Spiritual Mortgage Foreclosures

Stay with me, I promise a spiritual application to these disturbing statiscs. According to figures released this week by the mortgage industry, the U.S. is having a record year in the number of home foreclosures. In the first six months of 2007, we are 58% ahead of where we were for the same period last year! Over 570,000 properties have reported some type of foreclosure activity so far this year according to RealtyTrac, Inc. CEO James Saccacio to the Associated Press: "We could easily surpass 2 million foreclosure filings by the end of the year, which would represent a year-over-year increase of over 65%."

According to the report, California, Florida, Texas and Ohio led the nation with the highest number of homes in foreclosure. The AP story by Alex Veiga reported: "Last week, Calabasas-based Countrywide Financial Corp., one of the biggest mortgage lenders in the U.S., said even some of the most creditworthy borrowers were having trouble making their payments."

Is anyone else concerned about this trend? It would be interesting to note the number of business foreclosures and the comparison of corporate and personal bankruptcy filings nationwide too. Are the foreclosures related to job losses, or are many of us simply living beyond our income by purchasing homes based more on the ability to afford the payment while ignoring the inevitable increases in living expenses for healthcare, utilities, food and maintenance? My guess is that the majority of foreclosures are due to people living above their means than it is to significant job losses. We are writing checks that we can't cash.

Churches be warned and be careful! Especially those undertaking any type of serious capital campaign for anything from missions to building projects. It doesn't seem there is an end in sight to this unfortunate trend of Americans trying to satisfy an appetite we cannot afford.

I'm thinking spiritual foreclosures are probably up nationally as well. Spirtual foreclosures? Yep, I'm talking about people who take on more, promise more (many even well-intended) and accept an increase in ministry, service or leadership only to default on their commitment or intention, because "something else came up". Even more troubling is the alarming amount of those who make such commitments and have absolutely ZERO intention of ever making good on them, or those who are quick to offer criticism, or suggestions but refuse to be part of the solution. Yet, they are usually among the first to seek assistance from God's Grace Bank at the first sign of trouble. Then there's the group who promise and express a desire to grow in Christ through spiritual formation, but they aren't willing to make the necessary investment in time and effort. They would rather have a spiritual mentor, or leader wave a magic wand of spiritual growth over them and "make it all better".

Aren't you glad the Grace Bank is run by God and not me, or someone like you? He's the principal loan officer, president and CEO. What would happen if God started foreclosing on all the things we fail to make spiritual payments upon? The sound of the collapse would be deafening. It's time we quit focusing on the total spiritual mortgage amount we owe and letting its sheer size lead to self-resignation resulting in spiritual defaults. This is a debt that can never be fully repaid and that's the wrong approach, like looking through the wrong end of binoculars. Simply start making payments, or investments in the things of God. Unlike big mortgage companies, God respects single, small, honest steps with authentic motives. Just start giving a little at a time. Before you know you'll be making huge grace mortgage payments, investing in His kingdom and enjoying every moment of it, I promise!

Donaghy, Lohan, Vick & Le Tour de France

It's been an interesting couple of weeks in the lives of the rich and famous. According to news reports, disgraced NBA referee Tim Donaghy is expected as early as Thursday to face federal gambling charges. The 40-year old official is suspected of betting on NBA games and giving gamblers inside information.

Tour de France officials insisted yesterday their event will survive its latest crisis and that former race favorite Alexandre Vinokourov's initial positive test for a banned blood transfusion is a sign of health, not fatal illness, in their sport. Vinokourov's positive blood test result came the day of his Stage 13 time-trial win Saturday. After that result, Tour officials immediately demanded that his team, Astana, withdraw. (Boston Globe, July 25th)

Who hasn't heard the reports of NFL star Michael Vick's federal legal woes connected to an alleged dog fighting ring and animal abuses on his property in Virginia. Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank has now weighed in. From The Atlanta Constitution Journal July 25th : Blank said multiple times that the charges levied against Vick-losing dogs were allegedly tortured, shot, hanged, drowned and electrocuted — were repulsive. He tended to follow his rebuke with claims of Vick's presumed innocence, but his angst was on full display. Blank said he's so distressed by the situation and the 18-page indictment that he has wished he were back in Kenya, where he was earlier this month, with the "lions and cheetahs." "I'm honestly very disappointed that Michael has put himself in the circumstances he finds himself in," Blank said. "I'm disappointed for him, for our coaches, players, our fans, our community, all the fans in the National Football League. We have to let this play out and see what the facts develop. I'm certainly disappointed by the circumstances."

Former child actor Lindsay Lohan continues to struggle with growing up. On Tuesday, Santa Monica Police booked her on suspicision of drunken driving and cocaine posessesion. She's been out of rehab for less than two weeks related to another drunken-driving case.

