Who Told You That You Were A Man?

In the last several years, men have had a hard time getting any respect in our society. Even good men. Granted, there's been some pretty strong reasons for this. Namely a combination of men who abandon their women, families, and responsibilities for "freedom" and those in leadership positions who abuse their power for personal gain- sexual or otherwise. It happens just about everywhere you can imagine: political gatherings, boardrooms, movie studios, classrooms, living rooms, churches, and every conceivable place where people gather. 

Women are rightfully fed up with it all, and they have most often have pushed to remove many men (including those not involved in abusive activities) from these positions rather than choosing to challenge and invest in making males better people. Replacing men with women is not the answer. Both genders and people from all cultures and backgrounds are prone to selfishness, hate, greed, abandonment, and predatory natures. 

Although what I'm going to share today is not new, I am challenged by the material. The work will be yours and God’s to figure out how to step forward into wholeness. It's a process I plan to be in the middle of until the day I die.

"You can't measure manhood with a tape line around his biceps." Evangelist Billy Sunday

We Are Left Confused.

As men, we are robbed by valid images of manhood and transition to manhood by absentee men- unavailable fathers : Abusive or silent or emotionally detached, broken homes, consumed by career, etc. 

We are also robbed by the deterioration of an extended family. There's a glaring lack of uncles, grandfathers, older brothers and other kinds of men that would be mentors. No, the answer isn't to replace men with women. That's a mistake. It's for men to take their proper place by investing in their families, communities, the places they live, work, and serve.

Dude looks like a lady. 

Distorted ideas of Real Men. 

The media is still trying desperately to change the definition of a man. 

Both in Reel and in Real life. We've got the bumbling dad who knows nothing. This seemed to be started in our generation by the television show “Home Improvement”. Then add in the nontraditional families in our society, including gang life. Thankfully, there's some pushback to the feminized version of men... and there's pushback to the "toxic male" stereotype as well. 

On the other end, we have the "Superstar Men", athletes, rock stars, business moguls, that present a very small percentage of men but are portrayed as something we all must aspire to. Equally ugly and unattainable. Unless you are constantly focused on what a real man is as defined by Our Creator, you will constantly be left feeling inadequate and maybe even unmotivated to stay the course.

Lack of Cultural Traditions.

In the modernized Western world, we have all but removed any sense of ceremony or task completion to mark the transition of a child to a man.  That does not mean it is no longer important.

I say begin your own! In our family, on the 13th birthday of each of our children (we had 2 boys and 2 girls), we gathered with significant people in their lives of the same gender, allowing them to speak encouraging words to them, challenge them, and then in the Christian tradition, pray over them.  

So, I have some questions for you to consider:

• When Did You Realize You Were A Man?
• What Steps Seemed Most Significant in your Quest for Manhood?
• Who Told You That You Were A Man?

Are our wives, children, and friends asking the same questions about us? They might be.

We might be asking ourselves (a I have often)- "Have I created a hole so deep by just surviving that I'm afraid to take those drastic steps toward health? 

Proverbs 23:7 says,  "For as he thinketh within himself, so is he."  (American Standard Version)

We can't be all God has for us without allowing Him to continue his work in us. He has to change us- and when He changes us, it is always for the good. Why? God Himself is the definition of what is good. 

Where We Can Get Stuck                                                          

“In secure possession of their gender identity, the great majority of men moved from the chest, as it were, out of hearts freed from the Legalisms of Childhood,  the Narcissisms of Adolescence, or the Perfectionisms of an Adulthood spent futilely seeking self acceptance (or even the affirmation of parents).”
Leeann Payne, Crisis in Masculinity;  page 13

Question:  Let’s look at these and see if we find ourselves here in one spot or in many…Again, from Leeann Payne:

 “Legalisms of Childhood”

This may be best represented by Pharisees- the other end from Hedonism. Telling others what to do and how to do it- setting themselves up as an example. There's a list of Do’s and Don’ts, Shoulds and Shouldn’ts. It is performance driven and oriented. “Fair” is a big deal, “The Way Things Should Be”. With this, our lives are under expectations, judgments, and curses. Those who follow this way of living tend to do the same to others. Roles are important, so relationships may be difficult. All this may tend toward a joyless life

