Meaningless

        I'm sure most of you have heard the phrase "Everything is meaningless." But do we really know what that means? The phrase comes from a book in the Old Testament called Ecclesiastes. The author, who is thought to be Solomon, lists all things he has acquired and then states that he has found them all to be meaningless. Just to get a better understanding, his list of things he had a acquired was quite long. He had the best wives, (like several) the best food and wine, the most cattle and land, houses made out of the best material and many servants to handle the work. He had more wisdom than any that lived before him. He was King of Israel.
      I'm pretty happy with our house, but it could use to be bigger with more land. I have an iPhone, but I would also really like to have an iPad. I like my SUV, but I think I would like a 4 door truck better. I like my HP laptop, but I could use a ... nah. I don't want a Macbook. I have toys, but I can always think of ways to improve them. I think we all have something inside us that wants more than what we have. That may look different for each of us, but it's still within us. I believe we focus that desire on possessions and acknowledgment and stuff we can fathom instead of what we were created to desire.
       Solomon, who had everything he ever imagined, said this in Ecclesiastes2:26. "To the person who pleases him, (meaning God) God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind."
       The "next best thing" mentality that we all have within us was designed to be focused on our relationship with God and our relationship with others. When asked what the most important commandment was, Jesus told his disciples to love the Lord God with all their heart, soul, and mind. And the second was like it. Love your neighbor as yourself. So who is our neighbor? Anybody you come into contact with. I don't know about you, but a little while after getting that new item, I'm back to where I was; wanting more. Unless we focus our lives on pleasing him, we cannot increase our happiness. So the question is, how do we please Him? Hebews 11:6 tells us " And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

What can REO Speedwagon teach about relationships

As I was flipping through my iPod, I realized there are two songs from REO Speedwagon that I like. Time For Me to Fly and Can't Fight This Feeling. After I listened to them this past week it dawned on me that they are very different in their messages. I realized though that these two songs are very accurate in how we view relationships with others and with God. Click on the link below and check out the first video. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqJK29zsO44 

 

The beginning of relationships are often filled with excitement and interesting conversations. Somehow we go from fulfillment to wanting more. Which brings us to the next song. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2L2T7bWQzEs

I think we give up on those relationships way too soon. There are times when you can tell that it would not be good for you to hang out with a certain person any longer. But there are also times when our selfish desires and laziness end the relationship prematurely. 

A Call to Greatness

In the Bible, in the book of Judges, there is a passage that describes the mentality of the era. It is found in chapter 21 verse 25. It states: "In those days there was no king in Israel, and everyone did what was right in his own eyes." I know that accurately describes the era we live in now, but somehow it helps to know that the morality of man hasn't really changed much in the last several thousand years. In Judges 5:6, Deborah, the 4th judge states “In the days of Shamgar son of Anath,in the days of Jael, the highways were abandoned; travelers took to winding paths." Shamgar was the 3rd judge of Israel. His name is actually of Canaanite descent through Anath, the Canaanite warrior Goddess. The irony here is the Canaanites are enemies of Israel. And yet he is only mentioned twice in the whole Bible. Saying the highways were abandoned is most likely to mean that the main roads were not safe. I can only imagine that there must be groups of people that were not up to any good gathered on the streets terrorizing the citizens.

 

The other time Shamgar is mentioned is in Judges 3:31, which states: After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad. He too saved Israel. Having only these two verses, we have to do a little deducting and even some assuming. If its possible that the groups of people standing around terrorizing the citizens of Israel were actually Philistines, we can them imagine Shamgar sneaking up on them with his oxgoad. Wait a minute. What's an oxgoad? It is a farming tool that is a long stick with a sharp point on one end and a flat chisel on the other. Shamgar did not let the facts of his current situation keep him from excelling. He took what he had access to and did what he could to make a difference, to do what was right.

Tony Evans wrote a book called Kingdom Man, and in chapters 3 & 4 of his book he challenges his readers to pursue greatness. He says, "Not only does God want you to be great in His kingdom, He has destined you for it." He pointed us towards a few verses to back up this strong statement. In 1 Thes 4:1 Paul writes to those at Thessalonica and encourages them to be obedient so they might abound even more, or so they might excel even more. And to the Corinthians, he urged them to seek greatness in all they did since all they did according to 1 Cor 10:31 was to be done to glorify God.

John 14:12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

We have a promise from God the Father that if we would just believe in Him, that we can do even greater things than Jesus did, while He was on this earth. It does not say we can be greater than Him, but our works can be greater than His works. And if you believe in Him, then you know the kind of works He did, to the glory of God his Father. That is the call to greatness. God takes normal men and women and uses them to do amazing things to further His kingdom. He took some fishermen, a tax collector, and a murderer to build His Church that has spread to every continent and it is still continuing to find every tribe of people in this world.

