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A Dusty Servant or a Refined Professional?

Reputation or Self-Renunciation

From the musty streets of Galilee to the towering cathedrals of Europe it would seem that we as followers of Christ have, over the centuries, achieved quite a remarkable world reputation. From the meek beginnings of the apostles in Jerusalem to the mass awakenings across many parts of the globe it appears that success has been ours on countless occasions. We hear of revivals and churches sparking up all over the world and faith-proclaiming media spreading to some of the furthest corridors for the glory of God. Many extensions of Christ-exalting ministry have moved throughout the earth shouting in almost every language of the hope found in the Good News of Jesus Christ. The work is strong and the effect is good. People’s lives are being changed and transformed. Hearts and families are being mended by the power of God’s Spirit. Yet, for all the wonderful and truly God-performed deeds which are most evident, it is hard to come to grips with a strange dichotomy that is boastingly pervasive across every form of Christianity.

Everywhere one looks there are “personalities” flaunting their power, their talents, and their merchandise. They use every possible technological, psychological, and even spiritual tactic to strengthen their prowess and push their agenda. Slick and smooth program organizations chart their goals and objectives, and warning is given to anyone who wants to “buck” their system. Some have flow charts to success, others have flow charts to heaven, and they all declare their way is the only right choice. Whether they are selling coffee mugs or condominiums the pressure is the same and the demand is non-optional. Such would be, and should be expected from the secular world of business, but unfortunately these ideas and strategies have not stopped in the CEO’s office. Instead, these performances have infiltrated the people of God with increasing popularity. What used to be only employed at the local “used” car lot is now being thrown into practice all across Christendom. Some of my very own colleagues firmly believe that it is impossible to reach our generation if we do not use all the latest pomp of technology. Media displays, music and book sales, televangelist “make-me-rich-a-thons,” and countless other trinket methods have made the Church of our Lord as fat and sassy as the historic Popes of ages past. These men, while living in gross immorality, demanded the sale of indulgences and unwavering allegiance to their every word, many of whom never served those who were truly in need.

So I ask of you; does this sort of life have any harmony with Jesus the Christ and the faith found in Scripture? The Reformers did not think so, and they went to great lengths to preach it and prove it. Some even lost their lives. They took a wager against the ostentatious prestige of the Pope and the whole established Church for the cause of Christ. Their argument could be said, to be only over the doctrine of justification by faith, but one must realize that this stance is all-inclusive to the Gospel of Christ. And this Gospel is of the One who declared that He came “not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28). 

What used to be, just a decade ago, found only in Pentecostal or Charismatic minded leaders who skewed biblical interpretation for their own benefit, is now being witnessed in nearly every evangelical and fundamental denomination. As power waned in the pulpit, the ease of charting programs for visual success batted its tempting eyes – and we bit into it hook, line, and sinker. The race for a “mega-church” and the sprint towards having “seeker-sensitive” services (in order to draw those who are merely “interested” in Jesus) has propelled us to be “purpose-driven,” rather than led by the Spirit. Yet, for all the techniques no real spiritual success has gone beneath the skin of the massive crowd.[1] The drastic dichotomy between the life of Christ and the attitude of the Church demands a resolution. Furthermore, one must wonder how we have arrived at such a place of self-service opposed to God-glorification and sacrificial giving.

[1] This is validated by statements made by Bill Hybel’s and the Willow Creek Organization in their in-house publication entitled, “Reveal: Where are You?” This work revealed that a vast majority of their congregants felt stagnant in their spiritual growth and that “mind-blowing” changes needed to be made within their structure.

The Battle Rages

From the very beginning of time there has been a war waging deep within the heart of the universe. The Lord, the God of all heaven and earth will share His glory and majesty with no one. He is, and was, and will forever be the Lord who is seated on His throne as above all, to whom all are subject to His power and might. From the day he created our earth His intention was for relationship and good pleasure with those He had made. Then on one fateful day, the evil one, Satan, lifted up his heart and soul against the Holy One and declared that he wanted to be like the Most High. He who was created by God wanted to share in the glory of the Creator. Lucifer lifted himself up in pride against the Lord and was cast out of heaven in anticipation of the final, coming judgment.

To this very day, the evil one is still trying with all his limited powers to accomplish what he first set out to do – obtain and detract from the glory of the Lord. He is “as a roaring lion prowling about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet 5:8). And I propose, how would he “devour” someone? I believe he would do this by convincing a person in their heart that they deserve to be served and adulated. In his cunning way, Satan has pulled people away from giving glory to God and drawn them to focus on their own wants and desires. He is far too deceptive to attempt to utilize only the occult or cultic practices to bring glory to himself. He knows that if he simply can pull the heart of a person away from the power and majesty of God and of glorifying Him alone, he has accomplished his wicked work. If God is not receiving the glory, then the only other option is the evil one. For at the heart of man-centeredness is not merely man, but Satan himself.

Is not this the very lie he has used in his “devouring” since the beginning of time? His immediate goal was to bring the heart of Eve off the goodness and glory of God, and onto the very thing she herself was supposedly being deprived of tasting. By narrowing Eve’s mind toward her desires and prerogatives, he had, in her mind and soul detracted from the glory of God. With cunning words he slipped her the cheat card and claimed she would now “be like God…” (Gen. 3:5), and just like many today, she bit in hook, line, and sinker. Her first sin was not the bite into the fruit, but the lust and desire in her heart against the will of God. Satan had won the day and from that point on, he has been on a mission to do the very same thing to every generation that followed Adam.

