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God’s Treasure, Hidden in Jars of Clay

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By Larry Short, Community Ministry Director

While Martin was teaching this weekend as part of his Christmas behind the Curtain sermon on the value of people to God, I found and was thinking about the truth in 2 Corinthians 4:7—

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

While we know that God values us beyond comprehension (as demonstrated by His willingness to send His Son to suffer and die for our sins), we also know that He does not do this because of any intrinsic merit within us. We didn’t do any spectacular or beautiful thing to earn His respect. Nonetheless, He respects us. The treasure that He sees within us is a treasure that He has placed there, within these bodies (“jars of clay”) formed from dirt.

He breathed life (His Spirit) into us. He created us in His image, with the capacity to know right from wrong. He built into us the ability to dwell in relationship with Him and with one another. This was all of His doing and none of ours. If any glory comes of it, it goes to Him and not to us!

Martin shared how we must value and respect one another, because God values and respects us. This respect must play itself out in all our interactions with one another during the week, whether gathered at Elim, in community groups, on social media, or elsewhere.

In The Weight of Glory (p. 15), C. S. Lewis wrote:

It is a serious thing, to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or another of those destinations.

Too often we simply “write off” people who annoy us or we are not interested in developing relationship with, for whatever reason. God does no such thing. In Scripture we see, amazingly, that He treats even Satan with respect! By writing people off, do we not risk helping them toward the wrong destination? How much more wonderful it would be if we could be a blessing to each person we touched throughout the day, encouraging them in their journey toward the right destination!

Why We Should All Be Involved in Community Groups

Community groups at Elim are a great place for you and I to “practice” being in relationship with God and others as we journey together toward an eternity with Christ. At Elim we have groups for women and for men as well as mixed groups. They are volunteer led at different times during the week, and they study various topics. All are focused on helping us grow God-ward and in loving and truth-telling relationship with one another. Here is a quick snapshot of current groups:

Mixed Community Groups

Jason and Hannah Comerford’s group starts at 5:30 p.m. each Monday evening. The group meets for a meal, Bible study (currently studying 1 John), prayer, and fellowship. Most members are in their 20s to early 30s.

Kendrick and Janna Gilli’s group meets on Friday evenings, 7 to 9 p.m. This group is for adults of all ages, married or single. Childcare space is limited. Their focus is on relationship building with God and one another.

Isaac and Rebekah McKenzie, along with Cameron and Jenn Severns, host dinner every Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. They’re currently going through the series The Truth Project.

Martin and Kim Schlomer lead a group that meets every other Monday evening, currently studying Colossians.

Brian and Tomina Sharpe lead a group meeting Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Members are of all ages.

Larry Short leads a prayer, practice,and fellowship group for developing and existing group leaders, meeting every other Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. and offering additional leadership-training classes outside of group meetings.

Men’s Groups

Four groups all meet on Saturday mornings:

  • One is led by Tom Chase(every other Saturday morning).
  • One by Ross Fitzpatrick,starting at 7 a.m. at his home. 
  • CoreMen is led by Isaac McKenzie twice a month at 9 a.m.
  • One is led by Jeff Foerster.

Roger Petersohn leads a men’s group that meets on Sunday afternoons for coffee, called 2canDo, based on Ecclesiastes 4:9. It’s about developing Jonathan-David relationships with other men.

Women’s Groups

Candy Shattuck and Jo Cherland lead a Tuesday-evening (6:30 p.m.) study of the book of Colossians.

Cindy Waple leads two similar groups, the first every other Thursday at 9:45 a.m., and the other at 6:45 p.m. the same evening. They are studying Rooted in Love, a journey to a deeper understanding of and our response to God’s love.

For more information about these and other women’s activities, including MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and MOMSnext, contact Kim Schlomer.

To get connected with any group leader about joining their group, give them a call or touch base with me for more information. My email is my name (Larry Short) with no spaces, followed by the at symbol then gmail dot com.

And visit this page regularly to keep up with any changes to community groups.

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All Things

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By Larry Short

Lately I’ve been thinking about, and discussing, and quoting, Romans 8:28 a lot. As a result, it’s one of those key verses that I never intentionally memorized, but that I can now quote by heart:

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

The great thing about this verse is that it’s all God, and it’s one of those truths that really does require an investment of faith from us. In the face of seemingly impossible odds, we simply have to accept its truth on faith! God said it, and we have to either believe it—or not.

