Spirit Connections

A Father's Prayer

2012-02-08T08:36:00.002-10:00

"For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God."

(Colossians 1:9-10)

My son is a senior in high school. He's in the process of deciding on which college to attend for the next 4 years of his life. He's a soccer player and is being recruited by 10 schools right now. I'm helping him along the process, but ultimately it will be his decision. One of my regular prayers is that God will help him choose the best school for his future - not only in terms of the soccer program, but the larger "life picture" as well.

As I was reading the book of Colossians this morning, I was reminded of an ever greater prayer that I could be praying for him (and for my daughter, too). It's a prayer that Paul prayed for the church in Colossae... he was their spiritual Father. But it seems to be equally relevant for a young man soon to leave home for the first time. The prayer is that he may come to know God's will for his life, having spiritual wisdom & understanding, and lead a life that honors God and is a blessing to others. Ultimately these qualities will lead to a very fulfilling life. May it be my prayer for him (them!). AMEN.

Wants vs. Needs

2012-02-07T08:54:00.001-10:00

"And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

(Philippians 4:19)

Comedian Jeff Allen has a wonderful bit in his DVD "Happy Wife, Happy Life" about his son's desire for new sneakers. While shopping together at the mall, his son identified some basketball shoes that he said he "needed." The price tag? $100! Jeff replied, "Son, let me teach you the difference between wants and needs. You want these basketball shoes. But I'm only going to pay $60 for your new shoes. So let me tell you what you really need: forty bucks!"

We humans (at least those of us in the United States) often confuse "wants" with "needs." There are a lot of things we want and desire. What we actually NEED, however, is often quite different. My two trips to the Philippines with Compassion International have helped me gain a greater perspective on what basic human "needs" actually are. Food, decent shelter, love, faith, hope, education, access to health care, etc. Much of what we spend a lot of time (and money) on, really isn't that important in the Big Picture.

So I read with new eyes Paul's prayer (promise?) to the church in Philippi: that God would satisfy their "every need." Not their "every want"... but they're needs. I believe God wants to do that. Often God uses us (the Church) to accomplish that. To help provide others' needs. May we be faithful stewards of the resources God has entrusted to us... and may we be eager to answer God's call on our lives as he leads!

Is it greed, or just...???

2012-02-06T17:22:00.001-10:00

"The LORD is my portion..."

(Psalm 119:57)

Are we inherently greedy, or just socialized that way? Deep in my heart, I know I'd like the biggest slice of the pizza, that extra piece of chicken, a new and improved multi-media system, a better equipped computer, more songs in my iPod... the list could go on and on. Of course, over time, I've come to condition myself to refrain from grabbing all that I want. Sometimes it's easy. Other times it takes a lot of self-control. But I do wonder... are we inherently greedy?

In Psalm 119 (that epic of all Psalms!), 5 words grabbed my attention today. One phrase. Half a verse. "THE LORD IS MY PORTION" (v.57). Immediately, I thought of the Levites and the distribution of the promised land for the 12 tribes of Israel in the Old Testament. Every tribe got their own place. Everyone, that is, except the Levites. They were the priests. God decided that the priests would not have any specific area that was "theirs." Instead, they'd be evenly distributed around all of the 12 tribes (everyone needs priests, I guess!). Then God said, "I will be your portion." Wow.

That got me, in turn, thinking about wills and inheritances. Imagine an attorney's office with a family gathered around for the reading of a loved one's will. One by one, each member of the family gets a share of the deceased one's estate. But the last one (let's say she's a favorite granddaughter) is left with nothing material. Instead, the woman leaves her granddaughter, "My strong relationship with the LORD!" Would she feel cheated? Disappointed? Confused?

If God is our portion, then we only need to look to Him to be our support and strength. If God is our portion, we don't have to worry and fret over our future security. If God is our portion, our hearts are released from the entangled ties to material goods (and human approval!)... and we are free to live the abundant life God created us to live!

I, for one, earnestly want the LORD to be my portion. But I have such a long way to go...

Just look around...

2012-02-01T10:05:00.001-10:00

"For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. Ever since the creation of the world his eternal power & divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made."

(Romans 1:19-20)

My father was a National Park Ranger, so I grew up with a love of the outdoors. Mountains, rivers, rocks, trees, oceans, skies, flowers, animals, birds (and other assorted critters), sunrises & sunsets... I love it all! In fact, being outdoors in God's amazing Creation is really a kind of worship for me, a spiritual experience. My heart is stirred. My creativity is inspired. It is wonderful!

The apostle Paul understood this, too. In the very first chapter of his letter to the church in Rome, Paul notes how God has revealed himself to the entire world through the glory of his creation. Whether you call yourself a "religious person" or are a part of any type of faith community (or not!), you can know something about God just by looking around.

So keep your eyes (and heart!) open today! God's glory is everywhere!

Listen!

2012-01-27T08:39:00.002-10:00

[From 1/26/12]

"While (Peter) was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, 'This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!'"

(Matthew 17:5)

Peter, James & John go up with Jesus to a "high mountain." It's there that Jesus is transfigured before them - his appearance becomes dazzling white. The 3 disciples suddenly see him talking with two of the greatest leaders from the Old Testament: Moses & Elijah! Overwhelmed by the moment, Peter offers to make three tents - one for each of the dignitaries (including Jesus!). But it's at that moment that God's voice booms from heaven expressing his love for & pleasure in Jesus. AND commanding them to listen to him.

Christians over the ages have been caught up with Peter's same fervor. We become excited by the glory of God we experience, and as a response we want to do something for God - like build something in His Name. Monuments, pieces of art, new centers of worship, etc. I wonder though... if that's the easy response? Might God be wanting us, instead, to listen to Jesus? To really listen? To follow his teaching and instruction first & foremost. Forgiving our enemies... Loving the unlovable... caring for those in need... putting others ahead of ourselves, etc. Could it be that's the way we best honor our Lord?

Sticks & Stones...

2012-01-27T08:34:00.003-10:00

[From 1/24/12]

"For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks..."

(Matthew 11:34b)

Every time I read this passage my pulse quickens. What we say is a reflection of the condition of our heart. Are we speaking words of love, grace, encouragement, affirmation, hope, peace & kindness? Do we seek to console and set at ease those around us? Or do we speak words of sarcasm, criticism, complaint, anger, disappointment and judgment? Are we quick to curse? Do we laugh it off as "just a joke"? Maybe it's deeper than that.

The author goes on to say a few verses later that on the day of judgment, we will have to "give an account for every careless word" we utter. Every careless word! We've all spoken countless "careless words" in our lifetimes. How do we protect against that? It appears we are to guard our hearts. "Don't swear!" isn't the point We swear (and criticize, and judge, and...) because our hearts aren't right. Instead, God calls us to surround ourselves with that which is positive.

"Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" (Phil. 4:8).

May it be so in my life.

perfect weakness

2012-01-27T08:30:00.000-10:00

[From 1/20/12]

"Three times I appealed to the LORD about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.'"

(2 Corinthians 12:8-9)

It doesn't make sense. The first will be last and the last first. If you want to gain your life you must lose it. And power is made perfect in weakness. It doesn't make sense. At least not in "the real world." Then again, it's not supposed to. It's Kingdom Language! It's how God works (and wants us to live, too).

We like to think God is with us most powerfully when all is going smoothly. Yet how often are we truly focused on God when all is going smoothly? But when we go through difficult times, God is almost always on our heart! Maybe that's part of the reason why God reminded Paul (2 Cor. 12) that when we are at our weak, God is strong! God is able to do amazing work in our lives when we're at our weakest points.

(It kinda makes you want to ask for weakness, doesn't it?)

The Tale of the Apple Seed

2012-01-17T08:57:00.000-10:00

"But someone will ask, 'How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?' Fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And as for what you sow, you do not sow the body that is to be, but a bare seed, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body... So it is with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable."

(1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42)

There was once an apple seed. It lived on a shelf in a country store. It wasn't the smallest seed on the shelf (that unenviable designation went to the lowly mustard seed. How sad!)... and it definitely wasn't the biggest (can you say, "PUMPKIN!?!")... but that was okay. It liked it's dark black color. And how shiny it was. But mostly it liked its packet! It was a light green packet with black writing and a big red circle on the front.

Week after week the apple seed sat there in his same packet on that same shelf in that same store. Sometimes it wondered what happened to the seeds that left the store, but mostly it just felt content to be an apple seed. Life couldn't get any better than this.

Then one day it happened. The apple seed left the building! Purchased by a farmer, the packet traveled miles and miles away to a big field. Then the ultimate indignity occurred - the apple seed was removed from its packet. No more light green with black writing. No more big red circle. Not it was simply a small (and feeling smaller by the moment) black seed. Heck, it wasn't even all that shiny anymore. Soon it was put in the dirt and buried. Who could have envisioned this ending? All was lost! The seed had been forced to separate from its only protection, and now was shamelessly abandoned by the farmer. Sadly, it resigned itself to the grim reality it saw all around.

Sometime later, something absolutely remarkable happened. The seed split open and new life shot out! Slowly, ever so slowly, it climbed out of the dirt and into the sunlight. And it didn't stop there! It kept going! As the years passed it grew bigger and taller than it had ever imagined it could be. It's shiny black shell had been replaced with lots of brown & green... AND shiny red balls - the same image that had been on the front of its light green packet so long ago - but a hundred times better! Who could have guessed this would happen?

And ever day the apple tree basked in the warm sunlight, drank up the life-giving waters that fell from the sky, and felt content in its transformation.

And God smiled.

"Who's Your Daddy?"

2012-01-06T09:00:00.000-10:00

"They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry (Jesus') cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus."

(Mark 15:21)

For those of us who know the story of Jesus' crucifixion, there are a few "supporting characters" that make a memorable (albeit brief) appearance: the thieves hanging alongside Jesus on Golgotha, the women who watched at a distance, Joseph of Aramathea (who gets permission to bury Jesus' body), and Simon of Cyrene. Simon is the guy who was forced to carry Jesus' cross (presumably when Jesus could not carry it anymore himself). Each of these people are quite familiar to us.

But today as I was re-reading Mark's version of this story, I noticed the statement that Simon was "the father of Alexander and Rufus." Why would Mark state this fact? There are many other characters in his gospel (most, actually) who don't have their children named. Why Simon?

Scholars tell us that Mark was probably the earliest-written of the 4 Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke & John). It was penned around 70AD... close to 40 years after Jesus' death & resurrection. So I'm guessing that Simon's kids, Alexander & Rufus, were probably known by Mark's community. They'd become followers of Jesus! Maybe they were even leaders?! Maybe they'd shared their story about how their father's one-time (chance?) experience with Jesus on that fateful Friday morning changed everything for them. Maybe they each had become beloved figures in their own right - loving and generous servants of Jesus who helped inspire & encourage new disciples. So when Mark tells his story... and gets to that particular moment... he mentions a guy named Simon who carried Jesus' cross. "And you know whose Dad he was?" (Mark's community waits to hear what comes next) "It was Alexander & Rufus' Father!" ("No way!!?!!)

As a parent, one of my ongoing prayers for my two children is that they become people of significance. I don't mean rich, famous, powerful or well-known. I mean people who make a positive contribution to society & to the lives of others. I mean people whom others genuinely care about and want to be around. I mean people who love God and want to serve Him with all their hearts. Then one day my name may come up in conversation somewhere... and someone can say, "And you know whose Dad he was? Emily & Ezra's!" And people will smile, because they know the kind of human beings Ezra & Emily grew up to be.

(And thanks, Dad, for helping me to be the person I am today!)

This is a "No carrying zone!"

2012-01-04T10:03:00.001-10:00

"Then they came to Jerusalem. And (Jesus) entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those who sold doves; and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple." (Mark 11:15-16)

Today I read something I was sure I'd never read before... which is false, of course, because I've read through this passage from Mark 11 numerous times. But until today, I'd never really noticed this particular sentence. It's from the story of Jesus driving out the moneychangers in the temple.

The temple in Jerusalem had a couple of sections to it. The outer court (aka "The Court of the Gentiles") was used for people to buy and sell animals needed for sacrifices. It was also a place to exchange money - turning Roman coins (with the head of the Emperor on it) into Jewish coins (without graven images) for offerings. Both were necessary for worship. But Jesus took exception with this, and cast them out of the temple. He cited Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11, chastising the merchants for turning God's "house of prayer" into a "den of robbers."

All of that I'd read before. What was new to me today was verse 16: "And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple." That seemed strange. Was this referring to the vendors and moneychangers? Meaning, they couldn't set up their wares? Or was he also prohibiting the worshippers from bringing anything into the temple? If so, why? And dos this mean no sacrificial animals were allowed (even if they were brought from home, not "bought" in the temple?)? What would Jesus' reasoning be here?

It could be that he wants people to focus just on God and none of the other trappings that might get in the way (or take focus away from God). When the focus is on animals or sacrifices, then it becomes something to "do" to "earn" God's favor (kind of like a bribe to get God to give us something). Instead, we bring nothing to God that God needs... except ourselves! Nothing. God's love, grace, mercy & forgiveness comes as a gift - not the result of bribes. Maybe people had lost that notion. So Jesus' restriction on "no carrying" was put into effect.

Or maybe Jesus wanted to restore the outer court to it's original purpose. It was called the "Court of the Gentiles" precisely because it was the ONE part of the temple that non-Jews could enter. The other areas were restricted to those 'in the faith.' But this outer area was open to all. It was where they could experience God themselves. So it could be a "house of prayer for ALL THE NATIONS," as Isaiah had prophesied. Maybe Jesus worried the vendors, moneychangers, and sacrifice-bringing folk were getting in the way of those non-Jews being able to connect with The Holy? So come with nothing in your hands. Come just as you are.

As it should be...

"Every man dies... but not every man really lives!"

2011-12-29T09:57:00.002-10:00

"He lived there 2 whole years at his own expense an welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance."

(Acts 28:30-31)

BRAVEHEART is one of my top 10 movies. It's full of courage, battles, romance, intrigue, passion & lots of action! The one line that's consistently remembered from it, however, comes near the very end. William Wallace (the lead) has finally been arrested & is facing execution for treason. When an influential friend comes to plead for him to beg the king for mercy, he says he won't. "But you'll die. It will be awful," she protests. "Every man dies," he replies... "But not every man really lives."

Never has that saying been so true as with the life of Paul. A man who lived 110% all his days - from his Jesus-hating early years of persecuting the Believers... to his record-setting church-planting later days of Christian mission work - Paul gave his all.

I was reading the end of the book of ACTS today. Paul had quite a harrowing ordeal at sea - storms, shipwreck, snake attack, & finally safety. It's the stuff of a good movie! But the end seemed a bit disappointing (at least from a cinematic standpoint). It read: "He lived there 2 whole years at his own expense an welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance." I wanted to know about his death. How'd he die? What happened? Was it awful or did he go peacefully? Paul eventually was executed, but we hear nothing of it in the New Testament. Why?

I think we should go back to William Wallace for insight. "Every man dies... but not every man really lives." Paul wasn't worried about dying. He wasn't concerned about it in the least. He'd entrusted himself to God's care. He WAS concerned with how he LIVED! And even in prison - every held on trumped-up charges - even thousands of miles away from home, he proclaimed the gospel and told others about Jesus. Right up to the very end.

That's what it means to truly live.

"Strengthen my hands..."

2011-12-13T09:06:00.001-10:00

"Then I sent him a letter, saying, 'No such things as you say have been done; you are inventing them out of your own mind' - for they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, 'Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.' But now, O God, strengthen my hands."

