Journey Together with Others

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And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. Zechariah 12:10

“If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far go together.” This is one of my favorite African Proverbs and how appropriate it is for us during this season of Lent as we prepare for Easter. We are not moving toward Easter by ourselves but as part of the full body of Christ. In these days of preparation, whether you are fasting from something or focused on growing in a particular discipline, it is encouraging to know that others are walking this same path.

Jesus modeled well the concept of journeying together through his traveling with his disciples, engagement with people, and spending time with special friends. Jesus spent countless hours with this select group of disciples teaching and mentoring them. During those hours he poured into each what it means to follow him, helped them grapple with understanding his many parables, and encouraged them in their faith.

The disciples listened with their ears and heard how the poor, the outcasts, and the powerless would have a place in his kingdom but struggled with doubt and confusion to fully comprehend Jesus’ teachings. They witnessed miraculous healing of the blind, the lame and the broken yet failed to see Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus walked with them over dirt roads, sat under shade trees, and rested by the seashore, teaching them over and over what it meant to follow Him.

Jesus showed compassion for the crowds as he taught them about God’s Kingdom. When Jesus saw they were physically hungry he used the opportunity to teach the crowd and his disciples. “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat…Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves…They all ate and were satisfied.” (Matt 14:13-21)

Jesus showed compassion for the least of them, better known as children. The disciples rebuked the parents for bothering Jesus with their children. Yet Jesus became angry when he saw them push the children away. “He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them…And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.” (Mark 10:13-16) What a life lesson for the disciples, the parents, and especially the children!

Jesus knew the journey would be difficult and his teachings would be challenging. “From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.” (John 6:66) Yet though the journey together will take you far, many choose to go it alone but with much different results. As this African Proverb says it well, “The one who walks alone by the river gets eaten.”

Jesus modeled for us the need for others to be in our lives. He found compassion and encouragement in the home of friends as he began his Journey toward Jerusalem. “Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. There a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.” (John 12:1-2)

Jesus was probably tired from his long trip and welcomed the warm hospitality of friends before the hectic week ahead.  I wonder what Jesus and Lazarus talked about. The last time they were together Lazarus was in his grave and Jesus was calling out his name. Somehow, I think the conversation between the two went much deeper than just the weather or the latest sports event.

Conversation and food were what Jesus needed.  “Martha Served,” captured well the change in her soul, from worry and anxiety to joy and servant’s heart. Martha now did what she did best, serve others but with a different heart. What about the other sister in the house?  “Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” (John 12:3)

Only among friends can you be true to yourself and express your deepest feelings regardless of the ridicule you may receive. Mary took a bottle of expensive perfume and lovingly poured it out on Jesus’ feet as an expression of extraordinary devotion. Jesus would receive her gift with joy and thankfulness compared to Judas who would condemn her for her extravagant waste.

“At the heart of the Christian faith is mystery, because at the heart of our faith is the eternal, triune God. We have the Father who loves us, the Savior who died for us, and the Spirit who helps us to be holy. This divine mystery gives us reason to bow down and worship our eternal God.” (Haddon Robinson)

Jesus left the next morning with his disciples on the way to Jerusalem. He left with a heart encouraged, a full stomach, and the worshipful outpouring of love that only friends can give. In this time of Lent, we have opened our hearts and minds to prepare for the coming days when the world will never be the same again. Jesus began his journey that would break the stranglehold of sin and death. It was a journey that would open the door of the Kingdom of God – a journey that would fulfill God’s promise of redemption and salvation.

LORD, find us faithful. Strengthen our hearts and minds to be one with you, help us to stay open to you with tender souls to your words, and be resilient in our journey forward.

God is great!

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Journey Through Generations

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Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory? And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.  Luke 24:26-27 NIV

Do you know where you came from? I have always been fascinated by the Ancestry.com ads and the stories of people finding their roots. This last Christmas Connie gave me an ancestry DNA kit and though I didn’t expect to be in line for the royal throne, I thought it would be fun to see how far my Oklahoma roots spread.

I finally got my results back this last week and learned my ethnicity numbers. Most of the percentages came from England & Northwestern Europe (49%) and Scotland (37%) as expected with a name like Burton. I had some smaller percentages from Wales and Ireland (10%), Sweden & Denmark (2%) and Germanic Europe (1%). However, I did learn I also have Nigerian roots, 1%!  I could find out more about my ancestry, but I will probably not pay the $99 every quarter.  However, it was still an interesting experiment.

What it does tell me is that I probably have a lot of interesting relatives around the world, and I will never get to meet them this side of eternity. It also tells me of the vastness of God’s creation and being connected to generations past. During this time of Lent, as we journey toward the cross and resurrection, I am also reminded of the vast family I belong to as part of God’s family that follows Jesus.

Shauna Pilgreen in her book, Translating Jesus, writes; “We keep each other close because we are made to be close—this human race God created.” She goes on to write, “One very interesting probability model created by a demographer for genealogists suggests that a child born in 1947 in England, tracing back to 1492, would have sixty thousand ancestors. Going back further, to 1215, this child would find 80 percent of the entire population of England at that time on his or her family tree.” That is one big family tree!

