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Foretastes of the Rain

Posted by Michael Breznau on 5:44 pm in Devotionals, Story Time | 0 comments

Yesterday afternoon, as I was talking with Hudson about all the rainy weather we’ve been experiencing, I remembered a little jingle we used to sing as kids, “rain, rain, go away, come again another day…” Hudson enthusiastically bobbed up and down and ran around the house shouting at 110 decibels, “it’s rain’in… Ooo…rain’in!!!” Lately, he’s been turning everything into a song or jumbled rhapsody of joy. Stephanie and I don’t mind at all, that is, unless he scrapes up to the far reaches of 120-130 piercing decibels. Oh yes, he can pull this feat off at any given moment without warning. Yet, we love our little buddy just the same.

The Ruckus about Rain

All this ruckus about rain around our house got me thinking. So often we complain about the rain – especially when three or four days go by without any warm sunshine. Such was becoming the case around the Breznau home. Yet, then I remembered a time not too long ago when rain was a very welcome relief.

This past Saturday we joined some friends for a Tiger’s baseball game against the White Sox. My grandpa, dad, Hudson, and I all clamored up to the bleachers to enjoy the big game. Things were going pretty well until the bottom of the sixth inning, when we noticed some very, very dark clouds roll into view. By the top of the seventh inning, lightening bolts flashed across the Detroit River and the wind began to pick up. So, reluctantly, we began to make our way down from the third deck to the ground-level mezzanine. However, by the time we reached the bottom of the stairs the wind had become so strong that all the dirt, soot, and filth from the streets began to blast everyone right in the face. My grandpa and I (literally) had to hold our hands over our faces to keep the dirt from searing and stinging our eyes.

Unexpected Relief

In the confusion we became separated from Hudson and my dad, who wisely stayed in shelter until the winds let down. The blowing dirt was blinding. Children were crying – I saw one even crash to the pavement. People in wheel chairs crumpled up into the nooks and crannies of the street scape. The scene was awful and unsettling. As we moved with the crowds toward the parking garage, most people were muttering about gaining shelter before the rain hit. But, just then the skies poured down in own swoop. Yet it was not what I expected.

Yes, my Grandpa and I were soaked to the bones. And yes, we were quite cold from the drenching. However, suddenly we could again open our eyes. The dirt, filth, and soot, quietly streamed away into the drains. The streets glistened as the rain power-washed every corner, curb, and car. Detroit was suddenly clean. The blinding dirt that had collected over weeks of drought had vanished from sight. Within seconds, the power of a tremendous rainstorm had done what no street sweeper or prison clean-up crew could do. Everything was washed anew.

The Coming Rain in the Future Reign

Perhaps this is similar to the picture in God’s mind when He spoke these words through Isaiah :

“Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit; let the earth cause them both to sprout; I the LORD have created it.” (Isaiah 45:8)

As the Lord of Creation and Sovereign over the earth, the Son of God will return to establish His physical reign on the earth, namely, the millennial kingdom. When Jesus our Savior returns, righteousness and salvation will finally reign. Everything will be washed anew. This remaking of the earth will effect every corner, curb, and person. Nothing will be left the same. All things will be remade. There will be no more filth or sin in God’s ultimate plan. The will of God and His desire for justice and mercy will be finally and completely followed. This will be a shower of rain like no other and the relief of hope for all of God’s people.

As we look forward to the day when the righteousness and salvation of God will be fully poured out on this earth, let’s be real about living out the righteousness and salvation of God in our daily lives. Does His righteousness affect every part of your being? Does His salvation impact what you do or how you respond to others? Do our lives give people a foretaste of the future kingdom? Let’s purpose today to let the righteousness of Christ be seen in our lives by living out His will revealed in His Word. Then just maybe, the lost, scared, and hurting will be drawn to the hope they see in you and me. And, they too will look for the coming rain.

In Christ Alone,

       Michael Breznau

[This article was originally published on September 8, 2011. In a very sad turn of events, my Grandpa Czarnecki (mentioned above) passed from this life in January, 2012.]

Good Christians, Good Husbands?

Posted by Michael Breznau on 11:21 pm in Book Reviews, Church & Praxis | 2 comments

In our technological, philosophical, intellectual, and global society it is often inferred that we are somehow far wiser and smarter than our forebears. While this may be true to some degree, in many ways such an idea could not be further from the truth. Books on ministry mentoring, marital harmony, and life balancing seem to be more numerous than the sands of the seashore, yet serious problems in these sectors seem to be greater than ever before. Pastors are dropping out of the ministry due to a whole number of dreadful failures, just as many marriages are splintering inside the Church as are without, and balancing life seems like a three-ring circus of cell-phones, video conferencing, and instant messaging.

In all our swirling activity, are we any better off? Are “ministry” marriages coasting along more smoothly? The obvious answer would seem to be, “no.” But, if we have not learned to better manage our family life for the cause of the Gospel here in the twenty-first century, then where is our error?!

In Doreen Moore’s pithy little book on “Leaving a Legacy in Marriage and Ministry” she does not endeavor to identify problems in current trends, but to help us learn from three prominent, historical marriages. In the thought provoking introduction she first outlines several well known missionaries who are held up as heroes of the faith. She handily argues that although C.T. Studd, William Carey, and David Livingstone all had powerful and wide-spread influence for “the cause of Christ,” all three may be recorded as completely delinquent with their familial responsibilities (pg. 9-11). She discerns that although they had an all-consuming passion for the Good News to be spread, they believed that “the cause of Christ” came before any family needs or desires (pg. 12-13). They did not view marriage itself as a ministry, but quite possibly a hindrance. And, as a result their spiritual legacies were subject to an awful blight of irresponsibility.

Upon viewing this shoddy heritage of such men who are so idealized by evangelicalism, Moore puts forth a whole myriad of questions that every minister today should ponder with great deliberation. Her basic thesis for this work is found at the crest of a mounting pile of concerns, on which she writes, “…perhaps the question that encompasses all the others is: what biblical and theological convictions should govern how one views one’s role as a minister of the gospel in relation to one’s role as a husband and father? How a person answers these questions has serious ramifications for both his family and his ministry. These questions are not to be taken lightly ” (pg. 12).

With such a question of great weight placed in the foreground, she then details how the book will attempt to give an answer that is realistic and readily applicable. Unlike some contemporary authors who seek to manufacture a “brand new” idea, Moore chooses to put her thoughtful historical and theological reflections to work. Through the lives and marriages of John and Molly Wesley, George and Elizabeth Whitefield, and Jonathan and Sarah Edwards, the author methodically guides us toward an answer that is God-glorifying and Christ-exalting. As she quickly narrates the lives of Wesley, Whitefield, and Edwards, it becomes very clear to the reader that all three men wholeheartedly believed in the cause of Christ, and in spending and “being spent” for the sake of the Name. Yet as the observer soon finds out, there are vast differences in the harmony (or lack of it) in the homes of these gentlemen and in the legacies left behind through their descendents. At the outset, the task of the book seems daunting, but the purpose of the text is clear – to assist the reader in cultivating a Scriptural position concerning his connection to ministry and the love and care due his wife and family (pg. 17).

Evaluation

After scanning the contents and working through the introduction, I was somewhat skeptical that the author could answer such a significant and historical question as listed above, with such a thin volume of text. However, upon completion I concur that Moore’s analysis was not only sufficient for the thesis, but also quite convincing. She stays on course with her purpose and continually points the reader to utilize the information in one’s personal family life and ministry. As the three figurehead marriages are detailed and lucidly contrasted with each other, it is quite easy to arrive at the same conclusion the author purports.

Her arguments are not entirely exhaustive, but concisely constructed in basic research format. Each of the three narrative chapters are nicely divided into four specific sections that help make the analysis easy to understand. The four areas are as follows: [1.] “Biblical and theological convictions of each of these men regarding their role and responsibilities as ministers of the gospel [2.] The Biblical and theological convictions of each of these men regarding their role and responsibilities as husbands and/or fathers [3.] How their Biblical and theological convictions shaped their actual marriages and/or families [4.] How each wife responded to her husband’s convictions” (pg. 18).

