Waiting on God

Someone has said that "patience is a virtue." If it is, then I'm not very virtuous. I hate waiting. In fact, I often find myself looking for the "next thing" that God wants me to do. Perhaps some of that comes with the territory of being a leader. "Where next?" is a question that I am always asking both God and myself.

That's what I find a little frustrating about what the Lord has been telling me lately. It's been one word: "Wait." It would be easier if it were "Stop" because that would be doing something. By "wait" God is telling me to simply tread water for a while before swimming across the lake.

Part of what God is teaching me is the importance of being willing to obey whatever he tells me to do, rather than seeking to be "a leader" that always knows where he is going and what is happening next. It's an important lesson. Disaster awaits those that fail to learn it.

Consider the events of Exodus 32. The people had made a tremendous commitment to God and announced their willingness to obey everything that God had told them to do. Moses then went up on mountain for a lengthy time with God. As time past, the people became antsy and demanded that their second-in-command, Aaron, do something because Moses had been gone a long time. Aaron hadn't learned the lesson of waiting. Instead of reassuring the people that the will of God was for them to simply go about their lives and wait patiently for the return of Moses, he led the people into idolatry.

Consider the events of 1 Samuel 13. Saul, the newly anointed king was to wait for Samuel to offer a sacrifice before leading the people into battle. Circumstances appeared to demand that Saul do something. His army was beginning to scatter. The enemy was strengthening. Their situation seemed to be critical. Saul hadn't learned the lesson of waiting, so he offered he offered the sacrifice himself rather than waiting patiently for Samuel. As a result, God took the kingdom away from Saul.

On the positive side, consider Acts1:4. The Lord told his disciples (who were men of action with a call to the nations) to wait in Jerusalem. The result? They received the mighty baptism of the Holy Spirit and power to turn the world upside down. You and I are still beneficiaries of their obedience in waiting.

May we also learn the value of obedience in all things...even in waiting.

The Psalmist's Greatest Hits

This week we are starting a new sermon series that will be a little different than what we have done in the past. Instead of working our way through a book of the Bible, we are going to do a "Greatest Hits" series on the book of Psalms. As with any compilation, your favorite psalm may be missing from the mix, but that's the way it goes.

Sunday we are going to be looking at a psalm of incredible depth and beauty...Psalm 19. I am having a hard time getting past the first verse:

"The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the works of his hands."

We've all stood out on a cold winter's night and stared in awe at the stars. Those who live up here in the north country are regularly overwhelmed by the northern lights. These things shout about who God is...his power, his majesty, his creativity and his desire to be known.

Consider the vastness of space for a moment. Where does "space" end? I don't think it does. Why would an infinite, all-powerful God create something that has a limit? Remember, the heavens declare the glory of God and according to Romans 1:20 God's "invisible qualities" (like his divine power and eternal nature) can be clearly seen in the creation.

During our bi-annual play "The Northwoods Revue" I talk about how many guys say that they feel closest to God in a deer stand. That's not surprising. The created world can tell us much about the Lord if we open our eyes to see it. The creation bears witness to him. His fingerprints are everywhere.

I think we need to use the word "creation" more. Words have power that change the way we think about things. "Nature" is a neutral word while creation implies a creator. We give up too much by agreeing to refer to the world around us as "nature". Scientists study the creation. There is a divine order to the world around us that forms the basis for scientific study. In the last 200 years scientists forgot that...seeking to be "modern" and "scientific". But today increasing numbers of scientists are coming to the conclusion that the creation around them could not just have happened by chance. Instead, the scientists (many of whom have no religious agenda) are declaring that the best explanation for the data that they are encountering is the existence of some intelligent designer who "made it this way." Their studies are coming full circle. They are discovering that the order that they see around them displays the handiwork of God.

In the words of the late Francis Schaeffer, "God is there, and He is not silent" or as David put it, "The heavens declare the glory of God."

Karl

The Joy of Small Groups

I was putting away the coffee cups last night after our small group Bible Study when I began to think about how important small groups have been to my life. These groups have usually met weekly for a combination of Bible Study, prayer and conversation. Some of them have been very "study" oriented, while others have been more "relational." Sometimes we've used a Bible study guide and other times we have just used the Bible. In every case, close relationships have formed as we have struggled to do life with Jesus together.

Over the years, people in my small groups have:

• helped me understand what a Bible passage means...and how to apply it to my life.
• been there to pray for me when I was figuring out if God was calling me to enter the ministry.
  
• challenged me to think more deeply about God.
• fixed my car...I'm mechanically disinclined.
  
• held me accountable when I was doing things that I knew I shouldn't be doing.
• prayed for me when I went on a missions trip.
• laughed at my dumb jokes.
• encouraged me to memorize Scripture.
• gave me courage to try praying in a group.
  
• celebrated when we purchased our first house.
• loaned me good books to read.
  
• decorated our apartment when our first child was born.
• modeled what it meant to be a Christian parent.
  
• given me advice when I was struggling with looking for a job.
• challenged me to grow in my relationship with Christ.

I could go on and on. Simply put, I'm not sure where I would be if it were not for the impact of small groups on my life. I know that they will continue to be a part of my life for years to come. I hope that over the next year more and more people in church get connected and discover the joy of small groups.

Karl

P.S. I want to especially say thanks to those that are a part of my current small group. You are a tremendous source of encouragement to me. I cherish our friendship!

Rich? Me? Couldn't Be!

We're getting to the end of our study in 1 Timothy. Paul has some instructions for those who are "rich in this present world." Do you know any wealthy people? How do you decide who is wealthy? Just who does those who are "rich in this present world" include?

My definition has always been to take my bank account balance, add a zero to the end of it and that number is the bottom rung of the "rich" ladder.

What's your definition? I'd love to know!

While you're thinking about it, you might want to check out the link below. It'll blow your mind!

www.globalrichlist.com

Karl

Living in a Materialistic World

"...but godliness with contentment is great gain..."
"...if we have food and clothing we will be content with that..."
"...the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil..."

The meaning of these words from 1 Timothy 6 is clear and echoes the words of Jesus Christ in Matthew 6:24, "you cannot serve God and money." The Lord is calling us to be devoted to him rather than to the things of this world. Could it be that we have not taken these words to heart?

We live in a country that is slipping further and further away from God. The fault lies at the door of the church. Is it because we have compromised here, at the point of where our devotion lies? How many of us can say that we are content if we just have food and clothing?

As I prepare for Sunday's message, it strikes me that some radical surgery may need to be done in our lives if we are to apply these words to our lives. Is it enough to say "I love God" if our lives show that we are governed by the bottom line? What are the implications for the business owner, the union worker or the retiree?

I believe that we really need to allow the Lord to work in our hearts on this one. Are we really willing to serve him if it costs us in our standard of living? Are we willing to give it all away? Are we willing to become living sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2)?

Am I? Are you?

Why A Blog?

As the church grows, I find that there are more and more people that I would like to connect with, but time is hard to find. I figured that a blog would be one way to let people know what's happening in my life and what issues I am thinking about. The thing I like about a blog is that it provides people with an easy way to provide input to me. I'd rather sit down with people over a cup of coffee, but sometimes that just isn't possible as often as I like.

Let me know what you think!

Karl