Showing posts with label Prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prayer. Show all posts

Christian Persecution Is Growing Around the World

Posted by Randy | Labels: , , , , , , , | Posted On Friday, September 21, 2012 at 10:07 AM

When we think of persecution, we often think of folks being persecuted for political reasons, and certainly the events over the last year or so in what has come to be called the "Arab Spring" illustrate this. But estimates are that 75% of the people persecuted in the world today are persecuted for being Christians. In fact, more Christians died for their faith in the 20th Century than in all previous centuries combined. And estimates are that 159,900 Christians are martyred each year for their faith.

 An example is the story of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani in Iran. Below is a timeline of his life over the last three years:


  • October 2009
    •  – Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani was arrested. The authorities eventually charged him with apostasy – abandoning Islam for Christianity.
  • September 2010
    •  – Iranian court verbally sentenced Pastor Youcef to death for his faith.
  • November 2010
    •  – Iranian trial court issued a written death sentence for Pastor Youcef.
  • December 2010
    •  – Pastor Youcef appealed his conviction and execution to Iran’s Supreme Court.
  • June 2011
    •  – Iran’s Supreme Court in Qom, Iran, upheld Youcef’s apostasy conviction and death sentence by hanging for apostasy, remanding the case for a factual inquiry into whether Pastor Youcef was a practicing Muslim at age of majority before choosing Christianity.
  • September 2011
    •  – Iranian trial court determined that Youcef had abandoned the faith of his ancestors because he was born to Muslim parents and rejected Islam after the age of majority. The Court verbally reaffirmed his death sentence, unless he recanted his Christian faith. For three days, the Iranian trial court demanded that Pastor Youcef recant his faith or die, to which he responded, “I cannot.”
  • October 2011
    •  – Iranian trial court requested the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, provide advice on the case – effectively placing Pastor Youcef’s fate in the Ayatollah’s hands.
  • October 2011
    •  – Iran’s Ministry of Information clerics forced Islamic literature on Pastor Youcef and pressured him to recant his Christian faith.
  • January 2012
    •  – The Iranian regime again pressured Pastor Youcef to recant his faith or die.
  • March 2012
    •  – Iranian government officials admit to the world that Pastor Youcef’s charges concern his Christian faith.
  • April 2, 2012
    •  – Pastor Youcef is able to see his son on his son’s birthday, one of only a handful of times that they had been permitted to see each other in his nearly two-and-a-half years in prison.
  • April 11, 2012
    •  – Pastor Youcef celebrates his 35th birthday, his third birthday spent illegally imprisoned in Iran for his faith.
  • July 8, 2012
    •  – Pastor Youcef has been illegally imprisoned for his faith for 1000 days.
  • September 8, 2012
    •  – Victory: Pastor Youcef is released! After the world united for his cause, and the Church rose up in prayer, Pastor Youcef was reunited with his family after almost 3 years in prison.

 This information comes from the website 48 Hours for Freedom, which also included this press release below:
Sep. 8, 2012 

Today marks a day of celebration. After languishing in prison for almost three years, under the threat of execution for his faith, Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani has been released from prison and acquitted of his apostasy charge.

Pastor Youcef had been summoned to appear before the court this morning for the charges brought against him. His hearing lasted almost six hours. But in the end, he was released and able to return home to his family.

Some of our sources close to the case report that the court acquitted him of apostasy, but charged and convicted him of evangelizing to Muslims. According to these same sources, the court sentenced Pastor Youcef to three years in prison and granted him time served, which means his prison sentence already has been completed.

Your prayers, your advocacy, and your voice has been heard. Please continue to pray for Pastor Youcef’s safety. Please join us for 48 Hours for Religious Freedom on September 22-23, 2012, for the numerous other Christians persecuted in Iran. As more facts come out about the release of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, we will keep you posted.




If you would like to join in praying for Pastor Youcef, you can certainly join in the activities of this weekend, but it doesn't need to end then, and it shouldn't! This is a tragedy that seldom fails to make the news. Crowds are rioting around the Arab world about a video made by one individual related to the prophet Mohammed, but many say little or nothing about the tens of thousands of Christ followers who are dying each year for their faith.
I hope you will join me in praying for Pastor Youcef, but also to be praying for Christ followers around the world who are not free to openly live their faith. I thank God I live in a land where we are free to worship as we felt led, and I pray more and more will experience that freedom so they can know the Savior and Lord of the world, Jesus Christ!