Galatians 3:3
"Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?"  (NIV)

“Narcissisms of Adolescence ”

This may be best represented by Samson. He was a slave to passion with a lack of self-control and a huge ego.  He was under a Nazarite vow to control the carnal nature but indulged it with his relationships with Philistine women. And it led to disaster. Every time we follow our sexual lusts, we are headed for disaster. It's all about my needs and wants, my time, my interests, my hobbies- “It’s All About Me”, “What’s in it for me?” Because of this mindset, men in this direction tend to reject structures and standards that benefit the common good. No one wins.  Commitment may be a one way street; Relationships are probably many but may be shallow. This man fears growing up and taking responsibility.  May tend toward living life through his children. He's probably ver vulnerable to addictions.

Ephesians 4:22-24
"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;  to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."  (NIV)

“Perfectionisms of Adulthood ”

The strive to be perfect is a trap as well! This may be best represented by King Saul, the Apostle Peter, and the Pharisees. There's a  high need to prove authority and position. Image and control are very important. This man will use words and actions to manipulate people to get what he wants. He's performance oriented and passes it on to others, making him an easy target for “secret sin”.

Philippians 2:2-4
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." (NIV)

"The Narcissisms of Adolescence"

These guys make fear based decisions and actions (or lack of action!).
It's mostly self-focused. Very difficult to think of or bless others. They can be emotionally inattentive to primary relationships. This man has difficulty focusing on God’s hand of blessing in their lives. He may often compensate for something lost or something never gained. For those of us married, we can turn “true godly leadership through servanthhood” over to our wives, leaving them burdened, confused and hurting. Those of us with children can leave them confused, too.

Ultimately, there's confusion about who we are as men. We have good intentions and can try to live lives that please God, but the truth is, we cannot fully bless others until we see how God has blessed us!  

 Jesus as Our Model of Manhood

He dealt with the same temptations as us (Hebrews 4:15). He took significant steps to Manhood.  For Jesus, this probably first happened at 12 years old when he went with his parents to Jerusalem at Passover and was later found in the temple. (Luke 2:41-52) There was verbal affirmation from other men (vs. 47). His parents saw him with “new eyes” (vs. 48). There was a process of growth and change (vs. 52). 

Just look at what happened at his baptism-  Matthew 3:13-17
"Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

Jesus took ownership of what was right (vs. 15). He was affirmed by the Father. 

Jesus was tempted! Let's look at Matthew 4:1-11:
 
"Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.  After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: 

"'He will command his angels concerning you, 
and they will lift you up in their hands, 
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" 

Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" 

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." 

Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" 

Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him."   (NIV)  

Notice twice Satan says “If you are the Son of God…” questioning his identity in the Father. When Jesus doesn’t cave in, Satan offers him all the world has in exchange for His True Identity

Our Sonship, Our Manhood, Our Identity

Galatians 3:26-29
"You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." 

The same experience as with Jesus will happen to us if we choose to live in the freedom and fullness we have in Jesus, if we follow God's ways as outlined in the Bible. We will be questioned by others our identity in Christ as sons of God. And we will sometimes question ourselves about our identity in Christ. Our enemy, Satan, through the ways of the world, will offer whatever he can in exchange for our Manhood, our True Identity! His offers will become available to us as we make choices along the way toward whatever we place before God, thereby setting our hearts up for deceit. It would be easy to stop here and ask the questions such as “What have we exchanged for our True Manhood, Our Godly Identity in Jesus?” But we know in all things, God's Word is true and His ways are best! 

"So be strong, show yourself a man, and observe what the LORD your God requires: Walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go…" ( I Kings 2:1-3)

Making The Perfect Thanksgiving Even Better

Sometimes, not often enough, we reflect upon the good things. And those thoughts always center around those we love, and I think about those people who mean so much to me. And for so many years have made me so very happy. And I count the times I have forgotten to say "Thank you", and just how much I love them.

