We were at the YMCA of the Rockies this week for a (working) getaway, and I saw for the first time a little trail behind one of the chapels marked out with the familiar ACTS prayer acrostic: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication. As I wrote yesterday, I’ve been meditating on our status as forgiven sinners. Here’s the trail sign with its exercise for Confession and forgiveness.

So I knelt in front of the sandbox, wrote some sins into the sand, confessed them to God, then erased them. Very profound if you think about it. There’s no technology that will restore writing in the sand that has been erased! 

My scripture reading for today was John 8.1 – 11, Jesus’ encounter with the woman taken in adultery. The obvious takeaway is “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” But here’s another. Much speculation has centered around what Jesus was writing in the sand. I’ve heard more than one preacher suggest that Jesus was writing the sins of the accusers, and that’s why they felt guilty and left. 

But the good news is, that if Jesus had written their sins in the sand, he was communicating, “You can be forgiven, too! It’s just sand.” Paul confessed in 1 Timothy 1.15, he was one of those kinds of guys! A judgmental Pharisee. And Jesus forgave his sins. And mine. And yours. 

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace… (Ephesians 1.7, ESV)

Here’s something I’m still working on understanding and taking to heart…

I can testify that the Word is true and deserves to be received by all, for Jesus Christ came into the world to bring sinners back to life—even me, the worst sinner of all! (1 Timothy 1.15, Passion Translation)

Jesus died for sinners, even me! I read a long time ago that someone, thinking about this passage, wrote, “Paul said, ‘I am the chief of sinners.’ To which God replied, ‘O hush. You’re no such thing!’”

But it doesn’t matter whether I win the prize for being the greatest sinner or not. Jesus died for sinners. Last Sunday, our pastor quoted Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian in New York City:

The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.

That’s powerful.

One of my favorite hymns is “It is well with my soul.” Stanza 3 goes:

God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5.8, ESV) 

It’s no secret that when we pray the Lord’s Prayer (the Our Father), there’s one point of uncertainty: do we say “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us,” or do we say, “forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors?” Presbyterians are among those who use “debts,” and most others seem to use “trespasses.”

In fact, “debts” is correct according to the source of the Lord’s Prayer, Matthew 6.9 – 13. Look it up in almost any translation. The word translated “trespasses” is opheilema:

ὀφείλημα opheilēma; from (the alternate of) 3784; something owed, i.e. (figuratively) a due; morally, a fault: — debt.

It was William Tyndale who used the word “trespasses” in 1526. The very influential Anglican Book of Common Prayer used Tyndale’s “trespasses” when it was published in 1549, and it has stuck. Here’s an excellent article explaining the nuances.

But that’s not the point of this blog…

A few days ago I was at a memorial service, conducted by Presbyterian ministers in a Presbyterian church. At the end, one of the ministers said something like this. 

In a few minutes, we’re going to pray the Lord’s Prayer together. I’m aware that this is a mixed crowd. Not all of us are Presbyterians here; in fact, probably most of us are not Presbyterians. We say “debts,” but most traditions say “trespasses.” So let’s keep it simple, and we’ll say “trespasses.”

My first thought was, “Why? We’re Presbyterians for goodness sake, and “debts” is right!” But then I realized, “Saying ‘trespasses’ may not have been right, but it was certainly considerate.” 

Knowledge puffs up while love builds up. (1 Corinthians 8.1, NIV)

Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up… Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. (Romans 15.2, 7, NIV)

I noticed something obvious in Paul’s testimony as recorded in Philippians 3. When we teach people to write their “testimony,” the story of how they met Jesus, we often use Paul’s example from Acts 26 where he has a “before,” a “how,” and an “after.” Here in Philippians 3, he omits the “how” story of the road to Damascus experience (Acts 9) and just has “before” (verses 5 and 6) and “after” (verse 7…)

5 I was born a true Hebrew of the heritage of Israel as the son of a Jewish man from the tribe of Benjamin. I was circumcised eight days after my birth and was raised in the strict tradition of Orthodox Judaism, living a separated and devout life as a Pharisee. 6 And concerning the righteousness of the Torah, no one surpassed me; I was without a peer. Furthermore, as a fiery defender of the truth, I persecuted the messianic believers with religious zeal. 7 Yet all of the accomplishments that I once took credit for, I’ve now forsaken them and I regard it all as nothing compared to the delight of experiencing Jesus Christ as my Lord! (Philippians 3:5-7, Passion Translation)

Here’s what I noticed: when I am tempted to be “a fiery defender of the truth,” someone who puts others down for their theology or their practice or whatever, I need to remember that persecuting people “with religious zeal” is part of Paul’s “before”!

For the law was given through Moses; grace AND truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1.17, ESV, emphasis mine)

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ. (Ephesians 4.15, ESV)

Our church likes to celebrate all kinds of work, and Sunday about 30 folks in our church of about 150 active members showed their art. it was great fun with art of all kinds on display: photography, painting, quilting, and wood-working were out there. One of this blog’s regular readers, Kathleen Krucoff, displayed the jewelry she creates. But the biggest surprise for many of us was several drawings done by our pastor, Dave Jordan-Irwin.

Who knew?! None of us, that’s who. And I’ve sat with Dave over coffee for hours and hours in the four years we’ve known each other. He knows I play the piano, but I didn’t know that he could draw. What are the lessons?

• Dave is a humble man, to be sure, and maybe that has something to do with it. He’s not one to talk about himself.
• Maybe he didn’t really value his art, but as a result of our working together on teaching our members the value of all kinds of work, he’s beginning to see it differently.
• Maybe I just didn’t ask! That’s something I’m going to try to work on: being more curious about other people. “What talent do you have that I don’t know about?” might be a good question.

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matthew 22.39, NIV)

Then the LORD said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts.” (Exodus 31.1 – 5, NIV)

June was having lunch with a friend the other day when the friend said she had a Thanksgiving dilemma. “I’m going to be out of town with one of my (adult) children. The other one that lives here and her cousins want to use my house for Thanksgiving. I’ll let them of course, but I’ll be worried about my house!”

June replied, “It sounds as if you have an opportunity to practice Holy Indifference!”

This is something I’ve blogged about before, but this is another application. June explained that with God’s help her friend could be indifferent to the state of her house upon her return from out of town. Moreover, if she allowed herself to worry too much about the house, then the house would be what Ignatius of Loyola (who defined Holy Indifference) would call a “disordered attachment.”

It was a useful discussion, and our friend has two things she can pray:

• For Holy Indifference
• Against a disordered attachment

I like the practicality of what we’re learning lately, and the ease of sharing it with fellow believers in normal conversation. It’s what “frontline ministry” is about, a concept developed in my book Join the Adventure!. And the good news is, anyone can do it!

Discover creative ways to encourage others and to motivate them toward acts of compassion, doing beautiful works as expressions of love. (Hebrews 10.24, Passion Translation)

Would you like another uplifting story?

I was privileged to teach a 2-week course on discipleship to students at Emmaus Seminary, near Cap-Haitien in northern Haiti, in 2006, 2007, and 2008. The following story of God’s power over Satan was sent to me by one of my missionary friends there, Colleen Taylor. I know these people: Lucner was my student, and we’re still in touch. Stacy Ayers, who wrote the story, was in her first year in Haiti when I was there in 2008.

This is the abbreviated version. For the whole story, please click here–it’s worth it.

Lucner, now a pastor in a village called Vaudreil, called a 3-fast for Thursday, October 31 – Saturday, November 2, to claim God’s power over a nearby Voodoo stronghold, Bois-Caiman. On Sunday, Lucner led a 24-church march on the 3-mile walk to Bois-Caiman.

On the way they were told that rocks and bottles would be thrown at them and that when Lucner shook the Voodoo witch doctor’s hand, demons would kill Lucner on the spot. Lucner’s response:

Let’s see what God will do. Have faith.

As Stacy tells it,

The Church, our brothers and sisters, our family, your family, were so many that they surrounded the entire area in a huge circle, and for the first time in the history of Bois-Caiman, 200+ years, GOD’S praises rang out.

A sacrifice of faith was given Sunday, instead, communion was taken by hundreds of believers, the wine poured out in remembrance of the Great sacrifice that covers all.

And as they sang and prayed and gave the place to Jesus, the people of Bois-Caiman came out of their homes and celebrated…for they have lived in fear FOREVER. They have lost their children, one dying every time the demon descends and returns. They have lived in bondage, and the church had stayed away. Light had NEVER been brought.

A man far across the circle emerged…aggressively walking alone, hand out-stretched to Lucner. “When he finally got to me, I grabbed his hand like he was a dear friend I hadn’t seen in 20 years,” Lucner said. “I shook it in front of everyone like my grip would break his bones, and it was totally silent, as everyone waited.” “He finally let go, and stared at me,” Lucner said, “and I grinned at him and began to tell him about Jesus.”

Colleen closed her letter:

Pastor Lucner came to my home last evening and shared again of what happened.  He said, “Haiti will change!!  Haiti is changing!!”   Believe with us.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6.10 – 12, ESV)

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (1 John 4.4, ESV)

How about a small piece of uplifting news? 

When the college cheating scandal broke, I wrote a blog asking, among other things, where were the colleges who weren’t selling their slots. Here’s that paragraph:

Some college admissions bribery is legal: giving millions to your Alma Mater so your kid can be accepted. Who is more guilty? The wealthy parent who gives the bribe donation, or the school who alters its standards to let their kid in? Are there institutions who can stand up and say, “Slots in our school can’t be bought!

Well, there is one! The Wall Street Journal reported on November 7, 2019, that Occidental College in Los Angeles got an email from Rick Singer, the man who admitted to orchestrating the cheating scandal. Mr. Singer was suggesting that Occidental “reconsider an application from the academically challenged daughter of a wealthy family.” He wrote:

Are you kidding? We can create a win-win for both of us.

The Journal reports that Vince Cuseo, Occidental’s admissions official, gave a simple response:

No

The article goes on to say that Occidental isn’t doing as well as other schools in endowments and facilities because they simply don’t have the money. But they have something the other schools don’t have: INTEGRITY. More power to them!

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. (Proverbs 22.1, ESV)

I posted yesterday a quote from the well-known professor and Bible teacher, the late Dr. Howard Hendricks:

We must be able to discriminate between what cannot change and what must be changed.

Here’s an example. An internationally known preacher, who shall remain nameless, said this about Calvary Chapel, a movement which, in my observation, is still doing a wonderful job welcoming all kinds of people:

In 1967 a bunch of Jesus freak people in the beach areas of Southern California go to Calvary Chapel and for the first time that I know of in history, the church lets the very defined subculture dictate what it will be. Out go the ties, out go the hymns, out go all the normal and formal things…it’s a false form of Christianity.

It’s hard to know where to start. I ran this by two pastor friends from completely different traditions: one said, “He needs to open his Bible!” The other erupted into howls of laughter.

The first time? How about Acts 15 when the church met to discuss precisely the question of whether the Gentiles (“a very defined subculture”) could come into the church without obeying all the Jewish rules. The conclusion that the church leadership reached in Acts 15 was clear:

[James said, ] “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.” (Acts 15.19, NIV)

How’s that for accommodation? To paraphrase, “Out goes circumcision, out go the dietary laws, out go all the normal and formal things.” As for adjusting to meet the subculture, Paul could not have been more clear:

For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. (1 Corinthians 9.19 – 22, ESV)

And yet this brother insists that to abandon wearing ties and not sing the old hymns leads to a “false form of Christianity.” Again, to quote Dr Hendricks: “We must be able to discriminate between what can’t change and what must be changed.”

The scariest thing of all, and a warning to us all, is that this preacher is a devout student of scripture. It’s easy to see what he’s missing. What am I missing?

Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. (1 Corinthians 8.1, NIV)

My Internet is down so I’m posting something short by phone. Details to follow on what made me recall this important principle from the late Dr Howard Hendricks:

We must discriminate between things that cannot change and things that must change.

In general, the church does a terrible job of that. The apostle Paul speaks to this throughout the book of Galatians.

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. (Galatians 5.6)