Three Marriages in Focus

Beginning with the rather schismatic and disastrous contract (one can hardly call it a marriage) between John and Molly Wesley, Moore guides the reader through a respectful, yet honest look at the apparent disunity. While Wesley performed great and marvelous things for the Kingdom of God, his marriage was a complete tragedy. Bitterness reigned (especially on the part of his wife) and utter disregard and selfishness seemed to be the earmarks of Wesley’s marital ideas. Overall the author makes wise use of history and accurately interprets the motives and actions of the personalities without undue bias.

While I agree with her premise that Wesley was an irresponsible husband and his wife an embittered, resistant opposite, I find some weakness in one of her arguments. In the section concerning Wesley’s teachings on the role of a husband, Moore gives a beautiful quote of Wesley regarding the need for a husband to love his wife as Christ loves the Church (pg. 24-5). After this quotation, it is accurately noted that such teaching was written near the very end of his life, and two years after the passing of his wife. It is obvious that this Scriptural view was something that had taken many years for Wesley to learn and understand. And, of course we know he sadly failed to live out this ideal during his life. She quotes Wesley even further as painting a “lofty,” but godly picture of what a marriage should look like. All this seems true and without misinterpretation until the very next page (pg. 26-7).

Moore seems to feel she has unveiled a great “disparity between” (pg. 26) Wesley’s teaching and his personal life. I believe this to be untrue. We must not forget that the loving, biblical, marital teachings of this man (as quoted) were written after his complete failure and near the end of his life. It is apparent that Wesley’s priorities were out of balance and in error. But, before attempting to point a finger to indicate hypocrisy, we must render Wesley’s later writings just as honest as his earlier teachings, yet simply from a more mature and experienced position. Fortunately, Moore does not seem to repeat this rather artificial construction of an argument anywhere else in the book.

Good Scriptural correlation is given for balancing her premise, for example on page 31 she writes, “Looking at Wesley’s teaching in the light of Scripture, it is clear that singleness is a gift with great advantages. One’s interests are divided when married, while single men and women are free to pursue ‘undistracted devotion to the Lord’ (1 Cor. 7:35)” (pg. 31) In this, Moore is maintaining her argument for ministry/love in the home and the building of a spiritual legacy, and also rectifying herself with biblical passages on singleness and contentment. This is the wisest approach.

The narrative on John and Molly Wesley is probably the most vivid and exciting chapter to read, but the author also provides wonderful contrasts in each section that relate differences for personal application (pg. 86). Although the Wesley’s “roller coaster” of a marriage is a fun read, Moore’s writings on the Whitefield and the Edwards families are well arranged and help convince the reader of her basic premise. One could organize the three stories in this way: the Wesley’s marriage was one of disunity, bitterness, selfishness, rejection and ultimate disaster. The Whitefield’s marriage was well-founded, mostly harmonious, yet filled with hardships (especially on Elizabeth’s part), and much separation on account of George’s many travels. The Edwards’ marriage is a shining example of spiritual oneness, joyous intimacy, family unity, and a lasting legacy. Although this description is quite simplistic, I believe it accurately outlines the overall thrust of the text.

Her narrative on the life of George Whitefield is quite detailed and provides helpful information for the reader to fully grasp the passion that he had for the Gospel. Personal accounts of his ministry fill the text and bring to light how committed he was to “being spent for the cause of Christ.” His marriage appeared to be one of healthy trust and joy, but sadly Moore took a long time arriving at a description of their relationship. And, once she arrived at her explanation of the marriage it was rather shortly lived, as well as her writings on Elizabeth. The Whitefield’s chapter was not as well organized as the others, but shined with excellent application material which will be brought to light in the section following.

The author’s love and respect for Jonathan and Sarah Edwards comes through in an endearing way that does not overtly detract from the two other stories. And, of course what is not to like about the wonderful Edwards family? I was rather stunned at just how excellent a marriage was described. It may be thought that Moore was slanting the material to favor Jonathan and Sarah, but indeed she was not. Her use of primary and secondary sources in their regard was without bias, and in my opinion, she provided an accurate example of their love.

Doreen Moore’s talent shines in her ability to ask thought-provoking questions. And to my great delight, she answered most of her inquires by the time I reached the last page. At times there was some repetition or weakness in her vocabulary, but the purpose of the book was effectively woven throughout the text. Her historiography was accurate (except for the supposed “disparity” in Wesley’s narrative), and her way of applying the stories to present-day circumstances did not seem inappropriate to me. She was careful to not suppose that upon reading the book the reader would be automatically equipped to live like Edwards and not like Wesley. Instead, Moore exhorts the reader to ponder the lives of these three couples and learn from their example as best as one can with the Power of Christ. Her purpose in application is clear, which makes for a great goal in all circumstances – lives that glorify God, proclaim the power of His Name, and leave a lasting legacy  (cf. pg. 18, 54, 127).

Personal Application Analysis

I have studied the lives of Wesley, Whitefield, and Edwards, but never have I taken such an in-depth look at their views on marriage and the reality of family in their lives. The stories of all three men were truly shocking me to – negatively with Wesley and positively with the others. I could hardly believe that some of the things said of John and Molly were true, but in fact they were! This book gave me a renewed excitement for history itself because it turned mundane facts and dates into a colorful journey. As Moore painted these contrasting personalities on the canvass of this book I found myself unable to stop reading. The lives of these men and women are put forth in such a way that history seemed to be alive again – a noble feat for any author. Perhaps history should not be so alive that we attempt to approximate our lives in accordance with its dusty pages; but what greater way to learn history than through a well told story?

This book not only helped me delineate the differences between these three men and their wives, but also challenged me to look at my own lifestyle of ministry. As ministers of the Gospel in the twenty-first century we are hard-pressed on every side to perform. Pastors seem more like project managers and teachers similar to entertainers. If a minister is not multi-tasking with his smartphone, blogging for his flock, and putting out continuous fires through e-mail, then many seem to think he is not meeting his “quota” for the pastorate. There is much to be said about giving one’s all for the sake of the Gospel, yet there seems to be something lacking in many “ministry” homes today. Out of the three examples in this book, only one home truly exuded the encompassing trait I speak of – harmonious peace.

The Edwards family serves as the best exemplar for us in our busy and “must do” society. Certainly Jonathan and Sarah were tremendously busy. They had eleven children and held a prominent place in the community in which they lived (pg. 97-8). Jonathan would often spend thirteen hours a day in his study and one can most assuredly guess the workload of a mother of eleven (pg. 101-2). Yet through all of these tasks and many others, there remained a sense of melody and peace within their home (pg. 102-4). Why did the Edwards’ home enjoy such blessing? I believe it is because they firmly believed that the home in and of itself was a ministry field through which the cause of the Gospel could go forth for years to come (pg. 114-16). The result of this theological motivation is staggering and the amazing heritage left behind from their investment is astounding (pg. 97-8).

When I looked at the effect such an idea had on this family, it was easy to conclude that I would want the same result in my home. What a great idea to treat the family unit like a “little church!” (pg. 121-22) But, can we really look to this example and try to judge our own actions based on their outcomes to achieve a desired result? Unfortunately, the answer is most likely a negative one. The wonderful marriage of the Edwards family was just that – the Edwards family. We cannot expect in emulating another family to be rewarded with the same results. This would only send us spiraling down an exasperating tunnel of comparison and approximation. This use of history would be sadly inaccurate and frustrating for anyone (especially children) brought under such an unrealistic regime.

The more appropriate way of applying the thoughtful lessons of these stories to our post-modern lives is to strike on the chord of theological motivation that under-girded their individual actions. Instead of trying to measure ourselves against their accomplishments, we should open our hearts to receive and understand the Truth they followed and hence applied. It may not be true that we are more “busy” than they were, but it is true that the same principles the Edwards family used in raising their children and loving one another still works today! We can only rest our hopes on the Scriptural principles gleaned from these men and women and be fair warned about rejecting them.

