Archive for the 'Knowing Christ' Category

Cemetery Across from our field in North Lansing, NY

Carole and I did something over these past few weeks that we’ve been meaning to do for a long time—we redid our wills. Our daughter Sarah, concerned about our frequent travels, wanted us to have our affairs in order in case something happened to us. I had also seen first hand the importance of a “Power of Attorney” document when my Mom developed Alzheimer’s disease. We felt it would be wise stewardship to have all these things in place.

A couple of years ago I received a free copy of “Quicken Willmaker,” so I did our will on Willmaker and then made arrangements for all our documents to be reviewed, witnessed, and notarized by a local attorney. I’m writing this blog not to promote doing a will (although I think it is a wise and important thing to do) but because of the reaction we experienced at the attorney’s office.

First our attorney and then one of our witnesses expressed something akin to sympathy for us and certainly commiseration for the difficult thing we were doing in thinking about and talking about our deaths. Their reaction so surprised me that I did a poor job of expressing myself (not uncommon). I said something like, “If you know that you are going to heaven, death is not a fearful thing.” Thinking about and planning for our deaths had not been at all uncomfortable. Their reaction completely surprised us.

Afterwards, I thought about two Scripture passages. I thought of Philippians 1:21. For the believer, life or death is great. Of course, if Carole went to heaven before me, remaining behind would be unimaginably difficult. Yet, I can count on the sustaining grace of God in whatever trial may occur. I can rely upon God’s presence and the sure knowledge that He will do right by His child.

The other passage I thought of was Hebrews 2:14-15. It just seemed that for a brief moment in that attorney’s office the fear of death showed itself. Maybe I’m reading more into it than was there, but dealing with a will, a plan in case there was a death, pulled aside the curtain of illusion we use to hide the inevitable. We will all die. Some of us will die unexpectedly. I cannot confidently say that I will be on this earth next year. None of us can!  Even those who regularly deal with wills seemed uncomfortable by the underlying reality!

At Christmas, we celebrated once again the reminder that Jesus took on “flesh and blood” to become like us. He did so with the specific purpose of dying in our place and for us. Through Him, and Him alone, all my sin, past, present, and future, is forgiven.  By God’s grace He has granted me a place in heaven through the death and resurrection of His Son.  How good to know that there is One who has rendered powerless the one, Satan, who had the power of death! Jesus has delivered the believer from the fear of death. We have the unbelievable privilege of telling others how they too can escape the fear of death.

I’m thankful we had that experience in the attorney’s office at the beginning of the year. Having the right perspective on life and death is a good way to move through a year.

I just thought of another passage, 1 Corinthians 15:55-57.

I recently wrote about our visit to North Lansing (see picture above). If you would like to read more about North Lansing and see pictures of more than the cemetery, click on this link.

Stanley Community Church Stanley, Iowa

Philippians 2:5-8

I started thinking about these verses when I heard some of the news reports involving “Black Friday.” I heard the story of one woman who “pepper-sprayed” several others, in her rush to get a good deal. In other locations, several were trampled, many were arrested, and people pushed and shoved to get the bargains they wanted for Christmas.

How could the celebration of Christmas descend to such a low level? How could the spirit of today’s celebration of Christmas be so opposite to the spirit of the first Christmas? Such questions are above me but I do know that the tendency to grasp lies deep within the fabric of my soul.

The One who had every right to supreme glory let go of that right to come to earth. Surrendering true riches, not the sham substitutes that break within a few months, He became poor for our sake (2 Cor. 8:9). I am so glad that He was willing to take “the form of a bond-servant” for us. I am to obey by having that same attitude.

I am so thankful that I have the privilege of serving Village Missionaries that have followed His example. They have followed Jesus to country places, often far away from family and with little in the way of recognition. They have gone to little Bethlehem-like places where they tell people of the One who emptied Himself to come to earth but now is exalted above every name. Through their efforts, many have willingly bowed the knee to Jesus.

I am also thankful for those who willingly pray and even give to advance the cause of Christ in rural communities. You demonstrate that you are ones who do not “grasp” but “empty” in obedience to our Lord.

