"In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and peoples will stream to it." Micah 4:1 What does Alfred Hitchcock, Peter Jackson, Woody Allen, Mel Brooks, Mel Gibson, M. Night Shyamalan and Jesus Christ all have in common? They all made an appearance in their own stories.
The only difference is Jesus' story cost him his life...and gave me mine back. For the next week and a half, I get to visit the actual stage where Jesus made his one time, for all time, cameo appearance. That's right, my wife and I are going to Israel. We will get to see first-hand the places where Jesus performed the greatest drama ever performed. Just think... - We will see where he walked on water and calmed a violent storm. - We will sit on a hillside where he proclaimed the sweetest words of blessing ever heard. - We will visit the city where he drove out money changers and shouted down the experts in Jewish law. - And we will see the hill called "The Skull" where his blood was shed so I could live forever. I know we are just visiting the stage, we are only seeing the remnants of an ancient backdrop: water, rocks, meadows and the ruins of old buildings. But I don't mind, my joy is that I get to just be there and 'Behold!' Walk where the action actually happened. The story that is in my Bible and dwells in my heart was, and still is, real. It occurred in real time and at a real place. It wasn't a myth, nor the stuff of fairy tale, but real life. It is historically true and verifiable. No, I won't get to see any of the live actors like Peter, John, Mary Magdalene or Paul -- however, Jesus himself will be there with me. Scripture tells me that he dwells in my heart by faith. It is a very strange story. But it is all true. And little ole me gets to see it. I still can't believe it!
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"As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly." Proverbs 26:11 "Thank You Sir, may I have another? Thank You Sir, may I have another."
'Another what?'... you ask? If you have ever watched National Lampoon's "Animal House" (which being a pastor, this is something I do not advise you to do), you know exactly what they wanted - - another humiliating paddling by a fraternity brother. The movie shows how far a group of freshman will go just to join a frat house. The movie was meant to be comedy; but for many, hazing and humiliation is a secret reality that is tearing them apart. This isn't just true for those who want to be a part of Greek life on a college campus, but it is happening daily all over social media. We will hurt ourselves just to be liked. People will do very humiliating and foolish things to be accepted...we are gluttons for punishment. I know I was, and probably still am. In fact, I went through far worse hazing than "Animal House" depicted just so I could say I was a member of "Chi Sigma Alpha" - - even allowing myself to be tarred with molasses and feathered with corn flakes. I became an idiot just to join a group of idiots who enjoyed making an idiot out of me. This idea of gluttons for punishment came to my attention after I read an article two days ago in the New York Post entitled, "Our Double Lives: Dark realities behind 'perfect' online profiles." Listen to some of the quotes: There are 80 million photos posted in Instagram a day. Facebook has 1.49 billion active users per month. Twitter has 316 million active accounts; Tumblr 230 million. Pinterest has 47.66 million unique visitors from the US alone and is the fastest-growing independent site in history. Increasingly, most of us are living two lives: one online, one off. And studies show that this makes us more vulnerable to depression, loneliness and low self-worth. In 2013, scientists at two German universities monitored 584 Facebook users and found one out of three would feel worse after checking what their friends were up to — especially if those friends had just posted vacation photo. Do people really get depressed checking Facebook? Then why do they still do it? We are gluttons for punishment. Listen to this: A 2014 survey conducted by the Manhattan-based marketing agency Current found 61 percent of millennial moms were rattled by the pressures of social media. Why do moms feel like they have to be perfect online? Why do they always have to be eating healthy, have beautiful meals prepared, sunlight beaming perfectly on their Fettuccine Alfredo, have late summer sunset shots by a lighthouse while their husband or boyfriend is outfitted in the in a dark grey suave suit kissing them passionately on the lips while a dolphin is splashing in the background just as their youngest kid is building a monster sandcastle? Why does everything have to look perfect? We are gluttons for punishment. Here is one more sad quote: Steers cited the work of social psychologist Leon Festinger, who, in 1954, came up with “social comparison theory,” the idea that we measure ourselves in relation to others’ failures and successes. Studies show