The Richland Church of Christ

Not only for me…

Where does the time go? Today is Theo’s fifth birthday; these milestones are almost trivial to us in our modern society, where we all expect to live into our eighties and nineties. However, did you know that the child mortality rate in the United States for children under the age of five was 462.9 deaths per thousand births in 1800, meaning that for every thousand babies born in 1800, over 46 percent did not make it to their fifth birthday? And just 100 years ago, in 1915, that number was 17% did not make it to their fifth birthday. Today that number is less than a percentage point, approximately seven children out of one thousand. A remarkable change in 200 years! Adult lifespans were not much longer, with many life expectancies only reaching into the forties for much of human history. With this in mind, we should be thankful every day God blesses us with our closest relationships. Regardless of the length of our lives, no one promises us that there will be a tomorrow; therefore, we should cherish each day.

A theme is carried throughout scripture concerning the generations of our families. Subtle as it is; however, it is continuously present. It is the existence of generational faith. During the first five books of God’s word, God repeats a promise to the Israelites, stating:

Deuteronomy 5:6-10 – “I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me. ⁸ “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind, or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. ⁹ You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected–even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. ¹⁰ But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.”

Because of the average length of life in those days, there was little generational overlap. We truly live in an unusual period of history where there is the possibility of seeing not only your grandchildren but your great-grandchildren as well, meaning our influence stretches farther than ever. Yet, this wisdom rings true that the life I lead will affect not only my personal outcome but also the choices of my children and grandchildren. If I start chasing other “gods,” my children will learn to follow that idol. I know this is a difficult piece of wisdom to digest, yet it is in God’s word. The things I value will be the same things my children love, whether I espouse them openly or indirectly.

Building a generational faith is a challenge for me personally. I am a type “A” personality and love being busy and productive. However, I have witnessed that many “preacher kids” see what their parent works as a product of career choice and not a product of faith. Therefore, it is vital that I teach my children that I do what I do because I love God and people, and not for a paycheck. Otherwise, they will perceive their dad as just a hard worker and not a faithful servant.

To wrap this up, this means I am setting up future generations of my family based on my current actions. The pattern and example of my life that I exhibit are what will last for generations. Think about the Israelites; they could constantly remember the faith of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and God’s faithfulness to them even when they were less than perfect. Take a look at the books for 1-2 Kings and 1-2 Chronicles and see how often it says they committed the sins of their fathers. Time and time again, we are reminded in scripture about the repercussions of our actions.

The Christian faith is not only about my faithfulness, but Christianity is also about living for others. Therefore, I am not a Christ-follower for myself only; I am faithful for my kids… for future generations… not only for me. And if you don’t have any children, then you are still living for future generations. Because the principles apply whether you a parent, aunt/uncle, acquaintance. We are attempting to live in such a way that we model what real faith looks like so that future generations can follow our example. Therefore we choose to love God with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength so that my five-year-old kid may, in turn, love God with every fiber of his being. And so that perhaps one day, my great-great-grandchildren will also know and love God. 

“Why God, why?”

For the first time in a long time, God is blessing us with a significant amount of rain, which is good. However, we don’t always see rain as the beautiful blessing it is for us. Friday, our first day with some rain, my family and I headed out for a stroll to a park. It had already been drizzling, so we brought a towel for the slides, excited to run and play after being couped up. As we started for the park, it began to sprinkle, not much, but enough to make Amanda and I wonder if heading to the park was a good idea. The more we walked, the larger and more frequent the drops fell… we decided to turn around and try the park another time. Surprisingly our boys handled the news well and headed toward our home. A couple of minutes later, Theo paused, stopping in his tracks, looked up to the sky, and in a questing voice, had a brief conversation with the Creator of the Universe. “Why God, why?” Amanda and I chuckled because of the purity and honesty of the moment; our little four-year-old recognized who controls the world and asked a question I must have asked a million times before, “Why God, why?” We have all been there at one time or another, confused about how our lives have turned out or why some misfortune has befallen us. And to be honest, I don’t have the time or wisdom to answer every situation we have encountered. However, I have one question to add to our quandaries, “Why do we feel like rain is a bad thing?” 

I don’t mean from a physical world representation because I think we all know how beneficial and necessary rain is for our survival and the survival world. Although we might not like rain ruining our parade, we know that rain is essential and indispensable, so we tolerate it, and we might even love it if we haven’t had it in a while. My real question is, why don’t we like spiritual or emotional storms in our lives? The apostle Peter puts it this way:

1 Peter 1:6-8 — “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, ⁷ so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; ⁸ and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,”

The rain (various trials) is merely an opportunity to put our faith into action. Standing firm during the storms of life demonstrates our faithfulness, not the sunshine and roses. It is during difficulties that our faith is verified. Therefore, when tested, we rejoice and praise because it is an opportunity to love and believe in Christ even more. 

There is one more thought regarding rain being a blessing. In Genesis, we read of a cataclysmic deluge; water engulfed the world during a massive storm that tested the faithfulness of one family. This flood was a terrible event for the ungodly; however, it was a blessing for Noah. The flood was, in one act, both a judgment and a deliverance. 

