Jesus Happy-Stuff

"Jesus Happy-Stuff"

By: Pastor Jack Schneider

 “Don’t let the errors of evil people lead you down the wrong path and make you lose your balance.  Let the wonderful kindness and understanding that come from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ help you to keep on growing!”  [2 Pet.3:17-18, CEV]

“I don’t understand,!” she sobbed.  “I thought it was supposed to get easier, but it’s not.”  Her walk of faith had deepened, prayer life had strengthened, grasp of Scripture truth grown so much greater, everything about her proclaimed the work of the Holy Spirit.  Yet here she was, in anguish, telling me life was easier in the old days, before she knew Jesus so intimately.

She’s not alone.  You’ve been there, too, haven’t you?  It should be no surprise.  The Word warns us, “of the one to whom much is given, much is required.”  The more you know, the more you’re expected to share and teach others.  With great power comes great responsibility.  God told Abraham, “I have blessed you so that you can be a blessing to others.” 

Ouch.  Somewhere along the line satan has sold us a bill of goods, a big fat lie -- the idea that all this “Jesus happy-stuff” has come along for our personal benefit so we can lie back in our easy chair and enjoy the good life.  “Have it your way,” he croons.  “Name it, claim it, and frame it; the gift is already yours!”  A few subtle twists here and there, and the joyful promise of forgiveness in Christ, restoration to the image of God [intended for all creation] lies broken by the roadside.  “You mean I have to tell other people about this?!  But that’s why we pay the pastor!”  “You want me to do WHAT with my children in Sunday School?  Oh, no; I just drop them off on my way to Starbucks.  I need a break.”  “Here he goes again!  Another “mission sermon!” 

If this offends you, good.  You’re not dead.  There’s still hope.  Growth is always painful; just ask a lobster [which, by the way, can live 130 years - true].  It’s painful because it involves removing deadly obstacles and presences from our lives, things that would keep us from intimacy with God and others, patterns and practices that hinder us from growing emotionally, physically and spiritually.  It’s also painful because it puts us into contact with others, and they don’t always want to hear what Jesus has to say, anymore than we did [do].  Unfortunately, if we’re not growing, we’re dying.  Ask the lobster.

“God is the One who began this good work in you, and I am certain He won’t stop before it is complete on the day Christ Jesus returns.” [Phil.1:6]

- Jack

“Taking Flight Part 7: Seeking Alternative Fuel"

“Taking Flight Part 7: Seeking Alternative Fuel" 

By: Pastor Andy Whaley



This week’s focus is on the importance of re-defining the foundation of our metrics – the system on which we base, and by which measure our faithfulness/success in following Jesus.  This wraps up a seven-week series on what it means to take flight in our faith, and have radical impact in our world.  Our conversation begins by taking a look at the striking foundational differences upon which the kingdom of God and the kingdom of men are built, as we reflect on a modern day parable.

“The kingdom of God is heavenly in origin and eternal in nature. 

The kingdom of men is earthly in origin and temporal in nature.”

 “The Parable of the Skylark”

One day, a young skylark flew in joyous loops about the sky. As he swooped near the earth, he heard a merchant’s cry, “Worms! Worms! Delicious Worms for feathers!” The skylark circled about, hungry at the mention of worms, but puzzled by the offer.  Cautiously the skylark landed nearby. “Come here, my little friend. See what lovely worms I have!” said the merchant, while motioning the little bird closer.

The skylark, aware that he was, indeed, quite hungry noticed that these worms looked bigger and tastier than any he had ever dug for himself – a task that was both time-consuming, and difficult.  The merchant repeated his offer,

“Two worms for just one feather, my friend. Two for merely one.”

The skylark was unable to resist such a sweet deal, thinking to himself, “I have so many feathers and such little time.” So, with a swift painful tug at his wing, he plucked one small feather, dropped it into the merchant’s hand, and said, “Two, please.”  The merchant replied, “Take your pick…any two your heart desires!”

Never before had the young bird tasted such wonderful worms. With a loud chirp, he leapt into the air and resumed his joyful flight.  As the merchant went on his way, the skylark began to feel a little guilty, but he enjoyed the feast, and was pleased to find afterwards that no one noticed the missing feather.

