"Philip, the Ethiopian and the Holy Spirit" by John Rice

In our recent sermon series about the fullness of the Holy Spirit in the Believer’s life, we looked at some of the ways He moves with us and within us to empower us, reveal God’s things to us, to speak to us. He abides in us and becomes a part of us as we invite Him to do so. I came across an interesting and wonderful example of this as I was reading in the book of Acts this week, especially with regard to His speaking to us.
 
In Acts 8:26-40 we read of the disciple Philip who hears an angel of the Lord tell him to get up and go down to the road leading south from Jerusalem to Gaza in the desert. We don’t get a lot of details about this command to Philip, but one thing we can see right off the bat is just how very specific the instructions were. It doesn’t say Philip was given a milepost number, but the instructions were not far from being that clear! The next thing we notice is that Philip obeyed the instructions. He must have been that confident that the voice he heard was from the Lord. We don’t know exactly how the angel of the Lord communicated these words to Philip, but we can safely assume that Philip knew the voice of the Lord when he heard it. As with the other disciples at this time, his spiritual ears must have been extremely open and expectant, having received the in-filling of the Holy Spirit in the upper room at Pentecost not long before.
 
According to Luke’s account in Acts this was the only command given to Philip. He wasn’t told what he was to do or say, just to go. This took some faith that the Spirit would tell him what to do at the right time when he got to the right place. And sure enough, when Philip saw the Ethiopian eunuch reading in his chariot, the Spirit told him to go up to the chariot and stand near it. That’s all! Again, God is giving Philip step-by-step instructions, the bare minimum it seems. When Philip heard the eunuch reading from the book of Isaiah, he asked if the eunuch understood what he was reading and at that point an interchange began that led to sharing about Jesus, the Messiah, as prophesized in Isaiah, and in the acceptance of this truth, the salvation and baptism of the eunuch right then and there. Wow! What a series of events!
 
What can we take away from this story for our own lives? Well, for one, we see how the Holy Spirit can speak to us in very specific ways. He doesn’t only speak in spiritual generalities, but can direct us in our day-to-day comings and goings. We also see how He is looking for the seekers of truth and helps them in their search. Ask, seek, knock, and He will answer, He will show us what we’re looking for, He will open the right doors for us.
 
We see how, although He doesn’t need to (He could do it all Himself), He chooses to enlist other people to minister to people. He wants our partnership. And for that to happen we Believers must be open and expectant to hear His voice. And one last thing is that we see that the Holy Spirit wanted Philip to “go near and listen” in order to find out what he was being called to do. How much more we might be able to be the “salt of the earth” if we simply drew near and listened to the people around us. The ways God might ask us to minister to them could be wildly different from one person to the next, but God will show us what is needed as we listen to what our neighbors are concerned with and struggling with. Our job is to share our testimonies about Jesus after we listen. The Holy Spirit, in His amazing wisdom, will do the rest!

 

Acts 8:26-40
 
Matthew 7:7-8 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks the door will be opened."

"Healthy Fear" by Dusty Johnson

My dad’s woodworking shop is very special place.  Growing up, I was exposed to numerous tools, plenty of wood and so many possibilities to dream and build! Often I would work on a project that would require the use a table saw or a jointer.  These are two very dangerous tools with ominous blades protruding the machine surface and required pushing the material directly toward the blade with close proximity to my fingers.  Needless to say, I was often reluctant.  Yet time and again I remember hearing my dad say, “You don’t have to be afraid to use it, just respect what it can do.” Thanks to my dad and the wood shop, I gleaned many valuable lessons and skills that continue to guide me today. 

As I consider this principle, I am reminded of the reverence that God expects from us. This is not an apprehensive fear that is meant to drive us away from Him, but rather a respectful fear that allows us as His prized creation to enjoy an appropriate relationship with our all-powerful Creator-God. This means our disposition, intentions and interactions with Him are to be sincere, reverent and under girded by a healthy fear of the Lord.  Proverbs 1:7 expresses this principle well… 
“The Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools
despise wisdom and discipline.”

This idea of no fear, bad fear and good fear can apply to many aspects in life.  To live with no fear may seem courageous at first, yet tested by time will prove to be a foolish and dangerous way to cut our lives short. To live with bad fear may keep us overly concerned about all that could go wrong and hinder us from trying new things and discovering our potential. On the other hand, good fear keeps us respectful of power and enables us to enjoy safe, appropriate and productive experiences whether in a wood shop, in life, or with God.  

As you consider these thoughts, may you be inspired to approach God with an appropriate awe and respect that He deserves.  As you keep this humble attitude of heart, may you find the wisdom you need to enjoy your fullest potential in the Master’s wood shop.  

Respectfully Yours,

Pastor Dusty

 

Psalm 111:10 NLT
Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom.

Luke 12:4-5 NLT 
“Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. 5 But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear.

