Looking Silly? Much Engaged About Nothing?

Maybe it is just because I am older, or because of the recent visit of death of my wife, or because it really is just ridiculousness– but I am so over the Presidential campaign. The name-calling, the focus on fear and wedge issues, the promises being made that are such blatant attempts to buy votes - has made the whole ordeal the stuff of a late-night comedy sketch, funny except that the future of a country I love is at stake.  Yesterday, there was a ray of light shining out of a clip that showed one’s candidate responding to a young man near tears over the tragic state of his life.

John Kasich left the podium and came down to whisper in his ear and to hold him in a genuine hug of encouragement. In a campaign that has largely been about secondary issues, that is focused on minor things, it was a welcome moment. (Yes, I know some of you are such cynics you question very motive of that candidate.)

Internalizing what I had just seen I asked myself if the people around me see a whole follower of Christ, whose life is shaped around things that are of real consequence, or do they see a man who is absorbed by inconsequential things? Christians tend to confuse what we find comfortable within our cultural framework with what is 'right' in the eyes of God! We often lose sight of love and replace it with a faux religiosity, shaped around ‘what I think is right.’  We end up looking silly and much engaged about things that matter little in the scheme of life.

Have we failed on the most important point of love, the mark of the Spirit-filled, by making the Christian life into a system of rules and regulations focused on controlling human behaviors instead of knowing Jesus, the Savior? The Gospel is not about dragging people into our house of worship and teaching people to become ‘just like us’ so we can create bigger groups that have social influence.  Yet, that is precisely what many churches are trying to do.  Our mission is to enter into the lives of people who are slaves of evil, who are broken, who are in pain, who labor under intense guilt – with a message of liberation and salvation. “The kingdom of God has come near you!” is what we are to declare.  “He whom the Son sets free is free indeed,” we are boldly announce.  Do we? Too often, no. We condemn, shake our heads, and blame the sinner for his pain as we invite him to try to like our liturgies and ceremonies.

Have we made the preservation of the ‘holiness’ of our group more important than enlarging the Kingdom? If our churches are not messy groups where sinners are wrestling with real life issues, if we come together with our faces fixed in smiles pretending that we have it ‘all together,’ if we refuse to genuinely accept those who are dysfunctional, broken, or confused into our fellowship; then we are missing the point of the calling of Christ.  

Christian I am convinced that the Devil will settle for making us totally ineffective in the Lord's work by getting us sidetracked into personal crusades that reflect our narrow prejudices over the clear teaching of the Word of God. He does not have to tempt us to gross sin to make us completely ineffective in Christ’s work. The joy of the Lord can be lost as much to a misplaced focus on moral perfection as in total moral collapse!  

Things that are basically neutral: styles of music, order of worship, and what we eat, drink, and wear - are good or bad depending on the motives in our hearts toward them and/or the way we use them. This external religiosity is not unique to this era of Christianity.  Christian of the churches in Paul’s time fell into the same trap. His letter to the Galatians is almost a rant about their substitution of rules for relationship.  “You crazy Galatians! Did someone put a hex on you? Have you taken leave of your senses? Something crazy has happened, for it’s obvious that you no longer have the crucified Jesus in clear focus in your lives. His sacrifice on the cross was certainly set before you clearly enough. Let me put this question to you: How did your new life begin? Was it by working your heads off to please God? Or was it by responding to God’s Message to you?” (Galatians 3:1-3, The Message)  Speaking to their obsession with circumcision (the mark of the Jewish covenant) Paul sarcastically asks the Galatians if they would consider just going ahead and getting castrated! (Galatians 5:12)

Holy lives do matter, and the Spirit and the Word will guide the hungry soul in all things.  God, because He knows our individual weaknesses better than we know ourselves, convicts each of us differently about things like the food we choose to eat, the music we use to feed our soul, the clothing we wrap around our nakedness, the way we use our computers, money, and time.   The Spirit aims to preserve our souls by leading us to Life, not to the building of higher fences.  

So to that person prone to greed, He says, "Give away your stuff!"
To the one prone to spend too much time on the Internet, He says, "Cut off your broadband access!"
To the one who obsesses over image and appearance, He says, "Dress simply and put away your jewelry."  
To the one who loves stuff, He says, “Fast!”

