WHEN THE KINGDOM INVADES MY STINKING THINKING

There is a running joke in my family that I have a crush on theologian NT Wright. Anytime we are in a conversation and a certain truth is mentioned I interject and say "NT Wright says"...It causes quite a stir, eyes start rolling and the laughing begins. All joking aside I don't have a crush on NT Wright but it wasn't until I heard NT lecture on the book of Romans that my understanding of the message of the Kingdom of God started to invade my stinking thinking. 

Let me explain, as he expounded on the scriptures, I had read over and over again, it was like dots being connected and suddenly I started to see the totality of the message of the Kingdom of God.  My spirit leaped within me and when I heard statements like  "the new age had broken into the midst of this present age" and "we are called to be truly human after the model of the Messiah",it was as if I was born again, again. 

The Kingdom message has radically reordered how I see myself, unbelievers, the body of Christ and specifically all that God has done in and through Jesus Christ. I have laughed, cried and mourned as my life is being challenged with the most extraordinary message in the world.

I recently had a conversation with a friend on the topics of forgiveness, restoration, God's judgement and justices. As I sat and listened statements like these were said:

• I will forgive but won't forget.
• I believe in reconciliation but not necessarily the need for restoration.
• I am not the judge and God will judge those who have hurt me.

 I found myself agreeing with each of these statements. After all, I had said and heard them throughout the years.  
Hours after the conversation Kingdom thoughts started to invade my "stinking thinking".  "What if God's judgement is executed by an outpouring of love? Jeannette, will you be happy? What if justice comes in the way of blessing? What if Kingdom reconciliation is only seen in restoration? What if true forgiveness means covering over an offense as if it has never happened? 

Suddenly, I remembered the story of Jonah he went to preach reconciliation to Nineveh, they repented and God restored them. Then the Bible says, it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. What? The man of God brings the word of reconciliation and it angers him to see God's justice. God, challenged Jonah's stinking thinking. You can read it here;http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jonah+4%3A1-11&version=NIV
   
You may be saying this is Bible 101. Perhaps it is but honestly ask yourself have you wrestled with these kinds of questions? If God is creator and judge of all and we are His people, are we not to reflect his true character. Is HE not calling us to live in the  present as it will be when the Kingdom is fully restored? I believe He is and as we allow the Kingdom to burst into our lives, families and communities of faith we are proclaiming the story of our God.

Peace,
Jeannette
 

IN THE MIDST OF "DELUSIONAL" MEN

Years ago there was a young man in our fellowship that decided he was going to venture out and start his own business. Throughout his being a part of our community my husband had encouraged and supported this man in his endeavors. In spite of the fact that others considered him socially awkward my husband saw a man in need of affirmation and fellowship. One day this man came to our home offering his professional services and after some consideration we had to decline. The moment my husband let him know we were not interested his demeanor changed. Obviously offended he decided he was going to tell my husband what he really thought of our community and his pastor. Sitting in our living room he looked straight at my husband and said, "When are you going to realize you are delusional?"  He went on to question the call of God, in my husbands life, and "exhorted" him to give up.

Why did this man think my husband was delusional? Was it because our community was not in the hundreds or thousands? Could it be my husband did not fit a certain mold for today's pastor or leader? Was it that my husband never managed a successful business or served as an executive in a fortune 500 company? It was obvious his words, spoken from hurt and rejection, were meant to humiliate.

Since the month of October is pastor appreciation month I thought I would give a big shout out to all the men and women who have been told they are "delusional" for following the call of God. 

Just this past week I was in Kalamazoo attending a conference with pastors from around the country. During one of the breakout sessions I heard the stories of men and women who have given their lives to serve God and others. As these servant-leaders shared their stories, with authenticity and transparency, tears starting streaming down my face. But, why was I crying? In each story there was a common denominator that spoke to a deep place within my spirit. What touched me were the hearts of shepherds who are willing to give anything and everything to answer the call of God.

Story after story I heard the familiar burden of true shepherds. These are the unknown soldiers, serving in the trenches, who cannot abandon the call to serve. Many of these men ,according to western church thinking, fall into the category of delusional, unsuccessful, ill-equipped and failures. But I would suggest the following:

• These are the men who have prayed and pleaded, before God's throne, for our families. Would any person selflessly do this?
• These are the men who study God's Word so, above all else, our souls prosper. Is that not worth more than gold? 
• These are the men, with the eyes of a shepherd, who see us wandering before we realize we have strayed. Are not their words of counsel and wisdom worth paying attention too? 
• These are the men who in spite of adversity, disappointment and hardship endure to the end. Shouldn't we encourage and support them along the way?
• These are the men who give of their own limited funds to help you pay your bills when your in need. Did you know that?
• These are the men that rejoice with you when your child is born, you get a job promotion and your children marry. Ask yourself, when was the last time you rejoiced for your pastor?
• These are the men who will admit they are far from perfect and, at times, will make imperfect decisions. Are they not worthy of our mercy and patience? 
• These are the men that, when the phone rings at 5:30 am, are willing to get out of bed and meet with you as well as minister to your need. Would we do the same?
• These are the men that, when they are on vacation, will always answer your distressing phone call and never let it go to voice mail. Are we on call 24-7?

