Our Quiet Nests

One Sunday after I preached, I spent about 1 ½ hours visiting with hurting, lonely and suffering Christians and because of that, I am concerned. How did these people from inside and outside the church get in this predicament? We (Christians) need to get out of our comfort zones. John Calvin (an early reformer) said, “We murmur against God, if He does not grant us a quiet nest.” The American church has become in many ways our “quiet nest”. And in our quiet nests we have become so comfortable that we have fallen asleep. We seldom “Go into all the world and make…” (Matthew 28) but rather than going, we sit inside our churches and every once in awhile dangle some “attractive” bait out the window (a special program or service) and we hope someone passing by will see it and possibly come in to our quiet nest and enjoy the benefits of “our” quiet nest.

Our God given purpose is to go, to minister inside and outside our church. We were not saved to be cleaned up and put on display in some museum. We were saved to go into the world with all its sin and misery and be the sweet fragrance of Christ to a hurting world.

We are sitting in our quiet nests, slapping each other on the back while a suffering world around us goes to hell. We are in deeper trouble than we realize or want to admit.

Matthew 28:16-20
2 Corinthians 1:3-11

Another day for men old before their time

Early one morning about a week and a half ago, I was at my desk at work checking the security logs, making schedules for the maintenance men, checking the cleaner log and learning the new soap dispensers don’t work like they should. I check email and notice I have one from “Bossman”, a former neighbor boy who is now an Army Ranger on his second tour in the Middle East doing the tough assignments Army Rangers do. His email is a light-hearted answer to my inquires about his girl friend who is a college softball pitcher in the southeast regionals in Georgia.

This week I had more typical days at the office: problems, appointments, etc. At one of my appointments my businessman friend asked me to talk to one of his employees whose husband had cancer surgery. “She needs to talk to someone” he said. The day goes on with its inherent problems.

That evening I talked to our son Andy; he asked if I’d gotten an email from “Bossman” that day. I had not and Andy proceeded to tell me about the message he’d received. Bossman’s friend had gotten shot in the face and did not make it. They pulled the team out and sent them back to the base camp where tomorrow Bossman will be in the Honor Guard for his fallen friend…

And I thought I had problems. Young men and young women put their lives on the line every day to protect you and me.

In Revelations 19 Jesus will lead out the Armies of Heaven to fight the last battle—victory will be guaranteed so no longer “young men will need to die in battle and those left behind will not feel old before their time.”

“Others May, You Cannot"

G.D. Watson, 1845-1924, was a Wesleyan Methodist minister and evangelist based in Los Angeles, California. His evangelistic campaigns took him to England, the West Indies, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, and Korea. He also wrote several books. This article was originally published in pamphlet form (from Good News Publishers).

"Those who would really be like Jesus will be called to a life of sacrifice."

"If God has called you to be really like Jesus, He will draw you to a life of crucifixion and humility, and put upon you such demands of obedience, that you will not be able to follow other people, or measure yourself by other Christians, and in many ways He will seem to let other good people do things which He will not let you do.

"Other Christians and ministers who seem very religious and useful may push themselves, pull wires, and work schemes to carry out their plans, but you cannot do it: and if you attempt it, you will meet with such failure and rebuke from the Lord as to make you sorely penitent.

"Others may boast of themselves, of their work, of their success, of their writings, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such thing, and if you begin it, He will lead you into some deep mortification that will make you despise yourself and all your good works.

"Others may be allowed to succeed in making money, or may have a legacy left to them, but it is likely God will keep you poor, because He wants you to have something far better than gold, namely, a helpless dependence on Him, that He may have the privilege of supplying your needs day by day out of an unseen treasury.

"The Lord may let others be honored and put forward, and keep you hidden in obscurity, because He wants you to produce some choice, fragrant fruit for His coming glory, which can only be produced in the shade. He may let others be great, but keep you small. He may let others do a work for Him and get the credit of it, but He will make you work and toil on without knowing how much you are doing; and then to make your work still more precious, He may let others get the credit for the work which you have done, and thus make your reward ten times greater when Jesus comes.

"The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch over you, with a jealous love, and will rebuke you for little words and feelings, or for wasting your time, which other Christians never seem distressed over. So make up your mind that God is an infinite Sovereign, and has a right to do as He pleases with His own.

"He may not explain to you a thousand things which puzzle your reason in His dealings with you. But if you absolutely see yourself to be His…slave, He will wrap you up in a jealous love, and bestow upon you many blessings which come only to those who are in the inner circle.

"Settle it forever, then that you are to deal directly with the Holy Spirit, and that He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue, or chaining your hand, or closing your eyes, in ways that He does not seem to use with others. Now when you are so possessed with the living God that you are, in your secret heart, pleased and delighted over this peculiar, personal, private, jealous guardianship and management of the Holy Spirit over your life, you will have found the vestibule of Heaven."

