Anxiously Awaiting

I wonder what it was like to live in the days before Jesus was born. I wonder what it must have been like to be Simeon who was promised that he would see the Messiah with his own eyes before he died. I wonder what the anticipation must have been like. An entire nation eagerly anticipating the arrival of their Savior and the fulfillment of prophecy. Families and friends talking and dreaming about what it would be like when this Savior finally makes their appearance. What an exciting time for them...
What an exciting time for us. Each year, followers of Jesus get to celebrate and simulate the anticipation that took place about 2,000 years ago. The time of advent, if celebrated properly, instills an excitement for the birth of Christ. Our advantage in these days is that we have seen the Savior's work accomplished. Not only do we celebrate His birth, but we celebrate his entire life, death and resurrection on Earth and His current and infinite reign in Heaven.
We anxiously look forward to celebrating His birth each year because it is one step closer to God finishing His work of reconciling us to Him. What good news of great joy!

The Paralytic - His Grace is Enough

Preaching is one of the most difficult things I have ever done. The challenge of accurately interpreting and communicating scripture weighs heavy on me as I prepare. On the other hand, what a gift to be able to spend an extended period time with one passage and meditate on it. I'm beginning to see scripture like a diamond...as you look at it from different angles it shimmers and different parts stand out.
I recently experienced this with Mark 2:1-12. This is the story of Jesus healing a paralytic. As I've read this story several times before I would focus on the man's friends who tore through the roof to get him to Jesus, and I'd focus on the miracle of Jesus physically healing the paralytic. As I read and studied the story this time...something else stood out.
In that culture sin and suffering went hand in hand. It was believed that if you were suffering it was because of sin...because you had made God angry. I began to put myself on this man's mat. He probably spent most of his life wondering what he had done to make God so angry and why God was so distant from him. As if that weren't bad enough, most people probably looked at him with shameful looks (if they looked at him at all). They probably told him that he was getting what he deserved. They might tell there children to be good or else they might end up like the paralytic. His paralysis had become his identity. So imagine his response to the first words Christ spoke to him..."Son, your sins are forgiven." Jesus claims him as his child and tells him that he is not angry with him. Jesus' words mean that a lifetime of spiritual and emotional suffering was over. Jesus gives this man a completely new identity and a new lease on life. What an intimate moment of healing for that man. This is the only healing that he requires...this is the healing that his heart had longed for. While this spiritual healing was intimate, Jesus makes these comments publicly. There is great significance in this. While the comments were for the paralytic, they landed in the hearts of everyone crowded in and around this small house in Capernaum. The words changed the way that everyone looked at this man. He was forgiven, he is not deserving of this physical suffering.
Those of us that know the story know that Jesus goes on to give the man physical healing as well. Jesus does this to give a visible justification for a claim to an invisible power (to forgive sins). He does this to prove that the man's sins were forgiven and he had experienced complete healing.
This story has taken on a deeper meaning for me. This story teaches us that when we come to Jesus with faith and repentance, we can experience the most important healing...spiritual healing. His grace is enough.

All Eyes On You

You've gotta love this story in 2 Chronicles. Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah are faced with what seems to be an insurmountable army of the Moabites, Ammonites and some of the Meunites. A lesser man leading Judah may have crumbled, but Jehoshaphat passed with flying colors. He has all of Judah fast and seek the Lord. As they are doing that, Jehoshaphat begins to plead with God as an advocate for all of Judah. As he closes his time with God he says, "we do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you."
Scripture goes on to say that all of Judah stood before the Lord with their little ones, their wives and their children. God spoke to them through Jahaziel and said that the battle is not theirs, but the Lords. Eventually, Judah got to see the Lord win the battle for them without lifting a finger. What a cool experience that must have been.
Maybe you're like me and you're consistently faced with situations where you don't know what to do. You're stressed out, you feel inadequate, alone, desperate, defeated. Maybe God wants to tell you that the battle is His if you'll stand before Him and wait on Him.

Better Than A Duty

One of the most ridiculous and outrageous movies I've ever seen is Nacho Libre. The story revolves around a young man in Mexico who is training to be a monk, and realizes along the way that his passion is actually wrestling. He realizes that his heart isn't really into what he's doing. There comes a point during his mundane duties where he exclaims..."I think I need a better duty!"
I found myself thinking recently...why do I follow Christ? Why do I make decisions that He would want me to? Why do I worship Him? Why don't I let this world consume me? Is it because I have a sense of duty or obligation to God? Does God have His checklist out and is He marking things off as I do them?
Fortunately, I can answer that I don't do these things out of a sense of duty or obligation. I do them because they are an instinctive response to what God has done for me. Following God isn't about checking mundane and unexciting things off the list, but rather engaging in life changing worship of the God who made us and conquered sin and death. That's a lot better than a duty.

