The Great Love of God

Certain verses in the Bible always make me pause and thank God. Usually these are key verses that remind of God's salvation or God's love or Jesus' sacrifice. Romans 5:8 is all of these things.

I am always struck by the phrase "while we were still sinners." Jesus died for people who were enemies of God. Yes, through His death, He made it possible for people to come to God. But He provided this way for people not even looking for it.

Let's see that verse in its context: 

For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. For rarely will someone die for a just person — though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Romans 5:6-8

 Paul writes that someone may choose to die for a just person. Someone may choose to give his life for a good cause, a worthy good person. But that's not what Jesus did. He died for the ungodly. He died for those who chose to live in opposition to His Father. He died for us while we were still sinners and before we even had a glimmer of something that wasn't sinning.

The great love of God runs throughout the Bible, through Jesus' life on earth, culminating in the crucifixion and resurrection. Easter is God's love on display.

God's love calls. God's love convicts. God's love provides the faith we need to move from enemies to children of God.

Demolition or Support

Now I know you may find it hard to believe, but I (Scott) like the think about stuff. A lot. Sometimes over and over. And over. Recently I participated in the Overcoming Overthinking Challenge by Jon Acuff, based on his upcoming book Soundtracks: The Surprising Solution to Overthinking. It was great! And it made me think. (Surprise!) [[Note: I am not connected to Jon Acuff in any way. Except as a reader and follower.]

I've been thinking a lot about support and encouragement in regard to our ideas and dreams. Do you know what happens when a friend shares an idea or an accomplishment in a group of young kids? They respond with fascination: "Really? Can you show me how? Tell me what you did!" Kids may share their own experiences: "I did that too!" They give support: "That is really cool!"

How do many adults respond when someone shares an idea? "Good luck with that. Did you think about all these drawbacks that could happen? You're such a dreamer. That won't work. That's nothing new."

Kids offer support. Adults offer dynamite. (Okay, now I sound like Jon. I must have been listening to him too much lately!)

I want to be more kid-like. I hope I can be encouraging and supporting. I hope I can listen with a heart and mind that doesn't immediately demolish fragile starting points with problems and what ifs. Yes, I need to be honest when evaluating an idea - if that's what the person has asked me to do.

I wonder if this is what Jesus meant when he said that we must come to God's kingdom as little children. Children are filled with wonder. They trust and believe. They are ready for any adventure.

We adults are often cynical or doubting or defeated. We see a million ways things won't work or could go wrong. We want the roadmap instead of the journey.

In the preschool world, anything is possible. You try stuff, skin your knee once in a while, and keep at it. But you can't live that way in the adult world. Or can you? Isn't that what living a life of reckless obedience is all about?

[Jesus] said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven."  Matthew 18:3

Confession

I (Scott) love to write and I write different kinds of things - both for my job and on the side. Recently, God has been teaching me more and more about confession. We Baptists don't talk about confession. Well, we do talk about private confession of sins to God. But we don't talk about it much. And we certainly don't talk much about public confession.

Don't worry. I'm not going to start pouring out sinful secrets here online. I'm not advocating that. But God has been showing me that confessions more than just listing and apologizing for bad acts. Recently praying aloud and confessing my deep need for God is becoming an important practice for me. Expressing our estrangement from God and our need for His grace is something the church body should do - at least from time to time.

So, as I pondered and prayed on these things, I began to write a hymn - a hymn of confession. The hymn is based on Psalm 51 (David's Psalm of confession). This is a dual joy - joy in trying something new and joy in the response of forgiveness that comes from our confessions to God. I'm still tinkering with it, and probably will from time to time. As a writer, nothing is ever finished - just as good as it is for the moment! But I'm sharing it here. I welcome feedback, criticism, or comment on it.

I wrote it to go with the hymn tune "Beach Spring." Piano version from YouTube is below if you want accompaniment as you read it (or sing!).

Hear Me God, I Am a Sinner (R. Scott Wiley)

Hear me, God, I am a sinner, descendant of Adam's race

I have nothing I can offer but my shame and my disgrace

Against You and You alone, God, I've done evil in Your sight

Pride directs my sinful journey, choosing darkness over light

You are right when You pass sentence , Sinful I have always been

Blot out all of my transgression, Turn Your face from all my sin

Purify me, Lord with hyssop, Wash me whiter than the snow

Create in me a clean heart, Oh God, only one way this is so

On the cross's cruel punishment, Jesus took this sinner's place

Wrath was put upon His shoulder, He showed mercy and God's grace

Through His blood my guilty soul No longer judged but justified

Conquered death, the Resurrected Son of God is glorified

Chilly Joy

I stood by the gas pumps, filling my car with fuel. An icy wind blew against me - and felt like it went through me. We were traveling home and the weather had taken a wintry turn.

One thing my joy journey has taught me this year is that joy can be found in every circumstance. The Bible tells us this: "Count it all joy...." "Be thankful for everything...." I pondered these things as gas flowed into my car. Can I be joyful about the cold wind and weather?

I don't really mind cold weather - as long as I'm not standing out in it with an inadequate coat. But to be joyful about it?

The changing weather, the seasons from warm to hot to cool to cold, reminds me of the Creator God. He established the sun and moon, the seasons, the passing of time. He set in motion the movements of the earth, the tilt of its axis, the cycle of its life. He started time itself and created ways for us to see the time passing.

