First Things First

For the last twelve years, our family has been involved in moving into our new home. Okay, it's only been 2 weeks, but it seems like years. One of the things you realize when you move is that you have more stuff than you ever imagined. Much of that - is useless, or has outlived its purpose. So you toss it, give it away, or sell it. After all, the object is to move only that which you want or is necessary.

All throughout the process, whether consciously or not, you are setting priorities. The very first day, you make sure the beds are up and together, because you really, really, really want to rest. Then you look to see where the food went, and that which you didn't consume because of your ravenous work-induced appetite is placed right where you'll be able to find it a little while after supper.

Then you work out where furniture goes, where clothes are hung - and so on.

If you had to describe the key to the whole event it would be "First things first."

Today marks the beginning of the July 4th weekend. People from all over are headed to our area to enjoy the beautiful beaches and help us celebrate the birth of our nation. We'll all be caught up in grilling, fireworks, and enjoyment very soon, so I wanted to place a thought in our minds and hearts today.

What made America different? Why, among all the nations that have come and gone, is she looked to as a model - a lighthouse to the world - that "City on a Hill"?

You can look over the incredible beauty of our land. You can see the works of the hands and the warmth of the hearts of our people. You can measure our strength and the valor of those who serve her. But first things first.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed...

As the men who "pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor" wrote their explanation to the world in the form of a "Declaration of Independence", setting out on a course that would lead to America - before they unpacked their grievances with Britain, they found within them something pure and God-given.

Before one single battle was fought, before any laws were passed, before the first coin was struck, before a flag was flown, America wanted to be known as the nation who recognized that some things surpassed preferences, local culture, or national identity. "We hold these truths to be self-evident..."

First things first.

So how can we incorporate that in our busy and hectic lives? How can we make sure we are living purposeful lives? That we are putting our energies into what matters, and holding as convictions those things that place us into the center of God's will?

19 "Don't store up treasures here on earth, where they can be eaten by moths and get rusty, and where thieves break in and steal. 20Store your treasures in heaven, where they will never become moth-eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves. 21Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be. Matthew 6 (NLT)

"Wherever your treasure is..."

A friend of mine in California has five kids - all boys under 15. They play every sport known to man and some that they just make up. He lives in a nice neighborhood where people take great pride in the appearance of their homes and their yards. The wear and tear on his yard doesn't help him keep up. One night after agonizing over what to do about it, he went back inside and walked past the bedrooms of his sons as they slept. Looking at them for a minute, he left and went into his garage and went straight from there out to the lawn.

The next morning, his neighbors who passed by noticed the new sign.

"We're raising sons now. Grass later."

First things first. Make God the center of your life. Look to Him and through His Word at your life, your values, your desires. Set your priorities based on nothing other than your love and devotion to Him. If you love Him, you'll hold His truths to be "self-evident" and your life as the "evidence" of His love.


Grace! And May God Bless America.

David

--
Visit with me at my blog:
http://davethepastor.livejournal.com/
Or visit New Hope!
http://www.newhopevalp.org/

Obey Your Thirst

It's hot! It was 95 degrees here the other day, and my greatest temptation was to leave my office and go play in the sprinklers Jim Quinnell had set up to water the grass... err sand. There's no way that any vegetation can live without water. The ancient Israelites knew that, and they knew that people and livestock needed water too. Thirst was a powerful motivator.

1 God—you're my God! I can't get enough of you!
I've worked up such hunger and thirst for God,
traveling across dry and weary deserts.

2-4 So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open,
drinking in your strength and glory.
In your generous love I am really living at last!
My lips brim praises like fountains.
I bless you every time I take a breath;
My arms wave like banners of praise to you. Psalm 63 (The Message)

So the idea of using water as a metaphor for what God could supply was always in the hearts and minds of God's people. The rabbis in Jesus' day were thought to give "water" to their disciples. If the "waters", or in other words their teachings, were good - then the disciples could drink from God's waters. If a rabbi gave poor teachings he was "exiled to a place of evil waters, and the disciples who come after him will drink and die."

So when Jesus met a woman, even a Samaritan enemy, even a woman little better than a prostitute - He looked past her present situation to her deepest need.

Thirst.

11-12The woman said, "Sir, you don't even have a bucket to draw with, and this well is deep. So how are you going to get this 'living water'? Are you a better man than our ancestor Jacob, who dug this well and drank from it, he and his sons and livestock, and passed it down to us?"

13-14Jesus said, "Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life." John 4 (The Message)

When Christ approaches a person, He offers more than cheap self-help. He's not in for the quick fix or the easiest way out of where you find yourself. It's not about fixing your marriage, or your finances, or helping you deal with a troubled kid.

All those things can happen to you again, even after you become a Christ-follower. So if you came into a walk with Jesus expecting Easy Street, you really need to retrace your steps and begin again - at the cross.

Your need - your deepest need - to be clean before God and possess His Spirit within - is completely satisfied in Christ.

Obey your thirst. Trust in Jesus.

Grace!

