Even Saint Patrick Would Have Difficulty

The Doctrine of the Trinity, that is that there is only One God and yet three distinct persons;   the Father,  the Son, and the Holy Spirit;  is perhaps one of the most difficult concepts for us humans to get our head around.    Even though the word "trinity" is never used in the Bible,  the Doctrine of the Trinity is clearly taught in the Scriptures.    Imagine what it would have been like when Saint Patrick went to Ireland to preach the Gospel, when he tried to explain the Trinity.      

Here's a little Lutheran Satire for you.

 

 

 

 

My Statement of Faith On The Trinity

 

I believe that there is one and only one, living and true God; an infinite, perfect, personal Spirit who Is creator, sovereign, omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent (1).

In the Godhead, there are three persons, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit (2); having precisely the same nature (3), and executing distinct and harmonious offices in the work of redemption (4).  

 

 

THE GREATEST DEMONSTRATION
OF YOUR FAITH

 

 

 

 How do you demonstrate that you are a follower of Jesus?    How will others know that you are a Christian?     In a fallen broken world, how do we best demonstrate our faith in the true and living God?     Certainly there are many ways. Some may say, "Sound Doctrine".    The way you demonstrate your faith is to hold to Sound Doctrine when everyone else is falling away."     Is Sound Doctrine important? Of course it is. Others may say, "Obedience".     The way you demonstrate your faith is to walk in obedience to Christ. Is Obedience important? Absolutely.

 

However, Jesus defined our greatest expression of faith, or at least the way the world will know we are His followers, not in terms of our doctrine or our obedience, but in terms of our love for others.

The fact is that the greatest expression of your faith is to love people.    The way people can tell you are a Christian, a follower of Jesus, is not by your solid doctrine as important as that may be, not by your clean lifestyle as important as that is, but by the way you love others.


The Greatest Expression Of Your Faith Is To Love People
Jesus said:
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. 31 The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbour as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. (Mark 12:30-31)
Another thing Jesus said was:
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:34-35)


God Commands Us To Love People

One of the distinguishing marks of a follower of Jesus is that we love people. Jesus loved people and gave Himself for people.     We are expressing our faith as His followers when we reflect the love of God for People.

This loving people is not an option for His followers, its an expression of our faith in Him.     He has told us that loving people is second only to loving Him.     He demonstrated His faith in the Father by loving and sacrificing Himself for the fallen unworthy humanity that the Father wanted to redeem and He expects the same of His followers.

Perhaps you’ve heard it said, "you can’t command someone to love."     Well, Jesus did just that and we all know how hard it is to obey that command at times. It wouldn’t be so bad except it involves people and let’s face it, some people are just hard to love.     It’s like the Peanuts cartoon where Lucy says to Charlie Brown "I hate everything.    I hate everybody. I hate the whole wide world!" Charlie Brown responds, "But I thought you had inner peace." To which Lucy replies, "I do have inner peace.    But I still have outer obnoxiousness"     It’s the people with outer obnoxiousness that are the hardest to love isn’t it?

So, how is it that we will demonstrate our faith in the living Christ and show sacrificial love to people when we know that we have little or no capacity to do so within ourselves, especially for certain people?

The fact is that the ability to love others comes from the heart of God Himself.


If You Walk With Christ, You Will Love

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus describes the life and values of the Kingdom.     These are not values or lifestyles that one seeks to live in order to gain entrance into the Kingdom, these are values and lifestyles that are expressions of the Kingdom.     They are the outward manifestations that the Kingdom is a reality in our hearts.     Loving your enemy is not a normal human response, it is a Kingdom response. It rises up from a heart surrendered under the rule of the King.
  

Indeed the Apostle Paul pointed to the same thing when he talked about love being the fruit of the Spirit.     You don’t say to yourself, "Well, I better be more loving."     No, love grows within you as you learn to walk in the Spirit.     As you walk in the Spirit, as you walk in close communion with your King, love automatically demonstrates itself and thus you demonstrate that you are a follower of Jesus.

 

Being close to Jesus He will produce in you love for others - even your enemies and those who have hurt you.

In other words, when you walk close to Christ, love will automatically be the result. It really is very telling. 
 

Now remember, we are learning to walk as Kingdom people.     We will not be perfect. We will not love perfectly, We are learning to walk with our King.     It is a growing experience that lasts a lifetime until we see Him face to face and are like Him.     But, this Kingdom quality ought to be increasingly demonstrated in our lives not because we are trying to be more loving people, but because we are cultivating our intimacy with Christ our King. 
 

