Retreat Thoughts, day 1

I spent last week on a 5 day silent retreat at the Ignatius House in Atlanta.  It was a blessed time of silence and reflection and prayer and reading.  The great thing about a silent retreat is that there are no distractions--you're not constantly thinking about the other things you need to be doing.  You can be present in the moment and pray without urgency.  I did some reflecting there, and I'll be sharing some of those thoughts over the next few days.

It seems silly to do God's work for him, as though God were not able to do it well enough himself.  Imagine trying to take the baton from the symphony conductor or ripping your tax forms from an accountant's hand—the mere thought of it is enough to make us recoil, for while we might be able to do a decent imitation of their tasks, in no way would the outcome resemble the product we so deeply desire.  It would be a poor imitation at best, a mockery at its worst.

And yet, in the process of spiritual development, we so often do exactly that.  We tear the responsibility for spiritual growth away from the giver and gifter of faith, confidant that our own human efforts can bring the sown seed within us to life.  We are certain that we know best the places to assert our efforts, and we do just that, toiling under the unforgiving sun of perfection that shortens our tempers and dampens our enthusiasm until the best of our efforts have wilted beneath the withering heat.  Our own efforts are tested and found wanting, and we fall defeated, certain that our best efforts at spiritual growth are fruitless, certain that nothing will come of the desire for a deeper communion with God.

Our disappointment grows only because the labors were exerted in the wrong fashion.  Our understanding of spiritual growth is inverted, twisted and convoluted into something barely recognizable.  Were we to approach spiritual growth Biblically, understanding that spiritual growth is a process of the Holy Spirit that is performed on those willing to submit their lives to the yoke of Christ's Lordship, we would see our role not as primary mover but rather as grateful recipient, patient on the work of the master potter, trusting the love of the generous sustainer, anticipating the final product that the God of resurrection is bringing to life within us.  We are not the potter but the clay, and that does not diminish our value at all; rather, it elevates us, for if we were the potter our finite lives would limit and define us.  Since we are crafted in the image of God and made for his eternal kingdom, we are not defined by our finite limits but rather live expectantly, limited in our understanding of God's transcendence but certain that we are part of a much larger reality than what our feeble eyes can reveal to us.

And so we begin anew, setting down the pitcher of water that we have been so desperately trying to carry up the hill, only to discover a seemingly infinite number of impediments.  We begin anew, accepting that we cannot carry a full pitcher to the peak of the mountain, ready and willing to let God carry us, ready and willing to let God fill us, ready and willing to set aside the false god of singular achievement that we have pursued and worshiped.  We are not individuals that stand alone , defining ourselves by the existence we can carve out and defend from the chaotic milieu; rather, we are each radiant points in a tapestry woven by God, our lives interlocking with one another and dependent upon God to stitch them together and reveal to us where they lead and how they work within the Kingdom of God.  This may not all be clear in the moment, but when we pass through the shadow of death and see from another perspective, we will step back and recognize the brilliance of God who was with us every step of the way. 

Then, and only then, will we truly understand.  For now, we press our faces against the murky glass, catching a glimpse here and then of something wonderful, something magnificent, something marvelous, and we let our hearts pursue God and be pursued by Him, and in the midst of this dance we are transformed, that the light of Christ shines through us for all to see that we belong not to ourselves but to the one who has purchased us with a price.

Thanks be to God.

Sermon on Daniel 5 for July 14, 2014 (Biblical Lives: Daniel)

Click here to read Daniel 5 at Biblegateway.com

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I’m going to start by talking a bit about what I’ve been doing for the last week and why I’ve been doing it.  I spent the week at an Ignatian Retreat center in Atlanta for a 5 day silent retreat.  You may say that five days of silence sounds difficult.  It’s not easy, but it’s glorious--especially when you come from a house with a two year old.  Nothing about my house resembles silence. 

The reason I go isn’t just to get away from the noise and leave my wife and kids for a week.  The reason I go is because I’ve come to a conclusion about the state of Christianity in America, one that isn’t original to me.  I’ve realized that we spend a lot of time talking about prayer, talking about Jesus, but I worry that we don’t spend as much time in prayer, and I worry that we don’t set time aside to be falling deeper in love with God.  We want all the transformation and all the grace and all the good stuff God has to offer, but we don’t do a very good job of intentionally pursuing this life-changing relationship with God.  We like the benefits, but we don’t see them because we’re not willing to do the work of getting our lives in line with the will of Christ.  We like to talk about prayer more than we like to pray.