This season of Lent allows us to reflect as a family on the power of the cross and the hope of Easter. We are connected from one generation to the next through the life we live today but also within the future context of who we are in Jesus. “Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever; from generation to generation we will proclaim your praise.” Psalm 79:13

You wouldn’t normally spend time reflecting on a list of names nor start as the opening of your book, but this was what Matthew did as he began his account of the Gospel. He began his story with the words,” This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham.”  Then for the next 15 verses gave us a long list of “begats” or KJV talk for “the father of.”

Patrick Schreiner writes, “From the beginning, God was in the business of establishing his people in his place by his power. It began with Adam and Eve, and it continued in the covenants given to Abraham and David. These are finally fulfilled in Jesus; the Davidic king who will establish Israel’s kingdom.”

Each name in Matthew’s account represented a link in fulfilling God’s promise of a Savior. One generation passed on to the next generation the story of a coming Savior who would someday redeem the nation and the people.  “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment, he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? Isaiah 53:7-8

Matthew’s list contained some All-Star names such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, and Solomon. His genealogy included some great men of faith such as Boaz, Jehoshaphat, and Hezekiah but it also listed some faith failures such as Amon, Ahaz, and Manasseh among others. Matthew didn’t just include those names that any family would be proud to have in their lineage but also a few that any family would rather overlook and not claim.

Matthew would also break from tradition and include several women, including those not of the Jewish faith to be part of the Jesus ancestry family tree. Tamar and Rahab were from the Canaanite community, Ruth was a Moab, Bathsheba was likely a Hittite and Mary was Jewish. Each woman brought a messy background to the story yet God would place them into the very heart of His salvation plan. Each woman would play a significant part in God’s story even without a perfect past and outside religious expectations.

Family trees are not always pretty nor well-kept even though there will be some beautiful branches you will find a few branches that you wish would have been pruned before they grew. It is the same way with our faith family trees, we will have some awesome, healthy branches where we swell with pride but a few limbs that we drop our heads and would rather not claim.

Can you imagine the percentage results if Heaven offered a DNA ancestry kit? The Biblical Canon may be closed and no names will be added to Matthew’s genealogy. However, spend some time this week reflecting upon the impact of verse 16: “And Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.”

Jesus set in place a spiritual genealogy that is adding names daily and just like a great oak tree, spreads its branches across the generations. This heavenly recorded genealogy now includes a multitude of brothers and sisters from “every nation, tribe, language and people.” (Rev 14:6)

A list of names may not be captivating reading unless you think of all the stories that will be shared someday as the family of Jesus. “One generation will declare your works to the next and will proclaim your mighty acts. I will speak of your splendor and glorious majesty and your wondrous works.” Psalm 145:4-5

God is great!

 

Journey Toward Understanding

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For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. John 1: 17-18 NIV

On February 11, 2024, a record number of people gathered around their TV sets to watch a couple of hours of commercials, better known as Super Bowl LVIII! Fifty-nine commercials aired costing about $7 million per thirty seconds of air time. In between the ads, CBS actually broadcasted a great game, even giving us an extra quarter of football. If you were watching only for the commercials I am sure you have a favorite. Can you ever forget Dina and Mita fighting Top Gun: Maverick Danny Ramirez for the last bag of Doritos Dinamita? Then there is the timeless action hero, Arnold Schwarzenegger trying to pronounce neighbor for State Farm with  Danny DeVito upstaging him at the end. The star-studded Dunkin’ commercial with Ben Affleck, Matt Damen, Tom Brady, Jack Harlow, Jennifer Lopez, and Fat Joe was top-notch entertainment, but, they left out the donuts.

The goal of any ad is to remember a product and end up buying, especially if you paid $7 million per 30 minutes. However, one little ad generated more controversy than the couple of minutes it aired. Some have condemned it as wasting money that could have been given to humanitarian causes, others have labeled it as heresy, folks on social media have mocked it, while others have claimed it was brilliant and creative, creating openings for gospel conversations. Whether you thought He Gets Us missed the mark, hit the mark or you don’t care, it has created a media buzz with over 700,000 people following up for more information.

In this season preparing for Easter, the ad reminds us of the real and powerful story that John captured and the difference it made for the disciples and leaves us a lasting lesson. Culturally, foot washing had been a mark of genuine hospitality for generations. As far back as Abraham, visitors were welcomed with food and rest. “Let a little water be brought and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree.” Gen 18:4

Hikers, farmers, construction workers, salespeople, and anyone standing all day on their feet can appreciate the exhilaration of finally taking off their shoes at the end of the day.  Generations of people have had to walk to where they were going, mostly on dusty roads. Arriving at their destination it must have been pure joy to be greeted with a pan of cold water. Since foot washing was a normal rhythm of life, why would any of the Gospel writers even mention it? Sure, it was defiantly scandalous when the unnamed woman crashed Simon’s party and washed Jesus’ feet with her tears and poured perfume on them (Luke 7:36-50) and eye-opening for Jesus’ disciples when Mary took a jar of expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus’ feet. (John 12:1-8)

Yet what John recorded broke generations of protocol, cultural status, and religious hierarchy. Everyone knew and accepted the fact that servants washed feet, but never would the master stoop to such a lowly menial task. Yet, that was exactly what Jesus did that night. However, Jesus had a history of not always following protocol, regulations, or expectations. John records that Jesus got up from the meal table and put on a servant’s garment. (John 13:1-17) The disciples most likely would have understood if a broken, sinful woman washed Jesus’ feet out of gratitude or if a devoted follower of Jesus poured out her life savings on his feet out of devotion, but why would Jesus wash their feet?

