Try as I Might

09.29.14

Zechariah 4.6 6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.” – Zechariah (ESV)

I suspect Zerubbabel had it all figured out: how many men, how much money, what plan to follow...

Our Sunday gathering was really good this week – we had a missionary from the Philippines visiting and he (and his wife) regaled us with many wonderful stories of what’s going on over in Davao City. It was great. Many of us shed tears. Then afterwards we had a leader’s meeting to discuss our Royal Rangers kid’s ministry. Working with children is so important.

At some point in our gathering I had the opportunity to share with a friend about trying to sell some possessions of mine and my not having any success in selling them. The response I got was: it’s not supposed to be. Of course, in true Christian fashion I agreed. And then this morning I opened up Zechariah’s book and read: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. And I began to correlate these two things.

If you want something done, you have to figure out how to do it. If you want me to do something for you, I have to figure out how to do it. I pretty good at figuring out. Give me a few minutes and I’ll figure it out. It may not be right; it may not be what you want – it may not even be feasible, but I’ll figure it out. In life I want to get somewhere and try as I might, most of the time I wind up back exactly where I started.

I think I’m hearing a divine reminder today: Paul, it isn’t by your cleverness or ability, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of Hosts. I am reminded to pray and to seek and to lay my things before the Lord and let Him do what He does, by His Spirit. I am so limited – He is so unlimited.

Father, the truth is: You know. You know what I worry about. You know what I fret over. You know my schemes and dreams before they even come into my mind. And You know I scheme and dream a lot. I ask again today: help me to trust You. Like the unexpected message I received last night and rejoiced over – help me to trust You. It is NOT by all of my figuring it out – if that worked I wouldn’t need You. O God, forgive me for such foolishness. It is by Your Spirit and I will learn to be eternally content with that. Amen.

Pure Light

09.28.14

Luke 11.34-35 34 “Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. 35 Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness.” – Jesus (ESV)

It sounds to me like Jesus said, it’s not so much what we see but how we see. The eye Jesus spoke of is perspective, understanding, and worldview.

Most all of us see. Most all of us have vision of some kind. Even the physically blind among us see in certain ways. It’s amazing to me what the physically blind see without the use of their eyes! I am convinced in this context that the sight that Jesus spoke of that day was the sum of what makes up the heart, mind, and thoughts within us. That is truly how we see. Even when it is pitch black around us, our minds are still active and at work.

So, it is how we see that’s important. If we see cynically (where yours truly, truly, struggles) we tend to see things: as never enough, or always lacking, or, never getting any better than this. Cynicism is limited in its vision and determines that life will always be lacking in potential to make progress.

If we see optimistically, then there is never a bad day; there is always something to be happy or thankful or hopeful about. If we only see sarcastically then there is always a certain snide-ness about life. Truly, the way we see determines how we live. And, how others live with us; sight encompasses our personality.

So, how then do we live? I think Jesus would have us live simply, honestly, and hopefully. And I think how we live – or how we see – is a choice. Most of life is habitual to a point. (I say that because I believe that for a while we may have habits; but after a while they have us.) And I believe the Lord would have us to be people of truth. Looking at things truthfully will help our vision to be more clear.

Lastly, I think Jesus cautions us not to look at the world the way we would have it to be, but to accept it as the way it is, and work from there. Just because we have light and vision doesn’t mean everyone (or anyone) has the same. My choice is to live with Jesus and have Him help me to see the way He says I ought: “When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light…” St. John echoed: “…if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another…”

Father, may Your light be my light. May I listen to the Holy Spirit when He nudges me about my cynicism and sarcasm. May I be forgiving and be forgetting that all of us are broken and fallen and in desperate need of Your presence within us to live out the lives You’ve purposed for us – lives of meaning, and pure light. Help me God! Amen.

Nothing Has Changed

09.27.14

Haggai 2.4-54 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the Lord. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, 5 according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. – God (ESV)

So, this morning, let’s say someone came to your front door, rang the bell; and while you were shaking off the dregs of sleep (if your mind allowed you to have some last night) said to you: Be strong______________ (insert your name), declares the Lord, get up and go work, for I am with you. My Spirit remains in you! Fear not. (Oh, right, it’s Saturday – Americans don’t work on Saturdays…).

God’s people had returned to Judah from Persian exile and were now trying to rebuild their city, their homes, and their Temple. They had run out of steam and were becoming distracted by other things they felt were more pressing: like building their own homes, farms, and lands. And God through His prophet Haggai (‘festive’) said something to the effect of: “Guys! Nothing has changed! You still need your city, you still need your Temple, and you still need your God; and He says, ‘My Spirit remains in your midst!’”

