Christians should not be superstitious!

Hey Friends,

A Happy Friday 13th to everyone who reads this. Many folks who are Paraskevidekatriaphobics will stay home from work today because they are afflicted with a morbid, irrational fear of Friday the 13th.

Those who suffer from Triskaidekaphobia will also probably have a rough day because they have a fear of the number 13.

Basically every culture or civilization has dealt with many different types of superstitious beliefs. A little internet research will result in superstitious beliefs like: Don’t let a black cat cross your path, don’t walk under a latter, don’t spill the salt, cross your fingers etc. etc. Some folks believe 13 is an unlucky number because Judas was the 13 person at the Last Supper.

According to gotquestions.org:“Superstition is based on the ignorant faith of an object having magical powers. Another word for superstition is “idolatry.” The Bible does not support the idea of things occurring by chance, but nothing is done outside of God’s sovereign control. Either He causes or allows everything in keeping with His divine plan (Acts 4:28; Ephesians 1:10).”

I have never really been a person who entertained the idea of being superstitious. However, over the years I have been shocked by the number of Christians I have encountered who seem to be caught in in different levels of superstition. From “finger-crossing,” to “reading horoscopes,” Christians should never even dabble in these ungodly things. Why?  Because the Bible teaches that two of the most important attributes of God, spoken of in the Bible are God’s Sovereignty and God’s Providence. 

When we say, “God is Sovereign,” we are saying that God has supreme authority over the universe and has the absolute right to do with His creation what He wills. God is in charge of all that takes place in the universe.

When we speak of the “Providence of God,” we are saying that God is in the business of working all things together in the universe to accomplish His will.

This is what Paul is talking about in Romans 8:28 when he tells the church at Rome that “All things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose!”

Why would a Christian have to be superstitious when God is working all things together for their good? When we act in ways that are superstitious, what we are saying to God is, “I don’t trust you or your Word.”

We, as Christians, are supposed to be different than the world. So, stop worrying about black cats, broken mirrors and spilling the salt. Stop knocking on wood and start trusting God and His Word to lead and guide your life.

Never think that your horoscope or the stars can tell you what your day is going to be like and instead, read the 66 love letters God has written to you in His sacred and Holy Word. If we truly want the world to see Jesus in us, we need to stop being so much like the world. We can do it if we will simply rely and depend on God and His Word. Have a great weekend,

Living Life to the Full,

Pastor Scott

JUSTICE HAS BEEN REPLACED BY TOLERANCE

Hey friends,

I hope you had the opportunity to enjoy and celebrate the 4th of July; also know as Independence Day. It must have been a time of great fear and trepidation as the original signers of the Declaration of Independence penned their names on this sacred document. I am sure each family represented at the signing knew of the risk of this declaration, but they also believed that the hope of a greater reward in the future was worth the risk.

My family and I celebrated Independence Day in Billings, Montana at an event called, "Celebrate Freedom." We feasted on Hamburgers, Bratwurst, Ice Cream and Ice Cold Lemonade. We also waited until 10:15 p.m. for the sun to completely go down to achieve the perfect darkness for viewing fireworks.

As I watched the fireworks I thought about what our country used to be and what our country has become. We were once a nation that feared the God of the Bible and wasn't afraid to invoke His name at school functions, city council meetings or simple picnics in the park. We were a nation of morals and principles the were grounded in God's Holy Word. We were once a nation where you could call sin "sin," and were not labeled a bigot or accused of being intolerant. We were a nation that showed honor to both our military hero's and our elderly. We were a nation that believe in hard work and its reward. We were a nation that stood for "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." One of the most important virtues we believed in as a nation was the biblical virtue of justice.

Sadly, our nation (generally speaking) has become a nation that no longer fears God. In fact, you can choose your own God if that you makes you happy and others have no right to judge you or criticize your God. Our nation has become a nation where invoking Gods blessing, guidance, or protection can be offensive to some, so it is no longer allowed for the rest of us. Our nation has become a nation that believes all "Love relationship" should be seen as equal and validated by the state. Our war hero's and elderly are treated like "second class" citizens. Our nation has become a nation that encourages free-loaders and rewards those who will not work for a living.

