Beware: If you presume to take the high road in life, people will hold you to a higher standard.

Arnold Schwarzenegger has put on hold many of his new projects because of the recent news about his fathering a child with a long-time employee of his household.   While watching the news this morning, Vanda commented that anybody else in Hollywood would have continued their careers without missing a beat.  The Governator’s image as an upstanding citizen has elevated the public’s standard for his actions much higher than their standards for the likes of Charlie Sheen or Lindsay Lohan.  His massive 25-year marriage to Maria Shriver dwarfs the Danny Devito-sized marriages common among the stars.  People tend to feel gyped when they invest their admiration on personalities who end up proving themselves undeserving.  Just ask Tiger Woods or Mel Gibson.

Don’t get me wrong, Mr. Schwarzenegger has done a very bad thing.  His unfaithfulness to his wife was a very selfish act and has had a negative effect on many people.  It’s not that he shouldn’t take a break and take care of the situation he’s created.  I’m commenting on the public pressure he’s facing to take these steps when the same pressure would be absent for other stars.

Jesus understood this aspect of public perception and even strived to take advantage of it by telling his disciples: “If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples. (CEV)”  Being a Jesus-follower requires living life to the fullest extent, and living it for real.  If you claim to represent the Savior, be sure that you are being watched – and the standards set for you are much higher than the standards set for others.

There’s no denying it: it’s a double standard.  But, it’s one that God agrees with.

Our discussion on Sunday morning was about how we can’t please everybody, but we can please God.  Pleasing God is to be a Christian’s only motivation.  This thought frees us from the pressure to be people-pleasers who are often in danger of glossing over some of God’s truth to win the favor of some people.

Lisa Antonini, Mahoning County Treasurer, resigned her post yesterday becasue she had been caught accepting money for her last campaign that she hadn’t reported.  My first thought was, “Typical politician.  And, she gave up her career and credibility for $3,000?  She’s getting what she deserves.”  During my study time this morning in preparation for this week’s teaching at The Gate I read 1st Timothy 2:1-4:

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people.  Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.  Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.  This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. (NLT)

Pleasing God includes praying for our public leaders as well.  I’ll admit, that’s not a strong point of mine.  What if my prayers could have made a difference for Lisa Antonini?  After all, I don’t know the preasures of public office.  And, my prayers for her and others could be done for the sole reason that it pleases God, which is my one purpose (Which I preached about on Sunday!  Ouch.)  Who knows, we may experience peacefulness, quietness and dignity that may have been eluding us?

Feel free in joining with me to pray for our leaders on a daily basis.

Our Easter morning discussion at The Gate was about the women who went to the tomb to finish the burial process for Jesus.  Instead of finding Jesus’ body, they met up with a couple of angels.  I used to think that what the angels said to the women was unnecessarily sarcastic: “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive?”  It must have been obvious to the angels why it was that the women had gone to the tomb.  Otherwise, why would the angels have hung around until they got there and left by the time Peter and John showed up later in the day?  The angels knew the women’s mindset was that Jesus was still dead.  The angels’ role was to inform the clueless seekers that all hope wasn’t lost; that he’d risen as he had said he would be.

The question may have been more for us than for the women.  How many of us still follow a Jesus who taught well, did great miracles and showed us how to live as God intended, but shy away from the fact that he is the reigning conqueror of our greatest enemy (death) who calls us to an exciting, sacrificial, intentional, extremely rewarding life?  People who never discover the true Jesus are those who treat him as if he was a great teacher and nothing more.  They’re trying to follow a Jesus who is somewhat irrelevant to their lives but who fulfills a desire for some spirituality for them.  They’re searching for Jesus, but their spiritual journeys are a quest for a Jesus who didn’t need to rise again.  They’re searching for a Jesus who is still dead, but whose teaching is still inspiring for us two millenia later. 

Here’s the problem: That Jesus doesn’t exist.

It must be very frustrating to be on a useless quest.  So, if a spirituality that doesn’t require a risen Lord is what you experience, the angels’ question is for you:  ”Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive?.  Stop looking for the living among the dead.  He’s alive!

Vanda had the idea of our family going to see the Passion Play at Highway Tabernacle in Austintown yesterday.  Awesome idea.  The story of Jesus’ life is one that can be very familiar, but there were several moments in the play that were very, very powerful reminders of the sacrifice and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

They have plays tonight and tomorrow night, each at 7 pm.  Also, they’re both free.  There’s a free will offering to help defray the costs.  Going tonight would be a great way to prepare your heart for the most special day on the Christian calendar that happens to be tomorrow.  Go and be blessed.

Their website is: www.highwayfamily.com

Thanks, friends at Highway Tabernacle!