Mash-up: Famous Last Words, Lent, Prayer & Fasting

Posted by Randy | Labels: , , , , , , , , | Posted On Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 12:28 PM

Last Sunday I began a new series, "Famous Last Words" (listen to it by clicking here), looking at Jesus' last words or statements from the cross. A person's last words often carry great significance, and this was certainly true in Jesus' case. His seven statements tell us so much about Jesus, but they also tell us a great deal about those of us who choose to follow him.


As I ended the message on Sunday, I issued a challenge to all of us to spend time each week leading up to Easter praying and fasting. I suggested that we each pray and fast about three things:


  1. My own spiritual journey and spiritual growth
  2. My church, Gateway Community Church, and the mission God has given us, and, particularly, the mission He has given me as a part of this church
  3. The last words/statements of Christ from the cross, focusing each week on the statement preached on the preceding Sunday and the ways it impacts my life


Here are the statements, in the order we will be addressing them (with the first one discussed this past Sunday):



  •  “‘Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.’” (Luke 23:34)
  • “‘I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.’” (Luke 23:43)
  •  “‘Dear woman, here is your son.’” “‘Here is your mother.’” (John 19:26, 27)
  • “‘My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?’” (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34)
  • “‘I am thirsty.’” (John 19:28)
  • “‘Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!’” (Luke 23:46)
  •  “‘It is finished!’” (John 19:30)



These statements impact us not only as Jesus speaks them to us, but also as we, his followers, live them out in our lives for the sake of others. A follower or disciple doesn't just observe their leader/follower, they follow or imitate or put into practice what he or she teaches. We're not much of a follower if we don't follow!


I mentioned a set time frame for this period of fasting and prayer - the weeks leading up to Easter. Historically, in the Christian Church, this period has been called Lent. Some of us may be very familiar with the season of Lent, but it may be new for others, and still others may have only bits and pieces of understanding about Lent. 


As one writer defined it, "Lent is a season of the Christian Year where Christians focus on simple living, prayer, and fasting in order to grow closer to God." (Upper Room). Those who practice Lent typically use it as a time to reflect on their own lives and seek God's help to draw closer to Him. It is a period of 40 days leading up to the Saturday before Easter. Interestingly, it does not include the Sundays during this period - it only counts Monday through Saturday as the days. This is because Sunday is considered a mini-Easter, a day to celebrate Christ's resurrection, and so is not a day to deny one's self.


The period of 40 days typically refers to the period of time in which Jesus, after his baptism by John the Baptist, headed out into the wilderness. It was for him a period of praying and fasting, and during this time he was tempted by Satan. (Matthew 4:1-11) In the early church, in those first centuries after Christ's life and death, it became a time to prepare new converts to be baptized.


The word Lent, like the word Bible, is not actually found in the Bible. Originally, the word Lent (Anglo-Saxon - lencten) was the English name for spring, the season between winter and summer. It was awkward to talk about the church observance of Lent and the season of lent with the same word, so eventually the English began using the word spring for that season, and kept the word Lent to denote the period of preparation leading up to Easter.


The day that begins Lent always falls on a Wednesday (as you count back the forty days, less the Sundays, from the Saturday before Easter), and is called Ash Wednesday. Some churches and traditions anoint one's head with ashes on this day. Ashes in Jewish and Christian history were typically a sign of mortality (when our bodies die they decompose to dust/ash/etc.) and repentance (in biblical times, a sign of remorse was to put ashes on one's head and wear "sackcloth," scratchy clothing that reminds one that sin is uncomfortable and leads to a sort of death of one's spirit). It was a way of confessing sin and seeking God's forgiveness. Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, occurs the day before Ash Wednesday. It was a day of food and parties as people who were about to enter Lent did not want to be tempted by sweets and meat in their home - so, they cleaned out their cabinets and had a party. It has evolved into something more in more recent times.


Gateway has a brochure on our website on Prayer and Fasting, that gives you more insight into these spiritual disciplines, and the practice of them together. It explains that there are many different kinds of fasts - not just food - so it's worth reading to see where God is leading you in your part for Lent.


As always, the reason we do any of this is to lead us to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. Jesus spoke his last words from the cross, and they are significant for every Christ follower. I hope you join me during this season leading to Easter - Lent - in prayer and fasting to more fully "put on Christ."

Psalm 27

Posted by Randy | Labels: , , , , , , , , | Posted On Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 11:25 AM

This may seem like an usual blog post, but as I read this Psalm today, I just felt drawn to it and it's encouragement and promises. Yet, the more I read it, trying to think about what I would write about it, the more I sensed that I shouldn't write anything - just let God's Word speak for itself. So here it is - Psalm 27, from the New Living Translation. See what God wants to say to you today!


