Hope Reformed

So Thankful Jesus Didn't Respond Like We Do

2009-10-20T22:04:00.002-04:00

I was reading today about the night before Jesus was killed in Matthew 26. I was simply amazed at what took place but even more surprised at what didn't happen. What happened was Jesus expressed His desire not to die. No real big surprise there. Can you blame Him. I don't know who really looks forward to a painful death on the cross like Jesus knew was coming. But what Jesus did was He submitted His will to the will of His Father. Amazing. Jesus didn't take a poll of the disciples and see what they wanted. He didn't go and feed 5,000 more people and then ask them what they wanted Him to do. Jesus didn't start a campaign to get His wishes done either. Jesus simply went and spent time alone with His Father and learned His wishes. He surrendered any possible pleasure for what was more important...the Father's will. I am so thankful He did it the way that He did. I hope that I can live and lead like Jesus. I hope that I don't try and accomplish my will and my wishes, but instead I can accomplish God's will in my life and His desires alone for me.

Bumps in the Road

2009-10-06T13:28:00.003-04:00

I was reminded this week how easy it is to get "knocked" off course. So many times we are waiting for the big "bumps" in the road to divert us from where we are supposed to be heading, when in reality it is often the little bumps that make the biggest difference. I often wonder why God has called me to be a pastor and why He would call me to Grand Haven? I know why, but I still ask the question on a regular basis. Why? Not why am I a pastor or why I am in Grand Haven, but why do I ask why? I realize that though the questions can be good, they can also be the most dangerous things to ask. They are often the little bumps along the course that simply divert me from where I am supposed to be heading and the course that I am to take to get there. I am certain that I will still ask the questions, but I am also certain that I won't stay consumed with the questions as long as I have in the past and will instead press into the future that I am certain God has for me and Hope in Grand Haven. Better days are ahead. Questions will be asked, but the course must stay steady.

Letting Go

2009-08-10T09:34:00.003-04:00

Yesterday in church I talked about what things we would be willing to let go of completely to allow God to advance His Kingdom. During the time of prayer following the message I prayed for God to reveal to everyone what was that one thing that they still held onto. For me, God revealed a very clear picture. It was a picture of me holding onto our double stroller that can also hook up to our bike. I saw God taking my fingers off of the grip one at a time. I will admit, when I saw this picture I was terrified and somewhat relieved. I thought I had already given God my kids, but apparently He didn't think so. I consented and told God and everyone that was listening that I would give Him my kids.

Fast forward to last night. We were doing our typical family routine of walking the boardwalk in Grand Haven. We simply love doing this. We put the two younger kids in the same jogging stroller that God had shown me and we allow our two older kids to walk. Most of the time Kari wants to get out and walk too but we usually make her ride in the stroller until we get to the BIG rocks to climb on. It is my favorite thing to do as a family. We always end up at the beach and the kids have fun playing in God's big pool, Lake Michigan, until we need to head back to the car. There is usually a stop at one of the nice ice cream parlors on the way back to encourage them to move a little quicker. There is almost a friend of the kids with us too. If you are counting while reading this, that means typically 5 kids and two adults. Last night, we had 6 kids, and thankfully a college friend of mine was in town and wanted to do the "Taylor Walk" too. So we started our walk. Before leaving home I noticed that there was a chance for rain around 7, but until then it was supposed to be nice. As we got closer and closer to the Lake front the clouds got darker and darker. The kids had endured the walk so we needed to let them have a little fun in the lake.

After the kids had been in the water for maybe 5 minutes the State Park security came down on the beach telling everyone that a fast moving storm was quickly approaching and everyone needed to leave immidiately. Usually statements like this don't send me into urgent stage, but the look on the security officials and the look of the clouds sent me running to get the kids all together and heading for safety. We had parked nearly a mile away and I knew we needed to hurry. Anyone that has pushed a stroller in the beach knows how much fun that is but I was pushing with all my might to get the kids up the hill as fast as possible. As I started moving I noticed everyone else was moving quicker, which made me want to go faster too. And so I did. I tried to look behind to see if Tricia and Doug and the kids were on their way, but everytime I turned around the sand that was being blown at sustainable winds of over 46 miles per hour would simply blind me. Thankfully the jogging stroller has a cover which kept the babies dry, but this acted like a sail or a kite pulling me along the boardwalk now faster than my feet could move. I would try and place my heels solidly on the ground at certain times to try and guide our direction more than to slow us down. Now I'm a big man and to have this type of wind literally pulling me, you may begin to understand the force with which I was being dragged. But I had to hold on tight to my babies. I was praying the whole time for Tricia and Doug and the 4 other kids. I was hoping that at some point the clouds would simply part and the rains would stop and the sun would begin to shine again. This never happened.