I believe the cause of much of this I have described is the lack of reverence for the biblical virtue of "justice" that has been replaced in our nation by the ungodly worship of the unbiblical virtue of "tolerance."

Tolerance has become the cure for any thing that troubles our culture.  When immoral behavior or judgment between what is right and what is wrong rears it ugly head, we simply are told to cover that with a large amount of tolerance, and the world will be a better place. When a philosophy or worldview is shared that is different than a biblical world view, we are urged to never disagree or judge another person's worldview, but to simply invoke the virtue of tolerance. When some shares that your view and their view of the world are diametrically opposed, yet both are still true, we are called to simply acquiesce to the virtue of tolerance.

Paul Copan in his book, True for You, But not for Me, writes, "Contrary to popular definitions, true tolerance means ‘putting up with error’ - not ‘being accepting of all views’…It is because real differences exist between people that tolerance becomes necessary and virtuous."

Almost 48 years ago, I was born into a world where the culture's motto was, "If it feels good do it." Today or cultural motto is, "Judge Nothing; Tolerate Everything." I speak just as one person who fears the God of the Bible when I ask, "Isn't about time we re-evaluated this whole "tolerance" movement?"  Do we really want our children and grandchildren growing up in a world where morality and virtue have been supplanted by tolerance and wickedness?

I am not an expert on constitutional law, however, I do not believe that or nation is at a place morally or ethically where our founding fathers envisioned us being over two hundred years after signing their declaration.  

After all this, I simply want to encourage all God-fearing followers of Christ to simply live like a God-fearing follower of Christ. Stand up for the morality and virtue spoken of in God's Word. Don't be afraid to call sin, sin! Be a light in your community that points people to the grace, mercy,  forgiveness and love that is found only in Jesus Christ. Some people will still hate, you, call you a bigot and will claim you are intolerant. However, if you life your life as a follower of Christ, Jesus will someday say to you, "Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into your rest!

Living Life to the Full,

Pastor Scott

Thanks Dad!

As a child, my father was always difficult for me to figure out. I knew that he got up for work very early in the morning, while it was still dark, and he arrived back home, many times after we got home from school. He would always come in and sit in His chair before dinner and would almost always fall asleep.  I always used to try to figure out what he was doing while he was at work. I knew he was a bread man, but that didn’t mean anything to me. My dad ran a bread route for Weber’s Bread during most of my childhood. I learned later that he worked long hours, for not a whole lot of money. My dad rarely missed a day of work, even when he was sick; he almost always went to work anyway. There was a job to be done and he was going to do it. Even after a long day of work, dad almost always showed up for our ballgames. He was always a great example to us boys of what hard work and dedication was all about. My dad continues to be a hard worker even into his 70s.

I finally understood some of what my dad when through when I first graduated from seminary. While searching for a job in the ministry, I took a job as a milk man. Being a milk man is similar to being a bread man. You get up before the sun and sometimes come home in the afternoon. I was single and unmarried, so that made it a little easier, but it was a tough job, for not a lot of money. I could have never done that job without the example of my dad. In the three and a half years I worked for the dairy, I had perfect attendance. I may be a pastor, but I spent a number of years working in secular jobs. I know that it can be difficult to work long hours and then come home and be a dad.

My dad wasn’t perfect and neither am I. Your dad wasn’t perfect and neither are you. God doesn’t call us to be perfect dads, He simply call us to be like Jesus. The best dads are always the ones who make Jesus first in their lives.

If you are a dad, I want you to consider what a great privilege it is to have the opportunity to set a godly example for your children. We live in a world where the culture is trying to squeeze dads out of the family, but families need to have dads. You will never be the dad God has called you to be, if you are not committed to being the man God has called you to be. God also gives us this special task:

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (The Message): “Write these commandments that I've given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night.”

I am thankful my dad taught me about hard word, however, I am more thankful that he took me to church to hear the life-changing message of the Gospel of Christ. You can teach your kids to shoot, fish, hunt, and fix cars, but the most important thing you will ever teach your children about is the Good News of Jesus Christ. I hope and pray dads will be committed to this task. Thanks Dad!

