Deep Stories

It could have been any church in America; a deep red brick structure, with hints of smoky blackness etched in the mortar. It was built nearly a century ago with a steeple pointing to the heavens, the paint peeling from the bell tower like dried Elmer’s glue on a 6-year-olds construction paper.

It was there when ’49 Plymouths lined the streets Sunday mornings in the old neighborhood, when radiators froze on Christmas day and when clotheslines held sheets that danced in the wind in May and smelled like summer when they were dry.

It was there when Harry Truman took office and the world was wincing from the wounds of war, and it was there decades before.

The streets have been paved and re-paved, the sidewalks are new and COTA buses burp black exhaust as they push by. The old congregation abandoned it some years ago.

It could have been in Detroit or Sheboygan or Birmingham; it could have been in Boise or Savannah or Poughkeepsie; Fordyce, Arkansas or Fargo; but it was here, in central Ohio on a warm August Sunday evening.

Across the street dozens of Hispanic men in their twenties and thirties played basketball on green asphalt courts with steel backboards as their wives and children watched or played on the nearby playground. They sipped Jarritos sodas and snacked on Pepitoria Sinaloense, somewhere far from Columbia or Mexico, Ecuador and Costa Rica—they are small men.

I was taking a walk just to get some exercise; my knees and ankles have surrendered to time and thousands of miles of marathons and running road races on ninety degree August days and ice covered roads of late February. I simply walk.

A gregarious man was unloading his car across from the church; he had nice clothes on a hanger; they looked like something Ricky Ricardo use to wear on I Love Lucy. He had friends and family that were clambering out of their vehicles; there was excitement in their voices, the kind of excitement that excites me.

I interrupted their unloading as some of them began to cross the street to the church. I was curious as to what was going on at the church tonight. “We’re having a gospel sing” the laughing man responded. “You should join us” came an unexpected invitation, as more cars rolled to the curb.

I wasn’t dressed as nice as those people streaming toward the church; I was wearing a pair of camo shorts, something like Jack Black might wear in a movie like School of Rock, and a simple T-shirt that said “Don’t Waste Your Life” on it.

There was something strangely attractive about the offer to join in the gospel sing; it was an invitation to cross cultural barriers, an invitation to a white man who was a total stranger offered by a black congregation; Dr. King would have been proud. So I joined them.

Young men in their teens drifted in and angled their way to one side where there were drums and keyboard, along with other instruments and microphones; the building had a tolerable nauseating smell of sewage. Things like that happen in hundred year old church buildings. Single moms with children in tow made their way to pews, and grandmothers, old and wise and dignified glided in as though carried by some soft wind.

More musicians and singers arrived as I sat on the back pew texting my wife, she was returning from taking our sons to a movie and I was inviting her to join me. I was conspicuously white. I smiled and shook hands; “bless you.”

I was impressed with the skill of the teenage musicians as two middle aged women made their way to the platform and grabbed microphones; the cords coiled on the stage like anorexic pythons and trailed the women. The sing began.

Mid-way through the first song my wife walked through the door and made her way to where I was; we were guardians of the back row of the front section of the auditorium. It was a place where we could be fully engaged, yet distantly safe. It’s that place where many sit on Sunday morning when they want to participate but they want to be far enough away so that the hand of God can’t touch them.

I’d been to gospel sings at black churches before; I love the life that exudes from them. The two women were warming us up for the next group that I soon discovered was a quartet of men in those Ricky Ricardo suits, a color somewhere between peach and coral.

I recognized two of the four men; one was the gregarious man who had invited me to join the sing and another was the pastor of the church. And then it started…

The men were a cross between Al Green, Usher, Michael Jackson and George Clinton; I’m sure they could have sung Atomic Dog and made George proud. My hands hurt that night, they hurt from clapping; they hurt from clapping in rhythm with the teenage guy pounding the drums like some ancient mother might have pounded a rug on one of those clotheslines a half-dozen decades ago.

The quartet was impeccable, both in their suits and their voices, they sang wonderfully. Their songs weren’t barbershop or southern gospel or soft, they were full-on rollicking black gospel—beautiful.

My wife and I sang, praised, danced in place and lifted holy hands to God. Then I began to look around the auditorium.

I’m an observer of people, its part of my calling. I noticed the dozen or so musicians, totally gifted. I noticed teenage girls holding babies and single moms surrounded on both sides of the pew by their children. I noticed the grandmothers, and probably a few aunts. The tolerable smell of sewage was still there too.

The quartet was singing a maniacally crazy song called “Just Give Me Jesus.” I was nearly delirious with frenzy—the Rapture could have happened at that moment and jettisoned me out of the church like I had rockets in my shoes and I wouldn’t even had known it. And, then, I noticed something.

I began to count, not just the musicians and singers, not just the single moms, not just teenage girls with babies on their hips, but everybody. I stopped clapping to the music; my hands felt like some midget had shoved thousands of needles into my palms without me realizing it. Something strange happened, it reminded me of the 1960’s TV series Get Smart with Don Adam when he would want to talk privately with The Chief and they would go into the Cone of Silence. The Cone of Silence was so quiet they couldn’t even hear each other talk.

My world grew silent in a room full of frenzy; it was eerie. It was as though God had drawn a circle around me and enveloped me in his Cone of Silence and was speaking to me. The frenzy increased as a large woman stepped out of the pew and made her way down the aisle to the platform and grabbed a microphone. She joined the quartet and was singing “Just Give Me Jesus;” her voice and body heaving as though in a spiritual convulsion.

