Pastor's Perspective - Undignified

Last Wednesday night my family and I had a very enjoyable holiday rendezvous with a dear Christian sister of ours – Nicky Peterson. Earlier this year Nicky moved to South San Francisco to help a brand new church gain traction in the city. For years she has been a treasured part of our lives and ministry, so the opportunity to connect with her in the city, have dinner together and see some Christmas lights was too irresistible to pass up. So, feeling very urban, we Kiefers bundled up and took BART into the heart of San Francisco.

After dinner we all walked to Union Square to explore the decorated department store windows. As we were walking on the bustling sidewalk in front of the multi-story Macy’s store, loud shouting erupted. The huddled movement of people, of which we were a part, stopped abruptly. In the middle of the cluster were two middle-aged parents, screaming for their daughter. They were impeccably dressed – suit & tie, fancy holiday dress, neatly groomed. They were clearly people of tremendous means based on appearance. Somehow in the chaotic trajectories of busy shoppers, they had lost track of their little girl.

I don’t think I will ever forget the sound of their screaming as they called her name into the frigid night. It was a sound I’ve heard only a few times in my life. It was haunting; a loud undeniable sonic mixture of fear, helplessness and love. Immediately I felt nauseous. What we were observing could best be described as primal. Though neatly tailored for a special holiday night out, the parents ran up and down the sidewalk piercing the atmosphere with their cries, hoping somehow their little girl could hear them. Their eyes darted wildly from one another and then to others – frantically recruiting any help they could muster. I immediately began backtracking down the sidewalk, looking for a female child in a ‘red hat’, but to no avail. Suddenly a child I never met or even knew existed meant something to me. As a fellow parent, my heart had connected empathetically. Some helped in the search, others stood frozen. Within a few minutes, that seemed like an eternity, a pretty little girl with a stylish cherry red hat was being reunited with her parents. “We found her!” was immediately followed by an eruption of applause from huddled strangers. As we continued walking, my wife Michelle and I both felt sick physically and squeezed emotionally. Did that just happen? What if that was one of our kids? Did you hear their screams?

We made some wonderful memories that night, but that episode has really stuck with me, reminding me of a few important things.

First, love is willing to get undignified. Money, attire and image meant absolutely nothing to those parents in that moment when they discovered their little girl was lost.

Friends, Jesus Christ died the most agonizing death know by the people of His day. He was willing to get undignified because He loves us, and He knew without His substituting death, we would remain forever lost.

Second, celebration is the natural reaction to something treasured being found. In an unanticipated snapshot of pure beauty, those relieved parents hugged their child joyfully and unashamedly. There was no condemning or scolding the child, just pure elation, as onlookers applauded wildly on a San Francisco sidewalk.

Jesus told us through the parables of the one lost sheep, the one lost coin, and the one lost son, that when just one soul is found by turning toward Him all of Heaven celebrates! No condemnation. No scolding. Just pure elation!

Friends, two thousand years ago on a Roman cross, Jesus got undignified - just for you.

Why?

Because you were lost.

Without Him, you are lost.

Turn to Him today.

Be reunited.

Start a party!

Pastor's Perspective - i-Paperweight

Admittedly, I’m a complete dunce when it comes to my i-Phone.

For over a year my wife Michelle (a satisfied i-Phone user) told me about how it would add so much convenience to my busy pastoral lifestyle. I was very hesitant for the sole reason that everybody I observed who owned one always had their nose down looking at the darn thing! Eventually I caved, and after owning one for two years now I can say, “My wife was right.” I couldn’t imagine going back to a conventional mobile phone after owning one. With the flip of a thumb, no matter where I am stateside, I can access my personal and church emails, consult my online calendar, check Facebook and Twitter, access the Bible in multiple versions, get directions on the fly, take vivid photos and videos, show-off my beautiful family, check on my favorite German soccer team (Karlsruhe SC), get directions and restaurant reviews, check flight statuses, calculate, find the local time in Mumbai, and play a quick game of Zombie Highway. Amazing!