Here is a word from the Word. Pray it, know it, meditate on the truth here. May the wisdom help us to find what is really important, to focus on true kingdom work –  in our ourselves and in our world. "You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, "Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!"? Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand." (Colossians 2:20-3:1, NLT)

The universal Rule Jesus laid down for all Christian is two-fold and yet His Words encompasses everything we do:  "Love God whole-heartedly, and love others intensely!" 
May His grace preserve us from debates about things that matter so little.  Amen

Grace that saves a wretch like me

My heart darkened for a moment and I let critical words slip out, words of judgment about another that were not kind or generous. Thinking about it later, prayerfully, I realized that I was confusing perfection with the pursuit of the Holy. If someone placed me under the same magnifying glass that I used in my criticism of my friend, I wonder how I would fare? I sin against God and others too easily.  Doubt and fear steal up and tackle my faith and I shrink into a ball of defensiveness. Occasionally envy comes to visit and robs me of the ability to rejoice in the success of others.  Yes, I let myself descend into anger that is not righteous sometimes, too. Greed pops up replacing the generosity of the Spirit. Pride struts and vanity overtakes me that obscures the beauty of Jesus.  

I have a long way to go on the highway of holiness. Knowing that I am a work in progress, is a source of comfort and hope. But, I am not ready to settle down too comfortably in my sins. I want to be a true worshiper described by Jesus this way– those who “worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration.” John 4:24

The Scripture is filled with stories of people who were imperfect yet in pursuit of God.  David was capable of being a terrible rogue and yet he was beloved of God. Peter was an impulsive man who could rise to heights of faith at one moment and be rebuked as a tool in Satan’s hands the next.

Abram heard the voice of God and was graciously blessed by Him.  In his life, he failed miserably and spectacularly yet is still called ‘the father of the faithful!’  On a trip to Egypt, we see the dark side of this man. Sarah, his wife, was a beautiful woman and Abram assumed that Pharaoh would want her for his harem. This man who trusted God with his whole life developed a bad case of fear and paranoia that turned him into a selfish, sinful fool!  He told Sarah, "When the Egyptians see you, they will say, `This is his wife. Let's kill him; then we can have her!' So please tell them you are my sister. Then they will spare my life and treat me well because of their interest in you." (Genesis 12:12-13, NLT)

This righteous man was willing to compromise his wife's honor and integrity to save his own skin! His scheme temporarily succeeded. Sarah was noticed, taken into the harem, and Abram got showered with wealth. But, God was not pleased and judged the household of Pharaoh. "Pharaoh called for Abram, "What's this that you've done to me? Why didn't you tell me that she's your wife? Why did you say, `She's my sister' so that I'd take her as my wife? Here's your wife back—take her and get out!"  (Genesis 12:18-19, The Message) Abram did not escape God’s anger either. The very next story in the saga of the patriarch involves his nephew, Lot, who became greedy and selfish, destroying the relationship with his uncle and choosing the best part of the land with no consideration for the needs of the man who had loved and saved him.  Though the text is not explicit in making a connection, I cannot help but think that the model of Abram's self-serving behavior in Egypt taught the younger man to look after himself, no matter the cost to others.  

Though we should not become obsessed with perfection, we must pursue God with our whole heart, keeping sin on a short leash, responding quickly to the Spirit, as we ‘keep in step with Him.’  We cannot let ourselves forget that choosing our own way over God’s way (the Bible calls this sin) always has consequences, often unseen and unanticipated, down the road.  Our failures are forgiven because our Father is merciful and gracious. However, the seeds that get sown while we wander will produce a harvest, sooner or later.  God's grace does not make Him deaf, blind, or ignorant. The Word says, "Don't be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit." (Galatians 6:6-8, NLT) The principle is both comforting and sobering.

Perfection waits for the completion of our salvation.  We cannot use that as an excuse to indulge the sinful nature. We must keep growing in grace. If we fall, and we will, we can recover with repentance and confession.  Important in our pursuit of God and holiness is the vision of our Home. Peter says, "We are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God's righteousness. And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight. And remember, the Lord's patience gives people time to be saved. … you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen." (2 Peter 3:13-15, 18, NLT)

Give Him your life today. Lean hard on Him. Refuse to pretend you are better than you are and hang onto the promise that His grace is greater than your sin. Let the ‘beauty of holiness’ shine from your words and actions. Here is a word from the Word - "Don’t grieve God. Don’t break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don’t take such a gift for granted. Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you. Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents." (Ephesians 4:30-5:1, The Message)

_______________

Father, fill me with the Spirit.
"Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,"
I pray as You taught, for I know, all too well, the power of temptation.

Make me a grace-filled man today.
Teach me to leave the failures behind,
To anticipate new growth of character.

Help me to accept Your discipline which comes my way
`for my good, that I may share Your holiness.'

