The Honor Clause

Since 2006 our church has attended, sponsored, and endorsed Lake Ann Camp (LA) in northern Michigan. This past weekend we attended our 4th Freeze Out (FO) Winter Retreat for J. High and High School students. Each FO there is a time of winter fun, friendship, and most of all Faith. This year the camp had added times where each church could get together with their own youth you talk to the hearts of the their kids. Leading up the FO I felt God was laying on my heart to talk about "Honor".

Growing up I had the idea in my head that "honor" meant to obey; I believed the two were synonymous but after studying it in preparation I realize it has nothing to do with each other. They are related, but not the same. Exodus 20.12 says that we are to "Honor [our] father and mother that we may have long days in the land that God has given to you." The traditional view of this verse is that it means we have to OBEY mom and dad. Though we should obey them (Eph. 6.1), it does not say to obey, it says to honor. The definition we used at FO was this: Honor: Willing obedience, defending reputation, and benefiting someone else. Let me explain...

Willing Obedience: When we honor someone we are obeying them, but when we are obeying, we are not necessarily honoring. I explained it this way: "You are talking with your best friend at school and make plans for them to come over later that night but when your mom or dad come home they say, "Lets just have a quiet night tonight. We are not having anyone over but just staying in and staying low-key." You have a choice of your response when you call your friend, you can say, "You can't come over! My is so stupid! I told them that you were coming over they said no just because they are tired! So what! What a stupid rule!" or you can respond, "Hey, it isn't going to work out tonight. Mom/dad is pretty tired and just wants a quiet night here. We'll try again another time." Which one is honor? You get the point; both obeyed, one honored.

Defending Reputation: Honor is not done for our self (we will talk more about that later). In the military there is a lot done in the name of honor. Why? Because it is about defending the reputation of America. America is known for being a strong and independent country; we command respect by the world and it comes down to the pride we are have in it. Just a soldier defends the pride and lifestyle of our country, we must honor our parents by defending what they have worked for. A child can ruin the reputation of a family. How many times have we been in a public place and heard a child that needed some serious discipline and we say, "Why don't the shut that kid up!" Or you see on TV a juvenile who begins to have a string of petty crimes under their belt and who is blamed... the parent. Some studies who that in more cases than not it is the teenage kids that can ruin the reputation of a family more than the parents. In the case of honor we must take pride in the family we are in because we see it as a gift from God and therefore are willing to defend it even if we don't agree with it. Again, the analogy of our country; we don't agree with everything that goes along within it but we honor it just the same in word and deed. Side note: One teen said, "See it is our fault when our parents get a divorce." NO! This is not talking about marriage, this family pride while we respect and honor it.

About Someone Else: Honor is taking the essence of pride and directing it somewhere else. When we have pride, especially self-pride we do anything to promote it and defend it. Honor redirects that motivation and puts it on someone else. How many times have we heard that phrase: "yada yada... in honor of John Doe." What does that mean? Something was done for the benefit of someone else. At our meeting time I gave the example that if one of the teens along were to have a horrible accident which landed her on her death bed that day, and she looked at me in her last breath and said, "Pastor, as my last dying request I want you to go down the tubing hill in only your boxers." Do you know what I would try to do that night? Yes! I would try to go down the hill in my boxers! Why? Because I would do all I could to honor her last request! Certainly it would not be about my own pleasure, but to please someone else. The same is true with our parents; our actions is not about us but about them. It also must be pointed out that Jesus did make a last request when he left (Matthew 28.19) to go and make disciples of him. Are we going to honor.

In our last meeting together I asked the athletes these questions; Does your coach have the right to tell you what time you get up? What do eat? What to wear? What time to be where? That you need to improve? etc... They answer for all of them was "Yes". My next question was, "Why?" To which they said, "To improve your game". When I asked the exact same questions but changed it to "Does your mom or dad have the right to...?" They all said "no!!!". I also repeated them with "Does God have the right...?" This was a great eye opener to many of the as we revealed that they were focused more on honoring the wrong people in life but that the same reason our parents set standards for us to follow is the same reason a coach sets standards for their team... to improve you.

