Rest and Peace

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Ever done any masonry? 

It starts with stacks/piles of blocks, stones, or bricks.  Then cement and sand are mixed into mortar.  Then there is lifting, setting, measuring, leveling, cleaning and scrubbing—over and over. 

Although what is built out of blocks, stone, or brick can be very durable and even beautiful, it’s incredibly hard work.  

Israel knew about the hard work of laying blocks

As slaves of Pharaoh, Israel labored and worked making blocks, then building with the blocks they made. But they were under horrible taskmasters who pushed them to breaking points.  

Out of their misery they began to cry out to God, and God heard their cries and felt their pain. In response, God called a man named Moses to help His people. He tells Moses,

I have seen the deep sorrows of my people in Egypt and have heard their pleas for freedom from their harsh taskmasters. (Exodus 3:7, TLB)

God’s love and compassion to the rescue

Moved by the pain His people were facing caused God to find a way to deliver His people from Egypt.  And then His love and compassion formed a lasting covenant called the Ten Commandments. The fourth commandment says, 

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy…the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work. (Exodus 20:8-10)

God’s loves his people so much that He desires His people to have rest.  But He also desires His people to have peace.  So He instructed His priests to bless His people this way,

The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26)

The gift of rest and peace 

If you are in circumstances right now that are overloading you. You feel weighed-down under the pressure of things you’re facing. You’re weary, anxious, and discouraged. You’re at a breaking point. Maybe you’re under attack and being barraged with different confrontations. Why not do what the people of Israel did—cry out to God.  He’s listening for your voice and He’s able to deliver you from the pressure.

Rest and peace. It’s God’s desire for you, and it’s His gift to you. 

UP ON YOUR FEET

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You probably know the story of Jonah pretty well

Jonah’s the guy who tried to run from God and found himself in the belly of a real big fish.  It seems silly.  I mean what could God tell a person that would cause them to run in the opposite direction?  Here’s all God said,

Up on your feet and on your way to the big city of Nineveh! Preach to them. They’re in a bad way and I can’t ignore it any longer. 
(Jonah 1:2, The Message)

That doesn’t seem too difficult 

But let’s look at it in a different light.  Try replacing Jonah with yourself, and then replace Nineveh with the city you live in.  God is saying for you to go to your city and preach.  Umm, that kind of changes things a little doesn’t it?  Good thing there aren’t any real big fish around here.  

God loves people, therefore God loves cities and communities and states and countries. God loves the whole world.  No matter how dark things have become, no matter how much men have rejected God’s love and turned away from him, no matter what…God’s great love remains.  And we are the ambassadors of that divine love.

Jonah finally got around to it

And when he did what God had called him to do, here’s what we are told,

The people of Nineveh listened, and trusted God. They proclaimed a citywide fast and dressed in burlap to show their repentance. Everyone did it—rich and poor, famous and obscure, leaders and followers. When the message reached the king of Nineveh, he got up off his throne, threw down his royal robes, dressed in burlap, and sat down in the dirt.…God saw what they had done, that they had turned away from their evil lives. He did change his mind about them. What he said he would do to them he didn’t do. 
(Jonah 3:5-6,10, The Message)

No wonder the battle is so fierce against us being obedient to God’s calling—whole communities are up for grabs—and the Enemy of our souls knows it well.

Up on your feet and go to the city you live in…and preach the good news!

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The Most Awkward Wedding

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There’s nothing more beautiful than a wedding. Family and friends gathered together. Beautiful flowers and stylish clothes. Great music and delicious delicacies. 

Weddings are so different from daily life that they border on fantasy

In traditional wedding ceremonies, there’s a dramatic moment where the minister asks, “If any of you has reasons why these two should not be married, speak now or forever hold your peace.” It’s an opportunity for an ex-lover to rush forward, proclaiming his love, or for some new shocking information to be revealed about the either the bride or groom. 

Historically this question centers on the bride’s purity.  Whether or not she’s a virgin, or whether she might be already be married to someone else. Unfortunately, there have been many instances where someone has stood up and levied accusations.

Can you imagine how awkward that would be?

On the most special, planned for, dreamed about, and anticipated day in these people’s lives, it is destroyed in a matter of seconds as the details of the bride’s impurity and/or past affairs are revealed.  The people listening gasp as the groom drops his head.  