(Nehemiah 6:8-9)

Nehemiah & a band of Israelites have returned from Babylonian captivity and are attempting to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. This was a very good thing for the people of Israel, but their "enemies" were not happy one bit. Nehemiah tells us that "Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arab" in particular were upset at these developments. They tried to lure Nehemiah away from the city to do him harm. They tried to get him to run afraid into the Temple, to smear his reputation among his own people. They even tried making false testimony against him to the Babylonian king. But Nehemiah wouldn't budget. He recognized it for what it truly was - attempts to get him to stop the project. In the end, Nehemiah resolutely prays, "But now, O God, strengthen my hands."

I love that short prayer! Seven words. One message. "But now, O God, strengthen my hands." The Bible tells us over and over that the ways of God will be opposed by others. It happens all the time. So first, let us not be surprised when it does happen! We should expect conflict & opposition. Second, don't let it get us down! If what we are doing is truly a "God thing," then take courage and pray that God will strengthen our hands... no matter what we may be up against!

For all that you are calling me to do at Aiea UMC... Lord, strengthen my hands.
For all that you are calling me to do in my family... Lord, strengthen my hands.
For all that you are calling me to change in my own heart... Lord, strengthen my hands.
For who you are calling me to be in the world around me... Lord, strengthen my hands.

We wanted soldiers, but...

2011-12-13T08:58:00.001-10:00

[From December 9, 2011]

"Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might deny ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our possessions."

(Ezra 8:21)

The phrase, 'The Lord works in mysterious ways' is used quite a bit among the faithful... usually because it's so true! Today's reading from Ezra 7-8 is a prime example. Many Israelites had been taken into captivity by the Babylonians and forced to remain there for close to 70 years. Their eventual return came in four stages: Sheshbazzar's group (when Cyrus was king)... Zerubbabel & Jeshua's group (when Darius I was king)... Ezra's group (when Artaxerxes I was king)... and Nehemiah's group (Artaxerxes II was king).

Today I was reading about the 3rd group - led by Ezra. King Artaxerxes not only allowed them to return to Israel, but gave them money to buy "worship supplies" (animals for sacrifice, etc.) and a letter instructing other Babylonian treasuries to give them additional funds, if needed.

Before setting out, Ezra did a couple of things I think are excellent. First, he gave thanks: "Blessed be the LORD, the God of our ancestors, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king to glorify the house of the LORD in Jerusalem..." Second, he gathered the people together before leaving, and called them to fast and pray for their safe return to Jerusalem. That's not really surprising, as this happens many times in Scripture. But the candor expressed by Ezra is! He writes, "For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king that the hand of our God is gracious to all who seek him, but his power and his wrath are against all who forsake him."

I love that! He wanted a guard of soldiers for protection... but that would contradict his earlier testimony to the King about God's provision! So instead, Ezra called the people to fast & pray. God works in mysterious ways - to call us to a life of faithfulness.

As Christians... as leaders... as people of faith... we may not always have "saint-like" belief. We can struggle and doubt with the best of them. But will it draw us closer to God in the end? Will it bring us to the LORD in prayer? Will we deny ourselves (and our trust in our strength/ability to accomplish our plans) and seek God's favor (and strength!)? Because that's what ultimately matters.

(Oh yah, Ezra & Co. eventually made it home safely. Praise the Lord!)

Look Who's Coming for Christmas?

2011-12-13T08:49:00.001-10:00

[From Dec. 2, 2011]

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your King comes to you; triumphant & victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war-horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall command peace to the nations; his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the Earth."

(Zechariah 9:9-10)

Normally this passage is read on Palm Sunday... announcing Jesus' entry into Jerusalem during the final week of his life. But I'm reading it during ADVENT. I'm trying to prepare my heart for Christmas - the coming of a Savior. In both seasons (Lent/Easter and Christmas), Jesus comes as a surprise to many. We like our heroes to be strong, bold, brave, confident, valiant, sure, aggressive, and uncompromising. Jesus has those qualities, sure... but not in the way we expect. He comes with humility to "command peace to the nations." Zechariah mentions this king as silencing the battle cry within Israel (Ephraim chariots and Jerusalem war-horses). Much of the work of the Messiah happens within us - not to our enemies. Are WE really ready to be changed this Christmas?

Wall-o-Fire

2011-12-13T08:44:00.000-10:00

[From Nov. 30, 2011]

"Jerusalem shall be inhabited like villages without walls, because of the multitude of people and animals in it. For I will be a wall of fire all around it, says the Lord, and I will be the glory within it."

(Zechariah 2:4b-5)

When we spent a month in England, we had the pleasure of visiting the city of York. York is known for being one of the remaining "walled cities" in the UK. Back in the day, it was crucial for a city to be walled - for protection, safety, and security. Those outside the walls were extremely vulnerable to attack.

The prophet Zechariah knows about walled cities. God grants him a vision (a man with a measuring line) and tells him that Jerusalem shall be "like villages without walls." God will be "a wall of fire" around it. They won't have to worry about protection and defense - God has their back! Can you imagine the weight off their shoulders with news like that? Now they're free to do things like draw closer to God and be about God's business of reconciliation and peace. What a gift!

What would it mean for us to drop our "walls of defense & protection"? What if we gave up trying to plan out our safety net of retirement, and instead focused on what God wanted us to be focusing on - His kingdom here and now... all around us!?!

Rethinking Interruptions

2011-11-28T09:42:00.001-10:00

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

(Luke 9:10-11)

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

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

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

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

Your children's children

2011-11-18T09:08:00.001-10:00

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

(Psalm 128:5-6)

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

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

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

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

May it be so with all of you.

Glorious Splendor

2011-11-18T09:02:00.001-10:00

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

(Psalm 145:5)

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

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

An "Ezekiel 37 Revival"

2011-11-16T16:06:00.001-10:00

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

(Ezekiel 37:11)

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

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

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

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

The Return

2011-10-28T09:04:00.000-10:00

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

(Jeremiah 50:4-5)

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

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

Wow.

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

It's never too late...

Bread crumbs or Guideposts?

2011-10-25T10:12:00.000-10:00

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

(Jeremiah 31:21)

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

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

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

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

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

The Prayer

2011-10-21T09:27:00.000-10:00

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

(Psalm 105:4)

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

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

Acclaim & recognition.

Success & achievement.

Entertainment.

The adrenaline rush of sports (playing & watching).

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

Peace & joy.

Significance in relationships (especially with my family).

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

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

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

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

Valuable

2011-10-19T08:35:00.001-10:00

"Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith as precious as ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ..."

(2 Peter 1:1)

What's the most valuable thing you have? Your car? Antique jewelry? Property? Your house? Stock?

What if the questions was phrased this way: What's of most value to you?

Maybe then the answer would be something along the line of relationships: spouse, parents, children, friendships? Possibly health? Or one's career? Or faith?

That last item is what the author of 2 Peter would say. "To those who have received a faith as precious as ours..." What an understatement! For so many of us, faith is one of the most precious things we have in life - yet we don't always treat it that way, do we? If something is truly precious to us, we go out of our way to care for it, protect it, nurture it. We spend time with it. It becomes forefront in our hearts & minds. Unfortunately, that's not always the case with our faith, is it (not even for us pastors!)? We get around to it when we have the time... or when we remember. We go to church (most Sundays), but too often that's all.

I was speaking to someone this week who regrets not working harder to give his (now grown-up) children a consistent experience with God and a faith to build their lives on. "They're good, moral people... they just don't have a spiritual foundation." When I've met people living in extreme poverty, they recognize their greatest resource is their faith - and their faith blows me away! That's valuable!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, you are all I need. You are my strength. Help me to cherish this precious, precious faith & not take it for granted... or neglect it.

Have you been FIRED yet?

2011-10-18T08:40:00.002-10:00

"So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel. The vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as seemed good to him."

(Jeremiah 18:3-4)

Jeremiah 18 is a famous chapter about the Potter and his clay vessel. God was using this "field trip" to teach Jeremiah about God's reworking of human lives. Many of us in the church know this "potter & clay" imagery. We are challenged to yield to God's molding (and remolding) in our lives.

But then there's chapter 19. Jeremiah's still at the potter's house, so God asks him to pick up one more item: an earthenware jug. Then God asks Jeremiah to go out to the trash heap... the town garbage dump... and also the place where worshiper's of Ba'al sacrifice their children (ugh!). In this place of rot, in the stench of refuse & death, God has Jeremiah shatter the jug so people will see what is about to happen to them (yikes!).

What changed between chapters 18 & 19? Why is God willing to remold & remake... then simply shatter? Is chapter 18 for "God's people," and chapter 19 for "sinners"? I doubt it. God's people ARE sinners (as ALL of us are!). Is 18 for those "in God's will" and 19 for the "rebels"? Maybe. But I think we're more often "rebels" than not. Could it be as simple as the firing process of ceramics? Think about it. Clay can be worked & reworked, over and over again, as many times as the master potter desires. But once it goes into to the kiln... once it's fired... it's shape is permanent. It may feel "stronger"... more firm, solid & permanent. But it's now also capable of being shattered. The clay, on the other hand, can't be shattered. It may feel crushed, smashed, dented & disfigured... but it can also be REMADE! Completely. Over and over again!

So what would the "firing process" be for us? LIFE? No. Life is all around us. God doesn't cocoon us away from the sometimes-painful realities of life. Plus, some of God's best "reworking" in our lives comes out of the painful life lessons we get ourselves into! Is it turning our backs on God? Maybe. But Jesus told parable after parable about God's love for the "lost" and the desire for things lost to become "found."

I think it may have something to do with our willingness to learn & change. Once fired, a clay pot is "set." Have we become so "set" in our ways, thoughts, & lifestyles that we cannot (or will not) change... or allow ourselves to be changed? [NOTE: I know this metaphor is slightly flawed because pieces of clay cannot choose to be fired. It's up to the potter. But in real life, I think it's the opposite.] We choose the kiln. We choose permanence over pliability. It seems more "safe." More permanent. But I believe that God would be content to a lifetime of reworking, if only we'd let him. Only at the point of entering eternity would we then be "fired" in the kiln of Jesus Christ (who's GRACE saves, remember!). But God never forces himself on us. We have to be willing to let him work.

May we forever be open to God's reworking... stay away from the kiln!

Envy & Selfish ambition

2011-10-17T09:51:00.002-10:00

[From October 11, 2011]

"For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind."

(James 3:16)

As an athlete, a healthy sense of ambition and competition is very good. As a follower of Jesus, however... not so much. Actually, says the author of James, it's "selfish ambition" and "envy" that leads to trouble for believers.

Selfish ambition... aka "Looking out for No.1!" This mindset puts ourselves ahead of everyone else. It only desires "what's best for me," without regard to the impact it has on others.
Envy... Wanting what someone else has (or has been given by God). This isn't just materialistic desires either (envying another's car, home video system, house, gaming console, etc.)... we fall into other cases of envy - including in the ministry.

As a pastor, I know God has gifted me a certain way. It's who I am. Who He created me to be. I am an integral part of the Body of Christ. But so are you! You have unique gifts & abilities God has given you, too. It does neither of us any good to wish (desire, long for, envy!) we had what each other has. God reminded me of this on my trip a few weeks ago to the Philippines. I was humbled by the incredible dynamic power present in my fellow pastors. And for a while, I was having a problem with envy. But God changed my heart. I am content with who he created me to be. What a gift!

Oh, how He loves us!

2011-10-17T09:46:00.000-10:00

[From October 2, 2011]

"...And he became their Savior in all their distress. It was no messenger or angel, but his presence that saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old."

(Isaiah 63:9)

Early on in the wonderful film "HOOK" (the story of Peter Pan as a grown-up with kids who has forgotten who he once was), Peter (played marvelously by Robin Williams) is a very busy businessman. So busy, in fact, that he has no time to attend his son's baseball game, even though he promised his son that he would. Instead, he sends one of his assistants to video the game so he can watch it later. The look on his son's face, when he's searching for his father in the stands, but instead finds the video-taping assistant, is crushing.

But that's how it is in the world sometimes, isn't it? We are busy. People in positions of power & influence are especially busy. They have assistants to take care of the things they're not able to get around to, because of greater priorities.

Isaiah 63 speaks of a time when God could have operated like that. Who's more powerful than The Almighty? Who has priorities that we can't even begin to comprehend? If anyone had the right to delegate tasks it would be God. That's why he's got prophets and angels & other messengers, right?

But God did a remarkable thing. When we were lost in our sin & faithlessness... when we were mired in the consequences of our (not-so-good) actions... God himself came to save us. No angels. No messengers. No intermediary. God came. In his love & pity, he redeemed us. He lifted us out of the muck & carried us, as a Father or Mother lovingly carries their child. God did that.

In the words of John Mark McMillian (made famous by The David Crowder Band): "Oh, how he love us, oh! Oh, how he loves us. How he loves us, oh!" (Amen to that!)

(Surely you're not talking about NFL football, right?!?!)

2011-09-29T16:00:00.001-10:00

"If you refrain from trampling the sabbath, from pursuing your own interests on my holy day; if you call the sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, serving your own interests, or pursuing your own affairs; then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth..."

(Isaiah 58:13-14)

Those of us who grew up going to Sunday School learned that one of the 10 COMMANDMENTS is to "remember the sabbath and keep it holy." Today, most of us Christians have boiled that down to meaning, "Go to church (at least) once a week." And while going to church (presumably to worship God) is very important, it may not quite be what was originally intended by this commandment.

Isaiah 58 goes a long way in "fleshing out" what keeping the sabbath holy means (And let me warn all who read this - you may feel challenged like I did!). Isaiah speaks of how we trample the sabbath: pursuing our own interests, going our own ways, pursuing our own affairs. Now, if we equate sabbath with church, then we're let off the hook as long as we get to church on Sunday (unless we happen to be checking the football scores on our smart phones during service!). But if we go back to the idea that sabbath was AN ENTIRE DAY... then we start feeling the pangs of guilt.

Sundays have become days to do all sorts of things - in addition to attending church (if we even do that). Sports, family outings, meals with friends, take naps, etc. Have we lost the focus on God? Or can we honor God by being intentional about acknowledging God and God's place in our families and relationships - especially on Sundays?

I'm not saying that Christians shouldn't watch NFL football on Sundays (heck, I'm a HUGE fan myself!). But might we be able to find more ways to "take delight in the LORD" - even outside of worship? Might we even choose to pursue more activities that honor the holiness of the sabbath? (Yah, I know... I feel it too, my friend... I feel it too.)

But Isaiah tells us that when we do this... when we become intentional about honoring the sabbath, God has promised to make us "ride upon the heights of the earth." I don't exactly know what that means... but it sounds awesome!

Not everything happens for a reason, BUT...

2011-09-29T12:57:00.001-10:00

"As it is, we do not see everything... but we do see Jesus..."

(Hebrews 2:8b)

As a pastor, I've had more than one conversation with folks around the notion that "everything happens for a reason." It's a common expression. And many people of faith adhere to it. I think others find it comforting, is some sense. But I'm not sure I believe it. Not the "everything" part, at least.

The feeling behind "everything happens for a reason," is the idea that God, the Divine Engineer, is behind everything that happens. So good or bad... even though we may not understand it now... we can trust that God knows what He's doing. Eventually, it'll all work out for us.

But then you've got those "pesky issues"... like natural disasters (hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, typhoons, etc.), war, genocide, car/plane/train/motorcycle/boat accidents, etc. I have a hard time embracing the idea that God causes all these kinds of things to happen for a reason. Now, we could "prove" that all things do actually happen for a REASON... if we want to get into the "reason" earthquakes occur (plate tectonics), or hurricanes (atmospheric pressure), or genocide (racism), or even some transportation accidents (equipment malfunction, human error, driving while impaired/sleepy, etc.)... but that's not exactly the same thing as intended by that expression in the first place, is it?

