September | 2013 | The Journey

September 2013
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I Can Only Imagine

Posted on September 11, 2013 by Dr. Steve Martin

Steve & Shirley

“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as [God] knows me and I know[God]. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason [God] loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again . . . .” Many [said] . . . “He has a demon and is out of his mind. Why listen to him?” Others were saying, “These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?” from John 10:11-21

A rabbi told that a town with two Jews would need three synagogues: The one I go to; The one you go to; and one neither one of us would be caught dead in. Christians are much the same. But Jesus’ prophetic words assure us that someday, God’s people will ALL be one – within and across faith groups.

Jesus clearly does not have uniformity or immediacy in mind as he prophetically and with certainty says he WILL gather “other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I MUST bring them also. . . There WILL be one flock, one shepherd.” We don’t know how this will happen any more than we know how cancer, AIDS, or other scientific mysteries will be solved, but like each of these, God will use people like you and me in the process.

People in Jesus’ day were as divided about Jesus’ prophecy as we are today . . . mosques or no mosques; synagogues or no synagogues; churches or no churches; gay marriage or no gay marriage; ways to worship, receive communion, or baptize. And yet, we act as if God, knowledge, or love itself is something we can own, limit, control or divide. But the day will come when our blindness will be healed and all who seek to love God with all their heart, soul and mind and their neighbors as themselves will be one, even in the midst of difference.

Imagine the excitement of those whose eyes Jesus opened who began their day having never seen or expected to see a sunset, the twinkle in a child’s eye, or a shooting star, but went to bed having seen them all. Now imagine embracing Jesus’ promise as we celebrate who we are and what we believe today. Imagine expecting God to open our eyes to see beyond current limits of our languages, metaphors, and borders. Imagine the pure joy of having seen and revealed a new path to peace . . . and then closing our eyes at the last, having seen God’s creation power at work – making all things and people brand new, at any age. Imagine!

Gracious and loving God: Open the eyes of my heart, Lord, I want to see You, I want to love You and love all my neighbors as myself. We love You. Help us love You more, in and through Jesus. Amen.

Grace and Peace

Steve

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Empathy With Others

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Dr. Steve Martin

Steve & Shirley

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Matthew 5:7

As we in humility recognize our “poverty of spirit,” God in His mercy forgives and equips us. Having received mercy, we are expected to show it to others.

The biblical term merciful is related to the word for empathy, which means the ability to get right inside another person’s skin until we see things with his eyes, think things with his mind and feel things with his feelings. This is what Jesus did for us in His incarnation. Thus:

Blessed are those who empathize with others until they are able to see with the eyes of others, think with their thoughts and feel with their feelings.The one who does this will find others do the same for him or her and will know that God did this for them in Christ Jesus.

How do we see our non-Christian friends? Can we see Muslims, for example, as real people groping in the semi-darkness, under the mere glimmer of light that a crescent moon provides, thinking that is all the light there is?

As we see them, mercy would be an appropriate word to describe our feeling and attitude as well as actions toward them. Just as we would go to the aid of a blind man heading in the wrong direction, so mercy should similarly drive us to go after them and show those who are willing to listen, the way to more complete light.

If we are secure in the knowledge that Christ is the Sun of Righteousness, then we do not need to prove anything but patiently and gently show others the way.

A relatively young man decided to work for the Lord in China. His father was not a Christian and very strongly opposed him. The son decided to attend a series of Christian meetings in one of the areas where he was serving. His father opposed so strongly that they quarreled before he left for the meetings. Then the son suddenly died while he was at the meetings.

The Christians there prayed and showed much concern. They knew that the news of the death would be hard for the father, so they asked a doctor to be there just in case the father needed him. When the father arrived and saw the love of the Christians, he gave his life to the Lord.

We need to see others as Jesus sees them and empathize with them as though in their skin.

Dear Lord, help us grow closer to You so that we will act like you, forgiving others and being sympathetic, in and through Jesus. Amen.

