Don't Get Upset

Playoffs are prime time for big upsets. Last year, the San Diego Chargers sat atop the NFL with the best record in football. They had a star running back, a daunting defense, and they had locked up homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. They lost their first playoff game to the #4 seed.

Last season, the Dallas Mavericks were positioned better than they've ever been, closing out the regular season with the best record in the NBA, and one of the best in league history. They had the NBA's MVP and were the heavy favorites to win the championship. They were embarrassed and sent home in the first round of the playoffs by the #8 seed Warriors.

You wonder how things like that happen. But they don't just happen in sports. Big upsets happen in life, too. I found the apostle Paul reminding me of that the other day:

Remember our history, friends, and be warned. All our ancestors were led by the providential Cloud and taken miraclously through the Sea. . . . But just experiencing God's wonder and grace didn't seem to mean much--most of them were defeated by temptation during the hard times in the desert. . . (1 Cor. 10:1-5 Message)

They had it all going for them. They had God's MVP deliverer in Moses. They had the power of God on their side. They saw incredible miracles and had to have felt the immediate hand of God on their lives in dramatic ways. But in the end, they died in the desert having never gotten to enjoy the promised land. They were beaten by temptation. I would call that a major upset.

We can encounter God and expect things from him, yet never learn to trust God and submit our lives to him. That is a formula for heartbreaking personal defeat. I love experiential worship, to feel the presence of God as I praise him. I'm intoxicated by the brush of God on my life when he moves powerfully in my circumstances or through my ministry to others. But those experiences of God are supposed to lead me to a posture of submitting to his will. That is what is what will maximize the joy and satisfaction of my life. There is no way I should lose.

God, because of you I have so much going for me. I submit gladly to you. I refuse to let my life be upset in defeat by giving in to sin.

Just Do It!

I love football. I'm really enjoying watching the Cowboys play this year. It's fun when you're winning! And it's getting time for the Pro Bowl selections to be announced--the best of the best (the AFC may as well just put the whole Patriots team out there).

Why aren't more people star athletes? For that matter, why aren't there more star musicians, star actors? Why aren't there more great companies? Outstanding entrepreneurs? Is it because there are few talented people out there? It is because it takes a lot of good luck to be in the right place at the right time. Is it because there's only so much room at the top? Okay, yes. All of that plays in to some degree.

All excuses aside, though, I think more of us could make it than do. Why? Because there are few people willing to put in the tough, rigorous training. It just takes too much self-discipline and all-out commitment.

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. (1 Cor. 9:24-25)

That challenge jumped out at me today. How self-disciplined am I? Isn't that also what it takes to build a great church or a great company? How much do I really want to see God's business flourish? Contrary to what I often heard in church growing up, it's not just about "being faithful," as some people define that (meaning a license for mediocrity, stagnation and a lack of imagination). God wants me to work for success in the mission. Every business owner wants to turn a big profit. I think that drive is part of the image of God. Read Jesus' parables about the Kingdom. Read the prophets' business metaphors about Israel. God wants a profit. He wants results. He at least expects us to give it our very best shot.

And I can do it with his help if I will just be disciplined enough to stay in strict training. I've got to always be seeking to get better, to dream new dreams, to think new ideas, to experiment, to learn from others. This is God's business and it deserves the best I've got. I find my motivation has ups and downs. It's easy to be content to manage what already is instead of improving it. Or, as one author puts it, the temptation is to be so busy working in it that you don't take the time to work on it. It takes intentionally carving out time for the express purpose of working on it.

Like Nike says, I've got to just do it.

Through Your Eyes

What does it mean to serve others? Sound obvious? But it really isn't. It's more than just meeting a physical need. Mowing a lawn or taking a meal to someone are certainly servant acts, but there's another level of service. It's best displayed when we serve people by taking the time to understand them and then bend over backwards to relate to them.

...I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, non-religious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized--whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ--but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. (1 Cor. 9:19-22 Message)

Why aren't believers and churches influencing more people to Christ? My observation is that the process breaks down right at this very point. Sure, we want to see people come to Christ. We put programs in place to attempt to do that. We badger our neighbors to come to church. But here is where things are getting hung up--rarely do we take the time to see things and experience things through their eyes, much less care enough to adjust the way we do things so that they can really relate. We haven't begun to serve them at the highest level. Imagine the flood of new believers we might harvest if we did!

I hear believers blaming the unbelievers for their lack of interest or their preoccupation with entertainment, or blaming scandals for giving God a bad name. It's easy to blame. It's difficult but godly to serve. And that is where the power is--the power to step inside someone else's experience and get a different perspective. The power to grow and learn and develop the ability to build relational rapport.

The bottom line is, we can do a whole lot better. We haven't yet learned to really serve like Jesus did. He stepped into our world and put on our shoes and took the time to see what we see, to feel what we feel. No wonder his approach was so compelling to people.

Lord, make me a servant. Make me like you. Amen.

Love Is Trumps

This statement by the apostle Paul, known for his heady theology, resonates deeply with me:

Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. But the man who loves God is known by God. (1 Cor. 8:2-3)

It's pretty simple, really: Love trumps knowledge. In fact, in the game of life and spirituality, love is always trumps. Accumulating knowledge is like sucking in a big, deep breath, and it can make you look about as inflated! It inflates your ego, unless showing unconditional love remains your higher priority.

Some significant contrasts jump out at me from what Paul wrote:
1) The uncertainty of knowing ("the man who thinks he knows") versus the certainty of loving ("the man who loves"). No matter how knowledgeable, I still don't have it all right. But I can be confident that showing love is always right.

2) Valuing what "I know" versus valuing being known by God. And being known by God comes not by having all the right religious positions, but by truly loving God in action ("the man who loves God is known by God"). And that love is shown particularly by the patience and care with which I treat those who don't yet know what I do (as the rest of the chapter explains).

Lord, when I start to feel superior or throw my knowledge around, remind me that what I know isn't as important as the love I show to my fellow travelers on this journey. Teach me to be humble in my positions, to respect those who have other ideas, and to be known by you through my loving actions.

Free To Be Me

People do it. They mean well. They just can't help themselves. They're all the time trying to get somebody to do what they think they need to do.

Around the holiday times and big family gatherings, the questions are bound to surface: "So, when are you going to find yourself a man?" (Hopefully, no one will be asking me that particular question.) "When are you two going to get around to having some children?" "Are you going to finish your degree (hint, hint)?" "You've got to go to college. It's the only way to get ahead in life." "Why don't you just leave him? He's no good for you." "Why would you want to let go of a secure ministry career in an established church and go out on a limb to plant a brand new church from scratch? You ought to just stick with where you are."

In a letter to the believers at Corinth, Paul writes about pressures exerted by others to marry or not, to divorce, to push for a different station in life. He counsels:

You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. (1 Cor. 7:23)

As a person who craves approval, I need to hear that. And I love it! God paid a huge price for my freedom--the blood of Jesus. But, well-meaning or not, people will try to pressure me to conform to their expectations. The danger in that is that I may live my life trying to please people instead of embracing the fact that God now defines who I am. He calls me to a new kind of reality that people living with an earthly perspective can't see or understand.

I am free to pursue God's unique plan for my life instead of caving into the pressure of what others think I should do or be.

Lord, thank you for freeing me to live wholly for you in my own uniqueness. Amen.

Just wondering: What pressure have you felt from others who are trying to direct your life? Why do you think they do that?

Want Your Change?

I hate it when I go to pay a $12 meal tab with a $20 bill and the server asks me, "Do you want your change?" Um. Yes. I believe in tipping well, but not that well. Of course I want my change! Or do I? When it comes to the most important kind, maybe I'm pretty quick to say, "No, actually. Why don't you keep it?"

The apostle Paul writes to Christians: You yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers! Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God?. . . And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor. 6:8-11)

Four things about character jump out at me here: 1) People can change ("that is what some of you were"). 2) Believers should change ("you were washed, you were sanctified..."). 3) Many of us have not changed ("you yourselves cheat and do wrong"). And 4) Without real change, people show that they have not truly received God's Kingdom, his reign, and will miss its glorious culmination ("the wicked will not inherit the Kingdom of God").

In my own life first and also in my ministry, I must recognize that transformation--getting better--doesn't happen mystically or passively. God isn't likely to just zap me and change me. It's a process. And its a process that requires my intentionality, not just my good intentions (if, in fact, I even have them--a lot of believers I know don't seem to have any intention of changing).