Where I take comfort is that I believe God can take ANYTHING in our lives (experiencing disaster, being in an accident, going through a break-up, the death of a loved one, etc.) and bring something GOOD out of it. This doesn't mean that everything that happens in our lives is good... far from it. It doesn't mean that God caused everything to happen, either. But it does mean that God can REDEEM anything we experience. God can help bring something good out of our pain, struggles, and difficulties.

The Bible is full of such stories. It may not make it easier to go through at the moment, but it can give us hope.

One more thing. The book of Hebrews has a line that I think speaks another bit of hope into our discussion. Though the author is talking about the role of angels & humans and their interactions, he writes this... "As it is, we do not see everything... but we do see Jesus." We may not see "the reason" behind why things happen in our lives. One day we may. Then again, we may never know "why." But when that is murky, there is one thing that is clear. Jesus. We have the Biblical account of who Jesus was in his lifetime... how he related to others... brought healing, grace & compassion to all... and gave himself away to a hurting world in the name of love. And those of us who claim to be Christ Followers also have the added insight of being in a personal relationship with him. So in the midst of uncertainty & chaos... while we're going through painful situations & troubling times... we may not be able to see that everything happens for a reason... but we can see Jesus. He is our hope & our anchor.

And he is enough.

"If you can't say something nice..."

2011-09-23T09:56:00.000-10:00

"Remind them to be subject to rules and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show every courtesy to everyone."

(Titus 3:1-2)

Paul's letters frequently have some "catch-all" sentences near the end of his correspondences. Simple verses that are chock-full of "nuggets" of wisdom & instruction. Such is the case in Titus 3.

What stood out as I read it this morning was the 5-word admonition: "SPEAK EVIL OF NO ONE." We live in a "free country" where people can say what they think & feel. If you don't like something (or someone), you can speak your mind openly. But just because we CAN doesn't mean we always SHOULD.

It seems like we've become quite adept at "telling people off," "talking stink" (as we like to say here in Hawaii), or just "dissing" others. Sometimes it's our elected officials who bear the brunt of our ranting. Other times it's a professional athlete on our favorite team... or our boss... or an annoying co-worker... or relative... or even our spouse or children. Heck, even fellow church members sometimes are the object of our scorn.

How sad. Seriously.

Paul reminds us that's not necessary. "Speak evil of no one." No one. The wisdom of Thumper (from the Disney movie, "Bambi") applies: "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." Amen to that.

For OLDER MEN only...

2011-09-23T09:50:00.003-10:00

[From Thursday, 9/22/11]

"Tell the older men to be temperate, serious, prudent, and sound in faith, in love, and in endurance."

(Titus 2:2)

What do you say to your elders? To the older people in your life? How do we encourage & challenge them in their walk with the LORD? As Paul wrote to Titus (in chapter 2), he had instructions for older men, older women, younger men, younger women, and servants (slaves).

I was struck by the words to the elder men. Six things Paul lists. The first three are not surprising: temperate (moderate in everything, not just alcohol, I'm guessing!), serious (as opposed to frivolous, likely), and prudent (wise in action). The next three also sound "common" and expected. But they caused me to ponder a bit more. "Sound in faith, in love, and in endurance."

Sound in Faith... Know what you believe. Know the teachings of Christ (and the words of the prophets). But then LIVE IT OUT! It's not enough to simply know it (head knowledge). Incorporate it into all aspects of your life.

Sound in Love... Love conquers a multitude of evils & sins. There shouldn't be "grumpy old men" in God's kingdom. Sure, everyone has bad days now and then... but for the most part, abound in love, grandpas!

Sound in Endurance... Life will be challenging. It will be hard, at times... and frustrating & disappointing. Expect it to happen. So then you can ENDURE. Stick it out. If you're "sound in faith & love," it will help a lot in being able to endure!

We need faithful & loving elders who persevere.
Are there any older men in your life that you can encourage today?!?

Sudden Renewal

2011-09-21T07:38:00.002-10:00

"And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because of what God had done for the people; for the thing had come about suddenly."

(2 Chronicles 29:36)

We know what a stereotypical haunted house looks like. Old. Boarded-up windows. Yard unkempt. Dark. Dusty. Cobwebs everywhere. Very creepy looking. Now take that image and move it to a church. Actually, a temple. The Temple in Jerusalem, to be exact. That's what King Hezekiah was dealing with. It had been neglected and abandoned for far too long. That was all about to change.

The king called the priests & Levites together. He had them sanctify themselves. Then they began to make things right. The cleaned. They repaired the front doors. They opened the windows. They brought out everything that didn't belong and dumped it into the Kidron Valley. They cleaned the sacred objects that had been misused by other kings. They restored the Temple so it could be used as it was intended - TO WORSHIP!

Symbolically, I see this needing to happen in many of our lives. Our bodies are "temples" for the Lord. Too often we put stuff in them that doesn't belong. Or we use them in ways that they weren't intended. Or we neglect its upkeep. We don't use them how they're intended - to worship God!

But then, from time to time, a call is issued. Do we hear it? Can we hear it? It's a call to renewal. It may come suddenly. Be alert! Be ready! If we respond with faithfulness... if we respond with humility like Hezekiah & the leaders did, then God can use us to do amazing things. Our bodies/lives are incredibly holy! If only we recognized it.

The ordeal

2011-09-08T07:53:00.001-10:00

"As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the LORD, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving."

(Colossians 2:6-7)

Three days ago my son was injured while at football practice. He caught a pass, eluded one defender, then got hit by the safety. Once hit, his body spun in the air, and he landed on his back. He wasn't in any pain... UNTIL he tried to get up. Then he said he felt pain unlike anything he'd ever felt before. He couldn't sit up. So he had to be carried off the field by stretcher, and taken via ambulance to Pali Momi Hospital's Emergency Room. Xrays were inconclusive Bloodwork was negative. It took a CT scan to identify a hairline fracture on the outside tip of his L2 vertebrae.

The prognosis is very good. 6-8 weeks to get the bone to start the re-fusing together process. Then he can get back onto the swing of athletics, as his body allows. In a few more months, it should be good as new. In the meantime, the hard part is to deal with the pain.

Ezra was transferred to Kapiolani Hospital where on day two, his job was to just rest. He followed orders well yesterday! Today (Day 3) the order is to start getting up and moving - through the pain. We'll see how it goes. It's an important next step in his overall healing process.

A few weeks ago, after a sermon on GENEROSITY, I began to keep a "Gratitude Journal." It's a simple process: every day write down 5 things that I'm thankful for. There's a lot that I've been thankful for during this ordeal with Ezra... that his injury wasn't much worse (resulting in structural damage of his spine or impacting his central nervous system), for the doctors/nurses/aids who have been lovingly caring for him, the power of pain medication, the friends who have visited, called & posted encouragement online, good brownies, a warm blanket (this hospital room is cold!), WiFi in the hospital, etc. The list could go on and on.

My prayer (besides Ezra's full & complete healing) is that through this all, Ezra will also come to rely more on God... AND be able to abound in thanksgiving - no matter what!

Thank you for praying for him, too.

Unity?!?

2011-08-31T10:05:00.001-10:00

[From 8/29/11]

"Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one."

(John 17:11b)

UNITY. it's a word that doesn't appear much in contemporary society, does it? Oh, maybe in the locker rooms and pre-game prep talks of athletes across the country, but anywhere else? Not in politics. Not in this multicultural world. And, unfortunately, not in religious circles. Too often we Christians are known more for what we're against than what we're for. We speak out against other faiths. We even speak out against ourselves - just look at all the denominations & church splits that have occurred over the ages! Heck, look at our local churches. We even distance ourselves from each other there... the one place where we should be united!

Maybe Jesus knew this was a human tendency. That's why, in John's gospel account of his last days with the disciples, Jesus prayed for their unity. May they "be one, as we are one," he asked God. He could have stopped after "may they be one." But Jesus went one step further... "as we are one." That's crazy! Jesus is God. They are one-in-the-same! God's presence in "two forms." Can we, the Church, actually be the same with each other? We'd have to end jealousies... stop competing (as pastors, congregations, Christians)... do cooperative ministry (no more "mine vs. yours")... seek first God's kingdom, not our own.

Hey, it could happen, right? In Jesus' name...

Come from and Going to...

2011-08-31T09:59:00.000-10:00

[From 8/25/11]

"Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world, and to go to the Father... And during supper, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table..."

(John 13:1-3)

John's version of the Last Supper is a bit different from the other 3 Gospels' account. In John's story, Jesus washes the feet of his disciples first. Before dinner. Servanthood... Love... Devotion... This is what he wants them to learn from him during their final hours together. It's all done out of a well-spring of love.

Though I love the way Jesus modeled servanthood, that's not what caught my spirit this morning. Instead, it was a simple phrase: "knowing... that he had come from God and was going to God..." (v.3). This was one of the foundational statements/truths that enabled Jesus to endure all that was about to transpire (arrest, abuse, trial & death). He had come from God. He was part of the Divine Creator. He was, in the beginning, there with the Father. He has that intimate connection. AND... he was going to God. Though death was looming large, it would not be the final word. God would win. They'd be together again, for all eternity.

Of course, we who call ourselves "Christian" know this because we equate Jesus with God. So, we say, that's how Jesus could be so calm and in control. He's one in the same! But another thought crossed my mind as I was reading this: Why can't WE know the same thing? That we have "come from God" and are "going to God," eventually?

We are not one with the Father like Jesus, of course... but we all have come into this world through the grace and love of God the Creator. And when this earthly life is over, we will go to God for all eternity. That should give us a sense of peace in this life - no matter what we may be facing!

How might our daily lives change if we lived with this knowledge... that we have come from God and are going to God? It seemed to make all the difference in the world to Jesus. What about us?

The Front Gate

2011-08-31T09:48:00.002-10:00

[From 8/22/11]

"Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep."

(John 10:1-2)

When I think about scenarios involving "climbing in by another way" than the front entrance, I think of people trying to SNEAK IN to someplace. Maybe to get in without paying (Amusement park? Sports Stadium? etc.)... or trying to get around ridiculously long entrance lines (festival? concert? fair?). But when Jesus speaks about it, he's not talking about people wanting to get IN someplace forbidden... he's speaking of people wanting to get in, in order to STEAL what's inside (art thieves, jewelry thieves, bank robbers, etc.). But more importantly, he's speaking about spiritual leaders (namely, himself!).

Sheep come in and out of the safety of their pen through the front gate. The shepherd leads them in and out himself. The sheep should know not to follow anyone who "climbs the fence" and enters by any other way (But then again, sheep aren't known to be the smartest critters on the farm!).

Jesus is warning his followers not to be deceived by "false shepherds." Don't follow anyone who doesn't come in through the front gate - open, in plain sight, with everyone knowing exactly who s/he is. Don't be led out by anyone except the Shepherd - for it will not lead to the abundant life promised.

Ultimately, the Shepherd is the one who truly cares for the well-being of the sheep. He's not trying to use the sheep or sell the sheep or even make a profit off the sheep. His job is to love, guide and protect the sheep. It's in their best interests to follow Him.

So why are we so quick to follow other "competing" leaders in our lives? Whether it's a charismatic leader... a passion in our life... a job/career... an addiction, etc... Anything that puts itself as the #1 priority in our life is ultimately a false shepherd.

Look to the front gate.

Follow the true Shepherd.

Listen only to His voice.

35 years going strong, and then...

2011-08-17T11:32:00.000-10:00

"Hear me, Asa, and all Judah & Benjamin: The LORD is with you, while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you abandon him, he will abandon you."

(2 Chronicles 15:2b)

He had so much going for him. Asa was his name, and he was the King of Judah. Early in his reign, the prophet Azariah had inspired him to righteousness. Asa, in turn, inspired the southern nation of Judah to seek God with their whole desire (2 Chron. 15:15). He even rebuked his mom when she erected an idol for Asherah. "And there was no more war until the 35th year of Asa" (v.9).

All was going smoothly, until... the first serious threat of war (at least that we know of). Judah's brothers to the north, Israel, under the leadership of king Baasha, began preparing to attack King Asa & the people of Judah. Asa, in turn, bribed Ben-hadad, the king of Aram, to break his alliance with the northern tribes, and join in protecting the southern tribes of Judah. It worked. Sort of. Israel left & the war ended. But God was not happy that Asa never considered going to him in prayer with this situation. From that point on, Asa (& Judah) were beset by wars (2 Chron. 16:9).

We like to plan, devise, scheme, and prepare. Especially those of us in positions of leadership, we have to be ready. But God wants to be at the top of those lists! Too often, however, we forget to turn to Him first. WE get caught up in OUR PLANS and miss the most important step - putting God first. That's when things can start going downhill. Just ask our friend Asa.

Speaking of The Hokey Pokey...

2011-08-15T14:00:00.002-10:00

"You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, 'I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of him...' For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease."

(John 3:28,30)

Actors, Athletes, Politicians, Clergy... we all have an inherent risk in our professions. The risk is to fall into the seductive trap of adulation, recognition, self-absorption and arrogance. Many of us thrive in the spotlight. That's not necessarily bad, but when our ego grows along with the attention, the danger is we lose a firm grip on humility.

John the Baptist knew this. He'd garnered a large following with his "dunking ministry" in the Jordan River. His own disciples get very concerned when they saw the hoards of people following Jesus (and his "dunking ministry!"). John reminded them that he himself never claimed to be the Messiah, so he was totally fine with Jesus getting all the attention. "He must increase, but I must decrease," John said.

I can't speak for the other aforementioned professions, but I know how challenging it is for us clergy. It's so easy to crave the attention and adulation of the people in our churches. But it's so not about us. Are we pointing people to Jesus? Because, to borrow a phrase from "The Hokey Pokey," that's what it's all about!

Not just on Broadway...

2011-08-11T08:35:00.002-10:00

"But be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

(Ephesians 5:18b-20)

Music is a big part of my life. Not that I'm any kind of accomplished musician, but I enjoy playing the guitar from time to time (I'm really just a beginner). More than that, I love having music in my life. I keep adding to my various playlists on my iPod, and frequently have it playing in the background. I also like to sing along with the music (who doesn't, right?).

The apostle Paul would have approved. In Ephesians 5, he commends us to have a song in our hearts (and on our lips) at all times! He challenges us to "make melody" in our hearts to God - no matter what is going on in our lives (the good and the bad)! What a wonderful way to "pray without ceasing." If prayer is any communication with Go, then singing to the Lord is surely prayer!

So I'll keep singing my way through my days. I guess it's not just on Broadway where people spontaneously break into song, eh?!

LIGHT in the darkness

2011-08-09T08:58:00.000-10:00

"It is you who light my lamp; the LORD, my God, lights up my darkness."

(Psalm 18:28)

When I was in seminary I bought an oil lamp. It was a ceramic lamp, made by a woman who loved to dance. In fact, she called these lamps "Dancing Flame Lamps," for when lit, the flamed danced on the specifically designed mouth of the lamp. This woman held dance retreats in the mountains, and created these lamps so people could carry their lamps through the woods while moving. It's still one of my favorite objects in my prayer corner.

As I was reading Psalm 18 this morning, I thought about my lamp again. The psalmist acknowledges that God alone is the one who "lights my lamp... (and) lights up my darkness." I love the imagery! We're all lamps. Every one of us has a uniquely-shaped vessel, created by the Master Potter, created to carry light through the world. But we can't light ourselves. We're just the container. We need the LIGHT of God to come to us, then we carry it with our lives.

