Some argued that it was foolish and dangerous because of the unintended consequences. This could bring violence to Americans and US troops overseas. They reasoned that such action is so inflammatory that it would make people who hate us hate us even more.

Others argued that it was extremely insensitive and disrespectful to people. To desecrate a book that others view as holy is a horrible way to build bridges that could foster meaningful discussion and understanding.

While these arguments and others were convincing, the strongest argument almost went unspoken. The pastor’s plan was bad, to say the least, because it was in direct opposition to the way and teaching of Jesus. This pastor is a Christian pastor and he carries the name of the Rabbi who has called him. He, like all of us, must submit our will and plan to His.

But, what about our enemies throughout the world who destroy churches and burn Bibles and even kill Christian missionaries?  Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.”

Our standard for conduct is not retaliation or even to take the high road and be a little better than our enemies. Our standard is the Jesus way.

Jesus took it a step further in his demands for us when he said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

This pastor’s intended actions were not just a bad idea; they were wrong in that they are in direct violation of heart and manner of our mission as followers of Christ.

After Jesus challenged his disciples to be salt and light, he gave them the reason, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to the Father who is in heaven”. There is no way burning Qurans fits into the category of good works.

President Obama along with many religious and political leaders has condemned the plan and has called for him to change his plans. This pastor needed to listen to the words of Jesus.  He didn’t even need to pray about this; God had already spoken.  It is not a good thing when an unbelieving world knows how we should act better than we do.

Unity is a major component of a church’s health, vitality and success. Unity is having a common goal with a common means of reaching that goal. At Woodside there are a number of things that we embrace that build unity:

1. Our beliefs found in our statement of Faith.
2. Our Values
3. Our understanding that Woodside belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ and we are here to serve Him.
4. Our deep love for the Lord driving our desire to grow to be like Him while we tell others about Him.
5. Our mission statement “To honor God by bringing lives into harmony with Him and one another in worship, fellowship, evangelism, and discipleship..”
6. Our vision statement “To impact our region and beyond with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ”.”
7. Our emphasis on the battles that matter. We know the hills we will die on and we know what is not worth fighting over.
8. Our passion to be used of God. We will by Faith follow His leading.

The wicked one has perfected division and disunity as effective tools to disable and sideline churches. A church’s unity is so fragile that it often does not take much to destroy it. Once unity has been lost it often takes a lot of work, time and prayer to regain it.

I look at our unity at Woodside as a gift of God rather than results of our efforts. Yet we must guard and protect this unity to be the most effective in bringing Him glory.

Then it happened.  An elderly lady came and sat down in the third seat to my left next to the CNN monitor.  I paid little attention to her until she started laughing.  She was reading the “comics” section of the Sunday paper and every few seconds broke out into a contagious laughter.  She was oblivious to me, the news and everything else.  I smiled as I reflected back to my boyhood days when the “comics” (the funnies) section was the first and only part of the paper I would read.  I don’t know if life got too busy or too complicated, but I have not read the “comics” for almost fifty years.

Each January as I make up my goals for the New Year, “to laugh more” has never been on my list.  How about you?  But, I have come to the conclusion that I need to laugh more.  Perhaps we all do.  God has given us the gift of laughter for many reasons.  The writers of Proverbs say, “A joyful heart is good medicine” (17:22).  Researchers have discovered that laughter is good for both the mind and the body in reducing stress and optimizing immunity.  Laughter can break the tension in a marriage argument or cut the ice in tense situations.

My grandchildren with their simple, uncluttered lives find it easy to laugh.  They do not need much of a reason to giggle or laugh.  I laugh when they laugh.

Several times a year, thousands of people pack the Troy campus worship center for Comedy for a Cause, an event sponsored by Promise Village providing comedians to help us laugh at ourselves and life.  People are lined up to get into the building, while in all my years of ministry people have never lined up to hear me preach. Many people realize the value of laughter and their need to do it.   And yet, there are opportunities in our lives everyday to laugh.

There have been many times when I read the Bible that I smile and sometimes laugh out loud.  The real life stories of Scripture are filled with humorous incidents.  Abraham and Sarah passed on naming their son “Bob,” “John” or Harry,” but rather choose “Isaac” which means “he laughs.”  When you have a child at age 90 and 100 you had better be able to laugh.

