Faith of Steel

I've been prepping today for a new sermon series and as I was looking back at a sermon from last January, I was reminded of some things I said this time last year about faith of steel. The message was from Daniel 3 about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and what happened after they were thrown in the firey furnace. Here's what I wrote:


Something amazing happens here: King Neb sees four men in the fire. How many people were thrown in? Three. But there are four walking around unharmed – their ropes burned off. Who was the fourth? Neb doesn’t know – looks like some kind of God but he doesn’t know. But we know who it was: It was Jesus Christ himself – God’s Son made an appearance in that fire with the trio. MEGAFACT: Jesus is always with us in the fire. He is always there! Here’s what He does: He either saves us from it (plucks us out) or He walks through it with us and protects us the entire way.

Are you in the fire today? If you know Christ, look around because you are not alone! Isaiah 43:2-3, “When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior . . .” Jesus is always with us in the fire.

Daniel 3:26, "Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.” God’s protection in the fire was so great that they didn’t even smell like smoke. You can’t walk out of a convenience store without smelling like smoke! God’s protection!

Daniel 3:28, "Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.”

Neb was profoundly affected by the trio’s faith of steel. He says four key words: “They trusted in him.” Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego trusted in God. They faced this huge challenge with faith of steel – not in what they could do to rescue themselves but what their God could do. They knew He was able and they trusted Him to work it out.

So how is faith of steel developed? It’s a lot like the process of making actual steel. To manufacture steel, producers mine very large rocks out of the earth’s crust. Inside of these rocks is iron ore, the raw material that is needed to produce the steel. The only way to get the iron ore out of the rock in a form that is useable is to put it in fire – it must be melted and broken down. And so the rocks are crushed and then placed into a blast furnace that is heated to over 2700 degrees Fahrenheit. The intense heat breaks the rock down until it releases the pure iron that is needed to create steel of unyielding strength.

Friends, extraordinary faith of steel is forged in the fires of life. And the hotter the fire, the purer the end product will be. Some of you are walking through the fire right now. You can’t figure out why things are happening the way they are happening. You don’t know what it’s all about. You’re wondering if God is ever going to rescue you. Promise you two things:

1. Just like He rescued Shad, Me and Abed, He will rescue you. The God we serve is able to save you from it and He will do it. Hold on.

2. If you will trust in Him, He will forge in you unyielding faith of steel - the kind of faith that will give you the hope and trust and confidence that you need to know Christ and follow Him with your life – no matter the fire, no matter the dilemma, no matter the trial.


I'm holding on because I know He will do it. "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." Hebrews 6:19

Comfort

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-6 (NIV)

I’m living today in the middle of some serious irony. It’s incredibly ironic to me that what I have been preaching for the past three or four months is now taking place in my own life.

I know, I know: I should not be surprised by this trial. As a pastor, I see suffering taking place on a daily basis. I listen to people tell stories about how their worlds are falling apart. I spend time praying with those who are searching for answers and hope in the middle of their crazy worlds. And I know that I am not exempt from anything and am probably an even bigger target because of the work God has called me to do.

But for some reason, I’ve been totally caught off guard by this turn in my own road. (I am aware that most of you have no idea what I am writing about and that is okay. YOU DON’T NEED TO KNOW IN ORDER TO PRAY. I just ask you to pray for me and my family.)

So today the Lord reminded me of my own words spoken in a sermon on the above passage. I preached this at Capstone on October 21, 2007:


As Christ-followers, there are dilemmas in our faith, those times that it doesn’t all make sense – some tension between truths. This passage presents one. Even though God is the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, we are never promised exemption from suffering. We will suffer and we must recognize that the hard times are coming. Look at verse four: “Praise be to the God of all comfort . . . who comforts us IN all our troubles.” (2 Cor. 1:4) It does not say “who keeps us from having any troubles.” Troubles will come --- guarantee in every life. Warren Weirsbe says that “when a day begins you never know how it’s going to end.” Even Jesus’ most devoted followers are not promised exemption from the troubles of life.

