I received a note on Facebook yesterday from a young woman we met on our last trip to Brazil. It was great to reconnect after two years. It is wonderful how technology allows us to keep connected over great distance.
What struck me most in her note, was her word of thanks for the bag of marshmallows we left with her family. It brought back great memories of the last day with our new friends and of the entire trip.
We brought a few things from our country that would be difficult, if not impossible, to find in Brazil to share with host families and churches. Things like maple syrup, peanut butter, and marshmallows. It was wonderful to share a part of our culture and say, "thank you," for the hospitality. The marshmallows were a tremendous hit and the smiles they brought were wonderful. I did not realize the impact they made until yesterday.
Since then, I've been thinking about gifts and how we bless others. All too easily we judge gifts by size or cost. We say things like, "It's the thought that counts," but typically, we are hoping for more than a thought. The excesses of our holidays, even our daily lives, reveal our attachment to things and their value. I wondered how many people I knew who would be blessed by a 99 cent bag of marshmallows. I wonder if I would remember such a gift two years after I received it. The truth is, my house is full of far more expensive gifts that I've already forgotten.
That simple Facebook not really challenges me. It keeps asking me about my priorities and about what truly has meaning. I am wondering how many simple, yet wonderful, blessings I miss every day - gifts from friends, from strangers, even from God. I wonder if the gifts I give are special because of their cost or the value of the love in which they are given.
I know Lent is quickly approaching, and I believe God gave me my focus for this season in the words of a young Brazilian woman. Maybe it is time for the virtue of simplicity to take deeper root in my life as I receive and share the joy of simple things. Maybe all of us could benefit by taking our eyes off of the things we have and share, and looking more deeply at reason we share them in first place.
I look forward to this Lenten journey. Maybe God will inspire you to join me.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Keep it Simple
I've been reading (and rereading) Radical, by David Platt. It is a challenging look at how we blend American culture and philosophies with the Gospel message. More that simply understanding the message of the Bible through our cultural background, Platt argues we are reworking the true message of the biblical witness to fit our personal agendas and preconceptions.
As I reviewed the chapter on we are joined together to fulfill God's purpose, I was struck by his reflection on disciple making. Platt writes, "Disciple making is not about a program or an event but about a relationship... Disciple making involves inviting people into a larger community of faith where they will see the life of Christ in action and experience the love of Christ in person."
I wonder why we often work so hard to find substitutes for real relationships and community. We take a simple (though not always easy) revelation and then work hard to complicate it with our self-made substitutes. Life, ministry and discipleship are not as complicated as we would believe. It really does come down to authentic, God-directed relationships.
Jesus, when asked to summarize the commandments replied, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength." He added, "you shall love your neighbor as yourself." Simply put, Jesus said that the message of the scriptures and the heart of the Gospel is: Love God and Love People. Instead of pouring our resources and energy into fancy programs and flashy promotions, could it be that we should invest ourselves in our relationship with Christ and our relationships with others.
My emerging goal is simply this, "Keep it Simple." There are thousands of good ideas, but none of them will have greater impact that the message and impact of Jesus. Certainly, if he felt spending three years sharing life with 12 people as a good discipleship strategy, then it might be worth our time to follow his example.
As I reviewed the chapter on we are joined together to fulfill God's purpose, I was struck by his reflection on disciple making. Platt writes, "Disciple making is not about a program or an event but about a relationship... Disciple making involves inviting people into a larger community of faith where they will see the life of Christ in action and experience the love of Christ in person."
I wonder why we often work so hard to find substitutes for real relationships and community. We take a simple (though not always easy) revelation and then work hard to complicate it with our self-made substitutes. Life, ministry and discipleship are not as complicated as we would believe. It really does come down to authentic, God-directed relationships.
Jesus, when asked to summarize the commandments replied, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength." He added, "you shall love your neighbor as yourself." Simply put, Jesus said that the message of the scriptures and the heart of the Gospel is: Love God and Love People. Instead of pouring our resources and energy into fancy programs and flashy promotions, could it be that we should invest ourselves in our relationship with Christ and our relationships with others.
My emerging goal is simply this, "Keep it Simple." There are thousands of good ideas, but none of them will have greater impact that the message and impact of Jesus. Certainly, if he felt spending three years sharing life with 12 people as a good discipleship strategy, then it might be worth our time to follow his example.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
The Language We Speak
Yesterday, I gave a presentation to the pastors of the District on ways to use technology to move the church's ministry beyond its walls and even to the uttermost parts of the earth. The program went well and the discussion that followed was very encouraging. We even decided to offer three more follow-up seminars to help with the implementation of some of the methods we discussed.
