Imagine There’s no Christmas

Posted on December 15, 2023 by Ted W Harris

In 1971 John Lennon composed what would be the number one song of his solo career. The lyrics encourage the listener to imagine a world living in perfect peace. Peace brought about without the barriers of national borders or divisions caused by religion and nationalities, and to consider the possibility that the focus of humanity should be living a life unattached to material possessions. Maybe you know the lyrics.

Imagine there’s no heaven
It’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today…

Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in Peace…

Sadly many people today still think that the way to peace is through the philosophy and worldview behind these words.  No heaven, no hell, no religion. Lennon paints a picture that the world would be a better place, a peaceful place if we could just get rid of what he believes divides us. But peace isn’t in the absence of those things. The message of the gospel, the message of Christmas is that we can have peace in the midst of and in spite of those things. It is the brotherhood of man that has created governments, economic greed, hunger. It is man’s sin that brought a lack of peace to this world. Now God is desiring to restore peace. When shepherds were out in the cold winter night watching their flocks, a multitude of angels from heaven broke through the dark sky, lit up the whole area and shared a drastically different message. 

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

The belief that peace can be achieved if we could rid the world of politics, economics and religion is a false belief. John Lennon truly was a dreamer. Imagining away the very thing that brings peace. Sure the world’s politics and many of the greed driven economic systems and even the world’s religions are many times a source of grief and hardship. But that is just proof that peace, true peace, must come from somewhere beyond man made systems, man made philosophies. True peace resides in the person of Jesus. Jesus came that we might have peace. Peace with God and peace with one another. That the world might experience true peace. Our way to peace is through faith in Jesus. We don’t have to imagine it or dream about it. 
Jesus’ own words on the night he was betrayed, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.” John 14:27
Or Paul’s words to the Ephesian believers, “For He himself is out peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility..” Ephesians 2:14
Or Paul’s words to the believers in Rome, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Liord Jesus Christ.”

Let’s try it again…
Imagine only Christmas
It’s easy if you try
Jesus coming for us
A baby sent to die
Imagine all the people
Praising God today

Imagine heaven’s Savior
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to fear or hide from
Love and forgiveness too
Imagine all the people
Living a life of peace

This season, let us join the shepherds and spread the word concerning what has been told us about this child. Jesus, the Prince of Peace!

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tiding, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion,
“Your God reigns!”  Isaiah 52:7

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Smells, Stockings and Boxes Under the Tree

Posted on December 13, 2023 by Ted W Harris

I realized after typing that heading and putting smells and stockings in the same title could misdirect where this article is going but I decided to leave it there anyhow. All three of these things have something in common (at least in my mind). They are all symbols of hope. I regularly walk into the house this time of year to a sweet aroma of whatever Sari is baking that day. Cookies, candies, pumpkin rolls, pies, the list goes on. All of those smells bring hopeful feelings that those delectable treats will find there way past my taste buds. And those stockings…well…

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

And those boxes under that tree in the corner of the living room, each one of them represents the hope that something from my Amazon “Dad’s Christmas Wish List 2023” will appear.  Hope is one of those words that gets used so much, I am fearful we have lost the impact of what it really means.  So often it is used as a synonym for ‘a wish’ or in hoping like there is a 50/50 chance what is hoped for will happen. I hope but am not certain.

When Paul uses the word hope in writing to the churches, he uses some form of the Greek word elpis. And each time the word doesn’t carry with it the idea of wishing or ‘what are the chances’, it carries with it a confidence, an expectation, a trust that the thing hoped for will happen or is true. Like when he writes the Galatians, “For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. (Gal 5:5). Or to the Colossian Church,“if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard…” (Col 1:23) This word hope is closely tied to faith. Remember that well known biblical definition of faith given to us by the quill of the writer of Hebrews, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Heb. 11:1)  That is not an author using wishful language. That is a man standing firmly, confidently in his hope. 

