Mixed emotions

It was appropriate that I ended my study of Matthew's gospel today as this will be my last blog for a few days. Tomorrow I leave Texas for a new task in Illinois. Actually it is not a new task, just a new area to live out the task. As I was reading Matthew 28 I was drawn to the story of the women in the passage. After they had encountered an angel of the Lord and he had given them a task, the Scripture records that they were "afraid yet filled with joy." I think these words pretty much sum up what I am experiencing today. I leave with mixed emotions. I have a fear of the unknown, not just with where I am going, but with what I will do. I have made some mistakes in the past and been involved in some churches that were less than friendly. Sometimes our past haunts us and keeps us afraid of the unknown. I think I am like so many others and experience the same emotions as they do. People often think that pastors are super spiritual and would never have mixed emotions, especially fear, but yet we do (have mixed emotions) and we are not (super spiritual.) We are just like everyone else and we have fears and anxieties as well. Along with the fear there is this ovewhelming joy that fills me up. Joy that I am getting to do what I have been called to do. Joy that God can still use me in His kingdom work. Not joy from arrogance, but joy that comes from the inner peace that God supplies. I am excited about what lies ahead to see how God is going to work in me and through me, but more importantly what HE is going to do in and through Lynwood Baptist Church. My new family in Illinois has touched my heart and I am excited to be able to work alongside them as we strive to be everything God has intended. So fear and joy grip my life as I leave. But here is the important lesson: I am leaving. I am being obedient. The women were obedient to the task given them and Jesus appeared to them in their fear and encouraged them. The first thing Jesus said to them was "Do not be afraid" then he reaffirmed their task. This is so like Jesus, meeting us right where we are with exactly what we need to hear. For me the affirmation was revealed in the Great Commission "As I am going I am to make disciples, baptize them, teach them and remember that Jesus is with me everywhere I go for all of eternity." How about you? Do you allow your fear and doubts to freeze you in your tracks? Learn a lesson from these women, be obedient even when your emotions seem to be against you. Don't allow you fear to keep you from experiencing all that God has in store for you. We will talk again in a few days.

Navigating the road of life

I would like to take some time off so that I can relax and take it easy, but because I am loading the moving truck on Monday, I still have much I need to get done. Most of the work is done, but there are still a few things I need to tackle. I need to remove everything from the attic and I still have some things in the kids rooms that needs to be boxed up as well. So I guess there is no time off for me. There are times in our lives when we need to take a break from our busy schedules. We get pulled in so many directions and then when we are not being pulled, we are being pushed in another direction. So many things make demands upon our lives. We become so involved in everything going on around us that it is difficult just to take a break. At least I know it is that way in my life, especially with two teenagers. Those of you with teenagers know exactly what I am talking about. My son, Jameson is in Driver's Education right now. I was going to teach him myself, but just did not have the time to really help him. So we enrolled him in the class so he would learn how to drive properly. He is in class in Bryan, Texas, so those of you outside of the Bryan / College Station area should be safe for now. The point is that I wanted to make sure Jameson got the proper instruction he needed so he could be the best that he can be at driving. I think we could all make the same decision when it comes to getting the best training we can in our spiritual life as well. Often times we try to go it alone in our spiritual development. We think we can do it better than anyone else. However, I would submit that we would never make the same decision with our medical, dental or educational needs, so why should our spiritual needs be any different. We should take responsibility for our spiritual growth, and that includes seeking out others who can help us grow. I know that I don't have all the answers and I'm a pastor. I know that I have to read books and listen to others so that I can be challenged and encouraged in my own Christian walk. As much as I believe in studying the Scripture to grow in my relationship with the Lord, I also believe that iron sharpens iron. My life has been enriched by the contributions others have made in my life. I also believe your life would be enriched as well. I start my new position as Pastor of Lynwood Baptist Church in Oswego, Illinois on July 5. I am excited about the opportunity and can't wait to pour my life into the wonderful people at Lynwood, but I also cannot wait for them to pour their lives into me and my family as well. I think others could benefit from a local group of believers as well. If not Lynwood, then somewhere else. Find a church that can help you navigate the road of life and teach you how to be the best that you can be. No one jumps in a car and learns the rules of the road by osmosis. We must have a guide to help us. The same thing applies to the Christian life as well. Get involved in a church and be all that God intends for you to be. See You in Church.

