Betrayer, denier and thief...

A betrayer, a denier and a thief… I am all of those and Jesus knows it! Still he loves me. Wow.

John 18 begins with Judas betraying his friend, Jesus. In the middle of the chapter, Peter denies his Lord Jesus 3 different times! And then ends with the crowd choosing Barabbas, a thief, over Jesus, the Lord. All in one chapter. If you live long enough, and it won’t take long, a good friend will betray you. Sometimes the betrayal will be for money or prestige or some other currency such as fame or control. Judas gained 30 pieces of silver and no longer had to listen Jesus speaking grace and tru

th. Whatever the trade, betrayal happens and it stings.

Part way through JN 18, Peter, one of the inner circle of the disciples, denies he even knows Jesus. He cares more for personal comfort than he does for Jesus. I hear stories of people being betrayed and rejected day after day. And just like everyone else, I’ve experienced both. And it stings deep.

The end of the chapter paints the crowd evil as he they scream for the freedom of the thief Barabbas and condemn the Savior Jesus to death. Doesn’t make sense, does it? And yet, experience life enough and you will experience someone that prefers a scoundrel or a thief over you. I’ve experienced that also. And yes, it really does sting way down deep.

All of that is bad news but here is some really bad news. In the same way I have been betrayed and denied and had friends choose something evil over a faithful friendship, I have done likewise. Every time I have chosen the voice of fear over the faithfulness of Jesus, I have betrayed him and denied knowing him. I’ve preferred the voice of a thief or liar over the voice of God every time I have chosen to listen to the world over Jesus or tried to recreate God in my image. I have chosen comfort or the approval of people over the love of my friend and king, Jesus. The really really bad news is that… so have you. We all have. We have all experienced it and all have likely treated others the same way. And we have all traded in Jesus for fame, popularity, peace, money, sex and ambition.

But that’s what makes the gospel, the good news, so utterly amazingly beautiful - Jesus knows all that and loves me anyway…. And loves you anyway. He became the thief, the denier, the betrayer when he took up the cross. He cried out as he hung there, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me!” Jesus knows well the sting of our betrayal and preferences. Listen my friend, it isn’t just that Jesus forgives you and me, though he does that to the uttermost. He takes our sin and puts it as far as the east is from the west. He doesn’t stop with forgiveness but continues with restoration. He restores us to a right relationship with him… an intimate relationship of friendship. He is the Lord of all, King of Kings yet he calls you and me friends. He walks, sits, loves, aches with us. He feels the sting with us. And somehow, as we join in the sting of suffering with Jesus, we become more like him. And know a deeper joy and peace. To be known and still loved?

“To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything. It liberates us from pretense, humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us.”  Keller, Meaning of Marriage

Grace for the Journey.

Harrison

Dear Friends,

Have you ever noticed the rules of the elevator?  There is the “face the front” rule and the “fold your hands in front” rule but the one that intrigues me the most is the “don’t talk to anyone about anything” rule.   That one is unbreakable!  What is going on there?   Are we afraid of the repercussions?  People were created for community yet we hide from each other!  In elevators, neighborhoods and even in our homes. 

There still remains a longing in our heart to live as we were created.  Starbucks sees it.  Have you ever noticed that Starbucks doesn’t advertise their coffee as much as they sell the “Starbucks Experience”?  Starbucks knows that people are longing for community and their coffee (good as it is) is really just a part of that community building process. 

In Genesis we see that it is not good for man to be alone.  Now surely God is talking about primarily about man and his relationship with a woman but the principle is still there!  It is not good for man to be alone and God created people to be with each other.  God sees it.   Starbucks sees it.  Why do we keep fighting it?  Why do we fight living in community with each other?  The reason is that we are broken people.  Because of Adam and Eve’s little fruit incident, we don’t live as God intended us to live but rather live “broken”. We hide because we fear betrayal from those we might dare to trust or love… and pretend that living in such fear is somehow safer than living in a community of grace. We hide because we are not nearly as self-righteous as the façade we erect around weary souls.

