Idol Plans

[From 3/31/11]

"You shall not make for yourselves an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth."

(Exodus 20:4)

The people have been through a lot.  Oppressive slavery in Egypt.  Signs & Wonders by God (aka "Ten Plagues!").  Passover & release.  Rejoicing turns to panic as the Egyptians attack.  God's salvation (again!) through the Red Sea.  And now God comes to speak to them as a group (cute thunder & lightning & earthquakes!).  God has set his indelible mark on this people, and now he's ready to lay down the ground rules for their relationships (with Him and with each other).

One of the early commandments God gives in Exodus 20 has come to be known as the "NO IDOLS" clause.  the people weren't to make any images, statues, carvings, etc. trying to re-present God.  No bulls, eagles, sheep, camels, etc.  Nothing to resemble any creature on, above or below the earth.

Author & pastor Rob Bell has an interesting insight on this.  He remarks that instead of images of wood or stone, God will use the lives of His people to show the world who He is.  I like that.  Of course, it adds a bit of pressure to us, too.  We must live in such a way that others come to see the Almighty.  And that's no idol plan!

Keep Still

[FROM 3/30/11]

"But Moses said to the people, 'Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the LORD will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall never see again.  The LORD will fight for you, and you only have to keep still."

(Exodus 14:13-14)

The Hebrew people have been freed (finally!) from slavery in Egypt.  God has done an amazing thing in their midst and set them free.  Now the Egyptians are reconsidering their actions.  They'll soon pursue & attack the Hebrews.  But God knows this.  And God has a plan.  The people can't see it, of course.  Fear clouds their eyes and hearts.  Major fear!  Crippling fear.

But God (through Moses) calms the people.  "Don't be afraid.  Stand firm.  See the deliverance..." Even though the powerful Egyptian army is fast approaching, God is in control.  And here's the great battle plan of the Lord: "The LORD will fight for you, and you only have to keep still" (v.14).

We are a busy people, aren't we?  Things to do... places to go... people to see... projects to complete.  We're frequently "on the move."  Sometimes, however, we're too busy for our own good.  Psalm 46:10 reminds us to "Be still, and know that I am God."  It may be that what we need most is to simply be still, and let God do "the fighting" for us. 

Keep still.

Keep still.

Keep still.

The Shepherd & Guardian of Our Souls

"For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd & guardian of your souls."

(1 Peter 2:25)

This has long been a favorite verse of mine... primarily because of the beautiful phrase used to describe Jesus... The Shepherd & Guardian of Your Souls.  But this morning I spent a bit of time reflecting on the truth & reality of that name.

Few Christians will argue with the designation of sheep & Shepherd when describing us and God.  It's an honor to be "one of the flock."  (Though just about every place else, to be seen as a "sheep" is a negative connotation - 'Don't be one of the (mindless) sheep.')  But despite this designation, we often act like WE are the Shepherd & Guardian of our own souls.  We want to have control of our own lives (physical & spiritual).  We have a hard time with submission (especially to God).

The funny part is, sheep don't do well on their own.  They are prone to wander & stray!  Which gets them in trouble quickly.  They weren't made to be "lone rangers," prowling the countryside alone.  They need a community (flock/church) and Shepherd (God) to care for & protect them.  They flourish when they submit to that authority. 

As a wayward sheep, may I remember that truth.  May I completely submit to The Shepherd & Guardian of My Soul!

Duty or Reward?

"So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, 'We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!'"

(Luke 17:10)

There's a curious parable in Luke 17.  Jesus talks about how servants 'do their job' and what's expected of them.  Their master doesn't offer them regular opportunities to be served.  No.  They know their job and they do it.  Willingly.  Then Jesus directs this parable to the disciples.  What's curious, however, is the phrase "worthless slaves" that he uses.  To a 'modern' audience, it sounds kinda harsh & uncaring.  But I think Jesus was simply stating the current reality of servants.  Nothing more.

