The Dirty Wedding Dress

Last October I had the privilege of going back to Oklahoma to marry the daughter of some very close friends. I had told her that if she ever got married, I would agree to do her wedding. I had baptized Crystal when she was about ten years old; so this was another very special occasion in her life in which I got to share. Everything really went well... except I noticed one simple flaw during the ceremony...

During the lighting of the unity candle, the train of Crystal's wedding dress was flipped over on one corner and there, underneath the train was what looked like a child's tennis shoe print. It was at that point I thought to myself during the song... "Wow, that's like the church (bride of Christ)! Why is my focus on that right now amidst all the beauty and ceremony of this sacred event?"  I think that is a most relevant question today in the church.

Why the focus on the dirty wedding dress? I could have paused the ceremony and brought attention to the obvious infraction. I could have made that a point of offense. I could have questioned her privately. I could have gotten onto the bridesmaid (who wasn't wearing tennis shoes...)  I could have refused to serve out my function as the wedding official because there was a 'flaw'. I could have let that one thing ruin my relationship with Crystal, her new husband and his family, her family and friends. There are many things I could choose to do - all focusing on the dirty wedding dress.

The obvious choice in the matter was to look into the faces of this wonderful couple, who love the Lord, love each other and were making a commitment to live out their lives in blissful love... and to share the moments together. For all the footprints, flaws, broken dreams and promises, differing passions, tastes and passions; we have a choice - celebrate the bride of Christ, whom Jesus is the groom of, having given his life for - or denigrate the bride by focusing all of our attention on the perceived flaws, mistakes, misgivings, our hurt feelings, disappointments, unmet expectations...

In a way, I wish I had never seen that faint footprint on the train of Crystal's dress. But you know... that footprint in no way takes away from the glory of that momentous occasion we shared. In a way, I wish there were no stains on the dress of the bride of Christ - but there are. Only my choice is this - to celebrate the momentous celebration of worship of our Savior who has chosen us as His bride to love, to redeem, to have, to hold, to protect, to serve and to provide for... in good times and bad, adversity and prosperity, sickness and health... till death do us unite in His presence - forever.

I invite you today to join me in celebrating the joyous wedding engagement and fast approaching wedding by encouraging one another - especially as we see the day approaching of the groom's return and while we are at it, while the bride doesn't notice - lean down and wipe away that dirty foot print... let's not trample on the bride...

In Christ.

Bad Dog!!!

Maximus Decimas Maridius

  "Bad Dog!!! Shame!!! Guilt!!! Sin!!! Condemnation!!!" Those words are often heard around our house in reference to Maximus (family dog). I say them so much now, that he thinks they are terms of endearment; which causes him to roll over onto his back, wag his tale and wait for me to rub his stomach. But when I add a pointed finger, deepen my voice and change my countenance... he knows the difference. At that he rolls back over onto his feet and heads for the doggie door.
  Now before you start feeling sorry for Maximus - don't!  Do NOT allow that long wet nose, long ears and boyish charm fool you. He has eaten almost everything and anything in sight that he deems worth enough to hear those words come from my mouth - "Bad Dog!!!..." He even ate the cover to a copy of "A Call to Die"... Either he didn't like the book or someone coated it with bacon grease...
  It's all in the finger isn't it? It's those sharp words, pointed finger, angry countenance that melts our hearts and sends us into fight or flight mode.

