The longer I walk with Jesus the more interesting, and at times perplexing, I find this life of faith. Why is it that there are clear ‘God moments’ and then extended periods of time can go by without any visible ‘God moments’? Why is the next step clearly seen sometimes and at other times it feels like stumbling in the light of dusk? Why is it easy at times to trust and at other times worry seems to overtake us and jump on us?
Why can’t everything be clear? Why can’t there be ‘God moments’ every day? Why can’t the next step be clearly marked out and outlined with fancy lighting? Why can’t every situation be met with an obvious void of worry?
I’ve had a handful of instances in the last few weeks where the moments were clearly guided and aided by God. Some of the situations turned out in the way that I think God wanted them to turn out. A couple situations didn’t turn out so good. It is always strange how situations can clearly have Jesus’ hand upon them and yet not turn out in a way that seems like they should.
I wish that I could figure out why some of life’s steps are so clear and other steps are not easily seen. I wish I could figure out why certain moments clearly have the visible hand of God on them and other moments things are not that clear.
I bet you are the same way. I bet there are times that you have been able to clearly see the visible work of God and other times that you’ve wondered, at least to yourself, where in the world is God. I bet there have been times when you’ve known exactly what the next step was and other times where you too have sensed that you were stumbling without clear direction.
One of the conclusions I’ve come to is that if I always knew, if the path was always clear, if the voice was always clearly discernible and if life’s steps were always filled with peace, life wouldn’t be called a journey of faith. But a journey of faith is what life is. Sometimes the journey has dark and endless valleys. Other times there are incredible vistas. Unfortunately, or maybe not, we aren’t the ones who control the valleys or the vistas.
We live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Friday, June 14, 2013
Jesus, Change the default charge of my heart
God revealed to the prophets of the Old Testament and the writers of the New Testament letters that the condition of the heart of man is bent towards selfishness. The propensity to be selfish is referred to as ‘sin nature.’ In Paul’s letter to the church in the city of Galatia he wrote: “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature …”
I have been thinking about this idea and the picture that came to my mind was magnets. Magnets have two poles. One pole has a ‘+’ (positive) charge and the other pole has a ‘-‘ (negative) charge. The poles of a magnet are referred to as either ‘north’ or ‘south.’
When two magnets are brought into close proximity, the magnets are either attracted to each other or repelled against each other. This depends on which charge the side of each magnet is facing. Opposite poles attract. Similar poles repel.
I imagine that my heart is like a magnet that is ‘attracted’ to the giant magnet of selfishness. By default, my heart is attracted to selfish thinking, selfish feeling and selfish prioritizing. When my heart is left without any external restraint or pressure, it will always turn towards and be attracted to ‘selfishness.’ That is a deadly condition. Paul said that my default attraction to sin and selfishness leads to death. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God … (Romans 3:23 TNIV)
This is where Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures come into play. Jesus came so that over time the default mode of my heart would cease to be ‘attracted’ to selfishness. Jesus came so that over time the default mode of my heart would be to ‘repel’ against selfishness and instead be ‘attracted’ to selflessness. Surrendering my life initially and then regularly does a work to change my default ‘charge.’
The Holy Spirit and reading, studying, memorizing and meditating on the Scripture is the means by which the default charge is changed and pressure is put upon my heart, so that I am ‘attracted’ to selflessness and ‘repelled’ against selfishness. This is why I continually talk about Jesus, about continual surrender to Him, about the work of the Holy Spirit and the need for the discipline of spending time in the Scriptures. The only hope for our condition is Jesus, the work of the Spirit and the work of the Scriptures in our heart.
What is your heart ‘attracted’ to and ‘repelled’ against? Jesus’ plan and purpose is that your heart would be repelled against selfishness and attracted to selflessness.
Jesus, change the default charge of my heart. Cause me to repel against selfishness and be attracted to selflessness. Amen!
I have been thinking about this idea and the picture that came to my mind was magnets. Magnets have two poles. One pole has a ‘+’ (positive) charge and the other pole has a ‘-‘ (negative) charge. The poles of a magnet are referred to as either ‘north’ or ‘south.’
When two magnets are brought into close proximity, the magnets are either attracted to each other or repelled against each other. This depends on which charge the side of each magnet is facing. Opposite poles attract. Similar poles repel.
I imagine that my heart is like a magnet that is ‘attracted’ to the giant magnet of selfishness. By default, my heart is attracted to selfish thinking, selfish feeling and selfish prioritizing. When my heart is left without any external restraint or pressure, it will always turn towards and be attracted to ‘selfishness.’ That is a deadly condition. Paul said that my default attraction to sin and selfishness leads to death. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God … (Romans 3:23 TNIV)
This is where Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures come into play. Jesus came so that over time the default mode of my heart would cease to be ‘attracted’ to selfishness. Jesus came so that over time the default mode of my heart would be to ‘repel’ against selfishness and instead be ‘attracted’ to selflessness. Surrendering my life initially and then regularly does a work to change my default ‘charge.’
The Holy Spirit and reading, studying, memorizing and meditating on the Scripture is the means by which the default charge is changed and pressure is put upon my heart, so that I am ‘attracted’ to selflessness and ‘repelled’ against selfishness. This is why I continually talk about Jesus, about continual surrender to Him, about the work of the Holy Spirit and the need for the discipline of spending time in the Scriptures. The only hope for our condition is Jesus, the work of the Spirit and the work of the Scriptures in our heart.
What is your heart ‘attracted’ to and ‘repelled’ against? Jesus’ plan and purpose is that your heart would be repelled against selfishness and attracted to selflessness.
Jesus, change the default charge of my heart. Cause me to repel against selfishness and be attracted to selflessness. Amen!
Monday, June 10, 2013
God will always be faithful because He is faithful!
It is not uncommon for me to talk to people who comment in one way or another about the inconsistency in their faith journey. I guess that is to be expected since I am a pastor. People make comments about their inconsistency because they are afraid that their inconsistency will impact whether God will still 'come through for them' in some area of need. The thought is 'I've not been very consistent, so I'm not sure that God will be consistent' or 'Since I've been unfaithful, God will probably also be unfaithful.'
2000 years ago, the Apostle Paul wrote to the pastor of the church in the city of Ephesus about that same fear.
The saying is trustworthy, for:
If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.
Notice that last line ... If we are faithless, he remains faithful--for he cannot deny himself.
God is faithful, therefore He can't be anything but faithful. When we think that He is not being faithful, it is because we don't understand the situation in the same way that He understands it.
As a parent, I don't base my decision to be faithful or consistent on my kids faithfulness. I'm not going to leave them at school at the end of the day just because they didn't finish cleaning their room. I'm not going to make them miss dinner because they didn't eat their dinner the night before. I'm not going to fail to take them to the doctor if needed because they didn't wear their coat. As a parent, those actions would be unnatural.
There may be times when, as a parent, I say 'no' to them for something they want or for something they want me to do for them. My response of 'no' may even be hinged on their behavior or misbehavior, but this would only be in the area of their wants not in the area of needs.
God may say ‘no’ to us in the area of wants, but He doesn't say ‘no’ in the area of needs. This doesn't make Him unfaithful. This reveals His wisdom.
Jesus walked on water, raised dead people, changed water into wine, calmed the storm, healed the blind and paralyzed, yet He didn't stop bad from happening, even when the bad to be stopped was against Him. He could have stopped Judas from betraying Him. He could have stopped Pilate from sentencing Him to death. He could have 'crucified' the soldiers who crucified Him.
His failure to stop 'bad' didn't make Him unfaithful. His failure to stop bad that was happening doesn't diminish the reality of His power or love. Instead, it reveals there are things He knows that we don't know. He can and does stop 'bad', but He does it when it is best.
When God acts or doesn't act, it is because He 'knows' and not because He is capriciously choosing to be faithful or not.
God will always be faithful because He is faithful!
2000 years ago, the Apostle Paul wrote to the pastor of the church in the city of Ephesus about that same fear.
The saying is trustworthy, for:
If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.
Notice that last line ... If we are faithless, he remains faithful--for he cannot deny himself.
God is faithful, therefore He can't be anything but faithful. When we think that He is not being faithful, it is because we don't understand the situation in the same way that He understands it.
As a parent, I don't base my decision to be faithful or consistent on my kids faithfulness. I'm not going to leave them at school at the end of the day just because they didn't finish cleaning their room. I'm not going to make them miss dinner because they didn't eat their dinner the night before. I'm not going to fail to take them to the doctor if needed because they didn't wear their coat. As a parent, those actions would be unnatural.
