Which Saul will I be today?

This morning I have been reflecting on Sandy's message from this past weekend. She outlined for us two character sketches - King Saul of Israel and Saul(later became Paul) of the New Testament. Both received strategic appointments by God. Both experienced powerful anointing by the Spirit of God. Both walked in the favor of God. But one became a tragic character while the other modeled enduring faithfulness.

I am struck this morning with the opportunity I have today to walk in faithfulness to the Gospel of Christ Jesus. Through grace found in Christ and the love of the Father there is also strategic appointment, anointing, and favor. Will I respond to God's love with faithful obedience? Or will I allow, as King Saul did, the concerns of this world to "choke out" God's blessings?

Any given day "concerns" bombard our lives, attempting to dismiss the work of the Holy Spirit in us. Let's name a few: jealousy, materialism, distractions, gossip, relational conflict, poor self-image, ego, misplaced trust, vanity, anxiety, depression, wasteful time, and ?

I would love to hear from you. What are other concerns that we allow to control our lives? Concerns will always be present on this side of eternity. But the faithful disciple of Christ does not allow the concerns to be the focal point. They are present but not domineering, identifiable but not destructive, and real but powerless in Christ.

My prayer today: May God be my strength and the hope of my life as I fully rely on Him for every aspect of my life. Amen.

Rob

Proverbs 22:1

My son, Miles, heard this verse from Scripture for the first time as he and I sat at our kitchen table.  The occasion might surprise you.

We had just received in the mail his "membership box" from the Washington Redskins Kids Club. He was so excited as we pulled out cards, a shirt, stickers, a coloring book, and a poster.  I was more interested in the letter from Coach Jim Zorn.

It is no secret that this season has been a disappointment for Coach Zorn.  He has endured countless scrutiny and verbal assault that typically accompanies a losing NFL season.  In addition, he had his "play-calling duties" stripped from him.  What a challenging sequence of events for such a successful person!

And in this context, Coach Zorn, included "Proverbs 22:1" next to his signature on the letter.  It reads, "A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold."

Coach Zorn may be having a bad season for NFL standards, but he is facing his adversity with integrity.  True maturity is tested in the crucible of hardship.  My friend, Doug Middleton, used to tell me, "In the face of adversity, we automatically revert to that which we have been taught." Someone taught Coach Zorn what it means to stand steadfast when the storm comes because "in life, the storms do come (Jesus - end of Sermon on the Mount)!"

I am grateful that I had a teaching moment with my son because a Coach, who does not know Miles Rhoden, wrote Proverbs 22:1.  Thanks, Coach Zorn.

Rob

Beans

The road to Balan is quite dusty and bumpy but it is worth it.  Beans and rice were distributed to 2,000 people as they came swarming to our truck from their mud huts.  With empty pots and pans in hand, they formed a line and waited for their allotted portion of beans with some rice full of nutrients.  

Interestingly, many of the orphans came with us.  I was touched watching them have compassion on these people, considering them worse off than themselves.  They distributed beans with us as though they had plenty themselves.  Poor helping  the poor.  The irony of that moment hit me in a peculiar way.

Could I survive their lifestyle?  Maybe.  But deep down I feel guilty that I will soon be boarding a nice plane for home and comfort.  They will be out of sight.  My prayer tonight is that God will keep the hurting of this world (both in Richmond and beyond) close to my heart.

They are close to His.

Rob

Haiti

I'm in Haiti this week doing some follow up visitation with our partnership with New Hope Haiti Mission.  Last year our Advent Conspiracy money was invested here in both the orphanage they run and  the feeding ministry in Balan.

Spent all day today at the orphanage.  Once again I am reminded of our Call to care for the orphans of the world.  God has been stirring much in my heart through out the day.

Tomorrow we will drive to Balan and conduct a feeding.  I'm excited to see the work there.  We are partnering with the pastor of the only church in the village.

The opportunities in Richmond, Haiti, and the world are endless.  We can't get overwhelmed but simply make a difference in the one that is in front of us.

We need to continue as a church hanging out where Jesus would hang out.  "To whom much is given much is required."  That familiar saying is hitting home this week.

Rob

 

Life

We gathered last night at Park/Meadow to discuss life.  I left very motivated in my heart to be informed, convicted, and inspired in my personal efforts to value life.

Biblical instruction on life is pervasive through Scripture.  When we deviate from it, unthinkable expressions of evil are inflicted on innocent people.

So what am I going to do today?  I don't know yet.  I am still reflecting.  But I do know this:  I want to be a part of the solution not a passive spectator.

My father's mother got pregnant with him when she was 14 years old.  His father fled town the minute he found out his girlfriend was pregnant.  Today, in a society that embraces the disposal of unwanted life, she probably would have terminated the pregnancy.

Pretty scary implications.

Rob

Fish Wars

Oh, a fish is on the back of that car in front of me.  How special.  Must be a Christian.

Oh wait, that fish says "darwin" inside of it.  How rude.

What?  That big fish with "darwin" inside of it is eating the small Christian fish.  I'm mad.

