Lord, teach us to pray!

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Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

Your kingdom come, your will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Matthew 6:9-13

You can almost picture Jesus smiling when one of the disciples asked him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” –Luke 11:1. You would think that all of Jesus’ disciples prayed and had heard others pray. It’s not as if the disciples didn’t know how to pray. They had listened to countless hours of prayers by the religious leaders. They had even listened as Jesus taught about prayer. However, something finally clicked in this one disciple’s soul for him to voice the question, “Lord, teach us to pray.”

For the first time, this disciple wanted what Jesus had in prayer. Maybe as he saw the simple intimacy with which Jesus prayed, that it touched him so deeply he wanted more. It most likely wasn’t about the words or ritual of prayer but the depth of a relationship that he saw in Jesus when he prayed.

He was probably guilty of the very thing that Jesus had warned them about when praying. Jesus had told them, “when you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words.”  Much like our modern idiom, “the light bulb went on in his brain,” he understood there was more to prayer than words only.

“Someone once approached a teacher and asked her how to cultivate a deeper prayer life. “Say the Lord’s Prayer,” she replied, “but take an hour to say it.” (author unknown)

Instead of hitting the gas and going from 0 to 30 seconds which is about the average for repeating the words to this model prayer, you need to slow down and let the prayer be the frame for your requests and worship. The slower you go the less you will see it as a rote prayer but as a life-giving pattern to enjoy communion with God. There may come mornings when you never get past the opening phrase, “Our Father” when you pray.

“The Lord’s Prayer is a prayer about God’s honor and glory. It is a prayer about God’s kingdom coming on earth as in heaven—which pretty much sums up what a lot of Christianity is all about. It’s a prayer for bread, for meeting the needs of every day. And it’s a prayer for rescue from evil.” –N.T. Wright

I am still learning to enjoy the beauty and intimacy of this prayer as the gift of grace that Jesus intended the prayer to be for my life. It may take the rest of my life but it will be worth the journey. Meister Eckhart once wrote that “if in your lifetime the only prayer you offer is Thanks, that would suffice.”

Could it be that the prayer Jesus taught us will suffice for our lifetime? There is nothing that will happen today that Jesus didn’t cover in this simple yet majestic prayer of faith. It is in the moments of intimacy and reverence with the Creator that we are invited to call him Father. We are invited to pray that God’s kingdom comes today on earth just like it is in heaven. How reassuring as we face some of our society’s problems. Jesus said to let God take care of our daily needs instead of being anxious about tomorrow. We can trust Him for our needs regardless of the state of the economy.  We are forgiven and forgiving which brings peace to our souls. We know we will often take the wrong path so we can boldly ask for help!

Don’t rush through the words that Jesus gave us. Slow down so you can enjoy the prayer. Rest in the prayer as you let the Holy Spirit form the words that are deep within you. Meditate upon each phrase as you allow it to shape your prayer requests for the day. Don’t get so focused on the format that you miss being with God and looking into His face.

Lord, it is about you, not about me but you let me make it about me until I finally understand it is all about you! You listen deeply to what I think are my needs even when they sound more like wants. You forgive me, now if only I can forgive others. In a world filled with evil, you wait patiently to guide me home safely. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

God is great,

 

Living in the Wilderness

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And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. Mark 1:12-13

Rob Lundgren and his son were backpacking in Idaho’s Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness.  Lundgren remembers crawling into his nice warm sleeping bag that night but found himself startled awake after falling into the icy cold creek. Now wide awake at 8,000 feet and 20 degrees outside, he lives out a nightmare in the wilderness.  “I hadn’t sleepwalked in over 50 years, so it was the last thing on my mind…”

Lundgren found himself in a desperate situation, needing to be rescued. Others could identify with him based on headlines from the Backpacker magazine:

Bitten by a Rattlesnake

Mauled by a Grizzly

Stranded on a ledge

Lost in an Ice Cave

Mauled by a Mountain Lion

Life in the wilderness with all of its amazing beauty is also a place of unbelievable danger. Most of us have found ourselves awakened from a wonderful dream into a living nightmare.

Eugene Peterson said it well, “There are times, no matter how thoroughly we’re civilized, when we’re plunged into the wilderness—not a geographical wilderness but what I’m going to call a circumstantial wilderness. Everything is going along fine—and then suddenly we’re beside ourselves. We don’t know what’s going on within us or in another who is important to us; feelings erupt in us that call into question what we’ve never questioned before. There’s a radical change in our bodies, or our emotions, or our thinking, or our friends, or our job. We’re out of control. We’re in the wilderness.”