Grace and Peace

Steve

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Troubled Spirits

Posted on September 9, 2013 by Dr. Steve Martin

Steve & Shirley

“And those who were afflicted with troubled spirits were healed.” – Luke 9:19

Healing was central to Jesus’ ministry, especially the healing of persons with “troubled” or “unclean” spirits—a First Century description of mental illness or emotional anguish. In fact, such healings outnumber all the physical healings (restoration of sight, curing of the lame, healing the deaf) put together. Two thousand years later, the church still has a central role in offering help and hope for people dealing with mental, emotional or spiritual illnesses.

I state that not only as a pastor, but as one concerned with all our service people coming back from war with PTSD. More people have committed suicide than who have lost their lives in combat. I am happy to say that the VA is more proactive about this than ever before… it has taken them a while… but they are very aware of the problems associated with war and that we bring the war home with us.

Throughout childhood and into adult life, I never heard the words “mental illness” or “suicide” spoken in church. It was only spoken in soft tones as people gather in corners of the room with their hands over their mouths. The silence was deafening. Because the church couldn’t talk about such things, it felt like God couldn’t either.

Yet as this story from Luke affirms, Jesus didn’t turn away from people with “troubled spirits.” Instead he listened to their lives, showed God’s care, and offered hope and healing love. How can the church do the same? Perhaps we can start by breaking the silence. Offer adult forums and youth programs on issues like depression screening or suicide prevention. Lift up in prayer those dealing with mental illness, just as we do those whose illnesses are physical. Advocate for mental health care in our community.

Over and again, the Gospels tell of Jesus’ care for those afflicted in mind or spirit. As his followers, we’re called to do the same. Breaking the silence is a place to begin.

Dear God, give us the courage to care and the voice to speak that will help to break the silence, and through Jesus we all may be made whole. Amen.

Grace and Peace

Steve

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Eyes in The Night

Posted on September 8, 2013 by Dr. Steve Martin

Steve & Shirley

By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before Him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and He knows everything. 1 John 3:19-20

See if you can get this one right.

What type of accident causes one million collisions that are responsible for 27,000 human injuries and $3.5 billion in damages?

Did you guess “texting”? Wrong! The correct answer is automobile accidents that involve deer. My sister-in-law is a great dear hunter with a vehicle.

Of course, there are other kinds of vehicle-animal accidents. A friend once had a parishioner who experienced nightmares because while driving he had come around a corner and saw hundreds of eyes staring at him. That was all he remembered before his car plowed into a herd of Black Angus cattle, which had broken down a fence and wandered onto the road.

Anybody who has been involved in such an accident wishes there was a way he could know, he could see, animals that were on or approaching the road.

If that describes you, I’ve got good news. Mercedes-Benz and Autoliv will soon offer Night View Assist Plus on their S-class automobiles. The system will identify people, cows, moose, deer, camels and wild boar. To make this option available the companies journeyed to five continents, catalogued thousands of animals and spent many millions of dollars.

I guess those are the hoops humanity has to jump through if we want to see that which once was hidden.

In contrast to our extremely limited vision, we have the Lord who knows everything because He sees everything. He knows the location of all the animals I mentioned and, along with that, He knows the position of every ant, bacteria, virus and mold spore. Because He knows these things, we shouldn’t be surprised He also knows everything about us.

And that fact, could be discomforting because it also means He knows our dark thoughts, our evil desires, our sinful longings, and our disobedient actions. He knows on our own we wandering humans will soon be mowed down by that which is lurking on or near the roads of our lives.

To prevent that tragedy God made a great — an unbelievable investment — to make us safe. His was an investment which cannot be measured in time or paltry dollars and cents. That’s because God’s investment was the life of His own Son.

Now because of the love of God and the grace of Jesus Christ we need no longer be afraid of collisions. They will come, but because of Jesus we are safe.

