“The Lifetime Warranty”

What lasts forever?  I know, you’ve heard it before, “back in my day…” everything ran better and lasted longer.  Air conditioners, water heaters, and dishwashers all seemed to at least become teenagers (that’s 13 years old to you and me). These days, I can’t even have my morning shave last till noon!  And, isn’t it funny how warranties last exactly one day short of when most appliances break down?  Someone said they saw a report where large companies spend thousands of dollars to research exactly how long their product will last and then set the warranty just short of the mark.

If you think about it, there’s nothing that really lasts.  Other than Craftsman Tools, there really isn’t a lifetime warranty on much.  Even Sears is in decay!  Every living thing is in a process of slow decay.  Take Niagara Falls.  If you study the early photographs of this wonder, and compare them to the present, you will be amazed.  The falls are slowly regressing, as the water causes the decay of the solid rock.

The same phenomenon is at work in the Grand Canyon.  The very fact that the canyon exists at all is the result of the breakdown of the riverbed by the continual movement of the Colorado River.  Mother nature does not offer any guarantees that will secure confidence in an unchanging landscape.  I suppose, life is like one of those giant rainbow suckers you get at the fair, it does last a long time, but eventually, it erodes away to an area around our hips!  Is there anything that really lasts?

What about Jesus?  Does He come with a warranty?  How long will He last?  Is there any decay in his Words?  I have visited the Holy Land many times.  I have seen amazing artifacts of the people who lived the words in the Bible. I have walked in the cities and locations where Israel’s Prophets and Kings have lived and walked.  I have stepped over a threshold where most probably Jesus stepped.  In all these locations, there is a common thread of decay, leaving only limited archaeological digs – a wall, a well. 

We are not even sure exactly where the tomb of the crucified Nazarene is located, or if it’s still intact.  

Many of the Holy sites where purposely destroyed by other conquering nations.  So, in a world of decay, of limited warranty due to breakdown, do we still know Jesus?  There is one fact, one historical event that seems to be immune to decay.  There is one person who does come with an eternal warranty.  It is Jesus. 

The only reason we even know who Jesus was, and is, are the facts of His death and resurrection!  Every historic figure who gained notoriety for a world changing presence, teaching, or discovery, has faded through the slow decay of time.  

Like Niagara Falls, we may know the name and the history, but the life changing presence is less than personally impactful.  In essence, the relevant warranty has expired.  Not so for Jesus.  Easter marks the stamp, the guarantee of life – a lifetime warranty.  The proof is the Church – Jesus body on earth.  It has lasted 2,000 years.  As you read this, there are over 2,300 million Christians worldwide.  The Church of Jesus shows no sign of warranty expiration. God did not intent it to.

So, the next time you are around a conversation where the “fact” of Jesus as God’s Son, is questioned, or did He really die and rise, or is He really the Savior of the world, you have an answer.  The most powerful proof is His Church and those who He fills with His Spirit to be His hands, His feet, His love!  Easter is the substance behind the eternal warranty.  Easter remains, while all else erodes and decays.  How else can you explain the longevity, the Love, the lingering presence of His Spirit?

If you are to have confidence in anything, any product, any person, it makes sense that our confidence must be placed in the only One who’s presence actually lasts.  When you worship on Easter, you are acting on the personal guarantee of God.  If it were not so, there would be no Easter and no church for you to attend.  There would be no Christian experience at all.  There would be nothing.  Just a story about a seemingly kind man who attracted some attention in the first century C.E.  You would not even know his name.  But you do, don’t you?  His name is Jesus, and you know Him because He lasts!

Creatures From the Black Lagoon?

Feeling creaturely lately?  Halloween is today, so not for long!  The term ‘creature’ has for some time been coopted by Hollywood to designate someone, or better, something strange, slimy and possibly horrible.  Some may remember that old black and white horror epic titled, “The Creature From the Black Lagoon?”  Of course, it had to be the Black Lagoon, first to make it scarier.  After all, how terrible can a creature be from the Blue Lagoon?  Besides, they only had black and white film in those days…  no choice!

So, as I said, nobody likes being a creature; however, creatureliness is in our DNA.  To be a creature means we are by nature created.  Now you must stop the presses because “Thems fightn’ words.” We are stepping onto a dangerous terrain.  Being created raises all kinds of issues for us - most importantly, if were created, then what force, action, artist, intelligent designer has left an imprint on the lower corner of the canvas? Who signed the created work?

