Gifts for Christ

I have a couple of candles in my office that I enjoy lighting. Call it aromatherapy if you like, but there is something soothing about the scent and the flicker of candlelight. I'm not the only one who values soothing aromas. Apparently God does too. Much has been written about the gifts that the wise men brought to Jesus. The value of gold is obvious to us. But frankincense and myrrh speak to different senses. The connection of these aromatic resins to acts of worship, healing, anointing and burial preparation made them recognizable as valuable substances to those who lived in ancient cultures. They were fitting gifts for a special King: A King who was worthy of worship; A King who was born to bring healing. Jesus was a King who was anointed and who commissioned others to carry on. Finally, let us never forget that Jesus was born to die so that our sins could be buried.

The God who Sees

This morning I was enjoying my time in chapel with the Preschoolers. As usual, I opened up our time together by attempting to illustrate the message of the day with some Play-Doh. Today was a Christmas message, so I made a manger, a star and a baby Jesus which I carefully placed in the manger. My artistic ability is pretty limited. Baby Jesus was a work of art: a small round head wrapped in a blue blanket. I thought it looked pretty good, but one of the children was not satisfied. She kept shouting "Baby Jesus doesn't have any eyes!" I tried to dismiss her comments by explaining that Baby Jesus was asleep, but she wouldn't let it go. So, I stopped and made too little eyes to put on Baby Jesus. After this she began to shout "Baby Jesus doesn't have a mouth!" As I thought about her persistent objections to my Play-Doh Baby Jesus, I realized how important the essence of her observations are to me. When Jesus was born, God came near in a special way. Among the other great and wondrous messages of His incarnation, He wanted to remind us that He is a God who sees us and speaks to us.

Gadgets and God

The Christmas season is a time when lots of new gadgets are rolled out. A constant barrage of fevered pitches make us wonder how we ever lived without the ability to eat a bowl of cereal without digital content streaming on the box for our viewing pleasure. Sadly, my sarcasm is going to have to get much much sharper because I'm only slightly exaggerating. Ahh, the wonderful world of advancing technology. Meanwhile, the pace of life and the abundance of messages that fill our heads hinders us from pausing long enough to consider how these changes affect our communion with God. Consider this...How does our ability to manipulate content affect our carnal bent toward selfishness? Let me explain. There is a common thread in most of the sales pitches that relates to our ability to "have it our way". We can have "our" music, video, pics, messages on any number of devices. That way we are never without what we want, when we want it, where we want it and how we want it. If I attempt to translate that thinking into my relationship with God, I'm heading for a fall. God's goal is not to respond to our selfishness by accomodating what we want when we want it. In fact communion with God has been known to produce patience in my life. Please don't misunderstand this post as a rant against technology. Remember, I'm not preaching a sermon behind a pulpit in a church building - I'm posting my thoughts on a blog that can be read around the world on phones and a host of devices. I used my Kindle to read from an electronic copy of a book at a Bible study last night. However, we need to cultivate an awarenss of the deep truth of Romans 12:1. The Message reads "Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out." The bottom line? Don't forget to think about God. God is still the only one who can change us from the inside out.

The Battle

This weekend I will be with our youth on their Winter Retreat. I am very excited to have the opportunity to invest some "sleepless" time with a great group of teens. I plan to speak to them about winning the battles of life. Sam Bradford, quarterback of the Oklahoma Sooners is a committed Christian and a great leader for his team. Even though he has been sidelined by injury this year, I admire his leadership a great deal. When sharing his testinony Sam has said, "Everything's a battle, when you're going through those battles without a relationship with the Lord, you're going through those battles by yourself". My greatest concern for the next generation is not the magnitude of the battles they will face, it is whether they will attempt to fight those battles alone. Somewhere along the way, they must develop a strategy for fighting those battles that relies upon the Lord.

The Heart and Soul of Leadership: Part Seven

For my final post (for now) about leadership, I will offer a word about courage. Leadership requires courage. It begins with the courage that is required for raw honesty. We have to be willing to look in the mirror and invite God to help us see and confront the reality of what we have become. As Heifetz and Linsky (Leadership on the Line, p. 225) have said, “No one looks in the mirror and sees a cynical, arrogant, and callous self-image. We dress up these defenses, give them principled and virtuous names. Cynicism is called realism, arrogance masquerades as authoritative knowledge, and callousness becomes the thick skin of wisdom and experience.” Before we can lead others, we have to allow God to transform us. The transormation begins with a redeemed heart, then we can lead others. We do ourselves no favors when we underestimate the courage that is required to surrender our own defenses and lay our lives down for the sake of our Savior. In the words of Apostle Paul, we discover that "we" no longer live, but "Christ" lives in us. He defines me. He prescribes my actions. He directs my path.

Heart and Soul of Christian Leadership: Part Six

Christian leadership is marked by faithfulness. I would describe faithfulness in terms of executing our mission. God has "called" every person to participate in His mission of loving others and sharing Jesus. When I survey the Christian landscape for leaders that is a characteristic that is non-negotiable. Mission is more than a catchy slogan that is easily remembered. It is a passion within us that is expressed through life. It is more than certain actions or behaviors, though they provide evidence. Real mission consumes us. That sparks execution. I love to read about the first century followers of Jesus who responded to those who ordered them to cease from executing the mission of God. What was their response? "We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:20). They were consumed with the mission of God. Christian leaders execute the mission.

Heart and Soul of Leadership: Part Five

Christian leadership requires endurance. The Gospel according to Mark includes a parable of soils as told by Jesus. Jesus described what happened to seed that fell on different types of soil. Some of the seed fell on "stony ground" (Mark 4:16-17). The initial burst of growth was not an accurate indicator of future life. It was short-lived because the plant lacked roots. The plant lacked the capacity to endure. Is it possible to develop endurance? I believe it is. The plants in Jesus' parable lacked roots. To me, our root system symbolizes our sustained thirst for God. Our endurance increases when we seek God and acknowledge our dependence upon God for strength. Endurance is more than strength to carry on. Endurance is enriched with the presence of God. When John was exiled on the isle of Patmos, he greeted his brother and sisters in the churches with a reference about endurance (Revelation 1:9). But John recognized that his endurance was attached to Jesus.

Heart and Soul of Leadership: Part Four

Leadership is a labor of love. Actually, due to the foundational aspect of this statement this could have been my first post about leadership. However, I chose to begin by pointing out that leaders know they need God's help. We cannot lead in love without God's help. I can say that with confidence because of the enormous challenge that love presents. We underestimate how taxing it is to lead in love because our definition of love often does not resemble God's definition. Remember God loves the world. The love of God was evident on the cross when Jesus was pleading for forgiveness while being tortured and ridiculed. That's leadership. That's love. Admittedly, it's a different picture of courageous leadership than what is portrayed on the bookshelves in the business section at Barnes and Noble. But, for a follower of Christ He is the measure. Without love leadership is a masquerade. We may be very good at disguising our selfish pursuit of power and influence as something more noble. But it will never be true Christian leadership.

Heart and Soul of Leadership: Part Three

So far I have suggested that Christian leaders know they need God's help and Christian leaders want to be with God. There is a deeper issue. It has to do with whether or not our hearts are given to God for His purposes. By definition, the life of a Christian (with or without the descriptor of "leader") is to be an expression of Christ. In the words of Dallas Willard:

"Spiritual formation in the tradition of Jesus Christ is the process of transformation of the inmost dimension of the human being, the heart, which is the same as the spirit or will. It is being formed (really, transformed) in such a way that its natural expression comes to be the deeds of Christ done in the power of Christ."

Although it is important to be guided by core values and critical goals, the real measure of whether or not leadership is "Christian" or not is whether or leadership expresses Christ in the power of Christ. The "north star" of Christian leadership is much more personal than values or goals. The Christian heart is redeemed, transformed and surrendered to God. That reality permeates every aspect of life for the Christian leader. I'll summarize my third mark of Christian leadership this way: Christian leaders follow God not their own selfish heart.

