Pastor's Perspective - Remembering Jonathan

Today marks the birthday of a dear brother who left us way too soon – Jonathan Booker.

For the many of you reading this who perhaps didn’t have the privilege of knowing ‘JB’, he was a true one-of-a-kind! He was a devoted husband to his sweet wife Viola. He was a dedicated father to his children Victor and Jasmia. He was a caring friend and a zealous follower of Jesus Christ. He was funny, energetic, gregarious, outspoken, hardworking, responsible, ambitious, loving and lovable. He was a treasure to us all and we all miss him. He would have been 31 today.

Yesterday I had the honor of officiating Estalita Tapnio Cross’s funeral service here at FCC. ‘Lita’ was the precious mother of Bart Cross, a cherished partner in the church. Lita, 64, was visiting and helping an ill brother in the Philippines, when she was violently attacked and senselessly killed over her purse. Simply put, Lita was a wonderful person. The building was packed yesterday with many who had been profoundly touched by her life and grief-stricken by her shocking death.

As I think about Jonathan today and Lita yesterday, I’m reminded of the brevity and uncertainty of life. I’m reminded that we live in a fallen, violent and unpredictable world. Tomorrow is a hope that comes with absolutely no guarantees. None of us are immune to the realities of evil. The good die young and bad things happen to them along the way. Death comes to the ones we label ‘good’ – the ones we categorize under ‘bad’ – the poor – the mighty and affluent – the despised – the young – the aged. Someone once said, ‘Death is an equal opportunity reality’ – and it is.

Yet, in the midst of the heart-breaking losses and jaw-dropping suddenlies, we can have hope! Because God the Father intentionally allowed something terribly-bad to happen to His Son, we all have access to a living hope. That through putting our faith in the completed redemptive work of Christ and His cross, we can have a hope and peaceful assurance that transcends the very worst scenarios this life can throw our way.

I was able to share yesterday that recently I took seven different flights to get to Kenya and back. On each flight someone stood in front of me and pointed to the closest door in the “unlikely event” the plane descends against the pilot’s will. Likewise, the closest and most reliable door available to me was in written form in the seat pocket in front of me.

Friends, like those flights, God is saying through a person (me) and God has said it clearly in written form (the Bible) that there is only one door that leads to everlasting life in His presence. In John 10 Jesus told us that He is that door. In John 14 He told us He is that way – the only way.

In conclusion, honestly speaking, if my plane is descending, I’m moving to that door! In a world that has fallen and continues to rapidly descending around us, isn’t it prudent to move toward that door?

Have you found that proven age-old door? His name is Jesus.

Knowing Jonathan the way I did, I think he’d want you to know that today.

Pastor's Perspective - The Sky is Falling

The sky is falling! The sky is falling!

A minister from ministries-gone-by humorously posted on his Facebook wall this morning, “If the satellite falls on me today I want you all to know I love you!”

The space junk he was referring to is the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS), a dead, six and a half ton, school bus-size satellite that is hurtling toward us as I peck this! Scientists stated earlier this week that it would totally avoid North America, and now they’ve retracted their statement. So, good luck out there fellow earthlings!

For a few other grey hairs out there, this news story takes us back to 1979 when Skylab met its fiery demise over remote parts of South Africa and western Australia. I still remember the ‘Skylab is Falling’ t-shirts and well-publicized panic. My guess is that UARS will make an even more uneventful re-entry.

Let me ask you a question.

Do you know Chicken Little people?

Perhaps you’re a chronic ‘the sky is falling’ peeper.

Our culture, and sadly our church directories don’t lack ‘Negative Nellys’; those whose glasses are perpetually half empty and blinded to silver linings. Eyore Syndrome is pandemic!

Friends, of all the people on this garden planet, we as Christians should be the most optimistic! We have Jesus! Through His cross we get immeasurably more than we could ever dream of, ask for and certainly deserve. We are loved unconditionally be the greatest Father and most powerful monarch in existence. We are filled and sealed for salvation with and by His Spirit. We are viewed not by our filthiness and incompatibility, but now through the perfect righteousness of our Redeemer. Through an empty tomb, our archenemy named death is a defeated foe. Through His grace we are recipients of a living hope! All this - then Heaven.

So as beloved subjects of the kingdom, let’s lift our heads and eyes from the doom and gloom this world tries to sell us, and see the bigger exciting picture above us. Let’s look to the skies for Jesus! Anything else is a bunch of junk.

Pastor's Perspective - Dog Days

LOST DOG: Male hound. Three legs. Blind in one eye. Left ear partially chewed-off. No tail. Parts of coat missing. Answers to the name ‘Lucky’!

Years ago I read about a real-life ‘Lucky’ up in Clearlake. Fox News reported about an 8-month-old puppy who miraculously recovered after being hit by a car, shot by a police officer and stuck in a freezer for two hours!

Dosha, a carmel-colored pup, apparently was struck by a vehicle after escaping from her owner. Soon afterward, humane officer Bob MacDonald came upon the scene and attempted to end the canine’s suffering by using his revolver. She was then placed in an Animal Control freezer for two hours before someone discovered she was still alive!

Veterinarians treated the pooch who made a full recovery. Talk about a ‘dog day’!

The Apostle Paul was well-acquainted with dog days of his own. We wrote the Christians worshiping in ancient Corinth: “I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches” (2 Corinthians 11:23b-28).

It never ceases to amaze me when Christian whine about being slightly inconvenienced, or scream in disillusionment when just a hint of personal persecution comes their way. Jesus Himself told us that if we truly represent Him in this life, we would receive scorn and rejection, just like He did. He told us that, “In this life you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). He elaborated, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me” (Matthew 5:10-11).

Now wait a minute! Trouble? Persecution? Insults? Lies? Surely that kind of negativity shouldn’t accompany a Christian’s life. We are called to peacefulness and contentment, right? Doesn’t the popular gospel of our day promise abundance, popularity, acceptance and trouble-free living? In other words, can’t we all just get along?!

The truth is, light is an affront to darkness. Truth is an enemy of deception. Salt is antagonistic to blandness. Life is an opponent of death. Therefore, if we are authentic modern-day advocates of light, truth, saltiness and life, we will make our share of enemies this side of Heaven.

Jesus Himself said, “I came not to bring peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34). His life and message were confrontational in a morally bankrupt society. As I share with my Suisun City congregation, “We will not mark-down the gospel in order to sell it!” The timeless Word of God and the people who live by it were never called to be socially pliable for the sake of just getting along. Like Jesus, we are called to truth and grace.

So the zillion dollar question du jour is – How well are you fitting in? In other words, are you receiving your fair share of rejection and scorn? Are you characterized where you live, work and play as an uncompromising and unashamed follower of Christ? For such individuals, ‘dog days’ are foretold and yes, guaranteed. But, Jesus reminds the faithfully consistent: “Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in Heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:12). In other words, it’s not about here – it’s about there! It’s not about you – it’s about Me! It’ll all be worth it!

So fellow Christian, when you face opposition, stop your whining. Remember, Jesus can turn water into wine, but He can’t turn your whining into anything! None of us have come even close to the rejection He personally experienced for our redemption. So here’s my brotherly advice. The next time you’ve been run over, shot and shoved away for your faith, remember: You’re not ‘Lucky’ – according to Jesus you’re ‘Blessed’!