Welcome!

For 5 years I was the pastor of Trinity International Church in Strasbourg, France. I created this blog with those people in mind. In mid-November 2018 I will become the Senior Pastor of Word of Life Church in Coon Rapids, Minnesota. The focus of this blog will therefore shift, but I pray that people from the blogosphere will continue to find it helpful wherever they might be found.
The churches' websites includes recorded sermons for those who are interested. Click the links below to access them.

Friday, April 28, 2017

Do You Notice?

We recently hosted a couple of good friends here for two weeks. I had no idea that the Lord was going to use them to teach me something profound: the importance of noticing things. It started after I picked them up at the airport in Frankfurt. We were driving through the countryside and he kept remarking about the farms that we passed. He mentioned how well-worked the soil was. He pointed out the sprouting potatoes and marvelled at the vineyards. "Amazing!" was his most popular phrase. I remembered that he had been raised on a farm and figured that he had an appreciation for the farm life and saw things that I didn't notice.

But it didn't stop there.

  • He studied the handrail heading up to our apartment and whistled. I thought, "He's the best carpenter I know. Maybe he sees something in that old wooden handrail that I don't see." 
  • The Cathedral took his breath away. That's common enough, but he studied the nooks and crannies of things. He marvelled at the effort it would take to build such a thing without power tools. "Amazing!"
  • Petite France was a maze of visual delights. He delighted in the construction methods and the cobblestones streets. But he also noticed the bird singing from a rooftop and grinned at the child eating an ice cream cone. "Amazing!"
  • Paris was an unending source of wonder. The Louvre, Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, the Seine were all astonishing to him. So were the buds on the apple tree we would have hurried past if he had not stopped to point them out. "These are amazing!"
  • The Gardens of Versailles took his breath away. They are truly overwhelming. It is hard to imagine someone not being at least a little bit awed by them. He certainly was. But he also noticed the gravel and would often stop to pick up a stone that would elicit a whistle of approval. "Even the stones are beautiful. Absolutely amazing!"
From morning until night he pointed out things that brought delight to his soul. It could be the color of ice cream, the wood grain of the floor, or a bee on a flower. He noticed things that others missed or simply took for granted. 

It wasn't just physical objects. It was people, too. He would quickly engage with people, whether at a restaurant, a subway train, or in a park. He wanted to know everything about them. They didn't seem to mind, even though initially they were startled by his inquisitiveness. 

After attending a service at TICOS he talked about the people that he had met and what a thrill it was for him to encounter believers from around the world. After our life group he exclaimed "What a great group of people! Amazing!"

One might be tempted to think that my friend had lived an unscarred life, but it isn't the case. In fact in recent years they have experienced the death of family members, including a perfectly healthy son who died while out for a run. He and his wife have walked through the valley of the shadow of death and its pain still weighs heavily upon them at times. It would be easy for him to allow those losses to infect his whole soul. And he is aware of the pain of grief, but while he has been walking through the valley he notices the bark of the trees, the taste of carrots, and the crispness of the air. These things come from the hand of God and he gives God thanks for them. His faith in God runs deep.

When we give thanks for the smallest of things we are reminded of the presence and provision of God. The "grey misties" of life are slowly transformed into brilliant color. The fog begins to lift and we are filled with the knowledge of God's closeness and care. 

This is why we are told to rejoice over 150 times in the Bible and why the word "thanks" is mentioned over 160 times. But how do we begin to rejoice or give thanks if we do not notice things? Doesn't observation come before exclamation? 

Lord, you have created the world and all that is in it. It bears the marks of your hand and is a sign of your provision. Open my eyes notice what you have done. May I delight in the smallest of gifts that you send my way. I want to open my senses to notice the things around me. Cause me to be filled with wonder at the things you have brought into my life. Help me to delight in You, the giver of every good gift. I ask this in the name of your greatest gift, Jesus, Amen.