And rightly so because any time Paul uses that word as a verb, pointing to an object of hope, it is always that same object.
Ephesians 1:12, “…to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ.”
Philippians 2:19, “But I hope in the Lord Jesus, to send Timothy to you shortly”
And the Psalmist 38:15, “For I hope in you, O LORD; You will answer, O LORD my God.”

You see hope is only as certain as the object of that hope.  Now, 37 years of marriage have given me a high level of confidence that those smells coming from the kitchen are going to lead to something amazing. And 59 Christmas’ have given me a high level of confidence that whatever appears in those stockings and in those boxes will not disappoint. But let’s be honest, I have smelled smoke in the kitchen and I have needed the receipt on a few of those boxes. But I have never been disappointed when I have trusted, hoped in Jesus.

This first week of Advent centers around this message of Hope. What is the reason for your hope? How certain are you? When we give our life to Jesus and place our trust in him, then we have true hope! Make Jesus the soul reason for the hope you have in this life. Jesus truly is the reason for the hope we have.

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit!”  Romans 15:13

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Leftovers!

Posted on November 3, 2023 by Ted W Harris

We have officially come to the close of the Harris/Sullivan wedding celebrations. Planning for a year. Wedding on September 22 in Arizona. In October, an Indiana Reception for family and friends that could not make the westward pilgrimage. 40-50 Hoosiers gathered in my brother’s old barn and celebrated. Sari and my daughter Kenzie did a fantastic job of turning that giant chicken coop into an incredible reception venue. Sari, my sister and sister-in-law put together a mouth watering spread of food. BBQ beef and pulled pork, coleslaw, baked beans, veggies and dip, chips and queso, pasta salad, homemade sugar cookies, Nothing Bundt Cakes. It was amazing! And the best part was LEFTOVERS. I think the best part of any meal is the leftovers. Some meals even taste better the next day.  We sent food home with some people but still brought a lot of it home with us and I have been eating it all week long. It is still amazing!

I love leftovers but God seems to have a different view of them.  I say this because of two words used throughout scripture. First Fruits. First fruits refers to the first part of the harvest. It was the first fruit that was commanded to be brought to God. First fruits, not the leftovers. Once you brought the first fruits there was no promise that there would even be leftovers. So giving God the first part required faith that he would supply your needs out of the rest of the harvest. In fact, when God supplied the wandering Israelites with manna they were instructed to only gather enough for one day and eat all of it that day. Don’t have any leftovers. Some didn’t listen and the leftovers were filled with worms and stinketh. (Exodus 16) God doesn’t give us his leftovers and commands that we give him our first fruits. Think about Cain and Abel. When they each brought an offering to God, Cain brought ‘some of the land’s produce’ as he was a farmer. Abel brought ‘the firstborn of his flock’ since he was a shepherd. Cain’s offering displeased God while Abel’s was accepted. ‘Some’ vs. ‘First Fruits’  All throughout the Bible, it is the first fruit, the firstborn, the best, a tithe (10%) off the top that was to be brought to God as an offering.  God doesn’t desire your leftovers.

I am neither a farmer nor a shepherd so first fruits for me would be translated as giving out of my pay check. The fruit of my labor. A tithe would be that 10% off the top. Not just some of my pay check. Not if anything is leftover. This kind of ‘first fruits’ giving is a discipline. It is an act of worship. By regularly giving my tithe and offerings (offerings are anything over and above the tithe), I am actually confessing that everything I have is God’s and I am the steward that has been entrusted to use it wisely as God would use it. (Matthew 25:14-30) 

But being a good steward is not just about paychecks and money. We owe God the first fruits of our time. God has given us 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. 6 days to do all of the work we need to do and the 7th day is a Sabbath to the Lord. I am not going to get into what a Sabbath is but I will say this 4th Commandment tells me that at least some portion of my time is to be the first fruits and stewarded for God. God doesn’t want our leftover time, if we have any.

