freedom comes from a cross, not a flag

Freedom is a desirable state of being free or at liberty as opposed to confinement or restraint. Freedom is the mantra of the United States. We pride ourselves in our revolutionary beginnings where we threw off the yoke of state religion, and taxation without representation. We boast of our constitutional liberties that guarantee our freedom to worship, our freedom to speak our mind, and our freedom to choose our leaders. While many conversations and debates are had about our present state of freedom and rights, few Americans would argue that they do not have the luxury of enjoying the unalienable right of freedom.

Freedom, however, does come with cost. We must sacrifice our sons and daughters to be sent to strange lands to kill and be killed for the protection of our freedom. We are taxed with representation, but our representatives are wealthy individuals who have gained their wealth by following the minimal safety and environmental guidelines and paying employees minimal wages. We are allowed to worship, as long as it is a private non-public place. Our televisions have the freedom to indoctrinate our children with sex, violence, drugs, and hate in the name of entertainment, but “God is love” is an offensive term striped from public discussion. We are free to make money, but companies do so by monopolizing markets, employing children overseas, filling politicians’ pockets, and undercutting any competition with whatever means possible. We have the freedom to be safe at the cost of making guns accessible even to children who shoot each other in schools. We have the freedom to eat what we want, at the risk of animal abuse and extinction; we have the freedom to wear what we want at the cost of sexualizing our daughters. We also have the freedom to education if you were born in a place that had good schools funded by rich land owners through property taxes. Our freedom is wrapped up in the “almighty buck.” We can do what we want, when we want, as long as someone is getting money for it. We cannot even die without having to pay a tax for the coffin, for the dirt, and for the inheritance left to our family. We celebrate freedom, but at what cost?

Is our freedom worth the lives of our families? Is our freedom worth the lives of those who die in our wars? Is our freedom worth being the largest arms dealer in the world, equipping our enemies, and children with deadly weapons? Are we even truly free?

We cannot buy our freedom through taxes, we cannot gain freedom through the promises of the most noble of politicians, and we cannot violently gain freedom through the bloody battlefields. To gain any freedom we must surrender, either to taxes, to leaders, or to ammunitions. This freedom is a lie, and we have all bought in to it.

Jesus came to directly oppose this kind of freedom that lets one gets rich off another who goes hungry. Jesus claims that true freedom does not come from submitting to taxes, military, or leaders, but freedom comes from submitting to our maker. The Bible is full of themes of freedom. We are not free by following the rules made by humanity. Every leader, every country, every institution that has promised freedom does so at the cost of enslaving us to something else. Jesus promises to set us free not to give us a heavy burden, but a light burden. Jesus sets us free not to make money or fame from us, but to make us his brothers and sisters. Jesus does not give us freedom without cost, but he lays down his life in the face of all the powers and principalities and defined the most permanent obstacle to freedom ever, death! He rose from the grave and defeated the greatest form of slavery and paved the way for eternal life.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery – Paul (a follower of Jesus).

The world looks to enslave us today. They want us to be enslaved to their values, their goals, and their dreams. Jesus releases us from this destructive way of life, transforms us to a new way of thinking, one that does not enslave, but one that liberates.

Fearing God and nothing else: 3rd day of Lent

So now O Israel what does the LORD your God require of you? Only to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his decrees that I am commanding you today, for your own well-being. – Deuteronomy 10:12-13

Many people find it disturbing that we are called to fear God. If the LORD is supposed to be a God of love, than why are we commanded to fear? “Fear” is a very negative concept. We have classes and therapist to help us overcome our fear, and rightfully so. Fear is an idea that completely overtakes someone. We often look down on someone who is often afraid. We encourage people to conquer fear. This is where the commandment to “fear the LORD your God” comes in. God cannot be conquered like fear. God is the all powerful creator, sustainer, beginning and end. In God’s hands are the brightly burning stars, the massive planets and galaxies, the known and unknown. God is unconquerable, and uncontrollable, this should elicit some fear.

