I am struck with repeating phrases as I read through the section of the Bible on the Kings of Israel and Judah. One phrase is he, "did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as his father David had done." The other phrase on the negative side is he, "did evil in the eyes of the Lord, walking in the ways of Jeroboam and his sin which he had caused Israel to commit."
David was far from a perfect father, that may have been one of his weakest areas, but God still used his influence for generations after he was gone. Jeroboam set a course as a king for the nation of Israel for generations to come; a course of idolatry that they would never recover from and which would eventually be their downfall. Neither David nor Jeroboam was able to realize in his day how he would influence future generations but they each did.
The same is true of us in our day, we are influencing generations to come in ways we do not now realize. God can use the positive even in a flawed life. But in a life that turns from Him, even just a little in the present, the future is drastically altered. Like an airplane pilot or a boat captain setting a faulty course at the beginning of a journey, the mistakes of the present become actions that set us miles off course in the future. Our choices are powerful and important, for generations to come.
Sunday we will look again at how Joshua stood in his day to set the course for another generation, "choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve...But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." Today, with God's help, we can influence a generation yet to come.
For the journey...
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
The Hearts of Children
As I continue to approach being an empty nester, I heard a statement that continues to resonate with me. When it comes to raising children, "the days are long, but the years are short." I look back and wonder where did all those years of raising children go? They are gone and it seems so fast. But I have very clear memories of changing diapers and driving kids to school and it seemed like it would never end on some days. Those were some long days.
'The days are long and the years are short' are not just true in a family, they are true in a church as well. We come to Vacation Bible School week; these will be some long days. But how long do we have to influence a generation? How many times will we be granted the opportunity to explain the gospel to this child or that child. The years can be short.
Let's determine this week to make the most of "today" with the children we have been granted. Let's put aside our inconveniences, our differences, even our fatigue for the sake of the heart of the child who now stands before us. He or she may not stand there next year, in fact, today may be all we have. Let's make the most of it for the sake of the good news of Jesus and for the sake of a generation yet to come.
For the journey...
'The days are long and the years are short' are not just true in a family, they are true in a church as well. We come to Vacation Bible School week; these will be some long days. But how long do we have to influence a generation? How many times will we be granted the opportunity to explain the gospel to this child or that child. The years can be short.
Let's determine this week to make the most of "today" with the children we have been granted. Let's put aside our inconveniences, our differences, even our fatigue for the sake of the heart of the child who now stands before us. He or she may not stand there next year, in fact, today may be all we have. Let's make the most of it for the sake of the good news of Jesus and for the sake of a generation yet to come.
For the journey...
Friday, June 3, 2011
Prayer Muscles
Prayer is in the news today. A judge has blocked even the mention of prayer and the word "prayer" and "amen" from the Medina Valley High School graduation exercises. Judges may be able to block public prayers at public school functions but no one can keep a person from really turning to God. Though I do not agree with that judge, a judge has never been a hindrance to my prayer, busyness, distractions, spiritual coldness - those things have been my biggest problems. I think for most Christians a lack of prayer does not come from being told not to pray but from choosing not to pray.
I came across this statement from Richard Foster that helps me. "We must never wait until we feel like praying before we pray for others. Prayer is like any other work; we may not feel like working, but once we have been at it a bit, we begin to feel like working...our prayer muscles need to be limbered up a bit and once the blood-flow of intercession begins, we will find that we feel like praying."
Individual Christians and churches may need times of their "prayer muscles" being limbered up. This Sunday will be a day like that. I hope you will come stretched and ready for a good workout.
For the journey...
I came across this statement from Richard Foster that helps me. "We must never wait until we feel like praying before we pray for others. Prayer is like any other work; we may not feel like working, but once we have been at it a bit, we begin to feel like working...our prayer muscles need to be limbered up a bit and once the blood-flow of intercession begins, we will find that we feel like praying."
Individual Christians and churches may need times of their "prayer muscles" being limbered up. This Sunday will be a day like that. I hope you will come stretched and ready for a good workout.
For the journey...
Thursday, May 26, 2011
A Message for Graduates
For those of you who have graduated or have had a child graduate from high school since I have been pastor of Northside, you have heard this before. For those of you who have not, this is a story I usually tell the graduates at their lunch on Senior Sunday, like I will this coming Sunday.
