Tunnels

Tunnels

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and
when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over
you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned."
Isaiah 43:2

On our annual school trip to Washington, one tradition is the student's trying to hold their breath going through the tunnels under the mountains in Pennslvania. Some make it and some don't but one thing is for sure: when they see the end of the tunnel, they get a renewed strength to hold on until the end.

Those tunnels are fairly short, only a mile or so, compared to Japan's Seikan Tunnel which stretches for 33.5 miles and is 240 feet deep at it's lowest point. The Chunnel, the tunnel that connects France and England, is equally impressive, undergound for 31. 4 miles and reaching a depth of 250 feet under the English Channel. And to think that we have some friends that won't use the Detroit Tunnel, a mere 5160 foot tunnel under the Detroit River because it's too scary - no going under the English Channel for them anytime soon.

With the exception of the bright lights and shiny tiles that line the tunnels, we can draw some interesting parallels to the spiritual tunnels we all go though, those dark times in our lives when we face difficult circumstances that try our faith. We all experience them, situations that come upon us without warning in which the outcome is uncertain and the duration unknown, a darkness that only our faith helps us to navigate. Like the natural tunnels we described, they are of different lengths and different depths, some much more severe than others and some longer lasting than other. And, often, the promises of God are our only hope as we walk (here's the key word for today) through the valleys and tunnels of life.

The verse in Isaiah 43 is filled with those promises. After each experience that we pass through ("through" means they are not permanent but only temporary), comes a promise "I will be with you", "they won't sweep over you", and "you will not be burned". Each of those promises carries part of the truth; God will be with us as we go through our tunnels, He won't let them overwhelm us, and they won't destroy our lives.

Our granddaughter Hope's coming home from the hospital was the end of a tunnel for our family. Even though we had the assurance that the Lord would bring her through, it was still a tunnel, especially for Catherine and Chad, of not knowing exactly what was going on in that little body and how long the hospital stay would be. We are thankful for a God who walks side by side with us through our difficult times and who is faithful to bring us through by His grace and mercy.

Do you find yourself in a tunnel today? God has promised to bring you through it. And I can say with certainty, there is a light at the end of your tunnel!

God Bless
Pastor Joe
Gateway Church

Sharpened

Sharpened

"For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any double
edged sword ..... it judges the thoughts and intents of the heart"
Hebrews 4:12

What a difference! Getting the chain sharpened on my chain saw made cutting the firewood so easy it was incredible; it was like the saying "a hot knife through butter". And it raised the question 'Why had I waited so long to get it sharpened?'.

The process of a chain getting dull is something that can happen so gradually that you lose track of the fact that it's taking more and more pressure, more and more work to get the job accomplished. What was once easy and smooth becomes, over time, tedious and grueling, a struggle and a chore. And the sad part is that as you begin to find cutting wood increasingly difficult, as the level of frustration rises with each log you try to cut, you miss what should be obvious, the chain has gotten dull and needs to be sharpened.

Like a chain, or a knife, we can get dull in our spiritual senses and find our Christian walk to be wearisome and unfulfilling. And in the same way as the chain, it almost always happens over a period of time where we wake up one day, realize something is missing but fail to understand how we got there. We don't make the connection between being too busy and not having time for devotions with the fact that we've lost our passion and desire for the Lord. We don't make the connection between battles we've been fighting and having lost our spiritual strength. We can be a little slow to put two and two together, often not realizing the effect and the toll taken on our spiritual lives by disappiointment and discouragement, by loneliness and heartbreak until we wake up one day and don't like the place we're in.

With the chain saw, certain types of wood dull the chain faster than others; oak and hickory, because of their density, are the worst culprits. It is no different for us. Certain experiences and problems affect us more than others. Family struggles, financial difficulties and health issues can leave us in need of a refreshing from the Lord. While we could make a long list of life experiences that cause us to go dull, the key is being on guard for it so we are quick to sharpen the sword of our spirits.

So the question is how do we stay sharp. We make sure we rest after facing battles, we spend time in the Word to receive fresh vision and direction, and we spend time with friends who can encourage and strengthen us. Just as cutting wood is so much more fun with a sharpened chain, the Christian life can be exciting, meaningful, and fulfilling if we will only remember to stay sharp.

God Bless,
Pastor Joe
Gateway Church

The Lake's Lessons

The Lake's Lessons

"They begged Jesus to let the sick touch even the edge of his
cloak, and all who touched him were healed." Mark 6:56

Sandwiched in between the miraculous feeding of the five thousand, and an incredible visit to Gennesaret in which anyone who as much as touched Jesus' garments was healed, is the story of a nighttime trip the disciples took across the lake. In the midst of miracle after miracle, they found themselves "straining at the oars" as they rowed during a middle of the night storm that came up on the Lake of Gennesaret.