There may be times when, as a parent, I say 'no' to them for something they want or for something they want me to do for them. My response of 'no' may even be hinged on their behavior or misbehavior, but this would only be in the area of their wants not in the area of needs.
God may say ‘no’ to us in the area of wants, but He doesn't say ‘no’ in the area of needs. This doesn't make Him unfaithful. This reveals His wisdom.
Jesus walked on water, raised dead people, changed water into wine, calmed the storm, healed the blind and paralyzed, yet He didn't stop bad from happening, even when the bad to be stopped was against Him. He could have stopped Judas from betraying Him. He could have stopped Pilate from sentencing Him to death. He could have 'crucified' the soldiers who crucified Him.
His failure to stop 'bad' didn't make Him unfaithful. His failure to stop bad that was happening doesn't diminish the reality of His power or love. Instead, it reveals there are things He knows that we don't know. He can and does stop 'bad', but He does it when it is best.
When God acts or doesn't act, it is because He 'knows' and not because He is capriciously choosing to be faithful or not.
God will always be faithful because He is faithful!
Friday, May 31, 2013
Are you wearing Jesus clothes?
Recently, I heard someone describe the attire of different world religious systems. I had never thought about how the adherents of the various belief systems could often be recognized by their attire. For instance a Buddhist Monk, a Muslim, a practicing Jew, a Sikh, a Hare Krishna or a Hindu would be fairly recognizable by their unique dress.
A Buddhist Monk is known by a shaved head and a colored robe. A Muslim woman is recognized by a ‘burqa’ or other sort of covering. A practicing Jew might be recognized by the traditional ‘skull cap' called a ‘kippa.’ A Sikh could be recognized by their traditional headdress. A devotee of the Hare Krishna life could be recognized by their ‘dhotis’ or robe. A Hindu can often be recognized by the spot on their forehead known as a ‘bindi.’
Followers of Jesus don't have a traditional dress code or recognizable clothing. This doesn't mean though that followers of Jesus can wear anything they want. The Scriptures do speak of clothes that a follower is expected to wear.
The Apostle Paul wrote these words:
Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. (Colossians 3:12-14 NLT)
The clothing that a follower of Jesus is to put on, DAILY, is: tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness and love.
What would life look like - if every Jesus follower walked around their house in those clothes, if every student who is a follower of Jesus would wear those clothes to school every day, if everyday interactions were colored by these clothes and if every follower of Jesus would wear these clothes when they went to work each day?
Marriages would be different, families would be different, work places would be different, schools would be different and whole communities would be different. It might just be that the nation, and even eventually the world, would be different if each Jesus follower put on Jesus clothes.
Jesus clothes? Tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness and love.
Are you wearing your Jesus clothes today?
A Buddhist Monk is known by a shaved head and a colored robe. A Muslim woman is recognized by a ‘burqa’ or other sort of covering. A practicing Jew might be recognized by the traditional ‘skull cap' called a ‘kippa.’ A Sikh could be recognized by their traditional headdress. A devotee of the Hare Krishna life could be recognized by their ‘dhotis’ or robe. A Hindu can often be recognized by the spot on their forehead known as a ‘bindi.’
Followers of Jesus don't have a traditional dress code or recognizable clothing. This doesn't mean though that followers of Jesus can wear anything they want. The Scriptures do speak of clothes that a follower is expected to wear.
The Apostle Paul wrote these words:
Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. (Colossians 3:12-14 NLT)
The clothing that a follower of Jesus is to put on, DAILY, is: tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness and love.
What would life look like - if every Jesus follower walked around their house in those clothes, if every student who is a follower of Jesus would wear those clothes to school every day, if everyday interactions were colored by these clothes and if every follower of Jesus would wear these clothes when they went to work each day?
Marriages would be different, families would be different, work places would be different, schools would be different and whole communities would be different. It might just be that the nation, and even eventually the world, would be different if each Jesus follower put on Jesus clothes.
Jesus clothes? Tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness and love.
Are you wearing your Jesus clothes today?
Sunday, May 26, 2013
What will you do with Jesus?
What will you do with Jesus?
Often when interacting with people who are uncertain about the existence of God or who have fully made up their mind that there is no such thing as God, I push back by asking the question – What will you do with Jesus? They give a puzzled look that asks the question: What are you talking about?
This gives me a great opportunity then to talk to them about Jesus. The dialogue between myself and another person might go something like this:
Me …
“You are not sure what you believe about the existence of God and I can understand that, but you still have to do something with Jesus.”
Them…
“What do you mean?”
Me …
“If God doesn’t exist how do you explain Jesus? He was born to a woman who claimed to be a virgin and lived the first 30 years of His life in a little village in the obscure northern region of Israel. He didn’t have any formal education and was not from the upper crust of society.
Yet … we know more about Jesus than almost anyone else from antiquity. There were letters written about Him and His followers within a few years of His death and there were accounts written within the lifetime of people who were close followers of Jesus.
This little band of believers quickly grew to be a significant percentage of the population around Jerusalem, and within a short time began to impact all of the Roman Empire which had existed for hundreds of years and that would continue for a few hundred years more.
The impact was so significant, that the movement continued to grow and expand and grow and expand until it was adopted as the official faith of the Roman Empire.
2000 years later there is no slowing down its growth and influence around the world. There is no other movement in human history that has even begun to scratch the surface of the impact on the world the way Jesus and his followers have.
How can that be explained in natural terms? What possible ‘human’ explanation is there?”
This doesn’t end the dialogue. Instead, the dialogue takes of in countless directions as people try and explain the unexplainable.
If you don’t believe … this might give you something to think about. If you do believe … this will give you a great conversation that can last for hours, days and weeks!
Often when interacting with people who are uncertain about the existence of God or who have fully made up their mind that there is no such thing as God, I push back by asking the question – What will you do with Jesus? They give a puzzled look that asks the question: What are you talking about?
This gives me a great opportunity then to talk to them about Jesus. The dialogue between myself and another person might go something like this:
Me …
“You are not sure what you believe about the existence of God and I can understand that, but you still have to do something with Jesus.”
Them…
“What do you mean?”
Me …
“If God doesn’t exist how do you explain Jesus? He was born to a woman who claimed to be a virgin and lived the first 30 years of His life in a little village in the obscure northern region of Israel. He didn’t have any formal education and was not from the upper crust of society.
Yet … we know more about Jesus than almost anyone else from antiquity. There were letters written about Him and His followers within a few years of His death and there were accounts written within the lifetime of people who were close followers of Jesus.
This little band of believers quickly grew to be a significant percentage of the population around Jerusalem, and within a short time began to impact all of the Roman Empire which had existed for hundreds of years and that would continue for a few hundred years more.
The impact was so significant, that the movement continued to grow and expand and grow and expand until it was adopted as the official faith of the Roman Empire.
2000 years later there is no slowing down its growth and influence around the world. There is no other movement in human history that has even begun to scratch the surface of the impact on the world the way Jesus and his followers have.
How can that be explained in natural terms? What possible ‘human’ explanation is there?”
This doesn’t end the dialogue. Instead, the dialogue takes of in countless directions as people try and explain the unexplainable.
If you don’t believe … this might give you something to think about. If you do believe … this will give you a great conversation that can last for hours, days and weeks!
Friday, May 17, 2013
If this could become part of my fabric
I have been reading through the letter from the Apostle Paul to the Colossians. I have been reading it very slowly taking in as much as I can. There is so much rich ‘soul’ food in the letter. Over the last week, I have been reading again and again three verses. I thought so many times that if these truths could be woven into the fabric of my inner life it would have such a huge and lasting impact on the lives of those I come into contact with. Here’s what Paul wrote:
Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. (Colossians 3:12-14 NLT)
God chose me to be a holy person that He loves … therefore I MUST clothe myself with mercy … and not just mercy but tenderhearted mercy… I MUST clothe myself with kindness, humility, gentleness and patience … that is not the normal way of the American male! I am to make allowance for each person’s faults that I come into contact with. Not just make allowance for my family or my friends or people who I can get something from … but for EACH person’s faults. Make allowance … don’t make a big deal out of it … let it go … and if someone intentionally offends me, I am to forgive!
I must keep in the forefront of my life … written on the windshield and on the rearview mirror … that the Lord forgave me and forgave me and forgave me and forgives me and will forgive me and because of that I MUST forgive others.
The inner layers of clothing are to be tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. My outer coat is to be LOVE … real love binds people together … their lives working and flowing together are like perfect harmony in the symphony of life that God is playing out through us.
