One of the clear signs of a Christian, an authentic Christian, is that he or she will speak in "other languages." I remember years ago engaging in conversation with a shopper at a local discount store in Richmond, VA. After hearing that I was a minister, she asked if I "had been baptized by the Spirit yet." I indicated that I indeed had. She then wanted to make sure that I knew that she meant "Was I able to speak in tongues." When I indicated that I did not speak in an "unknown language," she proceeded to relegate my faith experience as incomplete and said, "You'll really be something when God finally gets hold of you!" How arrogant! Any time we select some biblically mentioned gift of the Spirit and then impose it upon God and others as "the greatest of gifts" because it is mine, we are arrogant! Arrogance is not of God; rather it is of the Devil!
In Acts 2:1-13 we read the story of Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit. All outside the room of believers were amazed that they heard the apostles speaking in their native languages; one's that the apostles clearly did not know only minutes before. Understand that these were unknown languages to the apostles, neither to God nor to some others.
I have come to believe that authentic Christians will indeed be able to speak in other languages accordingly:
1. God's language. Authentic Christians are filled with the Spirit of God, filled with Christ, and therefore see with new eyes and hear with new ears. No longer do we speak from a human self-centered perspective that only deals with I, me, my and mine! We begin to see the beauty and presence of God in all kinds of ordinary experience. We are filled with the desire to allow God’s will to guide our lives along in joy and praise, and in trust and obedience. Authentic Christians speak the language of love of God and love of neighbor, which leads to…
2. Neighbor's language. Authentic Christians develop an innate ability to listen to others -- what they are saying with their tongues, body language and emotions! One who is filled with Christ doesn't need to use other people, or creation for that matter, to fill a void through manipulation of resources -- people and nature!
How are you going to speak in other languages today? Can you speak with God's perspective in the forefront? Can you speak with God to the "other" that will cross your path today? If your words and witness doesn't build up the body of Christ, but instead promotes your own arrogant agenda, then your faith should be called into question!
Spend time in the Bible, in prayer and listen before you speak. Consider James 1:19
Know this, my beloved brothers and sisters: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;" (ESV)
Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. (MSG)
Monday, February 6, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Green Board
Lord, I saw a weather person standing before a blank green board explaining the weather on a map not visible to her. But the image is produced elsewhere and injected onto the screen that we view. Is this not similar to showing you to others. To the lost all they see is a blank green board that we claim shows your presence. But to those who follow You, your image is injected onto the screen of their experience by the power of your Holy Spirit. It really isn't there to the lost! They are indeed right! But to those who follow Jesus, it's not just a blank green board that we stand before. We stand in trust and faith that you, the Producer, reveal an accurate image of reality and life. It is our job to follow and point. It is your job to reveal and show! Thanks be to God!
In Christ,
Amen
Monday, December 12, 2011
O "Little" Town of Bethlehem!
I have been reflecting on that dismal little town of Bethlehem. It is a dark dreary fortified city cut off from the rest of all important and powerful Israel! Today it is surrounded by a high and large wall that has military guarded gates limiting the flow of traffic for Arabs, nonJewish residents, who live inside this tiny financially destitute town. The Church of the Nativity where Jesus was reportedly born is owned and run by the Greek Orthodox. They have regular rituals of prayers and cleansing with incense. All must move out of the way when this all important ritual begins. The church has not been kept up well and you must walk to the front of the sanctuary and then descend into the basement where the Christ-child's manger was to have been.
Groups are channeled down the winding staircase for a brief look, bent over prayer, and then quickly shuffled out. Entry into the church is through a small door where one must stoop in order to keep from bumping one's head. I've been to the church twice and someone has bumped their head each time. Some believe that this is an example of the biblical cliche regarding a camel going through the eye of the needle (a supposed reference to a camelback warrior trying to ride through that narrow entrance -- virtually impossible).
I think about the unimportance of that little town now, and I think about the unimportance of that little town when Jesus was born there. No great five star hotels! Not the Hollywood strip or Wall Street or Pennsylvania Avenue, just a little town where God chose to grace the world with His incarnation. If we are looking up to God, listeing to God's call and following his signs, then we can walk circumspectly in the world without bumping our heads, losing our minds in the shuffle and hustle of what the world says is all important! I might think I have gotten that point by now.
