Recently I was listening to an older sermon from Ozark Christian College chapel, and I heard a statement made by David Erikson. He said,

“Fear is faith in negative outcomes. To overcome our fears, we do not need to change the object of our fear, but rather the object of our faith.”

I hope I wrote that down exactly right. I listened to it a couple of times. It was a statement that I found insightful. Maybe today you need to hear these words, “God is bigger than whatever scares you.”

Most people I encounter have a tame view of Jesus. They picture him as a likable Mr. Rogers type character who has good intentions while he was friendly to everyone and overflowed with happiness. He didn’t judge people. He turned the other cheek. He healed everyone and left a wake of smiley happy people.

Unfortunately, that is not the Jesus of the Bible. The real Jesus as recorded in the gospel accounts was not always so nice. I am not going to reference every scripture, because you can do that, but let me share a few stories.

Jesus frequently opposed a group of individuals called Pharisees. He calls these guys hypocrites and whitewashed tombs. Neither of these names is a compliment. He made these guys so mad that they plotted to kill him. Once he confronted the money changers who worked with these people in the temple, he overturned their tables, and one account says he used a whip while driving them out.

We like and agree with many of these stories in principle. All of us hate religious charlatans who prey on the weak and emotionally vulnerable. If you want to write a best seller, then publish a book about the evils of Church leadership and how you hate them too.

This leaves us convinced that Jesus was only upset with the Pharisees but was kind to spiritual seekers. He was gentle with those who wished to follow him in an effort to have a more significant impact. Once again, the Bible does not paint us that picture of him. One woman comes to him and wants to be healed, and he calls her a dog. Another time a rich young ruler comes, and he tells him to sell everything he has and give it to the poor. Still yet, the crowds begin to swell and he proceeds to instruct them to take up their cross and follow him. In John, after he feeds a large group of people, he then preaches the sermon on the bread of life and everyone, but his twelve followers seem to leave. He continually calls out people for their weak commitment and his desire for fully devoted followers.

Well, okay a few times he comes off a little unhappy, but his teaching was full of love and grace. Not so fast. He told people that there is only one way to heaven. He frequently spoke in his parables about the coming judgment of God. Jesus actually said people that there was a real place called hell and some people would spend their eternity there.

Occasionally when I tell people about all of this, they tell me that this was just the way he appears in the gospels. After his death, burial and resurrection everything changes. If someone suggests that idea to me, then I encourage them to read the letters to the seven Church in the book of Revelation. Jesus tells the Churches that there is a group of people he hates. He actually seems more frustrated and demanding in these letters.

Here is my point: a nice friendly Jesus is easy to shape and mold. He likes the same things we do, and he doesn’t approve of the characteristics of which we do not agree. He does not require us or anyone we know to change. He affirms our self-righteous behavior and sin without question. Unfortunately, he is not the Jesus of the Bible.

Jesus desire is for all of us to live in a right relationship with God. Sometimes that means we have to hear the hard truth. Sometimes that means we need to change. Sometimes it feels like the surgeon is cutting us just to hurt us and not to heal.

Please don’t mishear me. I am not suggesting that Jesus followers need to be a group of mean, judgmental people. Christians are not to be angry all the time as we live with a continual sense of moral outrage. We do however need to be serious about what it means to follow Jesus. We need to be honest about what Jesus said. We are required to lead people into the change that the gospel demands. And sometimes this doesn’t come off as nice. I really wish it did.

Jesus desire for righteousness superseded his need to be nice all the time. Perhaps his followers need a different set of criteria to evaluate his work … and ours.

It has been said in several ways, but the general idea is the same. People have said, “I am a practicing Christian.” Others have asked the question of, “Do you still practice your faith?” At first, it seems like an odd expression, and yet it remains so prevalent.

There are two other places I hear this type of phrasing used repeatedly. One is about the law. People will say, “He has a law practice,” or “I am no longer practicing the law.” The other place it is used is in the medical community. Someone is described as working in the medical practice, and even my doctor is called a general practitioner.

The phasing seems odd because we do not want our doctor or lawyer practicing with us. We want professionals who know what they are doing and did their practice on someone else.

A study of the use of this word will lead you in a couple of different directions. One has to do with the meaning of the word practice and its British form “practise.” There are alternative meanings to consider along with knowing the context to determine its exact meaning.

The other reason people call these disciplines a practice is because they are both never complete. The laws are always being reinterpreted, and medicine is continually learning from new tools and drugs. Medicine and law are job categories where you never stop growing in your knowledge and application.

This is what I love about the term, “the practice of faith.” Faith is not a destination but a journey. You need to be continually learning and growing. There is always something more to know or something new to experience. Faith, like medicine and law, push us to expand our current knowledge for our benefit and the benefit of those around us.

Today, know that no one expects you to have mastered your life with God. Simply take this day to learn something new and try something different. Today is a good day to practice your faith.

