It’s my last day in the lovely ol’ USA!

It’s currently 11:20 AM on Tuesday the 12th, and I fly out at 12:23 PM tomorrow.  I should probably think about packing sometime soon, eh?

The past couple weeks have been a good close to my time in Florida.  I’ve made some swell friends and had a lot of fun, and I really feel like I’ve got a lot better handle on the overall picture of what I’ll be doing and the way things work with OneHope.  I realize there’s still a ton I’ll unavoidably need to learn on-the-job, but I think I’m ready for that.  I’m really trusting in 2 Timothy 3:16-17

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

The way I see it, if that’s true (which I am certain it is), I’ll work hard and study hard at the office all day, doing my best to learn all I can, but as long as I’m seeking God and immersing myself in his Word, he’ll see to it that I become wise and “complete, equipped for every good work.”

What did I choose to do with my last weekend in America, you may ask?

I’m glad you asked.

Friday night was pretty chill, just hung out with some friends and played cards and watched some Wallace and Gromit (flashback to the good old days!).  Saturday, I went to Target (where else!) and then spent some quality time at a massive park near here, walking around the swampy areas and enjoying God’s creation.  That was followed by a Chicago-style hot dog and some time at the beach.

But Sunday…oh Sunday.

Here’s the first bit:

Yes.  It’s true.  I went to the Cardinals-Nationals spring training game.  Pretty sweet – last year I went to a couple spring training games in Arizona, this year I got to go to one in Florida.  It was a perfect day, 85 and sunny.

And then the 4th inning happened:

Oh Florida.  Monsoon rain, ten minutes after it was perfect.

My partner-in-crime Mindy and I spent almost an hour crowded under one of the few roofs in the park with a couple thousand other people (we all became family, really quick).  But we kept our spirits up, made friends with a few Cardinals fans (highlight:  A 5-year old boy asking if I was a Cubs fan, to which I hastily replied, “No, but my entire family is.”  His response?  “Why would anyone be a Cubs fan?”  Love it!); and survived without getting totally soaked.

Ended the weekend by doing laundry (by the way, I’ve been using Fab laundry detergent-the spring breeze version-and I’ve actually been complimented on the way it smells…I highly recommend it!) and watching Cowboys vs. Aliens.

All in all, I’d say it was a pretty American sort of weekend.  Just what the doctor ordered.

Grace and peace,
Bear

Well, the report is in.  As of the current findings, the pizza in Florida is not even worth comparing to the pizza in Chicago.  I can’t say I’m surprised – I expected as much.  However, there was still a small sliver of hope buried deep within…not hope that I would find better pizza (that would be foolish), but hope that I would find something that would at least remind me of home.

To this end, I went to south Florida’s newest pizza joint on Friday: Dan Good Pizza.  Originally from Michigan, their newest and first Florida store opened a week and a half ago in Coconut Creek, Florida…and while it’s decent pizza, it’s bush league compared to the likes of Giordano’s.

As you can see, I’ve been up to very important things

In other news, I actually have been working -working pretty hard!

I’m in the middle of preparing a presentation on our UK program (which you’ll hear more about later) which my boss (Paul Walker…not THE Paul Walker of The Fast and The Furious Fame) will use to help share the vision when he meets with pastors and organizations in Ireland in a few weeks.  I’m also almost finished writing curriculum for the religious education classes in Italy, along with working to plan a UK “tour” of sorts for a few weeks in June.  Busy busy!

I’ve got a prayer request as well:  I’ve currently got a flight booked to the UK for March 13th, but it all hinges on my UK visa coming through on time.  We’re in a little bit of a time crunch–had to wait a few days longer than we’d hoped for a couple necessary letters and things–and so please, pray that things go smoothly and I’m able to get there on time!  (Filming starts the March 15th, so it’s kind of crucial I’m there by then).  Thanks much!

Grace and peace,
Bear

 

Titus 3:3-8 (ESV)

“For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.  But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.  The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good work.”