Minnesota Katrina Relief Project

This is from “Mrs. Beef” and I just want to share a little about an event which we experienced Sunday evening. We were invited to attend the Minnesota Katrina Relief Benefit Concert at Dassel-Cokato. Many people that we know were recently involved in helping victims of Hurricane Katrina, including several men from the Bible Study that Jerry is involved in.

It was really moving to see the slide show from Mississippi but even more touching was hearing the testimonies of those people who were there serving God. They proved that God will use anybody of any age with any (or no) gifts to serve Him and to enlarge His kingdom.

Another thing that was so awesome for me was to see men boldly proclaiming their love of the Lord! Praise God! Keep those men growing for God!!

If you are interested in more information about the Katrina relief project, go to: www.mnkatrinarelief.com. They have scheduled week-long mission trips there every month for the rest of the year. They say we’ll be so blessed by going and will probably want to go again. Should we give it a try???

Mrs. Beef

Who sinned; this man or his parents? –John 9:1-7

A friend shared with me about a man with a very aggressive form of cancer who attends a Bible study. His cancer has come back again and he is facing a battle. He stopped coming to the Bible study. I asked his friend why and he said he stopped coming because someone at the Bible study said he was sick because he had committed some grievous sin.

We need to be careful when we decide to play “mini-god” and make pronouncements that hurt and damage someone’s spirit or faith; especially someone in the throws of battling cancer or any other major issue.

In John 9:1-7, Jesus passes by a man born blind from birth and the disciples asked Jesus “Did this man sin or his parents, that he was born blind?” In verse three, Jesus answers “Neither has this man sinned nor his parents but that the works of God should be displayed in him.” (From Jerry’s combined translation) Neither sinned; he was born blind so God could display his powerful, wonderful, healing power. If a specific act of sin was the cause of sickness and cancer, we would be sick all the time and have cancer all the time. If we belong to Christ, our sins are forgiven. Why do we think God grades sin on a curve? Obviously, they think the man with cancer must have committed a more grievous sin and therefore, deserves God’s punishment! All sin separates us from the pure and holy God, not just the ones we judge to be grievous. (Grievous sins are those sins we find objectionable in other people but never bother to see them in ourselves.) “To judge ourselves is our duty, to judge others is our sin.” (Matthew Henry)

God help us. And He has. His Son Jesus died for us to make us free from being sniveling, finger pointing mini-gods. In Jesus name we’re free. Amen

Commentary from the Life Application Bible: “A common belief in Jewish culture was that calamity or suffering was the result of some great sin. But Christ used this man’s suffering to teach about faith and to glorify God. We live in a fallen world, where good behavior is not always rewarded and bad behavior not always punished. Therefore, innocent people sometimes suffer. If God took suffering away whenever we asked, we would follow Him for comfort and convenience not out of love and devotion. Regardless of the reasons for our suffering, Jesus has the power to help us deal with it. Don’t ask God “why did this happen to me?” Instead ask God to give you a deeper perspective and strength to get through the trial."

The Greatness of God

Our Bible study was in John when we came across the verse in John 14:12: “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father.” Usually today in Bible studies we “skate” over such verses we deem to have too much hyperbole or are too complicated. We have a lot of newer Christians in the Bible study and I felt we must address this verse and not skate over it. Unless they think Jesus may be talking through his hat.

At first glance do you feel Jesus was laying it on a little heavy when he said this? His followers would do greater things than Him.

Let’s look at it a little differently. Jesus in His world ministry possibly never worked outside a 50 mile radius in his three year ministry. How many people did he heal or raise from the dead? Hundreds or thousands maybe? We don’t really know because not every thing He did was recorded in scripture. Let’s just take a look at one thing: modern eye glasses.

In Jesus day if you had sight problems your only hope was to cope or pray for a miracle. Today we have eye glasses; we take them off and we can’t see very well at all. Put them back on and instantaneous 20/20 vision (if everything is up-to-date). Now each pair of eyeglasses is made specifically to each person’s personal prescription. You can’t use your buddy’s eye glasses when you lose your own. You might get some marginal help but more than likely you will end up with a headache…Is this greater work than Jesus’? Think of this—300 million people in the U.S. If 40% of the people need vision correction that is 120 million half-blind people that can now see. Think of this—bifocals, trifocals, sun glasses, anti-glare glasses, contacts hard or soft—what an impressive list.

I believe this is great work the followers of Jesus Christ have accomplished. Yes, but not alone. In His greatness, He gives us life and breath and everything else (Acts 17). Every beat of our heart, every breath we take is a gift from the Lord. None of us could do anything without that life, breath and everything else. Man can make pace makers and many other devices and in case we become puffed up in pride with our accomplishments, God determines when our heart beat begins and stops.

Isn’t the Lord great? What a privilege to be His son or daughter!

Easter Art--The Cleaned up Cross

Isaiah 52:13-15: “See, my servant will act wisely, he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. Just as there were many who were appalled at him, his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness, so will he sprinkle many nations and kings will shut their mouths because of him…(NIV).