The first Friday in December we have a luncheon at our church for seniors, many from the local nursing homes and assisted living centers. We fed about 275 this year on Friday December 2nd. I was relieved this year when our Sunshine Luncheon director indicated that children would lead the service and that all I had to do was introduce the beginning of Communion, The Lords Supper, and drive the minibus to collect residents at two of our facilities (they didn't have transportation). At Carebridge, the first of the two stops for me, I failed to look up. I failed to see the divine signs! The overhang outside the front of their entrace had a huge sign that read, "9 Foot Clearance!" Our minibus was clearly more that 9 feet and I pulled her into the woodword under the awning. I then backed back out dragging remnants of splintered wood with me and leaving a gash in the top of the minibus and my ego! Ouch!
When I fail to slow down, look around, but especially look up to God listening for His calling and following His signs, I am sure to bump my head, to injure my ego. Who am I without the "I am" of all life? Nada! I am glad that the church forgives me for my inadequacies, even as God forgives us all for riding in bumper cars through life. That was fun as a child, but not as an adult!
Hmmm!
Dr. Fitz
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Following the Star during 2011 Advent
This year our theme for Advent (the season where we prepare for the coming of Jesus) is “follow the star.” Clearly the language of faith is countercultural. We are challenged by God to take a little language coarse, like how we teach ESL (English as a Second Language) to some of our international church members and friends. Our understanding of star gazing is totally different that what the world thinks of when they search for stars.
Our culture is obsessed with following the star(s). Headline news covers great events like weddings and divorces of those we consider stars (Prince William and Kate Middleton), or Tiger Woods and his marital problems. Prime time television has an obsession with star watching too with great shows such as “Dancing with the Stars,” or shows that focus on individuals whose sole aim in life is to become a star, like the old original “Star Search,” or contemporary ones like “American Idol” and “The X Factor.” We wonder, “who might have “the X factor” to become the next great star that the world is looking and waiting for to make our lives so much better? Maybe it’s Kim Kardashian? Isn’t she your hero? Millions of people tune in to watch and cast their votes for their hero dancing or singing stars.
What is a star except a point in the universe that gives off light in the midst of a dark sky. What we now know is that when we gaze into the dark night sky we may be seeing light from a star that has actually burnt out and is no longer there! The light has travelled so far that indeed the object that emitted that light may, in reality, not really be there anymore! That is quickly the case with the cultural stars highlighted in the news or on prime time television. Here today, gone tomorrow! Where is the light and glow of their great illumination? Where is Ronald Regan now? Or John Wayne? Or Marilyn Monroe? Or Michael Jackson?
Contrary to cultural star obsession, our ministers will be leading music, devotions and sermons that focus on the star of heaven that shines to give light on the presence of God. The Bible notes that Jesus is the light of the world.
John 1:4,9 – “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.”
Jesus said in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Therefore, our Advent focus isn’t about worshiping stars, or the heavens, but allowing the heavenly star that originally guided people to Christ to reflect and direct us today to the light of life, the light that pokes holes in darkness and enables us to see the light in Jesus Christ, the incarnation of God. When we worship and receive Christ Jesus into our hearts and homes we invite light and love and life into the very center of our being and doing.
Follow the star with us this Advent and watch it reflect on the truth, Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us, and thus we have a light that the world cannot see, doesn’t know and cannot snuff out.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Bridge is Out
I was looking for images to place on our church website regarding "Bridge is Out" as it relates to Josh. 3:7-17 and Matt. 19:23-26. I stumbled across the one inserted above. It challenges us to consider if we'd rather spend the night in the wilderness, where we are, rather than move forward with God in trust and faith. Our God is never stationary, never static. Our God is a God of movement, not merely motion! Our God is ever wanting us to move deeper and deeper into communion with him, until one day, there will be no separation, no broken body that can only partially know of God's glory and love! I have moved 15 times since I got married almmost 30 years ago. Yet in those moves I see God's hand, God's leadership, God's love and God's challenge for me to commit my way to ever deeper experience and presence of God's image. To add to that, I have been blessed with missions all over the world that have enabled me to know how little my perspective really is. I am so excited that God is calling me to continue to move forward, leaving behind stuff that has too many strings! How about you? Up for another move? Ready to either pack your stuff or sell it at a yard sale? Jesus even called us just to take it to Pamlico County and give it to those who lost everything! Some of you have already been doing that! Could you give it all away? Even the new "stuff" that you are using in your everyday living? Could I? Hmmm!
Dr. Fitz
Monday, September 19, 2011
Accommodations
As you reflect back over your life, what are some of the most unique accommodations you have experienced? As a child, youth or adult? Have you experienced less than adequate accommodations at one point or another?
