Toward Two Congregations
I sat at Starbucks across from a church planter who has just launched a congregation in Kelso. In his first message to the new church community, he had challenged them to search their hearts for their motive in joining the movement. He voiced the words that have been on our collective hearts and minds, “This area doesn’t simply need more churches. So why are we doing this? Because there’s a lot of people who aren’t reached, and we need more churches determined to reach them.” Amen, brother, amen!
A few years back, we called every church in town and asked for their seating capacity. We took this number and we doubled it. Then we added a few thousand just to be sure. The results? We discovered that if every church in town was filled to capacity twice a weekend, there would still be 25,000 people without a seat! Does this county need more churches for churched people? No, but we could use a whole lot more faith communities that are effective in reaching the lost and creating bridges for people to walk back to God.
In May of this year, Jon and Susan Donohue went through a church planters’ assessment and were given an enthusiatic recommendation to be site planters. Since that time, we have continued to progress toward a date of September 2014 to launch this second congregation, and the Donohues will be a critical cog in working alongside this venture.
Our Alliance District is also stepping up and partnering with East Hills. To begin with, they have provided us with a 6-month “planning phase” grant of $6,000 to help offset the cost of salary for Jon. They have also covered our registration for a year-long cohort called The Multi-Site Jump Start Lab. Run by the Leadership Network, this process will have two separate two-day gatherings in Dallas, as well as a mid-year online forum. Jon and I will both take part in this, along with Kendra Shaw, out of the District Office, who will serve as a mentor and a coach in this process. While Jon will take a significant role in the launch, we need to all clearly understand that this is a team effort. WE are planting a church. WE together are launching a second congregation. And in the end, we will be one church meeting as two congregations. So this will still be us! And WE need all hands on deck! Right now, we want to encourage you to continue praying for the process and the location of the second congregation. In the months to come, you will also hear opportunities to jump on board financially, and ultimately the chance to partner with the second congregation. Be praying for God to move in your heart about your level of involvement.
Kelso/Longview doesn’t need one more cozy place for Christians to sing nicemusic. We need places of restoration and redemption where people who are far from God find that He is the very center of life, and so they return to Him. That is what we are trying to build here at East Hills, and in the next congregation as well. May God’s Kingdom expand through us!
Wednesday, August 07, 2013
Daily Bible Reading
Several years ago I shamefully realized that I found time to read the paper every day but not my Bible. With fresh determination I canceled my subscription to The Daily News. and purchased a read-through-the-Bible-in-a-year Bible – it also happened to be in chronological order. I jumped in to whatever day it was in the year and read daily. That was the beginning of a habit I have continued ever since. I’ve lost track of how many years I’ve been doing this. Ironically, late in 2012 I thought I would take a break at the end of this year and maybe do some topical studies or some other kind of devotion. Then Nick announced that we would be reading through a yearly chronological Bible as a church body and it wasn’t too hard to figure out that God was telling me not to give up my daily reading.
Every day I get up 15 minutes earlier than I need to in order to have time to do my daily reading. Now before you spit out your coffee and call me names, I realize not everyone is a morning person. This is just what works for me. My husband (bless his night owl heart) does much better just staying at the table after dinner when he has something to accomplish.
Why do I continue to do this day after day? There are several reasons. The most basic is that it’s the right thing to do. How often have I told my kids, “Do the right thing even if it’s not the easy thing?” If I am a Christian, then God should be the most important thing in my life. How can I be a Christ follower if I don’t know what Christ says? Granted there are parts of the Bible that I know better than others and there are parts that are quite honestly tedious to read. However you can’t only have dessert; you must have your vegetables too. The Bible says that all Scripture is important so I read all Scripture. (This is where I channel my stubborn side into something positive.) I truly love starting my day in God’s Word. It keeps me focused. By starting every day with the most important thing in my life, it doesn’t really matter what happens the rest of the day. Each time I read I try to learn something new. I love how we have been focusing on the Old Testament as a foreshadowing of Christ. There are so many things to learn within these pages and since I continue to make mistakes I know I must continue to learn.
I will close with some encouragement from the greatest source of inspiration. Psalm 112:1 “Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands.” Psalm 115:13-16 “he will bless those who fear the Lord – small and great alike. May the Lord cause you to flourish, both you and your children. May you be blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
Go get your Bible and start reading because Galatians 6:9 tells us “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Jennifer Sharer
Every day I get up 15 minutes earlier than I need to in order to have time to do my daily reading. Now before you spit out your coffee and call me names, I realize not everyone is a morning person. This is just what works for me. My husband (bless his night owl heart) does much better just staying at the table after dinner when he has something to accomplish.
Why do I continue to do this day after day? There are several reasons. The most basic is that it’s the right thing to do. How often have I told my kids, “Do the right thing even if it’s not the easy thing?” If I am a Christian, then God should be the most important thing in my life. How can I be a Christ follower if I don’t know what Christ says? Granted there are parts of the Bible that I know better than others and there are parts that are quite honestly tedious to read. However you can’t only have dessert; you must have your vegetables too. The Bible says that all Scripture is important so I read all Scripture. (This is where I channel my stubborn side into something positive.) I truly love starting my day in God’s Word. It keeps me focused. By starting every day with the most important thing in my life, it doesn’t really matter what happens the rest of the day. Each time I read I try to learn something new. I love how we have been focusing on the Old Testament as a foreshadowing of Christ. There are so many things to learn within these pages and since I continue to make mistakes I know I must continue to learn.
I will close with some encouragement from the greatest source of inspiration. Psalm 112:1 “Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands.” Psalm 115:13-16 “he will bless those who fear the Lord – small and great alike. May the Lord cause you to flourish, both you and your children. May you be blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
Go get your Bible and start reading because Galatians 6:9 tells us “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Jennifer Sharer
Chronological Reflection
Read the entire Bible in a year… Sure, I thought, I’ll try that. Chronologically? Intriguing! I’ve always wondered what order all those old testament books actually go in. I would love to get some context on the prophets. But stick to it? 365 days straight? You’re kidding, right?
You see, I have always known that I should be doing quiet times every day. I should be spending time in God’s word daily. I should have the follow through to make it a priority, even when life is crazy, or the kids are crazy, or my work is crazy, or when… you get the idea. There are a lot of things that can seem “more important” in the here and now. I have to make my lunch. Ashlynn has to go to the bathroom. Sharilee needs to be fed.
I tend to be the kind of person that jumps into things, and does really well at first. I have done Bible reading programs before that were supposed to take a year, and somewhere around Leviticus I have fallen off the wagon. My most recent one year Bible plan took about 18 months. I made it, but only because it was a forgiving plan that had a “Catch Me Up” button that meant it would look like I had always been on pace to finish on February 12. I mean March 16. I mean April 30. Yeah – that was when I was supposed to finish.
This “Chronological Bible” plan is less forgiving. There are readings assigned to each day. If you miss on February 14, what do you do on February 15? When Pastor Nick introduced “Grace Mondays” I balked. Would that make me feel like this was possible? Would I be able to give myself grace on Mondays to skip back to where I was supposed to be? Would I feel like I was cheating?