A fact that’s been thrown around the past few years is based on a study of people who would go to church on Easter if only they would be invited by a friend or family member.  Eighty-Two percent!  EIGHTY-TWO!

Who is it that you’ve been avoiding?  You have a few days left.  Give it a shot.  This is a bunny pitch (no reference to the seasonal icon) that you can hit out of the park.

If you don’t have a church, I’d like to invite you to The Gate this Easter if you’re in the Columbiana, OH area.  All are welcome.  We are informal, but feel free to wear you Easter attire if you wish.  Jeans or suit and tie are acceptable.  Go to www.gatechurchlife.org to see what we’re about and what you can expect.  Consider yourself one of the 82.

“Unhinged” is a group of people I get to meet with on Tuesday evenings who would rather worship God in a small group setting than in a church as most people know it.  We’re in the middle of an eight-week period where we’re trying this book called the Tangible Kingdom Primer, where the authors take us through daily readings and questions that take about 20 minutes, and on day five of each week (Tuesdays) we meet to talk about what God has been doing through us.  The focus is on Community, Communion and Mission.  Church won’t work without all three.

A few people from our Sunday morning crowd have joined in as well.  There are eight of us, and we are having a blast.  One thing’s becoming more and more clear: God is made tangible to us (not just those we are sent to) to the extent that we are intentional about actually interacting with people in a way that is accepting and unthreatening – no matter where somebody may be at in their spiritual journey.  We’re also planning a missions project that we can do for the greater Columbiana Community.  I’ll fill you in when we have more info.  It will be about helping people out whether or not they believe in Jesus Christ, or whether they ever will.  God loves those who don’t know him – so will we.

Last night we met at Sheena’s house.  She made soup from the ingredients that each of us brought.  We ate around the kitchen table, talked about how God used us to interact with people during the week, and we laughed our butts off.  It was great fun.  Can’t wait to see what life will be like when this catches on.

Hey friends.  A lot has happened at The Gate over the last month.  Kim Bennett, our worship leader since our launch in September 2007, has moved on.  We thank her for leading us in worship over the past 3 years.

God has given us some great direction that I hope to share with you in the coming weeks as details are hammered out.  The first order of business is to secure a new worship leader.  If you know anybody in the area interested in the position, please have them contact me at dave@gatechurchlife.org.

Having a coffee at the Lemon Grove in downtown Youngstown.  Nice place.  The tables don’t match, the mugs are all different and they play a very wide range of music.  Can’t explain it, but it’s somehow refreshing. 

Nothing matches, but everything fits. 

Everyone fits, too.  People here are having a good time just hanging out with friends.  Dave, the guy behind the counter, goes out of his way to make you feel welcome.  I’d post a picture of this place, but it’s too dark in here for my camera. 

I get to come here every Monday while my daughter, Jess, is at her ballet class.  Feel free to stop by some week.  I’m here from 6 – 7:30.

I just read an on-line news article about a man in Western PA who is fighting for his right to have a cross in his yard.  He’s been ordered to take it down by the local officials.  Clear-cut issue of religious freedom, right?  This guy should proudly fight the forces of evil that would prevent his Christian testimony to the world.

Wrong.  The problem isn’t what is being put in his yard, it’s the size of what is being put in his yard.  The burrough has an ordinance that outlines the process for obtaining a permint for putting up large structure (The cross is 24 ft. high).  The owner didn’t get the permit. 

Jesus told us to never shy away from our testimony about him, but he also told us to do it with gentleness.  The apostle Paul tells us to respect the governing authorities.  If we abuse the rights of other people in our community, why should they listen to our message about a gentle God?  I thought that maybe this really wasn’t a religious problem but an ego problem.  I’ve changed my mind.  It’s actually both.  There’s a difference between standing up for our religious rights and making a stink to get attention.  If the town rejected the symbol simply because of it’s Christian witness, well, then we’d have a fight on our hands.  But that’s not what this is, at least at this point. 

Jesus didn’t force his religious views on anyone – and he had a right to!  I say we let him lead by example.

Warning: This Sunday’s discussion is for Mature Audiences Only!

Tomorrow we’ll begin the much anticipated series “Satan’s Sex Ed” at our Sunday morning gathering.  There will be mature themes discussed, so we’ve asked that only highschool-aged people and older remain in the auditorium during the teaching time.  For those of you that are planning on being our guests for this series, be assured that Pastor Ry and his team provide a great time for the kids.  If you’re not sure whether or not your kids are mature enough for this topic, I encourage you to read Song of Songs Chapter four.  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Song%20of%20songs%204&version=NLT

For directions and other info about The Gate, click on the link to the right.

See you tomorrow!