Category: Pastor’s Blog

The front page news here in Europe is all about the debt crisis in Greece. On Sunday Greeks voted against a bailout package. No one is really sure how this is all going to play out or what it means for the future of Greece and the Eurozone. But it’s going to be painful. One thing seems clear: Greece will never be able to repay all its debt. While the IMF has recently acknowledged this fact, it’s also true about most other countries. Overall national debts in many industrial countries today are so high that the likelihood of ever getting out of debt is almost zero. History tells us that many great city-states, nations and empires came to an end because of bad debts and their inability to repay. God is concerned about debt. In the Old Testament, Jews were forbidden to charge interest on loans. This was done to ensure that people would be able to repay and not spend a lifetime in servitude. The law required that every seven years all debts be cancelled so that people could have a fresh start. Debt has a way of squeezing life out of people and removing any chance of hope. This crisis has caused me to pause and give thanks that my debt has already been paid. The Bible calls sin a debt. Each one of us has a debt of sin greater than we would ever be able to repay. Paul says in Romans 4:25 that Jesus “was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” Furthermore he reminds us that “you who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:13-14) The hymn writer put it this way: I had a debt I could not pay, He paid the debt He did not owe, I needed someone, To wash my sins away So while I pray that a reasonable solution can be found to the crisis in Greece, I am also giving thanks that my greatest debt has been paid. Jesus’ death and resurrection has given me a fresh start and hope for the future.

One year Tom and Janice bought their dream house. It was a big step financially but they had been planning for some time and were overjoyed when they finally moved in. A week later their car died and they needed to buy a new one. When the summer holidays rolled around someone asked them if they were going to take a trip somewhere. “No,” said Tom, “we can’t afford to. So we just plan to sit in the house and look out at our new car. And then when we get tired of that we plan to go and sit in the car and look at our new house.” Whether or not you get away on holidays in the next couple of months I hope that you can slow down and enjoy the summer season. Here are three things I try to fit in during my holiday time. 1. Rest. Taking rest means ceasing from work. It’s important that we put projects and deadlines behind us for a while. It’s sobering to think that if you suddenly died your work place would continue on without you. We like to think that our work is indispensable but truthfully we can rest without everything falling apart. So ignore the emails and take some time for yourself. 2. Relationships. Holidays are a great time to reconnect with the people we love. Take time for your spouse and children. Spend an evening with old friends. Play silly games with the kids. Surveys tell us that camping trips are among the most stressful things a family can do but they also make for the best family memories. Make some good memories this summer. 3. Reflection. We need to pause and think about the season we have just come through. You might be filled with gratitude for the way God has blessed. Or you might find yourself experiencing disappointment or sadness with events that have taken place. Talk with God about how you are feeling. Just as important is thinking about the next season that lies ahead. You can mentally and spiritually prepare yourself through thoughtful reflection and prayer. After a particularly busy day of work and ministry Jesus said to his disciples, “‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.” (Mark 6:31-32) I pray that during these next couple of months you’ll find a solitary place and time alone with Jesus.

What problem are you dealing with today? What issue has you all worked up? Is it an argument with your spouse? Did you make a mistake at work? Did you lose some money or have you missed a great opportunity? Are you feeling ill and needing to take some time off? Has someone disappointed you? All of these issues can seem so important in the heat of the moment. But ask yourself, “Will this matter a year from now?” Playing what Richard Carlson calls the “time warp” game can be very helpful in bringing us much needed perspective. Imagine that whatever you are dealing with today isn’t happening right now but a year from now. Then ask yourself, “Is this situation really as important as I’m making it out to be?” There may indeed be occasions when it is – but usually it isn’t all that significant. The other day I sat beside a river and watched some ducks and a couple of swans as they swam around. A passage from the Sermon on the Mount about how God cares for birds came to mind so I looked it up. Here are Jesus’ words to us: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:25-34) That passage brought me much needed perspective and peace. I struggle and fight against things I have no control over because I’m worried about many things. But my heavenly Father is in control of all things. So whatever it is that’s bothering me today, I need to trust that God has it all under control. And a year from now – I will have probably forgotten about it.

