Who Are You?

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be someone else?  To have been born in a different country, into a different social class, or in a different period of history?  To be a famous actor or musician, powerful politician or influential business person?  

Judging by the continuing popularity of stories about identity swapping, quite a few of us enjoy fantasizing about having an identity other than our own.  Over a hundred years ago Mark Twain penned a highly successful novel, “The Prince and the Pauper” in which look alike boys, Prince Edward VI and commoner Tom Canty, exchange clothing and for a period of time their lives.  The book relates the story of how each boy struggles to regain their true identity, having learned they do not envy the life of the other.

Books and movies based on some form of identity swapping continue to capture our attention ever since.  Well known movies explore themes of twins switching places (“The Parent Trap”), age switching from younger to adult and the reverse (“Big,” “17 Again”), exchanging bodies with a parent or friend (“Freaky Friday,” “The Change Up”) or returning from death with a new identity (“Heaven Can Wait”).

A common theme in most of these stories is the desire of the characters to regain their original identity.  Although they learn a lot in their identity switch, they decide that being themselves is who they most want to be.  It’s as if they recognize that there is something unique about being themselves that they value, and cannot find in another identity.

Just what is this uniqueness that is “you”?  Who are “you”?  Too often we identify ourselves by who we are related to (spouse, parent child), our age or gender, the groups we belong to, or the professions or jobs we work in.  But these are only our roles or characteristics, not our essence.  Who are you in your essence?  What makes you, you?  Do you know?

God tells us that we are created in His image to be fruitful, creative and to have dominion. (Genesis 1:27)  But just what does this mean?  God wants us to know how truly unique we are: “Before you were formed in the womb, I knew you.  Before you were born, I set you apart for My holy purpose.” (Jeremiah 1:5a)

God gives each of us special gifts that are talents and abilities that come naturally to us, and bring us joy and fulfillment.  He wants us to share them with others and to be enriched as others share their abilities with us. (Romans 12:4-6)  In this way we all mutually benefit from the talents each of us provides.  We find our true identity in our unique gifts through offering them to others.  We only discover who we are through our relationship with God and others.

God does not leave this process of self-discovery to chance.  Ephesians 4:11 explains how God gifts certain people to equip us to discover and share our talents as we relate to each other in Christ.

Come join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM.  Over the next few weeks, we will be discussing these God appointed offices in the Church and how they assist us in discovering who we truly are in Christ.  My sermon is on  “Apostolic Wisdom.”

Who’s Waiting in Your Field of Dreams?

“I always dreamed one day we would really be together, you know, really know each other.  It’s been my biggest, lifelong dream.”  Justin sighs and ducks his head as he brushes an escaped tear from his water-brimmed eyes. 

He is 27, and a potential future minister who attends our church.  His father abandoned his mother before Justin was born, and never made more than an occasional guest appearance throughout Justin’s life.  And now he is gone, dead of a heart attack.

I looked at the four young men gathered to meet with me, and realized only one, Caleb, had a loving, ongoing relationship with his father.  Roger, 25, had an alcoholic father who died when he was 16, leaving Roger devastated.  Looking for love, he got involved with his girlfriend and now was sharing joint custody, fathering his 3 year-old son.

Jordan, 22, had recently reconciled with his father, a busy professional, who only had time to make demands and give harsh punishment when Jordan was young.  The two are making slow, but steady progress on the bridge of reconnection between them.

As I think of Father’s Day this Sunday, I am aware that the stories of these young men are all too common in our society today.  Perhaps you too can only dream of happy memories of a loving father that never happened.  Father’s Day may only remind you of that unfilled longing inside that never completely goes away.

I think the classic movie, “Field of Dreams,” captured that sense of longing for a father in the most poignant way.  Spurred on by a voice and incessant inner urging, Iowa corn farmer, Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner), begins to build a baseball field in the middle of his corn crop.  As each one of a series of historic players emerge, Ray is convinced his field is for them. 

But in the end, he discovers that his efforts have been in response to his own longing for reconciliation with the father he had long ago rejected.  His father appears at home plate, and the two reconnect as they finish the game of catch that Ray refused as a child.  It is the dream fulfillment so many long for.

Who’s waiting in your field of dreams?  I think we all have a field of dreams that contains all our unfulfilled longings as well as our hopes and plans for the future.  For many of us, one person we keep waiting to see appear is our father, this time wanting and loving us.

I can’t guarantee that your father will ever appear there, but I want you to know that there is a father waiting in your field of dreams.  It is your Heavenly Father and He’s been waiting all your life to welcome and embrace you.

Listen to what He is saying:  “You may not know me, but I know you.  I am familiar with all your ways. You were not a mistake for all your days are written in My book.” (Psalms 139:1,3,15-16)  “I love you with an everlasting love.  I will never leave or forsake you.” (Jeremiah 31:3)  “My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.” (Jeremiah 29:1)

May this Father’s Day remind you of the One waiting for you in your field of dreams.  Receive Father God’s embrace and live in His never-ending love!

Come join us this Sunday, Father’s Day at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM. as we look into the heart of Father God in my sermon, “Encountering the Father’s Love.”

Which Wisdom?

“My Precious-s-s-s-s.”  I remember the first time I heard the creepy, raspy voice of Gollum muttering, as he thought about the ring and lusted to have its power all to himself.  I knew he was going to be a disgusting creature, even before I saw him.  Almost everyone has seen the movie trilogy, “Lord of the Rings,” and is aware that before he became obsessed with the ring, Gollum was a regular hobbit named Smeagol.

Smeagol found the powerful ring by chance, and decided that keeping it all to himself was a wise idea.  He underestimated the ring’s destructive power.  By persistently following his own wisdom, he blinded himself to the way the ring slowly changed him from a decent hobbit, to a slimy, self-obsessed, swamp creature, enslaved to thoughts of owning the ring.

Have you ever made a decision that looked good to you in the moment, but you lived to regret?  Perhaps you even had family or friends advise you against it, but you thought you knew better?  I think we can all remember instances, perhaps many of them, where we rashly followed our own wisdom, and later wished we could undo our choice.

It might be something minor, like choosing to hit the snooze alarm one more time, and then finding ourselves late to work.  Or maybe it was the time we had that one extra piece of pie and were up half the night with indigestion.

Unfortunately, all too often our own wisdom can lead to more serious mistakes.  We just had to have that new 4 wheel drive ATV, and now we are saddled with uncomfortably high monthly payments for the next 5 years.  The salary figure was just too tempting to pass up, but 3 months later we find ourselves in the job from hell, and spend our evenings searching the internet for new job options.

God warns us in scripture that following our own wisdom can deceive us: “There is a path before each person that seems right, but ends up in destruction.” (Proverbs 14:12)  However, there is a godly wisdom from above that will guide you into all the truth and cause you to prosper.  It comes to you through God’s Spirit, and is yours for the asking.  “But if any of you wants wisdom, ask God who gives freely to all without an unkind word, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5)

Which wisdom are you following?  How can you tell the difference between self-deceptive and godly wisdom?  A major clue is the effect it has on you.  Don’t allow yourself to be blindsided like Gollum, by following wisdom that only corrupts your life and tears you down.  

God tells us: “If you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.” (James 3:14-15)

Contrast that with this description of godly wisdom: “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. For the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” (James 3:13,17)

Be smart!  Pursue godly wisdom and enjoy the consequences of good decision-making!

Please join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM for part 2 in our current “Tapping into the Wisdom of God” series.  Our guest speaker, Lance Wallnau, will provide guidance on how to live in God’s wisdom while actively engaged in the culture around us.