young people, no matter how accomplished, are the most vulnerable. Take Madison Holleran, a beautiful Ivy League student, star athlete and all-around popular girl. Her Instagram account only underscored this image: parties, friends, track meets, her dad cheering her on. But Madison was keenly aware of the difference between her online life and her real one. She once corrected her mother, who told ESPN The Magazine that after looking at Madison’s photos, she turned to her daughter and said, “Madison, you look like you’re so happy at this party.” “Mom,” Madison said. “It’s just a picture.” On Jan. 14, 2014, Madison posted a photo of trees strung with lights, bulbs glowing against the twilight. An hour later, she leapt to her death from the ninth floor of a parking garage. Why???? Why are we such gluttons for punishment? Because we want to be liked? There has to be more to it than that? I think there is. The scriptures say the problem goes deeper, it actually is central to who we are as human beings. The bible says we are alienated from our Creator. Sin has brought separation, and we are always on the run to hide who we really are. Adam and Eve tried to hide behind fig leaves; we hide behind the 'Ludwig' filter on Instagram. This is why there are so many verses in the bible that keep screaming to us, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" God wants you to know you are loved, unconditionally. Do you know what unconditional means? There is nothing that can separate you from his love. There is nothing you can do to make him love you less. There is nothing you can accomplish to make him love you more. You are, as you are, lovely to God. So you don't need to punish yourself anymore. You don't need other broken people to say you are not broken. God loves you...isn't that enough? Boy, I sure hope you like this post? See, there I go again...I am a glutton for punishment! "Lord to who shall we go? You have the words of eternal life?" John 6:69 Last week in part 1 of the "Theology of Appetite" 1 came to the conclusion that all people are hungry...but sadly, most the time people are not "really" hungry enough to wait! When I was 12 years old, I was obsessed by football; tackle football that is. (In 37 years, things haven't changed much at all.) Every week I was given an allowance by my dad and he said I could spend that money on anything I wanted; or save it for something really good. At the time there were only a few stores in walking distance from our home that we really could buy from: Avallone's Pharmacy sold candy and coloring books galore, there was a Bowling Alley that had coin machines where you could get cool press-on tattoos, and there also was a general store called Rogers & Ray's that sold cheap bouncing balls, average priced model airplanes and high-priced sporting equipment and bikes. (My sister called it Robbers & Ripoff's because she never seemed to have enough money to buy what she really wanted there.) One day as I was walking down the isle of Rogers & Ray's I noticed they had a new supply of football shoulder pads. I couldn't believe it. I tried a pair on and they fit perfect. Then I looked at the price tag - - my sister was right! They were Robbers & Ripoffs. It didn't matter, I had to have those shoulder pads. I ran home to tell my dad, "Dad, you won't believe it, but Rogers & Ray's has a pair of shoulder pads that I need to have. The only problem I don't have enough money to buy them." He looked at me and said, "Well, you need to save your allowance up and buy them when you have enough money." I was downcast, "But dad, that could take a whole year?" So little by little I saved. No longer did I use my money to buy Bubble Yum grape, or a glow-in-the-dark bouncing ball, nor did I use my money to get a sno-cone at the local fair - - I saved it because I wanted those pads. After a few weeks my dad came up to me and said, "Chris, you really do want those shoulder pads. Here is what I will do: I will give you an early advance but you need to pay me back." I couldn't believe it, I said. "Deal." and we drove that afternoon to buy my very own pair or Rawlings shoulder pads. I loved those should pads. I would even wear them to bed. It took me awhile to pay them off but it was worth it. Usually the candy I bought or the bouncing ball would be gone in a day with nothing to show for it, but those shoulder pads gave me two to three years of excellent service. They were worth the wait - -but the wait was only possible because I was "really" hungry for them. TRUE DISCIPLES WAIT I have found that all true followers of Jesus are "really" hungry people. While the rest of the world is getting their fill on things that don't satiate, the Christian is fed up with being dissatisfied; so they wait. The true Christian is done chasing because they are tired of coming back from a party, or a relationship, or a dishonest job feeling empty. While the rest of the world is running, the Christian waits. In John 6:68-69, the