Needs and Wants

Way back in 6th grade, I really wanted a black felt hat like Debbie Gibson. That was my most awkward year. I had braces on my teeth and hair that was frizzy. I could never tightroll my jeans well, and my Mom wouldn’t buy me Guess jeans so I saved my money and got a pair of acid washed, pleated, tapered leg Z Cavaricci jeans on clearance at Merry Go Round which I wore entirely too often in my quest to fit in. My best friend wanted to be friends with the popular kids and ditched me, and I felt like a super unattractive, uncool, lonely dork. I was fairly confident that a black felt hat was the solution to my problems, so I asked for one for Christmas.

I didn’t get one.

What I did receive in sixth grade was a framed copy of 1 Chronicles 28:9. Solomon’s name had been replaced with my own, and the print read "And you, my daughter Natalie, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.”

That hat, while not what I needed, was what I wanted, and I was angry that I did not receive it. That framed scripture, while not what I wanted, was what I needed, yet for the next seven years of my life I would resist serving, seeking and even acknowledging the God of my father.

In 1 Samuel 8, Samuel delivers a prophetic word to the people of Israel. They have determined, according to the wisdom of their age, that what will make their lives and nation better is a King. After all, the other nations had Kings. And Samuel’s sons whom he had appointed to replace him weren’t honest. Yes, the people knew what was best! A King!

The Lord tells Samuel that the people are not rejecting Samuel, but God. So, Samuel warns the people of all that a King will cost them: their freedom, the best of their fields, vineyards and orchards given away, a tenth of their grain and flocks, even their sons and daughters. Israel would be enslaved. “But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”

The Ebenezer Stone has been forgotten. The holy thunder of the Lord that routed the Philistines, the land that He restored to them, the safety He provided them...all disregarded in one generation by people who thought they knew what they needed more than God did.

Wise words are seldom the ones we want to hear.

-You are playing with fire.

-Repent!

-Your gossip is destructive.

-Your spending is out of control.

-You are sinning against God.

-Be reconciled.

We much prefer the advice of our culture:

-You only live once!

-You aren’t to blame.

-People need to know what’s happening.

-Self-care is important. You deserve this.

-God wants you to be happy!

Church, we are being led astray by the wisdom of our age! And at what cost? Is it worth our sons and daughters? Will we give them a black felt hat when what they need is God’s word in plain view during the most challenging years of their lives? Will we give them sports when what they need is to be sitting under the preaching of God’s Word? Will they see us embrace moral relativism or therapeutic deism rather than the true Word who calls us to count the cost and take up our cross? Will they see us consistently embrace our sin rather than repent and turn away from that which is an affront to a holy God?

For seven years, 1 Chronicles 28:9 hung on my wall, directly across from my bed. Every time I sinned, it was a reminder that I had a choice to make. If there truly was a God who knew the depths of my heart, a Sovereign King who created me and ultimately should have authority over my life, I must bend my knee to Him. Because of His pursuing love, one day I did.

Child of God, which king are you serving- the god of this age or the only true King? “For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods...today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts”. 

-Natalie Runyon

First Call

A few weeks ago, I suffered a personal injury and reached out to several people for help.  Later in the day I realized that I’d forgotten to reach out to my own dear mom.  It struck me funny that someone who’d been a first call for so much of my life had been so easily left out of the loop in that moment.  It had nothing to do with any lack on her part but was due to my absent mindedness.  For so long, she’s been a steady nurturing figure to me but my attention and focus was elsewhere. 

In this week’s passage, we read of Samuel calling the people to return to the LORD and rid themselves of their idols.  Soon after, they do return to the LORD but are tried by an enemy Philistine army.  Their first response is to cry out to the LORD for help.  He does help them in thunderous ways, restoring their securities and peace as Samuel makes a burnt offering of a nursing lamb.  The LORD’s help was so obvious that Samuel set up a stone at Mizpah and Shen where the people had gathered and witnessed His salvation.  The stone was called, Ebenezer (which means stone of help), for Samuel said, “Till now the LORD has helped us.”  The question would come again in their hearts, “Where do we turn for help?” Repentance means to turn from one thing back toward another.  The people will be tempted by their idols again but they will need something to turn their hearts toward God alone. The Ebenezer stone serves as a great reminder of how the Lord saves His people. 

The Lord still wants single minded devotion from His people.  Our LORD God knows that He is and will always be the HELP that we need.  As I began the process of writing this reflection, I prayed “God help me!”  And in so many other moments of my life, I have prayed the same, sincerely hoping and focused on His power and ability alone because He has a perfect resume and I’ve witnessed His saving work firsthand.  Even before I consulted others for my injury, I was praying “God help me!”  As His follower, Jesus calls me to pray in His name and for His glory.  May God help me should it not be so.  Our heavenly Father wants us to trust in Him with childlike faith – simply reacting as a child to a nurturing parent to cry out trusting Him for help anytime and for anything. 