2 Corinthians 7:1 NLT
Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.

"Singing Hallelujah!" by Daniel Blomberg

Every once in awhile, God does something that literally amazes me.  I know that we serve a great God that is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all we can ask or imagine.  And yet, He still blows my mind. 

He’s done that twice in the last two days.  My wife Marilee and I are attending our annual Chaplains Conference and our denomination’s International Conference, called “Connection” being held in Anaheim, California. 

On Friday night, after a long day of meetings, Marilee and I decided to go down to the pool with the intention of soaking in the hot tub and relaxing in the pool.  In our wildest dreams, we couldn’t have imagined what happened next. 

As we approached the hot tub, we could see it was full of young people, literally overflowing with excited teenagers.  We were about to turn back when a bunch of the kids got out, creating room for us to enter the hot tub.  At first we felt more than a little uncomfortable, being the only older folks present.  We were standing elbow to elbow with rowdy teens who were checking out the “old geezers.” To our surprise, one of the young men said hello and introduced us to his friend that was sitting on the edge of the hot tub with him. 

He told us they were part of a group of 49 kids, age 14-18, from El Paso, Texas.   They had driven 18 hours to attend a choral competition the next day.  Then I told him that Marilee also sang and how she used to be really shy until I encouraged her to sing in front of 400 inmates in a maximum security prison where all the inmates were packing foot long knives.  That got their attention and before I knew it, we had an instant audience. 

I then got to tell them about our encounter with an angel who led us into the heart of the prison, opening 6-8 locked steel doors with no keys!  As I spoke, I could see the kids drawing in closer, their eyes fixed on us, drinking in every word spoken.  It was then I suggested to Marilee that she sing the song in Russian that God had given her to share with the inmates.  As she began to sing, they called out to their other friends to come join us in the hot tub. 

First, she sang the song in English, then in Russian.  As her beautiful voice wafted through the air, I sensed God was doing something very special in our midst.  We had the kids’ undivided attention.  It was then that I had the idea of having them sing a song for us.  With that, they got very excited and began to call their other friends over to the hot tub to join in the song. Then their choral director came over to see what all the commotion was about.   

With her phone, she played a few notes, tuning them up, and then they began to sing the most beautiful song of praise and worship to the Lord. “Could this really be happening?” I thought to myself.  Looking around, I counted 32 of us in the hot tub, with their praises and hallelujahs resounding all around the outdoor pool complex.  Angelic music filled the air, reaching up to the rooms and balconies all around the pool and outdoor restaurant dining area. 

They then proceeded to give us an impromptu concert filled with sacred songs that had to bless everyone nearby.  When I offered to pray for them and their competition the next day, immediately, the kids extended their hands.  As we joined hands with each other, I prayed over them, asking God to bless them and their efforts as they exalted Him.   

Then the kids began to ask us questions about our ministry in the prisons.  We were able to share Christ with them for another half hour.  They were hanging on every word we spoke, just drinking it all in.  It was such a special anointed time. But then, it was time for the pool to close so we had to conclude our time together.  As the kids exited the hot tub, many profusely thanked us for sharing with them.  

Afterwards, Marilee and I could hardly believe what had happened.  God had given us a Surprise Party!  A Divine encounter!  But that wasn’t the end of it. The next evening, as I was returning to our room, I bumped into the choral director.  She thanked me for being so good to her kids and for sharing with them.  She said the kids were telling all their friends and even her the angel story. 

I then asked her how the kids did in their competition.  She proudly said, “They got gold in one competition and a second place in another!” 

Thank you Lord for blessing us so richly through these young people.  You never cease to amaze me!

"Letter To A Sixteen-Year-Old" by Dusty Johnson

Recently, I was asked by a friend to write a letter addressed to their son. He and his wife were looking to celebrate his sixteenth birthday by showering him with words of blessing and intentionality as he begins his ascent to adulthood. They decided to invite friends and family to submit personal letters that would call out God's best in his life by collecting and reading them as part of the birthday celebration and a keepsake. As I prayed and put my hands on the keyboard for this young man, the following words came to mind. I hope you or a loved one might be inspired or encouraged by my letter to a special sixteen year old.

----

Dear Christopher,

Congratulations on turning 16. This is a special time in your life and definitely worth celebrating!!!  These next few years could be the most fun and exciting as you begin grow and mature into the man God made you to be and your parents have already seen emerging.  As you put into practice the beliefs and convictions already in your heart, you will find yourself building a strong foundation for the rest of your life. As you look to Him, I believe God will show you His best for your life.

Here are words of encouragement that I hope will be helpful at different points in your journey. These are thoughts and ideas that I have put together from my own teen years and from the raising of my three boys. I hope they are worthy of your consideration.

