Reflections ~ The Power of Hope

Though most of his family died under the demonic persecution of the Nazis, Elie Wiesel survived the Holocaust. Elie went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to turn the world from a place of hatred into a realm of righteousness. Viktor Frankl, a Viennese psychiatrist before World War II, survived Auschwitz. Years later he wrote the book, Man’s Search for Meaning. In the concentration camp he discovered that the prisoners who often survived were not the ones who were strongest physically, but the ones who had hope. Hope is one of the most essential, but least valued attributes of a healthy person.

Jesus said in the last days wickedness would increase and the love of most people would grow cold. (Matt. 24:12) In our time bombers, murderers and deceivers have spread waves of despair throughout society. In the face of wickedness many people stop loving their neighbor. This creates a great opportunity for those who have been filled with the Spirit of Christ. Our love comes from God and does not diminish when people are suffering. His love gives us compassion and enables us to overcome evil with good.

Our hearts break when tragedies happen, or when someone we love dies, but our sadness does not last forever. We do not despair in the face of evil, because we have the Spirit that raised Christ from the dead living inside of us. Jesus defeated death itself. The Spirit of God does not leave us when bad things happen. He gives us hope that we can overcome evil, because “Greater is he who is within us than he who is in the world” (I John 4:4).

I was talking recently with Ray Johnson, the pastor of Bayside Church in Granite Bay, CA. Ray was a youth pastor in Marin County when I was leading the Novato Open Door Church. This Easter, Bayside had 31,000 people attending services in their campuses around Sacramento. As we talked, I could sense Ray’s great leadership gift. I asked him how he stays healthy with all the pressures he faces. Ray said that the key thing he wants to give people is hope. If people have hope they can overcome any challenge. The ability to inspire hope is a gift from God.

Napoleon said “Leaders are dealers in hope.” Those who inspire hope in others can lead them into war, like Napoleon and the Nazis, or into God’s Kingdom, like Jesus and the apostles. I do not have hope that I’m going to wake up one morning looking more handsome or being stronger. Our hope is not dependent on what some dictator, terrorist, or politician does. The Bible teaches that God’s Kingdom will continue to advance. We pray and believe His will is going to be done on earth as it is in heaven. This hope does not make us passive in the face of evil, but active in advancing God’s Kingdom every way we possibly can.

We all face heartache and pain in life. However, if we trust God and do his will, we will inherit the eternal glory He has prepared for us. One day we will move permanently into the Kingdom of heaven. God will then make everything we have suffered insignificant compared to the glory we will experience. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 15:13).

REFLECTIONS ~ Shivering Lizards

On a recent Monday morning, I walked the winding trail to the top of the small mountain in the preserve just south of our home. At the peak, I took off my iPod and turned off the podcast I was listening to. It was a clear day and the sun was starting to warm the morning air. I sat down on a flat rock and looked over Paradise Valley in north Phoenix. I like to sit on the mountain overlooking the city and pray.

We came to Phoenix in 1984 with four children and a truckload of furniture. At the time I didn’t know what the Lord was going to do in our lives. One day I read a promise in Deuteronomy 6:10-11 that gave me hope. “I will give you a splendid city, with houses you don’t have to build and wells you don’t have to dig.” We now have wonderful friends, a great church and a beautiful home in this splendid city.

As I began to give thanks on the mountaintop, I saw something scurry up the rock below me. A large lizard had come out of the cold shadows and stretched out on the warm surface of a rock. As the sun began to warm its body, the lizard began to shiver. It was adjusting itself to the warmth of the sunlight, like someone coming out of the ocean warming up on the sand of the beach.

Earlier that morning, I had stretched out on the carpet on the floor of our bedroom and shivered like that lizard. I wasn’t shivering from the cold, but from depletion. On Friday and Saturday, I had made several trips to Hospice in Scottsdale to be with Paul Pittendrigh and his family. Paul was in a coma dying from a stroke. Paul and his wife, Naomi, had been with us at Living Streams when the church was still in our living room in 1984. They left Phoenix to serve with YWAM for many years and returned to live out their retirement. Paul was ninety years old and a man who showed his love for the Lord by his acts of service. He drove tractors and heavy equipment helping YWAM develop their University in Kona, HI, as well as on the mission field. He went to be with the Lord on Sunday afternoon, just as our morning services were ending.

