John 8 - The Rest of the Sermon

On Sunday, I didn't quite make it through my entire sermon. I told my congregation that one of the great things about being a pastor is the opportunity that I have to study the Word of God each week. I'll spend hours in preparation, often times reading 200+ pages in preparation for a message. That was the case last week. So, what you have below is the sermon that I had intended to preach Sunday. I preached everything but the final illustration.

May this be a blessing to you!

Sermon preached on Sunday, January 11, 2009 by Rev. Brian D. Schulenburg at at Woodbury Community Church, Woodbury, MN

JOHN 8:12

12When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

IN SEARCH OF JESUS #9
JESUS: LIGHT OF THE WORLD

I wonder, this morning, what’s the best vacation that you’ve ever taken in your life? Is there a place that you and your family retreat to every year? Maybe you are a typical Minnesota/Western Wisconsin person, and there is nothing like a week at the cabin. Maybe it was your honeymoon. I know there are many in our congregation who like to escape the cold of a Minnesota winter and head somewhere warm like Florida or Arizona or Mexico. Are you a cruise person? I think after the cold week that we’ve had this week, most of us could easily be persuaded to become cruise people.

No matter what type of vacationer you are, I bet that when it’s all over, or when the holidays end, or when the visit with relatives comes to pass, there is a bittersweet longing for more. There is a natural excitement that comes with days off of work, time with close friends and family, fun games being played and memories being made. It is true of us, and it was true of those who lived before us.

When we left John seven, last week, Jesus was at the Feast of Tabernacles. It was a glorious festival, a holiday, celebrated by the nation of Israel. I told you last week, and the Wessman’s told you in October, (when we joined our Jewish friends in celebrating the Feast) that this Feast was considered to be the most joyful celebration of the year. The harvest had come, God had provided, and the people remembered the faithful hand of God in caring for them during the wilderness wanderings. They slept in makeshift shelters, with very specific instruction that at least part of the roof was left open so that they could see the stars and reflect upon God.

There is something special about camping. Some of you are expert campers. I am not. My first retreat as a youth pastor was a horseback riding and hiking trip. I had taken the place of a youth pastor who had majored in forestry at the University of West Virginia. He had left church youth ministry to become a camp director. I had never been backpacking before in my life. I had no idea what I was doing. After three days of riding horseback, my body ached. After backpacking another forty miles in three days, I thought I was going to die. I complained a lot on that trip. But, looking back upon it, it was one of the greatest trips of my life. As we pitched our tents each night, we saw stars in the mountains of Pennsylvania that we couldn’t see in Washington D. C. And, the communal experience of sharing life together in tents was precious. There were no electronics allowed on the trip. Our entertainment was the stories that we told to each other. The bond between those who went on that trip was special. And, we were all sad to leave.

That’s how it must have felt to the Children of Israel as the Feat of Tabernacles came to an end. Every year, the Feast made the population of Jerusalem swell. And, every year, the pilgrims would head back home, leaving behind the shelters that they had made.

When John 7 ended, and John 8 began, John was sure to include the words:

53Then each went to his own home. 1But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

The Festival was over. Remember, all Jewish men who lived within twenty miles of Jerusalem were required by law to be at the Feast. It was time for them to go home. Jesus wasn’t through in Jerusalem though. He had much left to do. He had come to the Feast of Tabernacles late in the celebration, and there was a lesson that still needed to be taught. So, that night, he went up to the Mount of Olives, which is a ridge that runs north and south for about two miles, located just across from the Kidron Valley east of Jerusalem. Chances are that Jesus stayed in the shelter that He had constructed for himself during the Feast of Tabernacles. He’s probably not the only one that stayed in a shelter for the night. Many of the Jews may have wanted to celebrate one more night, after all, the Festival was a highlight of the year, and there are those who just don’t want vacation to end.

2At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them.

The people were in for quite a day. They had arrived early at the temple courts. The sun was just rising. They could have been there for morning prayers, to give their offering to the temple before they went home, or to resume their daily ritual, now that the larger crowds from the feast were gone. When Jesus joined the crowds in the courts of Herod’s temple, he was surrounded. The day before, Jesus had raised the ire of the religious elite through his radical teaching. He had also found a new group of followers. Remember, we have no record of Jesus’ disciples being with him on the visit to Jerusalem. But, there were new disciples. There were new converts. At the end of my sermon last week I said that I could have titled last week’s sermon, Jesus – The Divider. Some believed, some rejected Him, some tried to kill him.

The plot to assassinate Jesus was in full bloom. But, God kept thwarting the attempts of the Jews to murder Christ. He would not be put to death on this day either. Because Jesus was 100% God he knew that today would not be the day of his death. So, he taught openly. And, for the first time in John’s Gospel, Jesus sat down to teach. It was the traditional way a for a rabbi to teach. Often times, the people would ask the rabbi questions. He would respond to their questions with his teaching. We’re not sure what Jesus was teaching the crowd before the arrival of a small band of Pharisees and Scribes, but we do know what he taught afterwards. In the midst of his teaching a raucous display of hatred broke his train of thought.

3The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" 6They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

It was quite a trap. Like many of the questions the Pharisees, and this time the scribes and the Pharisees, asked Jesus, this question was meant to turn the tide of public opinion against Jesus in such a great way, that the crowds would take care of killing Jesus for them. Here is the situation. Old Testament law required that a person caught in the act of adultery be killed. The religious leaders were becoming famous for twisting the law. The law did not state that all women accused of committing adultery were to be stoned. That was reserved for the woman who was betrothed to be married that was found to be in an adulterous affair with another man. The man, in that case, was to be put in a pile of donkey dung, up to his knees, and then he was to have a rough towel put around his neck. In between the rough towel and his neck was to be a smooth towel. Two men were then to pull on the opposite sides of the towel until the man died. This way, no mark would be left on his neck, and it was symbolic of the fact that God was the judge who was taking the man’s life. If a married woman was caught in adultery she was to be brought to her husband, and he would decide how she would die, by stoning or strangulation. Or, he could choose to forgive her.

Adultery was one of the few sins punishable by death. And, the Jewish crowd that was listening to Jesus knew it. If Jesus told the men not to stone her, he would in essence be saying that the law of Moses, a law handed down from God, didn’t matter. He would be saying that he was greater than the law. Later on Jesus would refer to himself as the Lawgiver. So, would the apostle John and the apostle James.

If Jesus said, “Go ahead. Stone her,” he would have lost his goodwill among the people. He had shown himself to be a compassionate and grace filled teacher. He taught as no one before him had taught. He would look like a heartless Pharisee. If he said to stone her, he would have also rebelled against the Roman authority, which had specifically said that only Roman authorities had the right to demand a life. Jewish leaders knew that they had no authority to legally execute someone in first century Palestine.

Verse three is particularly telling of the hatred of these men. Remember the timing of this event. It happened just after the Feast of Tabernacles ended. The shelters were still up all over the city. It would not have been difficult to catch a couple that was engaged in an illicit affair inside one of those tents. It wasn’t as if this woman was in the home of someone, where four walls and locks prevented her from being found out. Some have speculated that the religious leaders bribed a man to seduce this woman during the Festival. In the vacation like atmosphere of the feast, the woman could have been more vulnerable to a seduction. After all, there is no mention of the man that she was engaged in the affair with. This may have been an elaborate setup planned by the Pharisees and Scribes. The Greek language carries with it the idea that the literally ripped the woman out of the arms of her lover. She was probably naked, or wearing only a sheet around her body as the Pharisees paraded her in front of the people .There was nothing that she or anyone else could do about it. These men were the most powerful men in the entire nation. Talk about shame! Talk about judgment! She had never felt so vulnerable in all of her life. She knew that she was about to die. Maybe she was thinking of her betrayed husband. Maybe she was thinking about her children, if there were any. Maybe she was thinking about the shame that she was bringing upon her parents or her family name. I wonder if she looked people in their eyes or hid her eyes in shame. I think it was the latter. I’m sure she just wanted it all to end, for the nightmare to be over.

