Tag Archives: Jesus

Lessons from the Tower

September 12, 2020 Pastor Curry

As I recalled 9/11 this past week, I went back to see what I preached the following Sunday. What I found was that at least some lessons of that message are important for our current time as well. So I’m sharing them, slightly edited, with you today.

LESSON 1: GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY. Our world is filled with evil and tragedy but God still rules the world. He is sovereign. Psalm 46 states, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging…(and I would add though the towers fall, though COVID strikes )… Nations are in an uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.” Revelation pictures Jesus Christ, who said “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world”, sitting on the throne ruling the world. Martin Luther penned, “Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing, were not the right man on our side, the man of God’s own choosing. Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is he; Lord Sabaoth his name, from age to age the same, and he must win the battle.” Remember, God is sovereign.

LESSON 2: OUR SECURITY. Our American sense of safety and security has been shattered. We are experiencing fear – a fear that has previously been unknown to most of us. We wonder, “If this could happen, what’s next?” When the tower fell, when COVID hit, our smugness and invincibility fell as well.

But, thank God, we are safe. “The LORD is my light and my salvation– whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life– of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident… For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock… Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD” (Psalm 27). “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe” (Proverbs 18:10). This invincible tower is not one we run from in fear but towards in faith. Its name is Jesus. America’s tower may have fallen but at the resurrection and ascension of Jesus another, greater one rose up. “No one can snatch them from my hand.” Or as Paul put it, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? … No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35-39, underlining mine). We are safe in Christ.

LESSON 3: OUR STRENGTH. In times like this we feel powerless. After all, the USA is THE power of the world. We are invincible. No one would dare come after us. Nothing can destroy us. We have raised a generation that believes it can do anything and will always succeed. And we love to feel the strength this feeling of power brings. But then the tower fell (COVID struck). And we realize just how impotent we are. We are not in control. We do not call all the shots.

But we can pray. “…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.” Surely we have been humbled; now it’s time to pray – for victims, leaders, rescue workers, families, friends, co-workers, other nations, for Christ’s Church. James wrote (4:6-7): “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.” Jesus said, “My Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.” There is no greater power. Our strength derives from prayer.

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer (Psalm 19:14).

Pastoral thoughts

It’s All About the Dirt!

August 16, 2020 Pastor Curry

A man with his hands covered with mud

I had the joy and challenge of preaching today from John 8:2-11. The religious leaders set a trap to catch a woman in adultery. They then victimized her by using her to trick Jesus. Portraying her as the dirty one they ask Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?”

I’m impacted by Jesus’ response. “Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” And their response? “At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.”

Jesus turned the scene of accusation into a time of self-examination. And the religious leaders were snared in their own trap. They, too, were dirty. There was plenty of dirt to go around. Here’s what really struck me. We are bombarded daily with finger pointing and dirt throwing. The fault always lies with someone else and that someone else has dirt in their lives. So call them names, besmirch their reputation, and push the attention away from yourself. After all, you’re certainly more righteous and cleaner than they are. We hear it in politics, government, media, the workplace, our communities, our homes and even our churches. And in the process of doing so we all get dirtier.

But we also see it in ourselves. Have you ever pointed an accusing finger?

Have you ever condemned someone else? Have you ever done so even when you knew it wasn’t kosher? Have you ever been quick to throw the dirt on someone while ignoring your dirt? We, too, are guilty.

But what if we lived by Jesus’ qualification that only those who are without sin can judge, point the finger and throw the dirt? Would you qualify to judge? Perhaps before pointing the finger and throwing the dirt, we should take time for self-examination. Jesus wants to remind us that we too often demand standards from others that we do not fulfill in ourselves and condemn in others what is glaring in ourselves. There’s plenty of dirt to go around.

So I wonder. What if we followed Jesus’ words and example? What if we lived in the Spirit of Jesus? “Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ. Do as God does. After all, you are his dear children. Let love be your guide. Christ loved us and offered his life for us as a sacrifice that pleases God” (Ephesians 4:32-5:2 CEV). I wonder – would it begin to change our world? I have a hunch it just might. But if not, at least it will change us! And I, for one, need changing.

Pastoral thoughts

Have It Your Way

June 7, 2020 Pastor Curry

Burger King popularized the phrase “Have it your way.” Through it they promoted the idea that whatever we wanted on our burger we could have. What we wanted we received. Unfortunately, over the years, the phrase was co-opted by our culture to encourage doing whatever we want whenever we want. I wonder if we are now having it our way?

I ask this because of Paul’s words: “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts… Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts… so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them” (Romans 1:18-32).

Three times Paul mentions God ‘gave them over’. There are times when God removes His hand of protection and safety to let humankind have its own way –it’s as if He says, “If that’s what you want, so be it. I’ll let you have it your way.” And we reap the consequences of our actions. Indeed we have sown the wind and reaped the whirlwind.