Heart and Soul of Leadership: Part Two

It may seem obvious that a Christian leader needs God's help to develop. Anyone who has attempted to be a true leader recognizes that it is extremely difficult. In fact, one of my favorite leadership authors, Ron Hefeitz, points out the dangers of leadership. According to Heifetz, "you appear dangerous to people when you question their values, beliefs, or habits of a lifetime. You place yourself on the line when you tell people what they need to hear rather than what they want to hear" (Leadership on the Line, Heifetz and Linsky, 2002). So, you want to be a leader? It's not surprising to learn that many describe leadership as lonely endeavor. That brings up my second mark of Christian leadership: Leaders want to be with God. It's not just that a vibrant relationship with God is the answer to the loneliness that so often accompanies living a disciplined and principled life. It is much more than that. God is our source of direction. Before a leader can become an effective change agent, there must be a vision of a better future. Change begins within. Mature leaders are lifelong learners. The purest way to develop self-awareness and recognize the changes that are necessary is through a personal relationship with God. God knows us and loves us like no other. The best leaders I know seek God because they want to be with God. They cherish God's presence.

Heart and Soul Part One: Leaders Need God

For the past few weeks I have been exploring the "heart and soul" of Christian Leadership on Sunday mornings. For the next few posts I want to reflect on the main points. My goal in sharing these messages with the church has been to develop a keener sense of how we view leadership within the local church body. It is far too easy to fall prey to leadership models that do not reflect Christ. We live in a time when it is commonplace to justify the "means" of achievement, by "results". This has not been an easy 1-2-3 leadership recipe. Honestly, that has not been my goal. Instead, I want to continually increase my accountability to the One who matters most. The initial challenge helped me articulate my first mark of leadership: Leaders know they need God. Too many leadership models encourage a path toward greatness that resembles a climb up a ladder of ego and selfish-ambition rather than a humble journey that is utterly dependent upon God's providence and provision. The need for God never ends. Our need for God never diminishes. We need God to shape us despite the temptations that success brings. We need God to sustain through the challenges that failure delivers. Leaders know they need God and they never hide their need for God.

Silence Speaks

I mentioned in an earlier blog that I have chosen to leave the radio off (no sports talk radio) in the car in an effort to spend more quiet time with the Lord. The value of silence is amazing and frightening. Speaking of the value of this "spiritual discipline", Dallas Willard writes that silence cuts us off from this world and "leaves only us and God". Willard points out the frightening aspects of silence with a question and an observation. First, he asks, "What if there turns out to be very little to just us and God?" Then Willard challenges us to think about what it says about the inward emptiness of our lives if we must always have noise. Yes, silence speaks. Silence reveals. Silence critiques the quality of our relationship with God.

Thoughts about Christian Leadership

It is not enough for (Christian leaders) of the future to be moral people, well trained, eager to help their fellow humans, and able to respond creatively to the burning issues of their time...it is not the heart of Christian leadership. The central question is, Are the leaders of the future truly men and women of God, people with an ardent desire to dwell in God’s presence, to listen to God’s voice, to look at God’s beauty, to touch God’s incarnate Word and to taste fully God’s infinite goodness?
Henri Nouwen, In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership

Nouwen doesn't mince words when it comes to leadership. When we think of leadership, it is so tempting to lose focus on the heart. The heart of a leader is broken, redeemed, shaped, transformed and kept in the presence of God. It is in the presence of God that we learn to see what God wants us to see. It is there that we receive our direction. In the presence of God, we dare not attempt to impress with the things that do not matter.

Competition

Describe God. What are the first words out of your mouth? Maybe you said "indescribable". Good answer, but you're dodging the question. You might have thrown out some theology...sovereign, omniscient, omnipresent, almighty, eternal, holy. I'll bet the first word was not "jealous". We live in a day when we must deal with competition that has risen to an extreme level. Competition for our time, our attention, our affection, our resources is fierce. Can anything or anyone really "compete" with God? Of course not. Yet, we ignore God's "jealous" nature on a regular basis with our choices and our allegiance. For the past week, I have made a choice to spend my time in the car without radio (I enjoy sports talk radio) or music (I love music). Is sports talk radio bad? Well, sometimes. Is music bad? Much to my surprise the quiet has been really really enjoyable.

Open Tryouts

I have been thinking about our response to God's call lately. The past few weeks I have been digging into Scriptures that reveal the "heart and soul" of Christian leadership. Because I believe that every person is called (personally) by God to serve Him, our response is a critical part of life. Sometimes we struggle to understand the personal nature of God's calling. Last night Nick tried out for his Middle School basketball team. After I watched the boys go through the drills and competition necessary to put the team together, I thought about how we mistakenly treat God's call the same way. We think we are called based upon the number of shots we take and make. We think it comes down to speed or agility. We think it comes down to whether or not we impress the coach with our skills. We think, in order to be on God's team, we have to shine. Nothing could be further from the truth. God made each of us so that we can live out our role on His team. God delights in writing our name on His roster. We need not show up at a tryout. We only need to say yes to the invitation. We don't have to prove our worthiness. (We could never do that). We need only to give Him our heart and begin to follow His lead. It's not a tryout at all. It's an honor. By the way, Nick made the team. So have you.

Sanctuary

Last Sunday I shared a challenge to do some "fasting". Although fasting usually involves giving up food, the principle applies very well to other things in our lives. The goal in fasting is to attack selfishness that can gain strength so easily in our lives. It is a way to get our selfishness out of the way and yield ourselves to God. When we do so we can discover a purer perspective on "strength" and "weakness". Paul's words begin to make sense. God's power is made perfect in our weakness. So, give up some food. Give up some TV. Give up something in an effort to deny your own desires. That's the first step. But, the second step is more important. Focus on God. Enter into the sanctuary - the presence of God.

Teaching at Seminary

I have been enjoying a great learning opportunity at the Seminary. This week, Dr. Fred Garmon and I have been teaching a missional leadership course for doctoral students. It's has been refreshing to meet some leaders who are passionate about growing in Christ-likeness. It is a journey. Consider the words of Fenelon

We must bear with ourselves with patience and without flattery, and remain in unceasing subjection to every means of overcoming our thoughts and inward repugnancies. We will thus become more pliable to the impressions of grace in the practice of the gospel. But let this work be done quietly and peacefully, and let it not be entered upon too eagerly, as though it could all be accomplished in a single day.

Together

Last night I was at the church prior to meeting with the men's group. Typically, on Wednesdays I stay at the church until time for our meeting. Lynn and Nick came to the church just before I left for my meeting. Lynn came by the office to say hello and Nick went straight to the Youth room. Before I left I went by to see Nick. I went because I missed seeing him. I hadn't talked to him all day, nor had I seen him since I left for the gym before he got up for school. After seeing him, I thought a lot about how much I love my son. I love to be with him and I miss him when we are not together. In that moment I thought of God's perspective. I cannot begin to understand how God "feels", but I know He loves me as His own. Though it shouldn't be - it's hard for me to think that the God of all creation "wants" to be with me. Yet, I know He does. Many scholars have taken the beautiful language of the Song of Solomon to be a picture of God's love for His own. Without a doubt, it is the language of love. At one point the desire is described in these terms: "I am my beloved's. And His desire is for me" (7:10). As I think about His love for me, I begin to realize that when I do not cherish the presence of God it goes against God's desire to be with me.

Transformation

Every Christian knows that God loves him or her. Unfortunately, that fact often remians a tenet or tenant of the mind. And until it gets into your heart, it remains information. Once it gets into your heart, it results in transformation.
Mark Batterson

What a tragedy that we do not soak in the love of God. God's love is so much more than a theological principle that we deposit in our minds. It is more than a confession in a creed. As I survey the landscape of Christianity around me, it seems that we run the risk of keeping the love of God in our heads and out of our hearts. I agree with Mark Batterson. The result is information without transformation. In order for God's love to transform us, we have to let Him near. We have to long to be near to Him. To know, to really know God is to experience His presence, His love. Remember, Jesus came to teach us that He is Emmanuel (God with us).

Happy Anniversary

Yesterday marked 21 years. Lynn and I were married in Nashville on a lovely (rain-soaked) fall day. I remember when we selected October 1st because we said, "it's always beautiful in October". The day was beautiful, not because of the weather, but because we established our covenant of marriage in recognition that God had blessed us with one another. Since our wedding day, we have enjoyed many sunny days and many rainy days. It's hard for me to decide whether I am more thankful for her presence in my life during the sunny days so that we can share the joys of life together or for the encouragement and support she has given me on the rainy days. Either way, God knew what I needed (and I like to think He knew what she needed too).

