Observations & Devotions

Fight or Flight

2011-08-08T23:16:00.002-05:00

"Now many signs and wonders were done among the people through the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared to join them, but the people held them in high esteem. Yet more than ever believers were added to the Lord, great numbers of both men and women,"

Acts 5:12-14

I'm about to enter my third and final year at Duke Divinity. In the past 700 or so days, I've learned that this whole thing I've gotten into is a lot more difficult than I had expected. Yes, I've struggled with my own personal problems of faith and living during my time at Duke, but I think the thing that is most daunting is imagining what is to come when I leave the confines of the divinity school...

As graduation is less than a year away now, I'm starting to get questions about what I'm going to do when I am finished. This is a tough question to answer, but one that needs to be asked nonetheless. I'm aware of how much I've changed in the past two years, and how that has changed the way I will serve when the time comes (hopefully not too long after May 2012). I wonder about my ability to serve in a way that I understand to be faithful, loving, and formative. Honestly, the thought of doing all that scares me because I'm not sure I can or will.

This may sound a little odd. Wouldn't that be the goal of all clergy/church staff? I should certainly hope so. But my concern is in really doing those things as I understand them...in all situations and contexts. It could cause problems. And I'm afraid it's just going to be too hard. This clip from A League of Their Own captures what I'm feeling:

http://youtu.be/ndL7y0MIRE4 [fair warning: there's a 4-letter word]

The passage above immediately follows the story of Ananias and Sapphira... a story that suggests to me how serious this whole following Christ thing is. People were in awe of the apostles, and hesitated to join in the ranks, never mind count themselves among the apostles- the leaders of the church. And so I feel even more hesitant. Overwhelmed. Unprepared.

But I find hope in the words of Jimmy (Tom Hanks) when I apply them to my understanding of my vocation, or job. Ministry is what gets inside me. It lights me up. It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it (again, the Acts passage). The hard is what makes it great.

So I'll keep moving, even when it seems too daunting a task. Your move, friends.

Unexpected Company

2011-07-18T09:14:00.004-05:00

Yesterday I preached at my field education placement church. As I made announcements before the service, I noticed a familiar face, but I couldn't quite place the face. During the greeting time/passing the peace the familiar face made his way to me. He asked, "So you're the student intern this summer?" I answered, "Yes I am." He replied, "Nice to meet you, I'm ___ _______." Immediately I realized that this was a pastor of one of the 10 largest UMC churches in the US, that I've participated in studies using his curricula in the past. He explained that he was on vacation and that he worshiped with this congregation when he was in the area. We exchanged pleasantries and then worship resumed.

"Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place—and I did not know it!’" Genesis 28:16

During the next few minutes, I felt my nerves start to work on me. How could I, a seminary student that has yet to take the required preaching course to graduate, offer a sermon that could be worth speaking to someone of his experience? After I allowed my mind to race a little bit, I realized the text I was preaching on: Jacob's encounter with God. I also remembered one of the thoughts I'd had during the week of preparation that made it into my sermon: "...we ought to be awed...when we encounter God breaking in to our reality."

My mind started to shift from the VIP in the second row to the fact that I was failing to be awed by the presence of God in worship because of this person's presence. I was allowing myself to be nervous about speaking to a congregation including him, instead of being nervous about the fact that I was speaking about God. I felt foolish, but also comforted. I feel the sermon went well, especially after I had a moment of conviction for myself.

I ought to be more awed by the time I spend with scripture. It's presence and words should be allowed to make me feel uncomfortable and inadequate. But I, like Jacob, can trust in God's promise to "be with" me. (Gen. 28: 15; Matthew 28: 20)

Why I rise early.

2011-06-24T07:37:00.002-05:00

I'm not a morning person. I would say I never have been, but that would be a lie. As a child, I used to wake up at 7am almost automatically. Then the teen years hit and I was able to sleep in. Now, I guard the few days a week that I'm able to sleep in.

But there are certain things that get me out of bed early. When school is in session, I rise early enough to enjoy a cup of coffee, a short devotional reading, and some time reading the Bible. I'm a slow mover in the morning, and I enjoy having time to wake up without needing to function in an interactive way (translation: roommates are usually still asleep, so no need to talk when I'm groggy). I've also realized that my days have a rhythm to them, and it's often hard to get a time that is uninterrupted by school work, text messages, phone calls, emails, classes, or people.

This summer, I'm interning at a church in western North Carolina. When the summer began, I went over the weekly schedule with the pastor. He mentioned a group of men that get together at the church on Friday at 7am to study scripture. Then he told me, "You don't have to be there, but you're welcome to come." I thought I'd show up the first couple weeks, just to see and be seen, but I've come to enjoy it. It provides a unique opportunity for fellowship and learning. I'll never be able to learn as much as the men in that room have at their disposal. There are too many backgrounds, experiences, educations, and vocations. It's humbling to hear the way they speak about and understand scripture. I'll never be able to understand how they understand. But I can sit with them, listen to them, speak with them, and learn from them.

Scripture is rich. It has many layers. It speaks to us about where we've come from. It speaks to us where we are. I could use the different perspectives. I could use the wisdom.

"Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens the wits of another." Proverbs 27:17

Time has only the wings we give it

2011-05-23T19:44:00.002-05:00

"These people are under continual disquietudes, never enjoying a minutes' peace of mind..."

-Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift, Part 3, chapter 2.

I think we humans are afraid of time. Maybe not afraid of time itself, but afraid of running out of it. Or afraid it will pass too quickly. Time flies, after all. Time flies when you're having fun too.

But does it really? The past few days have given me a new perspective, and I'm beginning to doubt this cliche we often accept as truth, or better yet a "fact of life." Three of the past four nights, I've spent at least thirty minutes watching the sunset. Honestly, my inability to watch it that one night was a bit bothersome. Most of the nights, I've spent closer to an hour watching the colors in the sky change. I really cannot recall the last time I truly stopped to watch the sunset. If I ever knew how long the whole process takes, I'd forgotten it due to lack of memory refreshment. But I think an hour is about a sufficient time to really take it all in. In the three days I've watched the sunset, that hour has seemed to move more slowly. The end result is that the day has seemed longer.

I don't think time flies. I think our preoccupation with other things makes us unaware of the ample time in a given day. I read two books by Dorothy Bass and Fred Edie that offered this kind of cultural critique, but it took me experiencing it to realize how right they were. When time flies, I find that I'm living my life giving the most attention to day books, calendars, wrist watches, and the rush to get to the next thing. As Edie observes in his Book, Bath, Table, and Time: we've gone from measuring time with a sundial (something connected to the natural movement of a day as we define it) to having our own wrist watches that are capable of dividing up our day into hours, minutes, and seconds. Without going into much detail (as this deserves), Edie argues that in learning to measure time so precisely and individually, humanity has removed itself from the rhythm of creation. Most of us no longer look at the position of the sun to tell the time- that's what the watch (or if you're like me, cell phone) is for.

When I pack my day full of things to do, places to be, people to see, I find myself out of rhythm with the (natural) day. I seldom notice the movement of the sun through the sky, and then wonder how it's already setting. Time doesn't fly. I'm just out of sync with the rhythm of the day. The narrator in Gulliver's Travels is describing a strange people he encounters that live much of their lives in their heads as they try to solve problems, but I think that the critique transfers easily to my life and those who subscribe to the myth that time flies because our days are too busy attending to problems/appointments/assignments. This week, I hope that you rouse yourself from a disquieted moment in order to allow yourself that moment (much longer than 60 seconds) of peace.

Fullness Part 3: The Peace

2011-05-02T05:48:00.000-05:00

This is the third post in a series on worshiping more fully. I wish that I could give credit where credit is due, but I don't have notes so I'll have to be vague. What follows is a poor retelling and summary of what I can remember. My inability to give credit to the author/speaker is bothersome. If anyone can remember who it was, please comment.

Last year I heard a sermon on the liturgical practice of Passing the Peace. It changed the way I view this part of a worship service, and the way I think about what it means to gather together weekly in worship.

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to set us free from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen." Galatians 1:3-5

In the sermon, the speaker argued for the tremendous importance of this time in the life of a worshiping community. As with other parts of a worship service, it is a kind of practice. A fundamental part of being a Christian is seeking peace. First, we seek to be reconciled and forgiven of our sins as we confess and receive absolution. Then, after asking and receiving forgiveness, we turn to our neighbors to give and receive forgiveness in accordance with Jesus command to love God and each other.

The speaker went on to critique the tendency to keep this practice brief, so as to only allow for pleasantries to be exchanged with those immediately surrounding you. Time must be given so that those that really need to forgive and be forgiven may have a chance to do so. This is practice. This is rehearsal. This is fundamentals. This is preparation.

We Christians practice, prepare, and rehearse this fundamental feature so that we, as Christians, might be prepared to live out this command in the world. Simply saying hello is not the kind of practice that I need. Simply shaking hands is not the kind of practice that leads to the ability to forgiveness in the rest of life. Seeking out the individual who you have hurt, who has wronged you, and exchanging words of peace and reconciliation within the confines of the congregation can assist in being able to forgive the things in life that really hurt.

The "turn the other cheek" passage, although perfectly applicable, seemed a little cliche and I think it would fall on deaf ears in what I'm about to say. I chose the Galatians passage because I've been in a course on it all semester, and I see Paul's actions in writing a letter to be in line with his teaching in Gal. 6:1.

In closing, the death of Osama Bin Laden has kept me up tonight. I jumped into conversations on twitter and facebook and got a little "riled up." If you'd like to view those, you can follow me on twitter (@russbo) or friend me on facebook.

What I have to say about the death and the reaction of Christians is this: perhaps if churches did a better job of teaching, congregations did a better job of learning, and individuals did a better job of practicing the Passing of the Peace, then we would not be debating whether it is Christian or not to rejoice in Osama's death. It wouldn't be necessary because it would have been easy to forgive because churches had been practicing forgiveness in such a way that it just happens because "that's what we do." We could learn a lot from those who have recently embodied this grace and forgiveness: the Amish community of Nickel Mines. My coaches used to tell me that I would play how I practiced. I need to practice better. Forgiveness is more difficult than revenge.

Fullness Part 2: Well Rested

2011-04-26T20:32:00.002-05:00

It's spring and baseball is in full-swing (punny, I know). Major League Baseball has been cranked up for about a month now. Teams and fans are beginning to get into a rhythm and set their lineups. One position always seems to change though- starting pitchers. Well, perhaps "change" isn't accurate, rotation is more correct terminology. MLB teams typically operate with 5 starting pitchers. This gives each pitcher at least four days of rest between each start. The hope is that with enough rest, their arms will be able to perform at a high level as often as possible for a long season- 162 games (divided by 5 = about 32 games). This, and a book by Dorothy Bass got me to thinking about the concept of rest.

"For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy." Exodus 20:11

In her book Receiving the Day, Dorothy Bass argues for much more than Sabbath. She is concerned with Christian time keeping...or what she expresses is a concern for Christians being kept by time: the next appointment, the panic until the deadline, the filled calendars, etc. But what I found most convicting was the section on Sabbath and rest. I used to be good at taking days off. In fact, I used to say (and still feel this way) that my favorite thing to do is nothing. However, I was usually only able to do this for long periods of time once a month or so.

But Sabbath is more than "doing nothing." It is intentionally breaking to remember who you are - a being made in the image of your Creator, who we believe made all that exists and then took a day of rest, knowing all things to be good. I was convicted by Bass' language of fear as the motivator for our busyness: we're afraid that things will fall apart without us, or that we will fail if we don't spend more time, or that the... The list goes on, and it reveals our flaw of thinking we are self-sufficient, independent beings. God created us to live in this creation. This creation rests, most notably at night and in the season of winter. But as I sit here at 9:55pm, the sun's been down for over 2 hours, I know that I'm about to go back to work on a final paper for the semester, and I realize I still have a lot to learn about the concept of rest and the practice of Sabbath.

The class I read the book for closed every session with evening prayer at 5pm. While I never did live it out, I still love the way one sentence of the prayer puts to words what I'm trying to say: "[God] made the day for the works of light and the night for the refreshment of our minds and our bodies." United Methodist Hymnal, page 878

Related to this failure to rest is my tendency to doze off in chapel or church during prayers or even sermons (I know, it's hard to believe that it happens to seminarians as well!) I also zone out. Bass again points to lack of rest and absence of Sabbath as things that make us easily distracted...or in my case, prone to catch up on them during worship (oops!). So what I suggest (and mostly for myself) is a practice of rest and Sabbath-taking in order to make your (again, my) worship experiences "fuller" and more attentive.

Fullness Part 1

2011-03-13T20:56:00.004-05:00

It's a familiar scene: the Sunday service is going on. The congregation has gathered and participating in the act of worship. But then, a whimper. Followed by a cry. Heads turn. The child is gathered up after a few futile attempts to hush, and the nearest exist is found. The noise fades slowly as the door closes, and worship resumes.

"I am worn out from my groaning. All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears." Psalm 6:6

One thing I owe to my studies in divinity school is the extra attention given to implicit messages. That which is communicated through the way we do (or don't do) in worship and other church activities. Much of this I owe to reading Elliot Eisner's chapter on "The Three Curricula all Schools Teach" in his work The Educational Imagination. Without getting into too much detail, Eisner argues that we are teaching in everything we do, the way we do them, and the things that we don't do. Eisner's argument makes me wonder about what we teach when we remove crying children from worship and what that implies.

Now, I'm not a parent, so I've never had to deal with the situation I describe above. But I fear that what we are teaching (implied) is that crying has no part in worship. Or, to use a more divinity school phrase: we no longer see lament as a part of worship. Again, I'm sure that most children crying in church are not lamenting...but I think it still sends the message that we are not to give voice to those emotions in worship and conversation with God.

I fear in many congregations we no longer feel comfortable approaching God in worship with honesty about our problems. I don't have a solution to the problem I describe: I'll admit to being extremely distracted by crying babies. But, I wonder if we might discover a fuller kind of worship if we are willing to embrace the fullness of our being in worship: joy, sadness, praise, lament, elation, sorrow... The Psalms reflect a wide variety of emotion as they speak to God. We might do well to allow ourselves and others to be less than content at times.

What are your thoughts on this?

Partaking

2011-01-10T11:15:00.002-06:00

As another holiday break comes to a close, I find myself thankful for time spent with family and friends. I also realize that, being a full-time student, I'm going back to a life dominated by quick meals eaten alone. Now don't start pitying me...I actually like the time alone-especially in the morning. But that's not the point. So I'll move on.

"Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people." Acts 2: 46-47b

Holiday meals are special. They are traditional. My family usually requests the same dishes every Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year. Although I doubt I coined the phrase, I found myself thinking "This tastes like Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Year's Eve." Holiday meals just taste better to me. It's great food that only comes around once or twice a year. But I think there's more to it than that.

I think meals are best when shared and enjoyed intentionally. This means we (I) have to resist the temptation to 1) eat fast, 2) eat on the go, or standing up, 3) eat alone if we/I want to fully experience the blessing of a meal. Meals seem to be naturally communal: talking, sharing, laughing are all part of a great meal experience. I've also read recently about the benefits of sitting and passing food rather than buffet style eating: when we pass the food it is shared and referred to as "the/our ___" rather than "my/ ___" or "mine." In order to more fully enjoy meals, we (again, I) must not see them as a fill station- a place to stop quickly, get what I need and move on, but instead linger and enjoy the blessing of communion in a meal. Also, meals must (for me) regain their status as a blessing- something to give thanks for before, during, and after the meal.

To borrow a thought from a book I recently read: when these become our mealtime practices, we celebrate each meal as partaking in The Table...that is the breaking of bread and eating "together with glad and sincere hearts."

Coachable

2010-12-28T14:51:00.005-06:00

I love sports. Watching, playing, talking...I just love sports. One thing I wish I'd learned much earlier in my life was how to be more coachable. I don't think that I was ever a coach's nightmare but I never really learned how to take criticism well. And I certainly never learned to seek out criticism in order to get better. I preferred to learn from seeing and then trying to imitate. But that leaves lots of room for errors in form and technique.

"That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe." 1 Timothy 4: 10

I feel that matters of faith aren't too different for me. In the past year and a half I've learned a lot about things that I wish I'd known before. In talking with a peer, we both expressed this sentiment and my peer even said, "I find myself asking, how did I not know this already?"

I'm still learning about sports and faith, and I find myself asking this question more often than I'd like to admit. Going back to being a student has forced me to become more coachable. I'm reading books by respected theologians, and discussing them with professors and peers. Growing in knowledge is work. In sports, you're never too good to work on fundamentals. The same can be said for matters of faith. As followers of Christ, we are called to constantly work out our faith: spend time reading, discussing, and allowing ourselves to be "coached."