I’m just as guilty of this as anyone.  I’ve read a lot of books on prayer and spiritual disciplines.  I have many more still to read.  Ask Rachel about the stack of books on our bedroom floor that I told her I was hoping to read this year.  It’s still growing.  Sometimes, I pretend that reading books on prayer is the same as praying.  Think they are the same?  Then try this—tell someone that reading the owner’s manual on a Corvette is the same as actually driving it.

Now, there’s nothing wrong with reading a book on prayer.  But it’s far, far more important to actually pray.  It’s more important to sit down and make time to be with God.  Sometimes you need to find a quiet room and lock the door.  Sometimes you need to create your own space.
Whatever you have to do, pray.  If we want to know the will of God for our lives, we first need to attune our hearts and minds to him and his presence.  The more time we spend with the Lord, the deeper in love with him we fall.  We cannot help but be overwhelmed by the grace and love of God when we pray, for we recognize that he is light and good and mercy and truth, and we cannot help but be changed by an encounter with him.

It’s become vital for me to get away once or twice a year and set aside some serious time for evaluation.  Here I listen for the voice of God, to point out my sin and my straying, and to see where I need to grow.  Right now, God is telling me I’m spending too much time reading about praying and not enough time praying.  I think many of us are probably guilty of this—we read and talk about prayer, but aren’t spending enough time in prayer itself.

Now, I’m not going to say that our story from Daniel 5 is from a man who wasn’t that interested in prayer.  King Belshazzar, who has replaced King Nebuchadnezzar, his father, wasn’t that interested in anything other than himself.  He was prideful and believed himself to be the center of the universe. 

Last week we talked about how King Nebuchadnezzar came to faith towards the end of his life.  One thing he clearly didn’t do was pass this faith along to his child.  Nebuchadnezzar had a chance to influence the next generation, and he failed in this regard. 

So Belshazzar feels like he’s the center of the world, only God is about to remind him that it’s actually God who belongs in the middle of things.

Belshazzar decided during a feast that it would be fun to drink from the gold and silver cups that had been raided from the temple in Jerusalem.  These cups were crafted and dedicated to be used only for the glory of God, and here Belshazzar is profaning them by getting drunk and using them to praise his false gods.

God is not amused.

So a hand appears and starts writing on the wall. 

Sounds strange, doesn’t it?  I have a hard time thinking of something creepier.  The king was rightfully terrified.  I would probably be, too.  Four words are written, and no one, save Daniel, can interpret these words.

When Daniel is brought in, it is to be the bearer of bad news.  But Daniel starts by reminding them that it was God who gave his father his power and glory, and in response Nebuchadnezzar feared and honored God.  Daniel tells Belshazzar that his father chose to honor himself, and when he did all he had was taken from him, and it was only when he learned of God’s sovereignty that his power and clarity were restored to him.

Belshazzar knew all of this, we learn in verse 22.  He knows who gives kings their power, and he knows who can take that power away.  But Belshazzar has remained indignant, stubbornly choosing to believe in himself as Lord of all.  For this, he will be punished.

Daniel tells him that the writing on the wall consists of four words that mean that the king’s soul has been measured and found wanting, so he falls short of what it means to be a king and that ultimately, his kingdom will be divided. 

That very night, the king perished, and he lost everything, despite living as though such a thing could never happen.

What I’d like to suggest for us is this:  don’t live in fear of a magical hand appearing on a wall spelling out your doom.  If that’s what you take away from this passage, I’ve failed to do my job. 

I’d also like to suggest something else.  We have all been measured and found wanting.  We do not have what it takes to be a king.  Were it not for God who is rich in mercy and grace, this would be the end of the story.

But it’s not.

For Christ, who knows we are sinful, became sin to suffer the punishment so that we would not have to do so.  We who have fallen short have been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.  God wants to give you eternal life in his precious name.  God wants to restore you to joy and peace and honor and blessing. 

All we have to do is say yes.  Each and every day, let us wake up with a yes to Christ in our hearts and on our minds.  May that joyous yes to Christ emanate throughout our days, as we receive from him every good thing that he has promised. 

