Can you hear that?

by Laurence Fernández

As some of you may know, I have two boys: Joshua, 8 and Caleb, 5. As they interact, play, and grow together, one may suggest a great piece of advice for the other, “Dad, you need to talk to Caleb because… or Dad, Joshua needs a time out because…”

I don’t know about you, but as God speaks to me, and I go through life and learn, sometimes I do the same. I am quick to think of who can really hear, or learn this. I find my self almost wishing “my lesson” to some one else.

I believe that God can use you and me, and He can direct us to speak insight, encouragement and strength into the lives of others. However, I believe that God wants my heart always attentively ready to hear and learn from Him.

In light of the current message series as well as my current life circumstances, am I willing to allow God to speak to through His word to me?

As this week comes to an end and we get ready for the next one, let’s take some time to ask God to speak to us. Maybe go to your favorite coffee house, or place you enjoy solitude and read the following passage from the book of John:

John 13:34-35
So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” © New Living Translation

If God were trying to tell me something, would I know?

If God were reassuring me or challenging me, would I notice?

I ask for the grace to be free of my own preoccupations and to be open to what God may be saying to me.

“Our relationship with each other is the criterion the world uses to judge whether our message is truthful. - Christian community is the final apologetic” Francis Schaeffer

My 3 Words for 2011

I was reading a blog today and the guy was talking about his 3 words for 2011. A resolution of sorts… he picked 3 words that had a lot of meaning to him and he said he was going to use them as guideposts for the things he wanted to do in 2011.

I’m not one for resolutions… they always are broken, but the 3 words thing sounded intriguing to me. It could set the tone for the whole year. It basically says, “This is what I want to focus on. This is what I want to be about.”

I just finished reading a book titled “When Christians Get it Wrong” by Adam Hamilton. So when I started to think about my potential 3 word vision, I started to ask myself these questions…  What do I want to accomplish? ... but more importantly… Who do I want to become?

Some of the words Adam used to describe Christians who get it wrong won’t come much as a surprise to most of you:

• Judgmental       
• Unforgiving
• Critical
• Mean-spirited
• Closed minded
• Fearful

He says when Christians get it right they demonstrate, respect, humility & love. They practice the fruits of the spirit, patience, joy, peace, love, kindness, gentleness, generosity, faithfulness and self-control. They put others before themselves and practice sacrificial love.

Jesus put people before rules. He loved people who were considered dirty with an unconditional love and in Him they found hope. I want to be more like Jesus…. So I’ve decided on 3 phrases instead of 3 words (it’s easier for me):

1. Put people before rules
2. Read all scripture in light of what Jesus said and did
3. Practice sacrificial love

What are Your Words?

Now you know my words, what are yours? Take some time to think it through. What has God been telling you lately, maybe that's where you need to start. Once you have them, and you feel like sharing, post them here on the discussion board. I'll also post the question on our Facebook page.

How 'ya doing with humility?

This weekend I referenced something I learned from a 16th century pastor named Jonathan Edwards. Edwards made a list comparing the markers of pride (when life is all about you) and the markers of humility (when it's NOT about you). This is a paraphrase of a paraphrase, but you'll get the idea. My hunch is that if you'll allow them to, these comparisons will mess with you a little...in a good way.

• Spiritual pride makes you more aware of others faults than you are of your own…but spiritual humility disposes you to be far more aware of your own faults than those of others.
• Pride leads you to speak often about others faults…but humility means that whenever you do speak of others faults, you only do so with a spirit of grief and mercy.
• Pride causes you to withdraw from those you criticize, or who criticize you. But humility means you stay with people even through difficult relationships. You never give up.
• A proud person is dogmatic, and sure of every point of belief. Proud people cannot distinguish between major and minor points of belief, because everything, the proud person believes, is major.
• A proud person loves to confront, loves to win…a humble person doesn’t avoid appropriate confrontation, and does what needs to be done reluctantly, respectfully, and only when necessary.
• Proud people are often unhappy and filled with self-pity (self absorption)…while humble people live with a quiet confidence.

Feeling at all convicted? I am. It's not about me. How desperately I need to remember this.

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." James 4:10

Could you go one day without ripping anyone?

If you want to read a convicting portion of the Bible, look no further than James 3:1-12. It's all about the tongue...about the incredible power of words.

Yes, it's true that our words can create and sustain life, but they also destroy and kill. It's sort of sobering to think that if you want to drive a car or own a gun, you have to get a license, but we're free to drop verbal bombs without restriction. It's not that often that we're held accountable for the damage our words cause.

Recently I heard about an exercise that's taken from an old discipleship course. It goes like this: For one week, don't boast or defend yourself, and, don't gossip or speak negatively about anyone. Could you do it? One week seems pretty daunting. Could I pull it off for a morning? Well, I've settled on trying to make it for one day. I'm going to try not to puff myself up or tear anyone down for 24 hours.

I've only been thinking about this for a short time, and I've already caught myself being prideful, defensive, and self righteous. I can't believe how easy it is to put others down and build myself up!

One day without ripping anyone. Could you do it?

Who do I favor?

Do I overlook people to find favor with those who have higher status?

"...hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom He promised to those who love Him?" James 2:5

That’s probably one of the biggest things I learned during my two trips to Africa. I have very little faith in comparison to the women and men of God there. They have nothing… yet everything. I’ve prayed that God would give me that kind of faith, but I think I’m actually afraid of being put into a situation where that kind of faith would be required.

