Do you give up anything for Lent?  Perhaps you take on a discipline as some do as well.  Do you know that the Christian practice of giving things up almost closed down McDonalds?  This practice of giving things up evolved into a Western Christianity tradition of not eating meat on Fridays.  This led to several McDonalds actually closing in the early 1960’s.  in 1962 a franchise owner, Lou Green developed the Filet-O- Fish sandwich to try and help with this.  It became so popular that many credit it with saving McDonalds.  Giving up meat or coffee or social media is an interesting concept and can be useful to focus on prayer or other things.  This idea of giving up and taking on things is a very Western practice but it’s roots come from the idea of putting off the flesh or old self and putting on the spirit or new self.  Let’s look together at one description of this from Ephesians 4. 

17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. 20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

I hope that whatever you are giving up or taking on leads to a time of refreshment and renewal in your relationship with Jesus.  More than this though I would pray that we all live more and more in the spirit and less in the flesh in our daily lives.  Whether you eat a Filet-O-Fish or a Bacon Double Cheeseburger today I pray that we all learn to more and more walk in the spirit in our lives. 

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

I recently saw someone with a T-shirt that I loved.  It Had a pictures of some guys on a boat in a storm and said, Jesus took naps.  Be like Jesus.  It literally made me laugh out loud when I saw it.  The interesting thing is that God actually takes rest very seriously.   He rests at the end of Creation and then makes that day a holy day of rest and worship.  The Bible actually tells us to rest 831 times.  We are told not just to rest physically but also to rest in Jesus in the midst of life’s difficulties that we all face.  In this particular passage Jesus had just been quite busy healing many people and gets in the boat to cross to the other side and takes a quick nap.  He ends up reminding the disciples to rest in Him.  Let’s look at the passage together today

23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” 26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. 27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

Perhaps you are in need of rest today.  Maybe life has thrown out some tough challenges to you.  Rest in Jesus because He is in control and He loves you.  Also do not neglect physical rest as well.  We all need it.  Biblical rest is not only something we do for our body, soul, and spirit, but a form of worship and a way to experience more of Jesus’ love for us. Deep rest is when we completely trust the sovereignty of God and lean into His Holy Spirit even in the midst of the craziest situations.  May we all experience the rest of Jesus today!

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

Hello Advent Family,

Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night and your mind is racing?  Last night I had that experience.  I was convinced I had forgotten something important.  I just forgot what it was.  I got up and double checked the doors.  They were locked.  I made sure I didn’t leave the oven on when I cooked a late night snack.  Yep I turned it off.  I didn’t forget and leave one of the dogs in the backyard.  The dishwasher had been run.  I grabbed a glass of water and went back to bed.  My mind kept racing though.  I find in times like that I need to pray.  Sometimes when my mind is racing because I just need to slow down and spend some time with God.  It must have worked because before long I was asleep again.  The Bible speaks about the peace that comes over us when we go to God in prayer and remind ourselves of the truth.  Let’s look at one such passage from Philippians 4.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

When I got up this morning I remembered what I forgot.  Well not so much remembered as found out.  My glasses were sitting on the edge of the shower where I left them right before I went to bed.  I forgot them there and something in my mind triggered me that I had forgotten something but I couldn’t remember what it was.  That is often the case when our minds race.  A simple little thing like forgotten glasses becomes much worse and more intense in our minds.  When we take the time to slow down and pray God grants us His peace.  Slow down and give and worries you have to God today.  May His peace fill you and may you rest in the truth that He and He alone is in control.  

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

I have a good friend who recently made a big mistake.  He cut some financial corners that cost him his job, some friendships, and ultimately his wife and family.  He felt like he was at the end of his rope.  I got an opportunity to speak with him and try and encourage him a bit.  The one thing he was clinging to was that God still loved him and always would.  That is a truth we should all cling to in good times and bad.  Let’s look together at Paul’s words in Romans 8. 

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

While my friend’s choice had some difficult consequences, they didn’t change the fact of God’s great love for him.  God loves us in the midst of our sin, but He loves us too much to leave us there.  He will continue to work in our hearts and lives to make us more like Him.  When we fail it is an opportunity for us to cling more tightly to God so that we don’t stumble again.  Today and every day hold on to the truth of God’s great love for you.

