Betrayed with a kiss

“Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” Luke 22:48 (NASB)

I don’t know why, but for some reason this sentence caught my attention this past week. Like many of you, I also grew up in church, and I’m rather familiar with the account of Jesus’ arrest in the garden. Judas betrayed his teacher by walking up and kissing him on the cheek, signifying to the mob which one they needed to arrest. We’ve heard this part of the story before; it is nothing new. Yet, as I’ve pondered it more here recently, it seems to me that it should haunt us more than it does.

While John’s Gospel informs us that Judas was a thief (John 12:6), he was still one of the Twelve. He walked with Christ. He witnessed miracles, observed healings, heard our Savior teach, and experienced countless other conversations, discussions, and unrecorded moments. Yet, there in the garden, Judas sold Him out…and he did so with a kiss.

Judas’ kiss was the cultural equivalent of giving Jesus a hearty handshake or bro-hug. It was an outward expression of closeness and affection. It communicated friendship, respect, and the appearance of being on good terms. Hmmm… Is it possible that you and I could do the same today? Could we spend time in close proximity to the Lord without truly praising Him? Do we give the false impression that we dearly honor Christ?

I’m afraid that it is easier to look much closer to the God than we actually are. A little busyness, some religious activity mixed with an unhealthy dose of isolation, and before you know it, I’ve not only deceived others into thinking I’m walking with the Lord, but I’ve deceived myself as well. And that’s the point of tension for me. Could my good deeds and righteous actions betray our Savior? Is it possible for us to wind-up lost in our saintly duties and in so doing, betray our Lord?

Remember Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount? He says that many will call Him Lord; many will tell of all the mighty works they did in His name (Matthew 7:21-23). Yet when the strength to accomplish such deeds comes from outside of Christ, when the dependence is not solely upon Him, whatever is achieved is done in vain. So then, where is our hope found?

If we sing songs but believe no part of the chorus, if we take notes every sermon without so much as applying a single line to our daily lives, does it really mean much? If only exercised once or twice a week, I’d have to think my faith is fraudulent at best. Through contentment with our inconsistency we can and do play the role of betrayer. Praise be to God, we find ourselves on this side of the empty tomb!

Thankfully our lips cannot betray in the same kind of way. You and I will not turn Jesus over to the men coming with swords and clubs. However, Judas’ role does show us that one’s exterior actions are not always a clear representation of the heart, and our words our often hollow. Additionally, we see that we can be physically close to God and His people, yet find our souls far from Him. As we celebrate this blessed Holy Week, reminding one another of our Savior that was crushed for our iniquities, might we be found faithful. May we consider God’s lavish, scandalous grace and remember that it is only through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection that we have hope. If not for the cross, we’d all be a Judas.

Matt Fowler
NBC Family Pastor of HS
@fattmowler

Little League Disasters?

Spring not only brings bad weather systems (tornadoes, hail, and high winds), it also brings with it baseball, America’s pastime. I played baseball and I coached my son in baseball. There were highs and lows in our experience but over all I would say I would give our grade a B+.

Along the way I learned several lessons that I hope you will find helpful: Some of my best memories were made this way.

Success is more than winning.

• Your kids are learning about more than baseball They are learning about more important things like character strengths, integrity, honesty, and respect. Sadly, they may be learning about character weaknesses like dishonesty, cheating, and disrespect. They are learning the process of failure. Failure is a very real part of life. Nobody is perfect. The very best major league baseball hitters fail 7 out of 10 times. They are watching you and learning how to behave when there is a fail. Every one must learn to self-sooth. If parents model making excuses (the wind, the sun, the pitcher, etc.) or blame the failures on others (the umpire, the coach, the equipment), the kid will never learn to self-sooth. Worse, they will learn that they have no control over their own failures.

  Situation:	Negative Response:	Positive Response:
  Strike out!	Blame the umpire!	Encourage the hitter.
  Dropped ball!	Make excuses!	Encourage the player.
  Over thrown ball!	Blame the one catching or the coach.	Encourage the thrower.
  Base running error.	Blame the coach or the one who tagged.	Encourage the base runner.
  Throw a fit or rage.	Ignore the tantrum.	Politely ask thier coach to bench them immediately, maybe the next game too.

