Failed Schemes

29 Truly, this only I have found: That God made man upright, But they have sought out many schemes.”
Ecclesiastes 7:29 (NKJV)

So much conviction in this verse. God made us/me to be upright but we/I seek out machinations of our/my own. I find this to be true of us all. It is certainly true of me at times. I desire my own way over God’s prescription for abundant life. I deceive myself to believe that things will be better if I can arrange things so it will be “easier” for me. It is impossible to argue that I know better than God what will be best for me; something I would never consciously do. However on a practical it happens too often. I seek out a plan that will cost me little.

Jesus, You are LORD. My deepest inward desire is to obey You without reservation. I know this is the best thing for all involved, including me. Send Your Spirit to soften and bend me to your will and character. Thanks for Your promise to make me like You and to finish what You have started in me. Make my obedience a sacrifice that blesses all I meet.

Blessed By You,

Pastor Jason

Threefold

9 Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NKJV)

As I approach 30 years of marriage with a wonderful wife this passage speaks more and more deeply. Shanin and I have done many things together that neither of us could have accomplished without the other. We have both had struggles with all the issues of life: health, finance, issues we received from our first family. When either of us has been down the other has always carried on and carried the one who is struggling. Having a life companion is a great blessing. Together we are hard to overcome.

The phrase that stands out to me though is the last line in this passage. “And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Though a friend can be a great comfort and support more friends are better. It is just so hard to get three plus people to cooperate in a way that they fold together. This means that the third cord I want woven into my partnership with my wife is Jesus. With Him as the center we twine our lives around we have nothing fear. Whatever comes our way, we can handle it. Like the old song says, “Nobody knows but Jesus.”

Lord, help me keep my whole life focused on You. From the center of my soul outward I submit to You. Let my live be woven into an unbreakable cord with those who are close to me with you as the pattern we all follow.

Tangled With Him,

Pastor Jason

A Good Trade -- April 9, 2010

6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”
2 Corinthians 9:6-9 (NKJV)


This whole giving thing is based on being like our heavenly Father. Our giving is based on His established ways. He has already dispersed goods to the poor. He has done it according to His righteousness. When we give, the potential for our righteousness to grow towards His is always available. We must do this giving without feeling it is a requirement because this kind of giving is like His giving and it pleases Him. Paul is not talking about the size of our offering when he discusses the sparing nature of that offering. He is speaking to our heart condition. If we sow with a small heart we will receive a small return. If we give with all that our heart has we open the doors to God’s grace. We allow His provision to flow into our lives when we give with an open heart.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we have been blessed so much by our Savior that it is only natural for us to bless others with our material goods as an expression of our full hearts. I want to be like Christ in nature and I know you do too. One way we can become like our Elder Brother is to be glad givers. He gave everything with and for the joy of bringing us into His Family. Jim Elliot had it so right when he told those who questioned his wisdom of bringing the Gospel to the Aucas Indians by telling them, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” We are wise to give up the temporary for the eternal.

Looking forward to the eternal treasure of being like Him,

Pastor Jason

More Than We Appear -- April 5, 2010

12 For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
2 Corinthians 5:12-15 (NKJV)


Like Paul, I do not commend myself to those around me but want them to know that I am serving God with my heart not for show. When I don’t look the way I am supposed to in Christ and seem a little crazy or when I am clear minded and teaching others the way I am supposed to I am counting on the love of Christ to compel me forward in my spiritual growth. He died for all of us and in effect I died with Him so that now by His Spirit I live for him, even when it doesn’t seem that way. None of us who has placed our trust in Him are what we seem to be. Paul goes on to say in the following text that even Jesus can’t be thought of in human terms any more. In Christ everything about us is new; everything is of God because He has reconciled us to Himself.

Don’t be discouraged by the slow growth of others or even your own. You who believe in Him are the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21) by His sacrifice for us. Allow the Love of Christ to be the driving force in your life. He died for us and now we ALL live for Him. Don’t look at things through merely human eyes. Judge by the Spirit and you will know that everything in our new lives is about Him. Don’t let others use the appearance of weakness in your life discourage you. Answer that you are trusting in Christ to finish what He started. Since you know this to be true, live it out. Let the compulsions of His love lead you forward into His person so that you can truly live for Him.

