"I don't want to study!"
I've lost count of how many times I've heard those words, and how many times I said them. There are times when all of us would rather not expend the metal effort to take in more information. Sometimes we feel too tired or maybe the material does not excite us, but whatever the reason, we don't feel like learning any more.
Most of us can relate to feeling little or no motivation to study, but there is a deeper challenge when it comes to living our faith that threatens to leave us unprepared for the work of ministry and the challenges of life that we will experience. That challenge is not the lack of motivation, but the lack of desire. When we move beyond "I don't feel like it" to "I don't want to" the situation is much more serious, and when the subject is our faith journey the impact can be devastating. That may sound dramatic, but when it comes to living and sharing the Christian life, the results of our choices have eternal significance.
The Apostle Paul told his younger protege, Timothy, "Study to show yourself approved." (2 Timothy 2:15) There is a real need for Christians to invest time and themselves in the work of study for the sake of their faith journey and their impact with the Gospel. It is true,that many modern translations of this verse replace the word "study" with "discipline yourself" but a necessary part of that discipline is renewing the mind and spirit through study.
Too many times as a pastor, I hear people say, "Just tell me what to believe (or do)." The implication is that they would rather blindly follow someone else's direction than do the hard work themselves, yet that is exactly what they need. More than a simple answer or a personal direction from the pastor, the real knowledge lies in allowing the Spirit to use their studious efforts mingled with divine revelation. Pastoral insight may be a part of that process, but there is so much more. I once has a door hanger that read, "I trust in the Lord, but I still have to study." The quote is cute, but full of truth for all of us.
Our faith is surely more than academic, but it still requires our study. No sermon or teaching will replace time spent reading the Word of God, engaging the reflections of the community of faith over several millennia, and gaining the insights of the knowledge and wisdom of others. John Wesley, the founder of the Wesleyan denominations (including my own, the United Methodist Church) exemplified a model that engaged Scripture, tradition, experience and reason. We need to incorporate all four, and we need to do the work, not wait for someone else to do it for us.
We want to offer God our very best and that includes the mind and intelligence we were blessed with. Our study need not be laborious, but it must not be avoided.
In the coming days, I will be sharing some suggestions to help encourage and empower your study. For now, however, it is enough to encourage us all to take Paul's advice and study so that we can show ourselves to be those approved.
Be blessed in this day and in your study. May God's divine revelation multiply your efforts.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Hidden Beauty
Sometimes real beauty can only be discovered by adversity. When we go through the fire, common things are refined into something uncommon. Challenge and pain can uncover hidden virtues, passions, and possibilities.
Watching nature transition from the luscious life of summer to the vibrant beauty of autumn, it is hard to miss that a deeper beauty is revealed in the process of letting go. As the nourishing light begins to diminish, trees struggle to keep their foliage, but even as they lose the battle again, a palate of colors is revealed. Each day loses more sunlight, but that light becomes more dramatic at the same time. Even the composting leaves and grass become richness for the future.
Too often, as we face obstacles in our lives we lose sight of what is on the other side of the challenge. Lost in the drama of the moment, we miss what beautiful thing is being created in us. The test we face is producing a testimony that will bring light to dark spaces and color the gray places.
I do not believe that God causes evil in our lives, but from the painful moments, God can create something wonderful. During an especially difficult time in my life, I shared my challenges with a dear friend. As I poured out the issues before me, he replied, “Just remember, God does his best work in chaos.”
What a wonderful truth. The biblical story even begins there, as the Spirit hovers over the chaos and God says, “Let there be.” In a moment, at the word of God, the disorder begins to take on the order and the beauty of creation. As the story goes on, we find places where Israel’s chaotic experience becomes the setting for God’s recreation. We read of people, great and small, who God leads out of their challenges to new beginnings. Even in the death and resurrection of Jesus we see God redeeming darkness and death to bring forth light and life, and the promise of his future return is the expectation of the ultimate re-creation.
The difficult places of life are never enjoyable and they can feel like they have no end, but God, who declares the end from the beginning, not only sees where our challenges are taking us, but is personally invested in seeing that we get there. When things get tough, it is easy to throw our hands up, sit down and give up, but that is precisely the time when we need to press into God, draw strength from the Spirit and push through the dark valley to the hidden beauty beyond.
Whatever you are facing today, God is more than big enough, more than able to redeem it by using the tough moments to reveal the hidden beauty within you. Have patience. Have hope. The God of all creation is with you, loves you and is speaking words of creation over your life even now.
Watching nature transition from the luscious life of summer to the vibrant beauty of autumn, it is hard to miss that a deeper beauty is revealed in the process of letting go. As the nourishing light begins to diminish, trees struggle to keep their foliage, but even as they lose the battle again, a palate of colors is revealed. Each day loses more sunlight, but that light becomes more dramatic at the same time. Even the composting leaves and grass become richness for the future.
Too often, as we face obstacles in our lives we lose sight of what is on the other side of the challenge. Lost in the drama of the moment, we miss what beautiful thing is being created in us. The test we face is producing a testimony that will bring light to dark spaces and color the gray places.
I do not believe that God causes evil in our lives, but from the painful moments, God can create something wonderful. During an especially difficult time in my life, I shared my challenges with a dear friend. As I poured out the issues before me, he replied, “Just remember, God does his best work in chaos.”
What a wonderful truth. The biblical story even begins there, as the Spirit hovers over the chaos and God says, “Let there be.” In a moment, at the word of God, the disorder begins to take on the order and the beauty of creation. As the story goes on, we find places where Israel’s chaotic experience becomes the setting for God’s recreation. We read of people, great and small, who God leads out of their challenges to new beginnings. Even in the death and resurrection of Jesus we see God redeeming darkness and death to bring forth light and life, and the promise of his future return is the expectation of the ultimate re-creation.
The difficult places of life are never enjoyable and they can feel like they have no end, but God, who declares the end from the beginning, not only sees where our challenges are taking us, but is personally invested in seeing that we get there. When things get tough, it is easy to throw our hands up, sit down and give up, but that is precisely the time when we need to press into God, draw strength from the Spirit and push through the dark valley to the hidden beauty beyond.
Whatever you are facing today, God is more than big enough, more than able to redeem it by using the tough moments to reveal the hidden beauty within you. Have patience. Have hope. The God of all creation is with you, loves you and is speaking words of creation over your life even now.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Why? (Where's the Love Part 2)
Writing yesterday’s post was troubling. Not only because the subject matter was painful, but because the issue of hatred and bullying is so overwhelming. I could not help but feel there was more to consider.
Whenever one of these tragedies occurs, there is a sudden outburst of emotion by people troubled by horror of what happened, accompanied by reflections on how we can stop or prevent bullying. It is good this conversation comes to the forefront, and it is a shame that it takes a tragedy for that to happen. Sadly, all too often the passion and concern is short-lived and things slowly go back to the way they were, hidden.
While many questions are being asked about what causes bullying and how it can be stopped, I have one other question that often seems to go unspoken, “Why?” You may say, everyone is asking the why question, isn’t that the heart of the whole discussion, wanting to know why this happened? That is true, but the question I am pondering is, “why did a precious young man feel that the only solution to these attacks was to take his life?”
Please understand, I am not pointing out a fault in him. I am pointing out a fault in us. Where are we failing our children as a community that the harsh words of some peers can destroy their sense of value? Where are we letting down those who need our strength and encouragement so that they can stand strong in the face of their adversaries? This problem is not just about some narrow-minded students who said mean things to a classmate; it is a problem of which we are all a part. Our actions, or failure to act, leave people vulnerable to greater pain.
None of us likes to feel complicit when evil occurs, and it is true that most of us were not directly involved in the events that led up to this most recent expression. But ask yourself:
Do you speak evil?
Have the hurtful words spoken to someone else ever been yours?
Have you criticized someone?
Have you sown those critical seeds behind their back?
Do you take every opportunity to build others up?
Do you make time to encourage those who are hurting, or those who are difficult?
Is your life an example of love to the world around you?
These are hard questions, often ones we would like to avoid but, like pebbles in a pond, our choices create ripples that affect others, even people we do not know. Every action counts. The seeds of love, hope and encouragement we plant will touch lives just as surely as the hurtful comments of others will, but the result will be very different. As disciples of Christ, we know nothing and no one is hopeless. The very revelation of God is just the opposite. There is always hope and no one should ever face the evil of the world without that knowledge.
Sharing hope involves more than saying, “Oh, by the way, there is always hope.” It is a truth that needs to be demonstrated, lived out before the entire world. We declare by what we say and do that there is always something worth living for, even when it is hard to see. We proclaim that in spite of the negative, hurtful things some people say, each person is a beloved creation of God, supported by God and those who represent God. As a community of people we can care for one another in ways that give strength and hope; we can make a difference.
In the end, it is not about blame, but about opportunity. We have an opportunity not to feel emotion for a short season and then forget. We have an opportunity to change our words and actions into examples that change the world. We have the opportunity to care, to love, to encourage and give hope. We have the opportunity to speak and offer life. Let’s not miss the opportunity to make a real difference.
We can make a difference, a lasting difference. Will you join me in making our corner of the world, and ultimately the whole world, a different place? The change can start today.
Whenever one of these tragedies occurs, there is a sudden outburst of emotion by people troubled by horror of what happened, accompanied by reflections on how we can stop or prevent bullying. It is good this conversation comes to the forefront, and it is a shame that it takes a tragedy for that to happen. Sadly, all too often the passion and concern is short-lived and things slowly go back to the way they were, hidden.
While many questions are being asked about what causes bullying and how it can be stopped, I have one other question that often seems to go unspoken, “Why?” You may say, everyone is asking the why question, isn’t that the heart of the whole discussion, wanting to know why this happened? That is true, but the question I am pondering is, “why did a precious young man feel that the only solution to these attacks was to take his life?”
Please understand, I am not pointing out a fault in him. I am pointing out a fault in us. Where are we failing our children as a community that the harsh words of some peers can destroy their sense of value? Where are we letting down those who need our strength and encouragement so that they can stand strong in the face of their adversaries? This problem is not just about some narrow-minded students who said mean things to a classmate; it is a problem of which we are all a part. Our actions, or failure to act, leave people vulnerable to greater pain.
None of us likes to feel complicit when evil occurs, and it is true that most of us were not directly involved in the events that led up to this most recent expression. But ask yourself:
Do you speak evil?
Have the hurtful words spoken to someone else ever been yours?
Have you criticized someone?
Have you sown those critical seeds behind their back?
Do you take every opportunity to build others up?
Do you make time to encourage those who are hurting, or those who are difficult?
Is your life an example of love to the world around you?
These are hard questions, often ones we would like to avoid but, like pebbles in a pond, our choices create ripples that affect others, even people we do not know. Every action counts. The seeds of love, hope and encouragement we plant will touch lives just as surely as the hurtful comments of others will, but the result will be very different. As disciples of Christ, we know nothing and no one is hopeless. The very revelation of God is just the opposite. There is always hope and no one should ever face the evil of the world without that knowledge.
Sharing hope involves more than saying, “Oh, by the way, there is always hope.” It is a truth that needs to be demonstrated, lived out before the entire world. We declare by what we say and do that there is always something worth living for, even when it is hard to see. We proclaim that in spite of the negative, hurtful things some people say, each person is a beloved creation of God, supported by God and those who represent God. As a community of people we can care for one another in ways that give strength and hope; we can make a difference.
