Rethinking Interruptions

"On their return the apostles told Jesus all they had done.  He took them with him and withdrew privately to a city called Bethsaida.  When the crowds found out about it, they followed him; and he welcomed them, and spoke to them about the Kingdom of God, and healed those who needed to be cured."

(Luke 9:10-11)

The 12 disciples have just returned from their first major "solo mission" of ministry.  Jesus had sent them out on their own, giving them "power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases... to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal."  Quite a big assignment.  Now that they've returned, Jesus knows they need some debriefing & recharging time together.  So Jesus sets out to take them on a private retreat - just the 13 of them.  Or so he thought.  It turns out it wasn't as private as he had hoped.  Luke tells us "the crowds found out about it and followed him."

Now, if it had been me, I would have gently (but firmly!) told the crowds that my staff and I needed a little time by ourselves.  We'd be unable for a few days.  Please come back at the end of the week and we could talk then.  I would have known how important it was to invest time in the staff, and to regain energy and vitality in order to continue the mission & ministry we needed to.

That's not how Jesus responded.  Luke says "he welcomed them."  He didn't just "endure" their interruption, he welcomed them.  And he gave them what they needed most - the good news about the kingdom of God (first & foremost!), and some healing. 

Maybe doing the mission (even when tired & worn out) is sometimes more important than "debriefing" the mission with colleagues.  I know how important it is to recharge.  But maybe today's interruption is the one and only opportunity someone will have to come to know God's amazing grace & provision.  Maybe I should rethink those pesky interruptions from time to time, myself.  What about you?

Your children's children

"The LORD bless you from Zion.  May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.  May you see your children's children.  Peace be upon Israel."

(Psalm 128:5-6)

Only six verses, Psalm 128 is a song of blessing.  If you fear God and walk in His ways, the psalmist prays numerous blessings upon you:

• Abundant food
• Happiness & prosperity
• Many children (who grow up strong & healthy)

Then there are 2 more blessings tacked onto the end.  The one may "see the prosperity of Jerusalem."  That the capital city of Israel would also be healthy & strong (like one's children!).  And live in peace.  And second, that one may see one's "children's children."  Ah yes, the joy of grandkids!

We need to remember, however, that the life expectancy was much less back in Biblical days, so living into one's "senior years" wasn't as common.  To live long enough to see grandchildren was indeed a blessing.  But it's more than just long life, isn't it?  It's the chance to see a part of you - your DNA - in teh life of a new human.  When we become parents, we know very little about parenting.  By the time we become grandparents (or so I'm told), we bring added wisdom.  Being with our grandkids is truly a joy and blessing! 

May it be so with all of you.

Glorious Splendor

"On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate."

(Psalm 145:5)

My dad was a National Park ranger.  I grew up with an affinity for the great outdoors.  I fondly remember summer visits to Yellowstone NP while spending time with my grandparents in Montana.  We also visited the Grand Canyon & many other smaller parks and sites in the desert southwest.  In high school, I lived in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and had many an after-school hike along the park's trails.  In college, a 7-day stay in Yosemite was seminal.  In grad school one summer, Jody and I went camping in Arcadia NP (Maine).  Needless to say, my soul connects to God powerfully through His natural splendor.

The author of Psalm 145 seems to know what I mean!  "On the glorious splendor of your majesty and on your wondrous works, I will meditate."  Living in Hawaii is such a blessing!  There is beauty all around me in God's creation.  Trees, plants, flowers, ocean, waterfalls, mountains, sunsets, clouds, rocks, volcanoes, etc.  What wonderful opportunities to ponder & meditate on God's majesty. What about you?  Does your soul connect this way, too?  What glorious splendor have you seen lately?

An "Ezekiel 37 Revival"

"Then he said to me, 'Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel.  They say, "Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely."'"

(Ezekiel 37:11)

It's a dramatic scene.  Thousands upon thousands of dry bones scattered throughout a valley.  Death.  Decay.  Brokenness.  Hopelessness.  But into this setting God speaks a word of life.  Through the prophet Ezekiel, God's power comes and rejoins bone to bone... then muscle & sinews... then flesh... then God's breath enters & brings LIFE!  It's one of the more memorable passages in all scripture.

Whenever I've read this before, my heart has been drawn to the truth that God can bring new life to any dry, dead & "dismembered" soul.  No one is outside the reach of God's redemption.

But today as I was reading I noticed this vision is being applied to the entire NATION of Israel, not just an individual.  I knew this was addressed to the people in exile - people who'd been taken from their homeland and families & forced to live in Babylon for close to two generations.  They were definitely a people who felt dry, dead & dismembered. But God was telling them the entire nation would be brought back together & given new life.  This went far beyond one single individual.

What would it mean for our nation to be "resurrected" to new life?  For God to restore our hope, our passion, our faithfulness?  Depending on your political views, you probably can list a number of areas that we need to be restored as a people.  As Americans, we tend to think more individually than corporately.  God is seeking to restore nations.  Maybe we can be praying for an "Ezekiel 37 Revival" in the United States?!?

The Return

"In those days and in that time, says the LORD, the people of Israel shall come, they & the people of Judah together; they shall come weeping as they seek the LORD their God.  They shall ask the way to Zion, with faces turned toward it, and they shall come and join themselves to the LORD by an everlasting covenant that'll never be forgotten."

