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Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Authority

Yesterday the organizers of the Tour de France announced the 22 cycling teams that will make up the field for the 2010 Tour. 16 of those teams were included as part of a 2008 agreement with the International Cycling Union. Six other teams were invited to participate including Lance Armstorng's new Team Radio Shack. In fact there are four American based teams, equalling the number from any other country, including France! Some cycling fans are upset about the two Dutch teams that were omitted considering the fact that the Tour will start in Holland this year. Others are surprised by the inclusion of the brand new British Team Sky. The fact is that the ASO, sponsoring organization for the Tour de France, has the authority to choose which teams they want to include.

It's nice to be in a position of authority. It gives you the power to do the things you want to do. If you're in a position of authority in a business you can make decisions about the direction of the business, hiring, firing and other important issues. If you're in a postion of authority politically you can determine issues that will effect the lives of many other people.

Jesus makes an interesting statement about authority in John 10:17-18: "The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father." Imagine using your position of authority to lay down your very own life. That seems like a rather strange way to use your authority, humanly speaking.

But Jesus wants us to understand that his death is not an accident. It is not the result of plotting and scheming by evil men, even though they played a role in it. It is not result of some sort of failure on Jesus' part. It was a conscious, willful determination on the part of Jesus to lay down his life as the all-availing sacrifice for sin.

But who does that? Who uses their position of authority to bring injury -- even death upon themselves? Such a thing is unthinkable, humanly speaking. People in positions of authority frequently use their power to advance themselves. At best they use their power to benefit others. But they don't use their authority to bring harm to themselves. Yet, Jesus did so. He did so for our benefit. He laid down his life willingly so that we could be forgiven.

The wonderful thing about Jesus' authority was the extent of it. Jesus not only had authority to lay down his life, but he also had authority to take it up again. Jesus' death appears to be a moment of weakness not power. But Jesus' resurrection demonstrates that his death did not represent weakness. Rather, it was an act of great strength which he willingly endured for our sake. No wonder Jesus said that the Father loves him because he laid down his life in accord with the Father's will. No wonder we love Jesus! He laid down his life for us! Thank God for this unusual use of authority.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Springtime Sunshine

What a difference the sun makes! Since moving from the Pacific Northwest (where it rains 9 months of the year) to San Antonio, I can't believe how much better I feel, and how much better life looks when the sun is shining. Spring in South Texas is absolutely gorgeous. Vibrant green colors everywhere, and wildflowers blooming along the roadside. Yesterday as we were driving back from Houston we saw fields of Blue Bonnets along with other crimson, yellow, white and coral colored blooms. And I can't believe how much more I enjoy riding my bike when it is warm and sunny compared to when it is cool and cloudy. I feel stronger. I ride faster. The sunshine is absolutely invigorating.

I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to go through life in the dark. I suppose that if you were born blind like the man in John 9 it might not weigh on you quite as heavily as if you lost your sight after having it. Nevertheless, living in the darkness all the time would have to be a terrible burden to bear.

Whether it's sunshine versus clouds or sight versus blindness, light makes all the difference. The same is true spiritually speaking. Just as Jesus gave sight to the man born blind, he came to give us light as well. He said: "While I am in the world, I am the light of the world" (vs. 5). People who try to make it in life apart from Jesus are just as oppressed by their spiritual darkness as was the man born blind, whether they realize it or not. The darkness of sin, greed, hatred, selfishness, guilt, and fear hangs like a pall over their lives.

There are days when we all feel that burden. They are those days when we try to go our own way and turn our back of God. They are those days when we believe the devil's lie that God cannot or will not forgive us for our sins. They are those day when we are too busy to pray or read God's Word and instead focus only on life's hurts, disappointments, and losses. On those days our souls are overtaken by the spiritual darkness that is all around us because of sin.

Those are the days when me most need the Light of the World to penetrate our hearts, minds and souls. The reality is that there is no such thing as a cloudy day spiritually speaking. The Son is always shining. Any clouds that cover the brightness of his love are of our own making. So if your world seems a little gloomy today, let Jesus clear up the spiritual darkness. How he chooses to do it may seem a little strange. I imagine the blind man wondered what was happening when he heard Jesus spit in the dirt and then felt Him rub that moist mud on his eyes. But the result was overwhelmingly wonderful. So let Jesus be your Light today!

Friday, March 26, 2010

When Confusion Reigns

A few years ago I was participating in the RAPSody (Ride Around Puget Sound) and missed a "Dan Henry" arrow telling me where to turn. As a result I got lost and wound up riding more than 20 miles out of my way. The worst part was that I rode all the way down to the Hood Canal, and had to climb almost 600 feet vertically to get back to the correct route. As a result of this mistake (at least in part) I was unable to finish the 163 mile ride, and ended up quitting after 110 miles. At one point I was so confused that I had to ask several people for directions (the ultimate humiliation for a male road cyclist).

