God, Christmas and You

December 27, 2010 Monday Message:

Humans are the only creatures made “in the image of God,” which means we’re valuable and special. We’re the only creation that can speak, think, reason things out and make decisions. Because God-the-Father loves us so much, he desires that none of us would be lost. Therefore God-the-Son came to earth to rescue us, to redeem our souls and to reconcile our fallen ways with God’s eternal holiness. Merry Christmas!

Too often, when someone wants to become a Christian, they say “the prayer,” but then nothing changes in their life. That’s unfortunate. It’s no good for the new Christian, and poor mentoring by the person who sponsored them.

Living the Christian life should be like opening a giant Christian umbrella. From the time you make your decision for Jesus, everything you say, think and do should be covered by, “What would God think?” and “What would Jesus do?” God wants you covered, and will send the Holy Spirit to help.

Parents like it when their children want to do things with them. God-the-Father is no different. Through Jesus’ redemption, God has adopted you into the holy family. He’s your Father, and you’re his children. He wants you to spend some time with him.

So as we close this Christmas season and prepare for a new year, resolve to open your God-umbrella and let it cover your daily living. And do some stuff with your heavenly Father. He has time with your name on it.

Norton Lawellin

Angels We have Heard On High!

December 20, 2010 Monday Message:

“Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’” Luke 2:13-14

God taking human form and coming to earth as the baby Jesus is a series of miracles. There are several hundred miracle-prophecies that point to the arrival of our Savior. Jesus fulfilled all of them. We all know the most common predictors: born of a virgin, descendent of David, city of Bethlehem. Other prophecies predicted Jesus’ death, mocking by the soldiers who cast lots for his garments, and his side being pierced while, miraculously, no bones were broken.

But today, I want to consider just one small cause and effect scenario.
Cause: a baby is born on earth.
Effect: Angels praise the LORD.

It wasn’t just a few angels that praised God; the Bible calls it a multitude. I don’t know exactly how many angels in a “multitude,” but I suspect it’s like a mega-church. Hundreds for sure, maybe thousands. And these angels aren’t like the cute little Precious Moments statuettes. “Heavenly Hosts” are the huge angel-army warriors who defend eternal good from the never-ending attacks of the dark side.

And praising God for a new baby on earth isn’t limited to Jesus Christ. In fact, it happens every day. Each one of us is fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God. So yes, God was praised for your creation and your arrival on earth. Creation of a new soul always results in a significant Heavenly celebration. Praise God because he’s awesome!

You are a child of God; you’re family. Join in celebrating the arrival of the son of God, our redeemer, Christ the newborn King!

Norton Lawellin

Run the Race - Win the Prize

December 13, 2010 Monday Message:

“(God) is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9b

Some of us grew up in Christian households and can’t remember a time when we didn’t love Jesus. Others, like me, can point to a particular day or specific incident when we made a conscious decision to accept what Jesus was offering, forgiveness and eternal salvation.

Still others have loved God, left God, and then returned to God. While you were gone, Jesus never left you. Whatever your path to the Lord, the important thing is that you’re with God today.

The Bible compares our walk with the Lord to a race. We may get a fast start or a slow start. Many will stumble along the way, but get back up and run some more. Some of us will run better when we can see the finish line. We all want to finish well. We will not run a perfect race like Jesus did. After all, we’re human, and he is divine. If we could be perfect on our own, we wouldn’t need rescuing. But God, with heavenly patience, waits for us, and gives up on no one who seeks Him.

This Advent season is a new beginning for the church year calendar. It’s also a good time for a new beginning for each of us. Re-dedicate yourself to the Lord. Get back in the race. And “run (your race) in such a way as to get the prize.” 1 Cor. 9:24b

Norton Lawellin

Christmas Comforter

December 06, 2010 Monday Message:

John the Baptist said that while he could only baptize with water, Jesus would baptize us with fire, i.e. with the Holy Spirit. If that’s what Jesus is doing, I’m IN!

The Holy Spirit eternally co-exists with the Father and the Son. He was present at creation, with the Jews and Moses as they left Egypt, and was with most of the “good” judges and kings. As we approach Christmas, we remember the Holy Spirit’s part in bringing the King of kings to us. “What is conceived in her (Mary) is from the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 1:20b

Remember that Jesus said he would send a comforter, the Holy Spirit, to be with us after he ascended to heaven. This Spirit is necessary for our salvation. “No one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. John 3:5

So don’t neglect that one-third of our triune God, our helper, our advocate and our healer. Without the Holy Spirit we are powerless, but with the power of the Holy Spirit we can do anything. This Christmas season, let’s worship God, welcome Jesus into our world, and give thanks for the Holy Spirit.

Norton Lawellin

The LORD Upholds the Oppressed

November 29, 2010 Monday Message:

“The LORD upholds the cause of the oppressed.” Psalm 146:7a If it’s important to God, it should be important to us, so let’s look at “The Oppressed,” their situation, what God is doing for them, and what we should do for them.

Stronger people feel like they have it all together. They feel good today, and they’re that way most of the time.

Oppressed people feel all beat up, all the time. They may have failing relationships, financial challenges and spiritual questions with no answers. They may be fighting an illness, fighting an addiction or fighting for our country. Unfortunately, life is a battlefield, and the oppressed are oftentimes fighting the stronger people.

Stronger people force the weaker people to work for them. They don’t pay them enough for the work. The oppressed are often hungry. Sometimes they’re in a prison, and sometimes they just feel as if life is a prison. Oppressed people are people to whom stronger people are not kind. Orphans and widows, foreigners, the blind, people not like us—there are many who fall into the “oppressed” category.

But don’t write them off yet—these are GOD’s Oppressed People! “Blessed are those who trust in the LORD!” Jeremiah 17:7a Remember that God is the Creator, so he knows what everyone needs, and he remains faithful forever. “The LORD gives food to the hungry, sight to the blind, lifts up those who are bowed down, watches over the foreigner, sustains the fatherless and the widow, and loves those who love him. God loves the righteous, but subverts the plans of the wicked.” Psalm 146:7-9

So if God is an advocate for the oppressed, we should make sure we’re on His side, which, by the way, is the winning side! If you stick close to God, you can step past the problem and become part of the solution.

Norton Lawellin

Filled with the Spirit???

November 22, 2010 Monday Message:

Are you filled with the Holy Spirit? And why is that important? For followers of Jesus, it works like this…

Just as light and darkness cannot coexist in the same space, goodness and evil are forever separated. If you’re living your life filled with the Holy Spirit, you are separated from evil. Pretty cool, huh? Oftentimes, when sin is the issue, the more difficult solution is to try really, really hard to NOT sin. The easier—and I believe better—solution is to simply add more God. Since sin cannot exist in the presence of God, the best solution to our sinful nature is to get closer to the Lord, and stay there!

As you start your day, take your yellow pad and title it, “Agenda.” Now, fill it up with good stuff—the Bible, your church, serving others, doing acts of kindness, feed the hungry, clothe those who need help, love the Lord and then your neighbor. Is your page full yet? If you filled it with enough good stuff, there won’t be any room—or any time—for any bad stuff!

Paul puts it like this: “Here is my advice. Walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don't do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” Galatians 5:16-18

That’s right—you have been freed from Law of Moses by the blood of Jesus Christ. How does it feel to have been rescued?

Norton Lawellin

Why have you forsaken me?

November 15, 2010 Monday Message:

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Jesus spoke these words from the cross during the final moments of his earthly life. But what you may not remember is that he was quoting King David, a man after God’s own heart, from Psalm 22:1a.

