Follow me into the Deep

Deep waters are unsafe.  Have you ever had that moment of swimming in the ocean and suddenly realizing that you are far from shore -and all you can think of is a scene from Jaws?

Deep waters lead to uncertainty.  Once when swimming in a lake Up North, I saw a silvery oval shape pass deep below me. It freaked me out until a few hours later when I realized it was a turtle swimming deeper than I.

Deep waters require courage.  A few years ago, I navigated a canoe along the inland water passageways in upstate NY. I felt safer when we were nearer the shore -as you could see the bottom and quickly swim to the land.  However, traversing the open waterway brought fear and dread.

In Luke 5.1-11, we find a simple story where Jesus calls some local fisherman out to deep waters. Experienced fisherman knew that going into the deep waters -during the day- is pointless.  No net would be long enough to descend to where the fish were hiding.  The fishermen relent, follow Jesus to the deep and experience a once-in-a-lifetime catch of fish.


It seems to me, that Jesus often calls us to the Deep Waters of our lives.  He wants us to follow him in ways that may seem unsafe, uncertain and that might require courage. Maybe it is showing up at Church for the first time in some years, or joining a study, or taking a meal to the neighbor across the street. Two other pastors that I serve with at Southbrook Church, both were active at Church -as regular normal people -before leaving their jobs and coming on staff. They followed Jesus into the uncertainty of becoming a Pastor.

It may be that God is calling you into the deep, to an area that seems out of your comfort zone. Instead of fighting this call, embrace it as this may be exactly where God wants you to be.

Macklemore's 'Same Love' - Tragedy and Truth

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis won big during Sunday's 59th annual Grammy Awards.  They won for Best New Artist, Best Rap Song, Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Album.  Their performance of 'Same Love' -an anthem for marriage equality- featured Queen Latifah officiating the wedding vows of 33 couples - during the show.

OK, so a middle aged white guy likes rap. Please just stop.  But its true. I've always had a thing for rappers who are considered socially conscience artists, like KRS-One and Lupe Fiasco.  Of course we all know that The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy's 1992 album: Hypocrisy is the Greatest Luxury -stands in a class all by itself!  I have the cassette tape some place...

Macklemore's fame is a result of his pro marriage-equality song, 'Same Love.'  It received tremendous airplay, precisely striking the American cultural zeitgeist with regards to gay rights.

'Same Love' contains both tragedy and truth.

Macklemore sings of truth....

'Gay is synonymous with the lesser

It's the same hate that caused wars from religion

Gender to skin color, the complexion of your pigment

The same fight that led people to walk outs and sit ins

It's human rights for everybody, there is no difference!'

Violence and discrimination for people because of their sexual orientation should have no place in any society. All are created in God's Image and therefore possess the same dignity, rights and worth. 'Human rights for everybody' should extend from the not-yet-born -to the rapper feted at the Grammys.

Yet the tragic element of the song is what struck me...

'And I can't change

Even if I tried

Even if I wanted to'

This chorus is repeated throughout the song, and is sung as a justification of same-sex attraction.  At its heart is a tragic world-and-life view.  This view affirms that we are pre-determined along a set course in life and lack the ability to change.  This fatalistic view states, 'this is how I am and I can't be anything else.'  In my opinion this is a tragic and depressing way to experience life.  There is no hope, no possibility of change, no opportunity for course-correction.

The Christian world view claims that change is possible, that decisions that we make here-and-now can actually lead to a new and different life. The Bible relays the stories of women and men who experienced true and radical life-change.  Our churches are filled with those whose faith in Christ allowed them to start again in life - to experience life as it was meant to be.

For me this is personal.  For years I battled anger with a short-temper fuse.  I disliked how I was; but am certainly glad that true-life does occur.  The hope that is found through submitting to Jesus is one that can produce an authentic change...

In this way, Macklemore's song, 'Same Love' contains Tragedy wrapped in Truth.

Sunday Morning Leftovers - The Baptism and Temptation of Christ

Southbrook Church's focus on Sunday January 26th, 2014 was on the Baptism and Temptation of Jesus. 