Does God get my first fruits?
Do I give the first fruits of my labor? What is my discipline of giving – regularly?, cheerfully?, off the top? Some? Leftovers?
Does God get the best time of my day or week or does he get the left overs. If there is time left, I will pray. If there is time left, I will read my Bible. If there is time left, I will attend a church service. And don’t even ask about small groups, discipleship, evangelism, or serving in Eagle Kids (or any other ministry), who has time for all of that. 

In that parable of the talents in Matthew 25, two of the servants were rewarded for the way they stewarded the resources God gave them and the time it took to invest it. The third servant was cast out because he didn’t take the time and buried the resources. God has given each of us time, abilities and financial resources to steward (take care of) for his kingdom. What am I doing with all that God has given me? 

At the end of the day we probably don’t even deserve the scraps off of God’s table and yet he gives us his Son, his first born. And while God deserves our best, many times we only offer him the scraps, the leftover parts of our life. Our bank statements and calendars reflect whether God is getting the first fruits or the leftovers. What if we gave God off the top and trusted him to meet all of our needs? No more Leftovers!

“His Master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s joy.”
Matthew 25:21

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Taco Tuesday!

Posted on October 9, 2023 by Ted W Harris

It was a normal Tuesday. Meeting in the morning until roughly noon. Lunch time. Taco Tuesday means the weekly trek to Taco Bell. The usual order: Classic Combo – substitute soft for the hard (IYKYK), Chipotle Ranch Chicken Burrito and a large Baja Blast! Fire Sauce!  Ordered on the app, short drive, pick it up inside and sit down to eat. Delicious! Return to the office and start in on the afternoon to do list. A little before 3 o’clock, I get a notification that they have updated my Taco Bell app as per my request. Problem is I didn’t request an update. A quick check of my app and my phone number was now different. Quick…change password. Delete credit card on file. Check previous orders. Yep..Chalupas in Las Vegas; Locos Tacos in Orlando; and 3 Berry Raspberry Freezes with cinnamon twists in North Carolina – in all 4 orders totalling just under $80 after the door dash charges. All these orders were made within 5 minutes of each other. A fraud alert text soon followed. A quick phone call to MasterCard Customer Service and all erroneous charges declined, deleted from my account and new card in the mail. This had quickly become an abnormal Tuesday!

As I thought about Taco Bell assuming these four orders on the app were all being made by me and that somehow a glitch (can’t image 4 separate individuals all hit me at once) put me in 3 cities at the same time. We had an identity problem. You can’t blame the app. How was it to know who was making those orders. My only identity is in my profile – name, email, phone, birthday. That really doesn’t say much about me. And that got me thinking. My identity. Many struggle today with identity issues. Christians and non-Christians alike. For the Christian our identity, how we are to be known to the world, is a child of God, a follower of Jesus. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, Paul told the Corinthians that we become a new creation and the old things, the old life, has passed away. (2 Corinthians 5:17). Our identity is no longer in the old sin-natured, spiritually-dead self but in the new made-alive-in-Christ life. We are even given the Holy Spirit, third person of the Trinity, to live inside us and come alongside us helping us live out this new identity in Christ.  But, let’s be completely honest, we don’t always live according to the new identity. ItSometimes we choose to live abnormally, or subnormally and mirror the old way, the sin way.

Paul encouraged the Galatians with these words, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” This is our new identity and with the aide of the Holy Spirit, we can live a normal Christlike life. A life that is identified by the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Read those verses, we live by the Spirit.  This is the consecrated life – a striving for the normal Spirit-filled life, not mirroring the old worldly, sin-filled life. And the striving is not a matter of willing ourselves to be better, if that would work we wouldn’t ever have an identity issue. Consecration is a presenting ourselves, our whole selves, to the Holy Spirit and he does the work of sanctification – making us holy.  And this isn’t a one and done thing. It is a daily, moment by moment thing. The work we can do, the things that are our part of the equation, are what we call Spiritual Disciplines. These acts or works simply put us in the environments where the Holy Spirit can do his work. Disciplines like: prayer (private and corporate), study, Bible reading, community with other believers, silence and solitude, service, fasting and others. These are aspects of the normal Christian life. Let us now, set ourselves apart. Allow the Holy Spirit to continue his work of transformation in our lives and stop living a subnormal existence.

