Don't Be Fooled By Me

“Woe to you… hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of filth.” (Matthew 23:27)

This week we begin a new sermon series called “Get Real!” in which I am challenging us all (myself included) to learn to be more “real” in our relationships with ourselves, others, and God. To do this, we first need to confront the hard reality that many of us wear emotional and spiritual “masks” that hide who we really are, and prevent us from being and becoming “real.” The following poem by Charles Finn (originally titled “Please Hear What I Am Not Saying”) addresses this truth in a poignant way:

“Don't be fooled by me. Don't be fooled by the face I wear, for I wear a mask, a thousand masks, masks that I'm afraid to take off, and none of them is me.

Pretending is an art that's second nature with me, but don't be fooled, for God's sake don't be fooled. I give you the impression that I'm secure, that all is sunny and unruffled with me, within as well as without, that confidence is my name and coolness my game, that the water's calm and I'm in command and that I need no one, but don't believe me.

My surface may seem smooth but my surface is my mask, ever-varying and ever-concealing. Beneath lies no complacence. Beneath lies confusion, and fear, and aloneness. But I hide this. I don't want anybody to know it. I panic at the thought of my weakness exposed. That's why I frantically create a mask to hide behind, a nonchalant sophisticated facade, to help me pretend, to shield me from the glance that knows.

But such a glance is precisely my salvation, my only hope, and I know it. That is, if it's followed by acceptance, if it's followed by love. It's the only thing that can liberate me from myself, from my own self-built prison walls, from the barriers I so painstakingly erect. It's the only thing that will assure me of what I can't assure myself, that I'm really worth something.

But I don't tell you this. I don't dare to, I'm afraid to. I'm afraid your glance will not be followed by acceptance, will not be followed by love. I'm afraid you'll think less of me, that you'll laugh, and your laugh would kill me. I'm afraid that deep-down I'm nothing and that you will see this and reject me.

So I play my game, my desperate pretending game, with a facade of assurance without and a trembling child within. So begins the glittering but empty parade of masks, and my life becomes a front.  I idly chatter to you in the suave tones of surface talk. I tell you everything that's really nothing, and nothing of what's everything, of what's crying within me. So when I'm going through my routine do not be fooled by what I'm saying.

Please listen carefully and try to hear what I'm not saying, what I'd like to be able to say, what for survival I need to say, but what I can't say.  I don't like hiding. I don't like playing superficial phony games.

I want to stop playing them. I want to be genuine and spontaneous and me but you've got to help me. You've got to hold out your hand even when that's the last thing I seem to want. Only you can wipe away from my eyes the blank stare of the breathing dead. Only you can call me into aliveness. Each time you're kind, and gentle, and encouraging, each time you try to understand because you really care, my heart begins to grow wings-- very small wings, very feeble wings, but wings!

With your power to touch me into feeling you can breathe life into me. I want you to know that. I want you to know how important you are to me, how you can be a creator--an honest-to-God creator--of the person that is me if you choose to. You alone can break down the wall behind which I tremble, you alone can remove my mask, you alone can release me from my shadow-world of panic, from my lonely prison, if you choose to. Please choose to.

Do not pass me by. It will not be easy for you. A long conviction of worthlessness builds strong walls. The nearer you approach to me the blinder I may strike back. It's irrational, but despite what the books say about [humanity] often I am irrational. I fight against the very thing I cry out for. But I am told that love is stronger than strong walls and in this lies my hope. Please try to beat down those walls with firm hands but with gentle hands for a child is very sensitive.

Who am I, you may wonder? I am someone you know very well. For I am every man you meet and I am every woman you meet.”

[--Charles C. Finn (September 1966), from his website]

May these words challenge us all to invite and allow God to help us remove the “masks” we all wear. Remember, God loves you and I do, too!

Camp Meeting 2011

“Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming, it is near” (Joel 2:1)

As you read these words, Marietta Camp Meeting is celebrating 174 years of bringing souls into God’s kingdom. For those of you who don’t already know, our church here at East Cobb UMC is a spiritual heir of that great tradition. Our roots come out of Marietta Camp Meeting – going all the way back to the late 1800s -- and to this day there have continued to be many strong ties between the two ministry partners on either side of Roswell Rd.

Not only do we continue to be blessed in partnering with Campground in the annual Celebration event held last Saturday (July 16th where I hopefully saw many of you there!), and in our annual East Cobb music night on Tuesday, July 19th, but this year our own Associate Pastor Rev. Jim Perry was honored to be one of the two featured preachers for services Wednesday-Saturday (July 20-23rd). I hope many of you will attend not only to support Jim, but most importantly to be fed by the Lord in these special services at 11am and 7:30pm daily, celebrating the theme “Divine Possibilities.”

Finally, on Sunday, July 24th we will not have our usual 9:30am or 11am services in the Sanctuary. Instead, we’ll join our fellow Campground family as we always do each year in one combined worship service at 11:00am “under the arbor.” Not only will this feature lively sing-alongs of old favorites, but also music from our choir and praise team, preaching from myself, and Holy Communion for us all. So if you haven’t already, I hope you’ll make plans now to attend many (if not all) of these special Camp Meeting 2011 events! God is calling us each to a special assembly of his people – will you be there? Remember that God loves you and I do, too!