The groom is confused, angry, humiliated

To avoid these kinds of uncomfortable occurrences, modern wedding ceremonies have pretty much removed this question of objection. It’s a good thing because not too many brides, nor grooms for that matter, could stand confident in their purity.

Think what it would be like if at a wedding all the things in a person’s past that could cast doubt on their purity were suddenly revealed. All their indiscretions being made known. Then think of the embarrassment this would cause to the person who loves them so much they are committing the rest of their lives to them.  

This is exactly what Jesus experienced

One of the most endearing names God gives to His people is that we are His Bride, and Jesus is our Groom. 

Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. (Ephesians 5:25–27, NLT)

But there was a moment when all the details of our unfaithfulness were made known to Him. How we had cheated on Him. Slept around. And then pretended as if He was our first love.  Hebrews speaks about this…

Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame… (Hebrews 12:2, NKJV, emphasis mine) 

This shame here certainly refers to the shame associated with public crucifixion, but that isn’t the most serious part of it. The real shame came to Jesus as He was suddenly made aware of everything impure and sinful we had ever done. 

Our Groom hated what He found out, but…

Jesus wanted to be married to us, in spite of knowing all the objections Satan or anyone else could raise that revealed how untrue we’ve been to Him.  Then He endured the cross and took our guilt upon Himself.  He was able to do this because He had is eye on the “joy that was set before Him.”

The “joy” of His eye was you and me—His perfect, beautiful, and pure bride coming down the isle, ready to be joined to Him forever. This time, with no awkward interruptions.

The Graveyard Shift

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Getting up at or before sunrise to make it to a job that starts early can be draining.  Working a 9 to 5 shift every day can get to be monotonous.  But nothing can compare to the exhausting difficulty of working the graveyard shift. While the rest of the world sleeps, those on the graveyard shift push buttons, pull levers, answer calls, go places and do things.

Someone reading this is working a graveyard shift

But it’s not a graveyard shift caused by a job.  While others are sleeping, you’re wide-awake. Your mind is racing. Your heart is pounding. Certain painful events play over and over again.  Regret.  Fear.  Anger.  Hurt.  Rather than being relaxed in the stillness and lifelessness of the night, things seem to close in around you like a noose.

David worked the graveyard shift many nights  

Worrying about his family.  Lamenting his foolish actions.  Mad at God one night, longing for His presence the next.  But finally after too many bouts with insomnia, David cried out,

Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God. (Psalm 43:5)

David isn’t asking his soul to tell him what’s wrong.  Instead, David is notifying his soul, his thoughts, and emotions that there’s going to be a change.  No more sleepless nights.  No more anxiety.  No more watching the sunset and then rise again.  He needed rest and he was going to get it.

To hope in God is important, but…

David reveals something in addition to hoping in God that is the most important factor to getting a person off the graveyard shift.  David said,

“I shall yet praise Him.”

David would declare the goodness of God, sing of His faithfulness, recount His works, and shout hallelujahs at the top of his lungs.  And as David lifted up praise to God, something happened, he began to sense the nearness of God. Then things within him settled down and became peaceful.  His eyes grew heavy and sleep took hold.

Up all night?

If you’ve been working the graveyard shift lately, follow David’s example. Take a moment and think about where you where and what things were like in your life when God found you.  Think about how many times He’s proven faithful and strong in situations that you turned over to Him.  Now begin to praise Him and thank him.  It won’t be long until you sense His presence, along with joy that’s unspeakable and peace that surpasses understanding.  

Before you know it, it will be morning and you’ll be thanking God for the best night’s sleep you ever had.

Smudged Windows

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She leafed through the old picture album

As she looked at the pictures, 90 year old Jesse Clark shared memories from 65 years in ministry with her husband Earl.  One thing she shared I will never forget.  It was something she said about being in Bible College during the 1930’s:

Earl and I, and the rest of the students, were sure we wouldn’t graduate from Bible College before the Rapture.

Like many other Christians during that time, world events loomed causing them to be certain the Lord could return any moment.  And this created an urgency to reach people with the Good News of Jesus Christ.  After all, if Jesus was coming any moment, and many people still hadn’t heard about Him, somebody better tell them.