Through Jesus Christ, what is broken will be restored.  As people restored by the Grace of God through Jesus Christ, we can live in freedom and joy without having to hide in broken bushes.  Next time you are in the elevator, exercise your freedom, build a community of grace, say “hello”.      

On second thought, don’t wait for the elevator, quit hiding in your house and build an authentic Christian Community of Hope right where you live. Tear down walls and build bridges of hope. Enjoy it!  Its how God made you to really live.

Living in Grace,

Harrison Spitler, Pastor

A Beagle Kind of Faith

Have you seen the TV commercial* with the beagle that lives inside a tube?  It’s a commercial advertising heartworm medicine and makes the advertising claim that the best way to protect your dog from fleas and heartworms is to either live in a sealed bubble-like tube, insulated from the world or give your dog their daily meds. Strange isn’t it that a dog would live in a plastic tube! In fact it’s downright preposterous! Dogs, especially beagles, aren’t designed to live in a plastic tube. They are designed to chase rabbits through brambles, dig under fences, wake the neighborhood while they howl at the moon and lick the chocolate off their human’s face.

Dogs aren’t designed to live in a bubble and neither are Christians. Yet so often I see Christians hide in plastic bubbles to keep from interacting with the world.  I’ve done it myself and cringe at my foolishness and lack of love and faith.  Sometimes Christians even build these insulating tubes to keep from being tarnished by each other. The irony is that such bubbles designed to insulate can end up being quite cold and toxic.  If it wasn’t so sad, it would be just ridiculously funny. Christian, we follow a God that left the “bubble” of heaven to live among his creation, to sleep without a pillow or a house to call his own, to live with those that would hate him, to love on those that would kill him, to die that we would live. Doesn’t that seem a long way from the bubbles that we create? Do we really believe that someone that does not trust Jesus would want to step into our sterile bubbles? Jesus didn’t come to live in a bubble. He came to live with man. And he calls us to follow him. Follow. Jesus.

Christian, go chase rabbits, dig dirt, wake the neighbors and lick the chocolate! (maybe scratch that last one ;) )  Get out of your bubble and live life as God has designed you to live it – in the world.

By grace,

Harrison

*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeTGb3a7n1U

Dear SouthLake Family,

Sunday evening, July 23, marked a significant moment in all our lives. It was more than turning the page to the next chapter of a book. It was opening the cover of a new book. It’s a new life with new hope, new dreams, new loves… let’s don’t stop short of his new life. The gap between our old life and new life is spelled out in 2 Corinthians 5 which we will unpack this Sunday. John Newton sings of it as well in Amazing Grace –

“Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see”

An event from my life a few decades ago illustrates well the transformation Christ brings about in us and individuals and as a community.

***********

It was a cold day, spitting rain and windy. Still I was out in it fishing. With weather like that, there is little surprise that I didn’t catch any fish! But I didn’t come home empty handed… Moving along the shore I heard a noise from an empty boat shed. Curiosity got the better of me and I moved in to check it out. In the back right corner, something cowered. It was winter on the lake and all the summer residents had long since departed. The only live animals anywhere around were sure to be wild. This one could have been a wounded deer or a rabid coyote! I should have been more careful but instead I went on in. I was 13 year old boy so who knows what was I thinking!? The mass turned out to be a very large yet scrawny, shivering, wet, muddy and matted German Shepherd. She had some open sores and something was wrong with one of her legs. And she was so very scared. She was nothing but a mongrel that many would have just put to sleep. I remember thinking that if she lived, this mongrel would need a name… so I called her Duchess.

