"Resting Much?"

As many of you know, my family just got back off of vacation.  Vacation at Atlantic Beach, North Carolina is always a great time of rest, relaxation and fun.  This was our sixth year going down in July to the Sand’s Villas.  

Now to be honest with you, I did do some church work while there.  I won’t tell you how much, but it was less than my wife did for her job (had to get that in).  But we all do that right?  We go away for vacation, time away where we are supposed to forget about work, the day to day routines, the grind of daily schedules, etc, for the fun in the sun. Yet we can’t leave the cell phone in the condo, not check emails, or think about the next deadline.  I was at the pool one day last week and this guy was on the phone with work while standing in 5 feet of water.  He was trying to tell someone on the other end of the phone where to find something in the shop.  He finely said, “If I were there I’d find it for you, BUT I’M ON VACATION (the caps are here because he yelled that phase into the phone).

So you know I’m going somewhere with all of this, right?  

Why is it so hard to leave work behind for many of us for just a week or even a day?  I often think of the verses that speak of rest.

Exodus 20:9

“Six days you shall labor and do all your work,”

Exodus 20:11

“For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.”

Exodus 23:12

“Six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day you shall cease from labor so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female slave, as well as your stranger, may refresh themselves.”

Did God need to rest after working on creation for six days?  I think not!!!  He showed us the proper work ethic.  He set the example that we should follow.  And folks, it is for our own good.  REST!!!

What do we do on that day of rest?  Well, for most of us we see what we can fill it up with.  You know I”m right.  I’ve heard people say, that day is my day to do what I want.  Really?  All about you?  

Don’t get me wrong here, I like to have fun on my seventh day too, but it has to be more than about me.  When we make it about Him you will find that the “me time” is less important to us, yet there.  It’s funny how that works.

As Sandra Pierce mentioned in her sermon last Sunday, Colossians 3:2 “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”  When we set our minds (not just one day a week, but daily) on things above, the things on earth seem to go more smoothly, seem to be less hectic.  It seems to me that things go better with God’s plan.

You know I’m going to end in a question.  How’s our “Rest?”  Yes, our!  I have to include me.  Remember, I worked on my vacation, taking some of that “rest time.”  So let us all consider “a rest” from our labors to focus on Him more and get refreshed through Him for the next step head of us.

Food for thought folks.  Just saying!!!!

Blessings,                                                                 

Pastor Marty

Worship, Grow, & Serve                      

“Am I Measuring My Life by This Standard or 

by Something Less?”

Sometimes the LORD speaks to us through others and says, “Do you see what I’m trying to tell you?”  Often we pass it off and then others times it resonants and we get it.  I get it this time LORD.

I asked my wife Monday night, “Do you have a topic I can write my article on this week?  I’m still praying and think about it.”  Answer: “No.”  Then Tuesday morning as I was getting out of the shower she said, “Got it.  I know what you should write on this week.”  Then she shared her devotion that morning with me and said you need to read it.  Well, before I could read it, after doing my devotion, I opened up Facebook, and the very first post I saw was from Bill Enns who had posted that morning the very same devotion that my wife had said I needed to read.  OK LORD!!!  I get it.  I just love how the Lord works like that.  Truly amazing!!!

So folks, I know some of you have probably already read Bill Enns’ post on Facebook and even some of you use this devotional book from time to time, but this one is worth re-reading over and over again.  I am going to post here the entire devotion and then have a little commentary myself.  Surprised about that, aren’t you.  So here we go:

“…till we all come…to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ…” Ephesians 4:13

“Reconciliation means the restoring of the relationship between the entire human race and God, putting it back to what God designed it to be.  This is what Jesus Christ did in redemption.  The church ceases to be spiritual when it becomes self-seeking, only interested in the development of its own organization.  The reconciliation of the human race according to His plan means realizing Him not only in our lives individually, but also in our lives collectively.  Jesus Christ sent apostles and teachers for this very purpose - that the corporate Person of Christ and His church, made up of many members, might be brought into being and made known.  We are not here to develop a spiritual life of our own, or to enjoy a quiet spiritual retreat.  We are here to have the full realization of Jesus Christ, for the purpose of building His body.

Am I building up the body of Christ, or am I only concerned about my own personal development?  The essential thing is my personal relationship with Jesus Christ - ‘…that I may know Him…” (Philippians 3:10).  To fulfill God’s perfect design for me requires my total surrender - complete abandonment of myself to Him.  Whenever I only want things for myself, the relationship is distorted.  And I will suffer great humiliation once I come to acknowledge and understand that I have not really been concerned about realizing Jesus Christ Himself, but only concerned with knowing what He has done for me.

My goal is God Himself, not joy nor peace,

Nor even blessings, but Himself, my God.