Those lyrics above as recorded by Richard and Karen Carpenter on their "Tan" album sadly but accurately reflect so much of the world around us today.  Want a Thanksgiving that is truly different? Try reflecting on these lyrics from a different songwriter: "I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds." The Psalmist writes this as a prayer, recalling all the great things God has done in his life. Oh, how much better my life would be if I'd stop and recount my blessings! How about you?

They Didn't Kill the Easter Bunny

There's a reason the Easter Bunny thrives. People love him. He's soft, cuddly, and approachable. He brings colorful eggs filled with sweet treats and other little gifts, but he is not the reason for the holiday we'll celebrate at the dinner table this Sunday. Look deeper. I encourage you to do so. Go ahead.

In a world of confusion with everyone mad at everyone else, do you want the kind of love that will last forever? Look no further than to Jesus Christ. But who exactly is Jesus? That's the question we all must answer. Each of us. Believer or not, this question will be asked of us one day. If you don't understand, read ahead and you'll discover the greatest love story ever told.

Today is Good Friday for we who believe and so commemorate the passion of Jesus of Nazareth, meaning his crucifixion on the cross for the sin of mankind, both yours and mine. His bloody, broken body violently nailed to a wooden cross so he could die... all leading to His Resurrection- his greatest and most monumental accomplishment. 

Think about this: The very measurement of time changed because of this event!

Jesus is controversial- and His story timeless. Magazines still devote cover stories to Him, books continue to be written, songs composed, and films made. Each piece brings to the forefront Jesus' own question to his disciple Peter, and agin, it is one we all must answer: "Who do you say I am?"

Yes, it's true. Just for you and me and the whole earth - from the beginning of time. To accept being punished along criminals, Jesus chose to lay down his life to redeem us from Hell. The Hell we deserve for our sin. Ever lie? Cheat? Slander? Then, his sacrifice via the cross was just for you. It's a gift that cost him much pain and sorrow. But if you receive this gift of eternal life by choosing and following Him, it's a gift back to Him that will bless him. Yes, something very special. Much more special than chocolate eggs and sweet candies found in pastel colored grass.

God is very gracious and loving by making it crystal clear and easy to understand: Jesus Himself says He is the Only Way, the Only Truth, the Only Life and that no one would be able to come to an eternity with God the Father except by receiving Him. (Read the Book of John in the New Testament, Chapter 14). God could have made it difficult to discover, but He did not. It's not from hate or prejudice, it's from love He said what He said and did what He did.

It was His same great love for the people He created- that includes you and me- that caused Him to sacrifice Jesus in our place. And it's His same love that draws you to Him. Can you feel the call to Him in your heart? Does your spirit leap at the sound of His name? If not, it's time to ask yourself why. 

First comes death on a cross. A brutal and terrifying way to die. Torture like none other. Medically, it's just an awfully painful way to die. (Read about the medical explanation of what this does to a body here.) His radical way to show great love begins with his submission to this kind of death.

But oh, then comes Easter Sunday morning- the Triumph of Jesus over sin and death- for our benefit! Never a victim- always a champion. He accomplished this great mission born from Love- the very mission the Father gave Him. Jesus the triumphant one! Preachers everywhere should remember this! As should the people He gave his life for.

At the end of time, known as the Final Judgment in the Bible, (See the last book of the Bible. It's called "Revelation"), Jesus has returned to earth as the Triumphant King that He is. Mankind, one person at a time, must give an account for how they have lived their life. Those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ and have lived to please Him all their days will proceed to an eternal glory free from pain and suffering.

Unfortunately, not all will believe. He gave men free will to choose. To those who have turned away from Jesus, rejected Him even though He was God's gift to pay for our sins, they will be sent to Hell by their own choice. Hell, the place of fire and torment forever, was designed for Satan and his demonic angels, but those that deny Jesus as Messiah (Christ) and follow their own path, end up in that place as well. Again, it's their choice, not God's.

Whether you believe in the Easter Bunny or not doesn't matter at all. The real question- Jesus' question- remains: Who do you say that I am? 

Can You Look Him in the Eye?

Can you look him in the eye? Can you? It's quite a haunting question that has to be answered. Unfortunately, this was censored by Fox! It's too bad. After all the trashy commercials during the Super Bowl, here was one that makes America think. See it below and the text that follows.