It first takes seeing what areas that I need change. Next it takes wanting to change. Then it takes asking my Savior King to change me on a daily basis while I engage myself in spiritual practices that will help facilitate that change.

Lord, I don't want to stay stuck in the same old weaknesses that limit me and diminish my capacity for the full life that you want to give me. I really do want my change. I really do want your Kingdom to come and your will to be done on earth, starting in my own heart. Amen.

Good Judgment

What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you." (1 Cor. 5:12-13)

It is clearly not the church's job to condemn the world, right? Yet we are known for doing just that. How can we be God's agents of redemption when all non-Christians hear from us is judgment and condemnation? They feel cursed by us when they should feel loved. Our perspective has to change from one of us vs. them to a conviction that it is us for them against the powers that dominate them.

The reason there was immorality among the believers in Corinth and other Greek cities is that they were loving and accepting broken people from out of a thoroughly immoral background. It is messy business being involved in God's mission in the world. That was not their mistake.

Their mistake was that, even after people received Jesus, they weren't calling them to a commitment to live in the freeing Way of Christ. They let grace become license. But in thinking they were free, they were really still enslaved.

There are no perfect people, including Christians. We must love and accept people in their messiness yet walk with them towards purity. As John Burke puts it at Gateway Church in Austin, a church reaching many lost people: "Come as you are . . . but don't stay that way."

To Hear His Cheers

Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. . . . The Lord will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receie his praise from God. (1 Cor. 4:2, 5)

Today, Sunday, I went with my family to a church gathering and I praised God for who he is and all of his goodness. One day, God is going to praise me! Now that sounds weird. Of course, that doesn't mean that God is going to worship me. He'll give me the kind of praise that I give my children when they do well, or the staff who work under me when they score a win.

Everything I have and am--my gifts, experiences, understanding of God's will--is a trust given me to use to bring the reign of God to dark places. I will have to answer for how well I managed that trust. One thing that scares me is the possibility that while I'm trying to bring the reign of God to dark places, I may glide right on over the dark places that still live in me. I know they're there. And I've seen others make that tragic mistake.

It's the ego needs that get in the way. I want people to remark about what a great leader, minister, or speaker I am. It's part of my human nature that I accept. But that ego need can drive me underground with my own life struggles and conflicted motives. Any masks I wear, any secret corruption that I hide to look good will be exposed in the end.

Better to be real. Better to bring the reign of God to my own darkness, shine the light around, and let others join me in my search for what God can do in me. He's the only one "in whom there is no darkness at all." Better to seek not the accolades of people, but the cheers of my eternal God and King.

God's Contractor

You (all) are God's house. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. . . . Take particular care in picking out your building materials. Eventually there is going to be an inspection. If you use cheap or inferior materials, you'll be found out. . . . If your work passes inspection, fine; if it doesn't, your part of the building will be torn out and started over. (1 Cor. 3:9-15 NIV/Message)

This passage of Scripture speaks to me. It reminds me that God's business is the ultimate business, and that whatever a good businessman would invest to build a great company, God's church deserves at least that kind of investment. It really peeves me when people who have the potential to do a lot better think small and shabby when it comes to the church of the living God! But who cares what I think? What does God think? The passage above tells me--surprise, surprise--that God expects first-rate, top quality work. His Kingdom deserves our attention to best practices.

Church leadership is a heavy responsibility. We're contractors, so to speak, hired by God. We're working on the same building. This isn't a competition but a team effort. We better give it our best. If we seek popularity by simply being trendy, putting up an impressive front to mask our actual shallowness, all of our work is eventually going to be shown for what it is.

This also tells me that it's not just my work that needs to be quality. As a leader, I've got to motivate my people to do the same. It's the Temple of God we're building! There's no place for sloppy, mediocre, or "good enough." Do it right and do it big!

Jesus, with your help I can be a master builder. I'll give you my very best. Please bring the best people, the best co-leaders, the best resources to me so that the work we do will please you.

The God-Conceived Me

God's wisdom is something mysterious that goes deep into the interior of his purposes. . . . what God determined as the way to bring out his best in us [that God determined for our glory, NIV], long before we ever arrived on the scene. The "experts" of our day haven't a clue about what this eternal plan is. (1 Cor. 2:7-8 Message)

Understanding God's Kingdom--and life in it--continues to mystify people. It runs so counter to our fallen nature. Yet it beckons us back to a primeval time when the world was new and innocent. It is a distant, glimmering light that allures us to rediscover our true identity, the real "us" that God conceived, but which has been hidden under layers of scars and all but forgotten. It has to compete with talk-show guides and self-help authors, the endless empty voices of humanity's own futile attempts to patch ourselves up around the seams.

I will relentlessly seek God's wisdom so that the real God-conceived me can find its way to the surface in all its beauty and glory. I will let it change me from the core and embrace the greatness for which God conceived me. When that greatness is seen and experienced in the people he formed, God is glorified. He wants us to shine for him!

To Have It All

I got a call from a young friend the other day. He was drunk and cussing out God because his girlfriend had just broken up with him. It reminded me of some times in my own life when I've been mad at God, exasperated that he didn't come through on something that was very important to me. Been there?

Just think--you don't need a thing, you've got it all! All God's gifts are right in front of you. . . . God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. (1 Cor. 1:7-9 Message)

It seems to me that there is an ironic paradox built into life. As long as we pursue God simply as a means to an end (getting what we want out of life), the abundant life in Jesus alludes us. We feel disappointed by God. It's like putting your coins in the machine, pushing the right button, but nothing comes out. Frustrating! But what kind of God would he be if he functioned like a vending machine, anyway?

Only when we discover that God himself is the only thing that is really worth pursuing--seeking him just to know him, just to be close to him, just to be more like him--do we find the content satisfaction of discovering that in God we really do have all things.

Disappointed with God? Try pursuing God instead of God's blessings. You'll find more blessing than you can imagine.

Lord, I have you, and that is truly enough. Amen.

We're baaaack

We've been out of town for most of a week at a church planting assessment lab. It was good to get a strong affirmation of our calling from this group of qualified people. God is good!

Cross Comparison

Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them. . . . When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?" Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me." (Jn. 21:20-22)

Comparisons--we love to make them. When I buy something, I always compare to make sure I'm getting the best deal. And I do the same thing with my life. I can relate to Peter, who seems to have been feeling a little envious of John's relationship with Jesus. Perhaps he felt that John was getting special favor. He wanted to know if John's path of ministry was going to be as rough as the one Jesus was plotting for him.

Funny how when I compare myself to others, I most often look at those who seem to be better off than me and come away feeling deprived. Rarely do I look at the guy who has it much harder than I do and think about how blessed I am. I have often wondered why some ministers seem to have the golden touch. "Why can't I lead a church like that?" I wonder. "Why didn't God give me those kinds of opportunities?" I'm not spending much time looking at the guy who has been preaching to the little rural church of less than 50 people for 50 years and thinking, "Wow! I sure have had it good compared to him."

Okay, this passage chides me a bit. Jesus has the right to do what he wants with what is his. I am just to follow him wherever it takes me. How quickly I forget that Jesus' path led to a brutal cross. Lord, when I feel jealous of others, remind me that you chose the way of suffering for me. Amen.

Faith Lost & Found

Thomas said, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands . . . and put my hand in his side, I will not believe it." (Jn. 20:25)

If you've ever taken a leap of faith toward God and then had the bottom fall out of your hopes, you can relate to Thomas. Maybe you lay it on the line for God, and then your ministry fails, you get fired, or crisis strikes. It feels like you trustingly fell backwards, expecting God to catch you, and he didn't. Whack! You hit the ground and the breath of faith is knocked right out of you.

That's what happened to Thomas. After that kind of experience, the next time someone tries to talk to you about what God can do, you don't want to hear it--not because you're a stubborn skeptic, but because you've been burned and you're skiddish about reapproaching the fire. What if you get burned again? You're afraid of the pain of further disappointment.

The best thing you can do is put yourself in a position to where if Jesus shows up, you'll not miss it. Thomas wasn't with the disciples that Sunday after the crucifixion, but he showed up again the next week, doubts and all. You have to open yourself up to the possibility of faith again. You have to want to believe. That is the difference between Thomas and the many religious leaders who saw Jesus do indisputable miracles and yet still refused to believe.

Thomas' desire to believe again, despite his doubts and fears, was rewarded. Even more "blessed are those who have not seen, and yet have believed." (v. 29)

Jesus, my faith in you will not be conditioned on you fulfilling all of my expectations. Amen.

