The Foremost - Part 2

The foremost... the words of the Apostle Paul ring in my ears and sting my heart. He says that of ALL people, he is the worst, most disgusting sinner on the planet.
As I think through the lives of people like Ted Bundy (murder and rapist - see recap below) I am astounded Paul would indicate that he is worse off. I have often wondered why he takes that view of himself. We did not have too much discussion (one comment on the previous post and a few emails to me) but, for what its worth here is my take on Paul's bold claim in I Timothy 1:15-16:
Paul says he is the the worst of sinners not because of false humility rather it is because that displays the glory of God to forgive. You see in verse 16 after Paul says he is the worst he explains why - so that Christ's UNLIMITED patience might be revealed and others come to salvation.
So, "what does that mean," I am asked. There are a few applications of this truth:

1. If I am the "worst of sinners" then NO ONE is disqualified from the grace and forgiveness of God - Think on those words for a bit. We often want to present ourselves better and more righteous after being saved but forget that does little to model Grace for the observing non-believer in Christ.
2. My salvation is not for me...alone. Rather, it is to be told and retold with the understanding that Jesus was GREAT to save me and the depth of my sinfulness combined with Jesus' patience moves others toward a relationship with Christ.

I would love to hear your thoughts here - really take a moment to comment.

The Foremost - Part 1

Ted Bundy was an unbelievable man. During the 1970s he went on a rampage murdering and raping over 30 women - though the actual figure is unknown. He was apparently a normal, non-ambitious male whose life was just under the radar, never really being noticed by anyone. Over a period of 10 years or so he raped and murdered a number of women, no one really ever knowing what "snapped" inside him. Just the thought of that type of desensitization boggles the mind.
I am forced to think, even as I read though his biographical information, how vile and awful a man he must have been. I cannot even begin to see myself getting anywhere near that insane. The more I think about his crimes the more I think of the distance between myself and him - he's a killer, I am a youth pastor. He was a rapist, I am a husband and father. The distance between him and I seems too far to traverse - but is it really?
In 1st Timothy 1:15&16 the apostle Paul calls himself, "the foremost" or worst of sinners. Really? The guy who wrote literally 75% of the New Testament is worse than me? hmmm.
What do you make of such a bold and stiff claim? Certainly I am better off than Bundy, or any other murderer or rapist out there, right?
Jot down your thoughts by clicking on the comment key and tell me what you think...part 2 to follow shortly - - -

Remnant

It was a Monday evening...those are special to me because it is my only day where I have no ministry commitments and I am alone with my family. We were dining at the finest pizza place in the central Illinois area - I am, of course, speaking of Monical's Pizza. Enjoying piece after piece and laughing with my wife at all the crazy things a three year old girl says.
Now, the following deserves a disclaimer - I love my daughter, I really do - but there are times I specifically wonder, if she is God's test for my understanding of love?
Here is what transpired: Jada, who never liked soda before that evening says she wants to taste mine. I concede, knowing that she will contort her face and call it, "spicy," stick out her tongue and go back to her lemonade. WRONG. She contorts her face as I thought, but when she sees my laughing reaction - as well as my wife's - she says in a very coy way, "yum, that soda is super good, its the goodest soda ever!" We all know what happens next - her greasy, sauce-filled hands are all over my drink and now I have new objects of avoidance inside my cup each time I go to get a sip...you know, floaties or Remnants if you will of her last bite (not drink, bite).
The next morning I awoke and was talking with God about the day and my thoughts. As I told Him how much I loved my family and thanked Him for the day off I was reminded of the drink. Very clearly He showed me, "Doug, you're the sauce-filled, floatie leaving, coy commenting child with Me and My Gospel. I entrust to you the message that alone can save - understanding that there are two was you can go about it: in your own power, or through the power of the Holy Spirit."
Really, the fact that people come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ shows that God can work in spite of us. Today, consider how Great of a God we serve and how he has entrusted with such a great message - The Gospel. Then, take your sauce-filled hands and floatie leaving sips, and go share it with those in your relational sphere of influence.

Rumbold Wrap-Up

Celebrating the birth of Jesus is the beginning point to really appreciate His eventual sacrifice made for all. So, it is with a grateful heart that we offer you some of the joy God has blessed us with this year by giving you a snapshot of all the craziness that is "Rumbold" for the year 2008.