The fact is we can claim to be followers of Jesus, but people want to see the real thing. They want to see our faith in Christ clearly demonstrated and Christ says the way we do that is by loving people.

People Don’t Care How Much You Know Until They Know How Much You Care

Now here is the crunch. Am I, are you, demonstrating the love of Christ?    People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. 1     Of course this is easier with the people we like, but Jesus indicated that Kingdom people are to love their enemies and suggested that anyone can love their friends.      The thing that ought to set us apart is our love for even our enemies and those who have hurt us and even those who disagree with us and despitefully use us.

 

So, I’ve often thought about this.     What if I were flying somewhere and notorious abortion doctor Henry Morgentaler 2  was seated beside me,  what would I say, how would I act?       I abhor the fact that millions of babies have been aborted largely because of his influence.     I think abortion is a despicable act and one of the greatest moral plights upon the western world and for which we will give an account. 3     What would I do if I were seated on an airplane beside Morgentaler?   Believe me, I have rehearsed this many times in my mind, especially just before I travelled anywhere.     I am a Kingdom person, I want to reflect Kingdom living.     Only in submission to my King, and only with His love flowing through me would I be able to demonstrate my faith in his presence.     I have rehearsed what I would say and how I would say it.     I have rehearsed how I would seek to know him as a person, to understand his thinking and how I might demonstrate the love of Christ to a man who represents something I absolutely detest.     This is the challenge of Kingdom people.     These are the situations in which we find ourselves and in which we must clearly demonstrate that we are followers of Jesus.     For you it may be other issues, perhaps how you will react to a radical Muslim or a gay rights activist or the person who sexually abused you as a child.


Being close to Jesus,   He will produce in you love for others - even your enemies and those who have hurt you.

If you don’t love them,

how will they know Jesus loves them?

 

 1    I think I first head this phrase from John Maxwell

 

2    Henry Morgentaler  (March 19, 1923 – May 29, 2013), was a Polish-born Canadian physician and abortion advocate who fought numerous legal battles aimed at expanding abortion rights in Canada.    He opened his first abortion clinic in 1969 in Montreal, challenging Canadian laws that restricted abortion.    He was the first doctor in North America to use vacuum aspiration and went on to open twenty clinics and train more than one hundred doctors. Morgentaler challenged the constitutionality of the federal abortion law, winning R. v. Morgentaler in 1988.

3   My words here are not intended to inflict more pain upon women who have had an abortion, many times without having adequate explanation as to what abortion really is.    My point it, without entering a full discussion is that abortion is mark on our culture that I believe God will judge



WHEN IT IS HOPELESS

THERE IS HOPE

Tonight, R.A. Dickey, last years Cy Young winner as Major League Baseballs best pitcher is pitching for the Toronto Blue Jays against the Houston Astros.    As baseball's best pitcher Dickey is at the top of his game.   It was not always so.    In fact, there was a time when he wanted to end it all and escape the pain that he felt inside.

 

Perhaps you too have had that feeling.   That there was no hope for your situation.   That you were not worthy or that the hurt inside was unbearable and perhaps even unexplainable.    Dickey's search for healing and redemption is a powerful story of the grace of God that brings hope when there is no hope.

 

R.A. Dickey debuted his knuckleball by breaking one of baseball’s worst pitching records, giving up an unbelievable six home runs in one game.    Sent to the minors and faced with the failure of his pitching dream, Dickey decided to end his life. He duct taped a hose to his car’s exhaust pipe, connected it to the driver’s side window, and placed his hand on the ignition.    It was about more than his dream failing.    It was about the babysitter who molested him as a child, about the man who raped him, his need for cleansing and purpose in life.     He had hoped  baseball would give him meaning and a way to escape the pain of his past, but all that seemed impossible now.    He couldn’t see how R.A. Dickey would one day find healing and redemption and success beyond his wildest dreams.

 

Click the link below to see an incredible video of R.A. Dickey's journey from hopelessness to hope.

 

http://www.iamsecond.com/seconds/ra-dickey/

Please leave your comments in the section below  by clicking on "Comments" or if you are the first "No Comments" or on the little pencil."    Share your thoughts, your stories, your experiences.