When I was little, I remember the crucifix on the wall in the dining room at my Uncle Ben & Aunt Lillian’s. It always got my attention. One day when I was there, I got up on a chair and looked at it really close to realize it was the cross with the crucified Jesus upon it. At five or six years of age I didn’t understand what it all meant.

Fifty plus years later at Easter I’m reminded of Christ’s sacrifice for my sins, His suffering, His death, His resurrection, His victory. Hallelujah!!

But this week I saw a church bulletin with a picture of Jesus dead upon the cross. This type of picture concerns me. Even in the church we’ve slicked up and cleaned up the cross. Jesus was beaten beyond human recognition for your sin and mine (Isaiah 52:13-15) yet our crucifixes and church bulletins are all cleaned up showing a perfect face with a drop of blood on the cheek just for the proper effect.

We, the church, have cleaned up Christ on the cross, minimized His suffering and pain and surely never show His disfigured face and head. Jesus took the full and complete punishment for my sin. God forgive me when I tolerate this cleaned up, sanitized version of the cross. It minimizes my sin, my sin just doesn’t seem quite as bad as it should when I see it portrayed that way.

Isaiah 52:13-15 (Message version) says in part: “at first everyone was appalled. He didn’t even look human—a ruined face, disfigured past recognition.”

Thank you Father, thank you Lord Jesus for Easter morning…Isaiah continues: “nations all over the world will be in awe, taken aback, kings shocked into silence when they see Him. For what was unheard of they’ll see with their own eyes, what was unthinkable they’ll have right before them.” Amen.

Remember the cross is empty and “at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” Never forget, never give up, and always hope. Jesus paid the full and complete price for us. What a thought to comprehend. We dare not minimize what he has done for us.

In Revelations 19:11-16 Jesus rides a white horse into battle, the armies of heaven (the angels and some think us) will follow the warrior King Jesus into battle and in the case the kings of the earth don’t know who He is…only have to look on His robe and thigh for written there is this name KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

May you have a Blessed Easter. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it. (I Thessalonians 5:23-24).

Missing Morrie

When someone shares a special verse with me and gives me special insight concerning that verse, I write that person’s name in the margin of my Bible. This reference serves as a constant reminder of how good the Lord has been to me by sending special people into my life who have taught me, challenged me, or encouraged me in my walk with Christ. It reminds me to pray for that person also. Some of the names in my Bible are Lee, Vern, Lloyd, Jeff, Gary, Kenny. One name shows up about 4 times is Morrie. It refers to Morrie Jorgensen, my somewhat melancholy Danish friend with a sense of humor and movie-actor good looks plus a smile that could stop the world. Oh, how I miss Morrie!

Born on a farm, his farmer father did not think Morrie’s bent to be an artist was the least bit worthwhile. Morrie was the maintenance man at the Dassel Nursing Home before he died. Morrie was an artist; I am privileged to have two of his original works. My friend, Lee Shelton owns what I consider the best of his paintings. It has a lamb lying in an old doorway. A lot of Morrie’s paintings had a spiritual theme. Artists who draw and paint fascinate me, probably because I am a complete klutz at it.

Morrie drove Mazda pickups. Equipped with a unique sense of humor, he would stop by our house in Cokato, get out of his pick up talking, and begin working me over verbally like no one else could do.

Morrie pointed out sins in my life. Good friends do that. Trusted friends do that and I loved him for it. Morrie said we earn the right to get in each other’s face. Morrie earned the right to get in my face.

The last time I saw Morrie was in Methodist Hospital; he battled a rare blood disease. Sitting erect in bed, with his wife Velma at his side, his big smile warmed our hearts. He said to me, “Jerry, if I don’t see you again, I’ll see you on the other side.” I look forward to the day I can see Morrie again.

I wish all of you would be blessed with a good friend like Morrie. Probably you are. Let’s all go out and be Morrie’s to the world!

Oh, how I miss Morrie!

"The Church is the Church only when it exists for others" -- Bonhoeffer

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran Pastor during WWII; he was arrested for plotting against Hitler and was a writer while in prison. He was hung a few weeks before the end of the war. I have a book which is a collection of letters Bonhoeffer wrote. On Page 382 of Letters & Papers from Prison, he says in part "The church is the church only when it exists for others."

I was invited to a men's Bible study this week; we were studying the book of Titus. A question came up about "what are good works?" People made many suggestions. Two really hung with me: We should smile at other people and we should wave to them. That is good. We need to do that to fellow believers and for all the other people that don't know Christ. We want to be friendly with the neighborhood drunk, smile and wave at him but we don't want him to "puke" on our couch! We don't want to be disturbed with the 11:00 p.m. call from his wife, saying "come and help me get him in to the house he passed out on the lawn."

I don't think we believe the church exists for others. We believe it exists for us, and we are going to smile and wave until the drunk feels so good he just might come through the doors of our church and hopefully, with all our back slapping and firendly smiles, come to know Christ.

