If I could wish for anything for you in the coming year, it would not be a wish of success, wealth, or prosperity. While I certainly hope those things will manifest in your life in 2011, my wish for you is more basic.
In many ways, our life can be likened to a large building – if the foundation is properly built, then the building should endure. On the other hand, a poorly built foundation dooms even the best of construction. Success, wealth, or prosperity can exist for a time if built on a deficient foundation. Eventually, however, the insufficient foundation will no longer support the weight of these things.
Perhaps the most basic of foundational building blocks is found in Paul’s words to the churches in Galatia. My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you… Christ formed in you – now that is my wish for you. Christ formed in you – that will fundamentally transform your life.
Christ formed in you – What can you and I expect as a result of His formation in us? If we read the Gospel accounts, we quickly discover the ramifications of Him in us. We will manifest His characteristics. We can expect the same reactions from the same types of people. As He becomes formed more fully in us, we no longer strive to be Christ-like. His formation in us transforms us from glory to glory.
As Christ is formed in us, the Word still becomes flesh. As Christ is formed in us, Emanuel, “God with us” becomes evident to the world. May Christ be more fully formed in you in the coming year!
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Sunday, December 5, 2010
joy to the world
Christmastime – the time when we celebrate the intervention of God into the affairs of humanity. What a concept – God with us! Peace on earth, good will to man!
Yet 2000 years ago, the coming of Jesus into the realm of man was not met with universal joy. The book of Revelation gives a glimpse into the chaos that surrounded the coming of Jesus. …and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. Someone wasn’t happy about the arrival of the Messiah!
As the adult life of Jesus unfolds, we find that the displeasure with the presence of the Messiah wasn’t limited to the time of His birth. His interaction with the religious leaders of Israel continually provoked them to the same destructive rage that is revealed in the book of Revelation.
Why did the presence of Jesus elicit such a reaction? Might it be that His entry into the course of humanity revealed the way humanity had departed from the ways of God? His life was a stark reminder that ways of God are far different than the ways of man. His presence in the midst of those who claimed to be “the chosen of God” revealed just how far they had departed from the One they claimed to represent.
Years ago, I was part of a new church. Within a short timeframe, several people in the church heard in their spirit that Jesus was going to come and walk among us. We excitedly awaited the fulfillment of the prophetic promptings. We expected some sort of manifestation that would draw people into our meetings; what a glorious time it would be! Unfortunately we were deeply misguided in our expectations. There were no great miracles and healings. However God gave some of the leaders a deep love for those in bondage, those “in the world”. That alignment with the heart of Jesus caused a great deal of painful conflict within the church.
Years later I realized that Jesus had indeed walked among us. His presence revealed the heart of those whose desires were self-centered instead of God-centered. At the point of that revelation, they began to attack the very things in which they professed to believe.
Experience has taught me that things today are really no different than 2000 years ago. When “God with Us” manifests, the dragon still stands ready to devour the Messiah at His entrance. And just like 2000 years ago, the dragon will ultimately fail. The Messiah will come within and through us. The words of Jesus, taken from the book of Isaiah, will still come to pass.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has appointed me to preach Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the downtrodden will be freed from their oppressors, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.
In the midst of the good news of “God with Us” this Christmas season, don’t be alarmed by conflict that erupts at the coming of the Messiah.
Yet 2000 years ago, the coming of Jesus into the realm of man was not met with universal joy. The book of Revelation gives a glimpse into the chaos that surrounded the coming of Jesus. …and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. Someone wasn’t happy about the arrival of the Messiah!
As the adult life of Jesus unfolds, we find that the displeasure with the presence of the Messiah wasn’t limited to the time of His birth. His interaction with the religious leaders of Israel continually provoked them to the same destructive rage that is revealed in the book of Revelation.
Why did the presence of Jesus elicit such a reaction? Might it be that His entry into the course of humanity revealed the way humanity had departed from the ways of God? His life was a stark reminder that ways of God are far different than the ways of man. His presence in the midst of those who claimed to be “the chosen of God” revealed just how far they had departed from the One they claimed to represent.
Years ago, I was part of a new church. Within a short timeframe, several people in the church heard in their spirit that Jesus was going to come and walk among us. We excitedly awaited the fulfillment of the prophetic promptings. We expected some sort of manifestation that would draw people into our meetings; what a glorious time it would be! Unfortunately we were deeply misguided in our expectations. There were no great miracles and healings. However God gave some of the leaders a deep love for those in bondage, those “in the world”. That alignment with the heart of Jesus caused a great deal of painful conflict within the church.
Years later I realized that Jesus had indeed walked among us. His presence revealed the heart of those whose desires were self-centered instead of God-centered. At the point of that revelation, they began to attack the very things in which they professed to believe.
Experience has taught me that things today are really no different than 2000 years ago. When “God with Us” manifests, the dragon still stands ready to devour the Messiah at His entrance. And just like 2000 years ago, the dragon will ultimately fail. The Messiah will come within and through us. The words of Jesus, taken from the book of Isaiah, will still come to pass.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has appointed me to preach Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the downtrodden will be freed from their oppressors, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.
In the midst of the good news of “God with Us” this Christmas season, don’t be alarmed by conflict that erupts at the coming of the Messiah.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
hypocrites
The other evening I heard the words of Jesus in my spirit - Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: "This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."
I opened the scriptures to read and re-read the surrounding events that frame the account. When Jesus spoke these words, He was interacting with the Pharisees. He responded to their accusations, accusations that were spawned by their efforts to find fault with Him.
For the past several days, I have repeatedly returned to these words. This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me - what a sharp indictment! As I pondered the implication of these words, I asked the Holy Spirit how the Pharisees got to the point of honoring with their lips only. I am certain that they would have assumed that they were honoring God completely. In my own life; how do I know that I am not in the same place?
The answer came in the next phrase - And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. The connection was and is clear. When I put forth man-inspired teachings and present them as God's mandates, I become like the Pharisees, honoring God verbally only.
My mind travelled back through my personal journey with God. I realized how frequently I clung to paradigms that were contrary to scripture, especially as they had to do with God and the church. It feels like a dangerous proposition to honestly compare my own belief system with the truth of scripture. I have noticed that when we are confronted with a conflict between our own belief system and scripture, it is much easier to cling to our own paradigms and reject scripture. Now, we would never freely admit to our decision. Therefore we hold on to our belief systems all the while presenting them as truth from God. We even search the scriptures to discover a verse or two that will lend credence to our man made perceptions.
I have also discovered how dangerous it is to point out the difference between between our man-inspired teachings and the truth as revealed in scripture. If you dare to make mention of the differences, you will be viciously attacked by those who are most deeply invested in their own paradigms. The Pharisees resisted the exposure brought by the person of Jesus. As the exposure continued, they became increasingly vociferous in their attacks until eventually they betrayed Him to death.
Regardless of the cost, we must follow the example of Jesus. He did nothing of His own. His teaching was not His own. His words were not His own. His belief system was shaped, not in a self-centered intellectual manner, but in the place of submission to the will of the Father. If we freely allow our paradigms to be challenged by the Holy Spirit and scripture, we can expect that our worship will not be in vain.
I opened the scriptures to read and re-read the surrounding events that frame the account. When Jesus spoke these words, He was interacting with the Pharisees. He responded to their accusations, accusations that were spawned by their efforts to find fault with Him.
For the past several days, I have repeatedly returned to these words. This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me - what a sharp indictment! As I pondered the implication of these words, I asked the Holy Spirit how the Pharisees got to the point of honoring with their lips only. I am certain that they would have assumed that they were honoring God completely. In my own life; how do I know that I am not in the same place?
The answer came in the next phrase - And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. The connection was and is clear. When I put forth man-inspired teachings and present them as God's mandates, I become like the Pharisees, honoring God verbally only.
My mind travelled back through my personal journey with God. I realized how frequently I clung to paradigms that were contrary to scripture, especially as they had to do with God and the church. It feels like a dangerous proposition to honestly compare my own belief system with the truth of scripture. I have noticed that when we are confronted with a conflict between our own belief system and scripture, it is much easier to cling to our own paradigms and reject scripture. Now, we would never freely admit to our decision. Therefore we hold on to our belief systems all the while presenting them as truth from God. We even search the scriptures to discover a verse or two that will lend credence to our man made perceptions.
I have also discovered how dangerous it is to point out the difference between between our man-inspired teachings and the truth as revealed in scripture. If you dare to make mention of the differences, you will be viciously attacked by those who are most deeply invested in their own paradigms. The Pharisees resisted the exposure brought by the person of Jesus. As the exposure continued, they became increasingly vociferous in their attacks until eventually they betrayed Him to death.
Regardless of the cost, we must follow the example of Jesus. He did nothing of His own. His teaching was not His own. His words were not His own. His belief system was shaped, not in a self-centered intellectual manner, but in the place of submission to the will of the Father. If we freely allow our paradigms to be challenged by the Holy Spirit and scripture, we can expect that our worship will not be in vain.
Friday, November 19, 2010
the image of God
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:27)
These words describe the creation of the very first people. In the image of God – our species bears the likeness of God, something that can not be said for any other living being. What a privilege!
Several years ago I had a conversation with an older gentleman, a complete stranger, about God and about our creation in the image of God. To this day, his words still resonate in my heart as truth. “We were created in the image of God but the problem is that ever since our creation we try to create God in our image”.
You see, we somehow assume that God is like me. In Isaiah 44, God speaks to His people. He points out the foolishness of their created idols and images carved out of wood. The craftsman cuts down a tree. With some of the wood he builds a fire with which to bake his bread and cook his meat. With the rest of the wood he carves an image according that reflects his ideas of god, sets it up and calls it his god. What foolishness!
Yet before we cast stones of criticism, it might be helpful to examine our own tendencies. While today we are too sophisticated to carve an image out of wood to worship, we still create our own image of God. Not surprisingly our image of God looks remarkably like us. The writer of the Proverbs speaks to the outcome of our created images - There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. (Proverbs 16:25).
Is there any wonder that the ministry of restoration, healing and life can so rarely be found in the church world today? Is it any wonder that true transformation is more theoretical and less an actuality in those who call themselves Christians? Is there any wonder that believers, wounded by their entanglement in sin, have repeatedly told Bev and I that they find more death than life in their interactions in the church world.
How do we deal with our inborn tendency to create a god in our own image? The answer can be found in the person of Jesus. Look at the words of Paul to the church at Corinth - …lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord…(2 Corinthians 4:4-5). Jesus was the only man that ever fully lived in the image of God. He was “God with us”.
The problem with the person of Jesus is that He to this day is a controversial man. When we approach Jesus apart from our preconceived notions of who He is, we discover how frequently His words and actions assault our personal paradigms. At the point of offense, the choice we make will determine whether we cling to the way that seems right to us (that will lead to death) or whether we allow the Christ to be formed in us that allows the image of God truly shine forth.
These words describe the creation of the very first people. In the image of God – our species bears the likeness of God, something that can not be said for any other living being. What a privilege!