I laugh when I read the story in Acts 20 where the Apostle Paul “prolonged in his speech until midnight.  A man sitting at the window sank into a deep sleep as Paul talks still longer.”  He fell out of a third story window and died.  Paul, the man who put the young man to sleep now raised him from the dead.  The inclusion of that story in the Holy Scriptures speaks of the power of the apostles to do the miraculous and at the same time includes the details with which I can identify – the apostle also put him to sleep which ultimately caused the death.  The Holy Spirit could have just told us that the dead were raised, but He perhaps wanted to give hope to 21^st Century pastors that even an apostle can put people to sleep.

Jesus would often speak in word pictures that had to make his readers smile as they saw the picture, “You blind guides straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel.”

Life is sometimes so serious that we do not need reminders to be sober.  We must, however, look for the opportunities to laugh.  Perhaps this Sunday I will buy the newspaper and just read the “comics.”

The launch event for this group is Monday, February 1 with dinner for pastors and their wives at the San Marino Club in Troy. H.B. London will be the guest speaker. H.B. London has spent years of his life with Focus on the Family to encourage and strengthen pastors. The statistics put out by Focus on the Family are startling:

- 1,500 ministers leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, being simply warn out, or due to contention in the churches.

- 50% of pastor’s marriages will end in divorce.

- 80% of pastors and 84% of pastor’s wives feel unqualified and discouraged in their role as a pastoral family.

- 50% of pastors are so discouraged they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other means of making a living.

- 80% of seminary and Bible college graduates who enter into the ministry will leave the ministry within 5 years.

- 80% of pastor’s wives feel their spouse is overworked.

- 80% of pastor’s wives wish their spouse would choose another profession.

- A majority of pastor’s wives said the most destructive event that has ever happened to their marriage and family was the day they entered into ministry.

- 70% of pastors fight depression.

- 40% say they have had an extra-marital affair since beginning the ministry.

- 70% said the only time they spend studying the Bible is in sermon preparation.

Churches can only be as strong as their pastoral leadership. I am excited about this new group and its potential to support and network pastors which could ultimately strengthen the church and its mission in the Detroit Metro area. I have been privileged to be a part of the project since the beginning. You can learn more by visiting the website at http://evangelicalpastorsnetwork.com.

Would you join me in praying for the successful launch of the Evangelical Pastors Network?

Having said that, I am very concerned about a moral issue that is presently before the U.S. Senate. There is a debate as to whether or not abortion services should be included in a new proposed health care plan. Tax-funded abortions could not only increase the number of aborted babies ever year, but would violate the conscience of countless people in this nation who believe what the Bible has stated regarding the sanctity of life.

Abortion is one of the terrible sins in our society that no Supreme Court, health care bill or public opinion poll can ever legitimize. As followers of Christ, we must pray, let our voices be heard by our elected officials and then provide help and options to women who are at that point of decision.

This is not a battle we fight once and it is over. We must be continually vigilant on this issue along with other issues that affect Christian conscience.

10. The Cross Demonstrates That My Sin Must Be Extremely Horrible.
(“Nothing reveals the gravity of sin like the cross.” – Stott)

9. God’s Love For Me Must Be Wonderful Beyond Comprehension.
(Rather than leaving us to our fate, He pursued us with His love.

8. The Salvation I Have in Christ Came at a High Price But is Offered Free to Me.
(It is finished!)

7. The Cross Measures My Worth, While it Determines My Ownership.

6. The Cross Determines My Attitude.
– Philippians 2:5-11
(Just as Jesus did not hold on to His rights, we are called to walk the same road)

5. The Cross Encourages Me in My Suffering.
Hebrews 12:1-3
Colossians 1:24

4. The Cross Gives Me a Model for Ministry.
(I am called to live an incarnational life of sacrifice for Him)

3. The Cross Gives Me a Reason and a Purpose to Live.
(I must take this incredible message of hope to a dying world)

2. The Cross Has Set Me Free.
Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light.
My chains fell off; my heart was free.
I rose, went forth and followed Thee.

Amazing love! How can it be that Thou, my God,
Should die for me? – Charles Wesley

1. The Cross Has Reconciled Me to God and Given Me an Eternity With Christ.

THANK YOU FOR THE CROSS!