God has more for you than what you are currently experiencing. He has plans for you that will impact the world around you by showing the world a different way, a better way, a different Kingdom and different King. Your life is significant! If you have never identified as a follower of Jesus but are tired of this ‘less than’ life. You can become a new creation by asking Jesus to forgive you and come into your life and then be given this new identity to show in your new life. If you want to more about how to become a follower of Christ, click here! And then start your new life with a new identity!

The signs were all there. Chicken Chalupas? Nacho Cheese Doritos Locos Tacos? Raspberry Freeze? 13 Mild Sauce packets? Mild?…come on, that is so obviously not me! If you know me, you know those aren’t my orders.  How will people know your identity as a believer, a follower of Christ? What are the tell tale signs? What fruit is being produced? What disciplines would be considered normal in your life?

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation”
2 Corinthians 5:17

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What Was I Thinking

Posted on October 3, 2023 by Ted W Harris

Back in my youth pastor days, I was appointed as the Pointman for the Alliance Youth in northern Indiana. I was responsible for coordinating and collaborating with 12 Alliance churches to bring our youth groups together 3-4 times a year. We did summer camp with 100+ students. A New Year’s Eve Bash. Fun events where you could bring friends and share the gospel. Have you ever done something big and then looked back on it and thought what was I thinking?
One summer I partnered with another Alliance youth pastor in the area and we decided to do a senior high trip to Cedar Point – “the Roller Coast.” Between the two of us we had about 30 senior high students. We would have a lock in the night before with games and food and then get up the next morning and drive the 4 hours to Sandusky, OH, enjoy the roller coasters and drive home that night. As we began to put the plans together, we decided we could invite some of the other churches to join us. We figured a couple churches would take us up on it and the more the merrier. Right?
What were we thinking?
Apparently, everyone thought it was a genius idea and we had over 150 students, plus adults and suddenly our simple trip to Cedar Point seemed out of control. More Food. Bigger Games. Where are 150 kids going to sleep in the church – guys in the sanctuary – girls in the fellowship hall – drivers in the offices. Breakfast – oh yeah – we have to provide breakfast. Transportation?
Well, we did it. We had 25 vans in the caravan, everyone had a great time and we didn’t lose anybody.

But, What were we thinking?

We have been looking at Nehemiah on Sunday mornings and the task to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem was daunting. By travailing in prayer, Nehemiah began to see the size of the task through the eyes of God and what seemed daunting to him, through the lens of prayer, seemed completely in the realm of possibility with God. (Nehemiah 1—2) I love the fact that even with the enormity of the task, because God was in it, it was completely doable. The end of chapter 2 and all of 3 is my favorite part. A big God can and wants to accomplish big things through ordinary people like you and me and Nehemiah. And once the people heard Nehemiah tell of God’s vision and provision, “I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon my and what the king had said to me. They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.”

What ARE you thinking?
Lives of people all around us resemble the condition of Jerusalem as Nehemiah found it. Our current reality of renewing a nation is intimidating. People are in distress. People are broken down. People are burned. People are angry. The task of evangelizing our little corner of the world is daunting. There are literally millions of people headed toward a Christless eternity and we walk, work, play, shop beside them every day. God has given us this task, or ministry, of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:11-21) Introducing people to Jesus. What was God thinking – leaving that job to us? There are days I am distressed, broken and burned… and angry!