Even though we read that the LORD is gracious, loving, and compassionate, we still read that God is justice, and powerful, and if ever we find ourselves on this side of the grave in the Almighty’s presence, we would be afraid. The command to fear the LORD is a command to recognize the intimidating unmatched power of God.

People who work with fire or dangerous animals often will say that you need to have a healthy fear of the fire/animal. Without a healthy fear you will surely get burned or bitten. God is potentially even more dangerous than a fire or animal because while those things can take a life, scripture tells us that only God can take our soul (Matthew 10:28).

This command to fear is difficult because so few people today are raised with loving fathers. My dad loves me, and I surely know this, but even to this day I still fear him. Not that I shake in my boots whenever I am in his presence, but I know if I do something that greatly displeases him there may be great consequences.

Why do our fathers get mad when we do something that displeases him? Is it because they want us to blindly follow them like mindless drones? Is it because they want us to become slaves to their ideals and whims? No, our loving fathers get mad, and we become afraid when we are disobedient because our fathers want the best for us. God is the same way.

We are told that fearing the LORD and obeying God is for our benefit, so that life would go well for us. God gives us commands to follow not for some arbitrary test, but so that life would be good for us. We have a God who wants life to go well, and gives us the steps to accomplish this! God is certainly good!

Registered Believers need not apply; Hearts wanted, not titles

                                                                             Memory Verse #2

So acknowledge today and take to heart that the LORD is God in heaven above and on earth below. There is no other. - Deuteronomy 4:39

There are many people who acknowledge that the LORD is God. Approximately 75% of the United States claim to be Christian. It is hard to see people on television and in the news, who claim to acknowledge Jesus, but then preach a gospel of hate and violence. I hate seeing “political leaders” expressing damnation on homosexuality and people outside their church walls. It is becoming difficult to acknowledge that the LORD is God in public, not because I am ashamed of a loving God who laid his life down for us, but because of the others who have distorted the message. When I acknowledge the LORD as God many people think I am a homophobic, racist, judgmental, finger pointing, fundamental legalist.

Jesus says “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven” (Matt. 7:24). Acknowledging is only the first part of what God calls us to be. We are not only to acknowledge but we are to take to heart that the LORD is God.

I think we have many who acknowledge, but do not truly take to heart. I am not here to try to separate those who merely acknowledge, and those who take to heart, but I do see there is a great difference. Not only is it important that we take to heart that the LORD is God, but it is important that we realize he is God of heaven and earth.

Sometimes we see God upstairs in the heavens divinely controlling all things spiritual in the afterlife. While the LORD has control of heavenly things, he also has in his hands earthly things. The LORD is able to act and intervene in this world because he is God here too.

Finally, there is no other. The LORD is God, plain and simple. You cannot serve the LORD and your politics, you cannot serve the LORD and your money, and you cannot serve the LORD and your homophobic agenda. It is time that we the Church take to heart that the LORD is God, not us, of both heaven and earth, and it is time we give him back our own self proclaimed thrones and scepters.

Ash Wednesday and the Beginning of Lent: 40 passages in 40 days

The plan is 40 scripture passages memorized in 40 days. Alright, so Lent is technically 46 days, but Sundays don’t count, I have to preach those days. Someone informed me that this was not a fair goal since I am a pastor and already have the Bible memorized. Well to shockingly inform many of you, I don’t have the entire Bible memorized (but I can list the books in order to a catchy tune). The plan than is to memorize 40 new scripture verses during Lent. Not only do I look to memorize them for one day, and then move on, but by Easter to be able to recite each verse word from word.

I know many of you think this should be easy for a pastor, but let me guarantee it will not. Some of these passages I know well, but the goal is to have them fully memorized, being familiar with the concept of the verse will not be sufficient. Perhaps to help me be motivated through the process I will begin with a passage that emphasizes the importance of knowing scripture. Each day I will try to post word from word (NRSV) the passage without looking (I will be honest) than I will post below, what the actual passage says. If you like, you are more than welcome to follow along and try to memorize with me.

Joshua 1:7-9

Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to act in accordance with whole law that my servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it, not to the right hand, or to the left; so that you may be successful wherever you go.
This book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth. You shall meditate on it day and night so that you will be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then your way shall be prosperous, and then you shall be successful.
I herby command you: be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.

Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to act in accordance with all the law that my servant Moses commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the right hand or to the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful. I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.

While I did make a few minor mistakes, I will continue to work on it to make it perfect. This passage is a great reminder about the definition of success and prosperity. According to scripture these highly sought out potentials are only achieved after having kept God’s law in your heart.

Keeping God’s law in your heart does require strength and courage, especially in the case of Joshua. Joshua was getting ready to enter into the Promised Land by way of war. God promises that if he is obedient, and faithful he will have success. Often times we try to follow God backwards. We say, first let me get wealthy and successful and then I will follow God. This is not success. Joy, prosperity comes in knowing the richness of God’s life giving word!

The Big Price for the Big Game!

Last Saturday, just over a week before the Superbowl, Jen and I decided to drive around downtown to see all the festivities leading up to the Big Game. We were not entirely sure if we were going to walk around with our daughter because she is fighting a double ear infection. But after seeing the crowd and the $40 parking we decided a drive would suffice.

This quick drive down town was anything but quick with a myriad of cars and people colliding together in wonderment and amazement as stores were remodeled, streets temporarily renamed, tents put up and concerts blaring all in preparation for a 3 hour game on a Sunday Evening. In fact, it is estimated to fly from New York ( if a Giants fan) or the Boston area (if a Patriots fan), to get a hotel (minimum three nights reservation is required in Indianapolis and Indianapolis area), plus tickets, and food will cost on average $6,300. That is $2,100 per hour for a three hour game!!!

Now I like football, and I like the Superbowl, and I am downright giddy that the world’s most expensive money making product is in my own city, but there is something uneasy about the numbers involved here. I often like to think in terms of Worldvision, an organization that helps children in developing nations receive sponsor from other countries for about $30 a month to help pay for food, school, and health care. For the price tos go to the biggest football game of the year, you could sponsor a child to go to school, have sufficient food every day, and receive medicine for 210 months, or 17 years and six months.

There is nothing wrong with spending money, and there is nothing wrong with going to the Superbowl. Not everything we spend money on must go to a charity or church. With officials saying there will be approximately 68,000 seats available that means present spectators will have spent at least $428.4 million dollars.  Those who are attending the game are spending as much money as it would cost to feed, educate, and vaccinate over 66,100 kids for 18 years!!! If you account the 3.5 million dollars per 30 seconds a commercial cost during the game, the money gambled, the food wasted, the cost of the teams and other bands and entertainment, we could easily provide over 100,000 children means to learn, eat, and be healthy until they reach adulthood in one single day!!!

I am not saying we should get rid of the Super Bowl. But if we as humanity are really serious about ending starvation, increasing opportunities in education, and eliminating preventable illnesses, should we not be able to easily raise so much in one day to impact so many lives for so long, as we spend for a 3 hour football game? If we really want to change the world we really have to look at first changing ourselves. We cannot live our lives with such misguided priorities and think we will escape.

In the Parable of the Talents the master rewards two servants for using money faithfully. The master says “well done good and faithful servant you have been faithful with little now you will be entrusted with much” but to the servant who is not faithful he says “you lazy and wicked servant...” What will Jesus say about our resources, will we be faithful?

Year of the Dragon, Eternity of the Lamb

Perhaps you have heard that it is the Year of the Dragon according to the Chinese New Year. Many women who follow such traditions are planning the birth of a child, so that they may proclaim with hubris that their son/daughter is a dragon.

I cannot blame people for wanting themselves or their children to have a lifelong association with a flying, fire breathing, take no prisoner mythical serpent. The dragon sure beats the animal Chinese fate has attached to me; the rat. Even thought the rat is thought to be a loyal trustworthy person, there is very little pride in promoting my connection to a sewer dwelling rodent often riddle with disease (no offense of course to Mickey).

