Hope for Life Blog

We have a great coffee maker at work.  You make one cup of your personal favorite drink at a time.  You can have any number of different kinds of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate.  Even better, you can brew your cup at whatever strength you desire:  weak, medium, or strong.  You can make it caffeinated, or decaf.  And it only takes about one minute to make. 

 If Christians could ever present Christianity like that, we could interest a lot more people.  Christianity in small doses… however you want it at any particular time.  If you are feeling particularly religious, you can get a strong dose of Jesus one day.  If not, go a little weaker.  Jesus to suit your taste – just like you want him to be. 

 Some churches probably do present a “consumer” Jesus.  There seems to be a great deal of emphasis on not offending anyone, on meeting everyone’s perceived or expressed needs.  Messages are tailored to present a Jesus that is not too demanding, comes in small doses, and can fit all your perceptions. 

 Except that is not how Jesus presented himself.  He is offended by religion that had forgotten God.  He calls sinners to repentance.  He calls followers to die with him.  He promises persecution and suffering in this life.  He asks you for a total commitment.  He demands complete obedience. 

 He does this because he has earned that right.  He came to this earth to find you because His Father wants you to live forever in heaven.  He died so unholy people could live forever with a holy God.  He did it because He loves us more than anyone has ever loved us.  He did it so we can live forever.

 I can’t help you find a “coffee maker” Jesus.  But if you want to know more about the real Savior who asks you to die so you can live forever… then write me at steve@hopeforlife.org.  Or join our blog discussion.

steve

There was an old country doctor who would take his dog along with him when visiting patients. The dog would remain outside while the doctor went in for the house call.

On one occasion, the physician went to the home of a man with a terminal disease who didn’t seem to have much time to live. The man confessed to the doctor his fears about death and said, “What’s it like when you die?”

The doctor thought for a moment, then got up and opened the front door. His loyal canine friend, who had been waiting patiently on the porch, gleefully bounded in to join his master.

The doctor turned to the dying man and said, “Do you see this dog? He didn’t have any idea what was on this side of that door. All he knew was that his master was there, and he wanted to be with him.”

“That’s how I feel about death,” the physician continued. “I don’t really know all the whats and hows about dying. I’m not totally sure what’s on the other side of that door. But I know who is there, and that’s enough for me. I’m looking forward to being with my Master.”

Death can be a frightening thing. There is so much uncertainty. There are a lot of things I just don’t know.

Some claim to be able to explain everything that will happen when we die. I’m not one of those people. I don’t know a lot of things about death.

Some debate what life after death will be like. I don’t join those discussions. I don’t know all the details about what will happen when I die.

I do know who is waiting for me. I do know that I will leave this world to be with Jesus. That’s enough knowledge for me.

The apostle John wrote: “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2) We don’t know what we will be, but we will be like him. And we will be with him.

You don’t have to be afraid of what’s on the other side of the door. You can focus on who is on the other side of the door. Isn’t that a better way to approach the end of our life here on earth?

I enjoy visiting museums and I like church buildings.  I never realized I could get them confused until a visit to Spain.  I saw amazing church buildings with incredible architecture.  They were old, and their history was incredible.  There were monuments and artifacts from centuries past.  It was overwhelming.  They were featured stops on the city tours.  So I begin asking the guides about attendance today.  Some of them no longer had worship services.  Some of them had small rooms partitioned off for current members.  In most of them, there were more tourists during an average day than worshipers on a given Sunday.

There are a number of lessons to learn about why churches become museums.  Who was it that forgot their purpose?  Who lost sight of the mission?  Who lost sight of Jesus?  Did each new generation fail to make their faith genuine and personal?  Were they more concerned with church buildings than building a church?  Did they church building become the church?  These are valuable questions and worth asking.

But I want to say a word to any of you who may be thinking about Jesus and church.  Do not confuse the building with the church.  Church is people.  It is community.  It is family.  A church may meet in a building large or small.  It may meet in homes.  Or in a coffee shop.  Or a school.  You may visit a church building… but you are invited to become part of a church.

So if you want to visit a church building, I can tell where there are amazing museums.  But if you are interested in being part of a living community as the family of God, then I can help you find that also.  Write me at steve@hopeforlife.org.  Or leave a comment.

Blessings,

Steve

Peace.

In a general sense, peace is the absence of conflict.

On a personal level, it can mean many things…

• Peace can be paying off this month’s credit card bill.
• Peace can be finishing that report for work.
• Peace can be arriving home after fighting rush hour traffic.
• Peace can be not fighting with your spouse for at least one night.
• Peace can be not hearing gunfire when you turn off the lights.

When Jewish people greet one another, they say “shalom.” Peace. In Arabic, the greeting is “salam,” with the same meaning. In the New Testament, the apostle Paul frequently used the phrase “grace and peace” when beginning his letters. Peace is something that we desire for ourselves and should desire for others.

What about peace with God? For some, that’s a distant concept. Maybe we’ve never really tried to establish a relationship with God. Or we’ve tried, but have never felt like we were quite good enough.

