Tim Harlow

King Solomon, however...

If you read through the beginning of 1^st Kings, it’s just an amazing account of the son of David who became King over Israel. Solomon gets to ask God for anything and he chooses wisdom. He really wants to rule Israel the way God wants him to, so he asks for God’s help. And God is so happy with that humble attitude, that he gives him riches and honor and everything else also.  It was the right request!

And God just blows up the blessings on this guy.

This is the end of 1 Kings 10.

²³ King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth.  ²⁴ The whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart.  ²⁵ Year after year, everyone who came brought a gift—articles of silver and gold, robes, weapons and spices, and horses and mules.

²⁶ Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses, which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem.  ²⁷ The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills.  ²⁸ Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue—the royal merchants purchased them from Kue.  ²⁹ They imported a chariot from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. They also exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and of the Arameans.

Incredible. Life couldn’t get any better. And Solomon knows it will stay this way, if he follows God’s plan.

But we flip the page to chapter 11 and it says this (ironic that it’s “chapter 11").

"King Solomon, however,"

Stop there. How could there be a however? Why would there be a however? If God is doing all this stuff in your life – why in the world would anyone have a however?

Oh, I don’t know. It happens all the time. And it’s so dumb and so sad. Everything is going well, and then we throw in a however.

“God, I know you are good and you are sovereign and your ways are best – and you’ve proved it over and over again – but I just think I’m going to try a however and see how it goes.”

King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women…² They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love…

There it is. A “however” and a “nevertheless.” God said that this was a bad idea, and Sol is the smartest man in the universe – but there’s got to be a “however” and a “nevertheless.”

⁴ As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been….⁶ So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord completely, as David his father had done.

And there went the Kingdom. Because when you are a leader, you not only take yourself out with your howevers and your neverthelesses – you take everyone else with you.

When will we learn?

Tim

706 BBs

James says Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans . . .(1:27)

And so we did.

706 kids were sponsored at Parkview this weekend.  Kids in Ecuador with Compassion.

And in Africa with CMF Missions of Hope.

We’ve been working in Africa for 5 years and this new thrust will allow us to open up a new school in a new region.

This is us with our child we sponsored through High School in Africa 5 years ago, who is now in college studying to be a teacher.

In Ecuador we’ve already given enough from Cannonball to build a church and a school and fund a church for 5 years.  Now we have all the children in the village sponsored as well.  As a matter of fact, we ran out of kids there!!

Parkview is making a difference.  And the truth is the forces of poverty are weakening.

In the book, 58 Fast Living: How the Church Will End Extreme Poverty by Dr. Scott Todd - who works for Compassion International he give us some good news.

Did you know that the number of kids dying from measles has declined 78% in the last 8 years – because of immunization work?

22 countries have cut their malaria rate in half in the last 6 years – with mosquito nets that cost $10.

Yes, there are 21,000 kids who die from poverty related issues today – that number was 40,000 in the 70s and 80s.

It’s been cut in half in the past 30 years.

Literacy rates are climbing.

The spread of HIV has been curbed.

30 years ago 51% of the world lived in extreme poverty – today that number is 26% - CUT IN HALF.

I know that there will always be evil dictators (bring your pinky up to the corner of your mouth).  I know that there will always be situations that make people poor or hungry or sick.  But the truth is that the amount of money Americans spend on Ice Cream each year could wipe out world hunger.

So we’re going to do our part.

Thank you for jumping in with another beautiful Cannonball.

If you missed it, we’ll have more available this weekend.

Tim

Looking Forward

Did you ever think about the way we use that phrase?  'I'm really looking forward to _______.'  

It's funny how we’ve made looking 'ahead' into something positive.  Does that make looking backward negative?  Or is there just something about the present that we don't like?

I've been 'looking forward' a lot lately.  Not because I don’t like the present.  My present is awesome.  But I’ve got a daughter getting married soon (June 24), and they will be moving to St. Louis.  There is a lot of transition in my other daughters’ lives too.  And I guess I’m in a weird place in my life where I’m trying to figure out what God has in store for the rest of my life (besides being at Parkview for a long time).

Everything I see ahead is really cool.  I know that there will be problems and obstacles and spiritual warfare and all of that.  But when I look forward, I’m really looking forward to it.

Sure, I’m an optimist, and my faith is strong, and my future’s so bright I have to wear shades.  But I’m looking forward.

And then, as I was hanging with God in the forest preserve this morning and really enjoying God’s amazing creation, I had a vision of what heaven was going to be like someday.  And I realized that as beautiful as his nature is here on earth, it’s not a fraction of what I’m looking forward to.

Paul said,

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.  I Corinthians 2:9

Isaiah tells us that all of this stuff we’re looking forward to on earth will be so dull that we won’t even remember it.

Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. Isaiah 65:17

Our best days on the earth – “Remember when we went to wherever?  Remember that day we whatever??” – will make us yawn when we look back on them.  And we will forever say, “No, I don’t’ remember – I’m just looking forward.”