Can you see how if this were flowing out of every part of me that those around me would be better off? Chewing and chewing on these verses is feeding my soul and making me more and more aware of what Jesus is trying to do in me, so that it comes out of me.
Maybe these thoughts will encourage you!
Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. (Colossians 3:12-14 NLT)
God chose me to be a holy person that He loves … therefore I MUST clothe myself with mercy … and not just mercy but tenderhearted mercy… I MUST clothe myself with kindness, humility, gentleness and patience … that is not the normal way of the American male! I am to make allowance for each person’s faults that I come into contact with. Not just make allowance for my family or my friends or people who I can get something from … but for EACH person’s faults. Make allowance … don’t make a big deal out of it … let it go … and if someone intentionally offends me, I am to forgive!
I must keep in the forefront of my life … written on the windshield and on the rearview mirror … that the Lord forgave me and forgave me and forgave me and forgives me and will forgive me and because of that I MUST forgive others.
The inner layers of clothing are to be tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. My outer coat is to be LOVE … real love binds people together … their lives working and flowing together are like perfect harmony in the symphony of life that God is playing out through us.
Can you see how if this were flowing out of every part of me that those around me would be better off? Chewing and chewing on these verses is feeding my soul and making me more and more aware of what Jesus is trying to do in me, so that it comes out of me.
Maybe these thoughts will encourage you!
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
What's being written in your book?
Recently in some reading I was doing I came across a statement by J.M. Barrie, the author of Peter Pan that caught my attention. He wrote: The life of every man is a diary in which he means to write one story, and writes another.
That line got me thinking about the ‘book’ that I’m writing. Is it the ‘book’ that I want written or is the book just being written? There is no way that any of us can control every aspect of our life. As a matter of fact there are huge portions of life that are really out of our control. We can’t control those things but we can control the parts of life that we can control.
For instance, I can’t control the unexpected health conditions that might arise but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t aspects of my health that I can control and that I better control or else there will be many more unexpected health conditions. People can’t control everything about a job or work. They can be ‘let go’ in an instant because of something that was not in their control. There are many things about work though that is in person’s control. Are they the best possible employee? Are they responsible? Do they honor the people they work with?
This same idea is true regarding school. A student can’t control everything about school or everyone in a school environment but they can control themselves in the environment and the situation. An athlete can’t control everything about the sport or the team that they are a part of but they can control themselves as a team member and as an athlete.
Am I ‘writing’, by controlling and being responsible, the story that I want written or am I just letting life write the story? The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in the city of Corinth about the believers in that gathering being a ‘letter of Christ’ that people read. Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This "letter" is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts. (2 Corinthians 3:3 NLT)
What is written in the story of your life is not totally up to you but it is not up to chance either. What does the chapter about you as a spouse, a parent, a sibling, a student, an employee or a community member say about you? Is what you want to be written being written?
That line got me thinking about the ‘book’ that I’m writing. Is it the ‘book’ that I want written or is the book just being written? There is no way that any of us can control every aspect of our life. As a matter of fact there are huge portions of life that are really out of our control. We can’t control those things but we can control the parts of life that we can control.
For instance, I can’t control the unexpected health conditions that might arise but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t aspects of my health that I can control and that I better control or else there will be many more unexpected health conditions. People can’t control everything about a job or work. They can be ‘let go’ in an instant because of something that was not in their control. There are many things about work though that is in person’s control. Are they the best possible employee? Are they responsible? Do they honor the people they work with?
This same idea is true regarding school. A student can’t control everything about school or everyone in a school environment but they can control themselves in the environment and the situation. An athlete can’t control everything about the sport or the team that they are a part of but they can control themselves as a team member and as an athlete.
Am I ‘writing’, by controlling and being responsible, the story that I want written or am I just letting life write the story? The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in the city of Corinth about the believers in that gathering being a ‘letter of Christ’ that people read. Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This "letter" is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts. (2 Corinthians 3:3 NLT)
What is written in the story of your life is not totally up to you but it is not up to chance either. What does the chapter about you as a spouse, a parent, a sibling, a student, an employee or a community member say about you? Is what you want to be written being written?
Sunday, May 5, 2013
I Matter, You Matter, Relationships Matter
I have spent a lot of time this week thinking about the complexity of relationships and communication. There is so much at stake in relationships that we want to get them ‘right’, but they can be so complicated that things don’t always go ‘right’ but instead they go ‘left.’
There is a built-in complexity because each of us naturally assume, expect, have varying value systems, interpret differently, only partially hear and only partially communicate … just to name a few layers of complexity. To complicate the complexity, we each have a level of fear that is manifested in the various layers of complexity.
Added to the mix is a person’s depth of ‘really care’ or ‘don’t care.’ There is, in the gamut of relationships, the fact that every person has a continuum of depth of ‘care.’ On one end of the continuum is the response - I really care, this is so important. On the other end of the continuum is the response - I don’t really care. In each relationship there is always the possibility that two people are on the extreme opposite ends of the continuum. One person cares very deeply. The other person does not care at all.
Is it any wonder that relationships can create such joy and fulfillment? On the other hand, is it any wonder that relationships can create such heartburn and sleepless nights? There’s no wonder as to why one of Jesus’ loudest messages was about ‘forgiveness.’
I have come to some conclusions that I try and allow to serve as guardrails in relationships. Maybe the thoughts will help you. When I bump up against one guardrail, I’m often shot across the road to the other and ultimately bump up against the third thought.
I matter to God, you matter to God and relationships matter to God.
These thoughts serve as a sort of filter through which I try to evaluate my attitudes, words, actions and responses.
Maybe those three thoughts will help you as you navigate the complexities of your relationships.
Relationships matter to God.
There is a built-in complexity because each of us naturally assume, expect, have varying value systems, interpret differently, only partially hear and only partially communicate … just to name a few layers of complexity. To complicate the complexity, we each have a level of fear that is manifested in the various layers of complexity.
Added to the mix is a person’s depth of ‘really care’ or ‘don’t care.’ There is, in the gamut of relationships, the fact that every person has a continuum of depth of ‘care.’ On one end of the continuum is the response - I really care, this is so important. On the other end of the continuum is the response - I don’t really care. In each relationship there is always the possibility that two people are on the extreme opposite ends of the continuum. One person cares very deeply. The other person does not care at all.
Is it any wonder that relationships can create such joy and fulfillment? On the other hand, is it any wonder that relationships can create such heartburn and sleepless nights? There’s no wonder as to why one of Jesus’ loudest messages was about ‘forgiveness.’
I have come to some conclusions that I try and allow to serve as guardrails in relationships. Maybe the thoughts will help you. When I bump up against one guardrail, I’m often shot across the road to the other and ultimately bump up against the third thought.
I matter to God, you matter to God and relationships matter to God.
These thoughts serve as a sort of filter through which I try to evaluate my attitudes, words, actions and responses.
Maybe those three thoughts will help you as you navigate the complexities of your relationships.
Relationships matter to God.
Friday, April 26, 2013
Image Management and Humility
Over the last few weeks I’ve heard multiple references in the news, on websites, blogs and podcasts to the concept of ‘image management’. Most of the references have been about people managing their image so as to control or even manipulate what someone thinks about them. Image management is partially about teaching someone to put their best foot forward and helping them make a good ‘first impression’. So in many ways, image management is a good thing.
There are other ways though in which ‘image management’ is contrary to the teaching of the Word of God. The Old Testament writers and the early followers of Jesus had a fair amount to say about ‘image management’, though they didn’t use those exact words.
One of the highest valued traits in the Word of God is humility. It is so important that God says He detests pride.
Solomon wrote: There are six things the LORD hates—no, seven things He detests: haughty eyes …(Proverbs 6:16-17 NLT)
The Apostle Peter wrote about it this way: All of you, serve each other in humility, for “God opposes the proud but favors the humble." (1 Peter 5:5 NLT)
Pride is often the root of ‘image management’. I want people to think ‘higher’ of me or ‘better’ of me than they actually should. So I put on a front. I put on a façade. I put on an ‘image’, because I don’t really want people to know the real me. If they knew the real me, they might not like me and they surely wouldn’t think as highly of me as I want them to.
Humility is actually the opposite of ‘image management’. One of the first definitions I heard of humility was ‘being known for who you are.’ To say it another way: humility is ‘being known as you really are.’
That doesn’t sound like ‘image management’. Humility is letting people see you – the good, the bad and the ugly.