One commentary I read said that the Bible is a book of names. God is a God of names. We see him interact with real people. We read of God and Adam and Eve. We read of God and Abraham and God and Moses. There are entire chapters of the Bible dedicated to names. And, we don’t know this woman’s name. The Pharisees use her as a tool. They dehumanize her. They treat her like a piece of meat. She is being used. And, Jesus responds in such a tender way.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." 8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.

What a strange thing to do! The Pharisees wanted an answer on what to do with the woman, and Jesus bent down to start writing something in the ground. The Bible does not tell us what Jesus wrote, and there has been wild speculation about just what it is that he wrote for generations.

There are some who believe that Jesus was writing down the charges that the Pharisees and Scribes made against the woman. Others say that Jesus was writing down the Ten Commandments. Some more liberal scholars say that the Pharisees caught Jesus. He was caught off guard and didn’t know what to do, so he started writing in the dust to buy time to formulate an answer. I don’t think so. Remember, last week, we said that Jesus was in complete command of everything that he did, right down to the timing of when he went to the feast and when he said what the things that he said. No, Jesus’ writing on the ground was purposeful.

The Armenian translation of John’s Gospel translates verse six this way, “He himself, bowing His head, was writing with his finger on the earth to declare their sin; and they were seeing their several sins on the stones.”

William Barclay writes the following about this: “The suggestion is that Jesus was writing in the dust the sins of the very men who were accusing the woman. There may be something in that. The normal Greek word for to write is graphein, but here the word used is katagraphein, which can mean to write a record against someone. (One of the meanings of kata is against). So in Job 13:26 Job says, ‘Thou writest (katagraphein) bitter things against me.’ It may be that Jesus was confronting those self-confident sadists with the record of their own sins.”

For some reason, even as Jesus wrote on the ground, the men demanded an answer from Him. Again, look at verse seven. 7When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." 8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

Jesus answered their question in a brilliant way. He also gave them time to think about their response as he bent back down to write on the ground. I believe that Jesus was either writing the Ten Commandments or the sins of the men. In either case, the men were guilty of what it was that Jesus was writing on the ground. Notice what happened next.

9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.

It was the older men who had lived the most life. They knew that they were guilty. And, the older men dropped their stones, as the finger of God once again wrote the law of God on earth. One by one the men dropped their stones and the woman stood there amongst the crowd that was listening to Jesus preach, and God in the flesh, Jesus Christ.

10Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"

11"No one, sir," she said.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

What a beautiful picture of our merciful Savior! Vulnerable, shamed, naked, shaking and scared, the woman was standing; and Jesus? Jesus was on his knees. Jesus was being a servant. Jesus was saving a life. Jesus was teaching. The son of man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many, including that woman.

Did Jesus not care that the woman had committed adultery? No. He cared. He did not condone adultery then, and he does not condone adultery now. Jesus didn’t condone sin, but he accepted her. He loved the one that the Pharisees sought only to use as a pawn in chess match against Jesus. I believe that the woman had a change of heart right then. If she had not, she could not go and leave her life of sin. Only a person who has been redeemed can do so.

12When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

It was the second time in the book of John that Jesus began a statement about himself with the words, “I am.” His first was in John 6:35 when He declared Himself to be the Bread of Life. We know that at the point Jesus says these words He is in the Temple treasury, which is also called the court of women. Towns writes, “In the Court of the Women in the temple were four golden candelabras each with four golden bowls. As part of the celebration surrounding the Feast of Tabernacles, these bows had been filled with oil and lit. Contemporary observers claimed the light was so brilliant it lit the entire city of Jerusalem. The memory of this event would have still been in the mind of his listeners.”

It’s another example of Jesus being in control of the situation and the words that he used. As the Feast of Tabernacles came to a close, Jesus taught an important lesson about Himself. It was one more indication that He was God. Throughout the Old Testament, God was referred to light.

In Psalm 27:1 we read, “The Lord is my light.” In Isaiah 60:19, “The Lord will be your everlasting light.” In Job 29:3, we read, “by his light I walked through darkness.” And, in Micah 7:8, “Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.”

Have you ever been in a dark place? Being afraid of the dark is a memory that many of us have from our childhood. I can’t even tell you the number of times that Cyndi and I have been awoken by one of our four children because of a fear of the dark. Like most parents, over the years we have tried to assure our kids that everything is alright, they are safe and there is nothing to be afraid of. We normally pray with our kids and then put a nightlight on to help them overcome the fear.

Lights do that. They help us overcome fear. When I first began working at Wooddale Church, we had a late night drive-in movie event at the church. It was a spectacular night of ministry. At the end of the evening, after putting away all of the a/v equipment and saying goodnight to all of the kids, it was my job to lock up the church. My associate asked if I wanted her and her fiancé to stay to help me lock up. It had been a long day of work so I told her, “No. Go ahead and go home. I’ll lock the building.”

When she left, I went to Wooddale’s alarm panel to arm the building. I was told that it would be a simple process. I just needed to type in code on the panel and the building with lock down. I had thirty seconds to get out of the building after typing in the code. If I didn’t do so, the alarm would go off and the police would be on their way.

Simple enough! So, all alone in the huge building that I had worked at for a month, I entered the security code. That’s when a strange code showed itself on the screen. It said “Door Ajar S Shop.” The building could not be shut down until that door was closed. There was just one problem. I had no idea what the S-Shop was. All I could think that S-Shop could mean was Sweet Shop, because we had a place called the Sweet Shop at the place that I vacationed growing up. But, there is no sweet shop at Wooddale Church.

The security code that I had typed in had turned off all of the lights in the building. It was dark! I had no idea where to find a flashlight, so I began the long process of trying to find the S-Shop at Wooddale Church. I couldn’t find it. I had no idea where the door was. When I walked down the stairs at Wooddale and entered the lower level, every scary movie that I had seen as a teenager re-entered my mind. I was sure there was some kind of drifter in the building. I just knew that the person was going to jump out from behind some dark crevice and take my life. I have never wanted light so bad in my entire life. It took my about two hours to find the door. At 2:15 AM I finally left Wooddale Church after finding the door in a janitor’s closet.

When Jesus talked about being light, He was talking about something much more significant than the candelabras that lit up Jerusalem during the Feast of Tabernacles or the lights that show us around our homes and businesses. Jesus is the Light that shows the world God. We can’t see God apart from Christ. And, in Him we have seen God.

In verses 13-20, Jesus shows us that He is the Light of the World by revealing Himself.

13The Pharisees challenged him, "Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid."

14Jesus answered, "Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. 15You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. 16But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid. 18I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me."
19Then they asked him, "Where is your father?"

"You do not know me or my Father," Jesus replied. "If you knew me, you would know my Father also." 20He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his time had not yet come.

There they go again. The Pharisees are trying to trap Jesus. They are trying to trap the Lawgiver by the law. Jesus shows them that they are not worthy to judge. Only God can judge. Because He is God, Jesus has the authority to act as His own witness because He has been sent by the Father. His message proved that. His actions proved that. Jesus life testified to the fact that he was the Light of the World.

In verses 21-27 the Light of the World revealed the Father.

21Once more Jesus said to them, "I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come."

22This made the Jews ask, "Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, 'Where I go, you cannot come'?"

23But he continued, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins."

25"Who are you?" they asked.

"Just what I have been claiming all along," Jesus replied. 26"I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is reliable, and what I have heard from him I tell the world."

27They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father.