It took a while but I coaxed her out, fed her from my hand, bathed her and treated her wounds. Many days passed before she learned to trust me. I never did find out where she had come from. She had been lost and was found, wounded and near death but was now healed and healthy. She had been alone and now had a family. Over time Duchess became a strong shepherd. Instead of being afraid at the touch of her master’s hand, she became ridiculously devoted! She had been a filthy mongrel but within a month, I found her sprawled on the sofa! This mongrel loved the life of a Duchess!

My life is so much like that mongrel’s. With a soul that was lost, matted, muddy and afraid, I was far from God. Yet he pursued me. He came into the dark corner and called me out. He bound up my wounds, healed my soul, gave me a new name and a place at his table. And I am ridiculously devoted to Christ Jesus my Lord!

God’s hand of lavished love and incomprehensible grace might be strange to you but do not fear his touch. He calls you out of the darkness to give you a place at his table. Christ came that you might have life and have it to the fullest.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. Jesus in John 10:10

Anchored in Grace,

Harrison

It's NOT about the Whale!

It’s not about the whale. It’s not about Jonah. And it’s not really about Nineveh. Jonah is really about God’s character. Will he show compassion to an evil community of people? Will he show compassion to a stubborn, pride-riddled, religious man? Will he connect the two? Will he connect us? Would God love Jonah and Nineveh enough to entangle innocent sailors in his plot to rescue them from their own stubborn evil?

Jonah is an incredibly encouraging account of God’s compassion for us, our church and our city. It’s a great account of how far the Father will go in order to rescue a city and a man.

How much does God really love? The series will launch at 10am, Sunday, January 10. Come along for the journey.

Grace Community Church @ Marvin Ridge High School

BIG & little

     I think we often make too much of the wrong things. I am a Christian. Many of you that read this are Christians as well. That means we trust and follow Jesus Christ. We trust his finished work of the crucifixion and resurrection to atone for our sin and reconcile us to God the Father. But often instead of fixing our eyes on Jesus Christ (Hebrews 12), we have our eyes fixed on our sin or the sin of others. We get obsessed with a particular sin or sinful lifestyle. For example we might become all engrossed with the sexual immorality of others but ignore our own idolatry. An idol is anything or anyone or any way of life that you love more than God. It's an idol if it gives you your identity, your self-righteousness or turns your heart from complete devotion to God alone. Its easy to feed our idols and ignore God. It's easy to become captured by the sin of others but ignore our own lack of love.
      It isn't that many Christians make too much of some of the BIG sins but that we make to little of the excused little sins. We excuse away a lack of love, a lack of forgiveness, a lack of compassion and mercy. We excuse away our inactivity in evangelism and caring for orphans, widows, the poor and oppressed. If we trust Jesus, we follow Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5  teaches us that old things have passed away and we have become new creations. As new creations, Jesus has given us grace to follow where he leads. And thankfully he keeps giving us more and more grace!
      God captures us with his love. Exodus 20 - And God spoke all these words saying, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out or the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me."  If you are a Christian, then God has brought you out of slavery to sin and made you a new creation. What he calls us to is a life of love and sacrifice, mercy and giving, living in the world but not of the world, a life of joy even in the midst of pain and unfailing hope in the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
      Lord, I pray your love will so capture us that we love you with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and that we will love others as you have loved us. That's the big thing. Thank you for your big grace.

Let it go!

Rusty! Let it go! Drop it!               

                                                                

I have this big red Labrador. He tips the scales at 105 pounds and eats anything that doesn’t eat him first.  Rusty’s biggest problem is that he is a messy people pleaser. Sound familiar? Rusty is under the illusion that I want him to bring me shoes – anyone’s shoes will do. It doesn’t matter if they are clean or covered in mud, he just brings me shoes. He will get a shoe or a pair of shoes in his mouth and follow me around the house, soaking them in his slobber. (He also likes to soak Mickey Mouse in slobber... )

In that way Rusty is like a lot of us. We carry stinking stuff around too. We carry sin, baggage, bitterness, unforgiveness, stress, pain, worry – the junk of life.  And we don’t want to let it go. We might even act like Rusty and follow the master around but still with the smelly mess hanging from the jaws of our soul. We can’t just let it go! We get attached to all that mess and even let it become a part of our identity.

