Newlyweds

"When a man is newly married, he shall not go out with the army or be charged with any related duty. He shall be free at home one year, to be happy with the wife whom he has married."
(Deuteronomy 24:5)

There are some pretty interesting laws found in the 3 chapters of Deuteronomy 22-24... tackling such subjects as: cross-dressing, roof construction, blended clothing, rape, wet dreams, designated "outhouse" areas, runaway slaves, charging interest, kidnapping, payday, and lost tools (to name just a few!). But I was fascinated by Deuteronomy 24:5 which allows for a newly married man to be released from army duty for a year (or at least from being sent out to war), so he can enjoy his marriage.

I'm guessing this was an expression of the harsh reality of the life of a soldier. The chances were good that he might not come back from a battle. So to honor the sacred relationship of marriage, the Israelites were given at least one year together when married (how romantic!).

Today, the vast majority of society are not soldiers. However, I wonder how the spirit of this law (honoring marriage in a newlywed couple) could be translated into modern times?

• Would we prohibit men from frequenting night clubs, bars & parties without their newly wedded wives (and vice versa)... so as to avoid the dangerous temptations of flirtation & adultery?
• Would we prohibit newlywed couples from having children during year one - so they can truly enjoy each other before having to care for a child (which radically changes every relationship)?
• Would we prohibit any dangerous/risky behaviors (ie. alcohol, drug-use, speeding/racing, gang-involvement, etc.)... so as to better preserve the lives of these couples?

It's an interesting question, isn't it? But there's something to be said for a culture that embeds rules to help protect, preserve, & strengthen a newly-married couple. Now... what about going BEYOND year one?!?!?

PRAYER: Help me to put my relationship with Jody as a priority, Lord... safeguard my thoughts, words & actions to protect my marriage. And help me to encourage other marriages to be strengthened - in the first year and far beyond! AMEN.

Reconciliation

[From May 14th]

"All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us."

(2 Corinthians 5:18-19)

Reconciliation. It presupposes two people have grown apart. Painfully. Damage has occurred. Reconciliation brings healing and restoration. That's god's "BIG PICTURE." Humankind has grown apart from God because of how we've grown apart from each other. No amount of "Turn from your sin" messages!" from the prophets had made a significant difference. We may have wanted to change, but often found ourselves sinking back into sin.

So God sent Jesus. To love. To live. To show us how we were created to relate to each other. And he came to forgive. To pardon. To reconcile. Everyone. The World. To Himself.

But that's not all. Now we're called to carry the torch. To share "the ministry of reconciliation" with others. Not only reonciliation with God, but also with one another. They go hand in hand. How might my day (life?) change if I made reocnicliation a priority? How about yours?

Generosity Commanded

"Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore comand you, 'Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land.'"
(Deuteronomy 15:11)

I believe God created us to be generous. At our very best, we share. Freely. At our worst, we hoard. Oh, we may call it "saving"... or tell others we're working to "provide for our future"... we might even consider it being "frugal." But there's a very dangerous attraction to holding on to our resources, rather than releasing them to those in need.

God seems very clear about where He stands on this in Scripture. In Deuteronomy 15, as God is setting the ground rules for life in a community of faith that honors Him, God makes provisions for debt remission (every 7th year!), slave/servant freedom, and caring for the needy. "There will never cease to be some in need... I therefore command you, Open your hand to the poor & needy..." Wow. You can't get more clear than that, can you? I'm grateful for groups like Compassion International (www.compassion.com) who help us live this out on a regular basis.

PRAYER: Gracious God, bless Mboya, my Compassion child in Kenya! Bless the children I met in the Philippines (like Jenny & the rest at Joyful Student Center!). help me to keep sharing with the poor & needy around me, Lord. Amen.

Sincerity

[from May 11, 2009]

"For we are not peddlers of God's word like so many; but in Christ we speak as persons of sincerity, as persons sent from God and standing in His presence."
(2 Corinthians 2:17)

Paul is traveling the Mediterranean, spreading the Gospel, and helping start new Christian communities. It was the beginning of the Church. Lots of exciting opportunities. But there were others "working the system," too. In fact, Paul often had to confront problems these "peddlers of God's word" caused by their "ministry" (whether well-intended or not). So here in 2 Corinthians, Paul testifies that he's speaking as a person of sincerity... sent from God, standing in God's presence.

I love that phrase. That's how I want to be spoken of - a person of sincerity, sent by God, standing in God's presence. More than having a big church, a well-known ministry, or even a reputation for being a powerful preacher... to be recognized as sincere, sent from and connected to God... that's where it's at!

PRAYER: Lord, save me from becoming a "peddler of God's word." Remind me that I'm not pushing a commodity, but rather encouraging a relationship with you. help lead others into Your Presence through me. AMEN.

3 Musketeers

[From May 5, 2009]

"If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it."

