Ps 20:6-86 Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed;he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand. 7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. 8 They are brought to their knees and fall,but we rise up and stand firm. NIV
The third part of this Psalm talks about false security versus true security. In our intellectual minds, we often acknowledge that God is the only true sense of security, but when things are going well, in practice and in our emotional hearts, we trust in those things we can see or at least, those things we think are "more real".
As I write I am thinking about the faith people put in the FDIC and the US Government that secures their money. Has anyone ever seen an FDIC? FDIC sightings are about as common as Sasquatch appearances. Yet, we put our trust in the bank account and the economy.
We go through airport screenings and expect to be safe from terrorists, we contribute to Social Security and expect to have something when we get older. We have annual check ups and expect health to remain good.
Yet, it doesn't always happen. This Psalms says, if we trust in human things, we will fall to our knees. I get the picture of being forced down by a crushing load. But, if we trust in God, he will cause us to rise again.
Our God is the God of the resurrection--the God who brings beauty from ashes, the God who makes all things work together for good.
Just a few chapters earlier in Psalms, the writer says,
Ps 11:3-4 When the foundations are being destroyed,what can the righteous do?"
4 The LORD is in his holy temple;the LORD is on his heavenly throne.NIV
If your foundations have been shaken, remember, God, the Lord, is still in his holy temple and on his throne.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Friday, December 21, 2007
Psalm 20--second look.
Ps 20:5 We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God.May the LORD grant all your requests. NIV
In my life I have been in at least three situations where it felt like my life was being destroyed. Once, when our daughter died at birth, once when I had grown my church plant from 75 down to 23 in the first two years, and once when I had to lay off huge numbers of people due to some bad miscalculations on my part and then was demoted.
Each of those times brought on loneliness, heart ache, despair, anger, and most other negative emotions you can imagine. Each time there were people around me, mentors, peers, companions and a family, who encouraged me. One of my friends sent me this Psalm in the blackness of depression, telling me he believed in me.
My Dad, who in most people's book, is the most encouraging man in the world, has called me almost every Sunday night of my adult life, to tell me that he loves me, is proud of me, and is confident that I am making a difference. (If you are a Dad, please consider doing this for your adult children. They need it too.)
We need people around us who will shout for joy when we are victorious. If you are down right now, stop and make a list of those who are your supporters. Then, hang around them.
Leroy Lawson, in my last time of despair, made it a point to call me, email me, and look me up at every convention and meeting that we were at. I really don't know if I would have made without his encouragement.
Cherish these kinds of people. Be one yourself. If you know someone who is going through it, call them right now and let them know that you will rejoice when they are victorious--and that you believe that they will be victorious again.
In my life I have been in at least three situations where it felt like my life was being destroyed. Once, when our daughter died at birth, once when I had grown my church plant from 75 down to 23 in the first two years, and once when I had to lay off huge numbers of people due to some bad miscalculations on my part and then was demoted.
Each of those times brought on loneliness, heart ache, despair, anger, and most other negative emotions you can imagine. Each time there were people around me, mentors, peers, companions and a family, who encouraged me. One of my friends sent me this Psalm in the blackness of depression, telling me he believed in me.
My Dad, who in most people's book, is the most encouraging man in the world, has called me almost every Sunday night of my adult life, to tell me that he loves me, is proud of me, and is confident that I am making a difference. (If you are a Dad, please consider doing this for your adult children. They need it too.)
We need people around us who will shout for joy when we are victorious. If you are down right now, stop and make a list of those who are your supporters. Then, hang around them.
Leroy Lawson, in my last time of despair, made it a point to call me, email me, and look me up at every convention and meeting that we were at. I really don't know if I would have made without his encouragement.
Cherish these kinds of people. Be one yourself. If you know someone who is going through it, call them right now and let them know that you will rejoice when they are victorious--and that you believe that they will be victorious again.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
A Psalm for Bruised Reeds and Smouldering Wicks
Psalm 20 came up in my reading today. I can't think of a more appropriate Psalm for those who are ready to break or be snuffed out by the distresses of life.
Ps 20
May the LORD answer you when you are in distress;may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. 2 May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. 3 May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. Selah 4 May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. 5 We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God.May the LORD grant all your requests.
6 Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed;he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand. 7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. 8 They are brought to their knees and fall,but we rise up and stand firm.
9 O LORD, save the king!Answer us when we call! NIV
I want to spend at least three days on this Psalm.
First, David assumes when we are in distress we are going to call upon the Lord. Sadly, I find that sometimes I have to wallow in my pain awhile before I call upon the Lord.
Secondly, he says, Let the Name of the God of Jacob be your protection. When Samuel recounts the litany of God's protection of His people in 1 Sam 11-12, Jacob is mentioned prominently as being under the protection of God. It is important for those of us who are bruised and smoldering to remember what God has done in the past in our lives and those around us. God is the same who saved you before and He is able to save you in this time of need.
Thirdly, there is an element of spiritual warfare in our bruisings and "snuffings". David prays that God would send help from the sanctuary. This reminds me of Daniel who receives a visit from an angel (Dan 10) who has been fighting to get to him for 21 days. Even Michel, the archangel gets involved in the battle.
I must confess that I don't understand a lot about spiritual warfare, except that I know it is real and that we are often in denial. The apostle Paul says, we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, powers and principalities of the world. (Eph. 6:12)
When we are bruised, God has not forgotten nor forsaken us. He is still willing to fight for us.
Tomorrow, will we ever get back on top again.
Ps 20
May the LORD answer you when you are in distress;may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. 2 May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. 3 May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. Selah 4 May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. 5 We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God.May the LORD grant all your requests.
6 Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed;he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand. 7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. 8 They are brought to their knees and fall,but we rise up and stand firm.
9 O LORD, save the king!Answer us when we call! NIV
I want to spend at least three days on this Psalm.
First, David assumes when we are in distress we are going to call upon the Lord. Sadly, I find that sometimes I have to wallow in my pain awhile before I call upon the Lord.
Secondly, he says, Let the Name of the God of Jacob be your protection. When Samuel recounts the litany of God's protection of His people in 1 Sam 11-12, Jacob is mentioned prominently as being under the protection of God. It is important for those of us who are bruised and smoldering to remember what God has done in the past in our lives and those around us. God is the same who saved you before and He is able to save you in this time of need.
Thirdly, there is an element of spiritual warfare in our bruisings and "snuffings". David prays that God would send help from the sanctuary. This reminds me of Daniel who receives a visit from an angel (Dan 10) who has been fighting to get to him for 21 days. Even Michel, the archangel gets involved in the battle.
I must confess that I don't understand a lot about spiritual warfare, except that I know it is real and that we are often in denial. The apostle Paul says, we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, powers and principalities of the world. (Eph. 6:12)
When we are bruised, God has not forgotten nor forsaken us. He is still willing to fight for us.
Tomorrow, will we ever get back on top again.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Prophylactic planter care
This morning in my quiet time I was praying about what God would want me to write in this blog today. I was also meditating on Psalm 19. God impressed upon me the need for preventative planter care not just reactive planter care. The word that always comes to my mind, having grown up in a doctor's home is prophylactic. I know it is used almost exclusively for pregnancy prevention in the vernacular, but its a good word. Here's the definition:
Prophylactic: A preventive measure. The word comes from the Greek for "an advance guard," an apt term for a measure taken to fend off a disease or another unwanted consequence.
A prophylactic is a medication or a treatment designed and used to prevent a disease from occurring. For example, prophylactic antibiotics may be used after a bout of rheumatic fever to prevent the subsequent development of Sydenham's chorea.
I especially like the idea of the "advance guard". It seems to me the after a planter is hurt, it is much more costly in terms of emotional, spiritual, and physical cost as well as purely financial cost.
It is always much more expensive to treat a disease than to prevent it and almost always less painful. That's why governments are so into vacinnations, brushing our teeth, not gaining weight, lowering our cholesterol, etc.
So, my question for the day is, "What can we do to prevent planter trauma before it happens?"
Back to Ps. 19. One of the things is to drive planters into the Word and to encourage meditation on the word and to model obedience to the commands of God. The whole statutes, commands, precepts thing promises great wisdom, peace, and reward.
Ps 19:7-117 The law of the LORD is perfect,reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure,enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold,than much pure gold;they are sweeter than honey,than honey from the comb.
11 By them is your servant warned;in keeping them there is great reward. NIV
What do you think? How do we prevent planter pain before it occurs?
Prophylactic: A preventive measure. The word comes from the Greek for "an advance guard," an apt term for a measure taken to fend off a disease or another unwanted consequence.
A prophylactic is a medication or a treatment designed and used to prevent a disease from occurring. For example, prophylactic antibiotics may be used after a bout of rheumatic fever to prevent the subsequent development of Sydenham's chorea.
I especially like the idea of the "advance guard". It seems to me the after a planter is hurt, it is much more costly in terms of emotional, spiritual, and physical cost as well as purely financial cost.
It is always much more expensive to treat a disease than to prevent it and almost always less painful. That's why governments are so into vacinnations, brushing our teeth, not gaining weight, lowering our cholesterol, etc.
So, my question for the day is, "What can we do to prevent planter trauma before it happens?"
Back to Ps. 19. One of the things is to drive planters into the Word and to encourage meditation on the word and to model obedience to the commands of God. The whole statutes, commands, precepts thing promises great wisdom, peace, and reward.
Ps 19:7-117 The law of the LORD is perfect,reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure,enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold,than much pure gold;they are sweeter than honey,than honey from the comb.
11 By them is your servant warned;in keeping them there is great reward. NIV
What do you think? How do we prevent planter pain before it occurs?