The silence screamed louder than the words she was singing…”Just Give Me Jesus.”

I continued to count in my Cone of Silence with God. Around me stood forty adult women in floral dresses, something like Cicely Tyson would have wore in a show like Roots, along with some fancy hat. More silence. Then I counted four men. Just four men; a huge absence of men.

 The woman sang “Just Give Me Jesus” louder as she spun around; the microphone cord wrapped itself around her like a serpent. I heard a loud voice in the silence, it came from somewhere inside my head or heart, I couldn’t tell which; maybe it was both.

 “You don’t believe what you’re singing” the voice shouted, above the peels of “Just Give Me Jesus.”  “You don’t believe what you’re singing” reverberated over and over from somewhere inside of me—a hidden voice.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing until the voice spoke louder; “You don’t believe what you’re singing…because if you did it would change your life.” I looked around the auditorium. It could have been any church in America, it just happened to be this one at this moment.

It could have been a suburban church in Upper Arlington or Worthington or Los Angeles or Seattle or Atlanta or Oklahoma City or Lima, Ohio. The congregation could have been any color. “You don’t believe what you’re singing.”

“Just Give Me Jesus” or “Just As I Am” or “Just A Closer Walk With Thee” or “How Great Is Our God” or “Stomp” or “Glorious One” it could have been any song in any church in America.

God spoke in the Cone of Silence in that moment. In our churches so many times we really don’t believe what we’re singing; if we did it would change how we live Monday through Saturday, not just Sunday, or not just for a Sunday night gospel sing. If we really believed it when we sang about Jesus being Lord, he would rule our lives with absolute holy terror.

Surrounding me in that auditorium were teenage girls with babies on their hips; it wasn’t “Just Give Me Jesus” but it was just give me Jesus and a boyfriend who’ll smooth talk me so that I feel important, so that he can have sex with me! It wasn’t “Just Give Me Jesus” but single moms with children fathered by several different men, saying just give me Jesus and a man! And the list could go on and on in any church in America.

Just give me Jesus…and a house, just give me Jesus…and my golf clubs, just give me Jesus…and shopping, just give me Jesus…and my car, just give me Jesus…and my checking account, just give me Jesus…and the government, just give me Jesus…and a boyfriend or girlfriend or a bar or pot or welfare or a promotion or fine dining or…

In the midst of that gospel sing, in a hundred year old red brick church that tolerably reeked of sewage I heard God speak.

Yesterday I had coffee with a young friend of mine whose world God is destroying and redefining. We talked about a full surrender to God; full surrender is an invitation to pain.

We talked about what God is doing in her life and the lives of people who go to college with her. They were deep stories of transformation; of somebody becoming more like Jesus. And then it hit me…deep stories are better than big worship.

Every week in America there are churches with big worship, vibrant worship, great worship music and great worship bands…and gospel sings. We sing “Just Give Me Jesus” but so often we don’t really believe it; if we did we would be telling deep stories all the time. Deep stories that ruin a person in the way Isaiah was ruined when he stood in the presence of God.

 

Perfection Salad

Their names evade me, an elderly couple likely in their seventies, but what does a 12-year-old boy care, my life was lived on a basketball court.

They lived life alone in what seemed like a monstrous two-story house. It was one of those houses that grandparents live in, with ancient china cabinets, real wood furniture that had been around for a long time, a lot longer than I had been alive, and area rugs that looked expensive and were vacuumed regularly but never made their way out of the house for a commercial cleaning.

The smell of antique people hung in the air, uncluttered by snotty babies or teenage boys who don’t shower.  

To me the house seemed like a fortress sitting tightly among other houses on a side street in the heart of our town of fifty thousand people. Theirs’ was an impeccably cared for yard hidden by a large wrought iron fence, the kind that dark green vines grow on and colorful flowers bloom from in the Spring and 12-year-old boys have to look up to.

The front stairs were concrete, sandy concrete; the kind when you’re in your bare feet it feels like hardened sand and reminded you of the feeling one gets when somebody scrapes their fingernails on a chalkboard.

The stairs were steep and I doubt the couple journeyed up and down them too many times in those twilight years of their life, preferring to exit the rear of the house where there were less steep steps and a short walk to the garage that hid their car.

I played a role in their lives I never understood until today, and now forty years later I think about it.

I’m not even sure how I met the couple; somewhere somebody introduced me to them as a boy who could run errands for them. When I surf my memory I recalled taking an envelope to places like the Gas Company and the Electric Company, never knowing that I was going to pay their utility bills for them.

The pay wasn’t much, to be honest I can’t even remember what it was; something around fifty cents though. But fifty cents was a nice number to me back then, and I could scamper a few short city blocks without much effort. I drove by some of those same city blocks today, they seemed remarkably short.

I remember getting calls from the couple sometime around sunset, dinner time, in the fall of the year, when darkness rolled in around 5:30pm. In some ways it was a lonely time. I had a connection with the couple I didn’t have with my own family. There was this feeling that if the couple had had a son, who had a son, I would be him and I would be running errands for them.

I felt like I belonged in that big house, with the smell of antique people.

So much of the time I didn’t feel like I belonged in my own house; a house filled with the smell of two-pack-a-day parents and thick with testosterone from five boys; a house that rumbled when boisterous locomotives screamed by and one couldn’t think clearly.

