty invited me to watch an episode of the mini series “The Chosen.” It was the dramatic portrayal of the well known story of Martha and Mary from Luke 10:38-42.

The scene focussed on Martha bustling around the kitchen putting an amazing spread together while she can hear the laughter of the disciples and Jesus in the other room. When she finally makes her way into the room with the first tray of food everyone is fixated on Jesus’ teaching. Nobody sees her and all the work she has done. Mary addresses her disappointment with this to Jesus-explaining how unfair it is that she does all the work and Mary doesn’t even notice and that her sister should get up and help her.

It was a moving depiction of Jesus’ kind words correcting Martha in love redirecting her back to what matter’s most. Here is how one translation puts it:

“Martha, My beloved Martha. Why are you upset and troubled, pulled away by all these distractions? Mary has discovered the one thing most important by choosing to sit at My feet…”

This scene echoed the most recent season of my life and drilled deep into my heart. The next morning I wrote in my journal how I prided myself in being a Mary. Loving to be in the Word and Prayer, just being with Jesus. But somehow over the last few years I slipped into the kitchen with Martha and got “pulled away by all these distractions…”

I will forgo the list I shared of all my distractions and anxious thoughts because it took a few hours to get it all out that afternoon sitting alongside the river. But I can tell you how thankful I am that Father gently speaks and calls you and me  back to that “One thing most important…”  I needed His Word, a few medical doctors,  family and friends to remind me of this most important truth.

We are living in times of extreme distraction and our enemy is the master at keeping our focus off the “One Thing Needed!”  Even good things can turn our us away from the best Thing.  Jesus reminded Martha of this with a compassionate correction He does the same to His sons and daughters today.

I have found that when I take my eyes off the lover of my soul by busying myself with what I feel is important for ministry or life I can slip into a worrying and anxious spirit. When I begin to feel such weights upon my mind and soul I need to take a step back and see this sign post. I need to adjust my focus back to the “One Thing most important by choosing to sit at Jesus’ feet.”  Maybe you can identify with this as well.

I pray today if you feel anxious, fearful, or worried about many things-that perhaps you can find a river, a coffee shop or a friend or even journal your thoughts and then allow the Spirit of Jesus to intervene with His compassionate correction love to return to the “One Thing That is Most Important!”