“Don’t be surprised when your parents fight FOR you and even fight YOU for you.”
Be mindful that your parents and other adults will always contend for God’s best in your life (even when you can’t see it or don’t want their help). They are a powerful force that you get to decide if they will be working FOR you or against you. Are you going to spend time and energy fighting them or working with them? Look for their love to show up even when it is uncomfortable.

“With Privilege Comes Responsibility.”
Your parents love for you is freely given and more durable than you think (even when you are at your worst). Trust is also given, but can be easily lost. If you choose to practice truthfulness with them, you will find they can open the world to you with their influence and blessing. If you take shortcuts or take advantage of their trust, you may find yourself fighting the one force on the planet that is constantly on your team, in your stands, and contending for your best all throughout your life. Here are three keys that I believe build trust and will enable them to open up of greater levels blessing and opportunity for you… Communication, Honor and Honesty. How you handle these will lead to limitation or freedom.  Choose freedom!

“Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.”
You will find plenty of people who will give themselves permission to participate in almost anything under the sun. I encourage you to learn to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit for direction in your life. This voice may ask you to lay something down, let something go, give something away or ask you to practice restraint even when everyone else seems to indulge. If you let Him guide you in the small things, you may find yourself pleasantly surprised how His guidance will show up in the big things. Don’t be afraid to go against the flow, my young friend!

“Be Kind to the 30 Year-Old YOU.”
As you consider the choices you will face in your teens and twenties, I encourage you to consider what your 30-year-old self might say about the decisions you make in the coming years. Will the 30-year-old-you be proud and grateful? Will your choices leave you with baggage or blessing? Will the testimony of your life leave a trail of good or bad consequences for your children to follow? This includes, but is not limited to who you love, how you live and what motivates your vocational pursuits. Aim high, your future spouse and children will be grateful!

In closing, I want to offer a personal prayer that I believe God continues to answer in my life.  It is a prayer that continues to seek God’s Discernment, Wisdom and Favor in all my adventures with Him. As you look to honor God, others and yourself with the choices you make in the years ahead, may you continually look for, contend for, and expect the following guidance…
 

Discernment – With the help of the Holy Spirit, may you have a timely sense of what God is up to and where He is at work in your life and the world around you.

Wisdom - With the help of the Holy Spirit, may you come to know what you are supposed to do or not do? Is it a time to fight, sacrifice, serve, contend, listen, wait, get counsel, pray, move to action or show restraint?

Favor - With the help of the Holy Spirit, may you come to know and expect the Supernatural Favor of God. May your faith grow in the fact that He can and will do miracles on your behalf when you trust the currency that feeds the economy of God’s Kingdom. And may He open doors that seem no man is able to open and may He close the doors that are simply not good for you to enter.

I wish you all the best!

Your Friend,
Dusty Johnson
 

"Light of the World" by Joseph Scheyer

I thoroughly enjoyed the recent “I am” series by Dusty and crew.  In particular, I find myself thinking a lot about the verse in John 8:12 when Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life”. 

Love and light seem like two sides of the same coin while death and darkness are two sides of a very different coin. It seems like this earth has always been a battlefield between light and darkness.  The forces of darkness are constantly trying to take us out of the truth illuminated by ‘the light of the world’. Darkness can be seductive and because we are sinners, it is tempting to use that cover of darkness to keep our shortcomings from being known. The longer we hide our iniquities, the more power they have over us. Sin can only grow in the darkness, the light of the world promises to deliver us from the darkness of sin.  Light allows us live in this world. Jesus embodies a vision of truth about God and about life, our origin, and our destiny. Light promotes growth and life. The light of Jesus’ life brings us the promise of everlasting life. Light warms and comforts. Jesus wants us to experience the beauty of an illuminated life. Light dispels darkness, which stands for evil. Jesus pierces the darkness of sin and death and conquers them. All the darkness in the world cannot put out one candle flame. Jesus cannot be overcome by evil.

As a former science teacher where Physics was my favorite subject, I’ve long been fascinated by the nature and attributes of light. Light is wonderful and mysterious…just like God.  For example: Light travels so fast that a ray of light could circle the earth more than seven times a second (it would take a sound over three days to make a circuit around the earth). Visible light is but one part of the electromagnetic spectrum that includes radio waves, microwaves, Infrared waves, ultra-violet waves, x-rays and gamma rays.

Curiously, visible light is in the center of all these other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum and can be separated into its own spectrum of colors. (ROY G BIV was my right hand rainbow man when we studied light in my science class)  Science can’t really tell us what light is other than to say it is made up of electromagnetic waves. The fact that light behaves both as a wave and as particles makes it unique among physical phenomena. I realize that not everyone is interested in the science of light (ok, I guess as an ex-science teacher, I can’t really help myself) but it is part of the wonder.and I see a significant connection between the remarkable physical attributes of light and our remarkable God who created the light out of darkness and sent to us the light of the world. Both are unfathomable, immutable and omnipresent. God provides for us a path to love and fulfillment, light illuminates that path. God loves us so much that he allows us to choose to follow the light or to be drawn into the darkness.

