Power in a note

I’m sitting here trying to figure out where to start this blog post, when I look around at the table before me for inspiration. There’s my Chipotle lunch bag, a couple of shaker bottles, some trash that needs to be thrown in the can right next to me, a couple of coffee cups, a Bible, my iPad, and some extraneous things that fell out of my bag. In the midst of the pile of miscellaneous things I tend to carry around with me is a folded note with “brad-LEE!” written on it. I grab it an open it, only to be encouraged by the words one of my youth group members left anonymously for me.

“The Lord has blessed me…you always challenge me…I’m so excited about what God has in store for our youth group!” This little note of encouragement has been a source of inspiration to me. Just a little note I received awhile ago, and yet I keep it in my bag for days when things aren’t going well. I don’t even know for sure who wrote it, but it brightened my day when I received it and every time I read it.

Have you ever received a little note of encouragement that brightened your day, or helped you through a hard time?

I once received a sticky note with a simple message, “Brad, I’m praying for you on your break. Stand strong and fight the good fight!” That was it. I received it from my RA at Word of Life Bible Institute in 1996 and it is still stuck to the flyleaf of my Bible. I don’t collect a lot, but notes of encouragement I lick to keep. I have a file with a envelope full of the little notes, big notes, and letters of encouragement I have received over the years.

No, I don’t look at these as trophies, but as sources of strength, great memories and motivation to continue doing what God has called me to. Encouragement is hugely important! We all need can give it, and we all need it.

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV)

This week we see that having a Christian community is about gathering to spur each other on, to build each other up and challenge each other to look fondly to the Day that Jesus returns.

The Bible is full of characters who encouraged others on in their walk with Christ. Joseph comes to the forefront of my mind. You might know him better by his nickname, Barnabas. Barnabas means “son of encouragement.” How awesome to learn about a guy who was so encouraging that they gave him a nickname like that.

If you take a moment to look through the Book of Acts, you will see that Barnabas exemplified the way to live a life that encourages others. In Acts 4, we see Barnabas selling his own land to take care of the needy. In Acts 9, his encouragement was foundational in the beginning of the Apostle Paul’s ministry. Acts 11, we see that Barnabas encouraged the new believers of Antioch and challenged them to love God with all their hearts. Later, in Acts 15, Barnabas takes young John Mark under his wing and sees his potential, in face of opposition by Paul himself.

Barnabas’ encouragement began a ripple effect through the early church and God saw fit to record his efforts for us to learn from. Learning to live like Barnabas means we would look out for the needs of each other, we would encourage each other’s faith, we would vouch for each other and see each others potential, even when others don’t. This is a pattern for a group that will do mighty things for the Lord.

Look around today and consider how you can encourage others today. Maybe it will be a simple note, a text message, or a letter. Maybe you can see potential in someone where they do not and help him or her overcome fears. Maybe you can give of your time or possessions for someone in need. All it takes is a moment, but that moment can be the difference for a brother or sister this week!

More Then a Club

Think back to your old neighborhood days, you know, when you were a kid. How many clubs were you part of? Did you ever build a fort, a pretend house, or a special club? Of course, the obvious answer is yes! It just seems like a natural part of childhood.

If I closed my eyes and take a few seconds to remember, I can think of several clubs, forts, or tree houses. The qualifications to be included were simple: “boys only, girls stay out!” Or we would exclude the younger siblings.

Even as children we had a strong desire to be included. We have an innate sense of loneliness that haunts us. Even before the Fall of our first parents, God said it is not good for man to be alone. We bounce from one “club” to another just to feel less alone.

Looking back, I often hurt some friends just because I wanted to be included with others. I so strongly desired a place to belong, that I was willing to exclude friends. I also remember being in youth group and hearing the new youth pastor say that his youth group was for younger teens and I felt excluded. It is never fun to be on the outside.

I could try to make a “new club” that would accommodate the many issues teens face, trying to attract them to it and help them feel like they belong. However, it would be a fruitless endeavor. I cannot compete with the world. I cannot make a club that is more fun, has more toys or more appeal then what the world has. One lonely person cannot come up with the answers for other people’s loneliness.

We Need A Hero

The great truth is this: Jesus is the answer! Jesus came to provide a place for us to belong. He has given us the Church, a community of Christ-followers who are like a family. Loft youth group is a local expression of this community and it is only a benefit to the teens when it is built on the foundation of Jesus Christ!