The list of our circumstantial wilderness experiences seems to be unlimited. We may find ourselves unemployed because the company reorganized. We may find ourselves in the hospital because a drunk driver ran a traffic light. We may find ourselves sitting in a funeral service from the death of a loved one. We may find ourselves_______, you fill in the blank for your wilderness.

A young David finds himself being driven into the wilderness by King Saul. David had learned some lessons about living in the wilderness but now he found himself facing new obstacles for his survival. What did David do? He turned to God. “You, God, are my God, I earnestly search for you.” (Psalm 63:1a)

“If you are chased into the wilderness when you are persecuted, do not be afraid as if you were all alone. Instead, rise up early in the morning and sing Psalm 63 to God knowing that he is there.” –Athanasius

Moses’ time in the wilderness prepared him to lead God’s people out of slavery and then found himself standing on holy ground (Exodus 3). Elijah fled to the wilderness fearful for his life only to find rest and renewal through the hand of God (I Kings 19).  Jesus found himself in the wilderness locked in battle with Satan but trusted God until “angels came and took care of Jesus.” (Matthew 4)

“I readily acknowledge that this circumstantial wilderness is a terrible, frightening, and dangerous place; but I also believe that it’s a place of beauty. In the wilderness we’re plunged into an awareness of danger and death; at the very same time we’re plunged, if we let ourselves be, into an awareness of the great mystery of God and the extraordinary preciousness of life.” –Eugene Peterson

Life in the wilderness can push us to our limits. We will all find ourselves living in the wilderness at some point in life. The question becomes, what will you do? The world offers a myriad of solutions yet each leads deeper into its own wilderness. Whether one takes the road of drugs, alcohol, materialism, or sexuality, you will find it is a road that leads to hopelessness, frustration, and lostness.

Moses, David, Elijah, Paul, John, Jesus, and a host of others used their time in their wilderness to grow, listen, learn, recover and prepare. Make the most of your time in your wilderness as you

Wait on God for deliverance – For God alone, my soul waits in silence – Psalm 62

Listen to God for deliverance – After the fire, there was a voice, a soft whisper – I Kings 19:12

Look toward God for deliverance- He hushed the storm to a gentle whisper – Psalm 107:29

Reflect upon God for deliverance – I wait for the LORD, my soul waits – Psalm 130:5

Worship God in your deliverance – Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him – Matt 4:10

Lord, I find myself in a wilderness that I didn’t choose. An overwhelming wilderness. A wilderness that makes me afraid. I know I can’t go it alone so please be my refuge, my strength, my rock. As you walk with me in this wilderness let me find in you the joy, hope, peace, and knowledge that only you can provide. Amen.

God is great,

 

 

Who knows? Perhaps you have come for such a time as this.

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Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.” Esther 4:13-14

“Well, Doctor, what have we got—a Republic or a Monarchy? A Republic, if you can keep it.” This famous quote was captured by Dr. James McHenry at the close of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 between Benjamin Franklin and Elizabeth Willing Powel. I dare say very few among the delegates would have envisioned the course this nation would take over the next centuries and decades.

Can we keep it? Each generation, including the current, has had to wrestle with this question. The question has forced us to look deep within ourselves and decide how we would respond. It is a question requiring an answer. It is a question asked of citizens as they struggle through a civil war, unite to fight wars against tyranny, live through economic depressions, face political turmoil, deal with cultural changes and seek to right social wrongs.  This 4th of July allows us again to look, reflect and ask, “What will it take to keep it”?

The Bible is filled with stories of how God has used the seemingly weak and politically powerless to turn the tide of events. Queen Esther is one such story as she finds herself on a course of history in which she has little or no control. She is forced into a marriage with King Ahasuerus, dependent upon Mordecai for guidance, and is fearful and doubtful. That is until she realizes that God can use her to make a difference.

Esther had quickly learned the royal ropes of protocol and knew what was expected of her. She understood that death awaited her as she astutely said, “if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—all alike are to be put to death.” Mordecai who has wisely guided Esther through the years now realizes he has no answer. “Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.”

Most likely every generation has looked at their situation and thought all was lost. Yet in that moment of hopelessness, God used someone or an event to spark a spiritually awakened nation. “If we give up on God and on our nation, we will obviously be unavailable to either. Then our spiritual and cultural pessimism becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.” Dr. Jim Denison

“Do I underestimate the difference it could make if I brought my petitions to another, greater King—one who welcomes me without protocol? —Izwe Nkosi.

