Whatever Takes Us Away

A blank mind this morning, but I feel it necessary to post something to the blog.

For those (few) loyal readers let me pose a question: If you know someone is seeking after God, but has many misconceptions about Christianity, how would you proceed?

A.    Pound them over the head with John 3:16

B.     Give them all the freedom they want so they can choose whatever god they want

C.     Guide them through (slowly) the general intent of the Bible and salvation

D.    Not say anything about Christianity at all

E.     Answer any questions they may have and then proceed with bringing them “down the aisle” to “receive” Christ at the altar Sunday morning

F.      Parts of some of these (please give short explanation)

I ask this because I may have a guest in the house soon that has a ton of questions and I wonder what may be the best approach to guiding/answering this person.  I know full-well and understand the power of prayer, and it is something I have already been doing, but getting a counsel from others (who may or may not carry much wisdom) is a biblical concept as well.

In advance, thanks.

At some point in an educational career there comes a wall.  This immovable object you press against does not budge, and only feels worse each time you press harder.  I have reached that point I think.  I know, I haven’t been at it for even two years yet, but each semester I am taking 18 credit hours, burning through college faster than most; nearly double the pace.  I think this has brought me to the point of near burn out with my want/desire to finish and continue on towards a graduate degree.  Maybe it is the thought of finishing and then having to put the degree into real-world application (i.e. finding a job that will help pay for the degrees I’ve earned). 

At any rate, I have amassed a large collection of books, DVD’s and knowledge that will hopefully come in handy for the rest of my life.  Until I get to put all this into practice I suppose I will continue burning myself until the flame has been extinguished.

 

For those very few loyal readers I have, forgive me for my inconsistent writings of late.  Summer, what little of it is left, has once again blown by me and blown me over.  I have finished my Associates Degree in religion, the kids are growing and swimming (when the weather cooperates), and things around the Mundy house have been usual - busy, busy, busy.

I haven't been writing here, for no good reason, and while I have intended to write more often, it just hasn't happened.  I could say that will change, like I have in the past, but I now know that I will not respond (even to myself) in kind in that respect.  Get used to the fact that I won't be posting here as often as I once did, but this has become more of a last place for me to put my thoughts out. 

Summer has once again come and gone, and I have once again lived another year to tell the stories.  Oh well, at least I have this beautiful wife to help keep me on track with all aspects of my life.  See you around!

Just a quick note of thanks for my first receipt from my Amazon wish list.

Two books have been removed from my wish list this past week, and in the coming weeks I hope to at least begin reading these two. They both came from the same source and I am glad to have scratched them off the wish list. Thanks to my mom I got Ravi Zacharias' "The End of Reason" and St. Augustine's "Confessions" and look forward to getting into these two works.

Thanks Mom!

For those who keep asking on Facebook, here's my sermon from today - well, for the most part.

I’m sure many of you know who Penn & Teller are, so I’ll spare you the gory details of some of their comedic skits. At the end of my message today I want to share a short video that Penn Jillette put out not too long ago that I hope will put an emphasis to all I want to talk about this morning. What is that? Missions and evangelism.

At the beginning of the year Pastor Don spoke about traveling in New Testament times. Today, as we sit here in the very same space in which he spoke then, he is traveling in a far-off land. In Vietnam today, he will be attending a church service like none other he has ever experienced. On top of that he may have opportunities to share his faith journey and the gospel message of Jesus with people who may have never heard the name Jesus. Now, we are not all called in the same manner, to go abroad in missions to foreign countries, be we are all called to follow the Scriptures and the Great Commission. Jesus, just prior to His ascension told His disciples to go . . .