A note in my Oxford Study Bible says this means our devotion to God is a "duty to be fulfilled" and not an occasion for reward.  This makes sense!  How often do we see "going to church," or serving the poor, or reading scripture, or praying as a "noble endeavor"?  Like it's a big sacrifice we've made to do these things, and we expect to be rewarded somehow (or at least complimented & congratulated).  NO, Jesus says.  You do it because you're supposed to.  Period.  It's what's expected of us as followers of Christ.  Holiness & devotion should be the NORM, not some kind of "extra credit."

That kinda changes how we should look at things, doesn't it?

Divine Pairs

"A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.  The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom & understanding, the spirit of counsel & might, the spirit of knowledge & the fear of the LORD."

(Isaiah 11:1-2)

Isaiah 11 talks about the coming Messiah.  It was a predictive passage - as Isaiah was looking towards what would come down the road.  God's chosen... a new kind of king!  Not one with political & geographical borders, but a king of spiritual & eternal consequences... ready to usher in God's kingdom here & now!!!

One of the sings Isaiah points us toward, so we can know who truly is this Messiah King, is recognizing that the spirit of the LORD is with him.  But there are other signs, too.  A spirit of wisdom & understanding, counsel & might, and knowledge & fear of the Lord.  They're all very familiar terms and the sentences flow so smoothly together.  But I spent a while seriously thinking about what they actually meant...

A spirit of wisdom & understanding... Wisdom is more than intelligence.  it's also insight & common sense.  Couple it with understanding, and it gives a depth of comprehension.  It becomes practical & extremely valuable.  It's definitely not a 'trivial pursuit.'

A spirit of counsel & might... This gives the king the ability to lead others - to help guide, direct, inspire, challenge, and encourage.  But couple it with might, and he can exude confidence because he's speaking from strength.  The might is not to be abused, of course.  Instead, it provides a deep reservoir... a foundation that enables him to better share good counsel (and have people accept that counsel!).

A spirit of knowledge & the fear of the Lord... Knowing God (not just knowing about God, which is vitally important, of course) means having an intimate relationship with God, which leads to a genuine fear of God.  Fear, however, does not mean literally being afraid... but rather a sense of respect, awe, and reverence.  Together these enable a healthy relationship with the Divine.

So this is what the Messiah King... what JESUS... would eventually be like, Isaiah says.  Why do we need to know this, if we already recognize Jesus as the Savior?  I think we ALL are called to strive for these "divine pairings" in our lives.  They can be a wonderful start of a daily prayer... "Lord, by your grace, fill me with your wisdom & understanding, with counsel & might, with knowledge & fear of you!  Help me to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, my Savior!  AMEN."

The Comeback

"When all these things have happened to you... if you call them to mind... and return to the LORD your God, and you & your children obey him with all your heart and with all your soul... then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you..."
(Deuteronomy 30:1-3)

God has just set a new agreement (covenant) with the people of Israel.  They're about to enter their new land and God wants to make sure they keep their relationship with Him a priority.  A lengthy list of "blessings & curses" takes place... and now it's up to the people.  They decide: blessing or curse?  Life or death?

But in chapter 30, God makes an interesting statement: no matter what happens to them (ie. blessings or curses), if the people use it as an opportunity to RETURN to God with all their heart & soul, then God will have compassion on them.

Life happens.  All the time.  All around us.  Good, bad & indifferent.  But how often do we use those experiences (whatever they may be) to draw our hearts back to God?  This passage from Deuteronomy 30 reminds us that's what's ultimately important.  The great Come-back... coming back to God... either out of blessings or struggles... that's what counts!  Amen to that!

Go Home!

"But Jesus refused, and said to him, 'Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the LORD has done for you, and what mercy he has shown you.'"

(Mark 5:19)

He was one of "those guys."  You know what I'm talking about, right?  Those guys you see from time to time.  Those "weirdos."  The crazy ones.  The ones you'd never be caught hanging around - because they're so unstable and usually out of control.  This particular guy live in the cemetery ("among the tombs").  He used to be chained & shackled, but had broken free from that bondage (ouch!) and no one could restrain him anymore (nor wanted to try!).  Plus, he was always howling and hurting himself with stones.  What a wacko!

