The Answer to the Critic

Everyone has had to endure criticism in their lives at one point or another.  It is simply a fact of life.  Even if you could do everything perfectly, there would be someone to disagree with your 'motise operandi'.  Obviously nobody is perfect so the opportunity for criticism goes up drastically.  I want to encourage leaders to move forward despite the critics call.

When you are a leader, you can expect there are those who will not like your position, your policy, your flair, your....something.  But leaders know this going in.  You have to be tough; to be mentally prepared for the opposition to shoot at you with their twist on your words, their sideline assumptions of your actions.  Still, the leader presses on  with all that he is called and led to do with his life.  

A leader should also know that if the criticism is warranted, he or she should take heed, amend their ways and move ahead.  But criticism meant sole for the purpose of destruction and not for positive advancement, is not worth your time of day.

Jesus was criticized to the maximum.  The leader of all leaders....Lord of all Lords...was openly rebuked, chastized, and ultimately rejected of men.  Some of His own men tried to sway His opinion.  Yet, Christ set His face like a flint for the purpose of fulfilling the mission of His Father.  The redemption of sinful mankind was in the balance.  Being fixed on His goal, He could cry, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do!"  

Mob mentality prevents critical thinking!  Couple that with a heavy dose of Jewish tradition, in Jesus' case, and religious tradition in our modern world, and you can certainly understand the blindness which shrouded the view of those who drove the nails into the innocent flesh of Jesus.  

When a leader makes a mistake, this crowd has all the more reason to dig their claws in.  The pulsation of venom through their veins is intoxicating, causing the crowd to begin to chant...crucify!  Jesus was the only leader who never made a mistake and yet, they still killed Him.  It is during the times of mistakes that a leader must keep his balance, remember who called him, close his ears to the masses and listen only for the voice of the Master.  

Christ is in the business of restoring, lifting and renewing His calling in the lives of men and women who are admittedly less than perfect.  In my opinion, the only ones who are beyond the help of God are those who see themselves as being perfect enough to criticize others.  Let me tell you something.  All you have to do is look in the closet of every human being who is an ancestor of sinful Adam.  Flowing in their veins, in your veins and in mine is the ability...yea even the positive probability of failure.  Just dig into your own closet with just a hint of honesty and you will find some skeleton hidden there!  You should perhaps read that last line again.   We are all sinners!  Chief among them is the critic who sits in the seat of anonymity, hiding behind some screen name, or hidden deeply, safely within the layers of the rumor-mill lobbing their verbal daggers onto the field where men are giving their hearts in a worthy cause!

Dear leader, let me urge you to continue on in your calling.  Muster all within you that is righteous and holy and empowered by a Divine call.  Use your abilities to the maximum.  Reach for the lost!  Stand for what is right, even if it flies in the face of the masses of religious biggots who prefer the erroneous ease of tradition over the real relationship of truth.  Hold your ground against the Pharisees who love the seat of judgment daring to play judge, jury and executioner.  As you stand, God will give you the grace to be all you were called to be.  And while you are in the heat of the fray, He will mold you into His image more and more.

For every leader, there are at least a hundred folks who will tell you how ineffective, how unworthy, how uncaring, how this or how that you are.  I have heard criticism of churches until I am sick of it.  I have heard them criticize the pastor, the music, the youth pastor, the nursery worker, the bus driver, etc.  Most of the time the folks doing the 'yacking' are not the ones paying the bills, driving the bus, praying daily for the church.  It is always the side-liners, the disenfranchised, the disgruntled and disjointed.  The only voice that matters is the voice of God speaking to your spirit day by day.  Listen closely, follow hard and be all you can be.  Embrace those who embrace the commission of Jesus Christ; who build the Kingdom; who have been restored and therefore know the vast and redeeming value of lifting the fallen.  Do not waste one day worrying or regretting or fretting.  Don't answer their email, their phone call, their rumors etc. with your words.  Only answer them with your life, your love, your prayer, your stand.  If forgiveness is real...if God has called you...if you know that you know...then expect the miraculous!  It will happen.

I conclude with these fantastic remarks by Saul Bellow.  "Here we write well when we expose the frauds and hypocrites.  We are great at counting warts and blemishes and weighing feet of clay.  In expressing love, we belong among the undeveloped countries."

Be blessed,

Pastor Tim 

Meditation...a Spiritual discipline

Christians are afraid of the word.  It smacks of something that weird people do...or a practice promoted by pagan religions.  What are we afraid of?  Meditation!

It is my feeling we cover our lack of discipline with many excuses, the above mentioned being some of them.  While I admit that opening ones mind to just any old thing would be like leaving the back door open at your open.  Soon a cat or a raccoon or a skunk will find its way into an apparent welcoming situation.  Satan too looks for opportunity to invade our minds.  

