Identity Crisis

   Have you ever been out in public when you noticed a long-time friend from across the room? Without hesitating, you shout out to them drawing everyone's attention. And as they slowly turn around, you suddenly realize, it's not your friend. In fact, the complete stranger is looking right at you with the expression of annoyance and the body language that's saying, "Who are you?"
   Most of us at some point have mistaken the identity of someone out in public. And maybe it has even cost you a similar embarrassment. But a greater tragedy that's happening across our world is the billions of people who mistakenly identify Jesus Christ every day.

   As Christ's ministry was in full swing and his notoriety was growing, Jesus took his disciples aside and asked them this question, "Who do people say that I am?" (Matthew 16:13). The responses included: John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, and other prophets. But then Jesus asked more specifically, "Who do you say I am?". Peter was the one who answered and said, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
   It doesn't take much to discover that the majority of the world disagrees with the identity of Jesus in the Bible. It's evident by how they live. You see, what we think about something or someone shapes our behavior. If I believe I was made by a loving and just Creator who has revealed himself through His Son, I'll live my life knowing that I'll be held responsible at the end of it. In contrast, if I believe our existence is mere happenstance, I'll be motivated and center my life around my personal desires. In other words, if it feels good do it. There are no lasting consequences or meaning to my behavior. herein lies the problem. If what I do essentially doesn't matter, then my life has no meaning or genuine purpose. As a result, my life will lack fulfillment. 
   Ultimately, the only way our lives can have purpose is when we know the true identity of Christ. Even many who profess to follow Jesus have confusion about their identity because he's someone they seek advice from rather than center their life around. His identity can't be a one-time proclamation. Because if I lose sight of who Jesus is at any point, I'm at risk of falling back to my self-centered nature. This is seen by the countless people who encountered the earthly ministry of Jesus. At one point, they believed he was the Messiah. But when they lost sight of this fact, they chose to go back to their personal comfort or former behavior. For example, Jesus had to fit Judas' understanding of the Messiah. And as a result, Judas tried to force Jesus to fight the Jewish leaders. This resulted in Christ's crucifixion and Judas' subsequent suicide. Peter lost sight of Jesus' identity and denied knowing him 3 times. The difference between these two was Peter's identity rested not in his goodness but in what he knew about the grace of his Savior. And thus, Peter repented and was restored to a right relationship with Christ.
   Jesus' identity needs to permeate our entire life, or he will become a genie-like god that we only seek out when we want something. A purposeful life comes from having our identity in Christ, or we'll have an identity crisis.
   What's your life revealing about who Jesus is to you?

"Sampling vs. All In"

   I'm not a big fan of grocery shopping. I don't mind doing it, but I could think of several other endeavors that I prefer spending my time on. So when I have to go to the store, I like to make a list and have a game-plan. And usually, part of that plan involves NOT going on days that the rest of the free-world is there. Having this in mind, you can imagine then that I'm not thrilled to shop on Saturdays.

   But if I cannot avoid it, do you know the one positive reason why shopping on Saturdays is great? I have two words for you...free samples! And not just one table, either. No, on these days the stores are usually peppered with these morsel-packing aid workers just begging for someone to take their delectable gifts.

  While these samples are tasty, they're not fulfilling. After all, they're not meant to be. Samples of the whole are given to get you to like and crave the item so that you will buy it. No one would ever think that the sample gives you the same benefit as a complete serving. 

   Unfortunately, so many people make that mistake when it comes to a relationship with Jesus.     

   The other day I had a conversation with a young man who was struggling to cope with events and relationships within his life. He was frustrated and confused about what his next step should be. And when I asked him if he had a relationship with Jesus, I was met with a very common but unfortunate answer.

   "I've tried that," he said. Meaning, I went to church; I brought my family; I sampled what I thought was the whole of Christianity...and it just didn't work. 

  This young man had informed me that he had been "going to church his whole life". And his understanding was that Jesus and the church had no solution to his dilemma. You see, he sampled Jesus and found it wasn't enough to fix his problems. But when you sample Jesus, you don't get the whole benefit, and it leaves you lacking and unfulfilled.