Room for error

2010-12-27T05:17:00.001-06:00

I recently read an article in the school newspaper about a lecture given by ESPN's VP of event production (here's a link to the article http://dukechronicle.com/article/kristiansen-details-espn-s-evolution ), and thought his comments about risk and failure were interesting. I would encourage you to read the article, but if you don't want to: he basically said that ESPN has become what it is today through taking risks and getting involved in numerous areas beyond their original niche. In one of my favorite parts of the summary of his lecture, he says that "at ESPN... you're encouraged not to be afraid to fail."

"He told them:“Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere." Luke 9: 3-6

Failure is quite the F-word in the world/culture I come from. There's not a whole lot worse or more embarrassing than failure for many people (including myself) that I know. In fact, the chance of failure can be so terrifying that it becomes paralyzing.

Being freed from a fear of failure can be quite liberating, yet also perplexing as we're unsure how to assess our own performance. I can imagine Jesus' disciples feeling glad to have instructions for failure in their being "sent out" in this passage, but still wondering what would be the terms by which they were graded.

I wonder if freeing people from a fear of failure would produce more innovative and efficient work to be done at work, at home, at school...etc.? How can we become more accepting of failure as a way of encouraging responsible risk taking? What if we became less surprised by failure of our co-workers, friends, and family?

PS- It's also worth noting that Jesus gives the disciples authority to drive out demons and heal sicknesses before sending them out or instructing them in case of failure.

A knock at our door

2010-11-29T05:35:00.000-06:00

Do you remember the time before caller ID, when you always answered the phone because you didn't know who it could be? Well, I feel a bit like that when someone knocks on the door. Very few times in the last few years have I gotten unannounced company that wasn't some kind of solicitation...but I still feel the need to answer the door when someone knocks.

So a couple of weekends ago, I heard a knock on the door early on Saturday morning. I opened the door to two young women holding bibles and a stack of pamphlets. We exchanged good mornings and asked if I had heard of Jesus...eventually they asked if I'd like one of their pamphlets...which I now noticed were actually small books. They handed me one and explained that it was free. I read the title: "What the Bible is Really about." I smiled a bit and explained that four seminary students live in the house, so we "...have lots of those kinds of books." I thanked them for stopping by, handed the book back to them and wished them well as I closed the door and they moved on to the next door.

While I never know exactly how to handle these door-to-door evangelists, it got me to thinking about how we do evangelism. How are Christians to witness to the faith they claim and adhere to the command of Matthew 28:19-20? There is insufficient space to completely cover the wide topic of evangelism, and i don't claim to have all the answers, but I want to point back to someone that has gone before:

"It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching." -St. Francis of Assisi

So I guess my argument is that explicit, intentional sharing of the Gospel is necessary, but perhaps what is even more necessary is that Christians constantly live as a people transformed by the message that we hope others will come to claim for their own story. I feel that St. Francis was emphasizing the importance of our interactions with others (and creation) should be as much of a sharing of the message and love of Christ as our explicit evangelism.

Click here to read my friend Jason's thoughts on evangelism. I like what he has to say on the subject, and I feel that what he speaks to in problem #1 addresses the often overlooked part of the Great Commission to "[teach] them to obey everything I have commanded you" Matthew 28:20a.

But back to St. Francis... I hope that in this week, you will find a chance to 'preach in your walking.'

Soaking up

2010-10-04T05:41:00.000-05:00

Last week the area I live in got its first rain in about a month. While I understand the need for rain, it usually just annoys me- it ruins my plans and makes travel more difficult. Furthermore, it gets my jeans wet when I walk in it...and if you've ever experienced this, jeans take a long time to dry.

Have you ever noticed that if you stand in a wet spot long enough or walk outside in the rain your pants (and especially jeans) get wet and the wet area far exceeds the depth of the water? This phenomenon that seems to defy gravity is called "wicking" . I don't want to get into the science of it, but if you do...click the link on "wicking" or look it up on wikipedia. It's pretty interesting to read about, but usually pretty annoying to experience. Because, as I mentioned before, jeans take forever to dry, so a ten minute walk in the rain can "stay with you" for hours.

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates" Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Last year I took an intro to Hebrew course and came to love Deuteronomy 6:4, or what is called the Shema. The Shema is recited regularly by Jews and has been for centuries. Many of us are more familiar with verse 5- Love the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. But the language really starts to capture me in the next few verses. The passage instructs on what is to be done so that the people of Israel remember their God. They are to steep their very lives with the confession that there is one God, their God. By soaking in this proclamation, it becomes something (as the writer says) impressed on the hearts (we may think mind is more fitting) of the people.

How often do you "soak up" the Word? Do you spend long enough in it consistently for it to have some kind of effect on you? One discipline we could learn from the Jewish faith is the practice of rituals as a means to ingrain scripture into our heads and hearts. Spending enough time reading and reflecting on the words we have in the Bible could lead to more change than we think. We may find it "wicking" into other parts of our lives. Allow yourself to sit with the Word and take it with you this week. I hope you become saturated in some of the Word this week.

Hold on loosely

2010-09-13T06:24:00.001-05:00

In May I packed up all my belongings that I'd stuffed into a small bedroom and living room with the help of my parents before my first year of seminary. I'm really not sure how we made it all fit...I have too much stuff. I've always been somewhat of a sentimentalist, I have a hard time parting with things. Without the help of my folks to pack up stuff, and doing most of the packing over a weekend, convinced me that it was time to reduce.

"At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth." Mark 10:22

In the past two weeks I've parted with two things- giving them as gifts to friends. Now, I wouldn't go so far as to say that they were things that I "needed" (or even for that matter, wanted). But I let them go. Which is kind of big for me. And rather than throwing them away, I gave them to people I thought might actually have some use for them. After I gave the second item away, I realized that I'd accidentally come up with a way to reduce my possessions. So, I think I'll start a practice, of giving at least one thing away a week for the foreseeable future. In doing this, I hope to lessen the grip that possessing things has on me, and hope to become slower to consider things as being "mine."

Just something to think about.

Is it about reassurance?

2010-08-30T07:16:00.000-05:00

The NFL kicks off soon. As a child, this was always a favorite time of the year...and I still love it. But this year a commercial caught my eye and got me to wondering about the church's perception in the public eye. Here, watch the commercial by clicking http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gracQf60DrE&feature=related

While I think the commercial is funny to as a fan, as someone involved in serving the church, I believe it does offer some social commentary as to how the church is viewed by society. The commercial shows the priest meeting with the woman who discusses a problem and how she was dealing with it. Finally, when the woman is finished explaining, the priest offers a simple reassuring phrase that essentially communicates, "You're a good person." I wonder if that's all that is expected of the church these days?

Does the church exist merely to pat us on the back and congratulate us for being not as bad as some other people? Do we view our pastors and preachers as people to give us comfort and reassurance that we are good people? Have the church been diminished so much that it no longer calls people to be changed and pursue a life like Christ's, but instead is content with merely commending little virtues?

Don't get me wrong, I think that the church should encourage it's people, especially when there is something that is commendable. But the commercial portrays (and what I'm assuming much of society thinks) that the role of the pastor ends there- to offer that little "attaboy." If the church is to change its image from this quiet, listening and reassuring one to a transforming and dangerous to the status quo image, we must not get too involved in congratulating things done to be nice and begin encouraging actions inspired by obedience to the will of God.

Consumed

2010-08-26T12:59:00.003-05:00

I owe the inspiration and some of the content of this post to recent reading and discussions.

I would like to think that after years of working in the church and a year of seminary that I have a pretty good grasp on this whole Christianity thing... after all, it is sort of my life. But I recently had to check myself against the truth spoken to me by a good friend as I expressed some struggles and frustrations. The irritating thing is that I've talked about this before, I agree with it, but I seem to have forgotten it somewhere along the way.

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire." " Hebrews 12:28-29

These words speak of God as a consuming fire- something uncontrollable. Have you ever witnessed a fire that is out of control? It's scary. How frightening to know that we're not capable of containing something. In this passage, the author states this exact thing in regard to a relationship with God. When we are in a relationship with God, we must realize that God is jealous (as Deuteronomy 4:24 says), and wants every part of our lives to be a reflection of God. Every part. When we stop insisting on containing our Christian urges, we allow this consuming fire to take control of every part of our being. We no longer make decisions thinking of ourselves, but rather do things with the will of God as our direction. Fires dramatically change the appearance of that which burns. I wonder how different I would be if I allowed myself to be consumed? And I wonder how it would be accepted...judging by the fates of Jesus and his closest friends and followers, I can see why it is so difficult to let this fire rage and consume ALL of us.

You may be good, but...

2010-08-09T07:06:00.000-05:00

Early on, most of us learn that we're to strive to be the best at whatever we choose to do. Early in life, I thought that I would excel in some kind of sport...I practiced hitting game winning shots on my friend's driveway basketball goal... The point was, I was the best, the hero, and everyone would love me for that reason.

"Then Jesus asked them, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they remained silent." Mark 3:4

During some recent down time, I have been catching up on television - I don't watch much during the school year and didn't have access to tv this summer. I watched a few episodes of Chasing Mummies. I'm a history nerd and I enjoy shows that explore ancient cultures, but there was something different about this show. It was more like a reality show than it was educational. The main character, Dr. Zahi Hawass seems to drive the drama of the show. As the man in charge and resident expert, it seems most of the rest of the crew and his coworkers concentrate on not setting off his quick temper. He is fast to scold interns for their mistakes and in the particular episode I watched, he even yelled at people for celebrating a discovery. I'm not sure how much is real and how much is for show- at times the interns seem to do some unbelievably absentminded things, and other times it seems Dr. Hawass is reaching to find something to yell about. It's obvious that he is both respected and feared, and he throws his weight around knowingly.

I like to do a job well and I'm not much of a fan of someone else messing things up for me. I'm also a pretty staunch rule-abider. However, when we begin to take ourselves, our jobs, or our rules too seriously, we create the possibility of valuing things more than people. Christ's message was simple on this subject- God's love is greater for people than for our rules. Dr. Hawass has some rules and ways of doing things that have made him successful. However, his way of doing things often results in interactions that are negative and further illustrate the inequality in the relationship. I don't mean to judge Dr. Hawass because I don't know what he is really like or what he believes...but seeing him in action makes me wonder how we (I) treat people when I am in task mode.

Apples to Oranges

2010-07-19T15:51:00.001-05:00

"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

Comparisons can be fun. As a sports fan, I love comparing the statistics of different players in their respective sports. However, comparisons can be misleading. Afterall, there is no such thing as comparing apples to apples. There are too many variables involved in any situation- in baseball, a batting average can be afftected by the skill of a pitcher as well as the fatigue of that pitcher at the time of the at bat...

These may seem like trivial differences but they exist just the same. But I still love statistics and comparisons.
Comparing things in life seems to almost come as second nature to me (and I'm guessing I'm not alone in this). I compare this week's experiences with last week's and I compare this year's big events with last year's. It's difficult not to- our prior experiences help us to know what to expect...or so we think.

Expectations can often get in the way of enjoying the present. If we are constantly comparing this time to the last time, we miss so much of what this time has in store. It's too tempting to look at the past with either rose-colored glasses, or simply dread te coming of next time. Although comparisons can be fun and help us to know what to expect, we must not allow our expectations to get in the way of having a new experience. There is something new in store this time. Expect it to be different.

The other part

2010-07-05T14:43:00.002-05:00

I remember one of the first lessons I heard about music- "rests are just as important as the notes. "

A few weeks ago I took part in leading a Taize worship time. I've participated in Taize services before but never had the opportunity to lead one. For those who haven't experienced Taize, it makes use of scripture, repetitive songs, and silence for a worship time that is intended to be reflective.

During the service, we read scriptures, prayers, and sang songs that repeated the same verse numerous times. However, taking the time to be silent proved to be very difficult for the leaders. When you're leading worship, a few seconds of silence can seem like an hour... and silence can be even more uncomfortable for those not in leadership as they anticipate the next thing to happen. Taize's tradition confronts this constant need for occupying participants through activity. The times of "dead air" are intentionally put into the service to allow time for communion with God through prayer.

Silence is worth seeking and not as scary as you might think. Silence allows things to resonate. Silence allows that which is unscripted and unplanned to become our focus.

"One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. Then the LORD called Samuel." 1Samuel 3:2-4a
.

Staying true

2010-07-02T06:49:00.000-05:00

Well the World Cup has wrapped up. I don't think I watched any of the games. Not that I'm anti-soccer, I just don't have easy access to TV this summer. So I get my sports fix through sports talk radio. The buzz has died down a little since USA's early exit, but for a while it seemed that there were endless sketchy calls made by referees and FIFA seemed completely uninterested in addressing these errors. After a few controversial calls, some of the sports world was calling for the implementation of instant replay. However, FIFA responded that they did not want to change the game that had remained the same for such a long time.

Having instant replay involved in sports is a relatively new debate. The NFL has perhaps the most open use of the new technology in popular American sports- allowing coaches to "challenge" plays that they think were called incorrectly. The NHL and NBA use instant replay to double-check only in the case that points are involved (goal/no goal in hockey, and 3/2pt shots & buzzer beaters in basketball). But sports purists still insist that the integrity of the game is being compromised, and FIFA echoed the sentiments of these purists by stating that officiating mistakes are a part of the game.

Well, without giving my opinion on this issue (and believe me, I have one), I wonder what we can learn from sports about being the church. Are we allowing ourselves to progress or are we endangering the purity of the church and its traditions? As the information age progresses and creates a newer, more techno-savvy culture, what must the church do to remain in touch with the world? I see both sides of the argument: traditions keep us grounded and rooted, but they can also keep us from progressing and cause stagnation. We must continue to evaluate and hold both tradition and innovation in a balance.

Unexpected

2010-06-28T11:53:00.002-05:00

Please forgive my long absence since my last post- I've been without internet so posting has become more difficult.

"As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him." Luke 24: 15-16

Have you ever had one of those experiences when things just weren't what you were expecting them to be? I can remember a few years ago someone mixed up some of that invisible kool-aid, I took a drink, expecting it to be water, and was a bit disgusted as I got something other than what I was expecting. It's not that the kool-aid tasted bad, it just wasn't what I was expecting. I quickly got over it and enjoyed the kool-aid.

I suspect the two disciples in this story felt the same way as they walked to Emmaus. They were expecting great things from Jesus- everything was planned out...and then it went horribly wrong. Jesus was arrested & killed. And now they didn't even know where he was! (24:24) Perplexed, they pondered the past and weren't quite sure what to do next.

Things don't always turn out as we had planned. In fact, lately I've been learning the lesson that things usually don't turn out exactly as planned. At this point we have two choices- either get upset because our expectations weren't met, or accept it and begin to look for the way that God is moving...even though it may not fit with your plan.(24:25-31)

The trouble with independence

2010-05-15T13:08:00.003-05:00

"When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me." Hosea 13:6

I've just completed my first year in seminary. So lately, I've had to answer the question of what it was like. My response is usually something along the lines of "The most difficult thing I've ever done academically, spiritually, and emotionally."

Let me explain. For the majority of my academic career, grades came fairly easy, and studying, although bothersome, never seemed to be too much of a burden. However, this year was different. The first semester stretched me almost to the breaking point. I felt the pressures of grades more than ever and, as the semester came to a close, my hope was that I would just pass my classes. This is something I can't remember ever feeling in any of my years in school. As you can imagine. I leaned heavily on God and others for support as the stress mounted and I felt out of control. In the end, all was well and I passed my classes with better grades than I expected.

But the feeling of being out of control made me rethink my approach to the spring semester- put more effort into the entire semester so as to feel less pressure at the end of the semester. It worked. I spent more time studying and writing papers and my grades improved dramatically. However, increased success led to more independence. Independence prevented much dependence on God.

Times of stress and uncertainty, although difficult, usually produce a great dependence upon God. It is in those times that we grow. Unfortunately, once those times pass, it's easy to go back to self-reliance. Independence, although highly valued in society, prevents the formation of deeply-rooted community with God and with others because when we are able to provide for ourselves, we become convinced we don't "need" anyone.

So, I hope that next semester I can find a middle ground between the past two semesters. Find the balance that allows for dependence and confidence.

All about timing

2010-05-04T18:09:00.005-05:00

A few weeks ago I took a break from studying for finals to go down to the beautiful Duke Gardens- a three-minute walk from where I attend class daily that I don't frequent enough. I took my lunch with me and promised myself I wouldn't look at the study materials for the exam I had that afternoon. I arrived and picked a different place (even though I don't go enough, I have a "usual spot") to sit and enjoy my lunch and creation. Two young mothers were playing with their children (I'd guess one was 3 and the other maybe 1 &1/2). They laughed, yelled, and just enjoyed the place. It was a refreshing change from being cooped up in the library with other sleep-deprived people.

Well it wasn't long before the younger guy started making his way toward a pond. He was curious and wanted to see what the water was like...at least that's what I think. Mom noticed, and trailed close behind as he approached the water. She took his hand a few steps before the drop off into the man-made pond. Upon reaching the side, he stretched his right leg out to step onto the water, and mom kept him from moving forward. He persisted, then she picked him up and carried him away from the water. As expected, he wasn't too happy and let her know about it.