I cannot help but pray and contribute as best possible to those in our community and particularly in Pamlico County whose accommodations have been devastated. Many have lost their homes, furniture and vehicles. Life is not very accommodating for them right now. Many are sleeping in tents, campers and/or on their porches and it doesn’t smell good. Have you been to some of those hard hit areas in Pamlico County since the hurricane? Word is that the mosquitoes are so large and populous that they are catching them in crab pots! Again, that is funny to us, but not to them if they are sleeping and living in such horrible accommodations.
I have voluntarily lived in a tent for a short period of time as a child and young adult on backpacking trips through the mountains or at the beach. I have also lived in a dirt floored hut without power in a squatter village in Zimbabwe, as well as a little hut in Chambuta refugee camp, a small cinderblock home for a month at the Baptist Theological Seminary of Zimbabwe, and then a four star hotel in Harare Zimbabwe. After living is such modest and meek accommodations with indigenous people of Zimbabwe for over four weeks I was unable to comfortably stay in the luxury hotel so I checked out and stayed in the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board Guest House for $3 per night. I gave the saved money to a local pastor who lived in 10 x 14 foot house with his wife and child. They had an old mattress on the floor and the baby slept in a stroller. That pastor subsequently earned a PhD from University of South Africa and became a professor at the Baptist Theological Seminary of Zimbabwe. He has authored several books. While I was working in the investment business for a decade I experienced corporate trips that enabled me to stay at places like The Lodge at Vail, CO and The Breakers in Palm Beach, FL. As I reflect over which accommodations have had the greatest impact upon my life, they are NOT the Lodge or Breakers, but the places where the Spirit of God enabled me to have communion with people from completely different regions and backgrounds. I have been welcomed lovingly and completely into the homes and lives of people who could have condemned and judged me negatively, but instead accommodated me and allowed me to listen to their story, try to learn something new about God and neighbor, and possibly link to my neighbor in a healthier manner.
I am also musing over the countless men and women who have come to assist the New Bern area through Disaster Relief post Hurricane Irene and how they have used our church for their accommodations. The floors are not soft. The Family Life Center hot water heater only has enough for about eight showers before it is empty and cold! Their days working in our community have been long and hard, just like the floors they sleep on in our church. Nights can be long and hard with so many sleeping in one room. Inevitably one or two individuals snore loudly! However, tought accommodations have not kept them away from God’s call to come and help, to come and love, to come and share the glory of Christ with those who have lost their accommodations to natural disaster.
Rev. 3:20 tells us that Jesus stands at the door of the church and knocks and wants to be invited into our worship services, into our work and witness in the world, into our fellowship and business gatherings. How are we doing at beginning and ending all activities with an invitation for Christ to come in and be at the center of all we are and all we do? Jesus tells us in Matt. 7:7-8, “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” Jesus will not come into our church or our lives as individuals unless invited! He does not push or manipulate his way into our hearts. Furthermore, Jesus wants to make accommodations for us that will enable us to be in communion with our Creator, God his Father. He promises us that he will go and prepare a place for us and that he will come again and take us to himself so that where he is we may be also (see John 14:3). We are offered accommodations that cannot be acquired with money or any worldly bartering. What Christ offers is permanent and perfect, after we invite him into our lives. The accommodations of Christ offer a place in the palace, the very presence of God’s glory. It turns dirt floors, hard floors, and mosquito infested yards into places of encounter and faith as we walk with Christ through this world. Jesus doesn’t offer four or five star hotel accommodations, neither do we when we invite him in. But he does offer his own home beyond the stars in a place of light that transfigures and transforms all who come in and share accommodations with Jesus, ours with him and his with us!
Dr. Fitzgerald
I cannot help but pray and contribute as best possible to those in our community and particularly in Pamlico County whose accommodations have been devastated. Many have lost their homes, furniture and vehicles. Life is not very accommodating for them right now. Many are sleeping in tents, campers and/or on their porches and it doesn’t smell good. Have you been to some of those hard hit areas in Pamlico County since the hurricane? Word is that the mosquitoes are so large and populous that they are catching them in crab pots! Again, that is funny to us, but not to them if they are sleeping and living in such horrible accommodations.
