What Good is January?

    January is about to begin… Augh!
    For a lot of people, it’s the worst month of the year. There is the cold, the snow, the darkness, the post holiday blues...and did I say anything about the cold?
    Honestly, I don’t mind January. I enjoy sitting by the fireplace with a book or my laptop. I have a teenage son who takes care of the snow. Life slows down after the holidays and deep winter is a good season for me to gear up for spring.
    But January is also a reflection and planning month for me. The name of the month comes from the Roman figure, Janus, who was a two-headed deity...one head looking back and the other looking forward. The Romans named the first month of their calendar January, because it is an effective thing to look back as you plan the year ahead.
    During the cold, bleak days of January, I lift my spirits looking back at the blessings of the year. I try to list them out in writing and thank God out loud for each. I include blessings related to family, friends, provision, realized goals, and lessons learned. I review pictures, read my journal, and share highlights with the rest of the family.
    I also look back to learn from failures. I try to examine where I went wrong, time I wasted, projects I didn’t finish, or relationships I did not cultivate.
    A friend of mine instituted a tradition in his family that they call, “highlights and low points.” Every year on their birthday, the kids share their lowest points of the year before, and then their highlights. They close off their time talking about the lessons they learned from both and the goals they want to set for the year ahead. He says that it teaches his kids to be always giving thanks, learning lessons and planning for the future.
    That’s what January is for me.
    But it’s also a time to move forward. January is the first month of the new year, and it’s a great time to re-examine long term goals (5 years) and set short term goals (1 year). And of course, goals are of no use if you don’t make a plan to realize them. So January is also my planning month, as I enumerate the steps I need to take in order to realize the goals I have set.
    I think it is by design that God gave us the seasons. It would be nice to live in a place like Maui, where the weather is paradise fifty-two weeks a year. But then we wouldn’t have the blessing of being forced inside to curl up by the fire to re-examine life.
    January doesn’t have to be a cold, dark, snowing depressing month. It could serve as the foundation for the rest of your year!

Don't Miss Christmas

     It was the day before Christmas Eve and she was trying to finish up some last minute shopping at the mall. The kids tugged her towards the line to make requests from Santa. After a 25 minute wait, they were finally able to sit on his lap and tell him their dream gifts for the year. Mom smiled knowingly, as she had already wrapped most of those items. On the way out of the mall, they passed an elderly woman who was gently ringing a red-handled silver bell standing beside the Salvation Army donation pot. The kids begged for a couple of coins to drop in but she quipped, “We’ve spent all the money we are going to spend today!” They walked through the parking lot and got into their SUV. On the way home, she pulled through the drive-thru and ordered enough McNuggets, burgers, fries and cokes for the family. Once she was back on the road, her cell phone rang. It was her husband letting her know that he was on his way home but he would be a little late. She told him that she had already stopped to pick up dinner and asked if he would run by the grocery store to get some things that she had forgotten for their family Christmas Eve meal.
     That evening, after tearing open their fast food meals and eating most of it, the kids begged to watch a DVD they had talked her into buying earlier that day. She sat down to wrap the gifts from the afternoon of shopping. The phone rang. It was someone from church they attended here and there reminding them of the candle-light Christmas Eve service they were having the next evening. She politely told them that Christmas Eve was a family night for them and with out-of-town family members coming as their guests, they wouldn’t be able to make it to church. The door-bell rang. It was a middle aged couple who were going door-to-door. A shelter in the city was running short on supplies and they explained how they were going to “nicer” neighborhoods asking for donations to make Christmas a little better for those who were hurting. The husband explained that he was already maxed out with charity between United Way at work and what he gave at church (he actually gave very little).
     The next day, their house filled up with parents, siblings and cousins. Soft holiday music played and the aroma of ham and sweet potatoes filled the air. When it came time for the gift exchange, there were bursts of laughter from adults and squeals of delight from kids. Once the family left, all the left-over food put away and the wrapping paper and excess packaging in the trash, the parents reminded their kids that Santa was coming in the night so they’d better get ready for bed. It was a rare evening in that the kids actually seemed happy to go to bed.
     The next morning, while they sat sipping coffee and smiling at the children, who were now playing with their prizes, the husband commented on how rewarding Christmas was this year. His wife smiled and nodded in agreement.
     Off on a distant shelf, a ceramic manger scene sat in the shadows.
     This is a story of how one family missed Christmas. But they weren’t alone. Those who actually understand what it is about, and celebrate accordingly, are in the minority.
     Don’t miss Christmas this year! Give it to Jesus!

(Reposted from December 11, 2009)

Peace On Earth? Here? Where?

    The world has been afraid that this was coming. When I was in Korea three years ago, it was interspersed as an impending dread in casual conversations. Now it has become a reality. North Korea, already possessors of nuclear weaponry, has now successfully sent a rocket into space, demonstrating it’s ability to send a nuclear payload to just about any part of the world. Several other countries have that capability, but none are as ill trusted as North Korea...not yet, anyway. Iran is on the way.
    International threats can cause a lot of anxiety and consternation. I was surprised by a survey of elementary school students released last year that their greatest fear outside of immediate family concerns, revolved around global threats.
    It’s always been that way. When I was a kid, we’d be given clear instructions in school about the location of the nearest nuclear shelters. A generation before me would practice regular “bomb drills” and the kids would race under their desks with sirens wailing outside. These fears go back to ancient times when children in the Roman Empire were taught that being bad would bring the wrath of Hannibal (Rome’s most formidable enemy) upon them.
    When Jesus came to the planet 2,000 years ago, the world was growing weary of promises for peace. The “pax Romana” (peace of Rome) was the promise of Rome, but that facade of peace was propped in place by brutal and bloodthirsty legions and caesars.
    It was in this context, and to a people long oppressed by ruthless foreign powers, that the angels appeared on a tranquil field in the quiet of night and announced that, “peace on earth,” was being made available through a baby being born just then.
    Yet here we are, in the midst of terrorism, hatred, threats of bombings, shootings, and even nuclear holocaust, about to celebrate the supposed anniversary of that announcement. Maybe like the author of, “I Heard The Bells,” you respond with a smirk, “Really? When?” 

“And in despair I bowed my head,

‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said;

For hate is strong and mocks the song

Of peace on earth goodwill to men.”

    The angels announcement to the shepherds that night was not a promise of immediate relief of this world’s dreaded monsters. But it was a promise to be fulfilled by the one who was born that night. Jesus made it clear that before there would be peace, war would be a reality. God has suffered long with sin and his mercy has held back his justice, for the sake of those who are yet to respond to his offer of salvation. But God’s justice, which was satisfied in the death of Jesus, will prevail and the peace that ensues will someday become a reality. That Christmas carol continues…

“Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

‘God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

With peace on earth, good will to men.’”

    Yes, North Korea has successfully launched a rocket into space. It’s true, entire nations of people hate us and everything about us. And yes, even in our own midst, sin often prevails and violence and injustice reign. But all of that is so very temporary. We have reason to rejoice this Christmas. For us, this is a celebration of the beginning of the end. Jesus came to defeat sin, to conquer death, to destroy violence...to provide for our eternal peace. And if you will receive him by faith, that peace starts now, in your heart and in your life.

What's So Exciting About Christmas?

    I have to admit, I loved Christmas as a kid…but for all the wrong reasons. Yes, excitement was in the air. I could feel the “Christmas magic” all the Hallmark Channel specials this time of the year talk about. But for me, it was based on the anticipation of “getting”. It shouldn’t have been, but that’s what it was for me. Every year we went to church and my parochial school put on a program where the focus was on Jesus’ birth. But I think most of us were just looking forward to getting home and unwrapping all the loot under the tree. By 5pm on Christmas Day, the excitement was over, some of the toys were broken, and I was already bored. So much for Christmas magic.
    Linda and I wanted a very different experience for our kids. Then again, when our kids were little, we didn’t have much to spend on Christmas gifts anyway. So we had a different focus. When the kids were young, Linda started a tradition for them we called, “The Blessing Tree”. She hung 23 sealed notes on the tree with instructions or “blessings”. Most of them instructed us to bless others in a specific way, such as, “Write an anonymous note to someone at church and tell them why they are appreciated,” and each of us would do it. Another was, “Pick out someone who is hurting and slip a $5 bill into their pocket.” Others were about treats: “We go to Culver’s tonight for ice cream!” Every night the kids would argue about whose turn it was to choose a blessing and open it, and then we did it together as a family. Since the kids have gotten older, we’ve gotten away from the tradition the last couple of years. But by popular demand, Linda is resurrecting it this year :-).
    We also have always tried to take on a project to focus on others this time of year. One year we wrapped gifts that were supplied by donors for needy families. For a couple of years we brought hats and gloves into the city to give to homeless people we could find. This year we are going to the city to give out McDonald’s gift cards.
    And of course, every year it’s a priority for us to go to church on Christmas Eve (whether or not we are in town). I’m amazed at the number of Christians who say things like, “Keep Christ in Christmas” but then stay home from church for some family gathering and spend the time talking to the kids about Santa.
    Believe me, I’m not against gift-giving on Christmas Eve, and we do that as a family. It’s just that we spend relatively little, and really try to use the season as a focus on Christ, and representing him to others. Think of the impact we could make if all Christians truly focused on Jesus during this holiday, rather than falling prey to the world’s trappings of false “magic” and fake excitement. If Jesus really was God who became a man and if that’s what we are celebrating this time of year, I’d say we ought to do so with reckless abandon. When we do that, there is no letdown after the holiday...no boredom on Christmas Day evening. It then becomes an excitement, a magic, if you please, that changes us and our kids for a lifetime. That’s a Christmas worth celebrating!

