Embracing the Impossible

As I have continued to study Abraham's life in the book of Genesis, I have noticed that it is filled with impossibilities redefined. Our definition of what is possible is heavily influenced by our past experiences and our present frame of mind. Repeatedly, God interrupted Abraham's present life with covenant promises of a future that expanded his definition of what was possible. The adjustments to what was possible with God required Abraham to shift his focus from the past and present toward God Himself. When I shift my attention toward God I can leave behind the things in my past that hinder me from pressing toward an amazing future with God.

Trust

This week the community has been touched by pierced with the pain of a tragic automobile accident. Despite the sober words of Scripture that remind us that life is like a vapor, the death of a young person always grips my heart. Some questions seem to move to the forefront of our minds and they are the ones that remain unanswered. Why? Why now? Why this person? It's not that I avoid these questions. I have asked them and I have been asked them. Gradually, I have grown more comfortable with the fact that there will always be questions that are beyond me. It reminds me of my frequent trips to the eye doctor. When I look at the eye chart, I am so grateful for my ability to read line after line accurately. Eventually, I move down to the smaller lines. No matter how much I squint, certain objects are beyond my ability to see clearly. I know the letters are there. I know they exist and are printed on the chart legibly. Yet, I can't see them. My faith assures me that God sees everything and understands everything. The miracle of faith is that my trust in God is not diminished by what I do not understand, it is enhanced and matured.

Family Conflict

Sunday, I will continue to journey with Abraham during the morning message at Heritage. Genesis 13 shares a birds eye view of a family conflict. Abraham and Lot are relatives who have to deal with a fight among their "herdsman". It seems that the provisions of the land were not adequate to support both herds. In the words of a great western movie, the time had come for one of them to say "this town ain't big enough for the both of us". Though the issues of this conflict differ from those we encounter in family squabbles today, the principles are the same. The best resolution requires us to overcome selfishness. When the Genesis 13 conflict is resolved (with Abraham's initiative) the two men appear quite different. Lot's journey is characterized by what serves him well in the short term. Abraham's journey is characterized by his covenant relationship with God. We tend to lean one way or the other in our own conflicts. Do I want this resolved according to what "I" want? Or, do I want this resolved according to what "God" wants?

And lived to tell about it

Well, I am on the other side of the Youth Retreat. Pastor Jeremy put together a great experience for us all! Danny and Brightgray rocked the house www.myspace.com/brightgray. The students gave me an opportunity to share with them and they opened up and shared with me. And I got to help Big Dave build a campfire. I'm not sure why I enjoy building a fire and watching it burn. But, it's always a highlight for me. It reinforced the message I shared on Friday night. Build a fire that lasts. Our spiritual vitality depends on the right kind of fuel (a personal ongoing relationship with God cultivated with daily contact). We have a tendency to want to build a spiritual fire with paper and lighter fluid. Not only does it burn up fast, but nobody wants to eat S'mores that taste like lighter fluid.

Speaking the language

I have been blessed to travel to several countries where I did not speak the native language. Each time I have put forth some effort to learn the obligatory words that you must learn to disguise the fact that you are a "tourist". After all, nothing helps you blend into the local culture of Moscow quite like a big Russian "Howdy" with a thick East Tennessee accent. Seriously, it's not a matter blending in. It's a combination of desiring to communicate words and the desire to bridge the language gap enough to connect with people. I am keenly aware of the importance of "connecting" this weekend. I am looking forward to speaking to a group of teens on our church retreat. When I peer into the youth culture today, I realize that effective communication cannot be a casual assumption. My words are important, but it doesn't end with words. I want to connect with them and communicate just how priceless my experience with God is to me. Youth today see with different eyes and they hear with different ears. They talk with their fingers as "texting" fills the airways. They network with hundreds and sometimes thousands of people they refer to as "friends" through online vehicles. Yet, for many of them, connecting with a God who traveled a great distance to call us "friends" is foreign.

Tough time to be the pope

I was watching the news about the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to America and found it interesting that reference was made to the Pope's approval rating among Catholics (It was 70%). By the way, Pope John Paul peaked at 90% right after his death. It's a little sobering to me to think that my popularity might rise after I die. The fact that the Pope's approval rating is monitored and reported is a commentary on the relationship of politics and leadership. Isn't it amazing how one of the most visible religious leaders in the world is subject to analysis by "opinion polls"? The pressures of public opinion are not new. The Apostle Paul reminded the early followers of Christ that it is a choice that confronted him, "Do I seek to please men?" (Galatians 1:10). We may never lead with the visiblity of the Pope, however we confront "approval ratings" every day. Ultimately, discerning God's approval is primary.

Retreat

It's been a few days since I have blogged. Last week, I went on a retreat with Nick and the entire fifth grade class from his school It was great. I got to bunk with 6 fifth grade boys for a few days. So many things that I could share...But, I'll stick to what stands out the most. Fifth grade is a year when these kids are on the threshold of middle school. To me the middle school years are a critical time of formation. It's the time when kids are experiencing some of the greatest changes in their lives. Of course we tend to focus on the physical changes, but I think there is a poweful interrelationship between the physical, emotional and spiritual transformation that takes place. Anytime our lives seem to be on shifting sand (and this is espcially true in middle school), we tend to reach for an anchor. Some kids find that anchor in Christ. Others find comfort for their insecurities in a host of other bad choices and habits. As I entered the fifth grade world for a few days last week I thought about how early patterns of life develop. It's not difficult to see some "middle school" habits that persist in the world of adults. To some extent our culture has taken pride in extending adolescence. While it's nice to feel younger than you are - it's not so nice to act younger than you should be in terms of spiritual maturity. No matter what age we are physically or spiritually, we still need a clear sense of how to anchor our lives and find security in God. Our security in God frees us from unhealthy patterns of living and provides a path to maturity.