All of us still struggle with trusting in other things than the Maker of our souls.  But our Maker calls out to us with a miraculous provision in the perfect sacrifice of His dear Son.  He does not want anything to come between so He calls us to repent of our idols and trust in Him alone.  Like the people of Samuel’s day, we also have a stone to look toward as a reminder of God’s ever present help.  Our stone is better!  We have THE Cornerstone in Jesus as the risen Christ, King of kings and LORD of lords.  If by God’s grace, we turn to Jesus, the idols fade away in comparison.  Jesus alone is our hope and help!  While this passage ends with Samuel building an altar to the LORD, we must ask ourselves – What am I building an altar to right now?  There is only One who is worthy of our worship.  May we know till now it is the LORD that has helped us to the praise of His glory through Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!  May the LORD be our first call as our Everything!

Grateful and hopeful in Christ,

Jon

The Fear of God

Chapter 6 of 1 Samuel seems to be all about the fear of God.

The Philistines have experienced the wrath of God and are desperate to give the Chest back. They even make expensive (but odd) gifts of golden rats and tumors for the Israelites to try and appease the whole situation.

Seventy of the men of Beth Shemesh, who look into the Chest out of curiosity, die! The whole town is put into mourning and is questioning, “who can stand before God, this holy God?” “And who can we get to take this Chest off our hands?”

For the next twenty years the Chest came to rest in Kiriath Jearim and there was a widespread, fearful movement toward God. I can only imagine the stories that were told from parents to children during that time!

And then, finally, Samuel comes on the scene and says… “If you are truly serious about coming back to God, clean house. Get rid of the foreign gods and fertility goddesses, ground yourselves firmly in God, worship him and him alone, and he’ll save you from Philistine oppression.” And the people did it! They gave their exclusive attention and service to God.

Blessed relief...finally. It’s so good to hear wise counsel from Samuel, to hear the word of the Lord, which brings life to the people. Why did it take this long? And why did such foolishness have to occur to bring the people to this realization?

And how different are we today? I wonder.

The people end up fasting and praying and declaring, “We have sinned against God.” That’s where it must start. We must acknowledge our sin and feel grief about it, enough to want to make a change. And then...Samuel prepares the Israelites for holy war.

In reading about the fear of God, and what it means, I came across this paragraph and feel like it’s something I want to pass on to you to think about, talk about, and ponder.

So how does fear of God, who is perfect love, take away fear? William D. Eisenhower puts it this way in his article “Fearing God" in Christianity Today: 

“Unfortunately, many of us presume that the world is the ultimate threat and that God's function is to offset it. How different this is from the biblical position that God is far scarier than the world. When we assume that the world is the ultimate threat, we give it unwarranted power, for in truth, the world's threats are temporary. When we expect God to balance the stress of the world, we reduce him to the world's equal… As I walk with the Lord, I discover that God poses an ominous threat to my ego, but not to me. He rescues me from my delusions, so he may reveal the truth that sets me free. He casts me down, only to lift me up again. He sits in judgment of my sin, but forgives me nevertheless. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but love from the Lord is its completion.”

-Ruth Spencer

The Presence of God

This week’s scripture portion from 1 Samuel 5 is all about the presence of God, as visualized in the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark was a source of direction for the Israelites in the wilderness, a literal way for them to know when to stop and when to go. It was a chest that held the Ten Commandments, a jar of manna and the budded staff of Aaron, all symbolizing God’s law, His presence and care for His people. God spoke to Moses from the ‘Mercy Seat’ on top of the Ark, between the angels, and there is often a cloud or fire involved. The Ark took the lead with the priests, when they came to the Jordan River and crossed on dry ground in Joshua 3. And the ark led the way when the Israelites walked around Jericho and the walls fell down. (Joshua 6) The Ark was sent to the battlefield when the Israelites took on their enemies and was seen as a means of obtaining the help of God and therefore victory over their enemies. 

But, suddenly, in chapter 5 the Ark is in the enemies’ hands. The enemy doesn’t destroy it though, they have enough respect for it to place it next to their god, Dagon. That was a pretty common practice back then...it was no problem to add other gods to the gods you were already worshipping. But that’s not how it is with our God. He demands to be the One and Only. Throughout this chapter we see the results and the havoc that the Presence of God reeks on the enemy. So much so, that finally, after 7 months of carting the Ark from one city to another, they bring the Ark back to the Israelites with expensive gifts, almost begging them to take it off of their hands!

Meanwhile, the Israelites are going through a pretty low point. They suffered a big defeat and ‘the glory has departed’. There is no sense of any plan to go back to the enemy’s territory and get the Ark back. God has to 'take up His own sword' to return to His people, figuratively speaking.

How do we experience the presence of God today? It’s hard for me to connect really well with the whole idea of God being in an Ark, a small man-made box, even if it is entirely gold covered. Is it possible that the same presence of God that was in the Ark is in each one of us today through the power of the Holy Spirit? If we believe that is the case...what should that look like? I wonder. 

I’ve been reading through the Chronicles of Narnia in 2020. When the children, Peter, Edmund, Susan and Lucy first encounter Aslan, they have no idea what they are about to experience or that he’s a lion! But even at the name of Aslan, each one of the children feels something jump in their insides. Edmund feels a sensation of mysterious horror. Peter feels suddenly brave and adventurous. Susan feels as if some delicious smell or some delightful strain of music has just floated by her. And Lucy gets the feeling you have when you wake up in the morning and realize that it is the beginning of the holidays or the beginning of summer.

