Hope Is Here

Hope Is Here

Life is hard sometimes and it is only made more difficult when we allow our stubborn pride to lead us. We were created for community. We were never meant to be loners. Society has lied to us and we have bought into that fabrication. We are told to keep to ourselves. We are taught from a young age to bottle things up and hide from the things that bother us. In some cases this is unintentional. We learn it from the behaviors of those that influence us the most. However, in the broad scope of the public eye, it is entrenched into the very fabric of our culture, etched into the veil of everyday life. The more that society encroaches on our privacy, the more we become reclusive. You would think this to be the opposite in light of the advancement of social media. Seemingly we have never been more connected with each other and the rest of the world. However, in general, our virtual existence has become for us the very tool we needed to hide from the real world. As honest as we may be in our online engagement, we are still seperated from that which God intended to be together. There is absolutely no substitute for the real deal. Gathering together for fellowship with each other and in worship and service to God is essential, more so I would say, than nearly anything else in our life. Hope is here because Jesus is here. 

Matthew 18:20

Hope In Our Brokenness

Hope In Our Brokenness

Our brokenness causes us to hide ourselves from others. I have counseled several people over the years who were caught up in addiction and without exageration, every one of them has confessed to me that the biggest part of their struggle and what keeps them trapped in their addiction, is their shame and guilt. The lies they have told, the people they have hurt, the damage they have done, the sins they have committed. They reach a point when they have done so much bad that they truly feel they are incapable of ever turning it around. They have burned so many bridges and destroyed so many relationships that they feel there is no hope. And, I absolutely love it when they come to this point because it means that I can share with them the truth about hope and where to find it. And, in that experience, that moment when the light bulb goes off and their eyes light up and they realize for the first time, that what they have done does not define who they will be... in that moment, I find my joy as a pastor. Our brokenness does not define us. Our mistakes are not the sum total of our life. Our failures are not our legacy. Unless we allow them to be. Surrendering to Jesus, our whole self, warts, scars, and all – is where we find hope. Not in self help books, not in day time talk shows, not in magazines, not in other people – ONLY and ALWAYS in Jesus!

Inspect Your Attitude

Philippians 2:5-8

Motivational experts love the buzz phrase: “Your attitude determines your altitude.” We are told that we need to have that sneering arrogance that just brushes aside obstacles on our way to success. As Lucy once told Charlie Brown, “I don't want any ups and downs. All I want are ups and ups!” From “trash talking” in sports to “in your face” business attitudes, we are told that arrogance is the key to success.

Compare that, if you will, to the attitude shown by Jesus. Paul tells us here that he was God. Yet he took upon himself the nature of a man of humble circumstances. Consider then, the change in Jesus. He went from being “in very nature God” to man. Not just man, but humble man. Not just humble man, but poverty pressed wandering preacher. Not just wanderer but persecuted. Not just persecuted but abandoned. Not just abandoned but crucified. The motivational experts would seem to be right. That a humble attitude, cost Jesus everything, it would seem – until Easter.

We are often instructed to remember Christ's death at the time of Communion. I would invite you to consider what preceded it. The greatest change in circumstance ever known, from heaven to earth. The change was voluntary. We strive to have the same attitude as that of our Lord Jesus.

Just Stand!

Most generally, we are all standing at attention, ready for war. But primarily the war we are ready and ever so willing to wage is typically with either ourself, an internal struggle within that rips us apart or it is with those that have wronged us or offended us in some manner, no matter how acute or slight it may have been. We stand prepared to rip into them and stand on our principles, no matter the consequences. What we don't realize is the damage, the emotional and spiritual tole this takes on those that are on the receiving end of our hellish wrath. Interestingly enough, God's word does tell us to stand firm, ready for battle, at all times. It is even in reference to same war. The difference is in the why. We wage war because we are angry, hurt, offended, confused, etc. So, we go on the offensive. God wants us to stand firm in defense, unafraid, relentless – NOT to attack. The other difference is the who. We wage war against ourselves and/or others. God wants us to stand firm against Satan, evil spirits, wrong doing, sinfulness, temptation, etc. We also, are not to do anything but stand. He fights the battle and wins the war. He tells us to let go of all of the other and to stop waging war and to just stand firm on his promises and his righteousness and his power. Just stand!