Seeds

Sermon:  Meade, June 14, 2015

He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”

Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.  --Mark 4:26-34

My dad is a retired farmer. For many years he scattered seeds.

Well, it wasn’t that easy. He tilled the ground, planted the seeds, fertilized them, watered them, and worried about them. I remember many early mornings going out with him to change water. That meant opening and closing the gates on the water pipe back before everyone had sprinklers. My dad used a golf club for this task.

So he tilled, and planted, and fertilized, and watered, and worried. And when those seeds had grown into plants that produced grain, he harvested them. And he celebrated those good harvests.

I understand that process and so do you. And so did those people who heard this story from Jesus’ back on that day.

But keep in mind that he precedes the story with the sentence, “This is what the Kingdom of God is like.” He makes it clear that he is about to illustrate the Kingdom of God, something very complex, through a simple story.

After all that’s all a parable is…an allegory. Parables are analogies that use simple, common, and understandable stories to explain something more complex. This is how Jesus taught…and it’s genius.

On this morning, Jesus was down by the lake. But as the crowd grew, Jesus got on a small boat out on the lake and taught from there with the crowd along the shore at the water’s edge.

Can you hear the sounds of the water lapping on the shore? Can you smell the smells of a lake as you sit near the water and listen closely to hear his words?

Jesus uses the concept of seeds several times in his parables on this day…this day that will end with Jesus calming a storm on this very lake.

You and I are scatterers of seeds. In talking about God’s kingdom, you and I as Christians are responsible for scattering those seeds.

Sometimes the process is very formal. Remember when I mentioned that my father tilled the ground. Well, sometimes we do that.

For example, a youth pastor may spend a lot of time with youth preparing their hearts for the Word of God. Maybe they do team building activities together, sing together, open up with each other about the challenges in their lives. Those young people are such fertile ground. Lots of time and effort is often put into preparing young people to hear and receive the Word of God.

But seeds may be planted intentionally or unintentionally.

Let me use the same example with the youth. That youth pastor will carefully plant seeds of God’s truth into the life of the student through his words and actions. That is intentional.

However, suppose that a youth director has spent lots of time “tilling the soil” then a student watches them cuss out a referee at a local high school basketball game or make an obscene hand gesture to someone who cut him off in traffic. These are also seeds…but seeds that we do not want to plant in such impressionable soil.

But the good seeds, well, we take care of them. Going back to my example, we nurture God’s truth in the hearts and minds of our young people. We reinforce them and work hard to make them grow. 

And just as my father worried about his crops, we worry about ours. What seeds are other people planting in the minds and hearts of my child? Am I fertilizing and watering all the right seeds? 

Because we know a harvest is coming.

Now, this doesn’t only apply to youth pastors and young people. As I mentioned before, you and I are scatters of seeds. What words or actions have you been scattering around? Will the seeds that you are throwing be helpful in furthering God’s kingdom? 

“Well, it was just a little seed,” you may argue.

Ahhh. The Kingdom of God is just like that. A little tiny seed, even the very tiniest of seeds, can grow into a plant that is huge.

Have you ever seen a mustard seed? My daughter has a necklace with one in a magnified locket to remind her of these very verses.

There are lots of different varieties of mustard plants. But the mustard plant that Jesus refers to in here is one that grows large enough for birds to roost in its branches.

For simplicity’s sake, I’ll pick a plant that we are more familiar with…cottonwood trees. Picture a cottonwood tree seed. I would estimate them at a millimeter in diameter and 2 millimeters long…connected to fluff that allows them to travel through the air long distances.

Now, trees take years to grow, unlike the mustard seed in the story. However, the analogy can still be made. A tiny seed makes a plant so large that we use its shade, birds and other creatures make their homes in them, and their branches extend out in all directions.

When I was growing up, my father planted a Cottonless Cottonwood tree in our front yard and one in our backyard. I remember the stakes in the ground to hold them in place as they fought the southwest Kansas wind to grow big and strong.

I was surprised when the trees grew taller than me and then grew taller than the house. And I’m still surprised when I drive by my childhood home and see how tall they are today… providing shade for the entire yard.

All of that, from just one tiny little seed.

Friends, the seeds we plant work the same way. Whether we tend them or not, the seeds have the ability to grow under the right conditions.

Sometimes we don’t provide the conditions. Sometimes we plant a seed and walk away not knowing it someone else will come along to nurture it. Sometimes we plant a seed and that tender heart where we planted it turns away from us.

Don’t give up hope! This parable tells us that sometimes we do not ever know what makes a seed grow. We may not be around, we may not understand.

But God is a grand gardener. He will tend His garden and plants will grow where we may have even forgot that we even planted a seed.

And those plants will produce more seeds.

Never stop planting.

And never stop tending the seeds and sprouting plants that our great gardener puts in your life.

Father in heaven, We are thankful for the teachings of your son, Jesus, and for the fact that they were taught in a way that we can still understand them so many years later.

Lord, guide us as we scatter seeds for your kingdom. Give us the wisdom to nurture planted seeds as often as we have the opportunity.

We know that you are the great gardener and that Your kingdom will grow. And we are grateful. Amen

Something in the Water

And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” 

At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:4-11)

The book of Mark begins with this story…the story of John and of Jesus’ baptism.

John, like the prophets of the Old Testament, was preaching about repentance. Repentance. Not just asking for forgiveness, but having a change of heart so that one turns from, stops, doing something. It’s an internal change that results in a change of behavior…not the other way around.

Do you know people who have tried to make changes in their lives…only to fall back into old habits and fail miserably? Behavioral change is hard…maybe impossible…without a change of heart.

It’s New Year’s resolution time again. It’s a time when people reflect on their lives and determine that they will make changes for a fresh start in the new year. And we all have changes we want or need to make. However, most of us will not be very resolute.

Although we want different outcomes, we won’t have the deep change of heart that is needed to make lasting and meaningful change. We may chase an ideal by trying to eat less and exercise more, but unless there is an internal change to be a healthy person, we will not succeed. If we have internalized (whether consciously or not) that food makes us happy, secure, and whole (or alcohol, or gambling, or drugs, or sex, or fame, or spending), our battle against our vice cannot be won.