Several years ago I had a conversation with an older gentleman, a complete stranger, about God and about our creation in the image of God. To this day, his words still resonate in my heart as truth. “We were created in the image of God but the problem is that ever since our creation we try to create God in our image”.
You see, we somehow assume that God is like me. In Isaiah 44, God speaks to His people. He points out the foolishness of their created idols and images carved out of wood. The craftsman cuts down a tree. With some of the wood he builds a fire with which to bake his bread and cook his meat. With the rest of the wood he carves an image according that reflects his ideas of god, sets it up and calls it his god. What foolishness!
Yet before we cast stones of criticism, it might be helpful to examine our own tendencies. While today we are too sophisticated to carve an image out of wood to worship, we still create our own image of God. Not surprisingly our image of God looks remarkably like us. The writer of the Proverbs speaks to the outcome of our created images - There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. (Proverbs 16:25).
Is there any wonder that the ministry of restoration, healing and life can so rarely be found in the church world today? Is it any wonder that true transformation is more theoretical and less an actuality in those who call themselves Christians? Is there any wonder that believers, wounded by their entanglement in sin, have repeatedly told Bev and I that they find more death than life in their interactions in the church world.
How do we deal with our inborn tendency to create a god in our own image? The answer can be found in the person of Jesus. Look at the words of Paul to the church at Corinth - …lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord…(2 Corinthians 4:4-5). Jesus was the only man that ever fully lived in the image of God. He was “God with us”.
The problem with the person of Jesus is that He to this day is a controversial man. When we approach Jesus apart from our preconceived notions of who He is, we discover how frequently His words and actions assault our personal paradigms. At the point of offense, the choice we make will determine whether we cling to the way that seems right to us (that will lead to death) or whether we allow the Christ to be formed in us that allows the image of God truly shine forth.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
hymns
As I get older, I noticed that my music choices change with the passing years. I deeply appreciate the hymns written hundreds of years ago. While not every hymn is theologocially correct, many of them are written from the perspective of people whose struggles in life gave rise the words and music.
Perhaps another reason for my appreciation for hymns has to do with me. As a young and insecure pastor, I was drawn to "cutting edge" music. My insecurities gave rise to the desire to be cool. While I deeply enjoy the music written from the hearts of young followers of Jesus, I am also acutely aware that today's "worship" songs are at times an effort to write the latest "cool" song. They are written, less from the heart and more from soulish motivations.
To sing the songs that thousands of believers have sung for hundreds of years makes my heart glad. To be part of "the great cloud of witnesses" (see Hebrews 12:1) gives connection to those who have gone before me. I am not an island, disconnected from the saints throughout the ages. My voice joins with them in praises to the Creator.
Perhaps another reason for my appreciation for hymns has to do with me. As a young and insecure pastor, I was drawn to "cutting edge" music. My insecurities gave rise to the desire to be cool. While I deeply enjoy the music written from the hearts of young followers of Jesus, I am also acutely aware that today's "worship" songs are at times an effort to write the latest "cool" song. They are written, less from the heart and more from soulish motivations.
To sing the songs that thousands of believers have sung for hundreds of years makes my heart glad. To be part of "the great cloud of witnesses" (see Hebrews 12:1) gives connection to those who have gone before me. I am not an island, disconnected from the saints throughout the ages. My voice joins with them in praises to the Creator.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
restoration
This morning I read the words of Paul penned to the church in Galatia - Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.
My mind went to the religious elite of Jesus day. The example set by their actions opposes the words of Paul. Several times we find them eager for judgment, not caring a whit about the one caught in sin. At least twice they attempted to use someone in bondage as a tool to trap Jesus. Their concern seemed to be more about religious protocol. Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath? Should we stone a woman caught in adultery as the law of Moses required? Furthermore, when Jesus ate a meal with the sinners, the religious leaders complained about His association with those who were "less than".
The title of my last post several weeks ago sums it up pretty well - Some things don't change. Beverly recently had a conversation with a person who finds herself in the midst of a web of deceit and sin. Her comments to Bev was this - the church does not know what to do with people who have become entangled in sin. She also spoke of people, people that she knows, that struggle for freedom from sin. The judgmental attitudes of the religious hinder the open confession of sin that brings healing. As a result, their bondage strengthens.
I believe our attitude toward sin ought to be more like Jesus attitude. Jesus spoke harshly to the religious elite. Why? Because they attempted to hide their prideful judgmental attitude behind a facade of godliness. They were more interested in the preservation of their religious systems than in the restoration of people. In their mind, people that threatened their appearance of goodness were expendable, people to be discarded and rejected. Jesus rebuked them for the fact that they were a hindrance to people entering the realm of God.
On the other hand, the "sinners" elicited a differant response from Jesus. While Jesus always freely pointed out their bondage, He also always spoke of restoration. He had no interest in the appearance of goodness. He had no concern about His reputation with religious elite. His stated purpose for coming was to seek and save the lost.
Since the sinners freely admitted their "lostness" they became candidates for abundant life. Conversely, the religious elite, in their smug goodness, had no need of a Savior. Anyone whose actions violated their religious code became a candidate, not for restoration, but for rejection.
In the past number of years, Bev and I have been involved in the restoration of a number of people. In every case, instead of working at restoration, the religious elite in the church opposed the restorative work of God. As I read the words of Paul this morning, I had to think of the words of almost everyone with whom we have been involved with God's restorative work. To a person they have communicated with us that it is the church that has been most hurtful and judgmental toward them.
Truly the harvest is ripe - If the realm of God is to be expanded, then let us heed the words of Paul.
My mind went to the religious elite of Jesus day. The example set by their actions opposes the words of Paul. Several times we find them eager for judgment, not caring a whit about the one caught in sin. At least twice they attempted to use someone in bondage as a tool to trap Jesus. Their concern seemed to be more about religious protocol. Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath? Should we stone a woman caught in adultery as the law of Moses required? Furthermore, when Jesus ate a meal with the sinners, the religious leaders complained about His association with those who were "less than".
The title of my last post several weeks ago sums it up pretty well - Some things don't change. Beverly recently had a conversation with a person who finds herself in the midst of a web of deceit and sin. Her comments to Bev was this - the church does not know what to do with people who have become entangled in sin. She also spoke of people, people that she knows, that struggle for freedom from sin. The judgmental attitudes of the religious hinder the open confession of sin that brings healing. As a result, their bondage strengthens.
I believe our attitude toward sin ought to be more like Jesus attitude. Jesus spoke harshly to the religious elite. Why? Because they attempted to hide their prideful judgmental attitude behind a facade of godliness. They were more interested in the preservation of their religious systems than in the restoration of people. In their mind, people that threatened their appearance of goodness were expendable, people to be discarded and rejected. Jesus rebuked them for the fact that they were a hindrance to people entering the realm of God.
On the other hand, the "sinners" elicited a differant response from Jesus. While Jesus always freely pointed out their bondage, He also always spoke of restoration. He had no interest in the appearance of goodness. He had no concern about His reputation with religious elite. His stated purpose for coming was to seek and save the lost.
Since the sinners freely admitted their "lostness" they became candidates for abundant life. Conversely, the religious elite, in their smug goodness, had no need of a Savior. Anyone whose actions violated their religious code became a candidate, not for restoration, but for rejection.
In the past number of years, Bev and I have been involved in the restoration of a number of people. In every case, instead of working at restoration, the religious elite in the church opposed the restorative work of God. As I read the words of Paul this morning, I had to think of the words of almost everyone with whom we have been involved with God's restorative work. To a person they have communicated with us that it is the church that has been most hurtful and judgmental toward them.
Truly the harvest is ripe - If the realm of God is to be expanded, then let us heed the words of Paul.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
some things don't change
This morning I read the account of Jesus' interaction with people as recorded in John chapter eight. Interestingly, these were people who believed Him. As Jesus speaks words of truth, the interaction begins to deteriorate rather quickly. His words began to expose the condition of the heart of the listeners. In the place of exposure they searched for a way to discredit His words, for an excuse to discount the truth He spoke.
Their excuse for discounting the truth of which He spoke was his out of wedlock conception. Initially their comments rather vaguely alluded to the fact that Joseph was not his father. As the conversation progressed and Jesus words of truth continued to prick them, they became more pointed, accusing Him of being a Samaritan. (The implication was that He was not even a full-blooded Jew; that his mother had slept with a Gentile.) Instead of embracing the truth that could transform their heart, they chose to attack Jesus in an effort to validate their rejection of the truth.
And so it still is today. When pricked by transformational truth, people frequently look for a reason to reject the truth. Usually the reason for rejection is that the messenger is flawed, therefore his flaws allow for the rejection of the message. The flaws of the messenger do not change the truth in any way. Truth is truth. If we are to be transformed, then we must embrace the message in spite of our perception of the messenger
Their excuse for discounting the truth of which He spoke was his out of wedlock conception. Initially their comments rather vaguely alluded to the fact that Joseph was not his father. As the conversation progressed and Jesus words of truth continued to prick them, they became more pointed, accusing Him of being a Samaritan. (The implication was that He was not even a full-blooded Jew; that his mother had slept with a Gentile.) Instead of embracing the truth that could transform their heart, they chose to attack Jesus in an effort to validate their rejection of the truth.
And so it still is today. When pricked by transformational truth, people frequently look for a reason to reject the truth. Usually the reason for rejection is that the messenger is flawed, therefore his flaws allow for the rejection of the message. The flaws of the messenger do not change the truth in any way. Truth is truth. If we are to be transformed, then we must embrace the message in spite of our perception of the messenger
Monday, September 27, 2010
Posers
Jesus tells an interesting story in Matthew 13. As a read it today, once again I was struck by the severity of His words. He starts it by saying “the kingdom of God is like…” He tells the story of a farmer who plants seed in his field and of the farmer’s enemy who sowed tares (literally “false grain”) into the field while the farmer slept. The tares grew along with the wheat and in the process raising questions about how to deal with the situation.
Jesus goes on to explain the meaning of the story later in Matthew 13. The field is the world. The wheat plants are the sons of the kingdom. The tares are the sons of the wicked one or the sons of wickedness. There will come a time of reckoning, a time of separation. In the meantime however, the two types of plants grow simultaneously.
We must understand that the two plants, while sown almost simultaneously and grown simultaneously, are fundamentally different. They have two completely different sources and two completely different destinations. At the core, at the root of their DNA, a basic dissimilarity exists.
I have noticed recently how fashionable it has become in Christian circles to use the following phrase – “he is still a brother in Christ” or “she is still a sister in Christ”. Really now?? Jesus clearly and repeatedly states that not everyone who names His name abides in His kingdom. The wheat and the tares have nothing in common except being in close proximity to each other. Wheat is wheat. Tares are tares. The kingdom of God has no fellowship with the kingdom of darkness.
Interestingly Jesus, in His explanation of the story, told the disciples that the tares are those who “practice lawlessness”. The implication is that the tares are those people who do things outside of ways of God. This is not talking about people who become ensnared in sin and need and desire restoration in their place of brokenness. Based on other scriptures where the word is used, it indicates that this lawlessness is most likely a conscious choice to live and act outside of God’s ways, usually while still attempting to put forth a façade of goodness. For instance, Jesus told the Pharisees that they were full of lawlessness.