Is Santa Coming to Your House?

      With Thanksgiving behind us, Christmas is coming! Every year around this time I get questions from moms and dads asking for my opinion on Santa Claus: “Did you tell your kids there is a Santa?” Some are very adamant: “Santa Claus is a replacement of Jesus in this secularized society and just another way of spreading the materialism of this age.” Others see the fable as harmless delightful fantasy: “I believed in Santa when I was a kid and it didn’t hurt me! It’s just a fun way to give the kids a little magical spark during this wonderful season.”
      Have you ever thought that Santa can provide a springboard for reinforcing young minds with the true meaning of Christmas?
      You see, there was a real Santa Claus. From the time our children were very young, we taught them about the real man behind the legend. Hundreds of years ago there lived a man named Nicholas (later known as St. Nicholas) who inherited a great sum of wealth from his parents. He was born in 280 AD and his parents died when he was just a boy. Early in his life he devoted himself to God and the Lord’s service. He grew up to become a pastor in modern day Turkey, and he gave away all of his wealth to help the poor––especially children. When he was persecuted and imprisoned for his faith, he shared his meager provisions with the other inmates. He gained a reputation for giving both out of his abundance, and then out of his poverty. He believed that giving to the needy was the same as giving to Jesus. He was right. Jesus taught that himself (Matt. 25:40). His example of giving sparked in many, a tradition of giving to commemorate the birth of Jesus. St. Nick was a real person who left for us a wonderful example. But I think he would be horrified to know how he has come to be the exaggerated focus on materialism for many children at this time of the year.
      Linda and I have always taught our children about the real Santa Claus. We also emphasized to our children that lying is absolutely and always wrong. To us, our integrity is one of the most important gifts we can give our kids. We have an agreement: We will never lie to them; they are never to lie to us. I would have a hard time teaching them that if I maintained a story to be true for years while knowing that it was not. As a child, once I learned that the Santa story I had been told was only a fable, I began to wonder if the stories about Jesus were just fables as well. Though I believed in Santa Claus as a child, and my children have enjoyed pretending the legend but knowing its roots, I did not enjoy Christmas more than them. In our family, we try to emphasize giving to others, not getting from Santa. I think they enjoy it more because they get excited about the “giving projects” we take part in as a family. We really try to make Christ the centerpiece of His birthday celebration and this way we believe we are passing on to our children a heritage far more valuable than any fun that make-believe can provide.
      As parents, you have the obligation to do and teach your children what is right for your family. I trust you will pray about this issue and are sincere in how you believe the Lord is leading. His way is always the best way!
      In the meantime, please do your best to establish Christmas traditions in your family that will focus on Jesus and how His birth provided for us communion with God! Use this holiday season to lead your children in making Christ your first priority.

How to Quench Your Thirst for More

    I grew up hunting with my dad, who grew up hunting with his dad, and the tradition went back generations. So for Christmas when I was 12 I received my first real gun. I had already taken the hunter’s safety course, had lots of practice with BB guns and a pellet gun, as well as plenty of practice shooting times and lessons from my dad using his guns. But this was special. This was a real shot gun that I could use for duck and pheasant hunting, and it was all mine.

My dad bought it used and repaired and refurbished it himself. It was a single shot 16 gauge that was about fifty-years-old and it looked like a million bucks (I still have it today). It was one of those Christmas gifts that I couldn’t wait to tell my friends about. I called up one of my buddies who shared my passion for the outdoors, but before I could get it out, he told me about the brand new Remington 20 gauge pump 870 that he had opened the night before. I went from loving what I had, to feeling left out. I didn’t even bother telling my friend about my new gun. Just that quick, it wasn’t good enough.
    Let’s face it. Getting what we want is only fun for a while. As soon as we look around and see what we don’t have, and compare our stuff with those who have more, the enjoyment of things turns into a lust for more. The iPhone 4s isn’t all that cool anymore not with the new 5. The new car you bought last year that has now been replaced with whatever is the latest or most updated version no longer gives you that zing as you climb into it. The thirst for whatever is newer and better destroys our appreciation of what we have and sucks the enjoyment out of life. We get and get and get but it’s never enough.
    So what’s the antidote? It’s twofold: gratitude and generosity. Forcing ourselves to focus on what we have and verbalizing our gratitude to and for others breaks the power of greed. It also leads to generosity. And the very act of letting go of what we would rather stockpile (of course–in order to get more) changes our hearts and moves us to a new level of appreciation for how we’ve been blessed. Those who are truly generous and purposely grateful are not only happier than those who are greedy, they actually wind up being blessed in greater ways, materially and spiritually, mainly because they are not burdened by the never-ending craving for more. Together, gratitude and generosity breaks the power of greed, and produces genuine enjoyment of what we do have.
    So forget about what is newer and better and what others have that you do not. Sit down and list out what you do have. Spend a few minutes verbalizing your gratitude to God and then to the people in your life who are important to you. And figure out ways that you can share what you have for God’s work and other people. You just might find that the things that used to cause so much anxiety can actually become the blessing you once thought they could be. Be grateful and give. That’s a two-fold sure-fire way to joy.
    “Remember the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” – Acts 20:35

Giving to Get or Getting to Give?

    A couple of days ago, two guys walked into the Open Pantry on the corner of Pflaum and Stoughton Road in Madison, Wisconsin (a convenience store I’ve been in a few times). One man diverted the cashier’s attention by asking for directions, while the other slipped behind the counter and into a small office where he grabbed a pile of bills the woman had been counting. As the men were about to leave, she glanced into her office and saw the money was missing and began to demand that they give it back. Here’s a first, they did...and in fact gave back more than what they took. Perhaps afraid that he might be recognized, the perpetrator reached into his pocket and grabbed a wad of bills and threw it on the counter and the two of them fled. After calling the police, the cashier recounted the money and found the would-be thief had actually returned more money than what he had taken. The cashier insisted she had just counted the money before the two guys came in, and there was more after they left than before.
    I’ve learned that God does things the other way around. Proverbs 11:24 says, “One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.” I have found time and again that the more I give, the more I receive. And I know far too many people who give little, if at all, and are always complaining about their money problems. That verse works: withholding for self produces poverty, generosity brings blessing. The next verse in Proverbs 11 says, “A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25).
    It goes against our nature. We think that keeping what we have for ourselves is the way to build wealth. But God set things up in his kingdom very differently. You might try and stockpile lots for yourself or spend frivolously for your own pleasure, but that leads to more kinds of poverty than penury. I’ve never met a stingy person who was truly happy and or/fulfilled. And I’ve also never met a generous person who was not both. There is something about generosity that brings great blessing, in many more ways than just financial affluence.
    Whatever you have or however much you have, God has shared this with you for you to be a blessing. Are you using your resources to their fullest? Are you sufficiently supporting God’s kingdom work? Are you generous to those around you (I’m appalled at the way some Christians tip). Do you actively look for ways to be a blessing to others?
    Jesus sacrificed his whole life out of love for you. Are you sacrificing what you have for him and his work?

What Are You Known For?

    For what will you be remembered?
    Medieval Europeans often gave permanent names to high profile people who had built a reputation for themselves. Charles the Simple was the son of Louis the Stammerer. They called him this because of his policy of making concessions to Viking invaders rather than fighting. Then there was Louis the Sluggard, noted for his self-indulgence. He ruled from 986 to 987 over the Franks. Ethelred the Unready (968-1016) was so called because of his inability to repel the Danish invasion of England. At first he paid tribute to the Danes, but their raids continued and he was forced to abandon England for Normandy in 1013. Those who were more generous call him Ethelred the Ill-advised. And then there was Louis the Fat. Can you guess where he got his name? It was said to stick after he was unable to mount his horse at the age of 47.
    I wonder, what would I be called? Scott the short? Scott the long-winded preacher?
    We all have a reputation and people do talk about us, like it or not. What is that reputation? What do people say about you? What character traits stand out? Is it that of generosity? Kindness? Patience? Cheerfulness? Genuineness? Or is it selfish? Angry? Critical? Self-willed? When your name comes up in a conversation, what comes to mind?
    I’ve heard too many say, “I don’t care what people think.” My response is two-fold, 1) “Liar.” 2) “If you are a Christian, you should!” Because as followers of Jesus, what they think of us is a reflection on the one we represent. That’s why Paul said in Colossians 4:5, “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.” Maybe we should care more about what people think of our Lord. Our behavior, attitudes, choices and words are a reflection on him. We affect his reputation. He is known by the way we are known.
    So then, what is your reputation and how does that reflect on Jesus?
    “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” – Proverbs 22:1 NIV

Is Hurricane Sandy the Judgement of God?