We don’t have to live like Belshazzar, our senses dulled as we believe we’re the center of the universe.  We can live like Christ, letting the glory of the Father fill our hearts and minds and souls.  We can have a life-giving relationship with the Father, but it’s going to take some work on our parts, some setting aside of time, some investing in a relationship with the Father.

So let us pray.  Now, and constantly…

Sermon on Daniel 4 for 7/7/13 (Biblical Lives: Daniel)

Click here to read Daniel 4


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Your heart races. Your palms sweat. Your vision blurs as you lose focus. You feel trapped, panicked as seconds drag into hours. You can't seem to find the words. You're lost, hopeless and despondent.

We all know this feeling. It's the one you get when you're at a restaurant with some friends or family. You're chatting casually, not paying much attention, and the server arrives and asks if you're ready to order. You laugh and begin to say something about not having looked at the menu, when suddenly someone else at the table orders. Then, miraculously, although you are certain no one else has even opened the menu, everyone else orders, too. You alone are left. Every eye in the restaurant turns to you as you quickly read through every option on the menu. You want to scrutinize each option, but you know that would take too much time. Everyone is waiting. You have to choose, but you want to choose properly, knowing that your choice will determine whether lunch is good or not.

We take our choices seriously because they have serious ramifications on our lives. Your choice at lunch may determine how you feel for the rest of the day. What you choose to wear may affect how others receive you. Choosing a car may determine how much time and money you spend at a mechanic. Choosing the right house in the right school district may have long-lasting effects.

Every day, we make countless choices. Many of these we make without even thinking. You probably choose what you ate for breakfast this morning without much thought, because it may well be the same thing you've eaten for breakfast for the past twenty years. You might not have thought about the path you chose to come to church, because it's so ingrained in your life. You might not have thought about what pew you sat in, because you sit in the same place. Or you may have thought carefully, not wanting to sit in someone else's usual spot.

Let's think about some bigger choices. What you wear doesn't have much effect on your character, but how you choose to spend your time can have a big effect on your life. If you choose to spend your time mindlessly, you'll miss out on chances to grow in faith. If you choose to spend time in prayer and time in God's Word, you'll be drawing nearer to God. If you make this choice day after day, your faithfulness will grow throughout your life. If you choose to make your life about you, taking all the credit and doing whatever it takes to get ahead, your character will be weak and others won't respect you. Eventually, you'll realize that all the success you sought after doesn't provide the happiness you craved. You'll soon realize that your choices led you to emptiness. If, however, you choose to serve others and invest in the people around you, helping to build strong community and putting a priority in the next generation, you'll recognize that you are being built up as a child of God and making a contribution that will last beyond your years here on earth.

You have a choice to make. Every day, our choices shape the kind of people we become.

Today, we're talking about Nebuchadnezzar. But first, we're going to talk about Psalm 1.

In Psalm 1, we're presented with a choice. The Psalmist details the two ways we can live. The first is the way of the wicked. The Psalm tells us that the way of the wicked will perish, being driven away by the wind, scattered to the corners of the earth. When the righteous gather to celebrate God for all of eternity, the wicked will not be there, because they will have passed away.

The righteous path, on the other hand, finds its delight in the law of the Lord. We're told that those who choose this path meditate on God's Word. They prosper in all they do and are like trees by a river—their roots go deep and are strong. The righteous are watched over by the Lord, and they shall celebrate in the congregation of the righteous.

Psalm 1 tells us there are two ways, and that we are free to choose which way we shall travel in our time here on earth. There is no middle way, no compromise, no half-commitment. You can choose the way of the righteous, or you can be scattered by the wind. You can choose.

Nebuchadnezzar was the king of Babylon, and he was a very, very successful king. In the dream he has in Daniel 4, his kingdom as portrayed as a tree in the center of the world, a strong and tall tree that is covered with leaves and heavy with fruit. Animals rest in the tree's shade, and birds make their nests in the branches. Every nation and earth subsists on the fruit of the tree.

Nebuchadnezzar's life is strong and powerful, and he is the center of the universe. He has every need met, and everyone has to come to him when they are in need. What more could a king want?

Well, there's a second half to the dream. This is the part where an angel of God commands the tree to be cut down and then casts the king out into the wilderness to live like an animal in order to teach the king that God is the one truly in control.

Nebuchadnezzar wasn't too fond of this dream. We're told that it was horrifying to him, and so he sent for Daniel, the interpreter of dreams. No one else but Daniel could sort this dream out, and so Daniel came to give the king the bad news.