But then he met Jesus.  Jesus cast out the demons who were possessing him (another amazing story - see verses 9-13!).  That was great for "the guy," for he was restored to his right mind.  But it freaked out the townsfolk... and they begged Jesus to leave (go figure!).  So as Jesus was leaving, "the guy" came back to him and begged Jesus to allow him to come with.  A new recruit!  The 13th disciple?  Which makes sense, considering how "his people" had treated him in the past.  I can almost hear him tell Jesus, "There's nothing left for me here" (ala Luke Skywalker speaking to Obi Wan Kenobi on Tatooine).

But Jesus refused.  Flat out.  Which sounds kinda harsh, doesn't it?  Until we read Jesus' reasoning: "Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the LORD has done for you, and what mercy he has shown you."  So evidently, even "those guys" have a few friends.  Instead of embarking on a whirlwind missionary tour with Jesus, he's told to go home and tell others what happened to him.

We're in the early stages of preparing to launch a new ministry at Aiea UMC.  It's going to be a house church program... specifically designed for people who'd probably never set foot in an "established" church (whether it be a traditional church building or even a cafeteria-turned-worship-center).  But they have friends.  And they'd probably be okay with going over to that friends' house to share a meal and talk about "stuff that matters."  "Go home to your friends and tell them how much the LORD has done for you," Jesus said.

Authentic relationships lead to authentic community... which (by the grace of God) leads to authentic faith.  Hey, maybe Jesus was on to something here!  I wonder what we could share with our friends about what God has done for us...

Endurance!

"Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and hold fast to the faith of Jesus."

(Revelation 14:12)

My son, Ezra, just finished his sophomore season playing high school varsity soccer.  This year they only had 14 rostered players.  Period.  All season.  Actually, that's not true.  They had 12 during the league playoffs... and 11 during the state tournament.  (By the way, in case you're not that familiar with soccer, 11 players are on the field at one time per team.  So, yah... to say they were a bit "thin" (no depth) would be an understatement!)

Ezra's team was forced to be in great condition.  No rests.  Running the whole game.  Endurance was the key.  By the end of the season, their superior conditioning actually helped them excel against teams that weren't in the same shape (one playoff game, in particular, came after being down 0-3... and they came back to win 4-3 in OT!).

The book of Revelation is unquestionably THE MOST DIFFICULT book in the Bible to read.  Actually, it really isn't "reading" that's the problem... it's understanding that's the killer!  So much of the symbolism & imagery was specific to the time period it was written in.  But one thing is clear: there will be challenges & struggles for those who follow Jesus.  Evil will be constantly "butting heads" with goodness.  It will not be easy.  So the key through it all is simple: endurance!  Building up the "thickness of our skins" so when we face challenges in life (and to our faith) - and we WILL face those challenges - we will be able to endure.  We'll have the Big Picture of God's Kingdom in mind.  We'll be able to "keep on keepin' on."

I guess that old sports adage is true: "It's not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game."  May we play with endurance!  AMEN.

"Freedom!"

"In the same way, my friends, you have died to the law through the body of Chris, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God."

(Romans 6:4)

I'm starting to watch the much-acclaimed HBO crime drama of the mid 2000's: THE WIRE. Centering around a special police unit in Baltimore, we get to see the ups-n-downs of both life "on the street" and "on the beat."  Both sides of the equation look to use the law to the full extent (either staying out of trouble, or getting folks into it!).  What stands out in this series is the blurred line between the "good guys" and the "bad guys."  Most characters have a mix of both.  Kinda like real life.

In Romans 7, Paul is speaking to those within Judaism who feel bound to fulfill the Laws of Moses.  He uses the analogy of a married relationship.  The wife is "bound" to her husband as long as he lives.  She can't run off and "hook up" with another man while her husband is a live (and vice versa).  But if he dies, then she's free to marry another.  She can transfer her loyalty without restraint.

The same is true for followers of Christ, Paul says.  When we make our commitment to Jesus, we "die to ourselves."  We're no longer bound to the (Mosaic) Law - to the obligation of trying to earn God's love & grace through "being a good person" (ie. our strict adherence to the rules & regs).  Instead, we're free to accept the NEW RELATIONSHIP with Christ.  A relationship that makes us whole not by our actions, but by our faith.