It’s so sad that the Jewish leader’s hearts were so hardened that they could not understand what Jesus was saying. He was basically telling the religious leaders that all of the religiosity would not bring them eternal life. They could not fathom that they would spend eternity apart from God, but Jesus tried to tell them just that. They would not go to the Father unless they followed the Light of the World to Him. They needed Jesus in order to have eternal life. When Jesus told them, “Where I go, you cannot come,” he was telling them that unless they turned from their wicked ways, they would not experience eternal life with God.

We only have time to cover through verse 30 today. So, let me share one more thing that the Light of the World reveals. It’s the cross. Verses 28-30 read this way:

28So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him." 30Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him.

It’s a beautiful thing when someone does what verse 30 speaks about. Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him. And, why wouldn’t they. What Jesus offered those gathered in the temple treasury that day is so much better than the stale religion of the Pharisees. He offered life.

It was the Light of the World that illuminated the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and the Scribes that day. As they brought a wicked woman before Christ, their own wickedness was shown to them and to the crowd. It wasn’t a large group of religious leaders that brought the woman to Christ. I wonder if some of them recognized their own hypocrisy on that day. I wonder if some of them had their lives transformed for good.

It was the Light of the World that showed the true heart of God to the woman caught in adultery. He is the God who loves the sinner and hates the sin. He is the God who forgives. He is the God who cares about the individual and wants to see lives made whole. He is the God who knows your name, who knows everything about you, and has shown you Him. He wants you to see the Light. He wants to show you the way to the Father. He wants you to remember the cross.

Finally, He is the Light of the World who has called you to be the light of the world. To his most committed followers in Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus said, 14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

This summer I told you about a book that was published last year by the Fermi Project. The Fermi Project was a giant research initiative to test the spiritual climate of Americans, especially those between the ages of 16-29. The study took three years, and involved over 60,000 participants. It was done in conjunction with the Barna Group. The findings of that study are now available in the book unchristian by David Kinnamon and Gabe Lyons.

One of the first questions that the study asked was, “Do you know any Christians?” The vast majority did. In fact, many of the people, considered outsiders to Christianity, had at one time called themselves Christians. Most had spent at least a couple of months involved with some type of church. 57% of the respondents said that they knew at least one evangelical Christian. 86% said that they knew a born again Christian. Only 16% of the respondents had a good impression of Christianity. When the words “born-again” were put in front of the word “Christianity” that number dipped to 10%. When the word “Evangelical” was put in front of the word Christianity, the number dipped once again; this time to 3%. How can it be? How have we come to the point where only 16% of unchurched Americans, between the ages of 16-29, have a favorable impression of Christianity?

The polling showed that Christianity has a serious image problem. When asked further questions to help the researchers understand the attitude of those outside the church towards those that they considered Christians the survey found the following beliefs about Christians to be the major contributing factors for the negative view of Christianity.

• 91% of those surveyed said that Christians were antihomosexual.
• 87% said that Christians were judgmental
• 85% said that Christians were hypocritical
• 78% said that Christians were too old-fashioned
• 75% said that Christians were too involved in politics
• 72% said that Christians were out of touch with reality
• 70% said that Christians were insensitive to others
• 68% said that Christians were boring
• 64% said that Christians were not accepting of other faiths
• 61% said that Christians were confusing

Friends, if we were more like Jesus, we’d mess those statistics up. Let’s not be like the religious elite that we see in the book of John. May we be the light of the world, pointing people to the Light of the World! The only way that can happen is when we know the Light of the World.

Last week, a former professor of mine, Ed Dobson, was featured on Good Morning America and USA Today. He left the world of academia to become a pastor several years back. Then he was struck with ALS, the crippling disease that will eventually take his life. He left his pastorate when the ALS began to effect his body, but he is still being used by God in a mighty way. Listen to some excerpts from the USA Today article, “The Rev. Ed Dobson has spent most of his life following Jesus. But only now does he realize how hard it is to live like him. The retired megachurch pastor and one-time architect of the religious right has spent the last year trying to eat, pray, talk and even vote as Jesus would. His revelation: Being Jesus is tough.

‘I've concluded that I am a follower, but I'm not a very good one,’ Dobson said. ‘If you get serious about the Bible, it will really mess you up.’

. . .During recent Christmas celebrations, as Christians worshipped the Christ child born in a manger, Dobson appreciated more than ever the man who preached love, only to die on a cross.

"Everybody loves a baby," mused Dobson, 58. "But when you start reading the teachings of this baby, and about the sufferings of this baby, you begin to understand better who he is."

Dobson has known suffering. He was diagnosed in 2001 with ALS, better known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Neither its deteriorating effects nor his work as a vice president at a local Christian university deterred his determination to emulate Jesus.

Cornerstone University President Joseph Stowell, who hired Dobson as vice president for spiritual formation last spring, said he admires Dobson's commitment, but is not surprised by it. It reflects his longtime friend's desire to "live outside the box" despite his health challenges.

"God often uses suffering to drive us deeper," Stowell said. "Ed's disease has put a heart-and-head focus on a deeper walk with God through the person of Jesus."

Dobson never knew how demanding that walk could be until he resolved to take it — and found it took him in unexpected directions.

He decided to devote a year to living like Jesus after reading "The Year of Living Biblically," A.J. Jacobs' best-selling account of obeying Bible commands as literally as possible. If a non-religious Jew could do it, Dobson decided, so could a practicing Christian.

That meant following Old Testament laws about eating, clothing and behavior, since Jesus was a Jew whose followers created Christianity. Observing kosher dietary requirements to not mix meat and dairy products, Dobson gave up his beloved chicken-and-cheese burritos.

"I can't wait to order it for the first time" in the new year, he said with a chuckle.

. . .Obeying the biblical command not to trim beards, he let his grow as long and shaggy as an Orthodox rabbi's. "It's a pain in the neck when you're eating spaghetti," he cracked. But a messy beard was the easy part of living like Jesus.

"The hard part is trying to live up to his teachings," Dobson said. "I've realized how far I fall short."

The man who preached for 18 years at Calvary Church re-read the four Gospels every week. He took to heart Jesus' commands to help the poor and visit the imprisoned. He also heeded his warning that only those who do God's work will enter heaven.

"Jesus is a very troubling individual," Dobson said.

. . . living the Jesus life was more personal than political. He prayed daily, repeatedly reciting "Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me" — the plea of a blind man Jesus healed.

He doesn't pray to be healed of ALS but relies on God's goodness to help him through the slowly debilitating disease. His frame grows thinner and his hands weaker by the day. Focusing on Jesus helps.

"I'm getting up every day not worried about what doesn't work; I'm getting up concerned about how do I live out this Jesus stuff."

Ed Dobson is changed after a year of trying to live like Jesus. We don’t need to observe the kosher laws of the Jew and grow long beards to see God do something tremendous in us this year. We do need to learn more about Him and try to be more like Him. May you remember today’s big idea: God has called us to be the light of the world. May we be the light of the world, pointing people to the Light of the World!

Another Great Sermon

I've listened to a lot of sermons today, and I just have to post this one too. It's also by Mark Driscoll. In it he is preaching on generosity and I think my favorite paragraph is: "2009 is very intimidating. Last month alone 534,000 people lost their jobs. And in Washington state 100 people a day are filing for bankruptcy. It's a hard season for many. The question is, 'What is happening?' And I think one of the things that is happening is that the god of money has died. Jesus calls him mammon. The god of money has died and people are freaking out because their god unlike our God isn't resurrecting any time soon. And the question is, 'How are we going to live our life without our god -- the one who gave us hope and joy and security and comfort and peace and helped our world on earth be our own little bit of heaven?'"