 

From Adam to Christ

From the point of Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden it became clear that man was going to struggle in opposition to the divine will of Almighty God. Man was uniquely designed in the image of God (Gen 1:26), yet lacked love for the Creator and instead wanted to be as God himself (Gen 3:3-8). He denied the duties of being a servant of the Lord and rather wanted to be of great reputation and power. Then, desiring the very nature of God for his own being, man attempted to exalt himself time and time again throughout all history. Living in direct disobedience and even hatred toward the holiness and Law of God, all of mankind was and is condemned to eternal punishment and subject to the never ending wrath to come (Col. 3:6). Because of his depraved, rebellious nature of sin, man’s judgment without exception, will be damnation and everlasting torture and disgrace.

In the midst of the great battle that has been waging ever since the inception of life on this planet, God’s very own Son came in the middle of the fight to grant salvation and victory full and free. His death on the Cross of Calvary for the sins of the world would pay once and for all the ransom price for everyone who believes in Him (Matt. 20:28, Rom 6:23). In all of this is the love and mercy of God shown – even particularly the love and humility between the members of the triune God. Philippians 2:6-11 proclaims of Christ’s humble subjection this way:          

      “Who although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

What wondrous, sacrificial love! What compassion for such a sinful, wicked race! What amazing humility and love toward the Father! Our Lord Christ, as the old song goes, “laid aside His crown for my soul, for my soul, Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.” Jesus humbled himself as a servant even unto death out of His great love for us, and also because of his amazing love for the personhood of the Father. You might be wondering what I meant by that last statement, so let me explain.

Notice the end of the Philippians 2:11, it reads “to the glory of God the Father.” The glory of God! This sacrificial love was performed out of the beautiful union and diversity of Christ, the Father, and the Holy Spirit as the agency. Christ so loves the Father that He willingly became subject to His will in order to bring Him glory. In no way did the Son lose His role as co-equal with the Father, but instead became, out of agape love, subordinate to the Father in function on earth, so He might fulfill the plan of the Father that was laid before the foundation of the world (1 Pet. 1:19-21). Moving back through the passage above, we see the Father’s great love for the Son, in His bestowing on Him the name above all names… and the divine love continues. The Spirit works as the agency of love drawing sinful man to Himself, through the divine work of the Son, in the predestined plan of the Father.

Our Exemplar

Deliberately, I omitted the immediately preceding verse (v. 5) in the quote above for present emphasis, it reads, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.” You see, it is the will of God that we as His Church live in the same manner toward one another. Husband and wife, church member to elder, pastor to deacon – to live in self-sacrificing humility to one another brings glory to God the Father! Dr. Burns would call this “The Law of Biblical Significance,” I suppose I would call it simply being a dusty servant for the Lord Jesus Christ. Have we felt the sweat of sacrifice sting our eyes in the heat of the sun? What blisters do we have on our feet from helping the poor and needy? What calluses have we developed on our palms from feeding the starving? Have we undergone the same voluntary self-renunciation that Christ accepted for the glory of God?

Making ourselves of no reputation is a phrase hard to stomach in our day of fame and fortune in the ministry. Yet, this is exactly what God calls us to do, and to accept with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. It was a prayer of John Wesley that he would remain, “simple and low before the Lord His God.” And we all know that in due time God chose to use him in a very powerful way for the glory of the Name. Should this not be our prayer?

Our goals and objectives do not mean anything, save to know Christ in His death and resurrection. And, the freedom comes to us when we realize that we do not choose to have such an attitude out of duty, but out of love – just as Christ has for the Father.  One day, Dr. Burns asked us this thought provoking question, “Are you living for God’s future rather than for your present glory?” With this question pounding in my heart I began this essay, and it is my hope that it is now pounding in yours. If we think that cutting-edge methods and tactics derived from the business world are going to revive our ministries and give power to the Gospel message, we are going to run off a cliff into a scary abyss. It has been said, “We would be very hard-pressed to find people arguing that the wealthy preacher in a luxury car with fifty different books for sale in Barnes & Noble is at all Christ-like when compared to a person like Mother Theresa”… or better yet Jesus Himself!

Are you ready to get down and dirty for the cause of Christ and the glory of God? His example to us is astounding and it therefore compels us to cry out to Him – for without His grace we are powerless. At the end of the day, who do you think would draw more people to the pure Gospel of Christ, a person of no reputation serving the Gospel to the poor in Harlem, or a technologically savvy “seeker” church in Dallas? One might say that the two are reaching out to different groups, but I would beg to differ. For if the message is not one of submission to the Lord and service for the glory of the Name, then it is no message at all but simply re-packaged self-help material from the world.        

At the end of our lives may it be said of us that all we lived and hoped for in this life was not for our own fame, but for His glory. May the Spirit of the living God be with us all and may this be our prayer:

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ, which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians  3:14-21)

Currently Reading Point Man: How a Man Can Lead His Family By Steve Farrar see related

Is God too Big for You?

Except for the faint, ambient glimmer of the faraway moon, all was dark. I awoke in this blackness as it neared half past four and prepared to head out into the inky night for a long awaited rendezvous with the rising Sun at Logan’s Pass. For nearly three months I had attempted this special meeting, yet I never seemed to arrive early enough to catch the very first glow above the snow-capped peaks of the Montana Rockies. However, with only just a few days left on my schedule before I had to depart beautiful Glacier Park and return to busy, steamy Dallas, I determined that this would be the morning of which I had waited so long.