But Nehemiah learned the incredible lesson that nothing is daunting to God. God can do it and still chooses to do it through each one of us. Remember Nehemiah had everyone work right in front of their house. That was his strategy. Renewal begins right where you live and breathe! For Nehemiah it started with prayer, was carried out through prayer, and resulted in prayer. Let me encourage you, nothing is impossible for God – and through prayer nothing is impossible for God and you. What daunting task is God calling you into? Where is God working and inviting you to join him? What part of the wall will you take responsibility for?

“The God of heaven will give us success.” Nehemiah 2:20

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Preparations

Posted on September 22, 2023 by Ted W Harris

“Preparations”

It’s here! As I sit down to write this, we are less than 24 hours from the big event. My oldest daughter is getting married Friday evening. It all kind of hit me during today’s rehearsal as we stood in the little room and practiced walking down the aisle. A year ago the man of her dreams popped the question on the side of a mountain in Colorado and preparations began. I remember telling people that they were getting married next September. It seemed such a long way off then. Now, less than 24 hours. We have been going over the last minute check lists these last couple of days. More preparations. We have been moving things from her old apartment to their new apartment. More preparations. Family and friends are gathering at the Air BnB we reserved months ago. More preparations. The dresses are hung, flowers are laid out, decorations ready to be hung. More preparations.

Friday night at 6pm (9 pm Indiana time for those following along) – No more preparations. No more last minute changes. The music will start. Her brother will walk her mom down the aisle. Her sister will be escorted by the groom’s best friend. And then she and I will take that little stroll that every little girl and dad dream about. No more preparations. Vows will be said. Kisses will be shared. Tears will undoubtedly be shed. No more preparation. Now it’s time to celebrate. The Wedding banquet is ready!

The Bible speaks of another wedding banquet. Preparations are right now being made. This will be the banquet that follows Jesus’ return when he, the bridegroom, gathers his bride, the Church for the kickoff banquet of heaven. We don’t know the day nor the hour of this grand event. More preparations. In Matthew 24-25, Jesus teaches his disciples what that day will be like and the preparations being made for it. We are told that we too must be preparing ourselves for that day.  “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” Matthew 24:42″ Then no more preparations. After telling us to be alert and watchful, he tells a parable of 10 bridesmaids heading to the wedding. 5 spent their time preparing, getting ready to meet the groom. 5 did not plan ahead and when the time came were found not ready and missed the banquet.  

For each of us the return of Christ is somewhere in the future, maybe next September and it may feel like we have a lot of time to prepare for when the groom comes and the wedding happens. But if we knew that in less than 24 hours the skies would split and Jesus would come riding on the clouds, what would we do? How prepared are we? All of heaven is readying itself for when God says, “Dearly beloved…” (I don’t know what he is actually going to say) and…no more preparations! In the bigger picture of history and eternity, we have these present days to make preparations for the Wedding Banquet of the Lamb. To, by faith, dress ourselves in the clothes of righteousness, the righteousness of Christ. To extend the invitation to family and friends, even knowing that not everyone invited will come. Be diligent in our preparations. 
“Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” Revelation 19:7

“Are you ready?”

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Let the Games Begin

Posted on September 12, 2023 by Ted W Harris

As I am sitting at my dining room table we are about 2 minutes from the start of another NFL Season. Chiefs v. Lions. I don’t know why, buy I am really looking forward to this season. Opening week of the season means everyone is tied for first! Everyone seems to have an equal chance of winning it all! Everybody’s future is bright! Every fan base is optimistic, even the Lions! There is just something about a new season, a new day, that brings with it a new hope. Last year is in the rearview mirror, a distant memory soon to be forgotten. The Colts have a lot of new this year. New head coach, new quarterback, new back field, renewed optimism for the future. In many respects the Colts are a new team. And I am ready to cheer them on for the next 17 games. Win or lose I am on their team!