Jesus took Peter’s feet and poured water over them out of love. Peter could be arrogant, maybe a bit brash, and a bit egotistical.

Jesus took John and James’ feet and poured water over them out of love. Both were status-conscious, jealous of others, and power-driven.

Jesus took Thomas’ feet and poured water over them out of love. Thomas questioned and had doubts.

Jesus took Andrew’s feet and poured water over them out of love. Andrew was the inquisitive one, the outside-the-box thinker, but timid when confronted.

Jesus took Judas’ feet and poured water over them out of love. Judas was the faithless one who cared more for money and power.

Jesus took each of his disciple’s feet and poured water over them out of love. Jesus told them that they would someday understand, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (John 13:15-17)

Jesus Gets Us because Jesus knows us. Jesus knew His disciples just as He knows us. Was his gentle touch upon their feet enough to stir a deep longing in their hearts? What were they thinking? Jesus talked with Peter but what about the others as he washed their feet?

Could Jesus have blessed them as he wiped their feet with his towel? My beloved Peter, you will be a leader of my church. My beloved John, you will finally understand the depth of real love and encourage others.  My beloved James, you will be strong in faith until the end. My beloved Andrew, keep asking questions but be bold. My beloved Thomas, let your doubts build your faith and witness. Oh Judas, would that you would resist evil.

“Everywhere Jesus went, he left behind pictures that showed us who God is. And what is the composite of those pictures? A God who sees and who cares. A God who listens and who speaks. Who touches and transforms. A God who calms the wind, stills the waves, and extends his hand to the sinking. A God who heals the sick and raises the dead. Who frees the prisoners, feeds the hungry, blesses the children. A God who came at the greatest personal cost to destroy the works of the devil.” (Ken Gire, The North Face of God, p187)

Jesus understands we are a broken people who, left to our own devices could break every commandment. Yet God extended mercy when we deserved punishment. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

God is great!

 

Journey Toward Freedom

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Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God—God of my salvation—and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it; you are not pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God. Psalm 51:14-17 CSB

I don’t have an exact statistic on this but I’m sure at some point in life every person on Planet Earth has bought something with the magic words, “easy to assemble.” There is nothing more invigorating and soul-binding than a couple opening a box containing their new furniture piece and spreading out the 16 million pieces all over the living room floor. Most likely you fall into one of three categories: those who start assembling the pieces without reading the manual, those who meticulously read the 30-page easy-to-assemble manual before starting, or the one who pays the $150 for Home Depot to assemble. Long after the estimated time of assembling, you finally admire your finished product, only to find an extra bolt. How did we miss this?

Normally a missing bolt can be overlooked unless you are 16,000 feet in the air! The passengers and crew on Alaska Airlines flight 1282 found out exactly how important four bolts were on January 5 of this year.  As the plane was ascending to reach cruising altitude, a loud blast was heard as the door blew off. The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the cause of the door blowout was four missing bolts on the Boeing 737 Max 9. Thankfully, no passenger was sitting next to the door.  “Whatever final conclusions are reached, Boeing is accountable for what happened. An event like this must not happen on an airplane that leaves our factory. We simply must do better for our customers and their passengers,” said Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun in a statement. (CNN Report)

Four little missing bolts resulted in a near-fatal disaster, reminding us how the insignificant becomes significant in life. We are now in the season of Lent, a time of preparation for Easter. In the same way as Advent prepares our hearts and minds for Christmas, Lent is a time for focusing our minds and hearts on the life-changing Easter celebration. “Historians generally agree that the 40-day period before Easter, known as Lent, emerged shortly following the Council of Nicea in 325 AD. The earliest observances of Lent seem to have focused particularly on the practice of fasting. Council records suggest that the fast applied at first mainly to new converts as a period of repentance and reflection before baptism at Easter. In any case, Lent quickly became a general practice churchwide.” (Christopher Hunt)

I don’t come from a stream of the Christian faith that practices Lent, but I think there is some richness and beauty in this ancient practice that can stir a hunger within our souls. In our journey toward Easter, this can be a time to reflect, prepare, and hold gently this season in our souls. Whether we practice fasting from food, media, or anything else, it can be a reflective time of preparation.

Augustine spoke of “rightly ordered loves,” which puts the LORD first as the foremost love of our lives. Everything else in our lives; family, work, or any activity, all become secondary to Christ. Lent, in whatever form or fashion we undertake, awakens in us a heart towards God. “Our heart is restless until it finds its rest in You.” (Augustine’s Confession)

Jay Ferguson expresses it well regarding Lent. “Lent isn’t mentioned in the Bible; it’s not a scriptural command to observe. Our freedom in Christ, the sufficiency of His blood for our righteousness, means we don’t have to engage in rituals to earn favor with God. Yet, the Church is Christ’s bride, and by God’s grace, we are deeply connected to something so ancient, so much more profound than the ephemeral nature of our cultural context. Like Sabbath, or fasting, or other blessings from the Lord, these things aren’t commanded, yet they make us more whole when we engage.”

