There was a carton I saw not too long ago. It was of a guy standing at the pearly gates before Saint Peter and Peter says to him, “You were a believer, yes, but you skipped the “not being a jerk part.”

We want to be engaged in our society, in a way that is civil and redemptive and is a blessing. But, here’s the point. No human system has the ability to change the human heart.

T.S. Elliot wrote, and I think this is deeply and profoundly true:

“The problem with the human race is we want a system of order so perfect we do not have to be good.”

But once there was a carpenter, a young rabbi named Jesus and he had this message. No one before or since had a message like this. Mark said it this way;

“Jesus went into Galilee proclaiming the good news of God. ‘The time has come’ Jesus said, ‘the Kingdom of God has drawn near. Repent and believe, trust him, give yourself to the good news, the Gospel of God.”

Jesus announced something brand new. Jesus was actually bringing up there, down here.

Where are you in the “up there down here” way of living. Has repentance and the good news reformed, renewed and recreated your heart.” It can happen. It can happen today!  How has it, and how is it happening for you?  I’d love to hear your comments.

Do you have an attitude of joyful obedience? I really don’t and must work very hard to work to improve on my attitude. This last week I traveled to SMU for a mentor orientation for a graduating pastor from Perkins Seminary. When I was graduating from TCU, Rev. Lee Roark was my mentor pastor and one of the things he told me was to step up when the opportunity arose, to help someone else through this process. I agreed to the three day workshop and the follow up sessions in Dallas over the next year. However, when they asked me write a paper, I was really offended and disgusted with the whole scenario. But I complied and took my bad and resistant attitude with me up to Dallas. There I was immediately hit with positive and loving support for Kingdom work, the church, and the graduate. For three days we had to defend, and question others. Our techniques were evaluated and discussed. Sounds threatening, and yes it was for a very short time. The rest of the time the work was very informative, supportive, and encouraging and really had fun moments. We shared and laughed a lot! At the end of our days we went over to Perkins Chapel and had worship and Holy Communion. It was a powerful moment, and you knew that God was in the room, and right there at your shoulder. I was so moved and so humbled. Wouldn’t it have been better if I had just trusted God, and left my really crummy attitude at the curb? Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus. So I do claim and pray…Lord Free me for Joyful Obedience.

I preached a series of messages a few years ago called “First and Ten.” It was a series that centered on the Ten Commandments. In my Bible reading time this past week, I took a new look at those commmandments and noticed something I had never really noticed before. Most of the commandments are pretty cut and dried, and need very little explanation, for example, most of us catch on to “Do not Kill,” fairly quickly. But in a more careful look at the commandments, you will notice that the one God gives the most attention to, the one He goes into the most detail explaining is the one on rest – God seems to be serious about this.

I have a hard time in this department, I figure if the Devil does not take a day off, I shouldn’t either. Until someone told me the Devil should not be my example. If I was going to be more like Jesus than I needed to follow his lead.

And, Jesus rested. This fact was made clear to me in reading a book by Max Lucado entitled, “And the Angels Were Silent.” He has a chapter in this book that challenges the reader to go to the scriptures and look at the last week that Jesus spent on the planet. He points out that you can find that Jesus did something every single day of the week … expect for Sunday… there is nothing in scripture saying that Jesus did work on the Sabbath. If the Son of God could find time to rest on the last week of Him being physically present on the planet.. then shouldnt we find the time as well?

There is a very familiar story in Scripture about Jesus getting on a boat and going to sleep. All of a sudden a storm develops and the disciples are terrified. I think we can over spiritualize this passage. I think jesus withdrew and slept, because he had been working hard and he was tired. He rested – just like God Himself did on the 7th day of creation. God modeled it – Jesus modeled it .. and we are to follow it.

Rest can be difficult.. especially for me. but I believe we can do much more for God… if we are renewed, revived, and refreshed on a regular basis.

What do you think?

For sure the reading has been easier! I am enjoying only reading a couple of chapters each day, short ones at that, compared to reading four or five long chapters. Good break for me during these busy days. But was life and faith easier in Ezra and Nehemiah’s day? I doubt it . . .