A Sign For All...

“I have made you a sign for the house of Israel…” (Ezekiel 12:6)

After nearly two years of work, our church sign team (a joint sub-committee of our Trustees and Strategic Planning Team) presented plans for our new permanent outdoor monument sign to our Administrative Council for their consideration (see proposed drawing above). I have the pleasure of reporting that it was unanimously approved by that body, and that we’ll be proceeding forward with construction plans and construction bidding as soon as possible. If all goes according to plan, we hope to break ground sometime in late summer and have it completed by mid-late Fall.

As the second part of our long-range facility development plan (the first being the doors installed last year), our new sign will be a beacon inviting the thousands of cars that drive past daily to a closer walk with God through the programs and ministries of our church. In addition to a lighted version of our church logo, the sign will contain a LCD board that will rotate various messages, graphics and full-color video to all who drive past. It will also include six smaller rotating ministry boards on each side that will highlight prime ministries of our church (such as Lighthouse Academy and our Kenyan ministry) on a more permanent basis.

The stacked-stone architecture is one that will not only enhance our visibility from the street, but will set the tone for future renovation and building projects that we hope to begin in the near future. The sign will be complemented by beautiful landscaping and a retaining wall.

While the complete funds for this project are already available and approved by Administrative Council from our recent Georgia D.O.T. settlement, we will nevertheless still be inviting our whole congregation to participate in its funding through various projects yet to be determined – look for more about this in the coming months.

While this new sign will certainly generate new interest in our church from people in our community, the real benefit from it will come when guests not only enjoy the ministries, programs, and worship services they attend after being enticed by something they see on the sign, but most importantly by the welcome and hospitality they receive when they visit here for the first time.

In this sense, the new outdoor monument sign will merely point people to US, who are a flesh-and-blood “sign.” You and I are a “sign for the house of Israel” (as the scripture above points out) – it is up to you and I to point people to God, so that He may transform their lives and shape them into His will. May each of us live in such a way that we become God’s “sign” to the world for Him! Remember, God loves you and I do, too!

Annual Conference Is Here!

“Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)

This week as you read this article, over 2800 delegates representing the 1000 churches and 360,000+ United Methodists in North Georgia will have gathered at the Classic Center in Athens, Georgia for the “North Georgia Annual Conference” with the theme “Engaging In Ministry With the Poor.” Jim Perry, Cindy Campbell, Peter Kaimathiri and I are attending as our clergy representatives from East Cobb U.M.C., and Lee Bierce, Lisa Haman, and Dennis Mbogori are serving as our laity delegates.

Each year's Annual Conference makes important decisions that affect every United Methodist church in our geographic area: approval and ordination of new clergy and retirement of older ones; appointments of pastors to local churches are finalized (we celebrate that our Bishop - Michael Watson - has reassigned myself, Jim Perry, Cindy Campbell, and Peter Kaimathiri to East Cobb UMC as your pastors for this next year); adoption of the conference budget; support for and reports from conference missions and ministries; exciting worship and bible study opportunities to enrich our spiritual lives; present our “Bishop’s Offering” (part of our denomination’s “Imagine No Malaria” initiative to raise $75 million to eliminate malaria deaths in Africa by 2015); and more! Plus this year, from our number we’ll be electing clergy and lay delegates to attend our denomination’s “General Conference” (held once every four years) next May 2012.

Upon our return, we’ll be available to report on important decisions that were made, and how these might affect us as a congregation. In the meantime, you can find more information about Annual Conference (as well as “real time” updates) on our North Georgia Conference website (Click on the "2011 Annual Conference" box at bottom left. Also, thanks for your prayers, both for ourselves as your representatives, and for the Conference itself. Always remember, God loves you and I do too!

Celebrate Vacation Bible School!

“Jesus called for them and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.’” (Luke 18:16)

As you read this article, our children are in “Hometown Nazareth: Where Jesus Was A Little Boy,” this year’s Vacation Bible School (V.B.S.) – find out more HERE . But did you know that the idea for V.B.S. came from a Methodist over 100 years ago? Sunday School teacher and wife of a Methodist Minister, Mrs. D.T. Miles of Hopedale, Illinois felt that children needed more time to learn about the Bible and their faith than was available on Sunday morning.

So in May 1894, responding to this need, and to the complaints of boredom in the summer from community children, she got approval to use a schoolhouse to instruct 37 children for four-weeks in “the proper use of the Bible” in what is believed to be the first V.B.S. The curriculum also included singing, storytelling, contests, physical exercises, and marches.

Although started by a Methodist, the idea soon caught on, and by 1907 a national association of Vacation Bible Schools was formed that included persons from many different Christian denominations. Today churches everywhere plan V.B.S. as one of the most important outreach and children’s ministries of the year.