Keep in mind that this is the same king who seems awfully fond of having limbs cut off of people he doesn't like. This isn't the sort of man to whom you want to be delivering bad news.

But Daniel has courage, and he gives the king the news. The dream is about Nebuchadnezzar, and if he doesn't turn from his sins and live right, having mercy on those who are mistreated, as it says in verse 27, then it will come true.

This is important: God gives Nebuchadnezzar time to correct his sins. God gives Nebuchadnezzar time to repent and prevent this judgment. Nebuchadnezzar is warned of what will happen if he doesn't.

God is extremely patient. God could have killed Nebuchadnezzar in an instant, giving no consideration to what might be good in him. God could have wiped him from the face of the earth as a notice to everyone else of how powerful God is. Nebuchadnezzar was treated like a god, and Nebuchadnezzar believed he was the center of the universe, but rather than quickly depose him, God chose to give him time.

He gave him a year. You'd think this dream would be unsettling enough to cause Nebuchadnezzar to change his ways. You'd think that if you had such a dream and a clear interpretation, you'd change your ways, too. If you were told that you'd lose everything and live in the woods like a wild animal if you didn't change, you'd make some different choices, too.

Nebuchadnezzar didn't change. Truth be told, we often don't change either, even when we know we need to. Old habits die hard.

A year after this prophetic warning, Nebuchadnezzar is walking on the roof of the palace and admiring the city of Babylon when he says to himself, just look at this wonderful capital city that I have built by my own power and for my own glory.

Nebuchadnezzar hasn't received the message. He thinks it's all about him. He thinks the purpose of life is to glorify himself. He thinks he is the center of the universe.

God, however, has a different idea. And so he sends Nebuchadnezzar out into the wilderness to live like an animal. Because Nebuchadnezzar continually chose to glorify himself, to place himself at the center of the universe, God humbled him. Because he wouldn't humble himself, God took everything from him. Nebuchadnezzar chose himself, rather than God, and there were ramifications to his choice. Choices have consequences, and we often have to suffer them. Here, Nebuchadnezzar, because of his failure to chose humility before God, has to live in the wilderness with the mind of an animal for seven years because of his choice.

At the end of those seven years, however, Nebuchadnezzar has another choice to make. Does he want to continue to live like an animal? Or does he want to acknowledge God as head and Lord of all? Does he want to make his life about him? Or does he want to give God his rightful place at the center of our lives, our hearts, our world? What will he choose?

We're told in Daniel 4:34 that Nebuchadnezzar chose to glorify God. He recognized that it is God's kingdom that will last forever. He sees how great and glorious God is, and he gives the glory to God, rather than choosing to keep it for himself. He knows that his own life will not last, but that God's reign will last forever. He chooses to acknowledge that God can shatter the power of anyone in the world, no matter how powerful. He recognizes God as Lord of all.

And so must we, if we want our life to speak wisely. Each and every day, we must choose to make our lives about God, to place him at the center of our choices. When we do business, when we interact with others, are we going to let God be at the center of that, or will we choose to profit ourselves, to trample our neighbors, to do whatever it takes to get ahead, forgetting that no matter how far ahead we get of others, God is still more powerful and will choose to humble us if we refuse to humble ourselves.

And so we focus on the importance of God, but we lose an opportunity to proclaim something about the majesty and grace of God if we stop here. In the first 4 chapters of Daniel, notice how passionately God pursues Nebuchadnezzar's heart. God refuses to give up on Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar throws Godly men into a furnace, only to have God reveal himself in the midst of the fire. Nebuchadnezzar has an earlier dream about the demise of his own kingdom, and while he recognizes God's wisdom and power then, he clearly forgets it and returns to his self-centered ways. Time and time again, Nebuchadnezzar is given the opportunity to center his life around God, and for a moment the proper words are in his mouth, but they are quickly forgotten, an exterior conversion that never takes hold of the heart, a re-arranging of the deck chairs on the Titanic that is never enough to save him from himself. Here in Daniel 4, Nebuchadnezzar is given a clear warning about his fate if he doesn't repent, and then he is given a year to amend his ways. But Nebuchadnezzar doesn't change. He refuses to acknowledge God as sovereign. He refuses to remove himself from the center of his universe. He clings to his own self-image.

So God drives him out. God takes him mind and his power and his place in society.

But God doesn't forget about him. God never abandons him. God doesn't leave him.