What did happen was the Coast Guard Post along the boardwalk was open and allowed people like myself to enter in for safety. It was such an incredible sense of relief to know that the babies and myself were safe, but I continued to walk outside hoping to see Tricia and the kids. The storm was a fast moving storm but it felt like hours until I saw my kids and Tricia walking up the boardwalk. When they saw me they came running to tell me about Annah's bravery in helping Gabe find his lost flip flop. Or Gabe's bravery in not crying when his face hurt so bad. They had been allowed to enter into one of the ice cream stands on the boardwalk and were all safe.

As we returned home I stopped and picked up pizza at Pizza Hut. Apparently we got one of the last pizza's before they ran out of crust. There were few, if any lights on in town and roads blocked off all over because of fallen tree limbs. In fact right near the church a limb fell and crushed and killed a man in his car with his wife and baby both safe. Through this whole storm I was reminded of our fagility. I was reminded how quickly things can go from peace to a storm but then back to peace again. As Tricia and I layed in the dark as our kids were going to sleep, I was also reminded of the vision that God had shown me holding onto my kids in the same stroller that I had just been holding onto. I really "thought" I had let them go and trusted God to care for them. I "thought" but I hadn't really. I had "said" all of the right things, but as the wind was pulling my babies and me I realized that I still trusted doppler radar more than God. I trusted my ability to protect my kids more than God. I trusted so many things...more than God. It literally took a massive storm like we had yesterday, killing one person, wrecking havoc on thousands of others, to realize my need to completely let go and trust God for everthing.

What's important

2009-07-01T09:27:00.003-04:00

It is hard to imagine that June is over. Summer is nearing the half way point. Where is the time going? I often ask that question, but I should now the answer. Time is one of the most valuable things that we have...and it is wasted over and over again. I know that there are days that I need to sit on the couch and simply relax. But somehow the "days" have become "months" and time slips away. Things that were once important have now been replaced by things of lesser importance. Where has all the time gone? Somehow I have to return to doing and being about what is important. I have to allocate my time to these important things. I can no longer wonder where it has gone. Being and doing the things that I know I have been "called" to do should be a priority. Being a good husband and father should be the top of the list. Then I can put time into seeing the community that I am a part of look a little more like heaven. I really think the two go together though. If I am loving my wife and my kids...hopefully others will follow and the Kingdom restored can be a reality here in Grand Haven. This is important and I should put some time towards it.

It's been a while

2009-04-17T15:31:00.002-04:00

It's been a while since I have posted anything. I think there are a few reasons why. The first is the easiest...I wonder sometimes, is it worth it? Is anyone reading it and is it the best use of my time. As I have been working on the sermon for this week I have been personally challenged by a lot of things. The biggest though is something that continues to ring true...it's not about me. It's not about the time that I put into it. It is not about the number of people who do or do not read it. It is about Jesus. It's all about Jesus. It's about Jesus and what He did for me on the cross. Everything that I have is because of Him. EVERYTHING. I've got to stop thinking that there are parts that are necessary for me to be involved. God can and does use me, but it is all about Him. I can't lose sight of that or else all is lost. Keeping Jesus first is what the world needs. Keeping Jesus as the primary reason for all I do allows me to be a child filled with grace, mercy, honor, forgiveness, joy, peace, self-control, really all things. All things are made new and right through Jesus. It's all about Him! Praise God!

What is imortant?