The prophet Jeremiah said in Jeremiah 10:23 "A man's life is not his own." Do we believe that? Jesus said in part in John 13:12-17 "Now that I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example, that you should do as I have done for you." James said "Faith without works is dead." (James 2:14-26). Works don't save us but a result of our love for a gracious God who has "given us life and breath and everything else." Acts 17:25

Isn't it time we give up living for ourselves and live for others? "No greater love than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend." John 15:12-17. What if Jesus had just waved and smiled at us?

Thank you Lord for another reminder.

"Dad" Problem in Minnesota & America

After listening to a talk radio show from Minneapolis the other day, I was inspired to write the following letter. Let me know what your feelings are about this issue. ~ Beef


March 22, 2006


Mr. Al Malmberg
WCCO Radio
625 Second Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55402

Dear Mr. Malmberg:

This morning (Tuesday, March 21st) I heard with interest the discussion related to the shooting in Uptown. It was spirited and very revealing, but most of the solutions offered are “after the fact” solutions and they seldom work.

I feel I am qualified to comment since I am an 18 year veteran property manager who has been assaulted on the job by the street thugs we deal with every day. Street drunks, beggars, scam artists and thieves.

What we have in America and Minneapolis is a “Dad” problem. Look at the facts:

Out of Wedlock Birthrate for the US

Year Black White

1965 24% 3%
1990 64% 18%
2000 68.5% 27.1%

Data from The Brookings Institution Policy Brief #5 “Analysis of Out of Wedlock Birth in the United States” and Governmental Data from CDC using NCHC data. (Please note: even though the Black rate is higher, the White out of wedlock rate is increasing much more rapidly than the Black birthrate.)

We, as men, wield the biggest influence on our children. It is sad to say, but many of us have let our “penis” do the decision making in our lives. We need to reach the Dads of the world.

Many fathers are not involved in the lives of their children. I met a nurse who worked as an intake nurse at a drug treatment facility for seven years and in seven years she only had one person come through with their original two parents still as a family unit.

The only solution I see is a spiritual transformation, but I don’t believe the church, as it is now, is the solution.

What we say to people today is “When you get your life cleaned up and your problems straightened up, and you act like us, come to church.” In reality they never come. The clear call for Christians is “to go”. So we need to go where the men are and minister to them.

Most of us are self-consumed in our own expensive hobbies or pursuits. And seldom, if ever, become involved in someone else’s life. Until we get up out of our comfort zone and bring some discipline, direction and accountability to men, the problem will not go away. All our half-hearted, but well intentioned, efforts will fall on deaf ears.

You may be saying, talk is cheap, what has Jerry done?

In Cokato, Minnesota last year, 10 men met to reach out to other men. We meet for Bible study in the back of an excavation contractors shop. Men are invited by other men. Men come-as-they-are from work; they do not have to worry about messing up someone’s living room. Men share when they realize no one else is listening; namely, children and wives. They want hard-hitting truthful help. Many said they would not come to a traditional church setting.

Today we have 30 men coming; many are recovered drug addicts and alcoholics. Most of us have not had a positive father figure in our lives. Many have said they did not know how to be a good father and husband. We are mentoring one another and learning much more ourselves along the way.

Change will not occur until we (all of us) get up and become involved in another person’s life. This type of commitment cannot be maintained by our own effort. The only solution is spiritual transformation.

We need to go to the front lines and be there for one another. This hurting world needs help and we, as men, are best equipped to meet the need.

We do not need any government funding, no committee meetings, and no big organization that needs funding. We need self-sacrifice and dedication, accountability, and a new vision. Today these things are sadly lacking and we are paying the price for it on the streets of Minneapolis.

Keep up the good work.



Jerry Seehusen
612-870-9501

Suffering

Last Sunday I preached in Hutchinson, Minnesota. I spoke about three concerns people have when they have cancer. “A strange topic” you may say but when I preach, I pray about the topic I’m going to preach on and God’s hand was in this topic.

After the service I had the opportunity to visit with many people and learned this topic revealed deep loneliness, anguish, and isolation experienced by some believers who experience cancer.

The second of my three concerns was this: most Christians are not afraid to die but none of us want to suffer. Suffering in and of itself means nothing. Suffering only has meaning when it has relationship. I will borrow a story from Joni Eareckson Tada in her book When God Weeps.

“You are walking down a street, minding your own business, when you are accosted and forced to carry a huge and heavy basket on your back. You’re ordered to walk three blocks, turn left, go two blocks, turn right, then proceed straight on. Staggering under the weight, you stumble on, bewildered and angry. The weight of the basket is crushing. Your back is breaking. The whole thing is meaningless and haphazard. You resent how the heavy burden consumes you, becoming the focal point of your entire existence.
“When you are halfway down the third block, reeling under the burden, you finally bellow, “What gives!”
“The truth is then revealed. The burden you are carrying is your child, injured and unconscious. “What?” On top of that, you discover you are not trudging through a meaningless rat-maze but the most direct route to a hospital emergency room.
“Immediately you straighten. You inhale new vigor. Your knees quit buckling. Adrenaline and fresh energy quicken your pace, and you move forward with a new attitude. Why the change? The suffering you’re going through involves a relationship. Not just any relationship, but one with your child. It is the love you have for your child that quickens your step and buoys up your heart. Your relationship gives your burden meaning. Even your twisted path makes sense. You know where you are going. Your journey has a positive end—the hospital—and this instills hope.
“Suffering has no meaning in itself. Left to its own, it is a frustrating and bewildering burden. But given the context of relationship, suffering suddenly has meaning.”

