THINGS ARE NOT AS THEY SEEM

Mystic Reality

I am sure most of us have seen the movie, "The Matrix" at least a couple of times. I am talking about the first movie, not the sequels. What I would like to share with you is this. "Things are not as they seem."

Two men are seated across from each other in a dark room. Outside, a thunderstorm rages in the night, shaking the old house to its foundations. flashes of lightning are dimmed by heavy curtains, which have been drawn because it is a secret meeting. This is the first time these men have ever met, though they have been searching for each other most of their lives. Not a moment too soon, their destinies have crossed. One of them, a tall black man all dressed in black, carries the aura of a spiritual master. The younger man, trying his best to conceal the fact that he is frightened and uncertain, might become his disciple. It all depends on a decision. And those of us who have seen the movie knows what is soon to take place. Will he chose the blue pill - and the story ends, or does he chose the red pill and stays in Wonderland and Morpheus shows him how deep the rabbit hole goes.

Lucy steps through the wardrobe; Aladdin rubs the lamp; Elisha prays that the eyes of his servant would be opened; Peter, James, and John follow Jesus up to the Mount of Transfiguration. They all suddenly discover that there is far more going on here then meets the eye. The movie The Matrix is a parable, a metaphor - and though a dark story, it is closer to reality and to your life than you probably have been led to believe. The question Morpheus asks of Neo is a question the Scriptures ask each of us: Do you want to see?

So do you really want to see; do you want to know what you are all about; do you really want to have your eyes opened to the rest of the story in your life? If you do, pick up a copy of John Eldredge's book Waking the Dead, and you are going to find out that there is more going on here than we imagined. Having read the book, I can tell you that you are going to find out that you are not in Kansas anymore.

Heaven, what is it like

A couple of Sundays ago in a Sunday school class that I have been facilitating, (and I say facilitating as I am not a teacher) on ‘Knowing God’ by J. I. Packer, I asked this seemingly simple question.

Do you think about heaven, and if you do, what is your perception of what it’s going to be like?

I received the standard answers of mansions, streets of gold, no more crying or tears, no more cloudy days. Some even went to what some of us have heard that we would be doing there, singing praises to God twenty-four seven, three hundred and sixty-five days a year, exception being on a leap year, etc.

This past Sunday, a brother wanted to tell the group that he had never gave it that much thought, but after the question had been asked, he begin to wonder why he hadn’t. And I suppose most of us fit in that area of limited knowledge of the most wonder treasure that Jesus himself promised those who would deny themselves and follow him. It’s not a hope that we have, but a promise and those of us who have drawn closer to God over the years understand that God keeps his promises. I have a little trouble with the word ‘hope’, but that’s another story.

So what do we, as Evangelical Christians know about heaven? We probably should know more than we do for as Peter wrote in 1 Peter 2:11 tells us that we are aliens and strangers in this world, and that we are not to conform to it’s sinful desires. The reason we are aliens and strangers here, and at times we are treated as such, is because the world prefers to ignore God.

Matt 13:44-46 explains it’s priceless value. No amount of money or influence or position in this world will gain you a place in heaven. That it cannot be earned by being good because we can never be good enough. We can be the most incredible humanitarians on the planet and if the love of Christ is not in our heart goes for naught. It’s a heart thing.

Some times heaven and eternity are used in the same sentence and I guess that is all right as long as we understand that eternity is not what is going to take place someday, but it’s what has begun in the heart of everyone who has accepted Christ. In other words, we don’t die and eternity begins. In Matt 10:7 Jesus says that all who follow me and believe who I say I am have heaven already in their hearts. It’s a heart thing.

In Revelation 4 & 5 we are given a view or foreshadow of that which God has prepared for us so that we will not be afraid of future events. Another verse that will open one’s eyes is Mark 12:25. Here the Sadducees had asked a question of Jesus, “when the dead arise, they will neither marry not be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.” I have footnote in my Bible that says that the Sadducees real question was not about marriage but about the doctrine of resurrection. The reason they asked Jesus this question was because they only believed in the Pentateuch (Genesis through Deuteronomy), Jesus quoted from Exodus 3:6 to prove that there is life after death. The Pharisees had overlooked this verse in their debates with the Sadducees. God spoke of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob years after their deaths as if they still lived. God’s covenant will all people exists beyond death.

In Mark 12:25 God sidestepped the question of the Sadducees, thus not falling into their trap. In reading the verse one may tend to say no, but we must remember that what becomes lost on earth will be made new again. I believe as do many that we will recognize our partners in heaven. God’s new order will not be an extension of what we are experiencing now on earth, but a new life without the hindrances of sin and evil. As Paul writes in 1 Cor 2:9, God will create a new place for those who love him.