The next day he flew with his father. “My son,” said the old skylark, as they rose higher and higher, far above the tops of the tallest trees in the forest. “I believe we skylarks should be the happiest of birds. We have such brave wings, such beautiful feathers.  See how they lift us high into they sky.” “Ye-es,” said the young bird, hesitantly.

But day after day the young skylark descended. The merchant always ready with wonderful worms to offer. Until one day, after eating his fill, the skylark leapt again into the air – and to his horror, fell to the ground with a thud, unable to fly.

At once with sudden shock He realized what had happened. From eating the delicious worms He had grown too fat. From plucking his own feathers, his brave wings had grown bald.  Horrified, he remembered, how, slowly, imperceptibly, it had been getting harder and harder to fly.  Each day as he descended, he had told himself it was no matter. He could always stop before it was too late. Now suddenly, he was, trapped on the ground. The young skylark looked up and saw the merchant glaring at him, a small, sly grin creeping across his face. The merchant grabbed the helpless bird, put him in a cage, and walked away laughing.¹

“When men hope only in temporal values, they are left without moral absolutes; without a sense of the fear of God; or willingness to yield to His control.

Thus Godly living is forsaken for the ways of men.”

Carl Wilson, author

(“With Christ in the School of Disciple Building”)

“Seeking Alternative Fuel”

There is great truth to the saying, “what ya’ aim for is usually what you’ll hit.”  Meaning that when we set our sights on a particular target – we should not be too surprised that when we pull the trigger, we actually hit it.  If our sights our set on earthly, temporal measurements designed in the halls of the kingdom of men (membership numbers, budgets, buildings, styles of worship, programs, etc…) as the metric for our faithfulness and success as God’s Children of Salt and Light here on earth, then we should not be surprised when we shoot, we hit those targets and find ourselves somewhere down the road, fat, bald, and trying to pick the worm dirt out of our teeth!  However, if we set our sights on heavenly measurements that have eternal significance today created by YHWH in the halls of the kingdom of heaven, we will be overjoyed as we soar to the highest of heights with brave wings of faith covered in beautiful feathers lifted by the gifts of the Holy Spirit that radically impact the lives of those around us!

In stark contrast to the merchant and the worms, Jesus forever reigns as the true king of faithfulness constantly offering His, “supernatural life to the fullest” (John 10:10) in exchange for our sin, sickness, and death.  Here, Jesus introduces a new metric by which to measure our faithfulness – our success – namely, a quality of life that only He can provide, filling people in abundance! He calls us to this abundant way of life in three key contrasting ways to the kingdom of men:

1.)  Quality Discipleship versus quantity & membership.  Jesus was never overly interested in numbers.  However, He was passionately at work to draw people closer to Himself to teach them His Way of Life.  For Jesus, deep, consistent, honest, growing integrity of our faith walk is of first importance:

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness,

and all these things will be given to you as well.” – (Matthew 6:33)

2.)  Compassionate Relationships versus budgets & buildings.  Jesus changed the metric by which His disciples were to conduct themselves in the world, and proclaimed that compassionate generosity would be a significant mark and sign; the identity of His church on earth:

“But I tell you; love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” – (Matthew 5:44-45a)

3.)  Storied Lives versus styles & programs.  Jesus wrote His life story into our hearts.  He has transformed us into His storied people.  He still calls us to lead chaste lives that openly, transparently speak the story of our confession and absolution! 

“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” – (I Peter 3:15)

But if you just want the bottom line:  The Jesus metric is the incarnation!

His transformational presence in and at work through people’s lives!

John 1:14

- Andy

[1] (“The Parable of the Skylark”, by Jeffery Satinover, & “The Bargain of the Skylark” by G.H. Charnley)

Taking Flight Part 6: Breaking the Sound Barrier

“Taking Flight Part 6: Breaking the Sound Barrier”

By: Paster Andy Whaley

Last week we reflected on the power of light shining in dark places. 

This week we listen for words breaking through sound barriers!

“There was a demon that lived in the air. They said whoever challenged him would die. Their controls would freeze up, they would buffet wildly, and disintegrate.

The demon lived at Mach 1 on the meter…behind a barrier through which they said no man could ever pass. They called it the sound barrier.”

