Him who works wonders

[From 6/4/09...]

"So Manoah took the kid with the grain offering, and offered it on the rock to the LORD, to him who works wonders."

(Judges 13:19)

The story of Samson is the stuff of Hollywood (actually, more like an HBO mini-series!): flamboyant, excessive, action-packed, sexy, dangerous, and thrilling (note: Judges 14-16 tell the whole story, without pulling any punches!). But before that epic "gets good," Judges 13 tells about Samson's birth. Or, more specifically, his "annunciation."

An angel appears to a man named Manoah and his wife. They were childless. The angel promised them a son. At first they didn't know he was an angel. They wanted to shower him with hospitality,but instead he told them to make an offering to the LORD (13:16). When Manoah presented the burnt offering (13:19), the narrator tells us it was "to him who works wonders."

Now there's a name for god we don't hear as often as others (like LORD, Savior, Father, Master, King, Jehovah, etc.). "HIM WHO WORKS WONDERS." Which causes me to reflect back on my own life and experiences.... what are some of the "wonders" God has worked in and around me? What wonders have I witnessed in the world around me? As a pastor, among the various churches I've served? In people's lives... through relationships... in the midst of illness & disease... by changing hardened hearts.... etc. If I pause long enough, I come to see numerous instances of a God who works wonders.

What about you? Does that title for God ring true?

Say what ?!?

"Those who bring thanksgiving as their sacrifice honor me..."

(Psalm 50:23)

One of the most bizarre stories in all of the Bible occurs in Judges 11. Jephthah was shunned by his half-brothers because his mother was a prostitute. But because he was a strong warrior, while living in the wilderness, many "outlaws" gathered around & went with him on raids. One day his kinfolk sought him out and begged him to come back and lead them in battle against the Ammorites. He agreed. When "diplomatic negotiations" failed (v. 12-28), he prepared for battle.

In verse 29, the author states "the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah." As he was traveling to fight with his men, he decides to make a vow to God (v.30-31) - namely, that if God grants him success in battle, he's sacrifice to God whatever comes out of his house to greet him when he returns home. He was successful. But disaster struck when he got home. His daughter came out of the house to meet him first. Now, commentators say that ancient near eastern homes often had courtyards in them for their domesticated animals... so presumably, Jephthah expected one of THEM to greet him, not his daughter.

Why did this story make it into the Bible (especially considering the tragic ending of his daughter's willing sacrificial death)? I'm not sure. God never consented to human sacrifices in the OT. Never. He condemned the people of Israel for even thinking about following the child-sacrifice customs of their surrounding neighbors. What about Abraham & Isaac, you ask? Well, Abraham was halted from harming his son, and the author remarks that it was merely a question of Abe's faith at the time.

Maybe this is a caution against us trying to use/manipulate God. Think about it... the Spirit of the LORD was already with Jephthah. He didn't need to make that vow! But evidently, he wanted a greater assurance, so he tried bargaining with God. God doesn't want our bargains... He wants our thanksgiving (Psalm 50:23). We're so used to having to convince, cajole & talk people into doing stuff for us... .we've mistakenly assumed that God works the same way. WRONG!

So the next time I'm tempted to try and "get God on my side" for something... maybe I should stop and think for a moment first. Do I really need that? Or should I instead give thanks for all that God has already done for me (and leave whatever's going to happen to happen)?

Hmmm.....

Tempting

[From Monday, June 1, 2009]

"Then the Israelite said to Gideon, 'Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson also...' Gideon said to them, 'I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the LORD will rule over you.'"

(Judges 8"22-23)

In just 3 chapters, Gideon went from an insecure, fearful, "regular Joe" to a powerful and successful warrior/leader. The change is all because of God... and Gideon knows it! So when the Israelite leaders came and asked (no, begged!) Gideon to be their ruler, he declined. They were ready to make his family a dynasty of rulers. But Gideon kept their focus where he thought it needed to be: "the LORD will rule over you."

That must have been a little more challenging to decline than Gideon let on (Maybe he had a while before he gave them his answer?!). The offer of power and authority is a strong temptress. Maybe Gideon still had traces of his former insecurity (thus, the decline)? Then again, maybe he had divine wisdom. Maybe he know how easy it is to lose focus on God?

It's even hard for those of us already in positions of church leadership to maintain that perspective. It's ultimately not about us. It's about God. And no leader worth his/her salt can lead with integrity without that understanding. At least not for very long.

PRAYER: Thank you God, for the wisdom of Gideon. For the call to keep YOU as our leader, no matter what our positions of authority or leadership are within the church, community & world. Help me to maintain that perspective, Lord. Help me to always remember that You are the One who leads. I'm just called to help others follow. AMEN.

"I'M (not?) RICH!"

"But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation..."

(Luke 6:24).

I'm not rich. At least not compared to others I know. And yet, compared to most of the rest of the world, I'm extremely rich. Many, many people live on less than $2/day. I spend more than that on my oatcake every morning at Starbucks for breakfast. So it's with a bit of hesitation that I journal today on this passage from Jesus' Sermon on the Plain in Luke 6 (Matthew has Jesus give this very same teaching on a mountain, by the way).