30 YEARS

AND THE LOVE GOES ON

In our day of quick marriage and easy divorce, it's refreshing to see people who continue faithful to their marriage vows, not with reluctance but with excitement.

Recently a couple in our church celebrated 30 years of happy marriage.    Jim works for security at the Rogers Centre here in Toronto so he gets to see pretty much every Blue Jays baseball game.     Pat, his wife works in an office.   They are humble hard working people.


On the occasion of their 30th Anniversary,  Jim sat down to do some reflecting.   With his permission,  I've used it for todays blog.    It is a reminder of the ups and downs and the hard work of marriage.    It is also a reminder that good marriages take a lot of hard work, faith, and prayer.    I tip my hat to my friends  Jim and Pat Pezzack.

30^th Wedding Anniversary!

                                                                                  Of

 Patricia Ruth & Alan James 

What’s My Secret to My Marriage? …. Patricia Ruth!.....A Happy Wife =  A Happy Life! 

Well, it’s July 16^th once again….a time to remember that at 3:20 p.m. that Saturday Afternoon on July 16, 1983…..the hottest day of the Summer…..we got married! 

30 Years of Marriage …..the ups and downs …..the moves…..the friends…..the jobs…..the children…..the injuries…..the vacations…..it’s been the best of times…..it’s been the worst of times…..but, our love is here to stay! 

30 Years of Marriage…..the Game of Love…..wearing white was in style even before “Sensation”…..Pat’s Game developed …..especially when there was a strong wind….

.My Game…..1997 and 98 were two very good years!

30 Years of Marriage…..Parents…..the Carson’s side …..the sermons…..the handshakes…..the churches…..the gifts of love…..I cried…..when they were gone!

The Pezzack’s side…..the baby sitting……till illness …..but, the family motto lives on,  to “love one another”! 

30 Years of Marriage…..Parenthood….the work…..the pleasure…..the education…..the movies and TV……from the Elephant Show to Glee…..where did the time go! 

30 Years of Marriage…..Tara and Darryl……starting their careers…..one in Retail…..the other in Movies???.....still living at home…..showing their parents new ways…..new friends……a new baby for the family…..Thor (a dog????)…..and adding financial support to the nest! 

30 Years of Marriage…..New Careers…..Customer Services for Me at the Rogers Centre….

.Crossing Guard for Pat…..both loving the smiling faces of the children as they say, “thank you”!  

30 Years of Marriage…..well, let’s just make it another 30 Years of Marriage….and show the younger generation we still have it…..”A “S.M.I.L.E.” approach that everyone just loves!!! 

My Nightly Prayer…..”Thank you Lord, for Pat, my Wife …..for Life!!!” 

Well, it’s July 16^th once again……a Time the Pezzack’s Love to Remember!!! 

Thank You Lord ….for July 16^th!!!

(Please leave your comments and experiences by clicking on the little pencil found in the grey box at the bottom of this article)

THINGS GOD TAUGHT ME

ON MY VACATION 

(part 3)

 

It’s been several weeks now since my vacation but there are two more things that God taught me about myself that I want to share with you.    I do this, not because I am someone special in who’s life you should be enthralled, or that I have some special insight that others cannot have.    My purpose is that sharing my experience with God might encourage you that while on your own vacation you might be deliberately more sensitive to what God might be saying to you. Since many of us living busy lives face some of the same issues, perhaps God will use these to prime the pump of your own thinking.    The wonderful thing is that God is always willing and even anxious to spend intimate time with us and draw us even closer to Himself. 




I Need To Live A More Disciplined Life Because God Created Me For His Purposes

The business of life leaves us with little time for intimacy with God.     You wake up in the morning and rush off to work.     When you get home the family requires your time and the everyday business of running a home and keeping the car running and the yard looking good cry out for your time.      Add to that your involvement at the church and in the community and there is very little time to invest in time alone with God or for that matter, accomplishing His mission in the world.

The fact is that God is on Mission to redeem the world and our highest calling couples us  
together with that mission.     His mission is our mission, however these everyday life needs seem to leave little room for accomplishing God’s Mission.     Yet, this is exactly why God has redeemed us and there is no greater fulfillment we will ever experience than to know that we are in sync with God in fulfilling this ultimate mission.     Somehow we have to get our lives in sync with the Mission of God (missio dei) to reconcile lost humanity to Himself.

