WWJS - who would Jesus save

I have been reflecting on the beginning of Jesus’ ministry in Luke 4:18-19:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,

because he has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

and recovery of sight for the blind,

to set the oppressed free,

19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Jesus’ ministry is focused on bringing good news to the poor, prisoners, blind, and oppressed. So who are the poor, imprisoned, blind, and oppressed? Are we considered among these, did Jesus come for people like us? What if we do not consider ourselves poor, imprisoned, blind, or oppressed does that mean the message of Jesus does not apply to us?

Jesus certainly has an affinity toward the poor saying “Looking at his disciples, he said: ‘Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God’” (Luke 6:20). But the poor are not just those without sufficient means of finances. The poor is any one is deficient physically, socially, or spiritually. The poor are those who are ignored and not given opportunities based on family, culture, health, orientation, geography, failures, inadequacies, or even past mistakes. Jesus comes to bring good news to all those who have not. The good news is that though they are poor and lack now, Jesus calls them truly blessed with a great inheritance.

The blind are closely related to the poor. We see that Jesus does heal the physically blind, but Jesus also heals spiritual blindness. Jesus has come to reveal to us what we have previously failed to see. Jesus came to show the love, power, forgiveness, and new life. This recovery of sight is seen most clearly in Luke 24:13-35 when Jesus appears to two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Jesus opens their eyes to what had to happen and what was spoken about in the prophets. Jesus has come to show us the truth about God’s favorable disposition towards his people.

The prisoners and the oppressed are those who are burdened and eve trapped by self destructive tendencies, addictions, and immoral habits (or simply sin). Sin binds and imprisons (Luke 13:10-17). As long as we continue to serve our own desires and selfish whims we will be imprisoned by the need to self gratify which ultimately will lead us bent over and miserable. Jesus uses his life, death, and resurrection to release the power of his gracious love to set his people free from these binding spirits.

So does this include me? Did Jesus come to bring me good news? Personally I can relate to being imprisoned. Too many times I try to do the thing I know I ought to do, but I fail. Many times I try not to do the things that I shouldn’t do, but I still do them. Like Paul in Romans 7:24, 25 I cry out “Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” I need to be freed from my own sin. I see that even though I have food enough, clothes enough, shelter enough, that there is more than my very soul longs for that I cannot attain by myself, I lack and therefore, find myself wretchedly poor. I long for life, true eternal life that I cannot afford, but must be given. Even though I have been through Bible College and Seminary, I know there is a great mystery hiding in the beautiful and wonderful presence of God. I long to see the image of love, and I long to hear the words my poor spirit desperately needs “well done good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21)

There were many during Jesus’ time who thought they could afford themselves everything needed. There were those who thought they saw and understood everything that needed to be understood. There were many who though that they could do whatever they desired free from consequence.

There are many even today who do not see their own poverty hiding behind their retirement, salary, and savings. There are those born so blind they do not even realize they cannot see. There are many today who believe they are utterly free while they are locked behind an 8x10 cell. Jesus has come for them as well because even though they do not realize it, they are poor, blind, and imprisoned. I think when God calls us home; we will be surprised at his wonderful graciousness. I think we will be greatly surprised at whom the God of love has brought into his kingdom.

"The Next Christians" Review

The Next Christians could almost be the sequel to Gabe Lyons coauthored work Unchristian. While Unchristian left me unsatisfied with nothing more than humbling numbers and statistics about the dismal state of Christianity, The Next Christians seems to provide not only an interpretation to the downfall of Christian America, but also a response.


Lyons sees the end of Christian America as a positive change. Too long Christians have either decided to become separatists in culture by making their own sports leagues, music, and books, or they have blended too much into mainstream culture looking no different than the rest of the world. Lyons sees many Christians now adopting a new attitude, one that is more reflective of the gospels. “The Next Christians,” as Lyons calls them, are not separatists or blenders they are restorers. Jesus came to earth to restore the purpose and calling of humanity, and those who follow him are called to practice the same restorative behavior. Jesus engaged with those he was seeking to restore, his hope was that true intimate relationships with others would cause his holiness to rub off on others. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection were not only for forgiveness, but also for redemption.

Lyons does a wonderful job of bringing out the true purpose of Jesus and his followers. The Christian faith is one that identifies brokenness in themselves, others, and the world around them and then looks to restore the person or world to its created purpose. The Next Christian is a book not just for confessors of Jesus, but for anyone who has looked at the world and came to the conclusion that it needs to be restored.