Most mainline churches sing the answer to this question every Sunday.  We call it the Doxology.  You know the words, “Praise God from who all blessings flow.’”  Now listen to the second verse, “Praise Him all CREATURES here below.”  There it is – creatures!

According to Webster’s, “‘Doxology’ passed into English from Medieval latin doxologia, which in turn comes from the Greek term doxa, meaning "opinion" or "glory."  The word ultimately derives from the Greek verb dokein, meaning "to seem good."  The suffix -logia refers to oral or written expression.”  So ‘doxology’ is an oral expression of praise and glorification from the created to the creator.

All good, or it’s all “okey dokein.”  Not sure if this is where we get the colloquialism, but herein lies the trouble for atheist and modern-day Christians.  To get our heads around being God’s creation – a creature, is to reconcile who we are and where our goodness and good gifts come from.  Case in point, is our thankfulness for family, friends, resources, church, freedom, or as the Hebrews say, our ‘Meod,’ (our muchness) due to ourselves alone or do we live doxology to the originator?

How we see ourselves determines to a great extent how we live in relation to the community and the people around us.  To feel creaturely, means to feel and express generosity.  If we understand what God has done and is doing for us and that it ‘seems good’ (doxa) is to experience true thanksgiving.  To feel autonomous, or to see ourselves as sovereign creators in our own right of all we preside over, is to say, well done!  

Do you see the difference?  Creatures live doxology which not only rises to God but flows out in generous love.  That’s why Jesus said, "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."  (John 15:12-13) Living Doxology is a life-long process! 

Recently during worship, Jody and I were celebration during Pastor appreciation month.  I think Hallmark invented this designation.  While being a pastor in this post-Christian culture is a tough call, it’s still a high calling.  I think we need a parishioner appreciation month.  Because, singing and living doxology is profoundly more powerful when done in community.  It is you, the creatures of “The Church” who create ministry.  Your actions away from self, acknowledge that you are overwhelmingly blessed by the creator in our years of generosity and loving compassion. 

I sing doxology to God for you because through you God’s blessing have flown so strongly over the years.  As Simba proclaimed in the Lion King movie, “It’s good to be King” however, the truth that unwraps the ultimate fullness in life, is that it’s better to be a creature!

Hell Has Frozen Over!

Today there is a growing sense of a distant, compartmentalized God.  

This is demonstrated most profoundly as a “thing” or entity least feared.  Said plainly, we don’t really fear God all that much.  I am not talking about the kind of fear you feel when you hear the work cancer or that you are being let go from your job.

I am speaking of the kind of fear we experience when in awe of something overwhelmingly-magnificent.  

It’s the kind of fear people in the Bible like Isiah the profit experienced in a vision, and Moses experience when coming face to face with the majesty and overwhelming power of God’s presence. 

 

Can you imagine being near an alpha-male lion.   You see the beauty of the his golden main, the power of his muscles, and the fright that this magnificent beast could destroy you if so inclined.  That’s what we call reverent holy fear.

In our culture today, I sense a diminishing consequential concern for the holiness of God.  Intimately connected to this fearlessness, is the gravity of the sacred and eternal in our own lives.

Again, said plainly, it’s as if Hell has frozen over!  We no longer have a reverent, holy concern for our spiritual self 

-- our soul. 

This Sunday, I will begin a new series where we will face what I call the least fear – the fear of God and the eternal within us.  Some of us have enough God while others don’t have enough and can’t seem to find God.  

Our culture tells us we can be spiritual in our own way, by ourselves.  However, Jesus says just the opposite – we are a connected body, set aside to serve and worship the awesomeness of God. 

In other words, collectively, we are the bride of Christ – the church.  Only, today the bride is more like a runaway bride, a church that is not gathered in communal worship, ready for Jesus!  How does this trend impact us, our church and our spiritual life?  That’s what we will explore.

Jesus Unplugged

 Jesus Unplugged

Way back in the MTV days when media technology was ramping up in the music industry, rock and roll guitar guru Eric Clapton, did something really daring.  He unplugged!  Wanting to get back to the intimacy, feel and beauty of the acoustic sound of music, he recorded an album which deemphasized the electronic “plugged in” sound. 

Unplugged was recorded in 1992 in front of an audience for the MTV Unplugged series.

The Album included a version of the successful 1991 single "Tears in Heaven" and an acoustic version of "Layla". It remains the most successful and best-selling live album ever, winning two Grammy awards at the 35th Annual Grammy Awards in 1993.