(1 Corinthians 12:26)

The 3 Musketeers had a famous slogan: "All for one and one for all!" (at least I think it was from them!). They were a team. Together. What affected one affected all. Good or bad... they were in it together.

The church has a lot to learn from that. When Jesus was coming to the end of his time on earth, he prayed that his disciples (and all followers) might be ONE. In the time that has transpired since that prayer, we seem to have gone in the opposite direction. We've divided, split, fought, debated & splintered the Body of Christ. Oh sure, there very well may have been "good reasons" to do so at the time... but the results are still the same: division... less-than-unity.

Paul reminds us here in 1 Corinthians 12 that we are to rejoice whenever one among us is honored and suffer whenever one of us suffers. We need to stop competing with one another. Stop rejoicing when one who doesn't share our "theological persuasion" falls. Instead, whenever a pastor, church, denomination, or individual does well for the Kingdom, we should all rejoice! and pray! All the time!

May it be so with me. AMEN.

Timing is Everthing!

"When Moses told these words to all the Israelites, the people mourned greatly. They rose early in the morning and went up to the heights of the hill country, saying, 'Here we are. We will go up to the place that the LORD has promised, for we have sinned.' But Moses said, 'Why do you continue to transgress the command of the LORD? That will not succeed. Do not go up, for the Lord is not with you.'"

(Numbers 14:39-42a)

Faced with the opportunity to move into "the Promised Land," the Israelites chose a spirit of fear, trepidation, and timidity instead of trusting in God's power, grace & provision. Moses then told them God's consequences for their lack of faith: 40 years of wandering in the wilderness (1 year for every day they spied out the land)... and all of them would die... THEN God would take their children into the Promised Land.

When they heard that, they changed their minds. "No! Wait! We're sorry! We're ready to go now!!!" Um... hold it guys, that's too little, too late. God doesn't want you to go now anyway. Your hearts aren't in it! But they persisted, nonetheless. They "boldly" went in - and were soundly defeated. Why? GOD WASN'T WITH THEM. They missed the chance.

There's a saying that "timing is everything." That's especially true when it comes to God-things. God's timing is everything. We may make plans and set wonderful opportunities for ministry in place. But if we aren't prepared to follow God's timing, our labor is in vain. The challenge, of course, is to be able to discern God's timing and direction... which isn't always 'crystal clear.' I do believe, however, that God desires that we know his timing & direction... so He'll give us ample opportunity o hear. I hope!

PRAYER: Lord God, it's Your timing I seek - especially in terms of this satellite ministry proposal at Aiea UMC. Don't let me get locked into my schedule, at the expense of missing Yours! AMEN.

Like Grasshoppers

"So they brought to the Israelites an unfavorable report of the land they had spied out, saying, 'The land we have gone through as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people that we saw in it are of great size. There we saw the Nephilim... and to ourselves we seemed like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them."

(Numbers 13:32-33)

God has led the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt... through the wilderness... and they're poised to enter the land that GOD PROMISED THEM. Moses sent out 12 spies - leaders from each of the 12 tribes. They were to spend 40 days surveying the land... then come back with a report. They did just that - even bringing with them some of the fruit of the land! But the majority of the people who went felt overwhelmed by the impending endeavor. "The people are too strong. The towns are too fortified. There are BIG OBSTACLES ahead! We can't do it!"

Caleb, however, from the tribe of Issachar, disagreed. "Let's do it! We can overcome those obstacles!" The others didn't agree. In fact, they were quite intimidated about the proposal. Then they changed their original report to add that "the land devours its inhabitants" (interesting point, given the fact they saw people flourishing with plenty!). AND... (here's the real crux of the matter)... "to ourselves we seemed like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them." Wow. Literally, "We felt so insignificant & helpless there." Double wow.

I do not think it's a coincidence that this scripture reading comes the day before our Administrative Council reviews the report of the steering committee that's been "surveying the landscape" of our satellite ministry proposal. It's an opportunity that I truly believe God has been preparing us for, as a church, over the past 3+ years. As we near the "border" of the "Promised Land" some folks seem to be overwhelmed by the challenges that lie ahead. "It'll cost too much. We don't have enough people willing to help. The plan is not clear. It's too uncertain. Many have failed in the past."

Yes, there will be challenges. But I believe (and so do many others) that God has indeed given us this amazing opportunity. The question is, will we allow ourselves to feel like grasshoppers - insignificant & unprepared against the daunting challenges that lie ahead? Or will we move ahead with bold faith, trusting where we feel God leading us?

(By the way, the general population of Israel listened to the majority (the "grasshoppers") and hesitated. God saw fit to not only remove all of them from leadership... but wait for 40 years until they all died off, before taking Caleb & the younger generation into the Promised Land. Which was God's call in the first place.)

I pray this church doesn't have to wait 40 years to begin what God's calling us to do today.