The Righteous

Thanksgiving is upon us, and Christmas is fast approaching.  It is a time for family.  It is a time of celebration.  It is a time for football.  It is also a time when churches make a special effort to reach out to those in need.


At Heartland Church, for example, we are sponsoring four different outreaches this year.  I personally think all four are worthy of our attention -- although there are obviously thousands of other worthwhile endeavors we could support.


If you are interested, you can find more information on our web site.  Briefly, though, the four outreaches Heartland Church is supporting are:


Christian Community Action.  CCA is, in my opinion, a great organization.  It not only helps out families that are in financial crisis, but as a condition to receiving that help, requires those families to be accountable and to prepare to take care of themselves in the future.


Casa Hogar.  Casa Hogar is an orphanage in Mexico that faces many challenges, not the least of which being that most of the kids there have special needs.


Treats for the Troops.  Last summer Heartland partners "adopted" 52 men and women in the armed services who are deployed overseas, agreeing, among other things, to pray for those men and women daily.  Our plan is to send care packages to those same service men and women for Christmas.


Operation Cares.  Operation Cares sponsors the biggest Christmas party for the homeless in America.  More recently, Operation Cares has taken its mission overseas and expanded its purpose, including building a school in Africa.


My purpose in writing today, though, is not to make another plea for each of these outreaches -- although if you are moved to support any or all of them that would be great!  Instead, I raise these outreaches to set up this question:  Do we, as a church or as individuals, do enough the other three quarters of the year?


I believe strongly in the idea that we are saved by God's grace through faith, and not by our "works."  In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul writes:  "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast."  Ephesians 2:9.  And grace is a beautiful thing.  The gift of grace is both the ultimate result of the sacrifice Jesus made for us and the ultimate testament of God's love for us.  It is at the very heart of the gospel message.
   
At the same time, we cannot lose sight of the fact that God's expectation is not simply that we should be content in our salvation.  True faith propels us forward.  True faith results in a new creation in Christ.  True faith is both credited as righteousness and is transforming.


In the very next breath after Paul tells us that we are saved by grace through faith, he says:  "For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  Ephesians 2:10.


I think its great that the church, and Christians generally, take a special interest in reaching out to the lost, the hurting and the hungry this time of year.  Christmas can be an especially painful time for many, including people who are lonely or in difficult financial circumstances.


At the same time, neither the needs of people nor our responsibility to reach out to them are seasonal.  The word does not say "for we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works at Christmas time."


Just something to think about.


   


³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
   ³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
   ⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
   ⁴¹ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. ⁴² For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, ⁴³ I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
   ⁴⁴ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
   ⁴⁵ “He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
   ⁴⁶ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Matthew 25:34-46.

The Storms Will Come

This was a difficult week for several families in particular at Heartland Church -- a painful week.  It was a week of sharp contrasts.  It was a week where God's plan and purpose was not always clear and evident.  Weeks like this inevitably cause us to reflect on our own walk with God, on God's purpose for our lives and on how we choose to use the precious time we have been given.

For one family it was a time to say "goodbye" -- at least for now -- to a wonderful, godly woman.  Having recently lost my own father I understand, at least to an extent, this particular pain.  No matter how old they may be, I don't think we can really ever prepare ourselves for the loss of a parent.  What I cannot comprehend, though, is the pain of losing a spouse -- in this case a spouse of something like fifty-eight years.  

For another family it was a time to say "goodbye" -- at least for now -- to a wonderful, godly man.  This man was going away for a time because of decisions he made in the past.  Decisions he made before he understood who God really is.  Decisions he made before he buried his old self and began to live a new life for Jesus.

For both of these families, although it is not easy to see right now, I believe God has a plan.  

While he was in the hospital waiting on his wife, I had a chance to visit with this man who had managed to stay married to the same woman for fifty-eight years.  Think about that -- 58 years.  That's longer than I have been alive!

During our visit, this man told me a little bit about his own testimony -- about his own walk with God.  Despite what he was going through at the time, there was an amazing gentleness about him, an amazing calm and an amazing confidence in God.  Listening to his testimony was a huge blessing, and it was clear to me that God intends to continue to change lives through this man.