Too many people are living without the flame. It doesn't matter how sturdy, large, or beautiful our lamps look like... if we don't have it lit, we aren't using it the way it was intended! May I never cease to look to the source of light to light my lamp & shine in my darkness.

We don't have to be "right"...

2011-08-05T09:01:00.000-10:00

"We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Each of us must please our neighbor for the good purpose of building up the neighbor."

(Romans 15:1-2)

A few years ago I heard comedian Jeff Allen say that the best piece of advice his father ever gave him about married life was given on the day of his wedding. His dad said, "Son, when it comes to your wife, you can either be RIGHT or you can be HAPPY. You can't be both!" Jokingly, Jeff said, "I've been happy ever since!"

Actually, it's not that far off. Too often we choose to make sure that others (especially the ones we love most) know that we're "right." We also do it as Christians. Too much, I fear. But in Romans 15, Paul calls us to put up with those around us. We don't have to insist on our own ways - even when we know we're right! Why? Because, says Paul, the ultimate goal is not "being right," but building up one another in love.

What would it mean for us to put first & foremost the building up of our spouse in love? Or our children? Or our co-workers, classmates, neighbors? Or those who irritate & disagree with us all the time? Everyone? Maybe God can use those tiny expressions of "loving grace" on our part to reach people in ways that our "being right" wouldn't.

Go figure.

Thinking about THOSE PEOPLE...

2011-08-04T09:01:00.001-10:00

Today I was reading through a few chapters of Proverbs, and I came upon a couple of verses that deal with those who... well... aren't living the lives God intends for them... and how we are (or aren't) to respond to them. I thought I'd post a few for our reflection...

"Make no friends with those given to anger, and do not associate with hotheads, or you may learn their ways and entangle yourself in a snare." (Proverbs 22:24-25)

"Do not envy the wicked, nor desire to be with them; for their minds devise violence, and their lips talk of mischief." (Proverbs 24:1-2)

"Do not rejoice when your enemies fall and do not let your heart be glad when they stumble, or else the LORD will see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from them." (Proverbs 24:17-18)

Some personal observations...

The advice we got as children rings true - be very careful of the friends we choose to spend time with...
Be content with what we have... don't envy those who seem to "get away with things" in life... even (especially) if they are "prospering"...
Have a heart of compassion - even for those who irritate/anger/attack you... for that's what God desires!

The ONE thing that matters

2011-08-03T09:59:00.001-10:00

"Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery... or murder... or steal... or covet'; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law."

(Romans 13:8-10)

I'm preparing a new sermon series on simplicity & generosity, and I've been thinking a lot about love. Richard Foster challenges me to live a "simplified" life by focusing back on what Jesus called the (two) greatest commandment(s): Love God & Love Neighbor. When we get back to the very basics, life becomes simpler and filled with joy.

Paul seems to echo that in Romans 13. "Love is the fulfilling of the law," he says. We have a huge book of stories, laws, history and instruction in The Bible. But it's really not that complicated. LOVE GOD. LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Everything else will fall into place.

Today, I will try to make a conscious decision to act out of love towards everyone I interact with. (We'll see how it goes. How about you?)

Connected (whether we know it or not!)

2011-08-01T11:30:00.003-10:00

"For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen."

(Romans 11:36)

In the 11th chapter of Romans, Paul addresses the issue of God's love and (eventual) inclusion of his Jewish brothers & sisters. He cautions the new Gentiles (non-Jew) believers not to get too smug, but rather to be thankful for God's grace in their lives and rejoice! Paul also asserts that God still has a plan for his fellow Jews - even though they may not have come to believe in Jesus.

Paul ends the chapter (and the discussion) with this: "For from him and through him and to him are all things." This echoes John 1:1 - 'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things came into being through him." Jesus is "the Word" in John 1, and "Him" in Romans 11.

Whether people acknowledge or recognize it, everybody and everything has a relationship with Jesus. Christ has been part of the creation (and sustenance) of all. It's just that many choose not to return their part of that relationship. I believe God longs for all of us to be in a relationship with Him... and works to draw us towards Him in love. Life takes on greater depth, meaning, and purpose when we respond to Him. The cool thing about Romans 11:36 is that everyone has that opportunity to be connected!

"If that had been too little..."

2011-07-08T09:44:00.000-10:00

"Nathan said to David, 'You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I anointed you King over Israel, and I rescued you from the hand of Saul; I gave you your master's house, and your master's wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel & Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added as much more.'"

(2 Samuel 12:7-8)

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Passion... Sex... Adultery... Deception... it's been around since the beginning. (And unfortunately continues still today.) In one of the great examples of "moral failure" in all of scripture, we encounter King David and his "Bathsheba incident" from 2 Samuel 11-12. Allow me to remind you of the key components...

Instead of being with the army (as Kings usually were), David chose to stay home this particular spring. One afternoon he saw a beautiful woman on her rooftop, bathing. After finding out she was married to one of his soldiers, he brought her to his palace and had sex with her. Upon discovering that he'd gotten her pregnant, David brought her husband home from war, and tried to get him to sleep with his wife. The plan didn't work. After trying a couple of times, David eventually sent him back to the battlefront with instructions (unbeknownst to him) to have him put in the fiercest fighting area, which, of course, got the guy killed. After an appropriate time of mourning, David sent for Bathsheba and made her his wife. Then their child was born.

God sent the prophet Nathan to confront David about his sin, which Nathan did dramatically through a wonderful parable/allegory. He then reminded David of just a FEW of the blessings God had given him: the crown (as king!), safety from harm (especially when the former king, Saul, tried so hard to kill him!), a fine palace, wives (which David had multiple of!), and a united nation of Israel & Judah (for the first time ever!). Then Nathan adds something that continues to echo in my soul: "AND IF THAT HAD BEEN TOO LITTLE, I WOULD HAVE ADDED AS MUCH MORE," says the Lord (v.8).

Like many men (& women) before (and after) him, David acted impulsively. Bathsheba's beauty trumped any moral integrity for David. For whatever reason, David allowed that moment to run rampant over a lifetime of faithfulness. Sure, nobody's perfect. But this was a pretty big "indiscretion": adultery, murder, & deception. And what gets me is that God said, "If you wanted more, just ask me! I'd have given you more!" (I don't think God would have given him Bathsheba, but could have found something else to fulfill the void he was feeling in his life.)

Yah, nobody's perfect, that's for sure. But we, as humans, have to be responsible for our actions. We all have choices we make every day in life. Our call is to make choices that will honor God (and each other). And if we feel we're "missing something" in life, bring it up to the LORD! We may not always get what we ask for... sometimes God may just need to give us a new perspective on what we think the problem is... but nevertheless, God is there to help see us through. We have no right to take from others what is not ours. Everyone needs to learn that lesson, from Kings down to the rest of us common folk. (Amen to that!)

Strongholds

2011-07-01T09:37:00.000-10:00

"When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up in search of David; but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold."

(2 Samuel 5:17)

David is crowned the 2nd King of Israel. All his fellow Israelites rejoice. All Israel's enemies seethe. The Philistines (neighbors to the SW) launch an offensive strike to eliminate the new monarch. David's 'intel' discovers this plot, and he's able to protect himself accordingly. What does he do? 2 Samuel 5:17 tells us "he went down to the stronghold."

Maybe this is one of those no-brainer comments that any military expert would say, "Of course!" to. But it struck me this morning as I was reading. When threatened, go to your stronghold. (It's also interesting to note that David was threatened at the height of his accomplishments - a warning to us all!)

I know David's "stronghold" was probably a city of great strength & defense... but it got me thinking about my "stronghold." Where do I "go" to be most safe? Church? Family? Small group ministry? How do I surround myself with "protection"? Scripture reading? Worship? Christian fellowship? Love of family? I think it's a combination of many of these above things for me. But am I going to my strongholds in times of need, or simply trying to "go it alone"? May I learn from David...

Light & City

2011-06-28T10:37:00.000-10:00

"You are the light of thew world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid."

(Matthew 5:14)

This is another one of those "Christian sayings" that have become quite recognizable by those of us "in the church." But we often overlook the power of its (simple) message. A couple of insights stand out to me as I look at what Jesus says here...

"Light of the world"... Just about everything needs light to survive (okay, maybe the naked mole rat can do without it, but not much else!). Jesus is calling us (as his followers) the LIGHT that the world needs. We have a purpose & function for OTHERS. It's not just about us & doing whatever we want that takes care of us. We are to live for others' benefit. Are we?
"A city built on a hill"... I've been to Edinburgh Castle in Scotland twice. Once you arrive anywhere in that city, your eyes are drawn to the castle. Why? Because it's built on a hill, and can be seen by all! Everyone knows it's there. Jesus says that we're like that. We're a city built on a hill. We can't be hid. We can't keep a "low profile" throughout life... minding our own business. We're meant to be seen by others! We're meant to be a (positive) example! That might be a lot of pressure, if we had to do it all ourselves. But Jesus has promised to never leave us or forsake us. He can help us be all that He's created us to be. But again, we're created to be a blessing to OTHERS! May it be so in my life.

No Box of Chocolates

2011-06-23T11:26:00.000-10:00

"May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ."

(2 Thessalonians 3:5)

"FORREST GUMP" is a great film for a number of reasons. Tom Hanks is an amazing actor. It's also a very funny, poignant, and touching movie all at the same time. The digitized alteration of famous historical events (where Forrest is superimposed int he background) was groundbreaking. The soundtrack is incredible. And who can forget "Cajun sha-rimp... boiled sha-rimp... garlic sha-rimp..."?

But I think one of the most compelling aspects of the film is the faithful & unwavering love that Forrest had for Jenny. You may call him a "simple-minded man," but I think Forrest embodied the kind of love that God has for us: steady, consistent, always available - even if we reject it (repeatedly)! Jenny's life was pretty messed up (stemming from an abusive childhood by her father)... but Forrest continued to love her, whether she openly returned that love or not.

2 Thessalonians 3:5 understands this kind of love. It's God's love for us. It's Christ Jesus' faithfulness towards us. We just often have a hard time recognizing it. So Paul tells us (as he told the church in Thessalonia): "May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ." Indeed! And that's no "box of chocolates," for we know what we'll get from God!

What's most important?

2011-06-09T10:20:00.000-10:00

"Jesus stood still and ordered the man to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, 'What do you want me to do for you?' He said, 'Lord, let me see again.'"

(Luke 18:40-41)

It was no job, but it was how he made his living. Begging. By the roadside. "Alms?!?" he'd cry out to people passing by. That's all the blind man could do - beg.

So it's interesting that when he finds out that Jesus of Nazareth is passing by, he calls out to him with a title not used elsewhere: "Son of David!" That's the title for the Messiah. How did this blind man know that?!? Nevertheless, he does what he does best, and begs! He asks Jesus for mercy.

Jesus then does something rather interesting. Though he is the Messiah & has divine knowledge, he asks the blind man, 'What do you want me to do for you?' Now we might consider that a stupid question (Duh?! What do you think he wants, Jesus?). But in reality, the man could have asked for other things. He could have asked for MONEY (like he always did!)... enough to be able to stop begging. Enough to be comfortable & set. Enough to not have to worry about finances any more. He also could have asked for justice... for retribution against all who had wronged him or taken advantage of him in the past. He also could have asked to be relocated... taken somewhere where he'd be valued & appreciated. Maybe even to follow along with Jesus and his entourage.

Instead, this man gets to the very root of his problems: he's blind. The most important need he has (above all other needs) is the need to see. "Lord, let me see again." And Jesus grants his request.

Sometimes I think we get caught up in all the things that, though they may be problems in our lives, are ultimately not THE MAIN PROBLEM. They're not that important (at least, not as important as the ONE thing that's most important - whatever that may be for each of us). "What do you want me to do for you," Jesus asks. This isn't a genie-in-a-bottle-make-three-wishes question. It's a what's-your-bottom-line-deepest-need question.

So let's not be too quick to answer.
Take the time to search your soul.
How will you respond to the Savior?

Natallyie

2011-05-24T09:01:00.000-10:00

"Fear came over all their neighbors, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. All who heard them pondered them and said, 'What then will this child become?' For indeed, the hand fo the LORD was with him."

(Luke 1:65-66)

Liz & Zach were a "mature couple." No kids. Living out their lives. Then everything changed. Zach, a priest, was alone in the Temple one day when the angel Gabriel brought word he'd soon become a father! Zach found it hard to believe (even from an angel), something that got him in a bit of trouble (and rendered speechless for the duration of the impending pregnancy!). But sure enough, in due time, Liz had a baby boy & they named him John. That's when Zach started speaking again. They dedicated John in the Temple when he was 8 days old.

As word spread about this "unusual" occurrence, people were overcome with fear (of the Lord) and wonder... specifically concerning this child of Zach & Liz's: "What then will this child become?"

That's a great question to ask of ANY child, especially at their dedication/baptism. This Sunday, we'll be baptizing Natallyie at Aiea UMC. Natallyie is already 2 years old and has an amazing story. Her parents, though not as "mature" as Zach & Liz, were definitely not as young as most would-be parents. They'd been wanting to adopt a child for many years, but it just didn't happen. Finally in late 2010 they received word that a girl was available in China. They made arrangements & welcomed little Natallyie into their family on Valentine's Day 2011. A genuine gift of love! Natallyie had been abandoned and was living in an orphanage in China most of her young life.

Back in Hawaii, there were some (expected) adjustment challenges... but mom & dad handled it with much grace & patience. Now, this Sunday, they'll bring Natallyie before the congregation to be baptized.

"What then will this child become?" What a great question. Surrounded by a foundation of love... supported by a church family... given an opportunity to grow up with all the basic necessities every child should have (nutrition, shelter, education, health care, faith & a loving family?)? How can we not say that the hand of the LORD will be with her?

"What, then, will this child become?" Only God knows. But what a joy it will be to be a part of that divine journey with Natallyie and her family!

It's all about...

2011-05-13T08:55:00.000-10:00

"For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake."

(2 Corinthians 4:5)

No matter what people say, there's a tendency for those in positions of leadership to begin to crave attention. It may not be a strong characteristic at first, but over time the pull of fame and/or power becomes greater & greater. W in the "pastoring profession" are no exception. Paul knew this, too. That's why he made it a point to always stay on point - it's not about us, but Jesus.

We pastors know this in our head. But it's still hard to live out all the time. Whether we have a "big" or "small" congregation, it's compelling to want to be the one people look to for advice, inspiration, and vision. And in some ways, that's our job as pastors... BUT (and this is a BIG 'but')... we must be zealous about pointing others to Jesus, not ourselves. And we need to do it first, not AFTER we draw attention to ourselves.

Because, let's face it... even the best of us pastors will still let others down. We're human... and sinful, at times... and imperfect (like EVERYONE ELSE!). But God is not. Go is gracious, compassionate, and The Almighty! He's the One we ALL need to be pointing to and proclaiming.

5 points to ponder

2011-05-09T09:42:00.000-10:00

"Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love."

(1 Corinthians 16:3-14)

I love when Paul gets to the end of his letters. Many times he has so much to say (but is short on space/time) so he throws in a ton of one-liners. Words of wisdom boiled down to their most salient points. Such is the case at the end of 1 Corinthians. In verses 13-14 he gives us 5 points of advice to ponder...

Keep alert... More than "don't be sluggish/lazy," I think this calls the people to be aware... keep watch... expect things to happen around you (both good and bad!)... be ready!
Stand firm in your faith... When challenges come (see above point), lean on the faith you've built in your life. Don't waver. Hold fast. Trust what God has developed in you!
Be courageous... Be brave. Be willing to take risks, if needed (good risks, not careless ones). Be ready to take on BIG CHALLENGES without fear.
Be strong... Physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually. This is a wonderful trait to put hand in hand with courageousness.
Do all in love... Here's the key. It's easy to neglect love when you're focusing on strength & courage... but God (via Paul) calls us to something higher. Let love be the foundation on which EVERYTHING is built!