It was to that greater King that Esther approached. Queen Esther allowed God to use her in whatever way to save her people. It was not a role Esther felt comfortable playing, a role she didn’t ask to play and yet finally came to terms with what she could do. She would come to the place where she could boldly say, “if I perish, I perish.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, imprisoned and later executed understood the significant role that a Christian can play in world events. He wrote in Ethics, “Do and dare what is right, not swayed by the whim of the moment. Bravely take hold of the real, not dallying now with what might be. Not in the flight of ideas but only in action is freedom. Make up your mind and come out into the tempest of living. God’s command is enough and your faith in him to sustain you. Then at last freedom will welcome your spirit among great rejoicing.”

As we celebrate Independence Day this year, let me paraphrase Esther 4:13-14 for us to think about.  Do not think that in your church membership you will escape any more than all the other citizens. For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the nation from another quarter, but you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to faith for just such a time as this. Are we available and open to what God may need for us to do?

“The rulers of the earth plot and scheme, forgetting that their lives are but a vapor, a passing mist; while Your word abides, unchanging; Your purposes, unthwarted. May no one miss their moment to find You; praise You; walk with You. Blessed are all who are called to be citizens of Heaven.” –Ryan Smith and Dan Wilt

We celebrate American independence today with a mixture of excitement and yet concerns, a mixture of thankfulness and yet fears of the future, a mixture of celebration and yet humility and a mixture of pride and yet brokenness.

“Revival cannot be organized, but we can set our sails to catch the wind from heaven when God chooses to blow upon His people once again.” –G. Campbell Morgan

Who knows? Perhaps this is the time that we set our sails to catch the wind from heaven to make a difference in this nation.

Who knows? Perhaps you have come for such a time as this.

God is great!

 

Influencers or Imitators – Is there a difference?

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I appeal to you, then, be imitators of me. I Cor 4:16

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. I Cor 11:1

What made you decide on that particular shirt, perfume, or any other item you purchased? Chances are, a social influencer may have played a role in your purchase. Names such as Cristiano Ronaldo with 517 million total followers, Justin Bieber with 455 million followers, and Ariana Grande with 429 million followers are among the top influencers.

Even though the millennial generation dominates the top influencers, Baby Boomers to Gen Z generation have a presence among influencers. 18-year-old TikTok influencer Charli D’Amelio’s earnings exceed the median pay for execs at Fortune 500 companies. The average age of the top 50 influencers is just over 37.

Exactly what is a social media influencer? Merriam-Webster added the word “influencer” to their 2019 dictionary. An influencer is “a person who is able to generate interest in something (such as a consumer product) by posting about it on social media.”  Social media has become the primary platform for today’s cultural influencers. Even though the word, influencer is relatively new, the concept is as old as time.

Josiah Wedgwood is often considered an early-era influencer, dating back to 1760. Wedgwood was a potter and after he made a tea set for Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III, he convinced her to allow him to promote his pottery with royal approval. Since Royalty was the ultimate “influencer” of the era, this allowed Wedgwood’s pottery to become the preferred pottery of the time.

Wedgwood did use his platform as “Potter to her Majesty” to focus on the abolition of slavery. Using his skills as a potter he created a Slave Medallion to bring public attention to the abolition cause.

Paul may not fit the stereotypical influencer of our day. However, he did use the ancient version of social media. He would write to the early churches, who then re-posted his letter to the other churches in the area. Most current influencers seek to influence action but few would ask to imitate them.

If an influencer seeks to generate interest in something, what does an imitator do? Imitators are people who copy the behavior or actions of another. We all influence decisions in one way or another but to imitate someone requires a deeper level of commitment and purpose. Paul boldly says, “be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” and it necessitates a lifestyle or convictions worthy of imitating. The real difference between an influencer and an imitator can be life-changing.

“Follow me as far as I follow Christ. Come up as close as you can to my example in those instances wherein I endeavor to copy after his pattern. Be my disciples, as far as I manifest myself to be a faithful minister and disciple of Christ, and no further. I would not have you be my disciples, but his.” –Matthew Henry

Imitators of Christ will always make a difference, one life at a time. Jim Denison recently shared the story about Alban, the first martyr in Britain. When your life is so focused on Jesus it is a life that calls out to be imitators of me, as I am of Christ, even to the point of death.

Alban lived in third-century Britain in the Roman city of Verulamium. One day he gave shelter to a Christian priest fleeing persecution. While protecting him, Alban was inspired by the priest’s faith and asked to be taught about Christianity. As a result, he came to faith in Christ.

When the authorities caught up with the priest, Alban’s newfound faith would not allow them to arrest him. Instead, he exchanged clothes with the priest and was arrested, allowing the priest to escape. Alban refused to renounce his beliefs, so the magistrate ordered that he should receive the punishment intended for the priest.

As a result, he was led out of Verulamium and up the hillside where he was beheaded, becoming the first Christian martyr in the British Isles.