Lord, give me patience with myself and others. I will look at things in Your way. The new way. As I commit to this way of thinking about those in Your kingdom let me see myself and others as we are in that kingdom. Help me not judge according to appearance and meager human observation anymore. Let me see the love of Christ working in all of us to bring us to righteousness that is Yours alone.

Compelled By Christ’s Love,

Pastor Jason

Rejected To Be Chosen -- April 3, 2010

4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” 7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
1 Peter 2:4-10 (NKJV)


What could be better than a Savior that knows rejection? All of us have experienced it in life. We have all stood on the outside looking in. Even though we are rejected by men god has chosen us to be His people. He did it by putting Christ in our place to experience all the injuries this life has to offer. Yet Christ, His Son did not fail to remain holy and perfect. Christ even experienced a criminal death to be like us. This quote from Psalm 118:22 was used by Peter early in ministry, soon after died. We are told the story in Acts 4 where Peter on trial for healing a lame man at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple. Peter tells them that Jesus is the Stone rejected by them but chosen by God not only as a healer but as the Savior of the world; the only source of Salvation – the only authorized Name to seal us to God. Now Peter is still pointing out Jesus as our single connection to God.

I believe this is because as a rough fisherman trying to run a business, Peter had been rejected from many groups in the place he lived. He had been pigeon-holed as an ignorant, blue-collar worker. Now Jesus had included him the world changing ministry of the inner staff of God’s own Son. Peter who had been shut out of so many things was no brought into intimate proximity with Jesus. Like Peter we can trade our outsider status for an integral part of the work of God. We can move from darkness to light. We can join with not only God but we are incorporated into His people. Best of all we are included in His mercy.

As we celebrate His resurrection tomorrow let’s remember that no matter how we feel in the moment or how others treat us (even His people), we are His and we are joined with our fellow believers in serving, ministering to, and worshipping Him. This is the truth that Peter held onto as he led the fledgling Church into its fullness. It was a base to build an eclectic group into a solid spiritual house. We are part of that same house. There is a place for all of us rejects to belong. We only need to align with the original Rejected Stone to find our place.

Proclaiming The Praises Of Him,


Pastor Jason

Refuge -- March 24, 2010

1 The LORD also spoke to Joshua, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Appoint for yourselves cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, 3 that the slayer who kills a person accidentally or unintentionally may flee there; and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.
Joshua 20:1-3

We are the new cities of refuge. We are a city set on a hill that cannot be missed in the dark. We are the place people can run to when they find their sin overwhelms them. When the guilt of the sin they are born to finally becomes more than they can bear they can run to God’s people to find safety and rescue. Here they can be save from the avenger. We must be the safe haven for sinners who are desperately seeking to get away from the pain of their past.

Like the children of Israel we need a refuge to run to when we find ourselves trapped in sin. Even God’s people find themselves pursued by the avenger of guilt who drives us into the wilderness and separates us from Him and His people. He has provided the ultimate refuge in Christ and we are to be the connection between Him and the lost. We have been given the ministry of reconciliation!

In His Shelter,

Pastor Jason

Blessed & Blessing Others -- March 23, 2010

18 Now it was so, when she came to him, that she persuaded him to ask her father for a field. So she dismounted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you wish?” 19 She answered, “Give me a blessing; since you have given me land in the South, give me also springs of water.” So he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.
Joshua 15:18-19 (NKJV)

This is a great passage because to teaches to pursue all the blessings of the Father because of His love for us. Caleb had offered his daughter in marriage to the man who would help him conquer his allotment. He had followed God with his whole heart and was looking for a husband for his daughter who would boldly pursue the blessings in even the most difficult situations. Caleb’s integral pursuit of the Lord brought blessings to his family after him. After Othniel had aided him in conquering the mountain and the marriage was set Caleb gave Achsah a piece of land as a gift. She followed her father’s lead and asked him for a blessing. She asked him to give her a set of springs that watered the land. There was an upper spring and a lower one. Of course Caleb gave his daughter the blessing. After all his heart was pursuing God’s. This father and daughter can teach us about our relationship with the Father we have. We should joyfully pursue blessings for the inheritance we have been given in Christ. We should ask for heavenly and earthly blessings. Ephesians says that we are blessed with every spiritual blessing. We can look forward to eternity and the blessings that come with heaven and we can receive our daily bread now. Both blessings have been provided in Christ.