I wonder how often I'm like that. I know what I want to do and I know when I want to do it. When I don't get my way, I'm not happy. But maybe it's a blessing in disguise. Maybe I just don't realize what I'm about to get into.

Everything is ruined!

2010-05-04T17:45:00.002-05:00

"The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, "If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!" -Numbers 11:4-6

I'm a very habitual person. I like predictability. I like knowing what's going to happen next. I like knowing what I'm going to do each day. I've been that way as long as I can remember. A great example is my morning routine- I wake up, immediately head for the kitchen for breakfast... and I know what I'm going to eat before I get to the kitchen. (I've seen this frustrate my mother when I'm home for holidays/vacations. She usually can't catch me to ask if I want something like eggs or pancakes before I have a bowl of cereal halfway eaten).

So Monday was a terrible day for a person like me. I walked downstairs after a bad night's sleep, put my frozen waffles in the toaster and pressed them down. Then I reached for the syrup. Ants. Ants- all over the bottle and they had managed to get into the syrup (i leave the top open to vent after I microwave it so the syrup is hot). Irritated, I poured the syrup out (to recycle the bottle) and used a paper towel to get rid of the ants that hadn't been on or in the bottle. I switched gears and decided that I'd eat something else. Then I went to pour my coffee. The heating mechanism had malfunctioned and i had cold coffee. This was remedied by a microwave, but on the morning of the first exam of finals week...I was not happy.

I'm not going to say I overcame it and looked on the bright side. No, I grumbled and complained to my roommate. I wasn't much fun to be around that morning, until I got out and moving and got things moving in the right direction.

Little inconsistencies and disappointments can really throw a day off. They can put you in a funk that only you can allow yourself out of. When irritating things happen, try to remember not to dwell on them and look at all of the ways that you are blessed with so much consistency in your life that you come to expect things to be "normal." Count blessings daily and try not to overlook provisions.

Fanning the flame Part 2

2010-04-26T05:41:00.001-05:00

This is the second half of a 2-part post. To read part one, click here.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I've always enjoyed having campfires and fires in the fireplace at home. I love tending the fire- poking the logs and moving them around to produce the desired amount of flame...

"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds;and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body." Ephesians 4: 22-25

Continuing to grow spiritually takes constant tending and attention. We must constantly expose new portions of our lives to the transforming power of the Gospel in order to experience the renewal of that "flame" within. Without new efforts and constant tending, it is easy to become stuck in a rut of complacency.

It is also easy to revert back to former ways, as Paul says. We can get sucked back into the temptation to gossip, fight, hold grudges...etc. But these things suppress the new life we pursue in Christ.

This week, I hope you'll tend your fire- try doing something a little different- pray somewhere different, pick up something new for a devotional time, spend time in the presence of other Christians... be creative- throw a fresh log on the fire.

Fanning the flame Part I

2010-04-19T08:44:00.002-05:00

During a great holiday break this year, I enjoyed one of the things that I feel keeps most apartments from feeling like a "home" - a fireplace. I've always enjoyed the warmth, crackle, and glow during the winter months. I sit too close, lay with my feet propped up next to the fire, and basically hoard all the warmth that I can get (I'm sure my family appreciates it). I love the smell of the smoke from fireplaces in the crisp winter air outside. So...what's with all this talk of winter when the flowers are blooming and the days are getting longer?

Well, while I was home over the holidays, I was enjoying the warmth of the fire one evening and watching TV. I got distracted with what was on and failed to tend the fire. Finally I looked over and noticed that there was no flame and only the glow of coals. Now, the quick solution might have been to throw a few more logs on, light a match and turn the gas on to get the fire started. But that's just not me- I'm my father's son. I grew up crumpling newspapers with Dad to stick under the starter logs and watching him strategically light the paper to get the fire started. So, I took a piece of kindling and a hatchet and began splitting it into pencil-thin pieces and placing them just above the coals. After a bout ten of these strips had been carefully placed, I began lightly blowing onto the coals. After a few moments, the twigs caught fire and burned brightly.

"Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit." John 20:21-22

The disciples were confused and scared. Their faith was hanging by a thread and in need of assistance. Jesus' calm nature and words of assurance fanned the flame of their spirits. We're a few weeks past the excitement of Easter Sunday, how is the flame of your faith doing? How are others? How might we cooperate in being a the breath that ignites afresh the fire?

Tending needs

2010-04-14T06:50:00.002-05:00

Last weekend I took a trip back to Texas for a job training. As always, it took two flights to get me there, and two to get me back to NC. On my first flight of the weekend, I tried to read but became very distracted by the actions of the man sitting next to me:

I said hello to him as he sat down, noticed he had a foreign accent, and also that he was too tall to comfortably sit in the seat. Then I went back to reading. Halfway through the flight, I noticed him getting restless- shifting in his seat. He seemed to be a bit distressed and his gestures and constant checking of his printed out itinerary and checking his watch (always followed by a palms up "how did this happen" motion). A number of times I wanted to ask him if there was anything I could help him with...but I never did.

Finally the stranger turned to me, "Excuse me, is there any time difference between North Carolina and Memphis?" I had pretty much decided that this was probably the cause of his stress. I answered, "Yes, we're going to gain an hour- so it's only 5:45 there. What time does your next flight leave?" He showed me his boarding pass and pointed to the time of departure, saying "7:30." I assured him, "Oh, you've got plenty of time. These time changes can be confusing." Our conversation continued a while longer, and then I went back to reading my book. His shoulders relaxed and he seemed to enjoy the second half of the flight much more.

"and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday." Isaiah 58:10

This stranger wasn't necessarily "hungry," but I did notice his distress. However, I hesitated to offer assistance, and justified it by telling myself it was none of my business. I wonder how often others do similar things. Is it because of our respect for personal space and privacy that we fail to be a people that help each other? This week, observe others, look for opportunities to help someone.

All quiet

2010-04-05T05:37:00.001-05:00

I've never been an early riser (at least since being a kid and having the attraction of early morning cartoons). I'd prefer to stay up late and sleep until the sun is well over the horizon. But this year required a bit of a lifestyle change. So I started (reluctantly) going to bed earlier and getting up earlier. Since the time change a few weeks ago, I've actually sort of enjoyed getting up before the sun does.

There is something peaceful about the time from when light begins to infiltrate the darkness until the time when the sun appears and everything is visible. During a recent conversation with my roommate, he described that time as "quiet...undisturbed...a fresh start." I thought that was a great way to put it - there is something peaceful about the morning. The birds sing as the rest of the world slowly wakes up.

"Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days." Psalm 90: 14

This week, I encourage you to find out what time the sun will rise, set your alarm to beat it by about 20 minutes, then just spend some time watching the morning (from outside if possible).

Seeking refuge

2010-03-22T07:02:00.003-05:00

There's a video of me as a child (I was probably around 3), in which I'm playing and having a great time, then something upsets me... and I immediately begin to cry and run for Mom, who was holding the camera. Watching it can be humorous because I quickly go from the focus of the frame, to running straight at the camera, until you can no longer see me, but still making my presence known- by causing the picture to shake as I cling to my Mother's leg and cry.

What do you run to when you're upset? How do you cope when things don't go your way?

"Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress." Psalm 71:3

I recently opened up in a discussion with a friend and found myself speaking thoughts as they came to me regarding a particular difficult time in my life. It's not often that I "drop my guard" and actually let someone in... or even that I allow myself to be so transparent in the presence of another. I talked about the difficulties I faced: self-doubt, frustration, and dissatisfaction. More importantly I talked about how I dealt with these feelings: I suppressed and ignored them (not unusual for me), and found refuge in TV and media entertainment. Basically, I ran from actually addressing the problem. I'm sure I'm not the first to call it this, but I went into "survival mode"- just getting through each day until I could again see "my shows."

In doing this, I shut out both the people that love me and God. In survival mode, I set myself up as an old city under siege- walls up, doors closed, and nothing coming in or out. Truly a lonely feeling.

As a book that I've recently read states, the beauty of the Psalms is their transparency. The author says what they want to say and for the most part doesn't beat around the bush about how their feeling, especially in troubled times. The Psalms show that it is permissible to be angry- with God, with others. The Psalms show that we are allowed to cry out for help.

So again I ask- what is your refuge? Don't shut yourself in- speak up in your prayers and allow God's word to work as your comforter...not TV or other forms of distraction.

(I owe much of the thoughts in this particular entry to discussions with classmates, a recently read book, a group of guys that meet weekly to study Scripture, and a lecture that challenged me enough to re-examine some difficult times. Thank you, you know who you are.)

Fitting in

2010-03-15T05:55:00.002-05:00

Have you ever caught yourself envying someone else's gifts or talents? I know it's a constant struggle for me. For as long as I can remember sports have been important to me. I love to play for fun, for competition, and I enjoy watching great athletes perform. I've always wished I were taller...thinking, "If I were just a few inches taller, I could..." But comparisons don't stop there: they exist in school, work, hobbies, etc. It seems I'm always comparing myself to others and rarely satisfied with myself.

"So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. ⁵ They said to him, 'You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.' " - 1 Samuel 8: 4 - 6 (bold added)

Israel struggled with a similar problem. The people searched for an identity and desired what they did not have (and thought would make them better...more legitimate): a king. This desire consumed the people and caused them to forget the blessings of their uniqueness. Instead, they became self-conscious and viewed their special relationship as an hindrance and an embarrassment. In haste, Israel asks for a king to rule over them, forgetting that (as the Lord tells Samuel in verse 7) they are not rejecting Samuel as their leader, but instead are rejecting God as their king.

Comparing your gifts with others can be a dangerous thing. It can lead to forgetting your own gifts and blessings. Instead, celebrate the gifts of others and rejoice that you are unique!

...and Thank You.

2010-03-10T12:51:00.002-06:00

Some time ago I posted a devotional about presenting requests to God. I argued that you should pray confidently (almost demandingly). If you'd like to read that post, click here. While I still stand by my original advice, I would like to post an addition to it.

Recently I began reading a book that made me realize this approach may be more flawed than I originally realized. I don't think it's the action itself that makes it what would call "selfish" but the lack of discussion of how to react when the prayer is answered. I failed to include this important part of the post.

Too often I feel that many of my prayers are more like the wish lists that we come up with as children- lots of requests...then, when the gifts come, we are usually too swept up in the moment to really express proper gratitude for them. Sometimes I focus too much on what I want (or need) from God and fail to recognize the things I'm being given. And if I do receive what I am asking for, I'm afraid to say that I feel that my reaction is often underwhelming to God.

God, more than any giver of gifts, deserves to see your joy upon receiving what you requested. God deserves praise for delivering. God desires to share in your joy/relief/contentment. Don't deny this portion of your prayer life- allow your prayers to express the gratitude more than usual this week and in the future.

"I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me." Psalm 16:7

Preventing progress

2010-03-01T05:52:00.001-06:00

"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6: 16-18

Fasting seems to be a popular topic during Lent as Christians search for ways of drawing nearer to God through an intentional devotional practice for a 46-day period. I was recently reading through this passage and I got something new out of it that I wanted to share:

Why does Christ encourage people who fast to do so in secrecy? Keeping fasting a secret seems especially hard in societies that seem to revolve around food and meals. But I think that there is a lot to be gained from not allowing your practice to be the topic of your conversation or be "written on your face." Perhaps the benefit to not revealing your fasting (or whatever discipline you've taken up) is not just to keep from coming across as pompous, but perhaps it serves a greater purpose- for the benefit of the one practicing the discipline.

Jesus describes ways that people might make themselves appear hungry during their fast to draw attention to themselves. This is their reward- getting the attention of others. But disciplines are meant to focus attention to God...to increase the opportunity to be shaped by our Creator, "formed" if you will. When we disfigure ourselves as Christ describes, we do the work of transformation in a physical way, preventing any spiritual transformation to take place...we are essentially preempting God's role by taking care of God's work in transforming through the practice.

I find that bringing too many others into a spiritual discipline seems to hinder it from being about God and me. Now, remember, there are people that you should be able to share things with: spouse, family, close friends, etc. The purpose is not to keep your spiritual life and disciplines from people, it is to keep it intimate enough so that God may transform you. Practice, and let God do the work of reshaping.

Searching for Identity

2010-02-22T06:09:00.001-06:00

"One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray," Luke 11:1a

A few weeks ago I had a discussion with a great group of people that meet together to help each other through our first year in seminary. On this particular day, we were discussing prayer: how we pray, how we ought to pray, and what helps us deepen our prayer lives.

We talked about the difficulties we each have in prayer, the things that we can do to intentionally ready ourselves to spend time in prayer and the resources we use to compliment our prayers. Maybe the most striking thing to me was our discussion on how we pray when we don't know what to say: whether it be hurting, stressed, fatigued, confused, angry, sad, etc. We talked about the Book of Common Prayer as a resource to use in those times.

Additionally, we discussed what a blessing it is to have something to pray when we don't know how to pray that was prayed by Christ. How often do we recite the words of the Lord's Prayer without thinking about what the words mean? I know I've failed to recognize the enormous comfort of having that prayer to pray when we don't know what or how to pray.

Take some time. Focus on the words. Explore what it means to say them.

The plank in my eye

2010-02-08T09:59:00.002-06:00

For those who don't know me well, I'm very much a twitter-er. If you'd like to see what I'm up to on Twitter, click here. Over the past year and a half, I've enjoyed the community of twitter with friends and strangers. I've gotten to know people in ministry, in sports, and made connections with people that I otherwise, never would have come to know. Long story short, I really enjoy Twitter. I've had very few "bad experiences" with Twitter, but I'll share one here.

But first, one of my biggest peeves on twitter is the misspelling of words. The most common ones I see are people using 'loose' (simply defined as "not tight") instead of 'lose' (simply defined as "not win"), and 'definately' (which is less of a word mix up and more of a misspelling of definitely). Anyway, I get more irritated with this than I'd like to admit, and I'm sure I've misspelled my fair amount of words on twitter, but I notice other's mistakes and it seems to wear on me... Ok, now for the experience.

Last week I was corrected after posting a tweet with some false information. I meant well, and mostly did it out of haste (I was in the library studying and on little break from academics). At first it was an innocent exchange asking for some clearing up, then it became the topic of a blog post. My first reaction: embarrassed and angry. I was glad that I was able to learn something, but felt a bit humiliated by the fact that it was dealt with publicly. Granted, I may be the only one that saw the connection, but I still felt shamed.

But the more I thought about it, the more I became convicted of my own rush to see mistakes in the tweets of others. A certain teaching of Christ came to mind: "For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Matthew 7:2

This is the verse comes just before the well-known 'plank in your own eye' verse. Christ teaches a valuable lesson: judging others usually only results in hypocrisy. Maybe Christians could grow from accepting that mistakes happen and judgment often only brings damaged feelings and broken relationships. Instead of making it public, correct mistakes as lovingly as possible.

PS: I'm not angry with the person who corrected me, I'm actually grateful. However, I do wish that it hadn't been so much of a spectacle for others to see. I'm grateful for learning of my mistake and for the opportunity to try to correct my own problem with expecting too much from others in an arena of informal sharing. Finally, the person never referenced me or my mistake in their blog post. They too, were reacting to a common mistake that they see and mine just happened to be the catalyst that sparked the blog entry. Again, there are no hard feelings anymore, I was just aware of my own feelings and how I might cause similar feelings if (and when) I correct others.

Party Bus Part 2

2010-02-01T05:42:00.001-06:00

Something happened last week with blogger while I was trying to post, so you only got half of the Party Bus story. To read the first part, click here. Here is the second half:

So the driver told me he was taking all of these students to a frat party 20 miles away from campus in another town and would not be coming back until the early hours of the morning. He was apologetic and chuckled a bit.

Not being a partier and knowing I had to be awake for a lecture at 8:30am the next day, I started thinking of how to get home. While texting friends that could potentially pick me up, I was fielding questions from the very amused undergraduate students on the bus. They were curious, and we all saw the humor in the situation. To their credit, they were quite friendly: they invited me a number of times to "party with them." I politely declined and carried on a conversation with one guy about where he was from and his career plans, all the while getting messages back from a friend trying to figure out how to get me home. Well, we arrived at the party, I stood outside and waited for my friend who arrived 30 minutes later and in an hour, I was home.

Here is my favorite exchange with one of the passengers:

Random Guy: You should just go with it and party with us!

Me: How long are y'all planning on partying?

Guy: 'Til you go to sleep.

Me: (looks at non-existent watch on wrist) Well you'd better hurry up then.

So what can we learn from this as the church and Christians? People are lost in this world, searching for a place to belong, often times showing up somewhere feeling completely out of place (like I did). If we treat them in a way that communicates that they don't belong, they'll move on to somewhere else. We must seek to include people (just as the party-goers did for me), instead of judging them and pointing out the fact that they don't fit in.