We returned from FO on Sunday afternoon. I was very excited when after the evening service I had already heard from parents who wondered what had happened to their kids at FO because they were like a different child. When they would have fought over an issue the teen was respectful! Praise God!

Master Pine Head

Last May I joined a forum site called "DerbyTalk" (http://www.derbytalk.com/). It is a site that allows members to ask and discuss any question about the Pinewood Derby topic. After joining the site I saw that there were ranks associated with each member; Apprentice, Journeymen, Pine Head, Master Pine Head, and Moderator. Immediately I thought, "Wow, that would be cool to actually know enough to be in the high ranks of knowledge of the Pinewood Derby (PWD) world. As a sat with the rank of Apprentice I wanted to know more. I began to read the posts people had written and gain knowledge. I felt as though I was gaining experience and wisdom through other people's testing, success, and failure. The more I read, the more I became confident; the more I became confident the more I would reply to other peoples questions, and the more I replied to other peoples the questions the high rank I began to receive.

There is something that feels good inside of us when someone has a question that we have the answer to. We may not have an answer all the time, and we may not always have the right answer, but it still feels good when we get it right. More and more I find people asking me about a PWD subject. When they do I have a moral dilemma; since I race against many of these people whom ask questions outside of Derbytalk I have to choose whether to give them the best answer and have them potentially beat me, or tell them a portion of the answer so they have a less likely chance of beating me. So, how do I answer? I tell them what I know. I appreciate that people have been patient and honest in teaching me. If I withhold what I know then the next generation of racers will be at a disadvantage. I would rather leave a legacy of aiding in victory rather than a trail of defeat.

As I have contributed to helping inform racers on DerbyTalk, I recently achieved the highest level of ranking that anyone can achieve without being personally selected for a moderator selection (and since all of the limited number of positions are fulfilled I can't go any higher). I am now officially a "Master Pine Head"; a title which I am honored to wear.

So, what does all of this have to do with a church website's blog? A lot. When someone comes to Christ they are often on fire and want to know more about God. We instruct them that they need to start reading and learning about God and how he can transform their life. The more they begin to learn about God the more they find that they gain experience and knowledge from others around them whom have been a Christian for a longer time. The more experience and knowledge you receive the more confident you become and begin to witness and answer the spiritual questions of the people around you. Soon people start to ask questions because they are confident that you will have the answer and that you know what you are talking about. And, in the end you receive a rank from God in eternity of a "Faithful Servant".

A portion of Matthew 25 tells of a group workers who were giving a talent (portion of money that was given for a natural ability the person had. "Talent" was originally a financial term but what it was used for is what it is now become. It was the payment given to the painter or musician on the corner, the task that someone did extraordinarily well that came natural to them.) The workers were sent out to do what they could naturally do well and use this money wisely. It didn't require anything outrageous, just what was natural. When the workers returned the Master examined the talents and saw that 2 had doubled their money and the other had held on to what he had and wasn't even willing to use what he had to generate what he didn't have. The one who had refused using his natural gift to create and increase was forced to give it up the the faithful; and to the faith the master said, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord" Matthew 25.21.

What are we doing with the natural ability God has given us. You don't have to go out of your way to make something of yourself for Christ; you just need to be willing to use what you have and it will naturally increase.

When it comes to Christ are you willing to give it all so you have lead a legacy of victory, or a trail of defeat?

Batteries and Jesus.

For all who read this before December 14th, you will be hearing this again on Sunday's Christmas service but here goes.

Batteries and Jesus? What do they have to do with anything? Batteries are little round cylinders that carry an electric current to anything that requires that works off from electricity... that has nothing to do with Jesus. Continue reading.

Growing up we didn't have a whole lot of money when it came to gifts so we never really expected much which worked well because none of us 5 kids required much. We always had more fun playing with each other than with than toys... don't get me wrong, we liked our toys too though. I remember one Birthday, I think I was eight when I received a toy radio controlled car, you know, the ones that turn by going in reverse (the ones that if you leave them like that will make a cat so dizzy it pukes). I thought this birthday was the greatest until the batteries went dead. Thankfully my older brother, 18 at the time, jumped on his bike and went to the nearby store for some more. When he got back I proved I was now a big boy and put the batteries in myself but the car still didn't work. I couldn't figure it out; were they duds? I put the old ones back in it and they didn't work either. Frustration came over me as I went from being the happiest boy in the world to the saddest because me new toy didn't work. Thankfully, big brother nearby was willing to help and showed me that I had put the batteries in the wrong way. Once they were put in the right way they worked perfectly.