And here's food for thought--how was Thomas better as a result of God letting him fall and then helping him get back up?

Looking for Someone?

Early Sunday morning at the empty tomb . . . Mary Magdalene weeps in confusion and anger.

"Woman," Jesus said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" (Jn. 20:15)

Why the question? He already knew. Was he toying with a grieving friend? More likely, the question is for the rest of us. It jumps off the pages of John's manuscript.

Why is life looking so hopeless? why the despair? Why do we feel so lost and confused? Does it, perhaps, relate to the fact that we're looking for someone we haven't found yet that alone can turn our world around?

We may think that person is a new wife or a husband, or a child, but we find they aren't the final answer. When we hear him call our name, we will realize that it is Jesus that we're really looking for. And he loves to let us find him.

Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out, "...Teacher!" (v. 16)

Jesus, you are the one I have been looking for. Please reveal yourself to me. Amen.

Can you relate? When did you figure out it was Jesus you were looking for?

Dump the Clothes

When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares. . . . This happened that the Scripture might be fulfilled which said: "They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing." (Jn. 19:23,24)

Have you ever thought about the sad irony of that? Fighting over Jesus' clothes, when he was offering them forgiveness and life that is truly life! The God of heaven and earth is there before them in human form and all they are focused on is who gets to wear his suit. Somebody walked off wearing Jesus' outfit. But the clothes didn't give him the life that their original owner possessed, and while the clothes wore out, the life he would have given them is forever.

Is it just me, or do a lot of people today continue to "fight over Jesus' clothing" and miss the essence of his life and mission? All they seem to care about is the externals, the trappings, the way things look. They love to dress up "Christian," and their eyes never really turn upward to take in the Man himself. Why do you suppose that is? I used to be one of them. For me it was just a whole lot easier to argue over the clothing than to be confronted by the real heart of Jesus and what he was asking of me.

Jesus, clothe me in your deep, inner goodness and your grace, your compassion and your reckless love. Amen.

Your Witness

"If I said something wrong," Jesus replied, "testify as to what is wrong. . . . You are right in saying I am a King. In fact, for this reason I was born . . . to testify to the truth." (Jn. 18:23, 37)

John emphasizes the importance of testifying to the truth of who Jesus is. the power of the spoken word to sway the opinion of others is indisputable. Talk shows make their living doing it. Jesus goes on to say, "Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."

Speaking up for Jesus is part of being his follower. It often feels like my beliefs about Jesus are unwelcome, and that my testimony is unwanted and has no impact. But it's not my job to be Jesus' attorney; it's my job to be his witness. I don't have to convince the jury, I only need to tell what i have read, seen and experienced. Truth-seekers will be impacted. I may not get to see the final result, but my words get them thinking.

Jesus, I will be your witness. Just teach me to do like you did, and first ask what the other person's perspective of you is, to gain the right to be heard. Amen.

Don't Fence Me Out

I am captivated by the prayer of Jesus just prior to his death.

"I pray for those who will believe in me. . .that all of them may be one . . . so that the world will believe you have sent me." (John 17:20-21)

I remember hearing a speaker describe a trip he took to Scotland. From the plane window, he looked over the green landscape and noticed it was criss-crossed by white fences dividing up the land. Months later, on a return trip, he looked out the plane window and noticed the fences were gone. On his arrival, he asked his contact, "What happened to all the fences I saw on my last trip?" He replied, "It's harvest time. When the crops are full-grown and ready to harvest, you can't see the fences."

Wow. That statement has stuck in my mind. I grew up in a time when Christ-followers were divided by clearly placed fences. And we were masters at justifying it. I'm thrilled to see the "crops" maturing, and the fence lines disappearing as the harvest grows ready to reap.

Lord, I personally commit to being a believer who lives out a oneness with all other believers who have joined me on this journey of faith. Though we may be at different places along the path, when it comes to our understanding of various topics and the degree to which we're living out God's mission, it is our faith in and devotion to Jesus that makes us one. Forgive me for the years in which I had a sinful, sectarian attitude towards other believers and critically kept them at arm's length. Forgive my immaturity, and please bring my brothers who still take pride in being fence-builders instead of bridge-builders to a gracious change of perspective, as you have done for me. Amen.

Amazingly Gifted

Look for the common word:

"For you granted [me--Jesus] authority over all people that I might give eternal life to all those you have given me. . . . I gave them the words you gave me. . . . I have given them the glory that you gave me." (John 17:2, 8, 22)

There is a lot of giving going on in Jesus' prayer. Read it again. At the heart of it all is the gift of the kind of life that has an eternal quality. On top of that, I notice that believers themselves are gifts to Jesus from the Father. My faith, at its foundational level, is not my gift to Jesus, but the Father's gift, because he has created that faith in me. There is simply no place for pride.

He's also given me his life-giving words of truth and grace and hope. And here's the especially surprising part: he's given me the glory that was given to Jesus. I think it's more than a prophetic past tense. In God's sight, a believer like me is already exuding glory in some supernatural way, though it's unseen by humans. I wonder, as the spirit world watches us, do they see a divine glow around those who are Christ's?

Thank you, God, for these indescribable gifts. I don't know why you would give them to me. Amen.

MISSING BLOGGER TURNS UP ALIVE!

Dear Journal, I am deeply sorry for having neglected you for two weeks. It's unforgivable, I know, but I promise to do better in the future. I've really missed you. Would you believe that a teradactyl swooped down and made off with my laptop? I didn't think so. This unpredictable schedule is making it hard to be consistent. Okay, on to journaling . . .

My Time to Shine

Jesus said, "A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you." (Jn. 16:21-22)

Tackling any great endeavor requires some pain and sacrifice. There is struggle and even anguish at points along the path. Yet this crux at which our commitment and the forces of resistance clash is "our time." It is the point where legacies are made and a life purpose is either realized or abandoned.

We emerge from those moments different than we were before. We're either elated as we see a new bold reality birthed through our struggle, or we retreat into the dark hole of disillusionment. If we stick it out and see it through, the success that results propels us forward to embrace the next challenge and build the future. If we shrink back from the pain, our future and our destiny shrinks along with our courage.

Lord, I will embrace my time to shine, to make a lasting difference in the world. Give me courage for that fight, and bring me success. Amen.

Love + Obedience = Joy

"If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." (Jn. 15:10-11)

I've got a bit of a rebellious streak. Something about obeying commands can, at times, rub my craving for independence the wrong way. But Jesus' commands are different. They aren't given out of a desire to control me or use me selfishly, nor to keep me from the perks of life. Jesus isn't grabbing the good stuff for himself and pushing me down.

His commands are meant to bring real joy to my life. That's what he says. Part of what brings that joy is when I understand his commands in the big picture of what he is dreaming into reality for my life and his world. He goes on to say that he doesn't treat us like servants but friends. A master tells his servant to do something without explanation. He doesn't care whether the servant gets the motive or not. It's pure authority and domination. In my experience, sometimes the church comes across that way.

Jesus says he treats us like friends because he lets us become insiders to his business--that is, he is open about his purposes and intentions and motives. Not everything, of course. He reserves the right to alone be in the know about everything. But he gives us the big picture and reveals the amazing things that he is purposing for humanity. Knowing those things puts his commands in a different light. We can discern the motive behind them and see the goodness that he intends through them. They become a joy not a burden. By implication, a person who, in trying to obey the commands of God, finds the joy is sucked away from the tenor of their lives and replaced by anxiety, depression or a propensity to want to judge others, has misunderstood God's commands. Usually, their misunderstanding is the result of failing to grasp the big picture of their master's business.

The joy also comes when we experience the outcomes of living in his will. Having your heart in sync with your Creator who loves you immensely is always joy-producing. And life just works better that way, too. I've seen it countless times in every aspect of life--marriage, parenting, business, relationships, sexuality--you name it. God gives the way to maximize the benefits of all those blessings. Do it your own way and--Ouch!

Obeying the Father's will was sometimes very hard for Jesus. There was sacrifice involved. Just check in with him in the Garden of Gethsemane, minutes after he said this. But in submitting, Jesus discovered the human reality of the amazing joy of being in God's will. And He wants to share his joy with me, he says. The ticket is my loving obedience to my King.

Lord, I am awed by your concern for my joy! You have all the joy in the universe, and you want to share it with me. You want your people to be the most joyful people on earth! When obedience seems hard, even painful, I will recall that deep, full-scale joy will be the pay-off. Since you command out of love, I will obey out of love. Amen.

