Boots on the Ground

I was invited this week to the Grand Forks Air Force Base. Our base is instituting a new initiative with local clergy. it has potential to be a wonderful relationship and opportunity to serve men and woman from all over the United States. I have had the privilege of being The Honorary Wing Chaplain for the past year or so of our base. Because of this relationship my eyes have been opened a bit more to the work of our military. I would like to recount two stories that moved me.

Ch, Capt. Shin H. Soh was serving in civilian ministry in New York City on September 11, 2001. He watched as the city he lived in was attacked. As it did for so many, it impacted him. Soh's family had immigrated to the USA when he was a child. He struggled with feeling a part of this new nation. On September 11th Chaplain Soh had something begin to stir in him that eventually ended up in a calling to serve God and to serve his country. He found himself with a realization that the United States was his home and that he desired to couple his faith in Jesus Christ and his commitment to his country. My heart was moved as Chaplain Soh spoke about the coupling of his faith in Jesus Christ and his loyalty to his earthly citizenship.

Ch, Lt Col John Kinney also spoke. Chaplain Kinney spoke about his recent experiences in Iraq. it was his "boots on the ground" report that reminded me that not everything good gets reported. He talked about the welcome from Iraqi people and the affection he sensed. He spoke about the large percentage of American servicemen that are serving more as mentors than "fighting." He said that it seemed that 90% of what we were doing was coming alongside and training the Iraqi people. Again, i found myself thankful for a man who was serving in the name of Christ in an extremely difficult area. Chaplain Kinney mentioned that he wished the media would report more on the people that are being blessed by American presence.

On this day I was thankful for the men and woman who serve Jesus Christ and our nation through military service. I realize there are many who say that we should get out of the war. I don't like the war either. But maybe there is much more good being accomplished than is being made public. The "boots on the ground" report from Father Kinney left me thankful for my primary citizenship, the Kingdom of God; and thankful (even though I may not always agree) for my secondary citizenship, the United States of America.

Your partner in the gospel
Pastor Paul

The photo above is from the awards ceremony when the Grand Forks Air Force Base was honored as having THE 2007 BEST AIR FORCE SMALL CHAPEL AWARD.

The Hope of the World

I recently found a quotation that captivated me. Spurgeon (1834-92) was the pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London. He frequently preached the Good News of Jesus to audiences of more than 10,000 people. He has been called the Prince of Preachers. The quotation is about the Church and speaks much to the necessity for the Church to be impacting our culture.

And let the entire body of the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ–instead of looking to societies for evangelization, or to commerce, or to governments– remember that she is the sole saviour of the world. As Christ was the world’s hope, so is the Church the world’s hope, and she must take up the charge as if there were not another.

I agree with Spurgeon. I have heard Bill Hybels of Willow Creek Community Church state it this way:

The local Church is the hope of the World.

The Church, the bride of Christ, is called and charged to bring the hope and love of Jesus Christ to the World that Jesus Himself says that He loves (John 3:16). It may be nice, and maybe on some issues necessary (ie: abortion), to have the government and as Spurgeon refers to "commerce and societies" to partner with us. But in the end the call to feed the hungry, to give hope to the poor, to care for the orphans and widows, to address the issues of oppression, of bondage, of social ills like AIDS, abortion, and Human Trafficking to mention a few is the charge to the body of Christ. We cannot depend on the government to have the heart of Jesus Christ nor to truly be able to bring hope to our social ills.

I must confess that much of my life as a Pastor has been primarily about pasturing the local church that I have been a part of and of personal evangelism. I believe this is my spiritual gifting. But over the last several years, I have been convicted and challenged that a significant part of my maturity and the discipleship of God’s people must include engagement in the lives of the “lost and the least” of the world. We must do this not only from an evangelistic perspective, but also to address with compassion and justice the needs of those around us.

I am being challenged that true discipleship cannot be merely knowledge (although it must include knowledge) nor just personal life issues. Any plan for maturing believers in Christ must include leading followers to be engaged in the lives others. To be engaged with an evangelistic heart with those who do not know Jesus yet. And leading them to be engaged with a “loving people as they are in Jesus’ name” heart that serves people with compassion and seeks justice for people in the name of Christ.

