calling all outcasts and misfits everywhere....

"And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan." Luke 17:15-16

There were ten to begin with. All ten lepers were instructed to go show themselves to the temple leadership for inspection of their of bodies and the right to re-enter society with a "clean" status. All ten lived daily with the reality of their "unclean" state. Their disease was extremely serious and no one in the community was to touch them. Removed from the opportunity daily to have relationships with friends and family, their ailment limited their quality of life severely. Then came Jesus. All ten are equally healed and set free from leprosy as they went by faith to show themselves to the temple priests. But only one instinctively returned and enthusiastically glorified God at the feet of Jesus. I wonder what the other nine were doing? We often think the worst of them. More than likely Jewish, familiar and accepted in the temple system. Perhaps they immediately went from the temple to show mom or dad, brother or sister. Just their miraculous recovery alone would have stirred up attention wherever they were. What did they say? How did they explain themselves? We are not told. All we know is that they all were drastically changed from this event. But the distinction given to the one who returned has to do with his non-Jewish heritage, his outsider label that could not be cleansed, healed or washed away, except within the changed hearts of previously prejudice believers. There is a good chance that this man ran back to Jesus because he was not fully received in the temple system as a Samaritan. The fact that the only one who returned to glorify God and thank Jesus for their healing was a mix breed, considered unclean and impure from birth to most Jews, speaks volumes of God's perspective of how unthankful Israel was and how beyond Israel the Gospel was meant to spread. But the obstacle was the hard hearts and ignorant ways of believing Jews. When you consider these things, you can't help but realize within the walls of most Christian churches today the need for a radical awakening to the same limiting conditions. We too can easily attempt too often to function without genuine worship and gratefulness for all He has done for us, as well as neglecting the fact that the Gospel is meant to go beyond us, beyond our stained glass windows, steeples and Sunday school classrooms. Beyond our Dogma and Creeds. Beyond our Seminary's and Mission Statements.... there are people unlike us who are ready to have a reason to fall to the ground and loudly praise God for all He has done for them. Will they be given the opportunity?

The disciples were caught up in the whole "Israel / Rome" scandal and couldn't get beyond their own wrong idea of what Jesus was going to do to bring an end to some political suffering in the region. Regional mindset limited their correct view of the world. And the same can be said of much of the church culture today. Often Jesus exalted his experience with non-Jew recipients. He did this to make sure that those Jews around him would begin the tough job of personally removing walls and barriers to the Gospel that existed in their own hearts. The Kingdom of God has always been larger than our prejudicial leanings, and yes I believe we still have some.

I'm glad that the one who returned was not a Jew. What a huge statement that makes concerning the limitless potential of the advancement of the Kingdom of God everywhere. What part of the world has yet to be reached? What labeled people group in the world, or even just in our community has yet to hear of Christ? What is needed to reach them? Perhaps the key lies in letting these people win us before we can ever make authentic attempts to win them. In other words, do I think of them, consider them, pray for them, weep for them, really value them? Do I miss them at the table of the Lord, in the fellowship of the brethren? Can I imagine the Kingdom of God without them? The disciples could early in their learning process with Christ. May it never be so with us. Let's not envision the Body of Christ without the least of these. My heart goes out this morning to the Samaritan Lepers all over the world. May God help us to get a large enough vision that includes the future sight and sounds of their gratefulness.

stop or go? left or right? up or down??????

How many choices and decisions got me to where I am today? I mean really think about that. Now I find myself most days in the bleachers watching my own kids, as well as others around me, making decisions daily that will highly affect the rest of their lives. The reality of this would paralyze someone and keep them from making any decision at all if they thought about it too much. But the power and potential of a choice was never meant to keep us from making a choice. A lot of choices are very risky. This is why most choices need to be processed by faith, rather than fear.

That brings me to today. Today I will have many decisions to make, many of which will impact the lives of hundreds, perhaps thousands of people. I must remember that there still is wisdom in the multitude of counselors and that the steps of a righteous man are ordained of the Lord (Biblical promises). This means that if I allow God to speak into my decisions before they are made and I continue to function daily fully aware of my position in Christ (which is the qualifying factor for righteousness) then I have a much better chance at making good decisions. Remember, it was a tough, yet good decision on the part of our heavenly Father to give his Son so that we might have the choice of eternal life. So what's my first big choice today... I choose to live!

dealing with spiritual vertigo...

