Walking on the Path for a long time!

I find myself treating differently people who commit the same sins. For one group of sinners I have this sense of compassion and mercy. I genuinely feel bad for them. I have been there. For the other group, who most often commit the same initial sin, I feel frustrations, doubts, incredulity and a few other emotions. I also still feel compassion and mercy but this compassion and mercy is different.

The two groups of sinners, I have been in both at various time, are divided not by the particular sin but by their actions around the sin. I will use sexual sin as the context, but it is certainly not the only context, for my example. In the first group a couple comes to me and is saddened and concerned because they have crossed the lines into sexual sin. They generally have an element of concern, sorrow, and real desire to recapture a place of discipline and spiritual wellness. My heart is proud of these individuals, not because of their sin – obviously, but because of their sense of conviction and wanting to be restored to Christ. They have obviously responded to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. I have compassion and mercy for them.

The next type of sinner comes to me, usually in a different context, and through discussion I find out that they are living together or planning on living together (again this is an example). They come with an element of sorrow, sometimes, but mostly with a ready explanation: “We just felt stuck financially and so it made more sense to share an apartment.” There is a clear choice to enter into a relationship of sinfulness and to “go in the direction” of sin. I have compassion and mercy for them.

Let me describe this in a different way. The Bible speaks of the Word being a light to our path. So thinking in terms of walking along a path of right living (righteousness) I will describe what I am experiencing. The first individuals are walking along the path and for a variety of reasons have stumbled, stepped, transgressed off the path. They find themselves on the side in the ditch or swamp. They recognize their plight and work to get back on the path and moving in the right direction. Many times this includes getting counsel from other believers and for some includes entering into accountability type relationships.

The second individuals are walking along the path and for a variety of reasons have stumbled, stepped, transgressed off the path. They find themselves on the side in the ditch or swamp. They recognize their plight, but here they make a conscious choice. They determine in their heart and mind that they have “reasons” for being off the path. And rather than work their way back onto the path they continue walking in the ditch or swimming in the swamp. Eventually they find themselves soiled spiritually in a different way than just through the initial sin. Their hearts become more and more cold and hardened and their spiritual lives less and less about love for the Lord and more about lesser things. As a pastor I find it difficult to not have a deeper concern for the spiritual future of these individuals. It saddens me for them.

Eugene Peterson once described discipleship as “a long obedience in the same direction.” Actually, that is a title of one of his books. It is a brilliant description of this walk we are on called discipleship. It is interesting how a stumble in long obedience is less consequential than a direction change. I am not saying the stumble or short transgression doesn’t matter, but it does seem to have a less damaging consequence than going off the path completely and heading in a new direction – can I say, “duh?”

I remember when I was younger someone quoted a verse to me that has stuck with me. It was out of the New American Standard version of the Bible; make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. The passage is from Romans 13. I will put it into context:

For this, "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET," (and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying,) "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh
in regard to its lusts.

The man who quoted this verse to me explained to me about not making plans and provisions for my sin: “If you know you are going to drink at the party don’t go.” “If you are going to be tempted being alone with your girlfriend plan on not being alone with her.” These teachings made sense to me. Through the years this has helped me. To be honest it hasn’t always stopped me, but more often than not it does. When I find myself making plans for sin it is easier to stop at that stage than later. When I find myself arranging opportunities for my continued sinfulness, making provision, I know I am in trouble in a different way. Where have you made provision for sin, or continued sin?

I encourage all of us to be more ruthless with our desire to stay on the path or return to the path. Let’s plan on making no plans for our own sinfulness. Here is a prayer:

Father, help us all to lay aside the deeds of darkness and to put on the armor of lights. Help us to live the way you would want us to live. Wearing your Son and our Lord Jesus Christ like a garment, help us to cut off and destroy our plans and provisions for our sin. We want to live with our lives in full view of everyone – with nothing to hide! Thank you Father for your Spirit who strengthens us and equips us to live for you! Amen”

Your partner in the gospel,

Pastor Paul

Mother's Day and a Funeral

This Sunday evening we will be holding a prayer service for the son (21 years old) of a woman in our church. Monday will be the funeral service. Sunday is also Mother's Day. This is a horrible juxtaposition. It grieves me. The difficulty is magnified by how the young man was living. His lifestyle was outside of safety and wisdom. His way of living was certainly not of a fashion that would make his untimely death in a car accident a shock. And clearly he was a nice young man who knew inside the truth about Christ and about life with Christ, but it would be a long shot to say that the reality of Jesus was affecting his life.