For as Christians, we must share in each others suffering; it binds us together. In 2 Corinthians Chapter 1, Paul writes in part in verse 4, we have troubles so we can minister to those in any trouble and in verse 9 “This happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.” It gets rid of our self reliance.

You will notice we have trials and tribulations so we can minister or comfort one another. What I heard from people after the service is this: some of us have been blessed by our Christian brothers and sisters (I have). Others are lonely and afraid, slowly being crushed under the weight of their trials.

Shared suffering helps those suffering and it helps us. It tenders our hearts towards one another, it binds us together.

I believe times for Christians will become harder. We think we don’t need one another now but we do, and the way to get to know one another is to share each other joys and yes, even each others sufferings.

Unbelief as a Symptom of a Deeper Problem

Things have been rather hectic around here lately and I have been unable to write a new entry so instead today I would like to share an Excerpt from Edward Donnelly’s book Biblical Teaching on the Doctrines of Heaven and Hell.

“Unbelief as a Symptom of a Deeper Problem

“Why should we think about hell? Its intrinsic importance and the unbelief with which it is surrounded are both valid reasons. But there is a third, more significant than either of these. The unbelief is symptomatic of a deeper problem.

“A symptom is so-called because it has an importance beyond itself. One day you discover a lump on your body. It is not painful and does not inconvenience you in any way. You can live normally and get on with your work. In that sense the lump is insignificant in and of itself. Yet is that how you react? Not if you care for your body and have any sense. You go to your doctor and have an examination. You seek treatment. It is not so much because of the lump, but because of what it might signify—something more dangerous, of which it could be an evidence.

“Unbelief is, of course, more than a symptom. It is itself a sin. But the illustration is valid to this extent: unbelief is an evidence of something worse. It is a symptom of humanity’s deepest problem, man-centredness. Here is the root cause of all our difficulties. We make ourselves the centre of our universe. We become the beings around whom everything else revolves. It all goes back to Eden, where Satan said to Eve, ‘You will be like God’ (Genesis 3:5), and she listened. Indeed, it goes back further. Satan himself had said, ‘I will be like the Most High’ (Isaiah 14:14).

“This sin of self-centredness, or humanism (for this is another name for it), has been present in the world since the Fall. But it has in our day come to dominate the culture, so that it saturates the world in which we live. Man-centredness is as pervasive, and as unnoticed, as the air we breathe. No one is unaffected by it. Like pollution in the atmosphere, it is there, we absorb it, it is poisoning us.”

Update

Well, today was the day Jerry (Beef) was to have his doctor appointment to get the results of the first PSA test since his prostate surgery. It ended up that he was unable to keep his appointment as he needed to be at Regions Hospital with his aunt who had been severely burned on Sunday.

When we called the clinic to cancel his appointment, we asked if we could get the results of the PSA test and were told "it was perfect!” What more could I say then “Praise the Lord”? Jerry does have to go in to see the doctor next week but we are trilled with outcome.

Jerry has been feeling really well. He worked at the office 3 days last week and he preached at Montevideo on Sunday. He’s back at the office this week but has spent a lot of time dealing with his aunt’s situation. She is in critical condition. Her brother was hospitalized in Glenwood on Saturday but seems to be better today. Lots of drama and lots of concern.

Thanks again for all the prayers. ~ Judi (Mrs. Beef)

In my best interest

I am a two-time cancer survivor; once when I was 29 and now again when I am 58. People have asked “Have you learned anything because of your cancer experiences?” My answer is a resounding yes. I will share some thoughts with you over the next few weeks.

Questions--many asked, many not asked but all of them pondered. Jerry Bridges in his book The Joy of Fearing God asked one question which has really made me take account of my own life. It has also driven me to confession and ultimately forgiveness from Christ. The question is this: Do I wholeheartedly acknowledge God’s authority both in His precepts and His providences in my life? Do I resent or question any of His providential circumstances in my life?

I asked why I had to get cancer again. Isn’t once enough? Bottom line is this—God wanted to teach me something and get my attention. God wants the best for us but we, as His children, can become ungrateful and distracted. I was distracted--distracted by a myriad of mush. Busy, active, doing, but some of it was useless. Because we are God’s children He will get our attention because He loves us and He will get our attention. He will use cancer a second time if He needs to.

What I have learned is this—Use the gifts God has given me. I must do what God wants and has prepared me to do. God has prepared me for this moment by bringing many different “providential circumstances” into my life. Many of these “circumstances” I had judged at one time NOT to be in my best interest.