2 Peter 2:5, 9 – “and [God] did not spare the ancient world, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; … ⁹ [then] the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from a trial, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment”  

For Noah, the events leading up to the flood were exhausting and disturbing; however, God commends him for his ability to endure this challenging time. The storm for Noah, and the rest of the world for that matter, was a good and purifying event. The cataclysmic flood of Genesis was a good thing. That should comfort us during the storms of life. These events aren’t meant to drive us farther away from God but to draw us closer to Him. This concept is held throughout scripture, from the Flood to Revelation; trials are meant to help us reflect not only on the judgment of God but on His deliverance and provision during challenging times. Our faithfulness does not mean that in the middle of a “Why God?” moment, we can clearly see the outcome of our faithfulness; we must still cling to God, knowing that he will always rescue us from our various trials. It also doesn’t mean that these trials will be easy; if they were easy, they wouldn’t be trials. Let the trials be what strengthens you, not what weakens you, and that is all about perspective when we ask God, “Why?”

Shine a Little Brighter

I recently read a news article that enlightened me about our present situation. The situation itself is dire and has immediate consequences for our existence… worse yet, there is very little we can do about it. We must accept our fate and find a way to live with our new reality. The terrible news: “Washington State loses approximately three minutes of daylight every day in October!” That’s three minutes a day, 21 minutes a week, and over 1 ½ hour a month! As tragic as this is, it is predictable, and we can prepare ourselves mentally by adjusting our schedules and turning on a few more lights. Although we love our sunshine, we know that winter is coming, yet this shift is only temporary; it is all a part of our earthly existence.

Most of the time, we do well with this transition, but one side effect I did not account for was for our son Cooper. Cooper has developed a fear of the dark, which is not insurmountable, but he is more cautious in the twilight hours. However, he refused to come out of his room this last week until the lights were on. Our boys wake up early, usually before 6:30 AM, and this past week Cooper began calling out to me from the doorway of his room because the house was too dark. He was unwilling to set foot into the darkened place. Darkness is intimidating; we conjure up monsters and perils, unsure of what lurks in the shadows. And for a three-year-old boy, it was paralyzing, and he needed some reassurance that he could safely exit the room.

We, too, can let the darkness paralyze us. The ugliness in the world, the insecurity and impermanence of life, and the opposition to the Light can freeze us. It is almost too much to bear. We would much rather stay secluded in our rooms, afraid to venture into the world. We prefer to remain in our cozy, well-lit room than face the perils of the world around us. However, there is a problem with that mentality, as Jesus informs us.

Matthew 5:14 – “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”

We are the difference makers in the world. We are the vessels that light is supposed to shine. And if we are not there to shine our lights, the darkness will consume everything around us. It certainly would be easier to hide away in our corner of the world, but the world needs us to shine out into the darkness. And when we do become afraid, let’s remember the words of the apostle Paul:

2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.”

We are the light. We can’t be afraid of the dark. We can’t be timid about confronting the world around us. Even though it might be intimidating to speak the truth of God into people’s lives or share the Good News with them, we still need to shine that light. We need to be a city set on a hill, unable to be hidden, full of power, love, and discipline. Unwavering and steadfast in a world that needs light. It may seem like Washington in October, and we are losing 3 minutes of daylight a day, but that is when we shine a little brighter and keep the darkness away. Shine a little brighter so that those who might be afraid to leave their rooms are able to make it through the colder, darker months.

Let’s Not Be Naïve

There is one thing I often forget about when I am parenting… they are only three and 4-years-old. As a result, my expectations often exceed their ability. And to be clear, I am not speaking about their physical abilities. Those limitations are easy to accommodate; perhaps they cannot reach a shelf, their tiny legs can’t keep up, or they just aren’t coordinated enough to tie their shoes. The shortcomings I forget about aren’t their language acquisition or their ability to express their thoughts meaningfully, although that would be extremely helpful sometimes. If I had to pinpoint the limitation that irks me the most, it would be their overall lack of wisdom.   

I fully understand that they can’t comprehend the greater complexity of the world around them. However, I get that children don’t understand the basic principles of cause and effect. They have no idea what will happen when they spin around in circles with a garden rake or a shovel. They don’t pause to consider what will happen when they walk across sharp rocks with their shoes off. 

wis·dom [ˈwizdəm] NOUN

Little children don’t have the experience or knowledge to make good/wise decisions. Those events will come with time; however, it does not make my frustrations disappear when I explain why we don’t play with a wasp… even if it flutters on the ground. 

No matter how you slice it, there are gaps in all of our knowledge bases. There are things we haven’t encountered or experienced; therefore, we are naïve and unaware of how they affect us or change our lives. And perhaps that is why the beginning of wisdom is to admit that you don’t have all of the answers and you need to rely on someone else’s knowledge to thrive in the world. 

Proverbs 1:2-7
“To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, 3 To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice, and integrity; 4 To give prudence to the naive, To the youth knowledge and discretion, 5 A wise person will hear and increase in learning, And a person of understanding will acquire wise counsel, 6 To understand a proverb and a saying, The words of the wise and their riddles. 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Here is Solomon sharing this experience and knowledge with anyone that will listen. Yet, there is a beginning, a foundation that directs us to stand in awe and reverence before the Creator. Wisdom is the recognition that we are not the preeminent originator or author of the information. Worded in a more colorful way, we did not hang the moon. When we despise instruction, it consigns us to the realm of foolishness; fools believe they do not need to learn, which immediately becomes the roadblock to gaining wisdom. 

There is a purpose to wisdom. There is a reason to admit that we don’t have all the answers. It is through humbling ourselves and recognizing that we have gaps in our knowledge that we can find peace and confidence. 

Proverbs 1:22, 32-33 –
“How long, you naive ones, will you love simplistic thinking? And [how long will] scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge? … 32 “For the faithlessness of the naive will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them. 33 “But whoever listens to me will live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil.”

