Balancing Mercy and Justice

During one of the worship services yesterday, God impressed on my mind and heart of the importance of BALANCE in our Christian life. It seems like we live in a time where many cannot display great balance. In other words it is either "my way or the highway" or we are extreme in one way or the other.

The text: Matt. 23:23 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.”

What Jesus is saying here is that there is great value in having balance and doing what is right in God's law and doing what is necessary to meet the needs of people.

These Pharisees were perfect in paying 10% of the spices that they grew in their gardens, however, when it came to the important things when dealing with people such as showing JUSTICE, MERCY and FAITHFULNESS they were not so perfect. As a matter of fact, they neglected these things.

Let's go back to the gospel of John chapter 8. The story is about the woman caught in adultery. These same Pharisees wanted to stone her because the law said they could.
Here comes Jesus into the picture. His words were: "Those of you without sin cast the first stone." As you know, Jesus forgave her. Was that the end of the story? Not hardly, Jesus displayed perfect balance of law and mercy when he spoke these words to her: "Go and sin no more." Jesus assured her of her sin and forgiveness, however, he gave her great advice for her future when he told her to quit sinning like this.
Jesus balanced justice and mercy.

Are you able to display this kind of balance of mercy, justice and faithfulness in your life?
Do you remember these words in the Beatitudes?-"Blessed are the MERCIFUL for they shall  be shown mercy."

A mother once approached Napoleon seeking a pardon for her son. The emperor replied that the young man had committed a certain offense twice and justice demanded death. "But I don’t ask for justice," the mother explained. "I plead for mercy." "But your son does not deserve mercy," Napoleon replied. "Sir," the woman cried, "it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and mercy is all I ask for." "Well, then," the emperor said, "I will have mercy." And he spared the woman’s son.

Is it REALLY Holy Ground?

Here is a verse we came up against on Sunday at United:

Exodus 3:5 “Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. 6 I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.

Ok, let's look at the facts of this scenario:

1. Moses was an ordinary man that walked past the same bush pretty much every day
2. God presented Himself to Moses in this bush as it caught fire
3. God told Moses to take his sandals off because he was standing on holy ground

Now my question is: What makes this holy ground? Was the bush so expensive or popular? Were they standing on a gold mine? NO, NO and NO.....

The ground was holy because God was occupying it. 

My theory is that wherever God is, it is holy ground.

By the way, does God live in your heart? If so, you are always walking around on HOLY GROUND.

This should dictate how we live. If God is in us and we are on holy ground it should make a difference in how we live, what we listen to, what we watch, what we say. 
With a God this holy we certainly would not want to offend Him by making him put up with junk, dirt and trash that we humans are tempted to tolerate.

This should dictate how we worship. If God is going to LIVE in us and wherever His presence lives is holy groun, it makes sense to think that we should always be worshiping this holy Go.
-This is a tough one because many think that we can just pick and choose when we do what we call worship...go to church on Sunday. 
-We stay home from worship on Sunday when we know that we would go to work on Monday with the same situations, thus bypassing this thing we call worship of a holy God.
-So, if religious people have such a hard time of getting to church on Sunday for an hour of worship, it must be hard to live in a spirit of worship each and every day.

Perhaps reading the words of this hymn will bring back some great memories of when you have allowed God's presence to live through you. Yes, when God is with you, it truly is holy ground!

IS THE GROUND THAT YOU WALK ON REALLY HOLY GROUND? 

Do you Have "The Mid-Winter Blues"

1. Can you believe that the temps are going to be falling so low through the next 24 hours that it may be the coldest day in 20+ years?

2. Do you realize that today, January 6, 2014 could be called the most depressing day of the year? The reason being is that today is "back to work" after the holidays.

3. Do you also realize that today, January 6, 2014 will be the first wave of people to give up on their New Years resolutions?

So, these and many others, are reasons why many suffer from the mid-winter blues. 

Below, I have listed some of the symptoms of the blues. Look at the list and see if you have any of these. I think I suffer from at least 5!

• Change in appetite, particularly for sweet or starchy foods.
• Weight gain.
• Change in sleep patterns.
• Tendency to oversleep.
• Avoidance of social situations.
• Decreased ability to concentrate.
• Irritability.
• Decreased energy.

I am just wondering if churches go through the "mid-winter Blues"? My answer is: Probably! I wonder if the above bullet list comes into play in our own spiritual lives?
Let's face it: Some of us are not having any fun or enjoyment out of the same old routine of just getting to church on Sunday morning.

Using the above list, here is how it can apply to the Winter Church Blues:

• Change in appetite (do we hunger for more of God or more of the excitement of the holidays?)
• Weight gain. (Our holiday patterns, gifts, company of friends and family, bitterness, etc...are any of these things putting more pressure on us that we need time to work it out?)
• Change in sleep patterns. (enough said)
• Tendency to oversleep. (enough said)
• Avoidance of social situations. (We were so overwhelmed with all the parties, shopping in huge crowds that we need a break from people?)
• Decreased ability to concentrate. (too many thoughts running through my mind from the visits, the conversations, just too many things on my plate! etc...)
• Irritability. (Are there some spiritual things that need worked out but you are being battled in your mind by your spiritual enemy?)
• Decreased energy. (Let's face it...it takes stamina and work to get a family to church on a cold, wintry Sunday morning!)

