American Idols

“Do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the LORD your God has forbidden.  For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.”    —Deuteronomy 4:23-4

The American Idol show is back and alive and well. This reality TV show auditions would be singers from across the nation and allows the American public to vote for their favorites. Contestants are eliminated one by one until only one remains, the next American Idol. The show has changed celebrity judges and gone to different cities but continues as a top rated program.

The idols of our American culture may change color, shape, and size through the years but remain alive and well, today.  One may define an idol as “anything other than God that we are tempted to worship, emulate, or believe will save us.” To the average American in pursuit of the American dream, an idol may be anything we believe can bring us life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It’s built in our DNA.

A few years ago, I identified five American Idols. I believe they, too, are alive and well.

Viva Las Vegas—pleasure brings peace and contentment.

The Mall—the accumulation of things will bring us safety and joy.

The Big Game—a fixation on sports and winning.                               

Fame—celebrity worship

Wireless—always being connected and on the go.

As I reviewed the list, I thought I really don’t struggle much with idols. Well, OK, I only watch golf if Tiger Woods or John Daley is playing. Talk about fallen celebrity worship. I was feeling pretty smug until I read a book by Greg Dutcher, You are the Treasure that I Seek. The subtitle really describes the challenge for us, “But there’s a lot of cool stuff out there, Lord.”

Dutcher says one way to identify the idols you worship is by observing that when your idol shakes, you shake. I thought about the things that trouble me or keep me awake at night. The lack of growth in the church, a poorly attended worship service, or a drop in giving causes me to stress. I guess I equate numerical success with God’s approval. Success may become an idol.

God called me to proclaim the Good News to those who have never heard or somehow missed it growing up. Since I use an interpersonal and testimonial style of evangelism, I depend upon personal attraction and character. In idol terms, I want people to like and respect me. In serving that idol, I seek to please people and do the right thing at the same time. One can seldom do both. Jesus always did the right thing, but they crucified Him.

What American idols are keeping you from following the Lord more fully? Maybe the five listed above aren’t problems for you. Then, identify yours. When your idol shakes, you will shake. So ask yourself, “What causes me to shake?” The scriptures tell us that God is a jealous God, an all consuming fire. God will not tolerate idols in any form. Ask the Lord to search your heart and reveal anything that competes with God for your love and devotion. Repent. Seek Jesus as your one and only treasure.

Carrying Your Own Load

^“For each one should carry their own load.”  —Galatians 6:5

My first “real” job was working for a carpenter in the summers. I lied (Is stretching the truth really a lie?) about my age so he would hire me. I was 16 and my birthday was coming in a few weeks. I told my boss, I was seventeen (well almost) and my birthday was in July. Later, I asked him what he would have done if I would have been injured on a construction site, he replied, “I figured you lied to me, you’d have to lie to the insurance company, too.”

My first day on the job, we were building an addition to a church, how ironic. Being the youngest man, or boy, on the crew and having never worked on roofs, I struggled to keep up fumbling to get roofing nails from my pouch to my hand and into my two fingers for nailing while trying to hang on. Working in pairs, my partner nailed three nails for every one of mine and also had to put the next shingle in place. They began to call me “cub bear.” I looked and acted like a clumsy cub bear. Not fun.

Remembering those early days of roofing, I sympathize with many folks in the workforce today continually being asked to do more with less. As persons retire, they are often not replaced. As corporate America down-sizes to cut cost, the remaining employees are expected to work harder to prop up the bottom line. I see many lives fumbling to hang on and running faster to keep up.

Right now, many of us are beginning to deal with our tax situation. The discussion of fair share comes up in life, work, and taxes. It seems on every side we are being asked to do more with less staff, to be involved in more things with less time in our schedule, and give to more needs with less money. How do we live faithfully in this time of history?

First, we have to believe the Lord is bigger than our circumstances. God knows our job, our neighbors, and our family. God may have us in just the right place for us to grow into His likeness and be a witness for Him.

Second, all the money we have is really the Lord’s. We are simply stewards trying to faithfully use the money God has entrusted into our hands. When we die, we will not take it with us. Let us spend it for heaven’s sake. Jesus told us in the Sermon on the Mount, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matt. 6:33).  Life, pressure, and faithfulness are about priorities and trusting God.