Our Giving God

"I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. . . . If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you. . . . You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name." (Jn. 14:13-14; 15:7, 16)

Do you think Jesus really means it? To ask "in the name of Jesus" doesn't necessarily refer to speaking his name at the end of our prayers. It means to pray in harmony with the person of Jesus--his values, his priorities, the things that are precious to his heart. When we pray that way and live that way, our prayers are answered in amazing ways (and sometimes even when we're not--it's called grace). The power of God is felt when you know you're praying for the success of his mission. Your prayers are more confident and intense. Your faith is stronger. And God shows up.

Last week was a busy one and a fruitful one. We had been praying for God to quickly bring us a good, reliable buyer for our house, and that the timing would work out so that we wouldn't have to move twice. We sold our house Monday after having it on the market for just one week! And we don't have to move out until our new house is ready in December.

We had been praying for God to open up a good opportunity for an initial meeting place for the new church we're planting in Pearland. God provided one within an hour of our selling our house! It's an elementary school near 288 and 518 (Challenger Elem.).

Our prayers have been earnest for God to provide the funds we need for this mission. We prayed specifically several times about a certain family that we visited and shared our vision with. We received a $6000 offering for the new church from that family! And here's the most interesting part--they aren't even Christians or church-goers!

We've asked God to bring people alongside us who can help in ministry with us. Yesterday, we added a highly motivated and gifted family to our Launch Team!

God is truly leading us along this journey. He is just all over it, and we praise him. He loves to give when we are pursuing his priorities and mission. We don't deserve his goodness by any stretch of the imagination. We will continue to trust you, God, to provide. We will take you at your word, Lord, that whatever we ask in your name you will do. Amen.

Trouble Free Living

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. . . . Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. . . . Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (Jn. 14:1, 27)

Jesus will go on to say that "in this world you will have trouble" (16:23), but we're not to let that trouble get inside our hearts. "Don't let it happen," he says. Tall order, but I've got to take that seriously. It's not being glib or apathetic, nor is it being naively optimistic about the human condition. It is choosing to trust God and receive the peace he is offering. The thing is that a situation can be humanly hopeless, but God is urging me to take him seriously. Why do we have such a hard time believing God will intervene? Looking through biblical history, God has a clear modus operandi of alternately making things look bleak (or at least allowing them to get that way) and then delivering the perfect solution at just the right time. Those stories are there for a reason.

I take it that God's utmost priority for my life is to teach me to trust him. When problems show up--and they will--I will respond by hearing Jesus say to me, "Chris, don't let your heart be troubled. I'm offering you my peace. Receive it, moment by moment."

Lord, teach my heart that, under your loving rule, all is well. Amen.

Boneless Chicken

Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you!"
Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!" (Jn. 13:37-38)

Cathy likes to buy boneless chicken. It saves her a lot of time, but it sure does fold over easily on the grill. It doesn't hold its shape. How can we be so committed one minute, and so quick to downshift into self-interest mode then next? It's easy to say I'll lay down my life until I'm actually asked to do it. The pressure cooker has a way of making boneless chickens of us all.

Most of the time, I have the conviciton to stand right beside Peter and say, "Lord, I'll lay down my life for you. Let me follow you wherever you are leading." But when the storms come, or even dark clouds just appear, I'm dismayed by how anxious and self-protective I can become in a hurry. Peter, you and I have an awful lot in common, more than I'd like to admit. That's got to change. Frankly, I don't see what a pilgrim's pride has to do with boneless chicken.

Lord, teach me that there really is victory in surrender, surprising blessing in self-sacrifice. Give me a backbone that won't collapse under the weight of disappointments or threatening circumstances. God, help me to stay true to my commitment to follow you into the fire and know I'll be better than alright. Amen.

Tears Testify

Jesus wept. (Jn. 11:35)

Short verse, but long on meaning. Mary and martha were heart-broken over their brother's death. And they were upset that Jesus hadn't been there and prevented it. Sometimes we feel like God must not care. We pray and he is silent. We beg and he doesn't respond. We feel abandoned. It hurts so badly.

These simple two words that John wrote tell us something so important about God--he does care. We may not understand the "why?" of the pain we go through or the suffering of the world. But we can know that God enters into our suffering with us. He doesn't stand aloof and apathetic. His tears mix with our own. God sees our pain and it breaks his heart.

As I consider the immense suffering in the world, and I wonder why God doesn't stop it, one thing I can be sure of is his compassion.

Father, I know your compassion for people's pain actually far exceeds my own. Forgive me for the times I have thought myself more merciful than you. I plead temporary insanity. Amen.

Uncommon Sense

Jesus answered, "...A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light." (Jn. 11:9-10)

Okay, simple enough concept. It's a lot safer to travel by day than by night. Who wouldn't agree? But what if you shouldn't take the trip at all? That's what his disciples were saying. They had just voiced their concerns about the potential consequences of his plans to return to the Jerusalem area. Something about the death threats had them a bit rattled. Just worry warts, I guess! I wouldn't have any trouble marching headlong into dangerous territory, would you? (Yes, I'm talking tongue in cheek.)

Jesus' reply turns the focus from common sense (don't head for trouble) to uncommon sense. That's what the life of faith really is. He sees a different reality than they do. He sees that his life is directed by God. The real danger, he says, is in not taking the journey that God is leading you to take, living outside God's will ("walking by night"). If God is leading him to Judea, that is the only path that he won't stumble on.

Discipleship is not a matter of common sense, but uncommon sense. Try to live by common sense and you will be totally frustrated as a Christian. Giving sacrificially, serving unselfishly with no expectation of payback, forgiving people freely, taking significant risks that take you outside your comfort zone for the good of others--none of that squares up very well with common sense.

I will trust that if I let God guide which paths I take, I won't stumble. The path may not be safe, but it will be the right one for me to be on. My vision will be clear. I will be walking by day.

Father, I'll go where you tell me and do what you show me. I'm counting on you to keep me from falling. Amen.

Out to Pasture

"[The shepherd] calls his own sheep by name and leads them out... I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture." (Jn. 10:3, 9)

I love this passage, even though it's a bit confusing with the mixed metaphors. Several times Jesus explains that the difference between his sheep and those that aren't is that his sheep know his voice, listen to it, and follow him.

In the statements above, the sheep aren't kept pinned up in the security of the fold. Jesus moves them out into the open pasture and then back to the pen. They many not feel as safe in the pasture as in the pen, but it is out in the pasture that they get the most nourishment.

To follow Jesus requires leaving the pen. I will feel insecure at times with the threats around me in the world, but I will trust that I am safer with the Shepherd in the pasture than with the thieves in the pen (v. 1, 28).

Lord, make me sense your protective presence as I follow you out into the pasture of your world. Amen.

On Display

As Jesus went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." (Jn. 9:1-3)

I know several people who are fighting cancer. Two of our neighbors have lost a child in the past few years. When I think of reasons why there are so many tragedies, so many debilitating diseases, several things come to mind: the brokenness of a fallen creation, the self-inflicted pain, and that which we afflict on others. But here Jesus reminds me that God redeems our tragedies and diseases by giving them a higher purpose: to bring out the work of God in our lives.

I can live in hope and expectation that Jesus shows up in the middle of my pain. He may deliver me in this life for his glory so that I can be his witness, sharing with others what he has done for me. He may shape me through the heat of the furnace so that all is stripped away but him, and he glows brightly in me--his love, his hope, his peace.

Lord, I trust you to display your power through the painful experiences of my life. Amen.

Room Shortage

Jesus: "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples...and the truth will set you free. ...Yet...you have no room for my word... you are unable to hear what I say... The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God." (Jn. 8:31-32, 37, 43, 47)

I want to be free. Jesus called people to belief to free us from the guilt of sin, and to discipleship to free us from the power of sin. Knowing Jesus (the Truth) and living his Way is freedom! It is a life of breathing in wide-open spaces. It is being released to live at full capacity, to fly, to flourish in the life God really meant for me.

But there are enemies of freedom. And some of the worst may lie within my own heart. There may be no room for his word in my life. My inner space may be cluttered with any number of things: my own preconceptions that I am unwilling to rethink, my prideful grip on what I want (and think I need), my run-of-the-mill busyness that tunes him out. It could even be--as was the case in this text--that I may set myself in league with the evil one with a greedy, hateful or condescending attitude.
Conservative, law-keeping worshippers of God in league with the evil one? That's a little scary. And it wasn't because they honestly misunderstood some doctrine. It was because they were protecting their power and pride instead of humbly seeking to learn and be shaped by God for his own sovereign rule.

