Halloween and Harvest

Halloween is another one of those topics that are debated in our churches. There are elements about it that are unsavory and glorify all that is bad in our world — dressing up like hookers or or other immoral characters that our culture turns a blind eye towards or in some cases even celebrates. But there are many elements of this October day that are totally innocent and fun loving. A time to dress up like one of the Seven Dwarfs (that’s me this year. guess which one) or a nurse or a Dallas Cowboy. (when children dress up like a Philadelphia Iggle I consider that emulating all that is wrong in the world!!)

Others feel that Halloween, even in the way that the average suburban family participates the holiday, celebrates the occult or all that is evil. Those that hold this opinion most often feel the roots of Halloween can not be separated from it’s current day celebration. Regardless of how innocent one may feel October 31st is, the evil still lurks in the background for many people.

As you porbably already know, I fall into the camp that Halloween can be innocent and even be used for the Kingdom. One Focus on the Family author stated it like this:

“For the average secular person in our society, Halloween is simply an excuse to dress up and party. For the Christian, however, I believe Halloween offers a unique opportunity to provide answers for a spiritually hungry generation. Granted, some Christians are not comfortable even acknowledging Halloween’s square on the calendar or participating in an alternative. I respect their opinion, but as an evangelist I think they’re missing a great opportunity to share Jesus with others. Romans 12:21 reminds us to “overcome evil with good.” And I’ve noticed that light shines brightest in darkness.”

(To read this article in it’s entirety, click here.)

There is no other day of the year when people will come and knock on my door and give me the chance to build a relationship with them. Likewise, there is no other day of the year that people welcome my kids to come up and knock on their door and yell at them when they come to the door. It’s unique. There’s nothing else like it. If relationships are the avenue for the Gospel, then October 31st is a fantastic chance to enhance relationships in my neighborhood. Why would I miss that opportunity.

Now what to do when dear friends and fellow brothers in Jesus differ with me on this topic? In keeping with our teaching series on the “One Anothers” — I don’t think less of them. I want to honor their convictions and encourage them to live out those convictions fully. That is why CCC hosts a Harvest Party. It gives those with different convictions a way to fulfill them if they so desire.

So this weekend, whether you dress up or don’t dress up. Whether you observe Halloween or Harvest. Do it as unto the Lord!

For a great read on a Christian perspective on Halloween, click here.

 

“One Anothering” 101

This week begins a long series of messages on the “one another” passages in the NT. You know — love one another, honor one another, bear each other’s burden, be kind to one another, submit to one another — there are 59 times that the phrase is used as a specific commandment.

I am so grateful for how God loves us and chooses to teach us. As I am preparing this series, the Holy Spirit is showing me just how awful I am at “one anothering”.

Twice today, God has used folks here at CCC to reveal the flaw of my heart and show me how far from the mark I am when it comes to honoring and loving others ‘as myself’ — Matthew 27:39.

Even as I write this, I can think of other instances yesterday that were not in line with how the Lord would have me be.

I feel humbled, ashamed, excited, refreshed. Ashamed at my sin, yet excited to sense the Spirit’s work in my heart chastising me and refreshing me, cleaning me from the shame and guilt.

An important lesson I am learning about “one anothering” is the power of forgiving. Having to ask for forgiveness today and then being forgiven, revealed to me the great power we have in each other’s life to set each other free. I really appreciate my brothers and sisters in Christ who did that for me today!

 

That is what we are going to do

Today I have found myself being challenged with people’s needs. Life circumstances that are hard to explain. Hard to understand. Hard to pull the real from the imaginary. Hard to draw the line between self-induced and victimized.

I find the pressure to know how to best help people to be very heavy at times. I want to do what is best. I want to fix the crack in the dam not just stuff chewing gum in it. But I don’t feel I have that luxury. The time to help is not there. The money to help is not there. The experience in situations like this isn’t mine. Leaving me just hoping that we are doing the right thing.

I called out to God this afternoon and asked what to do. There were no voices. No verse that explicitly answer my call. All I had was a gut instinct that if Jesus was in my situation he would help. That is what we are going to do.

 

The theme for the week.

I was reading all the Psalms that have a ‘2′ in them — 2, 32, 62, 92, 122 — today. And the theme of those passages (for me at least) was “God as a refuge.”

God is my hiding place. He preserves me from trouble. He surrounds me with songs of deliverance. He is my salvation, my Rock, and my hope comes from Him. He is my stronghold, my glory rests on Him. He makes me glad. It is good to give Him thanks and talk about His goodness.

That is a great theme for my week it seems. I needed to be reminded that God is a safe place when there are things around you that appear unsafe and scary. I am always amazed at how much of what I need is not a place or thing. It is not a real hiding place where no one can find me and it is not having all I need when I need it. Instead, God says that we don’t need any of that because HE IS ALL THAT AND MORE!