I think this was demonstrated dramatically during last week’s worship service, when Jacoby and Gretchen Miles shared their incredible journey. Many tears (mine included!) were shed.

I don’t know about you, but the thought of breaking my neck and being paralyzed is one of those things that is simply too horrible to fathom. Roger asked the question that has burned in my heart for years: How can we approach Jacoby and interact with her as we know we should, in light of her devastating disability? I’ve often thought about simply walking up and saying, “Hi Jacoby! I hope you know we care about and are praying for you . . .” But one of my fears is that my fear itself would show on my face and I wouldn’t be able to push back the dread (not at Jacoby—I think she’s beautiful and fantastic—but at the mere thought of her terrible paralysis) that has been for me a thing of nightmares.

And so I think it was very healthy and helpful for me to hear from her lips (and Gretchen’s) both their very transparent struggles to trust God and the victory that they have experienced as they have done so. It gives me hope that if I, too, were to experience such a dreadful event, God through His Holy Spirit would invade my heart (as He has Jacoby’s and her family’s) and, if I was willing, direct my gaze heavenward to our amazing eternal hope, giving me the strength to endure the lot that is mine today.

After Sunday, tears flowed anew when someone shared with me the thought that someday, either in this life or the next, we will see Jacoby dance again! But one thing we know today is that Jacoby and her family love God and are called according to His purpose, just as we are, and, therefore, even this time of trial must somehow be “one of those things” that is working together for good.

In the (far, far less significant) trials and tribulations that I have experienced in my own life, I have had the power of Romans 8:28 reinforced to me time and time again:

  • When as a teen I had to move away from my schoolmates and the hometown I loved because of a threat against our family, only to discover (on visiting a new church) a beautiful and godly girl named Darlene.
  • When as a businessman in my 20s a thief broke in and stole our equipment. Later he found Christ and turned himself in, and the insurance company (which had paid off the loss) sold the equipment back to me at a tenth of its value.
  • When I later sold the business because of struggles beyond my control. God led me (grudgingly) back to World Vision after that, where He blessed and used me in ways I could never have imagined.
  • When, a little over two years ago, I was laid off (after 24 years) from the organization I loved working for, only to be rehired a year later into a role that is a much better fit for me.

I realize that we often use Romans 8:28 in a seemingly trite way—“Chin up! The pain you’re experiencing is all for the good.” One woman asked me, “So how do you define the ‘good’ in this verse?” That coworker had experienced the incredibly painful murder of her grandmother and admitted she struggled with this verse.

I don’t want to imply by my examples above that the evil things that happen to us are always good for us! In fact, this verse doesn’t even say “work together for your good” or “our good”—it simply says, “work together for good.” The implication is that the ultimate good is the glory of God and His Kingdom. And hope tells us that even if we don’t see the good during our life on earth, someday, sitting around the table at the wedding feast of the Lamb, perhaps, all will become clear.

There’s a colleague at my new job whom I at first had some trouble getting along with. So rather than distance myself, I decided the Lord would have me reach out to him and try to build bridges. I spent some time with him hiking through the countryside near London, and I even took him and two of his kids camping in our RV two weekends ago! (Now THAT’S togetherness.) And now I am growing to appreciate his wisdom and friendship, despite our rough start.

We were talking about Romans 8:28 while walking through the rain forest, watching his kids delight in finding weird mushrooms. He brought up a favorite quote by C. S. Lewis (from “The Weight of Glory and Other Addresses”). At first I don’t think I really saw the connection, but the more I think about it, the more I do now:

It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.

Like that child making mud pies, my tendency is to throw a tantrum when my Father in Heaven says, “Hey, stop playing in that puddle. I have something far better for you over here.” Sometimes He does that through trials and tribulations. All I can see is what a lovely mud pie I have here. But if I am able to lift my eyes, in faith, there is an entire ocean waiting for me to take delight in!

On Monday morning, while hiking in the forest, I lost my wallet. I spent three hours looking for it and praying that I’d find it, all (seemingly) to no avail. Afterward I grumbled to the Lord: “How could losing my wallet possibly work out for good?! Think of all the time I’ll have to waste reapplying for permits and credit cards, etc.”

