Bowels of Compassion

“But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?”  —1 John 3:17 (KJV)

When Darlene and I were first married, we went on a three-week mission trip to Honduras. We were just twenty years old and had never really been anywhere by ourselves. We jumped on a plane in Pittsburgh, joined a team of strangers in Miami, and departed for Central America. On our team, we met a couple who had been on earlier mission trips, and were so moved by their experiences that they returned home, left their business, and became the missionaries leading our trip.

Throughout our three-week “vacation with a purpose” I was waiting for my moving moment, but it never came. I wondered if I was too hard hearted or was God simply not calling me to missionary service. Was I too emotionally detached to be moved? Eventually, God called me into pastoral ministry and confirmed for me that God was not calling me into overseas service.

Since 1 John 3:17 (NIV) tells us, “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?” as Christians we should be concerned if we are not moved to compassion when faced with the needs of others, questioning whether God’s love really dwells in us. What about you? When you see sick and starving children on TV, are you repulsed and turn the channel or are you moved? When is the last time you opened your “bowels of compassion” to the needs of others. In other words, when is the last time you allowed the needs of another person to move you so deeply that you acted?

I quoted the King James Version at the top of this article because it tries to correctly and graphically translate the original language of the New Testament. To be moved to compassion literally means to open your bowels toward a person or circumstance, to become nauseous or sick over a need that you can meet. In the New Testament, when Jesus was moved to compassion it actually says, His bowels were moved. The bowels were thought to be the seat of love and pity. The verbal form of the noun “bowels” means to be moved as to one’s bowels or to be moved with compassion or have pity.

Compassion connects our eyes with our hands directly through the stomach. We see a need with the eyes of Jesus, and are moved in our guts to do something. Most of the Bible passages describing Jesus being moved to compassion begin with Jesus seeing a person in need. Matthew 14:14 records that Jesus saw a great multitude, was moved with compassion toward them, and healed their sick. Luke 7:13 describes how Jesus saw a widow who lost her only son. He had compassion on her and raised her son from the dead.

In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus describes a neighbor as one who shows compassion. The Samaritan saw an injured man, was moved with compassion, and offered help (Luke 10:33).  Jesus illustrates His Father’s love for lost souls by describing how the father of the lost son upon seeing his son’s return, had compassion, ran to him, and embraced his son (Luke 15:20).

The recurring theme: Jesus, God the Father, and Christians see, are moved with compassion, and act. Are you allowing yourself to be moved to compassion? You must first be in a position to see. Secondly, you must open your heart (our bowels) to be moved or touched. If you are truly moved to compassion, you will act to alleviate pain and suffering. 

Fresh Air Refreshing

“But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”        —1 Samuel 30:6b

For one five-year period of my life, I did my morning praying and devotional reading on the front porch of a hunting cabin five minutes from my home. Our house was situated on a postage stamp-sized yard, and my son bought a beautiful, but very big, black German shepherd. I would take Hoss (Prince Hoss Bain was his pedigree name.) with me each morning to buy a coffee at a local shop and drive to the mountain cabin. Hoss had enough running space to get exercise without people conflicts, and I had enough quiet nature space to pray, study, and worship.

One day, on the cabin porch, I received a fresh understanding into Psalm 121. As I prayed and reflected upon nature’s beauty, I imagined David, the shepherd boy, surveying the majesty of God’s creation and writing, “I will lift my eyes to the hill—from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (vss. 1-2). David was not worshiping nature but God, the Creator of all he saw. I am sure that David returned again and again to the beauty of the out-of-doors for renewing times of worship and devotion.

I took a moment this past week to stroll through the woods behind my house here in Johnstown. I was actually sneaking a peak at the new water tank construction and getting some exercise in the process when God surprised me with a flashback memory.  As I walked through acres of mayflowers, I came across and nearly stepped on one of my favorite wildflowers, a jack-in-the-pulpit. My wife and I used to walk on a rails-to-trails path and knew exactly where one very large jack-in-the-pulpit bloomed at the top of a small waterfall each spring. I was totally surprised and pleased when, after nearly seven years in Johnstown, I found dozens of these unique flowers growing behind my house.

Somehow the gentle walk in the woods and the serendipitous surprise of God’s creation refreshed my soul in ways I cannot explain. It may have been the re-connection with a cherished memory or the beauty of God’s creation. Was it the brief rest and the gentle whisper from God’s Spirit telling me to slow down and spend some prayer time in the woods and smell the flowers? Whatever it was, the Holy Spirit washed over me with God’s love and grace.

