Poetry In Motion - Pt. 2

As I write this I am punching my keys due to the fact that just as I was finishing this blog, everything I had written disappeared never to be found again.  You can imagine there was a bit of frustration.  Nevertheless, as I look at this unfortunate turn of events I have to wonder, maybe this was the Lord saying, "I don't like what you wrote, it was absolute jibberish, therefore, I am going to erase it from your computer."  Now you can take this in one of two ways.  You can take it as a Pessimist (glass half-full) or you can take it as an Optimist (glass half-full). 

Have you ever had to work beside someone that was a pessimist?  I'm sure you have.  For the optimist they can be a bit aggravating.  I have found, however, the need for the pessimist in our world today.  You see, I believe the pessimist is the person who keeps us sharp, constantly thinking about the items that need special forethought and are not emotionally charged.

Psalm 22 is an amazing Psalm of David because it has both elements - pessimism and optimism.  It is written in two segments, despair and then thanksgiving.  David is writing during a particularly difficult time of his life and shares a statement that is later quoted in the New Testament by Christ while on the cross - "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me" (Ps. 22:1).  Some believe that Jesus actually may have recited this entire Psalm while he hung on the cross.  I find it amazing how David's words later became Christ's, both crying out to God in the midst of terrible loneliness.  Jesus, especially, was experiencing this terrible emotion, not with surprise and wonder, but with the reality of his Father turning his back on the lamb that carried the sin of the world.  Alone, an emotion not familiar to Christ. 

But thankfully there is the second segment of Psalm 22 - thanksgiving.  The glass is half-full, not half empty.  I find the honesty of David in his despair and Christ on the cross refreshing when I think of mine and others circumstances, sometimes of loneliness and despair, but never dwelling in the valley of death.  Psalm 22 reminds us, as well, of the promise that often lies beyond our sight.

24 For he has not ignored the suffering of the needy. He has not turned and walked away. He has listened to their cries for help.

  Psalms 22:24 (NLT)

Poetry In Motion

Sorry for the delay.  Been having some issues with our computer systems here and have not been able to update the blog like I would hope.  I have started a new series, even though I am already starting week 3 of "Poetry In Motion."  I thought I would take some time and examine some of the Messianic Psalms during this advent season.  Week 1 really looked at Psalm 110 which is a Psalm of Christ the King.

Psalm 110, the most quoted Psalm in the NT, is a psalm about power regained.  Psalm 110 is a Kingly psalm.  It is often thought to be a psalm that is sung during a coronation or enthronement of a Davidic king.  In the NT Psalm 110 is quoted 27-times. 

I like this anonymous authors description of Psalm 110 - "The power of the Psalm is seen in its Messianic promise - the promise of God becoming a man and touching earth in order to reclaim His creation.  The subject is the Priest-King.  David wrote Psalm 110 as a poem to be read, a song to be sung."

The principles behind this Psalm target the Kingly Christ, the throne of Christ and the connection point of both in our lives.  What I mean is, if Christ is truly King, as this Psalm proclaims, then naturally their is a personal application for us all.  That application targets the throne room of Christ in our personal lives.  Let's take it a step further.  What does Christ look like as the King of our lives, meaning having complete control.

I envisioned 5 principles regarding Christ's control and presence in our lives lived out.

• In the midst of your enemies.
• In the midst of your battles.

Christ's control is then further fleshed out in the victories of a Christ controlled life.

• He reminds us of his constant presence.
• He reminds us that he will go to war for us.
• He will give us rest.

Truly powerful lives are those that seek less and less control.  Strange isn't it!?  Tell me your thoughts.  I would love to hear of moments in your life that you fought God's control and eventually came to an understanding with him that true power would never come until you gave up the throne of your life.

Randy

Hell's Kitchen - Pt 4 (Again)

I have to say this was really a great series to study for.  It was fun, thought provoking and I hope challenging.  I love the passage from Matthew 13 on the Kingdom and yeast and how the Lord used this passage to turn the tables a bit on the normal way of thinking in that day and age.  