I will check and re-check my own heart and ask, "Do I have an open heart? Does the hard disk of my life have ample capacity for what Jesus wants to download?" It's the path to freedom! I want to breathe in wide open spaces, not stay locked in the musty closets that the world (or even the church) may try to shove me into.

Lord, speak. Your follower is listening.

Jump In

Jesus said, "If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own." (Jn. 7:17)

Jesus appears to be saying that "the proof is in the pudding," when it comes to the Way of Christ. Unsure about God and his word? Try it. Jump in. Don't just stand and watch others. Try living as though God is real and his word is true for a period of time. The transformation it will bring will dispell all doubts. In other words, one very good and valid reason to choose Christianity is that it works. It is self-validating.

My life is so much fuller since I chose to jump fully into the deep end of the life of following Jesus. While I played around the edges and got only my feet wet, it never really connected with me. I still felt so empty. Since I've been drenched in Kingdom life, Jesus has proven himself to me over and over again.

Jesus, in obedience to you the truth is seen. I will encourage skeptics to try out your way all the way and see what they discover. Please reveal yourself again. Amen.

The Turning Away

"The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe." ...From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. (Jn. 6:63-66)

I can feel Jesus' heart breaking here. He wants only to lead people into spirit life. He's taught and he's modeled it and he's brought healing, acceptance and love to a harsh, uncaring society. But many still don't get it. They don't want what he's offering. They're being handed the winning lottery ticket and they're turning up their noses. He watches them walk away in sad clusters.

Sometimes I can relate to what Jesus felt here. I just want to invite people out of their meaningless lives into the joy and power of God's reign, but they just don't see it. You would think I were offering them a life of digging ditches. They walk away. I feel at times like I failed, but even Jesus watched crowds leave. Perhaps the real failure is that of the human heart to crave the divine life.

Lord, make me a more usable messenger. And please open their eyes to what you are really offering. Amen.

A Little Goes a Long Way

...a great crowd...bread for these people to eat?...five small barley loaves and two small fish... Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed... When they had all had enough to eat...filled twelve baskets... (John 6:5-13)

Observations: Jesus wants to meet people's needs. What seems like little to offer, when given for Jesus' use, multiplies in its benefits. He is a God of plenty, not a God of want. And he provides generously for those who serve others alongside him (12 baskets for 12 apostles).

Application: I often feel like I'm trying to feed and meet the needs of large crowds with just a meager sack lunch. Bottom line, I'm inadequate. All my skills, all my training, all my experience, still inadequate. But I'd rather people be fed by Jesus than by me. He is the Life-giver, not me. Since I know that, I can bring my little to him and he will multiply its effects exponentially. I love that thought of exponential growth of my influence. And on top of that, I can count on him to fill a basketful for me.

Jesus, I'm willing to share what I've got to offer. I know it's not much, compared to the need, but take it and use it. I know you won't waste it. I won't doubt or deny what you can do through me and for me. Amen.

The Lamp

"John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light." (John 5:35)

A lamp doesn't light itself. It flames up from another source. It doesn't exist for itself but for the good of othes. It doesn't point to itself but illuminates something (or someone) else that needs to be seen. When a lamp is turned off or burned out or removed, it is missed. People enjoy the light of a lamp.

That's what I am--a lamp. God has given me a limited number of years to burn for him, to enable others to see Jesus. I've got to stay plugged into him. I want my life to bring a warm glow to the world around me. I want to be missed when I'm gone.

Lord, light my life up in your Spirit's fire. May others see you because of me. Amen.

Two-Way Evangelism

When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" (John 4:7)

Drinking after a stranger? The thought gives me the creeps. Jesus is on a mission to redeem this woman's life. He is already aware of her long string of failed marriages and her live-in boyfriend. Yet he approaches her with graciousness and tact. His being a Jewish rabbi would naturally make her feel inferior, so he asks her for a favor. (And I'm sure he was really thirsty!) He intentionally assigns her dignity by acknowledging that he needs her help, too, just a she needs his.

As I attempt to build relationships out of which to influence people, even very messy people, I will follow Jesus' example and show that I realize they have something to offer. I will seek to discover what that is, and in making them feel valuable, open a door to share what I have to offer.

Jesus, give me more of your magnetic touch with broken people. Help me to remember that I can gain something of value from everyone I meet. Amen.

Stranger in a Strange Land

[Jesus] left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. Now he had to go through Samaria. (John 4:3-4)

Is this a practical verse to journal on? You bet! While it's true that Samaria lay between Judea and Galilee, the typical travel route for Jews did not pass through Samaria. They took pains to go around. Jesus "had" to go there because God's mission compelled him. There were a bunch of people there that God wanted to be with him forever, beginning with a particular woman who was an outcast in her own town.

If I want to folow Jesus, I have to go where he goes. In recent years, I have discovered the fuller implications of what it means to be a Christ-follower. Jesus doesn't allow me to stay comfortably among people just like me. I have to venture in among people I wouldn't normally enjoy associating with. Truth is, doing this actually adds joy to my life. What I have found is that my capacity to love grows as I take these opportunities to cross social and spiritual boundary lines with Jesus. This whole idea of the cross crossing barriers between people--it really works!

Lord, it's uncomfortable for me to do this. Remind me of how uncomfortable you made yourself to know me, love me and save me. Teach me the joy that you knew while you loved and ministered among "different" and messy people. Amen.

Kingdom Growth

Some of John's disciples came to him and said, "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan...well, he is batpizing, and everyone is going to him." (John 3:26)

(Couldn't help but journal at least twice on John 3.) Jealousy. It infects even the purest hearts. Servants of God's Kingdom have such a hard time distinguishing it from their own. Churches get in a huff when another church in town is drawing more people than they are. What if our unspoken mantras were printed on our marquees? "We aren't growing, but we criticize churches that are." John showed that he was truly in this for Jesus and not for himself. Why can't we do the same?

In my ministry, I must decrease and Jesus must increase. The church(es) I plant will place a core value on Kingdom growth, wherever and with whomever it may happen. We will applaud the ministry successes of other churches.

God, guard my heart from jealousy. I renounce my claim that you use me more than others. Jesus, it's all about you. To you be all the glory. Amen.

Hoist the Sails

We were touched yesterday by all the outpouring of love from the church. All of you guys are special to us and will continue to be. The reception, the cards, the gifts, the spoken words of affirmation were all tremendous blessings to me and to Cathy.

These words of Jesus speak to me:
"The wind blows where it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyoneborn of the Spirit." (John 3:8)

The with-God life is unpredictable. We cannot journey with God and remain in control of our own agenda. Yet the life of faith is also amazingly freeing, for it is more like sailing than rowing. We hoist our sails and let them billow up with the wind of the Holy Spirit. He drives us along to where he wants to take us. The main responsibility that I have is to be sure to keep my sails hoisted.

When I'm feeling like it's all up to me, I will reclaim the life Jesus wants for me and surrender to the Spirit's will. I will continue to spend time in his word, in prayer, and in other spiritual disciplines, listening to his voice.

Holy Spirit, blow through my whole being and fill me with the breath of Heaven. You are in control. You steer. Move me today to be and to do exactly as you will. Amen.

Third Day

On the third day a wedding took place. . . . Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. . . .
Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." (John 2:1-2, 19)

In Scripture and in John, the third day is of major significance. In God's time table, a breakthrough of blessing is usually just around the corner. It is "the third day" when Jesus shows up at a wedding--only because he was invited--and restores joy and celebration to an anxious situation. On "the third day" he will rise again from the rubble of reckless human attempts to destroy the connecting point of God and man.

No matter how bleak my situation, I must trust and have great hope that a breakthrough of blessing is just days away.

Jesus, come into my situation and turn water into wine. Raise me up. Come quickly.

The Word in the World

In the beginning was the Word..., and the Word was God.... In him was life, and that life was the light of men.... There came a man who was sent from God.... He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. (John 1:1-7)

Scripture says that the world needs the Word--a life-giving Message. This Message was the source of the world's origin, and it is still its source of life and light. Without it, the world is dark and dead.

Jesus is that Message, and as he was sent into the world to reveal God, God continues to send men and women into the world to embody and proclaim the Message.