1 Samuel 30 describes a very low moment in David’s life. He had been running from King Saul, and while off on a mission, the village where he and his men’s families lived was overtaken, looted and burned. David and his men returned to find their families taken captive. And, as if this wasn’t bad enough, his own men threatened to stone him. The Bible records the brief statement, “But David strengthened himself in the Lord His God” (30:6b). We are not told how David strengthened himself, but somehow he found renewed strength to lead his men and rescue their families. I would not be surprised if David did not spend a few moments meditating on God’s creation to refocus.

If you need refreshed, (Most of you do; I’ve seen it in your eyes.) try spending some quality, quiet time worshiping the Lord and listening to His gentle whisper. Fresh air and nature’s beauty sure help me. Why don’t you give it a try? As you look at the beauty of God’s creation, you may be reminded of God’s love and grace. Consider the immensity of the earth and the universe and receive new understanding into our Savior’s power and wisdom. For you macho men, if this seems a little too fluffy, fishing season is upon us, and spring gobbler season remains open for a few more weeks. What are you waiting for? Get some fresh air and get refreshed in the Lord.

Miracle Prayers

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”  —Luke 22:42

I got caught a couple weeks ago. No, I was not shoplifting or speeding or anything illegal. I got caught unaware by emotional exhaustion. You know, too many ministry highs and activities without a break. We went from a Holy Spirit weekend, to Palm Sunday services, to Holy Week, to Easter, to a dinner theatre, to final preparations for a mission trip, and finally to Celebrate One, the National Day of Prayer and Unity Service. I tried to sneak in a vacation week, but the only week I had available was already booked with three ministry events and my wife only had one day off from work and babysitting duties.

Yes, I got caught. I came back from my “week off” not wanting or ready to do anything. I just couldn’t get my head or heart back into the game. I should have known better. I should have planned better. I should have taken better physical, emotional, and spiritual care of myself. I got caught feeling really down and having my own little pity party. An interesting thing happened on the way to Day-Two of my pity party. I watched a YouTube video of Nick Vujicic.

On Tuesday as I cleaned up my old emails, I came across a forwarded email from a missionary in Ecuador entitled, “This is wonderful.” I almost deleted it but paused long enough to watch the attached video. Nick Vujicic, an Australian young man born without arms or legs, does motivational speaking worldwide. At the end of his presentations, they place him on a small table and people (all ages and walks of life) come up and greet him with a hug. The video that I watched showed Nick speaking to German teenagers at a school assembly. He said, “I believe if God doesn’t give you your miracle, you are to be God’s miracle for somebody else.” You can check out more of Nick’s ministry at his website, www.attitudeisaltitude.com. How true, attitude is altitude.

I can tell you it’s hard to remain down when you see someone like Nick facing huge daily challenges with a smile. I thought of another famous Christian witness, Joni Eareckson Tada. Many of you may remember, in 1967 Joni Eareckson was injured in a diving accident at 17 years old, leaving her in a quadriplegic state with minimal use of her hands. She continues to be an inspiring witness to God’s love, but remains a quadriplegic. Remember, if God doesn’t give you a miracle, you may be God’s miracle to someone else. Joni and Nick have been God’s miracles to hundreds of thousands of people.

Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane prior to His arrest, prayed for a miracle. He prayed for God to take His cup of suffering away but then prayed for God’s will to be done. Jesus did not receive the miracle of deliverance, but Jesus became the miracle for everyone who will believe. Jesus was arrested, beaten, tried, and crucified, but three days later, He arose to be the firstborn again from the dead. Jesus literally became what He told Martha in John 11:25, “the resurrection and the life.” Jesus was the miracle of God’s grace for salvation and eternal life to all who believe.

Have you ever been caught in a time of discouragement, depression, or even despair? I believe it is absolutely right and good to pray for a miracle. If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can move mountains, but if you don’t get your miracle, maybe you should pray for a way to be a miracle for someone else. Even Jesus got caught. He told Peter, James, and John to come and pray with Him for He was sorrowful, even unto death. Jesus felt so bad He thought He might die or perhaps He felt so bad He wanted to die. Jesus’ miracle of deliverance did not come, but Jesus became the miracle of deliverance for others. What about you? How might you be the miracle for someone else today?

Bold Prayers

“Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”   —Acts 4:29-30

Being an optimist by nature, it’s hard for me to admit, but I really think life is getting harder. It seems everywhere I turn, I find persons dealing with insurmountable challenges. Last week, I spoke with someone struggling to get along with coworkers. At the same time, several persons close to me had relapses in health issues. Some folks are dealing with broken relationships that refuse mending. An addict uses after months of victory.