The scriptures describe an interesting paradox in life and ministry. On the one hand, we are told, we should each carry our own burdens (Galatians 6:5), Later we find, “If a man will not work, he shall not eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). Paul goes on to say, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians. 6:2). Although the old adage, “10% of the people do 90% of the work” is true to some extent in every church, I envision a church where everyone prays, gives, and does their share.

The paradox in Galatians 6, carrying our own load versus bearing each other’s burdens, is beautifully concluded in verses 9-10, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

Let us not become weary because, in the Lord, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Opportunities to help others are placed before us by God so we may be channels of His love and resources on the earth. Hang in there, God is not through with us yet. Anywhere God leads, God will provide. We can trust Him.

Life Changing Prayers

“I do believe; help my unbelief!”   —Mark 9:24 

This past week, I was privileged to interview Tim Rigby, a sports reporter for 30 years with WJAC. Tim shared his faith story of God’s direction in his life and triumph amid health challenges. While sitting against the bleachers after playing basketball with friends exactly one year to the day after suffering a seizure caused by stage four lymphoma, Tim thought, “What a difference a year makes.” The next moment he marveled, “What a difference a prayer makes.” He attributes his healing to faith in the Lord, a positive mental attitude, and the prayers of God’s people.

The old quote, “Prayer changes things,” is so true. The lives of God’s people, the circumstances of believers today, and my own life have been dramatically changed as a result of prayer. One of the most life-changing prayers I ever prayed was when I called upon Jesus Christ to become the Lord and Savior of my life. In a dorm room at Penn State University, after returning from Thanksgiving break 1973, I knelt at my bed and prayed, “Lord, I’m done running.” Although not nearly as spiritual and poetic as many prayers, the Lord heard my heart’s cry and transformed my life.  I have followed the Lord from that day until now. What a difference a prayer made in my life!

The Bible is full of life-changing prayers. The father of the boy with an evil spirit cried out to Jesus, “I do believe, help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24).  In response, Jesus healed the son. After the Israelite spies returned from scouting out the Promised Land and the Israelites rebelled wanting to return to Egypt, God threatened to destroy them and start a new nation from Moses. Moses prayed for the people, and God forgave them. (Numbers 14)

It would take months to consider all the life changing prayers found in the scriptures. Thomas exclaimed at seeing the risen Christ, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28) Saul, on the road to Damascus cried out, “Who are you, Lord?” (Acts 9:5) Jesus blessed the five loaves and two fish and a miraculous feeding of 5,000 men resulted with twelve baskets full left over. Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane, “Not my will but Thy will be done,” led to His death, burial, and resurrection redeeming countless human beings from sin and death.

What life changing prayer is God calling you to pray today? As you begin 2012, many have made New Year’s resolutions, but I am more excited about the possibilities in the life changing prayers being prayed. The Lord promises, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8). James 5 continues, “The prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven” (vs. 15).

God will hear you even if you are praying to Him for the first time. Paul and Silas told the jailer at Philippi, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household” (Acts 16:31). Jesus spoke of a notorious sinner who came to the temple to pray. He “stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’” (Luke 18:13). Jesus assures us that this man went home justified before God.

What a difference a prayer can make. It’s never too late to call out to God. Today, at the start of this New Year, is a great time to call upon the name of the Lord. He will hear and answer your prayer. God will change your life. Call upon Him today.

God Still Speaks

“Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”  —Matthew 2:2

God spoke in a variety of ways with an urgent frequency during the time surrounding Jesus’ birth. God used the angel Gabriel to announce to Mary the birth of Jesus, and to Zechariah the birth of John the Baptist. God used a dream to assure Joseph that is was alright to take Mary as his wife.  God used angel messengers to announce the birth of Jesus to the shepherds in the fields surrounding Bethlehem on the first Christmas night.