Before his death, the executioner assigned to kill him became so impressed with his faith that he became a believer as well and refused to kill Alban. The executioner was then executed, becoming the second Christian martyr in Britain.

The third was the priest. When he learned that Alban had been arrested in his place, he hurried to the court in hopes of saving Alban by turning himself in. He was then martyred as well. The place of their deaths is near the site of St Alban’s Cathedral today.

Imitators or influencers? The choice is pretty clear which will make a difference for today and eternity.

Influencers promote products and lifestyles. Imitators live a life that points people to Jesus. Phil 3:17-21

Influencers’ status depends upon the current trend. Imitators reject superficial trends holding to a faith found through the ages “looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.”  Hebrews 12:1-2

Influencers use their platform for personal gain. Imitators seek to live life without selfish ambition or conceit. Philippians 2:3-8

Influencers can twist truth. Imitators speak truth in love. Ephesians 4:15

Influencers hide behind a mask of impersonal relationships through their social media platform. Imitators live with unveiled faces being transformed, living life in relationships. 2 Corinthians 3:18

Influencers seldom face death for their post. From the beginning, imitators of Christ knew their life choice brought them into conflict with the world, even to the point of death. John 15:18-20

Social media influencers will have an impact, money, and notoriety but only for a brief moment. The one who seeks to be an imitator of Christ may not have millions of followers on Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube, nor command $400,000 per post. However, what an imitator of Christ has will be of eternal significance. Now that is an influence that is desperately needed in our current culture that makes a difference!

God is great.

 

Where’s Dad?

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Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord. Ephesians 6:4 NLT

The years have not faded the vivid, exciting, and life-changing memory of holding my first-born son after his birth. There was an overwhelming joy and raw emotion as I cradled this tiny body in my arms. These same feelings would be duplicated twice again with my daughters’ births. Fatherhood! Questions flooding my mind: Will I be a good father? What if I get it wrong? Yet trusting in God’s grace and help to be a father.  Perfect? Far from it. Mistakes enough to go to the moon and back.

Sunday marked Father’s Day in America. As we celebrate Father’s Day every year, it draws attention to the role of the Father in our families and society. This is a role that is changing rapidly since the nation’s first Father’s Day on June 19, 1910.

Unfortunately, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 1 in 4 children live without a biological, step, or adoptive father in the home.  I use the word unfortunate since research shows that a father’s absence affects children in numerous ways according to the National Fatherhood Initiative.

A 2019 study by the Pew Research Center showed that the United States has the world’s highest rate of children living in single-parent households out of 130 countries and territories. It is hard enough to be a two-parent household so the challenges and burdens for single-parent homes are greatly multiplied.

It takes only minutes to read daily about the world’s influence on our children’s lives. According to The Center for Family Justice, 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 7 boys will be sexually assaulted by the time they reach 18; more than four children die each day because of child abuse and approximately 70% of children that die from abuse are under the age of four. Just this past week, an Illinois man was charged with the murders of his three young children, ages 5, 3, and 2.

An article in the Atlantic Magazine titled “The One Parenting Decision That Really Matters” lists numerous factors on successful parenting but the bottom line comes down to where you raise your child. In essence:  Location. Location. Location.

However, I would agree with the long-time pastor as well as father and grandfather James Emery White in his response to the article, “If all you care about is worldly accomplishment, then perhaps one factor might be where you raise your child. But if you run a bit deeper than that, and care about the spiritual formation of your child-values, beliefs, behaviors, faith—then it’s not about where you raise your child, but who you are as a parent as you raise your child.”

Professor Christian Smith from the University of Notre Dame just released the findings of a detailed research project on the importance of parents’ impact on the religious development of their children. In his book, Handing Down the Faith: How Parents Pass Their Religion on to the Next Generation, he details how parents are the most successful and influential part of their kids adopting the Christian faith compared to other influences.

Professor Smith writes; “Some readers might be surprised to know that the single most powerful causal influence on the religious lives of American teenagers and young adults is the religious lives of their parents.”  Not their peers, not the media, not their youth group leaders or clergy, not their religious school teachers.”

The research shows that no one has to be a super-Christian. Parents simply have to live out their faith consistently, honestly, and consciously to impact their children. Dr. Smith continues that in their findings that the “role of fathers is especially important in forming children religiously” adding “both parents matter a lot in faith transmission, but the role of fathers appears to be particularly crucial.”

Father’s Day might be a good time to read Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus again but with a focus on the father part. In this letter, Paul gave men some challenging instructions on what it means to be a husband and father. A husband must love his wife just like Jesus did his church, even to the point of death. A father must love his children in a way that allows them to grow spiritually and emotionally healthy.