The Jews had lost their focus and God simply came alongside and reminded them that despite seventy years of exile, they were to go right back to where they were, and start over again serving Him. His plans for them had never changed.

Sometimes we think things have changed and it’s true because things do; but as the song goes: this one thing remains*… That one thing is God and His relationship with us. It never stops and it never changes. The glorious Temple was one day going to cease being a building and become a movement of people where God would not just dwell in their midst but more importantly, in their hearts.

I took these words from Haggai this morning: be strong, I am with you, fear not. No one showed up at my door but had they, and had they said that, I would’ve taken it to heart. Really.

Father, today I hear You, and today I’m glad You’ve said, be strong, I am with you Paul; don’t be afraid.  Your love never fails, it never gives up; it never runs out on me*… Amen Lord! Nothing has changed. You are good! Amen.

*One Thing Remains – Jesus Culture

Not Up To Me

09.26.14

Psalm 127.1-2 1 Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.  – King Solomon (ESV)

It is not up to me because: Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. It is not up to me because: Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is not up to me because: It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.

So much of what it is we do, we automatically assume is up to us to get it done. My dad used to say, God helps those who help themselves. Not sure I bought that. I can help myself in some ways but in reality unless the Lord does it, it ain’t gonna be worth the time and effort I expend. And Jesus makes it pretty clear that apart from Him we can do nothing. I think that meant, not do anything of lasting value and benefit in the spiritual aspect of our lives and that of others.

Additionally, in numerous places throughout the Bible the thought is also pretty clear: God enjoins us to allow Him to work through us to do His will and good pleasure in whatever it is we do (Cf. 1 Corinthians 10.31). That means we can do whatever we do but we must make room in our doing for His doing.

Today, this little passage spoke volumes to me as I embark on a new career as an independent business owner. Unless God builds my business, I truly believe I will labor long rising up early and going to bed late worrying about my doing; eating often the non-nutritive bread of anxious toil. I don’t want to live that way; and I don’t want to try to serve God by worrying over something I’m trying to build: Unless HE builds my business – I’m laboring in vain.

Father, Today I lay all of my plans before You and ask to work alongside You as You build what I believe You’ve laid out for me. I fully expect to learn hard lessons, one of the greatest being: letting go, and letting You. I expect Your blessing and I expect Your wisdom and grace. Thank You for what You are doing and for reminding me today of Your presence in my life – Amen.

Loving Much

09.24.14

Luke 7.47 “Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

I have always struggled with this statement. It’s been hard for me to get my head wrapped around it – until today.

Here’s the issue: If I consider myself to be forgiven for little, then I probably don’t have a good idea of how much I need to be forgiven for. I probably have a higher opinion of myself than I ought and I probably have insulated myself and my worldview within a deadly thing called self-righteousness.

The woman’s problem was her sins – which Jesus said were many. She knew it, Jesus knew it, and so did Simon the Pharisee. Simon’s problem was his self-righteousness, which was huge. And Simon didn’t know it. The difficulty is sin often drives one in misery to do something about it. Not always, but sometimes. Self-righteousness causes one to ignore his sin and live in a la-la land of make-believe that keeps him from ever coming to grips with the truth about himself: his sin.

She knew her sin. Simon did not.

Most of the time I think the sinner isn’t as wretched as the woman. Most of the time I think the bigger issue is self-righteousness. Which then leads to self-excuse and ultimately, not dealing with the sin issue at all. Ignoring sin breeds a self-excuse that says, “Well, compared to others, I’m not so bad.”

And here is the kicker: “I don’t need God’s love because I’ve not done (unlike this puke) too much wrong.” The rationale: God has to love me because I am good, and I can prove it.

Just avoiding sin, although necessary, is not how I’m to live. Loving God who loves me despite my sin (and how much of it there is) and loving people is how I’m supposed to live. The difference is the focus. One focus is a lot easier to get along with than the other…

Father, You know how often I’ve held myself in high opinion. You know how often I’ve judged others because, to me, they were such sinners. O God! Forgive me! Lord, You have forgiven me much – may I humble myself to learn to love much. Amen.

A Day Off?

09.23.14

Luke 6.9 9 And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” - Jesus (ESV)

In Luke 6, Jesus made His case that He was the Lord of the Sabbath. The Pharisees – His religious opponents – couldn’t understand that concept: they believed the Sabbath was a day off from everything. No work, no play, no exceptions.

Of course the Pharisees had exceptions. If an animal of theirs was in trouble, they made an exception. If the cattle needed watered and fed, they made an exception. But like so many who love rules as a way of life, they used the rules not necessarily for themselves, but as a club to rule others. Jesus came preaching a different way of looking at this “day of rest” that was so precious to them.

