About You, or About God?

Do you read the Bible regularly? Do you find it interesting, or do you do it because you think you are supposed to? I have found that many people read the Bible to see what it says to them or about how they should act. When they read it in that context, most of the Bible doesn't apply to them. The result many times is that most of the Bible remains unread. Either the person loses interest in daily Bible reading, or he just stays with the parts that apply to him. In either case, the individual is missing out on the great living and active power of the Bible.
If we read the Bible to see what it says about God, then every word is applicable. Even the long geneologies and all of the details about measurements and ceremonies speak about God's personality and His love for us. As we learn more about the nature of God, we learn how we as individuals should live. Rather than looking for a snippet of scripture that speaks directly to our situations, we look into the entire body of scripture to find the consistent themes that run through both the Old Testament and the New about God's desires for us and His relationship to us. Then when someone comes to us with some teaching or doctrine, we can weigh it against the whole counsel of God instead of relying on a verse or two that may be taken out of context. And we will not be "carried away by every wind of doctrine".
Read the Bible to see what it says about God instead of what it says to you. You'll never get tired of doing that. And it will speak to you.

Getting Close!

I'm getting down to the last couple of weeks until my Peru adventure. Last Saturday I made the walk around the lake and during the last three miles the ends of my toes started hurting. When I got home my toes were really sore to the touch. I decided that my boots must be just a little too small, so I bought a new pair. With a new pair comes a new break-in period, so I am wearing the new boots most of the time. So far, so good. My goal is to do the 10 mile walk around the lake at least 5 more times before we leave. I haven't lost as much weight as I wanted to, but I feel pretty good. I know I will be huffing and puffing at the high altitudes, but I plan to keep a positive attitude through it all. I did have a moment of panic a few days ago. I began to wonder if there would be coffee at breakfast on the trail. I don't want to go through caffeine withdrawl at the same time I am battling the altitude, so I e-mailed the outfitter. He said there "should be", and I thought, "Of course, there should be. My question is Will there be?" So, I plan to bring an emergency supply of instant (gag) coffee just in case. After my oilfield years, I no longer get a buzz from coffee. It is just a matter of not letting my caffeine level drop.

Anyway, I'm really looking forward to the trip. Don't hate me because I have excellent adventures.

Succor or Sucker?

Succor is a word that is not used much these days. It means relief, aid, or assistance. In the hours following last Sunday night's hailstorm my neighborhood was inundated with companies who professed to offer succor. They all promised to be my best friend, my advocate, and the repairer of my home. I couldn't help but wonder about some of them. I wondered if they were at my door to give succor, or were they there looking for a sucker? I prefer to give my repair work to someone I already know and have a level of trust with.

We should not think it strange when we meet someone who is skeptical when we make the offer of salvation. If we just show up offering a best friend, an advocate and the repairer of their lives, they may wonder if we are offering succor, or looking for a sucker. That is why preachers constantly hammer on the topic of relationships. When someone reaches a spiritual crisis moment, they are most likely to turn to someone they can trust to give succor. A stranger might just be looking for a sucker.

No Problems

This morning I had breakfast with a pastor friend of mine. We were commiserating about the same things pastors always talk about at some point: We have good people but would like to have more.
We could do more ministry with more money.
We love our buildings but they sure can be trouble some times.
God is faithful despite our own shortcomings.

My friend showed me an article in this morning's newspaper about a state budget agreement that addresses a projected $1.6 billion deficit. He said, "I guess we don't really have any problems, do we?"

Are You Willing?

I don't know how many of you know who Francis Chan is but he pastors a significant church in California. This Sunday he announced to his church that he feels God has led him to resign and go in a different direction. There is no moral failing, no unrest in the church. As a matter of fact, things were moving along extremely well, but God called him in a different direction. He said that he would have been a hypocrite if he had ignored God's call and remained doing what was easy and effective.

A few years ago, Earl Creps left a life of influence and impact as a leader in the AGTS (Assemblies of God Theological Seminary) and took a US Missions assignment to plant a church in Berkeley, California. He and his wife sold their comfortable house in Missouri and moved to a market where houses are insanely expensive and are following the call of God in their late 50's.

If God were to ask me to leave the comfort of Highpointe and do something completely different, would I do it? Would you? It depends on if we really believe what we say about God.

One Person's Impact

Thursday evening Carole and I attended a reception for a good friend of ours, Matt Wilkie. We met Matt through Book of Hope (now One Hope) several years ago and I have been on a number of trips in several countries with him. Matt currently heads up the intern program for Convoy of Hope and takes these young people to incredible places where they do personal evangelism and compassion ministry. My mind boggled as I thought of the impact this one young man has had for the Kingdom because he was willing to be used. There is no counting this side of Heaven to know how many people have received the Good News, how many people have been helped in practical ways, and how many people on teams he has led now have a greater understanding of the worldwide scope of God's love for His creation through Matt's availability.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Only a living God can cause an otherwise normal person to pour out his life on behalf of others like God is doing through Matt Wilkie. You go, God!

Oilfield Savior

Back in my oilfield days I did directional drilling. I had the knowledge and equipment to make a wellbore go in any direction and direct it to a target thousands of feet below the surface. I was involved in doing that on hundreds, if not thousands of wells during the 20+ years I worked in that business. I certified the legal bottomhole location of those wells without ever actually being at the bottom of even one of them to see if it was actually where I said it was.
I used to tell people that what I sold was faith. When I certified a result, it was not based on my actual visit to the bottom of the well; it was based on our industry proven methodology, the known accuracy of the instruments as they underwent calibration on the surface, and the best practices of the drilling operation. In other words, I could describe what we did. You had to believe that what we did actually acheived the results we certified. By being consistent and transparent in the way we did things we earned the trust of our customers.
Leading people to Christ is much the same way. I can tell them what the Bible says. I can give them instruction. But there is a point when each person has to believe that what the Bible says is true. That point where each person believes that by saying out loud that Jesus is Lord and believing in the depths of your heart that Jesus is the resurrected Savior is enough to receive complete forgiveness from sin. I can't take someone to that place in my heart where the evidence resides. I can only make sure that my life lines up with my words and that I am consistently and transparently living what I say I believe.

Thanks, Pointe Men!

Wow, the Pointe Men work day at HIghpointe was a great success! We had over thirty men, many with their sons, come to have breakfast and then work on the church facility. I saw young men working with older men who they might not have known prior. I saw guys using their vocational skills to help the work, and I saw men working far out of their normal area of expertise. As a result we got much more done today than I thought was possible. I am continually blessed and amazed at what is going on at Highpointe. Thanks, Pointe Men, for a great day of work for your church!

Pointe Men stuff

This Saturday we will be having a Pointe Men breakfast and work day here at Highpointe. Guys who show up at 9am will be treated to a hot, high cholesterol breakfast. Then we will work for a while. Some will help Nelson Alfaro change the light bulbs in the parking lot so they will all be working again. Some will help Michael Weed put in a door and frame up a wall for a new closet. If there are any men left, I have several things around the church which could use some attention, none of which will require much skill or specialized tools. Donovan Dufrene, our new Pointe Men director (Yay for Donovan!!!) will be officially installed in his new position at this event.

We are really blessed to have many guys like Nelson, Michael, and Donovan attending Highpointe. Even if you can't stay and work you should come to the breakfast and enjoy being around some of the best guys around!