But here’s the gospel. It looks like this. Rusty follows me with his smelly mess until I tell him to sit, to rest. He does that and I put my hand under his jaw and tell him to drop it. Rusty drops the smelly slobber covered shoe into my formerly clean hand. But then he looks to me for the promised replacement. And he gets it. I’m not sure what he thinks is great about a rock hard dog bone that Purina has somehow convinced dogs is something akin to caviar. But to Rusty, it’s the stuff of life!

Jesus says come to me. Rest. Drop your smelly slobber covered mess into my formerly clean hands. Take instead my peace, my joy, my salvation. Give me your mess and let me give you… me. 

His hands are open – drop it.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30

Anchored in Grace,

Harrison 

Two Truths

I sit here in a coffee shop in Auburn waiting on my conference to begin. I read and pray. And two great truths keep coming to my mind and both are good news for you and for me.

The first – My identity is in Christ, determined by Christ, encouraged by Christ, sealed by Christ. No one can take it away or modify it. No one. But we need the community of the church, of other Christians, whether in a Sunday service or small group or a weekly get together to remind us of that truth. Alone and away from such community, we forget far too easily who we really are and how we are designed to love and live and walk in joyful faith. We must have that community to remind us of this basic truth of our identity in Christ.

The second – Surrounded by that great cloud of community, we are encouraged and find more faith to throw off the weight and sin that so closely cling. (Heb12:1)  A large part of that weight and sin is being too concerned about the opinions of others. No one gives identity to Christians but Jesus and he has said to those whose trust is in him that they are loved, and named, and forgiven, and kept, and rejoiced over… and that they are his.

That’s good news. 

Relax 

...and rejoice.

A Beagle Kind of Faith

Have you seen the TV commercial* with the beagle that lives inside a tube?  It’s a commercial advertising heartworm medicine and makes the advertising claim that the best way to protect your dog from fleas and heartworms is to either live in a sealed bubble-like tube, insulated from the world or give your dog their daily meds. Strange isn’t it that a dog would live in a plastic tube! In fact it’s downright preposterous! Dogs, especially beagles, aren’t designed to live in a plastic tube. They are designed to chase rabbits through brambles, dig under fences, wake the neighborhood while they howl at the moon and lick the chocolate off their human’s face.

Dogs aren’t designed to live in a bubble and neither are Christians. Yet so often I see Christians hide in plastic bubbles to keep from interacting with the world.  I’ve done it myself and cringe at my foolishness and lack of love and faith.  Sometimes Christians even build these insulating tubes to keep from being tarnished by each other. If it wasn’t so sad, it would be just ridiculously funny. Christian, we follow a God that left the “bubble” of heaven to live among his creation, to sleep without a pillow or a house to call his own, to live with those that would hate him, to love on those that would kill him, to die that we would live. Doesn’t that seem a long way from the bubbles that we create? Do we really believe that someone that does not trust Jesus would want to step into our sterile bubbles? Jesus didn’t come to live in a bubble. He came to live with man. And he calls us to follow him. Follow. Jesus.

Christian, go chase rabbits, dig dirt, wake the neighbors and lick the chocolate! (maybe scratch that last one ;) )  Get out of your bubble and live life as God has designed you to live it – in the world.

By grace,

Harrison

*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeTGb3a7n1U

Suffering & Joy

I love the way God mixes joy and suffering. That seems strange doesn't it? But the reality is that suffering happens. Sometimes the suffering is unbearable, painful and even paralyzing. Jesus suffered. And that suffering was so horrendous just because of the sin that was heaped upon him. But then added to that was the suffering of being abandoned by the Father at the cross… and there are no words to capture that type of pain. Knowing that Jesus took it because of his love for me and you leaves me stunned and speechless yet hopeful. I am left hopeful because a love that strong and deep is a love that conquers sin, death and that finiteness of life on this earth. It is a love that draws me to the fellowship of Jesus.