Psalm 27 - A psalm of David

1The LORD is my light and my salvation— 
so why should I be afraid? 
The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, 
so why should I tremble? 
2When evil people come to devour me, 
when my enemies and foes attack me, 
they will stumble and fall. 
3Though a mighty army surrounds me, 
my heart will not be afraid. 
Even if I am attacked, 
I will remain confident.

4The one thing I ask of the LORD 
  the thing I seek most— 
is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, 
delighting in the LORD’s perfections 
and meditating in his Temple. 
5For he will conceal me there when troubles come; 
he will hide me in his sanctuary. 
He will place me out of reach on a high rock. 
6Then I will hold my head high 
above my enemies who surround me. 
At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, 
singing and praising the LORD with music.

7Hear me as I pray, O LORD. 
Be merciful and answer me! 
8My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” 
And my heart responds, “LORD, I am coming.” 
9Do not turn your back on me. 
Do not reject your servant in anger. 
You have always been my helper. 
Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me, 
O God of my salvation! 
10Even if my father and mother abandon me, 
the LORD will hold me close. 

11Teach me how to live, O LORD. 
Lead me along the right path, 
for my enemies are waiting for me. 
12Do not let me fall into their hands. 
For they accuse me of things I’ve never done; 
with every breath they threaten me with violence. 
13Yet I am confident I will see the LORD’s goodness 
while I am here in the land of the living. 

14Wait patiently for the LORD. 
Be brave and courageous. 
Yes, wait patiently for the LORD. 

The Reality of Unintentional Sins

Posted by Randy | Labels: , , , , , , , , , | Posted On Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 11:39 AM

I admit that reading in Leviticus isn't always at the top of my list. Leviticus and Numbers, the third and fourth books of the Bible, can seem long, repetitive and even irrelevant. But what I have discovered is that sometimes we have to pull back from the details of a particular passage to see the big picture and the accumulated weight of all that is being said.


That's what helped me this morning as I was reading my Life Journal readings of Leviticus 4-6. The sub-headings in my Bible title sections with things like, "Procedures for the Sin Offering" and "Sins Requiring a Sin Offering." Who wants to read about sins and the incredible amount of detail spelled out for these offerings, often repeated multiple times?


But then I back up and look at the bigger picture, and several things come into focus. First, these procedures for sin offerings all revolve around unintentional sins: "'If any of the common people sin by violating one of the LORD's commands, but they don't realize it, they are still guilty.'" (Leviticus 4:27) 


Think about that for a moment. We often think of a sin as intentionally doing something that goes against God's laws. But here God tells us we can sin unintentionally, but it is still a sin. It still hurts our relationship with Him, and it often hurts others and/or ourselves. Ignorance doesn't diminish the effects.


If we understand this and take it seriously, one of our prayers needs to be, "God, show me where I have sinned and did not even realize it." That's not necessarily a fun prayer, but if we're serious about our spiritual journey, this passage shows us this needs to be a part of our prayer life. We need to become aware of our unintentional sins, in order to be forgiven, but more importantly, so we can discern how to stop doing them.


The second thing I notice in this section is that the value of the offering for someone who sins unintentionally becomes higher the more prominent their leadership is in the community of faith. The high priests sacrifice for an unintentional sin is a young bull with no defects (4:4). The sacrifice for the a sin by the entire community of faith is also a young bull (4:13). The sacrifice for one of Israel's leaders is a male goat with no defects (4:23). The sacrifice for the "common people" is a female goat with no defects or a female sheep with no defects (4:28, 32).  However, if a person cannot afford a goat or sheep, two turtledoves or two young pigeons can be substituted (5:7), or if even that is too much, two quarts of choice flour (5:11) can be offered as sacrifices.


There is always a cost for redemption, and generally, it is the blood of a sacrifice. But the varying levels of sacrifice also recognize that because a high priest has so much greater visible leadership, his sin, though perhaps not seeming any worse than any others, affects more people and the witness of the faith. An Israelite leader's sin affects more people. 


In God's eyes, sin is sin, but the effects of sin vary depending not just on the sin itself, but also on the position of leadership or authority one holds in the community of faith. I remember hearing leadership guru John Maxwell say that the higher we go in leadership in the Christian community and the church, the fewer options we have. Our witness is more visible, and our failures affect more people, even when they are unintentional. So, we have to be more careful, for the sake of our witness to Jesus Christ. The Bible shows that leaders are held to a higher standard.