Dear Lord, we give thanks you have invested the life of your Son to keep us safe by the mercy and grace of Jesus. Through him we know that we are held safely in your loving arms no matter what is standing in the road around the next curve. Amen.

Grace and Peace

Steve

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What is 2 + 2?

Posted on September 8, 2013 by Dr. Steve Martin

Steve & Shirley

Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. 1 John 3:8-9

A few years ago, I heard about an international company that was looking for a new director of marketing.

The position was a lucrative one and many applicants came forward to be interviewed. Eventually, the candidates were narrowed down to two finalists. Each of those men was brought in for a short and final visit. They were asked the same question: “What is two plus two?”

The first candidate thought a bit about his answer. He was wise enough to know that there had to be some kind of deeper purpose behind such a simple question. Eventually, he answered: “The answer to two plus two is four … or we could also say it is the number between 3 and 5.”

The man was thanked for his time and escorted out.

The second individual was invited in for his interview. The same question was asked of him: “What is two plus two?”

Without hesitation, the man replied with a question of his own. He asked, “Tell me what you want the answer to be, and I will make it so.”

That fellow, and not the first, was hired.

It occurs to me that in some respects that story is the story of our lives. Whether we are conscious of it or not, we are all interviewing somebody whom we can spiritually follow: somebody into whose hands we can and will place our today and our futures.

There are two candidates. The Lord says, “Put yourself in My hands. I can tell you the difference between the low road and the high road. I can lead you to faith in Jess, who gave Himself so you might be forgiven and restored to my family. In Jesus your life can be blessed and your eternity will be assured.”

But there are many more candidates seeking our loyalty.

When we bring them in and ask why we should follow them, they say, “Tell me what you want the answer to be, and I will give it to you.”

Tragically, far too many people hire the easy road right then and there. That’s because these promises seem so good, so beneficial, so desirable. Only the passing of time shows they have been duped by the “father of lies” (see John 8:44).

This is why I encourage you to follow the Lord. Only He has shown the kind of love that can forgive your sins, redeem your soul, and grant you all you really need … not want … but need.

Dear Lord, the world’s seductions seem to promise satisfaction. May we be given eyes of faith that expose it falseness. Further, may we be granted the ability to trust in Jesus, who alone can give us what we need. Amen.

Grace and Peace

Steve

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It Finally Happened!

Posted on September 6, 2013 by Dr. Steve Martin

Steve & Shirley

As most of you know, I retired (after 40 years in ministry) on July 1, 2013. Since then I have sought to live out the laws of “Casual Friday.” That is – be as casual as you can be or dare to be. I have only worn long pants part of one day and my neck has not touched a buttoned collar or a tie. I now know why that has caught on so rapidly in church. It has nothing to do with that word “contemporary” just simply comfort. I now know why preachers want to dress casually in the pulpit… it is much more comfortable without a tie or a tight collar.

But, alas my friends… it all ended today with a terrible reply to a text message. You see, I am officiating at a wedding Saturday. That means tonight is the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. Since the rehearsal is at the home of the groom, I thought it would be, at the most, business casual. I texted David (the groom’s brother) to ask about the dress code. To my shock… he texts back “The norm is coat and tie.” I woke up about a half hour later as Shirley was drying the tears from my eyes. I checked the phone several more times and there was never the reply which said “I am kidding.”

I expected the horse collar tomorrow, but I thought I had one more day. This will mean that I have had to wear a tie or collar two days in a row…. plus, I have to wear a belt and socks and dress shoes. Oh, the humanity????

I kid you about all this… but I have enjoyed shorts, sandals – the casual feeling. The truth of the matter is I would wear a monkey suit to be with this family. I officiated at the wedding of another brother (David and Kendall) a few years ago. Being with the Murphy’s was and is an absolute hoot. Folks, they could take their conversations on the road and make a killing… packing the halls and clubs every night.

