This morning's waking thoughts were not, "Good morning, Lord". Momentarily, my thoughts retraced some places I had been in my past: inclinations that could sneak up behind me (or inside me) unless I go straight to the Lord. I can agree with His Spirit within me:"This is not how I want to start my day, or spend my day, Lord. Redirect my soul, cleanse me, and bring my thoughts right now back to You, and back to what You've planned for me today "
As I got up, and kissed my wife, and sat down for coffee, I was praying about new directions in my own morning Bible study too. I soon plan to teach and preach from the gospel of John and for some reason my mind went immediately to the story in John 13, where Jesus washes his disciples' feet.
Not to do a whole Bible study here... but the insight is that Jesus showed his disciples something. Nobody hates sin's defilement the way He does. And on the night he washed their feet, he knew that he was about to take the whole world's sins upon himself. Yes, he came for that reason. He taught the holy apostles that they too still needed some cleansing and that they too were to join him in serving people whose lives had gotten covered with gritty reality and dirt.
Ah, my Baptist brethren. We can preach how the Good Samaritan bound up a poor man's wounds, and still pour salt into the wounds of a man or woman's broken heart. On better days we're in touch with our own need for cleansing. All sin grieves the Lord, including the sin of imagining that we can afford to hold contempt for those who have spiritually muddied their feet. Scripture has no sympathy for wallowing in the mire, but we do see Jesus taking the towel to the souls of his disciples as well as to their feet.
There's a television show about the dirtiest jobs. I don't watch the show, but I doubt it has ever dealt with spiritual counseling and the job of simply being a follower of Jesus, willing to love others and help them get clean. "Simon, unless I wash your feet. You have no part with me."
"Then, Lord, not just my feet. Wash me completely!"
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Looking Around Zion
When was the last time you received an invitation? I gave a few to people this week, telling them about "Back To Church" Sunday. In itself, that theme doesn't enthuse me. But if our lives are inviting, and our God is inviting, then people are drawn to look closer at what stands out and shines.
This week I read an invitation written over 2,700 years ago, and it was an invitation to take an inside tour of the "City of David", and to see the strength and scope of that citadel. Hordes of battle-hardened invaders had come against those walls, and had to turn back and go home. So with that history behind them, Psalm 48:12-13 was written.
Some time later armies would breach those walls. They were not invincible, after all. Thanks to archaeologists, and virtual modeling, you can take a virtual tour at http://www.cityofdavid.org.il/en and get a feel for what might have been there. IF you happen to be a bit of a history buff.
It's at least a challenge to me that this psalmist could say, let me show you what we've got. Take the tour. We don't just show them the fine old architecture that speaks our rich and long-standing church traditions. We don't just show them drawings, and give our own "virtual tour" of how it's going to look when all is perfectly put together. People look for enduring quality and stability that comes from a proven relationship with God. A grand-event at church is great. But how do these people serve others? How do friendships thrive? How do broken hopes find healing? How are people joying in the Presence and love of the living God? We want to live in a place that God has made His place. That was the vision. That is The Church Jesus meant when he promised to build it.
This week I read an invitation written over 2,700 years ago, and it was an invitation to take an inside tour of the "City of David", and to see the strength and scope of that citadel. Hordes of battle-hardened invaders had come against those walls, and had to turn back and go home. So with that history behind them, Psalm 48:12-13 was written.
"Walk about Zion, go around her,
count her towers, consider well her ramparts,
view her citadels, that you may tell of them to the next generation."
Some time later armies would breach those walls. They were not invincible, after all. Thanks to archaeologists, and virtual modeling, you can take a virtual tour at http://www.cityofdavid.org.il/en and get a feel for what might have been there. IF you happen to be a bit of a history buff.
It's at least a challenge to me that this psalmist could say, let me show you what we've got. Take the tour. We don't just show them the fine old architecture that speaks our rich and long-standing church traditions. We don't just show them drawings, and give our own "virtual tour" of how it's going to look when all is perfectly put together. People look for enduring quality and stability that comes from a proven relationship with God. A grand-event at church is great. But how do these people serve others? How do friendships thrive? How do broken hopes find healing? How are people joying in the Presence and love of the living God? We want to live in a place that God has made His place. That was the vision. That is The Church Jesus meant when he promised to build it.
Friday, May 4, 2012
The Story Continues
There's so many selling what I don't need, I sometimes screen out what I do need. Sorting mail and email, I have to check to make sure I don't throw away something I shouldn't. We do want to share the best news we ever heard, so we try to "earn" a hearing. Even then, people do their message screening.
I met a guy in the park awhile back walking his dog. He "wasn't interested in religion" but it was okay to talk about family letdowns and relationships. Somehow, the biblical story of Joseph and his brothers came up and, surprise. I wasn't spamming him any more.
There's a room where adults will gather this Sunday for Bible study. Tacked behind the teacher, there will be a "story cloth". It's an attractive visual to back up one of those messages we give out again and again. Stories from God's Word are a power tool to help us get to know God better, and to say that He is still at work in lives today.
I don't know that we need the cloth: I do know we need the method. We used storying on a local playground for outreach to neighborhood children. Several of us are memorizing stories to share next month with adult villagers in Africa. A church member went to the hospital and used Bible stories to become a spiritual therapist to her physical therapist. Today, on the go, family room, boardroom, weight room, or waiting room, or biking along a trail, there' are many places where people can swap a story.
I met a guy in the park awhile back walking his dog. He "wasn't interested in religion" but it was okay to talk about family letdowns and relationships. Somehow, the biblical story of Joseph and his brothers came up and, surprise. I wasn't spamming him any more.