January began Jess and my fourth year of marriage. Since we promised to have four to five years of childless bliss maritally one need not study the picture above too hard to know that my Rumbold DNA betrayed our confession. Be that as it may, Jess and I are extremely happy to report that while we made our plans God determined our steps.

As Spring came and went Jess grew more round and uncomfortable every day forcing sleepless nights and much anticipation. Strangely, Jess still remained committed to her third love (God first, me second) Body Pump. This is Jessica's workout class at the gym where she continues to gain new friendships and impact those outside our family with the love of Jesus. July 9th arrived and with it so did our not-so-little bundle of joy Oliver Benjamin Rumbold: 9lbs 8oz. He arrived at a full 2lbs heavier than his sister - who could not have been more delighted...and remains so till this day. As the pictures CLEARLY indicate Ollie is not missing any feedings and with two mommies, he is quite well cared for. He already enjoys saying, "mum...mum..." and smiling incessantly whenever Jess is in eye shot - total Momma's boy.

Jada is growing, sometimes a little too fast for my comfort. She is completely immersed in dress-ups, being a surrogate mommy to anything or anyone who will have her, talking, make-up, nails, talking, signing her songs about God, talking, and pretty much talking. Her passion for communicating the love of God is amazing. Jess and I are stunned daily at her comprehension. A story will suffice here: As we ate lunch the other day she asks me if she can use her toy cell phone to call God and pray for our meal. I told her to go ahead. She presses two digits and I say, "honey, I think you need to dial a few more numbers." She responds, "silly dad, God is on speed dial." "Really?" I said. When finished I asked if she told Him goodbye. She quips, "dad, it is SOOOO silly for us to say goodbye to God, He is always here." We are in love with how God is shaping her.

In September we went on vacation to Oklahoma where Jada and Ollie got to experience the Zoo and other wonders of ranch life as we visited some friends. In October I (Doug) was able to go to Seattle for 8 days for an intense church planting seminar/training called Soma School. I learned a great deal about God's word that impacts me even now and will likely be a huge blessing to my ministry at Northfield Christian Fellowship (where I pastor). The picture here is Todd Morr and myself.


Jess and I continue to dream up ways of loving each other and growing in our appreciation for the gift of marriage. She really is a dynamic and amazing woman who runs the ins and outs of our home with incredible excellence. Our prayer is to grow together as a couple on mission for Jesus Christ.

One final note: I arrived home from church tonight and Jess recounted to me how she was explaining the plan of Salvation to Jada and the relationship God wants to have with us through Jesus. Jada asked Jess to say it slowly so she could pray each phrase and invite the Lord into her heart personally. Jess told me that as she finished praying Jada squealed with excitement...what a Christmas present - a daughter reconciled to the Lord because of Jesus. AMAZING!!!

The Role...or roles of the Holy Spirit

"Well, why don't you just unload a small topic to chew on Doug?" "Thanks I think I will."
That was the conversation in my mind over the last couple weeks as I taught this very topic to my youth group: The Role of the Holy Spirit. The great issue at stake is not whether I can rightly cover all the theological corners of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. Rather, it is to give a rough idea of some of the functions of the Holy Spirit in an effort to increase our desire to live by it. In that vein then, I offer some excerpts of my notes. Four different functions of the Holy Spirit:

1. A guarantee or down payment: In Ephesians 1:13-14 Paul tells us that the Holy Spirit (HS) is a seal that is also a guarantee of our inheritance. When a person places faith and trust in the shed blood of Jesus they are marked with the HS as an identifier that they belong to God.
   
2. A helper or guide: Lets be honest, in this life it is categorically impossible to please God alone. Don't forget weathering life's intense trials, financial instability, moral dilemmas, the Bible and how difficult it is to understand at times, etc... However, in John 14:26 Jesus says to His disciples - "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." There is nothing left to say here but, "thank you Lord Jesus."
   
