HeartQuest 101

Men are supposed to be brave. We are supposed to be like Jack Bauer (on the TV show 24), willing to step up when the need arises, no matter what the cost, no matter what the pain, just because the mission is more important than any personal comfort or safety. I’m not saying it’s easy, but it is essential.

Courage makes a good theory, but sometimes we need help to practice it. We have many opportunities each day to step out of our comfort zone to serve God. When we don’t have courage, we need to be reminded of God’s promise in 2 Timothy, and we need others’ encouragement to take the leap of faith.

Perhaps you need someone to tell you: Volunteer for that job at church because they need you. Teach that class. Have lunch with your co-worker to discuss matters of faith. Maybe you should join that small group, or the Men of Steel. Remember the mission that Christ gave to us, to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). First we seek the lost (Luke 19:10), because God is seeking true worshipers who will worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23).

We recently read the book of Esther, which tells a story of love, sacrifice, and God’s timing. Mordecai, a Jew in exile, refused to bow to Haman, second in command to King Ahasuerus. Haman became furious and plotted to destroy Mordecai and all the Jews. So Haman deceived the king and persuaded him to issue an edict condemning the Jews to death. When Mordecai told his cousin Queen Esther about the edict, he urged her to intervene. “Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” he said (4:14). Approaching the king uninvited was punishable by death. But Esther seized the moment to save her people!

When we are able to rescue others, we should do so at all costs. Ask God for His direction and act! He may have placed you here “for such a time as this.”

Be courageous for Jesus. Be obedient to the point of risk. Sometimes it takes just that first step of courage to serve our wonderful Savior.

Erwin McManus has something to say about courage.

Try these steps for size:

1. Identify your calling.
2. Identify your fears.
3. Consider how your fears will thwart your calling.
4. Consider the authority of Christ over your fears.
5. Trust God’s ability rather than your limitations.
6. Decide whether you want a life of compliance or rebellion.
7. Always choose obedience in the face of fear.
8. Join forces with others of similar calling.
9. Remind yourself that God’s side wins.
10. Embrace the adventure of a life of significance.

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Did you know that parents are the most valuable tool when it comes to teaching values to children? I used to think that the way you taught values was to sit your kids down and talk to them about values. But I was wrong. Our children constantly see us living out our values and they learn their values from us whether we want them to or not!

As missionaries in Zambia, Kim, Stephen and I took a trip to Harare, Zimbabwe for a little holiday. It used to be a great place to enjoy a nicer restaurant, catch a movie, visit a game park, stuff like that. It was good to get away together as a family. One day we saw that a sequel to a movie we enjoyed in the States came to a downtown theatre. It was Disney’s White Fang 2, and we saw the rating was PG-13, for some unreasonable African reason. In a moment of weakness and selfishness, we lied about Stephen’s age (he was 11 at the time). Our rationalization was that it was a Disney film and we knew better. You know what? I taught more about values in that single action than in all of our father-son chats through the years. I grieved the situation later that day, and even today called Stephen to apologize for that poor example of integrity.

As parents we must get our own values right and then live by those values, because our children will quickly learn our values in action. How does it happen? They learn the value of prayer when they see you kneeling in prayer instead of coming apart at the seams when you face a crisis. They learn the value of fidelity when they see their parents remain faithful to each other even in tough times. They learn the value of honesty by seeing their parents remain honest even in the tough times. Parents are the tools of God to teach values to children. So live wisely – you’re being watched!

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Brian Mosley, president of BluefishTV, had an interesting article about our living in the age of outsourcing. We pay someone to change our oil, cook our food, care for our yard, clean our clothes and anything else we don’t want to do. And of course we’ve all read the news reports of companies outsourcing business needs to countries around the world. So, he asks, “Is it possible that we are outsourcing our faith?”

We live in a consumer-driven culture that tells us that the customer is number one. The customer is always right. I can have it my way. I deserve the best. Consumerism has also crept into the church and turned church members into customers. The church exists to serve me and my family. To meet my needs. To feed me spiritually. To provide relationships for me. I dare say, to entertain me?

Brian goes on to ask, how many people put their money into an offering plate with the thought that “I have done my part, now it’s up to the church staff (professional Christians) to take care of the rest.” I pay them to tell me what the Bible means, to organize programs for my kids, to run evangelism and outreach projects to reach non-believers … to ______________ (fill in the blank with whatever product or service you think the church should provide).

Mosley also gives five reasons a business outsources and how the church might be doing the same with our faith:

1. Cost Savings
It’s costs me time and energy to study the Bible, serve others and be a disciple. If the pastor will do the heavy lifting, then I can save some of this time and energy for other things I enjoy doing.

2. Focus on Core Business
The pastor’s core thing is ministry. Mine is work and caring for my family. It will work best if we both stick to our core business.

3. Improve Quality
I am not really qualified to do ministry. I haven’t been to seminary or Bible college and my knowledge of the Bible isn’t great. I should leave real ministry to the professionals.