In John 7 we see confusion reign supreme. Jesus' own brothers were confused because they did not believe in him (vs. 5). The crowds at the Feast of Tabernacles were confused: "Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, 'He is a good man.' Others replied, 'No, he deceives the people.'" (John 7:12) The Jewish leaders were confused by Jesus' obvious wisdom, scratching their heads and asking: "How did this man get such learning without having studied?" (vs. 15) The people were confused because they knew the authorities wanted to kill Jesus yet they weren't acting. They asked: "Have the authorities really concluded that he is the Christ?" (vs. 26) Some were confused and thought Jesus couldn't be the Christ because they knew he was from Galilee. They didn't know their Bible and thought that the origins of the Messiah would be unknown (vs. 27). Still others were confused because they also knew Jesus was from Galilee and they knew the Messiah must come from Bethlehem. (vs. 42) The guards who were sent to arrest Jesus were confused as to why they should do so, protesting: "No one ever spoke the way this man does." Nicodemus was confused as to why they wanted to arrest Jesus and asked: "Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?" (vs. 51)

Clearly there is confusion everywhere in John 7, except in Jesus. Jesus is the only one who knows what he's talking about. Jesus is clear as to who he is, where his teaching comes from, and where he is going. His words ring out like the peal of a bell, loud and clear. "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."

Life is confusing nowadays. Everyday we are faced with a myriad of choices. You go to buy a new coffee maker and there are hundreds of different models, styles and brands to choose from. You try to decide right and wrong on a moral issue and there are as many opinions as there are "experts" to listen to. How can we overcome the profusion of confusion in our world? The same way Jesus overcame the confusion in Jerusalem at the Feast of Tabernacles.

Drink deeply from the water of life that Jesus offers you in his Word. Fill your heart, mind and spirit with that refreshment for the soul. The more you drink the clearer God's truth will become to you. The more you drink the stronger your faith will become. And the more you drink the more you will be able to help others overcome the confusion in their lives, because "streams of living water will begin to flow from within you."

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Bread of Life

Part of becoming an endurance cyclist is learning to eat right. The day I rode the Seattle to Portland ride in one day (206 miles) I made one mistake. My riding partner and I took a break in Tenino, WA and where we stopped there was a stand selling huge polish sausage. I just couldn't resist the smell. We both ate one but a few miles down the road it was sitting like a bomb in my stomach just waiting to blow up. It nearly caused me to drop out of the ride. If you're riding a great distance you can't eat too much or too heavy, otherwise it will make you sick on the bike. However, if you eat too little you will "bonk", that is, hit the wall, run out of energy and fail to reach your goal.

Undoubtedly, like me you've heard one of those "wonderful" news report about how one of your favorite foods, or one of the foods you alwsys thought was good for you, was now discovered by scientists to cause cancer, or raise your cholesterol, or spike your blood pressure, or was in some way or another going to kill you.

I'm wondering how long it will take before one of those scientists reads John 6? Jesus said: "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever." (vv. 53-58)

I don't care how good any earthly food may be for the body, you can still eat too much of it, enough to make you sick. And no matter how carefully you watch your diet you will eventually die. There is only one food that brings eternal life. That is the Bread of Life that came down from heaven, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If you want to live forever, feed on Him.

How do we feed on Jesus? The Word for Today is a perfect example. Be in God's Word each day. Read it, meditate on it, pray over it, memorize it, and obey it. Recall the promises God has made to you in Jesus over and over again.

Another way to feed on the Bread of Life is to regularly partake of the Lord's Supper. As we eat his flesh and drink his blood in and with the bread and wine of Holy Communion, our sins are forgiven and we are stregthened in faith for eternal life.

The wonderful thing about the bread of life is that you can never "overeat". It will also keep you from "bonking" or running out of the spiritual strength and energy you need to do God's will. It will empower you to glorify God in your daily life. Unlike some other foods, it certainly won't kill you and when you eat of it, rather than dying you have eternal life. So instead of listening to the lastest news report about some kind of junk food, spend some time each day feasting on the Bread of Life. There's nothing better!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Embarrassed but Accepted

If you want to become a serious cyclist, you have to learn to use clipless pedals. (This term has always struck me as a misnomer, since "clipless" pedals are ones where your cycling shoes literally clip onto the pedal by means of a cleat on the bottom of your shoes, but these pedals lack the "cages" that are sometimes used to "clip" your ordinary shoes onto an ordinary platform pedal, hence the term "clipless".) When riding clipless you must learn to unclip by rotating your heel outward before you need to put a foot on the ground. On my first "clipless" ride I was with a good friend who was my cycling mentor. We were stopping in traffic during our ride when I had trouble unclipping. I ended up on the ground with my bike on top of me. It was embarrassing to say the least. It was also embarrassing explaining my injury mishap to the doctor who put a cast on my fractured radius.