In fact, I would argue that only God can provide that change of heart. Only God can provide the happiness, security, and wholeness that we are seeking.

For many people, that change of heart comes through a crisis.

Although I do not believe that God causes bad things to happen, I do believe that God uses those things we see as bad or evil to help shape us when they do happen. After all, we are told in the book of Romans that “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Each of the vices I mentioned earlier can lead to such a crisis…not at God’s doing, but at our own. For example, overeating can lead to multiple life-threatening health problems. Drinking can lead to bad choices as well as internal physical damage. Gambling and spending can lead to deception, thievery, and bankruptcy. The list goes on and on.

Allow me to give you an example.

I have a dear friend who sought happiness through the party scene. Although he was married and had children, he was a drug user and alcohol abuser. These two vices often impaired his ability to make good decisions. And when he made a bad decision, he would turn back to drugs and alcohol for the comfort, happiness, and wholeness that he knew he needed.

He lost his wife and his children through divorce. It finally came to a head when he was in a nearly fatal accident while under the influence. But God met my friend in this crisis. God nurtured him through this crisis. And, ultimately, God changed his heart.

I’m not going to say it was easy. It wasn’t. But the change he experienced was so deep and so strong, that he was able to truly repent. And he has been blessed.

My friend remarried. His relationships with his ex-wife and his children have been repaired. Not only does he serve others through his church, but many lucky foster children also call him “Daddy”. And he praises God daily and publicly for all of these things. 

This man repented with true repentance. There was a change in his heart that led to a change in his life. Lasting change.

However, not all crises that we go through are our fault. Sometimes we must deal with a crisis brought on by someone else’s bad decisions. And, sometimes, in this fallen world, bad things just happen—illness, natural disasters, accidents, etc.

But when we find ourselves coping with the devastation of a crisis, self-inflicted or otherwise, God uses the situation to lead us to repentance. He uses it to change us internally, to change our hearts.

Let me give you another example.

Recently some friends of mine lost their daughter in a car accident. Don and Renee Beesley’s daughter, Montana, was ripped from their family. It was no one’s fault. There were no drugs or alcohol involved. Montana and her family loved God, served God, were involved in their church, and spoke openly about Jesus Christ.

And yet, here they were, the father, mother, and two younger sisters, facing a crisis…the worst nightmare of any parent.

But remember that verse from earlier: “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” How in the world could God use this for good?

I remember praying for Don and Renee. I remember praying that God would give them strength and help them respond in a way that would bring glory to Him. And this is exactly what they did.

They celebrated their daughter’s life and her deep faith. They praised God for the gift of her life. They thanked Him for the lessons that she taught them in 15 short years about being strong and persistent and faithful. She had introduced Christ to so many throughout her life.

I talked to Renee, Tana’s mom, last night. She shared this with me.

“She touched more lives than we ever knew, she once told us that she probably knew someone in every town from Hugoton to Wichita and we laughed at her; but after over 1,200 people came to remember her, we figured she might have been right.

"I have had young people message me that live in Wichita. One said she knew what kind of person Tana was and she wanted to get right with the Lord, so I set her up with my sister in Wichita and they went to church together. Another girl I don't know Facebook messaged me and said she went out to the cemetery and had a long talk with Tana and gave her life to the Lord.

"Just four nights ago at midnight I received a Facebook message from a high school boy who had overdosed and was so sad until he heard singing and followed and he saw Montana. He said she saved his life.

"One day we were shopping in brass buckle and Tana noticed the young man helping us was cutting himself so she talked with him about how much God loved him. He was an atheist, but she assured him God loved him and she cared about him. I went in there earlier this week and he remembered her and we visited about their conversation and I noticed his cutting scars were healed.”

Have you ever seen an alter call at a funeral? I haven’t. But these parents asked for one. The church was packed, as Renee indicated, and so many came up to give their lives to Christ during the service that those in attendance couldn’t keep count. This young lady brought more people to Christ in death than most of us will throughout our lives.

God used this crisis for repentance. He used this crisis to change hearts. I was brought to tears by the realization that even these Christ-loving, God-fearing parents were brought to repentance. Listen to Renee’s words:

“We miss Tana more than we can express, but for the first time I understand ‘God's peace that passes all understanding’ and I also understand this world is not my home.  I have loved this world a little too much, but now I feel unfastened and can't wait for my whole family to be together in heaven soon. We are assured every day that Tana’s life and death were not in vane as God continues to use her even through her passing.”

This is what John preached about…change, real change. Baptism was not something new. Baptism had been around for a while and was symbolic of cleansing and a clean, new beginning. But John preached of a baptism of repentance.

And Jesus came. Jesus came…and was baptized. Was he repentant? He was sinless! Wasn’t this unnecessary and irrelevant?

No. Nothing Jesus did was unnecessary or irrelevant. According to theologians, Jesus had four necessary and relevant reasons for being baptized by his cousin, John.

First, it was a moment of decision.

Jesus was somewhere around 30 years old. Although we don’t know much at all about those young years, we do know that he was trained as a carpenter and had stayed in Nazareth…working at a normal daily job but surely knowing that He was called to more. So he waited for that sign the he knew would come that would lead him out into the world.

That sign was John. When Jesus chose to go to John, the very man who was preaching of his imminent arrival, he made his decision.

Secondly, it was a moment of identification.

By coming forward in John’s movement, Jesus identified himself with the movement. He identified himself with the need for repentance and baptism. He identified himself with the Godward movement of the people.

And this was also a moment of approval.

Jesus had left his home…everything he knew and everyone he loved. Although we know that he was fully God on earth, we must remember that he was also fully human.

If you had left your family, your job, your hometown, and were out on your own trying to do what you felt you were called to do…wouldn’t you be terrified? Can you imagine the questions he must’ve had: How will I eat? Where will I sleep? Who will love me? Will I be safe? Will my mother and siblings be okay without me there?