With that said I should warn the reader against hypnosis and yoga type meditations.  Even some martial arts experts need meditation to allow the 'energy' to come up through their body and give them hyper strength.  Be warned about freely granting such opportunity to evil.  It will take advantage.

By the same token good and wholesome meditation is important and vital, especially when we are talking about meditation on uplifting and educational reading material or the Word of God.  Charles Spurgeon, the great preacher said, "He is not the best student who reads the most books, but who meditates upon them."  Truly we find rest for our souls when we stop to just rest and think quietly about the scripture.  

David of old said, "As for me, I will meditate upon thy statutes."  How long has it been since you let the pendulum of your soul swing to a complete stop while you took in the deepest meaning of a single passage of scripture?  If its been a while, then slow down...and listen to your heart...listen to God.  Most of the time God whispers.  If that is true then you will have to be still to hear.  Try meditating in God's Word for ten minutes everyday.

Be blessed, 

Pastor T

Pressing On

If you have ever rode a roller-coaster you can probably recall that wicked clatter as the machine slowly climbs a very steep hill...clank, clank, clank.  I think the reasoning, besides the physics involved, is to let you see just how high you are getting before the exhilaration of the descent.  It is the thrill of the sudden drop that everyone stands in line for an hour or more for.  And thrilling it is indeed!  The older I get, the more those drops are mere endurance rather than enjoyment.

You know in life we like the downhill times too.  Times when things are good, free-flowing, enjoyment is at a high etc.  It has been my experience that those times come in cycles.  Usually after a long period of 'clanking' your way through some of the not so pleasant times.  Let me encourage you the ride is going to be worth the 'clank'.  

God has promised to be with us and go with us in the exciting times and through the times where we seem to be climbing...s..l..o..w..l..y.  While you are climbing be sure to take a look over the edge if you dare, and just watch the progress.  Progress will take you to where you want to go.  This applies if you are talking about your relationship with God, finding your place in the church, improving your marriage, or becoming a better individual.  Keep climbing.

When you break over the top and the exciting downhill times arrive, I hope to be there to hear you shouting with glee.

Have a wonderful day in Jesus.

Tim 

Grace

Today I spoke on the subject of Grace at NLT.  Very often this topic needs be rehearsed in all our minds.  The reason?  We all sin!  Scripture says so.  We should not placate ourselves with such knowledge, for grace is not a license to sin.  Rather, it is our salvation from it and the ability to rise above it.

We find in Ephesians chapter two an entire study on Grace.  Grace causes us to be all we can be.  In fact, if Grace was removed from the equation of our lives we may be surprised at how low we can stoop.  Except for the grace of God....there I go....an alcoholic, a drug addict, a thief, a low-life bum.  

Let me tell you something else the lack of Grace produces.  Unforgiveness.  Although the scripture says it is more blessed to give than to receive, I have found it is a lot easier to receive Grace than to bestow it.  I have known people who were all too ready to hand out judgment and require humility in others, but when it came to their own mistakes, their own lies, their own problematic area's, they weren't quite as ready to require the same of themselves.

I pray that the Christian community will return to pouring out grace, forgiveness and help to those in need, and those who fall short of God's glory.  Remember, we all need it!  It is Grace, the unmerited favor of God, that will save us in the end.  It will not be by works.  Our best works is like filthy rags before God.  He is unimpressed with works that attempt to garner ones salvation.  On the other hand, God loves it when we do things for Him 'because' of what He has done in our lives.  Don't get the cart before the horse...or the works before Grace.

Think about Grace this week.  Dispense it with the same vigor with which you are more than happy to enjoy it.  

Blessings,

Pastor Tim

Remembering Aiden Wilbanks

Those of you who attend New Life know about a great, little guy who became part of our church family several months ago.  His name is Aiden Wilbanks.  Aiden came to church in the arms of his brave parents, Mike and Misty.  

Aiden was physically challenged with various ailments.  He required constant attending to his medical needs.  I was so impressed with the level of care his parents gave him.  They took Aiden everywhere they went.  In three years Aiden experienced things that many kids his age don't get to experience.  

Through his difficulties, Aiden was able to express his love and feelings through his special looks and sounds.  He was a fine looking young boy, with eyelashes that most women only dream of!  His blue eyes would sparkle when you would speak to him or rub his head.

Aiden knew what it was to suffer.  I do not understand this about God.  Why does he allow innocent children to suffer?  I suppose that question can only be answered in eternity.  Through the suffering, God was able to reach the hearts of many people.  

A few days ago, the Lord chose to end the suffering and take Aiden home to be with Him.  Although we are saddened at our loss, we are celebrating the end of earthly pain.  I was honored to speak at the service for Aiden.  The church was full of people including many tough police officers who had tears rolling down their faces.  That is the kind of impact Aiden had.  The funeral procession was something to see.  Ten police cars from various agencies led the way with lights flashing.  It was an appropriate send off for such a great young man.