We've all experienced those "life's embarrassing moments." You know the ones I'm talking about. You can remember them years later. Often they occur because we say or do something "dumb", like not getting your shoe out of a clipless pedal on time. Even worse, sometimes they occur because we get caught doing something we know is wrong. In John 4 the Samaritan woman had just such a moment when she met Jesus at Jacob's well. Jesus told her: "'Go, call your husband and come back.' 'I have no husband,' she replied. Jesus said to her, 'You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.'" (John 4:16-18) Even though Jesus commended her for telling the truth, his knowledge of the woman's lifestyle must have been embarrassing to her.

The amazing thing is that even though Jesus knew everything about this woman's sins he did not reject her. Instead he offered her living water "welling up to eternal life." Jesus was always a friend to sinners. The self-righteous condemned him for eating with sinners and tax collectors, but Jesus reminded them: "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Mark 2:17)

How embarrassing it is to think that Jesus knows everthing about our sin stained lives. Even those who know us best, our spouse, family members or closest friends don't know everything we have done that we now regret. But Jesus knows it all. And the amazing thing is that he still loves us and accepts us. That kind of love is beyond our comprehension.

So the next time you suffer one of "life's embarrassing moments" stop and say a prayer thanking Jesus that even though he knows, he loves you anyway! That is truly something to be grateful for.

Monday, March 22, 2010

To Save not to Condemn

Having spent my whole life in the ministry, I've heard lots of questions from people about lots of different things. Some of the most unusual and unexpected questions have been about cycling. Yes, cycling. I know it sounds strange, but once I became an avid cyclist, all of a sudden everyone else in my congregation who had an interest in cycling seemed to view me as an expert. I'm not, but their questions led to a lot of fascinating conversations about a subject I'm passionate about (cycling, not theology, even though I'm passionate about that too!).

One of the most common questions that has been asked of me through 35 years of ministry goes something like this. "What about the person who never heard about Jesus? Do they go to hell just because no one ever told them about Jesus?" It's an honest question I've heard time and time again that expresses genuine concern for the lost and an honest inquiry about God's justice. And it's addressed directly by both Jesus and John in John chapter 3.

The error behind this question is exposed by Jesus' words in John 3:17: "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." Jesus came as a means of salvation, not condemnation. This common question, however, makes it sound as though people could be saved without Jesus, but once Jesus came they would be lost if they did not trust in him. The error lies in thinking that a person's "default" position is to be right with God. WRONG!

In verse 18 Jesus says: "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." The key word here is the word "already." It comes out of the tense of the verb "condemned," which is in the perfect tense, describing ongoing past action. Thus, a person who does not trust in Jesus is already under condemnation and remains in that state apart from Jesus. Why? Because of his sin.

The reality is that everyone of us is born condemned because we are sinful by birth and nature. And this plays itself out in the lives of every human being "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Thus, the "default" position for everyone of us is condemnation. Without Jesus we perish because "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). All of us, without exception, are "by nature objects of [God's] wrath (Ephesians 2:3). And if we are condemned by God we get what we deserve.

John reveals the same truth in John 3:36: "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." Here, John uses the word "remains" to express the fact that we are by nature objects of wrath, and that unless we put our trust in Jesus, we remain in the "default" position of condemnation. God's rightful anger over our sin continues to rest upon us.

This is so important for us to understand. Apart from Jesus ALL will perish! Why? Because they didn't hear about Jesus? NO! Because that is what we all deserve. This is what everyone of us has earned. It is our "just deserts." But thank God, he has done everything necessary to save us from our "just deserts." He sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but to save the world through him, so that anyone and everyone, without exception, who puts their faith in him will be saved, not condemned as they deserve.

Have you heard of the new TV series, "Undercover Boss"? I haven't seen it but I understand it's a big hit. To most people the thought of the boss going "undercover" is a frightening one. Their fear is that he would be spying on them to catch them doing something wrong so that he could fire them. (In fact, that's exactly how a lot of people think about God.)

That's not the concept of "Undercover Boss" at all. Instead, the boss is going undercover to find out what it's like to do the job of an ordinary worker in the company and to find out how to make their job easier and their life better. It's a tiny little bit like what Jesus did. In his case the "Boss" went undercover, became a real human being and lived among us, not to catch us doing wrong so that he could condemn us, but instead to do our job for us... to live the perfect life we couldn't live, and to pay the debt for our sins that we couldn't pay, so that we could be saved. What Jesus did is greater than anything any other "Undercover Boss" could ever do. He saved us. Which is exactly why God sent his Son, not to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Thank God!