Yeah!  The big fish with "truth" inside of it is now eating the small fish that has "darwin" inside.  Hip Hip Hooray!

I am so over fish wars on the back of cars.  Here is why:

1.  Quit supporting the economic machinery that simply wants your money.  They prey on the good hearts of people, convincing them to "take a stand," and laugh all the way to the bank.

2.  The "truth" crisis in our culture will not be resolved on the bumpers of our cars.  If anything, it only perpetuates the crisis and ensures there will never be a winner.

3.  Words and acts of obedience are the solution not a plastic symbol.

4.  Spend your money on study rather than the commercialization of religion.

5.  Maybe the reason North American "Believers" refuse to come to a weekly time of prayer together is because they are at home feeling good about the fish that is on their car?  Maybe that fish will penetrate darkness for us?

6.  Combat the truth crisis with intelligence not emotion; Spirit not flesh; conversation not angry words; conviction not memorized formulaic lines; and/or relationship not target practice.

7.  When was the last time you heard the following testimony:  "I was saw a "truth" fish eating a "darwin" fish and I stopped my car, got out, fell to my knees, and cried out to God for mercy."  

8.  One of the deceptions of the adversary of our souls is to convince us to embrace with resources and time that which makes no difference in the Kingdom and to avoid that which does.

Let's think, Church.

Rob

Pre-Nuptial Conversions

We live in a day that expects failure.  In preparation we hedge our lives to absorb the sting.  In fact, we value people who can actually anticipate all the variables and are rarely caught off guard.

And than Jesus steps into our world saying things like:

"Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

"What does it profit one to gain the whole world and yet lose his soul."

"Sell your belongings and give to the poor and than come follow me."

And we have only scratched the surface.

What makes us hedge our hearts with the Lord?  I guess it should not be a surprise that a culture obsessed with anticipating failure (and the protection from it) would also project that on the Lord.  We wonder if we can trust God's Word? God's plan? God's validity? God's economics? God's ethics? God's timing? God's judgment?

So we enter into a kind of "pre-nuptial conversion," hedging entire areas of our heart, time, resources, and talents.  And for what?  Fear?  Protection?  Anticipation of failure?  Yes. We fundamentally have a problem trusting and believing in the God presented to us in Holy Scripture.  We think our faith in Christ will probably fail at some point.  

My passion for us as a church family is that we would learn together to trust God.  This involves praying for one another, being a safe place for people to disclose feelings of distrust, keeping one another accountable, prioritizing our gatherings, challenging each other, rejoicing in testimonies, teaching one another, serving one another, and learning Godly dependence.

Togetherness has a way of producing collective results and power that are not experienced in isolation.  We have been given the gift of community.  Let's enjoy it and leverage it in becoming fully devoted disciples of Christ!

Let's walk together.

Rob

Love, Community, and Generosity

I have been pondering these three components of the Christian faith over the last 24 hours.

How is God challenging me through this talk?  What areas of change need to unfold in my life?

Today I am going to focus on love.  Of the three, this is the starting point for me.  If love is lacking in my life, all the other areas suffer.  Love is the motivator behind my Christian witness.

I know that love is not always a "felt" reality.  Jesus himself pleaded in the garden prior to his death, the ultimate expression of love, to have "this cup removed."  He, understandably so, did not "feel" like loving with such extreme suffrage.

My hope and prayer is that action will give birth to feelings.  Sometimes I think we wait around for a "spiritual" feeling to come over us before we act.  Too often the feeling never arrives.

In our "fallen nature" desires and feelings can deceive us.  Action is a way to express obedience and overcome the deception of sinful reality.  John says, "This is love:  that He laid down his life for us."

I want to love this way.  You?

Advent

"...He will be wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, and prince of peace..."  The prophet Isaiah anticipated a Messiah that would possess all the ingredients necessary to permanently change lives.

Guidance (wonderful counselor) - He counsels us.

Power (mighty God) - He empowers us.

Trustworthy (everlasting Father) - He stays.

Pleasantness (prince of Peace) - He transforms our disposition.

Some people desire power without guidance.  They chase miracles while ignoring obedience. Jesus obeyed the Father and miracles flowed out of that relationship.

Some people desire peace without the other three.  Peace in the Lord often emerges on the other side of obedience.

Some people obey but deny the power of God to do the unexplainable today.  They walk in religion.

What ingredient is missing in your life?  Be courageous and name it.  Be prayerful and present it to the Lord for His help.  Be accountable and seek support from a close friend in the Lord.

God is doing some changing in me this Advent season.  You?

Rob

 

Last Night at Prayer

We heard a great devotional last night out of the book of Acts on an evening where we were praying for the nations.  It was such a moving time that Lisa Hampson, responding to the Holy Spirit's leading, got up and gave an invitation for response.  Many people came forward asking us to pray that God would empower them to speak "the Word of God boldly!"

I was touched as I joined others praying for these who today are at work, school, home, etc... May God give them the power to speak and the discernment to know the right timing!

Special thanks to Sharon Lewis and Rebecca Still and the International Students Missional Community for leading last night.  Great job!

We witnessed "mighty God" last night!