As we think about the presence of God this week, in our lives...how do we experience hearing the name of Aslan, or feel at the mention of Jesus? What might that tell us about our soul and heart condition? It didn’t take long for the people in chapter 5 to know they wanted no part of this Israelite God! The presence of God will either draw you closer or it will repel you. There doesn't seem to be much of any middle ground.

I encourage you to share your story...your awareness of God's presence in your life.

-Ruth Spencer

The Glory Has Departed

We’ve just come out of chapter 3 in 1 Samuel, which is a beautiful story of the boy, Samuel, and how God was with Him. Everyone recognized this to be true even though Samuel is just a young man. Then we are immediately thrust into chapter 4, where “Israel went to war against the Philistines.”

All kinds of questions enter my mind. Why are they at war now? Who led this and for what purpose? What kind of thought went into this? I know for us today, no one wants any part of going into a war with another group of people unless there are an awful lot of reasons to do so. We aren’t given those details. But we do learn, two sentences later, that the Israelites were badly beaten, about 4,000 soldiers died in that battle.

The elders respond by asking “Why has God given us such a beating today by the Philistines?” But it’s as if there is no pause to actually hear an answer from God, instead action is taken almost immediately, and the Chest of God is taken onto the battlefield. Surely, if we have the Chest here that will mean victory! That’s how it was before, right?

When did Israel’s mindset become, if we just carry the chest into a battle that is all we need to have victory? What other steps are they completely forgetting or ignoring? Is anybody really listening to God and His directions? Ironically enough, the previous chapter was all about Samuel and Him listening to God’s voice, who spoke very clearly to him, even as a boy!

After we’ve just heard how much Samuel is a man of God and the people respect him and his connection to God...Samuel is mentioned nowhere in this chapter, throughout this whole process!

The Israelites seem impulsive and foolish in chapter 4. God will not be mocked. The very next battle, 30,000 more soldiers die, along with Eli’s sons and eventually Eli as he hears the news. Even Eli’s daughter-in-law will die, while giving birth to a son, whom she names Ichabod (The glory has departed).

Wow. Have you ever felt this kind of darkness and hopelessness? You don’t have to look far to experience it.

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

-Ruth Spencer

Young and Old

You’re never too old for the Lord to use. It is your experience of walking with Him that He wants to use to encourage the next generation. God uses blind, imperfect, old, tired people to further His kingdom.

You’re never too young for the Lord to use. It is your childlike faith that all believers are called to emulate. God uses immature, inexperienced, energetic children to further His kingdom.

In 1 Samuel 3 we read of an old, tired, blind man who has served as a priest to the Lord, God Almighty, and a young, obedient boy who serves alongside him, even while having never experienced the Lord’s presence for Himself.

God calls that young boy in the night. Three times he calls him, and Samuel doesn’t know it is the Lord. How could he? He’s never heard the Lord call him before. Three times Samuel presents himself to Eli, until Eli discerns it is the Lord Himself calling Samuel.

Samuel needed someone who had known the Lord and experienced Him in a way that he never had, to tell him when the Lord was speaking.

Eli needed to see the obedience of another child, so unlike the rebellion of his own sons, to show him his great sin and the mercy of an even greater God.

God used Eli’s experience and wisdom, despite his sin and the coming consequences, to point Samuel to the One who called.

The church needs older people to testify to God’s Word and power and mercy and faithfulness in the lives of younger believers. The church needs young people to serve and remind us of the joy and enthusiasm that we can find in Him. We need each other. We need one another to point us to the One who calls.

-Natalie Runyon

Just to know Him more.

A few years before God brought my family to be a part of The Bridge, Kim and I spent a great deal of time with a particular couple that had supported us in our church planting efforts.  Those dear friends brought steady encouragement by introducing us to the concept of the gospel cycle.  It all begins with knowing Jesus.  Then, as we truly know Jesus, we can’t help but love Him.  Then, as we love Him, we can’t help but respond by following Him.  In following Jesus, we continue to know and love Him and the cycle repeats itself.  The concept was revolutionary for my walk with Christ.  So much of my life had been driven by religious rituals and obligations in an attempt to be Christian.  But being Christian has everything to do with our relationship with Christ and so little to do with our own performance.  Even now, when I try to live for Jesus on my own volition, so much beside Christ Jesus can become my focus.  From personal experience, I’ve witnessed the amazing resolution and wonder of walking with and abiding in the presence of Jesus.  Oh that I would know Him still more!

As we look in on the characters of this chapter and what is to come soon after, each of their individual fates rests on one thing.  And that one thing is how they respond to a relationship with their Heavenly Father.  Some in this story will ignore Him and seek the desires of their flesh while others receive Him at His word and respond by seeking more of His will and way for their lives.   This passage does serve as a warning about the consequences of sin but even more as an invitation to experience the goodness of God through Jesus Messiah. 

How will you respond to God’s steadfast love in your life?  He invites us to receive it so that we will know Him in a way that will change us for our good and His glory.  Let us pray that God will crush our idols and make us quick to repent of our pride and self-righteousness.  May He turn our heart toward Jesus so that we will know, love, and follow Him with hearts set afire and minds made anew by His transforming presence and power. May the love of Christ overflow from us toward others.  And may our church family grow in favor with God and humanity for the glory and fame of our Rescuer & King Jesus!