A free copy of this book was provided to me by Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing for review purposes.

pray for japan

In the last week Japan has undergone some of the worst disasters that I could not wish on my worst enemy. With a 9.0 earthquake so powerful that is shook the Earth’s axis making our days shorter by milliseconds and moving the entire island of Japan 13 feet closer to the United States. The devastated country also suffered numerous aftershock quakes almost just as powerful. When the earth began sitting still a new sound was heard of water rushing through Japan caused by an enormous tsunami pushing cars, buildings, and burying thousands more not just under rubble, but now also underwater. With fallen buildings and flooded streets, a nuclear power plant is on the verge of having a meltdown causing over 250,000 to evacuate. Though the plant is currently maintaining any nuclear leaks, it only seems a matter of time before the cancer causing poison is released into the air and the ground. Thousands of lives have been lost, thousands more missing, homes swept away, fear and panic that most of my generation never had to experience.

In the midst of such tragedy we can only pray and wait to see how we can help. Yet instead of prayers, instead of concern, and instead of ready volunteerism, it seems that the U.S. has been led only to start worrying about themselves. The web has been ablaze with articles about how Japan can negatively affect our financial economy! How narcissistic can a nation be to ultimately be concerned with our pocket books in the wake of such an ugly tragedy! The catastrophe in Japan only seems to be of value to us in terms of how it might affect our own interest. Gilbert Gottfried tried to use the events to bolster his “comedic career” Gottfired Fired by making crude jokes concerning the tsunami. Undoubtedly there are also many others who are licking their chops at these events and see opportunities to bolster their careers in media, journalism, or even blog hits (I really don’t care if my blogs gets any more or less hits). I hope that you have seen some of the self-interest preservation going on, and I hope you see it for what it is; pure selfishness.

However, I know there are many good people left in this country who are not solely concerned with their pocketbooks and careers. There is still much to be done. I first suggest you pray, and then pray, and pray some more. No matter what relief does come, the people of Japan need prayer in their mourning and restoring processes. Pray that God does a miraculous sign, and gives strength. Second, give to relief programs show that you care. Third, realize that 99.99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999% of the things that happen in the world are not about you, but they are about others, so start doing for them.

Jesus education

If you have read the Indy Star in the last several weeks you have seen some controversy surrounding the salary of a former superintendent being exuberant in its retirement package.  With public schools struggling financially and programs being dropped, this undoubtedly upset many parents, teachers, and concerned citizens.  Monday, February 28^th was the first school board meeting since the news broke with the former superintendent’s salary.  It was the most attended school board meeting I had seen.  Many took an opportunity to voice their concerns, and some even demanded the board to resign due to their failure to put children first. 

Undoubtedly public education is struggling to keep classroom sizes minimal, maintain programs, achieve adequate test scores, and generate funding.  Certainly the public school system and government could do better to appropriate finances.  However, putting kids first involves more than financial planning.

Jesus had a soft spot for children (he got upset when his disciples and others kept them from coming to him in Matt 19:13-15).  If education for our children is going to improve than I think it is going to take a full communal effort.

I believe we are at a crossroads.  

It was churches in the very beginning that made education available to the masses, and perhaps it is time that churches pick up that long forgotten cross.  I’m not talking about just preschools and daycares (but it certainly involves that as well).  I’m talking about volunteering, helping out, and being supporters of local grade schools, middle schools, and high schools.  Sure we are not allowed to talk about Jesus and his love in these places, but there is nothing stopping us from showing it.  The state of our school system cannot be blamed on one person, or even on one single board (though each will be held accountable).  If public education is failing it is because we are failing, and it is time we step up to show the love of Christ, by giving our best to the very least.

Impoverished Luxury

If you are like me when you heard the rumors that the price of gas was going to escalate, you hurried and filled up your vehicle. If you are like me you rejoiced when you saw you filled up just in time, only to remember that you would be back at the pump before the weeks end. If you are like me you whine and complain about the price of gas and wonder why it is we have to pay such outrages prices.

If you are like me perhaps you have lamented the fact that prices at the grocery have risen, health benefits have decreased, and taxes inevitably are going to increase.