Finally, I see in this passage that not only must we seek to discover our sins and seek forgiveness for them, but we need to make restitution where possible, plus some more. Leviticus 5:16 (NLT): "'You must make restitution for the sacred property you have harmed by paying for the loss, plus an additional 20 percent.'" (also 6:4-5)


Where we have cost another something through our sins, even unintentionally, it's not enough to seek forgiveness. God calls us to offer restitution above and beyond the loss that another suffered because of our sin. Just covering the cost of what was lost doesn't recognize that our sin created other problems for that person, including just having to deal with all this in the first place.


When I zoom out to look at the big picture in this section, it becomes very clear to me that God wants us to often examine our lives for unintentional sins. Even when we didn't mean for it to happen, there is a cost, and we have to pay it. Perhaps the extra restitution is enough of a penalty to encourage us to be proactive in seeking to identify unintentional sins and avoiding them. God takes sin very seriously, because ultimately it brings death and destruction. Even unintentional sins. 

Sometimes Interruptions are Good Things

Posted by Randy | Labels: , , , , , , , , | Posted On Friday, October 30, 2009 at 12:01 AM

Beginning in Mark 5:21 we read a powerful story about not one but two healings. Jesus gets out of the boat, after traveling from the region of the Gerasenes. Jairus, leader of the local synagogue, seeks Jesus out for help because his daughter is dying. He asks Jesus to come and heal her. Jesus immediately sets out with Jairus, and crowds of people follow.

Mark tells us about a woman who had suffered from constant bleeding for twelve years. No one had been able to help her; in fact, she had only gotten worse. Her bleeding would also make her ceremonially unclean - she wouldn't be able to fulfill any of the Jewish rituals, so her bleeding blocked ways for her Jewish faith to help her. And because she was "unclean," it wasn't even appropriate for her to approach Jesus, a Jewish teacher. But she is desperate. Can you imagine living with this for twelve years?

"She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe. For she thought to herself, 'If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.' Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition." (Mark 5:27-29, NLT)

It was a miracle! But amazingly, Jesus was aware of what happened, feeling the healing flow out through him, the Bible tells us, and he wants to know who touched his robe. The disciples can't believe what Jesus is saying, because he's surrounded by this large crowd, with all the jostling and pushing. How could he know a miracle had happened?

Yet it had! And the frightened woman came forward, fell to her knees, and told Jesus what had happened. It's obvious that Jesus was thrilled with her act of faith: "...'Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, Your suffering is over.'" (5:34) I can just imagine her relief and joy as she got up and left to tell the world what had happened to her.

But in the meantime, messengers arrived from the home of Jairus, telling him his daughter had died and there was no use bothering the Teacher now. I wonder if Jairus was resentful in that moment. He had sought Jesus out and was bringing him to his daughter, when this unclean woman barged in and touched him. Jesus had stopped, sought her out, and blessed her. Could that time have made the difference? The Bible doesn't tell us one way or another, but Jesus assures Jairus not to be afraid but have faith.

So, they proceed on to Jairus' home, where word of the daughter's death had spread and ceremonial mourners had arrived to weep and wail on behalf of the family. Jesus says the little girl isn't dead, just sleeping, and the crowd just laughs. It must have been pretty obvious to all that the girl really was dead.

But Jesus commands the girl to get up, and immediately she does and begins to walk around. Everyone was "...overwhelmed and totally amazed." (5:42) Jesus' delay with the woman had not changed the outcome. In fact, it may have heightened the miracle, causing more praise to go to God.

The thing that strikes me about this whole story is how often I get focused on something I'm going to do, and I plan it and set the plan in motion and then head off to do it. It may be a good plan, even a great plan, but sometimes God has the best plan - if I'm paying attention. Life really is about the journey, more than the destination. Sometimes the interruptions along the way are really doors God opens to allow us to see Him and His work. Rather than interruptions, they're really opportunities to grow our faith. I'm trying to remember this, because sometimes I just feel annoyed, until the "ah-ha!" moment arrives and I see what God was really up to.

I'm convinced that the reason we're often not too aware of God working in our world is because we're not looking for Him to work. We're moving forward with our plans, and we become blind to what God might do on the way. This is one of the reasons I believe reading our Bibles and praying daily are both important - they remind me each day about God and get me looking for Him, even in the interruptions of life. I really am trying to live my life with my "God" radar up and scanning all the time, and I'm seeing God working more than ever. In fact, sometimes the interruptions turn out to be the most important part of my day.

Do We Really Believe in Prayer?