God pursues him. God chases him down, giving him one more chance after the last chance he had. God longs for Nebuchadnezzar to return to him, to acknowledge him as Lord of all, to let his life be centered around God. God pursues Nebuchadnezzar.

And God pursues you. No matter how lost you may feel, no matter how many last chances you feel like you've had, no matter how much you feel like you've resisted God. God still pursues you, and will continue to do so every day of your life. God wants your life here on earth to be centered around Christ, and he wants you to dwell forever in the glory of the Trinity, and he won't let you go. He'll pursue you in his great love, to the ends of the earth and beyond.

Let us pray

July 3 New Hope E-News

Announcements

Prayer Coordinator—There is a movement afoot in Chattanooga! Project 29:7 is trying to get churches signed up to be responsible for a day of prayer, meaning that the church would need to find 24 volunteers to cover a day in prayer. I have more details, but if you're interested in coordinating this project, please speak with me!

Wednesday Fun—A big thank you to Lynne Brock for organizing these!

Community Kitchen Spot

There are a lot of hungry and homeless children of God and the community needs some help feeding them. If you would like to help out, please bring the following items to church this Sunday & put them in the grocery cart.

ZIPLOCK SANDWICH BAGS

BROWN PAPER LUNCH BAGS

# 10 CANS VEGETABLES

COFFEE CREAMER

CEREAL

CANNED TUNA

NAPKINS

METAL FORKS / SPOONS

New Hope News

Sunday School—This Sunday, the adult class will study Jude, the 'most neglected book in the New Testament'

Building & Grounds—There will be a building & grounds meeting on July 10. Speak with Larrie Mansfield if you'd like to attend.

$.02/meal—Next collection will be July 21. Be sure to save your pennies!

VBS—Will be the week of July 15-18. Make your plans accordingly!

Pray For:

Lynn Meyer & Christine Dyer

The city of Prescott, AZ as it mourns the loss of 19 firefighters

Those struggling with the heat wave in the West

Egypt, Syria and other places caught up in chaos

Russell Mabry

John L. Wright – He is now in Sisken for rehab (he's in room 522 if you'd like to give him a call). Continue to lift he & Peggy up in your prayers. John L. is doing well and hoping to be home soon!

Links

Want to learn more about the crisis in Syria? Register for a free webinar on July 30.

An interview with Jimmy Carter

Jesus never moves on

“I just do what I do”

Ruth's Chris is open for business

Who spends the most time reading in the world?

Keith's Random Thoughts

The Taco Bell across the street is being renovated. They've gutted the building and completely demolished the exterior. Nothing but the core of the building has been left untouched.

Unfortunately, when they're finished, the food won't be any better. The heart of their business will remain the same.

Jesus talked about the same idea in a conversation with the Pharisees. In Luke 11, he told them that they clean the outside of the cup, but the inside is filled with wickedness and greed. In essence, their lives look fine from the outside, but their hearts are far from God.

When we become a Christian, we promise everything to God. We promise to let him be the sovereign Lord not only of our outside life, but also of our inner life. We pledge our actions and words and our thoughts, too. We ask the Holy Spirit to transform all of us.

If we only offer Christ our outer life, we've only done half the work of discipleship. If we go to church and don't pay attention, we're missing the point. If we serve others but despise them in our hearts, we're failing at offering him all of ourselves. If we act polite in public but privately lash out at others or hoard secret sins, we're not growing in faith.

Christianity is a tough religion. We are called to a narrow way of discipleship, to a demanding faithfulness. It indeed takes dying to ourselves each and every day, in the hopes that Christ's life will grow within us, taking hold of our hearts and minds and traveling outward, transforming our exterior life as well as the interior one.

I don't pretend that this is easy, nor would I claim to have mastered it. My heart is a cesspool of greed and envy and pride and laziness. I pray for renewal each and every day, hoping that Christ will transform me, little by little, into a new man, a faithful man, who can live his calling with integrity.

Without Christ renewing the inside, the work we do on the outside leaves us hollow. I don't want to be like Taco Bell—I want to consume the Bread of Life and lead others to it.

Text for this Sunday

Daniel 4

Daniel 4 is a pretty long chapter. I'm not going to be reading the entire chapter, just bits and pieces, but the sermon is based on the entire arc of the chapter. If you'd like to read it, http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel 4&version=CEV

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