David

--
Visit with me at my blog:
http://davethepastor.livejournal.com/
Or visit New Hope!
http://www.newhopevalp.org/

Who Are You?

Today I met some people for the first time. The first was a couple who came to pick up some old hymnals we had been storing for them for at least 7 years. The other was our new insurance agent. During the conversations with them, I learned about their backgrounds, their jobs, their families, and how they enjoyed life here.

Great people, and I really enjoyed our conversations.

Tonight though as I reflect on the day and those conversations, I realize how we humans work so hard to get our "publicity work" done. In almost every initial conversation, we all seem to work to make sure the people we're talking to know who we are. Yet - think with me here - there are a lot of ways we could say who we are, and not all of them are equal.

It starts early.

Karrin Quinnell is an adorable little girl who blesses New Hope with her boundless energy, and terrifies us with her ability to disappear without warning. We used to call her "Kezzie", one of the cuter nicknames I had ever heard, and one that fit her perfectly. Last night she brought me a plastic plate with a plastic egg on it, and an empty toy cup. I said "thank you Kezzie", I love eggs and coffee. She said "it's hot chocolate, and my name is Karrin." Mmmm... hot chocolate and fried egg.

It's still tempting to call her by her nickname, and sometimes like last night I slip up, but she sets me straight. Karrin is how she wants to be known.

She could say she is the daughter of Robert and Stacy Quinnell, or the granddaughter of Jim and Mary Quinnell. And she will later on, but for now, she's Karrin.

My prayer is that one day, all that will change.

When I was reading the Bible today, I stumbled across something that I never really noticed about the apostle John. Now I've read John's gospel dozens of times, and his letters frequently. In that gospel, and in those letters, John wants people to know Jesus. In them, even though he's John the theologian, John the apostle, John the evangelist, John the teacher and John the leader of a community of faith, how does John want to be known?

One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. John 13:23

It hit me tonight that there are a lot of ways to identify yourself to others, but being someone Jesus loves trumps them all.

John later, reflecting on this himself must have been as amazed as I was to think of being loved by God.

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1

There's no better way to be identified. Who am I? One of the people Jesus loves. If you know Him as Lord and Savior, you are too. And my prayer is one day Karrin will come and tell her pastor that "I'm the one Jesus loves."

What a difference that love can make.

Grace!

David
--
Visit with me at my blog:
http://davethepastor.livejournal.com/
Or visit New Hope!
http://www.newhopevalp.org/

Learning the Law of Love


1-3 Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day's out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ's law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived. Galatians 6:1-3

Yesterday was the day set aside by our nation to remember the sacrifices of men and women down through history. In this military town, every day is memorial day. For almost every family knows someone who has paid the price, or is in harms' way right now. For those who gave that "last full measure of devotion", we give thanks and remember.

Back home, there are battles aplenty too.

Families are under incredible pressure and some are showing the strain. People who are prone to wander away from the path God has laid out for them find themselves trapped in a "Groundhog Day" life experience. They seem to make progress, then they fall away. Others are facing the uncertainty of finances or health concerns.

So when Paul wrote the Scripture above to the people in Galatia, he was just sharing what every pastor since would like to say to those who seemingly are untouched by the "war" going on.

Find a way to love people.

They'll frequently disappoint, occasionally amaze, and sometimes break your heart into a million pieces.

Love them anyway.

That's what Paul was saying you have to do to learn Christ's love of love.

Go ahead, get it out. I know you are reading this with a real need to say... "Yeah, but.."

Okay, here's your disclaimer -

There but by the grace of God go you and I.

My deep desire is that our church become a group of people who love each other fiercely from the heart. There's too many places where people are eager to point out what's wrong with someone, and not nearly enough places of refuge where people who know what it means to be broken help others become whole.

So folks, let's stoop, let's reach, let's do whatever it takes to practice Christ's law of love.

Grace!

David Wilson

--
Visit with me at my blog:
http://davethepastor.livejournal.com/
Or visit New Hope!
http://www.newhopevalp.org/

All You Ever Wanted To Know About Marriage

If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

Phil 2:4-5

It was a hectic day and we were both wearing down. In the middle of preparing for a move in two weeks, and juggling carpet measuring, paint inspecting, and checking on a dog that was sick earlier, one of those moments that makes marriage great happened.

Bunny was about to take a load of clothes out of the dryer, and asked me to do it, because she was too hot. So I took the clothes out and placed them in the basket. I then began to take them into the bedroom. "I do them in the other bedroom" she said, so I headed in there. I began folding towels. She looked at my attempt and picked a towel up and said "I fold them like this."

"Right, but I fold them like this, always have."

She grinned and said, "Well, in the years we've been married, I have folded thousands of towels. You are up to... 8 or so. So since they fit in the closet better, let's do them this way."

We did.

We laughed. It wasn't because anything was especially funny.

It was because we're still in forever love.

One of the tougher passages for people outside the family of believers in Jesus, is the whole concept of mutual submission in marriage. The scripture isn't exactly written in a way that appeals to people in today's culture. But really, anyone whose purpose in life is to gratify themselves, and make sure they get what they want will have a problem with most of the New Testament.

