Should We Observe Lent?
March 5 is Ash Wednesday this year, and you may see some people with ashes in the shape of a cross on their foreheads. This day and its practice kick off a season called “Lent,” during which many people will abstain from meat on Fridays, as well as something routine or habitual during their day, such as coffee, alcohol, dessert, television, social media, etc. Why do some observe Lent, and should we incorporate these practices?
What is God Doing In My Work Week?
Another Monday, another workweek. Some of us love our jobs, while others of us just try to survive the day and pay the bills. Either way, as we head into work, we each face a set of unique difficulties and struggles. We may yearn for one day when we retire, relax, and do what we want! But consider with me, why has God given us work? Is work a punishment? How can we make the most of our jobs?
Too Daunting: How Can I Do This?
We’ve all been there. The magnitude of a seemingly insurmountable task leaves us paralyzed at best and in wretched despair at worst. How can we push ourselves through unbearable effort to strive toward the unattainable? We may be staring hopelessly at the course toward financial recovery, the journey toward overcoming addiction, the long road of relationship reconciliation, the endurance of failing health, or the endeavor for holiness... or perhaps just the next work assignment. Maybe even the great commission and church growth. We have walked this journey with our children in a number of ways, and one in particular stands out...
Giving IS the Gospel
Whatever the trigger, there is a tendency to react with silence about giving, avoiding the discomfort of the subject and maintaining a muzzle on this unmentionable subject. But giving is not just a “gimme” tactic to fund the church, nor is it a minor side issue in Christianity. Giving is an area of discipleship with a very tangible, practical, touchable object that confronts us with the decision to both trust and follow Jesus. Even more so, giving is itself at the heart of the gospel, and therefore at the heart of our response to that gospel.
Do You Love Your Church?
Many of us who are married enjoy fond memories of first meeting our spouse, spending time together, growing to know each other more, and being knocked off our feet with the overwhelming sensation of a particularly new feeling: one of enjoyment, of happiness, of intrigue, of longing, and of excitement. At some point, we were faced with a decision: is he/she the one? And we pledged ourselves to that decision with the words “I will,” and “I do.” That’s where most of the Hollywood movies end. But those words are much more of a beginning! And with great purpose, our commitment is proclaimed “for better or for worse.” Now take that same depth of affection and same weight of commitment for a beloved spouse, and consider its place in your life for your church.
Grieving Forward
We received news yesterday of the loss of a beloved church member and dear sister in Christ. Many of us are well acquainted with the heartache of death and the ongoing struggle with grief. Yet, the pain is real, like an emotional punch in the gut that leaves us gasping for air. Death is a harsh reality that confronts without warning. We walk through a fresh season of loss, even as the throbbing from past losses still reverberates among us. We would escape the pain, but God would have us to endure seasons of pain and to know His presence. Rather than asking, “how can we overcome our grief?” let us instead take time to grieve and seek God’s comfort as we do.
These Ancient Words Speak Life Today
So how do we look into the Bible as into a mirror? How do we properly apply the Bible? How can we know what God would have us to do? How do we get from these ancient words to contemporary life? The key to mining the Bible’s treasures for application in our daily lives is to better understand the following areas: how to discern context, how to ask good questions, and how to grasp the full scope of application.
Communion “Resolutions”
Guilt. The recollection of failure and inadequacy. Recognizing that we fall far short. Shame from being plagued repeatedly by the same sin that we have previously resolved to forsake once-and-for-all. The feelings of defeat and despair. Desiring help… but not exposure. The opportunity to examine ourselves when we participate in the Lord’s Supper, or Communion, can be weighty and burdensome when our conscience indicts us and guilts sets in. What do we do with it? What can we do? Perhaps we deem ourselves unworthy, and abstain from participation as we let the bread and cup pass. Or perhaps we cast an apology to the Lord, and determine with greater resolution that this time, we will prevail. If we’re not careful, we can get caught in the trap of moralism, and miss the beauty of our Savior as we turn our attention to ourselves.
“Come and See”: An Invitation
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). These words of Jesus communicate both his heart and purpose in leaving the glory of His Father’s presence (John 17:5) and joining the likes of mankind (Philippians 2:6-8). Jesus was on mission: His Father’s mission, which He had owned for Himself. We are called to join in that mission, and we share that call with one another, God’s church, “the called-out ones.” I encourage everyone to invite others to join us for the month of December, as we ask an important question: Why did Jesus become man?
The Discipline of Gratitude
What is it in our human nature that struggles so hard with thankfulness? Why are our blessings so often on our periphery while our complaints and demands grab our full attention? We are reminded this week to take time to be thankful. It may, in fact, be the one time each year that a majority of our nation acknowledges reasons for thankfulness. However, a holiday instituted by our nation to direct attention to God has been edged out by a new “holiday” of sorts, in which we forget the blessings we just counted, instead storming the stores and flooding the websites with fresh material pursuits.