As I quietly but eagerly tossed some equipment into my backpack and strapped on my photography tri-pod, I felt my anticipation building. Stepping out of the side door of my little apartment, I looked up into the northern sky and was rewarded with a beautiful glimpse of the amazing starry hosts that surround our little planet we call Earth. With my excitement increasing for the grand meeting, I jumped into my trusty pick-up truck – gear in tow – and headed up the most beautiful highway in the USA – “Going to the Sun Road.” Its name was aptly chosen, for the east-west passageway it makes over the Triple-Divide is a magnificent, stunning approach to the glowing embers of the Sun. On this marvelous, narrow and winding road I quickly made my way through thick forests and around glimmering glacier-fed lakes as I wound up the east side of the Rockies.

The white light of the Sun was beginning to faintly appear through the wispy clouds that dotted the ridge tops, yet still holding back its bright power behind the evergreen-clad hills. As I pressed to further altitudes, the fresh mountain air filled my lungs with joy and I let out a shout of glee. A quaint waterfall bubbled down to a nearby glistening lake. Sprouts of fern, moss, and mountain flowers scented the pungent air. A little marmot with cubbies in tow darted among the rocks and scurried away from my headlights. Oh what a morning it was going to be! These and many other little miracles seemed to proclaim in a universal language of the creative power and majesty of the Almighty God. 

Approaching the Sky

 The air was crisp and I could feel the warmth of the Sun drawing closer and closer as I approached the very tops of the clouds. Pressing higher and winding up still higher to the Pass I glanced over to my left into the sweeping sensation of St. Mary valley. As I peered down into the sanctuary of profuse wildlife I realized I had finally arrived completely above the clouds. All was shrouded below, yet above was the most beautiful, dark blue sky I had ever seen. Arriving at the top of the Pass, I decided to drive a few hundred yards farther down the road to a wide vantage point for my rendezvous with the Sun.

With the clock nearing quarter to six, I quickly stationed my tri-pod and adjusted my camera for the exciting event. Patiently waiting like me was a fun-loving little mountain goat about thirty feet up the side of the sheer cliff above my truck. I could see the dark blue sky above becoming brighter and brighter, but the glowing radiance of the Sun had still not come forth. Just when I thought the first ray would be seen, to my great dismay the clouds which had been softly lying in the valleys below were starting to rise and swirl upward.

Now anxious that all my planning and excitement would be for naught, I was surrounded by an enormous blanket of cold, misty whiteness – hardly a “picture perfect” sunrise. But up above, my little mountain goat friend still patiently waited. So, I thought it wise to hold out a few more minutes before retiring back down to the valley. Just at the moment when I thought the Sun would never come out, a brilliant, bright ray pierced straight through the cloud that surrounded me. The heat of the Sun melted the mist in a matter of seconds and before I knew it all the mountain ridges, treed slopes, and singing waterfalls were dancing with stunning light. My little friend above seemed to enjoy the warmth as much as I, for he deftly hopped up the cliff another thirty feet for a better view.

Surrounding me was an awesome array of natural landscape that wonderfully shone with color, enthusiasm, and exquisite design. To my left there lay a rolling slope brimming over with a myriad of varied wildflowers. To my right was a sky-scraping peak that was framed between two pure, white snow fields. A mile down straight below my feet stretched a lush, green forest overflowing with waterfalls, streams, and wildlife. The sight was unlike any other I had ever seen before in all my life. As I took a deep breath and prepared to capture a few photos of the moment, a most shocking question came to mind.

A Moment of Wonder

It seemed that all which encompassed me in this moment was so grand, so beautiful, so amazing, yet to my human mind it seemed impossible that the One who created such splendor would or could be personal. Could such Transcendence ever condescend to such an ambivalent and confused race as mankind?  In similar moments of amazement my heart had always been filled with praise to the Creator and such was the same in this moment. Yet, to my intellect there seemed to be some confusing impossibility. The awe-inspiring beauty and majesty upon which I gazed in this awesome scene struck a chord not of disbelief in the Creation, but doubt in that such a Creator would be personally involved in my life and in the rest of humanity. How can we as mere mortals think we can “connect” with a holy, omnipotent God? This may seem like an odd question for someone who has firmly believed in the perfect, complete work of Christ for many years and has seen the power of God very evident in every part of his personal faith and life. Yet, I wonder if such a question is not wrong to ask?

We as mere mortals have aspired ever since the first biped of our kind first took step on this earthy soil to make something for and of ourselves. From skyscrapers to mile-long bridges we have endeavored to reach the apex of human ingenuity and accomplishment. Yet, although we have wrought great human wonders, humanity nevertheless seems more distant than ever before from the God of the Universe. In the moment my eyes surveyed the sweeping splendor of Glacier Park, the Holy One felt very close, yet very distant for the sake of His power.

Measuring Power

Man has been attempting to gain power and the upper hand, yet remains absolutely powerless to the forces of nature. This is most explicitly seen in the Hurricane Katrina disaster. Could the God of such power, also be the God of condescending grace? The orthodox Christian answer to this question seemed illogical to many of our historical forebears, especially from the 18^th century. Men like Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin believed, from their perspective, it was impossible to affirm that such a transcendent, powerful God would ever lower himself to directly relate in the affairs of man. To men such as these, the world was like a giant, majestic clock that had been exquisitely crafted by God, yet left to spin its course without any Divine intervention or interaction. Could it have been their pondering of such Omnipotence in Creation that led them to this conclusion?

The annals of history are littered with similar remarks of doubt in the God who is personal. Yet, Christianity has always shouted from the housetops that God is absolutely transcendent and also immanently personal to those who receive Him by faith. It could even be said that on this doctrine Christianity stands and without such it would fall. For the very idea of being “Christ-like” or “followers of Christ” which is literally what the term “Christian” means, holds its very validity on the personal, sacrificial work of Christ on earth for the redemption of the human race. If Jesus the Christ had not come to this earth as a man, personal in every way, relating to man in all likeness, there would be no Christianity, there would be no Cross, and there would be no Savior of the world.

But this incomprehensible power we see!? From the skies above to all the vast earth beneath our feet, His holiness and utter distance from our finiteness seems impossible to grasp. Perhaps it truly is beyond us. Is it possible Thomas Jefferson, Franklin, and many others may have been right in their assumption that God was simply “too big” and transcendent to be personal – even in the person and work of Jesus Christ? Or, could it be that we have not been the first to ruminate about such things?

Power through the Ages

I am reminded of God’s servant David as he stood in wonder at the blessing and mercy of God upon the feeble nation of Israel. After God declared His everlasting covenant with the house of David we find the young king proclaiming in 2 Samuel 7:18-20, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far? And yet this was insignificant in Your eyes, O Lord God, for You have spoken also of the house of Your servant concerning the distant future. And this is the custom of man, O Lord God. Again what more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, O Lord God!”

It seems impossible to David in this moment of Divine mercy that the God of all would desire to orchestrate events to bless the house of His servant. From the very depths of his soul David proclaims one rhetorical question after another in pure amazement that God would step into his imperfect life and bless him. However, differing drastically from the skeptic, his questions are not those of disbelief, but of personal realization of the “unbelievable!”               

If God is too “unbelievable” to believe, than what exactly do we doubt? If God is powerful enough to create the entire vast universe we experience in small measure everyday, is He not also omnipotent enough to will the coming of His Son for the saving of the human race? I believe the problem does not lie in God’s infinite might, but in our finite minds. If one refuses to accept God’s amazing grace of personal action in the hearts and lives of mankind, then he or she does not have a “larger” view of God, but a limited perspective of His all-encompassing power. God is more than powerful, yet many (like Jefferson etc.) simply limit Him in their minds by their narrow knowledge and understanding. Ultimately the Deistic doubt is one of skepticism towards the true all-powerful God Himself.  For if we believe He has the power to create vast landscapes such as Glacier National Park, He must certainly contain the strength and will to do whatever He chooses in human life as well. Herein is His great, amazing love shown to the human race. 

The Lord is SO powerful that He in His infinite love desired to reach down into the lives of you and me to once again restore the personal relationship he had with mankind in the Garden of Eden. God most certainly could have chosen to remain outside the affairs of man, but by His own character of love He was (and is) compelled to draw man to Himself. We who had no way of ever coming to Him or ever connecting to Him are now drawn near to Him in a real, everlasting, personal relationship made possible by Him alone. This personal communion which is made the possession of all who believe by faith in Christ was instigated entirely apart from our own doing. How could we through any other way than His incarnation ever hope in a thousand years of connecting to such a righteous and awesome Creator while remaining in our imperfect and sinful state?! The Lord’s answer to man’s depraved state was and is His power – His almighty power to save and restore. Ephesians 2:4-7 tells of His promise to restore and save while we even remained separated from His holiness in this way, “But God, being rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

True Worship         

When human power and ingenuity collapse from their pedestal and God’s power and mercy are truly grasped by the heart and mind is the point when worship of our omnipotent Lord truly begins. In a moment of awe-struck wonder at the power and holiness or “otherness” of God, one should marvel at the pure, amazing Grace that desired not to stay only within the realm of the transcendent, but literally condescend entirely to the complete brunt of mankind in order that a true, abiding relationship could be restored. May the Lord be praised.

Is God’s power inconceivable, even incomprehensible? Yes! Is God’s power conceivable, and even comprehensible? Yes, in the manifest work of Christ in our lives! In Philippians 2:6-11 we learn of the merciful humility of Christ in this way, “who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Jesus Christ who is God Himself, the second person of the Godhead, who is both co-eternal and co-existent with the Father and Spirit, humbled Himself, emptied Himself, and sacrificed His own human body on Calvary to be the Mediator between a shoddy human race and the perfectly holy God. In this not only is His love shown, but I would also contend, His immeasurable power displayed. We must believe in His power, in all its splendor and glory, both in His transcendence and His magnificent condescendence. His omnipotence lays manifest for the entire world to see, yet his personal immanence abides with those who believe in faith. What a wonderful promise, what a wonderful Savior, what omnipotent grace!

Currently Reading Good Christians Good Husbands?: Leaving a Legacy in Marriage and Ministry By Moore, Doreen see related

A Day with Mohammed

The Greeting of Two Cultures

          As I pulled up to a small, but charming restaurant in the Highland Park area of Dallas in my red Dodge Ram, I felt a little apprehensive, but full of excitement. Tonight I was to meet with a young man who was from a country that was entirely opposed to Christianity and was known for the intense animosity concerning such matters throughout history. In recent news I had heard of the growing violence spreading throughout the Middle East that partially, if not entirely, was directed against western culture and religion.

         Walking in the door of this quant Middle-Eastern dining room, I was greeted with a smile and quickly given a seat. But, not wanting to appear lazy with protocol I decided to step outside and wait at the door for my guest. Just then I realized something quite humorous, I had no idea what my soon coming guest looked like! With a quick prayer I voiced this concern amongst others to the Lord and asked for His guidance and blessing on the evening. Shortly after I finished my little petition, up walked a sharp young man with a beard who appeared about my age and with a big smile he asked, “Are you Michael?” With pleasant joy I quickly stuck out my hand to shake his and we both strolled into the restaurant. With some fear, yes, but also with the abiding peace of God I ventured that evening into what would turn out to be a life changing moment in the pages of my life.

My Friend Mohammed

          In conjunction with the International Student Fellowship (otherwise known as ISI), I had the wonderful opportunity of meeting and befriending a young man by the name of Mohammed Alshafan. Through the direction of Derrah Jackson (ISI), I was able to correspond with Mohammed several times over the phone and spend an evening together at a very nice little restaurant near Southern Methodist University called “Food from Galilee”.

Mohammed came to the United States having already completed law school in his home country of Saudi Arabia. He came from a large conservative Muslim family which sought to uphold the original Saudi way of life. Before arriving in Dallas, Mohammed worked as a provocative journalist for a prominent news organization in Saudi Arabia. But, after becoming somewhat disillusioned with the politics of that sector he decided to do further studies in modern law here in the States. Being an expert in Shari`a law, his life vision is to bridge the great philosophical and religious gap between traditional Shari`a practice and the more contemporary view of law policy. He feels this is quite an insurmountable task, but he appeared up to the challenge as we discussed the matter.

          His roommate Yassar who was a fellow law student and countryman of Mohammed’s also arrived a little later on in the evening for some dinner and conversation. Both men were in their mid-twenties and planned on graduating from the international law and policy program at SMU earlier this month. Because of their graduation and my busy schedule we were unfortunately not able to get back together for further growth in our friendship before they headed back home. This truly was a disappointment to me, for it seemed we had a great level of camaraderie between us and enjoyed each other’s company. The evening went on for several hours as we talked candidly about all sorts of topics related to North American culture and the Saudi Arabian society.

A Connection!

         During one of my telephone conversations with Mohammed I had mentioned to him about some time I had spent in the UAE state of Dubai. And, it just so happened that this is where he actually was born. So, to say the least they had many questions for me in regard to my stay in that glittering, metallic city of gold and silver. In fact, it seemed at times that they wanted to ask me more questions than I did of them. They asked me what I thought about the city of Dubai and what my perception was of Islamic culture. As they nicely proposed questions to me concerning my views of their people and nation, I found them to not only be pleasant and calm, but also quickly becoming my friends. We got along well from the very moment of our meeting and even though we were worlds apart in our upbringing and belief system we thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company.

Home Cultures and Perceived differences

        The culture in which Mohammed was raised is very different from my home life. However, it became very clear to me in the midst of our discussion that although our backgrounds may be starkly contrasted, we are both human beings created by God with the same innate questions about life and ultimate purpose. Both of us loved and missed our families very much. We both loved our home countries and would fight for them. He and I would be willing to die for what we believe in. And, both of us had asked the same questions about death, life, and eternity. We even both love Middle-Eastern food, and enjoyed a large amount of it that night.

         So, if we have so many similarities why all the fuss? Well, even though the night was filled with such great conversation and camaraderie, it also became clear that there were some large differences between us. Yes, most of those were religious differences and some may say we make too much of an issue out of such things, it is important to note however, that our beliefs are at the core of all that we do. Therefore, our entire life is governed by our particular belief system and the religious filter through which we view life and society.

        Throughout the night I was able to learn of the many views that governed Mohammed’s lifestyle and religion. His Islamic beliefs are absolutely essential not only to the way he worships, but also to law, family, and business. One particular belief that they wanted to discuss was their view of family and marriage, of which I was delighted to talk about. Yassar and Mohammed almost with a hushed voice told me that back in Saudi Arabia men were allowed to have as many as four wives. Although both their fathers practiced monogamy and had all their children through one wife, they still believed it permissible to allow the practice of “limited” polygamy.

        Another difference they pointed out was the absence of theaters and other such entertainment in Saudi Arabia. Mohammed explained that it was against the law and severely punished to publicly show films and display any picture of any kind that might be viewed as immodest. However, he also openly explained the hypocrisy of his people as he told me how they can buy any DVD you could ever imagine and simply watch privately. And, in regard to their seemingly pious views of modesty and sexual privacy, they told me how the majority of men openly demoralize women constantly through their words and actions.

        Throughout our discussion, Mohammed kept saying that when he had first come to the United States he wanted to argue with everyone and defend his religion. But now he felt that he was somewhat foolish in doing so and had neglected learning from other people. Also, he felt that although his people hid their sinfulness through a guise of law and government policy, they too were just as wicked as the “westerners”. It was very eye-opening to hear and discuss such issues that are usually so delicate and political. But it truly was amazing how we both opened up to one another about our various cultural views and perspectives on life.

Abiding in Him,

                  Michael Breznau

Currently Reading So, You Want To Be Like Christ?: Eight Essentials to Get You There By Charles R. Swindoll see related

Our Jigsaw Puzzle: 2007 Recap

                                                                                                             January, 2008

                                                                                                               Dallas, Texas

Dear Family and Friends,                                 

          What a wonderful and gracious Lord we serve! Every day I find myself standing in awe at the amazing works of our Almighty God. It has been a priceless blessing to know that so many faithful friends have been lifting my ministry and education up before the Lord in prayer. All of you have been an immense encouragement to me through your prayers, letters, and phone calls, and I am sincerely grateful for each one of you. This year has been one of intense and challenging ministry opportunity, and also twelve of the most exciting months of my life. Simply knowing that so many of you consistently stand behind me in prayer has been an amazing spiritual support and I want to thank you from the very depths of my heart.