But then, an interesting thing happened. I stayed on track. The realization that it didn’t matter where I was, on Monday I would be “caught up” made me stress less. And what I noticed each day has kept me more on track that anything else. Simply put: on days I do my Bible reading in the morning, no matter how late I am running, how many things are on my to do list, how many times Sharilee woke up hungry in the middle of the night – things just seemed less stressful. I made the mistake a few mornings early on deciding I was “running too late,” or “I’ll sleep a few extra minutes and catch up at night.” The results were obvious. I was a walking train-wreck of anxiety, frustration, and feeling like I needed to save the world all by myself. You see, God’s plan – get up early and meet with Him – has changed my priorities and focus back to one on God.
So – wherever you are, whatever your plan was, however far behind you are: offer yourself some grace. Jump back in with both feet. Set a time and a place – and see what it does for your priorities and anxiety. You might just find out what I did. Even when reading about Israelites toiling in the desert God has a message of peace to speak into your life each and every day, and it will affect your attitude and disposition in ways that you would never want to go back to the “old way” again.
Wendy Droke
You see, I have always known that I should be doing quiet times every day. I should be spending time in God’s word daily. I should have the follow through to make it a priority, even when life is crazy, or the kids are crazy, or my work is crazy, or when… you get the idea. There are a lot of things that can seem “more important” in the here and now. I have to make my lunch. Ashlynn has to go to the bathroom. Sharilee needs to be fed.
I tend to be the kind of person that jumps into things, and does really well at first. I have done Bible reading programs before that were supposed to take a year, and somewhere around Leviticus I have fallen off the wagon. My most recent one year Bible plan took about 18 months. I made it, but only because it was a forgiving plan that had a “Catch Me Up” button that meant it would look like I had always been on pace to finish on February 12. I mean March 16. I mean April 30. Yeah – that was when I was supposed to finish.
This “Chronological Bible” plan is less forgiving. There are readings assigned to each day. If you miss on February 14, what do you do on February 15? When Pastor Nick introduced “Grace Mondays” I balked. Would that make me feel like this was possible? Would I be able to give myself grace on Mondays to skip back to where I was supposed to be? Would I feel like I was cheating?
But then, an interesting thing happened. I stayed on track. The realization that it didn’t matter where I was, on Monday I would be “caught up” made me stress less. And what I noticed each day has kept me more on track that anything else. Simply put: on days I do my Bible reading in the morning, no matter how late I am running, how many things are on my to do list, how many times Sharilee woke up hungry in the middle of the night – things just seemed less stressful. I made the mistake a few mornings early on deciding I was “running too late,” or “I’ll sleep a few extra minutes and catch up at night.” The results were obvious. I was a walking train-wreck of anxiety, frustration, and feeling like I needed to save the world all by myself. You see, God’s plan – get up early and meet with Him – has changed my priorities and focus back to one on God.
So – wherever you are, whatever your plan was, however far behind you are: offer yourself some grace. Jump back in with both feet. Set a time and a place – and see what it does for your priorities and anxiety. You might just find out what I did. Even when reading about Israelites toiling in the desert God has a message of peace to speak into your life each and every day, and it will affect your attitude and disposition in ways that you would never want to go back to the “old way” again.
Wendy Droke
Tuesday, June 04, 2013
The Chronological Bible- Week 22
This week brings us to the end of the united Kingdom of Israel. Solomon's wisdom gives way to the in-fighting and separation of the Northern and Southern Kingdoms.
Solomon's wisdom is on full display in Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs and the end of Proverbs. His most poetic language, in the Chronological reading, leads directly into the outcome of his life- how his heart is led astray by his many foreign marriages. What do you make of this? How did such a wise man end up with such a foolish heart?
Happy Reading! Be blessed-
Nick
Solomon's wisdom is on full display in Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs and the end of Proverbs. His most poetic language, in the Chronological reading, leads directly into the outcome of his life- how his heart is led astray by his many foreign marriages. What do you make of this? How did such a wise man end up with such a foolish heart?
Happy Reading! Be blessed-
Nick
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
The Chronological Bible- Week 20
Well, it appears this posting has become an every-other-week kind of event! Sorry about that. We'll try to stay more on top of it here!
This week is an interesting bridge between the leadership and poetry of David into the life and wisdom of Solomon. The Chronological readings provide an interesting week for us, in that the building of the temple- which is reported in two different books- will consume the bulk of the week. Some of this technical detail (size, height, amount, builders, etc) can become burdensome to our modern mind, but these passages are communicating an important point. This building, this temple to the Most High God, would become the pinnacle place of life and worship for the entire Jewish nation. The completed work would be so impressive that foreign dignitaries, most notably the Queen of Sheba, would take pilgrimages just to behold the wonder.
So I encourage you as you read to keep in mind the New Testament. In light of this week's reading, how shocking would Jesus' statement have been that he would tear down the Temple and rebuild it in three days? (yes, it was a different temple by then, but I would argue that it carried the same weight of importance in the Hebrew heart.) How crazy was it for Peter and Paul to tell the church that they had become the living Temple? What does it mean for us personally if our bodies are now the Temple of the Holy Spirit? When we grasp the deep significance of the first Old Testament Temple, we can appreciate in new ways the "new" Temple we have become through Christ.
Read in joy-
Nick
This week is an interesting bridge between the leadership and poetry of David into the life and wisdom of Solomon. The Chronological readings provide an interesting week for us, in that the building of the temple- which is reported in two different books- will consume the bulk of the week. Some of this technical detail (size, height, amount, builders, etc) can become burdensome to our modern mind, but these passages are communicating an important point. This building, this temple to the Most High God, would become the pinnacle place of life and worship for the entire Jewish nation. The completed work would be so impressive that foreign dignitaries, most notably the Queen of Sheba, would take pilgrimages just to behold the wonder.
So I encourage you as you read to keep in mind the New Testament. In light of this week's reading, how shocking would Jesus' statement have been that he would tear down the Temple and rebuild it in three days? (yes, it was a different temple by then, but I would argue that it carried the same weight of importance in the Hebrew heart.) How crazy was it for Peter and Paul to tell the church that they had become the living Temple? What does it mean for us personally if our bodies are now the Temple of the Holy Spirit? When we grasp the deep significance of the first Old Testament Temple, we can appreciate in new ways the "new" Temple we have become through Christ.
Read in joy-
Nick
Monday, May 06, 2013
The Chronological Bible- Week 18
Hey Folks! Thanks for keeping up with the reading through the Old Testament. May the Spirit continue to whisper good things from the Word!
This week, we'll watch the transition of leadership from David to his son Solomon. I'm always encouraged by the ways in which David created a leadership position for Solomon, encouraged him, and then helped protect Solomon's kingdom while he was still alive. The typical pattern of kingship in those days would have been for an old king to hold onto power until he died. David, however, looked ahead and saw that he needed to pass on leadership to his son while he still had a say in the matter. There's a lesson here about leading and leaving a legacy.