If it quacks like a duck, if it walks like a duck, it is a duck. Posers are still posers, regardless of their efforts to present themselves as something else. Tares are not wheat. In the same way, those whose self-centered attitude keeps people from entering the kingdom of God are neither brothers nor sisters to the children of the Kingdom.
Jesus goes on to explain the meaning of the story later in Matthew 13. The field is the world. The wheat plants are the sons of the kingdom. The tares are the sons of the wicked one or the sons of wickedness. There will come a time of reckoning, a time of separation. In the meantime however, the two types of plants grow simultaneously.
We must understand that the two plants, while sown almost simultaneously and grown simultaneously, are fundamentally different. They have two completely different sources and two completely different destinations. At the core, at the root of their DNA, a basic dissimilarity exists.
I have noticed recently how fashionable it has become in Christian circles to use the following phrase – “he is still a brother in Christ” or “she is still a sister in Christ”. Really now?? Jesus clearly and repeatedly states that not everyone who names His name abides in His kingdom. The wheat and the tares have nothing in common except being in close proximity to each other. Wheat is wheat. Tares are tares. The kingdom of God has no fellowship with the kingdom of darkness.
Interestingly Jesus, in His explanation of the story, told the disciples that the tares are those who “practice lawlessness”. The implication is that the tares are those people who do things outside of ways of God. This is not talking about people who become ensnared in sin and need and desire restoration in their place of brokenness. Based on other scriptures where the word is used, it indicates that this lawlessness is most likely a conscious choice to live and act outside of God’s ways, usually while still attempting to put forth a façade of goodness. For instance, Jesus told the Pharisees that they were full of lawlessness.
If it quacks like a duck, if it walks like a duck, it is a duck. Posers are still posers, regardless of their efforts to present themselves as something else. Tares are not wheat. In the same way, those whose self-centered attitude keeps people from entering the kingdom of God are neither brothers nor sisters to the children of the Kingdom.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
discipline
The older I become, the more I recognize the truth of Jesus' words as they apply to life in general. This morning I read the following in Matthew 7:
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
The word "narrow" implies focus and discipline. Interestingly, in Proverbs, we discover the following wisdom:
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
The phrase "train up" in the original Hebrew means "to narrow". Parents have the responsibility to bring raise their children in a disciplined (a narrow, focused place) manner. Now before you react to word discipline, let me explain the concept of discipline. Discipline is not arbitrary punishment although at times punishment may be part of discipline. Discipline is usually painful in some manner but the purpose of discipline is not to inflict pain.
My daughter coaches high school girls soccer. During preseason, the coaching staff worked on conditioning. The forced the girls to do sprints beyond what they thought possible. Was the coaching staff cruel in their requirements? It would have been cruelty had there not been a goal in mind - to prepare the players to outlast the competition in a soccer match.
In the second and third games of the season, the painful conditioning drills paid off. They had a game on a Friday evening against a team that they had never beaten. The game ended in a draw after two periods of overtime. At the end of the game, the girls still had the stamina to play well. The very next day they had one of the most important matches of the season against the team picked to win the league. Once again they went into overtime, this time to come away with a win.
In August, the coaching staff provided a narrow, disciplined place for the players. Of course there were complaints, without a doubt there was pain. The coaching staff could have been considered mean-spirited, forcing the girls to abandon what they wanted to embrace the rigors and pain of disciplined conditioning. Yet the discipline was for a purpose.
The realities of high school girls soccer parallel the realities of the kingdom of God. Far too frequently, people miss the supernatural realm of God and his overwhelming goodness because His way of discipline feels too narrow. If we are to discover life, we must submit to the disciplinary hand of God. To the god of self, the hand of God feels far too restrictive. The broad way feels much more comfortable. Unfortunately, it never leads to life.
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
The word "narrow" implies focus and discipline. Interestingly, in Proverbs, we discover the following wisdom:
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
The phrase "train up" in the original Hebrew means "to narrow". Parents have the responsibility to bring raise their children in a disciplined (a narrow, focused place) manner. Now before you react to word discipline, let me explain the concept of discipline. Discipline is not arbitrary punishment although at times punishment may be part of discipline. Discipline is usually painful in some manner but the purpose of discipline is not to inflict pain.
My daughter coaches high school girls soccer. During preseason, the coaching staff worked on conditioning. The forced the girls to do sprints beyond what they thought possible. Was the coaching staff cruel in their requirements? It would have been cruelty had there not been a goal in mind - to prepare the players to outlast the competition in a soccer match.
In the second and third games of the season, the painful conditioning drills paid off. They had a game on a Friday evening against a team that they had never beaten. The game ended in a draw after two periods of overtime. At the end of the game, the girls still had the stamina to play well. The very next day they had one of the most important matches of the season against the team picked to win the league. Once again they went into overtime, this time to come away with a win.
In August, the coaching staff provided a narrow, disciplined place for the players. Of course there were complaints, without a doubt there was pain. The coaching staff could have been considered mean-spirited, forcing the girls to abandon what they wanted to embrace the rigors and pain of disciplined conditioning. Yet the discipline was for a purpose.
The realities of high school girls soccer parallel the realities of the kingdom of God. Far too frequently, people miss the supernatural realm of God and his overwhelming goodness because His way of discipline feels too narrow. If we are to discover life, we must submit to the disciplinary hand of God. To the god of self, the hand of God feels far too restrictive. The broad way feels much more comfortable. Unfortunately, it never leads to life.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
ny mens weekend
The first weekend in October (1-3) we will be hosting a men's weekend at the Lodge in NY. We plan on being together from Friday evening until Sunday afternoon. During the weekend, we plan on watching The Band of Brothers together. The Band of Brothers is the documentary of Easy Company during World War II.
There will be time for other "guy activities" as well. Kayaks and a sixteen foot aluminum boat with an outboard motor are available. The fishing is normally good that time of year. A woodpile begs to be cut and stacked. Or one can simply do nothing!
We will provide two meals per day. You will need to bring your bedding and any snacks and drinks you want. The cost for the weekend is $75. If finances are a problem for you, please let me know. There are a few scholarships available to help out.
The weekend will be a great time to both relax and grow personally. Sorry ladies - it's guys only! However, it would make a great gift for a man in your life!
If you want more details, email me directly at glenpeachey@embarqmail.com
There will be time for other "guy activities" as well. Kayaks and a sixteen foot aluminum boat with an outboard motor are available. The fishing is normally good that time of year. A woodpile begs to be cut and stacked. Or one can simply do nothing!
We will provide two meals per day. You will need to bring your bedding and any snacks and drinks you want. The cost for the weekend is $75. If finances are a problem for you, please let me know. There are a few scholarships available to help out.
The weekend will be a great time to both relax and grow personally. Sorry ladies - it's guys only! However, it would make a great gift for a man in your life!
If you want more details, email me directly at glenpeachey@embarqmail.com
Monday, August 16, 2010
between the calling and the choosing
Lately I’ve been thinking about something Jesus said. In the Gospels, twice we find Jesus making the following statement – For many are called and few chosen. Both instances follow a story, a story of invitation and offense.
And so it is today as well; Jesus’ words still ring true. I am frequently saddened by the reality of the words. Far too frequently people hear the call and excitedly respond. Somewhere between the calling and the choosing we always encounter a test. Our response to the test either qualifies or disqualifies us. It determines whether we are chosen.
Even Jesus experienced the testing that either qualifies or disqualifies. Before He ever began His public ministry, he yielded to the plan of the Father and submitted Himself to baptism. That however, led to a more intense testing. The Holy Spirit compelled Him to go to the desert for more intense testing. Each test dealt with a specific realm of temptation. The first test revealed whether He would use His power to do things beyond the desires of the Father. The second test was directed at the need for self-validation. The third test offered a shortcut to glory that avoided sacrifice.
That point of trial instigated by the Holy Spirit reveals the condition of the heart. For Jesus, His devotion to the Father and His purposes shone through. His heart was revealed. I believe that not only was His heart revealed, but His resolve to do the will of the Father was strengthened.
One of my greatest disappointments has to do with people who hear the call but then disqualify themselves from being chosen by their response to the testing. So many people, at the verge of being significant in the Kingdom of God, disqualify themselves. They choose the way of human wisdom and understanding instead of embracing the ways and purposes of God. The ways of God seem too difficult.
So they settle for something less. They may become busy in church or ministry activities. However, everything they do is a faint shadow of what could be. They heard the call but were never chosen.
And so it is today as well; Jesus’ words still ring true. I am frequently saddened by the reality of the words. Far too frequently people hear the call and excitedly respond. Somewhere between the calling and the choosing we always encounter a test. Our response to the test either qualifies or disqualifies us. It determines whether we are chosen.
Even Jesus experienced the testing that either qualifies or disqualifies. Before He ever began His public ministry, he yielded to the plan of the Father and submitted Himself to baptism. That however, led to a more intense testing. The Holy Spirit compelled Him to go to the desert for more intense testing. Each test dealt with a specific realm of temptation. The first test revealed whether He would use His power to do things beyond the desires of the Father. The second test was directed at the need for self-validation. The third test offered a shortcut to glory that avoided sacrifice.
That point of trial instigated by the Holy Spirit reveals the condition of the heart. For Jesus, His devotion to the Father and His purposes shone through. His heart was revealed. I believe that not only was His heart revealed, but His resolve to do the will of the Father was strengthened.
One of my greatest disappointments has to do with people who hear the call but then disqualify themselves from being chosen by their response to the testing. So many people, at the verge of being significant in the Kingdom of God, disqualify themselves. They choose the way of human wisdom and understanding instead of embracing the ways and purposes of God. The ways of God seem too difficult.
So they settle for something less. They may become busy in church or ministry activities. However, everything they do is a faint shadow of what could be. They heard the call but were never chosen.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
the realization of a dream
It was in February of 2004 at a Spirit2spirit retreat that I first saw it. During a time of worship and reflection, I saw a log cabin in my mind. I dismissed the picture as a self-centered desire and put it out of my mind. I never mentioned it to anyone. Three months later at another Spirit2spirit, the music had barely started to play when I saw it again. Once again I was about to dismiss it when I sensed the prompting of the Holy Spirit to allow the vision to take root.
I shared the idea/vision with Bev later and she immediately affirmed the validity of it. Throughout the summer we began the process of clarifying the vision. We wanted to build a place where we and others could connect with God in a tangible way. Because of our own experiences of connecting with God through nature's revelation of Him, we felt like we needed to build on a lake, somewhere among the trees. We prayed about it, waiting for God to do something to make it happen. As summer turned to early fall, we realized that instead of us waiting for God to do something, God was waiting for us to do something. We put a "for sale" sign at the end of our lane, having decided to downsize and take the equity from our spacious home to purchase land on which to build a cabin.
By the end of 2005, we had purchased 4 acres in Upstate NY on Black Lake. It was an area with which we were a bit familiar, having spent our summer vacations on the lake for the previous ten years. In our finite understanding of reality, we assumed that we would build the cabin in 2006. It turned out to be a much longer process than we anticipated.