There's a room where adults will gather this Sunday for Bible study. Tacked behind the teacher, there will be a "story cloth". It's an attractive visual to back up one of those messages we give out again and again. Stories from God's Word are a power tool to help us get to know God better, and to say that He is still at work in lives today.
I don't know that we need the cloth: I do know we need the method. We used storying on a local playground for outreach to neighborhood children. Several of us are memorizing stories to share next month with adult villagers in Africa. A church member went to the hospital and used Bible stories to become a spiritual therapist to her physical therapist. Today, on the go, family room, boardroom, weight room, or waiting room, or biking along a trail, there' are many places where people can swap a story.
Do you have a story about sharing a story?
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
christianophobic?
It's not quite 6 AM. I woke half-refreshed at 4 AM. It was worth it. Early morning lends a luxurious kind of silence, a garden for the soul. I've been reading Deuteronomy... blessings for all who walk in the Lord's ways. Curses to all who depart from him. And as hearts return to God, He returns to them. So does the joy of living.
Later today, I will visit a place where Muslims meet regularly for worship. I can prayer walk too. Our speaker will talk about Islamophobia in America. I wonder as I hear so much about violence in Syria: do Muslims ever suffer from Islamophobia? Nobody says too much about "Christianophobia." I know there's that whole characterization of backwoods people clinging to their Bibles and guns. There's militant atheism out there too. But I myself get a little Christianophobic. I love how church can be a place of healing. I don't love when it's a place people get burnt.
Not long ago I visited a large church's blog. It had "Grace" prominent in their title. A minute's reading was all I could take. The tone was certainly not "grace", if anything it was an orgy of criticism. Then I fear the merchandising of the missional, people who want to bottle God's anointing and sell it to you for $ 19.95. The endless stream of seminars and media and what's next to make lukewarmness more spectacular. Afraid I've been there. I pray I never go back. In that sense, let me be Christianophobic.
Maybe fearing God requires a tinge of Christianophobia. To fear any lack of sincerity in myself or the Church of God. To despise any delusion that causes us to embrace something less than what His Ransom intended. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Grace makes room. Grace makes real. Grace secures. Grace graciously sets us straight. Fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears, to paraphrase, still has a lot to learn about love. Starting where? "We love because He first loved us." ~ Breathe easier.
Later today, I will visit a place where Muslims meet regularly for worship. I can prayer walk too. Our speaker will talk about Islamophobia in America. I wonder as I hear so much about violence in Syria: do Muslims ever suffer from Islamophobia? Nobody says too much about "Christianophobia." I know there's that whole characterization of backwoods people clinging to their Bibles and guns. There's militant atheism out there too. But I myself get a little Christianophobic. I love how church can be a place of healing. I don't love when it's a place people get burnt.
Not long ago I visited a large church's blog. It had "Grace" prominent in their title. A minute's reading was all I could take. The tone was certainly not "grace", if anything it was an orgy of criticism. Then I fear the merchandising of the missional, people who want to bottle God's anointing and sell it to you for $ 19.95. The endless stream of seminars and media and what's next to make lukewarmness more spectacular. Afraid I've been there. I pray I never go back. In that sense, let me be Christianophobic.
Maybe fearing God requires a tinge of Christianophobia. To fear any lack of sincerity in myself or the Church of God. To despise any delusion that causes us to embrace something less than what His Ransom intended. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Grace makes room. Grace makes real. Grace secures. Grace graciously sets us straight. Fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears, to paraphrase, still has a lot to learn about love. Starting where? "We love because He first loved us." ~ Breathe easier.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Catching Hold of The Rail
It's nice that the snow has almost melted here, at least for a few days. But stepping outdoors yesterday, into the sunshine of mid-day, the walkway where snow was a day before was glazed and slick. Mea culpa, y'all. I didn't shovel out like I should have this time. This was the path I had to take to get where I needed to go. One shifts his weight very carefully as not to slip. Didn't feel like visiting an orthopedic surgeon, y'know? Now others, in a situation like this will reach out and catch hold of a rail.
Tonight at prayer meeting we turn again to Psalm 119: 49-56. We'll focus on these verses too. Remember your word to your servant in which you have made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction that your promise gives me life. Or as the King James translators rendered it, ...thy word hath quickened me. New International Version? ... your promise preserves my life. The New American Standard Bible says, ... your word has revived me.
Seekers and servants of God will identify with all those wonderful acknowledgements. Like this psalmist, we sometimes feel our footing is tentative. Yet we are allowed to see that he counts on God to make His word personal, and fulfill what it was intended to produce, faith, courage, following the path God would choose for him. When we have to step out and walk a distance and something about the situation makes us think we could take a fall, make this prayer your prayer. "Remember your word to your servant on which you have made me to hope." Catch hold of the rail, and breathe a little easier.
Tonight at prayer meeting we turn again to Psalm 119: 49-56. We'll focus on these verses too. Remember your word to your servant in which you have made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction that your promise gives me life. Or as the King James translators rendered it, ...thy word hath quickened me. New International Version? ... your promise preserves my life. The New American Standard Bible says, ... your word has revived me.
Seekers and servants of God will identify with all those wonderful acknowledgements. Like this psalmist, we sometimes feel our footing is tentative. Yet we are allowed to see that he counts on God to make His word personal, and fulfill what it was intended to produce, faith, courage, following the path God would choose for him. When we have to step out and walk a distance and something about the situation makes us think we could take a fall, make this prayer your prayer. "Remember your word to your servant on which you have made me to hope." Catch hold of the rail, and breathe a little easier.
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