I shared a room with a younger brother and two older brothers whose clothes never made it to hangers and I’d climb over piles of shirts and pants, stinky socks and even stinkier underwear until I couldn’t take it anymore and would clean the room myself.

A restaurant sat on the street corner four blocks away from my graceful employers; the marquee-style sign that hung from the building flickered “fine dining” in incandescent light bulbs that chased each other so that it looked like a moving arrow; a place where they played Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra music. A place called The Huddle. I’m not sure who huddled there; surely somebody must have in order for it to have a name like that. Maybe it was grandparents who didn’t have any kids or grandkids, and their friends who they played Bridge or Euchre with on Saturday nights and old 78 rpm records spun with something soft, like Al Martino or Doris Day.

It was during those days that neighbors shared party lines because technology was embryonic and having a private telephone line was something people with lots of money had; somebody like the Mayor or Howard Hughes. It was a time when your neighbor could talk to Aunt Pearl in Wisconsin or Lucille on the other side of town and you’d check the line every ten minutes to see if it was free to make a call.

The couple would call The Huddle and place an order, with a second call coming to me at home. I remember standing just inside their door as they gave me instructions and handed me an envelope. They must have trusted me, but, maybe it was a time when you could trust a 12-year-old boy with cash. Their house glowed with faint lights and the couple moved slowly—slowly like somebody walks whose feet ache and legs ache and backs ache and there’s nothing they can really do about it.

With the sun barely casting its glow I walked west, west on North Street into it; trees and houses were silhouetted against saffron like gigantic black fingers and buildings looked like something out of Mary Poppins.

My errand took me by a place called Spykers, that I would later discover had good breaded tenderloin sandwiches with mashed potatoes smothered in brown gravy; it was # 23 on the menu.

There was a behemoth of a church of which I never knew the name, but I knew Larry and Glen Bloomfield walked to it on Sunday mornings in the summer time as I played basketball on the court at Chiles’ Funeral Home. They wore nice black dress shoes and pants like Wally Cleaver wore in the ninth grade, and pressed shirts that their mother must have ironed for them after she made them bacon and eggs for breakfast. At least that’s what I imagined.

My journey took me by a thriving drive-in burger joint called King Burger, from which I once stole a waitress’s tip off a tray that was next to a speaker where curb side service was delivered. When my mom found out I had stolen the waitress’s tip she nearly drug me down the street, into the restaurant, made me return the money and apologize. Good mothers do that kind of thing.

All of this forced its way into my memory today, a cold, snowy January day; because there were also cold, snowy January days back then when I trekked to The Huddle to fetch dinner for my elderly friends.

Today, I had driven to the grocery store to buy a few things for my elderly mother, who’s now as old, or older, than my old friends were then.

I stood in front of the deli case and order a container of apple/walnut salad; I would never eat this but I knew it was something my mom would enjoy. I think old people enjoy salads like that; stuff that somebody’s great grandmother concocted ninety-five years ago because apples were the only fruit you could buy in January in Ohio.

I’ve never really cared for apples; one a year is plenty for me, but my mother loves apples. My memories are sweet of Christmas morning when, as kids, we’d awaken to a tree and gifts that looked like Santa’s bag had ruptured across our living room floor; Walnuts, Brazil nuts and others still in the shell, a few oranges or tangerines and many apples lay strewn across the presents, surely they lay where they fell as Santa hurried to make a getaway before any of us could see him.

I’m grateful, really, really grateful that God allows me to retain these memories; they’re worth remembering; they’re the things that books are written about from which The Hallmark Channel then makes a movie and it causes sentimental women to cry and the stock in Kimberly Clark soars because the sale of tissues rise.

The apple/walnut salad was the trigger today; it triggered a memory of picking up dinner for my elderly friends, who I am sure have long since passed; dinner that always included Perfection Salad–lime Jello with shredded carrots and cabbage.

At twelve, I never could figure out why somebody would eat something like that! How could they ruin perfectly good lime Jello with carrots and cabbage—what were they thinking. I’ve always been a purest when it comes to Jello, I like mine straight up, nothing suspended on the inside except bananas in cherry Jello—that is something served in heaven!

On those cold, snowy January days I’d grab the paper bag from the cashier at the register of The Huddle after handing him/her an envelope. I traded that envelope for boxes that had something in them that smelled far better than pinto beans, cooked spinach and hard boiled eggs or meatloaf. It had the smell of Milano’s restaurant, when I’d walk by it on my way home from elementary school at Horace Mann that sat on a hill on Elm Street next to Joyce Erb’s house. Milano’s was an old Italian restaurant that I only ate at one time, long after becoming an adult. On those days I wished I could have whatever it was I smelled; it must have been the food God liked.

I’d watch as the cashier would slide the glass door open to the refrigerated case that had pieces of coconut cream pie and something called carrot cake, and I would wonder, who would like cake made with carrots. The case also had Perfection Salad in it, and the cashier would grab two wobbly green squares and package them, then I’d trundle back to the monstrous green house with steep steps; darkness had overtaken me.

I’d drop off something that smelled glorious, and then walk through the night back home. My reward was maybe fifty cents or less those nights.

I think I was God’s blessing to that elderly couple whose names evade me. Maybe they were lonely people and I never knew it. Maybe they never had a son who had a son, so I became that son to them. Maybe they loved God and went to church on Sunday and drove by me playing basketball just a half-block from their house. Maybe they prayed over that Perfection Salad with great dignity. And, maybe one of their prayers was for me. I want to dream that it all happened that way.