This world is not their home

Today many of us have little understanding or interest in end-time events. We’re not too concerned with the fact that Jesus could return any moment because we’re caught up with the good things of this life.

But there are still many Christians in the world, for whom life is not comfortable. Although their walks are vital and deep, they face suffering and persecutions. As a result they have a more intense longing for His return.

Looking forward to His appearing

Former Moody Bible Institute President, Joseph Stowell, shared a story of a friend of his named Bud Wood, who founded The Shepherds Home in Wisconsin for boys and girls with developmental disabilities.

The original ministry opened its doors in 1964 to 36 children, providing them a loving residential environment and a school.  Most importantly, the primary goal was sharing God’s love and encouraging them toward a personal and growing walk with Jesus..

Joe Stowell would regularly call Bud to pray with him and encourage him.  One time, Bud asked, “Hey, Joe, do you know what our biggest maintenance problem at Shepherds is?”  “I have no idea,” Joe replied.

“Smudged windows”

“Say what?” Joe asked surprisingly.

Bud went on to explain.  “Last month we taught them that Jesus was coming back to earth for His people and how we will meet him in the air.  Ever since then our kids press their hands and faces against the windows because they’re looking into the sky to see if today might be the day that Jesus will return for them and take them to His home.”

In the meantime

One of the marks of a follower of Jesus is a longing to see Him.  But this is not a one-sided desire.  As much as any of us had ever wanted to see Jesus, He has all the more ached to see us.  In fact He has prepared a place so that he can not only see us, but also be with us forever.

In the meantime, there are smudged windows at a school in Wisconsin, and there are smudged windows in heaven.

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Do Not Go Gentle Into that Good Night

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Dylan Thomas wrote…

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Thursday night we put my mom into a memory care facility 

Her dementia has progressed so quickly and severely that her safety now requires 24-hour care.  

Needless to say this has been a very difficult time.  As I laid in my bed Thursday night, tears flooded my eyes.  Although I was certain of my mom’s safety and that the place she was in was topnotch, my mind was flooded with thoughts how she must’ve of been feeling.

For 56 years she had been with the same man.  For 32 years she lived in the same house.  For 21 years she ministered at the same church.  For her whole life she maintained close relationships with her family and friends.

NOW NOTHING SEEMS FAMILIAR

After tossing and turning all night, morning finally came. My phone rang with an unfamiliar number.  “Hello,” I answered. “Joel, it’s mom.  Please, please, come get me.”  She went on to tell me about the place “they” were keeping her in.  I could sense the panic in her voice.  And panic was something she never did.

It’s an understatement to say my mom is a strong woman.  She was able to navigate successfully both in the world and the church, in an era of male chauvinism that treated women like second-class citizens.  She was a published author.  Earned a Master’s Degree in Anthropology.  Was a worldwide conference speaker.  And she was one of the greatest examples of what a godly wife and mother is like.

A powerful reminder

Mom’s strength certainly has roots in her family and upbringing, but the most dynamic and important cause for her strength comes from an uncanny understanding of how God sees people.  This insight gave her confidence in herself.  It also caused her to believe in others when no one else would.  She could encourage and speak life into people who saw no hope, no potential, and had no support.  She was a champion of the underdog.  

Subsequently, there are hundreds, if not thousands of people all over the world who have been able to square their shoulders, believe in God, and themselves because of my mom. 

Now we speak to you Mary Phillips

There was power in whatever mom said because her words were always etched with God’s word. She taught the word, but she also spoke the word, and it was this that caused the listener to begin to feel the lifting and releasing of the Holy Spirit.

Mom, I and all whose lives have been effected by you, now speak God’s word over you…

But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green. They will declare, “The LORD is just! He is my rock! There is no evil in him!” (Psalm 92:12-15, NLT) 

Do not go gentle into that good night, but you shall keep producing fruit and remain vital!

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Al Lira Fan Club

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Hanging on the wall of my office is an offering bag and a picture

It’s one of those kinds of offering bags that have a cloth pouch and wood handles.  It was given to me as a gift from the people of the first church I pastored. The church was called Faith Chapel and was located in Glendale, Arizona (there’s a picture of them above this offering bag).

