The Production Mentality of Small

1/16/2016

Luke 16.14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. – St. Luke

This is not so much about Pharisees as it is about the things people love. People ridicule those who "attack" their placement of love: the things in which they find justification. I would apply this to most all people and not just the hyper types. There are those who believe, and then there are those who hyper-believe. The Pharisees were in the latter group.

The argument in Luke 16 was about money and justification. One of the biggest arguments in our own lives is about money…and justification. Ridicule comes when someone brings a perspective counter to our beloved conventional wisdom. Jesus was good at that. Jesus was ridiculed for His views of the inanities which people hold dear. His opinion of the Kingdom that drew the most ridicule.

The Pharisees knew about the power of money – what they didn’t understand was the power of God. They also understood the power of religion; what they misunderstood was the power of relationship. Jesus was a target for their ridicule over money because Jesus said to them (crazy) things like: No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Luke 16.13)

Jesus also said to them: “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” Hmmm. What do men exalt? They didn’t like what Jesus said so they chose to discredit Him by attempting to make Him look goofy. That’s the production mentality of small…

Money is amoral. Money is just currency – it’s the oil we use to grease the skids of transaction. Money is worldwide; money is ubiquitous. Value and transaction are as common to man as breathing. It’s not money, but our love of money and this sense of entitlment which cause the most problems. Money buys the ultimate currency: power; and that is what Jesus was trying to help them (and us) avoid. The only power that is trustworthy and good is the power of God. The bad news for most of us is God’s power is not ours to control… We are restricted in what we desire to access.

I wasn’t sure what to concentrate on as I read and wrote this morning: money or power/control; ridicule, or relationship. It’s all there. The bottom line for me is: what is my relationship with money and how do I honor God with what He gives me? Do I even acknowledge that He gives me money? Do I recognize my understanding and attitude toward money is crucial toof my overall spiritual health and life? Why does the Bible spend so much time addressing wealth and my attitude toward it? No wonder the Pharisees were so hacked about Jesus’ comments – they wanted to keep God out of their business. They felt it was better if they did. The production mentality of small. What about you and me?

Lord God, give me wisdom with money; and while You’re at it, may I have some wisdom for life as well? May I know the difference between what is exalted-exalted and what is man-exalted on earth. Help me to serve You truly, honestly, and humbly making exalted use of the things You give me – Amen.

Saving Unworthy Bacon

01.13.16

Genesis 32.7-8 7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed. He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two camps, 8 thinking, “If Esau comes to the one camp and attacks it, then the camp that is left will escape.” – St. Moses

If there is one thing on earth that is common to man; it’s fear. Even the fearless fear being fearless; we can’t escape it. Fear is what drove Jacob, the deceiver – he was always afraid of his last escapade and the thought of meeting his older brother Esau, whom he last remembered as breathing murderous threats against the whole birthright thing and stealing his father’s blessing, made Jacob a bit weak in the knees.

What is the cure for human fear? What can we do when the waves of fear and anxiety roll over the top of us? Some certainly look for company because misery does love having someone else to commiserate with. Others tuck their head and run – like Jacob; and some simply stare it down and whoever blinks first, wins.

But there is another way to face fear – it’s Jacob’s prayer:

“O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O Lord who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good,’ I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children. But you said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’” Genesis 32.9-12

In other words: God You are my God and unless You save my unworthy bacon, I’m toast. I deserve nothing, but I’m asking You for everything. And all this because You said… So, there is something to be said for what God said, and there is something to hear: what God says.

So much of our Christian life amounts to a guessing game, and yet, there is no need for that if we train ourselves to listen to what God’s already said – there is no substitute for Bible reading and study – and train ourselves to listen to what He says – it ain’t rocket science; all we need do is listen. If we commit ourselves to seriously and eagerly talk with God (pray) we’ll be amazed with what we’ll hear.

What is our God-given, God-called mission and purpose? If we’ll give Him half a chance God will tell us and show us the whole ball game, and just what part we play…

Heavenly Father, give us eyes to see, and ears to hear, and a heart to follow. Our lives are not so much different than Jacob’s, and we need to know what it is You say amidst all the clamor and clatter of our lives. Help us O God. Amen

Big Asks and Hairy Audacious Goals

1/12/2016

Genesis 28.20-22 20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, 21 so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, 22 and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.” – St. Moses

When I was in vocational ministry (paid) I took part in many planning meetings to set the tone and course of not only my own paid position but also for the tone and course of the church by whom I was employed. I learned a bunch of things and remarkably, some of them actually stuck with me. There were two in particular that stuck somewhat better than the others: The Big Ask, and B.H.A.G’s (Big Hairy Audacious Goals).

The Big Ask is what God asks of us: give Me your heart and I will give you Myself. (I always try to capitalize my written references to Deity because I want to convey the difference between Myself, and myself.) So when God asks me to accept Him, the big ask isn’t mental ascent, it’s all of me for all of Him. That’s a Big Ask.

On my part, the Big Ask is similar to what Jacob asked of God after he’d swindled his brother Esau who was breathing threats of murder for retaliation. My Big Ask is: Lord give me the resources I need to meet my obligations and to live with enough resources with an eye toward that day when I may not be able to due to health or ???.

Jacob’s Big Ask was what I’ve been taught as a B.H.A.G.: a big, hairy, audacious goal. After all, he’d just left his home and family, he was no more than a boy; in the company of strangers, in quiet of the railway stations running scarred. Laying low, seeking out the poorer quarters where the ragged people go – looking for the places only they would know. God! I need You! For Jacob, it was fly or die. He flew. And he realized he needed more than just his name (Liar, Deceiver) to get him through the next phase of life.

Jacob asked: “God, if You will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear so that I come again to my father's house (someday) in peace, then [You] shall be my God, and … and of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.” Big ask, hairy, audacious goal: Lord I need You!

And you know what? God did everything Jacob asked and then some. Jacob had to have a new name (Israel) and two new wives, twelve sons, and a new life; and some distance between him and Esau. And Jacob held up his end of the bargain: he gave God what he promised: a tenth of all he had.

These days I’m learning from Jacob. Sure my situation is vastly different and I don’t want a new wife or any more kids but I’ll take God’s help and all the grandkids He chooses to give me…

Lord, You who hears prayer, and answers those who call upon Your Name: thank You for the privilege of asking the big ask and setting the B.H.A. goals. You are in charge of it all, and like Jacob, all You really want is my heart and my dependence upon You. Lord, it’s Yours! Thank You that You are watching out for Your me and not surprised by the things I ask for… amen.

A Prince of God

1/9/2016

Genesis 23. 6 “Hear us, my lord; you are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will withhold from you his tomb to hinder you from burying your dead.” – the Hittites

When we look at the life of Abraham we see a man who was sold out to God. Now, to be sure, old Abe made some mistakes along his way, and every once in a while he took matters into his own hands to help God out. But good, bad, or otherwise, Abraham tried his best to keep God at the center of his focus and devotion. Abraham walked with God. And the longer he walked with God the more evident it was to those around him. Abraham had an impact on the society around him; they all thought he was pretty cool; a prince if you will.

Now, when Sarah, his wife, died, Abraham had no place to bury her. I don’ think they thought of death in those days like we do in ours. Abraham approached his neighbors, the Hittites and said: “I am a sojourner and foreigner among you; give me property among you for a burying place, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.” (Genesis 23.4) When he said give, he meant buy.

The Hittites responded: “Hear us, [lord]; you are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will withhold from you his tomb to hinder you from burying your dead.” In other words: Abraham, you impress us because of your walk with God; don’t worry about a tomb, we have plenty to share with you! Take one of ours for free!

What they didn’t understand was just how much God meant to him and how much a tomb of his own meant to him; Abraham wasn’t about to bury his wife in a borrowed tomb. And the narrative tells us that he persuaded them to sell him the cave of Ephron the son of Zohar, at the end of his field in Machpelah. Abraham knew that was where he was to bury Sarah, and Abraham insisted he own it. The prince of God wanted to own his own tomb; it was all the real estate he ever owned.

The people in Abraham’s neighborhood saw him as he was: a prince of God. They didn’t necessarily believe in God themselves, but they knew Abraham did. Which, in my mind begs the question: what would others say about my walk with God? Would they call me a prince of God? Or am I just another religious nut?

I think the answer comes from the reality of the depth and reality of my walk with God. Am I seeking God in a way that others can’t help but see? It really has to do with my view of God’s view of me. Walking with God will be obvious to others but my walking is never intended to make them notice – they’ll notice all on their own without my parading. My focus is to remain on Him, not on them.

As God’s favored children, do we draw attention as royalty, or are we indistinguishable from the “Hittites” around us? That’s not to put down the Hittites, they are free to believe whatever they want – the question is: are they aware of out stance with God and do they see us as princes and princesses of God? Our walk with God will be the deal-maker, or breaker.

Father, it’s not for me to worship You for notoriety; it’s for me to walk with You and let the chips fall wherever they may. My conduct in this world is obvious to others and You’ve called me to walk with You. Is it obvious? Am I perceived as royalty? Like Abraham, draw me into a deeper walk with You only caring that I represent You well in all of my days. Amen.

Called Righteous

1/8/2016

21.1 The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised. - Moses

The issue with Sarah and Abraham was the issue of barrenness – Sarah could not have children. In the ancient world this was a bad deal; not being able to have children was a big deal. Sarah prayed and sought God for a child, and Abraham did the same; they wanted to have a heritage in their children. And God promised they would.

Life often deals up mystery and uncertainty. We wonder why things happen or don’t happen, and often, our perspective of God wanders off toward the mystery and uncertainty of God’s presence and doings: God, are You there? God, did you hear me? That part of us which desires to control also demands answers. It’s our fallenness; it’s what we do. And then when it looks impossible, God visits as He said, and does what He promises. When do we quit trying to figure God out?

It’s called faith. If we have belief to accept God’s reality, then we need (or ought to have) faith to trust Him that He will do as He says or will answer our requests. It’s really that simple. Sarah had doubts about God because she trusted her math: I’m too old to get pregnant and my husband is too old for sex.

Age and physicality are no match for the power and presence of God. But God seems to like to put us in positions where all of our options are limited to trusting Him, not relying on our own abilities or resources. When God says He’s going to do something, He doesn’t need our help to accomplish what He says. All God expects from us is belief that He will do as He says, and when we believe, it is credited to us as righteousness.

We may think we’re pretty smart. We may think we’re pretty clever. We may think we have the puzzle of life all figured out. We may be satisfied with that. But regardless of what we think about the answers we may (or may not) have come up with, what we really need is for God to call us righteous, and in order for that to happen there has to be, on our part, an element of belief in God and what He says.

It’s one thing to believe in God; it’s entirely another to believe Him. Many will say they believe in God; they accept He is. But they don’t look to God to meet their needs; they’d rather take care of themselves on their own. Sadly, we all are limited in what we can do, and there comes a time when we run out of resources, and the question then becomes: now what? It’s possible that God is waiting for us to run out of resources and cleverness so that He can truly become our Source and Supply; our Provider; the righteous look for that to happen.

Father, You do as You say and You do when we least expect it. I’m not sure of why other than it makes me settle down and trust that what You say, You’ll do and I’m to believe that. I’m trusting You for the big and small things that are taking place in our lives this year that we may add to the journals: The Lord visited us as He had said, and the Lord did to us as He had promised. Amen.

Another Walk Around the Block

01.07.16

Luke 7.47-48 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” – Jesus

Sometimes, it just takes another walk around the block to get it; get it? Maybe it’s a case of forest and trees. I have walked around this verse for years trying to figure out what it really means to me. So, today I just did some simple math. The worse one is the greater his appreciation for forgiveness.

The woman knew who she was and desperately wanted to be freed from who she was (sometimes we want the same). And so, she came to Jesus with what she thought might be her solution: utter and courageous humility, and gifts that cost her something: the ointment (perfume) and her humiliation. She admitted publically that she was depraved and in need of Someone to free her from it; she needed Jesus.

She really put herself over the line by even crashing the party in the first place; I’m sure the Pharisees almost shrieked. What woman in her right mind would do such a thing in ancient middle-eastern society? She did. But she was desperate, and she knew that Jesus dealt with the desperate and did miraculous things in their lives. I don’t think she necessarily wanted a miracle; I just think she wanted to be free. “And Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”” She got what she wanted from the Only One who could give it – Jesus.

I don’t think I’ve ever been brave enough to do what she did. Of course I don’t live in ancient middle- eastern culture, but I do live in the church age where we’re accepted if, on Sundays, we behave in order to belong: son, whatever you do, don’t bring aspersions on us because of your behavior – we only deal with super-men.

I don’t believe in super-men; I believe in Jesus who meets me just where I am and incessantly reminds me of just how much He loves me and just how proud He is of me regardless of the sanitized expectations of super-men. Jesus said to me regularly: “Your sins are forgiven.”

It’s not that I go out of my way to sin; it’s that I sometimes cannot help myself. And I need somewhere to go when I do where I can pour out my humiliation and express my need to Him who reminds me of how much I need Him. He’s not looking for behavior modification; He’s looking for relationships, devotion, and filling my being with Himself that I think more about Him than sin. He changes me.

I do feel some sense of loving much because I think I have been forgiven much – but sometimes I have to take another walk around the block to get it or to be reminded that in Him, my slated has been cleansed by precious blood.

Lord, if You can do it for her, You can do it for me – Thank You!

And You Child

1/1/2016

Luke 2.76-79 76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” – St. Zechariah, the priest

Zechariah the priest had an awakening one day: he had a real time encounter with the Living God. I don’t think that had ever happened to him before. I believe he went about his priestly duties with excellence but somehow I think he wondered: is this all there is to life – incense, prayers, serving these people here in this temple, hearing their confessions, accepting their sacrifices, never seeing much change? Is that Mrs. Finkelstein again!? Oy! Really?

I think Zechariah was like a lot of religious people – he was a good man and a godly man, but he was old, and somewhat cynical, and perhaps he thought a lot about retirement – what’s next. I think he suffered inwardly because his wife was barren and they couldn’t have children of their own; age weighed heavily against them. An old man forcing himself to go through the motions.

One day, however, an angel showed up and told Zechariah that things were about to change, and his, soon to be born son, was going to be used by God to change the hearts of God’s people. The old priest was blown away: how could this be – I’m too old for this! And within a few months, a baby was born, and his name was John, and Zechariah was humbled to sing; and he sang, And You, Child.

Zechariah’s heart was changed; he saw his life in a whole new way; it wasn’t just about him anymore – God had something much bigger in store for the old man – and the old man gratefully sang for joy! His child was going to bring the change to the people he possibly had once longed to change. His child had turned his own heart to see that God was indeed, still caring for his nation and bringing them hope and peace. Zechariah understood suddenly, he wasn’t the only one trying to believe in God when all looked hopeless. He sang, and I’m gonna bet, he danced for joy!

What is God saying to you and me, my friends? Is He saying something to us that seems almost ridiculous? Is God at work in our world wanting to shine the light of His glory and goodness into the lives of the people around us who are hopeless, or helpless, or sitting on their hands just waiting for the next shoe to drop? What is God asking us to believe for that only He can do that will wake us up, and set the world around us on fire in a whole new way?

Is God saying this to you and me: And you, child, are called, a child of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace… ? Are we listening? Will we act? And what will happen to us if we believe?

Father, You have never stopped loving people and desiring for them to be saved, and forgiven, because Your tender mercies are still new every morning; and You are asking us – Your kids – to participate in the work of giving light to those sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death to guide their feet into the way of peace – peace with You, peace with others, and peace with themselves. Help us God; give us ears to hear. May we be blown away by what You have in store for us! Amen