Discipleship, of course, is following Jesus. To follow Jesus will certainly lead us to become a friend of the “tax collectors and ‘sinners’” of our day. Following Jesus will lead us to bringing good news to the poor, to proclaim freedom for prisoners, recovery of sight for the blind, and to release the oppressed (Luke 4:18).
“Jesus, expand my heart.”
Your partner in the gospel,
Pastor Paul

P.S. This post is not meant to take us off the hook in our need to be politically astute and aware. We certainly don't want a government that would be working "against" the Church or the causes that the Church is called by God to address.

Endorsing a Candidate for President

Soon we will be casting our vote for the next president of the United States of America. The date for the vote is November 4, 2008. On November 5th (hopefully) we will know who our next president will be.

I would like to urge all of us who are followers of Jesus Christ to be in prayer for the election and certainly in prayer for whomever becomes our next president. The Apostle Paul teaches us in 1 Timothy 2:1-4:

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone -- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

I have been quite captivated by the race over the last months. I would like to pose a few questions to you as readers of this blog.

I am wondering how captivated you are in the presidential campaign?

What are the main issues for you as a voter?

When you think of casting your vote, how much does your faith enter the equation?

Do you think there are valid Christian values expressed by both of the political parties? If so what are they?

Finally, what wisdom do you see in clergy endorsing or not endorsing a candidate for a public office?

How do you think you would personally respond if the clergy of your church endorsed a candidate contrary to who you were supporting?

Your partner in the gospel,

Pastor Paul

PRIVATE RELIGION?

Today the Grand Forks Herald reported on a survey published in the Fargo Forum on October 17, 2008. One of questions reported on was the role of religion in public life. According to the survey 50% of the people in our region regarded religion as a private matter.

I find that very interesting. It fits very much into our regional culture. We pride ourselves as being highly independent and of course private. I suppose if we are merely talking about religion in the sense of a set of precepts or doctrines one could keep that generally to oneself. Unless one of the precepts of said religion was to make the message of the faith known to others; as does Christianity. Then notion of one’s faith being private, if one is a follower of Jesus Christ, is immediately repudiated by the message of Jesus' life.

Jesus was clear that his followers would be those who lived their faith in Him with a lovingly public persona. He said things like: “Go and make disciples. You are the light of the world. You are the salt of the earth.” Jesus said, “I have come to seek and to save the lost.” To be a follower of Jesus then, would take part in doing the work of Christ.

Maybe we could better understand the sentiment in the survey if we recognized that being a follower of Christ is certainly “personal” but it can never be “private.”

I like the words of G.K. Chesterton: “A man can no more possess a private religion that he can possess a private sun and moon.”

In regard to your life in Christ, seek to be as public as a light in a dark place!

Your partner in the gospel,
Pastor Paul

The Greatest Bailout in History

I have found myself with an increasing frustration about this great historical bailout. It frustrates me that our government is giving a "get out jail free" card to the executives who have basically cheated, mismanaged, lived selfishly ambitious, and indulgent lives with no regard for others. It frustrates me further because there seems to be no plan for payback! I probably don't know all the ramifications of us choosing not to do the bailout, but my gut tells me; "lets just bite the bullet and take the tough pill now for an economy run on debt, dishonesty, and selfishness.

But it occurs to me that this bailout by the U.S. government is not the biggest bailout in history of people who have cheated, mismanaged, lived selfishly ambitious, and indulgent lives. No this current bailout is nothing compared to the bailout provided for all of us by Jesus Christ. When Christ died he payed the debt for our sin! That is a wonderful unconditional bailout. And truth is that we have no opportunity for payback. Our only response is to live lives of gratitude and love to Him and for Him.

I find myself today grateful and humbled for my personal experience of being bailed out -- as undeserving as I was -- I am a recipient of God's grace, forgiveness, and restoration. And now, I seek to live in His economy and as a citizen of His Kingdom.

Your partner in the gospel,

Pastor Paul