• Your kids are learning about how to take responsibility. You can be an encouragement to them if you say: I saw how hard you tried and I was proud of you. I know how hard that is. I saw how frustrated you were I knew how bad you wanted that, and I was so pleased with you. You can remind them of past successes! You can offer to play catch with them or throw them soft toss later for fun.

• Your kids are learning about how to treat others. You can be an encouragement to them if you say: I saw how you encouraged your friend after the failed, that’s really impressive. I saw how you kept your emotions in check and your head down, instead of glaring at or yelling at the ref will coach, you are a good example. Your coach and teammates will really learn to respect you, if you continue to show you have a high opinion of them like you did today.
  Your kids are learning about how to be leaders. You can be an encouragement to them if you say: I saw how encouraging you were to your team, way to go. So how you help them up after they had fallen down, I love when you do that. I like to hear you cheer and clap for your team mates when they do something good, I bet they like it too. I watch how your team observes you, I think they like what they see.

  Your kids are learning to stay fit and have fun. Parents need to remember that kids are kids and want to have fun. They need to be reminded that this is a game and it should be enjoyable. Parents need to prepare kids for a lifetime of physical fitness. Too many kids have become accustomed to leisure activities and video games. The result is a lack of fitness in epidemic proportions. Have fun playing sports can set kids up for a lifetime of healthier, more enjoyable living if they grow up enjoying physical activities.

  You can also make a positive impact on your kids by having a conversation about the poor behavior you observed as well. There’s plenty unfortunate conduct on the field of play to examine. Volunteer coaches often will display favoritism towards their sons or daughters. They will also coach their kids more severely than the rest of the team. Unfortunately, bad behavior is easy for parents to discuss with their kids so that their kids will know which behaviors to avoid.

  These lessons can be applied to every sport.

  

  

  Dr. Phil Sallee, Pastor
  twitter.com/philsallee
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  philsallee.info
  nbchurch.info
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God's Surprising 1st Love

{ Part of this blog is from a paper I wrote for seminary covering a book Brothers, We Are Not Professionals. }

What object occupies the first spot in God's heart? 

What is it that God loves more than anything in the universe? 

Answer: Himself

God's first love and most treasured object is Himself. God treasures His own glory higher than anything. God loves His own glory more than all things combined in the universe. 

That may surprise you. 

In fact, if we're honest, that may sound very prideful and ego-centric. 

You may be asking, "Is it ok for God to love Himself and treasure Himself more than He loves me?" Or "Why does God get to worship Himself when we are told not to worship ourselves?" 

For God to love any other object more than He loves Himself would be idolatry. The fact that that surprises some people actually reveals how much we have moved ourselves (mankind) into the center of God's affections. 

In the last fifteen years of pastoring, one of the most prominent goals in everything I have done, whether preaching, teaching, discipling guys, trainings, or even our events, is to present a high and exalted view of God. 

I was influenced most significantly with this purpose and idea from both John Piper and A.W. Tozer. I cut my teeth in “Christian Hedonism” with both The Pleasures of God and Desiring God by Piper. They were two of the first books I was given when I surrendered my life to Christ. Tozer’s The Pursuit of God also challenged me to see how cultural Christianity in America had allowed such a low and ignoble view of God to permeate our churches. The second chapter (in Piper’s style) is a snippet of the idea that God loves His own glory and therefore we should live for His glory in all we do. Again, this, for me, is an emphasis on proclaiming a high and exalted view of God instead of a high and exalted view of man. 

Yes, God loves man, but we should be amazed and shocked that God loves us when we rightly understand His elevated holiness and complete “otherly” qualities when in comparison to us in our lowly state of depravity. 

One of my favorite parts in Brothers, We Are Not Professionals is “the Holy Spirit is to burn in me what He has been burning with for all eternity: God’s love for God,” (6). This rightly corrects my thinking that I’m a spec in the ultimate plan and purposes of God. Yes, God loves me and values me immeasurably, (e.g. death of His holy Son-that much!) despite my sin and corruption, but God’s first and highest priority is His own glory. As Piper shares, it would be idolatrous of God to love or treasure anything other than or more than Himself. 