So I hope you will join in expressing many thanks to our Children’s Pastor Cindy Campbell, our Children’ Ministry Team Leader Mark Haman, and to all of our many teachers, workers, and volunteers for the hard work that they have put into ensuring that this year’s V.B.S. is a success. Through it, our church is touching the hearts and lives of many children for the God’s Kingdom. God loves you and I do, too!

Disciple Bible Study

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

As God’s people, one of the tools we’re given to discover, grow, and mature in Christian faith is the Bible. Unfortunately, many spiritual people have never unlocked the power of this God-given tool because they’ve never taken time to actually study it in-depth with others.

“Disciple” Bible Study is a popular, interdenominational small-group experience that has enabled literally hundreds of thousands of people over the last 25 years to do just that. Through daily readings and a 2 ½ hour guided discussion once per week, participants not only come to understand the Bible better, but come to discover its relevance and power in and for their daily lives, while at the same time developing rich and long-lasting friendships with fellow participants. I’ve personally witnessed many lives changed and transformed in remarkable ways through this study.

Granted... “Disciple” is not for the casual Christian. It requires hard work, commitment, and diligence – but the rewards are literally “out of this world!” I’ve heard many spiritual people talk about their desire to grow in and learn more about faith – being part of a “Disciple” group is one of the best ways around to help each of us do just that! (Click HERE for more information about “Disciple”)

So if you’re serious about your faith growth and want to find out more, then I invite you to worship on Sunday, June 5th for our annual “Disciple Sunday” to hear how this study experience has impacted the hearts and lives of some of your fellow church family, and how you can experience it for yourself beginning this Fall 2011. Your life will never be the same after you take a “Disciple” Bible Study class! So what are you waiting for? Remember that God loves you and I do, too!

"Imagine No Malaria" OFFERING

“And let us consider how to encourage one another to love and good deeds...” (Hebrews 10:24)

Many of you are aware that each year, our Bishop of North Georgia United Methodism (Michael Watson) designates an annual “Bishop’s Mission Offering” to be collected by North Georgia United Methodist churches in the weeks leading up to Annual Conference, and then shared by each church’s delegates at a worship service during Conference.

This year, Bishop Watson has named “Imagine No Malaria” as the 2011 Annual Conference Bishop’s Mission Offering. “Imagine No Malaria” is an initiative of The United Methodist Church with the goal of raising $75 million to eliminate malaria deaths in Africa by 2015. (Find out more about this initiative HERE, and how our Conference is partnering with it HERE).

Malaria itself is a disease that is entirely preventable. We already possess the treatment and preventative measures to eliminate deaths from malaria around the world. Fifty years ago, more than 2 million people were dying each year from smallpox all over the world—today that number is zero. Imagine what we will be able to say about malaria in 20, 10 or even five years. With the promise and the hope of the people of The United Methodist Church (and our small part in that), we have an opportunity to collaborate in a global effort to overcome malaria --a goal world leaders hope to accomplish by 2015. One person can save thousands of lives. Just imagine what 11.5 million United Methodists can accomplish!

Consequently, I’m inviting you to join me in participating in this special opportunity with an over-and-above-your-regular offering financial gift. To contribute, please make your check payable to East Cobb UMC and designate either it or cash to our “Bishop’s Mission Offering.”

We’ll be collecting funds through June 5th, and will present our church’s combined check during the offering time at the Annual Conference afternoon worship service on Thursday, June 16th. Please join me as we seek to make a difference with the poor of the world through the eradication of this disease!

Remember that God loves you and I do, too!

Have You Had Your Aldersgate?

“...Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved...” (Acts 2:21)

In 18th-century England, a man named John Wesley searched for more out of life and more from God in many ways: by serving the poor and those in prison; as a missionary to the Indians in the British colony of Georgia; through a strict adherence to a religious discipline; and others. However, each of these things left him feeling empty and unfulfilled. It wasn’t until what we today call his “Aldersgate experience” that Wesley found the answer he’d been searching for. He describes it this way in his Journal from May 24, 1738:

“In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate-Street, where one was reading Luther's preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation: And an assurance was given me, that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.”

Like Wesley, many people today are searching for more out of life, and going about it by trying to be “good people” and do “good things” for others. While these are certainly important, each of us must discover (as Wesley did) that only through a personal relationship with God through Jesus can find that for which we’re searching so desperately.

As we remember the anniversary of Wesley’s “Aldersgate” experience coming up on May 24th, I invite you to let his testimony become yours by allowing God to “warm” your heart through faith in Christ Jesus. If you haven’t already, invite Christ to be your Savior today! Remember, God loves you and I do, too!

A Christian Response to the Death of Osama Bin Laden

"But I say to you that listen, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who abuse you." (Luke 6:27)

Today I woke to the news that Osama Bin Laden -- #1 on America's list of "Most Wanted" -- was dead. Part of me was glad: for the last 9+ years, our nation has waged a costly war on terrorism largely due to his influence, and as part of our response to the deadly chain of events orchestrated by him which took place on 9/11/2001.