We can read this charge to “go” in four places in the New Testament: Matthew 28, Mark 26, Luke 24 and Acts 1. They do not all state the exact same thing in the exact same manner, but the message is the same. Let’s suppose you and I were to witness a car accident while standing near a busy street intersection, a few of you on one corner, some on another, and I on yet another corner. When the police show up to question us and retrieve our “eyewitness testimonies” some things throughout our stories will inevitably be somewhat different. I noticed that there was a large glare from a store window that caused one driver to swerve, you only saw a car out of control, yet we still saw the same accident. These different story lines do know mean we are all wrong, it doesn’t even mean that one of us was wrong. What it does indicate to us is that regardless of stories, there is a message that carries throughout – we all saw a car accident that was caused by a certain driver. The same can be said for the writers of the New Testament. Two of these four accounts, Luke and Acts, are presumably written by the same author, Luke. Now, we know some things about Luke from his own writings and from the writings of the Apostle Paul. Luke was a doctor of some sort. He liked to give good detailed accounts of the things he wrote about. He also gives us differences in his own writings, but his message does not vary in its meaning. There are no contradictions in his two accounts, yet they do differ in the manner of deliverance. The same message is found, however, in all four of the accounts of the Great Commission. All nations are to receive the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Looking back and doing a little study will do us all some good when we approach the Bible. Some background: Jesus had been with the disciples for just over three years. In that time it could be rightly assumed that they knew and understood what it was that Jesus was commissioning them to do. They had seen His miracles, witnessed the healings, heard him speak numerous times (and were even given deeper insight when he spoke in parables and they did not understand those parables), not to mention that he had lived with and among them all that time. If anyone understood what to do it would indeed be these remaining disciples; a motley bunch of Jewish men.

A couple of historical notes of importance.
#1. Jerusalem was part of the Roman Empire at this time, roughly A.D. 33 #2. The Romans did not like exclusivity in religious matters. It is well known and attested that when Romans conquered people, they usually adopted and added whatever gods there were into their own pantheon of gods. They would also adopt some of the religious practices like sacrifices to idols. One of the main religious movements in the empire however, was emperor worship. At the time of the death and resurrection of Jesus was Tiberius Caesar; following him were Caligula and Nero – two of Rome’s most brutal, notorious, and bloody emperors. This new sect of Judaism was different from most other religions. This new sect, by its very nature, had no intentions of sharing a throne with a myriad of other sub-deities. In John 14:6 we read, “Jesus told them, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” Statements like this the Romans did not like. In this system there was only one way. Jesus. Exclusivity at its pinnacle.

The message the disciples received in the Great Commission was a daunting task. Again, I think it can be rightly assumed that these men knew what challenges were ahead of them. Persecution, jail time, beatings and mass unbelief – yet they persisted. The message to the disciples was to carry the message of Jesus to an unbelieving world.

I wanted to know a little more about what was being asked of the disciples by Jesus, so I looked to see what the original language said. In particular I looked at the word used for witnesses in Acts 1:8. Martys is the Greek term used, which is where we get our English word for martyr. The meaning here in Acts 1:8 helps us understand further what the task of the disciples, and of us today, was and still is. Most of us know what a martyr is, right? Someone who is willing to do anything, even dying, for their cause. Jesus was asking these men to do just that; go out in my name, regardless of the consequences, and be my witnesses – even unto death. They were to testify, give testimony, witness, or perhaps, become martyrs for the sake of Christ. A most difficult and challenging task.

What else sticks out in this passage? Do you see any relevance to how they were sent? Look at Acts 1:8 again. Where were they to be Jesus’ witnesses? He moved them out in concentric circles, gradually moving them further away from the center of their known world. Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth.

Jerusalem. Here was the starting point. When I went to my Walk to Emmaus retreat several years ago a Jewish proverb was told. I’ll paraphrase: Noticing that things were bad around him, a young Rabbi decided to change the world. Realizing that the world was much too large he decided he would have to narrow his scope. I’ll change my country he thought, but soon realized, this too, was a large and daunting task. I’ll change my county, my region, but this too was too much. Maybe if I start with my city I can change things. Yet again, upon review, this was too much. Perhaps my street. No, maybe my house? Maybe, he thought, I should start with myself. The disciples had a starting point, which began with themselves, their households, and their city. From that point, the circle grew, eventually leading them and their followers, including Jesus’ disciples today, to expand throughout the world.

An important thing to note here is that in these passages of Scripture the same principle applies to our day and age as it did back then. Here we are nearly 2,000 years later and the same charge applies to us. All who are followers of Jesus are to do one thing. Does anyone know what one of the shortest proper sentences in the English language is? Go. Interesting isn’t it? That Jesus would give us a command so brief, so concise, yet so difficult. That’s you and that’s me – we are all to go. Pastor Don is doing above and beyond his duty right now by traveling overseas to go! Within that simple word are a host of things we can do. Our first priority though is to go and make disciples. After this we can break go into sub-categories. Go and share the gifts, talents and abilities God has given you. Go help the poor and needy, the widows and orphans. Go. Go. Go. Go! We aren’t all called to go in the same manner, direction or fashion, but we are all to go.

