Moms: the regular & the Grand!

[From 9-17-13]

"I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and now, I am sure, lives in you."

(2 Timothy 1:5)

So much of our faith is transferred to us from the women in our lives.  Not exclusively, of course.  But in general, woman have been "giants in the faith" over the ages.

In his 2nd letter to Timothy, Paul recognized this.  Evidently he was familiar with Timothy and his family for some time now.  He reminded Tim fo the incredible faith of his grandmother, Lois, and his mother, Eunice.  Paul even assumed that seminar faith had been transferred to Timothy as well.

When I think of my grandmothers, the one whose faith comes immediately to mind first is Grandma White.  Louisa White: grew up in Montana... was a nurse, by trade... I also knew her as a cook, gardener, fisher-woman, painter, storyteller, and Christian.  We'd go to church with her and Grandpa whenever we visited.  When I graduated from high school, she flew out to Hawaii for it.  When she asked me about my future plans, I told her I wanted to be a lawyer.  "The world needs more Christian lawyers!" she said.  She died before I knew I was going to become a pastor.  I'm grateful for her deep & abiding faith that was passed to my Dad, and also to me.

Paul also reminded Timothy of his mother, Eunice's faith.  I've been blessed with 2 moms in my life.  Sylvia gave birth to me.  She was a librarian, athlete, friend of many, leader, and Christian.  She died when I was about to enter 1st grade.  My "formative" years (0-5) were spent in her arms & shadow.  I can only assume her influences in me are great at my core.

My dad remarried a year later, and I had the privilege of growing up with Pat as my "2nd mom."  Pat was a teacher, an athlete, a leader, and had a tremendous sense of humor (still does, actually!).  She was also strong in her faith - in fact, she was actually a nun at one point (how many kids can say that about their mom!?!?).  When she met my Dad, she transitioned from Catholicism to Protestantism, and her faith remained strong (in case you were curious, she wasn't a nun when she met my dad).

So much of my own faith has been formed, shaped, and influenced by my moms... both my "regular" ones, and the "grand" ones, too.  Thanks be to God.

No Fear!

[From 9-10-13]

"...but they shall all sit under their own vines & under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth oft he LORD of hosts has spoken."

(Micah 4:4)

The crisis in Syria is at a crossroads.  Many, many Syrians have died at the hands of their own government, whether or not chemical weapons were used.  "Genocide" has been spoken of.  But the "rebels" fighting the government aren't all united, nor are they all Syrian.

The entire Middle East region of this world has been fraught with conflict, violence, fear, and devastation.  For centuries.  Today I was reading from the book of Micah, chapter 4. The famous "beating swords into plowshares" chapter.  "Neither shall they learn anymore," is also there.  But the phrase that spoke loudest to me this morning is a vision of folks being able to sit under their own trees (presumably in their yards) "and no one shall make them afraid."

What an amazing gift to give the world.  To be able to sit in your own yard and not be afraid.  Ever.  That's the kind of world God wants us to create.  Can we?  Will we?  Syria is just the start.  

"Come, Lord Jesus... help us live into this promise!  AMEN."

"No way!?!?!"

[From 9/6/13]

"Greet every saint in Christ Jesus.  The friends (brothers) who are with me greet you.  All the saints greet you, especially those of the emperor's household."

(Philippians 4:21-22)

It could easily be dismissed as a "throw-away" line... something "everyone says" when finishing a letter (well, maybe a letter to a church from a Christian leader!).  "Greet every saint in Jesus Christ... All the saints greet you..." It's Paul's way of saying, "Give my love to the church.  We send ours to you!"  But he doesn't stop there.  He adds, "...especially those of the emperor's household," as those who specifically greet the believers in Philippi.

The Roman Emperor was seen (by himself and his followers) as "The Son of God."  Romans observed a pantheon of gods.  There was no limit to the numbers of deities one could worship.  The only caveat was the Emperor be held up first.  Which, as you can imagine, proved to be problematic for Christians (remember the "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" part of the 10 Commandments?).  So for members of the "emperor's household" to be believers is quite something!

Second, Paul was imprisoned (or at least in custody) when he wrote Philippians.  Nevertheless, his mission as a disciple-maker didn't wane one bit.  Even in chains, he spoke about the life-changing power of Christ - and some of the emperor's household gave their lives to Jesus!  That's amazing!  That's inspiring!  That' what being a disciple-maker can do!!  In what some may call the least-likely of situations, God used Paul to draw others to Himself.