My desire is to find that to be true and experience HIM deeply!

 

His hope is realized

“But hope that is seen is not hope at all; for who hopes for what he already sees?” — Romans 8:24

My father-in-law, Joseph Ducanis, Sr., now sees his Hope. He no longer waits for it. It is not unseen any more. He no longer has hope because his hope has been realized. Paul says it is not hope if you see it. Dad Ducanis now sees, he stares and worships what was once hope but is now reality. He is with his Savior, Christ Jesus.

As I have been thinking about our study of hope and Dad’s passing, heaven has become more real to me. Jake, BJ’s 22 year old nephew, was waiting for Dad Ducanis when he arrived. They are not hopeful people any longer. They have no need to be. They are with Jesus.

I love the thought of Jake being with his granddad. The two of them waiting on the rest of us. Those of us who are left . . . still hoping.

 

Observations on contrasts, values and what really is important.

I really hate to jump on this band wagon, but after the events of my day I can’t resist ‘no more!

Yesterday was the memorial service for Michael Jackson. 60,000 people attended while 1.2 million attempted to get tickets to the service. Celebrities and “important people” of this world showed up to honor the King of Pop. The service left the city of Los Angeles with a tab for nearly $4 million. In his death, Michael sold 800,000 albums last week alone. And that is what Micheal Jackson did with his life. He used the god-given talent he had to the fullest to become one of the greatest ENTERTAINERS of all time. But that is really what he was — an entertainer. He sold albums/cd’s and concert tickets. And did it like no one else ever has.

Now contrast that with what I witnessed today. 89 year old Armand Ciotti was buried in one of our local cemeteries. Mr. Ciotti was a veteran of WW II, serving on the USS Aquarius in 8 campaigns in the Pacific war — earning 8 Bronze Battle Stars.

Not only did Mr. Ciotti survive the war, a feat that so many of his comrades didn’t, he also was married for 63 years. Another feat that many can’t say they have done.

At the graveside, three Navy personnel were present. Two stood near the casket and attended the duties related to the American flag draped over it. With great attention to detail and even greater ability to exude honor and dignity, they smartly folded and tucked the flag into a small triangle and presented it to Mrs. Ciotti. With elderly eyes that seemed grateful and tired, she looked up at the tall sailor and accepted his thanks on behalf of our nation for her husband’s service.

At that moment, the third sailor who had hardly been noticed, standing 15 or more yards away began to play taps. I couldn’t hold back the tears. The image of Mrs. Ciotti accepting the flag of her fallen husband, looking up at that sailor with taps playing in the background was as patriotic of a moment as I have ever had.

In giving the eulogy this morning, Mr. Ciotti’s son, Bud, shared that one time his father had said about his experiences in the war, “I’m no hero. I’ve known heroes and I’m not one!”

But just as Bud said this morning, Mr. Ciotti was a hero. As are so many other men and women who have served and are serving in so many capacities to protect and defend our nation.

I am saddened by the great contrast and, in my opinion, the disparity between the honor given celebrities who entertain and heroes who defend. We seem to have it all backwards. If it weren’t for Amand Ciotti and so many like him, Michael Jackson might never had had the opportunity to entertain. I am learning that so much of what we celebrate is only the result of what others have paid for. The Jackson family, as does mine, thanks you Mr. Ciotti.

 

John 6: Believing is the work

In John 6 Jesus is chased by the people who want more signs. They are so eager that they jump in boats in search of Him.

Think about it. If they were mildly interested in finding him they might search the village. If they were more interested in Jesus, they probably would go beyond the village seeking Jesus in the countryside. But it appears they were more than just a little interested in Jesus. They jumped in boats and traveled across a lake to find Him (6:24). They really went out of their way to keep up with Jesus. These folks were on a mission.

So they catch up with Jesus and he gets in their face! “You’re not here because you want me. You only want what I can give you. You’re here for the wrong thing!” (6:26-27)

What’s a ‘miracle-chaser’ to say to that? They ask the classic religious question, “What do we have to DO to be a part of your program?” To which, Jesus gave the only answer He ever seems to give, “Believe in me.” The work is to believe. Isn’t that kind of like saying the work is to not work.

What boss would ever say that? You show up on the job and Bossman says to you, “Today the work is to not work.” What?

What kind of religion is that? “The way to be religious is to not be religious.”

Mmmmmmmm. “The work of God is to believe.” So should I not prepare messages and just believe instead? The answer doesn’t seem to fit my question. I want to do. Believing seems to be not doing.

Many older, wiser saints have said it before. I’ve heard it but I am a slow learner. All Jesus asks us to do is to believe, to abide in Him. In doing this I begin to learn that He does the work. When He does the work, he receives the attention, fame and glory. He gets bigger in my life. I become an effective ambassador for Him. The ministry is not as much what I do, as it is what He does through me. “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God”

Ministry results as an expression of Jesus in my life. Any ‘doing’ that gets done happens as a result of believing.