You knew didn't You

I'm wrapping up the class I am teaching at the Seminary tonight. Before leaving I walked in the chapel and stood silently and took a few moments to reflect. It's hard to believe that on an evening just like tonight 20 years ago, I was sitting in chapel. It was a course called "Pentecostal Foundations" that met from 7-10 pm (I was younger then!) It was in this introductory course that we learned about the significance of sharing our story, our testimony about our journey. In addition to those key components of our Seminary experience we also did some testing. It was my first time to take the Meyers Briggs Type Indicator Assessment (MBTI). I remember when our results were in and the administrator shared some things about each type. There were about 80 of us in the class. When he called out my "type", I was the only one of this type in the class. I will never forgeet his comment: "this type would not likely find themselves in seminary". But, there I was. There I sat with Lynn by my side - and here I am. As I stood quietly in the chapel tonight, I took a deep breath and considered the journey from 1989 to 2009 and I shared with God, you knew didn't you. You knew every where we would go, everything we would encounter, every person you would send us to reach. Twenty years ago as we sat with a list of questions how someone like me could ever be who you called me to be. You knew. Maybe you smiled when he said I was an unlikely candidate. You knew I would be back here tonight.

The Sideline

We were on the way to one of Nick's football games when he made an astute observation about the NFL. He said "have you ever noticed that most of the players on the roster never get in the game"? We had a conversation about the reason that is the case. Also, I shared with him that they get paid rather well, whether they get their uniforms dirty or not. Nick loves footbball and currently he has a starting position on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. So, as a result, he doesn't spend much time on the sidelines. This week I am teaching a class at our seminary on "leading and mobilizing" people in ministry. Based on Nick's comment, I think he identified the essence of the course. How do we get people off the sidelines and into the game? When it comes to followers of "coach" Jesus. He has already called our number. We, like the pro players on the sidelines, have received great benefits.

Forgotten God

If you thought Francis Chan's "Crazy Love" was painful to read, don't pick up his latest. Chan doesn't waste much time getting to the point in "Forgotten God". He believes that something very important is missing in church today. That something is "Someone", the Holy Spirit. Here's how Chan introduces the book:

Without the Holy Spirit, people operate in their own strength and only accomplish human-size results. The world is not moved by love or actions that are of human creation. And the church is not empowered to live differently from any other gathering of people without the Holy Spirit. But, when believers live in the power of the Spirit, the evidence in their lives is supernatural. The church cannot help but be different, and the world cannot help but notice.

In my last blog, I asked how the presence of God in us could be as contagious as the flu. I think Chan expressed the answer pretty well.

Contagious

The "flu season" has started early this year. Already, a number of school systems have closed due to illness. I don't ever remember that happening in September. Nick has had a number of friends who have the flu. On Thursday a friend (who now has the flu)rode in the car with us. Friday night, Nick was at the football game with another friend (who now has the flu). This week, Nick has the flu. It's a reminder that the flu is contagious. Nick will be the sixth member of his football team to get the flu. This raises a question in my mind. What if good things were just as contagious? What if God's love spread this easily? What if the Gospel spread this easily? What if people couldn't help but be exposed to the grace of God through contact with us? In the words of Jesus, we are salt. We should spread our "saltiness" through our contact with others.

Calling

Calling is the truth that God calls us to himself so decisively that everything we are, everything we do, and everything we have is invested with a special devotion and dynamism lived out as a response to his summons and service. (Os Guinness)

I took a little time this morning to re-read a portion of "The Call". It is an excellent book by Os Guinness and one that I have recommended for a number of years. His definition of "calling" is a powerful statement about what it means to live in response to God. His words are a great backdrop to my study of the book of Judges this week. I can't help but see the parallels between the cycle of sin then and now. It always happens when we live our lives in response to something, someone, some purpose other than God. We have reduced the meaning of "devotion" to a brief reading from our favorite writer instead of a personal response to a God who calls us to Himself.

College Football and Emotions

College football started with a "bang" last night. Maybe I should say that it started with a "punch". After the late night match up between Boise State and Oregon one of the Oregon players (LeGarrette Blount) took a swing at a Boise State player (Byron Hout) and landed a punch on his chin. It will provide lots of coaches with fodder for inspirational talks about sportsmanship (and the lack thereof) this year. I saw a brief interview with the Oregon's Coach Kelly this morning. Obviously he was not pleased with the way his player represented the university. One of his comments stuck with me. He said that he wanted his players to "play with emotion, but not let emotion play with them". His statement has a solid theological foundation. As we enter a study of Judges on Sunday morning we will see examples of how great leaders get in trouble when they are played by their emotions. You won't hear me advocate an "emotionless" life. (Come watch me at one of Nick's games!)However, when our emotions change, and they frequently do, we need to remain true to the core principles of life. If anyone had asked LeGarrette Blount before the game whether he would punch another player or not, I'm sure he would have said "no". And, to his credit, he apologized after the incident. I'm not picking on Blount. In fact, it appears that Hout was showing very poor sportsmanship by provoking Blount. I am acknowledging a problem that is hardly new. It is not an easy path to develop our strength of character so that we can resist temptations in the moment. But, it is imperative that we do so.

Why did you do that?

I have been studying in the book of Judges in preparation for a series of messages. Judges is not a real pleasant book. Apart from some really fascinating stories of extraordinary victories and colorful characters like Gideon and Samson, it's a pretty sad commentary on our tendency to fall into the same patterns of debilitating sin. The beginning of the book has a real deep and complicated question. (Yes, I'm being sarcastic) According to the second chapter, the Angel of the Lord appeared before the people and asked them "Why have you done this?". Can you guess how they responded. They cried so much they named the place "weeping". By the way, there isn't really an answer recorded to the question. I have a bit of an explanation of why there isn't a verbal answer. Because the truth hurts too much and sounds too stupid coming out of our mouths..."Why did I disobey...I thought it would be fun to walk away from blessings, rewards, victory and peace and abandon the living God Almighty and make another god out of a piece of dirt or a rock or something" or how about this one..."God, I thought since you had given us life and victory over the false gods of this land I would see how it felt to serve the loser gods for a while". See what I mean? While the specifics or our disobedience is different, the root issues are the same. I'm looking forward to being "schooled" from Judges.

Instant Replay and Humility

I'm a supporter of the introduction of instant replay in the sports world. Even though it slows the game down a bit, I believe it helps officials make the right call. There is a limit to our human abilities on the field of play and now that the armchair quarterbacks at home have the ability to review plays on their own...pause, slow mo, instant replay, etc. it probably lessens stress a little. As you might expect, I have a theological footnote on instant replay. It is a good introduction to the virtue of humility. Instant replay introduces the possibility to the official: I might have gotten it right or I might have gotten it wrong. I ran across a great qote from a great preacher from the 17th century. Richard Baxter wrote
"Formerly I knew much less than now, and yet was not half so much acquainted with my ignorance". I wish had run across that quote a long time ago. Humility allows us to quote Baxter frequently (minus the old English beauty). We should say it this way. "I thought I was right - I was wrong". By the way, we don't need cameras perched at every angle of our lives to know whether we were right or wrong. We have the Holy Spirit.

The Dead Zone

I remember my first cell phone. Actually, it was a "mobile" phone. In Arizona, late 90's it made more sense to speak of "live" zones instead of "dead" zones. There was a strip of coverage about the size of a large biscuit between Dewey and Phoenix which allowed you to say helloI'mfineonthewayhomeloveyaseeyabye. Then as quickly as it arrived it left. Call over, Signal gone. What good is a cell phone if it doesn't work? If James is right, we are struggling with a similar issue. What good is faith if it doesn't work? (Faith without works is dead James 2:17) Be careful with that question, I'm not talking about faith "working" selfishly for our interests (read James again). No, the work that James attaches to faith has to do with unselfishness. It has to do with faithful living that requires loving God and serving others. Too many of us spend too much time in the dead zone of faith. Sadly, it's not because we don't have a signal. Most of the time we have four bars.

The effects of Faith

I am somewhat of an unwilling expert when it comes to things that can affect my vision. I am fairly conversant on the good benefits of well-regulated blood glucose levels in diabetics. Unfortunately, I also learned about the ugly side of diabetic retinopathy. My recent retina exam brought about lots of thanksgiving in my heart. I thank God for my good health and it encourages me to continue to be diligent with my diabetes management - especially now that I need to set the example for Nick (who is doing an awesome job!) Just as a number of things can effect our physical vision, so it is with our spiritual vision. Nothing affects our vision quite like our faith in God. Our faith in God affects the way we see everything. Two people can see the same situation so differently. Recently I was reading a book by Eugene Peterson entitled "The Quest". In it, Peterson writes, "the meaning of the world is most accurately given to us by God's Word". It's a great reminder to pause and consider how God would have us see our situation before we draw our conclusions.

