Is God ashamed to be called my God?

By Chris Hammett - Think in your own mind the things of which you are ashamed. Things you or someone you know have been a part of that you don’t want anyone to find out; Skeletons in our closet so to speak.

Now think of the things of which you are proud. Pride can be something you have accomplished in school, the workplace, sports, and many other areas of your life. Pride can also be an emotion that we had no part in achieving. Coming off this week’s holiday you look around and see images of pride and freedom in our country, but really how many had a part in securing and defending our freedom? I was not in the country after 09-11-2001, but I heard stories of a great outpouring of national pride and commitment to freedom. Flags were being flown everywhere, bumper stickers were on almost every car and truck and so on. For these who have served for me to have freedom I want to say thanks. PRIDE or being proud is a deep emotion. My question for myself and each of us today is this "Is God proud of me”?

Most of us have those family members we just don’t want to be seen with. You know the ones with unspeakable baggage. I have a brother who spent eight years in federal penitentiary. If I brought him in here none of you would know it and I would be comfortable. However, when there is a family reunion  the family knows his past and there is a sense of embarrassment when he comes around. I also have a family member who has chosen to live a homosexual lifestyle. When she and her friend come to family events it is very uncomfortable for most. I know if you ask the parents in both cases they will tell you that they love these two family members, but they are not proud of them. They are even embarrassed of them and their choices.

I have shared of times in my own life when I have not been proud of things that I or my children have done. I have also shared of times when I have been very proud of my children. These are my children and yet they cause me both pride and embarrassment. I don’t love them any less. And the hurt from embarrassment is very real.

At this point I want to make a clear distinction that I am NOT talking about Salvation. Salvation is when you put your life in Christ’s hands and confess your are lost without Him. You acknowledge your lostness and ask for forgiveness. Just as a child has an earthly father we can have that relationship as Children of God and that relationship can never be broken. When I speak of pride and embarrassment, I'm speaking of how we live our lives out in faith.

I am sure God sees me as I see my children. Some of my choices have pleased God and then other have embarrassed Him. Look at Exodus 32:7-10. This is the account of the First Tablets God had given to Moses. While Moses was on the mountain with God the people became restless and built the Golden Calf and worshiped it. You see God’s displeasure. You see how God is feeling? Does it sound like He is proud to be called their God? 

What does it take to have God proud of us?  First I want to make sure you understand perfection is not required. Look at the people God with whom God is ashamed. Hebrews 11 is not a listing of people who always did everything God asked them to do. Hebrews 11 is a list of people who had faith and it was credited to them.  In Hebrews 11:5-6 the writer speaks of Enoch and because he pleased God, God took Enoch away. 

Ask yourself these questions:

Why should God be proud of me?

How do I live out my faith?

When I see God face to face will He welcome me as in the parable of Matthew 25: 21 or will there be awkwardness as I am welcomed into the kingdom?

WILL God Ashamed to be called My GOD?

Why is forgiveness so hard?

By Chris Hammett

If someone asks you what the world needed most in these days of terrorist attacks, school shootings, wars, and all types of other issues what would your answer be?

Then if that same person asks you what the church needed most what would you answer?

When I think of these two questions I am led to think that the only relief from the world's issues will be revival. I mean a true deep spirited turning to Jesus - the type Paul had when he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus. I also believe this is the same for the Church, learning to allow the Holy Spirit to transform us more and more into likenesses of Christ. Today, I want to direct your thoughts to an issue the church faces at all levels. 

THE COST OF FORGIVENESS!

Why is forgiveness so hard? Why do we all think we have the right to hold grudges? What are some things we don’t want to forgive? In a class this large I can only believe there are all sorts of opportunities to extend forgiveness, and also hold grudges. These can be big items, or at least to us they seem big. They can be small. I have had chances over the past few weeks to encounter several people who wanted to tell me why they had every right to hold a grudge. A couple weeks ago Sharon and I were doing some much needed spring cleaning and we came across a box of various items we had stashed under our bed. As we started to pilfer through the items we were taken back to a time in our life’s journey that we both would love to forget. As we found these items I was transformed to a time of pain, hurt, and despair. Sharon quickly recognized the change in me and asked,  "What did you find?" I handed her the findings and she quickly recognized them and knew why my countenance had changed. She reminded me that that was the past and we were over it now. This did lead to several questions I have asked myself over the past couple weeks. 

First, If I truly extended forgiveness then why did I keep these items?

Second, Why is it so hard to forgive?

Third, When are we commanded to forgive?

Fourth, do we forgive without being asked to forgive?

Let’s look at a few examples in scripture and see how followers of God extended forgiveness.

Genesis 45: 3-5 - How would you reply? Joseph would have had every right to be bitter. How can someone have this level of forgiveness in their hearts? I propose the closer you are to the will of God the more understanding and forgiving you are. Joseph spent years as a slave only to then be thrown in prison before he was put in a place to realize God’s purpose.

1 Samuel 24:1-7 - What would you do? Would you have taken this opportunity to remove a clear and present threat to your very life? Remember also that God had already removed his hand from Saul and passed His anointing on David. David could have taken this opportunity to begin his reign as King.  He instead chooses to defer to God’s timing and not raise a hand to Saul. As a side note in 2 Samuel the first chapter I find it interesting how David responded when Saul did die. David spent years of running and hiding and never being able to rest while Saul pursued him.