Loving people deeply takes all the strength I have on many days. It is not a chore for me to love God’s people, it is a privilege. Jesus commands us to love one another because he knows that it is the most enriching way for us to live. However, watching someone you love as they die, even when you know their life has been full, is very challenging. We can’t love deeply people without being vulnerable.

When I feel drained, it is easy for me to get agitated. That doesn’t go over too well at our house. Kristina has low tolerance for anyone who gets frustrated or angry and starts directing it towards her. She definitely expects the one who preaches about the Spirit-filled life on Sundays to live the Spirit-filled life on Mondays. Therefore, I have had to find a remedy for depletion, one that works quickly and surely, or else I have to find a remedy for an upset spouse, which can add layers of complication to a depleted soul.

So I often lay face down on our carpet, or on a towel in the backyard in the shade of our porch, calling on my Father in Jesus’ name. Just like a lizard shivering in the warm sun, my soul gets warmed as the Holy Spirit fills me up. There is no specific formula for prayer, any more than there is a formula for good communication with a friend or your spouse. I start with being honest about my need for God’s grace and I stay on my face until my heart warms up. I may need to confess something I did wrong, or I may need to simply confess that I am weak. I get strength, and sometimes good ideas, simply by waiting quietly in God’s presence. I pray for other people as they come to my mind, but my main goal is to connect with my Father. He knows me, loves me, and hears my prayers. Like the lizard receiving energy from the morning sun, I sometimes shiver when God warms my soul with grace.

Reflections ~ December 2012

Healthy Things Grow Naturally

Many people say “Healthy things grow. If something stops growing, it’s not healthy.” Some people apply that logic to churches and others apply it to businesses. I want to clarify that concept. No plants, animals or people keep growing indefinitely. All living things reach a maximum size determined by genetics and environment, otherwise they would become gigantic. When healthy things reach maturity, new growth comes through reproduction.
No business or church can grow indefinitely either. Healthy businesses stay focused on their customers and main products. If they get overextended they are vulnerable to all kinds of problems. Healthy churches grow to a size determined by the gifts, talents and opportunities given by God to the congregation and leaders. They reproduce by raising up mature disciples who establish new ministries and plant new churches. The apostles left Jerusalem to preach the gospel and establish new churches. Some of the new churches they established grew larger and lasted longer than the church in Jerusalem.
Jesus said, “See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or toil.” (Mat. 6:28) Healthy things grow naturally. It is a flawed form of judgment to value people by the size of their ministry, business or bank account. That is like saying your mother was an incredible woman because she raised you in a big house. The impact of your mother, father, or friend is as great as the love they showed you and the wisdom they imparted to you. If Christ is in you, you may not be impressive to the world, but the faith and love you have can transform the life of anyone who believes your message.
One reason I enjoy the challenge of sports and games is the opportunity to make progress in ways that are measurable. A smoother golf swing improves my scores and helps me to feel like I’m learning and growing. We need to have a sense that we are growing in wisdom and understanding in life as well. After midlife, our bodies diminish in strength and energy. Life can be depressing if we focus on that decline. Fortunately, the Lord allows us to grow in grace and wisdom throughout our lives.
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” (II Corinthians 4:16) Inward renewal comes as we draw near to the Lord in prayer and experience his grace. I’m learning to trust God in deeper ways, so my faith stays alive under stress and pressure. Spiritual growth can be measured by peace in our hearts and confidence in God when we face the pressures of life.
Our six year old grandson Matisse captured a scorpion and released it recently. The next day he asked his mother, “If I can catch a baby scorpion, how can we train it to hunt? Do they have books on that?”
Matisse will grow in size, wisdom and understanding in the years to come, but he is precious to us right now. You too will naturally grow in wisdom and understanding as you read the word of God and put it into practice. Yet I hope you realize that you are loved as much today as you will be on the day you meet the Lord and receive your reward.