Thank you for praying! I know that you are praying that God will call many who will surrender the things they enjoy and follow their Master on the downward yet upward path. I know that you are praying that many more will open their hands to give so that others will learn of the Christ of Christmas.

May you have a truly blessed Christmas and New Year!

Colossians 1:25-27

He passed by our display, scarcely noticing the brochures, pens, and sticky notes. Stuart needed to get to class and besides, he knew after graduation he was going on to seminary. He ignored the inner voice that told him to pick up a brochure. He walked further toward class. Again, the whisper, “Pick up a brochure.”

Stuart began to take notice. He had learned to listen to this voice after he came to Christ. For several years, he knew that God wanted him to leave a high paying position, sell his home, and go to Bible school. It took longer for his wife Jennifer to surrender to God’s promptings and leave their beautiful home and neighborhood. Once they both agreed, God had provided and directed in amazing ways.

Their plan was to go on to seminary after graduation. He knew his direction, and even knew the seminary. However, the still, small voice continued its prompting to pick up a brochure. Having reached the classroom door, he finally turned around and went back to the display table. As he read our brochure, his soul burned within him. This was ministry as he had always envisioned it should be. He never realized that there was such a deep spiritual need in rural North America. A growing conviction stirred that God wanted he and his family to serve with Village Missions. When Jennifer read the brochure, the same fire stirred within her and they became convinced that God was leading them to Village Missions. They had never heard of us before Stuart read our brochure and saw our display.

I first heard this story as Jennifer and Stuart shared it at our candidate school chapel service this spring. God continued to confirm their call to Village Missions. I had the privilege of sending them their acceptance letter. Stuart will graduate in May 2011 and begin raising support. He has already been promised much of that support. We accepted five wonderful couples at this school. Each told their story of how God called them into the ministry of Village Missions.

I often worry about our recruiting. The burden of empty fields weighs upon me most heavily. I observe the slow decline of our numbers and wonder when it is going to reverse. Yet, the story of Stuart and Jennifer is a powerful reminder to us that God is still calling people into our ministry.

God seems to be powerfully at work. We are in a strong financial position. We have received several requests for help from churches. God is still dramatically calling couples into our ministry. It is most amazing, given the overall economic and spiritual climate within which we minister.

We hold no illusions that ministry during these days will be easy. The need for child abuse prevention (we are currently implementing this mission wide) and the horrible events that have occurred in our world should quickly disabuse us of that notion. Yet, Jesus Christ is still sovereignly building His church, and He is using Village Missions to do so. God appointed the Apostle Paul in the beginning of the church age and He will appoint Village Missionaries at what may be the end of the church age to proclaim Christ to the lost in rural communities.

The Camera I Used for Uploading

I started a long overdue project recently that has caused me to reflect on the passage of time.  I converted all of our family analog 8 mm videos to digital DVD’s.  Like most projects, this one turned out to be more involved than I expected.  First, our old video camera would not start no matter what I tried.  After a fruitless search on E-bay for a replacement camera (they were too expensive), I finally was able to borrow a really old and big camera from a friend.  At least his worked—sort of!  The camera would play the tapes for a while but then would stop.  That meant I would have to check the progress often and crop portions if there was a time of empty recording.  It took much longer than I expected to finish transferring all the tapes.

The tapes went back as far as 1992 when we received the camera as a gift.  Most of the tapes covered our time in Red Feather Lakes.  Each year I seemed to record the same events: several concerts and recitals, Thanksgiving, the day after Thanksgiving finding and cutting a Christmas tree in the woods, decorating the tree with me up on the extension ladder (we always cut about a 14 foot tree), birthdays, many school programs and graduations, and, occasionally, our vacations.

As I watched portions of the tapes being recorded, it was as if a portion of our life passed before me.  My kids were young and cute when the videos started (eight and four years old) and I had darker hair and more of it!  People and events I had forgotten came flooding back, often with a feeling of nostalgia for those long ago times.  I wisely remembered that a video only captures the highlights and not the “lowlights” that we tend to forget.