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

A Grateful Weakling

Sunday I watched the conclusion of the Paris-Nice Cycling Classic. In stage four of the race, Alberto Contador rode away from the whole peloton while climbing a steep mountain, just as he had last year int the Tour de France. He is the most amazing climber in the world right now. As I said yesterday, when I'm climbing a steep hill I huff and puff a lot. While the cyclists around me are breathing lightly I sound like a steam engine. I've always attributed this to the fact that I've had two heart attacks, because I did it even when I was skinny.

When I had my first heart attack the doctors did an angiogram to discover where there would be a blockage in my arteries that was causing my chest pain. There was none. I was actually disappointed. You see, what I wanted was a quick fix. I wanted them to open me up, do a bypass and be done with it. Instead I discovered that I had spasms of the coronary arteries and would have to take medicine and live with it for the rest of my life. I felt like Paul with his thorn in the flesh.

Three times Paul prayed that God would take away whatever was the ailment that caused him concern. God told Paul: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (v. 9). Essentially, God answered my prayer in the same way, although I didn't hear him speaking quite as clearly as Paul did. And I didn't receive God's answer quite as well as Paul did. Paul wrote: "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (vv. 9-10). I remember being rather ticked at God that he wouldn't give me a "quick fix".

Over the past 26 years I've come to understand God's wisdom in allowing my weakness to remain. Eugene Peterson puts in this way in his Message paraphrase: "My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness." What a great thing to understand. God's strength is most clearly revealed when we are at our weakest. Because in those moments we have to depend on him. We've got nothing of our own to lean on. We can accomplish nothing on our own and must give him the glory.

If you're in a place of weakness, illness, weariness, hardship, persecution, or difficulty -- rejoice. Yes, that's what I said. Rejoice! Because it is then that God will reveal his perfect strength in you and through you, as he sustains you and uses you, even in your weakness.

Remember, the greatest miracle of all was accomplished in the moment of Jesus' greatest weakness -- as he hung on the cross. In that moment, he atoned for the sin of the whole world. God's strength was made perfect in weakness. He will do the same for you.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Poser

I haven't been called a poser to my face, but I'm wondering if some riders might have thought it. I'm old, slightly out of shape, overweight, relatively slow, huff and puff when I climb, and generally not the best cyclist on the block. But I ride a fantastic, expensive, responsive, stiff, ultra light weight, professional level bike. The kind other very good cyclists drool over. But I'm not a poser. Really. It was a gift.

You all know what a poser is, whether you're a cyclist or not. A poser is anyone who pretends to be something they are not in any kind of endeavor. And real cyclists can spot a poser in an instant. They're the ones with all the right equipment, the latest technology, and the hottest gear who get dropped as soon as the pace picks up or the road turns up. That's me. But I'm not a poser. Really. It was a gift!

If I sound like I'm protesting too much, I probably sound a little bit like the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 11. "What anyone else dares to boast about--I am speaking as a fool--I also dare to boast about. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham's descendants? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more"(vv. 21-23).

Paul was being accused of being a poser by some others who really were posers, self-described "super-apostles" who were trying to peddle (no, not pedal) a different Gospel to the Corinthians. Paul said that their actions were not surprising. "And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light" (vs. 14). This is why Paul warned the Galatians, "But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!" (Galatians 1:8)

Of course, Satan is the ultimate poser. Most average, everyday posers are quickly revealed. But Satan is very cunning. By his cunning Eve was deceived (vs. 3) and he has been leading the world astray ever since (Revelation 12:9). He disguises himself as good and thus deceives people into following his evil schemes. It's no wonder that so many people say they don't believe Satan exists. They've only seen him in disguise, pretending to be something he's not. Only after they've fallen into his trap does he change masks and become the Accuser (what "Satan" means) causing people to despair of hope because of the mistake they've made.

So are we at a loss when it comes to the ultimate poser? No way! Jesus has already defeated the enemy, and revealed the ultimate weapon by which to overcome Satan when he resisted his temptations in the wilderness. The Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, will quickly reveal Satan's lies and send him packing (Matthew 4:1-11). James tells us "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7), and Peter adds, "Resist him, standing firm in the faith" (1 Peter 5:9). A poser is a poser, is a poser. Sooner or later the mask comes off and he is ruined!