Posted by Randy | Labels: , , , , , | Posted On Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 12:01 AM

As we begin Acts 12, we read that King Herod Agrippa (grandson of Herod the Great who ruled at the time of Jesus' birth) began persecuting Christians. The apostle James, brother of John, was killed as the first apostle to die for his faith (Judas took his own life). When Herod earned brownie points with the Jews for his persecutions, he had Peter arrested and planned to bring him to trial (and most likely, execution) after the Passover.

Herod took extreme precautions to keep Peter locked up. At any given time there were four soldiers guarding him. It was not unusual for a single soldier to be chained to one hand of a prisoner, but in Peter's case, there was a soldier chained to each hand, plus two at the door of the cell.

Suddenly a bright light and an angel appear in the cell. The chains fall off Peter's wrists, and the angel leads him out of the cell. We're not told how Peter got past the guards, but we know at dawn there was "a great commotion among the soldiers" (12:18 NLT) when they discovered Peter was missing. Herod had the soldiers executed as the standard punishment of the day when a prisoner escaped.

Meanwhile, Peter proceeds to the home of of a Christ follower named Mary, mother of John Mark, where he finds many followers gathered for prayer. In fact, the writer Luke shows us that prayer surrounds Peter's stay in jail. Acts 12:5 says, "But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him." Acts 12:12 tells us that when he arrived at the home of Mary, "...many were gathered for prayer."

It raises a curious question - would Peter have been rescued if those Christians had not been praying? Obviously, we don't know the answer to that, and we never will, at least this side of heaven. But we know the people prayed and Peter was miraculously released. Yet, when Peter knocked at the door of Mary, her servant Rhoda recognized his voice and was so excited to see Peter that she ran back in to tell the others. But, in her excitement, she failed to open the door for Peter, and those gathered in prayer didn't believe her at first. Isn't it interesting how sometimes we pray for something, yet we are surprised or even don't believe it when it happens? Do we really take prayer seriously?

There's an old story told about a liquor store that opened in a small town. Many of the folks were very concerned, and organized a prayer rally against the liquor store. Soon after the store was struck by lightning and burned down. The liquor store owner sued the church for the loss of his building, but the church members denied having anything to do with it. When the case came before the judge, he noted that it was strange that apparently the liquor store owner believed in the power of prayer, but the folks in the church did not.

I don't tell this story as an indictment against drinking (though it needs to be handled very, very carefully) or liquor store owners, but use it to make the (hopefully) humorous point that many times Christians pray but don't really expect God to act. When God does act, we are so surprised by it that we look for other explanations. Yet, the person of genuine faith is constantly watching to see God work, and this person prays because she or he believes God does answer prayer - maybe not the way we want, but He does answer.

This month hundreds of us have been praying and fasting, in addition to reading our Bibles. We've been praying that God will work in us, to grow our faith, so He can work through us to do even greater things around us. But what happens when God starts answering our prayers? Will we believe Him, or will we deny it and miss the boat?

I want to encourage you and challenge you to take your praying seriously. It is not an empty ritual, but a way God works in our lives and transforms us. If you're asking God to change your heart, to trust that God really does love you, that God's power and presence become real in your life, that His healing power is experienced in our church, and that our church will care so much for the lost and hurting "sheep," that we will do whatever it takes to bring them safely "home" to Christ and his church, then begin to expect these changes. Don't be surprised or fight them - cooperate with the Holy Spirit at work in you. There's an old saying, "seeing is believing," but in the world of prayer and faith, "believing is seeing!" Trust God to work through your prayers, and you won't leave Him at the door when He knocks on your life.

Am I Going to Live by Fear or Faith?

Posted by Randy | Labels: , , , , , , , , , | Posted On Thursday, October 15, 2009 at 12:01 AM

In Acts 4 the Apostles Peter and John are confronted by the religious leaders, many of whom had been instrumental in Jesus' death. They were disturbed that Peter and John were teaching that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead. They were also disturbed by the healing of a crippled beggar (3:1-11, NLT2), and so they had them arrested.

Before these religious leaders the next day, Peter testifies, "'There is salvation in no one else (but Jesus)! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.'" (4:12) Salvation comes only through Jesus Christ, God's own Son. Acts tells us that the religious leaders were amazed at the boldness of Peter and John, but since the man they healed was standing there with them, clearly healed, they were left with little they could say or do. So, they warn Peter and John to never speak or teach in the name of Jesus again.