God set importance on the family structure to be a place where children are nurtured, taught, and equipped for life. “Parents are the greatest single evangelists for the gospel in the world and its greatest arena is the family.” (The Daily Citizen)

God’s worldview has always been greater than the size of our bank accounts, where we live, or the impact of our worldly influence. “Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power.” –Psalm 145:4

Lord, we need you. We need to become the fathers, mothers, and grandparents that will stand in the gap for the children of this world. We must pray against the darkness that seeks to destroy our children. We must pray that they will have tender hearts to hear your voice. May our children tell their children of your mighty acts because we were faithful in telling them of your mighty acts. Amen

God is great

 

 

Walk the Ancient Paths

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Thus says the LORD:

Stand at the crossroads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.

But they said, “We will not walk in it.” –Jeremiah 6:16

Are there any crossroads you have been hesitant to take? If you are like most of us, then probably there have been many. Crossroads mandate a decision as to whether you go straight, left or right. Life presents us with crossroads that are business, political, philosophical, moral, and spiritual. Whichever crossroad you take will impact your life, occasionally for a moment, but often for a lifetime.

Psalm 23 takes you through the green pastures as well as the dark valleys, yet walking the ancient paths that God has laid out, guarantees his constant companionship. Rejecting God’s way will put you on a path moving further away from God and His ancient paths.

Israel had been given prophets and teachers to help them know God’s Word. Now as they stand at the crossroads all they have to do is “ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies; and walk in it.” God is ready to walk with them. Unfortunately, as they stand at the crossroad, they reject the ancient paths. They would rather keep going in their ways that will take them further away from God.

Connie and I had the amazing opportunity last week to be part of a 10-day Journey of Paul through Athens, Corinth, Patmos, Ephesus, Philippi, and Thessalonica (Thessaloniki). Time has taken its toll on these places, leaving little more than archeological digs, scattered stones, and remnants. However, there is a strange sense of timelessness and excitement in each place recognizing that all of these were communities of faith that were built upon the ancient paths of God.

Walking the path leading to the unearthed theatre in Ephesus I can picture the angry mob led by Demetrius who has chosen the path of the goddess Artemis instead of the ancient path of God.

Walking the path to enter the cave on Patmos I can visualize John as he captures the words of Jesus to the Seven Churches in Asia Minor in the book of Revelation.

Walking the path that leads to the Areopagus (Mars Hill) in Athens I rejoice that Paul boldly proclaimed the one true God. I am humbled that these words spoken that day will become part of my faith ancestry.

Walking the path leading to the river in Philippi I feel the water where Lydia and her household were baptized as some of the first followers of Jesus in Europe.

Walking the path in front of the prison in Philippi where Paul and Silas were beaten and imprisoned, I am overwhelmed with the courage and peace they had to be able to worship and continue to preach the Gospel.

Though I came to faith long before I walked these sites, I experienced the joy and amazement of being connected to a great throne of saints who walked the ancient paths of Christ that I am now walking.  This journey on ancient paths reminds me that often our generational-centric pride that has captured much of the modern church forgets the deep and moving legacy of our faith family that has gone before us. J.I. Packer says well of the rich heritage of the church. “Tradition is the fruit of the Spirit’s teaching activity from the ages as God’s people have sought understanding of Scripture. It is not infallible, but neither is it negligible, and we impoverish ourselves if we disregard it.”

The ancient ways of the church often seem strange in our modern, contemporary church world.  Yet it is in these traditions, that God’s way has been passed down from one generation to the next. It is in this shared heritage that we can celebrate our faith, encourage us amid trouble, and strengthen us in our weakness.

The “others” who have gone before us on this ancient path give us the courage to stay on the course that God has laid out. Larry Woiwode writes that “There is rugged terrain ahead for those who are constitutionally incapable of referring to the paths marked out by wise and spirit-filled cartographers over the centuries.”

I left encouraged to have been able to walk these ancient streets of old, not simply as a tourist but as one sharing the common bond of faith with those who have gone before me. The pathway they walked was not always easy but they trusted God. It is on this ancient path that I now walk.

The people of Israel stood at the crossroads and chose to turn away from God. Each generation throughout history has stood at the crossroads and made a choice to ask for the ancient paths or turn away from God. The Bible is filled with evidence that the ancient paths are not archaic or inaccessible. Church history is filled with evidence that the ancient paths are not irrelevant. Church tradition is filled with evidence that Jesus Christ is worthy of worship. Now our generation is standing at the crossroads, will we ask for the ancient paths? Pray that we will say yes.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” — Psalm 119:105

God is great

Pentecost Sunday! What else would you come to expect from God who so loved the world?

