The Simple Truth

The Flu

Every where you turn these days people are talking about the flu - whether H1N1 or the common strain of influenza.  It seems to be spreading like wildfire throughout the US.  Just last week half of my wife's third grade class was out with the flu.  It's only by the grace of God that she hasn't got it yet (elementary classrooms are like huge petri dishes).  People are debating - should I get the shot or should I not.  People are wearing masks as they ride the train. We wash our hands a thousand times a day. And you can't turn around without running into a dispenser for hand sanitizer.  Why all the fuss? We're trying to stop the spread of influenza.

I know I'm weird but all this talk about the spread of influenza caused me to think about the spreading of the good news of Jesus Christ.  Wouldn't it be something if the in-flu-ence (get it?) of the gospel could spread like the flu?  What if one by one you saw your co-workers coming down with the salvation bug. The symptoms: forgiveness of sins, eternal life, vanishing of guilt, restoration with your creator, a purpose for living, and the list goes on and on.

Why doesn't the gospel spread like the flu? Here are some thoughts...

• We aren't in close enough proximity to other uninfected people. We've quarantined ourselves and therefore have no influence over people.  Too many churches have holy huddle syndrome and they won't let anyone else in.
• We are wearing a mask which prohibits the spread of the gospel bug. It's not a surgical mask - it's a hypocrisy mask. We act one way at church and another way at work, and therefore we have no influence over people.
• We've been inoculated with an anti-gospel serum which reduces our burden for the lost, robs us of our boldness, and causes us to be apathetic toward others in our life who don't know Jesus. 

I hope all of you steer clear of the flu this season - I really do.  But I hope the in-flu-ence of the gospel infects you so severly that you are HOT for Jesus and you begin infecting everyone you come in contact with.

Can You Relate?

This Sunday we start a new seven-week series at PBC called, "Can You Relate?"  I'm fired up about how God is going to use this series to foster better relationships in our lives.  I hope you'll join us.  Below is a blurb about the series and the topics we'll attack in the weeks to come...

Life is about relationships.  When our relationships are good - life is good. When our relationships stink - life stinks!  The Bible is a book about relationships. It shows us how to relate to God, how to relate to ourself, and how to relate to one another.  When we apply God's principles to our life we can experience relationships as He intended. Join us for this seven week series as we discover how to relate.

11/1 What's Love Got To Do With It?

11/8 ERASE - Learning to Forgive

11/15 Can You Hear Me Now?

11/22 Dealing with Difficult People

12/6    I'm Not Worthy!

12/13 Toxic Relationships

12/20 Moving Beyond Facebook Friendship

Speaking the Truth in Love

Ephesians 4:15 is one of the most often quoted and least practiced verses in the Bible. It tells us we are to speak the truth in love. Some people are pretty good at the truth part - it's the love part they struggle with at times.  Others don't love people enough to tell them the truth.

This morning in my Bible reading I came across this story of Jesus interacting with a rich young ruler in Mark 10:17-22.  This story has been detailed many times over so I won't take the time here to do so, but I do want to draw your attention to v.21 were it says, "Then Jesus beholding him loved him..." This jumped off the page (or screen - I was reading on my new Kindle) at me.  What Jesus is about to say to this young man is driven by love.  He then proceeds to tell him some very tough things about his particular situation - sell all you have and give it to the poor and come and follow me.  Jesus knew that this young man was struggling with materialism and that the only remedy was generosity.  The passage concludes by saying that the young man is grieved by Jesus' words because he had great possessions.

Do you love people enough to tell them the truth? Let me rephrase that - do people know you love them and therefore will tell them the truth?  Sometimes we deceive ourselves into thinking we are speaking the truth in love when in reality the person hearing our "truth" doesn't think we care for them at all.  People have to know how much you care before they care how much you know.  Speak into peoples lives. Tell them the truth. But let love be your only motive.   

Appreciated

I felt so appreciated on Sunday as the folks at PBC showed me the love for Pastor Appreciation month.  I absolutely hate being the center of attention (just part of my introverted personality) but I did truly feel appreciated.  As I told the congregation on Sunday - it is truly my privilege and honor to pastor the wonderful people at PBC. I can't think of anywhere else I'd rather be.

The appreciation was complete with a song written in my honor - Super Brad.  Here are the lyrics composed by my good friend Ernie...

He's at PBC for you and me - He's Super Brad! 

He shares his beliefs while far from his Chiefs - He's Super Brad!

Never needs the warning, "Don't fall in a stupor!"

Kerrie every morning says, "Gee...I love you, Super!"

To Abby and Drew and all the fish, too - He's Super Dad!

He speaks and he blogs in casual togs - He's Super Brad!

Super Brad! Super Brad! Super Brad!   

The appreciating didn't stop there.  The drama team also put together a video about Super Brad. You can check it out on Youtube.  Click below...

To top everything off they presented me with an awesome gift - the Amazon Kindle. Thank you so much, I look forward to many hours of reading on my new toy!

Thanks again everyone! I truly feel appreciated.

The Last Tough Question

This Sunday we'll take on our final tough question in this series - "Is Faith Nonsense?"  I hope you'll join us this weekend as we wrap things up.  I've really enjoyed the past seven weeks as we've dealt with some of life's toughest questions.  The preparation for each week has challenged and stretched me - that's always a good thing.  I feel like I've grown in my faith as a result of going through this series.  Hopefully you feel the same way. 