Clearly, there is something in our spirit which connects with more organic forms of music.  The acoustic sound seems to gather the attention of our soul in a unique way. So, as I stood up to begin our 11:00 classic worship last week, and a loud boom was heard followed by an electrical power outage, I should have been happy considering the message would now be “unplugged” possibly making it the most successful sermon I’ve ever preached!

Once the shock that none of our projection or amplification systems would be available for the rest of the service, my mind turned to other matters – the air-conditioning!  

As the bulletins began to wave in fan-like motions, I had another thought -- no organ for hymns and the choir.  

Plus, we had invited the Hungarian Church Preschool we sponsor to sing.  There would be no microphones and no musical sound track for them to sing with.  But, not to worry.  Just like Clapton’s “Unplugged” the music was offered, and our congregation responded with our own annual Grace awards of 2018.   

Finally, it was time for the message.  Fortunately, we had just received a wish from our “Wish Book” of a new modern lectern.  So, I moved it close to the congregation and launched into the message.  It reminded me of my old Young Life days of speaking in a more relaxed and intimate “unplugged” style with high school students.  While speaking, something amazing happened.  I noticed a unique quietness in the room.  No whirling hum of the three AC blowers.  No rumbling from the organ pipes blower.  A sacred quiet fell onto the place.

It was very interesting, because the point of the message was the Apostle Peter’s call for us to slow, stop and turn (repent) toward God and receive a breather – a refreshing.  Even the hymns and piano accompaniment of the choir felt different.

It was as if God was helping us to experience this point as a stillness settled in among us.  I had the sense that in the moment, every ear was open and listing as never before.  While having everyone’s attention may, or may not, have been the reality, it felt so. 

The unplugged nature of our worship, created an intimacy between those of us gathered in Jesus’ name and God’s Spirit in the place.  While I did not create the power outage – although now thinking about it, it would have been a nifty sermon illustration – the experience taught us all that slowing, stopping, turning and unplugging, is a wonderful process to more fully experience God.  I think we will pay attention to this “serendipitous” lesson by unplugging on purpose at some worship service in the future.  Only the next time, we will do it when the temperature is 'unpluggable.'

Christmas Looming                  

We are quickly approaching a season with two faces.   Christmas has the curious ability to bring out of us, or onto us, feelings of wonder, excitement, joy and an overall sense of “peace on earth, good will to men” (women).  

Then there is the other face of Christmas.  This profile is a bit more glooming as some people experience depression, despair and a sense of being overwhelmed by the secular side of the season: the hurried rush, yet another Christmas party, draining bank accounts in order to buy more gifts, and another black Friday with overcrowded stores.  

Which face represents your feelings as Christmas looms?

For me the word “looming” is a perfect predictive profile for the plurality of postures during the Christmas season. (Try saying that fast three times)  If you’re a glass half empty sort of person, it may mean an unwanted activity or moment that lay ahead in your journey, “ugh, not another Christmas crazy." 

If you’re a glass half full sort, it means sounds and sights, family and friends, chestnuts roasting on an open fire even though we don’t have them here in Florida?

The definition of loom, according to the dictionary, is noun meaning a mirage in which objects below the horizon seem to be raised above their true positions.  Maybe the glooming face many see at Christmas is, in a sense, just a mirage that has been elevated by markets and secularist above the true position – the inbreaking into the world of God himself.

The truth of Christmas is God loves us, and comes near to us, as one of us in Jesus.  In that truth also lay a mystery.  Because, there is something magically meaningful in Christmas.  It is undisputable.  

All it takes is a cold night and carols playing, or decorating you house with your family, or placing milk and cookies out for a long awaited midnight visitor.  Christmas for most, triggers a sense of unity, peace, joy and comfort which no other season does.  Christmas just feels different.

Christmas seem to interrupt our lives as if love is leaking out of heaven and falling like supernatural snowflakes.  For a moment we glimpse the extraordinariness of the Kingdom of God.

It’s like the music and the smells, the traditions and the love are signs of this mystery that weave into our lives creating an image of what God meant our lives to be.

So, I invite you to consider a different kind of image this Christmas this years – the image of the loom!   A loom is an apparatus for making thread or yarn into cloth by weaving strands together fashioning a whole.  By braiding in colored threads, you can actually create images.  

In the old days, one person sat at the loom and slowly and carefully wove the threads to craft the intended design.   