Friday, March 12, 2010

Reason to Boast

I have to say, I've seen a lot more signs of faith among NFL players than among UCI cyclists. On Sunday I was watching the prologue time trial of the Paris - Nice Classic and noticed that several of the cyclists made the sign of the cross (one of them seven times!) before leaving the start house. Of course, there is no way of knowing whether this is simply superstition or whether it represents actual faith and trust in Jesus.

In the NFL demonstrations of faith are commonplace, and following games there is always a circle of players from both teams who get down on their knees to pray together. And of course, it is not at all uncommon for players to thank God or give the glory to Jesus in post-game interviews. I'm sure much of this is due to the influence of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. They have cultivated an attitude among players that reflects Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 10:17-18: "'Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.' For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends."

Everyone of us has a natural human tendency to want to blow our own horn. When we achieve something that we believe to be significant, we want to tell others. I see this in myself. When I get home from a ride that was especially fast (for me) I want to tell my wife what my average speed was. Of course, if I were to measure that speed against riders in the Tour de France, it would be laughable. Paul says in vs. 12: "When they measure themselve by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise." Yes, if we want to commend ourselves this is what we must do most of the time, because the reality is that "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) If we compare ourselves to God's standard, there's not much to commend. Only if we compare ourselves to ourselves to we have anything to brag about.

How much better to faithfully seek to do God's will and bring him glory, without commending ourselves. In doing so, we will be seeking God's commendation, not our own. And rather than commending ourselves, how much more should we commend God to others. We should always be looking for reasons to praise and glorify God to the people around us. And of course, there is always more than enough reason to do so. We just need to be thinking along those lines so that we take note of God's grace and mercy in our lives or the lives of others and give him the praise he deserves. Then our boasting will be in the Lord, and will be pleasing to him.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

ALL to the Fifth Power

Whenever I ride I wear my Road ID "just in case." I pray every ride that I'll never need it, but should a crash or colision occur, I want the first responders to be able to identify me and get appropriate medical help, as well as contact my family. But there's another reason I wear my Road ID. On the reverse side is a Bible passage, Philipians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." It helps me in the midst of a long ride, when I'm climbing a steep hill, or fighting a fierce headwind to remember that verse. Christ does give me strength to go on when I remember his promise.

I thought of that verse when I read 2 Corinthians 9 this morning. That chapter contains another of my many all time favorite Bible passages, verse 8: "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." Paul uses the same Greek root, pas in one form or another five times in this one verse. ALL the grace, in ALL things, at ALL times, ALL that you need, for ALL the good works of God! What a promise!

Our strength is rarely sufficient for everything we need to do, for everthing God would have us do. I think of Steven Curtis Chapman's song: "His strength is perfect when our strength is gone. He'll carry us when we can't carry on. Raised in his power the weak become strong. His strength is perfect." Or Paul's words in 2 Corithians 12:10: "That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

It's a good thing to realize how weak we really are, for only then will we truly depend on God's strength. SCC puts it thie way: "His strength in us begins where ours comes to an end. He hears our humble cries and proves again, His strength is perfect." It makes sense that God would come through with the strength we need over and over again. "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10).

What is God asking of you today that you just don't have strength for? Forgive someone who's hurt you? Serve an ungrateful family member in love? Complete an impossibly difficult assignment? Resist the pull of that website you know you shouldn't visit? Find time to help a neighbor in need when you don't have time to get your own work done? Whatever it might be, remember this promise. ALL the grace, in ALL things, at ALL times, ALL that you need, for ALL the good works of God! Could there be a better promise for today?

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Out of Reverence for God

In the last few years it seems the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) finally seems to have gotten serious about cracking down on the use of perfomance enhancing drugs in the Tour de France and other cycling races. Members of the International Cycling Union (UCI) have grown accustomed to being confronted randomly, anywhere or anytime for a specimen to be used in drug testing. Last year the Tour was as close to a "clean" race as it ever has been. But why it that? Many cyclists race clean just because they know it's what's best for themselves and for the sport of cycling. But some avoid doping only out of fear of being caught. And a few still look for ways to use performance enhancing drugs without getting caught.

In 2 Corinthians 7:1 Paul writes: "Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God." In these words Paul is calling on Christians to live "clean", not because we might get caught if we don't do so, but "out of reverence for God." Our motivation is not like the cyclist's fear of a two year suspension, or the loss of sponsors and endorsements if their reputation is destroyed. Our motivation is as Paul puts it, "Since we have these promises." What promises? The great and wonderful promises of God's grace and glory, the forgivness of our sins, being God's own sons and daughters, and sharing in his glory eternally.

And what is our aim? Not just an effort to not get caught. Not even just a sincere effort to do our best. Our aim is perfection. Paul says we need to be "perfecting holiness" in our daily living. Of course we will always fall short during our life here on earth, but we must aim for perfection nevertheless, knowing that the grace of God in Christ Jesus covers all our failures.