Our Leader, Savior, King - God's Son - is Jesus. He came to serve. He could have had everyone laid out as His feet - instead He washed His closest follower's dirty feet. If you had to put a slogan to His work here on earth, a good start would be "Whatever It Takes". That takes a special kind of Christ-led heart. It means forgetting yourself, long enough to lend a hand.

Or fold a towel.

That's what servant-leaders, male or female do. And it goes a long way toward having a great marriage if you both are committed to following Jesus - loving Him first, loving each other second, loving yourself third.

Stay tuned though, as soon as I find something I've done for her thousands of times that she hasn't, I'll make sure she does that MY way. Don't wait up. :)

Let's get our hearts ready to lift God's glory high this weekend as we worship together.

Grace!

David

--
Visit with me at my blog:
http://davethepastor.livejournal.com/
Or visit New Hope!
http://www.newhopevalp.org/

How Do The Blind See Jesus?

I don't often read Relevant magazine. Not because I'm not relevant, but because they often walk father down that path than I'm comfortable. Today though, I read an article from Matt McDonald called The Language of the Church He describes himself as a first year adult. I liked that. But I liked this more. After talking about "what if's" like "What if God had made the sky orange instead of blue?", he rolls out the big guns.

I have another favorite "what if." If a person is born blind, having never seen anything in their life, how do you explain color to them? Having never seen anything, the word "blue" would be meaningless to them. "Shade,"hue,"darkness,"light,—none of these things could be communicated to someone who has never seen anything. They would have no point of reference for understanding such concepts.

That person who was not raised in a church environment-—that person who grew up in a world where God did not exist and Jesus was never an option, —what do they see when they come to Christ? When they find Jesus, when they experience salvation, what do they associate with it? They surely don''t see church. They don''t hear church language and quote church slogans and catchphrases. "Holy," "hallelujah,"glory,—these words might have no meaning to them. How do the blind see Jesus?

However it is, that is what I want. God existed before church did. I want to see what He looks like without looking through the lens of a well-crafted service or message. But to truly do that at this point in my walk would take more than a strong-willed mind. I would have to rewrite the language that I have learned. For us to see God that way, we would have to stop talking about Him the way we do and start doing things differently.

I needed to read this today, because I'm praying hard about what the next wave we at New Hope send out from our body of believers into the community should be. We gave away three Bibles last night to people who had never had one before. We had people yesterday as a result of the messages I didn't want to bring - on the DaVinci Code's distortions and the Biblical truth - get exposed to how we really got our Bible and why we can trust it. Sometimes, I'm blind. Because I'm immersed in church. Because I hang out with church people.

I'm blind.

But I want to see... people come to know Jesus.

I want to be around people more who don't know Jesus - who don't know the Bible - who don't even realize what's missing from their life is - LIFE! Somehow, someway, we have to build more bridges for people to walk across to find Jesus. Our church, our people have to live like they are in a culture that doesn't share our values, or even approach truth as we do.

Why? Because God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever would believe in Him would have eternal life.

So thanks Matt, for helping me think about how the blind see Jesus.

Grace!

David

--
Visit with me at my blog:
http://davethepastor.livejournal.com/
Or visit New Hope!
http://www.newhopevalp.org/

The Hardest Part

I was just reading a story about a 7 year old boy who successfully completed a swim from Alcatraz to San Francisco's shoreline this weekend. Yes, you read that correctly, a seven year old boy. Braxton Bilbey has had that feat as a goal ever since he read about a 9 year old doing it last year. So he trained, got the right equipment, and lined up a support team. Everything was in place for him to succeed.

When they asked Braxton what the hardest part was, he said "the swimming."

LOL

I was reading today how the religious people in Jesus' day had developed a series of rules - 613 of them in fact, to "help" people please God . When pressed by them to give His understanding of what someone should do who wanted to please God, Jesus said:

29-31Jesus said, "The first in importance is, 'Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.' And here is the second: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' There is no other commandment that ranks with these." Mark 12 (The Message)

What's the hardest part of all of that?

The loving.

It's not easy to sustain all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy, is it? And there's the fact that to love people you have to... well, love people.

It might sound impossible, but remember, nothing is impossible with God. Give Him your everything, and you'll lack for nothing. Including everything you need to live a life pleasing to God.

Grace!

David
--
Visit with me at my blog:
http://davethepastor.livejournal.com/
Or visit New Hope!
http://www.newhopevalp.org/

Dan Brown and the Briar Patch

I hope to visit you soon, but just in case I'm delayed, I'm writing this letter so you'll know how things ought to go in God's household, this God-alive church, bastion of truth. This Christian life is a great mystery, far exceeding our understanding, but some things are clear enough:

He appeared in a human body,
was proved right by the invisible Spirit,
was seen by angels.
He was proclaimed among all kinds of peoples,
believed in all over the world,
taken up into heavenly glory. 1 Timothy 3:14-16 (The Message)

Friday, the Da Vinci Code begins its run at theaters all across the nation and around the world. For months now, I've been receiving snail mail and email concerning first the book's and now the movie's potential impact on Christian faith. And yet I cannot help but think that somewhere in heaven, someone is laughing out loud at the latest feeble assault on our faith.