At first I thought that these two events were somewhat isolated from each other. But as we continued to study and learn, we were able to see that these events are not only inextricably linked, but that they reflect back to other temptation accounts in the Bible.

We had time in the service to show that the three temptations that Jesus encountered in Matthew 4 were actually echoes of earlier temptations regarding God's people and Moses.  Jesus quoted from the book of Deuteronomy Chapters 6 and 8 -while resisting Satan's temptations.  In Deuteronomy Chapters 6-8 Moses is about to lead the people into the Promised Land.  They had just spent the previous 40 years in the Wilderness and Moses wanted to remind the people that they failed when tested. Jesus, by quoting Deuteronomy Chapter 6-8 is declaring that he is unlike all those who came before him.  He is unlike the nation of Israel, unlike any of the Prophets or Kings that preceded him.  He is a king unlike any the world has seen before; because he was able to resist the temptations that came his way.

But there is more...  Think of the first temptations that were given to the first people.

In Genesis Chapter 3v1, Satan tempts Eve to eat of the tree.  By appealing to her physical appetite, we see a link to the first temptation that Jesus experienced, 'turn the stones into bread.'

In Genesis Chapter 3v4, Satan's second temptation is to tell Eve that 'you will certainly not die.' Satan appeals to Eve's personal gain, which links us directly to the second temptation of Jesus, 'you will not hurt your foot.'

In Genesis Chapter 3v5, Satan's final temptation is to tell Eve that she can be like God.  By appealing to her personal power and glory, we can see the final link to the last temptation that Christ experienced, which was for him to have all the world's kingdoms.

The first humans had a perfect environment possessing everything they wanted.  Yet they lost it all, plunging the world into chaos and death.  

Jesus is called the 'second Adam.' Instead of the perfect environment, he had the isolation of the wilderness.  He was hungry and alone.  Adam and Eve lost it all in the garden, but Jesus won it all on the Cross.  Destruction came because of Adam, but Salvation comes from Jesus.

The depth and beauty of God's Word...!

The Temptations -

Temptation seems to easily come my way. Pride, lust, control, even superiority -appear at my door, at my step, and in my life.  Sometimes I will commit myself to a new plan of overcoming them, other times I will confess to a friend and seek his help.  But more often than not, they continue to try and trap me.

Maybe you can identify, may be not.  It seems like each of us is tempted -but in different ways. One friend can't have a glass of wine, while another brews his own beer.

Is there a pattern that we can follow to help us overcome the temptations that we face?

We read in Matthew 4 that Jesus was tempted. But when we read the story it seems bizarre and with little relevance to us today...

We find the Spirit leading Jesus out to the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. Satan tempts Jesus to turn stones into bread, to jump from the Temple and finally to bow to Satan in exchange for authority over the world.

Two extremes should be avoided when studying this passage...

• We must be careful to blame God for causing temptation.  James 1.13 makes it clear that God is never directly responsible for temptation.

• We want to avoid ascribing to Satan the power to act independently of God.  Satan can only act within God's sovereign will.

The First Temptation is for Jesus to turn the stones into bread.  This temptation is all about Jesus using his power for his personal gain versus using his power to advance God's mission.

The Second Temptation is for Jesus to throw himself off the temple and have God catch him.  Satan is wanting Jesus to test God, pushing Jesus to see if God will serve his personal needs.

The Third Temptation is for Jesus to bow to Satan in exchange for the kingdoms of this world.  This final temptation involves immediate success- instant gratification.  Satan tempts Jesus to skip his suffering and to become popular right now.

The temptation story reminds us that Jesus was unlike previous Kings, that he was unlike Israel. They succumbed to temptation, while he placed his obedience to God before his personal desires.

Now we can see the link to us today...
The triple-threat of Relevance, Popularity and Power are some of the greatest temptations we face. Jesus shows us the antidote, which is obedience to God.

6 Ways to Make Your Church the Worst!

If you are looking to ensure that your church experience is the worst it can be, then here are six sure-fire tips that anyone can do!