Here are some of the very best things I have read in the past few weeks. I hope you enjoy them too.

3 Things That May Be True if People Are Constantly Complaining to You – Great insights.

What Should I Think About During the Lord’s Supper? – As a Church that takes communion every week. I found this helpful.

Everyone’s Pastor, No One’s Friend – Written for Pastors, but good information for the congregation to know.

The second bowl – Seth is always brilliant.

Jesus begins Matthew 6:26 by saying, “Look at the birds of the air.” He goes on to say, “they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” Well, I want you to consider them today for another reason entirely. I want to take a few minutes to ponder the perseverance and hard work of birds. I want to focus on a couple of birds in particular.

On the front of our Church building, three wreaths hang with plastic flowers. They are bright and beautiful and give a nice appearance to our entryway. Unfortunately, they also attract nesting birds. Three years ago, some sparrows built their nests on two of the wreaths. It was cute for a time. Then the babies were hatched in one of the nests, and they began producing waste. It quickly covered the front of the building. The other one was a more tragic tale where the mother disappeared, and the babies jumped to their death. Both scenes were ugly and required me to clean up a mess that I was not expecting.

Last year the birds returned. They began building their home, and when I noticed it, I removed the sticks and brush from inside the wreath. The birds left, and the story was over.

This year has been a different story. As of today, I have removed eight different nests from the front of our building. I take it down in the morning, and by afternoon they have built another one. This process has repeated itself over and over. Now we have had quite a bit of rain, and the birds have gone from using sticks to grass and mud. Today I scrubbed down the front of the building and took the decorations down. Now I have taken them down before, but well-intention Church people have discovered them and put them back up.

All total, for three weeks I have been in an ongoing fight with some sparrows and robins. While I am going to win this fight, I do admire these bird’s perseverance. They keep working. Even when I inflict what I think is a significant setback, they go right back at it. Nothing seems to deter them from their task. Even with their desired location gone, they will find another place and tomorrow they will have a complete nest nearby in which they will lay their eggs.

Eugene Peterson tells about watching a kingfisher one day from the deck of his house. It dove 37 times in the lake before it finally caught a fish. He was amazed at the resilience of this one creature. They can do the same thing over and over until they get the desired result.

I too stand amazed. Today I consider the birds of the air or in this case, the birds of the Church. They labor and work until their work is done, no matter how much I stand against them. May God give us all a measure of bird-like perseverance in life.

This morning I feel the best I have felt in four days. I am not saying I am back to one hundred percent, but I am on the road to recovery. Sickness has hit me every way this week. Nausea gave way to a sore throat, then to a stuffed-up head and finally a fever. Somewhere in the darkness last night, my fever broke, and I began to sleep well. This morning I woke up feeling better and can see wellness in the immediate future.

I openly admit, since Sunday my head has not been clear, and it has been hard to keep a train of thought. I still managed to get my work done although I have not been as productive as I like. Last night after work I lied down and took a nap. When I awoke, I remained on the couch rotating between hot and cold about every half hour.

Lying there I was thinking about all the things we take for granted in this life. God has blessed all of us abundantly. He has given us brains with the ability to remember and process information. He gave us bodies that we can use so freely. We live in a time of medicine that we can take and help our aches and pains. Our life, health, family, modern conveniences and a hundred other things bless our lives every day. Yet, they are so easy to take for granted.

My friend in ministry talks about people who are “heart attack living.” He says that after someone has a heart attack, they look at life differently for a while. They have stared death in the face, and they come back different. They tell their family they love them; they walk slower and notice more. Life is this rich blessing that they have missed, and for a time they come in tune with it.

A man cold is tough, but my experience was not near a heart attack. It does have me pondering all the gifts we have in this life. What would happen if we noticed all of life’s little blessings? Maybe we would be more grateful and less critical. Maybe we would be more thankful and less demanding. Maybe we would need less and appreciate more.

I am happy to be feeling better, and I am also thankful for all that God has given me. How about you?

Recently I was reading an advertisement, and it had an asterisk at the end of one of the sentences. This led you to the bottom of the page where there was some important information. After adjusting my bifocals, I could read, “Offer not available to employees and their families … Offer not available to residents of Alaska and Hawaii …” There were all these restrictions to the original statements made in bold print.

Often, I feel like when we read the Bible, we add an asterisk where one does not exist. We believe that the idea in that passage has restrictions. Those words do not apply to us.

Sometimes we add this little piece of punctuation to keep us from feeling bad about faith. We know Jesus wants us to go and make disciples, but that doesn’t apply to the young, newlyweds, new parents, parents of teens, and senior citizens. Surely Jesus understands that we cannot keep that command at this point in our lives?

Sometimes we add the asterisk because we don’t feel good enough. Sure, God loves the world, but he doesn’t like adulterers, fornicators, drunkards, and sinners. Jesus came for good people, and I am not that good. Surely God’s love in Jesus doesn’t apply to my life.