Financial struggles and uncertain economic times give us an opportunity to rely on Christ like never before. These days help us to remember who God is and who God isn't. May we crave Christ like never before. Enjoy!

My New Book Is Now Available

When I . . . 500 Sentence Finishers To Get Your Students Talking is now available at Christian bookstores around the country at at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc. The book released on January 1st, and features 500 sentence finishers that all start with the phrase "when I. . ."

It's a great book to use in classrooms, with youth groups, small groups, or around your family dinner table. You can order copies of the book by going here.

Here's the desciption from the book's back cover: Sometimes you just need the right question to get your students talking. (And then sometimes you can’t get them to stop talking!)

The latest in the best-selling Quick Questions series, When I… gives you 500 finish-the-sentence statements that will get students talking. With everything from silly to serious, you’ll get your students finishing sentences like:

• When I was a baby…
• When I have to confront somebody…
• When I see my parents kiss…
• When I see a homeless person…
• When I confess my sin…

Perfect for ice-breakers, road trips, small group discussions, or just about any other ministry setting, this is a useful resource for anyone in youth ministry, whether paid or volunteer, rookie or veteran.

When I… will open up opportunities for discussions and conversations that will draw students and leaders closer together and will lead to new insights into what’s happening in the hearts and minds of students.

Great Sermon

USA Today's Article "Could You Live Like Jesus For A Year" is Worth a Read

Ed Dobson was the Vice President of Spiritual Affairs at Liberty University when I was a student there. He left the University my sophomore year to become the Senior Pastor of Calvary Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. God used Dobson to do remarkable things in that church. In 2001, Dobson was diagnosed with ALS. Since that time he has become the Vice President for Spiritual Formation at Cornerstone College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Last year, Dobson spent a year trying to live like Jesus. USA Today recently interviewed Dobson about that experience. It was quite a year. I'd encourage you to read the article here.

Top Ten Theology Stories of 2008

Christianity Today has a fabulous article on the top ten theological stories of 2008. If you checked it out yet, read it here. I'd love to hear what you think.

The Online Missions Trip

Tim Schmoyer is a Youth Pastor here in Minnesota. He's got a GREAT idea for an Online Mission Trip, February 1-14, 2009. On February 15th, his group will begin using Dare 2 Share's new curriculum, The Gospel Journey Maui to continue reaching students for Christ. I LOVE this idea. If you are a youth pastor, I'd highly encourage you to consider joining the Online Mission Trip.

Better yet, why just let our students lead in this area. I've got a church full of adults who have latched onto social networking too. So, adults . . . let's join the revolution! Scripture calls very few people wise, but it does tell us that he who wins souls is wise (Proverbs 11:30). Our world needs Jesus today, as much as ever. May you take the challenge, and let your light shine for Christ.

You can find out more at www.onlinemissionstrip.com.

Joseph - The Stepfather of God

I'm preaching a series of sermons at Woodbury Community Church right now called What Child Is This? A Season of Discovery. Each week we take a look at a different character from the Christmas story. Last week we looked at Herod: The King Who Missed Christmas. This week's message is entitled, Joseph: The Stepfather of God.

When I think about Joseph's life, and the task that he had given to him by God, I'm blown away. Long ago, I heard a song by Michael Card entitled Joseph's Song. I'd forgotten about that song until I started researching this sermon. The words are so powerful, and I think that they communicate many of the emotions and thoughts that must have been going through Joseph's mind when he discovered that he would be the stepfather of God.

I won't have time to play the song, or show the video on Sunday, but here is a YouTube video of the song. May it prepare your heart for the message on Sunday.

My Wife and I Are Amazing At the Charleston

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

The Woodbury Community Church Staff As You've Never Seen Them Before!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

To The Ends of the Earth - Woodbury Community Church Missions Blog

To The Ends of the Earth, the new Missions blog of Woodbury Community Church launched today. Check it out by clicking HERE.

Walt Mueller Has Written An Excellent Post . . .

Walt Mueller has written an excellent post on sexuality and the Kingdom. This one is important for youth workers, pastors, teachers, and parents to read. Check it out HERE.

The Congo Opportunity

Several years ago I watched the film Hotel Rwanda, and I was deeply moved. The Rwandan genocide was something that I, like most Americans, largely ignored. I dont' want to make that same mistake again.

I'm in Nashville right now, just getting ready to fly back after spending a weekend with youth workers at the National Youth Workers Convention. Last night I caught Fox's 24 movie event, in my hotel room. In the film, Jack Bauer rescues a group of African children from being recruited to be child soldiers in a war that leads to ethnic cleansing. It was good to see Fox trying to shed some light on a very real problem in our world.

Friends, there is another genocide taking place in our world today. This time it's in the Congo. And, you can make a practical impact on what is happening there. World Relief is working with local churches and ministries to try to provide help for those who have been impacted by this genocide. Pleae take 4:43 to watch this plea for action from Lynne Hybels for action in Congo, and please take some more time to pray about what you can do.

Fire and Nice - Ministry in Minnesota

Minnesota has been our home for the past 7 1/2 years. I love this state. I love the people of Minnesota. And, I love the churches. One of the things that amazes me about this area is the number of influential churches and the number of national church leaders that have emerged from the Minneapolis/St. Paul regional area. Christianity Today recently ran a feature article on ministry in Minnesota. Many of the men talked about in this article are friends of mine. They are people who couldn't be more different in how they understand some theological nuances, and yet most of them are passionate about reaching their world for Jesus Christ.

If you want to understand ministry in Minnesota, and if you want a better understanding of some of this generation's "hot-button" theological issues, then the article Fire and Nice: Minnesota's Twin Cities are home to a collection of influential churches is an article you must read. You can find the article HERE.

A Good Night's Sleep

Psalm 4:6-8

6 Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?"
Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.

7 You have filled my heart with greater joy
than when their grain and new wine abound.

8 I will lie down and sleep in peace,
for you alone, O LORD,
make me dwell in safety.

Have you ever had a time in your life when it seemed like peaceful sleep eluded you? Maybe the stress at your job was keeping you from being able to keep your eyes shut throughout the night. Maybe you've had terrifying dreams that make sleep anything but peaceful. Maybe it's wondering how the bills will be paid, or worrying about a wayward child, or maybe it's just good 'ole insomnia. If that's you, Psalm 4:6-8 have to encourage you.

David knew that while the world searched in futility for peace apart from God, true peace could only be found in God. His joy was not dependant upon circumstances. The protagonists in this passage are content and find joy when their business (grain and new wine) does well. David's peace was deeper. And, he could truly lie down his head and sleep in peace because he knew that God was watching over him.

Struggling with peace?

Maybe it's time to let others in on the secret. Ask a close friend to be your prayer partner, lifting your pain to the Lord. Perhaps keeing a journal of how you are feeling would help. As you keep a record of God's faithfulness in written form you have somewhere to look back to when the doubts arise. God is faithful and will sustain you in the tough times. May you sleep in peace, tonight!

Dear Heavenly Father,

Peace sounds awfully good about right now. In our uncertain world, You are the only one who can truly satisfy. Forgive us for the times that we try to find peace apart from You. And, thank You that we can rest in the assurance that You are watching over us 24/7, 365 days a year.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Sacrificial Giving in Tough Economic Times

Psalm 4:5 - "Offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD."

I love thinking about the Lord, and how He responds to us. He must chuckle sometimes at the lack of trust that we put in Him. He has shown us time and time again that He is faithful, and for whatever the reason we struggle to believe that He is there, that He knows, that He cares, and that He is not surprised. God is worthy of our trust. And, He is worthy of our sacrifices.