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”

Ephesians 2:19-22

We who were on the outside, we who were alone, Jesus has made members of the community through faith. When you placed you trust in Jesus, He secured your spot in His household. It’s not about what you can do to earn and keep your acceptance. It is about what Jesus has done.

Move beyond the individualistic tendencies that our American mindset has imposed on the faith, and see the beauty of the community. When we gather God is building us into a holy temple for His dwelling. In the gathering of the saints, we can experience God in ways we cannot do on our own.

I don’t want to take away from our personal time with God, our own responsibility to pray and grow. But the gathering of the saints, the corporate study of the Word of God brings us into a close fellowship with each other and God.

Welcome to the Party

The gathering of the saints should be a joyous occasion. Nobody ever wanted to be a part of the boring club. We joined clubs because they offered us something we wanted, it excited us. Jesus wants us to come together and celebrate in a way that builds us up!

“Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

Ephesians 5:19-2

The secret handshake, the sign that you belong, in this community is the joy of your heart being expressed in words. Sometimes in songs, sometimes in thanksgiving, but it should be encouraging. This community begins to see that the others are more important than I am. I want to encourage them and help them understand God more.

Loving Support

Jesus provided the community that comes together to worship God and encourage each other, but we also have a responsibility to our members. We are to be growing together into the image of Christ, but what happens when we fail? What do you do when you realize you are sinning? Especially when you like your sin? You want to run away from accountability, withdraw from communion and escape judgment.

“Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.”

 Hebrews 3:12-14

Notice this in the above passage, everyday we are to have contact with fellow believers to encourage them in righteousness. We are to do this in an attitude of love and safety. Nobody likes to be judged. Nobody wants a bunch of fingers pointed at them. So how does a loving community call us back to a repentant life?

I read an article about the Himba tribe of Namibia, Africa. I was excited to learn about how they “discipline” the wayward in their tribe. A brief summary is this, that the parents would create a song for the birth of their child. They would sing this song to their child through each phase of life. The community would learn the song of the child. When the child rebelled, they, as a community, would surround the child and sing their song to them, to remind them of who they are and where they come from.

It is a culture of love. A gentle reminder of their parents love and desires for their life. I thought this was an amazing picture of how we should encourage each other to forsake sin and pursue righteousness. We should gently remind each other of what our Hero has done for us, the price He paid to provide this community. In this we reflect the love of Christ.

Truly, a community like this provides us security and hope in a dark and lonely world. The Church should be home to us. May we seek to daily encourage each other in these truths.

Hey Let's Hangout!

Loft youth group can be described as follows:

“And they were gathered together day by day, going to youth group, grabbing dinner, hanging out and enjoying each others company.”

Sometimes I hear the comments like, “the youth group is always doing something,” or parents saying “you been with youth group everyday this week, you are due for a break!”

To you parents who may feel that youth group is crowding out valuable family time, I do sincerely apologize.  My goal for Loft youth group is not to take away from family, but to create an environment of belonging. Loft is seeking to create a model of Christian community that will impact your teen’s entire life.  However, you should also know that when I plan a calendar (insert a little giggle here), I try to schedule youth events every other week and leave time for other activities. The rest are the youth inviting other youths to hangout…and that happens all the time!

I’ve heard our teens say, “lets see if we can set a new record of consecutive days of hanging out!” It brings a smile to my face and a joy to my heart. Although, it happens so much that even I can’t make all the hangouts. It is very unique and I am humbled to be a part of this. It reminds me of:

“And all who believed were together and had all things in common…and day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts…” Acts 2:44, 46

Hanging out all the time and developing friendships is great. It is the foundation that I want to build on in this new series “You Belong Here!” I want to examine what the Bible says about community and how we can continually grow together into a deeper walk with Christ.

Hanging out for the sake of hanging out is fine, but growing together as a Christian community is supreme. We have to live on mission, learn together, trust each other and serve with each other. We want to develop open arms to strangers and invite new people into our community, without losing the closeness we have.

In this new series I want us to understand that Loft is a part of the church and therefore is part of God’s purpose for our teen’s lives. To our teens, I want to say you belong here at Loft. This is a place where you can call home, free of judgment, were you are valued and loved, a place where you are listened to and given practical help to grow in your faith.