God’s reply? “Romans 8:28. Believe it.”

Sheesh. Okay, Lord, if You say so. I believe it.

(Stay tuned. I’ll let you know how it works out!)

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Feeling “Disconnected”?

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By Larry Short, Community Ministry Director

Feeling disconnected? If so, you’re not alone.

It’s a frequent subject of discussion among leaders at Elim: hearing from people, or about people, who simply feel disconnected in the context of our church body.

People generally react to a feeling of disconnectedness in one of three ways:

  • They suffer in silence.
  • They reach out for help.
  • They leave, hopeful to find a place where they will feel more connected.

I think we all feel disconnected at times. If you are feeling disconnected, like people don’t care or you don’t matter or don’t belong, or you can’t figure out how to make a meaningful contribution, or you have trouble establishing meaningful relationships, then our first hope and prayer is that you will reject both options #1 and #3 above and focus on option #2 — reaching out for help!

Is there a simple solution for disconnectedness?

It’s tempting for me to try to offer a simple solution for this feeling of disconnectedness. For instance, as I was thinking about writing this Last Word, two verses were running through my mind:

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34)

Also:

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)

Writing in the Gospel Coalition, Pastor Erik Raymond says there are two sources of a feeling of disconnectedness at churches. One is unhealth in the ministry itself, but the other is unhealth in the individual.

What if I’m the problem?

Raymond asks, bluntly, “What if the disconnection we feel is actually the consequence of selfishness?”

Scripture doesn’t talk much about the importance of how we feel in the context of the church body we are a part of. But it does talk a great deal about whether or not we are willing to deny ourselves and commit ourselves to God’s glory and the best interests of His Church and the people around us.

And it also recognizes the primary significance of us willingly committing ourselves to remain “plugged in,” or connected, to the Vine — that is, to Jesus. Whether we feel it or not, that, in reality, is our most vital connection!

When depression settles in

We would hope that if we were always willing to deny ourselves in service of our Master, to follow Him and stay closely connected to Him, we would never feel disconnected from other branches who had a similar focus.

But we all experience loneliness, and we sometimes feel anxiety, depression, or despair.

How we feel is obviously a challenging and complex subject. I am very much an emotion-driven person, so I recognize the power of our emotions. Like many others, I have experienced depression. And I know that when you’re in that pit, it’s very difficult to see any hope for a way out. And for people who are very emotionally driven, there’s a lot that can happen circumstantially to drive us into that pit.

My own bout with depression came at the end of my freshman year of college. I recognized that I was physically worn down, working too hard without sufficient rest. A physical illness then led to a deep well of depression. While I was in that well, I couldn’t imagine a way out, and while those around me sympathized, I was convinced none really knew what I was feeling. I felt very alone.

I’m thankful that over a period of a couple of months, with a change of venue and lots of rest, God Himself brought me up out of that well and met me in my loneliness. But the experience has given me empathy for others who go through similar bouts, some way longer than mine.

So I know from experience there is no simple or easy answer when the disconnectedness you feel is a result of an unhealthy mental state.

When the church causes disconnectedness

It’s also not a simple matter to address disconnectedness if part of the underlying issues are to be found within the church itself. At Elim, we seek to enhance Christian community and a sense of connectedness through focusing on healthy small groups and on outreach and service to others. There are some things we can do programmatically — working to support and encourage small group leaders, for example — but much of what needs to happen simply needs to happen organically because the people in our church are willing to take risks, to step outside of their own fears and insecurities and build bridges to others.

I recently heard a story that I think demonstrates this point powerfully. A group of women were playing a game around a table at a women’s event. One of the observers made a comment to another observer, along the lines of, “That group of women is quite a clique.”

“What do you mean?” the other woman asked her.

“They just enjoy their own company,” the first woman explained. “They are not really open to others like me joining in.”

“How do you know this?” the second woman challenged gently. “Have you ever asked to be a part?”

The first woman admitted that she hadn’t.

“Why don’t you try it and see what happens?” suggested the second.

So the first woman did that, courageously. Swallowing her pride, she walked up and asked if she could join in on the game in progress.