By God's grace, I am sent as a witness to the light, a carrier of the Message. The world needs the Word. God's plan is that through me people will hear and see and believe. What an honor! I feel unworthy and inadquate to that calling. The good news is that so has every other person that God has used. I have to always be asking, "Is Jesus being seen in me right now? If I began to share the Message with someone right here and right now, would they see him in me? Would they see evidence of the truth of my Message?" It's not enough to show Jesus sometimes. Unless I live that way all the time, the Message will be weak and uncompelling. It needs to bleed from my veins.

Lord, make me a faithful witness who does not withhold my testimony. Amen.

Moving into John

Fellow journalers, we're moving into the Gospel of John. Come along and let's see what we can find.

Finding Favor

Okay, I'm back. Sorry for the lag in the blog. I've been away and otherwise preoccupied.

"With what shall I come before the LORD
and bow down before the exalted God?..." Israel asks.

"He has showed you, O man, what is good," responds Micah.
"And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:6, 8)

God's grace is amazing. But it is a covering for the sins and mistakes of those whose hearts are legitimately turned towards God. Worship offered appart from a lifestyle of integrity is insincere flattery. Pleas for forgiveness that come from an unmerciful heart are offered in vain. Prayers for blessing spoken without showing compassion for the sad plight of others aren't well received. God is after our hearts. And when he has our hearts, it gives us a posture of mercy, fairness and compassion towards others.

God, my heart is yours. Shape me to reflect your concern for justice, your love for mercy, and teach me to walk humbly with you. Amen.

Heart Talk

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

A person who is seeking God and his will for his life, living in fellowship with God, spiritual antenas up, can expect to receive God's personal guidance. This counsel often comes internally. In these parallel statements from Psalm 16:7, "the LORD" is parallel with "my heart." In other words, God does at times lay things on our hearts.

How can I discern which thoughts or inclinations are originating from my own humanity and which are the counsel of God? God's counsel will always be in harmony with his written Word and will be confirmed through prayer. If my relationship with God is one of complete submission--a "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening" fram of life--then what he is counseling me to do will become clear. If still in doubt, I should seek confirmation through the counsel of godly people who themselves are strongly connected with God and have fully embraced his mission through a trusting posture.

Lord, guide me. Counsel me. Help me to hear what you are speaking to my heart. Amen.

The Defenders

You can say my spiritual phonograph needle is stuck, but I can't seem to escape this recurring theme:

The victim commits himself to you;
you are the helper of the fatherless....
You encourage [the afflicted], and you listen to their cry,
defending the fatherless and the oppressed. (Psalm 10:14, 17-18)

My observation is that when people read this, they (and I) tend to make the application to how God cares for me when I'm the victim, how he listens to my cries and defends me when I'm being oppressed. And I'm not arguing against that. Thank God that he does!

But what I'm being convicted of is that the application doesn't stop with how God meets my needs. This is describing, again, the character of God. And since I'm supposed to be becoming more godly in my own character, I have to look at the character of God to see what it really means to be godly. It's more than just avoiding extra-marital affairs or cutting out profanity.

Since I've been saved by God's grace, I am empowered and freed by the Holy Spirit to let go of self-centered values and be infused with God's values. And God's values are all about the good of his creation and everybody in it. What breaks his heart, as seen in this psalm, is human suffering, especially when the victim is alone in the world, with no voice and no one to help.

God keeps convicting me of my own responsibilities to act on his behalf. It's got to be primarily through his people--his respresentatives on earth--that he "encourages the afflicted" and "defends the oppressed." How can my heart not break for what breaks God's heart?

Merciful Father, teach me your mercy. Show me who to encourage and on whose behalf I should exert my influence. And please, raise up your church to engage, in a major way, the giants of poverty, disease and oppression that affect billions of people. If not us, Lord, who? Amen.

Known By His Justice

Psalm 9 says . . .

The Lord is known by his justice....
The needy will not always be forgotten,
nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish. (v. 16, 18)

Here it is again. God's love shows itself in his concern for justice in the world. And there's something new added: that God is known by his justice. Not known for his justice; known by his justice. I think what that means is that I don't really know God adequately until caring for the needy, the forgotten, and the afflicted becomes one of my own core values. This is such a big part of the heart of God that my own heart is connected with his through my sharing his compulsion to work for justness in the world.

Am I forgetting the needy in the world? in my own community? What am I personally doing to address their needs? I feel that I have been somewhat indifferent to such things. Or maybe I've thought they were worthy causes, but they were for somebody else to deal with. Not that I haven't done some. But I feel like I need to do more. A few contributions here and there just isn't enough, given the size of the need.

O Father, show me how to approach this so that what I do makes a real difference. What can I give in addition to money? in addition to my unskilled labor? How can I use my influence and my best skills and gifts to address the huge needs of people? Show me, please. Amen.

Angry Enough to Act

Arise, O LORD, in your anger;
rise up against the rage of my enemies.
Awake, my God; decree justice....
God is a righeous judge,
a God who expresses his wrath every day. (Psalm 7:6, 11)

This psalm, on the surface, makes God sound like a vengeful, angry God who is perched to strike and kill whoever doesn't obey him. Passages like this give many people the impression that the God of the Bible, or at least, the God of the Old Testament, is really rather hateful and lacking in compassion. In other words, they charge God with being less compassionate than humans are.

But on a closer reading, the writer (David) viewed these expressions of God's character as proof of just the opposite: that God deeply cares about people. This poem rebuffs the idea that God is apathetic to the injustices that people suffer. Far from sitting back, disinterested, feet propped up on his desk, unmoved by our plights, God gets riled up when innocent people are abused. What's implied here by God's intense anger towards the perpetrators of such injustices is stated explicitly in Psalm 9:12: For he who avenges blood remembers; he does not ignore the cry of the afflicted.

God cares. It isn't God who is lacking compassion. It's humanity. And if he cares so deeply about injustices in his world, so should I. I must care too. And rather than sit back apathetically, I need to do whatever I can to alleviate the plight of the victims.

Lord, help me to discern how and where to fight for the abused and oppressed. Amen.

"From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger" - Psalms 8:2

I can understand how praise from the lips of children and infants would be the most sincere praise. I can understand how in light of this sincere praise the foe would be silenced. But what about the avenger. When I read over this lightly I assumed that the avenger was an agent of God. If this is so then why would praise silence the avenger?

The best I have come up with is that because God is just, that sin requires a response. It is God's intent to end sin so that vengance is no longer required and that sincere praise will be a part of ending sin.

Somebody help me with this.

God's Eternal Pleasures at His Good Right Hand

[I'm posting this on behalf of Jim. The following are his thoughts.]

Scripture: Psalm 16:8-11
I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Observation:
The Lord is always before standing where He knows I should be, holding out His right hand to me. With my right hand in His right hand my heart will be made unshakable and be made glad, I will rest secure and know my Father will not abandon me. He will be make known the path of life, fill me with joy in His presence and let me know of eternal pleasures at His right hand.

Application:
My Heavenly Father stands were He wants me to be, holding out His good right hand. If I will put my right hand in His right hand He will:
Always be set before me.
I will not be shaken.
My body will rest secure because He will not abandon me.
He will make known the path of life.
I will be filled with joy in His presence.
I will be filled with eternal pleasures at His right hand.

I must come nearer to my Father, reach out, and offer (allow Him to take) my right hand and then be ready for a ride of a life time.

Prayer:
Father, thank you for standing in Nias, where you knew I should be and holding out your good right hand to me. I thank you for helping me have the strength, faith, and courage to submit my right hand to your good right hand. Also I think it was a good stuff for You to use the President of Indonesia and his Foreign Minister (men of a different faith) to finalize my commitment to Nias. Please continue to expand your blessings on the TEARS work (Your work) in Nias. Please help me to always give you the glory for Your work plus what every small things I might do.

How will I be different today because of what I have just read?
I will continually check and observe to determine that my Father and I have our right hands joined.

The Service of the King

"Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling." (Psalm 2:11-12).

This is far from the casual Christianity of many church-goers. Where is the awe? Have we so domesticated God that serving his mission is no longer a compelling responsibility? How has the service of the King of the universe, who holds our very lives in his hands, become subject to the spirit of American volunteerism: "I'll do it if I want to--if it pleases me to do it."

I love that statement, "rejoice with trembling." It totally debunks the controversy about whether worship should be celebratory and lively or reverent and subdued. In Scripture, those responses are never seen as mutually exclusive. God is so awesome that he inspires all out celebration for who he is and what he has done (or is doing, or will do) that brings us to our feet to clap our hands in joy. And then he also confronts us in ways that quiet us and send us to our knees in confession and surrender.