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling." 1 Peter 4:8-9

Party Bus

2010-01-25T05:12:00.000-06:00

Last week I had the pleasure of attending The Blanks (aka "Ted's band" from TV's Scrubs) concert on campus. The concert was great and very entertaining, but my evening was just getting started as I left the concert. I live off campus and catch a bus to get back home. Well, it was raining fairly hard, which means I was running to the bus stop. I noticed lots of other students running to the bus stop, but figured that they were just getting out of the girls basketball game that night. I made it to the bus stop in time to get onto a bus and even have a seat (a rarity during the post-basketball game bus rush).

Well, to make a long story short, there was a special event going on that night, numerous buses had been chartered to take undergraduate students participating in rush week. I ended up on one of these buses. But I realized this about 15 minutes after we left the bus stop. After I realized something wasn't quite normal about this particular bus ride, I pulled up the gps feature on my phone and my suspicions were confirmed. We were headed west and I needed to go east.

After I asked the driver where we were headed, the other passengers caught on to the fact that I didn't belong- that I wasn't where I wanted to be.

Typing in Stereo?

2010-01-18T09:30:00.000-06:00

"Indeed, man wishes to be happy even when he so lives as to make happiness impossible." St. Augustine

I don't remember who or when, but I was once told that the current setup of the common keyboard is set up to intentionally slow you down. Maybe I wanted to believe it because I've never been a particularly fast typer. Truthfully, instant messaging chatting improved my speed and accuracy more than any of the exercises I ever had to do in school...but I digress.

I was skeptical of this so I decided to research it. The keyboard setup we're all familiar with is nicknamed the "QWERTY," after the letters on the top left (go ahead, look). After doing some research on the internet, I discovered that the other setup is the "Dvorak" (named after it's creator) and after reading from this site, I learned that it is designed for the one hand/finger typer- it couples commonly used letters closer together to limit the distance traveled to type letters (think of the letters Pat always picks on Wheel of Fortune: RSTLNE). Click here to read what Wikipedia has to say about Dvorak and see how it is setup.

I read somewhere else that in studies QWERTY users could type just as fast as Dvorak users. I guess that means that you should probably just go with what you're used to. But I wonder, how much do I do that makes things harder for me? How often can I "not get out of my own way"? How often do we, as Christians, do that? Search for a way to simplify and increase the effectiveness of what you're doing.

It's been a year now...

2009-12-21T08:33:00.001-06:00

A year ago I found myself in the midst of a busy week. Parties and events kept me busy long after 7pm each day. The problem: dinner, the solution: fast food. I ate it every night that week, and maybe for lunch once or twice. That Friday, I watched the movie "Supersize Me", and I decided to make a change. No more fast food.
It started as just a month, then two, and then I pushed it to the end of Lent. After that, I just kept pushing it back month by month. I realized that the cravings I had stopped after the first month. I found that what I really liked was the quick, convenient meal. There have been a few times that I've had to eat at a fast food place- on trips. But I opted for the grilled chicken wraps or salads.
Like I said, I really loved the convenience. I was too busy to stop and plan out what to eat...well, truthfully it was just easier not to plan out.
I live in a fast-paced society. One that values productivity, ease, and quick fixes. It seems I hear more commercials pushing the latest energy drink/pill instead of addressing the real problem: lack of rest. Fast food is much the same: an option for an overworked and underthought lifestyle that many have come to know all too well.

Ok. Enough of that. My challenge to you is this: quit or cut down on fast food. Go "cold turkey" or cut in half the fast food you eat per week. Make it a resolution. I promise you'll feel better & notice a difference. You don't have to give up fried food completely, but do try to cut down. Especially on the times you eat on the run. Eating could become enjoyable if you let it. So could sleep. Welcome the pause in productivity.
PS- yes, I do still have cravings. But they are few & usually come when I don't feel I have time for a sit-down meal.

Community Part 3: Return

2009-12-14T09:39:00.002-06:00

This is the third part in a series on community, to read part 1 click here, and to read part 2 click here.

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35

Last week I had the opportunity to "uphold" (see post 1 of series) some of my fellow classmates. For many of us, the semester was full of doubts, frustrations, realizations, and everything between. Needless to say, it takes its toll on a person. I was glad to have the opportunity to encourage some of my peers and grateful for the chance to return the kindness and support that others have shown me this semester.

The previous two posts in this series have been about the self- how others help us and the importance of letting them do so. But how do we respond? At the risk of being cliche, how do we pay it forward? Do we give more than we recieve?

I don't have solid answers for you, but rather an encouragement to look for opportunities to do so. Look for times when people are struggling- both those you know and those you don't know. Then, be bold and quick to help. I think you'll find that "returning" the support and love you've been shown is incredibly fulfilling.

Community Part 2: Open

2009-12-07T12:55:00.002-06:00

This is the second part of a series on community. To read the first part, click here.

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10: 24-25

It's now starting to get cold and stay that way. On top of that, we seem to be getting more rain with this cold weather! This comes right in the middle of the end of the semester crunch time for me. Between the amount of studying I need to do and the weather, it's easy to get "bundled up" in oneself.

Ever notice when you go outside on a cold day that your body seems to instinctively tighten up? Ever turn your back to a cold northern wind? These are ways we try to stay warm, we become focused on ourselves and our own lack of warmth. So we try to conserve our own body heat. Maybe if you're less inclined to your personal space than I am, you might seek out someone else to help keep you warm... but as for me, I like my "bubble" so I'm usually left to fend for my own comfort!

I've always approached exam weeks the same way- all by myself. I hole up in my room or in the library and try my best to keep my nose in a book or in my notes and break my habit of compulsively checking email, twitter, and facebook. The problem is, it becomes all about me. I'm focused on me and my studies. I don't let anyone help or lend a hand.

Sometimes it's necessary to "go it alone," but usually it's nice to have someone along with you. The people we find community with support us, encourage us, and need us. Don't "bundle up" so much during the storm that you can't find help. Open up and let others in. Be in community.

Community Part 1: Uphold

2009-11-23T05:28:00.000-06:00

Again, I ask for your pardon on the lack of posting last week. It has been especially hectic lately, this is both the reason for the lack of a post last week and also an inspiration for this post.

"I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure." Psalm 40: 1-2

Growing up I remember testing the limits with my neighborhood friends. We created an attempted many stunts within the security of our own neighborhood and back yards. One particular challenge I remember was riding down the hill in our neighborhood on our bikes without using brakes and trying to make the turn at the bottom of the hill onto the street that ran perpendicular (90 degree angle). We measured the difficulty of this feat in "houses"... you could only go three houses up and still be able to make the turn onto the street that the one on the hill T-ed into. Any farther up and we would always "chicken" out and use the brakes.

Well one day, I convinced myself that I was going to conquer... very Evel Knievel of me, I know. So, I walked my bike up the (insanely steep) hill: 1, 2, 3, 4 houses! I turned the bike around, had a friend check to make sure no traffic was coming, let off the break and began my descent. I felt the wind in my hair, took my feet off the pedals and gripped the handlebars tight. I reached the bottom of the hill and began making the turn, it was working, I was going to make it! And then, I hit a mailbox. Most people would describe it as a clothesline. I don't remember much after that, aside from tears. But I do remember my older brother coming out of the house, gathering me up, taking me inside, then going to fetch my bike. I remember my brother's help.

The past few weeks have been crazy for me. I've been filled with doubts, anxiety, frustration...you get the idea. But I've been blessed by a great community and support system. So many people reached out and helped to "gather" me. So to all of you, I say thank you.

Community is crucial. As Christians, even just as people, we must look out for one another and pick each other up when someone falls, or maybe even try to anticipate it and keep them from falling. We have to stay in community with each other. And as believers, we desperately need to remain in community with God. Call out like the Psalmist and trust that there will be someone to draw you from the mire.

Stopping

2009-11-09T05:29:00.000-06:00

"Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. For six days you shall labour and do all your work. But the seventh day is a sabbath to theLord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns." Exodus 20: 8-10

Last week I was going through my normal routine in the morning: coffee, devotion, Bible reading, quiet time, and ESPN. I usually wake up watching Mike and Mike in the Morning (a sports radio show that airs on television). It was the day after the Yankees won the series and I caught the tail end of the discussion. "Greeny" as one of the Mikes is called, was expressing his surprise that there was already talk about how to improve for next year. He wondered out loud if maybe they could take just one day to enjoy the fruits of their labors and celebrate being world champs.

Golic, the other host named Mike, played college and professional football and argued that there was no time to take even the day after such a victory off - arguing that all the other teams were working to get better. In his opinion, if the Yankees (or any team that wins a championship) bask in their pleasure too long, the competition will leave them behind.

I thought this was an interesting caricature of the American culture. Sometimes it feels like the message we receive is that if you ever sit down to rest, someone else will pass you by and achieve more than you. To draw a parallel to a well-known story, many Americans seem to have the competitiveness of the Hare and the incessant drive of the Tortoise. The problem is that we, as limited beings, aren't meant to be constantly sprinting. We need rest.

Mike "Greeny" Greenberg comes from a Jewish heritage. He is familiar with this need for rest. The Hebrew word "שבת" is pronounced "Shab-bat." You may be more familiar with the pronunciation "Sabbath" which translates as "to cease; to stop." I believe that it is because of his being aware of this call for rest that "Greeny" thinks it's important to stop and just enjoy.

Don't let to do lists or ambition get in the way of your Sabbath this week. Relax a while and take stock of all that God has provided for you.

Dis-oriented

2009-11-02T05:56:00.000-06:00

"She will chase after her lovers but not catch them; she will look for them but not find them. Then she will say,
'I will go back to my husband as at first,
for then I was better off than now.' She has not acknowledged that I was the one who gave her the grain, the new wine and oil, who lavished on her the silver and gold— which they used for Baal." Hosea 2:7-8

Last week I accompanied a youth group on a trip to a corn maze. I had never done one of these things before and was curious to see what it was like - how difficult it was, how entertaining I found 'being lost,' and how the youth would behave during the maze. When it came time to go through the maze, I was partnered with a group of junior high guys. They seemed eager to get started.

They walked the first few steps, then started jogging. I reluctantly quickened my step and tried to post on twitter about the maze as I tried to keep up with the group that kept disappearing around the next bend. It wasn't long before the conversation started, "We've already been here." "No, remember..." We were lost. In a hurry to finish the maze, there was little though going into turns and navigation...most of us really weren't sure if we had "been there" before- it's hard to take mental notes on the run, especially when all the corn stalks look alike!

How often to we get so excited about something that we cannot contain ourselves and "sprint" after it? I am so guilty of this. I find something interesting, pursue it with all my abilities, and then wonder why it wasn't everything I expected. I often find myself way off track and wondering how I got there.

I guess what I'm saying is that I think the cliche "walk with God" is appropriate terminology. Going slowly allows us to be familiar with how we got there. Slow down, take note of the ways that God is working in your life and stop and look around.

Over-relevance

2009-10-26T05:58:00.001-05:00

"I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some." 1 Cor. 9: 22b

"Relevant" has become somewhat of a buzzword for many churches today. I know I've heard a fair amount of statements about how the church needs to do this or that in order to be relevant (or perhaps 'more appealing'). While I'm no expert, I think that the verse above (which I've taken out of context on purpose) can serve as a battle cry for wanting a "relevant" church. I do think it's important for the church's teaching to be relevant, but I think that the interpretation of how exactly the church is to become relevant can be the point of danger.

We are the church. We are called by Christ to be different. I fear that too many moves to be "relevant" may result in a loss of identity. And this concern spills over into the individual lives of Christians too (myself included). I fear that in trying to fit in, we may forget that we are not intended to fit in. Evaluating the life experiences of Christ and the apostles with society will show just how much those who follow God stick out sometimes. We are called to righteousness.

Remember your calling. Minister to all people.

" 'Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites." Exodus 19: 5-6
(If the Old Testament seems irrelevant, this same language is repeated in 1 Peter 2:9-12)

Don't just sit there...

2009-10-19T05:41:00.001-05:00

(forgive me for taking last week off... I've been sick and things have been crazy)

"The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts." Acts 11: 21-23

Yesterday I had the honor of witnessing the baptism of an infant. The parents of the child brought him up to be baptized, promising to raise him up in faith and love. The pastor finished the questions for the parents and them moved on to the actual act with the water. You could have heard a pin drop it was so quiet. But then, out of nowhere his brother began shouting,

"Come on, you can do it!"

Laughter (probably most of it nervous) broke out in the congregation as everyone noticed the 3-to-4-year-old brother sitting unattended in the pew, away from the action. I guess it seemed comical to most. But to me, it seemed profound.

The whole congregation sat, as all good congregations do at such a time: quiet, smiling, and taking in the moment. But this young boy, unaware of the "social norm" for that time, recognized the importance of the occasion and he cheered his brother on. I was amazed.

This week, try to notice something that may seem commonplace in the life of a fellow believer in Christ. Instead of reacting the way we normally do, try making a big deal of it. Encourage them. You don't have to praise them or physically cheer them on, but maybe give them a compliment, or lift them up in a prayer of thanksgiving and praise.

Notice the small things, and consider them blessings.

Easy to forget

2009-10-05T05:17:00.001-05:00

"The word of the LORD came to me: "Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem:
" 'I remember the devotion of your youth,
how as a bride you loved me
and followed me through the desert,
through a land not sown."

Jeremiah 2: 1-2

Do you "remember the devotion of your youth"? When you were passionate and chased after things without tiring or asking questions? Remember the times before you learned to doubt? Or maybe before you learned what it meant to be discouraged?

The trouble with growing up is in learning to think too muc. The people of Israel experienced this when they trusted in God as they were released from captivity in Egypt, only to complain against Moses and God when things became difficult. It's easy to give up- easier to go back to what was familiar. It's easier...but not better.

How might your week be changed by making an effort to "remember the devotion of your youth"? Maybe you'd be a witness to Christ in the world... Don't let every day events take away your zest for life and devotion to God this week.

A donkey and an ox

2009-09-28T05:40:00.000-05:00

"If you come across your enemy's ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to take it back to him. If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help him with it." Exodus 23: 4-5

In some of my recent studies, this passage was a focus. The passage is one that gives the people of Israel rules for living in community. A huge part of living in community involves helping others. The interesting part of this passage is that it is "your enemy's ox"...not your friend's ox. It is assumed that people will help people that they like (which I hope is still true today more than it's not), but not help someone they dislike. This command is one of many important in developing Israel as a people set apart to bring about God's intentions in the world.

The passage made me think of another passage that we all may be a little more familiar with:

"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.But someone will say, 'You have faith; I have deeds.' Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder." James 2: 14-19

The words in Exodus inspire me to live to a higher standard- one that witnesses through the way I treat everyone. The words of James remind me that my faith should spur me on to action.

This week, seek opportunities to live out your faith and God's intentions for the world.

How to mend.

2009-09-21T05:39:00.001-05:00

"His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. "We are your slaves," they said.

But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them." Genesis 50:18-21

After my recent theft experience, I was left to reflect and try to gain some understanding as to why it happened. I addressed this in last week's devotional. The other thing I thought about was how to deal with this... Genesis 50:20 is an easy verse to look at when one feel's victimized. But I don't want to talk about verse 20. I want to talk about Joseph's perspective, and his statement in verse 19: "Am I in the place of God?"

Joseph had every reason to be angry and every reason to seize an opportunity to get even. But instead, he was able to see and understand that it wasn't his place to get even. Instead of using his powerful position against his brothers (they sold him into slavery), he used his position to help them, thus repairing the family relationship. Maybe Joseph knew that he hadn't always been easy to get along with (see Gen. 37:1-10)... whatever happened, Joseph realized that there was no sense in repaying evil with evil. Instead, he worked for the good of all, and looked for a way to be the solution to the problem rather than adding to the bitterness and hatred.

We all need to take a lesson from Joseph's life. Use your opportunities and positions to mend relationships and bring healing in a wounded world.

Security

2009-09-15T21:15:00.003-05:00

(First off, let me apologize for this being late. Please forgive my tardiness.)

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal." Matthew 6: 19

Last Monday night/Tuesday morning my car was broken into. I foolishly left my wallet in my car (I thought it was out of sight, but apparently not), and someone smashed the window took the wallet, a book of CDs, a cell phone charger, and some random other things. Of course, the biggest loss was my wallet- all of the cards that were in there, my driver's license... basically most of the ways that I can be identified as being me. I spent the rest of the day calling credit card companies, speaking with people at my bank, and talking to police... trying to figure out how to put things back to the way they had been. It was definitely a day to forget.

During all of the phone calls and waiting around, I tried to see the positive: maybe someone really needed that cash more than me. Maybe someone will actually get more play out of those CDs... but everything seemed to be about the other person. I didn't want to be selfish, but really 'What was in it for me?' Answer:

All of these things can be taken in a matter of moments. All of these things can be replaced in a few hours (or through some phone calls). Many of the things that we value so much really aren't worth as much as we make them out to be.

I take comfort in knowing that the one truly invaluable thing I have cannot be taken from me.

