He Meant To Pass Them By

Mark 6:48 is an amazing verse in an amazing passage. Jesus has miraculously fed the five thousand and has sent his disciples on a boat ride to the other side of the Galilee. He remained on the hillside, dealing with the loss of John the Baptist and talking it over with the Father. He was also keeping an eye out on his guys.
A storm came up, the wind blew, the boys really had to work to keep the bow lined up and the water bailed. Jesus saw it all. In fact, the text seems he was looking on with the faith of knowing they were going to get across to the other side. He cared, but he didn't get all nervous and edgy.
The verse says, "And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass them by, but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost," They freaked out, probably lost control of the boat because they were all screaming like girls, and he had to jump in and calm the waves before they sank. But did you notice that he meant to pass them by? Kinda sticks a wrench in my well-ordered theology of Jesus coming to the rescue whenever storms hit.
This tells me he doesn't always calm the winds or still the waves. Whoa!
However, when I think it through, I see a tremendous keeping power of grace in this story. Jesus sent the guys out! Jesus watched from afar! Jesus went out to be nearby, though without the intent of bailing for them! I think if they hadn't gone neurotic, Jesus would have gone on ahead and breakfast would've been ready when they got there....wet...worked up....tired....but absolutely fine in the end!
What does that say to me? Well, he said he'd always be with me. I might have to work through some stiff winds and hefty waves...might even get wet and worn out in the battle...might get a rope burn or a jammed thumb...or have to learn to lift faith above fear...but, he will always be there. Fact is, I might be a whole lot better off by trying to avoid going psycho in the really rough weather of life. I'm learning to think of the breakfast waiting for me on the other side. How 'bout you?
Pastor Jim

A Chilly Wind and a Setting Sun

We've heard it so many times on the television that we've become desensitized to the impact of the words. Your ears have picked up on its dramatic affect on a relationship: someone looks at their spouse and says something like; "I don't know how or why it happened, we've just drifted apart. I don't love you anymore." What a masterful way for one to tell another, "I no longer care about you, just me." Maybe I'm being too harsh in my assessment, but it seems those words are popping up with way too much frequency lately, and in more places than marriages.

I was reading the words of Jesus this morning, words of warning that portray a diminishing affection on the part of most of his followers just before his calling of the bride. Matthew 24:12; "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of most will wax cold." Maybe I'm overeating, but that is a frightening verse.

Not to bore you with profundities, but I did a bit of word study on the verse and found some enlightenment. First, love = agape, or the genuine affection reciprocated between the Lord and his followers, a selfless, committed, sacrificial, unconditional love that has a well-spring in God loving us first. When we believed, that love was birthed in us and is to flow sweetly back to Jesus in a vibrant relationship. He said that at the end, and because of an increase of iniquity, that selfless love would grow cold. (I'll blogatize that in a moment.) It is the word iniquity that concerns me. It basically describes a transgression that is done with an attitude that is diametrically opposite of agape-love. It is to willfully disobey or go in the wrong direction. The meaning is clear: because of an increase of iniquity in the heart of the believer, his selfless and committed holy love will grow cold.

Now, it doesn't happen quickly. "Grow cold" is formed by the word psuchesetai, which implies a slow chill. That thought blows a chilly wind through my soul, mainly because I must search deep inside to see if the hot fervency of my own love for God has begun to cool. Then, if it has, I must ask myself what I'm going to do about it?

The verse shouts that there is a personal knowledge of the chilling effect of iniquity, but that the knowledge is being ignored. It is done to the peril of the believer. What horrifies me is the thought of seeing it happen!

A paradox is upon me. My understanding of scripture mobilizes me to believe for the greatest ingathering of souls the world has ever seen. I'm praying for it, desiring it, believing it will happen soon and that it has already begun. But I'm also painfully aware of the above named phenomenon....a chilly wind is blowing and every believer, every child of God, must cover his heart-love to keep it warm in fervency.
Temptation to pull back and "do our own thing" will increase. Opportunities to "go our own way" will show up out of the blue. Remorse for our disobedience will wane, if we let it, and the cold wind will blow. Sadly, many will be setting in church, in the presence of God, as it happens.

Someone emailed me with a thought.... If John McCain wins on November 4th, Jesus will come back. If Barack Obama wins, Jesus will come back sooner!

I'm more inclined to wonder what will happen if Jesus doesn't come back soon: What kind of fervor will believers live? Will the economic crises prove that money is the god of the land? Will the love of most grow colder still? Please, friend of mine, no matter what your persuasion or politics, find a way to return to the first, white-hot love for Christ that you had at the beginning, then, get hotter.
Pastor Jim

Why I'm Voting For, Backing, and Advocating For McCain

I have not always been a McCain supporter. I think he is too bipartisan, too quick to come to agreement with the left. I didn't like McCain/Feingold's restrictions on free speech. Sometimes I get irritated by his goofy grin as he wraps up a slogan, phrase, or sentence. I don't like the fact that he hasn't hammered Barack Obama on his philosphical underpinnings.

But, I believe in the right of every child to live, from conception onward. I believe every human life is a sacred gift of God. I believe that God created this world and is intricately involved, especially wherever he is invited to be. I believe that big government IS the symptom of a greater problem.....than all men everywhere desperately need something bigger than themselves to give them worth and save them from chaos. But government, no government, is the answer. I believe it should be the church that takes the lead in helping the poor and caring for the orphan and widow. (Shame on us for surrendering that responsibility and learning to shrug our shoulders in dependence to Uncle Sam!!!) I believe Israel must be supported and Jerusalem must remain undivided. I also believe the Palestinians, those that are not radical jihadists, must be loved and cared for, even given a greater autonomy.