Some of us used to feel good about our standing with God, but now we’re filled with doubt. We don’t have the feeling we used to have. Maybe sin has gotten in the way, the big kind of sin that leaves us feeling guilty for years. Or maybe it’s just a general disenchantment with God, being disappointed by Him time and again. Or it could just be that we’ve grown a bit cold, not turning our backs on God, but just drifting away from Him.

All of those things can steal our peace. To overcome those kinds of feelings, we need to take the focus off of ourselves. We need to recognize that we aren’t trying to earn our salvation. We’re not trying to be “good enough” for God. We need to focus on Jesus Christ and what He has done to make us “good enough.”

Paul wrote to the Roman Christians: “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). Peace with God comes through trusting in Jesus, trusting in His love and His care for us. When our faith led us to submit to Jesus in baptism, we entered into a relationship with Him that will provide us with the peace that only God can give. It’s not about us… it’s about Jesus and what He did for us.

If you don’t feel at peace with God, you are probably still focused on yourself. You may even be trying to make yourself good enough for God. It’s time to trust in Jesus and His power to save. Only He can put you at peace with God.

It would be impossible to calculate the thousands of miles they trudged, how often their feet and muscles ached from the journey or if they suffered from “Ship-lag” crossing seas. Yet, secular history tells of the “doubter” who went to India and maybe as far as China, the fisherman who brought his brother to the Messiah who traveled the Volga to what is now the Ukraine or the zealot who took the message to Egypt and then to Persia, modern day Iraq.

They, Paul, whose missionary journeys are detailed in the book of Acts, and many more fulfilled their mission. This mission given by Jesus to his disciples, and those who were called Apostles: and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the Earth. Acts 1:8

The importance of being a witness is reaffirmed throughout Acts 1:22, 2:32, 3:15, 5:32, 10:39-41.

Witness is to publicly attest that what was said or done actually happened because one has seen it.

History notes that Christians traveled the width and breadth of their world, turning it upside down, witnessing of the works and words of the Messiah.

We, the present day followers of Jesus, are the progeny of those men and women of the first century. The mission is now ours! With 2/3 of the 6.7 billion of the world’s population who don’t know Jesus, we have much to do.

We must fulfill the mission given them centuries ago and has been given us as well.

Are you a witness? Tell us how, where and when? Most importantly tell us WHY? If you are not then what keeps you from doing so?

“Don’t come to church!”  That is not something you will usually hear a minister say, but sometimes it is true.  I recently heard someone talking about the troubles currently in their life and they mentioned that maybe going to church would help.  I am not sure it would.  They are looking for a “magic bullet” to make life better.  That is not the purpose of church.  Attending worship services and being involved in a church are outcomes of a decision to follow Jesus.    

Jesus is the answer to the struggles of life.  He is the one that heals, restores, forgives, and gives meaning to life.  He is where hope is found.  He is the way to God.  He is the truth.  He is life.  When you turn your life and heart to Jesus, then church makes sense.  Church is one of the outcomes of following Jesus.  It is a gathering of family members united by faith in the Son of God.  It is where the community of believers gathers to praise the God who loves them.

To hope going to church will help you is getting the cart before the horse.  Jesus is the first decision you must make.  Maybe that is why so many people misunderstand church.  Church is not the answer.  It cannot save you.  It is a fellowship, a community, a gathering, a family… of those who have been saved by Jesus.

So if you are expecting church to be the answer to your problems, don’t come.  You will be disappointed.  But if you are looking for some good news in your life… let me tell you about Jesus.  He is the answer.  Then, and only then, will church make sense.  So write me at steve@hopeforlife.org.  Or look around our website, www.hopeforlife.org.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20)

Behold I stand at the door and knock …

It’s a process, you know. Rarely does a person move away from God all at once. Like an ember dying slowly in a fireplace, faith slowly disappears and is replaced by cynicism or, even worse, apathy. Instead of deciding to stop believing in God, most people just give up caring.

I stand at the door and knock …

Sin is often a gradual process as well. It starts with a temptation, like money left out at the store or an attractive co-worker who shows too much attention. Our thoughts focus on that temptation until desire takes over. A small sin leads to a bigger sin which eventually leads to a lifestyle. We look up one day and don’t recognize the person we’ve become.

If anyone hears my voice …

Even as we begin to give up on ourselves, God never does. He knocks. He calls. He seeks us out. Remember, this passage in Revelation was written to Christians. People who knew God, but had wandered away from Him. Like the shepherd looking for the lost lamb, God goes looking for His people.

If anyone hears my voice and opens the door …

God wants to get back into our lives, but He won’t force His way in. We have to open the door. We have to respond to His call. We have to say, “Yes, I want you back in my life.” God is the Almighty Creator, yet He cares enough about His children to go looking for them. He also cares enough for them to allow them the right to choose. He knocks. He calls. We have to open the door.

I will come in to him …

It’s what God wants. He wants to be in relationship with us, even when we’ve wandered away, even when we’ve done things that we’re ashamed to remember. No sin is too great. No distance is too far. There is no door that cannot be opened. All we have to do is turn back to Him and open the door.