Our Eastern Orthodox family uses the term “bright sadness” to describe this season of preparation for Easter. Though this is a fairly new term for me, I am coming to appreciate it within the context of preparing for Easter. In the days leading to the cross there was a heaviness about the time but with an under-current of hope and faith. “There is a sadness because we turn our gaze inward in a more intentional way, reflecting on our sinfulness and the unimaginable suffering and brutality of the death Jesus willingly submitted to for our sake. But our sadness is clothed in light, because our sins are not indelible marks forever separating us from God’s love, and our suffering is not pointless cruelty inflicted by an impersonal god.” (Ann Koshute)

Bright Sadness holds in tension the sadness of the Cross and yet the bright hope of the resurrection. John captures this tension of sorrow turning to joy as part of the Passover Festival dialogue with Jesus’ disciples. “In a little while, you will no longer see me; again in a little while you will see me.” Jesus continues in his thoughts on sorrow/joy tension. “When a woman is in labor, she has pain because her time has come. But when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the suffering because of the joy that a person has been born into the world. So you also have sorrow now. But I will see you again. Your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy from you.” –John16:16,21-22 (CSB)

Many of you may find yourself in this season of tension having experienced the sadness of loss and yet trust in the bright hope of Easter. All of us are at some place in our lives holding the tension of deep contentment with deep sadness.

How do we hold the tension of sadness and hope? The Psalmist asked the question that only Easter can answer. “How long LORD? Will you be angry forever?” “God of our salvation, help us, for the glory of your name. Rescue us and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake.” (Psalm 79:5,9)

LORD, as we travel this season of preparation, help us to keep our focus on You, for only at the cross will we find freedom.

God is great!

Love Takes The Day

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Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. I Cor 13:4-8a CSB

What are Americans willing to spend on love? According to USA Today, Americans spent $26 Billion in 2023 on Valentine’s Day. The average amount spent on gifts came to roughly $131 for their significant others and $53 on others such as friends, co-workers, teachers, and most importantly, their pets. The number one gift was candy, followed by greeting cards and flowers.

However, you would be hard-pressed to beat the gift that you can buy at The San Antonio Zoo. People make an online donation to the zoo and they get to name a roach, rodent, or veggie after someone, normally an ex. “You may find help on your healing journey with a dash of humor (and pettiness) by naming a cockroach after your ex, which will later be fed to a San Antonio Zoo animal.”

Zoo spokesperson Cyle Perez said, “There were more than 7,700 donations from all 50 states and over 30 countries in 2023. People named David, Chris, Michael, Sarah, Amanda, and Emily must be some real heartbreakers. Those were the most-requested names last year. The fundraiser has brought in more than $225,000 since its inception in 2020.” (Madalyn Mendoza, Axios)

A cockroach for your Valentine probably will not be the most endearing present but it will be rememberable. I can see why the focus is on the ex-part since giving a cockroach as a gift will probably get you into the ex-category.

Valentine’s Day is celebrated in at least 30 countries around the world and this is not surprising since the need to say, “I love you,” is a global gesture that every person wants to hear. Pope Gelasius declared February 14th as Valentine’s Day at the end of the 5th century, though the romance part of the holiday came later. There are a multitude of reasons why February has long been associated with romance and love. The English Poet Geoffrey Chaucer was the first to record St. Valentine’s Day as a day of romantic celebration. (History.com)

Hallmark cards, a dozen red roses, and a box of Godiva Dark Chocolate are all nice on Valentine’s Day and highly recommended. However, flowers fade, and chocolate is eaten, but real Valentine’s love that flows from God is the 24-7, 365-day, never-ending type and is the greatest gift. Kallistos Katafygiotis said, “The most important thing that happens between God and the human soul is to love and to be loved.” Jesus’ disciple and friend, John said, “Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” I John 4:7-8

“Marjorie Thompson tells the story of a conversation between an eighteenth-century priest and an elderly peasant who would sit alone for long hours in the quiet of the church. When the priest asked what he was doing, the old man simply replied, “I look at Him, He looks at me, and we are happy.” (Practicing the Way, John Mark Comer)

Wednesday is a unique Valentine’s Day this year since it falls on Ash Wednesday. This rare calendar occurrence happens only a few times each century. In this century, the three years are 2018, 2024, and 2029. Valentine’s Day on Ash Wednesday gives us the unique opportunity to remember the ultimate expression of love as the church moves into Lent, preparing for Easter.

Unfortunately, Valentine’s Day can reflect love as a mushy, sentimental feeling worthy of a good Hallmark movie. However, falling on Ash Wednesday can be a great reminder of a love that is rich, powerful, and eternal. Ash Wednesday allows us to see love in the fullness of God’s love for us.

