WAITING TIME ISN'T WASTED TIME

The first half of our summer had purpose.  After I retired from being a pastor, we took several weeks vacation to visit our kids and travel the east coast. 

Upon returning, we participated in the Tri-State Family Camp in East Liverpool.  This ten days always brings us meaning and pleasure as we spend it with family and friends.  After camp, I still had to finish a TESL Class in Pittsburgh.

But since then it seems that we've been playing the waiting game.  We are having to meet meticulous requirements established by the Chinese government;  this occupies some of our time.  We have lots of reading to do in preparation for our 'orientation' - set for the end of next week.  A missionary (who speaks Chinese and has been there for over ten years) is being flown it to spend two days training us.  In addition, I have been asked to preach for three Sundays as a supply for a pastor on vacation.

But to be honest, we feel like we're temporarily on-the-shelf. 

We hope to soon receive our coveted "Letter of Invitation" that will allow us to BEGIN the process of applying for our visas.  We hear that's an arduous process that usually culminates in a last-minute-approval and a hurried flight to our destination. 

I think we'd both just like to get there - tomorrow (or maybe after one last visit with our grandkids). 

So, is this just wasted time?  All we seem to be doing is waiting to go.

No!  No!

I'm aware of God doing essential work in my life!

1. I am learning a great deal about China!  The books I'm reading are filling in vital gaps about the history of China, facts about Chinese culture and behavior, and the vital emergence of Christianity in China!
2. Debbie and I eagerly anticipate our 'orientation' with Dana Weld.  We know God is going to use this veteran to teach and coach us in vital areas of knowledge!
3. There is also a spiritual work going on in my heart and life as I fast, pray and wait before the Lord.  God is teaching me about humility and depending on Him through prayer!  I am grateful for His supreme patience in working with me.

Years ago, Henry Blackaby's book, Experiencing God, made a massive impact on my life and theology.  One of the big things I learned from him was that when nothing seems to be happening, when there is no clear assignment from God, use the time to draw near to God and work on your relationship with Him!

So, our waiting time is NOT wasted time!  It is, rather, a vital time of education and preparation!  And we're maximizing it to the best of our ability!!

HOME

How do you define 'Home'? 

• It's the place where you keep all your stuff.
• It's where you live.
• It's the place from which you orient your life.
• It's where you eat and sleep.
• It's where you rest and relax from your work and other activity.
• It's where your family connects meaningfully and interacts.

In American culture, our homes range from shacks to mansions.  When we lived in Kentucky, I remember seeing homes where the chickens wandered in-and-out of the house the same as the people. 

Sandi Patty used to sing, "Home Is Where The Heart Is."  By this, I think she meant that it is where love is cultivated and exchanged among family members.

Debbie has always been so good at making a house into a home!  We've almost always opened our home for groups and other guests;  they quickly attest to the warmth they sense when they walk into our living room.  What's that about?

Our homes have never been extravagant.  Debbie's decorations, although nice, are not expensive items.  Our furniture has often been worn and uncomfortable from much use.  Our carpets have had unfortunate stains from a wide variety of 'accidents'. 

Yet, our home has always been a respite to me from the stresses and pressures of being a pastor.  She's consistently created a 'safe zone' for us. 

Since our marriage (almost exactly 39 years ago) we have lived in at least twelve different places.  Each one has been a comfortable haven.

Our kids have returned to our various houses to visit us;  they've never complained.  Even though the place may have changed, it's still HOME! 

Right now, 'home' is Travis' cabin on the Tri-State Campground in East Liverpool.  It's a humble place to live.  No AC - but a good supply of fans.  We walk across the drive to use public restrooms;  however, since camp ended we each have large private bathrooms!  :-)  We've been hot.  Most mornings we're cold and damp.  We cook on a grill and in a microwave.   We have a small, flatscreen TV that we watch DVDs on.  My biggest inconvenience has been not having TV reception;  I really do miss watching the Olympics.
We've been here for a month and we probably have another month before we move on. 

Then, Debbie will face the challenge of making a small apartment in Changchun into our new 'home' for the next year.  And I assure you, we'll entertain LOTS of Chinese students while we're there!  And beyond that - who knows?  Maybe more China.  Or a year in Europe?  Or Africa?  Or back to the States? 

But, no matter where we are, my wife will turn it into a HOME!