Faith formation

I was reading an article this week entitled "Sharing the Gospel in a Postmodern World" (Sean O'Neal, Evangel, Sept 2009). In the article, O'Neal refers to the importance of community in forming and developing faith. His comments draw from his experience with people who have no background in Christianity. Sometimes we forget that "growing faith" does not occur in a vacuum inside of our heads. Our faith is stretched and matured through real life - in community. Instead of bemoaning the lack of faith in the Christian community, it would be more productive if we invested in faith formation in the people God has put in our paths. It is challenging to invest in people who do not share our background or views about God, but it is rewarding. In the process, our own faith matures.

Where's your faith?

It's hard to overestimate the importance of faith. The Bible has a lot to say about faith. It seems like God has the ability to measure our faith. Sometimes we think in terms of that measure as to whether it is great or small, weak or strong. At times, Jesus rebuked His disciples because their faith didn't measure up. Naturally, I consider the health of my own faith. Faith is dynamic. It changes. It should grow. But, it should also mature. Rather than focis on teh "size" or "strength" of my faith I have been considering the object of my faith. Toward the end of his time with His disciples, Jesus told them to "Have faith in God" (Mark 11). (This was after they noticed an unfruitful fig tree that had withered - the context is worth considering). Lots of attention has been given to the verses that follow this admontion to have faith in God. Jesus spoke of speaking to mountains and having them move. But to skip over to the mountain moving aspect of faith too quickly is a mistake. The older I get, the more I realize the greatest challenge to my faith is not the mountains, it is the two words that come before the mountains..."in God". Will I put my faith "in God" or will I trust in other things? When I see a positive result from my faith, will I remain anchored in God or be tempted to trust in other things? Where's your faith? Great faith, strong faith can only be meaningful if it is faith "in God".

BTS

Back to school? As students return to school, it's good for all of us to remember that we never graduate from our apprenticeship with Jesus. Beginning a new school year brings new challenges and new relationships for our students. New teachers, new classes, new material bring opportunities for development. Students have an advantage in that regard. They do not really have a choice. If they are enrolled in school, they will be confronted with these pathways for growth. Sadly, as we get older, we look for ways to stay in the same class. We look for ways to rehash the same material. We find the same desk and sit down. We have a choice. Let's rekindle our desire to make new relationships, seek to learn new things and accept the challenge to stretch and grow. We tend to forget how refreshing it is to meet new people and experience transformation. I remember entering new classes in school with quite a bit of anxiety - only to discover new friends and learning that enriched my life. Why does it have to be different as we get older?

What's your definition of courage?

What is courage? It's hard for me to imagine courage apart from a need for courage. Does that make sense? Courage is not courage until it is proven in battle. I think about men and women that I know who are serving in Iraq or Afghanistan today. Their courage is proven day by day. I think about many friends who fighting battles with their health and I admire their courage. I have been studying Joshua. This Sunday I will share some thoughts about the Lord's "en-couragement" to Joshua. The Lord told Joshua to be "strong and courageous". Those are words that we need to take to heart. Strength and courage go hand in hand. Psalm 27 explains.

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.
(Psalms 27:1-3)

Mary and Martha

It's a familiar story. Jesus came to visit Mary and Martha. Luke provides a description of both women. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to His teaching. Luke's description of Martha is not as serene. Here are a few of the words used to describe her: distracted, anxious and troubled (Luke 10:40,41). Which description fits my life? What about you? Is it easy to justify Martha's activity? I can. Somebody has to take care of the details. Is it easy to get join with Martha in her frustration with Mary? I can. How can you sit there when there is so much to be done? Here's a problem my "Martha" attitude. There's an utter failure to gain the proper perspective. What does Jesus think? Fortunately, Luke took care of that for us. He shares the Lord's commentary on the situation. According to Jesus, Mary made a good choice. I'm not sure what bothers me more about my life. Is it my tendency to be busy, distracted and anxious? That bothers me. But, I think what bothers me more is my failure to stop and learn what my Lord thinks about the way I live from day to day.

Uncertainty

Uncertainty is an interesting word. It's being thrown around a lot lately. Whether you are listening to economists or a report from Wall Street, messages are couched with uncertainty. I'm not surprised by the fact that uneasiness trickles down from the macro to the micro level. I detect quite a bit of uncertainty in and around the lives of people that I care about. We are experiencing change in our world at an unprecedented rate. There is no way to anticipate change that happens so rapidly. But, forecasting and anticipating is not the same as preparing. I believe we can prepare for change, as well as uncertainty. Consider the fact that God is not surprised by anything that occurs in our lives. The Bible reassures us that God has known us since before we were born. Eugene Peterson comments on that fact:

Thius realization has a practical result; no longer do we run here and there, panicked and anxious, searching for the answers to life. Our lives are not puzzles to be figured out. Rather we come to God who knows us and reveals to us the truth of our lives. The fundamental mistake is to begin with ourselved and not God. God is the center from which all life develops.

This knowledge transfers our attention from the uncertain to the certain. We respond to life only after looking to the Source of life.

Let you light shine

In the beginning of 2009 I discerned a challenge that was gaining ground in my heart. The challenge was simple, "get out more". I gave a simple challenge to the congregation. Find a way to do what we do at a location other than the church. I am thrilled with some of the creative responses to that challenge. A segment of our men's bible study meets at a Mexican restaurant on Wednesdays evening. Our Youth have been doing a monthly service at the Civic Center. This week we did Vacation Bible School at the outdoor amphitheater at the Civic Center. Sunday Night we will have an outdoor concert there. One of my most meaningful reflections from this week has more to do with people who didn't register for VBS than the beautiful children who attended. It is from people who were all around the VBS celebration. I am talking about people who were jogging on the walkway, visiting the playground, enjoying a picnic in the grass, wandering around the Civic Center facilities. One lady shared with our registration volunteers that she enjoyed walking around each night and hearing the great music and celebration. What an obvious, but obvious benefit to getting outside of the church "building" and living as the church in our community. Sometimes we read the words of Jesus and overspiritualized them so much that we forget how they apply to the everyday life of the church. When Jesus taught us to shine as a light, He taught us that it is ridiculous to cover our light up and hide it. Sometimes we believe we shine the brightest on Sunday mornings while we worship as a congregation. But, that doesn't make sense does it? Sunday morning worship is very important to me. It is a great time to gather for corporate worship. But, let's not kid ourselves into thinking that it is our time to shine. We need to get out from under the roof of the church to really shine. My heart is filled with gratitude for every child, teen and adult that was shining brightly this week. Great job!

VBS Unleash the child within

What is it about VBS that brings out this explosion of creativity and energy? As expected, this has been an exciting week. I love the VBS experience. I love watching kids come together in worship, activities and a creative learning environment. This year, Pastor Dan and Penny have raised the bar a bit by taking our VBS to the community amphitheater. It's been awesome. As much fun as it is to watch the kids, I get a big kick out of watching the adults. As strange as it may sound, we are at our best at VBS. It's not just the energy and enthusiasm that explodes each night. It is an expression of unselfishness. As I watch adults at registration, team leadership, music, skits, snacks, set-up/clean-up and a host of other responsibilities it is inspiring. Each one is giving for the purpose of helping kids experience God's love and joy. That's what makes it special. And that is why I say that the church is at it's best. Too often the church gets caught up in "childishness" instead of the "child-likeness" that Christ talks about. The church, at it's best, unleashes child-like faith and service for the sake of others.

Vacation Bible School

What adventure awaits us this week? Vacation Bible School begins tonight. We are venturing out this evening to conduct our first VBS at the Oak Ridge Civic Center. I'm sure I will finish the week with great memories. I am excited about being at the Civic Center. It will be a different atmosphere altogether from our experience at Heritage. Loud music, lots of kids and a great message of God's love - the typical stuff of VBS will be there. However, I believe we will have an opportunity to share with kids and families that would not have ventured to the church. There are a number of reasons why some people are hesitant to come to the church, even to VBS. One of our primary messages in VBS will not be written in the printed material or a take home Bible verse. It will be written by our feet. Making the effort to move toward people rather than expecting them to come to us represents a message that we tend to neglect. It is a message that was embodied in the incarnation of Jesus. He came to us and taught us "As the Father as sent me, so I send you".