God’s view of God must be insatiable. I need to ask the Holy Spirit for more of His own desire for God’s name to be hallowed and lifted up. I need to ask the Holy Spirit for more of His own love and pleasure in the Trinity to be forwarded to me. The Great Commandment (Matt. 22) is shaped by God’s own discretion, desires, and values. Another sentence that I believe is worthy of using as a filter through which we think is Piper’s question and answer:

 “Why is it important to be stunned by the God-centeredness of God? Because many people are willing to be God-centered as long as they feel that God is man-centered. It is a subtle danger.” 

Wow. That has implications from our theology all the way down to our practical outworkings of ministries. We must be careful of allowing our own minds, as well as those we shepherd, to love God as long as they believe God has us on a pedestal. This is clearly the motivating factor behind the prosperity gospel. It is interesting to see what happens to people’s view of God when their life comes unraveled. If, for long periods of time, I have ingested the idea that God’s sole purpose in existence is to provide me and my family with health, wealth, riches, material possessions, and comfort, then what happens when cancer puts a wrinkle in that? What happens when events hit my life that are completely opposite of those things? 

Therefore, we must think hard and long on whether we are leading our own hearts or our people to have a love with God that is based on His own man-centeredness. That could filter the way we pray. That could filter the way we plan and strategize. That could filter the way we plant churches. That could filter the way we spend millions of dollars and hours on reaching unreached people groups. So, God’s love for His own glory has the potential to shift paradigms for everything we do. 

Sankie P. Lynch

www.nbchurch.info

www.nbfamilies.info

sankie@nbchurch.info

John Piper Brothers, We Are Not Professionals

Who says you are behind?

Do you ever get behind on things? If I’m completely honest, I feel like I spend most of my life operating from the “just trying to get caught up” mode. It’s exhausting and it’s largely my own fault. Perhaps one of these days I will learn to say “no” more often; maybe I’ll procrastinate less and avoid the lackadaisical days that lend to my lagging pace. But before you dismiss this as just another blog about “how busy Matt is,” allow me to clarify. In NO way am I looking for your sympathy. I’ve identified my problem and it’s me (and I’m seeking help from the Lord and His people with this issue). No, I write today because I’ve observed that some of my physical tendencies in this recent season have unfortunately carried over into how I approach aspects of my spiritual life.

This past winter was tough on me. With colder temps, less sunlight, plenty of tasty food, and limited opportunities to be outside and active, my weight fluctuated (more up than down) and my muscle tone seemingly vanished. So thankful I am that spring is finally here! However, there is lots of catching up to do…or at least that is how it feels. Needless to say, my response to being out of shape is less than balanced. It is also far from healthy.

I tend to try to make up for a season’s worth of missed jogs in one week’s time, and that’s a bad idea. For one, if I am actually able to get out on the road and survive a long run (aka slow jog/walk), then I’m usually too sore to exercise for the next several days that follow. Yet often I don’t think I have enough time to do all I want or need to do, so instead, I do nothing. It doesn’t take a genius to observe that each approach is lacking. In fact, each only further compounds my trouble. But it gets better (and by better I mean that it gets much worse).

So when I finally do get out and exercise, you know what I do right after I’m finished. Well, after I shadow box and raise my arms in victory a la Rocky Balboa, I go hit the scales. Have I lost weight?! I lift up my shirt and stare at my abs (or where I think they used to be) to see if a six-pack has suddenly emerged. And guess what? Yep, there is no noticeable change. And though I desperately want things to be different, because I’m only focusing on visible change, I end up feeling more discouraged than before I even started. It hinders me from moving toward the real progress that might be possible because it feels like I’ll never get there. It seems like I am just wasting my time.

Did you know that if you continue to open your oven door, checking the status of your cooking casserole, you will eventually prolong its being ready on time and quite possibly alter the quality of your final product. Why? Each casserole has a specific time and temperature that is necessary for it to arrive at its optimum deliciousness. The process is slow (especially when I’m hungry) but that’s part of it – there is a plan to be worked, baking to take place. Every time the door opens, heat escapes and the oven has to work harder to recover. While my use of this illustration sheds some light on my dilemma (I like consuming calories more than burning them), it also reveals a portion of why we unnecessarily experience discouragement spiritually.