There's also a lesson here about wisdom. Early in his leadership, Solomon receives the blessing of wisdom from the Lord. But by the end of his life, he has compromised his leadership, and the entire kingdom, through the worship of foriegn and false gods. This is a sad commentary on the move of the human heart- we can know all there is to know in the world, but the focus of our worship will always determine the outcome of our lives. So, what you know isn't nearly as important as what (or who) you worship!
May your reading lead you into deeper and more authentic worship of the one true God!
Nick
This week, we'll watch the transition of leadership from David to his son Solomon. I'm always encouraged by the ways in which David created a leadership position for Solomon, encouraged him, and then helped protect Solomon's kingdom while he was still alive. The typical pattern of kingship in those days would have been for an old king to hold onto power until he died. David, however, looked ahead and saw that he needed to pass on leadership to his son while he still had a say in the matter. There's a lesson here about leading and leaving a legacy.
There's also a lesson here about wisdom. Early in his leadership, Solomon receives the blessing of wisdom from the Lord. But by the end of his life, he has compromised his leadership, and the entire kingdom, through the worship of foriegn and false gods. This is a sad commentary on the move of the human heart- we can know all there is to know in the world, but the focus of our worship will always determine the outcome of our lives. So, what you know isn't nearly as important as what (or who) you worship!
May your reading lead you into deeper and more authentic worship of the one true God!
Nick
Monday, April 22, 2013
The Chronological Bible- Week 16
This week belongs to David. At the beginning of the week, David ascends to the throne over all Israel. By the end of the week, he'll be fighting to take it back from his own son Absalom. The timeline moves quickly when reading through chronologically!
In this span of seven days, it is amazing to me how the stories of David can have such a wide variation. Some of these stories reveal an amazing faith as David builds the kingdom for the glory of God. Turn the page, though, and other stories reveal David's humanity and sinfulness. The good and the bad juxtaposed by just a few pages, or at times just a few paragraphs.
By the end of his life, though, David will be remembered as a man after God's own heart. New Testament writers will look back and say, "there's someone who ran after God." I don't know about you, but this gives me hope. Perhaps in some ways like David, I find that the good and the bad can exist quite closely in my life- moments of great faith followed quickly by moments of selfishness and sin. If David could have his ups and down, his highs and lows, and still be called a man after God's own heart, then I think there is hope for the rest of us.
What it says to me that faith before God has less to do with our actions and behaviors than we might think. The condition of our heart matters more than the results of our choices. God can redeem all things, and looks more at what's happening inside of me than outside of me. I can be a man after His heart, even if I stumble along the way.
What are you learning this week? What stands out to you?
Read on!
Nick
In this span of seven days, it is amazing to me how the stories of David can have such a wide variation. Some of these stories reveal an amazing faith as David builds the kingdom for the glory of God. Turn the page, though, and other stories reveal David's humanity and sinfulness. The good and the bad juxtaposed by just a few pages, or at times just a few paragraphs.
By the end of his life, though, David will be remembered as a man after God's own heart. New Testament writers will look back and say, "there's someone who ran after God." I don't know about you, but this gives me hope. Perhaps in some ways like David, I find that the good and the bad can exist quite closely in my life- moments of great faith followed quickly by moments of selfishness and sin. If David could have his ups and down, his highs and lows, and still be called a man after God's own heart, then I think there is hope for the rest of us.
What it says to me that faith before God has less to do with our actions and behaviors than we might think. The condition of our heart matters more than the results of our choices. God can redeem all things, and looks more at what's happening inside of me than outside of me. I can be a man after His heart, even if I stumble along the way.
What are you learning this week? What stands out to you?
Read on!
Nick
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Chronological Bible- Week 15
Intrigue. Conflict. Honor. Deception. Jealousy. This week finds us immersed in the time of the kings of Israel. The big three- Saul, David, and Solomon, will reign over Israel for a period of about 90 years. During this time, the borders of the country will be expanded, most of her enemies subdued, a strong sense of nationhood will develop.
But the heart of these stories is the people themselves. The kings take center stage, and it is their actions, decisions, and their heart for God (or lack there of) that will guide each story. In this week, I would encourage you to watch carefully the interactions between Saul and David. As Saul's kingdom declines and God clearly begins to anoint and lift up David, their courses of behavior become more and more telling. One trust, waits, and listens to God. The other lashes out in anger, protects himself and his reputations, and ultimately looses everything. There are lessons to be learned here about the true nature of godly leadership, and the life that honors Him.
May your reading this week be blessed!
What are you learning?
What are you challenged by?
Read on-
Nick
But the heart of these stories is the people themselves. The kings take center stage, and it is their actions, decisions, and their heart for God (or lack there of) that will guide each story. In this week, I would encourage you to watch carefully the interactions between Saul and David. As Saul's kingdom declines and God clearly begins to anoint and lift up David, their courses of behavior become more and more telling. One trust, waits, and listens to God. The other lashes out in anger, protects himself and his reputations, and ultimately looses everything. There are lessons to be learned here about the true nature of godly leadership, and the life that honors Him.
May your reading this week be blessed!
What are you learning?
What are you challenged by?
Read on-
Nick
Monday, April 08, 2013
The Chronological Bible- Week 14
Well, hopefully you are having more success reading through the Chronological Bible than we are keeping the blog up to date! Things got a little hectic around Easter and a few weeks were overlooked, but the blog is back and ready for your input!
This, in my mind, is where reading the Bible chronologically gets really good. Up until this point, the Scriptures have been pretty linear- one story following another in a logical, sequential fashion. Now, however, we have stories occurring in multiple books, other books that interrupt or occur during the stories, and additional writings that provide comment, prayers, or prophetic words on the events that are happening. Placing the material together as the Chronological Bible does, really makes these stories come to life.
This week marks the inauguration of the era of the Kings. Saul, David and Solomon will all appear on the scene soon, followed by the lesser known kings of the divided kingdom. Before the kings ascend to the thrown, we meet the man Samuel. The prophet Samuel becomes a transitional figure between the sporadic, regional leadership of the judges and the over-arching rule of the monarchy. Samuel becomes the first nationwide leader in Israel since the time of Joshua. He plays a crucial role in directing the hearts and minds of the people back to God. In fact, he will take this role all the way into the reign of David. Watch how Samuel becomes a represenation of the voice and will of God throughout these stories!
What are you learning? What is God challenging you with this week?
Blessings on your week and on your reading. Read on!
Nick
This, in my mind, is where reading the Bible chronologically gets really good. Up until this point, the Scriptures have been pretty linear- one story following another in a logical, sequential fashion. Now, however, we have stories occurring in multiple books, other books that interrupt or occur during the stories, and additional writings that provide comment, prayers, or prophetic words on the events that are happening. Placing the material together as the Chronological Bible does, really makes these stories come to life.
