I'm An Olympic Junkie

Ok, I confess, I'm an olympic junkie. When the games begin, I announce to the family that I'm interested only in track and field. But by the end of the first day, I'm hooked. I'm watching competition in sports that aren't even sports. Rafting? Really? I'm still mourning the loss of women's softball. Now that is a real sport!

Out of the olympics come some of the greatest stories. I especially like and have used as an sermon illustration, the story about Derek Redmond.

The 1992 Olympics in Barcelona featured memorable moments of sports history. Derek Redmond of Great Britain was on the way to fulfilling a lifetime dream, that of winning a gold medal in the Olympics. He had earned a spot in the semifinals of the 400 meter race, and as the gun sounded to start the race, Derek got off to a great start. He was running the race of his life, and the finish line was in sight, when suddenly he felt a stab of pain in his right leg. He fell face first to the track with a torn hamstring. The race was over for him.

He struggled to his feet before the medical team could reach him. Though every runner had passed him, he began hopping forward, tears of pain and disappointment streaking his face, determined to finish the race. Suddenly, a man plowed through the security guards on the sidelines and ran onto the track.

He raced up to Derek and hugged him, "You don;t have to do this," Jim Redmond told his weeping son.
"Yes I do," Derek answered.
"Well, then," his father said, "we’re going to finish the race together."

Derek’s father gripped his son around the shoulders, and they faced the finish line, resolutely waving off the security men who hovered around them. They limped and hopped together, Derek’s head sometimes buried in his father’s shoulder, and stayed in Derek’s lane all the way to the end.

The watching crowd gasped at first at the unusual scene. Then one by one, they rose to their feet, and began cheering and crying at the son’s determination and the father’s support.

I suspect every father watching this event had tears running down his cheeks. I know I did.

Perhaps you're now waiting for me to suggest a spiritual analogy here. There are a dozen or so analogies I could suggest to you--all biblically supported. But nope, not going to do it. I'll let you come up with your on.

I'm going back to the tube to watch olympics.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME?

I’ve been using a term recently—Christian consumerism. I’m not using it to describe what Christians buy; rather, it describes the attitude of many of today’s believers in what they want both from Jesus and His church. To be sure, well-meaning church leaders have contributed to this mindset by championing the cause of a seeker-driven philosophy; say what you need to say, do what you need to do, offer what you need to offer to reach seekers. Along the way, followers of Christ have taken note and decided “I want to get in on that.” One of the things this has resulted in is what I refer to as “church shopping.” Instead of seeking a church on the basis of "Where does God want me to be?" it has become “What can this church do for me?”

Larger churches are more capable of dealing with this mindset because of a greater treasure of resources. Smaller churches are often left feeling insignificant and even guilty because often they hear guests (and church members) say, “My kids need more or deserve more than what you can give, we’ve got to go to a bigger church.” Have you heard that?

What’s more, it doesn’t stop with shopping for a church; the mindset is even applied to God. Jesus said in Matthew 22 that we are to “Love the Lord with all your heart, your soul, your mind and your strength. This is the first and greatest commandment.” Every preacher proclaims, “We are to love God!” However, it’s what follows that violates the implied meaning of the Scripture. When a so-called preacher says, “We are to love God AND God wants you to be healthy, God wants you to be wealthy, God wants you to be happy, God’s want you to be successful,” and listeners buy in to this message, the result is someone who does not truly love God—they lust God. When you love God, He is the object of your affection. When you lust God, you are the object of your affection.

When you love God, it doesn’t make any different whether you’re happy, healthy, wealthy, successful, or your kids have playmates at church—you get the point? All that matters is knowing God’s will for you life and doing it every day. Remember, it’s all about God and not about you and me.

I suspect I’m going to preach on this…a lot. I know it’s countercultural and not at all popular. But I’m right and you know it.

Those Things We Don't Understand

I just finished watching tonight’s Dateline coverage of the senseless shooting in Aurora, Colorado. James Holmes will join an infamous list of murderers who have committed senseless and incomprehensible crimes against humanity. In the coming days we’re going to hear, “Is there something someone could have done to stop this?” Or perhaps gun enthusiasts will say “If concealed weapons were legal, then the shooter would have been stopped much sooner.” Or the other side will blame the atrocity on the freedom to own guns. Surely, someone will blame the theater or the local police, or…it can go on and on.

