Pastor Hurst

IT HAPPENED JUST LIKE I SAID

Listening to the news this morning two things struck me: (Nobody pays attention-probably a good thing-but I am one of those that talks back to the newscast.) First, I had to note that the bulk of the repeated news for the past weeks has included the continue use of names straight from the Bible-"Syria," "Egypt," "Nile." Out of 196 official countries (number depends on criteria used to determine a nation), we hear over and over of the names of countries mentioned in the Bible. Think how much "Israel" is mentioned comparative to other countries when considering her size, population, wealth, etc. One reason is that the conflicts in those countries in someway all have their roots reaching clear back into Bible events to the conflict between Abraham's two son's descendents, the conflict of Isaac and Ishmael. Second, I found myself saying, "It is happening just like I said." I impressed no one nor was I alone in the assessment. But, when our country's current administration supported the Muslim Brotherhood backed government of Egypt under the pretenses that it was "democratic" any could understand that that movement was comprised of Islamic extremists that gave only lip service to democracy in order to gain power. Those truly for democracy would never ultimately accept such a rule. No sooner, had the words left my mouth then I thought, when all is said and done in the events and history of the world, God will truly be able to say, "It happened just like I said it would."

WHERE WORSHIP HAPPENS

Volumes have been written about worship. Scores of messages have been preached. I’m am certain that I can add nothing to the wisdom on worship that has already been shared. I am convinced, however, of our great need to worship our God more. Jesus said that the Father is “seeking” worshippers. That declaration not only reveals the Father’s desire for our worship, but also, at least in my thinking, the rarity of worshippers. One does not seek what is readily apparent and available. I want the Father to find me a worshipper. Thinking on worship as I was out doing business yesterday, I suddenly became aware of when worship happens in one’s life. Worship happens when my fresh awareness of God’s greatness and goodness converges with my renewed awareness of my need. I worship because God is great and deserving and inspiring of my worship. I worship because I recognize my need of this great God. To come before God with only an awareness of His greatness, makes His greatness seem theoretic, distant, not-applicable to my life. To approach God with only an absorption of my need, makes me a self-centered sniveler viewing God as a source from which to get something I want. But, together, my acute awareness and fixation on His greatness and my need of Him, results in my worship of Him. In fact, such worship brings such trust, wonder, overwhelming love of God, that one soon has lost sight of his need and only his absorption with the greatness and goodness of God remains. Thus, worship, to put it in the words of two songs, is to come before God with a heart that says, “How Great Thou Art,” and “I need Thee, Oh, I need Thee, Every hour, I need Thee, Bless me now my Savior, I come to Thee.” Worship happens at the convergence of my awareness of God’s greatness and my need.

KEEPING THE NORTH STAR

Almost always in this weekly article I seek to take something currently in the news and events of the world or sometimes in my personal world from which to share my meager thoughts. Today, it was announced that the TV network which is arguably the most liberal has collapsing ratings. Recently, it was announce that the morning news show that is also arguably the most liberal has plunging ratings. The church world should have learned this reality long ago. Churches that went liberal in theology soon had quickly declining membership. Almost always, it is the conservative churches that are the fastest growing over all. Although this correlation between growing liberalism and declining interest could be dissected from various angles, I would think we should focus on that fact that liberalism, whether in religion or politics, almost always embraces the rejection of absolutes. To take absolutes from people is to take away security, moorings, means of making judgments-it is to take away any reliable points of reference from which to live one's life. It is to take away the North Star from the ancient sailors being tossed in the vast seas. Something deep in humanity rejects such a life. Oh, to take away absolutes is relieving and pleasurable at first. It leaves one with no moral restraints. It allows him to live as he pleases. But, he soon becomes like the child left home alone and realizes that he can eat all the candy he wants, stay up as late as he pleases, watch on television whatever he wishes. That had always sounded so appealing. However, with Dad and Mom gone, with their not there to give rules and enforce them, without the structure and security of a schedule and parameters for living, what seemed so appealing loses it pleasure. If he were honest, in the end, man realizes he doesn't do a good job as his own master living without restraint. See, in the end most people vote for keeping the North Star rather than getting rid of it.

