Church Meeting devotions: Running Ahead of God - Psalm 37 v 34

Psalm 37:34a   Wait for the LORD and keep his way. 

Currently I’m on a four day personal prayer fast and vision cast retreat. For the last year, I’ve been so busy at church that I feel as though (and certainly know) that I’ve been running ahead of God and expecting Him to catch up with me. That’s not how our spiritual relationship is supposed to work. Like everyone else, I’m meant to stand and wait for His call to show me the way ahead.

I remember years ago, when I was about five years old, my family went on a vacation to Prestwick, Scotland. Each day, we used to walk down to the beach on a path alongside a small creek (which is called a ‘burn’ in Scotland). At the end of the path, there was a fork with two separate destinations. One day, I ran ahead of my family and chose my own path. I fully expected my parents and siblings to follow me. When they went the other way, I felt stupid, fearful, and angry.

My Dad called me back and when I reached him, he told me these words: “If you had asked me which way we were going before you ran on ahead, I would have told you.”

That’s why I feel that I need this prayer and fasting mini-retreat. I need to ask God where He wants our church to go, what He wants our Session to do, and how He wants me to lead. I don’t find stopping and waiting, praying and fasting easy, but I don’t want to go down the wrong path either.

Perhaps spiritually, you’re feeling distant or even isolated from God. Maybe like me, you’ve busily ran on ahead thinking that God will soon catch up. But it could be that you’ve stumbled down the wrong path and that He’s now calling you back to where He wants you to be.

Sometimes the path less travelled is not what God expects us to choose or follow.

Prayer:                        Father God, each day we are faced with choices that take us on new journeys and different paths. Sometimes we follow our own lead and end up distant from You. Give us the courage to turnaround, to wait for Your guidance, and to listen to Your directions. Keep us from straying and help us to be led by Jesus, our Shepherd and Savior. In His Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org. John enjoys reading your own messages and stories that relate to the message.

Today’s image is from one of John’s Psalms series.

Church meeting Devotions: Li Ying - Mark 13 v 9

Mark 13:9 “You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.”

We really lead a comfortable Christianity over here in the West. We complain about school textbooks, cold sanctuaries, and long sermons. We come and go to church as we please, and we pick and choose what we want to believe in and where we want to go. Everything is handed to us on a plate. No wonder then that the rest of the world calls our faith “Canteen Christianity.” We just stand in line at worship and wholly expect to be fed and nourished, with either a lifestyle latte or sweet dessert of a sermon to finish things off.

Meanwhile people like Li Ying, a pastor’s daughter from China, have been languishing in prison since April 2001. Her crime? Writing and distributing a monthly church newsletter. She has six more years of hard labor to complete, before her unjust sentence from the monstrous Chinese Communist regime is over. Talk about a real Christian! We really have no idea what Christianity is all about.

Instead of ourselves, let’s pray for Li Ying. Compared to what she is going through right now, we’re living like royalty.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, forgive us for being whiners and complainers instead of winners and champions for our faith. We remember Li Ying this day and ask that You protect throughout her time of unjust imprisonment. We pray that You will sustain her spirit and her family. We ask that she will remain faithful to You despite her sufferings and that when she is finally released, she may be welcomed and embraced by Your Church in China and throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

If you would like to read more information on Li Ying and other Christian prisoners in China, please visit this link online: Li Ying

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Church Staff devotions: Happening Now - Mark 13 v 8

Mark 13:8       Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.

We had an earthquake about 20 miles away from Knoxville this morning. I think it registered about 3.3 on the Richter scale, so there wasn’t really any damage although some people at the epicenter were a bit shook up with the noise. East Tennessee gets about 10 small earthquakes each year, but they are hardly noticeable to the population. I guess we forget that we live right next to the Smoky Mountains, which were created by earthquakes millions of years ago.

There’s seems to be a lot of turmoil in the world right now: the Icelandic volcano, the Chinese earthquake, and wars in various places. You can’t help but feeling that we’re on the threshold of something big, new, and mysterious. Jesus did warn us long ago that these were the signs of His imminent Arrival. Perhaps we’ve grown so used to being without His physical presence and living our lives in our own fashion that we’ve put the thought of His Second Coming to the back of our minds.