It’s in that fellowship with Jesus that suffering is mixed with joy – the joy of knowing God is here, he lives, he loves, he listens and knows our hearts and minds. Even in the midst of suffering when we can’t make sense of anything, still The Father knows and feels the pain with us.

I have experienced suffering both small and large. I wouldn’t wish any of it on anyone yet through it all I know that God has been awake, in control, still loving and very much present. While I wouldn’t wish any of that suffering on anyone, I still am thankful for growth that comes as the Father has drawn me closer. I so deeply love walking closely with Him – even if it’s in the pain. Strangely one of the hardest sufferings, perhaps the very hardest, is seeing my children suffer and not being able to take their pain upon myself.

But there also the Father meets me with his love and therein I find the strength of his joy

Torn Sandals

Luke 15:21-24 – “And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’^{[c] 22} But the father said to his servants,^[d] ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. ²³ And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. ²⁴ For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.”

Look closely at Rembrandt’s Return of The Prodigal. Look at his feet. His sandals are worn, ripped, torn… The sandals are torn because of his journey away from the Father. The son had taken his share of his father’s dignity and inheritance and run away to a foreign land, far from his father. He squandered all he was given living wild. His new foreign friends took advantage of him and used up his inheritance and dignity. He purchased the approval of others with the last of the wealth given him by his father. Broken, poor, hungry he returned to his father’s home hoping just to gain a place as a servant. Never did he hope or even consider that his father would allow him back in the home.

The torn sandals are seen prominently in the painting. They represent the shame of the son. They shout to all that see of his sin, his brokenness and of his status as one who is homeless.  But the Father removes the torn sandals and gives new shoes to his son. He gives him the best robe – his own, he gives him a ring – signifying the authority of a son, and he gives him new sandals, new life!

I remember my torn sandals. We all have them. But the Father would give us all new sandals, new life! I know there will always be people that only remember the torn sandals and forget what the Father did with those shameful shoes. But don’t you forget!

I love Holy Week, the week that begins with Palm Sunday and ends with Easter Sunday. I remember my torn sandals and my Lord that took them away. I remember at the crucifixion that Jesus picks up my torn sandals and carries them to the grave. I remember an empty cross… and my risen Jesus… and I begin to celebrate.

No more torn sandals… not in the Father’s house.

“…and they began to celebrate”

Anchored in the Risen Lamb of God!

Harrison 

Intentional Missional Discipleship

Some just call it discipleship, some Missional Discipleship, some intentional or purposeful discipleship. Here’s the point in all of those – Jesus commanded his followers to make disciples. The missional part of that is that we make disciples of others through evangelism, teaching and training. The intentional part is that we have to be purposeful or intentional about the process and plan of discipleship or the stuff of life will surely crowd in and discipleship will be crowded out.

Discipleship includes making disciples of our selves. We must be certain and take responsibility to see that we are becoming more and more like Christ.  We are called to be maturing Christians rather than remain as spiritual babies who live on milk instead of steak. Just as life begins with birth and usually includes giving birth to others, even so discipleship begins with evangelism/spiritual birth and includes the act of evangelism and giving spiritual birth to others. Then missional discipleship must also include intentionally discipling others along the way of life.

In GCC we are in the midst of a series from Luke on Discipleship According to Jesus.  Along the way we will discover that missional discipleship is

·        Christ centered,

·        Gospel driven,

·        Outward facing,

·        Spirit fueled,

·        Scripture based,

·        Intentional,

·        Life-long and

·        Anchored in the Church.

I encourage you to make it a point to be there on Sunday mornings as we discover God’s plan for growing his people into mature followers of Jesus Christ.

