"Look back to stay on track." It sounds counter intuitive, like it doesn't quite fit. How can we stay on track by looking back? It is true that when you're walking down a path it's important to keep your eyes focused on the next steps. However, in the larger scheme of things, how do you know you're actually heading in the right direction?
While there are certainly a lot of changes taking place in the church today, Christianity is still "the faith of our fathers." We anchor our faith in the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, an event that took place 2000 years ago. Yet God's redemptive plans take us back even further to the very beginning of man's activity on earth. From the time of Adam and Eve's sin, God has been actively engaged in the process of redeeming lost humanity back to himself. With that in mind, it's critical that every long standing church program and/or brand new activity be evaluated through the lens of God's eternal purposes as witnessed throughout the ages.
Busyness can create in us the feeling that we are doing things for God. However, doing things and doing the right things can be two different propositions. And so I suggest we continue to "look back to stay on track." Let's make sure our activity is in line with God's plans and purposes, for our lives and for his church.
__________________
I don't recall thinking about it this way, yet it make's sense. The second of the three temptations thrown at Jesus in Luke 4 speak of all the kingdoms of the world being revealed to Jesus in a moment of time. In other words, through his eye gate he saw all the beauty this world has to offer, all the "stuff"--the idols--we as humans continually get drawn to. Yet, he was able to say "no," affirming his commitment to worship and serve but one God--his Father.
Eyes are a wonderful and fearful gift from God. The ability to see the world around us, to take in all that he has created, to gather information, to view a sunset, to see the horror of war. The list could go on nearly endlessly of all that can be taken in through our eyes. While they provide so much good, our eyes can also betray us as they serve to feed our endless appetite for things
While on several occasions in my life I have voiced in prayer my desire to serve him with all that I am, I don't believe I have ever been so specific as to give him my eyes. So I do it now: "Lord, I want my eyes to always glorify you. May my eyes always feed my soul with good things that elevate my heart and empower me to fulfill your purposes. And when I see things that if reflected on would have the potential of damaging my soul, may I quickly give it to you. You are my inheritance and all that is good, wholesome, and beautiful is found in you alone. Amen."
____________________
In his book, Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell tells the story of the Roseto mystery. A number of families from Roseto, Italy, migrated to America in the 1880s and '90s and most of them settled in a small community they named after their Italian town. The new Roseto looked, felt, and functioned a lot like their former home; in the early '90s, it was a little island unto itself in the heart of Pennsylvania.
Where the story gets interesting is in the 1950s when a doctor in the region noted that he rarely met anyone from that area who suffered from heart disease. In fact, further study and investigation discovered that this little community had staggeringly healthy hearts, much lower than the surrounding area or the national average. More research forced them to conclude that their healthy condition had nothing to do with any physical dynamic--eating, exercise, etc.
What they finally concluded was that their abnormally healthy condition was a direct result of their commitment to community. They ate together, sat on their porches sharing their life's stories, greeted each other on the street. In other words, they genuinely loved one another and consistently showed it in very practical ways.
The mystery of Roseto reinforces a truth God has been trying to get us to see from the very beginning...we were made for community, and grasping that truth just may add healthy years to our lives.
___________________
"Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col. 1:27)
Paul, in his letter to the Colossian church, speaks of a "mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations." It isn't a surprise that God might know something we don't know. That's the very nature of being God, of knowing all things. And yet, this mystery, the greatest mystery of all time, Paul says, has now been made known to us all. God has pulled the blinders off; he has removed the veil making it possible for us to now know the mystery that has been hidden in God from before time.
Some might say, "surely he is speaking about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." Yes, in part that would be correct. The mystery does have to do with Jesus who is the visible image of the invisible God; the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end; the firstborn of the created universe, who rose from the dead never to die again; the Conqueror of death, sin, and the grave; the One in whom all things find their meaning and reality; the one who reconciled all things in heaven and earth to God; the One who is supreme in every realm and holds the first place in all things.
And yet, the most amazing truth is that that Jesus Christ has chosen to place all his fullness inside of us. We are his body, forever connected to the Head, invigorated by his presence and power, so we can live this life in and through him.