It is through this admission that we gain life and security. We can bumble around like children learning through painful consequences. Not only hurting ourselves but those around us. We attempt to handle dangerous and unsafe things, thinking we know better than our Father in heaven. Or, we can trust that His way is best and rest in awe and wonder that there is a God that laid out this wisdom for us to hold onto, giving us peace and security for our everyday lives. Let’s not be naïve and gain wisdom from the Author of this world and reality itself. 

This past Saturday, I had the difficult task of officiating a memorial service. Most of the time, I don’t mind funerals or memorial services. Although they are painful for the family for obvious reasons, it is part of life that we all should die. I believe that we have all discovered that everything comes to an end; even the best and healthiest people eventually run out of time. And except for a rare individual, here or there, most people feel like they “need” more time. However, what made this memorial service painful were two circumstances. 

These memorials are tricky because it is difficult for me to interject hope into the situation. I can encourage the family to honor the memory of their loved one, but I can’t reassure them that they will see their loved one again. It reminds me of Paul’s words to the church in Thessalonica. 

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, 18 NASB20 – “13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers [and sisters,] about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as indeed the rest [of mankind do,] who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose [from the dead,] so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. … 18 Therefore, comfort one another with these words.”

These words remind me that there are a lot of people in the world that have “no hope.” They have no comfort when death is standing at their door. When a loved one passes away, leaving them with a hollowness that is difficult to absorb. And it breaks my heart. The exact words that I use to comfort others are empty to those without the blood of Jesus. 

This hope is gained not in good deeds or earning the favor of those around us. We will never be ‘good enough,” but we are still covered because we are in Christ. It should also encourage us to have that hard conversation with someone because the “time is short” (1 Cor 7:29). We don’t know how much time any of us have. Still, it is better to give them hope now than to sit in their memorial service without hope.  

An old friend and mentor once told me a great way to visualize this is to imagine that everyone you meet is wearing drab gray prison clothes. They are locked away and without hope. There is no chance for parole, and their sentence is for “life.” But what if you could share with them the truth that there is hope and that there is someone who can commute their sentence? That someone can unlock their cell, and they can be free. Wouldn’t you want to share that hope?

It is also an excellent time to reflect that we do have hope; we have eternal hope. No matter how much time we have left on this earth, we will have far more time in the age to come. So we should genuinely live like that is our reality. It is hard for us to live with this as our mindset, but it is our reality. We used to live as if we had no hope, but we should now live differently regarding our eternal hope.  

Ephesians 2:12-13 NASB20 – “… [remember] that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the people of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who previously were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

Some weeks in life are more challenging than others; this is even true for those who work in professional ministry. I don’t say this to complain, but I think we can all feel that sentiment from time to time. There are weeks when our adversary prowls around like a lion waiting for us to let our guard down. There are moments when we feel like Elijah standing in the presence of God on Mount Horeb, “When Elijah heard [it,] he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice [came] to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 Then he [Elijah] said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of armies; for the sons of Israel have abandoned Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they have sought to take my life” (1 Kings 19:13-14). I had one of those weeks this last week. The week left me feeling drained and frustrated. And then there was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back; I had a former student and friend post their testimony declaring that they had deconstructed their faith and were walking away from Christianity. Sadly, I have grown accustomed to this new aspect of the Christian faith. Daily, there are church leaders and laypeople continually becoming disillusioned with the tenets of Christian ideology and completely pulling away from their beliefs. To be more than fair, these alienated people are usually upset at other humans and not at God, but in their worldview, God and his followers are one and the same. Therefore, they walk away.

Feeling the sorrow that comes from loss, I am presented with the opportunity to reflect on my faith. What do I believe in, and why do I believe in it? It is almost counterintuitive, but during these reflections on someone leaving their faith, I am encouraged to pursue mine more intentionally. Encountering these stories of separation allows me to reaffirm the foundations of my beliefs. 

• Is God real? Yes / No
• Is the Bible True? Yes / No
• Does He love me? Yes / No
• Did He send His Son to earth? Yes / No
• Did His Son die on a cross, was he buried in a tomb, did he rise from the dead? Yes / No
• Did all these facts restore my relationship with God? Yes / No

If I can answer “yes” to these questions, I know I must live like they are real. I have investigated these to understand what is accurate and true. If you feel ambiguous about any of these questions, I encourage you to examine and study them for yourself. Some will read these questions and affirm that they are all true; however, they will counter them with a “but…” and expand into some anecdotal scenario about how a person or organization has hurt them. Those circumstances are very tragic and traumatizing, but it doesn’t negate the validity of these other statements. If there is a God that loves me so much that He sent His Son to die in my place so that I can be raised to a new life, then nothing else matters. I think about a passage that Paul writes about Christian living and how we should view every circumstance, even the difficult ones. 

Colossians 3:22-24 – “Slaves, obey those who are your human masters in everything, not with eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people, 24 knowing that [it is] from the Lord [that] you will receive the reward of the inheritance. [It is] the Lord Christ [whom] you serve.”

The way and the reasons we live are not to endear us to others, win favor in the eyes of those around us, or even promote our sense of value. Everything we do is for the Lord. Even slavery, which is deplorable, is not accomplished with the attitude of reducing the severity or pleasing their masters but with sincerity of heart for Christ. Unfortunately, some people have an inaccurate view of why they follow God. They expect that following God will solve their problems or even promote social change… although trusting and obeying God can accomplish this, it is about doing it for Jesus and not others. 