Doreen Moore derives thirteen principles from her chosen narratives that are thoughtful, Scripture based, and appropriately understood. These sound points to consider bring together the many questions she raised throughout the book and adequately provide answers and motivation to apply the lesson to the reader’s life and ministry. I found the concluding chapter of “Good Christians, Good Husbands” to be a wonderful capstone to the compilation, and challenging to my personal actions. I am not only serving in full-time ministry, but also building a family with my amazing wife, Stephanie. The super-energetic four-year-old (nicknamed Hurricane Hudson) requires lots of patient pastoring, and our cuddly, ever-smiling year-and-a-half old daughter, Everlynn, needs to know that her Papa loves her more than even the “most important” outside pastoral work. At this important juncture in my life, I find this book to be superbly thought-provoking and a guide to finding biblical balance between family and ministry.

Yes, we are to give our all for the sake of the Name and the spreading of the Good News. And, this book has proved to me that one of the most powerful ways to make an eternal impact for Christ is to sincerely invest in ministry to my family. If more men and women could grasp a hold of this concept, who knows what could be accomplished! Therefore, you and I must focus our attention on the reason we have our being – to live for the glory of God in all things, that His power and love would be abundantly known in and through our lives. May we walk in His peace and may our lives preach.

God’s Tears and the Tornado

Posted by Michael Breznau on 3:45 pm in Devotionals, Mission | 0 comments

We’re not afraid of the Day after Tomorrow. No, we are torn and tear-stained because it is the day after yesterday. Why did life have to rip apart… yesterday? The singular event engulfing thousands of minds today is what happened yesterday.

Today, hundreds of moms and dads, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, and grandmas and grandpas are attempting to piece the puzzle of life together amid tear-stained eyes and aching hearts.

And the burgeoning question always rises to the surface: Where was God in Moore, Oklahoma when this massive 1-mile-wide tornado ripped through neighborhoods and flattened two elementary schools, leaving more than 51 men, women, and children dead, and countless others injured? The death and injury toll continues to rise with every new report.

Give Us An Answer.

Some fear-laced religious pundits have rabidly pronounced that such incidents are surely the judgment of God upon particular towns or specifically on America because we have turned our back on Him and have openly condoned abortion, homosexuality, the encroachment of Islam, the use of foreign oil, or any other hot-topic issue of the month.

Running in a similar vein-of-thinking, others have declared that tornado victims might have avoided tragedies such as these if they had prayed more and been wiser about the placement of their homes.

Others have tried to graciously explain the important theological framework for suffering, tragedy, and death, in the hopes that some might be comforted and perhaps drawn to Christ by receiving a well-reasoned argument for the problem of pain and evil in this world. Pastor Sam Storms from Oklahoma City, OK, offered the best piece I could find in his article “Tornadoes, Tsunamis, and the Mystery of Suffering and Sovereignty”

No. Show Us Jesus.  

And yet we find this One… Jesus. He handles tragedy, suffering, and need in a way not ever before seen on earth.

Jesus, the God-man, did not heal every single person and right every wrong in the entire world when He walked the pathways of Judea. Yet he did heal every person that came to him with physical need – hundreds upon hundreds – even thousands upon thousands (see Matthew 9:35-36; 12:8-21; 14:14-21).

When people suffered, grieved, and cried out in pain…

            Jesus was moved with sorrow and wept with love (John 11:33-35).

When thousands of people were hungry and needy…

            Jesus looked upon the multitudes with compassion and fed them (Matthew 14:14-21).

When people showed up with bodies wracked with illness, disease, and injury…

            Jesus touched them and healed them all. (Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 3:1-12; Mark 8:22-26; 9:14-29).

When people were filled with fear and uncertainty…

            Jesus was filled with compassion and shared His message of hope – the Gospel of the Kingdom (Matthew 9:35-36). 

Jesus raised the dead, touched and healed the lepers, the blind, and the outcast, and proclaimed Himself to be the New and Living Way. In all of this, Jesus came to glorify God the Father – to make Him known, to put Him on display (John 1:14-18).

If you want to know the full picture of what God is like, then look at Jesus Christ. The Old Testament picture of God was true and accurate, but dramatically incomplete. Enter Jesus:

“For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time; The only One, himself God, who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God known.” (John 1:16-18)

Jesus came to reveal the Father and make known to everyone what God was really all about: Law and Grace, Truth and Mercy, Judgment and Hope.

And He sent his followers out on the same mission of living, showing, and proclaiming the new and living way of God’s reign now and to declare that Jesus Christ will one day come to re-create perfect order out of the perfect storm.

Show the Hope

As Jesus-followers, we are called by Christ on the same mission: to show and proclaim the reign of God now through our lives and, in this way, share the hope of what is not yet but is to be when Jesus comes to re-make, renew, and restore His creation. A new Eden will be our home with Christ on the throne (see Revelation 21:1-5; 22-1-5).

Here in the middle tension of the somewhere between, our mission is NOT to pontificate about whether specific natural disasters are judgment for particular sins. The reality is every single person on earth is born under the judgment of God because of the mess of sin inbred into every human being (Romans 5:12-14). Adam’s sin made this world a fallen, imperfect, and pain-ridden place. Sin wrecks our lives, distorts our desires, and ruins our relationships – most importantly with the God who made us. Only by His common grace does the rain fall on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45) and only by His mercy has He offered us a rescue plan in His Son, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:15-17).

Our lives and words and actions are not to display the judgment of God (because that is God’s job when Jesus Christ returns – see Act 17:30-31), but to share the grace and truth revealed in Jesus Christ and to show the world our hope. Because of God’s saving grace upon our lives through Christ, the apostle Paul frames this implication: “…weep with those who weep.” (Romans 12:15b)

Jesus did not fix every problem and ease every suffering. Yet He did give thousands of people foretastes of what was to come and He commissioned His Church to continue the same mission.

In the wake of the day after yesterday… Jesus-followers give people foretastes of God’s coming reign through sharing the message and mercy of Jesus Christ. And while we look on with sadness through the corridors of our comfortable-ness, Jesus is calling us to reach out with His hopefulness and offer His presence to those living in desperation. Jesus is sending us into the world to be Jesus to the world. Let’s show them His hope…

REACH the hurting by praying NOW and by getting involved HERE with Samaritan’s Purse International Relief.

Last Words

Posted by Michael Breznau on 7:01 pm in Podcast, Sermons | 0 comments

I will never forget the last moment of communication I had with my Grandma, Betty Czarnecki, as she lay on her deathbed. I had just finished singing, “It is Well with My Soul” at her bedside, and she looked up at me with those sparkling eyes, and although she was unable to speak she gently squeezed my hand two times, as if to say, “Thank you, I love you…and I know it is well with my soul.” And it was finally well with her soul, because just before her final stroke she had placed her trust in Jesus Christ as her personal Savior.

Perhaps you recall the final words or last wishes of your grandfather, grandma, mother, father, or uncle. And just like my moment with my Grandma, those last words or moments have been forever emblazoned on your mind and in your heart. They sometimes randomly come to mind just when you need them most – that word to “be strong” to “live for what really matters” or to “take time to love.”

I still remember…My great-grandpa Feldbusch praying over me with his big “farmer’s hands” on my head. I remember as this godly, Christ-loving man neared the end of his long life, my Aunt Sharon gave him a tape recorder so he could share his story and godly wisdom with the next generation…

In that moment when everyone knows the end is drawing near, the family gathers close to their loved one and patiently waits and listens for the last words of wisdom from the one who loves them. You know the end is coming, and you don’t want to miss one single moment, for fear you might miss those last words of wisdom and love.

