"I AM LISTENING"

You may want to read Genesis 22:1-18 from The Message. Here are some thoughts as we approach this Father's Day.

A godly father is one who takes time to hear what is going on all around him and obeys God implicitly.

1. Abraham heard God speak (verse 1).
2. Abraham was not immersed in his own self-centeredness; he heard his son, Isaac, speak (verses 7-8).
3. Abraham heard God speak a second time in the midst of this difficult moment (verse 11).

Abraham's faith influenced not only his immediate family, but also the succeeding generations.

WHEN THE EXCITEMENT FADES

I have always enjoyed reading the final chapter of the Gospel of John. Biblical scholars have long debated why the 21st chapter was added to the Gospel of John. It seems as though the Gospel of John should have end with the last couple of verses of John 20.

Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (Jn 20:30-31 NIV)

Chapter 21 begins like it’s an addendum or epilogue or a P.S. chapter (like the way we end many of our letters, and then have an additional thought to share with the people or audience we are writing to). John seems to want to add something to the Resurrection story that he believes is very important to his readers. John wants to emphasize the reality of the Resurrection!

I want to share three insights with you.

First Insight, Past Failures Haunt Us!

Peter:
He was suffering from the hangover of denial. He bragged that he would never deny the Lord. When a servant-girl confronted him, Peter, vehemently defended himself. He denied the Lord three times. In fact, on his third denial, he called down curses on himself. The rooster crowed. The Lord look toward Peter and their eyes undoubtedly met. How could he ever forget that last look? He wept bitterly. That memory of failure must have plagued him and harassed him.

Thomas:
Had his problems. He was a confirmed pessimist. He was known as “doubting Thmas.” Unless he saw the nail imprints in Jesus’ hands and could put his hand in Jesus’ side, he could not believe. He was controlled and haunted by his past doubts.

Nathaniel:
He was another doubter. He was a skeptic. When his friend Philip told him about Jesus, Thomas responded in John 1:46; “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?”

Two sons of Zebedee (two brothers, James and John):
Both were fiery kind of guys. They always stuck together. Rough and tough fishermen. Known as Sons of Thunder. James was nowhere to be found when the going got tough and the pressure was on. They had walked with Jesus but at crunch time, they became more concerned about themselves. At least John did come back at the cross.

Two others, unknown by name (possibly Philip and Andrew):
They all had a past that seems to have immobilized them. Jesus said, “Anyone who starts plowing and keeps looking back isn’t worth a thing in God’s kingdom!” Luke 9:62.

The problem with past failures is that they don’t stay in the past. They travel with you into the present. It brings frustration with your present. Returning to yesterday, brings frustration with today, the present. That is why they were at the Sea of Galilee. They were frustrated. They had lost purpose and meaning.

Second Insight, Failure Is a Demoralizing Experience!

Peter and his friends did what we often do after experiencing disappointment and failure. They went back to what they do were doing before Jesus had called them. The passage then tells us how they went fishing all night and caught nothing. The sense of failure and frustration was continuing. Most of the fishing in the Sea of Galilee was done at night. Despite the fact that they were expert fishermen (it had been their livelihood), the disciples labored throughout the night and caught nothing. It must have been an unusual experience for them.

Have you ever, like those fishermen, expended a lot of energy and resources in a project or task but failed to see any positive results? Everything seemed gone to these disciples, 3 ½ years, what does it show? Now they are trying to salvage something of their lives by running back to their past. They were trying to rebuild their broken dreams by reconstructing the past. But it can’t be done.

Third Insight, The Resurrection Buries Your Past, Changes the Present, and Impacts Your Future!

Jesus returns to Peter, Thomas, Nathaniel, James, John, and possibly Andrew and Philip (we don’t know for sure if it was these two), because he wanted them to know that their failures and denials were not going to prevent them from being important instruments by which he was going to change the world. Jesus wasn’t finished with Peter or the others because of their failure. In reality he was just beginning with them.

Verses 4-8 demonstrate what God can do with a night or lifetime of failure. There may be no more of an inspiring or hopeful scene in all the word of God than this one. Here is Jesus Christ, and what do we find him doing? Cooking breakfast for a group that had abandoned him!