When I hear that some have grown cold in their faith or left it altogether, I must remind myself that I did not become a Christ-follower because I wanted to make friends, to be popular, or even to be touted as “better than others.” On the contrary, I follow Jesus because He was God; he put on flesh and died for me. This means everything I do, is for the Lord and not men. It is not for their approval, their agreement, or their pleasure. Everything I do is for God.   

Weeping and Rejoicing

I have noticed a terrible habit that I have grown accustomed to displaying. First, I will tell you how I came to see that I have this habit. A week ago, I was visiting with both sides of our family and noticed that I have become horrible with light conversations. Once we talk about the weather or recent events, the conversation dies. And I started wondering why I have become so poor about sharing my life with others, even close family. Most people might get bored hearing about my personal life, specifically my ministry and my kids. Still, your family always wants to hear the latest installment… yet I don’t share that information.

So, I rounded up the usual suspects to discover what had changed in my life to inhibit my interpersonal communication habits. First, I targeted my biological and environmental factors to see what had changed. For example, biologically, I have gotten older, which means slightly more sedentary, but I also have a pretty active life, particularly if you factor in raising my kids. Another contributing factor is that perhaps I have grown more introverted in my old age… which tends to happen as we get older. Yet I have always been more extroverted than most, so even if that is the case, I still desire to converse with people.

Then I thought about environmental factors that have changed and how technology has possibly inhibited my conversational habits. You may have noticed that I don’t post much for those of you who I have friended on social media; my wonderful wife handles most of our familial media content. But I do scroll from time to time. And when I scroll, I am caught up on the latest happenings with everyone around me. Then, I give a brief “like” or “love” and move on with my day. Sharing the snippets of our lives is what these platforms were made for; include pictures (which are worth 1000 words), and you have a full-fledged novel moving past our eyes, giving us a virtual snapshot into each other’s lives.

Now to address my dwindling everyday dialogue. When I speak to people, I already know what they have been up to, and I assume they already know what I have been up to; therefore, there is nothing left to share. And I feel this is especially true when it comes to my family. They already know everything, so I think there is no need to divulge more information. But that’s the problem social media typically only highlights the most superficial surface level of events in our lives. It rarely portrays all the emotions and feelings that go into each portion of our day. Therefore, when I assume that my family knows everything, my assumption is wrong; they only know a small portion, the portion that I have revealed.

This causes me to reflect on God’sGod’s view of the church. Typically, what we see on a Sunday morning is the most superficial part of each other’s lives. We might get glimpses of each other’s high or low points, but ultimately, we miss the bigger picture. And so I think about Paul’sPaul’s words to the church in Rome.

Romans 12:15-16
“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.”

Three times in verse 16, Paul uses a conjugate of the Greek word φρονέω phronéō, from-eh’-o- to exercise the mind, i.e., entertain or have a sentiment or opinion, understanding, to feel or think. The phrases connected to this word are “be of the same mind,” “do not be haughty in mind,” and “do not be wise in your own estimation.” And so, it seems that the key to having the same mind and understanding each other is to rejoice and weep with those experiencing those same emotions. In other words, we should be sharing our lives in such a way that we can also share in our high and low points.

To tie these thoughts together, I witness within myself the reluctance to share my life events in person because I have already shared them through social media. However, that does not allow others the opportunity to rejoice or weep with me in person. We become linked with the “same mind” when we share these details of our lives, and each person can congratulate or comfort me in these moments of my life. If I want to grow in this community, I need to share my life with others, which means weeping and rejoicing even in the “small talk.”

“Don’t you want to feel better?”

Our middle son has a flare for the dramatic. He will undoubtedly be a phenomenal actor or a tremendous athlete that can draw a foul with a performance rivaled with Daniel Day-Lewis. Some of his best dramatic roles happen when he is under the weather, typified by a runny nose and a slight cough. Nothing troublesome, but he doesn’t handle discomfort well. At the beginning of his cold, he is more than a little reluctant to blow his nose and take some natural cough suppressants. However, the sicker he gets, the more disagreeable he becomes. It is as though any type of relief we could provide is worse than his present circumstance, and so he revolts and repels our attempts to offer help. A while ago, we discovered a fantastic invention, a lollipop made to soothe the throat when the coughing becomes unbearable. They are made with all-natural honey, vitamin C, and a little pectin to help break up the bad stuff. Here’s our thought: it looks like a sucker (which kids love); it is good for him and will help him feel better. However, when he is at his sickest, he will not even attempt to utilize the sucker. He will refuse even to open his mouth… and as a parent trying to do their best at 2 AM, it is possibly the most infuriating action ever. When he begins acting like this, I ask, “Don’t you want to feel better?” And I know that it will help, but he can’t imagine how this little lollipop will help in his pain and suffering, so he refuses it and grits his teeth.     

Two passages come to mind when this happens. Both happen during Jesus’ ministry and come from the Master teacher. 

John 5:5-8 
“Now a man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. 6 Jesus, upon seeing this man lying [there] and knowing that he had already been [in that condition] for a long time, said to him, “Do you want to get well?” ⁷ The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” ⁸ Jesus said to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.”

In this narrative, we see Jesus purposely single out this man. A man that has been infirm and paralyzed for 38 years. I can only imagine how difficult of an existence this would have been. It would be difficult today, but it would have been an unfortunate reality in the first century Judea. Jesus knows the man’s story, and his misery asks him literally, “Do you want to be made whole?” What a tremendous question for us all to answer. Do we want to be complete or restored? The man responds in a nonspiritual fashion on why it would be impossible for him to be made well. However, it is evident by his answer that he does wish to be whole again, but he sees no possibility for it to happen. And so, with a simple phrase, Jesus heals and restores the invalid. He sent him on his way. 