As a diehard animal lover, it would be easy for me to join the media frenzy and public finger-pointing at Vick, Lohan, Vinokourov, and Donaghy, were it not for words written by the Apostle Paul two thousand years ago. Those words stop me in my tracks and remind me that I am no less a sinner. Paul wrote:

...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)

I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do-this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. (Romans 7:18-20)

I need, crave and routinely ask God for grace. He is not stingy or conservative about dispensing it either. He lavishes it on me. So how can I, someone who professes to be the recepient of such divine grace, withhold it from others, regardless of what they have done to me or others? That would be hypocrisy. I'm not saying we need to condone illegal behavior, drugs and violence that are in direct conflict with God's Word. However, there are other behaviors that are just as conflictive with God's Word and destructive that we routinely dismiss. Things like sarcastic comments toward obese people, or those of us who are follicly-challenged. And don't forget the town gossip, or the professional who won't face his/her racial or social prejudice. You can add the condescending judgmental legalist to the list as well.

While we let the legal process work, instead of trash talking and pointing our fingers, we need to pray for Vick, Lohan, and the Donaghy's of this world. We also need to learn from their mistakes and use them to educate succeeding generations to limit the future repetition of such behavior. But most importantly, we can pray that they will personally discover that none of us has to be a slave to sin and there is something we can do about. We can share the hope that we have. The Apostle Paul again:

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1-4)

If we're going to seek grace then we've got to be willing to extend it to others. This is probably one of the most difficult biblical life applications we can make. Remember Jesus weeping over the spiritual condition of Jerusalem on that first Palm Sunday? Perhaps more of us need to weep and toil in prayer for these high profile, but all too human idols our culture holds so high from Hollywood to professional sports.

My Friend Larry, A Man of Incredible Faith

My friend's Larry and Deb Sherman moved to Myrtle Beach several years ago. Larry and Deb were a critical part of Mosaic's birth and infancy years. Larry was one of the original elders at Mosaic. Deb continues to serve as our webmaster from low country to this day! They are deeply committed Christ-followers who are passionate about ministry. A little over a month ago Larry began to have some problems with his eyes. He has since been diagnosed with an auto immune disease that affects his sight. He wrote the following article for the local newspaper. I thought it might inspire and encourage others as it has me. Enjoy and please pray for my friends Larry and Debbie.

God Why Did This Happen To Me?

Life is good...I play golf twice a week; Friday nights at Brookgreen listening to music, Saturday Nights at the pool with friends and Sunday afternoons at the beach soaking up the sun. Yes..Life is good.

Then all of a sudden on a Monday morning everything changes. I wake up with double vision, so I call my doctor to find out what’s going on. I go to the doctor and he gives me the once over and then begins:

“Double vision can be caused by any number of problems and we need to start at the top and rule out each of the possible sources one at a time.” (Makes since to me.) “First we will need for you to get two MRI studies to rule out a brain tumor”, he says, (whoa Nelly! This is getting serious) so I ask just what are the things that we are trying to rule out. “First we need to rule out brain tumor, because of an existing thyroid condition, I think you are looking at a Pituitary tumor that is putting pressure on the optic nerve, but it could also be an aneurism putting pressure on the optic nerve. It is possible you have Diabetes, MG or several other conditions of the eye...He went on naming things which I could not pronounce or spell. That is when the first question hit me: "God, Why is this happening to me?”

One week later, to the day, I am lying on the table being rolled into the MRI machine, listening to an easy listening station, when the second question hit me: God, What do you want me to learn from this experience? About that time the song changes on the earphones and I am now hearing the familiar words to an old song, “I just called to say I love you, I just called to say I really care”. I immediately think, “God could you have found a less expensive way to tell me you love me, this experience is costing me a couple of thousand dollars”.

I tell God, “You know I have been yours for over 58 years, I know you love me, but this cannot be the reason I am lying in this MRI machine. “ He does not answer. So after waiting a week to have the MRI studies and three days for the results, and imagining all of the worst case scenarios about what this is going to mean for me, the nurse calls and says that both MRI studies are negative and the doctor is referring me to a Neuro-Ophthalmologist for further treatment. She says the Doctor’s office will call and schedule an appointment with me.

When the phone finally rings, the receptionist on the other end says “Mr. Sherman your doctor has requested a consult; our earliest opening is in four weeks. “I swallowed hard, twice, and then gently in my most serene voice I said, “Is that the earliest you have, I have been dealing with this double vision for 10 days and it seams to be getting worse by the day, in four more weeks I will be TOTALLY BLIND, not to mention I won’t have any clients left” She informs me this is the best she can do, I can take the appointment or not. Deb had already done some research to find neurologist that also specialize in ophthalmology and you guessed it this guy is the only one in this entire coastal area. She schedules me for that appointment and then says she will call if there is a cancellation. At this point, I am beginning to come unraveled. I need to pray.