David prayed these words when his son Absalom, through lies and deceit, took over the throne of Israel. David found himself exiled from his own country, the country where he rightfully should have still been king. And yet Absalom was his son; David didn’t want to have to kill his own son to regain the throne. But Absalom was at the heart of the conspiracy. How could David reconcile this tension? How could things have gotten so messed up? Where was God when everything seemed to turn against David?

I believe the entire Bible is true, inspired words given to us by God. But as we read God’s word, it’s important to consider context and perception. The truth in this verse is that David felt alone. So much had been going wrong in his life for so long, that David truly felt abandoned. He hadn’t given up on God, but David felt far from God at that time. On the cross, bearing the sins of the world, Jesus felt far from the Father too. That was their perception.

So where did God go? The truth is that God is omnipresent; God is everywhere at all times. So God doesn’t go away. God doesn’t play tricks and try to hide from David, and God didn’t abandon his Son on the cross. God is always there, right where He’s always been. It’s us, you and I, who, in times of trouble, often turn away from God. When things go well it’s easy to sense the presence of God. When things don’t go well, we need realign ourselves, focusing on the Lord with extra diligence. We need to turn and face the light. And for us, Jesus is the light of the world.

God will always be right there when we need him, right where he’s supposed to be. That’s what the Bible says.

Norton Lawellin

Day of the Lord

November 01, 2010 Monday Message:

“See, the day of the Lord is coming - a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger - to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it. Isaiah 13:9

What is this “Day of the Lord?” The phrase usually refers to eschatology, things happening at the end of man’s history on earth, the “end times” as described in the Bible. Maybe we should call it the Millennium of the Lord - we’re expecting Jesus to return to rule the earth, some say for 1000 years. That sounds pretty good, right?

It’s good if you’re with Jesus, but really, really bad if you’re not. When Jesus returns, He’ll separate the sheep from the goats, for this is also the day of judgment. “The fallen will go to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Jesus: Matthew 25:46

So it’s not just depressing news. The “Day of the Lord” is our day of salvation, and that good news is where Christians should focus their dreams. But remember - don’t show up at the Day of the Lord without Jesus.

It will be impossible to witness the Day of the Lord and not be humbled. What God will do will be so big, so powerful, so magnificent, so awesome, that mankind will have no doubt that this is God-in-action. On that day, time as we know it will cease; we will no longer have one more day to make our decision to follow Jesus, that decision with eternal consequences. We have had “free will” up to this day; now we must live (or die) with our decisions. It is now the day of reckoning.

The prophecies foretelling the day of the Lord will come to fruition at the end of history when God, with wondrous power, will call His children home.

Welcome home, brothers and sisters!

Norton Lawellin

Paul's Altar Call

October 25, 2010 Monday Message:

Paul: “With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, as an act of intelligent worship, to give Him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to Him and acceptable by Him. This is your spiritual worship!” Romans 12:1

This is Paul’s altar call, urging believers to come forward and become one with the Lord. C’mon, let’s all go - this is where we can meet God!

Paul “begs” or “beseeches” the reader to act out of intelligence. It’s the logical thing to do (logikos), given all that Jesus has done for us:
• Rescue, redemption and salvation
• Adoption into Jesus’ holy family,
• Living under grace, not the law,
• Healing and conquering death,
• Confidence that we cannot be snatched from God’s hand.

If someone is not yet a Christian, they can come forward asking to have their sins forgiven, and asking Jesus to be Lord of their lives.

If someone is already a Christian, they can re-dedicate themselves to the Lord. They can pray for healing, comfort, and the peace that passes all understanding.

You can ask for God’s help with a difficult marriage, failing finances and mental health issues. God can remove addictions, cure depression, turn discouragement into hope, and in all ways do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.

You can be “anointed with oil in the name of the Lord. (James 5:14-15) …The Lord will make you well, and if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.” Do you seek a touch from God? You can ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit!

To receive these blessings, you have to step out of your comfort zone and let others pray for you. “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” (James 5:16b)
That’s what the Bible says!

Norton Lawellin

Close to the Father

October 18, 2010 Monday Message:

Last week we defined our Christian goal as wanting to be closer to Jesus, and to live our lives more like Jesus lived His life. Jesus, of course, is the form God took as he walked the earth with us. So let’s see what living close to God would look like.

Is there sickness near God? No, God does not have sickness or disease. We see illness on a sinful planet, but it didn’t come from God. The fact is Jesus was the one known for healing the sick. Near the beginning of the Gospel stories, you see a lot of detail about Jesus’ healings. As His healing ability became well known, the Gospels say only that, “He healed those who needed it.” The ability of Jesus to heal, to restore, had become commonplace.

Is there death near God? No. Quite the opposite, Jesus promises eternal life for all who repent and return. Jesus not only raised people from the dead, but conquered death himself as he rose on the third day. God is not constrained by our concept of death. Interestingly, Jesus said that his followers, his disciples, should both heal the sick and raise the dead. Have you healed anyone lately? (…with power from the Holy Spirit, and “in Jesus’ name,” of course.)

Is there poverty near God? No, the Bible says that we will have everything we need from God’s abundance. We may not be wealthy, but we’ll be OK. God has thousands of cattle on thousands of hills, provision for His holy family. If you’re living in the presence of the Lord, what else could you possibly need?

Is there sin where God lives? No, sin cannot exist in the presence of God. So if you are trying to NOT sin, getting closer to God would be a good solution. Just as Jesus taught in the Prodigal Son parable, the farther you are from the father, the more easily trouble seems to find you. When you’re closer to the Father, things go better for you.

God doesn’t ever go away – God is omnipresent. But as humans, we turn away from God and wander from time to time. Our world would be a better place if more of us would repent, return, and get closer to the Father.

For Him,

Norton Lawellin

Sunday, October 24th at 4PM, I’ll be leading a celebration of worship and healing at Trinity of Minnehaha Falls. You’re all invited!
Sing Your Heart Out!

Come join us at SING YOUR HEART OUT on Sunday, October 24th at 4:00 p.m. for an afternoon of hymns and praise. One Voice (the former group with no name), musicians, and guest worship leader Norton Lawellin will fill our sanctuary with worship. Please come and invite your family and friends!

A healing service will follow for those who would like prayer for themselves and others.
Trinity of Minnehaha Falls
5212 41st Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55417
612.724.3691

Light of the World

October 11, 2010 Monday Message:

Jesus: “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12 NLT

It’s October, and my church, like many others, is well into its annual giving campaign. We always have a theme, and in recent years it’s been about Christ’s light. I especially like this year’s theme, “Reflecting Christ’s Light.” Let’s take a look.

A journey makes more sense when we know the destination. As Christians, our destination - our goal - is to be closer to Jesus, to live our lives more like Jesus lived His life. If we could live like Jesus lived, say the things He said, and do the things that He did, we’d all feel like we were in pretty good standing with the Father. We’d be assured of salvation, right?

Well, not really. Being like Jesus is a worthy goal. But unfortunately, since we’re human, we come up short every time. Nothing we can do will assure our salvation. It’s out of our hands! Justification is a gift from God, and redeeming mankind was the mission of Jesus. We are saved by His grace alone, not by our efforts.

So as our Christian walk brings us closer to Jesus, remember that it is His light - not our light - that shines. His is the true heavenly light, the light that leads to life.

Let that light of Jesus, shining through us and reflecting off of us, be the light that shines into the world. Let His light so shine…

Norton Lawellin

I’ll be teaching at Chapel this Friday, Oct. 15, at New Hope Center, Metro Hope Ministries in south Minneapolis. “Samson – Big Enough to Fail!”

