This Sunday at Church

I hope all of you enjoyed a great Independence Day. I know I did. Luke has added "firecracker" "loud" and "hot" to his vocabulary thanks to the robust celebration of freedom that went on late into the night last Sunday and Monday night.

As I reflected upon some of the values of our country, it dawned on me that our freedom of religion is something very foreign to the world of the Bible. The culture in which the Bible was written, particularly in John's day when he wrote Revelation, was hostile toward religions that did not include allegiance to Rome and the Emperor. In fact, it was very common for Roman citizens to say "Caesar is Lord." The Church in Smyrna understood the incompatibility of having two Lords. One could not be loyal to Rome and confess that "Caesar was Lord," and in the same breath confess "Jesus as Lord." As a result, they were persecuted.

The Risen Lord has a word of encouragement for those that remained faithful in the face of suffering. I believe he has a word of encouragement for us as well. We will never know what it's like to suffer for our faith the way that church in Smyrna did 2,000 years ago, and I doubt we will ever know first-hand of what it's like to suffer the way believers in China do today. That doesn't mean, however, that we are immune to suffering, adversity and trials from Satan. The assault on our soul takes many shapes and forms. Perhaps you need to be reminded that God is in control and that he has a plan?

I hope to see you Sunday...the Risen Christ has a word of encouragement for You!

Pastor Mark

A Weekend of Fasting and Transformation

I missed my day to post due to planning and running the 30hr Famine. Sorry about that.....

As I prepared for this wonderful and tiring event, I was drawn to Isaiah 58.

Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their sins. Yet day after day they seek me and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments, they delight to draw near to God. "Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?" Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day, and oppress all your workers. Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to strike with a wicked fist. Such fasting as you do today will not make your voice heard on high. Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.

Its easy to think very highly of one's self when one is doing something like fasting in public. Jesus seemed to have words to say about this that echo Isaiah's. And yet, the 30hr Famine is not about drawing attention to those who fast. Rather, it is about those who fast getting the attention of as large a group as possible, and then directing that attention away from themselves, and onto those who need justice, freedom, release, those who go to bed hungry night after night, using all of their energy merely trying not to starve. This weekend 42 teens from BNC and Rogers gathered together for the purpose of helping those in need. In the process they learned a little bit about what it means to be hungry, and they also had a really good time. As of right now, your teens raised enough money to feed 14 hungry people in Malawi for all of next year. That's two years in a row that we've accomplished that. They've done more than just dole out money, though. This weekend our teens were confronted with God's message of justice, of jubilee, and they were presented with the opportunity to be a part of the change that God wants to render in the world. You see God is always on the side of the poor, the oppressed, and the hungry. In a small way, our teens offered food to the hungry and satisfied the needs of the afflicted. In doing so, I caught a glimpse of them that looked less like a group of teens, and more like a "watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail." I hope they saw that in each other, and in themselves. I'm very proud of our teens, and you should be too.

Lord, may your light rise in the darkness, and may you chase away the gloom that is global poverty, and make it become like the noonday sun.

Keeping the "High"

Easter is my favorite holiday…partly because I was born on Easter. As Easter is a rotating holiday, it has only landed on my birthday three times but each time has made a definite and poignant mark in life. There is something amazing that happens at Easter. There’s an energy and excitement that radiates within our lives. We shout and declare, “Christ is Risen Indeed”!

For the last few days, I have heard many comments praising our preteens on their performance on the black light routine. They shared how this performance was memorizing, moving and dynamic. They shared how the Holy Spirit has impacted them throughout this performance and how significant it had been to demonstrate the power of Jesus’ resurrection. And I say, “Amen to that!”

First off, “Thank you preteens for leading us in such a transformational way. You ministered to us beyond our greatest expectations. You helped us experience the Jesus’ narrative in a way that drew us into the story and respond to the glory of God as we declared together, ‘Arise, Jesus, my Lord is alive!’”

However with all these comments it made me stop and think…how long will this last? We speak of mountaintop experiences and many of us recognize we can’t live in this extreme. But how can we take this spiritual “high” we experienced on Sunday and continue to allow it to resonate and affect us with a power that energizes us throughout the following days, weeks and even year?

Reading Wednesday’s gospel reading, John 15:1-11, I am reminded that it is our actions that energize us. “I am the vine and you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). It is living out the resurrection that continues to give us the “high.” It isn’t a church service, it isn’t a specific pastor; it isn’t a class or even a great performance.

It is living out the hope of Jesus Christ through each relationship we develop, through each way we give back to those around us, throughout our community and throughout the world. It’s how respond to social justice issues and the equal treatment of all persons. Its waking up each moment affirming that they only way to respond to the new life, new freedom you have received through Christ is through loving God and loving others. And when you make a choice to do this, you choose to live in the resurrection, in the moment—all of a sudden you’ll find that you can live with a “high” that never fades. Because it’s when you “do” and bear the fruit of the resurrection that you are able to experience the life that energizes and radiates and lasts to infinity and beyond…

Good Friday…Not Just a Catholic Thing

*Warning: This post is slightly longer than intended. Read on though – it will do you good! ☺

Many reading this blog are new to Good Friday. For many, when they hear Good Friday, the immediate thought is, “that’s a ‘Catholic thing.’” Well, I’m here to tell you that it is so much more than that – it is a Christ-follower thing. And therefore, it’s a thing for you.