In the book of Titus, Paul is writing a letter to his buddy Titus, who he had left behind in Crete to help establish the church there.  Paul gives Titus all sorts of practical instructions for helping put church together, but as I read through it this morning, the above passage in particular stuck out.

You see, what Paul does in Titus 3 is highlights a connection between knowing and doing.  I’m sure most of us have learned throughout our lives that actions have consequences; Paul here informs us that knowledge also has consequences.  Because I know, something must change.  This principle is true in all areas of life:  For example, as a kid I fell down the stairs a few times.  In doing so, I learned about the reality of gravity.  From then on, because I knew about gravity, my actions had to change–I couldn’t lean my big head way out over the stairs.  I couldn’t step off of my bed and expect to float in mid-air.  It may seem comical, but I think it’s a decent illustration.  As we learn, things change.

So then, the question becomes: In Titus 3, what is the “learning/knowing,” and then what is the response (what must change?)?

Well, if you’ll look again at verses 3-7, you’ll see Paul reminding Titus of the truth of the gospel.  Remember, Paul is instructing Titus on leading the church.  Paul highlights the core of the gospel:

“We were…but…God…saved us”

Those six words explain the entire message of the gospel.  “We were“ foolish, disobedient, and so on–in a word, we were rebels.  Sinful.  Deserving punishment.  “But…God” for his own reasons, intervened.  We deserved punishment, but God took action on our behalf, took action and “saved us.”  What a God!  Paul reminds Titus of the gospel in a much more beautiful and detailed way, but the simple truth is this:  We were…but God saved us.

So, what then?  What of it?  Now that I know I’m saved, what’s that mean for my life?  Where do I go from here?  Should I hunker down and wait for heaven, where I will no longer have to put up with all of the horrible sinful people in this world?  Should I just bide my time and wait?

Nope.  Not according to Paul, anyway.

Verse 8 is what I want to emphasize.  It’s the connecting verse.  It answers the “so what?” question.

“The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good work.”

Again, remember that Paul is teaching Titus how to lead the church.  Paul isn’t just reminding Titus of the gospel, he’s encouraging Titus to keep preaching the gospel to the church.  Paul wants Titus to “insist on these things;” to go to war for the truth of the gospel.  To hammer them home.  One of my favorite quotes is from Winston Churchill:

“If you have an important point to make, don’t try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver.  Hit the point once.  Then come back and hit it again.  Then hit it a third time – a tremendous whack.”

That’s the attitude Paul wants Titus to take when it comes to preaching the gospel to the church.  Continual, repetitive reminders.

Note in verse 8 the “so that.”  (Remember, the little words in Scripture are often some of the most important!)  Titus is to hammer the truth of the gospel into the hearts and minds of the Christians in Crete, “so that those who have believe in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works.”  There’s an unmistakably clear connection between really grasping the truth of what God has done in Jesus, and living the life God wants us to live–a life devoted to good works.  N.T. Wright wrote in his book Justification:

“God is rescuing us from the shipwreck of the world, not so that we can sit back and put our feet up in his company, but so that we can be part of his plan to remake the world.”

So remember this:

The gospel is not just for “getting people saved,” it’s for getting saved people going.

Know.  Then do.

Grace and peace,
Bear

Soooo…..it’s been about a week since I’ve updated this thing, sorry folks!

Life is going well here in sunny Floriday (it’s currently 72 and sunny out!).  I’ve been here for just over a week, and I’ve been incredibly busy.  I’ve learned all sorts of stuff about OneHope: history, philosophy, big picture type stuff of what’s going on the world.  I’ve been involved in brainstorming sessions, product development meetings,  and the like.

The main thing that has been going on is gearing up for our big annual conference called Hope Celebration.  It’s actually our 25th anniversary, so it’s a really exciting time.  We’ve got about 70 partners and representatives from all over the world here, so there is a lot going on.  We (the European division of which I’m a part) have folks in from England, Italy, Albania, and France, so on top of the conference we also get the pleasure of hosting our guests (making airport runs, which I actually enjoy; dinners; meetings, etc).