As I read Paul's words I thought of the words of a DC Talk song from a few years ago, "In the Light." The lyrics say this:

The disease of self runs through my blood
It's a cancer fatal to my soul
Every attempt on my behalf has failed
To bring this sickness under control
Tell me, what's going on inside of me?
I despise my own behavior
This only serves to confirm my suspicions
That I'm still a man in need of a Savior

Yes, even with our best efforts we will still be in need of a Savior. Nevertheless, we strive for perfection out of reverence for God and to his glory.

Monday, March 8, 2010

An Unholy Alliance

After his seventh consecutive victory in the Tour de France in 2005 Lance Armstrong retired. Johann Bruyneel, arguably the greatest race director in Tour history had to find another way to win. He spotted a strong young cyclist who was the perfect candidate and in 2007 Alberto Contador won the Tour for the first time under Bruyneel's direction. However, in 2009 when Lance Armstrong decided to return to racing, Bruyneel found himself in an uncomfortable position. Because of his strong loyalty he could not say no to Armstrong but Bruyneel was still obligated to Contador. Team Astana went into the Tour that year with two past winners riding for the same team. Obviously both could not win. It was in every way an awkward (if not "unholy") alliance.

I found myself in a similarly strange situation on Saturday night. Concordia Lutheran Church was hosting its first "Drive Thru Passion", dramatically portraying the ministry, suffering, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of scenes involving many disciples, a lot of male actors were required, and even though I haven't acted since high school, I volunteered to play a Roman soldier escorting Jesus' along the Via Dolorosa to his crucifixion. At the time I signed up, I really didn't consider what this would be like. It turned out to be a very emotionally difficult situation.

For two hours I found myself shouting commands, taunts and jeers at the actor portraying Jesus. With the whip in my hand I repeatedly struck the cross with lashes (so as not to injure the actor himself). In a way, the scene became all too real. The actor's bare feet and legs were gouged by the gravel on the path. His shoulder was bruised by the heavy cross. And my taunts and lashes only added to his discomfort (as he told me during a break). I found my stomach in knots and my heart heavy as I acted out this evil toward our Savior. I felt a twinge of guilt as car after car drove by and people looked at the scene, observing my mistreatment of our Lord. I woke up the next morning with a sore neck and shoulder from repeatedly lashing the cross. I was glad. The pain was a reminder of what an awful thing it would be to turn against our Lord Jesus Christ, even though it was only the result of an acting assignment.

In 2 Corinthians 6:14, Paul warns: "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?" In a sense my portrayal of that Roman soldier gave me a glimpse of what it feels like to be unequally yoked with darkness. It's very uncomfortable for anyone who truly loves the Lord. And yet, in this wicked world there are far too many ways and opportunities for us to get tangled up with unrighteousness. It's far too easy to find ourselves partnering with Satan.

When you find yourself in a situation that makes you uncomfortable because you sense that it involves compromise with evil, make sure to stop and consider carefully what you are doing. Your sense of unease may be a blessed reminder that this is not a partnership you should be involved in. If thoughtful reflection, prayer and meditation on God's Word confirms your suspicions, then get out. As Paul says in verses 17-18: "Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” Let's partner only with our living God. We will find blessing in seeking his glory.

Friday, March 5, 2010

Doing the Hard Work for Us

Although I ride a lot, I'm not fast. I've never raced bikes. My moving average is only about 14-15 miles per hour. So sometimes when I'm riding I'll be overtaken by another cyclist who is faster than me. Rarely do I ever get to "reel in" a cyclist that I see in front of me and gradually catch up because I'm going faster than they are. So if I want to ride with another cyclist they usually have to agree to stick to my pace, or I'll be "dropped."

God could have easily decided to drop us, after the people he created in his image rebelled against him. Had that been the case, there is no way we could have ever "reeled in" God and come back into fellowship with him by our own efforts. God had to do the hard work of reconciling us to him. This is very clear from 2 Corinthians 5. In verse 18 Paul writes: "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself." The fact that Christ died for all, that he was raised from the dead, and the fact that as a result we are new creations, is all from God. We had nothing to do with it.

From eternity God decided to reconcile us to himself. And he decided to do this even though he knew how hard it would be. In verse 19 Paul says: "in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them." God was reconciling the world to himself. The world of sinful men was not reconciling itself to God. We cannot do that. Only God could do that by not counting men's sins against them. And what did it take for that to happen? Christ had to die for our sins. He had to pay our debt for us.