Though I ran errands for fifty cents, never did I realize that my full reward would come forty years later in the form of memories…of times when I was young and my mom wasn’t so old and times seemed simpler; when a boy of twelve could run errands for elderly folks he really didn’t know, when it was dark and The Huddle was still open.

My left knee aches.

 

My Advocacy for Assisted Suicide

            My mother is 83 years old; she’ll turn 84 next month; she suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. A regimen of medication that my mother is on makes an amazing difference in her quality of life.

On days when my mother takes her medication faithfully life is pretty good for her; conversations are coherent and enjoyable. On days when she forgets to take her medication life is painful; events give way to a short-term memory that fades within an hour or two, names cannot be recalled and places seemed to never have had a name.

It’s a quiet Wednesday morning, another partial inch of soft snow covered our car windows and sidewalks. I recall days like this when I was a kid; days when it was hard to get warm after trudging many blocks to make it to school.

I don’t know if my mother remembers days like this when she was younger; in some ways Alzheimer’s hasn’t so much affected her long-term memory; I’ve listened to some of the same stories of her life nearly a dozen time—crystal clear as though she experienced it last week.

I’ve retreated from the noise of life to find God.

I sat alone with God this morning, and like a kid asking his father for another cookie I asked the Father to sit next to me and tell me what was on his heart. I wanted what was on his heart to be on my heart.

Part of my personal growth plan for this year was to read just twelve books of the Bible; typically I try to read the Bible through in a year, reading a different version each year. But this year I just want to campout for a month at a time in one book—read it over and over and let it sink deep inside of me.

I’m reading Ephesians. Paul was in prison; maybe a place where he retreated from the noise of life and was able to find God.

Chapter 4 is where I began today, and I only made it through the first two verses. I’m not so much interested in reading a chapter a day, or three chapters a day; I’m interested in allowing God to teach me, however he chooses to do it, with as much or as little of scripture as is necessary for me to get what he’s teaching.

I’m grateful for my mother’s spiritual heritage, and her mother’s before her. My mother became a follower of Jesus around sixteen years old, the same age I did. She’s recounted the story many times of her awakening to Jesus, of hearing music for weeks that was humanly indescribable; even she couldn’t put the experience into words that does it any justice. But, that’s what real encounters with God are like—they’re endemically personal.

Through what I know to be a very hard life my mother has always read her Bible and prayed; I’m certain it was her prayers that picked me up and carried me through my difficult times in life. My mother and I are alike in some ways, we both made some choices in life that didn’t have God at the center of them and the consequences were more than unpleasant, they were painful. But neither of us ever stopped crawling toward God.

I asked God for wisdom this morning; wisdom that James writes about in chapter 1 and verse five of his contribution to the scriptures. I know I lack wisdom in every area of my life, including what the scriptures say. I need wisdom.

In those first two verses of Ephesians 4 Paul was encouraging his readers with these words…”I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness with patience…”

The room grew quieter as I read those words and realized I am so unworthy to bear the name of Jesus. I am a sinner saved by grace and mercy. So often I don’t look like Jesus. I pleaded with God for forgiveness.

Like a kid asking his father for another cookie I asked God to teach me humility, gentleness and patience; the kind Paul hoped for his readers.

I don’t know where that stuff (humility, gentleness, patience) comes from other than God. Those are qualities I’ve observed in my mother for my fifty-two years. My mother has never been a self-promoter, she’s always given you the impression that you are more important than she is. I’ve known it takes a lot to get my mother angry; her longsuffering and patience are things I give up on much more quickly than she ever has.

So, I asked God to create in me humility, gentleness and patience. I did that after backing up and re-reading the latter verses of Ephesians 3; it’s in those verses that Paul makes it clear that humility, gentleness and patience are born of his Spirit in our inner being.

And, the room grew quieter.

Surely, those qualities in my mother must have been rooted in her real life encounter with the living God around sixteen, and refined in the fires of life.

Then God spoke in a faint, conscious whisper…

Learning humility is painful because I don’t want to die. God was asking me to commit spiritual suicide—purposefully kill the spirit inside of me that is unholy, that keeps me from being humble, gentle and patient.

In the middle of the whisper I recognized I cannot do this on my own; I don’t want to do this on my own. And, I recognized that God was going to have to help me die. Jesus, the Great Physician, was going to have to help me kill me. In that moment I became an advocate for assisted suicide.

 

Red Lobster, What Did You Do With My Baked Potato?

I think my inner child was wounded deeply sometime early in my life. I’ve never been able to put a finger on an event that might have traumatized the little guy inside of me.

The more I think about it I’m confident it happened. You know, something like a 10-year-old boy accidently walking in on mom and dad in the middle of intercourse; eyes nearly melting from exposure to two naked bodies pounding against each other, unintelligible groans that sound as painful as a root canal without novacaine and dad trying to hurt mom in ways that words can’t describe.

That kind of trauma would lodge itself in a young lad’s mind in such a way that it’d become the thing of nightmares well into adulthood.

I’m wondering if my inner child wasn’t wounded with a grave disappointment; disappointment like Santa promising that he’d bring you a puppy, but instead you get some wooden blocks with letters and numbers on them. All you can think to do with the blocks is build a make-believe dog house for the puppy you never received. And, for a lifetime you swear that you’re going to get your kid a puppy for Christmas when he’s ten years old.