true disciple Peter states in very frank terms the quandary every true disciple feels, "Lord, to whom shall we go?" This statement expresses the honesty of a man who has been disappointed by all of the other empty answers offered for soul satisfaction other than God himself. Peter is done. So is every true Christian. My personal belief is that true disciples always begin in a state of complete exhaustion and dissatisfaction with the world's false promises. In their hunger they have swallowed the rotten sewage of lies, sex and video tape and have gotten sick. Very few people have really reached this point - - look around, people are still chasing lies and empty guarantees. The worldly man's heart never gives up believing the answer is still out there somewhere. The truth is, they aren't hungry enough to wait. WHAT A DISCIPLE KNOWS In this story in John, the disciples stay with Jesus, less out of what they want, and more out of what they know. I submit, a disciple is a person that thinks first. The world feels first. Don't get me wrong, the disciple feels and wants things too, we do crave something; but I am not sure we can fully put into words what it is we really want. Yes, we want peace, health and wealth, healing and miracles, power and position, but we know once we get those things they won't satisfy us for long. It will never be enough. A disciple knows there is always more than this. Peter says the more is called "eternal life." (verse 68) Eternal life is having God's life inside you, forever. In other words, the disciple knows... "Whatever it is I am looking for, whatever eternal life looks like and tastes like, I know it is only found in Jesus." We often hear Jesus presented as the means to get to what we ultimately want - - not as the end itself. But a disciple knows that Jesus is the end, he is what I want the most. As Peter says in his first book, "Even though I can't see him, I love him, and I am filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy knowing that I am receiving the salvation of my soul." (1 Peter 1:8-9) RAPHAEL CAN'T WAIT I own a big, fuzzy, lovable Australian Shepherd dog named Raphael. The big goof loves popcorn, and when he sees it he can't wait. If he smells it popping in the microwave he drops what he does and comes running. He can't stop himself because his hunger drives him. Well when it is time for bed, he knows he has to go down the stairs to the basement and get into his cage. But he hates going to bed because he doesn't want to miss the action upstairs. So calling him to get into the cage is like pulling teeth, "Raph, get down here!" Often he will lie completely on his back refusing to come. But if you drop a trail of popcorn leading from the top of the stairs into his cage, he falls for it every time! The hypocrite is like this when it comes to the world's enticements: easily fooled, easily caged. But a disciple doesn't get trapped by the lies, the sparkle or the popular sentiment. The true disciple is the one who waits for the one thing he or she knows that will truly satisfy the soul: Eternal Life found in Jesus Christ. So, are you hungry? Hungry enough to wait? After my experience last night, and in light of pastor appreciation month, I felt compelled to write this article. If you are interested in this Sunday's sermon, just read 2 Timothy 3:15-16 to get ready for a message on inspiration. Here's to ministry! Often my fellow pastors and dear colleagues at the church, Jared, Derek, Ken, and I, joke to each other about how we would love to teach a class in Seminary called, "Secrets they don't teach you about pastoring." Over the years we have been asked to do things as pastors we would never think of in our wildest imaginations. We have come to the conclusion that the music group the Doors are right on two counts: "People are Strange" and when life happens, you must "Take it as It Comes." And after my experience last night, I realized this thrill ride called 'pastoring' never ends. Let me tell you about last night, and a couple other experiences I have been a part of over the years... IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT For the last year I have been working with a fun young couple preparing them for a life of marital bliss. Well last night was their night - - they joined hands together in front of 200 hundred family members and friends as they pledged to commit their hearts and lives in an unconditional covenant of love before God. It was one exciting evening! However, it turned out to provide a little more excitement than they, or I, was bargaining for... First of all, the ceremony was to be outside. The couple found the perfect spot to say their vows; it was located by a beautiful garden grove with a bubbling fountain and shaded backdrop of pine trees and towering oaks. The reception immediately following was inside an adjacent barn-house and party grounds situated on a quiet country farm that sold pumpkins and hot apple cider. Secondly, the timing for