Most of you may know that I have a passion for music. I enjoy sharing my faith through that passion (though I still say I am not much of a singer). I also love to teach the things of the Bible, it’s history, relevance to today and how it can be applied to our lives. As a matter of fact I can spend hours talking about it at length . . . . . . did anyone order lunch in for us today? Just kidding. Some of you here do share your gifts, talents and abilities on a very regular basis. Some of you love to visit people who need a visitor or someone to talk to. Some of you may feel compelled to share your faith with a complete stranger. Others may love to cook things and give that to those in need. Maybe you have been financially blessed and can give from your pocketbook, great, keep doing it. Turn to Matthew 25:31-40, let’s read this (When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.) Each time you or I do any of these things, or others not explicitly mentioned here, we share our gifts and talents. And, when we do this in the name of Christ – for His sake – He recognizes those things and will remember them when at last we reach our final destination. My point here is this; each of us has been called personally by God. We who call ourselves disciples of Jesus Christ have, as our first priority, to share Him and His message. Sure, you might have to befriend someone before you jump into the gospel message, but we are disciples of the Master and He will do all of the hard work.

There is something else too, you, I and everyone we come in contact have in common with another biblical person. In each of these four accounts of the Great Commission, one Apostle was not present – Paul. He had his own commissioning, and just like him we are to travel into a darkened world to share the message of Light. Paul was a Jew’s Jew, studying under the best of Jewish teachers, yet he ended up following Christ, he too was commissioned. How we share this message is as individualized as the gifts, talents and abilities we all have. Let’s look briefly at what Paul taught in I Corinthians 9:19-23. (Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.) The message is the same, only the delivery changes. We have Jesus as our prime example and Paul helps flush out how we might go about this. Jesus held the company of sinners and tax collectors – any sinners here today? Jesus would have hung out with me for sure!

Where does this lead us? Let’s take a quick look at Romans 10:8-15. (But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,"that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!) Here, the gospel message is laid out for us. If you don’t know how to say it or share it, here it is in print. Believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord. We are all sinful creatures by nature, but we can have our sin cleansed if we believe in the only One who can save us. We are justified not by any actions or deeds, but by grace through faith, which comes from the Lord. Pastor Don has traveled several thousand miles to share this good news and we are still here. Within the context of the passage we just read, he has the beautiful feet which bring the good news. He has been sent to preach. Who sent him? God, of course! Moses was sent by God to lead Israel out of Egypt, Joshua was called to take Israel into the promised land, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Joel and the other prophets were all called by God to share His message. You and I have been called and sent forth. All of us have been sent by God.

What I am submitting to you today is that each of us has a calling. A call into ministry isn’t always a call into becoming a pastor or preacher. We all have a mission field. That mission field may be your own house, your extended family, your friends, or co-workers. It could be that your mission field is at a local food pantry helping to serve people in need of a meal, maybe it is building houses or it could be that you are called to serve like Pastor Don overseas. As I’ve said before, I could stand up here for hours and talk about this stuff, but at some point there is nothing more I can do for you. This is where you come in. Each of us has been gifted in a special way and called by God to use those gifts, talents and abilities He has endowed to each of us. You have to be discerning as to the Holy Spirit’s call on your life. Spend time with God in reading His Word to see how your life fits into His plans – but try not to put your plans into God’s purpose for you, going against Him seems daunting and, I am sure, a battle that cannot be won. We have been given something to help us with this task. In Luke 24:48 we read the words of Jesus, words first meant for His disciples, and now for us. “And look, I am sending you what my Father promised . . .” that promise is the Holy Spirit who guides us, and our missions.

As I draw this towards a conclusion I ask each of you to consider something while our Pastor is away, think and pray about how God wants you to go and make disciples. In Matthew 6:33 we read, “but seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Seek the guidance of God and find out what your calling is. It may not come to you overnight, it may not happen over the course of a few weeks – it may, in fact, take several years before you really know where God wants you, but if you continually seek the counsel of God first, He will direct you and His will for your life will be known. Be drawn closer to God and he will draw you towards those He intends to save.
While I preparing for this week I came across something by chance . . . okay, God put this stuff in my hands purposefully, and I felt compelled to share it with you. In a study about building a deeper relationship with God I read a small portion about service. The main point was “we follow Jesus as we serve our world.” Fitting isn’t it? I’d like to read just a small portion of it and then we’ll close.