(excerpt from the movie, “The Right Stuff”)

Did you know that the people of Jesus day struggled with the same fear? The unique differences being: They created the barrier with their own legalistic noise pollution!  The demons they struggled with were not in the air – but in their hearts, and they were terrified of exposure!  So, they insisted on living under the letter of the law in four inappropriate and oppressive ways:

1.)  It was common practice for them to create barriers built on intellectual proof-texts.  A practice of ripping pieces of God’s Law out of its overarching context (that always included grace and mercy, forgiveness and restoration).  Utilizing the law instead to argue outward fashion points.  To prove that they were right and others were wrong.   They built up external barriers of comparison to hide behind, refusing to allow anyone to break through.

2.)  They had a habit of quoting self-righteous sound-bytes to each other. Measuring one another by individual accomplishments, instead of by the gift of grace they had all received time and again from YHWH.

3.)  Unfortunately, this led to a sad state of mediocrity and individualism as the standard of the day.  Following the letter of the law in the most menial and trivial of ways, they were careful not to go one step beyond it into the Spirit of the Law – the realm of loving, gracious action that impacts the lives of others.

4.)  Ultimately, they lived in fear of God and one another.  Terrified of public embarrassment and the exposure of personal weakness, it was impossible for them to be transparent with their lives.  They were scared to death that somebody might see beyond their whitewashed outward appearance, and into their hearts where the stain of human nature resides in every man. 

In Matthew 5:21-37, Jesus points out that this is exactly what had happened.

Good thing we don’t struggle with the same kind of sound barrier today.  Or, do we?

Oh, yeah we do!  But there is great hope!  Jesus came specifically to break through the noise pollution and sound barriers we create.  He came to reach into our hearts and sing new life into all of us!  As we feel His touch, He calls us to go beyond self-serving proof-texts and sound-bytes, beyond the realm of individual mediocrity and fear - beyond the mere letter of the law boldly into the realm of the Spirit of the Law!  A new dimension of transparency, humility, and forgiveness. 

He does this by transforming our hearts to follow His lead and take care of first things first – reconciling broken relationships, and mending broken hearts.  That is why He came – to reconcile us to Himself and the Father.  To mend our broken hearts.  To reconcile us to one another.  And, now He sends us out as His ambassadors of reconciliation into the world! 

“First, Go and Be Reconciled to Your Brother; Then Come and Bring Your Gift.” Matthew 5:24

(Jesus, King of Reconciliation)

We are His singers, spreading the sound waves of hope and restoration in four gracious ways:

1.)  Instigating reconciliation in the midst of broken hearts and relationships.

2.)  Living out acts of forgiveness that bring hope and healing to hurt lives.

3.)  Excelling in grace and love by going beyond the letter of the law and breaking into the realm of the Spirit of the Law, making things new.

4.)  Stepping out in courageous transparency.  No longer afraid to say I messed up – I am not perfect.  Instead, meeting with other broken people and sharing real life in a uniquely powerful way.  Opening up our lives, by exposing where we fell down and how God met us right there face down on the ground!

It is all about Jesus breaking through the sound barriers we have built in our head and our heart that say don’t come in.  But He sticks his hand right through and grabs hold of us proclaiming, “you are mine and I want to live with you forever.”

Honestly, at first, it can be a little scary.  The air seems quite thin when we let go and He takes hold.  But when He pulls us through to the others side – the oxygen is pure and sweet, lifting the heart and soul to new heights!

- Andy

Taking Flight Part 5: The Flight of the Illuminator

“Taking Flight Part 5: The Flight of the Illuminator”

By:  Pastor Andy Whaley

How many times in your life have your heard the phrase, “shine your light?”  It begins when we are very little as we are taught to sing, “This little light of mine”.  But what in the world is this light we are supposed to let shine?  The intriguing answer comes from Jesus Himself:

“so let your light shine before men that they might see your goods and

praise your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:13-16

Jesus says that “good deeds” are a light shining bright in the midst of a darkened world!  No, not for the purpose of earning salvation – that’s His job.  He did it once for all time when He climbed up on that cross and as He walked out of the empty tomb.  However, Jesus commands good deeds for a very important purpose - to reveal our Father in heaven.  To illuminate what God and His love looks like in real life.  Jesus did it first when He took flight from heaven down to earth.   He approached humanity living in darkness, and brought His light of life.  He is the very power that illuminates our lives!

