We're a couple of days past the Memorial Day weekend so I'll share a few thoughts from a book I'm reading about World War II – The Storm of War, by Andrew Roberts. It's a new history about the war, but not in the “dumbing down” or “rewriting the history of the war” sense.  It tells the story of the war in more technical terms and here's a well-known historical fact and one example from the book.

Hitler's surprise attack on the Soviet Union, Operation Barbarossa, began on June 22, 1941.  His plan was to defeat Russia for two reasons:

1)    He knew that when America entered the war in Europe he would then have a two front war – the US and Great Britain in France and Russia on an eastern front.

2)    Germany needed the natural resources of Russia to sustain and win the war.

I said all this to state that as the German war planners began to look at invading Russia for her coal, oil, and grain – they estimated that (if successful in their aim to conquer Russia) 30 million Russians would likely starve to death in the first year of the invasion!  Imagine it – military strategists counting 30 million human beings as a “reasonable cost” for what the Germans hoped to gain!  We know that Operation Barbarossa didn't succeed and Hitler lost over 1 million soldiers.

At the least, history tells us how dark the dark side of human cruelty can be and how much the gospel is needed in any era.  At the most, as we look back on another Memorial Day, we realize how fortunate we are that so “many gave some and others gave all”!

Pastor Mark

As I looked at the pictures of the devastation in Oklahoma, something made me think about integrity.   Those buildings we planned and built well, yet under the pressure of the wind, they collapsed.  What about our personal & spiritual integrity?  Are we who we say we are?  Are we men/women of our word?  Do we remain strong or sway in the breeze when our faith is tested?

There will come a day when you are tested and others will see what is inside.  Have you ever watched a cider press?  The apples are put into the press and the weights are pressed upon the apples.  What comes out of those apples during the squeezing?  Juice…cider.  What about us?  When things get tough or don't go our way?  Do good things come out or the bad things?

Luke 6:45 – “a good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.  For the moth speaks what the heart is full of.”

• What are you putting into your heart?
• What you put in behind the scenes (devotional time, prayer time, love…) comes out.
• Look at sports teams or bands.  You can tell if they have practiced hard or not.

2 Corinthians 8:1-5 – Paul is telling the Corinthian church about what he saw when the Macedonian church was ‘pressed'.  What came out of them… (verse 2) “in the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity”.  They were pressed and out came joy and generosity.  I wonder what they were putting into their lives.

If you have let your integrity slip, take the time to build it back up.  Just like it will take a while to rebuild from those tornados, it will take time to rebuild our integrity.  But we need to have integrity.  The world needs to see that we will not be moved from our foundation of faith in Christ Jesus.

Lord, help me to be a man of my word.  Help me to be firm in my faith even when the pressure comes against me to fold.  Help me to be who You made me to be.

PB

What does it mean to be “Poor in Spirit”?  You probably know that this sounds like one of the Beatitudes…it is.  It happens to be the first one.  Let’s look at Matthew 5:3 – “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (NIV)  When I read this verse the other day, the Spirit of God spoke to my heart, but I was not prepared for what came next.  God kicked me out of my comfortable righteous home, and cast me to the streets.

I have been struggling a little recently.  Most people will not admit they struggle with anything, but I guess I just did.  Being in ministry for 20 years has been a blessing and also a burden.  I know how to pray, counsel, visit the elderly and hurting, write articles once a month and prepare messages.  By now, I can pretty much walk into a room with a Bible, and spout out something… Then I heard a knock on my door.  The visitor asked me to step outside.  It was a little awkward, but I obeyed.  Then the visitor did the unexpected.  He shut the door and stepped away so that the whole front of my house was in view.  I was confused and wondering what he was going to do next, but I followed him.  I noticed for the first time in a long time, that the outside of my house looked better than the inside.  The inside was not that bad, mind you…I’ve been in worse.  Yet the outside was nearly perfect.  Each shudder was perfectly aligned, evey weed had been pulled, the landscaping was immaculate, and the driveway had no cracks.  But for some reason I was drawn to look in my front picture window.  When I peaked in, I noticed piles of junk in my living room.  It wasn’t as bad as you would see on the Cable show “Hoaders“, but it was still there.

I heard my own voice say: “I can’t do this anymore…” “I have nothing else to give.”  “It’s too frustrating, and it doesn’t seem worth it anymore.”  “I feel empty and uninspired.”