I, for one, choose the light of the world.

"Little Kindness" by Betty Fletcher

The past few weeks I’ve really wanted to be cared for. In hindsight, I was probably hoping for something huge and dramatic—something that would shout, “You’re SUPER IMPORTANT!” 
I bet you’ve wanted that too, haven’t you?

I’m here to report it didn’t happen. I didn’t meet the man of my dreams or get a big promotion or win the lottery. But here’s what did happen:

Sandy laid her hand on my back while we were praying one Sunday and left it there for quite a while. I hadn’t raised my hand for prayer or anything. It was so comforting. Wow. Thanks.
Sue invited me to brunch after a service. Nice.

Terry and Colby and Bill and Margaret went for a walk after church with me.
Heather caught my eye from across the gym and smiled when I came in last week. It was a full, welcoming smile—the best kind.

Margaret offered to bring the Bible I’d left at her house.

Sara and Kayla wished me a happy Mother’s Day.

Sally and Laura said they liked my necklace.

Darla and JoVone held my hands and prayed for me (granted, they had to because Dusty told us to pray for the person on our left and right, but it still counts).

I could go on, but here’s the point: Little kindnesses matter—a lot. Not one of those people would have known that a small kindness was part of God’s bigger plan to give me hope and encourage my spirit, inspire me trust a little longer and grow a little more. No one person would have thought to do all of those little things. But together—well, together all of those people were the body of Christ to me.

Here’s a verse that might be worth learning in the King James just because it sounds so cool:

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love, in honour preferring one another (Romans 12:10).

Now let’s get out there and be nice!

 

"The Two Me's" by Terry Sheldon

I've been thinking lately about my two selves. Yes, I split roughly down the middle, it seems. Is it a split personality disorder? Hmmm, I have to channel the "right me" before I answer. You see, I jokingly call them my evil twins - Expectations-Me and Comfortable-Me. I have them both operating full time, but then again so do we all, I am guessing. They fight like cats and dogs, and it's a constant struggle to see who wins out.

Expectations-Me is the tough guy, and is not just born out of a professional work environment and the closest of relationships - family, spouses and our kids. It also comes at us from impersonal sources too - our youth and gender based society and the massive media/mass marketing machine. We want to, need to, HAVE TO please, so we perform. We compare ourselves with others and take our cues from them (and commercials). We put on a happy face, smile, shake hands, and above all else, "don't let 'em see you sweat.”

If someone is upset with us, or if we THINK they are, we shift into overdrive to step up our game. This constant set of lofty expectations and pressure bears down on us like an oncoming freight train. That motivation isn't necessarily a bad thing because it promotes productivity, but it can also produce a sense of disconnect with who we really are. But who we want people to see and who they likely see anyway can be two different things. Most of us get pretty skilled at being inauthentic - hiding the real person inside.

On the other side is E-Me's more genteel version. Comfortable-Me shows up more when the pressure is off. He loves to make gentle conversation, laugh, and float on life's lake in a kayak, basking in the warm day's gentle breeze. Certainly there is that sense of "this is the way every day should be" - little stress and pressure, the freedom of being yourself and producing good works without being constantly analyzed and evaluated.

Now I know what you're thinking. If we could all be retired right now with a healthy pension and a kayak, we could all be happy Comfortable-Me every day. Yep, already there. It doesn't cost anything but time to daydream, but then POW, that pesky train rudely awakens. I remember noticing how much my father changed after he retired. He smiled more, laughed more. But the value of retirement is not my point here.

What I am suggesting is we learn to straddle the two personalities because they both have value. Going through life's meat-grinder while practicing the act of returning to our real source of calm and security - our Lord's quiet presence is the absolute, don't-miss-it KEY to effective living. What emerges is not only grace under fire, patience, and all other fruits of the spirit, but our true identity, that sense of "real me" we crave.

Doing Expectations-Me without abiding in God's presence tends to drive us to excess, make us shallow personalities, alienate our loved ones, and produce a grotesque fear and success-based caricature.

Equally sad, avoiding pressure by only wearing Comfortable-Me can produce a kind of fantasy-based wimp - untouched, unchallenged, a shallow person bereft of deep Godly character. 

Let's all practice abiding! Seeking his face in quiet moments. We have to be proactive and purposeful about this. In our society, it does take practice.

