Pet Peeves

Ok, I'm going to get this off my chest! I am tired of the attitude that is prevalent in our technologically "advanced" world. The rudeness is driving me crazy! So here is what is bugging me.

Texting: I know that for some this is a great tool. But I'm tired of being in meetings where the participants feel like they have to reply to every text message they receive during the meeting. If I'm in charge of that meeting I want you to give your full attention to the task at hand. It's not multi-tasking. It's just plain rude!

Phones going off in church: If you can't shut your phone off for 60-75 minutes to allow God to talk to you, then you have a problem. Are you going to try to tell me that you can't focus on God for that period of time? Oh, and texting during church? Come on. If you are that bored, stay home! You are a distraction to others!

Taking calls when you are talking with others: Hey, I'll give you 100% of my focus when you and I are talking. What you have to say matters. Don't give me "I'm multi-tasking" when you interrupt our conversation to answer a call that could wait. What did you do before cell phones?

I know, I'm being too picky. But it bugs me. Anyone else?

A Christian Response to bin Laden's Death

No doubt you have seen the various responses to the news of Osama bin Laden's death. There has been a great deal of relief with the knowledge that this evil master mind has been eliminated from terrorist leadership. Some have celebrated openly. For many, justice has been brought to bear against the man who planned the 9/11 attacks that forever changed the lives of the families of those who died at the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania.

I do not question the raid which brought about bin Laden's demise. I have no strong feelings about his being killed versus being captured alive and brought to trial. I trust the members of Seal Team 6 who had to make split-second decisions in a genuine life and death situation. They are courageous individuals who serve us with little concern for personal safety.

My great concern is the open celebrations that have taken place in our nation. I remember the disgust I felt after 9/11 when I saw Muslims and others dancing in the streets of their countries. They were celebrating the deaths of the innocent.

I for one am glad that bin Laden is out of the picture. I'm not sure we are any more safe than before. No doubt others will rise up and take his place. We will continue to live in the reality that there are people in this world who want to destroy our nation and our way of life.

But I'm not sure celebrating is the right response. Lives were lost in this raid - lives that were committed to a false god. Those who died without Christ will spend eternity in hell. I know some of you might be thinking, "Well, he got what he deserved." That may be true. But if we all received what we deserve, would we be celebrating? Would others? I celebrate the fact that I don't get what I deserve thanks to the grace of God. If not for Jesus, I would spend eternity with bin Laden and others just like him.

Ok, so what's my point? We should be praying for the Muslim world. We should be praying for the terrorists who threaten to destroy us. We must ask the Holy Spirit to break through the brainwashing of Satan and speak truth to the hearts of men and women everywhere that they might come to repent and receive Christ. Osama bin Laden's death, though it brings us some form of relief, should sober us to the reality of the horrors of sin and the lost condition of men's souls. Pray for the lost. All of the lost. Not just the nice person across the street. Pray for the jihadist who is strapping a bomb to his body in an attempt to earn eternal life. Pray for those whose intent is to harm us. Pray that someone will speak truth - the truth of Jesus - that they may turn from their ways and embrace the One who will set them free!

Truth Wins

I typically don't attack other pastors publicly unless there is a real problem with regard to heresy. Rob Bell's latest book, "Love Wins," promotes a false gospel. Bell promotes the idea that hell does not mean eternal damnation and that sinners who die will get a second chance to wiggle their way into God's graces. Bell's argument is that a loving God would never send anyone to a place of eternal torment.

Ultimately, Bell is a universalist. His position is not even close to orthodox Christian faith. I will say that his teachings certainly draw a crowd (a church of about 10,000 in Grand Rapids, Michigan). But a crowd does not confirm that a person is right. What it may confirm is that those people like what they hear.