   To be a follower of Christ is to be completely surrendered to His will. As well, God is NOT looking for religious services or deeds. He doesn't want some person to come along and sample what they believe to be Christianity. God WANTS ALL OF YOU. He wants you to completely "buy in" to Him (c.f. Matthew 13:44-46). He wants your trust, your allegiance, your service, and your life.

   Finally, Jesus is a person Who wants to be related to on an intimate level. So don't just sample Jesus. Don't just take someone's word on their experience of Jesus, either. Go all in (Luke 14:33)! No one has ever given their all to Jesus and come up unfulfilled in their lives.

Jesus is The Subject

   
    The other day I was speaking to a young lady when our conversation turned to church. She knew I was a pastor, and she quickly informed me she hadn't been to church for a long time. In fact, she was very adamant that she would never walk into another church again. When I asked her why, she told me of an incident that took place with another person in a service whose words offended her. Immediately, my conversation went to why she should reconsider coming back to church. And this is where the conversation stayed until it was over. 

    On the way home, I remarked to my wife how frustrated I was for having made that mistake. You see, my error was making the subject about her coming into a building; joining with strangers as they meet, sing, and pray to God. Of course, this isn't a bad thing. I do it every week (not the strangers part, of course). I enjoy it and highly recommend it. But it's not the primary issue we should be discussing with the world.

   Nowhere in the Bible does it tell Christians to invite people to a building. On the contrary, we're commanded by God to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:18-19). This means we introduce them to Jesus; encourage them to start a personal relationship with Him; and help them learn and follow His teachings found in His Word. In fact, we're the ones being told by God to "go". We're not to stay in a building and ask the world to come to us! But too often, we tell people to come follow our rules, traditions, and man-made rituals, and this is what makes you part of God's Church. And this is where we Christians error.

   What are we to do then? We are to make Jesus the subject of our conversations. No building or service or list of rules will ever save someone from their sins (Ephesians 2:8-9). Only a personal relationship with Jesus Christ can do that!  

   I'm not excusing this person's choice not to come to church...that's not my point. I'm saying I shouldn't have kept our conversation on her offense or why she needs to come back to church. Rather, I should have told her that people in churches have hurt and let me down and that I have hurt and let down others as well.

   And then I should've said, "Jesus is the reason I sit in a building each week with the church and share my life with them. He's the reason I have hope and joy. He's the One that forgave me and gives me the power to forgive myself and others. It's all about Him and what He has done for me and others, and what He can do for you if you'll let Him!" In other words, I should have made Jesus the subject of our conversation.  

   Today, I sat across the table from a homeless man who is in town for a couple of days before he heads out East. I didn't ask him if he attended a church or whether or not he would make it to our service this Sunday. I didn't ask him if he was a member of another church or denomination. As he ate, I started our conversation out by asking him this, "Who do you think Jesus is?"

   

A Rose by Any Other Name...

    Another popular couple is calling it quits after several years of marriage and two children later. I know this isn't shocking given that Hollywood couples rarely stay together. However, the reason I bring this particular on up is the fact that this couple (with the help of their “coach” mind you) decided to define this action in a very unique way. They’ve called their decision to end their marriage a “conscious uncoupling”. Now, if you’re like me, you’re probably scratching your head right now and saying to yourself, huh?

   In essence, this “uncoupling” describes their desire to separate on amicable terms with one another. Okay, I get that, but you are still separating, right?

   It surprises me how often we rename things and think it will bring a different result. Call divorce whatever you want, but children of “conscious uncoupling” are still going to go through the same guilt, fears, questions, and struggles that every child goes through when their parents divorce. Changing the name of something doesn’t change what it is. Today your boss could fire you and you could choose to call it an “involuntary career change” but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s not paying you anymore! 

  My sadness is thinking how many couples will use this faulty logic when it comes to their own relationships and “uncouple” from each other because it sounds better rather than work out their differences because that’s what’s best for the whole family. 

    In William Shakespeare’s famous play Romeo & Juliet, there's a famous line that Juliet recites. While speaking of her love of Romeo who happens to be a Montague, a family that is hated by her family, she questions--what’s in a name? In other words, it matters more what something is rather than what it’s called, therefore, “a rose by any other name would still smell as sweet.”
   And a divorce by any other name still ends in two people, severing a relationship that was supposed to last until death parted them. And let me add, a divorce by any other name still smells the same!