"What is Your Reason?" by Jennelle Schnabel

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.”
1 Peter 3:15

The word defense in the Greek is ἀπολογίαν, or apologian, which is where we get the word apologetics from.
According to a world-renown Christian apologist, Michael Ramsden, as Christians we are ALL called to be apologists.
You may think that that is just for the scholarly types or super-Christians (like pastors or missionaries), but you’d be wrong.
Peter is speaking to the church, not just the bishops or archdioceses (I don’t think those actually even existed back then). 
And why should this be an intimidating command? We are Christians after all. Surely there must be a reason that you believe. Do you know it? Can you remember why you became a Christian?
Michael Ramsden once made the observation that when Christians get asked the question “Why are you a Christian?” they end up explaining HOW they became a Christian. 
But the question is why? Why are you a Christian? And could you explain that reason to someone who is asking? 
A verse from 2 Timothy just popped in my head, Chapter 1 verse 12:
“For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”

Notice the word reason? What was Paul’s reason for being a Christian? Why did he suffer? Why did he continue on? Look at the verses that immediately precede this statement.

“[God] who has saved us and called us with a holy calling…according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.”

Paul knew why he was a Christian. He had his reason. His life had been transformed because of the relationship he had with Jesus Christ.

Christianity is not a set of ideas to believe in. It’s not just a “good” philosophy. Christianity is a living, dynamic & committed relationship with Jesus Christ.

"He Sees Me" by Darla Beardsley

I had an idea for this devotional, but I struggled with how to share it in a way that seemed to the point and not all bogged down with details of my own experience. The truth of the matter is that we all have different stories and our particular details vary, but the word of God does not change and penetrates each of our circumstances in His unique, loving way. 

Two weeks ago I had surgery. It was a day surgery, laparoscopy, in and out of the hospital in what turned out to be 7 to 8 hours. I knew it was fairly routine, but I still felt apprehensive. This decision had been a year and a half in the making and I had had an emotional roller coaster ride getting to it.

At times we have dreams that are not fulfilled in the way we had hoped and circumstances in our lives can serve to remind us of these disappointments and cause us to come again before God on our knees. This was one of those circumstances for me. God graciously gave me time to work through these emotions with Him and I am thankful.

The night before the surgery I read the “Jesus Calling” devotional by Sarah Young for the following day and it led me to these verses in Exodus 33. God is talking to Moses after the people sinned against Him by getting impatient and creating a golden calf to worship instead of Him. Moses is pleading for God’s presence; that He will not send His people on without Him. God answers Moses in verse 14 - And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (NKJV) 

I like how the Amplified Bible words verses 15 and 16 - And Moses said to the Lord, if your presence does not go with me, do not carry us up from here! For by what shall it be known that I and Your people have found favor in Your sight? Is it not in Your going with us so that we are distinguished, I and Your people, from all the other people upon the face of the earth?

Verse 17 - So the Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.” (NKJV)

Through Jesus, I am forgiven and have found grace in the Father’s sight. I do not understand all the ways of my life, why everything turns out the way it does and sometimes life can be downright scary. Yet that night I found great comfort in the truth that my Father knows me by name and His Presence goes with me as I seek His way. I want His Presence to have a distinguishing role in my life.

Mark and I watched the movie Avatar for the second time this last week. In the film, the native people have an expression that indicates intimacy between two people, a connectedness, an understanding. They say, “I see you.” I know my God sees me. And by His grace, I see Him. Thank you Lord.

 

Exodus 33:14 (NKJV) And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Exodus 33:15-16 (AMP) And Moses said to the Lord, If Your Presence does not go with me, do not carry us up from here! For by what shall it be known that I and Your people have found favor in Your sight? Is it not in Your going with us so that we are distinguished, I and Your people, from all the other people upon the face of the earth?

Exodus 33:17 (NKJV) So the Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.”

"The Need for Negative" by Sarah Moorhead

I can't see what the future holds, but I believe God is up to good in my life.  And if for a moment He pulled back the curtain and showed me all the good things He has planned for me, how would my perspective change? How would I respond to the negative circumstances? What if I could see my life from God's point of view? What if I understood the need for the negative?

I wonder if we knew all the marvelous things God has planned for us, if we could see what He is setting us free from – the “sin that so easily entangles” – what would we do with that information? Would we view life differently? Would we be more willing to let go of that attitude or behavior that is “killing” us? Would we stop playing the martyr or the victim? Would we stop listening to the lies of our culture – a culture that is at war with God?

In 1st Corinthians 2:4 Paul says, “However, as it is written: ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.’"

Later in Romans 8:18 he says, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."

Even Job knew this truth. He spoke of his faith early in his suffering in Job 13:15, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust him...”

To see with the eyes of faith in the midst of suffering, to hold onto the truth that God is good, takes a strength that only God can give. We cannot conjure it on our own. Our strength will fail. But the “God of all comfort” will never fail. I believe God is up to something wonderful in my life!

The Weaver - by B. M. Franklin

My life is just a weaving

Between my Lord and me.

I cannot change the color

For He works most steadily.

 

Oft times He weaves the sorrow

And I in foolish pride

Forget He sees the upper

And I the underside

 

Until the loom is silent

And the shuttle cease to fly

Will God roll back the canvas

And explain the reason why

 

The dark threads are as needful

In the skillful Weaver's Hand

As the golden threads of silver

He has patterned in His Plan.