As I write I am thinking of all the kids I know who assume they will have time to "turn around" and who believe in their heart that the direction they are currently headed is temporary. They believe they are just "livin on the edge," for a while. And they seem to have full intention to settle down someday. I hope they do.

I am also wondering why we expect kids to do this? I know it seems to be a truth, kids need to "sow their wild oats." but I don't like it. The idea that kids have to wander and to "experiment" does not ring true in my heart. And to be honest it bothers me that so many expect this.

I am not sure what the answer is to all of this. But it makes me wonder what would happen if our faith was more real, more adventurous, more Biblical, more edgy, and less safe and staid if more young people would live passionately toward Christ. I don't know. But I do know that I am bothered by the expectation that young people need a prodigal time.

The Gospel of John -- The Wedding Miracle John 2:1-11

Jesus attends a wedding feast in Cana. And it is in recounting this story that John gives us the first “sign.” It is the miracle of turning water into wine. Now this has been the subject of a lot of discussion with people in my past. It seems to me that this is one of the miracles that many wish he wouldn’t have done…the whole “making wine” thing has really messed with some people's assumptions. But that clearly is not the main point of the passage, is it?

So here are a few questions for us as we study the gospel:
1. How do you think this sign or miracle helps John achieve his purpose as mentioned in John 20:30, 31?
2. What do you think Mary was expecting when she told Jesus that the wedding party was out of wine?
3. What do you think Jesus meant when he said to Mary: “My time has not yet come?”
4. Chris Z mentioned it on Wednesday night, the question for a free cup of coffee at the Grounds for Missions coffee shop, is approximately how many bottles of wine (average sized bottles) would Jesus have made? (I will go by Chris’ estimate – first correct answer within 20 wins).

Tithing -- I Don't Understand Why Not?

Are you as dismayed as I am regarding the number of people who tithe (give 10% of their income)? I read recently the results of a survey by The Barna Group regarding our giving practices. They truly sadden and concern me. They sadden me for the sake of the church. They concern me for the sake of individuals. I am concerned for those who consistently live in bondage to spending patterns that demonstrate a lack of fiscal discipline and trust in God. It seems to me that we do have a competing god (Matthew 6:24). I wonder what would happen if individuals and couples would enter into more biblically consistent financial management principles. So here are some of the basics from The Barna Group (2007 giving):

About 5% of adults tithe
Among the most generous Barna states that:
o 24% of evangelicals tithe
o 12% of conservatives
o 12% of those who have prayed, read the Bible and attended a church service in the last week
o 11% of Charismatics or Pentecostals
o 10% Registered Republicans
Among the least generous (less than 1% of the people in each of these groups tithed)
o Atheists and Agnostics (duh – my personal comment – not Barna’s)
o Singles adults who have never married
o Liberals
o And downscale adults

Barna also says that 9% of all those who claim to be Born Again Christians gave at least 10% of their income and Protestants were 4 times more likely to tithe as Catholics (8% versus 2%, respectively).

So here is my issue. I don’t understand why this is so. Why are Christians so stingy? Why are we not more generous? It seems to me that people who are recipients of God’s grace and forgiveness would be incredibly generous givers. Being a generous giver is a basic biblical principle. The Bible throughout the Old Testament teaches a basic foundation of giving of 10% and then much more giving added to that “first step.” My assumption is that those who are no longer bound by the law would want to respond with greater generosity than what was required (I guess I am wrong). Many authors and communicators of good financial practices (Dave Ramsey, Crown Ministries, and others) teach the basic foundational principle of giving 10 % of your income. It makes good fiscal sense to be a giver.

So I wonder why it is that most who claim to be Christians do not tithe their income to the local church or to anywhere for that matter. I wonder how many of us would find our financial situations greatly improved if we were trusting of God with our finances. I remember hearing Pastor Bill Hybels one time state that he found it amazing that people say they are trusting God for their eternity but that they were unwilling to trust God with their finances. There is a wonderful passage in Malachi 3:8-11. This is the only place in the Bible where God invites his people to test him. It is to test him regarding his part in pouring out blessings on those who are tithers. I know that this does not necessarily mean money, but I wonder how many of us would have improved financial management if we were faithful in our giving. I am inviting comments and discussion about this topic – I will respond as well.

I have one final comment. I am saddened for followers of Christ who find themselves unable to trust God with their finances. But I am even more saddened for those who are leaders in the local church; pastors, elders, and teahers who do not trust God with their finances. Maybe this is one of the reasons we are in such a weakened state as the church.
Your partner in the gospel,
Pastor Paul

P.S. For anyone from Hope Covenant Church (Grand Forks, ND) who would like to enter a Tithing Test, I will help you facilitate this test. For your own sake: I dare you! Email me.