One part of my presentation (and the preparation for it) that really captured my thoughts was the concern for the language we speak. All too often, we fall into the belief that we should be able to speak our language and expect others to understand it and grasp what we are saying. When they ignore or reject what we are saying, we can easily place all of the responsibility on our audience while never asking ourselves if we communicated in the right way.
I have a passion for ministry in Brazil and enjoyed the privilege of leading groups there to do missions work. Never did we arrive in Rio expecting that the people we would minister with would speak fluent English. Instead, we took time to learn some Portuguese and we arranged to have an interpreter ready when necessary. We made every effort to speak the language of the people we were with.
The same thing applies in the areas we all live and serve in. The church, reaching out to the community and the world, must be willing to learn the language of the people we are speaking to. We cannot simply expect that our words have the same meaning and that our methods of communication are the same. They are not. Even though the learning curve is significant and seems to continue to change, we must not step back.
When I was young, the church found its greatest growth through its members having children. People remained committed to their church and people who moved into the area typically looked for a church of the same denomination they previously attended. There was tremendous denominational loyalty. By the time I began in ministry, people were shopping for churches based upon the programs they offered. They would often change congregations based upon their needs and the seasons of their lives.
Today, people are seeking something real and a place where they can be engaged and connected. They want to be known and to know others, and they want to be a part of something that is bigger than they are, something that enables them to make a difference. The church can meet these needs and become stronger in the process, but we will need to speak the language of a new day.
Change can be intimidating, but what wonderful opportunities it presents. Thank God the message of divine love and saving grace remains unchanging. Thank God the Holy Spirit enables and empowers us to face a changing world and speak a relevant word. Thank God we have the privilege of living is such exciting times, and when it all seems overwhelming, take heart in John Wesley's final words, "The best is, God is with us."
One part of my presentation (and the preparation for it) that really captured my thoughts was the concern for the language we speak. All too often, we fall into the belief that we should be able to speak our language and expect others to understand it and grasp what we are saying. When they ignore or reject what we are saying, we can easily place all of the responsibility on our audience while never asking ourselves if we communicated in the right way.
I have a passion for ministry in Brazil and enjoyed the privilege of leading groups there to do missions work. Never did we arrive in Rio expecting that the people we would minister with would speak fluent English. Instead, we took time to learn some Portuguese and we arranged to have an interpreter ready when necessary. We made every effort to speak the language of the people we were with.
The same thing applies in the areas we all live and serve in. The church, reaching out to the community and the world, must be willing to learn the language of the people we are speaking to. We cannot simply expect that our words have the same meaning and that our methods of communication are the same. They are not. Even though the learning curve is significant and seems to continue to change, we must not step back.
When I was young, the church found its greatest growth through its members having children. People remained committed to their church and people who moved into the area typically looked for a church of the same denomination they previously attended. There was tremendous denominational loyalty. By the time I began in ministry, people were shopping for churches based upon the programs they offered. They would often change congregations based upon their needs and the seasons of their lives.
Today, people are seeking something real and a place where they can be engaged and connected. They want to be known and to know others, and they want to be a part of something that is bigger than they are, something that enables them to make a difference. The church can meet these needs and become stronger in the process, but we will need to speak the language of a new day.
Change can be intimidating, but what wonderful opportunities it presents. Thank God the message of divine love and saving grace remains unchanging. Thank God the Holy Spirit enables and empowers us to face a changing world and speak a relevant word. Thank God we have the privilege of living is such exciting times, and when it all seems overwhelming, take heart in John Wesley's final words, "The best is, God is with us."
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Thank you for Your Patience
I want to thank all of you for your patience. There are times when life moves at high speed and before you know it a week or more passes. I appreciate the grace afforded me when these times occur. A number of things occurred recently that consumed a significant amount of time and attention. I am sorry for the distractions and for the break in my posts. Thank you again for your patience.
I am especially thankful because I know that I am not an especially patient person. Part of me still echoes my younger voice, asking repeatedly, "Are we there yet?" I do not wait well and anticipation can make me anxious.
The challenging part of this self-knowledge is that I know it reveals a part of my ego that has yet to fully submit to God. Not long ago, I read somewhere that ego can be an acronym for "Edging God Out" and truthfully, I see that in my impatience.
I am not being hard on myself, just real. When I become impatient and want things to go my way and to go that way now, I am putting myself first and thinking more highly of myself than I ought. The root of impatience is the belief that the world exists to serve me and make me happy. That is a far cry from the revelation of scripture.