One of the more shocking ways God spoke was by shining a star to Gentile (non-Jewish) scientists in another country. The Magi or the Wisemen were probably court advisors who studied the stars and practiced divination (fortune telling) to give counsel to kings. Daniel and the Hebrew children of the Babylonian captivity were educated to serve in King Nebuchadnezzar’s court as part of a group called astronomers and magicians. God used nature, a star, to tell the Gentile world that Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, had been born.

As we face the New Year we might ask, “Does God still speak today?” “Can I expect God to speak to me in 2012?” Future telling has been going on for many. People will continue to try to interpret every storm, earthquake, and war. Interest in ancient calendars and ancient prophets will continue to increase. God’s Word tells us, “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son” (Hebrews 1:1-2a).

We have three recorded instances when God spoke directly and audibly during Jesus life on earth. At Jesus’ baptism, God said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17).  On the Mount of Transfiguration, God added the words, “Listen to Him.” “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matt. 17:5)  The third time was at the Triumphal Entry prior to Jesus passion and death. John 12:28 records God responding to Jesus’ prayer, “Father, glorify Thy Name!” “Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.’”

God will probably speak through nature, dreams, and even His holy angels in 2012. But when we are uncertain of what these things mean and in the silence of a direct word from the mouth of God, we will need to do what the Wisemen did when nature’s revelation through the star fell short. They went to the Bible. The Wisemen went to King Herod to find out “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?” King Herod consulted the Bible scholars who found specific revelation in Micah 5:2 telling that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. You have all heard the saying and many of you probably have practiced it this Christmas, “When all else fails, read the instructions.”

This New Year, I pray God’s people will return to the instructions, the Bible, the Word of God. If we expect to understand the events so quickly taking place around us, we will need to hear from God. If we are to see a renewal of God-honoring Christianity, we will need a revival of the Word of God. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom 10:17 NKJV).  Make a decision this year to get into God’s Word. God will definitely be speaking in 2012, but will we be listening?

Urgent or Important

“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born.” —Luke 2:6

Many parents vow never to say the word “No” to their child, because we’ve all heard children saying that dreaded word, “No!” I have never seen “no” on a vocabulary or spelling list, but every child seems to learn it quite quickly and easily. No, I don’t want to go. No, I don’t have to share. No, you’re not my mom; I don’t have to listen to you. No, I won’t wear those pants. No…

I wonder what words our children wish we, parents and grandparents, had never learned. I wonder if it might be, “Hurry up.” Have you ever stopped to watch yourself or other adults try to get children packed for school, off to practice, or dressed for church (really any event that has a starting time)? Hurry up and eat your lunch. Hurry up and get dressed. Hurry up and wash your hands. Hurry up; we’re going to be late. If you don’t hurry up, then you won’t get any snacks when we get home. The repetition of urgent words and accompanying threats never seem to end.

We often mistake urgent for important. As 21^st Century Americans, we seem to think getting to multiple activities on time in the same day is important. When, in fact, urgency plays the biggest part in our schedules, but importance has very little to do with much of what we attempt. Urgency does not mean important, but importance demands urgency.

The birth of Jesus Christ is one of the most important events since the creation of the universe. Yet, it appears, God took His good and deliberate time in bringing it to pass. Through many different prophets thousands of years earlier, God announced that the Messiah was coming. The angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary that she would give birth to God’s Son began a nine-month waiting period. The star announced the birth of the King of the Jews, but the Magi took two entire years to arrive in Bethlehem. Sounds much like a military slogan I once heard, “Hurry up and wait.”

The Gospel of Luke beautifully captures the timely importance of Christ’s birth. “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son” (2:6-7a). To any expectant parent, the phrase, “The time came for the baby to be born,” brought feelings of both relief and urgency to the new parents and the entire universe. Now is the time for God’s salvation plan to be revealed to human beings. The Savior has come!

The announcement of something this important requires a decisive response. The angels declared to the shepherds, “Today, in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). The shepherds responded as we would expect, “They hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger” (2:16). Hurrying is typical for adults but how appropriate considering the importance of this event. How have you responded to the great news of Christ’s birth? Scripture tells us, “Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2).

Today is the time to believe. Now is the time to pray. Today is the time to allow God’s love and power to work in and through your life. Merry Christmas! May the importance of God’s gift not be lost in the urgency of your activities.