On a regular basis the people at Faith Chapel would make various needs among the congregation known and ALWAYS the need would be met.  There was a generous spirit I wanted to take with me to Escondido, and the offering bag was to serve as a reminder.

It also reminds me of a very generous person

Al Lira was the head usher at Faith Chapel. When we would take one of the aforementioned special offerings, it was Al who would stand at the exit holding an offering bag (the very one that is on my wall) until the last person made their way out.  Then humbly, Al would finish his duties, which included straightening things up, turning lights off, and locking up.  Then he would wait for me and make sure I got to my car. , Always with a big smile, he would graciously thank me and wish me a blessed afternoon.  

Al had a bit of a stutter, but I could understand every word

One Sunday as we were walking out he asked,

“Ah p-p-pastor, have you e-e-ever been to La Perla Restaurant?”

“No Al,” I answered.  He proceeded to invite me to what would become a regular get-together for us at one of the oldest Mexican restaurants in downtown Glendale.  As we talked during those times, I learned that Al’s wife had died some time ago, how some of his children had gotten into trouble, and how his own health was failing.  But my heart became most endeared to him by what he said next,

“Pastor Joel, I-I-I want t-t-to thank you for letting me s-s-erve at the church. It really means a l-l-lot to me.”

My throat was dry and a big lump was forming  

I realized I was sitting with a true giant in the faith.  Al Lira was a man who served with gladness, who wanted nothing in return, and who loved God and God’s people more sincerely then anyone I’ve ever met.

I know there’s more to faithfulness than the kind of stuff that Al Lira did, but I firmly believe it ought be done with the same spirit.  

Faithful in small things with a generous and thankful heart

Faithful, generous, and thankful really sum up what not only Al Lira and the folks at Faith Chapel were all about, but I believe it sums up what God’s people ought to be like.

By the way, I started an Al Lira Fan Club.

Johnny Lingo’s Wife

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There’s a great story about a man named Johnny Lingo who lived in the Samoan islands.  It was said that he was one of the shrewdest traders that ever lived. He always got the very lowest price for what he wanted; and would bring back to his home island, the most beautiful, rare and valuable things in the world. 

But Johnny was lacking one thing: a wife 

On the Samoan islands, if a man wanted to marry a woman he would go to the woman’s family and ask for the woman’s hand in marriage.  He and her father would then negotiate a suitable payment for her hand.  

The price was paid in cows

On this island was a 19-year-old woman named Mahana. She was not like the other girls.  She was scrawny, walked stooped over, and never smiled.  She lurked in the shadows, she was dirty, and she never combed her hair, nor put flowers in it like the other girls on the island. Her nickname was “Mahana Ugly.” In fact her father, Mokie, had given up hope that Mahana would ever find a husband. 

Word got around that Johnny Lingo was choosing “Mahana Ugly” 

Johnny could have had any woman on the island, but something about Mahana had caught his eye.  People began to come to their own conclusions about what Johnny was up to.  “He wants a woman he can get for nothing,” they said. “That Johnny Lingo is so is shrewd! He will buy ‘Mahana Ugly’ and he will have free labor the rest of his life.”

Johnny Lingo sat opposite Mahana’s father, surrounded by the people of the village. Mahana was too shy to make herself visible, so she hid in a nearby cluster of trees, close enough to hear the humiliating ceremony.  The crowd was silent as Johnny began the negotiation for Mahana’s hand in marriage. 

Mahana’s father Mokie was also shrewd 

Mokie knew that Johnny Lingo drove hard bargains, so when Johnny asked how many cows it will take to gain Mahana’s hand, Mokie didn’t answer right away.  

Mokie had said many times that he would “take one cow that gave sour milk just to get rid of Mahana.” But greed got a hold of him and he shouted out, “THREE COWS!” 

The villagers erupted with laugher. “He must be crazy, thinking he can get three cows for Mahana!!!”  Johnny Lingo called for silence. “It is true, threes cows are many,” he said.  “But three cows are not enough for Mahana. For Mahana I offer eight cows!”

The villagers gasped 

Mokie stared at Johnny Lingo, sure that he must’ve said, “eight cows” by mistake.  It was unheard of!  No one had ever offered eight cows for a wife! Mokie quickly agreed before Johnny had a chance to come to his senses and change his mind. The couple were married and left the village for an extended honeymoon.