    Should natural disasters be considered the judgement of God? There are some who argue, “Absolutely!” and others, “Of course not!” So which is it?
    It’s hard to deny that God used natural disasters in Scripture to get people’s attention, both in bringing judgement and in encouraging repentance. In Amos 4, Yahweh spoke to Israel through Amos and told them that he had sent hunger, famine, floods, storms and earthquakes to get them to return to him. Jesus said that in the end times, natural disasters would increase, and that they would be judgements from God.
    But we also learn in the Bible that some natural disasters are from Satan. Job was vexed by the devil’s use of nature. We also find in the Bible that some natural disasters just happened, as an outgrowth of a planet that has been degraded by sin. There is no indication as to who might be to blame for a lot of the weather and seismic related activities on earth.
    So what can we say about Sandy?
    When God made use of natural disasters in Scripture for the sake of judgement, he told them so. I think it was abundantly clear what was happening to those on the receiving end (i.e. the Egyptians). If God is going to do something like that as direct judgement, we wouldn’t have to wonder. I think the same could be said regarding prophesied end times judgements. Some say that natural disasters are increasing in frequency and intensity; others make a strong case for that not happening. The way these judgements are described both by Jesus in the Gospels and by John in Revelation, if we were experiencing the increase of natural disasters of the end times, I don’t think there would be any doubt.
    But God is sovereign and he intends to use everything for his glory, including hurricanes. And if we respond in ways that bring honor to him, even horrible disasters such as Sandy can turn out for our good. These things tend to, and ought to humble us. They remind us that we are very small and not in control. They ought to cause us to look outward and see the plight of others, reaching out and offering to help. They should bring humanity together, causing us to care for one another. But more important than anything, they ought to drive us to God. I think that was Amos’ lament in Amos 4:6-13. Though they were brought low with multiple disasters, they refused to return to their Creator and God. They continued in their sin and rebellion.
    I don’t know if Sandy is judgement from God or not. Maybe it depends on who you are. But I can tell you this, God wants this hurricane, as with everything else that happens, to be a force for good, to bring you closer to him, and others to know him.
    If nothing else, maybe this little reminder that life is fragile, as is everything in it, will be to our benefit. There is a much bigger world out there, beyond what we tend to think about. If Sandy blows away the clutter that is in the way of our relationship with God and other people, then that’s a good thing...judgement or not.

Is There a "Christian" Vote?

    This campaign season is getting old, isn’t it? Could you imagine if we lived in one of the swing states? Here in Illinois, the state is so overwhelmingly democratic that republican presidential candidates hardly have a chance. We see some commercials that are nationally televised, but not like places such as Ohio, Virginia, Florida, Iowa, or even Wisconsin. In some of the more contested counties of those states, campaign commercials are constant...and those communities just want it to be over.
    As Christians, what should our attitude about the political process be? Should we stay out of it altogether and leave it up to the world? Should we be hosting forums and debates, or maybe even endorsing candidates for office who best promote Christian values?
    Well, first of all, as a church, our mission is to connect people with God. Political involvement would only get in the way of that mission. While I have my own political views, I only share them publicly when Biblical imperatives and modern politics converge. I don’t focus on even those things during a political season as much as I merely teach on these subjects as they come up in the Scriptures we are studying. Here at The Bridge, it is our mission to connect anyone and everyone with God, regardless of their political persuasion. So I’d like to preach to democrats, republicans, libertarians, and independents indiscriminately. We are not going to limit ourselves to one political ideology when it comes to reaching out with the Gospel. Everyone needs Jesus, no matter who they are voting for.
    But as Christians, how should our understanding of Scripture guide us during election time?
    For starters, bear in mind that we do not live in a theocracy. This is not Old Testament Israel, and while most politicians, for the sake of votes, play lip-service to some kind of religious faith, we are not attempting to “vote into power” a representative of the Church. We are not voting to ordain elders, install a pastor, or even to make Jesus Lord over the country. We are voting to render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s. As followers of Jesus we would not expect those in this unbelieving world to mirror our beliefs and values.
    But should not our beliefs impact how we vote? Of course! Jesus has called us to be salt and light and we should work for the common good in our culture.
    So then, how do we do that when we vote? Of course I’m not going to tell you who to vote for...far from that. But I’d like to offer some help in how we can best represent Jesus in this fallen world in the act of voting.
    First, ask yourself what Biblical principles are at stake and what does the Bible say about these things. Be honest here. It’s easy for us to first identify the things that are important to us and then read into the Bible what we want it to say. With some of the issues at stake, there are apparent conflicting passages that could support either side of an argument. All Scripture needs to be considered in regards to any issue, not just "pet" passages that lend support to our opinions.
    For example, we can take from Jesus’ instructions to care for the poor and needy that government welfare spending should be a priority. But then we learn from 2 Thessalonians 3:10 that we should not feed those who are not willing to work. So what is the issue at stake, what does the Bible say about it, and does that even fit within what the Bible says the role of government should be? (Romans 13 indicates that the chief role of government is to protect the innocent from evil-doers).
    Once we understand what Biblical principles are at stake, from God’s perspective, what takes priority? I wrote about this a couple of weeks ago here. Just about everything being debated in the political arena is important on some level. But there are moral and religious freedom issues that ought to take precedent in the mind of Christians, as everything else tends to flow from those values.
    Something else to consider...are we wise in our political discourse? The Book of Proverbs teaches us that the difference between foolish people and wise people is that the foolish person is close-minded and you cannot tell him anything. The wise person is always listening and learning. Which are you? Do you have a blind loyalty to a political party or ideological persuasion and any discussion for you is simply aimed at convincing the person you are talking to? Is your mind so made up that you are unwilling to consider the other viewpoint?
    A good way to test this is by monitoring your attitude when in a discussion with someone who disagrees with you. Foolish people refuse to weigh the arguments of the other side (according to Proverbs). Foolish people will get angry and even spew judgmental and hateful comments against the candidate they oppose. Wise people will listen and are willing to admit it when their reasoning is questionable or even wrong. If nothing else, we as followers of Jesus ought to be taking the lead in civility, thoughtful discussion, and fair-minded debate.
    In a couple of weeks it will be over...for a couple of years––hahaha. As Christians, let’s strive to please and honor our God in everything. Let’s do that in the voting booth as well!

What Are You in Pursuit Of?

    An angel appears at a faculty meeting and tells the dean that in return for his unselfish and exemplary behavior, the Lord will reward him with his choice of infinite wealth, wisdom or beauty. Without hesitating, the dean selects infinite wisdom.
    “Done!” says the angel, and disappears in a cloud of smoke and a bolt of lightning. Now, all heads turn toward the dean, who sits surrounded by a faint halo of light. At length, one of his colleagues whispers, “Say something.”
    The dean looks at them and says, “I should have taken the money.”
    Interesting retell of the King Solomon story. While I got a good laugh out of it, it is so far from the truth and illustrative of the lies of Satan and the worldly wisdom he has inserted into our thinking. Of course we know that professor would take wisdom over wealth...that’s a given. But there is something in all of us that still says, “I’d rather be rich.”
    But here’s the thing, being handed riches produces nothing positive. Psychology researcher Dan Gilbert points to a study that says lottery winners have the same level of happiness a year after winning the lottery as do paraplegics a year after losing the use of their limbs. It doesn’t make sense. All of us would chose the lottery over a debilitating accident. Yet research shows that it makes no one any happier.
    I know what you are thinking...you’d love to prove the research wrong.
    Wisdom on the other hand, is the ability to squeeze the most out of life with what you’ve been given. It isn’t necessarily intelligence. Some very intelligent people are also very foolish. But it’s using all of God’s gifts, including your mental and emotional faculties, for the purpose they were given to you, and thereby making the most out of life.
    In Knowing God, theologian J. I. Packer put it this way, “Wisdom is the power to see and the inclination to choose the best and highest goal, together with the surest means of attaining it.”
    Are you pursuing wisdom above all else in life (Proverbs 2:1-15)? The wisdom of God, being able to see all of life from his perspective, enables you to squeeze every bit of value from life, and to enjoy all that God has for you. It impacts the immediate to the eternal. It far outweighs wealth, beauty, or anything else that is temporary. It’s the belt of truth that Paul said we are to be wrapped in. It is revealed in God’s Word and and is unleashed when we apply that Word to our lives, our circumstances, our relationships.
    What are you in pursuit of at this point in your life? Career? Family? Financial security? Friendships? If wisdom is not at the top of your list, may I suggest that you drop it all in favor of wisdom. Once you begin to see life from God’s perspective, any of those other pursuits either take care of themselves, or they lose their luster.
    “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight” (Proverbs 9:10 ESV).