Be honored in my thoughts, words, and actions
As is fitting for a graced sinner.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.

120 Gallons of Wine- When the Spirit enters the Ordinary

She came to me to share her story, a choice of obedience that was causing her such sorrow that she could scarcely eat or sleep.  Tears rolled down her cheeks as she talked of loving God, of pursuing Him at a significant cost.  As I listened, I felt the Spirit’s prompting – “Jerry, just tell her that I am a good, good Father!” 

The words were hard for me to say because that is my own struggle since Bev’s death. I do not struggle to believe He exists. I know that He is near me and I can accept that He allowed this painful thing in my life. My struggle is to believe that He is good to me!  In my prayers I tell Him, “You say You are good, but You allowed my precious wife, my partner, my friend to be taken from me at the very time in life that we enjoyed one another most. From where I stand You seem, at best, uncaring; or worse, cruel.”  

 So, I struggled for a moment to obey Him before I said to that woman, “He is a good, good God!”  And, in fact, He is!  In follow-up I found that young woman accepting His goodness and seeing His provision. I, too, found footing for re-birth of faith in my own obedience.

John tells us a little story at the beginning of his gospel that ought to make us smile. It is about Jesus’ first public ‘sign,’ a miracle that demonstrated His calling and mission. It was at a private event, an act of charity that did nothing to relieve human suffering, but that brought joy in the moment.  We know few details except that Jesus was at a wedding in Cana with His family and His disciples. Weddings were important events in the society of the time, going on for days. Jesus borrowed the imagery of a wedding to describe the arrival of the Kingdom.  The Church looks forward to joining her Husband at the Marriage Feast of the Lamb. So, John tells us about a minor crisis at this important event.  The wine ran out!

"The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.” “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” (John 2:3-5, NLT)  Mary apparently believed that Jesus could and should do something about this fiasco. The family was going to be seriously embarrassed by this development.  The celebration could not go on without the wine!  Jesus insists that the problem is not His to solve, but His mom ignores Him and tells the servants to approach Him and to do what He tells them to do.  There is the first lesson for us.  Need God’s provision in your life?  Obedience is a key factor. “Do whatever He says!”

John is spare with the details of what caused Jesus to step in, but he gives us what we need to know.  "Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions." (John 2:6-8, NLT)  Getting those jars filled was no small task. One did not just go to the spigot and turn it on. Water had to be drawn from a village well, carried back to the house, poured into the jars which would have been too heavy to move. There could be no trickery, no magic trick. The work demanded the efforts of several servants for an extended time.  When they had finished, Jesus gives them cryptic instructions: “Take liquid from one of the jars to the best man.”   And, they did!  Once again, obedience is in view.  Keep that in mind.

I love the resolution of this little story. "When the host tasted the water that had become wine (he didn’t know what had just happened but the servants, of course, knew), he called out to the bridegroom, “Everybody I know begins with their finest wines and after the guests have had their fill brings in the cheap stuff. But you’ve saved the best till now!”  (John 2:9-10, The Message)  Somewhere between the well and the best man’s lips, God did, in an instant, what grape vines and vintners did over a year’s time:  He made water into wine!  It was not just wine; it was good stuff.

Here is my question to you today – is there a place of lack in your life?  Is your celebration of life, your ability to feel joy being hindered by a development you did not foresee, a problem you cannot solve, a situation that came from nowhere?  If the Lord of life would invest Himself in a little wedding, in a remote village, can you trust Him to invest Himself in you today? He is a good, good God!  “Ah, Jerry, I cannot pray about that. It is not a big deal; it’s just life.”  Was running out of wine really a big deal? Not so much, but Jesus cared.  And, He cares about your need today. So ask Him for His provision.  Hear Mary’s words and take them to heart:  “Do whatever He tells you.”  And, in obedience, you will find that He enters the ordinary and something amazingly wonderful will emerge, the best stuff, on the third day!  That’s just another way to say, ‘in a way and at a place when you least expect it.’

The word from the Word comes from my favorite part of the Scripture, from a letter that overflows with hope and promise.
"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ." (Ephesians 1:3, NLT)  

"And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him." (Ephesians 1:13-14, NLT)
"I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:16-21, NLT)

________

Father, I need a minor miracle today,

The quiet work of the Spirit to enter the ‘ordinary’ of my life.

I present myself to you, my lack, my need, my emptiness –

And I pray for Your Presence to come.
I am listening, Jesus, for Your voice and direction.

