Promoted to Head Landscaper

 

This week our friend Mike Chappelle got promoted. After several years of ebbs and flows in his battle with cancer, he finally succumbed (thankfully, this last round was fairly brief).  I remember Mike saying he didn’t care so much about streets of gold, a mansion, or anything else – he just wanted to “mow Billy Graham’s grass” 😊  Classic Chappelle!

 

Luke 23:43 - “Today you will be with me in Paradise”

 

Things to think about:

·       Mike was a charter member of our Tuesday morning group.  There were five men God put on my heart to invite to a Bible study and Mike was one of them. 

o   If you knew him, you know he was highly successful in his business.  Between his Boston bravado and success, I was pretty intimidated to reach out to him, but he immediately said Yes and thought it was a great idea.

o   What you may not know is if it wasn’t for Mike, none of you would be reading this right now.  Mike asked if would be OK to invite someone else (duh) and that someone was Vic.  Just the two of us met for 2+ years before we had anybody else join us.  After that, it just sort of kept growing and here we are today.  Thank you Mike!

·       Like all of us, Mike had his share of challenges.  He never backed down from them though and faced each one with the same grit, transparency, and sarcasm we loved him for.

·       The past few years have been especially hard given the ravaging effects of cancer.  A remarkable athlete in his prime, cancer took a heavy toll on him.

o   A few of us went to see him 2 ½ years ago and had an amazing weekend with him.  Somehow, he found the strength to take us on his favorite walks in the mountains of Asheville, NC

·       As believers we know the end of this life is not really the end but the start of a new beginning.

o   That’s not to diminish the grief and sadness we feel when we lose someone dear to us. 

o   John 11:33-35 - When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.  “Where have you laid him?” he asked.  “Come and see, Lord,” they replied.  Jesus wept.

·       However, John 11:25 illustrates that death is not the final word - Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die”

·       Philippians 3:20-21 - But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

o   Mike’s body has wonderfully, miraculously been remade to be like Jesus’

·       John 14:1-3 - “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

·       Let’s not rush to ignore the pain when someone we love passes.  It’s real and it’s part of the process. 

o   But we also have HOPE and it’s that hope that makes all the difference.

o   Mike hoped for an eternity he knows he didn’t deserve (like all of us).

o   We believe Mike’s faith in a Savior has reaped an inheritance he could never earn and that he can never lose.   

o   What joy awaits us who have put our trust in the resurrected Christ.

 

Mow on Mike, mow on!

God's Art

 

While out walking this past week, I was really captivated by the sights, sounds, and smells of Spring.  I marveled at the harmony of the birds singing while also appreciating the individual voices of the different varieties of birds.  I was stopped in my tracks by a small bloom on a tree that had yellow, white, and green in a beautiful design.  All of the trees, flowers and grass are coming to life in multicolor splendor.

 

Romans 1:20 - For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

 

Things to think about:

·       It seems to me that all art is trying to reflect or approximate what God has already created.  Whether it’s paintings, sculpture, music, literature, even the culinary arts, they all are mirrors or interpretations of the eternal creation.

o   I sometimes wonder why artists aren't the most God-fearing people on the planet.  If anyone should be able to see the beauty and complexity in creation, I would think it would be them!

·       God has given us our five senses to be able to take in what He has done.  This is both for our enjoyment but also so that we can know Him better.

o   Taste – Psalm 34:8  - taste and see that the Lord is good.

§  When we slow down our eating and enjoy the savor of delicious food, we have a picture of what it means to slow down and intentionally enjoy God’s goodness.

§  Next time you go on a walk or a car ride, keep all of your electronics off and try to be observant and mindful of God's creation all around you

o   Smell – 2 Cor. 2:14-15 - But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of Him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

§  Some smells are very pleasing and others not so much.  They can draw us in or push us away. Likewise, our works done in the name of Christ are pleasing to God.

