Synchronicity?

^{2Peter 1:17} For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” ¹⁸ we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. ¹⁹ And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, ²⁰ knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. ²¹ For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

As remarkable as the transfiguration is, as amazing as seeing Jesus and being touched by Jesus and hearing the Father’s voice from heaven (all in the same moment)… we have something more sure, the scriptures.  My hope in telling you this story is that the experience will take you to His word and that you will be left with a deeper love for Him.

I've told my wife that this experience has made me afraid of God… not tyrant ruler fear, but God is awesome fear. He has given me a glimpse of what He is up to and it makes me fear Him in the most reverential sense, because He is just so awesome. My mind is blown. And if you listen to this message, yours will be too…

I have a friend named Billy. Billy is in prison.  I met him via a letter while working at a church in Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi.  Billy’s letter was one of two letters written to my Senior Pastor, Jean Larroux, in response to an article he had written in the newspaper but because he was in his last days in Bay Saint Louis, in the middle of transition to move his family and pastor a church in Alabama, he gave the letters to me. They sat in my briefcase for months until I finally wrote back.  Billy and Richard couldn’t have been more different.  It became clear that Richard was just interested in whatever favors the church would be willing to do for him. Billy, on the other hand, was more interested in sharing with me about the favor he had received from God.

After about 6 months and as many letters, Billy told me that he hadn't had a visitor in almost ten years since first going to prison.  It broke my heart.  I told Tiffany I had to go see him, which terrified me.  The prison was about 2 hours away and when I got there and met Billy, it was an emotional avalanche.  We sat in the visitation area crying and praying for almost 3 hours.  It was awesome.  We discovered we had both been converted to Christ about the same time.

There is far more to this story… far more to God's sovereign hand on Billy's life and where it's going. Check it out!   -Chris Leuck

Please click here to hear the rest of the story.

Generous Sowing, Generous Reaping?

Trust and Obey

      Trust and Obey

           Trust and obey, for there's no other way

            to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

One of the Apostle Paul’s major projects was collecting a large donation to help poverty stricken believers in Jerusalem.  The major passage on this is 2 Corinthians 8-9.  Bible teacher Warren Wiersbe says, “These two chapters present giving as a Christian grace, a blessing, not as a legal obligation that burdens people.  If giving is difficult for a Christian, then there is something wrong with his heart!”  

Giving is difficult for me because I don’t know God well enough.  And what I do know I tend to forget.  Because I don’t know God very well I don’t trust him very much.  The more I know him the more I trust him.  The more I trust him the more I obey.  I don’t obey God so he’ll love me.  I obey him because He loves me.  I don’t trust God so he will accept me.  I trust him because he’s accepted me.   Knowing and trusting God makes it less difficult for me to give.

Have you learned to trust God?  What stories do you have of God’s faithfulness?  Here’s one of mine.

We lived in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada from 1990-1995.  Kathleen’s from Miami, FL and I’m from Marietta, GA so our first winter there on the shore of Lake Huron was rough.  Winters are MILD in the South.  No so in Canada.  It wasn’t the Yukon or Siberia but it sure felt like it!

I love being outside and have an adventurous spirit so I learned how to deal with the cold.  One afternoon  that first winter my son and I went to Sarnia Bay.  It was completely frozen over so naturally we wanted to explore the ice.  I knew nothing about ice so I didn’t trust it.  The ice was about four feet below a concrete retaining wall.  We climbed down and eased onto the ice expecting to fall through at any moment.  We had a death grip on the top of the wall as we cautiously inched our way along.  It felt like we were outside the 40^th floor of a skyscraper.   We cringed and froze at every creak and crack.  Finally we’d had enough excitement for one day and made our way back.

We returned the next day to let the rest of the family see the frozen bay and brag about our exploit.

I couldn’t believe it!  Cars everywhere.  On the ice!  They were getting ready for a motorcycle race.  On the ice!  When I asked a guy about it he laughed and said, “Yeah that ice is a foot thick!”

I laughed at my undue caution, timidity and fear the previous day and strolled out onto the ice like I was walking down my driveway to get the mail.  No fear.  I knew it would support me.

In 2 Corinthians 9:8-11 Paul wrote, “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work… you will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way…”  God’s grace, like the Sarnia Bay ice, is omnipotently able to support me.  The difficulty I have in trusting Him comes from my inadequate knowledge of his faithfulness.  When I remember God’s faithfulness I can trust and obey with a little less fear and trepidation.

-John Ottley

Click here to listen to the entire message messing with your money, giving of your time and yourself.

Is Everyone Going To Heaven?

Election: How do sinners escape their sin?

Ephesians 1:3-6

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, ⁴ even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love ⁵ he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 

Is God glad you chose him? 

You may have heard the description of a corridor of time and God looking down it seeing sinners choose him, and therefore God choosing them on the basis of being chosen by sinners. I grew up my whole life believing that and hearing that, and I can tell you just from my own study, that it seems to me by what we read in Ephesians 1, that's hardly the picture the Bible paints.  

My wife and I were flying back from Chicago on a pedal-jumper airplane, you know, just everyone being crammed into a tube in the sky.  Just before take off, I leaned over and asked Tammy, "Is there a baby on the plane?!?" She said, "What do you mea....OHHH...", and from there the smell just intensified.  I have a very weak sensitivity for such things, and my gag reflex was so intense people around me thought my heart was stopping.  Meanwhile, I'm shooting my glance around between coughs and chokes trying to find the culprit letting them know that I am gaging in utter revulsion.  Folks, that's more like God's view down the corridor!  If you believe what the Bible says about God and his holiness, that he dwells in unapproachable light, that his eyes are too holy to look upon sin, that if you start with God's nature and see what he sees when he looks at sin, if you see what Christ sees when he looks into the cup of God's wrath and has to drink it down in it's fullness, it's REVULSION.  

Because of God's holy nature, not only is he utterly, perfectly, and infinitely, revolted by sin but because of his righteousness and justice he has no choice in the matter except to exact punishment.  

Can God do anything? No.  Can God make a rock so big even he can't pick it up?  No.  Can he let sin go unpunished?  No.  He is limited only by his own excellencies and they will not let him NOT be revolted by sin.

I would think it would cease to be an amazing grace if God were at our mercy to execute his own plan.  Grace will not be hijacked.

-Jim Umlauf

To listen and wrestle for yourself this challenging passage in scripture, click here

God's Midnight

Matthew 25:1“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. ² Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. ³ For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, ⁴ but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. ⁵ As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. ⁶ But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ ⁷ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ ⁹ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ ¹⁰ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. ¹¹ Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ ¹² But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ ¹³ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

By in large we know that weddings as the one described in this parable were held at night.  Typically, the sequence of events would go like this: the groom accompanied by his friends would leave his home and head towards his betrothed fiancé.  He would arrive at his bride's house and she would come out attended by her childhood friends, bridesmaids, or attendants.  In this parable, they're called "virgins".  They would all leave together with pomp and circumstance, and present the couple to their new home.  The groom comes to get his bride and takes her to her future home!   This is the storyline of the entire new testament.  It's interesting that the bride in this story isn't mentioned, but that the emphasis is on the groom and his coming.

Everything you need to understand about this parable is riding on how you see the virgins and their oil.  I'm led to believe and many commentaries agree that verse 13 points to the virgins being a simile for the "visible church"; visible being the church of the present, invisible being the church of past, present and future.  The parable tells us that this visible church is comprised of virgins that are wise, and virgins that are foolish.  

The foolish had oil...some, but not enough.  They had a faith, but it was not a saving faith because their oil ran out.  Early on, they looked like the other virgins, but over time, and specifically with the coming of the groom, they're left out.  They have some marks of the wise, they're not openly God-less, but what is glaringly obvious, is that the foolish virgins do not make it in.  That means that some of you (in the visible church) will not, make it in.
-Dr. Jimmy Young

To listen to the entire message, click here

Worship as a Weapon

Dr. Jimmy Young      

We, the staff, are constantly talking about you, the congregation.  Don't worry, it's usually good.  What we often talk about is how we can do our job better, i.e. how we can be more effective in aiding you in the spiritual maturation process.  

One conclusion we have come to lately is that we need to reemphasize the need for worship, both corporate and private.  With that in mind I ran across this quote from Ed Clowney:  

"Worship is evoked by the presence of God; a response, not a self-initiated creative activity on our part It is adoration, the most selfless emotion of which our nature is capable, and therefore the chief remedy for that self-centeredness which is our primary sin and the source of all actual sins."  

Should you ever wonder about the value of worship, realize this: Among the numerous reasons given by God in His Word and in His Person to worship, one is that it attacks our self-centeredness.  That alone should excite us.  We all hate that ugly side of us that causes such strife among all of our relationships.  We know that we are selfish slobs.  So, here is one way to begin to attack that: WORSHIP.

Submission to Authority

Chris Leuck      

You don’t have to look too far or think very hard to discover the fact that there are good bosses and bad bosses, good husbands and bad husbands, good and bad parents, good and bad Presidents… you get the picture. There are good authority figures and bad authority figures. However, we often find bad authority figures in a good authority structure.

It is vital that we Christians understand the distinction between authority structures and the figures operating within those structures, because as Christians we are called to unconditionally respect those that God has placed in authority over us, even if they are ignorant, foolish, or unjust... even if you are angrily mocked or threatened… yes, even if they are disobedient to the word of God (1 Peter 2:13-3:7).

We should be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution that God has ordained for people (1 Peter 2:13). This includes:

• governing authorities (1 Peter 2:13-17; Romans 13:1-7)
• workplace authorities (1 Peter 2:18)
• and family authorities (1 Peter 3:1-7; Ephesians 5-6)

We are not only talking about a way of thinking, but also a way of doing. Yes, you should think of yourself as subordinate to the authorities that God has put in your life, but you should also act in subordination. 

So, what does that mean? How should we act? HONOR and RESPECT.

Regarding your relationship to the governing authorities: Be subject to them. Think of yourself as subordinate to them and act in subordination. Honor them. Respect them, even if they are not worthy of your respect. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people (1 Peter 3:15).

Does this mean that you shouldn’t stand up for righteousness? Does this mean that you should cower from and compromise the truth? It most certainly does not. But it DOES mean that all of your opinions, positions, and criticisms should honor the authority structure that God has put in place. They should be communicated respectfully, or not communicated at all. After all, there is no authority except that which has come from God (Romans 13)… so who are you really mad at?

These things also apply to your relationship with the workplace authorities: Be subject to them with all respect, not only to the gentle but also to the unjust (1 Peter 3:18). “What!? On what basis!?” you say… On the basis of Jesus Christ. God has given Him as our example in these matters. You WILL suffer for doing what is good and right. Follow Christ… He suffered unjustly at the hands of sinful men. When he was mocked, he did not mock or threaten in return. No, instead He continued to entrust Himself to the One who judges justly, our Father in heaven (1 Peter 3:18-25).

How about those authorities that God has put in place within our families? Indeed, God HAS instituted authority structures for our family relationships and we should be subject to those authorities for the Lord’s sake…

*Children, honor your father and mother that it may go well with you (Ephesians 6:2-3). You might be put off by their rules around the house. You might be ready to be on your own. If you are newly married and trying to effectively leave and cleave to your spouse, or if you are taking care of your parents as they are aging… young or old, you never again have to question how you should act toward your parents. Honor and respect them. It will go well with you.

*Wives, be subject/submit to your own husbands. It is important to note that this IS NOT a blanket command for women to be subordinate to men. This is the way that a woman should act with HER husband… respect him unconditionally (1 Peter 3:1-2; Ephesians 5:22-24; 33). Even if they are disobedient to the word of God, win them without a word. Win them by your respectful and pure conduct (3:1-2).

*Husbands, we are all to be subject to every human institution for the Lord’s sake, including governing authorities and workplace authorities… in the same way, you should show honor and respect to your wife in everything. She is an heir of God’s grace with you (1 Peter 3:7). You never again have to question the way that you should act towards your wife in EVERY situation… Honor her. Respect her. Give yourself up for her (Ephesians  5:25).

There are good authority figures and bad authority figures operating in God’s authority structures, which are very good. Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution. If they are foolish, silence their ignorance by doing good. If they are unjust, continue to entrust yourself to the one who judges justly. If you are mocked, do not mock or threaten in return. Christ is your authority and example in these things. Follow Him.

Toxic Charity – A Book Recommendation

Johnathan Todd      

Giving money away is easy. Giving money away wisely is difficult. One suggestion to encourage wisdom in giving decisions is to read the book Toxic Charity by Robert Lupton. Lupton has spent four decades ministering in the inner city of Atlanta and has seen firsthand how good intentions often have dire consequences. He offers insight and suggestions for charity to be given in a manner which encourages and builds instead of destroying.