Roman Catholics have made many mistakes and done many things wrong over the years: The Crusades, indulgences, The Inquisition, Mariology, and that’s not to mention some of the many contemporary problems that plague the Roman church, such as clergy abuse scandals, to name only one. We are right to be critical of these things. (But remember, some of these things are our history too, as Protestants trace their theological roots to Roman Catholicism. And, we too have many, many problems, including clergy abuse scandals – we just aren’t as organized and therefore don’t get as much publicity.) And yet, these things do not define, but rather they mar the Roman Catholic Church. Personally, I have many Roman Catholic friends and acquaintances that put my faith and life to shame. I admire them, and their faith. And yes, I disagree with them on certain points as well! But this is not a defense of Roman Catholicism. Rather, I want to say a little about the importance of Good Friday.

Good Friday has been faithfully practiced by the church for as long as there has been a Church. Remember that movie The Passion? (I don’t recommend watching it more than once….) Well, it’s a version of the travelling passion plays that early followers of Jesus would put on in order to share the Gospel. In fact, many scholars believe that some of the gospel narratives in the NT (Mark in particular) are descendant from these early travelling evangelistic shows. The Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church (in all its variants), the Anglican Church, the Episcopal Church, the Lutheran Church, and the Methodist Church, all faithfully remember and celebrate Good Friday each year. And yes, that means that John Wesley would have personally officiated or participated in many such services. These services were essential to the early Methodists who pursued religious revival through their Methodist bands, or small groups. Good Friday has a long, rich, history, that for some is celebrated each year, and for some, like many of us, is being rediscovered out of the depths of our ecclesial heritage.

Put simply, Good Friday is the day each year, when Christians around the world remember the crucifixion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Truly this was the darkest day in history. Jesus – the Messiah – the Christ – our Savior – was murdered, and not just by the Romans, and not just by the Jews, but rather it was both – Jew and Gentile alike that killed Jesus on that fateful day. In other words, all of humanity participated, and so, “all we like sheep have turned away, each has turned to her own way, and the Lord has laid the iniquity of us all upon Him” - we all have blood on our hands. So far, not so good, huh?

And yet, this is precisely what is so good about Good Friday. The day itself would have been terrifying, painful, confusing, or worse. Saturday, would have possibly been even worse still. But then came Sunday, and when that stone was rolled away, and the Angel of the Lord appeared to the two Marys the events of Friday were put into context, and that context was good – it was very good.

On Good Friday, we learn that God, who is not the creator of darkness, can nonetheless use darkness – even the darkest darkness – to bring about the most radiant light. My hope is that if you’re willing to embrace the darkness of Good Friday (Ash Wednesday is sort of a primer for Good Friday…..) then you will be able to better understand and appreciate the Light of Life that shines out for all to see on Easter Sunday.

Church, we have no choice, if we are to truly call ourselves followers of Christ, but to go with Him to the cross, and into the darkness. We do that today – but we do so, fortunately, with the knowledge that the darkness cannot and did not hold Him – and that means it cannot and will not hold us either! And that is very Good indeed!

Passover

One of my favorite things about Holy Week is Maundy Thursday. I love the mystery of this day. Can you imagine being in the upper room with Jesus as he began officiate a traditional Passover meal and reinvent it in a new contextual medium. I love how this meal became a tangible way for Jesus’ disciples to respond to God’s invitation and to experience God’s love in such a sacrificial manner. I love how we are able to experience something in this moment that connects us with one another in a deep and personal way which we fully can’t even articulate. Yet we are fully aware of how this meal bonds and unites us together not just with one another in our church but with all people throughout the world in the past, present and future.

Last night, I had the privilege of leading our children and families in a Messianic Passover. It was a joy to watch children as young as Grace Springer and Paul Snodgrass interact with other children and adults as each person responded and retold the Passover narrative. It was a beautiful sight to watch us all prepare and participate in the rituals-tasting and holding different elements, reflecting and remembering how God has redeemed and delivered us. And it was awe-inspiring to hear us all recite various prayers and blessings together as we shouted out our dependence and praises to Adonai our God.

While we often assume that a Passover meal is only a Jewish tradition, I am reminded how even more significant and powerful this meal can be in the context of Jesus’ saving, self-giving sacrificial death and resurrection. It was a powerful reminder of how I can tangibly experience and re-live a part of the Jesus’ journey toward the cross. And this imagery will last with me long after the close of this Easter week because through this meal I was able to not only experience but participate with and live out Jesus’ missional vision of redeeming all humanity.

Play Ball!