Creation vs. Evolution Debate (February 4, 2014)

On February 4, 2014, Bill Nye and Ken Ham will debate each other at the Creation Museum on the question: Is Creationism a viable model for origins? This debate was spawned out of recent youtube videos where Bill Nye stated that creationism is inappropriate for our children. And Ken Ham's response to the same.Here are their videos:

And here is Ken Ham's response to Bill Nye's statements:

Here are some further questions to Bill Nye...

  Ultimately, you have a right to believe what you want to believe. But you also owe it to yourself to be informed of both viewpoints...not just what is the popular opinion.

Mephibosheth Thanksgiving

   There's a story in the Bible that talks about the fierce battle between the families of the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David. After Saul and his son, Jonathan, died in battle, their family's power slowly diminished in the land. To add to their struggle, people, thinking they were doing David a favor, began to kill off Saul's descendents. This didn't sit well with David. For when two men murdered another of  Saul's sons, he had them executed.

    When David was finally crowned King over Israel, one of his first acts as king was to find any of Saul's living relatives. He was soon informed that a crippled named Mephibosheth was the only one left of Saul's household. He was the son of Jonathan, David's good friend. King David sent for him, and when he arrived, he said... “Don’t be afraid,” ..., “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.” A few sentences down, we further read: So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s sons. (2 Samuel 9:7, 11b)

   Here was a man that had no rights or privileges to receive such blessings. But out of the grace that Jonathan first extended to him, David returned it upon Jonathan's son, Mephibosheth.  

   As we're about to celebrate another Thanksgiving, I'm reminded of King David's table and how it applies to us as followers of Christ. And here are but a few reasons why: First, although I never deserved to sit around the King's table, I am welcomed through Christ to be there. I no longer have to fear God's wrath because peace has been given to me through Jesus. Second, if I receive nothing else in this life but God's grace and forgiveness, I am blessed beyond measure. Everything else is "icing on the cake." And third, I can celebrate today and I am thankful today because I am a Child of the King. You see, I'm not just invited to God's table, I'm also adopted into His family. And I have every right that is given to His children.

   Even though my sin had made me a crippled, even though my family line was full of death and despair, it was through God's favor that I’m invited to sit and eat and enjoy God’s abundance and presence. I will forever be thankful for such a marvelous blessing.   

   May you remember where your blessings come from as you sit around the table this Thanksgiving as well.

Together...We Win

    The other day, I was out in the backyard of our home working. As I was finishing up, I thought I'd take a break and play a little game. Earlier, my son had left the bag toss game out with all of the bags. If you're unfamiliar, it's the game played with rectangular 2x4 ft. boxes with a 6 inch hole near one end and placed down at an angle several feet away from each other. The object of the game is to get the bags into the hole by tossing them from the location of the opposite box.

   I began throwing bags when my 3-year-old, Abby,saw what I was doing and ran over with the desire to play as well. Apparently, she had watched us enough to know how to play because she demanded all the blue-colored bags. With them in hand, she ran over to the other boxes and proceeded (to the best of her ability) to throw them over to the box near me.  She dumped the bags down on the board and picked up one. With all of her might, she wound up like a big-league pitcher and launched the bag in my direction. It traveled about a 1/3 of the way. A pretty-good feat for a 3-yr-old, but far from enough to make it the distance needed. Undeterred, she picked up another and went through a similar ritual with basically the same results. She then did something I wasn't expecting...
  She stopped, looked up and waited for me to take my turn. I have to admit, I was a bit nervous about tossing one over that she didn't see in enough time to get out of the way of...so I was very cautious. The first bag landed right in front of the box and was leaning against it. Without a word, Abby ran to the bag; picked it up, and then proceeded to drop it in the hole. My next bag landed on the top of the board (1 point if you know the rules). This didn't stop her. she picked that bag up and through it in the hole as well. She continued to do this until all of my bags were in the hole.
  In that moment, I smiled thinking to myself how cute she was. And then I realized what she was actually doing. You see, she didn't have the strength or ability to get the bag in the hole, but she wasn't going to let that defeat her. Instead, she partnered with me (someone who was able to accomplish the task) so that we could both win the game. And may I add, she was a great helper.  
   This reminded me of the character of God. While He could accomplish every task that He desires on earth without our help, He still asks His children to join Him in doing the work. Therefore, we are successful and accomplish more when we join with God rather than try and rely only on our own power. 
   This begs the question, what are you working at these days that unless God helps, there's no way you can accomplish it? What dreams are you dreaming about your career, church, family, and/or future that without God's help there's no way it would happen? Are you too easily satisfied with only what you can win at on your own, or do you long for something greater?
   It's true, we can be more successful when we work together. But it's also true that we can do the unimaginable when we join God in His work. The results and rewards are eternal. 