You may remember that those attacks united Americans in a way that no other recent event had done -- evidenced by the many American flags that popped up all over the place for a while after the attacks. Consequently, since that time (for the last 9 years), I have flown a miniature flag in my front yard by our mailbox, vowing not to remove it until Bin Laden was no more. Now that he's gone, I struggle again with whether or not to remove it -- it was, after all, a flag flown in support of our nation, not just as a statement against a particular enemy. So for now... the flag will remain.

And yet, another dilemma remains... while part of me is glad that Bin Laden is no more, at the same time I have struggled with whether "gladness" was an appropriate response by a Christian pastor to a death... even to the death of someone as violent and twisted as Bin Laden -- He was, after all, a "child of God," too! Perhaps you've shared this same struggle. What I've come to realize today is that while we may be "relieved" by this news, it is not something we need to celebrate too much.

What it instead points out to me is not only the brokenness and sinfulness of our world, but also the broken and sinful nature of my own heart: we live in a world which contains people like Bin Laden who exercise their free will to terrorize; and a world in which even we as God's people struggle with the "appropriateness" of their demise. This struggle highlights the fact that we are all sinners in need of God's grace... me, you, my neighbors up and down my street, my fellow church members, our local, state and national leaders (including our President, regardless of what political party you identify with), the people who cut us off on the freeway, and yes... even Osama Bin Laden.

So, whatever your feelings about this "victory," let it be a reminder to you of your own human frailty -- that we are all dust, that none of us is who he or she needs to be, and so ALL of us stand in need of a Savior. Jesus came to be that Savior. Have you allowed him in (even in that dark place in your own heart that secretly struggles with things like "celebrating" the death of Bin Laden)? Invite him in today, and allow Him to become the "Prince of Peace" of your life.

Perhaps the best Christian response I've seen to the death of Bin Laden was sent to me by our Minister of Music and Worship Arts -- CLICK HERE to read and pray this powerful prayer, and let it impact your life the way it has mine. Always remember that God loves you, and I do too!

The Storms of Life: Bitter or Better

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock.” (Matthew 7:24-25)

This past week, the Southeastern United States experienced a series of devastating storms. Tornadoes, wind bursts, and violent thunderstorms produced winds of over 100 miles per hour in some places, leveling houses, businesses, and tossing vehicles and other debris through the air, killing over 300 people, injuring several thousand, and causing millions of dollars worth of damage in towns across Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, and other places. Meteorological records confirm that this was the deadliest set of storms to hit America since 1932.

Though our own community of Marietta and eastern Cobb County was spared this time around, we have nevertheless experienced other strong storms with high winds over the last 3-4 weeks. Thankfully, no one was hurt and no property damage was reported along with those storms -- other than our “temporary” church sign being blown over three times, with the final time destroying its base, forcing us to leave it lying on the ground for the time being! Still, living in and around the Atlanta area most of my life, I can’t remember the last time we’ve had quite so many windy days and stormy nights!

Contemplating all of this has reminded me of one of Jesus’ famous parables from Matthew 7. In, Jesus says that if we’ll listen and then act upon his words, we’ll be like a wise man who built his house upon a foundation of rock, so that when “the rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house,… it did not fall.” And he goes on to warn that if we do not listen to and act upon his words, we’ll be like a foolish man who built his house upon a foundation of sand, so that when “the rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house… it fell -- and great was its fall!”

I’ve unfortunately known people (including more than a few church members) in the latter category… people who fall apart emotionally, mentally, and spiritually when they get hit with a tough challenge of some sort. For example, perhaps they lose their spouse, lose their job, get a bad grade on a test or job review, lose a project bid, or are rejected in some way. In other words, all of the struggle and hardship that they go through causes them to become BITTER and angry at life, at the world, at others, and even at God.

By the same token, I’ve also known many people who have placed their faith and trust in Christ to such a degree that when they’re hit with hard times like those above, they do not fall apart, but who instead persevere through these things. They are people who allow the tough situations and circumstances of life to make them BETTER through (and even because of) these challenges.

So, what is your life built upon… a foundation of rock (genuinely trusting God) that enables you to weather the storms when hard times come? …Or a foundation of sand (trusting in worldly happiness and success) that may cause you to give up at the first sign of trouble? My prayer is that you’ll choose to put your trust and faith in God, so that when the stormy days and windy nights (e.g., the hard times) come (and they will) you’ll be able to persevere!

Remember that God loves you and I do, too!

The Paradox of Jesus

“Think of yourself the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God, but... instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death – and the worst kind of death at that: a crucifixion.” (Philippians 2:5,8, The Message)

On that first Palm Sunday, with all the shouts of “Hosanna!” and “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”, one would have expected Jesus to enter Jerusalem on a mighty horse --a symbol of might and power. But instead, he chose a lowly donkey. Before he could come as a King to reign, he had to come as a Savior to die. Consider the many contrasts of Jesus' life, described by one writer:

“He who is the Bread of Life began his ministry hungering;

He who is the Water of Life ended his ministry thirsting;

Christ hungered as a human, yet fed the hungry as God;

He was weary, yet he is our perfect rest;

He paid tribute, yet he is a King himself;

He was called the Devil, yet he cast out demons;

He prayed, and yet he is the one who hears our prayers;

He wept, and yet he is the one who dries our tears;

He was sold for 30 pieces of silver, yet he redeems sinners;

He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, yet he is called 'The Good Shepherd';

He who is the Resurrection gave up his own life, and by dying, he destroyed death itself.”