I had to ask myself if I really wanted to continue on like this.  I didn’t, and I told God that very same thing.  He was the visitor to my house that day.  He took me to a place where I could see the junk that I have been storing…for some time.  There was a stack of boxes that were marked ‘Frustration’.  Another pile had the words ‘Anger, Bitterness, Unforgiveness’.  The picture God painted for me made me want to crawl away and hide.  Where could I go though?  Instead, I admitted my condition.  When I did this, God’s grace came in like a flood.  Looking through eyes of tears, once again into my picture window, all the boxes were gone.  There wasn’t even a trace.

The key to becoming “Poor in Spirit” is admitting your condition.  This is the place where God called me to, and I believe He is calling His True Church to…the place where you and I become open and honest before Him.  Matthew 5 is not a remodeling project, it is a total home makeover.  In Ezekial 18:31, we read, “Get rid of all of the evil things you have done.  Let me give you a new heart and a new spirit.  Then you will be faithful to me.  Why should you die, people of Israel?”

I don’t know if you realized it before or not, but the Beatitudes are actually steps and I will give you a quick example of those steps.  1. First we recognize that we are in need (poor in spirit).  2. Then we repent (mourn) for doing things in our own strength.  3. We surrender control to God (meek).  4. We experience the presence of God and want more (hunger and thirst).  These steps are from Max Lucado’s study called “Experiencing the Heart of Jesus”.

Understand this: God brought me to this place.  It is not something that I or you can stir up in ourselves.  I came to a place where He not only showed me what was in my heart, but also, helped me to see my desperate need for Him.  It may seem like a bad thing at first…but really it’s an incredible gift.  I am thankful for what God is doing in me, and I am praying that you experience Him also.  Maybe God will speak something in you when you read this.  To God be the glory forever!

P Ray

I love words and the word account or accountability is an interesting one!

An account can be as simple as our bank account (which includes “counting” to balance a checkbook – even if your computer software does it for you!).  Accountability is an explanation of something that has happened, especially one given to somebody in authority. An accountability person, then, is someone who helps you count – not with numbers, but with questions about attitudes, actions, words, desires, successes, failures, and all the stuff life is made of.  God has given me a great accountability partner and friend and each week we ask each other the hard questions.  Did you view anything on the internet you wouldn't want Jesus or your wife to know you saw?  Is there someone you had trouble loving as Jesus loves?  Were you honest in your business dealings?  Did you obey the laws of the land?  Did you exercise and eat right (I hated this question so much I started back to the YMCA to exercise again).  And as pastors, did you pray and read your Bible?  Did you intentionally share your faith?  How did you treat your wife and children?  Is your heart pure regarding the women in your church or those who have more money and stuff than you do?

I've found it's both painful and liberating to be accountable when you can trust someone (and place yourself under their authority) to take an inventory of your life on a weekly basis!

Don't have a person like this in your life?

Two simple suggestions:  first, your accountability partner ordinarily can't be your wife or husband because, unless you are superman (spiritually and morally), you will not likely be totally honest with your spouse.  Second, ask the hard questions, which include: Have you been honoring, understanding, and generous in your important relationships this week?  Have you damaged a person by your words (either face-to-face or behind their back)?  Have you been a testimony to the greatness of Jesus Christ with both your words and actions?  Have you given in to an addictive behavior this week?  Have you been completely honest with me today?

I encourage you to find someone to help you count!

Having an accountability partner (who is a pastor) has helped lighten the burdens of my heart and I trust it's true for him as well.

Pastor Mark

I don’t know about you, but I seem to go through seasons in my spiritual walk, kind of like everyday life. Spring is busy.  I have softball/t-ball with my girls, trying to get outside more with the girls, mowing the lawn, planning a summer calendar, meetings, and the list goes on (like yours).

Sometimes that pace of life runs into my devotions.  I think “I got to hurry and get this in, I don’t want to get behind”.  Last year I read through the Bible in a year.  I was reading 2-4 chapters a day.  This year, I started to read through the Bible chronologically.  I didn’t get very far.  I felt that I was hurrying.  Then I got behind.