• These are the men that sacrifice their lives, and family needs, for a salary that rarely covers their living expenses. Would we do the same?

NO ROOM FOR HORSES AND CHARIOTS

When we read the psalms we find over and over again: don't trust in horses, don't trust in chariots, put your trust in the Lord. The simplicity of the statement, "put your trust in the Lord", yet so complex to walk out in our every circumstance.

For the past several months I have been combing through the pages of the book of Isaiah and learning a great deal about God's desire for us to TRUST HIM and HIM alone.  If you have ever said to yourself I want to read the entire Bible and never have been able to do so, I recommend you read the book of Isaiah. This great book is literally the whole Bible in miniature form.(plug for the prophet Isaiah)

If like Israel we find ourselves struggling to survive in the midst of adversity. We make plans and alliances with others greater than ourselves in order to achieve some type of success or victory. We run frantically attempting to hold all the pieces of this crumbling world system together until we realize, we can't do it. We are not designed to be independent from the ALMIGHTY. Nor are we designed to "falter between two opinions" (1Kings 18:1)

 First and foremost, we are God's people and His message has always been, FEAR NOT I AM WITH YOU. Panic, anxiety, fear, vindication are not the Kingdom way. The scripture tells us quietness and confidence in HIM shall be our strength. When we find ourselves up against the wall with the forces of evil pressing hard all around us, when you know that you know, disaster is coming at the speed of a bullet, quietness and confidence in GOD shall be our strength. 

I think any of us who have walked with the Lord would confess one time or another we have panicked and gone around desperately seeking help anywhere and everywhere. When we took the time to quiet down and seek the Lord we found that in quietness and confidence in HIM there is peace and strength.

The WORD of God is the greatest reminder that HE is with us: 
 
 Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! Isaiah 30:18 

Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. Psalm 27:3

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness Isaiah 41:10
 
As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him. 2 Samuel 22:30  


SHALOM, Jeannette

Holy, Holy, Holy......

When I was in my early twenties and began my search for truth and peace I lived several blocks away from Harvard University. The area was a hub for humanistic thinkers and a breeding ground to indulge in eastern philosophies, from restaurants to reading rooms, all doors led to “god’s love”.

For someone who was broken, depressed and desperately longing for love and peace it was like walking into a maze hoping to find the right path.  I remember someone recommending the Course of Miracles, they said this should help me find what I needed, forgiveness which would lead to love. The book was designed to help me achieve spiritual formation.

 One night my roommate invited me to go meditate with a group who promised we would feel love and peace like never before.  There we sat legs crossed eyes closed in front of some god chanting ohms for an hour. Needless to say I walked out the same way I walked in, empty, depressed and desperate. No love, no peace, no forgiveness.Why?

What I didn’t know was I couldn’t find or understand the true love of God until I had a divine encounter with the holiness of God.  Today, many false voices claim the love of god but only biblical truth declares a HOLY GOD.

The book of Isaiah tells us that the Prophet saw the King, the Lord of Host, and his kingdom, the King was on a throne and the train of His robes filled the temple. He saw the power of God and he saw the glory of God. He saw the angelic beings worshiping Him saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty…”

What was Isaiah’s response:

           

Isaiah 6:5

Then I said,

“Woe is me, for I am ruined!
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I live among a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.

What struck me about this passage and I would be bold enough to say struck Isaiah was that he saw that God was holy.  We all have heard so many teachings on the love of God but so few about the holiness of God.  I suggest that if we really meet GOD the first thing we will notice is He is a Holy God, unlike any other.  Can we truly understand the love of God without seeing his holiness?

 

What would you say is the most fundamental character of God? My answer, God’s holiness because the WORD tells us so.  When we see this Holy God our first reaction isn’t to run to Him, but run from Him.  We cry just like Isaiah and many others did, “Woe is me, for I am undone!” Without an understanding of His Holiness how can we realize we need to be cleansed.