The more I've studied the book and it's claims, the more I'm certain that someone laughing isn't alone, that there might be a whole angelic chorus of laughter. In fact, Brown's book reminds me of another work of fiction, by Joel Chandler Harris.

"I don't care what you do with me, Brer Fox, says he, "Just so you don't fling me in that briar patch. Roast me, Brer Fox," says he, "But don't fling me in that briar patch."
"It's so much trouble to kindle a fire," says Brer Fox, says he, "that I expect I'd better hang you," says he.
"Hang me just as high as you please, Brer Fox, says Brer Rabbit, "but for the Lord's sake, don't fling me in that briar patch," says he.
"I don't have any string, " says Brer Fox, "Now I expect I had better drown you, " says he.
"Drown me just as deep as you please, Brer Fox," says Brer Rabbit, "But please do not fling me in that briar patch, " says he.
"There's no water near here," says Brer Fox, says he, "And now I reckon I'd better skin you."
"Skin me Brer Fox," says he. "Snatch out my eyeballs, tear out my ears by the roots," says he, "But please, Brer Fox, don't fling me in that briar patch, " says he.
Of course, Brer Fox wanted to get Brer Rabbit as bad as he could, so he caught him by the behind legs and slung him right in the middle of the briar patch. There was a considerable flutter when Brer Rabbit struck the bushes, and Brer Fox hung around to see what was going to happen.
By and by he heard someone call his name and 'way up on the hill he saw Brer Rabbit sitting cross-legged on a chinquapin log combing the tar pitch out of his hair with a chip. Then Brer Fox knew he had been tricked.
Brer Rabbit hollered out, "Born and bred in the briar patch. I was born and bred in the briar patch!" And with that he skipped out just as lively as a cricket in the embers of a fire.

Friends, you can trust the Bible. And you can trust God to turn the most clever attacks from any source to His advantage. As Paul wrote to Timothy, we cannot possibly understand everything about God, but some things are clear enough.

So here at New Hope we're going to "Dialogue With Da Vinci" the next couple of weeks. For a serious student of the culture, context, and writings of the New Testament era, it doesn't get much more fun than this.

Don't throw me in that briar patch. :)


Grace!

David

--
Visit with me at my blog:
http://davethepastor.livejournal.com/
Or visit New Hope!
http://www.newhopevalp.org/

Leaving the Past Behind

When did you realize you believed in Jesus? Was there a moment you can look back on when you realized that it wasn't just the facts about Jesus that you believed, but that you believed in Him? For some, they can remember the day and the time when they became a follower of Jesus. For others, it was a gradual coming to faith. Over time they moved closer and closer to Jesus until one day they realized - I'm with Him!

Today I was reading Mark 10 in preparation for Sunday's sermon and I read ahead to the story of Bartimaeus.

46And so they reached Jericho. Later, as Jesus and his disciples left town, a great crowd was following. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road as Jesus was going by. 47When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus from Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

48"Be quiet!" some of the people yelled at him.

But he only shouted louder, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

49When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, "Tell him to come here."

So they called the blind man. "Cheer up," they said. "Come on, he's calling you!" 50Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.

51"What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked.

"Teacher," the blind man said, "I want to see!"
52And Jesus said to him, "Go your way. Your faith has healed you." And instantly the blind man could see! Then he followed Jesus down the road

So when did it happen for Bartimaeus?

Well, we know he was a beggar, who sat alongside the road that was filled with pilgrims headed to celebrate the Passover in Jerusalem. Day after day he sat there, helplessly pleading for people to give alms as they passed. If they didn't, he didn't eat. Now Jesus is near, and he cries out, and is told to come.

That's when it happens.

Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.


That coat, or cloak as some versions call it, wasn't just clothing. Beggars wore over sized poncho like coats that they spread out before them to catch the money people gave. So when Bartimaeus decided to trust that Jesus could do what he needed, by leaping up and tossing aside his cloak... He left his past behind - the way he had made a living... trusted His Savior - and found life!.

Have you?

Grace!

David

Ivory Tower, Or Workshop Floor?

No one else knew. No one else would understand. He had everything, and it wasn't enough. Everyday as he unlatched the door to the synagogue and prepared for Torah school, he felt as if he was just going through the motions.

As hazzan of the assembly, he was involved in every aspect of worship and teaching. It was he who blew the shofar to begin shabbot when the first three stars were visible in the sky. He was the one entrusted with the Torah scrolls and it was he who danced with delight as he placed them in the ark. On the outside, it was all about God - but inside, what begin as a sliver of dissatisfaction had become a cold and lifeless life.

Looking at the young boys as they eagerly listened to him explain about the majesty and wonder of Yahweh, as He led His people from slavery, he was gripped with envy "If I only wanted to know God like they do", he thought.