Saturday, April 22, 2017

Novocain and the Life of the Spirit

I don't know anyone who likes going to the dentist. A regular exam or cleaning is not too bad, but then come cavities, crowns, root canals and the pain factor goes through the roof. In fact, it would be completely unbearable if it were not for the wonderful drug called novocain. A shot of novocain in the right place completely numbs the area. Given enough novocain, even things like root canals are almost pain-free. Of course, you cannot feel anything in the area. You can pinch you cheek and not feel it. Drinking a glass of water can become a challenge because of the novocain!

There is a different type of numbing that is all-too-common in the lives of believers today: it is the numbing effect of sin. Sin creates a separation from God (Isaiah 59:1-2). This separation affects our lives of prayer: God does not hear us. Our times of prayer become cold. It seems like we are talking to walls rather than to God.

The Holy Spirit is grieved. The sense of the presence of God is lost and we grope our way in the darkness. But we often keep walking. We are surrounded by believers and we continue to act in ways that are acceptable to the crowd we hang out with, but there is something lacking deep within us: the joy of the Lord. We are faking it. We go through life spiritually numb. And our spiritual weakness grows by the day.

We lack the blessing of God.

Perhaps no one knew this better than David. After sinning against God by committing both adultery and murder, David continued to go about his life as king. He thought that his sin did not matter. He thought that he had covered things up well and it would not affect him or his relationship with God. He was faking it (2 Samuel 11).

He later wrote about what was happening inside of him:

"For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer." 
(Psalm 32:3-4)

He was experiencing numbness in his spiritual life. There was no joy, even though he was king! He continued in this self-delusion until God sent a prophet to confront him. Only then did he repent and turn to God (2 Samuel 12). When he did turn to God and confess his sins in brokenness, the Lord forgave him and his relationship with God was restored (Psalm 32:5). He then boldly proclaimed that the blessing of the Lord is on those whose sins are forgiven and in whose spirit there is no deceit (Psalm 32:1-2).

So today, if you feel spiritually numb, if God feels far away, and you cannot sense his presence, then ask him to show you whether there is sin in your life. Be honest! Are there things in your life that are displeasing to him? Repent and receive forgiveness and the blessings of God will again flow into your life!

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.  
Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
which must be curbed with bit and bridle,
or it will not stay near you.
Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.  
Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
Psalm 32:8-11



Thursday, April 13, 2017

Thorns

It seems like there are two types of weeds: those that are easy to pull up and those that are difficult.
Some of the worst to deal with are those that are covered with thorns. Thistles and thorny weeds are painful to deal with and often the timid will simply leave them alone. The "clever" my choose to try to incorporate the weed into the garden itself. This is really cowardice rather than cleverness! The longer the weeds are left to grow the more they will take over a garden and the more difficult they will be do finally get rid of.
If the gospel is a seed planted in the garden of our lives, then it should produce an abundant harvest. This harvest is two things.
First, it is the fruit of the Spirit. The gospel should produce increasing amounts of love, joy, peace, etc. (Galatians 5:22-23). The fruit of the Spirit are the normal result of the gospel in the life of a believer.
Second, the fruit is effective ministry. We should be effective in the kingdom of God. There should be results that come, not so much from our own planning and effort, but from the river of life that is flowing through our lives (John 7:37-38).
If these fruits are not being produced in abundance, then something is wrong!


Jesus taught us that one of the most common reasons for a lack of fruit in our lives is the existence of weeds. And in particular, these weeds were thorns. They will be painful to get rid of! Could this be the reason that there is less than expected fruit in our lives and in the life of the church?

Just what are these thorny weeds? Jesus named three:


The Cares of this World.


Jesus, near the very beginning of his ministry, taught his disciples not to be anxious (Matthew 6:25-34). This is a fundamental teaching of the kingdom of God! The cares and worries of this world will smother the gospel in our lives causing a severely reduced harvest. Remember: this means that there will be less of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. We will be experiencing less than what our King desires us to have!

