What If...

"CUT!  That's not right.  We've gone over the lines.  We've gone over the placement.  We've gone over the facial expressions.  You're doing it all wrong.  We will all stand here till moss grows on our shoes doing it over and over until you get it right.  Do it again!"

What if God were a crabby temperamental director?

"No, No, No!  That's not repentance!  Do it again."

"Stop! I told you that you can't work here unless you forgive them."

"For the one millionth time it's 'love your enemies' and 'hate the world' you keep doing it backwards."

What if God kept making us redo the scene of showing grace to someone else until it was convincing.

What if He interrupted worship and proclaimed, "You're doing it wrong!  You keep complaining about (or worshipping) song selection, volume, and personal taste.  You don't even have me in mind while you're doing it.  Start over!"

"You're ad-libbing things that I would never write in the script.  Do it again!"

What if God sat by, in one of those high cloth chairs with the word "Yahweh" monogrammed in gold on the back, with a bull horn yelling out directions and clarifications of the scenes of our lives.  "Kessler - wake up! The waitress in this scene needs you to pay attention to her, she's at the end of her rope… Action!"

"David, pay close attention to this scene.  You're alone.  You're discouraged.  You wonder if there is any point.  You're going to enter a place of profound fear.  But faith is still going to be stronger than temptation… Action!"

"Kessler, this scene requires you being honest.  Quit hiding behind stuff and excuses.  I can't deal with these egos!  There are other people that could do this better.  I knew I should have contacted Matt Damon for your roll!  You're fired!

What if God really was involved in all the scenes of my life?  What if he really did observe everything?  What if the script is given to me by God's Holy Spirit?  What if he really were the director in my story?  Not crabby or temperamental.  Not wishing I was like other actors.  Not barking out cold commands.  But - directing.  Directing a real story of events that grow me and His Kingdom at the same time.  What if I really am supposed to listen for His direction and follow His script?

What if…

Action!

Pastor Dave

What Should a Pastor Say to His Church Today

According to one person the world is going to end today.  I've done a bunch of research into the person and the theology he holds.  There's not much we agree on.  But, my heart aches a little today.

The skeptics of faith are ready to add another failed prediction to the basket of reasons to question the Bible.

Comedians will have new material.

Jaded Christians will have a person to point at, distance themselves from, and join in the mocking so as not to appear as one of "them."

Gullible Christians will wonder why God didn't come through… again.

I've thought about what I should say to my church and friends.  Should I give my views on the predictions and the theology behind them?  Should I detail why I disagree with Harold Camping?  Should I quote Bible verses to further discredit someone who claims to have God's calendar figured out?  Should I try to stick up for God because some are making a mockery of His plan?  Should I not even bring it up since many may not even know what I'm talking about?

What should a pastor say to his church today?

My conclusion - very little.

I don't have a lot to say.

Serve Jesus today.  Don't get caught in debates.  Don't malign someone you don't know.  Don't err on the side of arrogance or pride.  Pray for people a lot.  Read the Bible.  Withhold rudeness.  Help someone smile.  Look for an opportunity to share the love of Christ.  Be generous.  Encourage.  Fill the life roles that you have with the faith of someone who loves God with all they are.  Spend this day as if it were your last day.  Serve Jesus today.

And if he gives us another one - do it again.
And if he gives us another one - do it again.
And if he gives us another one - do it again.
And if he gives us another one - do it again.
And if he gives us another one - do it again.
And if he gives us another one - do it again.
And if he gives us another one - do it again.
And if he gives us another one - do it again.
And if he gives us another one - do it again… etc.

Until Then,

Pastor Dave

Files

Page One:
I have a file that I put manuals and users guides in. Probably most of us do. They are labeled; dishwasher, refrigerator, furnace, washer, dryer, television, grill, miscellaneous house stuff, and others. The truth is I never look at the manual after it's put in the file. The files are the black hole of information that I couldn't use if I wanted to. If I need the electrical schematic of my oven I could get it - but I don't know how to read it anyway. I just keep it.

What is interesting to me is when I hold on to manuals of something that I don't have anymore. If I have the desire to read about the Sears dishwasher we had two dishwashers ago I could. You never know when useless information will be valuable (never).

The other day I cleaned out my files. What I don't own anymore I don't need to know how to maintain.

Page Two:
I have a file that I put mistakes and sins in. Probably most of us do. They are labeled; husband, father, employee, boss, student, Christian. The truth is I always go back to them to review what I have asked God to forget. The files are the black hole of information that I can't do anything about. If I need to dwell on that time I lost my temper I can pull it out and carefully remember everything about that event in exaggerated form - but I don't know how to undo it. I just keep it.

What is interesting to me is when I hold on to mistakes and sins that I don't have anymore. If I want to dwell on something that I've given to Christ two million times I can. You never know when old information about a forgiven sin will be healthy (never).

The other day Jesus offered to help me clean the files of what He had already erased the print from. He told me that what I don't own anymore I don't need to maintain.

Page Three:
Clean files are a good idea.

Thankful,

Pastor Dave

Three things I know about being lost. ‘Cause I’ve been there.

1.  Awareness of limitation
I don’t know everything or how to get everywhere.  I am limited in my knowledge.

2. Increase of passion
When I am not where I should be my intensity increases and that usually increases the weight of my foot on the gas pedal (which people with lights on the top of their car are not fond of).  Getting where I belong is less of a leisurely drive and more of an emotionally engaged search.

3. Focused vision on the destination
When I am lost I become very focused on the confidence of knowing where I am going.  My eyes are eager to find signs and landmarks that will point me to the right place.  I long for the completion.

Three things to know about being lost in the love of God.
1. Awareness of limitation
I can’t work hard enough or be good enough to cause love to happen.  I am very limited and must be aware of where the Source is unending.

2. Increase of passion
I am most passionate in my desire to respond and be with God when I am most aware of the love that He is and has.  There is a sense of eagerness in my spirit when I know I am surrounded by love.

3. Focused vision on the destination
When I am lost in the love of God my spirit is very focused on the God of love.  I know where I am going.  My decisions and actions are different.  I am on journey and I know it.

I’m thinking this morning about the two ways of being lost, one of them is miserable and the other is healing.  Two different types of being lost, one reveals my humanity and the other teaches me about spirituality.

I intend to get lost today - guess which one I hunger for.

Getting Lost,

Pastor Dave