As I thought and prayed about this on my vacation, I came to the conclusion that I need to  live a more disciplined life. It’s not that I don’t work hard, I certainly do.     It’s just that sometimes I’m undisciplined.     For instance, I’ve been wanting to write a course on "How To Study The Bible For Yourself" for several years.      I’ve made some progress but this project is still incomplete.     If I were to develop a project time line with some completion dates and discipline myself to stick to the plan, I could finish that project before the end of the year.      I just need the discipline and the result would be greater honour to God and perhaps a tool that many others could use for their journey.

I know that being physically fit will enable me to serve God longer and better.     I know that I am getting really out of shape.     It does me no good to lament the fact that I’m getting out of shape.      I’ve got to do something about it.     It takes discipline of time and motivation to get to the gym on a regular basis.     I’ve got to discipline my time in order to make it to the gym on a regular basis so I have to schedule it into my week and then I’ve got to discipline myself to stop what I’m doing and go to the gym as scheduled.      No one is going to do it for me.     I have to discipline myself (I’m asking the Holy Spirit for help).

Discipline calls for a plan and the motivation to stick to the plan.      Perhaps you too have things you’d like to accomplish or ministries you’d like to be involved in and it seems you don’t have the time.      Discipline is the key.     It tough.      No one is going to make you do it.      Why not ask God to help you live a more disciplined life, set a target and get to it.

 

I Need To Learn To More Accurately Discern God’s Voice

This is a tough one. How do I know when it’s Rick’s idea and when it’s God’s idea?     I want to walk in God’s ways and accomplish His plan and His will in my life.     I want to tie into what God is up to. In order to do that I need to be able to discern His voice over all the other voices that call for my attention.      I know it involves knowing the Word of God and reliance upon the Holy Spirit.      I’m sure it also involves slowing down and being quiet so that when He whispers in my ear, I can hear. I’m going to be asking Him to help me listen more carefully.

God bless you as you enjoy your vacation this summer.     Remember, your vacation provides you with a great opportunity to slow down and listen to what God might be speaking into your life.     Sure, enjoy time with your family.     Enjoy the sights and sounds and attractions but in the quieter, slower pace of life that vacations provide, but make sure you take some precious time to be with God and listen for what He might want to teach you on your vacation.



THINGS GOD TAUGHT ME

ON VACATION

 

Ah, the lazy crazy days of summer.   After our long and harsh winters, us Canadians have special appreciation for summer vacations when we can get outside and enjoy the fresh air.    Mostly, for me anyway, those vacations are about relaxing and breaking the routine of a busy work schedule.   I don't go on a vacation to write a book or a new sermon series.   I just go for fun.

That doesn't mean however that there is nothing serious going on or that my mind stops working.   In fact, when I slow down for vacation with not much on my agenda,  my life is quieted and the relaxed pace actually allows me to listen more carefully to the voice of God and He is able to speak into my life.    Here's a couple of things He taught me on my recent vacation.

 

I Haven't Been As Dependent On The Holy Spirit As I Ought To Be

The Holy Spirit is not someone I call on for a little bit of power when I need it.   

It is the Spirit who leads me into all truth and to obey everything Jesus commanded.

I am to walk in/with the Spirit not He with me. 

You don’t need the Holy Spirit if you are merely seeking to live a semi-moral life and attend church regularly.  You only need the Holy Spirit’s guidance and help if you truly want to follow the Way of Jesus Christ.

Even in our daily living we can look more like the prophets of Baal 1 as we live our lives, running about in a frenzy, trying to fix our problems, not stopping long enough to call on the power of God Almighty.   Living by the Spirit implies a habitual, continual, and active interaction with the Holy Spirit.

If you can do it yourself, it's not the Holy Spirit.    Frankly, I can't do it.   I don't want to live only in the power of the flesh.   I want to live supernaturally.   I am useless without Him. Without Him I can do nothing.   I cannot preach, I cannot live righteously, I cannot function without Him. I'm tired of trying.

Douglas Copeland, author of several best selling books put it this way:

" My secret is that I need God - that I am sick and can no longer make it alone. I need God to help me give, because I no longer seem to be capable of giving; to help me be kind, as I no longer seem capable of kindness; to help me love, as I seem beyond being able to love."

My heart longs to be daily, moment by moment filled with His Spirit. How about you?    Are you tired of the Christian rat race?    Tired of trying?    Dissatisfied with only what the flesh can do?     Right now, wherever you are, humbly bow in His presence and cast yourself upon Him and ask Him to fill you afresh with His Spirit. Settle for nothing less than supernatural living.