I have so much to learn.

Unfaithful

[From 9/5/13]

"The LORD said to Hosea, "Go, take for yourself a wife of whoredom, and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the LORD."

(Hosea 1:2)

Relationships are hard work.  Imagine going into a new relationship knowing your partner would be unfaithful.  That was Hosea's dilemma.  God called him to marry a "promiscuous woman" (better translation than "whoredom").  Would you marry someone you KNEW would be unfaithful to you?

Why would God ask someone to do that, you ask?  Because it's a mirror of God's relationship with us!  We "forsake the LORD" over and over and over.  We're unfaithful to God. "But I haven't worshiped other gods anytime recently," you say?  Let's be honest.  We may not have entered any church/temple/shrine/holy site to worship some other god.  But we have given our heart away to things that are not of God.  The accumulation of wealth.  The desire for sex (& intimacy).  The need for accolades, recognition & praise.  The quest for personal security & a life of (relative) ease.  All of these things take us away from fully trusting God with our lives.  And we do it all the time.

Hosea's relationship with his wife, Gomer, is held up so we can see what we put God through.  But God is faithful, forgiving & loving... and God woos us back into his solitary embrace.  If only we will let him...

It's FULL of it!

[From 9/4/13]

"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory."

(Isaiah 6:3)

Isaiah 6 is the account of Isaiah's own calling and commission as a prophet.  It begins with an amazing vision: standing in the throne room of heaven!  God is so huge, that all Isaiah sees is the hem of God's robe - and that fills the entire Temple!  Seraphs (literally "fiery ones") are heavenly beings who attend to God (angels?!?).  They're present, too!  Smoke is everywhere.  Thunder-like sounds are abundant.  And in the midst of it all, the seraphs are singing, "Holy!  Holy!  Holy! is the LORD of hosts!  The whole earth is full of His glory!" (v.3)

Had we been int he throne room of God, surely we would have said the same thing.  But we live on earth.  Nevertheless, the whole earth IS full of God's glory - if only we'll look around us.  There's beauty & majesty in all Creation: skies, mountains, rivers, lakes, oceans, trees & forests, beaches, flowers, animals, etc.  It's an amazingly beautiful world we live in.  My father was a National Park Ranger, and I'm grateful for the appreciation of nature & creation he instilled in me.

May I notice the glory of God all around me today... and every day!  AMEN.

True Rest

[From 9/3/13]

"Return, O my soul, to your rest..."

(Psalm 116:7)

I just finished reading the story (book!) of Jonah with our youth group.  When Jonah gets swallowed by the "great fish," he prays a prayer int he belly of the fish.  The prayer incorporates various psalms, including Psalm 116.  Today I read Psalm 116, and it's written by someone who was in serious trouble.  "The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress & anguish."  In the midst of this stress, gander, and impending doom, the author was saved by God.

In verse 7, there's a beautiful line: "Return, O my soul, to your rest, for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you."  For some reason, that first phrase struck a chord with my heart.  "RETURN, O MY SOUL, TO YOUR REST."  In the craziness of life... in the busyness of our lives... in our struggle to get ahead vs. doing what's right... we're reminded that our souls find their true rest only in God.  And we all need rest for our (weary!) souls.

Prayer: God, help me to turn to You for rest.  My soul needs You more than I know (or admit).  Renew & refresh me, so I can lead others to that same rest & refreshment.  AMEN.

It's that important!

[From 8/29/13]

"As you, Father, are in me, and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me."

(John 17:21b)

Jesus had taught his disciples the importance of "abiding" in him (see "vine & branches," ch.15!).  Jesus modeled that, too... in his relationship with God.  Now that he's near the completion of his ministry on earth, he's praying for his followers.  He prays for abiding intimacy.  That we, as his disciples, may abide in him and in God the Father.  Why?  For our own fruitfulness, of course... but something more.  Jesus wants us to abide in him/God so OTHERS may believe that he is who he is!

As I read & reflect on this, I don't see it as a command to preach.  Or to convert others.  Or to argue theological "truths."  I see this as a call to live out of that "abiding" connection.  Live life like Jesus did.  Let others see the authenticity of our lives... and let that point them to THE ONE who came from God: Jesus.

We abide when we spend time with God.  Scripture reading/journaling, prayer, worship, study, relationships/small groups, etc.  I need to keep growing in my "abiding," so others can come to know Jesus.  It's that important.