“Of course!” the ladies all said in unison, then scrambled to pull up another chair. The “outsider” took her place, joined in the game, and very soon felt like she was a vital part of that circle of fellowship.

A two-way street

We all need to be looking for those on the fringes and inviting them in. And I know of many people at Elim who do this so well. But disconnection is a two-way street! When you’re the outsider, sometimes you just have to take a risk and ask to join. Or step out and serve another person. Or find that person who looks like you yourself feel, and try to make a connection with them. As simple as it sounds, I do agree that a key solution to loneliness and disconnection is to seek to get connected.

Ultimately, we are each of us in the same boat. I know that even pastors sometimes feel disconnected, as the writer of that Gospel Coalition article shared. We are all solitary branches! But God calls us to connect first to the Vine and then in service to the other branches around us, to become a healthy, functioning part of His Body.

After all, that is how we will spend eternity. We’d best get used to it now!

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We All Come from Broken Families. How Can You Help Stop the Crazy Cycle?

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By Larry Short

I’m not a huge Michael Jackson fan. I did enjoy “Thriller,” but “Captain EO” was just dumb and I wonder if Disney now regrets it.

(Photo caption: Pop Star Michael Jackson and his father Joseph leaving the Santa Barbara County Courthouse with his father, Joe, on March 15, 2005, following a day of testimony in the younger Jackson’s trial on charges of child molestation.)

Nevertheless, the news this week did catch my attention. After Michael’s father and the head of the musically talented and prolific Jackson clan, Joe Jackson, passed into eternity on June 27 at the age of 89 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, there was a sudden wave of media attention about his controversial life. I saw an old interview with Michael in which he claimed his father physically and emotionally abused him and many of the other ten Jackson children (one the result of an extramarital affair), subjecting them to incessant rehearsals, whippings, and name-calling.

Michael admitted that his father’s strict “discipline” played a large part in his success. However, Michael told Oprah Winfrey in a 1993 interview that as a result of the abuse, he frequently cried from loneliness as a child.

Joe was also accused of sexual abuse against at least one of his daughters. La Toya Jackson said in her 1991 memoir that he beat the children and molested her. She wrote, “When your father gets out of bed with your mother and gets into bed with his daughter and you hear the mother saying, ‘No, Joe, not tonight. Let her rest. Leave her alone, she’s tired,’ that makes you crazy.”

While some credit Joe’s “old-school” ways with “spurring his sons and daughters to musical greatness” (writer Sophia Nelson), there’s little doubt in my mind that it also left a trail of human brokenness in its wake. Whether or not Michael was guilty of the child molestation he was accused of is still debated, and it’s a matter of record that several of his brothers were at the center of their own abuse cases, with Randy Jackson being charged with beating his wife and daughter.

While admitting to punishing their children with belts and switches, both Katherine (who tried twice to divorce her husband then changed her mind) and Joe denied the whippings were abusive. Other children also denied their father had been abusive, and Michael later said he forgave his father when he realized the abuse was the result of his “deep-South” upbringing during the Great Depression and Jim Crow years.

But What About Us?

Because of the journey that we’ve been on as a church, we’ve come to recognize that many people in our midst have suffered various forms of abuse from family members. Too often they’ve suffered in silence, struggling with the shame that results. Thankfully, we’ve also seen recently that in some of these cases, bringing these issues to the light of day has been the first step on a road to freedom from the shame and brokenness caused by abuse.

So how do we deal with the painful memories and emotional scars that come from abusive family brokenness? I’m not an expert. I was blessed by parents who were Christ followers, and while I received a few belt whoopings (mostly deserved, probably), I don’t consider myself as ever having suffered any kind of physical or emotional abuse as a child.

Nonetheless, I did experience some emotional pain growing up, as a result of family brokenness. My mom and dad were often in conflict with each other, and their screaming fights were a frequent cause of anxiety. (I often wonder if their marriage would have survived if it had occurred in the setting of today’s more lax attitudes toward divorce.)

Moreover, while my dad was mostly physically “present” for the family, in some ways he was emotionally distant. I don’t remember having very many sincere conversations with him that I can look back on. My mom and I were quite close, and I know he once told her he didn’t think I liked him. I told her I didn’t think he liked me, either. Even though I now know that he loved me, the main emotion that I recall him ever expressing toward me was anger, and I don’t think he ever told me he loved me.