Jesus asked, “…is it lawful on the Sabbath to do food or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” In other words, what is the point of the Sabbath if some good doesn’t come from it or some blessing isn’t achieved by it? To them, the Sabbath was only a test of one’s commitment. To Jesus, it was God’s gift of a day off from the toil of life, but not from the graces of love, goodness, and mercy. The case in point: healing a man with the withered hand. Why was it so against the Day of Rest to give someone rest from a difficulty? For the rest of his life? The tyranny of rules.

Is it lawful to do good? That’s a great question! Do we even need a law to tell us to be good or to do good? Shouldn’t goodness be without law? Shouldn’t goodness be free to be free and free to anyone who needs it – no matter the day, the hour or the cause of its need? The correct answer: OF COURSE IT SHOULD!!!!! But when life is kept and measured by rules, love is often relegated to a very small place. So small at times, one doesn’t even know it’s there.

When I am bound by the rules (the written or the other kind) I am pretty hard to get along with. And when I am driving down the wrong side of the road in heavy traffic I put a lot of people in a bad place emotionally. The answer is to be motivated and driven by love. If I love my fellow man and treat him the way I’d like to be treated it makes for better days.

They had it all backwards; the Church then, was closed six days of the week and open on the Sabbath. Shouldn’t good things come from the gathering of God's people? We struggle with the same thing: our churches are closed more often than they are open – shouldn’t our Lord’s Days be more about healing and freedom than pretending to measure up to some unwritten but assumed code of conduct: behave, believe, belong? In our churches do the hurting know our love is there?

Father, help me to live a life of love every moment there is breath in my body. Life is consistently inconsistent but one thing stands firm: You love eternally and endlessly – You never take a break from it. May I live likewise. There isn’t ever a good time to not love. Help me, loving and gracious Father – amen.

A Man of Prayer

09.22.14

Daniel 9.21 21 …while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice. – St. Daniel (ESV)

Throughout the Book of Daniel, we see, over and over, how much prayer was a part of Daniel’s life. Daniel was not only a servant of the Babylonians, an able administrator, and counselor; but he was also a man of prayer. And Daniel’s prayers moved heaven. Angels and visions often accompanied Daniel’s prayers.

During the time of the exile of God’s people there were those who prayed. Ezekiel was one and so was Daniel. It appears that so was Mordecai in the Book of Esther. And to those who prayed, they saw heaven move. It seems every time Daniel prayed, God sent an angel in response. It also seems that to many who prayed, God often revealed His plans.

In New Testament times, Paul prayed, John prayed, Peter prayed, and of course, Jesus prayed. There aren’t many days of Bible reading where we don’t come across an account of someone who prayed. The Psalms are prayers. If one were to but read pray one Psalm every other day, that’d nearly get one through the year. A year of prayer.

Daniel lived in difficult times. He was ripped from his home and sent to dwell in a foreign land full of idolatry and strange beliefs. And there in that land it appears he had conversations with God about his homeland, and his people. Daniel influenced kings and rulers, and possibly, for about a seven-year period of time, kept the kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar intact while old Neb grazed grass like a bull and pooped himself. Throughout his lifetime, Daniel prayed.

Difficult circumstances cause one to pray. Or at least they ought to. Prayer is an investment. Prayer is work. Prayer becomes a habit. Or at least it should.

I am challenged in my reading again today, to pray. I am challenged to pray not only for the sins of my people but also for my own sins. I don’t know about moving heaven but I do know about my circumstances and I do know our world is in an increasingly desperate place. We are heading – again – toward very difficult times. Laws won’t stop them. Congress won’t stop them. A president won’t stop them. Only God will, and it appears that God will let things be what they will but calls upon us, His people to pray. That seems to be congruent with the narrative of the Bible.

Father, I don’t think Daniel ever wrote a book on how to get an angel to show up when praying. I don’t think he ever thought in those terms. I think he was very uncomfortable with the way things were and as a result, he came to You to see what You’d do about it. Daniel was faithful and he always came to You for answers. Lord, may my life emulate his. Forgive me for burying my head in the sand, hoping it will all go away. Amen.

Objections

09.21.14

Luke 4.4,8,12 4 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’”

8 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’”

12 And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” – Jesus (ESV)

As a part of our Sunday morning routine my wife and I watch the program on CBS called (go figure), Sunday Morning. We like the format and for the most part the content. It’s a news magazine and though some of the articles are not our cup of tea, we enjoy watching it. Sometimes, I object to the content and my wife has to suffer through my early Sunday morning tirades… sorry, dear.