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:21

Share alike

2009-09-07T05:58:00.000-05:00

Have you ever caught yourself mumbling under your breath, or maybe even complaining loudly, "They don't deserve that! They didn't do anything to earn it!" It's pretty common- from an early age we learn what is fair and what is unfair...and we are usually pretty quick to point out any "unfairness" toward us. It's just the way we are, we like things to be even, deserved...especially when it comes to other people's earnings. Here is a great example from the Old Testament:

"Then all the corrupt and worthless fellows among the men who had gone with David said, 'Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except that each man may take his wife and children and leave.' But David said, 'You shall not do so my brothers, with what the Lord has given us; he has preserved us and handed over to us the raiding party that attacked us. Who would listen to you in this matter? For the share of the one who goes down into the battle shall be the same as the share of the one who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike.' " 1 Samuel 30: 22-24

This story takes place toward the end of David's time in the wilderness, hiding from Saul. He and his men had been out and the town that they were calling home had been raided. The Amalekites had stolen their possessions and taken their wives and children hostage. Upon discovering this, David and his men pursue the Amalekites, defeat them and reclaim their families and possessions. But during the pursuit, many men had grown tired and could not continue, so they were left behind. The men that finished the mission weren't willing to share their spoils of war with the men that did not fight. Fair enough, right? Yes, but David understood that fairness could be divisive- he would be showing favoritism to the men that helped and morale could be ruined because of jealousy.

I'm all too familiar with this kind of scenario. As a young child, I'm sure I let my parents know "That's not fair" on many occasions. And I can still find myself wanting to say those words again. Whether it involves work, grades, competition, or even worse: religion!

It can be quite unsettling to think that we who go to church every week and put money in the offering plate, volunteer with the church, and even go on mission trips are going to receive the exact same reward as those who have merely professed a faith and trust in Christ. Honestly, it's not fair. And I am very thankful that it's not about fairness, earnings, or deserving because if it were, I wouldn't be expecting what I hope for.

As you think of what it means to not complain about unfairness, read what Jesus has to say on the subject by reading Matthew 20: 1-16.

More than we realize

2009-08-31T06:04:00.000-05:00

"But Moses said to God, 'Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?' " Exodus 3: 11

How serious do you take being called by God? Or have you ever thought about how you are called by God? It's a big deal to realize it and conduct yourself in an intentional way...let me explain.

During an American history course in college, we talked about the explorers that "discovered" things on the continent. Many of these men brought with them their religious beliefs. Some of them brought symbols- crosses and displayed them proudly: having someone process with a cross in the front of their expedition. They encountered native people, introduced them to their religion and their crosses. Then they introduced other things- disease, war, violence, greed.... Soon the native people began fleeing at the sight of a cross- it was no longer a symbol of grace but one of hate, death, and destruction.

Now, the details are a bit foggy for me and I can't seem to find my notes to double check, so forgive me if that's not a complete, accurate description. But it seems to me that the explorers hadn't taken seriously what it meant to be a follower and bear the mark of Christ... or maybe they had gotten swept up in the things of this world. But sometimes, we're not all that much different from them. We wear crosses as jewelery, we openly profess Christ as our savior and model for life...and then we lie, hurt, cheat, steal,... the list goes on.

I've often poked fun at Moses for questioning God. After all, who is he to think he knows better than God? But maybe he was just realizing what a huge responsibility it is to be a part of carrying out the will of God, of freeing humanity from their helpless state. I wonder if we approached being a part of the body of Christ in the world more carefully if we could avoid giving the wrong impression of what Christianity is about? What if instead of asking WWJD, we asked "How is this going to help or hinder the message that God is trying to speak to others through me?"

Just some thoughts. Thanks for reading. Go. Serve. Love.

What are you building?

2009-08-24T06:39:00.001-05:00

"Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness." Matthew 9:35

Christ understood the challenges of his mission to make it known exactly how God planned on drawing all of humanity back to Himself. Because of this understanding, Jesus knew that the most effective way to spread the message and make God's love known is through interaction with people. God in flesh came to earth to live among us as an equal, experiencing the joy that comes in serving others and seeing their elation when they realize someone cares.

Over a month ago I had the privilege to speak with 8th and 9th graders at a church camp. During one of the messages I shared this quote with them:

"We build too many walls and not enough bridges." -Isaac Newton

I talked about how it was tempting to build walls for protection, to make us feel safe. Walls give us a place to call our own and help us to make sense of the world by compartmentalizing things...making sure everything has it's own space set apart (think an elementary school cafeteria tray). But, as a someone that is convinced that there is no hope but in Christ, we are called to spread the word, and as mentioned before- the best way to do that is to interact with people. But in putting up walls we prevent the forming of relationships based in Christ in the world outside the church walls. I feel like we're called to do the exact opposite: take what we know into the world and let it bleed... let it be (through us) a transforming power everywhere we go.

When I find something exciting, I want to share it with others so that they will enjoy it as well. How great is the news that we've been given the gift of grace...that God desires to be in a relationship no matter what. I can't speak for you, but it's hard to think about that and not feel somewhat excited.

This week, make an effort to build fewer walls, allow your faith to bleed into every part of your life. Build relationships with others so that you can help them build bridges to understanding God's wonderful news in Christ!

PS- Next week's devotion will mark the 100th post to www.russbowlin.blogspot.com I am working hard on it and I'm very excited about it. I hope you'll check in again next Monday!

Against all hope

2009-08-17T22:30:00.003-05:00

Times are tough. Things seem to be getting better in the economy....at least that's what we keep hearing on the news. During times of struggle it is easy to start worrying about being self-sufficient, independent, and safe. When the going gets tough, it seems like second nature to draw all our belongings and trust only ourselves. However, we are called to something different. Trust in God's providence.

We are called to put our trust in a God that we believe is able to provide for and sustain us. Could it be that our "safety nets" are actually keeping us from furthering our trust and faith in the God that takes care of even the birds and lilies? Could our independence be inhibiting our dependence on God? But then again I see the other side: it would also be foolish to not use the power of reason that we were given in order to avoid hardships.

I don't want to tell you how to deal with the current economic situation, but I do find comfort in the fact that I worship a God that has promised some crazy things (or at least it seems crazy to us) ...and made good on them:

"Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God," Acts 4: 18-20

May you hope in the God that created you and sustains you and perhaps your belief will also be "credited to [you] as righteousness." (Genesis 15: 6)

All in how you look at it.

2009-08-10T06:20:00.006-05:00

Sitting on the back porch after dark a few days ago, something caught my eye in my peripheral. I saw movement in the dark corner of the yard. So I took a closer look, staring hard at the area where I saw movement....Nothing, couldn't see what it was. It was at this time that I remembered something from a psychology of perception course I took during college: "rods and cones"- look slightly away from the object, and.... a toad.

(Now for the technical explanation:There are basically two types of receptors in the eye that allow us to see- rods and cones. Cone receptors help us to see details and colors- cones are mostly located in the "macula" or focal point on the back of the eye. Rods capture big things, and things in peripheral, don't see color...thus making them more useful than cones as far as night vision. Rods are almost completely absent from the forementioned "macula" which is contains mostly cones... which explains why looking right at something in the dark actually inhibits your ability to see the object.) The picture above is a simple illustration I created, for more information and a detailed explanation about rods and cones, click here.

This got me thinking though. When we encounter problems in life, when things don't go our way or frustrate us, we seem to focus directly on that problem. We become determined to "figure it out" and "fix it." It can become an obsession until the problem is solved, all othere things take a back seat to the problem at hand. I'm speaking from experience. I am guilty of being encouraged to leave something alone, only to reply, "No, it's personal now."

What if instead of trying to fix every problem that comes along, we learn to roll with things- we learn to wait and see if the problem is really that bad, or maybe it wouldn't seem so bad if we changed how we looked at it? This week, when a problem comes along... try not to let it become the focus, and trying viewing it from different perspective. Take time and enjoy.

"Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves." Psalm 127:1-2

A Crazy Thought

2009-08-03T06:12:00.000-05:00

"Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish." Jonah 3: 9 (NIV)

The king of Nineveh suggests that the people of the great city may not be beyond saving... he calls for confession and for them to repent from their sinful ways. Maybe Nineveh won't "be overturned" (v. 4b) as the prophet Jonah had declared to the people of the city.

The thought of a merciful God is not exactly what most people picture when they think of the 'God of the Old Testament.' Usually, people think of a wrathful, warrior God in the Old Testament stories... so the king's hopes could easily be called overly optimistic. But then again, "Who knows?"

Trying to walk the path that Jesus walked can be an incredibly frustrating task, and frustrations can easily turn to guilt or hopelessness. We can start beating ourselves up over stumbles and struggles, and at these times it's easy to think that we are unforgivable. However, we must learn from the king: recognize your faults, repent, and ask for God's grace and forgiveness... for we know that we worship a God who freely gives grace to all that ask. We must stop limiting God by believing we know the limits of God's grace.

Trust in God's steadfast love, and let God be your provider.

A Purpose and a Goal

2009-07-27T06:28:00.000-05:00

"Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." 1 Peter 2: 12

The Tour de France is over and to the delight of some and the disappointment of others, Lance Armstrong did not win. But he did finish 3rd, trailing the leader by just over five minutes. In a race in which the top riders logged more than 88 hours on a bicycle, the 5-minute margin is still quite impressive considering he's been retired for 3+ years.

Have you seen this ad for Nike? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VfiXAaEQiY

Lance brings up all the criticisms that have been spoken and echoed since before he became a household name. I'm not much of a cycling fan, but I'll admit I'm a homer and I will root for someone from my home state.

At the end of the commercial Lance says, "They can say whatever they want. I'm not back on my bike for them." Obviously, there is an unspoken end to that thought- he rides to inspire those that need inspiration and hope.

This made me wonder about why I do the things I do- do I seek approval from others, praise for my works? Or do I seek to glorify God in all that I do? Opinions will be plentiful, critics will come and go, but the person that works for the glory of God and the good of God's people will find peace.

Why are you on your "bike"? Who are you working for? There is a world full of people in need of inspiration, grasping for some morsel of hope... how is what you will do today going to bring hope to someone?

A righteous challenge

2009-07-20T12:07:00.002-05:00

"Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God." Romans 15: 17

It's easy to get caught in the current of the times- to constantly seek contentment in the things made by man. But true happiness comes from serving God and serving God's people. It is when we serve God and God's people that we truly glorify God by loving others as God loves us.

Have you been feeling empty lately? Felt like things that used to bring you joy are less than fulfulling? Maybe it's time for a dose of service and time of seeking good. Now, I'm not saying that doing things to improve your own lifestyle is evil, but I am saying that I've experienced the empty feeling of compiling things that bring only temporary happiness. I wonder where God is and why I'm not feeling God's presence... And then I take the time to serve someone and I am reminded of the sense of accomplishment that comes with something as simple as helping someone in need.

This week, do not seek happiness in the things you do for yourself, but serve others to the glory of God.

Refresh

2009-07-13T09:21:00.002-05:00

Do you ever feel worn out, beat down, discouraged, or even confused about where this is going and what's the point? I think to some extent this is perfectly natural. A buzzword most of us are familiar with is "progress." We like to see progress, and when we don't it can be easy to experience a mixture if not all of the forementioned feelings.

The one solution that I've found for this problem is to refresh- get away for a while. Go somewhere or do something that refreshes you by allowing you to "recharge." Maybe it's a vacation, maybe it's a day off, ... for me it's being around people that offer encouragement, are enjoyable to be around, and share my interests and many of my goals.

This week I have the privilege of being at church camp. Some might be confused as to why I consider it a privilege- it's not that I particuarly enjoy eating camp food, being outside in the heat of the day, or sleeping on a sub-par mattress.... it's that there are people here that share my goal to see youth grow in their faith, they love to laugh, they love to just enjoy the company of other believers.

How long has it been since you allowed yourself to be refreshed by being in the presence of those that renew you? Seek them out this week, spend some time in their presence and be encouraged.

New Growth

2009-07-11T00:48:00.002-05:00

There's a plant that's been on my office desk for at least two years. I've never claimed to have a green thumb, in fact I think I remember telling the person who gave it to me, "If you want it to die that's a great place for it," as it was placed on my desk.

However, despite my inability to keep plants alive, this one has persevered and even grown a little bit. But my friend did observe that the plant has very little new growth since it was placed in my care. I blame the lack of sunlight- my office has no exterior windows. Other theories include the occasional week or two without water....The point is that most plants require water, the right temperature, sunlight, and fertile soil to grow...maybe some other things- like I said, I'm not a gardening expert.

Growing faith is much the same. We need more than one avenue to help grow our faith: individual prayer time, reflection, corporate worship, personal devotional, Bible study... all of these help us grow our knowledge and faith. Unfortunately, our culture doesn't usually lend itself to spending hours and hours focused on God. Truthfully, it's very hard to devote even an hour to any kind or combination of disciplines in our society.

Sometimes I get frustrated when I feel I'm stuck in a rut of some sort with my faith. I wonder if I've made any progress at all in the past year? In these times, it's easy to lash out and blame God for "not being there when I needed You." But, usually I have to face the truth and admit that I've let life get between myself and my God. Sure I go to church, and maybe even to the weekly Bible study, but I haven't truly sought God on a personal level. Or maybe when I showed up at church, I was more concerned with the people than the worship....

So maybe I wasn't preparing the soil or getting any sunlight- that would explain the lack of growth. Today, seek God and ask that your faith be increased. See if you don't notice a difference.

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11: 6

Dressing up

2009-07-10T00:40:00.002-05:00

"Its very first words are Our Father. Do you see what those words mean? They mean quite frankly, that you are putting yourself in the place of a son of God. To put it bluntly, you are dressing up as Christ. If you like, you are pretending... you are a bundle of self-centered fears hopes, greeds, jealousies, and self-conceit, all doomed to death. So that, in a way, this is dressing up as Christ is a piece of outrageous cheek. But the odd thing is that He has ordered us to do it."

-C. S. Lewis Mere Christianity

Mere Christianity is one of my favorite books. Lewis creates such wonderful ways of illustrating what it means to have faith and exercise that faith. In this section, Lewis is explaining how we become more like Christ- through practice. He likens our prayers (specifically The Lord's Prayer) and how we mimic the way Jesus addressed God...thus making us sons and daughters of God.

Lewis then goes on to describe how humorous it must seem for such flawed people to put on such a front... claiming to be children of God. However, he then draws a parallel to young children playing house: they are essentially practicing roles and what it means to be an adult- so it is as much an exercise as it is play. Sooner than you think, Lewis explains, that pretend will become reality... and our front will become more of our real being.

Today, practice being a child of God. Compose yourself as Jesus would (I know that's bordering on a cliche from the mid 90s), but maybe try to pretend a little today and maybe it will rub off on your "true" self so that you become more like Christ.

"He destined us for adoption as His children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will," Ephesians 1: 5

Self-fulfilling

2009-07-07T23:09:00.002-05:00

"Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23: 34

Lately I've been on a kick of watching documentaries. I'd wanted to see two for quite a while and finally sat down to watch them... "The King of Kong" and "Confessions of a Superhero"

I would give both of them 4 of 5 stars, but I wanted to share a quote from the latter.

"It's only the bad people that I get mad at. Everybody else has no problem with me." -Maxwell Allen on "Confessions of a Superhero"

The film follows four people that dress up as superheros and take pictures with tourists on Los Angeles' Hollywood Boulevard. Each individual shares their story - how they got to Hollywood and why they do what they do. During many of his interviews, Batman (aka Maxwell Allen), talks about his dark past and the fact that he has a temper...even admitting to seriously people.

The quote is interesting because it's a self-fulfilling prophecy: I get mad at people because they're bad, and they're bad because they make me mad... When he said those words, he was obviously struggling to express himself and explain why he lashes out.

The other thing that it reminded me of was the fact that pain breeds pain. Maxwell had many painful memories and couldn't seem to get past them- guilt and frustration added to his anger, which caused others pain. It's a sad trickle-down effect that seems to have no end. Unless...

We learn to forgive. Forgive others. Forgive ourselves. Forgive and move on. Be the end of that cycle of pain.

That is the question

2009-07-07T06:03:00.001-05:00

This passage was recently brought to my attention. I found it interesting and wanted to share.

"Here a great number of disabled people used to lie - the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, 'Do you want to get well?' " John 5:3-5 (NIV)

It seems like an odd question, doesn't it? Why wouldn't someone in this man's condition want to "get well." Greeting card companies have made money from our desire for others to 'get well soon.' And our complaint when we're sick is usually something to the effect of 'I am just ready to get out of this room/house/hospital.'

I cannot imagine having an affliction for 38 years...but it could be that one would forget how to live without it... forget what it would be like to live a "normal" life. So maybe the question isn't so bizzare afterall. Jesus had the ability to heal the man with or without his permission, but Christ wanted to know if the man desired a change in his life- because things were about to change for the man and Jesus wanted to make sure he was prepared for that change.

We all have afflictions - things that keep us from living the life we are called to live. And if you're like me, you ask over and over for them to be removed. But I wonder, am I really ready to leave that affliction behind? Am I prepared to "get well"? Or do I still want to have that reason for not living like I should?