"The church lies at the very center of the eternal purpose of God. It is not a divine afterthought. It is not an accident of history. On the contrary, the church is God's new community. For His purpose, conceived in a past eternity, being worked out in history, and to be perfected in a future eternity, is not just to save isolated individuals and so perpetuate our loneliness, but rather to build His church, that is, to call out of the world a people for His own glory." John Stott

Pure Religion

“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

(James 1:27 ESV)

“Now wait a second! I thought Christianity was a relationship not a religion! How can there be pure religion?” Religion can be a misunderstood term. We use it to refer to Christianity when we talk about the religions of the world, but we don’t want to use it when we describe our personal faith. “I’m not religious! I’m in a relationship!” Or when talking to the atheist who proclaims, “I hate religion!” responding with “You know who else hated religion? Jesus! That’s why I’m in a relationship!”

Religion carries the meaning of binding yourself to God. Trying to earn God’s favor by adhering to a strict set of rules. We proclaim that it is about a relationship with Jesus because we know that we cannot earn God’s favor. Jesus paid the way for us and we need to trust in His finished sacrifice.

James knows this, yet he uses the word not to point to a way of earning God’s favor, but as an expression of true faith. When you understand what Jesus has done for you and the mission He has called you to, you will care for the less fortunate…that is pure religion. When you describe religion as not being about you, but about pointing others to Christ through imitating Him…that is pure religion.

James is calling us to live a life of a servant. To imitate Jesus who said He came to serve, not to be served. How can we imitate Jesus? Here are four attitudes we need to develop to be Christ like servants:

Humble

Pure faith is first humble. God hates pride and desires us to humble ourselves before Him. Life is not about you, it’s about Jesus. Humility is not about beating yourself up or thinking less about yourself, it is thinking about yourself less.

Secure

We get side tracked from living out our faith when we are more concerned about what other people think about us then we are about how God views us. A servant knows who his master is. Jesus has given us a new identity and a new purpose. We can serve Him in confidence because He has enlisted us in His cause.

Thankful

You have been blessed beyond imagination. You have to remember what Jesus has done for you and your gratitude will be reflected in your treatment of others.

Discerning

God has given you His wisdom and understanding. As Christians, we look at life differently. We should see others through Jesus’ eyes. Call out to God to give you His wisdom and help you see what He wants you to do. Watch as you begin to see the needs of others all around you.

Apply

When we grow in these four attitudes we will begin to help others all around us. This year, 2014, Loft youth group is looking for ways to be servants for Jesus. Tonight we are baking cookies for the homeless. We have already contacted several ministries around Akron to serve in the coming months. How can you demonstrate your faith to God in a humble, secure, thankful and discerning way?

Hope for a Happy New Year

When the parties are over and the echo of the New Year fireworks have ceased, when everyone goes home and quietness descends upon the house as you have to clean up the mess, the real thoughts of the New Year flood your mind. There is no more distractions to push them off. No more pork and sauerkraut to prepare. No more charades and games. No more football games to watch. Just you and your thoughts remain. That can be a scary place.

Did 2013 fulfill your hopes? Did you do everything you wanted to do? Did you waste another year? What regrets do you have? What fears of 2014 appear? Happy New Year they say, but you can barely get past tonight. To quote me good friend Craig, “we are all really good at wearing masks!” We put on a façade of strength and resolve, but inside we are hurting, scared and worried. There are unresolved issues in our heart and we may not know where to start to identify them.

Maybe your marriage is on the rocks. Maybe you haven’t talked to your parents in years. Maybe you feel judged by others. Maybe you have unconfessed sins that keep you from hearing God’s voice and desiring His Word. Idols have crept into your heart and keep you from pursuing God. You feel distant and alone. So why celebrate and party for a New Year that is full of old problems?

It is in this moment that I want you to know that the Hope for a happy new year is only found in the One who makes all things new!

And he (Jesus) who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Revelation 21:5

In that quiet place, where the fears, worries and pain come flooding in, you need to know that Jesus loves you! He sees past the mask, the charade, right into your heart. He knows what you did last year, He knows what you didn’t do, He knows all the lies you told, He remembers how often you skipped time with Him, and yet He still loves you!