It is a love that looks more like forgiveness than faded flowers. “Hatred stirs up conflicts, but love covers all offenses.” (Prov 10:12).  There is a powerful scene in the latest Chosen season as Peter struggles to forgive Matthew. He counts out the offenses against him until the words of Jesus take root, “I tell you, not as many as seven, but seventy times seven.” Matt 18:22

It is a love that looks more like commitment than rhyming words on a card. John Mark Comer writes of commitment, “in both marriage and life with God, it’s the constraint of commitment that will create space for love to mature and real transformation to occur. We often chafe against it, but in the end, like caterpillars in the constraints of pupae, it is where we are transformed into butterflies—entirely new creatures of beauty.”  “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal 2:20)

It is a love that looks more like acceptance than an empty box of chocolates. Jesus walked with those lost and in darkness, reaching out to them in love. “Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble, not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you may inherit a blessing.” I Peter 3:8-9

I will leave it up to you as to whether you should fast or eat your chocolates on Wednesday, but I can leave you a beautiful gift of promise on Valentine’s Day that will outlast the box of chocolates:

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-7

Be blessed on this Ash Wednesday as we begin the journey towards Easter.

God is great!

 

How We Value Our Neighbor

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So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. John 13:34-45 NLT

“If only Casey could get a whack at that.” Words of excitement were yelled and anticipation swelled as the mighty Casey took the mound for the Mudville Nine. Only Casey at the bat could bring home a win on that lazy day in Mudville. As Casey boldly and confidently took his turn at bat, the ball was thrown down the middle but not what he wanted. “That ain’t my style,” said Casey. “Strike one!” the umpire said. From the benches, black with people, there went up a muffled roar, Like the beating of the storm waves on a stern and distant shore; “Kill him! Kill the umpire!” shouted someone on the stand; and it’s likely they’d have killed him had not Casey raised his hand.” (poem, Casey at the Bat)

Nothing has changed much since Ernest Lawrence Thayer penned his classic poem in 1888. Crowds have been lashing out at umpires, referees, and judges since time immemorial, especially when their team loses. You could make excuses for the outrage at an NBA, NFL, NHL, or MLB game but at 11 and under games? The Deptford, NJ Little League had enough of over-zealous parents yelling and cussing at the umps. Their solution? Fans who mistreat the officiating crew get to do it themselves. “Any spectator deemed in violation would be banned from the complex until three umpiring assignments were completed. If not, the person would be barred from any Deptford youth sports facilities for a year.”

Barry Mano founder of the National Association of Sports Officials said he “has watched fan conduct become far worse than he could have imagined.” “Sports is simply life with the volume turned up. We’ve become louder and brasher. We always want a second opinion on things. That’s where the culture has gone.  I don’t think we’re as civil as we used to be toward each other, and it plays out in the sporting venues.” (from an article by Dan Gelston, AP sports writer)

We celebrate that God placed an extraordinary value on us as individuals but shouldn’t we place the same level of value on others? When Jesus was asked which is the first commandment, He replied, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment.” (Matthew 22:37-38) If Jesus had stopped there, that would have been understandable but he didn’t. He said, “And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ (22:39)

“We’ve become louder and brasher” may be a true statement for culture at large, but surely not for those who identify as followers of Jesus. Can you imagine the impact on America if the church took to heart the second half of Jesus’ commandment? Can you imagine the impact globally if all Christians took to heart the second half of Jesus’ commandment?

Could it be that “failure to love our neighbor” leads to the increased level of bullying in schools that have been on the increase in recent years? Twenty-eight percent of students in American schools have experienced some form of bullying. Though most will get past these years, unfortunately, many will face years of depression, anxiety, and even suicide. “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13 NLT)

Could it be that “failure to love our neighbor” contributes to the divisiveness currently ripping apart the political and cultural framework of the United States and other nations? “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” (Eph 4:29 NLT)

Could it be that “failure to love our neighbor” blinds us to the physical, spiritual, emotional, and financial needs of those we encounter daily? “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.” (Gal 6:2-3 NLT)

Could it be that “failure to love our neighbor” keeps us from truly impacting our world? “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.” (Phil 2:3-4 NLT)

“Blessed are the single-hearted, for they shall enjoy much peace. If you refuse to be hurried and pressed, if you stay your soul on God, nothing can keep you from that clearness of spirit which is life and peace. In that stillness you will know what His will is.” –Amy Carmichael, Gold Cord: The Story of a Fellowship

For Amy Carmichael, loving her neighbor looked like 55 years as a missionary in India, never returning to her home country of Ireland, yet in those years she provided a sanctuary of hope for hundreds of children who were trapped in sexual slavery.

For Candy Lightner, loving her neighbor looked like taking the tragic death of her 13-year-old daughter at the hands of a drunk driver to form Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) to focus on the countless deaths of neighbors at the hands of drunk drivers and enact changes to state driving laws.

For Martin Luther King, Jr, loving his neighbor looked like mobilizing others to rally against racial injustice and inspire a vision of change.

What does “love your neighbor” look like for you?

Living out loving our neighbor will look different for each person. There is no one way to love our neighbor but each person’s gifts, abilities and influence will be used by God to change the trajectory of lives for good. God can use whatever way to create a tsunami of change to “love your neighbor as yourself.”

God is great!

