Treasures in Trash

 by Christi Sleiman

For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them. ~ Matthew 13:15

 

As a kid, I had many aspirations.  I thought maybe I'd be a teacher, psychologist, or maybe even president.  I thought I'd do incredible things like climb mountains and make great speeches.  Never, ever in my life did I see myself picking up trash.

Trash is gross.  There is no way around that fact.  It stinks and has germs and is ugly.  Yet, this summer while on a mission trip to Israel and Palestine one of my team's favorite things to do was pick up trash.  Why? When we humbled ourselves to perform this job, the Lord chose to reveal Himself to us in entirely new ways.  On my team of 12, I heard stories from around half of them of what God showed them while picking up trash.  I remember being amazed by this.  Sure, I had enjoyed my time praying while cleaning our assigned location, but I wasn't having any extreme revelations.  However, on our last day picking up trash, the Lord spoke.

 There were way too many of us at this location.  At least, that's what I thought until I really got cleaning.  I started just picking up a piece of trash here and there, but then I found my spot.  It was a gap in the ground that had a very nice layering of grossness on it's surface.  I hopped in and got to work, not realizing what I had just gotten myself into.  I was at one 3 by 5 foot spot for over an hour.  Whenever I thought I had made progress, I found another stash to be picked up!  It was actually humorous how much trash there was to be picked up on this one little spot compared to what I was expecting.

When I spoke to a local woman about Isis, she said she tries every day to forgive them, but then hatred boils up again.  She told me that she doesn't even think they are human, that they are actually devils.  For a second, I agreed with her.  How can humans commit such awful sins against humans?  But while picking up trash, God showed me His answer to me.

 Underneath layers and layers of trash, there is still ground.  No matter how much trash is piled upon the ground, that does not change that it is ground.  The ground doesn't get to choose what trash is piled upon it.  That is not to say that the ground doesn't allow weeds to grow too, but trash is literally thrown upon the ground, polluting it, without any say from the ground.  How much grossness has been forced upon many hearts?  Piled until the heart is barely recognizable and a "devil" is left in its place.  Yet God still sees the heart beyond the trash.

 When God showed this to me, I said "but God, I cannot ever fully clean this ground."  It was true.  Even if I picked up every large piece of trash, the ground would still have the shriveled remains of bags that had deteriorated.  Shards of glass would have still been left untouched.  Yet God said "but I can."

 It is not my job to fix the world.  I cannot heal broken hearts or tear down barricades around them.  That will never be my job, and for that I am thankful.  However, it is my job to say yes.  Every day I have to choose to say yes to the Lord and all that He desires from me.  It is a joy to say yes, because even if I cannot melt a frozen heart I can trust that when I follow the Holy Spirit's prompting I can be used to put a stitch on a wound or a chip in a wall.  Saying yes to God is all I am responsible to do.  The rest is in His very capable hands.

Do You Know Fear?

by Dina Sleiman

Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. ~ Psalm 86:11

This summer nineteen members of Acts 2 Church went on a mission trip to a poor, rural part of West Virginia and Kentucky. While there, we were all challenged (including the children and teens) to have an hour long quiet time, and it actually ended up being a big hit! Part of the reason it worked out so well was that we were given a devotional guide (which was actually more like an in depth Bible study) titled “Know Fear.” And after our quiet time each day we had small group discussions about what the Lord was showing us.

Initially, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The mission organization was new to our church, and I was concerned that the “Know Fear” topic might be something judgmental and religious, trying to slap us upside the head with the fear of God. Instead, it was a very balanced and deep-probing analysis of fear: both the good and bad sides of the subject.

First we learned that fear is an important window into the soul. We shouldn’t just ignore, deny, or repress our fears, because our fears tell us a lot about what is really going on inside of us. Fear reveals certain needs and cravings that we have. And at the bottom of those needs and cravings are idolatry that we probably never even suspected. One fear in my heart that God revealed was certainly a new one for me. I had a fear of discomfort and pain, which I think comes from some of the middle-aged health challenges I’ve been facing for the last few years. Certainly not any exciting or impressive sin, and yet something that could pull me away from God’s best plans for my life it I let it.

Aaron sporting his "Know Fear" shirt

Over the next two days we really took an in depth look at the fear of man and the fear of the unknown. Two areas that hold many Christians back from God’s best for their lives. And at the end of the day, both sinful responses that we need to overcome. I didn’t personally relate a lot to the fear of man, but it revealed a different fear. I long to be free and unique, and so I fear any sort of outward control on my life. Even on this trip, I had opportunities to challenge myself and face that fear.

Due to the duration of our trip, it wasn’t until I got home that I finally had the opportunity to read the author, Lauren Wright’s, perspective on the fear of God. And it was perfect. When we are not in right relationship with God, we have every reason to fear Him. But as we grow in relationship, that fear morphs into reverence, devotion, trust, and eventually pure worship.

This probably wasn’t a subject I would have ever thought to study on my own, but I feel like now I “Know Fear” much better than I ever have before, and I’m thankful for the revelations God gave me on this subject.

