Oasis Church

Oasis Church

Monday, September 29, 2014

A Living Hope



"You can't eat hope," the woman said.
"You can't eat it, but it sustains you," the colonel replied.
-Gabriel Garcia Marquez

It was September 1989, and as I sat in my rented car in the complete blackness
of the frontier between Communist Hungary and Communist Romania, panic
filled my entire being.  My goal was to get through the Romanian border and I
knew that it would be a merciless exercise of interrogation. Not only would I be
mentally interrogated, but also searched and scrutinized physically, as well as
my vehicle would be torn apart by limb by limb.  This exercise would take place 
by Communist guards, custom control and secret police.  Not to mention, I could
be arrested on the spot.

Everything I was bringing in my vehicle, as well as my purpose of being there was
against the Socialist Communist agenda, but Western tourists were allowed to visit
with the right amount of currency and a good tourist story.  My true purpose was
to bring relief to the Christians and the Romanian church that was suffering and
persecuted by the anti-Christian, Communist regime.

The Romanian believers were starving for Bibles, Christian commentaries, Bible
study guides, medicine, eyeglasses, food and just about anything you need to live normally.  But Romania during the 1980s was anything but normal.  Everything was rationed and all Christian materials were banned.  The Romanian people were starving for everything that the Western church had to offer.

As I stared at the Romanian border in my near horizon, I realized that I did not have
to endure what that Communist border would put me through.  Why?  I lived
in Southern California.  A comfortable existence with everything I needed at my disposal.  Plus, I had a wonderful little family at home, and a loving, supportive church.  I didn't need to do this.  Right?

As fear and panic spoke seemingly good sense to me, another Voice whispered to me, (It is as clear to me today, as it was 25 years ago), and said:

Darnelle, there are people waiting for you behind that border.  They are not waiting for the "things" in your car, but for the hope you bring them.  They are risking more for that than you will ever risk in your lifetime.

The Voice of Truth was right and as I survived that border crossing and met - secretly – those Romanian believers, I actually saw hope transform their hearts and their faces as they realized that their hope was not dead or in vain as the Western church had not forgotten them.

Job spoke in his suffering that the hope of the godless will die.  That kind of hope that wishes things will just get better.  But Peter tells us that as Christians we have a "living hope," which is faith in a living, breathing Savior, Jesus Christ.  

The hope never disappoints us and that sustains us in all things as we hope in Him.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  - I Peter 1:3-5

In Him, our Living Hope!

Darnelle

Monday, September 22, 2014

Grace



But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9


This is an invitation to the Holy Spirit to dwell within us daily, and boy, oh boy, do I need that.

I’ve been stressed out by life lately. Schedule, loss, need, and trauma – the struggle continues. How do I cope? Grace.

The relationship of our weakness to God’s strength is an uncomfortable one for us most of the time. I appreciate the power of the Holy Spirit acting in my life on a daily, hourly, moment-to-moment basis. But it isn’t easy to live this way. And it’s not supposed to be. That is the life of a Christian.

Understand what is happening: none of us, not one, is in control of anything. It’s about God in everything in every second of everyday. This is his story, his plan, his project, and we are all the recipients of his love. It’s beautiful.

And while I appreciate Paul’s desire to “boast” about his weakness, I find it hard to celebrate in those moments of desperation when, once again, fear, doubt, and yes, even trembling overtake me. Where is God in those moments?

It usually doesn’t take long for me to see him. I’m blessed that way. I know that eventually, sooner and sooner as I grow in my faith, the dust will settle, the murky water will clear, and I will again see the glorious work of my Father’s hands.

So, while I can’t always celebrate, I will rest with confidence in the warmth of God’s love and the almighty power of Christ. Fill me again today oh Lord. 


Kevin Bibo

Saturday, September 20, 2014

A Zealous Voice



His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.  His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.  –Revelation 1:14-15

What was Jesus like?  Many envision Him as a guru of peace who never said a harsh word.  Others envision Him as a mellow mystic who could not relate to our humanity.  There is no shortage of opinions, but few are entirely consistent with Scripture.

The misty-eyed, airy-voiced, peace-marching Jesus of modern films, wishful imaginations, and popular theology never existed.  Those who have either never read the four Gospels or have never really believed them have crafted him.

The real Jesus was the Incarnation of the Jealous God (Exodus 34:14), the Warrior God (Exodus 15:3), the One who dwells in mystery and majesty.  There was fire in His eyes and passion in His voice.  And according to Revelation 1, there still is.

Jesus still speaks.  Is the Hollywood Jesus the one you expect to hear?  When we read the Gospels, we see the anger at hypocrisy and the anguish of the cross.  We hear the violence in His prayers and the divisiveness of His words.  We know that His coming was a crisis event, the turning point for the entire human race.

The fiery, zealous Jesus may speak to us with a still, small voice, but do not rule out the roaring voice of thunder and lightning.  He doesn’t always nudge us; sometimes He jolts us.  The Jesus who offered comfort, healing, and peace to the troubled and outcasts also blasted the legalists and the proud.  The Jesus who drew calmly in the sand and urged the meek to persist in their meekness also made a scene at the Temple with His violent outburst.

The Man of Sorrows is also a man of action.  The Lamb of God is also the Lion of Judah.  We must make no assumptions about His voice.  We just need to be open to it.  Let us have ears that hear.  And when He speaks, it will be powerful enough to change our lives.


Love to Oasis Church!


A long time Oasis member

Thursday, September 11, 2014

The Real Thing



Love must be sincere.   –Romans 12:9

We are called by Jesus to love one another.  Love is the defining characteristic of the Christian community; Jesus called it His “new command” and said it would distinguish us as His disciples (John 13:34-35).  He did not lay it out for us as a good option; it was an order.  Obedience requires that we love Him and that we love others.

Knowing that, we usually try to put on love – or a least the appearance of love.  Even when we cultivate bitterness in our hearts toward another, we cultivate smiles and warmth on our faces.  Our words and our inner feelings to not always match.  We act loving because we know we are supposed to; but we do not feel loving.  That is a problem.

Which is genuine love?  When Paul tells us to love each other sincerely, does he really expect our feelings to fall in line with our obedience?  Is it acceptable to act loving rather than to be loving?  It is a start, but we can’t be content with that. 

Our feelings change slowly, especially when we have been offended or slighted.  In such cases, we can at least act, as we know we are supposed to act.  But we cannot stop there.  We must guard our hearts diligently.  That is where all actions will eventually flow from.  At some point, obedience must include sincerity.  Otherwise, it doesn’t come close to the character of God.

Think about that.  Does God love us reluctantly?  Does He say: “You have sinned so much that I don’t have strong feelings for you, but according to My promise I’ll treat you lovingly?”  Of course not!  There is not internal contradiction in God’s attitudes.  He is not superficial in the least.  His love is real – the most authentic, genuine love there is.  So must ours be.

How can we get there?  Genuine love is so hard, especially when we are told to love our enemies!  Fallen, sinful natures cannot fulfill that command.  The answer must be supernatural.

Trust God to live His life in you.  That is what our life in the Holy Spirit is all about.  Ask Him not to reform your character by giving you love, but to replace your character by giving you His.  His love is utterly sincere.  Ours must be as well.

With sincere love to Oasis,

A long-time Oasis member