The disciples hardly had time to celebrate the multiplying of the loaves and fishes as "immediately Jesus made them get into a boat". That word "made" makes you wonder if the disciples wanted to stick around and bask in the miracle while Jesus had other plans for them. In obedience, and probably with great reluctancy, they boarded the boat and started rowing toward the other side. And as they went, a storm arose and they found themselves straining, worrying.........

Lesson #1 - Sooner or later all of us are caught in life's storms. They come without warning, buffet our lives like the waves of a storm, bringing disappointment, sorrow, and the strain of waiting for God's answer as we hold on by faith. And let's make one thing clear, these disciples weren't running away from God, or walking in disobedience. On the contrary, they were good men, following the Lord with all their heart, exactly where He told them to be. It would be a serious mistake to interpret every storm as some form of punishment for something we did wrong. We do know, however, that God can use these storms to teach us valuable lessons, increasing our faith and giving us compassion for the sufferings of others.

Lesson #2 - Jesus is always watching us during our storms. Mark 6:48 records "He saw them straining at the oars". Those committed disciples were never beyond the sight of God as they struggled in the midst of the storm. He was watching over them, He knew where they were and He knew what they were going through. What an encouragement to know that the Lord is watching over us as we face the storms and difficulties of life. He knows our circumstances and He knows what it will take to meet our needs. He is truly Jehovah-Jireh, the one who sees (all we are going through) and provides (for our every need and circumstance).

Lesson #3 - Jesus calms the storms of life. The story continues with Jesus coming to them, walking on the water, and climbing into the boat with them. What a picture of Jesus being with us as we face the uncertainties of life's storms, in the boat and ready to calm the waves of fear and anxiety that we are facing. He isn't disconnected from the realities of life we face but there with us, "a very present help in time of need".

And those few words he spoke, a message for each of us, especially those currently out on the lake, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

God Bless,
Pastor Joe
Gateway Church

Hope Anne

Hope Anne

"For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me
my petition which I asked of Him." I Samuel 1:27

For those who already have heard, you are probably expecting me to go on and on about Hope Anne, my first grandchild, born yesterday afternoon, 18 1/2 inches long, 5 lbs, 2 oz of incredible cuteness. I'm going to do that later, but what has struck me the most so far is the overwhelming sense of how precious each life is and of what I can only describe as the "miracle of life".

That from the smallest of beginnings in the womb of a mother, a baby can grow and develop is nothing short of a miracle. David did a pretty good job describing it when he said in Psalm 139:13-14 "you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made". And that God can say to each baby "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you" - the knowledge that the Lord has a plan and a purpose for that life, for each life, is a gift and a wonder beyond description. David went on to say in Psalm 139:16:

"All the days ordained for me were written in
your book before one of them came to be."

Knowing that Hope Anne, as tiny and helpless as she is, is precious not only to her parents (and grandparents, aunts, uncles, great-grandparents.....okay, I'll stop now) but also to the Lord of whom David said "How precious are your thoughts about me, O God!" is both indescribable and incredible. Hope Anne is a reminder, with all the freshness of a new baby, that each life is to be valued and appreciated and treated as precious. The differences between us must take a backseat, the petty squabbles must be put aside and we must treat each life, each individual, each product of the same miracle of life as Hope Anne, with the dignity, love, value and respect intended by our Creator.

And as a warning, there might be a few more "Hope Anne" devotionals along the way, her first words, her first steps, her...........................

God Bless,
Pastor Joe
Gateway Church

Facial Recognition

Facial Recognition

"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's
glory are being transformed into His likeness with
ever-increasing glory." II Corinthians 3:18

With each passing day, the pressure is mounting for me to get a breakthrough in the all-important area of facial recognition. Calls to Homeland Security for training in their software have gone unanswered, the local community college still doesn't offer any courses that would help, and support groups in my area have refused me as a hopeless case.

If you're wondering what the problem is, let me explain. On countless visits to see newborn babies, in the hospital or at home, there are always the "she looks just like her .........." (insert mother or father). Or how about the "he has his father's chin" or, even more common, "she has her mother's eyes". How do they do it? I have never, and I do mean never, been able to tell who a baby looks like. My record is worse than the Detroit Lions, sadder than the Chicago Cubs, and, to make matters worse, Hope Anne will be here soon. Out of town relatives will ask "Who does your granddaughter look like and I won't have an answer for them.

In fact, the only area of recognition that I can function in is this: seeing Christ reflected in someone's life. Whether someone has genuine love and understanding for others who might be struggling, that's easy to recognize. And if a person really cares when another member of the body of Christ is suffering or hurting, I can pick that up. Patience, forgiveness, compassion, mercy - if only "her mother's nose" was as easy to spot as those in the life of a Christian. And bitterness, jealousy, anger, selfishness - if only "his grandfather's chin" was as clearly reflected as those traits.