FLASHBACK: In many ways, this is the setting of the apostle Paul’s second letter to Timothy. Near the close of this letter he confides in Timothy, “For I am already being poured out as an offering, and the time for me to depart is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith!” (2 Tim 4:6-7) Paul realizes that he doesn’t have much time left – winter is coming and he’s already feeling the chill in his bones (which is what happens when you get old). This could be why he deeply urges Timothy two times to come see him, “Make every effort to come before winter” (4:9, 21) and he also asks Timothy to, “bring the coat which [he] left at Troas with Carpus…” (4:13). Winter is coming. Paul is seriously feeling the affects of aging and the many dangerous years he’s spent on God’s mission. And the Roman persecution under Nero is escalating. He is cold, imprisoned in a dungeon – not under house arrest as he was earlier, and most of all he is cut-off from those he loves. So he pens these words to the young man he adopted as his spiritual son… Timothy.

Seeing the End

When Timothy received this letter, I’m sure he had the sinking feeling of what was coming. Tears probably streamed down his face as he heard Paul’s voice echo from the pages of the letter and especially over the words, “…the time for me to depart is at hand.” These last words from the heart of Paul to Timothy undoubtedly became emblazoned on Timothy’s heart and mind for the rest of his life. You see, Timothy was an uncircumcised half-breed from Lystra; with a Jewish mother and a Greek father (Acts 16:1) he was a societal outcast, the object of ridicule by the Jews and the punch line of jokes by the Greeks and Romans. To the young boy Timothy, he was “a nobody” with no real future and no hope.

But then this guy named Paul stepped into the city of Lystra on his first missionary journey; and everything changed. Paul walks into Lystra and heals a man that’s been unable to walk all his life (lame; Acts 14:9-10), and in crazy fashion the townspeople start worshiping Paul and Barnabas as Hermes and Zeus!

As soon as Paul and Barnabas figure out what’s going on, they immediately start preaching the Gospel and condemning the pagan religions of the people – but the people kept right on with their fanatical worship. Then some Jews show up from the neighboring cities, convince the townspeople that Paul and Barnabas are imposters and have them hauled out of the city, and they proceed to throw rocks at Paul with such force that they assume he is dead; stoned to death. Wow. What a great start to reaching an unreached people group – so we would think.

Well, apparently Paul thought so, because he got up and went right back into the city and continued making disciples. A couple chapters later during Paul’s second missionary journey, Timothy enters the scene. Timothy had been taught the Old Testament scriptures from his faith-filled mother and grandmother, and he apparently connected with those Paul led to Christ on his first visit to Lystra. Upon Paul’s second visit to Lystra, he hears about how Timothy is gaining a reputation as a follower of Christ and so this great apostle Paul asks the young man to join him as a missionary (Acts 16:1-5). Paul trains and equips Timothy and becomes like a spiritual father to this young man, maybe the father he never really had… later Paul would leave Timothy in charge of the growing church in Ephesus to provide leadership to the congregation. And this is where we find Timothy, with tears of happiness but also tears of sadness, as he reads this second letter from the apostle Paul.

So let’s focus our attention on this letter penned by Paul and inspired by the Spirit – and imagine that you’re Timothy or part of the congregation in Ephesus, and your hearing perhaps the last words you think you will ever see penned by the man who has love and trained and guided you like a father… tradition holds that not long afterward, Paul was beheaded by the Roman empire.

Q: What were Paul’s LAST WORDS and how should we hinge our lives around them?

Central Concept: God’s servants on His mission are strengthened by the Gospel and guarded against sin and false teaching through fidelity to the Word of God – in living, leading, and preaching.

Listen to the full audio message entitled “Last Words: Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy” (Part of the Flyover Series) by simply clicking on the play button below or by subscribing to our iTunes podcast. This message was originally delivered at Evangel Baptist Church on Sunday PM, January 20, 2013.

Carrot Christianity

Posted by Michael Breznau on 3:43 pm in Devotionals, Morality & Ethics, Theology | 4 comments

Does behavior “A” always result in “B” – every time? Is Christianity just a cause and effect cycle? Does God keep the carrot of heaven’s hope or hell’s punishment out in front of our noses so that we behave properly? Does God say, “If you behave correctly, you’ll be safe and get what you want! So you better be a nice person, give money to the church, and not have sex before marriage!” Or is there something more?

To be honest, a lot of preaching in today’s culture resembles a man dangling a carrot in front of a donkey’s nose – “Just keep going – the carrot is your cause!” I hear many people say, “You want a nice life, with 2.1 kids, a boat in the dock, and a second home in the mountains? Okay, just keep looking at that carrot! Make the carrot your inspiration for being nice to your wife, loving your kids, working hard, staying away from alcohol and porn, etc…” 

For teenagers, the “carrot” may sound like: “Okay, you want a nice life free from STDs? Well, then you better stay away from anything close to a physical relationship with a person of the opposite sex.” Or even closer to home, “You want your parents and God to be happy with you and love you? Well, then you better behave!”

It is so easy to start thinking that God operates through a mathematical equation that looks a lot more like Santa Claus than Jesus Christ. If you’ve been naughty, well, you can’t expect much. Perhaps you’ll just get a lump of coal. But if you’ve been nice, oh boy, it’s going to be a good Christmas.

Cause & Effect Crash

But here’s the deal: We cannot beat the cycle and we cannot win the equation. The people of Israel and all the great saints of old could never fully meet the demands of God’s perfect Law. So the renowned cause and effect sequences of Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 26 (the blessings and curses) always crashed upon Israel’s head. They knew their sin was sin because of the Law, but they were still bound under the curse of sin itself.

The great first-century religious zealot named Saul (later named Paul) was born and bred to meticulously follow the Law. He was a Pharisee of Pharisees, born from the respectable tribe of Benjamin (cf. Philippians 3:4-6). He memorized and followed every jot and tittle of the Law, yet even he failed the Law (Romans 7:7-11), because sin is ultimately a matter of the heart.

We are not better than they were. If great saints like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Peter, and Paul could not keep up the cause and effect cycle of the Law, then we won’t be able to either. So just like them, we need grace – full and free. I’m not a better man and neither are you. I’m certainly glad Jesus does not operate like Santa Claus or a donkey driver.

God. Not Carrots.

We can make the carrot of what we can get from God our cause… and we miss the whole point. We miss God. In all our desire to meet the needs of messed up people and motivate them toward behavioral change we have fed them a gospel that misses the entire point. The great end – the ultimate goal – of the Gospel in Christ is not that we escape hell, live a prosperous life, and strut around in heaven with as many as seven crowns propped on our heads. No. The great end of the Gospel of Christ is that we are brought to God.

The apostle Peter shouted out these triumphant words, “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit…” (1 Peter 3:18; italics added for emphasis)

We get God! Jesus brought an end to following the “carrot” or some vicious cause and effect cycle of endless religiosity. Through Christ’s death and resurrection we are brought into a relationship with God, a communion – even a friendship – that changes everything, because He is everything that we need and long for.

So instead of gazing at the carrot of a nice American life, or the carrot of fire insurance from hell, or the carrot of half a dozen crowns propped on your head in heaven, instead look at Jesus… everyday. Set your gaze upon His ineffable beauty and grace. Because He is all we need. He is all we hope for. He is our inspiration, our motivation, and power. He alone is enough.

Because Jesus was strong for me, I am free to be weak;
Because Jesus won for me, I am free to lose;
Because Jesus was someone, I am free to be no one;
Because Jesus was extraordinary, I am free to be ordinary;
Because Jesus succeeded for me, I am free to fail. – Pastor Tullian Tchividjian

Response to Questions:

Q: What about people who use grace as a crutch or “get out of jail free” card to sin?

A: Here’s the crux of the issue as I see it: If a person thinks grace is a license for them to keep on doing whatever they please then they probably don’t really understand or know God’s grace in the first place. Why? Because people in Jesus Christ have been re-made; they are a new creation with new desires, a new hope, and new life. We, as justified believers, are no longer under the law, but under the grace and truth offered through Jesus Christ (cf. John 1:14-18; Romans 6).