The news shows are no help. If you watch regularly, you will either be appalled by the content, irritated by the triviality, or fearful at the doom and gloom. Life is full of challenges, big challenges. I have seen two very interesting shirt logos about praying hard. One reads, “Life is short; pray hard.” The other reads, “Life is hard; pray harder.” Whether you are struck by the urgency or the immensity of the challenges, life today requires bold faith.

The early church, the church described by the Book of Acts following the ascension of Jesus and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, lived lives of bold faith and prayed bold prayers. They prayed for God to give them boldness in the face of huge challenges. They were bold enough in their faith to believe God to do the impossible.

In Acts 4, Peter and John had just witnessed a miracle. A forty year old man lame from birth was healed in the name of Jesus. What an outstanding great moment, but no. Peter and John were arrested for teaching in the name of Jesus and proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. It appears the religious leaders of the day were upset for two reasons. The Christians were teaching and healing in Jesus’ name, and they were claiming Jesus had risen from the dead. All other religions can take you to a tomb or a body and say, “Here is our founder.” It is not so with Christianity. We point to an empty tomb because we believe Jesus Christ is alive.

Some believe our culture is becoming more like the culture of the early church. Christianity is no longer the assumed mindset of everyone around us. If we are to be witnesses to the risen Lord, we will be required to take our faith seriously. We must live a bold faith. If we believe Jesus is risen from the dead, we must act like it. If we believe God is a wonder-working, dead-raising, and sinner-saving God, we must pray bold prayers.

When Peter and John returned from their arrest and from being threatened against teaching in the name of Jesus, the believers, “Lifted their voices to God with one accord,” and prayed for God to give them boldness to speak God’s word with confidence. They further prayed that God would stretch out His hand to perform miraculous signs and wonders in Jesus’ name (Acts 4:24, 30). After they prayed, the place where were gathered was shaken and they were all filled anew with the Holy Spirit.

In the challenges you and I face today, may we ask God to give us strength to live boldly and confidently for Him. Let us believe God to work the miracles needed. If we do what God calls us to do, be witnesses and live holy lives, then God will do what only God can do, “Perform miraculous signs and wonders.” May we see families restored, lives reclaimed, addicts delivered, and the lost found. Join me in living a life of bold faith and praying bold prayers.

United Prayer

“Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.”    —Matthew 18:19

I took a couple days off to regroup after Easter. My wife and I traveled back home to visit old friends and reminisce over some earlier stomping grounds. Shortly after we were engaged just over 38 years ago, I took Darlene out to eat at the Wolf’s Den, a very classy restaurant near Knox, PA. This past week, we thought we might eat there on our trip down memory lane. What a disappointment. The restaurant, now located in the middle of a campground, doesn’t look like it is open for business. The cedar shingles on the roof are disheveled and the building is in need of some major tender loving attention.

It is often said, “You can never really go home again.” Well, I sure experienced that truth last week. As I toured the neighborhood of my first pastoral appointment, I noticed many houses in disrepair, yards strewn with junk cars, and many, too many, empty trailers and houses. We wondered if it was this bad when we were there in the 80s or if we just didn’t notice.

Spiritually speaking, I fear the same thing has happened in America. We see mega-churches on television and the number of larger UM Churches has grown over the past decades, but our denomination is still losing members. I believe, Christian values continue to decline in American culture. Just like the homes and businesses of my home town, many lives are in poor spiritual condition.

In these next two weeks, Americans, and especially Pennsylvanians have two great opportunities to change our world. The first is on Tuesday, April 24, when we have the right and privilege to vote in the primary elections. The second one and I believe more importantly, we have the awesome privilege of joining Christians across the country and praying on Thursday, May 3, the National Day of Prayer.

On a national level, in the often quoted scripture, 2 Chronicles 7:14, God promises, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” I agree with Ronnie Floyd that “The answer to our spiritual crisis will not be found in the ballot box but in our prayer closets” (The Power of Prayer and Fasting).

The greatest need for our city, state, and nation is that believers would join together in unity and power to pray for each other, our nation, and our world. Jesus said the world would know we are truly His disciples by our love for one another. Like any family, we may not agree on every decision or every interpretation of scripture (Yes, we even disagree on political issues), but we agree on one main thing, the only main thing, Jesus Christ is God’s Son who gave His life for us on the Cross, rose again from the dead, and is coming again some day, maybe soon.

On Thursday, May 3, I urge you to join with other Christians to pray. One special event that I will be attending is the Celebrate One National Day of Prayer and Unity Service to be held on the UPJ campus. At the Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center, Thursday, May 3, at 7:00 PM, Christians, clergy and laypersons alike, will gather to seek God’s face and blessing for our nation. The nationally-known Christian band, Echoing Angels, will lead us in worship and provide a Christian concert, as we join together in prayer, united in Jesus’ name. Yes, I hope you voted, but I especially urge you to join with other Christians in prayer for our nation. 