Risky Business

There are times when traumatic events take place in our lives that are out of our control. When that happens in close relationships, there's a temptation from that point on to try and control every other relationship we have. The mindset being, "No one's ever going to hurt me like that again." But as long as we do this, we won't have authentic relationships because people will resent and fight our controlling behavior. Building a 'wall' around ourselves isolates and hinders our chances at meaningful relationships as well.
    What's the alternative? Risk getting hurt again and share your life with potential friends. They may let you down, but then again, you've let others down as well. Forgive others and allow yourself to be forgiven.
    Furthermore, there's someone far more powerful and intelligent than we are who is in control of it all. You can accept this fact and bend to His will (give up "control"), or you can fight Him for it and eventually lose anyway. Relationships are a risky business, but they're worth the risk especially our relationship with Jesus.

In Need of Repair

   I don't know how you feel, but I always get a bit depressed and saddened when confronted by such reckless disregard for human life. My heart aches as the pictures and news reports come in of those injured in the recent Boston Marathon bombings. I want to cry out, "What's wrong with this world?" When they start to post images of the deceased and begin interviewing friends and relatives. And before throwing my hands up in despair, I am reminded once again that it's broken...The world that is. 
   It was never meant to be this way. Something inside of us all knows this. But even though we know that hatred and death is wrong, it doesn't stop us from continuing to hate and in some cases even murdering others.
  But what do we do when confronted by such horrible acts? What do you do when someone decides to explode a bomb next to an 8 year old (Martin Richard) who not too long ago held up a sign requesting no more hurting people-peace?

You trust... 
You find comfort in the fact that in God there's safety.In the midst of calamity, there's a peace that comes from knowing that One greater than you has control.
"Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.  Psalm 91:1-2
  The answer is trust in Jesus. When He promised us that even though there's trouble in this world, we should take heart for He has overcome this damage and even allowed restoration through His death. 
   Yes there's pain. Yes there's sorrow. Yes there's sadness, depression, and loss. But we don't have to allow these feelings and events to define us. 

   The human race has been damaged by the results of our choices to do wrong. But we're not destroyed beyond repair. If we'll let God do it, He will remake us back to the people we were meant to be. Will this mean the world will be a utopia? Probably not until He comes back, but when I change, there's a greater chance that more will change with me.   
   The world is broken and needs repair. We must allow God to fix us first...others will follow.

  

Remembering Baby Jessica

   Do you remember the story of “Baby Jessica?”

   On October 14, 1987, 18 month-old Jessica was playing in the backyard of her aunt’s home in Midland, Texas. Hearing the phone ring inside, Jessica’s mother went to answer it leaving Jessica and the rest of the children unattended for only a brief moment. As she returned to the backyard, Jessica’s mother was greeted by the screams of the children and her daughter missing. The horrible truth revealed that Jessica had fallen 22 feet down an 8 inch wide well in the backyard. The block that covered the well had been removed allowing Jessica access. The fall caused her leg to lodge against the side of the pipe and push her foot up next to her head. The police arrived in minutes, and the long ordeal began.

   Most of America was riveted to the television as news stations reported the latest events in the rescue attempt of baby Jessica. Workers feverishly dug an adjacent hole 30 inches wide trying to get to where Jessica was trapped in the pipe. Other workers and volunteers pumped oxygen into the well and attempted to maintain constant communication with Baby Jessica, who cried and moaned and for a while even sang nursery rhymes to pass the time. She was soon dubbed "everybody's baby." And she tugged at the heartstrings of millions of viewers who sent her family flowers, toys, cards and money.