Jesus comes not only to places we worship, but to the places where we work, live, and play. Jesus wants us to experience the explosive power of the Resurrection in our everyday existence, as well. He wants to empower and transform the totality of our existence. The empty nets of the disciples were symbolical of their lives – empty! Jesus is willing to provide for lives in great ways, if we are willing to totally give ourselves to his kingdom. He always welcomes us back, even when we a defeated and have failed.

The Coffee and Church Experience

This will probably start a coffee war. Dunkin Donuts encourages Americans to be busy and on the go. "America runs on Dunkin." Its a great drive through atmosphere. Starbucks is all about creating an experience through music, friendly baristas, hanging out, and enjoying the socialization and relationships that can develop. Its about rest and relaxation. Green Mountain makes me think of independence and "The Green Mountain Boys." However it wasn't an independent spirit that won the Revolutionary War. It was the intedependency of the State malitias to forge a war as a Continental Army. Now how does this all fit into the community of believers? My choice for coffee? You guessed it. Yes, I am *$ addicted.

The Four Seasons

Spring is only a week away. I can't wait as I am not really a winter person and here I am living and ministering in Maine. Go figure. This got me to thinking about seasons. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says that "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens." We live in four seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. I think of Spring is a season for planting, Summer as a time for harvest, Fall as time for storing or consolidating, and Winter as a time for lifelessness or hibernation.

There are seasons in in the church too. Right now Paradigm, a ministry to twenty-somethings that I am facilitating is in the growth mode (harvest time). There has been a 100% increase in attendance within the last four weeks. This has me and these young adults rejoicing. At the same time it has me thinking about the next season to come and what should be done.

Bill Hybels in his book, axiom, describes the leaders responsibility to know the seasons. He mentions five. Four of them compare with the seasonal changes I have already mentioned. They are (1) season of growth, (2) season of consolidation, (3) season of transition, (4) season of malaise, and (5) season reinvention. We might apply these seasonal changes not only to organizational changes but also to personal changes in our lives.

Your Financial House In Uncertain Times

The Difference Between Prosperity, Recession and Depression:
“During prosperity you are annoyed because the dog and cat won’t eat the expensive canned food you buy for them; In a recession you are delighted that the dog and cat won’t eat the expensive food; and in a depression you begin to look thoughtfully at the dog and cat.” - unknown

The financial crisis we are facing is consuming our thoughts. How can we insulate our ourselves from the recession around us? What should we do when a recession comes to our house? Is there a way out of a personal recession?

Consider the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:7-16). Elijah had said that there would be no rain or dew in the next few years. And there wasn’t. In fact it would be 3 ½ years before it would rain again. The Lord had commanded Elijah to go to the brook at Kerith Ravine and there the ravens would feed him and he could drink from the brook. But now, even the brook has dried up and God directs Elijah to go to Zarephath where a widow also had been commanded of the Lord to supply him food.

The drought was still present. Everyone was suffering. No one (not even God’s servant) was immune from the effects of it. And now he comes into the community and the first person he meets is this widow. What he saw must have been utterly discouraging. He saw a thin, haggard woman with deep lines burrowed into face. Anxiety and suffering had made their mark. Her clothing probably matched her face, faded and threadbare. She tottered and groped as she searched for a few sticks. She and her child faced their last meal. It was beyond their imagination that there might be hope. All her assets were exhausted. There was very little left.

It was a moment of supreme test of faith! For Elijah, it meant depending on this widow who had almost nothing, to be obedient and provide for his need that which she apparently believed she did not have. For the widow of Zeraphath, it meant believing the word of the Lord, “The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord gives rain on the land.”

Ever come to a point where you feel you have reached the bottom of the barrel? There is nothing left to reach for – there is nothing left to give? That’s recession!

Here are three timely principles for us to remember at such a time of financial crisis:

1. Don't Panic.

Don’t give up! I am a New England Patriots fan. I thoroughly enjoyed watching them during them. In their 2004 Super Bowl, with 1 ½ minutes to play and the score tied, 29-29 against the Carolina Panthers, everyone, including the John Madden, commentator for CBS, were talking about the Patriots need to use up the clock and regroup during overtime. I kept shouting at the TV, “No, No, No! Go for it! There is plenty of time.” Coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady apparently must have heard me. New England moved the ball down the field and won the game on a field goal during regulation play. There was no panic and there was no need for overtime.

