There is more to life than what I see. I see only what is near me. My family, my job, my church. My focus has been on what is near me. My focus has been on making sure those things that I look at are all they can be. I want to be the best husband I can be. I want to be the best father I can be. I want to be the best employee I can so I can be the best provider for my family that I can be. I want to serve and be in relationship in the church so that I can grow and be the man, the husband and the father I should be. When I think about it that way, it is pretty clear how selfish I really am.

I don’t think God called me to just be a good husband or a good father or a good employee. He didn’t even call me to be excellent at any of those things. He called me (and you) to something much bigger than the little world we live in. He called us to preach the Gospel to all nations. He called us to disciple the world. He called us to be lights.

But what light can I be? Are we all called to be missionaries to a distant land? No. We are all called to affect the world around us. Many have said to others or themselves that their means of responding to “the call” is to provide funding. I think that is valid, but I also think it is a cop out. Funding is required and many of us are required to contribute to make it possible for others to do their work. But, when I send money and then look back at my own little world and its issues and don’t look outside my short focus, I’m copping out. There is something I should be doing to affect the world around me and it should be more than just raising “good” or even Christian children.

Jesus changed the culture around Him. The disciples changed the culture around them wherever they took the Gospel. If the Gospel is here in America, or at least our portion of it, are we driving the culture? Or is the culture driving us? Are we letting the secular thinkers, secular politicians, secular artists and musicians shape the culture around us? I believe we have. As a nation of Christians we have. It has come to the point that our President has stated that the United States of America is not a Christian nation. “One of the great strengths of the United States,” the President said, “is … we have a very large Christian population — we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values.” (1) What I hear is a disrespect and disowning of the source of our culture and the root of our ethics. There is a desire to further separate who we are now from what we were and redefine who we will be in the future. Is that acceptable to us?

This statement by President Obama is a statement that effectively demonstrates that we have not discipled our nation.

Mat 28:18-20 “And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, ‘All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.’”

We have not influenced who we are as a nation. We, the Body of Christ, have not properly influenced our nation for many decades. We have allowed others to present their opinions and beliefs without challenge. The US constitution allows everyone to state their own opinion, but that doesn’t mean it should be unchallenged by the Church.

So, how does this relate to me being more than just a good father, husband and employee? I think I have failed to recognize and accept the role of being a culture shaper. I have let the different opinions, and forces behind those opinions, go unchecked and even unchallenged. Perhaps I have succeeded in teaching my family what is right and wrong for themselves, but have I taught them to fight the culture around them for what is right? Have I taught them to take on the challenges against our Judeo-Christian ethic system or put blinders on like I have and hope that it won’t get too bad before Jesus comes back?

I challenge us each to pick a cause. It could be an individual cause or a familial cause. Whether it is feeding the homeless, reaching those in Asia who don’t know the Gospel, caring for those with HIV/AIDS in Algeria, standing against the homosexual agenda against traditional marriage or taking back the entertainment industry. Pick a cause beyond your own little world, train your children to affect the culture they live in and not be passive against the forces that are working to erase the Judeo-Christian culture we live in. Don’t just fight for you and yours; fight for our culture to fulfill the call to make disciples.

References: (1) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/06/obama-us-not-a-christian_n_183772.html

Permission granted by Tim and Ami Loper of Miracle Books.  The original version of this article can be found in the Summer 2009 edition of “Oh Yeah”.

a horticultural tale by Tara Banks

(Grab a cup of coffee… it’s quite a read… but it just might be worth it.)

Anyone that is around me long knows of my deep connection and passion for the Hawaiian islands. Eight years ago on a visit, in an effort to bring aloha back with me, I brought home two very small thick green sticks and with great hope plunked them in two huge pots to watch them grow. For several YEARS they did absolutely nothing. Just two thick green sticks in the ground. I was faithful to water, bring the pots inside when it got cold, make sure they had sun… basically, baby them. Finally, about four years ago, (no, I’m not joking) they actually started to look like plants and these sticks began shooting out leaves and ultimately plumeria flowers.

If you’ve ever been to Hawaii – it’s THE smell of the islands. When you get off the plane and walk through the open-air airport – it’s the aroma that’s in the air all the time. The only way I can describe it is like a little whiff of Heaven. It MUST be the literal fragrance of Christ, I’m convinced. (Ok – do not send me emails… just let me take my own creative liberty and enjoy this moment as I type.)