As I woke this morning, I began to think about the New Year and this verse came to mind. The hope we have in this promise transcends the past and gives bright hope for tomorrow! The past does not define us. The past does not have to determine our future. Jesus Christ came to make all things new and He is working right now. 2013 might have been great, but Jesus is making things even better. 2013 might have been horrible, and you need to hear that Jesus is making all things new! 2014 may not be what you want it to be, but we have this hope that Jesus is already there and leading us into deeper walk with Him.

Jesus wants to define your year. He wants to define your life. He wants to define those moments of quietness that may come tonight as you vacuum the floor, or put that last dish away. Instead of the fears and regrets, He wants to be your hope and strength. Instead of the lies and doubts running through your mind, He wants to be your song of joy. Jesus came, died and rose again to give you new life. When we understand His promise, those quiet moments with Him become something we long for! Trust Jesus and have a Happy New Year!

A Cozy Christmas?

What are your family traditions for Christmas?

As long as I can remember, it has been a Horner tradition to get up early and read through Luke 2 to candle light. As a kid, my brother and I would wake up first, light all the candles, plug in the Christmas lights and then wake up the rest of the family. I wish I could say that our eager anticipation was for the reading the Bible, but, in all transparency it was the huge pile of presents under the tree. But my faithful parents tradition of placing the Story before the gift giving has produced a harvest in our family.

Today my siblings led their young ones in the reading of Luke 2, passing on the story of our faith. It is such a joy to have Jesus as the center of our family, which by far is the greatest gift God has blessed me with.

This morning, my parents and I read all of Luke 1 and 2, just to change things up a bit. I was struck by Zechariah’s prophecy as he prayed a dedication over his son, John the Baptist. Within this short passage is some transcending truth that holds huge implications to all of humanity.

Take a few moments and read Luke 1:67-79.

A Redeemer Has Come

This profound truth is summarized in one name: Immanuel, meaning “God with us!” Prior to the first advent of Christ, man’s knowledge of God was limited to descriptions God passed on to humanity. These are still very treasured attributes and names that we hold fast too, but the transcendent nature of God made him at the time seem unknowable. This is why the incarnation is so amazing. God moved into the neighborhood.

When Christ left heaven and wrapped himself in human flesh, he bridged the gap and made a medium in which we could relate to. The Man-God came as an innocent baby, lived a normal life, yet without sin. He understands what it is like to be tired, poor, sad, hungry, rejected, hurt, to lose someone close…he knows what it is like to be human. This is a God who understands us, who can sympathize with us, who remembers we are but dust.

A Remembered Covenant

God looked down through the ages and never once forgot his promise to mankind to send a Redeemer. He knew man would rebel and sin. He knew man would reject His Son. He knew that we would rather worship ourselves then trust Him. He had every reason to withdraw His promises, but He is the faithful covenant keeper! He promised a Deliver to set His people free. God remembered!

A Righteous Response

The story of Christmas often comes to mind cradled with warm fires, close families, presents and comfort. But Jesus didn’t come to make us comfortable. The manger is not just a symbol of peace, but a precursor to the harsh reality of a cross. The love of the Father sent forth His Son to live a perfect life to be a perfect sacrifice. Christmas’ cradle is a call to holiness and righteousness. Jesus doesn’t want you to look upon Him and justify your sins, but to humbly seek forgiveness.

Christmas is a reminder of a decision we must make. It is a time of reflection and action. Who is Jesus? Is He who He says He is? Has He done what He said He would do? There is no middle ground. If Jesus is the Son of God then we are confronted with the reality of our sinfulness and our need for a Savior. It is not comfortable to think about my sin! It is not comforting to think that, left to myself, I would be headed to hell. It isn’t reassuring to realize I need a Savior, that I am lacking something.

Yet the very truth that brings the reality of my need, is the same truth that fulfills it. Seeing Jesus as the Son of God is to realize that He is my Savior. To see Jesus as the Christ is to see that He paid for my sin. This is why He came. He calls to you “come and follow me!” He calls us to forsake our sin and trust Him.

Like any Christmas present under the tree, it’s not enough to just look at it and admire it. You have to receive it and claim it. Jesus’ offer to you is free, you just have to choose to claim Him, to follow Him, to trust Him. That is what Christmas is all about!

Redeeming Christmas

 “I love it and I hate it.”  