In the end, it is not about blame, but about opportunity. We have an opportunity not to feel emotion for a short season and then forget. We have an opportunity to change our words and actions into examples that change the world. We have the opportunity to care, to love, to encourage and give hope. We have the opportunity to speak and offer life. Let’s not miss the opportunity to make a real difference.
We can make a difference, a lasting difference. Will you join me in making our corner of the world, and ultimately the whole world, a different place? The change can start today.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Where is the Love?
Thank you for your patience. The post I planned for yesterday no longer felt right, and what I sensed I should write needed time to be written with the right words.
This past weekend, our region learned of the death of Jamey Rodemeyer, a 14 year old boy who was struggling with some significant issues in his life. He was also dealing with bullies. On top of all of the personal challenges he faced as a teenager, he was subjected to painful ridicule and verbal abuse. His pain led him to take his own life.
I did not know Jamey, and I cannot begin to understand all that he thought or felt, but I do know his death is tragic. There is no question, bullying is bad. It is a form of verbal violence that attacks a person’s identity and erodes their sense of self-worth and their sense of safety. It is bad and it is painful.
I have no knowledge of the specific abuses this young man experienced, but I do know what it feels like to be on the receiving end of these painful attacks. I have clear memories of hurtful words and embarrassing moments. I remember the physical intimidation that included being chased through school by someone trying to stab me with scissors because he just didn’t like me, and the Halloween night, two peers tried to set me on fire just for fun. Words and actions like that can hurt deeper than we imagine.
As I reflected on the sad events of this weekend, I was struck by the reality that bullying does not just take place at school and bullies are not just teenagers. Part of the culture that continues to produce people who take pleasure in the pain of others is the reality that many adults model exactly that type of behavior. I meet grown men and women who still deal with their own issues by attacking others, in what they do and what they say. This behavior becomes a living illustration to people who look up to them that meanness and cruelty are acceptable if we “feel” justified, or if we believe someone deserved it.
No one deserves it, and there is no justification for hatred. All of us are created in the image of God. We are his workmanship, created for good things. Even from the first creation, God saw all that was made and called it, “good.” Humanity, he called, “very good.” How can we hate what God made in the Divine image and called very good?
We are called to be living examples of God’s goodness. We need to teach one another, our children and all those God places within our sphere of influence how to act out of love. People need to understand the impact of their actions and words on the hearts and spirits of others around them. We have a calling to be role models of grace and love who treasure each life as Jesus does, and who teach others to do the same.
Bullies may always exist, but that should never make their actions acceptable, nor should we ever become insensitive to the pain they create. Since God is love, then we need to demonstrate the transforming power of love to the world, including those who suffer from the painful acts of others, and those who commit such acts. We will not make things better by hating the haters. Instead, we must break the cycles that produce hatred in the first place and become examples of how to live without it.
There is no better day to show God’s love than today and no better time to start than right now. As the old camp song said, “They will know we are Christians by our love.”
May it be so, even now.
This past weekend, our region learned of the death of Jamey Rodemeyer, a 14 year old boy who was struggling with some significant issues in his life. He was also dealing with bullies. On top of all of the personal challenges he faced as a teenager, he was subjected to painful ridicule and verbal abuse. His pain led him to take his own life.
I did not know Jamey, and I cannot begin to understand all that he thought or felt, but I do know his death is tragic. There is no question, bullying is bad. It is a form of verbal violence that attacks a person’s identity and erodes their sense of self-worth and their sense of safety. It is bad and it is painful.
I have no knowledge of the specific abuses this young man experienced, but I do know what it feels like to be on the receiving end of these painful attacks. I have clear memories of hurtful words and embarrassing moments. I remember the physical intimidation that included being chased through school by someone trying to stab me with scissors because he just didn’t like me, and the Halloween night, two peers tried to set me on fire just for fun. Words and actions like that can hurt deeper than we imagine.
As I reflected on the sad events of this weekend, I was struck by the reality that bullying does not just take place at school and bullies are not just teenagers. Part of the culture that continues to produce people who take pleasure in the pain of others is the reality that many adults model exactly that type of behavior. I meet grown men and women who still deal with their own issues by attacking others, in what they do and what they say. This behavior becomes a living illustration to people who look up to them that meanness and cruelty are acceptable if we “feel” justified, or if we believe someone deserved it.
No one deserves it, and there is no justification for hatred. All of us are created in the image of God. We are his workmanship, created for good things. Even from the first creation, God saw all that was made and called it, “good.” Humanity, he called, “very good.” How can we hate what God made in the Divine image and called very good?
We are called to be living examples of God’s goodness. We need to teach one another, our children and all those God places within our sphere of influence how to act out of love. People need to understand the impact of their actions and words on the hearts and spirits of others around them. We have a calling to be role models of grace and love who treasure each life as Jesus does, and who teach others to do the same.
Bullies may always exist, but that should never make their actions acceptable, nor should we ever become insensitive to the pain they create. Since God is love, then we need to demonstrate the transforming power of love to the world, including those who suffer from the painful acts of others, and those who commit such acts. We will not make things better by hating the haters. Instead, we must break the cycles that produce hatred in the first place and become examples of how to live without it.
There is no better day to show God’s love than today and no better time to start than right now. As the old camp song said, “They will know we are Christians by our love.”
May it be so, even now.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Be Happy
What does it take to be happy? Do we find happiness in our circumstances and the things we possess? Is happiness merely the result of our feelings, or is there something unwavering which produces happiness within us?
Recently, I sat with another pastor who I just met. We were sharing ministry stories, especially discussing our favorite authors and resources. The conversation moved to our sources of inspiration and we began to talk about what motivates us, not only for ministry, but for living the Christian life.
My new friend told me of someone he knew. This person had been through the fire in many ways and certainly had reason to be depressed and discouraged, yet I heard how infectious his joy was and about the impact his happiness had on others. My colleague said to me, “How many pastors do you know, who in their 40’s and 50’s became bitter because of the many wounds they took in ministry? Yet, here is a man who had every reason to feel bitter and he was full of the joy of Christ instead.”
Since that conversation, I continue to reflect on where real happiness comes from. Too many times it seems we connect our happiness with someone or something else. A challenge comes along and we become unhappy. Someone hurts us or speaks against us and we lose our joy. An unexpected event comes along and we throw away our happiness, exchanging it for fear, frustration and anger. Because we tie our happiness to changing and transitory things, our joy is tossed to and fro by every little wave that comes along.
Jesus said, “In this life you will have trouble.” (John 16:33) We should not be surprised by obstacles and opposition, nor should we lose heart in the face of these challenges. Rather, we should hold fast to Christ, celebrate his presence and believe in where his Spirit is leading us, for he also said, “take heart. I have overcome the world.” When our happiness is connected to God, the One who is the same yesterday, today and forever, our joy can be God’s joy and it can remain unwavering in the face of adversity.
One of my favorite verses comes from Psalm 34:19, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” What an amazing promise! It does not deny the reality of our human struggle, but reminds us that, in spite of our challenges, our hope is in the Lord. We may feel overwhelmed, but God is not. There is no terror or timidity in heaven today, no question of what to do. God is seated on the throne and speaking forth the creation of life.
What, then, does it take to be happy? Our answer is found, not in external things, but in an unwavering trust in the Lord of Life. We do not look to our circumstances to determine our attitude. We do not look to the opinions of others to determine the state of our soul. We look to Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith. With our soul at rest in him, we can find unspeakable joy.
Life is too short to be unhappy, especially when the joy of the Lord can be our strength. May our faith rise up and give us joy today as we hold fast to God and know that, in him, we will not be moved.
Recently, I sat with another pastor who I just met. We were sharing ministry stories, especially discussing our favorite authors and resources. The conversation moved to our sources of inspiration and we began to talk about what motivates us, not only for ministry, but for living the Christian life.
My new friend told me of someone he knew. This person had been through the fire in many ways and certainly had reason to be depressed and discouraged, yet I heard how infectious his joy was and about the impact his happiness had on others. My colleague said to me, “How many pastors do you know, who in their 40’s and 50’s became bitter because of the many wounds they took in ministry? Yet, here is a man who had every reason to feel bitter and he was full of the joy of Christ instead.”
Since that conversation, I continue to reflect on where real happiness comes from. Too many times it seems we connect our happiness with someone or something else. A challenge comes along and we become unhappy. Someone hurts us or speaks against us and we lose our joy. An unexpected event comes along and we throw away our happiness, exchanging it for fear, frustration and anger. Because we tie our happiness to changing and transitory things, our joy is tossed to and fro by every little wave that comes along.
Jesus said, “In this life you will have trouble.” (John 16:33) We should not be surprised by obstacles and opposition, nor should we lose heart in the face of these challenges. Rather, we should hold fast to Christ, celebrate his presence and believe in where his Spirit is leading us, for he also said, “take heart. I have overcome the world.” When our happiness is connected to God, the One who is the same yesterday, today and forever, our joy can be God’s joy and it can remain unwavering in the face of adversity.
One of my favorite verses comes from Psalm 34:19, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” What an amazing promise! It does not deny the reality of our human struggle, but reminds us that, in spite of our challenges, our hope is in the Lord. We may feel overwhelmed, but God is not. There is no terror or timidity in heaven today, no question of what to do. God is seated on the throne and speaking forth the creation of life.
What, then, does it take to be happy? Our answer is found, not in external things, but in an unwavering trust in the Lord of Life. We do not look to our circumstances to determine our attitude. We do not look to the opinions of others to determine the state of our soul. We look to Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith. With our soul at rest in him, we can find unspeakable joy.
Life is too short to be unhappy, especially when the joy of the Lord can be our strength. May our faith rise up and give us joy today as we hold fast to God and know that, in him, we will not be moved.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Costly Relationships
Yesterday, our family celebrated with some good friends as they stood before the Lord and said, “Yes,” to each other. It was a wonderful wedding on a beautiful day and we were so thankful to be included with other family and friends to witness and bless their act of holy covenant. While nearly every wedding is special and beautiful, when the couple clearly loves God and each other, it is even more captivating.
As the bride and groom stood before the pastor, they shared personal words as well as the traditional vows. They shared their hearts openly, gave themselves willingly and received each other joyfully. The words, the actions and the attitudes were all powerful, but they were clearly the result of a long journey together. This was not the act of two people who just met each other, but was an expression of the life they shared together to get to this point, and their intention to continue together on the path.
Relationships develop. They take time and energy to build. Lasting, meaningful relationships require a significant investment. There are no cheap shortcuts, no magical methods. There is only the commitment to embrace each other and face life together. Serious relationships cost us something. The more important they are, the more they demand of us.
This is not only true of marriages and families, but it is especially true in our walk with God. A meaningful relationship with God does not come from an occasional visit or a little effort. That is the definition of dating. A real relationship with Christ, one with depth and significance is forged with deep commitment and shared experiences. It is built out of a passionate desire to be together, to love each other, and is the culmination of multitudes of moments, big and small, shared with one another. Walking through challenges and valleys with Jesus draws us closer to him. Facing new possibilities that stretch us inspires deeper trust in his provisions. Even, maybe even especially, the accumulation of the mundane moments that make up every day life, when shared with our Savior, become a shaping influence on our relationship.