          Following the direction of the Lord, I began my studies at Dallas Theological Seminary just a little over a year ago, and what a wonderful experience this has been! Each class has made a remarkable impact on my personal walk with Christ as well as my daily outreach with the Gospel. Embarking on this exciting expedition has been amazing and I look forward to the next three years in the Master of Theology program. Glancing back at the first few months in Dallas, I see that far beyond my imagination God had laid plans in store of the most wonderful kind. In early spring the Lord guided me to begin developing a relationship with a wonderful young lady whom I had met the previous August. Not knowing how this would be possible because of the great distance between us (she in North Carolina and I in Texas); I gave the matter into the hands of the Lord for the working and testimony of His glory. Making a wonderful story far too short, God amazingly directed our steps and within just a couple of weeks we began to communicate… daily. J

A Lonely Testing

           Stephanie Anna Clayton not only encouraged me throughout the remainder of my first semester at DTS, but also continues to daily exhort me toward a closer walk with Christ. Only a couple of months into the beginnings of our friendship the Lord very clearly directed me to serve as a minister in Glacier National Park for the summer, to which I was very excited. However, this would mean I would be thousands of miles away from her, my family, and all my friends. I knew the guidance of God was clear concerning this, so I stepped forward in faith, trusting His leading. I could not understand why God would have me travel off 2,500 miles in the opposite direction of the woman I was beginning to love, but I continued to trust.

           Looking back through the summer months I can now testify of why God sent me to the far northern reaches of the continental States. I was brought to a place of complete and total dependence upon Christ for everything – not only my spiritual needs, but also companionship, emotional needs, and inner strength for the ministry of the Gospel. This testing could not have occurred in any other place apart from the often lonely, yet beautiful landscape of Glacier Park. After the first few weeks in the Park, God saw fit to allow other people to come into my life that encouraged and upheld me. These new found friends in the ministry impacted me in a wonderful way during those early weeks and on through the course of the summer. However, as many new friends came into my life, one in particular continued to shine above the rest as she poured her love and encouragement upon my life in such undeserved measure.

            As I would work through issues of relational evangelism among my co-workers, prepare a message for the upcoming Sunday service, or practice songs for the evening time of worship, I was always aware of Stephanie’s prayers for me. Her intercession and encouragement would come sometimes in the form of an email, or even through our weekly phone calls (which we both looked forward to with great anticipation), but most often however, her thoughts for me would come through the most beautiful handwritten notes, cards, and letters I had ever seen. As we continued to correspond over this great distance I felt that our hearts were drawing ever so much closer.

                                                                   Our Jigsaw Puzzle

             The summer of ministry in Glacier Park quickly came to a close, and with the end of one opportunity came the beginning of another. The Lord graciously provided for me to take a journey to visit Stephanie and her family in North Carolina before my school semester began. And, after an entire year having gone by since we first met each other we were once again reunited, and oh what joy was ours. Over the course of the summer God had very concretely confirmed that Stephanie was most certainly the “one”, but of course she did not know exactly what I was thinking. On a warm, sunny Saturday morning the two of us were sitting on comfortable white rocking chairs on the front porch of their pleasant Carolina home. As Stephanie and I chatted with each other in the glowing rays of sun, I knew it was finally time to tell her all that God had been showing me over the past five months. With a little hesitation but abiding peace in my heart, I opened up not only my journal but also my heart. I began with a few special little instances of answered prayer and then told her of the countless ways I had grown in my appreciation and affection for her. As we shared with one another the many, many events and circumstances in our lives that had led us to one another, it was as if a masterful jigsaw puzzle was being fit together – not by us – but by the Master’s hand.

           On through the fall months and amidst the pressures of language studies and exposition classes, we continued to grow in our love for each other. Stephanie had the great opportunity to meet my whole family as we all celebrated an early Thanksgiving Day down in balmy Texas. Shortly after their departure God proved His faithfulness and answered my prayer for a special, creative, and unique ring for my Princess – one which proved to be simply perfect for her. The fall semester of school rapidly sped by and before we knew it I was heading northward for the holiday season. I first spent a week in Michigan where I enjoyed a relaxing time at home for the first time in nearly nine months. This refreshing time also allowed me to set up an exciting and surprising proposal sequence. As I worked through online restaurant critiques and horse drawn carriage companies I began to feel a little nervous about how everything would work out. However, God once again answered my prayers and directed me to just the right people who helped arrange my ideas into perfect order for the special evening.

A New Year’s Eve to Remember

            On a crisp, starry New Year’s Eve night Stephanie and I started out on a short journey to downtown Raleigh. My plans for our early dinner worked out perfectly, as the restaurant was simply delightful to her tastes of décor and cuisine. Enjoying a quiet, candlelit dinner entirely alone for most of the meal we shared thoughts and moments from the past three hundred and sixty-five days. What a wonderful and enchanting hour. After finishing our meal I tried to occupy our time for a few moments with pictures while I waited for our “Cinderella-like” carriage to arrive. Just about ten minutes after seven o’clock I noticed our steed had come so we quietly stepped out of the restaurant. This happened to be Stephanie’s first ever carriage ride and we both immensely enjoyed the romantic journey. As we trotted silently along through quaint little corridors of downtown neighborhoods, I read to her letters I had written over the last few months that shared about the many reasons why I want to give my life to her. At an appointed spot near the Governor’s mansion we lighted from our buggy and I led our way down a cobble brick sidewalk. Pausing at a quiet, secluded corner near the magnificent home, I once again pulled out our little journal of letters and read her the last one. Each letter ended with a scripture reference, and this one was Psalm 128:1-6 which speaks of the blessing of the Lord over the home of the man who loves and fears the Lord. There on that starry night I read this beautiful Psalm to her, rested down on one knee, and asked my wonderful Princess if she would be my Beloved forever. And, to my great delight she said, “Yes Michael Breznau, with all my heart!!”