I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

There is something deeply personal about sharing a meal together. The Lord of the Universe wants to come to us, sit down and eat with us. He wants a loving relationship with us. So He knocks. And calls. And waits for us to open the door.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20)

Open the door. Let Him come to you. Let Him wipe away your past and give you a fresh start with Him.

Recently while researching faithfulness, I stumbled onto information about the geysers that have been given the name “Old Faithful.” The most famous of the three which bear that name, was first given that title in 1870. It is recorded that its eruptions, at regular intervals, lasted 15 or 20 minutes. Although given the name “Old Faithful” because of its predictability, time between eruptions can vary between 65 and 91 minutes. It seems that various things can affect the period between eruptions. Over time, the length of intervals has increased — possibly the effect of earthquakes. Rains have also been known to affect the regular intervals of “faithful” eruptions. It is true that this “faithful” geyser, located in Yellowstone National Park, is faithful to spew and spray water sometimes as high as 145 feet into the air. However, “Old Faithful” does not always act according to man’s timetable.

Doing this research caused me to be reminded of how we often expect God to respond to our timetable. We sometimes question God’s faithfulness to act in response to our requests when answers don’t come immediately. We must remember that God’s faithfulness, like “Old Faithful,” doesn’t act according to our time. There are occasions when there are long periods of time between trouble and resolution. As we mature and our faith increases, we begin to realize that God is ever faithful. Even when the time stretches longer as we wait for His answers, our faith increases, knowing that He always answers. Because of the faithfulness of Father God we can be filled with joy and sing of His great love forever.

I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself (Psalm 89:1-2).

If you aren’t carrying the song of joy in your heart because of a lack of trust in the faithfulness of our Father, leave a comment or contact us at hopeforlife.org.

There have been a number of For Sale signs in my neighborhood over the past year and I have watched them being put up, seen “sold” or “reduced” additions attached, and watched them taken down when off the market.  In talking to people who have recently sold a house, I was struck by the advice given concerning how to do this effectively.  The first thing is to spruce up the outside.  You know – fresh paint, flowers, and a throw rug or two.  This makes an attractive look for a buyer, even though it may not really reflect the condition of the house.  When you show a house, sweep up the trash and hide the dirty clothes.  Answer direct questions, but do not volunteer any information that may detract from the asking price.

Some people might think that is what you need to do in order to become a Christian.  Fix up the outside so it looks nice, even if the rest of you is a mess.  Hide all the trash and dirty laundry.  After all, you don’t want anyone to know the real you.  And do not volunteer any information about yourself that might detract from your image.

Why do people think this way?  Jesus didn’t.  He reached out to the socially disenfranchised, the addicted, the unpopular, and those whose lives where a mess.  He still reaches out for those who don’t have it all together.  He wants us just as we are.  He came for sinners.  He came to find the lost, give life to the dead, and heal the broken.  So maybe the real estate signs of our life should be more like these.

For Sale by Owner:  Jesus calls us to let go of ourselves, our ego, and our lives so that he might own us.  Completely.

Fixer-upper:  We all need Jesus to make right the things that we cannot.  He is the one who can restore the brokenness of our lives.

As Is:  You do not have to have it all together to come to Jesus.  In fact, you only have to know that you do not have it together.

Hidden Value:  God made you, knows you, and has great plans for you.  He values you enough that He sent His only Son to this earth to bring you back to Him.

If you are ready to know the Jesus who loves you just as you are, I can introduce you to him.  Look around this site, www.hopeforlife.org or drop me a note at steve@hopeforlife.org.

Blessings,

Steve

At the end of the first century, the town of Laodicea was a thriving commercial center. It was a wealthy city, one of the few towns to refuse government aid after a devastating earthquake in the region. Clothing manufactured in Laodicea was sold throughout the Roman empire, especially garments made of a beautiful black wool. Situated at the juncture of three trade routes, the city was ideally located for doing business.

In addition, there was a world-famous medical school in Laodicea, famous for the treatment of optical diseases. At the school, a salve for the eyes was prepared and shipped to distant lands in the form of tablets.

Laodiceans had every right to be proud, and apparently they were. That’s why Jesus’ words to Christians in that city had a sharp sting: “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.” (Revelation 3:17-18)

Wow! Though Laodicea was famous for its wealth, Jesus tells the Laodiceans they are in direst poverty. He declares these producers of beautiful dark clothing to be naked, needing white clothes he can provide. Despite Laodicea’s fame in treating eye diseases, Jesus says they are blind, needing the treatment only he can give.

What would he say about me? What points of pride would he address, showing the flaws in my perceived strengths? What would he say of my possessions, my accomplishments, my boasting? What would he say of my self-sufficiency?

I know what he would say. The truth. Jesus can see the real me. Not the facade I present to the world, not the image I build up around myself. Jesus sees me. Jesus knows me.

He knows you too. You can fool everyone around you, but Jesus sees the real you. He sees what you really need. I may not know you, but I can tell you that Jesus has what you need. He can eliminate your spiritual poverty, clothe your emotional nakedness and heal your inner blindness.

The Laodiceans needed Jesus. They needed what he had to offer, even though they didn’t realize it. Whether you know it or not, you need him too. As do I. Let’s seek him together.