In 2006, we purchased a camper, cleared brush, and put the lane in off the right of way. With the help of family and friends, we built a pathway and steps down to the lake. One night as I sat by the fire outside of the camper, I felt the temptation to relinquish the dream of building the cabin, choosing instead to stay at what felt like a safe place on the journey. We had the camper, we had a place from which to enjoy the lake. Why should I risk financial failure by pushing ahead? However, deep in my heart I knew that I would be trading the God-birthed dream for my selfish desire for safety. And so we forged ahead.
During the summer of 2007, we installed a septic system, and drilled a well. Finally we no long had to haul water from across the lake! We cleared more brush and seeded some grass. We also began to realize that the process was going to take longer and cost more than we ever imagined. When confronted with the normal fears that occur in the unfolding of a vision, we realized that we had come too far to turn back.
In 2008 we installed the electrical service. We cleared more land, preparing the actual site where the cabin would be built. It was in 2008 when suddenly the final design came together for us. Up to that point we had difficulty incorporating everything we felt need to be in it into our design. By the fall of 2008, we had the strong sense that the only thing left to do was to build. At that point fear began to confront me regularly. How would we ever get financing for the project; who would give us the needed funds? And believe me, the estimated final cost was rapidly growing. To make matters worse, the economy took a massive downturn. To keep myself afloat mentally, I continually reminded myself of how up to this point, at every crisis in the process, it seemed as if God had arrived before we even got there.
By late winter of 2009, I knew I had to contact some banks in NY. (Our local banks in PA could not use a property in NY as security.) In late March, Bev and I made a one day trip to Upstate NY to share the vision and plan with several banks. I had spent a good deal of time drawing up a plan to present to the banks. Much to my surprise, the banks were very receptive to the plan. Within six weeks we had our funding.
Our good friends, Jim and Deb Dressler, had plans to be in the USA for the summer of 2009. (For the past number of years they have lived in the mountain regions of India, partnering with God in His work there.) They agreed to help with the construction. In late June we dug the footers and basement. By the middle of July the basement walls were completed. (One advantage of the poor economy was that it was easy to find contractors to do work immediately.) The log cabin kit arrived on site in late July. The following weekend a group of us began building. And it rained...and rained. We would have several sunny days that were always followed by the rain. By October when Jim and Deb left for India, the cabin was weather tight. In November we brought the camper back to PA. We no longer had a need for it in NY.
Throughout the fall, winter and into early spring, Bev and I made numerous weekend trips to work on the interior. Once again, friends volunteered to help, doing the things about which I had no clue.
We celebrated Easter of 2010, with Bev's parents in NY. What we saw that weekend was a foretaste of what we believe will occur on a regular basis. A month later, my parents and my siblings spent a weekend at the lake. Once again, the restorative work of God touched me to the point of tears.
I shared the idea/vision with Bev later and she immediately affirmed the validity of it. Throughout the summer we began the process of clarifying the vision. We wanted to build a place where we and others could connect with God in a tangible way. Because of our own experiences of connecting with God through nature's revelation of Him, we felt like we needed to build on a lake, somewhere among the trees. We prayed about it, waiting for God to do something to make it happen. As summer turned to early fall, we realized that instead of us waiting for God to do something, God was waiting for us to do something. We put a "for sale" sign at the end of our lane, having decided to downsize and take the equity from our spacious home to purchase land on which to build a cabin.
By the end of 2005, we had purchased 4 acres in Upstate NY on Black Lake. It was an area with which we were a bit familiar, having spent our summer vacations on the lake for the previous ten years. In our finite understanding of reality, we assumed that we would build the cabin in 2006. It turned out to be a much longer process than we anticipated.
In 2006, we purchased a camper, cleared brush, and put the lane in off the right of way. With the help of family and friends, we built a pathway and steps down to the lake. One night as I sat by the fire outside of the camper, I felt the temptation to relinquish the dream of building the cabin, choosing instead to stay at what felt like a safe place on the journey. We had the camper, we had a place from which to enjoy the lake. Why should I risk financial failure by pushing ahead? However, deep in my heart I knew that I would be trading the God-birthed dream for my selfish desire for safety. And so we forged ahead.
During the summer of 2007, we installed a septic system, and drilled a well. Finally we no long had to haul water from across the lake! We cleared more brush and seeded some grass. We also began to realize that the process was going to take longer and cost more than we ever imagined. When confronted with the normal fears that occur in the unfolding of a vision, we realized that we had come too far to turn back.
In 2008 we installed the electrical service. We cleared more land, preparing the actual site where the cabin would be built. It was in 2008 when suddenly the final design came together for us. Up to that point we had difficulty incorporating everything we felt need to be in it into our design. By the fall of 2008, we had the strong sense that the only thing left to do was to build. At that point fear began to confront me regularly. How would we ever get financing for the project; who would give us the needed funds? And believe me, the estimated final cost was rapidly growing. To make matters worse, the economy took a massive downturn. To keep myself afloat mentally, I continually reminded myself of how up to this point, at every crisis in the process, it seemed as if God had arrived before we even got there.
By late winter of 2009, I knew I had to contact some banks in NY. (Our local banks in PA could not use a property in NY as security.) In late March, Bev and I made a one day trip to Upstate NY to share the vision and plan with several banks. I had spent a good deal of time drawing up a plan to present to the banks. Much to my surprise, the banks were very receptive to the plan. Within six weeks we had our funding.
Our good friends, Jim and Deb Dressler, had plans to be in the USA for the summer of 2009. (For the past number of years they have lived in the mountain regions of India, partnering with God in His work there.) They agreed to help with the construction. In late June we dug the footers and basement. By the middle of July the basement walls were completed. (One advantage of the poor economy was that it was easy to find contractors to do work immediately.) The log cabin kit arrived on site in late July. The following weekend a group of us began building. And it rained...and rained. We would have several sunny days that were always followed by the rain. By October when Jim and Deb left for India, the cabin was weather tight. In November we brought the camper back to PA. We no longer had a need for it in NY.
Throughout the fall, winter and into early spring, Bev and I made numerous weekend trips to work on the interior. Once again, friends volunteered to help, doing the things about which I had no clue.
We celebrated Easter of 2010, with Bev's parents in NY. What we saw that weekend was a foretaste of what we believe will occur on a regular basis. A month later, my parents and my siblings spent a weekend at the lake. Once again, the restorative work of God touched me to the point of tears.
And here we are, five and a half years after the initial picture in my mind. We made mistakes, we didn't always follow God's leading, we struggled with fear, and we continually felt completely overwhelmed. It took longer than we thought. It cost more than we imagined. It took perseverance, pain (literally), and an incredible amount of labor. We've mortgaged everything we have for the realization of the dream. Yet God provided continually, and I might add, in miraculous ways. The actual lodge (my father-in-law insists that it is not a cabin but a lodge and so that is what we will call it.) has turned out much more glorious than I could imagine. We built it, not just for us, but for others. We desire people to experience the re-creative power of God through creation, to join the water, the rocks, and the trees in the declaration of His goodness.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
community
Earlier this summer, Bev and I spent an evening with several friends, celebrating a birthday at JP Edwards in Burnham. The evening deeply imprinted itself on my heart and mind. I don't think about it in a nostalgic wistful way but more in a grateful overwhelming way. The evening helped me realize what a special thing our relationships are.
The evening was not made special by the food - although it was great. The conversation was great, not just surface "weather" kind of conversation but heart to heart conversation. We ate outside on the patio; the weather was delightful. (Other than the flying umbrella!) However, the beautiful weather is not what made the evening special.
The six of us come from diverse situations. There is a 20 year difference in age. One couple has grandchildren, one couple has young children at home. Our life experiences vary greatly. There have been times in our life when we all lived in different communities, scattered across the country and the world.
Our diversity does not divide us. Neither are we bound together by membership in an organization.
We drew our waitress, young enough to be my daughter, into the conversation to the point that when she finished her shift she came to the table and talked for a while. She talked about her life, about her struggles and about the uncertainty of her future.
What embedded the evening indelibly on my mind? It was the realization that I am part of something really special. Close relationships, the kind where there is no reason to pose and posture, are rare today. Sharing deeply and actively in another's failures and successes seems to be uncommon. Yet God's way is one of close community, life done together. The practical reality of the transformational work of Jesus emerges as we do life together - It is church!
The evening was not made special by the food - although it was great. The conversation was great, not just surface "weather" kind of conversation but heart to heart conversation. We ate outside on the patio; the weather was delightful. (Other than the flying umbrella!) However, the beautiful weather is not what made the evening special.
The six of us come from diverse situations. There is a 20 year difference in age. One couple has grandchildren, one couple has young children at home. Our life experiences vary greatly. There have been times in our life when we all lived in different communities, scattered across the country and the world.
Our diversity does not divide us. Neither are we bound together by membership in an organization.
We drew our waitress, young enough to be my daughter, into the conversation to the point that when she finished her shift she came to the table and talked for a while. She talked about her life, about her struggles and about the uncertainty of her future.
What embedded the evening indelibly on my mind? It was the realization that I am part of something really special. Close relationships, the kind where there is no reason to pose and posture, are rare today. Sharing deeply and actively in another's failures and successes seems to be uncommon. Yet God's way is one of close community, life done together. The practical reality of the transformational work of Jesus emerges as we do life together - It is church!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
underground and out of sight
“Take care! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired, because then you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give a gift to someone in need, don’t shout about it as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I assure you, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone, don’t tell your left hand what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in secret, and your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you. “And now about prayer. When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I assure you, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father secretly. Then your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you. (From Matthew 6)
I am fascinated by these words. When I read them, I am reminded once again how the kingdom of God differs dramatically from the ways of man. Our insecurities cause us to search for validity. As a result we frequently "advertise" our ministries.
On the other hand, the way of the kingdom is not as much about public activity as it is about the hidden work of God. For 300 years the church expanded and grew in the midst of persecution and resistance. It was primarily a hidden work, hidden in order to survive. More recently, the explosive growth of the church in China occurred almost entirely underground, out of sight of the general public.
I have been involved in church planting for most of my adult life. For years we would advertise heavily when we started a new church. As I reflect on our past strategy, I conclude that our strategy was born more from the ways of man than from the ways of God. In my experience, the most transformational ministry occurs not in a public meeting but in relational interaction. The relational interaction usually occurs out of sight, hidden from the general public.
Unfortunately the hidden, relational ministry usually does little to satisfy our need for validation. I suspect God designed it this way. True ministry is not about fulfilling our need for validation.
I am fascinated by these words. When I read them, I am reminded once again how the kingdom of God differs dramatically from the ways of man. Our insecurities cause us to search for validity. As a result we frequently "advertise" our ministries.
On the other hand, the way of the kingdom is not as much about public activity as it is about the hidden work of God. For 300 years the church expanded and grew in the midst of persecution and resistance. It was primarily a hidden work, hidden in order to survive. More recently, the explosive growth of the church in China occurred almost entirely underground, out of sight of the general public.