I think my siblings agree with me that our dad had difficulty relating to children for some reason. But when I turned 18 and left home for college, suddenly he and I became much closer, and the nature of our relationship eventually changed to what I would call “friendship.” As fathers (rather than father and son), we were peers and got along much better.

Despite these problems, I never doubted my dad’s desire to follow Christ. But I have been able to identify some characteristics in my own development that I believe were at least partly a result of our strained relationship. I struggled with nervousness, anxiety, and depression as a child and young adult, and as a father I really struggled to overcome the temptation to succumb to anger against my own children.

I also sometimes wonder if my own drivenness, my type-A personality, as they say, partly stems from these insecurities.

How God Broke Me

I think the first step is being honest and dealing with the baggage that comes from family brokenness. We are all broken humans and are all affected, to some extent or another, by the experiences we had as members of a sinful human family when we were being raised.

The question is, How did those experiences affect us? And how can we (by the grace of God and with His help) break the crazy cycle that otherwise will perpetuate itself through us against our own families?

As a young dad, I didn’t consider myself an angry person, but now I realize I was. Things didn’t come to a head until my son was 17 and he and I were frequently in conflict. One day I became so angry at him that I went out of control. I picked up a telephone (not one of the small mobile ones like we have now, but one of the big old clunky ones) and heaved it at him, with all my might. I thank God for His grace and my son’s agility as he ducked the missile, which plunged into the wall behind him, narrowly missing his head and leaving a gaping hole in our drywall—that’s how hard I threw it.

He fled home to stay with friends for three days. It’s what happened during those three days that changed the direction of my life.

I was broken, terrified by what I had done. I spent three days with the Lord, pleading for His forgiveness and for His help in undoing me as an angry person. And by the end of that time, I believe He answered my prayer. I vowed before Him never again to allow myself to become overcome with anger at those I love and to express it as I had expressed it against my son.

That was nearly two decades ago now, and by God’s grace I have been able to keep that vow. There have been times when I have been tempted to anger, but by remembering what I vowed, by withdrawing and praying for the strength to be Christlike, I have managed to avoid once again succumbing to the temptation. And I can honestly today say that I am no longer the angry person that I once was. (Except perhaps occasionally in traffic, as Darlene will testify!)

The truth is, we are all far from perfect parents. We all need God’s help, strength, grace, and mercy. And knowing today how badly I need that, I am also able to extend that grace and forgiveness to my own parents for whatever failings they made in raising me. (And for the most part, in my humble opinion, I think they did a fantastic job!)

How About You?

Have you come to grips with the ways the brokenness of your own childhood family has affected you as an adult? Have you confronted the truth, admitted it, and gotten alone with God, asking for His help in breaking the crazy cycle? And have you also been willing to give grace—to forgive your own parents for their failings and to receive the healing that is poured out on the cross from the wounds of our perfect Parent, our Father God who loves us so sacrificially?

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

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Finishing Well

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by Larry Short

Hopefully this doesn’t sound morbid, but I’ve been thinking a lot about the end of my life and the impact I might make on the people around me. Martin’s partly to blame for this. He’s been asking questions about people we know who finished well and why they had an impact on us. Another reason I’ve been thinking about finishing well is because last Sunday we celebrated the life of Darlene’s mother, Dotty, who passed a few months ago at the ripe age of 98. Like her husband Fred, who preceded her, she finished well.

Larry Short and Dotty French
Sharing a photo with Darlene’s mom, Dotty, on her 98th birthday celebration last November. Amazing to think she’s now reunited with Fred and walking with Jesus!

But what “finishing well” looked like for her was quite different from what it looked like for Fred and for other people I know who have finished well.

Fred wore his faith in Christ on his sleeve, so to speak. He shared openly about his relationship with Christ and urged all around him to follow Jesus. Outgoing and fearless, he was a talented salesman and a natural-born evangelist.

My own father was similar, but in different ways. He led three of his four sisters to Christ after he himself found Jesus while a student at Seattle Pacific University (where he met and married my mom, already a believer and instrumental in my dad’s salvation). He even led his own father to Christ when my grandpa was on his deathbed! My father was incredibly compassionate and generous. He loved to give and serve.