Grateful and hopeful in Christ,

Jon

Bursting with GOD-news!

Hannah prayed:

        I'm bursting with GOD-news!

        I'm walking on air.

        I'm laughing at my rivals.

        I'm dancing my salvation.                               

1 Samuel 2:1 - The Message

Have you ever "prayed" like this?  My image of prayer and often my practice of prayer is "fold your hands, bow your heads, close your eyes."  I'm not saying that's necessarily wrong BUT it would be pretty tough to stay seated with hands folded and eyes closed when you are "bursting with GOD-news" and "walking on air" and "laughing at rivals" and "dancing salvation."  This prayer is full of joy and full of confidence.  It's almost like Hannah can't wait to pray and praise God.

Hannah looks to the LORD -

"There is none holy like the Lord:
  for there is none besides you;
  there is no rock like our God."    1 Samuel 2:2 (ESV)

Hannah looks to the LORD.  Hmmm.  Stop for a moment.  Where are you looking?  Where is your focus?  Where do you look when things are going well?  Where do you look when things are really bad?  Where do you look when you are stressed?

May we be those who look to the LORD.  And as we look to HIM may we "burst with GOD-news."

LORD, help us.

Perform this miracle in our hearts.

Lift our heads and open our eyes so we can see you.

See you Sunday,

Steven

Hannah's Pain

This week we are starting a new sermon series. We’ll be taking a look at the book of First Samuel. I enjoy these kinds of books in the bible because they read more like a story rather than a sermon, lecture or some other type of instruction. We will go to unique settings, meet a variety of characters, hear words spoken and sometimes even get to read what’s thought but not spoken. There will be obstacles to overcome, climaxes and crescendos reached, victory and defeat, love and loss, basically all of the good storyline kind of stuff that we so enjoy watching or reading about.

This first week is all about a woman named Hannah. The side characters are Eli, the priest, Penninah, the other wife, Elkanah, who is Hannah’s husband, and eventually towards the end of the chapter, a miracle child named Samuel, who as you can guess, is going to become one of the main characters in this series.

The book starts with Hannah’s pain on full display. She and the rest of the family are going to the sanctuary for their yearly visit. Every year they go and every year it’s the same deal. We have no idea how long this has been going on, but year after year she is without a child. Her husband loves her dearly and tries to help her get over her pain by pointing out what she does have - his love. But it’s not enough for Hannah. The other wife, Penninah, has her own pain. Penninah has the children, but not the love of her husband. To make herself feel better, she taunts Hannah about not having children. I imagine this does little to ease Penninah’s heartbreak, but it’s definitely a common way to deal with pain. Then there is Eli, the priest. He sees Hannah in the sanctuary. Since she comes every year, I wonder if he remembers her or knows anything about her. (Probably not, since so many people come through, perhaps names and faces are hard to remember.) Regardless, when he is witness to Hannah’s deepest pain, he jumps to the conclusion that she is drunk and he even makes a public statement to her about this!

If you are human...than you know pain. I don’t think you can walk this earth without experiencing it sooner or later. Clearly, there are different degrees of pain. Pain that we know will pass or that has a reward is easier to handle than pain that we think might never end or have any reward. Just ask any woman who has given birth. Pain is involved, but most sign up willingly. On the other hand, there is pain that none of us want any part of, in fact, if we’re honest, we probably have fears that cause us great anxiety when we think about the possibilities that could happen at any moment to us or those we love.

In our church on any given Sunday, I think we would be surprised at how much pain is sitting in the pews. A few might give voice to the struggle. Some people’s pain is outwardly visible. But for many, the pain, the desperate kind of pain that Hannah is feeling in this chapter, is hidden within and is so deep, it’s hard to even put it into words.

Hannah prays with her lips moving, but no words coming out. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us when we have no words to pray. There exists a pain that is beyond expression. You know it. Maybe you’re in it right now.

Why in the previous years did God not answer her prayer? We have no idea. Why was He stirred to action at this precise time? It’s not because Hannah’s faith was so great. Honestly, she expresses quite a bit of doubt in her desperate prayer...some pretty major “ifs” about God. God seems to be able to look over her lack of faith.

Why is your pain still going on? Why is mine? I have no idea. What will be the precise time when God will intervene and take care of the situation? Hard to tell. Some things don’t seem to really see a miracle till the other side.

Hannah gets her miracle. Samuel arrives, she keeps her word to God by dedicating and literally giving him back to God as a young child. Chapter 2 has Hannah singing a God song of worship. Her heart is full and she has experienced God in a powerful way.

What if the miracle hadn’t come? I can’t help but wonder. Can we still sing a God song of worship even then? I don’t mean smooth over pain and deny it, or act like it doesn’t exist. What I do mean is - is Jesus enough? I think He is. I know He is. That’s the kind of thing that anchors our souls when the storms rage and pretty much needs to be decided upon before all hell breaks loose.

Let your desperate pain draw you to your knees. Talk honestly to God about it. You don’t have to conjure up anything religious. Cry...move your mouth without words coming out or whatever else you need to do to lay it down. Don’t concern yourself with those who want to make light of your pain, or those who are cruel to try to make themselves feel better. Don’t worry about judgement. People can think what they want. Just be real...lay it down and see what God will do. I think that’s the story of Hannah.