Jesus did not take the decision lightly. He must have felt very strongly about his decision. But even when we feel compelled, even when we feel certain, there is always that little bit of doubt and fear that eat at us.

Well, if Jesus was fighting that last little bit of doubt and fear, God put that to rest when he told him, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Listen to those words again. God spoke to Jesus…not to the crowd, not to John, not to the world. These words were spoken to Jesus…a reassurance to him. “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

And, finally, this was a moment of equipment.

It was at this time, this moment, that God equipped Jesus for his ministry—“the spirit descended on him like a dove.” Like a dove.

A dove is symbolic of gentleness throughout the Bible. This simile was intentional and specific. Although John’s ministry was a message of doom, wrath, vengeance, and a consuming fire, Jesus’ ministry would be marked by gentleness.

Yes, he would conquer, but it would be a conquest of love.

Have you missed an important moment of decision in your life? Is there a decision that you need to make that you’ve been putting off? Does God keep putting that decision in front of you?

How are you identified? What movements do you support? What causes do you fight for? What behaviors do you exhibit to show the world who you are?

Whose approval do you seek? Do you need to please your friends? Your family? Your own desires? The world? Or are you seeking approval from God?

Have you discovered how you are equipped by God? What gifts and abilities has He given you for His purposes in the world? How are you using those gifts and abilities? Have you allowed the Holy Spirit to descend on to you and guide you?

I want to revisit Montana’s life for just a moment. She had made a decision to live for Christ at a very young age. And, certainly, she identified herself as a Christ-follower. A very special sign of approval from God was seen on the day of her service. You see, just as God spoke directly to Jesus one day long ago, he also spoke directly to Tana’s family through two rainbows that were evident on the clear blue day that she was laid to rest. He had equipped her to sing, to love, to reach out to people, and to serve Him in her own unique way…and she used those gifts and abilities to do just that.

Jesus’ baptism was important. It was important for him then and it is important for us today. Baptism is a sacrament. It is a mystery. It is a miracle. If you haven’t yet been baptized, I pray that you will seek and accept this wonderful gift from a God who loves you and will continue to seek and accept you.

And for those of you who have received this gift, I pray that each of you will take time to remember your baptism today…and be thankful.


Amen.

How to Spot a Christian

Sermon 7
May 5, 2013

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.  “All this I have spoken while still with you.  But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.  “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.  I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. --John 14:23-29

We honor our high school seniors today. One of them is mine, so bear with me if my emotions creep into my voice.

At different milestones in your life, you become strangely aware of the passage of time. For the high school seniors, it seems like you’ve been in school forever. But for the parents, it seems that you packed up that backpack and sent them into the school by themselves for the first time just yesterday.

And this is true for other events in life also. The concept of time is difficult for us to wrap our little human minds around. 

For example, many doubt that God really created the heavens and the earth in only 6 days. They point to scientific data that has led to “proof” that our world is millions of years old and started with one big bang. Yet, they fail to recognize and understand that our God, an eternal being who is not bound by time, created time.

Listen to Genesis 1:1-2:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 

Hmmm…any mention of time. Any indication that “time” is passing yet? Let’s look at the next couple of verses:

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. 

Aha…now I can see time. Was the universe there BEFORE time began? Can we even grasp such a concept? I don’t have the ability to know. Neither do you. Neither do scientists.

But I do know this, we are bound by time. Once we have lived a moment, we can never go back and live that moment again. Even if we just slept through it. Once we have lived a moment, it becomes part of our history…a history that is unchangeable. Because the time that we are bound to is linear. Once we have lived a moment, there are consequences.

Think of it this way…here is a moment.

And it’s effects.

But other people also live the same moment…and their choices during that moment have effects--

effects that may affect your future moments. Like this!

Although none of us know how much time will be given to us, we do know that each moment of time that we have is a gift. So…what are we going to do with this gift?

Let me tell you something that you should know. It’s a little secret that I didn’t learn as early in my life as I would’ve liked…so I want to share it with you.

What you DO comes from who you ARE. Doing comes out of being.

This is such an important concept to understand. If your actions (your “doing”) doesn’t come from who you truly are (your “being”), eventually your “being” will betray, and destroy, your “doing”. In other words…your actions will show who you truly are. Don’t waste time developing a reputation…invest time in developing your character.

Don’t get me wrong, you will mess up. You will do things that you regret. You will hurt people. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  But if your “being” is in Christ, you will recognize your mistakes, repent from them, and learn from them. However, If your being is NOT in Christ, when you do hurt others you will be angry that you got caught, blame as many other people as you can, and be sure to be much sneakier the next time.

Ground your life in the Word of God. This takes effort. Any relationship takes effort.

Each one of our graduates is planning to attend college next year. No two are going to the same place. They’ll be in all over Kansas, in Missouri, and in Georgia. In a few months, our seniors will enter into the most selfish time of their lives. It’s true.

For the first time ever, dad and mom won’t know where they are, what they are doing, and who they are with every moment of the day. For the first time ever they will be responsible to and for nobody but themselves. For the first time ever they will be free from past mistakes, past accomplishments, and past reputations in a sea of young people who are all experiencing the exact same freedom.

Who will you be? Notice—I didn’t ask “What will you be?” or “What will you do?” Who will you be? Let me warn you, there is some awfully rotten fruit that is going to look very fresh, sweet, and tasty in your new little garden.

You are going to hear and see many different world views. You are going to witness people belittle faith in God. You may even have instructors that ask you how you can base your beliefs and opinions on a book that was written thousands of years ago in a different time and place…a book of myths and fairytales...of legends and superstitions.

Did you know that one of the biggest obstacles to students maintaining their Christian faith is their inability to reconcile their faith with science? Students learn about science and hear that it is incompatible with Christianity. I brought up evolution for a reason—it’s one of the biggest factors that young people cite for abandoning their faith in God. They have more faith in the theories of man.

Science seeks to understand the world around us through exploration. Any provable “truths” that are discovered through science should not be feared. We believe in the truth. We believe that Christ IS the Truth. All truths will lead to Christ.