The Church

In my previous post I noted that Timothy Keller draws attention to the individual and community aspects of the Christian life. And I left it hanging with a "more on this later" bailout. Much of the struggle of the church in America relates to the combination of these two aspects. Can they work together? In his book "Building the bridge as you walk on it", Robert Quinn describes what he calls "Detached Interdependence". I love his description. Quinn writes, "This person combines Independence and strength with humility and openness". While not all of Quinn's comments are directly applicable to the Christian life, he raises a good point about the combination of the individual and the corporate life of the church. We struggle to combine strength of character with the warmth of a humble spirit. We also find it difficult to mix personal accountability with the connectivity of authentic relationships. Yet, the church is a living body defined by relationships and personal integrity. It's not meant to be easy. It reminds us of our need for God's help. That seems to me to be the rub in the church today. We try to "do" church without acknowledging the defining and enabling power of God.

The Church

Lately I have been reading about the "church". There is plenty of material. I even participated in a panel discussion for a local TV show about the condition of the church in America. Commentaries abound. As I read some of the biting critiques, I give a painful nod and agree that we deserve a lot of what we receive. When I turn to the Bible I am encouraged by the commitment of our Lord to "build" His church. The foundation that Christ provides gives me hope and courage. But, it also reminds me that the church has been and is a building project. That means that there are always those bothersome signs..."pardon our mess, while we are under construction". For those of you who are less inclined toward material building, think about arriving at a website and receiving the "site under construction" message. It's always a bit annoying when you expect one thing and meet with delay. Welcome to the church. Timothy Keller (The Reason for God) writes, "becoming a Christian always has both an individual and a corporate aspect". When I read Keller's comment I was struck by the fact that we have sometimes have a different perspective on God's grace for our individual journey than we do for the corporate journey. More on this later.

The Thriller's Gone

We live in the constant flood of news about pop culture. It's not a shock that when the self-proclaimed "king of pop" dies that the details of his life and death dominate discussions for days. For someone my age, Michael Jackson has been an icon of the good, bad and ugly of pop culture. His talent has been amazing. His life has been one of the most tragic. From the obvious abuses of his early life to the strange trek into later years, he has lived a disturbing and tragic life. Whether people will remember his music, his weirdness or a mixture of the both depends upon individual choices. I tend to distill the complexities of life into their relationship to a larger narrative. In the end, our lives tell a story that is part of a larger story. It is the story of God. The chapter we write will either testify of the impact of God's redemptive grace or a tragic drift away from Him. The latter always makes me sad.

Why do people choose the substitute over God himself? Probably the most important reason is that it obviates accountability to God. We can meet idols on our own terms because they are our own creations. David Wells, God in the Wasteland

One of the greatest challenges to a Christian worldview today is any claim that salvation comes through Christ alone. I have had many discussions about the salvation. The discussions take on many shapes and forms, but the end result is still the same. Do Christians claim that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life? Yes. Why does this matter? Because Jesus is not an object to be worshipped. He is alive. Any true, pure relationship with Jesus is personal. Once we grasp that fact, it changes the conversation completely. We can no longer speak of Jesus as if He wasn't in the room. It's more than an issue of accountability. It is a personal relationship with the Sovereign ruler of the universe.

cost or consequence

As I continue to reflect on my recent time in Russia I have thought about frequent comments about the "cost" of following Jesus. During my stay I was inspired by wonderful brothers and sisters who had chosen to serve God in spite of hardship and difficulty. Some had suffered in their family relationships. Some face great financial challenges. When we hear about these challenges, we respond with comments about the "cost" of following Jesus. I have even heard comments about how much more it costs to follow Jesus in other countries. Our comments reveal something about our lack of understanding of what it means to follow Jesus. The consequences of following Jesus may differ from country to country, but the cost is the same. In order to follow Jesus, it costs everyone the same. It costs us everything. Jesus requires everything. In America, we have bought into an idea of following that is less than accurate. Jesus wants all of us. We try to convince ourselves that Jesus will be thankful to receive part of our time, part of our devotion, a partial commitment, half a heart. He's not. The cost of following Jesus in America equals the cost in Russia. The consequences may differ, but the cost is the same.

Home Sweet Home

There's no place like home. It's great to be back from Russia. I had a wonderful trip. If you have read any of the previous posts, you know that I had some great experiences and God's grace was evident all along the way. Each time I take a trip, expecially to another country, I find myself considering the effects of the trip. After spending time with other pastors, I have thought a lot about what it means to be a pastor. What do I have in common with a pastor in Siberia? Actually, quite a bit. I have thougtht about two important aspects of pastoring: context and calling. After listening to the pastor's in Russia share, I could sense that calling is much the same. We share a invitation from God to share His love and build better disciples. Context makes it interesting.

The Body of Christ

Often I refer to the church as the "body of Christ". It's a good reminder of our connection with one another and with Christ. But it's such a deep truth, it's easy to miss how important it is to our existence. Our connection with Christ is life-giving. In an organic illustration, Jesus said, "I am the vine and you are the branches". Consequently, our connection with one another allows the life of Christ to flow through us and encourage one another. This morning I was at the closing service of the pastor's conference here in Moscow. It was a communion service. Together we remembered how our Savior gave his body and blood to give us life. It was a special moment in my life. Vast differences in culture and language faded away as a common culture moved to the forefront. The distance created by differences could not compare with the unity of our connection with Christ. It was a communion to remember.

Encouraging Words

I have had a great time in Moscow. It's been exciting to teach and preach to a group of pastors from many different regions around the former Soviet Union. Each day in our meetings a different pastor shares a report about what God has been doing. As a result, I have seen pictures and heard testimonies from remote areas of the world, such as sparsely populated areas of Siberia. It's really fascinating as I hear about individual accounts of God's grace. These stories encourage my heart. For example, I heard today about a pastor's struggle to forgive. Because of a conflict, the government in his region had become unusually oppressive. This pastor knew that an individual was stirring up the opposition. As I reflect on this pastor's journey, I can't help but compare it to the Apostle Paul's challenges in the book of Acts. This Russian pastor shared how God's grace flowed in his heart - allowing him to forgive. Sometimes it's easy to allow challenges to distract us from our mission. His testimony was a reminder that God is at work in each challenge. It may be that God provides a breakthough in our community that is outwardly observable. It may be that God provides a breakthrough in the condition of our hearts that cannot be seen by others. Either way, God is powerfully at work.

Non-verbal communication

I have taught many leadership classes on communication. Typically, I spend some time on the importance of non-verbal communication. Body language, certain gestures, eye contact, etc. It's interesting when you are surrounded by people from a different culture, speaking a different language. While here in Russia I enjoy watching Russians communicate. It's a great learning experience. But, there's a non-verbal communication that is much more striking than body language. It is the language of the heart. I have experienced a communication between the hearts of the brothers and sisters around me. Late last night I was in a classroom alone working on my laptop when a pastor named Andrew came in and visited with me. He speaks very little English - I speak very little Russian (you can only say "thank you, my name is Paul" so many times before it gets old.) Yet, we communicated. Rather, the Spirit of God communicated between our hearts. He introduced me to his sons. I showed him pictures on my laptop of Nick and Lynn. He pointed to Mongolia on the map where he spent two years in the army. He didn't say anything about it, but I could tell that it was a very painful and difficult time in his life. He sat down at a piano and played a song. The music was full of emotion, a complex mixture of sadness and hope. He couldn't see the tears in my eyes as the music he played poured into my heart. I played some video from our website and he began to weep as Pastor Phil sang about our Lord. He didn't understand the words, but the Spirit was speaking to his heart. Our worlds so different, yet the Spirit who shapes our hearts is the same. After a few minutes together, he hugged me and said as best he could "glad you're here". He spoke the words, but I had already heard the message in my heart. When I teach classes on communication, the goal is always the same: learn to be a better listener. God is teaching me something about being a better listener. When I listen with my heart, it must be soft to receive. A hard heart is closed to the most meaningful messages that God sends our way. They are rich messages, deep messages, messages that He delivers personally by His Spirit through His diverse and beautiful servants, like Andrew.