The other night I showed a DVD teaching to the leaders of my church. It was by Tony Campolo, sociologist and professor at Eastern University in PA. Tony gave the talk this past March at the Hawaiian Islands' Ministries' "Honolulu 2009" conference. He spoke about wealth, the economy, and the Kingdom of God. But what was most powerful was his personal critique of how he had trusted in his wealth far more than he invested in the Kingdom. He was seduced by the dominant culture in which he lived. And he was now ashamed.

I've been thinking a lot about my "wealth." I'm not rich... and yet I am. Am I one who has come to trust (read "preserve") my wealth... so it becomes my "consolation"? Or am I open to releasing my wealth for the good of the Kingdom of God? Wow... it's probably easier said than done, isn't it?

PRAYER: God, you have blessed me with financial resources. I like to think I need to take care of myself and provide for my family. And yet, you call me to look out at the world around me that is hurting, dying, hungering, thirsting & in such great need. Help me to release the resources you've given... not hold on to them with a tight fist. I want YOU to be my consolation... not my (your!) resources. AMEN.

Whose agenda?

"And the crowds were looking for (Jesus); and when they reached him, they wanted to prevent him from leaving them. But he said to them, 'I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also...'"

(Luke 4:42-43)

Jesus, off by himself, is "found out" by the crowds (who had been searching for him). Luke tells us that they "wanted to prevent him from leaving them." Wow. Sure they were glad he was with them, for he'd been preaching, healing & "casting out demons". They were being blessed, indeed. But to try and PREVENT Jesus from leaving THEM? Wow.

But we're not too different today, are we? We like to be "blessed," and want to keep that blessing coming. We feel God's presence and power every so often and want to remain in that experience. We even feel a bit "territorial" when it comes to the work of God - great when it happens to us, not so sure when others (other churches, denominations, faith communities, etc.) experience it.

But Jesus is not a commodity to be controlled. Instead of preventing him from leaving (as if!), they could have asked to be able to follow him wherever he was going. It comes down to our agenda vs. God's plans. We have such limited sight! Jesus knows there's a big world out there with a lot of hurting people who need to experience the power of the Kingdom of God. If we kept Jesus to ourselves (our own personal "fountain of life"), we'd be missing the whole reason why He came!

PRAYER: Expand my vision of Your ministry, Lord. Don't let me ever prevent You from doing what You need to be doing in this world... Go where You need to go... Be who You need to be. I'd be honored, though, if You'd let me come along, as You desire. AMEN.

"That's weak!"

"If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness."

(2 Corinthians 11:30)

Those darn "super-apostles." Paul had started this church in Corinth (and many others like it elsewhere in the Mediterranean), but later some self-proclaimed super apostles came and sought to change the message Paul had rooted them in. Their case was made by a series of accomplishments they made sure the church knew about. And boy, it must have been impressive.

So Paul hears about it and is worries. Not worried that he'd no longer be "the man" in the eyes of the people in Corinth... but rather that these "new and improved" leaders would actually lead the church away from God! So he writes back to the people and starts boasting, too. Chapter 11, verses 21-29 list his boasts - including his beatings, imprisonments, whippings, stonings, shipwrecks, hunger & thirstings, homelessness stints, and numerous dangers (with some near-death experiences!). Not a very "sexy" list of "accomplishments." Actually, they reveal his weaknesses. And that's exactly what he wants them to see. "I'll boast in the things that show my weakness," he writes. Why? Well, in the next chapter he'll explain it in more detail (see 2 Cor. 12:9), but suffice it to say he knows that it's not about him, and it's all about God!

In this world of resumes, awards, accomplishments & accolades, maybe we need to refocus on our weaknesses a little bit more. Maybe we need to take a step back and see how we're not all that we need to be, so we can be more open to how God might truly be able to use us. It sounds strange, I know... that God might be able to do more with us when we're not "all that and a bag of chips," but rather just a broken person open & ready to be whomever God calls us to be. For it truly isn't about us at all. It's all about God. That's not weak... that's true strrength! AMEN.

Up, not down

"Now, even if I boast a little too much of authority, which the LORD gave for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it."

(2 Corinthians 10:8)

Paul really loves the people of Corinth. He started a church in this thriving metropolis... this multicultural city that had all the temptations and trappings of any modern-day equivalent. His letters to the church there are recorded as 1st & 2nd Corinthians.

His love for them compelled him to speak the truth to them when they went astray, however. Given the fact that very few of us enjoy being corrected, some of the people took Paul's first letter quite harshly. Which prompted Paul to respond not just with reproof, but also with explanation. Here in the 10th chapter of his 2nd letter, Paul reminds them that he uses his authority to build them up, not tear them down. He's not trying to "put them in their place" or "bring down the hammer" of God's judgment. not at all. He's trying to strengthen them. Trying to correct their error (& sinful ways). Trying to make them more like Jesus.

What a great example for us when it comes to relating to others... especially within the church, and as people of faith. Are we trying to tear down our build up others, in the name of Christ? Even in correction, our words/actions should seek the latter. Lord help us all! AMEN.