 

2nd Corinthians 1:3-5

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
 
Hebrews 12:1

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

"Resurrection and Life" by Pastor Dusty Johnson

Ever feel like a situation is draining away your life? Feeling powerless or hopeless? Ever feel like your appeals to God are somehow lost or ignored? Are you frustrated that God seems to intervene for others, but is strangely distant or absent from your situation?  If so, you are in good company and this story should bring you comfort and hope.

This past Easter Sunday, I had the privilege of speaking about the story of Jesus raising his friend Lazarus from the dead. As the story unfolds in John 11, it appears that Jesus is strangely tardy in response to a sincere request for help from a family he loved. The narrative begins with an appeal sent to Jesus by two sisters, Mary and Martha, requesting his help with their ailing brother. Though these siblings were devoted followers and personal friends of Jesus, he appears to arrive too late. The once ill and worsening Lazarus' has now been dead for four days.

Upon his arrival to Bethany, Jesus is met by a frustrated and grieving Martha, who seems confused about why it took so long for him to get there. Little did she know that Jesus had no intention of this sickness ending in death for Lazarus. He then delivers a declaration to Martha that hints to both a reversal of the current state of Lazarus and a sign of his power and authority over death proved by his own resurrection from the grave after His soon-to-be execution on the cross. He says to Martha,,

"I am the resurrection and  the life. The one who believes in me will live; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die."

Remarkably, it is in this context that Jesus performs his greatest miracle on this side of the Cross; The raising of Lazarus to life after being for days dead.

As part of my Easter message I referenced a recent TED Talk titled, "The Price of Shame" by the once "crucified and buried" Monica Lewinsky. For those not familiar with her very public story, the now 41 year old Lewinsky was then at the center of a 1998 sex scandal with President Bill Clinton that rocked our political world and sent a 22 year old woman spiraling into a very dark pit of shame. Being in my mid-20s at the time, the story exploded with the dawning of digital media. I admit my zealous faith was quick to judge her and I'm sure felt justified to throw a few "stones" if at least only in my mind.

Irregardless of her actions long ago, I am deeply moved by her recent talk.  Admittedly, I have no way of knowing if she has an active faith, yet believe she has shown great courage in the face of such public humiliation and personal suffering. I celebrate that Monica wasn't destroyed by her actions at 22 and hope that somehow the Holy Spirit is involved in the process of reclaiming of her narrative. Her story reminds me of how much our world needs to know the Savior who promises resurrection and new life in the face of humanity's worst moments. One who can redeem the Adversary's intent to steal our true identity, kill our God-given potential and destroy our eternal destiny (John 10:10).

I pray that in times of weakness and vulnerability that you will find Jesus doing his best work. May you find the voice of Jesus saying to you, "I am the resurrection and the life" and know that He can overcome your darkest nights and enable you to thrive another day. Because of the cross, it is Jesus who has the AUTHORITY to deal with the THIEF, the POWER to overcome DEATH and the commitment to deliver on the promise of HOPE for renewed life now and renewed life for eternity.

Gratefully yours,

Pastor Dusty

 

John 5:24 New International Version (NIV)
24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.

John 10:10 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus said, the Enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy, but that He came that we might have life... Life eternally and life abundantly.

1 Peter 1:3-4 New International Version (NIV)
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.”

"The Price of Shame" - Monica Lewinsky TED Talk

This past Easter Sunday, I referenced the March 2015 TED Talk "The Price of Shame" by Monica Lewinsky. I didn't have time to play the first six minutes as planned, but thought some people might like to have access to this incredible testimony. Her story deeply impacted me and reinforced how much our world has need for a Savior that can bring people back from circumstances that seemingly take their life and provide a sense of hope for a deeper and richer life.

For those not familiar with Monica Lewinsky, the now 41 year old Lewinsky spoke up about the 1998 sex scandal with President Bill Clinton that rocked our world and sent a 22 year old woman spiraling into a very dark pit of shame. Irregardless of her actions, I was deeply moved by Monica’s talk. I believe she has shown great courage in the face of such public humiliation and personal suffering that came at the dawning of the digital age. Upon hearing the 22 condensed minutes of her story I am so glad to see her rise from the ashes of her very public ridicule with such grace, strength, poise and substance. 

I respect her greatly and can appreciate the public reclaiming of her narrative. I also appreciate her drawing attention to the bloodsport of public shaming, both through online bullying and offline attitudes, and the actions that numb our compassion for the struggles of those we share the planet with. Her TED talk inspires me. She is a glimmering example of grace and redemption for humanity's worst moments. 

And I realize how much I love a good turn-around story and why the world need the assurance of a savior who says I AM the resurrection and the life in the face of an adversary that wants to steal, kill and destroy. 