  I've found that there are three types of what is clinically called BDS (Bad Dog Syndrome) we face each and every day.  There is the Squinted Eye Type where someone projects there own junk on you and you feel the unjust condemnation from them. This causes a tremendous amount of angst and eventually distance in that relationship. This is probably best illustrated in Job's friends accusing statements. Another Type is the Closed Eyes Type where something happens and you find yourself closing your eyes hoping it all ends soon but it doesn't. It's not yours or anyone else's stuff... it's just life coming against you. The problem gets more complicated when we begin looking for a cause and too often our old sinful nature helps us out by accusing us. Throw in an ounce of the Devil and a teaspoon of bad memories and you find yourself heading for the doggie door in search for refuge - alone and hurting.
  The final type is Red-Eye Type which is real. It's where we've done it and begun to face the consequence for our choices. This is where the Holy Spirit allows the Laws written on our hearts to stand in opposition to us and guilt covers us over. We weep, sleeplessness sets in, thoughts swirl, guilt rises until our eyes seep with bloody tears over our sin. It's here where I think God does some of His greatest work in and through us.
  Instead of rolling over to run for the doggie door from His presence, we remain there in that moment  - looking up, seeking His touch of forgiveness. He promises us "For I will not accuse you forever, and I will not always be angry; for the spirit would grow weak before Me, even the breath of man, which I have made." (Isaiah 57:16)
  Regardless of the type of BDS you are suffering from, we serve a Savior who took the world's junk on Himself on the cross. We can rest in that as he gives us that reassuring touch on our hearts. So take your stuff, get rid of your stuff, reject other's stuff projected on you... roll over and let the Lord rub your stomach and listen as He calls you by your name...

In Christ.

Greener Pastures

  I love when someone speaks Scripture over me as a blessing!  Recently, my good friend Kent, blessed me with the 23rd Psalm. At the conclusion of our conversation, I went on a majestic journey which involved, of all things - sheep, hundreds of sheep grazing in a high mountain valley meadow. 

  When I first encountered the sheep I came across the 'shepherds' in their tent asleep and the sheep scattered all across the fields. I thought to myself... "what do these shepherds do anyway, how hard could that be? - on some days I wouldn't mind doing that kind of work..." I drove about two-hundred yards and the thought went through my mind "hey, hold on, that is what I do for a living!"  While I didn't turn around to go back and ask forgiveness for my prideful contempt, I did give that some thought as I drove through these hundreds of sheep grazing. 

  Let's see... those shepherds have to really train and take care of the sheep dogs on guard.  The shepherds inoculate the sheep against disease.  They tolerate and attempt to guide those few 'black sheep' in the flock.  They shoot the wolves with their .357 Rossi Ranch Hand and on some days probably just assume their bullet stray hitting one of the... (no we can't go there). But one of the greatest things they do is to lead their sheep to green pastures for grazing. However, one thing the shepherd cannot do for the sheep is to make it eat. Regardless of its age, sex or wool color... the sheep must eat and drink on its own. The shepherd can only do His part in guiding and protecting the sheep.  The sheep can become sick all on their own by not eating or drinking or allowing itself to unknowingly graze into a dangerous position. That's the dilemma of the shepherd isn't it? Hmmm... so when someone say's "I'm not being fed", hey, that's a personal admission not an indictment on the shepherd, the other sheep, or the owners of the sheep... they own THAT!

  Now, I wish I had gotten out and laid down in that grassy valley because see, even the as a spiritual shepherd over a flock of spiritual sheep (but what seems at times like cats), I myself, more often now days, sense a need for those same green pastures. It's there as I wait, graze, rest and reflect on Christ Jesus my Shepherd... I lose my sense of dread over walking through the valley of the shadow of unanswered email, calls to be made, meetings to plan and attend and deadlines to meet for the weekend services... It's there I find renewal and a cool drink of water from the still waters from the River of Life. As my Shepherd comes close, with hesitation, I lower my head anticipating His loving words in my ear to comfort me... Fear flees, as I walk beside Him down the paths behind Him and at other times beside Him. His loving faithfulness simultaneously guides and follows me all the way home. As my day draws to an end, I rest in His house, forever changed, forever lifted up, forever secure, forever in His Presence. 

  If you have a word for another sheep today, speak it, tell it, email it, text it, voice it... it can make their day and and bring the greatest joy to them in their valley. If you need a word spoken over you, consider the 23rd Psalm... it's a Psalm most read at the graveside but really it's a Psalm for the sheep who are alive...

In Christ!

Pastor Paul