The chill reminds me of His power, His order, His sovereignty over all. In a world that often seems out of control, I can remember who has it all in His hand. Whatever happens is guided by Him.

That brings joy, blown in on a chilly wind.

Seeing Joy in the Past

I was listening to Pandora today. A specific song came on and I was immediately transported back about 6 years. That year I was struggling in a place where I was following a dream. But things were hard. Everything seemed hard. And every morning (it seemed) as I drove to my place, I heard a particular song*. That song gave me a boost to continue in what I was doing. I was reassured that, one day, things would fall into place.

I kept trying my best. I did all I knew to do and tried to do other things in new ways. I saw some successes and some failures. Everything was still hard. But I continued on.

Then my principal came into the room and told me he would not renew my contract for the next year. This was the same week my wife had a terrible car accident and lay in the hospital. And a couple of weeks after the principal had said he was renewing me. He changed his mind.

Driving to the hospital after work, I heard that song again. It seemed ironic and comforting at the same time.

As I heard the song today, I looked back at those 6 years. I rejoiced that the principal did not renew my contract. I know that if he had, I would have struggled in that teaching position for at least another year. I would have missed other opportunities that I now have. That failure (in my mind if not in actuality) was preparation for me today. Because of that struggle I now jump and move and dance with preschoolers. Because of those experiences, I ended up making a living as a writer and editor. Becoming self-employed freed me to care for Cindy then and later when she was so sick.

Today's joy is a past loss that led to so much more gain. (I rejoice in the God who holds all in His hand and directs us to successes and failures as He sees fit.)


*The song? Overcomer by Mandisa

Moving Into a New Season

Recently I posted a comment on Facebook that Cindy and I are not teaching kindergartners in Sunday School this coming church year. We received some very nice comments and are humbled by the things that friends said. I've been thinking a lot about our journey and the place where we are now. Here are a few observations:

We are committed to teaching and to early childhood education. Both Cindy and I have spent our adult lives involved in education in some way or another. We love teaching and know that God has given us the privilege to help boys and girls grow in knowledge and understanding. Guiding children to know God and His love has truly been a joy. And we continue to commit to supporting others who teach and supporting boys and girls as they learn.

We are not withdrawing or pulling away. We will still be involved in our church in various ways. We will look for ways we can minister and live out our faith in the community where we are connected. For various reasons, we need a little break from teaching but that doesn't mean a break from our lives as followers of God.

In fact we are following where we feel God is leading. Independently and as a couple, we know this is a right choice for right now. We need to create some space. Our lives need some space so God can do some new things. We are now more open and available for a new ministry. The children's ministry needs some space so someone else can step in an experience the joy of ministry that we have had in the past (several) years. I know God is calling someone else to teach kids.

This is just a different season. One thing I've learned in our past journey is that God brings us into different types of seasons. Some are long and some are short. But all are important for us to grow. "Not teaching kindergarten" is our season right now. For how long? I don't know. Maybe just a year. Maybe longer. Maybe we're shifting to something complete different. I don't know. But I do know that God is in control. We trust Him for each season through which He has led us.

God is faithful. Whatever we do, we want stay on the journey that He is leading. Sometimes making changes seems reckless. But if we're obedient He is faithful.

One final thing...we have a lot of stuff. We brought home at least nine bags of stuff! (Well, teaching young kids does take stuff.)

When God Speaks

I (Cindy) love reading the Bible. Even passages I have read before teach me new things from the Scripture about God. I have been reading in the Books of 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, and 2 Chronicles for the past few weeks. (I am reading chronologically, so the order is interesting!) The passage from 1 Kings 13 seemed unfamiliar to me, even though I must have read it before. Here is a summary of the passage, but I urge you to read it for yourself.

A young man of God journeyed to Bethel to prophesy against Jeroboam, king of Israel. He would not eat or drink with Jeroboam because he was commanded by God not to do so. So the young man started home a different way than they way he had come.

An old prophet in Bethel heard what the young man of God had done. He took his saddled donkey and pursued the young man. When the old prophet found him, he invited him to his own house to eat and drink. Again the young man declined to go. But the old prophet deceived the young man of God saying God sent him to bring the young man to his house. So the young man of God went with the old prophet.

After they had eaten, a real word from God came to the old prophet. “This is what the Lord says: Because you rebelled against the command the Lord God gave you—you ate and drank—your corpse will never reach the grave of your fathers.”

The old prophet sent the young man home on old prophet’s donkey, but along the way he was attacked by a lion. The old prophet found him and took him back to his house and buried him there, far from the grave of his fathers.
I believe this is a cautionary tale for us, especially in the present days. Many false teachers are spreading a message that is consumed by people who do not take the time to test the teachings against God’s Word. This can have grave consequences for people, just like the young man of God in the passage. When we are quick to believe other people and follow their deceits, we can put ourselves in dangerous situations. I think of the multitude of people who follow religious leaders such as Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses. These people do not know the real gospel and their leaders are dooming them to an eternity in hell. Others, such as Joel Osteen, who preach a prosperity gospel, are leading their followers down the same condemned pathway.

When Jesus sent out His disciples, He told them, ““Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves.” (Matthew 10:16 CSB) Serpents are shrewd because they flee from danger and lies (wolves), but do not use that to harm others (doves). This is what I want to remember—be shrewd in my discernment, but show love and grace to others.