Do I try to avoid the person on the street who looks like they might ask me for something? If I do stop to help, will I be judged by others for doing so?

What would Jesus do? Would He give them the thing they were asking for…. maybe not… but He would probably have a loving conversation… not talking down to them, but talking about the one thing that will give them everything that they need… having a personal relationship with Him.

What’s going on in my mind when I see people awkwardly trying to fit in to a “rich” church?  Do I say to myself… they don’t belong here? Or do I say to myself… that poor person…  I hope someone else has a conversation with them.

Do I try to avoid them, ‘cause I really don’t know what I would say...

“… yes it is good when you truly obey our Lord’s royal command found in the Scriptures: “love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you pay special attention to the rich, you are committing a sin, for you are guilty of breaking that law.” James 2:8

Guilty of breaking the, “love your neighbor” commandment? How could I do that if I’m being kind? I think what James is trying to say here is… if I pay more attention to those who have status, money or stuff… than I do to the person who is struggling to get by, who maybe doesn’t fit in, who is thought of as “needy”, then I am not treating others as I would want to be treated. If I was the one who was without… If I was the one who needed something, I would want to be respected and cared for, not treated like an outsider.

I have had a couple of conversations lately that speak directly to the point that James is making in this chapter. One person said that they passed over a needy person on the street because they were afraid of losing something of value that they had with them.

Another person has said that we have an issue in our church with talking the talk, but not walking the walk… not living out our faith, not practicing what Jesus has told us to do. We are comfortable sitting in the pews… in our comfortable homes, driving our nice cars, but do not put our faith in action.

All of those things are true in my own life… I am a sinner… I know that I’m afraid to help someone out, because it interferes with my time schedule, because I want to buy that Starbucks later and if I help that person, then I won’t have enough for my coffee. Come on…. I know I’m not the only one who thinks that… we are selfish… selfish people.

I know that Jesus has said that the poor will inherit God’s kingdom, but what does it really mean to be poor? Does it mean, because I own a house, three vehicles, two dogs, a trailer and enjoy a warm vacation most winters… that I’m not poor and I won’t come into the Kingdom that God has promised? Maybe...

One commentary I’ve read says the poor are people who have little money and whose simple values are despised by an affluent society like ours.

Do I despise the people I see?

”Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing, and you say, “Well, good-by and God bless you; stay warm and eat well”, but then don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, it isn’t enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn’t show itself by good deeds is not faith at all – it is dead and useless.” James 2:15-17

James questions the reality of my faith. If I show favoritism to those I like and overlook those I don’t, then how can my faith be real? Ouch!

God, help me to listen to your Word, then to actually have the courage to DO IT!

How do I know that my faith is real?

James 1:2 says ..."whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything." NLT

One of the first marks of Real Faith is being comfortable in discomfort. We've been through many trials, some of the major ones include health and relationships and I know those will continue. How I handle them will determine how real my faith is. James reminds me that my faith is always refined and grows stronger in the soil of adversity. How will I choose to face these trials?

Do I try to escape, avoid or deny? Do I always want an explanation - why is this happening to me? Do I try to solve everything myself - finding a quick fix, relying on money, stuff & status to get me through?
                                    or
Do I persevere  - when I don't know what the end results will be? Do I ask God for wisdom and strength? God promises to give it...

But then do I really trust He will answer? ..."a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord." James 1:6,7 NLT

God does not promise that my life here on earth will be easy and smooth. I know that and have experienced many bumps in the road, but if I allow those bumps to help me to mature in my faith, to refine me in my walk with Jesus instead of complaining about them and trying to fix the problem myself.... that's when I know my faith is becoming more real.

What do you watch for?

 Earlier I was reading from the book of Mark where Jesus, in chatting with four of His disciples, responds to their questions of when the end will come and what the signs will be as it approaches. Jesus begins His reply with the word… ‘watch’ (Mark 13:5)


...and, He concludes the chapter with a single word… “WATCH” (Mark 13:36)! He uses other synonymous words throughout the text such as: Be on guard! Be alert! Keep watch!

I was challenged by that word ‘watch’ and asked myself… what do I typically watch for?

• Am I actively watching and anticipating Christ’s return, possibly even today, or is my gaze on my own self absorbed interests?
• Does the reality of Christ’s return truly cause me to live differently today – or not? 
• Do I engage with this day with an urgency for the salvation of others?
• Do I wake up each morning with the acknowledgment that this could possibly be my last day on earth? 
• Or, do I function with an entitlement attitude that says, “tomorrow ‘will’ be mine?” 
• What if I knew that the next 8 hrs – 8 days – 8 months – 8 years would be my last?
• What then, would I be watching for?
• What then would my priorities  – focus – attention be?

• Am I actively watching for Christ’s work around me and entering in to what He is doing?

Do I watch ‘out for’ those things that will take my attention off of Christ?

• Am I watching and on guard, fully aware of the distractions of life?
• Am I alert to what I am most susceptible to that will cause my gaze to shift off of my Creator and on to myself?
• Do I keep watch for incorrect attitudes/thoughts patterns that if left unchecked will take me off course?

Father, enable us today, to move through the moments and hours…watching. Watching with expectancy, with hope, with faith, and with joy. Watching for opportunities to extend your love, compassion and hope to this world. Watching out for those things that can subtly sneak in to divert our attention. Watching…

Amen.