§  They say our sense of smell is most strongly tied to our memory.  Can you smell things from your childhood right now (Grandma's house, your mom's perfume, etc.)?

o   Touch – John 21:27 – Reach out your hand and put it into my side.  Stop doubting and believe.

§  Smooth or rough, hot or cold, hard or soft – we use our sense of touch to better understand our world.  A small touch can make a world of difference.

§  Jesus coming as a man was God physically touching the world.

o   Hearing – Eph. 5:19 - speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord

§  Words and music have the power to heal, to praise, to teach

§  What's your favorite Christian song or hymn?

o   Sight – Genesis 1:31 – God saw that all that He had made was good.

§  It is said that our eyes are the windows to our soul.  The Bible uses light as a picture of good and darkness as bad. People will believe our testimonies by what they see, not just what they hear.

Takeaways:

·       Slow down and intentionally take in the art gallery, symphony, and banquet God has given us. 

·       Give thanks and praise for the beauty He has created and shared.

·       Remember, you are part of the art and His masterpiece.

o   Genesis 1:27 - So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female he created them.

o   Psalm 139 13-14 - You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
    and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
    Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

§  We didn't come from a factory but were handmade

§  How does knowing this affect how you see yourself?  Others?

Jesus is not a Hero

 

We love our heroes.  Men and women who have had the courage of their convictions to take a stand. Often, we associate our heroes with self-sacrifice, i.e., the giving of their lives for a cause greater than themselves.  Think about 9/11 first responders, military heroes, or even a mother who covers her child just before an accident. All of these paid the ultimate price to save lives.  Even Jesus did this on the most epic scale possible, but He’s not a hero (He’s much more than that!)

 

1 Corinthians 15:14 - And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 

 

Things to think about:

·       Who is a hero in your life?

o   Do you know someone personally that you consider a hero?

o   Is their a family member you never met whose story of courage lives on?

o   Maybe there is a figure from history you admire for their heroism

·       Yet, none of these rose from the dead!

·       Jesus did lay down His life for you and me and an entire world of sinners

o   Romans 5:8 - While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us

·       Unlike all of our other heroes, dying alone wasn’t enough

o   His resurrection was a well-documented fact

§  1 Cor 15:6 – after that He appeared to more than 500 of the brothers and sisters…

o   1 Cor. 15:14 - And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith

o   That’s a pretty strong statement, why do you think Paul says this?

o   There was a false teaching at the time that there is no resurrection of the dead, including Jesus

§  1 Cor 15: 16-17 – and if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.  And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.

·       Jesus’ death and resurrection were for more than our life in the here and now

o   1 Cor 15:19 – if only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied

§  This puts a pretty big hole in the prosperity gospel

o   Why should we be most pitied if our hope is only for this life?

·       We too will be resurrected

o   1 Cor 15:42-44 - So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.

o   This is our eternal hope

§  1 Cor 15: 54 - When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

§   1 Cor 15:56-57 - the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

·       What should our response be?

o   1 Cor 15: 58 - Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

o   And isn’t that what we admire about our heroes? 

§  Stand firm, let nothing move you

§  Give yourselves fully to the work

§  Your labor is not in vain

·       Jesus is much more than a hero

o   He died for your sins

o   He was raised from the dead

o   He will reign for eternity

Retirement

Last week, a friend of mine told me a story about an entrepreneur who was highly successful in his business.  The man had made good use of some land he owned and was blessed with significant wealth.  In light of the success of the business, he made the decision to retire early.  He could finally build his dream house and was looking forward to relaxing and enjoying the fruits of his labors.  If I’m being honest, I thought that all sounded pretty good and I was a little jealous.  He was able to realize the American Dream of working hard, accumulating some wealth, and in a position to stop working and enjoy life on his terms.

 

Luke 12:34 - Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

 

Things to think about:

·       The friend who was telling me this story is a guy named Jesus.  The story is found in Luke 12:13-21 and is generally known as the Parable of the Rich Fool.

