Blog for Tonight, June 22, 2013

What a privilege to be able to serve our LORD, to see Him at work in the lives of folks around me. Today was a

special day to serve Him. How? A beautiful wedding for a beautiful young couple. One of my favorite parts of ministry is to have the authority to perform weddings. Crystal and J.P. are beautiful. The location couldn't have been prettier. Even though we had to hurry because of lightning and rain, God's blessing was very apparent. 

I used two words in that paragraph that might not be high on your list of words to use when describing a wedding. What are the words? They are "serve" and "authority." I used the same scripture today that I have quoted at dozens of weddings, Genesis 2:24, "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." Hidden in the middle of that verse you can find meaning for both of those words. 

Serving one another is the best way to leave, be united and become one, as the verse describes. The way to accomplish this miracle, serving each other for a lifetime, is to daily ask certain questions, like, "how can I best serve my spouse." Another is, "how does my service to GOD deepen my service to my spouse?" It can all be boiled down into a statement, with the authority of the Scriptures, that, "I best serve GOD by serving others, and especially in our marriage." 

 

The word "authority" is also bandied about quite often in  relationships, with folks demanding "their way." Whether in marriage or in church, or in any of our other relationships, if you have to demand authority, you don't have any. Some church leaders have allowed elected names or titles or other forms of stated authority to swell heads and cause tension. 

Our sermon from Mark 1:21-34 this weekend is a gentle reminder for such leaders, "And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” Dear ones, love one another, for love is of GOD and everyone who loves is born of GOD and knows GOD. At the surface, that kind of love seems most apparent at a wedding. As I left the picture taking to others, I visited with a family member who has been married since 1968 to the same man. She could teach you something about authority, about service and about loving. GOD Bless Crystal and J.B. GOD Bless your bride, MCC. big marv 

Tonight's Blog, Monday, May 17, 2013

Father's Day, 2013 ended up being a much needed "Pick-me-up" this year. Being a dad has been the best part of

my life.  By the number of years or quality of time or another comparison you might make, being a husband and a dad has defined me and has made me happy. It has also tested the fiber of my being and my character as I have tried to juggle being married and being a dad with my passion to serve our LORD and His people for even longer. Anyway this father's day has been humbling and encouraging at the same time. Marge made it special by arranging my life so that I am able to enjoy my family more because of her skills as a manager and a friend. My children were great, as always, by giving me what I need. A briefcase that rolls? Only a dad with a sore shoulder and heavy older lap tops would fully understand how thoughtful, generous and kind that gift was. Phone calls and texts and trips "half-way for a picnic were "icing on the cake" this time.

Pictures on Facebook with dozens of nice comments continue to remind me that I am valuable because the people who know me best say so. Yes, humbling and amazing, and kind, and gentle, I love my family and am so blessed.

Sunday's sermon, number 2 in our "StoryTellerS" series, wasn't supposed to be a "Father's day" sermon, but it was. It was about the first call of Jesus His first disciples, to "follow Him and become fisher's of men." His call was to two sets of brothers,  James and John, sons of Zebedee and Andrew and Simon, Sons of Jonah. Mark's Gospel has an interesting fact about this moment that might slip past your notice as you read the first chapter. It involves what was left behind to follow Jesus. 

One set of Brothers, Andrew and Simon Peter, left the nets, immediately, and followed Jesus. The nets, I believe, symbolized our personal identity. I mean the part of most of us men including our jobs, or finance, or our standing in the community. You know, our "nets." This part include my dad and 37+years showing up at Ford Motor Company,  hours before daylight, to work, so that we would be taken care of by a dad and mom who could have given up but didn't. Anyway, Peter and Andrew left behind their "nets" at least for a while. To become "fishers of men."

The other set of brothers James and John, sons of a guy named Zebedee, left their dad, and immediately followed Jesus. Their dad had servants, so he might have been richer, I don't know. What I do know is that the text says that "they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants." Peter and Andrew left nets. James and John left their dad. It wasn't an accident that John Mark, our author, included that fact. Many of us believe that he suffered from "separation anxiety" and turned back to leave Barnabas and Paul in Acts so that he could be back with his close knit family. 