Jesus told us that we need to have faith and confidence in his love and care for us. God takes care of the birds...and he considers us much more valuable than birds! Our anxious thoughts and worried distractions are not helping our lives. They are choking them. The solution is a deeper relationship with God. Growing in our knowledge of Him, his character and his promises, will help us pull the weed of anxiety out of our lives. Jesus told us to seek his kingdom first. This is more than simply making church a priority. It means seeking his presence. If Jesus were sitting right next to you and promising to walk through the next days with you and meet your needs, would you be anxious? No. You would be excited and intensely interested in how he was going to do it.

Jesus is next to you. He is with you. And his has promised to provide for you. So rest confidently in his presence.

Isn't this what Paul discovered as well? Paul wrote that he had learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need (Philippians 4:11-13). In fact, he had already shared it with them. Philippians 4:4-9 contain key lessons that we would be wise to put to use in tearing the weed of the cares of this world out of our lives. At the center of this passage is the knowledge that "the Lord is at hand". He is here. He is present. Rejoice. Ask him for your daily bread (Matthew 6:11). Give thanks. Focus on the positive. Walk in obedience.


The Deceitfulness of Riches


We all hate to be lied to, don't we? One of the greatest and most destructive lies is the equation MONEY = HAPPINESS.

The lie is packaged in a million variations and presented everywhere we look. If we buy this thing or owned that thing or took a certain vacation then we would be happy. We dream of a full bank account (is it even possible to "fill" a bank account?). We think having a new (you fill in the blank) will make us happy. Some even spiritualise it by dreaming of being able to give lots of money to spread the gospel. We accept the lie that those with money are living the "blessed life" while we struggle. 
Jesus could not have made it any more clear: the love of money is a snare that will cause the downfall of many. He warned against focusing on material wealth (Luke 12:13-21). He told a wealthy man that he needed to sell of his possessions to enter the kingdom of God (Matthew 19:16-30). He specifically said that you cannot serve God and money (Matthew 6:24).

Paul wrote to Timothy about the importance with contentment. In fact, he told him that we should be content with food and clothing (1 Timothy 6:6-8) and that those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and into a snare. They are in danger of being destroyed (1 Timothy 6:9-10).

We must not exalt poverty. Nor must we exalt riches. We must exalt Jesus. 

There are some whose following of Christ will lead them to have jobs or businesses that produce large incomes. If you are in that category, great! The Lord has advice for you (1 Timothy 6:17-19). First, don't be proud. If you are a true disciple of Christ all you have done is obey him. The fact that you have been given material goods does not make you greater in the kingdom. In fact, there are those whose following of Christ has not led to riches who may have important lessons to teach you. So stay humble. Second, don't put your hope in riches. This is a huge danger for you and you will want to develop a habit of regularly laying down your riches before the Lord in prayer. Third, remain a servant of others. Remember that the Lord calls us to humbly serve one another. Look for ways to serve others. Spend time reading John 13:1-20. I know one wealthy person who has a bowl and towel in his office and his home as a reminder to humbly serve others in menial ways. Fourth, be generous and ready to share with others. It is likely that the whole reason you have been granted a large income is to be a means of helping others. Remember: all that you have is from God. You are a manager and not the owner of your wealth. We will all give an account to him for what he has entrusted us with. 

The Desire for Other Things


The greatest commandment is to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:29-30). We are called to whole-hearted devotion to Christ. He is to be the one that we are pursuing with all that we have and are. He alone is sufficient to fill the desires of the heart. He alone is capable of giving life meaning. He alone is knows how to touch the deepest places in our lives. He is to be our "glorious obsession."

Paul writes that he was concerned that believers be deceived by the enemy of our souls and led astray from "pure and sincere devotion to Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:3). This deception can take many forms. That's why Jesus warns against the "desire for other things" growing like a thorny weed in the garden of our lives. What is that that you desire? What is the focus of your yearning and desire? Is it the Lord...or something else. Have you been distracted by the enemy with his deceptive ways? Is there something that seems "good for food, delightful to the eyes, and could make you wise" that you have been allowing to grow in the garden of your life (Genesis 3:6)? Are you distracted by "the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:15-17)? If so, a thorny weed is choking the gospel in your life. You are not experiencing the fruit that God desires you to enjoy.


Is it time to weed the garden?