I have been involved in church planting for most of my adult life. For years we would advertise heavily when we started a new church. As I reflect on our past strategy, I conclude that our strategy was born more from the ways of man than from the ways of God. In my experience, the most transformational ministry occurs not in a public meeting but in relational interaction. The relational interaction usually occurs out of sight, hidden from the general public.
Unfortunately the hidden, relational ministry usually does little to satisfy our need for validation. I suspect God designed it this way. True ministry is not about fulfilling our need for validation.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
the underground kingdom
Some time ago, Beverly had a conversation with a client. In the conversation, the client mentioned that a mutual acquaintance had felt that God desired to establish "safe houses" in Juniata County for people who lost their way.
As Bev and I discussed what could be called a prophetic word, we began to realize the truth of word. We know of three different situations where followers of Jesus ( incidentally with no relational connection with each other) have opened their home to people who have lost their way. In all three situations, people felt the gentle nudge of the Holy Spirit to utilize their home for the establishment of a place where restoration could occur.
This is an example of the kingdom of God being established like yeast in dough or like seed in the soil. So often when we hear the prophetic word outlining God's desire, we quickly establish a program or a ministry to accomplish the word. We advertise our ministry so people will know what we are attempting to accomplish. Perhaps the most effective ministry occurs in secret. Jesus said the following - Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
The three "safe houses" (and for all I know, there are many more in the area) were established, not by people seeking the glory of ministry, but by followers of Jesus who were moved by the leading of Holy Spirit. They did not wait for a pastor's permission, they did no seek to be sanctioned by "the board". They were not even aware of the larger work of God in the area. They simply acted on what they knew.
As a result the kingdom of God expands like yeast in the dough, like seed in the soil.
As Bev and I discussed what could be called a prophetic word, we began to realize the truth of word. We know of three different situations where followers of Jesus ( incidentally with no relational connection with each other) have opened their home to people who have lost their way. In all three situations, people felt the gentle nudge of the Holy Spirit to utilize their home for the establishment of a place where restoration could occur.
This is an example of the kingdom of God being established like yeast in dough or like seed in the soil. So often when we hear the prophetic word outlining God's desire, we quickly establish a program or a ministry to accomplish the word. We advertise our ministry so people will know what we are attempting to accomplish. Perhaps the most effective ministry occurs in secret. Jesus said the following - Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
The three "safe houses" (and for all I know, there are many more in the area) were established, not by people seeking the glory of ministry, but by followers of Jesus who were moved by the leading of Holy Spirit. They did not wait for a pastor's permission, they did no seek to be sanctioned by "the board". They were not even aware of the larger work of God in the area. They simply acted on what they knew.
As a result the kingdom of God expands like yeast in the dough, like seed in the soil.
Friday, July 2, 2010
disoriented
I had a rather disconcerting moment this week. I was driving on a rather narrow road on which I had never travelled before. The road wound around the hills through some valleys. There was enough cloud cover that I could not see the sun. I realized that I was in a place with no familiar landmarks to guide me. Since the sun was hidden behind the cloud cover, I had absolutely no point of reference. I could not see beyond the tree lined road! The lack of landmarks and familiar reference points suddenly caused me to feel rather uncomfortable. I wasn't lost; I just didn't know where I was at in relation to the river and the highway.
Later in the day as I reflected on the whole experience, I realized the parallels between walking with God and my driving by faith. There are times in our life experience when God invites us to walk in place where there are no familiar landmarks. All the usual points of reference seem to be obscured. At that point, trust becomes an issue.
Any time God begins a transformative work in me, it is accompanied by a sense of disorientation. The familiar pathways have vanished from the rear view mirror. I feel unsettled by the lack of familiarity. Everything seems vague. In that place of disorientation, I am faced with the choice - Will I trust the invitation of God, leaving the security of the familiar to embrace the adventure of the unknown or will I make a hasty retreat to the last known landmark?
Oh...and by the way, I found my way. I am no longer wandering the back roads of Perry County!
Later in the day as I reflected on the whole experience, I realized the parallels between walking with God and my driving by faith. There are times in our life experience when God invites us to walk in place where there are no familiar landmarks. All the usual points of reference seem to be obscured. At that point, trust becomes an issue.
Any time God begins a transformative work in me, it is accompanied by a sense of disorientation. The familiar pathways have vanished from the rear view mirror. I feel unsettled by the lack of familiarity. Everything seems vague. In that place of disorientation, I am faced with the choice - Will I trust the invitation of God, leaving the security of the familiar to embrace the adventure of the unknown or will I make a hasty retreat to the last known landmark?
Oh...and by the way, I found my way. I am no longer wandering the back roads of Perry County!
Saturday, June 26, 2010
real
I received a compliment today from an unlikely source. I married a young couple, friends of mine. The wedding was less than formal, primarily because neither the groom's or the bride's family are not into show or formality. The wedding and the reception were held in the same location, a local Grange Hall. At the reception I sat beside a young lady probably in her late teens or early twenties. I had barely sat down when she turned to me and and said, "I have been to other weddings but this was different. It was real".
I've been reflecting on her words. From the bit I know about her, I can assume that church is not part of her world. That's why her words were a compliment to me. Jesus had the ability to move freely among sinners, among those that were considered "less than" by the religious folk of the day. He was "God with us" yet those who considered themselves to be the people of God gave Him the most trouble. It almost seems as if the "sinners" were closer to the Kingdom of God than the religious. Repeatedly we find that the "Word in Flesh" touched common people in a way that the religious elite did not.
I have found sinners to be interested in God, in the Bible and the practical application of the Bible, almost more so than the religious. They want to know how to do life. They want to know what God has to say. However, the have no interest in theory or the theology of self hidden behind the facade of God. They easily discern the difference between what is real and the religious posers.
I get frustrated with Christians who continually lament how evil the world is; how difficult it is to witness. I don't think the problem lies with the bad people in the world. I believe that the problem lies within us. For many of us Christianity is a facade. We say the correct things but our heart is far from our words. The sinners instinctively sense our hypocrisy and shut us out.
However, if we began to live the 'Logos", the word, the sinners will take notice. They respond to real.
I've been reflecting on her words. From the bit I know about her, I can assume that church is not part of her world. That's why her words were a compliment to me. Jesus had the ability to move freely among sinners, among those that were considered "less than" by the religious folk of the day. He was "God with us" yet those who considered themselves to be the people of God gave Him the most trouble. It almost seems as if the "sinners" were closer to the Kingdom of God than the religious. Repeatedly we find that the "Word in Flesh" touched common people in a way that the religious elite did not.
I have found sinners to be interested in God, in the Bible and the practical application of the Bible, almost more so than the religious. They want to know how to do life. They want to know what God has to say. However, the have no interest in theory or the theology of self hidden behind the facade of God. They easily discern the difference between what is real and the religious posers.
I get frustrated with Christians who continually lament how evil the world is; how difficult it is to witness. I don't think the problem lies with the bad people in the world. I believe that the problem lies within us. For many of us Christianity is a facade. We say the correct things but our heart is far from our words. The sinners instinctively sense our hypocrisy and shut us out.
However, if we began to live the 'Logos", the word, the sinners will take notice. They respond to real.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
in what do we trust?
Once again I heard the voice of truth in a strange place. I was listening to a sports talks show on the radio while on the road in my truck. The host stated that whenever you threaten the thing that brings security to a person, the person will always react strongly. He went further to say that it is easy to discover the source of a person’s security by watching to what they react consistently and strongly.
How true! This morning I spent some time on the water fishing. My mind pondered this truth for a time. I was reminded of an incident that occurred in the Middle East several thousand years ago. The nation of Israel had once again turned from the worship of the I AM to the worship of the popular created gods of society. A fearful young man received a mandate from the I AM to destroy the man-created image that the people of his household and of his city worshipped. One night he dared destroy the image of the god along with the instruments of worship used in their religious ceremony.
The next morning, the men of the city immediately pronounced a death sentence on Gideon for destroying their god. They demanded that Joash, Gideon’s father, immediately deliver Gideon into their hand. In the midst of the chaos and tumult, Joash spoke words of truth and wisdom - But Joash shouted to the mob, “Why are you defending Baal? Will you argue his case? Whoever pleads his case will be put to death by morning! If Baal truly is a god, let him defend himself and destroy the one who knocked down his altar!
If Baal was truly a powerful god, then surely Baal could defend himself. However, Gideon’s actions revealed the heart of the matter. Baal was the creation of man and as such he needed the protection of man to exist. He was not a powerful god able to defend himself. The source of security for the men of the city was revealed. It was not the I AM but a creation of their own.
Thousands of years later, we are really no different than those Israelites living in the Middle East. When the source of our security is anything other than the I AM, we quickly lash out at whatever threatens our sense of security. That is why truth is frequently attacked viciously. It reveals the source of our security.
On the other hand, if we allow ourselves to be overtaken by the I AM, if He becomes our source of security, then we find ourselves in the place of Psalm 91:
Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
Will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
This I declare of the LORD:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
He is my God, and I am trusting him.
How true! This morning I spent some time on the water fishing. My mind pondered this truth for a time. I was reminded of an incident that occurred in the Middle East several thousand years ago. The nation of Israel had once again turned from the worship of the I AM to the worship of the popular created gods of society. A fearful young man received a mandate from the I AM to destroy the man-created image that the people of his household and of his city worshipped. One night he dared destroy the image of the god along with the instruments of worship used in their religious ceremony.
The next morning, the men of the city immediately pronounced a death sentence on Gideon for destroying their god. They demanded that Joash, Gideon’s father, immediately deliver Gideon into their hand. In the midst of the chaos and tumult, Joash spoke words of truth and wisdom - But Joash shouted to the mob, “Why are you defending Baal? Will you argue his case? Whoever pleads his case will be put to death by morning! If Baal truly is a god, let him defend himself and destroy the one who knocked down his altar!
If Baal was truly a powerful god, then surely Baal could defend himself. However, Gideon’s actions revealed the heart of the matter. Baal was the creation of man and as such he needed the protection of man to exist. He was not a powerful god able to defend himself. The source of security for the men of the city was revealed. It was not the I AM but a creation of their own.
Thousands of years later, we are really no different than those Israelites living in the Middle East. When the source of our security is anything other than the I AM, we quickly lash out at whatever threatens our sense of security. That is why truth is frequently attacked viciously. It reveals the source of our security.
On the other hand, if we allow ourselves to be overtaken by the I AM, if He becomes our source of security, then we find ourselves in the place of Psalm 91:
Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
Will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
This I declare of the LORD:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
He is my God, and I am trusting him.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
what shall we build?
I want to build a great church. Through the years I have heard church leaders make that statement repeatedly. If you were to rewind the words I have spoken and play them back again, most likely you would hear me say them at some point in time.
While I am not sure that there is anything inherently wrong with these words, they usually point to an underlying issue that is a problem. Jesus said the He would build His church and by implication that work probably extends to us as well. However nowhere in scripture do we see that our focus is to be “building the church”.