Maybe it’s the caffeine in my system right now, but I get this uneasy feeling that we should be preparing for something, after all today could be the beginning of the End.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, help us to use this day as a means of getting our hearts and minds, our lives and souls in touch and attached to You. Remind us that life is fleeting and that we are given the blessing of everlasting life through You alone. Show us that each day is a gift of grace and a time to prepare for Your Return. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Church Meeting Devotions: The God Delusion - Psalm 35 v 20

Psalm 35:20    They do not speak peaceably, but devise false accusations against those who live quietly in the land.

The Sunday School class that I’m currently teaching is studying the book “The God Delusion” written by British atheist Richard Dawkins. It’s a fierce attack upon religion and especially the Christian faith. Throughout the book Dawkins questions why we should placate church people’s views in society. After all, he concludes, a belief in God is akin to believing in fairy tales, so why should 21^st century civilization have anything more to do with churches, priests, religion, or faith?

Much of Britain has been affected by Dawkins’ thinking so that less than 5% of the population regularly attends church. Fifteen years ago, it was around 12-15%, so in the intervening years, the Christian church has declined by about 66%. In fact Britain has become so secular that it is now seen as a mission field by African and Asian Christian groups.

I think that we’re beginning to see something similar over here. Church has become just another leisure pursuit, lifestyle choice, or extra-curricular activity in the lives of many people. Even when we try to update date our worship and make our message relevant, the daunting truth is this: we are non-essential to 21^st century living.

This bothers me at times, and not because congregational numbers are dwindling of allover the land. I’m perturbed because we went through all of this 80 years ago, in the 1920s, 30s and 40s. Decadence and a dwindling faith brought about reactionary politics and before we knew it, the world was at war with fascism and communism. Jews and Christians were attacked and falsely accused by reactionary governments in Germany, Japan, Russia and China. Millions of people lost their lives. Are we destined to experience the same this century? God forbid!

I teach an atheist’s book in our Sunday School class so that people may be better prepared for what could lie ahead of us. It’s far better to know what our opponents are thinking and expressing, rather than fool ourselves that we are spiritually invincible and beyond being influenced or distracted by militant atheism. We only have to look at what’s happening in Europe to see what could occur here.

Prayer:                        Lord God, we pray for Christ’s Church and our Christian faith. We ask that You strengthen our resolve in the face of opposition. We pray that You give us the words to effectively counter anti-religious and atheistic ideas. Help us to prepare our hearts and minds, spirits and souls for the years ahead and days to come. In Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org. He writes the devotional blog “Heaven’s Highway.”

Today’s image is John’s latest drawing called “Sunflowers.” You can view a larger version online at the following link: Sunflowers. You can also view most of his art at his current website: Stushie’s Art

Church Meeting Devotions: Infinite Value - Mark 12 v 16

Mark 12:16     They brought the coin, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?"     "Caesar's," they replied.

It’s amazing what some people will pay to own something of a famous person. Earlier this morning, I was on Ebay looking at trading cards. I came across one that is described as ‘the holy grail of sports cards.’ It’s a 1952 autographed card of Mickey Mantle when he played for the Yankees. There are only 29 of these cards in existence and this one is in near mint condition.

The asking price? A mere $115,000. If you don’t believe me, then you can view it here: Mickey Mantle. Not bad for a mere portrait and inscription. I would have to sell half of my house to buy it, so I guess I won’t be adding it to my collection.

When I read this morning’s Gospel passage (Mark 12:13-17), I couldn’t help but smile. I wondered how much the Pharisees and Herodians would have valued the denarius if it had Christ’s portrait and a “Love One Another” inscription on it. They probably would have thrown it back in Jesus’ face. They were looking for a reason to trap Him and make Him look foolish in the eyes of the people, but they ended up with egg on their faces and left bewildered and amazed.