Hopefully this quick update at least fills in some gaps and gives you all a picture into what is going on down here.  I’ll probably be in Pompano Beach until March 13th-ish, and then I’ll fly out to England (we start filming for a program we’re developing there on the 15th).

I’ve got some more thoughts to share sometime soon, but duty calls, and I’ve got things to do!

Grace and peace,
Bear

I’m just going to put it bluntly:
It’s really weird being at the end of a chapter of your life.

Really. weird.

There is this inescapable bittersweet feeling; sadness at leaving what you know and love, but excitement at greeting the new and unknown.

For example, today I said goodbye to the house I’ve grown up in.  My parents are looking at potentially moving in the upcoming year, and so I have no idea if I’ll ever set foot in that house again.

Even nearer and dearer to my heart, I had to say goodbye to my family today as well.  After 22 years of being near them, it came down to a bunch of hugs and kisses in the airport, and then…just like that, they’re gone.  Here’s where it really hits home though: There is an absolute possibility I’ll never see them again.  Life is short, and the next time I’m counting on being home is Christmas–but neither I nor them are guaranteed the next ten months.

It’s at times like these when the promise in Mark 10:29-30 becomes all the more precious:

“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 

I’ve had a great life.  There’s no other way to describe it.  I was blessed to be born into one of the most privileged countries in the world, into a loving family.

So why the heck am I leaving?

Well, here’s the thing:  I’m dead.  Or, to put it more eloquently: “I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20)

Why did I choose to leave the great life and the family I love in Chicago-land?  Because this isn’t my life anymore; I’m dead.  My life is Christ’s life now, and get this:

Jesus loves the young people of Europe, so much so that he left the perfect life he had in heaven to die for them.  

And now I get the privilege of telling them that, seeing the looks on their face when grace hits home, and  welcoming them into the Kingdom of God.

I wouldn’t trade this for anything.

Grace and peace,
Bear

In Acts 10 & 11, Luke shares an episode from the early church that is absolutely groundbreaking.  It is an event that is really without precedent, and it sets the trajectory for the people of God from that point forward.

Here is the Cliffnotes version of what goes down (although I highly recommend reading it all for yourself):
-A God-fearing centurion from Caesarea named Cornelius  has a vision in which an angel tells him to send men to Joppa to find and bring back a man named Peter (10:1-8)
-The following day (as Cornelius’ men are en-route), Peter is praying and has a vision that is repeated three times.  The vision consists of a sheet being lowered from heaven, filled with all kinds of animals, and a voice saying, “Rise, Peter, kill and eat.”  However, there’s a slight problem: The animals on the sheet are of the kind that traditionally the Jewish people (of whom Peter was one) considered to be “unclean” based on the Mosaic Law.  Therefore, Peter’s response to the voice is negative: “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”  Not to be undone, the voice from heaven responds, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” (10:9-16)
-Immediately afterward,  Cornelius’ men arrive at the place Peter is staying, and the Spirit instructs Peter to go with them without hesitation. (10:17-23)
- Peter and Cornelius’ men return to Caesarea, where they find Cornelius eagerly awaiting their arrival, along with all of his friends and family.  (10:24-33)
-Peter preaches to the party about who Jesus was and what he accomplished. (10:34-43)
-As Peter is still speaking, the Holy Spirit falls on the hearers.  They are then baptized, and Peter stays with them for a few days. (10:44-48)
-Peter returns to Jerusalem and is criticized by the Jewish Christians for fraternizing with the Gentiles (non-Jews) of Caesarea (a big no-no according to Jewish law). (11:1-3)
-Peter explains all that has happened and the Jerusalem believers are silenced, and then glorify God for including the Gentiles in his plan of salvation

Here’s why this event was so huge: Up until this point in time, God had been busy redeeming a people for himself–the Jewish people.  The Jews were fine with that plan.  Being God’s chosen people on the earth is a pretty good deal.  However, the truth was that God didn’t just plan on redeeming the Jews; he just hadn’t revealed the whole plan yet.  Here, in Acts 10 & 11, he reveals the final part: God is not bound by nationality (or ethnicity or geography or language or career choice), and he desires to redeem people for himself from every nation, tongue, tribe, and people.