 I was searching for peace and love when I truly needed a revelation of the Holiness of God in my life.  If I had not encountered His Holiness I would have never experienced His love.

There is a divine order that starts with the realization that God is Holy. We cannot love God until we have seen Him as Holy.

This is the pattern of worship in the throne room "Holy,  holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,' who was, and is, and is to come."

Let His Holiness do the cleansing so that Love can do the restoring. 

 

WE ARE BLESSED

Our fellowship Maranatha Koinonia has been on a several month quest to clearly understand the mystery written in the Book of Revelation.  When my husband decided he was going to teach from this book I secretly thought, that’s not a good idea.   To my surprise not only was it a good idea it was a Spirit birthed idea. Together we meet week after week to search the scriptures from beginning to end, uncovering one treasure at a time; each of us unearthing gems from the WORD of God.

The apostle John wrote in Revelation 1:3 “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near”. The WORD of God is true we are being blessed not in the “western” church way of thinking.  We are being blessed because this book has caused us to examine ourselves down to the core. We are blessed because we are learning how to pinpoint the traps that lay ahead. We are blessed because we are aware that the current world system is crumbling and our Lord is coming to RIGHT EVERY WRONG. We are blessed because we are learning to have a THRONE ROOM perspective. We are blessed because our eyes are starting to see through the lens of an eastern worldview. We are blessed because as a body we are walking in the Apostle Paul’s prayer to the Ephesians 4: 14-15:

that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.  Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

As we comb through the scriptures we have realized this book is not as difficult to understand as we had been told. It’s not a book of dread but one of great hope.

Above all we have realized Jesus has given this book to show us the things that must take place. Why? So that we God’s people endure to the end.

Let us say:

The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" He who hears, let him say, "Come!" He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely. (Rev 22:17)

A tribute to Linda... LIFE MATTERS

 

Have you ever gone down memory lane and wondered about people who have crossed your path? Years ago my husband and I worked for a large church in New England and as you can imagine we met a multitude of people of every walk of life.

In a split second my husbands says,  “I wonder what happened to Al? Al was a local homeless man in our community an alcoholic and to be frank he hardly looked human.  He and many other homeless men and women where brought to our church services on a weekly basis by a precious lady named, Linda.  I can remember thinking Linda herself fragile and sickly seemed to be as needy as those she helped. In spite of her own ailments Linda faithfully week after week brought food and clothes to these souls and she spent her time talking and praying with them. Many times we would be working when Al would walk through the door crying broken and completely overtaken by his addiction.  He didn’t come looking for money he would weep and say Josh, pray for me.

At least 13 years have passed and we were able to get word about Al’s life. He is sober and walking with JESUS. When we heard the news we both cried, saying life matters to GOD. His mercy and loving-kindness extends to all who will embrace it.  Of all the homeless that where brought to our church Al is the only one living.

Praise the Lord for Linda she is one of those anonymous servants that no one will ever know of all the beautiful works she has done for her Lord. I can’t wait for eternity to see the rewards she will receive when she sees the Master face to face. I pray to be in the sidelines gazing upon that great day rejoicing with all the souls that entered the kingdom of heaven because of her faithfulness. 

Life matters to God and like Him we need to be patient  sowing seed into every Al we encounter because as wise King Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 3:11 Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end.

DOES GOD HAVE AN IDENTITY CRISIS?

Just this week I read an interview of a famous performer’s reflections about God and Jesus Christ. As I read the article as beautiful as it sounded full of compassion, love and mercy the words on the page reflected a  dichotomy more than a representation of the biblical ONE TRUE GOD. 

Here is an excerpt of the performers opinion on God and Jesus:

“I accept the Old Testament as more of an action movie: blood, car chases, evacuations, a lot of special effects, seas dividing, mass murder, adultery. The children of God are running amok, wayward. Maybe that’s why they’re so relatable. But the way we would see it, those of us who are trying to figure out our Christian conundrum, is that the God of the Old Testament is like the journey from stern father to friend. When you’re a child, you need clear directions and some strict rules. But with Christ, we have access in a one-to-one relationship, for, as in the Old Testament, it was more one of worship and awe, a vertical relationship. The New Testament, on the other hand, we look across at a Jesus who looks familiar, horizontal. The combination is what makes the Cross. – “

“The God of the Old Testament”, that statement always seems to bother me. The first time I heard it I was sitting in the front row at church when the Pastor suddenly declared, “ Aren’t you glad don’t serve that mean God  of the old testament”.  To my surprise this type of thinking is extremely prominent in western Christianity.

Does God truly have an identity crisis?

