Living it Up

I can remember it like it was yesterday. I got my you have _ _ _ _ to live sentence, although it sounded more like 20 years in an Illinois State Prison System. It felt like it was the end of my life. There was the fear of the unknown, and if that didn’t cripple me enough with fear, I would be going to one of the most violent prisons in America. The idea of not knowing anyone or anything about where I was going was enough to still my joy. With only two weeks before being shipped out I was suddenly face with tons of fears, what do I do now? How am I going to be able to handle this? Will I be able to survive it? I heard all the horror stories and seen first hand what can happen if you don’t mind your own business. Scary, isn’t it?

Well, as a born again Christian, I did know that I was in good company. God had already told me that He would never leave me, nor forsake me. I had that covered. I was from a well-known Chicago Housing Project, so I didn’t fear been picked on, I had that covered. I have the gift of not having any problems with saying goodbye to people I am close to. I had that covered. It’s what I didn’t have covered that got me in rut, PASSION. I lost my passion for both God and for people. I was still going to church and still seen as a Christian amongst my peers, but I wasn’t an active servant and a witness. See, I purposefully chose to take a back seat in the Faith, much like choosing to retire. I was just tired of being the go to guy for prayer and answers, I just sat down in the middle of the race. My feet were tired and my soul truly took a rest.
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Dying to Live

A couple of weekends ago, my sister Katie invited some of our younger siblings to spend the night at her and Nathan’s new home. Dinner was a comical scene: four Helds and two Fanchers squeezed around a table for four—two of us shared a piano seat and another sat (bounced) on a Pilates ball. Laughter was all that came from our carefree group for the first few minutes. When the conversation did begin, it centered on the topic of how differently Christians and non-Christians view death and the unavoidable process of “gettin’ old.” It seemed strange that six “kids” would be talking about the end of their lives on earth, but for me, the conversation had unique significance. God had already been leading me to think about my life’s purpose in light of the fact that it is “a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes” (James 4:14).

As my spring semester came to a close, much of what I was giving myself to seemed devoid of purpose. In the midst of a full schedule, which even included time in God’s word, fellowship with other Christians, etc., I felt a growing numbness of heart. I lacked thankfulness and contentment in the season of life God had me, and my relationship with Him was becoming increasingly joyless. While meditating on Psalm 16, the Lord began to convict me of pursuing the experience of pleasure (and joy) apart from him. The Holy Spirit opened my eyes to see that I had been living without an eternal perspective. As a result, the daily work God had lovingly purposed for me to do through His grace was an overwhelming burden as I tried to do it in my own strength. The pleasure and rest I tried to secure for myself (like finding escape through excess time on the internet or eating food) was shallow and unsatisfying. It was no wonder that my Christian life was zapped of joy and delight in God!
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by Jim Reklis
part five of the five part series
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Leaving a Lasting Impression

A few years ago I was really struggling with my relationship with God and was questioning Him about some things I knew He had told me years earlier. I knew He had shown me a ministry where He would use me to bring healing to hurting woman. I didn’t feel like I was making an impact on our world and that time was running out. I felt I was standing still watching everyone else’s lives being used by God and that their lives had meaning and purpose. I now understand that this restlessness was God prompting me to get out of my comfort zone and to seek Him again for that earlier promise.

I had no idea how to make this move. I decided to call my dear friend, Linda. She is the woman who ministered to me when I was hurting, broken and lost. That’s when I found Jesus. I knew she knew me and that she had great wisdom and could help me sort through my feelings. She invited me to visit her in Texas where she and her husband have a prison ministry. She asked me to go into the maximum security prison and share my testimony with the female inmates. I agreed. I didn’t know that would be the first step God would use to begin a miraculous change in me and birth the ministry I had been asking for. Never would I have thought I would be part of “helping set the captives free!”
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Making a World of Difference

As I read through Day 27, I could vividly remember that day in LaSalle Street in downtown Chicago when I had to make the decision between staying in the USA and enjoying the comfort and relative safety or to go back to my country and continue serving in student ministry. We were just coming from talking with the Registrar at Moody, since my host had offered to finance my studies. It was in July 1999, my first time in the USA to attend an International conference of Christian students hosted by Intervarsity USA at Wheaton, Illinois. By this time, we were two years into a ten years civil war in my country, Sierra Leone, which left behind the destruction of over 200,000 lives, property and deep emotional wounds. As I prayed silently, I knew that God wanted me to go back to my country and he was waiting for me to make a decision. In my mind it did not make sense, but in my heart I felt the joy of the Lord as I said to my host, “thank you for the offer, but I have to go back to my country, because the Lord needs me there”. That moment, I knew I handed over my life completely to the Lord to let him do what he wanted with it. My safety and comfort became secondary.

My arrival back home was not exciting, because it did not make sense to most of my relative and friends. To them it was a great opportunity lost, because no one in his right mind would want to return to such danger and uncertainty after stepping his feet in the USA, the land of opportunity, freedom and comfort. I knew God wanted me back there, but during those times when life became unbearable and dangerous, it would cross my mind that may be I should not have returned home. Two of my worse times were in 1999 when I was almost killed by rocket-propelled grenades and bullets in two fierce battles between the Rebel and Government forces in the area where I lived. These battles lasted for three and five days respectively, and left behind many dead and many houses burned down, including my family house and every thing I had. In all the anguish and pain, God gave me peace and whenever I become very afraid, he would assure me that he was with me and was protecting me. The good news is that God provided for me after the war to come back to the United States to study in 2002- 2005.