I think, sometimes, people get confused. Tony Evans states that Satan has used culture and society to paint complacency as a virtue and mediocrity as a goal. He twists the scriptures to help out his cause. In the beatitudes, we are encouraged to be meek and humble and a servant of all, but Satan tries to make us believe that meekness and humility cannot get along with greatness and success. But authentic greatness includes the true definition of all those characteristics. To be meek is to submit yourself to kingdom rule.

You can also listen to the full sermon I preached at Living Hope Community Church in Conneautville here. www.livinghopecommunity.com

My Wife's Favorite Season...

Archery season. (heavy on the sarcasm) A friend of mine calls it Divorce Season. It is approaching very quickly here in NW PA. It is my favorite time of year, weather wise. The cool, crisp mornings and evenings are a refreshing reprieve from the summer heat. I do enjoy getting out into the woods and the anticipation of what might walk near my stand. My tv viewing choices lean towards hunting videos a little more often than normal and my eyes drift from field to field as I'm driving down the road. I know Mom, I know, keep my eyes on the road, but I want to see where the deer are hanging out and if there are any tall antlers. If anyone was to ask what my hobbies are, I would have to say hunting. That's a tough hobby to have since it only comes around once a year, even though it does last "forever", as my wife would say. There is one thing I have to remember. Even though it is my hobby, and it is only around for a "limited" time, I have to keep my family as a priority. Especially since we recently had baby #2 and my wife is just getting back to work from maternity leave. The schedules change, routine takes over, and I have to get with the program. I say, after looking at this picture, that the program I better get with is target practice. That is a horrible group, but it'll have to do. The season is coming and I'd rather spend my available time in the woods than in the yard. Just remember, in the grand scheme of things, hunting season comes around every year. Your family may only be in the stage it's in for a little while. Make the "important" moments count.

Being conversational

It's now the time of year when a lot of churches are starting their small groups back up again. Most of them have taken the summer off. Their leaders are now receiving the study guides and workbooks for the curriculum. I love that my small group meets through the summer for those that desire and are able to, to keep those relationships strong. However, I know this is not the norm.
If I could give all small group leaders any piece of advise, it would be this.
Remember that being relational is not just following along with the book. Know the gist of the questions to get the point across so that it can be more of a conversation. Leading a small group does not just consist of reading the questions. It's ok to allow the conversation to sidetrack. Allow people to talk about what's on their minds. Once conversation slows down ask the next question or one that will continue the current conversation.
I believe that if a small group has their emphasis on relationships as opposed to an emphasis on getting through the study, it will foster more growth; both physically and spiritually.

Here lies...

Here lies Donald Robertson. The picture of the gravesite that was taken by my Uncle Bill, states that beneath this ground is a veteran of the Vietnam War. And although that statement serves him well, I think there is more to say about the man. Yes, he was proud to serve his country in any manner. Unfortunately, I did not get to know my Uncle Don really well, but there are a few more things I'd like to mention. He was the youngest of 4 boys and would often have snow on his bed in the winter time. He was a Boy Scout to the core and he and his son Ian are both Eagle Scout award recipients. During a portion of his service in the Coast Guard, Don was stationed in Alaska and worked on helicopters. And behind every good man is his wife. Uncle Don married an amazing, sweet woman who became an M.D. and worked at family practices and even a University and in foreign missions. She supported her man as he pursued his passions including photography and bagpiping. He was very much an entrepreneur as he ran businesses out of his home. He was very good at both and played the bagpipes at mine and my brothers weddings. He and his wife also had two very talented children. His daughter Kirsten loved to dance and is a very gifted musician. Ian is also a musician, a skilled marksman, and an outdoor enthusiast.
There are many things about my uncle and his family that I did not mention and many more that I just am not aware of. But what I do know is that at some point in his adult life, he gave his life to Christ. Religion was something he was taught to keep quiet about. That was a personal matter. He attended a church that was pastored by a friend of his from his younger days and I imagine that one day the knowledge of Christ being our savior clicked in his mind. I know this because I saw the change in him. He is even partially responsible for getting me into ministry. He encouraged me to apply for a ministry position at his church and told me that he knew I would be great at it. I had felt God tugging at me to be in ministry but I just didn't think I had what it took. But my uncle saw it in me. Soon after that he was diagnosed with lymphoma. He fought long and hard but the cancer was too aggressive. I believe he went home to be with the Lord. I also believe that while his body may lay in that grave, his soul lives on in eternity with Christ singing praises to God our Father. Probably even playing Ode to Joy on the bagpipes. The stone my insinuate "here lies", but Christ says "here lives". Your soul can live on too. Your life can change as did my uncle's. God can forgive. My uncle wasn't perfect, but who is? Christ's blood can cleanse you too.