Living in the Presence of God

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The LORD replied, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” Exodus 33:14-16 NIV

Do you know what your pastor/priest/minister is doing right now? Sunday mornings are pretty easy but the rest of the week is anybody’s guess; studying, praying, visiting, or golfing. You probably didn’t guess he was behind the steering wheel as an Uber driver, unless your pastor is bi-vocational. Yet, behind the steering wheel is where you would have found Lyman, South Carolina pastor Jeff Hickman using a rideshare app. Hickman makes 10-20 trips a week and started his Uber ministry to identify the needs of his community. Hickman started the ministry as a practical way to live out the church’s vision statement: “Everybody has a Name; Every Name is Important.”

“There are a lot of people who are struggling with the idea, ‘Does somebody see me? Does somebody hear me? Does somebody even care that I’m alive? Am I valued?’ Hickman said. “And so, this has been an amazing way to let people know that someone cares about you and God loves you.”

“More than merely providing an empathetic ear to the people he encounters, Hickman has been intentional about following up to address people’s physical needs.” At Thanksgiving last year when several expressed concerns over high food costs, his church provided Thanksgiving meals to people who needed a helping hand. (from an article by Dale Chamberlain)

I don’t know about you but in our desire to do something useful for God, we can easily forget to pursue God’s presence above everything else. Occasionally we need to stop and ask ourselves the question, “Have we forgotten to pursue His presence as our most vital need?” The Gospel isn’t a formula you apply to your life, it’s the story you’re meant to inhabit. “The righteous will rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him; all the upright in heart will glory in him!” (Psalm 64:10 NIV)

“God’s mission to bring liberation to the world has always been accomplished through people who are distinguished, not just because they obey God’s precepts, but because they carry His presence. God isn’t looking for people to work for Him; He seeks out those who long to walk and work with Him. After all, it’s God’s mission that matters, not mine.” (Poppy Williams – Lectio 365)

Ruth Haley Barton in her book, Sacred Rhythms writes, “Your desire for more of God than you have right now, your longing for love, your need for deeper levels of spiritual transformation than you have experienced so far is the truest thing about you.”

We have to get ourselves into a place where we can experience the presence of God. Somehow it is much easier to do stuff for God than to reflect the presence of God in all that we do. We can do stuff but it will look different if we do stuff as we live and work out of God’s presence. David, in writing Psalm 27 said, “One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” (27:4)

Our behavior should reflect the presence of God. In our current divisive times, it seems so easy to badmouth another person, but worse, we have come to accept such behavior as acceptable. “Mudslinging is an idiom that describes the act of making malicious or scandalous claims or accusations against someone, usually to tarnish their reputation.” (Candace Osmond -Grammarist.com) The writer of Ecclesiastes gave a powerful word on such behavior. “Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.” (Ecc 5:2 NIV) You can’t help but wonder what God thinks of mudslinging.

Prayer becomes a place where we can flourish in God’s presence. Regardless of the hopelessness we may find ourselves in, God’s presence is alive and active. God reminded Solomon in his prayer that even when it looks hopeless, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chron 7:14)

Today is a good day to experience, enjoy, and reflect on the presence of God since someday heaven will be filled with God’s presence. “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Rev 21:3-4)

“No work of art is more important than the Christian’s own life…[it] is to be a thing of truth and also a thing of beauty in the midst of a lost world.” (Francis Shaeffer)

“I’m in the very presence of God—oh, how refreshing it is! I’ve made Lord God my home. God, I’m telling the world what you do!” Psalm 73:28 The Message

Loving God, I yield my whole life to You again. Make my life more creative. Make me something of truth and beauty in the midst of a lost and hurting world today. Give me insight today as I write (or whatever you do) that it would be words that encourage and help. Give me a listening heart to you. Spirit of God, fill me and put me to work in whatever You need doing today.

God is great!

Living Life on Adventure

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The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.   I Corinthians 2:14 NIV

Living a Year of Radical Amazement (see last week’s blog) enviably leads toward living a life of exciting adventure. The adventure was exactly what one little Roomba in Georgia decided it needed after a front door was left open. Georgia resident Shelley Betz told a CNN reporter that their little Roomba couldn’t be found and after an exhaustive two-day search her husband found the little vac in a pile of leaves about 10 yards from their front door. Had it not been for the ever-vigilant Ring Door camera, the escape might have gone undetected until spring.

Betz told the network, “The family had been putting up Christmas decorations when the robot escaped. The Roomba lost its padding and brushes during its escape, but it still works.” Betz went on to say, “He did his job. He did what he was born to do!”

Can you imagine the stories this little Roomba would have if it could only talk? Stories of the world outside its front door from its 10 yards of adventure. The imaginary Roomba stories would pale in comparison to the real-life stories we get to live out and tell. As we live in radical amazement our world opens up to living a life of adventure. “Adventure is defined as an unusual and exciting, typically hazardous, experience or activity. This is exactly what many biblical figures underwent as they were called upon to go into the unknown in the work of God. Our life can be an adventure in the service of righteousness, facing the adversity and evils of the world.” (from Bible Study Tools)

Adventure may take you scaling high mountain ranges, exploring exotic places, trekking through jungles or it may find you sitting in your chair crying out to God. Adventure isn’t necessarily defined by distance but by the stirring of amazement within the soul. Matthew gives us the inside story of a group of scholars, better known as the Magi or Wise Men, who out of radical amazement, set out on an incredible adventure of faith.

