Good Deeds

“I was hungry and you fed Me. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in. I was naked and you gave me clothing. . .” Matthew 25

We took the opportunity to do things just like this the past 2 weeks, but I get ahead of myself.

Jesus spoke these words during the last week of His life and sketched a clear portrait of what His Kingdom should look like and how His people should live. It's like Jesus was giving a declaration of His Kingdom values. Simply stated, He said, “Do the things you’ve seen Me do. You saw Me live life for a few years; now you go and live like I did.” He expects His people to do what He did. We are to believe what He said and act like it’s true. We honor Jesus as we put His Words into action.

How unlike other religions which require recitations, dress codes, certificates or extreme sacrifices of their adherents. Jesus didn’t ask us to recite a creed, fill out a form or pay an assessment to become one of His followers. You know there’s a reason for that, right? It’s not like He was trying to cut corners to easy street. No, He was cutting to the chase.

The most profound evidence of real faith is acting on the truth you profess to believe. Good deeds can never earn a person’s way to Jesus but they are certainly an indication that Jesus is present and working in a person’s life.  People who know Jesus live like they know Jesus.

What we do indicates what we believe. It’s just like Jesus said, “A good tree produces good fruit; a rotten tree produces rotten fruit. . . you will know people by their fruit.” Mt7:17,20.

As we hosted the Cold Weather Shelter the past 2 weeks our Shelter guests gave us some precious gifts. Perhaps the best gift our new friends gave our Covenant Family was the opportunity to do some genuine good. Not kind of good, but real good. Those who served by *unloading shelter materials and setting up rooms for our guests, *preparing food for 3 meals a day, *providing transportation, *serving food at breakfast or dinner, *making lunches, *cleaning bathrooms, showers and living areas, *providing comforts through guest services, *staying overnight to provide security, *doing laundry, *providing a joyful concert of popular music, *being shelter hosts and *packing up our new friends’ things and loading up shelter materials: you all shone like stars. You didn’t just talk about the problem that homelessness is; you chose to do something about it. It’s just as Jesus said the last night of His life-Jn13:17, “If you know these things, you are blessed when you do them.”

It’s almost like you took Jesus seriously: “Do the things I did.”   

Oh, wait a minute: You did take Jesus seriously and do you know what happened?

Good deeds happened. And one more thing: “Let your light shine before people in such a way that they see your good works and glorify your Father Who is heaven.” Mt5:16

Yes. That happened. I saw evidence of it. Just like Jesus prayed: “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is being done in heaven.”

Good Deeds. Well done.

Inspection

“You have searched me and known me. . .” Psalm 139:1

The sound of some words creates a soothing sense of comfort while some screech across my soul like fingernails dragging across a blackboard. Just thinking about it as I write gives me that feeling. . . and yes, I know my reference to an ancient educational device like a blackboard is a dead giveaway that I’m an aged dinosaur from another time and place-sigh. That’s a different kind of screech for another day.

The word “inspection” is one such screeching word for me. “I’m inspecting you” gives me a shiver. It doesn’t really matter if it’s a dental hygienist poking some sharp metal instrument into my teeth (didn’t our parents tell us to keep sharp things out of our mouths?) or a doctor frowning as she contemplatively says, “hmmm” before verbalizing my fears: “we better check that out.” Or maybe it’s the auto mechanic saying, “We have to fix this before your car will pass inspection” while handing me a cost estimation with a bunch of 3 digit numbers on it.

It’s an odd response because I never balked at testing in school or for sports teams. I guess it’s because those inspections or tests came somewhat on my own terms. They were part of the process of learning or playing ball. I signed up for it and expected it.

But I don’t recall signing up for dental chairs or medical tests or auto mishaps. Those things tend to slip up on me when I’m not looking. They seem to intrude while I’m just living life or driving a vehicle. I’m certainly not inviting a full examination of soft spots to create pain in my mouth, body or pocketbook.

So when I read, “You have searched me” I effortlessly slip into screech mode and begin to flinch and tense up. But as I read God’s message more closely, I begin to relax as I realize His inspection is not to find fault. His inspection is definitely NOT a screech moment; rather it points out how careful the Great God is to care for me. He is a God of infinite detail. He cares about me—every bit and everything in my life.

Instead of the pain of a screech moment I find the pleasure of a sweet moment. God’s inspection is to bring good things to my life. His inspection is a pre-cursor to His blessing. . . then it slowly dawns on me to consider a parallel life lesson.