I have a feeling our send off here on earth was nothing compared to the royal welcome he received in heaven!  The next time we see Aiden he will be well, healed, whole and strong.  I told Mike that when he gets to heaven Aiden will embrace him with big, strong arms.  

Keep Mike and Misty in your prayers.  Losing a child is one of the most traumatic things a human being can endure.  It requires friends and prayers.  May God bless the Wilbanks family.  Thank you Lord, for blessing our lives with Aiden...even if the time was too short for our liking.  We trust your ways.

Pastor Tim

Eternal Vigilance and the Presidential Election

It has been said that the price of freedom is eternal vigilance.  Vigilance means to be watchful or protective against danger.  Our nation has been nurtured and sustained due to the sacrifices of great men and women who have kept watch over our nation from the predators that would love to consume our wealth and ultimately the American soul, especially from without.  

Of late I have realized our greatest enemy is perhaps not those on the outside of our borders.  While there are plenty of them out there, our chief nemesis could be the threats arising from within.  We face the potential of bringing to the forefront a leader, who secretly or otherwise, does not hold to the fundamental loyalties that has made this country great.  Do not be deceived by suave, charismatic personalities who promise the moon.  Wolves do their greatest damage while looking like a sheep!

Whomever you cast your vote for...do so with prayerful consideration, asking yourself if they are genuine patriots of the fundamental beliefs that made our great nation blessed of God.  Check out their personal history, their writings, their associates, the causes they have historically supported.  Remember, we stand today upon the principles of the Bible and belief in Jehovah God, Jesus Christ.  The further we become removed from those principles, the further removed we are from One who bestows all blessing.  Further, while we permit Americans to have freedom of religion, we should not be forced to tolerate those whose religious beliefs threaten the existence of our American soul, in which is a basic loyalty to the Holy Bible.  Americans are swiftly becoming prisoners of our own civil rights.  

For me, a person does not have the right to desecrate the flag, beliefs, convictions and treasury of the nation that give you the right to be its citizen.  Rights only go so far.  Rights were never intended to silence the roots of our origin, nor to impoverish the wealth of our nation with freebee's to all who whine about the mistreatment of former generations.  If you want to return to the discussion of former generations...we, those of us who would die for this land, also deserve the right to return to the firm convictions of our ancestry.  We have a right to end the rights, especially when your rights become threatening to our established way of life and worship.  The American rights are established to give us a chance a life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  Happiness is not guaranteed.  The pursuit of it is...and that only if accomplished within the boundaries of righteousness and fear of Almighty God. 

Also, consider that we are electing the President of the United States, the leader of the free world and perhaps the most powerful man on the planet.  The blessing of that office, as well as that of our country is dependent upon the perpetuation of righteousness.  For us to elect someone to the highest office in our land who supports a religion which considers Christian believers as 'infidels' is nothing short of absurd.  We will be allowing the proverbial fox to guard the henhouse.  While I cannot endorse a candidate, I can and must tell you as a Christian to be prayerfully guarded about the person for whom you vote.  I can quote Proverbs 14:34 which states, "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people."  

There are lots of problems in America.  It is easy to be distracted and focus on the issues which directly affect our checking accounts...our taxes...our favorite institutions all the while missing the most important, fundamental issues.  'Distraction Voting', voting focused on a minor issues whilst overlooking a potentially major one, is a threat to us all.  

I pray our voting will be with the Word of God in view.  Take a look at the major moral issues such as gay rights, abortion, and most of all the needful support of Israel.  Discover where the candidates stand.  See if they are willingly vague on these issues.  

As Christians we are stewards of our land and our government.  We must get to the polls and vote.  However, prior to the vote we must get to our knees and plead for God to guard our land. Eternal vigilance remains the price of freedom...even if that vigilance is to watch for dangers approaching the highest office in our land.  Our next President should be one that who would give their lives to save our freedoms...not one who, by his or her very existence and history, would threaten them.  Our President should be a person who is unashamed to get on their knees and call out to the God of heaven and earth...the Lord, Jesus Christ.  May it be so.

At a recent Memorial Day service in our city, I watched and listened to the voices of that quickly shrinking group of hero's who fought in WWII.  With shaky hands and silver hair, I know their minds hold all too vivid pictures of brothers who poured out their blood to keep us free.  I noted one man, a tail-gunner in a fighter plane, who was shot down and taken as a POW.  I also watched men and women who served in the other wars.  Each of them still with a sense of pride and a tear of love for our nation.  Friends, we better not lose that.  Leadership, in patriotism, as well as all other areas, begins at the top.  Vote accordingly!

Let me hear your thoughts and thanks for your time.

Tim

Seventh Day...Every Day.