Some people in the world want to be made well. They are tired of the incompleteness they feel. They are wearied from the drudgery of trying to heal themselves. They have exhausted all possibilities and have no relief. When we encounter these individuals, we must ask the question, “Do you want to get well?” And when they want to know more, we show them our Savior. 

However, there is another type of person that exists in the world. They are the kind that knows there is a possibility of being healed, but they don’t want any sort of discomfort in the process. Therefore, regardless of the treatment’s benefits, any change or transformation is deemed painful, grit their teeth, and avoid being made whole. Jesus describes these people as swine, content to live in the mud, and will defend their mess tooth and nail. 

Matthew 7:6 “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”

The tricky part is knowing which type of people we are dealing with when we ask the question. First, however, we must always ask the question, “Do want to be made well?” Like a parent, we continue to offer the soothing lollipop. When we offer our Savior a salve for their souls, they might turn and gore us, but we still provide the medicine. We know that Jesus is the only thing that will satisfy and restore, so we must share, but there is always the reality that someone does not want to be made well. That doesn’t prohibit us from asking, but it provides answers when someone refuses the help of the Great Physician.  

The other day was my 20-year high school reunion. I obviously didn’t go, but thankfully because of Facebook, I was able to see some friends share their experiences, and I was if I was able to attend. However, there was something that shocked me, and all my friends were… old. I could see the same faces from 20 years earlier, but they had changed, weathered by life and experiences. This seems logical; it has been two decades since we’ve seen each other, but the more shocking thing is that they had aged while I am still an 18-year-old kid. Now we all know the ridiculousness of this statement; of course, I have aged. Mentally I don’t feel I am any older than my mid-twenties, but the reality is that I am pushing 40. The point that James addresses in his epistle as he writes about our perception. 

James 1:22-27 –
“But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for [once] he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who has looked intently at the perfect law, the [law] of freedom, and has continued [in it,] not having become a forgetful hearer but an active doer, this person will be blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his [own] heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of [our] God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, [and] to keep oneself unstained by the world.”

We might think we are young, but a simple glance in the mirror will confirm or deny that reality. In the same way, we can’t say we are doers of the word if our actions don’t reflect it. We can intently study God’s word, and if we never put it into practice, what good is it? I could research and devote myself to the intricacies of Greek and Hebrew languages, but if I never start living out the message in this book, what is the purpose?

So, let’s not fool ourselves anymore; I am not 18 years old, and if we are claiming to worship God, let us do it with word and deed. Let’s not just say we are Christians; let us do the things we claim to be our purpose. It is easy to say we are Christ-followers, but putting these principles into action is far more challenging. So let us hold up a mirror and reflect on who we really are.  

We live in extraordinary times. The other day I thought how magnificent of an era in which we live. It was 110 degrees and truly unbearable outside; however, I was able to eat ice cream in relative comfort. Now I say relative comfort because my air conditioner has been unreliable. Yet I am still able to live in comfort, which translates to 80 degrees, a difference of 20+ degrees. At no other time in human history have these two phenomena been so readily available. To have frozen dessert whenever I want it and not have to suffer the intensity of an eastern Washington summer is a modern marvel. For anyone who lives in the United States in the year 2022, you must realize that we have won the economic lottery. Yet, even with all of these amenities, I can still find an opportunity to complain. I wish it were one-degree cooler, or I wish it were a different flavor of ice cream. After these outlandish considerations, I must stop and realize how incredibly spoiled I am. In fact, the most routine flavor of ice cream, vanilla, was only available to royalty until the 16th century. Most spices were luxuries until the turn of the last century.

Perhaps we have it too easy. I am almost unacquainted with real suffering. In our society, we deaden ourselves to any sense of discomfort. If I feel a headache coming on, I’ll grab a dose of acetaminophen. If I am starting to feel bored, I’ll plop down in front of a TV screen. Everything is readily available and easily obtained. Even the thought of menial labor seems too distressing to consider. It is no wonder that Christianity has become so watered down; it has become counter to our culture that the thought of picking up our cross and following Jesus is foreign to us. When we think of Christianity, we believe that Jesus’ sufferings were all the sufferings that will ever happen, but that is not how the New Testament writers thought of our existence.

2 Corinthians 1:3-7
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. ⁵ For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. ⁶ If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. ⁷ And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.”

1 Peter 4:14-19
“If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. ¹⁵ If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. ¹⁶ However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. ¹⁷ For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? ¹⁸ And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” ¹⁹ So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.”

For these apostolic authors, suffering was a certainty. Paul, in a topsy-turvy passage, states that we can gain comfort from our sufferings. And Peter informs us that everyone will suffer, either as a criminal or for the sake of Christ. Nevertheless, he was sharing that it is far better to suffer for doing the will of God because of the final judgment that will one day visit us all. And so, in a society that avoids suffering at all costs, perhaps the best thing we can do is reminisce on the words of Paul in his letter to the church in Philippi.

Philippians 1:29
“For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.

We should interpret our lives under two privileged banners. The first is that we trust in Christ. Trusting in Christ is, without a doubt, an essential mark of a Christian. It is best to comprehend that regardless of what difficulties may come into my life, I have the blood of Jesus and the love of God resting on me. But I should also reinterpret suffering, especially for the Kingdom’s sake, as a privilege. We may think the best thing we can do is to eliminate suffering for ourselves, but if we avoid every discomfort, we slip into a state of lethargy and complacency. As a result, we cease to suffer, even for God’s Kingdom, and that is the greatest tragedy of all. 

