When the last song was sung, a member of the Praise Team offered words of encouragement from the song and then prayed. The words of a chorus we used to sing in our family devotions came to mind and I wanted to share them. I wanted to testify. But the brethren began to take the projector down and set the pulpit on the podium. Then the pastor was upfront and leading us in prayer. Awkward. And I confess, I don’t really know the rules for testifying in this fellowship. I mean, spontaneous testifying.
More and more I am realizing how strongly I believe such testifying is an important part of church life.
I know how discouraging it can be for the pastor, when he asks for testimonies, and there are none offered. But this is a two-edged sword. When testifying is not a regular part of church life, people are not prepared to testify. I believe we need to develop a culture where testifying is encouraged, welcomed, and sought. One in which it’s not a big deal, an odd occurrence, an unusual thing; in which it’s not awkward, but normal.
I know this can interrupt the flow of the well planned service. But maybe, just maybe, the Holy Spirit has something for the body that wasn’t planned by the leaders. It could happen, y’know!
Let me hasten to add, this is not meant as an attack on the pastor or church! No, no, no! It is true, this is what I believe, but this is more like an “if you ask me” thing. Truth is, I have attended several churches the past few years and none of them seemed to have testifying as part of their body life. I confess further, that the churches I pastored and attended in which testifying was part of the body life all had Sunday night services. While testifying was welcome on Sunday morning, it was much more frequent in the evening service. I know it can be part of a morning service: when I had the opportunity to lead the worship (and preach) earlier this summer, we had a time of testifying. It began with a specific invitation, “Is there anyone here who would like to confess their faith in Christ? Who would like to stand and confess, ‘I believe Jesus is the Son of God’?” It was a blessed time and led to other testimonies and prayer requests. Wonderful!
I believe this is a vital part of a healthy church life. It tells us God is at work among us. And isn’t that awesome?
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Monday, October 27, 2014
The right cross I never saw coming
After church this past Sunday, a group of us were talking and the pastor mentioned seeing a man we all knew. He related a little of the conversation he had with him. I know this man better than the others, so they asked me about his spiritual life. I said, “He grew up in church, went to church school, he knows the Bible pretty good, and if you asked if he believes in Jesus, that he is the Son of God who died and rose again, he would answer, Yes.” Then someone asked, “But is he living for the Lord?”
When I was a teenager, I used to box. I’ve been knocked down twice. Once, I was boxing a guy who weighed over 200 lbs. I was maybe 130. He knocked me into the bushes, but that was only because he got his weight behind a punch and pushed me down. Didn’t hurt. One time I was boxing a friend named Roy. Nobody around. He hit me with a right hand. I didn’t go down, but man was I in a daze! Good thing he was inexperienced, otherwise he would have pounced on me….
The point is, that’s how I felt when that question was asked. I don’t think anyone else noticed it, but boy was I dazed! I had several thoughts racing through my head all at once. Is he living for the Lord?
- how do I determine this?
- this isn’t a biblical phrase, what would I use instead?
- would someone say of me, Jeff is living for the Lord?
- I think I know what they mean, but what do we mean by this phrase?
Since that afternoon, I’ve searched for the phrase ‘living for the Lord’ in the Bible. Not there. What do we mean by this phrase? What is the criteria for determining this? But perhaps the better question is, How would Jesus have asked this? And another, How would the apostles have asked this?
Many times and in many places the apostles, in their exhortations, distinguish between real and bogus faith. For example, 1 John 2
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
So, how do we inquire about someone’s faith? Is he following the Lord? Is he walking in the Spirit? Is he walking in the way of the Lord? Is he keeping the commandments of the Lord?
I confess, I’m still a little dazed. First, by the question on Sunday and now, by my own questions!
When I was a teenager, I used to box. I’ve been knocked down twice. Once, I was boxing a guy who weighed over 200 lbs. I was maybe 130. He knocked me into the bushes, but that was only because he got his weight behind a punch and pushed me down. Didn’t hurt. One time I was boxing a friend named Roy. Nobody around. He hit me with a right hand. I didn’t go down, but man was I in a daze! Good thing he was inexperienced, otherwise he would have pounced on me….