The start of the NFL season is not a whole lot different in my mind than what Paul told the Corinthians about what it is like to follow Jesus. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Corinthians 5:18) Did you catch that? Placing your faith, your life, your future in Christ, acknowledging him as your savior, becoming a true follower is like having a whole new season in front of you! Last season, all of the sin from your past, all of the mess-ups, all of the rebelliousness of the past, is in the rear view mirror. Jesus takes it all and makes us a new creature, a new teammate on a new team. A team with hope for the future because now we have a new coach in Jesus Christ. He begins to call the plays. We have new team mates who are lining up beside us. Some are veterans and have been following Christ for a long time. We need to listen to them, learn from them. The writer of Hebrews says that we are surrounded by a grandstand of witnesses, who are cheering us. These are saints that have played the game before us and have left us lives of faithful witness, again for us to learn from. 

We are also aware of the fact that with all of the newness that comes with following Jesus that we may not win every game. There will be times when we fail. The chances of the Colts going undefeated and winning the Super Bowl is pretty slim this year. They are going to make mistakes, fumble the ball, miss a tackle, allow the enemy to score. When we give in to temptation and follow the old way of life, John tells us that “if we confess our sins, He (Jesus, the coach) is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This just simply means that even when we are trying to follow Jesus and play the game right, there will be times when we fail. We will undoubtedly at times sin again BUT if we confess, come clean with Jesus, he will forgive us just like he did before and restore us with his righteousness. Every day is a new day with Jesus! Basically, we will be like preseason with a new hope, new start. Making confession a regular rhythm of our life means every day is filled with hope!  And like every player this weekend, we can’t go out and fumble on purpose, or run the wrong route on purpose, what kind of teammate is that? But it might happen for whatever reason. So we bring it to God through confession and receive his renewing forgiveness. Daily confess and daily our sins are forgiven and we start fresh.

And if one of our teammates fumbles, if another follower of Christ is running the wrong route, what do we do? We extend them the same grace and forgiveness that Jesus extends us. And Jesus told Peter it didn’t matter how many times they fumbled, even 490 times, which would be a new NFL record (Matthew 18:22). This is what makes a team strong. It is what makes good teammates. We are all just trying to follow Jesus. And none of his will go undefeated! This year we may need to extend some grace to our beloved Colts but more importantly we need to extend grace to our beloved brothers and sisters in Christ! So let’s cheer each other on, pick each other up if someone should fumble.  Our goal Paul tells us is to live in such a way as to win the Super Bowl (or something to that effect) Win or lose, I am on your team!

“Colts Strong!  Jesus Stronger!!”

 

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YARD WARS!

Posted on September 7, 2023 by Ted W Harris

Every time I mow the yard, there they are staring at me. Watching me. I can only assume with a smirk. I can feel it as I pass over them. Weeds!  I hate weeds. I long for that lawn of luscious green grass. When we bought our house and moved in last summer we were already way behind in the ‘get the weeds under control’ war. As Sari and I took walks through the neighborhood, we would look at the lawns we passed and after seeing a few that looked great we noticed what lawn care company truck pulled up and treated the yard.  We made a call and after a few applications we could notice a difference, fewer weeds, thicker, greener grass. And then it happened. After those late summer rains, they began to come out of hiding. Popping their big leafy heads up above the grass. Just a few encampments of some unknown but unwanted foliage in the midst of the grass. And then the untreated weeds in the neighbor’s yard formed an army and were mounting an attack on the western front. We were losing the battle and now as I mowed, they stared, watching me, mocking my efforts. Calls to the specialist for back up went unanswered. I fear the worse in the days ahead!
 
Okay, I get it, it’s just weeds in a yard. But I could just as easily be metaphorically describing our spiritual lives. As unbelievers, we live our lives with no recognition of Christ, no real acknowledgement or even care of the weeds, sins, that our life is producing. At some point, we come to the realization of our sinfulness, accept Christ as our Savior and the Holy Spirit moves in and we begin to notice weeds, sins. Sins that were always there but until now unnoticed or we just didn’t care. We begin treating those sins with confession and repentance and we receive forgiveness. Our life starts to transform, become a beautiful thing. Weeds, sins are replaced with luscious grass, the loving grace of a Savior and the desire to live for him.
 