If for no other reason you should come to check out the final installment with "Dr. Socrates" (i.e. the grumpy, drug dealin', short-order cook, Ernie)

Two Observations About Purpose

There is no doubt in my mind that God has a unique purpose for every person on earth.  He has shaped you to carry out that specific purpose.  I've made two observations about our quest to find purpose in life...

1.  Our quest is too focused on SELF.

It becomes "MY" purpose.  I'm seeking it to find happiness, fulfillment, satisfaction for myself.  My consumeristic, self-absorbed nature takes over during the quest.  Our purpose in life is more about God than it is about us.  In discovering and living out God's purpose for us, we may experience fulfillment, joy, satisfaction, and happiness, but that is NOT the goal.  The goal is to bring God glory.

2. Our quest is too focused on SIZE.

When we think of purpose we tend to think of something HUGE.  We feel in order to make a lasting impact we have to do something extraordinary.  Too often this type of thinking becomes more about feeding our ego than it does about fulfilling God's purpose.  You have a purpose from God, but it is more about faithfulness in the little things of life than about a big thing.  Be faithful in the little things God has called you to and He might turn it into something larger.

Do I Really Care?

This past Sunday we tackled the tough question, "Does God Really Care?"  I'm convinced He does.  One need only look at the cross to know that God cares immeasurably.  At a time of apparent unconcern God was demonstrating His greatest love.

As I've wrestled with this question over the past few weeks I've been plagued by a second, related question, "Do I really care?"  As I look at the world around me and see those who are suffering and in need, do I have a God-like compassion for them, or am I content to turn a blind eye and leave the caring to others?  If I'm honest, I'd have to admit that much of the time I'm very much selfish and unconcerned for those who are suffering.  I say this to my shame!  The sad thing is - I'm no different from most people in the world.

I'm convinced there is enough food in the world to feed the starving.  We have the medical aptitude to treat the sick and dying. Housing could be provided to those who are homeless.  However, the thing keeping us from addressing these and other horrible issues that face our generation is our self-centered heart.  Ouch!  If people could look beyond themselves and the building of their own personal kingdom we, with God's help, could overcome many of these challenges.  I understand that we live in a fallen world which will not be completely right until Jesus returns and makes it right.  I know that Jesus himself said that we will always have the poor with us.  But I don't think these are reasons for the church to throw it's hands in the air and say there's nothing we can do to help.

So what's the real problem?  Once again it's the human heart!  Does God care?  Yes, he's provided the tools and resources to overcome much of the suffering in the world.  But because we don't care that much we hoard the tools and resources for ourselves.  After all, it's a dog eat dog world out there and you've got to look out for number 1.  I've gotta get mine! Right!?

How do we address the problem of the self absorbed human heart?  How do we get people to care?  Manipulation. Legislation. Redistribution. Education.  While these things may have a place and time, I don't think they are the answer in this case.  The answer - Transformation!  Only the heart that has been transformed by Jesus Christ will care like God cares.  A follower of Jesus who understands what it means to live a selfless life will be truly concerned with the plight of others.  Let Jesus change your heart today.

There is no doubt in my mind that God cares.  The question we need to ask ourselves is, "Do I really care?"   

Walking Wounded

My kids had a rough day yesterday.  Drew had four more teeth pulled (I think that brings the total to 16 - I've lost count).  What a trooper!  I felt so bad for him with his swollen red cheeks.  Nothing like ice cream for dinner to cheer a guy up though.  There is no doubt that I wouldn't do as well as he has done through this ordeal.

Abby came home from soccer last night with her first legitimately sprained ankle.  Big egg sized knot on the side of the ankle.  She was hurtin' and letting everyone know about it!  Actually she did very well.  I've had so many sports related injuries in my life I feel like an orthopedist.  So I went to work on her right away - elevate the ankle, ice packs, and the wrap it up for the evening to keep the swelling down.  She was doing better this morning than I anticipated.

Seeing her go through that brought back so many not so found memories.  I remember in high school and college when we'd turn an ankle the trainers would make us put our foot, up to our calf, in a five gallon bucket filled with ice and water.  You talk about painful - at least for the first few minutes until the leg went numb.  The worst part of a sprained ankle - getting out of bed in the morning and taking those first few steps - ouch!

Idol Worship

Here's a very good video from Nightline on ABC featuring Pastor Marc Driscoll from Mars Hill Church in Seattle.

American Idol Worship Shared via AddThis

Two Eternal Truths, Impacting our Here and Now

This past Sunday I left you with two lies that the church must fight against.  A proper understanding of these two eternal truths can genuinely impact they way we live in the here and now.  Here are the two lies we must avoid...

• Hell isn't real.  From Luke 16:27-28 we see that this man's burden for those who are lost is derived from a full understanding of the reality of hell.  If I don't believe hell exists then I won't be as inclined to share my faith with those who need to know Jesus as Savior.
• Heaven isn't that great.  In other words, heaven can wait.  Heaven will exceed our wildest imaginations (I Corinthians 2:9).  Understanding the awesomeness of heaven can help us deal with the struggles of life and dampen the allure of worldly things.

I encourage you to live life from an eternal perspective.  It makes all the difference in the world.