Reverse the Trend

October 04, 2010 Monday Message:

For the past few weeks we’ve been looking at declining church attendance, and how to reverse the trend. Let’s keep going:

4. We need to improve our typical Sunday morning program. Some of you don’t like referring to our worship service as a presentation or program, but THIS program is about Jesus, so it needs to be the best it can be. When a visitor drops in, show them the good stuff. In fact, we should treat our regulars to the good stuff as well. Every week – every meeting. Musicians and vocalists, sound and lighting, media and video operators – all need to be “on” their game. Any missed cue can jar the congregation out of a “God moment.” But good technology won’t make up for bad theology, and so the teachers…

5. Someone gifted in public speaking should be entrusted with the weekly teaching. Attending a seminary does not magically cause one to receive this gift. Chuck Swindoll says he doesn’t understand how some Bible teachers can bore people with the greatest story ever told, but they do it every week.

I recently sat through a sermon that left me confused. (Not my home church…)The pastor was jolly, everyone seemed to like him, but I walked away saying, “What was that about?” I still can’t tell you his main point, although he claimed the text was from “somewhere in Colossians.”

Another thing that troubles me is sermons with no substance. You hear a few jokes, cute personal stories, maybe some video clips, and we’re told to be a good person. But the Bible seems to be an afterthought, not the starting point. Better sermons start with the Word of God and then expound upon it, rather than predetermine a scenario and then search for scripture to support it.

The Lutheran church in the US may be declining, but the Lutheran Church worldwide grew by 1.6 million last year. Perhaps with intentional diligence we can reverse our nation’s trend and get on the increase side of things. Godspeed.

May the Holy Spirit bolster your journey this week.

Norton Lawellin

Growing the Congregation

September 27, 2010 Monday Message:

For the past couple of weeks, we’ve been looking at declining church attendance, examining things wrong. But let’s turn this into a positive experience. Let’s look at what might help grow our congregations.

1. Do you have a church full of brand new baby-Christians --- or pews filled with mature, long-time believers? What do you feed them each week? Babies need milk; their little bodies can’t tolerate solid food until they get older. But as they grow, it becomes time for meat, potatoes and whole vegetables. Unfortunately, most churches serve only milk from the pulpit. So feed your sheep. Put some meat on the menu from time to time.

2. We talked about welcoming the Holy Spirit into our worship. When He is present, we can direct our worship right to God-the-Spirit. Without this connection, we’re worshipping maybe God in the Bible, maybe some God in our imagination, or maybe God in the God-box into which we have put Him. Even untrained unbelievers can tell if we’re really getting a touch from the Lord or if God is keeping his distance.

3. Intergenerational disconnect. I can’t explain what happened, but there’s a clear leadership gap between today’s church leaders and the next generation. In your church, that could be people in their 40’s, 30’s, or late 20’s. The 20-somethings will fill the pews if they’re on fire for Jesus. Therefore we must mentor and raise up that next generation of leaders. It’s time to rectify the shortfall, to recruit for God's army.

Next week we’ll introduce a few more church growth ideas, and some final thoughts to wrap up this discussion.

May God walk with you on life’s journey.

Norton Lawellin

Christ's Business Plan

September 20, 2010 Monday Message:

Last week we looked at the declining attendance and membership in many of our denominations. It opens marketing questions, such as “Are the people buying what we have to sell,” and, “Are we selling what congregations want to take home?” Let’s take a closer look.

Jesus, the author of our business plan, says we are to worship in Spirit and Truth. All denominations have truth in their tradition, but does it continue in the pulpit today? Many denominations have slipped away from truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth – and are just serving watered-down, lukewarm theology. If a church doesn’t stand for much anymore, it shouldn’t be surprising that no one really wants to commit to it. Surprisingly, it seems that the churches with more “rules” are doing better, while those with fewer rules are declining the most.

Worshiping in Spirit is another matter. Congregations in general have little understanding of the Holy Spirit, few teachers choose to go there, and many people are just plain uncomfortable with the whole idea.

But that’s not the plan Jesus had in mind. Jesus said that he would send a helper, a comforter, someone to walk beside us, and we are to seek and wait for this supernatural power. With the Holy Spirit we can do anything, and without the Spirit we will accomplish nothing.

When the Holy Spirit knocks on your church door, do you need to open up and let Him in? I know, people who worship “in the Spirit” seem out of place in mainline denominations, but they’re present nonetheless. I call them “Charismatic Lutherans.” They may be in the pew right in front of you. If you’re not tapping into the power of the Holy Spirit, you’re leaving 50% of Christ’s plan unimplemented.

Don’t confuse any of this with worship style – there are dead liturgical churches and dead contemporary churches. They all need revival. This is about using God’s power to connect with people, and we’ll investigate the “connecting” piece next week.

May the Holy Spirit touch your life this week!

Norton Lawellin

Therefore Grow...

September 13, 2010 Monday Message:

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been privileged to be included in a discussion called, “The Lutherans Die Out.” But the decline isn’t only in the Lutheran church. Midway into our discussion, the United Methodist Church released its survey of 33,000 churches, intending to find out why membership is declining. Presbyterians and Episcopalians have reported declines as well. As leaders in our churches, a brief look at the problem may, hopefully, point us to solutions.

If we just check statistics, we find that Lutheran women have only 1.7 babies, and I suspect other denominations are similar demographically. We’re no longer self-replicating. In fact, if we don’t “go and make disciples of all nations” – e.g. welcome people who are not like us – the handwriting is already on the wall. If your church is to survive, it will look/sound/act different. You need to be OK with that!

The average ELCA pastor is 59, and none is getting younger. I’m saddened by how many have their sights on retirement, refusing to start anything new. The cool thing would be to befriend a number of 20-somethings, and equip them to light a fire in the congregation. None of us can do it all. Build a 20+ team to carry the message. Make it easy for young adults to choose your church.

Be honest – teach truths from the Bible. Put on a quality Sunday Morning event that people wouldn’t want to miss. Give the congregation application for what you teach. Give them something on Sunday that they can use on Monday.

We’ll look at implementation of growth strategies next week. May the Lord walk with you on your life’s journey.

Norton Lawellin

P.S. - I’ll be teaching Psalm 51 at New Hope Center this Friday. Of course David’s confession in Ps. 51 is the result of events in 2 Samuel…

Christian Purpose

September 06, 2010 Monday Message:

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Tim. 1:15b

When we see something out of place, or something that makes no sense or something that doesn’t meet our standards, my family queries: “What could be its purpose?”

But Paul leaves no doubt as to the purpose of Jesus coming to earth. In his first epistle to Timothy, Paul writes, “This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners!’”

While he was here, Jesus healed those who needed healing, and did a good deal of preaching and teaching. But his main purpose was to redeem mankind. That’s the one thing he did that no one else could have done!

Paul goes on to say that he was the worst sinner of all, because of the way he persecuted the early Christians. Paul writes that if Jesus can forgive and rescue him, Jesus can forgive and rescue anyone, no matter how great his sin. Paul considered the fact that he - the very worst - had been rescued, to represent hope for all mankind, evidence that each of us could be rescued. After all, that’s what Jesus came to do. That’s his purpose, his mission.

Now that we know Christ’s purpose, let me ask: What is your purpose? Worship and serving should be high on your list. Today is Labor Day in the US, and we should celebrate. God made us all in His image, and yet gave each of us unique gifts and talents, and then placed us in different vocations. Not everyone can or should work in the church. For example, Paul constantly returned to tent-making to support his ministry. We need Christians in all vocations. We need Christian teachers, bankers and senators. We need Christian leaders in our businesses, our governments, and our schools. It wouldn’t hurt if the little-league coach held a Christian worldview, giving the team something they could carry home when the game was over.

