Grateful for Freedom

I am grateful for the freedom. It is an amazingthing to live in a country where I have the freedom to worship where I wish, the security to know that no one will move in and take over, the assurance that I can speak and write with a broad amount of freedom. Some may questioned this freedom and how far it goes. The Patriot Act has set some limitations on life and what may be said without concern for censure, but I am willing to allow for some restriction of Liberty to gaurantee security and freedom in general.

During a recent perusal of the writings of John Piper ("The Link is Faith") I found a discussion of "gratitude". Pastor Piper states that true gratitude is "a sense of joyful indebtedness." This adequately describes my feelings towards my country and those who give of themselves that we might free. I feel indebted to those in government who work long hours and have bound themselves to working through the struggles of being a city, a state/commonwealth, a nation. I feel indebted to men and women ( and their families) who serve in the military to serve me and you. I am indebted to those who have heard the call of volunteerism and served without concern for personal recognition. But, primarily I am grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ, my Lord and my Redeemer. Who gave of Himself (John 3:16-18, Romans 5:6-8; and Philippians 2:6-11) that all who receive Him as Redeemer might have access to the Father. Who gives all who follow Him the Holy Spirit that we might become full and complete within the Father's plan and purpose for our lives and for the Kingdom.

Because I am grateful for our country I will honor it and serve as I am called. And because I am grateful to my Savior I will serve Him and honor Him with all my life. Will you join me? He is the Mighty God who seeks to have us fit well in His Kingdom. He is the great Redeemer who offers salvation to all who will receive it. Will you receive Him and will you serve Him?

In Galatians 5:6b, the Apostle Paul writes to believers, "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." Paul is not talking about warm feelings when writes about love. True love may be experienced initially as an emotion but, if it is real, love always expresses itself in action. Then gratitude (an expression of love) becomes more than an expression of appreciation, rather it is expressed in action, in the way I live.

In gratitude might you share the Good news with all who hear. There is more that enough Redemotion and Love to go around.

Praise be to God!

Pastor Al

How Well Do You Believe?

The setting is the City of Philippi. At that time it was a Roman city (originally a military outpost). The Apostle Paul and his ministry team, including the physician Luke and Silas, had ventured through the inspiration and calling of God. In their first days there they prayed with Lydia and a prayer group that met by the river (see the post for Wednesday below), in the days that followed Paul and Silas were acosted by a demon possessed young girl, set her free, and were cast into prison after being severely beaten.

Some would have submitted their resignation after a week like that. They might have thrown their hands in the air and said "Why Me?". But this was not in Paul or Silas nature. In the middle of the prison they began to pray and praise. Well it is Friday. It has been a busy week for me, how about you? Yet, in the midst of all that busyness I have come to value the quiet, out of the way moments, even if I have not planned them. As they sat side-by-side with their legs bound in the stocks Paul and Silas found strength and joy in praying and praising. And about midnight an earthquake occurred that opened all the doors and unlocked all the chains and stocks.

Pay attention with me to the jailer for a moment. He was fast asleep when the earthquake shook him. As he went to check on the prisoners in his care he found the doors wide open andhe feared the prisoners had escaped and he would suffer for their escape. Picture with me this man as he reached for a knife to commit suicide. But, he was stopped by Paul yelling out and telling him no one had left. What ran through this man's mind as he stood there? Something different from normal had occurred, and in response he cried, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Paul responded, "Believe in the Lord Jesus ...".

The word for "believe" in Greek is the word pisteuvo. It is a complex word that does not fully translate into the English language. Pisteuvo carries with it more than an intellectual process. To express pisteuvo in Jesus means involves trusting, clinging, and relying on a relationship with Him. When I trust in someone I am willing to listen and act on what he says. Clinging brings to mind a picture of a young child holding tightly to their parents leg and speaks of developing an intimate relationship with Jesus. And relying on Jesus involves turning to Him as both Lord and Leader.

So, how well do you believe (pisteuvo) on Jesus? And what might you ask God to help you do to believe more fully?

Pastor Al

My Current Christian Heroes

I have some new heroes of the faith I want to tell you about. They are exceptional leaders who have counted the cost and lived vivid Christian lives even when it is uncomfortable to do so.

The first is Pastor Van Thong (Lao People's Democratic Republic) and eleven of his peers were arrested for attending meetings that were organized by Christian Leaders from the West. Pastor Van Thong is the head of the Lao Evangelical Church in his province. Full details as to his condition are not available. Pastor Van Thong hs made the decision to serve Christ fully and to follow Him despite the cost. He has been imprisoned fo rover 200 days, has been denied visitors, and not given an end date for his imprisonment.

A second, hero is Pastor Wang Weiliang of China. Pastor Weiliang and seven other church leaders from the Xiaoshan District were sentenced to, from, one to three and one-half years imprisonment. Four of these men were then given suspended sentences. As part of their imprisonment Pastor Weiliand, and his peers, are forced to make clothing and shoes for export. They have been prohibited from praying out loud or reading the Bible. Soon after they were imprisoned their church building was bulldozed down. Pray for their strength in Christ and for their release.

Would that we all would live our faith with courageous resolve and live out the testimony of the Apostle Paul were he wrote, "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14).

Pastor Al

Which Way?

Over the past week I have been working on a sermon from Acts 16:16-32. In the opening verses, Luke tells about about a woman who followed them as they walked through Philippi. Luke describes this woman as possessed by a demon. I know that it is not popular to suggest that a person is demon-possessed. Some might suggest that she was a confused person, perhaps an individual who struggled with mental illness. Mental illness and there are individuals who suffer with these illnesses, but this woman was not mentally ill.