4. Risk Management
Ministry is messy. To really get engaged in ministry could lead to rejection, heartache and additional work to my already busy life. I’d rather not risk it.

5. Tax Benefit
The most measurable way for me to minister is to give money. It’s trackable and the more I give, the more I can claim as a deductible to the IRS.

Have you ever felt like this? How can we turn this around? How can we challenge people toward higher levels of commitment to Christ and His church? As Rick Warren wrote in his Purpose-Driven Life, “It’s not about you.” So, how can we help church members understand that the church exists for those who are not yet a part of the church? We are here to serve, and not to be served (Mark 10:45). We are not to be conformed to this world, but must be transformed (Romans 12:2). Don’t be normal, stand out.

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Rebellion occurs when oppression reaches a level that we can no longer tolerate in good conscience. It occurs when our vision for extraordinary living is more compelling than our urge for comfort and status quo. Materialism, toys and pleasure numb us while distraction and apathy work on us from the inside. Complacency will not help us to fight the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 1:18, 6:12).

It’s tough to live in America. With all the comforts, conveniences and choices, you may think I’ve lost my mind, but stay with me for a little bit. Those of use who have made a commitment to Christ, who have voluntarily chosen to follow Jesus as one of his disciples, who have chosen the narrow path over the lure of the wide and broad way (Matthew 7:13-14), we understand that our walk with Christ and our mission in the world are much more important than anything on this planet. We exist for a different purpose than the world around us. In everything we do, we seek to bring honor and glory to the God of our salvation (1 Corinthians 10:13, Colossians 3:17). The world desires to squeeze us into its mold, but we are to be transformed by the renewal of our minds (Romans 12:1), and this can happen only through the power of God.

We need to be rebellious enough to go against the current culture in America. Culture expects us to be sex-crazed, power-hungry, domineering, lovers of money, success, women, fortune and fame. Our culture tells us, “If it feels good, do it,” and to climb the ladder of success one rung at a time, no matter what the cost. Men all across the country have sacrificed their marriages, children and souls for temporal success, pleasure, comfort, fame or fortune. The one who has come to Christ has a new desire, mainly to be set free from the slavery of sin, its power and its consequences. Success must be redefined as faithfulness and integrity, rather than by the neighborhood in which we live, the club to which we belong, or the BMW in the driveway.

Are you someone who is disillusioned with pop culture and half-hearted Christianity? Would you consider partnering with God to change His world? The rebellion of which I speak is for those who are intensely passionate about Jesus and are determined to live a life of purpose. We must have a nothing-is-impossible mindset. Jesus is not meek and mild, but mighty and wild!

Consider these top 10 reasons to join me in this rebellion:

1. You are intensely passionate for Jesus and His kingdom.
2. You really want to live a life of eternal significance.
3. You resent the apathy that derails many of Jesus’ followers.
4. You’re willing to swim against today’s social currents.
5. You know God is already stirring your heart for action.
6. You’re looking for tools to empower your purpose.
7. You want to live out God’s ancient wisdom in a relevant way.
8. You desire to experience God and invite others into that experience.
9. You’re absolutely dedicated to Christ’s lordship in your life.
10. You’re ready to move in the power and authority of God.

Is this the anthem for the Men of Steel? Can we be radical and rebellious for the cause of Christ, changing the world, one man at a time?

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Churches have made the tough call on whether to hold services these past two weekends, due to the unusual snow storms in our area. While far from what the rest of the country may be going through, six inches of snow at the beach is unusual… good thing that the area is pretty flat! Our concern was for our people who could get involved in a car accident or even slip in our parking lot. So, we also made adjustments to our meeting schedule.

But real men can make it through the snow and do what needs to be done! Check out this story of Benaiah, one of David’s mighty men (2 Samuel 23:20).

There was also Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant warrior from Kabzeel. He did many heroic deeds, which included killing two champions of Moab. Another time, on a snowy day, he chased a lion down into a pit and killed it. Once, armed only with a club, he killed a great Egyptian warrior who was armed with a spear. Benaiah wrenched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with it. — 2 Samuel 23:20-21

This was a tough guy. Notice that he not only was a valiant warrior on the battlefield, but he went down into a pit to kill a lion… on a snowy day. Snow does not stop real men from doing what needs to be done.

Isn’t it funny how some people will call in to work and say they can’t come in due to the snow, but it always seems that people can leave work in the snow and make it home?

As men, you understand the need to do whatever it takes to provide for your family (1 Timothy 5:8), but do not neglect the need to feed your spirit, and grow in Christ (Ephesians 4:13, 14, 15). You are not the man that God intends for you to be if you are not leading your family in becoming fully devoted followers of Christ (Matthew 22:36-40). Think about ways you personally lead your family in “knowing Christ and making Him known?”