Christ the Savior

Today I visited Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow. As I entered I was captivated. It was a mult-sensory experience. The smell of the candles, the vastness of the cathedral walls, the beauty of the artistry and architecture was magnificent. As I looked up to the ceilings I was overwhelmed with the artistic depiction of our triumphant Savior and His return in glory. Literally, I lifted up my head and saw a picture of our ultimate redemption. The history of the Cathedral is a testimony of beauty, destruction and rebirth. Christ hte Savior was built in celebration, destroyed by an oppressive government and rebuilt as a symbol of rebirth. We too were created in beauty, destroyed by sin and reborn with a proclamation of Christ's ultimate victory. "Awesome" is a word that is sometimes overused, but "awe" is underappreciated. Today I am in awe as I consider the greatness of God and His love for me.

Ecclectic 101

Seems like I always have an interesting conversation when I fly. I sat next to a man named Mike from Australia who now lives in Vriginia. He travels extensively around the world (within a month he was going to be in China, India, Russia and Brazil. It was cool since I have been in those countries with the exception of India - and I made big points when I told him that my favorite was Australia. But, the real conversation starter was when he asked me whether I enjoyed studying the Bible. I was reading Timothy Keller's book, "The Reason for God". I responded "yes" and we enjoyed an interesting conversation. He asked if I had read "The God Delusion" by the famous atheist Richard Dawkins. (I have blogged about Dawkins before and some of his thoughts from the book.) He said he enjoyed the book because he likes the writing style of Dawkins. Within moments of our conversation about Dawkins he brought up Joel Osteen and said that he would love to go to his church and see him "live". OK, let me summarize. Mike loves to read and atheist's enthusiastic rants about how God doesn't exist, but he would love to go hear Joel Osteen preach. How's that for ecclectic? Mike is a good example of what we can expect in the arena of conversation if we are willing to dive in. On the past few Sunday evenings we have been discussing the opportunities that exist for the church today and we have been discussion our level of preparedness or the lack thereof. Is it challenging to minister to an ecclectic world? We should read the New Testament with a fresh perspective.

Comfort Food

I love the label "comfort food". Although it is seldom used in a positive way I like the sound of it. Most of the references to comfort food that I have heard have a close connection to either chocolate or potato chips. (No offense to potato chips, but that's not much of a contest - even for a salt lover like me). I'm getting ready to board the plane and head to Moscow. I'm looking forward to the trip. But, as I sit in the airport in Washington, I am reminded that this is not home. I am away from my home and my family. So, I grabbed a cup of comfort - decaf from Starbucks. A warm cup of familiar coffee is comforting. It's a blessing to have a taste of home in so many places. It's a great reminder of how we should live every day. The New Testament reminds us many times that this life - the here and now - is not home. We are strangers, pilgrims, sojourners, travelers. So what is our comfort food? The Psalmist describes it perfectly, "As the deer pants for the water, so my soul thirsts for God". Take comfort in the presence of God. No matter where we are God is with us.

Growing a great soul

Yesterday I shared a message about the relationship between obedience and nourishment for the soul. It's not hard to draw some parallels between what goes on in our physical body and our spiritual health. When we have a healthy diet we reap certain benefits. How do we grow a healthy soul? We feed it. After pondering the menu of life my conclusion hasn't changed. The healthiest diet for the soul is packed full of obedience. Prayer is good. It's a great way to commune with God, draw near to God and hear from God. It's like a good appetizer. But, if we fail to obey, our prayer life alone will not grow a great soul. Bible study is rich. It has the potential to fill our minds and hearts with eternal principles. It's like my favorite bowl of soup. But, those principles do not help us if they are not attached to obedient response. Obedience is the main course. It integrates our prayer life and our Bible study.

Rest

It's Sunday night and I'm winding down. It's a great time to talk about rest. We live in a 24/7 world. The fact that I'm sitting in bed blogging is an indicator of how much our world has changed in the last few years. Earlier today I shared a message at Heritage drawn from the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:25-30. His invitation is amazing. It seemed to me like an appropriate message for moms on Mothers Day. Jesus invites us to come to Him and find rest. Weariness is epidemic today. Yet rest is available. Why do we go without rest? I'm not talking about physical fatigue. I'm talking about soul fatigue. It's because we try to find rest outside of our relationship with Jesus. Real rest, true rest, soul rest cannot be found outside of our relationship with our Savior.

Almost Miss USA

Not that I am a fan of Miss USA pageants, but it was hard to miss the talk about it this week. Miss California, Carrie Prejean, has been the focus of a lot of commentary after her politically incorrect answer to pageant-judge Perez Hilton's question about same-sex marriage. Here's the short version of a big story: He ask her what she thought about it and she told him and he didn't like it. What concerns me most about the issue is a comment that reflects a growing sentiment in our culture in America. Hilton responded to questions this morning on the Today show by saying that Prejean as a Miss USA contestant should answer questions in a way that "will make everyone feel welcome". Notice he didn't say that she should be honest. I'm not concerned at all about who wins Miss USA this year or next year. As I said, I'm not a big fan of pageants. As a follower of Jesus, I believe this issue gives us an opportunity to consider how to answer tough questions. Truth is not always welcome or welcoming. But, that does not relieve us of our convictions. In addition, we have a responsibility to saturate our answers with truth, love and grace.

What's in a name?

Last weekend, Adam Dunn of the Washington Nationals played baseball sporting a uniform minus the "o" in Nationals. Aren't uniforms supposed to be uniform? Even though his jersey was flawed, he was still able to play the game. Sometimes we focus on the outside and forget that it is what's on the inside that matters. Last Sunday morning I talked a little bit about the message of Jesus toward the church at Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6). According to Jesus the church at Sardis had a reputation (outward appearance) of being alive, but the church was dead on the inside. It's a great message for the church in America today. We cannot continue to be more concerned with whether we give the appearance of life and vitality than we are with heart and character issues. Real life is a heart issue.

Leap of Faith

Theism requires a leap of faith, but it is a leap into the light, not into the Dark.
Dean Overman (A Case for the Existence of God)

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Hebrews 11:6

Have you ever wondered why the disciples did not understand important teachings of Jesus until after the resurrection? It may have had something to do with belief. Years after the resurrection of Jesus, the writer of Hebrews explained some things about belief. Belief is a catalyst. It is the initiative that sparks a search to know God and to be near God. But, belief in God is always a leap of faith. It requires us to venture away from our own neat and tidy understanding into a world of knowing that is bigger than us. But, it is not a leap into the dark. It is not a dead end because faith is not the goal. Faith is a bridge. Our leap of faith is a journey a part of our journey to God. If we leap by faith to belive in God, God rewards us. There is Light at the end of our journey. Our faith allows us to know God and see everything differently: in the light of His love.

April Showers

Outside my window is a large pear tree. In the past few weeks I have watched the transformation from winter to spring. It is a reminder to me of the kind of transformation that was a catalyst of faith in the life of Brother Lawrence in the 17th century. Brother Lawrence was looking at barren tree one winter day and his anticipation of leaves, blossoms and fruit gave him a "profound impression of God's providence and power, which never left him". It's a great thought for us in the week after Easter celebrations. God's power brings new life. God's provision sustains life and provides meaning and fruitfulness in life. Brother Lawrence is known for his commitment to "the practice of the presence of God". True contentment is found when we enjoy His presence daily.

Post-Resurrection Living

Jesus is Alive! Churches all over proclaimed the Risen Lord yesterday. Now it's Monday. Jesus is still alive. Is our faith? Is it vibrant, life-changing, decision-altering faith? A couple of decades ago Brennan Manning penned the following:

I can think of no other time in history when the name of Jesus has been so frequently mentioned and content of His life and teaching so thoroughly ignored.

Twenty years later I think Manning's words still hold the same sting. Our belief in a death shattering, living God should have more than a casual occasional impact on our living. Several years ago I shared a message series entitled "The Resurrection, Now What?" It's still a good question.

Good Friday

Early this morning I was picking up some things at the store. My attention was captured by the rows of "Easter Candy". I walked over and contemplated buying Lynn a chocolate bunny. While I was looking over the candy, a chocolate cross caught my eye. I paused at the cross. Here I was, in Walmart, on Good Friday staring at a chocolate cross. Unexpectedly, I was deeply disturbed. I'm not going to rant about the extreme over commercialization of every holiday and celebration. I could go on and on about how we manufacture holidays to fuel our consumer mentality. But, that's not the point. I was disturbed by this image of the cross that is so far from reality. I began this week with a desire to focus on the cross. The day that Jesus was crucified revealed the extreme ugliness of sin and the sufficient extreme love of our God. On the cross, the Holy One became our sin: every murder, every rape, every genocide, every child molestation and abduction, every lie, every jealous thought. Jesus became our sin. Maybe that's why I am fighting back tears as I think about a cross made of chocolate.