The story also makes me wonder what price I would be willing to pay for my salvation? A denarius? A dollar? $115,000? How much is God’s grace, Christ’s forgiveness, and everlasting life worth to me? Even everything that I own could never be enough to pay for those gifts of infinite value. I need Christ to inscribe the word ‘forgiven’ on my heart. I need His blood to cleanse me of my unholiness. I need Jesus  to sacrificially offer Himself on the Cross at Calvary in order to be completely and eternally saved, and so does everyone else.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, there are many things we own in the world that become valuable possessions and priceless items in our lives. But no matter what we have or even covet, they are nothing compared to our salvation through You. When all of our possessions, money, trading cards, and treasures have turned to dust, Your Cross will outlast and outshine them all. Thank You for the everlasting gift of salvation. We are indebted to You forever. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is taken from John’s Psalm collection. It depicts Christ on the Cross in the style of Van Gogh’s Starry Night. The written verse comes from the 86^th psalm. A larger version of the drawing can be viewed here: Psalm 86.

Church Staff devotions: Unfailing Love - Psalm 33 v 22

Psalm 33:22    May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.

I don’t know if you watched the Masters from Augusta yesterday, but I managed to see the last hour of the broadcast and witnessed one of the best ends to an international golf tournament. It didn’t happen on the golf course, but it took place after Phil Mickleson won the event for the third time.

Phil found his wife Amy in the crowd and tearfully embraced her. It was a very touching moment because Amy has been undergoing treatment for breast cancer. You could see that both of them were very much in love with one another and that Mickleson was sharing his win with his wife. He played courageously throughout the last round and I feel certain that he was playing as much for Amy as he was for himself.

I hope and pray that their unfailing love and support for one another will enable and empower Amy to overcome the cancer.

We all face battles in life – sometimes through illness, sometimes with fear and anxiety, sometimes accompanied with despair and depression. I like what the psalmist prayed long ago for God’s people –“May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.” I think that’s a wonderful, powerful, and yet simple prayer that we all could apply in our lives. It helps us to do two things: to look for God’s unfailing love in the midst of our sorrows, and to place our hopes in Him.

It’s called faith and throughout my own life, I have frequently used that prayer and have known the precious and positive empowerment that God gives through just being simply and sincerely asked.

Prayer:                        Lord God, thank You for loving us unfailingly. Thank You for allowing us to trust in Your ways, to rely upon Your promises, and to know Your favor. In Christ’s Name, we thankfully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is John’s drawing of Hogan’s Bridge at Amen Corner in August. You can view a larger version here: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4333271971_84d55b7508_b.jpg

Church Staff Devotions: Skillful Players

Psalm 33:3      Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.

I haven’t played my guitar in months, nor have I written a new song in years. At one time, I used to play every day and write about four new songs a year. These days, I hardly ever pick up the guitar or sing. I’m more into art than music right now, but perhaps that will change.

We used to have a great guitarist in our congregation. Steve could pick and play like no one I had ever heard before. He would just have to listen to a song once and then he could play it back. That was an amazing gift and one that we missed in church when he and his family left to live in another state. The nearest to that kind of expertise that we have in our church worship band is a young mandolin player called Josh. He has the same incredible gift of practically hearing and playing music instantly. It makes me wish that I had spent more time practicing when I was younger instead of just being content to ‘strum along.’

Some people do this with their faith, too. Instead of learning more about God and intentionally educating themselves about Christ and Christianity, they are just happy to come along to church and be spectators. They never really add depth to their beliefs and so they miss out on having a spiritually intense relationship with God. I sometimes wonder how happier they would be if they spent more time to be with God instead of being distracted by the world and its ways. Maybe if there were more Marys than Marthas in the church, Christianity would have a greater impact in the world. If we were more focused on Christ’s business rather than our own busy-ness, we would probably live more faithful lives.

I guess I need to go and dust down that old guitar of mine…

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, we get so busy in our lives that we never take enough time to be with You. We become so self-centered and self-absorbed that we often take You for granted. Grant us the grit and determination to focus on our faith, and to build up our understanding, intimacy, and relationship with God through You. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s drawings called “Jazz 4 July.” You can view a larger version here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/traqair57/1002682559/sizes/l/

Church Meeting Devotions: Textbook Mythbusters

Mark 11:6       They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go.

There’s a controversy brewing here in Knoxville which will probably become national. A biology honors textbook has a line in it which defines Creationism as: "the biblical myth that the universe was created by the Judeo-Christian God in 7 days." A local father has asked that the book be banned because it is biased against Christianity.