the event was 7:30 p.m. Romance was in the air! As a responsible pastor, I arrived an hour early to make sure everything was in order: certificate signed, wedding party dressed and in position, and that also gave me some time to rehearse the message before the ceremony was to begin. After I parked my car I noticed that the sky had a few dark clouds rolling in. I asked one of the uncles of the groom, "Think the weather will hold out?" His response was positive, "Oh sure, it won't rain at least until about 8:00 or 8:30. We will be fine!" I am not sure if he noticed the few drops of rain that already were appearing on the shoulder of his suit jacket? Another thing, not only was the sun hidden under the dark clouds, but did you know it gets darker much earlier in the fall than it does in the summer? At 7:00 p.m. I was having a hard time seeing the words in my bible and we still had a half-an-hour to go. Well as 7:30 approached, the guests came streaming in and were promptly seated. I kept looking up wondering when the sky was going to open up, and I kept looking down to see when I could no longer read the message I had written on my papers. Right as the father was walking his daughter, the bride, down the isle, the rain came tumbling down in the dark of night. What is a pastor to do? No one ever told me about this? Thinking on my feet I realized there was only one option, improvise - - and get the ceremony over fast. Needless to say, the couple was married, vows were given, rings were exchanged, and it turned out to be "a night to remember!" A wet, dark, joyous occasion! THAT 70'S SHOW Speaking of weddings, I was asked to do a 20th year re-commitment ceremony a few years back. A couple that I consider my dear friends came into my office and asked if I would mind performing a vow recommital ceremony for them. I replied, "Sure, I would love too!" They were really excited, we had a blast planning it, and right as they were leaving my office they turned and said, "Oh, by the way, the theme of the ceremony is 70's night. Dress up like a hippy and we will have a funky good time. You will love it." So my wife and I went shopping the next few weeks at some Good Will Stores to find just the perfect outfit. As we were getting ready to leave my oldest daughter turned to me and said, "Dad, why are you dressed up like Jerry Lewis?" I replied, "It's all part of pastoring my dear..." AN ISLAND FUNERAL Speaking of the 70's, if you grew up on television like I did, you will immediately recognize these lyrics,: Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, A tale of a fateful trip That started from this tropic port Aboard this tiny ship. Off course you know it, "Gilligan's Island." Well believe it or not, knowing the tune to this simple little ditty turned out to be a vital pastoral tool to help a family in a very serious crisis. One afternoon I got a call that a dear woman, who was the wife of one of our members, was dying. I rushed over to the house and there she was lying in bed surrounded by her family. They asked me to pray and sing. For some reason I told them that I knew how to sing the song "Amazing Grace" to the "Gilligan Island's" music. The mother's face brightened as she was lying in her bed, and she turned to me saying, "Oh please, could you?" So, as a good pastor, I did. She asked for me to sing it a few more times while a small smile settled upon her face. Two days later she died. And at the funeral the family asked me to sing it again because they knew their mom would want it sung! RIDING A JACK ASS The final story is not pretty. I was asked to ride a donkey to raise money for a local school. Donkey Base Ball - - local pastors were to ride beasts of burden to entertain a hungry crowd. When I was first asked all I can remember was the time I was bucked off a stubborn donkey at the age of 7. But since it was for charity, I was willing to swallow my pride and play Donkey Ball. Luckily my donkey was old, tired and slow (just like me), and I made it through the game without getting bucked off. A pastor's job is never done. Looking back on my 19 years of ministry I have been able to do things I never dreamed possible. I have been able to serve tremendous people and seen amazing works of God. I also now know why Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 4:9-10: "We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe...we are fools for Christ's sake!" Ah ministry, there is nothing like it... Rejoice with those who are rejoicing. Cry with those who are crying. Romans 12:15 It really made me mad. Here is the skinny: I was listening to the radio. It was on Mike & Mike, a morning sports talk program. They were discussing a recent story about a boy who wrote to his teacher to ask him if he could be let off a test that was coming up because the Cubs were in the playoffs and he had tickets. He is a die-hard fan and here is his text... Guess what? The teacher gave him the O.K. to miss his test. The boy was ecstatic.