The other day I was talking with someone who has had a history of making great sacrifices to the Lord. This person was grieving because he was no longer able to sacrifice the way that he had in the past. Uncertain economic times mean different things to different people. While some people are concerned about not going on the vacations that they used to go on, or that they would have to wait a little longer to purchase their luxury vehicle, this person was upset because he couldn't sacrfice to the Lord in the way that he once had. God knew his heart. And, I believe that God was more than satisfied by the way that this man lived his life. The man was trusting the Lord that a day would come when he'd be able to sacrifice like never before. Then he began to think that maybe he could sacrifice in ways that he hadn't before. He started to think about new ministries, new ways to serve God by serving others, and about the time that he spends with God. And, he was energized.

What do you sacrifice for the Lord? Does your life show that you are prioritizing your relationship with God above all else? If not, sacrifice that which gets in the way and trust God. He wants to do great things in you. And, He wants to show you amazing things.

Dear Heavenly Father,

To You we owe our lives and everything we have. You have demonstrated what true sacrifice is all about. You gave Your Son so that we might experience forgiveness and life everlasting. Help us to honor You in all that we do.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

How the Father Sees You

Psalm 4:3-4

"3Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD will hear when I call to him. 4In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds,
search your hearts and be silent. Selah"

We had our small group this evening and were discussing Galatians 2. It's an interesting chapter of Scripture, where Paul tells the Galatian believers that they are justified by faith alone in Jesus Christ, not by works. In Galatians 2:20 the Apostle Paul talks about being crucified with Christ and that he no longer lives, but that Jesus Christ lives in him. What a beautiful picture of how God views us. When our Heavenly Father looks upon us, He sees us with the eyes of a Father, looking down in love towards His children. He sees us not for who we were, but for who we are in Christ. He sees Jesus Christ dwelling in us. That is special. It means that we have been set apart for God's pleasure.

In Psalm 4:3, David reminds us that God has set apart the godly for Himself. He has a special calling on those who follow Him. Let's remember who we are in Christ. And, let us remember that God wants the world to see Him dwelling in us.

Dear Heavenly Father,

You are a patient, and a loving Father. Thank You for your forgiveness and grace. Thank You that You see Jesus when you see us. You see Him dwelling in us. Help us to yield control of our actions, emotions, decisions, and all that we are to You.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen.

Delusions and false gods

Psalm 4:1-2
"1 Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer. 2 How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? Selah"

This morning I preached a sermon entitled The Church That Can't Stop Worshipping, at Woodbury Community Church. In the message we looked at five components of the heart that truly worships God. We discoverd that the heart of worship is a heart of humilty, obedience, sacrifice, allegiance, and love. When we talked about the heart of allegiance, we talked about God's desire for us to love Him, and no other gods.

How many of us have been guilty of pursuing other gods? I know that I have. In my dellusion, I've allowed myself to believe that something that was created by man could be more desirable than God. David, who asked God to answer Him when he called, recorded God's answer. God asks all people how long we will love our delusions and seek after false gods. I don't want God to have to ask me that question anymore. I, for one, want to be among those who say, "I have left my delusions and false gods once and for all. I have seen what the world has to offer, and it has come up empty compared to You."

May you demonstrate a heart of allegiance today!

Dear Heavenly Father,

It's easy to allow the world to crowd out Your voice. We don't want to do that anymore. We desire You, and want to live for your glory. Thank You for purusing us even during the times that we have failed to pursue You.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Prayer First

Psalm 3

1 O LORD, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! 2 Many are saying of me, "God will not deliver him." Selah 3 But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. 4 To the LORD I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill. Selah 5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me. 6 I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side. 7 Arise, O LORD! Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. 8 From the LORD comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people. Selah

I love Psalm chapter three. It's a beautiful picture of the trust that David has in his God. No matter how many foes David had against him, he felt the presence and assurance of God's deliverance. When he was facing overwhelming odds, David rested in the truth that he could go to God in prayer, and that God would answer him.

Where do you go in the time of your great stress? God wants you to trust Him. He wants you to come to Him before you go to anyone else. This week I faced a situation where I needed God's wisdom. Instead of going to Him, I went to people. I talked about the area where I needed wisdom. I asked for opinions on what I should do. I got no shortage of good answers. But, I should have gone to God first. When I finally turned the situation over to Him, God answered. And, God answered in the most unexpected way. He loves to do that. As great as the opinions were that I received, none were as good as God's ultimate answer.

Like David, you can trust God with all of your stress. Give it to Him today, and wait to see how He answers.

Dear Heavenly Father,

You are a strategist like no other. While we make plans, You know the future. While we stress about decisions, You know the ultimate outcome. While we wonder where You are, You say, "I am here." Help us to come to You first. Help us to trust You with every area of our lives. You are our Ultimate Salvation and the only Hope we have. Thank You for always being there.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Who is Your Refuge?

Psalm 2:10-12 - "Therefore, you kings, be wise; warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry
and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him."

King David loved his relationship with the LORD. He was chosen by God to lead his people. From the field to the Kingdom, David walked with God. And, David experienced God's blessing. This chapter has shown us the awe that David had to be called a Son of God. And, this chapter reminds us of the God who lifts up and the God who tears down. David concludes by warning his enemies to serve th LORD with fear and trembling. He reminded his enemies of the special relationship that he had as Israel's king. And, he reminds all of us of an incredible truth at the end of verse twelve.

Blessed are all who take refuge in Him. Where do you take refuge? This week has been one of the most uncertain financial weeks in the history of our country. Just today, President Bush announced emergency measures for government to come in and bail out banks and financial institutions who had written countless bad loans. Our refuge must never come from governements, or finances, or relationships, or any other thing other than God. He is our Refuge. He is our Strength. Put your hope in Him today!

Dear Heavenly Father,

You are our Rock. We can depend upon You for everything. Help us to trust You when the world feels like it is falling apart. Help us to call out to You. You promise to show us great and mighty things when we do. We long for You.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen.

I Am Your Father

Psalm 2:7-9 - "I will proclaim the decree of the LORD : He said to me, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery."

There is a great scene in The Empire Strikes Back, which will to me always be the second film in the Star Wars film franchise, where Darth Vader reveals to Luke Skywalker that his is his father. I remember sitting in a movie theater as a ten-year-old boy being blown away that revelation.

In Psalm 2, David reveals what God told him. Imagine the awe that David must have felt as the God of the universe declared to David, that He was his Father. The shepherd boy, was now a child of God. And, the shepherd boy's Father, would make the nations of the earth his inheritance.

If you have trusted in Jesus Christ to be your Savior, then you too are a child of God. The hope that you have for eternity includes heaven, which is better than anything that this earth has to offer. May you declare your love for your Heavenly Father today!

Dear Heavenly Father,

You have given us more than we deserve. To be called a son or daughter of God is a thrilling thing. Thank You for Your matchless love. You are worthy of our praise and adoration. We love You.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

It Is God Who Exalts!

Psalm 2:5-6 - "Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill."

It's election time in the USA, and for the first time that I can remember, it seems like this election has been going on since about the time the last one ended. As a nation, I believe that we will engage in a collective sigh of relief when this election is over.

As a fan of talk radio, and as a man who now spends an average of two hours per day commuting to work, I've listened to quite a few opinions on this election. I'm constantly amazed when I hear people talk about candidates like they are the Messiah. Our country has experienced a couple of extremely volatile days on Wall Street. I listened yesterday as one announcer said that we were about to face the worse crisis in the American financial system since the Great Depression. It wasn't five minutes later that a caller phoned in to say that if Obama is elected president this will all go away. Another caller phoned in and said that if McCain is elected president this will all go away.

There are those who are convinced that if the candidate from the party that they do not endorse is elected that our country will be destroyed.

And, it reminds me that we need to pray for our leaders. The expectations that are placed upon leaders is unrealistic, and difficult for anyone to live up to. King David, while writing a Psalm that included a stern warning to his enemies revealed a truth about God. God knows who the next leader of the United States will be. God knows who the next leaders on every nation on earth will be. And, God will be exalted no matter who is in power. While peoples of the earth have rejected God for centuries, God continues to reign. He may be mocked by human beings, but God is the one who is ultimately in charge. Don't put your hope in leaders. Put your hope in God. He is the only Hope for ours and every nation.

Dear Heavenly Father,

You chose King David to be the ruler of the nation of Israel. He was insignificant, even to his own family; a shepherd boy whom you made a King. Help us to place our ultimate trust in You, not in people. May You give us wisdom as we make all the decisions in our lives.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Who Are We?

Psalm 2:1-4 "Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One. 'Let us break their chains,' they say, 'and throw off their fetters.' The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them."

Casting Crowns may be my favorite Christian band. I love their lyrics. I love the fact that the band started as a youth ministry band. And, I love the fact that the band is still doing youth ministry on a daily basis. Their song Who Am I? reminds me of these verses.

In Psalm 2:1-4 we find the Psalmist talking about the futility that comes when we conspire against the Lord. He is obviously speaking about the enemies of Israel in this passage, but he may as well be speaking about anyone who conspires against the Lord and the Lord's plans.

When we were in the process of discerning where God would have us spend the next chapter of our lives when we were transitioning from Wooddale Church to a new ministry, my wife and I put certain limits on God. We were willing to go wherever it was that God wanted us to go so long as it meant that we didn't have to move, our kids could stay in the same schools that they attend now, and our life wouldn't be inconvenienced too much. Talk about arrogance. We were trying to manipulate our lives so that they would work out how we wanted them to instead of asking God what he wanted for us. When we finally completely yielded control of our plans to God, He took over. Our plans were in vain. God had something so much better planned for us. We just had to trust Him to reveal it.

The beautiful lyrics for the song Who Am I? are shown below. Reflect on the power of these words today.

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
Vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours

Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love and watch me rise again
Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
Vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
Vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours

I am Yours
Whom shall I fear
Whom shall I fear
'Cause I am Yours
I am Yours

Dear Heavenly Father,

We don't want to be like your enemies, who willfully plot against You. We want to be people who seek to live every day for Your glory, and for Your renown. Help us not to be people who live for our own vainglory, but for You. Thank You that You love us like You do. We choose to stand for You.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

S.H.A.P.E. and Spiritual Gift Inventories

I preached a sermon yesterday at Woodbury Community Church entitled The Church That Can't Stop Serving. It was a part of our sermon series entitled The Church Has Left The Building. Many of you have requested copies of the S.H.A.P.E. Inventory which I talked about in the sermon, and a Spiritual Gifts Inventory, which I also talked about. Those inventories are now available, for free, on the Woodbury Community Church web site. You can find them by clicking HERE.

If you've never taken a Spiritual Gifts Inventory I’d encourage you to take the Spiritual Gifts test first. The Woodbury Community Church resource page features an inventory that comes from this website: www.kodachrome.org/spiritgift/. If you would rather take the inventory online, you can do so at the website. It is free to take the test, and the website produces a printout of your results.

The S.H.A.P.E. form is best completed with another person. I’d encourage you and a close friend, spouse, etc. to take it together. Print out a copy for each of you. Talk about each section as you go through the inventory. Ask your partner for input on some of the things he or she sees in you, and offer your partner the same. But, it is up to you and the Lord how you ultimately answer the questions. The last question deals with designing a ministry around your personal S.H.A.P.E. I’d encourage you to take some time to pray about what that might be and come back to that question a day or two after starting the process. The S.H.A..P.E. form works best in the context of allowing God to speak to you through the process. There is a great companion book that you can purchase on S.H.A.P.E. It’s called S.H.A.P.E.: Finding and Fulfilling Your Unique Purpose in Life by Erik Rees. You can read more about it HERE. The S.H.A.P.E. form was developed by the pastoral staff of Saddleback Church several years ago and has been a huge blessing in ministries that I have been involved with over the years.

I’d love to hear what God reveals to you as you go through this process. Drop me an e-mail at bschulenburg@wccmn.org and let me know how God is using this process in your life.

Sin Will Be No More!

Psalm 1:6 - "For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish."

The Psalmist talked about the judgment that would come to those who don't follow Christ in Psalm 1:5. In this next verse he talks about the ultimate outcome of the way of the wicked. It will perish. Sin will someday be no more. And, I, for one, am glad. I think if we were honest, most of us would say that the word wicked describes us far too often, and we long for the day that our sin nature will be no more.

Isn't it good to know that God is watching over the way of those who seek to follow Him? And, isn't it good to know that if we have trusted in Jesus as our Savior and Lord that He no longer views us as wicked but as righteous? If you haven't taken the time to reflect upon God's grace in your life, do so today.

I ran across a story on the internet this past week about a man whose life was transformed by grace. It's the story of Harry Monroe, and after reading his story, I did additional research on him. I opened my sermon with it this morning with what I had learned about Monroe's life. I hope his story will bless you.

Harry Monroe’s life was a wreck. The Detroit native had been imprisoned for counterfeiting in the late 1800’s. Upon his release from prison, he traveled to Chicago. He had lost his dignity, his friends and family, and his very will to live. Monroe had not lost his will to drink. After a night of drinking, he decided to walk into Lake Michigan and drown himself. On his way to the Lake, in a drunken stupor, Monroe wandered into a new ministry in what used to be the Pacific Beer Garden. It was now called the Pacific Garden Mission. Sarah Dunn Clarke and her husband George had purchased the building for the purpose of reaching the down and out in a tough Chicago neighborhood. It was Evangelist D.L. Moody who suggested that they keep everything in the name of Pacific Beer Garden except the word Beer. So they renamed the property, and those who used to travel to the bar to forget their problems, now traveled to the mission to find hope.

Monroe didn’t know just how much his life would change that night. He slept through the entire message as the preacher spoke. Colonel Clark took pity on the man, and gave him a bed for the night. When he woke up, Monroe didn’t know where he was. Clark told him about his wandering into the Pacific Garden Mission the night before and began to share Christ with Monroe. The ex-con came to faith in Jesus Christ. And, for the first time in his adult life, Monroe had hope.

His life was a testament to the grace of God. He would later preach from the same pulpit that Clark spoke from, and upon Clark’s death, Monroe would become the superintendent of the Pacific Garden Mission. When Monroe died it took all day for the people to pay their respects. A newspaper editorial described him as one of the most useful men in Chicago! What made the difference in Monroe’s life? The world would not have missed a drunk, but God took his life and made him a masterpiece. And, the Pacific Garden Mission? Founded in 1873, the Mission continues to operate in Chicago on Chicago’s south side today. Their radio program, Unshackled, which is a dramatization of the testimonies of people who have been saved by grace is heard on over 1800 radio stations around the world in English, Spanish, Arabic, Romanian, Russian, and Polish.

Monroe’s story, the stories of thousands of others touched by the Mission’s work over the past 135 years, and your story and mine, if you are a follower of Jesus Christ could be summed up in Ephesians 2:8-10, which says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Dear Heavenly Father,

We will never be able to thank You enough for the grace you have lavished upon us. May we no longer walk like the wicked. Help us to chase after You. You have shown us the most excellent way. Give us the strength to walk in Your ways.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

The Sad End of the Wicked

Psalm 1:5 - "Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous."

All week long, we've been looking at Psalm one. Verse five continues to tell the story of those who are wicked. They will face judgement. Scripture is full of references that speak of this judgment. It will be awful for those who have rejected Christ. I don't want anyone I know to be counted amongst the wicked at the judgment seat of Christ. When Jesus talked about this event he said that he would separate those who have accepted his gift of salvation from those who have not. This passage in Psalm chapter one seems to parallel Jesus' teaching. And, it should compel those of us who know Christ to share His message of love and forgiveness to the world around us.