Real relationships cost us, but they are worth the cost. During the service, I took my wife’s hand. I thought about how thankful I was to be there with her and how blessed I am to be her husband. I know our relationship has required a big investment from both of us over the past 26 years, but it is worth it. There is no one who knows me like she does and no one I know like I know her, and no one I would rather be with at a wedding, on a date, or simply sitting with in the family room. Our friends will face big investments too, but it will be worth it for them as well, just as it was for us. It is that way for each of us in our relationship with God as well.
As we worship today, we give ourselves to God. We pour out our lives believing that God will pour his life into us. The relationship we share cost Christ everything, yet he believed it was worth it. It is worth it for us to do the same. May today be a day of new beginnings in the depth and meaning of our relationship with him, as we celebrate where we’ve been together and where we are going.
As the bride and groom stood before the pastor, they shared personal words as well as the traditional vows. They shared their hearts openly, gave themselves willingly and received each other joyfully. The words, the actions and the attitudes were all powerful, but they were clearly the result of a long journey together. This was not the act of two people who just met each other, but was an expression of the life they shared together to get to this point, and their intention to continue together on the path.
Relationships develop. They take time and energy to build. Lasting, meaningful relationships require a significant investment. There are no cheap shortcuts, no magical methods. There is only the commitment to embrace each other and face life together. Serious relationships cost us something. The more important they are, the more they demand of us.
This is not only true of marriages and families, but it is especially true in our walk with God. A meaningful relationship with God does not come from an occasional visit or a little effort. That is the definition of dating. A real relationship with Christ, one with depth and significance is forged with deep commitment and shared experiences. It is built out of a passionate desire to be together, to love each other, and is the culmination of multitudes of moments, big and small, shared with one another. Walking through challenges and valleys with Jesus draws us closer to him. Facing new possibilities that stretch us inspires deeper trust in his provisions. Even, maybe even especially, the accumulation of the mundane moments that make up every day life, when shared with our Savior, become a shaping influence on our relationship.
Real relationships cost us, but they are worth the cost. During the service, I took my wife’s hand. I thought about how thankful I was to be there with her and how blessed I am to be her husband. I know our relationship has required a big investment from both of us over the past 26 years, but it is worth it. There is no one who knows me like she does and no one I know like I know her, and no one I would rather be with at a wedding, on a date, or simply sitting with in the family room. Our friends will face big investments too, but it will be worth it for them as well, just as it was for us. It is that way for each of us in our relationship with God as well.
As we worship today, we give ourselves to God. We pour out our lives believing that God will pour his life into us. The relationship we share cost Christ everything, yet he believed it was worth it. It is worth it for us to do the same. May today be a day of new beginnings in the depth and meaning of our relationship with him, as we celebrate where we’ve been together and where we are going.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Be Nice
Why do we find it so hard to be nice to each other?
I have been driving more than usual lately and all that time on the road gave me an opportunity to see a multitude of campaign signs. Many of them were typical "Vote for me!" advertisements, but some were just plain mean, with rude and nasty comments about opponents.
This type of campaigning is disturbing. Not only is it based in expressions of anger and even hatred, but it takes no thought of a political opponent as a human being. It thinks nothing of the impact of these words on the person, their family and their supporters. It is a "win at any cost" approach that sacrifices humanity for victory. It may be accepted as normal campaigning, but is it really acceptable?
What makes matters worse is that this hostility is not limited to political campaigns, but extends to daily relationships at work, in families and even within the body of Christ. Winning an argument takes precedence over demonstrating love, positions become more important than people, and gaining ground replaces grace. People too easily lose sight of what really matters as they become lost in themselves, a position or a movement.
The Bible has much to say about how we are meant to live together and treat one another. As the nation of Israel followed Moses through the wilderness, their ongoing complaining and negative attitudes delayed their entrance into the promised land and some people even lost their lives for these actions (not because God couldn't tolerate their attitudes, but because of the damage it did to the whole community.
Later, the Psalmist reminded his listeners, "How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity.” (Psalm 133:1) He goes on in the psalm to compare such unity to the symbols of God's anointing and the dew that refreshes the holy mountain of God. The psalm ends by saying that, “For there [unity] the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.” (133:3b)
Jesus even reminded his disciples that the world would know them by the love that they had for one another and challenged them to live in such a way that others would see that love. Then, before his death, as he spoke with God about what was most significant to him, he prayed that his followers and those who came after them would be one even as Jesus and the Father were one. Unity was very important to Jesus, and it should be to us as well.
Just think of the number of times each day we have the opportunity to tear down or build up. These are the times when we could be critical, but choose encouragement instead, or when we could share hurtful information, but keep it to ourselves. These are the times when we can be like everyone else, or chose to be like Jesus.
Keep in mind, it is not always a big action on our part that makes a difference. Sometimes, the most influential choices are the small ones. There are moments when someone says to us, "Did you see what that person did.?" and we can say, "Yes, I did. Isn't it awful?" In simple words, we confirm and multiply the original negativity. This, however, is not our only option. In fact, we have many. Let me offer just a few:
“Yes, I did. I am not sure why things were done that way, but I am sure there must be a good reason.”
“Yes, but I make it a point not to judge someone else.”
“What happened really seems to concern you. Did you speak to the people involved? That would be the right place to start. I would go with you if you would like.”
My personal favorite is, “It's really none of my business and I don't feel comfortable talking behind their back.” Even when we are speaking to the person who failed, we do not need to belabor the problem, but come alongside them, offering our support to help them find a better solution.
This is how Jesus responds and how grateful we are that he does. Jesus doesn't take our sin and share it with others. He never tears us down in person or behind our backs. He joins us as Savior and Friend to help us overcome our challenges and become who we are meant to be in him. Jesus may hold us accountable, but he does so with great grace and love. As Christians (literally, “little Christs”) shouldn't we do likewise?
It is not always easy to be nice and to strive for unity, but as the recipients of God's amazing forgiveness, love and grace, doing so should be a priority. We represent God so our actions matter, but, at the core, it is simply the right thing to do. People around us, even people we love may choose a different path, but we take our direction from Jesus and seek to live out the high calling we have in him. Just think of the light of that witness in a world surrounded darkness.
I have been driving more than usual lately and all that time on the road gave me an opportunity to see a multitude of campaign signs. Many of them were typical "Vote for me!" advertisements, but some were just plain mean, with rude and nasty comments about opponents.
This type of campaigning is disturbing. Not only is it based in expressions of anger and even hatred, but it takes no thought of a political opponent as a human being. It thinks nothing of the impact of these words on the person, their family and their supporters. It is a "win at any cost" approach that sacrifices humanity for victory. It may be accepted as normal campaigning, but is it really acceptable?
What makes matters worse is that this hostility is not limited to political campaigns, but extends to daily relationships at work, in families and even within the body of Christ. Winning an argument takes precedence over demonstrating love, positions become more important than people, and gaining ground replaces grace. People too easily lose sight of what really matters as they become lost in themselves, a position or a movement.
The Bible has much to say about how we are meant to live together and treat one another. As the nation of Israel followed Moses through the wilderness, their ongoing complaining and negative attitudes delayed their entrance into the promised land and some people even lost their lives for these actions (not because God couldn't tolerate their attitudes, but because of the damage it did to the whole community.
Later, the Psalmist reminded his listeners, "How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity.” (Psalm 133:1) He goes on in the psalm to compare such unity to the symbols of God's anointing and the dew that refreshes the holy mountain of God. The psalm ends by saying that, “For there [unity] the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.” (133:3b)
Jesus even reminded his disciples that the world would know them by the love that they had for one another and challenged them to live in such a way that others would see that love. Then, before his death, as he spoke with God about what was most significant to him, he prayed that his followers and those who came after them would be one even as Jesus and the Father were one. Unity was very important to Jesus, and it should be to us as well.
Just think of the number of times each day we have the opportunity to tear down or build up. These are the times when we could be critical, but choose encouragement instead, or when we could share hurtful information, but keep it to ourselves. These are the times when we can be like everyone else, or chose to be like Jesus.
Keep in mind, it is not always a big action on our part that makes a difference. Sometimes, the most influential choices are the small ones. There are moments when someone says to us, "Did you see what that person did.?" and we can say, "Yes, I did. Isn't it awful?" In simple words, we confirm and multiply the original negativity. This, however, is not our only option. In fact, we have many. Let me offer just a few:
“Yes, I did. I am not sure why things were done that way, but I am sure there must be a good reason.”
“Yes, but I make it a point not to judge someone else.”
“What happened really seems to concern you. Did you speak to the people involved? That would be the right place to start. I would go with you if you would like.”
My personal favorite is, “It's really none of my business and I don't feel comfortable talking behind their back.” Even when we are speaking to the person who failed, we do not need to belabor the problem, but come alongside them, offering our support to help them find a better solution.
This is how Jesus responds and how grateful we are that he does. Jesus doesn't take our sin and share it with others. He never tears us down in person or behind our backs. He joins us as Savior and Friend to help us overcome our challenges and become who we are meant to be in him. Jesus may hold us accountable, but he does so with great grace and love. As Christians (literally, “little Christs”) shouldn't we do likewise?
It is not always easy to be nice and to strive for unity, but as the recipients of God's amazing forgiveness, love and grace, doing so should be a priority. We represent God so our actions matter, but, at the core, it is simply the right thing to do. People around us, even people we love may choose a different path, but we take our direction from Jesus and seek to live out the high calling we have in him. Just think of the light of that witness in a world surrounded darkness.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Praising in Your Prision
“If only my situation was different; then I would be able to praise God.” This belief is very common. We often believe that our attitudes about life and even about God are the result of our circumstances. When things are going well, we feel good, we feel close to God and we believe God is active in our lives. When things become more difficult, more challenging, our feelings change and we can even begin to believe that God abandoned us.
I struggled with this for years and still have to bring these thoughts under control. I convinced myself that once I graduated from college, I would feel secure in my position and ready to lead. Following graduation, I revised the plan with a new necessary accomplishment. However, no matter what stage I completed, those feelings never completely took hold. It was not until a good friend encouraged me to look at what I was doing, that I realized that lasting feelings were not ever going to be the result of an accomplishment. Life would always offer challenges and there would always be something waiting in the future with the false promise of secure feelings. My answer was not in my accomplishments, but my attitude.
That is not always easy to hear. We like to believe that our feelings and perspectives are the result of the actions of others or situation we are in. These may influence us, but ultimately, our experience will be shaped by our beliefs and our attitudes.
There is a wonderful story in the book of Acts. The Apostle Paul and Silas are imprisoned for stirring up trouble. It seems that their preaching about Jesus made some people quite upset and the disturbance landed them in jail. This was not just a night in a cell with the promise of, “leave town and don’t come back.” The morning held the real possibility of torture and maybe even death.
Locked in their cell and guarded by the jailer they faced a challenging night. Who could blame them for fear and concern, maybe even a little anger at the people or God for allowing this to happen? This was unfair and not likely what they were expecting. It was exactly the type of situation that leads to discouragement and depression. Yet, that was not their choice. Here, in the face of danger and death, they were singing.
Paul and Silas made a decision. They put their trust in God and lifted their eyes to a bigger picture than their circumstances, to a God who was larger than anything they faced. They allowed their spirits to take the lead and so, looking squarely at their dark reality, they chose to believe, to sing, and to praise in their prison.
