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When a person does not live consistent with societal norms, they are often labeled a rebel. Depending on the perspective, this can be either positive or negative. Jesus did not live up to the expectations of the religious establishment of his day -- and they labeled him.
11:19 The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ ...”
Matthew 11:19a NLT In this particular instance, the religious norms had distorted God's original intent. The focus of Christ while on earth and his desire for us is to extend his kingdom to bring God glory -- to reach the lost. The religious leaders had searched the scripture and held to the law but had missed the very purpose God had intended and the one he had sent (John 5:39-40). Yet, Jesus' focus was on those who were in need -- lost without him. 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Yet, he met resistance because he operated out of the norm. Scripture describes the resistance as violent:
11:12 And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it. He described the reaction of that generation as being like children whining because no one would play with them: 11:16 “To what can I compare this generation? It is like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends, 17 ‘We played wedding songs, and you didn’t dance, so we played funeral songs, and you didn’t mourn.’ " Our purpose here on earth is not about our own agenda, traditions, or norms. Our purpose is to "be HIS witnesses," to go and "make disciples." And, sometimes, that requires us to do things out of the norm, to be creative ... to reach a changing world, culture, and people with an unchanging gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus did!
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On September 11, 2001 I was in a hotel room in Seville, Spain processing my email. I was at a computer storage conference as a speaker. After a long day of conference talks, I was alone in my room doing what computer introverts do -- getting some alone time and checking email.
A knock came at my door (late afternoon in Spain because of the time zone). "Russ, have you seen the news! There's been some kind of an explosion at the twin towers in NYC. We're downstairs if you want to join us."
After going downstairs and taking in the news, I headed back upstairs to try to make some contacts back home. The story was still unfolding so it wasn't clear what exactly was happening. Back home, Dell began making contact with everyone who was traveling and placed us in lock down. We were told to stay put for security concerns. Regardless, the US was no longer allowing flights into the country ... so I was stranded in Spain.
I immediately began to miss my family. At times like those, you think about what's most important. I don't remember what we talked about when I called ... really doesn't matter ... it was simply great to hear Patty's voice and the voices of my kids.
I was able to talk Dell security in allowing me to travel to London -- my next stop on my trip to Europe. Even though it wasn't home, I felt more at ease in a place where I could understand and speak the language. While the US was still in lock-down, I completed my business. I was delayed another 2 days, before we were allowed to rebook flights to the US. I had to leave from Gatwick rather than Heathrow so I left early in the morning arriving in the early AM for an afternoon flight. The airport was PACKED and fairly chaotic. There were crowds more than lines so it was somewhat remarkable that I eventually made it through.
The Continental flight landed in the afternoon in Houston, TX. The passengers erupted in applause ... God bless America. My flight to Austin and the next several were canceled so it was faster for me to rent a car and drive.
I arrived home approximately 3 hours later ... and embraced my family. More than 3000 slain and those left behind would not have that luxury.
Evil exists. Creation groans for the earth that God intended. He is our only hope for eternal peace. Be thankful for what he has provided. Love those who are in your life with a new love every day.
God bless America.
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A young friend of mine provided the following words of encouragement describing our relationship as one similar to that of Paul and Timothy (in this particular case, the encouragement was in reverse):
4:2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. ... 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. My young friend writes: These are Paul's last challenges to Timothy - preach the Word, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry - This will be our road map for success. God has called you, gifted you, and will sustain you during your life of ministry. I'm praying hard for you that God will do one of our favorite verses - Eph 3:20-21 - immeasurably more than all we can ask, think or imagine.
As I looked through the rest of the letter from Paul to Timothy, one section particularly stuck out to me: 2 You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others. 3 Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them. 5 And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules. 2 Timothy 2:2-5 NLT My first reaction was … “what rules?” I’m thinking this means that there are no short-cuts. An illustration: Rosie Ruiz Wins the Boston Marathon
On April 21, 1980 Rosie Ruiz, a 23-year-old New Yorker, was the first woman to cross the finish line in the Boston Marathon. She had achieved the third fastest time ever recorded for a female runner (two hours, thirty-one minutes, and fifty-six seconds), which was made all the more remarkable by the fact that she looked remarkably sweat-free and relaxed as she climbed the winner's podium to accept her wreath. However, race officials almost immediately began to question her victory.
The problem was that no one could remember having seen her during the race. Monitors at the various race checkpoints hadn't seen her, nor had any of the other runners. Numerous photographs taken during the race failed to contain any sign of her. Her absence was overwhelming. Finally, a few members of the crowd came forward to reveal that they had seen her jump into the race during its final half-mile. Apparently she had then simply sprinted to the finish line.
I do want things to happen quickly … mainly because of the sense of urgency that I have for our mission. But, God has his timing. He wants to do a great work IN me, AROUND me, and THROUGH me. His ways are higher than my ways; his thoughts are greater than my thoughts (Is. 55:9). Stay the course and persevere ... God is at work.
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Kairos is an ancient Greek word meaning the "right or opportune moment". The ancient Greeks had two words for time, chronos and kairos. While the former refers to chronological or sequential time, the latter signifies "a time in between", a moment of undetermined period of time in which "something" special happens. In the New Testament, kairos means "the appointed time in the purpose of God", the time when God acts. [Footnote: Wikipedia]
Are we taking advantage of the opportunities that God places before us. William Shakespeare wrote:
There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; [but when] omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in the shallows and in miseries ... and we must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures.
As believers, we should be praying for opportunities. We should be sensitive to the opportunities as they arise so that we can capture the moment. Sometimes, it's more than a moment, it sets the course and direction for our lives. We aren't intended to live in misery or in the "shallows." Yet, our decisions often lead us there.
Be passionate about God's purpose for your life. Pray for opportunities and be prepared to seize them!!
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From the Naval War College Review Autumn 1987 Issue in reference to routines for a new aircraft on an aircraft carrier: There were no books on the integration of this new "hardware" into existing routines and no other place to practice it but at sea; it was all learned on the job. Moreover, little of the process was written down, so that the ship in operation is the only reliable "manual."
This past Sunday, Pastor Don used the analogy of an aircraft carrier to describe the transition that we need to make as a church. As the Captain of the ship, Don receives his mission from the Commander in Chief (God). As people of the church, if we're on the aircraft carrier, we have a job to perform -- each of us have our spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:4-7) and as members of the family of God, we each have responsibilities to use those gifts (Romans 12:1-8).
And, the best place to practice is "at sea" -- in the church, in our community.
God has told us as stewards, we are required to be faithful. As crew, let's accept the challenge of our mission.
Live LOUD!
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