This intensive, video induced trip down memory lane has caused me to reflect on Ephesians 5:15-16.  I realize that although I can edit those videos (perhaps shorten them), I cannot edit my circumstances, my responses, my attitudes, or anything about the way I used my time in the past.  In a sense, I am a product of all that took place but none of it can be undone.  I can only resolve to improve my walk, my movement through life in the future.  This passage speaks of four ways that we can improve our movement through life in 2011.

First, we must move through 2011 with a careful walk. Paul commands us to “walk circumspectly” (vs. 15a).  This speaks of an accurate and exact assessment of our movement through life.  We must have alertness and exercise great care.  Often, I’m so wrapped up in the busyness of life that I live it without much assessment.  I’m about to have my annual physical, which is meant to be an accurate assessment with the idea of discovering any problems and making some corrections.  Suppose we conducted an annual spiritual, marriage, parental, emotional, and financial assessment—in short, a “whole-person” assessment and made some corrections!  Such an assessment would certainly be fulfilling the command of this verse.

Second, we must move through 2011 with a wise walk. Paul tells us we are to walk “not as fools, but as wise” (v. 15b).  For any believer and especially a Village Missionary, wisdom is putting Biblical truth into practice in our life.  The world’s wisdom surrounds us and constantly seeks to get inside like a termite trying to eat its way into our inner structure.  Worldly wisdom regarding our value, our identity, how we measure success, the response when persecuted, the importance of acclaim, the importance of money and security may affect our thinking as Village Missionaries and sabotage our ministry.  Would that Biblical wisdom govern every response to the unforeseen circumstances of 2011!

Third, we must move through 2011 with a profitable walk. Paul tells us we should be “redeeming the time” or in the NASB, “making the most of your time” (v. 16a).  This is literally “buying up or redeeming the opportunity.”  In the words of one commentator, we are to “purchase all that it offers.”  The word used for “time” is not hours and minutes but fixed periods or seasons.  Thus, a profitable walk is a strategic walk in which we use our time on earth to its greatest advantage for God’s Kingdom.  Today I regret missed opportunities in 2010 to share Christ with the lost.  Will I lose similar opportunity in 2011?  I regret I did not redeem more opportunities with my children in those years covered by the tapes.  Will I be strategic in this coming year?

A friend recently told me of a business opportunity he missed a few years ago.  The old story—if he had only invested such and such then it would have quadrupled its value now.  We possess unlimited spiritual capital but so often fail to do anything but keep it buried in the ground (cf. Mat. 25:14-30; Luke 19:12-27).  Perhaps not in 2011!

Finally, we must move through 2011 with a guarded walk. Paul warns us “the days are evil” (v. 16b).  The word “evil” speaks of “vicious, active wickedness.”  True of Paul’s day, it is equally true of our day.  How easy it is for us to fall!  How easy it is for us to begin a self-deluded journey that destines us for the self-destruction of our marriage, family, and ministry!  Perhaps we would not succumb to internet pornography but could easily succumb to the lust of pride.  Financial impropriety might never be a temptation to us but we might quickly subscribe to faithless discouragement.  We must be on guard in 2011, knowing that the enemy of our souls has enough ammunition within and without us to cause our harm if we are not alert.  “Be on the alert!” is a command that often rings out from the pages of Scripture.

We seem to take family videos very infrequently now, although our digital camera would allow us to do so.  The days of concerts, graduations, etc. are over for us until perhaps grandchildren come around.  Yet, whether captured on video or not, our days in 2011 are precious gifts that will pass all too quickly.  Let’s walk carefully, wisely, profitable, and guardedly in the year to come!

In the aftermath of the Gulf Oil spill, we have learned of corruption on almost every level.  It seems that BP cut corners to make a profit.  For example, its disaster plan was barely repackaged from a disaster plan for Alaska that spoke of saving walruses and seals.  Amazingly, the Gulf plan included rescuing walruses!  Evidence exists that basic safety practices were violated although they knew extremely high pressure existed within the well.  Pressure to make a profit and speed up production overcame the pressure that was ready to explode.