I have voluntarily lived in a tent for a short period of time as a child and young adult on backpacking trips through the mountains or at the beach. I have also lived in a dirt floored hut without power in a squatter village in Zimbabwe, as well as a little hut in Chambuta refugee camp, a small cinderblock home for a month at the Baptist Theological Seminary of Zimbabwe, and then a four star hotel in Harare Zimbabwe. After living is such modest and meek accommodations with indigenous people of Zimbabwe for over four weeks I was unable to comfortably stay in the luxury hotel so I checked out and stayed in the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board Guest House for $3 per night. I gave the saved money to a local pastor who lived in 10 x 14 foot house with his wife and child. They had an old mattress on the floor and the baby slept in a stroller. That pastor subsequently earned a PhD from University of South Africa and became a professor at the Baptist Theological Seminary of Zimbabwe. He has authored several books. While I was working in the investment business for a decade I experienced corporate trips that enabled me to stay at places like The Lodge at Vail, CO and The Breakers in Palm Beach, FL. As I reflect over which accommodations have had the greatest impact upon my life, they are NOT the Lodge or Breakers, but the places where the Spirit of God enabled me to have communion with people from completely different regions and backgrounds. I have been welcomed lovingly and completely into the homes and lives of people who could have condemned and judged me negatively, but instead accommodated me and allowed me to listen to their story, try to learn something new about God and neighbor, and possibly link to my neighbor in a healthier manner.
I am also musing over the countless men and women who have come to assist the New Bern area through Disaster Relief post Hurricane Irene and how they have used our church for their accommodations. The floors are not soft. The Family Life Center hot water heater only has enough for about eight showers before it is empty and cold! Their days working in our community have been long and hard, just like the floors they sleep on in our church. Nights can be long and hard with so many sleeping in one room. Inevitably one or two individuals snore loudly! However, tought accommodations have not kept them away from God’s call to come and help, to come and love, to come and share the glory of Christ with those who have lost their accommodations to natural disaster.
Rev. 3:20 tells us that Jesus stands at the door of the church and knocks and wants to be invited into our worship services, into our work and witness in the world, into our fellowship and business gatherings. How are we doing at beginning and ending all activities with an invitation for Christ to come in and be at the center of all we are and all we do? Jesus tells us in Matt. 7:7-8, “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” Jesus will not come into our church or our lives as individuals unless invited! He does not push or manipulate his way into our hearts. Furthermore, Jesus wants to make accommodations for us that will enable us to be in communion with our Creator, God his Father. He promises us that he will go and prepare a place for us and that he will come again and take us to himself so that where he is we may be also (see John 14:3). We are offered accommodations that cannot be acquired with money or any worldly bartering. What Christ offers is permanent and perfect, after we invite him into our lives. The accommodations of Christ offer a place in the palace, the very presence of God’s glory. It turns dirt floors, hard floors, and mosquito infested yards into places of encounter and faith as we walk with Christ through this world. Jesus doesn’t offer four or five star hotel accommodations, neither do we when we invite him in. But he does offer his own home beyond the stars in a place of light that transfigures and transforms all who come in and share accommodations with Jesus, ours with him and his with us!
Dr. Fitzgerald
Monday, June 13, 2011
A Well Oiled Machine
1 Cor. 12:1-14; Gen. 4:9-10
Lord, it sure is great when my car runs well or my A/C, or my computer, or my body and golf game (driver, long-mid-short irons and putter). Lord, when just one little part of any of these breaks down the whole thing is affected negatively. So it is with my body, with my family, and with my church. When one part malfunctions the whole system is affected!
You have created us such that we are to function like a well oiled machine, put together correctly and maintained properly. If either of these two primary tasks in not taken sincerely, then something inevitably will break down prematurely. Furthermore, if and when a part inevitably does break down, it is imperative that the broken part is repaired promptly and completely.
I am indeed my brothers keeper. What happens to any one part of the family system has ultimate significance on the whole system (see Gen. 2:15; Col. 1:17; Gal. 6:10; and Eph. 4:25).
Lord, it sure is great when my car runs well or my A/C, or my computer, or my body and golf game (driver, long-mid-short irons and putter). Lord, when just one little part of any of these breaks down the whole thing is affected negatively. So it is with my body, with my family, and with my church. When one part malfunctions the whole system is affected!
You have created us such that we are to function like a well oiled machine, put together correctly and maintained properly. If either of these two primary tasks in not taken sincerely, then something inevitably will break down prematurely. Furthermore, if and when a part inevitably does break down, it is imperative that the broken part is repaired promptly and completely.
I am indeed my brothers keeper. What happens to any one part of the family system has ultimate significance on the whole system (see Gen. 2:15; Col. 1:17; Gal. 6:10; and Eph. 4:25).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