Many months later the villagers were surprised to see that Johnny Lingo had returned home with one of the most beautiful woman they had ever seen. 

Another woman?

Johnny Lingo’s companion stood tall and walked confidently, yet gracefully. She had a radiant smile on her face. Her hair glistened in the sun and was always adorned with beautiful flowers. 

Someone finally got the nerve to ask Johnny Lingo the question that had been on all their minds, “Why would you pay that much when you could have gotten Mahana for nothing?”

Johnny looked at his beautiful bride, smiled, and said “Mahana used to believe she was worthless.  She now knows that she’s the most valuable woman on the island. And so do you.”

For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. (1 Peter 1:18–19, NLT) 

Looking Around Outside

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There are many things that happen in church that are truly awesome!

People who go to church say things about it like, “It’s such a blessing to me.” Or, “I’ve been encouraged and built up there.”

While church-goers have strong opinions about how great church is and how important it is for them to go, few of them are good at inviting others to share in it with them. They don’t invite friends to church events, and why would they? The things that happen at most churches are mainly geared for the insiders—for those who already go.

What about the outsiders?

Paul was traveling through Greece when he found a group of philosophers and stoics in Athens. This group was about as far removed from Paul’s First Century Jewish context as possible. 

But Paul did something truly remarkable. After carefully looking around at his surroundings and the people who were there, Paul said to them…


As I was going through your city and looking closely at the objects you worship, I noticed an altar… (Acts 17:23, GW) 

Why was this remarkable? Because Paul was intent on building a bridge to an audience that held a completely different world-view.  A bridge to a people who had a very universal opinion about God.

Contextualize?

Paul made the effort to learn where these people were at and what they were thinking.  He then adapted his approach for the hearers in order to clearly communicate the message of the Gospel in terms they could best understand. He later expresses his motivation for this…


I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. (1 Corinthians 9:22, NKJV)

This isn’t instruction for us to become social chameleons, or compromise our beliefs so we fit into the crowd, but it is a model of how we are to adapt what we are doing and saying to the unique context we are in.  It’s sensitivity to who we are talking to, while still understanding the essential power and importance of the Gospel. 

The Gospel is an eternal, transcultural reality, but… 

While the Gospel transcends time, it comes to us within the context of a human culture. We must carefully seek to discern the difference between Gospel truth and cultural tradition.  It’s then that we can present the Gospel in a manner that is relevant to those who are on the outside.

This should get every insider excited, well at least looking around.

A Song In a Chevy Sprint

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What songs bring back memories for you?

Maybe it’s a song from a time of your life when something special happened, or from a time in your life when someone special happened. You hear that song and that special feeling comes back.

There’s a song that takes me to a place that I needed to go to

When I was younger everything I did was in a rush.  I rushed in the morning to get where I was going, then rushed all day, and then rushed back home.  I even rushed to get to bed to go to sleep so I could get up and start the madness all over again.

One day during all my rushing I was listening in my car to the 2nd Chapter of Acts album, Singer Sower. It’s an amazing record. I was taping my hands on the steering wheel to the beats of the first song, Room Noise. I continued taping away when the second song, Beware My Heart, came on.  

The lyrics of the song sank into my heart in a way I’ll never forget 

Annie Herring’s beautiful voice sang in my car to me…

Tick tock, time is eroding,
Seconds are floating,
And I can’t catch them;
Racing, round in a hurry, makes worry
It’s time to steal away.

I could feel the Holy Spirit convicting and warning me,  “Joel, slow down. You’re going too fast.”  As I was becoming more aware of God speaking to me, the next lines from the song said…

I’ve got to take my heart into a silent place,
I’ve got to take my heart and teach it silence…silence,
Silence your heart, set it apart.

“Yes Lord!” I cried out. Tears began to flood my eyes. I pulled my car over and had the most incredible encounter with God. And as a result, over the years I have learned to catch myself when the “hurrying and worrying” starts, to “steal away” to a silent place and “set my heart apart.” 

I am thankful to God for the memories that song stirs in me…and for special thing that happened one day in a little blue Chevy Sprint stopped on the side of the road.