If you want to know what heaven is like? Seek Gods face and walk with him and he will show you all things.

What we know or may have heard or taught, I believe we will be blown away beyond our wildest dreams when we finally reach our eternal home, heaven.

A New Beginning

Beyond The GreenIn Roman mythology there was a god who was the guardian of doorways. He had two faces on his head and could look backward and forward simultaneously.

He was the patrol of beginnings and endings, and in 46 B.C. Roman emperor, Julius Caesar introduced a new calendar and gave the first month of the year the name of this pagan god, Janus month or in Latin, Juanuarius from which we get our word "January."

Janus month has always been a time of endings and beginnings, when we have the feeling of making a fresh start or a clean slate.

We are obsessed with beginnings and endings.

They hold meaning for us, they fascinate us, we like them because they somehow magically make life simple, not so complex and overwhelming. It helps us place life into small compartments that are easier to deal with.

*We mark the beginning of a new year.
*The day a person is born.
*The day a person graduates from elem-j/high-HS and college.
*The day a person gets married.
*The day a person passes away.
*The day this very church was started.

And like the Greek mythological figure from which we get the name "January," we look backward and forward. We reminisce about how things were. But we also look forward to the future!

This time of the year is the time for those little gifts that you receive from your employer or your church. They are called Day Timers. We all have received one, or maybe even purchased one to hopefully get our lives and our time in order.

We keep dates of meetings, and all the good things that happen to us, etc., but we also keep our regrets for not taking that vacation we promised ourselves and family, and way to many things left undone. Even so, there was something nice about being able to set it aside and to say, "that was last year!" Now I have a clean slate. A new start. New possibilities. I have great expectations looking forward!

Now you may or may not have a Day Timer, but we all have memories in which we record the events of our lives. What will you record in your New Year's memory book? Do you plan to make changes?

Let God guide you to the changes he wants to make in your life! Just remember God doesn't love you for what you've done or what you will do, but because of what he did on the cross.

On the cross he forgave your past and gave you a future! Have a wonderful year and keep God in your plans because he loves you and more than anything, loves to share in the excitement of your life, as well as those not so excited times.

Remember, he is the completer of your life and he will never leave you.

Friday Night Lights

Well, it’s that time of year again here in Northern Michigan when football becomes almost fanatical. Friday Night Lights, you’ve got to love it, only this year I Dan Boda will not be part of this ritual.

As I am sure, most of you probably have read my wife’s blog and know that I reluctantly resigned my position as Assistant Varsity coach at Pellston High School this summer.

However I am still involved with our local conferences fundamental camp that we do at Inland Lakes High School with most of our conferences teams and this year with another team from another conference.

This all started about four years ago at a Conference Meeting for the Ski-Valley at Gaylord. The coaching staff at ILHS brought a proposal to the table that if we were all willing to assist them, that we start a fundamentals camp. We were all on board before they could even explain how it would take place. Any way that’s what I do now for four days at the end of July. The first year we had 117 young men there, and for the last two, the numbers were down somewhat. However this year we have hit an all time high of over 155 young men. All the staff are volunteers and coaches from within the conference. I don’t know anywhere in this State where that is happening.

The premise behind the camp was to give quality instruction at an affordable price, where they could sleep in their own beds at night and come together everyday from four pm to nine pm with their teams and interact with other teams in their conference. Bonds of friendship have developed and instead of walking off the field after a game, they spend time talking and yes, even praying together afterwards.

This is what we have strived for and it is beginning to happen. It’s a great feeling to see all these young men come together and set and talk with one another during breaks. Now some may be thinking, doesn’t that sort of take the edge off their competition? No it doesn’t, in fact they challenge one another and in the spirit of the game, will do their very best to come away with bragging rights. This is how it is suppose to be, this is how God intended it to be, and drawing on His strength and grace, that is how it will remain.

You Need Not Die Alone

The other day a friend of mine lay to rest his oldest son. I had run into this man at a local store and I had invited him to share a lunch with some former co-workers/friends and I the next day. It was then that he informed me that he was burying his son on that day and time. I expressed my condolences and talked for a short time then parted.

When I returned home, I told my wife about the encounter and said that I wanted to attend graveside burial. What I didn’t know and my friend failed to inform me was that his son had died last November in Florida. They had decided to wait until he and his wife returned home here in Michigan in the spring to burying him.

Maybe his reasoning for not telling me was to spare himself the re-living of how his son had died. I still don’t know what had taken place, but having known his son and some destructive habits that he had acquired I was reasonably sure that I knew and he may have known that I was aware, and left it alone. But I knew that he was not looking forward to the next day and I could see it in his face and his speech. You the reader, must know that he and his son had some fairly rocky history over the years, but still, it was his son and that would never change.