Jesus, early in His ministry was subjected to content that He objected to but rather than rant, He merely – and powerfully, I might add – objected to the content with truth.

When the devil (in Luke 4) baited Jesus, at the end of a 40-day fast, to turn the stones in bread, that was powerful content directed at one of our most vulnerable places: the body. To be sure, Jesus was hungry and when faced with this ‘solution’ Jesus objected by speaking a word of truth: It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’ The implication: there is more to life than the pursuit of fleshly desires, no matter how legitimate they may seem or sound.

The devil then baited Jesus with a gift of all of the power in the world if He would worship him. Jesus came not to save the world, but to save those trapped in the world. The power of the offer was: you can do have your way with this if you will only worship me. Jesus objected: ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’ There are many things in this world I’d like to change, but I am here only to do what God calls me to do. Period. There is power in worship.

Lastly, the devilish bait was: ‘Well, if you’re so focused on God, then throw yourself off the top of the Temple to prove that God will catch you.’ A powerful bait to prove to those who don’t believe that they should. And Jesus responded: ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’

This Sunday morning we are all subjected to the same bait. On Sunday Morning, when confronted with the content, there is part of me that wants to rise up and make changes in my own will and strength. On Sunday Morning the bait to live selfishly and flesh-ishly, is right there. And on Sunday Morning there is a part of me that wants to prove to the world there is a God. God doesn’t ask me to do any of this. I am simply to live according to His word, to worship Him only, and to serve Him faithfully; allowing the Holy Spirit to do all the convicting and convincing in people’s lives. Just like Jesus did.

Father, there are so many temptations but only three solutions. And the solutions are always the same and work in every instance and incident in life: Live by Your word, worship only You; and take care not to make a stunt to the world, expecting You to defy gravity. Help me to live courageously today. Help me to live faithfully today. And help me to remember the objections when confronted with the bait to do otherwise – Amen.

Rebuke and Reminder

09.20.14

Luke 3.14 14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.” – St. John, the Baptist (ESV)

The other day a friend said this: “I see the biggest problems with many couples is this: money, sex, and blended families.” I agreed. I’m sure there are other things involved, but the three stoughest ones are probably these. It may not always be all three but certainly, one or more; and most often one dramatically affects the other two. We’re talking about Christians…

As I sat here today reading these words that John spoke to the crowds around him, I thought about me. I thought about the issues affecting my life. There was a stinging rebuke for me in God’s word.

*First, a king in Daniel 3 saw the writing on the wall and it told him: Dude, it’s too little, too late! Although you knew what to do, you didn’t do it. And now you have to suffer the consequences.

*Then, in Luke 3 John the Baptist delivers a stinging rebuke: “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.” And the crowd cries out, “What should we do then?” (V. 10) John says something to the effect of, “CHANGE!

And while overwhelmed and stinging I was reminded of the remedy for one who lives a life far too often of too little, too late:

Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; Lord, hear my voice.

Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.

If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?

But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.

I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning,

    more than watchmen wait for the morning. (Psalm 130.1-6)

Paul wrote to the young pastor Timothy: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3.16-17) Being rebuked for stupidity is useful. We all need rebuke. The issue isn’t money, sex and, blended families; the issue is calling myself a believer but not doing what God says. Everything gets screwed up when that happens!

However, being reminded of where to turn for help is helpful. God wants to help me get past the things that hinder me and drag me down… “

Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.”  Father God, that is my prayer! Amen.

Paying Attention

09.19.14

Luke 2.26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. – St. Luke (ESV)

Sometimes, it just depends on what you’re looking for. The person referred to above was an older man named Simeon. Simeon saw how bad things had become for his people and his nation Israel: Roman occupation, an Edomite for a king, and a bureaucratic government afar making everyone’s life miserable. Not to mention the Religious Right, Hellenism, and civil unrest. Simeon had just about given up.

But he persistently sought God, asking for hope. And the Hope he was asking for was the promised One – the Messiah. Simeon knew things were bad, but he kept looking to God for a sign that maybe things were going to get better.

So, one day, at the Temple where he hung out, Simeon saw a young couple with a baby. And maybe, we don’t know for sure, but maybe the Spirit of God nudged him and quietly said: Simeon! Pay attention to this little family! And in his fatherly way, Simeon went over to bless the man and his wife, and the baby they held. Maybe this was the One! And it was!

And Simeon rejoiced at what he saw and Who it was he held – the Lord’s Christ! Thank You God for answered prayer! You haven’t forgotten Israel!