This week marks the inauguration of the era of the Kings. Saul, David and Solomon will all appear on the scene soon, followed by the lesser known kings of the divided kingdom. Before the kings ascend to the thrown, we meet the man Samuel. The prophet Samuel becomes a transitional figure between the sporadic, regional leadership of the judges and the over-arching rule of the monarchy. Samuel becomes the first nationwide leader in Israel since the time of Joshua. He plays a crucial role in directing the hearts and minds of the people back to God. In fact, he will take this role all the way into the reign of David. Watch how Samuel becomes a represenation of the voice and will of God throughout these stories!
What are you learning? What is God challenging you with this week?
Blessings on your week and on your reading. Read on!
Nick
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
The Chronological Bible- Week 11
This is the final week of reading in the Pentateuch! (5 books of the Law) After this, the nature and flavor of Scripture really changes. So even though some of the reading is a bit cumbersome, try to appreciate the uniqueness of this section of Scripture. Realize that for hundreds of years, this alone WAS the Hebrew Bible. I always find the end of Moses' life to be particularly compelling- his relationship with God, his willingness to lead well to the end even though he wouldn't enter the promised land, and the passing on of his leadership to Joshua.
The "blessings and curses" section gives a particularly instructive view into Old Covenant theology: do this and good will happen, don't do this and bad will happen! But notice how their security- the ability of the people to dwell successfully in the land- was tied to their willingness to live within the Covenant. Though the terms of our Covenant with God through Jesus Christ are radically different, I believe the same can be said of us. Our ability to live a "successful" life in this world is directly related to our willingness to be "Covenant people" who have bound ourselves to life in and through Jesus Christ.
What are you learning?
What do you find interesting?
Interact, ask questions, and let the reading cause you to wrestle-
Nick
The "blessings and curses" section gives a particularly instructive view into Old Covenant theology: do this and good will happen, don't do this and bad will happen! But notice how their security- the ability of the people to dwell successfully in the land- was tied to their willingness to live within the Covenant. Though the terms of our Covenant with God through Jesus Christ are radically different, I believe the same can be said of us. Our ability to live a "successful" life in this world is directly related to our willingness to be "Covenant people" who have bound ourselves to life in and through Jesus Christ.
What are you learning?
What do you find interesting?
Interact, ask questions, and let the reading cause you to wrestle-
Nick
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Getting to Know...
Bio-Notes . . . Amy Guartuche (gwuare-two’chay): I grew up in Kelso, with my parents, Tom and Ann Hight, and my brother and sister, Ross and Laura. Mom homeschooled us until we entered the public school system at Kelso High. Our family came to East Hills Alliance in 1995, and I was a part of the church for the next eight years, growing up here involved in VBS, Bible quizzing, youth group and miming.
I continued my education at Lower Columbia College, exploring the idea of elementary education as my career. Then I decided to enter the military, and joined the Marine Corps. I received my training in North and South Carolina and became a mechanic, building helicopter engines. Part of my assignment was to walk alongside new Marines, helping them to adjust to their new routines, keeping their connections with home. I found I was more and more interested in helping them and gained a lot of personal satisfaction in doing that.
I had the "concrete" experience of constructing engines for eight hours, and perhaps ten minutes of mentoring time every day, helping junior Marines, and found myself feeling like that ten minutes quantified "what I had accomplished" that day.
The House:
What do you enjoy in your "free time"?
Amy:
(Laughing) I gave up my favorite free time activity for Lent this year! It’s reading, both fiction and nonfiction. When I have time, going to the gym is also refreshing for me. I enjoy family time and reacquainting myself with this area. My husband, Daniel, is from Corpus Christi, Texas, and I have been showing him around beautiful Southwest Washington.
The House:
What is your latest reading material, since Lent has taken away your reading for pleasure?
Amy:
I have been reading some church history texts for my classes, which have dismantled some of my assumptions about that subject. Also the Chronological Bible; it has been fun to join with so many others in the church and take on this project together!
The House:
What classes are you taking presently?
Amy:
Right now I am finishing up classes in church history and New Testament studies, which are part of the requirements for the Master of Divinity degree. I finished my BS in Religion through the online Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, which has a campus in Virginia. I also have my MA with Liberty, and should finish this last seminary degree next year.
I believe I am being called to the military chaplaincy, and that appears today to be His Plan. It may not go as I see it now; we’ll see. Dad (Tom Hight) always said that what is happening now is always preparing us for the future.
The House:
How do you feel God has prepared you for this assignment as intern at East Hills?
Amy:
Danny and I had a hard time finding a home church in North Carolina. The little church we eventually felt led to join had some great people in it but didn’t seem to have a lot of opportunity for us long-term. We are excited to be in a place where there are so many opportunities to "plug in"; to give and receive in so many areas of church life.
The House:
What is there about you I haven’t asked that you want to share as we get to know you?
Amy:
I am naturally an introvert, and tend to be very quiet. However, I am not shy or afraid, and I care about people, just quietly. I want to help, connect and serve, but will always be doing that quietly. I feel a deep love for God’s people.
I want people to know I am approachable, just quiet!
The House:
What is there about your assignment as intern that I haven’t asked that you want to share with us?
Amy:
It is probably going to be changing! I’ll be going forward as an intern six months at a time, then addressing with staff how I’m doing, changes to be made, addressing learning curves. Three current areas of focus are:
Discipleship: helping with connections, one-on- one or in groups; mentorship
Volunteer Organization: supporting volunteers so that they have what they need, know they are the right person for the right job, and are loving it!
The House:
Last words?
Amy:
If you have questions, call me. Daniel and I feel like we have come home to EHA, that EHA is our family, and we really appreciate that feeling, which has come from you and getting to know you.
Preparation for Pounding
So what is THIS issue about?!?
Sounds uninviting, unless you’re a country girl from East Texas and know what a "pounding" is. I grew up the daughter of a Baptist preacher in East Texas, which I labeled "Archie Bunker’s Shangri-La" in my youth. Despite my rebellious ways, I have to acknowledge all the loving country people who lavished their bounty on our family when the church had to choose between paying the light bill, or paying the preacher.
Daddy was also a cabinet maker, always with a waiting list for his work, so he supplemented our income when the little church couldn’t, and Mother was Assistant Director of Nurses at the local state hospital for the criminally insane, where I earned my college money during the summer. (Another story, another time!)
Back to "pounding", and how it relates to the subject of this month’s The House, Preparation.
A pounding from our church family meant lots of gleaming glass jars filled with peaches, pears and berries; watermelon, dill, sweet, and bread and butter pickles; chow-chow relish; red and green tomatoes; black-eyed, green, wax, yellow, pinto, cream and crowder peas or beans; jams and jellies and butters; freshly caught or hunted fish, fowl and game.
All that lovely provision for our pantry equaled lots of preparation: clean guns, the right ammunition, sorted fishing gear, prepared gardens and fields, and many times handmade quilts, pillow cases, doilies and kitchen towels, embroidered and tucked in among the jars. These faithful country folks worked hard, gathering right materials, plowing fields, planting seeds, saving seeds for next year’s planting. Pounding meant all that preparation, and then, at the right time, producing fruit.