Do You Know Where You Came From?

My wife is a flight attendant and one of the perks of her job is that she gets to see many parts of the world, albeit, in short periods of time. She will sometimes have an extended layover (24 hours or so) in an interesting place and have the chance to get in a little sightseeing. On some occasions, if I’m able to take the time off and if there are available seats on the plane, I will travel with her and take advantage of the flight and the free accommodations in whatever 4 star hotel they put her up in.
     This last Monday, Linda had a full day layover in New York City, staying at a hotel just across the street from and overlooking the 911 Memorial and the under-construction new World Trade Center. So I joined her.
     Neither of us had ever been to The Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island, so we elected to take the boat excursion to both. It just so happened that our daughter, Erica, had travelled to New York City with a friend that very day, so we met them on Ellis Island. It was a beautiful cool fall day, with the sun shining and trees in full color. But the real impact on me came from Ellis Island itself.
     I’ve known little of my family heritage past my grandparents. I knew that I came from immigrants from Germany on both sides of my family, but I didn’t even know who it was that immigrated. I remember my dad talking about his grandpa owning and operating a harness shop, but I didn’t remember whether that was in Germany or America. Then, a couple of weeks ago, my oldest son decided to try out the free month offered on ancestry.com and for just an hour, he did a little digging. He sent me a picture he found online of a man named Gabriel Ziegler, posing inside a shop that was filled with leather harnesses of all kinds. It was taken in Germany. He asked if the man might be family. Well, my dad’s middle name is Gabriel...I deduced that this was his grandpa. We learned then that my great grandpa, Gabriel Ziegler, closed his harness shop in the late 19th century, when he immigrated to the US through Ellis Island. He settled in southern Minnesota where he homesteaded a small farm and opened up a new harness shop.
  So once on Ellis Island, I went looking for him. Behind the great hall is a wall with many thousands of names etched in stainless steel, honoring those who registered their immigration on Ellis Island. And I found his name: my great grandpa, Gabriel H. Ziegler.
  I can’t say that it meant all that much to me, until we walked back into the great hall and registry room. The building has since been restored to what it had been when used for the millions of European immigrants who entered the country via New York. And looking at the photos from that time period, as well as seeing artifacts from many of these immigrants, I began to wonder what it was like for my ancestors who came here with very little, leaving all family behind with dreams of making a better life in this land of opportunity. I thanked God for giving Gabriel and others like him the courage to do what they did. We are the recipients of the risks taken and blessings passed on by those who blazed a trail before us.
  It has been said that a nation does not know where it is going unless it understands where it has been. And I think the same could be said for the Church. Getting a vivid picture of the sacrifices, passions, struggles and victories of the Church over the last 2,000 years will give us a better understanding of the mission before us. A great blessing of faith’s heritage has been passed on to us. Handing the baton off to the next generation, and doing so with continuity of mission and message will require a firm handle on our history. So let me encourage you, if you have not yet signed up for Junior’s Church history class to be taught on Monday evenings, sign up today. It will expand your appreciation for God’s work through the ages and increase your fervency for the future Church history yet to be written.

Does It Matter Who You Vote For?

    As a church, we are not involved politically. We believe that no church or religious organization should dictate to the government it’s policies and that the government is not to dictate to any church it’s activities. As a pastor, I do not speak out on topics that are solely political in nature, and I have never endorsed a candidate for office or encouraged people to vote for any candidate or in support of any political party.
    But there are issues of morality and Biblical truth that I have to address, in order to be faithful to the Scriptures. Sometimes, the responsibilities of the church and state converge. For example, a few weeks ago we focused on the problem of human trafficking in our weekend services. We believe this is a moral issue that needs to be addressed in the church and we encouraged our congregants to affect government officials to do something about this problem within their sphere of influence. It was the church that took the lead in addressing the moral issue of slavery in the nineteenth century. And there are areas within the political arena today that the Bible addresses, and therefore, we must talk about in the church and be the salt and light in our culture that Jesus has called us to be.
    Few political seasons have had such important Biblical and moral issues up for debate in the political arena. While I have my views regarding foreign and fiscal policy, and many of those views are derived from my understanding of Scripture (i.e. the immorality of unbridled debt, protection of Israel, handouts to those unwilling to work), I do not speak out publicly on these subjects. But there are two issues in the world of politics that I believe address the heart of our nation, issues that the Bible is clear on, and issues that God cares about. Because of that, every Christian should also care about these things.
    When it comes to fiscal policy, overspending, creation of jobs, taxation, and all the rest...these things do matter. I would never deny their importance. But the undergirding of any society has to do with life and death itself, the protection of religious freedom, and the sanctity of the family as the bedrock of society. These things matter far more in the long-range direction of a nation, then anything else addressed in the political arena today.
    For decades, these foundational pillars have been eroding in our society, but never under assault as they are currently. As one evangelical leader recently pointed out, never before has a classic party platform in the American system, adopted Romans chapter one as it’s party platform. But with a wanton desire to destroy the sanctity of marriage, redefining it to include what God calls an abomination, along with a wholesale disregard for human life in unlimited abortion, even to the moment of live delivery, now adopted as fundamental beliefs of a major political party. These are indicators of an inability to distinguish between good and evil. Since Romans 13 says that the purpose of government is to protect good people from evildoers, I have to wonder how politicians who cannot tell the difference between good and evil can do that. And the follow-up question is, how can followers of Jesus support, promote, or even endorse in a voting booth, a candidate who calls good, “evil” and evil, “good.” Regardless of one’s foreign policy or fiscal views, can we with consciences shaped by God’s Word, vote for candidates who are pro-abortion and endorsing gay marriage?
    I am one who believes that America’s greatness lies chiefly with the blessing of God. We were born in an attempt to find freedom for worship. We became a nation in the midst of a Christian revival. We were built upon the Protestant work ethic, derived from the Bible. With all of our flaws, we have fought for morality, for decency, and for freedom. God has blessed us as principles in his Word have been implemented, our Bill of Rights derived from them.
    But will God bless a wanton disregard of his revealed principles for life, freedom of worship, and family. As we fail to protect the most innocent among us from gruesome abortion practices, celebrate the immorality of unnatural unions (while closing down Christian adoption agencies that place children only with married heterosexual couples), and force religious organizations to violate their Biblically induced principles to follow abortion mandates by the state, will that blessing continue?
    Creating jobs is a big deal for whoever is in power this next time around. But in my mind, it does not compare to these major moral issues of our day. When it comes to these things, the Bible tells us what matters to God. Then we have to ask, what matters to you?

What Are You Missing Here?

    Russel Cornwell used to tell the story of a Persian named Ali Hafed. He was a wealthy farmer who had fertile lands with orchards, grain fields and gardens that yielded faithfully year after year. Hafed was a contented man, known throughout his region as having it all. Then a traveler from the east began to talk to him of the value of diamonds. He said, “If you owned a diamond the size of your thumb, you could purchase the whole county. If you owned a diamond mine, you could buy the thrones of nations for your children to rule from.”
    Though Ali Hafed had woken up that morning a rich man, he went to bed that night very poor. He went from satisfied and contented to craving diamonds and dreaming of finding and acquiring property that would produce them. So he sold his very fertile farm and used the money to travel the world in search of diamonds. After many years and having exhausted his resources, he never a achieved his dream, but committed suicide, destitute and depressed.
    Unbeknownst to him, the man who purchased his property one day spied a “rainbow sparkle” among the stones in the brook on the property. Upon close examination, he determined it was a diamond. With further investigation, he learned he was sitting on top of a giant store of large and precious diamonds. Every shovel of rocks from that stream contained diamonds. Every acre of that farm has since produced diamonds. That very property became known as the Diamond Mine of Golconda, the most magnificent diamond mine in the world.
    Had Mr. Hafed merely appreciated and fully investigated all that he had, he would have lived beyond his wildest dreams. Instead, he went looking for it elsewhere, it alluded him, and he lost all that he had at one time enjoyed.
    Every Christian is sitting atop a storehouse of precious and incredibly valuable resources. But far too many of us hear the whispers of far-away yearnings that cannot be satisfied, and leave behind God’s depository of worth in our lives. Blessing is not found by looking outside of what you’ve been given. That leads to internal poverty and disillusionment. Happiness is not gained by getting what you want, but by wanting what you’ve got. And if you are in Christ, you’ve got far more than anything that this world’s wealthiest people could ever have.
    Don’t leave behind the blessings God has given you. Just look a little closer at where he placed you, the people in your life, what is in your possession, and make the most of all that you’ve been given. You may be sitting on a diamond mine.
    Ephesians 1:3-14 – “[God] has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places… In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our [sins], according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us… In him we have obtained an inheritance…were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”