To understand these verses we need to consider the time frame they are set in. Paul had just recently been called by the Spirit of God to bring the Gospel to Macedonia. In the early part of Chapter 16, Paul, and his team, went searching for a place of prayer in Philippi that met by the river. This was likely a Jewish community of prayer that met in the distinctively Roman community to pray. Jews were despised in those days. When Paul met this community, and its founder Lydia, he introduced them to the Gospel. On that morning a church grew out of a community of prayer. This may have been the first church in Europe.

Luke goes on to tell us that as they were going down to "church" this possessed woman followed them. For "many days" she followed them and shouted out, "These servants are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved" One day Paul turned around, looked through her to the demon, and commanded the demon, through Jesus Christ, to come out of her. A great day of liberation occurred.

It may be difficult to understand what had occurred. Why would a demon possessed woman proclaim the Gospel? Is that not proof that she was merely mentally ill?

There appear to be certain passages that many individuals have pre-loaded as mp3s in their brain and with little trouble they are replayed in out minds. But the "recording" can be misunderstood because we lack enough information. In those days there were multiple associations with the term "Most High God". Christians, and most Jews, will understand this to be Yahweh, the One True God. But, there were other understandings in Philippi. Many Greeks of that day saw Zeus as filling that role. Today there are others. Also, today we hear the words "the way to be saved" to refer to trusting in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. (If only that the whole world would understand this truth and come to Christ. May God be praised!) But in those days, and today, there are individuals who teach there are many ways. In verse 18, Paul set this woman free. Why did it take multiple days before he acted? I don't know. But he did and she was set free from the demon that made a slave out of her.

When you encounter individuals who are confused and misled by false belief, do you take the time to share the Gospel with them that they may be set free and find faith and salvation in the One True God? Or, do you pass them by? Today. Stop! Love them and share the truth!

Pastor Al

When Something New Becomes Available

I visited a young man from my church at camp today. His name is Charlie. Charlie was not sure he wanted to go to camp last weekend. His parents had made arrangments and he was scheduled to leave for camp on Sunday afternoon. But on Sunday morning Charlie was still thinking of reasons why he might not be able to go. Have you ever shared his experience?

In Exodus 3 Moses encounters God in the Burning Bush. (Now Charlie was not confronted by the a burning bush. He was called to move out of his comfort zone.) Moses was called by God to serve Him on that day. Moses was to be sent as God's representative to go before Pharoah and be instrumental in God's plan to set His people free.

In verse 9, God says "I am sending you". God had great plans that involved Moses but Moses was scared. Over and over in the following verses Moses tries to get God to back off and not use him: "who am I" (verse 11); "what shall I tell them" (verse 13); "what if they do not believe me" (ch 4, verse 1); "I am slow of speech and tongue" (ch 4, verse 10); and, "O Lord please send someone else ..." (ch 4, verse 13). Moses found multiple reasons why he would not be able. In each situation God encouraged him. Eventually he went.

As I sit here my mind goes to Matthew 28: 19 & 20, "go and make disciples of all nations...". But, we often do not go. "God I don't know how. They may not listen to me." Have you shared the Good News with someone lately?

Well when I got to camp Cahrlie was glad to see me. He introduced me to some new friends and talked about the good time he was having. What was new and scary was a wonderful thing!

What about you? Has God called you to do something? Has He given you the skills and teh fellow church members (think "team") to be successful? The joy of faithfulness can be all yours.

Pastor Al

Taking the Lead

On Father's Day this year I will be preaching from Acts 6. The church was growing and on the move. And then a crisis developed. There is something sure about crisis. They occur. if you think you will be problem free then you are mistaken. This crisis occurred in an area that was unexpected. Another crisis had been averted and that was the cause. For years the Temple met the needs of Jewish widows who had no other resource for care, the Quppah.

The Quppah was a provision of money enough to purchase 14 meals. Kind of like an early "meals on wheels". As these widows came accept Jesus as Lord there were those who stated if you are going to trust in Jesus then your support will be lost. So the church stepped and cared for these women. It has been suggested that a good deed will lead to crisis, and that is what happened.

There were two groups of Christians: those who came out of Judaism and those that were Greek. And the Greek Christians felt that there widows were being under-cared for. Hence, the problem. It was not that the care of the Jewish widows was problematic but the Greek widows were unintentionally left out.

So what was there to do? The options are always: do nothing, feel overwhelmed, or do something. The Apostles showed Spirit-filled wisdom that day. They called together the disciples, all of them. And they had them choose seven men who deal with the problem. They acted. They led.

What about you?

Will you be frozen in place or, will you lead?

Pastor Al

Back Home

Hi Y'all. It has been a long time since I have written and a lot has occurred. If you have ever looked at my old postings on this blog you will see that I have served as a pastoral care provider for many years in the health care industry. However, God has a way of changing our directions. About a year ago God moved me to Virginia and the pastorate of Colony Friends Church in Newport News.

In many ways these two types of ministries have similarities. On a daily basis I sit and listen to individuals who are seeking God's direction for their lives. (What about you? Have you figured out the direction that God is guiding you and desires to use you.) When I served as a hospital chaplain I spent most of my time paying attention to the journeys, struggles, and dreams of individuals, and groups, one case at a time. Each visit was unique. Each person I spoke to had something they were working through. Weekends offered opportunities for sermon delivery and leading Bible studies. Perhaps the biggest difference in the Pastorate is that I get to preach every Sunday and teach regularly. As a chaplain I would rarely preach the same place two weeks in a row. For the last year I have preached series after series and there is much more to do. As a pastor there is still a significant amount of time to do the one on one work of the pastoral care professional.

So What Next?

Beginning today I am going to begin writing out of my wealth as a pastor. My study in preparation to preach and teach regularly reveals more information than I can put in a sermon or Bible study. So if you pay attention there will be much more to come.

Pastor Al