ChurchApplied

Jesus Matters

Ultimately, the only thing that matters is Jesus! Seeing and knowing Him, following, obeying, sharing, and praising Him mean more than money, career, health, beauty, family or friends.

The top and bottom lines of life have to do with Jesus. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end (Rev.1: 8). Everything in-between that we buy, build and work so hard to posses will fade. The things we cherish, hold, and think we can keep forever can be lost in a wink. But Jesus remains.

Christmas Wreath - Photo by Studiomill. All rights reserved

Jesus matters because He is inexplicably tied to our origin, present well-being and future destiny. He matters because our daily response to His call moves us either closer or further away from finding our way through life's tangled maze.

While life may grace us with many wonderful relationships, Jesus is the only One we can count on at all times. He's simply always there!

When new beginnings fill us with excitement,
When kneeling over a silent grave,
When hard pressed for money,
When children leave home to find their way,
When words aren't enough,
When birthdays come and go,
When overwhelmed with joy,
When our best efforts seem wasted,
When our dreams come true,
When retirement begins,
When "friends" betray,
When death beckons,
When religion fails to satisfy . . . Jesus matters!

Jesus is more than a pacifier, emotional crutch, or "sugar daddy." He is the answer to every question, heartache and human desire. He alone can satisfy our hidden hunger and thirst.

This is why He says: "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.' " (John 7: 37, 38).

Jesus matters because "He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life" (1 John 5:12).

By Rich DuBose, Director, Pacific Union Conference Church Support Services

Rest for the Weary

A few years ago I embarked on a project that was far more ambitious than I had imagined. For years I had wanted to replace the side door in my garage with a new one that actually closed and locked. Finally, one Sunday I decided it was time to act.

After going to Home Depot and choosing a new pre-hung door, a door knob and dead bolt lock, I headed home for the easy install. Seven hours later I was tired, thirsty and irritated--and still not done. In fact, when I went to bed that night I regretted ever starting the project. Let's just say there's a good reason I don't have a contractor's license.

Open door - Stockxpert Photos. All rights reserved.

The next day I called a friend who is a contractor to come over and help me out. The door looked pretty good, but I couldn't get it to latch properly. My friend took one look at it, made a couple of adjustments with a screw driver, and wallah! Everything was fine! I was shocked. How could he fix it so quickly after I had struggled for so many hours? Obviously, the difference was he knew what he was doing and I didn't.

Life presents us with many challenges that require more expertise than we have to offer. Often, we only admit this after spending fruitless hours of trying to fix something we know little or nothing about. When it comes to matters of the heart, Jesus is the only One who knows what to do. He says:

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:28, 29). NASB

My Sunday project was motivated by the desire to have a new door that could be locked. The remedy for my heart hinges on my willingness to unlock the door so Jesus can enter to make the necessary adjustments.

By Rich DuBose, Director, Pacific Union Conference Church Support Services

Givers and Getters

Recently, during my morning quiet time, a question stuck in my mind that begged to be answered. "What is the worst thing that could happen in your life?" What about the loss of a limb? Or worse yet, the loss of a family member? That is unimaginable. I don't want to even think about it. But aside from that, what would cause me the most grief? My answer may surprise you, because it did me.

Sharing Smiles - Dreamstime Stock Photos. All rights reserved.

I believe my greatest loss, aside from losing a family member, would be to be put in a position where I had nothing to give. Nothing to give. In this life, true joy comes from being able to give to others.

When economic hardship comes our way it is tempting to focus all of our energies on personal survival. But as followers of Jesus, shouldn't our attitude be different? When times are tough shouldn't we be more giving, just in case we lose our income and are left without anything to share?

The very essence of Christianity is based on generosity. "For God so loved the world...that He gave" (John 3:16). Jesus said, "He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it" (Matthew 10:39) NKJV. Again, "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again" (Luke 6:38) NKJV.

When Jesus asked the Rich Young Ruler to sell all of his possessions and give to the poor, was He asking him to trade his life of luxury for that of a homeless vagabond? Was Jesus calling him to a life of abject poverty? I don't believe so. God has promised to provide for our needs. Rather, I believe God was calling the Young Ruler to change his world view--to become a giver instead of a getter.

There's nothing wrong with getting. In fact we cannot be givers without first getting. But in the process of getting it's easy to forget what the getting is for. Like the man in the Jesus' story who ran out of room to store his stuff, it's tempting to build bigger barns so that we can have more." It's tempting to believe the bumper sticker, "He who ends up with the most toys wins."

In God's world view getting is always for the purpose of giving.

In his letter to the Corinthians  Paul said,

"Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed..." (2 Corinthians 9:6-8) NASB.

Notice that God blesses us with good gifts so that we, in turn, can bless others. God wants us to experience the joy that can only be experienced through personal generosity. There is nothing else like it.

Today, I am thankful for the many people who, over the years have extended love, patience, and material wealth to me. I am not a self-made man. I am not a rock or an island, but the product of an extended community of givers who willingly gave of themselves so that I could grow and develop. 

Now, if I can only be like them.