The Main Thing

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”       —Matthew 28:19-20

Last week, I had the privilege of attending court hearings at the County Courthouse. It amazed me how much time and money we spent on small stuff. I sat for two hours in the courtroom where minor offenses tied up hundreds of persons who probably make quite substantial salaries with little resulting action. One victim did not show up at court and could not be found. Case dismissed. Three subpoenaed witnesses did not come to court and could not be found. Case dismissed. One person drops charges. “Are you sure?” “Yes.” Dismissed. One case that was acted upon but could not be finalized until the defense attorney was located. We waited while a guard went out to look for him.

Please don’t misunderstand me. We have great judges and highly skilled and caring people working very hard in our legal system, but for what? We seem to major on minor truths while our world continues to descend into sin, violence, greed, and destruction. In government, in court, and in our personal lives, the challenge is to keep the main thing the main thing.

Majoring on minor issues seems to be a systemic flaw in human culture. Even the Church has trouble keeping focus on the main thing. After the resurrection but before Jesus’ ascension, He commanded the disciples, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about” (Acts 1:4). At first glance, one might think the main thing was to wait, but the real main thing was to receive the power of the Holy Spirit and go. Many believers and churches today receive the message of Acts 1:4 but never get on with the main thing that the waiting pointed to. Jesus told the disciples in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The main thing for the church is not to wait but to be filled with power and go: go and be witnesses for Christ. Go and make disciples. As the church, we are good at planning, meeting, redecorating, and restructuring. But God commands us to go and make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19). Very similar to our justice system, we are structured for ministry and have very talented persons ready to serve, but we often major on minor issues. We never quite get around to the going.

In the Great Commission passage of Matthew 28:16-20, the command of God, the main thing, is to make disciples. In order to make disciples by baptizing and teaching, we must go. We must go across our living room, across our street, across our city, and across oceans. Where have you gone lately? Whose needs beyond your own have you prayed for? Whose body besides your own have you clothed and fed lately? Whose family besides your own have you given a ride to church? Jesus said, “I have all power and I am with you to the end of the age; therefore, go!”

Great Truth

“In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” “What is truth?” Pilate asked.   —John 18:37-38a

As soon as my alarm goes off, I turn the TV to my wife’s favorite show, the Weather channel and the all important Local on the 8’s. Then I turn to WJAC to catch the “real” local weather. If we are running a little late, we may catch a bit of the national morning news show with its usual sensational but insignificant stories. Last Thursday’s went something like this: Mother of 14 including octuplets is here in the studio. Also coming up is the 42 page report detailing how singing great, Whitney Houston, drowned face-down in her bathtub in 10 inches of water.

We are either bombarded with controversial but insignificant details of someone’s life or overwhelmed by scandalous and painfully personal details about a celebrity. Although some may find it interesting whether octomom is on or off welfare, I couldn’t care less. I hurt for and am praying for the Houston family but really feel the personal details of her death are none of my business.

Living in the technology and information age, one would think we would be more judicious in our use of information. We know more, have instant access to more, but discern less. Leo Tolstoy, author of War and Peace, wrote another book called A Confession in 1879 in which he tells the story of his search for meaning in life. In his time, as well as ours today, few persons were asking the first order questions of life. “Where did I come from?” “Where am I heading?” “What is life about?” Although Tolstoy rejected Christianity early in life, he eventually found that the peasant people of Russia had found the answers through their Christian faith. He came to realize that only in Jesus Christ do we find the answer.

If you want to talk about great news, listen to how people are finding the greatest truth of all in the Good News of the Gospel. James Rutz in his book, Megashift, reports on the revival of Christianity in our world. In Acts 2, 3,000 people became Christians on the Day of Pentecost. Today, that is happening around the world every 25 minutes. In one meeting in Lagos, Nigeria, 3,400,000 recorded their decisions for Christ out of the six million that came. Campus Crusade for Christ estimates we’ll see a billion new converts in the next 10 years.

As Pontius Pilate interrogated Jesus, he asked, “What is truth?” He might have asked a better question, “What does it matter?” Theologian and Catholic Cardinal, Jean Danielou, once wrote, “Truth consists in the mind giving to things the importance they have in reality.” Just knowing facts doesn’t matter as much as knowing the importance of those facts. What does the fact that Jesus is the King of the Jews and the Son of God matter to you and me? The Bible declares, “There is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Amid a culture of insignificant facts, let us ask ourselves important questions. What we are doing with the fact of God’s great love for us in Jesus Christ?  “How shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3) Jesus came to save you and me and to give us meaning and abundant life. This is the great truth of the Good News.