The story for our Father's day is even richer when the level of intensity escalates to include some choice words about the greatest "Father and Son" team. Jesus left behind as his "nets" a place of greatness and beauty and love, Heaven! He also left His Dad to be raised by a step-dad, a good one named Joseph, but still, "he wasn't exactly GOD, was HE?" Anyway, His dad, our Father in Heaven, would later turn the sun black for about half of the time His son was dying on the Cross. The WORD has a Story, He is a Son, and so our Father's Day remembrances wouldn't be complete without hearing the pride in HIS voice, as HE brags about Jesus, "And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.' "

So, I finish this Blog entry, sorry if you miss the point, and yet I have to try to explain. I love being a Christian, it is the only life that makes any sense to me anymore. I Love being a dad and a husband. I love knowing that most of the time, the best that I can be and give and do is never good enough, but is always good enough for YOU LORD. And for that I thank you, LORD. big marv 

Tonight's Blog for June 7, 2013

Last Night I ended my blog by introducing an approach to writing and preaching that will help to form my approach to a study of Mark's Gospel. It will also help me to keep my focus as I think about important people in my life. Here is my quote, "That is my Story, and I am sticking to it, to the end!" big marv the StoryTeller.

Today, my Story is about my brother Marty, who is 60 today. Amazing! My brother Marty was always smarter than me, and prettier than me and I miss the time when I could drive him

around in my car, with a girlfriend in the back seat. Marty was a better athlete, and had something like 8 varsity letters by the end of his Junior year. I didn't.  While he was smarter, still is, and prettier, yes here too, he was also 14 months younger and I had a car. We were both good guys, so the time was spent with small talk and stolen kisses, which was also ok with me. I love that we weren't just brothers but we were friends, with similar values. He was the president of the youth group, when I was working to make gas money to drive us around. He was in church more than me because I was opening up the store at McDonald's most Sunday mornings because I didn't always get along with our preacher. Most days I was proud of how he looked like a young and good looking Elvis before I knew what that meant. I liked Marty then and I like him now. 

One time I was gonna quit Bible College because of money and how hard it was. Marty was one of the ones GOD used to help me stay. It wasn't a big deal to him, he just called me in the Dorm at Ozark Christian College. All we did was have some small talk, and catch up on things back in New Palestine. All he did was remind me that he cared enough to get my dorm phone number and call. I don't think I ever told him thanks for calling, but I guess that is what I am doing now. Thanks Marty, thanks Mom and Dad, thanks Mary, thanks Myla. I was blessed to be the middle child growing up with you guys to love me and to help me grow. I wasn't always very considerate, but you helped GOD to make me a better person. Tonight I am glad that you are my family. Marty is 60. Amazing! 

Sunday, I am starting a new sermon series, called "StoryTellerS" It is a look at the people in Mark's Gospel and how they were changed by Jesus.  My family made it possible for me to love Jesus, and to love myself, and that is good. "StoryTellerS" is my attempt to help my family at MCC to know how much I love them by helping them to develop their story, their testimony. Have you started writing down a few thoughts about your life? Someday you will be glad if you do. Jesus changed our family by giving us hope. We didn't have to turn out like everyone else. We didn't have to see ourselves as poor or any other categories of people who get looked down upon by others. Dad and Mom were young and could have quit when Mom us all by her 22 birthday, but she didn't. She also made sure we were able to go to school and to church and even combed the second hand places for clothes to wash and iron and we looked pretty good. 

"That is my Story, and I am sticking to it, to the end!"

Tonight's Blog for June 6, 2013

History is built on Dates and Places and People. Today was D-Day. Did you remember? There have been dates in

our history as a nation that need to be remembered, places as well, and of course, people. This one, June 6, 1944 could have happened on a different day, since weather and preparation and thousands of other details converged to make this one day, D-Day, the day. The same is true of the place. Not every one was informed as to the specific beach on Normandy, France, where they finally decided to invade. People could have changed as well. Since this was late in the war, and many had died and many more would die, General Eisenhower wanted as big of a force as possible, with the best chance of winning, so that the war could be over. 

With all of those variables in place, we find this as the day we remember and the place we fought and the people who were willing to obey the orders and fight the battle. Once in my ministry, I mentioned D-Day, wishing others to see my patriotism and pride in the accomplishments of those who were willing to give their lives for our freedom. After all, I had read a book, not a small one either, about the battle. I had also seen a movie, I think John Wayne was in it! From those two sources, I was certainly not an expert, but was prepared to share my thoughts anyway. 

Anyway, in the crowd that day, we had some folks stand who were able to say that they were involved in the WW 2, as soldiers. One soldier was there for the battle. He saw people die. He had friends die. Beside him. In his arms. Those memories made my paperback book version and my black and white movie version, while accurate and comprehensive, seemed to pale by comparison to one who knew the battle and lost friends and family on this day, D-Day. 

Dates, and Places and People. Remember I started this blog with an observation about each? I know Dates, not just about America and not just about the part of the American Church I love. You see, I have dates to remember, like Pentecost, the birthday of the church as recorded in Acts 2. I know about Jesus because Dr. Luke carefully records for us some world events and leaders who were alive when He was born. I know dates. 