My thought for today is simple; don’t add an asterisk where one does not exist. God loves you. He also has commands he wants everyone to follow. You are not the exception. There are no restrictions listed in the fine print, no matter how close you look.

Yesterday I woke up feeling horrible. My throat hurt, my body ached, and I felt nauseous. Usually, I would call in sick and work when I felt better, but this was Sunday morning. There is really no one to call when you feel unwell on Sunday morning as a Pastor. Generally speaking, no one can whip together a sermon on short notice and speak for me. So, no matter how I felt, I got up and went to the Church building and prepared for worship.

I followed my normal routine and tried my best to keep the sermon clear in my head even while it was spinning. When worship started, I tried singing, but the vocal cords were not going to have it. I coughed, my throat pain increased and felt nervous about standing to speak. In the middle of the worship time, nausea increased, and I was unsure I was going to make it. Then I stood up to speak.

Surprising as it was, I did not feel the least bit sick while I was preaching. I remembered every word from the sermon notes that I wanted to say. I felt strength and the power of the spirit as I taught. In the end, I felt good about how everything came out.

When both programs were over, and two sermons were complete, I was wiped out. I was more exhausted than I had been on Easter. The afternoon held a two-hour nap for me as I tried to regain strength. Despite taking all my energy, the morning was a success for the kingdom of God.

I hesitate to call what happened yesterday morning a miracle. It could be explained as pure focus, adrenaline or just a feat of the human will. For me, there was something more to it. I needed God’s help, and he provided me with exactly what was required.

This is not the first time this has happened in my life. God has shown up for an untold number of sermons, lessons, and conversations in my ministry. Still, every time it amazes me. This time I do not want to let it go by unnoticed. I want to take this moment to encourage you. Whenever you step out on faith in your service to the Lord, I believe God shows up. He gives you the words to say that someone needs to hear. He gives you the strength of spirit to get through stressful moments. He will work through you if you allow him. These experiences might not be the miracles, but they are the small works of God that increase his kingdom on earth through you.

Last weekend was the holiday formally known as Easter. It is the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead as a Church body.

Several years ago, a person asked me, “If the resurrection is so important, why do we only think about it once a year?”

My response to them was that the Church focuses on the resurrection every week. The followers of Jesus meet every Sunday morning because that was the day Jesus rose from the dead. In the Old Testament, people observed the Sabbath which is Saturday. The early Church changed their meeting to the first day of the week to connect their faith specifically to Jesus.

I don’t know whether you were at Church last weekend for the special holiday weekend or not, but we will be celebrating the resurrecting again this weekend. The followers of Jesus will get up on Sunday morning, the first day of the week, and they will connect with other people who follow Jesus in worship. We will sing the praises of God and talk about his will for our lives. While we may not specially refer to Jesus rising from the dead, the very act of gathering is a declaration to the world that he has risen. He has risen indeed.

I hope to see you on Sunday.

It seems that almost every day I read an article about the demise of the Church. Churches are closing, attendance is dropping, and the “Nones” are rising (people who claim to have no religion). While I read these posts with great curiosity, I do not believe they tell the whole truth about the Church and all things spiritual. Here are five reasons I am optimistic about the Church’s future.

1. The Loss of the Half-Hearted. A couple of the articles I have read recently explained that people are attending worship gatherings less frequently. Then they go on to tell that those who are attending less are people who have a “lukewarm” faith. In other words, those who genuinely love Jesus and have a deep faith are not leaving the Church. The people of God have always moved forward with faithful believers in the lead, and it will do so in the future.

2. Blank Slates. Most of my ministry life has been spent either correcting poor teaching or trying to overcome past hurts inflicted by someone in a Church. Whenever I encounter someone who has no preconceived ideas about Jesus and his body, it is like a breath of fresh air. I can teach them the truth and work through their questions without trying to fix the past.

3. The Pendulum of Life. At one point in history, people may have seemed very close to God while now they seem very far away. I believe you can only get so far away from God and the pendulum begins to swing back the other way. The history recorded in the Bible is of a people who leave God and then need him. The history of all of humanity is basically the same.

4. Technology and Tools. The future of mass communication has never been so bright as it is today. Videos, podcasts, live feeds, and streaming are just a few of the tools the Church is using to touch the world. Personally, I am in the beginning stages of creating a video series to answer basic questions about things like the Bible and how to use it. The opportunities to share our faith abound.

5. God is Still in Charge. God has a way of making bad things turn out good. This may take a thousand forms, but he has the power to bring a change in a short period of time. Whenever people drift away from God, it isn’t long before he steps in and makes everything right again.

As a pastor, I do not worry about the future of my Church. I see a future full of great possibilities for the gospel message of Jesus to grow and expand. It may not look like it has for the past 200 years, but the body of Christ will move forward boldly into the future. I have only good thoughts about the direction the people of faith are headed.