As I read their books, I read about a people who live in fear of other nations, people who have caved-in spiritually and let worldly ways integrate what used to be set-apart godly living. I read about the rich getting richer at the expense of the poor as well as at the expense of their own character. I read about a people who have forgotten their history and their God and have become self-focused and stingy. So, though the chapters are shorter, the challenge is not. And Ezra and Nehemiah might have felt right at home where you and I live. Do you see any similarities in our culture and theirs? Wayne

Church Work and the Work of the Church. I hear every day about the work of the church. How a Sunday School class is gathering together to feed a family that has just lost a loved one. Work of the Church. This Sunday was Confirmation Sunday and the screen was full of images of our 40 or Confirmands at the Confirmation retreat. In addition to those kids was also the many people from our church who there to support and encourage them on this important event and journey they are on. The work of the church. In a Sunday School class trying to determine how they may best help and support a family in need. The work of the church. In another Sunday School class hearing how a speaker had impacted them so much that as the class member shared with her eighth grader students the daily life struggles of children around the globe have, now these teenagers are stepping up to help because they want to support and be connected. The work of the church. Here in this silly picture you see part of Clement’s rat-rod. 1929 Ford he has restored. But we are at the Church of the Open Door out in Bellmead. I look up and there is Jim Baker from our church. He is out there passing out invitations to the car drivers to come to our Block Party here at FUMC in September. Jim is quietly putting an invitation in the front seat of each car. This is May and the Block Party is in September,  and Jim is out there doing the work of the church. What a blessing.

There is a story in the Bible that really exposes who are the fans and who are the true followers of Jesus Christ. In John chapter 6, there are about 15000 people in a crowd who have heard Jesus preach and have been fed miraculously in a mighty miracle. The next day Jesus has crossed to the other side of the lake and the crowd realizes they have missed breakfast so they rush around the lake to see what the latest miracle will me. But Jesus has shut down the miracle buffet. In verses 26-27, Jesus says to the crowd:

“I tell you the truth; you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but becasue you ate the loaves and had your fill.”

Jesus knows they are not follwing him because he is the way, the truth and the life, but because they want free food. Was it Jesus they wanted, or was it what Jesus could do for them? In verse 35, Jesus offers himself. He offers the greatest gift any of them could ever hope for.  Would it be enough?

“Then Jesus declares, I am the bread of life.” He tells them that he is the meal they are looking for, and they have to choose if he will satisfy or if they should look elsewhere. They looked elsewhere in one of the saddest verses in the Bible.  I’m not sure it’s a real surprise its in John 6:66.

“From this time on many disciples turned back and no longer followed him.” John 6:66

As the fans turned to go to the local fast food place, I notice that Jesus does not chase them down. He doesn’t change what he’s offering. He does not soften the message and pull out the ice cream so they’ll come back.  He does not soften his message.

When it comes to Jesus? Are we fans, or are we followers? We can take the fan/follower test by answering a few questions? These questions will help us know if we are a follower or just a fan.

Does repentance come before forgiveness?

Does surrender come before salvation?

Does brokeness come before happiness?

Does dying to ourselves come before living.

How you answer those questions will define whether you are a follower or not? Of if you or I just another fan looking for a free meal.

What is your response?

Have you seen the man praying on the I35 overpass bridge around Baylor?  I’ve lived in Waco 10 years now and have seen him numerous times, and often wondered what his story was.  A week ago I decided I would find out.  So when I found myself downtown with an extra 30 minutes before I had to pick up kids from school, I drove over to that overpass, and sure enough, there he was.  Dressed in a blue robe.  Holding two staffs.  So I prayed as I climbed up to see him . . .

Turns out, he’s a great guy and a Christian brother!  His name is Virgil.  I just kind of asked him, “So what’s your deal?”  How else do you break the ice on an overpass when a guy is holding two large sticks?!!  Virgil is called to pray for Waco and the world.  He ministers to the homeless, the addicted, and the abused.  He loves Jesus Christ . . . a lot!  It really did encourage me to talk with Virgil and pray with him (and you just can’t beat the view!).  Hey, take some time and meet this guy- you’ll be glad you did.