Making Good Decisions...Simplified

    I made a decision almost three decades ago that has taken the difficulty out of a lot of other decisions since. I decided to marry Linda. Since that decision, most of my other decisions in and around the house are pretty well taken care off. I only need to ask myself, what would be better for our marriage?
    So even though my desk is usually pretty cluttered at work, I’m neat, clean, and organized at home. Why? Because Linda doesn’t really care what my desk at work looks like, but she likes it neat and clean at home, so that’s how I like it as well. All week long, dozens of decisions are easy for me because I know what Linda likes and I want her to be happy. When I said, “I do,” that meant spending my life thinking about what she wants more than what I want. And she does the same. Not only has it made for a good marriage, it has simplified my decision-making process. I don’t have to stew over a lot of stuff at home. I made most of those decisions twenty-seven years ago when I made the decision to become Linda’s husband.
    It’s the same with my Christian life. I don’t fret over a lot of decisions I see many other Christians struggling with. I made most of those decisions when I was 17 and Jesus took charge of my life. So now I just ask, “What does Jesus think about this?” “What does the Bible say?” “What does God want?”
    I don’t have to stew over moral dilemmas. I know he doesn’t want me to lie, steal, badmouth others, or have sex outside of marriage, even if it seems like a unique situation and I think I’d be better off by doing those things. No, I already made the decision to do what God wants when I said, “Yes” to Jesus as Lord and Savior. Not that I’m never tempted to do wrong. I’m tempted just like everybody, and I fail sometimes. But I don’t have to fret, “Oh, what should I do?” I know what to do. Whatever God has said or whatever would be pleasing to Him. Those decisions were made when I became a follower of Jesus thirty-four years ago.
    I know, we face a lot of other dilemmas that are not addressed in Scripture. But you know what, it’s not those things that get us into trouble. If you take care of the obvious. If you do what God wants where ii’s addressed in Scripture, the more obscure quandaries take care of themselves. And in those secondary matters, if you do the right things in the primary matters, you’ll be fine even if you make some mistakes in the secondary matters. Wisdom in life starts by living it in light of what is pleasing to the Lord.
    Maybe you are having so much trouble with making decisions because you were not serious about the most important ones. Get serious about what you said in your vows and your marriage will get easier. Ask yourself if Jesus is really Lord of your life...are you really living to please Him? Once you get that taken care of, the right-wrong “what should I do?” questions get settled. When you stop justifying and excusing and just do what you know God wants, the rest of life starts to make sense.
    That’s what Proverbs 16:3-4 says, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. The Lord works out everything to its proper end” (NIV11).

Pimped-Out

    There are times in your life when you come across a need that appears to be so overwhelming, so deep, so devastating, and so pervasive, that you would rather turn a blind eye to it and ignore the enormity of the problem altogether. Sometimes an issue can appear so massive that our meager efforts seem pointless, like aiming a squirt gun at a forest fire.
    27,000,000 slaves being trafficked worldwide. Are my efforts really going to do any good?
    25,000 girls in the Chicago area, under the age of 16, sold as sex slaves by their pimps multiple times every night. Some of these girls are as young as 10 years old. The average starting age for a prostitute in Chicago is 12.
    When it’s a 132 billion dollar industry, second only to illicit drug sales (but gaining rapidly), and when there are so few arrests and prosecutions to impede it’s growth, what could possibly stem the tide? Me? Can I really do anything?
    Yes, you can. One life, one girl at a time.
    William Wilberforce thought that way. Slavery worldwide was at it’s apex and his homeland’s economic system was built on it’s success. But it was morally evil and he could not hold back from speaking out. Despite tons of criticism, much of it from other leaders in his church’s denomination, he poured his life into changing the mindsets of average people, and thereby affecting British law. It was due to Wilberforce’s efforts, which flowed from his commitment to serving Jesus, that led to the end of slavery in the British Empire in the 18th century, and also through his influence in America, that brought it down in the civilized world a generation later.
    But that was then.
    Today, more people are bought and sold than during the height of the African slave trade.
    But yes, there are some things we can do.
    First, we can stop turning a blind eye to it. We can change our perspective on those caught in prostitution, understanding that most of them were sold into it at a very young age and know little of life beyond it. We can see them for who they are, victims of the malicious manipulations of evil people. We can view the pimps differently. They are portrayed in too many movies and TV shows as harmless, often humorous, business people who are out a little over the legal edge. They are not. They are slave masters who use physical violence, drugs, and a multitude of other psychopathic means to control young girls for their own enrichment and the girls’ destruction. I can no longer use the popular idiom, "pimped-out".
    We can turn our legislatures on to the problem. A big hurdle the law enforcement community faces is the legal code, which protects the johns and the pimps, while labeling the victims as perpetrators. One reason human trafficking is increasing so dramatically is because it is so difficult to catch and prosecute with any real deterrent factor, those who are the root cause of the problem, the pimps and the johns. If everyone who is disgusted with this crime were to write state and federal representatives, laws would change and prosecutions would begin to make a difference.
    And we can support ministries that are devoted to helping those caught in the trafficking web to restart their lives with purpose, meaning and hope. We have one such ministry office right down the street from our church. These ministries, such as STOP-IT and PROMISE, need our daily prayer support, financial support, and eager volunteers. You may be able to do all three. I’m sure you can do at least one.
    So it is an enormous problem. But there are also some things we can do. I believe this is possibly the scourge for our generation to do something about. And that starts in our church this weekend. I trust you will be there.

God Has Double Vision

    What to do with this huge block of stone? It took months to cut it out and move it from the quarry to it’s current resting place. Now after two of the finest sculptures in the world attempted to make it look like something meaningful, they gave up. It was now thought to be flawed, useless, and an eyesore in the public square. It sat that way, unused, unfinished, unsightly, for nearly a hundred years.
    Then a young man, still a virtual nobody in the art world, saw something that others were unable to see, and believed in something that others had given up on. So at 26 years old, young Michelangelo set out to reinvigorate the massive project of turning this huge megaton block of stone into a breathtaking 17 foot statue of David, still recognized today by some as the greatest sculpture ever created.
    Michelangelo said this, "In every block of marble I see a statue as plain as though it stood before me, shaped and perfect in attitude and action. I have only to hew away the rough walls that imprison the lovely apparition to reveal it to the other eyes as mine see it."
    God sees you in a way that no one else is able, including yourself.
    I like to put it this way, "God has double vision."
    Yes, he sees you where you are. He knows what you are struggling with. He feels your pain, and is fully aware of the damage others have done to you. And he also knows all about your sin, and the self-created havoc that is weighing you down.
    But he sees far more than that. He looks beyond what appears to be an unused, unfinished, maybe even sometimes unsightly partially carved block of rock. He sees beyond all that to what he created you to be. He envisions you for what can be...and will be...if you let him take the hammer and chisel...let him shape you into HIS image. His dreams for you are better than your own. He envisions you to be what he, your designer and creator, intends you to be!
    All of us are flawed. We’ve all suffered wounds and sometimes feel like damaged goods. And the longer we remain in this state, the more settled we become in our view of self. But it didn’t matter to Michelangelo how long the block of marble sat in its unfinished and damaged condition. He saw the David that was inside. As soon as the public officials gave permission, as he said, “I set him free.”
    And that’s what God wants to do for you. Let him set you free! The hammer and chisel may be a bit painful for a time. But the end result is a masterpiece, a you that no one, including you, dreamed you could be.
    But God did. He has been seeing you that way all along. Let him set you free!