My own experience of graduation from high school had it's highs and lows. On a blustery May evening in 1978, on the football field of Yoakum High School, I was given an award from the local Rotary Club that I had not foreseen coming. It was a shock, it was an honor, but that emotional high was short lived. As I sat on the back row of the 144 seniors of my class, a violent gust of wind came down the field, I was able to just barely grab my hat as it flew off my head. As I put it back in place, I realized the tassel was gone. I looked behind me toward the end zone, there was my tassel, headed for a touch down. I did not think I had time to get it before my name was called to go receive by diploma so I had to let it be. As I went to get my diploma with no tassel a more humbling thought came to me, my tassel just amassed more yards on this field on a Friday night than I did playing four years of football.
Highs and lows, I don't know about you, but my high school years were full of them, often very close together. It has been that way through the rest of life, but life does get better than high school. It is a good thing to know that God is there to help us handle both the ups and downs, the highs and the lows. The longer I live, the better I see Him do that. May God bless your highs and lows with his steady presence.
For the journey...
My own experience of graduation from high school had it's highs and lows. On a blustery May evening in 1978, on the football field of Yoakum High School, I was given an award from the local Rotary Club that I had not foreseen coming. It was a shock, it was an honor, but that emotional high was short lived. As I sat on the back row of the 144 seniors of my class, a violent gust of wind came down the field, I was able to just barely grab my hat as it flew off my head. As I put it back in place, I realized the tassel was gone. I looked behind me toward the end zone, there was my tassel, headed for a touch down. I did not think I had time to get it before my name was called to go receive by diploma so I had to let it be. As I went to get my diploma with no tassel a more humbling thought came to me, my tassel just amassed more yards on this field on a Friday night than I did playing four years of football.
Highs and lows, I don't know about you, but my high school years were full of them, often very close together. It has been that way through the rest of life, but life does get better than high school. It is a good thing to know that God is there to help us handle both the ups and downs, the highs and the lows. The longer I live, the better I see Him do that. May God bless your highs and lows with his steady presence.
For the journey...
Thursday, May 19, 2011
When the World Ends
By now you have heard of Harold Camping's prediction that the rapture will take place this coming Saturday. According to the 89 year old engineer Camping, this is the day based on calculations he has made that include a wide variety of factors - from Biblical prophecies to the founding of Israel in 1948 to data he has gotten from tree rings.
Camping is not the first to set a date on the rapture, though he has spent the most money announcing his prediction in media and advertising. He will not be the last. The response of people has ranged for all out belief and preparation for the end to mocking ridicule. A local chapter of the American Humanist Association is hosting a two day party, Saturday and Sunday. An atheist in New England has started a business offering to take care of raptured Christian's pets after they are gone - $135 for 10 years of care, up front of course.
I remember reading of another time of dire predictions about the end times based on strange signs in the heavens including an unexplained darkness in mid-day. One legislative body was debating about ending their session during this darkness, when one wise man argued they continue. He stated, if this was the end and he was about to meet his Maker, he wanted to "be found at my post."
Jesus is coming back but I am preparing my sermon for Sunday. It is about "What Happens When You Read the Bible." I plan to see you there.
For the journey...
Camping is not the first to set a date on the rapture, though he has spent the most money announcing his prediction in media and advertising. He will not be the last. The response of people has ranged for all out belief and preparation for the end to mocking ridicule. A local chapter of the American Humanist Association is hosting a two day party, Saturday and Sunday. An atheist in New England has started a business offering to take care of raptured Christian's pets after they are gone - $135 for 10 years of care, up front of course.
I remember reading of another time of dire predictions about the end times based on strange signs in the heavens including an unexplained darkness in mid-day. One legislative body was debating about ending their session during this darkness, when one wise man argued they continue. He stated, if this was the end and he was about to meet his Maker, he wanted to "be found at my post."
Jesus is coming back but I am preparing my sermon for Sunday. It is about "What Happens When You Read the Bible." I plan to see you there.
For the journey...
Friday, May 13, 2011
A Healing Place
This week I heard a doctor make the statements, "chronic life-long problem," and "trying to avoid a total breakdown." He was referring to a painful foot problem that I have dealt with for almost a decade. A typically successful surgery I had in 2008 has turned out not to be. That surgery cannot be repeated or corrected. I have tried a host of other options. I am trying another type of custom orthotic in my shoes that this doctor had made for me. In receiving them, I heard those statements.