God stirred within the Magi this radical amazement to ask questions, to seek answers, and to set out on a journey to discover the meaning of the star. Epiphany, celebrated last Saturday among many streams of the Christian faith worldwide, marks the day on religious calendars when the Magi found and worshipped baby Jesus in Bethlehem.  Now you can put your Wise Men into your Nativity displays!

Reflecting upon the Magi during Epiphany allows us to focus on the main characters of Matthew’s account. (Matthew 2:1-18) King Herod was disturbed, the religious leaders were clueless and the Magi worshipped.

King Herod and the political elite had long lost any sense of amazement that would stir in their souls the great adventure of faith. They were concerned with maintaining their positions of power. When King Herod heard about the baby’s birth, Matthew records, “When King Herod heard this he was disturbed and all Jerusalem with him.”

The Religious Leaders had long lost any sense of amazement that would stir in their souls the great adventure of faith. They had the appropriate knowledge that should have propelled them into the great adventure of finding Jesus but they missed the moment. The problem was they liked their status of influence and power better than going on a great adventure of faith to find the Messiah.

A group of outsiders hadn’t lost any sense of amazement and let it stir in their souls the great adventure of faith. The Magi saw the star and made the effort to find the truth and meaning of the star. Where would the star lead them? What would they find at the end of the journey? They only knew they had to go on this great adventure of faith. After a grueling journey, “When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.” (Matt 2:10-11)

J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan adventures have been told and retold multiple times. Yet his one quote sums up his stories well, “To live will be an awfully big adventure.” What great adventure awaits you out of your radical amazement this year?

Your great adventure may come from being asked to do what you think is impossible. Moses surely thought that when faced with certain death, God said, “Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.” (Ex 14:16)

Your great adventure may come when you look into your giant’s face. Facing your giant will require more than you’ve got but not with God. “I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty.” (1 Samuel 17:45)

Your great adventure will begin when you move into the deep waters. It could be out the front door or around the world. Like Peter, we listen and obey. “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” (Luke 5:4)

Jeremiah’s words were given to a people when life looked dark and hopeless in their captivity. Yet the same truth written by Jeremiah can still stir in you the great adventure of faith because of Who is guiding the journey.  “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Jesus, I approach You with the reverence of the Magi. I come to worship my King. Open my eyes to perceive with amazement the world around me, realign my mind to believe You will take care of the impossible and reawaken in my heart the great adventure You have set before me.

God is great!

 

2024 A Year of Radical Amazement!

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This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 NLT

Did you get what you wanted for Christmas? After a few well-placed hints, maybe you unwrapped the gift with excitement and there it was, the exact sweater you wanted, one size too small! No problem, you see the printed gift receipt and it can be returned. Maybe this is why for the past decade, the gift card has been the number one gift given and preferred. This would guarantee the right size, color, and style.

All is well unless you forget that you put the gift card in a drawer, or the store goes bankrupt in  January, or you use part of the value and never use the balance. Gift cards are great except according to experts, at any given time, as much as 19% of gift card balances remain un-redeemed, with 6% never getting used representing billions of dollars. Is this a windfall for the merchants? Not really, since they would prefer you to use the cards. Seventy-five percent of people who redeem their cards end up spending more than the value of the cards. Shoppers using gift cards are two and a half times more likely to pay full price for an item and they shop at stores they don’t normally visit. (facts from the article, The Economics of Unused Gift Cards)

What do un-redeemed gift cards have to do with the New Year? Everything, if you think of each day ahead is a gift from God. A precious gift worth redeeming every day. You are getting ready to be given 366 days (it is a leap year), will you redeem each day or forget to use them? “The priceless lesson in the New Year is that endings birth beginnings and beginnings birth endings. And in this elegantly choreographed dance of life neither ever find an end in the others.” (Craig Lounsbrough)

Treat each day as the gift it is from God. Isaiah and Peter both remind us, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” (I Peter 1:24, Isaiah 40:6) A great reminder to find and enjoy the beauty of the day. As poet Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.”

Enjoy more and worry less. The great philosopher and sage Charlie Brown once said, “You know how I always dread the whole year? Well, this time I’m only going to dread one day at a time.” Jesus fully understands our concerns and worries about life. Jesus asked his followers, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” To make sure they answered correctly, He gave them the answer, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (complete dialogue in Matthew 6:25-34)

Let worship replace fear. David stirred his inner being time after time through worship. He wrote the Psalms out of worship and praise. Psalm 77 says, “I recall all you have done, O Lord,’ Psalm 103 says, “Praise the LORD, my soul” or Psalm 104, “LORD my God, you are very great.” The word ‘remember’ in its various forms occurs over 250 times. This is a good thing for someone like me who can be forgetful. “Remembering is the key to rejoicing, and rejoicing is the key to finding faith for the coming year.” (Pete Greig)

What if I don’t know what’s ahead? No problem, God does! The same assurance that Moses gave Joshua is still valid for us today, “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deut 31:8) Jesus’ final assurance in Matthew is, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (28:20b)

“I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: ‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’ And he replied: ‘Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.’ So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night. And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.” (The Gate of the Year, published in 1912 by Minnie Louise Haskins)

Choose to live in 2024 in radical amazement. Granted we can’t know what is ahead in 2024 but we can choose what we will do with each day. I came across the phrase ‘radical amazement’ which I thought sums up well how to live each day. Abraham Joshua Heschel writes, “Our goal should be to live life in radical amazement because everything is phenomenal; everything is incredible; never treat life casually. To be spiritual is to be amazed.”