"Some people feel content to help people only when and if it’s convenient. Others fit service into time slots such as a spring break missions trip or a Saturday service project once in a while. But following Jesus means that we will allow service to spread into our whole lives. Jesus calls his followers to a deeper level of service that helps people anytime, anywhere, anyhow, no matter if it’s convenient or fun. This kind of service might be truly difficult stuff, but it also leads to a worthwhile and more fulfilling life.

Jesus served people wherever he went. He taught them God’s truth, he showed them the way to have a relationship with God, he healed their broken hearts and bodies, and he loved them. In fact, Jesus’ mission on earth was to serve humankind. We all have needs, and because we can recognize our own needs, it becomes easy for us to recognize that Jesus might want us to serve anyone – even the person on your left or right!
It may be harder to serve those right around you because their needs aren’t as visible as those living in foreign countries or on the streets without a home. But don’t let that stop you! Look a little deeper. What deep needs do people have that you might be able to do something about? Is someone lonely? Does someone need encouragement? Can you give someone your time?" (Follow Me, Group Publishing, 2004)

I end with those questions intentionally. We have looked at passages of the New Testament where Jesus sent his disciples, both then and now, to go and make disciples of all nations. We’ve looked at what that meant back then and what it means to us now. We read how we can respond to the gospel message, and briefly at how we can find God’s will for us in service by reading the Word, seeking first the kingdom of God not the kingdom of man. What’s left is for you and I to walk out from this place and begin our goings. We all have a purpose and a service. What will your service be and who will you reach for the kingdom?

As I mentioned in my opening many of you may know Penn Jillette, he’s Penn from Penn & Teller – the comedy duo that has given many crass skits for over two decades. It is a well-known fact that Penn is a fairly devout atheist, and he has stated it publicly many times. Our service in God’s kingdom can have an impact on the world, even among those who do not believe in an all powerful, all loving God. Sometimes it isn’t what you say, but how you say it.



How much do we have to hate someone to not share Christ with them?

Well, not knowing what I had started, or what I had gotten myself into at first, here I am three years past and I am still adding posts to this blog. For those few readers I have, I hope that I have at least provided some interesting reads during that time; and I hope to give you more as time progresses further.

A brief history lessen for those new to "Whatever":

Much has taken place over three years. I have taken up hunting for one thing, and quite enjoy the time I spend outdoors in the fall and winter time doing such. I have added school to my life once again, and am nearly done with degree #1 in religion (Christian religion to be more precise). Degree #2 will be in the works starting this summer and will further my pursuit of the same as the former. I get the question all the time, "Are you going to be a preacher or something?" To which I answer, "I don't know." But I will say, that through my studies my faith has been strengthened and my knowledge of things (all things) has been greatly expanded. I still have four kids of my own and have added our affectionately called Number 5, our pseudo-adopted fifth who will be graduating high school this spring (congrats #5). We are still in the same house, and have now been here for nearly five years, the same as the job I have.

For looking forward with this blog: if any of my few faithful readers have any ideas or thoughts of which you would like my input, post a comment on this post as to what you might like to have me wax on about, that is, what would you like me to write about in the future. While this blog is mainly about my thoughts, for my own sake of keeping tabs on my life, it is also about you who read - and I am grateful for those that do and want to care for your thoughts and ideas as well as my own.

For those who pray much and are looking for a good cause to pray: in only a few days my dad will be leaving for Vietnam for a two week mission trip, he and a small group from Ohio will be going to help establish places to call "home" churches and to help distinguish certain people that may come to the states for theological training in the future. As he is a pastor (mine to be more exact) he will be sharing his faith journey with those he comes in contact with. Keep him and his traveling companions in your thoughts and prayers.

For everyone: keep reading here and posting comments.

I look forward to the next three years and hope to read your comments during that time.

We are a nation, rather, a world in chaos. Things have seemed to have been ideal for most of us living in developed nations, but suddenly a change has swarmed like a plague over the entirety of the planet. Economies are not just faltering a bit, they are failing in many places. How did this happen? Many would say that here in the U.S., the fault belongs to the banking industry, Wall Street, or other industries with large financial interests, but is this really why we are so beleaguered? We love our things. We love ourselves. We detest anyone that tells us we cannot do what we want to do. We abhor what is truly right and honest, yet we wonder why we have gotten into the mess we now find ourselves in.