The reality is the Bible does not support this type of distinction. Throughout scripture we can see the different characteristics of God at different times and circumstances but scripture clearly tells us HE IS THE SAME, YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVR! (Hebrews 13:8)

The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Colossians says, “For in Christ all the fullness of the deity lives in bodily form”.   This scripture has to be one of the most important points in all of Christianity declaring all the full measure of God has made residence in Jesus.  It’s not that Jesus is simply a human being that looks familiar to us. He was and is the bodily form taken by God Himself, HE IS GOD IN ALL HIS FULLNESS. 

When we use language that makes a distinction between the old testament God and the new testament Jesus, we minimize Jesus and disregard the Father.  I encourage you to go back and search the scriptures entirely, from Genesis to Revelation. You may be surprised to find some of the greatest examples of grace and mercy. (Joseph, the Exodus, Ruth, Jonah, David and many more)

He is the immutable God, meaning He is forever constant. He is and has always been good, loving, holy, righteous, perfect, merciful,slow to anger, abounding in love, faithful and forgiving…

Hijackers, tolerance, the grim reaper…………

 

Death has been given the name grim reaper and it is usually illustrated as a skeletal figure clothed in black.   So many times I have asked myself if we could see beyond the veil of the physical world into the spiritual world would we be more alert to the true intentions of this ominous threat.

Have you noticed that some of the most intolerant people are those who shout the loudest for tolerance? As Christ followers we need to be aware that the grim reaper is out and about hijacking what is ours. In this world of political correctness it seems that tolerance is defined as a total rejection of moral standards and of all which is Judeo-Christian.  This modern tolerance redefines words like marriage, equality, absolute truth, judgment, love and even Christianity.

In the past month I have had several conversations where the topic of Islam was central and I highlighted the injustices towards women and Christians throughout the Islamic world. I am always perplexed by the flawed logic that is applied to these conversations all in the name of love and tolerance.  They sounded something like this:

                    Jeannette

                          

Muslim women are being mistreated and Christians are getting tortured in Islamic countries………

                   John Doe (response)

Jeannette, don’t you know Muslims are getting saved by the thousands? I know Muslims and I don’t believe we should talk about Islam. I believe the battle will be won without talking about these issues.

Jeannette

My thought, is my speaking the truth truly going to hinder a Muslims salvation. I rejoice when I hear testimonies of Muslims getting saved but one issue has nothing to do with the other.  This blurred view of reality is what is concerning. When we no longer can call out evil and when truth is being hijacked in the name of secular tolerance the grim reaper gains ground.

As I was mediating on these conversations I remembered an interview I was watching where someone asked Dr. Ravi Zacharias to define the word evil.  Dr. Zacharias went on to say “Evil is ultimately that which violates the purposes of God for life and for living with each other.”

Should we not speak against that which violates God’s purpose? Why is it social justice when we talk about sex trafficking, clean water, and curing malaria. Shouldn’t the same logic be applied to every injustice?

Our culture is doing what scripture said- it’s getting worse and worse. The Bible gives us instructions on how we should live. We are to keep standing for righteousness knowing that it will mean enmity with the world. Always, remembering that death has lost its sting……………

The Kingdom; True Freedom and Equality

 

Years ago I was at women’s meeting and the older women were talking about the decline of morality in our society.  As a young women in my early twenties I did not realize the urgency and importance of the conversation.  As I heard them talking about the end of the age being upon us I was literally thinking some of the comments were hyperbole and completely outlandish.  More than two decades have passed since I sat in the midst of those godly women and have come to realize that even their worse hyperbole can’t come close to the decline we are currently seeing today.

Only two in a half decades have past since that conversation and there has been a complete redefinition of truth, morality, how humans communicate, connect, entertain, educate and the list goes on and on. But the greatest concern I see is the church conforming to this redefinition and encouraging disciples to evolve since society is evolving. It’s a terrible day when alleged theologians, pastors and teachers are taking the Word of God and redefining it’s meaning in the name of love.

The message of the Kingdom of God is far more powerful and liberating than the co-exist rant our modern evolving society so easily embraces.  There is a depth to the absolute truth of the message of gospel that resonates in the spirit of man. What society has done is dilute the truth with its man made philosophies tearing down its original purpose which is to bring freedom to humanity.

The truth is the Kingdom message is one of true equality. The book of Galatians tells us there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. The Lord has no favorites however he does not rule His Kingdom like a democracy nor does He accept everyone’s opinions about anything and everything.  The message of the Kingdom does mean there are no ethnic, geographical, cultural or moral barriers for those who have repented by turning away from that which God calls sin. Only then is true forgiveness extended and a NEW LIFE IN HIM begins. When we are His and live according to the reality of the Kingdom we become a regenerated man, by the Spirit! How’s that for equality and acceptance!!!!! Now that is how God’s love wins!