We know Christ’s mission – today let’s celebrate your mission!

Norton Lawellin

August 30, 2010 Monday Message:

David: “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body; you formed me in my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13

God knew you at your conception, your beginning. God knew you when one cell divided and became two. God desired companionship, a family; and so each of us was created by Him, different from all the others, unique, and yet similarly created in His image.

God teaches us a lot about parent/child relationships. He is the consummate parent. When you’re a parent, you have a special unconditional love for your child. The child may be rebellious, disobedient and out of control, but when he comes home, you still let him in – even when he doesn’t deserve it. This is, after all, your child. He may have to pay a price for his transgressions, but he is still loved at home, by his parent(s). God showers us with His khesed, His unconditional lovingkindness. Bathe in it – soak it up!

As we approach the Labor Day weekend and prepare to kick-off the next ministry season, take a moment to consider that God created you, your family, and all to whom you minister. Give thanks. No matter how difficult people can be at times, remember that God made each one of them. He gave them free will, so they will do things wrong and make bad decisions. But God forgives them, and so should you. Don’t dwell on it – there really isn’t time. Get back to kingdom building. Look at how many new things can go right during the coming year!

Don’t beat God’s sheep. God doesn’t, so you shouldn’t either.

Norton Lawellin

August 23, 2010 Monday Message:

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8

Samuel said, “There is no rock like our God,” and, “Who is our rock, our substance, except our God?”

Moses writes, “God is the rock, our foundation; his works are perfect.”

David’s Psalm 18 encourages us to sing, “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my salvation; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.”

God doesn’t change his mind. The character of God is a constant, something on which you can count, a rock on which you can stand. If God says it is good, it was good a long time ago, and it will be good far into the future. You can count on it. Similarly, if God says not to do something – “thou shalt not…” – He won’t be changing his mind either. If it was wrong a long time ago, it is still wrong today, and will be wrong for our children’s children.

Jesus freed us from certain procedural directions and dietary laws, which were no longer necessary for our safety. But the basic concepts of good and bad, right and wrong, evil and not-evil are still the way God set them out for us 6000 years ago. God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are one. Therefore what God spoke at the beginning and what Jesus verified 2000 years ago is still true today as the Spirit moves amongst us.

Jesus quotes Aesop’s Fable from 700 BC, as he chastises false teachers of God’s Word, those who would alter, change or “re-interpret” the Bible. “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them." Matthew 7:15-16 Nowadays some wolves are dressed in denominational garb. Jesus says cut down these bad trees with their bad fruit and throw the whole mess into the fire. Sounds pretty severe, but that tells us that Jesus is serious, and God’s not about to change His mind either. “The Father and I are of one mind.”

Don’t mess with God’s writings. That’s what the Bible says.

Norton Lawellin

August 16, 2010 Monday Message:

In Luke 13:10-17, Jesus heals a crippled woman on the Sabbath, by casting out demons. As you’d expect, this act of mercy drew hefty criticism from the Temple leaders, who thought healing was “work,” and no work could be allowed on the Sabbath.

Jesus argued that, just as you’d loose an animal to let it get water on the Sabbath, so should you also loose the woman from her demonic infestation on the Sabbath. Of course Jesus is right. Let’s look at the lessons in this brief exchange:

1. Sometimes physical challenges are caused by supernatural manifestations; other times they are not. Jesus can heal a person, regardless of the cause of their infirmity.

2. As you read the Bible, remember that your Zion is wherever you worship God, and your Temple is where you meet Him. Therefore your Sabbath is the day you step back from your circumstances to focus on substance: worship of the God who loves you, study of His character and principles, honoring family and friends, etc. I don’t know if God is concerned with the day of the week – my family frequently worships on Saturday. What matters more is that we intentionally set aside time for the Lord.

3. Common sense must prevail. If an animal needs water on the Sabbath, we need to take care of it. If someone needs healing on the Sabbath, we need to take care of that too. If your neighbor needs a hand and you have the opportunity to serve, you should probably take care of that too. Your Sabbath might not always be smooth.

4. There’s no question that we should right a wrong on the Sabbath. It would be wrong to not water your animal; it would be wrong to not heal the woman if you could. Jesus says you can heal the sick and raise the dead. You can’t do it alone – call down the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus doesn’t just say that the woman “should” be healed – He says she “MUST” be healed. Take care of it.

5. Once again God’s intolerance of false religion shows itself. The Temple leaders wanted to enforce the “letter” of the law, but had sadly neglected the “spirit” of the law. Jesus found false religion in the synagogue that day, just as we find false religion in some churches nowadays.

There’s no new ground here; we’ve heard these lessons before: Worship the Lord, serve your neighbor, love your family, follow God’s laws. Let’s all try to get this right. Don’t make Jesus have to come down here again to teach us. The next time I see Jesus on Earth, he should be on a white horse!

Norton Lawellin

August 09, 2010 Monday Message:

Jesus: "Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, not peace, but division! It is going to be father against son, mother against daughter…” from Luke 12:51-53 Strange language coming from the one hailed as the “Prince of Peace.” Let’s dig in…

There’s a catchphrase heard at some churches that I like so much I printed it out and put it on the wall in my office: “Everything will be all right in the end. If it’s not all right, it’s not the end.” And that’s the point. There will be peace that passes all understanding at the end, but along the way, our bumpy road will be flooded with controversy and division. Until the end, there will be wars and rumors of wars.

God-the-creator loves us unconditionally, so much so that He sent his only Son to cover our sins. If we repent and ask God’s forgiveness, he will grant it, and adopt us into his holy family. But God is intolerant of unrepentant disobedience. It’s God’s way or the highway, and you don’t get to like it or not like it – that’s just the way it is. Our God will not have you worshipping false gods, and he will not tolerate you following false doctrine. Realize that it’s these false gods and false doctrines that result in the bumps in the road, the controversy and division, not anything that God said or did.

God will also not tolerate the teaching of false doctrine. “Not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly.” James 3:1

Therefore, worship only the one God-our-creator and live your life by following the teachings of Jesus. Then you will find fewer bumps along your journey, and less controversy and division too. Living God’s way means things will be more like the new heaven and the new earth, when God sets everything right. It’s may be God’s way or the highway, but God’s path is paved with gold!

Norton Lawellin

August 02, 2010 Monday Message:

When we die, whoever has the most “stuff” WINS!
Right? Not according to Jesus…

In Luke 12:16:21, Jesus teaches the parable of the rich fool. As the story goes, a man has been so successful that his barns overflow with grain. He foolishly decides to tear down the barns and build bigger ones. In this story, our man is concerned with providing for his earthly “stuff,” his circumstance, but has made no provision for his eternal soul, his substance.

As I counsel people, I find many are often focused on, and somewhat obsessed with, their “stuff.” In the parable it was MY barns, MY crops, and MY goods. The man wanted to, “Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” The man hoped that when he amassed enough “stuff,” maybe he could take it easy, even retire. And who among us hasn’t hoped that we can set aside enough for our retirement?

Nowadays our “stuff” can be MY house, MY car, and MY 401k. I’m going to go out on a limb here, and say that “stuff” isn’t necessarily bad. But a driving obsession, an all-encompassing focus on stuff is what the Bible says is bad. In other words, wealth isn’t evil; but “the LOVE of wealth is a root of all kinds of evil.” 1 Timothy 6:10

The depressed world economy has left most of us scratching our heads, wondering what happened to all our “stuff.” We were hoping to build bigger barns this year, but suddenly we found we had one-third less “stuff.” And that’s a part of the lesson Jesus was trying to drive home: Earthly stuff, circumstance, is temporary – it just won’t last.