For what are you praying? Luke said Simeon was looking for the consolation of Israel in her bitter loneliness. For what do you need to be consoled? I need some consolation for some things that are way beyond my control and above my head. How about you? As we said recently, God hears our prayer long before it’s even a thought in our mind. From ages past He’s known how much we need consolation and a Savior.

Well, old St. Simeon said this:

“Sovereign Lord, as You have promised,

    You may now dismiss Your servant in peace.

For my eyes have seen Your salvation,

which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:

a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

    and the glory of Your people Israel.” (Luke 2.29-32 NIV)

Sounds like a happy man.

What is it we’re looking for? How hard are we looking? How long have we looked? I think the life of the saint is a life of longing and looking; but it is also a life of surprise endings…for the one who is paying attention...

Father, thank You for helping old Simeon. Thank You for helping Your people today. Thank You for answering my prayers and for giving me consolation in the midst of this madness I call life. Amen. 

Heard Prayer

09-18-14

Luke 1.13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.” – the angel Gabriel (ESV)

Last night I sat and talked with my friend about people – our favorite topic. Now lest you think we were just gossiping and self-righteously judging, please think again – we weren’t. Truth. People are hurt and hurting and the last thing they need is a couple self-righteous jerks piling on. We had had ‘lunch’ earlier in the day and talked of the church, the Kingdom, and people. We talked about people’s needs and desires and how they seem to want to trust God more, but the circumstances of life smack up against their preconceived notions, and often times disappointment and bitterness set in and God seems further and further away; like He’s busy off somewhere else in the universe and has forgotten all about them.

Well, this morning I read about the priest Zechariah, in Luke 1. The narrative tells us that this priest, and his wife Elizabeth, was faithful and a blameless Jew – in other words, his heart was in it. Luke’s account also states that they were older and childless. Without going into all the details of the social stigma of all that in that culture, let’s just say Zechariah was bothered by the fact they had no kids and it looked like his chances of having one were slim to none.

And so, when the angel Gabriel arrived at Zechariah’s job one day and said: …your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.; we can safely infer that Zechariah had been asking God for the miracle of a child. Of his own. From his wife. And probably for a long, long time.

What I thought about this morning was that simple statement: your prayer has been heard. I’m sure there were times when that prayer was fervent. I’m guessing there were other times when that prayer was desperate. And I suppose there were times when all Zechariah could do was lift up nothing but exasperation to Heaven: God, are You even there!?

God doesn’t need a hearing aid. God hears perfectly and completely the first time we mention whatever is on our heart. As a matter of fact God knows what is on our heart long before we even think of it; from eternity past He has known. Where I think the issue is, is are we fully engaged in the process?  God’s delays aren’t His lack of hearing, maybe it’s just that God is looking for where our heart is in the matter. Are we like the saints of old: blameless?

Father, You do hear prayer; You hear it the first time, and You answer prayer. You don’t always do it according to our timetable. But You do hear the prayers we lift to You and You do answer. Help the delays to my prayers to build my faith and grow my character. Help the delays to solidify my love for You and undergird my expectations of Who You are and what You do. Thank You for answering my prayers – even the ones I’ve prayed just now. I need You. Amen.

An Angel’s Measurement

09.16.14

Revelation 21.17 He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel's measurement. - St. John (ESV)

In his book, The Blue Parakeet, author Scot McKnight wrote: When chance encounter with blue parakeet passages in the Bible come our way, we are given the opportunity to observe and learn. Today, a blue parakeet landed in my reading: “…which is also an angel’s measurement.”

At first I thought, hmmm, angels have measurements? I don’t know why that got my attention, but it did. I suppose angels need to know how far it is to something, or how much something weighs, or how to measure in cubits. Then I realized that some things are just the same no matter where you go; no matter who you meet.

I went to Kenya this past summer and found, despite my best preconceived notions, much of what I saw over there was far more familiar than savage. They have cars. Lots of them. They have cell phones. Lots of them. They work, they live, they eat, they sleep. There are churches, and prisons. There are malls, big-box stores, and skyscrapers. There is industry, and indolence. Yes, they have monkeys and dogs, but I didn’t see one cat. And I didn’t see a McDonald’s either.

I suppose what really surprised me was the fact that St. John said it also an angel’s measurement. What do angels measure and why? Why don’t angels just know? I suppose I have as many preconceived notions about angels as I do/did about Kenya. The problem isn’t what angel’s measure, it’s what I think about angels – and a whole host of other things in the Bible that I have (sadly) taken for granted, been erroneously taught, or just simply ignored over my lifetime.

