Timing Is Everything

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Good morning!

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:6-8 (NIV)

In music, in comedy, in relationships, in life – timing is everything. In all the years I’ve heard the above passage from Romans, I don’t think I’ve ever thought about the perfection of God sending Jesus exactly when he did. God could have sent His Son during the time of any other empire – Babylonian, Greek, Egyptian – and yet God sends Jesus to earth during the rise of the Roman Empire.

Less than 100 years after Christ’s birth, the Roman Empire had spread as far north as England, as far west as Portugal, and as far east as Asia Minor. 300 years after Christ’s birth, Christianity had begun to spread throughout the Roman Empire. By 600 AD, Christianity had spread to the entire empire.

God had a message that He wanted the whole world to hear – though we are sinful, wretched and unrighteous, our loving Father sent His son to die for our sins.

In Waco, Texas, it’s easy to think that the people around us know this truth – but they don’t. God has given us a precious gift – time – and a divine mission: to spread His Gospel to those who haven’t heard about Jesus. As you go into your weekend, prayerfully consider those people God has placed in your life that needs to hear His Gospel message.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank and praise you for each moment You’ve given me. Give me strength to use the time You’ve given me to tell people about Your Son, Jesus. Amen.

In Christ,

Joe

 

Tick Tock

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Good morning!

Show me, LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days;

Let me know how fleeting my life is.

You have made my days a mere handbreadth;

the span of my years is nothing before You.

Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure.

Psalm 39:4-5 (NIV)

Back when we were young, my brother was obsessed with the crocodile from Peter Pan. In fact, he loved crocodiles of any kind. He wanted a real crocodile for Christmas. He was heartbroken when he got a stuffed animal croc instead. In the story of Peter Pan, the crocodile has swallowed a clock. In the Disney movie, the croc’s name is “Tick Tock”. Everywhere the croc goes, the clock ticks away. The croc pursues the evil Captain Hook (the pirate nemesis of Peter Pan) in the hopes of err… well, eating him. In an animated Disney movie, it’s cute.

In reality, it’s more serious. Captain Hook lives in Neverland, a magical land where age and time are no concern. He is free from time’s effects; he spends his time perpetually pirating and living it up. Yet the crocodile allegorically reminds him and in turn, us, that time pursues us all.

In Psalm 39, David asks God to remind him how fleeting life is. Do you have that awareness†? Do you feel as if, like Captain Hook, you’re running away from any reminder that your days truly are numbered?

This Sunday, we’ll continue talking about time management. As you go into the weekend, I invite you to pray the Psalm above as part of your devotional time. Ask God to keep you mindful that though the crocodile chases us all, HE is the one in control – the one who has graciously numbered our days.

In Christ,

Joe

P.S. If you’re looking for a delightful and family friendly movie, check out Finding Neverland – it’s one of my favorites.

 

You Hungry?

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish His work.”

John 4:34 (NIV) – Jesus to His disciples near Sychar in Samaria

So the question, it seems, is this: How hungry are you?

Food plays a prominent role in the Bible – when the Israelites complain to Moses, it’s usually about food. When Jesus is in the desert, he’s fasting (abstaining from food). What does the devil tempt him with first? Food. Jewish law addresses clean (kosher) and unclean (non-kosher) foods extensively. Some of Jesus’ most famous miracles involve – you guessed it: food.

I love food. I do 90% of the cooking in our house. I think it’s a blast. I started to learn to cook when I was about 12. The number of food-related shows on TV that Jessica and I watch is frankly embarrassing. Here’s something we all know to be true – no matter how much we eat or how good the food is, we will always be hungry again in a matter of hours – we never stay satisfied.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Matthew 5:6 (NIV) – Jesus, Sermon on the Mount

Here’s what Jesus is saying in these two passages: true satisfaction, not from physical hunger, but from spiritual hunger comes from pursuit of Christ and His purposes for our lives. Nothing else can ever satisfy us. We can try to fill the stomach of our souls with any or all of the trappings of this world, but we will always end up starving to death.

We, as followers of Christ, should always hunger and thirst for more of the love, grace, healing and purpose of Jesus in our lives.

So I ask again: How hungry are you?

In Christ,

Joe 

 

You NEED To Be There

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Good afternoon!

Jesus told this parable: “A farmer went out to sow his seed… some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture.”

 

“…Those on the rock are those who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.”

Luke 8:4-5, 6, 13 (NIV)

If you need a better picture of what a withered plant looks like, please go to your window, look out, and take note of almost anything in the ground. The number of trees that were once strong, green and vibrant that are now brown and dry is truly astonishing. The surviving trees are the ones that have deep, deep root systems that can draw moisture from the ground so that even in times of drought, they persevere.