For nearly two millennia the Bible has seen and foretold what would happen when we look to ourselves for answers. A book that has been scrutinized for giving good, decent, life saving information has been thrown to the wayside – in order that we might live life in a way that it was not meant to be lived. We used dishonest means to gain a foothold over those less fortunate. The book of Proverbs is packed full of wisdom, wisdom that most neglect to read or take to heart. It tells of how children are to listen to and obey their parents (something that has gone by the wayside). It tells how laziness leads to nowhere (something that has become very common). Proverbs tells how wicked men bring disaster upon themselves (look at our own nation right now). This book is packed full of knowledge that gives insight to how and why we have gotten to the place we are currently.

Proverbs isn’t the only book in the Bible that talks in this manner. Much of the Bible explains human nature and its desire to be detestable in most respects. In the New Testament, Romans is a good example of this. Romans 1:18-32 is a prime example and tells us why we are the way we are today. We have been given over to a depraved mind (a statement that applies to the whole of mankind). “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.” (Rom 1:21) We have exchanged the truth of God, His Word, and His commands for our own enjoyment – a fleeting span of lusts and desires that will perish with us. Fact: 1 out of every 1 person on the planet will die. 100% participation. What can we take with us? Not one thing.

Truth is, the problems we face are not caused by some financial problems, but it is our own desire to “advance” ourselves and our agendas that have led to the current crisis. We advance unnatural behaviors as if they will make things better. We advance the desire for more (more of everything) as if they will brings us more happiness. We feed our lusts and our perversions as if they will keep us around longer. This has proved to be a fatal blow to us all.

I’m not pointing the finger outward only. I myself have fallen in the trap, and been led astray by my own desires. Call this a confession if you want, but I too want things. I too desire more and better and faster. While many in our country don’t have a computer or have one that is nearly a decade old, I have three – the oldest of which I am using right now at three years of age; and yet, I wish I had a new one. I have a job right now, yet wish I could have a job that paid better. I have a house and am able to make the payments on that house, but I wish I had a bigger house with more land. I, my wife, and our pseudo-adopted daughter all have a vehicle that run quite well, but you bet I wish I had a newer car that got better gas mileage. I too, am to blame for our current situation. It has been this think that has led to our demise.

We don’t stop, at any point in our day, to thank God for allowing us to have what we now have. We don’t thank God for our lives. We don’t thank God for our families. We don’t thank God, frankly, for anything.

Stop. Listen. Be Thankful. Take that dusty Bible off the shelf and read what has been passed down to us. You might find some true insight, something that might just save your life - or someone else’s.

What is required of us to enter heaven?

This is a tough question, and one that raises many more. The answers, you may find, are varied from denomination, but don’t most Christians come to believe the same thing based on the same book, the Bible? Yes and no.

In the Cincinnati Enquirer online, Sunday, February 15, 2009 was an article about the Catholic church reviving an old practice, one I have read about and heard about, but did not believe was still viable today. Plenary Indulgence anyone? Here's the article http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090215/NEWS01/902150...

Not familiar with this term? Fear not, oh sluggish Protestant. Most Catholics seem to not even understand this practice. Here is where the great schism has had a lasting effect on a knowledge based faith, and where sense and sensibility have been broken. For the Protestant, getting into heaven is a matter based solely on faith. Protestants are justified by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. For the Catholic there are a myriad of other requirements that must take place prior to a soul entering into heaven. There is purgatory that must be gone through. If you confess your sins the eternal punishment for those sins is removed, but the temporal punishment (the physical, time centered punishment that is paid for in purgatory) remains. The indulgence removes either in whole, or in part, that temporal punishment.

I’m not trying to offend either side in this, but I believe most of you are good thinking people that can read through and between the lines here. Open your Bibles once in a while and find out if these things are true. Don’t read anything into the text, but rather, seek the historical background of a book or chapter, find a commentary to help expand your knowledge of a particular book of the Bible. Some doctrines seem way off base and not even closely related to the Christian faith – if it seems odd, find out where it comes from and research it. Many heretics were cast out of the faith centuries before we came about, but here we are nearly 2,000 years after Jesus and some of those heresies still linger on.