Effective ‘doing’ is believing.

 

LIFE AFTER HOME begins long before they leave

I attended the Life After Home event with Dr. Tim Clydesdale over at Grace Point on Sunday night. It was really good. As I walked out afterward someone asked what stood out to me. Immediately I knew what it was. Didn’t have to think about it. Didn’t have to choose between my top two. The thing that stood out to me was that the best thing to do to help kids make wise and good choices, choices to pursue to Jesus when there is no one around making them do that — the best thing was . . .

for parents to live out their faith at home day in and day out as the kids are growing up.

Think about that. I think many parents think we have to make our kids go to camp, read the bible, pray, go, do, go and do. But the real burden lies on us as parents.

What are we doing? Is it in alignment with our words and the message of the Gospel? When Clydesdale said that I went into deep self-reflective mode! What have I been doing? What do I need to be doing? What do I have to stop doing? How are my actions and attitudes matching the message of Jesus? When my boys look at me, what do they see?

Finally, how much of what we are doing is spoon feeding our kids instead of teaching them to feed themselves? How do they begin to make their faith their own, instead of living in the shadow of my faith? How do we encourage them to actively engage in a walk of faith instead of going through the motions of accommodating my faith and wishes for them?

Bette and I are trying. Many parents I know are trying. But the rate that kids are walking away makes me think much of what we are doing is not working.

Parents, we are only stewards of the souls of our kids. One day we’ll give account for what we have done or not done to disciple them. I fear much of the burden will fall not on what we told them, but on how we lived in front of them.

If you want to hear the discussion for the “Live After Home” event click here.

 

LIFE AFTER HOME: How do we equip our kids for what is next?

Recently I read an article that was startling. It was predicting that in the next 20 years the political and religious landscape of our nation will be radically different. Different in a hostile kind of way! Hostile in a way that would not favor a Christian worldview like you and I have experienced.

I really don’t know how accurate it was but it got me thinking. I began to think about my sons and the world they will live in when they are adults. Let’s be honest. I’m done. I have 20 to 30 years at best left in me. Any changes that take place between now to my last breathe will have limited impact on my life. But how will those changes impact my sons?

We are already experiencing an alarming exit of our 20-something’s from the church. They are walking away from the faith they were raised in at a rate we have never seen before. If they are walking away now, at a time when it is still relatively easy to claim Christ and openly have a walk of faith, what will happen when the surrounding culture is openly hostile toward them?

So I began to wonder what Bette and I needed to do to equip our sons to live in a hostile environment. I realized that with our oldest at age 12 we already have a limited window of time to influence him and help form a biblical worldview that will assist him to interact with the culture around him and be salt and light, not run from it or become like it!

One tool that has come across my desk is an event at a sister church in our area, Grace Point Church here in Newtown. “Life After Home: A conversation about releasing children to their life purpose” is scheduled for May 31 from 6pm to 7:30pm. Pastor Steve Johnson will be hosting Dr. Tim Clydesdale in an interview format that discusses preparing our children for that day when they will leave home and be on their own.

For more information, check out their website at http://www.gracepointpa.org/NewsandEvents/LifeAfterHome/tabid/151/Default.aspx.

Hope to see you there!

 

Will we die before we change?

“This needs to be a conversation about who we are, and if the average Christian in our churches would be willing to do anything, personally, in the cause of evangelism?

We have become a denomination whose leaders talk about evangelism, but whose people actually want little to nothing to do with it.

Our decline is because of who we want to be and how we want things to operate. We want the culture to adjust to us. We want our families to be saved. We don’t want to cross any barriers and we don’t want to have do something we decided the pastor is paid to do.

Get ready for many, many years of this. I think most churches will die before they will change this pattern.”

These comments are from a blog that I read from time to time. (Check out internetmonk.com if you want to read the complete post.) He writes in the context of the Southern Baptist Denomination. But I think it is entirely appropriate to insert “Crossing Community Church” or the name of any other church where the quote says “We have become a denomination . . .”

Are we a church that is willing to move from the concerns of our overly burdened life and begin to think about the type of changes in our personal life as well as our church life to see us do something about the needs of the world around us?

Our decline is because of who we want to be and how we want things to operate. We want the culture to adjust to us. We want our families to be saved. We don’t want to cross any barriers and we don’t want to have do something we decided the pastor is paid to do.

Who do we want to be? A church of 100’s with a name for all our outstanding programs and professional paid staff? Do we really think that we will influence culture in such a way that our government will pass laws that favor us and our belief system? Is the salvation of our families the goal of all this?

WHAT BARRIERS WILL WE CROSS TO SEE OUR LIVES COUNT FOR JESUS?

Will the average church person engage in a discussion that addresses “who we are” as a church? If not, why not?