But then out of nowhere, the weeds, sins, we thought had been eradicated begin to pop up in our life again. Where did that thought come from? Temptations, bad ideas, false teaching that blows in from neighboring podcasts and social media posts. We feel the spiritual growth we had been seeing, the deeper understanding and relationship with Jesus, has taken a hit.  Jesus warns us that this can happen. In Matthew 13 Jesus tells a parable, those stories of everyday happenings that illustrate a point. The Parable of the Sower. This sower went and was spreading seed that he might grow a crop and the seed fell on 4 different kinds of soil: packed, rocky, weedy, and good. And while this parable speaks about a person first hearing the gospel, it is a great illustration of the life of a growing believer.
 
Let’s be honest all of those soils still exist in our life and if we aren’t diligent in the cultivating the soil that makes up our heart and mind, fostering a biblical worldview that allows growth, it is easy for old ways, wrong teaching, bad ideas to blow in and begin to take root, grow and pop up in our lives. And we are all susceptible to weeds, sin popping up. But the diligent disciple, the one who is alert to his heart and mind and what is sown in them, will be intentional in breaking up the packed ground, mindful of the rocks and weeds, cultivating, preparing the soil of our mind to receive the truth of God. Taking those old, hardened parts of our life to God in prayer, keeping them before the Savior is how we break them up. How we cultivate good soil out of packed, rocky, weedy stuff.
 
Do you know where the ideas that are growing in your mind are coming from? What are you doing to break up the hard places? What rocks still exist and need to be confessed, dug up and thrown away?  How do you discern the good seed from the weeds? Someone once told me that the best way to eliminate weeds is to have strong healthy grass. Strong healthy grass chokes out weeds. A steady, healthy application of the gospel, on soil that is cultivated and prepared to receive the truth of God, “this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.” Take some time this week and ask God to show you the packed, rocky, weedy areas of your life. To fertilize that soil with grace and truth through his Spirit and the Word. And see what begins to grow!

“The battle is real”

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The Religious Sampler

Posted on August 24, 2023 by Ted W Harris

Thursdays are staff meetings at the church. After staff meeting, we pick a place to go to lunch and whoever can make it loads up and heads to the restaurant du jour. This week it was Zionsville Pizzeria and their all you can eat buffet! I love buffets. Not only will I be assured of getting my money’s worth but I love a variety. I can eat from four or five different pizzas. Try new ones with little risk. And a salad bar. Don’t get me started!  Sometimes when we go to dinner and I can’t nail down the one thing I want to eat I go for the Appetizer Sampler Platter. Variety. Options. Wings and Mozzarella Sticks and Fried Pickles!

The Sampler mentality works well in a lot of areas of life; music (Contemporary Christian and Classic Rock, because the 80’s had the best music); movies (Barbie and Oppenheimer – Barbenheimer); books (classics, biographies, sci-fi). The Sampler offers different options for how a person is feeling at the time. And while it works well in some areas – religion is not one of them. But many live their lives sampling various religions and taking something from Hindu, a little from Buddha, a pinch of secular humanism and mix it in with a healthy shot of Christianity. Whatever makes them feel good. We call it pluralism and it doesn’t work. It basically states that all world religions are true and equally valid in their understanding of truth, God and the world. A neighbor to pluralism is relativism. Where everyone gets to choose their own version of truth and no one can tell them they are wrong. But this doesn’t work. Two people can’t believe opposite things and both be right. That isn’t reality!