Reflections ~ Dynamic Dysfunction

Kristina and I spent the first seven years of our marriage running a discipleship house. Some of the young men and women we helped became pastors and leaders. Others left us and ended up going to jail. We helped people transform their lives through the grace of God, but we also learned our limitations. When we did for people what they should have been doing for themselves we didn’t help them at all.

A dysfunctional concept of love permeates our society. This was evident when Colorado and Washington voted to legalize recreational marijuana and other states voted to legalize gay marriage. Giving people what they want rather than what is good for them is a flawed concept of love. The last thing we should be doing in a time of financial crisis is to make drugs that diminish mental capacity more widely available. Do we want our doctors, car repairmen, computer technicians and airline pilots to get stoned? We should also know that marriage was established by God for a man and a woman. Healthy marriages are the foundation of healthy families and a strong society.

While our government provides many vital services for those in need, it is also like a dysfunctional parent who provides benefits even to those who don’t want to work. If we do for others what they should do for themselves, we are hindering their development, not enhancing it.

America has over 16 trillion dollars in federal debt, and trillions more in unfunded entitlements (Google the national debt clock). It’s going to be a painful mess when interest rates start to rise, inflation increases and another economic down turn begins.

Our twelve year war in Afghanistan exemplifies dysfunction. Our soldiers are being shot by the very people we are trying to help. We cannot be a savior to the Afghans. We should have defeated the Taliban and left their country ten years ago. America needs to cut military spending, cut domestic spending and change our attitude about the responsibility of the government. It is not righteous to keep borrowing from the next generation to fund our current budget.

I had a heavy heart one day as I contemplated these realities. I laid down on a rug in our living room to pray. Within a few minutes the Holy Spirit began to refresh and encourage me. The storm clouds of spiritual warfare parted, and the light of God’s grace gave me a fresh perspective. The Holy Spirit comes to us because Jesus has risen from the dead. Every trial shrinks in the light of the glory that God reveals when we experience the reality that Jesus is alive.

Kristina and I prepared our children to face the trials of life, but each of them has to fight their own spiritual giants as they go through life. Likewise, every generation faces unique challenges which help people see their need to turn to God. The dysfunction in society gives us an opportunity to share God’s word and bring the gospel of Christ to those who are open. Some people look for scapegoats when their lives fall apart. Others look for solutions. The Word of God has wisdom for the problems people face.

I have been meeting with pastors from some of the largest churches in Arizona. We are working together in unity to glorify God. We want to mobilize the Church to help vulnerable children. Networks of pastors have formed all over the country to work in unity to serve our communities in Jesus name.

The Church of Jesus Christ is filled with people who love God and care for each other. We help each other triumph over the trials of life. We bring healing to the brokenhearted and hope to the discouraged. There is nothing better in life than the forgiveness of sins and the grace of God that Jesus gives to everyone who calls on his name. Living Streams has helped plant five churches in the last several years and all are thriving. Churches where the grace and power of God are present bear fruit regardless of political circumstances, because Jesus is the head of all authority, and Lord over all creation.

Reflections ~ The Fear of the Lord ~

Many serious problems in our society, including divorce, AIDS, addictions, and crime would be radically reduced if more people understood the fear of the Lord. Proverbs 1:9 says “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” I have heard preachers say, “This scripture doesn’t mean we should fear the Lord. It means we should have a  reverence and awe of God. He doesn’t want us to actually fear him.”

I disagree with that watered down interpretation of this vital spiritual truth. Those who fear the Lord do not walk around afraid of an arbitrary God, but they understand there are serious consequences if we disobey God’s commands. Many people have a naive attitude that a loving God would not make them suffer consequences for their actions.

People who think they know God, but do not fear Him, lack wisdom. They give in to temptation, and then assume that everything will be fine because God forgives sin. Yes, God forgives sin, but He also disciplines those he loves (i.e., Hebrews 12:5-11). There is a distinction between forgiveness, which can be immediate, and cleansing which takes time (i.e., I John 1:9). Any time you make a big mess you can be forgiven, but the mess must still be cleaned up.

King David was a man loved by God; however, in a time of temptation, he committed adultery and murder. The prophet Nathan told David, “The sword will never depart from your house” (II Samuel 12:10). When David repented, his sin was forgiven, but his sin opened the door to the forces of hell. His children experienced premature death, rape and murder. David was driven from his kingdom by his son Absalom, who was subsequently killed by Joab.

