resolutions in 09?

So, have you made a resolution for 09?
Not me. At least not in the typical sense.

I gave up on resolutions a while ago because I usually break them within the first week of the new year. But this time around, I’m making a very different kind of resolution. You might not even really call this a resoluton because it runs in the opposite direction–it’s not a promise to be strong or more effective, but to be weak.

I love what the apostle Paul writes in 1 Cor 12:7-10. I love how honest he is and how freely he admits his weakness. I love most how Paul sees his weakness as an invitation to know the sufficiency and power of Jesus Christ. So Paul actually resolves to be weak, to delight in weakness, to boast in weakness. “For when I am weak” Paul says, “then I am strong.”

So I’ll follow Paul’s lead for the year 2009. I’ll be weak. That’s something I can’t screw up. And even if I do, it will only add to my weakness. Fantastic.

May you, in your weakness, delight in the sufficiency and power of Jesus in this upcoming year

God bless!
Dihan

So

So, have you made a resolution for 09?
Not me. At least not in the typical sense.

I gave up on resolutions a while ago because I usually break them within the first week of the new year. But this time around, I’m making a very different kind of resolution. You might not even really call this a resoluton because it runs in the opposite direction–it’s not a promise to be strong or more effective, but to be weak.

I love what the apostle Paul writes in 1 Cor 12:7-10. I love how honest he is and how freely he admits his weakness. I love most how Paul sees his weakness as an invitation to know the sufficiency and power of Jesus Christ. So Paul actually resolves to be weak, to delight in weakness, to boast in weakness. “For when I am weak” Paul says, “then I am strong.”

So I’ll follow Paul’s lead for the year 2009. I’ll be weak. That’s something I can’t screw up. And even if I do, it will only add to my weakness. Fantastic.

May you, in your weakness, delight in the sufficiency and power of Jesus in this upcoming year

God bless!
Dihan

So

Christmas (is only part of the) Story

There was a time when magic pictures were really in vogue, these computer generated images that you had to stand back, defocus your eyes and enter a coma-like state in order to see correctly. People would even get them hung on their walls like real artwork – I call these people suckers.

I’m just kidding.

But to be honest, we need to look at the Bible in a similar way, taking a step back from it to see it as a consistent whole rather than a random collection of stories. When seen in this light, we see that a story runs through the entirety of Scripture, a story of a wonderful beginning, a terrible fall, a time of struggle, the coming of a hero, and a final battle, and final peace. This is the story of salvation, God’s love song to his creation and his children, which is woven into all of human history.

Christmas is a moment of this story, a reminder of a larger plan, and also a revelation of God’s wonderful character. Through Christmas and the salvation story, we know that we have a God who has a plan for our lives, fulfills his promises, and understands our pain.

And even now, we are in the very midst of this story, part of God’s plan and unfolding salvation plan. We find ourselves caught up in it, as recipients of this grace, but then messengers of the same. We are not merely passive observers of this story, but have become its main players. So as we celebrate Christmas, let’s also take a moment to reflect on how we can proclaim Christmas and this love story.

Mighty God

That Isaiah would call the infant child “Mighty God” in chapter 9:6, assumes an unbelievable journey from heaven to earth that absolutely boggles our imagination. But it was a journey the mighty God had to take—for how else would Jesus be crucified unless he had hands and feet to be nailed? How else would he wear the crown of thorns unless he had a head?  How else would he bleed unless he had a vascular system? How else would he die unless he had a beating heart that could stop?

            Only a mighty God could accomplish this. He had all the power of the universe at his disposal, and he chose to take this power to become one of us in the most humble sense. He could have chosen a palace, but he chooses a barn. He could have chosen kinds and queens so he can be born an earthly prince, but he chooses Nazarene peasants. He could have chosen to be a military hero and conquer the world by the sword, but Jesus chooses the cross. And he took his infinite soul and he piled it with our sins, our guilt, and our death—and by his mighty power—he took it to the grave and he reclaimed his life in the resurrection.

            Mighty God—Jesus was indeed Mighty God.  But unlike other mighty dictates who use their power to rule and conquer, Jesus used his might to empty himself. What a profound irony—that Jesus proves himself mightiest by becoming less and less until he submitted himself even unto death. 

- an excerpt of the message on 12/14

P.Dihan

Running Up to Your Chariot

Last week I laid down a guantlet.

The next time the Sprit whispers into your ear to run up to a chariot, I challenged us to simply run. For those of you who have no idea what I’m talking about, this past week’s message was from Acts 8, the passage about Phillip and the Eunuch.

Phillip was walking led by the Spirit to a desert road when he sees a chariot up ahead, boarded by an Ethopian Eunuch.  And the Spirit tells Phillip to run to that chariot and stay near it.

The more you take that encounter at face value, the more incredible it really is–that Phillip, despite the differences in class, ethnicity, and the utter awkwardness of running next to a chariot–just runs because the Spirit tells him to run. And this of course leads to an incredible moment of evangelism.

The next time you’re on the metro and the Spirit urges us to talk to the person next to us, the next time you’re on a plane, and you hear that whisper to share your faith; the next time you find yourself at the water cooler and the Spirit urges you to take the conversation to a deeper level—for all the moments we hear that awkward, unwanted whisper of the Spirit to share the gospel– RUN! It’s a “CHARIOT” moment!

And we’ll see what happens. We’ll burn through a bit of our dignity, I’m sure. We’ll make a fool of ourselves at times. But if all of us were to run when the Spirit tells us to run–think of all the miracles we’ll hear about on any given week!! This is a challenge I’m applying this week. And when I do run–I’ll post the results!

Pastor Dihan

What It’s Like to Preach a Sermon

Usually we post the content of last weeks sermon. And I’ll do that eventually. But I thought I’d post something about the actual act of preaching. 

People ask me from time to time–what is it like to preach? Is it like preparing a speech? Writing a paper? How do you feel when you’re actually up at the pulpit?

Here are a few of my own thoughts. The other pastors can leave comments about their own experience…

- During the actual sermon–it’s like playing a contact sport; 30-40 minutes of pure adrenalin. You’re sprinting, dodging, defending, pushing, lifting, blocking and you go and go and go and then you’re done. And when you’re done–the odd thing is sometimes you’re not sure if you’ve won or lost. You just feel tired. And then a few hours later, you feel really, really sore.

- Preaching is like puking out your guts. You’re up in front, exposing yourself, pulling out your lungs, your heart, your spleen and laying it out before the people to examine. And then when it’s all over, you have to find a way of putting your organs back in your body. And sometimes, you feel like you’ve put them back in the wrong way.  I find the hardest part of preaching can be the evening after. You just feel so exhausted and emptied. 

-When preaching really works, and you feel like you’ve connect with the people, and God has used you, there is nothing more satisfying.  Nothing engages you more–physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, than the act of preaching. Which is why I do it and will continue to do it!

So an inside look in the life of a pastor.
I’ll post a few more down the road.

In his love

P.Dihan

Are You Ready?

[A preacher was once asked which English translation of the Bible he believed to be the best one.  He responded, “The one you will read!”  Similarly, one might ask, “Which program or method is best in order to present the gospel?”  Answer, “The one you will use!”]

I don’t know if I totally agree with this statement about what is the best way in presenting the gospel but I am convicted that Christians need to have a good grasp on at least one solid presentation of the gospel.

With that said, I pray that all of us at ODPC take the command of 1 Peter 3:15 much more seriously – to share the hope we have in believing in and living out the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Because I believe the more we commit to sharing our faith, the more we will be given opportunities to proclaim the gospel.

“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…” (1 Peter 3:15)

Daniel