Did you know that there are theories that humans believed for centuries that were eventually proven false? Do you think that all of our scientific theories now are correct? That somehow we are much smarter than the humans of the past? That’s laughable!

Ever heart of Mozart? Leonardo DaVinci? Socrates? Galileo? Know anybody living now who can compare in their brilliance? C.S. Lewis calls this “chronological snobbery.”

Oh, I would never have eaten from the fruit of that tree in Eden.

I can’t believe people were stupid enough to think the world was flat?

I would not have fallen for the idea that the earth was the center of the universe.

Never, would I have EVER, worn my hair like THAT!

We think we are so much smarter than those who came before us. You just wait until your kids and grandkids laugh at your clothes, music, language, and yes…hairstyles, in a few short decades.

But God’s Word always remains true. That doesn’t mean we quit seeking answers, that we quit exploring, that we discontinue the development of theories.  It just means that we need to keep things in perspective. 

So how do you spot a Christian?

Well…our culture tells us that they look like this.

Those of you in my generation will remember this.

And there are others who believe that they look like this.

There are some big name popular preachers who will tell you they look like this.

But I will tell you that you cannot spot a Christian in a picture because in any given moment of time any person in the world could be doing something that we value as Christians. A Christian isn’t defined in a moment…but in a lifetime of ripples.

You cannot just do; you must be.

You cannot just do things that we view as Christ-like without knowing Christ…without being a Christian and expect to maintain it.

So every day, every single day, get to know Christ a little better. Read about him. Talk to him. Talk about him with others. Think about him. Worship him. BE in him. And if you do, He will also be in you.

Let’s go back to our gospel reading for today, I want to re-read for you a few of the verses. “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

Did you hear that? You will never have to be alone. Through the Holy Spirit, our Father God and his Son Jesus will make their home with you. The Holy Spirit will teach you and will remind you…granted, sometimes when you least want to be taught or reminded.

It’s not always going to be fun. It’s not always going to be easy. You are not guaranteed health and wealth and happiness in this life. But you are guaranteed that God will use every experience you go through for His good…for His purposes.

So, although life is getting ready to change, although you are about to embark on a grand adventure, although your family and friends may not always be with you, your Father in heaven always will be.

Remain in Him and show the world what a Christian looks like.

Father, we realizing that doing is so much easier than being. We can hide who we ARE by what we DO from others, but we can’t hide it from you. Nor can we maintain that charade for long. Work in our lives, Lord, to guide us in our efforts to remain in you so that our actions will just flow naturally from our being…our being that is defined in You. We ask for your blessing on our graduates, Father. Guide their steps, guide their minds, and guide their hearts as they prepare for this new freedom that they will experience soon…a freedom they many never experience again in their lives once work, spouses, and/or children come along. It is a special, special time for them…and we pray that they will remain in You. Give them that longing, Lord. Give them that courage. Amen.

Redemption...a Haiku

Tortured-soul, reckless.

Boastful sin                       

                     drowning                

                                 in shame.  

Sought.                          

                                              Grace.

                          through 

Restored 

I'm not a poet...but this morning I found myself thinking the first line of this haiku in the shower.  As I got around, it continued to haunt me.  Finally I grabbed the nearest piece of paper (a used envelope from Todd's dresser) and began to put down my thoughts.  I would walk away (I was in the middle of putting on make-up, getting dressed, brushing teeth, fixing hair, etc.!) and find myself coming back to the dresser to mark out a word or change a phrase.  

I don't know if it's any good.  Nor do I really care.  It means something to me...an expression of the gratefulness I feel for the amazing grace I don't deserve.  It needs to be recorded as part of this journey.

My First Visit to Asbury Seminary

After a full day of class, lots of great conversation, dinner with some classmates, and some relaxed reading in my room, I decided I needed to find an elliptical machine. 

An hour later I left the gym and walked out of the student union into the cool evening.  Just a few steps down the sidewalk, I realized that I was walking in a sacred place.  I started looking around...and slowed...

It was cool and nearly still.  In the dark Kentucky sky the stars seemed to shine more brightly than they should.  As I panned the campus buildings from one end to the other, I was struck by the beauty of the buildings with the red brick, white trim and columns, lit steeples and well-placed walkway lamp lights.

Finally...I just froze.  With a grateful heart, I just took it all in.

A train whistle blew in the distance.

A slight breeze rustled the remaining leaves of a stubborn tree.

I was completely alone.  And completely overwhelmed by the presence of God.

Scanning back and forth over the landscape and trying to take in every detail of the sounds, sights, smells, and feelings, I wished I could turn on a recorder in my mind so that I could come back to this place over and over by closing my eyes and pushing "play".

The Holy Spirit's stirring within my soul always brings tears...

Thank you, Lord, for the beauty of Your creation, Your blessing on this campus, and Your love for Your people...all people.  Amen.

Rob Bell and Universalism

I want to start out by saying that I have learned much from Rob Bell's teaching.  He is engaging and insightful.  The man has been a leader in taking the art of preaching to a new level...one that teaches and also delights the listener.  

This is even more cause for concern over his theological views.

The Bible supports this stance when James says (3:1-2),  "Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check."

Nobody is perfect.  There are times that we get things wrong.  There are things in the Bible that are hard to understand and vague.  Many things are subject to interpretation.  Everybody has an opinion.

However, this is not one of those things.

Jesus taught us that hell is real.  It's a place of eternal torment.  Once you are there, there is no leaving.  We get one shot at life and then we are judged.  If we have chosen a life without God, He loves us enough to grant us what we desire...an eternity without him. 

This is not my teaching.  This is Jesus' teaching.  I have many questions about hell that may never be answered.  I actually hope that most of these answers are never revealed to me.  However, God has revealed the facts above to us all through the Bible.

What I'm sharing here is not special insight that God revealed specifically to me.  It is not vague.  It is not something we have to interpret.  Jesus makes this quite clear.