This amazing grace is something that is not contingent upon our actions, works, good behavior, or efforts – and this goes for justification (the point in time when we are made righteous in God’s sight through placing our faith in Christ), as well as sanctification (the process of becoming more like Jesus Christ). We don’t get more of God’s love and grace in increments based on our behavior (as Roman Catholics believe). God’s love and grace is absolutely and completely received in Jesus Christ. This is key. This turns the process of becoming more like Jesus into a love-relationship, instead of a cause and effect chart or merit badge system.

Q: Doesn’t God’s Word say to repent and repent often, to turn away from our sin, and we are promised treasure in heaven for our faithfulness and our actions as Christians?

A: Yes, God’s Word does teach that we are to confess our sins and live a repentant lifestyle; in fact, repentance is a gift of God’s saving grace (see 1 John 1:5-10; Acts 17:30, 26:20; 2 Cor. 7:10; Hebrew 6:1). And yes, there is treasure in heaven awaiting the righteous (Matthew 6:20), but if you look carefully at the passages on eternal rewards they are still ultimately because of God’s grace (unearned and unmerited kindness towards us) and a result of Christ’s faithfulness and our union with Him. We are adopted, chosen heirs of God’s kingdom who have been (past tense/passive) “blessed… with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3) Every blessing is given to us not because of what we have done but because of what Christ has done for us. This is the glory of the Gospel.

Ultimately, the question we should be asking ourselves is this: Who or what is our hope? If it’s anything other than God Himself, then we know we have our eyes off the real prize. This is what Peter was getting at in 1 Peter 3:18 – the real hope or even “carrot” per se, is God alone, not what we think we can get or earn from Him but Him alone. This is the heart of the Gospel. “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that [this is the key purpose of Christ’s work] He might bring us to God…” (1 Peter 3:18)

Q: What does Pastor Tullian Tchividjian mean when he says, “Because Jesus succeeded for me, I am free to fail?

A: I fully endorse what Tchividjian is saying. Here’s why: when he says, “Because Jesus succeeded for me, I am free to fail” he does not me “I am free to sin.” What this does mean (within the context of his book “Jesus + Nothing = Everything,” and “Glorious Ruin: How Suffering Sets Us Free”) is that we are free in Jesus Christ to actually abide joyfully in His grace. In other words, I might plan a major church event, and for reasons that I could not foresee, the whole point of the event goes awry. I can freely say, “Yes, I failed on that one… but my identity, joy, and peace is not found in what I do or what I know (or what people might say of me) but in WHO I know and WHO I belong to: Jesus.”

What he is ultimately driving at is not a license for antinomian living, but a life that is complete satisfied and identified in Jesus. Therefore, we can “fail” and humbly say we are not perfect, yet in turn, persistently look at Jesus in whom we are free and through whom we are actually changed more into His likeness by the power of the Spirit.

Just as a side note, Tchividjian is Billy Graham’s conservative Presbyterian grandson who took Dr. D. James Kennedy’s role as pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, FL. He assumed his current role when the church he planted merged with Coral Ridge – and he quickly realized how imperfect he was and how perfect Jesus was, and how much he needed to rest in the grace of Christ. That story is the seedbed for the two books above (and the quote).

Losing My Voice

Posted by Stephanie Breznau on 10:05 pm in Devotionals, Marriage & Family | 0 comments

by Stephanie Anna Breznau…

What would you do if you totally lost your voice? What if you could no longer sing, or even worse, no longer talk? To a singer, your voice is as dear as a pianist’s fingers or a soccer player’s legs. It’s part of our identity. What if those limbs and gifts were taken away in the blink of an eye?

In January of this year, I contracted the flu and became very sick. After the second week of being ill I transitioned toward recovery, however, I noticed my speaking voice was rough and my singing voice was essentially non-existent. Immediately I thought to myself how horrible it would be to lose my voice, yet continued to go about my day (our energetic 4-year-old son and 1-year-old daughter keep me hopping like a jack-rabbit).

Yet after a couple more weeks, I tried to sing and I couldn’t scratch out anything above a C-prime, and what did come out was more a croak than a pleasant note. I admit that I started to get very concerned.

Unexpected Answers…

However, true fear really crept in when, in February, I contracted bronchitis and became severely sick yet again. I optimistically thought the illness would go away and my voice would return. I became well at the end of February… but my voice did not bounce back.

This was not the answer I was expecting from God. I couldn’t understand why He would give me this gift and then take it away, possibly forever. As one who has sung since I was able to talk, and who has had the best vocal teachers possible, my voice is as dear to me as my hand or foot. My voice is a part of who I am – a gift given to me by Jesus. Surely He knew my heart, right?

Then I started thinking about why I was so upset. I realized I had rooted part of my identity in my ability to sing. To be honest, my ability to sing became my idol. It had become essential for living. Obviously there is nothing wrong with singing, especially for God; However, I was more than just a singer. I was a daughter of the King. I was a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, granddaughter, daughter-in-law, etc. I was Stephanie. The most important thing is that I was who He made me to be and I needed to be ok if my voice was taken away. He gave me the gift in the first place, but was I appreciating it as I should?

Learning by Losing

I will never forget the moment that I knelt by our couch in the den and asked God to help me accept who I was in Him and to make me content in who He wanted me to be. And then I choked out the toughest words… that I would love and serve Him whether I could or could not sing at all, and either way, I would also use my voice to tell more people about Him.

Stephanie with Kristyn Getty: Gospel Coalition 2013

I’d love to say that I stood up and sang “Rejoice Greatly,” but it has been a healing process that I am taking a day at a time. My voice is slowly returning, but I am definitely not taking it for granted anymore. I have always strived to use my talent for Him, but even more than that, I now want to do much more. I want to let the world know that not only am I singing for Him, I want Him to sing through me. My voice is His. And I’m so glad I am His. He alone is enough.

“This is my story, this is my song. Praising my Savior all the day long…”

Blessings, 

     Stephanie

Death at Church

Posted by Michael Breznau on 6:36 pm in Devotionals, Mission, Theology | 4 comments

The beautiful sunshine of spring was gently cascading across the landscape as our little son, Hudson, and I drove across town to worship Christ with the Evangel church family at this year’s Good Friday service. We sang cheerily as we turned northward onto Telegraph road, just a couple miles south of our church campus.

Suddenly the ominous, startling sound of an ambulance rang through our eardrums. Hudson fearfully grasped for my hand as a large EMS vehicle raced past us at breakneck speed. I wondered what we might find up ahead, but I never imagined the scene would be so shocking…

Across the horizon I could see the large intersection where our church’s building covers the northwest corner – it was plastered with flashing lights, police cars, fire trucks, and other emergency vehicles. As we drew closer to the dramatic wreckage, we saw dozens of onlookers crowded around, some of them even standing on our church’s front lawn. Three cars were smashed across the major thoroughfare. One of the vehicles had apparently flipped onto its side and exploded into flames. The blackened, charred remains lay in a heap directly in the shadow of our church’s gigantic cross.

Yet then another scene immediately grabbed my attention. Just beyond the accident was a stream of cars squeezing their way through the congested traffic and into Evangel’s parking lot for our Good Friday service. We joined the stream, rolled into the lot, and quietly walked into church – all the while our necks craned over to the accident and toward the hurting, tear-filled onlookers. Hudson quietly piped up, “Papa, we need to pray for the people…they are hurting!” “Yes, Hudson,” I said, “We need to pray…”

A hushed buzz about the accident echoed around the foyer before we entered the sanctuary – some wondering about survivors, others were inquiring about whether or not someone in our membership was part of the accident. Hudson and I held hands as we sat down in the quiet pew that afternoon. The terrible scene, located just a hundred feet from where we now sat, had marked us both. I just couldn’t seem to shake the shocking image of that blackened, charred car – on its side – right under the shadow of our building.

Here we were… all together. All the Evangel family had streamed into our safe and dramatically spacious church campus to reflect on Christ’s death at one o’clock on March 29, 2013. All of us were unharmed and certainly well-meaning in our affections for Christ, and in our desire to gather for worship. This year’s Good Friday service was particularly beautiful. Our music pastor sang a duet with his dear wife, Debbie, who has undergone the difficult travail of breast cancer and chemotherapy over the last 12-18 months. Our senior pastor preached a poignant, Christ-centered message about the meaning and purpose of the Cross.