A husband who has betrayed his wife through unfaithfulness is unlikely to be reconciled to her by his own efforts. Unless she decides to forgive him and to pursue reconciliation, it is unlikely that the marriage will be restored. Even moreso, we cannot reconcile ourselves to God by our own efforts. God is holy. We are not. We can't try hard enough or do enough to make things right with God. But, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (vs. 21). God did it. He put his own Son on the cross in our place. He laid the burden of our sins on him. God exchanged our sin for Christ's perfect righteousness so that we could be right with God.

This is truly incredible. Every day we must thank God for his loving work of reconciliation on our behalf. Because it's something we could have never done for ourselves. It would be like me trying to catch Lance Armstrong while climbing the Alp D'Huez. That's why "Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all" (vs. 14) and we should no longer live for ourselves but for him who died for us and was raised again (vs. 15)! Thank God that he has reconciled you to himself!

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Blinded

I've only been watching the Tour de France for about six years now, but last year's tour was the first I can remember in which no major drug scandal broke during the course of the race. Three years ago, of course, Floyd Landis was stripped of his yellow jersey because he was found guilty of using artificial testosterone to ride himself back into the lead. And this isn't a recent problem. I've read a history of the Tour and many racers have been found guilty of doping going back almost to the beginnings of the Tour nearly a hundred years ago. Some riders have even died as a result of their drug use.

I've often wondered, "What were they thinking?" Did they think they wouldn't get caught? Did they think somehow they were the only ones who could get away with it? Then this morning I was reading 2 Corinthians 4 and Paul's words in verse 4 struck me: "In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." So many people are blind to the light of the gospel because Satan has blinded them. They can't see the light of God's glory in Christ even when they're looking right at it.

The gospel of the glory of Christ is the greatest truth of all, of course. But I believe that Satan often "blinds" people to other truths as well. When someone has been blinded by the god of this age they can't see the truth about their sinful choices. As a result they are blind to sin's consequences. Instead of seeing the painful sorrow sin produces in our lives they only see the momentary pleasure or the short term benefits. The truth about both sin and the gospel are hidden from them. They can't see reality at all. They've been blinded. As a result they often turn to disgraceful and underhanded ways like some racers in the Tour have done. As God's people you and I must thank God "who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,'" that he "has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." Now we can see and know the truth.

Thankfully this means that we not only know the truth about the gospel, but we can also recognize the truth about our sin. Therefore, by God's grace we can do as Paul did and renounce "disgraceful, underhanded ways. We [can] refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word." How important this is! The world continually tries to seduce us into compromising the truth, condoning evil, or tolerating sin. As God's people who are no longer blind, like the apostle Paul we must stand firm for the truth. We must uphold it in our own lives and proclaim it without fear.

I've sometimes tried to debate with someone who has clearly been blinded by Satan. It never works. You can't argue an atheist out of atheism. You can't argue an evolutionist out of Darwinism. You cannot convince them of the truth by reasoned arguments, because they've been blinded by Satan and cannot see. Until the veil is lifted by the light of Christ, they will not comprehend the truth no matter how carefully reasoned your argument is. So if you know someone like that, live the truth of the gospel before them, and proclaim the truth of the gospel to them, and pray that the light of God's grace will shine in their hearts to enable them to clearly see the glory of God in Christ Jesus. Because it's an awful thing to be blind.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

A Lifelong Journey

One of the largest and most famous bicycling events in the United States is the Seattle to Portland (STP) ride. Every summer almost 10,000 riders from all over the world make the 200 mile trek by bike, most of them in two days. I've only done the STP once, and since I did it in just one day I knew I had to train long and hard to get ready.

Many cyclists do the STP every year, and they've told me that invariably there are a few people who ride their bikes a few miles a day and then try to just hop on and do the STP without any training. They are the ones I saw by the side of the road about 40 or 50 miles into the ride, waiting for the "sag wagon" to come and pick them up and take them to the next rest station because they could not go on. You don't become a serious cyclist in one day!

You don't become a Christ-like disciple in one day either. In 2 Corinthians 3:18 Paul writes: "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." Paul's reference is to Moses whose face shone when he came down from the mountain after being with the Lord. And when we've been with Jesus by faith and have trusted in him and received his salvation by grace--our faces shine, in fact, our lives shine with his glory. But we don't instantly become like Jesus.

Paul says that we are being transformed into Jesus' likeness with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord. There are two important things we need to understand from this verse. First, becoming more like Jesus takes time. In fact you can work at becoming more like Jesus your whole life and you will never reflect his glory perfectly. His glory will never be perfected in us until we share in his glory in heaven. Second, no matter how hard we work at it, we can't become like Jesus on our own. Paul says that the ever-increasing glory in our lives come from the Lord. His Holy Spirit must be at work in us to conform us to the image of God's Son.