Its funny, I know a lot of pastors who can't remember on most Monday's what they preached on Sunday. That's usually due to the busy schedules and multiple tasks that need to be accomplished and mentally processed. But this morning, I woke up incredibly early (3:45am) with yesterdays message on my mind and heart for my own life. I spoke on the Symptoms of Spiritual Vertigo Listen Online - that's the feeling of being disoriented, unsure of whether you are coming or going. This describes much of my faith journey as I attempt daily to follow Jesus. It is comforting to know that the early apostles experienced much the same confused state of mind as they attempted to process everything they were seeing and hearing. Acts 1:1-11 describes a group of apostles who seem completely overwhelmed and disenfranchised as forty days with several appearances from the risen Lord comes to an end with them straining and staring up in the sky where Jesus just ascended. What a ride! What a journey the previous three years had been for them. I've been thinking this morning about my own spiritual journey with Christ. It's been full of "What? Why? Where? How?" inquiries with a few moments of refreshing clarity concerning God's will and plan for my life or direction he desired for me or the ministry I was leading. What a ride! My mind is already on next weeks message where I pick up at verse 12 and discuss the Cure for Spiritual Vertigo. I'm on this journey with everyone I'm teaching. God doesn't want us moving full steam ahead in life while disoriented, confused and dizzy. Sometimes it takes being still to know that He is God and has things all under control. Somethings we don't know and will never know until we are face to face in the presence of the one who made us. For now, in times of disarray, we simply need to trust and obey...What a great Monday morning perspective and cure for the common spiritual morning sickness that happens to most who dare to get impregnated with vision from on high.

where gifting and skill collide....

What a story book ending... Civilian Captain Richard Phillips is home and being reunited with his family thanks to the sharpshooting skills of our incredible Navy Seals. The precision and accuracy of these sniper shots that brought Captain Phillip's captors down was incredible, yet just another day on the job for our soldiers. I've been thinking how incredible it is when some one's gifting is matched with talent and skill excellence that leads to near perfection, like these sharp shooters. What gifting have I, or any of us, aloud to linger in mediocrity due to laziness or lack of motivation. Imagine doing what you do with precision and consistent accuracy. Whether it is parenting, working, communicating, writing or even living... perhaps more skill assessment and practice is in order for all of us. In other words, our best in most things considered has yet to be realized.
One of my favorite all-time college coaches is John Wooden of UCLA, who made champions of semi-talented teams year after year by teaching them to simply and consistently perform at nothing less than their own personal best. This caused every player to ask, "What is my personal best?" The answer continues to unfold as you never settle for second rate or mediocrity. This challenges me this morning as I consider these Navy Seals and their sharp shooting ability. What do I need to "sharpen," that I've settled for "dull?" My list is in the works, as is my juiced up effort to not settle in any of these areas for less than my own personal best, after all, that's what my Lord gave and definitely deserves from me.

clutter...

I've been attempting for days now to deal with the clutter in nearly every venue of my life. Clutter has always been a sign of how busy I've been and has helped me in the past readjust my schedule a bit below "overwhelming." My office, my truck and my bedroom are usually the pockets that most usually attract clutter. Besides sermon prep, I have high hopes of tackling my clutter today. I think clearer and function more effectively overall. Now I must stop blogging and start uncluttering (I don't think that's a real word).

Easter: The Day After....