The problem occurs when the church (or perhaps something posing as the Church) becomes more important than people. Jesus, at the point of His ascension, instructed the disciples to go into the world and make disciples. Paul told the saints in Galatia that he labored until Christ be formed in them.
I cannot speak for other church leaders. For me however, the intent of building a great church had less to do with people and more to do with building a great system of programs, services and facilities. It had to do with the desire to be cool and cutting edge. When I place this paradigm against the template of scripture, I find a great deal of discordance between the two.
Without a doubt I am involved in building the Church today. However my focus has changed from being toward a structure and a system to being toward building people. The primary fruit of Jesus’ ministry with people was not the evolution of a great healing ministry complete with conferences and programs. No, the fruit of Jesus ministry primarily manifested in the lives of 11 diverse followers in whom He poured His life.
We build the Church as we make disciples. We build the Church as we labor until Christ is formed in people. Both endeavors require us to leave our elevated platform and pulpit to interact deeply with the lives of people. We will be pricked by the rough edges of life; pummeled by the raw emotion of wounded people. Our neatly constructed theology will fall woefully short in our efforts to make disciples.
The time has come for us to focus less on building a church and more on building people!
While I am not sure that there is anything inherently wrong with these words, they usually point to an underlying issue that is a problem. Jesus said the He would build His church and by implication that work probably extends to us as well. However nowhere in scripture do we see that our focus is to be “building the church”.
The problem occurs when the church (or perhaps something posing as the Church) becomes more important than people. Jesus, at the point of His ascension, instructed the disciples to go into the world and make disciples. Paul told the saints in Galatia that he labored until Christ be formed in them.
I cannot speak for other church leaders. For me however, the intent of building a great church had less to do with people and more to do with building a great system of programs, services and facilities. It had to do with the desire to be cool and cutting edge. When I place this paradigm against the template of scripture, I find a great deal of discordance between the two.
Without a doubt I am involved in building the Church today. However my focus has changed from being toward a structure and a system to being toward building people. The primary fruit of Jesus’ ministry with people was not the evolution of a great healing ministry complete with conferences and programs. No, the fruit of Jesus ministry primarily manifested in the lives of 11 diverse followers in whom He poured His life.
We build the Church as we make disciples. We build the Church as we labor until Christ is formed in people. Both endeavors require us to leave our elevated platform and pulpit to interact deeply with the lives of people. We will be pricked by the rough edges of life; pummeled by the raw emotion of wounded people. Our neatly constructed theology will fall woefully short in our efforts to make disciples.
The time has come for us to focus less on building a church and more on building people!
Monday, May 31, 2010
dairy farmers, truth, and success
Recently Dave (a client) and I had a conversation about a mutual friend, a young dairyman. Dave was concerned about Kenny’s well-being. In the conversation, the topic of honesty came up. It’s not that Kenny is dishonest; he simply does not always give the whole story. I think it is because he fears exposure, that people will see that things are not well. Unfortunately, Kenny’s refusal to honestly acknowledge the gravity of the situation makes it difficult to help him succeed.
There is a principle that I have observed over the years as I have worked with people. Until we fully acknowledge “what is” we will never really succeed in the desired endeavor. I cannot help dairymen who do not give me all the facts about their situation. The same is true in the church world. Until we embrace God’s reality about our situation, we can never truly experience freedom and life.
The chief reason that we do not embrace the truth is that we fear that the truth will cause us to be seen in a poor light. Instead of freely admitting “what is”, we attempt to present an illusion. We strive to save our life and in so doing, we lose it. (Jesus mentioned this truth!) Whatever we attempt to hide becomes our master. It is not until we choose to “lose our life” that we find it.
Will Kenny survive and thrive in this unsettled time in the dairy industry? That will depend largely on whether he quits trying to present an illusion. Each of us faces the same choice. Will we admit to “what is” and begin the pathway to wholeness and success or will we continue to choose deception that leads to destruction?
There is a principle that I have observed over the years as I have worked with people. Until we fully acknowledge “what is” we will never really succeed in the desired endeavor. I cannot help dairymen who do not give me all the facts about their situation. The same is true in the church world. Until we embrace God’s reality about our situation, we can never truly experience freedom and life.
The chief reason that we do not embrace the truth is that we fear that the truth will cause us to be seen in a poor light. Instead of freely admitting “what is”, we attempt to present an illusion. We strive to save our life and in so doing, we lose it. (Jesus mentioned this truth!) Whatever we attempt to hide becomes our master. It is not until we choose to “lose our life” that we find it.
Will Kenny survive and thrive in this unsettled time in the dairy industry? That will depend largely on whether he quits trying to present an illusion. Each of us faces the same choice. Will we admit to “what is” and begin the pathway to wholeness and success or will we continue to choose deception that leads to destruction?
Saturday, May 22, 2010
more thoughts on truth
For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
These words of Jesus continue to grip me. For the past 7-8 years I have been on a pursuit of understanding how God works and the laws He set up that order creation. In 2002, He clearly spoke to my heart that He would teach me about Himself from creation if I would be willing to learn. I am amazed how the "logos" and what I am learning from creation point to the nature of God in harmony.
Back to truth...Jesus speaks of the correlation between truth and exposure (light), between evil and secrecy (darkness). I have observed the same correlation in humanity as well. Whatever issue we feel we have to keep hidden in the darkness will also keep us in bondage. The greater the fear of discovery, the greater the bondage. Our secrets control us, deeply affecting every realm of our life. Unfortunately, that bondage sets us up to become even more susceptible to evil and self-destruction.
Ever since Adam's sin, we have followed his pattern of cover-up and hiding. Herein lies deception. We assume we can keep things hidden. However, God will come in the cool of the day; God will call out to us, not because He does not know where we are hiding, but because He desires us to step into the light of truth.
While darkness and bondage go hand in hand, the opposite side of this truth is true as well. Living in the light of truth brings a great deal of freedom. Living in the light feels dangerous to the self-god. However, if we courageously step into the life (taking up our cross) we will discover freedom from bondage. The truth does set us free!
If we live in the truth, we have no need of a defense. If we do not live in the truth, we have no defense.
These words of Jesus continue to grip me. For the past 7-8 years I have been on a pursuit of understanding how God works and the laws He set up that order creation. In 2002, He clearly spoke to my heart that He would teach me about Himself from creation if I would be willing to learn. I am amazed how the "logos" and what I am learning from creation point to the nature of God in harmony.
Back to truth...Jesus speaks of the correlation between truth and exposure (light), between evil and secrecy (darkness). I have observed the same correlation in humanity as well. Whatever issue we feel we have to keep hidden in the darkness will also keep us in bondage. The greater the fear of discovery, the greater the bondage. Our secrets control us, deeply affecting every realm of our life. Unfortunately, that bondage sets us up to become even more susceptible to evil and self-destruction.
Ever since Adam's sin, we have followed his pattern of cover-up and hiding. Herein lies deception. We assume we can keep things hidden. However, God will come in the cool of the day; God will call out to us, not because He does not know where we are hiding, but because He desires us to step into the light of truth.
While darkness and bondage go hand in hand, the opposite side of this truth is true as well. Living in the light of truth brings a great deal of freedom. Living in the light feels dangerous to the self-god. However, if we courageously step into the life (taking up our cross) we will discover freedom from bondage. The truth does set us free!
If we live in the truth, we have no need of a defense. If we do not live in the truth, we have no defense.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
thoughts about truth
I have been reflecting on the issue of truth a good deal lately. Recently I read the words of Jesus - For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
The power of truth becomes evident when it is lived. Notice that Jesus tells us that people who do the truth have no problem having their deeds exposed. While knowing truth is important, simply knowing the truth does not translate into power. The truth can be inconvenient at times. To know the truth always requires a choice – will we live according to the truth or will we live according to our desired perceptions? Will we do the truth?
Several weeks ago I heard the following statement on a sports talk show. “When it comes to truth versus gossip, truth never stands a chance.” I have discovered the statement to be true. Gossip is always more attractive than truth. As most of you know, there is a steady stream of innuendo, rumor, and falsehood that surrounds Bev and me. One day she asked me in exasperation “Why don’t people simply ask us if things are true?” The answer to that question lies in the fact that for sin-warped humanity, it is easier to believe a lie than it is to deal with the inconvenience of the pursuit of truth.
I have repeatedly seen the connection between truth and living in the place of light and exposure to which Jesus refers in the words above. Through the years I have discovered that Christians are very good at drive-by criticism. They drive up, unload their criticism, and then quickly speed off before the criticism can be placed under the light of truth. I believe they instinctively know that their criticism is not rooted in truth but in falsehood. Therefore there can be no dialogue lest the truth would be exposed.
Truth not only has no fear of exposure, it welcomes it. Truth has no need to be hidden or covered; it stands on its own merits. When things are done in secret, it reveals the source of the actions. Over the past number of years, several church leaders have repeatedly told people that I am deceived. I contacted them to hear their concerns, where they thought I might be deceived. To a person, they all refused to dialogue about my supposed deception. Their unwillingness to bring their concerns to the light reveals the source of the accusations.
While truth will set us free, it will also cause us a good deal of discomfort at times. Embrace the discomfort; allow the truth to transform your actions. It is incredibly freeing to have no fear of the light, to welcome the exposure.
The power of truth becomes evident when it is lived. Notice that Jesus tells us that people who do the truth have no problem having their deeds exposed. While knowing truth is important, simply knowing the truth does not translate into power. The truth can be inconvenient at times. To know the truth always requires a choice – will we live according to the truth or will we live according to our desired perceptions? Will we do the truth?
Several weeks ago I heard the following statement on a sports talk show. “When it comes to truth versus gossip, truth never stands a chance.” I have discovered the statement to be true. Gossip is always more attractive than truth. As most of you know, there is a steady stream of innuendo, rumor, and falsehood that surrounds Bev and me. One day she asked me in exasperation “Why don’t people simply ask us if things are true?” The answer to that question lies in the fact that for sin-warped humanity, it is easier to believe a lie than it is to deal with the inconvenience of the pursuit of truth.
I have repeatedly seen the connection between truth and living in the place of light and exposure to which Jesus refers in the words above. Through the years I have discovered that Christians are very good at drive-by criticism. They drive up, unload their criticism, and then quickly speed off before the criticism can be placed under the light of truth. I believe they instinctively know that their criticism is not rooted in truth but in falsehood. Therefore there can be no dialogue lest the truth would be exposed.
Truth not only has no fear of exposure, it welcomes it. Truth has no need to be hidden or covered; it stands on its own merits. When things are done in secret, it reveals the source of the actions. Over the past number of years, several church leaders have repeatedly told people that I am deceived. I contacted them to hear their concerns, where they thought I might be deceived. To a person, they all refused to dialogue about my supposed deception. Their unwillingness to bring their concerns to the light reveals the source of the accusations.
While truth will set us free, it will also cause us a good deal of discomfort at times. Embrace the discomfort; allow the truth to transform your actions. It is incredibly freeing to have no fear of the light, to welcome the exposure.