Am I a mocker?

I was challenged by God's Word today that my faith must really look inconsistent to God. I am amazed at how patient He is with me and what He allows me to do or not do. I was reading in Matthew 27:27-44 and was immediately hit with a parallel in my own life. The story talks about everyone that witnessed the death of Jesus as mocking Him continually. The soldiers mocked him (29, 31). The bystanders mocked him, (39). The religious leaders mocked him, (41). And even those crucified with him mocked him, (44). They made fun of Him and doubted everything He said about Himself. Here is the dilemma for me, do I mock Jesus in my life as well? Stay with me on this. I believe that I am saved by grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. I believe my eternal destiny is secure. I trust Him with my life and my future home. This fact is a given. But the problem is do I really trust Him with my today? For example, as my family moves to Illinois I know that I need to sell my house. Do I trust Him to do so or will I take matters into my own hands? I know that it is not good that Bruce be alone, yet do I trust that God will be able to take care of the situation? But even on the most basic points of our life do we really trust God to take care of us? We say we believe that He can save us, but yet by our lack of faith in the daily routines of life we show such little faith. Are we mocking Jesus by suggesting that He is not able to take care of us? Perhaps mocking is too strong a word, but it was the one that was used on that day. They doubted He was the Savior of the World. I don't doubt this, but do I believe He is my provider and the one who can meet my needs? Perhaps we believe, but we need help with our unbelief! How about you? What does your life of faith look like to God? What does it look like to those that are watching You? Do you trust God in every detail or are you like me and want to take matters into your own hands? I don't want to mock God by showing a lack of trust, so everyday I have to ask God to increase my faith.

Taking responsibility

I remember when I was a little boy my mom and dad had went somewhere and left me home by myself. (No my parents were not bad parents, but I was a very responsible child. I was old enough to take care of myself. Ha Ha) Anyway while they were gone I thought I would practice my drumming skills, even though I had none. We had these vinyl chairs that made a great sound when you beat on them. I was beating on the chair and cutting loose on my talent, when for no apparent reason, the vinyl ripped. Of course I was innocent. If the vinyl had been made right or if the material would not have been so old then it never would have happened. When my parents discovered the faulty material and I finally confessed that the material was at fault, they asked me what happened and I told them 'The devil made me do it." I thought it was a pretty good response, but my parents did not seem to accept my reasoning. They wanted to know who was responsible. Well if the truth be made known, Mom, Dad I was the responsible party. Well the chair is long gone and the incident is past history but the truth of the story remains vivid. Most of us do not want to take responsibility for our actions. We will probably take responsibility for the good things, but if something bad goes wrong, we normally like to pass the buck. We have seen this acted out in society as a whole most of our lives. I was reading about this very thing in Matthew 27:1-26. For all the negative publicity that Judas, the betrayer of Jesus gets, he made one interesting observation in his final days of life. Judas after he was seized with remorse, returned the 30 pieces of silver and stated "I have sinned for I have betrayed innocent blood." It is interesting that he would admit this fact and the religious leaders who did not get anything right on this day stated the truth "What is that to us? That's your responsibility." In other words Judas you are responsible for your actions. Later in the same story Pilate recognized that the religious leaders were wanting to kill Jesus because of envy. He wanted to let him go, but he gave in to pressure and made the statement "I am innocent of this man's blood, it is your responsibility." The only person in the story who seems to be taking responsibility for his actions was Barabbas who was condemned to die. (However, I bet he wanted to blame someone else as well.) Yet the story tells us that Jesus took his place. Instead of Barabbas dieing for his sins, Jesus took his place. Sounds kind of familiar to me. The truth of the matter is that all of us are responsible for our actions. We try to pass the buck and blame someone or something else. We will blame our parents, our upbringing, our boss, our environment, or our circumstances. We always look for an excuse to not take responsibility for our actions. However, the Bible is pretty clear that there is no one perfect and no one who is without sin (Romans 3:23). But there is one without sin. 2 Corinthians 5:21 states "God made him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us." As a result Jesus "is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:2). Just as Jesus took the place of Barabbas, he took the place that we deserve as well. He took responsibility for our actions so that we could be made right with God. If we "confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). It is a hard truth for us to accept, because we just do not believe we are responsible for bad behavior or for sin. Because we will not accept responsibility we miss out on what God has planned for our lives. The first step to accepting what God has to offer is to take responsibility for our actions. You cannot be forgiven if you do not think you need forgiveness. Sorry if I sound too churchy or too theological in my post, but I just want to take responsibility for my actions. I have a responsibility to share what God has done for me and what He has taught me. After all if I don't take responsibility for my actions, who will? How about you? Will you take responsibility?