By Rich DuBose, Director, Pacific Union Conference Church Support Services

Oil In My Lamp

There is much that I don't understand about the Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids. I'm not middle eastern and I've never been to a wedding where the attendants carried clay lamps or where the celebrations lasted for more than one day. But Jesus used one such event to illustrate the significance of being ready for His return. 

There were ten bridesmaids
Five were wise and five were foolish
The difference between the two centers around planning
The wise were cautious
The foolish did not anticipate a delay
They all slept

Oil Lamp - Stockxpert. All rights reserved.

Several key things I've learned from this parable include:

I need to plan ahead (life doesn't just happen)
I need to be deliberate about spiritual things
I cannot run on "fumes"
I need to let God fill my "tank" everyday
I need to be ready

Over the years I have also learned that I cannot be ready without God's help. I can only drill for the oil of God's Spirit and extract it from His word as He empowers me and blesses my efforts, otherwise I always come up dry.

Prayer: "Lord, please help me to be among those that You consider wise and ready."

By Rich DuBose, Director, Pacific Union Conference Church Support Services

The Benefits of Pain

A number of years ago a story appeared in the news about a little girl who lived in Toledo, Ohio. She was like most little girls in every way except one. Her parents noticed when she was just a baby, that when she hurt herself she never cried. At first they didn't think much of it. They thought she had a high threshold for pain, or that she was just really brave. But as time went by they became concerned.

Girl fretting - Dreamstime Photos. All rights reserved.

Finally her mother took her to a doctor where it was discovered, after several examinations, that she had a rare disease of the nervous system that prevented her from feeling any pain. The doctors cautioned her parents that she could never be left alone, for she could severely injure herself and never feel the pain.

Even pain can be a gift from God for our protection and good. The Psalmist prayed, "The troubles of my heart are enlarged; Bring me out of my distresses" (Psalm 25:17) NASB. I like the way The Message reads, "My heart and kidneys are fighting each other; Call a truce to this civil war." Instead of praying for freedom from distress (and pain), perhaps we should just praise God that our pains (self-inflicted or otherwise) remind us of our need for Him.

By Rich DuBose, Director, Pacific Union Conference Church Support Services

Rainbows

The Psalmist says, "The heavens declare the glory of God." Traditionally we associate this passage with sun, moon and stars. But if we look a little closer to earth we see that rainbows provide "heavenly" expressions of glory that are just as spectacular.

Rainbow Umbrella - Photo by Stockexpert. All rights reserved.

When the directional light and atmospheric moisture is just right, spectacular displays of refracted light occur. From a distance these particles of moisture appear to the human eye as illuminated bands of color. Typically, the eye sees only red, orange, yellow, green, blue and maybe violet. But actually, between the visible colors there are many more gradated shades of color that we miss. Even so, the colors we see usually draw an awed response.

The first rainbow ever recorded is mentioned in Genesis 9:13, when God promised to never again destroy the earth by flood. From then on rainbows have become symbols of hope and renewal.

Next time we are tempted to complain about the rain, let us praise God that He can use it to remind us of His promise to bless our lives.

By Rich DuBose, Director, Pacific Union Conference Church Support Services

In His Hands

The old negro spiritual says, "He's got the whole world in His hands." It's a great song, but sometimes I question whether it's really true. If God has the whole world in His hands, why does He allow suffering to continue so long? At times it looks like the Devil is the one who is really in charge.

Photo by Stockxpert. All rights reserved.

I recently read about a homeless prostitute in San Francisco who was attacked by two women because her boyfriend owed one of them some money. They beat her, dragged her into a parking lot, stripped off her clothes and set her on fire. Did God have that incident in His hands, or did the Devil? This same question can be applied to every act of violence, evil, and injustice that has been committed from the beginning of time. Who's in charge here?

I guess the truth is both God and the Devil have dibs on us. The Devil's claim goes way back to the Garden of Eden when Eve stood before the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and ate the forbidden fruit. God's claim goes back before the creation of earth to a time when He and Jesus agreed upon an ambitious plan to save humans from their failure to trust in Him.1

Right now the Devil's fingerprints are everywhere. You'd be stupid to say he isn't exerting control throughout the world. But the end-game is what ultimately matters. In Superbowl XLI many were certain the Chicago Bears would ultimately win. They were quick to put points on the board and had some definitive moments of glory. But in the end the Colts walked away with the Superbowl trophy.

God has the world in His hands--at least that's what Scripture says about the final score. He will walk away with the prize! But that's hard to believe when the score is 21-7 at the top of the 4th quarter with God's team getting killed. 

Sometimes we just have to trust the Coach. We have to believe He knows what he's doing, even if we don't. Paul says, "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known."2 As much as I would like to, I cannot see the whole picture. Some vital parts appear to be missing, and at times because of this the negro spiritual is hard to sing.

Dear God, I believe my life is in your hands today. Show me how to be your hands to those who aren't so sure.