This summer I took my i-Phone to remote western Kenya. For those of you who’ve never been there, there is absolutely no coverage in remote western Kenya. The locals were amazed by it! I showed them photos of my family. I took a lot of pictures and videos of them at our open-air crusades. The orphans had a ball taking pictures of each other with it! I used the alarm clock feature every day to help me be timely (which in remote western Kenya means nothing!). I also listened to the songs repeatedly on i-Pod that I had downloaded in the States.

Why am I sharing this information with you?

I found that when I was disconnected from coverage, the i-Phone became nothing more than a sleek-appearing paperweight! In Solano County it was my lifeline (or so it seemed); but in Africa, all I could get from it was what I intentionally downloaded ’back home’. In other words, in California it’s a marvel with limitless evolving eye-popping potential. But where we were this summer, it was severely limited by what I had (or had not) put in it.

Pop Quiz Hot Shots!

Someone takes your one and only Bible - your Bible. It’s the one with your name embossed on the cover, the sweet handwritten dedication near the front, the highlighted verses, and the note somebody passed you while you were pretending to enjoy the sermon – your Bible!

Now here’s the proverbial ‘kicker’ – you can’t buy or borrow another one – ever!

Questions.

With what you’ve read and memorized from the Bible, could you continue to encourage yourself in the Lord?

Could you lead someone to faith in Jesus Christ?

Could you explain cogently the underpinnings of your faith?

The psalmist wrote a long time ago, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you’ (Psalm 119:11)

Are you currently and intentionally downloading God’s powerful and infallible Word into your heart?

Hide it now.

You’ll need it later!

Pastor's Perspective - Encouragement to Encourage

During quail season in Georgia, an Atlanta journalist met an old farmer hunting with an old pointer at his side. Twice the dog limped gingerly ahead and pointed. Twice his master fired into the open air. When the journalist saw no birds rise, he asked the farmer for an explanation. "Shucks," grinned the old man, "I knew there weren't no birds in that grass. Buck’s nose ain't what it used to be, but him and me have had some wonderful times together. He's still doing the best he can -- and it'd be mighty mean of me to call him a liar at this stage of the game!"

We all need encouragement.

Like the little boy who said to his father, “Let’s play darts Daddy. I’ll throw them and you stand here and say ‘Wonderful!’”

We all need someone to come along sometime and say, “Wonderful!”

William Arthur Ward wrote, “Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will never forget you.”

We in the church need to be encouraged – even the pastor. Christ Himself needed the encouragement of friends and the encouragement of the Father.

Christ has called us to lives of faithfulness.

When we read Hebrews chapter eleven we are inspired by those saints of old who were characterized by faith. They are immortalized in Scripture! However, we must remember that they are remembered as members of the ‘roll call of faith’ against the dark and daunting backdrop of big challenges and harsh trials.

Big challenges.

Harsh trials.

Got any?

As I peck this, a young military couple in Sacramento is diligently praying for their newborn son born ten weeks prematurely. Likewise, a member of my former ministry is spending day and night by his severely injured Marine son’s side.

What do they need?

What do we all need?

Encouragement.

Nothing big and fancy.
Just a visit, a card, a call, an email, a text message.

Something.

Anything!

Something that reminds a person that they matter, what they are doing is worthwhile and appreciated, that they are not alone, that they can do it, that with God all things are possible.

The Apostle Paul knew this. He challenged a young congregation, “Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

Let’s face it. It’s easy to tear down, to share a comment hastily out of anger or frustration. We’ve all done it.

Personally, lifting the hood a bit and allowing you to peer into the pastor’s engine, I want to share a prayer request that God has never failed to answer in my life. Admittedly, many of my prayers have been answered with a ‘no’ or a ‘wait’. But one prayer has always been answered quickly and predictably. It’s such a proven prayer request that I only pray it when it’s absolutely necessary. The prayer request is simple and always sincere – “Father, encourage me.” And He does.

Will Rogers said, “We can’t all be heroes, because someone has to sit on the curb and clap as we go by.”

One of my favorite definitions of the church is this, “The church is a group of highly imperfect people who will convince you you can make it, then stand with you while you try.”

Remember, the best thing you can do behind a friend’s back is pat it!

Choose to encourage.

Somebody you know, like old Buck, is doing the best they can.

Somebody you know, like the little boy, needs to hear, “Wonderful!”

Choose to build up.

Choose to clap.

Choose to be unforgettable.