I also know Places. Did you know that it is very dangerous for a man to try to disprove the Bible by doubting the archeological record of Acts? Ask Dr. Ramsey, he set out to disprove the Bible by attacking the historical record of the Places. Guess what? Dr. Ramsey became a believer. 

I also know People. Did you know I talk to Jesus every day? He said it was ok to do that. I love HIM, and HIS people, the Church. I won't forget that when the battle seemed lost, and I seemed headed for disaster, HE had an invasion plan for me! D-Day for our country was June 6, 1944. D-Day for big marv was Sunday, June 11. That was the Day that Jesus invaded me and my heart, and I surrendered to Him. How do I know? It is in the Bible they gave me, and I carried with me to Bible College and the Bible I still have. 

That is my Story, and I am sticking to it, to the end! Tonight I pray that you will take a few moments to thank GOD for sending His Son, Jesus to invade your heart. big marv the StoryTeller

Tonight's blog for Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Some friends from Bible College, Jim and Nancy, were fun to travel with and to laugh with. When I hear from them, we are all transported to those good days of serving God with kind friends. I remember that they were good in difficult times as we started our ministries in opposite geographic ends of the state of Illinois. I remember their faith and am glad when I think about them. Today I got picture from them on Facebook that I want to share with you. I made them think about me when they saw a fellow in bibs, ha. I love the

values espoused by the picture. We are a people, as a nation and as our churches have been, who find ways to celebrate, to worship and to find Joy! Anyway, the picture speaks a volume to me, tonight, as I sat down to share a few more thoughts about the 'Sons of Korah' in the Psalms. Korah died for his sins, for his rebellion, and for his attacks on his cousin Moses. He was a Levite, and should have gloried in the fact that he was a key worker for GOD. He wanted more, and was swallowed up by the ground because of his own actions

Careful reading of the Psalms helps me to realize that Korah didn't leave behind rebellious or lazy or divisive kids. His descendants, the "Sons of Korah" actually wrote several of the Psalms. They include for us some of the most beautiful words about GOD and His work with the nation of Israel. Although they talked about depression and going through the valley of weeping, they also exhorted us to "shout for Joy." They include many other phrases that are familiar because of songs we sing, like "better is one day in your courts" and "clap your hands" and "How great is the LORD" and "there is a river that brings JOY to the city of GOD" and others. 

The point for me is simple. Forget and forgive those who sinned against you or the sins you have committed. Remember to sing praises to GOD. Clap if you can, right, Miss V? Be loyal to those who are part of your circle of love and trust. Walk daily in worship, even if you don't feel like it! It is ok to clap your hands even if you don't have good rhythm! It is great to long for Heaven. It is ok to dream that our worship can be a foretaste of what we will do in heaven! God has always blessed those who seek Him, even us "Sons and Daughters of Korah." The picture of a man with overalls, and the quote from Thomas Edison surely could be seen in the lives of the sons and daughters of Korah. I won't forget that they were able to rise and praise and seek opportunities to serve our LORD. 

One of my favorite verses in Psalms is attributed to these opportunistic, optimistic, persistent psalmists, "‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth’” (Psalm 46:10).  God BLess you, big marv

Tonight's Blog for June 3, 2013

How would you build a house, that GOD would live in? Our churches have struggled with the word "church" used as a place. We have preferred to say that, "we meet in a church building, but we are the church." There are some reasons for us to call attention to this preference. First, there were no church buildings during the most explosive expansion of the church during the first three hundred years. The christian faith was illegal for most of that time, or at least barely tolerated. Not until after 313 a.d. do we find Christianity recognized as legal. With this change, churches met in homes and other available places. 

After Christianity became "legal", the emphasis was no longer on people, becoming disciples, but now was on places. Many were used before the change for other kinds of worship, and were simply "baptized" and had a cross added to make them into instant churches. Without disciples, there are no churches!

So, my initial question was, "how to build a house that GOD would live in?" Does He really care? One preacher wrote a book on the physical and spiritual aspects involved, called, "When GOD builds a Church." While it is a very good book, and gives ten principles for growing a dynamic church, there are some questions that we still have to ask if we are to continue to honor GOD and seek to have our Goals coincide with His intentions for His Church. Remember, Jesus said, "… I will build my church, and the gates of hades will not prevail against it." Since we are HIS church, well, you see my dilemma. 

This idea certainly isn't a new problem. Solomon wrestled with the idea at the dedication of the first building that GOD allowed to be built for Him. In 1 Kings 8:27 we hear the doubt in his prayer, "“But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!" Not just a building, but the whole world was lacking a suitable place for God to live!

In the speech by deacon Stephen in Acts 7: 48-50, we see a quote from an o.t. prophet that spoke to the point, "But it was Solomon who built a house for him. However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says:

" ‘Heaven is my throne,

and the earth is my footstool.