You can read more about the trip here, or check out our pictures here.

What fears have you struggled with? What fears have you overcome? Those of you who were on the trip, feel free to share your thoughts too!

Passion for His Presence

 by Pastor Bill Heffelfinger

Passion for His Presence. As a believer, it is a deep longing to sense the presence of Almighty God. As a matter of fact, it is a deep longing to experience His Presence. Yet, we go to church, we do our rituals, and come home feeling either satisfied or wishing there were more. Time passes and we either begin to become content with that or we start looking for what we long for. We tend to go "church hopping" or we quit going to church all together. We don't seem to receive what we have longed for; so we add more and more things to our lives. So much that we have no more room for seeking the presence of God.

Here's the thing, we are the church, and if I am a believer I am a member of the Body of Christ. If I am the Church then I help dictate the ability for God to move in the corporate setting of believers. What I mean is, it is how I enter that setting that determines how much I will experience God in that setting.

I, first of all must experience God all week before entering the setting.  How?  By seeking Him daily, not just a devotional, a Bible reading time, or just prayer on the way to work; I must SEEK Him. If I was looking for a $100 bill that I had lost, I would tear my house up looking for it, I would spend however long it took to find it. The same should be when we are seeking God. Heb. 11:6 says "... He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

Next, I must look at my attitude as I enter the building of fellowship.   Am I just coming because it is another Sunday?   Has my heart turned cold toward God and His people?   Do I truly long to be in His presence?  If I truly long to be in the presence of God, Then I will come expecting Him to move. The time of corporate worship is for the believer, we must come longing for the presence of God.

Unbelievers will bring enough junk in their lives to give over to God, but if we have a lot of junk in our own lives, they will be unable because the presence of God will be absent.

Remember, we determine how much God is experienced. We are the conduit for the power of God to flow freely; the power only comes with His presence. For deliverance, healing, and salvation to take place in an unbeliever's life, when they grace the corridors of our buildings, the presence of God must be experienced.

Oh, that we would find ourselves seeking the presence of God so much that nothing else matters. That we would say as Moses did, “Show me your glory!"

My Favorite Customers

by Stephanie Burkard (2013)

It was a busy Friday night at the restaurant.  People came in and out, oblivious to the feelings of the servers that hid so well behind that plastic smile.  When you serve, nothing can get to you.  Your pay depends on how funny, helpful, and timely you are.  Some people switch out “funny” for “quietly respectful”.  It just depends.

In the back hallway, I covered my face and stood against the wall.  Just for 5 seconds.  Table 5 needs water.  Table 2 needs their check.  Table 10 needs 3 miso soups.  My brain ran as my eyes closed- and opened.  And then I ran.

“Sute-chan!  Did you get table 2’s check?!”

“I’m doing it now.”

“Did you see table 4 added extra sushi to their order?”

“No, I’ll write it down now.”

Time slowed for the customers as it raced on for us.  Then came the blow.

“Sute-chan, don’t go to the Japanese customer’s table anymore.”  “Hai.”  I didn’t ask.

“Japanese people are very particular.  If one thing is out of sorts, they get all upset about it.” “Hai.”  Don’t talk to me like I don’t know what Japanese people are like, I thought inwardly.

A few minutes later, a more detailed and painful explanation came. “One of the Japanese men, he’s allergic to foreigners.”

My heart dropped to the floor.  Pain seared through my chest as my plastic smile melted.  “What do you mean?”

“He doesn’t like foreigners.  We’re not like that, but some Japanese people are very particular.  You weren’t what he was expecting.  It’s just expectations, you know?  You wouldn’t like it if you went to eat sushi expecting Japanese people and some Chinese person took your order, would you?  Don’t take it personally.”

The storm of the restaurant work became a storm in me- hot, red, fragmented.  The flames inside melted at the smile.  I only kept it up when speaking to customers.  I’m sick of the racism.  I could feel the hate- not just the prejudice of this man, but of all the Japanese people who had ever treated me the way he did.  Gaijin.  Foreign trash or novelty.  Either way, not a valuable person.

“God, I wish my favorite customers would come!” I prayed.  I wanted to smile genuinely towards people who appreciated my service- who would know my name and have a good time.

Miraculously, within 5 minutes, there they were.  Father and three year old, sushi loving, girl.  Mother was busy working that night, but the two of them were there. Two of my favorite customers! And then it occurred to me.

The kingdom of heaven is like a busy restaurant.  The customers I have go there- and Jesus, the waiter there, serves all people, racist or kind, with the same focused diligence and love.  The racist man who complained to the restaurant about my imperfect Japanese presentation is His favorite customer.  The father and daughter who thank Him with every dish and enjoy joking with Him are His favorite customers.

This blew my mind.  These people are all Jesus’ favorite customers.  Wow!  Thank God!  I am not the best customer by ANY means, and yet I’m Jesus’ favorite customer!  That’s the easy reaction to the story- and although it’s true, it’s not the only proper reaction for me.

