Pastor Pusch

Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God
Chapter 9: Who Really Lives that Way?

Who are some of your favorite Bible personalities? Why? Some the of the responses last night included David who always knew that God was supreme, Esther who risked her life before King Xerxes “for such a time as this”, and Paul who Christ miraculously changed from one extreme lifestyle to another; from hatred toward God to a passionate pursuit of Him, making him the most notable missionary the world has ever witnessed. What about modern heroes of the faith? Who in your life do you consider a hero? Why do we consider these people as heroes? What makes them a hero? For those that you consider heroes of the faith in your life, what makes them that way?

In chapter 9 of Crazy Love, Chan gives several different examples of those who did some pretty radical things in their life. We read stories about people like Nathan Barlow who was a medical doctor serving in Ethiopia. At one time had to leave the mission field to have some work done on his teeth. When he met with his dentist, he requested that all of his teeth be removed and replaced with false ones so he would never have to leave the mission field as a result of dental issues. We read about Jamie Lang who took her life savings to travel to Tanzania. While there she learned about a pregnant woman who was dying as a result of AIDS. Jamie decided to stay to help this mother and her soon to be son. Jamie took care of the baby and when the mother died, Jamie adopted him. The baby was HIV negative as the “morning after pill” the mother took caused a pre-mature birth which didn’t involve any blood and the baby avoided the dreaded disease. She taught them both about the love of God and just before the mother died, she accepted Christ as Savior.  The ninth chapter is full of these kinds of examples. Examples of those who did some pretty radical things for God.

One of my favorite stories, however, is about the Robyson family. They weren’t missionaries. They were stricken with any kind of disease. They were simply willing servants. Every Christmas, the Robyson family celebrates by making their way to the local mission to prepare and serve pancakes for the homeless. Christmas for the Robyson’s has nothing to do with presents or the “me factor”. It was all about serving the homeless, an event the kids look forward to every year.

The reason I love the story about the Robyson’s so much is that it has everything to do with the “availability factor”.  Maybe God is calling you to do something radical, but radical may just be defined as serving pancakes. Having a “crazy love” for God doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to go to Zimbabwe, or downsize your home to build and fund a third world orphanage, or give up or teeth for the sake of the Gospel. I mean, if that’s it, GREAT. Do it! Having a “crazy love” may simply mean pancakes. Perhaps it’s getting involved in church ministry, sharing the gospel, or being a mentor. Maybe it’s volunteering some hours with the Hope Clinic, Feed the Children, or the Rescue Mission. Whatever it may be, having a “crazy love” for God has everything to do with availability. Make yourself available. Look for opportunities to put your faith into action. That, my friends, is radical.

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” – Jesus (Matthew 16:24-26)

Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God
Chapter 8: Profile of the Obsessed

Obsessed: “To have the mind excessively preoccupied with a single emotion or topic.” (Crazy Love, pg. 129)

Obsessed: It’s true. You will always find time for the things that you love. If your love is playing sports, you probably have no problem finding the time to play. If it’s simply hanging out with your friends or watching all 6 episodes of Reba every afternoon and evening, you will make time. You will always make time for the things that matter most. Although you may never confess those things to be the most important priorities in your life, your time spent involved speaks otherwise. There is nothing wrong with loving to play sports or watch some of your favorite sitcoms or vegging out in front of the tube for 3 hours only to see your team lose yet another one. However, when those items begin to interfere with what really matters and that is our relationship with Christ and what He values as important, we must take note.  Believe me when I say that I often times struggle here too. It’s never my goal to intentionally ignore those things that God deems worthy (i.e. serving God/serving or ministering to others), it’s just that I don’t always care to look for those opportunities or in many cases, I am just to complacent too look for those opportunities. My goal is not to beat us up or preach from a soapbox, but rather to help us become more aware. We talked last night in our group discussion that we must make a conscience effort to be about the things of God. Our default thinking mode is not to think on the things above, but rather to think on those things which are temporal.