(Jeremiah 50:4-5)

The exile was one of the most difficult times for the people of Israel.  Multiple generations were carried away from their homeland for 70+ years.  Forced to grow up in a foreign culture, it was hard for them to stay immersed in their faith.  The question of "WHY?" echoed loudly from many.  Prophets like Jeremiah & Isaiah saw the exile as God's chastisement & cleansing (which was long overdue).  God wanted them to return to Him with their whole hearts.  God had not forgotten or abandoned them.  God was changing them... for the better (though they didn't recognize that at first).

In Jeremiah 50, the prophet speaks of the time when the people will return to Israel.  Their physical return will match their spiritual return to Him.  They'll come hand in hand with their brothers and sisters (whom they'd been divided from before).  They will be weeping - presumably over their past sins & failures, and their estrangement from God.  They will intentionally seek the LORD.   They'll have to ask the way to Zion (home), because they've been living so far away for so long.  They'll turn their faces toward Home - an expression that indicates their hearts & minds have resolved to accomplish this endeavor.  And finally, they'll make an everlasting covenant with God... on that will never be forgotten.

Wow.

Thousands of years may have passed since that specific time in Israel's history.  Yet I dare say their "return" experience holds lessons for us even today.  We may not be in physical exile, but we often become distanced from God, spiritually.  The Scriptures tell us that it's God's desire for an intimate relationship with ALL of us.  At those times in our own journeys when we recognize our distance and seek to be restored, we should do so with sincerity of heart (and tears may flow).  We may need to ask about the way back (from spiritual friends & faithful people we trust).  Resolve to do so.  Set your face & heart on Him!  For God will always welcome us back.  Always.  His love (and forgiveness) is everlasting. 

It's never too late...

Bread crumbs or Guideposts?

"Set up road markers for yourself, make yourself guideposts; consider well the highway, the road by which you went. Return, O virgin Israel, return to these your cities."

(Jeremiah 31:21)

The famous children's fable, HANSEL & GRETEL, tells the story of two children who wander off in the woods & eventually get lost (eventually meeting a witch with a gingerbread house!).  They were wise enough to know that getting lost might be a possibility.  So to prevent that from happening, they leave a trail of bread crumbs along the pathway into the forest... only to discover later (much to their horror) that the crumbs had been eaten by birds.  The way back home was nowhere to be found.

The prophet Jeremiah lived during the time of exile in Israel.  Foreign superpowers (Assyria & Babylon) came and not only destroyed much of Israel & Judah, but also carried away the best & brightest of the people.  Thus, the vast majority of the nation was forced to live in exile - far away from their homeland.

But God had not forgotten or forsaken his people.  The prophets (like Jeremiah) tell us that part of the reason for the exile was years & years (centuries, actually) of unfaithfulness towards God.  So God used this "super time out" as an opportunity to change the hearts of his people.  But he told them not to fear, for one day they would return home.  In fact, in Jeremiah 31:21, he tells the people to PAY ATTENTION to the path that took them to the exile.  I think this is more than simply inviting them to notice significant landmarks on their physical journey to captivity (so they can eventually find their way back, a la Hansel & Gretel).  I think God was calling them to take a thorough & searching examination of their spiritual journey to captivity.  What were the spiritual landmarks they passed on their way to ruin?  Remember them, says God.  They are important reminders... so you can find your way back (avoid going down that same path in the future!).

Wise advise, isn't it?  We, too, should be paying attention all the time in our spiritual lives.  We need to be keeping track of the guideposts we pass along our journey (both the positive ones & negative ones), so we can remember which paths lead to which destinations.  If we try to do it on our own... to navigate by our own power... it's like throwing bread crumbs down in the forest.  It may seem like a good idea at the time, but it will not last.  We need to pay attention to the signposts God has around us... especially those memorable events in our lives.  What might they be saying to us?  How might God be using them in our lives?

May they be road markers that help lead us down the path of righteousness.

The Prayer

"Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually."

(Psalm 105:4)

[NOTE: Normally blog about my reflections on one passage from my devotional reading.  Today my heart was moved to simply pray.]

Lord, there are so many things I seem to be seeking.

Acclaim & recognition.

Success & achievement.

Entertainment.

The adrenaline rush of sports (playing & watching).

Beauty (in nature, music, art, etc.).

Peace & joy.

Significance in relationships (especially with my family).

I don't seem to be caught up in desiring security, stability & a future of ease.  I'm not ignorant in these areas, it's just never been much of a priority for me.  And I think that's a good thing.

Part of my challenge as being a pastor is that my "job" is to be about your business, Lord.  So it's easy to equate "doing my job" with "being in relationship" with you.  And, honestly, many times those two do overlap.

But when I read this passage today from Psalm 105, I was reminded of just how important it is.  SEEK THE LORD AND HIS STRENGTH; SEEK HIS PRESENCE CONTINUALLY.  That needs to be my focus.  Not just because I'm a pastor, but because I'm your child.

So help me to seek you.  Remind me of my need for you.  Do not let me be satisfied with anything less.  AMEN.