Botched Abortion survivors make their point, don't they? Lest you think abortion doesn't have a dirty underside, a foundation of hatred and racism, consider the quote below from it's founder:

"We don’t want the word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population..."

          Margaret Sanger, 
               Founder of Planned Parenthood

-- in her letter to Dr. Clarence J. Gamble, December 10, 1939.

The full letter is here (- with my screenshots below it):

https://libex.smith.edu/omeka/...

We will all have to give a report to God for our choices:

"So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God." (from the Apostle Paul in the book of Romans 14:12).

What will you say? Will you be able to look Him in the eye?

Super Hero Physical Exam

How do these Super Heroes do what they do? Brains? Brawn? Have best friends who are also super heroes? Special weapons? Perhaps all of the above! Captain America once went against Iron Man in Civil War, and now they all work together for the Endgame. The whole thing is...

Complex. The entire thing is complex. Being a real super hero in a world that wants to drag us down takes more than just brains, brawn, best friends, and the latest weapons of warfare. 

                              

Ask yourself, "What is my endgame? Where do I want to end up?"

Let's do a Super Hero physical exam and find out where we are at. Are we good enough from Marvel's team of Avengers- or even something bigger? What about in God's Kingdom?

Heart Exam- Be a man that chases after what is important to God. Take the time to stop and look deeply at your life and compare it to Jesus. After all, He is not only God in the flesh, he is the standard of what a man should be. Pure, holy, and powerful. 100% sold out to complete the work the Father had given him. And you we glad He did? King David was called a man after God's own heart. Not because he was perfect- he wasn't- but because he kept going back to God again and again. 

Loins- Do you use your body for sex in a way that pleases God? Don't be a Deadpool kind of guy, jumping on anyone who makes your pulse race. Life is so much more than fulfilling your lusts. Drop the porn and the cheap sex to move on. (No, I haven't intentionally seen the movie. I did, unfortunately sit a few rows over from a guy on a plane who was watching what looked like hard core porn graphically simulating anal sex. Then I realized the actor was Ryan Reynolds. What a major disappointment to see him doing this!) 

Examine your Head-  Are you thinking Biblically? Do you think like those in the world or are you being transformed by an ongoing diet of God's Word and applying it? Don't be deceived by the world's way of thinking: "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ." Colossians 2:8.

Neck- Are you easily turned to the right or left when God speaks? Or do you live intentionally and with purpose to please God and make him known? What is the depth of integrity in your life? Be the same person everywhere you go.

Hands- Keeping your hand to the plow takes effort. Constantly. Giving up is just so easy at times. Look what Jesus himself says to someone who wants to follow him in the book of Luke Chapter 9- "Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Stay at it!

Knees- Be a man of prayer! It's easy to try to do what we think is right and miss the mark. It's much more difficult to move in a wrong way if you are constantly before God in prayer, speaking to Him and seeking to listen to him. He wants to speak to you!

Feet- Walk where God tells you. Does the road look long or hard or one where you'll travel seemingly on your own? Doesn't matter!  Do what He says. Obedience is the issue. Does your road lead to death? It should at least lead to "death to self."

Mouth-  Speak well of others and of our God. Harder than you'd think! In fact, the book of James in the New Testament tells us that even large ships are directed by a small rudder. Our tongue can get us into trouble too many times. Use it wisely.

Weapon Check- Are you prepared? God doesn't call us out to Spiritual Warfare without giving us what we need! The Armor of God gives us the list of weapons: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit - The Word of God. Our Creator also gives us the Gifts of the Holy Spirit: everything from Miracles and Discernment to Leadership, Mercy, Administration and more. (Twenty-five or so to be exact.) Don't forget- spiritual war is fought with spiritual weapons. You can't do this in your own strength. Like the fictional Steve Rogers, we must be worthy. Ready to be self-sacrificing for things eternal. But it is not our worthiness I'm talking about, because in that case, we all fall short. It is only through the blood of Jesus cleansing us from all sin and brokenness that makes us worthy. He paid the price on our behalf. That is where our true value comes from.