·       Not only did the man’s retirement plans not pan out the way he envisioned, but God said, “You fool!  You will die this very night.  Then, who will get everything you worked for?”

o   We’re not guaranteed another minute on this Earth

·       My friend then told me, “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”

·       What mistakes did the rich fool make?

o   Greedy - He sought to hoard rather than share

o   Ungrateful - He didn’t see God as the source of his provision and wasn’t thankful to God for the blessing

o   Hedonistic - He wanted to spend the rest of his life pleasing himself instead of serving God and others

·       Jesus goes on in verses 22-34 to say that God knows what we need, and He will provide for those needs.

o   Luke 12:29-31 - “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.”

·       Jesus went on to tell me that rather than hoarding, I should be looking to get rid of some stuff and share the proceeds with people who could really use some help.  He said that the investments I should be making are in things that last for eternity.

o   “Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”

·       What do you think about my friend’s advice?

o   How does this challenge your beliefs about wealth and retirement? 

Who is My Neighbor?

 

We all know the parable of the Good Samaritan found in Luke 10:25-37. The context of the story is an expert in the law wanting to test Jesus by asking Him, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus asks him, “What is written in the Law?” and “How do you read it?” The man correctly replies with Scripture from Deut. 6:5 to “love the Lord your God with all of your heart, all of your soul, all of your mind, and all of your strength” and from Lev. 19:18 to “love your neighbor as yourself”.

 

Luke 10:29 – But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

 

Things to think about:

·       Those six words from the man strike at the heart of an important aspect of human nature – “but he wanted to justify himself”

o   Sometimes consciously, sometimes subconsciously, we look to excuse ourselves from taking responsibility for the well-being of others.

§  In this case, the man uses a time-tested ploy of getting technical with the definition of the word “neighbor’.  Remember Bill Clinton’s famous, “That depends on what the meaning of the word is is?”

§  Whether we are trying to get out from under a responsibility or assuage our conscience, clever manipulation of a plain truth doesn’t pass muster with God.

·       We have a responsibility to see to the needs of others. In this parable, Jesus identifies three types of people and thus three kinds of responses that we can have with respect to loving our neighbor as ourself.

o   The priest – I’m a busy professional and I don’t have time. Let someone who’s not as busy (and important) take care of it.

o   The Levite – I’m just a layperson, this is a job for a professional.

o   The Samaritan – I’m here and they need help – I’ll do it.

§  Even though we’re from different social strata and may not have a lot in common

§  A literal interpretation of neighbor may cloud our response since our next-door neighbors tend to look more like ourselves.

·       Ironically, the one coming to the aid of the injured Jew was viewed as inferior (a half-breed) by the Jews. So it wasn’t even a matter of the Samaritan deigning to reach down the social ladder but quite the opposite.  The Samaritan could have said, “Serves him right, that pompous Jew!”

o   Alternatively, he could have reacted by saying, “Somebody like me can’t help him.  He has more social status than me.  It would be awkward and weird to help.”

o   Depending on the circumstances, do we sometimes play the part of the priest, the Levite, and the Samaritan?

§  At work, not taking the time to help a junior associate who would benefit from your guidance

§  With ministry, opting out because of a lack of formal training

§  Socially, not participating because of social norms or general discomfort with folks who don’t look or act like you?

·       What are other factors that might have us not count someone as a neighbor?

o   Political affiliation

o   Race

o   Sexual orientation

o   Country of origin

o   Relative wealth or poverty

o   Personal style (preppy, hip hop, cowboy, etc.)

·       It would be great to hear the rest of the story

o   Did the two men and their families become friends?

o   Did they model for their respective people what God’s love really looks like?

o   Did they cause people who may have been raised with biases and prejudices to rethink their ways?

·       By abdicating responsibility, assessing blame, or making excuses, we justify ourselves. Jesus clearly paints a different picture of what it means to “love your neighbor as yourself”.

o   So, who is our neighbor as Jesus would have us understand it?

o   How do we model loving our neighbors to not justify ourselves but bring honor to God?