 Please and Thank You.

The other day Theo and I were driving in the car, and a song came on the radio; it was “Fill my Cup” by Andrew Ripp, and he asked, “Why the singer didn’t say ‘please’ when he asked God to fill his cup?” for being a 4-year-old he makes a good point. And I stopped and realized how wise this is. That got me thinking, “Why don’t we say ‘Please’ when we make requests of God?” I started reflecting on my prayers and thoughts toward God and how I don’t even use common courtesy in my appeals when I pray to God. I ignore even the most basic manners and niceties required of my children when I speak to our Heavenly Father. ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you, are simple ways to soften the request and be polite and respectful. It places the petitioner in a position of humility and changes the tone of the prayer.

Meanwhile, we whine and demand like bratty, ungrateful offspring. We call out to God without ever giving a second thought to the nature of our asking, let alone the content of our request. As a result, our prayers are not only self-centered, but they carry a feeling of entitlement, reminding me of the timeless passage in James.     

James 4:2-3 “You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. ³ When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”

Everything in this passage points toward self-centered attitudes. It is all about desires, covetousness, and personal pleasures. In this passage, we see the first concern is that we attempt to solve our problems independently without asking God. Then when we finally ask, our hearts aren’t in the right place. Perhaps our motives will begin to align if we approach God with a polite, respectful, and reverent attitude.

It is not as though God doesn’t want us to ask. He is ultimately good and wants to give us good things… but what we ask for is not often of the highest caliber.

Luke 11:11-13 “What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; ¹² or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³ If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

We should note the contrast that Jesus uses in this passage. Jesus plainly states that we can give ‘good’ gifts even though we are evil. God can provide even more perfectly than we can even attempt. Jesus then clarifies that the best and highest gift is the Holy Spirit. Signaling requests pertaining to the spiritual nature are better than a request of the physical variety.

Let’s change our attitude toward asking God. First, let us humbly and respectfully approach Him, even using words like ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you. And then let us make sure we are placing a value on our spiritual concerns and not only on our physical dilemmas. Finally, let us take note of how our prayers change by adjusting these two areas when we talk to God.

Bluetooth

My phone died this last Wednesday. My first discovery was it is shocking how much I rely on my phone. People would call and text; I could hear it ring, yet there was no way for me to respond. It was incredibly frustrating. However, I did discover a workaround. If my phone is in my truck, I could send text messages and make calls using the truck’s Bluetooth capabilities. However, for this to work, I needed to be in my vehicle, and it needed to be on; for this to happen, it meant running the engine because it was 95 degrees outside. A running truck uses gas; we all know gas prices are too high to sit in my vehicle and make phone calls. Therefore, I have been largely unreachable for the last five days. Then whenever I would get into my truck, I would see that I had missed notifications and texts to which I could not respond. Reminding me how much I use my phone with each report and alarm. Being tethered to a vehicle reminds me of a passage from Hebrews; the writer compares the earthly priesthood with the position that Jesus holds. Simplistically, priests are the agent acting between the people and God. The uncleanness of humanity requires purification before approaching a holy and righteous God. The priests were the conduit for the people of Israel to interact with God. 

Hebrews 7:24-26 – “But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. ²⁵ Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. ²⁶ He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. He has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place of honor in heaven.”

Hebrews 8:1-2 – “Here is the main point: We have a High Priest who sat down in the place of honor beside the throne of the majestic God in heaven. ² There he ministers in the heavenly Tabernacle, the true place of worship that was built by the Lord and not by human hands.”

Similar to my phone, I needed a way to make and receive phone calls, but I needed to use my truck’s Bluetooth capabilities to channel the phone’s abilities. However, that would mean permanently attaching me to my vehicle, which is awkward and untenable. Prior to Jesus, God’s people were tied to a priesthood, a limited intermediary that could allow them to approach and connect with God. This changes with the sacrifice and priesthood of Jesus. He is forever able to intercede and interact with God, as he is God and in the presence of God. We do not have a secondary instrument required to connect with God. Our access to God is immediate and instantaneous. We don’t have to enter a man-made temple or location; we become the temple. We don’t need an intermediary or mediator; Jesus is that, and he always has access, and even more than that, his sacrifice made us a kingdom of priests. Making our access to God is perfectly complete. How great it is to have direct access to the God of the cosmos without needing a mediator. 

Rise and Shine!

One of the fastest ways to be discharged from the military is having a non-disclosed medical issue. Individuals who decide to enter the armed forces report to their closest Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS). At MEPS, medical personnel will evaluate recruits on their mental and physical fitness to join a military branch. This process involves an in-depth medical evaluation, checking eyesight, joints, cardiac functions, and any possible motor issues. However, there is one area that they can’t check and can go unnoticed until a recruit arrives at their basic training station. This condition affects about 3% of adults, but it is far more prevalent in children, affecting about 17%. So what is the reason for immediate discharge? Somnambulism knew as sleepwalking. Most people grow out of this condition as they grow, but it is easy to see why it is detrimental to the armed services. It would be unfortunate and dangerous for an individual to sleepwalk in a combat environment. And although it might not even seem like a big deal in civilian life, it would have dire consequences on the battlefield. Therefore, once an individual is diagnosed with somnambulism, they are immediately discharged from service.