At first, you may not make out the image, so it’s bit of a mystery.  However, over a season, the image becomes clear.  In our case, the image of Christ in Christmas.  I hope your Advent journey comes alive in a new and refreshing way as we see and hear how these threads and cues of Christmas weave into our live to overcome the amnesia that the secular world imparts.  Remember, Christ too is looming 

Who Is More Recognizable, Bigfoot Or God?

Big foot? Give us some proof.   How will we know if Bigfoot is real?  Capture one, find skeletal remains, take an undeniable picture, have enough witnesses.  In other words, we need some recognizable proof.

If you watch Animal Planet, you may have come across a sci-fi/reality research program called Finding Bigfoot.  The aim of the show is to present factual data – proof - that Bigfoot exist.  That Bigfoot and is alive and recognizably active.  The show is an offshoot of The Bigfoot Field Researches Organization or BFRO.

The overall mission of the BFRO is self-defined as a “multifaceted, but the organization essentially seeks to resolve the mystery surrounding the Bigfoot phenomenon — that is, to derive conclusive documentation of the species' existence. This goal is pursued through the proactive collection of empirical data and physical evidence from the field and by means of activities designed to promote an awareness and understanding of the nature and origin of the evidence.”

Theses researchers conclude that over the course of time, there are “way too many eyewitnesses for this phenomenon to be purely imaginary, as skeptics assert. With such an abundance of eyewitnesses, who are so dispersed across the continent; and dispersed across the decades, the alternate skeptical explanation that the sightings are the result of hoaxers, in whole or even in large part, becomes much less likely.”

God coming to my rescue in my life today? Give me some recognizable proof.  With a few alterations, the Finding Bigfoot show could just as easily refer to our hearts desire to know - that is prove by evidence - that God is real enough, active enough and interested enough in my life today to act in the circumstances of my life?  

How do we know God will deliver us from distress? How do we know that God is real enough to make a difference in our lives?  How do we know God can really rescue us from the tight places in our lives?

These are the foundational questions about God to which most of us would really like some hard, practical answers. Or as the BFRO might say, “to present factual data - proof,” that the rescuer God exist and is alive and active.  So, how do we know?  This Fall at Markham Woods Presbyterian Church, we will begin a new sermon series, where we will explore these ultimate questions about God’s real activity in our lives.  

The answers will not be like many you find in a Hollywood movie, but will assuredly change your own conceptions or preconceptions of God's activity in your live today.  However, as we explore the answers, what we will find is a real God who not only is really interested in our lives, but actually honors His Word in actions. The questions that remain are not so much about God, but about ourselves - if God acts, will we be prepared to recognize the movement and acknowledge Him?

Mind Games

As we continue to deal and heal with the tragic deadly events in the early hours of June 12, in downtown Orlando’s Pulse night club, is there anything left to say?  Humanly speaking, we’ve just about run out of words, emotions, media debates and energy.  

However, spiritually speaking, there is more.  I could go on and on about evil in the world and our role as the community of the church, but I did that in my message last week.  Others will probably say it with more eloquence and profundity, however, I am having some additional thoughts in another direction.

It seems to be that the main agenda of terrorism is to create an atmosphere of fear and anxiety.  No single terrorist’s action can defeat a nation, state, city or town.  So, for the horrific actions perpetrated on innocent human beings to be effective by the terrorist’s standard, they must ripple out into the psyche of a community.

The psychological term for this kind of wounding is called anxiety.  Anxiety doesn’t need the application of physical harm on an individual to elicit it’s horrible ‘dis-ease.’  All anxiety needs is for our mind to be preoccupied with the fear that some immediate or future events may occur.  I suppose terror – the desired effect which is caused by a terrorist – is a synonym for anxiety.  

When we think about the potential future harmful possibilities we begin to feel. 

We feel fear.  It becomes a tormenting cycle of thoughts and feelings of anxiety, more thoughts and more anxious feelings.  This is debilitating even to the point of crippling catatonia.  So, what is our mental response as people of faith, believing the words of Jesus?

In Matthew 6:25, Jesus give us the mental and spiritual antidote to terrorism and its effect on us.  Simply put, He says, “we can’t live tomorrow today and we can’t live yesterday tomorrow.  What we can do is live today.  Don’t surrender your mind and thought-generated feelings to the wrong master.  There can be only one – His name is Jesus.  Join us Sunday as we explore this idea a bit further.