The result was not only their spiritual freedom, but their physical freedom as well, and the blessings did not stop there. This witness to their faith changed the lives of others in prison with them, including the guard. Their willingness to rejoice in their unpleasant circumstances changed lives, and continues to do the same as their story is told 2000 years later.
We face prisons of many kinds in life. Some are made with concrete and bars, while others we fashion brick by brick within our minds and spirits. In those confining moments and seasons, we can lament our circumstances, bemoan our misfortune and give up on our future, but there is another choice. We can decide, like Paul and Silas, to offer our praise in spite of our circumstances. We can declare God’s goodness and his divine possibilities in the face of pain and fear. We can believe with action in the presence of the temptation to doubt. We can praise in our prison.
When we release our faith in these moments, cell doors open, we find freedom and the people around us get changed. I once heard a youth speaker say, “People are waiting on the other side of your obedience.” Maybe, they are also waiting on the other side of our praise. May we find the strength in God to praise in our prison and break free in our faith.
I struggled with this for years and still have to bring these thoughts under control. I convinced myself that once I graduated from college, I would feel secure in my position and ready to lead. Following graduation, I revised the plan with a new necessary accomplishment. However, no matter what stage I completed, those feelings never completely took hold. It was not until a good friend encouraged me to look at what I was doing, that I realized that lasting feelings were not ever going to be the result of an accomplishment. Life would always offer challenges and there would always be something waiting in the future with the false promise of secure feelings. My answer was not in my accomplishments, but my attitude.
That is not always easy to hear. We like to believe that our feelings and perspectives are the result of the actions of others or situation we are in. These may influence us, but ultimately, our experience will be shaped by our beliefs and our attitudes.
There is a wonderful story in the book of Acts. The Apostle Paul and Silas are imprisoned for stirring up trouble. It seems that their preaching about Jesus made some people quite upset and the disturbance landed them in jail. This was not just a night in a cell with the promise of, “leave town and don’t come back.” The morning held the real possibility of torture and maybe even death.
Locked in their cell and guarded by the jailer they faced a challenging night. Who could blame them for fear and concern, maybe even a little anger at the people or God for allowing this to happen? This was unfair and not likely what they were expecting. It was exactly the type of situation that leads to discouragement and depression. Yet, that was not their choice. Here, in the face of danger and death, they were singing.
Paul and Silas made a decision. They put their trust in God and lifted their eyes to a bigger picture than their circumstances, to a God who was larger than anything they faced. They allowed their spirits to take the lead and so, looking squarely at their dark reality, they chose to believe, to sing, and to praise in their prison.
The result was not only their spiritual freedom, but their physical freedom as well, and the blessings did not stop there. This witness to their faith changed the lives of others in prison with them, including the guard. Their willingness to rejoice in their unpleasant circumstances changed lives, and continues to do the same as their story is told 2000 years later.
We face prisons of many kinds in life. Some are made with concrete and bars, while others we fashion brick by brick within our minds and spirits. In those confining moments and seasons, we can lament our circumstances, bemoan our misfortune and give up on our future, but there is another choice. We can decide, like Paul and Silas, to offer our praise in spite of our circumstances. We can declare God’s goodness and his divine possibilities in the face of pain and fear. We can believe with action in the presence of the temptation to doubt. We can praise in our prison.
When we release our faith in these moments, cell doors open, we find freedom and the people around us get changed. I once heard a youth speaker say, “People are waiting on the other side of your obedience.” Maybe, they are also waiting on the other side of our praise. May we find the strength in God to praise in our prison and break free in our faith.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
What Do You Want
"What do you want?"
There are so many different ways to read the words of that question. It can be spoken in the tone of a parent asking a precious child what would bless them, or with the drone of a bored cashier who would rather not be bothered. It is the terse expression of an annoyed coworker, or the heartfelt request of someone who really cares. At its best, it is a searching question aimed at revealing motive and desire.
In the Gospel of Luke, we find the story of Jesus interacting with a blind beggar just outside of Jericho. The man is seeking a touch from the Lord as he passes by, yet Jesus asks the man, "What do you want me to do for you?"
At first glance, we might think to ourselves, "Come on, Jesus, don't you know what he wants? Can't you see that he can't see? Isn't his need obvious? Why would you ask such a question?" The man, however, responds directly to the question, "I want to see!" and with this declaration, Jesus heals him.
Why would Jesus ask such an obvious question to someone with such a recognizable need? If others knew his need, wouldn't the Son of God be able to perceive it as well? Maybe, there is a deeper meaning to be found in Jesus' request. Maybe, Jesus had a bigger purpose in mind.
I once heard Joseph Garlington, a pastor from Pittsburgh say, "When God asks you a question, he isn't looking for information." God is not lacking understanding or information, but we might be. We might not have a clear image of what we are seeking, but God does. And that is why we need a clarifying question.
Jesus was not oblivious to the beggar's need, but he wanted him to identify it. He invited him to become a part of the miracle by clarifying his desire. The man paused, even if only for a moment, to consider his need and to ask specifically for Jesus to meet it. Maybe, we need to do likewise.
In our home, we often have conversations that go something like this:
"Let's go out for dinner."
"Okay, what do you want to eat?"
"I don't know..."
It can be very easy to know you want something, but not know what that something is. Likewise, most of us know we need something from Jesus in our lives, but the real nature of just what that need is often eludes us. It is in these moments, that we too, can hear Jesus' question, "What do you want me to do for you?" What, specifically, are we seeking from him? He already knows what we need, but this is our opportunity to allow the Holy Spirit to show us our real need so that we can present it to God and receive our answer.
Too many times I've said, "God, fix it," or, "God forgive me." with no idea what I wanted God to do, or what God might be asking me to do. It is not that God will not answer such requests, but God is so much more than a genie in a bottle, there to grant our wishes. God is a loving friend who wants to share the journey with us.
So, the question stands, not as an expression of ignorance, but as an invitation to share our needs, our requests, our very selves with God. It is an opportunity to see our real need more clearly and to see who Jesus is in the midst of our need.
As the Lord journeys with us, perhaps he is asking us, "what do you want me to do for you?" if that is his question, what is your answer?
There are so many different ways to read the words of that question. It can be spoken in the tone of a parent asking a precious child what would bless them, or with the drone of a bored cashier who would rather not be bothered. It is the terse expression of an annoyed coworker, or the heartfelt request of someone who really cares. At its best, it is a searching question aimed at revealing motive and desire.
In the Gospel of Luke, we find the story of Jesus interacting with a blind beggar just outside of Jericho. The man is seeking a touch from the Lord as he passes by, yet Jesus asks the man, "What do you want me to do for you?"
At first glance, we might think to ourselves, "Come on, Jesus, don't you know what he wants? Can't you see that he can't see? Isn't his need obvious? Why would you ask such a question?" The man, however, responds directly to the question, "I want to see!" and with this declaration, Jesus heals him.
Why would Jesus ask such an obvious question to someone with such a recognizable need? If others knew his need, wouldn't the Son of God be able to perceive it as well? Maybe, there is a deeper meaning to be found in Jesus' request. Maybe, Jesus had a bigger purpose in mind.
I once heard Joseph Garlington, a pastor from Pittsburgh say, "When God asks you a question, he isn't looking for information." God is not lacking understanding or information, but we might be. We might not have a clear image of what we are seeking, but God does. And that is why we need a clarifying question.
Jesus was not oblivious to the beggar's need, but he wanted him to identify it. He invited him to become a part of the miracle by clarifying his desire. The man paused, even if only for a moment, to consider his need and to ask specifically for Jesus to meet it. Maybe, we need to do likewise.
In our home, we often have conversations that go something like this:
"Let's go out for dinner."
"Okay, what do you want to eat?"
"I don't know..."
It can be very easy to know you want something, but not know what that something is. Likewise, most of us know we need something from Jesus in our lives, but the real nature of just what that need is often eludes us. It is in these moments, that we too, can hear Jesus' question, "What do you want me to do for you?" What, specifically, are we seeking from him? He already knows what we need, but this is our opportunity to allow the Holy Spirit to show us our real need so that we can present it to God and receive our answer.
Too many times I've said, "God, fix it," or, "God forgive me." with no idea what I wanted God to do, or what God might be asking me to do. It is not that God will not answer such requests, but God is so much more than a genie in a bottle, there to grant our wishes. God is a loving friend who wants to share the journey with us.
So, the question stands, not as an expression of ignorance, but as an invitation to share our needs, our requests, our very selves with God. It is an opportunity to see our real need more clearly and to see who Jesus is in the midst of our need.
As the Lord journeys with us, perhaps he is asking us, "what do you want me to do for you?" if that is his question, what is your answer?
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Where Knowledge Begins
It is easy to mistake amassing information for gaining knowledge. While it is wonderful to have the precious tidbits necessary to win a game of Trivial Pursuit, or answer the questions on Jeopardy, real knowledge is much more than a mind full of facts, no matter how interesting those facts may be.
The wrong understanding of knowledge can lead to negative consequences. It is this type of knowledge that “puffs up” giving us a false view of ourselves and the world. Most of us have heard the phrase, “a little information is a dangerous thing,” and it is true. A little information can lead us to believe we have more understanding and more ability than we actually do. We begin to think too highly of ourselves and pride edges out the much needed common sense that asks for help before our need for it becomes desperate.
The same attitude many of us faced when we graduated, believing we knew everything and there was nothing we could not handle on our own, can still emerge from within us. We can be so impressed with the facts we know, the degrees we earned, and the life-experience we possess, that we fail to see our weak points. This intellectual blindness can lead us in the wrong directions and leave us wounded by our own choices.
In the book of Proverbs, we find an oft quoted treasure that has real-life impact. Early in the first chapter, the writer says, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” (1:7) Real knowledge originates from a right understanding of our place in relationship to God. The word “fear” is not about being frightened by God, but rather, respecting God. Filled with awe and wonder, we look to God to define what real knowledge looks like.
Putting God first in the pursuit of knowledge helps us avoid the pitfall of pride. It keeps us grounded in reality. We are not swayed by popularity or popular opinion. We are not impressed by what we know, nor do we expect others to be. Instead, we rejoice in God and the wisdom the Holy Spirit imparts. Then, the information we accumulate, the training we experience and the life journey we take can blossom into the fullness of truth within our lives. Instead of being prideful in our accomplishments, we offer them as gifts to God, to be informed by God and transformed into tools of ministry in our lives.
We should seek wisdom, knowledge and understanding. We should be life-learners who continually grow in these ways, but we should grow by being firmly rooted in God. James wrote, “If anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask God.” (1:5) if we want to truly develop our knowledge, we should start by asking God and then, rooted in him and led by the Spirit, we can truly mature our understanding.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. May our eyes be opened and our spirits awakened to the awe and wonder of God so that we may become truly knowledgeable and wise for our sake and the sake of the world.
The wrong understanding of knowledge can lead to negative consequences. It is this type of knowledge that “puffs up” giving us a false view of ourselves and the world. Most of us have heard the phrase, “a little information is a dangerous thing,” and it is true. A little information can lead us to believe we have more understanding and more ability than we actually do. We begin to think too highly of ourselves and pride edges out the much needed common sense that asks for help before our need for it becomes desperate.