We are justified by grace through faith, and that not of ourselves. Read through Ephesians 2 sometime to see what role we play in our salvation. We bring nothing more than our sins that need to be forgiven and an empty hand of faith. I feel for you if you feel that you need to DO something in order to receive the gift of God in salvation. Do you honestly think you would have anything of value for Him to begin with? In my estimation He needs nothing from you or I and is more than powerful enough to accomplish above and beyond what I could ever conceive, this includes my salvation. No amount of works or deeds will ever pull me into a right relationship with my Creator.

What is required to enter heaven? Faith in Jesus Christ. This, I submit to you is what is necessary.

The bulk of this post was originally put up in December 2006. After reading an article of a friend (http://ceruleansanctum.com/2009/02/not-so-good-samaritans...), I decided to revisit this post. After reading my own story I decided to repost it. At the end of this post I will be adding some additional information/follow up on the post. For those of you who may have read this before, read it again and read my friend Dan's post over at Cerulean Sanctum.

Original Post:

Sometimes we are, as Christians, put to the test. Our convictions are tried and our ability to do the right thing and make the right decision are truly tested. Today was one of those tests for me, and a reminder of something in the past.

I got ready, like I do most every Sunday morning, helped get the kids ready and headed out the door to start the van - in hopes it would be warmed up by the time we all got in to go to church. As it would turn out I said "hello" to a passer-by on the sidewalk. He stopped, greeted back and said he was on his way to church. "So am I," I replied. "Where do you go to church?" he asked.

I told him where I went to church, exchanged some pleasantries, and then he threw out the question: "Could I go with you?" Mind you I had some trouble hearing and understanding him; he's a little older and has a slight speech problem. Well, as I turned and looked at our van, warming up, counting heads I dumbly replied, "We don't have much room." And then conviction set in. "Hold on just a second," as I turned to the front door. I called to Tina, explained the situation briefly, set myself straight and headed back out. "We'll take my van so there's room enough. Let me get it started and warmed." I still had an odd feeling, but went with it anyway. I brushed the frost from the front windshield, told Tina I'd see her in a little bit and we headed to church, Jepp and I.

Many things were going through my head as we drove along. One such thing was a Newsboys song, "Entertaining Angels" and there was another thought right behind that one . . .

While we still lived outside of Chicago we had a visitor at our church one Sunday morning. That morning about 30 minutes before the service started a person began hanging around outside, walking around as people headed inside. She asked for spare change, food, work, anything that may be given. Many people walked by trying hard not to take notice of her. Others told her to simply leave. One of the last people to come in had noticed her, walked to her and asked her to come in for the church service. And so she came.

We did the usual. Sang songs, shook hands, did "church" things. The pastor started to give his message and then to the many, shock set in. He had asked this woman to come up front with him, gave her a microphone and began asking questions about her life, how she got to where she was in life, what was in store for her future, etc. What most of the congregation didn't know was that this was all planned. This woman wasn't a homeless person, but a social worker that worked with the homeless in and around Rockford, IL. Many in church that morning found themselves looking introspectively, asking themselves what they had said, or not said to this person and how they may have treated many others like her throughout their lives. It was a definite eye opener for many, myself included - even though I knew about it before hand.

Jepp and I shared, though he didn't know it, a moment this morning that made me realize that I needed to be tested. My faith in action had laid dormant for a while and required a little dusting. I brought him to church, introduced him to those we encountered, showed him the fellowship area (complete with freshly brewed coffee) and a familiar face to boot. You see, Jepp walks the streets of Bethel all day long. Each morning he visits McD's and sees some of those faces (from church this morning) while they are having their breakfast and coffee. From what I gather he seldom ventures outside of our little village - and his known world - but this morning, God put him in my path, to check me and my Christian action. After church, I gathered my things, watched Jepp chat (very little) and watched as those around him shake hands, hug and greet him with love, inviting him to come back again. We walked to the car, quietly got in and drove off.

He isn't much of a talker, and that's okay with me. I can handle comfortable silences with friends and strangers alike. We got a couple miles away when he pulled out a small wallet, showed me a McDonalds symbol and asked if I could take him there - you see, in addition to the speech problem, Jepp is also illiterate. But, again without his knowing, Jepp and I shared a moment. He has a routine, and each day that routine includes McD's.