Throughout my years as a teenager there were some disappointments, like the Friday night when I was about thirteen and skating at the roller rink and the Rink Marshall made me sit down during the Snowball Couples Skate and robbed me of the opportunity to ask some teenage tart to hold my hand while we skated to Michael Jackson’s song Ben. Or, the time, a little over a year later, when I lucked into becoming boyfriend to a hottie named Terry, a girl who I’d known was o-u-t of my league for a couple of years, and, who dumped me within a week—nearly scarred me for life.

I don’t think that my inner child was wounded by either of those events, as traumatic as they were upon the psyche of an insecure kid with a broken front tooth.

For as far back as I can remember though, and my memory takes me back to when JFK was President; I’ve been easily disappointed. That’s ten Presidents worth of disappointment.

My wife and I ventured out to Red Lobster this evening to use a Gift Card we had received for Christmas. Somehow, in my grubby little hands, those Gift Cards never seem to make it into the New Year. The Siren Cry of restaurants like Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Smokey Bones, Max and Erma’s and Chipotle is more than I can resist and I’m drawn to them in a trance-like state—wanting them to take my money as quickly as possible.

I had determined that I was going to order steak tonight even before we left our house; I wasn’t in the mood for seafood but my wife was. Red Lobster is comfort food to my wife; the cheddar biscuits, salad and stuffed flounder makes her feel like somebody wrapped her in gigantic pink Snuggie.

I ordered a peppercorn encrusted sirloin steak, baked potato and a salad with Thousand Island dressing. I thought maybe mixing up my salad dressing, diverting from the usual red wine vinegar would make the meal a bit more exciting—that is assuming you can get an exciting meal at Red Lobster.

Our server, Sam, a late-teen girl, was quick to get our salads, drinks and cheddar biscuits to us, leaving plenty of time for the well-oiled machine of a kitchen to cook our steak and flounder. One can be very entertained with a basket of cheddar biscuits, almost as much as plucking nose hairs on Friday night.

My wife and I had a conversation about some fairly serious stuff while eating our salads and biscuits, some of it left me disappointed; really disappointed. My inner child was whimpering at 52 years old.

A few minutes later Sam delivered our meals and apologized for the missing baked potatoes. My wife’s plate looked particularly empty with a few thin fillets of flounder; the plate looked about as bleak as the parking lot at Kings Island in mid-February. My peppercorn encrusted sirloin seemed lonely, standing stout next to a handful of broccoli florets that looked like fake trees on a model railroad display. I slipped the broccoli onto my wife’s plate after Sam had promised us our baked potatoes would be out in a few minutes.

Boy was I disappointed!

Can a man really have a steak dinner without a baked potato? That’s like asking Kirstie Alley to be satisfied with a Lean Cuisine frozen meal and a glass of warm water. Of course man does not live by beef alone; that peppercorn sirloin was naked without an Idaho baker.

I kept feeling like our server, Sam was avoiding us. Somewhere in the dark recesses of her mind she knew those baked potatoes would never arrive before I sucked down my steak and my wife finished her flounder. Poor thing was probably thinking that her tip was severely at risk.

I slurped on a Coke and grabbed another cheddar biscuit hoping against hope that it would somehow take the place of my missing baked potato. There’s something about Red Lobster’s baked potatoes I’m quite fond of; it has a slightly crispy skin and kernels of coarse salt on the outside, which kind of reminds you of maggots lying on a rock—but tastier.

In the end our potatoes never arrived; I was disappointed.

I asked Sam if she could send the Manager to our table. A few minutes passed and a middle-aged Hispanic woman in a dress stopped by our table apologizing profusely for the absent spuds. I asked her a simple question; I was just curious about the logic behind sending an incomplete meal out to a customer. The kind lady explained that there were breakdowns at multiple levels in the kitchen and with the server. It sounded eerily similar to how President Obama described the failed bombing attempt of an airliner on Christmas day. I was wondering if Al Qaeda was behind the missing potatoes—sounded plausible to me!

The kind Manager gave us $25 in coupons toward our meal which seemed to sooth my disappointment—I always like free food; actually is some of the best kind of food.

As my wife and I were driving home I began to think about my inner child’s wounds and all the disappointments I’ve had in life. I have always taken disappointments very personally, I try to rationalize to myself that NOBODY experiences what I experience when it comes to disappointment in life. Seems the frequency of disappointments in my life come way too often, a lot more rapid in occurrence than I’d like. Come to think of it, if I never had another disappointment in life I’d be so happy I think I’d just pee myself.

Then God slipped a thought into my mind, something that went deep, way deep, Jesus deep. Could it be that my disappointments in life were really God’s divine appointments for me and I missed them for what they were?

 

The Day After Christmas

I had a few errands to run today in preparation for our church’s Sunday gathering; at least that’s the excuse I gave myself to venture out to the LifeWay bookstore at Polaris.

My first stop though was at Staples to have some printing done; actually it was the notes for Sunday’s message; my friend Stacey at Staples knows what to do without me asking, I simply hand her a fistful of cardstock and she does the rest. Staples was lifeless and void of the throng that had been there just a few days earlier.

After my stop at Staples I shot up Route 315 toward Polaris hoping to pick up a worship DVD.

I wasn’t surprised when I found LifeWay crowded with shoppers whose pockets and pocketbooks couldn’t contain the burning of gift cards and Christmas cash. That’s what I remember my mom saying to me when I’d come upon a windfall as a kid; unexpected money was metaphorically so hot it burnt a hole in my pocket.