I played baseball in high school. I wasn't great, but I wasn't terrible. I was just a middle-of-the-road pitcher/infielder who could get a curveball over for a strike, make a half-way accurate throw across the diamond from third base and lay down a pretty decent sacrifice bunt when called upon to do so. My greatest baseball skill, however, was my ability to keep a neat and precise scorebook. I know how to record a 6-4-3 DP, a 5-3 PO, and an E-9 with the best of them. Trust me…I had plenty of opportunities to "keep the book." (For those of you who don't speak 'baseball,' that means I wasn't in the starting lineup. Unfortunately, one cannot play the game and keep score at the same time, which means I didn't get too excited when my coach said, "Hey Mark, can you do me a favor?")

I remember trying out for an American Legion team and making it to the last round of cuts. Before the coach cut me he called me over and said, "Snodgrass, you know there's only one thing keeping you from playing college baseball…talent." I went home that evening and gave up my dream of playing 2^nd base for the Chicago Cubs. Like the sons of Zebedee leaving their nets to follow Jesus, I left my glove at the ballpark and became a fisher of men…or something like that. At least I turned pro in something.

I hated facing #15 from Sumter Christian. I don't remember his name, but I can tell you he was left-handed and used an Easton "Black Magic" bat. I wish I could say he was using performance enhancers, but the truth is he wasn't fooled in the least by my 63 mph slide-piece. My 75 mph fastball wasn't too intimidating either. He always hit me well, but the last game we played @Sumter he hit 2 home runs off me that still haven't landed. Seriously, NASA has confirmed those baseballs are orbiting Mars at this point. I think everyone in the lineup knocked me around that day, but those were by far the longest home runs I had ever given up.

I think about facing #15 and a passage of scripture from this week's reading jumps out at me. Remember how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead? How can you forget, right? The religious authorities and those who opposed Jesus were very disturbed by this. You might say they hated facing Lazarus. Jesus had used his death to hit for the cycle and as a result, many people were coming to believe in Jesus. We read this in John 12:

"So the chief priests make plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him." (John 12:11-12)

I read that this week and thought about how Lazarus was the kind of guy the enemy didn't want to face. His life…and death…and life again brought honor and glory to God to the point that the enemies of Jesus wanted him dead…again!

I want the kind of player the powers of darkness are worried about facing. I want the enemy of my soul to know that every time my spot in the lineup comes up it's going to be trouble.

But before I get too carried away, I have to ask myself, "What did Lazarus do that made him such a threat in God's starting lineup?" The answer might surprise you. I know it did me. Very simply, Lazarus died. It was his weakness, his illness and ultimately his death that gave Jesus the opportunity to call him out of the tomb. This miracle of all miracles drew many people to faith in Christ, but Lazarus had to die so that Jesus could bring glory to the Father and draw others to faith.

I still want to be the kind of follower the devil hates to face. However, as I hold the scriptures up to my life and see the truth of who I am apart from Christ, I'm reminded that there's only one thing keeping me from being that kind of disciple…talent.

"Lord, as we die with you, may our sin, our failures, our selfishness die as well. In dying with you, may you raise us to new life so that we would be the kind of person that brings glory to you and draws others to faith. Amen."

Play ball!

Things Are Not Always As They Appear

Have you ever met someone and because of their first impression decided that this was a person you wanted to be associated with? Or worse yet, have you ever met a person and decided immediately that you didn’t want to associate with this person because of what you interpreted to be their true personality?

I have multiple times. I have met people over the years and immediately decided that we were going to be great friends. Truth be told, something happened in the course of our friendship that hurt the relationship often because I dove too deeply, too quickly without finding out everything about that person. I’ve also made the decision that I was not going to like someone when I first met them only to find out that I was totally wrong. I had prejudged them and I had not given them a chance. Honestly, out of the two scenarios, I am more sad about the latter; I hurt another person because I had not given them a chance.

As we begin Holy Week, I can’t help but wonder what was going on in the heads of the people in the crowd and in the heads of the disciples. Picture Jesus getting ready to go into Jerusalem. Was he full of excitement or full of apprehension? Picture the disciples following Jesus and hanging on His every word and action. And picture the large number of people who are in the city of Jerusalem. There must have been a sense of excitement and a sense of relief that their lives were about to change. Or so they thought. In their minds, the King that they have been hearing about for generations was finally here. This King was going to swoop in and save the day.
I can’t help but wonder what was going on in Jesus’ head as well. He knows that these people are expecting Him to take care of everything. He knows that in many ways, He will disappoint them because what Jesus knows as “taking care of everything” is not the same as what the crowd thinks. He knows that some of the very people that are celebrating His entry into Jerusalem will be the same ones that will turn their backs on Him in his deepest hour of need.

It saddens me when I think about those in my life that I have misjudged. I was willing to dismiss what was deep down because of what I thought I saw on the surface. Did those in the crowd feel the same way when they saw Jesus being tried, beaten and forced to endure great pain carrying his own cross? Did they question why Jesus didn’t just call down a legion of angels to do battle for him? Did they question if Jesus for the “real deal”? Were they willing to go with the crowd because of fear? Peter was. Remember he denied Christ three times.

I wonder if I would have been in that group as well. I wish that I could say that I would see beneath the surface but I’m not sure if I really would. I’ve misjudged before. As I begin this week that will prove to be a week of many emotions, I pray that I will take the time to see people and situations as they truly are; not as they appear to be.

Will you?