Government oversight was no better and perhaps much worse.  Former employees or even individuals who would be future employees of the oil companies oversaw the safety and procedures involved in drilling.  Apparently, they had little time to do so, as “work” involved computer pornography, sexual liaisons, and enjoying the many favors granted them by the oil companies.  Inspections on the oil rigs were mere cursory glances in which the oil company filled out the paperwork in pencil and afterwards the inspector went over the form in pen.  The corruption transcended both Republican and Democratic administrations.  Whistle blowers were routinely fired.  Where else is the government on the job in such a way?

The oil spill is one more witness to the moral collapse of our country.  For those who favor increased government regulation and involvement, the government appears incapable of extricating itself from corruption and extreme inefficiency bordering on paralysis.  For those who favor less government intrusion, companies appear more than willing to cheat, steal, and do whatever it takes to make a profit even if wholesale disaster follows in the wake.

When the moral fabric of a society tears apart, no segment of that society is immune.  Unfortunately, not even the church is immune.  We would have had a fantastic opportunity to proclaim the Gospel in today’s society if the church had been a beacon of integrity.  Instead, pastors such as Ted Haggard and materialistic Christian organizations designed to make their leaders rich are part of the downward slide to moral anarchy.

Although by far most Village Missionaries conduct themselves with integrity, and we have high standards within the administration, even some Village Missionaries fall far short.  Recently I had to dismiss a missionary for behavior that reflected the deepest depths of depravity.  Our three enemies, Satan, the world, and our flesh, gain great power and influence when all morality is in ruin.  None of us is immune or incapable of embracing depravity.

The answer must lie first in resolving to make integrity our priority, nurtured by an intimate walk with Jesus Christ.  At every candidate school, my final challenge to the candidates is a sermon from I Thessalonians 2:1-13.  Reread this passage to see how committed Paul was to integrity in the ministry.  Most of us, because of the nature of the Village Missions’ ministry, will have many opportunities to live out that integrity before people within our community.  We of all people must model integrity.

Second, we must renew our focus on winning people to Christ and discipling them to be committed followers.  Although some believers bear false witness to the Gospel by their corrupt lives, the Gospel is still true.  Jesus Christ does change lives and He does enable us to live lives of integrity.  He is the only answer in our collapsing world.

Finally, we must pray.  The oil spill is only one witness to the devastation a moral collapse causes.  We may indeed be approaching the end times and inevitable moral collapse before Jesus comes, but even so souls need to be won to Christ and Christians need to stand with integrity.  We have seen in Village Missions entire communities transformed by the power of the Gospel.  Pray that Christians in government, business, and in all walks of society might have lives that are testimonies of uprightness.  Pray that they will have the courage to speak and stand against the corruption.  And pray for Village Missions, that all of us might be powerful testimonies to the sufficiency of Jesus Christ to transform our lives and enable us to live lives of integrity.

I have read and reread 2 Corinthians as I have thought about how to handle the wounds, the blows, and the heartaches that often are associated with ministry.  If any letter provides a perspective that prevents ministry wounds from becoming life threatening or chronically debilitating to ministry, it is 2 Corinthians.  Paul, who is “loved less the more he loves” (2 Cor. 12:15), has a perspective that enables him to emerge victorious from the most hurtful of battles.  How can that be?

In my last blog I wrote that Paul understood that ministry would involve stress and frustration.  Satan battles for men’s souls (2 Cor. 2:11; 4:4) and the battle will often be intense.  In addition, Paul did not play it safe by being reserved in his emotions toward those who might hurt him.  Paul continued to love the Corinthians even as they often rejected his love.  He also ministered with integrity, never having to do battle with his conscience in addition to his enemies.

I believe, however, that the critical perspective that enabled Paul to be hurt without becoming devastated was his understanding of his identity in Christ. A key verse that summarizes what Paul expresses throughout the letter regarding his identity in Christ is 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.”

We overlook the full meaning of this verse if we think it simply means that someone changes when he or she comes to Christ.  The context (2 Cor. 5:12-16) makes clear that a radical change takes place in who we are and how we view ourselves.  I am a “new creature” whose entire orientation to Christ, to myself, and to others has changed.  I was out of Christ before but now I am “in Christ.”  Because I am in Christ, I have died with Him and now live with Him.  I live or should live, not for myself, but “for Him who died for them and rose again.”