Before this diagnosis, a person might not even know they sleepwalk. However, cramming 60 people into an open bay barracks and physically exhausting the recruits leads to the right circumstances for this disorder to be noticed. Monitoring sleeping habits was one of the duties of the nightshift of Charge of Quarters (CQ) to see if anyone was waking up and wandering around.

Sleepwalking in the military makes me think of two verses regarding our Christian walk. The first comes from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, the infamous log and speck passage.

Matthew 7:3-5
“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”

We can only notice these circumstances when we live in an intimate community with each other. You must know someone well to see a speck in their eye. Like sleepwalking, you must be in a tight-knit group before someone else can notice something like this. A hermit living alone in the mountains might never know they have a problem like sleepwalking. However, we all have specks or even logs, and living in proximity to others can address these hidden obstacles. Unfortunately, many people want to avoid this scrutiny and would rather not know or hide that they have internal struggles. This leads me to my second thought about sleepwalking.

Ephesians 5:8-16
“Walk as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. ¹¹ Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. ¹² For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. ¹³ But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” ¹⁵ Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”

This passage instructs us to walk as children of light, meaning we don’t choose to bury or avoid our issues. Instead, we want to expose them to the light. We don’t purposely hide our hang-ups, but we want to use our time wisely to bring Christ to the world. And we cannot do that if we are living halfway in secret. So, I urge you today to Rise and Shine!

Blog 6.27.2022

Delivering the Good News

Invariably, when there is something to be accomplished in the Condos home, a generalized request is sent out, “Would someone please pick up the firetruck in the middle of the floor.” The only people to hear that request are typically the other parent, who is already attending to another pressing matter, probably a missing shoe. When the original request is unsuccessful, I develop a more specific plea, “Theo, please put the firetruck into the toy bin.” Once again, Theo either did not hear the request or ignored it because it was “boring.” However, Cooper will have heard it and sharply replied that he is also looking for the missing shoe. This is precisely why I asked Theo to take care of it the second time. The only way a request like this ever gets accomplished is by taking the time to personally walk up to Theo, get on his level (possibly stooping to the ground), and ask him to pick up the toy. Finally, after all that effort, someone will pick up the toy, accomplishing the simplistic undertaking.   

The irony of ministry or perhaps just communication is that the people who need to hear a message are never listening. I was given terrific advice nine years ago as I started my ministry career: “Never present a message designed for one specific person.” When you ignore this advice, you only harm yourself. You will spend hours crafting the perfect sermon or lesson for the targeted person to hear. You will work on details that will strike the heart and possibly affect real change in the individual. But, almost without fail, the person you were hoping to reach won’t be there when it comes time to present the message. In the grand scheme of things, it always works out because God was simultaneously working on someone else’s heart, but for the presenter, the message does not land the way we intended, and you will feel discouraged at your failed attempt.

Having listeners attend to a message is not new; Jesus encountered it throughout his ministry and pointed out this fact to his disciples in the first parable. 

Matthew 13:13, 19, 22 – “¹³ This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. … ¹⁹ When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. … ²² The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.” 

Jesus begins by stating why he used parables, which indicates the audience’s willingness to hear and understand. Many do not want to hear; perhaps it is too “boring,” complicated, or different from their preconceived biases. Others hear, yet other priorities take root; maybe they are looking for a lost shoe. However, the message still needs to be declared. 

Romans 10:14-17 

 “But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? ¹⁵ And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” ¹⁶ But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “LORD, who has believed our message?” ¹⁷ So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.”

People still need to believe and to believe, and they need to have first heard about Jesus. So perhaps, just like the opening scenario, we specifically address them and have a one-on-one conversation about Jesus. And to be most effective, we must personally walk up to them, get on their level, and tell them about the Good News. 

What Will You Do for Jesus?

We get it; working around Sundays can be a challenging prospect. Often it seems as though the ritualistic nature of Sundays gets in the way. Amanda and I began celebrating Father/Mother’s Day a day earlier than everyone else this year. The reasoning is simple, our Sunday mornings are filled with other pertinent matters. And so, my wife, in her amazing and brilliant wisdom, decided that it would be best (read less chaotic) if we simply observed these special days a day earlier. The funny thing is it took us eight years of ministry to figure this out, although we’ve only had children for four of those years. Regardless of how long it took, this switch was transformative for our family. We were able to celebrate each other and enjoy the morning at a relaxed pace. Why were we trying to cram everything into one day? Why did we feel we needed to mash everything into a Sunday morning?

Some of that is trying to keep up with social and cultural norms. We play along with what society says and don’t consider why we are doing these things. Some of it has to do with our luxurious living, where we dedicate a whole day to a parent or person. Gone are the days of a coffee mug and tie. Now we feel the need to lavishly exaggerate our celebration. I believe it is good to recognize the people in our lives, and it is positive reinforcement for all we do for each other. The problem is, why do we feel the necessity to pack it on top of Sundays? A day where we should be reflecting on Jesus.  

Mark 16:2- “Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb.”

Acts 20:7- “On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.”

1 Corinthians 16:2- “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.”

From these passages, we can see the forethought that should go into our weekly meetings. We will go out of our way to schedule and prioritize every moment of our lives, but we will seldom put that same effort into making sure we are meeting together on a regular basis. If I assert that Jesus is the most essential piece of my life, can I reorganize it to reflect this reality? What else could I switch around to place more emphasis on the body of Christ? 

Historically the Jewish people were well accustomed to making their rhythm of life reflect their spiritual reality. I am not suggesting that we become dogmatic or rigid about these concepts; I am merely suggesting that we think of our lives with this question: What will you do for Jesus? Switching up our special day observances was a simple and beneficial way for my family to say, Jesus comes first. 