Here at Grace Evan, the Grace Venture Strategy Committee works hard to investigate and steer our giving to be wise, not toxic. The committee has implemented a vetting process which seeks to capitalize on the wisdom gained from men like Robert Lupton. So know that as you follow the Grace Venture Lifestyle (Live More Simply, Give More Sacrificially, Accomplish the Great Commission), a group of your peers works hard to make sure our charitable giving is done wisely.

Teaching at Fall Creek Falls

Johnathan Todd

This past week, I engaged with 100+ Jr. High students at the Fall Creek Falls camp and challenged them with the question from Jesus: “…but who do you say that I am?” (Mark 8:29) 

Who do you say that Jesus is? This question is of the utmost importance and one that every human will answer. I aided the students in answering this question by looking at four passages from the Gospel of Mark; let me encourage you to do the same.

We find that Jesus is God in human form in Mark 2:1-12.

We find that Jesus’ perspective is eternal in Mark 4:35-41.

We find that Jesus is the keystone…he makes everything work…in Mark 9:2-8.

We find that Jesus is a suffering savior in Mark 8:31-33.

Who do you say that Jesus is? If you are a parent, how are you instructing your child to answer this question?

Christina’s World (And Ours)

John Ottley        

Our daughter gave us a poster of Christina’s World by Andrew Wyeth. We finally had it framed and I hung it the other day. Wyeth painted the original in 1948. “Christina” was Anna Christina Olson (1893-1968), a friend of Andrew and Betsy Wyeth in Cushing, Maine. That’s her home in the painting. She lived there her whole life with her brother, Alvaro. 

Christina had a degenerative muscular disorder that left her crippled. Rather than use crutches or a wheelchair, she crawled around the house and grounds. Wyeth saw her “crawling like a crab on a New England shore” and was inspired. "The challenge to me,” Wyeth said, “was to do justice to her extraordinary conquest of a life which most people would consider hopeless."

Here’s a broken woman. She’s alone in the middle of a field. She’s dragging herself along on the ground by her hands. “Crawling like a crab on a New England shore.” She’s gaunt and bony. Not much to look at. A cripple.

Some of the women I know best are broken. Maybe all women are broken. Bob Dylan wrote, “Ain’t no use jivin’ / Ain’t no use jokin’ / Everything’s broken.” Some women are alone. Many feel lonely. Anita Lustrea, host of a popular radio show and author of What Women Tell Me, wrote, “I sense that loneliness is epidemic among women, especially Christian women, even those who go to church every Sunday.”

The woman in the painting is crawling home. Where has she been? Maybe she spent the morning with her friend. Maybe they drank coffee and played Bridge. Maybe they prayed and laughed together. She may be gaunt and crippled but she’s strong. Nobody’s carrying her. And she’s been somewhere. How long has it taken her? Do her shoulders ache? 

There’s real beauty here. And strength in weakness. Maybe even grace. That’s what I like about the painting. It reminds me that God’s grace can make brokenness beautiful. It portrays the attitude of Paul who had learned “the secret of being content in any and every situation through Him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:11-13)

Understanding Yourself

Dr. Jimmy Young        

Understanding other people is a real art form.  But understanding myself is next to impossible.  The Bible helps me understand myself.  Numerous are the times when I get an insight to my own heart just by reading the Bible.  

A case in point is in Exodus 32.  After Moses had been away for several days, the people get antsy and want to “get on with it.”  So, they approach Aaron about making for them an idol.  He obliges and verse 4 tells us that he took their gold and “fashioned” a golden calf.  However, when Moses does finally get back, not in a very good mood, he approaches Aaron and basically asks him to explain himself.  In verse 24, Aaron describes his actions this way:  “…and I threw it (the gold) into the fire and out came this calf.”  That’s not what he did!  He fashioned the thing himself.  But when caught, he’s looking for some explanation that will allow him to look less bad than he ought to.  

I am a master of that same strategy.  I so want you to think highly of me that lying seems better than owning my sin.  But now my sin has been complicated by more sin.  “Oh what tangled webs we weave.”  And I think the motive underneath so much of my subterfuge is that I can’t stand you knowing what a doofus I am.  

The only remedy is to return to my identity in Christ.  My worth is due to my belonging to Him.  And though my behavior is sometimes regrettable, my standing is unchanged.