Our sanctification is a process that should always seem too slow, lest we fall into the sin of complacency and self-righteousness. Likewise it also requires the heat of trial and adversity, for these things produce a maturity in us that cannot be manufactured in any other way. So whether we immediately remove ourselves from the heat of hard times because its uncomfortable or we continue to focus on visible growth, in so doing we interrupt God’s divine design for us.

The more I open the oven door, the longer before my casserole is ready and the greater my frustration. Just as one run does not solve my physical needs, nor does one workout a six-pack make, one day of faithfulness to the Lord does not a complete my calling, nor does another prayer make me a sanctified (notice past tense – finished) saint. Constantly looking for results and transformation can become a discouragement, and eventually lead us to quit the plan.

Given, we will never be a completed casserole (so to speak); we’ll never be spiritually fit specimens of perfection on this side of heaven. But we can move forward…we should move forward! Our growth in the Lord takes time; it requires consistency. It is also only capable by God’s grace. As I’ve spent much time contemplating these things of late, it is as if the Holy Spirit is pleading with me, reminding me of this: Stop looking in the mirror and look to Jesus! Friend, you and I will never look better than when we’re reflecting Him.

And the best news of all is that in Christ, there is no catching up to do (even if it feels like it), for He has accomplished the work already. He has reconciled us to the Father. Yes, Jesus takes us as the chubby, out of breath, easily distracted sheep that we are, and He calls us to follow Him, reminding us that He will be with us every step of the way. Just keep moving…Just keep walking…Baby steps, little wins along the way, calories being burned, old habits slowly fading, over time we will see Him more clearly, and we will reflect Him more brightly. May we not grow weary in the interim, and might our gaze never shift from the glorious thought of His gospel and its implications on our lives.

Matt Fowler
NBC Family Pastor of HS
@fattmowler

Transform Your Family Time.

"I wish i knew a better way to have a Faith Talk!"

I wonder how many parents feel inadequate when they are challenged to faith talk with their families? How many choose not to attempt a feeble bible conversation due to feeling biblically incompetent? I’m curious how many wives remain silent while secretly wishing their husbands would take the lead in discipling their family?
I don’t think that this needs to be so difficult. I want to let you off the hook. The work of transformation in you family is God’s work. The Holy Spirit does the teaching. God’s Word is living and active, parents can trust it to make a difference in themselves and their families (Hebrews 4:12).
With all this talk about the gospel, and family ministry, there has to be a way for parents to engage their families in scripture in a way that doesn’t cause parent to feel inadequate. Here is an idea that I think any parent could pull off.
This is a new book called , “The Whole Story of the Bible in 16 Verses.” A discipleship pastor wrote this book. I think any parent could tell these stories and have a brief, casual conversation with their families about what God is revealing in them. People love stories. He has even provided a free study guide that will inform the parent of the emphasis of the passage and provide questions to ask.
Every week a parent will learn one of the stories to tell or they assign someone in the family to learn the story. The assigned storyteller learns the story so that he or she can tell it without reading it — not word for word but so the story remains true to the meaning. While the storyteller is telling the story, the family reads along to see if the storyteller has missed anything. When the story is finished, the storyteller or one of the parents will rebuild the story pointing out anything that was missed. A parent can ask someone to tell the story back to everyone without reading it. No one knows who will be asked, so everyone pays attention just in case he or she is chosen.
Once the story has been told, rebuilt, and told again, the small-group leader asks questions that draw out the important truths in the story.

For example:
• “What new thing did you discover in the story that you did not know before?”
• “What did you learn about God?”
• “What did you learn about people?”
• “Which person is most like you in the story?”
• “What will you take away from this discussion?”
• “What will you do with what you have learned?”

The question-and-answer time leads to great discussion and application points for the family.