Stick to being known for who you really are – then people are loving you and not an image that’s been managed.
There are other ways though in which ‘image management’ is contrary to the teaching of the Word of God. The Old Testament writers and the early followers of Jesus had a fair amount to say about ‘image management’, though they didn’t use those exact words.
One of the highest valued traits in the Word of God is humility. It is so important that God says He detests pride.
Solomon wrote: There are six things the LORD hates—no, seven things He detests: haughty eyes …(Proverbs 6:16-17 NLT)
The Apostle Peter wrote about it this way: All of you, serve each other in humility, for “God opposes the proud but favors the humble." (1 Peter 5:5 NLT)
Pride is often the root of ‘image management’. I want people to think ‘higher’ of me or ‘better’ of me than they actually should. So I put on a front. I put on a façade. I put on an ‘image’, because I don’t really want people to know the real me. If they knew the real me, they might not like me and they surely wouldn’t think as highly of me as I want them to.
Humility is actually the opposite of ‘image management’. One of the first definitions I heard of humility was ‘being known for who you are.’ To say it another way: humility is ‘being known as you really are.’
That doesn’t sound like ‘image management’. Humility is letting people see you – the good, the bad and the ugly.
Stick to being known for who you really are – then people are loving you and not an image that’s been managed.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Jesus own brother believed and was transformed!
One of the strongest evidences of Jesus being who He said He was is the transformation and testimony of His brother James. James, Jesus’ oldest stepbrother, like the rest of Jesus’ siblings, did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah. They knew that He was an effective teacher, that people were being healed, that crowds followed Him everywhere He went and even encouraged Him to leave Galilee and go to Judea where He could become ‘famous’, but ‘even His brothers didn’t believe in Him.’ (John 7:5)
Can you imagine being the stepbrother of Jesus? Jesus is healing people left and right. Jesus is teaching huge crowds of people. Jesus is feeding the multitudes. There are stories circulating about Jesus; calming storms, walking on water, casting demons into pigs and these are just the stories we know about. John, one of the Apostles and an eyewitness, writes that there were MANY things that Jesus did that were unable to be put to writing and that ‘the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.’ (John 21:25)
James’ stepbrother Jesus is the one doing all these things and yet James does not believe that His brother can be the chosen one, the Messiah, the Son of God. It is not until after the crucifixion, burial and then the resurrection of Jesus from the dead that James is transformed.
The Apostle Paul says that: “He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, He was seen by more than 500 of His followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then He was seen by James and later by all the apostles.” (1 Corinthians 15:5-7 NLT)
Once James saw His brother, the one that He saw crucified, pierced in the side, confirmed dead by professional executors and then buried, alive from the dead…his life was changed. It was so radically changed that he spent the rest of his life as a leader among those who became part of the ever expanding spiritual organism called the ‘church.’
In AD 62, less than 30 years after the death, burial and resurrection of his brother Jesus, James was brought before the Jewish Sanhedrin, (the supreme court of their nation), and was given the chance to recant his belief in his brother Jesus as the Messiah. Instead, standing on the top of the Temple, he declared that Jesus "Himself sits in heaven, at the right hand of the Great Power, and shall come on the clouds of heaven." At this declaration the Jewish leaders pushed him off the temple and he hit the ground below where his death was finalized by stoning. His death was so impactful that it was written about by Josephus, Hegesippus, Clement and others.
The life, transformation and martyr of James, Jesus’ brother, is one of the great testimonies as to the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, the Messiah! The faith we live out is not based on myth or fairytales. It is based on real history!
Can you imagine being the stepbrother of Jesus? Jesus is healing people left and right. Jesus is teaching huge crowds of people. Jesus is feeding the multitudes. There are stories circulating about Jesus; calming storms, walking on water, casting demons into pigs and these are just the stories we know about. John, one of the Apostles and an eyewitness, writes that there were MANY things that Jesus did that were unable to be put to writing and that ‘the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.’ (John 21:25)
James’ stepbrother Jesus is the one doing all these things and yet James does not believe that His brother can be the chosen one, the Messiah, the Son of God. It is not until after the crucifixion, burial and then the resurrection of Jesus from the dead that James is transformed.
The Apostle Paul says that: “He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, He was seen by more than 500 of His followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then He was seen by James and later by all the apostles.” (1 Corinthians 15:5-7 NLT)
Once James saw His brother, the one that He saw crucified, pierced in the side, confirmed dead by professional executors and then buried, alive from the dead…his life was changed. It was so radically changed that he spent the rest of his life as a leader among those who became part of the ever expanding spiritual organism called the ‘church.’
In AD 62, less than 30 years after the death, burial and resurrection of his brother Jesus, James was brought before the Jewish Sanhedrin, (the supreme court of their nation), and was given the chance to recant his belief in his brother Jesus as the Messiah. Instead, standing on the top of the Temple, he declared that Jesus "Himself sits in heaven, at the right hand of the Great Power, and shall come on the clouds of heaven." At this declaration the Jewish leaders pushed him off the temple and he hit the ground below where his death was finalized by stoning. His death was so impactful that it was written about by Josephus, Hegesippus, Clement and others.
The life, transformation and martyr of James, Jesus’ brother, is one of the great testimonies as to the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, the Messiah! The faith we live out is not based on myth or fairytales. It is based on real history!
Friday, April 12, 2013
Will the Real Jesus Please Stand-up?
Over the centuries men have sought to determine all that they could about Jesus, who he was, what he did and what he was ‘really’ like. This pursuit has not always led not to a better understanding of who Jesus was, what he did and what he was ‘really’ like. Instead it has often led to a more confusing and convoluted view.
The confusion has come about as men have studied the writings of various authors over the years. As more and more documents surface, more and more information has been added to the mix. The dilemma is that more information doesn’t necessarily sharpen the focus but it tends to dull the focus.
The first accounts of Jesus were not found in the ‘Gospels’ but in the writings of Paul, Peter, James and John. The ‘Gospel’ accounts were written a few decades later. Matthew was written from first hand memory of walking, talking, eating with Jesus. Mark was a disciple of Peter and wrote down the account of the life of Jesus as told by Peter. Luke, a physician, researched what had already been written and interviewed people who had walked, talked and ate with Jesus. Luke’s goal was to write an accurate and detailed account of the life of Jesus. John, the disciple who was given responsibility for Mary, the mother of Jesus wrote the last account. The accounts of these various men who had lived with Jesus give us an accurate, though limited, look at the who, what, where and how of Jesus.
As the years, decades and even centuries passed more and more people wrote about Jesus. Some of them were disciples of disciples of disciples of disciples who wrote what they had heard. The quandary is that those authors were years, decades and even centuries removed from walking, talking and eating with Jesus. They were not ‘eye witnesses.’ Their contribution didn’t focus the picture of Jesus - It made everything fuzzy.
Now ‘scholars’ argue about documents that were written five centuries after Jesus - not much help!
I want to help you see Jesus!
The confusion has come about as men have studied the writings of various authors over the years. As more and more documents surface, more and more information has been added to the mix. The dilemma is that more information doesn’t necessarily sharpen the focus but it tends to dull the focus.
The first accounts of Jesus were not found in the ‘Gospels’ but in the writings of Paul, Peter, James and John. The ‘Gospel’ accounts were written a few decades later. Matthew was written from first hand memory of walking, talking, eating with Jesus. Mark was a disciple of Peter and wrote down the account of the life of Jesus as told by Peter. Luke, a physician, researched what had already been written and interviewed people who had walked, talked and ate with Jesus. Luke’s goal was to write an accurate and detailed account of the life of Jesus. John, the disciple who was given responsibility for Mary, the mother of Jesus wrote the last account. The accounts of these various men who had lived with Jesus give us an accurate, though limited, look at the who, what, where and how of Jesus.
As the years, decades and even centuries passed more and more people wrote about Jesus. Some of them were disciples of disciples of disciples of disciples who wrote what they had heard. The quandary is that those authors were years, decades and even centuries removed from walking, talking and eating with Jesus. They were not ‘eye witnesses.’ Their contribution didn’t focus the picture of Jesus - It made everything fuzzy.
Now ‘scholars’ argue about documents that were written five centuries after Jesus - not much help!
I want to help you see Jesus!
Friday, April 5, 2013
Spread the Gospel like the flu!
Twice in the past little while I’ve been hit with a bug. Once it was the chest, head, throat, fever etc. Just this last week, I got hit by the stomach bug. No need to describe what that looked or felt like. You already know!