All the Christmas Jesus stuff was on sale at fifty percent off; trinkets and bobbles, candy and cards, CDs and Bibles; I knew full well we Christians could never live without this kind of stuff.

After leaving LifeWay my instincts told me to head home, but something ridiculous inside of me said “why don’t you go look around at the Polaris Mall.” I wish I knew where that voice came from; was it the ghost of Christmas Past or some bad seed that retailers had sown into my sub-conscience over the past month; you know, sort of like McDonald’s knowing you’ll run out for a Big Mac if they drop that kind of commercial on you about 9:30pm when you’re watching a football game on Saturday night.

I parked on the far north side of the Mall about twenty rows from the entrance to the Food Court area.

The place looked like a colony of ants that had found a piece of spit out bubble gum in the grass and were climbing over themselves and anything else in the way of getting to the scent of sugar.

I found myself with tainted thoughts as old couples wore their new matching his and hers leather jackets, and 16-year-old stud wannabe’s in their flashy sunglasses and cool sneakers trolled for something of the opposite sex worth keeping; and those same gift cards and Christmas cash were on fire at the Mall, just multiplied thousands of times over.

I ducked in Williams Sonoma and Swarovski for a peek at what they had that might have been on sale; nothing grabbed my interest though. Then, I saw a sign in Walden Books that said “Everything Must Go;” surely a casualty of the struggling economy. Rarely, do I pass up a sale on books.

Just inside the door was a rack of current paperbacks, all on sale for thirty percent off. Scanning the rack I noticed a couple of titles I thought my mom would like to read; and that’s when the reality of this Christmas hit me.

My mom has Alzheimer’s disease; she’s done pretty well with it with a regimen of medication, but over the past three months we’ve seen an insidious decline that has surprised even me. In that moment of looking over the titles of books on that rack I realized I’ll probably never buy my mom another book; reading was one of her favorite things to do.

Alzheimer’s is encroaching upon her memory far faster than I want to believe and admit, nevertheless, it’s coming like a runaway locomotive and there’s nothing I can do about it. Use to be I could plan for the following Christmas on days like this; discovering some treasure on sale that could be put away for a year; something I knew my mom would like. Not now though.

The gift cards and Christmas cash in my pocket don’t seem so hot now; really, there’s not a burn anymore, not even a warmth or a smolder—it’s just there. I guess Walden’s was right “everything must go.”

 

The Never Ending, Everlasting Gobstopper

I was spending time with God this morning; lately, for some reason, my times with God have been challenging in that there seems to be a heaviness that I cannot see weighing on me—a heaviness that no scale can weigh that keeps me from God.

It’s an oppression that sits on my shoulders like the awkwardness of a person one carries in a chicken fight in a swimming pool, with unseen tugging, unseen pressure as though invisible legs and arms are wrapped around me wanting to hold me in place, not allowing me to move, move toward God.

There seems to be a pushing of everything except God into my mind, a pushing like shoving a banana through a sieve, while I’m attempting to get centered on God. So I altered my approach to God differently. I opened my Bible to Luke 1; I had been meditating on Mary’s Magnificat in preparation for the Advent Season and a teaching that I’ll be sharing with our congregation.

Because of the oppression I decided to go on the offensive like Benjamin Martin in the movie The Patriot as he led the charge against the British while trying to convince his troops not to retreat.

I simply began to praise God by praying through the Magnificat. In her own words Mary understood the chosen position she was in and how God was weaving some new story into her life. I had Terry MacAlmon’s CD Live Worship playing and the song You Deserve the Glory washed over me like a warm bath and I found that place with God I’d been searching for.

When I reached verse 51 where Luke records “He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts” the Holy Spirit stormed into my consciousness and thoughts began to explode like fireworks across a July 4^th sky. They were explosion of revelation of knowledge of God and the knowledge of me.

I’m awestruck in moments like this with God, how he pulls the curtain back and shows me what’s really behind it like Dorothy did with the Wizard in Oz. I’m convinced when I allow myself to retreat from all the clamor of life and settle into a quiet corner with God he takes me on a journey that’s deeper than can be measured.

A subdued grief overcame me as the Holy Spirit reminded me of what he’s rescued and saved me from. Memories came in torrents like a wild river into and out of my mind; days when I was arrogant and pride-filled, a great liar, a wretched thief, a hopeless teen, helpless in everyway. In that moment I sang with Mary my own personal Magnificat.

An image flashed through my mind in those moments of a sucker, a lollipop, something like a Tootsie Pop…and God pulled the curtain back further, and there working the controls of my life sat Bitterness. I cannot explain how God does what he does in my mind when he grants me this kind of revelation; it’s somewhat akin to a gardener shoving a handheld trowel into the ground to root out a carrot.

 The thought of a lollipop instantly gave way to the thought of the Never Ending, Everlasting Gobstopper from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Even I thought it a bit strange, but God, as the Holy Uncreated One works in great mystery.

I saw the image of the Never Ending, Everlasting Gobstopper being the bitterness I’ve carried in life. I saw bitterness as a Never Ending Gobstopper that I’ve kept going back to it to, to have another lick. When I do I allow it to swirl in my mouth, rest on my tongue, until I get comfortably sticky with it and the flavor languishes for a long time.

The sweetness stimulates my memories, my thoughts, my wounds, and after some period of time the flavor dissipates and my saliva returns to the natural moisture, the natural tasteless liquid that’s constant and I’ve swallowed the last bit of Gobstopper juice.