Looking forward,

Tim

Church's response to the Homosexuality Debate - by Rachel Harlow Harris

My daughter Rachel just randomly wrote to her community of friends and family Tuesday about the issue of Homosexuality that has exploded onto the scene.

Then on Wednesday night, President Obama made his historic announcement that he is for gay 'marriage' and he used the word 'marriage.' Make no mistake that the Bible is clear that marriage is one man, one woman, for a lifetime. I've said it before and I'll keep saying it because it's true. And truth for me is based on God and His word.

But…

Well, I thought the way Rachel said it was worth a guest spot on my blog today.

Tim

---

Hi friends,

I'm writing to you because I love you, you're like-minded in your desire to win people to Jesus, and I'm so full of confidence in God and love for Him that I can't NOT share with you right now.

A lot of things are transpiring in the political world in regards to gay marriage at the moment (odd, because it didn't seem to be a topic on the table). Obama and Biden both were quoted all over the news yesterday, and NPR did a piece on amendment 1 (in North Carolina, in particular).

You know how I feel about it. Ash and I are both sad at the prospect of the word 'marriage' changing in meaning at its very core, and we wish that the powers that be would find a way to grant partners power of attorney, etc, without using the word 'marriage.' I don't want to see the family structure that God put in place unravel any further.

It's odd then, perhaps, that I feel so full of joy and optimism about the future.

I think it's because I feel a kinship with the early church. There is nothing new under the sun; in fact, I'd go so far as to suggest that the church in Corinth had it much worse than we did: there, prostitution was tied to spirituality. At least we haven't made it that far (yet). :) Homosexuality was definitely present too, otherwise Paul wouldn't have addressed it. And the church THRIVED. Grew like crazy.

I'm not suggesting that we shouldn't get involved in politics. Far from it--we should absolutely have our heads in the game, and vote people into power that we think will help lead our country in the direction it should go. Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. When we might be tempted to feel that we're losing ground, however, let's not be discouraged.

We're not.

People are still being won to Christ, and that is our primary mission. None of the early disciples were too concerned with trying to change political policy (that would have been pretty fruitless within their system, anyway); they were too busy making new disciples. Some Christians will be called to political careers, but since I'm fairly certain it's none of you, I'll continue. ;) Our job is to win people to Christ, and as long as we're doing that, God's kingdom is advancing, regardless of what Biden says. This might be a really cool opportunity for the church to rise to the occasion and show people the love of Jesus when they aren't expecting it.

Donald Miller calls it 'elbowing for room in the lifeboat' when Christians feel like they need to fight a culture war. He put it in a way that really struck me this morning:

'If we are preaching morality without Christ, and using war rhetoric to communicate a battle mentality, we are fighting on Satan's side. This battle we are in is a battle against the principalities of darkness, not against people who are different from us. In war you shoot the enemy, not the hostage.'

People are being held hostage...people that Jesus dearly loves. And they won't be rescued by a change in policy (though it may discourage us); they can only be rescued by Jesus.

Let's love people like crazy. When it feels like we're losing ground, let's not give in to discouragement; God is still on His throne. Let's be like Paul, who met the men of Athens on their terms (even called them 'spiritual men'!), then said--let me tell you about the living God. (And people were saved.)

God wins in the end. I want as many people bowing the knee and proclaiming Jesus as Lord willingly as possible, and I know you do too.

Let's do it.

Rach

AT the End of Your Life, You Will Groan

I’ve been with some heroes of my faith lately, was with some of them last week, some guys who faithfully led churches all their lives.  Thousands, millions of people maybe, will be eternally affected by how God used them, by the things they did.

And the things they didn’t do.

It seems like whenever I’m in gatherings of pastors, one of the sad discussions seems to always be about a fallen brother or sister.  Sometimes it almost seems like the guarantee to living a fulfilling and successful life in the Lord is just as much about the things you DON’T do as it is the things you DO.  I really believe if anyone will just stay faithful to God, he will bless whatever ministry they embark on.  Sure, giftedness is important, and attitude, and a good team, and vision, and all of that.  

But you can have all of that and blow it just once and all of it can come crashing down.

Don’t take my advice – listen to the “wisest man in the world” (He’s better than the Dos Equis Man).  Solomon was his name…

My son, pay attention to my wisdom, listen well to my words of insight, that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge. For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave. She gives no thought to the way of life; her paths are crooked, but she knows it not.

Now then, my sons, listen to me; do not turn aside from what I say. Keep to a path far from her; do not go near the door of her house, lest you give your best strength to others and your years to one who is cruel, lest strangers feast on your wealth and your toil enrich another man’s house.

At the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are spent. You will say, “How I hated discipline! How my heart spurned correction! I would not obey my teachers or listen to my instructors. I have come to the brink of utter ruin in the midst of the whole assembly.”  

For a man’s ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all his paths. The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast. He will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly. Proverbs 5:1-14, 21-23

I’ve been dealing with a lot of marriage issues lately.  It’s so hard.  It’s so bad.  Can I just say something to you if you are thinking about bailing?  TALK TO SOMEONE WHO DID IT!  I know it sounds like it’s possibly the only way to survive, and maybe it is.  But do not underestimate the life-long implications of the decision you are getting ready to make – on you, your kids, your friends, your church.  Please get some counseling and don’t give up if it’s up to you.