Grief, desperation and blame are going to be common emotions after such a tragedy as this. It is a common expression of sorrow to look for someone to blame. Unfortunately, some people will blame God. I have already read such words of anger on several websites. Today I was asked this question, "Why did God allow such a terrible thing to happen?" I’m not sure my answer satisfied his sorrow, but I do know my answer is correct.

Here is what I said. “Over three thousand years ago, there was a man named Job who struggled with the same question. He asked why. He was a good man, and yet disaster struck him suddenly. He lost seven sons and three daughters. He lost all his possessions. He lost his health. Even his friends turned against him. His wife suggested that he, ‘Curse God and die.’ In the midst of his suffering he asked God why he was ever born. I want to tell you that God understands those feelings.”

Further, I said, “I have to confess that I never fully understand, even for my own satisfaction. I have to accept by faith that God is a God of love and mercy even in suffering. Times like this will do one of two things: either make us hard and bitter and angry at God, or make us tender and open and help us to reach out in trust and faith.”

My prayer today is that you will not let bitterness and poison creep into your soul, but that you will turn in faith and trust to God even if we cannot understand. It is better to face something like this with God than without him.

STOP IT!

If you constantly worry about what other people think, then you’re caught in an emotional trap. You don't have to please everybody any more than you can please everybody. It's a myth to think that in order to be happy, you must be liked and approved of by everyone you meet. It's just not true. So I have two words of advice, "STOP IT!"

I've been pastoring for forty-one years and I've spent most of it trying to keep everyone happy. Do you know what I discovered? As talented as I am, I couldn't do it. However, I'm in good company. Even God can't please everybody, and only a fool would try to do what even God can't do. Jesus said he only focused on pleasing God (John 8:29).

A while back, I left a church where I pastored for almost 15 years. One of the first people I baptized ultimately became the hardest to be pleased. What made it most difficult is that this person gave a large sum of money to the church. At first, no strings attached. But that all changed. I am ashamed to admit that I gave in to the pressure and did my best to keep this person happy. Want to know what ultimately happened, this person lost all respect for me as a leader. That's the way it works.

So how do you handle hard-to-please people? One thing you don't do is cave in. Just because you're a Christian doesn't mean you're supposed to submit and let others manipulate you. Romans 12:2 says, "Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold" (Phillips).

The truth is, no one can pressure you without your permission. If you feel pressured by someone, you're allowing yourself to feel pressured by that person. If you feel controlled or manipulated, you're allowing yourself to be controlled or manipulated.

You don't have to do that! It's OK to stand up for what's right. It's OK to be assertive. Many Christians are afraid to speak up. Many think it's more spiritual to just be quiet and put up with it all. But God doesn't expect you to be a doormat — and he didn't make you to be a wimp.

I learned that lesson the hard way.

“It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you.”
(Proverbs 29:25a TEV)

The Declaration of Dependence

Today, we celebrate our twelfth Independence Day of the 21st-century. As you know, our founding fathers framed a document that we call the Declaration of Independence, authored by Thomas Jefferson and signed in 1776:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

We often forget that, in declaring independence from an earthly power, our forefathers made a direct declaration of dependence upon God almighty.

The closing words of this document declare:

“With firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives,our fortunes,and our sacred honor.”

So it’s really not only the Declaration of Independence from foreign tyranny. It’s also the “Declaration of Dependence” on God almighty.

God has blessed this great nation of ours over these past 200-plus years. We rightly sing “America, America, God shed His grace on thee . . . ”

If you're in the Phoenix area this coming weekend, join us for worship on Sunday at 8:30 AM in the Pebble Creek Tuscany Sienna Room. And if you've never visited the GracePointe Church website, give it a try.

Have a blessed Fourth!

So enjoy the Fourth! Grill those burgers and dogs, and celebrate with friends and family. Watch a great fireworks show, but remember . . .

God has given us this liberty. Let’s not take it for granted!