Back to the point – my precious plumerias have become part of the Banks family. They now have become so large that in order to keep them healthy, we actually sink the pots in the ground during the spring and summer right by the front door. They love the sun and I love the fragrance as I pass by. It reminds me of home – Hawaii and Heaven.

This spring, I noticed there were fewer leaves, then no leaves as they all began to fall off! My heart broke as I searched the internet for information about what was happening to my trees. Then I read it: “Black Tip Fungus”. The DEATH of plumerias!! I frantically began to spray them with everything prescribed and do all I could to save these plants. As a last resort, and on the advice of a plumeria specialist (yes, there are such people), I took a very sharp knife to my precious trees and cut off each limb, systematically, making sure the blade was wiped clean at each cut. I cut off all the remaining brown leaves. I cut off the ends of every stem. I cut each branch until white sap ran from the deep scars. The black tip fungus was, in essence, gone, but so were my beautiful plumerias.

I essentially, at that point, looked at my stubby, leafless trees and said, “You’ve been wonderful – thank you for the joy you’ve brought to my life… goodbye.” I thought, for sure, there was no hope. Nothing beautiful could ever come from them again. I left them in the ground, in their pots, to die.

Fast forward two weeks… I stared in amazement as fresh, green bumps began to appear where the deep seeping black scars ended on each stem. Go forward two more weeks… more amazement. Tiny, tiny leaves. Two more weeks…. lots of leaves, and as if by sheer “you aren’t going to take me” kind of iron will – branches forming from each cut to enable more leaves, more branches….growth. The plumerias not only are BACK but in just a few days are ready to bloom again. Fuller, more vibrant, stronger even… despite the terrible wounds. Better than they ever were. Miraculously, life had returned to these plants.

What’s the point to this horticultural tale? (Yes, there is one.) As I was walking by the plants a few days ago, the Lord spoke to me and said, “How many people have you written off when they were in a season of pruning… when they looked too ugly in their sin or situation? Aren’t you glad I didn’t write you off?” OUCH. And then the parallels and started flooding my mind: The deep wounds that had to be inflicted to the plant in order to make it bloom again…. the deep purposeful wounds of Christ’s pruning tool of discipline or trial in order to make all things new. Me, leaving the plants to die just like I’ve been guilty of leaving friends in their struggles rather than getting in there and helping them sort through them on their way back to the Cross. Then He began to remind me of times I’d been deeply wounded for “pruning” sake: when areas of my life weren’t growing the way He wanted and He had to take them out, or, when I resisted in obedience and had to learn the hard way. He reminded me how those situations or seasons or years brought me to a place that was so much more beautiful than the previous place I had been and how even during those times when I felt lost, without hope, ugly, broken, and like I would never bloom again – I did.

Can you see? It’s the terrible, hope threatening, severe wounds in our very lives that produce the kind of growth He’s after. Does He enjoy the pruning process? I don’t think so, no more than I enjoyed it… but I do believe that he knows the necessity and looks on it with love – a love that sees the fabric of our lives in a way that only He can and what needs to be weaved in. A love that looks at what we truly are and what we can be, not who we’ve settled for and allowed ourselves to become. A love that looks down from the Cross and says – I’m willing to take these wounds, to die, and to be “written off” by the world in order that you might bloom in My abundance. (I’m sure you’re following along and making all the connections as well.) So listen to Him as He says, “Behold, I make all things new.” and believe Him for it. Oh how He loves us. Oh how he longs to show us Himself in all He’s made. He’s in it all – just breathe it in and if need be, wait for your cuts to heal…. it’s amazing what happens when He shows up and turns “nothing beautiful will ever come from this” into “something beautiful is coming, indeed.”

The following is a timely reminder from our friend ‘Pastor Joe’ – with summer approaching and a ‘vacation’ mindset in place, it’s easy to slip away from our daily devotional time and spiritual feeding. As a Mom we can fall back on, the ‘kids’ take up so much of my time. Well, how about including the kids! Find an age appropriate bible study or using one of Joe’s suggestions below, read from the book of Proverbs during the summer. If your children have been struggling with a particular character issue this past year or you know that the next school year is going to present some new challenges for your children, find scripture that applies to the situation so your children can see and learn God’s perspective. Use the ‘extra’ time provided during the summer to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Think everyone would agree that we’re glad God never takes a ‘vacation’ from caring for us, so no matter the season, as parents the example we are setting in demonstrating our continual dependence on God and the importance of building our relationship with Him – will provide healthy fruit. With Blessings! Anne Marie

It is hard to believe the incredible weather that we are enjoying right now in the Pacific Northwest. The last ten days or so remind me of the fabulous weather we usually get in August. The hot spell means that we need to be more vigilant watering our lawns, gardens and plants. It is time to water!