Ok, here is a link from Duke University on how to shake the Winter Blues:
http://tip.duke.edu/node/737

If you choose to read this article you will find the ideas very interesting...and if you apply them to your spiritual life, they are very similar:

Get Physical
Get Creative
Get Curious
Get Organized
Get Involved

May the power of Christ be upon you as you fight the Winter Blues. If you win this battle, the winter of 2014 could be the greatest time in your life with many blessings from above.

The Reason(s) I Love My Church

The Reason(s) I Love My Church

June 2014 will mark 7 years that I have been privileged to serve as Pastor at United. I must say that I am enjoying ministry as much now as ever before! I am blessed to serve with a special team of laypersons and ministry staff

We have enjoyed success and have experienced setbacks along the way. However, what has been accomplished at United, by the hard work of many of you, in the past 7 years is amazing. 

I have just completed some research of Wesleyan congregations in the states that surround South Carolina. Only 12 churches out of around 240 have reached the milestones that God has allowed United to reach during this span! I say praise His holy name for His care and watch over us.

Now with people working as hard as you do, I have to say that I LOVE MY CHURCH! Here is why I love the church that God has called me to serve:

1. United brings glory and honor to God!

-1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So eat your meals heartily, not worrying about what others say about you—you’re eating to God’s glory, after all, not to please them.”  The Message
At United, you have demonstrated that there are no big "I's" and no little "you's"...At the foot of the cross the ground is level!

2. United demonstrates commitment to Scripture! 
   -The two greatest commandments in Scripture are: “Love the Lord our God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength; and love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:30-31).  Loving God and loving one another are not optional for believers, but rather, they are commands.  When God’s people obey these commands, it simply reveals their desire to be faithful to His Word!

3. United gives a great statement to our neighbors!
  -One of the greatest things the Church can do is love one another.  John 13:35 says, “This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”  We must remember that people are watching the church!  In all that the church does there should be genuine Christian love!
As your pastor, I have heard many times from guests that this IS a church that displays love. Thank you!

4. United tries hard to bring the Body of Christ together!

-Psalm 133:1 says, “How wonderful, how beautiful, when brothers and sisters get along!”
The members of God's Church should love and submit to one another for the sake of unity.
When selfless love is present, unity is sure to follow!
We also realize that Wesleyan's will not be the only group in heaven. We have great fellowship with our other churches in the neighborhood and want to worship with everyone that loves Jesus!

5. United Wesleyan creates an atmosphere of vibrant and meaningful worship!

-When love and unity are present in the Body of Christ, it definitely makes the corporate worship environment more powerful and substantial.  Notice all the times the word “us” is used in the following verses: “O come, let us sing for joy to the Lord, let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.  Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms…come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our God our Maker.  For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand” (Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7).  The “us” in those verses is the church (The Body of Christ) coming together to truly praise and worship the Lord.

If you want to sing hymns in church we do that. If you want to hear drums and sing contemporary songs, we do that. Most of all we do it in unity!

6. United promotes genuine care and concern among the Body of Christ!

-When you genuinely love someone, you take the time to care for them and minister to them.  When true Christian love is present in the church, the Body of Christ will do a good job taking care of one another.
*When the poor needs fed, United is there.
*When prisoners need cared for, United is there
*When kids need nurtured, United is there!
I still shake my head at the faithfulness of many that volunteer and serve without notice or much recognition-THANK YOU!!

7. United fosters church growth!

-People want to be in a place where they are loved!  They want to know that no matter what, someone will be present to listen to them, care for them and share the truth of God’s Word with them.  When true, biblical love is present, there is a difference in the air of our church.  There will be a sense of warmth, grace and Christ’s love that will be attractive to those who visit our church.
I really think that the foundation has been properly built so that now growth will happen more naturally. Many will visit and you will love naturally and it will be noticed-then the word spreads that there is a church at the intersection of Rice and Cedar Rock Church Road that cares about people!!

8. United breeds excitement!

-People should long to come to church!  No one wants to attend a church that is lifeless and cold.  When love and a healthy sense of pride are present in the church, people will want to be there!  Love will breed excitement and joy in the Body of Christ and will encourage people not to miss out on the great things God is doing!  After all, the Scripture says, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord”.  Without a doubt, there should be a certain amount gladness that comes to mind when one thinks about attending their church!

9. United puts the focus where it belongs!

-Without a question, the focus of the church should be on the Lord and other people, not on ourselves!  Churches that split, fight and divide, usually can trace one thing to the core of all of their problems…SELFISHNESS!  Just like in a marriage, the goal everyday should be to put your spouse above yourself, so in the church, the members should put the Lord first and others second!  It is way too easy in the church to focus on all the wrong things: selfish agendas, personal preferences, prideful ideas, etc., when the true focus needs to be on the Lord and His people!

I just wanted to share some thoughts on my mind about OUR church and THEIR church! Thank you for serving, giving and attending in 2013-Let's expect a miracle in 2014!