He walked over to one pupil who was seated next to the window opening to the courtyard. Laughing and smiling, he explained yet again to Simon's son that placing the yot over the aleph in that position would change the whole Law. Simon stomp his feet in frustration and tipped the bench over.

As he picked it up, he glanced outside and saw... Jesus and his talmidim. They looked to be leaving town. He might never get another chance.

"Continue practicing your aleph and bet boys, class dismissed." He raced out the door and caught Jesus just as he was rounding the corner.

He dropped to the ground in front of him while looking intently in Jesus' face "Good Teacher, what must I do to get eternal life?"

Jesus said, "Why are you calling me good? No one is good, only God. You know the commandments: Don't murder, don't commit adultery, don't steal, don't lie, don't cheat, honor your father and mother."

He said, "Teacher, I have--from my youth--kept them all!"

Jesus looked him hard in the eye--and loved him! He said, "There's one thing left: Go sell whatever you own and give it to the poor. All your wealth will then be heavenly wealth. And come follow me."

The man's face clouded over. This was the last thing he expected to hear, and he walked off with a heavy heart. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and not about to let go.

Maybe it happened much like I've written (and Eugene Peterson's Message relates). I'm just making a best guess based on what I know about the passage, the culture, and the work of a typical synagogue ruler or "hazzan".

But here's the thing.....

Bunny, Sean and I were talking last night about how learning more about the Jewish context and culture of the Bible has been a big help for us in understanding the Scriptures better. Bunny had just shared some insight she had found about one of the Psalms that stood the way she had always looked at it on it's head.

"See, that sort of stuff needs to be in the notes or something," Sean said. "It really helps you understand, but you have to be a scholar to know it."

That's been bugging me ever since.

At first, I thought about a classic American quick fix - everyone just needs study Bibles. But then I remembered that the contextual studies are not really done in most of those. Then I thought, "well, you just need to teach more on that." But that just means the problem that Sean identified continues.

The answer is for each follower of Jesus to learn more about Him and His culture. We're not just separated by language. There's time too. But with today's resources available for free via the Internet, we can know Jesus and His culture better.

And that puts us right where God wants us - able to understand His Word, discern His will, and do the things He's planned for us that will glorify His name.

So friends, get to work. Here are some links to get you started.

http://www.menorahministries.com/Scriptorium/JesusThruJewishEyes.htm
http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/
http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=1458
http://www.itanakh.org/

Shalom,

David

The Cross

Last night while we were looking at the first three of the Ten Commandments in our Wednesday night Bible study, we had a great time getting pummeled, even though we weren't the original intended. One of the areas we walked through together was the third commandment, which many would recognize as the "no graven images" prohibition. Here's the verse in the New Living Translation.

4 "Do not make idols of any kind, whether in the shape of birds or animals or fish. 5 You must never worship or bow down to them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not share your affection with any other god!

Ex 20:4-5 (NLT)

We explored that for a little while, spurred on by an excellent question about crucifixes.

People outside the Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican and Episcopal communities aren't often accepting of crucifixes. I've often heard comments like "My God isn't on that cross anymore." And that's true.

But He was there.

And the relevency of the third commandment to the display of crucifixes is nil unless the person begins worshipping the image rather than the God Who was there.

I'm not here today to go on about that though. What's amazing to me is how God can use times when I look at other people and whether they are doing right by Him to make me question my own practices. I was reading a devotional by Joe Boot who works with Ravi Zacharias in Canada and he included this story.

A friend of mine was doing some shopping in his local supermarket and while waiting in line at the checkout noticed the cashier was wearing a striking cross around her neck. As he was paying for his groceries, he asked the young cashier a question that startled her. "Are you a Christian?" he asked.

Taken aback she said, "What do you mean?"

"Are you a Christian?" repeated my friend.

"Oh no," was the reply.

"Then why are you wearing a cross?" he asked.

"What, this?" she said, looking at her necklace. "Well, it's nice."

"But it wasn't nice," he replied. "It was horrible."

Yes it was.

So let me ask you a question today.

Which of us is commiting an injustice - the person wearing the crucifix because they know the cost of their salvation's purchase and wish to be reminded...

Or the one who wears the cross and never, ever, considers the cost.

Something to think about.

Grace!

David Wilson

www.newhopevalp.org
http://davethepastor.livejournal.com/

Who? What? When?

I was reading an article about marriages the other day, and read one marriage counselor's own admission that his marriage wasn't what it could be. He described in great detail all the great moments he and his wife had during their years together, and then he was equally as open with the times he had failed to be all he should have been to her.

He described coming home from a conference and having a "spirited discussion (read - argument)" with her, then coming later and apologizing to her. She reminded him of several other times that he had basically done the exact same thing.

His plea was, "But I'm working on it."

She turned to him and said, "Honey, let's say you have a car. It's a great example of what a car should be - a muscle car. And you love it. You are constantly working on it though, and every time I get ready to go somewhere, you tell me 'sorry, maybe later'. Well, I understand that sometimes things break, sometimes things need fixing."

Then she said this, "But after a while, I just want to be able to get in and drive."