Going the Distance

Today I was reading in the book of Matthew in particular 26:57-75 about the trial of Jesus and the denial of Peter. I know the main character of the story is Jesus, but I was drawn to Peter a secondary character in the drama. I guess in the story of life, Jesus should always be the focus and we should be secondary, but that is another blog. Anyway I observed how Peter followed Jesus at a distance as they led Him away for His trial. Things were heating up in his life and his love for Jesus compelled him to follow, but he was not totally willing to be identified with Jesus. I wonder how many times in our life we follow Jesus at a distance? That was the question I put to myself today. Think about the story. Peter had previously told Jesus "even if all fall away on account of you, I never will." What arrogance! What a brash statement to make! He was bold in his statement of commitment to Jesus. Of course he made this statement while he was with his friends. He made this statement in the comfort of his friends and when the heat was not on so to speak. I think he meant what he said, but as he so often did, he spoke without thinking. Sounds like someone else I know. No wonder Peter is called the disciple with the foot shaped mouth. Anyway back to us, how many times have we made bold arrogant statements about our commitment to Jesus while we were in the company of fellow believers? We think we can stand firm in our commitment all the time and everytime. Yet the minute we are away from them and the heat is on to stand up for Jesus, we follow at a distance or we deny Him altogether. I know that my life often reveals this truth as much as I hate to admit it. Before we are too hard on Peter and think that we would never do what he did, remember Mark's gospel says that all the disciples said the same thing. In our arrogance we might think we can stand firm, but we must remember that our enemy is strong and he wants to devour us. In fact if Jesus had not interceded for Peter it could have been much worse. In Luke's account of the same story, Jesus tells Peter "Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." Wow, what a story. Jesus knew Peter would fall away so He prayed for him to come back better than before and be an instrument God could use to strengthen others You know it is real easy for us as followers of Jesus Christ to shout Amen, and praise the Lord and I surrender all when we are in the presence of other believers. But the real test of our faith is how we stand up for Jesus in the public arena. Will we follow Jesus at a distance or will we take a stand for Him? At any moment any of us can fail in our commitment to Jesus. I recognize this truth in my own life. I am not Peter and if he needed Jesus to pray for him, I know that I do as well. But the good news is that God can still use me to help others after I have returned. I am so glad that God gives us multiple chances to go the distance and follow Him all the way. My hope and my prayer is that all of us will learn that God is not through with us because sometimes our faith is weak and shallow. In fact God wants to use our weakness to help make others strong. But that is another story, but right now the question is are we willing to go the distance for Him?