As You come, Spirit of God, may there be a change in me-

Like water turned to wine, my heart made alive anew,

Hope reborn, Your abundant life in full view,

Your glory declared – ‘the best saved for last.’

Amen

A bigger slice of the pie?

Bernie Madoff, once thought a financial genius, was revealed in 2008 as a scheming fraud. This man convinced people to trust him with their wealth and then stole their future! His greed knew no bounds, defrauding charity organizations, stealing retirement funds of middle class families, even taking the little inheritance of his personal secretary!  He even used ‘generosity’ as a cynical tool.  Giving public gifts to well-known groups helped him burnish his reputation as a good man.  Today, he sits in a Federal prison for life, hated by most, rejected by his family; a victim of his own selfishness.

In 1977, I met Tom, one of the most giving people I have ever known! I was one of those he blessed. I was trying to support my little family, just three of us at that time, while answering a call to ministry.  Faithfulness to what God desired met the imperative of putting food on the table head-on so I took a back-breaking job that demanded my presence on a construction site, 6 days a week, leaving little time to do what I believed was God’s work. One day, my new friend Tom came by our home. He said, "Jerry, come with me."   We went to his employer’s office together.  Tom told him, "Jerry is a great guy and I know he can do my job.  I quit, hire him!" He gave me his job which paid better and demanded fewer hours so I could pursue my calling!  That wasn't the last time that Tom blessed me.  And the best part was that he did it all for Jesus, not for himself, not to buy my friendship, not with any strings attached. He believed that people are 'blessed so that they can be a blessing.'

Do you know anyone like Tom, who are radically generous, gentle lovers of the Lord and others? Some pump light and life into whatever situation in which they find themselves. Then, there are people who enter the room and suck the life out of it. Which person are you?   

In 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey teaches about two basic views of life and resources. We can live with either an abundance or a scarcity mentality. If we think that life is just about one pie to go around, the only way to have more is take from others. Some believe that being generous means limits, that everybody must take a smaller bite. Human nature being what it is, if you think that way, you will not tend to generosity.  However, if we are convinced that the pie can grow larger, we will more inclined to share.  God has made the world to grow and increase. Look at the Word - "For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God." (2 Corinthians 9:10-11, NLT)  Generosity is expressed in many more ways than just giving money.  We are to be generous in forgiveness, encouragement, helping others find success, volunteering, with our time, with love.

  

Here is the real paradox!  Prosperity is often the worst enemy of generosity.  One would think that having more would lead a person to want to give more, but experience argues against that.  Here in these United States of America those who have more wealth generally (there are bright exceptions like Warren Buffett and Bill Gates!) give away a smaller percentage of their income to charitable causes than do the poor. 

Before we engage in class warfare, let me ask you - do you give generously to others in proportion to your income? Generosity starts right where we are, right now;  not sometime later when we have excess.   Why?  Because for most of us, if we do not start practicing the discipline of giving in the present, we will simply expand our standard of living as our store of resources increase. Proverbs includes this pithy wisdom:  "One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." (Proverbs 11:24-25, NIV)

Jesus taught many lessons about being a giving, generous person. He spoke of right motives.  "When you help someone out, don’t think about how it looks. Just do it—quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out." (Matthew 6:3-4, The Message)  A person who practices his 'generosity' while putting out press releases is just serving himself.  His 'gift' stinks because it is rotten with self-interest!

He taught that God values all gifts not just those from ‘major donors’! "While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins. "I tell you the truth," Jesus said, "this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has." (Luke 21:1-4, NLT)

And, He taught that an attitude of generosity allows God to continue to bless us!  The principle of the harvest is stated this way-  "Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back." (Luke 6:38, NLT)   He was not suggesting that we ought to give to get!    But, He was telling us that God isn't likely to trust us with more if we are hoarding what we already have!

God is our generous, overflowing with mercy, grace, and love. He invests in us, seeking a rich return. So, let's trust Him, let Him love us extravagantly, receive His grace in abundance. Then, let's pray that or generosity will mark us as children who have His great heart.  Indeed it is "more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35, NLT)    

Go, bless your world with gifts today!

____________

Jehovah - Jireh

Jehovah-Jireh, my Provider,

His grace is sufficient for me, for me, for me!

Jehovah-Jireh, my Provider,

His grace is sufficient for me!

My God shall supply all my need

According to His riches in glory.

He gives His angels charge over me.

Jehovah-Jireh cares for me, for me, for me,

Jehovah-Jireh cares for me.

Merla Watson © 1974 MCA Music Publ., A.D.O. Universal Studio (Admin. by Universal Music Corp.)

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