I'm not going to write a lengthy post in an attempt to refute Bell's heresy. The Bible makes it clear that all men are sinners and that the wage of sin is death, separation from God. That separation is eternal, just as the reward of the righteous is eternal life with God in heaven. Jesus spoke of hell often in the gospels. He indicated that it was a place of eternal torment from which no soul could escape. The only way to heaven is to embrace Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord in this life. This has been the teaching of orthodox Christianity for nearly two thousand years. And the reality of hell goes back to origins of biblical faith and historical Judaism. Bell's teaching is dangerous. It is heretical.

One final thought: God doesn't send anyone to hell. We choose (ah, free will) to either respond to God's grace by receiving or rejecting Jesus Christ. God is love, but He is also holy, just, and righteous. We must either embrace all of Him or none of Him.

Yes, love wins. But love only wins when it is founded on truth.

What Does Easter Mean?

This Sunday is Easter - the most significant day / event in Christendom. Christians all over the world will gather in churches to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. American churches in particular will be filled, many to overflowing, with crowds they won't see again until Christmas.

But what does Easter really mean? Yes, it's the resurrection of Jesus and we will reflect upon that historical event. But what does it mean? If people only come to church on Christmas and Easter, is there really any reason for them to even participate in the celebration? Does the resurrection have any true impact on a life that doesn't participate in the resurrection during the rest of the year? Is it an annual event or a living reality?

What does Easter mean to you?

Extremes

I've had a weekend of extremes. I went to see my father in PA on Friday and Saturday. It was sad to see the toll age and illness have taken on him. He was too weak to feed himself, and as I was feeding him, he said, "David, I never thought I'd get like this." He was so discouraged! We both cried as I left to come back home.

Then on Sunday, a family in the church asked me to dedicate their young son in a couple of months. He is a healthy little boy with his entire life in front of him.

The contrast was so stark. In just a matter of hours I went from feeling the pain of old age and hopelessness to the anticipation of a life. It was a real jolt as I dealt with my own emotions in all of it.

Appreciate the elderly and the infirm. Embrace the energy of new life. But hold both very carefully in your hands - they are precious!

Who's Got Your Back?

I preached on the topic, You Were Meant for Community from Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 last Sunday. One of the key points was "a real friend will fight to protect you or your reputation." Here's a quote from that section of the message: "The words of this verse were written based on the military strategy of the ancient world. Nearly all combat was hand-to-hand. Soldiers went into battle with a partner, someone that could be counted on and trusted implicitly. The soldiers stood back-to-back in battle, always keeping their backs in contact. They fought whatever enemy came from any side."

It's essential that we have friends who have our backs. No matter how badly you mess up or fall short, it's comforting to know that you have someone who will be your friend. A real friend is someone who when you've made a fool of yourself doesn't feel you've done a permanent job.

A long-term friend told me today that he'd really made a mess of his life and was having to deal with a number of painful results. I let him know that I'd be his friend - I'd have his back - no matter what. He needed to know that no matter his failure he wasn't rejected by everyone.

Do you have friends who "have your back" no matter what? We all need them. And we need to be that friend for others. Think it through...

Agony?

In the Greek language, the word agony has an interesting history. It was originally a term that was an alternative to another word (agon) for a place of assembly. It was later used to denote the contests or games that took place in those assembly areas. These contests usually involved great struggle. Eventually it was used to denote severe emotional strain and anguish.

Have you ever been at a place of agony? Perhaps you know what I am referring to...those places that we find ourselves in where we experience great strain or stress. We tend to agonize over significant things - the death of a loved one, financial pressure, health concerns, a wayward child, a career choice - you can name many more. Sometimes we agonize over things because of poor decisions we've made. At other times we agonize over things about which we have little or no control.

Question: Do we agonize over the same things that God agonizes about? Personal sin? Lost souls? The hurts of others? And then: Does our agony move us to action?

In the weeks that lead up to Easter, let us not forget the agony that Jesus felt in the Garden of Gethsemane. He agonized there for you and for me. That agony led Him to make the ultimate sacrifice. Let us embrace Jesus and allow Him to move in our hearts for all the right reasons.