Is "Slate" part of the Advent Conspiriacy?

Our church has been taking part in a movement called "The Advent Conspiracy." It an attempt to recapture God's purpose for Christmas, and centers around four key concepts:

1) Worship Fully
2) Spend Less
3) Give More
4) Love All

Check out the details at www.adventconspiracy.org.

Meanwhile, I found this article on "Slate" that shares some of the same ideas from a secular perspective.
http://www.slate.com/id/2236567/pagenum/all/#p2

Yes - you can have a better Christmas this year!

A Little Shot of Christianity

Despite loud protests from the kids, we’ve all received our flu vaccinations. Both kinds – H1N1 and seasonal flu.  Fortunately, the kids got their H1N1 vaccinations nasally.  Unfortunately, we got ours with the biggest doggone needle I’ve ever seen my doctor stick into a vial!

Isn’t it amazing how vaccinations work? They give you just a tiny bit of something bad, your body recognizes it as bad, and develops an immunity to the infection from that point forward.  Pretty cool the way God made us.

On the other hand, I sometimes worry that well-meaning Christians do a similar job of inoculating unbelievers against the gospel of Jesus Christ.

All too often I’ve heard people sharing just the bad side of the gospel.  “You’re a sinner. If you don’t surrender your life to Jesus, you’re going to Hell.” There’s some truth here, of course.  All of us have sinned, and our sinful nature creates a barrier between us and God that we simply cannot penetrate on our own. Unfortunately, the unbeliever feels under assault, convinced that the heart of Christianity is guilt and shame. She feels belittled and manipulated. He leaves knowing that if that’s what Christianity is all about, he’d rather hang around with his pagan friends. They’re more fun, and they welcome him just the way he is. They’re inoculated against the gospel.

On the other hand, the opposite approach can be just as destructive. “Jesus loves you, and if you’ll just love him your life will go swell, you’ll be healthy, wealthy, and wise. It’s so easy, all you have to do is pray this little prayer, and you’re set for eternity!”  Please.  Jesus said that if we were not willing to give up everything we have to follow him, we can’t really be his disciples. So the unbeliever may pray a prayer, or may just think that Christians are a little bit too “other worldly” to be any worldly good.  Inoculated, once again.

The truth of the gospel is tough love. Our sins are extreme. God’s love is infinite. Following Jesus doesn’t promise an easy life, but walking with Jesus makes even tough times worthwhile. He doesn’t promise a happy life, but he does promise abundant life. The way of discipleship is fraught with peril, but has eternal rewards.

Over the years I’ve learned that very few people are looking for easy answers. We all know that easy answers and a religion based on truisms won’t get you through when life gets tough. But people are looking for a relationship with a God who accepts them as they are, and believes in them enough to send his Son, Jesus, to give them another chance – a better chance – for this world and the next.  

And the best way to introduce people to a real relationship with Jesus is to have a real relationship with people. An open, honest, relationship that lays it all on the line. Just like God did. Just like God does.

That gospel is the kind of infection our world desperately needs.

Marriage and Civil Unions

Sometimes - well, ok, often - someone else says it better than I.

I highly recommend this editorial by the  Most Reverend John J. Myers from today's Star Ledger.

http://blog.nj.com/njv_guest_blog/2009/11/archbishop_john_j_myers_legisl.html

Jeff

Staying Fit

Ok, I'll be honest. I hate to exercise. I've never understood what people mean when they say they broke "a good sweat." Yech! And a "good workout" is inevitably followed by sore muscles the following day.

But, while we were on vacation we had a chance to dance and play some organized pool games with the kids. I got talked into joining a "Pool Hokey-Pokey Dance Contest."  You know the Hokey-Pokey?  You put your right hand in, you put your right hand out...  Now imagine a row of slightly overweight dads and moms doing that on the side of a swimming pool while their kids jeer them on.  (Yes, I said "jeer.")  Well, by the end of the "dance" I was winded. I mean, really winded - after the Hokey-Pokey!  That's when I realized just how out of shape I've gotten.  And I realized that if I keep on doing what I've been doing until now, I'm guaranteed the same results. So...

After six months (or more) of lethargy, on Monday  I faithfully (if grudgingly) made my way to our basement, and plugged the new workout program I bought at Costco into our Wii.

This is a humiliating process! First of all, I had to dig my way past all of the exercise equipment and programs I've tried in the past.  Some I've stuck with for a few weeks, some have lasted only one or two workouts. The best have kept my attention and commitment for a few months. Untold dollars worth of stuff testifying to countless failures in my attempt to start and maintain a regular physical fitness regime.