Next time you feel like addressing a problem in your life, ask yourself Jesus' question, "Do you want to get well?"

Just passing through

2009-07-07T00:28:00.001-05:00

I recently returned from an amazing mission trip to Alaska with 28 other youth and adults. I don't recall ever having seen so much beauty in creation. We flew into Anchorage, drove to Fairbanks, and boared a boat in Seward... at any given moment there were incredible sights to see.

However, I noticed that much of our group slept through or found some other way of entertaining themselves as we passed by scenic view after scenic view. Now I don't fault them too much because we were all tired, and riding in cars and planes gets old pretty fast, but I wonder what this says about the way we live our lives.

How often do I "just get through" certain parts of life? I feel like if that is ever the case, then it is far too often. Each daily experience holds some beauty in it...and when I just try to get through to the next day, I'm missing out on what the day has to offer. Perhaps approaching every day with renewed enthusiasm about that specific day is truly what it means to "Carpe diem," or 'sieze the day.'

On the flight home I found myself watching a movie shortly after takeoff. Being in a window seat, I wanted to be sure to watch the sunset (something we hadn't seen during our stay because it doesn't get dark in Alaska during this time of year), so when I noticed the light becoming an orange tint, I pulled up the window shade and stared in awe as the sun set over the clouds and snow covered mountains. During most of our red-eye flight, I watched the window as dusk gave way to darkness and stars appeared...and shortly before we landed I was treated to sunrise over a Texas sky.

Are you in one of those "in between" stages in life? Are you just trying to "get through" today so that you can reach your destination/goal? Instead of waiting it out, what if you tried to glean something from your time of waiting? Look up and open your eyes, maybe with a little effort you can discover something awesome about today.

"God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning - the sixth day." Genesis 1: 31 (NIV)

Full week of devos coming

2009-07-05T20:13:00.002-05:00

I apologize for the lack of devotionals the past two weeks- I've been gone on a mission trip. But I'll make it up to you: every day this week I'll post something new. So check back daily this week for devotionals and I'll do my best not to let many more Mondays pass without sharing something.

A Judgement Call

2009-06-15T06:26:00.001-05:00

Last week I had the privilege of attending a senior high youth mission trip in a rural area of Texas. Our youth group has gone on trips like this with the same organization for the past three summers. Each trip is in a different place, with different participants, ....

This time, instead of being out in the heat swinging hammers, weilding a 3-inch paintbrush, and dusting off the circular saw; I was leading worship, helping plan games, setting up for events for everyone after the day was over. Part of my job was to go offer encouragement to the work teams at their different locations, take pictures, and maybe talk to the owners of the house they are working on.

One of these locations has been burned into my memory. But it doesn't stand out because of the "client's" situation... it was because I assumed. As I walked up to the site the team was sitting with the client and discussing over sack lunches. There was a man sitting on a four-wheeler about 30 feet away. It was obvious that he was there checking on the elderly owner of the house. His body language said "I'm watching you," his arms were folded and he had a very removed disposition about him. I decided that he wasn't friendly and probably didn't like us being there.

After a while at the site I noticed one of the other guys from our group talking with him. I thought maybe he needed to be rescued from an unpleasant conversation. So I went over and was amazed to hear about the struggles this man had been through. He had lost many loved ones, he was there because it was his mother's house we were working on...and the reason he didn't get off the four-wheeler had to do with a disease that had made breathing difficult when walking. I felt ashamed that I had judged this man, who turned out to be one of the nicest clients I've ever met... lesson learned.

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you too will be judged, and with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you." Matthew 7:1-2

I hope that others look beyond my body language (which was misleading in this case), and actually get to know me before they decide what kind of person I am.

This week, strive to let people be themselves before you decide who they are. I'll try to do better.

Increasing Returns

2009-06-08T05:43:00.001-05:00

There's a word that's been on nearly every mind lately. Very few things have been able to bump it from the spotlight of conversations and news broadcasts. "Recession" It seems that this word has us all spooked. Afraid to take risks we would have called "investments" just two years ago. We've gathered up all those investments, worried about the job market, struggled to pay bills... and maybe even worse. It is as these times that I begin to think of two stories from the Bible: 1- the parable of the talents (Matthew 25: 14-30), and 2- Jesus' advice about worrying (Matthew 6: 25-34).

But there's a lesser-known passage I'd rather share with you:

"Begin by being honest. Do honest people rob God? But you rob me day after day.

You ask, 'How have we robbed you?'

'The tithe and offering- that's how! And now you're under a curse - the whole lot of you - because you're robbing me. Bring your full tithe to the Temple treasury so there will be ample provisions in my Temple. Test me in this and see if I don't open up heaven itself to you and pour out blessings beyond your wildest dreams...' " Malachi 3: 8-10 (The Message)

The passage seems focused on monetary offerings to God. Sure, there may be churches that are really struggling financially because their members are struggling.

But when I read this, I thought about a different kind of offering. One that many churches have been in desperate need for years- volunteers. I read this passage and thought about what's most important to me, what do I "hoard"? The answer of course is my time- I'm very protective of it. I cherish my time off, I guard against things that cut into my free time, I pass up opportunities because "I'm too busy."

Are you anything like that? One of the highlights of the past year for me was volunteering to read with a 1st grader for 30 minutes every week. I found that it was often the best part of my week. Last month, I looked at my volunteer sign in sheet and counted the hours from September to May, expecting the sum of the hours I'd volunteered to be huge... twelve. 12 hours over about 250 days.

Do you think you're busy? Try taking a little time out every week to volunteer. When it's over you may be suprised with how little time it actually took to make a big difference. Give your time, and see if God doesn't "pour out blessings beyond your wildest dreams."

Lye and Truth

2009-05-31T22:25:00.003-05:00

I don't know about you, but when I first started this journey of faith, I believed that everything was going to be happy, fun...sunshine and lemonade. Don't let the rest fool you, I've had more fun than I expected, but the challenges along the way were much more than I expected.

Malachi, with God's help, understood just how intense this whole process of redemption and reconciliation was going to be... long before the physical arrival of Christ in our world. Here, the prophet describes what is to come in our cleansing:

"He'll be like white-hot fire from the smelter's furnace. He'll be like the strongest lye soap at the laundry. He'll take his place as a refiner of silver, as a cleanser of dirty clothes. He'll scrub the Levite priests clean, refine them like gold and silver, until they're fit for God, fit to present offerings of righteousness. Then and only then, will Judah and Jerusalem fit and pleasing to God, as they used to be in the years long ago." Malachi 3:2-4 (MSG)

I'll admit, I don't use lye soap. I use the smelly soft soap from a pump bottle. But I do remember using bar soap. I don't know much about lye soap. So I did a little research. Here's a quick video you should watch to understand just how powerful lye soap can be- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EqmC-eltHA

As you can see. Lye is powerful stuff- the chemical reaction heated the water to nearly 200 degrees! She even said if you add water to lye (instead of lye to water) bad things can happen. It's no joke- it has to be done carefully, intentionally.

In other translations, more emphasis is put on the image of a furnace and refining metal- which is a process of exposing metals to extreme heat in order to make them stronger and pure.

Honestly, there are times when things seem so tough that I'm ready to give up on this. Times when I see no way out. Times when this thing called faith seems way too dangerous for me. However, I've realized that those are the times that will refine me, make me stronger, into something better. A certain muscle-bound governor coined the phrase, "No pain, no gain." Unfortunately, this is true more often than it is not.

Faith is dangerous, faith is scary, faith is unsettling...and yet, we trust that in the end we are being made clean by what God did for us through Christ. I could go on about lye soap and how cool that image is, but i'd rather let you read what I've learned from. Here is another link about this ancient way of making soap. You know... before there were ten different scents!

http://xtendlifenaturally.com/lye-soap

Finding Your Stride

2009-05-25T05:46:00.000-05:00

"One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong,and that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done." Psalm 62:11-12 (NIV)

I saw this story on E:60- an ESPN show that features more human-interest sports stories. Take a minute to watch a clip on youtube

or watch the watch the full story http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=4169717

The first thing I thought of was Forrest Gump's run. "The Raven" has been called "...a real Gump," but Kraft is real, true, and dedicated.

I'll admit to you. For the majority of the time I've served as a spiritual leader, my personal spiritual life has been lacking. It's easy to let it slip. I convince myself that I've got more important things to do...plan this trip, write this curriculum, go to this event... I don't have any problem coming up with excuses not to spend time allowing God to tend to my soul. Sure, I'd start a new devotional book and be really into it until something threw me out of my rhythm- and again I'd put time with God on the back burner.

However, in the past 5+ months, I've managed to stay on a regular schedule of reading and spending time diving into God's word. And I've noticed results. I feel incomplete without that time now. I feel more patient, and more importantly- I feel open to what God may have to say to me through scriptures and the thoughts of others. But now I know there's something else I've neglected- my prayer life. Soon I'll start setting aside more time with God... I hope that God will assist me in allowing this time to transform my life to be more like Christ daily.

This week. I challenge you to find your stride- dedicate 10 minutes to God. Read, pray, or maybe just sit in silence.... Strive to make it a part of your lifestyle...who knows, maybe 30 years from now you'll be as dedicated to God as "The Raven" is to running.

Was that for Me?

2009-05-18T06:07:00.001-05:00

Do you ever read the preface to books? I usually don't. I've never completely understood them- the book starts at Chapter 1, right? So why should I read anything before that?

"God-of-the-Angel-Armies gave me this Message for them, for all the people and for the priests: "When you held fasting every fifth and seventh month all these seventy years, were you doing it for me? And when you held feasts, was that for me? Hardly. You're interested in religion, I'm interested in people." Zechariah 7: 4-6 (The Message)

Often times we flip right past the Old Testament. We skip by the books with the names we can't pronounce and the odd stories that we struggle to understand. We get to the "good stuff"- the stories about Jesus and the teachings of Peter and Paul. But we've ignored the preface- the reason for those stories....the explanations that help us understand what Jesus and Paul are talking about.

Zechariah's words are put into action by Christ. Jesus annoyed the Pharisees of his day because he cared about people more than he cared about religion. He dismissed rules so that he could help people. That was extremely irritating for the class of people that knew the law (religion) well, and expected Jesus to abide by it....even to the point of ignoring people to follow the rules. Of course, Jesus attended to people, and suffered the consequences.

I think sometimes we get too swept up in our own religion- we think we know what's right and expect others to know as well. So when they mess up, we lack compassion. I know I often get caught up in what "needs" to be done for church...and I wonder how many people I've not cared for because I'm worried about the tasks of church & religion.

Care more about people than you do about religion.

Confront and Confess

2009-05-11T20:58:00.003-05:00

In recent conversations and some of the reading I've been doing, I've
been encouraged to be more bold with my faith, and more transparent about my life. So I'd like to share this:

Last week I was playing a softball game with some of the men from our
church. During the last few games, I had grown tired of hearing my teammates complain about bad calls. It had eaten at me for a while. So when a few of our players
began pleading a case to an umpire, I rolled my eyes and stated (loud
enough to be heard over the banter), "Just Shut up."

I went on to state that I was tired of our complaining. It made the
game less enjoyable. It made us look like whiners. I wondered how we
were being Christ to the umpires as we questioned every close call. I
wondered what image of Christ we were presenting to those within earshot.

However, I failed to be Christ-like to my own teammates. I
unneccessarily scolded them, spoke to them in a very un-Christian way.
Sure, my intentions may have been good- to get the guys to glorify God
through their actions (even on the softball field), but I did it all
wrong. After the game, I did take time to apologize and explain my frustrations. I hope that the team can, 1) forgive me, and 2) begin to make an effort to live as we are called, even on the field of competition.

I think sometimes I take this whole Christianity thing too lightly. I
struggle to let it direct my entire life. I know i've been the one
complaining and arguing before, but I showed little patience for my teammates. And, as evidenced in the story, I've definitely lost my temper once in a while.

What kind of life do we lead when we aren't at church? What do our actions say about Christ when we are competing, stressed, irritated...? Are we encouraging each other to live the gospel daily?

God wants to change every part of your life, not just the parts you're
comfortable being Christ-like in...all of it. What are you holding on
to? Where in your life do you need to be transformed? Be unashamedly Christ-like.

"In everything, set them an example by doing what is good. IN your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us." Titus 2: 7

Alone, Together

2009-05-04T07:26:00.002-05:00

Have you ever had that feeling? The one where something doesn't feel right, there's something missing, maybe a sinking feeling and you're not sure how to get rid of it? It's not unusual.

We're called to a life set apart from the rest of the world. As Christians, we've set our eyes on a prize that's bigger than any that this world can offer. But doing this can often lead us to feel alone- like we're missing something right in front of us... because we are.

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are n the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)

The writer of Hebrews understood just how lonely it can be living a life in this world, but set apart from this world. It can be difficult, and as we realize that we're missing things that others aren't, it can be lonely. But we're not alone. We have each other for encouragement. Our separation from the world makes our attachment to a church body all the more important. The Christian community helps us to keep focused on our goal - living a life according to our calling. It also offers a place where we don't feel so out of place.

This week, seek community. Seek to be in the presence of others. If you're feeling drained and alone, find encouragement by being with those who are also set apart.

Where Am I?

2009-04-26T05:47:00.000-05:00

Last week I used a GPS navigator for the first time (when I really needed it). I was in a town I didn't know and looking for specific places, but had no clue how to get there from where I was. Amazingly, I was still able to make a few wrong turns and got frustrated...but instead asking the question I usually do- "Where is this place?" I asked, "Where am I?"

"But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul." Deuteronomy 4:29

Sometimes we feel lost- we don't know what is going on in life, we have a pretty good notion of where we need to be, but don't understand how we can get there from where we are. Irritation builds, and soon we're ready to lash out. At these times, it's easy to blame others or blame God...but what we really need is a little guidance.

Take time to re-evaluate the situation. Look to scripture, spiritual companions, and consult with God in prayer. Seek God, trust that the rest will be taken care of by the One that cares for you more than you can ever comprehend.

Crying Foul

2009-04-22T00:22:00.002-05:00

"Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?" Habakuk 1: 13

We live in a world that isn't fair. From an early age we learn...

"That's not fair."

"Life's not fair, get over it."

That's usually how the conversation goes. Habakuk was willing and bold to complain. He told God exactly how he felt about unrighteous, ungodly people conquering Israel. In some ways, he was basically telling God, 'you're perfect, but you're wrong for allowing this to happen... how could you?'

I believe God delights in you. God loves to see you moved. Apathy is impossible to work with. But if you're upset or angry about something, there's something to work with because you actually care.

God desires a relationship with you. A major part of any successful relationship is communication. Let God know how you're feeling. Even if it means expressing your displeasure. God delights in hearing your voice and seeing that you really care.

Fast Food Poll

2009-04-16T20:02:00.000-05:00

Now What?

2009-04-13T05:23:00.000-05:00

Christ is risen! Now what?

All of the eggs are found, the candy has been partially or mostly consumed, and the new clothes are no longer new. So now we're on a break until next year, right? Not at all. In fact our work has just begun. Christ has done his part- he's paid the price and conquered death. Now it's time for us to start letting others know. This is usually the part that I struggle with.

The miracle of Easter should spur us on to do something great. We should be doing the unexpected- loving those who don't deserve it, helping those who can't return the favor, caring more about people and less about rules or what people think... living like Jesus. But I usually don't, because I know that what Christ said is true,

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also."

John 15: 18-20

The resurrection changed everything. I hope that it will change your perception- that you'll see things differently. I pray that you will have your eyes opened in the coming days to what God can achieve through you.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16: 33

Breaking Traditions

2009-04-06T11:19:00.002-05:00

This week, take time to observe the ridiculous love that God has for you. Too often we get caught up in the business of life, and the traditions of this week and this weekend...we go through the motions, tend to traditions...but I fear that we (myself included) overlook the enormity of Easter. God came to earth, died willingly although undeservedly, and conquered death... all so that we may live. Take a moment to let that sink in.

"Where is the god who can compare with you—
   wiping the slate clean of guilt,
Turning a blind eye, a deaf ear,
   to the past sins of your purged and precious people?
You don't nurse your anger and don't stay angry long,
   for mercy is your specialty. That's what you love most.
And compassion is on its way to us.
   You'll stamp out our wrongdoing.
You'll sink our sins
   to the bottom of the ocean." Micah 7: 18-19 (The Message)

No Big Deal

2009-03-30T16:46:00.002-05:00

We seem to have recently remastered the art of worry. With our lives speeding up, it seems we have more and more to think about...which translates to a lot more to worry about. Worry can be helpful- it can motivate us to get something done...but all too often it's unproductive and causes stress. Christ understood this and spoke about it during his sermon on the mount

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Matthew 6:27

How much do you worry? Is it about things that you can actually control? Is your worrying getting anything done? Stop worrying. Control what you can and trust that the rest will be taken care of...I know it may seem to be easier said than done, but making an effort not to worry can help relieve some of your stress.

This week, trust that God will not give you more than you can handle.

Reaction

2009-03-23T19:25:00.003-05:00

I was out of town last week on a trip. I returned to a car covered in a greenish/yellow dust. I wasn't all that surprised, so I wasn't all that annoyed. The trees, flowers and everything else budding and spreading their dust in hopes of creating new life seem to cover everything this time of year.

So what's this got to do with God and devotion?

I think that we can learn a lot about evangelism from this green dust that causes so many allergy problems this time of year. Evangelism has always been something I've struggled with- it's difficult to do and not come across as overly pious or even worse, cheesy. We are called to "go and make disciples," but I don't think I'm the only one that struggles with exactly how to do this. And here is what we can learn from the budding life and dust:

"Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king." 1 Peter 2:16-17

Live your life in such a way that others cannot help but to wonder why you behave the way you do. Live in such a way that your love covers all that you come into contact with. I wonder how the world would be different if we could all live according to the requirements of God as described in Micah 6:8?

Strive to leave the mark of Christ's love and the promise of new life in your world this week.

Not knowing

2009-03-16T21:28:00.002-05:00

We live in a time when we seldom have to wait to find answers to questions. Therefore, we've become well aware of how to get those answers- we call it 'the information age.' But this has left us unable to be satisfied with not knowing something.

This week I'm on a mystery trip wit some of the youth from our church. This morning we loaded up in vehicles- and they had no idea where we were headed. Some of them seemed fine with not knowing the details, but others were genuinely upset about the lack of information sharing. The only thing they were told was, "It'll be fun." How irritating is that?

Much of the frustration we experience in our walk with God is not having access to all of God's knowledge. We worship and desire to be with a God that knows everything. So we want to know everything- "Why, where, who, what..." But we always have to wait for answers to those questions. That is faith.

I am grateful for all of the youth that stepped out in faith this week, trusting that it would be fun. They've got some great surprises and fun coming their way- a much deserved reward. I wonder if God feels the same way I do right now- biting my lip, wanting to tell them what's going to happen...but having to wait until the moment is right and we 'figure it out'...then rejoicing in our realization and observing our elation.

This week, trust God. Maybe there's something that you're tired of waiting for or anxious about. Relax, answers will come. Trust in your God.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8: 28

Handling the Truth

2009-03-09T06:04:00.002-05:00

Sometimes it's difficult to face the truth. Sometimes it's easier to believe a lie or a half-truth. It's not that we don't desire to know the truth...we usually do- it's just that sometimes we have a hard time accepting the truth because it's not what we hoped for. A memorable movie quote comes to mind- "You can't handle the truth!"

"...Raw truth is never popular. But here it is, bluntly spoken: Because you run roughshod over the poor and take teh bread right out of their mouths, you're never going to move into the luxury homes you have built." Amos 5: 10-11a (MSG)

The truth is that we're flawed...beyond our own repair. We've fallen short in numerous ways. In fact, sometimes we lose hope- thinking we're never going to be good enough to deserve God's love. That's hard to admit, it's hard to handle. But it is quite necessary to admit the fact that we are too helpless to help ourselves. For only when we do this do we allow ourselves to seek help from someone else- God.

Amos told the "raw truth" to a people who had strayed from God and were not willing to admit fault or seek to change their ways. Reading Amos is challenging and tough, but it's a great read during this season of Lent- a season to renew our devotion to the God that loves that we need a Savior. Amos was not popular among his peers- he was too honest for their liking. But he was absolutely necessary.

How can you be honest with yourself? Maybe there's a difficult truth that you've been ignoring or denying. It may be difficult to confess, but it is only by showing our wounds that we allow God to begin to heal us. Seek God this week, be brutally honest with yourself and with God. Allow the healing process to begin.

Mediocre Expectations

2009-03-02T06:01:00.002-06:00

One of my favorite authors is C. S. Lewis. I've only read a few of his books, but he is an incredible writer and is able to present the gospel message in a very logical way. During a recent devotional time, I read this passage that I'd like to share with you (I'm leaving the original British spellings) :

"I am only trying to call attention to a fact; the fact that this year, or this month, or more likely, this very day, we have failed to practise ourselves the kind of behaviour that we expect from other people."

We are all familiar with this idea. Perhaps a good example comes from one of the many times we find ourselves waiting at a stoplight. A driver runs a red light and our response is usually to criticize the other person, "Idiot." But, if we should be the ones to try to 'sneak through the intersection' a bit late...then it's because "I'm going to be late." or "I couldn't stop in time." However, we place expectations on the behaviors of others in a number of situations. Then, as Lewis observes, we fail to live up to those expectations- essentially, we lower the bar for our own self. Friends, how is this acceptable?

Your challenge for this week- live up to your own expectations for others, including friends and complete strangers.

"Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else," Galatians 6: 4

All things point to...

2009-02-23T00:19:00.004-06:00

Spring is almost here. I've noticed a few trees budding and flowering. Spring seems to rejuvenate us- we want to be outside to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air, no longer are we cooped up in our homes for warmth.

"The fields and meadows are greening up. The trees are bearing fruit again: a bumper crop of fig trees and vines! Children of Zion, celebrate! Be glad in your God. He's giving you a teacher to train you how to live right - Teaching, like rain out of heaven, showers of words to refresh and nourish your soul, just as he used to do." Joel 2: 22-23 (The Message)

This scripture just seems to fit with this time of year- Joel speaks of fields and meadows, trees and vines...all becoming lively and vibrant. These are visual representations of a new hope. Most importantly, the prophet speaks of a coming teacher: one to teach us "how to live right". This teacher, Joel promises, will restore the intimacy with God that the people of Israel (and all people) yearn for. Joel foretells the coming of Christ- a great teacher, a new hope for all mankind.

This Wednesday begins the season of Lent. We anticipate Easter- the observation of Christ's triumph over sin and death. Right now, flowers are blooming, trees are budding, and the grass is beginning to green up- all of this points to a new hope and adds to our excitement as we rejoice that we know this teacher. His name is Jesus.

changing my thoughts on Lent

2009-02-21T13:28:00.003-06:00

Lent is one of the seasons that always seems difficult to observe. If you don't observe Lent, the tradition is to give something up during the time between Ash Wednesday and Easter. Common things to give up include: soda, chocolate, meat, tv, etc. But sometimes it feels like we are just depriving ourselves if we do that- the only thing we get out of it is having to explain to our friends why we "can't have that." So, do we get anything out of it besides feeling deprived of something we love? Hopefully the answer is yes. But I think many times, we fail to see what good we're doing, or what kind of impact our 40-day "fast" is making.

As with most every year, I've been trying to figure out what to do for Lent. I've done the soda and chocolate fasts in the past and have been successful. I've even tried adding on something- a devotion/quiet time every day during lent, and have been less successful. A few days ago it finally hit me. I need to change my thoughts on Lent. Sorry, this is just a clever play on words. This year, I'm giving up change for Lent. Yes, pocket change.

If you're like me you rarely pay cash for expenses...and even less frequently carry change to pay for things. Over the past few years, I have compiled quite the coin collection rather unintentionally. I have a change bowl, lots of change in my car, change at my office, pennies in a bag, and even sorted change... So, after Ash Wednesday, I'm going to start a new change bowl. Any change I get from paying in cash will go in that bowl and after Easter I will donate it to a charity of my choice. It may not be much, but I feel like I am sacrificing something, and that sacrifice will hopefully benefit more than me.

Anyone else want to join me? Let me know. Oh, and if you do- consider carrying cash and paying with cash more often...instead of avoiding it so you don't have to give it away.

No thanks, I'm full.

2009-02-16T06:15:00.000-06:00

One day while flipping through channels on the TV, I stumbled upon a program about men surviving extreme situations. One of the stories was about a man whose ship had sunk and he was lost at sea in a life raft. He lived off of fish he was able to catch (don't ask how...I don't remember). He was able to do this for a few days before he began feeling the effects of not having a balanced diet. He found himself craving parts of the fish that may seem inedible: eyes, fins, intestines...but they all contained minerals and vitamins that the man's body needed.

"He who is full loathes honey, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet." Proverbs 27: 7

Have you ever felt that God is just not working in your life? Maybe church just doesn't seem to be uplifting? Or perhaps your quiet time/devotional time isn't producing as much knowledge and encouragement as you hope for? And you finally find yourself wondering where is God in all this?

God is not absent, you're probably just feeling satisfied...but that doesn't seem to make sense, because you're far from satisfied. Perhaps a better term is that you've lost the hunger. You no longer seek God. You go through the motions, perhaps out of habit or obligation, and you no longer crave that intimate moment with the One who sustains you. If you're "loathing honey", try something different- change your 'diet' up a little...look for nourishment in places you never thought could offer anything spiritual.

This week: ask someone else how they encounter God when they're feeling down and disconnected...then try it!

That Depends...

2009-02-09T06:16:00.001-06:00

"Oh, never, never lose that sense of simple dependence on the presence of Jesus in your life because sometimes that is all you will have." -Peter Storey With God in the Crucible (from his sermon "Easter's Gift of Peace" delivered on Easter Sunday 1983)

We are constantly hoping for independence. It's one of the goals that many of us spend our lives working toward. There are numerous types of independence, so the word can mean different things to different people. But often we feel that a successful person is one that has lots of support, but doesn't need any of it. But we do need support. We're not meant to be completely independent. God created us to be in a relationship with our Creator. It is impossible to feel whole unless we have a relationship with God, and this relationship is through Christ.

Perhaps a more universal goal is happiness. Independence, at least the complete kind, is not possible if we hope to maintain happiness. We are sustained and encouraged by the Spirit. The sooner we learn to depend on God, the sooner we will find that we are content and truly happy. I pray that you will come to understand this as the psalmist did:

"We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name." Psalm 33: 20-21 NIV

Gravity does not forgive

2009-02-02T09:50:00.003-06:00

Last night I was having fun on a Ripstik. I had finally become comfortable on the unstable toy, and was cruising around the youth center. I started feeling bold and decided it would be a fun to try a wheelie. Not a great idea. I rode the wheelie for a second (and that's being generous) before gravity took over and the one wheel I was riding on (the size of a roller blade wheel on a swivel) slipped out from under me... sending me to the floor. Now I have a sore elbow and my pride is still recovering.

"'Everything is permissible'—but not everything is beneficial. 'Everything is permissible'—but not everything is constructive." 1 Corinthians 10: 23

Paul writes this to the church in Corinth, addressing their concerns over eating food that was considered unclean because it had been offered to idols. Yesterday's sermon was about this same topic. However, I just want to use Paul's words as advice for wise-living.

We live in a world that offers us a lot of fun. Thanks to free will, we are able to do whatever we want. However, we learn early in life that for every decision there is a consequence. It's easy to get comfortable with the things of the world that seem fun, but ultimately Paul's words ring true: just because we're allowed to do something fun, doesn't mean it's good, or that it's not going to cause harm to us or to someone else.

This week, strive to do only things that are beneficial. Don't be like me- I didn't think about the physics of what I thought would be fun and I paid for it. Think ahead, ask God to give you the foresight to see things that could be physically, emotionally, or spiritually damaging.

Fruitless labor

2009-01-26T06:19:00.000-06:00

What do you spend the most time doing? Think about your average day. Don't count the hours you spend sleeping, but give a rough estimate of how much time you devote to your daily activities. For instance, you may go to school or work for 8 hours, spend about 1.5 hours eating, maybe a few hours of television...and tomorrow will probably look similar. I'm not sure about you, but when I think about that, it makes me a little sad- the monotony of life can be pretty depressing. It seems like we do all this work just to get to the next day, and do the work it holds...only to have another one come. This goes on and on.

"You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it." Haggai 1: 6

Looking at life as a "To Do" list can be pretty hopeless. It becomes a never ending string of events and tasks that you never seem to be able to catch up with. God sheds some light on to this feeling through the prophet Haggai. God tells us that we don't reap the benefits of our labor because our labor is for us, and not for God. God is using Haggai to encourage the people to abandon their selfish ways and rebuild the temple. Haggai's argument is that the people will only find satisfaction by serving the God that sustains them.

Are you feeling dissatisfied? Do you feel that you're only working to get past this day and knowing that tomorrow will come with new tasks? Read Haggai- a short book toward the end of the Old Testament. After you read it, begin looking at each task as a way to serve God. Be a representative of Christ in all that you say and do. See if that doesn't make a difference in how you look at the work you do.

Being Real

2009-01-19T21:31:00.004-06:00

I bought a 4.5 foot pre-lit Christmas tree a few years ago. I must say that having a pre-lit tree speeds up the process of decorating. I did everything as I normally do: set the tree up, put on the decorative gold bead string, and put on the ornaments. Then I plugged it in. Something was wrong- there was a spot on the top of the tree where the lights weren't working. Irritated, I investigated the problem. That was the only bare spot I found. So I did what any other rational person would do- spun the tree around until the bare spot faced the wall and was unnoticeable.

"For I am about to fall, and my pain is ever with me. I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin... O Lord, do not forsake me; be not far from me, O my God. Come quickly to help me, O Lord my Savior." Psalm 38: 17-18; 21-22

Sometimes, when dealing with our "iniquities" or problems in spiritual life, people react in much the same way I dealt with the bare spot on the Christmas tree. Instead of spending the time to find the source and fix it, people would rather take the easy way out and pretend there is no problem. But with God, there is no need to pretend. People can't fool God, and they only end up hurting themselves when they try. How? Because they're not addressing the problem and asking for help from the only One that is capable of making us whole and right.

This week, get past your need to act like you have it together. Admit that you're in need of help. And, as the psalmist, call on God to help you.

Excuse me.

2009-01-12T06:27:00.000-06:00

Excuses. We all have them. Reasons why we can't do something. We feel called to talk to the person that no one else does...but we can't because "what will people think?" You may be feeling led to do something to make a difference...and you might even have a really good reason not to do it. If you feel like you need to do something like that, there is a good chance that God is trying to use you to show his love, grace, and acceptance to someone that really needs it.

"...'Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.'

But Moses said, 'O Lord, please send someone else to do it.' " Exodus 4: 12-13 (NIV)

Moses had a great excuse- how could he be the spokesperson for God's people if he couldn't speak as normal men do? (Exodus 4:10) I love good excuses...I'm especially good at coming up with good ones for myself....but I usually struggle inventing them for others. I always have a good reason why "I can't," or why "I couldn't." But the real issue lies within our own will- we don't want to. And the reason we don't want to is usually because we know it will be difficult.

But when we dream, we dream big. No one ever wishes for mediocrity, we wish for greatness. No young boy ever dreams of hitting a single to lead off the fourth inning in the middle of the season. No, he dreams of hitting a homerun in the last inning of the championship game to propel his team to victory... But in reality, we let life and our own limits get in the way. We stop chasing dreams and start making excuses. Oh, I left out a good part of that story about Moses...

"Moses said to the Lord, 'O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.'

The Lord said to him, 'Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord?' " Exodus 4: 10-11

God knows your limits- remember who you were created by. God is capable of making you able to do what you think needs to be done. An old cliche holds true, "God does not call the equipped, God equips the called."

Dream of doing something great for God, and follow up on that dream. So what is it that God is calling you to do? Begin the steps toward making it happen.

With a little help from my friends...

2009-01-05T06:56:00.000-06:00

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Proverbs 27: 17 NIV

In order to maintain a working relationship with God, we must have others that help us to keep growing. These individuals can help to encourage us in tough times, they can rejoice with us, and they grow with us. The great part of Christianity is that we are not alone. Not only do we have the companion of Christ through the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28: 20), but we have other Christians to help us in our journey of faith.
Fellowship with other Christians is crucial to keeping faith strong. Life is not always easy and in these times, we often lean heavily on others as we grasp for an understanding of why... Sometimes it doesn't even require a tough time in life to feel distant from God- having a relationship with something intangiable is difficult... through these struggles, it is helpful to have a group of close friends and a church that cares about you and surrounds you with love and understanding.
Who are the people in your life that keep you "sharp?" Have you been able to spend time with them lately? It's easy to forget about our relationship with God and the relationships we have with those who help us in our faith when we get busy or out of the routine, maybe because of a break in daily activities.
This week be sure to spend some time with those people. Look for opportunities to help other believers, strengthen their faith.

Brewing Change

2008-12-29T12:59:00.002-06:00

I rarely go to Starbucks, but recently I did. I usually don't pay too much attention to what is on the cups, or the little sleeve that keeps your hand from getting hot, but this time it caught my eye. A simple design with the phrase "Do something good every day." The coffee company is a partner in the (red) campaign- a movement that a number of companies have joined in helping to raise money for aids research.

As Christians, we are called to live a life that is different, so that we cause the world to become different. Christ's instructions for his disciples and the people he interacted with were in contrast to the ways of the world. One way that we can be successful in this call to a different life is by being intentional about serving others. The American dream seems to be all about making life better for "me" and "my own". But we are called to something better, something different- maybe if more people stopped looking out for #1, we would end up with more people looking out for us than just ourselves.