And all this nostalgia brings me to Lent, and what Preparation might mean for us. What is God preparing us for right now? What "fields" in your character and knowledge is He "plowing under"? What feels like fallow ground? What feels tilled up, sorted, or sifted?
He has good plans for us. (Jeremiah 29:11) Are your mind, will and emotion in agreement with His plan for you? How might this Lenten season prepare you for being "sown" and for His Harvest in your life sometime in the near, or distant, future?
I reflect on the sweaty, sunburned face of the deacon who taught me to drive in his little black ‘40’s Ford pickup. His name was Crit Teer, and he learned to read because he delivered mail to the church, met my dad and met Jesus, and Dad taught him to read as they read the Bible together. Many times there were peck and bushel baskets of lovely things from his garden, left with my mother when he came by to pick me up for the weekly lesson.
I’m reminded of how often I need to be "broken and spilled out", like Crit was, in order to prepare for His Love to grow in my soul. How about you?
Mary Hagle
Editor, The House
We grow as we share.
Book Review
"Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking"
by Susan Cain
Almost all my life, people have said, "You’re so quiet." My teachers commented that I didn’t speak up in class. My parents tried to push me to be more outgoing. My least favorite words in church are, "Turn around and greet someone near you." (On second thought, there is something worse: "Introduce yourself to someone you don’t know.") I am an introvert, and I grew up thinking that was a bad thing. I always wanted to be the outgoing girl that everybody noticed, but I just wasn’t made that way. And contrary to what my mother tried to convince me, I couldn’t fake it, either.
In her bestseller, Susan Cain says that at least one third of the people we know are introverts. We are often overlooked by our American culture that values extroverts. Teachers pay more attention to their extroverted students. Parents worry about their children who are quiet and introverted. Introverts are passed by for jobs and promotions. Even in the church, pastors are encouraged to adopt an extroverted, exuberant persona.
Cain points out that introverts aren’t necessary shy or socially challenged. She provides fascinating stories of introverts who have made important contributions to our world, from Rosa Parks to Steve Wozniak to Dr. Seuss. She highlights the benefits of listening and taking time to think things through.
She shows how the trend of working in teams rather than individually is not necessarily better for education and business. Some of the most interesting stories in the book are about top-notch Asian students who come to the U.S. to study, are overwhelmed by boisterous American college life, and then face difficulty getting jobs with companies that seek to hire candidates who score high on the extrovert scale on personality tests.This book helped me to better understand myself. One of the true-false questions in an informal quiz is, "I often let calls go through to voice mail." I hadn’t realized how often I do that, especially on my business line. Now I understand that I’m hoping the caller will leave a message and tell me why they are calling, so I can be prepared for the conversation, rather than being forced to speak off the cuff – something introverts aren’t good at.
Cain offers suggestions on how introverts can be more extroverted when they have to be, and tells stories of individuals who have successful careers in fields such as entertainment and teaching. She talks about how extroverts and introverts can communicate with each other. I think one of the most important chapters addresses how parents can nurture introverted kids rather than trying to change them.
I highly recommend this book to those of you who are introverts, who live with introverts, and especially parents of introverts. It’s a well-researched and fascinating book that will help you appreciate your own strengths as well as those of other people who are "Quiet."
June Hoover
by Susan Cain
Almost all my life, people have said, "You’re so quiet." My teachers commented that I didn’t speak up in class. My parents tried to push me to be more outgoing. My least favorite words in church are, "Turn around and greet someone near you." (On second thought, there is something worse: "Introduce yourself to someone you don’t know.") I am an introvert, and I grew up thinking that was a bad thing. I always wanted to be the outgoing girl that everybody noticed, but I just wasn’t made that way. And contrary to what my mother tried to convince me, I couldn’t fake it, either.
In her bestseller, Susan Cain says that at least one third of the people we know are introverts. We are often overlooked by our American culture that values extroverts. Teachers pay more attention to their extroverted students. Parents worry about their children who are quiet and introverted. Introverts are passed by for jobs and promotions. Even in the church, pastors are encouraged to adopt an extroverted, exuberant persona.
Cain points out that introverts aren’t necessary shy or socially challenged. She provides fascinating stories of introverts who have made important contributions to our world, from Rosa Parks to Steve Wozniak to Dr. Seuss. She highlights the benefits of listening and taking time to think things through.
She shows how the trend of working in teams rather than individually is not necessarily better for education and business. Some of the most interesting stories in the book are about top-notch Asian students who come to the U.S. to study, are overwhelmed by boisterous American college life, and then face difficulty getting jobs with companies that seek to hire candidates who score high on the extrovert scale on personality tests.This book helped me to better understand myself. One of the true-false questions in an informal quiz is, "I often let calls go through to voice mail." I hadn’t realized how often I do that, especially on my business line. Now I understand that I’m hoping the caller will leave a message and tell me why they are calling, so I can be prepared for the conversation, rather than being forced to speak off the cuff – something introverts aren’t good at.
Cain offers suggestions on how introverts can be more extroverted when they have to be, and tells stories of individuals who have successful careers in fields such as entertainment and teaching. She talks about how extroverts and introverts can communicate with each other. I think one of the most important chapters addresses how parents can nurture introverted kids rather than trying to change them.
I highly recommend this book to those of you who are introverts, who live with introverts, and especially parents of introverts. It’s a well-researched and fascinating book that will help you appreciate your own strengths as well as those of other people who are "Quiet."
June Hoover
Monday, March 11, 2013
The Chronological Bible- Week 10
Well, you did it! You can pat yourself on the back if you have persevered through Leviticus and Numbers, for this week we forge ahead into the book of Deuteronomy. Way to go! If you are jumping in mid-way through the journey; no worries. Welcome! Enjoy Grace Monday and start fresh.
I have always found Deuteronomy to be much more accessible than her predecessors. Take courage!
Deuteronomy means "second law" or "repetition of the law." What makes this book exciting and interesting to me is the context. This second reading or giving of the law was most likely done by Moses on the doorstep of the Promised Land. He speaks out these words of God to a new generation. The adult population that saw the miracles of God through the plagues, the power of God at the Red Sea, and the glory of God at Mount Sinai have now passed away. A young generation, many of who were only kids or not even born at the time of the Exodus, have now come into maturity and represent the people of God. The giving of the law at Mount Sinai is only a story to them. Most of the miracles have come to them second hand. They have only experienced a small portion of the power of God compared to their ancestors.
This is what makes Deuteronomy so good. Moses is looking out across a vast crowd of young men and women that are about to enter the Promised Land. And Moses calls them to God. He calls them to remember the miracles, even ones they didn't see personally. He calls them to hold on to the covenant and the promises. He calls them to live out the words of God in a way their parents never did. He calls them to be the people God dreamed of creating and crafting for Himself when He called them out of Egypt.
