Cowboys, Lassos and Old Fashioned Christian Practices

I heard a great story this past week. In rural Southern Oregon, a man stole a woman’s bike at a local Wal-Mart. He rode the stolen property across the store’s large parking lot in hopes of getting away. A local cowboy heard the woman yell, “He stole my bike!” The cowboy chased the two-wheeled thief down and retrieved the property.

The cowboy chased the thief down in an old fashioned way. The cowboy got on his horse, road the bicyclist down and lassoed him. He tied the thief up, returned the bike to the woman and waited for the police. True story.

That cowboy’s story illustrates how seemingly old practices can come in very handy. When chasing a bicyclist on foot won’t work, a horse and lasso will. Old practices have very practical uses today.

The same is true in the Christian life. Very old Christian practices help in navigating very real problems today. Prayer helps us stay calm when under fire. The study of scripture readies us with answers to life’s potential questions. Worship gives us perspective when faced with distractions. Old practices have practical uses today.

In his letter to the church in Colossae, the Apostle Paul writes, “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” In other words, internalize the time tested message of Jesus through teachings and instructions and even music. That old message will influence how you live your day-to-day life today.

As you go through the coming week, participate in the activities Christians have done since the beginning. Pray, study, love, serve, worship and minister. As you do, you will find that very old practices have very practical applications today. The traditions of the faith can be even more helpful than a horse and lasso!

Belief and Unbelief

I heard an inspiring story about Christian faith in the midst of obstacles.  A woman had recently been diagnosed with a serious illness.  Friends, family and loved ones offered their pity, expressing their sympathies about the difficult circumstances.  Time and time again, the woman responded the same way.  She said, “Well, I know what I believe.  Now it is time for me to believe what I know.”  In other words, the woman understood her Christian belief in theory, but real life hardship would give her an opportunity to mature in her belief.

Many times, we think of belief as something we have or we don’t.   But, that woman seemed to think that belief matures over time, as the Lord leads us through the ups and downs of life.  Practicing trust/faith/belief in Christ, especially during hard times deepens our trust/faith/belief in Christ.

That makes sense.  Jesus Himself helped people grow in their belief.  In Mark 9, Jesus heals a boy possessed by an impure spirit, stressing the importance of belief.  The boy’s father insists, “I believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”  Though the father believes Jesus can heal, he asks for help to grow in belief.  Jesus deepens and enlivens belief  in those who believe, but also earnestly want to believe more.

As you go through the coming week, pray and ask Jesus to deepen your faith.  Ask the Lord, “Help me in my unbelief.”  As you do, the Lord will meet you right where you are.  And, the Lord will empower you in believing what you know.  

The Heimlich Maneuver & Holy Living

Last month, a senior citizen’s center in the Cincinnati, Ohio avoided a serious accident. An 87-year-old resident began choking on a piece of hamburger during mealtime. She began waving in distress, catching the attention of another 96-year-old resident. The 96-year-old performed a first aid procedure known as the "Heimlich Maneuver," dislodging the beef from the 87-year-old’s airway. Life saved. Accident averted.

Come to find out, the 96-year-old deliverer of first aid was Dr. Henry Heimlich, inventor of the maneuver that saved that woman's life. In fact, that hamburger incident was the first time Dr. Henry Heimlich performed the first aid maneuver he created. Though he is the namesake of a life saving practice, he didn’t use it until the very end of His life.

I wonder if Dr. Heimlich’s funny story illustrates our participation many Christian practices. Though Christians are associated with worshiping Jesus, loving our enemies, caring for the poor, evangelizing, we don’t necessarily put it into practice. We grow older and find opportunity to do the things associated with Christians and realize, “Wow! That works!”

In the Gospel of John, Jesus tells His disciples, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father,” (John 14:12). So, believing in Jesus as a Christian involves following Jesus’ example of behavior. In other words, Christianity is built to be put into practice.

As you go through the coming week, put the activities associated with Christianity into practice. Pray, study, worship, witness, love and serve. No need to wait until a crises arises in your nursing home. Jesus has given us a faith to be lived today.

Overdue Rentals and the Grace of God

Last week, North Carolina police arrested a man after a routine traffic stop. The crime: a late movie rental overdue since 2002. True story: authorities stopped the man in response to a broken break light. Running his license and registration, the officer learned of a warrant for the man’s arrest. While booking the man at the local precinct, officers learned the man had failed to return a VHS tape to “J&J’s Video” over fourteen years ago. J&J’s video is no longer in business. but, as it turns out, it doesn’t matter. Mistakes long forgotten can come back to haunt us.

That story illustrates how many of us can feel in our spiritual lives. We worry that some misdeed done years ago will come back to haunt us. We may have even forgotten what it was, but, we worry that when the right authorities in the right circumstances find out, we will be busted. The forgotten misdeed will land us in jail once and for all.