Frustration isn't just present tense, is it. We humans very seldom, even though we try, are able to make the past - past tense. Something about our nature hides even forgiven offenses deep within our psyche, and when we get hurt again - out they come.

That's one of the reasons I love God so much. He has what we lack.

33"This is the brand-new covenant that I will make with Israel when the time comes. I will put my law within them--write it on their hearts!-and be their God. And they will be my people.

34They will no longer go around setting up schools to teach each other about GOD. They'll know me firsthand, the dull and the bright, the smart and the slow. I'll wipe the slate clean for each of them. I'll forget they ever sinned!"

Jeremiah 31 (The Message)

Friends, if you know you need a clean slate - a fresh start with God, and you want to change your life from what it has always been to what you know it could be with God, then here's what you do - ask Him to forgive your sins and give you a new heart.

When He does, He'll give you that clean slate, and He'll choose to forget all the wrongs you've done against Him. Even if you're like the guy in the illustration I began with, God's the place to start if you really want to change. He can give you what you need to really make a difference in all your other relationships.

And if you were to ask Him about something He's forgiven, instead of hearing about it in detail, it would be more like - Who? What? When?

Freedom from guilt. Hope for tomorrow. Truth for today.

How great is our God!

Grace!

David Wilson
www.newhopevalp.org
http://davethepastor.livejournal.com/

Rhythm

Think about it with me.

You take 30 or so elementary school boys and girls. Then you gather them together in a place where they'll get lots of attention. Add to that many instruments that can make noise. What do you have? Either one of my all time favorite words - a cacophony, or another word I like, a symphony.

It was more like the latter Saturday here.

Each year the city sponsors "Saturday In the Park" near our house. And this year the "ORFF" from Valparaiso Elementary came to perform for the crowds. It was really interesting to watch them before they performed, as groups of kids gathered and "smacked their hands" in rhythm. I think you could miss each other as long as you clapped at the right times.

The director came out though, and the kids took their places. Once they began, it was obvious to everyone that they had practiced a lot, and been skillfully taught - they were great! At the end of the first song, we were told that they volunteered to come before school each week to learn and practice.

On the last song, they began with one student's drum. Then another added a portion. Another instrument then came on board the song. And again and again and again, each person's part came and went, blending together to make the music. Were they perfect? No, but they were glorious.

I couldn't help but think about our church (and churches everywhere). With a common score, a skilled director (in our case, The Director-God), and a desire to grow and make "music", great things will happen for the audience of One

Here's my prayer for all of us, as we learn how better to love God and each other.

May He keep us centered and devoted to Him, following the life path He has cleared, watching the signposts, walking at the pace and rhythms He laid down for our ancestors.

1 Kings 8:58 (The Message)

Grace!

David Wilson
www.newhopevalp.org
http://davethepastor.livejournal.com/

It Adds Up

It's not one bad day that ruins a career, or one hasty word that kills a relationship. But it's the little things left undone, or the careless words and inattentiveness that, over time, can spell death to things you value, that you care deeply about. That affect people you love.

It's the little things. Lack of little things turn into bad big things.

And things break...

Think about your most important relationship - the one with God. How are you doing on the little things?

If any of us - you, me - anybody - sinned only ten times a day from our tenth birthday to our sixtieth--and keep in mind we're not just talking about rape, pillage, and murder, but the full range - lying, cheating, stealing, and we are including our heart attitudes and motives—what would our rap sheet look like with only 10 sins a day for 50 years?

We'd have piled up 182,500 infractions of the law.

Now let's say that many of us have broken the law and gotten off with a warning. Maybe it was speeding, and the officer checked you out and decided that it was just an isolated failure of judgement, and let you off with a written, or even a verbal warning.

That still leaves 182, 499 times you blew it. So you are going to court.

What judge in his right mind would turn you loose with a record like that?

That's why it is so important to examine yourself and see if you are living what you say you believe. It's not about believing in God - even satan does. It's about loving God so much that you want to do not just the big things, but the little ones too. So every now and then you have to step away from the vehicle and get the big picture. Here's how David, king of Israel did it.

1Generous in love--God, give grace! Huge in mercy--wipe out my bad record.

2Scrub away my guilt,

soak out my sins in your laundry.

3I know how bad I've been;

my sins are staring me down.



4You're the One I've violated, and you've seen

it all, seen the full extent of my evil.

You have all the facts before you;

whatever you decide about me is fair.

5I've been out of step with you for a long time,

in the wrong since before I was born.

6What you're after is truth from the inside out.

Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life.



7Soak me in your laundry and I'll come out clean,

scrub me and I'll have a snow-white life.

8Tune me in to foot-tapping songs,

set these once-broken bones to dancing.

9Don't look too close for blemishes,

give me a clean bill of health.

10God, make a fresh start in me,

shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life. Psalm 51 - The Message


A fresh start... Lord. Hear our prayers. Be Who You are. Our rock, our fortress, our deliverer. Wash us clean and give us freedom not to repeat the past.

A Genesis week - yes!