Zeal: In Revelation chapter 3, Jesus draws some harsh conclusions concerning the church of Laodicea. Jesus said that he was rather them be hot or cold, but because they were lukewarm, he would spit them out of His mouth. The Laodiceans knew all to well what Jesus was talking about as the water they received into the city was lukewarm and not very good tasting at all. Jesus takes it a bit further when He begins to tell them the truth about their spiritual condition; that they were indeed poor, wretched, naked, and blind. This comes to the Laodiceans who apparently fell into a very casual, complacent state as they believed that all was well and that they were in need of nothing. One could easily understand the process behind their thinking as Laodicea was a city marked by a wonderful economy. They were mostly known for their banking industry, wool manufacturing, and  its “world renown” eye clinic (providing the very best in eye salve). Though they were all these things, Jesus, looking into the heart of the people and knew they were missing out on what really mattered. He exhorted them to buy gold (bank) from Him refined by fire that they may be rich, to buy white garments (wool) from Him that they would be clothed and no longer ashamed, and for Christ to anoint their eyes (eye salve) that they might truly see. Worldly speaking, the Laodiceans were rich, yet spiritually speaking, they were far from true riches.

What does this have to do with Zeal? In verse 19 of chapter 3, scriptures tell us that Jesus rebukes those He loves and that we should be zealous and repent. The rebuke that comes from Christ is one that ought to compel man to see the error of his ways and turn away from it. Jesus also says to be zealous. “Zealous” is such a great word. In the original Greek, the word means to have a “feeling of warmth for or against something” and/or ”to have great desire”. Other words for zealous would be words like passionate, fervent, enthusiastic, or fanatical. I think we get the point. Are we passionate concerning the things of God? Do we possess a fervent, enthusiastic, or fanatical spirit? Is there a feeling of warmth or a strong desire to pursue God? Jesus said, “be zealous and repent.”

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above. where Christ is, sitting on the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things of earth.”
Colossians 3:1-2

Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God
Chapter 5: Serving Leftovers to a Holy God

Wow! The last two chapters have been heavy hitters. “Profiles of the Lukewarm” was challenging. It sent the mice racing upstairs in your head. Well, chapter 5, “Serving Leftovers to a Holy God” sent the mice into overdrive. I’ve been thinking all night and all morning about what I was going to write today. The truth is that I still have no idea. My mind is still mulling over the pages I have read over the last several days. Our conversation in the Crazy Love group last night went in several, although good, directions. There’s just so much to be discussed. So, what I am going to do is open up the hatch, and let’r fly.

1. Lukewarm Christians. What do you think about when you the words Lukewarm Christians? Is there such a thing? I would suggest to you, as would Chan, that there is no such a thing as a Lukewarm Christian. Either you’re pursuing God or you’re not. This is not to say that one doesn’t struggle with sin or with their pursuit of God. However, there is a huge difference between struggling and blatant/ “intentional” disobedience. The truth is, as Christians; as disciples of Christ, we will without a doubt struggle in our walk with God. We will struggle until that day we are made perfectly complete in Christ for all eternity. Until that day, our pursuit of God will bring about its struggles. It is there where we must completely rely on the Holy Spirit to get us through. Even when the walk seems easy, do not mistake that as something you have a accomplished, but rather it is the Holy Spirit working through you.

2. Too Busy. I hate that word, busy. Everybody is busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. Sir, I can’t help you, I’m busy. I would love to talk to you, but I’m busy. You need to be led to Christ, maybe they can help, I’m busy. Prayer? Busy. Word of God? Busy. Alone time? Busy. Fellowship? Busy. Church? Busy. Small Group? Busy. Volunteer? Busy? Teach a class? Busy. Pursue God? Good concept, but BUSY. Busy. Busy. Busy. All too often the reason why we find ourselves in a rut it is due in large part because we are TOO BUSY! Many times we’re busy about the things that don’t really matter! “Quit calling it busy, and start calling it evil!” – Francis Chan

3. Serving Leftovers to a Holy God. What a title. What more is there to be said? Often times, God gets the leftovers because that’s all we have left or all we have time for. We’re too worried about the “things” that need to be added to our lives that we do not “seek ye first the Kingdom of God.” Our Pastor has been taking us through the Model Prayer (sermon series). During the last two weeks we have looked into what it means to pray “Your Kingdom come” and “Your will be done” and have concluded that it, not so simply, means that we must say goodbye to our kingdoms and domains and welcome his Kingdom view. It means to let go our our own selfish will and desires and to pursue His will in our lives. What is His specific will for you? I cannot answer that question, but Jesus said, “if you love me, keep my commandments.”

I have a 4, 5, and 6, but I really feel that I need to stop there. Pursue God passionately. Pray that I will do the same!

“O to Grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be! Let thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love; here’s my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above.”