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And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. John 14:16-17 (NLT)

One of the harder words to tell anybody is goodbye but telling someone you love goodbye can be gut-wrenching.  You say the words and you feel the emotions and grief deep down, even if the goodbye will be short-lived. I still feel the emotions of that morning in January 1983 when we said our goodbyes to family and friends at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City, walking down the breezeway knowing it would be almost five years before we would see everyone again. We had done our best to get ready for this day but when the moment came, all the preparation seemed to disappear and the tears came.

I could tell my aging parents that we would come back but I knew the separation would hurt. We would write regularly and keep them informed. We would pray for them daily. We would even send pictures of where we would be living. It wouldn’t be the same as being physically present but it would provide encouragement and comfort until we returned.

Jesus knew his departure was coming soon so he started preparing his followers for his goodbye. The Gospel of John records various exchanges between Jesus and his disciples about his role, their role, and the life ahead. Confusion, fear, doubt, and uncertainty marked the tone of his disciples. How could Jesus leave them? What will happen to them? Jesus gave them a promise that they wouldn’t be left behind.

Similar to a mother who reassures her little boy that she will come back for him, Jesus reassures His followers. “No, I will not abandon you as orphans.”  In all their confusion, knowing Jesus wouldn’t leave them made all the difference. Yes, the little boy left in the nursery doesn’t know when his mother will come back but even amid his tears, he believes she will come back for him.

How great the words must have been to the disciples when Jesus said, “I’m telling you these things while I’m still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught.” –John 14:25-27 (The Message)

The days have passed quickly for the disciples since they watched Jesus’ death on the cross and then experienced the life-changing event of His resurrection. Lots of things have happened during these days since Jesus’ resurrection. Now the day came when they would hear Jesus tell them goodbye.

Over the years we have witnessed a lot of goodbyes at the airport – watched lots of airplanes taxi out to the runway for departure, stood at the window watching until the plane is no longer in sight. The disciples heard Jesus as he departed, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…”—Acts 1:8a They had no clue as to what all this meant yet. What kind of power? They would be witnesses at home and to the ends of the earth. Sounds incredible!

Yesterday marked Pentecost Sunday commemorating and celebrating the promise Jesus gave to his disciples and us.  It was a day that empowered a ragtag bunch of men and women to become the church that would change the world.

“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” –Acts 2:1-4,12

Pentecost Sunday reminds us that God is true to His Word. The day reminds us that nothing escapes His attention. At the end of their Pentecost Sunday, this little band of disciples who had been afraid of their shadows just a few days before now spoke with boldness and power.

The account in Acts 2 gives a list of the nations and peoples who experienced Pentecost firsthand. On that day they came to hear the Gospel in their heart language and 3,000 or so persons were added as followers of Jesus.  This first encounter birthed the unstoppable movement of God that is moving towards the day when Revelation 7:9 is fulfilled. “After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands.”

Pentecost Sunday! What else would you come to expect from God who so loved the world?

God is great!

Memorial Day reflections

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And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. –Revelation 21:23-27

 

 “From ghoulies and ghosties
And long-leggedy beasties
And things that go bump in the night,
Good Lord, deliver us!”

 

Strange sounding words from this old Scottish prayer. Yet it captures the long-held fear of the unknown. Throughout history, the night has been terrifying and unnerving as we waited for the morning dawn. The prayer ends with our need to seek God’s protection. It is in the darkness that we are reminded of our vulnerability and our dependence upon God.

Physically we hear the bumps in the night but we also hear them spiritually. With the advent of electricity and technological advances in the last few decades, the world is now flooded with light and 24-7 noise. We can now hide the physical darkness with artificial light, extending our day into the night. We extend the hours of light in hopes we can reduce the vulnerability that we feel in the dark. However, much in the same way as we try to hide the physical darkness, we attempt to hide our spiritual darkness with superficial light. Trish Harrison Warren writes. “Instead of sitting in the discomfort of vulnerability, we run to alcohol, work, social media, movies, entertainment, even political debate.”

In our need to keep away from things that go bump in the night, we do everything humanly possible to secure our surroundings and ourselves. Since 9/11, the United States has spent $7.6 Trillion on defense and homeland security seeking security. The increase in violence has caused projected revenue in the security segment to reach $5.82 billion in 2022.

The Psalmist writes in Psalm 77, “When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven, but my soul was not comforted. I think of God, and I moan, overwhelmed with longing for his help.” Through the course of the night, as he prays and seeks God, the Psalmist comes to the realization, “But then I recall all you have done, O LORD; I remember…” At this point, he can finally move from the darkness to the light proclaiming, “O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you?

We will never find in our artificial spiritual light what gives meaning to our souls. Only in the pure light that radiates from Jesus will we find the light to walk without fear, face the unknown and rest in his presence.

“Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love’s sake. Amen.” (The Book of Common Prayer)

Memorial Day can be a beautiful time to meditate upon the hope of God’s Kingdom. Yes, there will come a day when the darkness is finally gone.  A time when the gates of the city are kept open and no evil will be in the city. No longer will we face the dark waiting for morning. For now, we rest in the calm assurance that, “The LORD himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade.” (Psalm 121:5)

Shortly after the Civil War, the deadliest conflict in our nation’s history, a time of remembrance was set aside to commemorate the lives of Americans killed in battle.  Since the revolutionary war, over 1.3 million men and women have died in war and armed conflicts. On this Memorial Day, we remember those who died fighting against darkness.

Take time this Memorial Day to reflect and give honor for the lives of young men and women who never made it home. Memorial Day was created to honor those killed in war. However, it can also be a day to stop and use as a time of deep reflection in these times of darkness.

Reflect and give honor:

  • As we mourn the loss of 19 beautiful innocent children and their teachers who fell victim to the demonic actions of a young man.
  • As we grieve the senseless violence that has spread across this nation creating chaos and pain.
  • As we pray for the peoples of Ukraine and Afghanistan who are victims of tyranny and injustice.
  • As we lament the spiritual condition of our souls and seek the fresh touch of God in our lives.

Father, we honor those who sacrificed their lives in battles for freedom and peace. We pray for families who gave up their sons and daughters as they never returned home. Today we mourn the death of innocent children who simply went to school, shoppers who simply went to the store to buy groceries, for worshippers who simply went to church. We know life is not simple and we desperately cry out to you for help. Would you awaken our nation and ourselves to your presence to receive your gift of salvation and hope? We long for the day when the city gates are open, when there is no darkness and no evil is allowed to enter the city.  Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

God is great

 

Every Generation Needs Peculiar People

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Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2: 12-14 KJV

I just attended a conference with over 800 peculiar people! Peculiar is a word we don’t use anymore to describe someone, especially in a positive way. However, I thought about the King James Version’s use of peculiar to describe this group of people.

Connie and I attended the IMB Emeritus Missionary Conference. Listening to the stories, watching the interaction of people, and focusing on their passion for God; peculiar just seemed to fit the group. They are people who deeply care about the nations.  The dictionary definition of peculiar is “unusual or eccentric; strange; odd. Standing apart from others; calling for special consideration or attention; distinct and particular.” (American Heritage Dictionary)

They are peculiar when you think about how they left their homeland for another country. Peculiar in how they accepted assignments in difficult places. Peculiar in how they gave up the chance to achieve financial success. Each person there chose a lifestyle considered peculiar in our world today. During one of the sessions, a new group of missionaries joined the ranks of emeritus missionaries. Together they served a combined 1750 years or, put another way, One Millennium, Seven Centuries, and Five Decades.

This is a lot of years of conversations, interactions, and frustrations, but joyful service in many different languages, cultures, and situations seeking to help others understand when Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

“Jesus didn’t say that any particular ethic, doctrine, or religion was the way, the truth, and the life. He said that he was. He didn’t say that it was by believing or doing anything in particular that you would “come to the Father.” He said that it was only by him—by living, participating in, being caught up by the way of life that he embodied, that was his way.” –Frederick Buechner

This group of peculiar people that we shared time with understood the challenges facing the world today. They fully grasp the reality and truth of John 8:12 and the difference Jesus makes in our world. The billions who live in the world daily without Jesus and the billions who live in the world daily with Jesus, all live in the same chaotic world. It is a world where injustice still impacts people, violence causes unrest and lack of peace and physical and spiritual hunger abound along with heightened mistrust of others.

Jesus spent a lot of time teaching about the Kingdom and helping us live a Kingdom-focused life. Jesus’ mission was to move people out of darkness into the light. His strategy was simple: “Follow me.” As we follow Jesus we avoid the darkness and can walk on his well-lit pathway. Those walking in darkness are constantly bumping into objects – objects of hatred, violence, and philosophical hopelessness.  For those of us who walk in the light of Jesus, we see the path ahead allowing us to avoid many of the pitfalls.

Dallas Willard, commenting on John 8:12 wrote, “Another important way of putting this is to say that I am learning from Jesus to live my life as he would live my life if he were I. I am not necessarily learning to do everything he did, but I am learning how to do everything I do in the manner that he did all that he did.”

CeCe Winans song, Believe For It might be a great theme song for peculiar people. The words of the song sum up well how peculiar people look at the world.  People who understand what it will take to change the world.