And yet, I couldn’t shake away the image of the accident splayed out under the shadow of our cross.

Under the Shadow 

People are hurting, crying, and dying a dozen deaths all around us…every single day. Each night, as you and I lay down in peaceful rest, hundreds of people filled with hopelessness choose to end their lives in utter despair. Every hour of every day, men, women, and children die from car accidents, physical injury, or a terminal disease. Men and women made in the image of God are silently heading for an eternity separated from God and all the love that He offers in His Son Jesus Christ.

And we simply and silently go about our lives; perhaps faithful in our personal worship yet incredibly apathetic in our public witness. All-too-often I find myself ignoring and forgetting about the reality of an eternity without God in Christ. Yet this is the state of the entire world apart from the Gospel message being heard and received by faith!

But so often we’d rather gather safely together rather than go out on the rescue mission of God to bring people to the message and mercy of Christ. Just like the dozens of emergency medical workers rushed to the scene of the accident, so you and I are called to run toward people headed for destruction and eternal death with the hope, mercy, and life of Christ.

Now please don’t misunderstand me here. There’s nothing wrong with gathering for corporate worship; in fact, we are called to do just that. However, Jesus never continually dwelt in a safe haven with the chosen Twelve or in the confines of a comfortable synagogue. He lived and ministered and preached among the hurting, crying, and dying. If to be a Christian is to be a Christ-follower, then we are called to follow the same path Jesus trod.

Jesus was the Light of the World who met with a Jewish ruler named Nicodemus and talked with him late into the dark of night (John 3:1-21). Jesus was the Living Water who broke huge cultural and societal barriers by speaking to a woman from Samaria by Jacob’s well (John 4:7-42). Jesus was the Bread of Life who fed thousands of hungry men, women, and children who had gathered to hear the Gospel of the kingdom and be healed (John 6:1-14). Jesus touched the diseased, injured, and broken (e.g. John 4:46-5:17), and we are called by our Messiah to follow the same path, empowered by the Spirit.

Just as the Father sent the Son into the world to make Him known – to glorify the Father – so you and I are called to the same mission. Jesus instructed His disciples this way, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21b). The sending God sent the Son and now sends us on His mission to display the grace and truth of His Gospel by making Him known in the world.

I will never forget the words of one radical missionary from the late 18th and early 19th centuries, “Some wish to live within the sound of a chapel bell; I wish to run a rescue mission within a yard of hell.” – C.T. Studd

Sometimes the hurting, crying, and dying are even crowded around us or even dying right in front of us – under the shadow of our stained-glass windows. Let’s join in God’s mission in the power of the Spirit with the message of His Gospel for His awesome glory. We might just be surprised where He takes us… It might be as simple as your front yard.

Reality Check.

Posted by Michael Breznau on 11:37 pm in Devotionals, Mission, Sermons | 2 comments

Sometimes we need a good reality check. The rich culture we live in (yes, we are filthy rich in comparison to 90% of the world) is constantly promulgating the idea that the apex of life is achieving a state of financial independence so that one can enjoy constant ease and recreation.

Is there something wrong with ease and recreation? No, certainly there is place for balanced ease and recreation in the life of a Christ-follower. However, if we focus our mind’s attention and heart’s affection on getting to a place of capitalistic nirvana, we will slowly let our guard down and begin to choose what is expedient for ourselves rather than what is effectual for the mission of God.

Exposing ourselves to this popular ideology and accommodating to the mission of mankind can reap tragic results. Why? Because we forget we live in the middle of a warzone where the casualties far outnumber the survivors. When we let our guard down we begin to forget we have been called to live against the grain of the world system that is opposed to the truth and grace of Jesus Christ.

All-too-often it is so easy to forget about the stark living conditions that Jesus outlined for His followers. I don’t know about you, but I can get caught up in the jazz and pizazz of our glitzy culture. Yet Jesus painted a radically different picture of life for those who walked down His dusty path. As He instructed His disciples before sending them out to declare the Gospel of the kingdom during His earthly ministry, Jesus offered this portrait of reality:

“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles…” (Matthew 10:16-18) 

To be honest, I would like to believe we do not have it so difficult. I would like to think Midwestern America is the bastion of genuine Christian faith and that we are surrounded mostly by well-meaning sheep, rather than a pack of hungry wolves. But this is not reality. At all. We live in a world no less opposed to Christ and His message.

Proofs of Reality

InterVarsity Removals

Earlier this year, the Asian chapter of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship was reportedly denied officially recognition by the University of Michigan, because InterVarsity requires that leaders of the group adhere to its doctrinal statement. Fortunately, U of M later reversed their decision. However, numerous other schools have chosen to “de-recognize” this broad, evangelical ministry, without reversal. Vanderbilt University, Rutgers, Tufts University, State University of New York at Buffulo, and Rollins College have all argued that InterVarsity should be removed from their official role of student fellowships simply because InterVarsity requires that their leaders adhere to the essential doctrines of Christianity. This, in effect, they claim, violates their anti-discrimination policy.

Chik-fil-A Gets the Boot

The latest news, this week, comes from Emory University, which has chosen to remove Chik-fil-A from their campus restaurant venue due to Dan Cathy’s (Chik-fil-A’s president) public position against same-sex marriage. Despite the gracious and Christ-like tone of Cathy’s comments about his position as a Christian, Emory’s Dean of Campus Life, Ajay Nair stated, “Chik-fil-A has become a symbol of exclusion for some community members… Emory University has a long history of creating access, inclusion, and equity for Emory’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Public positions by Dan Cathy, President of Chik-fil-A, do not reflect these values of access, inclusions, and equity.” 

Stomping on Jesus

Just this past Thursday, a report emerged from Florida Atlantic University that a student was suspended from school after refusing to “stomp on the name of Jesus.” This sounds rather ridiculous doesn’t it? Hard to believe? Yeah, that is what I thought too, that is, until I read the article by Todd Starnes at Fox News.

Here’s an outline of the course lesson: “Have the students write the name JESUS in big letters on a piece of paper… Ask the students to stand up and put the paper on the floor in front of them with the name facing up. Ask the students to think about it for a moment. After a brief period of silence instruct them to step on the paper. Most will hesitate. Ask why they can’t step on the paper. Discuss the importance of symbols in culture.”

After FAU student, Ryan Rotella, brought his concerns about the assignment to his teacher’s supervisor, he was promptly suspended. As shocking as it might seem, the school has not rescinded their decision.

Rob Bell’s New Marriage (version)

To make matters even worse, one who formerly served as a pastor and author within evangelical Christianity has now publicly affirmed same-sex “marriage” as acceptable and compatible with his belief system. Rob Bell, former pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, MI, made this pronouncement at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, CA: “Yes, I am for marriage. I am for fidelity. I am for love, whether it’s a man and woman, a woman and a woman, a man and a man….I think this is the world we are living in and we need to affirm people wherever they are.”

Living in Love 

Now the point of all this sad and tragic news about how the post-Christian culture of America responds to our faith is not meant to send you out in a fitful rage of alarm or conspiracy theorist sensationalism. I do not wish to be a gloomy doomsayer or create little lemming-like doomsayers.

I am also not calling for us to huddle together in isolated flocks of “pure” white sheep, in an attempt to keep away from the danger of wolves. This sort of action would miss Christ’s point entirely. He sent out His followers to live out His mission among people who were opposed to Him and His message. If we run off into the Yukon wilderness to escape the dangers of the mission field (i.e. the entire world), we will fail on God’s mission and eventually find the same stinking stench of sin in our own lives and in the lives of our offspring.

Furthermore, I am not calling for us to form picket lines for political revolution to force wolves to start acting like sheep. Most of us have been there and done that. I, for one, am ashamed of my ignorance and belligerence in treating people outside of God’s love like a political project for personal gain.

