Buenos Dias,

I am sitting in the living room of Casa Adonai, an orphanage in Chihuahua, Mexico. It is day three of our mission trip here.  I have never been here before and I am still processing the experience.  I must admit, that I am wrestling with some of the feelings I am having.  There is a mistaken assumption in my mind that must be addressed.  I came here to minister, but find that I am being ministered unto instead.  We tend to think that because we have much in the realm of physical stuff, that we have MUCH... we are wrong.  The lack of things is not a huge issue in the minds of these children.  They are in a home where they are loved, cared for and cherished.  A home where their basic needs are met, where they are safe, and where they hear of the love of God in the midst of everyday life.  As they offer love to us, we find ourselves overwhelmed by the outpouring.  As they desire our attention we find ourselves stretched to live beyond our own selves, even to the point of exhaustion... and yet, they give far more than they take.  One of the main things they give us is a lesson in thankfulness.  For when they receive something, they are truly grateful for it.  I watched Louis bring home a large bag of donated toys that were destined for the trash in someone else's mind, and the children saw new and wonderful gifts.  I am not advocating throwing our trash away to orphans... I am challenging our level of gratitude for what we have.  How often do we complain that the things we have are not good enough, how often do we "need" new things because the old ones are not brand new anymore, and may have some things that do not work just right...

I think that much can be learned from all of life, I am also convinced that we miss much of it because we are always focused on ourselves.  That focus must be changed, but even an outward focus is not enough.  A man centered focus of giving is always a weak substitute for a God centered one.  An outward focus is better than an inward one, but the goal should always be an upward one.  When we live our lives with our eyes on what we have, or on what we think we need, we miss the intent of Jesus in Matthew 6.33-34... the One who is the owner of all, the One who emptied Himself of His glory to bring Glory to the Father cautioned us to live with our eyes fixed on the Kingdom.  He warned us to not live with our gaze on the things of this life but rather to intentionally cast a vision for that which lasts, trusting God to provide that which we actually need here.  When you live in dependence upon mercy, the necessary result is gratitude.  This lesson is hard for us who have been given much, but seems as natural as breathing to those who have not been given so many physical things.  I am rereading John Piper's excellent book ''Future Grace'' and his point is well taken that gratitude is a poor motive for righteous living... he contends rightly that we must use gratitude for past grace as a strengthening agent for faith in future grace, but I find a weakness in myself that runs even deeper.  I worry at the lack of gratitude that I find in myself and sense in others.  That lack which comes from the thought that what we have we have earned, or even worse in my mind is the evil that says God has given it because I deserve it. 

Beloved, please understand that all we have is the mercy of a loving sovereign God.  Every breath, every opportunity, every gift, every moment... we are His and must live in the realm of those who think of God Himself as our highest desire, our greatest joy, our supreme pleasure, our chief reward.  Let us spend the life that He has given in pursuit of Him.  Everything He gives is for that purpose... do not miss it for the sake of that which is dust and ash.  Until His Kingdom comes, let us fix our eyes steadfastly on the horizon of His mercy, seeing everything in light of the grace that gives it, praising the One who gave all so that we might have the privilege of knowing Him.

grace,

pastor e

My small town celebrated independence day tonight.  We had a town party with several community organizations holding benefit fundraisers.  Fireworks were on the agenda... God planned rain.  Both happened.  The fireworks went on, rain or shine was the decision and we had the rain.

  Now I love fireworks as much as the next guy, probably more than many, so don't take this wrong.  God puts on a better show.  Against the backdrop of a lowering, blackening Kansas sky we desperately tried to put on our show.  An hour early to try and beat the rain and feeling very rushed.  Most folks had already left and the ones who stayed wanted to stay dry, so they found shelter under awnings, patios ... Whatever.  But here is the thing, 15 minutes and our show was over, everybody running for home.  Two hours later God is still hurling lightning, sounding thunder and pouring rain.  I have no idea how many thousands of dollars were spent for the show but I do know that my God can keep His up indefinitely... He never runs out of funds, power or ingenuity.  Every bolt unique and infinitely wondrous.  Each one coming to earth in its exact target or splitting the heavens to display His majesty... And His plans are never undone, altered or harmed in any way. 

  The scripture puts it plainly... "But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases." (Ps 115:3)  Certainly, let us enjoy our celebrations; but let us not forget that this nation exists because God decreed that it should.  If it ever ceases to be it will be for the same reason.  Remember to include the God who IS in all your doings... Do not be so foolish as to think that we can thwart God's will, we can't even plan a party to stay dry and on schedule.  Please, remember to give praise to God as you celebrate, and give pause to thank Him for His abundant mercy, even as we cry out for more... 

Grace & peace... And,

God, please bless America

Hebrews 9:22 states  "And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood and without shedding of blood, there is no remission" - the question is why?  Why is this the case and why did I choose this for the scripture to identify this blog... the answers are really one and the same.  Or perhaps I should say that they are so closely connected as to be inextricable.  I chose this scripture because it sums up the essence of the Christian faith.  We are blood guilty, you and I, blood guilty rebels against the holiness of the Sovereign God  and certainly, how we see sin and how God sees sin are vastly different.  We often see it as a little mistake, a small indiscretion, a cultural expectation... but God sees all sin as rebellion worthy of death.  And not only that, He sees sin as worthy of eternal death.  It makes no difference how large, how small or how hidden, every single sin is worthy of an eternity in the cauldron of the wrath of God.  By itself, this is very, very bad news for every one of us... for it speaks about each one of us in a way that we cannot begin to imagine.

So what is it that Hebrews 9:22 brings to bear, and how is it that this verse is meaningful in this discussion?  Well, in telling us that without the shedding of blood there is no remission (of sin) it points back to the fact that under the law blood was required to cover over sin... the price of sin is death.   and further, it reminds us that with this provision there is indeed a remission available to us.  This is the essence of the Christian faith, and this is the essence of my life as a follower of Jesus Christ.  I am free because in Him, because of the blood that He shed on Calvary there is remission of sin... the power of sin has been broken in Christ, broken in His death, broken in His resurrection.  To consider this verse is to consider the inescapable fact that God has bought us, He has done all that is needful for our salvation and He has removed forever that sin which kept us from Him... and I am reminded of the terrible price of that remission, the precious blood of Christ poured out for the salvation and succor of a rebel... it is unbelievably rich, unimaginably powerful, unspeakably beautiful... it is the stuff of our faith, it is the stuff of our lives.  There is no other context in which we can ever have meaningful interaction, significant impact or real conversation except in the places where our lives intersect with the eternal. And for all of us, that intersection is always at the foot of the cross.  For without the shedding of blood there is no remission... but with the shedding of His blood; there is full and free pardon for sinners that is rooted in the eternal goodness of our Great God!  So as we sit and share of cup of coffee and exchange ideas, let us always remember that our conversation has meaning only in the places where we touch the heart of God... let us press on together to see the "light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

Grace and peace to you all

pastor e