The same attitude many of us faced when we graduated, believing we knew everything and there was nothing we could not handle on our own, can still emerge from within us. We can be so impressed with the facts we know, the degrees we earned, and the life-experience we possess, that we fail to see our weak points. This intellectual blindness can lead us in the wrong directions and leave us wounded by our own choices.
In the book of Proverbs, we find an oft quoted treasure that has real-life impact. Early in the first chapter, the writer says, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” (1:7) Real knowledge originates from a right understanding of our place in relationship to God. The word “fear” is not about being frightened by God, but rather, respecting God. Filled with awe and wonder, we look to God to define what real knowledge looks like.
Putting God first in the pursuit of knowledge helps us avoid the pitfall of pride. It keeps us grounded in reality. We are not swayed by popularity or popular opinion. We are not impressed by what we know, nor do we expect others to be. Instead, we rejoice in God and the wisdom the Holy Spirit imparts. Then, the information we accumulate, the training we experience and the life journey we take can blossom into the fullness of truth within our lives. Instead of being prideful in our accomplishments, we offer them as gifts to God, to be informed by God and transformed into tools of ministry in our lives.
We should seek wisdom, knowledge and understanding. We should be life-learners who continually grow in these ways, but we should grow by being firmly rooted in God. James wrote, “If anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask God.” (1:5) if we want to truly develop our knowledge, we should start by asking God and then, rooted in him and led by the Spirit, we can truly mature our understanding.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. May our eyes be opened and our spirits awakened to the awe and wonder of God so that we may become truly knowledgeable and wise for our sake and the sake of the world.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Sacred Remembrance
Throughout the Scripture we find places where the people of God built altars. Sometimes, these were directly connected to houses of worship, but often, they were places of remembrance. When individuals and communities experienced unique encounters with God, an altar would be set up to remember that experience and honor God in the future.
Occasionally, people would erect standing stones, large stones placed in an upright position that made it clear it was done by human hands. At other times, piles of stones would be made for the same purpose. This way, along with creating places to remember the mighty acts of God, symbols were established that helped encourage the telling of the story to future generations. As people traveled, a child or new member to the community might see these altars and stones and ask, “What happened here?”
For me, one of the most significant parts of these symbols was their redemptive focus. Instead of merely being remembrances of events, they were places to remember God’s activity in the midst of human experience, even in the face of painful circumstances.
Today, many of us will gather in worship and remember. We will remember God’s activity in our lives. We will remember the saving act of Jesus Christ and the acts of so many followers of Christ that made the Good News known throughout the world. We will remember our corporate and personal history with God and give thanks for God’s activity in our story. And, being the tenth anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, we will remember those images and stories as well.
It is important for us to remember significant days of our journey, even days of great pain, but as we remember, we must keep in mind that we are a people whose trust and hope is in the Lord. We can reflect on the tragic loss that occurred that day, on those who lost their lives, and on those who gave of themselves to respond. We can pause to ponder the brokenness of our world, the horror of violence and the pain of devastating loss. We can do all these things, but as people of faith, we do them as a form of sacred remembrance.
We do not remember to sensationalize the past, nor is our recollection just an expression of patriotism. We certainly do not remember for the sake of anger and hatred. We are a people who do not grieve as the world grieves. We remember so that we, like all those who went before us, can affirm God’s activity in our past and in our present. We look back, so that we can look forward, believing in God’s promises for our future.
This does not mean that we are not filled with deep emotion, or that we deny our feelings. Rather, we own those emotions and feelings and present them to God. We allow our pain to become a passion for change. Where we would be tempted to embrace anger, we choose to take hold of peace. Where we would want to fracture relationships, we seek to build them instead. We choose to look for God in the midst of our story, so that we can tell God’s story in the face of our adversity.
None of us who recall the images and events of that day, will likely forget the fear, pain and emptiness we felt. Hopefully, we will not forget the images of compassion and service we saw that day as well. Hopefully, we will not lose sight of what held us together and Who holds us in the palm of his hand today as he did that day. Then, as those who remember, not just events, but the actions of God and people who demonstrated the heart of God, we can work for a better world. We can choose to be people who demonstrate divine love, compassion and peace.
Today, we remember, but then it is time to go to work and be the people of God and seek God’s will in our day. It is the time to be the city set on a hill that cannot be hid, a beacon of light to a darkened world. It is the time to demonstrate by word and deed that there is another way, a way that leads to life. May our sacred remembrance lead us all to holy actions that future generations may look back and remember what God did to bless the world through us.
Peace be with you, with the world and with us all.
Occasionally, people would erect standing stones, large stones placed in an upright position that made it clear it was done by human hands. At other times, piles of stones would be made for the same purpose. This way, along with creating places to remember the mighty acts of God, symbols were established that helped encourage the telling of the story to future generations. As people traveled, a child or new member to the community might see these altars and stones and ask, “What happened here?”
For me, one of the most significant parts of these symbols was their redemptive focus. Instead of merely being remembrances of events, they were places to remember God’s activity in the midst of human experience, even in the face of painful circumstances.
Today, many of us will gather in worship and remember. We will remember God’s activity in our lives. We will remember the saving act of Jesus Christ and the acts of so many followers of Christ that made the Good News known throughout the world. We will remember our corporate and personal history with God and give thanks for God’s activity in our story. And, being the tenth anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, we will remember those images and stories as well.
It is important for us to remember significant days of our journey, even days of great pain, but as we remember, we must keep in mind that we are a people whose trust and hope is in the Lord. We can reflect on the tragic loss that occurred that day, on those who lost their lives, and on those who gave of themselves to respond. We can pause to ponder the brokenness of our world, the horror of violence and the pain of devastating loss. We can do all these things, but as people of faith, we do them as a form of sacred remembrance.
We do not remember to sensationalize the past, nor is our recollection just an expression of patriotism. We certainly do not remember for the sake of anger and hatred. We are a people who do not grieve as the world grieves. We remember so that we, like all those who went before us, can affirm God’s activity in our past and in our present. We look back, so that we can look forward, believing in God’s promises for our future.
This does not mean that we are not filled with deep emotion, or that we deny our feelings. Rather, we own those emotions and feelings and present them to God. We allow our pain to become a passion for change. Where we would be tempted to embrace anger, we choose to take hold of peace. Where we would want to fracture relationships, we seek to build them instead. We choose to look for God in the midst of our story, so that we can tell God’s story in the face of our adversity.
None of us who recall the images and events of that day, will likely forget the fear, pain and emptiness we felt. Hopefully, we will not forget the images of compassion and service we saw that day as well. Hopefully, we will not lose sight of what held us together and Who holds us in the palm of his hand today as he did that day. Then, as those who remember, not just events, but the actions of God and people who demonstrated the heart of God, we can work for a better world. We can choose to be people who demonstrate divine love, compassion and peace.
Today, we remember, but then it is time to go to work and be the people of God and seek God’s will in our day. It is the time to be the city set on a hill that cannot be hid, a beacon of light to a darkened world. It is the time to demonstrate by word and deed that there is another way, a way that leads to life. May our sacred remembrance lead us all to holy actions that future generations may look back and remember what God did to bless the world through us.
Peace be with you, with the world and with us all.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Stay Connected
I am amazed how disconnected I feel when I forget my cell phone. Take away my iPad, my computer and my other means of communication and a serious sense of isolation begins to take hold of me, and from the conversations I have, I am not alone.
It is not that I cannot live without my technology, though I do have a bit of withdrawal when I step away for a while. The real issue is the ability to connect with people I know and love. I am accustomed to hearing the news of their lives on Facebook and Twitter. Interacting with friends and colleagues by email is commonplace, and the ubiquitous cell phone makes instant connection a daily reality. I even have Skype connections with friends in several other countries, allowing me to video chat with them whenever I like.
This is not only my life, it is the way many, if not most of us keep and maintain relationships. We are part of a very connected world and those connections continue to grow. We understand the need for those connections yet, we can all too easily miss the value of real, deep relationships. We can be so busy with all of our activities, that we neglect the most valuable connections in our lives.
Not long ago, I watched two high school students visit the coffee shop I frequent. They purchased their drinks, sat at a nearby table, then pulled out their cell phones and proceeded to text for the next hour. They rarely spoke to each other. They were so busy with their connectedness, they missed the relationship that was literally right in front of them.
It is easy to sacrifice our most significant relationships, with the busyness of life, even the parts that seem to bring us closer together. We can be so involved that we neglect our relationship with good friends, with family, and even with God. Slowly, we step away from being together and before long we moved further than we ever expected, and sometimes, we don’t even know we moved.
The writer of Hebrews remembered the value of staying connected. In the tenth chapter, we find these important words, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (10:25) There is something powerfully important about meeting together, about building real, meaningful relationships. We need God, and we need each other.
We’ve probably all heard the guilt-laden arguments for being in Church and for taking more time with God, as if the litmus test of a healthy spirituality is how busy we are with religious activity. Such thoughts are a real shame, because they hide the deeper reason for making time for these relationships. It is not for duty’s sake that we gather, nor are we trying to avoid guilt. Instead, we make time for God and one another because it is good for us to do so. It is good for our personal wellbeing, it is good for the community of faith, and it is good for the world. When we are properly grounded in the relationships that matter, we can be our best for ourselves and others we meet along the way.
Like so many other choices we make to live healthy lives, taking time to stay spiritually connected is important. I encourage you to prayerfully consider whether or not your choices truly nourish your soul, and in turn, the lives of others. I know I need to do this on a regular basis to be sure that I do not substitute what is good for what is best. Make time for the people and things that really matter, and may we all be blessed as we celebrate our connection with one another.
It is not that I cannot live without my technology, though I do have a bit of withdrawal when I step away for a while. The real issue is the ability to connect with people I know and love. I am accustomed to hearing the news of their lives on Facebook and Twitter. Interacting with friends and colleagues by email is commonplace, and the ubiquitous cell phone makes instant connection a daily reality. I even have Skype connections with friends in several other countries, allowing me to video chat with them whenever I like.
This is not only my life, it is the way many, if not most of us keep and maintain relationships. We are part of a very connected world and those connections continue to grow. We understand the need for those connections yet, we can all too easily miss the value of real, deep relationships. We can be so busy with all of our activities, that we neglect the most valuable connections in our lives.
Not long ago, I watched two high school students visit the coffee shop I frequent. They purchased their drinks, sat at a nearby table, then pulled out their cell phones and proceeded to text for the next hour. They rarely spoke to each other. They were so busy with their connectedness, they missed the relationship that was literally right in front of them.
It is easy to sacrifice our most significant relationships, with the busyness of life, even the parts that seem to bring us closer together. We can be so involved that we neglect our relationship with good friends, with family, and even with God. Slowly, we step away from being together and before long we moved further than we ever expected, and sometimes, we don’t even know we moved.
The writer of Hebrews remembered the value of staying connected. In the tenth chapter, we find these important words, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (10:25) There is something powerfully important about meeting together, about building real, meaningful relationships. We need God, and we need each other.
We’ve probably all heard the guilt-laden arguments for being in Church and for taking more time with God, as if the litmus test of a healthy spirituality is how busy we are with religious activity. Such thoughts are a real shame, because they hide the deeper reason for making time for these relationships. It is not for duty’s sake that we gather, nor are we trying to avoid guilt. Instead, we make time for God and one another because it is good for us to do so. It is good for our personal wellbeing, it is good for the community of faith, and it is good for the world. When we are properly grounded in the relationships that matter, we can be our best for ourselves and others we meet along the way.