In her case...Samuel came along pretty quickly after, and even several more children! It’s hard to tell what that will look for you or me, but I do know we can trust God. He sees, He cares, and He is acting on our behalf...all the time.

Much love,

Ruth

Knowing and Honoring People

What do you say at the end of a long letter?  I don't know how long Paul thought before he wrapped up his letter to the Corinthian believers, but our final words are powerful.  I'm sitting in my office at church knowing in about eleven hours we say goodbye to 2019 and hello to 2020.  We are closing out a year.  Paul is closing a letter.  What does Paul focus on?  He focuses on PEOPLE.  He knows their names and he calls them by name:

Apollos, Stephanas, Fortunatus, Achaicus, Aquilla, Priscilla.

He exhorts the Corinthians to "give recognition to such people."

He tells the Corinthians that Aquilla and Priscilla send "hearty greetings in the Lord."

And then he instructs all of the Corinthians to "Greet one another with a holy kiss."

So...be prepared to kiss some people this coming Sunday!   (Just kidding.)

Paul has deep affection for these brothers and sisters, and he knows when we express outwardly what we feel inwardly, it blesses others. 

I see this at The Bridge on a daily basis.  I see people learning each other's names and stories and I am an eyewitness of strangers becoming friends and friends becoming family.  Thank you for the number of ways you are committed to "greeting one another with a holy kiss."  It "refreshes" my spirit and the spirit of many others.  But there are many others in our city/community who are still strangers.  What if 2020 is a year when our friendship circles expand?

I don't know if you are the kind of person who makes New Year's Resolutions, but what if in 2020 we focus even more on PEOPLE?  Let us resolve to know names and stories of others and celebrate them.  Our Lord Jesus made time for PEOPLE.  May it be so with us as well.

See you Sunday,

Steven Helfrich

The Dark Days

“The Dark Days”- that’s how we refer to a period of time in our family history. Our adopted kids had been home a short time and we were dealing with trauma and adjustment, the economy had tanked, Michael was unemployed, and we were both depressed.

We paid our mortgage with credit cards, humbly received food from local pantries, and had one barely functioning vehicle. The day of reckoning always comes, and it did for us as well. The credit cards were maxed, the vehicle broke down, and no job prospects were on the horizon. We had exhausted our resources.

One kind family at our church drove from Edwardsville to Roxana to take us to church in Edwardsville, and they brought two cars because we couldn’t all fit in one. This went on for a couple of months until the church fixed our vehicle. They also provided Christmas gifts for our kids that year.

Eventually the van broke down again, and a few days later another church- a church we didn’t attend- loaned us their passenger van. Within a few weeks, they voted to give us the van, and paid for the taxes and title transfer as well! Ultimately those dark days came to a close for us, but the compassion God gave me for others who are walking through poverty has not left me.

There is a stigma we experienced when we endured material poverty. It was a feeling of being powerless over our circumstances and ashamed that we could not provide for our own family. We assumed others thought poorly of us, and we were dehumanized by the process of receiving welfare benefits from the state. We battled feelings of worthlessness, as though our value was measured solely by what we were not able to contribute.

So, the way we were loved by the family of God during that season of life impacted our entire family. We will not forget the ways in which the Church showed up for us over and over, whether it was diapers on our porch or cash in the mailbox, gifts for our kids, help with transportation, help with employment, or simply encouragement and love. We were not forgotten.

“Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.” 1 Corinthians 16:1-2

These two verses tucked away at the end of 1 Corinthians remind us that God does not forget the poor, despite how they may feel. He instructed Paul to tell the Corinthians to do the same thing He had told the church in Galatia to do- give, and specifically, give to help the impoverished members of the church in Jerusalem.

The holiday season has many calls for generosity and giving, for both the believer in Christ, and the world at large. God’s people, however, are called to live open handed all year long. On this coming Lord’s Day, and on those to follow, we should all be participating in giving according to the measure in which God has blessed us. If we have much or little, it is all from His hand. And as He has cared for us, He uses us to care for one another! May we give generously so that others may have their needs met, and may God be glorified in both our giving and in our receiving. 

-Natalie Runyon

Behold! I tell you a mystery.

“Behold! I tell you a mystery.  We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.”

1 Corinthians 15:51-52

 The Apostle Paul calls his audience to attention with these words as he details the miraculous mystery, resolution, and hope that the world can have in the resurrection of the dead.  This mystery had transformed Paul’s life and he believed it would do the same for his Corinthian church family.   

This mystery that Paul describes is truly an awe-inspiring transaction as we are reminded that our Heavenly Father has gifted us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ, and He will raise us to an imperishable body.  This gift is good news of great joy that transforms us to the core of our being when we receive it as fact and believe on it. 

This mystery has changed my life and so many more over the centuries.  This mystery that ends in victory for God’s people is still a gift that our Heavenly Father invites us to receive.  Part of the mystery is the power of the Gospel to free us from the curse and penalty of sin while empowering us to desire the things that our Heavenly Father desires for us and His world.  There is also mystery as to how the resurrection will happen. 