WIDEN MY CIRCLE, LORD

There seems to be a tendency in us to find friends who are similar.  We like people who share our point-of-view.  It makes us comfortable.  If their backgrounds are similar to ours, all-the-better. 

This has been true for me much of my life.  For me, the church has actually served a somewhat evil purpose;  it has created an abnormal circle of "fellowship" that is dissimilar from the culture. 

I remember reading a book in seminary titled, God's Colony.  It spoke of this proclivity to create a barrier of protection between people of faith and lost people.  What is it in us that makes us do this?

We didn't learn this from Jesus!  Rather, He infiltrated the circles that lost people had created!  :-)   He invited Himself to their homes!  He chased them down at the pools.  He included, rather than excluded.  He knew no strangers.

We are so unlike Him in this regard. 

Perhaps when I find people who agree with me, are similar to me, and share my values, it confirms that I'm right.  Am I that weak and uncertain? 

On occasions when I have reached beyond my normal circles for friendship - I have been surprised and delighted.  Getting to know someone connects us to them.  Why am I afriad of this process? 

I recently spent time with ten people who were VERY dissimilar from me.  I was more drawn to some than others.  But when our marathon of time together ended, I was able to say to the whole group:  "I'm glad I had the opportunity to spend this time with you!" 

When we lived in Akron, I became good friends with several homeless men.  I knew them and they knew me.  I spent time with them almost every Saturday morning.  I miss that!  They added value to my life!

I want to have a broader assoication of friends.  I want to have friends who are very different from me.  I don't want to live my life in a clique!  I want to be more like Jesus in this regard...

WHEN'S THE LAST TIME YOU THOUGHT ABOUT HEAVEN?

The following is from Paul's second letter to Christ-followers in Corinth, 4:17-18 (NLT):

...we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.

It is to our detriment that we ignore (or deny) the realities of Heaven! 

It seems to me that the only time Heaven is considered in this culture is when a friend or loved one dies.  Then, we state, "They have gone to a better place."  These words ring hollow.  They mock us.  Little in our lifestyle indicates that we really believe in "a better place."

Universalism reigns.  Not only do all dogs go to heaven, but so do all people.  It really doesn't matter how you lived your life.  It doesn't matter if you claimed Christ as your Lord.  The assumed reality is:  when you die, you go to heaven.

Scripture encourages believers to think about Heaven as a reality that impacts our daily lives.  The way I live my life impacts my eternal destiny!

Most of us, admittedly,  live in a way that at least looks like it's all about this world.  We get caught up in accumulating things and enjoying pleasures.

On rare occasions (perhaps now is one of them), when we actually think about what God's Word says about us and Heaven, we wonder if maybe we're mis-spending our lives.   

· Perhaps I should be more generous?

· Maybe I should care more about the desperate conditions of the global poor?

· Should I give myself to some cause that goes beyond myself?

· Am I fulfilling the purposes of God?

· What would it look like if I was to deny myself, take up my cross daily, and follow Christ?

· If "true religion" is caring for widows and orphans, how am I helping with that?

I remember hearing a story many years ago.

Two men arrived in Heaven at the same time.  Saint Peter led one to a large, well-built, handsome home and handed him the keys.

Then he walked the other man to a small shack.

The man, obviously shocked and disappointed, asked Saint Peter why his heavenly home was so small and poorly built.

Peter replied:  "We did the best we could with the materials you sent ahead!"

---

Lord,

Help me to be more conscious of the realities of Heaven in my day-to-day living.  Help me to curb my appetite for self-satisfaction and creature-comforts.  Teach me to care and to share! 

Enable me to see the wisdom of sending lots of building materials ahead.  By Your Spirit, remind me frequently that it's not about this world - it's all about the next!

Amen. 

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

His name was Ahaz;  he was king of Judah.

One day he got word that two kings had joined forces and were going to attack him;  they were Rezin, king of Syria, and Pekah, king of Israel.

Isaiah 7:2 (LB) reports:  ...the hearts of the king (Ahaz) and his people trembled with fear as the trees of a forest shake in a storm.

The Lord sent Isaiah, the prophet, to king Ahaz to tell him to not be afraid.  (v.7)  This plan will not succeed.

But, God - who knows all things - saw that king Ahaz didn't quite believe Isaiah.  So God said:  (v.9)  You don't believe Me?  If you want Me to protect you, you must learn to believe what I say.