It’s when we are desperate and do not panic that God can engineer our winning moment. The first thing we must do when the recession reaches into our house is not to panic.

2. Trust God.

Sometimes our faith is more like when I was a young boy and was being taught by my father how to swim. Splashing wildly with both arms and kicking with one leg, I cried out, “Look at me, Look at me. I’m swimming!” But all the time I was holding onto the bottom of the lake with my big toe. Many of us are like that in our faith. “I have faith!” we declare, but it is an untested faith. It is a tentative faith. One toe remains on the bottom.

It is an enormous step of faith for some of us to abandon our fears and trust God with our meager resources. Later that same summer, my dad took me out on a row boat far from land and dumped me in some deep water. I quickly learned to swim. Dad was never far from me. (Too often our faith is like Credit card faith.)

Elizabeth Elliot once said, “To know God is to trust God; to trust God is to obey God!”

Proverbs: 3:5-6 NIV

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will direct your path.”

During a financial crisis, the worst thing you can do is stop giving! Don’t stop tithing. Don’t stop helping others. Don’t stop being generous! The promise to the widow was (vv. 14): “The jar of flour will not run out and the bottle of oil will not become empty before God sends rain on the land and ends this drought.” The promise of God to you is “I will supply all your needs according to Christ riches in glory.” (Philippians 4:19)

3. Someone Is Always Watching.

That someone is God! In Mark 12:41-44 and Luke 21: 1-4, it was Jesus who watched the widow drop her two small coins in the offering at the Temple. Those coins represented all she had in the world and she was willing to turn them over to God. That’s faith! Jesus commended her faith, for she gave out of her poverty, not out of her riches.

Someone was also watching after the widow of Zeraphath. It was the Lord who directed Elijah to the widow with the solution. Give what you have and God will provide more than enough for your needs. Your jar of flour will not be used up and your jug of oil will not run dry until the day that the Lord gives rain on the land. The way out of your personal recessions is through your continued liberal and faithful giving.

And it was God who was watching out for Elijah! God used a widow who was about to cook her last meal to provide for him. Give what you have and God will provide more than enough for your needs.

Winter Light

The people walking in garkness have seen a greta light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. Isaiah 9:2

It seems that each year about this time of season the Lord impresses upon a one word theme. This year it is "light."

For some reason, this Christmas season my attention has been drawn to Christmas lights. There is something fascinating about light. As I vacationed this past week on St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, I was mesmerized by the lights that lit up the hillside surround the harbor of Frenchman’s Bay. I was reminded of Jesus' words in Matthew 5:14, "A city on a hill cannot be hidden..."

A couple of years ago I was able to walk through Ezekiels' tunnel in the City of David, Jerusalem, Israel. As our tour group weaved its way through this 3 1/2 foot wide and maybe 5 foot tall tunnel, the power failed and the lights went out. We had to grope our way through darkness, feeling the sides of the tunnel, hoping that we would not trip or hit our head in the darkness. Fortunately, a few of us had cell phones and were able to sort of light our way with the back lit screens. what a welcom sight was the daylight. Sometimes we find ourselves on a dark journey in life.

With the coming of winter our nights become longer and our days shorter. Winter light casts longer shadows. The shadows appear to be longer than the actual object that projects the shadow. And so it seems within the thoughts of our minds as we struggle to overcome the dark shadows of our life’s struggles. Sometimes our dark or shadowing thoughts appear larger than they really are.

Many people are affected by SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). This condition occurs as a result of a lack of light. Depression, oversleeping, daytime fatigue, carbohydrate craving, and weight gain are some of the symptoms. Lethargy, hopelessness, lack of interest in normal activities, and social withdrawal often accompany SAD. An increase in artificial light is often the cure for Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Some Christians seem to have a spiritual form of Seasonal Affective Disorder. Instead of the use of artificial light (a substitute), there needs to be an increased dose of the Son of God, Jesus, into their lives.