Speaking of snow and the weather (and perhaps chasing a rabbit), it’s been a crazy winter weather these past two weekends, especially when you hear the global warming alarmists still making the case how the planet is doomed because mankind is causing the earth to heat up. I believe that we are to be good stewards of the planet and its resources, that we should not pollute our water and air, but if we really believe that God is the sustainer of life and the universe (Colossians 1:17), we should not be alarmists with a political agenda. We should simply promote good conservation and environmental awareness. But what is a Christian to do in this age of political activism?

There is a difference between the biblical view of the environment and the political movement known as “environmentalism” (I wrote something on Earth Day a couple of years ago). Understanding this difference will shape our view of global warming. The Bible is clear that the earth and everything in it was given by God to man to rule over and subdue (Genesis 1:28). Because we are created in God’s image, He gave men and women a privileged place among all creatures and commanded them to exercise stewardship over the earth (Genesis 1:26-28; Psalm 8:6-8). Stewardship implies caretaking, not abusing. We are to intelligently manage the resources God has given us, using all diligent care to preserve and protect them.

In my recent Bible in 90 Days reading, I see this in the Old Testament where God commanded that the fields and vineyards would be sown and harvested for six years, then left fallow for the seventh year in order to replenish the soil’s nutrients, both to rest the land and to ensure continued provision for His people in the future (Exodus 23:10-11; Leviticus 25:1-7).

But are too many people on the earth causing a problem, resulting in polar ice caps to melt and coastal areas to be wiped out? Perhaps it is more of a management problem. God has placed on this planet everything needed to feed, clothe, and house the billions of people who have lived on it since the Garden of Eden. Most all the resources God has provided for our needs are renewable, and He continues to provide the sun and rain necessary to sustain and replenish those resources.

At the same time, the earth we inhabit is not a permanent planet, nor was it ever intended to be. The environmental movement is consumed with trying to preserve the planet forever, and we know this is not God’s plan. He tells us in 2 Peter 3:10 that at the end of the age, the earth and all He has created will be destroyed. The physical, natural earth in its present form, with its entire universe will be consumed and God will create a “new heaven and a new earth” (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1).

Seems to me that rather than trying to preserve the earth for thousands or even millions of years, we should be good stewards of it for as long as it lasts, which will be as long as it serves God’s sovereign plan and purpose.

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During the week of January 27 – February 3, King’s Grant Baptist Church opened its doors to the Volunteers of America Winter Shelter. There were about 80 or so homeless men and women in need of shelter from the cold. Just so happens that our weekend brought the worst snowstorm in 20 years, about 8-9 inches, which shuts down a city that does not have the equipment to properly deal with this sort of situation.

I came up on Friday evening to spend the night, and the snow hit overnight. So on Saturday we made the decision to keep our guests all day (rather than the normal VOA bussing the homeless out and bringing them back at night). If the snow worsened, they might not get back on Saturday night.

Due to the inclement weather, many churches called off services, and we were no exception. The safety of our members and guests is a greater priority than the congregation gathering for corporate worship. But the fact is that many of our members still made it up to the church because of their commitment to the Winter Shelter guests: cooking meals, maintaining rest rooms, leading a Bible study each evening, and visiting with our temporary guests.

On Sunday evening, before meal time, I was able to have devotional time with our guests. I read from Genesis 28:11-13, 15-18, 20-21.

Jacob was on a journey escaping the wrath of his brother Esau. He finds a place to set up camp and pulls a rock over to use as a pillow. In a dream that night, he sees a stairway to heaven (while Led Zeppelin made the phrase famous, the real story is found in Genesis 28). It seems that angels are going up and down this “ladder” (remember the children’s song, “we are climbing Jacob’s ladder”?).

God speaks and reminds Jacob that he is not alone, that God is with him and will guide him back to the place he needs to be, to his father’s house. These are the wonderful words of God, “I will not leave you.”

Jacob arises the next morning and declares that “God is surely in this place and he did not know it,” (Genesis 28:16) and makes a vow to the Lord, “If you protect me, provide me food and clothing, and a safe journey, then You will become my God.” (Genesis 28:20-21, as opposed to the Lord being only the God of his fathers). Jacob encounters God and eventually the Lord gives him a new name, Israel (Genesis 32:28).

The point is that even in the dark times of life, when we are on a journey toward a place we do not yet see, we are not alone for God is with us. God provides for us and makes His presence known. It is our deepest hope that each our guests found God in a place that perhaps they did not expect to find Him, in a Winter Shelter. We hope they encountered God through His people who gather in and serve Christ in this place. As God protected Jacob, we pray that He would protect our guests, and bring them to the place they need to be. No one places to be homeless, and we pray the Winter Shelter is only a temporary measure on their journey in life.

The facilities were warm in the midst of a cold world; we welcomed them and provided much more than a rock for a pillow. We know that God will not leave us or them. He will protect us and guarantee His presence, especially in times of trouble. Jacob named the place, Bethel, which means, the House of God. Let our facility be forever called, Bethel, (Genesis 28:19) where people find God, even when they might not be looking for Him.

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