I believe Jesus would have us do two things. Instead of building more earthly barns, we should build our storehouse-of-substance in heaven, claiming the promise of forgiveness and salvation because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. So start or continue your personal relationship with Jesus, the author of your salvation. And then, if you’re one of those fortunate enough to still have an abundance of “stuff,” share some of it with those who got clobbered in today’s economy. I believe that’s what Jesus would do.

Norton Lawellin

July 26, 2010 Monday Message:

“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on things of heaven.” Col. 3:1a

After Jesus conquered death, i.e. was raised from the grave, he did a number of things. Since we have similarly been “raised to new life” through Jesus, it’s appropriate that we also should do those things that Jesus modeled.

Jesus walked away from the tomb and never looked back. We should do the same. Our old sin-lives died when Jesus came to live inside of us, and we should be OK with letting our old-self die. It’s a new day, with a new agenda.

After the resurrection, Jesus spent His remaining earthly time ministering to others, not worrying about all he had just endured. It’s no longer about you. You can tell a new Christian really “gets it” when you catch him serving others. We were made to love one another and serve one another; put it into action.

Just as when He humanly walked the earth, the resurrected Jesus called down supernatural power to do impossible things. We call this power the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised this power to his followers, and told them to not only expect it, but specifically to not begin ministry without it. Then, as promised, the fire of heaven came down and filled the disciples of Jesus. We call this Pentecost.

People to this day speak, sing, prophesy, heal and live out their lives in the Spirit. Of course the Cessationists will tell you that gifts of the Spirit are no longer applicable, but I’ve seen miracles, healings and lives transformed in ways that can only be attributed to God, Jesus, angels, or the Holy Spirit.

Is your church Spirit-filled? Do your Pastors or prayer teams ever call down the power of the Holy Spirit? Or does your church seem kind of subdued? Many churches don’t know the Holy Spirit. They keep Him locked up in the creeds, only mentioning Him at a Baptism or on Pentecost Sunday. Maybe it’s time to let Him loose!

“Send the fire!” (William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army)

Norton Lawellin

July 19, 2010 Monday Message:

In Luke 11, after teaching what we call The Lord’s Prayer, Jesus shared a little more commentary: “So I say to you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

Our God is a God of abundance, and He has a lot in store for you. He delights in relationships with his children. God would love it if you’d take some time to talk with Him. Therefore this requires action on our part. We can’t sit in one place, wondering why God doesn’t take better care of us. We need to call down help from heaven. Get busy and ask, seek, knock!

Just so you know, this isn’t just a one-time offer. The verbs in the text imply a continuous nature. Therefore keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking. Be persistent. Get caught-up in this God-thing. Do it over and over. Pray like a small child, who looks to his parents for all substance. Pray expecting an answer. Pray expecting it to be so. Remember, Paul said to pray continually.

Does God respond when you pray? Do you hear back from the creator? Remember that God’s answer could be “Yes,” “No,” or “Not yet.” Personally, even when I pray for something good, I seldom get the timing right. God’s timing is always right. If we don’t hear from God, the problem is in our receiving, not in God’s desire to give.

For what do you pray? God created you in His image and loves all of you, the good parts and the bad parts. He cares about your health, your marriage, your children, your financial condition, and your spiritual condition. Bring it ALL before the Lord.

Have you prayed to be filled with the Holy Spirit? God especially delights in giving the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him. We should never doubt God’s desire to pour out His Spirit.

God is way bigger than we can even imagine. If you could compare our asking to God’s giving, God would win every time. God is awesome!

for Him!

Norton Lawellin

July 12, 2010 Monday Message:

When Jesus visited the home of Martha and Mary (and Lazarus), they all showed love for him, and yet they did different things. Are you more like Martha, more like Mary, or perhaps more like someone completely different, someone not in our story? What about your church? Is it more like Martha, more like Mary, or does it have a completely different agenda? Unfortunately, some churches do. Let’s take a look.

For this discussion, let’s draw two columns on our yellow pad, and write Christian Life Agenda at the top. We’ll title the columns:
1. Things of God, and
2. Things of the World.

Into column #1, “Things of God,” put those principles of God’s unchanging character. The Bible and God’s teachings go here. The words of Jesus and his teachings belong here too. Write in things that truly matter to God, things of eternal significance, things where the Bible refers to God as the beginning and the end, the creator. Truth belongs here. These things are sometimes called substance, the prefix sub- pointing to the solid rock on which we stand, the foundation God provides. By the way, this is the only column that really matters! You should spend a lot of time here.

Column #2, “Things of the World,” contains all the things happening around you: your job, your family, friends and co-workers, appointments and meetings, these challenging economic times, where you live, what you drive, your hobby, what sports you play, what’s on TV/radio/facebook, email – you get the idea – all the “stuff” going on all around you. I’ve heard this referred to as your circumstances, and the prefix circa- means circle, as in things around you. If there were 3 rings, it would be a circus, and sometimes life feels like that! A lot of column #2 stuff is necessary to get by in this world, but most has no real eternal significance. You’ll need to spend a little time here, but concentrate on column #1.

From our Bible story, Mary fits column #1. There’s all manner of commotion as the household prepares for dinner guests, but Mary keeps her attention on the thing with eternal significance, Jesus himself. Martha, the consummate hostess, wants everything to be perfect, and gets caught up in circumstances. As a practical matter, preparing the dinner was important too, for that day. It just doesn’t have eternal ramifications. Dinner tonight isn’t as important as focusing on Jesus during his short time on earth. Always choose “Things of God” over “Things of this World.”

Some people might make a third column. A lot goes on in the world that’s made-up, fictitious or misguided, and God doesn’t like most of it. Our Lord detests false teaching. There are plenty of other religions, and they all have their agendas. But they’re all very “busy” doing “stuff” with no eternal meaning. It’s hollow. Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 Therefore everything else is false.

Even more deceptive are those who worship nature or the earth, worshipping the created things rather than the creator. On the surface, it seems that appreciating what God made would be a good thing, but God’s creations are not to be the object of our worship – God Himself is. See Romans 1:25

But the most deceptive of all are those who call themselves Christians and claim to teach the Bible, but instead have twisted the facts. They speak untruths with their mouths while standing in front of a cross and carrying a Bible. Unfortunately, mainline denominations are stepping into this column more and more often. So you don’t just need to know the name on your church building – you need to know what your pastor believes. All false teaching and deception go in column #3, and frankly, I hope your column #3 is empty. We are advised to disassociate ourselves from column #3 – quickly – for the sake of our spiritual well being, and for the spiritual well being of our children and grandchildren.

Solus Christus!

Norton Lawellin

The World is Your Neighbor

July 05, 2010 Monday Message:

If your church follows the Common Lectionary, you’ll hear about the Good Samaritan next Sunday. Luke 10:25-37 You know that this scenario never actually happened; rather, Jesus is using a parable or story to illustrate how the kingdom principle, ”love your neighbor,” ought to work. But to whom is the teaching directed? Let’s dig inside the story.

When studying the Bible, you should always consider context. In other words, where was Jesus along his ministry timeline? With whom was he speaking? What happened right before this?

The Good Samaritan parable is a response to a question from an “expert in the law.” 2000 years ago, civil law and religious law were intertwined, so the lawyer asking the question was perhaps a Pharisee or a Rabbi, maybe a judge. At that time, the religious establishment thought they knew all there was to know about God, and they sure didn’t welcome the intervention of this itinerant carpenter. In a way, asking Jesus what is required to inherit eternal life was a trick question. They were hoping that Jesus would give an incorrect answer.