Lord, help me serve You with my whole heart. Let the blessings I have gained in that service, pour out onto my children and disciples. Let me in my pursuit of Your heart channel blessing to them so that I can be like You in action as well as heart.

Taking Mountains And Giving Springs,

Pastor Jason

Climbing Mountains - Fighting Giants -- March 22, 2010

12 Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the LORD said.” 13 And Joshua blessed him, and gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh as an inheritance.
Joshua 14:12-13 (NKJV)

Caleb was 85 years old and the children of Israel were in the midst of conquering the land when he asked Joshua to give him the allotment that Moses had promised him when he was in his 40’s. He had waited over 40 years for this moment and he wasn’t waiting anymore. Caleb had been one of the scouts sent into the land to reconnoiter the place God had brought them. He had seen the giants (the Anakim) and still believed God would give them the land. He had stood firm when the others had been shaken from the Lord’s commandments. Now at 85 he is still pressing forward to obey God’s command. Here he asks for not only the toughest terrain (a mountain) but the toughest foe (the Anakim). After all the delays he hopes God will still be with.

We can’t let delay, difficult situations, or difficult people to lesson our passion for serving the Lord. Caleb was ready to follow the call of the Lord for his entire life. He was ready to follow the Lord the first time He brought the Israelites to Canaan. He was still following at 85. The mountainous terrain didn’t put him off and neither did the giants. He was following with his whole heart. (Joshua 14:8) Caleb wanted to receive all that the Lord had promised him.

Lord, help me not confuse contentment in Christ with satisfaction with what you have accomplished in my life. I want to press into all the areas of my life even in the most difficult ones and lay hold of the promises You have set before me. I know you will be with me to bless me and that with You I will drive the enemy from my life.

Pressing Into The Promises,

Pastor Jason

Experiencing His Victory -- March 21, 2010

22 Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings to me from the cave.” 23 And they did so, and brought out those five kings to him from the cave: the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon. 24 So it was, when they brought out those kings to Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to the captains of the men of war who went with him, “Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings.” And they drew near and put their feet on their necks. 25 Then Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage, for thus the LORD will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.” 26 And afterward Joshua struck them and killed them, and hanged them on five trees; and they were hanging on the trees until evening. 27 So it was at the time of the going down of the sun that Joshua commanded, and they took them down from the trees, cast them into the cave where they had been hidden, and laid large stones against the cave’s mouth, which remain until this very day. Joshua 10:22-27 (NKJV)

Joshua took the five kings from the cave so that the new captains of the generation to follow his could experience victory over the enemy. He taught them by experience as well as with his words. Joshua’s teaching is clear to his young captains: Don’t be afraid or distressed, instead be confident (literally become strong) this is how the Lord will give you victory over all your enemies.

Joshua is recognized as a type of Christ and here he pictures how Christ has defeated the enemy and placed our feet on their necks. 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. (Romans 16:19-20 (NKJV)) After a short time of testing Satan himself will be crushed by God with our feet. As Joshua has demonstrated for us we need to demonstrate the Lord’s authority in a manner that involves the captains of the next generation. We the current leaders of our generation need to make sure that those who will follow us understand that they are part of the partnership between us and our God that defeats the enemy in our lives.

Lord Jesus, I pray for myself and the body I serve that we follow Your example set before us by Joshua. Let us not only defeat the enemy by Your power, let us involve those who will come after us. May they experience and understand their partnership with You that brings the triumph that You have promised to lead us in. I pray for my brothers and sisters throughout the world that leaders will emerge who will include the next generation in today’s success.

Soon To Stand On The Enemies’ Necks Next To You,

Pastor Jason

Tell The Children -- January 25, 2010

25 It will come to pass when you come to the land which the LORD will give you, just as He promised, that you shall keep this service. 26 And it shall be, when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ 27 that you shall say, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice of the LORD, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and delivered our households.’ ” So the people bowed their heads and worshiped.
Exodus 12:25-27

The children of Israel had been through a difficult deliverance from Pharaoh and the Egyptians. Their slave lives had been made even more miserable as Moses lobbied for their release. Pharaoh had vacillated between letting them go (temporarily) and increasing the harshness of their situation. Finally the Lord struck Egypt in such a horrific way that the people themselves helped them on their way. Even in this great deliverance the Lord knew they could forget their history once the difficulty of their past was behind them in the Promised Land. So the Lord established a ceremony to commemorate it. He wanted to make sure they remembered to share their experiences with their children.