The Christmas season that is.

It’s my favorite time of the year and yet it drives me crazy. It’s a world of contradictions in my head and in my heart.

So Much To Love

There is so much to love about it! First and foremost is the reflection on the first Advent of Jesus Christ. The story of His birth and reminders of how much God the Father loved this world of sinners brings the deepest joy.  True Life and the Light to all man, born in a manger in a small village.  Immanuel, God with us, coming in peace and offering the free gift of grace to all who believe.

Christmas carols in every store, on every station, proclaiming the name of Jesus. Decorations galore popping up all around. Snowy nights and warm fires. Family coming together to celebrate and feast. Christmas parties. The hustle and bustle of last minute shopping. Giving of gifts. Candy canes…yum! The list can go and on! It’s a great time of the year.

So Much To Hate

There is so much to hate about this season. The commercialization of the birth of Christ drives people to spend their savings for the next best thing. Instead of love for each other, the willingness to trample someone to get a better spot in line. The insatiable greed of the receiver. The lack of gratitude. The attitude of entitlement. Mythological stories to distract from Christ, like Santa Claus.

Perhaps the truth about my consternation is self-reflective. It is the greed and selfishness that has crept into my own heart that has distracted me from the true meaning of Christmas. I first began to realize this as a young boy when my grandma got me second hand polyester clip on ties, faux turtlenecks, and a ugly sweater vest. I wanted the newest He-Man toy and all I got was some ugly clothes. My parents told me to thank my grandma, but I could hardly look at her. I did muster a slight, “thank you grandma,” but I wasn’t very thankful.

After a while I began to settle down and realize how selfish and ungrateful I was. Before we left grandma’s house, I was able to give her a big hug and tell her I loved her. But I will forever be reminded of how I put my selfish greed above the giver.

“MORE”

The reality is that God knew I was an awful sinner, dead in my trespasses and only desire was selfish, when He gave the first Christmas gift. It was to an entire world of ungrateful, selfish children, who scream “MORE” after opening each gift. No concern for the Giver, only a desire to have fallen appetites quenched for a moment.

Even the world realizes this and comes up with ways to curb the bad attitudes by saying Santa is “making a list and checking it twice, He’s gonna find out who is naughty or nice!” Yet our entire festive season is building toward self-gratification and selfishness.

Joy Unspeakable 

 Yet Jesus came, not to indulge our selfishness, but to overcome it! Santa maybe making a list, but Jesus came to destroy the list. We cannot quantify the love of Christ by a list of good or bad deeds. Even if we could be really really good, we still fall short of His perfection (Romans 3:23). On your best day, the day you have no bad thoughts, the day you put others before yourself every time, when you speak only kind words and never lose your temper, the day you give all your money to the poor guy on the corner and you attend mid-week prayer meeting, even on that day your good deeds are like a dirty diaper to Jesus (Isaiah 64:6). But Jesus came into our mess to clean us up! He wants us to know that He loves us so much (John 3:16).

When we think about the list, we miss the point. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).  Jesus took our naughty list and nailed it to the cross and dressed us in righteousness! Christmas is the time we should celebrate the provision that God made for us and how we can reflect that to the entire world! Take joy in the God of your Salvation (Habakkuk 3:18).

Redeeming Christmas

I’m learning that I don’t have to wrestle with the love-hate of this season. I can celebrate in freedom and in truth, because the Son has set me free! When I see that Jesus is the foundation for this season and my focus is on communicating Him in all things, it becomes the most joyful time of year. The warmth of family reminds me that I have been adopted into His forever family. The Christmas meals reminds me that I have been invited to feast at God’s table for eternity. The gifts I receive remind me of God’s generous gift in the cradle. The gifts I give help me understand that “it is better to give then to receive,” because in doing so I imitate my God.

Why should I waste my time getting depressed at the evidence of sin around me, when Jesus came to overcome that sin. Enjoy Christmas, see the victory Christ has already won. Only through faith can we see the full joy we can have in the Christmas season and everyday.

So during the hustle and bustle of Christmas week, as you are planning your parties, finishing your shopping and baking your foods, remember to stop and reflect on the One who left heaven, came as a babe, went to the cross, died, was buried and rose again so you can be accepted. He did this to spend time with you. Make the most of the time you have, spend it with Jesus!