new year, new affections.

I’m excited about the opportunity that I have this month to write for our local paper. Each month, pastors in the area are able to take turns writing and January was my turn. I’ve never done this before, but alas it was fun. Here was last week’s article:

It’s here. It always comes whether we want it to or not. And many of us respond differently to the reality of a new year.  Some of us come to the realization that we are aging—and aging fast! Others decide that it is time to use up that gym membership we pay for but never use; and still others anxiously wait to see what might be around the corner hoping and praying for a different job, life, situation and circumstance.

But isn’t it interesting how we look at our various situations and hope for change when the reality is that change first needs to start in the heart? What if a doctor diagnosed you with cancer and instead of addressing the root cause, told you to just go home and take some Tylenol? Let me explain.

Proverbs 4:23 (ESV) reads, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Often in the Old Testament the “heart” refers to the center of one’s being—the center of the soul and personhood. It’s what makes you, you. Without that spark, that animated soul, your body would simply be inanimate flesh. So the heart is absolutely vital and central.

Jesus said in Mark 7:21-23 (ESV), “For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” When we look at the world around us, oftentimes we deem the wrongs of society as being transcendent (“out there”) rather than being the direct result of a wicked heart. Jeremiah 17:9 (ESV) reads, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”

The reality is, our hearts are filthy. The deepest parts of our souls are polluted because naturally, we want what we want and tend to not care about “those people.” And you’re guilty. So am I. We are all guilty. Year after year, we are guilty of mocking God, and belittling his name. We exchange the glory of God (Romans 1:23) and rob him of what he deserves. And the result is always sin, destruction, and ultimately death.

But the gospel of Jesus speaks to your circumstances: your financial burdens, marital stress, job loss and anxiety. It speaks to the depths of your soul and provides nourishment for it. Our circumstances aren’t the only problem: our hearts are. And the gospel reaches down, destroys our sin and saves us.

What you need this year is new affections.

Jonathan Edwards wrote in Religious Affections (1746), “For although to true religion there must indeed be something else besides affection, yet true religion consists so much in the affections that there can be no true religion without them.”

The heart of the issue (pun intended) is that our hearts are filthy, yet Jesus cleans them. Our minds are polluted but Jesus changes them. Our affections are slanted towards things that are not God but Jesus realigns them. This year, treasure God above all things; have affections for our great Savior.

who will you cling to…

in 2012?

Let’s get serious for a moment. A new year brings excitement. It’s often looked at as a “fresh start” in life. We can exercise more, take on the new dieting plan, read the bible in a year, mend broken relationships, get promoted at our jobs, and possibly even take that European vacation we’ve always dreamt about. And these are great things and you should do them for the Glory of God.

But let’s face it.

We might die this year. Our spouse might get cancer. One of our kids could have a freak accident and lose his/her life. You might lose your job, your house, car and possessions in a fire. You might get in a car accident. You might go blind. The stock market might crash (again). Gas might jump to $5/gallon. You might experience some of the most devastating things you’ve ever faced in your life.

The question is: what will you cling to? Better yet: who will you cling to?

Will you cling to the all-knowing Creator God? Or idols?

Will you cling to Jesus, the Redeemer and Lord? Or be lord yourself?

The reality is, all of those things described above happened in 2011–and they will happen again this year. And maybe it will be you.

Who will you cling to in 2012?

resurrection life

God has a sense of humor. I preached on Mark 5 yesterday and the resurrection life that Jesus provides for the Gerasene Demoniac, woman with a discharge of blood, and Jairus’ daughter who died, but was brought back to life.

And then I opened up Valley of Vision this morning to read a prayer and I came to page 173, called “Crucifixion and Resurrection.” It’s about resurrection life (ironically!):

O LORD, I marvel that though shouldst become incarnate, be crucified, dead, and buried. The sepulcher calls forth my adoring wonder, for it is empty and thou art risen; the four-fold gospel attests it, the living witnesses prove it, my heart’s experience knows it. Give me to die with thee that I may rise to new life, for I wish to be dead and buried to sin, to selfishness, to the world; that I might not hear the voice of the charmer, and might the delivered from his lusts. O Lord, there is much ill about me–crucify it, much flesh within me–mortify it. Purge me from selfishness, the fear of man, the love of approbation, the shame of being thought old-fashioned, the desire to be cultivated or modern. Let me reckon my old life dead because of crucifixion, and never feed it as a living thing. Grand me to stand with my dying Saviour, to be content to be rejected, to be willing to take up unpopular truths, and to hold fast despised teachings until death. Help me to be resolute and Christ-contained. Never let me wander from the path of obedience to thy will. Strengthen me for the battles ahead. Give me courage for all the trials, and grace for all the joys. Help me to be a holy, happy person, free from every wrong desire, from everything contrary to thy m ind. Grant me more and more of the resurrection life: may it rule me, may I walk in its power, and be strengthened through its influence.

mcD’s and BK.

I was chatting with a friend of mine and I described to him how here in Caro, the more fashionable third place is McDonald’s. It’s a great meeting spot because of the atmosphere, coffee, and conversation space. And in the same conversation we were talking about how the local Burger King isn’t doing well.

So I got to thinking about the lobby in McD’s versus the lobby/eating area in Burger King.

And there’s a stark difference.

The BK lobby isn’t as friendly. It’s plain jane (decor from the 80′s) with virtually no “feel” of a typical third place environment (and I define that “feel” as the Starbucks motif. Enter a Starbucks and there is a sense of comfort and relaxation, a place to “hang” and not feel uncomfortable. Here one has a coffee shop experience that may include WiFi, television, art on the wall, your iPad and a friend to converse with, or a good book to read).

Nonetheless, I began to think about the local church and the buildings she inhabits. Are they comfortable? Or do they fail to speak the language of the culture? Does it provide a space where people can be open, honest, and transparent, or does it feel “religious” (meaning ancient) and disconnected (meaning people do not understand the cultural cues)?

We want to serve people by providing spaces for the gospel to be heard and community to be had. A place where the only stumbling block is the gospel.

And McDonald’s has re-branded themselves and literally changed the way people experience their food. Burger King hasn’t done that and I wonder if that is part of the reason they are struggling.