What if I don't feel like smiling?

Originally posted as part of the Scroll newsletter - The week of April 17, 2013.

Chester's Note:  As I was sitting down this afternoon to write the article for this week's newsletter, I came across this entry from April.  I feel it is still very much applicable today as it was when it was written (before Silas went home to be with the Lord).  I hope you enjoy it.

A message from

Pastor Chester

Psalm 62:6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

 

When discussing the importance of smiling to visitors, a member recently said, “I'm finding it hard to smile today..... Please pray for Silas's family. They are enjoying his last little bit of time here on earth and I know that this time is so precious to them. I know this is devastating to them and life is HARD right now.... my heart is breaking for his parents and brothers who will be left behind to endure the pain of his loss. I know God is able and will comfort them, but I know the sting of losing someone is hard. Jessica's (Silas's Mom) latest update is that she and Archie had to pick a burial spot and make his final arrangements today and that it was something that no parent should ever have to do for a 4 year old child, I agree…”

 

            As for many of you, April 15 was more than a tax deadline this year.  Upon hearing the news of the terror attack in Boston, I was glued to the television and remained there until I fell asleep.  Hearing the same report over and over I kept asking myself (and God) “why?”  I understand the theology of living in a fallen world and all, but when tragedy’s take place I hurt like the rest of you. The member’s point was basically, “How can I smile to visitors in church, when I can’t even find a reason to smile right now, because my heart hurts so much.”

 

I think it's so very important for us to remember something. We aren't at church to make people feel welcomed. Although, that is definitely something we should do, if you walk into church with a heavy load, better to leave it at the altar with God than fake a smile and wear yourself down even further. Ecclesiastes 3:4 reminds us that there is “a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.” Today may be your time to weep, it was for me. But, we must remember who our Lord is and that “Weeping may tarry for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.” (Psalm 30:5b)  In the midst of sorrow, find encouragement in that Jesus is who God’s Word says He is, for in Christ alone, we find our reason to smile.

 

Walking arm in arm for the Glory of God,

Chester

Lean On Me.....not, really.

Warning:  This entry is going to have a lot of "I's" but I just want you to bear with me before deciding that I need a humility break.



I'm saved
I have a beautiful family whom love me very much and I them.
I have loving parents and step-parents.
I have awesome brothers (and their wives) and a whole crew of wonderful step-siblings, nieces and nephews.
My in-laws are amazing.
My sister-in-law (her husband, his kids) and my brother-in-law are also amazing.
I have some very close friends, some of which I don't see nearly enough.
I coach wrestling and golf at a great Christian school.
I'm ordained.
I'm almost a college graduate (B.S. Business).
I have plans to earn my MBA, Graduate Certificate in Pastoral Counseling, m.Div and perhaps a Doctorate in Leadership.
I've written a book, and the reviews are great...so far.
I have a great position in the Pastoral ministry.
I love the people of our church dearly.
I love the staff of our church dearly.
I am gifted in broadcasting and love to host the football friday programming.
I love writing on my blog and seeing what people say about it.
I've just started a weekly podcast for our church and I'm excited about it.

And yet....I struggle.

I have a tough time not reacting when I get upset.
I have a tough time not being depressed.
I have sleep apnea and if I don't get a good night on my CPAP I can't function well.
I rise and fall.  Some days I'm excited about everything and other days nothing is good.
Most of the time I don't feel like I'm being used the way God wants me to be, so I take on more, just to find out that it was the wrong decision.
I pray hard, sometimes angrily, because of how I feel.


Now, about God.



God saved me
God gave me a beautiful family whom love me very much and I them.
God gave me loving parents and step-parents.
God gave me awesome brothers (and their wives) and a whole crew of wonderful step-siblings, nieces and nephews.
God gave me amazing in-laws.
God gave me an amazing sister-in-law (her husband, his kids) and brother-in-law.
God gave me some very close friends, some of which I don't see nearly enough.
God allows me to coach wrestling and golf at a great Christian school.
God ordained me.
God has almost brought me through college. (B.S. Business).
God has plans for me to earn my MBA, Graduate Certificate in Pastoral Counseling, m.Div and perhaps a Doctorate in Leadership.
God granted me the ability to write a book, and blessed me with great reviews.
God gave me a great position in the Pastoral ministry.
God has put people of our church for me to love dearly.
God has blessed me with a fellow staff to love dearly.
God gifted me in broadcasting and I love to host the football Friday programming.
God gave me the love of writing on my blog and seeing what people say about it.
God blessed me with a brand new weekly podcast for our church and I'm excited about it.