How well we know this verse and how little we apply it!  Note how Paul understands the reality of being in Christ throughout this letter!  The sufferings he experiences are not his but are the “sufferings of Christ” (2 Cor. 1:5).  God “always leads us in triumph in Christ” and because we are in Christ He “through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place”  (2 Cor. 2:14).  Some react positively to that fragrance (aroma of life) and some negatively (aroma of death) but the reaction is to His fragrance not ours.

When Paul is “hard-pressed”, “perplexed”, “persecuted” “struck down”, Paul is not undone because as he moves from hardship to hardship he carries with him the “dying of Jesus” (2 Cor. 4:8-10).  The wrong done to Paul is wrong done to Jesus and is part of Christ’s suffering that extends beyond the cross. Paul responds to the wrong as one having been raised with Christ. The more he does so, the more the life of Jesus manifests itself in him. He does not “lose heart” because any dying he experiences is more than overcome by strengthening in the inner man (2 Cor. 4:16). Christ absorbs the blows of ministry, yet the “light-affliction” produces for us an “eternal weight of glory “(2 Cor.4:17).

Paul confronts those who are in error at the close of this letter. Either they will repent or he will have to deal with them during his third visit. But it will not be Paul but Christ who they will face.  He reminds them: “For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you” (2 Cor. 13:4).

Jesus does not want us to experience those blows, nor as new creatures should we, if we live in the reality of who He has made us to be. He is perfectly willing and able to continue dying and living His resurrection life in us and through us. Somehow, He is able to absorb all the hurtful blows involved in ministry and yet use them for our eternal glory. Knowing this and living this enabled Paul not to ever lose heart. Knowing this and living this will enable us never to lose heart.  We may be struck down but we will never be destroyed!

“If God were to ask you why He should let you into heaven, what would you tell Him?” I’ve asked that question to many people and received many different answers. In Senator Edward Kennedy’s letter to Pope Benedict XVI, we gather what might be Senator Kennedy’s answer to God.

Kennedy knows that he is dying and asks the Pope to pray for him. In this remarkable letter he appears to assess his life. Looking back on his career he writes,

I want you to know, your Holiness, that in my 50 years of elected office I have done my best to champion the rights of the poor and open doors of economic opportunity. I’ve worked to welcome the immigrant, to fight discrimination and expand access to health care and education. I’ve opposed the death penalty and fought to end war. Those are the issues that have motivated me and have been the focus of my work as a U.S. Senator.

Perhaps reflecting on less savory aspects of his private life, he speaks of the role faith has played in his life.

That gift of faith has sustained and nurtured and provided solace to me in the darkest hours. I know that I have been an imperfect human being, but with the help of my faith I have tried to right my past.

Mindful of the huge disconnect between Catholic teaching on abortion and his own support of abortion, his advocacy of health care apparently includes access to abortion but,

I believe in a conscience protection for Catholics in the health field and I’ll continue to advocate for it as my colleagues in the Senate and I work to develop an overall national health policy that guarantees health care for everyone.

At the close of his letter Kennedy assesses his life as a Roman Catholic. He writes,

I’ve always tried to be a faithful Catholic, Your Holiness. And though I have fallen short through human failings I’ve never failed to believe and respect the fundamental teachings of my faith.

I think it is fair to say that the Senator wanted more than prayers on his behalf. This is a man facing eternity, not sure of his eternal destiny, asking for help from the man he thinks is best able to help him. You can read the full text of his letter here and the text of the Pope’s reply here.

Such is the despair and uncertainty of anyone who thinks he or she must earn their way to heaven. Have I done enough? Has my good outweighed the bad? Does my second half of life outweigh my first half? And the unvoiced question on Kennedy’s part, but clearly between the lines of his letter, “Will my support of the murder of countless unborn children be overlooked in light of the other political good I have done?”

The message of the Bible is terribly discouraging to anyone in any religion who would seek to go to heaven by trying to live a good life. You can’t do it. You might as well try to jump across the Grand Canyon as to try to earn the favor of God.