So, how did you do on our Super Hero Physical Exam? Not perfect? Me, neither! But let's agree to keep working on it. We need each other to succeed. Just like real life, a life of faith requires partnership with others. We can't do this alone.

(Images copyright Marvel and DC Comics.)

An Everlasting Love Story

Do you want the kind of love that will last forever? Look no further than to Jesus Christ. But who exactly is Jesus? That's the question we all must answer. Each of us. Believer or not, this question will be asked of us one day. If you don't understand, read ahead and you'll discover the greatest love story ever told.

Today is Good Friday for we who believe and so commemorate the passion of Jesus of Nazareth, meaning his crucifixion on the cross for the sin of mankind... all leading to His Resurrection. 

Think about this: The very measurement of time changed because of this event!

Jesus is controversial- and His story timeless. Magazines still devote cover stories to Him, books continue to be written, songs composed, and films made. Each piece brings to the forefront Jesus' own question to his disciple Peter, and agin, it is one we all must answer: "Who do you say I am?"

Yes, it's true. Just for you and me and the whole earth - from the beginning of time. Jesus chose to lay down his life to redeem us from Hell. The Hell we deserve for our sin. Ever lie? Cheat? Slander? Then, his sacrifice via the cross was just for you. It's a gift that cost him much pain and sorrow. But if you receive this gift of eternal life by choosing and following Him, it's a gift back to Him that will bless him. Yes, something very special.

God is very gracious and loving by making it crystal clear and easy to understand: Jesus Himself says He is the Only Way, the Only Truth, the Only Life and that no one would be able to come to an eternity with God the Father except by receiving Him. (Read the Book of John in the New Testament, Chapter 14). God could have made it difficult to discover, but He did not. It's not from hate or prejudice, it's from love He said what He said and did what He did.

It was His same great love for the people He created- that includes you and me- that caused Him to sacrifice Jesus in our place. And it's His same love that draws you to Him. Can you feel the call to Him in your heart? Does your spirit leap at the sound of His name?
If not, it's time to ask yourself why. 

First comes death on a cross. A brutal and terrifying way to die. Torture like none other. Medically, it's just an awfully painful way to die. (Read about the medical explanation of what this does to a body here.) His radical way to show great love begins with his submission to this kind of death.

But oh, then comes Easter Sunday morning- the Triumph of Jesus over sin and death- for our benefit! Never a victim- always a champion. He accomplished this great mission born from Love- the very mission the Father gave Him. Jesus the triumphant one! Preachers everywhere should remember this! As should the people He gave his life for.

At the end of time, known as the Final Judgment in the Bible, (See the last book of the Bible. It's called "Revelation"), Jesus has returned to earth as the Triumphant King that He is. Mankind, one person at a time, must give an account for how they have lived their life. Those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ and have lived to please Him all their days will proceed to an eternal glory free from pain and suffering.

Unfortunately, not all will believe. He gave men free will to choose. To those who have turned away from Jesus, rejected Him even though He was God's gift to pay for our sins, they will be sent to Hell, the place of fire and torment forever. Hell was designed for Satan and his demonic angels, but those that deny Jesus as Messiah (Christ) and follow their own path, end up in that place as well. It's their choice, not God's.

So, Jesus' question remains: Who do you say that I am?

Celebrate Love

It's Valentine's Day tomorrow. Let's celebrate love. Real love- the kind that lasts. This kind of love you won't find celebrated at Disney's Magic Kingdoms. Not at Walt Disney World, Disneyland Paris or even the original park.

Everyone looks for true love, but how do you find it? Can it be found in marriage?

Back almost 5 years ago, the United States Supreme Court has decided that same sex marriage is now legal in all 50 states. People  that are disagreeing with the decision said it is not our court's position. They were opposed on grounds of their traditional understanding that God designed marriage for one man and one woman, referencing both the Old and New Testaments that make up the Bible.

Those folks celebrating the court's decision said "Love Wins", claiming marriage is only a legal bond between two people of any gender. They believe the availability of the institution should be made for all. Regardless of how they identify.