Pastor Dusty

"God's Wake Up" by Kim Phelps

Have you ever had one of those “wake-up” calls from God?  Things are going along fine (or so I think), and next thing I know, I’ve fallen asleep at the wheel and I am no longer driving God's path but I am out blazing trails of my own.  It is a lonely path out there on my own.....and I noticed that I was becoming cranky, irritable and very set in my ways.   Little things were driving me crazy and irritating me, and the “little things” were so insignificant that it really made no sense.  Enter the “wake-up call.” I really did not have a clue, but I knew something was up. That sent me to my Father to see if He could maybe tell me I was just fine and send me on my way. HA!  He had me right where He wanted me; He had my undivided attention.

So, during my devotion time, I talked to Him and He (I thought) said nothing, then one of my devotions kind of piqued my curiosity and I ended up down a rabbit trail that lead me to a verse in Philippians. I looked up, saw a card a friend had given me with Philippians 4:19 on it. It read: “My God will use His wonderful riches in Christ Jesus to give you everything you need.”  That was the verse I had landed on, but I had not seen that version of it.  I have no idea which translation or paraphrase it comes from but it sure struck me in a new way.  I had not thought of it like that before and I wrote it down and carried it with me so I could mull it over throughout the day.   I have known this verse, and even memorized it, but this was different and things began falling in place.  God's wonderful, amazing, glorious riches in Christ Jesus are working on my behalf!  What a loving God caring and moved by my struggles, it is mind blowing!  And I began to realize that I had been “blazing my own trail,” taking my own life into my own hands (never a good sign) and taking over what God never intended me to be in charge of. A great weight rolled off my shoulders as I began to give back to God what was His all along.  

The next time I was cut off in traffic and started to fume, I stopped and realized I was in God's hands and I would be alright.   When I missed every traffic light and wanted to speed up to compensate for lost time, I stopped and acknowledge that God had my timing in His hands and I could relax, I would arrive at just the right time.  When I was disappointed by a friend, I’m in God's hands and He will never disappoint.  I could not believe the weight that I lost!  God is good, and I am in the best hands ever!

My suggestion to anyone who will listen is to allow God to speak to you, when a scripture kind of catches your eye or piques your curiosity, write it down, carry it with you--it just might be God wanting to get your attention to say something to you.  He never runs out of things to say to us if we give Him the opportunity.

Hebrews 13:5-6 “Being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I will never desert you nor will I ever forsake you,” that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?” 

Philippians 4:19 “My God will use His wonderful riches in Christ Jesus to give you everything you need.”  

"Jesus, the Passover Lamb" by John Rice

The Bible is truly the most amazing book. From the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation we see confirmations of the truth of the word over and over again. There are numerous foreshadowings in the Old Testament that speak of things to come, as well as prophecies which in hindsight are astoundingly precise. Probably no other concept is foreshadowed and prophesied in the Old Testament more often than the coming of the Messiah. 

As we approach Passover and Easter, and recognize our Savior Jesus as the Passover Lamb who came to take away the sins of the world, let’s look at some amazing parallels: 

1. Passover always begins on the 15th of Nisan (in the Spring of the Jewish calendar.) God’s people were told to choose and set apart their lambs for sacrifice on the 10th of Nisan. (Lv 12:3) Jesus entered Jerusalem on the 10th day of Nisan. (Jn 12:1 tells us that Jesus entered Bethany 6 days before the Passover, so we can calculate when He entered Jerusalem, 5 days before Passover was to begin.) 

2. The lamb was set aside for 5 days to be checked for spot and blemish. It had to be perfect, without fault. Jesus, during this time, was being questioned by religious leaders trying to find fault with Him. They questioned His authority and asked Him trick questions to find Him in error. When frustrated by their efforts, they took him to Pilate who said, “I find no fault in Him.” 

3. Passover lambs were slaughtered the same day as Jesus was nailed to the cross, and at the same time of day. Because of the huge number of lambs that year, the priests started early to be done by the beginning of Sabbath. The lambs were being prepared in the morning, at the same time Jesus was nailed to the cross. They started killing the lambs at 3pm when Jesus died (according to Josephus, the Jewish historian.) 

4. Lambs were split open and spread open on spits, resembling a body spread on a cross. 

5. In Ex 12:46 God says none of the lambs’ bones were to be broken. Normally Romans broke the legs of those crucified, so that they couldn’t raise themselves up to relieve pressure on their lungs. They broke the legs of the 2 prisoners who were hung on either side of Jesus, but coming to Jesus, they found Him already dead so they didn’t break His legs, fulfilling prophecy. 

6. The priests sprinkled the blood of the dead lambs as atonement for sin. They did this at Passover and were required to continue the practice every year. 
But Jesus’s blood took away sin forever! Once and for all. For all people. For all time. Thank you , God, for Your wisdom, love and power. Thank you for coming to the earth to save us and show us the way. 


Isaiah 53:7 “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.”

