New Sermon Series at Calvary Church starting February 14.

7 Churches of Revelation: Church Health Check-UP

The Lord’s diagnostic questions

How fresh is our love?
Rev 2:1-7

How firm is our faith?
Rev 2:8-11

How dear is our bible?
Rev 2:12-17

How pure is our heart?
Rev 2:18-29

How true is our life?
Rev 3:1-6

How fixed is our hope?
Rev 3:7-13

How real is our zeal?
Rev 3:14-22

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches–and to individuals.

Continued reflections on the attributes, character, person and actions of God.

God is Omnipresent

This is normally defined as, God is everywhere.

But as I ponder this attribute, I’m struck that the normal definition is too small.  Since God is infinite, His omnipresence is infinite--infinite presence. But I know my mind cannot grasp the infinite.  So how can we speak of the infinite presence of God?

God is not everywhere--everywhere is in the presence of God.

That puts the focus correctly on the personal presence of God while at the same time maintaining a balance with His infinite transcendent nature. There is nowhere that is out of the presence of God.

It is God that is “big” and creation “small.”  Even writing that is hard for me to contemplate when I read of and see the magnitude of our universe (see the videos below).  But that is exactly the point--as “big” as the universe is, it is not infinite.  The universe is finite even in its grandeur.

So, if the universe is finite in its grandeur, what is God like?  He is awesome in His infinite presence.  No limitation to where He is, everything is in the presence of God.  God is not bound by the universe.  The universe cannot contain the grandeur of God.

So although everything is in the presence of God and the universe cannot contain God--God is distinct from the universe.  He is not the universe.  He is the Creator and Lord of the Universe. Yet He is personal (see Psalm 139).

So how should we respond to a God who is omnipresent?

• Awe and worship
• Don’t try to hide--because we can’t; therefore, be honest with Him
• Trust because He is always available
• Comfort from His ever-present nature

(For more on the attributes of God click on the “attributes” category.)

Tags: Attributes

James 1:13-18 includes two great truths about God that serve as bookend to one reality about us.

Context

First the context.  James wrote to exhort believers to mature conduct by demonstrating their faith and wisdom through godly living (holiness) in spite of their sinful desires and the influence of the world (testing and sin). James 1:2-4 sets the stage for the whole book.

James 1:2-4 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (ESV)

He identifies the challenge–”testing of your faith.”
God’s goal–”that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
And our desired response–joy and steadfastness.

Notice that what James is dealing with is “the testing of your faith” that “various kinds” of trial or circumstances produce.  He focus is not on the circumstances, the external forces, but the challenge to one’s faith.

Our faith is tested for strategic purpose–to make us perfect and complete, lacking nothing–as we remain steadfast.

The second part of the context is the first necessary response to the testing of our faith–the need for wisdom.

James 1:5–6 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. (ESV)

When our faith is tested and we are not sure how to respond, we are to ask God for wisdom.  Wisdom to respond in a way that we can remain steadfast so that God can make us perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

The Character of God

When we don’t respond correctly to the trials of our faith, we tend to shift the blame from ourselves to others and to God.   (See Genesis 3, where Adam passes the blame to Eve and Eve to Satan.)

We may be tempted to ask, “Why is He doing this?”  ”Why is He causing this temptation?”  ”Why does He want me to fail?”

But notices James’ reminder of two great truths about God.

James 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. (ESV)

James 1:17–18 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. (ESV)

The first truth–There is nothing in God to which evil can appeal.  There is no evil in God, no evil motives.

The second truth–In contrast to any evil, God is a giver, a giver of good gifts.

Rather than doing evil to us or seeking to cause us to stumble so He can judge or punish–He is the giver of good and perfect gifts.

Even the trials are for our good.
Even the trials of our character are for our good.

How? Why?

Because His desire for us is not comfort or happiness, but to make us complete, perfect and lacking nothing.

God’s goal for us is what is best for us.

Our Reality

So when we stumble, we cannot blame God–there is nothing in Him motivated by evil.  When we stumble we must acknowledge that it is as a result of our own desires (the reality about us in this passage).

But we could argue, “He gave me the desires, it’s His fault.”

If He gave us the desires, than He can fulfill them the way He intended them to be fulfilled.  We must trust Him and His motives–for they can only be pure, good and holy.

May we trust His character.

Tags: Attributes

This is a repost from the Catalyst Conference posted on Church Relevance. And will it is particularly aimed at pastors, I believe the principles are helpful for all believers to be mindful of.

Chuck Swindoll of Insight for Living discussed 10 things he has learned in almost 50 years of ministry during Catalyst Conference’s 8th session. Here is what he said:

Fifty years ago, I was a first year student at Dallas Theological Seminary. I was scared, unsure of myself, and fresh out of the Marine Corp. I did not know much about seminary.

I remember sitting in chapel, and a minister told me, “When God wants to do an impossible task, he takes an impossible person and crushes him.” I am so proud of everything you are dreaming of and doing that I hope that you remember to leave room for the crushing.

