YGT: Church Hurts (The Purpose-Driven Strife)

There are few things worse in a congregation than lingering church hurt.  Church hurt happens when someone has been seriously disappointed by people who confess Christ.  For some, it harms their ability to have healthy relationships with churchgoers.  For others, it keeps them away from the church completely. If we're honest with ourselves, it has affected each of us in different ways.  What do we do with the strife of the church?


In the Hebrew, the word for strife is "meribah".  It is noteworthy that the word Meribah is also the name of a mountain that Moses struck and water poured out (Numbers 20 below).  Moses was angry and struck the rock when God had instructed him to speak to the rock.  Could this be what God is calling for us to do in our strife with others (speaking instead of striking)?  


Arguments are unavoidable and those who believe they can avoid conflict aren't being honest about relationships. Any interaction with two people will expose differences.  In fact, you likely haven't had a good relationship until you've had a real disagreement.   However, strife shouldn't divide or isolate.


Anger, contention, and disagreements don't have to destroy relationships.  Strife can be like the mountain of Meribah.  It can be a hard place that produces living water.  Today, take the time to work through church hurts and let God get the glory from your strife.  

Lord, the church is Your creation, like us.  And like us, it's imperfect.  We claim to know you, yet our relationships are filled with dysfunction.  Please give us the grace to forgive others and the humility to admit fault.  Thank you for the example at Meribah.  Help us speak when we're tempted to strike.  To You, Great Peacemaker, be glory, majesty, dominion, and power.  Amen.

Healing,

j.a.g.

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Numbers 20:7-13 (King James Version)

7And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
8Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.
9And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.
10And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?
11And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.
12And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.
13This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.

YGT: Summer Reading Club

Growing up, my mom would always take us to the Robert A. Pastrick Library in East Chicago, IN for the annual summer reading program.  It was a competition where children would win prizes based on the amount of books they read.  In honor of Mother's Day today, I thank God for the blessing of a mother who spent quality time with us.  Thank you mom for giving us the gift of reading.  This memory led me to think about which books I want to read this summer.  
Here's my top three:

1. Not a Fan by Kyle Ideman  

Recommended by my friend and brother Izzy whose young adult group has read this recently at church.  He raves that it's a transformational book Christians should read.  Really excited about getting into this.

2.  Imagine by Jonah Lehrer

Saw this author on the Colbert Report.  His book addresses the creativity lying dormant in all of us. Seems like a great way keep my mind stimulated and challenge myself to continue dreaming.

3. The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander

The growing prison population (and the alarming rates of African-American and Latino inmates), makes this an important text.  The prison-industrial complex in our country is too serious to ignore.

Honorable mentions: When and Where I Enter: The Impact of Black Women on Race and Sex in America, The Rich and the Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism

Two final questions: Are the Hunger Games books worth reading? Heard good things, but need some confirmation.  Also, what books are YOU reading???  Feel free to share what might be a good read.

Peace and blessings,

j.a.g.

Lord, thank You for the gift of literacy.  Thank You for a mother that values education and reading.  Please be with those children and parents who need You.  In the name of the author and finisher of our faith, Jesus Christ.

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Proverbs 31:28a

Her children rise up and call her blessed...

YGT: Words with Friends

On His way to the cross, Jesus called together a band of men who would become his disciples. The Bible describes His selections simply - Jesus spoke and without delay, the men followed (Matthew 4:18-22 below).  The men thought they were being chosen to be disciples and followers of Jesus.  Jesus later revealed the real nature of their relationship.   

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.  - John 15:15

From this, we see that when Jesus chose them, He wasn't simply asking for servants.  Instead, He was saying, "I want you to be my friends."  Implicitly, He was communicating, "I want to tell you my secrets.  I want you to know my business. I want you to be there when I die..."

Early in his ministry, Jesus didn't need to send out an invitation for friends. By comparison, if Jesus had an Android (over the Iphone - hard to side with the bitten apple), his "Words with Friends" app could have had hundreds of games going simultaneously.  (WwF app users - It's hard to resist adding extra games isn't it?)  But Jesus didn't need a multitude of friends.  Instead, He chose twelve, declaring "These are the people I want to make myself known to.  These will be my friends."  Wow.  

As we examine our own friendships, let's be mindful of the words of Jesus - follow me.  Not to be under or behind me, but to be in my business.  True friendships are a calling. We're inviting our closest friends into our innermost thoughts, desires, and pains. We have given them permission to watch us live and die.  Let's take our selections seriously.



Lord, we need you in our lives and friendships.  There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for a friend.  Your death on the cross is that ultimate witness.  Please speak to us in this hour.  Reveal our weaknesses and hide our strengths.  We need to be better.  We will be careful to give Your name the glory.  What an honor to be a friend of God!... Amen.

Praising,

j.a.g.

*A special thank you to all my friends.  In particular, thank you to my best friend and wife Ashley who inspired this post.  I love you all.

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Matthew 4:18-22

18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 

19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”

20 At once they left their nets and followed him.
21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 

22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.