The reality of this truth is really shocking to some people. We think, “Come on, God. I’m on your team now. I’ve given my life to you. I’ve quit all those bad things I used to do. I’ve devoted my life to you --- can’t you give me a break?” But we’re not promised a break. We’re promised comfort.

Verse 5 says: “For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives…” The Greek verb translated "to flow over" means "to exceed the measure." What Paul is saying is that not only does God not spare us from suffering, but he actually permits suffering to flow over into our lives for a greater purpose.

Wait a minute --- God wants me to suffer? If your suffering will complete His work and His purpose for your life and the lives of others, then the answer to that question has to be “yes.” That doesn’t make sense. Why would a loving God allow that to happen? We have to see the view from God’s perspective. Think about Jesus: Jesus had to suffer for God’s work to be completed in Him. Paul had to suffer in order to personally experience the comfort of Jesus so that God could use him to tell us about it. We suffer so that God’s work may be completed in us.


The reality of the very words I spoke hit me today: “We’re not promised a break. We’re promised comfort.”

I’m holding God to that promise.

Thank You...Don't Stop

Your comments and prayers mean the world to us and we have felt their power. Thank you.

Please continue to lift all of us up. We know that He is able.

Just because we're friends...

Will you take a moment and pray for my family and me right now? Prayer is always needed but sometimes it's REALLY needed and this is one of those times.

Thank you.

Most Depressing Day?

I heard on the news this morning that many psychologists believe that today is the most depressing day of the year. It's the third Monday of the new year. Credit card bills from Christmas are coming due. Most people have failed at their New Year's resolutions. There was something else about the sun and moon but I can't remember that part!

It's a bright yet cold morning here in Anderson. And I personally am feeling great. God is incredibly good and blessed us with a great weekend. I just finished paying the bills and they are all paid (with no credit cards due here --- just say no to credit card debt!) Claire and our students had a great weekend at their youth retreat in the mountains. Von and I enjoyed some time together this weekend. Sunday's service at Capstone was another great one (and I'm so glad the weather didn't affect us). And, we have 17 people going to Cuba on our next mission trip in March. WOW!!!

Psalm 126:3 says, "The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." I believe that because I have seen that in my life. Is everything perfect in my world? Not at all. But I choose today to be filled with joy because of the great things He has done for me and all of us.

Rebel against the most depressing day of the year. Choose to be filled with joy!

Friends, Traveling, Voting, Hungry, Snow

Von and I had a great time last night with our friends Mike and Ann Marcie. Claire and their son Nick are in the mountains on the youth retreat. So they got a sitter for Madison and we headed to downtown Greenville for dinner at Trio, coffee and dessert at Coffee Underground, and then strolling along Main Street under the lights. It was a great evening with great friends.

Pray for our youth. They are in Pigeon Forge on their mountain retreat. I know they are having a great time and that God will show up. Pray that this weather doesn't affect their travel home on Sunday.

We're going to vote this morning. GO VOTE in the republican primary today or the democratic next Saturday. The key is to VOTE. It's a great freedom we have in America.

Then we're off to the church office to prepare lunches for the hungry and homeless in downtown Anderson. We may stop by the hamburger outreach under the viaduct as well.

Finally, is this snow really going to happen? I love watching it fall but not on Saturdays! I don't want anything to affect church tomorrow because I love Sundays at Capstone. They've been amazing lately. Since we're portable, having church isn't as easy as walking in and turning on the lights. Takes lots of folks pulling trailers and getting there early so the weather may affect that.

If any change has to be made to our schedule, you can check here tomorrow morning. I'll post something by 7 am and let you know.

Have a great Saturday!

Great New Album

Mercy Me's newest album is great and I highly recommend this purchase. Lifeway has it on sale right now for $11.99.