Many people have wrecked their families and ministries because they do not fear God. Most of the time I’m faithful because of my love for the Lord, the church, and my wife, Kristina; however, the fear of God is the bottom line of protection for me in times of temptation. The apostle Paul was the greatest teacher of grace, but he also said, “I buffet my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize” (I Cor. 9:27).

I have heard people say, “God wants me to be happy, and I’m not happy in this marriage. God is forgiving, and I know he will forgive me if I get a divorce.” God wants us to be happy. That’s why he tells us to fear him. The fear of God protects us when we are weak because it helps us to keep his Word when we are tempted. Happiness comes when we experience the blessings of healthy marriages, clear consciences, and fruitful lives. Happiness will also come on the day that Jesus is revealed. On that day, everything we have suffered will make sense in the light of Christ’s presence and glory.

Wisdom gives us the capacity to make the best decision when we face challenges. The fear of the Lord does not solve every challenge we face, but it’s a good beginning. Our Father in heaven has all the wisdom we need, and He delights in giving it to those who love Him.

Reflections ~ Unexpected Blessings ~

My friend Bruce Utterback and I were taking a hike one morning in early September when the sky grew dark with clouds and it started to rain. We kept walking through the desert as rain fell on us like a refreshing from heaven. We headed home as the rain intensified over the next two hours. Rain is a blessing in the desert. Sometimes it comes when you least expect it, just like the blessings of God.
Kristina and I had our granddaughter Ava with us recently while her mom, Kelly, was in Hawaii with Robert on their honeymoon. One afternoon, Kristina bought a pumpkin, and Ava designed the face. They carved it, and then baked the seeds. While Kristina was preparing Hatch chilies, Ava brought out her cards and proceeded to beat me in War. They then made granola, and afterwards curled up together on a recliner to watch a show about capturing alligators in Florida. Ava and her grandma both work hard, love deeply, and play to win.
Eight years ago our daughter Kelly, who was single, told us she was pregnant. We were deeply troubled. That was not the vision we had for our daughter’s life. A lady told me our coming grandchild would be a blessing from the Lord. At the time I wished that blessing would smite someone else. After Ava’s birth, we had two years of intense trials between Ava’s dad, Jason, and our family. Jason brought the police to our house a couple of times. We went to court over child custody issues, and we eventually got an injunction of harassment. We prayed a lot while the forces of hell buffeted our family.
In August we had a men’s retreat with over 400 men from around the Valley at Lost Canyon in Williams. The Spirit of God blessed us during the worship and teaching sessions. Around 10:30 on Saturday night, I was reading in my room when I heard a knock on the door. I opened the door and there was Jason. He was attending his first men’s retreat.
“I just want to say ‘thank you,’” he said with tears in his eyes.
“I’m really glad you had the faith to come,” I replied. “It seems like we have come full circle.”
Jason and I have become friends. He has come over for dinner and we have hiked and prayed together in the desert. He loves the Lord, leads an AA meeting, and is a great dad to Ava.
Last year, Kelly dropped Ava off at her kindergarten class on the first day of school. Afterwards she told us about Ava’s first school day. A little girl was standing alone crying after her mother left. Ava immediately went over to the girl and put her arm around her.
“I’ll be your friend. You can stay with me.” Ava told her.
Ava has a way of loving others that brings us joy. Some blessings fall from heaven. Others grow up right before your eyes. Sometimes God sends us gifts that are hard to appreciate when they first appear. I never want to give up on anything or anyone, because the Lord often puts unexpected blessings in challenging circumstances. Some of the darkest clouds hold a great amount of rain.