Monday, May 3, 2010
life around the fire
I moved the fire ring last weekend at our lake house in NY. As the project nears completion, some things have to be done to facilitate this new phase. Where the camper and the fire ring had been is now used for parking. I moved the stones from our fire pit to their new location on the grass. As I cleaned up the ashes, I began to think about all the wood that had been burned there.
My mind turned from the wood to all the life that was lived around those fires. Dreams were shared, stories were told and re-told. There were a few tears that fell as pain and frustration were expressed. And there was laughter, lots of laughter. Countless cups of late evening coffee where shared together around the dancing fires. Multitudes of hot dogs were roasted on wooden sticks held over the coals. And yes…a few hot dogs fell into the fire as the sticks succumbed to the heat.
In many ways, the fire ring was a microcosm of life the way it is meant to be lived – in community, together. Both joys and pain are best shared vulnerably. We celebrate each other’s victories and carry each other’s burdens. Somehow the joy of the victory is magnified as we share it with those close to us. In the same way, pain becomes a bit more bearable as we allow others to help carry it. The voice of God emerges in the shared conversation.
I hope that you find a fire ring as well. Do life with a community of followers of Jesus. Share your joy. Express your pain. Live together!
My mind turned from the wood to all the life that was lived around those fires. Dreams were shared, stories were told and re-told. There were a few tears that fell as pain and frustration were expressed. And there was laughter, lots of laughter. Countless cups of late evening coffee where shared together around the dancing fires. Multitudes of hot dogs were roasted on wooden sticks held over the coals. And yes…a few hot dogs fell into the fire as the sticks succumbed to the heat.
In many ways, the fire ring was a microcosm of life the way it is meant to be lived – in community, together. Both joys and pain are best shared vulnerably. We celebrate each other’s victories and carry each other’s burdens. Somehow the joy of the victory is magnified as we share it with those close to us. In the same way, pain becomes a bit more bearable as we allow others to help carry it. The voice of God emerges in the shared conversation.
I hope that you find a fire ring as well. Do life with a community of followers of Jesus. Share your joy. Express your pain. Live together!
Friday, April 9, 2010
the gospel of the church?
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.
From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Repeatedly we discover the crux of Jesus' message in scripture. He came spreading the good news about the kingdom (the realm) of God coming to earth. Quite literally, the I AM was interacting with the affairs of man in a way that transformed people.
Perhaps the most revealing thing about Jesus' message was what He did not preach. He did not attempt to persuade people to join a church. He did not challenge them to embrace the synagogue and be more faithful in their attendance. He did not invite people (other than a very few) to join his ministry.
Someone recently referred me to an online article in a newspaper's religious section. A number of pastors spoke candidly about the "unchurched", about being saddened by the amount of people not attending church services on Sunday morning.
As I reflected on the article, my mind turned to the message of Jesus, a message of the kingdom of God, a message of good news, a message of power. I wonder if we have not replaced the message of the kingdom with the message of the church. Has our focus turned from the kingdom of God to an attempt to persuade people to attend our church services?
Incidentally "attending church" is not a biblical concept. The church is the outward manifestation of the inward transformational power of the kingdom of God. If we focus on the attendance of Sunday morning services, are we missing the point?
From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Repeatedly we discover the crux of Jesus' message in scripture. He came spreading the good news about the kingdom (the realm) of God coming to earth. Quite literally, the I AM was interacting with the affairs of man in a way that transformed people.
Perhaps the most revealing thing about Jesus' message was what He did not preach. He did not attempt to persuade people to join a church. He did not challenge them to embrace the synagogue and be more faithful in their attendance. He did not invite people (other than a very few) to join his ministry.
Someone recently referred me to an online article in a newspaper's religious section. A number of pastors spoke candidly about the "unchurched", about being saddened by the amount of people not attending church services on Sunday morning.
As I reflected on the article, my mind turned to the message of Jesus, a message of the kingdom of God, a message of good news, a message of power. I wonder if we have not replaced the message of the kingdom with the message of the church. Has our focus turned from the kingdom of God to an attempt to persuade people to attend our church services?
Incidentally "attending church" is not a biblical concept. The church is the outward manifestation of the inward transformational power of the kingdom of God. If we focus on the attendance of Sunday morning services, are we missing the point?
Sunday, April 4, 2010
resurrection
This Easter morning I am in Upstate NY. The weather during the past several days has been stunning. Bright sunshine, warm breezes, and deep blue sky all combined with the sounds of spring, the frogs and the birds, for an unforgettable weekend. What a way to celebrate the power of the resurrection!
This weekend, I have been reminded of the power of the resurrection in another way as well. Bev’s parents have been here with us for the weekend. Some six weeks ago, her Dad had two major surgeries within a week to correct a stomach problem. While the surgeon repaired the stomach, something deeper occurred in the heart. Somehow during that time, the Master Surgeon performed heart surgery as well.
Leonard was always rather driven. He worked incessantly. He seemed somewhat concerned about what people thought about him. The uncertainty of the future frequently bothered him. When it came to issues of the heart, he never gave too much indication of what was going on.
He is different now. Heidi, our oldest daughter, made the statement – I like this grandpa! Something has changed. He spent much of this warm weekend walking around without wearing a shirt. (A miracle for a conservative Mennonite man!) When Esther reminded him of what his mother used to say about not wearing a shirt he responded with – I don’t care! He walked around the property singing. He cried when he expressed his joy at the beauty of the place. He spoke about his heart being happy. He marveled at the sight of thousands of walleye (a fish native to the lake) making their spawning run up the river, their eyes illuminating like Christmas lights when we shone a light on the water after dark. When we went to Lowes together, he told me that he and Esther had reserved their burial plots and had purchased a gravestone with the design of their choice. There was no trepidation about the future, about the uncertainty of death.
For Leonard, resurrection power is personal and real, transforming the soul. The tomb of fear – fear of people, fear of failure, fear of the future is empty this morning. The resurrection power that demolished the grave 2000 years ago still shakes the earth and remains the demonstration of the power of God to bring freedom.
This weekend, I have been reminded of the power of the resurrection in another way as well. Bev’s parents have been here with us for the weekend. Some six weeks ago, her Dad had two major surgeries within a week to correct a stomach problem. While the surgeon repaired the stomach, something deeper occurred in the heart. Somehow during that time, the Master Surgeon performed heart surgery as well.
Leonard was always rather driven. He worked incessantly. He seemed somewhat concerned about what people thought about him. The uncertainty of the future frequently bothered him. When it came to issues of the heart, he never gave too much indication of what was going on.
He is different now. Heidi, our oldest daughter, made the statement – I like this grandpa! Something has changed. He spent much of this warm weekend walking around without wearing a shirt. (A miracle for a conservative Mennonite man!) When Esther reminded him of what his mother used to say about not wearing a shirt he responded with – I don’t care! He walked around the property singing. He cried when he expressed his joy at the beauty of the place. He spoke about his heart being happy. He marveled at the sight of thousands of walleye (a fish native to the lake) making their spawning run up the river, their eyes illuminating like Christmas lights when we shone a light on the water after dark. When we went to Lowes together, he told me that he and Esther had reserved their burial plots and had purchased a gravestone with the design of their choice. There was no trepidation about the future, about the uncertainty of death.
For Leonard, resurrection power is personal and real, transforming the soul. The tomb of fear – fear of people, fear of failure, fear of the future is empty this morning. The resurrection power that demolished the grave 2000 years ago still shakes the earth and remains the demonstration of the power of God to bring freedom.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
discouraged
I've been a bit discouraged lately. In the scriptures we find two contrasting attitudes displayed. Look at the following words:
"How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!
For you have said in your heart:
‘I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High." (from Isaiah 14)
These words are in stark contrast to Paul's description of Jesus:
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. (from Philippians 2)
These words provide a stark contrast between two ways of living - one a self-gratifying, self-centered grasping for position and power. The other - a freely relinquished right to anything that might give us a sense of importance in order to harmonize with God's plan.
I have been in leadership in the church world in one way or another for the past 25 years or so. I have always marveled at the sacrifices that people will make in order to be part of something that appears successful. As long as I was leading people higher, they willingly followed, even at great personal cost to them. Unfortunately, while people will follow a leader that takes them higher, almost none will follow a leader who takes them lower into seeming insignificance at the invitation of the Father.
There is something wired into our psyche, maybe it's our sin nature, that inherently desires to ascend, to be important, to be like God. That something resists the way of the cross and the accompanying seeming insignificance that following Jesus requires.
Incidentally both passages of scripture give the contrasting results of each attitude. Reading on in Isaiah we find the following words:
Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol,
To the lowest depths of the Pit.
Likewise in Philippians we read:
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father
The only way to achieving the significance for which we were created is through the way of the cross. There are no shortcuts, no detour around the cross. Jesus' words drive this point home:
Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
I am discouraged because I see much grasping, much self-exaltation in the church today. At times I wonder why God puts up with us, with our self-exaltation. I am discouraged because we fall so far short of abundant life. Our grasping for position, our desire for exaltation leads to strife and division. In our self-motivated efforts at ascension, we find ourself being being petty and small. Perhaps the thing that discourages me most is the fact that most of our posturing and grasping is done behind the facade of God. God help us!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
more on i am...
I have been reflecting a good deal about what it means to know who God has created me to be, to hear His voice of affirmation. Last evening at a family gathering, my brother jokingly wondered if I was offended by something that happened before I arrived. In further conversation, we came to the conlusion that life is too short to be ruined by being offended by the actions of other people.
I have noticed a direct correlation between the frequency that a person is offended by others and by how well they know what God says about them. The more secure that one is in the "by the grace of God I am what I am", the less likely they are to be offended by people. Being insulted or hurt usually indicates an elevated sense of self-importance.
Today I had a short converstion with Heidi, our oldest daughter. She commented how free it is to be a "nobody". While she realizes that her life is significant, she is also fully aware that her significance comes, not from attempting to be important, but rather from being who God created her to be. She has no desire to be considered important by people in church. She refuses to become embroiled in the petty posturing that occurs among the staff at the school where she teaches kindergarten. In her words - I am free to be me.
When we are not aware of how the "by the grace of God I am that I am" practically applies to our life, we will attempt to create our own sense of validation. When something happens that violates our self-created sense of importance, we immediately feel hurt.
Following Jesus takes us to a place of death, to our cross. A dead body feels no pain; it will not respond to blows or stabs. Why? Because it is dead! In the same way, when we feel pain in the blows and stabs of people, it reveals that self has not completely died. We have not yet yielded completely to the will of the Father. We have not relinquished our self-identity to embrace His identity. It is impossible to even begin to understand the affirmation of the Father until we set ourselves on the road of the cross.
I have noticed a direct correlation between the frequency that a person is offended by others and by how well they know what God says about them. The more secure that one is in the "by the grace of God I am what I am", the less likely they are to be offended by people. Being insulted or hurt usually indicates an elevated sense of self-importance.
Today I had a short converstion with Heidi, our oldest daughter. She commented how free it is to be a "nobody". While she realizes that her life is significant, she is also fully aware that her significance comes, not from attempting to be important, but rather from being who God created her to be. She has no desire to be considered important by people in church. She refuses to become embroiled in the petty posturing that occurs among the staff at the school where she teaches kindergarten. In her words - I am free to be me.