Like so many other choices we make to live healthy lives, taking time to stay spiritually connected is important. I encourage you to prayerfully consider whether or not your choices truly nourish your soul, and in turn, the lives of others. I know I need to do this on a regular basis to be sure that I do not substitute what is good for what is best. Make time for the people and things that really matter, and may we all be blessed as we celebrate our connection with one another.
Friday, September 9, 2011
What Are You Saying
It's nice to share. That is what I was taught when I was younger and what we taught our children when we became parents. Generosity is a virtue that is important to cultivate, but equally important to the need to give is understanding what we should be giving. When we share things that bless others, make them stronger and encourage them to experience all that God has in store for them, we demonstrate the best of generosity. However, that is not always all that we share, especially when it comes to what we say.
In his letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul reminded them, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." (4:29)
Did you hear that? We are to watch our words in order to ensure that they are good words; words that are wholesome, words that build up and not tear down, words that benefit the listeners not cost them their peace. Our lives, including our words, are meant to be a blessing that flows from the knowledge that we are blessed by God.
Too often, people pay no attention to the impact of what they say. It is so easy to express ourselves in ways that discourage and wound others. Sometimes, we allow our own hurts and frustrations to flow out from within us and instead of sharing blessings, we offer destruction. It ought not to be this way.
Words are creative. From the very beginning, we see that words have power. The Scripture even describes God's method of creation as, "and God said." God spoke things into being and, as creatures formed in God's image, we do the same. When a parent says to a child, "why do you have to be so stupid?" they form the seeds of a reality within them. When a spouse says, "I wish I never married you," the first steps of separation have already occurred. The list of possibilities is endless, but when we speak destructive words, we are potentially damaging someone else and even ourselves in the process.
Sadly, this happens even within the body of Christ. I cannot begin to tell you the number of conversations and meetings I've been in where I have heard people speak anger, fear, and pain into the lives of others. The people speaking often feel such good intentions, but they take no thought of the repercussions of their words. They miss the long-term impact in the lives of others and even in the whole body.
Thankfully, what can be used in harmful ways can also be used to bring life. Paul challenges us to guard against unwholesome speech, but then reminds us of the power we have to build others up and to benefit those who hear what we say. Our days are filled with opportunities to strengthen the people around us, to encourage them on their journey. We are given the very words of life. As representatives of God and emissaries of the kingdom, we ought to share those words every chance we get.
It is easy to cut down, be critical and sow seeds of fear and doubt, but we are not meant for this. We are made to build up, encourage and plant a harvest of faith and hope. Just think of the difference we can make by speaking the words of Christ into the brokenness of the world. It can be a word of encouragement to the young man who checks us out at the grocery store, helping a coworker see past a failure to the future God has for them, or assisting the family that sits in the pew next to us to believe God is bigger than their situation. We can avoid the drama and declare the goodness of God.
The question that is always before us therefore, is, "What are you saying?" If we remember to ask ourselves this question in the midst of our conversations and as we reflect on our day, we can trust that the Holy Spirit will help us see the places where our speech is hurtful, and where it is helpful. Then, we can look to the same Spirit to give us the means to change what we say so that ever word that proceeds from our mouths will be right word and at the right time.
So, I ask you, "What will you say today?"
In his letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul reminded them, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." (4:29)
Did you hear that? We are to watch our words in order to ensure that they are good words; words that are wholesome, words that build up and not tear down, words that benefit the listeners not cost them their peace. Our lives, including our words, are meant to be a blessing that flows from the knowledge that we are blessed by God.
Too often, people pay no attention to the impact of what they say. It is so easy to express ourselves in ways that discourage and wound others. Sometimes, we allow our own hurts and frustrations to flow out from within us and instead of sharing blessings, we offer destruction. It ought not to be this way.
Words are creative. From the very beginning, we see that words have power. The Scripture even describes God's method of creation as, "and God said." God spoke things into being and, as creatures formed in God's image, we do the same. When a parent says to a child, "why do you have to be so stupid?" they form the seeds of a reality within them. When a spouse says, "I wish I never married you," the first steps of separation have already occurred. The list of possibilities is endless, but when we speak destructive words, we are potentially damaging someone else and even ourselves in the process.
Sadly, this happens even within the body of Christ. I cannot begin to tell you the number of conversations and meetings I've been in where I have heard people speak anger, fear, and pain into the lives of others. The people speaking often feel such good intentions, but they take no thought of the repercussions of their words. They miss the long-term impact in the lives of others and even in the whole body.
Thankfully, what can be used in harmful ways can also be used to bring life. Paul challenges us to guard against unwholesome speech, but then reminds us of the power we have to build others up and to benefit those who hear what we say. Our days are filled with opportunities to strengthen the people around us, to encourage them on their journey. We are given the very words of life. As representatives of God and emissaries of the kingdom, we ought to share those words every chance we get.
It is easy to cut down, be critical and sow seeds of fear and doubt, but we are not meant for this. We are made to build up, encourage and plant a harvest of faith and hope. Just think of the difference we can make by speaking the words of Christ into the brokenness of the world. It can be a word of encouragement to the young man who checks us out at the grocery store, helping a coworker see past a failure to the future God has for them, or assisting the family that sits in the pew next to us to believe God is bigger than their situation. We can avoid the drama and declare the goodness of God.
The question that is always before us therefore, is, "What are you saying?" If we remember to ask ourselves this question in the midst of our conversations and as we reflect on our day, we can trust that the Holy Spirit will help us see the places where our speech is hurtful, and where it is helpful. Then, we can look to the same Spirit to give us the means to change what we say so that ever word that proceeds from our mouths will be right word and at the right time.
So, I ask you, "What will you say today?"
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Seasons Change
Change is never easy. It can be fun, even worthwhile, but there is always a period of adjustment. The most inspiring possibilities still fail to completely eclipse the twinge of grief we feel toward letting go of the familiar, and touch of fear for what is to come. From the simplest adjustment to the most profound transition, change makes an impact on each of us.
At this moment, nature is changing as it slowly transitions from the bright, warm days of summer toward the overcast, chilly days of fall. Soon, the autumn leaves will be highlights against cloudy skies and the crisp temperatures will encourage us to unpack the clothes we stored in spring. There will be the smell of apple cider, and the scent of fires burning in fireplaces around town. At the same time, the shorts and t-shirts will go back in the drawers and the long days will melt away. There will be many things to look forward to, and many things to bid farewell, at least for now.
The past few days were part of a time of change in our lives. Our youngest daughter graduated earlier this year, and with the other children working or caring for their own families, this will be the first year in quite a while with no back-to-school shopping and no first-day-of-school pictures. There are no more lunches to pack or papers to sign, no one to wake up or help as backpacks are readied. It is a new season in our lives. Sure, we will miss the familiar activities and share a little sadness, but there are new opportunities on the horizon.
As I began my day yesterday, I remembered previous years and enjoyed my moment of nostalgia, but then I turned my attention to the gifts of the present: my new grandson, more time with my wife, and a myriad of new opportunities awaiting us all. I never want to forget those moments of the past, but I would hate to miss the possibilities of the future while I was gazing backward.
God calls us forward. Each moment is fresh and new, and while God is the same yesterday, today and forever, our experience with him is not. Life is not static, nor can we find our direction and destiny looking over our shoulder. This is the day the Lord has made and there is ample reason to rejoice and be glad in it. May we do just that.
At this moment, nature is changing as it slowly transitions from the bright, warm days of summer toward the overcast, chilly days of fall. Soon, the autumn leaves will be highlights against cloudy skies and the crisp temperatures will encourage us to unpack the clothes we stored in spring. There will be the smell of apple cider, and the scent of fires burning in fireplaces around town. At the same time, the shorts and t-shirts will go back in the drawers and the long days will melt away. There will be many things to look forward to, and many things to bid farewell, at least for now.
The past few days were part of a time of change in our lives. Our youngest daughter graduated earlier this year, and with the other children working or caring for their own families, this will be the first year in quite a while with no back-to-school shopping and no first-day-of-school pictures. There are no more lunches to pack or papers to sign, no one to wake up or help as backpacks are readied. It is a new season in our lives. Sure, we will miss the familiar activities and share a little sadness, but there are new opportunities on the horizon.
As I began my day yesterday, I remembered previous years and enjoyed my moment of nostalgia, but then I turned my attention to the gifts of the present: my new grandson, more time with my wife, and a myriad of new opportunities awaiting us all. I never want to forget those moments of the past, but I would hate to miss the possibilities of the future while I was gazing backward.
God calls us forward. Each moment is fresh and new, and while God is the same yesterday, today and forever, our experience with him is not. Life is not static, nor can we find our direction and destiny looking over our shoulder. This is the day the Lord has made and there is ample reason to rejoice and be glad in it. May we do just that.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Strength Training
No one wants to experience trials, but they may be of more value that we think.
James, Peter and even Jesus spoke about trials and troubles, encouraging us to find joy in the midst of the struggles and to find strength in the knowledge that Christ has overcome the world. In each case, it is clear that trials are an expected part of life, but we have the power of God within us to come through these valleys and do so victoriously.
Recently, I asked a small group I lead the question, "How would you describe a trial?" There was a moment of silence, then one member spoke up, "Trials come from God." I confess, it was not the answer I expected, but I was intrigued. Typically, people I know do not think God is responsible for difficult things, so I was interested to know what inspired that response.
"God does not tempt us," he said, "but God does send trials for our own good." As challenging as that is to some ears, there is tremendous truth in those words. Trials can be tools in the hand of God to shape us, equip us and strengthen us. Just like the effort expended at the gym, our work through trials can strengthen us for the future.
I often struggle accepting this when I face my own trials. Typically, I work to avoid these struggles, but that usually results in frustration; and another trip through the same valley. When I look at these moments as opportunities to better understand who I am and who God is in me, when I embrace my trials as a means to grow in strength and faith, something redemptive begins to emerge.
The best part is that even in the midst of the valley, in the midst of the fire, we are not alone. God is with us. Therefore, we can fear no evil. We can be comforted, and we can make it through. With each step we take, we become stronger and trusting God, we rise to levels of victory in Christ.
While we do not seek trials, when they come into our lives, we can turn to God for direction, power and hope, and by God's grace we come through. As we embrace the power of resistance and struggle to make us stronger, we accept this part of the training and anticipate the results that will come from it.
James, Peter and even Jesus spoke about trials and troubles, encouraging us to find joy in the midst of the struggles and to find strength in the knowledge that Christ has overcome the world. In each case, it is clear that trials are an expected part of life, but we have the power of God within us to come through these valleys and do so victoriously.
Recently, I asked a small group I lead the question, "How would you describe a trial?" There was a moment of silence, then one member spoke up, "Trials come from God." I confess, it was not the answer I expected, but I was intrigued. Typically, people I know do not think God is responsible for difficult things, so I was interested to know what inspired that response.
"God does not tempt us," he said, "but God does send trials for our own good." As challenging as that is to some ears, there is tremendous truth in those words. Trials can be tools in the hand of God to shape us, equip us and strengthen us. Just like the effort expended at the gym, our work through trials can strengthen us for the future.