It is interesting how bugs are spread. One person touches another person, who touches another person and so on. One person gets the bug and another person doesn’t. One person gets the bug badly and another person is only mildly affected by the bug. One person touches another person who doesn’t get sick at all, but who passes the bug on to someone else who gets sick. It passes over some people – what’s with that?
In my case, who knows who it was that passed the bug on to me. It could have been one of the ICA teachers. It could have been an ICA parent. I could have been an ICA student. It could have been a grandchild. It could have been a stranger. It could have been someone I do business with. It could have been YOU!
I was thinking of bugs, germs and contagions in regards to the message of Jesus. The spread of the Gospel, the Good News, of Jesus’ forgiveness, new life, love, peace, hope and joy is not meant to happen via some formula. The spread of the Gospel is meant to happen much like the flu is spread.
The spread of the Gospel is meant to happen when one person touches another person, who touches another person ,who touches another person, and so on and so on. Every follower of Jesus is a ‘carrier.’ Every follower of Jesus is meant to infect other people.
When Jesus said to the disciples “Go into all the world and make disciples”, He was saying “Go into the world and infect others with the message of my love, grace, forgiveness, peace and joy.” Are you contagious? Are you infecting others?
It is interesting how bugs are spread. One person touches another person, who touches another person and so on. One person gets the bug and another person doesn’t. One person gets the bug badly and another person is only mildly affected by the bug. One person touches another person who doesn’t get sick at all, but who passes the bug on to someone else who gets sick. It passes over some people – what’s with that?
In my case, who knows who it was that passed the bug on to me. It could have been one of the ICA teachers. It could have been an ICA parent. I could have been an ICA student. It could have been a grandchild. It could have been a stranger. It could have been someone I do business with. It could have been YOU!
I was thinking of bugs, germs and contagions in regards to the message of Jesus. The spread of the Gospel, the Good News, of Jesus’ forgiveness, new life, love, peace, hope and joy is not meant to happen via some formula. The spread of the Gospel is meant to happen much like the flu is spread.
The spread of the Gospel is meant to happen when one person touches another person, who touches another person ,who touches another person, and so on and so on. Every follower of Jesus is a ‘carrier.’ Every follower of Jesus is meant to infect other people.
When Jesus said to the disciples “Go into all the world and make disciples”, He was saying “Go into the world and infect others with the message of my love, grace, forgiveness, peace and joy.” Are you contagious? Are you infecting others?
Friday, March 29, 2013
We are so glad that you are here today to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection from the dead! Jesus resurrection is the linchpin of human history. If Jesus had not been raised from the dead, we would not even know His name today. We know the names of others who lead insurrections and rebellions against the Roman Empire and were crucified, but only because they are remembered in comparison to Jesus.
We know the name Jesus because He wasn’t just another insurrectionist who garnered a following and then was executed for it. Though He had multitudes that followed Him, He was not an insurrectionist. What people saw and heard was only what was above the surface. There was so much more below the surface that was not apparent.
Much of what was under the surface did not become apparent until after His resurrection. His resurrection from the dead changed countless world realities of that day. The disciples who had abandoned their Rabbi and scattered were emboldened by the resurrection. The Roman officials were undecided on what had occurred, so in an attempt to keep control of the rumblings of Jesus being alive from the dead, they fabricated a story about what had happened to Jesus’ body. The Jewish leaders fabricated their own story as to what had happened to Jesus’ body.
Things were happening so fast that the events were described by the writers as having ‘turned the world upside down.’ What had been common for eons was changing at avalanche speeds. In just a few short months after Jesus resurrection from the dead, a significant population in and around Jerusalem had begun to gather to investigate, learn about and worship this one called Jesus Christ.
The speed at which people were becoming followers of Jesus worried the Jewish leaders and they began arresting, punishing and ultimately executing key followers. The Roman officials were more than happy to allow the Jewish leadership to do the dirty work. It wasn’t long though before the Roman officials got involved in attempting to squelch the growing movement.
One of the amazing changes that occurred was in the life of Jesus’ own brother, James. James had not been a follower. He had been a doubter, a skeptic. Once He saw his Brother, walked with and talked with his Brother, he would never be the same. What happened to James is one of the greatest transformations that occurred.
You know His name because He is alive!
Happy Easter.
We know the name Jesus because He wasn’t just another insurrectionist who garnered a following and then was executed for it. Though He had multitudes that followed Him, He was not an insurrectionist. What people saw and heard was only what was above the surface. There was so much more below the surface that was not apparent.
Much of what was under the surface did not become apparent until after His resurrection. His resurrection from the dead changed countless world realities of that day. The disciples who had abandoned their Rabbi and scattered were emboldened by the resurrection. The Roman officials were undecided on what had occurred, so in an attempt to keep control of the rumblings of Jesus being alive from the dead, they fabricated a story about what had happened to Jesus’ body. The Jewish leaders fabricated their own story as to what had happened to Jesus’ body.
Things were happening so fast that the events were described by the writers as having ‘turned the world upside down.’ What had been common for eons was changing at avalanche speeds. In just a few short months after Jesus resurrection from the dead, a significant population in and around Jerusalem had begun to gather to investigate, learn about and worship this one called Jesus Christ.
The speed at which people were becoming followers of Jesus worried the Jewish leaders and they began arresting, punishing and ultimately executing key followers. The Roman officials were more than happy to allow the Jewish leadership to do the dirty work. It wasn’t long though before the Roman officials got involved in attempting to squelch the growing movement.
One of the amazing changes that occurred was in the life of Jesus’ own brother, James. James had not been a follower. He had been a doubter, a skeptic. Once He saw his Brother, walked with and talked with his Brother, he would never be the same. What happened to James is one of the greatest transformations that occurred.
You know His name because He is alive!
Happy Easter.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Easter is about LIFE!
Easter is fast approaching. Easter is of course the celebration of Jesus' resurrection from the dead. It is also an incredible celebration of life.
At creation, God breathed the 'breath of life' into Adam and Eve. They were alive. Life was part of who they were and impacted everything they did. Not long after receiving the 'breath of life' they ate of the forbidden fruit and everything changed. Life had been replaced with death. Where life once was, there was death. Life, that had been a part of who they were and impacted everything, was supplanted by death. Death became the rule of the day.
After 33 years on the planet, Jesus died and when he rose from the dead, death received a fatal blow. Life that was once usurped by death was now overtaken by life. This new life doesn't happen in the afterlife. This life happens when a person surrenders control of their life to Jesus. At that moment, a person is 'born-again' by the Spirit. Just as the 'breath of life' was breathed into Adam and Eve, the 'breath of life' is breathed into the surrendered.
Life replaces death. Life might not replace physical death, but the physical is only temporary. Life replaces death in the inner person. Life is breathed in and once again everything changes. Those who continue to walk in life feel, see and experience life more closely to how God designed it.
This is Easter. The celebration of death being replaced by life.
Invite your family, friends, co-workers and fellow commuters to join you in celebrating life overtaking death through the resurrection of Jesus on that first Easter morning.
At creation, God breathed the 'breath of life' into Adam and Eve. They were alive. Life was part of who they were and impacted everything they did. Not long after receiving the 'breath of life' they ate of the forbidden fruit and everything changed. Life had been replaced with death. Where life once was, there was death. Life, that had been a part of who they were and impacted everything, was supplanted by death. Death became the rule of the day.
After 33 years on the planet, Jesus died and when he rose from the dead, death received a fatal blow. Life that was once usurped by death was now overtaken by life. This new life doesn't happen in the afterlife. This life happens when a person surrenders control of their life to Jesus. At that moment, a person is 'born-again' by the Spirit. Just as the 'breath of life' was breathed into Adam and Eve, the 'breath of life' is breathed into the surrendered.
Life replaces death. Life might not replace physical death, but the physical is only temporary. Life replaces death in the inner person. Life is breathed in and once again everything changes. Those who continue to walk in life feel, see and experience life more closely to how God designed it.
This is Easter. The celebration of death being replaced by life.
Invite your family, friends, co-workers and fellow commuters to join you in celebrating life overtaking death through the resurrection of Jesus on that first Easter morning.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Following Jesus is about Surrender
Often when I talk to people about following Jesus, the conversation comes around to the question of DOING. How often do I have to attend church? Do I have to read the Bible? Do I have to believe all that Adam and Eve stuff? Do I have to stop doing this? Do I have to start doing that? Can I still do this? Can I still do that? What about these friends?