The oft repeated phrase "you might be the only Jesus they will ever see" is truer than we would like to admit. Whether we like it or not, we reflect Christ and His attributes to those around us. We can bring the Lord glory and honor, and advance His kingdom, when the character of Christ is seen in us. Unfortunately, we can also dishonor the Lord, and hinder other people's coming to Christ, when our attitudes and lifestyle do not reflect the Lord and His kingdom. And both are a lot more obvious than who a little baby looks like!!

Let's all remember, people are looking to see who we resemble. As for me, when I'm done with this letter, I'll keep searching for a course that will train me in facial recognition.
I can only hope that Hope doesn't come too early!

God Bless,
Pastor Joe
Gateway Church

A Disposable Religion

A Disposable Religion

"When he found a pearl of great value, he went away
and sold everything he had and bought it."
Matthew 13:46

Most of the people receiving this weren't around to remember the days of glass milk containers, with the tin foil caps, delivered to the house by the milkman. Non-returnable, disposable milk containers made their way into everyday lives in the late 50's and they have been followed by a host of disposable products. When our oldest daughter was born, I still remember Nancy and I having to decide (to be honest, it was a pretty easy decision) between the diaper service and disposable diapers. If I remember, the extra cost of the disposable won out over the smell factor of a diaper pail filled with dirty cloth diapers.

In reality, disposable products have made life much more convenient and have invaded every sphere of life. We now shave with disposable razors, eat lunch on disposable paper plates using disposable silverware on a table covered with a disposable tablecloth.

On our school trips to Washington every year, students purchase disposable cameras, at outrageous prices, to record their memories of our nation's capitol. Add to those the disposable cell phones now available, disposable tupperware containers for lunches and storage, the list would be pretty long.

Now for the problem and it's not the environmental impact of disposable products adding to our landfills at alarming rates; it's the danger of a disposable mentality getting into our faith and producing a disposable religion. In a world governed in so many areas by our desire for convenience, that kind of an attitude could creep into our faith. And the result would be our looking for a religion of convenience. If it interferes with our plans and desires, get rid of it. If it interrupts a person's leisure or recreation, throw it away, just one more "disposable" in life. And if becomes confining, too limiting on what we can and can't do, too demanding of our time, we move on to something else.

And what about relationships. Sometimes, it seems that people undervalue relationships and only see them in the light of what they can get out of them. When a relationship starts to place demands on us that we aren't willing to pay, we too often treat them as disposable and move on. It is a lesson better learned earlier than later in life, treasure the relationships and friendships you have been blessed with.

When Jesus talked about the pearl of great price, and a person selling everything they had to purchase it, He was revealing the value and importance we should place on the Kingdom of God and on our relationship with the Lord. What a contrast - the little value we place on disposable products compared to the pricelessness of having God in our lives. Let's make sure we haven't fallen prey to a disposable mentality!

God bless,
Pastor Joe
Gateway Church

The Safest Place

The Safest Place

"He who dwells in the secret place of the most High will
abide under the shadow of the Almighty." Psalm 91:1

During the Chinese-Japanese War, an American missionary doctor was performing an operation on a wounded soldier. In the midst of the operation, there was an air raid and bombs began exploding in the nearby courtyard. A Christian nurse, who was assisting with the surgery, insisted that the doctor seek shelter so he wouldn't be killed by a bomb. To this plea, the missionary doctor replied, "Young lady, the safest place on earth is in the center of the will of God."

We live in a time with great economic uncertainties, with increasing threats of terrorism all over the world, and with pressures on the family structure never seen before. And yet, despite all this, for those who know the Lord and are seeking His will for their lives, it should (key word - should!) be a time of peace and of security.

The Bible uses a variety of words to describe this safest place. Psalm 91 talks about "the shelter of the most High". Who hasn't run for one of those park shelters during a summer thunderstorm; and if you make it before the rain, you can feel perfectly safe no matter how bad the storm. What a great analogy for the Lord because He is the ultimate shelter in the storms of life. No matter how difficult and constant the attacks against you may be, the Lord will be there to protect you.

David also describes the Lord as "my fortress" giving us the picture of a castle that no enemy could conquer and as "my refuge". When you look the word refuge up in the dictionary, you find this: "a place of shelter or protection from danger, trouble, storms, etc; anywhere to which one has recourse for aid, relief, or escape". For this, however, to become a reality in our lives, and not just another teaching, we have a part to play; we have to be walking in the will of God, listening to His voice directing our lives, and staying in right relationship to the Lord.

The missionary doctor was right, "the safest place on earth is in the center of the will of God". If you know you're not there, if you've been troubled by worry and fear, the door is wide open for you to run to the Shelter, not a place but a person, our God and our Lord.

God Bless,
Pastor Joe
Gateway Church