What do I think? The truth is "Love Already Won". It won two thousand years ago, when the ultimate act of true love was taken by Jesus Christ to die on the cross for the sin of all mankind. His death and resurrection made a way to eternal life for all who would turn away from their sin by trusting in Him and His work on the Cross. He was raised from the dead proving He is God. The offer is yours. Choose to live a life that honors God by following the law he gave. The problem is, following Jesus means changing our lives in humility to His Authority regardless of how you feel.

What constitutes civil rights will change from county to country, decade to decade, and even President to President in the United States. Although Obama stated one thing and Trump another, God's Word and his law are never changing. They are eternal - in fact through the Ten Commandments, He did legislate morality- and He does not change. 

Regardless of where you stand on these issues, the most important question we will ever have to answer still remains: Jesus asks "Who do you say I am?" 

Your answer is of ultimate importance. The relationship you have (or don't have) with God in the Flesh, the creator of the universe, the only one who paid the price for your sin and mine, is the first and most important relationship you need to have settled. The one that determines your eternal future. Every other aspect of your life is very important, they are but secondary compared to how you answer this question. 

Did love win? How you answer and then how you love people, even those you disagree with, will show whether or not real love has won in your life. It really is that simple. 

Show real love to each other and celebrate Valentine's Day by loving those you agree with- and those you don't.

-------
Here's a great video from Dr. Michael Brown discussing God's love for ALL people, including the gay community. 20 Minutes worth your time- minus the slightly dorky music...

Unexpected

Jesus often comes in a manner we don’t expect. The people of his day looked for and wanted the Savior to come in a way they would easily understand. As with us, their preconceived ideas flavored their vision.

The 12 Disciples of Jesus soon discovered that He was not:
1- A Political Ruler:  Some were looking for a new political empire- because they were oppressed. They wanted a King to free them.
2- A New Set of Rules to Follow:  The Pharisees and Sadducees had trained people to expect a religious system of laws- because they desired to be holy but didn't understand God's grace and goodness.
3- An Intellectual Exercise: Greeks often expected a great philosopher- because they wanted one more option to tickle their minds.  
4- A Lifestyle:  People thought they could believe the right way but go on living the life they already were living. Very common train of thought, one the Apostle Paul had to address in his letter to the church in Corinth.

Comparing people of that time to people today, it’s very easy to see where we are alike.

In practice versus what we say we believe:
• We sometimes live as if the right political party in power will bring God’s Kingdom.
• We sometimes live as if following the Law will gain us entry into Heaven.
• We sometimes live as if Christianity is one more philosophy to be considered.
• We sometimes live as if Christianity is a lifestyle that will fulfill us without requiring anything from us.

I'm so guilty of this all the time! Are you? We often live like a Pharisee tied to the law, but also live like a Sadducee who believed there was no resurrection of the dead- and therefore no judgment.

Eventually, the Disciples of Jesus discovered that He was:
• God in the flesh, the perfect and complete payment for their sins.
• The One who Desired People from All Nations and Races would know Him.
• The Savior and Lord who told them to:
     1- Give Up Everything to follow Him
     2- Think differently than people of the world
     3- Do The Work of His Kingdom at home, nearby, and all over the world

The Commandment and The Mission for all of us. Jesus came to the earth in a manner they didn’t expect- and the Religious Leaders Hated Him. They tried to trap Him. The Pharisees, those who made The Law a burden for the people, questioned Jesus:

Matthew 22:36-40      36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Jesus responds with the the best "Mission Statement" ever recorded.   What God intended to fulfill through Abraham would also happen through them.
    We remember “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations”.
    Do we remember “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me”? It’s a command, not a request.
   “Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” Teaching and relationship always follow evangelism.
   “I am with you always.”  Jesus Himself is with us as we go about the Work He’s Given!

And in Acts 1:8- He sends us out in the power of the Holy Spirit!  We don’t have to go out in our own strength!

Point #1-  As Christians, We are “On Mission” Whether We Accept It or Not

There's a Few Lessons to be learned here from the Early Church. “Can you imagine the Disciples task? The whole world was lost following other gods!”