Instead, Jesus answered their question with a question of his own: "What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?"

The lawyer’s answer was what we now refer to as the Summary of the Law: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength – and love your neighbor as yourself.” The trick hadn’t worked.

As the narrative unfolds, our lawyer digs a little deeper. Still hoping Jesus might slip-up, he queries, "And just who is my neighbor?"

And that’s when Jesus unpacks the parable of the Good Samaritan. While it’s a good lesson about loving your neighbor, the diatribe is more a chastisement of the Pharisees, a dressing-down of those keepers of the law, the ones who knew the letter of the law but had no love for their fellows. You see, Samaritans were considered “unclean” by the Jews, although they claim common ancestors. They probably were “brothers” in a way, but the Pharisees had no time for them, or for any others not in their sect. But Jesus says we need to intentionally cross social, economic and religious barriers to serve our neighbors who may look, dress and speak differently than we do. Remember that Jesus wants us to share the Good News with the world!

Jesus concludes by asking the lawyer which neighbor showed more love. It’s almost a rhetorical question, the answer is so obvious: “The one who showed mercy.”

And Jesus sends him off with the admonishment, “go and do likewise.” The character of God is unchanging. And like Paul Harvey used to say, “That’s the rrrrest of the story!”

For Him!

Norton Lawellin

Priesthood of All Believers

June 28, 2010 Monday Message:

Jesus speaking: “Heal the sick, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you now.’” Luke 9:10 Heal the sick? Me? Wow!

Jesus knew his time at the cross was drawing closer, but he didn’t stop ministering. There were many who had not yet heard the Good News, and Jesus-the-itinerant-preacher knew he wouldn’t get to visit all their villages. In fact, there was too much work for even the twelve apostles. But there were many others who followed our Lord, Godly people who knew his teachings well. So Jesus reached not only into the church staff for this mission; he reached into the congregation, commissioning them, empowering them, and equipping them. It was time for the church of Jesus to send 72 on a mission trip. The priesthood of all believers was born.

Jesus said that those who believe in him would be equipped with many supernatural powers: “They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in tongues. They will be able to handle snakes safely, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and the sick will be healed.” Mark 16:17-18

Jesus restates the commission as he sends the 12: “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.” Matthew 10:8a Raise the dead? Me? Wow!

So here’s your take-away for this week:
1. You can heal the sick (with the Holy Spirit, Jesus said so)
2. You can raise the dead (with the Holy Spirit, Jesus said so)
3. If Jesus trusted you to do 1 & 2, your church should trust you with almost anything.
4. It is Jesus, not the church, who calls people into ministry.

For Him!

Norton Lawellin

June 21, 2010 Monday Message:

Three things this week. Thing one:
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” John 14:6a and, “The truth will set you free.” John 8:32b Therefore, Jesus will set you free, and “Truth” is a person. Think about that one!

Thing two:
How do we find truth nowadays? We are told to ask, seek and knock, and we will find truth. Truth won’t just fall out of the sky and hit you on the head. Seeking requires effort, and thorough seeking requires diligence. In 2010, we have more options for seeking than ever before. Because of the Internet, we have worldwide access to the teaching of trusted experts. Podcasts are just a mouse-click away. You can watch on YouTube, or follow the action on Facebook or Twitter. My television channels number over 200. The point is that the local school/university/seminary/church no longer has a monopoly on the truth. People will be fact-checking what they have been told, because it’s surprisingly easy to do. When the church deviated from the truth 500 years ago, Martin Luther read his own Bible and discovered the truth by seeking, just as Jesus recommended. What is said in the pulpit nowadays had better be the truth; people will be checking. It’s a Lutheran thing to do!

Thing three:
Does your church teach a Christian Worldview? When you hear a story on the news, do you run it through your Christian “filter” to form an instant opinion? If Christians have tied their personal character to God’s unchanging character in the Bible, you already know the answer before asking the question. Examples: 1. Is it OK for the Presbyterian Church USA to chide Israel for their “Palestinian resistance?” The Bible says we will be judged on how we treat Israel. 2. If the Qur’an says, “All will worship Allah or die by the sword,” what is the Christian position on Islam? We should love our neighbors and pray for them, but defending ourselves is Biblical too. 3. Should the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania be in harmony with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America? One would think so. See, you already know some of the right answers!

The world is shrinking, or so it seems. More and more, the things we stand for will matter not only in our little local church in our little local neighborhood. We will find ourselves members of an international body of believers joined by our love of the truth, the truth that will set us free. Our love of Jesus is our worldwide bond. Truth is a person.

For Him!

Norton Lawellin

Middle of June Monday Message:

We’ve all heard of dying and going to heaven; but have you ever heard of dying and going to Earth? Some Christians say, “The Earth is not my home.” Would they be surprised to learn that the new earth is their destination? This week I promised to look at where we go when we die. The Bible speaks of eternal life and adoption into the holy family to those who repent and claim Jesus as savior. But what’s the specific plan, the destination? What is “the place of the dead?” What is “sheol?” Everyone wants an answer to this first-order question: What happens when I die? I should tell you that this question is shrouded in controversy. You can get different answers from different theologians and different denominations, each of whom can make a case for their position. I’ll do my best to spell this out in plain English, and then give you the scripture so you can check my work. Grab your Bibles - here we go.

The Bible tells us that believers and unbelievers, the sheep and the goats, are treated differently. After death, believers’ souls leave their bodies and, for a time, go to heaven; their sins were already forgiven when they received Jesus as Savior. (John 3:16, 18, 36) Heaven is a good place. Jesus told the thief on the cross, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43) While the souls of believers go to be with Christ immediately after death, the physical body remains in the grave, “sleeping.” In God’s time, the physical body is resurrected, glorified, and reunited with the soul. Those needing one will be given a new glorified body. (2 Cor. 5:6-8) This reunited and glorified body-soul-spirit will be for all eternity in the new heavens and new earth.

For those who do not know Jesus, death means eternal punishment. (Matt. 25:46) Upon death, unbelievers go to a temporary holding place to await their final resurrection, judgment, and eternal destiny. This is not a good place. Jesus spoke of a rich man who, immediately after his death, said, “I am in agony in this fire.” (Luke 16:24) Then the unbelieving dead are resurrected, judged at the great white throne, and then cast into the lake of fire, their eternal destination. (Rev. 20:11-15)

Our Catholic brethren talk about going to a temporary place immediately after death, Purgatory, which they now call a “tradition” since the word Purgatory is not in the Bible. Where the Catholic position differs from Reformation Theology is the belief that an additional “something” could be done here to cleanse sins not yet forgiven, and to speed the person’s journey to the final destination. But that teaching implies that what Jesus did was not sufficient to cover our sin. This is never the right answer. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we are already cleansed, already declared righteous, forgiven, redeemed, reconciled, and sanctified. Sola Christo. (John 1:12, Romans 10:9)

So after death, we all reside in a “temporary” heaven or hell. Then at the final resurrection, a person’s destination shifts, but their eternal destiny does not change. Believers will ultimately gain entrance into the new heavens and new earth. Unbelievers will find themselves in the lake of fire. “The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Rev. 20:14b-15) These final, eternal destinations are based entirely on whether or not the person had trusted Jesus Christ alone for salvation. "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." (Matthew 25:46)

Following the end-times events, heavens and earth will be replaced by the new heavens and new earth. (Rev. 21:1) God will give the heavens and the earth a fresh start, making it all new again, like Eden (unspoiled paradise). The New Jerusalem will be here, along with the pearly gates and streets of gold. (Rev. 21:21) We’ll live in a place free from sin, evil, sickness, suffering, and death. The Earth is our home, and the Father and the Son will live among us. (Rev. 21:22) No matter how badly we humans or our industries damage the earth now, our awesome God will restore everything. Not to worry; He’s a big God, He’s good all the time, He intends for this earth to become paradise restored, and He always wins!