As we begin Holy Week, it is good to recall the wondrous love that God has for each one of us in giving his only son for our salvation. Remember, Jesus suffered and died then so that we might have victory and life today as Christians. Our salvation might be free to us, but it cost Jesus everything! Blessed, therefore, is Christ, who comes in the name of the Lord! Remember, God loves you and I do, too!

It's Just A Biscuit!

“Even though I walk through the vale of deep darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me…” (Psalm 23:4)

One day, a lady leaving a grocery store through the parking lot noticed a suspicious sight in a nearby parked car. Concerned, she went over and noticed it was a woman slumped over in the driver’s seat. She tapped on the window, asking if something was wrong and if the lady was okay. “No” the woman cried out, “I’ve been shot in the neck!”

Looking around, the “good Samaritan” didn’t see any evidence of gunfire – there was no blood on the lady’s neck, or anywhere else, and no sign of destruction inside the car, either. So, she carefully opened the driver’s side door and lifted the hair covering the woman’s neck (where she claims to have been shot).

To her amazement, the “Samaritan” lady found the cold, gooey dough of a raw biscuit lying stuck to the back of the woman’s neck. Evidently, a can of biscuits in the top of a grocery in the car’s back seat had popped open with a loud “bang,” sending a limp biscuit into the woman’s neck, making her think she’d been shot!

There are some of us today who (like the woman’ in the car) are paralyzed by things in life that make us feel like we’ve been “shot” by something truly dangerous: fear of the future; fear of the past; fear of change; a feeling or sense of hopelessness, insecurity, inadequacy, or depression; fear of what the economy may do to us (or to our family, job, or church); etc.

But when we understand these things in their proper perspective (from the point of view of faith in God), we learn the truth: we’ve only been “shot” with a biscuit – something that may feel or seem deadly, but which in fact has no real power over us at all. The verse above reminds us that not even the “vale of deep darkness” (or “valley of the shadow of death” as it’s sometimes translated) has no power over us if we trust in God’s presence with us.

So, whatever it is in life that you sometimes feel paralyzed by, remember to trust God with and through it – even death itself cannot ultimately hurt one who puts their faith in Christ! Trust in him with all your heart, and He will keep you in peace no matter what fearful things that life “shoots” at you! Remember, God loves you and I do, too!

FAST and FEAST

“Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call an assembly” (Joel 2:15)

Several years ago, Dr. Kevin LaGree, former Dean of the Candler School of Theology at Emory University, once shared a message about the spiritual disciplines of the Christian season of Lent (the 40 days before Easter). Most of us are familiar with the custom of “fasting” (e.g., giving up) certain things during this period, especially certain types of food. But Dr. LaGree also pointed out that the taking on of certain spiritual things is just as vital as the things that we “give up.”

During that message, he said, “Lent is a time to FAST from certain things and FEAST on others. For example, during Lent, we should….

FAST from judging others; FEAST on Christ dwelling in them.

FAST from discontent; FEAST on gratitude.

FAST from complaining; FEAST on appreciation.

FAST from bitterness; FEAST on forgiveness.

FAST from discouragement; FEAST on hope.

FAST from apathy; FEAST on enthusiasm.

FAST from suspicion; FEAST on truth.

FAST from thoughts that weaken; FEAST on promises that inspire.

FAST from idle gossip; FEAST on purposeful silence.

FAST from problems that overwhelm; FEAST on prayer that sustains.”

LENT is indeed a time for both fasting and feasting. My prayer is that in the weeks and days that remain of this season before Easter, each of us will take time to look deep within our lives to discover those things from which we need to FAST (give up), and then to FEAST (take on) every good thing that can draw us closer to God’s presence, plan, and purpose. Remember, He loves you and I do, too!

Biblical Presuppositions About Healing & Wholeness

“Wherever [Jesus] went… they begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.” (Mark 6:56)

This week in worship we focused on the healing ministry of Jesus. As a follow up to that message, let me share a few presuppositions about healing and wholeness that we find in the Bible:

1. Healing and wholeness is at the very heart of God's intention for all humanity (Genesis 1:27; John 10:10). Over 1/3 of the gospel stories are devoted to Jesus' healing ministry. In the Bible, the root Hebrew and Greek words for “salvation” (shalom and sozo, respectively) both mean "wholeness/completeness.”

2. All Healing is from God (Psalm 103:2-4). Humans (such as doctors and nurses) can assist or be instruments of this healing, but God is the ultimate source.

3. All Illness is a result of the fallenness of our world (Genesis 3). We live in a world everywhere permeated by sin. Illness is therefore not a punishment from God “because somebody sinned,” but instead is a byproduct of the world’s fallen nature.

