Newsletter Article for April 30, 2008

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Springtime in Georgia is about as beautiful a place as you can be in this world. I love to marvel at the blooming dogwoods, azaleas, and various other flowers popping out of their buds. My daughter Faith is getting excited at the rosebuds at our house; she is waiting in anticipation for the coming blooms. We are also going to raise some butterflies and watch them go through metamorphosis and then set them free. It is a time of patience, it is a time of anticipation, and a time of great hope.
Right now there are many of you who are anxious about something in your lives. It may be family problems, economic problems, health problems, or just life problems. You need to remember that hope is a real gift from God and can keep you going. As the Psalmist writes, “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him." (Psalm 126). Life is a mixture of barren winters and beautiful springs, and we always look forward to the blooming spring. God has made the birds to sing to the dawn – while it is still dark. As the Apostle Paul reminds us, “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”(Romans 8:24-25). Keep faith in the Lord and never give up hope. Selah
In Christ,
Steve

A Hero for Our Time

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Many of you have expressed an interest in the Jacob Deshazer story that I shared in my sermon on Sunday. I think that more people should know about inspirational heroes, so I am giving you a bit more insight into this one. Here is part of his story as reported in “Christianity Today”: “December 7, 1941—the bombing of Pearl Harbor—changed the world. For Army Corporal Jacob DeShazer, an amazing drama was just beginning. Like most young Americans in the armed forces, DeShazer was eager to strike back at the enemy. He volunteered for a dangerous secret mission under Lieutenant-Colonel Jimmy Doolittle—to bomb Tokyo and surrounding cities. When two Japanese ships were sunk by the Americans nine hundred miles offshore, the command was given on the Hornet: "Army personnel, man your planes." It was April 18, 1942. They were eight hundred miles away from land, four hundred miles further offshore than originally planned for launching. The planes would not be returning to the carrier. They would have to land in China and elude the Japanese occupation forces there. It was a great risk for Doolittle's raiders. But the men were willing to take the risk in order to strike a demoralizing blow to the Japanese homeland . . . [After the mission, Deshazer’s plane failed to make it to safety in China]. Four other American prisoners and DeShazer were flown to Nanjing (Nanking), China, to a prison camp. There was more interrogation before a judge. Finally, the judge said in English, "In Japan it is a great honor for a judge to cut off a prisoner's head. Tomorrow at sunrise, I will have the honor of cutting off your head."
Their captors tortured them, trying to get information. They put DeShazer on his knees and beat him. They handcuffed one prisoner, Lt. Nielsen, hanging him for eight hours by his hands on a peg, his toes barely touching the floor while others were stretched out on boards for hours. The Japanese strapped others to chairs and beat them. They put towels over their faces and had water poured into their noses and mouths until they nearly drowned . . . A short time later, DeShazer learned that Emperor Hirohito (on Tojo's recommendation) had commuted his sentence to life imprisonment. This gave him little hope. For almost two years, DeShazer and the others struggled with starvation, fought dysentery and other illnesses, froze in winter without blankets, and baked in summer with no ventilation. At times the airman grew so angry at the brutal guards that he worried about his sanity. In quieter moments he wondered how they could be so inhumane.
On December 1, 1943, Lt. Meder died, weakened from dysentery. After his death, things suddenly changed. Someone among the Japanese "higher-ups" decided to keep the Americans alive. Food rations increased and a few books were given to the prisoners. Among them was one Bible . . . DeShazer memorized Old Testament passages, the Sermon on the Mount, and the first Epistle of John. He thought about what his parents and sister had tried to tell him for many years. Now it all made sense. When his three weeks were almost up, he read again Romans 10:9—"If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." DeShazer prayed, "Lord, though I am far from home and though I am in prison, I must have forgiveness." He continued to pray until he was filled with inner peace and joy. His dirty cell and the abuse no longer held any horror. Death held no threat. On June 8, 1944, although imprisoned, he was free. A year after his conversion, in June 1945, the Americans were transferred to a prison in Beijing (Peking). Conditions were worse than in Nanjing (Nanking). DeShazer nearly died of starvation and disease, but he grew spiritually [and was liberated at the close of 1945]. In 1948, Jacob DeShazer returned to Japan with his wife, Florence, as a missionary. By that time, Army chaplains had distributed more than a million tracts containing DeShazer's testimony titled, "I Was a Prisoner of the Japanese." Thousands of Japanese people wanted to see the man who could forgive his enemies. In his first few months in Japan, the former Jimmy Doolittle raider had spoken in two hundred places. Soon he, with his wife Florence, helped Japanese Christians to establish churches. Although the church planting was going well, early in 1950, DeShazer longed for a revival for Japan. He fasted 40 days, praying for the salvation of the Japanese. A few days after he ended his fast, a man came to his home and introduced himself—Mitsuo Fuchida, flight commander of the 360 planes that attacked Pearl Harbor. After reading DeShazer's testimony, Fuchida had purchased a New Testament, read it, and had accepted Christ. DeShazer welcomed him as a brother and counseled him to be baptized. Within a short time Fuchida became an evangelist, preaching in Japan and all over the world.”
Jacob Deshazer’s life bears witness to the power of Christ to transform our lives so that we can make a difference in this world.
Steve