“God, I know I am supposed to learn some spiritual truth from this trial, some purpose. You know I have placed my life in your hands so whatever the outcome is, I submit my life to your will. If you think I need to wait 4 weeks in order to learn patience, I will do that, but could you remember all the other times you have tried to teach me patience in the past and speed this waiting up.? I have been waiting in agony for 10 days, and I’m scared about the future. I love you LORD and I resolve to place my life in your hands once again, and have faith that you will be in control and take care of me no matter what I must endure. I promise I will not try to handle everything by myself again. “

At the moment I finished my prayer, the phone rang and the receptionist on the other end said “Mr. Sherman I spoke to the doctor about your dilemma. He said he will see you during his lunch hour today if you can get here and bring a copy of you MRI by 12:30. “I fumble for my words astonished at what I am hearing, “Yes ma’am, you bet, I will be there at 12:30 pm sharp”
I hung up the phone and breathed this prayer, “God, you answered my prayer even before I prayed it, thank you for loving me like you do.” Ok its 10:30, I have to call the Imaging Center and get them to give me a CD with the MRIs and get to his office on the other side of the grand strand...I rushed downstairs and told Deborah what had just happened, we jumped into the car and made the trip.

Of course I want a magic pill to get rid of my problem so I don’t have to think about it anymore...but instead he tells me I need more diagnostic testing. The bills are adding up.
The symptoms are bad enough, but add on the waiting, the fear and the uncertainty. And to top it all off you don’t know if you can trust the doctors you’ve chosen since you’re fairly new to the area. Man! God you’re giving me a workout. So with a little tap on my shoulder God once again reminds me that he loves me and is in control in the form of a phone call...It’s my niece, who just happens to be a neurologist from Duke, telling me she is at Pawley’s on vacation. As I am telling her “how I am”, she says Larry bring your MRI CD down here and I’ll examine you and review your studies. God is so good and faithful.

The next morning, I gave blood for the $1700 dollars worth of “diagnostic studies” that would take ten days to complete...more money and more waiting. If you’ve never been self employed you take for granted all of the nice insurance perks that you get with a large company. You have to pay for your insurance package without the buying power of a large group policy. Deductibles are generally high and the insurance package doesn’t have as many perks. All of this to say it was gonna be a BIG bill. God nudges me again with an unexpected check from the U.S. Treasury Dept. for overpaid taxes in the exact amount to cover the diagnostic studies to date...Again I say God is so good and faithful to his children.

The nurse calls on the 10th day, July 3rd at 5:00 pm, with the results. I will go back to the doctor for treatment options (of course there was more waiting involved since tomorrow was July 4th). Finally the doctor prescribed the magic pill (or so I hoped.) The first dose after 3 hours I was seeing much better, not perfect yet, but manageable. I am still adjusting the medicine to the proper dose to achieve a full day of good vision. I will most likely have to take this medication for the rest of my life, and believe it or not...it is not that expensive, thank you God.

By nature I am a very private person, I do not like to share these types of personal experiences with everyone even though we all have them, but I am telling you the details of this experience to magnify how God has worked in my life and taken care of me in not only the big ways but in the small ways. So I think the answers to my questions are this...

· Trust God in all things, he loves you more than any person ever could. He planned your purpose long before you were born, he knows the past, the present and the future and certainly what is best for you...so why do we constantly try to blindly make decisions on our own, we don’t know anything for sure. Jeremiah 1: 5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;

· If you have faith in Christ and place your trust in his ability to take care of you, you will not fear death, but see it as a doorway into a perfect life with the Creator. And you sure won’t waste time worrying about things you can’t change. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Matthew 6:27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ?

· God has known us before we were born. In scripture we are taught to search for God, Jeremiah 29:12-13 says then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Bolivia Bound!

This Thursday (July 12) a missions team from Mosaic will depart for Cochabamba, Bolivia. They will be in Bolivia from July 12-July 24th. Their mission will be tied to International Teams' ministry to orphans. http://www.iteams.org/wws/latin_america/cochabamba_orphanage.shtml

Bolivia has the highest rate of abandoned children in all of South America! Through I-teams work there, houses are being built that will provide a home for children to be adopted by nationals living in the homes. Our team will assist in construction on one of the homes in the rain forest and one in the city. They will also be leading VBS camps for the children.