Every morning I get up before the break of dawn and sit down in my favorite chair with a cup of coffee and turn on the lamp beside me in order to read my Bible. Almost every morning without exception, if I don’t twist the on/off knob just right, the bulb flickers on and off. You would think I would get it fixed or just replace the thing. But I don’t. Jeanne likes it, so it won’t be replaced. And it’s not like I don’t know how to fix it. My dad was an electrician and I learned a lot from him. It's just that I find myself either too lazy, too busy, or too distracted by other things in my life to bother with it. So, I live with this flickering lamp. Sometimes I find myself and see other Christians living like that flickering lamp, going on and then going off. Sometimes we become dimmer and then get brighter. It can be very irritating, yet I choose not to change the lamp or fix the loose connection. Some of us remain in the same state in which my lamp is. Frustration and irritableness radiates outwardly from deep within instead of the light of life sparkling through.

I am reminded of the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Mat. 25:1-13). Five virgins had their lamps lit and full and were prepared with an additional container of oil as they waited for the bride groom. Five only had the oil that was in their lamp. The bridegroom delayed in his coming. The five that had not additional oil ran out and sked the other five to share their oil with them. They were told to go and buy more. But while they were gone, the bridegroom came and received the five that were prepared and had sufficient oil for their lamps. It is in the winter of our soul that we need to have additional oil and to hold on tight to the oil that we do have in order for our light of life to keep burning.

Paul wrote to the church at Rome these words (Rom 13:11-12 NIV):
…the hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Robert Caro wrote a book about former president, Lyndon B. Johnson. Many will remember or know that Johnson ascended to the presidency through the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Others will remember him for his conduct of the Viet Nam War. Still others will recognize him for his war on poverty. But Caro found, however, that the Hill country of Texas where Johnson first began his career as a congressman remembered him for something else.

While interviewing people of the Hill country, no matter who Caro talked to, he found people repeating one phrase over and over about Johnson. “He brought the lights! No matter what he was like, we love him because he brought the lights.” In 1937, when Johnson was elected to congress at age 28 there was no electricity in the Hill country. By 1948, when he was elected to the Senate, most of his district had electricity. ”He brought the lights.”

Isaiah proclaimed: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given..." (Isa 9:6 NIV).

The apostle John expressed best what the coming of the Christ Child meant for mankind when he compared it to light coming into the world of darkness:

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it." (John 1:5 New Living Translation)

Jesus brought light. More than that, Jesus is the light of the world.

A few years before 1920, the Sadacca family arrived in the U.S. from Spain. At that time they were manufacturing wicker cages with artificial birds inside, which contained tiny battery operated flashlight bulbs. But sales were slow and finally petered out. The novelty had worn off.

Then 15 year old Albert Sadacca read a newspaper account of a house fire caused by Christmas tree lights. The thought came to him, “Why not make strings of lights for Christmas trees? They would be much safer than candles.” It seemed like a good idea, so he was able to persuade his family to switch from caged imitation birds to Christmas lights.

Up to that point, North America and most of the rest of the world lit up Christmas trees dangerously, using small candles in metal holders. The only problem was that periodically, a tree would go up in flames. Sometimes not only the tree but the presents as well went up in flames, and sometimes even the entire house, and even death resulted for some of the homeowners.

The Sadacca family sold only 100 bulbs in their first year of operation. Now the firm, Norma World-Wide Inc., has sold over 700 million bulbs in a single season and reaches out in several countries of the world. Safe Christmas lights are now a part of the Holiday Season inspired by a 15 year old boy named Albert Sadacca.

Jesus, the light of the world, is an inspiration to a multitude of people who live in darkness!

It was Christmas lights that saved Captain Stewart Spurr and his crew of Pacific Western Airlines. They were flying over Vancouver, B.C. to Kelowna, to pick up passengers when one engine cut out completely. The plane was at 30,000 feet over the town of Hope when the failure occurred. The pilot turned back toward Vancouver. About five miles from Vancouver, the second engine began to sputter and fail. Captain Spurr knew he had to find a place to land fast.

In recounting his story, Spurr said, “Christmas lights, decorating the houses, showed me where the residential area was. Then I spotted a patch of black among the lights. I dared not lower the landing gear. I knew I had to belly flop the plane.” He did, right smack into James Tonaski’s strawberry field.