Asking good questions can lead to great personal insights and learning. Asking good questions can challenge our assumptions and affect our actions. Asking good questions can be hard work. My children often ask me for help with their homework. They hope that I might just give them the answers so they can complete the assignment. But I know they need to figure out the solution for themselves. They need to wrestle with the questions on their own if they are going to master the content. So it is with the questions we ask ourselves about life. Last Sunday our guest speakers talked about four questions that had significant influence on their lives. The questions were: Who is my neighbor? Can anything good come out of Nazareth? What is in your hand? What is your weakness? They mentioned that in the gospels, Jesus asked hundreds of questions. That got me thinking and looking up some of his questions. Good questions can lead to spiritual examination which can be helpful but also painful. I’ve picked ten questions to share with you. I’ve been thinking about them. Take your time to consider the question, the context in which Jesus asks it, and what your answer might be. I will warn you. You may stumble to understand the question. You may not like the responses you come up with. But don’t let that stop you from working on your answers. God wants to transform you through asking some good questions. 1. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? (Matthew 5:46) 2. Why do you worry about clothes? (Matthew 6:28) 3. Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? (Matthew 9:4) 4. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26) 5. Are you so dull? (Mark 7:18) 6. Could you not keep watch for one hour? (Mark 14:37) 7. Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? (Luke 6:46) 8. Where is your faith? (Luke 8:25) 9. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? (Luke 16:11) 10. Do you love me? (John 21:17) If you are like me, these questions raise new questions that I need to consider. But that’s a good thing. It’s stretching me and that’s how I grow.

A couple was travelling across the country and got hungry. They decided to stop at a truck stop and have supper. They weren’t sure about eating at that type of roadside diner but they were hungry enough to give it a go. As they approached the door, a truck driver walked out of the restaurant. They asked him if the food was any good. The driver said he had eaten in this restaurant many times. He discouraged them from doing so with the following words: “The food is terrible, the mashed potatoes are watery, the meat is tough, the coffee is stale, and the pie is like cardboard. Oh, and one other thing – the portions are too small!” I guess that despite the awful food the driver wanted to get his money’s worth. It’s amazing how professional we can be at complaining. For some people it’s a full-time occupation. Thanks to comment sections on websites and blogs we can even make sure our complaints reach a worldwide audience. But complaining isn’t a harmless activity. It affects our spirit and relationship with God. The children of Israel were famous for complaining about their situation. Paul tells us not to “grumble, as some of them did” because they died for it. (1 Corinthians 10:10) If we are anxious, concerned or frustrated about something, we are encouraged to pray about it. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6) Better yet, we are told to “do everything without grumbling.” (Philippians 2:14) Most of the time we think this is an impossible command. And it is tough. But Paul’s theme in Philippians is all about the joy of the Lord. One of the reasons we lose that joy is because of our grumbling and complaining. In reality, we live in a day and age of great abundance and blessing. We need the Spirit’s help in training our minds to see God’s goodness in the world around us. “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)

In his book entitled “Respectable Sins”, Jerry Bridges talks about one of the most widespread and subtle sins among Christians: ungodliness. How is it possible that good Christian people can be called ungodly? Ungodliness and unrighteousness are not the same thing. Unrighteousness is sinful action in thought, word or deed, whereas ungodliness is an attitude that we express towards God himself. As Bridges defines it, ungodliness is “living one’s everyday life with little or no thought of God, or of God’s will, or of God’s glory, or of one’s dependence on God.” We can be nice, helpful, church-going people and have no thought of God in our daily activity. As someone else has said, “Many Christians live as functional atheists.” Two passages of scripture come to mind when I think about this sin. The first has to do with the farmer who was doing well but wanted even more. In Luke 12 Jesus tells the story of the man who wants to build even bigger barns for his surplus so that he can “take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” (Luke 12:19) That night he died and Jesus said, “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:21) James also cautions people about living without regard to God’s will or glory. “Look here, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.’ How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, ‘If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.’” (James 4:13-15 NLT) While planning for the future is not sinful – the Bible encourages thoughtful planning – both passages are condemning planning that doesn’t acknowledge dependence on God. We get so busy with our plans and daily activities that we go about all our duties without pausing to ask God what his desire is. The Christian life isn’t about attending church on Sundays and saying a prayer when we need help. It’s about surrendering our lives, each and every day, to the King of heaven. It’s about living the life that he calls us to. We can only discover what his plans and purposes are for us when we stop and listen. Pray that God will make us more conscious of the fact that every moment of every day is lived under his all-seeing eye.

Some weeks I have a story to tell or a Bible passage to explain. This week I’ve found myself thinking about a number of verses. Each one is a source of encouragement and strength to me, so I thought I’d just share them and leave you to ponder God’s word. Enjoy. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31) Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5) But those who hope in the Lord     will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles;     they will run and not grow weary,     they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31) But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34) The righteous person may have many troubles,     but the Lord delivers him from them all (Psalm 34:19) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God (Ephesians  2:8) Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)