This exhortation from Scripture is tells me that if I really know God, he will unleash in me both an unbridled joy coupled with a profound awe. I know I will stand accountable to the King for the way I have approached his service and his worship. And I don't ever want to hear him say, "Chris, you did what you did half-heartedly."

The Good Life

I'm beginning to feel like I'm blogging alone. Is anybody out there?

We've started reading from the Psalms. The very first psalm vividly contrasts two lifestyles. One leaves a person dry, brittle and without anything to show for his life. I think Kansas must have gotten their metaphor of "All we are is dust in the wind" from this passage. But the other lifestyle is one rich in spiritual nourishment that comes from an openness and eagerness to be led by God. "Blessed is the man . . . whose delight is in the law (Word) of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night." In that kind of life is stability, fruitfulness and a future. Far from "dust in the wind," this kind of person is "like a tree planted by streams of water."

This psalm reminds me that wanting to be led by God takes intentionality. To want it isn't enough. I have to put myself in the position to hear from him. Meditating on God's word needs to be a part of my daily routine if I want the good life. This kind of meditating is a lot different than eastern meditation practices. They do it to clear their minds. I do it to fill my mind. Meditating is letting something simmer. It's like putting the tea bag in the water and letting it start to change the whole flavor of things.

If you know how to worry, you know how to meditate. It just means to mull something over in your mind. The object is just to switch the content from anxious thoughts to God's truth. This discipline of journaling from Scripture is a great way to meditate on the word of the Lord. I am being richly blessed by doing it. And I know that it is guarding me from being misdirected by the values and ideals of "sinners" that masquerade as icons of success.

Lasting Legacy

Get this picture:

Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. . . . Those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever. (Dan. 12:2-3)

Life is headed somewhere. Every person in every place will eventually be lumped into one of two groups: the saved and the condemned. Eternity is looming. That is why the work of sharing the message of Jesus is so crucial.

I want my lift to leave a lasting impact for good that will outlive me. As I share my life and love with others so that they find the relationship with Jesus that sets them free, my legacy will shine on forever! That, my friends, is significance. I will make it my aim to help people move even one step closer to the cross.

Jesus, lead me to lead more people to you. I'm available and willing for you to use me, even today. Amen.

I Stand With Sinners

"We have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name . . ." (Dan. 9:5-6)

What had Daniel done wrong? Even the archangel calls him "highly esteemed" (v. 21-23). This guy is about as tuned into God as they come. Yet his confession of Israel's sins is spoken as one of them ("we"). God's people who wear his Name (v. 19), but don't live in his ways need not my condemnation but my intercession. But rather than setting myself above them, as if I am more righteous, I need to identify with them and confess our guilt as a people. This exemplifies the true oneness of God's people as he sees us.

Father, we have sinned and failed to listen to your messengers, especially to Jesus. We wear his name, but so feebly and reluctantly walk down the path in which he leads us. Please forgive us. Please show mercy. May we bring glory and praise to your name again as a people instead of scorn. Amen.

Beyond Understanding

I, Daniel, was exhausted and lay ill for several days. . . . I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding. (Dan. 8:27)

Daniel's often celebrated wisdom and insight as a man full of God's Spirit did not give him perfect understanding of God's will. Even this outstanding man of God wrestled with deep questions and periods of confusion and even depression. God's ways and plans are in many cases "beyond understanding." Things that he allows to happen may be "appalling" to our sensibilities. But these are questions that arise out of faith, not unbelief. God reserves the exclusive right to all knowledge and understanding.

I have to admit that I once thought I had God and his will all figured out. Nice, neat answers. Everything cut and dried. No mysteries. Then God humbled me. I will trust him with all that I don't understand. And I will be real with him when I am torn up with confusion about the way life unfolds.

And yet I will remember that you, Lord, are God alone, and I am not. Amen.

Don't Even Try

I was struck by what was said in Daniel 7 about one of the most powerful men in world history:

He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. (Dan. 7:25)

The operative word here is "try." Though earth's powers will attempt to thwart the plans and purposes of God, they will never succeed. In spite of their hatred of the people of God, the text assures that all "the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High." (v. 27)

Even when all appears to be lost, when it seems like evil has won the day, I will remember that God rules. The reign of evil is a temporary state and even a puppet state at that, for Gopd uses it to accomplish his ultimate ends.

Lord, I receive gratefully your rule. Please bring your Kingdom to its fullest expression. Amen.

By Strength And For Honor

Dan 4:30 The king uttered these words: "Is this not the great Babylon that I have built . . . by my own mighty strength and for my majestic honor?"

“Because I’m worth it.” “I deserve better!” “It’s not fair.” These thoughts and phrases permeate modern culture, but have roots all the way back to Nebuchadnezzar’s ancient pitfall. After reading his story surely we don’t need to be maddened, driven into the fields, dew soaked, and abandoned to sleep with the beasts before we realize pride’s error.

When I see truly, I see the dark corners of my heart; I see how little of even my greatest accomplishments come from my own strengths, skills, abilities, spirituality, or goodness. Seeing truly, I cringe at talk of “getting what I deserve because I’m worth it and it’s only fair,” for I deserve less than I’ve been given already. Everything I have is a gift, brought to me by God’s strength and for his honor.

My prayer is for humility and thankfulness.

Insanity Epidemic

Hey, I love reading the posts of you other guys. Thanks!

"At the end of that time, I . . . raided my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored" (Dan. 4:34).

Spoken by the King of the Babylonian Empire, a man drunk on his own pride and wealth and power, this statment holds the key to restoring all the empty, broken lives on earth! The most common experience of insanity that humanity shares is to lose one's sense of dependency on God. When we raise our eyes to heaven, sanity is restored on earth. Sanity or wholeness of life and mind is achieved--better yet, received--when people raise their eyes to God.

This story's theme resounds in the stories of the demon-possessed man of Gerasene, the Assyrian King in Nineveh (see Jonah), the lost son in Jesus' parable (Luke 15), Saul's Damascus Road encounter, as well as in the life stories of men I have personally known such as Johnny McDaniel, Eddie Rollins and myself.

Along with the king's sanity being restored were the honor and success of his life's work. My life will find significance to the degree that I remember to constantly be looking up.

Burning Faith

Dan 3:16-18

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s response to King Nebuchadnezzar’s demand they bow to the golden statue or burn is more complex than we learned from our children’s Bible stories, “If our God . . . exists, he is able to rescue us from the furnace . . . But if not, . . . we don’t serve your gods.” They seem to say if God exists he can save us, but even if God doesn’t save us we still serve him. The children’s lesson is in their faith and salvation from the firey furnace, but the lesson for mature Christians is found in their faithfulness to God even if they burn for it.

My prayer is for a faith that does not fear fire.

Trust Don’t Test

Dan 2:8—11

I noted these verses for what they revealed about Nebuchadnezzar’s faith in his magicians, astrologers, and wise men. His request for an interpretation contained a test of their powers. Only the king knew his dream and only a wise man demonstrating clairvoyance would be trusted to tell what the king didn’t know, the dream’s meaning.

This speaks to me about my faith. Nebuchadnezzar rightly suspected the wisdom and power of his advisors and created a test for them. When scripture tells me not to, “put the Lord . . . to the test,” I’m being told not to treat God with the same doubt the king treated his magicians, astrologers, and wise men. God is powerful in ways no man, even Daniel, could ever be. The charlatans deserve to be tested, but God should be trusted.

My prayer is that I always trust, rather than test, God.

My Mission

"I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me." (Acts 26:17-18)

What an awesome commission! This is the church's mission because it is God's mission. To use Ford's old slogan, this is Job #1.

I hear these words of Jesus as if they were spoken to me personally. In fact, I believe they are. I am sent to people who, in many ways, are lost and deceived and oppressed by the influences of evil. I am also sent to those who are disconnected from God's people, to give them a place of belonging.

Lord, I accept my mission with eagerness! Lead me out to these people and open my heart to them. Teach me what to do and say so that faith might begin to germinate in their lives.

Clean Conscience

"I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man." (Acts 24:16)

In these chapters, Paul stands before his accusers with such peace and transparency. He has such courage in the face of slanderous people. A large part of the reason for his courage and peace is the knowledge he has about himself. He knows his own heart. He knows that it is true and that he is surrendered to God's reign.

I will strive to always live with a clean conscience as well. Others will misperceive my heart and totally miss my sincere goodwill. But I know my own heart, and I love the freeing reality that my conscience is clean!