The idea of following Jesus gets confusing when it is thought of in terms of DOING. When that is the trail of thought a person goes down, following Jesus becomes something it was never intended to be. Following Jesus was never meant to be an exercise in DOING. There are things that a follower of Jesus does. There are things that a follower of Jesus doesn’t do. DOING and NOT DOING is not the point though.
People start asking about DOING because it gets to the heart of the matter for each of us. The question of DOING is often really a question about ‘Who gets to be in control?’ The thought is ‘I will not allow anyone else to control ME. I will be large and in charge, thank you! Following ME is ME in control.’
Following Jesus is definitely about ‘who is in control.’ Following Jesus is about surrendering ‘control’ of my life to Him. Following Jesus is Him in control. It doesn’t work to follow Jesus and ME be in control. Won’t work! Can’t work!
The dilemma of ME in control is multifaceted. When ME is in control, I think that I’m becoming ME and being true to ME. This is not true. When ME is in control, ME bends towards selfish decisions and a self-centered life. ME in control ends in lots of dings, nicks and crashes. ME in control always has lots of repair work that has to be done. ‘Bondo’ and paint will only cover so much. Dings, nicks and crashes always come with a cost.
When a person surrenders control to Jesus, He begins to bend them away from ME and selfish self-centered living, to God and others centered living. There are still dings, nicks and crashes, but when surrender has occurred, repair is up to Him and not ME.
On top of that, when a person surrenders, they begin to become the ME that Jesus intended all along for them to become and they begin to do what Jesus all along intended for them to do.
Surrender leads towards the life ME was meant to live.
The idea of following Jesus gets confusing when it is thought of in terms of DOING. When that is the trail of thought a person goes down, following Jesus becomes something it was never intended to be. Following Jesus was never meant to be an exercise in DOING. There are things that a follower of Jesus does. There are things that a follower of Jesus doesn’t do. DOING and NOT DOING is not the point though.
People start asking about DOING because it gets to the heart of the matter for each of us. The question of DOING is often really a question about ‘Who gets to be in control?’ The thought is ‘I will not allow anyone else to control ME. I will be large and in charge, thank you! Following ME is ME in control.’
Following Jesus is definitely about ‘who is in control.’ Following Jesus is about surrendering ‘control’ of my life to Him. Following Jesus is Him in control. It doesn’t work to follow Jesus and ME be in control. Won’t work! Can’t work!
The dilemma of ME in control is multifaceted. When ME is in control, I think that I’m becoming ME and being true to ME. This is not true. When ME is in control, ME bends towards selfish decisions and a self-centered life. ME in control ends in lots of dings, nicks and crashes. ME in control always has lots of repair work that has to be done. ‘Bondo’ and paint will only cover so much. Dings, nicks and crashes always come with a cost.
When a person surrenders control to Jesus, He begins to bend them away from ME and selfish self-centered living, to God and others centered living. There are still dings, nicks and crashes, but when surrender has occurred, repair is up to Him and not ME.
On top of that, when a person surrenders, they begin to become the ME that Jesus intended all along for them to become and they begin to do what Jesus all along intended for them to do.
Surrender leads towards the life ME was meant to live.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Culture of Character vs. Culture of Personality
Barbara and I recently watched a TED talk by author Susan Cain; her talk The Power of Introverts. (If you are not familiar with TED talks you should Google it. There are some amazing things to learn on this free website. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment and Design. The talks range from “How Flies Fly” to “3D Printing”.)
In Cain’s talk, she referred to two ideas that caught my attention. The ideas from her study, as well as the study of others, are a ‘culture of character’ and a ‘culture of personality.’ These are not terms that I was familiar with, but are widely used by sociologists and students of culture. The implications of these two ideas are very interesting.
In her talk, she described how for hundreds of years the highest value in Western Society was placed on character. People lived mostly in rural agricultural settings. In those settings, people worked together, lived together, worshipped together and celebrated life and death together. Since people lived in such close quarters, character was highly valued and was hard to fake.
As the Industrial Revolution ensued and vast numbers of people began moving to the urban areas, personality began to be valued over character. People in urban settings no longer lived with, worshipped with, and celebrated life and death with the people they worked with. As time went on, the separations became even greater. People lived with one group, worshipped (if they continued to do so) with another group, worked with yet another group and celebrated life and death with yet another group. Sometimes these groups overlapped and sometimes they didn’t. As the century progressed and urban sprawl began to occur, the circles of life became even more removed.
In these settings, personality became the important factor for a person and not necessarily character. A book that was important in the late 19th century was Character, the Grandest Thing in the World. In the 20th century, one of the widely read books was How to Win Friends, and Influence People.
Now a few decades later, it seems that life rises and falls on personality. Movie stars, superstar models, superstar athletes and superstar entertainers of every sort fill the landscape. When teens are surveyed about what they would like to ‘be’ in life, the number one answer is famous. The ‘culture of personality’ has even morphed more with the advent of social media. Character plays almost no part on social media. Personality becomes the most important thing. At least my ‘avatar’ personality becomes vital.
What are the implications in your life from the idea of ‘culture of character’ verses ‘culture of personality’? Which of the two cultures are most important in your world?
In Cain’s talk, she referred to two ideas that caught my attention. The ideas from her study, as well as the study of others, are a ‘culture of character’ and a ‘culture of personality.’ These are not terms that I was familiar with, but are widely used by sociologists and students of culture. The implications of these two ideas are very interesting.
In her talk, she described how for hundreds of years the highest value in Western Society was placed on character. People lived mostly in rural agricultural settings. In those settings, people worked together, lived together, worshipped together and celebrated life and death together. Since people lived in such close quarters, character was highly valued and was hard to fake.
As the Industrial Revolution ensued and vast numbers of people began moving to the urban areas, personality began to be valued over character. People in urban settings no longer lived with, worshipped with, and celebrated life and death with the people they worked with. As time went on, the separations became even greater. People lived with one group, worshipped (if they continued to do so) with another group, worked with yet another group and celebrated life and death with yet another group. Sometimes these groups overlapped and sometimes they didn’t. As the century progressed and urban sprawl began to occur, the circles of life became even more removed.
In these settings, personality became the important factor for a person and not necessarily character. A book that was important in the late 19th century was Character, the Grandest Thing in the World. In the 20th century, one of the widely read books was How to Win Friends, and Influence People.
Now a few decades later, it seems that life rises and falls on personality. Movie stars, superstar models, superstar athletes and superstar entertainers of every sort fill the landscape. When teens are surveyed about what they would like to ‘be’ in life, the number one answer is famous. The ‘culture of personality’ has even morphed more with the advent of social media. Character plays almost no part on social media. Personality becomes the most important thing. At least my ‘avatar’ personality becomes vital.
What are the implications in your life from the idea of ‘culture of character’ verses ‘culture of personality’? Which of the two cultures are most important in your world?
Friday, February 15, 2013
Live and Love and Lead
I’ve been thinking about what my roles in life are. In some ways I have some very specific roles. I am a husband to only one woman. I am a father to only 5 kids. I am a grandfather to 2 ½ grandchildren. (Number 3 will be here in May!) I pastor only one church in one community. I have some specific roles in life.
I have some other more general roles. I’m part of a group of men and women who meet to ride bikes together. I’m a homeowner, a taxpayer, a runner, a Gonzaga Basketball fan. I’m one of six sons to my parents. I’m one of nine children to my parents. I am one of a number of sons-in-law. I have some general roles in life.
I am also a follower of Jesus. In some ways this role is very general. I’m just one of countless millions of followers on the planet today and countless billions down through history. I’m just like some of you. I’m just an everyday, bread and butter follower of Jesus. There really aren’t a lot of ‘special role’ followers of Jesus. In 2000 years of history there have only been about 260 popes. On any given day there is only one guy referred to as the Pope. Most of us are just everyday followers of Jesus.
My role as a follower of Jesus does have a specific aspect to it though. I’m a follower of Jesus in 2013. I’m a follower of Jesus in the USA. I’m a follower of Jesus on Whidbey Island. I’m a follower of Jesus on South Whidbey which is different then North Whidbey. I’m a follower of Jesus that has the honor of serving a local group of people and an awesome community. This role carries with it some unique challenges and opportunities.
The mission of every follower of Jesus is to live in such a way that the people in their specific sphere of life will get a glimpse of what Jesus is like. This is done by how they live and how they serve. For me, the challenges and opportunities are found in living in such a way that people in 2013, in USA, on the South End of Whidbey Island, will see some of what Jesus is like by how I live and serve. I want people to see Jesus in my life. I want to help people see who Jesus is and what Jesus was like. My specific role is to live and to lead and to love and to teach in such a way that people will see Jesus.