Jesus once was asked to summarize the requirements of God. If we can meet these requirements, then we can earn passage to heaven. Jesus said,

37And He said to him, “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38“This is the great and foremost commandment. 39“The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ 40“On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” (NASB) Matthew 22:37-40

The Bible makes clear that none of us measures up to this distillation of God’s requirements. We can fool ourselves by ignoring them or by inventing a less rigorous God but any of our efforts at escaping their implication will not help us when we actually stand before God. Paul makes it clear in his great letter to the Romans:

9What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; 10as it is written, “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; 11THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; 12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.” (NASB) Romans 3:9-12

We chaff at this impossible requirement from God but it is actually a great act of mercy that enables anyone anywhere to be sure of an entrance into heaven. Romans 11:32 (NASB) reads, “For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.” It is mercy we need, not a forlorn hope that somehow our good behavior will outweigh our bad.

God makes known a wonderful and sure way to know forgiveness and heaven in His Word. It is a way that has nothing to do with our efforts and everything to do with His mercy and grace. It is the way that is wrapped up and solely sufficient in the person of Jesus Christ, who was punished for anything and everything that would keep us out of heaven on the cross. Read the clear promise of Scripture:

4But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together £with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (NASB) Ephesians 2:4-10

Only God knows whether Senator Kennedy had the faith that rests in the finished work of Christ on the cross as the basis of acceptance before God. Tragically, from his letter, it appears that he did not. How I pray that everyone who reads this would find grace and mercy in Jesus Christ and not cling to the inevitable failure of their own merit before God!

In the July 18, 2009 issue of World Magazine, Marvin Olasky reflects on the tragedy of South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford in an article entitled “Riptide.” The title especially caught my attention because over a year ago, while swimming in Florida, I was caught in a riptide and came close to drowning. In the article, Olasky refers to a riptide as an analogy to the “tide” that swept Gov. Sanford into adultery. He writes,

If it were just one clear, unmistakable line to be crossed, Sanford might not have ruined his marriage. But this gross sin, like all others, undoubtedly started in easy crossings of lines that seemed dotted rather than solid. Sometimes we don’t realize we’ve swum into a riptide until we’re pulled out to sea.

As one, however, who was caught in an actual riptide, the analogy has even more power.

For those who may not know, a riptide or rip current, is a strong channel of water flowing away from the shoreline, typically through the surf line. What did I learn from being caught in that “strong channel of water flowing away from the shoreline?”

First, I was overconfident in my ability to avoid danger. I grew up on Long Island and often swam in the ocean. Although the signs warned of a strong riptide, I thought I was an experienced ocean swimmer and could overcome any difficulty. My overconfidence led me to ignore the warning signs and overlook the danger. I soon was in big trouble. Further, I was not in as good a shape for swimming as I thought I was. I was much younger when I swam on Long Island! Much younger!

Pastors or any Christians for that matter are foolish to be overly confident in their ability to avoid serious sin. After mentioning a litany of things to which the Israelites succumbed, Paul warns in 1 Corinthians 10:12: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” Paul warns us in verse I Corinthians 10:14 to “flee from idolatry.” “Fleeing” is the response of someone who is not overconfident in his or her ability to withstand temptation. Paul warns Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:22 to “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

Many Christians and perhaps even pastors today seem to be living life as close to the precipice as they can. They justify their behavior in the name of Christian liberty and anti-legalism. But my swim in the riptide taught me how easy it was to be smug about my ability to avoid danger.

Second, I learned that a riptide is deceptive. From a distance, you can see the riptide. Reading the warning sign as we approached the beach, I glanced up and saw the area of murky water that indicated its presence. But once in the waves, I lost track of where it was. One dive under a large wave and suddenly its powerful current had me in its grip.

I don’t believe David ever thought about the potential consequences of his sin with Bathsheba. His reign, his testimony, his family would never be the same. He would experience a time of terrible spiritual drought (Psalm 32; Psalm 51). Having that stolen time with Bathsheba seemed so good, so desirable, so deserved for a king! As Gov. Sanford experiences the wreckage of his marriage, the devastation of his children, the ending of his political career, and the “great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme” will he think his sin was worth it? Hardly! Just like a riptide, sin can be deceptive in its ability to deceive and destroy.

