"Wheat and Tares Together Sown" November 24, 2019

The season of harvest reminds us of the harvest of the earth at the return of Jesus.

Ministry Ups and Downs

Commissioning of Paul and Barnabas

Acts 13-14 records Paul's first missionary journey after he and Barnabas are commissioned by the church in Antioch.

It was a mission trip marked by ups and downs.

They have success in Paphos after they rebuked a false prophet named Bar-Jesus or Elymas.

But then John Mark, Barnabas' cousin, leaves them to return to Jerusalem. This angers Paul and eventually strains his relationship with Barnabas (Acts 15:36-40).

In Pisidian Antioch they are warmly welcomed at the synagogue and are asked to return the next Sabbath to continue teaching.

The next Sabbath, however, the Jews become jealous of the crowd that Paul attracts and stir up the people against Paul.

In Iconium the mission duo is effective in their preaching, but the Jews there cause division in the city and Paul and Barnabas have to flee.

In Lystra they heal a cripple man which causes the locals to think they are the Greek gods Zeus and Hermes. So there's that.

Then the Jews that caused trouble in Antioch and Iconium arrive in Lystra and turn the crowd against them. Paul is even stoned by the crowd and left for dead.

Eventually the pair returns to their sending congregation in Antioch in Syria to report on their mission work.

Luke tells us that Paul and Barnabas report all that God had done through them and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

What they don't do is dwell on the setbacks. They don't allow Satan to drag them down. Instead they rejoice in what God was doing.

Ups and downs. Highs and lows.

In other words, when it comes to ministry and mission, some things never change. That includes the saving power of God and His holy Word.

"Days Will Come" November 17, 2019

Jesus warns His disciples not to be enthralled with what is temporary but to cling to His eternal Word.

A Comfort Dog's Prayer

Gabriel is packed and ready to go!

I have worked side-by-side with golden retriever Comfort Dogs for a decade.

I have worked with Comfort Dogs after natural disasters and mass shootings.

I have worked with Comfort Dogs in hospitals and long term care facilities.

I have worked with Comfort Dogs in elementary schools and universities.

Working with Prince and Fuerst (father and son who are now serving the saints in heaven), as well as Barnabas, Isaiah, and Gabriel has been a privilege and a blessing.

These wonderful creatures have given me opportunities to provide Christian care to countless people.

I think I have gotten to know these dogs pretty well over the years, so I composed the following poem to reflect the thankful hearts of these furry servants of Jesus.

"Gospel DNA Marker 4: Adaptability" November 3, 2019

"The Villain Is the Hero (of His Own Story)"

*** SPOILER ALERT ***

I just went to see "Joker" at my local theater.

It's not a movie for the kids by any stretch, but it is an engrossing character sketch of Arthur, the man who would become Batman's prime nemesis.

In this outing, Joaquin Phoenix portrays the Clown Prince of Crime.

Phoenix's Joker is plagued with mental illness regulated by meds.

When his meds are cut off due to cuts in city social services, his illness runs free, including a delusion that he is in a relationship with a single mom who lives in his building.

He also is told by his mother that her former employer, Thomas Wayne (Bruce's dad), is also his father.

Joaquin Phoenix

When he learns that his mother suffered from delusions, had been committed to a mental institution when he was young, and that he was adopted by her and has no kinship with the Wayne family, the illusion that is his life is shattered.

That night he enters the apartment of the single mother, who barely knows him and is shocked to see him.

When she asks what he is doing there, he mumbles, "I had a bad day."

There is no question that Arthur has had many bad days, a lifetime of them.

He is the product of abuse, poverty, and mental illness.

He would say, "My bad days justify my violent, murderous actions."

In his story, he is giving people what they deserve.

In his story, he is the hero who liberates the enslaved masses.

In the Dark Knight Trilogy we meet another version of the Joker, played by the late Heath Ledger.

This Joker arrives on screen fully-formed and offers multiple explanations for the scars that force his mouth into a gruesome grin.

Heath Ledger

When he is interrogated by Batman, he explains how society's moral code is just "a bad joke" that will be dropped "when the chips are down."

He then adds, "See, I'm not a monster. I'm just ahead of the curve."

In other words, "My violent, murderous actions are just a reflection of a society that is on the verge of chaos."

In his story, he is teaching people that "the only sensible way to live in this world is without rules."

In his story, he is the hero who enlightens the ignorant masses.

These tales illustrate a point about sin and evil. Sin and evil can delude us into believing that sinful and evil actions are anything but.

Our sinful hearts can find many and various ways to justify sinful actions.

"They deserved it."

"It's not gossip; it's the truth."

"God would want me to be happy."

That's because, as God Himself clearly declared after the flood, "The intention of man's heart is evil from his youth"(Genesis 8:21).

But even while making that declaration, the merciful God promises, "I will never again curse the ground because of man. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done."

You see, although our sinful hearts will contort and distort reality to portray us as the heroes, it's all a lie.

The truth, on the other hand, is that God provided the hero, the rescuer, the Savior.

He provided Jesus.

Trust in Jesus means that I can be honest about my sin, confess my sin to Him, and receive not false affirmations of my goodness but true forgiveness for my wrongs.

I can claim this truth, that Jesus is the hero of my story.

A 3D Mission

I recently finished a sermon series at the church I serve entitled "Messiah's 3D Mission."

A few years ago our congregation had developed a mission statement that could be boiled down to this: Embrace our neighbors with Jesus' unconditional love.

Let's let Jesus define "neighbor" for us.

When asked, "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus responded with the story of the Good Samaritan.

He concluded that story with a question: Which character in the story acted like a neighbor to the injured man?

That's a completely different question than the one He was asked.

"Who is my neighbor?" wants to categorize people so that I can figure who I will and will not love.

Jesus turns the question on its head and puts the responsibility on me to be a loving neighbor.

That's the mission part of "3D Mission."

Now come the three D's.

• Daily

• Doggedly

• Daringly

Daily means that mission is not an occasional activity.

Each morning is to begin with the conscious awareness that I am part of Jesus' mission.

I may not know what my opportunity will be today, but my eyes are open to the possibilities to embrace my neighbors with Jesus' unconditional love.

Doggedly means that mission is all-consuming.

Like the entrepreneur on "Shark Tank" who sacrifices all to make his or her business "the next big thing," I am to be single-minded in my determination to embrace my neighbors with Jesus' unconditional love.

(Some times I even do this with a dog at my side!)

Daringly means that mission includes taking risks and not fearing failure.

The youth David went against the warrior Goliath with only a sling and a smooth stone.

Oh, and the assurance that the Lord God was with him.

I may not know if the outcome will be ridicule or rejection, but I am to dare to embrace my neighbors with Jesus' unconditional love.

That's our congregation's 3D Mission.

Every follower of Jesus is a part of His mission.

You might not phrase it the same way, but the mission is always the same: Love your neighbor as yourself, which is the second greatest commandment.

And keep in mind the greatest commandment, love the Lord your God with all you've got.

If that's the goal that you daily, doggedly and daringly pursue, you won't have to find Jesus' mission.

It will find you.