Blog. 6.13.2022

Memories

Attending someone’s memorial service is one of the more underrated experiences that most people avoid or dismiss. Being in this profession for the last nine years, I have had ample opportunity to listen to an individual’s farewell tribute, even when I didn’t know them personally. It is fascinating to hear about someone’s life and legacy. I get to formulate my thoughts and opinions about them from the perspective of their entire life. And typically, at these celebrations of life, the only things that are shared are good memories, so I get to know the best about an individual (this helps with the concept of grace). We often see people for a brief snapshot of their life, and these moments only give us insights into who they are and the lives they lived. But at a memorial service, I can hear their impact and the memories shared across the totality of their existence. Whenever I leave a service like this, I feel the urge to make the most of my time on earth. I think of the memories I will leave for others to cherish, and I want to make sure that the memories that people have of me are good ones. And when people think of me, it will be a fond memory they recall. 

Memories are an interesting phenomenon. They are tied back to the person that we once knew. They link us to each other in ways that overcome space and time. We can instantly recall someone in our life’s history long after our interactions with them are gone. It is a humbling and encouraging thought to know the impact we can have on each other. Tragically our intimate recollections are also fleeting. It will eventually disappear no matter how much we want to hold onto a memory. It is a sad truth that there will come a time when no one will remember us. The writer of Ecclesiastes put it like this: “No one remembers the former generations, and even those yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow them” (Ecclesiastes 1:11). Think about it from your anecdotal perspective; what do you really know about your great-great-great-grandfather or grandmother? Do you even know their names? As depressing as this thought can be, I want to leave you with a hopeful message; no matter who forgets about you on earth or how temporal everything appears, there is one who knows you and will never forget you. 

Luke 12:6-7 
“What is the price of five sparrows–two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. 7 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.”

Although there will come a time when no one remembers you, God will always know you. Jesus’ words in this passage are reassuring and comforting. We are so valuable to God; He even numbers the hair on our heads. The details that God knows about us are truly immeasurable. And even when others forget about me, God will know these intimate details. And for those who participate in the new covenant, there is an additional benefit. 

Hebrews 8:10-12 
“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 11 And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. 12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.”

God will remove all our sins and remember them no more. Like these memorial services, He will recall only the best parts of us and bring them to memory. Our earthly memories will fade and come to an end, but to the Living God, we will always be remembered as those made blameless in the blood of the Son. That is why the best actions we can take in this life are not to live for the praise and accolades of men but to secure our treasure in heaven, where even memories will not be extinguished by the ravages of time. 

Blog 6.6.2022

Starting Today

Record numbers of those professing to be followers of Christ are leaving their churches. Across the board, young people are turning their backs on formal religion and its ritual observances. The Barna Research Group noted an alarming statistic that “nearly two out of every three young Christians (64%) disconnect either permanently or for an extended period of time from church life after age 15.” Reading a statistic like this will always break my heart. My heart aches for those that leave and never come back; for them to approach the love of Christ and reject it overwhelms me with sorrow. Their website (Barna Group – Knowledge to navigate a changing world) has a lot of great resources; they have done a lot of surveys and research on how to maintain this disappearing demographic. I highly recommend looking into their assortment of studies to gain perspective.

However, I believe two things can happen when we look at research studies and surveys like this. The first is that we begin to feel hopeless, desperate, and perhaps that all is lost. I encourage you to not fall into this trap of thinking. We (Christians) are built upon hope; even when all seems to be lost, we have a God who can do the impossible. “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

The second is that we tend to point fingers when we read this kind of information. We blame every generation for its failings. We condemn the one generation for their lack of love. We blame another for their lack of conviction. Yet another is blamed for its soft stance on biblical issues. We point fingers and blame everyone for their contributions to this problem. Jesus has a far different approach to looking at these issues; they are found in Matthew 7:3-5, the discourse of the speck and log. Jesus plainly teaches that when there are glaring weaknesses in our spiritual walk, we first address our shortcomings and then help out those around us. We all have spiritual struggles; to deny this is to call God a liar, “If we claim we have not sinned, we make [God] out to be a liar, and his word is not in us” (1 John 1:10). The proper adjustment is to take stock of your own walk and fix the areas you are lacking, and if you are lacking, God will bring you to maturity. If you don’t know if you have a speck in your eye, ask someone; perhaps they can see it well enough to help you pinpoint the culprit.

In their book “Faith for Exiles” David Kinnaman and Mark Matlock present a strong strategy for exodus-proofing a church. It is by maintaining a multigenerational approach to all aspects of life. This means breaking out of a “Sunday morning mentality” or having conversations with people in a different age category. It might even mean leaving your specific region of the building to talk to someone across the aisle. Here are some questions to consider: when was the last time you spoke to someone that was not your “”normal”” group at church? When did you seek out someone in a different age group than you? These little questions are the specks in our eyes; let’s not let them turn into logs.

One final thought on issues like this. It is easier to “”Monday morning quarterback”” or second-guess what we should have done in the past. It is harder to look forward, hold ourselves accountable and make the necessary adjustments. It is like putting our hand on to plow and looking back; we can’t live like that. Starting today, we must keep our eyes firmly fixed on our intended direction and start moving the way we should be heading.

Luke 9:57-62
“As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “”I will follow you wherever you go.”” 58 Jesus replied, “”Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”” 59 He said to another man, “”Follow me.”” But he replied, “”Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”” 60 Jesus said to him, “”Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”” 61 Still another said, “”I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”” 62 Jesus replied, “”No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”