I was talking with someone recently who said, "I've only got so much time on this earth. Who cares if people make fun of me for my faith. I want to bring as many people to heaven with me as I can." It's a good perspective. Share your faith. You never know whose life will be changed for eternity.

Dear Heavenly Father,

It is humbling to think that You would allow anyone to spend eternity with You. We have repeatedly made choices to reject what you desire for our life. Help us to have the courage to share with others of Your great love and forgiveness. Help us to care enough about those who don't know You that we would be willing to risk our petty human "reputations" to share Your love. Help us to open our mouths, and may Your Spirit speak through us.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

The Wind

Psalm 1:4 - "Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away."

As I write this devotional, Hurricane Ike is working it's way to the Texas coastline. Residents of Galveston Island, Texas have been issued a stern warning from the National Weather Service that states that they face certain death from flooding if they remain in their homes. This has been an intense hurricane season. Our thoughts and prayers are definitely with the people of Galveston, Houston, and all other areas affected by Ike's path.

Today's verse talks about the wind. Wind is one of the most powerful forces on the planet. The destructive force of the wind has blown away houses, reduced barns to timber, turned over trucks and brought large waves that have devastated cities and towns. Wind is also used in nature's agricultural process to blow away the chaff. It takes away the dead leaves from trees. Wind spreads seeds so that plants can reproduce.

The Psalmist compares the wicked to chaff. Yesterday's verse showed quite the contrast. When speaking of the righteous, the Psalmist tells us that they are like a tree planted by springs of living water. Their leaves do not wither and fade. The end result for those who would live a life that ignores God? Their life produces that which in the end is worthless.

Billions of people will go their own way
Ignoring the call of the Spirit today
Living a life built upon their own goals
To the detriment of their very own souls

May we not live our lives just for us
Missing the joy by making a fuss
Like children we think we know better than You
Help us grow up and see that's untrue

The wind will not blow us off course if we stand
Secure in Your presence with You hand in hand
We long for the day that the battle is through
Until then for You may our lives stay so true.

Dear Heavenly Father,

We don't want to be like those you describe in Psalm 1:4. To be wicked in Your sight is a terrible thought. And, yet we know that our righteousness is described in Your Word as filthy rags. When our hearts long for the world, more than they long for You, remind us of these verses. Remind us of the hurricane like force with which our enemy comes at us, seeking to drive us hopelessly off course in our walk with You. Thank you, that You are more powerful than any storm that Satan can throw at us. We trust You, and You alone with our lives, our salvation, and every situation that we face. We love You. Help us to live our lives in a way that honors You.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

True Success

Psalm 1:3 - "He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers."

We live in a world that loves to measure how successful people are. It's usually based upon accomplishments, or financial resources, or perhaps their family. But God measures success differently.

Psalm 1:3 continues to tell the story of the blessed person. We know from yesterday's reading that the person that Psalm one describes is the person who takes delight in the Word of God. Verse three describes the results of living a life for the glory of God. The man or woman who lives their life in such a way is compared to a tree that is planted by streams of water, doing what trees were created to do. The person is bearing fruit. Because the tree is planted by the stream, the leaf of the tree doesn't wither. If our lives are planted close to God, our lives won't wither either. We will be more alive than ever when we live our lives for His glory.

The verse ends with the words whatever he does prospers. Wow! Now that is an amazing promise. Those who live lives that are grounded in the Word of God, seeking after His desires, will experience true success. Want to prosper? Pursue that which God is passionate about!

Dear Heavenly Father,

You give us an awesome promise in Psalm 1:3. Help us to have the faith to believe that You truly do want us to prosper. Give us the perspective to know that prospering doesn't necessarily mean monetarily. Your definition of what it means to prosper is very different than many of ours. Help us to adjust our lives to your definition of prospering.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

The Gift of Meditation

Psalm 1:2 - "But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night."

I love the way that the book of Psalms is put together. It's 150 chapters are written by a number of different people. But, there is a harmony in the Psalms. There is a love for the law of God. There is a love for God. And, there is a love for the study of the Word of God.

Ancient Hebrew people would not have had ready access to the Word of God, as we do today. There were no printing presses. There were no Bibles that sat on a shelf collecting dust. When the Psalmist speaks about the blessed man, he speaks of the love that he has for the Word; a Word that was hidden in his heart.

The Hebrew people studied the Word of God in the context of community. It was usually studied at the local synagogue, or perhaps the temple in Jerusalem. The person who takes the time to meditate upon God's word, day and night, is a person who is in touch with God's plan for living. Want to understand God's will for your life? Meditate upon His Word. Want to understand how to live in a world of darkness? Meditate upon His Word. Want to know how to be a better husband or wife? Meditate upon God's Word. Want to know how to be a better parent? Meditate upon God's Word. Want to know how to handle finances? Meditate upon God's Word. Want to know how to make decisions about elected officials? Meditate upon God's Word. Want to know how to live life by the Spirit? Meditate upon God's Word.

I could go on and on, but you get the picture. So, how is the meditation going? I hope you'll give it a try. Allow God to speak to you through his holy Word. It will change your life.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Your Word has revealed much to us. Help us to remember that. Help us to be people who meditate upon Your Holy Word. Help us to go to it for direction, encouragement, equipping and rebuking. Help us to adjust our lives to Your will for us.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Blessed

Psalm 1:1 - "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers."

It's been a long time since I've written a devotional. I thought I'd start back up today. And, I thought I'd go back to the Psalms.

Do you feel blessed?

It's a hard question, isn't it? Chances are, if you are reading this blog, and have the ability to understand it, you are among the most blessed people financially on earth. You have been given the opportunity to receive an education, know how to navigate your way around the Internet, and you are most likely wealthy enough to afford a computer and access to the web.

But, financial and educational blessing isn't the type of blessing that Psalm 1:1 is speaking of.

Why is it that most western Christians equate the blessing of God with material things? Is it possilble that some of the most blessed people on earth are among are planet's poorest inhabitants?

But, I digress. We are introduced to the beautiful Jewish songs, poems and prayers that make up the Psalms with a beautifully crafted verse.

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers."

Have you ever walked in the counsel of the wicked? It's a miserable experience. God has a wonderful plan for every person on planet earth. He desires that we would know Him and the power of life in Christ. But, Satan fights against that message. Called in Scripture "the prince of this world" (John 14:30) and "the god of this age" (2 Corinthians 4:4), Satan tries his best to decieve us all into believing that we don't need Christ. May we not listen to his counsel for "the father of lies" (John 8:44) is the source of the counsel of the wicked.

The Psalmist also tells us to not stand in the way of sinners. In other words, we need to be people who do not live like those who go about sinning. Standing in the way of sinners carries with it the idea that we are trying on their way of life. Now, don't get confused here. We're not called to be pious people who think that we are better than anyone else. Romans 3:23 is clear that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. But, those of us who have been touched by God need not run back to sin. He gives us the strength to walk away from a life that dishonors him. We are not blessed when we try on the lifestyle of those who are still living in sin.

The Psalmist concludes this verse by warning us not to sit in the seat of scoffers. When I was a youth pastor, I used to hear stories all the time from teenage girls who had been hurt deeply by what other people were saying. A scoffer is someone who ridicules another person. They make fun of you for one thing or another. The Psalmist warns us not to scoff at the things of God. In other words, don't follow the crowd and don't join in their mockery of the Divine or those who have been created in the image of the Divine.

When we do the opposite of those described in verse one, we are blessed. So, my friends, will you join me in walking in the counsel of the godly? Will you join me in standing with the redeemed? Will you join me in sitting in the seat of those who bless others? Let's start a revolution in godly living.