I think I like this book so much because it confronts our "what have you done for me lately" mentality that is so common among us. If God hasn't parted the seas in the last few months, or days, we start to wonder what's wrong with Him, or us, and we are tempted to lose faith. We hear stories of what God did in missions' movements of the past, or revival meetings long ago, but we weren't there. We haven't always had the first-hand, front-row seat experience of our ancestors. But like Israel, we are called to remember. We are called to remember a God who gave His life for us. We are called to remember when He first found us and saved us. We are called to remember His goodness and faithfulness to us throughout the years. And then we are called to turn and face the challenges of entering a Promised Land. We are called to go and be His people.
May Deuteronomy speak to you this week of who YOU are called to be-
Nick
I have always found Deuteronomy to be much more accessible than her predecessors. Take courage!
Deuteronomy means "second law" or "repetition of the law." What makes this book exciting and interesting to me is the context. This second reading or giving of the law was most likely done by Moses on the doorstep of the Promised Land. He speaks out these words of God to a new generation. The adult population that saw the miracles of God through the plagues, the power of God at the Red Sea, and the glory of God at Mount Sinai have now passed away. A young generation, many of who were only kids or not even born at the time of the Exodus, have now come into maturity and represent the people of God. The giving of the law at Mount Sinai is only a story to them. Most of the miracles have come to them second hand. They have only experienced a small portion of the power of God compared to their ancestors.
This is what makes Deuteronomy so good. Moses is looking out across a vast crowd of young men and women that are about to enter the Promised Land. And Moses calls them to God. He calls them to remember the miracles, even ones they didn't see personally. He calls them to hold on to the covenant and the promises. He calls them to live out the words of God in a way their parents never did. He calls them to be the people God dreamed of creating and crafting for Himself when He called them out of Egypt.
I think I like this book so much because it confronts our "what have you done for me lately" mentality that is so common among us. If God hasn't parted the seas in the last few months, or days, we start to wonder what's wrong with Him, or us, and we are tempted to lose faith. We hear stories of what God did in missions' movements of the past, or revival meetings long ago, but we weren't there. We haven't always had the first-hand, front-row seat experience of our ancestors. But like Israel, we are called to remember. We are called to remember a God who gave His life for us. We are called to remember when He first found us and saved us. We are called to remember His goodness and faithfulness to us throughout the years. And then we are called to turn and face the challenges of entering a Promised Land. We are called to go and be His people.
May Deuteronomy speak to you this week of who YOU are called to be-
Nick
Thursday, March 07, 2013
The Chronological Bible- Week 9
As we continue to wind our way through the first five books of the Bible, one of the things we can't help but stop and ask is, "why are there so many laws in these books?" And, "why are they in the Bible?" For most of us, I think we feel like there is little that we can gain today from studying them, and we never hear them preached on, if not for more than a passing reference here and there. This blog is an attempt at helping all of us to understand the place these laws have in our faith today.
If you think about it, these first five books were the only Bible the Israelites had for quite some time. In fact, for several thousand years, when Jews would ask the question, "How do we live in a way that is pleasing to God?" these books- Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy- were their answer. Their ONLY answer.
So imagine if you had been alive many, many years ago before the Bible came to be the Bible. You had no written record of what pleased God and what didn't. One day, God came along to you and said, "Person, if you sin, you should bring me a sacrifice!" With no other reference point, you are going to have many, many questions. Such as, "what is sinful and what isn't? What kind of sacrifice? Do all sins require the same sacrifice? When do I bring the sacrifice? Where do I bring it? Do I sacrifice it myself, or does someone else do that? What does it mean to sacrifice something to begin with? Burn it? Kill it? Eat it?" All of these questions and many like them would be logical, and expected responses to God's command.
In light of this, the length and specificity of all these books starts to make a lot more sense! I have been told that even in the 1st century at the time of Jesus, Jewish school boys were still required to memorize the entirety of these books in school. Crazy as that may sound, it actually makes a lot of sense when we remember that these rules were their primary link to pleasing God.
If reading all of these laws and commands does one thing for us, it ought to make us eternally grateful for the work of Jesus Christ. His sacrifice has ended the system of sacrifice (Hebrews 10) and made righteous forever all who trust in His name. So as you read about bulls and goats one more time, pause and thank Jesus for coming on your behalf.
So while Jesus made our approach to God much simpler, he actually made the requirements infinitely more challenging! When you think about it, Jesus summarized thousands of laws with two: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. Very simple, but very, very hard to do. It would actually be much easier for us to follow the sacrificial system than to live out the laws of love in every single thing we do.
This is the amazing conundrum of Jesus. He raised the bar of God's righteous standard even higher than the Old Testament law, but he lowered the bar of acceptance. In the past, the people had to obey all the commands in order to be acceptable. Jesus, however, made everyone acceptable through His blood. Why? Because God knew that when people understood they were loved and accepted by God already, they would be empowered to go and live out his law of love.
We can never hope to love God and others perfectly. But thanks to the amazing love and grace of Jesus Christ, we have the freedom to try, knowing that our acceptance before God isn't contingent on how well we obey His law. How cool is that?
So go for it. Go and love God and love others with all that you have. And when you realize you've come up short, which you always will, fall back into the amazing grace of Jesus Christ. And then go out and love some more.
May your journey through Scripture give you a deeper love for Jesus than ever before!
Nick
If you think about it, these first five books were the only Bible the Israelites had for quite some time. In fact, for several thousand years, when Jews would ask the question, "How do we live in a way that is pleasing to God?" these books- Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy- were their answer. Their ONLY answer.
So imagine if you had been alive many, many years ago before the Bible came to be the Bible. You had no written record of what pleased God and what didn't. One day, God came along to you and said, "Person, if you sin, you should bring me a sacrifice!" With no other reference point, you are going to have many, many questions. Such as, "what is sinful and what isn't? What kind of sacrifice? Do all sins require the same sacrifice? When do I bring the sacrifice? Where do I bring it? Do I sacrifice it myself, or does someone else do that? What does it mean to sacrifice something to begin with? Burn it? Kill it? Eat it?" All of these questions and many like them would be logical, and expected responses to God's command.
In light of this, the length and specificity of all these books starts to make a lot more sense! I have been told that even in the 1st century at the time of Jesus, Jewish school boys were still required to memorize the entirety of these books in school. Crazy as that may sound, it actually makes a lot of sense when we remember that these rules were their primary link to pleasing God.
If reading all of these laws and commands does one thing for us, it ought to make us eternally grateful for the work of Jesus Christ. His sacrifice has ended the system of sacrifice (Hebrews 10) and made righteous forever all who trust in His name. So as you read about bulls and goats one more time, pause and thank Jesus for coming on your behalf.
So while Jesus made our approach to God much simpler, he actually made the requirements infinitely more challenging! When you think about it, Jesus summarized thousands of laws with two: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. Very simple, but very, very hard to do. It would actually be much easier for us to follow the sacrificial system than to live out the laws of love in every single thing we do.
This is the amazing conundrum of Jesus. He raised the bar of God's righteous standard even higher than the Old Testament law, but he lowered the bar of acceptance. In the past, the people had to obey all the commands in order to be acceptable. Jesus, however, made everyone acceptable through His blood. Why? Because God knew that when people understood they were loved and accepted by God already, they would be empowered to go and live out his law of love.