If you are also like me, perhaps you have caught yourself worrying too much over very little. If you are like me you remember that you ought not to fret because you are rich and can weather the storm. Did I lose you yet?
It is true though; you who are reading this are most likely rich because you have access to the Internet. You who are reading this are rich if you have a car to buy gas for, insurance to pay premiums on, or water coming from pipes in your house.
After careful thought I have come to realize that richness has to do with choices. If you wake up in the morning with choices, you are rich. If you have a choice what to eat for breakfast, you are rich. If you have a choice in how to get to work (car, bus, taxi, bike) you are rich. If you have a choice to what you are doing Friday nights, you are rich.
Poverty takes away choices, and leaves only ultimatums. There are millions and millions who are left with nothing more than ultimatums. Work 16 hours a day 7 days a week or go without any resources. Walk three miles every day just to get semi-clean water, or die of thirst. Marry your daughter off at 15 to a man you do not know, or keep another mouth you cannot feed at home. These are not choices, these are ultimatums, and this is true poverty.
There is no true moral point to this observation. I guess I only want you to become aware of two things
1. I hope you are aware at your endless choices that you are presented with each day, and the amount of unbelievable wealth you have.
2. I hope you are aware of true poverty. I hope you understand true poverty not only takes away lives, it takes away freedom.
So, the only thing we are left with is a question. What do we do with our wealth in the face of poverty? If we who can only fill up our gas tank half way have so much more than those who are not even sure what a Ford is, what do we do? I am sure you have heard the saying “the answer is in our own hands,” the truth is however; that the answer is in our own pocket books, but we are just too stingy to open it up.

The answer to poverty cannot wait to be answered by the millionaires of the world, but the answer to poverty, is you, the middle class, and even the lower class. The answer is in giving, by all to all. So, I hope you are not afraid to admit your wealth, I hope that you are not afraid to reach out to the truly impoverished. I hope you not only know what poverty is, but I hope you see, smell it, and taste it. I hope you put yourself right in the middle of it and be the small piece of change brought on by the great love of our God the creator and put an end to a very solvable problem.

anonymous love

It really doesn’t take much to change the world if you think about it. One bite of a forbidden fruit, one invention of a light bulb or printing press, one electoral vote, one proclamation of emancipation, one women refusing to give up her bus seat, one wall being torn down, one iron curtain, one magic bullet, one dead Jewish Messiah, and one empty grave.

I think too often we see the world changing by one person making monumental decisions during a monumental time. It is easy to think of Gandhi, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr. We often desire to be people in similar situations hoping that we make the right decision in crucial times. I think it is too easy to want our names written down in the history books. However, the reason our world has become so stagnant and resistant to positive change is because we are too busy fighting over the recognition and power instead of actually working on change.

On the night Jesus was betrayed by Judas and handed over to be killed in Luke 22, he had his last meal with his disciples. After telling the disciples what must happen to him that very night, they began fighting over who is the greatest. Imagine Jesus’ heart. He had spent 3 years with the 12, he is about to lay down his life, and they are arguing about their own self-importance. Jesus responds by reminding his disciples what he has taught them before,

The greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. – Luke 22:26

The way to change the world is not by gaining power and demanding people to do your will. While that may give you power, that doesn’t change the world which is already full of self imposed messiahs and tyrants.

To change the world it starts by becoming part of a small movement, a movement that starts with small acts of love. The hope is not for you to gain fame and notoriety and then cause transformation of global or national events. The hope is to be an anonymous servant sharing love alongside thousands of other anonymous servants. The hope is for a growing movement focused on nothing more than redemptive love that has no spoke person, that has no leader, but has only one single foundation that could be pointed to, which is Jesus the Christ. The hope is for Jesus to be seen, to be written in the history books, to be remembered. Our name is not important; we will be given a new one in heaven (I’m hoping for Hank the Hammer).

Jesus Christ is the name that matters, the name by which all people will confess, the name that drives out demons and fears, the name that brings mercy and peace, the name that changes the world. If you want to change the world, think small, think often, and think Jesus.

If you have any love transforming ideas, please be part of the change and share them!

Grace like Snow

We know that it is always good when people of God gather and worship, but due to weather conditions Lynhurst Baptist was unable to meet for worship Sunday.  We hope you are blessed by worshiping in your homes, or perhaps with another place of worskhip this morning.  Below is a video message that Jen and I put together last night, we hope it reminds you of God's grace and encourages you for this week.

Grace like Snow