As a sign I saw put it:

This Is Not BURGER KING. You Can’t Have it YOUR WAY.

Only when we submit to God’s way will life be different. The verses just prior to these ominous words of Paul are: “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life”” (Romans 1:17-18 NLT). God’s standard is Jesus. He is the Way. Where there is no standard for decisions and actions chaos reigns. Over the years we have seen God’s will through Jesus removed as the standard. As a result the basis for the sanctity of life, the base line for ethics and morality, the criteria for justice and righteousness have all disappeared. The only standard is what each person feels or believes it to be. And we have chaos. And make no mistake about it – we are part of the problem “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard” (Romans 3:23 NLT).

There is only one way to end the chaos. “We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are” (Romans 3:22 NLT).

Once right with God we are empowered by His Spirit to live godly, righteous lives. “Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. …You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you” (Romans 8:5-9 NLT). The words of God through the prophet are apropos: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls” Jeremiah 6:16). Unfortunately God added: “But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’” Whether or not that will what be written of us is up to us. Will you have it your way or God’s way?

Note:

My book “In God We Trust: A Nation Under God” is a good read for our times. For more information and/or to purchase at the lowest price go to: https://www.pastorcurry.com/product/a-nation-under-god/

Pastoral thoughts

What Good Is An Absent Jesus? (An Ascension Day Question)

May 21, 2020 Pastor Curry

Jesus told His disciples “It is for your good that I am going away” (John 16:7). Would the disciples be better off without Jesus? What good is an absent Jesus? The best expression of the answer, I believe, comes from the Heidelberg Catechism question and answer 49 which deals with the meaning of Jesus’ ascension. It has a three part answer.

First, “He pleads our cause in heaven in the presence of his Father.” Jesus advocates for our position. He defends and represents us, pleads our cases and causes and intercedes for us. “Who then will condemn us? Will Christ Jesus? No, for he is the one who died for us and was raised to life for us and is sitting at the place of highest honor next to God, pleading for us” (Romans 8:34).

So we can:

Let go of our guilt. “…if you do sin, there is someone to plead for you before the Father. He is Jesus Christ …He takes away not only our sins but the sins of the whole world.” (I John 2:1-2).
Draw near to God. Jesus died to open the way to God so we can build an intimate personal relationship with Him.
Pray expectantly. After he told the disciples that He was going away Jesus said “You can ask for anything in my name and I will do it, because the work of the Son brings glory to the Father. Yes, ask anything in my name and I will do it” (John 14:13-14).

The second good the Catechism states is “…we have our own flesh in heaven – a guarantee that Christ our head will take us, His members, to Himself in heaven.” Jesus assures us of His protection. Just before He ascended He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Paul then wrote “… (he is) seated at (God’s) right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet…” (Ephesians 1:21 ff.).

He reigns from heaven but rules the earth. He may be absent in person from the earth, but He is positioned on the seat of divine power. Enemies with us and around us cannot destroy or deter us. We do fight against the flesh, the world, Satan, and the threat of death – but the battle has already been won! We may fail; we may fall ill; we may suffer misfortune; we may endure persecution; we may find our hopes dashed; life may fall to pieces all around us – but God is the ruler yet! Our future is guaranteed!

So we can walk by faith, not by sight. As Peter wrote “You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him, you trust him; and even now you’re happy with a glorious, inexpressible joy. Your reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8-9). So how do you feel? What does your life and faith communicate to a disbelieving world? Do you find yourself saying, “The world is such an awful place” or singing, “This is my Father’s world!” Walk by faith, not by sight – break apart the clouds of depression, rise above defeat, believe during uncertainty, build on failure. As the great hymn rings out: “When darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on his unchanging grace. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.” Walk by faith, not by sight – for Jesus assures us of his protection.

The Catechism answer concludes, “Third, he sends his Spirit to us on earth as a further guarantee. By the spirit’s power we make the goal of our lives, not earthly things, but the things above where Christ is, sitting at God’s right hand.” Jesus assists us with his power. “For His Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we will share his treasures – for everything God gives to his Son, Christ, is ours, too” (Romans 8:16-17). He sends His spirit to focus us. We become conscious that we are children of God, brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ! Paul wrote, “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God’s right hand in the place of honor and power” (Colossians 3:1). The Holy Spirit pulls us away from thoughts of sin and towards thoughts of Christ. The law of gravity acts to keep a plane from flying. But when a plane reaches a certain speed, the law of aerodynamics takes over and frees the plane from the effects of gravitational force. So the Holy Spirit frees us from the gripping, magnetic power of sin and sets our eyes and minds on Christ.

