Burn the Ships!

The smell of smoke fills the nostrils and tears up the eyes. The view on the beach is disturbing, the ships are on fire as the smoke coats the air and blocks out the sun at mid-day. A sense of panic strikes at the heart of the sailors now marooned on this foreign soil. Soon, realization will set in. To find their way home, they have to move forward.

Infamous conquistador Hernando Corte’s is well known for his brutality when conquering and claiming the Aztec lands for Spain. He will forever go down in the annals of history as a conqueror that nearly wiped out an entire civilization in his day, but there is one saving act of leadership that begs to be examined. When Cortes’ ships landed in the new world, to prevent mutiny he ordered his ships burned and sunk. Imagine for a second being a sailor on one of those vessels and upon landing in this foreign environment your leader burns the only mode of transportation home. Your world comes crashing in, and the only way home is forward without retreat. It’s forward and never backward.

In a very practical sense, we ought to consider burning the vessels of doubt that reside within our faith in God. These modes of transportation will only move us backwards into our old sinful lives instead of transporting us forward into a deeper relationship with our Father in Heaven. Burning the ships of doubt has a motivational value that boldly declares that our purpose and our faith is all or nothing. As an Ambassador for Christ in this world, there is no escape route or exit plan to abandon the cause of Christ! We are either all or nothing; doubt can’t exist in the same place as our faith.

If we have doubt and fear present, perhaps it’s time to burn the ships. One might argue that fear is a part of our faith, rightly so…but it ought to be the fear (reverence) of the Lord not the fear of what the world might do to us within this cause for Christ! These two types of fear are different. Doubt on the other hand is something Jesus even confronts His disciples on… “Oh you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 8:26)

Burn the ships…move forward in your faith and trust in the Lord for guidance, protection and strength! He will never leave us or forsake us! (Deut. 31:6)

April 5, 2013 0

Lost and Found

2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (NIV)
²⁰We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. ²¹God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

A sister never gave up hope in finding her long lost brother. She spent two decades searching for him. They had been separated and adopted out and records were sketchy at best in terms of locating his adoptive parents. She had almost given up until her searching paid off…Her brother was found! After twenty years of searching, she found him and a tale of reconciliation could finally be told. It would be hard to describe the emotions in that room when she finally glanced at him as he entered…how the tears must have flowed freely as images of her brother as a child swam in her head. The tearful reunion after such a vacuum of time, lost time had separated them.

Stories like these happen all of the time. What a day of celebration when families get reconnected after so many years! It is certainly a joyful time I would imagine. I’ve never actually been to one of those reunions; I’ve never been separated from my family for more than a few weeks at best. But you almost don’t have to, in order to imagine the overwhelming joy and happiness that is poured about that lost, now found soul.

So it is within the Kingdom of Heaven. Christ has searched for us, has extended Himself to the very cross to that we might be reconciled with our rightful family! All of heaven rejoices when we are at last reconciled to the Father through Jesus His son and the shedding of His blood for us. What a wonderful tale of reunion is told every time a soul who was lost is now found again! Like the sister in the story, Christ never stops searching for us and He wants us to be found!

Are you in need of being found today? Do you know someone who is still lost in this world? Christ is searching, and wants so desperately to reconcile the lost back again to the Father!

-Just a thought!

April 3, 2013 1

Victory is near!

“Thanks be to God who leads us into victory!” What victories are you in need of today? Each of us have struggles, some of these struggles are things we much endure, but it doesn’t mean God can’t provide a measure of victory in the midst of our struggles.

Do you need to surrender control today? Perhaps it’s time to allow God access to your struggles…and He can give you some measure of victory right now…if you let Him.

-Just a thought

April 2, 2013 0

Worship…not just reserved for Sundays

This song has been running through my head all night and all of yesterday. We sang this song on Sunday, but it has just stuck with me. For me, music speaks…for me not a day goes by that I don’t find myself breaking out in some sort of song. It’s just my temperament I guess.

But singing songs of praise isn’t the only form of worship to God is it? Music is a very easy conduit that brings us into worship though doesn’t it? It can transform a humble chapel into the very throne room of Heaven, and connect with in ways with the Savior. Worship is so much more than just the songs we sing though. Mere words cannot express who God is, and how we are called upon to bring Him glory. But that doesn’t mean we ever stop…after all the creatures before God in the heaven are singing His praises never ending (Rev 4:8).