The truth of the matter is this, “my best interest” attitude just reveals when I want to be the center of the world rather than God. This attitude cuts open my desire to “run” my ship the way I want it. Notice words I have underlined--my and I. It’s not about me; never has been, never will be. The quicker I learn that lesson, the easier life will be.

I learned this lesson early in life; I needed to relearn it again a second time. God is not a hard Master; He has graciously taught me this and much more. I’m a slow and forgetful learner who is forgiven.

What has God prepared you to do? Do it!!

How are you waiting for Christ's return?

Let me tell you a story with two slightly different scenarios.

It was late October, a Saturday afternoon. We are cleaning up the yard when we look towards the evergreens next to John Nyquist’s place and notice a big silver car with black tinted windows coming down the road. We don’t see this type of car in Winfield Township very often if ever. The car moves slowly down the road. We pay more attention when it turns onto our road. We observe it, wondering who this could be. Then we notice it begins to slow down and turn up our driveway. The mystery car spins its wheels; spewing gravel, it speeds down our driveway, passes us with our rakes in our hands, and our mouths open. Because of the black tinted windows, we cannot see who is inside. The car speeds into our rear yard (back driveway) doing donuts with rocks spewing against the shop and garage. The car then races toward us, slams on the brakes and the doors fly open! How do you think we were feeling? – Very afraid.

Same story, Scenario #2—

It’s the same October afternoon; we finish eating lunch when the phone rings. It is Cindy, our best friend, and she is crying. She tells my wife “You are not going to believe what has happened to us. You know we have been having trouble with our car and the engine finally blew up. We are short of money and wondered what we were going to do for a different car.” Cindy continues, “A couple of years ago we helped out our friend Steve start a new business in Minneapolis. We gave him $5,000 with no strings attached; we just wanted to help. We didn’t expect any repayment. Well, the business has gone very well and he heard through friends that we needed a car. So he gave us his two year old silver Lexus with black tinted windows.” “Can you believe it?” she says. “We are going to call our parents and our brothers and sisters and then we will come over and give you the first ride in our new car.

We go outside to resume raking the yard but keep our eyes watchful to the evergreens next to John Nyquist’s place—just waiting to see that big silver car with the black tinted windows.

Time seems to drag on. “How long does it take to call your parents and brothers and sisters?” I comment. We keep working and waiting.

Finally we see a glitter of light by the evergreens. Yes, it looks like a silver car or is it Charlie Molenaar’s pickup? No, it is a big silver car with black tinted windows! The car moves slowly down the road, it slows for the corner and turns on our road and moves slowly up the road. We are amazed to see how big this car is. It slows. Yes, it is Cindy & Bob’s new car! It turns on to our drive, it spits gravel, and he spins the tires as it comes down our driveway and flies passed us into the rear driveway spitting gravel over the shop and garage. Then the car comes toward us, slams on the brakes and the doors fly open! Cindy & Bob come out of the car and we embrace. We all have tears in our eyes.

What was different about the second scenario? We knew who was coming. We knew why they were coming. We knew approximately when they would come.

How are you waiting for Christ’s return? Are you waiting with fear, not really knowing who is coming and why he is coming? Or, are you waiting for Christ with joyful expectation because you know who is coming, you know why He is coming and approximately when He is going to come remembering all along that He holds the future in His hands.

Are you waiting in fear or in joyful expectation? Brothers and sisters, the choice is yours.

Prayer and Healing by Kristine A. Haig

I would like to share an article that I came across recently that came from Presbyterians Today, September 2001 by Kristine A. Haig, coordinator for spiritual foundation in the PCUSA Congregational Ministries Division entitled Healing and Prayer.

"The next time you find a group of Presbyterians gathered around the coffee pot after worship, ask them to brainstorm Biblical references that deal with healing. Probably they will mention the many people Jesus heals in the four Gospels: the paralytic lowered through the roof of the house, the woman “with the flow of blood,” the blind men. Someone may bring up Naaman the leper, from the Old Testament.

It is less likely, however, that anyone will refer to the short but powerful message found in the New Testament at the end of the Letter of James, a text that almost reads like a manual of operations for the early church:

“Are any among you suffering? They should pray…Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick,…and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed” (5:13-16).

In this text healing is not confined to the realm of miracles—the signs and wonders that persuaded people that Jesus was Messiah. Rather, healing is an ordinary part of what the church does. It is a ministry of all the elders, not just extraordinary miracle workers.

More than that, healing is inseparably linked to confession. The health of the body depends on the health of the spirit, and the health of the spirit depends on the ability to be honest about our sins and shortcomings, our fears and our resentments, and to have the courage to speak this truth to another human being.

How often have you dared to be this open about the troubling aspects of your life? Does your congregation encourage this kind of honest sharing, or does it perhaps unconsciously encourage people to always “put on a good face” and hide their darker, messier realities? If we take seriously the Letter of James, it is precisely in the experience of revealing our troubling secrets and asking for prayer that we open a space into which Christ can enter and healing can occur—healing of spirit and of emotions, of old wounds, of unhealthy and unholy behavior, and of our very bodies.