It's a great album of heartfelt worship and scripture lyrics. Check out this line from the song "Goodbye Ordinary":
Live like there's no tomorrow
Love extravagantly
Lead a life to be followed
Goodbye ordinary
Goodbye ordinary

Sounds like a good plan for today.

The Hand Shake

That's right....I got to shake his hand. Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee you ask? No. The man that most of the Clemson students went to see: Chuck Norris.

Yes it's true. I got to shake Chuck Norris's hand. And it was a strong grip just like you would expect it to be. That Total Gym has paid off.

Didn't get to shake Mike's hand though I did get a personal wave from him through his tour bus door. To top it off, even Rick Flair was in the room.

All in Clemson, South Carolina of all places. Go figure.

PS - Huckabee was real, funny, and right on target with his speech. I'll post more later about the experience.

Let It Snow...Mike Huckabee

I'm all about some snow tonight and tomorrow! I love watching it fall and seeing it on the ground. I do hate that it usually snows at night so you don't get to see the beauty of it falling. But there's something great about waking up to a white lawn. I hope that happens tomorrow morning.

What does Mike Huckabee have to do with all of this? If I can get away, I think Claire and I are going to hear him speak at Clemson tomorrow. I've never been to a presidential campaign event. Should be fun. I'll keep you posted.

Monday Matters

It's Monday, my official day off from "the church." I'm not really sure if a day off from "the church" is really even possible or if it should be an option. If we are the church no matter where we go or what we're doing, can I really take a day off? Should I take a day off? The answer to both of those questions is "no." So, I guess I'm not really off today after all.

But I am "away from the office" on Mondays and so I try not to have a mental focus on the things of Capstone on Mondays. I try not to work on projects or even think much about Capstone. A mental break is really important for all of us. I struggle with this at times (trust me) and so I'm trying really hard to make Mondays about me, my family, and things I want to do and need to do.

My "day off" usually goes like this:

• Up around 6:00 am, coffee and a little prayer.
• Watch the first segment of the Today show.
• Take Claire to school at 7:40.
• Home at 8 and (hopefully) jump on the elliptical trainer or walk for 30 minutes.
• Pay bills, balance the checkbook, web surfing, etc until about 10 am.
• Do odds and ends around the house or yard work, hang out with my wife.
• Miscellaneous stuff through the day (like today I finished reading a book I'm reviewing for the newspaper)
• Shower late morning and then head out to run errands, usually get some coffee somewhere, etc.
• Pick Claire up at 3:40 pm.

Not overly exciting, right? I don't think it's supposed to be if it's your day off. I've found that if I spend the day going places or doing a lot of stuff with other people, I don't really feel like I've had the day off. I know, I'm strange.

I am adding something new to Mondays that I'm really excited about. Beginning next Monday (1/21), I'm going to be volunteering at the Anderson Soup Kitchen. Our church has been involved with the Soup Kitchen over the past few years. It's a great community service and combines two of my life passions: food and people!!! So, I'm looking forward to hanging out there a few hours every Monday. Maybe they'll even let me make the soup one day!

The book I finished reading today is Cure for the Common Life by Max Lucado. It's actually a couple of years old but I just discovered it. I was telling my friend Sid Stewart at the Haven of Rest about the "Give It Away" series we're doing at Capstone and he told me that this book goes right along with what we're doing and what I'm preaching. He was right. If you want some help figuring out how God wants to use you in your daily life, I guarantee this book will help. Capstoners: I've ordered some copies and will have those available at church on Sunday for only $10.

So, that's my Monday. Do you take a "day off?" If so, I'd love to hear what you do to chill out. I can always use some new suggestions!

SUNDAY SYNOPSIS: Another great day at Capstone. "Give It Away" is AMAZING and God is leading people to those they are supposed to give it away to. I LOVE watching God work and getting to be a part of it!

Another Cool Story

This one is from one of our newest Capstoners. I love seeing how God is impacting people's lives through "Give It Away." Click here to read Benjamin's blog.