We can never hope to love God and others perfectly. But thanks to the amazing love and grace of Jesus Christ, we have the freedom to try, knowing that our acceptance before God isn't contingent on how well we obey His law. How cool is that?
So go for it. Go and love God and love others with all that you have. And when you realize you've come up short, which you always will, fall back into the amazing grace of Jesus Christ. And then go out and love some more.
May your journey through Scripture give you a deeper love for Jesus than ever before!
Nick
Thursday, February 28, 2013
The Chronological Bible- Week 8
This week, our reading journey takes us into the book of Numbers. Here we see the people of Israel beginning to take stock of their tribes and the ordering of their people. The commands of sacrifice and worship begin to normalize and we see the priesthood in action. We also see the people continue to wrestle with what it means to trust God in this desert place. He is leading them with cloud and fire to a Promised Land, but the road is long and difficult. Many will lose heart and miss out on the promise. But through all these stories, I believe God is building into the people an awareness of what it takes to follow Him and be his people. The new generation he brings up will have the faithlessness of their ancestors as a backdrop for entrance into God's land.
Keep up the reading!
What thoughts are you processing this week?
Peace-
Nick
Keep up the reading!
What thoughts are you processing this week?
Peace-
Nick
Monday, February 18, 2013
The Chronological Bible- Week 7
As we continue in our Chronological reading this week, we enter into some portions of the Bible that may be described as heavy sledding. The sacrificial and covenant language, along with the myriad amount of laws and commands, makes Leviticus one of the most difficult books for the modern reader to appreciate. I joked this weekend that more one-year Bible reading plans have died in the desert than anywhere else!
I encourage you, though, to read carefully and to persevere. While some of these texts may feel a bit dry, hidden within them are some great nuggets of truth. Additionally, a basic understanding of the Old Testament law will make other parts of Scripture come to life. The rebukes of God through the prophets make much more sense when we understand the backdrop of a neglected sacrificial system. The significance of Christ's statements and activities take on more depth when the OT context is known. The book of Hebrews jumps to life when the source material of Leviticus is kept in view. So take heart, read on, and allow God to direct your thoughts.
It may be helpful to see Leviticus in four main parts: The Sacrificial Laws (ch. 1-7), the Priestly Beginnings (ch. 8-10), the Purification Laws (ch. 11-16) and the Holiness Code (ch. 17-27). These four movements of the book all center around one pivotal theme: God is holy. In many ways, Leviticus 11:45 serves as the theme verse of everything else, "For I the Lord am the One who brought you up from the land of Egypt, that I might be your God. Therefore, you must be holy because I am holy." It would be an understatement to say that holiness is a big deal to God!
As we come to grips with the extreme requirements of God's holy standard, we can begin to appreciate the significance of Christ's sacrifice for us. Jesus has imparted to us his perfect holiness, so that we can stand before the Almighty God without spot, blemish or defect. God's holiness standards have not changed one bit since the book of Leviticus. The method of becoming holy, however, has changed completely. How awesome is that? I am so glad today to be clinging to Christ, and not headed out to sacrifice some animals so I can be made clean.
May you also cling to Christ as you read Leviticus. Peace-
Nick
I encourage you, though, to read carefully and to persevere. While some of these texts may feel a bit dry, hidden within them are some great nuggets of truth. Additionally, a basic understanding of the Old Testament law will make other parts of Scripture come to life. The rebukes of God through the prophets make much more sense when we understand the backdrop of a neglected sacrificial system. The significance of Christ's statements and activities take on more depth when the OT context is known. The book of Hebrews jumps to life when the source material of Leviticus is kept in view. So take heart, read on, and allow God to direct your thoughts.
It may be helpful to see Leviticus in four main parts: The Sacrificial Laws (ch. 1-7), the Priestly Beginnings (ch. 8-10), the Purification Laws (ch. 11-16) and the Holiness Code (ch. 17-27). These four movements of the book all center around one pivotal theme: God is holy. In many ways, Leviticus 11:45 serves as the theme verse of everything else, "For I the Lord am the One who brought you up from the land of Egypt, that I might be your God. Therefore, you must be holy because I am holy." It would be an understatement to say that holiness is a big deal to God!
As we come to grips with the extreme requirements of God's holy standard, we can begin to appreciate the significance of Christ's sacrifice for us. Jesus has imparted to us his perfect holiness, so that we can stand before the Almighty God without spot, blemish or defect. God's holiness standards have not changed one bit since the book of Leviticus. The method of becoming holy, however, has changed completely. How awesome is that? I am so glad today to be clinging to Christ, and not headed out to sacrifice some animals so I can be made clean.
May you also cling to Christ as you read Leviticus. Peace-
Nick
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
The Chronological Bible- Week 6
To all of you who have been reading and keeping up in the Chronological Bible- Woo-hoo! Way to go! Keep it up. To all of you jumping in, or who feel like you've fallen behind- I'm so glad you are on the journey. Don't forget about Grace Monday; the invitation to start each week new no matter how far behind you may be. Pick up fresh and track with us for the week- you'll be glad you did.
This week launches us full-time into the Desert wanderings and into the language of the covenant. In this later part of Exodus, God begins to show people who He is and how to relate to him. We see the people of Israel struggle and wrestle with what it means to be people of the Presence and no longer live as citizens of Egypt. God pours forth his standards in laws and commands related to every area of life- ceremonial, sacrificial, the temple, relationships, you name it! After a "worship-many-gods-live-for-yourself" attitude of Egypt, this had to be a huge adjustment for the newly-free Israelites.
I imagine that though our experience is much different, our struggle to truly walk with God and live as His people carries many similarities to these Israelites. Living out God's commands in a pluralistic, post-Christian era can be hard to do. Understanding God's view of holiness in light of the laissez-faire attiude of other around us can be intimidating. Yet I believe when we allow ourselves to face these issues and not run from them, we begin to discover the heart of faith.
What are you processing this week?
What are you planning to let go of during the season of Lent?
What are you planning to pick up during Lent in order to live more Christ focused?
Thanks for reading- now take a moment to share!
Blessings-
Nick
This week launches us full-time into the Desert wanderings and into the language of the covenant. In this later part of Exodus, God begins to show people who He is and how to relate to him. We see the people of Israel struggle and wrestle with what it means to be people of the Presence and no longer live as citizens of Egypt. God pours forth his standards in laws and commands related to every area of life- ceremonial, sacrificial, the temple, relationships, you name it! After a "worship-many-gods-live-for-yourself" attitude of Egypt, this had to be a huge adjustment for the newly-free Israelites.
I imagine that though our experience is much different, our struggle to truly walk with God and live as His people carries many similarities to these Israelites. Living out God's commands in a pluralistic, post-Christian era can be hard to do. Understanding God's view of holiness in light of the laissez-faire attiude of other around us can be intimidating. Yet I believe when we allow ourselves to face these issues and not run from them, we begin to discover the heart of faith.
What are you processing this week?
What are you planning to let go of during the season of Lent?