Which, come to think of it, sounds like no small miracle."

Is fear contagious? Deuteronomy 20:1-8

Our moods are contagious for good or for bad.

The Israelite army is going to war; Moses writes instructions to the priests to prepare for battle. Moses does what I call “thinning the herd”. When you raise cattle for commercial purposes and you need to remain profitable, you need to thin out the animals who under- perform; it’s called thinning the herd.

In verses 5-7, the officers allow those who are distracted to go home. Then in verse 8 Moses writes under the inspiration of God, “Is any man afraid or fainthearted? Let him go home so that his brothers will not become disheartened too.” Our moods are contagious and can be destructive.

God does not need us to accomplish His purposes. That should humble us; but He chooses to use us to bring victory and glory to Himself.

For Mom’s and Dad’s how often does our moodiness set the tone for our homes and business? How often we hold other people hostage to our potential eruptions of anger and fear. Most of the times when we are afraid, we are worried about the future to come or we anguish with regret over the past.

In Mark 5, Jairus, a synagogue ruler, came to Jesus because his daughter was dying. Before Jesus left to see her, verse 35 says some men came from the house of Jairus and said your daughter is dead. They said. “Why bother the teacher any more?” Verse 36: “Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
Jesus is never too busy to be bothered with our fears, hurts, pains and frustrations no matter how large or small. Take all these things to the Lord in prayer. (I Peter 5:7) Do it!

In the meantime, don’t be afraid and also don’t infect your brothers and sisters with a spirit of “faintheartedness” or fear (Deut. 20:8). Prepare to battle evil in every day life with prayer and a proper attitude. The world may laugh at you in your struggles (Mark 5:40) but entrust them to Jesus and He will heal you. Our attitude affects not only us but everyone around us.

Take heart for the Lord is with you.

Read: Deuteronomy 20:1-8; Mark 5:22-43; I John 4:18-21

Fighting Every Day Demons

When some of you read the title, you rolled your eyes back in your head and probably said, “The pain killers are getting to Jerry”.

Last Thursday, I received a call from a friend I’ll call, Tom, a businessman. He said Jerry, “I’ve had a rough night and something came into me. Into my head and my stomach, etc.—different than anything I’ve experienced before.” Cautiously he asked, “Do you think it could be demons?” He was afraid to ask he said, because he feared being labeled weird. It’s a topic we seldom talk about in church. I believe we should learn about them but not dwell on them. We need to dwell on the power of the One and only true God, His Son Jesus, the Holy Spirit and His mighty power to overcome the evil one and his associates.

“What should I do?” he asked. I said the one thing you do is pray God’s word; use God’s word to forge off the demons. In Luke chapter 4 Jesus was being tempted—how did He respond? He challenged the devil with God’s word. He said, “It is written”; “It is written”. He used God’s word against the devil and the devil left Him.

Tom asked what scriptures he should use. (I will list some more at the end.) I led Tom to Luke 4 and then to John 17 where Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane, prays that His followers and all who believe because of them (us), would be protected from the “evil one”. Of all the prayers He could have prayed for us that night, He prayed we would be protected from the evil one. The devil and his associates shudder at the reality of Jesus. (James 2:19) Remind the devil of Jesus’ prayer and God’s power to protect us. The only thing which is truly safe is what God protects.

We then proceeded to Ephesians 6:10-18, the powerful part of scripture about the Armor of God. I pointed out to Tom verse 11 “Put your God issued armor on. Put it on. (Is your armor being used or is it laying in your closet of life all rusty? Or is it that you never bother to fight any thing evil with God’s word and His armor?) In verse 12 Paul points out our true enemy, not one another but in part… “spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” “I guess demons do exist” Tom said.

In verse 13, in case we didn’t get it earlier before, “put on”, make a conscious choice to put on God’s armor. Verse 15 continues “so that when the day of evil comes you may be able to stand your ground.” Not if a day of evil comes but when the day of evil comes. Be ready.

Paul goes on to list the armor, what it is and its purpose. In verse 16 he states in part…”with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows (not arrow) of the evil one.” The reality is this: the devil keeps firing his arrows at us, trying to make us fall. We need to keep “putting on” the armor and use the only offensive weapon (verse 17… “the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.” When evil comes, keep putting on the armor, keep using God’s word and keep on praying verse 18.

Tom’s friends came and prayed with him into the night. They left around midnight but he couldn’t sleep so he kept on praying. Around 2:30 a.m. the Holy Spirit touched him. He told me he never felt anything like it. He was freed. He was at peace. (Notice benediction at the end of Ephesians.)

This is what I love about Tom—He said “Jerry, if anyone else needs help with this, I will come any time, any place”--evidence of a grateful, humble servant, ready anytime to minister to someone else’s needs.