I often struggle accepting this when I face my own trials. Typically, I work to avoid these struggles, but that usually results in frustration; and another trip through the same valley. When I look at these moments as opportunities to better understand who I am and who God is in me, when I embrace my trials as a means to grow in strength and faith, something redemptive begins to emerge.
The best part is that even in the midst of the valley, in the midst of the fire, we are not alone. God is with us. Therefore, we can fear no evil. We can be comforted, and we can make it through. With each step we take, we become stronger and trusting God, we rise to levels of victory in Christ.
While we do not seek trials, when they come into our lives, we can turn to God for direction, power and hope, and by God's grace we come through. As we embrace the power of resistance and struggle to make us stronger, we accept this part of the training and anticipate the results that will come from it.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Taking Responsibility
"I didn't do it!" oh, how I remember those shouts from my young children when we would ask them about how something got broken, went missing, or used inappropriately. Their immediate response was denial. It seemed, no one in our family did it. We even developed a humorous spirit about these moments, blaming the dogs, mystery visitors, even imaginary animals for the unexplained events. We still laugh about those moments.
It is difficult to take responsibility as a child, fearing the repercussions of your actions. It turns out, taking responsibility is difficult for adults as well. We hear similar expressions of our youthful cries when someone says, "I didn't cause the problem, why should I have to care?" This, and the many other variations of, "This isn't my register," occuir frequently. Sometimes, we are the ones saying it.
It is true that many problems and challenges we encounter are not directly our fault, but that does not mean we have no responsibility to respond. Even in circumstances obviously caused by someone else's actions, we are still called to act as God's representatives and take responsibility for what we can do to make things better.
In the book of Proverbs, we find many simple, yet deeply challenging axioms. In a section the New International Version titles, "Wisdom Bestows Well-Being," we find this call to action, "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act." (3:27)
Ask yourself, "to whom is good due?" It would be easy to answer the question by suggesting some form of karma, that good is due to those who do good. We could reply by suggesting that good should be shown to who earn it, those we like, or those we feel warrant it. The deeper question we must ask in our search is, "who deserves good in God's eyes?" God offers goodness to many unlikely candidates. In fact, the Scripture even says that God's kindness leads to repentance, which clearly means that God shares goodness with those who have not earned it, in order to lead them closer to him. Maybe, we could say, "We should not withhold good when it is in our power to offer it."
Following the ascribed title for this section, we can see how the wisdom of God leads us to make choices that create well-being, ours and others. When we walk in God's ways, our lives will experience the richness of God's presence and peace. We will also find ourselves putting our faith into action, blessing others with goodness and kindness as we are able.
It is easy to bless and care for those we love and who care for us. The bigger, and more meaningful, expression of our connection with Christ is the ability to offer goodness to those we find challenging to love. Just as we are called to forgive others just as we have been forgiven, so too, we should offer blessing, kindness and goodness just as we have received these gifts from God. After all, we know how much it means that God would bless us, being good and kind to us in spite of our sin. Therefore, it should be all the easier to be a blessing to others.
It would be convenient to claim no responsibility in these circumstances, but we really are responsible. Laying it at the feet of someone else may seem attractive, but it denies that God brought us into those circumstances for a reason. If we will live with open eyes and open spirits, we will see the needs around us and recognize the power of God at work within and through us to touch those needs in his name. What an opportunity to be the Gospel to others, and what a blessing it is to embrace that opportunity.
It is difficult to take responsibility as a child, fearing the repercussions of your actions. It turns out, taking responsibility is difficult for adults as well. We hear similar expressions of our youthful cries when someone says, "I didn't cause the problem, why should I have to care?" This, and the many other variations of, "This isn't my register," occuir frequently. Sometimes, we are the ones saying it.
It is true that many problems and challenges we encounter are not directly our fault, but that does not mean we have no responsibility to respond. Even in circumstances obviously caused by someone else's actions, we are still called to act as God's representatives and take responsibility for what we can do to make things better.
In the book of Proverbs, we find many simple, yet deeply challenging axioms. In a section the New International Version titles, "Wisdom Bestows Well-Being," we find this call to action, "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act." (3:27)
Ask yourself, "to whom is good due?" It would be easy to answer the question by suggesting some form of karma, that good is due to those who do good. We could reply by suggesting that good should be shown to who earn it, those we like, or those we feel warrant it. The deeper question we must ask in our search is, "who deserves good in God's eyes?" God offers goodness to many unlikely candidates. In fact, the Scripture even says that God's kindness leads to repentance, which clearly means that God shares goodness with those who have not earned it, in order to lead them closer to him. Maybe, we could say, "We should not withhold good when it is in our power to offer it."
Following the ascribed title for this section, we can see how the wisdom of God leads us to make choices that create well-being, ours and others. When we walk in God's ways, our lives will experience the richness of God's presence and peace. We will also find ourselves putting our faith into action, blessing others with goodness and kindness as we are able.
It is easy to bless and care for those we love and who care for us. The bigger, and more meaningful, expression of our connection with Christ is the ability to offer goodness to those we find challenging to love. Just as we are called to forgive others just as we have been forgiven, so too, we should offer blessing, kindness and goodness just as we have received these gifts from God. After all, we know how much it means that God would bless us, being good and kind to us in spite of our sin. Therefore, it should be all the easier to be a blessing to others.
It would be convenient to claim no responsibility in these circumstances, but we really are responsible. Laying it at the feet of someone else may seem attractive, but it denies that God brought us into those circumstances for a reason. If we will live with open eyes and open spirits, we will see the needs around us and recognize the power of God at work within and through us to touch those needs in his name. What an opportunity to be the Gospel to others, and what a blessing it is to embrace that opportunity.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Labors of Love
There are so many reasons to be thankful, including so many people that bless our lives.
Several days ago, I was visiting with a friend at his home. He and I were sitting on the front porch talking and watching the neighborhood activity. Children were riding their bikes along the sidewalk, several couples were strolling together, and people were coming in and out of their homes. Occasionally, my friend would offer a little commentary on the people who were passing by, talking about where they lived, their work and some of the things they did together.
Across the street, a young man came out of his house to get into his SUV. As he did, my friend called out, "Hey, thanks for your service!" The young man smiled, thanked him back and drove away. I then learned that he just returned from military service in the middle east. I wondered how many people knew he was gone and how many of them would ever express their gratitude for his willingness to go.
There are many people who serve, not just in the military, but in all facets of life. We are blessed by so many individuals, families and groups who give of themselves so that we, and others, can enjoy our lives more fully. Each of us is blessed by the faithful service of others, and such blessings call for thanksgiving.
When Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, he began his letter with this thanksgiving, "We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3)
Imagine the encouragement this brought to those who were giving their lives for others. What a difference it must have made to know that Paul and those with him we constantly giving thanks to God for their service. I imagine it made the work even more enjoyable and worthwhile.
Last week, I received an email from one of my former youth group members. She had a question to ask, but she took the time to share that she felt blessed that I was her pastor. She told me the impact I made in her life and thanked me for what I did. I am still humbled and encouraged by her words.
Often, we serve and never know if we made a difference. We can only hope that, by God's grace we did. But, when you hear those words of thanks, it makes a difference in you. What a blessing words of thanksgiving and encouragement are to those who serve. How many people need to hear such words right now?
Today, many of us will go to our local church to worship. Being Labor Day weekend, our thoughts may likely be on thanksgiving for a day of rest. Maybe, in the midst of all that we do, we could take time to remember and give thanks for those people who bless our lives. Maybe, we could even take a moment to tell them the difference they make in the world and to us. Maybe, we could take just a moment to bless those who bless us.
May the attitude of constant thanksgiving Paul shared be ours today, as we give thanks for all of the labors of love that bless our lives.
Several days ago, I was visiting with a friend at his home. He and I were sitting on the front porch talking and watching the neighborhood activity. Children were riding their bikes along the sidewalk, several couples were strolling together, and people were coming in and out of their homes. Occasionally, my friend would offer a little commentary on the people who were passing by, talking about where they lived, their work and some of the things they did together.
Across the street, a young man came out of his house to get into his SUV. As he did, my friend called out, "Hey, thanks for your service!" The young man smiled, thanked him back and drove away. I then learned that he just returned from military service in the middle east. I wondered how many people knew he was gone and how many of them would ever express their gratitude for his willingness to go.
There are many people who serve, not just in the military, but in all facets of life. We are blessed by so many individuals, families and groups who give of themselves so that we, and others, can enjoy our lives more fully. Each of us is blessed by the faithful service of others, and such blessings call for thanksgiving.
When Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, he began his letter with this thanksgiving, "We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3)
Imagine the encouragement this brought to those who were giving their lives for others. What a difference it must have made to know that Paul and those with him we constantly giving thanks to God for their service. I imagine it made the work even more enjoyable and worthwhile.
Last week, I received an email from one of my former youth group members. She had a question to ask, but she took the time to share that she felt blessed that I was her pastor. She told me the impact I made in her life and thanked me for what I did. I am still humbled and encouraged by her words.
Often, we serve and never know if we made a difference. We can only hope that, by God's grace we did. But, when you hear those words of thanks, it makes a difference in you. What a blessing words of thanksgiving and encouragement are to those who serve. How many people need to hear such words right now?
Today, many of us will go to our local church to worship. Being Labor Day weekend, our thoughts may likely be on thanksgiving for a day of rest. Maybe, in the midst of all that we do, we could take time to remember and give thanks for those people who bless our lives. Maybe, we could even take a moment to tell them the difference they make in the world and to us. Maybe, we could take just a moment to bless those who bless us.
May the attitude of constant thanksgiving Paul shared be ours today, as we give thanks for all of the labors of love that bless our lives.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
The Work of God
"The idea that the service to God should have only to do with a Church altar, singing, reading, sacrifice, and the like is without a doubt but the worst trick of the devil. How could the devil have led us more effectively astray than by the narrow conception that service to God takes place only in Church and by works done therein... the whole world could abound with services to the Lord... not only in churches but also in the home, kitchen, workshop, field." - Martin LutherThe separation of the sacred from the secular, while often born of good motives, can lead to some significant confusion when we attempt to live out our faith. Certainly, there is an understanding throughout Scripture and Church tradition that some people. things and actions are holy, set apart for God and the purposes of God. It is equally clear that some of our human desires and cultural norms are at odds with God's design. However, our lives are not neatly compartmentalized. We live in the place where the sacred and the secular meet.
We are called to be in the world, but not of the world. I grew up on this truth, but mostly I remember the teachings being about how not to be of the world. I know there are several scriptures that call us not to be conformed to the world and to lay aside the works of the flesh. We are called to live distinctive lives, yet we live them in the context of the world around us. We are invited into a relationship with an extraordinary God as we live our faith in the ordinary parts of life.
As Martin Luther points out in the quote above, it is a great deception to think that the only important work of the kingdom takes place in churches and church activities. As temples of the Holy Spirit, we bring the indwelling presence of God with us wherever we go. We make even the most common work holy, for we offer it as a gift to the Lord.
When the Apostle Paul wrote the Colossian church, he encouraged them in this way saying, "Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord." (3:23) Now, I recognize that these words come in a portion of the letter offering direction for Christian households and that this was specifically a charge to slaves, reminding them to offer their service not to their masters, but as unto the Lord. However, the principle certainly has a broader application. As servants of Christ, everything we do is in service to him and to the honor and glory of his name.