When the day arrived, it arrived with a fury of wind and torrential down pours. As I stood in our living room looking out the window at mid-morning, I begin to question where or not I should go. To myself I question where or not they would attempt this in this terrible weather. My wife, who is very perceptive, said to me, why don’t you just send him a card I believe that that will have just as much meaning as you standing there in the rain and cold plus the card will have a lasting note of sentiment. That pretty much made up my mine and that is what I did. I also had lunch with my friends, but I still had some feelings of guilt.

I wondered how many other families were doing the same for their loved ones where no one showed. I wondered if the deceased was looking down and was sadden that his death didn’t deserve the meager respect that would bring a person or persons to bid him farewell. I hope he knew that at least I was thinking about him, his life and his family on that day. I pray that he knows that to be true. I know that I will not let this opportunity to express my grief at someone’s lost again.

“A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth. It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart.” Ecclesiastes 7:1-2

Have you ever had one of those days?

Have you ever had one of those days? You know like a Sunday morning. The alarm rings longer than it should have and as you roll over to shut it off, you realize its insistent cry. Our yearly time change from one more hour or less to sleep in or get up. You bolt from your warm and cozy bed. First things first, the coffee then a quick shower.

Secondly, what do I wear that I didn't wear last Sunday, or the church dinner during the past week. Decisions and the lack of coffee are not getting you any closer to making this monumental decision. As you stumble out of the closet and head for the kitchen a wave of anxiety floods over you as the fog in your primitive brain begins to recede and lets you know that you are one of the greeters this morning. You quicken your pace following the aroma of brewing coffee, take a corner to close, slamming your hip into a counter top and the mornings color of bright sunshine quickly turns a bright shade of red. But you press on. You have a need and pain wasn't it. You grab a mug for coffee and stop and stare at the coffee maker as it decides that this mornings brew will take a little longer. I need coffee you scream and grab the coffee pot from under its brew master and pour a cup of the hair of the dog that should have bit you last night.

You begin to see more clearly, your brain begins to hum and the pain in your hip has taken on a new feeling. But pain never the less. Back to the closet where you stand staring at the clothes, sipping your coffee. Nothing, I got nothing. What can I wear. Dark shirt and pants? No, you are greeting people, not sending them to the dungeon. How about something bright, maybe that shirt your Aunt Bertha got you in Brazil. No, it makes you look like the last member of a mariachi band that went south without you. Come on you say out loud, this is not that hard. After a item by item check, you settle on a white shirt, dark trousers and a tie. Not exactly GQ but you can live with it. The dressing part goes without a hitch. Now the part that should be an Olympic event. Tying a tie.

Where is your Hope?

Hope. Just exactly what is ‘hope’? The dictionary describes it as, ‘a feeling that what one desires will happen.’ It also says that, ‘happy is he whose hope is in the Lord his God’, (Psalms 146:5).

In Gods word, it is mentioned 13 times from Leviticus 26:40-45, to Revelations 22:21. In Leviticus 26:40-45, God is talking to the Israelites letting them know that He had not forgotten them or his covenant with them. They had hope that he would be true to his word. In Mark 5:35-36 he references ‘hope’ with believing. In 2 Corinthians 4:18 he gives the reader ‘hope’ in that what it troubling the reader, that it is only temporal. All the reader needs to do is believe and look beyond this world to what is unseen that is what is eternal. In Luke 18:35-43, the beggar here was condemned to a life of degradation and shame, but I believe that Gods spirit opened his minds eye to whom was passing and he shamelessly cried out to Christ to heal his sight so he might see. His hope was backed by the power of the Gods spirit and he was healed and believed in Christ.

In John 12:13(2), many people cried out “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!” They were expecting an earthly King that would drive the Romans out and set his rule in Israel. Not all who were there that day believed this, but those who did were not long in denouncing Jesus and even some were calling for his execution. This is a case of misguided or improper understanding of the Old Testament scriptures concerning a King that would free Israel from the rule of its suppressors. They had a false ‘hope.’ In 1 Corinthians 15:54-56, in this case, Satan seemed to be victorious, in the Garden of Eden (Genesis3) and at the cross of Jesus. But when God raised Christ from the dead, He snatched victory from what seemed defeat. The law would no longer make sinners such as ourselves attempt to live up to a standard that we were unable do. We would have been damned to Hell for eternity had Christ not risen, but having done so, gave us all ‘hope’ that a belief in Him and His sacrificial death for us had gained for us however unworthy, a place with Him in Heaven one day. That is the ‘Hope’ that cried from the very depths of our souls until we took that step, and accepted by faith, Jesus’ sacrifice on cross for us.

To be continued.