Then, if that wasn't enough, the first thing that this new program asked me to do was create an animated character to represent myself on screen. I had to scroll past three or four young and healthy looking versions before I finally hit upon a character that looked like an appropriately middle-aged, love-handled, squishy tummy me.  At least I could dress my animated self in cool workout clothes.

Fortunately, the computerized coach didn't seem very discouraged at all. "Congratulations!" he said. "Looks like you're ready for a GREAT workout!"  (Yeah, right.)  I chose the lowest intensity setting.

As it turns out, my "20 minute workout" took about 35 minutes to complete. There's a learning curve on this thing, and I had to watch some of the instructional videos twice. On some of the exercises (particularly the running) I didn't quite manage to keep up the pace with my "coach," but he didn't seem to mind.  He just kept encouraging me to rest if I needed to, but then get back in the race. "Push yourself a little, and do the best you can."  Some of the exercises were just too easy.  (I liked those, and wanted to do them again!).

At the end of the workout the "coach" gave me a "Well done," and then showed me my statistics.  I'd burned 128 calories! What's better yet, the next day when I did the routine again, I burned 149!  How cool is that!

Right now I'm committed to a 30 day program that promises to help me kick-start an ongoing habit of physical fitness. I understand that the first 30 days will be the hardest, and there will be lots of distractions along the way.  I'll get busy. I'll feel tired. I'll feel bored.  I just plain won't like getting sweaty. But I'm committed to this new routine anyway, because while I find the process difficult, I expect the results to be worth it. I expect to look better, feel better. And, I expect to be able to do the Hokey-Pokey without needing a fifteen minute rest period.

And that's the point, isn't it? I don't particularly like exercise, and it's really REALLY hard for me to get started. But the goal is worth the effort.

So, now that we've talked about my physical fitness, how's your spiritual fitness?  The Apostle Paul says this about spiritual fitness in the Bible:

"Take the time and the trouble to keep yourself spiritually fit."  1Tim. 4:7b (Ph)

And how do you do that?  By developing a "Spiritual fitness" routine. You've got to feed your soul with good spiritual food (that's a different blog), and stretch your spiritual muscles on a regular basis.  You probably know what that takes already: Reading the Bible, spending time memorizing God's Word, worship, prayer, and even fasting.

Sometimes these spiritual habits feel really rewarding, right away.  Other times - let's be honest here- they can feel like drudgery. But we need to keep with it, because it's worth it to reach the goal.

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.  Phil 3:13-14 (NIV)

If you're like me (and if you've read this far, I suspect you are), you may have tried and failed many times to start a daily habit of Bible reading, prayer, or a quiet time with God. Yes, even my "pastor's" bookshelves are lined with devotional guides that were started and never finished.

That's ok!  God is the God of 2nd chances, and 9th chances, and 999th chances. If one routine didn't work, try another. 

(For me, by the way, I subscribe to a daily devotional I get by email from www.upperroom.com, and another from www.scriptureunion.org. Both are free, and seeing that email in my inbox is a great reminder to start my day by spending a few minutes with God.)

A wise person once said to me, "Don't worry that you've fallen down. If you fall down six times, get up seven."

Ok, that 's bit confusing, but you get the point.  If  it's been a while since you've been to church, let this be the week you get back into worship. If that Bible on your desk is a little dusty, let today be the day that you pick it up and read a couple of paragraphs (I recommend starting with Luke, and then reading Acts).

It's likely to be hard getting started. But after a while you'll discover that you're changing. You're being transformed. You'll be feeling more joyful and fulfilled. What seemed difficult will be getting easier. You'll have a heightened sense of purpose and well being. You'll feel (and be) closer to God. How cool is that!

By the way, if you need a coach to encourage you, drop me an email.  I'll be happy to pray for you and cheer you on. Sometimes it's hard to keep going on your own, and you need a friend to say, "Look how far you've come already. Let's get back in the game. Take it at your own pace, but challenge yourself along the way. Let's finish this together."

And do you know what the best part is? You'll never break a sweat!

Grace and Peace,

Jeff

Where your treasure is...

This week I’ve been reflecting on Jesus’ statement that “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)

What I’ve come to realize is that this truth works both ways!

If my heart is truly dedicated to God, then I’m going to want to put my treasure in God’s kingdom. The more my heart is dedicated to God and God’s purposes in the world, the more of my treasure I will want to invest in his purposes. And, God’s greatest purpose is to bring everyone to a saving belief in Jesus Christ.  I’ve always known that.

But it turns out that the opposite is true too! The more that I invest my treasure in God’s work, the more my heart will be drawn to Christ and his kingdom.

For example, for the first many years of my life, I had no interest in the stock market. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was nothing more than a bunch of numbers in the newspaper. And Costco was just a place I went to shop.  But, a few years ago I went out and bought some stock in Costco. Suddenly, the fortunes of Costco began to matter to me. How were same store sales compared to last year? Were they growing or shrinking. Costco grabbed a part of my heart. Why? Because I’d invested a portion of my treasure there.

Do you want to become more passionate in your relationship with Christ and his Church? Then make some substantial investments in what God is doing here locally and around the world. And, the more your heart is drawn to Jesus, the more you’ll want to invest in reaching more people who need him.

I’ve never bought anything here on earth that’s lasted more than a few years. Just about everything I’ve put money into has pleased me for a while, then eventually lost my interest as something newer, flashier, faster, cooler came along. But every person who was lost but has now received eternal life in Jesus is going to be living with him – and me – forever in heaven. Wow! Now that’s treasure that can get my heart beating.

Where are you putting your treasure? What is the passion of your heart?

True joy will come to you when you make a decision to put them all in one place.

Grace and Peace,

Jeff

The Right Tool

For years, I've taught that being a faithful and effective disciple of Jesus Christ requires that believers become "life-long learners." So, trying to be a "doer of the word" and not a teacher only, I recently enrolled in a pastoral coaching network with Nelson Searcy. Nelson is lead pastor at The Journey Church in New York City, and under his leadership that church has been remarkably successful at reaching unbelievers, leading them to faith, and nurturing disciples.

I told you that so that I can tell you this...

Today will be our third coaching call. And, according to the contract we signed, this is the time we can bail out at no cost if we don't believe the network is useful.

Much to my surprise, I went to my mailbox this morning and found a letter from Nelson. A letter of encouragement. A letter that said, in effect, I hope you're getting the tools you want out of our time together. I know it's a big commitment. I hope you'll stick with it.

The letter also contained a gift - a multipurpose tool (and a very nice one), with a reminder that most jobs in life are easier when you've got the right tools!

Well, the fact is that I'm getting a lot out of this network, and I was planning to stick with it anyway. But I'm impressed with how important a little gift made me feel. A token of appreciation. A note of encouragement. Maybe he's teaching by example.

Do we show that same kind of appreciation and encouragement to our friends and neighbors? To the leaders and others engaged in ministry in our church? Would we be willing to take on that kind of extra expense to catch an unbeliever's attention and share the gospel of Jesus Christ?

I hope this blog is an encouragement to you. My hope is that we can all encourage one another to deeper faith and more radical discipleship. Let me know what tools you need, and I'll try to pass them along.

Now may the God of peace— who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood— may he equip you with all you need for doing his will.
Heb 13:20-21 (NLT)

What would Jesus do?

Someone just brought this video to my attention.  As I watched, I found tears welling up in my eyes.

If you've got seven minutes to invest, please watch this video. Then, I'd appreciate your comments on how Christians can and should respond.


How Muslims are Treated in the USA

Grace and Peace,
Jeff

Prayer for our Attitudes

Several folks have requested a copy of the prayer we prayed in church at the end of the "Lord, Change My Attitude" series.  The foundation for this prayer came from the book, "Lord, Change My Attitude, Before It's Too Late," by James McDonald. I made some revisions to help it better fit our congregation.

Lord, I confess that I do not have the strength to follow you. My attitude is often anything but Christ-like. I invite you to fill me with your Spirit and give me the strength that I need for every difficult circumstance and person I encounter. I ask that your grace would help me put of all the sinful attitudes and put on righteous ones in their place.

Help me to put off complaining and replace it with thankfulness

To put off a covetous attitude and replace it with contentment

To replace a critical attitude with an attitude of love

To surrender my rebellious attitude and take on an attitude of submission.

I claim your promise that in Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven.

I declare with gratitude that I trust you will change my attitudes, and that it’s definitely not too late! In your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.

The Basketball Gospel

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm not much of a sports fan.  I'll watch the Super Bowl, but mostly because I enjoy the company and the ads.  Usually I'll try to tune in for a few big golf tournaments.  And I love taking our kids to see the Somerset Patriots, our local minor league baseball team.