The point is, that’s how I felt when that question was asked. I don’t think anyone else noticed it, but boy was I dazed! I had several thoughts racing through my head all at once. Is he living for the Lord?
- how do I determine this?
- this isn’t a biblical phrase, what would I use instead?
- would someone say of me, Jeff is living for the Lord?
- I think I know what they mean, but what do we mean by this phrase?
Since that afternoon, I’ve searched for the phrase ‘living for the Lord’ in the Bible. Not there. What do we mean by this phrase? What is the criteria for determining this? But perhaps the better question is, How would Jesus have asked this? And another, How would the apostles have asked this?
Many times and in many places the apostles, in their exhortations, distinguish between real and bogus faith. For example, 1 John 2
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
So, how do we inquire about someone’s faith? Is he following the Lord? Is he walking in the Spirit? Is he walking in the way of the Lord? Is he keeping the commandments of the Lord?
I confess, I’m still a little dazed. First, by the question on Sunday and now, by my own questions!
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Now I know how Naaman felt
Last night I felt terrible. I know this sounds a little odd (but then, what about me doesn’t sound odd?), but I felt my body was telling me I was having issues with my blood pressure. So I asked an EMS friend to check my blood pressure. It was high. High enough to be concerned, so I determined to see somebody about it. And that’s just what I did today, I went to Piedmont East.
I don’t go to the doctor very often, well, hardly ever, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. There were no other patients yet we had quite a long wait. A long wait. Finally, he came in. He asked a couple of questions, looked in my eye, ear, and checked my pulse. Then prescribed some pills and we were out.
When we got home I told Mary, “Now I know how Naaman felt.”
You say, What??
Yeah, Naaman the leper. Here is his story from 2 Kings 5:9-11
So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.
Naaman expected a show. A big production. Something other than, Go and wash in Jordan seven times. I understand that better now. I don’t know what I expected but something more than, “Take this pill once a day.”
I’ve got more sympathy for Naaman now. But you know what, God was rather patient with Naaman. The promise was still there for him, Go and wash in Jordan seven times. . . and thou shalt be clean. He did and he was made clean. Since I felt like Naaman, I got the prescription filled.
This photo has absolutely nothing to do with my story, it's just the last thing I see when I leave each night for work. Always fills my heart with joy.
I don’t go to the doctor very often, well, hardly ever, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. There were no other patients yet we had quite a long wait. A long wait. Finally, he came in. He asked a couple of questions, looked in my eye, ear, and checked my pulse. Then prescribed some pills and we were out.
When we got home I told Mary, “Now I know how Naaman felt.”
You say, What??
Yeah, Naaman the leper. Here is his story from 2 Kings 5:9-11
So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.
Naaman expected a show. A big production. Something other than, Go and wash in Jordan seven times. I understand that better now. I don’t know what I expected but something more than, “Take this pill once a day.”
I’ve got more sympathy for Naaman now. But you know what, God was rather patient with Naaman. The promise was still there for him, Go and wash in Jordan seven times. . . and thou shalt be clean. He did and he was made clean. Since I felt like Naaman, I got the prescription filled.
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Wednesday night at the Roo and a full moon too
Wednesday night began on a strange note. I had several interesting encounters, too many for Facebook posts, so here we go:
A man came in to cash in a lottery ticket. He won $10. He bought three tickets worth $5. He left with three tickets and five dollars cash. He came back a little later and said, “You forgot to give me one of my tickets.”
“No sir. I gave you the tickets along with a $5 bill.” To assuage his irritation, I looked around the counter, went down to the floor and outside with him, looking for the missing ticket.
We didn’t find it and as we parted he mumbled, “You should’ve put them in my hand.”
Ha! Actually, I did!
Two women came in later for a few items, including two hot dogs. Just before they came in I had counted the hot dogs and taquitos on the grill. After they paid and left I went back to the grill to throw the remaining hot dogs away. Lo, they had stolen a hot dog! I’m pretty sure one of them also lifted a USB wall charger. I realized this was going to be an interesting night . . .