This mystery entails a radical change to come.  As Christians we’ve witnessed radical changes throughout our spiritual lives.  Change is part of our experience now, and there are greater changes to come regarding our mortal and immortal bodies.  Changes we have seen before should help us trust in those to come and allow us to rest in the work of our Heavenly Father to finish what He has started in us.

As I think about change during the Christmas time of year, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens often comes to mind.  That story is a favorite of mine because I so strongly identify with his character, Ebenezer Scrooge.  At times, I can be worse than Mr. Scrooge as I live callous with little regard for others.  To my despair, I’ve found no matter how hard I try to resolve my hard heart, I cannot produce the lasting change I need to overcome that sin in me.  But I rejoice in Jesus and the steadfast love shown through his life, death, resurrection and faithful presence.  By His life and work, I am transformed to love what God loves.  In the story, A Christmas Carol, there is a mysterious change that occurs in the life of Ebenezer Scrooge that inspires hope and joy that people can change. 

That kind of mysterious change is for you and me still today as we stare into this mystery of a risen Savior and the eternal life He gives.  Jesus was and is the guarantee of promises fulfilled by our Heavenly Father.  The same One who gave us life in this world will most assuredly lead us into everlasting life to come, to the praise of His glory! 

Over the coming weeks, as we reflect on the virgin birth of Emmanuel, may the mystery of this gift from God transform us for His glory.  May we be mystified by how great a benefactor we have in our Heavenly Father and worship Him with our devotion.  May we be moved to our core with a love for our world that reflects the love our dear Savior Jesus has for us.  And may we respond to this mystery that ends in a victory for us by loving each other and by being “…steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

Grateful and hopeful in Christ,

Jon

You Talking To Me?

“You foolish person!  What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.”   1 Corinthians 15:36 (ESV)

When I read a passage like this I typically find myself thinking, “Those poor ignorant, selfish, evil people, thank God I’m not” ... but this week I am.  Paul tells me I’m foolish not to recognize what is right in front of me.   Bodily resurrection is not the reanimation of dead corpses but rather the transformation of perishable bodies.  I don’t deny the bodily resurrection, but I often fail to recognize and appreciate the evidence of transformation and resurrection around me.  

The God that transforms seeds into plants and brings life to all creation certainly has the power to resurrect a body.  All who have accepted Christ as Lord show evidence of and have a desire to pursue this transformation.   God resurrected the life of a persecutor of Christians transforming him into an apostle and a prolific writer of much of the New Testament.  God chose a teenage girl and an infant born in a stable as the seeds for His redemptive plan to save the world.  

As I reflect on the inconceivable creativity and awesome glory of the works of the Lord, the evidence overwhelms.  Hallelujah! 

Merry Christmas Bridge Family!  

-Todd Plummer

Awakening

“Our culture understands heroism. But we don’t understand martyrs.” Taken from the book titled Jesus Freaks by dc Talk and The Voice of the Martyrs

When my two girls were in their middle school years somehow the idea came into my head that I wanted them to read the book ‘Jesus Freaks’. I wanted them to have a sense of what cost there can be in following Christ and how even unto death, even horrific death, staying with Christ is the most important thing in life.

Recently, my sister shared a video with me about the church in Iran. (It’s called ‘Sheep among Wolves’.) I had no idea what is going on there these days. I’m not a big news watcher. It just seems like continuous fighting and problems in the middle east, but the video I watched and the information I’ve read since then has given me cause to get excited and has also challenged me to rise to greater commitment to Jesus myself, here in America!

“Persecution threatened to wipe out Iran’s tiny church. Instead, the church in Iran has become the fastest growing in the world and it is influencing the region for Christ.” You won’t see that on the news!

“Despite continued hostility from the late 1970’s until now, Iranians have become the Muslim people most open to the gospel in the Middle East.”

“How did this happen? First, violence in the name of Islam has caused widespread disillusionment with the regime and led many Iranians to question their beliefs. Second, many Iranian Christians have continued to boldly and faithfully tell others about Christ, in the face of persecution. As a result, more Iranians have become Christians in the last 20 years than in the previous 13 centuries put together since Islam came to Iran! In 1979, there were an estimated 500 Christians from a Muslim background in Iran. Today, there are hundreds of thousands-some say more than 1 million.”

And get this… “the second fastest growing church today is in Afghanistan and Afghans are being reached in part by Iranians, since their languages are similar.”

So how does this apply to 1 Corinthians 15? Paul is talking to the church about the resurrection. He makes it clear that if the resurrection isn’t true than there is no point to even living out a Christian life. If it all ends at the cemetery...what’s the point?! He talks about the suffering he and others have gone through for the faith. Friends, there have been so many martyrs over the years for Jesus. People who could’ve simply denied the faith and lived, but chose not to, and died horrific deaths. Why would people do this if not for the hope of the resurrection?

We can either live for this world or for the next. We can’t do both. In America, it’s easy to forget this reality as we live for the most part in comfort. People who are being persecuted have no confusion on the issue. They’ve banked everything on the next. 