Yeast, throughout scripture, always carried a negative connotation.  It was almost always connected to evil and the effects of evil in a person's life.  But in Mt. 13, Jesus uses the analogy of yeast in a more positive light, reflecting on just how a little bit of  yeast influences a batch of dough, so righteousness influences both the individual and the church.

The power of yeast wants to create an inner transformation of the heart.  Transformation cannot take place corporately until it happens inwardly.  Inward transformation is a direct result of an individual experiencing or seeing the holiness of God and recognizing their shortfall. 

When Jesus spoke of yeast as “evil” he was referring to the ability of sin to permeate our lives and so he called us to get rid of the yeast.  Paul understood the same concept and called the Corinthian church to get rid of the yeast.

6 Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast--as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.
1 Corinthians 5:6-8 (NIV)

But in Mt. 13, Christ is speaking of the permeating affects of yeast for “good” in our lives – a transformation of the heart. I think Ezekiel understood.

19 And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart,
Ezekiel 11:19 (NLT) 

I find it very difficult to comprehend at times how someone can be of faith with no apparent change in their life.  I was speaking to a friend recently about friends that I have that have "faith" in Christ, but with no apparent change in their personal lives, no "yeast" activity.  Maybe they didn't have enough yeast in the first place?  Maybe our function as a church body is to plant yeast like we were planting seed.  Hmmm!  Interesting concept!  Tell me what you think.

Randy

Hell's Kitchen Pt. 4 (I think)

John MacArthur stated in his Commentary on the book of Matthew 5:13 about the influence of salt.  Here is what he said - “The primary characteristic Jesus emphasizes is that of preservation.  Christians are a preserving influence in the world; they retard moral and spiritual spoilage.”

My mom over the years has done her fair share of canning.  You know what I mean, canning fruit, meat, vegetables, etc.  Except for her canned fruit, my mom would often add salt to the jars as a preservative, meaning to keep the contents from spoiling.  So when Jesus calls the church to be salt in the world what he means is that we are a preserving agent, attempting to keep the world from spoiling.  That calling comes with a high demand and consequence because a large majority within the world today resist any agent who calls moral and spiritual actions to account.  

I like what Paul said to the church in Corinth and how it connects to the role of the church in a world lacking the influence of salt- 
15 For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?
2 Corinthians 2:15-16 (NIV) 

Obviously none of us are up to this task without the power of Christ, but don't you find it amazing how Paul encourages the church to remain steadfast in righteousness as a means of being salt in the world.  Being salt in the world today is a delicate balance for the church.  We can be the "aroma of Christ" or the "smell of death."  We can encourage a friend in the midst of adversity or we can confront a friend living in sin.  Both add salt to the recipe, but how much.  Both are the result of how graceful we are in our use of salt.  


Randy

Hell's Kitchen - Pt. 2

George Barna was quoted saying - “For several decades, the Church has relied upon greater sums of money, better techniques, bigger numbers and facilities, and more impressive credentials as the means to influence society at large.  These elements have failed us; in our efforts to serve God, we have crowded out God Himself.”   

 I shared this last Sunday how I believe Christ to be the architect of the church and we are the materials in which that building is put together.  As I stand back and look at the church from a distance, however, what I think I see is this vast distance between where Christ is prepared to build and where the church is dropping off materials.  Often I wonder if the church hasn't continued to drop off their materials in places where the Lord once worked but has transitioned into new arena's or fields (I would be interested in hearing your interpretation of what I just said :)).  

I believe the church needs to rediscover what it means to be both Missional and Transformational.  

• Missional - are we actively seeking ways to express Christ’s love in new arena’s, new ways, and with relevance.
• Transformational – are we expecting results that reflect Christ.

 Think about where we have come as a church.  I believe being Missional is really the same as a ship with a crew member standing watch in the crows nest making sure the ship (church) is sailing in the appropriate direction.  Being Transformational then calls us to steer the ship in a direction that allows us to reflect Christ's love in ways unique to our sailing vessel (church) with dramatic results in the lives of people.

Far to often our sailing vessels have NO one in the crows nest, pointing us NO where.  What a difference we could make in people's lives if we would only "man the nest" and extend our telescopes to reveal the "Cross"-hairs of Christ.

Can't wait to hear from you.

RC