How deep is your root system? Are you green and growing, or do you make this summer look damp by comparison?

This may be hard to hear, but if you’re thinking, “I’m fine,” you’re probably not. Growing up, we had a youth pastor who never tired of telling us: “If you’re not growing, you’re dying.” It’s true, folks. We at Trinity have been tasked with creating disciples, and disciples come with deep roots.

We, your friendly, lovable Trinity staff, passionately believe that the ALPHA Experience is a vital component for your spiritual development. You need to check this out. If you have questions, if you have friends with questions – you need to be in our Fellowship Hall on Wednesday, August 31st. If you’ve been through ALPHA, please tell your friends about your experience and consider one of our other Wednesday night offerings!

I hope you’ll consider being a part of Wednesday night experience at Trinity. Blessings on your week! Stay cool!

In Christ,

Joe

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Good morning!

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to Eve, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’”

Genesis 3:1 (NIV)

I can’t stand snakes. I really can’t. Growing up, our house was near to a drainage ditch that led to a bayou. We had saw lots of snakes. They sat on our porch, crawled into our dryer vent, parked themselves on our water heater – I maintain to this day that I saw a coral snake not 5 feet from me in the drainage ditch. I really, really don’t like snakes.

I bet Eve didn’t like snakes either. Eve is in the Garden of Eden, and a snake starts talking to her. What does the snake (Satan) bring to the table?

In a word – doubt. Doubt about God’s promises. Doubt about God’s Word. Doubt about God’s authority. Doubt about God’s goodness.

And thus those four little words: “Did God really say…” have plagued God’s people ever since. We still doubt God’s promises, God’s Word, God’s authority and God’s goodness. As if we needed proof of our own doubt, the pollsters at Public Policy Polling decided to poll God’s approval rating: 52% approved of the ‘job God was doing’, while 9% disapproved. 39% remained… in doubt.

Satan desperately, passionately and fervently wants to keep you away from time with God – from personal devotion. He has done everything in his limited power to plant seeds of doubt or indifference in the hearts and minds of God’s children since the beginning of time. Satan really doesn’t want you to read the Bible, go to church or spend time in prayer.

God desperately, passionately and fervently wants to be closer to you. Ask Him for the strength to overcome doubt, fear and indifference and so that you can take the plunge into knowing him more and more every day.

In Christ,

Joe

 

The Well Is Deep

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Good morning!

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

 

“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water?”

John 4:10-11 (NIV84)

We read this story on Sunday. It’s a familiar story to many, unfamiliar to some. It’s a meeting between two cultures – the Samaritans and the Jews. Their cultures didn’t associate with one another. In modern terms, their enmity was akin to Catholics and Protestants in Ireland – or Shi’ite and Sunni Muslims in the Middle East.

Yet here is Jesus, strangely alone at the well with this Samaritan woman, and he asks for a simple favor – a drink of water. Most modern women would start reaching into their purse for a can of mace.

As I listened to this passage on Sunday, verse eleven really stood out to me – “You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep.”  This is a woman with a shameful past. We discover later that she’s had five husbands and she’s living with man #6. This is the woman to whom Jesus offers living water.

She’s confused, overwhelmed and simply in disbelief at the notion - but are we really any different? Are there sins in your life about which you’ve thought – “Lord, you’re powerful, but you just don’t have enough forgiveness for that.” There are in mine.

Don’t doubt Him – Jesus follows through. He descends into the well for us, draws for us living water with his very life. Because of Him, we stand on His promise:

Indeed, the water I give [you] will become in [you] a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

John 4:14

In Christ,

Joe

 

 

Action & Truth

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Good morning!

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

1 John 3:16-18 (NIV)

Some quick stats: there are about 138,000,000 Christians actively pursuing their life of faith with God in the United States. The 138 million of us bring home $2.5 trillion in income every year. If every Christian in America left to form our own nation, we would be the 7th richest nation in the world. Even with “looming economic crisis”, we remain incredibly blessed.

In 1981, 52% of the world lived in extreme poverty.  Today, that number is 26%. Progress? Yes – but there are still 1.7 billion people living in extreme poverty.  The organization we heard about on Sunday (Food for the Poor) is a way that we can help. Will you join me in prayerfully considering a monthly gift to Food for the Poor?  Even $1 a month can provide as many as 21 meals for the poor. Visit www.foodforthepoor.org to find out more.

Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?”

 

The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Matthew 25:37-40 (NIV)

My family in Christ – we have been called, and we must go.

Joe

 

Wonderful Maker

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Good morning!

            He spreads out the northern skies over empty space;

            He suspends the earth over nothing.