Inspection means God checks me out to ready me for spiritual health. Similarly my dentist and doctor check me out to continue physical health while my auto mechanic inspects to provide safe travel.

That’s quite a different perspective and prompts a very different response. When I understand the various inspections of life from a more lofty perspective I see the goodness of “You have searched me and known me.” And I can see why David invited the Great God to “Search me and know my heart. . . see if there is any hurtful way in me and lead me in the everlasting way.”

You know, I’ve been wrong about those “inspectors” called dentists, doctors and mechanics when I thought they were agents of an evil power! No, they are instruments for my good. Hmmm. I wonder what that means about how I view God?

Inspection: it’s a good thing for me. You might call it a Godsend.

You can listen to recordings of Pastor Dan's current and archived  teachings at:  www.covenantlife.net/listen_now

Christmas Spirit

“God sent His One and Only Son into the world so that we might live through Him”  I John 4:9

John knew how to capture the very essence of the Spirit of Christmas.

Words like spirit are very simple to say but a bit hard to define.

Cambridge dictionary offers several options, but even these are not definitive:

            n. A state of mind or attitude;

            n. Something that one can feel to be present but cannot see.

Don’t you hate it when the definitions are not very definitive? Seems to defeat the concept of defining, does it not?

No wonder Jesus said, “The wind (lit spirit) blows where it pleases and you hear its sound but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. That’s the way it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

Jesus explains: I hear it but I can’t see it. I know something is there but I don’t know how it got there or where it will go. But it is real.

So. . .

Spirit is real; but we can’t see it.

Spirit is actual; but we can’t measure it.

Spirit is contagious; but we can’t bottle it.

“What gives, Dan? You mean Something is real but we can’t see or fully understand it?”

PRECISELY.

It’s that way about God and spiritual things. Just about the time we think we have God or spiritual things defined and nailed down, it appears God delights in flipping our understanding and supposed definitive ideas upside down.

God loves to show us we don’t know all we think we know. He is greater than our bandwidth of understanding or formulating. He has more depth and dimension than we have capacity.

God is God. I am not.

No wonder He instructs us: “Without faith it is impossible to please God for the one who comes to God must believe that He is real (exists) and that He rewards those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6

He is MORE REAL than what we can see. All the stuff we see is aging and in some state of decay. HE is NOT. EVER.

And that is why we, you and me, need Christmas Spirit.

Christmas Spirit calls me to give to GOD—One I can’t see;

things I can see-like my time, my energy, my stuff;

to gain what I can’t see—eternal life, His power and rest, riches that last.

Christmas Spirit is a choice we make that says, “God, I choose to let You be real to me and make sure I know it.”  It blesses me as well as others.

Christmas Spirit will not slip up on you or happen to you. It’s a choice you make to open up to what is really real and to see what you can’t see.

Yet.

“Be it done for you according to your faith.”  Matthew 9:29

Good deeds are real good

“Let your light shine before people so they will see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

I’m not sure why, but it seems to me like good deeds sometimes get a bad rap from church leaders. . . even though they have done nothing to deserve it.

How could that happen? Likely it comes from a fear of giving the impression that good deeds somehow contribute to one’s salvation. But that need not be.

Good deeds are a really good thing. They are rooted in compassion.

No, they do not contribute to our salvation. Only the atoning death of Jesus on the Cross is sufficient to deal with sin. Good deeds can never atone for sin and they certainly can’t earn our salvation.

Jesus never taught that. Of all people, He was fully aware of the way forgiveness comes.

But Jesus said good words about good deeds. He taught they are a result of the grace of God in one’s life. They are motivated by compassion They point people to God as they reflect His goodness and grace through our lives.

Good deeds deliver a powerful and persuasive message. They project that God is not only righteous; He is good and compassionate.

Yes, good deeds are really good.

One of America’s Founding Fathers is noted for his wisdom and turn of phrase. Ben Franklin, a writer, printer and publisher, spoke and wrote wise words that shaped life in America. A case can be made for or against him being a man of Christian faith. But no case can be made against him being a man who saw the value of good deeds.

Note this excerpt from a letter he wrote to Joseph Huey on 6/6/1753.