Chistian America

There's has been quite a bit in the news about whether America is a "Christian nation" or not. A recent Newsweek article entitled "The End of Christian America" reports the results of the 2009 American Religious Identification Survey. Among the results is a reported increase in the number of Americans who claim no religious affiliation (15%). This percentage has nearly doubled since 1990 (8%). My reflections on this article are influenced by the fact that we remember "Holy Week" this week. The Newsweek article has much to say about the interrelationship between Religion, the Government and Christianity. I can't help but reflect on the fact that these same relationships were critical in the events that led to the death of my Savior on the cross. Religious leaders were in the forefront of the charge to crucify Jesus. Read through the Gospel accounts of Jesus death and it's hard to deny the political concerns that influenced Pontius Pilate's treatment of Jesus. Then there were the Christians. Although they were not called "Christians" yet, they were followers of Christ. With a few exceptions, the Christians do not receive a very positive treatment during "Holy Week" in the Gospels. The followers of Christ are among those who deny, betray, abandon and fall asleep at inopportune moments of crisis. What will the future hold for America? Are we entering a "post-Christian" slide? As a follower of Christ, I want to learn from those who were there with Jesus. I want to learn from their mistakes. And I want to learn from Jesus. In the midst of swirling political and religious issues many of His followers were uncertain. Yet, Jesus remained true to His mission. That is my desire.

Think about the Cross

There will be lots of talk about the resurrection this week. There should be. I agree with the Apostle Paul that without our belief in the resurrection we are miserable. Preaching is in vain. New life is not possible. But, I don't want to make a mistake this week by rushing past the cross to view the empty tomb. I want to meditate on the cross. I need to meditate on the cross. As I gaze upon my Savior I think about John's testimony in the fourth gospel. If Jesus is lifted up, He will draw us to Himself. Jesus allowed Himself to be crucified so that we could be drawn to His great love. Not only am I drawn to His great love, I am drawn to His words of forgiveness. It's not possible for me to count the number of times I have read the words. I don't know how many times I have heard them in a sermon. But, they still captivate me and they draw me to Jesus. It's as if He is speaking to me. "Father forgive Him". They take on fresh meaning in my life. How many times have I offended God? How many times have I disappointed Him? How many times has He forgiven me?

Idol Worship

In my recent Old Testament reading in the Bible I have noticed that the subject of "idolatry" gets a lot of coverage. It seems that idolatry was a continual threat to a pure relationship with God. Most of the time we tend to think of "idolatry" as an old forgotten sin that doesn't really manifest among followers of Jesus today. Is that true? I ran across an interesting definition of idolatry today. Eugene Peterson defined idolatry as "using God instead of worshiping God".
Does Peterson's definition change your mind about the importance of guarding against idolatry today? When was the last time you worshiped God, really worshiped God, without trying to "get" something from Him? Is that kind of worship a regular, consistent, non-negotiable part of your life everyday?

Leviticus

Leviticus isn't easy to read. Some of you may love it. It may be your favorite book in the Bible. But, I doubt that it is. I just finished reading through the book. As is so often the case, God breathed fresh life into passages. Unexpected blessings began to encourage me from a book that I did not look forward to reading. For example, Leviticus 26:12-13 declares "I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people. I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high". It's so easy to read through Leviticus and got bogged down in the sacrificial system and the requirements of the law and question the relevance of the rules that God gave His people at Mt. Sinai. It's easy to do that because that is so closely akin to our perspective of Christianity today. "Holiness" is becoming an old-fashioned word (Holy is word that is repeated often in Leviticus). But, you can't appreciate the beauty of Leviticus 26 without the journey that leads to it. God did not give rules because He wanted to burden the people. God gave the law in order to allow them to walk in freedom that could only come through a living relationship with Him. It's hard for us to grasp because we (especially in America) have come to associate freedom with individualism rather than a relationship with a holy God. Now, I'm not advocating a return to the Levitical Law. Jesus became our sacrifice and the sacrifices required in Leviticus are not longer necessary. But, the holiness of God has not changed. The character of the freedom that God provides has not changed. We hold our heads up - not in pride, but to look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

Answers in Acts

Reading through Acts is an adventure. It seems like the church grows with every turn of the page. Living in the midst of North American Christianity in the 21st century it may be easy to become a little detached from the reality of the miraculous work of God in the early church. It's too easy to have a "that was then, this is now" view of Acts. That's a sad way to read Acts. It misses the mark in a couple of ways. First, it tends to lead to a diminished view of God's activity in the church today. Second, we forget that Peter, John, Paul and Barnabas were real people. One of my reasons for studying Acts is to highlight the answers that Acts provides to real questions. As I read the first couple of chapters with fresh eyes, I have recognized that the questions that people in the first century were asking are not all that different from the questions we wrestle with today. Likewise, the answers provided through the dramatic story of the early church contain valuable insights for us today.

Another voice from our past

A man was meant to be doubtful about himself, but undoubting about the truth; this has been exactly reversed. Nowadays the part of a man that a man does assert is exactly the part he ought not to assert—himself. The part he doubts is exactly the part he ought not to doubt—the Divine Reason.
G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy, 1908

Do we trust ourselves above "Divine Reason". Long ago Pilate asked the question, "What is truth?" (John 18:38). Pilate asked a good question and he asked the right person. But, good questions fall short if we fail to listen for the answer. It turns out the answer led to the question. Apparently, Jesus' words provoked the question. Jesus said, "Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice". Today, it seems that we are too quick to listen to our own voices and ignore the truth of God, what Chesterton called "Divine Reason".

What do you really want in life?

"If you look into your own heart in utter honesty, you must admit that there is one and only one reason why you are not even now a (fully devoted follower of Christ): You do not wholly want to be."
William Law
A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life (1728)

I received a recent electronic magazine from one of my professors. His ezine is Christianity 9 to 5. In this most recent issue he provided some lessons from writers such as William Law. I can't exactly say that I enjoyed reading William Law when I was doing research on character development. But, I did appreciate his raw and straightforward honesty. In an age when excuses abound, we have become so adept at shucking responsibility that a little slap in the face from William Law is in order every now and then. So go ahead and ask the question, "Why am I not a passionate follower of Jesus?" Law has a great answer: because I don't want to be.

To read more go to
http://www.epiphanyresources.com/9to5/index.htm

Holiness

I was reading in Exodus this morning. The word "holy" was mentioned several times. To me, "Holy" is an intimidating word. When I think of it I usually have an image of God on a throne and members of creation declaring His holiness. I think about the repetition of "Holy, Holy, Holy" in worship and adoration to God. What I don't normally think of - is me. That changed a little this morning. As I was reading about the God's instructions about sacrifices, the altar and incense. I noticed how "atonement" was made in order to help things that weren't holy become holy. It was a great reminder of how the atonement of Jesus, His willing suffering and sacrifice, transforms me into something holy for God.

Increasing or Decreasing Love

I included a quote from Bill Hybels in my message on Sunday; "The longer you walk with God the more open your arms become". What is Hybels trying to say? The more we walk with God the more God's love affects our capacity to love. I believe it. But, I haven't always experienced it myself. I haven't always observed it in others. There have been times in my life that I have chosen to cross my arms. What about you? Why? Does that mean that I ceased to walk with God? A couple of things come to mind. First, we have to allow the love of God to heal us. If we fail to open our arms to others, it may be because we fear vulnerability. There may be lingering hurts and disappointments that we haven't released to God. Openness is closely related to vulnerability. Increased vulnerability can and should increase as we walk with a God who knows everything about us and loves us anyway. But, we have to trust God to heal us. In addition to our fear of vulnerability, we may be hesitant to open our arms because our walk with God has become distorted. Selfishness creates a myopic view of our world and our God. We limit the scope of our relationship with God when it becomes a selfish relationship. God does not belong to us - we belong to Him.

God's grace

I have often said that greatest development in my life has been my understanding and experience with God's grace. This week serves to confirm that. On Sunday, Nick was diagnosed with diabetes. It's a diagnosis that I understand very well from my own journey. Throughout the past few days God's grace has sustained us. Nick is doing extremely well with learning the a new routine. He returned to school today. God has encouraged us with His presence and through His word. One verse in particular stands out to me: God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. Each of those gifts from God has helped us. Each of those gifts helps us to make good choices in our thoughts and actions. It's easy to fear. But, God's grace has been chasing our fears away and I'm thankful that His supply is more than enough.