However, it is not currently politically correct.  This view is not culturally acceptable.  People simply don't want to hear the truth.

"That is not fair!  God would not do something that is not fair!"  Correct.  God is just.  However, we are all sinners so "fairness" would indicate to me that we should ALL pay the price for our sin.  So if we are going to use this view, shouldn't we all go to hell?

"But God is loving!  A loving God would not send people to a place of torment for eternity!"  God is loving.  He is so loving, in fact, that He sent His Son to pay the price for our sins so that we would not have to pay this price.  What a beautiful gift from a loving God!  All we have to do is accept this precious gift through faith in Jesus.

1Timothy 2 tells us that God "wants us all to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth."  He must mourn when we choose to deny Him.  How would you feel if you sacrificed to give your child a gift, and he/she took it and just threw it in the trash?  He loves us all.  He desires that we all choose Him.  And He gives us the free will to decide for ourselves.

(Although I do not want to start a discussion of election here, I will say that I am convinced that God also "chooses" people He will save.  Since the Bible indicates that he wants all people to be saved, the defining factor seems to be faith.  Does faith come through our free will or through God's grace?  I think both.  But we can discuss this at a later time.)

Honestly, as I've listened to Bell's podcasts and also as I read his book, "Velvet Elvis", red flags were raised in my mind.  And I have conveniently dismissed them.  Darn it.  I like the guy.  I like how he teaches!  I love that he loves God and has made it his life's mission to bring more followers to Christ!  I did not want to find fault with him!  Christians get enough criticism without other Christian's pointing fingers at them!

However, Bell should be rebuked for this misleading theology.  In fact, other Christians have a responsibility to call him out...especially on such a foundational issue.

The recent press about his new book, "Love Wins", was not my first inclination that something was wrong, it was the tipping point.  I was finally pushed over the edge...just by the video promo.  Yes, I'll read the book when it comes out. 

In fact, I listen to and read many different teachers that have different points of view.  Even atheists.  I think it is important that Christians hear different perspectives and work to improve their ability to discern with the help of the Holy Spirit.  If we only listen to one side of a story, we never really consider the others sides after all.

So, even after the hubbub started last week, I found myself listening to one of Rob's podcasts on my way to an appointment out of town.  The podcast was on Matthew 25. 

Take a listen.

First of all, Bell misses the point when discussing this parable.  Every commentary I've ever read on this scripture agrees that this story is about those who will not be "ready" when Jesus comes for them.  Bell seems to think being "ready" means something different than I do.  His emphasis is on works while mine would be faith (which, by the way, leads to works).

But he actually goes on to say that grace is for us all. "That's why religion can be so destructive. That's why being a part of a faith system can be so lethal. Because it can ever so subtly teach you, 'Well, if I do the right thing, you know if...I'm moral. I'm righteous. I believe in Jesus.' No. It's grace. It's grace."

What?  Bell equates moralism, self-righteousness, and belief in Jesus?

I agree, being moral doesn't give us grace.
I agree, being righteous does not give us grace. (Well, it would if we could, but we can't, so it won't.)
But, I do NOT agree with the last statement.  Believing in Jesus DOES give us grace.  We are saved by grace through our faith in Jesus Christ!

Those who do not believe do not receive this free gift.  

Rob Bell is preaching universalism.

How dangerous is this?  So what if he's leading listeners to believe that all people will go to heaven?  Why is this a big deal?  At this point, I'm not sure if Bell even believes there is such a thing as hell.  But the rub comes when one considers that Bell is choosing to teach doctrine that is in direct opposition to the teaching of Jesus.  

If Bell has this wrong, what else does he have wrong?  What exactly is Jesus' message to us through His teaching?  Can we rely on a teacher who lacks discernment about a matter that is directly addressed by Jesus to have discernment over more controversial matters?

I believe that God reveals himself to people in His time and in His way.  Maybe God closed Bell's eyes to this truth for a reason, and He will open them now.  I pray that this is the case.  We need engaging preachers to fight to bring more people to the truth of the Bible...

...to the TRUTH of the Bible.

We need teachers who are willing and able to share the truth.  As Bell would ask, "Are you with me?"

Comforts of Home

It's official...tomorrow is my kids' third snow day in a row.  Well, it's actually not the snow that's the problem, it's the temperature.  Wind chills in Kansas are currently dipping down to about -25 degrees.  It's insane.

The kids, however, are giddy!

It's always exciting to have unexpected days off.   They've already enjoyed two full days of lounging around the house in their PJs.

I, on the other hand, always work from home.  But, I've also enjoyed the company of the kids on these bitterly cold days.  There is something nostalgic about these lazy days with the kids that make them special.

This morning as I sat at the table with my laptop and fresh cup of coffee, I considered the fact that my kids were still tucked into their beds...all warm and cozy...sleeping in.  They're warm.  They're with me.  They're safe.

Not everyone is so lucky.

As I sat in my warm home drinking my hot cup of coffee, I tried to imagine spending the night outside with dirty clothes, a coat, and an old blanket or two to keep me warm.  I tried.  I failed.  I simply can't imagine it.

This line of thought led to the next:  What is my responsibility?

The answer is...I don't know.

What I do know is that I can think of lots of excuses for inaction.  There are shelters, right?  I donate to charities that help these people so I'm doing my share.  What could I do to help anyway...bring strangers to my home?!  I don't even know where to find these people!  Yes, lots of excuses.

And even when I start brainstorming things I could do, other issues enter my mind.  After all, there are millions of problems in this world and I only have so much time available in a day.  Starvation.  Lack of clean water.  Loneliness.  Homelessness.  War.  Abuse.  Neglect.  The list is endless, global, and overwhelming.  Pain and suffering are alive and well.

I honestly don't know where to begin.

This is why it's so important that I pay attention to what God is calling me to do.  God has blessed me with specific gifts that will allow me to fulfill a specific purpose in His plan.

To be quite honest, I have not yet figured out my purpose.  No matter.  God knows...and He'll lead me as long as I continue to pay attention.