Why was it even important for John to tell us that angels use a cubit like we do? I mean, that’s the implication I got. But why does it have to be part of the narrative? Well, I don’t know about thee, but it was eye-catching to me. It made me stop and think. It made me realized how much of the Biblical narrative I miss because I’m distracted, or in a hurry, or, sadly, just trying to check a box that says I read my Bible today. Performance: it's a nasty thing...

I can’t, and don’t want to, make a theology about the measuring habits of angels, but I do want to slow down and quit being rote about my reading. The Bible is for too important for that.

Father, today I saw the blue parakeet You perched in Your word for me. I was halted in my tracks and reminded of how many time (like today) I simply rush through this grace on my hurried way toward the next big thing. Forgive me. And help me to take time with what You say, and to make time to do so in such a manner as to not fly past something and miss what You intended for me to see that it may change my life in some way. I need You God. Amen.

PS: The Blue Parakeet by Scot McKnight is a wonderful read…published by Zondervan

Giving Glory

09.06.14

Revelation 11.13 And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

Glory is an interesting word, it means: 1. high renown or honor won by notable achievements;

2. magnificence; great beauty;  3. a luminous ring or halo, especially as depicted around the head of Jesus Christ or a saint. Used as a verb, it means: taking great pride or pleasure in. In Revelation 11.13, it says the survivors of a great earthquake gave glory to the God of heaven.

They gave God the credit for the earthquake. There are few things in life as terrifying to men as the earth moving under their feet. We commonly call that an act of God…

The reality if this is this: just because we give God glory (blame?),  doesn’t mean we give Him worship. The folks in Revelation 11, were doing anything but worship because that particular act of God didn’t get their attention – at least in a repenting way. (They didn’t seem to give God much glory when the two witnesses rose from the dead either.) What does it take to please you people?

Glory also means: weight. As in heavy; like gold. Gold is weighty. God is weighty but in a divine way; not in the physical sense. But understand: God is heavier than the physical. Matter means nothing to God; He controls it with just His speech. God’s presence is what made the mob and the Temple police fall flat on the ground in Gethsemane (John 18.6); those men didn’t stand a chance save the grace of God. (It’s a miracle only 7,000 died in the earthquake mentioned above.)

It’s this sense of honor, praise, and respect for the Presence that is strangely absent when men give God glory. Their hearts aren’t in it; all they are is befuddled and confounded at such happenings in nature that don’t have their stamp of approval (e.g. Katrina, Sandy, et al). So, I guess the best they can come up with is: God did it. The Blame game.

Giving glory to God is appropriate when we thank Him for Nature and her awesome and majestic and, yes, absolute lack of concern for mankind. Nature only takes her marching orders from One who created and controls it; and she doesn’t stop when men are in the crosswalk. Nature is beautiful but despite her beauty and power, man can’t seem to bend the knee and give God appropriate glory and thanks for the majesty of a sunrise or sunset. Mankind seems to like what he likes and piss at what he doesn’t. That doesn’t play well with God. I think the dealio is this: God knows what He is doing. Some know that, and respect it; others don’t. So sad for those who cop an attitude over what God does and doesn’t do.

Father, I see Your hand in all that is around me. It’s hard to believe that You are in the midst of the earthquake and the hurricane and the mudslides and the forest fires, but You are there and You know. Despite the carelessness of the natural world around us for not getting our permission to do what it does: this I know: You love us all. You love the ones who believe, and the ones who don’t; who only give You glory, when they can’t think of anything else to give. You are God and You use whatever it takes to get me to see You and respect You. It’s what’s best and may I live my life in public awe of all that happens around me – knowing You are in control. Amen. 

Found in Me

09.05.14

Ezekiel 28.15 You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you.

This has always been something curious to me: how can unrighteousness be found in someone who (apparently) never had it before? It has caused me to pause and wonder. It has caused me to wonder if unrighteousness is a free choice or if it is causal. (Please put 25¢ in the jar.)

I tend to think unrighteousness is the result of choice, but also causal. If the “king” in Ezekiel is who I think he is, then there must have be a choice involved to follow a line of thinking (or feeling) that led him away from God. It seems to be the case here. If one is blameless until something is found then there must be an underlying cause for that to be found. Blamelessness is a pretty big concept in Scripture. Turning on it has titanic proportions as well.

It seems to me that God is in the process of ridding us of unrighteousness and replacing it with blamelessness. It seems God has gone out of His way to show us not only what we’ve lost, but more, what we’re to gain. The story would read for us: You were unrighteous in your ways from the day you were created, till righteousness in Jesus Christ was found in you.