For the most part...the Iranian church of today is being led by women! Women who often have been raped and have seen and experienced horrific things and great loss. There is no central church leadership/denomination or even any church buildings to go to. It’s an underground thing, based solely on people sharing their testimony of what Jesus has done in their life. The women are gentle, filled with love and are experiencing healing through the power of forgiveness. They are risking everything, every day and have decided to be literally living sacrifices if necessary. Wow!

Christians from the Middle East see the United States as being under Satan’s lullaby. Look around and you’ll see it. Where is the urgency? Where is the power of Jesus on display? It’s worth pondering and examining our lives to see...is the power of Jesus, the hope of resurrection, changing anything in my day to day life? If not...why? It might be time to reexamine our world view. We need an awakening.

(The information that I have quoted is from the article “The Story of Iran’s Church in Two Sentences” by Mark Howard)

-Ruth Spencer

Effect

“But by the grace of God, I am who I am and His grace to me was not without effect”.

 1 Corinthians 15:10a

She said it was her life verse, and that without His grace she would be dead. Like countless others she had been ensnared by alcohol and drugs while numbing the pain of abuse. When you are lost in the deepest pit with no hope at all, and God finds you there with His love, it changes everything.

God’s grace is demonstrated to all of us the same way. Our hearts are set against the Creator of the universe and we rebel against the One to whom all things are in submission. Yet He did not pour His wrath out on us, but while we were still sinners, He sent His sinless Son to become sin for us and to surrender His life as a ransom for our own.

By the grace of God, we are who we are. We are a new creation, seen by our Father through the righteousness of Jesus. No longer are we enslaved to the prince of the power of the air, rather we are co-heirs with Christ. We are loved more than we can fathom. We are not alone, but adopted into His family. We have purpose, good works He has set us apart for. We have a hope and a future. Yes, He died, but He also rose and conquered death!

My friend knows in the deepest part of her being that every breath she breathes is a gift from God. It changes how she loves people and gives her a deep compassion for others.  It even enables her to forgive those who have wounded her. His grace to her was not without effect.

Has His great love pursued you? May your life forever reflect the effect of His grace given to you.

-Natalie Runyon

A Time to Speak and a Time to be Silent

A time to speak and a time to be silent (1 Corinthians 14:26-40)

There are some passages of Scripture on which I have much to say.  This is not one of them.  I’d prefer not to be the one writing this week’s email reflection.  But I was assigned this week and trust that it was by God’s providence. 

Paul’s words to the 1st century church in Corinth had to be hard for them to hear.  Paul instructs both men and women to be silent at times in order to honor God and demonstrate unified submission in their corporate worship gatherings.  This is still a difficult instruction to hear and apply to ourselves today.

But the same Spirit gives His word to all Christians.  Sometimes we are called to step out of the way and be silent to allow for someone else to share the Word of God.  At other times, someone else is called to step out of the way and be silent in order for us to share the Word of God. 

Jesus is the same, yesterday and today and forever!  As the Head of the body, Jesus personified sacrificial LOVE and prayed that His church would be one as He and the Father are one.  As Christians, we must find our way in Him and for His glory!  So I will speak His word at times when I don’t prefer to and I will be silent at other times when I prefer to speak.  Either action should be done in reverence and worship to Christ Jesus. 

Church – please pray for me in this and I will continue to pray for you in the same way.  May the world know that we are God’s children by the LOVE we have for one another and for our world!  And may we all bring glory to God as we offer ourselves as loving sacrifices for our Rescuer and King Jesus!

Grateful and hopeful in Christ,

Jon

Difficultly Simple

“Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.  For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.  On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their up-building and encouragement and consolation”

  1 Corinthians 14:1-3 (ESV)

For me this week’s passage is both difficult and simple.  Some Christians (called continuationists) believe that the spiritual gifts of tongues and prophecy continue to this day.  Others (called cessationists) believe that gift of tongues and prophecy have ceased and were only poured out on select individuals for the purpose of authenticating that God was doing something new. 

Some believe that prophecy is the authoritative infallible message of God spoken only by select individuals.  Others believe prophecy also includes fallible non-authoritative messages from God spoken by many.  Both views believe that the Bible is complete and the Spirit of God is no longer inspiring people to write Scripture.

Some believe tongues to be limited to speaking in a human foreign language that is not known by the speaker.  Others believe that tongues include ecstatic words and private prayer languages only understood by the Holy Spirit.

The simple part we can all agree on is that we are to pursue love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts.  Using both our hearts and minds we are to love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts.  Spiritual gifts are not given for ourselves, but to build up others. 

Glorify Jesus.  Take time to eagerly desire the spiritual gifts and love others this week.

Todd

The Way of Love

We are bankrupt without love. It doesn’t matter what we say or do, accomplish or succeed at, without love, it’s all pointless. Even giving up our lives is without purpose unless it involves love. This is worth dwelling on...how much of our lives are we going through the motions and doing things that appear sacrificial and loving but are actually just a job or duty and done out of wrong motivations?

1 Cor. 13 is a remarkable chapter, one of the most recognizable portions of scripture that even people who are not in church would have heard of. 

I think in the past, I’ve seen it as sort of a ‘to do list’, a ‘standard of excellence’ that I clearly don’t measure up to. I guess that would be one interpretation of it, but it’s not a helpful one for me. I think most of us already know we don’t measure up. We tend to already be harder on ourselves than God is. When I’m still and quiet and really listen, most of the time, I hear God reminding me of His love for me, His delight in me. 

