"Weariness Can Overwhelm"

"Weariness Can Overwhelm"

By: Pastor Jack Schneider

“In [Christ] and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged [weary] because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.”  [Eph.3:12-13, NIV]

Talked with a friend the other day and heard of yet another young person who, for some unknown reason, apparently became discouraged enough to end his life.  How sad, not only that such a precious life should come to an untimely end but, also, that such weariness can overwhelm God’s children.

This expression of discouragement is not common in Scripture.  The particular word here in Ephesians appears only once in the New Testament, and in this context actually means “to be wearied, worn out.” Even so, although the NIV translators rendered it “to be discouraged” here, that unique usage appears in a similar form only one other place: Col.3:21 -- “Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will be come discouraged.” 

Literally, the Colossians passage means that we are to avoid causing our children to lose their passion for life.  The word is “athumos,” which is to be without fierceness, without imagination, without anything that makes us breathe hard…  No wonder the simplest thing is to call it “passion,” but that doesn’t really do it justice. This is why it’s not the same word the Holy Spirit gave Paul to use in Ephesians 3. We can become weary of the things in life as day-to-day circumstances weigh us down, but a kind word at the right time from others goes a long way to picking us up once again. Once a person becomes embittered, however, it’s far more difficult to regain the imagination and creativity that makes a relationship breathe with fire, whether it’s with a parent, spouse, friend or even God Himself.

Yes, even with God. 

Which is worse: to have such a relationship with your Lord and lose it, or to never have such closeness in the first place?  Both, of course, are tragic. The former, however, can be restored by God’s grace, and once again you will be free to know the joy and passion of loving even as you are loved.  The latter, on the other hand, means never knowing the height and depths to which God has gone and will go to draw you to Himself, simply because of who He is in grace.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” [Mk.12:30]  And breathe, deeply, for you are His.

- Jack 

"Stretching The Truth."

"Stretching The Truth."

By:  Pastor Jack Schneider

“Little children, let us not only love in words or in talk, but let us put our love in action and in truth. This is how we will know that we are living in the truth and how we will reassure our hearts before Him: whenever our conscience condemns us, God is greater than our conscience, and He knows everything.”  [1 Jn.3:18-20, GWN]

Experts claim they can tell when people are lying, based on body language, voice inflection and other subtle clues. A recent TV drama series had modest success using the same premise, making me wonder if watchers were captivated each week by the story line or the possibility they could learn something new -- a way, perhaps, to “beat the system”?

Well, it now appears that, for a significant time, cycling legend Lance Armstrong did exactly that: beat the system, both by cheating the rules and then by lying about it -- and quite effectively, in fact.  His deceptions went undetected for years, but not unsuspected. Now, at long last, he has admitted he was not living in truth.

Nor, apparently, was Monti Te’o, the young man who finished second in this year’s football Heisman Trophy Award voting.  His hard-luck story of a dying girlfriend resonated with all of us, but there was a problem.  We’ve learned she never existed.  While it remains to be seen how he could be drawn unaware into this hoax, the facts are not all in.  In the meantime, his character has already been tarnished for not living in the truth.

It’s all too easy to stretch the truth, to tell a fib, slip into a little white lie, or even to flat out, deliberately state what we know is false. Sadly, it can become gossip, slander against another, and even libelous; these are sins of the tongue with legal ramifications as well as spiritual. They deserve to be confronted, and must be.  But John speaks here of another level of untruth -- our lives and our love. Don’t just say we love Christ -- prove it! Put it into action! Be consistent, John writes; whoever loves Christ must also love his/her brother and neighbor, especially those in need.

Make no mistake, we are indeed called to address the temporal needs of our brothers and sisters; that is the gist of John’s call, along with his warning to treat one another with humility. Yet we must never forget there is no greater need than for those who do not know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and there is no greater untruth than for those of us who know Christ to do nothing to share Him with them.

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” [Mt.5:14,16] 

- Jack

"The World We Knew Changed"

"The World We Knew Changed"

By: Pastor Jack Schneider

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.”  [Ps.46:1,2, NIV]

 The world we knew changed on 9/11/2001. This was my column for the week following:

Tuesday morning, Sept.11, the term “reality tv” took on a new, unearthly definition. Forget Survivor’s petty relationships and Fear Factor’s contrived scenarios.  They paled in comparison to live terrorism and the overwhelming destruction unfolding before our eyes.  Our grandparents listened by the radio when Pres. Roosevelt spoke of “a day of infamy,” yet millions watched Tuesday, in real time, as death stalked America. More than one person would later wonder if Big Brother was a good idea after all.  Perhaps video cameras in public places could have helped prevent such devastation.

It was one of those defining moments in people’s lives. You’ll always remember where you were and what you were doing, and any cultural age of innocence for today’s younger generations is over. Never again will this current society step into an airport or skyscraper without a sense of vulnerability.

For a while, things will be different spiritually, too. For a while, Bible sales will soar, especially among those who fear we might be coming to the end of the world. For a while, worship and Bible study will be up, as people scramble to get their priorities straight and their lives in order. For a while, families will be better at telling one another “I love you.” Who knows when that chance will never come again, or only at the end of a frantic cell-phone call? For a while, even Hollywood will pull back from blood and guts sensationalism. No planes crashing into buildings, no hijackings, no terrorism; look for feel-good movies and maybe even a resurgence of wholesome westerns…for a while.