4. We need to understand and recognize the many different types/forms of healing:
a. Physical (Matthew 8:1-13; Mark 1:29-34; 5:21-43; Acts 3:1-10 – remember that all physical healing is temporary at best)
b. Spiritual (Luke 5:17-26; James 5:16; John 5:14)
c. Emotional (Mark 1:21-28; 5:1-20; Luke 6:18-19; 9:42)
d. Healing of Fears & Doubts (I John 4:16-19; Romans 8:15)
e. Healing of Relationships (Ephesians2:13-18;4:1-3; Hebrews12:12-14)
f. Physical Death (John 11:25-26; Romans 14:7-9 – remember that death is merely a transition to a new chapter in every Christians’ life)
7. Others: Financial (3 John 2); Mental (Matt. 9:32-35); National (2 Chronicles 7:14); From Violence (Luke 22:51)

5. "Why are not all healed in the manner they desire?"
We don't know -- the Bible doesn't tell us (Read Job 42:1-6). But the Bible does nevertheless teach that the lack of a particular kind of healing is NOT because of recipient’s lack of faith. Even a little faith – or none – is enough for God. It’s quality, not quantity, that counts most with God (Read Matthew 17:20; John 5:1-9; Luke 14:1-4). Lack of a particular kind of healing is also NOT because God loves the one healed more than the one not healed (Romans 2:11; Acts 10:34-35).

6. Prayer is not “the least” but “the most” we can do for the healing and wholeness of others.

7. “What are some hindrances to healing from our prayers?” [Materials below drawn from the book BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING, by James K. Wagner (Upper Room books, 1980)]

a. Sometimes people choose, consciously or unconsciously, to hold onto their illness
b. Continuance of factors that caused/led to the illness, or persons surrounding themselves with an environment (social or personal) that is hostile or negative towards healing
c. Total absence of faith anywhere (expectant, confident, trusting, childlike faith in the healing Christ must be present somewhere, but not necessarily in the one seeking healing -- it can reside in the minister, in a friend, family member, etc)
d. Dealing with symptoms instead of the root cause (“faulty diagnosis” = failure to acknowledge the many forms of healing listed in #4, above)
e. Our failure to grasp that healing of the physical body is not the highest of all prayer goals – after all, all physical healing is temporary at best.
f. Failure to understand that physical death is not the end, but the transition to a new chapter in the life of each person. Only through death can we realize the fulfilled wholeness which God created us to have in the first place.
g. Refusal to see medicine as a way God heals, and/or not using the natural means of preserving health.
h. Refusing to accept/comprehend God’s timing.
i. The absence of compassion by the person praying for healing – healing power cannot flow where compassion is lacking.

[For a short, downloadable flyer version of these seven biblical presuppositions, click here]

Whatever hurt or brokenness you face, I encourage you to use these thoughts to help you find God’s healing and wholeness for your life! Remember, God loves you and I do, too!

Biker Dude At Worship

If you were at worship this past Sunday, you know that we had an unusual “guest” with us. For those of you who missed out, here’s some pictures of our Biker friend from that day.

Jesus put it this way: “Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40). So, the question I want you to wrestle with is this: if he were “for real,” would you have welcomed him? Remember that God loves you and I do, too!

In the Works #4

“Without a vision the people perish...” (Proverbs 29:18, KJV)

Over the last year or so, I’ve shared several “In The Works” articles about various ministry and facility-related initiatives that are currently in various stages of development at East Cobb UMC. Today I again want to share a brief update about just a few of these that may be of interest to you:

● First, let’s remember a few Recently Completed Initiatives that I hope you’ve already been enjoying, including our e-newsletter (launched last summer 2010); our new logo and some initial pieces of marketing for it (like our car magnets, shopping bags, and pens); and our new Education and Activities building doors (installed last December 2010 as part of our long range facility development plan).

● In preparation for our new permanent outdoor monument sign, our church property was recently rezoned “commercial” so that we could obtain permits for an LCD/color electronic sign that will be a focal-point of our property from Roswell Rd. The sub-committee working on this project is currently soliciting plans from three companies and will be meeting soon to decide on one that we will bid out. It is possible that work could then begin on construction of this new sign as early as this summer. The new sign is a second part of our long-range facility development plan.

● Redevelopment of our church website– currently we are researching companies that are offering comprehensive, integrated “Content Management Systems” that would help us overhaul not only the website content itself, but potentially offer us an improved online giving site, interactive online calendar capability, a confidential congregational directory, a new communication platform for our e-newsletter, cyberspace document storage, a cell phone app, and more. The Web Design Ministry Team hopes to have some kind of recommendation for a new site by summer, with implementation as soon as funding for the project can be found (this is not in our annual ministry budget)

● Georgia D.O.T. Roswell Road Construction – our top (west) entrance is almost complete, with the sidewalks poured and deceleration lane and entrance initially paved. Final pavement will come after they complete the Roswell Rd. median. Also still to come is work on a new two-way commercial lower (east) entrance, as well.

● Our Strategic Planning Team continues its work on a 5-year Strategic Plan for our entire church. We have met with an architect who helping provide us with a process by which we can determine what facility development and expansion priorities are most needed, and in what order. Our plan is to have some recommendations ready to share with the congregation by late Spring or early Summer of this year. As mentioned above, two pieces of the plan that are already in place or in progress are the new doors and our upcoming new outdoor/monument sign.