In Matthew 5:1-12 Jesus proclaims the power of the illumination he brings, “blessed are you when you figure out that you are poor, blessed are you when you figure out that you are meek, blessed are you when you figure out that you’ve gotta’ depend on God alone – for everything.  Blessed are you when your life is touched in such a way that you are changed.  When you care about grace, mercy, justice, and peace!  These things empower you.  These things illuminate you.  These things send you out in the Father’s name to be a light in the dark. 

But beware, the darkness hates these things!

I love this phrase from Dr. gene davenport author of “Into the Darkness: Discipleship in the Sermon on the Mount”,

“The disciple must face the world fully aware of the desire of the darkness

to pervert and destroy the witness of the Light!”

The darkness will fight against the light!  That is true.  But an even more challenging truth is that we were called specifically to shine our light in the darkness.  Not to run from it.  Historically, there are four flight patterns people take when approaching their cultural surroundings:

1.)  The Separatists – Those who desire to simply escape the world and its darkness.  To evacuate.  To avoid being tainted by evil.  This is what the “Essenes” did.  They moved out to the desert and hid in caves.

2.)  The Antagonists –Those who desire to simply critique and judge the culture.  To point fingers at people - their decisions and actions.  Unfortunately, they offer no alternative/positive input.  No restoration.  No healing.  We see this evidenced in the Pharisees of Jesus day.

3.)  The Copiers – Those who desperately want to be “relevant.”  They mimic society, copy it and bring it into their spiritual setting.  But something unexpected happens when you copy the current culture – you begin to live out more of what you see in the world and live less like illuminators.  We see this in the Sadducees of Jesus day.  They held to their Jewish traditions but copied the Hellinistic Greek philosophy that stated, “there is no resurrection of the dead.” They followed the ethnic law but had no hope at the end of the story – can you imagine?

4.)  The Sell-Outs – Those who truly like what the culture is selling and buy it.  You see this in the Herodians, the people that ruled Jerusalem during the days of Jesus.  They sold out to the Roman occupation.  They claimed to be the kings of the Jews, but were only interested in serving themselves. 

Unfortunately, each of us, left to our own human nature falls into one of these 4 ways of approaching culture.  And that is one of the reasons why Jesus came.  To forgive us from this type of thinking and behavior.  To free us up to take a different approach!  To beat back the darkness with light!

In stark contrast, to the 4 patterns listed above, Jesus forever reigns as the true king of light in the midst of the darkness, and offers, by way of His own sacrifice, the gift of eternal life to all.  His flight is a majestic voyage of miraculous proportions filled with creativity and imagination.  He flew from heaven to earth with a cultural purpose: create a new society in which life thrives.  And as His followers we have been called to the same purpose:

1.)  To Bring Hope = Affirm the things that are good beautiful in the world – because God is behind it!

2.)  To Provide Clarity = Speak the truth to power in love! To stand in the middle of relationships. To bring about reconciliation, healing, and restoration.

3.)  To Create Direction = To provide positive, creative life solutions and produce Jesus counter-cultural goods.  Instead of just complaining about what is bad or only pointing out the negative.

4.)  To Uphold the Common Good = To Serve everyone! To have a positive impact on humanity!

Take a look at how Christians in the 2^nd Century lived this out:

The Christians...busy themselves on earth, but their citizenship is in heaven. They obey the established laws, but in their own lives go far beyond what the law requires. They love all mankind, and by all mankind are persecuted…They are poor, and yet they make many rich; they are completely destitute, and yet they enjoy complete abundance.

To put is simply:

What the soul is in the body;

So are Christians in the world!

(letter from “Mathytys” to Diognetus”)

“You are the light of the world.  Let your light shine before men,

that they may see your goods and praise your Father in heaven.”

Amen!

 - Andy

Taking Flight Part 4: Maintaining Orbital Integrity

“Taking Flight Part 4:  Maintaining Orbital Integrity”

By:  Pastor Andy Whaley

Orbit: A regular, repeating path that one object in space takes around another.

Integrity: The state of being complete; whole; having everything that is needed.