Welcome aboard, Benjamin!

Keep It Going

Let's keep our momentum rolling this Sunday at Capstone. "Give It Away" was a great kick-off for 2008 and I'm excited to see what's coming next. We need everybody there every week to keep it going.....that's where you come in!

Make sure you do everything you can to be there on Sunday. And bring a friend!

Check this out

I discovered one of our church member's blog today and she wrote something really cool about yesterday's service. Check out what Amy wrote here.

My Daughter Gets It

Check out what Claire wrote about the church. It was totally NOT prompted by me. I didn't even know she wrote it until tonight.

Cool to see that she gets it. Praise God for what He is doing in her!

What a Sunday!

I have to say that today was an AWESOME day at Capstone! I'm talking amazing! All week long, I have anticipated something good was going to happen at church today. I got up this morning totally excited and couldn't wait to get there. From the moment we drove into the parking lot, I sensed an energy and excitement. I'm praying for every Sunday to be like this!

Here's my Sunday afternoon wrap-up (in no particular order):

• God showed up in a big way and the Holy Spirit moved!
• Our people were excited to be back together on this first Sunday of 2008. I love it when the place is full and most everyone is there. What a great feeling of unity.
• The band led us in true worship today through the music. It was energetic, skillful and God-honoring. No doubt that the quality was there. But more importantly, they were worshipers who led us in worship. I believe that matters to God so much more than just having a band that "rocks it out."
• We kicked off "Give It Away" and I believe most of our folks were blown away. We passed out envelopes containing $10, $20 or $50 to everyone in the service with the challenge to give it away and bless someone by meeting a need. The $2,500 we gave away today will be some of the best used funds ever. I can't wait to hear the stories that come in.
• If you're a Capstoner, make sure and post your stories here. And if you're not a Capstoner, you can still go here and read the stories as they come in.
• I love being a part of a church that serves and gives. What we did today solidified our mission in the minds of many people.
• I've had two people tell me this week that the reason they love this church is because we are all about reaching people through serving. I had one woman tell me that she knew of churches that had groups of people who served but she had never been a part of a church where that was the focus and just about everyone was in on it. I think that 's cool.
• I need to start praying and and asking God what I'm supposed to do with the $$$ He gave me this morning. I can't wait to see who He leads me to. I'm also excited to see what Yvonne and Claire do with their money.
• I pray that we fill that theater again next Sunday. Capstoners: make sure you are there and bring someone with you!
• I enjoyed teaching the Parable of the Talents from Matthew 25 today. I want to hear my Master say, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
• We also had many visitors today. That's always good to see.
• God is so good and has blessed me, my family and our church in HUGE ways. Gloria a Dios! (That's Spanish for "Glory to God!")

We spent the afternoon with the family at Mama and Daddy's. They are a blessing to me. Daddy wasn't feeling too well. Please pray for him if you think about it.

Capstoners: PRAY that God does some HUGE things over the next few weeks. He is ready. Are we???

Caucusing

I'm sitting in the floor in front of a fire watching the Iowa caucuses. For some reason, I am incredibly interested in the caucuses this year. I've never been interested in a presidential campaign this early. But I think it's mainly because there's so much diversity in the front runners this year: a woman, a black man, a mormon, and a Baptist minister. How much more interesting can it be?

Anyone else out there interested?

FYI - I've been talking about Mike Huckabee since his poll numbers were in the single digits.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone. I pray that God's greatest blessings are yours in 2008.

I am personally looking forward to a great year. Because of Romans 8:28 ("And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.), I am confident that God is going to use the trials and lessons of 2007 for good in my life in 2008. And I believe the same thing for you!

My prayer is that I will faithfully follow Him, love and serve those He places in my path, lead by example, and bring glory to Him through my life.

Finally, thanks for reading and for your comments. I look forward to continuing to share the journey in the year ahead. I know God has some great stuff in store!