It’s easy to get discouraged in our Christian walk. When we focus on our shortcomings and sins, we can find ourselves moving further away from God rather than closer to him. We need to focus more on the God who loves us. I’ve discovered that many Christians feel that God’s love and acceptance of them depends on their performance. As long as they are a ‘good Christian’ then God loves them and cares for them. But if they aren’t performing up to some standard then God is upset and angry with them. They become discouraged. When they stumble or sin they believe that God doesn’t love them anymore. It’s a performance-based Christianity and it’s deadly to the spirit and soul. Here’s the thing we need to remember: God loved us first. While we were still sinners, Jesus died for us. (Romans 5:8) So we need to relax a little bit and rest in his love. I don’t mean to suggest that we shouldn’t take sin seriously. We should be seeking to live holy lives. But we don’t do it to earn God’s favor; rather, we do it to love him back. Recently I came across this quote by St. Augustine: “It is not that we keep His commandments first, and that then He loves; but that He loves us, and then we keep His commandments. This is that grace, which is revealed to the humble, but hidden from the proud.” I think Augustine must have been reading 1 John. John makes this point several times so that his readers can’t possibly miss it: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10 “We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19 God loved us before we even knew anything about him. He loved us when we were hopelessly lost in sin. Now that we are his children, how could he stop loving us? When we sin and fail – and we will – we need to repent, confess our sins and remember that God’s love has not been diminished. He still loves us; we don’t have to earn it back. That’s the grace that God reveals to his children. We keep his commands not to earn his love but rather because he loves us. It’s a motivation to live in such a way that we bring him pleasure. Our desire is to live a life worthy of the one who loves us and will never stop loving us. So don’t run away and hide. Don’t become discouraged with your Christian walk. Accept that God’s love never fails and just keep moving forward.

One of the things that is difficult to get used to in our community is saying goodbye. International communities, by nature, tend to be somewhat transient. People are moving in and out all the time. You feel like you get to know someone and they are off again. Sometimes you are the one who is off again. International living has its benefits but it’s sad saying so many goodbyes. An unexpected goodbye is the hardest to deal with. It’s far better when we know the transition is coming and we can prepare for it for. When Jesus died the disciples were overwhelmed with grief. They didn’t really understand and weren’t fully prepared for it. However, when Jesus ascended into heaven we have no record of the disciples being upset or confused. That’s because Jesus had spent time preparing them for his ascension. Luke tells us that over the course of forty days, Jesus was able to get his followers ready for what was coming next. First, he had time to convince the disciples and others that he had actually risen from the dead. After the trauma of his death and resurrection the disciples needed to know they weren’t just dreaming. It really did happen. Jesus really did come back to life. Luke tells us that Jesus “presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.” (Acts 1:3) Jesus spent time assuring his disciples that he is the victor over death and anything that followed would be easier to deal with. The second thing Luke tells us is that Jesus used the time to tell the disciples what to do next. He told them to go to Jerusalem and “wait for the promise of the Father.”(1:4) That ‘promise’ was the coming of the Holy Spirit. Jesus told his disciples that it was necessary for him to leave in order for the Holy Spirit to come. The Spirit would come and empower them to continue, to be his witnesses and to proclaim the resurrection of Christ. The disciples could take comfort in knowing that as Jesus ascended into heaven they would not be forgotten. Someone was coming to help them. Finally, Jesus used those forty days to clarify some of the disciples’ misconceptions. The disciples were still concerned over when Jesus’ earthly kingdom would start. They asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom of Israel?” (1:6) Jesus didn’t challenge their understanding of the kingdom – he will come and rule someday – but he told them not to worry about the timing. God the Father will determine when the time is right for the new heaven and new earth. In the meanwhile, his disciples are to continue proclaiming the good news. Tomorrow is a holiday in Switzerland, Ascension Day. It’s a celebration of Christ’s bodily ascension to heaven. It’s also a reminder of his promise to come again. Jesus prepared his followers for his departure but it was two men in white robes who offered the most comfort that day. “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (1:11) So my question to you is, “are you prepared for his return?”

Over the years I’ve had my share of frustration with computers. My laptop will crash at the worst possible moment. The home computer won’t load the software I need. There are times when I am trying to enter simple data and the program isn’t working. Yes, there have been many frustrating moments. Most people I know get short tempered with a computer every now and then. But in my frustration I’ve never shot my computer for misbehaving. In April, a man by the name of Lucas Hinch was given a citation by police for discharging a weapon within city limits after he took his PC into an alley and shot it eight times. Apparently he had been having problems with the computer for months before deciding to exact revenge and execute it. Unfortunately, the computer did not survive the attack. Mr. Hinch, however, is feeling much better. Anger is a powerful emotion. When Jesus saw how people were trying to make a profit in God’s house he was angry. Jesus threw out those who were taking advantage of the poor. He was angry at the wrong they were doing as well as at the blatant disrespect they were showing towards God. This is a ‘righteous anger’ – anger that comes from watching injustice and wrongdoing. Our world today is filled with injustice that stirs anger in our hearts. And it should. When we read of people being sold into slavery or jailed for practicing their faith, we get angry. This type of emotion should motivate us to do something, to help others or to work towards solutions that are life giving. If things are going to change in our world then we need to be part of the solution. Perhaps it begins in prayer, talking to God about our concerns. But certainly it should lead to some kind of action. Maybe not overturning tables in church but helping in some way to see justice prevail. “The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.” (Psalm 103:6)