There’s a reason I’m drawing this to our attention now.  I’m afraid that now, 2000 years later, we’re a lot more like the Jewish Christians than we like to admit.  Let me pose a question to you:

Are there groups of people whom, if you were to make it a point to frequently associate with, build relationships with, love, and care for, people within church would say, “How dare you!” or criticize or condemn you for?

I think there are.

Don’t you see?  That’s exactly what happened to Peter in Acts 11.  He returned to his home church in Jerusalem, and people there criticized him for associating with people who weren’t Jewish.

Hypothetical time:
-Rumors surface that your pastor has begun frequenting a gay bar, and in the ensuing months, multiple known, outspoken homosexuals from the area begin showing up at church.  What do you do?  What goes on in your head?  What do you think of them?  What do you think of your pastor?
-One of the young adults in your church sublets his apartment to a friend and proceeds to “move” into the inner city, where he befriends and lives with the homeless people there.  On Sundays, he arranges for a van full of them to come to church–dirty, smelly, cursing, sometimes hungover–and he grabs your teenage kids and introduces them to his homeless friends.  How do you respond?  What’s going through your head?
-A young lady starts to bring women to church whom, to put it nicely, dress “a bit scandalous.”  In the following weeks, you find out that these young women are actually prostitutes whom she has invited to live with her.  One of them has since come to know the Lord, but the others have not, and are still actively involved in prostitution.  What do you think?  What do you tell your kids?  How is your view of the young lady affected?

If I’m honest, when I think through the above scenarios, I hate the way I know I would respond.  I don’t like to admit it, but I know that I wouldn’t respond positively.  I know that I would judge them.  I know that on the outside, I would be all smiles and full of encouragement, but on the inside I would be afraid of getting my nice little “American Christian” hands dirty.

So…what now?  Where to go from here?

First off, I’ve found I need to repent, and if you’re in the same boat, you do too.  If Christ came for the lost and the sick and died for sinners (1 Tim. 1:15, Luke 5:31-32), then there is clearly something wrong in my head for not wanting to associate not caring about those people.

Secondly, life must change.  Repentance has to be followed up by life change, or it’s not true repentance.  Repent essentially means “turn;” it’s a 180-degree turn from the way I was living to the way I ought to be living.  It’s wrong of me to judge homosexuals.  It’s wrong of me to judge homeless people.  It’s wrong of me to judge prostitutes.  None of the above (and none on the planet) are worse sinners than I am; my self-righteous judging of them reveals something about the state of my heart.  If I had earned God’s love and forgiveness, than judging them would be alright–I had earned my standing, and so they could to, if they’d only try.  But if I’ve been saved by grace–given God’s love and forgiveness, freely, in spite of what I’ve done–than I have zero room to judge.

Lastly, here is my challenge to you:  Who are those people (or groups of people) that you would be criticized for associating with and trying to love and share God’s grace with?  Where can you find them?

Go and find them.  Go and befriend them.  Go and love them.  Go and show them boundless grace.

Chances are that if someone in your church would be criticized for associating with those people, so would people from other churches; and so odds are those people aren’t being loved at all.

So go.  And don’t be afraid to ruffle some feathers within the church.  Don’t ruffle feathers for the sake of ruffling feathers; but absolutely ruffle feathers for the sake of showing grace and introducing lost people to their Heavenly Father.

Peter did it.  Jesus did it (Matt. 9, Luke 5).  It’s time for us to do it.

Grace and peace,
Bear

Well, I’m home! For awhile that is–I’m here for roughly two weeks before I head to Ft. Lauderdale for a month for training, and then from there I’m off to the U.K. and Europe for good.

Being home is good.  Very good.  I’m the type of person who tends to get so caught up in what I’m doing while I’m gone that I don’t think about home too often, but being home makes me realize once again what a blessing my family and church family and friends are.  God has been so good to me.