The Need For A Savior

I am a failure. I consistently underachieve. I am a screw-up. I miss the mark daily. I fall short (way, way, way short) of the glory of God.
In our culture, those are not commonly heard phrases. Our culture tells us that we don't do anything wrong. Our culture tells us that whatever feels right to you is OK. Our culture tells us that morals are relative and the standard is whatever you want it to be.
It's not hard to see why we have embraced these ideas. It makes us look good. It justifies our actions. It makes us feel good. But there is just one problem...sin.
If we're honest with ourselves, if we see ourselves clearly, we'd admit that we have done something wrong in our life. We've lied, been disobedient, stole, coveted...the list goes on. What our culture won't tell you is this. Your sin is a really big deal! Our society and even the church has minimized sin. The truth is, sin has serious consequences. The consequence is death and eternal separation from God...no matter how many times you've sinned and no matter what the sin is.
What we so often fail to realize is that there are not levels of sinners in God's eyes. Liars are not less guilty than mass murderers. Pastors are not less guilty than their congregation. People that go to church are not less guilty than those who don't. Our sin puts all of us in the same place...seperated from God. This brings us to a beautiful conclusion. Everyone needs a savior. This is right where God stepped in and sent His son, Jesus to be our Savior. Jesus lived a life free from sin and took the punishment that we deserved. When we confess our sin to Him and declare Him as our Savior, we don't have to live seperated from God.
The great part is that it has nothing to do with how good we are, but rather how great our Savior is.
I am a failure, but Jesus conquered sin and death. I consistently underachieve, but have been redeemed by Jesus' blood. I am a screw-up, but Jesus came to seek and save me. I miss the mark daily, but I find forgiveness through Jesus. I fall short (way, way, way short) of the glory of God, but the gift of God is eternal life.


MIGHTY TO SAVE - Hillsong United
Everyone needs compassion,
Love that's never failing;
Let mercy fall on me.

Everyone needs forgiveness,
The kindness of a Saviour;
The Hope of nations.

Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.

Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.

So take me as You find me,
All my fears and failures,
Fill my life again.

I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in,
Now I surrender.

My Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.
Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.

Shine your light and let the whole world see,
We're singing for the glory of the risen King...Jesus

My Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.
Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.

My Saviour, you can move the mountains,
You are mighty to save,
You are mighty to save.
Forever, Author of Salvation,
You rose and conquered the grave,
Yes you conquered the grave

Doubt

Just a few days ago we had the opportunity to celebrate the most exciting event that has ever taken place on the face of the Earth. Christians all over the world gathered at church and celebrated Jesus' resurrection. This event is the focal point of Christianity, without it...our faith is meaningless. Without it...we are hopeless. This event, however, was and still is difficult for some to believe. There was doubt from the spiritual leaders in those days. The greater population doubted. There was even doubt from those who spent years following Jesus. Even though Jesus had told them He would rise from the dead three days after He was killed, they still doubted. It wasn't until Jesus showed them His wounds that some believed.
So here we are some 2,000 years later being faced with this question. Do you believe? For some, believing is easy. For others, doubt creeps into their mind. For me, it comes down to this...Jesus never made a promise He didn't keep. He never said anything that wasn't true. Jesus told everyone exactly what was going to happen in regards to his crucifixion and resurrection and then it happened just as He said. Jesus has earned our trust, He has proven Himself over and over and over again. So to answer my own question...YOU BET, I BELIEVE!

Let The Madness Begin!

I love this time of year! The bitter cold temperatures are fading away, my job is making me focus on Summer Camps and backpacking trips and potentially the greatest 3 weeks in all of the sports world is starting. March Madness tips off!
Most of us probably remember "Mario's Miracle Shot" pictured above. As it went through the net, it sent Jayhawk fans into a frenzy. In fact, my celebration was so wild (and spastic) I injured a finger and I had to have my wife apply the bandaid because I was shaking too much. Yes, I love March Madness...and who knows, maybe the Jayhawks have another "miracle" up their sleeves. Rock Chalk Jayhawk!

PAUSE

I'm not sure about you...but I hate this button. I hate when I'm watching a movie and someone has to go to the bathroom or answer their phone and they say..."will you hit the pause button?" It drives me crazy! I don't like having to take a break from what I'm doing. I don't like the break in my routine. When you hit that pause button, everything stops. There is no more movement on the screen and the sound stops. It's so different from the rest of life where we have constant movement and stimulation
The same is true for my spiritual life. I struggle to hit the pause button in life and spend time with God. Or when I try to...it seems so different from the rest of my life. It's hard to just be quiet and listen to God for any kind of extended time. Even though I'm in a job where I should constantly be hitting the pause button, I am continuously faced with the temptation to keep life going in fast forward. There's always an event to plan, email to write, phone call to make, text to send or conversation to be had. Over the next few weeks we'll be talking about this idea together. I know I'll be challenged. Will you?