Before I had any of this information, I had felt led to preach this week on the power of Jesus' touch. In Matthew chapter 9 there are a series of people he healed. He was touched by a woman and a chronic life-long problem ended. He took a girl's hand and she returned to life. He touched the eyes of blind men and they could see.
Sometimes you preach to others; sometimes you preach to yourself. This week will be the latter. I am profoundly interested in what God will say. I know I am not alone. Perhaps you are reading this and you have a much more serious life threatening or life altering problem. I pray that Northside can be a healing place for all of us. It is what we will focus on this Sunday. Pray for me and I will pray for you. I look forward to seeing you Sunday.
For the journey...
Tim
Before I had any of this information, I had felt led to preach this week on the power of Jesus' touch. In Matthew chapter 9 there are a series of people he healed. He was touched by a woman and a chronic life-long problem ended. He took a girl's hand and she returned to life. He touched the eyes of blind men and they could see.
Sometimes you preach to others; sometimes you preach to yourself. This week will be the latter. I am profoundly interested in what God will say. I know I am not alone. Perhaps you are reading this and you have a much more serious life threatening or life altering problem. I pray that Northside can be a healing place for all of us. It is what we will focus on this Sunday. Pray for me and I will pray for you. I look forward to seeing you Sunday.
For the journey...
Tim
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Osama's Mama
In all the discussion of Osama bin Laden this week, I have heard something about everyone around him and in his life - except his mother. I decided to do some checking. The most information I found comes from a book, Bin Laden: Behind the Mask of a Terrorist by Adam Robinson.
Bin Laden's mother was a beautiful young Syrian woman named Hamida who caught the eye of Osama's father, Mohammed, late in his life. Mohammed bin Laden was wealthy, powerful and had 10 or 11 wives and somewhere around 54 children. Hamida did not like living in Mohammed's compound among his many wives and children and she was divorced soon after Osama was born. In the time she did live there, she was ostracized by the other women. Hamida was called "the slave" and therefore Osama was called "son of the slave." Osama was raised mainly by nurses and nannies in the compound after his mother was sent away following the divorce.
When Mohammed bin Laden died in a helicopter crash when Osama was ten, Osama went to live with his mother whom he barely knew. He felt abandoned after his father's death. His mother tried to reach out to him but he kept his distance from her and according to Adam's book, within a few months there was no interaction between them for the rest of their lives.
Is there some connection between the absence of a mother figure in his life and the way Osama bin Laden's life turned out? I cannot help but think so. Bin Laden never valued other people's lives and certainly not any woman's life. Where do most people learn to value life and other people? My experience says a mother has a big role in that. How the world may have been different if Osama and Hamida had a close relationship? Our family life determines so much of our future. Who knows what might have been?
I do know that there are many women in difficult circumstances who do an amazing job and raise remarkable children. One such woman was Hannah the mother of Samuel. We will look at her life this Sunday and see the how God can bring fulfillment even in circumstances that are less than ideal. I hope to see you Sunday.
For the journey...
Bin Laden's mother was a beautiful young Syrian woman named Hamida who caught the eye of Osama's father, Mohammed, late in his life. Mohammed bin Laden was wealthy, powerful and had 10 or 11 wives and somewhere around 54 children. Hamida did not like living in Mohammed's compound among his many wives and children and she was divorced soon after Osama was born. In the time she did live there, she was ostracized by the other women. Hamida was called "the slave" and therefore Osama was called "son of the slave." Osama was raised mainly by nurses and nannies in the compound after his mother was sent away following the divorce.
When Mohammed bin Laden died in a helicopter crash when Osama was ten, Osama went to live with his mother whom he barely knew. He felt abandoned after his father's death. His mother tried to reach out to him but he kept his distance from her and according to Adam's book, within a few months there was no interaction between them for the rest of their lives.
Is there some connection between the absence of a mother figure in his life and the way Osama bin Laden's life turned out? I cannot help but think so. Bin Laden never valued other people's lives and certainly not any woman's life. Where do most people learn to value life and other people? My experience says a mother has a big role in that. How the world may have been different if Osama and Hamida had a close relationship? Our family life determines so much of our future. Who knows what might have been?
I do know that there are many women in difficult circumstances who do an amazing job and raise remarkable children. One such woman was Hannah the mother of Samuel. We will look at her life this Sunday and see the how God can bring fulfillment even in circumstances that are less than ideal. I hope to see you Sunday.
For the journey...
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