Nevertheless, if we spend time with Jesus through Word and Sacrament, the Holy Spirit will be at work in us to reflect the Lord's glory more and more. It cannot fail because it's not our work, it's his. So just as my training for the STP paid off with a completed 206 mile ride in one day, so our spiritual disciplines will pay off as the Spirit works in us to make us more and more like Jesus. But be patient with yourself. It's a lifelong process. So enjoy!

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Healing Pain

The last year and a half has not been a great time for my cycling. Many things have gotten in the way, including work, major life transitions, weather, and various other distractions. My body is not in the shape it should be in. It needs some serious conditioning to get back to the place where I can ride a long distance in a decent amount of time. Unfortunately, getting back to that place is hard work. It's a lengthy, painful process. It takes time on the bike and time in the gym, and so far, I haven't found time for both. But I love to ride and as a result I'm determined that I will get back to a place where I can ride a hundred miles in a day without suffering. But getting there will take some suffering.

Isn't that ironic? It reminds me of the irony of Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 2:4: "For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you." Paul wrote words to the Corinthians that were painful for them to hear. He had to confront their complacency and tolerance of sin.

Sin had grown up in the midst of their congregation, gross, blatant, even flagrant sin, yet they did nothing about it. Left unchecked, it would have become a cancer that would have destroyed the body of Christ in Corinth. So Paul had to condemn and convict the Christians there for turning a blind eye to such sin. He had to rebuke them and chide them into action in order to excise the sinner from the body and set things right.

Paul's words hurt. The action that the Corinthians took against the unrepentant sinner in their midst hurt. It was a painful process. Ironically, the reason for the pain was love. Paul loved the Corinthians and could not stand to see their complacency toward sin destroy them. But demonstrating his love for them caused them pain.

Isn't it ironic that if we love someone we must sometimes cause them pain in order to set them straight. I can remember as a child my mother saying when I was going to get a spanking: "This hurts me more than it hurts you." I didn't understand her words then, but I do now. It's painful to us when love demands that we cause another person to feel pain in order to correct them. But if we truly love them we must bear our pain and inflict the pain on them that will set them back on the right path, the path of life in Jesus Christ.

Is there someone you love whose sin you need to confront? True love will not let them go on sinning without correction. And if you stay in touch with the pain you feel as you confront them, then your rebuke and correction will truly be a loving act and will be done in a loving manner. God's love for us was so great that he bore the pain of our sin himself. He sent his Son to die for our sins. By his wounds we are healed. Now that's amazing love!

Monday, March 1, 2010

Yes Means Yes!

A couple months ago I came home after a ride and realized that my rear wheel was out of true. The next day I took the wheel into the Trek dealer. I expected to pay to have the wheel trued. The mechanic took it back into the shop for a closer look. He came back out and said that the wheel had a crack in it. "Oh great! Another cracked wheel needing to be replaced for a couple hundred dollars! Wonderful!", I thought angrily.

I fully expected to have to pay for the wheel. The bike was over two years old with more than 3000 miles on it. The wheels had already been replaced once under warranty, so I steeled myself to ask how much a new rear wheel would cost me. Then the mechanic said, "We'll get you a new wheel under warranty." But the warranty was up. Only the frame had a lifetime warranty, not components like wheels. How could that be? "Wow, great! Uh, thanks!", I managed to say gratefully. What a surprise! A few days later I had my new wheel, in fact it was a 2010 model wheel with a different spoke pattern to prevent it from cracking again, like the old one had.

When a company goes above and beyond to honor their warranty it's a surprise. We're used to having people and companies break their promises. So when it goes the other way, we're surprised. Not so with God. We need never be surprised that God's Word is always true and that his promises are always good. In 2 Corinthians 1:20 Paul writes: "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. So through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God."

God has made countless promises in his Word. They began with the first promise of a Savior in Genesis 3, immediately after Adam and Eve fell into sin. In reality, however, from eternity God had a plan for our salvation that he fulfilled in Christ Jesus. Jesus is God's "Yes" to every promise he ever made. All his promises of forgiveness, peace, hope, life, grace and glory are fulfilled in Christ's coming to save us. You need never doubt any promise that God has ever made. Jesus is the proof positive that God keeps all his promises.

As I wrote these words I realized that I had never acknowledged the fact that Trek stood behind their product, so just now I went on their website and sent a "Thank You." to them. Too often we fail to acknowledge God's faithfulness in fulfilling every promise. Paul reminds us that we need to do so. Through Jesus, Paul writes, we must speak a resounding "Amen" to the glory of God for his promises kept, his Word fulfilled. Let's make sure we do that on every possible occasion. No it's not surprising that God keeps his Word. But even though it's not, we should give him glory for the "Yes" he has sent us in Jesus!