Your circumstances may not be the best, but that doesn't mean you have to be imprisoned inside. If you are in Christ, and Christ is in you, you are free; and "he whom the Son sets free, is free indeed."
_________________________
In 1994, Immaculee Ilibagiza, a Rwandan native, was a 22 year old college student at home for Easter vacation to visit family and friends when the death of Rwanda's Hutu president sparked a three month slaughter of nearly one million native Tutsis in the country. All but one brother of Immaculee's family was murdered. She miraculously survived by hiding in a Hutu pastor's bathroom for 91 terrifying days along with seven other starving women as machete-wielding killers hunted for them.
Her eye-witness account of those horrific days, recorded in her book "Left to Tell," is soul-numbingly devastating. And yet, it was during those endless hours of unspeakable terror that Immaculee discovered the power of prayer, eventually shedding her fear of death and forging a profound and lasting relationship with God. She emerged from her bathroom hideout having discovered true unconditional love--a love so strong that she was able to speak out with triumph and forgive even her family's killers.
Immaculee's story is a powerful witness of the strength of God's grace, a grace that can overcome the devastating force of machetes and machine guns. However, she first had to learn that there would be no victory over the enemy out there without first defeating the enemy in her...the fear and anger that would destroy her. Through hours of prayer she emerged triumphant, a triumph that can be experienced by us all as we put our trust in God.
___________________________
"If you take only one thing from this book, let it be this: Relationships are ultimately what matter--our relationships with God and with other people."
Tony Dungy: The Mentor Leader
Tony Dungy is the former coach of the Indianapolis Colts. To say that he was a good coach would be an understatement. He was successful in every phase of the game, including taking his team to the NFL championship. But what he is most proud of isn't the number of games he won, but the number of lives he gets to positively influence along the way. Every day as he heads off to his various responsibilities, he asks himself this question: "What can I do to make other people better, to make them all that God created them to be?" That can only flow out of the heart of a person who has moved beyond desiring the emptiness of fame and success to wanting to make significant contributions into the lives of others.
Not surprisingly, Tony's attitude is a direct reflection of his relationship with his Savior, Jesus Christ. In spite of the fact that Jesus is the most important and influential person who ever walked on this earth, he never occupied a human position of influence or status. Jesus influenced others by laying is life down on their behalf. He came to seek and save those who were lost, those who recognize their need for a Savior. And we will fulfill God's purpose for our lives only as we emulate our Savior just as Tony Dungy attempts to do every day of his life. And you don't have to be a famous football coach to have influence. Simply follow Jesus in loving others and you will positively influence everyone you meet.
________________
Johnny the Bagger is the story of a 19 year old Down Syndrome lad and how he changed the culture of not only the grocery store where he worked, but also the culture of a large number of businesses that have heard the story.
Johnny heard a speech about putting your own unique signature on your work, something that would communicate to the customer that he or she is the most important person. Initially Johnny didn't think he could do anything special for his customers. After all, he said, "I'm just a bagger." But then he came up with an idea. He decided that every night when he came home from work he would find a thought for the day. His dad helped him put a few on a single page and print them off. Johnny would then cut each quote out and sign his name on the back of every one of them. The next day, as he bagged groceries, he would put a "Thought for the Day" in each one. A month later, the store manager was quoted as saying, "Johnny has completely transformed our store."
A legitimate question for all of us is: "How is what I do every day making someone's life better?" Paul put it this way in his letter to the Colossian church: "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone" (Col. 4:6)
Johnny the Bagger gives us all hope--anyone can make a difference in their world.
________________
Freddy Adu was special. No one in the world had ever accomplished what he had done. At age 13 he signed a million dollar contract to play professional soccer. To say he was special is an understatement. Yet, nearly seven years later, Freddy finds himself sitting on the sidelines watching his USA team play on the biggest stage for the World Cup.
One day as Jesus and his disciples were leaving the temple, one of them commented, "Teacher, look at these magnificent buildings! Look at the impressive stones in the walls." "Yes, look at these great buildings" responded Jesus. "But they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another."