So, what does this have to do with Jesus? Jesus did not buy me batteries, nor did he deliver a great incite that they were in backwards. What does Jesus have to do with all of this?

Just like you get birthday gifts on your birthday, Jesus' birthday is coming up and guess what... you get gifts on his birthday too. John 3.16 says "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life." Jesus' birth began the tradition of giving presents at Christmas as God sent his son as a gift, but you receive something too. There are two thing in that verse give to the world; since you are reading this-that's you. We are given Jesus - The Savior and provider of restoration of relationship... eternal life with God, and we are given eternal life.

We are like the idea of having a close relationship with God. Most people believe in a god or higher power. There is a part ingrained in us that tells us there is a god. We like this idea. However, what people seem to have an issue with is that it is Jesus and Jesus alone that makes this relationship and restoration possible; we like the gift, but not the required power source. We look all around us trying to find some loophole to restoring the relationship and try many different things: money, kindness, numerous "religions", support groups, goodness, organizations, etc... and then we get mad when someone says that these things are good, but won't restore that relationship. We tell people things like "You're narrow minded" and "If God is really a loving God wouldn't he let all religions go to heaven" and the list could go on.

This is where Jesus and batteries get something in common. Imagine how stupid you would sound if you called up that toy car manufacture and said something like this: "You are so narrow minded! If you really wanted me to play with your toy you would make it so the batteries could be put in anyway I wanted to!" or maybe "I can't believe you actually requires batteries to play with this toy. I have been good my whole life and worked hard to get this toy car, that should count for something!" and even "I'm not going to put batteries in it because I know other people put batteries in their cars and they are jerks!"

If you really did call up a manufacture and give these complaints you would end up and the next "list of stupid" email going around the office because they claims are simply ridiculous but we justify saying the same thing about Jesus and having our relationship with God restored.

You can have the greatest gift set before you but if you don't have the batteries it will never be used. You have to have the right power source to get any good out of it. God has given you eternal life but you can only use it by placing your faith in Jesus Christ.

Genuine Thanks Generates Generous Actions.

When I was in high school my sister and I had been out with a friend who lived with her grandma. Her parents lived several hundred miles away so she didn't see them often so around Christmas her local aunts and uncles would bring her gifts. I don't remember what we had done while out that ngiht, but we had all decided to go back to her grandma's and watch a movie. When we got there her aunt and uncle where there and they had stopped over to surprise her and her grandma with Christmas gifts. All is fine with that but it left my sister and I feeling a bit awkward. I didn't drive yet so we were stuck there watching her family Christmas. We did end up watching the movie, but I remember what she said after the family Christmas; "I am so sorry, I didn't know they were coming or I would have wrapped something up to give you guys." She felt bad that in the spirit of giving, she wanted to give.
The natural reaction for humans is to give when given too. If we appreciate something we like to pass it on. Now, I know that someone just popped into your mind that is ungrateful, but in general we are give when given to. The friend had been given to and wanted to give. We all know the feeling when someone gets you a gift but you have nothing to give back... uncomfortable.
David writes a song about this. In Psalm 116 David takes the first 8 verses to sit back to list all the things that God has blessed him with... all the blessings that he does not deserve but appreciates, then verse 12. "What can I render unto the Lord for all his benefits unto me?" David has received and now he is wanting to give. David has received what he cannot buy, earn, or deserve and he doesn't want to take it for granted. But what had David received that was so special that he wanted to give in return?
-V1-2 David needed someone to talk too and God heard... How many people do you know right now that may just need someone to listen. You may not agree with them or even like them, but you can listen with scrutiny or distraction. A listening ear is a gift that costs nothing but is very meaningful. It is praactical yet extravagent.
- V3-5 David had gotten himself into some hard situations; we know his story, theses hard places were often brought on by his own foolishness... but God delivers him. Someone that you know is going through a hard time that they have brought upon themself. They need you to help them get through this time and be delivered from their struggles. God didn't not beat up David or kick him while he was down... he helped him be delivered.
-V6-7 David tells that he was low and God took him high. God didn't not do the least effort in recovering David because it was a mess that he'd gotten himself into... God wen't the extra mile and was "bountiful" with David, not average or ordinary. If David's struggles were a lake; God did not help David get back to shallow water, He took him unto dry ground, sat him down, warmed him up, and gave him something to eat.
When we see what God has done for David and what he has done for us, we too should ask what David asked, "What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?"
God has blessed you and we must praise God's name for it, and pass on teh blessing. God has used others to be a blessing to you, and he is counting on you to be a blessing to those around you. Examine the people around you today and see whom you may be able to take out of the lake of struggles and set upon dry ground.