Grace!

David
www.newhopevalp.org

Chariot Sticker Faith

An astronomer and a theologian were flying next to each other on an airplane. The astronomer smugly turned to his seatmate and said: "You know, there is no need for all those millionsA of volumes of religious literature. The whole essence of religion can be summed up in one simple phrase: 'Love thy neighbor, as thyself,'" whereupon the theologian retorted, "And the whole science of astronomy can be summed up in the simple phrase, 'Twinkle, twinkle, little star.'"

One of the habits that hasn't changed in the history of mankind is our tendency to try to reduce the complex into a simple saying that will fit on a bumper sticker. We are studying the Ten Commandments on Wednesday night just now, and I learned today that some Jews tried to use them as a "bumper sticker".

In the ancient Temple in Jerusalem, the Ten Commandments was always proclaimed before the Shema. Strangely enough, however, outside the Temple, however, the practice was banned. The rabbis felt that though the Ten Commandments helped give people a rough outline, the real picture of God came from reading the whole Torah - memorizing it and applying it.

What about us? Are we guilty?

Most people, when asked about the good news of Jesus will quote John 3:16.

16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life

John 3:16 (NLT)

As great as that verse is, it only begins to describe our riches in Christ Jesus. There is so, so, so much more.

Take 10 minutes tomorrow and read the story of God's love. You can even begin in John. :)

Grace!

David Wilson
www.newhopevalp.org

Look Again

This past Sunday morning, I talked in the message about an incident Jesus had with a blind man.

They arrived at Bethsaida. Some people brought a sightless man and begged Jesus to give him a healing touch. 23Taking him by the hand, he led him out of the village. He put spit in the man's eyes, laid hands on him, and asked, "Do you see anything?"

24He looked up. "I see men. They look like walking trees." 25So Jesus laid hands on his eyes again. The man looked hard and realized that he had recovered perfect sight, saw everything in bright, twenty-twenty focus. 26Jesus sent him straight home, telling him, "Don't enter the village."

Mark 8 - The Message


What's unique about this passage is that Jesus, who had healed many with one touch, even some merely by His words - even at some distance - Jesus took two touches to heal this blind man.

Or did he?

Jesus was in the middle of a long series of instructional encounters for His disciples. He was trying to help them understand Who He was, why He was here, what the Kingdom of God was all about. But they just weren't getting it. Even after twice feeding thousands of people miraculously, Jesus was frustrated because the first thing the disciples did when they were hungry was gripe.

So I believe Jesus was using the blind man to teach the disciples something.

But what? Where's the clue?

The man looked hard and realized that he had recovered perfect sight, saw everything in bright, twenty-twenty focus.

Look again. When the man did, he realized just what he had received from Jesus.

Friends, I preached the message Sunday and wasn't happy with it. I really felt like I hadn't explained what Jesus was trying to do very well. Even as I laid down for a nap that afternoon, I was still disturbed. So I'm writing this to you today out of the Spirit's compulsion. Before I could go to sleep, I had to write a note to pen this devotional. I got clear direction from God.

It wasn't audible - don't freak out on me. And no 400 foot tall Jesus appeared on the side of the bed.

But as sure as I am that I'm typing this, the Holy Spirit told me "Tell them to look again."

Look again - at how incredibly blessed we are to have a Savior in Jesus who loves us so much he Himself would pay the price for our sins.

Look again - at the fact that even after His sacrifice, His concern was that we be able to stay close to Him, so He sent the Holy Spirit to come alongside us - leading us, guiding us, and yes, comforting us in our fears.

Look again - at just how much God has done for you and me.

It's not that Jesus' power is unable to make a difference in our lives.

It is that we are unwilling to focus exclusively on Him and His will for our lives. When we look at men - at the world - our vision will always be blurred.

But when we focus our heart's attention on Jesus... there is Hope. There is peace. There is JOY!!!!!!!!

Look again.


Grace!

David Wilson
www.newhopevalp.org

The beast in me is caged by frail and fragile bars.
Johnny Cash

We went and watched "Walk the Line" a few weeks ago. Johnny Cash was one of those things that you take for granted growing up, assuming that they will always be there. Now he's not. Just when the world realized what a treasure we had. His video of "Hurt" filmed in the months before he died was the most raw video I have ever seen.

He was a man who had horrendous flaws in his character. And he didn't excuse them away. His understanding led him to turn away from his strength - that frail and fragile strength - to search for something more than fame and success. He turned to faith in Jesus.

Funny thing was, he once had been a regular attender. It was easy. "You went every week, put in your time, and went home. But nothing changed. You still lived the same way during the week."

It wasn't until Johnny had almost lost it all, had contemplated taking his own life - that He and God "got back together."

How well I have learned that there is no fence to sit on between heaven and hell. There is a deep, wide gulf, a chasm, and in that chasm is no place for any man.
Johnny Cash

Thank God that Johnny was able to have the time he needed to come home - to get off the fence and leave that chasm behind forever. There must be millions though still stuck there.

They saw a man dressed in black. And yet, inside him, was the Light.