Anchored in Christ,

Harrison 

Let Them Come Home

Let Them Come Home (John and Abraham Piper)

from First Boyton Church and @pastorkeith73

In a recent Christianity Today interview, John Piper recounts the painful events surrounding the excommunication of his 19 year old son, Abraham.

The night after that excommunication, I called him at 10:00 and said, “Abraham, you knew what was coming.” He said, “That’s what I expected you to do. That has integrity. I respect you for doing it.” From then on, for the next four years, he was walking away from the Lord, trying to make a name for himself in disco bars as a guitarist and singer, and just doing anything but destroying himself. We were praying like crazy that he wouldn’t get somebody pregnant, or marry the wrong person, or whatever. He came back to the Lord four years later and the church had a beautiful, beautiful restoration service. He wept his eyes out in front of the church and was restored. This is church discipline at its best.

The following is Abraham’s account written for Decision Magazine.
     When I was 19, I decided I’d be honest and stop pretending I was a christian.  At first I pretended that my reasoning was high-minded and philosophical. But really I just wanted to drink gallons of cheap sangria and sleep around. Four years of this and I was strung out, stupefied and generally pretty low. Especially when I was sober or alone.
      My parents, (John and Noel Piper) who are strong believers and who raised their kids as well as any parents I’ve ever seen, were brokenhearted and baffled. (See sidebar story below.) I’m sure they were wondering why the child they tried to raise right was such a ridiculous screw-up now. But God was in control.
     One Tuesday morning, before 8 o’clock, I went to the library to check my e-mail. I had a message from a girl I’d met a few weeks before, and her e-mail mentioned a verse in Romans. I went down to the Circle K and bought a 40-ounce can of Miller High Life for $1.29. Then I went back to where I was staying, rolled a few cigarettes, cracked open my drink, and started reading Romans. I wanted to read the verse from the e-mail, but I couldn’t remember what it was, so I started at the beginning of the book. By the time I got to chapter 10, the beer was gone, the ashtray needed emptying and I was a Christian.
      The best way I know to describe what happened to me that morning is that God made it possible for me to love Jesus. When He makes this possible and at the same time gives you a glimpse of the true wonder of Jesus, it is impossible to resist His call.

The day the braces come off

The braces came off this morning. The orthodontist wanted them on a bit longer. My son wanted them gone some time ago. No matter what anyone really wanted, the braces are off, my son is smiling big and off to finish the last few months of his senior year. The reality is that the braces are gone.

I so completely understand the orthodontist. I look at my son and have this strong desire in my soul that wants to stop time. I want to keep him around for a few more years. He’s not only my son, he’s a good friend. I’m not ready for another child to graduate high school and head out the door to college. I hate the sight of taillights leaving the driveway and driving down the road. My excuse is that he isn't ready. But he is ready or at least he will be the time that dreaded day arrives. The reality is that I’m not ready. And the reality is that no matter who is ready, that day is coming – and soon.

So what do we do? We try to give him Jesus as much as possible – not religion, but Jesus. We try to love him well, give him what he needs for life. We pray – a lot! And as the day approaches, we will try to celebrate. And then we’ll shed some tears and pray some more!

Anchored in grace,

I am Jon's dad

Of Cats and Killers

I’ve never been a huge fan of cats. Cats tear things up. Cats don’t come when they are called. Cats sit on the book you are trying to read. They jump on your keyboard just before you save the document. Cats dive out from under the bed and tear your ankles to bloody shreds. They look at you like you are the pet. And cats are killers. Actually that last part I kind of like. We had a great outdoor cat once named Boots. He was a tough old tomcat that kept the mice away.

On a sunny afternoon I looked out the window and saw time stand still. Boots the cat was snoozing in the sun close to the front door. Creeping slowly towards the killer cat was the cutest, and stupidest, chipmunk. This rodent’s days were seriously coming to a close. Every step brought it closer to death. Did it think the cat was perhaps dead? Was it on some kind of chipmunk dare from the other little chippers? One of those “I dare you to creep close and pull the killer lion’s whiskers!”