I have seen people walk away from the Church: from their beliefs; from their faith. I have seen some return, and I’ve seen some remained entrenched in the unbelief. I don’t pretend to understand it. All I know is: it happens.

Some will rush to judgment insisting the faller was never saved in the first place. Okay, I get that. But some return – I have seen it in my own experience. They might be judged as confused or naïve at first, or deceived. Now it sounds like we’re splitting hairs. The bottom line is we’re all vulnerable to wrong thinking which can lead to wrong doing. Righteousness is the concern.

One thing is for sure – we weren’t created blameless, but we were created loved; and God has made a way for us to belong, believe, and behave. (Thanks Brad). That way is His way and though I’m not sure what God does with the one who bails; I’m sure of what He does with the one who remains: You were unrighteous in your ways from the day you were created, till righteousness in Jesus Christ was found in you. You belong. You believe. You’ll behave.

Father, it doesn’t take too much to get me to believe how unworthy I am, and have been. What is altogether awesome is You don’t seem to dwell on the unrighteousness issue; but You do dwell on my Way Back to You: my righteousness in Christ. Truly, my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness.

Today, I am grateful that despite the failing that manifests itself in me from time to time, I am covered eternally by Your grace in Jesus, and His unfailing love for me. Thank You Father! Thank You that we’re not waiting around for unrighteousness to be found in me, but for this child to continue to grow in grace until that Day when we spend all of the rest of eternity together: Father, and son. All because You knew and loved me enough to do something about it – I praise You God! Amen.

True Friendship

09.04.14

Ezekiel 24.18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died. And on the next morning I did as I was commanded. – Ezekiel (ESV)

Yesterday, a friend of mine posted on Facebook. He asked those interested to give their definition of True Friendship. Many of the comments were insightful as people posted their thoughts about what they thought true friendship was all about. Some, were just a couple words; others were paragraphs. The comment that made the most sense to me was the one where the post-er wrote: A dog. I smiled. It’s true; dog’s truly are, true friends. So, as I read Ezekiel’s words today, I thought about the friendship that Ezekiel had with God. True friendship, came to mind.

Ezekiel, like so many others of the chosen ones throughout Scripture, seemed to know God on a different level. I’m not sure it was always in the context of friendship, but I think for the most part it was. Being a friend of God isn’t an easy thing…as it was here in Ezekiel 24.

God called Israel to repent and return to Him. He showed the exiles, through Ezekiel and the other prophets, what He was doing in Jerusalem because of the sins of the people there. (The exiles may have been tempted to feel a bit sorry for themselves, having been ripped from their homeland. God used Ezekiel to show them that as bad as exile was, it didn’t hold a candle to the horrors of the siege in Jerusalem for those left behind.)

And then God used the death of Ezekiel’e wife to demonstrate the sadness He felt over the death of His wife: the nation of Israel. And God commanded Ezekiel not to mourn openly over the death of his bride; he was to remain focused upon the task the Lord had given him: preaching repentance.

True friendship may mean doing exactly as Ezekiel did: And on the next morning I did as I was commanded. Ezekiel held in his tears and obeyed God to demonstrate the sadness God felt over the loss of His own bride: the people He loved. In this case true friendship was evidenced in Ezekiel’s sharing of God’s immense sadness over His loss; and Ezekiel experiencing his own.

Now, I must be careful lest I bring God to a place where He doesn’t belong. I also, however, must be quick to remember that God, no matter how other and divine and all that He is, also loves us with an everlasting love and seems to feel some kind of discomfort when we foolishly, arrogantly, and carelessly trade Him for some earthly token. Just like we would in our humanness today if someone we truly loved did the same to us. A true friend shares the good, the bad, and the ugly. That’s just what friends do. Isn’t it?

Father, today I believe You showed me another side of friendship. You’ve showed me both the purpose the and the pain of true friendship. You seem to be selective in who You call. But regardless, Your view of friendship seems to include sharing life together. I think You’ve called me to be Your friend and to be there when You deem it appropriate. Help me to love as You love and to care as You care. And maybe Lord, as weird as it seems to me, to feel Your pain as You mourn over the fallenness of Your people and desire that they return only to You. Help me. Amen.

Knowing Him In Reality

09.02.14

Ezekiel 18.23 Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? – God (ESV)

One thing is for sure: God is not a meanie. I know that’s hard for some to believe. I know some look at God as a divine Spoilsport who rubs His hands with delight over the trials and tragedies of men. How foolish. How arrogant. How misinformed.

Foolish because it is a nonsense to view God as mean or cruel; He’s anything but. It’s an arrogance to judge God as less than the Creator He is; He made us. And it is utterly blind to understand God as vicious, petty, and spiteful. But men are who men are; and their opinions of God are steadfast.