I’ve heard people say to substitute your name in for the word ‘love’ in this chapter. 

Ruth never gives up.

Ruth cares more for others than for self.

Ruth doesn’t want what I don’t have.

And so on.

It’s definitely a way to show my inadequacy, but I’m already pretty aware of my failings. Jesus is the only one who loves in the way this chapter talks about. He is the Complete One. We are incomplete. When The Complete arrives...then and only then will we be complete too.

If instead I read the chapter with the word Jesus inserted for love and I actually live in the light of His great love for me, then and only then can I actually trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly and love extravagantly in my very real world today. (Faith, Hope and Love)

Jesus never gives up.

Jesus cares more for others than for self.

Jesus doesn’t want what he doesn’t have.

Jesus doesn’t strut.

Jesus doesn’t have a swelled head.

Jesus doesn’t force himself on others.

Jesus isn’t always ‘me first’.

Jesus doesn’t fly off the handle.

Jesus doesn’t keep score of the sins of others.

Jesus doesn’t revel when others grovel.

Jesus takes pleasure in the flowering of truth.

Jesus puts up with anything.

Jesus trusts God always.

Jesus always looks for the best.

Jesus never looks back but keeps going to the end.

Jesus never dies.

How does His great love change everything for you? How does His great love change our home life, our neighborhood, our church, our town, our nation, our world? It’s there...we’ve just got to grow in our awareness of it and really believe it.

-Ruth Spencer

More Than a Bucket of Parts

Remember Mr. Potato Head and his bucket of parts? You could create a seemingly normal spud, or you could mix up his parts and give him six ears and four feet (along with a mustache, of course). You could give the potato the correct body parts but put them all in the wrong places. He could glide along on his eyeballs and talk out of the top of his head, if you chose. The child had free reign over his design.

I’ve been guilty of wanting to do the same with the church. I’ve been passionate about adoption or missions, women’s ministry, or any number of good things, and felt the church might be better if everyone in the church was as zealous for those things as I was. I’ve served with the gifts God gave me while frustrated that not everyone was as organized as I was. I have been hurt when others didn’t come alongside of me when I led in ministry. There have even been times where I have damaged relationships because of my pride related to these things. Lord, forgive me! Church, forgive me!

“But God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.” 

1 Corinthians 12:18-20

The body of Christ is no potato head. The design of the body is not ours to choose. The function of each part has already been chosen, each one of us fashioned by God Himself for the good works He has planned for each of us individually, and for the Body corporately.

“But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”

1 Corinthians 12:24b-26

Sometimes division in the body manifests itself blatantly and leads to broken fellowship within the church body. Other times, division is more subtle and happens in my own body as my heart is hardened and I won’t rejoice with another, nor will I be grieved by their suffering. When the Spirit shows me my sin, the proper response is always repentance and if possible, reconciliation.

“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

1 Corinthians 12:27

Is Christ your Savior? If so, you are a part of the body of Christ. Your gifts are needed, and the place God has ordained for your gifts to be used is in and through the context of a local church. Just as God designed the body and all its parts to function together, He has also gifted each of His children to fill a certain role in His own body, working together in unity, for His glory and renown. May it be so at The Bridge. 

Gifts from God

When we celebrate our birthdays, most of us expect to receive gifts from the people near and dear to us.  It’s a common way for them to show their love to us.  As Christians, we are spiritually reborn into the Spirit of God.  We are given a new identity in Jesus and we are bonded to Him as spiritual family.  Because He loves us, God gives us spiritual gifts that signify we are his and empower us to live for His glory.   While gifts at a birthday celebration may be optional, spiritual gifts are vital tools for living as followers of Christ.  God is faithful to be present and provide what we need to make it in our lives as His church. 

So how familiar are you with your own spiritual gifts?  How well do you know the gifts of the church family around you?  Paul writes the words of chapter 12 so that the Christians then and now would not be uninformed. 

A few details to note about spiritual gifts…

-They come from God alone.

-They come in a variety.

-They are for serving the common good.

-They are given in portions.

-They are empowered by God’s Spirit.

-They are given as God wills.

While we have these gifts to serve others and advance God’s Kingdom, they also reveal God’s intimate love for each of us as His children.  Ultimately, the spiritual gifts in our lives remind us to trust in Christ and live together for His glory.

As a Christian, I am reminded all the time that I was not called to live for Jesus on my own and all alone.  Instead I am called to depend on Jesus for His leading and empowerment.  Likewise, I am also called to mutual dependence on His church as my spiritual family.  We are still given spiritual gifts today as marks of the power and presence of Christ Jesus with us.  And we also have spiritual gifts as a means for ministering the good news about Him.  When we think of spiritual gifts, may we see them as demonstrations of God’s grace among us and may we rejoice in our relationship together with Him.

Take a moment right now and reflect on how God has used spiritual gifts to bless you.  Ask God how you might use the gifts you’ve been given to bless others.  And let us rejoice in the Giver as we live out our spiritual gifts together for the glory of King Jesus!

Grateful and hopeful in Christ,

Jon