So this week, look after the needs of someone other than you. Go "do something good every day" because Christ did something incredible for them.

"Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." Philippians 2: 3 (NIV) (bold added)

Attention!

2008-12-22T10:33:00.002-06:00

A few days ago I was filling up my car with gas. Now that it's winter, the roads seem especially dirty, so I used the complimentary window cleaner at the pump. I washed the front windsheild, and began to squeegee it off. I couldn't quite reach all the way across the windsheild, so I began to walk around the front of the car...it was about then that I felt a strange sensation- my feet were getting wet. I tried the little tiptoe out of the water backwards...but that doesn't work when the water is ankle deep and you're already a good five feet into it...Naturally, I got a little irritated because I was driving home and still had a good hour to go. But the only person I could really get mad at was me and my lack of observation.

Sometimes we get so caught up with what we're doing that we forget to pay attention to what's going on...and it gets us in trouble. We may think we're getting a lot done and doing a lot of good, but being overly focused on a task results in being less aware of things outside of the object of your attention. As a person disciple of Christ, it is your responsibility to spread the good news. Interestingly, the most distracting thing for us can often be ministry- we get so focused on what we're doing that we neglect our relationship with God... and the ministry we do turns into busyness. Not only our ministry can get in the way, our daily lives can too. However, it's much easier to admit that we've lost focus due to work, school...etc. But being too busy doing ministry to have time for God is much more difficult to notice.

Be careful not to let the things you do (in life, and in your ministry) become more important than your relationship with the God who sustains you. Continue to seek God daily through prayer and study.

"He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe." Proverbs 28:26

Not-so-Christmas Classics Part 3

2008-12-19T05:57:00.000-06:00

Click here to read Part 1. Then, read Part 2

"Christmas List" by Simple Plan- a punk-ish band that really took off in '02-'03. Most of their songs are dealing with relationship problems, but their lyrics can be funny (although, sometimes inappropriate). This one made me laugh the first time I heard it as it describes the true meaning of Christmas (at least to some)
Click here to listen/watch...or just watch the embedded version below.

First off, the song is just catchy. You can help but to tap your foot or bob your head (if you're talented...you might even be tempted to do both at the same time!) Now, as for the lyrics that get the point across:

"Christmas, so don't stop spending"
This really addresses the main problem that we should have with Christmas as it exists in our society- it has more to do with consumerism than it does Christianity. When I was young, I had no problem churning out a list of "needs" but I grew up in a world where it was Ninja Turtles, or GI Joes for boys, and Barbies or My Little Pony for girls... Every time I go to Wal-Mart, I am amazed at the toy aisles. I don't feel old, but I do when I think "I remember when there was a toy aisle, singular." It can't be easy being a parent of a young child today- it seems there are so many things that kids "need"...But even adults get sucked into this time where we try to express our love by how much we spend. I've already given a shout out, but I want you to be sure to check out www.adventconspiracy.org Try to make this Christmas more about spending time with the ones you love.

"No matter what I get tonight, I want more"
The lyrics continue to poke fun at our insatiable need for things we don't need at Christmas. I've already addressed this, so I won't go on.

"Give me a time machine to take me straight to midnight, I'll be alright"
This is perhaps my biggest problem with the way we approach Christmas. As children, it's a waiting game and time seems to move extremely slow...think of the conversations on Christmas Eve- "Can we open one gift tonight?" This proves our lack of patience as children. As adults, we wait for that week off from work. We wait for the holiday traffic to be over. We wait for our Christmas bonus. We wait for the bargains on the 26th... But we forget to wait for God. We forget to give our attention to God instead of all of the things we do that keep us busy.

These songs help to keep me refreshed at the holiday season because they aren't worn out, and offer a reminder as to what this time is all about. Are there songs that you know of that aren't classics, but have a message that others need to hear at this time of year? Please share them by commenting.

Not-so-Christmas Classics Part 2

2008-12-17T05:56:00.001-06:00

This is the second part in a 3-part series on Christmas songs that are worthy of a listen, but you might not hear them on any radio stations during the time from Thanksgiving to Christmas.
Click here to read Part 1

The second song is "The Rebel Jesus" by Jackson Browne. Click here to watch/listen, or just watch below

For most of us, this song may be quite convicting. The first thing that catches your eye is probably the title. It refers to Jesus as a rebel. Sometimes we think too much of Jesus as a guy that was always hanging out with sheep or children, and we forget all the trouble he stirred up. The truth is- Jesus probably wouldn't fit in at most churches today...but anyway... Here are a few thoughts.

The song starts off cheerfully as the lyrics paint a picture that we're all familiar with- the shopping scene and the scene at home on Christmas. But then it takes a turn...

"And they fill their churches with their pride and gold, as their faith in Him increases, but they've turned the nature that I worship in, from a temple - to a robbers' den" This is in reference to Matthew 21: 13 (Jesus is quoting Isaiah & Jeremiah as he drives the merchants from the temple) These were strong words from Jeremiah, Jesus, and now Jackson... as Christians, we have two options of how we react- 1) get defensive and decide he doesn't know what he's talking about (not unlike the Pharisees), or 2) use this as a reminder of what the temple or church is really for- a house of prayer and worship.

"We guard our world with locks and guns, and we guard our fine possessions, and once a year when Christmas comes, we give to our relations, and perhaps we give a little to the poor if the generosity should seize us, but if any one of us should interfere in the business of why there are poor...they'd get the same as the rebel Jesus" This is the sermon within the song- we spend so much time taking care of our own possessions, and taking care of our family, that we forget who we're supposed to be looking after- read Deuteronomy 15: 1-11. Browne's use of the word seize- which means it's forced out of guilt, is a great description of how our attitudes seem to be when people are in need. Here's a great video about how much Americans spend on Christmas versus how much it would take to supply the entire world with access to clean drinking water. Work for social justice. Be generous with the blessings God has given you and God will bless you for doing so.

"So I bid you pleasure, and I bid you cheer...from a heathen and a pagan, on the side of the rebel Jesus." This part raises the curiosity as to what Browne's religious views are. Was he just being humble- referring to himself as a pagan/heathen instead of just calling himself a sinner for dramatic effect? I found this on another blog (click to read about Jackson Browne's religious views).

Look for Part 3 of this series to post on Friday, December 19th.

Not-so-Christmas Classics

2008-12-15T06:15:00.002-06:00

"The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my line - only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. John 10:17-18a (NIV)

This week will feature a series of Christmas songs that aren't the classics we all know and love, but each of these songs is great for it's own reason. I'll post a link to a youtube video of the song and have a few comments as to why it's a great song, and worthy of a listen at this time of year.

Today is "Welcome to Our World" by Chris Rice. Watch, Listen, Read, and enjoy!

In addition to having a beautiful melody, it's an amazing lullaby...and yet the words are humbling as the writer declares that this little one is a much bigger deal than we could ever truly comprehend. A few thoughts on the lyrics of the song:

"hope that you don't mind our manger how I wish we would have known but long-awaited holy Stranger make yourself at home"
Sometimes we fail to prepare for Christ. And not just at Christmas. We fail to prepare for worship...probably weekly. Before a weekday starts, you probably gather your things and make sure you're ready...but how often do you connect with God before you go to worship? How often do you fail to prepare a place for God in your life...and give him whatever room is left- the manger?

"so wrap our injured flesh around You...rob our sin and make us holy"
The vivid description reminds us that we are in need of healing, and that Christ's sacrifice was both necessary and intentional. The word "rob" drives home the fact that the sin did not belong to Christ-He took it from us. How often do you ask Christ to rob your sin?

Get Uncomfortable

2008-12-08T14:29:00.002-06:00

"So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." Romans 12: 1-2 (The Message)

This is a longer scripture than usual, but it's a greaty passage. Like many passages, it seems to communicate a different message every time it's read/studied. I've recently been reading through "With God in the Crucible: Preaching Costly Discipleship" by Peter Storey. The book is a collection of Storey's sermons during the time when South African churches began speaking out against apartheid. Many of the sermons really bothered me- they described what was happening in the community, in the country, and in the church. Sometimes, Storey's calls to action bothered me- mostly that Storey called Christians to demand that the government dismantle the apartheid system...without reverting to violence. Storey's calls were not all that unlike the calls of Martin Luther King Jr. in the U.S. during the Civil Rights movement.

The message of most of the sermons was simple and repetitive- apartheid is wrong, everyone knows it but won't change it, so the church must bring about change in a peaceful manner so that others don't try to change things violently. Storey even criticized the churches of America for being comfortable in their faith/religion. Our first reaction to this criticism is to become defensive- because we tithe, we volunteer, we even pray for our church! But the truth is that we have become comfortable. We have learned to like our little Sunday school discussions, we like a sermon that's uplifting and feel-good, we like our choirs to sound nice, we like our bathrooms clean...the list goes on.

There's nothing wrong with these things specifically. However, the problem develops when we get so comfortable with our own surroundings that we no longer realize how much God has blessed us by having a relationship with God through Christ. The 12th chapter of Paul's letter to the church in Rome urges the congregation to be different. He tells them to be radical- be different than the rest of the people...strive NOT to fit in!!! But we don't like that...because we know the saying- the nail that sticks up gets hammered down. Storey's sermons in the forementioned book stretch over a decade. We usually know when things need to change, but we don't always want to pay the cost it takes to change it. That has to change. We, the church, need to be the first to demand change when things need changing...we need to be different, for the sake of the world.

Are you comfortable in your faith? Do you find yourself concerned about little things in your church? Maybe the problem isn't the church- maybe it's your perspective... start looking for the things that are wrong in your community, in your city, in your country, in the world. Actively pursue change for the better. "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world..."

Be Prepared

2008-12-01T06:53:00.000-06:00

It's the holiday season. That can mean only one thing- company. But before that company comes, there's a lot to do. The house must be cleaned- the kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms... food must be purchased, favorite holiday treats must be made, decorations must be pulled out of storage and displayed...what am I forgetting? You tell me.

Many of us take great care in our preparations for company- maybe we have that relative that comments if things aren't spotless, maybe that treat that everyone likes is really time consuming (but you make it anyway), or perhaps we're just over-occupied with making sure everything is "perfect."

With all of these preparations to make, I wonder if we take time to prepare for the coming king? I wonder if we take time to take the good news to others during the holiday season? I wonder if we take time to think about how we're celebrating something so incredibly amazing that it caused many to stop what they were doing and worship?

"The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told." Luke 2: 20 (NIV) (bold added)

How are you preparing for Christ's arrival this Christmas season? Here's a tip- it's hard to prepare to welcome the Messiah when you're busy shopping or preparing for company. Don't let this Christmas come and go without taking time to realize the enormity of the season. Prepare your home and heart for the company of Christ.

When a Problem Comes Along...

2008-11-24T05:59:00.003-06:00

How do you deal with problems in life? I can remember bringing home math homework from school, opening up the book, and seeing problems that I had no clue how to begin working. I remember my usual reaction: frustration that led to irritation, then the irritation would turn to anger at the teacher for "not teaching us this." I would often spend between 10-15 minutes being angry about the predicament I was in...then, I'd finally give up and go over the lesson in the book. After spending some time, I would have it figured out and be on my way to finishing my homework...but I was still a little 'wound up' from getting angry and frustrated.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4: 6

Problems in every day life are usually a little different. There's no lesson a few pages before that can help you solve the problem you're facing, and there are no answers to the odd questions in the back of the book! So, how do we deal with problems in real life?

Usually our problems in real life are people-related. Most of our lives involve some kind of interaction with people, and every person is unique-this is what causes problems-differences in opinion. Here's a quick list of Do's and Dont's for dealing with problems:

Don't react the way I used to with my math homework. Stay calm. Getting angry will not help solve the problem- it usually just makes it worse.
Do give yourself time to think and consult others.
Don't leave God out of the situation.
Do go straight to the source (in a calm manner of course). Talking to the person improves communication and results in a better understanding of how the problem came to be.

Problems are dangerous things because they can easily create anger and resentment. Anger and resentment can tear down the lines of communication and cause divisions.
So how do you deal with problems? Do you "freak out" or stir up trouble? Here's a link to my friend Russell Martin's blog where he posts a video about "When things go wrong."

Make Like a Tree...

2008-11-17T17:11:00.003-06:00

Fall is a great time of year. The cool, crisp air is a welcome relief from the heat of summer. The leaves begin to change in color, forming beautiful landscapes for the eye to see...the color fades quickly, the leaves turn brown and fall. New leaves will not grow on the tree until the warmth of spring comes.

I believe there's more to enjoy from these events of fall. Sure, the colors are enjoyable, but we can learn something about our lives from trees. These trees are entering a time of dormancy. Because of the indirect rays of the sun during the winter months, keeping the leaves to produce food for the tree is more trouble than it's worth for the tree. (I know biologists are probably cringing at this explanation) It seems like we never drop our leaves these days... there's always something to do, somewhere to go, someone to meet.... we never stop to focus on ourselves. We never take the time to see how we're doing and if we have enough "in the tank" to get us through this season of life. We never take time to be rejuvenated by a time of rest and inward focus. We're victims of our culture- our culture sees a day off as a waste...a lunch break as a lack of productivity, and a relaxing as a lack of motivation. It's not easy to break the cycle. Most of us have been trained well. But, if we're able to "drop our leaves" for a while, we can connect with the God that brings rest and joy.

There are always going to be things to do. There will always be those things on our list that "have to" be done. When will taking care of yourself make it to your list? How are you taking time out to care for and examine yourself and your relationship with the God that sustains?

" 'Say this: :God, you're my refuge. I trust in you and I'm safe!' That's right - he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. His huge outstretched arms protect you - under them you're perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm." Psalm 91: 1b-4

Wishing things different

2008-11-10T16:06:00.002-06:00

Have you ever been upset with God? Maybe even angry with God? Ever said something like "How could you let this happen...?" Maybe you were going through a stressful time, or something really horrible happened... in those times, it's comforting to know that it's ok to be upset. It's ok to get angry. You weren't the first...

"Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 'Abba, Father,' he said, 'everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.' " Mark 14: 35-36

This event and phrase is repeated in Matthew 26: 42, Luke 22: 42, and is alluded to in John 18:11. Obviously, this is an important moment in the life of Christ for us to be aware of. If Jesus was the Son of God and still had a hard time accepting God's will...what makes us think things are going to be any easier for us? This isn't meant to bring hopelessness, but rather to inspire hope and faith that God will work all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8: 28)

Knowing that Christ hoped for things to be different should free us from feeling guilty when our will does not line up with God's will. God desires a close relationship with you. Part of having a close relationship is communicating...God wants us to say how we feel and what we want... But, the most important part of the verse above comes at the end, "yet not what I will, but what you will." It's great to tell God what we want, but it's crucial that we ultimately be willing to submit to God's will... Why? God's will is perfect, our is not...this leads me to believe that God knows better than we do.

Is there something in your life that you're struggling with God about? Have you admitted to God that you're upset? Have you prepared yourself to submit to God's will?
Spend some time in dialouge with God this week

Hypothetically speaking

2008-11-02T06:38:00.002-06:00

I recently saw a commercial that I thought was interesting. Unlike many commercials, it wasn't pushing a product...or saying why the competition is just not as good...it was encouraging people to vote.

The commercial asks a bunch of "What if..." questions.The commercial challenges everyone to care enough to vote. Then, to care about things every day as much as some people have cared about certain things in the months directly before an election. The commercial called for a change in our person, so that we may cause a change in our culture...one that tends to be apathetic. Apathy can kill a person's spiritual life. If a person is apathetic, there is no motivation. If there is no motivation, there is no effort. If there is no effort, there is stagnation...and stagnation is one of the most difficult things to overcome in our spiritual lives.

Numerous times in the New Testament, having faith is likened to running a race. If you're not in the habit of running (or jogging) every day, it is difficult to make yourself run...that's the effect of stagnation. But, if you make yourself run for a few days, it will become easier to be self-motivated. Then, you may even become addicted to it...many distance runners and world-class sprinters experience something called "Runner's high."You can click the link to read more about runner's high, but basically, when you work out enough to begin breaking down muscle, the body releases endorphins (a self-made pain killer comparable to morphine) that allow the individual not to feel the pain, instead they feel a bit of euphoric as endorphins act like many man-made opiates. Once the person has a chance to rest, the body stops producing these endorphins, which is why most people don't experience soreness until a few hours after they work out or run. Now, back to spirituality and such...

When we stop actively seeking a relationship with God, it can become easier and easier just "not to do" this or that...and neglect our spiritual lives. But, all it takes is a bit of initiative to break the cycle. The commercial I mentioned above was trying to encourage people to break the cycle of not caring about voting. The commercial asks numerous hypothetical (What if...) questions. Many of these would work well for challenging Christians... I've got one more for you:

What if we stopped asking hypothetical questions, and just started doing what Christ taught us?

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air." 1 Corinthians 9: 24-26

Four months ago I stopped eating fast food. I'm going to start eating it on occaision. Which of my faves should break the fast?


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