● Narthex Bathroom Renovations – the long-range facility development plans will most likely include recommendations for a new set of state-of-the-art restrooms near our Sanctuary. In the meantime, however, our Trustees this year are currently working on plans to renovate the current Restrooms located just off the Narthex. Look for these renovations to occur later this Spring.

● Parking Lot Blacktop Resurfacing and Restriping -- now that we have a new single top (west) entrance, we are exploring what it will take to both resurface the entire parking lot (or at least temporarily patch pieces) and to restripe the parking areas to reflect our new traffic patterns entering from and exiting to Roswell Rd.

● Fellowship Hall Wi-Fi... is now available! Complimentary use is now open and available to any individual or group who needs use of Wi-fi in that facility, upstairs and down. Thanks to Richard McCauley and Robert Mantell of the Tech Support Committee for making this possible.

As I’ve said before, all of these are in various stages of development, and some will require approval from various levels of our church’s leadership along the way. To find out more detail about any of these initiatives (or if you have input, ideas, or expertise that you’re willing to share to help accomplish them), please email or call the church office (770-971-3643 or email here), and we’ll have someone from the appropriate group respond to your specific question(s).

In the meantime, continue to pray for your church leaders as they seek God’s will and wisdom for all of us, and remember that God’s mission for us of being “A Mosaic of God’s Family: Gathering, Growing, and Going” is one that will require all of us to do our part in order for it to be accomplished. Remember that God loves you and I do, too!

A Prayer with the People of Japan and Pacific Coasts and Islands

"God of all compassion,
Our hearts and bodies shake
With the earth
And all who dwell upon it.

We cry to you for help
For lives, roads, homes, and livelihoods lost,
And coastal regions washed away
In Japan
And all who this day wait in fear
On other coasts and islands
On an ocean that betrays its name.

Have mercy on them, on us
And all who wait for better words
And help.

We pray in the name of Jesus
Who stilled the wind and waves. Amen."

by Taylor Burton-Edwards
Copyright General Board of Discipleship. www.GBOD.org
Used by permission.

Are you struggling to understand why a good a loving God would allow such destruction from nature? Two of Pastor Brian's Sermons in his 2009 series "WHERE IS GOD WHEN?" deal with these issues. Click on the title to read each one: (#1) "Katrina, Tsunamis & Acts of God" ; (#2) "How God Really Works in Our World"

Our "Besetting Sin"

“One is tempted by one’s own desire.... Then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death. Do not be deceived, my beloved.” (James 1:14-16)

Today I began a new series exploring the life and teachings of Jesus as found in the gospel of Luke. We began with the story of the “temptations” of Christ found in Luke 4 [Read the complete sermon here]. Along these lines, several years ago a friend gave me the poem below by Irene Holsted which speaks of the dangers of temptation, and how we humans tend to minimize it until it becomes too big to handle:

“There came a gentle tapping ‘let me in!’
I opened and beheld a very little sin.
He entered with apologies and scarcely raised his eyes
As if abashed to contemplate tempting one so wise.

I found myself amused at this and set out to explore
This little cunning sin I’d let inside my door.
I petted him and teased him & gave him bread & wine,
Grew fond of him, then adopted him, this little sin of mine.

He twined around my heartstrings & grew so very dear
I loved him & assured myself he was too small to fear.
He soon spied out my weakness & therein was the rub,
He built himself a treadmill, my weakness at the hub.

With every revolution my darling little sin
Enlarged himself and multiplied over and over again.
At last he stooped & lifted me & placed me on his knee,
Now he is my besetting sin and makes a pet of me.”
[--Author Irene Holsted]

My prayer is that whatever “temptation(s)” or “besetting sin(s)” you are facing, you’ll trust Christ to walk with you to victory over them, lest you become a victim of them -- and always remember that I and all of our church’s pastors are available to help you privately and confidentially if you are struggling with something in particular, as well. Never forget that God loves you and I do, too (no matter what your “struggle” is)!

Two Ways to Heaven?

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” (John 14:6)

Several weeks ago I shared a message in my series "Christianity and World Religions" on the relationship between Judaism and Christianity that I’ve received a number of emails asking me to clarify [Read the sermon here]. The gist of the questions dealt with the perception by some that my sermon was implying that there are two ways to heaven: one for Jews (through the keeping of the Torah); and another for Christians (through faith in Christ). To help clarify what I meant, let me share a few thoughts from a response I gave to one group:

If you read the sermon carefully, you notice that nowhere in it did I say that there are two ways to heaven. What I said is that the Bible is clear that God does not nullify or cancel the old covenant (Judaism) simply because there is a new one (Christianity). To describe this, the sermon referred to Romans 11:28-29 in the body of my message, but also Endnote #22 in the sermon also addresses it from the standpoint of Romans 4:3, 5, 9 & 22, as well.

These scriptures essentially say is that God finds a way to look at the good intentioned faith and works of Jews who are under the original covenant and -- to the extent possible -- credit them with "faith in Christ" where possible (the Romans 4 passage talks about faith being "reckoned as righteousness", which is a biblical metaphor for salvation). Most who hold this view, for example, would still say the Jews' keeping of the Torah is therefore counted as a form of "faith in Christ" by God, so it's still salvation "through Christ," even though these two methods of “faith” are not to be understood as equals.

What all this basically means is that there is, in reality, only one way to heaven – through God’s covenant with His people, and Jesus (conveyed through Christianity) is merely the fulfillment of that one way (Read Matthew 5:17). Judaism, therefore, is NOT a "second way" -- it was the one and only "original" way. When Jesus came, however, he demonstrated a better version of that one way.

Sermon #1 and #6 in the series also talk about the best way I’ve found to talk about this whole subject is in the context of the three ways Christians have traditionally viewed other religions: Exclusivist; Universalist; and Inclusivist [You can read about these three ways on page 4 in the body of the first sermon here and also briefly mentioned on page 4 in the body of the last sermon in the series found here].

What the view above describes is an example of the “Inclusivist” view which says that salvation does come only through Christ, but that it's up to God to determine what that is and what it looks like -- and if God decides to credit someone from another religion with a type of "faith in Christ" (even though we Christians might not call it "faith in Christ"), then that is God’s business and not ours. Our job is to share the gospel of Jesus and love people with the love of Jesus, not judge them based on their acceptance or rejection of our particular understanding of what "faith in Christ" is. After all, how do we know that they have really rejected "Jesus"? Perhaps they've merely rejected our Western culture's warped view of Jesus (which may or may not be the biblical "Jesus" at all).

Some have asked how this view relates to the John 14 scripture quoted at the top of this entry. I would encourage you to read Endnote #8 in the first sermon that addresses this by talking about the misreading that is often given to that scripture [Find the sermon here]. It essentially says what I've said above -- yes, "no one comes to the Father except through me" Jesus says. But what does "through me" mean exactly? Through the historical person of Jesus of Nazareth? Through faith in that literal person? Through faith in God that's illustrated in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus? If "through me" means the first of these (that's the Exclusivist view), then 2/3 of the world is going to hell, which does not seem consistent with a God of love. But, if God can credit a person with "faith of Christ" in some mysterious way even if they are not a practicing member of the Christian religion, then that would certainly come closer to the meaning of the latter definition of "through me."

So, it's all in the interpretation of the scripture, acknowledging that the literal, surface reading may not be the “correct” one at all. After all, the context of John 14:6 has absolutely nothing to do with how one views the religious faith of others – it deals with Jesus' teachings about life after death for one who is already a follower of Christ. To therefore apply John 14:6 as a way to exclude other religions/faiths from heaven or salvation may actually be a fundamental misreading of that scripture [For further reading that addresses New Testament texts often used to talk about other religions click here - the book is called THE GOSPEL AMONG RELIGIONS - read page 7 for comments on the John 14 scripture referenced above]

The point of the Inclusivist view is not to water down salvation by faith in Christ alone, but to merely help us all not be too cocky or arrogant about it as some seem to do. This view allows God to be God, and not for us to presuppose our understanding of WHO will be saved and who WON'T is correct or more important that what GOD thinks (which we will not really ever know this side of heaven)

Clear as mud, huh? Hopefully this at least gives you some further thoughts to mull over. Sure, I acknowledge that the Inclusivist view could be wrong, too. But then again, it could be right. Or perhaps the truth is somewhere in between. This is simply why I believe this whole subject matter calls for a great amount of humility on our part. Remember, God loves you and I do, too!

What Is Stephen Ministry?

“[God] consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God.” (2 Corinthians 1:4)

Stephen Ministry is a lay caring ministry of our church that enables fellow members to care for one another in the way Paul describes above. With nearly one-thousand members, it’s impossible (and impractical) for our Pastors to be able to take care of all the congregational care needs of our church. So, our Stephen Ministry is therefore one of the vital complementary components of our overall Pastoral Care system.

Stephen Ministers themselves are fellow church members who’ve gone through 50 hours of training to provide confidential, one-to-one Christian care for people who’re facing a crisis or simply going through a tough time. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, loneliness, cancer, a layoff, relocation, divorce, a spiritual crisis, recuperation, single parenthood, or any of countless other life challenges or hurts, our Stephen Ministers are here to care for you!

Your Stephen Minister will meet with you once a week for around an hour to listen to you, care for you, pray with and for you, and provide emotional and spiritual encouragement. Men are matched with male Stephen Ministers, and women are matched with female Stephen Ministers. The caring relationship is free, and lasts for as long as you need care – it’s a powerful way either to receive help yourself, or also a great way to help a friend, neighbor, co-worker, or relative who’s been struggling in any way.

To find out more about how you or someone you know could be matched with one of our church’s confidential Stephen Ministers, either email our Stephen Ministry, speak in person with one of our Stephen Leaders (Jackie Short or Jody Kerschner), or to Pastor Jim or Pastor Brian. Our Stephen Ministers are here for YOU! Always remember that God loves you and I do, too!