If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us. 2 Corinthians 4:7 - The Message

Friends, it's never too late to let God take over. Incomparable power is there if you'll just let go, seek forgiveness, and turn toward God.

Grace!

David Wilson
www.newhopevalp.org

In Him

In between trying to come to grips with what Sunday's Scripture is saying to people today, I took a moment to look around my study. What I saw were a couple of thousand books, assorted decorations, and labels.

It seems everything in here is labeled.

Whether it's the publisher's name on the spine of the book, the "Intel Inside" on the PC, IBM on the laptop, even "Pilot" on the pen, everything around me is labeled so those examining them might be able to see who the manufacturer was.

For a while today, I lost my label.

I let the pressures, stress, and just my own old selfish and self-centered personality out. Nothing earthshattering or illegal, but nothing that would have caused anyone who witnessed it to label me as a Christ follower either. I've been forgiven, but the reality of how easy it was for me to lose it lingered, even in here.

How to get it back? I opened my Bible to this passage.

17And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. 18And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. 19May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Ephesians 3:17-19

and I listened to this song.

You dance over me
While I am unaware
You sing all around
But I never hear the sound

Lord I’m amazed by You
Lord I’m amazed by You
Lord I’m amazed by You
How You love me

How wide
How deep
How great
Is Your love for me

Music and lyrics by Jared Anderson
© 2004 Vertical Worship Songs
CCLI# 4221021

It took some time, but I got there. I'm so very thankful for God's mercy and His grace, and I continue to be amazed He'd want His label on me. But with Jesus, all things are possible. In Him.

For you too, beloved.

Grace!

David Wilson
www.newhopevalp.org

Listen!

Sometimes I'm such a poor listener. My awesome wife was telling me today that she wasn't feeling well. She said "I don't feel very well today." I commented "You might be coming down with something. I kind of feel like I am."

She gently reminded me, "but we weren't talking about you."

Point to Bunny. I had rushed right past on my way to the "World of Me"

A case in point toward an understanding of just how poorly we listen might be Moses. Did you remember what it took to get his attention?

1One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he went deep into the wilderness near Sinai, the mountain of God. 2Suddenly, the angel of the LORD appeared to him as a blazing fire in a bush. Moses was amazed because the bush was engulfed in flames, but it didn't burn up. 3"Amazing!" Moses said to himself. "Why isn't that bush burning up? I must go over to see this."

(Now be sure and note the next verse) - David

4When the LORD saw that he had caught Moses' attention, God called to him from the bush, "Moses! Moses!"

Even the Lord had trouble catching the attention of a man with nothing to look at every day but wilderness and sheep.

Our attention is so often distracted by the events of the day, or of pressing needs we feel only we can solve, that many times we get caught up in the "World of Me", where if we can't make it happen, it won't. The "World of Me" doesn't really leave room for God to act like He did with Moses. No, our world and our success in it, depends on us.

I have a word translated painstakingly from the original languages for that sort of thinking.

Baloney.

God can do more. He can do exceedingly more. God can do exceedingly more than we can ask or imagine. The world renowned theologian Shel Silverstein wrote this:
Listen to the MUSTN'TS, child,
Listen to the DON'TS
Listen to the SHOULDN'TS
The IMPOSSIBLES, the WON'TS
Listen to the NEVER HAVES
Then listen close to me -
Anything can happen, child,
ANYTHING can be.
[from Where the Sidewalk Ends]

Friends, just because you're caught up right now in a "World of Me" where you can't hear God, doesn't mean He's not speaking. Stop your struggling. Cease your schemes.

Listen! God can do! And He's thrilled to bless His children.

Grace!

David Wilson
www.newhopevalp.org

From New Hope, With Love

10Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10

It's sometimes hard to describe what God has done here at New Hope. The goal was to see God create a place where people came together to share life's struggles and multiply life's joys, while learning and growing in our love for God and for our neighbors.

We've welcomed all sorts of people into our family here, and seen some move away. The one we sent out last night may very well be the best illustration of the Scripture above as any we'll ever send.

And he's a dog.

Bobbie the Labrador Retriever has been part of the New Hope family ever since Doug and Ellen Fannon brought him here. Their mission was to help him learn about becoming a "guide dog" and part of that training is his learning how to handle crowds.

So Bobbie became our "church dog". He went to all the usual Baptist events. He came to Sunday School, Wednesday night Bible study, but I can tell you as his pastor, what I most enjoyed was his attitude.

It never changed. You'd greet Bobbie, and he always had time for you. He never stopped to answer his cell phone, or began a conversation with someone else. So I was willing to overlook his one flaw - he slept through every one of my sermons. But he didn't snore too loud.

Last night he left us for the last time, and we threw him a party, complete with a special cake just for him. We recognized him for his cold nose, his soft snores, and his willingness to serve. We'll all miss him here, but we know God will use him to bless many others.

Each one of us has the same opportunity. Let's each of us be the "living letters" and sign our lives, "from New Hope, with love."

Grace!

David
www.newhopevalp.org