Peter and John were faced with a crossroads in their faith at that moment. Two months earlier Peter wouldn't even stand up to a servant for his faith, and now he was facing some of the religious leaders who had dealt with Jesus. I understand Peter's denial. Call it peer pressure or call it fear or call it a desire to please people and fit in, but I've been there. I've downplayed my Christian faith to look cool or to avoid a put-down. I'm not bragging about that - in fact, I'm ashamed that I've done that. But I understand where Peter was coming from.

Now, Peter is faced with another opportunity to stand up for his faith, and this time the response he and John give is very different: "...'Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.'" (vss. 19-20, italics added) This time, Peter makes the decision to obey God rather than give in to his fear of what others will think or do. This time, he acts in faith, not knowing what the outcome will be, but deciding he can't do otherwise. This is the answer I want to give, and it's the answer I'm going to try to live, by the grace of God.

Peter and John remind us that we are called to obedience in our walks of faith. We won't do it perfectly - we're human, and we still struggle with sin. But, at the same time, if we made a decision to put our faith in Jesus Christ, his Spirit lives within us, working within us, empowering us to go far beyond what we ordinarily think we're capable of. However, we don't discover this until we have to live it, until we have to act "in faith" on it. Talk is cheap until we're faced with real life and its consequences. It's only then that we can truly walk by faith, or give in to fear.

This time around Peter and John walked by faith, and the religious leaders ended up letting them go. When Peter and John returned to the other Christ followers, they prayed to God for even more power and boldness: "'...give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.'" (4:29-30)

And this prayer became reality time after time after time in the early church. And, through God's Spirit, it's still happening today, if we live this faith. The Holy Spirit is no less active today than He was two thousand years ago - but too often we're just more timid in seeking Him and living by faith. We don't experience God's power in our lives because we back down too quickly. We don't pray for boldness and we don't act "in faith." But I don't want to live that way - I want to live by faith. I want to be bold. I want to see God's miraculous signs and wonders at work today. And, by faith, I'm praying that God will do this work in me, so He can do it through me. How about you - will you join me in this prayer...and this walk of faith?

Am I Looking for God Today?

Posted by Randy | Labels: , , , , , , , , , | Posted On Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 12:01 AM

Our Life Group met last night (Tuesday night), and we got to talking about how often God says "remember." He tells us in the Lord's Supper to remember. God was always telling the Jews to remember how He had led them out of Egypt. Someone once told me that Christianity is an "historic" religion, because the easiest way we can see God's hand working is when we look back across our lives or the life of the church.

Some of you may know that my desks at home and at the church are a mess, covered with piles of stuff. I'm not particularly happy or proud of that, but there's at least a little method to my madness. What I've discovered over the years is that I forget things I don't readily see. Out of sight - out of mind, as the old saying goes. And it's certainly true for me.

And what I've discovered is that this is also often true for us in our faith journeys with God. Out of sight - out of mind. We remember on Sundays, when we're at church, but for a lot of the rest of the week, for a lot of us, God doesn't have a very active role in our lives.

In Acts 3, the Apostles Peter and John go to the Temple one afternoon not long after Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit into the lives of Christ followers. It's the mid-afternoon prayer service, and as they arrive, a man crippled from birth is being carried in so he can beg from those coming and going at the Temple. He sees Peter and John and begs for money from them. Peter tells him he has no money to give him, but he'll give him what he can. And what that, he commands the beggar to get up and walk in the name of Jesus.

Verse 7 says, "Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man's feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened." (NLT2) Everyone around was absolutely astounded by this miracle. Then, in verse 12 it says, "Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd, 'People of Israel,' he said, 'what is so surprising about this?'" (italics added)

People didn't expect to see God work. They were at the Temple, the center of the Jewish faith, but they were surprised to see God show up. How often do we live our lives not expecting God to show up. Would we be just as astounded to see God working? And it wouldn't even have to be a physical miracle. It might be a person choosing to forgive someone who has hurt them. It might be some words of encouragement at a low moment. It might be a helping hand that comes just as we pray for help. Are we looking to see God at work around us today? Do we believe He's active in our world, or does He just stand back and watch as the world goes by?

I believe we need to re-examine our faith if we're not routinely seeing God at work all around us. We need to see if we've parked it for the week, and only take it out of the garage on Sunday mornings. We need to ask ourselves if we really believe God still works in the lives of people today - in my life. Would an act of God be "so surprising" to me?