The store was empty when a woman came in and asked if she could borrow the phone. My standard response begins, “Is this a local call?”
She said, “I have to call the emergency number.”
“You mean 911?”
“Yes.”
That’s a local call so I gave her the phone. When she finished her call and thanked me I asked her, “Is everything going to be alright?”
Her reply shocked me, “I just found out my boyfriend of three months is a registered sex offender. So I left right away and all my stuff is still there: my birth certificate and other important things.”
“Wow! Are they going to get them back?”
“Yes, the county police are meeting me there right away.”
I have seen and heard of lot of things, but this was a first.
About an hour later a man came in for some beer. He works at a local pizza place. He formerly had a huge beard and had shaved it off. While were talking about this a groups of guys came in and were in line behind him. After he paid for his two 40 oz Miller High Life beers I asked, “You want a bag with that?”
“I need one, right?”
I explained that I have spoken with the Rock Hill Police and they say he didn’t need one, “Just don’t open one in the car.”
The man behind him, “Man, ya gotta have a bag. The police will come down on you if you don’t.”
I again explain what the police have told me. “No, they will. They caught me once with a can on the seat, unopened, and gave me a DUI.”
I replied, “Man, you can’t get a DUI with an unopened can.”
“I did. Got a DUI for an unopened can.”
I told him, “I don’t want to argue with you about this” and put the beers in a bag.
He retorted, “I don’t mind arguing with you about this. I just got back from Vietnam, I’ll argue with anybody. I did three tours over there and just got back.”
He’s like 25. I laughed and said, “I’ll argue with you about that. Vietnam is my era!”
He said, “I meant Afghanistan. Same thing.”
Yeah, Afghanistan looks just like Vietnam.
And last night was a full moon!
A man came in to cash in a lottery ticket. He won $10. He bought three tickets worth $5. He left with three tickets and five dollars cash. He came back a little later and said, “You forgot to give me one of my tickets.”
“No sir. I gave you the tickets along with a $5 bill.” To assuage his irritation, I looked around the counter, went down to the floor and outside with him, looking for the missing ticket.
We didn’t find it and as we parted he mumbled, “You should’ve put them in my hand.”
Ha! Actually, I did!
Two women came in later for a few items, including two hot dogs. Just before they came in I had counted the hot dogs and taquitos on the grill. After they paid and left I went back to the grill to throw the remaining hot dogs away. Lo, they had stolen a hot dog! I’m pretty sure one of them also lifted a USB wall charger. I realized this was going to be an interesting night . . .
The store was empty when a woman came in and asked if she could borrow the phone. My standard response begins, “Is this a local call?”
She said, “I have to call the emergency number.”
“You mean 911?”
“Yes.”
That’s a local call so I gave her the phone. When she finished her call and thanked me I asked her, “Is everything going to be alright?”
Her reply shocked me, “I just found out my boyfriend of three months is a registered sex offender. So I left right away and all my stuff is still there: my birth certificate and other important things.”
“Wow! Are they going to get them back?”
“Yes, the county police are meeting me there right away.”
I have seen and heard of lot of things, but this was a first.
About an hour later a man came in for some beer. He works at a local pizza place. He formerly had a huge beard and had shaved it off. While were talking about this a groups of guys came in and were in line behind him. After he paid for his two 40 oz Miller High Life beers I asked, “You want a bag with that?”
“I need one, right?”
I explained that I have spoken with the Rock Hill Police and they say he didn’t need one, “Just don’t open one in the car.”
The man behind him, “Man, ya gotta have a bag. The police will come down on you if you don’t.”
I again explain what the police have told me. “No, they will. They caught me once with a can on the seat, unopened, and gave me a DUI.”
I replied, “Man, you can’t get a DUI with an unopened can.”
“I did. Got a DUI for an unopened can.”
I told him, “I don’t want to argue with you about this” and put the beers in a bag.