I believe taxes are a necessary evil, but high taxes are a travesty to freedom. I believe that re-distribution of wealth is WRONG! It is SOCIALIST and breeds a perpetually dependent and massive class of unmotivated sheep with the mentality of Pavlov's dog.

I believe that the definition of marriage means that one man marries one woman and holds that covenant for life. I believe abortion should be illegal and divorce should be hard to obtain. I believe that adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lying, cheating, murder, covetousness, and a thousand other sins, are all disqualifiers for eternal life. I also believe that Christ died to forgive them all, as long as his gift is received and repentence is lived.

I believe there is evil in the world and it should be confronted at every level. I believe there are evils that seek to destroy my country, my family, my freedom, my Christianity, and me! But I also believe there is a way, one way, for all men to find a relationship with their Creator. His name is Jesus.

John McCain and Sarah Palin come closest to my belief system. In fact, they seem to match it right down the line. So,I will vote wholeheartedly for McCain, even if it looks like he might lose! I challenge you to stand on your priniciples and understand that IT'S NOT THE ECONOMY STUPID! (I said that with a smile and with much love.)

Someone Stole My Sign

Yep, can you believe it? Someone stole my sign. It was nicely placed in my front yard for everyone to see, but somebody didn't like it. It was there one minute, and the next, poof....gone....wisked away by an offended party. Having lived for a number of years in two, third-world countries, places where politics often carried assesinations, I am not terribly shocked at the act. What makes me mad was that it happened here, in my nice, quiet neighborhood, on a street where two local law enforcement officers live.

Why was it stolen, pilfered, carried off, and probably trashed? Again; someone was offended. So, in our pluralistic society, where we are supposedly blessed with the freedom to speak as we choose, people take it upon themselves to squelch my speech.

I admit, my sign was extremely offensive. It would naturally draw out the ire of many individuals, it was so bold and heinous. Someone gave in to their baser nature and ripped it out. I can understand their feelings because I have had them too. Thank the Lord, he has given me at least a modicum of self-control. I've seen signs that lambasted our leaders, signs that advocated child-pornography, signs that were flat out lies, signs of hatred, signs that call for the execution of those with opposite views, signs that riducule what I believe. At times, I've wanted to stop a dude or two, just to let them know how stupid they were, but I didn't. People's signs are theirs to do with as they please. They can flaunt ignorance, stupidity, religious persuasion, even promote a good thought....excellent. Free speech, freedom of thought, FREEDOM.

But my sign offended someone! Wow! My Bad! My callousness brought it on, and for that, I apologize to my neighbor. Oh, what did my sign say?.....
McCAIN/PALIN

If someone has a couple extra laying around, I'll gladly take them and repost my standards of freedom in my front yard; right there for some poor person to be offended. Sorry!
Pastor Jim

Fairness and Taxes...hmmm

I will cheat with this blog and pass on words that are much more 'thought out' than my own. I ask you to remember, as you read this opinion, that I believe the foundation of everything Obama-ish is multi-culturalism. Having rejected the existence of absolute truth, multi-culturalism adopts group truth. In Obama's case, group-truth involves class envy, class warfare, and socialist economics. He does not believe it is fair for there to be a rich class or a poor class. The money earned by the rich is owed to the poor. Those that advocate such are generally elected to office on the wings of a large class of people who have either grown accustomed to the free ride, or believe that the government is their one hand up. Those of us who believe government is the problem and not the answer, who believe that hard work and humility are the only way to get ahead, are deeply disturbed by what seems to be coming around the corner. I can describe it in one word (though I am sure there are more...) RUINATION! Read on oh concerned one! This makes a ton of sense. (Thanks Dave, for passing it along.)

Debate Prep: Let's Talk Tax Fairness

If you were starting from scratch to design a new income tax system for America , how much would you have different income levels pay? Fairness is often mentioned as a goal. That sounds good - I'm for that. So what's fair?

Is there a minimum everyone should pay? After all, everyone receives some basic benefits and services such as roads, K-12 education, national defense, etc. Is it fair to pay nothing? Well, according to the IRS, around 40% of Americans pay zero today. If you split the country down the middle by income (which it appears some are trying to do, by the way), the lower 50% pays just 3% of all income taxes.

What should people with the highest incomes pay? Hopefully we can agree that no one should have to pay 100% in taxes - unless you believe in a government mandated "maximum wage". Most people believe that higher incomes should and can afford to pay a higher percentage, and they do. Again according to the IRS, the top 1% pays about 40% of all income taxes, the top 10% pays 70%, and the top half pays 97%. 97%! This includes all the loopholes and tax shelters that the tax accountants can find for their rich clients. And yet Senator Biden says wealthier Americans should "step up and get into the game" - that it would be "patriotic" for them to pay more, that they need to pay their "fair share".

Senator Obama says it would be "neighborly" for higher income people to pay more, that it's better to "spread the wealth around". He says that he doesn't want to penalize success; he just wants to make sure that "the people behind you have a chance at success as well". Well, there's always someone behind you, right? Does he mean that those people can't succeed without government assistance? Does he mean that the half of America earning less can't succeed in a free society where the other half already pays for 97% of government? Would it really make things fairer if they paid 98% or 99%?

Perhaps we could discuss more of Senator Obama's core beliefs in the final debate tonight. I'd like to understand this better.



Roger Merryfield

Midwest Voices 2008