Speaking of The Hokey Pokey...

"You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, 'I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of him...'  For this reason my joy has been fulfilled.  He must increase, but I must decrease."

(John 3:28,30)

Actors, Athletes, Politicians, Clergy... we all have an inherent risk in our professions.  The risk is to fall into the seductive trap of adulation, recognition, self-absorption and arrogance.  Many of us thrive in the spotlight.  That's not necessarily bad, but when our ego grows along with the attention, the danger is we lose a firm grip on humility.

John the Baptist knew this.  He'd garnered a large following with his "dunking ministry" in the Jordan River.  His own disciples get very concerned when they saw the hoards of people following Jesus (and his "dunking ministry!").  John reminded them that he himself never claimed to be the Messiah, so he was totally fine with Jesus getting all the attention.  "He must increase, but I must decrease," John said.

I can't speak for the other aforementioned professions, but I know how challenging it is for us clergy.  It's so easy to crave the attention and adulation of the people in our churches.  But it's so not about us.  Are we pointing people to Jesus?  Because, to borrow a phrase from "The Hokey Pokey," that's what it's all about!

Not just on Broadway...

"But be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

(Ephesians 5:18b-20)

Music is a big part of my life.  Not that I'm any kind of accomplished musician, but I enjoy playing the guitar from time to time (I'm really just a beginner).  More than that, I love having music in my life.  I keep adding to my various playlists on my iPod, and frequently have it playing in the background.   I also like to sing along with the music (who doesn't, right?).

The apostle Paul would have approved.  In Ephesians 5, he commends us to have a song in our hearts (and on our lips) at all times!  He challenges us to "make melody" in our hearts to God - no matter what is going on in our lives (the good and the bad)!  What a wonderful way to "pray without ceasing."  If prayer is any communication with Go, then singing to the Lord is surely prayer!

So I'll keep singing my way through my days.  I guess it's not just on Broadway where people spontaneously break into song, eh?!

LIGHT in the darkness

"It is you who light my lamp; the LORD, my God, lights up my darkness."

(Psalm 18:28)

When I was in seminary I bought an oil lamp.  It was a ceramic lamp, made by a woman who loved to dance.  In fact, she called these lamps "Dancing Flame Lamps," for when lit, the flamed danced on the specifically designed mouth of the lamp.  This woman held dance retreats in the mountains, and created these lamps so people could carry their lamps through the woods while moving.  It's still one of my favorite objects in my prayer corner.

As I was reading Psalm 18 this morning, I thought about my lamp again.  The psalmist acknowledges that God alone is the one who "lights my lamp... (and) lights up my darkness."  I love the imagery!  We're all lamps.  Every one of us has a uniquely-shaped vessel, created by the Master Potter, created to carry light through the world.  But we can't light ourselves.  We're just the container.  We need the LIGHT of God to come to us, then we carry it with our lives.

Too many people are living without the flame.  It doesn't matter how sturdy, large, or beautiful our lamps look like... if we don't have it lit, we aren't using it the way it was intended!  May I never cease to look to the source of light to light my lamp & shine in my darkness.

We don't have to be "right"...

"We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.  Each of us must please our neighbor for the good purpose of building up the neighbor."

(Romans 15:1-2)

A few years ago I heard comedian Jeff Allen say that the best piece of advice his father ever gave him about married life was given on the day of his wedding.  His dad said, "Son, when it comes to your wife, you can either be RIGHT or you can be HAPPY.  You can't be both!"  Jokingly, Jeff said, "I've been happy ever since!"

Actually, it's not that far off.  Too often we choose to make sure that others (especially the ones we love most) know that we're "right."  We also do it as Christians.  Too much, I fear.  But in Romans 15, Paul calls us to put up with those around us.  We don't have to insist on our own ways - even when we know we're right!  Why?  Because, says Paul, the ultimate goal is not "being right," but building up one another in love.

What would it mean for us to put first & foremost the building up of our spouse in love?  Or our children?  Or our co-workers, classmates, neighbors?  Or those who irritate & disagree with us all the time?  Everyone?  Maybe God can use those tiny expressions of "loving grace" on our part to reach people in ways that our "being right" wouldn't.

Go figure.

Thinking about THOSE PEOPLE...

Today I was reading through a few chapters of Proverbs, and I came upon a couple of verses that deal with those who... well... aren't living the lives God intends for them... and how we are (or aren't) to respond to them.  I thought I'd post a few for our reflection...

"Make no friends with those given to anger, and do not associate with hotheads, or you may learn their ways and entangle yourself in a snare."  (Proverbs 22:24-25)


"Do not envy the wicked, nor desire to be with them; for their minds devise violence, and their lips talk of mischief." (Proverbs 24:1-2)

"Do not rejoice when your enemies fall and do not let your heart be glad when they stumble, or else the LORD will see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from them."  (Proverbs 24:17-18)


Some personal observations...

• The advice we got as children rings true - be very careful of the friends we choose to spend time with...
• Be content with what we have... don't envy those who seem to "get away with things" in life... even (especially) if they are "prospering"...
• Have a heart of compassion - even for those who irritate/anger/attack you... for that's what God desires!

The ONE thing that matters

"Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.  The commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery... or murder... or steal... or covet'; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'  Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law."

(Romans 13:8-10)

I'm preparing a new sermon series on simplicity & generosity, and I've been thinking a lot about love.  Richard Foster challenges me to live a "simplified" life by focusing back on what Jesus called the (two) greatest commandment(s): Love God & Love Neighbor.  When we get back to the very basics, life becomes simpler and filled with joy.

Paul seems to echo that in Romans 13.  "Love is the fulfilling of the law," he says.  We have a huge book of stories, laws, history and instruction in The Bible.  But it's really not that complicated.  LOVE GOD.  LOVE ONE ANOTHER.  Everything else will fall into place.

Today, I will try to make a conscious decision to act out of love towards everyone I interact with.  (We'll see how it goes.  How about you?)

Connected (whether we know it or not!)

"For from him and through him and to him are all things.  To him be the glory forever.  Amen."

(Romans 11:36)

In the 11th chapter of Romans, Paul addresses the issue of God's love and (eventual) inclusion of his Jewish brothers & sisters.  He cautions the new Gentiles (non-Jew) believers not to get too smug, but rather to be thankful for God's grace in their lives and rejoice!  Paul also asserts that God still has a plan for his fellow Jews - even though they may not have come to believe in Jesus.

Paul ends the chapter (and the discussion) with this: "For from him and through him and to him are all things."  This echoes John 1:1 - 'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  All things came into being through him."  Jesus is "the Word" in John 1, and "Him" in Romans 11.

Whether people acknowledge or recognize it, everybody and everything has a relationship with Jesus.  Christ has been part of the creation (and sustenance) of all.  It's just that many choose not to return their part of that relationship.  I believe God longs for all of us to be in a relationship with Him... and works to draw us towards Him in love.  Life takes on greater depth, meaning, and purpose when we respond to Him.  The cool thing about Romans 11:36 is that everyone has that opportunity to be connected!