Sometimes, however, we Christians forget that we're no longer "wedded" to the law... we lapse back into trying to earn God's favor.  WRONG!  That's like spiritual adultery.  Does that mean we don't have any moral standards to live up to anymore?  Of course not.  For out of the grace & forgiveness in Christ, we (hopefully) want to live as new people!  It becomes a life of joy, rather than compulsion.

I'm only a few episodes into the first season of THE WIRE... but I can already see the signs of impending struggles that a life spent with "The Law" brings (both internally - within a person, and externally - in relation to others).  Thanks be to God for the gift of grace & freedom from the opporession of needing to try and live under the Law... through Jesus Christ our Lord!  AMEN.

The (unintentional) streaker!

"A certain young man was following (Jesus), wearing nothing but a linen cloth.  They caught hold of him, but he left the linen cloth and ran off naked." 

(Mark 14:51-52)

"There are no small roles, just small actors," the old theater adage goes.  There are your Leading Actors/Actresses... your Supporting Cast... you Ensemble... and then the occasional 'Minor Characters'.  This last group is often quite quirky & memorable.  Such is the case today.

Mark 14 is a massive chapter, seventy-two (72) verses in all.  It runs a span of 2 days... and encompasses (amongst other things) the Last Supper and Jesus' betrayal/arrest.  This quintessential final meal between Jesus and his closest followers ends with the disclosure that they'd all abandon him.  'No way!' they'd insist.  But, sure enough, when it went down, "all of them deserted him and fled" (v.50).

This is precisely where our aforementioned minor character enters the scene.  Described only as a "certain young man," we know nothing else about his background.  Had he followed Jesus before?  Maybe.  But he wasn't one of the 12 disciples, or they would have named him.  Was he an innocent bystander, merely caught up in the drama of the night?  Possibly.  But the phrase "was following (Jesus)" seems to indicate a bit more intention.  Some scholars suggest it might have been the author of Mark himself.  We really don't know.

Whomever it was, he was following Jesus on a night when ALL of Jesus' closest friends had abandoned him.  ALL OF THEM.  And he wasn't dressed for travel, it seems.  He merely had a "linen cloth" on.  Pajamas?  "Hang out at home" clothes?  Had he recently bathed and just threw something on when he heard the commotion out in the streets?  We don't know.  We can imply, however, that following Jesus that night was of more importance than putting on "decent clothes" before venturing out.

And he wasn't lurking in the shadows, keeping a safe distance, either.   He was close enough to touch.  Close enough to be grabbed... but not apprehended.  It cost him his "linen cloth," but he escaped the hands of the angry mob.  Naked.  (Streaking in the Bible?!?  Who knew!?)

What was it that compelled this "certain young man" to risk getting so close to Jesus on this night of nights?  Could it be that he had a sense that Jesus was the kind of person who'd risk everything for him later that same day?  Now that's PASSION!

May I not be content to merely play it safe in my following of Christ.  (Though I'm not sure I'm ready to start streaking for the Lord!  LOL)

The Vineyard is...???

"Then (Jesus) began to speak to them in parables.  'A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a pit for the wine press, and built a watchtower; then he leased it to tenants and went to another country...'" 

(Mark 2:1)

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants.  It's not one of Jesus' more 'high profile' or widely recognized parables... but it's familiar enough, nonetheless.  Basic story:  a man plants a vineyard, gets it all set up & operational, then leases it to tenants.  When it's harvest time, the tenants beat up the messengers sent to retrieve the owner's fair share of the crops.  Multiple attempts are met with similar (or worse!) outcomes.  Finally, the owner sends his only son.  Same story.  Son is killed.  the owner then casts them out, completely.

Originally, this parable was told to (about!) the Jewish religious leaders.  Of course, Jesus' own life story would follow this same storyline.  Actually, this is the storyline of all of human history - at least from a faith perspective.  We, as the tenants in God's vineyard, have not recognized the relationship with have with the Owner of the vineyard.  We haven't returned to God what's rightfully God's.  WE not only ignore but have abused his messengers over the years.