And even though I struggle:

God has worked on me so that I react less quickly when I get upset.
God gives me the strength to climb out of the depression when it starts.
God blesses me with more good nights than bad and the ability to have a machine help along the way.
God raises me up and allows me to fall. When I fall, it's usually my fault or my focus is wrong.
God continues to be patient with me, even though I take on things He didn't assign me.
God let's me get mad, cry and fuss.  But He always holds me until I'm done and then wipes my eyes.

I guess it's all who I lean on as I walk down this road...


Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;   Proverbs 3:5

Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth....

2 Timothy 2:15

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (KJV)

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. (NIV)

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. (NASB)

             Just a few different translations to compare as we consider what it means to "rightly divide the word of truth"

There are two types of scriptural interpretations for us to consider today.
  
                    Eisegesis (pr. eyes-uh-Jesus) -  making scripture fit what you want it to say or in other  
                                                                      words, using scripture to validate your point of view. (to 
                                                                      draw in)

                    Exegesis (pr. ex-uh-Jesus) -  taking a critical view of the text understanding it's origin,
                                                                  meaning, author, audience and original translation. (to draw
                                                                  out)

Now, many (if not all) Bible scholars and teachers will agree that an exegetical approach to studying God's word is much more responsible than its counterpart.  What many won't agree on is who is actually studying/preaching/teaching exegetically and who is not. 

But come on......think about it......

Can there honestly be more than one truth?  More than one right answer? 

Can Paul be right when he says we are "saved by grace and not works...[Eph 2:8-9]
If so, does that mean Jesus is wrong when he says "But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." in Matthew 6:15??

What about when James says "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." in Jas 2:26?

Any one of these verses can be taken out of context or mean different things to different people. But none of them have more than one true meaning and all of them agree with the other!  This is why the world constantly criticizes the Bible by saying "it's full of contradictions."

But as believers, we know the Bible is not full of anything but truth.  Therefore the breakdown (maybe responsibility is a better word) must be with us....believers....teachers....pastors....

Let me be clear....
                        God's word = Truth. 
                        God's word + man's interpretation = does not always equal truth

Now am I able to "corner the market" on exegetical interpretation of God's word from beginning to end?  I daresay, no I am not.  But that doesn't mean I don't have the responsibility that whatever I claim God's word to say, I'd better be sure that's what it says.

It's a sad case, but anyone can stand before others and claim to know what God's word says.  Anyone can start a blog or write a book (anyone! trust me!!) but (to quote Dr. Ian Malcolm [Jeff Goldblume] from Jurassic Park "Yeah, yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could that they didn't stop to think if they should."

Ok, I know...we aren't talking about scientists....nor are there any T-Rex's chasing us around.  But what we must consider is that we can become so preoccupied with preaching/teaching a certain way (that being the "could") that we fail to stop and ask God if we are doing it right (this being the "should"). 

The Greek word, orthotomeo, is where we get "rightly dividing" and it means "to cut straight" so it is safe to say, we must cut through all the garbage (that man adds to the equation) and get right down to the meat of what God is saying.  To truly do this and then to preach it is the only Godly way to spread the Gospel.


 It is from this irresponsible interpretation that we get all these "made up rules" in the church we so fondly call, "tradition." So before you say "I know what this means," you need to make sure.

You make sure by first praying (and keep praying as you study), then understand the author, his audience, the origins and customs of the times, and how it is applicable to you today.  After all, Exodus 31:15 says "For six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day is to be put to death." 

That verse is true.............but is it applicable to us today?  No, not in literal practice anyway, simply because this was written when the Jews were under the Law.  You and I are under Grace, found in Christ. But we can take the example found in this verse and make sure we have a day to rest and regenerate.  God didn't do this because He needed a break.  He did it to set an example for us.

One last thought as you ponder this post.   In 2 Timothy 2:15, Paul was writing to........Timothy, not us.

Blessings as you figure that one out!
Chester