So tonight as I dine with them at Sedgefield Country Club, with all these constricting articles of clothing around my neck, waist and feet, know that I will be having a wonderful time.

It is good to have friends that you want to be around – even if you have to wear uncomfortable stuff. Thank God for your friends. Take steps to always stay as close as you can. All of us will benefit greatly from having true, good friends.

Dear Lord, thank you for allowing these families to cross paths and become friends. Thank you for lifting us up by being together, in and through Jesus. Amen.

Grace and Peace

Steve

PS: Remember Kendall who is in UNC Hospital

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Syria: Red Line or Diplomacy?

Posted on September 5, 2013 by Dr. Steve Martin

Steve & Shirley

I must admit that on the Syria business I have gone back and forth between my beliefs about what we should do. Perhaps you are in the same situation. We have been through this with Iraq when the intelligence told us they had weapons of mass destruction – even showed us the trucks carrying around these mobile labs. Our Secretary of State, Colin Powell – for whom I have the utmost respect – went to the UN and made a convincing case using flawed, even contrived intelligence. We went to war and there were some pretty nasty consequences from which Iraq has yet to recover.

I agree with most people, the use of gas is evil.

But here is my question: knowing how evil Al-Qaeda is and that there are no depths it will not go to carry out its Jihad, are we sure – I mean absolutely sure that it was the Syrian government that used the gas or was it someone else seeking to get us to act militarily after that red line was crossed? It could have been either one of these – or both.

My next question is what will be the result of our missile strikes? Will we really degrade the government’s ability to wage war or use gas on its own people… Or will we have succeeded in putting Al-Qaeda into a more powerful position in Syria – even to the point of making it easier to take over the government entirely?

The behaviors and the people we are talking about are the same behaviors and people found in many Old Testament stories. Frankly, they haven’t changed all that much. My military mind would say let go over there and take care of business in quick order. My logical mind would say hey, let’s think this thing ALL the way through – passed the strikes and include what fall out make take place after there is a change – who will be in charge and can we deal with them?

My spiritual being says theses are brothers and sisters who need our help and full understanding. There must be a way we can move the world (in all its fractured parts) can move toward peace.

I recorded “Miss congeniality” the other night. This FBI agent hated beauty pageants, especially the part where every contestant says she wants world peace. In the end isn’t that what the world really longs to celebrate… A world where all people will feel safe and know that all others will come to their aid when needed. That is the world I pray for every day.

Dear Lord, Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me. Amen.

Grace and Peace

Steve

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Signs of The End Times

Posted on September 4, 2013 by Dr. Steve Martin

Steve & Shirley

“… in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

“…all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned…” 2 Timothy 3:1-14

Many people are caught up in the prophecy of the End Times found in the Book of Revelation. Some so much so that they can give you a list right there on the spot – off the top of their heads.

Howmany can you name? I won’t look till I get stuck – and I know they will not be in order.

The stars will fall from the sky (Happened in the 1800’s I believe)
The sun will grow dark (with ever solar eclipse)
You will not be able to tell the seasons by the trees (Leaves were turning in August this year)
Increase of knowledge (I guess everywhere except Washington, DC)
People will hate and betray one another (Cain and Able kinda started that)
False prophets will appear (I think I read some of them in preparing this devotion)

Some of these are biblical and others are dug up out of the bias of people trying to influence other to join their cause.

Today at Jay’s Deli, I witnessed – up close and personal – an actual sign of the end times. I left my iPhone in the car while I was in the restaurant. Boy, if that is not a sign I don’t know what is… Oh no… Disconnected from the source… that has got to be a sign that the world is ending… the Rev. without a phone. Holy End Times,, Batman!!!

Seriously, I believe there are signs – easy to see – which point to the end of life. When we stop caring for each other and live only for ourselves – the world will start to crumble. When we stand by and watch our neighbors beaten and robbed and do nothing – the world is crumbling. When we lock our doors, hoard our food, money and possessions while people are dying outside our doors – the world is about to blow apart.