Yah, I think there's something there for me to learn... what about you?

It'll catch up with us... trust me.

2011-05-05T09:11:00.000-10:00

"But if you do not do this, you have sinned against the LORD; and be sure your sin will find you out. Build towns for your little ones, and folds for your flocks; but do what you have promised."
(Numbers 32:23-24)

The 12 tribes of Israel were about to embark on a long military campaign as they settled into the "Promised Land" they believed was given them by God. All were expected to participate. Land would be divided equitably afterwards.

The Reubenites & Gadites were cattle ranchers. They surveyed the land of Gilead as prime cattle-raising country. The only problem was that Gilead wasn't int he official "Promised Land" area of Canaan they were going to be living. So they asked Moses if they could remain on this side of the Jordan River in Gilead. Simple request, right? Not like you'd think...

Moses, being the "brains of the unit" could immediately see a problem. Anytime one moves into a new place, one's immediate foreseeable future will be bound up with "settling in." Moses was afraid they'd be too busy to help the rest of the tribes int eh upcoming battle(s). So he made a deal: they could take the land of Gilead (and get their flocks & family "comfy"), but they themselves couldn't settle in until AFTER they fought with their brothers in battle. The tribes of Reuben & Gad wholeheartedly agreed.

Moses then set before them an oath, which they willingly took. And he said he'd hold them to their word. Then he concluded with this caveat: "But if you do not do this, you have sinned against the LORD; and be sure your sin will find you out" (v.23).

How true. Our sins will find us out. Maybe not immediately (though it often happens that way)... maybe not in this lifetime (though often it happens this way)... but ultimately, our sins will find us out. And as Moses implied, all sin is sin against God. We may think it's only against another, but it's so much more.

So be forewarned...

But thanks be to God that we have a remedy for our sin... Grace, forgiveness, & reconciliation is available 100% of the time - if we seek it! Jesus stands ready to forgive us when our sins find us out. Over, and over, and over, and over...

Their "share"

2011-04-29T09:47:00.000-10:00

"Then the LORD said to Aaron, 'You shall have no allotment in their land, nor shall you have any share among them; I am your share and your possession among the Israelites.'"

(Numbers 18:20)

"Everyone gets their fair share!" When God divided up the land that the Israelites had moved into (aka "The Promised Land"), all the tribe got their fair share. All, that is, except the tribe of Levi. The Levites became the priests & "official church staff." They worked with the sacred objects & worship life of the people. They were spread out throughout the country, and given a place in various cities, but no land ownership like everyone else. Why? I'm guessing God wanted them free to "move about the country" (to borrow a slogan from Southwest Airlines). They weren't to become attached to places or things like the rest of the people. GOD WOULD BE THEIR 'SHARE!'

As a card-carrying member of the modern-day priesthood, this is a challenging passage to me. I like having my own stuff. Sure, I live in a church-owned parsonage... but Jody & I also have a house we've bought for our retirement (her parents are living in it right now). I hear that more and more of us UMC clergy are reluctant to move & participate in our "itinerant system." Could it be that we're too comfortable? That we have a hard time trusting that God is our share?

How might my life & ministry change if I truly trusted God for everything? I know there's a fine line between trust and foolishness (meaning God calls us to be wise & plan accordingly, rather than just expect others to provide for us). But we clergy seem to want to hold on to the "control" side of the equation. Maybe God has something even better in store for us... if we'll let him be our share!

That kind of different

2011-04-28T08:52:00.000-10:00

"...But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me wholeheartedly, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it."

(Numbers 14:24)

12 spies. 10 pessimists & only 2 optimists. They went into the land God had promised them. They completed their "scouting objective." They made their majority report: "NO WAY!" In fact, they stirred up the people to rebel against Moses & tried to return to Egypt! Only Caleb & Joshua offered a 2nd opinion: "WITH GOD'S HELP, WE SURELY CAN!"

God decided none of the whiners would enter the promised land he had for them. None. Only Caleb (and also Joshua, though not mentioned in this passage) would see it come to fruition. Everyone else in his generation would not. Why? "Because he has a different spirit," says God. Different from the masses. Different from fear. Different from mistrust. Different from being swayed by faithless leaders. That kind of "different."

I want to be that kind of "different." How awesome to have God say that about me... about my family... about our church! To follow God wholeheartedly. To live in faith, not fear. To trust the Lord more than I trust myself. To not listen to those leaders who seem adrift from their spiritual moorings. That kind of different.

We need more of "that kind of different" people.

Talk vs. Power

2011-04-28T08:47:00.000-10:00

"For the kingdom of God depends not on talk but on power."

(1 Corinthians 4:20)

I'm sure Paul was a bit frustrated. He had started the church in Corinth. It began well. Then somewhere down the line, after he left, it got off track. The letter he wrote to encourage them (and correct them) is the book of 1 Corinthians.

One of the criticisms he had was some in the church had become quite arrogant. Paul wanted to move beyond mere talk and get to the power of God at work. That's what we, as the church, need to be about, says Paul.

Too often we get sidetracked by "talk" within the church. Whether we're arguing over theology, denominationalism, or structure... the bigger issue should be how is God manifest in our ministry? What deeds of power & life transformation are present among us? Ultimately, people won't come to church because we've made the clearest argument. I take that back. Maybe people will initially be drawn to a church because of the "talk." But they'll only stay if God's power is manifest... if lives are changed and God is made known in our midst.

May we be known more for God's power than our words!

The CENTER

2011-04-21T17:10:00.000-10:00

"The tent of meeting, with the camp of the Levites, shall set out in the center of the camps; they shall set out just as they camp, each in position, by their regiments."

(Numbers 2:17)

One could make the case that the first two chapters of the book of Numbers are actually quite boring. Chapter one lists the census taken by the twelve tribes of Israel - tribe by tribe. Chapter two lists where each tribe was to set up camp: east, south, west or north. Oh joy.

But stuck in the middle (literally & figuratively) are the Levites. They are the one group that was not required to be counted in the census. They were in charge of the "tabernacle of the covenant" - the holy objects... the worship life of the community. When Moses set out the camping arrangements, the Levites were put in the middle, along with the Tent of Meeting (aka "worship space"). They even listed them in the middle of the assignments: tribes in the east... followed by tribes in the south... followed by the Levites in the middle... followed by the tribes in the west... followed by the tribes in the north. How organized!

So what, you say? Maybe it's nothing more than just a thorough list. Maybe their place in the middle is solely a move for their best protection. Maybe. Then again, maybe there's a deeper truth here. Maybe worship MUST be the center of our lives?! Maybe we should do more to "protect" our worship life... guarding our time spent with God and other believers in regular worship... rather than it simply being "something we do when we have the time."

How close to the center is worship to my life? Good question.

A Great Idea... never practiced!

2011-04-20T08:35:00.000-10:00

"The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine; with me you are but aliens & tenants."

(Leviticus 25:23)

It was called the Jubliee... and it was unprecedented! It originated in the concept of Sabbath rest. We were not made to be machines who work every day without stop. God knew we needed rest, so He gave us the Sabbath. One day of rest and rejuvenation. Our Jewish brothers & sisters have continued that tradition over the centuries (while many of us Christians often fall short of taking the time to rest that we truly need!).

Then God expanded the concept of Sabbath to the LAND. The land needed to rest, too. Nutrients needed to be replaced. Ground that lies fallow for a year yields greater harvests in the future. So every 7 years, God decrees, the land gets a Sabbath rest, too. You can eat whatever is produced, but don't "work the land" that 7th year. This, too, was practiced over the centuries.

But then came the JUBILEE. After 7 sets of 7 years (49 years total), God declared a GIANT SABBATH REST. In this 50th year, "You shall proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; you shall return, every one of you, to your property & everyone to your family" (Lev. 25:10). What a revolutionary decree! Everything and everyone is returned. Families who met hard times and had to sell their home to survive... get their home back! People who believed going into slavery was their only way out... are freed! What an amazing plan! It's all founded on the idea that ultimately, everything belongs to God. We are merely tenants & care-takers.

Historians tell us, however, that there is NO evidence that this Jubilee year was ever carried out. Not one record of one! Amazing. And sad. We humans have a hard time letting go of control, power, & ownership, don't we? Despite the fact that we've been given so much from above, we tighten the grip on our grubby little fists and refuse to let go. How sad. It truly was a great idea... never practiced.

Overlooked

2011-04-13T15:24:00.000-10:00

"While GOd has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead."

(Acts 17:30-31)

Paul is in Athens, speaking to an enthusiastic crowd eager to hear "something new." They are an extremely religious people, with tons of shrines all over the city. Paul capitalizes on this spiritual hunger, and tells them of Jesus. Amidst his teaching, he mentions that God has "overlooked times of human ignorance" in the past, before calling all to repentance.

I love that phrase. TIMES OF HUMAN IGNORANCE. How true! We've all had them, haven't we? Whether it be ignorance about God, current events, things happening in the lives of those closest to us, etc. Even John Wesley, the great English pastor, theologian, and the founder of Methodism, commented on how we, as humans, are wrong about some things and ignorant about much! What a blessing that God can overlook that in our lives.

Nevertheless, He calls us to repentance. We cannot stay ignorant forever. Jesus came to make it easy to know God and God's love. It's a love that demands a response. Let us not overlook that opportunity!

no "knock-offs"

2011-04-05T16:39:00.000-10:00

"You shall say to the Israelites, 'This shall be my holy anointing oil... it shall not be used in any ordinary anointing of the body, and you shall make no other like it in composition..."

(Exodus 30:31-32)

God gives Moses the precise mix/recipe for the most sacred anointing oil to be used in the temple by the priests (note: it involved liquid myrrh, cinnamon, aromatic cane, cassia, and olive oil). Later, God gives the mix/recipe for powdered incense, too. In both cases, God stipulates that the people are NOT to attempt to reproduce it for any other purpose than worship. In fact, those who do, shall be "cut off from the people!"

We live in a copy-cat society. Designer clothing, shoes, handbags, accessories, etc. are purchased by the wealthy... and somewhere in Asia, knock-off versions are being created & sold worldwide. It's a huge (and illegal) industry. Why was God so quick to stipulate against it?

History has shown that we humans are so hungry for spiritual blessings, we'll often do/try anything. "Holy relics" were a hit during the Middle Ages ("Hey, buddy... want to buy a piece of the cross Jesus was crucified on?!? It'll bring you power!"). We love to wear our crosses on our necks & put the fish stickers on our cars, today. Could it be that God knew we'd try to exploit/use the holy oil & incense for our own purposes? That what was meant to honor God IN WORSHIP would soon become a personal "spiritual shield" we'd wield, will-nilly?

Some things are best left alone. There are no "generic" brand spiritual short-cuts. No knocks-offs en route to the Kingdom of God. But that's hard for us to hear, isn't it? We're not used to waiting.

"Lord, make me patient. Help me wait for Your timing & plan with my life. I don't want to rush or take a short-cut for the route You have for me. AMEN."

Idol Plans

2011-04-05T16:02:00.000-10:00

[From 3/31/11]

"You shall not make for yourselves an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth."

(Exodus 20:4)

The people have been through a lot. Oppressive slavery in Egypt. Signs & Wonders by God (aka "Ten Plagues!"). Passover & release. Rejoicing turns to panic as the Egyptians attack. God's salvation (again!) through the Red Sea. And now God comes to speak to them as a group (cute thunder & lightning & earthquakes!). God has set his indelible mark on this people, and now he's ready to lay down the ground rules for their relationships (with Him and with each other).

One of the early commandments God gives in Exodus 20 has come to be known as the "NO IDOLS" clause. the people weren't to make any images, statues, carvings, etc. trying to re-present God. No bulls, eagles, sheep, camels, etc. Nothing to resemble any creature on, above or below the earth.

Author & pastor Rob Bell has an interesting insight on this. He remarks that instead of images of wood or stone, God will use the lives of His people to show the world who He is. I like that. Of course, it adds a bit of pressure to us, too. We must live in such a way that others come to see the Almighty. And that's no idol plan!

Keep Still

2011-04-05T15:56:00.000-10:00

[FROM 3/30/11]

"But Moses said to the people, 'Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the LORD will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall never see again. The LORD will fight for you, and you only have to keep still."

(Exodus 14:13-14)

The Hebrew people have been freed (finally!) from slavery in Egypt. God has done an amazing thing in their midst and set them free. Now the Egyptians are reconsidering their actions. They'll soon pursue & attack the Hebrews. But God knows this. And God has a plan. The people can't see it, of course. Fear clouds their eyes and hearts. Major fear! Crippling fear.

But God (through Moses) calms the people. "Don't be afraid. Stand firm. See the deliverance..." Even though the powerful Egyptian army is fast approaching, God is in control. And here's the great battle plan of the Lord: "The LORD will fight for you, and you only have to keep still" (v.14).

We are a busy people, aren't we? Things to do... places to go... people to see... projects to complete. We're frequently "on the move." Sometimes, however, we're too busy for our own good. Psalm 46:10 reminds us to "Be still, and know that I am God." It may be that what we need most is to simply be still, and let God do "the fighting" for us.

Keep still.

Prayer TIME

2011-03-29T14:12:00.000-10:00

"One day Peter & John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon..."

(Acts 3:1)

Aiea UMC has Sunday worship at 8am and 9:30am. Other congregations worship a bit later in the morning. Some even worship on Friday nights, Saturday nights, Sunday nights & Wednesday nights. There's no uniform worship/prayer time in Christendom (unlike our Muslim brothers & sisters).

So it has always intrigued me whenever I read Acts 3, as Peter & John head to the temple "at the hour of prayer, at 3 o'clock." Was that just the time of services that day or every day?

My Oxford Study Bible notes two scripture passages: Exodus 29:39 and Leviticus 6:20... saying it was the time of day sacrifices were offered with prayer (it also lists Jewish historian, Josephus, as confirming this practice). I look up the passages and they both talk about 2 times of sacrifice each day: once in the morning & once in the evening. So 3pm must have been the "evening" service.

But then I was drawn to another passage... Matthew 27:46 - "And about 3 o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, 'Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?'" That quote of Psalm 22 was uttered by Jesus while on the cross... just moments before he died. Is it a coincidence that the "Lamb of God" gave up his life as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity precisely during the afternoon "hour of prayer/sacrifice" in the Jewish community? I don't think so.

Did this become a "teaching point" for the early church? I'm not sure But it's another reminder to me of God's completeness. God used the Jewish worship service time table to make the ultimate sacrifice. Jesus' words, " didn't come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it" gain even greater meaning.

Wow.

(Guess what I'll be doing at 3pm today? Offering up a prayer of Thanksgiving. It is the hour of prayer, you know!)

Influencing the Present...

2011-03-23T08:45:00.000-10:00

"Joseph said to his father, 'No so, my Father! Since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.' But (Jacob) refused, and said, 'I know, my son, I know; he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.'"

(Genesis 48:18-19)

Jacob (the Trickster) is nearing the end of his life. He and his 11 sons have been reunited with Joseph - the son who'd he assumed was dead (but was actually sold off into slavery by his other brothers). Joseph had, by the grace of God, become a very powerful man in Egypt, and was able to provide for his entire family during a severe drought. Now he brings his two sons to Jacob for a blessing.