Reflections ~ A Tale of Three Men ~

After our 9:00 AM service one recent Sunday, I greeted Gary Naylor, who had a big smile on his face. “How’s it going Gary?”
“Great, I just got a new job.”
“What are you going to be doing?”
“I’m going to be driving a school bus full time.”
For the last couple of years Gary has had two or three jobs at the same time. He worked at Walmart, delivered morning newspapers and drove a school bus every week. The last time we talked, he told me about the opportunities he had to share his faith with some of the foreign nationals who worked with him at Walmart.
When I first met Gary, he and his partners owned properties all over Arizona. They bought hundreds of foreclosures, fixed them up and sold up to five a week for good profit. When the housing market crashed in 2007, Gary and his wife Jean lost all their properties, including their beautiful home in Phoenix where they raised their four sons.
At the conclusion of our 11:00 AM service that same Sunday, another man came forward with his wife to talk with me. We had never met before, but it was quickly apparent that he was bitter. He tried to convince me that there is a conspiracy by our government to persecute Christians. After a few tense minutes I asked him if he had a job. When he said that he was not working, I told him he needed to get a job. He became irate.
“Don’t you know we have a depression going on? The illegals have taken over all the work! I’m offended by you!”
I thought he might attack me any moment, so I started walking slowly out of the sanctuary. His wife gave me an apathetic shrug as I made a safe exit.
Driving home I couldn’t help but contrast the attitudes of these two men. Gary had lost millions and yet he still had his faith, his joy, and his wonderful wife. He was humble enough to do whatever work he could find. The visitor was a carpenter, too proud to do anything with lesser value. His bitterness led him into deception.
On vacation one sunny day in San Diego, I chatted with a landscaper who said, “What a beautiful day to be working. In another hour I’ll be doing a job where I can see the ocean!”
I don’t know if he was legal, but I do know that Jesus said, “The meek will inherit the earth.” (Mat. 5:5). Those who are humble and thankful for the gifts of life and work, will be blessed with access to the whole earth. That has been God’s plan from the beginning. We don’t control our circumstances, but if we enjoy the journey, it’s a lot more fun and fruitful.

Roberta Buckley ~ June

Kristina and I flew to California for a missions conference recently and spent a night with my mother. Roberta Buckley still lives in the suburban house on Holly Drive in Terra Linda we moved into in 1954. She had a big pot of minestrone soup and fresh French bread ready when we arrived. Mom was eager to hear how we were doing, how Living Streams was going, and to get an update on her granddaughters in Arizona.

My parents never had much money, but my dad had friends at a supermarket who gave him deals on meat and vegetables that were near their due dates, so we had lots of food. Mom fed her eight children three meals a day along with our friends, cousins, and various hitchhikers. She did the cleaning, washing, doctors appointments and attended our games. She has twenty-one grandchildren, and six great grandchildren who drop by hungry. She also hosts twenty to forty people at a time for family birthday parties, holidays, her bridge club, and community groups. I’m sure she has cooked more meals in the last fifty-eight years than anyone else in Marin County. I bet she is also Costco’s best eighty-seven year old regular customer.

Roberta Mathews graduated from UC Berkeley in February 1947 and married John Buckley that June. She moved from the Episcopal to the Catholic church when she saw how seriously my dad took his faith. She embraced Catholic teachings about everything including birth control. So one child led to another until our house was full.

One day I watched my mom’s face light up with joy as she talked with a friend of mine about his life. She made him feel special because she really cared about him. Mom shows her love for people not only by feeding them, but by asking them about their lives. She is interested in people because she loves people.

Mom has lived through divorce, cancer, surgeries, the deaths of her parents, sisters, two grandchildren, and many friends. She doesn’t move too fast anymore, yet she still loves life.

Life moves fast for all of us, yet some things remain the same. It is always a blessing to have someone care about you. Long before I understood that God chooses us to be in his family, I understood that I was special because my mother really cared about me.

You don’t have to preach to the multitudes or work miracles to have a powerful impact. All you have to do is commit yourself to loving the people around you. I have never met a perfect person, but my life has been shaped by a woman who started loving me at birth, forgave my many sins, and has never given up on me. I thank God for my Mom.