This endeavor began with a dream of how Mosaic could really live out a biblical worldview and become more missional and global in practical ways. From its inception God has shown us His overwhelming desire that we partner with our brothers and sisters in Bolivia. This trip is simply the first step in a partnership that is about more than just a single mission trip, but a lasting relationship with Bolivian Christians on the field. The team has participated in ongoing, intentional cross-cultural training, spiritual formation for missions and missions training that has included some basic Spanish. This team leaves to serve with intentional preparation.

Please pray for our team, their travel, safety, health, and especially for the work God has for them as they work side by side with Bolivian leaders. We believe God is already at work in Cochabamba and wants us to join Him there. ALL of the necessary funds for travel, meals, and even building materials were raised by the team through fundraisers, letters and donations. Six months ago when our team leader, Scott White announced that we would need to raise about $17,000 to send the team, many of us were skeptical that a small church such as our's could raise the needed funds. Just as God has repeatedly provided for Mosaic these last five years, He has more than provided for the Bolivia team. We may be a numberically small church, but we serve a very BIG God! We have received approximately $20,000 from folks who are committed to this partnership! We take this affirmation seriously about our responsibility to minister, help and partner with the ministry in Cochabamba.

Finally, on behalf of the team, MCF and the many people who accompany the team via prayer, financial and physical support, we give all the praise and honor to Jesus Christ for making this possible! To God be the glory! Thanks for your prayers.

AMDG = To the greater glory of God alone!

God Bless America?

July 4th is here. The birthday of our Nation. This week we'll celebrate with parades, fireworks wherever it's not bone dry, cookout's, and concerts. Beaches and lakes will be crowded. For many, Old Glory will be raised and those seasonal, decorative yard flags will come down. Some of us won't need to raise the red, white and blue because it's pretty much the only flag we fly anyway. Nothing against those giant lady bug, or frog flags either!

I wonder how many hot dogs, hamburgers and cans of beer will be consumed during the holiday? Perhaps that's a more accurate reflection of America's DNA than our self-professing patriotism. We Americans do love to consume. If you're in doubt just scan the local newspaper and see how many July 4th sales ads you find at the Big Box stores and car dealerships. Big Box stores----now there's one of our biggest architectural and economic contributions to the world! Excuse me while I remove my tongue from my cheek.

I would to God that our beloved America was known more overseas for our godliness, instead of things or people like: Ipods/Iphones; Paris Hilton; MTV; Bling-bling; America Idol; outrageous lawsuits; and thug, or steroid-riddled professional sports and affluence obsession. All of us have contributed to this image in some form or fashion. Before you accuse me of hurling stones from a glass house, I must confess that I'm blogging this while sitting in a Starbucks. Talk about consumption!

From Fourth of July's long past, I can remember sitting on the bank of the Ohio River as a child with several families from our church, watching the hydra-boat races, tailgating (we called it a picnic back then), as the kids played games without anything electronic! We played games like baseball, badminton, horseshoes, tag and volleyball. Each of us would have to take our turn sitting on the homemade icecream bucket while an adult turned the handcrank, and fed the bucket more ice and rock salt. Most of us were wearing canvas tennis shoes without logos when the AM radio announcer introduced the local pastor who would offer the invocation before we sang the National Anthem. Air Force jets would then strafe across the sky and we were off to the races. EVERYONE enjoyed it because businesses, banks, restaurants, and stores closed for all or most of the day to celebrate America's birthday.

No, I'm not reminiscing through rose-colored glasses. We have come a long way since then, but in many respects we've taken two steps back while taking three into the local mall. Yes, it was a simpler time, but my Grandfather's (born in 1902) memories of July 4th's long gone was even simpler! His generation and my Dad's went to war to right injustices and defend the defenseless. Somehow I have a hard time accepting the idea that some kid my son's age is riding in an armor-plated Humvee in Iraq, serving in an unpopular war, so I can make another trip to Walmart, or to the gas station to fill my tank with refined Mideast oil! Agree or disagree with the war, these kids need to know they are defending much more than our freedom to be better consumers. We owe them our prayers and support.

I'm going home now and making sure our faded, sun-soaked U.S. flag is up. And this week I'm going to sing the song written by a Russian immigrant (Irving Berlin) asking God to bless America. But I'm not going to ask that without accepting the responsibilty of being blessed. It comes with high expectations and responsibilities to the rest of the world. As American's we need to be more grateful so that we may become even more generous with those around the world who have far less. I'm going to get on my knees and weep for the spiritual condition of our culture and ask God to heal us. But it has to start with me. Not my neighbor, or those northern states, or those "other" countries. It must begin with you and me.

God bless America, but only so she may be a blessing to others and bring Him glory, not to increase my retirement fund or investment portfolio at the expense of those who are in serious need.