The 16 Verses:

1. Creation (Genesis 1:31)
2. Human Beings (Genesis 1:27–28)
3. The Fall (Genesis 3:6–7)
4. Redemption Promised (Genesis 3:15)
5. Abraham (Genesis 12:2–3)
6. Judah the King (Genesis 49:10)
7. The Passover Lamb (Exodus 12:23)
8. King David (2 Samuel 7:12–13)
9. The Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53:6)
10. Resurrection Promised (Ezekiel 37:3–5)
11. New Creation (Isaiah 65:17)
12. Fulfillment! (Mark 1:14–15)
13. The Cross (John 19:30)
14. Resurrection (Romans 1:3–4)
15. Justification (Romans 3:21–26)
16. Glory (Revelation 21:1–4)

Wouldn’t it be great to start this practice this Easter? I would start with, “#13 The Cross (John 19:30) this month, and then #14 Resurrection (Romans 1:3–4)” in April. Then you could keep up this tradition the following months. You could do that. I can assure you that you family will benefit from this practice. You could make it a part of the family dinner once a month (Dad cooks when mom tells the story). This experience should be fun and relaxed. There will be successes and there will be fails. But the biggest fail is to neglect this most sacred of opportunities.
Please tell me the story about how it goes. I love stories.

Dr. Phil Sallee, Pastor
twitter.com/philsallee
facebook.com/phil.sallee
philsallee.info
nbchurch.info
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The rest of the verse is just as sweet

“…I will be exalted among all nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10b

This is the part of Psalm 46:10 that rarely, if ever, makes its way onto a coffee mug. In fact its notoriety is quite opposite from the verse’s much more popular first sentence: “Be still, and know that I am God.” While “part a” is often printed on mugs and bumper stickers, even the occasional t-shirt, “part b” is hardly ever emphasized. Believers’ familiarity with the first phrase is wonderful, for it is a precious pleading from the Lord, but the remaining portion of this verse offers another level of fullness to the first phrase – a depth and meaning we should be careful to not neglect.

Psalm 46 praises God for being our mighty fortress (v.7), the One in whom we take refuge, our strength, One who is present in our times of trouble (v.1).  It exalts God for bringing peace in the midst of chaos (v.2-3, 9). Though the earth gives way, though the nations rage like the sea, God stands firm. The Lord Most High and His holy city of Zion will not be moved. Why? It is immovable because He is in her midst. Yes, the fountainhead of His grace is fixed in this place, and it flows eternally. And this blessed location is reserved for people of all nations.

The psalmist’s second stanza encourages the contemplation of God’s mighty works (v.8). It is in this same final piece of the hymn that we read, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Such a beautiful word to us! It is as if we are being prompted to pause, think about who God is and all that He has done; cease striving (as it says in the NASB) and know that God is God. Remember His faithfulness in the past. Be reminded that He is currently our refuge…

Now to consider the significance of the remaining segment of this verse, “I will be exalted among all nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Scripture reminds us that just as certain as the Lord has proven Himself in ages past, just as assuredly as He is with His people in any given moment, one can rest in knowing that with Him, the future is just as secure… Yes, even if it seems so uncertain.

Despite the current global conditions – all the violence, the persecution of His saints, all the conflicts and turmoil and rumors of war, God will be exalted among all nations. The promise made to Abraham will be fulfilled (Genesis 12:1-3); the charge given to the disciples before Christ ascended will one day be carried out to the satisfaction of the Father (Matthew 28:18-20); the nations will be reached and Christ will be cherished; and every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:8-11); He will be exalted in the earth!

“Be still, and know that I am God.” Yes, Lord, You are! I find peace in this blissful thought. “I will be exalted among all the nations…” Lord, it is hard to see it now, but I believe to be so. The One who is “very present” in my most desperate of hours today, will also be exalted in the age to come. It helps me to think of where the Lord has brought me. It emboldens me to remember His mercy and longsuffering towards me. Yet just as glorious, is the thought of His future grace to be revealed. Might we find time this week, to just be still for a moment and remember that He is God – yesterday, today, and forever. The Lord of hosts, the God of Jacob, our mighty fortress, the One who melts the earth with His voice, He is with us, and that shall never change.

Matt Fowler
NBC Family Pastor of HS
@fattmowler