The Pilgrim Pastor

The Pilgrim Pastor http://pilgrimpastor.christianblogsites.com/blog Pastor Chris Surber pilgrimpastor 2013-05-19T14:58:45Z Was God in the Movie Theater in Aurora? http://pilgrimpastor.christianblogsites.com/blog/post/2012/08/05/was-god-in-the-movie-theater-in-aurora By Chris Surber Columnist, Suffolk News Herald To suffer humanizes us. It teaches compassion for one another and dependence on God. It is suffering that at once afflicts us and binds us together. Several days ago a lone gunman opened fire on moviegoers in Aurora, Colo. Ever since, people have asked, “Was God in the movie theater?” Then, more recently, a terrible car accident occurred only several hundred feet from my house. It left a 28-year-old bride a widow and a 14-month-old without her daddy. When the tragedy lived in Colorado, I kept it at bay. When it moved onto my street, it moved into my heart. I found myself once again asking the question that has plagued me for years. Where is God in our pain? At the funeral of the man who died in the car accident, I listened to another pastor trying to shine the light of Christ in the darkness of life. On the news, I listened to agnostic sentiments from news people and a few encouraging accounts of survivors of God’s presence in the movie theater. I have sought answers to this question for years. In the process, I have opened doors to more questions than answers. Here is what I know. The beauty of Christ radiates more brightly against the backdrop of suffering. The wounds of our savior are more beautiful, His worth more obvious, when observed through tears. God’s chief aim in creation is to highlight the worth and beauty of Christ. Suffering and pain does that by giving us the sublimely painful joy of cutting the legs off our pride. It pulls us to the core of our need for God. The garden of suffering produces the delight of reliance on God. That’s very hard for us to do. It is exceedingly difficult because we want everything to make sense. Here we learn from a little girl whose suffering fills those around her with pain and faith. She has pain in her body that wars against her health, but her spirit is strong. Her love is undaunted. Her body is broken, her mind distressed, but her heart prospers. God’s love seeps unpretentiously into the cracks that are created by the quaking of her body. It runs like healing ointment, a soothing salve, in simplicity. In her pain, I see the suffering of Christ. In her smile, I see the hope that we are not without a Savior. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring, so we should do more than simply live each day as if it were our last. Live each day like a child, as if it is your first. Live it with wonder and awe, swallow up all of the beauty that you can drink in because you don’t know what tomorrow will bring. God is in all things. In our pain, He screams to us as through a megaphone. He bids us come to Him to find lasting salvation, eternal healing and hope. Bring your pain to Him who suffered on Golgotha’s cruel tree and knows our pain. God was in the movie theater, He was on my street, and He is in our pain calling us in the same direction as those who have traveled onward before us. He is calling us home. <a href="http://www.suffolknewsherald.com/2012/08/03/was-god-in-the-movie-theater/">http://www.suffolknewsherald.com/2012/08/03/was-god-in-the-movie-theater/</a>    Tough Questions 2012-08-05T17:27:05Z pilgrimpastor 50 Shades of Christianity http://pilgrimpastor.christianblogsites.com/blog/post/2012/07/25/50-shades-of-christianity From the weekly column of Chris Surber in the Suffolk News Herald Newspaper, July 20, 2012:  I am really out of the loop. I didn’t know until only a few days ago that there was such a thing as “mommy porn.” You know the movie “Magic Mike.” Even a large group of Christian women I know recently flocked to indulge in it. Some of the same women are reading a book by E.L. James called “50 Shades of Grey.” I did a little research and learned the book is wildly popular and famous for its overtly erotic scenes featuring elements of sexual practices involving bondage, discipline, sadism and masochism. This kind of thing is really nothing new. Hollywood has catered to men with such films as long as I can remember, offering overtly erotic scenes that have nothing whatsoever to do with the plot line. They are inserted just to sprinkle a little flesh and sell more tickets. The thing that is deeply troublesome to me is the acceptance and even celebration of this on the part of both men and women who follow Jesus. If I sound like a boring Bible thumper, perhaps we need to reconsider what we consider exciting. Puritan preacher Thomas Hooker once remarked, “The man whose heart is endeared to the woman he loves … dreams of her in the night, hath her in his eye and apprehension when he awakes, museth on her as he sits at the table, walks with her when he travels…. She lies in his bosom, and his heart trusts in her, which forceth all to confess that the stream of his affection, like a mighty current, runs with full tide and strength.” That’s exciting, actual intimacy, not drool on a movie screen or the pages of a novel. Why does the church run like a pack of scavenging hyenas to devour the leftover scraps of the flesh that is slain by the flesh butchers of the world? What do Christian women have to do with “Magic Mike” or “50 Shades of Grey”? What do Christian men have to do with the meat market of the entertainment media? Should Christian women flock like geese to see the film? Should Christian men be OK with it? This really isn’t a tough one. Jesus said “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; but I say to you, that everyone who looks on a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27-28) A Christian woman I know said, “What if a new film is released tomorrow called ‘Magic Morgan?’ Will Christian women be OK with their husbands, younger brothers, or other young men in the church flocking to the theater to see the film?” I would not, but after the response of so many Christians to mommy porn, I’m not so sure. This isn’t about being a collection of prudes. This is about Christians living in a way that is consistent with what we say we believe. Why trade the purity of our Christian walk and witness for a cheap thrill or a peek at Matthew McConaughey’s abs? Fellow follower of Jesus, what are we doing singing “I once was blind but now I see” on Sunday morning if we are going to turn a blind eye to the rotten fruits of our sex-hyper culture on Saturday night at the movie theater? It seems that there are not only “50 Shades of Grey” but also 50 shades of Christianity these days. However, on this issue, the Bible is black and white.  CHRIS SURBER is pastor of Cypress Chapel Christian Church in Suffolk. Visit his website at www.chrissurber.com.  Christian Living 2012-07-25T11:39:35Z pilgrimpastor Remain Teachable http://pilgrimpastor.christianblogsites.com/blog/post/2012/03/22/remain-teachable They say pictures are worth a thousand words.  A week ago I illustrated the difficulty in growing spiritually the older we get with the fact of concrete. When it is new (young) it is soft and pliable.  You can pour it where you want it.  However, it quickly begins to harden the older it gets until finally the only way to reshape it is to destroy it and start over again.    The wisdom of God compels us to retain pliability, that is, God’s wisdom is only able to take root in us to the extent that we remain teachable.  When we are not teachable, when we are like concrete, damage can occur within the Body of Christ as each of us asserts our own stubborn way.  When we are not pliable and teachable, we become like a hard surface.  When you fall on it or run into it… it hurts. What kind of Christian are you?  Are you teachable, moldable?  Does it hurt to run into you or fall on you?   My wonderful wife Christina came across this picture while out with our children at a park, the day after I delivered that sermon.  She took this picture which is, my friends, worth a thousand words…   <img src="http://pilgrimpastor.christianblogsites.com/blog/gallery/4605/concrete.jpg" alt="Concrete Fall" />    Pilgrim Pastor… realizing that it is easier to remain pliable like clay than to labor in vain to mold concrete…  Tough Questions 2012-03-22T10:15:52Z pilgrimpastor Change in Church http://pilgrimpastor.christianblogsites.com/blog/post/2012/03/14/change-in-church <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif">Often, an unwillingness to accept change in a Church is synonymous with an unwillingness to give up control.  We are called in the local Church to mutual submission to Christ and one another, not the assertion of our wills.  We are to seek His will.  Not our own. Pilgrim Pastor  Church 2012-03-14T05:54:15Z pilgrimpastor Christianity & Politics? http://pilgrimpastor.christianblogsites.com/blog/post/2012/03/05/christianity-politics Every political season, I wrestle with how my faith in Christ ought to influence my political views and engagement. Should Christians get involved in politics, political issues or even vote? Will doing so entangle them in the ugliness of the world’s broken systems? Whether it was anti-slavery, prohibition or other social movements in this country, most major social upheavals in American history were preceded or accompanied by spiritual movements and Christian revivals. In fact, it has been noted by many religious and secular historians that the Second Great Awakening probably had the single greatest impact on the anti-slavery movement. It was Christian leaders like Harriet Beecher Stowe, Charles Finney, and Theodore Weld who influenced the founding of anti-slavery societies and preached against the sinful wickedness of that vile institution. Probably the biggest problem with drawing too sharp a dichotomy between Christianity and politics is that in an attempt to keep the spiritual nature of the faith intact and unencumbered with “worldly” things, relegating the role of Christ and His Church only to Sunday morning or other worship times spiritualizes the faith to a level of becoming so heavenly minded as to be of no earthly good! The realities of the Lordship of Jesus and the sovereign reign of God in the entire universe are lost when we divorce ourselves from the world’s problems. Jesus is Lord of all things spiritual, philosophical and political. There is no part of this world where His influence is “off limits.” He is Lord of all. What about Bible passages like James 1:27? “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”(NIV84) I would submit to you that it is the task of Christians everywhere to do everything they can to bring passages like this to fulfillment. My burden is to see Christians caring for the widow around the corner directly by visiting, loving and helping her, as well as supporting community, religious and, yes, even governmental programs that also attend to her needs. My wife and I have personally helped orphans, but we can’t help them all directly. If