I recently started a new plan.  It is usually a paragraph or two of a devotional to read, then a few verses of Scripture.  Sometimes, I read the entire chapter for context.  It has helped to slow down and be with God and try to absorb His Word.  Don’t get me wrong, it was great to read the entire Bible last year, but right now, slowing down is better.

How is your time with God?  Don’t feel guilty if it isn’t good, just get back to it.  Doug Fields (Pastor at Saddleback Church) explains devotions as ‘hang time with God’ (sorry, teen lingo). If we approach our quiet time as time to hang out with a friend it will be more enjoyable than a meeting you have to go to.  Think about: Adam & Eve in the Garden, just walking with God;  Or Moses, going up on the mountain to meet with God; Jesus, going to a solitary place to be with His Father.

So, hurry up and make some time to slow down with God.

PB

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”  Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Matthew 22:36-40

In this section of Scripture, the Sadducees had just failed in trying to beat Jesus in a game of wits.  So they handed off to the Pharisees (like they would do any better).  They asked Jesus what the greatest commandment was.  Some have said that the Jews divided the law into greater and smaller commandments.  Some of the Jews believed that sacrifices were the greatest, others circumcision.  They wanted to know what Jesus thought, but they were not prepared for His answer.

Jesus told them the same thing He tells you and I.  We are to love our God with ALL our heart, soul, and mind.  Just like the Pharisees, we think that God is happy with us because we sacrifice something, but is he?

Malachi 1:8-10 says: “You sacrifice blind animals to me.  Isn’t that wrong?  You sacrifice disabled or sick animals.  Isn’t that wrong?  Try offering them to your governor!  Would he be pleased with you?  Would he accept you?” says the Lord who rules over all.  “Now you dare to ask me to show you my favor!  But as long as you give offerings like those, how can I accept you?” says the Lord.  “You might as well shut the temple doors!  Then you would not light useless fires on my altar.  I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord.  “I will not accept any of the offerings you bring.”

After reading this verse, do you still think that God is happy with us as long as we sacrifice anything???  God wants our all.  We need to show Him that we love Him with every part of who we are.  That is why it says Heart, Soul, and Mind.  That covers the whole package!  Two out of three is not good enough…

I recently finished a book called Crazy Love by Francis Chan.  This book has changed my life.  God spoke to me directly throughout this book and the Holy Spirit convicted me many times.  One important area specifically was in the way that I love others.  This happens to be the second greatest commandment.  We have a built-in nature that makes it easy to love and care for ourselves, that is why it is so hard to put that nature aside and put someone else first.  The Crazy Love book asks very blunt questions of us.  He uses Matthew 25 as the basis of his teaching for us.  The main verse in chapter 25 is verse 40: “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these bothers of mine, you did for me.'”

So when we love: the person who pulled out in front of us, and proceeded to drive really slow; the person who just stabbed us in the back, and they are a fellow believer; the prostitute or drug dealer, then we LOVE GOD!  God is giving us a challenge that most of us have overlooked forever!  How would you rate your love on a scale?  What if you were to offer your level of love (for God AND others) to God as an offering?  Would He accept it as pleasing?  This book made me realize that I have to far to go, but it also gave me inspiration and helped me find a deeper relationship with my God.  Please go out and buy this book and then let me know what it has meant to you.

God is calling us into a deeper relationship with Him.  We cannot get closer on our own terms.  We HAVE TO let go.  Until we let go, we will only experience the shallow waters…the choice is ours!

Pastor Ray

Early in my ministry (in the land before time) I was a youth pastor and one of the gals in my youth group married a young man who had a clear call to ministry.  Later, as I pastored near Youngstown, Jon and Paulette attended the church I served. Although separated by distance and the busyness of our schedules (they have spent their lives in pastor ministry or as missionaries (4 years in Africa)), Jon and I have remained best friends.

Last Friday he came to Lima to spend a day with me!  We ate at Max and Erma's in Findlay, went to all my favorite train watching locations (we were just driving and talking, so it didn't matter where we went), laughed, cried, and prayed together.  What a super day!

I have many great friends, but what a joy to be able to share my joys and challenges with my pastor/friend who understands me and I get to be a blessing to him.

I pray all of you have such a friend!

