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Archive for the ‘Spirituality’ Category

Be Holy

Posted in Spirituality, tagged , , , on September 9, 2013| Leave a Comment »

We pursue many things. We pursue our career goals. We strive to buy a nice house and furnish it comfortably. We actively seek out friends. We build a family. These are all worthy pursuits, but it is only half the story, isn’t it? If we allow ourselves to be truthful, we also run after unhealthy pursuits. Alcohol or drugs, sexual addictions, and coveting more and more material possessions are just the most obvious of the destructive pursuits that people chase. The question is, Will any of these pursuits fulfill you?

In contrast to the things that the average American chases these days, the Scriptures offer a quite different goal: pursue holiness. In I Peter 1 we find this new imperative: “be holy in all that you do” (NIV).

The connotation of the word ‘holy’ does not translate readily into our 21st century experience. As soon as we read this phrase from the first epistle of Peterr we instantly picture ourselves being commanded to wear orange robes with accompanying sandals like the Buddhist monks. We imagine that we will have to carry our black leather Bible under our arm wherever we go. We envision so many misconceptions about this word holiness that we miss what God wishes for us altogether.

So what does ‘holiness’ look like? It looks like Jesus.

Picture your life filled with so much love that people are drawn to you. Imagine having patience even in the midst of frustrating circumstances. See yourself as a person of peace and wisdom whom others seek out as a listening ear to their troubles. You will still be yourself. You will still love
fly fishing, still live in a home of your design, and still spend time with your lifelong friends. You need not change your wardrobe or carry a Bible and a soap box everywhere you go. In fact, when the Scriptures command each of us to ‘be holy, for I am holy’ (I Peter 1:15) it is really inviting us to be exactly who we were originally designed to be and nothing less.

Perhaps today, amidst all the demands you pursue, take time to reflect on the life of Jesus Christ as the quintessential exemplar of holiness. Make that your pursuit and you will find the fulfillment that your heart craves.

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Hard Times

Posted in Spirituality, tagged , , on August 22, 2013| Leave a Comment »

2013 INCOME-CHARTThe Huffington Post is reporting today (Aug 22, 2013) that “the average American household is earning less than when the Great Recession ended four years ago.” Make no mistake, these are still ‘hard times’ for many of us and our neighbors.

Here is one of my old sermons on Luke 21 entitled ‘Hard Times.’ I pray that in it you might hear God speak a word of comfort to you amidst such hard times.

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The Darkness Does Not Overcome It!

Posted in Spirituality, tagged , , , on April 17, 2013| 1 Comment »

THE DARKNESS DOES NOT OVERCOME IT!

I have had numerous “favorite” Bible verses throughout my life. John 3:16, when I was just a small lad in Sunday School, Matthew 6:33 in college, Philippians 1:21 in my early 30’s, and many more through the years. Perhaps that is just as it should be. Certain verses speak with resonant clarity at various points in one’s lifetime.

In this stage of my life, were you to ask, I would tell you that John 1:5 is my “favorite” Bible verse: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not overcome it.”

I doubt this verse would make many people’s favorite list. That is okay with me. I particularly favor this word of comfort because I often struggle to understand why there is so much darkness in the world. Why does evil seem to get the upper hand so many times? In this my fifth decade of life, I look around and see everyone I know touched by some calamity or another. Physical illness, financial stress, relational dysfunction, addiction, and so many more problems afflict even God’s beloved children, my friends, my family, and my acquaintances alike. Add on top of that, senseless suffering like that caused by the act of terror at the Boston Marathon and one has to ask, Is the darkness winning? Truth be told, this is a very human response to all the mayhem and destruction we live through every day.

And then into these enduring questions comes the promise of God in John 1:5: “The LIGHT shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not overcome it.”

Wow, I need to hear that promise spoken. Over and over and over yet again. God promises you and me that evil may still rage about us, but it will not be victorious. Destruction and death are not the last word. Jesus, the Light of the World, cannot be extinguished no matter how dark the world or our lives seem to become some days.

I cherish this Good News. I cling to this Good News. I trust this Good News.

May Christ the Light of the World so shine through your life and mine today that the darkness is beaten back a little further than before.

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Leadership in Unexpected Places

Posted in Spirituality, tagged , on March 19, 2013| Leave a Comment »

LEADERSHIP IN UNEXPECTED PLACES

I have been reading lately from the history books of the Old Testament. It has been a long time since I have read through these biblical books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles. You know how it is . . . the New Testament is so fascinating that it monopolizes one’s Bible reading time. These past few years I have been translating from the Greek from Romans to Paul’s Epistles. Apparently I had forgotten the OT.

To be fair, it is easier to see God through the lens of his Son, Jesus Christ by reading the New Testament. Not that God cannot be seen or understood in the Old Testament. It just takes more work. Even so, it is rewarding.

I came across a powerful reminder of God’s modus operandi when I reread the story of God directing Samuel to choose a new king for Israel. Samuel was commanded to review the sons of Jesse and choose from amongst them the replacement for King Saul. Samuel must have been overwhelmed when he saw Eliab, Jesse’s oldest son. Apparently, he was tall and strikingly good looking. This has to be him, Samuel thought to himself. Until, that is, until God redirected him by reminding that the obvious choice is not always God’s choice. “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (I Samuel 16:7).

In the end, David, the youngest, smallest, least likely candidate, is God’s choice to be King. How like God!

The New Testament again reminds of God’s unlikely choices: “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him” (I Cor 1:27-29).

Leadership indeed comes in unexpected places. This is a biblical lesson even we faithful believers forget over and over and over again. We look to the obvious choice to be our next leader. We look to worldly criteria in making our decisions. Instead, God looks to the heart for it is the heart that gives the leader his strength, authority, and commission.

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Doubt Sermon

Posted in Spirituality, tagged on March 12, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Is it unfaithful to doubt? You are certainly not alone if you have ever asked that question. Click below to listen my sermon on the subject.

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Hearing from God

Posted in Spirituality, tagged , on March 1, 2011| Leave a Comment »

How do you hear God speak into your life?

There is a great conversation ender, if ever there was one. Go ahead, try it. The vast majority of the time people will respond with stunned silence or emphatic denials that they have ever heard God speak to them. My experience has been that this is true even of lifelong, devoted disciples.

I recall the first time I really wrestled with that question. I was a college junior when I called up my beloved pastor, the Rev. Gene Hermeier for guidance. I was contemplating not pursuing medical school and wanted to explore with him whether God was calling me to be a pastor instead. Pastor Hermeier is a giant of the faith; he is like the biblical description of Stephen in Acts 6, a man of grace and power. He was also, in my moment of need, eminently approachable.  How do you hear God speak into your life?, I asked of him.

What he taught me over the course of that summer between my junior and senior year changed my life forever. God guides His people, he reassured me. He does speak and we can learn to listen to His “still, small voice.” We can depend on that guidance no matter the storms that raged around us.

In the next several posts I want to share what I learned then and in the years since in answer to this profoundly central question. But for now, I invite you to simply wrestle with the naked question itself: How do you hear God speak into your life?

Hit ‘Comment’ and share with us all your response.

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Being Well, Staying Well

David Housholder

TurningWest

Thoughts from the Mission Field