Third, it is harder, much harder to get out of a rip tide then you think. Olasky quotes the standard rule for escaping a riptide. He writes,

The riptide analogy: “If you’re caught in one and try to swim directly toward shore, you’ll just tire yourself out fighting against the riptide’s power-and you might drown. But if you keep your head and rely on God’s providential limiting of the riptide’s breadth, you’ll know that by swimming parallel to shore you can escape the water’s pull and make it home safely.”

I suppose that is good advice and about the only thing you can do when caught in a riptide. But by the time I was in the riptide, I was already tired. I did not seem to be making any progress swimming parallel to the shore. Further, the riptide was taking me further out and I wasn’t sure I would have the strength to swim back from such a long distance away. I made the stupid decision to try to swim toward shore. Unless you’ve been there, you don’t realize how powerful the impetus is to do the wrong thing.

So it is with sin. David was even willing to commit murder to cover up his sin. He tried everything he could do to avoid its consequences, piling sin upon more sin. When we grieve the Holy Spirit, He withdraws the sense of His guiding presence. It’s amazing how spiritually stupid we can quickly become! Succumbing to sin, we can quickly set in motion a series of poor decisions that brings us close to the point of drowning.

Fourth, my family was completely unaware that I was in danger. Sarah and Caleb were initially nearby, but soon the riptide pulled me quite far away from them. Carole was watching from shore, but watching them and not me. None had any idea that I was in danger!

We can hide the spiritual danger we are in from those closest to us, especially if they are not on the lookout for that danger. We have a word for it-compartmentalize. We can live in a secret world of sin and function reasonably well as a husband, father, or even as a pastor. We had better give our family permission to ask us hard questions and account for unusual behavior.

Well, I’m writing this article, so I must have survived the riptide. It brings me to the final lesson I learned from a riptide in Florida. Always swim where there is a lifeguard present! As I tried to swim toward shore without making any progress, I noticed that the lifeguard was looking in my direction. In fact, he had left his perch and was standing at the edge of the water looking intently at me. I had a choice at that point. I could keep trying to swim in my own strength or I could call out for help. Realizing I was in danger and not wanting to reach a point of total exhaustion, I waved for help. Almost immediately, another lifeguard swam up to me wearing fins. He had stationed himself in the riptide for just such a foolish swimmer. He told me to grab his shoulder as he swam me to shore. I tell you, it was a good feeling to stand on dry land!

The best thing is to stay entirely away from the riptide of sin. It is also good to swim with a lifeguard present. A lifeguard is someone who will hold you accountable and will not be afraid to ask you hard questions. I was embarrassed that I needed help swimming in the ocean but I needed help nonetheless. The lifeguard asked the necessary but embarrassing question. I do my best to avoid the riptide of sin but I also have an accountability partner who can ask me tough questions.

I appreciate Olasky’s analogy of a riptide. I’ll leave it to others to speculate on the state of Sanford’s walk with the Lord and whether he is repentant or not. But from my own experience I know that a riptide is nothing to fool with and you can certainly get into deep trouble in a riptide of sin.

I don’t cry at weddings-guys just don’t do that sort of thing.  But as I sat with Carole in the Evergreen Community Church, a church served by Village Missions in beautiful Redland, Oregon, tears began to flow down my cheeks as I learned more of this remarkable couple who stood before the congregation to exchange vows. 

Consider, Travis, the groom.  Travis grew up in a godly Christian home, a farm family in eastern Washington.  In High School Travis became convinced that God was leading him to some type of vocational Christian ministry.  Acting upon that conviction, he applied and was accepted at Moody Bible Institute.  God soon directed him into pastoral ministry and then, more specifically, into rural ministry.