My life in Christ is about putting him first and serving others in his name. I am called to "humbly consider others more esteemed than myself." that is not always an easy task, but it is my call nevertheless. It is the call of all who claim Christ and seek to grow in his likeness. By serving others, we serve Christ and we represent the heart of God who demonstrates his love for us through great sacrifice.
I am thankful form the patience I receive from others and I pray that God will increase my sensitivity to the need to offer the same gift to others. Today, I share the prayer of John the Baptist that I may decrease so that Christ may increase, and I pray that together, our witness will lead others to experience the patient love of God.
I am especially thankful because I know that I am not an especially patient person. Part of me still echoes my younger voice, asking repeatedly, "Are we there yet?" I do not wait well and anticipation can make me anxious.
The challenging part of this self-knowledge is that I know it reveals a part of my ego that has yet to fully submit to God. Not long ago, I read somewhere that ego can be an acronym for "Edging God Out" and truthfully, I see that in my impatience.
I am not being hard on myself, just real. When I become impatient and want things to go my way and to go that way now, I am putting myself first and thinking more highly of myself than I ought. The root of impatience is the belief that the world exists to serve me and make me happy. That is a far cry from the revelation of scripture.
My life in Christ is about putting him first and serving others in his name. I am called to "humbly consider others more esteemed than myself." that is not always an easy task, but it is my call nevertheless. It is the call of all who claim Christ and seek to grow in his likeness. By serving others, we serve Christ and we represent the heart of God who demonstrates his love for us through great sacrifice.
I am thankful form the patience I receive from others and I pray that God will increase my sensitivity to the need to offer the same gift to others. Today, I share the prayer of John the Baptist that I may decrease so that Christ may increase, and I pray that together, our witness will lead others to experience the patient love of God.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
They Will Know
During my time as a student at Houghton College, there was a praise chorus that was very popular. Occasionally, I still hear it sung. The words were simple, yet very profound. After celebrating our unity as believers in Christ, the chorus declares, "And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love. Yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love."
The words of this chorus are deeply rooted in the words of Jesus when he told his disciples, "by this will everyone know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." Notice, he did not say that people would know we are his followers by the logo on our t-shirt, by the size of our Bible, nor by the structure we worship in. The world will not affirm our faith in Christ and his influence in our lives by the years we've attended church, the positions we hold, or even the words that we speak. No, the telltale sign that we belong to Christ is the love that we have for one another.
As we enter into the month of February, when people will celebrate affection and love, it is a perfect time to reflect on how we are demonstrating real love. Are we putting Christ and his purposes first? Are we speaking blessing over one another and over the world around us? Are we setting aside our differences and working in unity to demonstrate the loving power of Jesus? When people look at us and the way we treat others, do they see Jesus Christ, or do they just see us?
When we put Christ first, celebrate his love for us and share that love with others, we take one more great step toward the transformation of the world. You and I can make a difference. We can change our environment and the world around us. We can truly show all people that we are Christ's disciples by the love we have for each other, When they see the beauty of that discipleship, they will desire a similar experience. They will desire Christ.
Real love is more than a rose, a card or a day on the calendar. It is the power of heaven to lead people to Christ and transform the world. Friends, let us love one another even as Christ has loved us.
The words of this chorus are deeply rooted in the words of Jesus when he told his disciples, "by this will everyone know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." Notice, he did not say that people would know we are his followers by the logo on our t-shirt, by the size of our Bible, nor by the structure we worship in. The world will not affirm our faith in Christ and his influence in our lives by the years we've attended church, the positions we hold, or even the words that we speak. No, the telltale sign that we belong to Christ is the love that we have for one another.
As we enter into the month of February, when people will celebrate affection and love, it is a perfect time to reflect on how we are demonstrating real love. Are we putting Christ and his purposes first? Are we speaking blessing over one another and over the world around us? Are we setting aside our differences and working in unity to demonstrate the loving power of Jesus? When people look at us and the way we treat others, do they see Jesus Christ, or do they just see us?
When we put Christ first, celebrate his love for us and share that love with others, we take one more great step toward the transformation of the world. You and I can make a difference. We can change our environment and the world around us. We can truly show all people that we are Christ's disciples by the love we have for each other, When they see the beauty of that discipleship, they will desire a similar experience. They will desire Christ.
Real love is more than a rose, a card or a day on the calendar. It is the power of heaven to lead people to Christ and transform the world. Friends, let us love one another even as Christ has loved us.
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