REFLECTIONS

Roberta Buckley

 Kristina and I flew to California for a missions conference recently and spent a night with my mother. Roberta Buckley still lives in the suburban house on Holly Drive in Terra Linda we moved into in 1954. She had a big pot of minestrone soup and fresh French bread ready when we arrived. Mom was eager to hear how we were doing, how Living Streams was going, and to get an update on her granddaughters in Arizona.
My parents never had much money, but my dad had friends at a supermarket who gave him deals on meat and vegetables that were near their due dates, so we had lots of food. Mom fed her eight children three meals a day along with our friends, cousins, and various hitchhikers. She did the cleaning, washing, doctors appointments and attended our games. She has twenty-one grandchildren, and six great grandchildren who drop by hungry. She also hosts twenty to forty people at a time for family birthday parties, holidays, her bridge club, and community groups. I’m sure she has cooked more meals in the last fifty-eight years than anyone else in Marin County. I bet she is also Costco’s best eighty-seven year old regular customer.
Roberta Mathews graduated from UC Berkeley in February 1947 and married John Buckley that June. She moved from the Episcopal to the Catholic church when she saw how seriously my dad took his faith. She embraced Catholic teachings about everything including birth control. So one child led to another until our house was full.
One day I watched my mom’s face light up with joy as she talked with a friend of mine about his life. She made him feel special because she really cared about him. Mom shows her love for people not only by feeding them, but by asking them about their lives. She is interested in people because she loves people.
Mom has lived through divorce, cancer, surgeries, the deaths of her parents, sisters, two grandchildren, and many friends. She doesn’t move too fast anymore, yet she still loves life.
Life moves fast for all of us, yet some things remain the same. It is always a blessing to have someone care about you. Long before I understood that God chooses us to be in his family, I understood that I was special because my mother really cared about me.
You don’t have to preach to the multitudes or work miracles to have a powerful impact. All you have to do is commit yourself to loving the people around you. I have never met a perfect person, but my life has been shaped by a woman who started loving me at birth, forgave my many sins, and has never given up on me. I thank God for my Mom.

Reflections ~ August 2011 ~ Cheers of a Brother

Mel Shultz is a Jewish believer who started following Jesus in 1969. An evangelist at Arizona State University shared the gospel with him, then a young pastor took him under his wing. Mel became a businessman and a Bible teacher. He has served the Lord ever since.

As Mel’s businesses thrived, he became part owner of the Phoenix Suns and the Arizona Diamondbacks. When he first came to Living Streams, Mel was recovering from several surgeries. We got together and enjoyed talking about the Lord, the Word, business, and sports.

Mel had played a lot of golf before his accident, but the first time we played nine holes, he had not been on a course for months. He shot two under par, ten strokes better than me.

Over the next several years, we played golf many times, and Mel would beat me easily. Last spring, we were playing nine holes and our match was close. I was playing well, while he was distracted by phone calls. On several occasions, as my ball headed toward the hole, Mel was cheering, “Go in! Go in!” I sank a few long putts and edged him by one stroke.

When I saw Mel with his sons Tom and Ben at a restaurant the next week, he smiled and said, “Mark beat me last week!” In case you don’t know me well, I should admit two things. First, if you ever saw me in competition, the chances are good that the words you heard were not me rooting for the other guy. Second, if the other guy beat me, the chances are good that I didn’t tell people about it.

I have also played golf with Tom and Ben. They have the same spirit as their dad. They root for their opponents to make good shots. They cheer when their competitor’s putt drops into the hole. They too share the news if their friends win. They compete to win, but they have a higher priority. They want their friends to thrive. The joy of their friends is as important to them as the satisfaction of a victory.

So what’s the big deal since most of the world could care less about golf? Mel and his sons have given me a glimpse into the heart of our Father and the love of true brothers. Jesus intercedes for us at the right hand of God. He intercedes for our success. He is cheering for us and he wants us to root for each another.

When I competed with my children, I tried to win, but I also was happy when they became good enough to beat me. That’s pretty common for parents, because we love our children and want them to surpass us. It is a lot harder to root for the church down the street, or the success of your friends when they are competing with you.

When we love one another enough to rejoice in each other’s success, we fulfill Jesus’ words, “My command is this; Love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12) When we pray for each other, we are sending spiritual cheers to heaven that rebound into the souls of those we pray for. Our prayers lift people up with grace and strength so they can triumph in life. I receive a lot of grace when faithful friends pray for me. That’s why I’m sending this with a prayer for you.