Tripping Over Myself

On the campus of Pensacola Christian College my sophomore year they built a new dining hall and called it "The Four Winds". It was gorgeous; high ceiling, bright colors, large portions of class that shown the bright Florida sunshine and let us look out to the palm trees and landscape of the campus. In it there were several food lines that were categorized by ethic tastes or preferences. it was magnificent. But, then there was the carpet. No, it wasn't really ugly but it was bright and reminded me of the big casinos you see in a movie, but it could do amazing things! I fell prey to the carpet many times and you could humorously watch other be victimized by it as well! The carpet would reach up and trip you when you weren't suspecting it! I can remember more than one occasion seeing people drop a tray full of food because the carpet tripped them. Now, there were to magic powers bestowed to the carpet, but it happened over and over. For some reason the knap and weave of the carpet could make a completely competent person stumble. As silly as it sounds to say that the carpet actually tripped people, there is something else just as silly... we often trip ourselves. We want to move forward but we become the very thing that holds us back.

In Matthew chapter 6 Jesus is talking in the Sermon on the Mount and repeats the same phrase or idea over and over again. That phrase: "...and you Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly" (verse 4, 6, 18, and 33 (the idea of 33)). Jesus is stating that God the Father is wanting you to be a blessed person. God wants people to look at you and say, "I wish I could be like them." Face it, we all have idols; maybe not in worship but in admiration. We have role models in finance, in family, in dress, in speech, etc... and this is good. There is nothing wrong with having people that we look up to. Jesus is saying that God wants to bless you, and to bless you OPENLY. Why openly? Because he wants people to see what a dedicated life to Christ brings. God is holding a handful of blessings to give to you but there are conditions.

This chapter tells us that God is waiting to bless us so all can see that we are blessed, but we are not the ones to make our blessings known... that is to be God's job.

This chapter reveals 4 areas that we must keep ourselves in check and all 4 of those areas come to the root of our motives; more specifically our prideful and selfish motives. When we are able to suppress ourselves in these areas God is adorn us with blessings for the world to see as a testimony of what he has done for us.

Area 1. Verses 1-4 deal with our charity toward other people... our "good works". No, not for salvation, but cause of salvation. It paints the picture doing things for the sake of helping in the name of Christ, not so you can be pointed out. Remember, it is your job to do the work and God's job to do the pointing out. Recently I was at a funeral dinner where there was a sweet old lady who had made many dishes to share. However, standing beside her she fed you a running commentary of what she had brought and how many people had taken it. She boasted of how good of a cook she was and how her items must be superior to other's. I couldn't help but think that the only reward she received was her own pat on the back when God could have been ready and willing to bless her with anything from a good nights sleep to a check in the mail. On the flip side. Last year our church was in need of an air conditioner unit which would rest in the range of $1,300. After mentioning this (not even asking for money) a visiting guest came up to me after ward and said, "God told me to give you this, but don't tell anyone where it came from." This person is not a church member and I have seen them only a handful of times since, but it is no wonder that God has blessing them in high levels of success because they follow this principle.

Area 2. Prayer. This passage holds the most quoted prayer of all time, The Lord's Prayer, but that is not what carries the main message of this section. Verses 4-15 speaks of the hypocrites that only pray if and when someone is watching, including making themselves a public spectacle to do so. They repeat the same thing over and over and make sure they use impressive words. This doesn't please God. If we want to impress God with our prayers we are told to keep it between him and us, then he will bless us publicly for it.