And if you are in one of these relationships that Solomon is talking about here – run like hell!  I don’t mean that lightly.  I mean run like hell is chasing you.  Because it is.  Go back and re-read Solomon’s words again.   “At the end of your life you will groan…the brink of utter ruin.”  That’s the path you are on.  If you are thinking about being unfaithful, if it’s porn, if it’s flirtation – RUN LIKE HELL.

Get someone around you who can help you.

“Her steps lead straight to the grave.”

Tim

What Do You Want on Your Tombstone?

I found it this week.

Acts 4:36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement)…

He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.  (Acts 11:24)

Try to think of those people that fit that description. Isn’t that what you want? Good, full of the Spirit and faith, with lots of people in heaven because you exist. That’s beautiful stuff.

I’ve been at the Exponential Conference on Church Planting this week. We love church planting; I believe it’s the fastest way to save the world. We are planting in Ireland, New York, Paris, California, Chicago, Salt Lake City, etc. This is how a “great number of people are brought to the Lord.”

So the whole week has been a discussion of how to make that happen, and a lot of meetings and supernatural connections.  

And sitting in the middle of it all is a Barnabas.

His name is Rick Warren. You may have heard of him. This whole week at this church conference, where he is basically the coolest guy in universe, he sat at this picnic table. Every time I walked by, he was just sitting there – full of the Holy Spirit and Faith and he was an encourager to anyone and everyone who came up and talked to him. For three days.

I just talked to our church planters from Manhattan. They said he came up to them and said, “Have you had a hug from a Pastor today?” He didn’t know them. He’s just Barnabas.

I introduced him to Ricci and he got up and hugged him and said, "Dude, I want to go to your campus."  (Said he used to have hair like Ricci's:) 

The guy is one of the most important Christian leaders in the Universe. He has a large church and a larger ministry and so many things he should be doing. But instead of that, he sat on a bench and loved people. I know some of you have heard dumb stuff about Rick. It’s not true, it’s out of context, and it’s from Satan.

But this isn’t about him, it’s about Barney. Rick is just one of many examples of Barnabas I know. I want to be Barnabas. Honestly, I don’t know how to do it, but I’m working on it. It’s my goal. Obviously I want to be like Jesus, but sometimes I think I need to shoot a little bit lower first.:)

RIP - Tim Harlow

1961 - ????

“A good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.”

 (Acts 11:24)

Lord, hear my prayer.

Tim

How Do You View God?

A. W. Tozer says, 'What comes into our mind when we think about God is the most important thing about us... were we able to extract from any man a complete answer to the question, 'What comes into your mind when you think about God?'  We might predict with certainly the spiritual future of that man.'

That's quite a bold statement, but I totally agree.  We can go around quoting “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3) all day long – but the greater question is – HOW BIG IS YOUR GOD?

It sort of goes back to the “Guy on a Buffalo” featured on Conan this week – 2 weeks after it was featured in a Tim Harlow sermon (once this loads you can catch the Guy on the Buffalo around the 28:19 mark)!

If I’m a guy on a Buffalo, then I don’t have to worry about a bear. 

But if my view of the Buffalo – or God – is weak, it doesn’t matter how strong he actually is, my faith will not be as strong as it should be.

One of the funny things God says to Job when he’s complaining is, “Do you have an arm like God's?” (Job 40:9) 

Maybe God struck a pose, I don’t know but Job got the point – God is buff. 

The Rocky Mountains are his biceps.  

Listen to these verses:

With my great power and outstretched arm I made the earth and its people and the animals that are on it, and I give it to anyone I please. (Jeremiah 27:5)

Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. (Jeremiah 32:17)

It’s interesting that these passages refer to one arm.  It’s almost as if God is saying, “Look, I can handle anything with one hand tied behind my back.”

I need a God with a big arm.

I heard of two school kids bragging on the schoolyard.  One said, “My daddy can beat up your daddy.”  And the other kid goes, “Big deal!  So can my Mom.” 

One of the other important arm features in a person who you want protecting you is “reach.”  Muhammad Ali was “the greatest” partly because he had these six foot long arms.  It doesn’t matter how strong your arms are if you are swinging them in space while the other guy is pounding on you with his longer arms.  With that in mind, here are more arm scriptures…

Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. (Isaiah 59:1)

Was my arm too short to ransom you? Do I lack the strength to rescue you? (Isaiah 50:2)

The Lord answered Moses, "Is the Lord's arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you." (Numbers 11:23)

Now that is good stuff.  “Are you… talking to me?”  “Are my arms to short?” 

Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, DON’T WORRY.”

Because God’s arms are long enough and strong enough.  He is big enough and powerful enough to take care of anything and everything that comes your way.

God asks Abraham “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14)  No way, he’s buff.

Tim

PS – I’m very excited to interview my daughter Lauren for part of my sermon this weekend on Mary Magdalene.  We’ll talk about her experience in Bolivia with the street girls.  DON’T MISS IT.