Final Moments

Currently I am writing from my grandmother’s hospital room in Ocala, FL. After a long battle with her health, she’s in the final moments of her earthly life. At times this reality is physically visible, yet at others I find it hard to imagine she could be leaving at any moment.

At first I didn’t really think it was going to affect me very much. As a pastor I’ve lived these moments with others. Yet those moments are not these moments. I’ve cried, laughed, and relived the memories.

No moment has been greater than being able to pray with my grandmother. She has not always lived the most righteous lifestyle. Church, religion, or even Jesus have not always been high priorities to her. Yet, when a friend shared Jesus with her several years ago, He changed her life. I wasn’t so sure of the depth of change until I was able to pray with her last night. She says she is at peace and ready to go and I sense that peace as well.

No death is easy. But the peace of knowing Christ carries us through.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers! They’re felt and appreciated.

Forgetting the Past…I Press On

Are you one of those who struggle to forget your past? The horrors of yesterday’s activities and the terrors of our failures can certainly get the best of us.

Admittedly, I hold the apostle Paul as untouchable. His passion for the Lord seems unparalleled. Yet, until today I never really picture Paul as one who struggled with his past. He just seems to be like Jack Bauer…he just presses on regardless of what has happened in the previous moments.

Thus it is understandable that Ralph Martin’s words about the apostle in Philippians 3:6 caught me totally unaware. For once, I saw a glimpse of humanness in him. Perhaps, a sense that he, too, struggles with the past. Listen to these words of Marin, 

Paul seems never to have been able to forget his persecuting activity, based on that misdirected zeal for God (Acts 22:3; cf. Rom. 10:2) and his cause, of which he speaks here. The memory of it continually haunts him; so much so that he uses the present participle of the verb, diokon, persecuting, as if the action were before his eyes at the time of writing. But he does know, too, the mercy of God in forgiveness and conversion (1 Tim. 1:12-13) which turned the arch-persecutor into the faithful apostle and fearless missionary of the one whom he had opposed in persecuting the church (Acts 9:4-5). (Ralph Martin, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries: Philippians, p.147)

Years later, hundreds of conversions later, Paul is still writing as if his persecution of Christians were a living reality before him. His past was before his eyes. 

Do you live with your past ever before your eyes? Though it was years ago, you still see it being unveiled before you. In this deeply anointed moment, penning a portion of the holy writ, Paul is battling with present visions of his past. He’s human!

But here’s the key…Paul knew of the forgiveness of Christ…

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief… (1 Tim. 1:12-13)

Perhaps, this is why Paul writes a few verses later…

Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 3:13-14)

There’s an incredible lesson to be learned from the apostle Paul. He, too, suffered with the visions of his past. Yet, he also knew to actively forget the past and press on in Christ Jesus.

Are you pressing on today? The past is there but how will you deal with it?

Press on!!!

The Satan Debate

In case you haven’t heard about it or missed it last night, ABC hosted a “Face Off” debate on the subject matter “Does Satan Exist?” Hosted at the Mars Hill Church in Seattle, this debate featured Pastor Mark Driscoll (Pastor at Mars Hill Church), Annie Loebert (founder/leader of Hookers for Jesus), Deepak Chopra (president, Alliance for a New Humanity) and Bishop Carlton Pearson (author, “The Gospel of Inclusion”). If you would like to watch the debate, you may do so here ABC Nightline Faceoff.

As you watch it, you’ll miss this closing piece from Pastor Mark Driscoll. May these words answer the question and provide us with the needed hope…

Satan Debate Closing Statement from Mars Hill Church on Vimeo.

Cavities and Community by Josh Patterson

 

Today is a great day! I’m excited that my friend, Pastor Ty Tamasaka, is flying in and will be spending the day with me. Good times and challenging conversations are ahead. Nothing like a Jo-Nathan (trusted friend and call-it-out prophet).

Several weeks ago, I re-posted a blog that I had read from Pastor Mark Batterson. In that blog I noted how much I have grown through the writings of others. Today, I am re-posting a thought from Josh Patterson of the The Village Church in Jacksonville, FL. In this insightful thought, you will see some striking parallels between Cavities and Communities.

As you read today’s devo, be reminded of the situation Paul is addressing in Philippi. In actuality, he is serving as the resident dentist, identifying their cavities. No one really enjoys it, but we all appreciate healthy teeth and fresh breath!

This Sunday’s message is going to be hot, so DO NOT MISS IT! The title: Faith: More than Pedigrees and Props. We’re tackling Philippians 3, a beloved passage of Scripture. Be there and bring a friend!

Ahhhhhhh,

Allen

 

Thoughts:

Cavities and Community

by Josh Patterson

I have a good friend who just went to the dentist and has nine cavities. At one time? Nine? I asked my friend, “Do you brush with sugar?” How is this possible? I thought it had to be some kind of record. But, my friend informed me that we have another mutual friend who had 13 cavities in one visit. This was not as shocking to me because this friend is from Louisiana and, well, just the fact that there are 13 teeth in the first place is something noteworthy.

The cavity scandal generated a lot of questions for me. I began polling people to better understand this mystery, and, hopefully to find the key to cavity free teeth. Did you have your teeth sealed at the dentist? Most had. I asked if people brushed. Most do (at least once a day). Do you floss? Most don’t (count me in the “no” category). In general most people had their teeth sealed, brushed daily and flossed intermittently. Isn’t this the formula we are supposed to follow? Close. The last piece of the puzzle is a regular trip to the dentist. And, interestingly enough, an infrequent visit to the dentist was the common denominator in my lackluster research.

What does this have to do with anything? Apparently, a lot. A visit to the dentist is a preventative measure. It gives us the opportunity to catch something early. It allows us the chance to have someone else assess the situation and help. My friends who are cavity laden have waited years between a visit to the dentist (they had dental insurance the whole time). This has led me to think about the parallel to my own life. Neglecting checkups from others is costly.

If I live in isolation, never open up and let someone else check out what’s going on, then I run the risk of rotting out. I might be doing some of the “prescribed” measures, but I can’t do these alone. They are insufficient in isolation and are most effective in community. Cavities are one thing, but rotting your heart is a whole new issue. Who knew that cavities and community had some parallels?

 

Application:

Are you one of those who have insurance but never take time out to have a check-up? (Don’t send me your reply! LOL)

Who are some of the dentists in your life that help you with check-ups?

When have you ignored a visit and suffered from cavities in your life and spirit?

 

Prayer:

Father,

I thank You for people like Paul, Pastor Ty and others who help us find the areas that need addressing in our lives. If it weren’t for them, I would never be able to clean the hidden portions of my soul, life, and character. May I not avoid these open-wide moments, but learn to embrace the process and love of those who desire a healthy me.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.