For King and Country

For the past six years I have ended every worship service with the same benediction.  It varies a bit each week, but the essences is always the same:

As you go, remember this:

God loves you, Jesus died for you, and how you live your faith matters ... now and forever.

For me those words are the gospel in a nutshell.  In some form, I preach that message each week.  I am amazed by the power the words carry.  No one may ever remember a word I preach, but they know the foundational truths of my messages through this simple benediction.  It also serves as a reminder that church is only a beginning ...After the benediction, we sing a song and people depart. 

Last Sunday after church, we went to the Indiana State Fair with other people from our church to enjoy the day and the music - it was Christian Music Day at the Fair.  As usual the words from the service were swirling in my head.  So when I heard these words coming from the stage, I was immediately drawn in: 

So let my life be the proof of Your love
So let my love look like You and what Your made of
How You lived, how You died
Love is sacrifice
So let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love
     -For King and Country



My benediction, it seems, now has a theme song (and a music video - see below). 




BTW, gotta love the video - reminds me of Doctor Who and the Cybermen!

Allow me to take a moment and wholeheartedly recommend this rising group - For King and County.  I have now heard them twice in concert - both times they stole the show with their music, their stage presence, and their message.  Rarely does a group come along that has it all - a great sound (drums, xylophone, and a cello!) - great show - great message.  These guys have it all.  Take the time to explore their music and then the opportunity comes - GO and be blessed by their music and ministry!

A Carpenter's Tools

If Jesus was a carpenter, what kind of tools would he have used?

The Roman Era, during which Jesus practiced his craft, was a golden ago of woodworking. Thanks to technological advances and innovations during the relatively peaceful reign of Rome, most of the tools available to nineteenth century carpenters would have been familiar to Jesus.  Why does it matter?

I find it interesting that we so often wonder about the tools used by others to create. We see something beautiful and want to know how it was made?  What tools were used?  Often we respond unimpressed - "I could do that" - why else the popularity of Pinterest?

And yet in our Christian lives we have been given so many tools - worship, study, service, giving - and we debate whether they are important in our lives.  We are given additional tools - love, grace, mercy, compassion, kindness - and we tuck them away.

Jesus provided the perfect life to be used as the measuring tool.  If we are so willing to copy fools and clowns, why wouldn't we seek to copy perfection.

Perhaps in this world gone astray, we need to dig deeper in the tool box.  Perhaps we need to dust off some of the tools.  Perhaps we need to use ALL that we have been given. Instead of worrying about the tools others are using, maybe we should spend more time using the tools we have given.


The LORD said to me, "What do you see, Amos?" And I said, "A plumb line." Then the Lord said, "Behold I am about to put a plumb line In the midst of My people Israel. I will spare them no longer.    Amos 7:8 NAS 

May God find you faithful in using all the gifts and tools He has given you.

On the way to Sunday ... Jesus the Carpenter

Ever wonder why Jesus was a carpenter?

Perhaps it is revealed in our ever growing obsession with DIY (Do it Yourself) Projects. HGTV, DIY Network, Food Network (and all like them) are the bane of my television watching at home. With 200+ channels it makes since that there are a growing number of viewer specific television shows. So, at our house "WE" watch Design Star, Property Brothers, Holmes on Homes, Love it or List it, House Hunters, House Hunters International, and so many more. Is it a good thing that I know who David Bromstad is?  I want my TV back!

Our preoccupation with DIY projects is not limited in scope nor is it limited to our generation. We, as a people for generations, have tried to find ways to God with our own DIY projects. We have tried absolute morality. We have tried subjective morality (More good things will out weigh the bad and get me to heaven).

In ages past we even tried to build an actual tower to reach the heavens. And less we think those people were nuts, today we wrap up our attempts to build a gateway to God with fancy words like spirituality. Which in my opinion is simply a way to build a path to God on our own - it is our Do it Yourself Project for eternal life. Spirituality eliminates our singular need for Jesus and the work of the cross. Spirituality replaces our need for Jesus with our own “I” centered theology of “Doing it Yourself.” We no longer need Jesus – after all isn’t he just a carpenter? I can do this on my own.

For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him     Colossians 1:16 KJV

Dis you hear the carpenter at work?

Creating all things? Building what is needed? Restoring what is broken?

Life was not meant to be a DIY project and certainly building a relationship with God was not intended to be a DIY project either.

Thomas said to Jesus, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."    John 14:5-7 NIV 

How can we know the way? Did you hear the answer?

But isn’t that the carpenter speaking?

Yes it is and for that I am thankful because I do not have to make my life a DIY Project.

 

For more: Lessons from the Carpenter: An Apprentice Learns from Jesus by H. Michael Brewer

An Outing to Remember ...

For the past 6 years, I have had the privilege of serving as the chaplain for An Outing to Remember.  This is an annual fundraising event to benefit the Dr Lisa Thompson Center for Family Education at the Rehab Hospital of Indiana.  You can read Lisa's story here. 

I never knew Lisa, but I play golf with her father; hence the invitation.

We often hear the words during a tragedy ... God can make this a good thing. Make no mistake, the loss of Lisa's life was a tragedy.  She is missed by family and friends alike.  Testimony to that is the great group of people that come together every summer to remember her, tell stories, play golf, and have fun.

Yesterday, Lisa's mother commented that her granddaughter (Lisa's daughter) said, "I finally can see the good that's come from the loss of Mom." The good you might ask?

The good comes from the stories of survival that were heard yesterday ... from Aaron, Matt, Andrea, and so many more. All these people suffered traumatic brain injuries.  RHI is leading in the research and development of programs that is helping victims recover and thrive. You might remember Andrea ... She made a really profound statement yesterday:

"I can understand the dark place that Lisa was in ... I've been there too.  This program kept me from the brink." (my paraphrase).

Everywhere you turned yesterday there were stories of people not just surviving, but once again thriving in their relationships with friends and family.  It is amazing to think that so many people people have been helped because of Lisa's experience.

What an honor to lead a group of people in giving God thanks for a life lived and all the good that continues to come from that one person's life - Dr. Lisa Thompson.

May we each live a life that is worthy of being remembered and may we take every chance to do good in the moments we are given.