You've Got a Deadline

    Deadlines are important. Having been in ministry for nearly thirty years, working with volunteers and overseeing staff, and being a dad now for 25 years, I’ve learned that some people need deadlines to get things done. If I say, “Please have it done by 3p on Friday,” they have something to shoot for and they get it done. But with the same people, if I say, “Please get this done right away,” without a specific time or day, it often gets put off indefinitely. Deadlines can serve as a target and some people describe them as freeing, because they know they have to do something by a certain time, and when that time is over, there is a sense of finality. It feels good to meet a deadline and once you meet it, it’s done.
    But not all deadlines can be planned precisely. I used to tell my kids to make sure the kitchen was clean “before mom gets home.” Sometimes, she’d get home and they would be busily in the middle of filling the dishwasher, wiping the counters, and emptying the garbage. She arrived sooner than they thought and when the garage door began to open, they dashed into the kitchen to meet their deadline. They didn’t.
    There is one really big deadline for all of us that is like that. People put off preparing for it because it seems like it is way off in the distance. They figure they will have plenty of warning. After telling a story, Jesus said in Matthew 24:44, “This is why you also must be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
    That sounds a bit like the deadline I used to give my kids. I didn’t tell them when Linda was going to be home (sometimes I didn’t know). I just told them to make sure the kitchen was clean before that. The deadline was her arrival. Not knowing when would make it a good idea to do it right away.
    And that was Jesus’ point. We do not know when we will meet him, whether in death or in his second coming. But that day is coming. It is rare that anyone expects death when it arrives. No matter how long we live, or even how ill a person has been, death always appears before we thought it would and our lives are over in a flash. James said that life was like a vapor, that it may appear to be in full force yet with a simple gust of wind, it vanishes suddenly.
    Our lives are like that. You may feel as though you will live forever, but you won’t. Your life will end sooner than you think and more suddenly than you will have time to prepare for. So stop vegging in front of the TV and get into the kitchen and get it clean! Look at Hebrews 9:27, “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” The day you stand before God is quickly coming. Thousands before you, in just the last year, have read warnings just like this, just like you are doing now, and have since stepped into eternity.
    So...are you ready? Is there anything else more important for you to be prepared for? Anything? You will spend eternity somewhere, and that somewhere is determined in this lifetime. So get it settled! Settle it before he comes back, or before you go to meet him! Settle it before the deadline!
    Being ready for that ultimate deadline is as simple as understanding why Jesus came, why he was crucified and believing that he rose again from the dead. By repenting of your sin (sincerely being sorry and desiring to change) and believing in Jesus as Lord and Master, that he died on the cross to provide you with forgiveness, and believing that he rose again, if you simply ask him to save you, he will. He said he would. So if this hasn’t truly happened in your heart and life, then take care of that today. Call on him as your God, Master and Savior, and ask him to forgive you, to save you. He will.
    “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved... For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” – Romans 10:9-13 HCSB

Human Trafficking...Here?

    It’s hard for me to believe this is still going on.
    I’m writing this during a break while attending a conference in Chicago on human trafficking and forced labor/sex slavery in Cook County. I knew it was happening in other parts of the world, and I’d heard that it is here in the states, but I’m shocked as to the degree of the problem right here in our backyard. It’s quite an eye-opening experience to hear an African American speak passionately about the problem of slavery world-wide declaring that there are more people enslaved against their will today, internationally, than at any time during the mass slave trade of the 16th-19th centuries. That’s quite a statement.
    I assumed this was largely an international issue...a problem in places like Thailand and eastern Europe and the third world. And it is a problem around the world.
    But human trafficking is huge right here in Cook County….a lot of it to service people who live in the suburbs. And most of it is domestic, involving American kids held captive for prostitution and the like. This is happening under our noses.
    There are those girls promised lucrative employment in the US and given passage into the country, only to find themselves held captive in a dark cellar for months, before permitted to “go to work” in a strip club or on a street corner. Some are stashed away in a sweat shop, forced to work 14 hour days, 7 days a week, for no pay. They don’t speak the language and come from such a dramatically different culture that they are reticent to escape even when afforded the opportunity. But many others are young American teenage and even preteen girls from broken homes and very difficult family situations who are wooed, raped, drugged and beaten, until they are put out on the street to make money for their pimp.
    We’ve all heard things on the news here and there. With the movie, “Taken,” a couple of years ago, human sex trafficking became a topic of conversation in a lot of circles. But is this something we should be talking about in church? Isn’t this something that should be left to politicians and law enforcement officials?
    I’m glad William Wilberforce and William Lloyd Garrison didn’t think so. If it were not for the efforts of these Christian leaders and the church then, the legal African slave trade of 200 years ago may still be going on. God’s people have always taken seriously our call to defend the defenseless and protect the vulnerable and the innocent. There are children in extreme jeopardy who desperately need our attention.
    On the weekend of September 15-16, The Bridge will be focusing on the problem of Human Trafficking in our weekend services as an example for our series on Spiritual Warfare (“Armor”). We will have the special agent overseeing human trafficking for Homeland Security in Cook County, with us that day, as well as the National Directory of “Promise,” a ministry of The Salvation Army that assists victims of sex trafficking after they are rescued. I really hope you are with us that weekend and I really hope you get the word out into the community to come and join us to learn what we can do about this major problem in our day.
    After all, Paul said that we are in a spiritual war. Ultimately, I believe these battles are fought in the spiritual arena. The rest of the world may apply bandages and splints, but the only permanent solution to the horrendous social issues of our day are produced when victories are won against “the spiritual forces” of “this present darkness” (Ephesians 6:12). People are being destroyed because the schemes of the evil one are accomplished almost uncontested.
    But we are The Church. And Jesus said, “...the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” September 15-16 at The Bridge is about planning our attack on those gates.

Is God Stirring Your Nest?

    Last Saturday, Linda and I, along with Erica and Brock, made the short trip to Starved Rock on the Illinois River. Besides a lot of Indian legends and French explorer/trader stories, the place is known for its habitat of Bald Eagles. They nest in the high trees atop rocky cliffs along the river. There is something inspirational about seeing eagles in the wild. Seeing them on top of their nests is an extra thrill.
    But while I’ve seen eagles’ nests in the wild from below, I’ve never seen one from above, except for those that had been preserved and relocated to a display case, as in the visitor center at the state park. From below, the nest looks gnarly and prickly, with jagged chunks of sharp sticks and rocks poking through. It makes you wonder now comfortable it possibly could be. But that’s from below. From above, looking inside the nest, it looks altogether different. The mother eagle lines the inside with feathers and soft fur from animals it had preyed upon, so when the young eaglets hatch, they have a comfortable warm bed to snuggle into, sleep, eat and grow.
    But as the young eagles begin to mature, the mother starts to “stir the nest.” With her talons and beak, she pulls at the fur and feathers, letting some of the sticks poke through. As the weeks go by, she does this more and more, making the nest uncomfortable for the eaglets, so that along with her increased prodding, when the time is right, they get uncomfortable enough that they eventually leave the nest to a new freedom that they could otherwise have never experienced.
    I heard someone say almost ten years ago, “Comfort is the enemy of growth,” and I adopted it as a saying of mine to help others in difficult situations. I, as you, like to be comfortable. Sometimes it takes God’s poking and prodding, stirring the nest in my surroundings, to get me to move out from what I’m familiar with in order to experience greater things he has for me. When we get too comfortable, we get complaisant. God wants all of us to be in a continual state of growth, and that means having to go through  regular and often difficult stages of change in our environment. It feels uncaring early on, but in the long run, it’s God’s love for us that pokes and prods and causes the discomfort that makes us move out of our comfort zone and into new ways to be all that he created us to be.
    So if you are getting comfortable, enjoy it for a while, but just know that because God loves you, he’s going to bring about some changes in your life so that you can experience it to it’s fullest: to be all you can be and serve in other ways you otherwise never would be able to. As you feel the stirring of the nest, know that God has new heights he wants you to soar. It’ll take some risk on your part and along the way you’ll have to make some leaps of faith to get those wings doing what they’re supposed to do, but it sure beats spending your whole life stuck in a stick bowl on top of a cold rocky cliff.

A Playground or Battlefield?

    Lots of disturbing things on the news this week. It’s hard to read the paper, follow online headlines, or watch the evening news. At least this week it was.
    There is the whole middle east thing going on, now in several countries. More and more, groups that hate Christianity and want to exterminate Jews are gaining power in their respective countries. There was the suicide bomber in Bulgaria who blew up a bus full of Jewish teenagers. Many of us have been praying for the two little girls who have been apparently abducted in Iowa...no news so far is bad news, and our hearts are aching. In raids across the country over the weekend, seventy-nine children, mostly abducted and/or runaway American kids from troubled homes, were set free from their sex-slave captors (an international network not unlike what was portrayed in the movie, “Taken”). Then, of course, the shooting spree in the Denver area theatre by a med school student (recent drop-out), has kept many glued to cable news programming. And this is only the beginning. There is a litany of really bad news items around the world and in the states this week that remind us of the fallen nature of the human race.
    But that’s not all that is happening.
    No doubt, the depraved nature of sinful people is creating havoc. Remember the words of Pogo, “We have met the enemy and he is us.” But there is more going on in this world than just the sinful actions of fallen people. There is a more sinister activity working in the unseen world that is the root cause of all evil. Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Anyone who denies the reality of evil is oblivious to the real world. Evil forces exist and are actively engaging with unwary, though willing, sinful people to do Satan’s work. This evil spiritual presence is real. It’s malevolent. It’s insidious. We need to be on guard.
    The Christian life is not a playground, it’s a battlefield.
    That’s why Paul continued his treatise in Ephesians 6 with instructions for followers of Jesus to be armed and protected to defeat this evil spiritual activity. Because this is war and Satan must be defeated. And he will be. Jesus promised us that very thing. But we need to be on guard, protected, armed and poised for spiritual battle as soldiers in God’s army.
    This fall, I will be launching an eight week study on Spiritual Warfare from Ephesians 6:10-18. I’d appreciate your prayers for my preparation and for God to do a mighty work in us to advance His Kingdom and overwhelm the gates of hell.
    That’s what I’m doing these four weeks while not speaking at The Bridge. I’m preparing and praying. And I really need your prayers for this one.