We use words like solid or permanent to describe things like important buildings and rising stars. Jesus sees them for what they are, things of this world that, in light of eternity, have but a short shelf life.
What are you investing in? What has your attention? What do you adorn with words of praise? Where are you placing your hope? To place our hope in anything other than what has eternal value and genuine permanence is foully. It is much like a falling man grabbing a falling rope and thinking that he will be okay. Reputations will rise and fall; buildings will come crashing down, but Jesus will be there for eternity.
_________________
For those who just might not be up on the latest in sports, the most watched sporting event in the world started up this past week--the World Cup. 32 nations have gathered in South Africa to compete against each other to see who is the best soccer team in the world. One of the early games pitted the USA against England. England scored in the 4th minute of the game, putting the American team at a major disadvantage. Early during the second have I called my grandson, Cade, who lives in Denver and is a big soccer fan. As we were watching the game unfold, I yelled out, "We scored, we scored!!!" Cade said, "What did you say?" Five seconds later he said, "Oh, yes, we did score!" Finally, it dawned on us...I was getting the game five seconds before he was.
The ability to know in advance what is going to take place is God kind of stuff. However, he knows not just a few seconds before hand, but from eternity to eternity, what will take place. And it's for that reason that it makes perfect sense to trust in him. I want to ride with someone who knows where I'm going and how things are going to turn out.
_________________
When challenged to identify the greatest commandment, Jesus responded with what the Jews would have known as The Great Shema, basically, the quoting of a passage from Deuteronomy 6. In that passage of Scripture, we are challenged to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Why would Jesus distinguish between the various parts of our humanness? Why not just say, "Love God with everything you have?"
By pointing out the various parts of who we are, it actually helps us take a significant step forward in our spiritual formation. For instance, if my car isn't working well, by doing a little diagnostic work, I can tell whether the problem is a bad tire, a dead battery or possibly something much worse. This process saves me a great deal of time, energy and possibly money. I won't get frustrated for working on something that ends up not being the problem.
As I evaluate my life and think about where I want to be spiritually, I can focus on the area that is going to produce the greatest immediate result or that has been my greatest hindrance. For instance, if I am consistently making a bad choice, rather than beating myself up for such a foolish decision, I know that it will be better if I strengthen my will by consistently doing good things like memorizing God's word. Taking positive steps ahead of time significantly improves my chances of making good choices in every aspect of my life.
_______________
"We stand as witnesses that swimming in deep water and drowning are not the same thing."
James Baldwin
Earlier today I had the privilege of praying with a young man who was about to jump into a very uncomfortable place. Rather than being satisfied to sit back and settle into a routine of mediocrity in his chosen career, he decided to apply for a certification that would improve his chances of financial success for the future. While that sounds like a reasonable thing to do, for this person, it was going to require that he risk failure, to push himself well beyond his own personal comfort zone.
The one thing that's similar about swimming in deep water and drowning is that they can both happen in the same place. I have met folks who have said, "I will never allow myself to be hurt again by another person." While none of us want to experience the pain of a broken relationship, by taking that stance, we remove ourselves from the possibility of ever truly enjoying the exhilaration and joy that comes in the context of a friend's company. Fear is a powerful force. Yes, it can save us from making dumb decisions that might lead to drowning. However, it can also keep us on the shore, safe, but never experiencing the possibilities of the life of faith God has designed for us.
_________________
"Toss your to-do list" is the title of a chapter from a book I grabbed off my book shelf recently when I had a couple minutes of down-time. The first thought I had when I read that title was something like, "I can't think of a more reckless thing to do!" I live by my to-do list. Only half joking do I say, "I have a great memory--it's just short." Filling out a to-do list is one of the first things I do each week, and I carry it with me just about everywhere I go.
However, in spite of the fact that I almost always fill it out in the context of prayer and reflection--inviting the Holy Spirit to be a significant part of the process--I know I can allow my "list" to govern my week. The positive side of the list is that it keeps me on track and it helps me get much more done. The negative side is that I can depend too much on what I have written down and miss the opportunity to respond to the immediate urging of the Holy Spirit. After all, God is always working in people, and I don't want to miss the chance of being used by him. I will continue to put a list together, but with the understanding that the Holy Spirit can trump that list any time he so desires.