Thinking of the blessing of the weather from the past few days I was reminded of the spiritual danger that often accompanies God’s blessing in our lives. The danger of what happens when we fail to spiritually water our lives with God’s truth. In Proverbs, Solomon, the wisest guy that has ever lived passes on some essential instructions to his son. He encourages him to be careful to water his spiritual life. He does this by the personification of wisdom. “Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech:” Proverbs 1:20-21 In doing so he encourage his son not to neglect his spiritual life!

I want to share with you four insights that illustrate your need to water your spiritual life. The first danger is that there is always something else to do. Watering the lawn on a regular basis takes time, and it seem like there are always more important things to do. It is easy to rationalize “I will do it tomorrow.” Wisdom cries out ““How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?” Proverbs 1:22 Wisdom’s challenge to us is “Why would you neglect what is right?” It has been said that “we often sacrifice the best on the alter of the urgent.” Or as another saw says, “The squeaky wheel gets the oil.”

That leads to a second insight. When the grass turns brown it is too late to start watering. Yes, your lawn can be saved at that point but it takes a tremendous invest to reverse the damage done. The same is true in our spiritual lives. All too often we try to get “wisdom” when it is too late. Listen to lady Wisdom’s words about consequences. “If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you.” Proverbs 1:23 She then goes on to mock the foolish, “since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you—” Proverbs 1:25-26

Something else happens as the summer heat sucks the vitality our of your lawn… the weeds take over. The greatest danger in your spiritual life, just like your lawn, is a lack of health. The neglect of days past eventually takes its toll and that brings us to our last insight.

The outcome of neglect is certain death to our lawns, plants, gardens, spiritual lives and relationships. Psalm 1 which might possibly have been written by Solomon as an introduction to his father David’s psalms reminds us that the godly person” is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” Psalm 1:3 NIV

Let me offer some practical suggestions on how you can water your spiritual life this summer. Read a chapter of Proverbs each day of the month. Better yet, get the Bible on cd/dvd/mp3 to listen to while traveling. Read a book on Christian Living this summer. Audio books also work great for trips. Make it a point to attend church each Sunday this summer when home and away. It’s time to water!  Pastor Joe Parkinson

What are you celebrating this Memorial Day weekend? I am sure that you will be celebrating a three day weekend. You will probably be celebrating the coming of summer (at least those of us in the Northwest.) What I am wondering, is when I mention Memorial Day do you think of the purpose for this holiday?

Memorial Day, formerly called Decoration Day, dates back to May 30, 1868 when it was enacted to honor Union soldiers that died in the Civil War. The 30th of May was set aside as a time to visit and decorate the grave to honor those that had fallen. “Many people observe this holiday by visiting cemeteries and memorials. A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3 p.m. Eastern Time. Another tradition is to fly the flag of the United States at half-staff from dawn until noon local time. Volunteers often place American flags on each grave site at National Cemeteries. Many Americans also use Memorial Day to honor other family members who have died.” (www.wikipedia.com, Memorial Day)

It was after World War I that the commemoration was expanded to include all fallen soldiers from any war or military action. The alternative name, Memorial Day, was first used in 1882 and would be more commonly used after World War II. It became the official name by Federal Law in 1967. The Uniform Holiday Bill passed on June 28, 1968 moved Memorial Day (President’s Day and Veterans Day) to a fixed Monday to allow for a three day weekend. Memorial Day has been celebrated on the last Monday of May since the law took effect in 1971.