Before we sign off, let’s end a few myths: 1. We don’t become angels. 2. We don’t live in the first heaven forever. 3. Heaven is not necessarily in the sky. 4. We don’t float on clouds. But we might play harps – to accompany the singing of praises to the LORD for all He has done for us. Lift your voices!

God’s blessings to you and your loved ones this week!

Norton Lawellin

June Monday:

Today’s Monday Message is coming to you from the “Faith Lift” conference in Lakeville, Minnesota. They’re teaching about how to take “church” outside the church building, and into our communities. It’s great. The speakers have also referenced world events: the recovery in Haiti, the terrorism attacks on the United States, and the oil spill tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico. Let’s look at that one.

I cannot think of any other environmental disaster that tops the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The oil has already reached Florida, and meteorologists are predicting that it will turn the corner and begin moving up the Atlantic coast. Our stewardship of planet earth has been bungled.

Both the government and BP have told us repeatedly that the mile-down underwater oil leak would soon be under control. They were both wrong – it’s still leaking a month and a half later. So far, the spill has cost BP $1.25 billion, a number that increases daily. Our President spoke last weekend, saying that everything possible was being done. That too is incorrect, because the oil is still leaking. Understand that someone will stop the oil spill eventually, and THAT solution will be everything that needed to happen. Our President further stated that BP would take care of the cleanup. The fact is that this mess cannot be cleaned up, and I wish our government would tell us the truth. The environment is impacted and the damage is done. The truth would be that the Gulf of Mexico is ruined for the remainder of my lifetime.

Fortunately Jesus has a solution. As we approach the end times, the Bible says that there will be, “a new heaven and a new earth.” Rev. 21 The old earth will pass away. He who is seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new.” Praise the LORD! As usual, He knows just what we need, and when we need it. Next week we’ll look at the new heaven, the new earth, and other places to be when we die.

Blessings to you this week!

Norton Lawellin

Memorial Day Monday:

Jesus instructed his disciples as he sent them out with the Good News: “As you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons.” Matthew 10:8 Those two sentences outline a huge task for the disciples. Let’s look inside.

Since Jesus starts his instructions with, “as you go,” we are not to limit our message to one place. We are to GO! Now, some people are called to go and preach, while others are called to send people with the message, to facilitate those who do go. Nowadays missionaries in the field wouldn’t survive too long without support from a home church, and God needs each of us to hold up our part of the missionary deal, as we are called.

Jesus tells us to preach. When people are languishing spiritually, they’re willing to listen to a messenger with Good News. Jesus tells us to not just council them. We are to preach! Preach not only to an individual seeker, but also preach to several people, a small group, or even a large group, again as each of us is called. 2000 years ago, preaching was accomplished through oration, by making a speech in the Synagogue.

“The kingdom of heaven is at hand,” places a timetable on the “repent and return” message, preached ever since mankind fell from grace. Today is the accepted day to return to the LORD.

Jesus also empowers his disciples to follow in his footsteps, performing sign and wonders just like he did. Jesus taught the laying on of hands to heal the sick and cleanse those with skin diseases. And you can cast out demons by invoking the holy name of Jesus. But raising the dead? I don’t know…

Raising the dead seems like a wonder best left to the messiah; and yet Jesus himself told his followers to do this. The concept was foreign to many at the time, and certainly controversial. The Pharisees believed in some kind of resurrection and afterlife, but the Sadducees did not. Most Jews were uncertain. However followers of Jesus were totally convinced of an afterlife, since they had seen Jesus return from the dead, rising in three days just as he said he would.

Raising the dead was later fulfilled in both Acts 9 where Peter resuscitates Tabitha (Dorcas), and in Acts 20 when Paul raised Eutychus. It doesn’t seem to be common, but the Bible doesn’t say that the authority to raise the dead has been withdrawn either. Therefore it is wise for us to believe in God’s power to do such miracles through His people.

Through Him all things are possible!

Norton Lawellin

May Monday:

Christians celebrated Pentecost this past weekend, and most of us know the story by heart. “Open your Bibles to Acts chapter 2…” We know about the sound like wind, the descending tongues of fire signifying the arrival of the Holy Spirit for each person, the believers speaking in tongues, foreigners hearing the message each in their own language, Peter giving his best “Christ crucified” message, people becoming believers, and over 3000 baptized that day. Hallelujah!

But Acts 2 begins, “When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.” It worked out well that they were all in one place, all in the same room, praying. But why were they there? What caused them to all gather on that particular day? The answer: Shavuos.

Shavuos (sometimes Shavuot) remembers the day God gave the Torah to His people on Mount Sinai. It is significant that the Torah was given following the Exodus from Egypt, not before. God had rescued His people; now He was teaching them His ways. Similarly, after Jesus died to rescue us from our sins, we were given the New Testament. Our celebration of Pentecost now seems to overshadow Shavuos. I wish we could have both.1

Obtaining the Torah was no small thing. God had to serve it up twice! The first time Moses brought the tablets down the mountain, he found the Israelites had built a golden calf to worship, forsaking God. Exodus 32 In his anger, Moses threw the tablets, smashing them into smithereens. He then challenged the people: "Whoever is FOR the LORD, come to me." Those FOR the LORD were armed with swords, and then put to death those who were NOT for the LORD. That day, about 3000 people died.

Finally, Moses had to return to the mountain and (hopefully) atone for the sin of God’s people. In the end, the LORD said he would punish the people when it was time, but He would not abandon them. He told Moses to make new stone tablets, and He, God, would write on them the words that were on the first tablets. Exodus 34

Since then, the history of the Hebrew people, wisdom, worship and prophets were combined with the original Pentateuch. Christians then added Jesus’ time on earth (Gospels), the beginning of the church, letters of instruction and encouragement to the new congregations, and the apocalyptic Revelation.

Christians believe that ALL scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching and correction. The Bible is our history, the instruction manual for how we are to live now, and how we are to teach our children to live in the future. Be thankful that God equips us for His work, by giving us His Holy Word.

Norton Lawellin

1. A day of thanksgiving. Shavuos also celebrates the firstfruits of the new harvest.

May Monday:

This coming Sunday is Pentecost, one of my favorite days on the church calendar, a day when many things happened that make me say, “That is SO cool!” So let’s put on our red shirts and look into Acts 2 this week.

Pentekostē or hēmera (50th day) celebrates the Holy Spirit descending upon the original group of believers. Pentecost is 7 weeks after Easter, but Jewish tradition counts both the beginning and the ending days as full days; hence the 50th day tradition. God’s people would be giving thanks for both firstfruits of the harvest and the day God gave Torah to His people (Shavuos). The believers would have been gathered for worship, prayer, and for these thanksgivings, when God showed up in an unusual way. (It is SO cool when God shows up!)

There was a strong sound from heaven, a sound like wind. But the Bible makes no mention of actual wind – only the sound. Next little flames or “tongues of fire” flitted down and settled on each one of them. And, (verse 4) “everyone was filled with the Holy Spirit.” They had been told to wait for the Holy Spirit, and now He had arrived. It was that simple.

The super-loud wind noise was audible to everyone, and many in Jerusalem came to check it out, both residents and visitors to the city. The visitors were astonished that they heard the believers in their own languages. Some Christians think the disciples were supernaturally speaking in different languages. But my opinion is that their speaking didn’t change – I think those listening were given supernatural hearing, an instant Holy Spirit translator, so that everyone could understand the Good News. Just my opinion - what do you think?