           Oh what great joy and happiness rose up into our souls as we rejoiced in the goodness of God that night! This was not the last surprise of the evening for Stephanie however, for waiting just twenty minutes away was my family. They had decided to make a last minute journey down from Michigan and had arrived in Raleigh that evening and were waiting with the rest of the Clayton’s at Mimi’s Café. As we drove out of downtown and neared the café, I commented that we should stop there and pick up some of their yummy muffins for breakfast in the morning or perhaps get a little dessert. I am not sure if she was entirely fooled by my ramblings, but it was such a blast to celebrate the unforgettable evening with everyone.

Reveling in His Goodness and Declaring His Greatness

           Stephanie and I felt like we were being peppered by the paparazzi for the rest of the night as we welcomed in the New Year and dreamed of all that would come. Yes, this New Year’s Eve was by far the most wonderful and spectacular one I have ever experienced and one I am certain never to forget. As we gazed into each other’s eyes and reveled in the beauty of the love God had given us for each other that night, my heart was filled with praise to the one who truly is the Author of love. I am so grateful that we have sought the Lord in every way and that He has chosen to draw us together for the praise of His glorious grace. We desire with all of our hearts to be a living testimony of God’s wondrous works. It says in Psalm 71:17-19 “O God, You have taught me from my youth, and I still declare Your wondrous deeds. And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come. For your righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens, You who have done great things; O God, who is like You?”

            As this wonderful song of David proclaims, in like manner Stephanie and I long with all of our hearts to declare God’s greatness and strength to this generation. God has masterfully written a love story that has wonderfully weaved our lives together forever. There are so many little stories of God’s faithfulness and direction that hundreds of pages could be written and hours of dialogue could be shared, and just to think this is only the beginning! Our daily prayer is that God’s glory would be shown and His power known in and through our lives. May Christ be exalted!

            I sincerely appreciate all of your prayers and encouragement and know that I am particularly blessed by all of you. Below you will find a short listing of prayers requests for the upcoming months of ministry, school, finances etc… Thank you once again for encouraging my heart by your loving support and thoughtful words. May God abundantly bless all of you with the riches of Christ and give you His abiding peace.

Please Pray For:

• Stephanie and I as we continue to grow in our love for each other and the Lord.
• My upcoming semester at Dallas Seminary, that the Lord would grant me wisdom, focus, concentration, and blessing in my studies.
• The Lord to open up doors of opportunity for ministry during the next year in abundant ways.
• Much needed financial provision for seminary tuition and related schooling expenses.
• God to guide and direct us as we arrange wedding plans, housing down in Dallas and travel plans for this New Year. The date we have set for our wedding is June 14^th!

        “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” (Colossians 3:15-17)

In Christ Alone,

           Michael Breznau  

Currently Reading Let the Nations Be Glad! 2d ed. By John Piper see related

Walking in His Will

  There is a great question that permeates the mind of all those who want to live their lives as worship to Christ and do all the Father wants them to do. This question is battled with by some for decades and sometimes throughout a lifetime. Many will embark wholeheartedly down one path; travel years down that road, and then wonder yet again if they initially made the right choice or decision regarding this question of all questions. The pain and agony of pulling into reverse and redirecting the entire course of one’s life is almost more than some can bear. We hear stories everyday and probably know many people who have done this. Some of these quests towards answering the great question seemingly end in disastrous consequences, while it appears that others prosper into wonderful testimonies of God’s power. Some people may appear to arrive at an answer to this question within a matter of days, but others seem to go through years of deliberation and varying levels of frustration before coming to a solution.

  Why all the confusion? Why all the frustration? Furthermore, what is the question!? The perplexing inquiry I am speaking of is that of knowing the will of God. For those of us who trust in Christ for abundant life and an eternal home, this question is at the heart of daily life. It is at the center of every true Christian’s motivation for living. Through our desire for God’s glory to be shown and His power to be known, we all will arrive at various points in life when we ask for the knowledge of God’s will. Some people may ask whether or not it is God’s will for them buy a particular pair of shoes or sunglasses, or some may wonder if they should be involved in a camping trip of some kind or not, still others may seek His will on the purchase of a car or home. While all these may be valid requests for knowing the direction of God, I would like to concentrate on the one pertinent extension of this question that invokes life reversals, seminary educations, or any variety of other drastic course changes.           

“Honey, I quit my job and we’re moving to Africa!”    

  As we seek to know the will of God we come to realize that beyond shoes, camping trips, and cars, He wants to direct the very vocation of our lives. Upon arrival at this place on the journey the idea of being called by God for a particular work becomes very important. In our desire to love the Lord, we naturally want to be sure that what we are doing is truly His will. Before we arrive home on a Friday afternoon and announce to the wife and kids that they will all be heading to the second poorest country in the eastern hemisphere, one should make absolutely certain that he has truly been called to do that work. While the previous sentence smacks with a little sarcasm, it probably can be agreed that unfortunately this is sometimes what actually happens. The need to know what God has designed for you to walk in is the vital strand that many times will hold the “fort” together when pressures become unbearable and the winds are blowing strong. God has in a sense called all of us, and within that calling He guides each one of His children into the path designed for them. It is simply knowing that guidance and heeding it that sometimes causes the difficulty. 