What should I do? If I bang on the window the cat will awaken and the chipper is a sure goner.  If I do nothing the chipper might see the foolishness of his actions and dive into a hole somewhere. I didn’t bang on the window but the silly rodent didn’t turn away either. Chipper came within a few inches before the killer awoke. Death was quick and not very pretty.

While I couldn’t help the chipmunk, I can help people. And so can you. Evil prowls around the world devouring the least of these, orphans, girls, women… Human trafficking is a wicked roaring lion. What happened to a chipmunk isn't far off of what happens in human trafficking.  I Peter 5:8-9 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 

According to TrafficJam.org, over thirty million people are enslaved today. That's more than during all four centuries of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. More than any point in history, in fact. Human trafficking is the fastest growing criminal industry and is predicted to soon overtake drug trafficking. Over fifteen million children are enslaved today. Childhoods are stolen as kids are forced to be prostitutes, sex slaves, child soldiers and laborers, among many other degradations and exploitations.

We need to open our eyes, pray, have compassion, take action.

Anchored in Grace,

Harrison

Two resources I am familiar with:

http://www.trafficjam.org/ 

http://compassiontoact.org/ 

Thankful for FREE COFFEE!

“The coffee is on us this morning!”  Those were pleasant words to start the day. I was still half asleep and stepping into an early morning bible study with a group of good friends when the man behind the counter gave me that blessing. Free coffee is always good but to a man that loves, I mean loves, good strong hot coffee on a cold morning, those words were music! And I was thankful. Now the coffee isn’t something I need (sometimes J ) but it is something I really like. I was so thankful not just for the coffee but that this man behind the counter thought enough of me to give it to me freeee!

Another friend recently gave Sandy and me a delicious meal at a great Mexican restaurant. Just gave it to us. Free. I am thankful for the meal but very thankful for their friendship. Another friend recently gave me a copy of the new Gospel Transformation Bible. I had wanted one but it was out of reach for us at that time. And this friend just gave it me. Free. I am thankful for the new Bible but very thankful for the friend that thought enough to just give it to me.  What a huge blessing friends are! And what a huge blessing it is when such kindness abounds!

This week enters us into thanksgiving here in the United States. It’s a time set side to remember and cherish those blessings and friends. The greatest by far is the blessing given by Jesus Christ. He came that I might have life and have it the fullest (JN 10:10).  He came that I might be reconciled to God the Father (2 CO 5:18-19). He came to proclaim good news to the poor, liberty to the captives, restore sight to the blind and set at liberty those who are oppressed (Luke 4:16-21). Jesus came to show his love and kindness to those he called his own.

And it’s all free. At least free to me. I couldn’t have bought what Jesus has given freely. But like the coffee and meal and bible, someone paid for what they gave freely to me. In this case, all the blessings I have from Jesus were bought by him, paid for with his life, that I would have life… freely. I am so thankful for those immeasurable blessings from Jesus but far more thankful for Jesus himself. Amen.

Anchored in Jesus,
Harrison

Fixed on Jesus

He almost got caught!  The 10-year old boy was playing flag football for a local recreation league. He had the ball with nothing but the end zone in front of him! The problem was that he wasn’t looking at the end zone! This young man had his eyes fixed, I mean really fixed, on the one single opponent still in pursuit. There was nothing but fear in the player’s eyes as he stared over his right shoulder for forty yards. He ran like that all the way down the field. Although he scored, it was much closer than it should have been. The young player almost got caught by the very thing he feared and he came just inches from running out of bounds. Because his eyes were fixed on his fear instead of the prize, he almost lost it all.

What a picture of the way we often run the race of Christianity. There are so many things people fear. We fear sin, failure, death and being alone. We fear conflict, pain, poverty, success, speaking in front of crowds and little bugs. It’s very easy for us to fix our eyes on those fears.