So we can be faithful. The Thessalonians were so sure Jesus was coming again very soon that they stopped everything to wait for Him. But Paul told them to get busy. There is to be no loitering – stop standing around, stop resting on memories of the way it used to be, stop waiting for things to change or get better. That’s why Jesus’ final words were “Go…make disciples… baptize…teach…obey.” The battle is over, the victory is secure. Get busy mopping up. We dare to believe that ordinary people like us have been called and empowered to be the continuation of Christ’s ministry on the world.

Puccini was one of the greatest composers of Italian opera, having composed such works as La Boheme and Madame Butterfly. He began his last opera, Turandot, as he was dying of cancer, convinced that if he did not finish it, his students would; and he died before it was completed. After his death the opera was completed, and its premiere performance was held, under the direction of Arturo Toscanini, who was the greatest conductor of that time and also one of Puccini’s students. All went brilliantly until at the end of the first scene in the third act, Toscanini abruptly halted the performance, laid down his baton, turned to the audience with tears streaming down his face, and said, ”Thus far the master wrote, but he died..” There was stunned silence. Then, triumphantly he picked up the baton and said, “But his disciples have completed his work.” Since Jesus assists us with His power, we can be faithful. Let’s finish the work!

Pastoral thoughts

The Yellow LIght

April 26, 2020 Pastor Curry

I’ve been reading a book on the life of Fred “Mr.” Rogers. The very first chapter recalls that every episode of his show opened with a shot of a flashing yellow traffic light. Why? To communicate that it was time to slow down. Ever wonder why Mr. Rogers moved and spoke so slowly? To help viewers slow down and relax. (1)

The yellow light grabbed me. I admit that, even now in ‘retirement’, I need to keep working at slowing down. That’s why it’s a repetitive theme in the Bible. “For six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, holy to the Lord” (Exodus 31:15). “Quiet down before God, be prayerful before him” (Psalm 37:7 The Message). “Be still, and know that I am God…” (Psalm 46:10). “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1 NLT). “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength…” (Isaiah 30:15). “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16) “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

I believe God has placed a yellow light in front of us – a light we need to see now. There is no better time than during these days of ‘stay at home’ to get back to, or to establish, a life of resting. The reports of the fears and impact of being home bound point to our desperate need for rest. We must heed God’s yellow light and learn to rest. And the longer we’re ‘in’ the longer we have to establish habits of living slowly and resting. And the longer we have to establish them the stronger they will be when we are free to return to the world that made us live so fast in the first place.

This world, with all its busyness and forces that work against us, often overwhelms and drowns us. That’s precisely why we need to slow down. Consider this. “If you ever fall into quicksand, the most important thing to remember is this: take your time. Quicksand, unlike water, will not move out of the way to let you pass. Instead, it resists movement. Flailing about will only cause you to sink deeper. But slowly it gets you to shore.” (2)(3)

Why not let this time of forced slow down teach you to voluntarily slow down? Live by the yellow light and make it safely to shore.
(Note: I am keenly aware that for many this time is far from a slow down time. They are busy on the front lines for the rest of us. To all of them – and perhaps it’s you – I offer my sincere thanks and offer up my sincere prayers. May our Lord bring rest and peace to your souls and health to your bodies.)

(1) “The Simple Faith of Mister Rogers”, Amy Hollingsworth, Thomas Nelson, 2005, p.1
(2) Ibid
(3) Picture from Washington Examiner, 8/1/19

Pastoral thoughts

Habitual Habits

April 19, 2020 Pastor Curry

About a month ago my wife reorganized our kitchen shelves. They are certainly much better now than they were. Except – I still habitually reach where the gum and candy used to be instead of where it now is. I have a feeling it’s going to take a while to build a new habit. It’s brought to mind other scenarios from my past. In high school, for example, one of my teachers covered the classroom clock for a week – and I realized on Friday that I was still looking at it just as often as I did before he did so. I also recall the time I changed the location of my shampoo and tub spray cleaner in my shower because the sizes of each dispenser had changed. It seemed simple enough – except for the power of habits. After several years of automatically reaching for shampoo on the ledge, I found it was difficult to automatically reach up for it from the shelf. That means, of course, that on more than one occasion I almost sprayed my head with shower cleanser! I was amazed at how long it took me to get to the point where I automatically reached up for the shampoo.

These repeated scenarios center on the power of habits. Habits, whether good or bad, are established over a period of time. And once ingrained they are automatic and therefore hard to break. That’s why God repeatedly told the Israelites to form good habits. In Exodus, for example, God gave them the 10 commandments, the habits by which to live. In Leviticus He laid out worship and sacrifice habits to provide a framework for holiness. In Deuteronomy 6: 5-6 He commanded them to establish teaching habits: “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.”

So it is really not surprising that when His people started letting go if these habits, they began wandering into the land of disobedience and walking further and further away from Him. So God sent the prophet with a message “This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16).