10 Things Chuck Swindoll Learned in 50ish Years of Ministry:

1. It’s lonely to lead.
   Leadership involves tough decisions. The tougher the decisions, the lonelier it is.
2. It’s dangerous to succeed.
   It is dangerous to succeed while being young. rarely, does God give leadership that young because it takes crushing and failure first.
3. It’s hardest at home.
   Nobody at home is applauding you. They say, “Dad! You’re fly is open.”
4. It is essential to be real.
   If there is one realm where phoniness is personified it is leadership. What I care about is that you stay real.
5. It is painful to obey.
   There are rewards, yes, but it is painful nevertheless.
6. Brokenness and failure are necessary.
7. My attitude is more important than my actions.
   Some of you are getting hard to be around. And your attitude covers all those great actions you pull off.
8. Integrity eclipses image.
   What you are doing is not a show. And the best things you are doing is not up front but what you do behind the scenes.
9. God’s way is better than my way.
   God is going to have His way.
10. Christ-likeness begins and ends with humility.

2 Corinthians 4:5-7 tells us that we must be willing to leave the familiar message without disturbing the Biblical message. We get that backwards. This was written in the first century, and now we are in the 21st century. The message stays the same. Don’t miss the message. As you alter the methods, don’t mess with the message.

Traditionalism is the dead faith of those still living. You will defend those things that don’t need defended.

Three Important Observations:

1. With every ministry a special mercy is needed.
2. In every ministry the same things must be renounced and rejected.
   That is hiding shameful things, doing deceitful things, and corrupting truthful things. Guard against deception. Guard against deception.
3. Through every ministry a unique style should be pursued.
   We don’t preach or promote ourselves (it isn’t about us). We declare Christ Jesus as Lord (it’s all about Him). We see ourselves as bond-servants for Jesus Christ.

Five Statements Worth Remembering During Your Next 50 Years of Leadership:

1. Whatever you do, do more with others and less alone.
   It will help you become accountable.
2. Whenever you do it, emphasize quality not quantity.
3. Wherever you go, do it the same as if you were among those who know you the best.
   It will keep you from exaggerating. it will help keep your stories true. Your good friend will tell you things that others will not. They will hold you close to truth.
4. Whoever may respond to your ministry, keep a level head.
5. However long you lead, keep on dripping with gratitude and grace.
   Stay thankful. Stay gracious.

Tags: Leadership, Lessons

Quote from John Ortberg

Those of us who are older tend to under-estimate the difference between generations. We think that what feels comfortable to us will not—or should not—be a barrier to those who are younger. Those of us who are younger tend to over-estimate the difference between generations. We feel as if those who are older are a different species and could never understand our experience. One of the most important concepts along these lines has to do with the notion of connection. Who feels “connected” at our church?

I used to think that connection had primarily to do with relationships. But it does not. Connectedness is a separate notion. It has to do with whether or not, when I enter a church, it feels like a place for “people like me.” How people dress, how they talk, what the music is like—many details create a sense of connection or disconnection.

If I feel connected, I am likely to overlook how disconnected people of another generation may feel. So we have to have constant conversations about the experience of people in our generation at our church. We will never be able to make all people feel totally connected at all services. But at least we have to be aware of the dynamics.

Tags: Church, Worship

Simple time management

Productivity in 11 Words

“One thing at a time. Most important thing first. Start now.” [Skelliewag via@scottros] Photo bykoalazymonkey.

Tags: productivity

C.S. Lewis said, “there exists in every church something that sooner or later works against the very purpose for which it came into existence. So we must strive very hard, by the grace of God to keep the church focused on the mission that Christ originally gave it.”

Does it matter how many people are coming through the front door if the back door is wide open? We’ve often become so focused on reaching people that we’ve forgotten the importance of keeping people. ‐Larry Osborne

I wonder if that is true of all churches or do some churches just get comfortable doing what they do, that they (we) don’t see who has left?

The church is not an event but a relationship.  Not an event to attend, but relationships to cultivate–a relationship with God and a relationship with the people of God.

It is through relationship that we grow, it is through relationship we share, it is through relationship we endure.

Tags: Church

A good reminder from John Piper,

I encourage you to measure your favorite authors and your favorite quotes by what the Bible teaches and what the Bible includes.

You can read the entire post here.

Tags: Wisdom

Just hear this song for the first time today in the car.  I was struck with its simplicity and clear message.  So I looked the lyrics up online (see below). Even though the title is “Song of Jabez” it should not be equated with the popular book by a similar title.

By the way, John Waller is the artist who wrote While I’m Waiting from the movie Fireproof.

The only place I found it to post is as the background for this video--focus on the song.

Song of Jabez

lyrics by  John Waller and Scott Johnson
music by  John Waller

According to Your will
According to Your will
I’m praying, I’m praying.
According to Your word
According to Your word
You hear me, yes You hear me.
According to Your heart
According to Your heart
You answer, when I pray

Father bless me indeed
You’re all that I need
Expand my horizons beyond what I see
Put Your hand upon me,
and keep me from evil today
This is what I pray

According to Your plan
I’m waiting
Yes I’m waiting
According to Your hand
You lead me
You lead me
According to Your love
You seek me
When I stray

Father bless me indeed
You’re all that I need
Expand my horizons beyond what I see
Put Your hand upon me,
and keep me from evil today
This is what I pray

The only blessing that I seek
Is to know You’re using me

So Father bless me indeed
You’re all that I need
Expand my horizons beyond what I see
Put Your hand upon me,
and keep me from evil today
Father bless me indeed
You’re all that I need
Expand my horizons beyond what I see
Put Your hand upon me,
and keep me from evil today…

According to Your will
According to Your will
I’m praying.

Tags: Prayer

R. Kent Hughes:

Gossip involves saying behind a person’s back what you would never say to his or her face.

Flattery means saying to a person’s face what you would never say behind his or her back.

Disciplines of a Godly Man, p. 139  posted by Justin Taylor

Tags: Wisdom