What are you planning to pick up during Lent in order to live more Christ focused?
Thanks for reading- now take a moment to share!
Blessings-
Nick
Wednesday, February 06, 2013
Did Someone Say "Lent"?
Once again this year, we have decided as a church community to
observe the season of Lent. Without fail, this announcement will elicit a
few raised eye-brows from the crowd, and a few more questions about why
we do this. Why observe Lent when we aren't a formal, traditional
church? Why do Lent if we're not Catholic? Why do Lent and put ourselves
under a kind of "bondage" when we are free in Christ?
For many of us, however, we have found the experience of Lent to have an odd appeal to us, and in this post I want to try and explain why.
In Hebrews 11:25, 26 we read,
Moses chose to share the oppression of God's people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward.
While living in Egypt as a young man, Moses had the opportunity to choose a life of comfort, riches and ease. He could have lived out his days in the Pharaoh's palace and enjoyed the benefits of that life. Moses, however, chose differently. He realized that he was not at home in Egypt- that his real people and his real purpose lay somewhere else. So he intentionally did some very difficult things. He identified with the slaves. He followed the leading of God's Spirit. He stared down the Pharaoh and he took a million people through the Red Sea. Why? Because in his heart he believed in a better land, a better place, where God was leading him and the people. Sacrifices and hardship would be worth the journey. Giving up the treasures of Egypt would be a small sacrifice in comparison to living fully alive as the people of God.
In many ways, I see us facing the same choice. In a metaphorical way, we live in the palace of Egypt- our modern life offers us a continual feast of self-satisfying pursuits and possessions. We have the choice to live out our days here, or we can choose as Moses did to sacrifice for a better land.
I don't know about you, but the "treasures of Egypt" have a way of gripping my mind, and eventually my heart. Things that I once knew nothing about have become essentials in my day-to-day living- coffee, email, Kindle, Words with Friends, ESPN- the list could go on and on. As I hold these treasures in my hand, I realize that none of them are bad or sinful in and of themselves. They are tools and objects. But at the same time, I also realize that my hands, and my life, can be pretty full. Lent is an opportunity to willingly lay some of these things down for a time so that I might come before God with empty hands. Lent is a time to say, "God, show me how to follow you into a better land. This Egypt is not my home- I want to belong to your people."
So, may I encourage you to enter willingly into a time of self-denial on some level? We might be tempted to see this as a yoke of slavery- doing without something we love- but we need to see that it is a bold attempt to throw off true slavery. You see, the treasures of Egypt will always keep us bound to Egypt, and this kind of slavery keeps us from belonging fully to God. Sure, on a spiritual level we are fully His already, but on a practical level we know this is not our full experience. We are captive to our possessions and our pursuits. What would it look like to throw off these captors and to journey with God into the wilderness of transformation? That is the purpose of Lent.
What will you choose?
If you know what you are laying down for Lent, post it below!
May you know that God longs to lead you on a journey into His great reward-
Nick
For many of us, however, we have found the experience of Lent to have an odd appeal to us, and in this post I want to try and explain why.
In Hebrews 11:25, 26 we read,
Moses chose to share the oppression of God's people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward.
While living in Egypt as a young man, Moses had the opportunity to choose a life of comfort, riches and ease. He could have lived out his days in the Pharaoh's palace and enjoyed the benefits of that life. Moses, however, chose differently. He realized that he was not at home in Egypt- that his real people and his real purpose lay somewhere else. So he intentionally did some very difficult things. He identified with the slaves. He followed the leading of God's Spirit. He stared down the Pharaoh and he took a million people through the Red Sea. Why? Because in his heart he believed in a better land, a better place, where God was leading him and the people. Sacrifices and hardship would be worth the journey. Giving up the treasures of Egypt would be a small sacrifice in comparison to living fully alive as the people of God.
In many ways, I see us facing the same choice. In a metaphorical way, we live in the palace of Egypt- our modern life offers us a continual feast of self-satisfying pursuits and possessions. We have the choice to live out our days here, or we can choose as Moses did to sacrifice for a better land.
I don't know about you, but the "treasures of Egypt" have a way of gripping my mind, and eventually my heart. Things that I once knew nothing about have become essentials in my day-to-day living- coffee, email, Kindle, Words with Friends, ESPN- the list could go on and on. As I hold these treasures in my hand, I realize that none of them are bad or sinful in and of themselves. They are tools and objects. But at the same time, I also realize that my hands, and my life, can be pretty full. Lent is an opportunity to willingly lay some of these things down for a time so that I might come before God with empty hands. Lent is a time to say, "God, show me how to follow you into a better land. This Egypt is not my home- I want to belong to your people."
So, may I encourage you to enter willingly into a time of self-denial on some level? We might be tempted to see this as a yoke of slavery- doing without something we love- but we need to see that it is a bold attempt to throw off true slavery. You see, the treasures of Egypt will always keep us bound to Egypt, and this kind of slavery keeps us from belonging fully to God. Sure, on a spiritual level we are fully His already, but on a practical level we know this is not our full experience. We are captive to our possessions and our pursuits. What would it look like to throw off these captors and to journey with God into the wilderness of transformation? That is the purpose of Lent.
What will you choose?
If you know what you are laying down for Lent, post it below!
May you know that God longs to lead you on a journey into His great reward-
Nick
Monday, February 04, 2013
The Chronological Bible- Week 5
Hello friends, and welcome to week 5 of the Chronological Bible. This week we dive into Covenant territory, as Yahweh begins to spell out the terms of His covenant with the people of Israel. Not only do we learn about the holiness and righteous standards of God, we also learn a great deal about Israel as they struggle to become His people- a people set apart for God's glory.
I am really looking forward to the way the exodus and the wilderness journey will serve as a parallel for our Lent experience. Lent is an opportunity to ask ourselves the question, "What could I willingly go without in order to live a more God-focused life?" We spend the rest of the year doing what comes naturally- doing what makes us feel comfortable, secure, and fulfilled. Lent is a unique time to do what is unnatural- to go without- so that we might also learn to be a people set apart for God.
You'll hear more in the weeks to come, but I hope that the reading this week will be a primer in the language of struggle. Becoming the people of God didn't happen overnight for the Israelites, and it won't happen overnight for us either. Learning to follow this God can be challenging, but it is the journey He invites us to undertake.
Read on!
Nick
I am really looking forward to the way the exodus and the wilderness journey will serve as a parallel for our Lent experience. Lent is an opportunity to ask ourselves the question, "What could I willingly go without in order to live a more God-focused life?" We spend the rest of the year doing what comes naturally- doing what makes us feel comfortable, secure, and fulfilled. Lent is a unique time to do what is unnatural- to go without- so that we might also learn to be a people set apart for God.
You'll hear more in the weeks to come, but I hope that the reading this week will be a primer in the language of struggle. Becoming the people of God didn't happen overnight for the Israelites, and it won't happen overnight for us either. Learning to follow this God can be challenging, but it is the journey He invites us to undertake.
Read on!
Nick
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)