So is this a parable about stewardship of the environment?  The earth being God's vineyard, and we're all hired tenants?  Maybe.  But if this parable was told against the religious leaders... then maybe there's a more specific focus.  Maybe the vineyard is humankind... and the tenants are us spiritual leaders (pastors, priests, church leaders, etc.)?  Are we preparing the people for service to God, or simply using our church members for our own purposes (to make us feel good about ourselves?)?  Kinda dark when you think of it that way, isn't it?  THEN AGAIN... maybe the vineyard is our lives... and each of us is the tenant of that field.  So the big question is are we keeping our lives for ourselves (and our own enjoyments) or have we willingly given the rightful share to the One who "planted" (created) us?  Are we content to be self-sufficient and isolated?  Or can we embrace our relationship with our Master wholeheartedly?

I guess the true power of this parable depends on how you read it.  And what the vineyard actually is for you?!

The Guide

"Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus - for he was numbered among us and was alloted his share in this ministry."

(Acts 1:16-17)

Let's talk Judas.  What words come to mind when you hear his name?  TRAITOR... BETRAYER... THIEF (John tells us he used to steal their common funds)?  ALL-AROUND BAD DUDE?  Yet here in the first chapter of Acts - the book about the early church & how it got started - we get a slightly different perspective.  Judas has committed suicide & the disciples need to find a replacement amongst the 'inner circle.'  But what descriptive word does Peter use when talking about Judas?  "GUIDE."  Judas 'became a guide for those who arrested Jesus.'

It's sort of always bothered me that Judas got the label of "Betrayer."  It wasn't like he gave out any inside information about Jesus that people didn't already know.  Nor did he reveal any secret location of Jesus' whereabouts, when he was trying to remain hidden.  Jesus had been out in public all week - preaching & teaching (granted, during the day there were great crowds around him, so at night it would have been 'less congested,' and easier to arrest him without the people protesting).  But Jesus wasn't trying to stay hidden.  So I don't buy the 'betrayer' label.

But "guide" is very interesting.  Instead of helping guide people towards the Kingdom of God (which was Jesus' stated mission, and what he trained his disciples to do), Judas guided the Jewish religious authorities to Jesus - but not for insight, healing or illumination.  He guided them ot Jesus to STOP his ministry.  Maybe he became disillusioned with who he wanted Jesus to be in light of who Jesus was actually becoming?  Whatever the reason, Judas guided people to Jesus for the wrong reason.

One of my seminary professors liked to say that if we wanted to get the full impact of the Bible's power, then we needed to put ourselves in the role of the least likable characters in a story.  So how might we be following in Judas' footsteps?  How do we "guide" people to stopping Jesus' ministry?  How does what we say or do discredit the gospel that Jesus worked so hard to share?  It could be things that bring obvious shame to God (and Christianity in general), or it could be simply attitudes & actions that turn people off from seeing Jesus for who he really is.

Far be it from me to cast the first stone.  I just pray that I'm not one who guides people away from Christ.

No 'Take Backs'!

"The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to make a proclamation of liberty to them - that all should set free their Hebrew slaves, male & female, so that no one should hold another Judean in slavery."

(Jeremiah 23:8-9)

Jerusalem was under siege!  The Babylonians were attacking & things weren't looking good for the "home team."  In the midst of the entanglement, God sent a message to the people through the prophet Jeremiah: "Release all your Hebrew slaves.  Now!"

Scholars postulate why this command might have been given God... the food supply was running low (releasing slaves would be less mouths to feed!)... freed slaves might help defend the city (D-FENSE!)... or even in the midst of crisis, it would turn many hearts (back) to the LORD.  And King Zedekiah listened and obeyed.  All Hebrew slaves were freed.  Hallelujah!

But then the Egyptian army (with ties to Judah) approached from the south & the Babylonians retreated (momentarily) to meet that resistance.  Jerusalem was given a reprieve (if only for a moment)!  Praise God!  So what did they do to celebrate?  They took back their (former) slaves.  WHAT!?!?  How sad is that?!?