76 and Counting

These days it's hard to think about anything besides becoming a father in (approx.) 76 days. The excitement and anticipation grows each day as we get closer and closer to the due date. At this point we certainly have more questions than answers when it comes to parenting. A simple trip to Babies R Us quickly turns into an overwhelming experience as we walk through the many sections in a daze. Fortunately, we know that we'll have tons of support encouragement and advice along the way. In my mind, the biggest question isn't how to parent, but will our baby be a boy or girl? Feel free to weigh in and take part in the "Baby Buhrman Poll." So far it's 5-1 in favor of a boy. Should be interesting!

Better Than Flowers and Chocolate

Love is in the air and cupid is drawing back his bow. It's Valentines Day weekend and men all over the country are getting charged an arm and a leg for flowers and chocolate. All of this in the name of love. A loving gesture to show the women in our lives how much we care about them. And most women love it. It's that not so unexpected gesture that makes them feel valued and cherished for at least one day out of the year. But let's be honest...men want to feel like they're special too. Maybe it's not a desire to be cherished, but rather respected, needed and loved. What if we could feel these things all of the time? What if there was something out there that would give us what our heart truly desires? What if there was such a gift that never decayed, went out of style, or left us wanting more?
I've received this gift. It's beautiful, timeless, undeserved, overwhelming, intricately complex, yet so simple. It's God's generous gift of grace.
Grace could be described by saying that it isn't getting what you deserve and getting what you don't deserve. Instead of receiving the punishment that we deserve, God took that punishment upon Himself when His perfect Son died on the cross in our place. This gift is described beautifully in the book of Romans.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Even though we deserve death and separation from God, we can choose to receive the gift of grace from Him and live for eternity in His presence. Grace takes our sin and ugliness and makes us perfect in God's eyes. All we have to do is declare Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and submit to His lordship in our lives. By trusting and putting our faith in Him, we secure our place with Him for eternity. Grace is a perfect gift and it's most definitely better than flowers and chocolate.
Ephesians 2:8
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,


GRACE
Grace, she takes the blame
She covers the shame
Removes the stain
It could be her name

Grace...
It's a name for a girl
It's also a thought that, changed the world
And when she walks on the street
You can hear the strings
Grace finds goodness in everything

Grace, she's got the walk
Not on a ramp or on chalk
She's got the time to talk
She travels outside of karma, karma
She travels outside... of karma

When she goes to work, you can hear the strings
Grace finds beauty in everything

Grace...
She carries a world on her hips
No champagne flute for her lips
No twirls or skips between her fingertips
She carries a pearl in perfect condition

What once was hurt
What once was friction
What left a mark
No longer stings...
Because Grace makes beauty
Out of ugly things

Grace finds beauty in everything
-U2

"I DO!"

Recently I received a call from my older (and probably wiser) brother, who lives in Thailand. He got straight to the point...."Hey man!...I'm just calling to tell you I'm getting married today!" They had been filling out the paperwork and making preparations for a while, so it wasn't a complete shock. It's not traditional...but they both love Jesus and each other. So congrats to the happy couple!

Why didn't you come to me?

In the movie "Prince Caspian" Aslan asks this question to Lucy. She had just told him that she had seen him a few days earlier and they were in desperate need of his help. His response is something that I can hear Christ asking me on a regular basis. So often I find myself talking about God and how powerful He is, but yet I fail to go to Him. I do what Lucy and her siblings do in the movie. I try to fix my problems and handle everyday life using my own power and resources. Maybe it's time for me to stop giving God "lip service" and instead run to Him and fully rely on His power no matter what is going on in my life. Maybe the same thing is true for you today as well. Just like in the movie...He won't let you down.

One Step

Recently in youth group we've been talking about how to be more Christlike. If you're anything like me, that can feel really difficult and overwhelming. Afterall...Christ was perfect! Talk about setting the bar high. None of us will ever be just like Christ, so a lot of us say to ourselves, "what's the point in even trying?...I'll never make it."
While it's true that we'll never "make it," I think God is simply asking us to be obedient in the little everyday things of life. He's not necessarily asking us to go out and become lifelong missionairies tomorrow or enroll in the nearest seminary next semester. He is asking for us to strive to see the world like He does and make our decisions based on that.
I think the best way to see how Christ sees or think like Christ thinks is to spend time with Him. It's just like a best friend...you can finish each other's sentences and immediately know how they are going to react to a situation. How can this be?....it's because you talk with them and hang out with them all the time. You ask them questions, you tell them how you feel...you get the idea. The same is true with our relationship with Christ. The more we talk with Him and listen to Him and spend time in His word...the more we'll act like Him and think like Him.
So, on three, let's all take one step in Christ's direction....1....2.....3....GO!