1. Sit in the same spot each week
Most of us are creatures of habit.  This can work for our benefit (creating regular times of prayer and study), but it can also be a detriment (we avoid meeting new people).  By sitting in the same spot each week we only connect with the same people and deprive ourselves of meeting others.

2. Avoid Serving at Church
Something powerful happens within us when we serve. Serving others at Church is not only a great time to meet others, but it also helps us put our faith into practice.  If you want your church experience to be the worst, then please, don't serve....!

3. Skip the Studies
Most churches have at Small Groups or classes that you can attend.  These are great opportunities to grow in your faith and to meet other people on a similar spiritual journey. Skipping the studies will help you get the least possible out of your church experience.

4. Hold onto Past Hurts
So many of us have been hurt by past church experiences. I have realized that at times I've held onto to hurts too long, thereby keeping others at a distance and preventing others from getting close enough to speak into my life. Holding onto past hurts too long can prevent us from being vulnerable with others. Great relationships at Church flourish on transparency and authenticity...

5. Judge the Motives of Others
Do this and you will be sure to have a miserable time at Church. Question the song selection, the pastor's attire, and the ill-advised tattoo on the person right in front of you... and while you are at it, know that someone is judging you as well!

6. Don't Prepare for Sunday...
My wife and I attended our church for 18 months before I came on as the associate Pastor.  Four years later I became the lead Pastor.  There were plenty of Sunday's that I came to church and thought that the sermon and the music- had nothing to say to me.  Then there were times when I knew that the pastor was speaking directly to me. When I rushed to church and when the last thing on my mind was what the message was about, then I received little from my time at Church. But when I came to church prepared, in the right mind, and excited to be there- then I received so much more out of everything. A wise woman once told me, 'Sunday Morning starts on Saturday Night.' If you want your church experience to be terrible, then don't prepare for Sunday.

How about you, what are some other ways that you can be sure and have a bad church experience?

Sunday LeftOvers: Getting into Church - January 19th, 2014

Johnny Carson's life is both tragic and instructive.  A few months ago our family watched a Netflix biography about the former Tonight Show host.  We had thought it would be a collection of his funniest bits and jokes, but instead it told the story of his personal life.  He longed to be loved and truly known.  Deprived of his mother's approval, his four marriages and numerous affairs testify to his search for acceptance.

Johnny's quest to be truly known and personally loved is one that Christians will affirm- is ultimately found in Christ.  The Christian world view states that we are created in the image of God, and therefore we are created with a desire to belong to something greater than ourselves.  Everything that we are to do as followers of Christ, we are to do in community with one another.

Connecting with a local church can be a trying experience.  We've either been hurt by church, felt the sting of an icy glare, or even betrayed by a friend...  But for as much as we may have been hurt in the past, we need to belong, we need to connect, we were created to be a part of the Church.

If you do not have a church home, then let me encourage to start the process of landing in a church that will help you grow in your relationship with Christ.... it is the most rewarding thing you can do!

Hurt by Church

My role as Pastor has me meeting many people. On one level this is quite humorous, at least to my wife.  While dating in College, I was not a people person, and had to be coaxed into talking to others. She reminds me how I told her mother, that all I wanted in life was to be left to myself in a room full of books...!

Now I find myself continually with others, but honestly, most of my meetings are spent listening. For whatever reason most of the stories that I have recently heard involve people being hurt by Church.

A profound sadness comes over me after hearing these stories.  Seeing the heartbreak and the pain of others -at the hands of those who should know better- is both difficult to hear and to process. Following Christ is difficult enough, but to feel sabotaged by fellow Christ-followers - often leaves us broken.

Why is this?  Does your past church experience involve heartache and difficulty?