Area 3. Fasting. This is a practice that is done less and less since it deals with suppressing the physical so we can give more attention to the spiritual and that is not popular in a society that tells us that it is all about us and as long as we believe in ourselves things will be just fine. Matthew 17.21 Jesus tells the disciples that some things can't be done but by prayer AND fasting, he is specifically talking about casting out demons. In Matthew 6.16-19 we see that people are fasting, which is good, but they are making themselves look sick so that others know they are fasting. Again, it is all about us... or the person involved... so much for the "suppressing the physical" part. We are instructed to take an extra effort to make ourselves look strong during times of fasting including the use of make up if necessary. Verse 17 says to anoint your head and wash your face. This is not anointing like often we thing of anointing with oil; this is actually staining your skin with olive oil to give color and then washing off the excess so you look healthy. When we get this area in check and do it properly we will then know the blessing that God has for us and it will be a public example of what he has done.

Area 4. Wealth. From verse 19 to the end we are told all about our assests. We are told to invest into areas that will never pass away, not areas of earthly possessions and treasures that will someday rot and decay. We are not able to serve God and money, they are two areas that are constantly at war because they both want complete control of your time, money, and life. We must freely chose to follow God and let him supply our needs. It draw the comparison of a flower and King Solomon. A flower does nothing to look pretty, it just comes natural because God has designed it that way; King Solomon was the richest man ever and he worked hard to make sure he looked better and had more things than anyone, but he failed at it because he found out the hard way that he can't buy what God gives freely.

I am not saying all of this because I had an extra 15 minutes to write an article for the web, but because this is true. Get yourself in check and act out of the right motives and God will reward you openly. I have seen this over and over in my life. If you look at me I am an average person, but there are many areas that God has proven this. I am not perfect but God has blessed me openly in areas that I couldn't never achieve on my own and He gets all the credit, not me. I have a home that I shouldn't be able to afford, a wife and kids I don't deserve, a car I shouldn't be able to afford, a phone I could never afford, a tv I never dreamed of, peace that I sure don't create on my own, and a God that I can never repay. This in not bragging, this is just praising God for keeping his promise to reward us openly. God has a blessing for you today. Don't trip over yourself trying to get it on your own power.

"I disagree with what you're about to say!"

Recently I had the opportunity to host a local pastor fellowship meeting with about 16 pastors and their wives present. I had chosen the topic study of the age demographics of our church and which areas we are excelling at and which areas we are missing the boat. The begin I drew a pie chart on the board and divided it into quarters labeling them Kids, Teens, Adults, and Seniors to represent the basic areas of ministry a church has. Having said little more, I wanted to stir a little discussion and asked, "Which areas do you find the American church as a whole is doing a good job in, and which areas do you feel we are lacking in?" A few Pastors who are obviously blind to American church trends said, "I don't know that we can really answer that..." Then rose a voice above the rest saying, "Randy, I can see where you are going with this and I disagree with what you are about to say!" He went on telling me why he disagreed with what I was about to say however, I hadn't said anything yet for him to disagree with! For the next several minutes I allowed him to dig a whole as he told all about why he didn't agree with me. In his speech he received many affirming gestures and remarks from other Pastor's present.
Immediately a fence was built down the middle of our group; on one side was everyone who agreed with what he said, and the other group on the side of what I said... although I hadn't said anything, and frankly, I was on his side because he said what I was about to say. Once his whole was deep enough and my blood was boiling enough I interjected as calmly as I could, "_____, You started your speech saying to disagreed with me. I am wondering, the question was, 'Which areas is the church doing good at and which areas is it failing?' What is your answer to this?" After he then answered the question and I asked him this, "Okay, now which areas did you expect me to pick?" After back peddling and denying he every claimed to disagree with me he was bound to an answer but, it was the same answer that he had given! He vehemently said he disagreed with me, took five minutes to tell me why he disagreed with me, and then says that he thinks I agree with him! I am not one to get mad but on the inside my blood was boiling!!! No matter what I said the rest of the meeting I knew that since all I did was retold what he had just said, it sounding like I was only following his direction and not presenting it as my own... the fence was already erected and though we were on the same side it was still dividing. To his credit he did publicly apologize, but that did little for me.
Throughout the afternoon and evening I couldn't get the incident out of my mind. The next day I couldn't get it out of my mind. I got little sleep either of those nights because of the who ordeal, but I knew it wasn't right. God continued to pound my mind with verses like Luke 17.3b-4 If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. It kept through my mind like a Christmas list through the mind of a child. The verse, the ordeal, the apology, the fence... it was all consuming until I finally had to claim victory. It was not God who was wanting me to hold a grudge, it was Satan! I was holding myself victim to a man that simply made a fool of himself in front of his colleagues. I was allowing his foolish action to plague me and keep me from sleep! Satan was throwing this back into my face and keeping me down.
Lying in bed getting no sleep for the second night in a row I finally had to claim victory over defeat and release this from me. God had been prompting me to give it up all along with the scriptures he brought to my mind, but I wasn't done with it yet. Finally, laying there in the stillness of the night I mentally took my hands off from around the man's neck that I had been wringing for the last days and in turn released the bonds of bitterness and unforgiveness.
Sharing my personal struggle with you is not to tattle on anyone. I get the overwhelming feeling that many of our readers are also holding on to something in their life that they need to let go of. Something of the past is dragging you down in the present. You are not only hurting yourself in self-bondage, you are limiting the work of God in your life, and allowing someone else's foolish actions to control yours. Release yourself from their grasp today.