So, it is not just what I do on Sunday morning that matters, nor is it only the parts of my life I typically consider Christian. Everything, every facet of who I am, every activity I am engaged in, and every relationship I am a part of is a sacred offering to God. This means faith is immensely practical. The way I do my job, how I treat my family, and how I care for others matters to God. The stewardship of my body, my resources and the world matters to God. Everything I do, matters to God, therefore, it matters what I do.
When we understand that, for the Christian, all of life is sacred, then how we live life becomes an expression of faith. It is not enough to think of God only when engaged in religious activity. In fact, that should be the celebration of the holiness in the rest of our life.
As we enter this Labor Day weekend, we do more than celebrate people who work, we celebrate the opportunity our work gives us to serve. Here we have a time to reflect on how we serve Christ in all that we do.
An anonymous author said it best in these simple words, "work becomes worship when done for the Lord." May this knowledge change the way we view our worship and the way we understand our work, for in everything, we are involved in the very work of God.
Friday, September 2, 2011
You're Wanted
Everyone wants to be wanted. We all want to know that we have value, that we belong and that our life makes a difference. Lacking that sense of belonging and worth can lead to all sorts of destructive behavior that wounds both the individual and the people surrounding them. Even if things do not go that far, people can be left with an emotional wound they carry with them for years.
I've spoken to a number of men who shared how they waited until they were in their 50's or older before hearing their fathers say they were proud of them. Many never heard those words at all. I can only imagine the similarities that exist for women. All of us need that affirmation.
I remember how, shortly after we adopted our children, we would occasionally be asked, "do you love us as much as if we were your own children?"
"You are our own children," we would respond.
"You know what we mean," they would say, "do you love us the same as if we were born to you?"
You can hear in those heartfelt words the deep question, "are we wanted and loved? Do we really belong?" To that deep and meaningful question we would answer, "Yes, we love you the same, maybe even more, because we chose you."
Our children did not come to us by biology, they came by choice. We wanted them to be our children and for us to be their parents. We loved them and wanted to share our lives with them. There was no question in our minds they were wanted. We did whatever it took, met every requirement to have them become our family.
In the Apostle Paul's letter to the Ephesians, he reminds his readers that God, "chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world... He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will." (1:4-5)
God chose us. God wants us. Even before the world was formed, God desired and chose us to be in relationship with him. It was God's pleasure, desire and will for us to be adopted into God's family. We matter. We have value. We belong. If you asked God if you are loved, you would hear the words, "of course, that is why I chose you."
There has never been a day when my wife and I regretted our decision. In fact, it is one of the best decisions we ever made, right up there with our decision to follow Christ and our decision to marry one another. Our family has its challenges like all families, but there was never any doubt that we loved our children, that they were precious, and that they were wanted.
Likwise, there is no doubt that God loves us. We too, are precious in his sight and we are wanted. It was God's plan from the very beginning to include us in the family and to share the work of ministry together. When the King of kings and Lord of Lords, the Creator of the ends of the earth declares that from the beginning of time you were wanted, you can be sure you are valuable.
We need to be reminded how much God loves and desires us. We should rejoice in the amazing passion of God to share life in relationship with us, and then, we should go to share that good news with others. The people we meet every day need to know God loves them, that God was, and is willing to do all that is necessary to have a relationship with them. We need to tell the waitress that is working too hard, the single parent trying to hold it together, the person who feels abandoned and everyone like them, that God chose them from the beginning.
Be blessed in the knowledge of how greatly you are loved, may you be a blessing as you share that love, brought through Jesus Christ, as broadly as you can.
I've spoken to a number of men who shared how they waited until they were in their 50's or older before hearing their fathers say they were proud of them. Many never heard those words at all. I can only imagine the similarities that exist for women. All of us need that affirmation.
I remember how, shortly after we adopted our children, we would occasionally be asked, "do you love us as much as if we were your own children?"
"You are our own children," we would respond.
"You know what we mean," they would say, "do you love us the same as if we were born to you?"
You can hear in those heartfelt words the deep question, "are we wanted and loved? Do we really belong?" To that deep and meaningful question we would answer, "Yes, we love you the same, maybe even more, because we chose you."
Our children did not come to us by biology, they came by choice. We wanted them to be our children and for us to be their parents. We loved them and wanted to share our lives with them. There was no question in our minds they were wanted. We did whatever it took, met every requirement to have them become our family.
In the Apostle Paul's letter to the Ephesians, he reminds his readers that God, "chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world... He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will." (1:4-5)
God chose us. God wants us. Even before the world was formed, God desired and chose us to be in relationship with him. It was God's pleasure, desire and will for us to be adopted into God's family. We matter. We have value. We belong. If you asked God if you are loved, you would hear the words, "of course, that is why I chose you."
There has never been a day when my wife and I regretted our decision. In fact, it is one of the best decisions we ever made, right up there with our decision to follow Christ and our decision to marry one another. Our family has its challenges like all families, but there was never any doubt that we loved our children, that they were precious, and that they were wanted.
Likwise, there is no doubt that God loves us. We too, are precious in his sight and we are wanted. It was God's plan from the very beginning to include us in the family and to share the work of ministry together. When the King of kings and Lord of Lords, the Creator of the ends of the earth declares that from the beginning of time you were wanted, you can be sure you are valuable.
We need to be reminded how much God loves and desires us. We should rejoice in the amazing passion of God to share life in relationship with us, and then, we should go to share that good news with others. The people we meet every day need to know God loves them, that God was, and is willing to do all that is necessary to have a relationship with them. We need to tell the waitress that is working too hard, the single parent trying to hold it together, the person who feels abandoned and everyone like them, that God chose them from the beginning.
Be blessed in the knowledge of how greatly you are loved, may you be a blessing as you share that love, brought through Jesus Christ, as broadly as you can.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
What Can I Do?
"What can I do?"
This is the classic question that arises when we face seasons and situations of great need. The recent effects of the hurricane on the east coast of the United States, have raised this question again for many of us. What can we do that will make a difference in the face of great devastation and suffering?
It is not just hurricanes that cause us to wonder about what we have to offer. It can be the plight of children in the world, the scope of human starvation and lack of clean drinking water. The question arises when we consider those suffering with sickness and pain, with brokenness and grief, and with wounded pasts and frightening futures. What can one person, or a group of people do in the face of such things?
I often hear the question asked in two very different ways. The first, puts the emphasis on "I." What do I have to offer? How can I possibly make a difference? The question is forged in a belief that the problem is too big and our resources too small. Sometimes, the distance of the problem makes it seem even more removed from our lives. We say, "what can I do," silently answer, "nothing," and go on with our lives.
The other form this question takes comes with an emphasis on "do." In this response, we believe that may actually have something to offer, some way to make a difference. We are not looking at our lack, but at the possibility to use even the little we have to make a difference. Add to this pebble of faith, the trust that God can multiply our little, and a passionate belief that even "little-ol-me" can change the world begins to surface.
You may remember the story of Jesus when he stopped to feed the 5000. Jesus was teaching and a huge crowd gathered to hear his wisdom. Recognizing it was getting late, he instructed the disciples to feed the crowd, which was huge in their eyes. The Scripture says there were about 5000, plus women and children. Yet, in the face of this multitude, Jesus looked at twelve men and said, "feed them."
The disciples were dumbfounded. What could they do? They didn't have the resources. The task was just too great. But then, Jesus steps in to guide them. He asks what food they have and they bring forward the bread and fish one boy brought to eat. Jesus prays a blessing over the gifts and sends them out to distribute the meal. In the end, everyone is fed and there are twelve baskets full left over.
The disciples learned a simple, yet profound principle that day. Jesus can take our little and make it much. Sometimes, that happens from the accumulation of many people's "little" and sometimes it is the result of the miraculous power of God. Either way, with Christ, we can all make a difference. We can share our resources, our talents and our insight. We can support others who are doing hands on work. We can do many things, the greatest of which may begin with our willingness to pray.
We can ask God to help others, to heal brokenness and to solve enormous problems. We can then ask what part we are to play in that process, how can we be partners with God in making a difference. We may be the one who gives up the bread and fish, or one of those who helps to bless them, or even one who takes the gifts to those who need it. Through prayer and our willingness to respond to God's call upon our lives, we can make a difference.
There is a quote from R.A. Torey written in the front of my Bible. I often turn to it when faced with an enormous need. It reads:
"Pray for great things,
Expect great things,
Work for great things,
but, above all, Pray!"
Below those words is this simple prayer that I pray for all of us today, "Lord, help me make a difference today that is utterly disproportionate to who I am." May it be so.
This is the classic question that arises when we face seasons and situations of great need. The recent effects of the hurricane on the east coast of the United States, have raised this question again for many of us. What can we do that will make a difference in the face of great devastation and suffering?
It is not just hurricanes that cause us to wonder about what we have to offer. It can be the plight of children in the world, the scope of human starvation and lack of clean drinking water. The question arises when we consider those suffering with sickness and pain, with brokenness and grief, and with wounded pasts and frightening futures. What can one person, or a group of people do in the face of such things?
I often hear the question asked in two very different ways. The first, puts the emphasis on "I." What do I have to offer? How can I possibly make a difference? The question is forged in a belief that the problem is too big and our resources too small. Sometimes, the distance of the problem makes it seem even more removed from our lives. We say, "what can I do," silently answer, "nothing," and go on with our lives.
The other form this question takes comes with an emphasis on "do." In this response, we believe that may actually have something to offer, some way to make a difference. We are not looking at our lack, but at the possibility to use even the little we have to make a difference. Add to this pebble of faith, the trust that God can multiply our little, and a passionate belief that even "little-ol-me" can change the world begins to surface.
You may remember the story of Jesus when he stopped to feed the 5000. Jesus was teaching and a huge crowd gathered to hear his wisdom. Recognizing it was getting late, he instructed the disciples to feed the crowd, which was huge in their eyes. The Scripture says there were about 5000, plus women and children. Yet, in the face of this multitude, Jesus looked at twelve men and said, "feed them."
The disciples were dumbfounded. What could they do? They didn't have the resources. The task was just too great. But then, Jesus steps in to guide them. He asks what food they have and they bring forward the bread and fish one boy brought to eat. Jesus prays a blessing over the gifts and sends them out to distribute the meal. In the end, everyone is fed and there are twelve baskets full left over.
The disciples learned a simple, yet profound principle that day. Jesus can take our little and make it much. Sometimes, that happens from the accumulation of many people's "little" and sometimes it is the result of the miraculous power of God. Either way, with Christ, we can all make a difference. We can share our resources, our talents and our insight. We can support others who are doing hands on work. We can do many things, the greatest of which may begin with our willingness to pray.
We can ask God to help others, to heal brokenness and to solve enormous problems. We can then ask what part we are to play in that process, how can we be partners with God in making a difference. We may be the one who gives up the bread and fish, or one of those who helps to bless them, or even one who takes the gifts to those who need it. Through prayer and our willingness to respond to God's call upon our lives, we can make a difference.
There is a quote from R.A. Torey written in the front of my Bible. I often turn to it when faced with an enormous need. It reads:
"Pray for great things,
Expect great things,
Work for great things,
but, above all, Pray!"
Below those words is this simple prayer that I pray for all of us today, "Lord, help me make a difference today that is utterly disproportionate to who I am." May it be so.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)