Lord, forgive my mistakes. Keep me always fully committed to living by your principles of integrity and truth. Amen.

I'm So Confused!

In Acts 20:22, Paul announced, "And now compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there."

In the next chapter, Paul visits some believers in Tyre. Luke says, "Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem."

This really brings up for me the issue of the Spirit's guidance. Sometimes the faith community is able to discern his guidance together (Acts 13:1-2). I hear this emphasized a lot from certain circles. At other times, spiritual and devoted believers come to different conclusions about the Spirit's leading in a particular situation, such as here in Acts 21. When this happens, it cannot be due to conflicting messages from the Holy Spirit. So it must be due to our flawed capacity to discern his voice.

From my observations, and here in this context, it seems that thoughts of self-preservation or fear are especially notorious for distorting the message that the Holy Spirit is sending. Apparently, these other believers in Tyre took the Spirit's warnings of what lay ahead for Paul in Jerusalem to mean that he shouldn't proceed. All they could think of was that it was going to be painful. And we are always inclined to believe that painful or difficult things should never be pursued. We reason that God wouldn't lead us into those paths. This is true even with mature, spiritual believers, and it is doubly true with believers who are still stuck in a religion of personal comfort.

For this reason, the collective church body is often not the most reliable source for discerning the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This is why God has always raised up spiritual leaders for his people. If the church wants to follow the leading of God, it must carefully choose leaders who are sold out to doing God's will above personal considerations and follow them.

A person who is fully in self-offering mode, willing to take up his cross and follow Jesus wherever he leads, has a much clearer reception of the Spirit's calling than one who is encountering bleed-through from other fearful voices.

Holy Spirit, may I be so attuned to you and so open to your will for my life that I don't mistake threats of hardship to mean that you aren't favoring my course. Help me to distinguish your courageous voice from the voices of fear. Amen.



A

Strange Ideas

Just the other day I got one of those calls. It's the kind of call that you get sometimes when you're a minister. One of our older ladies here at church called to express some grievances about my preaching style. At least she was kind about it. She said she didn't like the way that I bring elements from "the world" into my messages. She specifically mentioned my recent references to Spiderman 3 and the show Touched By An Angel. "We just need to hear the Bible," she stated. "Use examples from the Bible instead of these worldly things."

This lady is a good person whom I love and I welcomed her thoughts. I explained that our objective was the same, helping people to hear the message of Scripture so that it takes root in their lives. But our ideas about the method are different. My job (and the job of any believer trying to teach the Bible) is to be a bridge-builder between the ancient text and the world that the listener(s) know.

Shortly after that conversation, I was reading in Acts 17. Paul was sharing the message of Jesus to the pagans of Athens. They responded at one point by saying, "You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean." Bingo. To most people, the gospel and the teachings about the way of Christ sound really "out there." They may think them strange or irrelevant, as did these people in Athens. As Paul went on teaching them, he spoke from the vantage point of their own world-view, not his. He quoted from their own popular literature (v. 28) to illustrate his point and draw a connection between what they were already familiar with and the novel concepts of Christianity. That's just good communication.

Many people are not interested in what the Bible says until they see how it addresses things that they are concerned about in their own experience. We need to know and understand our culture as well as the Bible so that we can draw the connecting points and the points of contrast. Only then can we be effective in convincing people that they need to give the Bible a voice as they wrestle with the problems and needs of today's world.

Paul met people where he found them.

In Acts 17:23 Paul says, “For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found and altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.”

Paul observed people and their surroundings (carefully observed). He met people where he found them.

I commit myself to be more observant --- God gave man one mouth that closes, two eyes that close, and two ears that stay open. If we keep our mouths closed and our eyes open and listen twice as much as we talk we will learn more about where people are coming from. I will do a better job of listening. IT IS HARDER TO LEARN IF YOU KEEP YOUR MOUTH OPEN.

My prayer is, “God help me to be more observant and to listen what people are saying --- what they are really saying

When God Says No

In Acts 12 we have an interesting sequence of events. It's kind of a one-on-one bout between King Herod and God. It starts out looking pretty good for Herod. He arrests the apostle James and beheads him. So he goes for it again in round 2, arresting Peter. Hey, in a couple of weeks, he's about to knock off 2 of the 3 apostles that were in Jesus' inner circle.

But God sends an angel to bust Peter out of prison. Herod is furious when he finds he's escaped and takes it out on the four prison guards assigned to Peter's cell. Round 2 goes to God.

In Round 3, Herod really thinks he's something and when people laud him as a god, he just basks in his own glory and God strikes him with a painful and untimely death of being eaten from the inside out by worms. By the way, the historian Josephus tells us that he lingered for five days before God put him out of his misery. God wins in a knock-out.

But here's what I really got to thinking about. Prayer. Sometimes I find myself doubting the power of my prayers. This is especially the case when it comes to illnesses. There have been times that I've earnestly prayed for God to heal someone and he has. But there have been just as many times that I've prayed for healing and they've gotten no better, or even died. That makes me feel like my prayers don't seem to make much difference. Can you relate?

But looking at Acts 12, it occurred to me that two very different outcomes happened in the lives of James and Peter. James got the axe, while Peter gets a dramatic rescue from God. Now, if we were there as observers, what would we conclude? Would we figure that Peter just got lucky? Would we have doubts about God answering prayer because he didn't rescue James?

The disciples were praying for Peter's rescue (v. 5, 12), but when he showed up at their meeting place door, they thought the servant girl was out of her mind when she announced that Peter was outside (v. 15). Doesn't much sound like they expected their prayer to be effective, does it? And no wonder, they had surely done the same thing for James. But he got his head chopped off. Kind of leaves you feeling like your prayers didn't matter, huh?

But they did matter. Right? That's why Luke emphasizes their prayers for Peter. God did respond to their prayers. So what do we make of James? God said no. Why? He doesn't say. But we can guess that he knew that James would better serve his mission to save the world through his death rather than through his rescue. So why not Peter instead of James? Who can say? Because God is sovereign and he chose to spare Peter. He has that right to choose.

I will never forget that God is King, and that his choices are furthering his mission, whether or not I understand or get to do what I hope. I will trust that prayer does unleash God's power, even though he doesn't always comply. When he says no, I will remember James. And when he says yes, I will remember Peter.

Father, I hope your plans for me are glorious but, in life or by my death, may the glory be yours. Amen.

What I've Been Missing

In my reading from Acts 10 & 11 this week, I was struck by what happened with the vision God gave Peter of the sheet full of animals (Acts 10:13-16; 11:7-10). In both recounts of the vision, this same sequence of events takes place three times.

That made me think: Three times Peter heard God say that these foods were fine for him to eat, yet he would not believe it! Three times Peter refused to eat and called the foods "unclean" even though three times God said he had made them "clean."

This is a striking example of how blinded to God's will we can be by our presuppositions. Things that we've been taught and practiced that have become deeply engrained in us can cause us to be unable to hear even direct revelation from God to the contrary.

For instance, for many decades Christian people were racists who strongly defended segregation and even slavery. This was the case even though they read in their Bibles that God loves everyone and that Jesus came to save people from every tribe and nation and to bring them together around his throne. They read in several passages about how God doesn't show favoritism and how Jesus and his disciples broke down racial barriers. It's hard for us to get it. Why were they so blind? Because their racism was deeply engrained in them from childhood and they couldn't hear what God was saying to the contrary.

There are a number of positions that were drilled into me theologically by my parents and teachers as a child that took me many years to finally see that God was saying something different. I'm not immune to the kind of blinders that Peter wore. It took the Word of God, coupled with an eye-opening experience, to jar Peter's mind open. And that's often what's it's taken for me. But I will try to continually welcome God to re-instruct me and to correct my misunderstandings.

Lord, open my eyes to see what I've been missing all along. Amen.

Welcome

Welcome to our Men On A Mission Life Journal blog! You know, it's a lot more fun and motivational to spend time in God's Word when you have a group of friends that are reading the same things and sharing your insights with each other. What we get to do in class we can do even more of on this blog! Even if you're not currently in our class, you are welcome to join the discussion. We're reading through Acts right now.

First thing to do is create a Google account so that you can post to the blog. It's really simple and it's free. Just click on the link to add a post and it will ask you for your Google account info. Click "create an account." You just use your email address and create a password.

Once you have that, you can sign in to the blog. Click on the Sign In link and enter the Google account info. (You’ll have to sign in each time you want to post an entry or a comment.)

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See you on the blog!

Chris