When we fix our eyes on our fears, we are taking our eyes off of Jesus. That’s when we get caught. We get caught by our own fears, sometimes even paralyzed by the “what if’s” of the fear. And sometimes, just like that young football player, those fears run us out right of bounds. We think we are running a race with Jesus but since our attention is held captive by our fear, we aren’t running in the way or even in the direction Jesus has called us to run.

My friend, take your eyes off of your fears and fix them on Jesus Christ!

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrew 12:1-3, NIV)

Anchored in grace,

Harrison

Little things still leave a shadow

Little things still leave a shadow. 

As I was sitting in the sun recently, the smallest of Ladybugs circled around and landed on my knee. Now I really like ladybugs. Their design is beautiful and persistent. They have unique way of getting inside the house even when it is locked up, closed up, tight! But what I loved about this particular ladybug is that, as small as it was, it still threw a shadow.  It wasn’t a humongous shadow by the standards of an elephant or a giraffe but in the world of Ladybugs, this shadow was awesome! And what made it so awesome wasn’t that it was large or long but that this shadow was HER shadow. It was the one God had designed for this particular Ladybug.

I wonder if Ladybugs ever get “shadow envy”. I know people do. We become envious over the shadow or impact of others, frustrated and discouraged that our shadow and impact isn’t as grand or large as someone else’s. But here’s the thing – when you are walking with God, your shadow and impact is just as big as He has designed it. Hebrews 12 encourages you to run the race God has marked out for YOU. God has designed each person differently, each life differently and each race differently. Every shadow is different, unique, impressive... even a shadow the size of a Ladybug. Run your race. Throw your shadow. Enjoy the day!

Anchored in grace,
Harrison  

The Precipice of Cheap Law

What could a man say that would bring some to repentance and others to desire his death? John the Baptist did just that in Luke 3. There, John brings the law back from the precipice of a cheap substitute. Reminding Jews and Romans alike of the holiness of God and his law, he left them all in an unfamiliar place. The truth was so evident that they had to respond to a God they didn’t really know. Some saw their guilt and responded with teachable hearts – “what do we do next?” But some, like Herod, wanted him arrested. When we come face to face with God’s holiness, at least as much of that holiness as we can bear to see, we either fall in worship or we fight in vain or we flee, hoping that we can outrun justice.

What do you choose? Herod chose to fight and John was killed. John was killed because he worshiped Jesus. But before John was arrested, he saw Jesus coming his way. My friend, Jesus comes your way, not to cheapen law, but as the only one able to fulfill it and take your justice. Don’t run and don’t fight. Give in, believe, repent and worship. It probably won’t cost you your life but if it does, the price will be worth it all.

Anchored in Grace,

Harrison

Painful and Beautiful

Jeremiah 18:1-4, “The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ² “Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will let you hear my words.” ³ So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel. ⁴ And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.”

I watched a potter working with her clay recently. She had a lump of wet clay on a spinning wheel, her hands lightly surrounding the clay. As the wheel spun, her hands shaped the lump into a pot. It looked good to me but suddenly the potter smashed her creation. She did it all again, and again flattened the pot. This time she just flattened the top portion. As the wheel turned she continued to shape the clay into her idea of what it was supposed to be. She shaped it very well with just the right amount pressure exerted by her hands… the hands of a master potter.

It seemed painful and beautiful all at once. The potter knew better than the pot what she had designed it to be and was willing to inflict pressure to make it so. No doubt the pressure is painful but the result is beautiful, bringing glory to the potter rather than the pot. I think that most of us, given the opportunity would jump off of the potter’s wheel. The pain and process can be scary but here’s the good news. In the bible God is called faithful and true and love. We can be certain that the pressure the master puts on us lumps of clay will be from his heart of faithful love.

I don’t know what the week holds for you but I pray God will give you the faith and courage to stay on the wheel.

Grace for the journey,

Harrison