2009-02-21T07:05:00.000-05:00

Have you ever played this game before? You are stranded on a deserted island and you can only take three things with you to survive…what would you take? It has gotten a lot harder now because you could answer it with smart answers like, “an international cell phone” or “global positioning system”. But a few years back you really had to think about it. Would you take a book? If so which book? Would you take a person with you? If so which person? It really made you think about what was really important in life; what things you value.
As a follower of Jesus we are faced with a very similar question in today’s world…what is important to us? Much of what we have held as important is being stripped away and we have to discover what really matters. We can look back at days of yester-years when Wednesday nights were sacred in the community and everyone was involved in church functions. That does not happen anymore. There was a time when prayer was as much a part of school as reading and writing. That does not happen anymore. It causes us to re-think what is important in our relationship with Christ.
We also have to think about what is important when we gather together? As we study God’s Word what are the essentials to be the Body of Christ? There were things that growing up I was told were essential that I have since discovered are not found in scripture. We live in a culture that desires authenticity. They not only want to know what works, but why it works. As we look to allow God be relevant in our lives and in the lives of those we encounter we have to be able to answer the questions that are given to us clearly as to what is important.
What the Church in America is experiencing is no different than what was experienced by Calvin, Luther, Augustine, Aquinas and even the leaders within the church immediately following the original apostles. This was part of the reason why in the 2nd Century The Apostles Creed was developed. It defined what was essential. What was important. Everything else could be debated, but these things that are included in this creed were important.
That same thing was asked of Jesus. What is really important? The religious leaders were trying to trap Jesus all the time and would ask Him questions hoping to capture Him. What they discovered is what was really important to Jesus. He was not concerned about the trappings of religion that the leaders had added to their faith. He was concerned about their heart. He was concerned about their concern for their neighbors. He scaled back all of the other “stuff” that had been added and made it simple. Change your heart and change your world.
This question needs to continue to be discussed…what is important? What is essential? Jesus answered it already…Change your heart and change your world. How are you going to answer it?

Gifts--the best

2009-02-16T14:16:00.003-05:00

I wonder why I settle for second best when I have available to me the very best...but I often do. I have been given the opportunity to experience and embrace God's total love for me and I often push Him away. I think I do that because I am afraid that if God really knows me, I mean the dark deep areas of my life, He might not like me. He might reject me. So I push Him away. I never realized how I intentionally choose to make mistakes in critical times of life because I am afraid of the intimacy with God. His very best.
I realized that I often settle for second best when it comes to joining God in what He is doing too. I have available to me the best resources but instead I choose something less. I chose to use the best that I have to give. I could use the resources of God Himself. The power that brought back to life Jesus Christ three days after He was laid in the grave. The same power that called the world into existence. I wonder why I rely on myself rather than on God. Do I really think that I am better? Do I think that I can impress God if I do it without Him? What exactly is it? I am crying out for deeper intimacy with God now. I am crying out to deny myself and trust in God completely for all that I need.
Why do we push God away? Why do we rely/trust in ourselves rather the gifts that He has given to us to do what He wants us to do?

Communion--Love Feast

2009-02-08T08:31:00.002-05:00

This week we looked at Communion being the "Love Feast of God". We are called to examine our lives and discover if we are to receive Communion. If we take Communion with impure motives, than according to Scripture we are as good as dead. Not very encouraging words. How do we know if we have pure motives though?
If we read 1 Corinthians 11 in context we discover that pure motives happen when we are in love with God and when we love others. The church in Corinth had created road blocks to others receiving Communion and Paul viewed those actions very unloving.
This caused me to wonder...how am I doing? Do I love God? It is easy to answer yes, but very difficult to be sure. I know that I also love coffee. I love my wife. I love food. I love the Colts. Where does my love for God fit in? Do I really love God? Scripture adds to the love of God loving others. Do I love others or do I just tolerate them? There are times that I know that I do not love or like people and as I examined this scripture I realized that I cannot/do not receive God's grace when I view and treat people this way. It is so hard to stay on top of this. I have found that there are things that I can do to make sure I am loving people with pure motives and based on my love of God. I was wondering what are things that you do to make sure you "stay in love with God and love others as yourself?" Hopefully this discussion will encourage us as we pursue Christ daily in the community that we live and as we prepare to receive Communion, the Lord's Love Feast, next week.

Communion--February 1, 2009

2009-02-03T10:33:00.003-05:00

This past week in the service we discussed how God desires the family to teach, to raise up, to educate the kids in the family of the things that God has done. It is amazing how God uses something like a celebration meal to declare His provisions for us. I also realized how as I was studying this, I don't take my responsibility very serious often. I allow the teachers at school to educate my kids. I allow the Sunday School teachers to educate my kids. This is my responsibility. It is one of my biggest responsibilities. I must stop taking this responsibility so lightly.