However, what you and I do need is a constant reminder that opposition is a reality for everyone who follows Jesus Christ. Rejection should be our expectation. Temptation will be a constant lure. Don’t forget the stark reality of our living conditions as followers of the One who was opposed, rejected, abused, and killed by the people He had created. Jesus went on to say, “A disciples is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master” (Matthew 10:24). If they rejected and bitterly fought against Christ, then we should expect no less for us.

But Jesus loved them. Every single one. He offered His life for people who wanted to see Him die. When they sneered at Him with looks of hate and blasphemy, He loved them. When they spit on his face, He loved them. When they ripped muscle tissue right off His bones, He still loved them. He never returned their curses, hate, spit, or violence. He won through love… even through the love of the Cross.

Christ’s mission calls us to the same love. Don’t run away. Don’t hide. Don’t gather a little following of fear-filled frenetic friends. And certainly don’t fight back by picking up the stones they are throwing at you and, in turn, chucking them at the crowds of people who don’t know God’s love. Win them through the love of God in Jesus Christ.

Do a reality check. Our expectations are often so skewed and the pressure to give into the drive for capitalistic nirvana is so strong. But you and I have been sent out by Jesus to live among people who are more likely to reject us than listen to us. Yet we are to love them anyway… just like Jesus, the One who chose us and loved us in the middle of our mess and offered us hope and life in His name.

Listen to the full audio message entitled “Reality Check” (Matthew 10:16-33) by simply clicking on the play button below or by subscribing to our iTunes podcast. This message was originally delivered at Evangel Baptist Church on Sunday evening, May 19th, 2013, for our annual High School Grad Night service.

Steve Jobs vs. Jesus

Posted by Michael Breznau on 11:55 pm in Devotionals, Mission | 0 comments

For many years I struggled through the world of prehistoric personal computers – my dad even liked to keep a couple ancient Commodore and TI 386 computer models around the basement for solid doorstops. But then a whole new window of opportunity opened, or so we thought: Microsoft Windows 3.1. Probably everyone born after 1983 doesn’t even remember the simplistic beauty of this revolutionary operating system. Soon came Windows 95, 98, and on the story goes into contemporary history and into Bill Gates’ bulging wallet.

Yet amid my tinkering with numerous Windows-based machines I found that frustration and angst were more common emotional results, rather than ease, delight, and satisfaction. My observation of classmates, relatives, and co-workers who adored their Apple products was first accompanied by looks of doubt and bewilderment – who would want to pay $1200 for a Macbook when you can get a perfectly good Windows-based laptop for $600? But eventually my dirty looks became stares of amazement and even a bit of envy. I marveled at the ease and delight my friends found in their Apple products. They simply worked. I watched them “power-up” their Apple products and almost immediately go to work writing their class assignments or checking up on social media. Meanwhile I busied myself with thumb twiddling while I waited around (trying not to look obvious) for my Dell or Lenovo laptop to kick into gear, launch Windows, and drip into full-operation mode.

Entering the Orchard

The crucible arrived when my rather new Lenovo IdeaPad died from multiple internal diseases caused by poor manufacturing and ever-problematic Windows programming. And so I moved out into the fresh air of the yard – from the mechanic’s shed to the orchard. Sweet breezes seemed to be blowing through my soul as a purchased my first Macbook Pro, then an iPhone, and another iPhone, and then an iPad. My wife and I were thoroughly sold. After jumping over the initial hurdles of Windows-rooted computing arthritis, we were sailing along without a hitch. Writing, recording, editing, and surfing all became simple, smooth, and delightful.

And too be totally honest, we are still enjoying the smooth, simple sailing of the Apple orchard. However, just as soon as we jumped on-board we began to hear rumblings that Steve Jobs was ill – very ill; that the company could be headed for demise; and that the snarling pack of competitors was nipping at Apple’s heels. Prophetic voices from PC think tanks announced dire predictions, sometimes with obvious dereliction. But nevertheless, it seemed they had a point: a few bad mistakes conjoined with the death of the immensely creative and charismatic leader, Steve Jobs, could lead to great collapse. Steve Jobs was the face of Apple. He was the leader of every launch. He was always ahead of the pack. But he soon would be gone.

And rather quickly, he did depart. Gone forever. A few disgruntled gurus said, “good riddance.” But most everyone lamented his family’s loss and honored the work of the incredibly innovative, technological genius.

Falling Fruit 

More predictions immediately stormed the blogosphere (most of them probably funded by Microsoft or Google’s Android department). Proving these loud-mouth critics right, several mistakes rapidly piled up on the scale: (1) the iPhone 4s drastically failed to meet expectations and seemed clunky next to the competition, (2) the new Apple maps app for the latest iOS was a complete failure. Everyone (including me) felt the mind-numbing frustration of arriving at the totally wrong location – over and over again, and (3) the newest version of iTunes appears far less intuitive and feels disconnected from the community engagement that was so unique with the old iTunes world. Not to mention promises made by Apple via Jobs before his death going unfulfilled.

Why all of this gum flapping about computers, PCs, and Apple? One reason. The community and context of the Apple world was a socio-phenomenon, a movement, almost a cult in the broadest sense of the term. We didn’t just buy Apple products, we invested in a community of common needs and delight-oriented engagement. But what many investors and computer geeks are realizing is this: Steve Jobs was the core of the movement. He was the leader of the “band,” the final equation between concept and reality. Steve Jobs was Apple.

We should not be surprised that Apple Corporation stands in a precarious, volatile position. Every major company, movement, or nation that has built itself around the singular genius or charisma of one man has eventually crumbled. Sure, Apple can re-build just like many other companies have done over the years. They may even grow beyond their current record-breaking market share. Yet still, generations will pass. People will change. And eventually Apple will be no more. The same will be true of Wal-Mart, Microsoft, McDonald’s, and even the United States of America.

The Romans thought the line of Caesars would prove eternal. The British believed the Royal line would continue with world-conquering power. Adolf Hitler apparently believed his rule of Nazism would take over the universe. Joseph Stalin provoked lofty dreams of never-ending socialistic community among his followers. Yet in the end, each man or woman eventually died – some rather suddenly. And with their deaths came the end of their movements. The end of the man eventually brought the end of the power and the dream. When the leader leaves – either by death or by retirement – so goes the socio-phenomenon. Gone with the leader, gone with the mission. Followers lose purpose when they no longer have someone to follow.

This has been the case for the entirety of human history, except with one singular man: Jesus Christ.

Flipping the Paradigm…Every time.  

No other man has had such a short public life with such a perpetually expansive, never-ending affect. In fact, the ultimate mission of Jesus really did not begin within His followers until He was gone from this earth. Jesus throws the entire paradigm of leader-driven movements on its head. He deeply built his life into a small rag-tag bunch of guys for just three years, and then willingly died a despicable Roman cross-death in front of His followers. Confusion reigned. His right-hand man, Peter, denied accusations that he even knew Jesus. His little group scattered and ran into hiding for fear of their lives. I’m sure money-driven, power-lusting religious leaders (i.e. Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, etc.) were sneering with smiles of satisfaction. I can almost hear them rejoice, “Finally this Jesus guy is out of the way. Now we can get back to the normal, pious life we’re called to live. Certainly, we will never hear from those idiotic disciples of his…ever again. Whew.” I’m sure they supervised the whole vile scene to make absolutely certain that nothing went awry. No mistakes on this one. Jesus was dead. Gone.

But three days later the man, Jesus Christ, once again proved that He is both Lord and Christ, fully the God-man: Jesus rose from the dead by the power of the Spirit! After being seen by numerous witnesses over a period of forty-days, He then gathered his close followers together and gave them this last mission statement:

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

Jesus then ascended into heaven, where He is now seated at the right hand of the throne of the Father. He left. Do not hurry over this. The leader of all leaders was gone. But this time there was no rabid scattering, no running for cover, and certainly no triple-point denials. Instead, they all gathered with faith in prayer to wait for the Spirit power that would transform them and begin the movement of Jesus-followers that would forever change the world.