One of the Sportscasters named Mike Greenberg loved this story because he not only is a Cubs fan, but he thought it was a nice feel-good story about a kind professor. Well the other Sportscaster named Mike Golic said that it wasn't fair. He believed if this kid was allowed to be let off from taking the test the rest of the class should be let off as well. Greenberg said this comment was idiotic and it ruined the whole gesture of the teacher. I completely agree. In fact, at the root of Golic's opinion is one of the most popular values in American culture today, and it is ruining us collectively as a people. I call it the curse of fairness. Somehow we all believe we deserve a fair shot, similar treatment, equal results, and no special favors. If a boy in my class gets a day off for a game, I should get a day off too. If my sister has a birthday party and gets presents, mom and dad should get me a present so I don't feel bad. Scores in my children's sporting events should not be counted because we can't have someone losing. I can't take it. This fairness obsession has reached ridiculous proportions in all Western cultures. Take Australia for instance, there is a group of concerned citizens that are actually trying to push an agenda where those children who are raised with both a mom and dad have an unfair advantage over those kids with only a single parent. So the single-parent child should get extra help in lunch programs, tutoring, and the first ones accepted in colleges and hired for government employment. So in other words, the love of "fairness" ultimately punishes the families who do things right. Success and special favors are to be suppressed because...it's not fair! Underneath all this fairness is an assumption that everyone is deserving, everyone one is good, and everyone must never be allowed to feel pain at the expense of other people's gain. So the only way to fix it is to not let anyone have anything special. No one should be allowed to earn extra credit, have their extenuating circumstances be a way to gain extra favor, and no one should ever be able to rise above. It's only fair. In the book of Luke 12:13, a man who values fairness, runs up to Jesus in a huff and says, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." Sounds reasonable, sounds fair, doesn't it? Here is Jesus' response, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbitrator between you? . . . Be on your guard against all kind of greed..." Jesus hits the nail on the head. People don't want fairness, they just want what other's have. And if they can't get it, they whine, moan and put up a fuss. Another name for this is covetousness. This is sin. Why can't we be happy with other people's success? Why can't we be happy when other people get special treatment? Because we are never really happy with ourselves. And if you were to dig deeper the real problem is that we don't think we are being treated fairly by God himself. Do you think God is treating you unfair? Do you think you deserve more? If you do, read Luke chapter 13:1-5. Jesus says if you really want fairness you have no idea what you are asking for. Disaster and death is everyone's deserved lot. So, if you are breathing today, drinking water, eating pizza, you are one of the lucky ones because you deserve so much less. And just think, there are some people, like the Rich Man in Hades (Luke 16:24) who wants only a taste of cool water on the tip of his tongue. At least you have that? So relax, and have fun at other people's joy. It makes a party so much more enjoyable! I like mine with lettuce and tomato Heinz 57 and French fried potatoes Big kosher pickle and a cold draft beer Well good God almighty which way do I steer for my Cheeseburger in paradise Jimmy Buffett The first time I heard the song "Cheeseburger in Paradise" I was a poor skinny college student living off of cold cans of Spaghetti-O's for both lunch and dinner. One day I was listening to the radio in my car, and as the delicious lyrics started playing through the speakers my mouth started watering - - I had to have a burger, a good one. Not a soybean cafeteria special, or the plastic kind that McDonalds makes, but a one ton burger that was loaded with bacon, onion, cheese, mayo, lettuce, ketchup, dripping mushrooms and of course all of it served on a toasted bun. I had to have it! There is nothing like good food to satisfy hunger. I can remember even as a kid, my sisters and I would play outside all day and my mom wouldn't let us in before dinner time to snack because she didn't want us spoiling our appetite. And then after waiting five grueling hours we would run to the dinner table while she would pull this huge pan out of the oven. Inside is