We get to live each day in radical amazement because of who we are in Christ. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Cor 5:17 NIV)

God, we can rejoice even in the most difficult days knowing Your love and grace overflows. Though we do not know what will happen in 2024, we can trust you in the journey. When fear grips us, give us calmness. When doubt pulls us down, let us look to your faithfulness. When crisis moves into our lives, give us peace to handle the situation. When each new day dawns, give us insight and wisdom to write our stories that will honor and glorify you.

Connie and I wish you the very best for this coming year. May each day be lived in the fullness, joy, and hope of who you are in Christ.

Happy New Year

God is great!

 

 

 

 

Advent – The Improbable Story of Christmas

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While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. Luke 2:6-7 NIV

“And soon Edmund noticed that the snow which splashed against them as they rushed through it was much wetter than it had been all last night. At the same time, he noticed that he was feeling much less cold…In the wide glades there were primroses. A light breeze sprang up which scattered drops of moisture from the swaying branches and carried cool, delicious scents against the faces of the travelers. The trees began to come fully alive. …This is no thaw, said the Dwarf, suddenly stopping. This is spring. What are we to do? Your winter has been destroyed, I tell you! This is Aslan’s doing.

If either of you mention that name again, said the Witch, he shall instantly be killed.” (C.S. Lewis, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe)

As long as anyone could remember, the land of Narnia had been held in the dark, cruel reign of the Queen of Narnia. Young Edmund had betrayed his siblings and pledged his loyalty to the Queen all for a piece of Turkish Delight and the false promise that he would be a ruler. Finally, the winter would come to an end as Aslan began to move into the land. All would have been lost for Edmund had it not been for Aslan.
The moment finally came in C. S. Lewis’ novel when Aslan began to stir in the land of Narnia. The battle would continue to rage but spring was beginning to thaw the frozen land and hope was beginning to bloom. Edmund’s heart began to see the truth and the cost of his infatuation with following the Queen.

Though C. S. Lewis didn’t necessarily write the Chronicles of Narnia as an Advent story, it brings light upon the true Advent. However, God did write the real Advent of waiting and watching as He reminds us to, “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.” (Isaiah 45:22). Advent would be God’s story told through the lives of men and women through the centuries preparing for the coming Messiah. Stories that had been passed down from one generation to the next keep the flames of hope alive waiting for God’s timing. Then the moment came when:

“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:13-14)

The lowest of society left their flocks in search of this one bringing hope and peace. “When the angels had left, they immediately went into town to find the Messiah. “When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child” … then “The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” (Luke 2)

The highest of society were stirred by God to seek the Savior of humankind. The Magi left their comfortable and elite surroundings to go in search of the “one who has been born king of the Jews.” They embarked upon a rigorous and dangerous journey of months for one purpose, “We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2)

Long after the angelic host had ascended, the shepherds had returned to fields tending their sheep, Simeon had blessed the baby and a prophetic word spoken over the baby by Anna, a tired but excited entourage of seekers came to the end of their journey to find The Messiah.

Can you imagine Joseph looking out the window and excitedly telling Mary, come look at this? Unlike the shepherds, these were men of influence and power. They consulted with kings and military leaders regularly. They were dressed magnificently, carried themselves proudly, and possessed that air of importance. They were accustomed to people groveling in their presence.

They came into the house where Joseph and Mary were living and immediately, “they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

I found Greg Laurie’s thoughts about the Wise Men very revealing. He writes, “I have a question for you. Do you think these men went home disappointed? Do you think they left Bethlehem feeling deflated or let down or depressed? Far from it! I think this might have been the crowning event of their whole lives. Through all their years, they would talk about the star, the young King, and the opportunity they had been given to worship Him with all their hearts and offer Him gifts. Will we meet them one day in Heaven? Only God knows, but my guess would be yes.” (Heaven’s Light Breaking)

Advent has been a special time of waiting and desiring but now Christmas has come! It is no longer a time of waiting but of worship. The first Advent has come and now the waiting for the second Advent begins. We wait with expectancy and assurance for the One who promised He would return. Christmas will always be more than food, fellowship, and presents. It is a time that we stop and place the focus on Jesus. We learn from the Shepherds, the Wise Men, Simeon, Anna, Joseph, and Mary that it is a time of worship and reflection. Like Mary, our spiritual journey of Advent allows us to treasure all these things and ponder them in our hearts.

I have enjoyed being with you during this Advent season of waiting and desiring. Our improbable story of Hope, Faith, Joy and now Peace has become probable because of what God did on that night in Bethlehem when the angel announced, “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

What can I say Lord but thank you? It is in your tender mercy, abundant grace, and endless love that I can fully celebrate Christmas. Jesus is the one “called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Merry Christmas
God is great!