Here is our question: By our actions, behavior and beliefs are we bringing the end of the world closer… or by our actions, behavior and beliefs are we opening wide the windows of heaven to allow the light of the love of God to flood the world and bring about reconciliation, restoration, wholeness and peace.

Dear Lord, help me to open those big ole windows that all may feel the warmth of your love and grace, and through Jesus help them to feel my love along side yours. Amen.

Grace and Peace

Steve

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Remembering Labor Day

Posted on September 3, 2013 by Dr. Steve Martin

Steve & Shirley

“Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the work of our hands—O prosper the work of our hands!” – Psalm 90:17

As we find ourselves back at work let’s think again about our time off celebrating Labor Day.

Our church and many of its leaders have been supporters of the labor movement over the years. We have supported efforts to ensure that laborers were treated with respect and paid fairly. We have backed the right of workers to collective bargaining.

We should continue to support these values and policies. We should recognize the value of unions both for their members and as a counterbalance to other powerful interests in the arenas of politics and policy. And we should fairly compensate those who work for the church.

But we should not hesitate to call unions to reform and renewal where it is needed. Some unions that began as justice movements have become protect-the-status-quo organizations. When that happens, unions have forgotten their own story.

Of course, when it comes to forgetting your story, we in the church have a few things to own up to ourselves. The church, too, has been guilty of forgetting that our calling is to serve Christ and his Realm and instead have served ourselves.

Labor Day also reminds us how many people today have no work at all. This is really, really bad, and I wish we were a lot more concerned about it than we seem to be. It is bad because a job not only allows a person to support themselves and their family, but because work really means so much more. Work often brings with it a role and an identity. Moreover, our work is a source of many of our most important relationships. That’s a lot to lose.

It’s a good day to honor and say thanks to everyone who serves the common good by their labor. And to remember with prayers of intercession and action those who are without work and all that a job means in our lives.

Thank you, God, for work to do; for useful tasks that need study and strength; for the comradeship of labor; and for exchanges of good humor and encouragement. And, hear our prayers, we ask, for those who don’t have a job, who may have about given up hope. Sustain and uphold them and guide us in creating a society where everyone has a chance to contribute, in and through Jesus. Amen.

Grace and Peace

Steve

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De-Friended

Posted on September 2, 2013 by Dr. Steve Martin

Steve & Shirley

Shirley and I were on Facebook earlier today and noticed some very good news; someone we knew, I officiated at their wedding, announced that he had just got the perfect job and would be moving closer to the beach. We thought that was wonderful news and so Shirley commented to them that we hope he and (we used his wife’s name) would be very happy in their new home.

A few moments later another friend of their’s responded with their joy because these two would now live closer to them. Very quickly a person we did not know, but had seen pictures of her on his Facebook page, responded lol. That was an odd, if not hurtful thing to say. We don’t think it was “Lots Of Love” but “laugh out loud”.

Shirley looked more on his page and his wife’s page and found some interesting things. No one in her family is listed as a friend. She is listed as married while he lists nothing in that status.

I don’t know what is going on, but they are/were a beautiful young couple with great, great promise. I just hope they are ok.

But my fear is everything is not ok… because after the other woman wrote her lol… we were de-friended immediately.

I would have preferred a private note but I think I get the message. I would love to be proven wrong. My best wishes to these friends.

Facebook is life unfiltered by the brain. So many times we put things on there (and I believe we are encouraged to do so) before we think or in order to get a reaction.

I am so thankful that Jesus doesn’t de-friend me when I say things that may unintentionally be offensive or hurtful. I am glad that he can see me as I really am – warts and all – and still be my friend. We all need friends, especially Jesus.

Dear Lord, bless this young man and woman, and no matter what the situation may be, surround them with your love and your grace that they may live lives on the higher plane of life, in and through Jesus. Amen.

Grace and Peace

Steve