Woulda, Shoulda, Coulda

Well, the NCAA March madness is over. The Kansas JayHawks won it all last night by defeating Memphis in the final game of the season. It was a barnburner. Tonight the ladies will tip off and I am hopeful that the Lady Vols will win their 8th championship. It appeared that Memphis had the game in hand last night with a couple of minutes remaining. They had a small but "comfortable" lead when Kansas made some amazing plays and climbed back into it. Kansas player Mario Chalmers was able to launch a three-pointer in the closing seconds to tie the game and send it into overtime. As the self-certified NCAA armchair coach of the year and self-proclaimed expert on what should have happened - I wonder why Memphis didn't foul one of the Kansas players to prevent the three-point attempt. A few seconds later and the Memphis Tigers would be basking in the glory of the championship instead of sweating out a miserable defeat. Of course, it is easy to suggest my strategy now that the game is over and I am sitting in my office without thousands/millions of fans watching my every move. But, nobody said it was a tough job to be armchair coach of the year. Sometimes we have to make decisions in the heat of the battle. These decisions may have a profound affect on our lives and the lives of others. Doesn't make sense to ask for help from the greatest coach of all time? God knows the present and the future. As the greatest coach of all time, God is never affected by the heat of the battle. His perspective is never clouded by pressure or high stakes situations. Don't underestimate the value and power of prayer.

How far is it from here to there?

How far is it from where you are to where God wants you to be? The creative tension that exists when God speaks is amazing. "From" and "to" are such simple words but they explode within us when God speaks them. God's words are a creative catalyst to break the ice and begin the journey "from" where we are "to" where He wants us to be. If our initial thoughts of "from" and "to" focus on physical location we sell short the explosive power of God's work. "From" and "to" have a lot more to do with what's going on between our ears than what our feet are doing. The Apostle Paul's words about our need to "forget what lies behind and press toward what lies ahead" have everything to do with God's creative tension in our thinking and the way we view God's future plan for us. Paul's message is a "from" and "to" message. How is God's creative word stretching you today?

Settling for less

This weekend I will be sharing a message about the travels of Abraham's family. Specifically, I will take a look at how the family settled in Haran on their way to the land of Canaan. This provides an illustration of our tendency to settle for less than God's plan for our lives. The pages of the Bible are filled with examples of how men and women allowed God's plan to be interrupted. There are also positive examples from the Bible that show the blessings of determination and perseverance. Next week I have the opportunity to speak to a group of fifth graders on a school retreat. The essence of my message to them will draw from the first chapter of Daniel. Daniel is a perfect example of the importance of developing convictions and then finding the courage to live by them. Daniel refused to allow God's purpose to be sidetracked. Even in the midst of enormous pressure, he was able to say "no" and continue his journey with God rather than settling for less.

Time travel

Speaking of the journey of life, have you ever noticed a strange phenomenon when traveling: traveling the same distance can pass very quickly or very slowly. For example, even if I drive the same speed it seems to take me longer to get home from the church office than it does to get there. Also, there are certain stretches of highway where time stands still. A few years ago, I commuted from Knoxville to Nashville once a week. The first 80-100 miles went just fine and then just on the other side of Cookeville - bam - the twilight zone. It took forever to get there. The Christian life seems to present the same challenges. I have laughed about our tendency to ask God "are we there yet?". But, it's true. There are stretches on the highway of life where we seem to get bogged down. Sometimes it is our own doing. Sometimes other things factor into the picture. That's why I hate to travel alone. The time always passes better with someone with me. Jesus' description of the Holy Spirit as a "comforter", a "counselor" is reassuring.

Believe

Do you believe? After watching a few NCAA basketball tournament games, those infamous words ring in my ears..."it ain't over til it's over". Repeatedly, I have watched teams overcome huge deficits to go on to win the game. Last night in the women's matchup between rivals Rutgers and UConn, Rutgers was up by 14 points in the first half. I dozed off and turned the game back on only to discover that UConn won the game. How is that possible? There are many factors that go into a "come-from-behind" victory. Coaches often speak of "poise", "momentum", "experience", "patience". But, you can't overlook "belief". I'm not a NCAA coach, but I know that teams do not climb back into a game if they do not believe. Our belief cannot be dependent on the current score. It has to be dependent upon a faith that is alive within us. A faith that is not threatened by circumstances.

2 Corinthians 4:7-9
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed ---

Faith like Abraham

Studying the life of Abraham in the Bible is challenging. I began by considering the reflections of a first century writer on this man of great faith. The writer of Hebrews describes Abraham as one who met the challenge to believe in the impossible at a time when we would describe him as well past his prime. The description of Abraham in Hebrews 11 as one who was "as good as dead" has stuck in my mind. I realize that this description primariliy draws attention to the fact that he and Sarah were a little old to be having babies. However, I think the phrase is symbolic of every faith journey. Generally, we have good, sound, logical excuses why the faith journey won't work for us. We can convince ourselves and others that we just can't go where God wants us to go and be who God wants us to be. Our attitude reinforces our belief that God's plan is "as good as dead" in our lives. The message of Abraham's journey screams a very loud protest to that kind of thinking. Those attitudes are toxic to our faith.