Jacob, of course, is the subject of the other "memorable" blessing story in Genesis - for he is the one who tricked his father, Isaac, into giving him the blessing that was supposed to be for his older brother, Esau. Now with his grandsons before him, Jacob does the very same thing - gives a greater blessing to the younger! When Joseph protests, Jacob tells him that he knows what he's doing.

Does Jacob see something in his grandson, Ephraim (the younger) that he doesn't see in Manasseh (the older), which will lead to greatness? Or is Jacob still a champion of "younger brothers," whomever they may be? It's hard to say. But it's clear that Jacob's past continues to influence his present.

What even from YOUR PAST (positive or negative) continues to influence your present? Have you given it to God to become a blessing in your life & others' yet? God can take anything you've gone through and use it for good... the question is, will we let Him?

(Not so) choice pick!

2011-03-10T09:43:00.000-10:00

"Lot looked about him, and saw that the plain of the Jordan was well-watered everywhere like the garden of the LORD... so Lot chose for himself all the plain of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward."

(Genesis 13:10-11)

God calls Abe at the ripe young age of 75. "Go to the land that I will show you," God says. So Abe goes. He takes his beloved bride, Sarai (age 60), and his nephew, Lot. Both men had more than their share of livestock and workers. Too much, actually, to get along together. So Abe gives his nephew first pick of the new land. "Chose one side and I'll take the other. No questions asked."

Lot, probably in his mid-40's to early-50's, was no dummy. He quickly assessed the situation, saw the fertile plains to the east, and made his decision. Real estate investors would have applauded his choice ("It's all about location, location, location!"). Lot took the "better land." Or so it seemed.

There was one problem, however... the better land housed some very "unsavory" characters. You see, the cities of Sodom & Gomorrah were in the east. Although Lot didn't know it at the time, his entire life would be devastated by his "choice pick." The Bible tells us that God would eventually destroy those two cities because of their rampant, vile, & incessant sin.

So what's the "moral" of the story today? Choose wisely? Maybe. Don't pick "Sin City"? Possibly. But it could be even simpler than that. Looks can be deceiving. What appears at first to be "a sure thing" may actually have deeper issues at work. Maybe we shouldn't be so quick to choose what WE THINK will be the best for us... and instead, seek God's direction & guidance in our lives. God may know (quite a bit) more than we.

Bum Rap

2011-03-07T08:58:00.000-10:00

"At the end of 40 days Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made & sent out the raven; and it went to and fro until the waters were dried up from the earth."

(Genesis 8:6-7)

Perception is often reality. Consider the raven in the story of Noah's Ark. Anyone with a cursory familiarity of the story remembers two birds: the raven & the dove. One bird has come be to known as a hero, the other a goat (figuratively speaking, of course). One became a symbol of purity & peace, the other a pest. One returned to Noah, one didn't. One brought back reconnaissance intel, the other was selfish. At least... that's the perception, isn't it?

But is the raven getting a fair shake in this story (or our understanding of it)? It was, indeed, the first bird released by Noah after the flood. It flew & flew & flew... until it eventually found a place to land. That's all we know about it.

The dove, on the other hand, gets much more press. It is sent out (some non-descript time after the raven)... cannot find a place to land... and subsequently returns to the ark. I sit really more loyal to Noah than the raven? Or just not as physically fit? Maybe doves aren't strong endurance fliers? Well, a week later it gets sent back out... and this time returns with an olive branch (oops, no, it's a LEAF!). A week later, Expedition III is launched... and this time the dove NEVER returns.

Now maybe Noah briefed the dove prior to each expedition, explaining in "dove-talk" what was expected (bring me a branch/leaf, scout us out a new home, go on your merry way, etc.). But I doubt it (Dr. Doolittle is not a biblical story). More likely, the dove was just acting like any other bird. Just like the raven, the dove eventually flew away when it had the chance. Because that's what birds do.

Why blog about this? (Good question) I think I was reminded this morning that there are always 2 sides to every story (or reputation!). And a person's (or creature's) rep may or may not be reality. I should take the time to get to know for myself... then form an opinion.

(And how about a shoutout to all those misunderstood ravens out there today!?!?)

IS first (not second)

2011-02-28T08:54:00.000-10:00

"'I am the Alpha & the Omega,' says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

(Revelation 1:8)

I was a bit taken aback this morning when I started reading Revelation and came across an expression I thought I knew well. God is introducing himself as "the Alpha and the Omega" (the first & last letters in the Greek alphabet)... and then says "who was and is and is to come." (I've always liked that statement!) Only, that's not exactly what God said. That's what I've always said about God. But what God actually said was, "who is and was and is to come." (Did you notice the difference? No? Read it again.)

("You're telling me, Jim, that you're getting all worked up over the ORDER of the words? Seriously? That's the best you could do today?!?!") Okay, stay with me here... When God first introduces himself, he says he IS... as in PRESENT TENSE. First and foremost, our God is a LIVING GOD - not one who is known primarily as a "used-to-be" God or a "God of the Past." GOD IS. Then God adds the "was and is to come" part.

So why did I "mis-remember" that phrase? It was bothering me that I'd said it wrong for so long... until I came to chapter 4. The author (John of Patmos) gets transported to heaven (via vision?!) and sees the throne of God. All kinds of funky things are going on there - including "Four Living Creatures" who sing praises to God, 24/7! Their song comes from Isaiah 6: "Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God Almighty..." But they add something else: "who was, and is, and is to come."

THERE IT IS! That's where I learned it! I've been remembering the 4 Creatures' phrasing! ("Again, Jim... I think you're reading way to much into this than there actually is!"). Maybe you're right. Maybe it's just an inadvertent switch in the sentence structure. But maybe not. Maybe these 4 Living Creatures think in terms of what God has already done, first... whereas God is focusing on the present... on what He's doing NOW... active & alive & involved in all Creation.

So what difference does it make? I want to be someone who thinks of God first in the present, not the past. I believe God is alive, concerned, and active in the world today! I don't want to give my life to mere history (no matter how powerful that history may be!). I want to submit my will to the One who IS, and was, and is to come. So be it. AMEN!

"What about him???"

2011-02-25T08:47:00.000-10:00

"When Peter saw (the disciple), he said to Jesus, 'Lord, what about him?' Jesus said to him, 'If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!'"

(John 21:21-22)

It must have been bittersweet. Peter, who had denied & abandoned Jesus when he needed it most, had just been forgiven & restored by the Master. The Risen Christ had come to Peter and the disciples while they were fishing. He'd given them a few fishing tips (extremely effective, as always!), BBQ'd breakfast for them on the beach, and had a heart-to-heart with Peter. Powerful! But Jesus also told Peter he would (eventually) die in his service of God. So it's only natural that Peter might point to his buddy sitting next to him and ask Jesus about his future (v.21): "Lord, what about him?"

We love comparisons, don't we? We have top 10 lists "out the wazoo." We rank anything & everything, from caffeinated beverages to sports teams to music. We analyze... size up... examine things side to side, etc. Even (especially!?) people. How do we compare with him/her/them?

But Jesus cuts this off quickly. He tells Peter not to worry about it. Peter's job is simple: "Follow me!" Jesus says. Period. Don't waste time & energy comparing myself to anyone else. Follow Jesus. Focus on how he's called me to live out my faith. My faith. No one else's. Sounds kinda simple, doesn't it? (Yah, I know... I would have asked the same question Peter did, too.)

Of Tangerines & Grapes...

2011-02-24T09:00:00.000-10:00

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you."

(John 15:1-3)

Uncle Dennis is a farmer. He has an orchard of all kinds of fruit trees on the Big Island. He took me through it a while back. He introduced me to fruit I'd never even heard of (loquats?!?) and told me his secret for his "sweetest tangerines in Hilo" moniker: pruning! "I prune off more tangerines in my orchard than most people have on their trees!" He said he likes to keep his fruit on the "outside" of the trees - where each can be facing the direct sunlight at some point during the day. His pruning techniques work amazingly well, too! (Though I admit it was strange to see potential fruit "wasted." He reminded me it's not wasting, but pruning in order to maximize the harvest quality!)

Jesus uses the same imagery to talk about our relationship with God - but with grapes & vines, not tangerines & trees! Branches that don't bear fruit get cut off... branches WITH FRUIT get pruned in order to "maximize the harvest quality." How does God "prune" us? Through life circumstances? Sometimes. Through relationships with others? Of course. But the word Jesus uses for "prune" in verse 3 has the same root for the word "cleansing," which is also used later in that sentence. So were pruned/cleansed by "the word that I have spoken to you." Jesus' words. Jesus' instructions. His stories, parables, teachings, actions & endeavors from the Gospels should be our "pruning shears." Things in our lives that are generally going well (fruit) need to be pruned by Jesus' life & teachings, so we can be even better!

But don't just take my (and Jesus') word for it... Uncle Dennis will back us up, too!

tough LOVE

2011-02-23T08:21:00.000-10:00

"Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end."

(John 13:1)

How challenging was it for Jesus to love all his disciples. He only had a dozen. Still... On the one hand, HE was the one who originally chose them. He'd worked with them closely for 3 years. They'd been through a lot together. On the other hand, they frequently "didn't get it." They had a hard time grasping (sometimes significant) pieces of his message & ministry. Still, he loved them. Sincerely.

Near the end of his life, Jesus was gathered with his disciples. He was imparting his final words & instructions to them. He knew Judas was about to betray him, which would start in motion a series of painful (and costly) events. Nevertheless, Jesus loved him too.

There are moments in any leader's life when s/he is in a similar position. To love those given to him/her to lead. Even when they don't "get it." Even when they repeatedly challenge & question. Even when they don't seem to be on the same page as the rest of the team.

Jesus... loved... them... to... the... end.

Jesus... loves... me... to... the... end.

May I have the courage & strength to do the same.

Remember!

2011-02-18T09:28:00.000-10:00

"For anyone who lacks these things is nearsighted and blind, and is forgetful of the cleansing of past sins."

(2 Peter 1:9)

There's a wonderful passage in the first chapter of 2 Peter that encourages the believers to "support their faith" with goodness, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness, mutual affection, and love. The author comments that these attributes should be INCREASING among us, so we'll be kept from being unfruitful & ineffective. It's a beautifully written section of Scripture.

Then the author says that if you don't find these attributes (increasing!) in your life, then there's a good chance you're being "forgetful of the cleansing of past sins." How pointed. All have sinned. Many (most?!?) of our sins have been forgiven (if we've repented). We love the phrase "forgive & forget." However, maybe we should adjust that phrase a bit. It's good to "forget" when you're the one granting forgiveness... but when you're the one BEING FORGIVEN, it's best to remember! Remember the forgiveness. Remember the grace. Remember how you've been freed from your past. That should trigger a chain reaction of goodness, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness, mutual affection, and love!

The Shepherd & Guardian of Our Souls

2011-02-17T08:55:00.000-10:00

"For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd & guardian of your souls."

(1 Peter 2:25)

This has long been a favorite verse of mine... primarily because of the beautiful phrase used to describe Jesus... The Shepherd & Guardian of Your Souls. But this morning I spent a bit of time reflecting on the truth & reality of that name.

Few Christians will argue with the designation of sheep & Shepherd when describing us and God. It's an honor to be "one of the flock." (Though just about every place else, to be seen as a "sheep" is a negative connotation - 'Don't be one of the (mindless) sheep.') But despite this designation, we often act like WE are the Shepherd & Guardian of our own souls. We want to have control of our own lives (physical & spiritual). We have a hard time with submission (especially to God).

The funny part is, sheep don't do well on their own. They are prone to wander & stray! Which gets them in trouble quickly. They weren't made to be "lone rangers," prowling the countryside alone. They need a community (flock/church) and Shepherd (God) to care for & protect them. They flourish when they submit to that authority.

As a wayward sheep, may I remember that truth. May I completely submit to The Shepherd & Guardian of My Soul!

Timothy & Tahir Square

2011-02-11T09:14:00.000-10:00

"I solemly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching."

(2 Timothy 4:1b-2)

There is great rejoicing in Egypt today. Mubarak has stepped down. 18 days of protest by many young people in the streets of Cairo & Tahir Square have been rewarded. They proclaimed their message - consistently! The world listened. The government of Egypt listened (at least the military listened). Change has occurred.

Paul is writing to Timothy with similar encouragement: "PROCLAIM THE MESSAGE!" In good times and bad, Paul says, stay on point... proclaim the message!

Of course Paul's message and the Cairo protesters' message are quite different. They wanted their leader out of office after 30 years of rule. Paul's message is actually our message: That God's great love for us brought Jesus... who lived, died & rose that we might be united with God forever. Grace, forgiveness, new life & hope abounds for us all! (That's basically the message.)

How often, however, do we (in the Church) get caught up in "institutional maintenance"? Eager to take care of our buildings, make our budgets, plan our events, and maintain the day-to-day operations? It's easy to lose sight of "The Message" if we're not careful. Instead of being an ends themselves, each of those areas should merely be components of the means by which we carry out proclaiming The Message.

May we be persistent in our proclamation... so others may come to know and experience God's amazing, transformational love!

The Trifecta

2011-02-10T09:03:00.000-10:00

"Likewise, urge younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, gravity, and sound speech that cannot be censured..."

(Titus 2:6-8)

I still think of myself as a "younger man." Despite being 43, I don't' really feel "older." So when I was reading the book of Titus today, and they list 5 groups of people (older men, older women, young women, younger men, & slaves), I identified with the "younger men" (I think the -er ending helps a lot!).

The author instructs us younger men to be self-controlled, to model good works, and to teach in such a way that one's opponents can't find any faults. He gives 3 tenants of teaching as guidelines: INTEGRITY, GRAVITY, & SOUND SPEECH. As a 'younger man' who teaches on a regular basis, this caused me to reflect...

Integrity... May what I say reflect who I am, what I believe, and how I live...
Gravity... May I speak about things that actually matter in people's lives... that have depth & relevance.
Sound Speech... May my words be clear, grounded, easy to understand, and true.

Simple in concept. Difficult to live out. Crucial for ministry.
May it be so with me.
AMEN.

"Single Deity Seeking Intimacy..."

2011-02-03T08:49:00.000-10:00

"Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, 'I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.' But of Israel he says, 'All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient & contrary people.'"

(Romans 10:20-21)

Paul, who grew up a strict & devout Jew, is writing about his longing for his own people to come to embrace Jesus. He still believes they are God's "chosen people," but recognizes the mission has also expanded to the Gentiles (something that devout Jews find incredulous). Nevertheless, he has a firm hope that God will still redeem His people, though they've strayed.

The fact that God's mission has expanded is not surprising to Paul. He cites Isaiah who wrote that God would be found "by those who did not seek me." I love thinking about that in today's context. God isn't spending all His time hanging out in churches, waiting for people to come to Him. He's actively engaged in the lives of people all over the world - reaching out to them, even when they haven't (yet) expressed any interest in God!

Along that same vein, Paul cites another passage from Isaiah... where God laments that He's been holding out his open hands to many of us who call ourselves "believers," yet we've ignored or dismissed him. Why? It's an age-old question. One that is couched in our sinful humanity. Forgive us for ignoring you, Lord. Forgive me. Open me up to embrace you fully. Your outstretched arms are wide enough for so many! Let me take nothing for granted.

Things that Stick

2011-02-02T08:52:00.000-10:00

"For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

(Romans 8:38-39)

I've recently taking up painting. Oil painting. We have a painting passion group at church and I love it! It's fueling my creativity and need for artistic expression. But I've learned something (actually, I've learned a LOT of 'somethings' through painting, but today I'll just mention one): once on your skin (or anything), oil paint is really hard to get off! The pigment in oil paint sticks like few things else. For days (weeks?) after a painting day, my fingers bear the marks of my passion.