Wow.  These people are all Jesus’ favorite customers.  Jesus has called me to follow Him.  I say I follow His example.  My religious label, “Christian” means “little Christ”.  Kinda like, “Jesus wanna-be”.  Sometimes God tells us to do things or be things because He himself is that way.  (Ex.  “Be holy as I am holy.”)  For me, all this translates to this; these people are all my favorite customers.  Even if I know table 3 will only leave a 10% tip, even if I know table 6 tips based on how much I make them laugh, even though I am foreign trash to table 1, and even though table 7 loves and appreciates my service, these people are all Jesus’ favorite customers.  These people are all my favorite customers.

Prayer Power

by Pastor Rob Stevenson (2013)

April 22 I'm laying in a hospital bed at the Portsmouth Naval Hospital ER.  Abdominal pains being quenched somewhat by some pain-killing drug.  My abdomen expanded out like I'm 3-months pregnant.  Though I hadn't eaten anything in over 24 hours, no appetite existed.  Doctors were telling me gall bladder cancer had attacked my liver, and maybe my pancreas.  The fluid in my abdomen looked bad and was attacking other parts of my body, they said.  A low day in the life of this pastor?  No duh.  I wasn't defeated though, and I'm not now defeated.  I felt no real depression, though I can't say I was singing songs of joy and praise either.  Sure, some tears came later.  However, Bev and I have kept our faith.  We prayed.  Bev realizes the power of prayer and its affect when unity takes place.  She starts sending out texts, making phone calls, and praying hard herself.  My brothers and sisters in the Lord stood in the gap.  Words of healing were spoken, prayed, and declared.  A few came over and laid hands on me.  I was anointed with oil.   Things happened. 

After two days and a night in the hospital, things actually started looking better.  Hmmm, maybe this isn't cancer, the doctors start wondering.  This pastor looks like the epitomy of health from all the lab tests we have done.   Test after test all have come back negative.  Looks like a "slow" gall bladder now.  I'm still not totally healed.  However, I know I am healed.  I'm not believing anyting but health.  I confess those things that are not, as though they are.  Things happen.  I press on.  I persevere.  Never giving up, I run for the prize.  We will keep following the Lord, and will never surrender.

House of Prayer

by Pastor Rob Stevenson (2013)

Prayer can certainly be moved out of your life.  Are you giving it the priority it needs?  When did it stop becoming a priority in the Temple?

Matthew 21:12-14  (NIV)  Jesus is at the Temple

12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers.” 14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them.

It probably started with something small, or even small and helpful.  Two people come to the temple.  One has money and no sacrifice.  Another has two sacrifices.  They make a deal and both go into the Temple happy.  From there it escalated.  Naturally, my questions center around these two initial persons.  One had no sacrifice, but came anyway.  Is that how one goes to church?  On the one hand, you say ‘yes’.  Jesus turns no one away.  On the other hand, you can say ‘no’.  With nothing to offer and nothing to give, your gratitude seems counterfeit.  The other had twice what he needed, and for what purpose?  His intent seems to carry an ulterior motive.  He could have been laden with guilt, and wanted to offer twice the sacrifices.  However, his greed dominated.  Hmmm.  Maybe that was why he needed extra sacrifices.

Our lives reflect similar changes. Our intentions stay high, but the weak flesh doesn’t act so weak many times.  Subtle changes occur that direct us away from a well-intentioned prayer life.  Extra work hours throw us off-schedule, for instance.  When I was in the Navy, abnormal work hours became the norm.  Bev and I would get into a habit of praying together each night, but then off to another base I would go, or home late from a busy day.  Then, the schedule goes awry.  Children can do that, too.  It doesn’t have to be much.  A touch of diarrhea or a loose cockroach in the house. (Well, I can’t blame the kids for that one.  I loosed the cockroach in the house, but that is another story.)   We could have been well on the way to great prayer if not for the washing machine overflowing.  These are small things, but they add on to each other, and they take us away from prayer. 

What can we do?  First, give prayer the priority it deserves.  Prayer is not just a nice thing to do. Prayer is communication with the God of Creation.  That can’t be placed into second place.  Second, which goes along with the priority, is that Jesus desires it.  His Temple, where the Holy Spirit resides, is you.  He despises a dwelling place that contains thievery, cheating, deceit, and an uncaring attitude.  Third, you need prayer.  The Lord enjoys it, but you need it.  Your desires follow your attentions.  You start praying regularly, and you will start enjoying what it does to your life.   Get started.

Is it Shunday for You?

by Pastor Rob Stevenson (2013)

When I was younger, like 12 or so, I couldn't grasp what Good Friday was all about.  I mean, Jesus mocked and brutalized. Tortured.  Suffering.  Killed.  Then, I realized years later.  He died for me.  And He arose.  He lives!  That's why it's good. Don't be shuned by Sunday.  Rejoice.  Get free.  Jesus made it that way, for you.

And most important of all.  Remember, He LIVES!  Jesus is the stinger remover.  Death has no sting.  1 Corinthians 15:55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

It's Sunday, and time to celebrate!