He told them to return to the proven ways, the tried and true habits, of their ancestors. In other words, “When you’re in need of a habit, look to your habits.” These habits were the paths that would return them to rest and renewal.

Centuries later Jesus taught the same thing about habits. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Mt. 11:28-30). Knowing the heart of people, knowing the tendency of humans to lose self-discipline and therefore to wander, Jesus invited His followers, and us, to take up His yolk, His habits, His way of life. “When you’re in need of a habit, look to your habits.”

Habits were the core of Jesus’ life. Time apart – alone – with his Father and seasons of prayer led to days of ministry and holy living. Then again came time apart – alone – with his Father and seasons of prayer. Should our habits be any different? Whenever we feel we’re wandering away from God, whenever we feel apart from Jesus, when life is tiring us out it’s time for a time out. It’s time to get back to basics, to return to our habits. “When you’re in need of a habit, look to your habits.” And the more firmly entrenched our habits become, the harder they will be to break. And the amazing truth is these habits do not constrict us. As the Psalmist wrote “I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free” (Psalm 119:32).

Whether in the kitchen, the classroom or the shower, ingrained habits are hard to break. So make sure the habits you diligently develop are good ones. Perhaps, just perhaps, this quarantine time is God’s gift to us – He’s giving us time to develop some healthy spiritual habits, to establish some practices that will be habitual when life returns to its new normal. “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Pastoral thoughts

A Moment of Sifting

March 22, 2020 Pastor Curry

It was only moments before the first funeral I ever conducted. A 38 year old father had died of cancer leaving behind a wife and four very young children. I was about to precede the casket into the sanctuary. I felt a tug on the bottom of my suit coat. I turned around and saw one of the pall bearers, a dear friend, who simply said, “We’ve been praying for you.” While it almost brought me to tears, it also energized me for the moments ahead.

So I identify with the disciples. They had gathered in an upper room to celebrate the Passover. But Jesus was making some serious, disturbing predictions. He said He was leaving them and that one of their tightly knit band would betray Him. He talked about being killed. He predicted that strong, loyal Peter would deny Him – and not once but three times. Since the disciples had come to value and trust Jesus’ words they were disturbed. Whatever Jesus meant, they knew the hours ahead would be difficult, especially if they had to go through them without Jesus.

But, as always, Jesus was sensitive to their state. So He looked at Peter and said, for all to hear, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you” (plural) “as wheat” (Luke 22:31-32). Just as Satan had to ask God for permission to attack Job, so he had to ask for permission to sift the disciples. But Jesus continued, “I have prayed for you” (singular), “Simon, that your faith may not fail.” Jesus prays for us! Satan will repeatedly try to sift us, to trip us up and get us to turn away from Jesus. Tough times test us to see if we are wheat or chaff. But, as the Heidelberg Catechism states, all things come to us not by chance but from His fatherly hand. So Jesus prays for us to remain strong. Satan not only has to ask permission, He has to overcome the prayer of Jesus!

These are strange, worrisome difficult days. Satan loves to take advantage of these times. They are moments of sifting. He figures our spirits are weak. But Jesus is praying for us. He is faithful and true and will not let us be tempted beyond what we can handle, nor suffer beyond what we can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13). He will grant us fresh supplies of His Spirit so mourning becomes joy and darkness turns to light. And as John reminds us the One who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4).

But also notice what Jesus adds as He speaks to Peter, “And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Always remember, as Jesus prays for us so we are to pray for others. Doing so not only helps them, it also helps us as we get out of ourselves and become part of Jesus’ healing, strengthening flow into our world. And isn’t that what we need for these moments of sifting? Jesus is already praying for us. Join me in praying for others.

Pastoral thoughts

If You Don’t Like the Garbage

January 12, 2020 Pastor Curry

There’s one thing that bugs me about the road by which we live – the litter that ends up in our yard. I pick up wrappers from McDonalds, bags from burger King, and boxes from Wendy’s, along with cans, bottles, and cups – and once even a bumper from a car that veered off the road and slammed into the telephone pole in our yard. I’ve wondered why people feel so free to throw their litter out of their vehicles, to dump their garbage where they don’t have to pick it up. I think the very same thing anytime I see someone throw a cigarette butt out their window. There are probably numerous reasons – but I believe the core reason is they don’t want to deal with the garbage. They love the food, the pleasure, but not the leftover garbage. To that I say, “If you don’t like the garbage, don’t eat the lunch.”

In actuality, this is a major biblical theme.

“When they heard the sound of God strolling in the garden in the evening breeze, the Man and his Wife hid in the trees of the garden …. God called to the Man: “Where are you?” He said, “I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked. And I hid.” (Genesis 3:8-10 The Message)