Prayer

Most people say that they pray. I have studied the results of many surveys and they reveal that most people say they pray. Assuming the results of such surveys are accurate, have you ever wondered what people pray? What if a summary sheet of our daily prayers printed at the end of the day. Wouldn't it be fun to review the transcripts of our daily prayers. Judging from the sidelines of the Super Bowl last week, the transcripts of both teams would be long....let him trip, let him catch it, let him drop it, let him miss, hurry clock, slow down clock, help the official to open his eyes, help the official to look the other way. When people answer surveys about the practice of prayer I suspect that they are referring to a lot of prayers that exist at the "thought" level and not necessarily the "spoken" level. That raises a question for me. Do we realize the connection between our practice of prayer and the focus of our thoughts? If we seldom pray for the things that God cares most deeply about does that mean most of our thoughts are selfish? That's something to think about.

I saw Jesus at a Super Bowl Party

Great match-up between the Steelers and the Cardinals. The expected winner won. The expected loser put up a great fight. It was a battle. I enjoyed watching the game. But, it was a different experience for me. A group of our men went to the Knoxville Area Rescue Mission and watched the game with some of Knoxville’s homeless who are staying at the shelter. The party provided a perfect opportunity to get to know the men at the shelter. We swapped cheers and jeers about the game. But, we also talked about life. I learned about kids and grandkids and difficult life situations. And I learned about battles bigger than that of the super bowl. Battles for sobriety. Battles for recovery. Battles for peace of mind. Battles for forgiveness. Battles for Hope and Self-Esteem. One advantage for the Super Bowl is that there is a decisive winner after sixty minutes of play. The battles of life are a much greater test of endurance. Last night we offered a brief encouragement to dozens of men that battles are not won alone. The perfect ingredients for encouragement were mixed: Good Food, Honest Conversation, Time Together, Prayer and the Love of God. It was an opportunity to learn from the Master and follow His lead. When we reach out to others we put flesh on the Gospel.

We, They, I

How easy it is to make strong distinctions between the three. We are the church. It sounds bold and powerful. Like a bunch of football players gathered in a circle before a big game. Nick's football team was the "Warriors" last year. So they would gather in a huddle. The team captain would shout "Who are we?" to which the others would shout passionately "Warriors". On my most optimistic days, that is the picture I get when I say "we are the church". "We" is about unity despite diversity. They are the church. It has a bit of an accusing tone. They, not we, are the church. That is a good description of our best "critical" look at the church today. It provides a great vantage point to identify what's wrong with the church. It's a very popular subject today. The bookstores are filled with "they" books right now and I have read my share of critiques. Though much of the criticism I read today is accurate, I quickly wade through the "they" language to find a "we" heart. Finally, we get to the rub. I am the church. If "we" is about unity and "they" is about criticism, "I" is about responsibility. When I read Acts 4, I discover that Peter was an "I" who reached out and touched a beggar at the Eastern gate of the Temple. Peter was the church. The fruitfulness of Peter's love is magnified before we reach the end of the chapter.

Reformission reflections

We are three weeks into 2009 so it's time to reflect. I have started the new year recognizing the need to "reform" some ways of thinking, particularly as it relates to Mission. The need for reform brought me to Acts 1:8. The definition of mission is clear in the words of Jesus. We are to "be witnesses" for Him. Mission is a life, not a project. Witness takes place every day, not just when we share the Gospel verbally. Now my attention has moved forward a few chapters. Acts 4 takes us on an interesting journey. It begins with the ordinary and ends with the extraordinary. Peter and John walk to the temple for a time of prayer, encounter a man in need and respond "in the name of Jesus". The man's healing sets in motion strong reaction from the religious establishment and it brings the disciples back around to prayer. If you like action and drama Acts 4 is a great chapter. How does this story speak to our need for reform? It hinges on a simple response of love to the need of a man who would be easy to pass by on the way to church.

Inauguration Day

Today Barack Obama will become the 44th President of the United States of America. It is a historic day that comes the day after a national holiday honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. Obama's inauguration is a reminder of the changes that have been made since Dr. King. These changes have occured in my lifetime. The election of a Obama also reaches back to the Emancipation Proclamation. Obama will take his oath of office utilizing the same bible that was used in the inauguration of Abraham Lincoln. Today my reflection reaches back much farther. When I think about inaugural events I think back to the coronation of Israel's first king as recorded in 1 Samuel 12. The words of the old prophet are a great reminder of our journey forward. America faces great challenges today. None is as great as our need to turn to God. Two admonitions stand out to me from the coronation of King Saul. First, the call to prayer: Samuel told the people "far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and right way". Second, Samuel reminded the people of the key principles of any journey forward: "fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you. But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king."

Defining Health

One of the interesting aspects of being a diabetic is the need for daily monitoring. Because I have been a diabetic for nearly 40 years I have seen some major changes in the methods of measuring blood sugar. Now, even the most basic methods of electronic measurement allow for downloadable data to analyze and study trends. What trends should we study in order to check the pulse of church health? I am convinced that we overlook many of the best indicators. Sunday morning attendance is important, but it doesn't necessarily guarantee Monday morning worship. How about day to day witness? It's hard to devise a tangible measure of whether or not we are salt and light - but, we need to be asking the question. A healthy church is a church that shares the light and love of the gospel in diverse and creative ways. I should be just as diligent to monitor whether I am living a Christ-like life as I am to check my blood sugar.

Is witness a noun or a verb?

In the first chapter of the New Testament book of "Acts" Jesus disappeared from His followers. But, before He went away, He told them that they would receive power to be witnesses. In Christian circles we think of witness as a verb. Witnessing equates to a shared testimony about Jesus. Even though that is an accurate picture of witnessing, it is incomplete. Jesus intended for His followers to understand that witness has to do with our existence, not just our words. In order to be witnesses of Jesus we must think in terms of how we reflect and represent His identity. Every day and everywhere we are witnesses. Some days we are good and faithful witnesses. At other times we do not reflect the true character and identity of Jesus. Either we reveal Jesus to others or we damage their understanding of His character. The challenge for us is to live every moment "in Jesus name". That has caused me to examine daily actions. The verbs in my life, my actions, create the noun, my witness.

Optimistic

Lay aside the ecomomic prognosticators that fill the news media for a moment and think about your own personal forecast. Sometimes it can be a bit discouraging to begin a new year with an awareness of the things that you would like to change or improve. The danger of discouragement is that it always paints an inaccurate picture of what can be. I was reading the Old Testament account today of God's promise of new life to an old couple: Abraham and Sarah. You might recall that Sarah's response was laughter/disbelief. It's a great metaphor for the new year. God promises new life to each of us. Discouragement is rooted in our "old life". Like Sarah, we can let our discouragement bring about a smirky laughter that feeds our doubts about the prospects of positive change in our lives OR we can remember God's response to Sarah was a question: "Is anything too difficult for me?" Great question.

Looking ahead

One of my favorite definitions of "vision" is that it is the story you want your life to tell. I love to think in terms of that kind of vision for me personally and also for the church. What is the story I want to tell with my life? One reason that definition is so powerful is that it is easy to see that Jesus was the greatest storyteller ever. Not only did His life tell the ultimate story, but he interjected timeless truths into story form. The result? We are pulled into the story. We are allowed to examine our lives with new perspective. We become the "sower" who does or does not throw seed out for a harvest. We become the "good samaritan", or not. Every day is a paragraph, every week a page, every month a chapter.

New Year

New Year New Me? As I arrived at the gym this morning, I was reminded by the full parking lot that it is the first week of January. I saw a few new faces wondering around with fresh resolve. Don't get me wrong, it's never a bad time to make good decisions about improving health. Every habit begins with the first step. Whether it is our physical or spiritual health it's a good time to make plans for a better year. However, beware the quick fix. It's not likely nor healthy to lose 10 lbs. this week. Likewise, I doubt that my spiritual character will change dramatically this week. But, I plan to be more spiritually mature, more like Jesus at the end of 2009 than I am today and today is an important part of that journey. Be encouraged and heed the advice of the writer of Hebrews. Keep your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. As long as we keep our focus on Him we will continue to move toward Him.