   Finally, on Friday evening October 16^th, after 58 hours, Baby Jessica was lifted safely out of the well and delivered back to her family, her head wrapped in bandages, her body covered in dirt and grime. She survived.

    It’s hard to believe, but this past October, they celebrated the 25^th anniversary of this ordeal.  Since then, Jessica has graduated from High School, is married, and is raising two children. As well, in 2011 on her 25th birthday, Jessica (McClure) Morales gained access to her trust fund that was set up with all of the donations from the event. It was worth around $800,000.   

     Sadly, today (January 22, 2013) marks another anniversary. It’s the 40^th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade, the ruling that made abortion for any reason legal in the United States. Since this decision, it’s estimated that over 50,000,000 children have been aborted in the U.S. alone.

    Looking at these two stories together begs the question: What’s the difference? For one child trapped in a well, we’ll spend thousands of dollars and numerous resources, but for the other children that die at the hands of abortion (at the rate of 3,300 a day!) we’ll ignore.

   As America watched the TV reports, no one could see Baby Jessica. All we knew was that life was in the belly of that Texas ground. Therefore, we were willing to do whatever it took to deliver her to safety.

    Human life is a precious gift from God even if you can’t see them. We knew this with baby Jessica, but we’ve ignored it when it comes to these others. As well, why is it safer for a baby to be in a dirty, smelly well than in their own mother’s womb? Why are we not actively involved or providing resources to rescue our babies from these circumstances? Why are we paying strangers to kill our children while we comfort ourselves by calling it ‘freedom’ and ‘choice?’

    I’m asking those who consider themselves followers of Christ to stand up for those whose voice is being silenced. Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed (Psalm 82:3). We have an obligation to stop this holocaust on our children. All human life is precious regardless of size, mental capacity, or financial status. Let’s stop categorizing human life and rescue ALL of our children!

Another Child Killer

   No doubt by now you've heard of the recent news reports of the school shooting in Newtown, CT. When I realized it was an elementary school and that the death-toll was well over 20, my mind began to imagine the horror that must have taken place this morning, and the lost dreams, and hopes, and my heart ached as I contemplated this truth.

   But then my mind went to another story... A story very similar. I'll tell it in a letter to the ones that are no doubt grieving the most today; those looking for answers that may never come...the parents of the lost:

Dear Sandy Hook Elementary School Parents, 

   What you're going through in your grief breaks my heart in so many ways. And as I reflect on this tragedy, my thoughts review another horrific story. Two-thousand years ago, there was another tyrant who thought he could steal hope and rob life. He was filled with hate as he commanded that boys 2 yrs. old and younger be murdered in this small town. His name was Herod. And he was the king of Judea at the time. The town was Bethlehem. And this heinous act was committed because he wanted no one to share his title of King. So in an attempt to wipe out The Messiah, King Herod slaughtered innocence.

  But Herod would soon learn that he didn't kill the Messiah. And soon after Herod's death, this young boy would return home and grow and share with all of his people that they no longer had to be without hope in this wicked world. The parents in Bethlehem back then knew all too well what you're going through today. But some of them found healing in the Savior that was born in their town. 

    Herod tried to end Christmas. And in a similar way, this young man, filled with hate, tried to do the same. But no one can kill the hope, joy, and peace that Jesus brought to the world that first Christmas. And if you seek God, He can give you this peace that carries you through the nightmare.

   It's okay to mourn this Christmas. I encourage you to do so. But in your grief, I want you to remember that one child survived the onslaught and brought us peace as a result. The light in the midst of all of this darkness is the life and peace that he brings to all who receive Him. This is why the angels said at Jesus' birth, glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and goodwill toward men.

   Love never fails so may the God of all comfort and love sustain you through this tragedy. And let me remind you, they did eventually kill God’s son as well. But that wasn’t the end of the story. For when you’re feeling the depression and sadness that will no doubt follow Christmastime now, and you find yourself saying things like, he/she would've been (such and such) this year, know that after Christmas comes Easter. And God's answer to wickedness and death is seen by what’s NOT in the tomb!  There's hope in the Savior who came on Christmas.

May God's loving arms cover you tonight and forever,

Derek Shaw,

Pastor