Our worship is all about God and what He has done for us. If it becomes mere performance and we lose the emphasis of authentic praise then we ought to re-evaluate our intentions in His sanctuary. When our songs become anything less than praises to Him, they become empty words that only edify our old selfish spirits. That may sound harsh, but that is the reality of things.

Worship isn’t just for Sundays:

Truth be told, we come on Sundays to get reconnected to God, but we shouldn’t unplug ourselves from Him as soon as we shake the Pastor’s hand and exit the building. In fact His praises should be evident in all that we do, through-out our week! Worship takes on other forms in the work place and on our drive to work. How we relate to others around us can be evidence of our Worship to Him. How we respond when others attack us or cause us difficulties is also further evidence of that same worship of Him.

Why Worship in every aspect of our lives?

Because if we believe in a living and active God who created everything and wants to be apart of our lives then shouldn’t we also invite Him into our work week and into our homes? When we do so, we begin to see the full spectrum of the kind of worship that is required of us. Don’t just hang up your worship with your Sunday suit and tie, only to sit there until the next Sunday morning. Take His praises with you every day! He wants that kind of love relationship with you! He deserves so much more than just an hour a week!

Worship…is not just reserved for Sundays…worship is reserved for everyday!

April 2, 2013 1

Amazing Grace…showing love when love is barren.

Some thoughts on grace today…after all, isn’t that what Christ’s redemption story is all about? We are those who spurned God, rejected Him, sinned and fell hard…we damned ourselves. We held the match while the bridge burned all the while smelling of gasoline…so to speak. Christ came so that we might once again have hope of Eternal life. When Christ died, the bridge called grace was built and lowered for us once again. Did we deserve this gift? No! But grace is still given to us, despite our stubborn, stiff-necked attitudes.

Turning the tables:

Who in your life needs some grace today? If we are to receive grace from God, then aren’t we to in turn extend that grace to others? Extending grace to others isn’t for the weak of heart…it takes real guts, courage and fortitude. Extending that grace to those who have spurned you, mocked you, disliked you, ‘un-friended’ you, doesn’t mean you should expect that grace to be reciprocated back…it simply means you love them despite their indifference, and act as Christ would act…you may be the only reflection of Christ that they ever see. Extending grace, means you live consistently within that love and grace regardless of who it is that grace falls upon.

April 1, 2013 1

What is love?

I find it seriously ironic that many writers of love songs or love stories are good at the concept of but not in life experience of love. Is it their deep desire to find love that keeps them writing even after so many failed attempts at it themselves?

Not to be cynical or sarcastic but why do we keep listening to their music when what they speak about isn’t practiced? It’s like going to a college professor who teaches medicine for open heart surgery…they just don’t have the practical experience where as a seasoned cardiologist in the field performing surgery every day would be so much more reliable.

Real, true, authentic love isn’t for the weak minded or weak of heart. Writers may ponder its existence and miss their opportunity all together. I don’t profess to know all there is about real love, but I do experience it every day with my wife and my kids…and it’s amazing and yet difficult at the same time.

We will always hear the siren call of those writing about love but never actually living it. It might be just me, but I would prefer to live it rather than profit from it as a profession.

…and they lived happily ever after… 😉

April 1, 2013 0

Holiday Christians

Written a few years ago:

Easter Recap
Our church had a great Easter Sunday this past Weekend. Our SONrise service began at 8:00am, and we had about forty minutes of worship and a devotional. The power of the Holy Spirit was so wonderful to experience. After our Son-rise service, we had breakfast which was followed by our Traditional Easter Service . We were wiped after yesterday but God was awesome, hearts were touched, mine as well.