Another thing that I realized as I was studying the idea of Communion is how I don't take my own studying very serious. I allow one book or one author or one pastor decide what I believe. I accept it all wholeheartedly rather than seriously studying what God is speaking at that moment. For years I have allowed tradition to teach me how to view Communion. I allow tradition to be my professor. God wants to be our teacher. He wants us to seek His face continually on these matters. It is good to learn from others but it cannot take the place of actually sitting in the presence of Papa yourself and hearing from Him what you are to learn.

Are there things that you think Papa wants you to learn that you have allowed others to be your teacher? I would love to hear and see your thoughts about this.

What keeps you from sharing Jesus' love with others? Sermon from January 25, 2008

2009-01-28T14:13:00.003-05:00

At last weeks sermon we saw a video that asked a question, "If we saw a truck heading towards someone, even if they didn't believe that they were going to get hit, would we dive and tackle them to get out of the way?" The answer to that question is hopefully, "YES" Of course we would do such a thing. The question then was asked, "Why wouldn't we do the same about our beliefs about Jesus? Do we either hate the people around us that much or do we not really believe?" That question has haunted me since I saw this video the first time. I am sitting in a coffee shop right now typing this and I wonder, "Do I really believe that Jesus died for these people? Do I believe enough to go from person to person and share this truth with them? Or am I more concerned about their response?" I know for me my fear of other people's response often prevents me from acting, but should it? I was wondering, what is it that prevents you from being bold in sharing the truths of Jesus to those around you? I look forward to the thoughts.

Destination

2009-01-20T07:51:00.002-05:00

We have so much to look forward towards here at Hope. I have found it helpful to keep my face pointed in the direction that I am heading--even in a stiff blowing north wind in the winter. The question that you may be asking is this...where are we going? This is such a great question. Where are we going? When going on a family vacation, knowing the destination allows you to decide if you want to go on the vacation and what you should bring. It is equally valuable to know our destination as a church and allow others to know if they want to join this journey with us and if they come, what they should bring.
First the destination. This never changes. Our destination is to BE THE CHURCH. The Church that Jesus established when He walked earth. The Church that Jesus poured His blood on the cross for. We are not a business. We are not a social club. We are clearly and unashamedly the Church. To be the Church means that we have a mission given to us by God. We have been enlisted in seeing the Kingdom of God come here on Earth, just like it is in heaven. Now this is where things begin to change. It is very difficult to define the specifics of what THE CHURCH looks like and even more what tools are needed to establish it. The tools actually begin to shift. While one tool is necessary for a certain opportunity to advance the Kingdom at a particular time, it may not be required later on. Our focus does not shift to the tools though. Our focus remains on the goal: The goal of being the Church and advancing God's Kingdom. When we strip everything away and focus on this goal we begin to move forward rather than being entangled by the tools that were meant to build The Church. Rather than be the church. This was a part of the corruption that was fought in the initial reformation by Luther against the established institution.
Now that you see the destination you can better decide if this is where you want to go. Christ calls in Matthew 11:28 for all people to come to Him who are weary and burdened and He will give us rest. This call to the people that are listening is the same call to us today. Those that want to go on the journey with us need to recognize their need for Christ. They need to realize that the path that we create on our own will only lead us to become more tired, more burdened. We do not have the answers. We do not always know the specifics to the journey. We simply know the destination and the one that has given us this mission--Jesus! Daily we are called to hear His voice; to discover if we are to veer to the left or the right or stay in the center, but always moving towards the final destination. It means we are all valuable in insuring we maintain our proper course. The Church has been called the body and the body needs every part functioning the way it was created to be successful.
Some may not desire to be a part of The Church here at Hope because of the tools that are being used at this particular time. That is okay. We understand. I also know that there are many people that desire to be a part of the greater goal that has been given to us at Hope-The Church, and the mission-The Kingdom Come. Everyone that calls themselves a follower of Christ though must use whatever they have to see this goal and mission accomplished. It is a journey. A journey that I am excited to be on and a journey that I am thankful to have you, my friends of Hope here in Grand Haven, working with me to see happen. May God be glorified through and in us!