Although the context was strikingly different, I can say something quite similar about the man who is going away because of his past mistakes.  In what had to be one of the most stressful moments in his life, there was a remarkable calm and a remarkable trust in God.

This man's family has suffered through great difficulty and, make no mistake about it, more difficult times lie ahead.  They are innocent victims of what can only be described as incredible selfishness.

But, I do believe that God has truly changed this man.  I believe he is truly repentant, and that God has forgiven him.  I also believe that God intends to change lives through this man.  He has a great family, and they will survive this.  In fact, I really believe that some of his children will become world-changers.

In the pain of the moment -- in the closeness of the moment -- it may be difficult or even impossible to see God's hand in situations like these.  It might be difficult or impossible to see how God could take these circumstances and turn them into blessings.  But, He can.

There are, to be sure, other Heartland families going through difficult times.  These two just happen to be weighing on my heart tonight.

If you are one of those families, please know that our prayers are with you.  The storms have come before, and they will come again.  But, remember "that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

God bless.

God Is So Good.

This morning during our mens' Bible study I had the chance to reflect a little on the last ten years at Heartland Church.  Many of you know my story -- which, in part, is the story of a man being dragged kicking and screaming into the ministry.


As I have come to accept and cooperate in God's plan, though, I have been blessed in so many ways.  As an example, my marriage and family life are stronger now than they have ever been.  Just last night I was reminded yet again what a great wife I have!


One of the greatest blessings I get out of working at the church is being in a unique position to see the stories of so many other people unfold.  They are stories about the trials and victories in life.  They are stories where God is both the hero and the author.


During our last worship service, at some point I noticed a woman sitting by herself crying.  Her husband had gone to the front of the church to pray, and there she sat with tears running down her cheeks.


I asked her if she was alright, and she smiled.  She said she was just thinking of a moment several years ago -- back to a time when the church was still in Irving.  Pastor Dan had come to pray with this woman that day, and she asked for prayer for one thing -- that her family would be healed and restored.  This is how the story ends.  So, let's go back to the beginning.


Many years ago this woman worked with one of our Heartland partners (we call our congregants "partners" because membership implies privilege while partnership implies shared responsibility.  And, come to think of it, this is a perfect example of partnership in action!)  This woman was not a Christian, and our partner was witnessing to her at work.


Sometime later, long after the two stopped working at the same place, our partner got an unexpected call from this woman explaining that her marriage was falling apart.  Our partner invited this woman to come to church the next Sunday, and that was the Sunday when Pastor Dan prayed for restoration of the woman's family.


Unfortunately, the couple -- who had a young daughter at the time -- ended up getting a divorce.  It was obviously an extremely painful time for the family.  All hope seemed to be lost.


Fast forward to several years later.  The now ex-husband moved to Carrollton.  As it would happen, he moved into an apartment building that just happened to be right across the street from Heartland Church.  He had visited the church while we were in Irving, and decided to come by again on a Sunday since the church was literally across the street from where he now lived.  He was trying to put his life and his marriage back together.   At some point he convinced his wife and daughter to visit the church with him.


Once a quarter or so, we have an event called "Pizza with the Pastor."  Pizza with the Pastor is just what it sounds like.  It's a time for people who are new to the church to eat a little pizza and get to know our pastors a little better.


On this particular day, this family decided to share -- to give us a glimpse into where they were and the challenges they were facing.  A couple of our pastors took them aside and prayed for the family that day.  In the months to come, many more prayers would go out for the family as they struggled to work through what must have seemed like impossible obstacles to resuming their life together.


Not long ago this family attended one of the more important events we have at Heartland Church -- a child dedication.  This is a time when the natural family and the church family come together to dedicate a child to the Lord and to pledge together to raise that child God's way.


This child dedication was particularly special, as this couple, now remarried, was dedicating their second child to God.  To add insult to the enemy, the wife recently accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and savior!