Dear Heavenly Father,

You have called us to a higher standard of living. Thank you! Thank you that you provide a way for us to live in a world that seeks to dishonor you. You have shown us clearly in your word what it means to live as a child of God. Thank you that we experience blessing that is deeper than any monetary gift when we honor you. Help us to honor You with our lives.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

John Challis Passes Away At Age 18

John Challis is one of those beautiful stories of courage in the face of death. He passed away today at age 18. Here is his story:

CCCC Church Planting Movement

The Conservative Congregational Christian Conference (CCCC) recently produced a video on church planting that is fantastic. God is doing a special work within the CCCC. This video highlights the church planting movement within the denomination, specifically in the Boston, Minneapolis/St. Paul and Los Angeles areas. I know that many of you who read this blog have considered church planting. Let me encourage you to prayerfully consider doing so with the CCCC's. It's a wonderful denomination that God is truly doing a great work in. Check out the video and see for yourself.


Church Multiplication and the CCCC (Long) from CCCC USA on Vimeo.

Off To Michigan!

Our family is going on vacation tomorrow to Maranatha Bible and Missionary Conference in Muskegon, Michigan. We go every summer, and it is a highlight for us. Maranatha is located on the shores of Lake Michigan and is absolutely beautiful. There is great programming for children-adults. I'd encourage you to check out the website for Maranatha by clicking HERE. I've attached Marantha's promo video to this post.

Baptism Sunday!

Today was a special day at Woodbury Community Church. Once a year we have an outdoor service at Carver Lake Beach in Woodbury. Today was that Sunday. It was awesome! It's so special to worship outdoors. We sang songs that we believe to be true about our God. We dove into the Word of God and looked at Mark 6:30-52, which talks about an incredible day that Jesus spent at the Lake. He fed 5,000 people, walked on water, you know - a typical day in the life of Jesus. And then, we baptized seven precious people.

Baptisms may be one of my favorite parts of being a member of the Body of Christ. It's beautiful to listen to people share about how they met Christ. It's awesome to hear people publicly confess their faith in Jesus Christ.

After the baptism, we ate. One of the fun parts of being part of a smaller church is the church potluck. It was great to talk to my brothers and sisters in Christ. It was sweet to meet new people. It was special to see God's church in action. John Kimball, one of our church members took about 40 pictures of the day. I've included a few with this post.

Is Our Gospel Too Small or Too Big?

The folks over at Preaching Today have started an audio podcast entitled the Preaching Today Talk. They are doing a great job interviewing pastors, theologians, and some of today's leading thinkers about a variety of topics. They have chosen a very important topic for the first series of talks. It's all about "Getting The Gospel Right."

In a day and age when I believe that we have made the Gospel something that it is not, I believe that this topic is of utmost importance. You can listen to D.A. Carson's take on the subject by clicking HERE. Once you do, you'll be shown how to download the podcast directly to iTunes. Scot McKnight has also contributed to this conversation. Enjoy, and may your mind be stimulated.

The 30-Day Leviticus Challenge

Park Street Church in Boston, Massachusetts is one of the nation's oldest churches. In an area of the country where most people have left the church, Park Street Church stands as an exception to the rule. The church's steeple prominently rises above Boston Common as a beacon in the city. Recently, Park Street's pastor encouraged his congregation to take the 30-Day Leviticus Challenge. The results are fascinating. You can read about this awesome experiement HERE. The article also has a link to Park Street's church blog. There is some great information located there. Check it out HERE.

Live from New York. . .

I am presently at the Annual Conference for the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference in Buffalo, New York. It's the denomination that Woodbury Community Church, the church that I'm privileged to serve as a senior pastor, is a part of. Many people simply know this denomination as the 4C's. I've got to tell you, I'm impressed. What a joy to be a part of a denomination that so boldly declares the inspiration and inerrant Word of God.

Yesterday, as part of our business session, I listened as a number of pastors shared why their churches had left their previous denomination to join the 4C's. I don't remember a time in my life where I remember holding back tears concerning denominational affiliation. These men talked about joining the 4C's because their prior denominations either refused to recognize the authority of Scripture or because of an embrace of the homosexual platform. These were churches that loved homosexual people but could not condone a homosexual lifestyle, in denominations that had long given up loving the homosexual enough to call them to a holy lifestyle. What a joy it was to watch their faces as they described the love and the acceptance that they had found in the 4C's. You can learn more about the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference HERE.

Nice Review of What's The Deal With. . .

Youthworker Journal has a review of my book What's The Deal With. . . in their latest issue. You can read it online HERE.

Kudos to the Evangelical Free Church of America

I was ordained as a pastor in the Evangelical Free Church of America in November of 2001. At the time of my ordination I had just left the EFCA church that I served as a youth pastor at for 5 1/2 years and began ministry in a church of a different denomination. I've kept my credentials with the EFCA. This past week the EFCA held their national conference. They did something that few denominations have had the courage to do. They revised their doctrinal statement. What was the major issue that the EFCA was hoping to address? Was this in response to liberalism creeping in the denomination? Was it due to gay clergy? Was it due to an embrace of open theism? No. The document, which had been first published in 1950 needed to be touched up. The denomination needed to take a look at contemporary issues in theology and reaffirm their doctrine for a new generation. I've phrased it poorly. This article does a great job truncating the issues. Check it out HERE.

Billy Graham Interviewed by Woody Allen

I'm doing some research today for my Sunday sermon. One of the stories that I'll tell in Sunday's sermon is about Billy Graham's encounter with gangster Mickey Cohen. Cohen was the most notorious gangster in Los Angeles in the 1940s. He eventually went to prison. Upon exiting prison in 1955 some extraordinary events took place in his life. Cohen was befriended by Bill Jones, a fomer criminal himself. Jones had come to Christ, and he told Cohen about Cohen's need for Jesus. Cohen prayed to receive Christ. He would eventually fly to New York to go to a Billy Graham crusade. While there, the gangster became uncomfortable as Graham talked about what it means to truly follow Jesus as Lord. Cohen was not willing to live a life of surrender. He did want to get his picture taken with the famous evangelist, Billy Graham. So, he stuck around for the entire message, and after the crusade had his picture taken with Billy. As soon as he flew back to Los Angeles he quit hanging out with the two Christian men (Bill Jones and Jim Vaus, a former gangster that had worked for Cohen) that convinced him to go to the Graham crusade in the first place. When Bill Jones confronted Cohen about his renewed contact with the mob, Cohen said, "You never told me that I had to give up my career. You never told me that I had to give up my friends. There are Christian movie stars, Christian athletes, Christian businessmen. So what's the matter with being a Christian gangster? If I have to give up all that - if that's Christianity - count me out."

I think there are a lot of people like Cohen in this world today. We're probably all guilty of it to some extent. We want all of the benefits of being a Christian, but don't want to pay the cost.

So, I was doing this research today when I ran across these two videos from youtube of Billy Graham being interviewed by Woody Allen years ago. These are fantastic! And, they illustrate just how difficult it is for some people to give up control of their own life and yield that control to God. Interesting that years later Woody Allen's arrogance would destroy his own family as he ran off with his own adopted daughter. I'm praying that some day Woody will come to faith. There really is truth in what Graham says in this interviews. (The interview is in two parts. It won't take more than 12 minutes to watch the entire thing.)

My New Book Now Available For Preorder

My next book, entitled When I. . ., is now available for preorder from Zondervan or Amazon. You can order it HERE or HERE . I'm really excited about this one. It's a finish-the-sentence book that will keep teenagers and adults talking for hours. The book will be available in Christian bookstores everywhere in January of 2009.