April 29, 2010
An article in USA Today earlier this month brought to the general public an area of discussion that has been going on for a long time in the Christian church, namely, who gets to go to heaven and how will they get there? The article highlighted a recent survey which showed that 36% of Presbyterians disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement, "Only followers of Jesus Christ can be saved." In other words, nearly a third of those interviewed believe that Jesus Christ is not the only way to get to heaven.
The truth certainly isn't a popular one today. However, the Bible is pretty clear on this point (Eph. 1:10; Phil. 2:10). Jesus Christ is the only one who died for our sins; he is the one who became our substitute, paying the full price for our rejection of God (John 3:16). And only by accepting him as our Savior will we know eternal life.
April 21, 2010
We are in our second week of focus on The Jesus Creed. In response to one person's question, no, the Jesus Creed is not as old as one of the early church creeds like the Nicene Creed of the 4th century. The name comes from Scott McKnight and the title of his book first published in 2004. However, it is framed around a passage that is very old, one that Jesus would have been taught and frequently quoted from Deuteronomy 6 and Leviticus 19:18. We will be spending the next several weeks looking at this "creed," its implications and impact on our lives.
In the mean time, I invite you to work at memorizing this particular section of Scripture, Mark 12:29-31. I have gotten into the habit of quoting it at least twice a day, just after I awake in the morning and before I fall asleep in the evening. It's amazing how it helps to frame my day; I believe you will find it to be very helpful as well.
The Jews call this particular passage of Scripture in Deuteronomy the "Shema" which means "to hear." And for them, as it should be for us, to hear meant comprehension and obedience. In other words, when our heavenly Father said, "Hear, O Israel," he expected a positive and obedient response from those who claimed to be his followers. And so it should be from us, his church, today.
April 13, 2010
Getting away for a few days to read and reflect is always a healthy activity for me (and when my wife is along, that's even better). Whether on a break or in the context of normal weekly reading, on most pages of books I read, you will find some way that I have interacted with the author. It might be something as simple as an underlined word or sentence or something more extensive, like a note jotted down on the edge, top, or bottom of the page that highlights my opinion of a statement made.
At the bottom of one such page in a book on leadership and character development, my comment was simply, "WOW!" It wasn't a "wow, that's really good," but a "wow! Who could live up to that!" I wasn't trying to excuse myself from the responsibility of doing right; yet, I felt overwhelmed with what was being suggested that I be and do.
As I gave more thought to it, it came to me that more than likely I have left folks with the same response at the end of a sermon--"Wow. How can I live up to that?" The truth is that none of us can, that is, apart from the presence and power of the risen Lord. He is the one who makes it possible for us to both be and do more than we could have ever expected. "Thank-you, Jesus, for your grace that empowers and forgives."
April 5, 2010
Stories of the power of our resurrected Lord to change lives catch our attention and stir our imagination--like the story of Rachel. According to Linda Smith's book, "Renting Lacy," Rachel was born in England. Her mother drank and her stepfather was abusive. Just barely a teenager, Rachel dropped out of school to support herself and escape her family life. She worked as a nude model and stripper in London, and was taken to Germany at about 16. When her crack-addicted pimp tried to kill her, Rachel sought refuge at a local church where she found shelter, a job, and a home.
It would be impossible to attempt to come up with even a guess of the number of stories similar to this in any given year. And equally so, most often we would find a group of people--called the church--who love, care, and support, making recovery a very real possibility. It is clearly the "kindness" of God that makes salvation possible. We, the people of God, are called to demonstrate that same kindness by welcoming and receiving just as Jesus has done to us.
We were reminded this past Easter weekend that it was Mary Magdalene, out of whom Jesus cast seven demons, who was selected to be the very first evangelist, chosen by Jesus to carry the message of the resurrection to the other disciples.
March 30, 2010
In a culture that has so thoroughly given itself to the power and privilege of the individual, the theme of unity in our Lord's prayer recorded in John 17 is a major challenge. He not only tells us to be "one," he clearly states that our unity will be the means by which the world around us will be able to tell we are followers of Christ. "May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have love them even as you have loved me" (John 17:23). Those are pretty high stakes. Disunity not only causes corporate psychological issues, but in addition, it means we have failed to fulfill the very reason for which the Lord has chosen to keep us here in this world.