God noticed.  He sent word back with Jeremiah that since the people disobeyed His directions to release their slaves, he would "grant them a release" - a release of pestilence, famine & sword!  God wanted no take backs!!  When He gave a command it was to be followed.  Period.  Not "when it's convenient" or "under stressful situations only" or "when it seems to your advantage."

I think if we're honest, we're guilty of this all the time.  God has given us the words of life in the Bible... not a follow-this-instruction-sheet kind of a listing, but a take-this-in-and-allow-God's-spirit-to-direct-your steps kind of thing.  But we often have "selective hearing" (or is it "selective reading?")... choosing to follow/obey when it's convenient or practical or to our advantage.  Whether it's an issue of financial stewardship or caring for the environment or working for peace or loving our enemies or reaching out to help the poor (the list could go on and on!)... there are numerous times we "take back" a commitment we've made to God.

May we have the courage to follow through on our discipleship with the Lord.  May we trust that god knows what He's talking about when He calls us to obey.  And may we come to know the joy that is a life lived in obedience!  AMEN.

It all starts with goodness...

"For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love."

(2 Peter 1:5-7)

Interested in support your faith (well, who isn't, right?!)?  The author of 2nd Peter has a few suggestions: goodness, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness, mutual affection, and love.  Now maybe he was simply listing a bunch of things that all come in to play when "supporting your faith."  Then again, maybe it's something more...

As I thought about these, I wondered if there was a natural progression to these attributes?  Could it be that it all starts with goodness... a desire and willingness to do the right thing!?  Then you add knowledge... insight & understanding - which can expand one's horizon's greatly!  With that new-found knowledge, add self-control... here's where the "rubber meets the road," so to speak.  Knowing what's right and wrong and choosing to obey.  Self-control is greatly underrated in our society.  What can aid self-control?  Endurance!  Having a vision of "the big picture" or "the long haul," and not settling for anything temporary or fleeting, no matter how enticing it may be.  Once endurance has kicked in, godliness starts forming... a consistent lifestyle that echoes what God desires from us.  With an increased sense of godliness, one is able to have mutual affection towards others - no longer focused solely on self, a believer is open to having affectionate feelings toward all.  The ultimate progression of faith, however, culminates in genuine love.  Not an "I love this!" passing fancy... but a deep & sincere love.  A love that can change people and transform the world.

Sound hard to believe?  Sound too good to be true?  It's not as far away as you might think... and it all starts with goodness.

DO provoke me!

"And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

(Hebrews 10:24-25)

I have a tendency to get a bit over-competitive.  When I was in high school, it sometimes affected me during play (especially basketball).  I'd come to literally hate my opponent while we were playing.  I had to make a conscious decision to change that aspect of me.  I retained the competitive drive, but let go of the anger component (big help!).  I've noticed, however, that it's manifesting itself on occasion now as I'm watching my son's soccer games.

Ezra is a very talented striker, playing on a very talented club (Abunai 95).  They're currently playing in 2 leagues where they play teams that are 1-2 years older than they... and they do very well.  However, at some of the more evenly-matched competitions, I find myself getting riled at the following:

1. What I perceive to be bad/unfair calls by the referees (or missed calls!)...
2. Rude comments by the opposing fans...
3. (Did I mention bad calls yet?)

I tend to revert to "encouraging sarcasm" - a precise & highly effective method of couching biting sarcasm in the guise of encouragement to our players.  This is never directed at the kids, mind you... but at the referees & opposing fans.  For example: "Don't worry Steve, maybe NEXT time the ref will call the foul!"

A week ago, with our team down 0-1 in the closing moments of the game, Ezra buried a blocked penalty kick into the back of the net for what should have been the game-tying score.  Instead, the ref blew the whistle signifying the end of the match just as he was kicking the ball.  It literally was a matter of 2-3 seconds from when his teammate took the PK, to when Ezra pounced on the blocked ball.  AND THE REF STILL BLEW THE WHISTLE.  No goal.  Game over.  I'd never seen anything like it (usually a ref will wait until the ball is out of immediate goal-scoring danger!).