What kind of house will you build for me?

says the Lord.

Or where will my resting place be?

Has not my hand made all these things?’ "

The speech by Paul on Mars Hill gives the best explanation for me. Talking to the people who were very much like many of our contemporaries today, his audience was was educated, religious, and uninformed. He gave us our answer in Acts 17:24, "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands." 

So, I started with a trick question, "How would you build a house, that GOD would live in?" The answer is, "You can't!" Paul let his audience to a different conclusion, "It never was a building that GOD wanted to build, HE wants to build people" One part of the process is the word he introduced to the Athenians in verse 30, "In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent." Repent? Yes one of the key steps in our walk with Christ has been neglected if we forget that WE are HIS Temple, and that HE won't ever build a church building until HE has built a church! GOD Bless you, as HE continues HIS good work in you." big marv

Tonight's Blog for Sunday, June2, 2013

I love to finish the day with a few moments reflecting on the faces that have been a part of my circle of friends.

Friendly faces, smiling faces, shining faces. If you are paying attention, and especially when someone has their "mask" off, you really can see right into their soul. What mask you may ask? We all have occasionally chosen to hide our true feelings, often out of consideration for those we love. After all, who wants to be so transparent that anyone can read your thoughts or your true emotions all the time? 

Tonight, I'd like to turn it around a bit, and think about a

mask to show our true selves. Not a mask like the greeks wore when acting. That was the idea behind the word, "hypocrite," wearing a mask to disguise your true self. It usually was accompanied by words that were emotional or loud but not true reflectors of a person's character. Not much honesty in a mask. 

We read in Exodus 34:29-35, "When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the Lord had given him on Mount Sinai. … When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. But whenever he entered the Lord’s presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord." 

Paul understood the mask and the radiant face of Moses, as he talked about a transition from the old covenant to a New covenant. In 2 Cor 3, we read, "Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts! … Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away."

Oh, so many observations to make from these scriptures, but my thoughts tonight are about the sadness I feel for Moses, and yet an obvious kinship as well. Like Moses, I love being in YOUR presence, LORD. And like Moses, many of us have grown accustomed to "masking" our true feelings. No MORE! Lets practice the presence of Christ, and show HIS love this week. Our new covenant gives us access, directly to our LORD. Will you wear His shining presence on your face tomorrow? No masks? No pretend civility? GOD, bless your saints to be honest and open about our walk with YOU, in YOUR presence, with shiny faces, and glowing love for all you love. big marv 

Tonight's Blog for June 1, 2013

I love how the Psalms written by the Sons of Korah reveal to us a lot about the price they paid for the sins of their ancestor, Korah. He wanted to be in the main "spotlight." GOD has always allowed us to use our gifts for His work, and success in ministry comes from finding a way to do what you love, with people you love, for a GOD you love, within your area of giftedness. Korah was a natural leader, and wanted to be recognized. God had different plans for the nation of Israel and the sins of Korah caused the death of Korah. 

The Sons of Korah, over the next 200 or so years, were leading the worship for the nation of Israel. They could have given up, or allowed the shame of their family name to destroy their usefulness to work for GOD but they didn't. But, don't forget that their was a price to be paid, tendencies to be resisted, and promises to be kept. 

First, the price to be paid for their service to our GOD. It was mostly emotional, mostly internal, but very real. They suffered from internal pain, depression, and loneliness even when they were with the folks who came to worship with them. Externally, there were sleepless nights and teary eyes as well. 

Second, the tendencies to be resisted were theirs then and ours today. We often forget that our worship is a gift to GOD, the audience of ONE. No part of what we do on Sunday Morning is important if we forget that. GOD isn't interested in the style, number of instruments or other external issues. HE wants us to worship in Spirit and in Truth. There is a real GOD, who deserves our best, and He is the target. Be careful, dear ones, of making it about what we want… what we should want is for GOD to be pleased with our service, and our services. 

The third part of to keep our promises. The sons of Korah remind us that they put their hope in GOD, and put their praise on their lips, and to remember that HE is still our savior and our GOD.  GOD, YOU are our Savior, thank you. GOD, YOU are our GOD, we bow our wills to YOU. 

One last reminder about the sons of Korah. They were the "music people" of the nation of Israel. They were the choir directors. They were the artists. They were very necessary and were to be honored by those blessed by their gifts. They also have a tendency to see things differently than others. One preacher called the music department the "war department." Another preacher famously said that when Satan fell from heaven, he landed in the choir loft. Whether we agree with their assessment of the situation, it is important to remember the sins of Korah, and the sons of Korah so we can rise above their legacy. 

GOD Bless us tonight, big marv