Mike Henderson

Things Go Better 'Without' God

Actually that's not true, but we act like it is true.  When I was a kid I used to always take the onions off of a McDonald's cheeseburger.  In my mind, it was better without the onions.  

Even today, when Carol makes an incredible fresh salad, she loves to put lots of fresh onion slices on top. Lots. I have nothing against onions today, but I do have a problem with lots at one time.  Actually I prefer to reduce the amount so that I can avoid the strong taste of onions.

Sometimes that's the way we treat God.  We either take Him totally out of the picture or reduce Him so much that He can't make a difference.

Let me list two ways we do this.

1. We fail to search the Scriptures and see what God has to say.  Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV) says, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

2. We seek the wisdom of others and neglect going to the Lord in prayer when our life spins out of control.  King Asa did this very thing.  2 Chronicles 16:12 (NASV), "In the thirty-nineth year of his reign Asa became diseased in his feet.  His disease was severe, yet even in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but the physicians."  Amazing.  There is nothing wrong with going to the doctor, but why ignore God during a time of incredible pain, any kind of personal, physical, or emotional pain?

In both instances, reducing or ignoring God clearly does not lead to a better outcome. As for lots of fresh onions on a salad, Carol thinks the onions make it.  On the spiritual side, the Bible is clear, things go better when God is not reduced or completely left out.     

Go through life with God.  You'll be glad you did.  

Easter Brings Clarity

In my last post I mentioned how Walmart got a little confused as to what their mission was, "Low Prices. Every Day."  The fact is, life happens.  What is important gets forgotten.  As pastor of New Hope I cannot forget that prayer and preaching are my top two priorities (Acts 6:4-"Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.”).  People are my third.  No one is around to watch  me pray.  Everyone gets to hear me preach.  You get the picture.  It's easy to let something slide.

That's what I like about Easter.  This year I have challenged our people at New Hope in three areas.  P.F.I.  Before I explain the three letters, let me add that everyone can clench their fist tightly, but only for a short time.  That's Easter.  Here are three things every believer can do a lot of for a short period of time.  Actually, these are constant things, but once again it's easy for some of these things to slide.  Easter has a way of reminding us as to what's important.

P is for prayer.  Yes, we should pray every day.  We should as a church be praying for the service, the music, and the message every week prior to coming.  Do we?  As least with Easter coming up it gives everyone an extra incentive to pray for a great day.

F is for fasting.  This year I encouraged everyone to pick three times or three days and fast and pray for Easter, opportunities to invite, and boldness to get the word out.  Fasting is overlooked by many.  I shared with the church how that last Easter I fasted and prayed three separate days for three big requests and all three prayers were answered.  I am always a little hesitant to share, because it is not like you can just fast and pray and you get automatic answers.  However, fasting is an important spiritual discipline.  Let me go a step farther and say that fasting may be the key to letter I.

I is for inviting.  The challenge this year has been to invite 5 families.  5!  Sometimes I think we look around and feel like we don't have 5 people to invite.  Have we fasted and prayed for 5?  It could be that having 5 families to invite is the big answer to prayer that I get.  I don't know.  I do know that people outside the church are overwhelmed and overloaded with something.  That's why we need to pray and fast.

And so let's remember that Easter brings clarity.  This may be our greatest Easter ever at New Hope.  That is, if we pray, fast, and invite. 

Fasting and Praying

Let's face it.  Who likes to go a day or more without eating?  Who likes to skip meals?  Not me.  However, one of the most significant spirtual disciplines is fasting and very few believers practice it.