Celebrating the Resurrection

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
What a great celebration of the Resurrection we had this past Sunday – the music was tremendous, the baptisms were moving and the living cross was a beautiful witness to the city of Dallas about our living Savior. It is wonderful that we take a Sunday each year to proclaim the Risen Lord with such magnificence. It is right for the Church to do so, but it is interesting to note that the Gospel writers who proclaimed the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, did so in whispers and not pomp and circumstance. We are not told in the Scriptures how Jesus was resurrected, only that it was by the power of God. We don't know if there was an explosion, if beams of light shot out from Heaven, or if Jesus just sat up. It was not revealed to the Gospel writers how it took place; the importance of the Resurrection was simply that it occurred.
This is why the next few weeks ought to be spiritually precious to us. After all the celebration has calmed down we go about celebrating the Resurrection in our daily lives in the same way as Jesus' disciples did so many years ago. It is important to remember that Easter begins a seven week period of celebration of Jesus' Resurrection which culminates in Pentecost Sunday when we once again celebrate the initiation of the Church through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. These next few Sundays are the “Sundays of Easter” and not the “Sundays after Easter.” A world of difference hinges on understanding this. Now is the time to continue to read Scripture and meditate upon the Resurrection, but also begin to seek to understand the Holy Spirit and its importance in your life. This is the way to peace and joy which Jesus promised to us when He spoke to His disciples just prior to His death and resurrection, “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:25-27). Selah.
In Christ,
Steve

Talk About the Passion

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Easter comes early this year; I hope that during this season of Lent you have been meditating on the meaning of Jesus' death and resurrection for your life. It is important for each of us to understand the Passion of Jesus as being eternally relevant in our daily lives. If we make it merely an abstract concept or proposition, then it really loses all personal meaning. I remember my Ordination presenter Dr. Mac Hollins saying to me that it is not enough to know that Jesus is Lord of all; I must know that Jesus is my Lord. In the same way, we must remember that Jesus died on the cross not just for the world but for you and me in our 21st century lives. The cross of Christ has influence on every decision that you make or will make if you understand the meaning and importance of the cross. Two of the great thinkers in Christian history - Martin Luther and Thomas a Kempis - can help us to understand how to incorporate the Passion of Christ in our daily lives.
First, Luther shares how the Passion can help us in our struggles, “When your heart is thus established in Christ, and you are an enemy of sin, out of love and not out of fear of punishment, Christ’s sufferings should also be an example for your whole life . . . if a day of sorrow or sickness weighs you down, think how trifling that is compared with the thorns and nails of Christ. If you must do or leave undone what is distasteful to you; think, how Christ was led hither and thither, bound and a captive. Does pride attack you: behold, how your Lord was mocked and disgraced with murderers. Do unchastity and lust thrust themselves against you: think, how bitter it was for Christ to have his tender flesh torn, pierced and beaten again and again. Do hatred and envy war against you, or do you seek vengeance: remember how Christ with many tears and cries prayed for you and all his enemies, who indeed had more reason to seek revenge. If trouble or whatever adversity of body or soul afflict you, strengthen your heart and say: Ah, why then should I not also suffer a little since my Lord sweat blood in the garden because of anxiety and grief? That would be a lazy, disgraceful servant who would wish to lie in his bed while his Lord was compelled to battle with the pangs of death . . . For Christ’s Passion must be dealt with not in words and a show, but in our lives and in truth. Thus St. Paul admonishes us, “For consider Him that hath endured such gainsaying of sinners against Himself, that ye wax not weary, fainting in your souls;” (Hebrews 12:3) and St. Peter, “As Christ suffered in the flesh, arm ye yourselves also with the same mind.” (1 Peter 4:1). But this kind of meditation is now out of use and very rare, although the Epistles of St. Paul and St. Peter are full of it. We have changed the essence into a mere show and painted the meditation of Christ’s sufferings only in letters and on walls.”
Second, Thomas a Kempis shares how the Passion of Christ can then give us the inspiration to follow Christ's call on our lives, “If, indeed, there were anything better or more useful for man’s salvation than suffering, Christ would have shown it by word and example. But He clearly exhorts the disciples who follow Him and all who wish to follow Him to carry the cross, saying: “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23) . . . Jesus has always many who love His heavenly kingdom but few who bear His cross. He has many who desire consolation but few who care for trial. He finds many to share His table but few to take part in His fasting. All desire to be happy with Him; few wish to suffer anything for Him. Many follow Him to the breaking of bread but few to the drinking of the chalice of His passion. Many revere His miracles; few approach the shame of the Cross. Many love Him as long as they encounter no hardship; many praise and bless Him as long as they receive some comfort from Him . . . Those, on the contrary, who love Him for His own sake and not for any comfort of their own, bless Him in all trial and anguish of heart as well as in the bliss of consolation. Even if He should never give them consolation, yet they would continue to praise Him and wish always to give Him thanks. What power there is in pure love for Jesus—love that is free from all self-interest and self-love!” Selah
Steve