If you have seen the movie, “The Right Stuff”, you remember larger-than-life astronaut Gordo Cooper (as portrayed by Dennis Quaid).  Quite sure of his abilities, and never short on self-esteem, Gordo could be taken, at times, as a bit obnoxious. (A statement I’ve been known to represent, at times.)  Throughout the movie He repeatedly asks his wife, “Who’s the best pilot ya’ ever saw?” To which his loving bride was always supposed to immediately respond, “You are Gordo.”

On May 15, 1963 aboard the Faith 7 spacecraft, Gordo Cooper was launched into orbit.  And on that day, he was indeed the greatest pilot anyone had ever seen.  As the movie states, “He flew higher, farther, and faster than any man before”, orbiting the earth 22 times.  But take a look at the words he prayed on the 17^th orbit of that incredible voyage. 

“Father, we thank you, especially for letting me fly this flight …

for the privilege of being able to be in this position,

to be in this wondrous place, seeing all these many startling, wonderful things

that you have created.  Help guide and direct all of us that we may shape our lives to be much better Christians, trying to help one another, and to work with one another rather than fighting and bickering.  Help us to complete this mission successfully.”

A man known for boasting in his own abilities, was brought to his knees inside a tiny man-made capsule amidst the massive expanse of outer space.  Gordo finally experienced the greatness of God in a way he had never imagined.  At that moment, he understood his place in God’s universal family.  His prayer resonates with me personally and is a strong reminder of our societies need for a renewed humility, and a repositioning of orbital integrity revolving around God’s Word!

The prophet Micah faced a similar need for renewal in his day. His very name repeatedly begged the question, “Who is like Your Father?”  To which the Children of Israel were supposed to immediately respond, “No one!”  Unfortunately, God’s children had become fat and arrogant, resting on the assurance of their own abilities.  They had lost their sense of humility in the face of their Father God, and happily wandered into the spiritual wasteland of empty ritualism, idolatry, and self-gratification!   In Micah chapter 6 we are ushered into a courtroom to witness Father Yahweh lodge a legal complaint against His household.  The Father summons His children to listen to His Word and challenges them to prepare their response. He welcomes them into the vastness of the home He created for them, reminding them of His unfailing love, and the gracious way He has always acted on their behalf.  The children listen and respond by asking what they should do to appease their Father’s anger.  To no longer see the disappointment in His eyes.  To feel the warmth of His Fatherly love once again.  Micah responds directly to the children: You want to end the disappointment you see in His eyes?  You want forgiveness for not living by your Father’s rules while under His roof?  You want to feel His gracious love once again as before?  Don’t try and pay for it with a bad Father’s day tie once a year.  Don’t try and buy your way out of this with sentimental sacrifices that have no lasting effect.  You know what your Father requires of you? Act like His children!  Do what he says! 

“He has told you, children, what is good: and what does your Father require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Micah 6:8

Our family went down to Houston this past week to visit my mom and dad, Sam’s Grandpa Jim and Grandma Lynn.  It was good to be back in the Space City.  And we had a great visit.  While we were there Grandma Lynn pulled out the water-colors for our 3 ½ year old son, Sam.  We were sitting at the kitchen table painting, laughing, and having a good time.  Grandma Lynn lovingly explained to Sam how to use the water, and to be careful not to mix too many colors together.  Sam suddenly retorted with one of his go-to lines, “don’t tell me what to do!”  Immediately I jumped in with my first responders standard, “Sam, don’t talk to Grandma Lynn that way.  I want you to be a good boy.”  Looking up at my mom I recognized the inquisitive look on her face as she turned to Sam and asked, “Sam what’s a good boy.” Without even taking a moment to think Sam rolled his eyes and said, “Good boys listen to their daddy’s and do what they say.”  My mom jumped right back in and asked, “So what’s a bad boy.”  Sam answered, “Bad boys don’t listen to their daddy’s and they get in trouble.”  My mom kept the conversation rolling, “Sam, why should you do what your daddy tells you to?”  To my great delight, Sam quickly responded with, “Because he loves me.”  He then gave me two gentle pat-pats on the arm and leaned over to give me a kiss.  “Who could hope for more?” I thought to myself, but my mom had one more question to ask, “Sam, what does your daddy tell you to do?”  Sam looked at me, and then Grandma Lynn and said, “Be nice!”

Heavenly Father, guide us, direct us, and shape us, in order to complete this mission! Amen!

 - Andy