As we continue our discussion on consecration, we are reminded that the definition is to set apart or to devote a person or thing. We understand that to mean devotion to God and God alone. Consecration doesn’t offer a sampler patter. Yet many times reality finds us treating consecration with a sort of relativism. We allow things and activities to crowd out God as number one in our life. We allow misinformation or just bad teaching to shape our understanding of God. God is all loving, therefore, Hell doesn’t exist? God and science don’t mix? God will answer my prayer if I am good? God loves everyone, so it doesn’t matter how you live your life? We push God to the margins and live as practical or temporary atheists.

What does Scripture say about this Religious Sampler?

1 Corinthians 8:6, “But for us, There is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom we live. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live.”

Romans 12:2, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

The question then has to be asked, What part of the world’s thinking have we allowed to shape our faith in God? or Where have we conformed to the pattern (whether thinking or behavior) to this world? or What area of our life reflects more of the world than it reflects the image and character of God?

The answer points to the area that is yet to be consecrated. That part of our life that we need to confess and bring under the lordship of Christ.

Sampler’s are good to eat but a lousy way to build our faith!

“The world has yet to see what God can do with a person fully consecrated to him. Will you be that person?”

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BIGGS!

Posted on August 16, 2023 by Ted W Harris

Meet Biggs. The Big Snort! The Lovable Doofus!  He goes by many names but seldom comes no matter what you call him. He is a bundle of hairy fun and has quite the personality. He is our 5 year old English Golden Retriever.  He loves to be outside. Outside laying down, surveying the vast kingdom of our backyard. Occasionally we have intruders. Little brown creatures with long furry ears and a cottontail. They are everywhere. Now Biggs is not the most stealth creature and has never come close to catching a rabbit but he tries. Well until one time, we aren’t really sure when, he planted his 120 pound body and made a quick turn tearing the ACL in his back knee. In fact we learned that at some point he had torn the ACL in both back knees. He was in bad shape. Fast forward through x-rays, two weeks of hobbling around, losing 25 pounds, taking daily meds and he is back at his post guarding the back yard. There are still bunnies to be chased and while his head says go, those back legs have lessened his already minuscule chance of catching that rascally rabbit. But he still tries.

Biggs’ situation reminded me of a verse that Jesus shared with his disciples the night he was arrested. He was in deep sorrow of his soul knowing the cross was just hours away. He went into a garden to pray and asked his disciples to be praying as well. At one point he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. “He asked Peter, ‘So couldn’t you stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation. The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.’ (Matthew 26:41, NASB)

We are entering a season of consecration at Eagle Church. Consecration is a practice throughout the Bible where people were called on to consecrate or set apart for God, items used for worship or service. At times they were to consecrate themselves. Say one big Yes to God which leads them to say a thousand no’s to the world. Last Sunday we learned that Consecration is the opposite of Compromise. Consecration is a choice we make. A daily choice to devote ourselves, our stuff, our life to the things of God, the person and purpose of God.

And while the concept is easy to understand. And I would guess, by the 100+ who came forward at the end of the service, it is something we want to do. But a lot of times the Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. That word weak in the Greek is used several times in the New Testament but almost every other time it is translated ‘sick.’ That is the hard part of consecrating ourselves. We want to in our spirit but our bodies are sick. Sin is the great opponent to consecration. This is why it must be a daily choice. A moment by moment decision to chase after God and not the things of the world.

If you make the decision, take heed to Jesus’ words: Stay awake and pray! Stay awake or stay alert. Consecration is a declaration of war on the enemy. And he will not go away quietly. The call to consecration is a call to prayer. 
Pray for yourselves – that you will be aware of the devils schemes, so that you won’t enter into temptation.
Pray for one another – that we might see what God can do with a church fully consecrated to him.
Pray for your church staff and leaders – that they would be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading as we navigate these days of unprecedented compromise.

Biggs has to daily take his anti-inflammatory meds and his glucosamine supplements or any progress he has made will be lost. You and I need to daily present our lives, consecrated to the Lord. We need to daily be praying as we chase after the person and purpose of God by the power of God.

“The world is yet to see what God can do with a person fully consecrated to him. Will you be that person?”

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