  The necessity of knowing your calling and being absolutely sure of it cannot be expressed in strong enough terms. So, if you or I feel a tug in our spirit towards the full-time pastorate or any other vocation for that matter, what should we do? We do not want to make a mistake or somehow walk outside of our calling and disregard the guidance of God, so where should we start? I have five parameters that I have personally sought to follow through the path of my life in Christ that have been beneficially to me as I seek the will of God.

Guidance and Direction in Keeping with Your Calling  

Determine through…

1. Continued confirmation in answered prayer.
2. Direct peace through the Word.
3. Confirmation through the counsel of parents and/or elders.
4. Direction in outside circumstances, which are out of your control.
5. Abiding peace in the heart (not to be confused with the ebb and flow of “feelings”).

           I have gleaned these personal principles for seeking the will and guidance of God by holistically observing the lives of the apostles in the New Testament, particularly the life of Paul. While I have sought to follow these guidelines in my walk with the Lord, it must be said that there were many times throughout the last fifteen years when I wondered if I had “missed God” in some way. When in the middle of a “rock and a hard place” it can often be very difficult to see clearly. However, upon viewing the circumstances from this vantage point of hindsight, I see how God has wonderfully wrought His plan. You may be in the perfect will of God and there still might be times of complete frustration or even utter disaster. One only has to take a quick look at the life of Job to come to grips with this truth. But, if you are wholeheartedly seeking the guidance of the Lord, your abiding peace in Him and assurance never has to leave. His peace accompanied with the empowering strength of the Holy Spirit is what will bring you through the good times and the bad. Know your calling and be sure of it and the spiritual blessing of God will follow as you seek to give all glory and praise to Him.

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The Most Amazing Example...

         Many months ago in the awakening of spring here in Dallas, I flopped on my bed after a long week of studying, classes, and assignments and in the swirling of my mind began to struggle with this question... this question of God's will in a certain matter. I was not wondering whether or not I was supposed to be at Dallas Seminary or if I was in the right vocation, because God had already abundantly confirmed that over and over. Far above musings such as these, there was an even more monumental thought filling the corridors of my brain.

        Far too enough I had traced a pattern in my life of, in a sense, coercing the will of God. Now, we all now that God Himself cannot be coerced or changed in any way, for He is the immutable, unchangeable, and omnipotent Lord of the universe. But, in my longing to know His will and direction in my life, I found myself trying to arrange events, circumstances, counsel, and feelings in an order by which I would get my desired outcome. Beyond my possible arranging of these things, my interpretation of occurences outside of my skewing was also, in my heart, taken out of proportion. These conclusions were easy to come by, maybe too easy.

        The problem with this line of thinking was that I seemed to be getting myself into very difficult debacles and conflicts. It appeared that all the areas of my life except one in particular were led by God completely and with clear direction. But, why this one area of confusion? 

        So, as I layed there that warm spring evening in mid-march, I cried out to the Lord in desperation with a heart mixed with gratitude, but also frustration... frustration with myself. As I sought the Lord concerning why everything else in my life, but any attempt towards a special life-long relationship (yes that's right, relationship) seemed to always be with out His direction; I suddenly realized that basically all my life I had been asking things like this, "Lord, is she the one?" Or "Is this Your will God?" "Lord would you please show clearly if this is Your will?" Or better yet, "Oh yes Lord, alleluia, this must be your will!!?" Oh yes, I would read circumstances, filter through events and so many other things trying to "find" the will of God for a spouse. But it was then that I realized this simple fact: I had never really asked God for His will concerning this matter in a plain manner, AND, without anyone in mind at the time. What do I mean by "plain" manner? Well, just like this, "Lord would You please bring me a wife of Your perfect will, in Your time and through Your complete and undeniable direction." Period. No asking about so and so, or this line item, or anything else! Just simply giving it to the always faithful Lord of the Universe and knowing that He is going to make His power known through my life.

          With a feeling of great release I made this simple request before the Lord that night and went to sleep...

          Two weeks later I was home in Michigan for spring break and simply having a wonderful, relaxing time with family and friends. On the Wednesday evening of that week I was washing the dishes and singing in worship to the Lord as I scrubbed pot and pan, cup and plate. Nothing in particular was on my mind to my recollection except the goodness of the Lord and the wonderful blessings of family. Then, just as clear as a bell ringing through a little village on a Sunday morning, my mind was brought to rememberance of Stephanie. Thoughts of when I had met her the previous August quickly surfaced; thoughts of her love for the Lord, her sincere desire for His perfect will, her passion for ministry, her love of children, her amazing talents and giftings in music, her beauty....  

         Not really knowing where these seemingly "out of the blue" thoughts had come from, I immediately brought these things before the Lord in some wonderment of whether or not it was Him and His voice, speaking these things to me. As I asked the Lord why my mind had so suddenly been reminded of this wonderful person whom I had met more than seven months previously, I was determined to not get carried away with just one point of reference. I asked the Lord that if this was in fact, Him speaking to me, that He would make it abundantly clear in every way possible, and expressed my desire to Him that all I wanted was His perfect will and nothing else. Filled with a sense of peace about this unusual event, I finished up the dishes and went back to spending quality time with my family that evening.

 November 4th 2007 TODAY

        Looking back at the almost eight months since that evening in March, I can now with great confidence say that it truly was the Lord who reminded me of (in my deepest opinion) the most wonderful, loving, and beautiful woman in the world....Stephanie Anna Clayton. The base on which that heartfelt sentence was expressed is an amazing foundation of confirmation through answered prayer, the Word, parents, circumstances, and abiding peace. My prayer has always been that my life would be a