This world is as close to hell as I ever plan to get.  Sadly, this world is as close to heaven as some will ever get.  All of the issues of pain and suffering I listed above take a back seat to this one fact.

So tomorrow in the warmth of my home with my kids lounging in their pajamas, fuzzy socks on my feet, and something tasty simmering in the crock pot, I will thank God for my blessings.

And I will feel guilty for my blessings. 

Lord, use me!  If not to bring comfort to others in this world, use me to bring Your children to You.  So they can be warm.  They can be with You.  And they can be safe.

In the comfort of Your house.

For eternity.

No Strings Attached

"Ma'am, can I help you out with this?"

"No...I can get it.  Thanks."

Why is this always uncomfortable to me?  As I was walking out to the car, I was pondering this.  It is just awkward to accept "no strings attached" gifts from others.  Dillons' policy says that they cannot accept even tips for helping.  There is absolutely no incentive for them to be helpful, but it's part of their job and they always dutifully ask.

And I always decline. On the few occasions that I have accepted, I felt guilty.

After all, I'm perfectly capable.  There are others who may need help...but not me.

Hmmm...

After loading up the groceries, I headed home.  On the way I found myself thinking, "Now if the kids have surprised me by cleaning the house while I've been gone, THAT would be a gift I could accept!"

Why is that?

Well, they owe me.

Wow...I sound like a great parent.  But you know what I mean. I do things for them all the time--make their meals, wash their laundry, help them with homework, etc.  It would've been a great surprise, but it most certainly would not have been a gift that I was uncomfortable to accept.

No worries...it didn't happen.

But now I was pondering both situations.  What was the difference?

It's simple.  I feel the need to earn my gifts.  With my own kids, I earned the (much wished for) surprise of a clean house but I didn't earn the favors of a grocery-toting kid.

I think the same is true of the free gift of grace we receive from God.

Many simply don't accept it, because they didn't earn it and they don't want to "owe" God.  It just can't be the truth. No other "gods" give away salvation without expecting something in return.

Jesus, however, paid the full-price for my salvation...and yours.  It's free.  Take it!

I need to focus on simply being grateful for this gift...humbly accepting and cherishing it.  Stop with the guilt!  My energies would be better spent helping others see the beauty of this free gift that they, too, can receive.

No strings attached.

Tough Issues: Why do bad things happen?

The problem of "Evil" confronts many Christians suddenly and in a very emotional way.  Often we have to address this issue with the loss or devastation of ourselves or someone we love.  This seems to often have a polarizing effect...either pulling one toward God or pushing one away from God.  I am, however, a firm believer that Christians who struggle with this issue will find their way back to the God who loves them. (Romans 8:38-39)

God created man and woman, giving them a beautiful garden, food, companionship with Him, and dominion over all things created.  It was perfect!  However, God also wanted to give them something else--free will.

It was important for God to give us free will.  He did not want his creation to love, worship, and obey him because that was the only thing they could do.  He was very capable of making us His puppets with no ability to reason or option to rebel.  But that was not His plan.  God wanted His people to have the ability to obey Him...or not.

With this in mind, the Garden of Eden had to contain an option to rebel.  Without an option to rebel, there could be no free will because every option would be God's will.  So, a tree was included in this paradise, just one tree (the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil) from which Adam and Eve were not to eat.

We were not the only creatures that God created and gave free will.  Angels were also given this opportunity to choose.  The only creatures that are mentioned in the Bible as being made in God's image, however, are men and women.  Just as we experience envy, it seems very likely that these other creatures with the ability to reason would feel the sting of this emotion on occasion.  This probably made it especially tempting to entice us to rebel against our maker.  And Satan, a fallen angel, did just that.

I am not particularly mad at Adam and Eve for doing something as stupid as eating the one fruit that God forbid them to eat.  It is my belief that I would have done the same.  In fact, those who would criticize the decisions of our first parents are suffering from what C.S. Lewis refers to as chronological snobbery.  After all, how many choices have I made in my life that are in direct violation of the commandments of God?  And I will also add that you can't blame only Eve.  Read the verses for yourself to see just where Adam was.  (Genesis 3:6)  That's right.  He was right there with her...not off gallivanting through the Garden as is often depicted when this act is recreated in artistic works.

We chose to rebel.  Just as God knew we would.  Yes, of course He knew we would.  He knows everything.

Could God have chosen to stop Adam and Eve from eating the fruit?  As I mentioned earlier, the tree was necessary to provide an option for us to exercise our free will.  Stopping Eve from taking that first bite would have done likewise.

So why didn't God just kill the serpent (Satan)?  Didn't Satan's interference unfairly affect Eve's ability to make a rational choice?

God will not (and cannot) contradict Himself.  As Paul tells Titus, God cannot lie.  (Titus 1:1-4)  Since the angels have free will, God would/could not interfere with Satan's plan.  Since we have free will, God would/could not interfere in Eve and Adam's decision.  If He had interfered in any of the evil events that happened at that time, He would have stripped his creations of free will.

So sin entered the world.  With consequences.  God had to banish them from the Garden.  You see, there was another tree there from which God had to save us.  This was the Tree of Life.  Eating from this tree would have made the consequences from the first sin eternal.  Adam and Eve would have lived forever in sin.  God showed them mercy by banishing them.

We all have choices to make.  We are given free will to make our own choices.  And we all have consequences (good and evil) from those choices.  We cannot forget that other people also have free will.  Just as Satan's free will affected Eve's free will, which affected Adam's free will resulting in consequences for all of us, the same cycle happens today.  The sins of others have consequences for them and for us.  Our sins have consequences for us and for others.

We ask things like, "Why did God allow Hitler to kill all those people?"  Hitler had free will.  The people that influenced Hitler had free will.  This doesn't mean that God ordained these things to happen.  St. Augustine's conclusion in his book On Order (386 a.d.) aligns with my view, "God judged it better to bring good out of evil than to suffer no evil at all."

The reality of the situation when facing this evil overwhelms us as beings with limited knowledge and power.  We forget when facing the evil on this earth that our time here is very short in the scheme of an eternity.