Don't Confuse Me with the Facts

    Mark Twain said, “All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence; then success is sure."
    What? When does knowledge get in the way of success?
    Well, obviously, Twain as a satirist, wasn’t speaking of real and/or complete knowledge on any given subject. He was talking about having confidence and not knowing the things that might keep you from launching out into an endeavor, as well as thinking that you know so much that you are unable to learn what you will need to be successful in that venture.
    Knowledge gets in the way of growth, learning and success when we think we know it all and approach issues, discussions, and decision-making with our minds made up. That’s being opinionated...your opinions are strong and never in doubt. But being opinionated is a form of arrogance and it keeps a lot of people from accomplishing a lot of things. It also gets in the way of positive influence on others. We actually tend to write off the views of opinionated people.
    Being opinionated is a family trait of mine. Not my immediate family: my wife isn’t that way, nor are my kids. But I grew up that way. In college, friends would joke, “Ziegler has no trouble entering into a subject of which he hasn’t studied and still sound like an expert.” Hahaha! Well, actually, it’s not that funny. When I get with extended family, it really annoys me to hear relatives talk like they know so much about things that they are guessing about. It wasn’t a good trait of mine when I was younger, and I have to keep battling it today.
    The Book of Proverbs has helped me a lot. Solomon continually compares the wise man with the foolish man. The essential difference between the two is that the wise man realizes how little he really knows and so is always learning. The foolish man thinks he knows it all so his mind is made up and you can’t teach him anything. When I came to understand that, I thought, “I want to keep learning. I’d better come to terms with how little I really know.” Today, at 51, I try to say things like, “I believe…,” or, “I think…,” or, “It seems…” or, “I might be wrong about this, but…” 
    I still have my mind made up about a lot of things, but I learned a long time ago that with many of those things, I wind up being wrong. So the best approach is to realizes that while I have an opinion, it may not be accurate. I may have been misled, I might be jumping to conclusions, I might not have all the facts right, and I’ve always got a lot more to learn.
    Are you able to keep learning and growing because you have the humility to admit that you don’t already know it all? Or is your mind all made up, unwilling to be confused with additional facts, or rattled by considering an opposing view?

When Do You Start Telling Your Kids about Sex?

In our Life Apps series at The Bridge this summer, we are taking questions via texting and answering them with a panel. Because we could not get to all of the questions this last week, I am blogging to respond to some of the submitted questions that were not addressed in the service. Last week's message was, "Good Sex, Bad Sex," and it helped with a Biblical understanding on the subject. You can watch the sermon and panel here. Below is one more question we weren't able to get to on the panel. It's especially good for parents with younger children.

What is a good age/maturity level when kids can be introduced to sexual subjects?

    In reality, all of us introduce sexual subjects to our children very early on. We begin talking about how there are boys and girls––”mommy is a girl and daddy is a boy”. Most parents even identify boy and girl parts when kids are very little. We do it intuitively without being embarrassed, because the kids are so young. But boy/girl identity is sexual in nature. We think of sex as intercourse, but it is so much more. It encompasses all gender differences and the way we interact with one another between the sexes. We talk with our kids about when Mommy and Daddy fell in love and got married. We talk with them when they have crushes or someone has a crush on them. So the question is not so much when do we introduce these subjects, but how much do we tell them and at what age.
    I think that kids learn best at an appropriate level when they are inquisitive (inquisitive minds learn). As they ask questions, it is best for us to answer frankly and to the extent that they can process the answer. The more straightforward we are, as parents, without being obviously embarrassed by the question (or sometimes coming across as though the child should be ashamed for asking), the more likely the child will be willing to discuss these things as they get older, and the more likely they will have a healthy view of sex. At what age you give them information depends on the questions they are asking and their level of understanding. As a parent, you have that insight with your child more than any expert.  
    When a very young child asks, “Where do babies come from?” A good answer may be, “God has a special way of Daddy’s and Mommy’s love mixing together to put a baby in Mommy.” As they get older, they will want to learn more. But if you gradually give them more information based on the questions they are asking, they are not shocked and are able to process what they are being told in the context of values. That’s why YOU want to be the one talking to them, and not merely leaving it up to the school.
    In the old days, almost every family had farm animals, or at the least, a horse or two (even in town). The kids figured it out because it was part of what they saw every day with the animals they were taking care of. My friends who grew up on farms knew way more than me at a much earlier age. And it wasn't dirty to them. We don’t have that here in suburban Chicago. But kids do ask questions and we know the answers. We just have to answer them honestly and with God’s perspective, to help shape their morality and lead them to healthy relationships in the future.

Questions on Sex

In our Life Apps series at The Bridge this summer, we are taking questions via texting and answering them with a panel. Because we could not get to all of the questions this last week, I am blogging to respond to some of the submitted questions that were not addressed in the service. Last week's message was, "Good Sex, Bad Sex" and it helped gain a Biblical understanding on the subject. You can watch the sermon and panel here.

What does the marriage bed being undefiled mean?

    The term comes from Hebrews 13:4 – “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous” (ESV).
    In the 1st century world, two schools of thought existed. One promoted hedonism, leaving very few restraints on sexuality (far more popular). The other promoted asceticism, viewing sex as a necessary evil for procreation (this thinking made its way into Catholicism).
    The Biblical view is neither and the author of Hebrews was arguing against both. The Greek word for “undefiled” refers to something that is pure and good being corrupted or ruined by impurities (i.e. bacteria defiling food, etc.). So the implication is that the marriage bed, sexual activity between a husband and wife, is pure and good. But as he clarifies in the next sentence, sexual activity outside of marriage defiles it.
    This came up in our panel last week when someone asked, “Is there anything between two married people that is out of bounds?” I responded that the Bible does not say that anything is wrong but that Hebrews 13 says that the marriage bed is “undefiled”. However, sexual activity is not to be selfish in nature and anything that goes on between a husband and wife must be comfortable and enjoyable for both.

What about masturbation?  In and out of marriage?

    This can be a pretty controversial subject and there are some strong opinions on it. I’d like to stay with what the Bible says on these matters, and on this one, the Bible just does not say. Some want to point to the Old Testament story of Onan, but that story was not about masterbation. It was about a man who used the Leverite Law to have sex but not to fulfill the principle by “spilling his seed on the ground.” So it doesn’t really apply.
    But there can be principles in the Bible that sometimes do apply. For example, Jesus said that looking at a woman lustfully is committing adultery in the heart. In every counseling situation I’ve been in where this has been a problem, it has been used in conjunction with lust...lusting with pornography or sexual imaginations/fantasies of someone other than the spouse. Those are things the Bible does talk about and those are the areas we should want to be disciplined in and surrender to God.

How can unmarried people and those not in a relationship apply these principles?

    Whether or not you are married or in a relationship, we all need to have a Biblical understanding of life and the world we live in. And not that many people never face any sexual temptation. So in that sense, it is important for you to understand and embrace God’s perceptive on sex, every bit as much as married people. And it is also important for you to be committed to honoring God in this area.
    The other part of this is that as Christians, we are part of a body. We affect others and should care about what other people struggle with and we should be interested in how we can help each other. If we remain ambivalent about matters that do not touch us personally, how can it be said that we really care about each another? So in some ways, we also apply these principles by helping others face challenges in a Biblical way, even if they are challenges that we will not face ourselves.

Five Years Today!