“The Faith you mention has doubtless its use in the World. I do not desire to see it diminished, nor would I endeavour to lessen it in any Man. But I wish it were more productive of good Works, than I have generally seen it: I mean real good Works, Works of Kindness, Charity, Mercy, and Publick Spirit; not Holiday-keeping, Sermon-Reading or Hearing; performing Church Ceremonies, or making long Prayers, filled with Flatteries and Compliments, despis’d even by wise Men, and much less capable of pleasing the Deity. The worship of God is a Duty; the hearing and reading of Sermons may be useful; but, if Men rest in Hearing and Praying, as too many do, it is as if a Tree should Value itself on being water’d and putting forth Leaves, tho’ it never produc’d any Fruit.”

Franklin saw with clarity the relationship of faith and good deeds/works. Good faith produces good deeds. Good deeds validate the believer’s faith but also the Christian faith to a skeptical world.

Yes, good deeds are real good.

Compassion in plain clothes

“When you did it for these vulnerable ones, you did it for Me.” Jesus Matthew 25:40

I smile thinking about it.

I’m sure I’ll enjoy the memory for some time. That’s what happens when friends, co-workers and family gather together and share meaningful moments. We did that Sunday at Covenant Park as we turned our focus toward a person who embodies qualities we value and wish to emulate.

I bet you might be thinking I’m writing about Jesus; but I’m not.

I’m writing about one of His friends. I’m writing about Mike. Yes, that Mike: the one with a peculiar sense of fashion. (Isn’t that a tasteful way to describe a guy who can pull off wearing 2 colors of Chuck Taylor All Stars with dress pants, a denim shirt and a wild necktie?)

He’s the one of whom it was said, “Mike, you are the only one who can pull off being Mike.” It’s true. The rest of us just look silly when we try to imitate the real thing. Because Mike is the genuine article. He runs deep, all the way to the bone.

His deep down quality is compassion. That means he cares for people like Jesus did. He notices the ones we often overlook. He gives attention to the ones we are prone to neglect. And on chilly days, he warms up the workspace of ministry assistants by turning on their heaters before they arrive. Best of all, he does it whether anyone knows it or not.

He says he “got that” from being raised in a family that valued compassion and serving others. If that’s true, it’s quite a heritage his parents passed along. I wonder if all the other family members “got it” as well? I don’t know the answer to my question, but I kind of doubt it; because Mike does it so effortlessly and consistently.

My theory is Mike got it from Jesus. Because I know Mike loves Jesus. I know this not because I see him read His book or work in His church or say His words. He does all these things, but I know Mike loves Jesus because he acts like Jesus.

“If you love Me you will do what I say.”-John 14:15.

Yes. Jesus said it and He meant it. And apparently Mike got it. Mike doesn’t have to dress “like a preacher” to act like Jesus. He just wears plain clothes in a very un-plain way.

He’s compassion in plain clothes: an example to us all.

I'm old enough to remember an advertising campaign featuring Michael Jordan with a jingle, “I want to be like Mike.”  That’s the way a lot of our Covenant Family felt today on Mike Watterson Appreciation day.

One of our Covenant Community Partners wrote: “Mike was the leader who sought out the room to clean, the sidewalk to sweep, the clothes to fold, the food to distribute. He was fearless on the streets and yet pure of heart when it came to the people we serve. Mike never saw color or class or ethnicity—he only saw humanity.”

Seeing humanity. Serving others.

Sound like Anyone Else you know?  And this time I’m not talking about Mike.

It’s a special day when the obvious is recognized and appreciated.

Mike, thanks for wearing Compassion in plain clothes. You made it easy for us to see.

Broken Compassion

Some days seem determined to remind us how broken life is. That kind of day seems longer, the skies seem grayer and the sweetness seems to be sucked out of our favorite things.

I don’t like those kinds of days. . . and the past two weeks seemed to be full of them.

Broken things: I’ve talked about some, worked on some, prayed through some, cried because of some and even smiled at one.

Broken things require attention. It may need repair or correction or additional focus but it demands attention. Because something that wasn’t broken now is. That which was whole is now cracked. Things that were solid are now . . . not . . . so . . . much. 

It may be health or dreams or hearts or bones or plans or promises or schedules or finances or records or relationships or your favorite cup.

(Yes, I know that was a monster run-on sentence and long list. . . but I bet you could say, “Hey, you left out mine” and then you might add a few of your own broken things to my list.)

I’ll write it again: Some days seem determined to remind us how broken life is. And—When something is broken it demands attention.

The car must be fixed. The heart must learn to go on. The schedule must be reworked. The doctor must be consulted. The plans must be adjusted.

Life screams, “Pay attention! Something’s wrong!”