 

I Need To Unplug More From The World In Order To Be More Intimate With God

 

We live in a day of incredible access to information.   I love information.  I love computers and technology.   Yet,  unlimited internet and social media can zap your time.   It also means, that unless you are ready to set boundaries,  that you are always on duty.  People can always contact you.   It's not that I'm against people.  I love people.  I'm an insatiable people person.   Yet if I'm not careful,  all this information and access can eat up a lot of time and leave little time for actually building intimacy with God.   This has actually been a long standing problem, long before the invention of the internet or social media.   It seems the world always cries for our time and leaves little if any of it available for cultivating intimacy with God.  

 

If we are not careful we can reduce the Christian life to simple adherence to a moral code and the learning of Christian truth.   In fact,  the Christian life is about enjoying God and being in deep relationship with Him.    Technology can help us with information about God and there are some great Bible programs for our IPads and IPhones and Blackberries,  they can help us in our Bible reading and research,  but it takes unplugged time alone with God to really build the relationship.

 

On my vacation God taught me that I need to unplug more in order to be more intimate with Him.    There is nothing sweeter, nothing more rewarding,  nothing more exhilarating than to know God and to know Him intimately.   Don't miss it because you're so tied up in texting, Face Book and e-mail.

 

 

(We'll finish up "Things God Taught Me" with the next post) 


1   1 Kings 18:20-29

SUNDAY OUTLINES      There is no higher honour I could have than to be able to preaching the Word of God Sunday after Sunday.   I've been doing it now for almost 40 years.     You can listen to many of the messages I've preached at Parkway Bible Church over the past 12 years by visiting our Sermon Archive at www.parkwaybiblechurch.ca .    

 

Most of you perhaps who read this blog attend church on a more or less regular basis and enjoy the rich teaching of your local Pastor (whom I hope you give great encouragement).    Yet, like me,  perhaps you enjoy listening to other preachers as well and perhaps gleam golden nuggets that enrich your lives.   To that end, on many Sunday afternoons I'll post my sermon outline along with some quotes from the message that might tweak your interest and stimulate your thinking.

 

Presently,  I'm doing a summer series of teaching messages called "LifeRoots:  The Roots of Successful Living" in which we look at key principles for living successful lives to God's glory.   Below is the second message in the series.   It is based on Cain who killed his brother and wandered from God.   Unfortunately the notes don't clearly bring out the exposition of the passage but hopefully will still prove helpful.    If you want to listen to the message, it should be available on the Parkway Bible Church website by early Monday.

 

Tomorrow,  check back for the conclusion of my last blog post "What God Taught Me On My Vacation.

 

The Root of Perspective

# 2 Life Roots - Moses/Cain - Genesis 4:1-15

Introduction
It is important to view life from the proper perspective so that you will be able to live according to a proper perception.　

Three 3 Perspectives You Must Develop.

I. The Personal
Personal success is not far away.
　

1. The Difference Between Success And Failure Is Little.
　
Most people only need to make a few changes to reach their potential.

　
2. The Path To Personal Victory Begins With A Step Of Faith
　
We each need to come to that moment of faith.

II. The Internal

Before you can win the battle on the outside, you need to win the battle on the inside.

God is more concerned about you Character than your Comfort.

1. There Is A Private Battle We All Fight
- It is the battle of character.

　
The war on the inside is the most Difficult and the most Important battle you will ever fight.

If you don’t gain control of what’s happening on the inside, it will show up on the outside.
　
2. You Win The Battle On The Inside By Walking In The Spirit

3. Private Victory Always Precedes Public Victory
** Fruit Of The Spirit = by product of the private life.

III. The Eternal

LIFE ONLY MAKES SENSE WHEN YOU HAVE AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE.

1. This World Is Not Our Home
　
2. We Are Citizens Of The Kingdom Of God
　
3. Successful Living Requires An Eternal Perspective

　
Since our citizenship is in Heaven, we do not live for this world.   We live for the Kingdom of God.

Conclusion
Quote - Joseph Stowell " If heaven is our consistent hope and the King is our guide and the expression of His kingdom is our calling, then life in this world comes more clearly into view. Its disappointments don’t damage or surprise us. We expect little of it, for our reward is yet to come... We live confidently here in light of there, reflecting the culture and values of the Kingdom within and under the authority of the King.