I’m content for a while until I find myself craving the past, another taste of it, and I reach into the pockets of my mind and pull out my Never Ending, Everlasting Gobstopper for a few more licks.

The Gobstopper is never reduced in size; Gobstoppers, by nature of what they are can’t be diminished. Gobstoppers have to be thrown away if the life of them is to ever come to an end.

But getting rid of a Gobstopper is hard; it tastes so good, its addictive in a seductive way; its seductive because I can’t really see what it is that’s pleasing…it’s all on the inside…the ingredients. Ironically, the Never Ending, Everlasting Gobstopper in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory was designed for poor kids who didn’t have the money to afford better candy—they were meant to last forever, and, they never lost their flavor.

Once birthed in me, I discovered that bitterness could last forever, just like a Gobstopper, as long as I’m allowing it a place in me. It took Mary’s Magnificat, in a time of pure worship to reveal what was keeping me from worship.

 

Why We Should Go Green!

Going Green has been pushed to the forefront of important issues in our culture over the past few years…and I believe rightfully so.

But, my reason for being a Green proponent probably runs contrary to the mainstream. I believe we need to go Green and value the earth, nature and natural resources because all of that reflects the glory of God.

Hundreds, perhaps thousands of groups and organizations have many reasons for promoting living Green; better air quality, the diminishing supply of fossil fuels, clean water and a sustainable future. There’s nothing wrong with most of those things, in fact they’re admirable pursuits.

However, I believe there is potentially GREAT DANGER in our quest for going Green.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 1:20 “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”

Would any of us deny that the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, the California Red Wood Forest, Cathedral Rock, Valley of Fire, Glacier National Park, the Everglades and even Ruby Falls in Tennessee reflect a Creator?

In the first moments when our eyes catch sight of these places, doesn’t our own significance and importance disappear when the breath is sucked out of us—at least for a few seconds–and we are overwhelmed with the thought that what we’re looking at is bigger than we are and it was put here by Something greater than we are.

Thirty years ago I thought nothing of tossing a Big Mac container out the window of my car when I was driving. I thought nothing of taking the oil from my car that I’d just changed and pouring it along the fence line in my back yard to keep weeds at bay.

But, last night my wife and I went through the drive thru at Taco Bell; I took the wrapper off my straw for the cup of water I was drinking, rolled it into a ball, and even though my window was down I couldn’t throw the paper out the window. I do that because I know that our world still bears the image of the One who created it, and I don’t want to diminish creation nor dishonor the Creator.

The potential great danger in our quest for going Green is that we do it for us, rather than for God. Many pursue Green living because they value nature more than the One who created nature, as such they worship nature and not God.

There’s a GREATER DANGER yet though. With an extreme promotion of going and living Green many proponents believe that if enough pressure is applied to society, then the individuals in society will conform to going and living Green. Then, those same principles are applied in other areas of society, as in Health Care Reform. Apply the same pressure to Health Care Reform and society will conform to the idea that everybody deserves adequate health care (which I believe they do).

In applying pressure to society for Health Care Reform we demonstrate that we’re a better, more progressive people; people who are caring. In doing so we mandate that people be coerced into caring for people, rather than caring for people because Jesus cared for people and taught his disciples that they should care for people too. Again, we make it all about us, rather than all about God, and the fact that he created grace and mercy, love and compassion for people.

If we extrapolate all this out what we discover is that many people believe that you can change the human heart through coercion or legislation or government mandate; and, that people will really care for the earth (going Green) and people (thru available health care).

But, Jesus proved that it was the human heart that was evil and selfish that needed to be changed if we’re going to truly care for the things that are important to God…like his creation—both people and the planet.

 

Martin Luther King, Jr. “Rediscovering Lost Values” February 28, 1954

There is something wrong with our world, something fundamentally and basically wrong…And when we stop to analyze the cause of our world’s ills, many things come to mind. We begin to wonder if it is due to the fact that we don’t know enough. But it can’t be that. Because in terms of accumulated knowledge we know more today than men have known in any period of human history…I think we have to look much deeper than that if we are to find the real cause of man’s problems and the real cause of the world’s ills today.

If we are to really find it I think we will have to look in the hearts and souls of men…The great problem facing modern man is that, that the means by which we live have outdistanced the spiritual ends for which we live…The problem is with man himself and man’s soul…My friends, all I’m trying to say is that if we are to go forward today, we’ve got to go back and rediscover some mighty precious values that we’ve left behind.

That’s the only way that we would be able to make of our world a better world, and to make of this world what God wants it to be and the real purpose and meaning of it…The first is this—the first principle of value that we need to rediscover is this: that all reality hinges on moral foundations. In other words, that this is a moral universe, and that there are moral laws of the universe just as abiding as the physical laws.

I’m not so sure we all believe that…I’m not so sure if we know that there are moral laws just as abiding as the physical law. I’m not so sure about that. I’m not so sure if we really believe that there is a law of love in this universe, and that if you disobey it you’ll suffer the consequences…The first thing is that we have adopted in the modern world a sort of a relativistic ethic.

Now I’m not trying to use a big word here; I’m trying to say something very concrete. And that is that we have accepted the attitude that right and wrong are merely relative…But I’m here to say to you this morning that some things are right and some things are wrong. Eternally so, absolutely so.