In reflecting on what Easter means to me, I have come to the conclusion that even though there are those who come to our churches only on holidays like Easter it still gives us the opportunity to plant seeds in their lives. At first I used to be very judgmental towards them, but the more and more I have been reading and praying the more I see that it isn’t about church…its about daily life. Sure we could look down on the “occasional church goer, we could confront them, make them feel guilty about not coming; but what will that do? Maybe some would get that message, while most, if not all would never returm (or take years to come back)

Now I know going to church is important for spiritual growth, but it takes sometimes huge steps for people to even grow to that point. Many are still (to quote one of my favorite movies: What about Bob) baby steppin’ it. They haven’t quite gotten to the point of seeing the need for weekly fellowship with other believers. So in their baby steps coming to church even on a holiday is a huge step.

As Christians who are maturing in the faith. planting the seed is our part (not putting on a guilt trip)…the Holy Spirit does the work, we just need to be consistent in our ministry and in our lives. And therein lies the paradox sometimes. Our lives and ministry can’t be divided where one ends and one begins, they are the same, it’s just that the hours intersect between work and home and that makes the difference. But within those segments of our lives: work, home, leisure: is there consistency? I would say sometimes it’s a fifty/fifty toss up. But we certainly have room to improve, and within those improvements the seeds that the Holy Spirit allows us to plant are so much more fertile.

Of course three things that I have continually been convicted on are these:
1) It’s the Lord’s Ministry – not mine.
2) When Victories come – He gets the credit.
3) I need to be thankful in ALL things – even the rough times.

So the next time you start to get annoyed as we all sometimes do with the “Holiday Christians” remember your job is to plant the seed, let the Holy Spirit do the rest. Just be consistent in your faith journey and see what happens.
-Just a thought.(written and re-edited by me (scott strissel) taken from my web site on Xanga: Salarmy -2007)

March 31, 2013 1

Saturday in the underworld.

It’s Saturday. The day after crucifixion, Jesus’ death. Can you just imagine all of heaven, holding their collective breath? The Angels’ anxiously awaiting, anticipating what is to come? Did they know what God had in store for Sunday? Were they party to the entire plan? The hosts of heaven gathering at the tomb, gathering unseen among the disciples, who are in hiding. Imagine what is unseen in the spirit world, as Jesus descends into the deep, setting the captives free and unleashing redemption through the veil.

This Saturday lull before the storm of victory makes us wonder what the metaphysical world looked like on such a day. What battles were fought. The might of God unleashed on the fallen ones. How awesome the power of Christ would have been to behold…it would have probably killed us, who are human, to have witnessed this might. For even Moses had to cover himself in the sight of God…so too Elijah.

It’s Saturday, probably the day within the Resurrection story that the unseen and the hosts of Hell were shaken to the core by the Son of God. This epic battle…Satan standing no chance against his very own Creator. Death, though the gate by which Christ entered, had no more power on Him than all of the demons of hell…He was not their equal, He was so much more than created…he was Creator vanquishing and unleashing those imprisoned.

There is very little within scripture to tell us of what took place on Saturday, but if Sunday is any indication of what took place, all of the demons along with the father of lies himself must tremble with fear when they consider what is to come when Christ returns again.

It’s might be Saturday on this holy week, but resurrection is just around the corner…resurrection and victory for all who would follow after the Christ. For all who would identify with the cross will find an eternal hope and a resurrection unlike any other known in the universe.

March 30, 2013 1

Portrait of Jesus

On the walls of our living hang pictures. Not just any pictures or pictures of people we don’t know but pictures of my family. My Mom and Dad are there, my Wife is there, my children are there and other extended family members. This wall is dear to me. Not because it holds up a portion of the house that houses my tv, but because within these pictures is captures a moment frozen in time. A moment in which my family are smiling, looking silly, perhaps with teeth still missing as kids, but moments that have come and gone. Sweet moments, joyous moments and I treasure them in my heart every time I see them.

Today is Good Friday. Probably not exactly a joyous moment when we reflect on Christ on a cross, bloody, beaten and dying. It’s not a pretty picture to behold. We probably don’t have pictures of Jesus this way on our wall, in full color naked and bleeding on the cross. Perhaps you have some crucifix’s a portrait or two that resembles his death on the cross, but I doubt that it’s an unedited portrayal of his actual death scene…which I imagine was extremely grizzly to behold. Yet there is something joyous within this moment in our Savior’s death. It’s not that He suffered, or that finally they caught those two criminals hanging there next to Jesus, but it’s the fact that sin and death were nailed to the cross with Christ.