Captain Spurr and his crew will always be thankful that the Sadacca family came all the way from Madrid, Spain to North America to originate lighting by light bulbs at Christmas time. Because of it all four crew members were saved from death.

Jesus is that light that the world is seeking this Christmas. Jesus is the true (authentic) light that you are seeking to lift the darkness and shadows that are present in your life.

John 8:12 VIV
"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

We, the followers of Jesus Christ have the light of life. Our lives are to lighten darkened homes and darkened communities.

Matt 5:14-16 NIV
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

I like how The Message phrases these verses in Matt 5:14-16:

"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand — shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven."

The light that is within us is a powerful message! It is one of salvation, one of deliverance, one of hope, one of overcoming, one peace, one of contentment, one of protection, one of victory.

Isa 9:6-7 NIV
...And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Again, I like The Message:

"...His names will be: Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father, Prince of Wholeness. His ruling authority will grow, and there'll be no limits to the wholeness he brings. He'll rule from the historic David throne over that promised kingdom. He'll put that kingdom on a firm footing and keep it going With fair dealing and right living, beginning now and lasting always. The zeal of God-of-the-Angel-Armies
will do all this."

Jack Jones was a Welsh coal miner’s son. In his auto-biography, Unfinished Journey, he tells about a terrifying incident as a boy. He was down in the mine with his father, when something went wrong, and the men had to find another way out.

They struggled through a maze of tunnels. Jack’s father was one of the best miners and he was a devoted father. He took Jack on his back and led his fellow miners over the dangerous ground in search of a way out. In the foul air, the flames of their lamps began to weaken

As they came near the dark water in the mine, Jack’s father said, “Careful, son, hold fast around dad’s neck.” Slowly he worked his way through the murky water which was almost up to his chest. Across the water, they started up a steep incline. After a time, he stooped and knelt down and pointed. “Look son.” And there in the distant was a bright disk about the size of a half dollar, on what appeared to be a distant mountain. “That’s what we’ve been looking for, son – the light of the world. Come on!” And the light grew in size as they climbed their way to the world’s surface.

What a beautiful picture – being led out of our darkness. And leading others to the light of the world.

"The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned."

A Lesson from the Ducks

I know it is only August, but the fall season is not too far off. Then, before you know it, winter will be settling in on us here in lovely Northern New England. If you are anything like me, you are already thinking about the rising fuel costs. They will probably double our previous season’s fuel bill. How are we going to make it and keep warm this winter? It was only a couple of weeks ago that I was sitting in my boat watching a momma duck float by with her little ducklings following close behind her. As I replay that scene in my mind, I am struck by the seemingly lack of concern or care that they had. The scene reminded me of Jesus’ words, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matt. 6:26 NIV)

In the greater context of this passage, Jesus could have summed it all up in two words: worry and finances. Jesus used birds as a way to illustrate God’s care for us. If He will take care of ducks, how much more is He interested in us? In fact, Jesus sumed up the context of this passage with these words, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matt. 6:33 NIV) One word could sum up these words of Jesus: priority. You are a priority in God’s greater plan and purposes. God is to be of greater priority in your life. Here are some prioritizing steps that you and I can take toward aligning ourselves with God.

Step One: Make sure you are honestly (a matter of integrity) tithing (10% of your income) to your church. This opens the windows of blessings from God (Mal. 3).
Step Two: Ask the Lord, prayerfully, to help you distinguish between personal needs and personal wants. Learn how to say “no” to your appetite for more possessions.
Step Three: Avoid the easy credit trap. If you can’t afford it without borrowing, don’t buy it. Apply as much as you can above the minimum monthly amount to pay off your debt.
Step Four: Live within your means (reality check). Reject the mindset of this world in which we live that says you deserve more.

Our Heavenly Father wants to give the very best to His children, regardless of economic situation. He often withholds the very best from those who fail or refuse to live within the reality of their provisions and giving. Realign and prioritize your finances according to biblical principles in preparation for this winter season. These steps will result in greater joy, greater peace, and greater fruitfulness during your winter season.