Living Life to the Full,

Scott

Pray for your Pastor

I just had the privilege of spending a week with approximately one thousand pastors at the 2012 Moody Bible Institute Pastor's Conference. I was encouraged by all of the great teaching and worship; however, it might surprise you that I do not primarily attend this conference for the teaching and the worship.

I attend this conference every year for the purpose of fellowshipping with other pastor's. Some of you may not be aware of this, but being a pastor can be a lonely vocation. This is not a gripe or complaint; it is simply a fact of being in the ministry of the Gospel.

When pastors get together with other pastors, we share our hopes and dreams for the people that God has given us the privilege of shepherding and we share our frustrations we experience with...

Getting on the plane in Chicago...Landing in Denver...waiting in Denver.

 …the sheep and the inadequacies we struggle with as shepherds.

There is a brotherhood that we share that goes deep as a result of our shared experiences in the ministry. We all know how much we need each other and remind each other how much we need Christ leading and guiding our churches.

This may sound self-serving but I want to encourage those who read this (including the folks in the church I serve in) to pray for your pastor's. They may look like they know what they are doing, but most of the time they have no clue; including myself.  If you are not sure what to pray for your pastor, simply pray that they will totally rely on Jesus and His Word as they do the work God has called them to.

Living Life to the Full (And waiting for a plane to Worland… Landed in Worland and glad to be back safe and sound,)

Pastor Scott

The Lord of the Dance

It has been a rough couple of weeks for me. First and sadly, one of my favorite football players of all time, Junior Seau took his own life. I watched Junior Seau play football at Oceanside High School, USC and for many years with the San Diego Chargers. Seau played every play like it might be his last. He had a personality that was larger than life and he was a hero to many in San Diego; however, that apparently wasn’t enough. He eventually came to that deep dark place where he made the ultimate choice to take his own life.

This week, the Queen of Disco, Donna Summer, died of cancer. I grew up during the days of disco. Almost every high school dance I attended, the final song was always Donna Summers, “Last Dance.” This song was always bitter sweet. Since we knew it was the last dance, it made us sad, but it also pumped us up to break out every last disco move we had because it was the last dance.

 I think that one of many metaphors for life can be a dance. When the dance starts, lots of folks are just standing around; waiting for the right song to break the ice. Whether it was Glenn Miller’s “In the Mood,” Elvis Pressley’s “Jail House Rock, or for me the Bee Gees “Stayin Alive,” once the right song came on the dance began.  Throughout the night, we all danced to fast songs and slow songs, long songs and short songs, some songs we liked, and some songs we didn’t, however, we almost always danced. Why, because it was a dance! We came to DANCE!

 In Psalm 150:4, the Psalmist tells us to, “Praise the Lord with the tambourine and dance…” and Solomon tells us in Ecclesiastes 3:4, “…there is a time to dance.”

I remember singing a hymn as a child called, “The Lord of the Dance”. Take a moment to read the lyrics:

I danced in the morning when the world was begun; I danced in the Moon & the Stars & the Sun.
I came down from Heaven & I danced on Earth. At Bethlehem I had my birth:

Chorus: Dance then, wherever you may be. I am the Lord of the Dance, said He!        
And I'll lead you all, wherever you may be. And I'll lead you all in the Dance, said He!
I danced for the Scribe & the Pharisee. But they would not dance & they wouldn't follow me
I danced for fishermen, for James & John. They came with me & the Dance went on:

I danced on the Sabbath & I cured the lame. The holy people said it was a shame!
They whipped & they stripped & they hung me high. And they left me there on a cross to die!

I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black. It's hard to dance with the devil on your back.
They buried my body & they thought I'd gone. But I am the Dance & I still go on!

They cut me down and I leapt up high. I am the Life that'll never, never die!
I'll live in you if you'll live in Me - I am the Lord of the Dance, said He!

 Jesus is the Lord of the Dance and He invites us, His children to dance with him today, tomorrow and for all of eternity.  Don’t quit dancing; however difficult life may become, keep on dancing.