As we consider the significance of Memorial Day (and several other National Holidays) for the follower of Jesus, it is hard to find a Biblical parallel; however, the Scripture do have much to say about “remembering” the past. In each of the passages that come to mind, we are called to remember God’s provision and deliverance (Deuteronomy 8 and Psalm 106), and even the leaders who have modeled a Godly life (Hebrews 13:7). We also know that all of the Old Testament Feasts served as a reminder of Jehovah’s provision in the past while pointing to a future fulfillment in the coming Messiah. Even the New Testament celebration of the Lord ’s Table (based on the Passover feast) remembers the work of Christ on the Cross while looking forward to His return (1 Corinthians 11:26). And in the seventh verse of Romans 13 the Bible also speaks of the importance for you as a follower of Christ to participate in holidays like Memorial and Veteran days. “”Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.” Romans 13:7 ESV

The purpose for this three day weekend is not to celebrate the beginning of summer, or even a time to get away, but to remember those whom have given their lives for our great country. You can honor those whom have given their lives by offering a prayer of thanks at one of your family meal times. It would be appropriate to send an email to a military widow(er), or parent, thanking them for the sacrifice of their spouse/ child. It would be even better to take a family field trip Monday to visit a local veterans’ cemetery. Memorial Day is a time to remember those that have given their lives for our country. Pastor Joe

Anne Marie Ezzo writes: “As believers we should reflect on the event of Easter everyday, not just once a year. It is because He is the risen Christ and is alive that we have life. Once again Denise shares with us thoughts to ponder and As God pleases, dispose the day….”

“Psychics are busy trying to give people hope with a glimpse of the future,

while Christians who have hope live as this world was all there is.”

In Jude 1:3 believers are called to “contend earnestly for the faith’. The word “contend” in this statement is an athletic term, which comes from the root word “agonize”. It is a picture of a devoted athlete stretching every nerve and muscle to win. It reminds me of Paul’s letter to the Philippians where he says “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). The apostle Paul uses athletic metaphors often when talking about the believers walk. As believers we aren’t to meander haphazardly to the finish line but we are to “press”, to buffet our bodies, not looking to the left or right, but striving for the goal. Paul always emphasizes the goal.

As believers, when we look around at our church locally and nationally, we don’t see a lot of “athletic Christians”. More often you see an exhausted saint spinning in circles on the middle of life’s race track. In fact from their perspective the race track is more of a convoluted maze with no means to find the end. They are so focused on where they are at that moment that they have lost sight of the goal. The goal scriptures mention is the glory of Christ’s return. “When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:4). Our citizenship is in heaven and we should eagerly wait for Christ’s return (Philippians 3:20). There are actually more references to Christ’s second return than there were to his first coming in scripture. Why? Because, the ability to run the race successfully is determined by our focus. In the end we want to say as Paul did, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing” (II Timothy 4:7-8).

How would the lives of today’s saints look like if they “loved His appearing”? If believers focused on the glory of eternity, instead of their few years on this sin marred earth, then they would live with eternal purpose. Each generation of believers carries the responsibility of Christianity. St. Augustine stated this centuries ago, when he argued against the monastic movement, saying if believers locked themselves away, that there would be no light to the lost and thus Christianity would die out in one generation.

If eternity was the focus of Christians, then as parents, they would not just struggle like crisis managers, merely trying to survive each new phase (troublesome twos, rebellious teens…), but would see that they were training and equipping those who would replace them in the furtherance of the gospel. They would understand that they were passing the baton for the survival of Christianity. They would see the necessity of teaching their children how to do quiet times, and study the Bible and how to handle life situations Biblically and live righteously. Parents today seem more concerned with their children’s safety, comfort and happiness than their character and holiness.

If believers lived in the expectation of Christ’s return, they would be less likely to hang on to sin, thinking they had plenty of time to repent later. The urgencies of today would lose importance in the realities of eternity. People would become more important than self and things. The wealth and acquisition of goods they spend so much time stockpiling would take their correct importance as the transitory things that they are, which will only become the possession of another person, or line the walls of some Salvation Army store after they are gone. They would be more concerned with the preciousness of others, knowing their opportunity to show them Christ is short. There isn’t any aspect of our life that would not be altered if we saw our daily life through the eyes of a bride on her wedding day in Glory looking back to today and seeing the things that needed to be done before her Bridegroom calls her to His home.

Lord, as Easter approaches we look back to nearly 2000 years ago, when you betrothed yourself to us with the bride price of your blood. Now, as the decades pass, take our wandering hearts and give us a new anticipation of your return. We do not know the hour or the day, but help us to live as if it were coming shortly. “And the Spirit and the Bride say “Come”. (Revelation 22:17)

As God pleases, dispose the day © 2009 is an electronic devotional by D. A. Brewer. All Bible quotations are from the New American Standard Version, © 1993 Lockman Foundation and used by permission. The title “As God pleases, dispose the day” is a quote from Henry V by William Shakespeare.