The Holy Spirit story continues with Peter preaching his “Case for Christ” sermon, which led to 3000 being baptized that day. Given Jerusalem’s pools and cisterns it was entirely possible, which also would have been so cool! With the Holy Spirit, the apostles performed miraculous signs and wonders, and each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved. And really, isn’t that what Jesus wants us to do?

Norton Lawellin

May Monday:

“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’
Let everyone who hears this also say, ‘Come!’
If you are thirsty, come!
If you want life-giving water, come and take it.
It's free!” Rev. 22:17

Jesus called us to make disciples of all nations, and this verse is the ultimate implementation thereof. The Holy Spirit opens minds and prepares hearts for the Good News. The Spirit influences conscience and character, so that the sinner can instinctively make the correct choice.

The Bride of Christ, the whole church on earth and in heaven, also says, “Come and share our happiness.” The church is the arms and legs of this invitation. The church is growing stronger each day, since everyone who hears the call is to also be included with those saying, “Come.”

Jesus is the living water, and if life has left you parched, you’ve come to the right place. There’s plenty of life-giving water, and it’s free! You can’t pay – it’s a gift. Just come and take. This invitation is both an opportunity and a responsibility. If we decline this invitation, we have only ourselves to blame. Today is the accepted day to repent and return to the Lord.

“All the prophets of the Bible, all the apostles of the Bible, all the threatenings of the Bible, all the promises of the Bible, gather themselves up, and focus themselves into this one burning ray, ‘Come to Jesus. Come, and take the water of life freely.’” (Spurgeon)

Norton Lawellin

May Monday:

Last week I questioned how the cross, the Roman instrument of torture and execution, had become the “logo” for Christianity. I know the answer, but wanted to hear everyone’s thoughts on the matter. Laura Compton, a longtime Monday Message reader, sent an explanation straight from her heart. It’s a fantastic justification for the cross. I liked it so well that I posted it to share with all of you. Check it out:
http://www.mondaymessage-norton.blogspot.com/

Jesus: " Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give." John 14:27a On Sunday mornings, many of our congregations take a moment to share the “peace.” Usually we shake hands and say, “Hi, how are you?” But what should “peace” really look like?

Shalom, which we translate as “peace,” implies three things. The first is what you might expect from peace: calmness, a sense of security, knowing that in the end everything will be all right. Therefore, worrying is unbiblical. If we have God on the throne in our lives, and we’re following in the footsteps of Jesus, nothing can derail the master plan. We may not always understand what’s going on, but if we believe God is still in charge, then everything will turn out OK.

Shalom is also a prayer for “good health.” Again, God is still on the throne. Sometimes He heals on this side, sometimes He heals on heaven’s side, but He always hears our prayers, He always answers our prayers, and everything will always be all right in the end.

The third part of shalom is a prayer for prosperity or abundance. Don’t confuse this with wealth, but believe it: God can and will provide all you need. He can drop manna into your life any time you come up a little short, often when you least expect it. If YHWH is your shepherd, then you shall not want. There will come a time in your life when all your needs are met and you just don’t need a thing. It all works out in the end.

As good as Shalom sounds, I’ve been describing “worldly” shalom. Jesus takes it to the next level. His peace is more complete, more in-depth, and stands on a more firm foundation. The character of Jesus is like God, not like the world. So when Jesus offers us peace, he says, “I do not give to you as the world gives. So do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27b We may not understand the whole thing, because Jesus is not of this world, but He has given us the peace that surpasses our understanding, the shalom of heaven.

Norton Lawellin
Monday Message is also available at
http://www.mondaymessage-norton.blogspot.com/

Last week I questioned how the cross, the Roman instrument of torture and execution, had become the “logo” for Christianity. I know the answer, but wanted to hear everyone’s thoughts on the matter. Laura Compton, a longtime Monday Message reader, sent an explanation straight from her heart. It’s a fantastic justification for the cross. I liked it so well that I posted it to share with all of you.

Hey Norton,
The cross reminds us of the sacrifice, which is not news. But God established the remembrance of many important events for Israel, Passover of course being a huge one, to help the people remember. Jesus instated the ritual of Holy Communion because His shed blood and broken body were to be remembered forever. Human nature forgets too easily. We can't begin to fathom the torment Jesus experienced for us, but it's imperative that we honor it with all our hearts. To forgo the cross would be a betrayal, to me. It's too easy to forget the details as it is, or to keep them filed in the back of our brains. I try to watch a movie about Jesus at Christmas, Easter, and whenever I feel like it, to bring the reality of His days on earth to the forefront of my thoughts. We can't comprehend the miracle of it all, but we should remind ourselves often. This is what the cross does. His time here was not a walk in the park, and we'd be in terrible shape if He hadn't endured that torturous event. The least we can do is remember with all our strength.

When I was young I asked my Mother why the Catholic cross included Jesus, and our Protestant cross didn't. She said it's because He's no longer on the cross... He is risen. So for me, the cross reminds me of two very important things, each time I look at it.

Thanks for your Monday messages, and for all you do!
Laura

Extra credit:
Part 3: How curious it is that nowadays the Christian logo is a cross, a cruel means of Roman execution. That people bow down to this instrument of torture is at best confusing, and at worst absurd. I know, people will tell you that the cross points to Jesus, but just think about it for a minute and let me know—there are churches without crosses…

Part 4: When people visit your church, do they experience the love of an Acts 2 community, or do they see separation, bickering and infighting? How is your church doing? Is it growing or declining? You can’t fake the kind of love taught by Jesus—only the real thing shines as the light of the world!

April Monday:

Jesus: "Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other." John 13:34-35 Let’s look at this in two parts.

Part 1: God’s command to love is nothing new. But the specific word used here implies a freshness, a new and different approach to the old law. The Old Testament taught that we should love our neighbors as ourselves. But the fresh approach Jesus taught was that we should love our neighbors more than we love ourselves, better than we love ourselves. Jesus took the love of our fellows over the top! The command wasn’t new, but the EXTENT was fresh and new.

Part 2: While riding with a musician, we passed a music store advertising Fender guitars. The reversed “F” of the Fender logo is quite distinctive, and he commented, “What a great logo—I’d know it anywhere!”

Groups of people often adopt a logo, a sign or a flag, so that when anyone sees that sign, they’ll know it points to a specific group and the principles for which that group stands. Christ’s followers wanted such an image, a sign they could place on buildings or possessions, something to carry with them. Of course the danger here is that when you adopt an image that represents God, people will begin to bow to the image. Hebrew law forbids making any kind of image that represents God for just such a reason.

Instead, Jesus gave them a new, fresh way. He planned for the new community of believers to grow by attraction. When people saw how much everyone in the new community loved and cared for one another, they would want to be a part of it. From that love, everyone would then learn about Jesus, His sacrifice for our forgiveness, and His promise of eternal life. When people saw this love, you wouldn’t have to talk them into joining. In fact, it would be hard to keep them away!

They will know we are Christians by our love!

Norton Lawellin

Extra credit:

Part 3: How curious it is that nowadays the Christian logo is a cross, a cruel means of Roman execution. That people bow down to this instrument of torture is at best confusing, and at worst absurd. I know, people will tell you that the cross points to Jesus, but just think about it for a minute and let me know—there are churches without crosses…

Part 4: When people visit your church, do they experience the love of an Acts 2 community, or do they see separation, bickering and infighting? How is your church doing? Is it growing or declining? You can’t fake the kind of love taught by Jesus—only the real thing shines as the light of the world!