Our sin, our eternal death was taken from us by Christ on the cross. With the shedding of His blood, which was perfect, we now can call on His name and our sinful ways can be atoned for. We have one who intercedes for us before the Father. This portrait is the best we have ever received…ever! Eternal life is ours, death conquered, and hope available to the entire world all because of Jesus.

My photos on the wall are awesome, I love my family and I love my kids…but this life we live has been extended and eternal life granted to us, including my loved ones because of what we celebrate today…Christ crucified.

Question: Do you identify with this crucified Christ?

I hope and pray you do, if not perhaps it’s time to consider what life is about, where you’re going at the moment and if there is meaning to what you are doing today.

March 29, 2013 0

The Biblical Twilight Zone…

My children got sucked in today by an old black and white television show. The show in question? The Twilight Zone. This morning before going to school, waking up with sleep caked eyes they flipped on the TV and they were drawn in. Not by expensive special effects or famous actors, but a well scripted haunting scenario. My kids journeyed with the characters on the episode identified with the actors as they uncovered a truth so hard to accept…they weren’t on Earth at all…they were someplace else.

To some degree the disciples had to have felt like actors on horrifying episode of the twilight zone. They had just finished their meal and went for a walk with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. Imagine their tired eyes, filled stomachs and then Jesus tells them to sit at a place in the garden while He went up just a little further to pray. The effects of good food and the tranquil setting must have taken effect because the gospel of Mark records that Peter, James and John fell asleep instead of the Lord’s command of “keep watch”. They fall asleep, and sleep soundly as Jesus prays earnestly for His Father in Heaven to take the cup from Him (v36). Jesus displays his humanity in this moment, because He understood what needed to take place and His very human nature pleads for it to not take place.

Three times, Jesus comes to them and three times He finds them sleeping on the job. Jesus, in this difficult moment, tells them that they have to stand guard so that they didn’t fall into temptation because the spirit is willing, but the body is weak. (v.38) But because of their deep exhaustion they can’t keep their eyes open. In Jesus’ toughest struggle in his human existence, even beyond his temptation in the wilderness, His hand selected disciples couldn’t support Him in this trial. They fell asleep three times…I don’t believe in numerology but this repetitive notion of three is evident in the crucifixion story. Peter denies Jesus three times, the rooster crowed three times, the disciples including Peter, fell asleep three times and three times Jesus has to wake them up. Jesus in His death and resurrection took the span of three days. Post resurrected Jesus asks Peter how much He loved Him…you guessed it three times.

The Twilight Zone Moment:

After Jesus finishes His prayer conversation with the Father, He awakens His disciples for the last time and says, “Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayers!”(v.42) Here is when their reality is turned upside down. Within this very moment an alternative reality seems to present itself and it strikes literal fear in the disciples. One of their own, Judas enters the scene, and as a sign of identification places a kiss on the cheek of Jesus, as if to say ‘this is the one you want’. Peter’s eyes grow wide in surprise, as does James and John’s. How can this be? Why would Judas do such a thing? He was our brother! They all feel the bottom drop out in their stomach as this new reality sinks in. Peter reaches for his sword…where he got it, the Bible doesn’t say, but he uses it poorly it would seem as he slices off the ear of a servant to the high priest. I don’t think Peter planned to use it, his strike wasn’t premeditated but reactionary instead. This twilight zone will lead to an illegal midnight trial.

One can almost imagine the screen flickering in black and white as the camera zooms in on the actor and an expression of sheer disbelief and horror is magnified as the scenario is unveiled for the first time. This Maundy Thursday ended seemingly in a different dimension for the disciples. Way too much drama, too much loss, too little strength to do anything but sleep, cut off an ear and run away.

Don’t be too quick to judge though, perhaps if we were to place our feet into the disciples’ sandals for a moment without the foreknowledge that we have as we view this story from the outside, would we really have done anything different? Probably not.

Welcome to the Biblical Twilight Zone…Beyond it is another dimension – a dimension of sound, a dimension of sight, a dimension of mind. You’re moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas. You’ve just crossed over into the Biblical Twilight Zone.

March 28, 2013 4

Category: Faith