Positive Thoughts & Good Vibes

I'm seeing it more and more.  "Granddaddy has surgery, so please send your prayers, positive thoughts and good vibes his way."  "I've got a big job interview today, so prayers and positive thoughts are much appreciated."  "My daughter is taking a huge exam this afternoon, so any good vibes and prayers for her are welcome."

What does that even mean?  Do people really think positive thoughts and good vibes make a difference?  Do people think that I can somehow affect the cosmos across time and space if I just believe they'll do good on their exam and send my positive thoughts their way?  I know we're really trying to include all our diverse friends when we make those comments, but I'm not sure it's helpful.

I recently heard a quote from Perry Noble that I liked.  It went something like this:  "In a crisis, you find out if you're an atheist or a Christian."  When people send out such request, it is because they are facing a crisis moment.  There is a big test, doctor's appointment or family crisis -- and they realize they need all the help they can get.  But Christians believe there is only one thing that can help.  We believe that we serve the God of all creation who was, is, and is to come.  And we believe that He moves and works in history.  And we believe that prayer works because He turns His ear to the prayers of His children.

There was a powerful movie out several years ago called Bless the Child.  It was kind of a modern day savior story.  Satan was actually a popular motivational speaker who's motto was that we had the power within us.  All you had to do was believe in yourself.  You know...positive thoughts.  Good vibes.  You see, this is the opposite of the Gospel message.  The Gospel of Jesus is that we are a broken mess, and our positive thoughts can't fix anything.  They only hide the brokenness within.  We don't need more of us.  We need more of God.

The first commandment God gave to Moses was that we should not have any other gods before (or besides) Him.  It was that 'besides' God that was the problem for Israelites.  Pray to God but sacrifice to the agricultural deity just in case.  Pray to God but make and offering to the fertility goddess just in case.  Pray to God but get some good vibes coming your way, too.  What can it hurt?

If you are a Christ Follower -- stop it.  Call on your friends to pray and pray like they've never prayed before.  But calling on people to send positive thoughts sends a wrong message -- because we don't believe those positive thoughts make a lick of impact.  In fact, we are sending a message that there are other alternatives to the work of God in our lives.  It's as if we're saying, "God might be an answer for you, but you might just need a good self help book and some positive thoughts."  If I am in a crisis, I don't want your good vibes.  I want you to pray to the King of Kings to act on my behalf and do what you nor I can do.  To move in ways we don't understand and can't comprehend.  Isn't that what we all want?

If you are not a Christ Follower -  I'm so appreciative of you reading.  I understand that you have a much more pluralistic understanding of the universe than I do.  I'm grateful we can share ideas across understandings.  I'll bet you've had one of those crisis or perhaps there will be one in the years ahead.  Do you think that positive thoughts will help?  Maybe you do.  That's cool.  I'm not convinced.  Or, are you hoping that maybe there is Something...Someone...out there that will move on your behalf in some kind of supernatural way.  I believe there is.  And I believe that Someone loves you.  And I'd love to pray for you for that Someone to move in your life situation or crisis.  I promise you don't want my good vibes or positive thoughts.  I'm a mess.  I don't know what I'm doing or what's best for you.  That Someone does.  He wouldn't even mind if you prayed to Him.  Why not give it a try the next time you need a little help?

Sunday Preview & Thought for the Week (9.10.15)

I am so excited about this Sunday as we begin a new series in our 10-month theme called "The Journey."  We're beginning a series called "The People of God" in which we're learning about Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the birth of the Hebrew people.  What I believe is that we find much of our own story in these stories.  We'll be talking about God's initial call to Abraham to be the father of His people.  I can't wait to share with you and hope to see you there.

Don't forget about the Baptism Course coming up THIS Sunday after worship at both campuses for those interested in baptism.  Baptism is one of my favorite things to be a part of in ministry, and I'd love to celebrate this with you or your child.

Thought for the Week
"So we called out to Yahweh, the God of our fathers, and the Lord heard our cry and saw our misery, hardship, and oppression."  Deuteronomy 26:7

Are you at the end of your rope?  I know so many people that seem to be at the end of their rope.  They are on their last straw.  They are worn out and worn down.  They are broken.  Life has a way of doing that to you.  Parenting zaps you.  Work grinds you to a pulp.  Aging is relentless.  Stress is real, and burdens are heavy.  The world beats you up.  Your reality is not what you thought it would be.  The bills are stacking higher, the people that need you at work and home need you more and more.  You are being pulled in a million different directions.  You are in despair...barely hanging on.  I want you to know that when you are at the end of your rope is when God hears your prayers the clearest.  Maybe we pray our best prayers then.  Maybe the distractions are gone.  Maybe we stop pretending when we're finally broken.  Whatever it is, I hope you'll cry out to God then.  I hope you'll call upon the one who created you.  The Lord sees you hanging on, and He will hear your prayer.  And He won't let you fall farther than He can catch you.  I believe that with all my heart.  I've experienced it too many times myself. I've seen it with my own two eyes with too many people.  Cry out to the one who made you, even...especially...if you are at the end of your rope today.

In Christ,

Carter

Prison Break

Have you heard about Ryan Ferguson?  If you haven't, click on the link.  He's 29 and was just freed from prison after being in there for 10 years for a murder he didn't commit.  That's right, he missed all of his 20s because he was wrongly accused.  First, I am very impressed with him and his attitude.  I can't imagine the range of emotions he's feeling.

When I heard one of his comments, I thought about something our LIFE Group was talking about last night.  Ferguson had made the comment that it was very easy to get wrongly accused and put in prison, but very difficult to get out.  Once you're in, you have very little power.  They both pointed to one source as their saving grace:  their attorney.

You know, the word that Jesus uses to describe the Holy Spirit is a word that comes from the field of law.  Many versions translate it as "Counselor."  Another uses "Advocate."

You and I are much like Ryan Ferguson.  We won't get out of prison without an advocate.  Unlike Ferguson, most of us can recount the steps of how we got there.  Now were are stuck.  Stuck in addiction.  Stuck in debt up to our ears.  Stuck in passionless marriages.  Stuck in lies.  Stuck in a career that we hate but can't afford to leave.  Stuck in a pattern of sin.  Stuck in rages of anger.  Stuck being the parent we promised ourselves we wouldn't be.  Stuck in despair.  We're stuck.  Trapped.  Imprisoned.  You won't get out without a Counselor.  You need an Advocate to fight for you.  That Advocate is ready.  And here's the trick.  Are you ready?  Do what the Advocate says.  Can you imagine if Ryan Ferguson would have gone against his counselor's orders?  Can you imagine if he'd scheduled an interview she didn't want him to have or said something to a fellow inmate she advised him not to?  He'd still be in prison.  When you're in prison, you've got to trust the advocate.  Do what He says.  If you listen, if you study the Bible, if you really open your heart up in church, if you seek the counsel of wise, trusted, Christian friends, and if you pray...you'll start to hear what to do.  Now, hear me out.  It will take a while.  You're not getting out tomorrow.  All you're responsible for is the next step.  Take the next step.  The good news is this.  Jesus, through his grace has freed our souls from the prison of sin and death.  That's Jesus' work.  That's done for us through His death and resurrection.  But we often don't know how to live like free men and women.  We have to learn to walk...to take the next step.  Like Ryan Ferguson, you are in a prison you don't have to be in, but get out you're going to have to listen very closely to your Advocate and do exactly has He says.  So listen for the Spirit.  And do what He says.