Then, in an effort to convince Ahaz, God said:  (v.11)  Ask Me for a sign, Ahaz, to prove that I will indeed crush your enemies as I have said.  Ask anything you like, in heaven or on earth.

Wow!  What a golden opportunity!  ...anything...in heaven or on earth!

• "God, let me visit Heaven for one hour!"
• "God, heal my sick friend or relative."
• "God, take away that mark on my neck!"
• "God, bring great wealth to my family."
• "God, make it rain on our vineyards."
• "God, give me a brand new chariot with chrome wheels and four-horse-power!"

(v.12)  But the king refused, "No," he said, "I'll not bother the Lord with anything like that."

WHAT?  Are you kidding?  What a fool!

But wait:  maybe God knew what He was doing.  Maybe God was orchestrating a bigger plan and simply using Ahaz's reticense to accomplish it. 

Then, Isaiah spoke for God:  (v.14)  All right then, the Lord Himself will choose the sign - a child shall be born to a virgin!  And she shall call Him Immanuel (meaning "God is with us").

And now you know THE REST OF THE STORY!

PS  -  God went on to promise that before this child was weaned, both Rezin and Pekah would be dead!  And so it was...

SOUR GRAPES

Isaiah 5 tells a metaphorical story about God.

(vs.1-2)  My Beloved has a vineyard on a very fertile hill.  He plowed it and took out all the rocks and planted His vineyard with the choicest vines.  He built a watchtower and cut a winepress in the rocks.  Then He waited for the harvest, but the grapes that grew were wild and sour and not at all the sweet ones He expected.

Imagine God's disappointment!  After all His work and investment, He got sour grapes!

Later in the chapter, the metaphor is unpacked.

(vs. 7-8)  I have given you the story of God's people.  They are the vineyard that I spoke about.  Israel and Judah are His pleasant acreage!  He expected them to yield a crop of justice, but found bloodshed instead.  He expected righteousness, but the cries of deep oppression met His ears.  You buy up property so others have no place to live.  Your homes are built on great estates so you can be alone in the midst of the earth!

I wonder what this would sound like if we applied it to the current state of the Church in America.

The one, true God, out of His compassion for the spiritually lost around the world, moved the minds and hearts of some of His people to establish a new land across the sea.  This land was established as a place of refuge from persecution and freedom to worship God without fear.  God deliberately prospered this people and this land until it became the most prosperous place on the whole earth!  God did this with the hope that His people - in this new land - would be a source of provision and blessing to the lost around His globe.

The coherent among us can see where this is heading...

But this new land and people gradually became enamored with their newfound wealth.  Rather than use it to extend the Good News of God around the world, they used it to buy bigger and better homes and more and more toys and conveniences.  Their passion for spiritually lost people waned until it barely existed.  Their captivation with entertainment and self-satisfaction ruled their lives;  meanwhile God's purposes for them became long-lost and quickly fading memories

BECOME A GOOD REPENTER

I read those words in a book:  Secrets of the Secret Place, by Bob Sorge (recommended to me by Robin McFarren - thank you SO MUCH, Robin). 

Although I've lived immersed in the life of the church for most of my life, I must admit that I've seen very little repentance in the church.  It seems to be something done only at the point of an initial salvation experience. 

But think of it this way:  the closer you get to a holy God, the more you become aware of your imperfections!

If that statement is true (and I believe it is), then the growing believer will find him/herself repenting with ever-increasing frequency. 

Sorge writes: 

"I so very much long to please Him and to know His will, so my spirit diligently searches the recesses of my heart to see if there might be anything in me for which I need to repent."  He adds, "The only way to move forward in God is through repentance."

For those of us who have grown past the blatant, outward sins, we then begin to explore the deeper recesses of our fallen nature.  We move into the realm of thoughts, motives, feelings, responses and desires.  Sins in these areas are far more subtle.  It often takes silence, solitude, and the finger of God to point them out. 

I once heard an evangelist state that he hadn't sinned in seventeen years
...........................................................Liar, liar, pants on fire!

The crafters of the Westminster Confession believed that we sin in thought, word, and deed everyday.  I don't care to debate that here and now, but I do know this:  I am "...prone to wander, Lord, I feel it;  prone to leave the God I love."

I have a sinful nature and I have an enemy of my soul.  These two realities are turning me into A GOOD REPENTER!  How about you?