I met Travis when he was in his junior year and John James and I were representing Village Missions at the annual Missions Conference.  Travis was interested in learning more about Village Missions.  The chair of the Pastoral Department, Dr. John Koessler, highly recommended him.  We had just changed our policy about accepting single young men.  Believing that God was leading him to Village Missions, Travis applied and we accepted him.  We assigned him to serve an internship of one year with Village Missionaries Tony and Kathy Pinkham, serving in Kettle Falls, WA.

Consider now Jennifer, the bride.  She is the daughter of Village Missionaries Steve and Lisa Rief.  She felt from an early age that God wanted her to be the wife of a Village Missionary.  But where was he?  In High school she patiently waited upon God.  Each year at staff conference at Cannon Beach, as I addressed the teens and challenged them to become Village Missionaries, she would be one of the teen girls that would say, “But we have to have a husband that wants to be a Village Missionary!”

Jennifer attended Ecola Bible School and still she waited.  Even at Ecola, none of the guys wanted to be a pastor.  Feeling that being a pastor’s wife was what God called her to be, she waited.  There was even a rock on the beach and Jennifer would go there, sitting on the rock, reading her Bible and praying.  Jennifer’s rock was not the rock she sat upon but the Rock of her salvation.  She cast herself upon that Rock, believing that if He had called her to that role then He would provide for her.  Would He?

Tony and Kathy Pinkham arrived at Cannon Beach in June 2008 for what would be our last staff conference for at least some time.  Travis stayed behind in Kettle Falls.  But as Kathy renewed ties with the Rief family at staff conference, and specifically Jennifer, she thought of Travis.  She mentioned Travis to Jennifer and he soon began to e-mail her.  They continued e-mailing and then met in person last September.

Now this young couple was standing in front of the congregation entering into the marriage covenant, led in the ceremony by Jennifer’s dad, Steve.  Their kiss, after Steve pronounced them husband and wife, was their first kiss.  They had waited until that time.

It was a holy moment and tears ran down my cheeks.  Holy, because it was before the body of Christ, faithfully ministered to by Village Missionaries over the years, and specifically by Jennifer’s parents, Steve and Lisa, since 1995.  Holy, because godly parents had raised them both in homes where Christ was preeminent.  Holy, because both were obeying God’s call to serve as Village Missionaries.  Holy, because both had waited upon God with trust and perseverance.  Holy, because we in the congregation powerfully glimpsed how much God cares about our individual lives, how much He cares about His church, how much He cares about marriage as the picture of His church, and yes, how much He cares about calling young couples to the great task of keeping country churches alive.

His act of generosity and sacrifice so inspired the early church that they started to call him Barnabas, for the encouragement he had provided through his selfless gift.  Evidently, a wealthy man, he had taken sold some land and given the money to the Apostles. 

Later, in Acts 9:27, he would see the potential in a broken but redeemed man named Saul.  Through subsequent years, Barnabas would mentor Saul, who later would be called Paul.  It is hard to underestimate the impact of Paul, but much of it was owed to a wealthy man who took him under his wing.  The Bible describes Barnabas as a “good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith” (Acts 11:24).

I’ve just met some modern day men and women who are like Barnabas.  In fact, they belong to the Barnabas Group.  The tag line for the Barnabas Group is “where marketplace leaders meet ministry opportunity.”  It is a ministry that helps ministries.  From their website:

The Barnabas Group  was created to bring diverse value to ministries locally and globally.  We provide our members with ongoing opportunities to use their time, gifts, abilities, network and/or resources to support pre-screened Christian ministries.

I presented the ministry of Village Missions at the San Diego, Orange County, and Los Angeles Barnabas Groups recently.  Several other ministries, large and small, local and international presented their work.  No one entertained these men and women.  They were there to learn about our various ministries and come alongside the ministries to provide help.

Actually, it was an extraordinary thing for me to observe.  So often, we have to entertain Christians or provide some sort of “dog and pony show” to get Christians to attend a meeting.  However, these Christian men and women came to learn how they could in some way partner with a Christian ministry that needed their help.  I came away from the meetings not only blessed by their help but also blessed by the reality that they were there to help!  If you are a Christian businessperson or professional reading this, I encourage you to learn more by going to their website at http://www.barnabasgroup.org/.