            He wraps up the waters in his clouds,

            Yet the clouds do not burst forth under their weight

            He covers the face of the full moon

            Spreading his clouds over it…

            …And these are but the outer fringe of his works;

            How faint the whisper we hear of him!

            Job 26:7-9, 14a (NIV)

This week, Jessica and I are at camp with a group of kids from Trinity.  It’s awesome!  There’s something about being out in the woods, seeing the stars shining brightly and getting away from ‘civilization’ that stirs my soul to cry out – “What a wonderful God!”

God is wild about you.  He’s crazy-go-nuts for you.  You know what?  You and I – we need to hear that over and over and over again.  In a world in which significance is measured by possessions, talent or beauty, the feeling that there’s someone who knows us and sees us and loves us is simply too rare.

If you have trouble grabbing hold of how incredibly in love with you God is, you’re not alone.  In Psalm 8:3-4, we see King David’s awe:

            When I consider the heavens

            The work of your fingers

            The moon and the stars

            Which you have set in place

            What is man that you are mindful of him?

We sang a song called Wonderful Maker at the late service this past Sunday.  I invite you to pray through these lyrics as you start your day today, and as you do, thank and praise God for his truly uninhibited love for you, shown to us in Jesus Christ:

            You made the world and saw that it was good

            You sent Your only Son for You are good

            What a wonderful Maker, What a wonderful Savior

            How majestic whispers, and how humble Your love!

            With a strength like no other, and the heart of a Father

            How majestic Your whispers, what a wonderful God!

            -Wonderful Maker, by Chris Tomlin & Matt Redman

 

In Christ,

Joe

 

The Need for Time Alone (Together)

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Good morning!

Man:

You who dwell in the gardens with friends in attendance,

let me hear your voice!

Woman:

Come away, my beloved and be like a gazelle

Or like a young stag on the spice-laden mountains.

Song of Solomon 8:13-14 (NIV)

It’s never harder to keep to a commitment than when you’re hypnotized by routine.  Do you find this true?  Jessica and I have only been married three years, three months, and fifteen days, but I’ve found this to be true.  When you add family, increased pressure at work and a thousand other “routine distractions” to the mix, the commitment of even maintaining a marriage can be tough – much less growing a marriage.

The book of Song of Solomon is wonderful.  It speaks beautifully and frankly about the sweet romance God intended between a man and wife.  Read a bit of it – if you’re brave, read it to each other.  The verses above are the final two verses of Song of Solomon.  It’s clear to me (and I hope you see it too) that the man and the woman are about to leave and be with one another.

When, ladies, is the last time your husband said, “Let’s leave everyone behind for a little while so that I can listen to just you“?  Men, when is the last time your wife said, “I want to go away to a secluded place and just be with you – all by ourselves”?

Jessica and I are blessed to be able to take some time together next week to go to Camp Lone Star and just simply be together without too many responsibilities.  Husbands and wives, if you haven’t finished planning your summer with ‘routine distractions’, I hope you’ll take some time for just the two of you.  If you’re not married – I encourage you to take some time off this summer to simply enjoy the presence of our wonderful Maker.

May our loving God bless and keep you this week!

In Christ,

Joe

 

Love Language

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Good morning!

Husbands and wives should satisfy each other’s sexual needs.  A wife doesn’t have authority over her own body, but her husband does.  In the same way, a husband doesn’t have authority over his own body, but his wife does.

1 Corinthians 7:3-4 (GWT)

On the way home from church on Sunday, I asked my wife Jessica a simple question: “Jess, what do you think my love language is?”  There’s a popular book (“The Five Love Languages” by Gary Chapman) in which Chapman identifies five ways in which human beings express love for one another: words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service and physical touch.

Jessica guessed that my top love language was  ”acts of service”, but she was (for once!) wrong.  My #1 love language is physical touch.  Thus I can relate to the need for physical contact in relationships and in the covenant of marriage.  Comfortable or not, let’s address this directly:

Sex is a wonderful, beautiful, joy-filled gift from God.  It is a blessing meant to be shared as part of divinely-established covenant of marriage.  There’s a reason why the imagery of the church as Christ’s bride is so powerful – we’re meant to view marriage as a divinely intimate relationship.

There’s a powerful need for us to face this issue together as a church – the world, and namely Satan, desperately wants you to ignore the sacred nature of human sexuality.  If you’re married, there’s an overwhelming need for dialogue between you and your spouse about the role of sex and physical contact in your marriage.  This is not an issue that goes away or solves itself, and Satan thrives on poor communication – so talk about it!  If you have questions, ask them!

A final Bible passage which plainly shows us God’s design:

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

Genesis 2:24 (NIV84)

Blessings on your week!

In Christ,

Joe

 

For more information on the “Five Love Languages,” visit: http://www.5lovelanguages.com/