Look at the Book of Acts 15: 1-3. Here's the context of the story:It’s about 50 AD- the new church had established itself, building momentum… and experiencing growing pains. Paul and Barnabas go out, fulfilling Jesus’ Greatest Commandments- Love God and Love Your Neighbor. Acts Chapter 14 ends with Paul and Barnabas at Antioch telling stories of what God accomplished through them and how the Gentiles were coming to faith. In studying the Bible, we discover there’s real people, real believers with real stories. They also share real joys and real trials- even within the church. Examples we can learn from and be challenged by.

Acts 15: 1-3    1 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 
2 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem  to the apostles and the elders about this question. 
3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.”  

(This is no small feat. Antioch was about 300 miles north of Jerusalem- 15 to 20 days of walking. Tough journey!) What’s happening here?

Gentiles are coming to saving faith in Jesus Christ. Everyone’s excited- almost. Paul and Barnabas confront those who loved the Jewish rules and regulations more than the freedom Jesus brings!  Were they Racist? Nationalistic? Control Freaks? Or did they just want only a few people to fit into their exclusive club?  How will this get resolved?

Point #2 - Being on Mission is Costly for Both Individuals and the Church

It's always exciting but being "On Mission" comes at a price for both us as people and for the local church. For individuals- first, It means we must die to our gods of comfort, control, and fear. Thankfully, Jesus, the Twelve Disciples, the Apostle Paul and the Early Church wasn't too concerned about their safety and comfort! 
       
Being on mission also challenges the local church. First, It means we must align our goals, vision, and resources to what God deems of value- not bowing down to tradition or culture. We must Worship God, Equip Believers for the Work of the Ministry, Evangelize and Disciple a Lost World. This means we don’t take on the form of our culture, but we work as God intends to transform it!

Next, the status quo is challenged!  If you’re like me, change is hard! We like to order our lives, run it by a schedule. Meet our obligations and use our free time for chasing after our interests. It brings us the illusion of control- But it can also take our eyes off what God desires for us and where He wants to use us. We like our church in the same way.  We can find ourselves saying “We’ve always done it this way!” or “It’s tradition” – equating old methods with Godliness- when some issues are “Value Neutral”. Pursuit and especially Success in spiritual matters also brings disagreement. Relationships get strained. Paul and Barnabas later part ways in verse 39 over a disagreement about John Mark- another passionate servant of God! In his letter to the Corinthian church, Paul has to challenge those who focus on following one person over another- Paul? Apollos? Cephas? (I Corinthians 1). We Believers can insist on what divides the church based on our preferences and biases instead of God’s Word.

Charles Spurgeon, great British preacher of the 1800’s writes in The Soul Winner:
“…our grand object is not the revision of opinions, but the regeneration of our natures. We would bring men to Christ and not to our own peculiar views of Christianity. Our first care must be that the sheep should be gathered to the great Shepherd”

Our pride can get in the way! We want recognition; we love status; we want importance. Our sin gets exposed because we don’t get what we want (James 4). Our self-focused Human nature causes us to take our eyes off the good things God is doing. Ultimately, we can miss the blessing God intends.

Our world is changing! In contrast to decades past, North America and Europe are no longer the center of Christianity.

According to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, as of November 2017, 41 percent (228M of all 560M) Protestant Christians live in Africa. (That will be 53% by 2050.) More than 2.5 times as many in Europe and almost 4 times as many as in North America.

Asia is number two with almost 100 million. (Mostly found in China and in the underground church.) 86 countries prohibit or restrict Western missionaries. (from Yohannan, Come Let's Reach the World, pg. 31). More Christians have been killed for their faith over the past 100 years than in the previous 19 centuries combined. Every five minutes a Christian is martyred for the faith.   (Source: Christianity Today)

From Barna, the famous Christian research firm:

In 1993, 90% of the people who considered themselves to be followers of Jesus said it was their individual responsibility to share their faith (The Gospel) with the unsaved world.

Twenty five years later, in 2018, the pendulum has swung- now… 29% say it is the job of the paid professionals of the local church to share the Gospel and not their personal responsibility. That's one third of all believers who feel it's not their job to share their faith. This means there’s a noticeable shift from Believers personally sharing Jesus to now inviting friends to church to hear about Him.  But our responsibility to share the Gospel and make disciples hasn’t changed.