I was asked to give my opinion about it by the local TV station. I told them that I don’t believe that banning textbooks was a good thing. After all, the Church is in the business of teaching faith, not our public schools. If we are so insecure about what we believe and that the mere word ‘myth’ shatters it into a million pieces, then do we have any depth to our faith at all?

I’m all for freedom of religion and freedom of speech. If we ban the textbook in Knoxville, then we are giving in to fear and not truly expressing our faith. If we want to control our public schools so that Christianity is given a special status, then we no longer have freedom of expression and we may as well start burning witches again on Market Square.

I firmly believe that God created the Universe and that it is sustained by His will. I cannot scientifically prove that as a fact, but I feel it one hundred percent as an act of faith. I have accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior and I try to live my life according to His words and ways. I am not perfect. I still sin. I still make many mistakes. The fact that a school textbook refers to my beliefs as a mere myth does not unsettle me at all. I will continue to preach and teach that God made the world and that Christ is my Savior. To paraphrase Jesus: “textbooks may come and go, but the word of the Lord endures forever.”

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, every generation has its crosses to bear in the world. Every Christian is confronted with words and ways that will challenge cherished beliefs. Remind us that the battle has already been won and that the power of Easter’s New Creation cannot be diminished by mere words. Help us to express our faith through conviction and depth, and not by fear or anxiety. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s digital glass drawings called “creation.” If you would like to view a larger version, click on the following link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/traqair57/3640187690/sizes/l/

Good Friday Church Staff Devotion: I Thirst - John 19 v 28

John 19:28     Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." NIV

If you were to ask about forty households over in Tazewell, just outside of Knoxville, what they would like for Easter, they would probably answer you with two words: clean water.

It seems so unreal to me that we have people living on our doorstep in the richest nation in the world who still do not have clean running tap water. You would think that with so many progressive technologies in the world that we would have solved this problem in East Tennessee long ago. And yet, despite having an amazing 21^st century technology corridor in Oakridge, there are still families within a forty minute drive of the ORNL who have water systems that belong to the 18^th and 19^th centuries.

Clean water, more than anything else in this nation of ours, should be a human right. In fact, clean water should be a human right throughout the entire globe because more people die each year from dirty contaminated water than from any disease, sickness, war, or natural disaster. Water is a basic necessity for all of us. Without water, we cannot live.

When Christ is dying painfully on the Cross, He is losing blood at a remarkable rate. It is seeping out of His body and gravity is painfully pulling it down to the foot of the Cross. He is dying horribly in the noon day sun. The heat is intolerable and the pain is excruciating; Jesus has become badly dehydrated and so He thirsts.

But Christ is also aware that he is dying, so what is the point of expressing His thirst. Does He want to temporarily relieve His agony, or is this another subtle temptation from Satan to try to get Jesus to use His power to quench His thirst, just as the Devil had tried to get Him to make bread out of stones at the beginning of His ministry? What better time for Satan to tempt Christ as He is suffering terribly on the Cross. I can even hear the Devil whispering in Christ’s ear: if You are the Son of God, then turn your salty blood-stained tears into cool refreshing water.

But Jesus will not succumb to this temptation either. He thirsts, but not for a cool sip of cold water; Christ thirsts for God. He thirsts for that living water, that eternal relationship, that everlasting bond between Himself and His Father in heaven. The Cross will not break that bridge and death will not overwhelm His hope. When Christ says “I thirst” I believe He is actually saying to God: I want more – I want more of Your presence in my life – I want more of Your love – I want more of being with You beyond death.

One life with one death is not enough for Christ. He wants everlasting life, so this is the most amazing prayer in all of human history: when Christ says “I thirst” He is asking God to open up humanity to the promises and experience of everlasting life. And if God relents and gives this to His Only begotten Son, then how can God refuse to give it to Christ’s people? This is the moment when humanity breaks through into the realms of eternity. Because Christ thirsts and asks for more, we who believe in Him, are given the same glorious and eternal opportunity.

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, we thirst for You and Your righteousness in our lives. We thank You for enduring the Cross and for providing us with the opportunity of everlasting life. We know that we do not deserve such amazing love. In Your Holy Name, we gratefully and humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.