In one of the more well-known passages from the Book of Romans, Paul lists something that sticks even more than oil paint: THE LOVE OF GOD! In fact, Paul says there's NOTHING in ALL of Creation that can take away God's love in us through Christ Jesus. Nothing. Not government intervention... nor natural disasters (shout out to all those in the wake of wintry weather today!)... or religious bureaucrats... or spiritual forces of wickedness... or even our own foolishness & sin. Nothing! Once we give our heart to God, we're stuck with God's amazing love. Our souls bear the marks of Christ's passion. Forever. (Amen to that!)

For ALL of us in ministry...

2011-01-31T11:13:00.000-10:00

"To this end we always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of his call and will fulfill by his power every good resolve and work of faith, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."

(2 Thessalonians 1:11-12)

I know the author of 2 Thessalonians was writing to an entire church community. There are many words of encouragement, admonition and challenge. But these two verses (2 Thess.1:11-12) could easily be a prayer for all of us int he full-time ordained ministry.

Some of the parts that struck me this morning:

"...we always pray for you..." The gift (and privilege) of regular prayer. Wow! (Lord, help me be more consistent here).
"...that God will make you worthy of his call..." We humans screw up all the time and clergy are no exception. Actually we often draw more attention when we sin, and rightly so, as we re-present God and the church. To borrow a phrase from Wayne's World, "We're not worthy!!!" And yet, we're called to strive for excellence in all we do (especially with morality). SO this is a wonderful plea for all of us - to be made worthy of God's call on our lives... not by our own goodness, but by God's grace.
"...will fulfill by his power every good resolve and work of faith..." Being persons in full-time ministry, we usually have a lot of projects going on. We need God's power & strength to accomplish it. The 'good resolves' and 'works of faith' will fall short if we try to d it all by ourselves. May God's power, instead, accomplish what needs to be done through us!
"...so that the name of Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him..." Bottom line: Jesus gets the glory. Period. It's not about us, no matter how awesome we may be :)' Are we bringing glory to God through all we do?

I have decided to copy this scripture verse and place it in my "prayer area," so I can remember to pray for ALL of you - my brothers and sisters in ministry. May God do all of this, all the time, in and through you!

More than simply "Awesome!"

2011-01-24T09:10:00.000-10:00

"Then (Jesus) began to reproach the cities in which most of his deeds of power had been done, because they did not repent."

(Matthew 11:20)

"Deeds of power." That's what he called them. Opportunities to display God's amazing glory. Healing the sick... curing the blind, lame, deaf, mute... casting out demons... walking on water... feeding the multitudes... even raising the dead! They must have been incredible to witness. The crowds would have been electrified!

Had we been there, our response probably would have been one of wonder & amazement: "Awesome! Did you see that!?!? Wonderful!" We may have told others about it... journaled about it... or even alerted the media. Heck, on a good day, we may have even offered up a silent prayer of thanks to God. But that wasn't Jesus' intent.

According to Matthew 11:20, the goal of Jesus' deeds of power was to lead people to repentance. Not to impress us... or exalt him... or provide a topic of conversation in the workplace. No. It was to lead us to repent. I wonder how many deeds of power I've witnessed over the course of my lifetime, and simply exclaimed, "Awesome!" How many opportunities for repentance have I let slip by?

Fix THIS!

2011-01-21T08:38:00.000-10:00

"... (Mary) will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."

(Matthew 1:21)

(Fill in the blank) "What this country so desperately needs fixed right now is __________________!" It's a statement that can be answered in so many different ways: the economy, education, homelessness, the environment, immigration, political gridlock, healthcare, racism, drug addiction/trafficking, mental illness, elder care, gang violence, corruption, etc. The list could go on and on. It's easy to think of words to fill in the blank, isn't it?

I'm sure the people in Jesus' day could have done the very same thing. Their list would have been different, but surely they could have done it, too. It probably had "Get rid of the Romans" near the top of the list. Then maybe something about the influence of foreign religions on their own worship practices. And possibly something about the numerous sick, diseased & unclean people in their midst. They, too, had a lot of problems that needed to be fixed.

It's interesting, however, when the angel comes to Joseph to tell him about the impending birth of Jesus... that he specifically says Jesus would "save his people from THEIR SINS!" Think about that for a moment. To me, that means the one word we need to fill in the blank with is... "me."

What this country so desperately needs fixed right now is ME.

Instead of looking around at all the things I think are so messed up in this state/country/world, I need to be looking inward at my own heart & life. But there is good news, friends! There is hope! There is forgiveness! There is healing & restoration! Because there is Jesus! (Have you spent time with him today?)

My inability to pick up the blitz...

2011-01-20T08:58:00.000-10:00

"...But (God) said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.' So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me."

(2 Corinthians 12:9)

It's so counter-intuitive. Bragging about one's weaknesses. It just doesn't happen.

We're in the midst of the NFL (National Football League) playoffs here in the US. Player after player is touting his own prowess or his team's superiority. It's relentless. But I've yet to hear someone say...

"You know, I have a really hard time covering WR's when they go deep. I'm just not quick enough." OR...
"As an offensive lineman, my pass blocking is really suspect." OR...
"On passing downs, I'm a real liability to this team, since I have serious problems picking up the blitz!" OR...
"I'm just not that accurate a passer when opposing teams put pressure on me."

No... professional athletes never boast about their weaknesses (though you can guarantee opposing coaches have watched enough game film to know exactly what those weaknesses are!).

But Paul encourages us to do so in 2 Corinthians 12:9. Why? Mock humility? Of course not. He knows it's not about him, and all about Christ. His weakness provides a wonderful opportunity for GOd to show His power. It's not about us! So let us offer up our weaknesses to the One who can do all things (even pick up the blitz!).

What's seen... and what's not seen

2011-01-18T10:35:00.000-10:00

"So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we we look not at what can be seen, but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal."

(2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Nana is dying. Literally. Hospice workers say it will be any day now. She has a form of ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). She's had it for a while... but only in the last 4+ weeks has it really taken its toll on her. As her pastor, I've been by to see her at home many times in these 4+ weeks. Each time she's been more and more weak. Her body is wasting away. it's hard to see, knowing what a vibrant woman of faith she has been.

In his 2nd letter to the church in Corinth, Paul could very well have been talking about Nana. If you'd only had the chance to meet her these past 2 months or so, you'd probably call it a tragedy. But if you've known her longer, like I have, you've come to know the love & hope in her heart. You'd have seen the deep & abiding faith she has. You'd know the condition her body is right now in now way reflects the eternal condition of her soul. A soul which will soon be spending eternity with the Author & Creator of all Life. Thanks be to God for that truth. AMEN.

(It's not what you think!)

2011-01-18T10:29:00.000-10:00

[From 1/13/11]

"Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the body & blood of the Lord."

(1 Corinthians 11:27)

If you've grown up in and around churches most of your life, you've probably heard the admonition to avoid taking Holy Communion "in an unworthy manner." Usually, the implication is you're not to receive the bread & cup if there's any SIN in your life. Don't come forward if all is not right between you and God. It seems logical at first glance, doesn't it? But I don't think this is what it means (at least, not after reading ALL of 1 Corinthians 11).

Beginning at verse 17, Paul begins to address a growing problem in the Corinthian church. It seems people are using Holy Communion as a MEAL. Not a "spiritual meal," to be "fed" by the grace of God (which it is)... but a literal meal! They're taking dinner-sized portions of bread & drinking enough wine to get drunk! (Can you just imagine staying up at the Communion Table for seconds, thirds, etc... until one is drunk!) I love how Paul sticks it to them in verse 22: "What! Do you not have homes to eat and drink in?"

This is the "unworthy manner" he speaks of in v.27. Not the condition of your heart (all of our hearts are in need of God's grace!)... but the condition of your stomach! So come one and come all to the Table of the Lord! Experience God's forgiving grace & mercy... (just eat at home first!).

The Search

2011-01-07T08:33:00.000-10:00

"But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? Mortals do not know the way to it, and it's not found in the land of the living."

(Job 28:12-13)

Humankind has done an amazing job of mining precious stones & metals from the hidden recesses of this world. Silver, gold, iron & copper... onyx, sapphires, coral, crystal, glass & pearls. They each are substances of worth in our world. Part of their value is the effort it takes to mine and process them. Job 28 knows this and does a fine job of communicating this truth.

But what's of even greater value than any of these precious stones or metals? WISDOM. It may not seem like it - especially in a society where the acquisition of wealth seems to be such a priority. But Job knows the deep truth of God: wisdom is to be valued above all!

The challenge, then, is to find wisdom. The Search! We scour the earth for stones & metals... yet seem to care less about seeking wisdom. Strange, isn't it? God knows how to get wisdom (see Job 28:23!). We're called to seek the LORD... to "fear" Him (though I prefer the words 'respect,' 'revere,' or 'be in awe of,' personally).

Gee... maybe wisdom should have been on my Christmas wish list?!?
New Year's resolution, maybe!?!

Both great & small...

2010-12-29T10:10:00.000-10:00

"To this day I have had help from God, and so I stand here, testifying to both small & great..."

(Acts 26:22)

Paul is imprisoned and needing to state his case before rulers. He's reiterated his story numerous times to different authorities. Now, before King Agrippa, Paul goes into a bit more detail about his mission & ministry. Among the things he says comes this little tidbit from Acts 26:22... a simple statement that he testifies to God's help - "both great & small."

It's easy to testify to and give thanks for the BIG THINGS that God does... recovery from a major illness, healing of relationships, protection during an accident, etc. But how often do we testify to the little things God does in our lives? Those things that others might classify (or dismiss!) as "random," or "insignificant," or "mundane"? It's different if we are looking for them through GRATEFUL EYES!

Prayer: Lord, help me to see the little things you do in my life... and when I do, to give thanks and tell someone about You! For you are my Help and my Fortress! AMEN.

...AND FASTING

2010-12-23T10:04:00.000-10:00

"While they were worshipping the LORD and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas & Saul for the work to which I have called them.'"

(Acts 13:2)

There were 5 of them. Luke describes them as "prophets & teachers." I'm sure they were also friends. Were they a regular "small group" who'd gather together, or was this a one time thing? I'm not sure. But they were worshipping together "...and fasting."

"...AND FASTING" isn't something you hear much about anymore these days. In this world of fast-food, take-out menus, and snack-sized easy-to-carry treats, we in the US have an obscene amount of food available to us. Sure, there are some folks who struggle financially, so are not able to access that food like the rest of us. But for the most part, we can eat anytime we desire.

That's why fasting seems so foreign. Jesus taught that we "do not live by bread alone," but we've been weary to embrace that truth. Some have continued the ancient art of fasting (as a spiritual discipline), but the rest of us seem too reluctant to give up our appetites (or at least put them on hold for a bit!).

And yet, could it be that God speaks more when we're living sacrifically? Our passage today from Acts 13 seems to indicate so. Fasting (if even for a meal or two) opens our spirit to receive more of God's grace & communication. Maybe this is a "gift" I can give myself this Christmas Season... sacrificing a meal (or two) to spend time seeking a word from the Lord.

Want to join me?

"Awake, my soul!"

2010-12-21T09:13:00.000-10:00

"Awake, my soul!"

(Psalm 108:1)

I've become a big fan of MUMFORD & SONS recently. This group from the UK has a very compelling sound... but with even more compelling lyrics! Their project, "Sigh No More" is an amazing album. One of the songs on that recording is called "AWAKE MY SOUL."

The song starts rather choppy & syncopated, reflecting the inner condition of a person who is troubled, conflicted & uneasy. The chorus changes, however. It's grand, sweeping & uplifting. "Awake, my soul! Awake, my soul! Awake, my soul! You were made to meet your maker. You were made to meet your maker."

Usually we think of the phrase "meeting your maker" as an expression of death. But I see it in this song as an expression of LIFE! We were made to be alive... to life, love, and to God! Too often we're content to "get by" or "cruise" through life... sort of like autopilot. We need to be reminded that our souls need to be awakened.

So when I read Psalm 108 today in my devotions, these three simple words wrapped their hands around my heart: 'AWAKE MY SOUL!' I need to hear that. I'm guessing you might, too.

There's one other line from Mumford & Sons' song that I wanted to share. "In these bodies we live, in these bodies we die / Where you invest your love, you invest your life." May we invest in the One who Created, Redeemed, and Sustains us! Awake, my soul!!! AMEN.

Credit

2010-12-16T09:18:00.000-10:00

"When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, 'You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk?'"

(Acts 3:12)

Peter & John are on their way inside the temple and they see a lame beggar. They offer him healing in Jesus' name, and he is healed! He then follows them inside, praising God. It causes quite a stir (as you could well imagine), because everyone knows this guy from passing him all the time! Peter uses the attention to preach. He begins by making sure God gets the credit. "Why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we made him well?"

How humble & insightful. It's not our power, but God's! And we're not "all that and a bag of chips," either. We're not "holier-than-thou." We're not super-believers. It's all God. It's all Jesus. We're just the instruments God chooses to use.

We pastors have a lot to learn form this (and it's not that we can heal like Peter & John, if only we'll have enough faith). I think it's human nature to want to take credit for all the good stuff we're a part of. But really, it's all God. Seriously. I'll try to do a better job of giving credit where credit is due!

Simple Gifts

2010-12-16T09:12:00.001-10:00

[From 12/15/10]

"40 years you sustained them in the wilderness so that they lacked nothing; their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell."

(Nehemiah 9:21)

Ezra is recounting God's saving history - from the beginning of creation to the present. When he gets to the Exodus story he makes an interesting insight. Most recall the plagues, crossing the Red Sea, the pillars of fire & cloud, and manna. But Ezra adds one more blessing: "their clothes didn't wear out and their feet didn't swell." What an odd thing to say. Why even mention it?

My wife tells me how frustrating (and painful!) it is when her feet swell (on airplanes or after a long day's work). All she wants to do is kick off her shoes and get a foot massage. With all the wandering the Israelites did in the wilderness (40 years worth!), it should have led to much "feet swelling." But it didn't. God gave them a simple gift.

We have 24-hour stores like Wal-Mart today, should we ever need something. We order off the internet anytime we feel like it. We shop the "after-Christmas sales." It's no big deal when our clothes wear out. The same thing could not be said for the Israelites in the wilderness. God's simple gift of clothes that didn't need replacing was a gift of grace!

What "simple gifts" have God given you lately that you need to give thanks for?

Bad advice... ignored!

2010-12-13T16:32:00.000-10:00

"Then I sent to him, saying, 'No such things as you say have been done; you are inventing them out of your mind" - for they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, 'Their hands will drop from work, and it will not be done.' But now, O God, strengthen my hands."

(Nehemiah 6:6-8)

Nehemiah is coordinating the Jerusalem wall rebuilding project, and it's going great! Word spreads. People outside Israel get worried. Some send a deceitful letter asking to meet somewhere. Nehemiah sees through it and politely declines. Three more times they asked to meet with him. Three more times he refuses. Then they send a letter saying they're about to report to the king of Babylon Nehemiah's plan to rebel from his rule, and appoint himself king! But they'd be open to "discuss the matter" before alerting the King. Nehemiah knew it was another ploy to deceive. He again declines. Finally, when visiting a "prophet" in Israel, he's told that his life is in grave danger. He was told to flee to the inner sanctuary in the Temple for protection. He did not. He knew that was the wrong thing to do, no matter how serious things were (only priests were allowed to go into the inner sanctuary in the Temple!). It was another attempt to get to Nehemiah. Through it all, Nehemiah asked for God's strength.