Monday, December 17, 2007
Jars of clay
The apostle Paul talked about bruised reeds and smoldering wicks in a different metaphor. He used jars of clay.
2 Cor 4:7-127 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. NIV
He was always realistic about the struggles of life, but not defeated. I heard a radio personality saying, "Just repeat positive things to yourself and you'll change your attitude." There is some truth to that. I know that I'm often the cause of my miserableness by my own bad attitude, but, there are also very real things that happen to us.
Please forgive my stream of consciousness writing early on. Since I started this five days ago, I have awakened with twenty or thirty thoughts running through my head that I just must write on this blog. I promise to become more disciplined as I get some of the urgent thoughts down.
2 Cor 4:7-127 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. NIV
He was always realistic about the struggles of life, but not defeated. I heard a radio personality saying, "Just repeat positive things to yourself and you'll change your attitude." There is some truth to that. I know that I'm often the cause of my miserableness by my own bad attitude, but, there are also very real things that happen to us.
Please forgive my stream of consciousness writing early on. Since I started this five days ago, I have awakened with twenty or thirty thoughts running through my head that I just must write on this blog. I promise to become more disciplined as I get some of the urgent thoughts down.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Disloyalty--As painful as it gets
A friend of mine is hurting right now. A trusted friend decided that he was better suited to be the pastor than he was and so took half his congregation in a church split and went down the street and started a church. He is hurting and questioning himself, his spouse is emotionally bleeding, his children are questioning why their friends no longer play with them.
Having been stabbed in the back a couple of times myself, I would vote for disloyalty from a trusted companion about as painful as it gets. In terms of bruising, this is like one of those deep tissue bruises that football players get. It can put you out of the game for awhile.
David says,
Ps 41:5-95 My enemies say of me in malice,"When will he die and his name perish?" 6 Whenever one comes to see me,he speaks falsely, while his heart gathers slander;then he goes out and spreads it abroad.
7 All my enemies whisper together against me;they imagine the worst for me, saying, 8 "A vile disease has beset him;he will never get up from the place where he lies." 9 Even my close friend, whom I trusted,he who shared my bread,has lifted up his heel against me. NIV
When my enemies slander me, I can deal with it, but when my friend, the one who has dipped chips in the same bowl with me turns on me, it takes God to step in.
What do you think? Is disloyalty the most painful bruising? Tell me your stories. How do you survive when someone stabs you from behind? How do you keep from becoming cynical? How do you forgive? What are the long-term effects of disloyalty? How do you recover?
Having been stabbed in the back a couple of times myself, I would vote for disloyalty from a trusted companion about as painful as it gets. In terms of bruising, this is like one of those deep tissue bruises that football players get. It can put you out of the game for awhile.
David says,
Ps 41:5-95 My enemies say of me in malice,"When will he die and his name perish?" 6 Whenever one comes to see me,he speaks falsely, while his heart gathers slander;then he goes out and spreads it abroad.
7 All my enemies whisper together against me;they imagine the worst for me, saying, 8 "A vile disease has beset him;he will never get up from the place where he lies." 9 Even my close friend, whom I trusted,he who shared my bread,has lifted up his heel against me. NIV
When my enemies slander me, I can deal with it, but when my friend, the one who has dipped chips in the same bowl with me turns on me, it takes God to step in.
What do you think? Is disloyalty the most painful bruising? Tell me your stories. How do you survive when someone stabs you from behind? How do you keep from becoming cynical? How do you forgive? What are the long-term effects of disloyalty? How do you recover?
Friday, December 14, 2007
Why this blog?
In the early 90's I attended a Multnomah prayer retreat with about 50 other pastors. No agenda, no speaker, just meeting God. It was pretty scary. It sounds stupid now, but many of us pastor types are really afraid to spend extended time alone with God. I think deep down we really have a sense that if we don't get close to God we can fool him into thinking that we really are not all that messed up. ( It goes back to the Garden of Eden and hiding in the bushes from God. We really haven't come all that far)
Anyway, during that time, I was meditating on Isa 42:3-43 A bruised reed he will not break,and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; 4 he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth.In his law the islands will put their hope." NIV
The Lord reminded me of a picture I had seen in National Geographic 25 years earlier of a Huey Helicopter rescuing a downed pilot during the Viet Nam war. The thing that I remembered from the article was "The plane is not important but the pilot must be saved to fly another day.
The Lord placed a passion upon my heart to care for pastors. Too often, pastors go down and never pastor again. I want to explore how we can change this.
Anyway, during that time, I was meditating on Isa 42:3-43 A bruised reed he will not break,and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; 4 he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth.In his law the islands will put their hope." NIV
The Lord reminded me of a picture I had seen in National Geographic 25 years earlier of a Huey Helicopter rescuing a downed pilot during the Viet Nam war. The thing that I remembered from the article was "The plane is not important but the pilot must be saved to fly another day.
The Lord placed a passion upon my heart to care for pastors. Too often, pastors go down and never pastor again. I want to explore how we can change this.
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