I would never say it was easy, but as I look back now, I know that sacrifice I was willing to make by his grace changed my whole perspective of life and deepened my relationship with the Lord. I could see how God used that sacrifice and that of others to keep the student ministry going during those ten years of civil war. I could see how God brought courage, strength and Salvation to many Christian and non-Christian students and graduates in such a time of despair and anguish. I learned to make the most of every minute and every day I had, because you don’t know if you would live to see the next. I grew in my dependence on him, and I know there is nothing more beautiful than living for his purpose.
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Staying the Course When Your Life Crashes

I appreciated the reminder that obedience comes from faith. People like us are horrible and can front goodness for extended periods of time. Plus, we live amidst a culture pushing humanism–saying people are pretty much good creatures (sure they make mistakes, but….). That being so, we could do well enough with some effort. But we are the kind of people who can only obey God if he founds something new in us: Paul wrote to the Romans that, “Through [Jesus] and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith (Romans 1:5 NIV).” Upon this I poeticize as follows:

So let your eyes be not merely t’ obedience,
but to that trusty man who always whispers, “Come.”
All of your might musters for you no recompense
for all the ugly things slipped out–wrongs you have done.

What you forgave yourself was lie-cloaked shame: dishonesty.
And, too, your harsh self-punishment was yet another wrong.
The Son came humble, stooping into flesh and, in all modesty,
he sewed a coat–your shame he wore; to him it did belong.

Behold, this man before your time has bought you life, has freed you
from your filthy, blind identity–this God was broke to feed you.

Now, knowing this and feeling more the sin still in your flesh,
you learn your need for Jesus’ death, and this you more do cherish.
As you feel yourself darker still, your thanks can sing out fresh
and, joining more with him in work, he then becomes your flourish.

And when you do great miracles, and speak words sharp as swords
it is because you cling to him who drank up all your death.
When innovation, great success, and various awards
attend you, it is only praise to Jesus Christ’s lifebreath.

Review this verse and drink from it increased expedience
in stepping forth through death to life. To restate all in sum:
Come, check your gaze: let it not be merely t’ obedience,
but to that trusty man who always whispers, “Come.”

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Using Eternal Building Materials

I like how our authors paraphrase something that Jesus says to Martha after she’s complained that Mary isn’t helping her prepare their meal: “Mary is doing the thing that’s most important and will last, the only thing that’s eternal…. All that really matters is a relationship with Me and a relationship with others.” This quote is particularly interesting because of what the rest of the chapter is about. It’s not about having fun with friends, or even about making time in your busy schedule to stop and enjoy the day—it’s about building what matters for eternity. And what’s one of only a few things that last for eternity? People!

Everything I’m choosing now is building a bridge to eternity. Isn’t that amazing? Jesus has a vision for how we should look, as ourselves, made in his image. Jesus is making me a better and better bridge builder as he chips things away that don’t look like him or his vision for how he created me. The amazing part is that he’s chipping pieces away, sanding down edges, and knocking off sin and rebellion—because in his mind’s eye he already sees the me he’s trying to create! He’s not focusing on the sin in me, he’s pushing that sin aside so that he can see me better, the me that’s not there yet, being formed by him day by day; the me that he sees in his loving creator’s eye; the me that he’s just ecstatic to see and know more of, day by day.

So, today, let Jesus make you more and more yourself because, to paraphrase the authors, “you’re designed by your Creator to fulfil a vital purpose that no one else can accomplish but you.” And that means I need you! I can’t wait to see more of you and I as we emerge little by little from the sculptor’s clay each day.

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Planting for the Future

Seeds and Trees - reminds me of one word: Legacy, a sobering word. If you are wired as I am, I get rather pensive with that word. Not bothered, just pensive. Maybe it’s my upbringing and the many years of conversation with my dad. He always spoke of lasting influence. A Chinese saying paraphrased – “there are three ways of living a legacy- write a book, plant a tree or have a child”. I have many scientific publications, you can google my name. They are simply…there. We have planted trees where we live. Every season they come and then they go…No one really notices, maybe occasionally. And then there are the three kids. Now that is different. They go everywhere. They have much influence. They reflect me. I hear stories about them (thankfully, often good reports!) And not just that, but they influence me. I have to live as their example. And what a challenge! They somehow make you a better person as a parent. Strange.

While reading day 24, I wondered who in this country gives lasting impression and influence. I thought of two men, Martin Luther King Jr and Bill Gates. Different era but both with lasting legacies. Bill Gates’ influence probably worldwide. Yet, it is Martin Luther King Jr that seems to inspire. Why is that? I conclude it has to do with two things - conflict and sacrifice. He was in a conflict, prevailed and gave his life for it. That is the stuff of legacy. Giving your life for a cause is certainly legacy. Not holding back. I suppose like Jesus. And we are all called to follow, not be crybabies and moaners.

Mustn’t let the small things hold us back. That is what I got from the story of the sower and the seed. The victory is on the “much fruit”. Every one is given seeds. Not rocks. Who determines this? HE does, our loving PAPA. Its up to me to run with it. Live fully, seek opportunity and strive for perfection. All in him of course. And not allow the small distractions to diminish the great potential accomplishment of a Mighty God in a small man – me.
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Creating a Lasting Legacy

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by Jim Erickson
part four of the five part sermon series
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