Pastor Mark

I get a little tense when I hear about some of the debates going on in our world and how it relates to Christians.  The marriage issues, abortion and other issues that seem to be ‘against' what Christ Followers believe.  On one hand, I don't like being pressured or seeing one person being a ‘spokesperson' for us on the news.  We often get portrayed as haters instead of lovers.  We need to defend our faith, but we also need to be more loving (1 Corinthians 1:1-3).

On the other hand, I think it can be a good thing to make it a little harder on us.  What? Wait a minute PB, why would you want things to be harder?  I know that sounds crazy, but sometimes, I think we take our freedoms for granted.  The church overseas is booming, especially under oppression.

I came across a Scripture this week that reminded me that this isn't the 1^st culture to deal with “what to do with God's people”.  Look at Exodus 1.  A new leader comes into power in Egypt, not knowing about Joseph and the Israelites.  He doesn't know what to do with God's People.  His big response is fear.  He is afraid that they will take over or leave the country.  The Egyptians needed the Israelites.  The United States needs Christians.  So what does the leader do?  He oppresses God's People and makes it really tough on them.  He takes away their freedom.  But the people remain strong, keeping their faith/traditions.  And after 80+ years, God frees them from captivity.  If you look closely at Exodus 1:12 – the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread.

Let me share 2 examples and 1 encouraging Scripture:

-          Ruth – look at the dedication of Ruth.  She could have left Naomi (her mother in law), but she stayed true to the commitment to the family.  She was blessed later with children and a great lineage (King David…Jesus!).  Stay true to your commitment to God.  Don't give up.

-          Joshua – how would you like to follow after Moses?  Not an easy task.  In Joshua 1, the Lord comes to Joshua and gives him the plan for entering the Promised Land.  How does Joshua respond?  His response is begins in verse 10.  He gets right to work and gives the leaders a pep talk and shares the plan.  He responds with courage.  Have courage when the challenges come your way.

-          2 Corinthians 4:8-9 – Paul shares that tough times will come, however, those things won't win.  God will win.  Even though we are pressed, we are not crushed; even though we are persecuted, we are not abandoned!

Pray for courage and that we would remain strong in our faith, no matter what the world throws at us.

Pastor Brent

Psalm 63:1-2 – A Psalm of David.  When he was in the Desert of Judah.

O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.  I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and Your glory. 

If it is true that only God will satisfy our soul, then why do we look everywhere else?  John Piper writes: “Loving God will include obeying all His commands; it will include believing all His word; it will include thanking Him for all His gifts; but the essence of loving God is enjoying all He is.”

This is something that stopped me in my tracks.  Can I honestly say that I enjoy God?  I fear Him, love Him, talk to Him, and do my best to listen, but how often do I REALLY enjoy Him?  I have to confess, it is not as much as I should.  David, the man after God’s heart, wrote the Psalm.  He was in love with God!  Even though he messed up big time, he loved God.  If you and I were a character in the Bible, how would we be described?

If you are not “feeling” the longing for God, there is hope.  If you feel like you do not “enjoy” God like you want to, then I want to encourage you to repent.  Go to the foot of the cross, and confess that you have chased after other things, put other substances ahead of God’s rightful place.  And then tell God that you want to know Him more, love Him greater.  Ask Him to increase your faith!  Rid yourself of the draw of the world, and be free.

PRay

I've decided that when it's my turn to blog I'm going to talk about real life and how I often get it right – or not. Here's an “or not”.

Dinah's pain was getting out of control last Friday afternoon so we went to the ER at the Bluffton Hospital. When Dinah got on the scale I said to Dinah and the nurse weighing her: “One at a time please” and laughed. The nurse, who was very nice but not petite, said “That might be funny for some people, but it's not for me if I were on the scale and you said that.”  I was busted!

The nurse came into the room about 20 minutes later and I said “I'm so sorry I said that to my wife and to you. I should be thinking of ways to build you both up, not tear you down.  Will you please forgive me?”  Thankfully she was gracious and did forgive me.  Funny thing was, though I needed to go in and out of the ER several times and she was the one who had to push the button to open the door, she was very friendly to me – even smiling!

I'm an otter by personality, meaning I like to make things fun and funny.  But I completely stepped over the line with Dinah and the nurse.  I'll be more careful to keep this otter thing in check!

I wished that I lived out what I believe last Friday night.  If I had, I would have remembered Ephesians 5:29: “Don't let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

Look for someone to build up today!

Pastor Mark