100 MOST TRUSTED PEOPLE

Some things are a snapshot of reality. A poll that appears in this issue of Reader’s Digest is such a revelation of where our society is. The poll is whom people of America deem as the 100 Most Trusted People. Top of the list is an actor—Tom Hanks. Next, is an actor. And next. It isn’t until fifth place that there is someone not an actor, Maya Angelou, a professor, author, and poet. Further down the list one encounters directors, show hosts, a few doctor/hosts, a scientist or two, and, oh, yes, the rich—Bill and Melinda Gates. There is also an economist, our First Lady, and, at number 18 another host, Ellen DeGeneres. Later in the list are former and current government officials, and, of course, some sports stars. Our president came in at number 65. I do not denigrate any on the list. The list doesn't say as much about the people on it as it does about the people that put them there when polled. A quick observation is that those on the top of the list and a majority on the list are people who are on television or in movies. Though I did not do the math to get an exact percentage, I believe the next largest group were doctors and doctor/hosts. Those who tell us about our bodies. My third observation—unless I just missed one, I saw no religious figures, moralists, etc. O.K., let me just say it, No preacher. People who entertain, make money, and who know about the body are trusted. People who could have something to say about the human soul, the way to life, eternity, don’t make the list. I think the poll shows where the people of America are right now in heart and mind. They are into entertainment and their bodies. If these are those that people trust most, are they actually trusting an actor with their souls?

A CAVITY IN YOUR LIFE?

One of the things Dad doesn't want to hear is "I think I have a cavity." Unless the family has good dental insurance, that statement is punctuated with huge dollar signs. Beyond cost, cavities also cause the possessor a lot of pain. Thus, the word cavity comes with a lot of negative connotation. The word cavity is generic enough. It just means a hollow place in the body; however, its use to describe the hollow place caused in a tooth by decay makes it an unpleasant word. I heard a preacher last night describing the need of an uncommitted Christian as, among other things, having a "cavity in your life." I had never heard it put quite like that before. Usually, the something missing in one's life is described as an emptiness, a void, a vacuum, etc. But, a cavity? He was right. Many people have a cavity in their life-they have a hollowness in their soul. And, usually the cavity, as a tooth cavity, was caused by decay. As certainly as bacteria eats a hollow in a tooth, sin devours the soul and inner life leaving a hollowness. Although we often view them as torturers and their tools as their instruments of torture, dentists do a great and helpful thing. They clean out the germs that are hollowing a place in the tooth and then they fill that hollow place. They clean and fill the cavity. So does God. He removes the sin that has eaten its way into our hearts and fills the emptiness it has left. He does it through the work of the cross. Perhaps, next time you think about a cavity you will think of the cross and not a dentist chair.

CONTENT WITH THE CONTENT?

Words are interesting to me. Good deal since what I do involves them so often. This week, for no apparent reason, I kept having a particular heteronym roil over in my mind. Words are heteronyms when they are spelled the same but have different pronunciations and meanings. For example, lead (to guide) and lead (a malleable heavy metallic element). The first, as you know, is pronounced "leed" and the second, "led." The set I was thinking of was content and content. Content (kon-tent), the noun, refers to what is contained. Content (kan-tent) is an adjective meaning satisfied. We can put these together: With the content of his savings account he was content. The content of one's heart determines whether or not he is content. Content determines whether or not one is content. God has made our soul to contain Him. If we seek to fill it, our lives, our thoughts, our affections with something other than Him, we will never be content. It is when the content of our lives is what pertains to God that we are content. It is like the relaxing child who's content of his stomach is filled with Mom's cooking. He is content. He could have stuffed himself with cotton candy, fizzing soda pop, and bowls of ice cream and never been content. You can muse with other heteronyms: row, row; desert, desert. But, are you content with the content of your life.