According to the scriptures, that is impossible for those who believe in Jesus. Writing to the early church in Rome, the Apostle Paul writes, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death,” (Romans 8:1-2). In other words, nothing in a Christian's past can condemn that Christian because condemnation no longer exists the way it used to. Jesus has freed His people from that.

As you go through the coming week, remember your freedom in Christ. That freedom frees you from worries about the past. It also frees you for the life Jesus calls you to today. That is good news for all who have lived under the law of sin and death. It is also good news for those of who may have lost a VHS tape or two.

Tough Truth and the Love of God

My parents disciplined me as a kid – from time to time.  They claimed that they disciplined me because they loved me.  They would say thinks like, “I do this because I care about your welfare” or “It hurts me worse than in hurts you!”  I didn’t believe them.

Looking back on their investment (and direction), I better understand the spirit of their message.  It was this: people who love you do what they think is best for you even when it is hard.  Loved ones are willing to have the difficult conversations.  Loved ones tell us the truth – even when we don’t like it.  They don’t do it because it is fun or they enjoy it.  They do it because they care about our welfare and what is right.

In his letter to the church in Corinth, the Apostle Paul describes and celebrates this type of love.  In doing so, Paul writes, “Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth.”  Why does love rejoice in the truth?  The truth is healthy for people to hear.  While telling the truth may not always be fun, it can lead to incredible growth – especially when we are told the truth in love.

As you go through the coming week, praise the Lord for the people who loved you enough to do the hard things.  Praise Jesus for those willing to have the tough conversation.  As you do, you will recognize the loving people God placed in your life.  You will also recognize that God can work through the difficult things for great results.  Praise the Lord!

Feed the Good Dog

An old man gathered a group of younger men for a discussion about living the good life. The man began by describing the struggle between good and evil. The man said, “It is like two dogs fighting inside us. There is one good dog who wants to do the right and the other dog always wants to do the wrong. Sometimes the good dog seems stronger and is winning the fight. But sometimes the bad dog is stronger and wrong is winning the fight."

One of the young men asked a question: “Who is going to win in the end?” The old man answered, “The one you feed.” The dog you feed is going to win the fight.

Like that legend, the Apostle Paul describes an inner struggle in Christians. Paul writes, “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.” There is an inner struggle between our natural desire to sin and the Spirit’s work for holiness.  Paul encourages the church to feed the Spirit.

Unlike the legend, Christians are not left wondering who will win in the end. Because Jesus Christ was crucified, resurrected, and poured out His Spirit on the church, we know that the righteous dog will win. The Spirit will see our redemption through. We simply feed the Spirit from the vantage point of Christ’s victory.

As you go through the coming week, feed the Spirit that is cultivating the good in your life. Pray, study the scriptures, listen, and wait on the Lord. Invest in your relationship with God as a way of feeding the Holy Spirit’s redemptive work. As you do, you will find energy for living the good life. You will also step closer to the victory that Christ has won on your behalf.

Experiencing Jesus at Easter

Years ago, I read a story about a popular English journalist named Malcolm Muggeridge.  Early on in Muggeridge’s career, he served as a correspondent in the USSR.  In one report, he analyzed religion’s decline in the Soviet block, interviewing Kremlin officials and others hoping to rid society of faith.  During his investigation, Muggeridge also attended a Russian Orthodox Church service to document the “dying” expressions of Christianity.

As Muggeridge observed the service, he focued on the faces of the Russian worshipers.  Nearing the end, the priest yelled, “He is risen!”  The church family responded by yelling back, “He is risen indeed!” As Muggeridge watched the expressions of Russian Christians yelling, “He is risen indeed,” he converted to faith in Jesus – on the spot.

Recounting his conversion years later, Muggeridge said the joy of those shouting, “He is risen indeed” compelled him to convert.  It wasn’t correct ideas or well crafted arguments that convinced Muggeridge.  It was the joyful expressions of faithful worshipers experiencing the living Christ in person.  The joy of the experience, expressed on their faces, could not be refuted.

That may be the most powerful Christian witness of all: a joyful response to the experience of the living Christ.  When we not only believe Jesus rose from the dead, but experience it, expressing it joyfully, we witness in ways that are as powerful as words.  The joy of experiencing Jesus speaks for itself.

This Easter week, we have an opportunity to experience and respond to the living Jesus Christ.  On Friday, 03/25, at 7 pm, Faith Center will host a Good Friday service, filled with scripture, prayer, song and communion.  Then, on Easter Sunday, at 9:00a and 10:45a, we will celebrate that Jesus Christ is risen indeed.  There will be flowers, special food, songs of celebration, baptism and more.  

Please join us for these special worship events.  They give us all a chance to experience the joy of Jesus' resurrection.  They also give us a chance to respond to the Lord joyfully: "He is risen indeed!"