So, as I finished reading about the kings of Judah in 2 Chronicles today, I had to ask myself:  Who are my role models?  The way I read it, Judah was not wholly unlike the USA.  Judah had great spiritual roots, and was a mix of faithful people as well as worldly people, faithful leaders, as well as power mongers.  It was pretty easy to pick out favorites that perhps you didn’t know as well before.  I came away impressed by Jehoshaphat especially, this time through.  Who did you like and why?  More importantly, who is your role model today?  Perhaps most importantly, are you a role model?  If the whole country followed your example (as they often did with their king), what kind of place would we live in??  I think if more people were like Virgil, our country would be significantly better! wayne

Yes, I know I am a bit of a nutty Ranger fan. I will attend the baseball game if we have tickets. My children try not to be embarrassed by my keeping score during the games and doing the team and player tallies. But last week we got to go see the Rangers play the Yankees. We won’t discuss the way the team played or the score. What I want to share with you, is the attitude of gratitude that I got to see that night. The Rangers were “retiring” and “appreciating” Pudge Rodriguez a former catcher for the Rangers. A couple of short speeches by announcer Tom Greive and then a few words and humor with Nolan Ryan. Pudge and his family were there, and it was a blessing to see that he brought his family and parents to see this big event. Yes, he thanks the organization, the team, the playes, the fans, and the community who supported him along the way. However, Pudge said first and foremost, he had to Thank Jesus Christ, my personal Lord and Savior. Wow! Then here comes more great news, the crowd just really roared and cheered for that statement. We are at a sporting event and we are cheering for Jesus. In our day we are so slammed with cultural, sports, political, and celebrity people who show a poor picture of themselves and our society. How powerful to see someone in a very public area, step up in front of a major event and Praise God. I want to Thank Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior, and the crowd cheers. An Attitude of Gratitude. Thank you Jesus for letting me see that.

I’ve been reading my Daily Walk Bible and have had some time to focus on the Old Testament and what those amazing stories have to teach us. A few weeks ago I was reading in Deuteronomy chapter 9 and Israel was ready to engage in a battle in which they were outnumbered and there was every reason to believe they could not win the battle. The nation they were facing was greater, stronger, and much better prepared for the battle. TheIsraelites didn’t have an effective military strategy but they had something far better. They believed God was with them. The Lord had promised Israel that he would go before them like a devouring fire and destroy their opponent.

I wonder if it would build our faith, or maybe make us fearful, if we believed that God was engaged in the every day activities of our lives? If we believe that God had a plan and was working on our behalf? I believe God is active in that way, even when the tides appear to turn against us. He loves us, he is righteous, and he is with us. Even if we are facing insurmountable odds, God is with us.

In today’s culture, believing a promise can be difficult. Too often, people don’t follow through on thier word. The Israelites were not that different from us. They had doubts, they were often stubborn. God is constantly reminding them not to count their victory as their own, because at times, they too, were full of pride and self sufficiency.

Thankfully, God is not like us. He is faithful and just. What he has promised he will do, often in spite of us. After all was said and done, God redeemed Israel. Against great odds, he protectedd them and gave them the promised land just like he said he would.

What promises from God do you need to believe? What would change about you if you fully believed those promises?  What would you attempt that seemed to be against all the odds, if you “just believed” that God was going before you?

By a couple of days, anyway.  Went  to our Confirmation 2012 retreat with 38 6th graders and a bunch of great leaders- what a blast!  1 and 2 Chronicles talk much about David’s insistence on worship at the Temple (even though David never saw the actual Temple!).  David donated all of his personal wealth (amazing tallies of gold, silver and precious gifts).  He also commanded that the first paid “worship leaders” be employed and praise the Lord regularly (did you catch that?).  Finally David (and later Solomon) enabled and empowered the people to worship freely and with joy, with some of their mandatory celebrations lasting for weeks.  What a joy to be a citizen ruled by godly monarchs!

The reason Confirmation reminded me of Chronicles is because our 6th graders were so much fun to be around in worship.  You should have seen them singing, dancing and understanding “Oh, how He loves us so!”  Truly a blessing for me.  So, it was worth getting behind in the Daily Walk Bible a couple of days.  Somewhere this week I will most likely catch back up.  How about you- anyone out there running a few days behind??