Do you have any personal deliverances that you have commemorated in your life? Are there any special traditions in your family because of the Lord’s victory in your life? Have we told our children about the interventions the Lord has used to rescue us from the slavery of the sin we were once trapped in? It is tempting to put the difficult times of our lives behind us. Those who follow us need to know what the Lord has done for us. Let’s tell the how great the Lord has been in our lives. Let’s make sure they know they can count on Him in tough times. Psalm 145:4 tells us that when things are working right that one generation will tell the next about the work of God in their lives. Our Father has been so good to me that I want to make sure my children know all that He has done for me.

My God Is Awesome To Deliver,

Pastor Jason

Salvation On Your House -- January 19, 2010

And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham;
Luke 19:9

It just seemed to me that the requirement to have salvation come to your house is to be a son of Abraham. Which means that those who believe are sons of that same faith that saved Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob before there was a nation called Israel? I know Jesus used an idiom of the day to refer to Jewish people and that His mission was to the Jewish nation first. I am glad that He chose metaphor that Paul could apply to us all later. We really are the sons of the freewoman and not the sons of the bondwoman. (Galatians 4:21-31) After all his sin against God and betrayal of his people Jesus went to Zacchaeus’ house because of his faith. Jesus brought salvation to establish on Zacchaeus’ faith-based good works of repentance.

Salvation can come to our houses today if we will match Zacchaeus’ sincere faith. We also can be sons of Abraham. Even when others complain about it we can receive the blessings of God when we truly repent in a life-changing way. Jesus is still looking for faith as He walks our world.

Father, send the Savior my way. As repentance grows in my heart let Your salvation be deeply rooted in my house.

Pastor Jason

Religious Offense -- January 13, 2010

14 But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, “There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.” 15 The Lord then answered him and said, “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? 16 So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?” 17 And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him.
Luke 13:14-17


The religious leader was offended by healing on the Sabbath because it didn’t fit into his interpretation of God’s character. Jesus corrected his misjudgment by pointing out that even men would circumvent the rules for the sake of being humane, even when it was comfort to a domestic animal. God’s character is greater that man’s so it shouldn’t surprise the heart of the law was not violated by releasing a human from bondage placed upon her by our enemy. This adjustment to their views silenced them and the people rejoiced.

It is very important for us to guard against religious offenses when the Lord is freeing people today. Maybe He will use a place, time, or method that doesn’t fit our view. When this happens we will be tempted to be indignant. I need to remember that our God is more interested in setting people free than in meeting my limited expectations.

Jesus, help me.
Pastor Jason

On The Housetops -- January 12, 2010

1 In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.
Luke 12:1-3

Jesus warned the multitude starting with His own disciples that hypocrisy would be uncovered in a person’s life. All those secret things which reveal our true character will be paraded in the day for everyone to see. Our “behind the scenes” behavior will eventually ruin the playacting we use to smooth over our flaws. Everyone will eventually know the real you.

Jesus spoke this to the multitude so it applies to everyone, but He started with His disciples. It is easy for anyone who desires to live a clean life to get caught up in appearances. Especially when we start performing for the other’s who are trying to live the same life we are. Be warned by Jesus Himself that you will eventually be exposed for who you truly are. Hypocrite or sincere student of Christ will eventually be proven out.

Lord, help me live one life. Let my actual self be on display so that no one is surprised when the find out what I do when they are not around. Help me live in integrity.

Leaving The Leaven,

Pastor Jason

Glad In Heart -- January 11, 2010

7 You have put gladness in my heart, More than in the season that their grain and wine increased. 8 I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4:7-8


It is true. Jesus has put gladness in my heart that is greater than the happiness that comes from successful living. Whether it is the harvest of my labor or the joys of life, the gladness that He provides is surer and more satisfying. I can let the stress of life be put aside because of His peace inside of me. I don’t have to watch my back and be on guard all the time because He is my safety.

Lord, thank you for the reminder from King David. You are my security and joy. Thank you for safe rest. You are the success of my life.

Glad In Heart,

Pastor Jason