Considering all this you really have to give props to Jesus. I have not gone back and calculated according to the Chinese calendar what animal Jesus would be connected with, but Jesus is associated with an animal. You would think that the Son of The Almighty All Powerful Creator and Sustainer of the Universe would have a pretty cool animal tied to his persons. However if you are a follower of Jesus you understand that our Savior likes to flip this confused lost world completely upside down, and that is no different when it comes to his own mascot.

The Messiah is described by prophets and Biblical writers as “The Lion of Judah.” “Judah” being the 4th son of Jacob whom is was prophesied that the liberator would come from and “Lion “being an incredibly powerful, intimidating, and cool animal. Yet, despite this awesome moniker, Jesus shows up vastly different than this roaming predator.

Revelation 5 is perhaps the greatest contrast to how Jesus sees himself, verses how the world perceives him. In this chapter of the apocalypse it is said that only the Lion of Judah is worthy to open the last scroll of revelation that would release the work of God in the end times. This seems to make sense because what is more powerful and worthy than a lion, the king of the forest? However, when Jesus shows up, he does not show up as the perceived destructive lion. Instead, Jesus reveals himself, worthy to open the final revelation of God, as a lamb. If this isn’t weak enough, Jesus goes a step further. He does not just reveal himself as a lamb, but as a slain, dead, sacrificed, bloody, mangled lamb.
                                       
Jesus is portrayed as a lame lamb, and a slaughtered one at that. You know who shows up as the almighty dragon? The Devil, the Prince of Lies, Satan, Deceiver, and enemy of God

The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. – Rev. 12:9

As I said the Son of God likes to mess with us. So what is being said here?

The dragon is often what we think about when we think of power; strong, ambitious, control, fierce, independent. The lamb (and a dead one at that) is small, weak, susceptible, dependent, and defenseless. Jesus conquers through the means of humility, evil attempts to conquer through violence.

SPOILER ALERT: Jesus wins, his kingdom lasts, the devil’s kingdom falls. What’s the lesson, surrender to God, forget your vain will, humble your pride, lay down your defenses, and join the victorious lamb that conquers. This is life, life that falls into the lap of a gracious, wonderful, and powerful God. Jesus is not looking to devour us, he is looking to draw us to him, and he does that through a display of true love; sacrifice. This is our salvation, this is our King, this is our example, to be sheep.

don't wait till november for change

Presidential elections, or any elections for that matter, are exciting because they represent change. Candidates invade the platform promising difference making policies that will benefit society. Even an incumbent (Obama) makes changes to their previous platforms to lure the ever enticing change. Change in politics is tantamount to any success because people inherently believe, no matter how great a society may be, there is always room for improvement.

It is exciting watching giant potential leaders fall out due to scandal (Cain) or lack or support (Perry) or the failure to generate vision leading change. With the Iowa caucus expired, the field of Republicans has narrowed (Romney, Santorum, Gingrich). Debates will continue to heat up and the American public will certainly be looking for the candidate with the most change factor.

There is much that many would agree must be changed. Unemployment is keeping many at home glued to the debates, dropping house prices have unsettled homeowners, an over-all failing economy have put many in poor demeanors. America will be waiting at the end of that infamous Tuesday in November to see who will be pioneering the changes needed in this nation.

While many are looking for the needed change in our country few are looking for the change that they can enact. Almost every election is followed by a collective collapse on the couch with the country waiting to see what will be done. We all want change because we see that we live in an imperfect society, but no one is willing to change themselves first.

The best policies in the world can improve the employment rate, but unless we are willing to change our attitudes of greed, laziness, and sense of entitlement, it will continue to be a greatly flawed system. Great tax breaks can be offered to help home sales, but until we are willing to change our values on life, family, and community, than the change will ultimately fail.

The many problems in our society cannot be affected by policy change, without personal, family, and community change. We have not put first things first; we have confused our values and have deflated the market on our character.

We have put possessions before family, we have put ease before character, we have put wealth before fairness, and we have put self before God.

Do you want life lasting, life impacting change, start with yourself, move to your family, than your neighborhood, you may never get past there, but even if you don’t that is a big impact you will leave.

Learn to do right!

Seek Justice,

Encourage the oppressed

Defend the cause of the fatherless,

Plead the case of the widow. Isaiah 1:17