I still felt bad about our initial encounter, even after returning home and having had a few moments to myself to take it all in. After all, at first I wanted to send him on his way, walking around the streets of Bethel. With this simple testimony I am reminded of two things that Jesus taught: 1. Luke 6:43-45 No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. 2. The parable of the Good Samaritan. I am sure many have simply walked by this man, day after day without even giving him a single glance. I was convicted this day to be the Samaritan that stopped.

And there we were, Jepp and I.

Follow up commentary:

Well, it has been a while since I first posted this/read it. After I read Dan's article about the Good Samaritan I was immediately reminded of this post and set out to find it in my archives. Once I read it I realized I hadn't posted much about Jepp in quite a long time. Sadly, I haven't seen Jepp around in several months. Once in a while after I had taken him to church with me he would stop by. Usually, Tina or I would give him some food (brown bag lunch if you will) and occasionally some spare money (if we had anything to share). He went to church with us one other time, and he was greeted with just as much love the second time as the first. People remembered him, shook hands, and talked with him as best they could. However, at some point over this past summer Jepp no longer came by. I do not know what has become of this man, if he moved on to another town nearby (which is doubtful) or if he had passed on, gone to meet his Father in Heaven. Whatever the case, I am again reminded of the Parable of the Good Samaritan.

Sometimes our Christian walk seems virtually unrewarding, like we have said "yes" to something, but never get to share that with someone outside the walls of the church, someone with whom we could make a difference. This was a chance in a lifetime for me, and I am glad I did what I did. Having seen poor children in Mexico, Korea and Thailand beg for anything they can get their hands on, I know too well that feeling when you know you can do something decent, but don't. That cold December morning, a man approached me with a query and I had to make a decision, and fast. The decision I chose to make impacted me then, still impacts me today, and will most likely impact me for the rest of my life. Once again, without his knowing, Jepp and I share a moment - the blessing may have been his on those days when I took him to church or shared a meal with him, but without his implicit or explicit knowledge I will have the blessing of having known and provided something for him the rest of my life.

I sometimes look for Jepp in places I would see him around town, but I see him no longer. Sometimes when there is an unexpected knock at the door I think it might be him, but it no longer is. Not all stories will be so good, but if you step out in faith from time to time, you might have a Jepp story of your own - one that will have a positive impact on your life and the life you reach out to care for.

I am not normally one to post on things political, but recently I have heard an outcry that goes against Biblical Christianity. I am saddened and puzzled by the remarks I hear.

Sadly, I think that most “Christians” today fail to see God at work in all things. I hear reports of those “Christians” praying for the failure of our newly elected president, and I must say, I find these reports most disturbing. Please do not misunderstand me, I am not a flag-waving democratic party rally-boy, but as we live in a democratic republic, we the people did elect this many to be our president; like it or not those are the rules set forth by our founding fathers. Those who would pray for this man’s failure are blind to see that God does work in all things – for His glory, not for our wants or desires.

If, for example, you believe in the Christian God and believe that He alone is in sovereign control, why do you rebel against what He has put before us in the Scriptures? Romans 13:1-3 makes it painfully clear, “1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.” You see, to ask God to go against himself – by seeking to have Him overthrow His decision to put someone in authority – seems most absurd. Your reasoning dances in circles and makes less than zero sense. If you call yourself a Christian, adhere to the principles, rules and mandates set forth in the single rule of faith and practice, the Bible. Read through it and attempt to put those principles into practice in your life. Please, do not let friends, family or the media tell you what is and is not, especially when it comes to the Scriptures! Going to church on Sunday mornings does not constitute a Christian lifestyle, your thoughts and actions Monday through Saturday speak volumes to what you truly believe.

So, if you are going to pray to God about our president be specific. If you disagree about some of his policies pray that God’s mighty hand would not allow such policy changes that go against Christian belief and doctrine. However, as it is stated in Scripture, those in authority have been given that authority from God. Do not pray that God would overturn His own decision, but rather, that we as a “nation under God” would have a collective change of heart and that heart would be repentant.

Like it or not, we have a newly elected president who has authority to govern from both man (who went to the ballots) and from God (who gave us the ability to go to the ballots). Be found on the correct side of the equation and, “do what is right.”