It is foolish to deny what I see and feel and try to project, “I am strong enough to dodge the pain” and act like I can avoid the brokenness of life.

I can do it but it only makes the gray skies darker. Turn to the broken thing; embrace the pain because it’s an inevitable part of life.

Life screams when broken things hit our radar, especially of the serious type. That’s when a good dose of compassion quiets the screaming, soothes our feelings and makes the brokenness much easier to face.

Compassion is an antidote for the self-pity or depressing sense of isolation that may creep into our psyches when the hurts of brokenness dig deeply into our soul. Broken things rarely leave us emotionally unscathed.

We become unglued when our life gets broken. Compassion given from one who perceives our need and responds to address our need is a welcome and longed-for relief. Compassion isn’t always able to fix what’s broken but it can take time to cry with us, sit silently with us and give us the gift of presence.

Compassion says, “I see you in your hurt. You are not invisible to me. I can do what I can do. I will listen more than talk and hurt with and for you because I have no answers to make it go away.”

Compassion that heals begins by facing the hurts of broken life honestly and humbly. It begins as we open our own brokenness to Jesus and grows as we turn it toward others.

We start out broken and end as healers. It’s a Broken Compassion . . . and it’s a priceless and powerful gift.

It’s the kind Jesus had. Remember His description: “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” He has the Broken Compassion that can save a world.

“Jesus saw the multitudes and felt compassion for them.” Matthew 9:36

Election Grace

Usually when you hear the words “election” and “grace” in the context of a pastor’s writings, you might want to duck and say, “Enough with the Calvinist/Arminian debate.”

I wish.

Instead we in the USA find ourselves in a culture spiraling downwards in the death grip of selfish mindsets. Sadly, the Church (God’s people) has done little to abate the indecent attitudes and behaviors.

Anyone familiar with the church I pastor knows I have led and worked to keep decidedly apolitical in our public speech and the culture of The Church at Covenant Park.

I’m not about to change that.

God’s ability to forge unity in the midst of our diversity is way too valuable to waste on something so temporal as political elections.

But as a Teacher and Preacher of God’s Word, I must proclaim God’s call for charitable speech, admirable behavior and noble goals for His people. As His people we should shine light, show love and bring patience into the fray of American politics.

American politics (and I guess any free country’s politics) has always been a rough and tumble blood sport. This is not a new occurrence. Reading a selection of election speeches, debates and accusations since the founding of the Republic requires a thick skin and strong stomach. There are a lot of negative attack ads there. The recent Broadway phenomenon “HAMILTON”* provides a primer on some of our national Founder’s political skill to poison a reputation.

But enough is enough, already.

It’s ironic that various voices from any of the 4 candidate camps are calling for our country to return to its historic roots with a noticeable “and you must agree with us or you are stupid or unpatriotic” attitude.

One thing for certain about the roots of American political thought. There were tremendously strong opinions about the shape, size and scope of government. 2 parties formed around philosophical disagreements on these matters during President George Washington’s terms in office. The Federalist Party (Hamilton and Adams were chief leaders) and the Democratic-Republican Party (Jefferson and Madison were chief leaders) reflected and provided vigorous debate. Passions and beliefs were strongly held, stated and debated. But at the end of the day, there was a goal: a United States of America. The right to dissent was considered a basic and protected right. It was protected freedom of speech included in the First Amendment to the Constitution. But the right of dissent included respect for the Law and the Government. Debate issues, yes; destroy unity, no. Disagree strongly, yes; deny respect, no.

One respected voice gave his indispensible wisdom and wit during the Constitutional debate: “I confess that there are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them . . . Thus I consent, Sir, to this Constitution because I expect no better, and because I am not sure, that it is not the best. The opinions I have had of its errors, I sacrifice to the public good. I have never whispered a syllable of them abroad. Within these walls they were born, and here they shall die.”

“I sacrifice them to the public good” . . . what a wellspring of rich thought and deep character. It’s called humility. And it issued from a man who is known for his wisdom, common sense and inventive genius. We know him as Benjamin Franklin.

Instead of demanding his way Benjamin Franklin opted to favor the public good; i.e. what is best for the most. Instead of using inflammatory language to hammer home his disagreements, Mr. Franklin spoke healing words to bridge the differences and bring the unity.

What a blessing. On this eve of a Presidential Election, may we pray and work for Election Grace.

*(I'm a HUGE fan of HAMILTON and hope to see it when I can get a ticket without taking out a loan-until then I'm loving the soundtrack and enjoying the book)