Tempting or Testing?

After a month since posting the last article I am back at the reigns to help you continue your spiritual walk and understand the character of God.

I was asked a question a couple of weeks ago that seemed quite simple to me until I began to reply. Thankfully the question was via email so I had a bit more liberty to stall and research before reply. The question was this: "How do you know the difference between God's testing and Satan's tempting? Are they the same? Do you treat them the same?"

Some of you just thought, "That isn't that hard, we all know that God doesn't tempt he tests, and Satan tempts. Come on Pastor, don't you know that if we 'resist the devil he will flee from [us]?'" Well, for those of you who just said that... keep reading and realize that in the Bible is actually says that God “tempts” people (Genesis 22.1).

Now that you know this there are some things to consider; What is the difference between God's temptation and Satan's temptation? Here is the difference: Intent. Testing is using a circumstance or situation to prove or improve someone. Tempting is using a circumstance of situation to get someone to fall. The same circumstance or situation could be used to either test or tempt someone so you must determine the intent. Once you have determined the intent you can see who it is coming from; God or Satan. God wants to prove us to Him and ourselves while also improving us. Satan wants us to give in and fail.

So, to put it in few words. Testing and tempting can look identical. The easiest way to know is to look at the intent and outcome. God leads us into his likeness, and Satan leads us to destruction.

Next question. Does it matter which?
Answer: No. Any temptation of Satan can be overcome. Or, we can fail any test given by God. The important thing is that we stay true to God in either situation and overcome. I Corinthians 10.13 says that “there is no temptation given to us but that which is common to others. God is faithful and will take the temptation and make a way of escape.” (Barton translation from memory). Essentially, when we are tempted, it can be overcome and God can help you get through it. Notice in the verse it says that the very temptation turns out to be the way of escape. The when we pass the test/temptation we are stronger in the end.

Next question. Do you handle the issue the same?
Answer: Yes. All testing and temptations should be executed using the actions, thoughts, and heart of God. Essentially, WWJD. Very important is to know your Bible. When Jesus was tempted by Satan himself he used scripture to overcome Satan’s temptation. I know that at times we feel we don’t know enough scripture to save our life let alone our soul, but that is where we have to turn to God for help and through the Holy Spirit that help is provided. John 14.26 says “…the Holy Ghost…shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance…” A lot of prayer and Biblical counsel and church support can go a long way in overcoming a test/temptation.

Whether you are under Satan's attack or being tested by God, you can be an overcomer and rise higher than you have ever been for Christ. You can become one in the great cloud of witness mentioned in Hebrews 12.1 for someone around you. You are an ambassador for Christ. You represent Christ. We must represent that Christ is all we need to overcome life.