and when I am able to influence governmental programs in the area of helping those precious souls, I will do it. Are politics potentially ugly? You bet. However, if the Devil himself brought me a care package for an orphan, I would take it from him, kick him out, and give that care package to the orphan. If political involvement is a means to helping that orphan, I will get involved. Christian, there is nowhere that the reign of Christ does not extend, and while our primary mission is to share the love of Christ, there is no limit to the ways, spheres and extent that God calls us to do so. Let’s get busy with both hands spreading the Gospel and the influence of the Kingdom. (This column appeared in the <a href="http://www.suffolknewsherald.com/2012/03/02/christianity-and-politics/" target="_blank">Suffolk News Herald</a>, March, 2012)  Tough Questions Christian Living 2012-03-05T06:34:30Z pilgrimpastor The Dreadful Lack of Holiness in the Church http://pilgrimpastor.christianblogsites.com/blog/post/2012/02/20/the-dreadful-lack-of-holiness-in-the-church <div> "A fearful miasma has settled down upon nine-tenths of Christendom, deadening the senses, blunting spiritual perceptions, paralyzing endeavor after deeper personal piety, till almost anything is regarded as being acceptable unto God." - A.W. Pink, The Doctrine of Sanctification </div> <div>   </div> <div> I concur... Lord send revival...  </div> <div>   </div> <div> The Pilgrim Pastor  </div> Christian Living 2012-02-20T22:08:03Z pilgrimpastor Overworked?? http://pilgrimpastor.christianblogsites.com/blog/post/2012/02/09/overworked Have you ever felt overwhelmed with commitments?  While I was online recently, conducting some unrelated research, I happened upon this little cartoon.  Now, as a former Marine it immediately caught my attention.  As a person who was at the time feeling ever so slightly overwhelmed with the to do list that I had created for myself that day, the humor of the cartoon helped to greatly ease my burden.  It reminded me of a couple of lessons that may be helpful for you in keeping a right perspective on your burdens, tasks, and work today as well. <img src="http://pilgrimpastor.christianblogsites.com/blog/gallery/4605/cartooniwo.jpg" />  1.      1. The task at hand is seldom as monumental as we see it. Consider the big picture.  Compared to what it took those Marines to get to the top of Iwo Jima to raise a flag, my tasks are pretty manageable. 2.      2. Interestingly enough, this little sketch is of the popular re-raising of the flag on Iwo Jima.  When I was a Marine Corps photographer, I was once privileged to hold one of the original first prints of the actual flag raising that we found in a very tattered and water damaged book of images.  The actual thing was far less interesting of an image so they staged one that was more interesting!  The real thing is often less interesting than the image we have of it.  Be practical.  Accomplish your task minus the dramatics.  When we complain too much, even to ourselves, we have a tendency to get derailed in stress, emotion, and confusion. Take a clear look at the actual task and make a plan. 3.      3. Life is full of challenges and jobs to be done.  When we finish today’s work, tomorrows will come.  Take a moment to breath and focus on what matters.  My wife and I are always fascinated at our children’s ability to demolish the cleanliness of our home.  She and I are neat people.  Well, I am very neat and she is very clean and together, prior to all the kids who have invaded my life… we were very neat and very clean people!  What matters more though?  A clean house or happy children?  While I’d like to have both, I seldom do.  Making memories is more important than making it into the bleach-clean hall of fame.  Focus on what matters.  There will always be chores and work.  Life has a lot in common with an assembly line. Remember the words of Nobel Laureate Sir Rabindranath Tagore “God respects me when I work, but he loves me when I sing.” Pilgrim Pastor… working when work needs to be done… focusing on the focus… singing God’s songs of love and laughter…   Family Christian Living 2012-02-09T11:11:22Z pilgrimpastor Ambition http://pilgrimpastor.christianblogsites.com/blog/post/2012/01/26/ambition   <p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 18pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial"> Ambition is the greatest enemy to personal peace.  The soul that finds rest in the ambitions of God, to make His name great, will learn contentment.  The soul that seeks to make its own name great will be continually restless.  Among the keys to personal success is a “letting go” of the need to strive for it.  Work?  Yes.  Strive to gain more.  No.  "In our natural life our ambitions are our own. In the Christian life we have no aim of our own, and God’s aim looks like missing the mark because we are too shortsighted to see what he is aiming at." Oswald Chambers (1874–1917)  <p style="line-height: 18pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial"> Contentment comes, at least in part, through the realization that my life is happening right now.  Don’t miss out on today for the hope of tomorrow’s greater joy. “But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.” (1 Timothy 6:6 NASB) <p style="line-height: 18pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial"> Pilgrim Pastor… trying not to miss the love in my hands for want of looking in them…   Christian Living 2012-01-26T11:44:02Z pilgrimpastor