where all of our dreams would come true. As she lifted the lid, the steam rolled away, and there it was, a hot succulent roast beef with cooked carrots and potatoes on the side. I would grab the season salt, some A1 sauce and let the tender meat melt on my tongue. I can still taste it now. We all are hungry, God made us that way. Hunger and want is the reason we get up in the morning, it is why we live. If you didn't want anything you wouldn't do anything. Want is what moves the plot-line forward in every movie and novel. Rocky is a great movie because the character Rocky wanted something we all want, "R-E-S-P-E-C-T." He was tired of being labeled as a bum so he stepped into the ring with Apollo Creed and the audience cheered for him. The "Twilight" series was a best selling series because what Bella wanted was what every woman wants, a powerful mysterious man to unconditionally love her. Want is why we live. People are all, everyone of us, wanting something. But not every want satisfies, nor lasts. One of my favorite passages in the bible is found in John 1:37-38 where two disciples of John the Baptist were told by him to start following Jesus because he was the promised Messiah. John writes, "The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. And Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, 'What do you want?'" Jesus is appealing to a person's appetite by asking... "What do you want?" Jesus knows that "want, hunger, thirst, desire, longing, yearning, craving" is what drives us. So what do you want from Jesus? Do you even have an appetite for him? To help you consider this question, there are three different groups in the book of John that want something. And out of these three, one of them will not satisfy - - that is the group we will talk about today. Ask yourself, are you in this group? GROUP ONE: The Crowd As the name suggests, this group is large. And this group is hungry, really hungry. John 6: 26 shows Jesus identifying their purpose in following him and he says, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves." The crowd wanted food for their stomachs, and Jesus was simply a free vendor of bread. You could say that the "Crowd" are those people whose hunger is immediate, sensory, and always. The belly never has an end to it's hunger, never - - and in this hunger, they come to Jesus to satisfy it now. So what the crowd sees in Jesus is a person that has come specifically for them. He feeds them, performs miracles for them, and they want more. The crowd always wants more. Jesus is our cosmic butler always "willing and able" to give us what we want. What I find interesting in the book of John is that the crowd considers themselves disciples. Even in our own day and age the crowd looks like followers, they really think they are friends of Jesus, but they are only in it for the bread. God, however, wants us to be in it for far more than that, he wants to satisfy not just our physical hunger, but the emptiness of our soul. He is our spiritual food as it says in John 6:53, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you." Huh? This really confused the crowd because they can only think in terms of physical desire and immediate needs. Jesus goes on in 6:60, "When many of his disciples heard it, they said, This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?' But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, 'Do you take offence at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.'" People don't believe because they don't hunger for more. C. S. Lewis puts it like this, “It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased." Jesus knows there is a deeper hunger. A better appetite that is easily spoiled by those beggarly things that "far too easily please." That is the crowd's problem, they stop at unsatisfying things, that is why they never can get enough. In John 6:66 Jesus begins to purposefully push the crowd away. It says after his confusing teaching that, "Many of his disciples (The Crowd) turned back and no longer walked with him." He is a dangerous God, and he wants disciples that will hang with him even if their immediate needs are not satisfied. But the Crowd is always quick to leave. Yes, Jesus he is here to satisfy our wants, but he wants you to wait for better food. We are far too easily pleased. The crowd leaves when he doesn't give them what they want, "No fame? No special miracle? No success? No wealth? No friends?...I am outta here!" It is strange how people leave all the time, it is the Demas complex, "Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted us." (2 Timothy 4:1) Are you part of the Crowd? What do you want? |
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