He retorted, “I don’t mind arguing with you about this. I just got back from Vietnam, I’ll argue with anybody. I did three tours over there and just got back.”
He’s like 25. I laughed and said, “I’ll argue with you about that. Vietnam is my era!”
He said, “I meant Afghanistan. Same thing.”
Yeah, Afghanistan looks just like Vietnam.
And last night was a full moon!
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Like a kid in a candy store
I went to Utah last weekend to see my mother an' them (as we used to say in Hawai’i). I had a great time visiting with my family. I also took a couple of sightseeing trips.
SATURDAY
Saturday morning I announced, “Whatever else happens today, I wanna go to Mo Bettah for lunch.” Bruce likes that place as well so we planned a trip.
I also thought it would be cool to see Antelope Island, he agreed, so off we went.
To get there, we went north to Layton and accessed the island via the causeway.
Once on the island, we drove to Frary Peak and then back. Frary Peak is 6,596 ft. We would’ve hiked around but we were pressed for time (it was also raining a good bit and we weren’t dressed for it).
I confess, I am not cool. As we were driving around taking in the sights, I was bouncing around in the car, oooh-ing and ahh-ing like a kid in a candy store. “Look at that” Over there” Down there”
Keeping our eye on the clock we headed back and stopped here for lumch
Same thing. I think it is so neat to be able to get a "plate lunch Hawaiian style" in the middle of Utah! I suspect going places with me can be embarrassing sometimes for grown ups.
SUNDAY
Bruce and Tracey said they wanted to check out Big Cottonwood Canyon. We got ready and set out on our adventure.
We traveled the red road, Big Cottonwood Canyon Scenic Highway, going from left to right. The whole thing. And oh the scenery along the way!! This is a beautiful place. Once again, I was bouncing around in the car, oooh-ing and ahh-ing like a kid in a candy store. “Look at that” Over there” Down there”.
I am not cool and I’m not ashamed to admit it.
Tracey and I are a lot alike, we both hear every trail calling us, “Come, take a hike down me.”
At one point I said, “There has to be a better word than awesome for all this.” Then it hit me. There is. And I told them, “I have it, supercalifragilisticexpealidocious.” They weren’t impressed.
Every time we stopped I ran off this way and that. A little down this trail and them another.
Yep, that’s me, just like a kid in a candy store!
SATURDAY
Saturday morning I announced, “Whatever else happens today, I wanna go to Mo Bettah for lunch.” Bruce likes that place as well so we planned a trip.
I also thought it would be cool to see Antelope Island, he agreed, so off we went.
To get there, we went north to Layton and accessed the island via the causeway.
Once on the island, we drove to Frary Peak and then back. Frary Peak is 6,596 ft. We would’ve hiked around but we were pressed for time (it was also raining a good bit and we weren’t dressed for it).
I confess, I am not cool. As we were driving around taking in the sights, I was bouncing around in the car, oooh-ing and ahh-ing like a kid in a candy store. “Look at that” Over there” Down there”
Keeping our eye on the clock we headed back and stopped here for lumch
Same thing. I think it is so neat to be able to get a "plate lunch Hawaiian style" in the middle of Utah! I suspect going places with me can be embarrassing sometimes for grown ups.
SUNDAY
Bruce and Tracey said they wanted to check out Big Cottonwood Canyon. We got ready and set out on our adventure.
We traveled the red road, Big Cottonwood Canyon Scenic Highway, going from left to right. The whole thing. And oh the scenery along the way!! This is a beautiful place. Once again, I was bouncing around in the car, oooh-ing and ahh-ing like a kid in a candy store. “Look at that” Over there” Down there”.
I am not cool and I’m not ashamed to admit it.
Tracey and I are a lot alike, we both hear every trail calling us, “Come, take a hike down me.”
At one point I said, “There has to be a better word than awesome for all this.” Then it hit me. There is. And I told them, “I have it, supercalifragilisticexpealidocious.” They weren’t impressed.
Every time we stopped I ran off this way and that. A little down this trail and them another.
Yep, that’s me, just like a kid in a candy store!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)