 Someday, each of us will participate in the last dance of this life. Which song will be playing on your last dance? Will it be “Stairway to Heaven,” or will it be, “Highway to Hell.” Don’t wait until it is too late to pick your song. Jesus invites you to dance. Will you dance with the Lord of the Dance?” 

I hope you will.

Living Life to the Full,

Pastor Scott

We've Become Soft on Sin

I believe many Christians have become soft on sin. Sins that are spoken about today freely in public, used to only be whispered about in private.

In Jerry Bridges book, Respectable Sins:Confronting the Sins we tolerate, (which I recommend that everyone read), he speaks about how our many Christians have become soft on sin.

If you recall when Kobe Bryant committed adultery a number of years ago, he stated, "I made the mistake of adultery." We now call sin simply a mistake. Premarital sex sounds much more tolerable than fornication. Pro-choice is much more tolerable than Pro-abortion.

Sin used to mean more than simply doing something wrong. Bridges writes:

"Sin is a principle or moral force in our heart, our inner being. Our sinful actions, words, and thoughts are simply expressions of the principle of sin residing within us, even in those of us whose hearts have been renewed. Even though our hearts have been renewed, even though we have been freed from the absolute dominion of sin, even though God's Holy Spirit dwells within our bodies, this principle of sin still lurks within us and wages war against our souls."

We must not fail to recognize this awful truth. In Puritan Ralph Venning's book, The Sinfulness of Sin, he makes this contrast between the holiness of God and our sin:

"God is holy, all holy, only holy, altogether holy and always holy, so sin is sinful, all sinful, only sinful altogether sinful and always sinful."

Bridges then writes:

"Whether our sin is large or small in our eyes, it is heinous in the sight of God. God forgives us our sin because of the shed blood of Christ, but he does not tolerate it. Instead, every sin that we commit, even the subtle sin that we don't even think about, was laid upon Christ as He bore the curse of God in our place. And herein lies chiefly the malignancy of sin, Christ suffered because of our sin."

When am reminded that my sin caused Christ to suffer, then I begin to hate my sin and do my best, through the power of the Holy Spirit to refrain from sin.

The Apostle Paul stated in Romans 6 that where sin abounds, grace there much more abounds. So is Paul saying if we want to experience more of God's grace then we simply should sin more? Of course not! We should be committed to sin less and be intolerant of sin in our lives.

If we continue to be soft on sin and tolerate sin in our lives we are in danger of making excuses and rationalizations for our sin and becoming grace junkies.

Living life to the full and hating my sin,

Scott

Deep Birthday Thoughts

Since I am celebrating my 46th Birthday today, I thought I would share some deep birthday wisdom. This wisdom does not come from me, but from the late Henri Nouwen. I love what Nouwen has to say about Birthdays and it is my gift to you on my birthday. I encourage you to take three minutes and read Nouwen's thoughts:

Birthdays need to be celebrated. I think it is more important to celebrate a birthday than a successful exam, a promotion, or a victory. Because to celebrate a birthday means to say to someone: "Thank you for being you." Celebrating a birthday is exalting life and being glad for it. On a birthday we do not say: "Thanks for what you did, or said, or accomplished." No, we say: "Thank you for being born and being among us."

On birthdays we celebrate the present. We do not complain about what happened or speculate about what will happen, but we lift someone up and let everyone say: "We love you!"

I know a friend who, on his birthday, is picked up by his friends, carried to the bathroom, and thrown clothes and all into a tub full of water. Everyone eagerly awaits his birthday, even he himself. I have no idea where this tradition came from, but to be lifted up and "re-baptized" seems like a very good way to have your life celebrated. We are made aware that although we have to keep our feet on the ground, we are created to reach the heavens, and that, although we easily get dirty, we can always be washed clean again and our life given a new start.

Celebrating a birthday reminds us of the goodness of life, and in this spirit we really need to celebrate people's birthdays every day, by showing gratitude, kindness, forgiveness, gentleness, and affection. These are ways of saying: "It's good that your are alive: it's good that your are walking with me on this earth. Let's be glad and rejoice. This is the day that God has made for us to be and to be together."