They say this mountain can’t be moved

They say these chains will never break

But they don’t know You like we do

There is power in Your name

We’ve heard that there is no way through

We’ve heard the tide will never change

They haven’t seen what You can do

There is power in Your name

So much power in Your name

Move the unmovable

Break the unbreakable

God we believe

God we believe for it    (CeCe Winans – Believe For It Lyrics | Lyrics.com)

Peculiar people will probably not win any popularity contests. Peculiar people will most definitely stand out in the crowd.  Yet it will be peculiar people that will move mountains, change the course of nations, break chains and impact the world.

For thou art a holy people unto the LORD they God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth. Deuteronomy 14:2 KJV

Every generation has needed some peculiar people. Could this be the time to bring this old KJV word back into common usage? Our nation, our world, desperately needs some praying, godly peculiar people. How about you?

God is great,

Let’s be that refuge for our children today!

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Then little children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them; but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” And he laid his hands on them and went on his way. — Matthew 19:13-15

Have you ever grimaced while standing in the checkout line as the person next to you yelled at his or her kid? Actually, it may have been a reflection in the mirror behind the cashier.  Poor kid, surely couldn’t have done something so dramatic to deserve such a berating.

Matthew captures a similar scene when Jesus’ disciples yelled at some parents for bringing their children to Jesus.  You have to love the heart of God for children!  Jesus doesn’t just grimace, he sharply rebukes the disciples for putting up barriers that keep children from coming to him.

I can visualize Jesus getting up from where he was sitting and pushing aside his disciples to make a pathway for these little ones to get to him. Jesus takes the time to touch each one, maybe picking them up one by one and hugging them.  Jesus had an amazing and loving way of welcoming the marginalized of society, especially the children, into his kingdom. Jesus’ touch of love changed everything!

Unfortunately, the spirit of the disciple’s view about children hasn’t changed much through the generations. The English proverb, children should be seen and not heard dates back to the religious views of the 15th century. Our modern attitude towards children may now be closer to a not seen, not heard attitude.

The U.K. Care Quality Commission issued a report last year on child abuse and neglect. Part of their report stated, “Society has changed dramatically over the last 50 years, with leaps in technology and increased global mobility presenting new challenges. Children are groomed for sexual exploitation and radicalization on social media, and young people from certain communities can be at risk of trafficking and female genital mutilation. The number of children identified as having been abused or exploited is only the tip of the iceberg – many more are suffering in silence.” According to one poll, 60% of Americans know someone who has been sexually abused before turning 18 years of age.

The value that Jesus placed upon children is being lost in our “so-called” modern society. Children face major obstacles, even being born. According to Guttmacher Institute, 18% of U.S. pregnancies in 2017 ended in abortion. Once born, living is not a piece of cake. The American SPCC group estimate five children die every day in the United States from abuse. Even worse, 45.4% of children who die from child abuse are under one year of age.

The rapid advancement of technology and in particular the world of social media has created even more perplexity for childhood. Navigating this new world of social media will require lots of prayer and wisdom as we seek to identify the good and bad elements of social media. We have to constantly evaluate how media and technology benefit our children’s development, instead of harming it.

“Social media’s allure is undeniable, especially for kids. Within an instant, children can connect with friends, share thoughts in a blog, research a school paper, or scroll through posts from their latest celebrity crush—all from the comfort of their beds.” (article from Genomind)

Helen Keller said, “alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” Wait Until 8th is an example of “together we can do so much.” A group of parents, knowing the pressure to conform to having a Smartphone yet recognizing the impact and dangers of social media on their children, formed an organization called Wait Until 8th. Their mission is to empower parents to rally together and delay giving children a smartphone until at least 8th grade. (You can check them out at www.Wait Until 8th.org)

When Jesus was asked the question, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” he didn’t hesitate in his answer. To help his disciples and others to understand, Jesus did a “show and tell” demonstration. “He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” –Matthew 18:2-5

It is easy to see Jesus’ heart and compassion for children. We are called to be prayer warriors against the evil that is seeking to destroy the lives of our children. The legion of influences being forced upon them daily through TV, social media or other countless avenues seems overwhelming until you remember who is ultimately in charge.

As a father and now as a grandfather, my heart breaks thinking of the challenges our children face. Yet I am reminded we have a powerful advocate for our children in Jesus. “It would be better for you if a millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea than for you to cause one of these little ones to stumble.’–Luke 17:2

Lord, hear us as we cry out to you today on behalf of our children. Restore to our children the tenderness and innocence of their childhood.  Help us to be a refuge for our children.  Use us to protect them from the abuse of predators, the misery of drug and alcohol abuse, and the lies of the evil one that are being promoted as acceptable.

In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and it will be a refuge for his children. Proverbs 14:26

Let’s be that refuge for our children today!

God is great,