In a city filled with different denominations holding to different faith statements, what is this unity suppose to look like? Here is my offering: The church is called to be a community of believers bound by love and sent to live out and proclaim the gospel of Jesus in the midst of a hostile and broken world. If by unity we mean that we all worship under the same roof, using the same worship style, and subscribe to the same doctrinal beliefs and church structure, we are in serious trouble. However, I do believe that unity in the midst of diversity is possible. And it is to that end we are all called to strive.
March 23, 2010
During the past three weeks we have been reviewing concrete ways we can put love into practice (see the March 18, 2010 Compass). The last of those four ways is Eating Together. It might also be defined as hospitality. Alan Roxburgh defines hospitality as "The practice of receiving another person as a gift without the need to make him/her into something after one's own image." When we meet with others with this understanding of hospitality, we create a safe place--a sacred place--where people are willing to risk expressing their personal experiences, emotions, pains, and concerns. When that kind of atmosphere is developed, openness and healing can take place at a much deeper level than ever anticipated.
Sacred places have little regard for location or address. What makes those moments sacred is the honoring of God, of one another, and allowing the Holy Spirit to use us for his glory. And it doesn't have to be two Christians spending time talking about Jesus. Any time we honor that other person as having been created in God's image, Christian or non-Christian, we are creating a sacred place.
March 18, 2010
For a couple of months now I have been wrestling with the question: "What should define the church?" Several activities and values have come to mind, most of which proved to be institutional, vague, and lacked any compelling force. It's sad when all that defines us is the fact that we meet together on Sunday morning, and that we have a list of social issues we fiercely stand against. I believe we can do better than that.
Most of my biblical reflection has been centered on the last five verses of Acts 2. According to this passage, the early church became defined by a number of activities that were not only compelling, both individually and corporately, but also resulted in explosive growth. My question became then: "what would be a reproducible and memorable format we could use that would help us integrate those same activities into the life of our church?" What surfaced was the idea of using LOVE as an acronym that would embody those activities. It looks like this:
L= Listen & Learn from God in order to share with others
O= Offer a blessing> catch someone doing good
V= Voice a prayer> join in the pain or life-choices of others
E= Eat together> rediscover a sense of the sacred about breaking bread (or coffee) with others
I just happen to believe that any group of people who would be committed to living out these four activities would be a community many others, both Christian and pre-Christian, would want to be a part of. After all, isn't that the idea?
March 11, 2010
"How can the natural man recognize the Supreme God in the stooping form of a slave, clad only in a loincloth."
Lesslie Newbigin
As Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John unpack the account of the closing days of Christ's earthly ministry, I keep expecting one--if not all--of the disciples to come forth with some majestic declaration of who Jesus really is. It doesn't come. I hold up the Bible and want to yell at those struggling followers of our Lord. "How blind can you be? How can you miss all the signs of his glory and majesty? If nothing else, just look at the miracles!"
And yet, when honesty prevails, I have to acknowledge that if I would have been in their sandals, I would have been just as blind, just as unaware of what was taking place right before my eyes. John 13 is a perfect example. It wasn't required, but it would have been thought of as a very generous and kind jesture of honor for a disciple to wash the feet of his master. Here, as Lesslie Newbigin rightly points out, we have "the Supreme God in the stooping form of a slave," washing the feet of his disciples. If I would have walked into that room at the moment when Jesus began washing feet, and asked to point to the one whom I thought was our Redeemer/King, that stooping figure would have been the last one suggested.
I'm not so sure that the revolutionary nature of the life our Lord and Savior lived out on earth can ever be fully grasped. And yet, I do him an injustice if I suggest that our Christian faith is only good for fire insurance and moral purity. It certainly includes those things, but so much more. I am called to embrace that same revolutionary spirit that collides with the self-centeredness of my own human nature. In other words, I am called--we are called--to be just like him, humble in spirit, always putting others first.