Well, I was so frustrated that I stood up and shouted, "Merry Christmas (insert opponent team's name here)!!!!"  Well, some of the opposing parents got a bit upset at this and started shouting back at me (including telling me to "Shut up!").  Nothing came of it, of course... (except embarrassment to unnamed family members).

So when I read Hebrews 10 today... "Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds"... I realized it was a message for me.  Will I "use my powers" (creative language skills!) for good or ill?  Will what I say bring encouragement or discouragement?  For the most part, I'm a very encouraging guy... but maybe I can stand a bit of improvement nonetheless (especially outside of my role as pastor).

How might YOU 'provoke' someone to love and good deeds today?

An Indestructible Life

"It is even more obvious when another priest arises, resembling Melchizedek, one who has become a priest, not through a legal requirement concerning physical descent, but through the power of an indestructible life."

(Hebrews 7:15-16)

The author of Hebrews spends chapter 7 talking about the great high priest Melchizedek from the time of Abraham.  In contrast, he presents Jesus - who surpasses even "The Great Mel."  What struck me as I was reading this today was the qualification... Jesus wasn't "born into" his priesthood (well, technically the whole Son-of-God thing might be construed this way, but let's put that thought aside for now).  He didn't get his title from his family line (which is how the priesthood was passed down back then - through the tribe of Levi!).  Instead, it was "the power of an indestructible life."  Wow.

An indestructible life... doesn't mean "impervious to harm," for Jesus was ultimately crucified.  Maybe Jesus' "indestructibility" refers to his focus... his passion... his purpose in life.  He knew who God was calling him to be.  He didn't let anyone push him off of or dissuade his resolve - even to the point of giving up his life out of love.

We're not Jesus, of course... but could we strive for "an indestructible life," too?  How might our lives echo Jesus' mission of love, grace, and acceptance of others?  Can we be grounded in a life that focuses on "giving ourselves away for the world"... and thereby find something that no one (or no thing) can ever take away?

"$#@~%&*!!"

"Make a joyful noise to the LORD all the earth."
(Psalm 100:1)

When it comes to the most well-known psalms, there's Psalm 23 ("The LORD is my shepherd...") and then there's a HUGE gap before whatever psalm comes next.  Psalm 100 might be that #2 psalm.  It's opening line is also quite memorable: "MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE TO THE LORD!"

As I read this today, my heart stopped on the words "joyful noise."  I wonder what the ratio between praising God and cursing God is these days?  Granted, most people who "use God's name in vain" probably aren't actually associating God with their curse.  It just rolls off the tongue, "God &@##$+!"  And yet it literally pains my heart every time I hear these words - either via movies, TV show, or in person (in fact, I've begun the practice of immediately asking God to forgive whomever said it... "they know not what they do!").

How frustrating it must be for God - who created us all - to have to hear a "grumbling noise" all of the time from us!  The One who gives us so much (of himself, even!) often gets our worst.  So the psalmist challenges us to be intentional about making a joyful noise to the LORD.  In the morning when we rise ("Oh God, time to get up already!??)... while we're driving (especially with those "less thoughtful" drivers on the roads!)... when our kids get us frustrated (we can ask God's blessing upon them, instead of... well, you know!)... when we come to worship - expecting God to meet us ("Enter his courts with praise!").  May we be more intentional about making joyful noises to the LORD... and may praise & joy be ever on our lips!  AMEN.

Not for wimps!

"Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with (Jesus)."

(John 6:66)

John 6 begins with Jesus' miracle of feeding 5,000 people with 5 loaves of bread & 2 fish. While it satisfied the crowd, however, they must have misinterpreted the significance... for John tells us that Jesus had to leave because he realized they wanted to force him to be their king ("The Lunch King!"). But the people tracked him down the next day. Jesus decided to confront the issue. 'You're only here because you were fed yesterday,' he said. 'Forget that kind of food. Seek the food that leads to eternal life, instead!' (v.26-27).

What transpires is a lengthy discourse on Jesus as the Bread of Life, and how life comes to the world through his "flesh and blood." Of course, some interpret this to mean a kind of cannibalism... and get very offended. Jesus even tells them he knows who among they does and does not believe. After this, John writes that "many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him."