In my mind, one of the dullest of all sports to watch on TV has to be basketball.  Other than the occasional spectacular shot from mid court, it seems to me to be a constant blur of meaningless motion.

I may not be a fan of basketball, but I'm now a fan of David Robinson.  If you missed his speech when he was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame, I'd like to encourage you to invest seven minutes of your life and watch it here.

David Robinson Hall of Fame Speech




Blessings!
Jeff

Yard Sale

Today we had a yard sale – the great American exercise in cleaning all the old stuff that we once loved out of our closets, and trying to sell it for a dollar or less.  To tell the truth, it was pretty discouraging as one car of “shoppers” after another stopped, looked, and left. And it feels pretty weird to see that “must have” toy of two or three years ago going for 25 cents!

Of course, it reminds me of Jesus words:

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Matt 6:19-21 (NLT)

How do you store up treasures in heaven? You can’t take it with you. And even the best stuff on earth is going to look pretty shabby in heaven!

The only earthly things I know of that we can send ahead to heaven are human souls. For whenever we share the love of Jesus with someone and they accept his forgiveness and become his disciples, the citizenship of heaven goes up by one – and even the angels rejoice!

Maybe you’re not comfortable explaining the gospel and inviting someone to follow Jesus. But you can let someone know that there are good things happening in your church, and invite them to join you some Sunday and see for themselves. When you do, we promise to welcome these guests as though they are the most important people on earth. Because they are. And we pray that God will use what happens in church that day to touch their hearts and help them fall in love with Jesus.

By the way, at the end of the day we gave up on selling the stuff. Instead, we put a “Free” sign on just about everything that was left. Within minutes a young couple came along and gleefully helped themselves to the whole pile! We couldn’t be more pleased.

I imagine that’s how God feels. He paid. We receive the free gift of eternal life. All we have to do is accept it. He couldn’t be more pleased.

And that’s the gospel in a nutshell!

Eight Years Later

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe.” Proverbs 18:10 (NRSV)

Eight years ago today, my wife and I watched, along with the rest of the nation, as terrorists destroyed the twin towers of the World Trade Center, only twenty miles or so from our home.  It was only later that we realized we had witnessed the deaths of two members of our congregation, along with thousands of others including those on the hijacked airliners and in the Pentegon.  Not only people died on that day.  Those towers were chosen because they represented the financial strength of our nation.  Their destruction, accomplished with such ease and at so little cost, shook the sense of security that so many had placed in the things of this world.

As the towers crumbled, I remembered a Scripture chorus we sometimes sing in worship.  “The name of the Lord is a strong tower.  The righteous run into it and they are saved.”

Eight years later, let’s remember that neither military might nor financial strength can make us secure – only the eternal refuge of our mighty God.

RIP Alvin Kapplemann and Kermit Anderson

Expected Guests

Every guest who walks through the doors of First Presbyterian Church is a gift from God.

I’ve noticed that when we are expecting guests at our home, we go out of our way to make them welcome. Before their arrival there is a flurry of cleaning activity. Not that our home is usually dirty, but when guests are coming we want our home to look its best.

When guests arrive there’s a little ritual we go through. We greet them at the door, ask them if they’d like something to eat or drink, and show them to the most comfortable seat in the living room. To put it another way, we make sure they are greeted, treated, directed, and seated.

The entire time our guests are with us, we do our best to make them feel comfortable and appreciated. And, when it’s time for them to leave we thank them for coming, and (usually) invite them to come again.

At First Presbyterian, we’re expecting God to bring us guests. We want to be certain that God’s guests are treated equally well!

For most folks who haven’t been to church in a while, attending church for the first time can be a pretty intimidating experience. They don’t know where to park, what to wear, how to get into the building, how they’ll be received (“Will they be glad to see me, or will they make me feel guilty for having been away so long?”), what to do with their kids, where to sit, or what will be expected of them. Most church guests want to be a) appreciated and b) anonymous. Going to church for the first time, or the first time in a long time, is hard.

If you haven’t been to church in a while, I want you to know that we understand just how big a step showing up to church is. We’re eager to see you! We promise to appreciate you and treat you with genuine warmth and love. Please come soon, and be our guest!

If you’re a member or regular attender at First Presbyterian, will you join me as we make it one of our highest Sunday priorities to graciously and joyfully welcome every guest God sends our way? We want to be sure that every guest is: greeted with a smile and told, “We’re glad you’re here”; seated in the best seats in the house, where they’re welcomed with a smile; and treated as the precious gift from God that they are.