I'm closing in on 20 years in full-time vocational ministry and have observed a few sources of pain and heartache:
-Leaders whose insecurities guide their actions
-Followers who project too much authority to their pastors
-Leadership Teams who fail to ask the tough questions
-Pastors who use their power for personal gain
-Pastors who fail to serve in ways that humble themselves
-Members who view others through the lens of their past hurts

So my plea to you is this, if you have been hurt by Church...
-Please give it another try
-Realize that your pastor and those around you often carry wounds
-Understand that the joy of a solid community can negate the pain of past hurts
-Affirm that at some point you too may have hurt another person

Another View on the Duck Dynasty Controversy

We don't have cable, so my first foray into Duck Dynasty occurred during my Summer 2013 Sabbatical. Friends loaned us their condo, and one night Lynn and I binge-watched about 10 episodes.  Duck Dynasty is tremendously funny, obviously scripted, fairly mechanistic and possessing one of the most unique personalities in reality television: Uncle Si.

We know the story of what happened next.  Phil Robertson, the patriarch and founder of the Duck Commander company, gave an interview with GQ, in which he expressed his opinions on homosexuality and race-relations.  A&E, the network which holds the rights to Duck Dynasty, suspended Phil Robertson.  Critics were quick to condemn Robertson's beliefs; causing many Christians to come to his defense.  The Christian reaction was immediate, intense and effective.  After nine days, Robertson was reinstated by A&E.

Maybe now that the dust has settled it is time to offer some counter-points to the status-quo reactions offered by many Christians.

1. It is wise to avoid the Celebrity-Christian-Who-Speaks-For-Me mentality.  

Christians love to attach ourselves to culturally-hip representatives because it not only validates our beliefs but allows us to feel hip and cool.  It could be a band (U2/Switchfoot), politicians (Huckabee/Obama), celebrity pastors (Olsteen, Stanley), or reality-television show families (Robertsons/Duggars). When we do this though we are captive to the ebb and flow of their fame.  I'll attach my identity to Jesus and to His Word, but to no one else.

2. What does our response to A&E actually say about us?

Immediately after the Robertson suspension, many Christians leaders were calling for boycotts, pickets, and petitions.  The blogosphere and Facebook were inundated with Christians urging the faithful to use their economic and monetary power to 'bring back Phil.'  But do we ever stop and ask what is the cost of using this power?  A consistent pattern in scripture is to avoid using earthly means to accomplish spiritual goals. Earthly power is seductive and tempting; but it is contrary to Jesus' actions.  At his arrest Jesus told Peter to return his sword to its scabbard; and Paul reminds us that our battle is not against, 'flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers...'

3. Why are Christians shocked and surprised to be mocked by our culture?
Christianity is a counter-cultural.  The cause of Christ stands in direct opposition to the patterns of our world. Following Christ means that surrender brings victory, service brings exaltation, and suffering brings redemption.  Jesus continually told his followers to expect to be mocked and persecuted.  Why are we surprised then when this happens to us?

4. Jesus tells us how to act when offended and hurt.
Read the Beatitudes from Matthew Chapter 5: 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are the meek, blessed are the merciful, blessed are the peacemakers.'  Christians are instructed to respond to persecution with prayer, to respond to mockery with love, to hardship with service.


Now that the dust has settled, it would be wise for Christians to evaluate our initial responses so that we can not only be better prepared to respond -the next time; but so that we can more effectively model Christ to a world that desperately needs Him.

Sunday Morning Left-Overs - Finding My Purpose in Life

Finding our Purpose in Life can be complex and confusing, right?  There are so many competing answers and conflicting ideas that shape our perception of our Life's Purpose.

Over the past few weeks I've had the chance to ask many people about their life's purpose.  The answers varied from, 'I have no idea,' to 'leaving the world a better place.'

To this end, there is an entire industry devoted to helping people identify their purpose in life; yet at the same time so many of us are unable to identify our Life's Purpose.
Jesus was once asked, 'What is the greatest commandment?'  The question was a trap, a bomb thrown at him hoping it would explode.  Jesus' reply is found in Matthew 22, "Love God and Love Others.'

Love God and Love Others seems so simple, and in some ways it is.  But to do so brings radical change to our life.   Loving God means surrendering to Jesus, obeying His commands and placing him first in our lives.  Loving Others means putting their needs first, and celebrating the value that comes from a result of being created in God's image.

Why do you think that there are so many competing answers to the question, 'What is your Life's Purpose?'

Have you found Loving God and Loving Others to be easy or difficult?