What is your specific role as a follower of Jesus?
I have some other more general roles. I’m part of a group of men and women who meet to ride bikes together. I’m a homeowner, a taxpayer, a runner, a Gonzaga Basketball fan. I’m one of six sons to my parents. I’m one of nine children to my parents. I am one of a number of sons-in-law. I have some general roles in life.
I am also a follower of Jesus. In some ways this role is very general. I’m just one of countless millions of followers on the planet today and countless billions down through history. I’m just like some of you. I’m just an everyday, bread and butter follower of Jesus. There really aren’t a lot of ‘special role’ followers of Jesus. In 2000 years of history there have only been about 260 popes. On any given day there is only one guy referred to as the Pope. Most of us are just everyday followers of Jesus.
My role as a follower of Jesus does have a specific aspect to it though. I’m a follower of Jesus in 2013. I’m a follower of Jesus in the USA. I’m a follower of Jesus on Whidbey Island. I’m a follower of Jesus on South Whidbey which is different then North Whidbey. I’m a follower of Jesus that has the honor of serving a local group of people and an awesome community. This role carries with it some unique challenges and opportunities.
The mission of every follower of Jesus is to live in such a way that the people in their specific sphere of life will get a glimpse of what Jesus is like. This is done by how they live and how they serve. For me, the challenges and opportunities are found in living in such a way that people in 2013, in USA, on the South End of Whidbey Island, will see some of what Jesus is like by how I live and serve. I want people to see Jesus in my life. I want to help people see who Jesus is and what Jesus was like. My specific role is to live and to lead and to love and to teach in such a way that people will see Jesus.
What is your specific role as a follower of Jesus?
Friday, February 8, 2013
King of the Mountain or Kingdom of God? - You Choose!
In Matthew, Mark and Luke’s accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry they each tell the story of little children being brought to Jesus for Him to bless or for Him to use as a part of a life lesson that He was teaching. In each of these accounts, Jesus tells the audience that ‘unless they become like little children they will not enter the Kingdom of God.’ When teachers come to these passages, they often refer to how children are innocent, naive and trusting. These characteristics might be true. (As a parent I have experienced the exact opposite from my children at times!)
These accounts are actually part of a bigger discussion that is occurring about ‘who will be the greatest?’ Matthew records it this way: About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?" (Matthew 18:1 NLT) One of the characteristics of the human heart is the battle to be King of the Mountain. Everyone wants to be the ‘Big Dog’ in some area of life, so we shove and elbow and throw our weight around so that at least in some arena we can be at the top of the ‘food chain’ and not the bottom.
The interesting characteristic of children in Jesus day is that they were totally powerless. Children had no status, no rights, they could not impose their will on someone else or demand something from others and they did not receive preferential treatment. Children were to be seen and not heard. Children were not seen as the ‘future’ because there was no guarantee that any child would make it beyond infancy. In Jesus’ day, a woman of childbearing age had to give birth to five children - that lived - just to keep a stable population. Women of childbearing age had to give birth to more than five if the world’s population was going to increase.
I think that the characteristics of children that Jesus was referring to when He said: ‘unless you turn from your sins and become like little children’ is not trust, innocence and naiveté. I think the characteristic Jesus was talking about is powerlessness, zero status, no rights, no ability to impose their will on others or receive preferential treatment. Jesus was telling His followers that unless you quit trying to be the King of the Mountain and become like a powerless child, who has no status to stand on, no rights, and no ability to impose your will on others and not expect or demand some sort of preferential treatment, then you can’t enter the Kingdom of God.
That idea won’t fly in the American culture! I’m the Big Dog. I’m the King of the Mountain. If I don’t have power, if I don’t demand my rights and get preferential treatment life is not worth living!
Which will it be – Kingdom of God or King of the Mountain? You choose.
These accounts are actually part of a bigger discussion that is occurring about ‘who will be the greatest?’ Matthew records it this way: About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?" (Matthew 18:1 NLT) One of the characteristics of the human heart is the battle to be King of the Mountain. Everyone wants to be the ‘Big Dog’ in some area of life, so we shove and elbow and throw our weight around so that at least in some arena we can be at the top of the ‘food chain’ and not the bottom.
The interesting characteristic of children in Jesus day is that they were totally powerless. Children had no status, no rights, they could not impose their will on someone else or demand something from others and they did not receive preferential treatment. Children were to be seen and not heard. Children were not seen as the ‘future’ because there was no guarantee that any child would make it beyond infancy. In Jesus’ day, a woman of childbearing age had to give birth to five children - that lived - just to keep a stable population. Women of childbearing age had to give birth to more than five if the world’s population was going to increase.
I think that the characteristics of children that Jesus was referring to when He said: ‘unless you turn from your sins and become like little children’ is not trust, innocence and naiveté. I think the characteristic Jesus was talking about is powerlessness, zero status, no rights, no ability to impose their will on others or receive preferential treatment. Jesus was telling His followers that unless you quit trying to be the King of the Mountain and become like a powerless child, who has no status to stand on, no rights, and no ability to impose your will on others and not expect or demand some sort of preferential treatment, then you can’t enter the Kingdom of God.
That idea won’t fly in the American culture! I’m the Big Dog. I’m the King of the Mountain. If I don’t have power, if I don’t demand my rights and get preferential treatment life is not worth living!
Which will it be – Kingdom of God or King of the Mountain? You choose.
Friday, January 25, 2013
Becoming an Expert on Jesus
One of the captivating realities about Jesus is that He was an expert in the Scriptures. As a child and a young man, He had to learn the Scriptures just like anyone else who set out to learn them. He had to read them, memorize them, wrestle with their meaning and figure out how to apply them to everyday life.
When Jesus was 12 years old His family traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. After the Feast was over, Mary and Joseph, assuming that Jesus was with them, started the long trip home. After a day’s travel they began to look for Jesus, thinking that He had started home with them. Jesus was nowhere to be found. They turned around and headed back to Jerusalem where they found Jesus. He was in the Temple listening to the teachers and asking questions about the Scriptures.
When His parents asked Him about what He was doing, He responded that they should have known where He would be. Implication? When He was missing, He could be found among the teachers listening and asking questions. (Luke 2)
Even before He began His ministry, He taught in the synagogue. (Luke 4) The common practice in that day was to have a man, especially any rabbi that was present, to read from a scroll and give a lesson. When Jesus started his ‘official’ ministry, He was already a familiar face and voice to those in the synagogue, so they invited Him to read and to give a teaching from the scrolls. He picked the scroll of Isaiah and read from it. It was the portion of Isaiah that described what His ministry would be like. (Isaiah 61)
When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness for forty days, He withstood temptation by quoting the Scripture. Over and over He said: ‘It is written…’ and then quoted from the Scriptures.
How did Jesus become an expert in the Scriptures? The same way that you eat an elephant – one bite at a time. Jesus dug into the Scriptures regularly. He did so hour by hour, day by day, year by year. Over time, He became an expert.
You and I can become experts on Jesus! Becoming an expert on Jesus takes place ‘one bite at a time.’ Hour by hour, day by day, year by year!
Jesus, teach us about You and show Yourself to us!
When Jesus was 12 years old His family traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. After the Feast was over, Mary and Joseph, assuming that Jesus was with them, started the long trip home. After a day’s travel they began to look for Jesus, thinking that He had started home with them. Jesus was nowhere to be found. They turned around and headed back to Jerusalem where they found Jesus. He was in the Temple listening to the teachers and asking questions about the Scriptures.
When His parents asked Him about what He was doing, He responded that they should have known where He would be. Implication? When He was missing, He could be found among the teachers listening and asking questions. (Luke 2)
Even before He began His ministry, He taught in the synagogue. (Luke 4) The common practice in that day was to have a man, especially any rabbi that was present, to read from a scroll and give a lesson. When Jesus started his ‘official’ ministry, He was already a familiar face and voice to those in the synagogue, so they invited Him to read and to give a teaching from the scrolls. He picked the scroll of Isaiah and read from it. It was the portion of Isaiah that described what His ministry would be like. (Isaiah 61)
When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness for forty days, He withstood temptation by quoting the Scripture. Over and over He said: ‘It is written…’ and then quoted from the Scriptures.
How did Jesus become an expert in the Scriptures? The same way that you eat an elephant – one bite at a time. Jesus dug into the Scriptures regularly. He did so hour by hour, day by day, year by year. Over time, He became an expert.