My own mom died of cancer at the age of 64. But she finished well. She had a vibrant faith in Christ, and was positive and encouraging until the day she died. My mom loved her family and her church well, and was incredibly committed to me becoming all God wanted me to be.

Darlene’s mom also lived to serve others: her husband, her husband’s clients, her kids, extended family, you name it. She wasn’t super outspoken about her own faith, but Christ could be seen in the way she cooked, cleaned, and catered to the needs of those around her.

Because of Martin’s questions, I’ve been thinking about many others you all probably knew and loved. The name Art Nissan is often mentioned when we talk about finishing well. Art was wise and godly, and he carefully nurtured his own connection to Christ. He was simple and humble; he shared his life with those he loved. He made an incredible impact in the lives of many in our church.

Helen Eash springs to my mind as another who finished well. Much like Darlene’s mom, she quietly served those around her and devoted her life to supporting her husband Harold and the many people they impacted on the mission field. Her love for people and for Christ was beyond doubt.

And then there was another man I think “finished well” even though he was very, very different from Art or Helen. Robert Lee was truly a diamond in the rough, far from perfect. A professional tattoo artist (and a good one), his early life was violent and dangerous. But after he found Christ and began attending Elim (his 45 revolver strapped to one leg!), he fearlessly began to change. He had a real and vital relationship with Christ, which he shared with those around him, including his friends from his “darker days.” Now he is dearly missed.

Finally, I would be remiss not to mention our dear friend Nancy Ide. She finished well, at too early an age, but the strength of her faith in Christ and the way she poured into others, even as she herself was being ravaged by cancer, was truly remarkable and praiseworthy.

I think about the things that each of these well-finishers shared in common, and I think if I truly seek to achieve the following four things, I, too, may stand a chance to finish well:

Devotion to Christ as their highest and most important relationship. Jesus said the greatest commandment was to love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind. People who finish well leave no doubt that their relationship with Jesus is their first and foremost priority.

They loved the people God placed in the path of their life. Jesus said, “And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” Each of these people I mentioned were people whose love for others was indisputable. They honored others as more important than themselves and serve others wholeheartedly.

They were fearless. Scripture says “Perfect love casts out fear.” Love for God and faith in Him inspires us to be fearless. No matter what happens in our life, whether it’s the cancer that ravaged Nancy or Alzheimer’s as my dad experienced, God has our back, and there is no need to fear the future!

Like the faithful servant of Christ’s parable, they invested whatever gifts God gave them to bring Him glory. Too many people “retire.” My dad retired as the president of an industrial plant in Singapore when he was 55, and I (sort of) retired two years ago, at 60 (only to find myself drawn back to a ministry I really love at World Vision!); but those who finish well, I believe, never really retire. They keep on keepin’ on, with whatever strength they have that remains, using whatever gifts, talents, skills, and resources God has given them, investing these in the Kingdom of God and the lives of the people around them.

Losing loved ones to heaven is not really sad. The sad fact is that many among us, unfortunately, do not finish well. As a song I really appreciate says, “gravity is pulling me on down.” We get self-centered (instead of God- and others-centered), we get tired, we stop loving God and people well and serving with whatever means God has blessed us with. We may allow ourselves to grow fearful and complacent.

I’m constantly aware of the tendencies in my own life for gravity to pull me on down. Thankfully, every new day brings new opportunities for me to repent and recommit myself to the task of finishing well! And I’m also thankful for brothers and sisters in Christ who surround me and are willing to “hold my arms up” as I seek God’s strength to end my earthly story in a way that brings Him glory.

How about you?

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Seeking (and Listening to) the Best Gift of All

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By Larry Short

During Pastor Martin’s sermon last Sunday, “Learn to Listen to the Spirit,” someone asked a great question: “How do we know it is the Spirit and not our inner self who is speaking into our mind?”

Our pastors both had very good responses to this question. Martin focused on John 10:27—“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” If you are God’s, and He is speaking, you will recognize His leading. And Pastor Brian shared that the thing that is most important is that if what we share with people aligns with Scripture, wisdom, and God’s heart, we need not second-guess ourselves, but we can share in faith what is on our heart for others.