Sometimes I feel like what I need is a "God" radar that is constantly scanning my surroundings, scanning the people with me, scanning what I'm reading - the Bible or otherwise - , to watch for God at work. To remember that He is always with us and at work in our world. To see Him all around us in creation and people and love. I need to be looking for Him, because as God said, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13 NIV)

This is one reason why worship is important - it's a weekly reminder of God and how great He is. But even worship one day a week is not that much. And that's why a daily time with God, reading our Bibles, praying, etc., is critical. Each day I begin it with my personal time with God, and among other things, that time with Him keeps Him on my mind, helps me remember Him and watch where He's working. It's harder for Him to be out of sight, out of mind. And when I'm watching for Him and actively seeking Him in my life, I will see Him at work. I will experience Him in my life - each day. In fact, I need to be watching for Him in every moment of my life, because we never know when He's going to do something to get our attention.

Seeing God work today shouldn't be a surprise. Seeing God heal or forgive, or even simply love us, needs to be a part of our daily lives. We see what we look for. Seek God will all your heart, and you will find Him, perhaps even in ways you never expected. Look for Him today!

Last Words, Lasting Message

Posted by Randy | Labels: , , , , , , , , , | Posted On Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 12:01 AM

Courts generally consider the dying words of an individual to hold great weight. In Luke 23 we see Jesus saying three things as he hangs on the cross. We can be sure each thing he says is very important.

After he was nailed to the cross, Jesus says in verse 34: "...'Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing.'" After having been beaten, mocked, ridiculed, wrongly accused and nailed to a cross, Jesus offers forgiveness to those around him. Here we see the heart of God for His children, who time after time wronged Him, yet He still loves and forgives. I honestly have a hard time imagining this level of love, yet I know that through Christ in me, God calls me to this as well. I fall terribly short, but this moment on the cross holds out for me the ideal, the goal, the perfection of love that I aspire to, only by the grace of God.

Luke also tells us that Jesus was crucified between two criminals. One of them taunts Jesus, saying, "'So you're the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself - and us, too, while you're at it!'" (vs. 39) The other criminal, though, responds, "'Don't you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn't done anything wrong....Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.'" (vss. 40-42)

Jesus is suffering excruciating pain as he hangs on the cross, facing his last hours of life on earth, yet his concern isn't for himself but for this repentant criminal. Jesus utters the second thing on the cross, "'I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.'" (vs. 43) Jesus offered forgiveness, and now he offers love and hope to this man dying next to him. Jesus said he came to seek and save those who were lost, and even as he hangs on the cross facing his own death, he never forgets his mission and purpose. In these last minutes, he enables one more man to follow him into eternity.

If I want a picture of what matters to God, I can't miss it here. Jesus Christ lived and died for us. He never lost sight of his mission, even in his last hours. And he gives us this picture to show us his level of commitment to his mission. We, the church, are the body of Christ in the world today, and his mission is our mission. His level of commitment must become our level of commitment, so that we can remain faithful to him. If he died a horrible death for me, any discomfort I may sometimes experience in seeking those disconnected from God is a small price to pay for all he's done.

But Luke also records Jesus' last words, a prayer, before he dies on the cross: "'Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!'" These words are a quote from Psalm 31:5, with the addition of the word, "Father." And these words from Psalm 31 were traditionally taught by every Jewish mother to her child as the last thing the child would say at night. This prayer of faith as he closed his eyes, was a statement of faith in the Father. No matter what he had been through, Jesus trusted his Heavenly Father (and our Heavenly Father) to care for him.

In his last words, Jesus showed his undying love and concern for us and all those disconnected from God, and his complete trust and faith in his Heavenly Father. He models for us the life he calls us to live, as well. By ourselves, we cannot forgive or love or have this level of faith, but when Jesus is at the center of our lives, His Spirit grows the heart of Jesus within us. And by His power, Jesus' words and actions become ours!

What are my motives for fasting and praying?

Posted by Randy | Labels: , , , , , | Posted On Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 6:58 AM

I'm always amazed at how God works, though I shouldn't be. This morning, as I was reading my Life Journal passages, the Old Testament reading was from Zechariah, chapters 7-9. Right away, a passage in chapter 7 jumped out at me, speaking to me as I and Gateway prepare to enter into October and a month of prayer and fasting and reading our Bibles as the foundation for Greater Things...

Scholars tells us this passage takes place in December 518 B.C., as many of the Jews have returned from their exile in Babylonia to Jerusalem and are beginning to rebuild the Temple, which was destroyed in August 586 B.C. by the Babylonians, when they conquered the nation of Judah. Apparently, some Jews had been fasting and mourning the anniversary of the destruction of the Temple, and they came to Zechariah to seek God's answer as to whether they should continue these practices, now that the Temple was being rebuilt.