    Five years ago today I was installed as the Lead Pastor at Des Plaines Bible Church, now, The Bridge. The installation service began with it’s typical worship sequence with Doug Daube leading. Then, our elder chairman, Scott Olson, asked me a series of four questions in front of the congregation of which I answered, “I do with the help of God,” or “I will with the help of God.” I meant it.
    Following my commitments, the congregation was in turn asked similar questions and also gave the same sincere responses. Then a pastor friend of mine, Scott Carson, of Grace Church in Burlington, Wisconsin, brought the message. That evening, we had a celebration dinner in the church auditorium.
    The following Sunday I began a series from the Book of Acts and preached my first sermon as your pastor with the message title, “Change Is In The Air.” As we look back, it sure was, wasn’t it?
    Most of you were not here five years ago. But for those of you who were, it’s been quite a ride. Maybe you didn’t think I was altogether serious about the change that was in the air (I was pretty specific and we have stayed on that path) or maybe you thought someone would talk me out of all those changes. But as we acknowledged then, change is necessary for any organization to survive, much less thrive.
    And I’m thrilled by the changes of the last five years!
    For the most part, those changes represent changed lives of people who were not even followers of Jesus five years ago and are now passionately pursuing him with all they’ve got.
    Because of those changed lives, we have a changed demographic in our church. Look around and pay attention to all these new people! Most of them were not even heaven-bound when these changes began. Five years ago, most of us were forty-five and older, with only one couple in the church under the age of thirty-five. We had just seven kids in our children’s ministry the first few weeks I was here. Today, the fastest growing segment of our church is the under 35 age group and we have a hundred kids in Solid Ground almost every week!
    For the most part, we were all pretty much non-hispanic Caucasians five years ago, with a few exceptions. But now? While we may not reflect the look of a truly integrated urban church, this is one of the most diverse congregations in suburbia you will ever see. I think it is a thrill to God to see people of multiple ethnic and language backgrounds, all worshiping our one Creator God, together, and learning cross-cultural and cross-generational principles from his Word. We have people here with no church background, dead church background, non-Christian religion background, and some who grew up in a church like ours. This is the most diverse group of people in multiple ways that I have ever been a part of. And I’m loving it!
    Consider some of the things the Lord has done for us. In the last five years, we’ve restructured our leadership system, multiplied deacons, added staff, and enjoyed a renewed ministry culture. We’ve renovated the building, changed the name of the church to tell the community why we are here, seen many come to Christ and many baptized. Some of you have read through the Bible for the first time. Others are serving in significant ways, ways you never before dreamed you would. Almost all have made new life-long friends. Addicts have been delivered, marriages have been salvaged, young people have turned their lives around, old people have gotten reignited with spiritual things.
    There have been some tough times as well. It hurt when we lost our youth pastor a few years ago. It was a challenge going into a major building project just as the economy collapsed and many of you were losing your jobs. It was hard to see some leave with animosity over things they disagreed with. And I have conducted more funerals for godly saints in the last five years than in all the rest of my ministry combined.
    But the one constant...the one thing that has never changed from 1927 until today, is the ever abiding faithfulness of God. Because of his faithfulness I have no doubt that these last five years are only the beginning of great and mighty things he has had planned for a long time (Jeremiah 33:3) for this church.
    Hang on! The ride has only begun!

How to Break a Spending Addiction

In our Life Apps series at The Bridge this summer, we are taking questions via texting and answering them with a panel. Because we could not get to all of the questions this last week, I am blogging all week to respond to some of the submitted questions that were not addressed in the service

How can I control my spending habits on the internet? The temptations kick, but I continue to pray and read Bible verses.

    Temptation to overspend on the internet is similar to temptations to overspend in other ways. When we give in to any temptation repeatedly, the activity becomes a habit and in some cases, even an addiction.
    Breaking these kinds of life-dominating sins usually takes dramatic action. That’s what Jesus was talking about when he said, “If your hand offends you, cut it off….if your eye offends you, pluck it out.” While I do believe those statement were hyperbolic, it does speak of something I call "radical amputation."
    Some sins that have a hold on us are so problematic that it takes radical action on our part, and the painful removal of things in our lives that make it too easy to give in.
    For some, it may mean the removal of a friend or group of friends that influence us in the wrong way. It almost always means confession to key people and surrounding ourselves with accountability.
    In your struggle, it may mean that you will have to get rid of your computer at home, at least for a time. It will also be important for you to involve a key Christian friend/mentor or loved one, someone you can share your budget with and spending records so that they can hold you accountable.
    We are rarely able to defeat these kinds of life-dominating sins without doing something radical and painful. I know it feels like we all have become dependent on internet access at home, but I have known many people who have gotten rid of it in order to break the hold of an addiction. With many, it is not only an initial first step towards victory, it is also a vital step to that end.
    So my suggestion for you would be to first go to someone you can trust who will also follow through on holding you accountable, and share with them your struggle, and your financial information so that they can follow-up with you to monitor your progress. Secondly, in some way limit your access to your most frequently visited shopping sites, even if that means storing your computer at someone else’s house for a couple of months. Through all this, spend time with God in his Word and in prayer. If you are willing to run from the temptation and resist it, while trusting God, he will give you the strength to overcome.

I love giving to the church, but my spouse feels we give too much. Biblically, how can I make my spouse see giving God's way?

     I think its really important that couples come to a place of agreement on their giving. Often, this kind of disagreement comes when one is a committed Christian and involved in the church, and the spouse is not. We wouldn’t expect a non-Christian or someone who does not regularly attend our church to give towards its ministries. Your spouse might be thinking that this is your thing but not theirs, but its taking money from the family budget.
     My suggestion would be to pray and ask God how to approach it. Then I would have a heart-to-heart conversation with your spouse and explain why you would like to give the amount that you have been, but that you do not want to do anything that would disrupt your marriage. If your spouse continues to insist on a lower amount, then I would give that amount, and keep praying for a change of heart. First and foremost, however, if your spouse is not yet a committed Christian, that’s what we want to pray for.


Should we borrow money so that we can give to the church?

     No.
     I think this question came from the illustration I used last week of how some of us, when it comes to giving, think only of how much cash we have available at the moment, but when it comes to personal acquisitions, we then come up with all kinds of creative ways to come up with the money, like long-term loans or leases. I just want us to see how we differentiate our giving from personal purchases. And the reason we often do not have the cash to give is because we’ve made too many of those “creative” purchases and are now paying off debts that take away from our ability to give. I think that would fall into the “greed” category, and that was my point. I was not suggesting that we borrow money to give to the church. I would prefer that we not borrow money at all.

Do Taxes Cover Part of the Tithe?

“Are our federal and state taxes that go to help the poor and other welfare programs similar to the Old Testament tithe? If so, how should that play into our giving strategy?”
    It’s not really accurate to say that our Federal and state taxes are similar to the Old Testament tithe. Most of our taxes, while we may not agree how all of the money is spent or with the efficiency of its use, goes towards benefits and services that we receive ourselves. For example, we drive on the roads that are built and maintained by our tax dollars. We enjoy security afforded by police and fire, as well as the nation’s military. Only 13% of our federal tax dollars are used for safety net measures for the poor, such as welfare, food stamps and government housing (that figure is doubled when including Medicaid). The remainder of all tax dollars are supposedly used for things that we utilize ourselves, directly or indirectly.
    The Old Testament tithe was required in the law to support and maintain the Temple worship system throughout Israel. There were twelve tribes in Israel, one of which was the Levite tribe (priests and Temple workers). In order for the Levites and their families to be able to live and devote themselves to the Temple system, the other eleven tribes were required to give a tithe. That tithe was used both for expenses related to the Temple and local worship centers themselves, as well as support for the Levites and their families. In reality, there were three types of tithes required in the Old Testament, adding up to about 28% (because of how the tithes were calculated).
    While the Temple and State were not technically separate in Israel’s pure Theocracy, the King garnered taxes separate from the Temple and storehouse tithes for state needs, including infrastructure, building and maintaining a military and city walls for defense, and other civil services, such as water supply and government administration. Under King Solomon, for example, the people complained of the taxes being too high. So even in Old Testament Israel, there were both tithes and taxes.
    The poor were supported in the Old Testament in a number of ways, but the emphasis was on local needs being supported in local communities. The reason for this seems to be so that the people could maintain relationships and accountability with those receiving aid, so that only those with genuine needs were getting it, and there was a natural peer pressure on all those who were able to work, to support themselves and their families. The safety net support for those unable to work was taken care of in a number of ways, very little of it through the levitical tithe.
    First, families were expected to support those in their own family who had disabilities, their elderly parents and grandparents, and others who had reasons for being unable to work. Second, all landowners were required to leave a portion of the harvest in their fields so that the poor could harvest for themselves in the evening. Third, disabled people and poor people would sit at the Temple gates (village gates for cities other than Jerusalem) and members of the community and Temple worshipers would voluntarily give to them face-to-face to support their needs (not considered a part of the tithe). Fourth, the Levites would share a portion of one of the tithes with those that had special needs that were not fulfilled with the above measures.
    So while a portion of what the Israelites were required to give was used to help support the poor (as is the case in the church today), it was not the main thrust of the tithe and would have been a small percentage of how the tithe was used. The majority of support for the poor was met in other ways described above and the majority of the tithe was used to support the Old Testament worship system.
    As far as a person’s giving strategy and how taxes fit in, I think we should realize that we have been given a system in America that has enabled us to live well beyond the lifestyle of not only Old Testament Israel, but every society in history and every other culture around the world. The taxes we pay subsidize that system that has enabled us to enjoy the wealth we’ve been given. In that sense, our tax dollars benefit us more than anyone else. In my giving, I do not consider the taxes I pay as part of my giving strategy any more than I would consider my mortgage or other bills I pay. I give based on my gross income. While I am not legalistic with tithing, I see it as a standard given to us through God’s people in the Old Testament. If the Israelites, who had far less than we, gave 28% of their income as part of their worship (and paid taxes beyond that), I don’t see tithing as overly generous. I think that if we as Christ-followers are giving to God out of gratitude for what He has given us, and are passionate about the work He wants to do through our gifts, we will eagerly give generously and always look for ways to give more, rather than reasons to give less.