It’s not surprising. Jesus said in the last days there would be wars and rumors of wars. It’s always been this way, and always will be. Sin has a way of touching every generation with the reality of the last times.

Time passes, however, and wounds heal. Justice will be served. A city will be rebuilt. A memorial will be proposed. And, unfortunately, far too many will once again tuck God away for another day of shock reality. The thing is, we dare not forget that any day without God is as scary as last Tuesday.  He is the only One who can take the shaky, damaged skyscrapers of our lives, marriages, jobs, health and give them balance and support.

Look again at the Psalmist’s words. They don’t say we’ll not be tested or subjected to the evil plans of those around us but, rather, “not fear.” Even in the face of wars, rumors of wars, terrorism and sin. Bottom line, we win.

You want reality? Look to Jesus, God’s own Son, embracing the rough, splintered wood of Calvary. It’s His cross, anchored in love, and it’s for you. It’s free. It’s forever. And the gates of hell cannot prevail against it.

Eleven years later, where are you? Still in the Word, seeking Godly counsel and learning of His grace, telling loved ones how much they mean? Are your priorities straight, or have the words above been scary right as you’re right back where you were pre-9/11? We can’t afford to forget. “Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation”

- Jack

"What's In It For Me?"

"What's In It For Me?"

By:  Pastor Jack Schneider

“There is always a price to be paid in energy, time, money, and pain to succeed. You will only sacrifice when you passionately believe in the outcome.” [Dave Ramsey]

“If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.”  [Mt.16:24,25, NIV]

“What’s in it for me?” he wanted to know. “My face on a Wheaties box don’t mean a thing without a big pile of dead presidents.”

No, to my knowledge, none of our Olympians have used this phrase; it’s imaginary, but not beyond our comprehension, is it? Straight, crass greed has afflicted these 2012 games -- just as previous Olympiads -- and at times I’ve been disappointed in the posturing and self-promotion. I suppose these are the athletes who figure they’ve paid the price of energy, time, money and pain, and now their actions and attitudes are justified and/or irrelevant. Swim, or get out of the pool; run with the big dogs, or get back on the porch.

But I’ve also seen plenty of medal winners…gold, silver, and bronze…graciously acknowledging those around them while displaying passion and heart. Clearly, they are not in London for the cash bonuses some countries are giving their medal winners [U.S. included]; witness 15-yr-old swimmer Katie Ladecky, the U.S. Gold medalist in the 800M freestyle, as she stood at the award ceremony with tears down her cheeks and lips trembling.

What’s the passion and heart that can be seen in us -- you and me -- as those around us observe this everyday life of faith to which Christ has called us? In Philippians 3 Paul writes, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of such things!”

What’s in it for you? Why would you invest the energy, time, money and pain to live as a redeemed, joyful child of the King? Because, to use Ramsey’s answer, you passionately believe in the outcome.

You do…don’t you?

- Jack

"Voters Who Hold the Key"

"Voters who hold the key"

By: Pastor Jack Schneider

“Any story sounds good until someone tells the other side and sets the record straight.”  [Prov.18:17, LB]

In this election year, more than any other, it’s the independent and undecided voters who hold the key.  The percentage of those who have yet to make up their minds on how they are going to vote is higher than it has ever been; the stakes are enormous.  So as a candidate, which would you rather do: speak first, hoping to gain momentum and plant the early seed of confidence; or, speak last, counting on the opportunity to rebut and leave the stage with your own voice and image fresh in people’s minds?

We know it’s not that simple.  The coming weeks and months will be filled with both sides sniping at one another and the issues each does or does not address.  No story will be told without rebuttal, no question will be answered without careful dissection, no bit of personal history -- recent or ancient -- will escape scrutiny.  As another translation of Prov.18:17 tells it, “The first to speak sounds right, till another comes forward and questions him.”  Go ahead, give your spiel, but then be prepared to have your “spin” taken apart and translated from another’s perspective -- often not the way you’d like.

To tell you the truth, I’d rather go through Judgment Day than this kind of process.  Indeed, Judgment Day exposes all our deeds, lays bare our hearts and souls, and every page of our lives is an open testament -- but we have an Advocate, Jesus Christ, who stands with us, for us, and in our place [1 Jn.2:1].  Because He is our Substitute, His righteousness is ours, His perfect life is ours, His history is ours, and there is no charge to be laid at our feet [Romans 8:31-34].  Praise God, you and I have no fear of what any newspaper or magazine will print about us at that Day…no concern that satan will be able to dredge up some forgotten skeleton from our closet!

This election day you will have to choose the person[s] for whom you wish to vote, hoping and praying you make a wise choice.  How beautiful it is to know that God, in Jesus Christ, has made His choice for you, both now and forever.  He tells you point-blank, “You did not choose me; I chose you!” [Jn.15:16] and our love for Him flows out of His love for us [1 Jn. 4:19]. 

Remember, He is your story.  He got it straight at Calvary, and He signed it with a flourish in the empty garden tomb.  That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.