There are those whose religious worship, not only includes, but emphasizes Sabbath-keeping as being vital to one's salvation.  I want to begin by honoring the disciplines of these people who keep this law with the utmost of integrity and good intention.   Further, I understand them because I too used to be bound by legalism, only in a different form.  Where mine was based on restrictions of dress, jewelry, sports, television etc, theirs is based on the Sabbath rest.

One cannot deny a large body of evidence concerning the Sabbath found in the Old Testament.  Not only is there a number of references, but they are strict directives from God to absolutely remember and keep the Sabbath Day holy.  One of the Ten Commandments is to keep the Sabbath holy by not doing any work.  (Ex 20:8-11)  Without an understanding of Grace and Jesus Christ's granting us release from the law, one would automatically be inclined to feel constrained to keep the Sabbath.  This is where many get off track.  

We have to remember the Sabbath law is different from the others because it was not duplicated in the New Testament.  There are many civil, judicial, and levitical laws that are not intended to be transfered to the New Covenant.  The laws intended for us today, including all moral laws, are mentioned 'again' in the New Testament.  For example, Jesus Himself re-affirms the moral laws with His own lips.  (See Matthew 19:18-19, etc.)  In no place in the New Testament are we commanded to keep the Sabbath.  This commandment Jesus willfully left out.  What is more, Jesus broke the Sabbath (John 5:9-16) healing and working on the Sabbath day.  He did so with intent - that we may know He is Lord of the Sabbath. (Mk 2:27-28) Jesus came to fulfill the law and not create more of them!  Man couldn't keep the ones he had at the time.  Get this...when you have Christ, you have fulfilled the obligations of the law.  When Jesus died, He in effect nailed the 'ordinances' - or the laws of man (non moral)- to His cross.   (Col 2:14)  Thank God we do not have to kill a lamb for a sacrifice, nor wash at a laver, nor keep the Sabbath, nor build railings on our roof, nor a thousand other laws.  I must mention that we are bound to keep the moral laws (no murder, adultry, idolatry, etc) which are mentioned again by Christ.

The Sabbath is about rest, of course.  But it is more about completion.  When God made the heavens and the earth in six days and then rested on the seventh...it was not because God was tired and needed a break.  It was to signal that creation was complete!  The sabbath is only a type or shadow of things to come.  The anti-type or reality is Christ.  The ceremonial religious law were to lead us to Christ.  They were our school-master to take us by the hand and lead us to Christ.  We are not to worship the School master!  Paul wrote and said, "We are complete in Him...." (Col 2:10) We are not made complete through law-keeping.  All of that revealed how incomplete man was without Christ.  We fulfill the Sabbath when our lives are made whole or complete in Christ.

In Isaiah 28:11-12, we discover a prophecy of the Holy Spirit.  It was prophecied to be accompanied with stammering lips and another (unknown) tongues.  The fulfillment of this at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-) was and continues to be the fulfillment of this prophecy.  Notice what else it says about the Holy Spirit.  "This is the 'rest' wherewith you may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing:"  Wow!  Again we find the fulfillment of the Sabbath rest in Christ and experientially in the Holy Spirit.  Hebrews 4:3 states, "For we which have believed do enter into rest, as He said, 'As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world."  Verse 8 goes on to bring further light to the coming Holy Spirit.  The rest was ultimately fulfilled in the Holy Spirit.  At last, read the 9th and 10th verses.  We are to cease from works.  Sabbath keeping is a work.  It is something we do.  But when you enter into Grace...you cease from works!  What a revelation!  

Finally, I want to bring Paul's instruction into view.  It does not matter as to which particular day one sets aside for worship.  (Romans 14:5)  Paul admits there are some folks who are bent on worshipping on a particular day.  It may be that he even included those Jews still bound to the O.T. law.  In either case Paul establishes that we shouldn't quarrel with them necessarily.  Leave them alone and let them worship in their own way.  "Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind."  Certainly Paul is saying, 'It is the worship that is important and not the day.'  God receives it if given on Monday or Friday.  

The problem with Seventh Day believers, like with other legalistic groups, is that they infer, if not outright declare, that you are 'not' saved if you do not adhere to Sabbath worship.  Many Seventh Day Adventist's follow the writings of Ms. White with more tenacity than the words and life of Christ.  This is the rub.  If one wants to exercise certain disciplines of their own accord and as part of their worship, they should have that right.  If some want to refrain from wearing jewelry, watching TV, eating pork pizza, wearing red ties....more power to them!  But just don't attempt to use the Bible and declare that all pizza lovers are going to hell!  Those who worship on Sunday are not violating the Bible.  Born again believers who have Christ are keeping the Sabbath, the rest, each and everyday in their hearts.  It feels so good to be free!!!

PS.   There is a growing number of people leaving Adventism and other legalistic groups.  Let's pray for them as doing so requires much fortitude.  Let me hear your comments.

Regards,

Pastor Tim