Newsletter Article February 13, 2008

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Several times in my sermons, I have cited a passage from Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s The Cost of Discipleship about the importance of each Christian to pick up his or her cross and follow Jesus. This is a very important biblical understanding and is very appropriate as we are in the Lenten season and approaching Good Friday and Easter. Here is an excerpt from Bonhoeffer’s famous work:
“That is what we mean by cheap grace, the grace which amounts to the justification of sin without the justification of the repentant sinner who departs from sin and from whom sins departs. Cheap grace is not the kind of forgiveness of sin which frees us from the toils of sin. Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.
Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will gladly go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble, it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him. Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must the asked for, the door at which a man must knock. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of His Son: “ye were bought at a price”, and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.”I hope this inspires you at this time. Selah.
In Christ,
Steve

Newsletter Article January 30,2008

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
In the last two weeks something wonderful happened here in Dallas. It snowed. This was wonderful to me because Faith and Luke had never really seen snow and they were excited. We built snowmen and had a snowball fight. These were things that they had only heard Daddy talk about and Faith had feared that she would never get to build a snowman. I got to enjoy this snow with my kids as much as I would if I were a child again. Isn’t it wonderful how God has made us to be able to get so excited about new experiences?
God has made us so that our lives are enjoyable because of the serendipitous experiences we have, like the moment when we first fall in love. Yet, in our most important relationship – between ourselves and the LORD – many of us have become closed to encountering Him in new and exciting ways. Although, the LORD does not change, none of us has experienced the totality of all that God has in store for us. The Bible tells us that God is always doing “new things” and that as we walk daily with Him our minds and hearts will be continually opened to new understandings of Him and new possibilities in our lives. I pray that in this new year, you will be open to new ways of being with the LORD and experiencing His love. Along with the Apostle Paul, “I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17-19). Selah.

In Christ,

Steve

Newsletter Article September 26, 2007

Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,
This week we are sending a team to Mexico (Michael Dunbar, Janis Woods, Rick Peggs, Sharon Vinson), and yesterday, the team that is going to Kenya met to prepare for our trip next month (Cindy Dudding, Melette Meloy, David Holt, Kenn Swehla, Steve Schofield). This may bring up the question in your minds: why do we do missions in foreign lands? The short answer is that Jesus commanded us to, but we will unpack that a little more fully. The PRIMARY reason we go on mission trips is to RESPOND TO CHRIST’S CALL - [Jesus declared,] “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8); Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20); He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” (Mark 16:15). These commands of Jesus are clear and explicit.
Another important reason is it reminds us our primary allegiance in life is in God, and when we commit our lives to Christ, we are made brothers and sisters with people from all over the world. Remember the Bible’s description of Heaven, “After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:9). The suffering people of Kenya and Mexico are my brothers and sisters, just as they are yours if you have committed your life to Jesus Christ. We know the obligation that we have to be our brother’s keeper, “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if a man or woman claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him or her? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him or her, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his or her physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead”. (James 2:14-17). Knowing the extreme suffering that is going on in Kenya, with people dying daily from lack of food, how could I not go? What good am I as a Pastor of the gospel of Jesus Christ if I turned away? I want my children to know that when the cry of world’s suffering people is heard, those who have felt the saving grace of Jesus Christ respond with compassion and action because God loves them as much as He loves us. That is why we go. Selah.