You and I can become experts on Jesus! Becoming an expert on Jesus takes place ‘one bite at a time.’ Hour by hour, day by day, year by year!
Jesus, teach us about You and show Yourself to us!
Friday, January 18, 2013
Jesus - A Different Kind of Rabbi
Jesus was often referred to as ‘Rabbi.’ Rabbi was a title given to someone who was a teacher. There were many rabbis teaching throughout Israel in Jesus’ day.
Education was quite different in the first century. Students did not go to a school to learn. Students went to a teacher. They would commit themselves as students of that teacher. They would travel wherever he went. They would live like he lived. Over time it became obvious to outsiders what teacher a person was following based on beliefs, vocabulary and lifestyle.
Rabbis did not go looking for students. To look for or recruit a student would have been seen as demeaning or beneath the rabbi. Instead, students sought out the rabbi and if they were found to be a worthwhile student, they were allowed to study with the rabbi.
Jesus handled being a rabbi differently. He is the first rabbi on record to recruit his students. He actually recruited students who most likely had no intention of becoming students of a rabbi. They were fishermen, tax collectors and political activists. They had not sought out a rabbi to study under and follow. They appeared to be quite content to live ordinary lives.
Jesus saw something in them. Jesus ‘called’ them to follow him. Jesus ‘called’ them to commit themselves to a completely different way of living.
It is no different today. When someone begins to follow Jesus, it is not because they started looking to follow Him. People begin to search and follow after Jesus because HE comes to THEM, tugging at their heart and recruiting them to a different way of life.
Now people go to a school. Then people went to a teacher – rabbi.
Go to the Rabbi and learn from Him!
Education was quite different in the first century. Students did not go to a school to learn. Students went to a teacher. They would commit themselves as students of that teacher. They would travel wherever he went. They would live like he lived. Over time it became obvious to outsiders what teacher a person was following based on beliefs, vocabulary and lifestyle.
Rabbis did not go looking for students. To look for or recruit a student would have been seen as demeaning or beneath the rabbi. Instead, students sought out the rabbi and if they were found to be a worthwhile student, they were allowed to study with the rabbi.
Jesus handled being a rabbi differently. He is the first rabbi on record to recruit his students. He actually recruited students who most likely had no intention of becoming students of a rabbi. They were fishermen, tax collectors and political activists. They had not sought out a rabbi to study under and follow. They appeared to be quite content to live ordinary lives.
Jesus saw something in them. Jesus ‘called’ them to follow him. Jesus ‘called’ them to commit themselves to a completely different way of living.
It is no different today. When someone begins to follow Jesus, it is not because they started looking to follow Him. People begin to search and follow after Jesus because HE comes to THEM, tugging at their heart and recruiting them to a different way of life.
Now people go to a school. Then people went to a teacher – rabbi.
Go to the Rabbi and learn from Him!
Friday, January 11, 2013
The Bible from Scratch
At different times over the years, when reading through the Bible, I have had the feeling that trying to grasp what had been written was a lot like making pumpkin pie from scratch. Both grasping what the Bible says and making pumpkin pie from scratch can be a lot of work. They can both be messy and sometimes they don’t turn out the way you want.
Wouldn’t it be easier if understanding what is in the Bible was more like going to Costco and buying an already made pie? At least let me use a can opener and some of that canned pumpkin goop!
Instead, I have to cut off the top, take out the seeds, and deal with all of the stringy stuff, pulp, slime and smell. Then you have to cook it, peel it and prepare it just to start making the pie. It is still a long while before the pie can be enjoyed!
Reading and understanding the Scriptures can at times be like that. Even the Apostle Peter referred to some of what the Apostle Paul wrote as containing ‘some things that are hard to understand.’ If Peter, who lived in the same time period, culture, setting and experiences that Paul lived found some things hard to understand, what chance do I have?
Though the Book of John was not written by Paul, there are parts of the Gospel of John that fit the description of ‘hard to understand.’ The ‘hard to understand’ nature of the Scriptures sometimes discourages people from reading, studying and thinking. It is easier to either not have ‘pumpkin pie’ or at least eat pumpkin pie that someone else has fixed.
I want to encourage you to ‘make pumpkin pie from scratch.’ Don’t just depend on someone else doing all of the work. There has never been a time in history when there were more resources than right now. Either by print, media or the internet, the tools necessary for studying and understanding the Bible are available.
During early 2013, as you read through the Gospel of John, do more than depend on someone else to dig out the ingredients to understanding. Do some of the work yourself. The ‘pie’ will taste better and you’ll experience the reward of discovery. Jesus is waiting to make the Word become real. He doesn’t always let understanding come easy, but then again nothing in life that is worthwhile comes easy.
Wouldn’t it be easier if understanding what is in the Bible was more like going to Costco and buying an already made pie? At least let me use a can opener and some of that canned pumpkin goop!
Instead, I have to cut off the top, take out the seeds, and deal with all of the stringy stuff, pulp, slime and smell. Then you have to cook it, peel it and prepare it just to start making the pie. It is still a long while before the pie can be enjoyed!
Reading and understanding the Scriptures can at times be like that. Even the Apostle Peter referred to some of what the Apostle Paul wrote as containing ‘some things that are hard to understand.’ If Peter, who lived in the same time period, culture, setting and experiences that Paul lived found some things hard to understand, what chance do I have?
Though the Book of John was not written by Paul, there are parts of the Gospel of John that fit the description of ‘hard to understand.’ The ‘hard to understand’ nature of the Scriptures sometimes discourages people from reading, studying and thinking. It is easier to either not have ‘pumpkin pie’ or at least eat pumpkin pie that someone else has fixed.
I want to encourage you to ‘make pumpkin pie from scratch.’ Don’t just depend on someone else doing all of the work. There has never been a time in history when there were more resources than right now. Either by print, media or the internet, the tools necessary for studying and understanding the Bible are available.
During early 2013, as you read through the Gospel of John, do more than depend on someone else to dig out the ingredients to understanding. Do some of the work yourself. The ‘pie’ will taste better and you’ll experience the reward of discovery. Jesus is waiting to make the Word become real. He doesn’t always let understanding come easy, but then again nothing in life that is worthwhile comes easy.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Jesus is Supreme
Human beings have always had a hard time valuing life and the various aspects of life the way that they are intended to be valued. From the very beginning, as recorded in the book of Genesis, people messed up the world based on a faulty value system.
Adam and Eve didn’t see eye to eye with the value that God put on the trees of the garden and did what they wanted. Cain didn’t concur with God’s evaluation of his offering, got mad at Abel and killed him. The angels and people before the flood valued things differently than God. The people of Sodom and Gomorrah disagreed with God’s value system. The list could go on and on and on through the centuries with more entries being added by the day and by the minute.
Paul wrote the followers of Jesus in the city of Colossae about the value system of God since Jesus’ entrance into human history.
Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through Him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through Him and for Him. He existed before anything else, and He holds all creation together. (Colossians 1:15-17 NLT)
Paul says that Jesus is ‘supreme’ over all creation. Jesus is higher on the value system than anything or anyone else. He is ‘supreme’ over things ‘we can see and things we can’t see.’ Jesus is supreme.
I am so excited about this next teaching series. I’ve been learning more and more everyday about Jesus, the world in which Jesus lived, how He interacted with people, what His heart is and so much more. I can’t wait to tell you about Jesus and help you see Him all the more clearly.
Fall in love with Jesus again!
Adam and Eve didn’t see eye to eye with the value that God put on the trees of the garden and did what they wanted. Cain didn’t concur with God’s evaluation of his offering, got mad at Abel and killed him. The angels and people before the flood valued things differently than God. The people of Sodom and Gomorrah disagreed with God’s value system. The list could go on and on and on through the centuries with more entries being added by the day and by the minute.
Paul wrote the followers of Jesus in the city of Colossae about the value system of God since Jesus’ entrance into human history.
Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through Him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through Him and for Him. He existed before anything else, and He holds all creation together. (Colossians 1:15-17 NLT)
Paul says that Jesus is ‘supreme’ over all creation. Jesus is higher on the value system than anything or anyone else. He is ‘supreme’ over things ‘we can see and things we can’t see.’ Jesus is supreme.
I am so excited about this next teaching series. I’ve been learning more and more everyday about Jesus, the world in which Jesus lived, how He interacted with people, what His heart is and so much more. I can’t wait to tell you about Jesus and help you see Him all the more clearly.
Fall in love with Jesus again!
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