I wonder why those followers left? Was it because of theological reasons (didn't think Jesus was actually God)? Confusion over what he was saying (what's all this cannibalistic talk, anyway!)? Guilt that Jesus had figured out who didn't believe, but were just hanging around for free meals? Heck, maybe some left out of "vegetarian reasons" (okay, probably not). Or... did some get a sense that following Jesus was going to be a LOT MORE DIFFICULT than they had originally expected? "This teaching is difficult, who can accept it?" verse 60 asks. How true! Jesus' message was all about loving one's enemies... praying for those who've hurt you... reaching out to the poor, outcast & neglected... redistributing wealth & resources so all had enough... putting others first... dying to yourself... hard stuff, indeed! Following Jesus is not for wimps. The cost is great.

...But the result is eternal! Eternal life that starts right now. Not when we die. But here & now. A life with more vitality... more purpose... more fulfillment... than anything we could experience if we kept trying to do things our way. A life lived with the Savior. Now that's fulfilling! AMEN.

Mother Knows Best!

"His mother said to the servants, 'Do whatever he tells you.'"

(John 2:5)

Most everyone loves a wedding... and the party that follows! They overflow with joy, fun, food, wine & celebration. The wedding in John chapter 2 was no exception. Jesus (and his mom) had been invited to this wedding in the town of Cana.

Weddings in biblical times would last for days. The host, therefore, needed a lot of food and drink. Unfortunately, this host didn't plan well enough, and the wine ran out. Mary mentioned this to Jesus, who seemingly brushed her off ("Woman, what concern is that to you and me? My hour has not yet come."). Was Jesus simply saying, 'That's not my problem!' or could he have been thinking his first-ever miracle would be for a more 'significant' moment? I don't know. But he doesn't seem inclined to want to change the situation, does he?

But Mary says something that only a mother probably could. Undoubtedly with Jesus listening, she tells the servants of the host, 'Do whatever he tells you.' This, of course, implies that Jesus is about to DO SOMETHING. And that's what happens!

Why did Mary override Jesus' objection? Maybe the host was a close friend, and Mary wanted to save him (and his wife) the embarrassment of having run out of wine. Maybe she knew that Jesus was a special instrument of God, and believed it was time for him to get to work. Whatever the reason, she gave the servants an instruction that we all need to remember: "DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU."

Indeed, that's great advice for us today. Do whatever he tells you. Of course, the "$64K Question" is how do we know/hear what Jesus/God tells us to do? (Are YOU hearing voices in your head?!?) Here's the top 3 ways I hear God's voice:

1. By reading the Bible... I'd venture more than 95% of what God needs to say to me is already present in the Bible... I've just got to seek it out!
2. By quietly listening... to the thoughts/ideas that come into my head when I'm seeking God's direction. Some of the thoughts, of course, are simply my thoughts... but others, I soon discover, have the fingerprints of the divine on them!
3. Through the words of others... through conversations, by reading books, listening to music, etc.

Thanks, Mary... that's great advice. Do whatever he tells us!
AMEN.

Sacrificial Love

"I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh."

(Romans 9:2-3)

Passion. Emotion. Depth of Feeling. Sincerity. Sacrifice. It's all here in these early verses from Romans 9. Paul, who "grew up" as a devout Jew (which is putting it lightly!), then experienced a conversion as an adult, and became a follower of Jesus. He ended up becoming one of the most prolific (and effective!) church planters in Christian history! Much of the New Testament are the letters he wrote to believers in the churches he helped start.

What was hard for him to deal with, however, was that most of the people who welcomed him and his message of Christ's love, acceptance & forgiveness, were non-Jews (aka "Gentiles"). his life had been radically changed for the better, and his "own people" weren't open to hearing about it.

He writes, in chapter 9, how much it pains him that his fellow Jews haven't come to know Jesus and he'd even sacrifice HIS relationship with Him, if it would bring others to the faith. Wow. That really flies in the face of the "it's-all-about-me" mentality so many of us have. What passion, emotion, depth of feeling, sincerity & sacrificial love.

(I have so much to learn...)