3. A sanctification agent: Sanctification is simply means God's continuing work to free believers from the bondage of sin - or - the process of being made holy like Jesus. Rom. 8:3-14 gives credence to this concept of our sinful nature being overcome by our spiritual nature because our lives are submitted to the Spirit. We cannot become like Christ on our own - yet 1 John 2:6 says that "anyone who claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did." Not sure about you, but I want to be controlled by God and the Spirit He offers.
4. A provider of gifts and fruit: 1 Cor. 12 talks about how each person has been given a gift (or manifestation of the Holy Spirit) for the common good and strengthening of the body and glorification of Christ. No one has all the gifts (otherwise there would be no need for the body) and no one is devoid of at least one gift.
   While God is a provider of spiritual gifts and the gifts should never be elevated above the giver, this is not to be confused with fruits of the spirit. When we submit ourselves to the Lordship of Christ and give up our own agendas and seek to fulfill only that which brings glory and honor to God - there will be an evidence of that choice in our daily character: fruits of the spirit listed in Galatians 5..." but the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
   

So, these are obviously not conclusive, just a way to get you started. I would at this point like to point out a resource I want to offer for those of you interested in taking your relationship with Christ deeper. CLICK HERE to download a free ebook. This is a great resource to get you started on the road to understanding the Spirit's role in your becoming more like Christ.
This is a conversation that can go on in the comment area - so if there are thoughts you have, please add them.

Jesus had friends?

Consider for a moment your friends. Not the ones you nod politely at when you happen to pass them in public... no, I mean the ones who really have or know a piece of your heart. Think about them. How often do you see, call, write, or even hear from them?
I have thought on this for a while this week. You see, at about 5:whatever each morning there is a warm pot of coffee, my bible and Jesus waiting to meet with me. This week my heart has been wrecked by the story of Lazarus. Briefly, this is the story where Jesus hears his friend is sick (and that means deathly) and waits for three days to go see him. His friend dies and everyone is just a little confused - including me.
However, this is not where the wreckage occurs for me. The site of the wreck in my heart happens at the point where Jesus three times shows great emotion - and I quote, "...he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled..., ...Jesus wept..., Jesus, once more deeply moved..." Lazarus, as a "friend" of Jesus has died and even though Jesus was in the process of raising him from the dead His heart was troubled.
In John 15:13 says, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" and again speaking of Abraham James 2:23 says, "...and he was called God's friend."
So, a few questions here:

1. Is Jesus your friend in reality? Would you like to be known as a friend of Jesus? or do you think of him more like this clip:
2. Are you like me in that you have a hard time picturing Jesus moved as he was for Lazarus over you? why...please comment and start a discussion.
3. Finally, what makes it so hard for us to dole out that kind of passion in ALL our friendships?
   

finally, please post your comments so that we might start a discussion and in so doing start a revolution of people passionate about compassionate love in friendships.

Jesus on Probation

I know what you are thinking, "Jesus on probation, come on man. He never committed a crime, so why is He on probation?" Well, to be honest, it fits. You see probation is a moral trial or a period of testing. Just as courts decide when an inmate is ready for life in society by a period of probation, so Jesus was on a "probation" - so to speak - by the Father.

In the temptation or testing of Jesus we see satan continually asking him, "if you are the Son of God..." then do this or do that. Jesus, in each case lives in His identity as the Son of God by not doing the very thing satan asks of Him. In fact, He responds by saying, "it is written..." and then goes on to rebuff temptation with the use of Scripture. What's amazing is not that He could quote the Bible, rather the life He found in those words He quoted is what I cling to.

You see, the issue in passing through temptation successfully lies not in how much Scripture I can quote. The real issue is whether I find my life in the words of the Father. When Jesus was baptized God did the all-confirming identity work that was so crucial for Jesus' success in life and ministry - He loved Jesus before He did anything.

So, resting in the finished work of Jesus Christ, God's demonstration of love for us, is the precursor to any tools or practical blocks to temptation. It is with that in mind that I post these few simple ideas and resources to help you in your battle against temptation:

1. Fasting (Matt. 4:2-4) - a great tool for spiritual growth, but oft misunderstood. The book "Celebration of Discipline" by Richard Foster is an excellent resource (there is one chapter devoted to fasting).
2. Accountability (Matt4:11) seek out ways that you can share your temptations with others in an effort to minimize their hold on you (James 1:12) www.x3watch.com is FREE internet accountability software that logs questionable sites and emails them to addresses of your choosing - great tool.
3. Run: in each of the three temptations of Jesus He responds by saying "it is written..." Jesus did not have a conversation with satan in regards to the temptation. In the same way Joseph in Genesis did not discuss with Potifer's wife any possible options - he ran. Often we should follow this example.

Finally, I invite you to click the "comment" link and begin a discussion about this post or other ideas you have for practical ways to deal with temptation.
Oh, one more thing, recently I preached on this very issue. You can download it by clicking HERE