Endurance and Perseverance

The music of my childhood was the music of my parents. My dad loved goofy 60’s music like “G.T.O.” by Rohnny and the Daytonas. My mom bounced back and forth between Les Miserable and Country. Though I was not a big fan of the way country music sounded at first, I was amazed at how good country music was at describing disappointment. One song that describes the emotions of a break-up is “The Race Is On” by Sawyer Brown. Here is what it says, 

                Well, the race is on
                And here comes pride up the backstretch
                Heartaches are goin' to the inside
                My tears are holdin' back
                They're tryin' not to fall
                My heart's out of the runnin'
                True love's scratched for another's sake
                The race is on and it looks like heartache
                And the winner loses all

During this COVID-19 quarantine season there has been a race of different emotions taking place. There was fear and uncertainty leading the way. Soon after that, faith and even some excitement made it to the front. After about a month in, frustration and fatigue overcame all excitement and really challenged faith. At this point it seems like weariness and impatience are beating out faith, hope, and love. And it is hard to see some of the ugly things showing up in our country as well as in our own souls. 

What I am praying for these days is patient endurance and joyful perseverance. Wikidiff.com defines endurance as “the measure of a person's stamina or persistence in difficulty”; and perseverance as “continuing in a course of action without regard to discouragement, opposition or previous failure”.

The course of action we are called to is to follow Jesus and help others follow Jesus as well. In the face of COVID-19’s prolonged disruption we need to see Jesus, rely on Jesus, and trust Jesus. He alone can help us stay on track even though our emotions are running wild. He alone has persevered through life without sin. He alone endured the cross and the wrath of God with the joy of the Lord as His strength. 

If you would like a Biblical road map for dealing with disappointment, Hebrews 12 gives us the instructions we need to live with endurance and perseverance  Here is what it says:

Throw off the sin and weight that entangles. Keep running. Fix your eyes on Jesus. Don’t forget to encourage your own heart by reminding it that God is your Father. He will not only give you the strength to endure, but He will also use the challenge to make you pure.

Peace to you and yours, 

David

P.S. I am happy to tell you that, while we are giving ourselves to meeting in our homes for our Sunday mornings through Father’s Day, we are doing some regathering at the church. We have had a men’s breakfast and our 3rd -5th grade group gathered together. It was wonderful, even though we “social distanced” and took temperatures. Next week we have a pre-registered Worship NIght planned for June 5th with the same social distancing and taking of temperatures. It didn’t take long for all the spots to be filled up. Woohoo! Jesus be with us and lead us back to one another. 

Tagged: evangelism, gospel, good news, love, love your neighbor

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Our Calling

Our Calling

Many people are asking what I think the church should do in light of all the Covid-19 questions and re-opening questions. I know the main reason they are asking is because they care about the church. We are a church family and there is a beautiful covenantal bond that takes place when people commit to worship Jesus together and journey life’s challenges alongside each other. I am honored and privileged to have a front row seat to watch all of you apply your faith to this unprecedented time of disruption. I am thrilled to hear about the generosity and courage you have displayed in a season where it's easy to succumb to fear.  
 
Now, after all these weeks there is a sense of weariness setting in. It would be easy for us to become frustrated or apathetic. But as I set my mind to pray about what the church should do right now, the word evangelism continues to come to mind. I really believe this is what our God desires from us right now. The more I study evangelism, the more I become convinced that God always desires us to do the work of evangelism.

So, what is the work of evangelism? Simply put, evangelism is telling others the good news about Jesus. 
 
To the broken heart, the evangelist communicates the good news that, “God is near to the broken hearted”; and “if you wait on the Lord and be of good courage, God will strengthen your heart.”

To the anxious mind, the evangelist communicates the good news that, “God will keep those who trust in Him in perfect peace”; and “God’s peace is not limited to our understanding, it surpasses our understanding.”

To the sinful addict, the evangelist communicates the good news that, “the promise of God is to forgive your sins and give you His Spirit, no matter how far off you feel”; and “whoever comes to Jesus will be received.”

To the soul gripped with depression, the evangelist communicates the good news that, “God loves to turn our sorrow into dancing and our ashes into something beautiful.”
 
I know the word evangelist stirs up lots of different thoughts and emotions. Some think of tele-evangelists and their hair and flare. Some think of street-corner evangelists with their doom and gloom. Some think of the hippie days of the Jesus movement. And others think of the one and only Billy Graham.

Over the years evangelism has been done well and it's been done poorly. There has been great good and there has been harmful offense. But even when evangelism is done very well, there is always some offense. No one likes to hear they are a sinner who has added to the pain and problems in this world. No one likes to be told they need to surrender control of their life. No one enjoys admitting they need to change. Yet, when the good news about Jesus is shared with true compassion and consideration, there is a sweetness that can overcome the offense. 
 
All Christians are called to do the work of an evangelist. Yes, that means you and me also. Jesus reconciled us to Himself so we could help others be reconciled to Him.

From the very beginning Jesus said to His disciples, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” Then, just before Jesus left His disciples for the last time, He asked them to go into all the world and make more followers of Jesus. He wanted them to teach others all they had learned from Him. From that day on every follower of Christ has had the same commission from Jesus. Yes, that means you and me also. 
 
There is one who has walked the tight rope of evangelistic offense and sweetness for many years. His name is Ravi Zacharias. I so appreciated his voice in my life. I learned so much about the veracity of Jesus’ life and message, the historicity of the Bible, and the immensely solid, intellectual ground the Christian faith enjoys. Though his passing on March 19 brings a moment of pause and sadness, his life and message inspires me to run with the good news with greater urgency and understanding. 
 
David

My Friends...

The human capacity for emotions is so fascinating. Emotions are potent, substantive things. Fear, hate, love, joy are powerful. But what is so fascinating to me is how we can feel strong, opposing emotions at the same time.

On the one hand I am feeling overjoyed at the moves our city is taking to reopen society.

On the other hand I am grieved because I woke up yesterday to a text from a friend. He said he received an email from me about needing gift cards for a woman in need. I did not send the email. It was a scam. The email he received was convincing, with my photo and a pastoral-type appeal for gift cards.  

On the one hand my family has had some wonderful, slow-paced, heart-warming, country-song-type times together.

Then on the other hand, we have driven each other crazy at times. 

Then, out there in the big world we have seen things like Some Good News with John Krasinski showing how praiseworthy the human spirit can be.

Then, on the other hand we grieved with Ahmaud Arbery’s family as they were unable to celebrate his 26th birthday because he was killed in a most troubling way. While digesting that grievous story I wrote this:

Once again the wound is opened 
One again blood spills out
Once again fear and sorrow show up
Once again we drink the bitter cup 

Should we scream and shout
Should we weep out loud
Should we try and reach out

A little over two miles
Such a winning smile 
I hope he knew He was God’s child
I hope we learn everyone is God’s child 

While my emotions come and go, and sometimes overwhelm me, I am so thankful for the robust words of the Bible that can cut through all the confusion to guide us through life’s tempests. Just like life, the Bible is filled with both lament and rejoicing, heroic joy, and shattering heartache. 

Here are a couple of verses worth chewing on, if you find yourself getting weary or losing your bearings.  

Let him sit alone in silence, for the Lord has laid it on him. Let him bury his face in the dust—there may yet be hope. Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him, and let him be filled with disgrace. For no one is cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone. –Lamentations 3:31-33

Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family… Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. –1 Thessalonians 4:9-12

God be with you and give you peace in your perseverance. 

David