When we are not aware of how the "by the grace of God I am that I am" practically applies to our life, we will attempt to create our own sense of validation. When something happens that violates our self-created sense of importance, we immediately feel hurt.
Following Jesus takes us to a place of death, to our cross. A dead body feels no pain; it will not respond to blows or stabs. Why? Because it is dead! In the same way, when we feel pain in the blows and stabs of people, it reveals that self has not completely died. We have not yet yielded completely to the will of the Father. We have not relinquished our self-identity to embrace His identity. It is impossible to even begin to understand the affirmation of the Father until we set ourselves on the road of the cross.
Friday, February 26, 2010
i am what i am
This past Sunday I was part of a church service. As happens sometimes, the person teaching read a scripture and a phrase from that scripture caught my attention. It was really a rather obscure phrase yet it arrested my attention. It comes from Paul's first letter to the church at Corinth and can be found in 1 Corinthians 15:10 - "But by the grace of God I am what I am..."
What a powerful statement!
Paul had come to grips with who God had created Him to be - I am what I am. He was no longer "kicking against the goads". (See Acts 9:5) His statement reveals the depth of his harmony with God and with God's purposes for him. It demonstrates a settled-ness with his past, a contentedness in his present, and a security in his future. There is a great deal of power in the person who has settled these issues of identity.
My observation from my own life as well as the life of others is that until we come to grips with who we are, we will never truly reach our God-given potential. One of the reasons we grasp for significance, for position, and for power is that we have not settled who we are by the grace of God. Instead of allowing God to define our existence, we create an image of who or what we would desire to be. It causes us to clutch at that which would make us feel more important.
Jesus, at the last supper, was able to wash the disciples feet because He was fully aware of the who of His being. Notice the words from John - Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
Coming to the realization of "I am what I am" allows for a great deal of freedom. Freedom to serve in unnoticed mundane ways. Freedom to lay down our life for others. Freedom from the fear of man. Freedom from the fear of failure.
Next to giving His Son, the greatest work that God did for me occurred in what I called the dark night of my soul. He attacked everything with which I identified myself. Every strength evaporated, every ability seemed to disappear. It felt as if every self-created definition of myself completely unraveled into a pile of rubbish. During that time I learned about God, about myself, but most of all I was able to hear what He said about me. His words to me were all I had at the time.
His words of identity to me became the doorway to life. I am beginning to understand "I am what I am". As I said earlier, coming to the realization of "I am what I am" brings a great deal of freedom. My prayer is that you experience the freedom that comes from harmony with God's purposes for you!
What a powerful statement!
Paul had come to grips with who God had created Him to be - I am what I am. He was no longer "kicking against the goads". (See Acts 9:5) His statement reveals the depth of his harmony with God and with God's purposes for him. It demonstrates a settled-ness with his past, a contentedness in his present, and a security in his future. There is a great deal of power in the person who has settled these issues of identity.
My observation from my own life as well as the life of others is that until we come to grips with who we are, we will never truly reach our God-given potential. One of the reasons we grasp for significance, for position, and for power is that we have not settled who we are by the grace of God. Instead of allowing God to define our existence, we create an image of who or what we would desire to be. It causes us to clutch at that which would make us feel more important.
Jesus, at the last supper, was able to wash the disciples feet because He was fully aware of the who of His being. Notice the words from John - Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
Coming to the realization of "I am what I am" allows for a great deal of freedom. Freedom to serve in unnoticed mundane ways. Freedom to lay down our life for others. Freedom from the fear of man. Freedom from the fear of failure.
Next to giving His Son, the greatest work that God did for me occurred in what I called the dark night of my soul. He attacked everything with which I identified myself. Every strength evaporated, every ability seemed to disappear. It felt as if every self-created definition of myself completely unraveled into a pile of rubbish. During that time I learned about God, about myself, but most of all I was able to hear what He said about me. His words to me were all I had at the time.
His words of identity to me became the doorway to life. I am beginning to understand "I am what I am". As I said earlier, coming to the realization of "I am what I am" brings a great deal of freedom. My prayer is that you experience the freedom that comes from harmony with God's purposes for you!
Monday, February 15, 2010
the work of God
This morning I read from the wisdom of Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes. The following words caught my attention - Notice the way God does things; then fall into line. Don’t fight the ways of God, for who can straighten out what he has made crooked? (Ecclesiastes 7:13, New Living Translation)
The older I get, the more acutely aware I am of the need to be conscious of and responsive to the ongoing, current work of God. How can we walk in harmony with God if we have no idea of His way of doing things?
The work of God and His way of doing things falls into two realms. God has set principles and laws into place that govern the universe. There are financial parameters, relational parameters, parameters in the realm of physics and in the realm of the production of food. If we do not understand the laws He set into place that govern the universe, we are doomed to failure. For instance, if we ignore the law of gravity we can be assured of a great deal of pain. While these principles may not appear to be spiritual from our perspective, they are the God ordained framework on which creation operates. This realm is the governmental work of God; it does not change from generation to generation.
Then there is the ongoing work of God; the current things that God seeks to accomplish today. This work is frequently on a more personal level although it also occurs on the governmental level, both in the church and in nations, as well. It frequently has to do with redemption, healing, and correcting the mess we as humans create.
In both realms, the work of God is tangible and very real. It frequently appears much less spiritual than we might think it would or should. While creation and the principles that govern it is orderly, the ongoing work of God commonly appears chaotic.
If we are going to succeed in life, then we must fall into line with God’s way of doing things. If we no clue of His work, at best we can only hope to intermittently stumble into his blessing and at worst we will oppose His hand. The words of the song “Open the Eyes of My Heart” are so true – Open the eyes of my heart Lord, I want to see You.
The older I get, the more acutely aware I am of the need to be conscious of and responsive to the ongoing, current work of God. How can we walk in harmony with God if we have no idea of His way of doing things?
The work of God and His way of doing things falls into two realms. God has set principles and laws into place that govern the universe. There are financial parameters, relational parameters, parameters in the realm of physics and in the realm of the production of food. If we do not understand the laws He set into place that govern the universe, we are doomed to failure. For instance, if we ignore the law of gravity we can be assured of a great deal of pain. While these principles may not appear to be spiritual from our perspective, they are the God ordained framework on which creation operates. This realm is the governmental work of God; it does not change from generation to generation.
Then there is the ongoing work of God; the current things that God seeks to accomplish today. This work is frequently on a more personal level although it also occurs on the governmental level, both in the church and in nations, as well. It frequently has to do with redemption, healing, and correcting the mess we as humans create.
In both realms, the work of God is tangible and very real. It frequently appears much less spiritual than we might think it would or should. While creation and the principles that govern it is orderly, the ongoing work of God commonly appears chaotic.
If we are going to succeed in life, then we must fall into line with God’s way of doing things. If we no clue of His work, at best we can only hope to intermittently stumble into his blessing and at worst we will oppose His hand. The words of the song “Open the Eyes of My Heart” are so true – Open the eyes of my heart Lord, I want to see You.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
the offensiveness of God
Throughout the scriptures, we find people who on the brink of receiving God's promises become offended by the God-ordained pathway A wealthy young man is offended by Jesus words. Naaman is offended by Elisha's solution for his healing. Abram waited for years for the promised son to arrive. At times it seems like God intentionally offends people to see how they will respond. For some, like a Gentile woman who wanted deliverance for her daughter, the offence drove her to pursue Jesus even more desperately. For others, like the wealthy young man, the offence caused him to turn away from eternal life.
Just like thousands of years ago, God frequently still offends people as they get close to achieving their dreams and desires. I have seen people miss out because of a lack of patience with God. Like Abram, they attempt to "help God" because they can no longer wait on His timing. In doing so, they create something other than what God intended. For some, the personal cost becomes too great and so they turn away from the promise. And yet for those who choose to trust that God knows best, that His ways are beyond our intellectual reasoning, for those who embrace the offence, the promise becomes reality.
I believe God offends our natural mind to see if we will trust Him. Will we choose Him over out natural inclinations? If we choose to be offended, we will never fully discover the goodness of God and His promises. However, if we submit ourselves to His hand, we can expect to receive the promise.
Just like thousands of years ago, God frequently still offends people as they get close to achieving their dreams and desires. I have seen people miss out because of a lack of patience with God. Like Abram, they attempt to "help God" because they can no longer wait on His timing. In doing so, they create something other than what God intended. For some, the personal cost becomes too great and so they turn away from the promise. And yet for those who choose to trust that God knows best, that His ways are beyond our intellectual reasoning, for those who embrace the offence, the promise becomes reality.
I believe God offends our natural mind to see if we will trust Him. Will we choose Him over out natural inclinations? If we choose to be offended, we will never fully discover the goodness of God and His promises. However, if we submit ourselves to His hand, we can expect to receive the promise.
Monday, February 1, 2010
team
The older I get, the more I am impressed by the value of teamwork. As a young man, I had the attitude of “I can do it myself”. My personal orphan issues frequently caused me to hold people at a distance, especially those who could have helped me. As a result, at times I struggled to accomplish what I had set out to do.
I am keenly aware that in every current endeavor in which I am involved, I will fall short of potential success if I choose to ignore those who can play a vital role in the unfolding of the endeavor. I am continually watchful for those whom God brings across my path that have the same interests and God-given dreams that I have. I watch for those with whom I can have the gifts, wisdom, and experiences that I lack.
I want to differentiate between true teamwork and the practice of using people to accomplish goals. I have seen people manipulate others for the purpose of selfish gain. In these situations, the project is more important than the relationship; people are used and then discarded. True teamwork involves mutual benefit for all involved in the relationships.
The God-pattern for teamwork can be seen within the nature of God. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit work together, not dominating each other but in mutual submission to each other. When the church functions as God intended, we discover the same type of relationships that propel us farther and faster than we could have gone alone. The writer of Hebrews challenges us to get together for the purpose of mutual exhortation.
The principles of relational teamwork apply to all areas of life. I encourage you to invite people to walk with you in the unfolding of your God-given dreams and responsibilities.
I am keenly aware that in every current endeavor in which I am involved, I will fall short of potential success if I choose to ignore those who can play a vital role in the unfolding of the endeavor. I am continually watchful for those whom God brings across my path that have the same interests and God-given dreams that I have. I watch for those with whom I can have the gifts, wisdom, and experiences that I lack.
I want to differentiate between true teamwork and the practice of using people to accomplish goals. I have seen people manipulate others for the purpose of selfish gain. In these situations, the project is more important than the relationship; people are used and then discarded. True teamwork involves mutual benefit for all involved in the relationships.
The God-pattern for teamwork can be seen within the nature of God. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit work together, not dominating each other but in mutual submission to each other. When the church functions as God intended, we discover the same type of relationships that propel us farther and faster than we could have gone alone. The writer of Hebrews challenges us to get together for the purpose of mutual exhortation.
The principles of relational teamwork apply to all areas of life. I encourage you to invite people to walk with you in the unfolding of your God-given dreams and responsibilities.
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