By Rich DuBose, Director, Pacific Union Conference Church Support Services

1. Revelation 13:8
2. 1 Corinthians 13:12

When Royalty Dies

Fairy tale princesses aren’t supposed to die, at least not in their prime. But on August 31, 1997 the world was shocked with the tragic death of Princess Diana. The reaction was enormous! People expressed their grief with candle light vigils, flowers and photographs pinned to fences and walls. Britain practically came to a standstill. Suddenly the world seemed much darker, which prompted singer Elton John to dedicate his song “Candle in the Wind” to Diana. The funeral, fitting for any head of state, provided an opportunity for millions to mourn and remember the Princess that everyone loved, but very few really knew.

Princess Diana - Photo by Ken Brown. All rights reserved.

Why was she so popular? Aside from being an attractive woman, she was a princess who demonstrated concern for “little” people; children and adults in poverty. She cared about people with AIDS and spoke against the use of land mines (which usually end up killing and maiming civilians). She recognized she was in a position of power, but didn’t seem to grasp for recognition or political gain. But of course Diana’s life and situation were far from perfect. Those who were closest to her now say that from the very beginning she had a rival who caught Prince Charles’ eye. Eventually her and Charles parted ways and pursued their own interests and friendships.

Princess Diana’s death was the final chapter of a story that started with such a promising introduction. Who could have guessed that it would end the way it did?

On this planet, the story always seems to end with a sob and a whimper. As much as we want to hang onto the memories of those we have lost, time erases more than we want to forget. Life is too intense; too overwhelming; too all consuming for us to dwell very long on the past. We are propelled into the future with a multitude of decisions and things to do.

Good News

According to God's promise, better days are coming. Jesus guaranteed this when He died some two thousand years ago. Paul says, “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive " (1 Corinthians 15:22).

Our memories fade and dim with the passage of time, but God’s promises never do. Soon this chapter of earth's history will end in an eternal celebration of joy! (See Revelation 21:4).

By Rich DuBose, Director, Pacific Union Conference Church Support Services

Killing Words

Most of us have heard a sermon or two we didn’t care for, but on March 12, 2005, some believe Terry Ratzman's dislike for a sermon may have resulted in the worst mass killing in Wisconsin's history. When Ratzmann entered the sanctuary that day, some of his fellow members immediately knew that something was wrong. Instead of sitting in his usual spot, he remained standing and was agitated. When the sermon begin, Ratzman pulled out a 22 caliber pistol and let loose.

Photo by Vadim Tikhonov. All rights reserved.

Twenty-two shots later when the mayhem ended, pastor Gregory, his son and five other members, including Ratzman, were dead. This is not exactly what you'd expect to experience while sitting in a church pew.

Some believe the sermon Ratzman disliked was actually preached two weeks earlier. It reportedly focused on how bad fortune comes to those who make ungodly choices. Many believe other factors, including Ratzman’s difficulty finding a job, may have brought him to the breaking point. We’ll never know for sure. What we do know is that making ungodly choices always leads to tragic consequences.

On more than one occasion, the sermons Paul preached resulted in violence and physical abuse. Many did not want to hear what he had to say. While working in the city of Lystra Paul and Barnabas preached Christ to the people and they were responsive. At first they thought they were gods because Paul had healed a man who had been lame from birth. So Paul shared the truth about God and Christ, and many believed. But then "Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead." (Acts 14:19)

Not all sermons are worth hearing or preaching. But none are so bad that pastors should either be shot or stoned for preaching them. After all, a sermon is supposedly a message from the very God who says, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love." (1 John 4:7, 8)

By Rich DuBose, Director, Pacific Union Conference Church Support Services

The Gift of Ears

The difference between writers who are able to fill pages with words and those who are able to fill readers' hearts with passion is that the latter have learned to write with their ears.

Those who write only with their eyes may produce copy that is mechanically correct, content rich and helpful, but such writing often fails to touch our hearts.

Listening - Photo by Nikolay Mamluke. All rights reserved.

Writers who write with their ears squeeze tears from our eyes, elicit exclamations of shock and delight, and strike chords deep within our souls!

We know Jesus had the gift of ears because he heard people's inner cries and responded to their needs. When Jesus spied Zacchaeus outside the city of Jericho in a sycamore tree, he knew Zachaeus desired to be in harmony with God and that he longed for a better life. So Jesus said, "Zacchaeus, hurry down. Today is my day to be a guest in your home." (Luke 19:5)

We have the gift of ears when we understand what people say and mean. Although this kind of hearing is a gift, we receive it when we choose to become engaged in the listening process. Joe Landsberger says, "Active listening intentionally focuses on who you are listening to, whether in a group or one-on-one, in order to understand what he or she is saying. As the listener, you should then be able to repeat back in your own words what they have said to their satisfaction. This does not mean you agree with, but rather understand, what they are saying."1

Listening to God

Learning to be good listeners not only helps us better relate to what people are saying, but it helps us tune into what God is saying through Scripture and prayer. Solomon said, "Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days. Many plans are in a man's heart, but the counsel of the Lord will stand" (Proverbs 19:19-21). In other words, regardless of what we think, or plan, there is wisdom in prayerfully listening for God's counsel.

1. Joe Landsberger, Study Guides and Strategies, Active Listening