Toaster Salvation

When my son was young, one of his favorite movies was The Brave Little Toaster. If you’ve never seen it, it’s a great movie. These old abandoned appliances are waiting for “the master” to come back for them. Each day they move through the small cabin keeping it clean and ready just in case “the master” would come back that day. One day they decided to strike out of their own looking for him.

Ironically, very soon after leaving the cabin, he showed up there wanting his old appliances. But they were gone. The adventures that followed eventually brought both the appliances and the master together again, but not before they had gotten their share of scuffs, raveled threads, busted bulbs, and dents. Eventually, they end up in a scrap yard on a conveyor transporting them to the crusher.

The master sees his beloved appliances and with great risk to his own life, saves them from total destruction. The brave little toaster and his friends are joyously reunited with “the master.”

I had sat with my son and watched this movie many times when he was young and never saw what an great example it is to our salvation. People are waiting and looking for God to show up in their lives. They often become impatient and begin seeking Him in all the wrong places and in all the wrong ways. On their journey they become scuffed, scarred, and damaged goods. Christ recovers them and restores them through the sacrifice of His own life and divine fellowship is restored.

Maybe I’ll look differently at my congregation next Sunday. Maybe I’ll see a toaster, a vacuum cleaner, radio, lamp, and electric blanket all waiting to hear the good news that their wait is over. The master is here and wants nothing more than to have them within his embrace for the rest of their lives.

Maybe we’ll sit down and watch that movie again tonight.

Inside the mind of a teenage girl

Since the writing of this, she's become a Christian and is seeing a counselor. I share this with permission. I hope this makes you really think. It did me.

I felt it when mom burned me with a cigarette.

I felt it when dad left us with nothing.

I felt it when my mom’s boyfriend raped me.

I felt it when I got sick from drinking.

I felt it when I started taking drugs.

I felt it when my boyfriend forced me to have sex.

I felt it when he cheated on me with my best friend.

Somehow I’ve stopped feeling.

I’ve had sex with over thirty guys. I don’t feel it.

My mom says she hates me. I don’t feel it.

I go to church once in a while. I don’t feel it.

My best friend was killed in a wreck. I don’t feel it.

The doctor says there’s a baby inside me. I don’t feel it.

A bumper stickers said “Jesus Loves Me.” I don’t feel it.

People tell me they care about me. I don’t feel it.

I’m thinking about death. I wonder if I’d feel it.

"Somehow..."

Last night was Women's Emphasis Night of our four night prayer revival. My wife took charge of the service and did an outstanding job in her presentation of the real and uncut story of Mary and Martha. Mary somehow always found herself at the feet of Jesus--a good place to be. Martha always seemed to be busy.
"Busy" is the battle cry of our generation. We're too busy to pray, too busy to witness, too busy to undertake responsibility of ministry, too busy to be about the "Father's business." Carol borrowed an excerpt from a Chinese native missionary whose ministry blessed us. He defined busy as:

B-eing
U-nder
S-atan's
Y-oke
After her presentation of the Word, each person was encouraged to come to the front and receive communion, but it was to be a personal rather that group time of communion. I remember as I knelt in a quiet part of the sanctuary, how unworthy I felt to be in communion with my redeemer.
The word "somehow" became part of my prayer last night.

Even though I become stubborn and insist on my own way, somehow, Lord, You firmly but lovingly check my steps.
Even though I become angry when things don't go my way, Lord, somehow You calm my heart and help me to not be so childish.
Even though I become discouraged and feel like quitting, Lord, somehow You find me under my juniper bush and ask, "What are you doing here?"
Even though I often fail You in my own willfulness, Lord, somehow You stop me in my tracks and direct me back to the journey of faith.

That "somehow" is His mercy. I don't understand how He loves me as He does. But I thank God for the "somehow" of His grace. I think communion took a little longer for me than it usually does. I wanted to savor every crumb, every drop, every moment spent with the Lord.

It was the best meal I'd had in a long time.

A Good Kind of Tired

Last night was the first night of our four evening prayer revival. I felt God leading the church to a deeper, more active prayer life, than we've ever seen. I remember preaching Sunday morning that great things will happen when "God shows up" in your times of crisis, testing, and even attack. I was somewhat discouraged with the light attendance at the beginning of the service, but then...God showed up.
I wanted our focus to be prayer. The songs we sang were on that subject. The Scriptures we shared dealt specifically with prayer. The brief message I shared was on the topic, "Lord, teach us to pray." At the end of the message music was started very softly. I asked the church to come and spend some time in repentance before God. Repentance for the times we turned left when God wanted us to turn right. Repentance for the time when we told God no when we should have said yes. Repentance for being satisfied with just a "little bit of God" when He desires us to have a life that is "abundant" with His presence.
After that first session, we began a season of intercession. We interceded on behalf of loved ones, people for whom we were burdened, and situations in which God needed to move. Each person who had a burden of intercession prayed aloud, and I was amazed at how the Spirit enabled them to pray freely, directly, and with authority. I'm looking for great answers because of this time of intercession.
We continued with prayer for healing. Several had physical needs that only God could touch. As we prayed, I could feel the presence of God moving on each and every need. We concluded with individual prayer regarding the ministries of the church and revival. People were encouraged to either take a prayer walk through the church or take the journey in their mind as they pray. Again, people prayed earnestly, desiring an outpouring of God's presence on each of the local ministries.
When people were finished praying, they were free to leave. We had no agenda other than to pray. At the end of the evening, I was no longer disappointed or discouraged because of a low turn out.
I was tired, spent, and ready to go to bed, but it was a "good kind of tired." It was the feeling that something great had been accomplished for the kingdom that night.
Tonight it's women's prayer emphasis night with my wife leading the service.
Am I going to be there?
You bet! Why? Because I'm the pastor?
No!
It's because God is going to "show up."

GO TEAM!

I looked out the window this morning and it was raining. Not hard gully washing rain, but the slow, soak-you-to-the-skin-eventually type of rain. Tonight is also Friday night, and most people who know me know what that mean: high school football.
My son plays high school football, and every Friday night my wife and I sit in the stands. It makes no difference what the weather conditions may be; we are always there in plenty of time to get good seats. I was driving to work this morning and thinking about the game this evening. I thought, "I'd better pick up a couple of ponchos in case we have to sit a couple of hours in the rain."
At that point, the Holy Spirit arrested my thoughts.
"Would you be willing to do that for a move of God?"
Now that's a tough question. Think about it. We get to the theater or football field early to make sure we get a good seat. We often come into service five minutes late. We'll go and see our favorite team play and think nothing of sitting huddled in a downpour while we cheer on the team of our choice. If we have tickets we think nothing of the time and expense of driving to the game while we often are just too busy to include gathering for worship in our schedule. We plan our whole week over such events and even look forward to them, even when it's an inconvenience to attend them.
Now the Holy Spirit has the nerve to ask me if I'd do the same for a move of God. Why who does He think He is? He's talking to me like he has the right to challenge my lifestyle and overhaul my habits and thinking. Why asking questions like that could cause me to reevaluate just how dedicated I am to seeking God and being part of a great revival.
Would you stand in the rain for a move of God?
I'll let you struggle with your honest answer while at the same time I'm struggling with mine.