John 23:34 - What would you do? This is probably the most under emphasized area of the Easter Story. We focus on the Trial, the Sentence of Death, The two Thieves, the Death, the Burial, the empty tomb and the Resurrection. All are greatly important but how often do we take time to really focus on the three words My Savior uttered on behalf of those killing Him. Jesus gave his own life for the ones who were executing Him!

Intentional Ministry

By Chris Hammett -- How does ministry translate to you?

How about the word intent?

I want to look at the concept of doing and being church with intent. Random acts of kindness vs. intentionally acts that lead to KINGDOM reward.

For the most part we could testify, this class wants to help the hurting. This class does wonders when there is a need brought to them. Whether it’s Operation Kyle, Imagine Christmas, Hammy’s for Tammy, and the list goes on and on, we open our hearts and wallets when called on.

What about your day to day life? What about the family next door, or the coworker down the hall?

How many times do we wander through a day and everything we do is reactionary? You know, just going through the motions of life. Wake up, get a cup of coffee, drive to work, get another cup of coffee, look at your daily schedule, do what you do, have lunch, do some more of whatever you do, leave work drive home and the rat race goes on and on.

What was the last thing you did with intent? It could be any number of things. I contend that whatever it was you made a plan. Why should ministry be any different?

On Feb. 27, 2008 the NCAA announced it had reached an agreement with the city of Omaha NE. to extend the Baseball Collage World Series for 25 years which included Omaha City building a new stadium. My wife and I have given each of our children a Special 16^th birthday gift. With Rebecca it was a trip to NYC with her best friend. With Adam it was his SCUBA license and a dive trip in the Dominican Republic. I like to think of myself as a baseball guy and Isaac had taken an interest in baseball as well. When I heard they were closing Rosenblatt Stadium and building a new stadium in Omaha I asked him if he wanted to go. I also asked him if he wanted to take anyone. He chose a friend and I spoke with the dad and he agreed. Tickets went on sale on April 3, 2008 at 10:00 eastern and was sold out by 10:12. I had secured 4 books of General Admission tickets and seated tickets for game 4 and game 7. Next, I called our travel partners and let them know we had tickets. Did I mention this was April 3? There was no way of knowing who was playing in the CWS let alone which teams would be playing games 4 and 7. Next we started looking at flights and hotels. We decided we would stay in Lincoln and drive the 46 miles into Omaha each day. Plans were made, flights were booked, and rooms were reserved. Now we wait till June 15 to go to Omaha. Did I mention Isaac and I are Carolina fans, and his friend and dad are Clemson fans? Most of you know how the Old Rosenblatt stadium was closed in 2010.

I share that as an example of doing something with intent. I want to look at a couple of places in the Bible where followers did things with intent. First let’s look at Acts 9: 10-18. Here is where God calls Ananias to do something he very much did not want to do. Saul (later the apostle Paul) was not someone Ananias would have ever sought out to minister to. The scripture records when God called him, Ananias never said NO. He just wanted God to understand what He was asking. Once that was clear Ananias did what he was asked. Do you think he hem hawed around? The Bible says he went to Saul and called him brother. No beating around the bush. He intended for Saul to know who had sent him and why he was there.

Now look at Genesis 22. We all know the story of Abraham being asked to sacrifice Isaac. Look at vs. 3-8 of Genesis. 22. Abraham did what God asked with intent. I can’t imagine what he was going through. But what he did was answer God with Intent.
No, Abraham didn't find wood along the way; he got up and cut the wood to take with them.

No, Abraham didn't sleep in, giving God a chance to change His mind. Abraham got up early the next morning.

He even brought the fire. No ZIPPO or BIC liters in those days. Everything he did he did intentionally. No accidental obedience here.

Have you ever wondered what people really think of you? I think we all have from time to time. What about what we think of ourselves? A survey taken in 2009 by one of the leading denominations determined 85 Percent of people surveyed felt they we good people. You know all the right reasons, I don’t steal, I haven’t killed anyone, and I don’t cheat on my wife etc . . . You may even be one of those GOOD people. How many people do you expect to win for CHRIST by just being good? Can you be good enough? When is the last time a lost person came to you and said “you are really good and I want to know JESUS because you do”?  When Sharon and I went on staff with the International Mission Board, they were very clear. We were not being sent just to live a good life in front of others. We were being sent to build relationship that would lead us to introduce people to JESUS. NO OTHER REASON.

Why should we think doing ministry is any different? God calls on His people to share the Good News of Salvation. When you share, it’s more than letting people see what you have. I could be having a double slice of cheesecake and if you see me enjoying it might cause you to want a piece. Unless I offer you a bite, you are most likely only going to want it. You probably won't ask for it. I contend that salvation is much the same. When things are rough and we lean on Jesus people see that and may even want that. Really though, how many do you think will ask for it? I want to challenge you to think about those you come into contact with daily. How many of them have no personal relationship with JESUS? Then ask yourself what you can do to introduce them to JESUS. The rest is up to HIM. ACTS 1-8 is very clear as to what is expected of us. Like any good witness we are to share what we have seen JESUS do in our lives.

Make a plan. I shared that Sharon and I lived overseas and we were intentional about building relationships that would lead to faith sharing. You may be the person God has called to go and tell them what He has planned for their lives. So I guess all that is left is to ask: "What is your plan to reach the lost in your life?"