No other leader in human history has every come close to accomplishing what Jesus has done: more than 2 Billion present-day followers, and despite open and hostile persecution, famine, poverty, and a whole army of critics, the mission of Christ’s Gospel continues on, growing everyday. There is only one explanation for such shocking results: the power of God through the Gospel of Jesus Christ delivered and lived out by the Church on His mission. Jesus has done what Jobs could never do. Followers of Jesus are giving up their lives every single day for the cause of His mission. His kingdom message is expanding every single day.

So pastors and Christian leaders: let’s build the mission and local ministry around Jesus, not around ourselves – no matter how cool or attractive people may think we are. If Jesus is the center of our vision, the mission and ministry will continue long after we’re a sub-line in the annals of history.

And to all Christ-followers: we are part of a movement that transcends all time, language, people-group, and nation. So let’s live like there is no tomorrow for the sake of the Messiah and for the display of His message and mercy to the ends of the earth for the praise of His glory. We are on Jesus’ mission and there is no one like Him…and He is coming again.

*I enjoyed writing this article on my Apple Macbook Pro. Steve Jobs’ legacy of genius will surely be long-remembered. 🙂

Crying for Daddy

Posted by Michael Breznau on 9:57 pm in Devotionals, Marriage & Family | 0 comments

Today we celebrated Hudson’s 4th birthday! Wow, what an energetic and vivacious bundle of joy he has become. Here’s a devotional story originally written when our little Hudson was just 5 months old (published 8/9/2009):

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Have you ever heard that little babies can be great teachers? I never have. However, just several days ago I learned a profound lesson from my tiny munchkin, Hudson. Perhaps this article could be titled: Hudson’s Lesson for Daddy. Of course, Hudson didn’t pull out a whiteboard and some dry erase markers, and pass out a workbook to his Daddy. However, Hudson was used by the Lord to dramatically teach his sometimes “thick-skulled” Papa a much needed course.
Over the past fourteen hot summer days, Stephanie and I have found ourselves often anxious, worried, and stressed. Our housing situation has been somewhat “tight” to say the least. With the arrival of Hudson, we soon realized that 450 sq ft. is quite cozy. With a crib, changing table, swing, amongst other pieces of furniture and hundreds of school books we knew we eventually had to do something. Adding to this, our wonderful little carriage/garage apartment is attached to a tremendously larger house – a house (along with our place) that is for sale at a dramatically reduced price. Obviously a “plan B” needed to be in the works.

Stressed? Yes.
For several months we had been looking at various options, but with the upcoming semester of seminary drawing near, we became much more fervent in our approach to the situation. We had tried moving mid-term before, and had no real desire to repeat the process. I wonder why?

We searched and looked on various listings, but the first week or so went by without finding anything feasible. However, the second week proved to be a roller coaster. On Monday we were presented with one possibility, yet found out later the location was somewhat unsafe, and too far from our church and my place of work. A day later another option came up for on-campus housing. With great excitement we jumped on this opportunity, and believed that this was truly the answer to our prayers… several days later we found out that they would probably give the place to someone else. So with the ups and downs of emotion and unrest we kept searching and praying.

Shortly thereafter we heard about another opportunity that sounded like a perfect fit for our needs. The location was just a couple of miles from our church, and nearly an equal distance to school. With much anticipation we interviewed for this particular residence, and walked away from the meeting very hopeful that it would work out. We knew the folks were going out of town and we wouldn’t hear anything for a little while, but we really prayed that something might pan out very soon.

The day after this meeting, I was surprised to find myself so anxious and worried that this new option might not work out I could hardly find any peace. I prayed throughout the day for the Lord to take away my anxiety and give me assurance of His control – yet the battle in my heart raged on. In the afternoon I called up Stephanie to tell her how I felt, and she promptly told me she was in the same war with anxiety. That evening I arrived home from work still worried and restless, so we again prayed for the Lord to give us peace. We had enough calm to get some rest that night, but at sunrise the worry came back. All throughout the following day the unrest and anxiety continued. Questions like the following swarmed my mind, “Would we be chosen for this new residence?” “Was there something I said in the interview that might have ruined our chances for this position?” “What would happen if we don’t get this new place to live in?” “Where would we go, what would we do?”

Time for a Lesson, Young Man
It is funny how I continually have to learn the same type of lessons over and over again. Yet in my often immature state, I am grateful the Lord has the patience to persistently teach and instruct me in this walk of faith.

After three days of nearly constant fear and anxiety, I arrived home after a long day’s work. As has become customary, I usually find Stephanie working feverishly over the stove making some tasty morsels for supper, and Hudson napping peacefully in his crib. This evening was not unlike any other. I walked in the door, gave Stephanie a big hug and kiss, and then tip-toed in the bedroom to check on our little guy. As I drew near to the crib, I noticed that he was just waking up. After rubbing his eyes with his tiny fists, he looked up right into my eyes and gave me one of the biggest smiles I had ever seen. It was as if Christmas morning had come and I had just given him everything he wanted. The only difference about this case was I was the only thing wanted. He just wanted to be with Daddy.

I scooped his cuddly little body up into my arms and gave him an ole’ bear hug and kissed his smooshy cheeks. It is hard not to do that every second of the day. We sang a little song together, and I told him how much I loved him… “more than anything else in the world.” Just then, Stephanie called to me from the kitchen saying that she had something she wanted me to quickly take care of. So, without thinking twice I laid Hudson down on our soft bed and stepped into the next room.

From Smiles to Tears
Within seconds of my departure I heard Hudson begin to wale and cry. As soon as my shadow had left the room he immediately began crying out for his Daddy. Of course, I was only 10 feet away from him, but because he could not physically see me or be held by me, it was just as if I was completely gone. I hurried back into the room and promised my little buddy that I would be right back. Again, two seconds later he began to wale and cry even louder. Once more, I came over to him, calmed him down, and explained in words he does not yet understand that I had to do something important, but would be “right back”. He was safe because I was near and there was no reason to cry.

I quickly finished the chore that needed to be done, and stepped back into our bedroom to find Hudson still crying profusely and his eyes blurred with a fountain of tears. As I wiped his little tear droplets from his eyes and caressed the top of his head, the Lord suddenly taught me a lesson through the cries and tears of Hudson.

Through the Lord’s mercy, I realized that I too had been acting just like Hudson a moment ago. Every time I stepped into the room where Hudson could visibly see me, he was immediately at peace. However, as soon as I left, he quickly went from smiles to tears. In a similar way, I had found myself over the last couple of weeks searching and waiting for God’s guidance, direction, and provision, yet for all of my prayers I was still waiting to see what he had in store for us. What was my response? Unfortunately, I let my heart be filled with anxiety and fear – fear that God was somehow not aware of my situation or need. In this period of waiting my thoughts were not on God’s present working, but on His seemingly current absence from my problem.

Our Heavenly Father

Yet just as was true for Hudson and his earthly father, my Heavenly Father never really left me unprotected, unsafe, or unloved. Even though I had to temporarily remove myself from Hudson’s line of vision, I never left him – I was just in the other room. In even a much more profound and powerful way, God is always with you and I – even when we do not immediately see His hand at work in our lives. Hudson taught me that there was no need to be filled with anxiety, for God is always near, and He knows every need we have. Yes, I still pray that the Lord is pleased to bless us with this new housing opportunity, but now with great faith that He is always right there watching over me, even when I cannot feel Him wiping away my tears of stress or fear.

That evening as I pondered what God had done in the past and how He had always been ever-present in my times of need, all the stress, fear, and anxiety of the past two weeks suddenly melted away. In place of these, the Lord gave peace and reassurance to my heart that I could trust Him and wait on His omnipotent and all-wise hand. God’s answer may not come when I expect or in a manner anticipated, yet it will always be according to His plan, and result in His glory. God has always proven Himself faithful, why should I doubt Him now?

Psalm 46:1-2 ~ “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. SELAH.

“Psalm 62:1-2 ~ “My soul waits in silence for God only; from Him is my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.”

In Christ Alone,
Michael