Talk about opposition. Nehemiah did a great job of staying focused on his God-given task without being discouraged or side tracked. He was polite but firm. He was wise. We can learn from his example - especially those of us in positions of leadership. Sometimes there's a fine line between being open to constructive criticism, and being easily manipulated. Beware of bad advice couched in "helpful" advice. Through it all, God can be the anchor for us to hold on to. We need to ask for God's wisdom & discernment...

Heart Set

2010-12-10T09:30:00.000-10:00

[From 12/9/10]

"For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach the statues & ordinances in Israel."

(Ezra 7:10)

There's ambition... desires... and having goals in life.
There's drive... aspirations... and a plan for one's future.
And then there's the instances when that coincides with God's will & purpose for one's life.
Such was the case for Ezra.

Ezra was an Israelite who grew up in Babylon. His family was part of the "exile" group - the best & brightest who had been taken away from Israel when the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem. For two generations these Hebrews lived in a foreign land. Then one day, the new King (Artaxerxes) decided to let a remnant return home. Ezra was to lead the group. He had the King's full blessing.

The author tells us that Ezra had "set his heart to study the law of the LORD..." and to live it out & teach it, too! God must have given him that desire, for it proved to be just what the people of Israel needed! His return to Jerusalem helped revive the Temple & got worship started again in earnest.

What a gift it is to have it in your heart to do something that God created you to do... whether it's teach, help the needy, play soccer, sing, or any number of things. How do you know if it's God's will for your life (good question!)? Well, in my personal experience, I've come to see three good indicators:

Does it bring you joy (does your heart "sing" when you're doing it?)?
Does it bless others (God always gives us gifts/passions not only for ourselves, but to be a blessing to others!)?
Are you making God "famous" with it (are people drawn closer to the Lord when you do what you do?!)?

May you be able to set your heart on what God has created you to do!

Duty or Reward?

2010-12-06T08:42:00.000-10:00

"So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, 'We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!'"

(Luke 17:10)

There's a curious parable in Luke 17. Jesus talks about how servants 'do their job' and what's expected of them. Their master doesn't offer them regular opportunities to be served. No. They know their job and they do it. Willingly. Then Jesus directs this parable to the disciples. What's curious, however, is the phrase "worthless slaves" that he uses. To a 'modern' audience, it sounds kinda harsh & uncaring. But I think Jesus was simply stating the current reality of servants. Nothing more.

A note in my Oxford Study Bible says this means our devotion to God is a "duty to be fulfilled" and not an occasion for reward. This makes sense! How often do we see "going to church," or serving the poor, or reading scripture, or praying as a "noble endeavor"? Like it's a big sacrifice we've made to do these things, and we expect to be rewarded somehow (or at least complimented & congratulated). NO, Jesus says. You do it because you're supposed to. Period. It's what's expected of us as followers of Christ. Holiness & devotion should be the NORM, not some kind of "extra credit."

That kinda changes how we should look at things, doesn't it?

A (Worthless) Pastor

2010-12-06T08:36:00.000-10:00

[FROM 12/3/10]

"For I am now raising up in the land a shepherd who does not care for the perishing, or seek the wandering, or heal the maimed, or nourish the healthy, but devours the flesh of the fat ones, tearing off even their hoofs. Oh my worthless shepherd..."

(Zechariah 11:16-17a)

God is upset. Big time! Not only have the people let Him down (which happens ALL the time throughout history!), but the very leaders He's chosen to shepherd the people have let him down. They've changed their description from a "good shepherd" to that of a "WORTHLESS SHEPHERD."

They do NOT:

Care for the perishing...
Seek the wandering...
Heal the maimed...
Nourish the healthy...

To me this seems like a pretty good job description of what a PASTOR should be about (these 4 jobs). And yet, I wonder... how active am I in each of these areas?

God help me avoid being a worthless shepherd...

Two by Two

2010-11-29T09:10:00.000-10:00

"After this the Lord appointed 70 others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go."

(Luke 10:1)

One of the marks of a good leader is his/her ability to empower and delegate. In the 10th chapter of Luke's gospel, we see Jesus doing just that. He appoints 70 followers to go out and carry on his ministry in the surrounding towns he was going to visit. He gives them instructions for their mission, and empowers them to "cure the sick."

What's interesting to me is that Jesus sent them out in pairs. That means 35 towns could be reached at a time. If he was more concerned with numbers, he could've easily sent everyone on their own... thus reaching 70 towns! Why didn't he? (I don't think it's because there were only 35 towns that he cared about. Surely there were many, many more!) Maybe the followers weren't ready to "fly solo." Maybe he knew they'd only succeed in pairs? Then again, maybe he knew that we do BETTER ministry in teams!?! Could it be that we're not only wired to LIVE in community, but also to LEAD in community?

We pastor would do well to follow that example. Whoever gave us the notion that we were meant to be "Lone Rangers," anyway? (Heck, even the Lone Ranger rode around with Tonto!) May we find ways to empower others to be in ministry with us!

Divine Graffiti

2010-11-22T09:07:00.000-10:00

"Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and began writing on the plaster of the wall of the royal palace, next to the lampstand. The king was watching the hand as it wrote. Then the king's face turned pale and his thoughts terrified him."

(Daniel 5:5-6)

Belshazzar, the Babylonian leader in power, threw a party. A BIG PARTY! Over 1,000 guests were invited - all nobility! The wine was flowing freely. On a whim, Belshazzar decided to bring out of storage the gold and silver vessels taken from the Jerusalem temple. These were the holy objects used in the worship rituals of Jews. Belshazzar passed them out and poured the wine!!!

Then something very strange happened. A hand appeared (out of nowhere!) and began to graffiti the wall! Belshazzar saw it and freaked out! No one could read (or interpret) the writing. So he called for Daniel... and after promising to give Daniel wealth & status (though it was politely declined), got his interpretation.

Daniel told the King that the Divine Graffiti said "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin." The kings days were numbered (mene) and coming to an end; He had been weighted (tekel) and found wanting; and his kingdom would soon be divided (parsin). That very night Belshazzar died.

First of all, I like this because it's just a cool story. But more than that, I was struck by the "TEKEL" part of the graffiti. Of course, it was the king's arrogance & lack of respect for holy object that led to the phantom fingers appearing... but I'm sure that was merely the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. He undoubtedly lived his life without regard for God's presence & power.

How scary to think that same sentence might be passed upon me. "You have been weighed on (God's) scales, and found wanting." Meaning, we don't "measure up" to the correct weight we should have (ie. the "gold standard"). In olden days, some were known to try and cheat the scales - to give dishonest weights.

All have sinned & fall short of the glory of God, the New Testament tells us. We're all "wanting" when set on God's scales of righteousness. But the Good News is Jesus puts his hand on the scales with us to make us right! It's by His grace we are found to be NOT WANTING! (Just don't start partying with the Holy Communion goblets, if you know what's good for you!) ;)

"All" means ALL!

2010-11-17T09:09:00.000-10:00

"The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth."

(Psalm 145:18)

Everyone knows the frustration of trying to get in touch with someone and hitting dead-ends, instead. "Nobody sees the Wizard! Not no one. Not no how!" Or what about those annoying automated phone services - no matter what button you press, you still can't seem to get a real live person on the line! Or how about trying to schedule an appointment with someone of importance ("I'm sorry, her schedule is all booked up right now. Maybe later.")?

As I was reading Psalm 145 today, I was reminded that's NOT how God works. Here is the Creator of the Universe... the Lord God Almighty... the Savior of the World... and Psalm 145 tells us that He's "near to all who call on him." Not "all believers" or "all who haven't sinned" or "all whose heart is right." No. ALL. Period.

What a gift that is... to know God always has time for us. He's ready to be involved in our lives. If only we'll CALL ON HIM. Why wouldn't we?!?

Proper Perspective

2010-11-17T08:46:00.000-10:00

[From 11/15/10]

"Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, 'You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your comrades who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God!'"

(Revelation 19:10)

Athletes.
Musicians.
Movie Stars.
Television Celebrities.
Those are the big 4 professions that seem to bring the most adulation & adoration by others. All over the world, these groups of people are worshipped. Literally. (We seem to love our entertainment, don't we?) There are other professions we 'greatly admire' and bestow honor upon... but they usually don't bring the same adoration.

Far from being a rant on those 4 groups of people, I'm writing this morning about something a little closer to home - my own profession (ministers!). There are a few religious leaders who seem to have garnered "rock star status." From within the church, some have grown to superstar fame. I still remember a few years back hearing Pastor Francis Chan admit, "If Jesus had a church (in the same town I have a church), more people would probably come to my church. AND THAT'S NOT A GOOD THING!" Francis recently left his church as the senior pastor. There was no sex scandal. No financial impropriety. No misuse of power. He just felt it was time to step down as senior pastor... not knowing exactly where God was leading him in the future.

We pastors are in an interesting situation. We get to know people - often quite deeply. We intercede and stand before God for a community. We're up front each week during worship. There's a human tendency to both be exulted and crave that adulation. But today's passage from Revelation 19 is clear. Only God should be "worshipped." Period. No matter how flattering it is for us, as pastors we must always be redirecting people to God. That's the proper perspective.

Crucial intel ignored

2010-11-17T08:39:00.000-10:00

[From 11/9/10]

"Now Johanan, son of Kareh, and all the leaders of the forces in the open country came to Gedaliah at Mizpah and said to him, 'Are you at all aware that Baalis king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, to take your life?' But Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, would not believe them."

(Jeremiah 40:13-14)

If the Exodus out of Egypt is the most significant event in the Hebrews' lives during the Old Testament period, then the 2nd most significant event would have to be the Babylonian Exile. Jerusalem was captured and most of the inhabitants were carried away to live in captivity in Babylon. A small remnant of poor were left in the city. The king of Babylon set Gedaliah up as the governor of the area. Gedaliah was a Hebrew. That should have ensured peace & security... but it didn't last.

There were some key people who fled or managed to escape the wrath of the Babylonian army. One such leader, Johanan, gathered intel that an assassination plot was underweigh against Gedaliah. But when he presented that insight to the acting governor, it was ignored (actually scoffed at... see v.16!). That proved to be a fateful decision, as Ishmael indeed led a successful assassination plot (41:2)... and carried out more murder & terror in the aftermath (41:4-10).

All this could have been avoided, had Gedaliah heeded the intel from Johanan (note: Johanan actually wanted permission to strike down Ishmael before he had the chance to kill the governor - but was prevented). Which got me thinking... why didn't Gedaliah trust Johanan's word? Granted, he wasn't "officially" on the gov's staff... but he was a recognized leader of the people. Did Gedaliah simply want to believe the best about people ("Ishmael would never do such a thing!")? Did he trust his own security personnel more than the perceived threat? Or was he just foolish? I don't know the answer to that... but it has caused me to think about the insight & wisdom given to me by others. How will I respond to that info? (Hopefully better than Gedaliah did!)

Sick hearts

2010-11-04T11:07:00.000-10:00

[From Wednesday, 11/3/10]

"How sick is your heart, says the LORD God, that you did all these things..."

(Ezekiel 16:30)

Ezekiel 16 is a very interesting allegory. God is comparing the people of Israel to a young woman. He chronicles her development from birth (thrown into the fields without pity or compassion, v.5)... to puberty (womanhood, v.7)... to "the age of love" (v.8). That's when God came, wooed her, cleaned her up and made covenant with her (v.8-14). Her beauty & fame spread!

"But you trusted in your beauty," says God (v.15) and it all went downhill from there. Using the metaphor of adultery, God outlines how His people "lusted after" others and gave themselves away to those who were not God, forgetting all that the LORD had done for them. Eventually God exclaims, "How sick is your heart that you did all these things..."

For some reason, this morning I was struck by that phrase: "How sick is your heart." When I read it, I didn't hear condemnation, reproach or shame. Instead, I hear sorrow. Deep, deep sorrow. God is lamenting over the sickness that has engulfed his beloved "bride." It's just not rational for Israel to have behaved that way - knowing all she had going for her because of God's amazing love. But oftentimes sin is not rational.

So you know where I'm going with this, right? We're also God's "bride" - God's beloved ones. We're the people God has sought out, wooed, cleaned up, made a commitment to, adorned with honor, and surrounded with love. It's an amazing gift to be in a relationship with the Almighty! But we screw it up (no pun intended) when we put other things, people, & pleasures before God. We lose our focus. Our hearts get sick.

Why? Why do we, as human beings do this over and over and over? Don't we realize what we have in God's love? Why aren't we content with God's provisions in our life?

In the end, God's love & grace remains steadfast. We may have to face the repercussions of our sinful behavior. But God will not abandon us completely:

"Yet I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth... I will (re)establish my covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the LORD... when I forgive you for all that you've done." (v.60, 62-63)

Amen to that!

The B-52's!

2010-10-22T08:13:00.000-10:00

"If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

(1 John 1:9)

It's a fairly common occurrence in Hawaii. Walk into a garage late one night, turn on the lights, and see a couple of B-52 Cockroaches scurry away (Yes, we have more than our share of cockroaches in the islands - BIG ONES, too!). And though we run into them from time to time in the daylight hours, they're especially prevalent at night! Turn on a light suddenly, and you're bound to see some!

In 1 John, chapter one, the author reminds us that God is Light. And God's LIGHT shines in the darkness. It also reveals our sin. Everyone sins - it's just our human nature. But we don't have to remain int hat sin. If we confess our sins to God, He is faithful and just and will forgive and cleanse us. That's a promise. There is no sin so great that it cannot be forgiven.

Nobody's perfect, that's for sure. We all have some cockroaches in our garage. If we're honest enough to admit it, God is faithful enough to forgive. That's grace. That's love. That's LIFE! Amen.

Imagine!

2010-10-15T08:56:00.000-10:00

"Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander."

(1 Peter 2:1)

Starbucks recently started selling john Lennon's new album. Well, it's more like a "best of," since Mr. Lennon hasn't been with us for a while now. Anyway, I was looking through the song list today and saw the track IMAGINE. It's a song, of course, about people living in peace & harmony together. "You may say that I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you will join me, and the world will live as one."

That easily could be the soundtrack for what I was reading today from 1 Peter 2:1. This single verse, if lived out, would go a LONG way towards this world "living as one." Listen to these simple (yet evidently surprisingly difficult to actually live out) words: "Rid yourselves of all malice, and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander." Wouldn't it be refreshing if we ALL lived this way? Especially now that we're in a political campaign season, we could use a lot less malice, guile, insincerity, envy, and slander!!!

But the true power of Scripture is not the passages I find for others to hear... it's the passages I find for me! So how do I need to rid myself of these things? May I endeavor today to be kind, gracious, sincere, content, and honest. (Maybe even beyond today, too!) Imagine!

(cue Bridal March music!)

2010-10-01T15:38:00.000-10:00

"For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your builder marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall God rejoice over you."

(Isaiah 62:5)

Tomorrow, friends of ours are getting married. Nancy was part of the youth group at my very first church, some 15+ years ago. She and Kyle have been together for quite a while now, so it's a joy to be able to celebrate with them on this deeper commitment to their relationship. I know that Nancy's excited, simply based on her Facebook posts this week! I can also remember back over 20 years ago when I was a groom-to-be, and the excitement I had. What a feeling!

The prophet Isaiah uses wedding imagery to talk about our relationship wtih God. But he puts an interesting twist on it. Instead of simply saying we are bound together with God, like a marriage covenant... Isaiah speaks about God REJOICING over us, like a bridegroom over his bride. How cool is it to know that GOD GETS EXCITED & FILED WITH JOY when He thinks of us!?!? We tend to picture God as distant, waiting only for us to come to Him... but not according to Isaiah 62:5!

How might it change may day to day to know that God is REJOICING over my relationship with Him? (It's actually kind of exciting, isn't it?)