I've enjoyed thoughts this morning of how Easter services went for all the other churches in my city. I know many of the other pastors (400 plus churches in Spokane) and I can hear their voices preaching and proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I get excited about the effect in the hearts and homes of people throughout my city. I must confess that there are times that I question, like many preachers do, the good that preaching actually does. But then you are reminded of your calling and the burning message that God has placed in your heart, needless to say the Biblical mandate to preach. "How else will they hear and how else will they know?" My heart leaps when I think of all the messages proclaimed yesterday everywhere. We preach because of the Promise, "My Word will not return void." May the Word that was planted in the hearts and lives of men, women and children on Easter bring a great harvest of regeneration, renewal, revival and peace. My thoughts are also on the fact that most people today need to see a sermon more than hear one. So on this day after Easter, my hope is that believers everywhere will allow their co-workers, family and friends the opportunity to actually "see" resurrection power through the change and transformation of their own lives, going from the use of pulpits to the life choices and daily decisions of God's people. Imagine the rapid spread of the Gospel. Lastly, today I have on my mind the nearly 100 unreached people groups remaining in the world today. It's hard to believe that there are only around 100 left. What are we doing to reach them? My heart burns this morning for them. The Message of God's love, acceptance and forgiveness needs to get to them. A sense of urgency should burn in the hearts of all who claim to follow Jesus Christ. As my good missionary friend always signs out... "until all have heard!"

easter dinner fun....

Easter '09
Pic of my kids....
(left to right)
Vaughn Jr
Will (son-n-law)
Lachele (in back next to her hubby, Will)
Daniel (front)
Royale

boldly going where many have gone before....

Hebrews 10.19ff "Therefore brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh... Let us draw near with a true heart and full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful..."
I've been trying too long to daily live a new life with an old heart. This is something that God has really convicted me of this morning while in prayer and meditation on his Word. I've been earnestly praying that God would show me what he sees in my life that I am failing to see. The fear might be that if I saw what God really sees in my life I would lose all hope and confidence, but the opposite is promised in His Word. The boldness and confidence is a result of His pure view through His lens of love. His love is revealed in his sacrifice on the Cross. My identity in Christ has everything to do with the transfusion and transmission of his blood to provide for me a new heart. We are, with boldness and confidence, to draw near to God with a certain kind of heart, a "True Heart," full of assurance. This is possible because a "new heart" has been sprinkled! I'm committing this Saturday morn to go there. To not attempt to daily examine an "old heart," but to trust in his work on the Cross to provide me with a new heart. It is in this context that when I draw near to God, He is faithful to draw near to me. Enjoying his promised presence boldly and with more and more confidence and genuine trust in the Cross.

searching for authenticity...

Sunrise this morning was incredible. The weather has shaped up here in Spokane to a more pleasant 60 plus degrees daily. It seems the entire community is desperately soaking up sun rays wherever they can find them. I was wondering though what is really on every one's mind today in my city. Most are currently simply just trying to maneuver through a bit of traffic, dodging potholes along the way - the left overs of a long, harsh winter. The approaching Easter weekend has infiltrated our billboards and mail boxes with church service invites and the stores are packed full of Easter baskets, chocolate eggs and cheap, inexpensive dress up clothes. Then my thoughts journey to the Cross and an empty tomb. Two redemptive venues that haven't yet probed my heart consistently and completely, let alone the 85% of pre-Christians who reside in my city. Then I'm reminded of Jesus' own words, "If I be lifted up (meaning the Cross) I will draw all men unto Me." This leads me to my knees this morning praying in full cooperation with the Cross that my city would be "drawn" to Christ, not coerced or manipulated, but authentically drawn by the Holy Spirit. Jesus left no one out. He promised that "all" would be drawn if he was lifted. So today, I pray for "all" my city. Holy Spirit, put the Cross on every one's mind. Draw them to the authentic love and acceptance of Christ, not the commercialized dog and pony show we in the church have made of Easter. Let them see Jesus. Somehow get me out of the way. I know if they could truly see Christ, understand fully the powerful work of his death and resurrection, that they would be drawn to who he really is.

surfing simulation...got 2 do what you got 2 do

We had a blast last week up in the mountains. No cell phone coverage, no internet and no running water. We took our two youngest on spring break, Royale and Daniel with us. Thanks to some great friends who own an incredible cabin and a huge heart to loan it to us to get away. We were able to hike, ride the four wheeler and hang out together. It was great quality time. It's just not a vacation to me without surfing, so dad had to find a way to turn the ATV into a surfing simulation machine of some kind. The kids had a blast on the trails though. Good to be back home though and heading into a busy week and weekend with Easter and all.