Danny Number One

Even as our pastors were sharing this, God was reminding me of what felt like a perfect example of these truths. At a prior church (and yes, this was a long time ago, when we were in our early 30s!), Darlene and I led a community group. There was a very interesting young man named Danny in our group, and he was really struggling. He was a former high priest in the Mormon church who, along with his wife, had come to know Jesus and had left Mormonism. But he was struggling with fear and obedience, and they struggled in their marriage. I was really burdened to try to help Danny, and during one corporate worship time, during one of the songs, rather than singing, I was praying and asking God, very specifically: “What are the keys to Danny? How can I help him?”

No sooner had I prayed this (silently), than an older gentleman whom I had a great deal of respect for, a man named Bob, leaned forward from where he was sitting behind me, put his hand on my shoulder, and whispered into my ear: “The keys to Danny are that he needs to put his fear away and be baptized, as well as humble himself before his wife and ask her forgiveness.” He then leaned back into his seat as a new song began and joined in the singing, smiling at me as I stared at him in astonishment.

To say that I was stunned was an understatement. I had just (silently) asked God a very specific question. And Bob had leaned forward and answered that question!

Afterward, I asked Bob how he knew what I was asking God. It seemed to me he had somehow received a message from God, right? How did that happen?

Bob just shrugged as he replied, “I don’t know. I just felt burdened about Danny and was praying for him. I knew you led the group he’s in, so I thought I’d share my conviction about what needs to happen in his life.”

From Bob’s perspective, this was his own (prayerful) thought process. But to me, it was clearly a word from God, reminiscent of Christ’s comment to Nathanael:

Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” (John 1:48)

Nathanael was astonished because he had thought that whatever happened under the fig tree was just between him and God. So Jesus’s window into that event had a profound effect on his life, just as Bob’s window into my heart impacted me deeply.

Spooky, for me! But to Bob, of course, it was no big deal—just sharing his thoughts. Regardless, I followed up on that word from God (through Bob). I felt a great sense of urgency to speak to Danny, but the only number I had for him was an office number, and he didn’t start until at least 8 or 9 the next morning. But at about 4 a.m. I gave up trying to sleep and decided to call his office number just to do something.

I was astonished when Danny answered, and he also sounded very surprised. It “just so happens” that he, too, was unable to sleep, and felt compelled for some reason to come into work hours earlier than usual. As he walked in the door about 4 a.m., his desk phone was ringing. Danny was therefore in a strong position to pay careful attention to the urgent message I had to share.

So I shared with Danny what Bob had said: that he needed to put his fear away and obey God in believer’s baptism, as well as to humble himself and ask his wife’s forgiveness. Both were hard things to ask him, he admitted. He agreed to be baptized (I baptized him myself in a backyard pool, a few weeks later), and said he’d think about the other. But, sadly, he never humbled himself to ask his wife’s forgiveness. Ultimately, his marriage failed.

Danny, Take Two (and this one is a much happier story!)

Several times Martin has shared that story (which he shared Sunday during his message) about me giving a word to Pastor Dan Atwood and the confirmation Dan took from my comment that helped him recognize that God was calling him to Faith Community Church. Each time Martin shares it, I feel vaguely embarrassed. I recall the incident, but truthfully, I don’t remember exactly what I said to Dan. And this is because, to me, it didn’t seem like a big deal at the time, like it was some sort of “spooky” prophetic event. Instead, it was simply a thought I had, as I prayed for Dan, which I felt compelled to share. But then God somehow used my Bob-like thought process for His own purposes (for which I am deeply grateful!).

I think many times it happens just like this. Jesus urges us to seek the good gift of being filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13). I’ve been challenged to start each day by asking, pleading, “God, I certainly don’t deserve this, and it even scares me a little, but please give me Your Gift today. In accordance with Your promise, please fill me with Your Holy Spirit!” God knows I need this. And my conviction is that it isn’t until we are filled with the Holy Spirit that God can then use us to convey His message to others.

Will we be aware of this? Will the message be easily distinguishable as our words versus God’s words? Not in my experience. But, as Pastor Brian shared, this is once again a matter of trust. And trust is rarely clear or easy. But if we are willing to spend time with God, learn to hear His voice, ask to be filled with His Holy Spirit (daily!), and then share our convictions in accordance with His Word and heart, in faith, I believe we will be used by God—whether we know it or not!

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