And next comes the question, "But what about disease?  Why does God allow cancer (or AIDS, M.S., Alzheimer's, etc.) to kill good people?"

I have two thoughts on this; first, we live in a cursed world that is deteriorating.  I have no idea where and how these diseases began, but they may be related to this deterioration...which was caused by our first sin.  Without sin, humans would've lived forever in companionship with God in a perfect world.  Our human lifespans were eternal!  Once sin entered the world, however, we started deteriorating...aging.  In early Bible recordings, the world was still "healthy" enough that humans lived very long lives.  In fact, theologians estimate that it took Noah 120 years to build the ark and he was about 600 when the rain came!  Was he a freak of nature?  No, that's just how it was.  Our lifespans got shorter and shorter until man's knowledge of science allowed us to develop medicines and easier lifestyles through technology.  But the world has continued to decay and we are suffering the consequences.

My second thought is that they may be related more directly to sin itself.  Some diseases may come from the sin of the sufferer or the sufferer's parents.  For example, some diseases can be linked to sinful habits--overeating, sloth, drunkenness, mistreating one's body with drugs and even cigarettes, promiscuity, etc.  But I have to wonder if diseases that seem to have no cause actually started through some mutation that occurred many, many years ago due to a single sinful act.  Let me make it clear, I am NOT blaming the victims of disease for their own suffering.  My thought is simply that this evil had to have an origin.  Sin and deterioration are the only options I see.

Thankfully, as St. Augustine indicates, God uses these things for good.  In fact, Paul says as much in his letter to the Romans.  (Romans 8:28)

There are also philosophical reasons for the presence of evil.  Could there truly be "good" without it? At what points in your life have you drawn closer to God?  Really consider this.  Was it during times of contentment...or times of struggle?  So, is suffering necessary?

I think it is.  And we need to remember that Jesus Christ suffered FOR us in the most brutal of ways without deserving it.  God knows exactly what it means to physically and emotionally suffer.

Peter talks about the trials that we face here throughout his books of the Bible.  He reminds the new Church (the believers--not the people in a specific building) that "Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit."  (1 Peter 3:18)

We are promised in Isaiah and reminded again in Revelations, "The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth."  (Isaiah 25:8, Revelations 21:4)

One day the sins will be erased and evil will be gone.  I hope you are back here to enjoy it with me.
_________

Suggested Resources:

CS Lewis:  The Problem of Pain.  (1940)
Mars Hill Church Sermon Series:  Trial
Ravi Zacharias:  How Can a Good God Allow Evil in the World?
RC Sproul:  The Problem with Evil
St. Augustine:  The Confessions of St. Augustine, Book 2: The Anatomy of Evil, multiple translations/editors

A Prayer for our Girls

Annie came home a couple of weeks ago with an interesting memento from her day.  One of her teachers had each of the students write his/her name at the top of a piece of paper.  Then they passed these around so that everyone had a chance to write on every paper something that they like about that person.

It's a good idea.  I've done this before in classes where my students didn't seem to be getting along and needed to be reminded that everyone has good qualities and brings value to the classroom.

Annie's list proclaimed that she:

• is pretty,
• dresses nicely,
• is someone several of them want to know better,
• has pretty hair,
• is nice,
• is hilarious,
• and is intelligent (ironically, it was misspelled).

All of these are flattering, but the majority of them are superficial.  Most of the comments focused on the first four things listed above.  And I would agree with all of them.  Annie does take care of her appearance and she was blessed with her grandmother's beauty--including the amazing dimple and naturally slim, athletic body.  

But, I don't want her to see these as her true assets.  "Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."  (Proverbs 31:30)

Annie is so much more than a pretty face.

She has a big heart.  She worries.  My daughter worries about other people (especially her twin, Andy) and wants everyone to be happy.  She is nurturing.  I love to watch her "mother" Emmri and Greyson, the little neighbor girls.  She loves her friends and family.  Like me (and probably Heath), she associates people and events with music.  There are songs on her iPod that she listens to specifically to remind her of times with her cousin, Tyler, and Grandpa Tyler...as well as her brother, Heath, who is in the Navy.

Every girl should have to go through an "ugly phase" to learn some empathy for others.  Not all girls do.  My biggest fear for my daughters is that they will be "mean girls".  Mean Girl syndrome stems from jealousy and pride.  I know, I had my own bouts.  Mean girls get their value from their looks, boyfriends, and status (ie. popularity).

I don't want my daughters to assess their value on these things.

Lord God,

Please give my daughters empathy for all people.  Help them understand that beauty, boyfriends, and popularity do not determine their value.  In fact, help them choose NOT to desire to be popular.  Instead, lead them to live their lives according to Your will, which is counter-cultural and not popular.  Give them friends that will support them and hold them accountable.

Help Todd and I to teach them to not judge others as they see their peers make bad choices.  But help them avoid the same bad choices.  And when they do make mistakes, give them a remorseful heart and remind them that Your Son died so that they can be forgiven.  Give them the strength to say "No" even when they have made the mistake of saying "Yes" before.  Repentance is hard and painful and full of temptations.  Turn their hearts toward You when they must go through it.

Continue to help our girls nurture tender hearts.  Help us instill in them that their value is not in their appearance or status, but in their impact on others.  We pray that the Holy Spirit will give them the gifts of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  (Galatians 5:22-23)

Give them the desire to seek You above all else.  And help us be the examples that we need to be.  Remind us every day that we are the spiritual guides of our children--not our church and not our youth pastors.  Give us the desire to learn every day from You so that our children will see this and know that You are the focus of our daily lives.

Thank you for blessing us with our amazing daughters...as well as our cherished sons.  Be with them all every single day...reminding them that they are Your children, too.

Amen.

Prayer...it's a conversation

When I have to listen through a long prayer that includes quotes from Scripture and sounds like the person is trying to win an Oscar for the best dramatic performance in church, I want to scream.  Especially when I look at them and see that they are actually reading a script!