On a personal note, I hope that this family knows how much I love them.  Our church family would not be complete without them.  They have been an inspiration and an incredible blessing in my life.


This is one story of God at work at Heartland Church.  There are many, many more.


If there is one thing I never have to ask myself, it's "why do I do what I do at Heartland Church?"  The answer is pretty simple -- it's because God is sooo good!

Gossip Girl

²⁸ A perverse man stirs up dissension,
      and a gossip separates close friends.
                                Proverbs 16:28


Let's start with the story of the revolt that took place while Moses was receiving the Ten Commandments.  I am sure you know it.


<sup>While Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the two tablets of the covenant, the Israelites were becoming increasingly anxious.  The next thing you know, Aaron was approached by the Israelite mob.  The mob demanded that Aaron make gods for the people.  As for Moses, the mob commented that they did not know what became of him.


Soon enough, Moses came down from the mountain to find the people dancing and worshiping a golden calf.  Not surprisingly, Moses got a little upset.  God apparently got a little upset too.  Ultimately, the party cost about 3,000 Israelites their lives. 


On first read, it might seem from the account in Exodus like the revolt against both Moses and God was spontaneous -- the mob suddenly appeared in front of Aaron and made their demand.  Clearly, it was not.  The mob was in alignment.  They knew what they wanted, and they had obviously been talking about Moses -- likely discussing where Moses had gone, what had become of him and whether he was ever coming back.   


The Bible, both New and Old Testament, is replete with warnings about the dangers of gossip.  The story of Moses and the golden calf hopefully reminds us of the obvious -- that gossip is divisive and destructive.  The gossip of the Israelites sowed seeds of doubt in the hearts of the people.  Doubts about who Moses was.  And, more importantly, doubts about who God was.


Gossip led to the people turning away from Moses and looking to Aaron for human leadership.  Gossip lead the same people to turn away from God and to the worship of a dumb idol -- a calf formed from gold.  Gossip is divisive.




19</sup> A gossip betrays a confidence;
   so avoid a man who talks too much.
                                       Proverbs 20:19


One of the things I find interesting about this story is that the price for the revolt was not just paid by those who started the it.  I mean, doesn't it seem like Moses could have just asked God who was responsible for starting this mess in the first place?  Wouldn't it have been enough to have made an example of that person (or small group of people)?


But, when you think about it, what is worse -- doing the talking or doing the listening?  


I will be the first to admit that there have been times in the past when I listened to gossip when I shouldn't have.  Nothing good ever came of it.


As a Pastor, there are times when I really don't have a choice but to listen.  Sometimes it takes time to figure out whether the person is raising an issue they really think I can help with or whether they are just talking to talk (or to vent!).  But, I have learned at least two things about gossip.  First, if for some reason you have to listen, it is never a good idea to repeat what you've heard.  Much of the time the potential impact of spreading gossip is obvious.  But, all too often gossip leads to destruction that was never imagined.  


Second, there are always at least two sides to every story.  Some people say there are actually always three sides to every story -- what the first person says, what the second person says, and what really happened.  That reality alone is a good reason never to spread gossip.




²⁰ Without wood a fire goes out;
   without gossip a quarrel dies down.
                                   Proverbs 26:20


At the end of the day, the best thing obviously is not to gossip at all.  And, when someone wants to spread gossip to you, the best thing is just to politely decline to listen.


You have no doubt heard the amateur philosopher ask the age old question whether a tree falling in the middle of a forest with no ears to hear it still makes a sound.  Well, no such philosophical question need be asked or answered about gossip.  If people don't listen, the fire goes out.  Actually, if people don't listen the fire never starts in the first place!


There are certainly times when it is necessary to speak about another person outside of their presence about unflattering things in their life.  It may be to try to get help for them or to help or warn someone else.  But, before you speak seek God.  Pray that God will tell you whether speaking is the right thing to do.  Pray for God to help you know who to speak to.  Pray that God will give you the right words and the right attitude.


And, by the way ladies, by the title I don't mean to suggest that gossip is a sin reserved for women.  I just thought "Gossip Girl" was a cute title!!!