God gives this response to Zechariah in chapter 7, verses 5-6: "'Say to all your people and your priests, "During these seventy years of exile, when you fasted and mourned in the summer and early autumn, was it really for me that you were fasting? And even now in your holy festivals, aren't you eating and drinking just to please yourselves?"'"

Over twenty-five hundred years ago Zechariah recorded God's response to the Jews that speaks to me today, on the eve of our own period of fasting and prayer. What are my motives? Am I doing this to show how spiritual I am? Am I doing this because it's the "spiritual thing to do"? Am I trying to manipulate God to give me what I want? All these questions come back to a root issue for me - the battle of selfishness within me.

Jesus addressed this directly in his Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 6:16-18, Jesus said, "'And when you fast, don't make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.'"

The issue of prayer and fasting comes down to our motives. This October, as I pray and fast, I'm going to work hard to keep folks from being able to tell what day I'm doing this. I'm going to work hard to avoid the temptation of letting folks know how "spiritual" I am because I'm fasting. I'm going to be honest about what I'm doing (when I'm asked), but I'm not going to try to draw attention to myself. Instead, I'm going to focus on honoring God and listening to God. When I feel hunger pangs, I'm going to use those as reminders to pray. Those times when I would ordinarily eat will be intentional times for me to pray.

Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." (John 14:12 NIV - italics added) I'm going to pray this scripture, that God works in me, that He transforms me more and more into the image and likeness of His Son Jesus Christ. I'm going to pray the items on my prayer card. I'm going to ask God to do greater things in me and in the people of our church, so He can do even greater things through us. I don't want this period of prayer and fasting to be about me and my motives and my rewards. I don't want God to question my motives, as he did the people in the time of Zechariah. I want to do this for God, so that my fasting and my prayers bring honor and glory to Him - and not me!

Starting tomorrow I'll be sharing with you my thoughts daily about the New Testament Life Journal readings. You don't have to read the Life Journal readings - just read your Bible daily, using any plan that works for you. It's all a part of our month-long journey of prayer and fasting for Greater Things...

By the way, this Sunday at 5:30 is our First Sunday New Life Service, followed at 6 p.m. by our regular Gateway Academy classes. In addition, Marianne Gignac will be teaching a class on prayer and fasting, and this will be the perfect opportunity to learn more about prayer and fasting.

I won't tell you prayer and fasting is always easy for me. And though you may not have the same struggles I do, I hope and pray that all of us, together, will examine our motives and ask God to do all this for His glory. I'm convinced God is calling us to this, and so if we strive to do our part, He will do even greater things through us for Him and His world. And that gets me excited! I hope October goes well for you - I'm looking forward to what God's going to do!

Posted by Randy | Labels: , , , , | Posted On Thursday, September 24, 2009 at 1:13 PM

Join Gateway in October Prayer & Fasting

Welcome to my blog - I don't have a snappy name for it (and I don't know if I want that or not), but if you've got a suggestion, email me at rhageman@gateway-community.org.

Our capital campaign theme for adding much needed educational space is Greater Things… Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12 NIV – emphasis added).

In order for God to do greater things through us, in our community and beyond, we have to first allow God to do greater things in us. We have to allow Him to grow our faith in Jesus. I shared with our congregation this past Sunday that I believe God is calling one hundred of us to fast and pray each day of the week (for a total of seven hundred of us), plus at least one thousand of us to read our Bibles daily.

This is a huge challenge for us, and already several hundred of you have said, “Yes!” But, we haven’t reached seven hundred, and there’s no reason we can’t go beyond that. I know this will stretch some of us beyond anything we’ve ever done before, but it is precisely in these kinds of experiences that God grows us most – and uses us most! If you’re not sure about what fasting is, or for medical reasons you shouldn’t miss meals, I’ve attached a brochure that gives more information about fasting and other options that also work.

I’ll be preaching in October about faith from Hebrews 11. In addition, our Life Groups will be using a study by Pastor Andy Stanley called Simple that lays out the simple basics of faith. I’ll also be sending you weekly email updates that may also include additional prayer needs. I am starting this new blog, where I’ll be sharing my thoughts about the New Testament scripture readings from the Life Journal each day, and I invite you to check it out, beginning October 1st. (Actually, I set it up earlier in the year, but I never really got started - this is the official beginning).

I believe October will be a great month of renewal and revival in our church. I’m convinced God wants to do greater things through us, so I hope you will join me in letting God do greater things in us!
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