"Stuck in the Muck of Mansoul" by Randi Nelson

I’ve been trying to fast in meaningful ways during this season of Lent and I’ve discovered something: I am extremely good at moving the goal posts mid-play. If it gets uncomfortable, rationalize that my physical activity level doesn’t warrant that kind of nutritional hit. If it gets awkward, call it legalism and I’m off the hook. Better yet, question my motive. It’s pointless if I’m trying to manipulate God.

Might this be an insight to a couple of areas in my life in which I am stuck? For rather a long time I’ve been whining at God that I’m not seeing any improvement, asking him to “fix it” while I’m loathing myself for the bad fruit that is beginning to show. It’s getting uncomfortable because I’m not just stuck … the wheels are spinning and I’m sinking deeper!

I need repentance! I need to not just know some truth and continue trying to fix myself. I need to leave the goal posts where they belong, listen for God’s truth, and stay in the game until Truth cuts “sinew from bone” … until my heart is pierced! My flesh would rather avoid that unpleasantness. Yet doesn’t the Word promise that times of refreshing come from repentance? Doesn’t Jesus promise that Truth will set me free from the muck of what A.W. Tozer calls the “puny kingdom of Mansoul” and deliver me into the kingdom of God’s magnificent grace? 

Fasting does not bend God’s will; it tests my devotion. In my fasting failures I’ve realized my devotion is not as pure as I’d like to think. Maybe, if I stop playing referee in my fast, if I leave the goal posts alone, I will find the insights I need for a win in other areas of my life. If I keep my ears open, and remain quiet for the rest of the game perhaps I will be ready to face the only kind of pain that will bring an end to my wheel spinning … a broken and contrite heart. If I truly believe, how could I want anything less?

So hang in there, oh my soul! Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body, and refreshment to your bones. (Proverbs 3:5-8)

"Blessed Are Those Who Hunger..." by Dusty Johnson

This past Sunday I was pleasantly surprised by the actions of a young man visiting our church for the first time. As part of our regular practice at CitySalt, we like to take time to introduce visitors as a way of helping people be known, while we are left with the burden to make room in our hearts and our church family for those searching for the love, acceptance and forgiveness (from God and other humans!).

When addressed, this young man popped up out of his chair and stood fearless in front of this group of strangers. He introduced himself as Brian and shared briefly about how he met Dan Bloomberg (a chaplain at the Lane County Jail) and who told him about our church. Brian went on to briefly tell of some of his struggles that landed in jail and how he was looking for a new start.  This encounter absolutely inspired me and cut me to the heart. As I stepped up to the podium to begin my message, I felt it was important to acknowledge his boldness and to pray for both he and Candice. You can listen to this brief excerpt from the service by clicking on the link below. 

I hope you are both inspired and challenged to pray for Brian and thanking God for Dan and Marilee Bloomberg who continue the ministry to those who find themselves at the Lane County Jail.

Gratefully, Pastor Dusty 

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst
for righteousness, for they will be filled."
-Matthew 5:6

 

 

"Training for Maturity" by Laura Rice

In the past 2-3 years John and I have been doing core-alignment and Pilates at Carpe Diem.  Before we started this way of working out we had some chronic issues with backs, knees, neck, etc.  Now, this far into using this method of exercise, both of us are amazed by our improvement.  As we've learned and progressed, both of us have made numerous spiritual associations.  I think it's interesting how God has made us physically, soulfully and spiritually with some obvious parallels.

We don't use our bodies correctly.  Our bodies were made to function best when we use supportive muscles and structures so we don't overly tax and stress the larger muscles.  Comically we usually take the easy way.  It seems we are prone to do that in all parts of life.  The scripture that comes to mind is "There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is death."  Our bodies need training and so do our souls.  The word of God is very practical.  Just list the fruits of the Spirit:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Unless we are taught and trained, these character traits are not naturally occurring in our lives.

Dusty taught about alignment last year.  In core-alignment it is demanded if any of the moves are to be done, it should not cause pain.  My whole life, for example, I have relied on my back too much and it has caused me a lot of time out.  What I've learned to do in core align is to support my back with the muscles of my abdomen, my ribs and my pelvis.   Standing with the body supported in this way allows for greater mobility and less pain.  In this week’s Sonship, we are reading about discernment.  Without the ability to discern, our lives are often found wandering down wrong pathways.  In Hebrews 5 the author is talking about maturity and immaturity.  Verse 12 states "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God……..not accustomed to the word of righteousness…But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil."

If we need to be trained to use our bodies correctly, how much more training is needed for our souls and our spirits?  Allow yourself to be shown by the Spirit those areas in your life where you are misusing or overusing certain things and where you need to be strengthened and retrained.  Those adjustments we make are perhaps daily at times or weekly or less but we will always need to be trained by the Spirit and the word.

Hebrews 5:11-14 "There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong."