The Raccoon Reflex

Pastor's Big Mouth Confession

I came home today from my sermon and felt like a big mouth. I don't always like the fact that my girls have to drive junk cars. The laughter in the sermon today sort of caught me by surprise. I feel kind of sore making the statement..."my daughters will always drive junk cars". Isn't that a grim prophecy? Yet....my first car was a junk car. And I learned a lot from that junk car. And my daughters savings accounts have a purpose...and...well, anyway...being a good steward is not easy; spending wisely sometimes means you don't give your children the absolute best, even when you could. I think we are being good stewards with our plan for our daughters cars....but it sure ain't easy. Don't want to make it seem easy when it's not.

Why the Devil Takes Mastercard

We all have it. The Flu. Each one of us in this congregation. But before you put your hand over your mouth, let me explain. It's a spiritual kind of flu. A form of affluency. I call it Affluenza. It's a spiritual disease. These next three weeks I will be preaching this series.(Found these cool graphics while surfing!) Pray for me as I prepare. And prayer for a spriritual and scriptural preparation for the work of Crown Ministries which is coming our way soon!

Who Touched Me?

February 19 Kickoff

CELEBRATE RECOVERY IS A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
NOTHING IS EVER SHARED ABOUT WHO WAS THERE OR WHAT WAS SAID.WHAT IS SAID AT CELEBRATE RECOVERY, STAYS AT CELEBRATE RECOVERY.

1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5 for each one should carry his own load. (Galatians 6)

The Blog Begins Here

Welcome to my sermon blog. In your own soul room, God is at work. Open the door and let others in (or at least the blinds and let your light out)! Click on "Comments" below each entry as prompted by God's spirit and join the conversation. As you reflect on the scripture, consider these guides:

Is there a promise to believe?
A truth to hold on to?
A challenge to accept?
A danger to be avoided?
A fruit of the spirit to admire?
An experience to share?

Celebrate Recovery

This painting is entitled "The Good Samaritan". Gaze at it. What do you see? Notice the face of the helper becomes the face of the wounded man....or is it the other way around?
When I am "my brother's keeper" (Gen. 4:9) and I identify with his suffering, I take on myself the darkness that has hovered over him, and his gift to me is his own light filled face. As we reveal and seek recovery from hurts, habits and hangups in our lives...perhaps we will experience the dynamic painted here.

"Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Gal.6:2

Now Jesus Loved Lazarus

Celebrate the Recovery of Lazarus
God, Man and Community
John 11

Five Commands and a Miracle

I. The First Command
Let’s go to Judea again. (v.7)

The Response: Committing Together
Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” (v.16)

II. The Second Command
“Tell me where he is.”
And He said, “Where have you laid him?” (v.34)

The Response: Answering Together
They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” (v.34)

III. The Third Command
Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” (v.39)

The Response: Working Together
Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. (v.41)

IV. The Fourth Command
Lazarus, come forth! (v.43)

The Response: Watching Together
“The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.” (v.44)

The Fifth Command
“Loose him and let him go.” (v.44)

The Response: Experiencing Together
Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him. (John 12:9-11)

The Benefits that Flow to Community

ONE command was given to Lazarus
FOUR commands were given to the community.

# 1 The believer’s faith is elevated.
Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. (John 12:9)

# 2 The skeptics’ doubt is answered.
But Lord, said Martha…he has been dead four days.” (v.39)

#3 The slowness of the flesh is revealed.
The Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God? (v.40)

#4 The believing community is inspired.
“Take away the stone….loose him and let him go….fill the pots with water…cast your nets on the other side….bring him to me…” (Various texts)

#5 Evangelism is made strong.
“…on account of him (Lazarus) many of the Jews were going over to Jesus.” (John 12:11)

Loose Him and Let Him Go

God has set natural laws and automatic processes to guide nature. By instinct and by default the antelope and the ant participate in their purpose. Man is the only creature God designed to be nurtured by other humans. Man's progress is not an automatic process. God has given us a need for each other. In seeing this cocoon wrapped butterfly, we wait and watch as nature unfolds God's will. In seeing Lazarus wrapped up in a cocoon of grave clothes, Jesus said to others standing about him: "Loose him and let him go."

Is there a person in your life you have wrapped up as dead and shoved aside into a grave?

Does God bring to mind a child, friend, acquaintaince who like Lazarus, is bound?

His mind was numb in death and he could not think.
His heart was cold in death and he could not feel.
His lips were closed in death and he could not speak.
His eyes were dark in death and he could not see.

But Jesus gave him life.
Share a story of deliverance, or a prayer for release, protecting the identity of others.

Lazarus, Come Out!

The Prodigal Hammer

I keep this hammer in my office to remind me of my tendency to turn backwards upon myself. We are all prone to prodigality. Self centeredness arranges our lives according to our plan, not His.
Recently, Jenna and I have been having some wonderful "game times" together.
We snuggle before bed time and play "Text Twist" and "Gutterball". Our laughter and mutual discovery of each other's vocabularies and personalities is delightful. God has used these times together to reveal to me how often I have been a prodigal father...putting church meetings, counseling, phone calls, visits, emails, and my own computer time before my role as a Father.

The Prodigal Son

Light extinguishes darkness.
Love erases wrong.
Life washes away death.

Healing Hurts, Habits and Hang-ups
The Church on Trial
Luke 15:11-32

The Biblical Story
I. Positive Vision
“But while he was still a long way off, his Father saw him…” (v.20)

II. Speedy Love
“…filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” (v.20)

III. Lavish Giftedness
“ Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.” (v.22)

A Gift for Every Confession

Gift # 1 The Robe
“Quick, bring the best robe and put it on him.” (v.22)

The Confession
“Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.” (v.18)

Gift # 2 The Ring
“Put a ring on his finger…” (v.22)

The Confession
“I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” (v.21)

Gift # 3 The Sandals
“and sandals on his feet.” (v.22)

The Confession
“Make me like one of your hired men.” (v.19)

Celebrate the Recovery of the Prodigal

Rembrandt (1606-1669) the Dutch painter whose works are unmatched in their portryal of human emotions, depicts both the dark and light side of the family to which the prodigal return. A study of this painting reveals, in the shadows, the brother who "would not go in."