It seems to make men feel better about themselves when they can qualify God as someone or something like themselves. As long as God remains, in their minds, as something they can understand, then they are safe in their opinions of themselves (which may be more than they actually are…). God is better, in their thinking, as long as He is like them. He’s easier to ignore that way.

So, men assume God loves to see the death of the wicked. Men love to see the death of the wicked and if God is like them, then He must as well. But God cannot be God if He loves to see the marvelous creation of His hands despoiled. Only men embrace that reasoning in their foolish, arrogant, and misinformed hearts. I think that’s why we men baby our automobiles: we seem to care more about things than we do people. That’s why it is such a threat to us to see God as loving and caring; it reveals the truth of how we see others: like us, as sinful and miserable.

When we see God the way He really is, it helps us to see the way we really are; and it frees us to really be who God has created us to be. I know that is hard for some to believe. But when we see God as One who longs for us to be what He has intended for us to be all along, then we see ourselves as the perfect creatures He has created us to be: not deserving of death, but in need of Him to help us achieve every perfect happiness for all eternity. Sadly, that is just too much for some.

God is not mean. God does not take pleasure in the destruction of the wicked. The fact that God allows the wicked to live is testimony to that. But God desires that we know Him and find in Him the answer to every nagging issue we face. It starts with knowing Him in reality: not mean, not cruel, not vicious, not petty; but loving and kind to a world full of men who for the most part are anything but.

Father, I know there are those who look at You as less than You are. I know there are those who look to You to meet their every need. I know there are those who see You as One who only takes from them and I know there are those who see You as One who provides for them. I pray to be used by You to help the ones who suspect and reject You to see that You never take any pleasure in the demise of the wicked – You only want them to see and turn and enjoy life the way You’ve made it: full of You, full of wonder, and full of life to be lived to the full. Help me in that mission O God! Amen.

Because You Said So

09.01.14

Ezekiel 16.6 6 “And when I passed by you and saw you wallowing in your blood, I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’ I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’” - God (ESV)

In the annals of timeless history God said: Be! And it was. The heavens and the earth were formed because God said so; in one small word, the Lord said, and it was. The Lord isn’t constrained by financing, contractors, blueprints, materials or anything else; He simply speaks and it comes to be.

God formed (forms) the nations much the same way – all He says is “Be!”, and they are. And you and I are not all that different either: God breaks no sweat when He says about us, “Be!” and we are: ten fingers, ten toes, two eyes, two ears; one mouth, one nose.

Life is much more simple than we have learned that it should be. The complexities of life are more of our own making and mindset. We’ve created economies, we’ve developed systems. We speak languages, we have habits, preferences and a whole host of other humanities. But one thing we can’t is speak and have it come to be. There isn’t a one of us one earth who says, “Be!” and it is. It’s not in our job description.

Life, however, is complicated because we are complex beings in our created-ness. With all of what we’ve built, planned, executed, and manufactured, our lives are truly complex. Our feelings and emotions, our thoughts and musings are incomplete in our fallenness; and our ability to process correctly is faulty, corrupted, and incomplete. There still isn’t a one of us who can say: Be! And have it be.

There is One who says, “Live!” and life happens, despite every indicator to the contrary in all our humanness and complexity. There is One who says, “Dream!” and fills our hearts with hope of making a difference in this world so filled with paradox and conundrum  and disappointment. There is One who says, “Love!” and fills our lives with purpose and presence. In our incomplete humanness; He makes us complete and fulfills in us His intention for a life well lived. There is only One who says, “Live!” and we do despite every indicator to the contrary.

For the one who suffers today, the One says “Live!” For the one who is confused and conflicted His word is “Live!” For the one facing what seems to be an impossibility in the very next step, He commands, “Live!” And we do.

The complexity of life abates in the presence of One who commands and it comes to be. The stress is loosened, the angst is eased, and the confusion is daunted. The answer to life is held by belief in the One who sees us wallowing in all of our issues and says: “Live!” and we live. His purpose is to build within us such a trust that will overcome the worst of what we call the worst and enable us to live confidently knowing that the worst of the worst is only a tool in His hand crafting us into the people He’s called us to be: perfect, a pleasure to be around, and full of purpose and untapped potential in Him.

Lord, in the midst of all of what life throws at me, I pray for the understanding of what You said about me in the recesses of eternity past: Live! (I think You may have also said, love, and laugh as well). Father, I am here because You said so and I live today because You said so. Help me to live then for all it is worth and to comfort and help others who may wonder, “what the frack?” this life is all about – Amen.