Foundation

This past weekend I headed out to Marshalltown, Iowa for a reunion with folks who attended the church I grew up in. Five years ago we were saddened when it was closed, something happening to many congregations across the land. I tell people that I had a drug problem when I was growing up. My parents drug me to church every time the doors were open. Bethany United Methodist Church (an EUB congregation before that) was never large in number but great in heart. It was a community that was an extended family showing me four important components of a foundation for life. First was always that the Bible can be trusted as the Word of God. It was preached and taught with passion by pastors and lay people alike. Secondly that group was our “community center” as we learned to love one another striving to serve others. Third was the challenge to live holy lives and “don’t let the world squeeze you into its mold.” And finally that Jesus is the Way, The Truth and the Life. I had a Sunday School Teacher and Youth Leader, Barb Elliott, who had a great impact on me. She could play the guitar and had a beautiful voice that sang from a love deep in her heart. One time she “made” me sing “I’d Rather Have Jesus” with her. I did my best making a joyful noise against her talent. But when we got to the end the silence was pierced with a question, “Do you mean it?” I reluctantly said “yes” but as a teenager there were many things competing for Lordship in my life. That question haunted and reminded me of poor choices I was making in High School. I would live one way on Sunday and another the rest of the week. I was invited to a meeting at The Salvation Army where the Major said, “someone needs to get serious about Jesus.” Barb’s words came back once again. I went forward to the altar and answered her question. “Yes, I’d rather have Jesus.” Those foundations I learned in my youth have carried me through life. On the corner of Bethany, now a Hispanic congregation, is a stone engraved with these words, “Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone.” (Ephesians 2:20) In this crazy mixed up world we all need the foundation of the Word, Community, Holiness and yes, Jesus. More than anything this World affords today.

Obey Jesus

While driving through town there is a sign that catches my attention. In the middle of a red heart on a white background are the words “Obey Jesus”. It almost seems strange in this day and age when everything is focused on love. God does love us. We can’t earn our way to Heaven because the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross paid our debt in full for our sins. (It took me awhile to figure this out.) But God is more than love, He is Holy. The Christian walk is a process of repentance and sanctification, moving away from our disobedient nature to become like Him. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” We are called to be yielding to Jesus out of love for that which He has done for us. Our challenge is to not live as the world with all of its crazy ideas but conform to the law that our Savior said He came to fulfill, to live Holy lives. It is not following a list of do’s and don’t. It is obedient faith, not ruled by our feelings but the truth of God’s Word. We used to have this lady when I was young during prayer meetings who would say, “Oh that people may see, the marks of Jesus in me.” I’ve learned it comes from that simple message on that sign, “Obey Jesus.” Thanks to the neighbor for the reminder!