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

Have you ever wondered about what God teaches us the most in Scripture?  The Bible talks a lot about love both for God and others.  It speaks a lot about the Kingdom of God.  We are often told about how to treat others.  Would you believe that the most common command in the Bible is actually a command to be happy?  This is actually mentioned more often than any other topic.  This does not mean that is the most important topic in the Bible but it is significant that it is the most repeated.  We are told this in a variety of ways – “rejoice” , “have hearts filled with joy”, “give thanks”, “do not fear”, “do not worry”.  These are all aimed at our happiness.  The key to that happiness is obviously God and His word.  Let’s look together at Psalm 19 where David speaks about this. 

The law of the Lord is perfect,
    refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
    making wise the simple. 

The precepts of the Lord are right,
    giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
    giving light to the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is pure,
    enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
    and all of them are righteous.

They are more precious than gold,
    than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
    than honey from the honeycomb.

For David this happiness comes from God’s word.  It refreshes his soul, and brings joy to his heart.  It gives him clear sight and is more precious than gold.  The Bible does not tell us to hedonistically seek our own pleasure in happiness.  It tells us that when we seek God and His word we will find happiness there.  This does not trivialize the many challenges and hard times that we will inevitably all face in life.  It just means that our loving God is there to be our happy place in the midst of the storms of life.  So today and every day be happy!  God tells you to.

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

I have been following the events going on at Asbury University for the last week.  It is amazing to see and hear about the week long revival that has been going on there.  They started a chapel service last Wednesday that is still going.  They have been worshipping and praying ever since.  People have come to join in from as far as England to be a part of it.  I love the picture of revival that God paints for us in Ezekiel 37.  Let’s look at it together today. 

4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’” 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army. 11 Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’”

God compares revival to taking dead bones and bringing them to life.  I think revival begins in our own hearts and lives when we truly grasp just how significant it is that Jesus has brought us from death to life.  He has taken our dry spiritual bones and brought them to life.  I pray that God would do a work in our people and our community like He is at Asbury today.  Will you join me in that prayer?  Sometimes I think God wants to do much greater things in our hearts and lives if we simply join Him and ask Him.  Pray for God to do something special in you today and join me in praying the same for our community.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Valentine’s Day is one of those Holidays that people either love or hate.  It is interesting that the history associated with St. Valentine and romantic love is very ambiguous and many scholars disagree.  It is known that St. Valentine was a priest of some sort in Rome who ministered to persecuted Christians.  According to legend at his own martyrdom he wrote a romantic letter to the daughter of his accuser and signed it from your Valentine.  There is little other evidence of St. Valentine having anything to do with love or romance at all until Chaucer writes about him and then the legend began to grow. Regardless of how you feel about Valentine’s Day perhaps today can be a reminder that we are all called to love others.  Let’s look together at what that love looks like in I Corinthians 13.

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.

Much like the legend of St. Valentine this passage was not meant to be about romantic love.  Although it is the most commonly used passage at weddings all over it is meant to be an encouragement to all of us about what our love for others should look like and a reminder of how God’s love for us is.  Love is a powerful force.  When we love the way God calls us to love others it draws people to Him.  This kind of love should certainly be celebrated.  Today make it a point to love others with this type of love.  Whether it is your Valentine or a stranger on the street share the love of Christ!

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

Well unless you have been living under a rock you probably know that last night was the Super Bowl.  It’s amazing to think how much energy attention and focus goes into the Super Bowl.  It is the second biggest eating day of the year for Americans.  Perhaps you hosted or went to a Super Bowl gathering yourself.  An estimated 1.5 billion chicken wings were consumed yesterday as well as 10 million pounds of ribs.  Over $6 billion dollars were bet yesterday on things from the coin toss, to who will score the first touchdown, to the length of the National Anthem.  A 30 second ad yesterday cost advertisers approximately 7 million dollars.  For all the coordination and practice and effort that goes into the halftime show the NFL pays performers nothing.  They submit bids to do the performance for the publicity alone.  The average price for a Super Bowl ticket this year was $9,927.  All of this to say the Super Bowl is a big deal.  It made me think about all of the time and money and effort that went into a game.  What is our Super Bowl?  What gets that level of focus and attention in our lives?  Jesus gave us a thought about what should.  Let’s look at His words in Matthew 22.

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

For Jesus it all comes down to love.  How well are we loving God and how well are we loving people?  All your heart soul and mind is a big deal.  It means deliberate, intentional, Super Bowl level focus.  It is an investment of time, of our resources, and our very lives.  Loving people often requires the same thing.  We may never get to play in a Super Bowl, but we all get an opportunity to perform a task that Jesus says is most important.  Love God and love the people that God made. 

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave