The Presence of the Presence

8/27/2017

Revelation 1. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.” – St. John

“And maybe it's the time of year, yes and maybe it's the time of man; And I don't know who I am but life is for learning.” *

This morning, I reflected on my imagination of yesterday as I stepped out of a late afternoon shower after a long day at work. I thought, as I toweled off: what would I do if unexpected (and unprotected, clothes being fleeting at that moment, save the towel) Jesus showed up at the bathroom door just now?

The words from Mitchell’s Woodstock came to mind. I read Revelation twice a year: once, beginning in August, and later in December. I think in my subconscious I knew Revelation 1 was today, so maybe it’s the time of year, or maybe it’s just who I am, but I I know just where I stand, and life is for learning. What would I do in the presence of the risen Lord?

Clothing would be a scant covering from the One who knows all, sees all, and rules all. The Apostle John was wearing ragged prison clothing when Jesus showed up at his digs. Jesus was unfazed…

I had a similar thought today when Cathy went downstairs to get coffee, or let the dog out, or whatever she was up to at the moment: what would she do in the presence of the Presence?  I wonder weirdly.

Life is for learning but it’s for learning about the One who was, and is, and is to come. Jesus hasn’t gone anywhere and He isn’t going anywhere. He is going to reveal His presence to all the earth one of these days and we all just might think about: what are we going to do when Jesus shows up?

John did the normal and natural thing in the presence of God: he fell over dead…so to speak. He was undone physically and his body wouldn’t cooperate. We’ll do the same thing: we’ll fall over dead… or certainly comatose.

Many call this myth or fantasy for the weak. Okay, I get that. But when it happens wisdom will be proven by her actions. At the appearance of Jesus, there won’t be any time to quibble about myths, legends, fantasies and the like – it will be useless bodies either hoping for cover, or hoping for a touch from Him who was, and is, and is now here. John had to wait on Jesus, you and I will too.

Do you have a vision of Jesus today? Does your vision, if you have one, include Him who was and is and is to come? Or is it: He was just a great teacher who was martyred for His beliefs? One way or another, the bottom line is this: Jesus is coming – for those who are looking… and for those who aren’t.

Lord, my vision didn’t come to pass yesterday, or even again today but Your presence is all about and within me regardless. I look with the eyes of faith for You in all I do today and Lord, may I see You in all I do, for Who You are: who was and is, and is to come. The time of man will one day disappear. Amen.

*JONI MITCHELL, © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Crazy Crow Music / Siquomb Music Publishing, 1970

Peter in Me

8/11/2017 

John 13.8 “No,” said Peter, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.” – St. John 

Sometimes, ol’ Peter could just be a stubborn jackass. He had his mind made up, and I tend to think Jesus started the whole foot-washing episode at John and then worked all the way around to Peter. I think Jesus washed Peter’s feet last just so that stubborn ol’ Peter, more precious to Jesus than we’ll ever know, could soak up the full effect of what was happening.  

And the closer Jesus came, the higher Peter’s walls of defense, went.  

I am consumed these days with the idea of grace. Specifically, God’s grace. Peter, of all people, decided to write in his epistle, quoting Proverbs 3.34: “God opposes the proud but shows favor (grace) to the humble.” I think we completely underestimate the power of pride in our lives – and that is why diving to the bottom is so important in discovering and receiving God’s grace. Jesus dove to the bottom in washing their feet. They all had to dive to the bottom to let their Master do such a thing. Even Judas. 

I also think that God cares more about our killing our pride, than He does about our masks of pretentiousness that we put on whenever we get together as believers – like our lives are so perfect and ripple-free. And the worst part is, I read a passage like this and I’m doing the Peter, I’m thinking, no way in bleep am I gonna let you do that to me… go wash someone else’s dang feet! 

I suppose I find some comfort in the fact that somewhere along the way, someone said, Well, foot-washing today isn’t really foot-washing – it’s more like serving one another. I’m thinking, Whew! Dodged that one! But whatever it is, it doesn’t excuse me from diving to the bottom. For you, or anyone else. Grace abounds to the one who wears humility like a garment; as a way of life. 

There is no room for stubborn jackasses in the realm of humility. The greater the risk of intentional, humiliating embarrassment, the greater the gift of grace.  

We resist humility because it’s humiliating. But to the one who develops the taste for it, it’s exhilarating. Ol’ Peter finally developed the taste and tradition tells us, he was crucified upside down because he didn’t see himself as worthy of being crucified the way his Master was… Good job Pete! 

Father, today, I am humbled in embarrassment because I see Peter in me: no way am I gonna let You do that to me! But Lord, Your ways are always loving, always right, and always good. Help me to go further, as my brother Peter did when he said, and ultimately lived out: Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. You did it for him, and I know You’ll do it for me. Amen

Where I Stand

8/6/2017

John 8.16 But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. - Jesus

Jesus had His detractors – I suppose all of us do at some point. Not everybody loves everybody. But the Lord’s detractors challenged His credibility.  They said: “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.” (I think it funny that they said so, given they were doing the same thing – where was their credibility??)

Credibility is a big deal in our age. It isn’t that it wasn’t in days past, but nowadays who can trust anything anyone says? Credibility is a big deal, and nobody believes much of what anybody says. So, the credibility of Jesus is so vastly important when we have all come to the point of: everyone is lying.

The truth is, everybody is not lying, but because the suspicion of lies is so strong, that credibility is even more important. So, in the age of lying, in whom do we trust? Is Jesus who He says He is? Or is the Bible all lies as well? And what do we do when everything is perceived as lies or everyone as lying? To whom do we turn for truth?

Belief is not just some switch to be flipped. Belief is a God thing. Jesus said in John 6.65: “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.” We can’t even come to God without divine enablement. And without that, all that is left is lies. 

Divine enablement is not something that is withheld by God for the chosen few, it is His gift to all who will accept it. Divine enablement is as simple as a beautiful sunset, or the vast array of stars in the heavens – it is the acknowledgement of the reality of God. We seem to want to call God, God; but we won’t truly acknowledge Him as God. It’s because we believe more in the lies spread about God, than we do in the truth of who God really is, and Whom God has sent.

To some (well, to many) lies make them feel better. Many would rather accept the lies of man, because the truth of God makes them feel weird. They know something is wrong but refuse to accept truth, so they accept lies. The Pharisees lied about God and that precisely why they could not accept the One who told them He came from God. Their retort was simply: you’re lying!

Jesus replied: But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. Jesus called God His Father, as every man should. But all He got from men was the accusation that He was lying. Habitual liars can’t recognize the truth if it bopped them on the nose…

Jesus came offering the truth and the truth is lost on those whose lives are devoid of God. To the godless, there is not beautiful sunset or sunrise; there is no response to the call of the heavens that declare the handiwork of God (Psalm 19). There is only deadness fed with lies.

Father in Heaven, You have enabled me to see only because that is what You do for every human everywhere, all the time. I am not special, I have only responded to what You have presented. Lord, it boils down to only this: You, or lies. You have given me the choice, and I have chosen. Like Jesus, I choose to stand with You. Help me to help others to make the choice – we are all on our own before You! Amen

What I See

7/30/2017

John 1.48 48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” St. John

I have used a Bible reading regimen since 2002 – it’s called, S.O.A.P. It stands for, Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. The thought process is simply: read through the Bible (Scripture) with some kind of plan and intentionality, and then journal appropriately to what I see (observe), how I can apply what I saw to my daily living, and then a prayer to God for the wherewithal to do what I saw and attempt to apply.  

This morning before I began reading I had the thought: don’t write about what you know, write about what you see. I know some stuff – everybody does. But the greater calling in life is to live by what you see, and then live, and love accordingly. The greatest calling in life, is to love, despite what you see. That is also the hardest part of life. To see people properly is to love them properly… 

Jesus was not who, or what, people wanted to see. That threw people. If Messiah is to be: all that, AND a bag of chips, why doesn’t He look like a Messiah. We need to understand that God doesn’t play by our rules. Ever. But we are more than welcome to play by His. 

So, in the story, a seeker of Jesus, a guy named Philip, calls out to his friend Nathanael and says, hey man, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” And Nathanael, knowing about Nazareth says, “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael saw nothing good in Nazareth. 

And upon meeting Jesus, the Lord said: “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” To which Nathanael says: “How do you know me?” And Jesus replied, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Astounded, Nathanael says: “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.” You know, what I see is this: God sees us. 

It doesn’t matter whether we’re under the fig tree, under the weight of anxiety, or the pressure of performance and production; God sees us. And like Nathanael, we need to embrace that knowledge. And now, because I see, I know that God is an inescapable part of life for every person on the planet. And because I know that, I know that He sees me. That ought to make me think about what I see and how I respond to what I see.  

My seeing sometimes influences my doing. Sometimes seeing someone in need, and while having the ability to help, not doing anything to help, shows that I am not seeing things as I should. God looks at me to see what it will take in my life to bring about eternal life. I at least ought to see others in the same way: Lord, how can I help this person (or these people) to see You for who You are? 

And that is my prayer: 

Father in Heaven, You see me for who You’ve created me to be. Help me to see my fellow man as works-in-progress, and to come alongside the willing and the unwilling to help them to see You for who You really are: “Lord, You are God; You are the king of the world!” Amen

Perfect Peace

7/16/2017 

Isaiah 23.3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. – St. Isaiah, the prophet 

Yesterday, in our little town, a 7-year old child was killed in a tragic traffic accident. As a community, we are in shock – how could one so young be taken so soon!? But he was.  

I think about those who witnessed the accident. I think about leaders and mentors who saw it all. I think about the law enforcement personnel and EMT’s who were first responders. I think about the counselors and pastors, who reached out to comfort and console. I think about the verse in Matthew:

“A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning,

Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted,

because they are no more.” (Matthew 2.18) 

I think about a mom, a dad, and grandparents, and aunts and uncles refusing to be comforted – someone precious to them is no more. 

Cathy and I prayed for those involved at all levels and we prayed for God’s comfort and consolation. And we prayed in frustration for what seems to be a senseless tragedy of one taken who, in our eyes, didn’t seem to deserve it.  

And then, I thought about God. And I thought: we’re all going to die at some point and the moment for all of us is fixed in some divine calendar. Some are born to live long, long lives. Others are born to last for a few minutes. And some are born for tragedy. But all of us are going to die at some point. 

Our frustration is we have no control over the when. And that is why the need for God and the great need for trusting in God: You, God, will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfastly set on You, because they trust in You… no matter what. That doesn’t erase human pain, nor does it explain the inexplicable. But it puts God in His rightful place: The One through Whom, and for Whom, all things are.  

We tend to forget that when tragedy strikes.  

Personally, I know the anguish of a child. I know this morning there is hurt and, perhaps anger beyond comprehension in those, “close to home”: the family of the child whose life was lost: a mom, a dad, siblings, relatives. But I know that the child was given a life that was only going to last so long, and then he was going to die. That is a harsh reality for all of us who seem to want to control the outcome… we never can – we never will. 

But the stark reality is also this: we can learn to trust God in all things. This isn’t the first child to die, nor will it be the last. But God is God over all circumstances and despite our suffering, He can be trusted. 

It may not soften the blow, but it does give us a place to land when we’ve been hit.  

My prayer is this tragedy will bring us together as people to remember how much we need God and how much we need each other – because the time for all of us, young and old, is limited…

The Attitude of Discipline

7/15/2017 

Hebrews 12.5-6 5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” 

I am an American. I live in a culture that seems to stress over health and fitness. You talk to the average American and he believes he is not in the best shape and could lose weight. Depending on who you talk to, depends on how they feel, but my experience is most of us believe we could stand more exercise, better eating, and we believe that our lives would somehow improve if we were just in better shape. 

I’m not sure we know what we’re saying when we say we wish we were in better shape, but I think I know what we mean: we wish we could find the discipline to make ourselves feel better about our pathetic physical selves so that when we watch the Bowflex® commercials, we don’t feel so guilty about Jillian Michaels’ drill sergeant-like, get-your-a**-going, attitude. Hold my beer, I’ll just change the channel… 

The writer of Hebrews, quoting Proverbs 3, said: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” I thought about the taking lightly and wondered what that might mean and then I read: “…and don not lose heart… Now I know what he meant: Discipline is hard work. 

And necessary work. 

The discipline of the Lord is not dressed up in some tight-fitting workout outfit with a moderately attractive drill sergeant, dripping with sweaty sexuality, barking at us. The discipline of the Lord is love at its purest and finest; the pinnacle of divine intervention. 

To make light of the Lord’s discipline, is to belittle it, shun it, or avert our eyes from it. To lose heart, is to take God’s discipline as His invasive forcing of us to do what we don’t want to do; or His taking from us something that which we don’t want to give. The Lord’s discipline is anything but. 

It is true that God wants to train us. That doesn’t mean we’re pathetic (we are far worse than that), it does mean, however, that God will work with us if we’ll allow Him; and His work with us requires a good, willing, and cooperative attitude with Him in His work with us. Slackers need not apply. 

The Almighty thinks very highly of us and expects us to do the same with Him, and ourselves – especially when we begin to see His purpose in, for, and through us. God’s purposes for us require a commitment from us that makes Jillian look pushy and pathetic. She’s selling a product – God is giving life eternal. It takes discipline to receive God’s life – His life is infinitely different than we know. 

Father, work in me to help me to get what You are doing in me. David prayed: “…what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” We are, I am, a whole bunch more that we/I realize. Work in me whatever it takes to help me to get it. May Your will be done in my life, and may my attitude about it be happy, willing, and cooperative – amen

The Forgetting Process

7/5/2017 

Hebrews 2.1 We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 

In the original texts, there were no chapters and verses assigned; the Epistles were simply written documents intended for the use and edification of the readers in various churches scattered throughout the region. Hebrews is an epistle – it was meant for Jewish Christians who may have wanted to revert back to Judaism for various reasons; persecution being one reason.  

The writer (we’re not sure who it was) told them: We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. I think that is sound advice for Christians to this day.  

The issue with paying attention is the issue of remembering and reminding. We’re to remember what was said and remind each other in the process. The writer said, we must pay the most careful attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away… That is exactly what happened to ancient Israel. 

In the prophet Hosea’s day, the nation of Israel (the northern ten tribes) had mostly forsaken the teachings and example of their forefathers and had fallen into a protracted estate of ambivalence toward God. They had vigorously adopted the rites of pagan religions, and had stopped doing what God had originally commanded them to do through Moses. They just quit… paying attention. 

I think ambivalence, apathy, and acquiescence are among the big three in ineffectiveness in our days – we just grow drained, disinterested and distracted. If ever there was a reason for paying the most careful attention, it is now because the ‘friction’ of forgetting is ever-present in our world.  

To be a child of God and a disciple of Christ means to give careful heed to what we have learned and to pay attention to what is happening in our lives as we follow Jesus. If there is something we are to do, it’s pretty clear in the instruction of the author of Hebrews: we’re to beware of how we’re living, and make sure that how we are, matches up with who we are, in Christ. 

Why go to church? Why have personal devotions? Why sing the songs of the faith? All of these things are supposed to enhance our faith, and retard the forgetting process. If we pay attention to what we have heard, then it follows that we will live what we have heard. Falling away is a very silent, invisible, odorless, painless process. It is enriched by not paying careful attention to who we are and why we are. 

Father in Heaven, help me to pay careful attention. Help me to make sure I am what I am in Jesus. Thank you for Church and Christian friends, but may they only serve to remind me to remember who I am in You. And may I remember to be about Your business today: I represent the King and the Kingdom. Amen

Contention

7/2/2017 

Jude 3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. – St. Jude 

Jesus had a half-brother named Jude. His name was probably Judah, or Judas but he was a believer in Christ. He was passionate in his faith and apparently held a non-apostolic position of leadership in the early Church. Jude wrote Jude. 

As was common in those days, the Christian moniker, ‘friends’ was used by the early believers to signify unity among themselves, and their partnership with Jesus (John 15.15 …I call you friends…) So, when Jude wrote, “Dear Friends”, he was writing to people who were friends of Jesus Christ as believers. Friendship with God is an important context for me. God desires to be our True Friend. 

So, Jude wanted to write and encourage his friends about their salvation, but felt compelled to write and urge to them about contend for their faith. Contend here means to struggle, or seek to overcome.  

Now, the struggle (or contention) is not against others but against the pull of the world, to live for the world, and daily living as more important than God, and godly living. I think one of the biggest bashes Christianity takes is the concept of godly living. Godly living is simply living in the presence of God and striving to do what He commands and directs as the right way to live in a wrong world. The world heralds that as hypocrisy. 

And no wonder – if the world sought godly living, then it wouldn’t contend for worldly living – living in a world apart from God. The worldly contend it is possible to live a full and rewarding life in this world apart from God; without the constraints (as they see it) of living for God. The worldly stop short at the threshold of self-accomplishment and self-aggrandizement.  

The Christian, on the other hand, may be tempted to stop short at the threshold of salvation thinking: I signed the card, I made the pledge, I got my name in the book, and I’m just gonna continue to live the best I can. Salvation isn’t just a letter-grade on a ledger; it’s relationship with God that comes no other way than through Jesus Christ and belief in Him – and daily life with Him. Life with Jesus is peace, promise, and presence in the midst of a world hostile to all that would usurp it’s culture of self. 

Contending for the faith, for the child of God, is a very real and serious thing because all else in this life contends to pull us away from our salvation: what we are saved from, and what we are saved to. Contending for the faith means living with purpose, power, and persistence in the things of the faith and the salvation we hold so dear. We do hold salvation dearly, don’t we?  

Living for Jesus a life that is true, [contending] to please Him in all that I do; yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free, this is the pathway of [salvation] for me. – Thomas O. Chisholm 

Father in Heaven, every day is a day of contention, contending for my faith. Give me the strength, the wisdom, and the vision to keep my eyes on the prize: You! Amen

Knowing Our Desire

7/1/2017 

Isaiah 1.3 "The ox knows its master, the donkey its owner’s manger, but Israel does not know, [My] people do not understand.” – St. Isaiah 

This morning in my devotions I read: “Delight yourself in Me, for I am the deepest Desire of your heart.” (Young, Sarah. Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence (p. 192). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.)

 I thought about that. I thought: how often do I fill my days seeking this or that? I think that way because I have been trained that way, and because of my training, I do as I do, and believe as I believe. What is sad is: I was not created to be my own god; I was not created to live a life apart from God. 

And Isaiah, the great preacher of Israel said, “The ox knows its master, the donkey its owner’s manger, but Israel does not know, [My] people do not understand…” The simple animals get it – and often (very) I don’t.  

This isn’t about training as much as it is about retraining. The ox and the donkey have one small advantage: they’re hard-wired to get the simple concept of ownership and food. Their huge disadvantage is no freewill, and no knowledge of the God who created them. All they know is the simplicity of food, water, and husbandry. 

My devotions today were a paradigm shift in my thinking: we all have a deep desire; we’re hard-wired that way. What we don’t know (or what we ignore, and/or are distracted from) is the deepest desire of all humanness: the desire for God. The secular won’t buy that, nor will the atheist, nor the hedonist, nor the consumer. Only those that are taught and trained to hear and live by the voice of God will give heed to their deepest desire: the presence of God Himself. 

For the most part, we’re dumbed down to desiring the sparkles and glitters of this life. We accept the lie that this life and its limitations, doesn’t get any better than this… We accept short-sightedness believing all we see, is all there is. That’s the context of animals: dumb as oxen, stubborn as donkeys… Funny: we need the oxen and donkeys God has created!

God said: My people do not understand. The dumbest of His people are those who think, they are not His people – ah, but the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof… The dumbest and the poorest on earth are those who deny God. Our purpose in this life is to know God and enjoy (underscore that!) Him forever. That means we’re free from the confines of ownership and food – it means we choose to accept our deepest desire: the innate hunger in all of us for the power, presence, and promise of God. 

Oxen and donkeys know instinctively. We know innately. Knowing our desire is tantamount to knowing God. 

Father, that I know You is of magnitude that defies understanding. That my deepest desire is You, smacks vehemently against everything this world offers in place of You – religion, health, wealth, and happiness. As I go forth in these days, may my knowledge of this desire, and the presence of the Holy Spirit within me, be the filter of defense for all that vies for my attention. All of my fountains are in You – amen.

Prepare To Meet

6/29/2017

 

Amos 4. 12 “Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel, and because I will do this to you, Israel, prepare to meet your God.” – Amos of Tekoa 

In the movie, The Princess Bride, the character, Inigo Montoya states several times: “Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” I thought of that this morning as I read Amos’ prophetic words to the people of Israel who’d abandoned their God. “Hello. My Name is the Lord Almighty. You have abandoned Me and worshiped other gods. Prepare to meet your Me!” 

America, the land I love, is not Israel – a land I’ve only read about. America was founded on the principles that all men are created equal in the sight of God and have been endowed by God with the inalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Americans are to be free, live free, and ultimately die free. 

But Americans have bought into a lie that says: we’re better with government rule, than self-rule. We’re better off with the god of law and government, than the God of who gave us the inalienable rights to be free. Somebody somewhere decided that men cannot be trusted with their freedom, and need to be reined in with rules. We speak of freedom here, but in our day, freedom’s a very short leash. And many seem quite content with the short leash. 

What happened in ancient Israel where Amos lived and spoke, was a society remarkably similar to ours today. They had the opportunity for self-rule, but didn’t want self-rule, they wanted a king (a government) to take care of the dirty-work and they sold their freedom in God for slavery to a political, religious, and economic system that taught them, apathy. As long as their perceived gravy-train of leisure kept rolling, they were quite content to live on a very short leash. 

What they certainly didn’t expect (or care about) was push-back from God, and Amos’s words of: the time is short and your life choices are horrible – prepare to meet your God. And they met God, and He looked strangely like the invading Assyrians that captured them, and drug them off into pagan captivity. 

So, Paul, are you implying that we are about to meet our God? (Your God?) Well, let me just ask: if He does show up today, how will you respond? He may not look like what we expect… 

God is actually here. Right now. Today. He’s never gone anywhere. And He’s given us the freedom to make life choices. He’s also given us the freedom to abide by His choices. It’s not an unfair game God plays – it’s the game of reality, life choices, wisdom, and cooperation. God never changes His mind about the gifts He gives or the people He calls. (Romans 11.29) But we men want someone else to do the heavy lifting so we can spend our ‘free’ moments not caring about things like oppression, injustice, poverty, and on and on, and on.  

The further a people drift from the truth, the more they will come to hate those who speak it… - Chesterton 

Father, may I repent of my apathy in my daily encounters with You. My freedom is not leisure cash to selfishly spend frivolously, but opportunity to freely help others come to know You and the Gospel You offer. Amen.

Evidence of Turning Away

6/26/2017 

2 Timothy 2.19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” – St. Paul 

I meet with a group of guys every Thursday when schedule permits, and we talk. And talk. And talk. Sometimes, it’s just about hunting and fishing (two things I don’t do, so I simply smile and nod); and sometimes it’s just about life. Often, it’s about church, and often, it’s about theology. We spar. 

Now, sparring is not fighting, it’s contending one’s point over the objections of another. Men spar. Women relate.  

One of the biggest topics of our sparring is what God does with sin, and what the Christian’s responsibility is with sin, and daily behavior. Typically (in a group of 5 to 8 guys) sides are formed and the sparring gets heated. For the most part we agree to disagree, and always we part as friends. But the sin issue is something we wrangle over. Not whether to sin or not sin, but what is our responsibility is with sin, before God. 

Sin is not degrees of evil before God; to Him, sin is sin. But we mortals only have St. Paul’s commentary on sin. (Other commentaries are just commentaries on Paul’s commentary.) And in 2 Timothy 2, Paul says the above: “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” (Because of the quotation marks, Paul is obviously quoting someone.) 

Turning away from wickedness (or, sinful self-rule) is not because of rule-keeping, but because of the reality of confessing the Name of the Lord. The Bible is pretty clear about the responsibilities of life when it comes to confessing the Name of the Lord. We should not live in sin while confessing the Lord. But we do and that is precisely where the rub comes in our sparring. One says, we’re only human, and the other says, you cannot have it both ways. They’re both right. 

The emphasis here is: confessing the Name of the Lord. We shouldn’t sin or live in wickedness if we confess Jesus’ Name. But we do and it leads me to think that the upshot of all this is recognizing the reality of sin, and learning through relationship with Jesus, to mitigate its effect on our lives by both learning what not to do, and all that we’re to become, by confessing Jesus’ Name. It’s a lifelong process. 

I think where our issue really stems from is we all want flawless perfection so that we can prove to God how good we are, not realizing the sinfulness of sin, and how we’re to live in faith in Jesus to overcome its influence on us as we live out our lives on this earth. Some seem to be better at this than others, but in Christ we all should be making progress; and verses like this one are pretty emphatic: “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” Evidence that demands a verdict… 

Father in Heaven, it seems to me that in my behavior, if I think I can confess Jesus whilst doing something I know I shouldn’t, there’s either a misunderstanding in me of who Jesus is, or a misunderstanding in me of what sin is. All I want is to grow in my relationship with You so that the things I know I shouldn’t do diminish. May there be evidence of Your presence in me so that others can see You in me, not just my avoidance of wickedness. You are worth far more than that! Amen

Influential

6/18/2017 

1 Kings 22.43 In everything he followed the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. The high places, however, were not removed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. 

It seems fitting on this Day of Fathers, to point out that Jehoshaphat (whose name means, Yahweh has judged) followed in the ways of his father Asa, and did not stray from them. Sometimes, (more often than not) fathers hold a place of tremendous influence in the life choices of their sons. A chip off the old block, they say… 

Jehoshaphat was influenced by his dad. But Jehoshaphat was also influenced by his heavenly Father, Yahweh. Somehow, some way, Jehoshaphat saw that God’s way was the best way. And he made the choice to follow God’s way.  

Jehoshaphat witnessed the life of his father, Asa, who for the most part, was a wise and conscientious king; but Asa did some weird stuff at the end of his career and died somewhat in ignobility. Asa nearly drove the proverbial leadership bus off the cliff. And Jehoshaphat witnessed it all. At some point Jehoshaphat must have made up his mind that he wasn’t going to do what his dad did. But sometimes, like it or not, the influence of the father is passed onto the kid(s).  

My hope is that my boys, (and my daughter) and my grandson, will witness and follow my ways. But when I say that what comes to mind is all the mistakes I have made as a man and a father. I hope they overlook those things and choose to do as I have done. I know how I got here and my only hope is that their path doesn’t include the pain I’ve suffered and caused. My kids have seen it all...

But I am not God. 

I am glad that Jehoshaphat chose to follow God. I am glad that he decided God’s ways were the best for him, despite what his father was or did. Mercifully, life isn’t about just being a carbon copy of the old man; it’s about the presence and influence of the Ancient of Days in lives of each individual. And God is at work in every person on the planet. 

Dads may be influential, but God is at work.  

And my prayer for my kidos is simply: Lord, the work that You’ve begun, see it through to completion in the lives of my kids and grandkids. And Lord, do whatever it takes to get their attention. God, only that they may see You for who You really are, and follow steadfastly in the way You lead. 

I have had, and still have that place in influence in my kids, but now, for me it’s a matter of daily fervent prayer for them as they lead their own lives and walk their own paths. Yahweh has judged. But I will pray. 

Father, for the millions and billions on this earth, give me that place of influence with as many as You choose. Help me to remember the ones who are close – relationally, or in proximity –to model what it is to walk with You. Give these young and little ones, glimpses of Your glory that though they see me, they would choose You – amen.

Pressing On

6/13/2017

 

Philippians 3.14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. – St. Paul 

The goal is the prize found in the upward (god-ward, heaven-ward) call of God in Christ Jesus. The goal is the prize – the prize is Jesus. We are called to the prize; our goal is the prize; and our calling is Jesus Himself. And so, despite all that happens to us in life along the way: our calling is to the goal, which is the prize, which is Jesus Himself. 

Whew! What a mouthful! 

But it’s true. We do have a goal in life. We do have meaning and purpose. There is a point to all the madness swirling around us. Every day we’re alive the goal, is the Goal. And the prize for the goal isn’t six points on a scoreboard, and the potential of a point after touchdown; the goal is the Prize: God Himself in the person of Jesus Christ. 

Why is that so important? It’s important because the amount of time and energy we put into life amounts to very little compared to the goal for the Prize of the upward call of the Lord. Yes, we can have careers. Yes, we can amass wealth and to do. But all of that is meaningless in the face of life’s true pursuit. The vastness of Jesus is far greater than all the wealth of earth, and more meaningful than the beating of each person’s heart on the planet. The Prize is Him!

So, Paul, pressed on. He kept the goal in mind because he understood the vastness of the prize. Think of the complexity of our world. Think of the intricacies and the sophistication of life. Think of the vastness of earth and the universe beyond. And God is above and beyond all, and God calls us to Himself. God is more than creation and God wants to exchange all He has for all we are. We mean that much to Him. 

That’s worth pressing on for. 

Paul said: (With all life is, I only want to be): …found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. (Php. 3.9-11) 

God is vastly more than all we can ask or imagine. Earth is pretty good, but all of earth, and all it is, holds no candle to all He is in us, for us, and through us. Psalm 8.3-4 muses: When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? God views mankind as worth dying for that they may know Him forever… and so, God presses on in His relentless pursuit of all mankind… 

Alright Paul, bring it on home! I can’t, I’m too busy pressing on… 

Father in Heaven, thank You for the goal, for the prize of Your upward call in Christ Jesus; You reached down so that we could come up in Him. Help me in pressing on today and for keeping the goal for the Prize first place in all I do and am – it’s the only time ‘participation trophies’ mean anything! - amen

Work Out

6/12/2017 

Philippians 2.12-13 12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. – St. Paul 

We are not so much to do as to be. We are the children of God in Christ, and that is not a matter of doing, but of being. That said, we are to learn what it means to be God’s children living in His family and participating in His Kingdom.  

Paul said, “…work out your salvation with fear and trembling…” That’s pretty simple: do what it takes to know God better, remembering not so much what we are saved from, but what we are saved to. Because, “…it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Salvation has infinitely more to do with God’s good pleasure than it ever does with abstinence of sin. Sin is dramatically defeated and lessened by doing God's will and good pleasure.

I know we labor heavily in the battle against sin, but the reality is doing what God calls us to do; and we can only do that as we believe what God has called us to be: His children. Our focus as believers is to concentrate on God’s good pleasure, not the incessant wrestling with self and sin.  

That’s not to say that self and sin aren’t issues, it’s just that they aren’t the main issues: God’s good pleasure is the main issue, and our salvation becomes focusing on His good pleasure. I think the more we do that, the more sin fades into the paleness of death. Far too many focus on abstinence of sin; far too few focus on God’s work in us to will and to do for His good pleasure. Working out our salvation has to do with keeping the main thing, the main thing.  

In case we forget/forgot: God is the main thing. His will and good pleasure are the main thing. 

Working out our salvation is keeping God the Main thing. And that may seem harder done than said, but it is what we are called to. Therefore, we are to work out our salvation by thinking about Him. We are to work out our salvation by working alongside Him as He works within us. We are to work out our salvation by seeking to know what He desires next in our lives and then doing exactly that! Nothing more, nothing less. We cannot do what we aren’t; and we are God’s children. 

Jesus said, “…he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” So, working out our salvation amounts to abiding in Him. And accepting His abiding in us. Most of the hard work of salvation is found simply in accepting the reality of the presence of Christ in us by His Holy Spirit. After that, it is just walking with Him and doing what He says to do. 

It takes faith. It takes acceptance. It takes intentionality. It requires work. That which costs me nothing is usually worth nothing.  

Father in Heaven, help me this day, as I work out my salvation with fear and trembling to remember who I am in You, and who You are in me. Amen

Right Reasons for Chains

6/11/2017 

Philippians 1.13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 

Soldiers aren’t always at war, sometimes they are just at their duty-station. Such was the case for the Praetorian Guard in Rome where Paul penned his missive to the Church at Philippi.  And soldiers talk, and stand around some when there are no officers present. Sometimes they smoke, always they talk ‘shop’, and always, they cuss. (I’ve heard that referred to as “Military Creole”) 

Soldiers, surely, would rather be fighting, that’s what they’re trained for. But when there is no war, or no battle, they pass the time like the rest of us do. And the Roman guard charged with taking care of St. Paul were soldiers who talked, smoked, and cussed. The shop-talk they shared was somewhat about this Jewish guy who seemed to share a lot about his experiences with another Guy, a named Jesus. Their prisoner kept calling Him the Son of God. Weird, huh? 

And when the talk came around as to why Paul was in chains, they all knew he was chained for believing in Jesus. Everyone in the detachment knew because rotating guard shifts exposed them to St. Paul and his gospel. 

The last place – I think – Paul wanted to be was in chains under Roman guard; he’d rather’ve been preaching the Gospel in some new place, or teaching in the churches about the glory of God in the face Christ. But there he was, chained, under guard, held as a criminal and dissident; and all the guards came to know Paul’s story: Paul was in chains for Christ. 

I imagine Paul shared the gospel a time or two – or twenty-two. I imagine there was more than one guard that came to Christ because of Paul’s chains for Christ. The Romans knew how to treat political prisoners but this guy Paul was different. He had confidence. He had assurance. And he spoke of heavenly things like they grew on trees. He didn’t talk about becoming a god – but he spoke of knowing God, and living as a true child of the True King. That just may have garnered some attention of these creole-speaking military men. 

Which leads me to this question: is it obvious to others that you and I are in chains for Christ? In whatever it is happening in our lives, are we able to: “…press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”? (Philippians 3.14) Do our circumstances confine us, or do they define us to speak the truth about Jesus to those who know us? Or, about us? 

Paul thought of his circumstances thus: As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Paul, in prison, displayed Jesus, and as a result a whole bunch of people became aware of Jesus. Are we willing and courageous to allow God even to pen us up in confinement in order to get us to sing like songbirds to others about His Glory, and His Son? 

Father, as I embark on my next leg of the journey my hope and prayer is this: As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am where I am for Christ. Give me grace, light, and the freedom to share who You are, how good You are – and the glorious gift of Jesus – amen

The Song of Sex

6/10/2017 

Song of Songs 1.1 Solomon’s Song of Songs. – Solomon 

In the book, verse 1 really is what it says: Solomon’s Song of Songs. Now, I know there is a Lord of lords, and I know there is a King of kings; and only today, did it occur to me that there is also a Song of songs. Only in Scripture are there qualifiers like this; Scripture, after all being the Book of books.  

As a 21st century man, I must admit that Song of songs leaves me a bit red-faced – in my pea-brain, the sexual overtones in the Song are like an elephant sitting next to me at my desk…say what!? And so, I have tried to sort out the Song as to what it means, and what it means to me. As I said, a bit red-faced. But its presence in Holy Writ also emphasizes my appreciation of the honesty of Scripture and the transparency of life with all its culture, customs, habits, hurts, and hang-ups.  

Sex is the real deal… when done right (and rightly). Sex is not just the sensation – although there are many who would shout me down on that point. Sex, as well, is mostly not what we in 21^st century western culture make it out to be either: who says we know what is right and proper (can we even use the words, “right and proper” in a conversation about sex?) When did we moderns become such experts of human relationships and sexuality? 

Sadly, like most everything else in our culture today, sex is all about self. If one gets what one wants out of it then so be it. But is seems the more we try to justify and conquer our view of sex, the more mystifying and maddening it becomes. Anything devoted to self and self-gratification is doomed before it even starts. 

Song of songs mystifies me and causes me to wonder: why is it even in Scripture!? And then I look at my society and go: Oh! That’s why! Somewhere in the mysteriousness of life we were created to procreate – but procreation is not the only reason for sex. Sex, is indeed a gift, but man does it come with a price-tag! And a gift unappreciated, or abused, or misused is not much of a gift. At least from the recipient’s point of view. Dad can give me a brand new bicycle for my birthday, but if I use it for playing tennis it doesn’t do me much good. (Riding to tennis on a bike is one thing, using the bike to serve the ball is another…) 

So, I think the point (theologically) may just be this  in my pea-brained-ness: The Bible in fact, may be a sometime guide to the mystery, mystique, and majesty of human sexuality. And God created sex – and it was goooood. But it’s only good for us if it is used in the right way; not technique, or style but purpose – sexual intercourse is always for the benefit of the other. Making love is just that: love; and love is always about the other... first. 

Can sex be fun? Sure. Can sex be ecstatic? I hope so. But sex loses its value when it becomes the end, not a means to an end. The end is the health and vitality of the relationship of which sex is only a part. Want more sex? Serve your partner well in every other area of life first. Want sex to be more exciting? Try meeting as many of the other emotional, spiritual, and physical needs of your partner apart from sex.  

Note: Sex is work, but the payoff is perfect for the one who is willing to do the work… (Put that in your pipe and smoke it…) 

Thank You God, for sex. Help me to do rightly and to concentrate on all of the other parts of her life first …the payoff will be magical. 😊 Amen

Must’s

6/9/2017 

Ephesians 5. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. – St. Paul 

Sometimes, I have it in my mind, I’m going to write about this or write about that; you get that way after fifteen years of following the same Bible Reading plan knowing, instinctively, what is coming next.  

Consider: today’s reading is Ecclesiastes 10-12, Psalm 94, and Ephesians 5. I know what is in Ecclesiastes 10, especially verse 19: A feast is made for laughter, wine makes life merry, and money is the answer for everything. For some reason, it doesn’t sound all that Biblical, but it’s true – oddly, it’s as true today as it was 2500 years ago when it was written. It speaks volumes about our relationship with money. 

So, I wanted to expound on that, but then, as is usually the case, I completed my assigned portion of Holy Writ and saw something else that unseated what I thought I wanted, or was going to, expound upon – enter Ephesians 5.33. 

As a word-nerd, I like to think about things and words that seem to fit my wandering mind… take the word: unequivocal. I thought about unequivocal as I thought about St. Paul’s words to us concerning the married-life: each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. Unequivocal. Unambiguous. Explicit. Indisputable. Obvious. 

Marriage is all about the husband caring for his bride, and the bride admiring her care-giver. Love and respect are the water-boys for care and admiration. And it’s unequivocal. Sure, we try to nuance what Paul is saying, but the bottom line is this: marriage requires courageous things to make it work the way it should: love and respect go a long way in courage. 

St. Solomon wrote that money is the answer to everything. Well..., in some cases that might be true, but without love or respect you can throw as much money as you want at a bad marriage and it will still be a bad marriage. The husband must (St. Paul’s word) love his wife as he loves himself (and that is big); and the wife must respect her husband. If this thing is going to work, there are some, must’s. Unequivocal. 

There are unequivocal must’s in life: I must eat, I must breathe. These aren’t suggestions, they are have-to’s. Love and respect are have-to’s; I must do these in order to make the thing work. They are unequivocal but volitional. It is far better to pull a chain than to push it… 

And Paul was saying: For Christ’s sake (and yours) you must do these things (like you must breathe) or your marriage will be faulty at best. And the must’s apply to just plain old relationships as well: love, respect, and communication go a long way in keeping life smooth, clear, and worry-free. You must eat. You must breathe. You must go out of your way to choose to love and respect – unequivocal. 

Father, there are truths in life that bear up under pressure: love and respect are two of those truths. I can throw money at things and think I'm doing good, but nothing beats good old-fashioned love, and respect. Help me in my choices, help me in my must’s. Help me in my marriage and relationships. I reap what I sow – amen

Meaningless Not Purposeless

6/8/2017 

Ecclesiastes 9.7-9 7 Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do. 8 Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil. 9 Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun. – The Preacher 

Unless we’re careful we might be fooled by the Preacher’s tone: meaningless, meaningless, all is meaningless! (Cf. Ecc. 1.2) It would seem, at face value, the Preacher is frustrated and disappointed – and perhaps he was; but he saw what many people didn’t: this life is not all there is. 

I used to ride mountain-bikes with my friend Mike. We’d be out on the trail and he’d always say: it dudn’t (southern talk for ‘doesn’t’) get any better than this! And he was partly right: beautiful mornings, clear skies, fresh air, quiet; what more could we want? He called it his: stress release. Soon we’d be back in family, job, traffic, hustle, bustle and the rest of life – but out on the trail: perfect! 

The Preacher’s admonition is for us to make the best of this limited, meaningless life we have. It’s going to end. It has all of the disappointments that are assigned to this life, but there is a reason to stay upbeat and positive about it – otherwise, it’ll let us down. This life may have limited meaning, but it has abundant purpose. But if we place too much value on this life, (it dudn’t get any better than this!) we’ll be dissatisfied. 

The cure? Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do. Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil. Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun. Relax, there’s enough other stuff to get all worked up about… 

There is purpose to this life. But this life is not all there is, and the wise understand this. There is pain and toil and drudgery to this life, but there is delight and happiness and accomplishment. The trick is to keep things in proper perspective and I think perspective was the Preacher’s main point. Too much of this life will let you down. Too little of it will bore you to tears. Keep it simple and love your spouse. 

This life is preparation for the next – unless, of course, you think this one is all there is. If there is no God, then there is no next life. But the Preacher reminds us that there is a God, and we would be wise to remember we are not Him. So, keep an eye on the important stuff in this life, make the best of things, and try to live life happily, knowing that the next on is coming. 

Life is 10% of what happens to us, and 90% of how we deal with it… 

Father in Heaven, it’s not an endless cycle of lives that I’m to live, I just get one chance to deal with the one I have. My prayer is help me to enjoy my life to the best of my ability, and to live to help others enjoy theirs. Life is a journey and it is better lived with others; may my journey be that of upbeat, and positive. Thank You for the experience and I eagerly await the next - amen

Guarded Steps

6/7/2017 

Ecclesiastes 5.1 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. – The Preacher 

A friend of mine calls it, Ecclesiast(ics)… it makes me smile. As I read the Preacher’s words today, I thought of life in its bigness, and man in his smallness. We men try to wrangle life – it’s fitting that we do given the One who calls us to call Him Father. But He never calls us to wrangle life – all He ever calls us to is friendship.  

I suppose, for some, that is over-simplistic: surely there must be more to Gawd than friendship! If not, why all the bother? God bothers because this isn’t about us; it’s about Him. He just happens to like us. And why not, it seems He went to a lot of bother to breathe life into us. And God intends for us, His creatures, to live lives other than we’ve come to accept.  

And so, the expectation of men and mankind is, somehow to come to know this God who wishes to befriend them. So, we build houses of the holy and there meet, to get to know God. And the Preacher says: if that is your motivation, then guard your steps when you go to the house of God – go near to listen, rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who don’t know what or why they do… 

Faith, that ‘believing’ friendship with God, is intended to be mindful, not mindless. Our faith is to be reasonable, thoughtful, meaningful, and purposeful. Or else, why do it? The sacrifice of the fool is at best: rote. The fool goes through the motions not thinking or knowing why. He only does. 

I’ve heard the description of insanity as: doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results. 

Going to the house of God with unguarded steps (mindlessly, thoughtlessly) is a dangerous business. To do so is to believe that merely action is all that is required with no thought of purpose or meaning. What kind of friendship is that? The sacrifice of fools has no meaning. 

So, if what the Preacher says is true, then what shall we do? We should, if we care about God’s friendship, invite Him into our daily lives. We should strive to find meaning and purpose on even the dullest days because every day – eventful, or no – is a gift from this Great One who seeks our friendship. 

Wow, how about that!? 

My wife asked me, what are you going to do today? I rattled of a few things but paused inwardly and said to myself: and not forget about God. I am going to the House of God (His presence) today with guarded steps because I don’t want to waste today, and I don’t want to miss out on His communiques with His friend: me. 

Father, Your word says: Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. And You know me: nothing much more than a wordy dreamer, schemer. May I shut up today, or at least perk up, listening for Your voice. May I use the time I have in these moments to guard my steps in Your presence, and to listen for You. Amen