“I Finally Met People Who Walk The Walk”

How important is the way we live our life? Just read the comments of Sandra Bullock who plays a Christian in her most recent movie, “The Blind Side.” If she were to meet you and watch your life would she have concluded that she had just met the real deal?

“One of my biggest issues has always been people who use their faith and their religion as a banner but don’t do the right things, yet still go, ’I’m a good Christian and I go to church and this is the way you should live your life. ’ And I’m like, you know, do not give me a lecture about how to live my life when you go to church every week but I know you are still sneaking around on your wife. And I told Leigh Anne (Tuohy) in a live interview, one of my largest concerns getting involved with this project was that whole banner-waving thing because it scares me, and I’ve had experiences that haven’t been great with people like that. I don’t buy a lot of people who use that banner as their shield. But she was so open and honest and forthright with me I thought, wow, I’ve finally met someone who practices but doesn’t preach. … I now have faith in those who say they represent a faith. I finally met people who walk the walk.”

—Sandra Bullock, star of The Blind Side, describing her interaction with Leigh Anne Tuohy, the real-life evangelical Christian whom Bullock plays in the movie

[worldmag.com, 11/21/09]

 

WHO Is the Legalist?

Doing my research for this week’s “One Another” message. Came across some interesting comments by Warren Wiersbe that I had to stop what I was doing and post them!

“The legalist is not interested in bearing burdens. Instead he adds to the burdens of others.”
“The legalist is always harder on other people than he is on himself, but the Spirit-led Christian demands more of himself than he does of others that he migh be able to help others.”
“Instead of trying to restore the erring brother, the legalist wil condemn him and then use the brother to make himself look good.”
“The legalist rejoices when a brother falls, and often gives the matter wide publicity, because then he can boast about his own goodness and how much better his group is than the group to which the fallen brother belongs.”

What I felt was eye-opening was that so often the more conservative Christian is usually painted as the “legalist.” But Wiersbe’s comments show that those who are less conservative and would never consider themselves as a legalist actually fall into that camp more than they realize.

How often does the cussing, drinking, slouchy, smoking, long-haired, inked, pierced, hand-waving, coarse, metal band loving, Obama loving, ‘R’ rated movie watching, ‘I-have-my-freedom-in-Christ’ Christian publicly or privately take pleasure at the failures of the straight-laced, anti-TV, hymn singing, jacket & tie wearing, beehive hairdo, teetotalling, no movie watching, Obama hating, muzak listening, squeky clean, white sock wearing, never said a dirty word Christian?

Both camps or brands of Christians mentioned above are harder on the other brand of Christians than they are on themselves. Both camps seem more interested in gloating than restoration. Both take smug pleasure in the downfall of the other, thinking they “deserved it” and are quick to post about it!

The point is this — we are ALL more legalistic than we realize or would like to admit! Let’s move away from us/them attitudes and move toward the writing of Paul in Galatians 6:4 — “Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others.”

 

Why I didn’t give my money

Recently I attended a political candidate forum. Before the candidates were given the platform the host of the organization talked about the goals and aspirations of the organization. Eventually he explained that those goals and aspirations would be a lot easier to attain if they had more money. Any donation would be appreciated or I could pay the prescribed amount and be considered a member for the next year.

I sat and listened to him and considered the goals and vision of the organization. I thought about each one of them and whether they aligned with my personal goals and values and concluded that I really didn’t know if I agreed with them well enough to contribute money. In my mind, I was thinking that giving money would be a vote of approval and a way of saying that I wanted to be a part of what this group was doing.

Then I had this thought. Is that why CCC is having financial problems? Are there people who regularly attend and participate that aren’t sure if they agree with our vision and values enough to contribute financially? Were my thoughts and feelings that night what others think and feel on Sunday mornings?

Two weeks later, I am still processing that experience. Thinking about it, pondering and considering what we do as a church and how we communicate all that to everyone else at CCC. And realizing — there are no easy answers. There are no quick fixes. This is going to take time.

May God give us the grace and wisdom to learn from our experiences and come to conclusions that put Him on center stage and minimize our efforts and pitiful strength.

 

My Jesus is too human

I have been reading from and about Psalms 23. Perhaps one of the classic works on this psalm is Philip Keller’s “A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23.” My mentor of over 30 years gave me a copy of this book back in the 80’s — I started to read it today. (embarassing!) But I don’t think this book could ever be more important to my walk with Lord than it is right now. I have been struggling with some questions as of late that I have never deeply dealt with before.

God has been faithful to meet me in His Word or through others saints who have tread similar paths and lived to write about it. I haven’t gotten the answers I need yet, but I feel God is leading me toward them.

Part of that journey included coming across this excerpt of Keller’s book,

When He was God incarnate amongst men, He declared emphatically, “I am the good Shepherd.”

But who was this Christ?

Our view of Him is often too small — too cramped — too provincial — too human. And becasue it is we feel unwilling to allow Him to have authority or control — much less ourtight ownership of our lives.”

Is your view of Christ too small, too cramped, too provincial, too human? Talk to me. Walk with me.

 

Great Christian Paradox

I am a fan of J. Hampton Keithley III. Don’t know him personally, but I read his work regularly. And use it. And grow from it!

In preparing to teach from Galatians 5 on ’serving one another’ I found this juicy excerpt of his.

Here lies a great Christian paradox. It is interesting that Paul, having warned these Christians against becoming slaves again to the Law and the flesh, now urges them to become servants, slaves to one another (5:13) which includes, of course, being bond slaves to God (1 Cor. 6:19; Rom. 12:1). This paradox is tremendously instructive:

Slavery to one another and to God is nothing at all like slavery to the flesh or to the Law.

Slavery to flesh and the Law result in death, misery, and frustration. It causes us to be consumed, torn apart by one another.

On the other hand, slavery to God and one another results in true freedom and maximum blessing.

Slavery to sin is involuntary and never neutral. It is degenerative and destructive both to self and to others.

Slavery to the Law is voluntary, it is man choosing to save himself. As such it is foolish, burdensome, but also completely helpless to change our lives from the inside where it really counts.

Slavery to God and to one another is voluntary. But it is a product of love and the power of the Holy Spirit. Thus, it becomes a source of glory to God, and joy, peace, and blessing to self and to others.

 

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.