To all contemporary thinkers, theologians, pastors and seekers who boldly declare freedom is found in the message that no longer stands on the infallible Word of God I would like to echo the words of George Orwell.

         “The more I hear people screaming freedom, freedom, the more I hear their chains rattling.”

EVERYTHING HAS ITS TIME

 

Every human life has a time and within this time there are extraordinary moments in the ordinary of life. We may see these moments as random daily events but we are eternal beings and our words, works and gifts are destined for eternity.

This past weekend I had the privilege to attend a memorial service for one of my dearest friends father. Their father lived for Jesus his entire life. As I read the comments left on the memorial page there was one that struck a chord in my heart.  One of his army friends wrote how he remembered him saying,"I cannot get away from God".  From the opening of the service to the last amen you know this was a man gifted of the Lord in more ways than one. He was a Bible teacher, guitarist, songwriter, husband father and the list goes on and on. He served Jesus and his community as a minister for over thirty years.  He was married to the love of his life for 48 years and what a love they had.

As I sat and listened to his life story unfold, the words of the Apostle Paul in Ephesians resonated in my being “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them”.  I am confident if I were to ask his dear wife that co-labored with him was it easy? She would say we endured many trails and tribulations. However, I know this sweet lady would tell me:

Honey,

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

My life’s scale received some balance as I heard about this man’s life. Birth and death are the two-sides of the scale. Clearly we don’t have control of either however, with the Holy Spirits guidance, we can keep the scale in balance no matter what season of life we are in.

God's purposes for our lives are weaved into eternity and like a work of art they will be displayed for many to see. As King Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Let us recognize the beauty in the here and now acknowledging the place and purpose each person has in the overall plan of God.

Keep your eyes on Jesus, stay focused, time is precious…………………

THE FORGOTTEN GIFT

In my last blog titled “Do you know Him” I briefly explored the theme of having a conscious relationship with the Holy Spirit.   As I mentioned I started to ponder on this topic due to a short conversation our family was having regarding the Holy Spirit. Consequently, the conversation has placed me on a several weeks journey of going back to the WORD and rediscovering what the scriptures have to say about the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

As I have combed the pages of scripture Old and New Testament I have asked myself several questions and am curious as to what others may think. Has the doctrine of the baptism of the Holy Spirit fallen out of our Western Christian church teaching? If so, why? Are we losing something important? How imperative is it to our Christian walk?  Have we redefined the term baptism in Holy Spirit in an attempt to correct what man perhaps has misunderstood or misinterpreted?

In my review of the WORD OF GOD I can say we are losing something vital. Why? Jesus last command to His disciples is to go out and be His witnesses carrying the message to the nations. But, He tells them they need to be equipped instructing them to stay in Jerusalem until they have been clothed in power from on high.  You see what the flesh cannot do the Spirit can do.  In other words what us human beings can’t reach in the natural can be reached with the Holy Spirit moving in us, through us and among us. 

Have you ever considered that before the disciples received the Holy Spirit they denied Jesus, they had unbelief, they questioned if He was the Messiah. We read after the day of Pentecost in the book of Acts this was not the case.  In fact it was quite the contrary they received power to witness and they went out with boldness declaring the Kingdom of God.

The Holy Spirit and His baptism is the antidote that conquers fear, doubt, insecurities and defies all our natural circumstances.

In the church of Ephesus where Apollos served as pastor (Acts 18:24-28) the scripture gives us a good sense of who this man was.

   Apollos was an eloquent man

   He was mighty in the Scriptures

   He was instructed in the ways of God

   He was fervent in spirit

   He taught the things of the Lord

   He knew only the baptism of John—Nothing about the baptism in the Spirit.

When Paul visited Ephesus he opened the door through which the Spirits power manifested itself. The gospel message was there but they had not received the Holy Spirit in power.  Paul comes lays hands on them they received the Holy Spirit and they revolutionize Ephesus.

What caused this revolution? It was not Paul it was the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through men.  

Can we experience this same revolution in our lives, homes, schools, community and workplaces? ……Absolutely!!

I am convinced today more than ever we the people of God need a fresh baptism in the Holy Spirit. Let us remember just like Peter, the word of the Lord, “John, indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized in Holy Spirit. If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord who was I that I could withstand God?” (Acts 11: 16-17)

Let’s run after the forgotten gift and pray, come Holy Spirit baptize me again!!