Pantano Christian Church

We’ve just finished looking at Abraham during our weekend teaching.  He’s an amazing “old guy” of faith and a great example of how to live well.  Abraham was directed by God to leave what was familiar and comfortable to go to new territory.  Jesus commanded us leave all and “go and make disciples.”  God still expects us, his people, to leave our safe life to take a risk and go to the place where we can make a difference.  That is our mission as a church: “loving people to Jesus, launching passionate people to make a difference.” Notice our mission is not about staying put but launching into new and sometimes unfamiliar places as we love people to Jesus.

What does leaving mean?  We often think of the leaving to be like Abraham’s huge caravan move from Haran to Canaan.  Or when we remember that Jesus called us to “go” we often think that applies to the missionary types who will go to a far away place.  But for most of us, the leaving and going is right where we live day in and day out.

Let’s think about some of the leavings and goings that God wants us to embrace.  We need to leave the comfort of our “own kind of people” and intentionally go across the room, the office or the street to engage folks from another race.  We take a risk to get to know someone who is not like us.  We take the initiative to break down the dividing wall of race.  May we be the first to make the move across our racial differences.

Another leaving and going is to leave the safety of being with fellow believers who share similar moral values and beliefs to go to engage those who don’t know or are not following Jesus.  Jesus preferred to hang out with those who were disliked by the religious folks.  May we have the heart of God that loves those who are lost.

Another leaving and going is to leave the comfort and safety of our everyday lives to serve those who are in need.  It is leaving our focus on ourselves to go to the place where we put others first.

Yes, in the world it is normal for “birds of a feather to flock together,” but that is not the life Jesus has called us to.  We are called to love those who are different, challenged or challenging.  We are commanded to love our neighbor.  Jesus asked what the big deal is if we only love people who are like us and who we like – anyone can do that.  We are called to love our enemies and even those who dislike us (Matthew 5:43-48).

Following Jesus means going across the racial divide, across town or to a place of need to be Jesus among those who are different.  And just like Abraham, that takes faith!

Together to make the world different,

Glen

Most Christians pray.  Some are prayer “warriors.”  I am so grateful for folks who have both a passion and gifting for prayer.  They encourage me!  I read about some of the saints who pray for hours a day and sometimes even for days and weeks at a time.  I’m jealous (in a good spiritual way).

What we don’t talk about much is our assumptions about prayer.  Is prayer only sitting, with eyes closed and head bowed?  Is prayer only effective when we make a quiet time of more than 10 or 15 minutes?  Does prayer have to include adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication (ACTS)?

There is no “right” way to pray in a technical or mechanical sense.  There is a right way to pray in the sense of having the right heart and motive (see Matthew 6:5-8; James 4:3, etc.).  Then Paul says “pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).  How does one do that?

Paul’s command to pray continually has actually brought a huge freedom to me.  You see, I don’t spend a lot of time each day sitting quietly in a dark room praying hours on end.  I realize that admission may cause some to assume I’m NOT spiritual.  The fact is, I have and continue to learn to pray all through my day – “continually.”  I am praying and thus engaging in spiritual conversation all day long.

When someone asks me to pray for them, I find the first moment I can to do that, often as I walk away.  When I get a judgmental email, I pray right then asking the Lord how I should respond.  When I see my kids’ pictures on my phone screen, I often pray for them.  I’ll often see a stranger and just ask God to bless them – not knowing anything about their life or situation.  I find tons of opportunities to pray throughout my day.

I’m becoming less and less comfortable with the way I used to pray.  It was the sit down and formally address God, adore him, thank him then go through my list of requests.  It was just too mechanical and scripted for me.  Praying is about a relationship – a deep and real relationship.  I wouldn’t have a conversation with my wife with formal language, a regular script and certainly not working off a list.  That would get old very fast.  That kind of praying has gotten old for me.

But the point still is not the style or form.  The point is our heart.  It is about the relationship.  Prayer is seeking God.  Prayer is asking Jesus to lead us throughout our day.  Prayer is staying God focused as we live for Jesus.

And consider participating in Lent (click HERE for the Lenten guide).