Our Resources- If you earn Colorado’s minimum wage, you are now in the Top 3% of the richest people in the world! From a training and resource standpoint, the US has 90% of the world’s pastors, teachers, and ministry leaders… approximately 85% of the world's churches are led by someone with no training.

Let's go to the next segment in Acts 15: 4-12

4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. 5 But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.” 6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. 7 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9 and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. 10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” 12 And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.

They go back to Jerusalem, tell the stories of all God has done, and encounter the same response.  

Verses 13-21 end with the decision that believers in Jesus Christ are not saved by their works but by faith in Him alone. What can we learn?

Point #3 – We Must Patiently Work Together for the Sake of the Message

Peter reminds the believers of their shortcomings and God’s goodness (verses 10 and 11). Our history may determine our outlook and how we treat others. But how does it square with Scripture? It can be hard to offer Biblical grace when all you’ve been taught is law. The opposite is true as well.

All of us who now believe were unbelievers at some point in time.  (I Corinthians 6:9-11) We need to allow others to grow in their newly found faith as they begin their relationship with Jesus and with the people found in the local church, 

Can you remember what Jesus saved you from and why you deserved Hell? If not, I’d look deep and ask myself if I really am a Disciple of Jesus. If so, remember the lightness of heart and freedom and forgiveness you knew when you first came to Him!  

Point #4 - Obedience to His Call Brings Him Glory – the First Job of a Believer

Those who go out into the world often see God work in powerful ways- and often through them! He never expects us too do spiritual work through human effort alone. His Holy Spirit empowers those people who go out and do the work of God's Kingdom in His name. Being on mission means we are called to die. 

Christianity is Not a Sanitized Version of American Dream! Think about this again-

As Christians, We are "On Mission" Whether We Accept It or Not.
Being on Mission is Costly for Both Individuals and the Church.
We Must Patiently Work Together for the Sake of the Message.
Obedience to His Call Brings Him Glory – the First Job of a Believer.

Last verse to consider-   Colossians 3:1-4  
3 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Jesus often comes to us in a manner in which we don’t expect.

AW Tozer- the famous American preacher from the first half of the 1900’s wrote this – found in a compilation of his sermons called Rut, Rot, or Revival:
“I would say to you who are wondering about the Spirit filled life: If you just want to be happy, and nothing else, you had better steer away from the Spirit filled life. The same Holy Spirit who will give you joy will also allow you to share His burdens and griefs.”

Brothers and Sisters, we were created for His Glory- and His Sons and Daughters come from the ends of the earth!   (Isaiah 43:6-7, Ephesians 1:11-12, I Corinthians 10:31)

Who will work in the fields? Who will evangelize? Who will teach, support, and instruct?

Change is happening in America.  God is also bringing the nations to us- and many people will return to their home countries. We’ve got great opportunities before us, here at home and overseas.

How is Jesus coming to you in a manner you don't expect? The bigger question is "How will you respond?"

Disney Rolling in the Money

Oh those rich Disney executives! The folks like CEO Robert Iger are rolling in the dough. (What a great potential Weird Al parody of Adele's "Rolling in the Deep".) Prices for the parks and the lodging go up and up, not to mention the cost of food on property. If you're like me, you absolutely hate the fact that the most appealing places to eat from a design and architecture standpoint are now home to only over-priced character breakfasts.

Talk about  income inequality! Truth be told, most of us make much more money than we think compared to the rest of the world. A friend sent me this link. If you click on it, there's a short little program that looks at the amount of money you make and tells you how you compare to others in the world. It's called The Global Rich List.  

It's a pretty fun tool to play with!

For me, as a follower of Jesus, it's challenging. I keep thinking of his words found in Matthew 6- "“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."

My heart's cry- "But I think that way so naturally, Jesus! Help me be a better manager of my money and a blessing to others." I certainly have a long way to go in giving God my best. It will be a life long process, as He keeps uncovering sin and attitudes of pride and selfishness. More on this in the coming weeks. You'll understand more soon enough.