One other nice thing about being home after two incredibly full and fast-paced weeks in Italy is that I now have a bit of time to think and reflect on things.  Italy was fast-paced, but really the past month and a half have all been a crazy blur.  It’s exciting to start a new chapter of life, but because everything happened so quickly, I feel as if the reality is just now catching up with me.

On another note, I was reading in Matthew 10 today.  Matthew 10 consists of Jesus giving his disciples authority over diseases and evil spirits, and then sending them out with the charge to: “go…to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’  Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons…” (vv. 6-8)

That first bit sounds great, doesn’t it?  The Lord of all creation gives you his authority and tells you to go work miracles and preach.  Awesome.  I’d sign up for that. However, Jesus goes on with his instructions throughout the rest of chapter 10, and the picture gets a little less glamourous.  He goes on to say things like this:

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves” (v. 16–not a good thing.  Wolves kill sheep.)

“Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues” (v. 17–Doesn’t sound like much fun anymore, huh?)

“Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake.” (vv. 21-22–Yikes.)

Maybe I’m all alone here, but at this point if I’m one of the twelve disciples, I’m raising my hand and asking about alternative plans of action.  The working miracles bit sounded great, but the flogging and being hated is a bit rough.  Surely there was another way?

But Jesus isn’t done with his speech yet.  I think the most striking part of Matthew 10 is verses 26-31:

“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.  And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.   Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.  But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.“

It’s interesting here, because Jesus has just clued his disciples into the fact that they are going to be hated and beaten and possibly die for him, yet he follows that up by telling them repeatedly not to be afraid.  How can that be?  How does that even work?

I think that in verses 29-31, Jesus is sharing with his disciples the remedy for fear: knowing what their Father is like.  You see, he’s told them not to be afraid, but why shouldn’t they fear?  Because God cares for the sparrows, and not even one of them can be harmed without his leave.  Jesus then shares a mind-blowing nugget of truth with his disciples: “…you are of more value than many sparrows.”  That’s an astounding statement.  If a sparrow cannot be harmed or die without God allowing it to happen, how much more would that principle ring true in the case of a person, who is much more valuable than a sparrow?  Don’t miss the incredible two words in verse 29–Jesus is talking to the disciples about God, and he says, “Your Father.”  God is not just “the” Father or Jesus’ Father; no, he is the disciples’ Father.

Wow.

So then, what is the remedy for fear, and what does it mean for us?  The remedy for fear is an assured knowledge of the fact that God, my Father, has set his affections upon me and made me his child, and he is in absolute control of whatever comes my way.

What does this mean for me and for you?  Not only does Jesus show the remedy for wrongful fear of those who can kill the body but not the soul, but he also shows his disciples an appropriate fear–fear of the one who can kill both body and soul in hell (that would be God, in case you missed it).  Just as Jesus was sending his disciples out with the mission to take the Good News to people (some of whom would inevitably respond negatively and hurt or kill them), Jesus is sending you and I out today to bring the same Good News to the ends of the earth.  Similarly, people will inevitably respond negatively to the Good News, and it will result in hatred, beatings, and possibly death.  But regardless of the possible negative consequences, it’s the mission our King has given us, and knowing his love and healthily fearing Him above all else means that we will take completing our mission more seriously and important than any potentially adverse consequences.

Also, remember the flip side–yes, negative responses are inevitable.  But, if we are faithful to the mission, positive responses are also inevitable, and lost people will find their much-needed Savior.

So what’s this mean for me?  In short, it means this:  I’m responsible to God alone for being faithful to the mission he has given me.  If he gives me an opportunity to go to Somalia or to Iran or to Burma (all highly dangerous places) to share the Good News, I must go, despite any danger or possible harm.  If Christ calls me to harm or death in his service, then so be it–it is enough for me to be like my master (v. 25).

When I came to Christ and pledged my allegiance to him, I left my “claim” or “right” to safety and comfort behind.

And so, my friend, did you.

Grace and peace,

Bear