What are we teaching our children with these kinds of prayers?  I worry that we are teaching them that praying is a complicated task reserved for those who have memorized the Bible and either got an "A" in Speech class or went to state in Forensics...or both.  This is NOT how Jesus taught us to pray.  In fact, the Bible often says that Jesus prayed alone where nobody could hear.  On the occasions when Jesus did pray publicly, he prayed humbly—asking for the ability to accept God’s will, thanking Him for food and blessings, and asking for strength and faith for His followers.

Jesus provided us with an example to show us how repentant believers should pray.

Matthew 6:5-14

First, He gives us some instructions.

• Do not be like the hypocrites who love to pray in churches and on the street so people will see them.
• Go into your room, close the door, and pray to Your Father, who is unseen. 
• Do not keep “babbling like pagans”.  They think they will be heard because of their many words.  God knows what you need before you even ask him. 

This, then, is how you should pray:

Our Father in heaven,

            What is Jesus telling us?  Pray to God the Father.

Hallowed be your name,

            What is Jesus telling us?  Praise God...He is holy.

Your kingdom come,

            What is Jesus telling us?  Acknowledge that the current struggles in our time on earth will be dwarfed by an eternity in which God reigns in His kingdom. 

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

What is Jesus telling us?  Understand that things happen according to God’s will.

Give us today our daily bread.

            What is Jesus telling us?  Ask that our needs be met.

Forgive us our debts,

            What is Jesus telling us?  Ask that our sins be forgiven.

As we also have forgiven our debtors.

            What is Jesus telling us?  Forgive people who sin against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

            What is Jesus telling us?  Ask for help in avoiding tempting situations.

But deliver us from the evil.

            What is Jesus telling us?  Ask to be given the strength to resist the temptations that we must face.

For yours is the kingdom and the power and glory forever.

            What is Jesus telling us?  Acknowledge that God is in charge…always has been and always will be.

Amen.

            What is Jesus telling us?  Translated as—so be it.  Accept that God’s will is not always in alignment with ours…but He knows best and you should trust Him.
           

God is your Father.  He wants you to have a relationship with Him.  He wants you to talk to Him.  Nothing you say is going to surprise Him.  There is not a trick to it.  No secret strategies exist.  You don’t have to kneel, bow your head, close your eyes, or fold your hands.  And for goodness sake…you don’t need to quote His own words to Him.

Learn.  Believe.  Repent.  Pray.  Repeat.

It’s just a conversation.

Just a small miracle...

According to Wikipedia, a miracle is an unexpected event attributed to divine intervention.

Many would suggest that miracles don't happen.  They would argue that there are coincidences, oddities, and illusions that simple-minded people can't explain so they attribute them to God.  I, however, would argue that there are events that NO man can explain or perform, thus making them divine.

For example, I quit chewing my fingernails.

Don't laugh.  Give me a chance here.  Do any of you chew your fingernails?  If you are a nail-biter and have been since being a toddler you can at least empathize with me on the initial problem.

I do not remember a time that I did not have my fingers in my mouth.  From birth I was always either sucking my thumb or chewing my nails.  Now, I WAS able to break the thumb-sucking habit.  However, even as an adult when I suffer through a particularly traumatic event, I will still sometimes wake up with my thumb in my mouth.

Nail-biting is different.  It isn't comforting, but rather a nervous habit.  I don't know how many times in my life I've tried to stop.  Even when I was able to really focus and pull this off for a month or two, the nails were thin and flimsy.  I couldn't leave them alone!  My constant picking at them took its toll and one would get a tear in it.  And that was all she wrote.  It gave me permission to chew it off...then one nail led to another.

As an adult, I spent a couple of years paying for acrylic nails.  It was the only time in my life they looked decent.  This, however, was not a long-term solution.  And even when they were on, I picked at them and often chewed them until they came off or looked awful.

The worst chewing time came when I would drive.  Honestly, I didn't even realize I was doing it.  Driving time is one of the few times I can just focus on my thoughts with no distractions.  It's almost like meditation.  When I would "come to" on the road, my fingers were almost always in my mouth.  I know, it's gross.  I don't get it.  It was totally unconscious. 

Then...a couple of months ago I realized that I haven't been chewing my nails.  As time has kept going by, they have gotten long enough that I often need to file them down.  They aren't thin and flimsy; on the contrary, they are hard and strong.  Amazingly they are quite pretty...even though I don't polish them and I type all day long just about every day.

So what happened?  Why don't I catch myself chewing on them as I drive for hours from this meeting to that meeting?  How am I able to keep myself from bending them and picking at them?  When, how, and why would an ingrained habitual behavior that I've had for 40 years suddenly change without any effort from me?

The answer is simple...it wouldn't.  It's a miracle.

Over the last couple of years, my life has changed dramatically.  Some of the changes have been external, some have been mild, but many have been internal and huge.  Could I have made these changes by myself?  No.  I've tried.  For years.  Through depression.  With poor results.

Once I got far enough in my journey of faith to truly accept God's Truth of the Bible and the grace that is given through the gift of Jesus, I began to realize the power of the Holy Spirit.  Wow.  The gifts that I've experienced growing within me are truly GIFTS.  (Galatians 5:22-23)

When changes take place within you without your effort, you are experiencing a miracle.

There is no greater proof of God than his miracles.  They aren't always public spectacles like the raising of Lazarus from the dead (John 11:38-43), the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:15-18), the conversion of water into wine (John 2:1-11), or the resurrection of Jesus Christ, His Son (Luke 24).  But when your complete outlook on the world changes so that you find yourself physically mourning your family, friends, and even strangers who have not allowed God into their lives...that is a miracle.  I think I understand now why Jesus was described by Isaiah as a "Man of sorrows" 800 years before He was even born.  (Isaiah 53:3-4)

The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control.  (Galatians 5:22-23)  Oh, the Spirit has lots of work left to do within me.  The death of the nail-biting habit is just one little outcome under the self-control objective on a huge laundry list of goals in God's project called "Gina Tyler". 

Yes, miracles happen.  Daily.  I pray that they are happening in you.