What to do with my time

Well it is another day in the Worley household and I find myself with too many things to do and not enough time to do them. I know that there are 24 hours in a day, but sometimes it does not seem like enough. I have so much to do today. I have a wedding ceremony to write, some medical stuff to take to the lab at the hospital, take my son to driver's ed, and to the DPS office for his learners permit (maybe I will think about that one). I need to contact Trinity Seminary about my last class for my DMin. I also have a lunch appointment with a friend as well as a marriage counseling session to prepare for and conduct in the evening. In the middle of all of this I need to keep packing and do more packing. Time is not my friend. It is difficult in the craziness of the day to prioritize and meet the demands that the day presents. However, there is still something much more important to do than all of these things and I am not talking about writing this blog. The most important thing to remember is to take time out to spend with God. I know that the whole day is to be dedicated to God and that I am to seek His presence constantly, but I need to make sure that I spend time listening to God. I have been in the middle of a study of Matthew's gospel and I am coming to the end of the gospel with the story of the crucifixion of Jesus. I was reading in Matthew 26:17-35 and saw two glaring events that spoke to me, one was the betrayal of Jesus and the other was the prediction of Peter's denial of Jesus. I know there is much more in the passage, but these stood out to me. I wondered if I might be guilty of betraying Jesus or denying Him. How many times do my actions reveal something other than what I believe? How many times do I say to God "you are my Lord" and then live contrary to what I believe? How many times will I be given an opportunity to stand up for Jesus only to deny Him when the need arrives? These questions are important every day, but especially on a day when I am busy. And believe me everyday is a busy day. I am sure that you resemble this remark. In the busyness of the day I must be careful to guard my witness. I must be careful to guard my words and my actions so that I will not in anyway betray or deny my Lord. It is very easy to do and like so many I fall into the trap on a daily basis. I know that the spirit is willing, but my body is so weak. We must remember to seek first the kingdom of God and allow God to permeate every area of our lives, even our schedules. I hope you will not allow the busyness of life to steal away your love and devotion to the Lord. I have discovered that starting each day with time for God helps the day go smoother and keep Him the center of my focus. Now if I can just remember where I put my car keys I might be able to get something done. Oh well at least I did the most important thing, spent time with God. How do you spend your time? I would be interested to know.

Moving again

We are in the process of moving once again as we answer a call to move from Texas to Illinois. It seems that the last few years of our lives has been one move after another. In the process of packing it has become quite clear that we have accumulated many things over our 27 years of marriage and the many different places we have lived. Many of these things are useful and beneficial to our lives. There are other things that are treasures that we have collected over the years and have sentimental value to us. I am sure there are some things that we could do without, but trying to decide which ones to keep and which ones to discard is probably harder than just keeping everything. However, just as in our physical lives we have accumulated many things I think it is true in our emotional and spiritual lives as well. Because of our past we take with us fears and doubts about what might happen in our lives and in the ministry to which God has called us. Often times these fears and doubts can immoblize us where we never venture into the unknown. The truth is that all of us have some type of baggage that we bring with us in this journey we call life. Some of the baggage is good, while others may not be as beneficial. Baggage such as guilt and condemnation certainly are not beneficial, but they often seem to be the ones we keep closest to us. It seems that we treat them like an American Express card, you know "Don't leave home without it." But that does not seem to be the best option. I think I would much rather leave guilt and condemnation in the trash bin when I move. I certainly do not want to place it in one my boxes that I can open at a later date. And I also do not want to carry it with me in my suitcase or overnight bag. I hope you are not like me and constantly bring up things that are not beneficial in your life's journey. I love to constantly quote Romans 8:1 "Therefore, there is NOW no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." I like this verse, but Satan has a way of trying to condemn me if I will let him. Perhaps you are struggling with past failures and disappointments in your life. Maybe you are still beating yourself up like I often do. Learn an important truth as you journey through life "throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles" (Hebrews 12:1) and run the race that God has set before you. Don't carry with you those things that will cause you to stumble and not all of them are bad, they are just not the best. I think I am going to take my own advice, or should I say God's advice and get rid of those things that hinder me. Now if I could just put this to practice as I pack for our move, but that is another story. Talk to you later to see how you are doing in life's journey.