Am I measuring my life by this standard or by something less?”   (My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers, Discovery House Publishing, copyright 1992, Devotion for: July 12 titled: The Spiritually Self-Seeking Church)

This article has certainly caused me to think about that question: “Am I measuring my life by this standard or by something less?”  And what is that standard, God Himself!!!

At HOPE Church, as we Worship, Grow, and Serve, these aspects of our lives, I believe, truly help to bring us to this point, “To fulfill God’s perfect design for me requires my total surrender - complete abandonment of myself to Him.”  As we worship the living LORD, we abandon self to praise Him and give Him the glory He is due.  In our attempt to grow in knowledge and understanding we need to grow in faith, not just for self, but for the work and growth of His kingdom, the body of Christ, His church.  We are called to grow in faith and then GO and serve, sharing the Good News.  This is our service to God, to go and proclaim, not for ourselves, not for our glory or uplifting, but for HIS!

In our fallenness and this fallen world, it can easily become about “self.”  Satan certainly points us that way as often as he can.  But this article by Oswald Chambers reminds us that it is ALL about Him.  Not Us!!!  Both individually and corporately, it is all about Him!  And this plan of reconciliation and redemption is perfect when we live into it by the grace and leading of God through His Holy Spirit.  Man, what a different world we would live in folks if more of us would life by this standard.

So I will ask the question again he asked: “Am I measuring my life by this standard or by something less?”

Blessings my friends,

Pastor Marty   

Worship, Grow, & Serve                      

"What If?'

I cannot remember the last time we traveled for the 4th of July holiday.  Our tradition has been to stay at home, grill out and invite some friends to join us.  Then early evening we ride over to Aberdeen, North Carolina to enjoy the fireworks.  Aberdeen is a hidden gem in the Sandhills when it comes to the 4th celebration.  They have souvenir vendors, food vendors, entertainment, and some of the best fireworks in NC.  People come from all around the region to attend.  Large masses of people gather in little Aberdeen.  This was what we did on Monday, join the masses.  

After we got home I turned on the TV and the Macy’s 4th Fireworks Celebration was on.  When I saw the US Air Force Band playing and singing, I decided to watch.  It was something to watch.  4 barges in the Hudson River firing off fireworks, the Air Force band playing in the background, then seeing the masses of people watching and singing along was beautiful.

As a veteran, the 4th of July holiday is one of my favorites of the year.  Monday we celebrated 240 years of independence.  It is the one day of the year it seems many set aside their differences and come together to celebrate America.  You see our National flay displayed proudly instead of spit on, trampled or burned.  People wave it, hold it, lift it up and seem to truly be proud to be an American.  I love to hear the patriotic songs sung and hear the lyrics “God bless a America, land that I love.”  It warms my heart and reminds me of my service to my country as I swore to “…protect and defend so help me God.”  The masses come out on the 4th of July and it is always a great celebration all around our nation.  I love it!!!

Having said that, I would like to draw a correlation to our walk with Christ.  Now for those that have read my writings over the years, you know that I have discussed this before, but I think it bears a reminder to us all.  And here is the question: What if the masses had the same passion for Christ?”

What if, folks, we had the same passion to gather on Sunday mornings (or other times) for worship?  What if the masses had the same passion to display their love of Jesus Christ daily?  What if the masses didn’t care who saw them wave the banner of Christ proudly?  What if the masses…?

It shouldn’t take another 9/11 to fill our churches.  It shouldn’t take a tragedy to call us to prayer for our nation and the world.  Can’t that passion rise up in us without that?  

Passion is contagious.  An invitation to join your passion is often welcomed.  What if, folks, we Christians become passionate again for the faith?  What if we become passionate in our display of the love of Christ?  What if we become passionate in inviting people to join us in worship.  PASSIONATE!!!  Passionate like we are when inviting someone to join us for a secular celebration!

I love reading about King David bringing the Ark of the Covenant back into the city and the celebration that took place.  Dancing and singing to God was everywhere.  I love reading about Nehemiah and the people gathering on top of the re-constructed wall around Jerusalem and singing and dancing in celebration to God.  Even on Passover week in Jerusalem on the weekend of our Savior’s crucifixion, hundreds of thousands gathered in the city to celebration the Passover.  Their passion for God was on display.  The Hebrew writer says:

“Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our LORD, equip you in every good thing to do HIs will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.  But I urge you, brethren, lift up this word of exhortation…”  Hebrews 13:20-22

What if we celebrated Christ with the passion we do other events in our lives, lifting up the WORD of exhortation of the LORD?  Folks, He is worthy of our Praise!!!  What if?

Blessings my friends,

Pastor Marty   

Worship, Grow, Serve