Together, seeking God to make the world different,

Glen

There are a number of things we can do that help us connect with and experience God.  Most Christians know how valuable it is to regularly engage in prayer, Bible reading, participating in a life group and going to worship events at the church building.

When we took the Reveal survey in May, 2009, we found that of the 574 folks who took the survey about 60% read and reflect on the Bible daily or at least several times a week (that was before our 2010 Bible reading challenge!).  We started the 2010 Bible Reading Challenge to encourage all of us to regularly read God’s Word.  We know that reading the Bible is one of the most powerful resources available to help us grow to be more like Jesus.

88% of those who took the Reveal survey said they pray for guidance daily or several times a week.  75% said they pray to confess their sins at the same frequency.

Jesus also assumed we would fast (Matthew 6:16-18).  But few of us regularly practice fasting.  It is hard to do!  We don’t exactly like denying ourselves of the things we depend on.  Or we may not be sure why we should fast or what spiritual value it has.  We seldom receive encouragement or instruction about fasting.

Lent is an opportunity to practice the key spiritual disciplines of prayer, Bible reading and fasting.  This year, as we celebrate Lent, we are going to give special focus to fasting.  Traditionally Lent is the 40 days of fasting before Easter (Sundays were not traditionally counted in the fasting).  Lent is a time of spiritual preparation for remembering and celebrating the suffering of Jesus on the cross and his victorious resurrection on Easter.

Lent begins Wednesday February 17^th.  We’ll have a service in the auditorium on the E. Tucson Campus at 7pm.  There will be some great worship and then I’ll explain how we’ll observe Lent.  I’ll explain the purpose of fasting, the kinds of fasts and how fasting helps us focus on spiritual things.  I’ll provide the 2010 Lenten Guide we’ve prepared for you to observe Lent.

Consider asking your family, life group or some friends to observe Lent together as a way to provide some accountability and enhance the experience.

Together following Jesus to the cross,

Glen

We start a new teaching series this week (next week in Sierra Vista).  It’s called “Lessons from the Old Guys.”  We’ll be looking at the guys named Noah, Abraham, Jacob and Joseph from the book of Genesis.  These guys who lived more than 4000 years ago have a bunch to teach us about how to live well.

The first message is about trust (looking at Noah).  So I’ve been thinking a lot about trust over the last few weeks.  You know the proverb – “Trust must be earned.”  It sounds so right that no one ever challenges this.  Okay, let me risk the challenge.  Let’s start with God.

God is trustworthy – period.  Yes, his actions have proved it, but ONLY if you have faith.  I can point to many people who do not believe that God is trustworthy.   They feel like God has let them down.  God didn’t show up or didn’t deliver like they thought he should.  So God did not “earn” their trust.  Does God have to earn my trust?  We all need to come to the place where we offer our trust to God in spite of circumstances.  It is only then that we find the best in God and the best of God.  If we don’t offer my trust, we’ll miss his trustworthiness.

Okay, let me risk another challenging thought.  We might manage to agree God is perfect and therefore perfectly trustworthy.  But what about people?  What if we took the same approach to people?  What if we offered trust before waiting for trust to be earned?  Is it possible that giving trust might in fact create trust?

Let me illustrate.  My father had a great deal of trust in me.  At age 16, after driving just a few months, he let me take his truck with a large camper and his boat to the lake with some friends.  Now that is TRUST or some might say foolishness.  Guess what that did to me?  I knew that my dad trusted me with this great opportunity and there was no way I was going to blow it.

I’m not advocating we abandon discernment.  There are some folks we need to set boundaries with because they are so unhealthy that they will hurt us.  We are not talking about “blind” trust here.  Everybody is not trustworthy!  But maybe we’ve gone too far and demanded too much trust first.  Maybe we ought to begin by trusting more.  Isn’t that true for love also?  We don’t wait to be loved; we are commanded to love unconditionally.  Maybe if we offer trust to God and people, we’ll experience more of the trustworthiness in them?  Maybe we’ll create more trust by giving more trust?  That sounds counter-intuitive.  Often the ways of God are counter-intuitive.

Together to make a difference;

PS.  How’s the 2010 Bible Reading Challenge going?  We started Acts this week.  If you haven’t started, start now!  If you got behind, start afresh!

Glen