Please pray through these scriptures with a trusted Christian friend claiming the promises and the power of Christ: Luke 4, Ephesians 6:10-18; Psalm 91; Psalm 34; Ephesians 3:14-21; Philippians 4:4-9; Colossians 1:9-14. Send me additional scriptures which encourage you.

Our Pastor, Jim Lemmenes, had a sermon on the same topic. I appreciated his sermon since it brought into the open the reality of evil and demons. If you are suffering, don’t suffer alone; call a trusted Christian friend and pray together through these scriptures. God is faithful. Paul was right, “The sword of the spirit” is the word of God, and the devil shudders.

Tattoos--what would Jesus do?

This fall I had a meeting with a broker I have known for 15 years. We were meeting to discuss the long-term leasing of a commercial office building. Along with him was an associate, a young woman, with whom I was impressed—smart, knowledgeable, and personable. As she was leaving the office, I noticed a tattoo just above her ankle.

Now old Beef here considers himself to be quite tolerant of other people; as a matter of fact, I rather enjoy free spirits and eccentrics. Immediately, I judged this young lady with the tattoo to be a tramp. Upon further thought, I was amazed how quick I formed a lasting negative opinion.

In his book In, But Not Of by Hugh Hewitt (a practical short book on how to walk the walk) says this about tattoos:

“Fads fade; tattoos don’t. These permanent displays of youthful exuberance trigger at best mild amusement, but in some a serious concern about your maturity.
“Whether or not you believe that concern to be fair, it is real. That tattoo you covet today will be an obstacle in some situations the rest of your life. Do you need it that much? Is it worth compromising your effectiveness?
“This rule of tattoos is easily applied to many other areas of your style of living. Do you do anything to call attention to yourself or to make a statement? If so, is the attention worth it? Most such indulgences are self-defeating, whether it is idiosyncratic hair or clothes, a loud motorcycle, or—later in life—a palatial residence far beyond any ordinary need. The attention you are drawing to yourself is defeating your ambition by marking you as concerned with silly things.
“Serious people do not seek attention except for serious purposes.”

We are not bound today to the code of Leviticus (Leviticus 19:28; Galatians 3:19-25) but in the New Testament we are asked to treat our bodies “as a temple of the Lord” (I Corinthians 6:19-20) So who of us would deface the temple of the Lord? Tattoos? What’s next—coloring our hair, make up, nose piercing, ear piercing, a new beard, etc. This train of thought results in “hyperfingerwagging” (a German word to define the slippery slope of legalism) and we are sliding downhill very fast. Isaiah 58:9 NIV

I wonder sometimes about this “What Would Jesus Do” movement, but I ask the question: Would Jesus have a tattoo???????????

Read Revelations 19:11-16. This reveals the warrior side of Jesus. Notice verse 16. I quote “On His robe and on His thigh He has His name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” God could write that name on His thigh any way He wants—a tattoo??? Maybe, maybe not.

But old Beef, when will you ever learn? So quick to judge, so slow to learn.

Are we set in our ways?

In December 2005 Jim Monson passed away. Jim was 78, had a long battle with heart disease, and was married to Judi’s cousin Joann Slater. Jim was a gregarious, outgoing man.

At his funeral in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, the pastor told the true story of a young family who had adopted a baby from South Korea last summer. They had her baptized in the church during a Sunday morning service. (Jim and his daughter Chris were also at that service.)

The next week, the couple received an anonymous letter which was signed “the old soldier”. The pastor read the letter and I will summarize it. The letter said “I served one year in Korea during the war. I lived in conditions you couldn’t ask your animals to live in, I was wounded three times, I lost three of my best friends and over the years I saw no sense for this whole experience which just showed man’s inhumanity to man.” The old soldier was angry and bitter.

He went on to write “but this morning during the church service I saw the baptism of your daughter, a baby who came FROM a free country, she came TO a free county, to be baptized and to know Jesus. I thought about that and I wondered, probably God’s reason for having me in Korea was so your little daughter could know Christ.” The letter was signed “The Old Soldier”.

(After Jim passed away, Chris was going through his computer and came across the letter from “the old soldier”. She did not know that her dad was the one who had written the letter until that time.)

Tears were rolling down my face; I looked across the aisle and Judi’s cousin who served a hard tour of duty in Viet Nam had tears in his eyes also. As we walked out together, he said to me “Jerry, Jim gave us a lot to think about tonight.” I said, “Yes, he sure did.”

What impressed me about this incident and Jim Monson is this. After 50+ years Jim was open to have his mind changed. How many of us have our past hurts tucked away inside, forever frozen there to serve as a constant reminder of our hurt and pain. Jim was willing to listen, learn and change.

We have to be careful how we judge events that happen in our lives. What we judge as bad may in the long term be for our good and the good of others.

This cancer I’m recovering from, I don’t like it, but I needed it. I needed to slow up, appreciate what I have, realize God always wants the best for me. Thank you Lord for the reminder.

Scriptures: Jeremiah 24:5, Psalm 119:71, I Peter 1:6, Genesis 50:20, John 16:20, Hebrews 12:7.