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN - John the Baptist Post #4

I am impressed with what I read about John the Baptist. Even though you have to admit he was a bit of an odd character. He wore camel's hair clothing and ate bugs...not necessarily a candidate for bringing home to meet your parents. But his clarity about who he was and what his role was in the kingdom was absolutely profound. I would like to be more like him.

In John 1:20, we read that John the Baptist is completely clear that he is not the Christ, that he is not worthy to even untie Jesus' sandals (1:27). In John 1:23, he says that he is a voice of one calling in the desert.

Take a moment and read the gospel accounts of John the Baptist.

• Matthew 3
• Matthew 11:1-19
• Matthew 14:1-12; Mark 6:14-29
• Mark 1:1-12
• Luke 1:5-25
• Luke 3:1-22
• John 1:1-42
• John 3:22-35

What do you notice about John's character?

How do you think he battled the desire for prominence?

Do you have trouble reconciling John's devotion to Christ and the work of God and how he struggled in prison (Matthew 11:1-19). And how John died?

What does John's life teach you personally?

Your partner in the gospel,

Pastor Paul

For this weeks complimentary cup of coffee at the Grounds for Mission Coffee Shop @ HOPE: What do you think the is meant by Matthew 11:16-20?

Say What You Mean and Say it with Love!

Reverend Ole was the pastor of the local Norwegian Lutheran Church, and Pastor Sven was the minister of the Swedish Covenant Church across the road. I saw them yesterday standing by the road, pounding a sign into the ground, that reads:'Da End iss Near! Turn Yourself Aroundt Now! Before It's Too Late!'

As a car sped past them, the driver leaned out his window and yelled, 'Leave us alone, you religious nuts!'

From the curve we heard screeching tires and a big splash...

Rev. Ole turns to Pastor Sven and asks, 'Do ya tink maybe da sign should yust say 'Bridge Out'?

I received this in an email and it made me lol . I thought it was good humor. But I had to laugh because I have been a part of conversations where the individuals are trying to say something and won't actually say it. They cloak what they are saying in religious language which often makes it more confusing. The truth is, in some of the cases, they use the "religious" language because they want to avoid taking ownership for what they were saying.

Ephesians 4:15 the Apostle Paul says, "...speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ." It is an act of courage to speak the truth. But it, when done well, truth helps us "grow up."

And the Bible is clear that "truthing" well is doing so with LOVE! Lets be honest, it seems that some "Christians" are better at speaking truth, but not so good at the love part. Others of us are good at the love portion and thin on the truth telling. The Bible says that we are to do both and if I add the teaching from Ephesian 4:29 to speak so that others are built up. Imagine if we took those three speaking guidelines to heart: truth, love, and building.

Be blessed! Your partner in the gospel,
Pastor Paul

One last thought: Just because something is true doesn't meant it has to be spoken. We all know that, right?

We all deserve hell!

Bonnie and I just finished attending our small group. I think we are in our fifth week of chapter one of our book study. Tonight we never even cracked it open. But we had great discussion and caring for one another. It is really exciting...I feel God knitting our hearts together as we allow one another to see more and more of who we are. Tonight, much of our discussion was centered on the idea of hell and fairness.

Gary Thomas (author of The Beautiful Fight, Authentic Faith, Sacred Marriage, and other wonderful books) was our guest speaker this morning in church. He has been in the Grand Forks area this last week. It was a full and enriching week. One of the things that provoked our discussion tonight was something Gary said. I may not quote it exactly but...

We all deserve hell. The Bible is clear about that. So any day that we are not in hell is a good day and one that we can be grateful for... Even a really bad day is better than any day in hell.

This quote led us to a discussion about fairness, God, and hell. The gist of our time was the solemn realization and affirmation of the truth that if God were to act "fairly" with all of humanity, we would all spend eternity a part from him -- in hell. How amazing it is that we get to know Him. How grateful we are for us wonderful and amazing grace toward us. This truth also makes me want to pray much more fervently pray for and seek to love into the kingdom those that do not know him, yet.


It was a great day of worship and a great evening spent with my small group. And now I get to crawl into bed next to a woman that I love! "Father, thank you! Thank you for allowing me to live, to breath, to love, and to be loved. With love from an undeserving but grateful child, Paul."


a partner in the gospel,

Pastor Paul