It’s wrong to hate. And so long as we adopt this relative attitude toward right and wrong, we’re revolting against the very laws of God himself. Now that isn’t the only thing that convinces me that we’ve strayed away from this attitude, this principle. The other thing is that we have adopted a sort of a pragmatic test for right and wrong—whatever works is right. If it works, it’s all right. Nothing is wrong but that which does not work.

If you don’t get caught, it’s right. That’s the attitude, isn’t it? It’s all right to disobey the Ten Commandments, but just don’t disobey the eleventh, “Thou shall not get caught.” That’s the attitude. That’s the prevailing attitude in our culture. No matter what you do, just do it with a bit of finesse. You know, a sort of attitude of the survival of the slickest. Not the Darwinian survival of the fittest, but the survival of the slickest—whoever can be the slickest is the one who right.

It’s all right to lie, but lie with dignity. It’s all right to steal and to rob and extort, but do it with a bit of finesse. It’s even all right to hate, but just dress your hate up in the garments of love and make it appear that you are loving when you are actually hating. Just get by! That’s the thing that’s right according to this new ethic.

My friends, that attitude is destroying the soul of our culture. It’s destroying our nation. The thing that we need in the world today is a group of men and women who will stand up for right and to be opposed to wrong, All I’m trying to say to you is that our world hinges on moral foundations. God has made it so…

There is something in this universe that justifies the biblical writer in saying, “You shall reap what you sow.” This is a law-abiding universe.  This is a moral universe. It hinges on moral foundations. If we are to make of this a better world, we’ve got to go back and rediscover that precious value that we’ve left behind….

Well this you say, “Why is it that you raise that as a point in your sermon, in a church”…But we must remember that it’s possible to affirm the existence of God with your lips and deny his existence with your life…And the world, even the church, is filled up with people who pay lip service to God and not life service.

And there is always a danger that we will make it appear externally that we believe in God when internally we don’t.

We say with our mouths that we believe in him, but we live with our lives like he never existed.

That is the ever-present danger confronting religion. That’s a dangerous type of atheism…The materialism in America has been an unconscious thing. Since the rise of the Industrial Revolution in England, and then the invention of all of our gadgets and contrivances and all of the things and modern conveniences—we unconsciously left God behind…We just became so involved in getting our big bank accounts that we unconsciously forgot about God…we had unconsciously ushered God out of the universe…

And may I say to you this morning, that none of these things can ever be real substitutes for God.

Automobiles and subways, televisions and radios, dollars and cents can never be substitutes for God. For long before any of these came into existence, we needed God. And long after they will have passed away, we will still need God.

And I say to you this morning in conclusion that I’m not going to put my ultimate faith in things.

I’m not going to put my ultimate faith in gadgets and contrivances. As a young man with most of my life ahead of me, I decided early to give my life to something eternal and absolute. Not to these little gods that are here today and gone tomorrow, but to God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Not in the little gods that can be with us in a few moments of prosperity, but in the God who walks with us through the valley of the shadow of death, and causes us to fear no evil. That’s the God. Not in the god that can give us a few Cadillac cars and Buick convertibles, as nice as they are, that are in style today and out of style three years from now,  but the God who threw up the stars to bedeck the heavens like swinging lanterns of eternity…

I’m not going to put my ultimate faith in the little gods that can be destroyed in an atomic age, but the God who has been our help in ages past, and our hope for years to come, and our shelter in the time of storm, and our eternal home. That’s the God that I’m putting my ultimate faith in. That’s the God that I call upon you to worship this morning…

If we are to go forward this morning, we’ve got to go back and find that God.

That is the God that demands and commands our ultimate allegiance. If we are to go forward, we must go back and rediscover these precious values: that all reality hinges on moral foundations and that all reality has spiritual control.

 

Even Something God Can’t Do

There are age-old questions that are sometimes asked, especially when it comes the idea of God being omnipotent.

“Is there anything God can’t do?”

“Can God make a rock so big that God couldn’t lift it?”

It’s been said by experts that God won’t do anything that is contrary to his character…but just how big is God anyway; is he big enough for my problems? Is God big enough for unfaithful spouses? Is God big enough for lost jobs? Is God big enough for wayward kids? Is God big enough for cancer? Is God big enough for sexual abuse? Is God big enough for loneliness? Is God big enough for financial ruin? Is God big enough for an unsaved husband? Is God big enough…

I was reading during one of my quiet times with God this week when I realized there is something that even God can’t do!

I was reading Mark 6 and the account of Jesus visiting Nazareth. That would be the town of Nazareth in Israel…not the Middle Eastern deli on Route 161 & Cleveland Avenue in Columbus, Ohio; nor is it the Nazareth classic rock band of “Love Hurts” fame.

Here’s what the ESV says Mark 6:1-6 “He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. ²And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? ³Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. ⁴And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” ⁵And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. ⁶And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching.”

The question bubbled up from somewhere in my mind, “how is it that Jesus—the Son of God—God incarnate—couldn’t do any miracles?”

Jesus could turn water to wine, heal lepers, cast out demons; but in this instance he couldn’t do any miracles. THIS IS GOD! Jesus is God himself; Creator of the Universe and Former of the world, yet He’s powerless.

The lack of faith/belief on the part of the people is what made Jesus/God powerless to do miracles. Jesus’ own relatives, those in his hometown inhibited his ability to do miracles.

Why?

Can’t God do what God wants to do?

Somehow, evidently, God’s/Jesus’ working of miracles is predicated upon people wanting and allowing Him to work.

This all makes me wonder; is it any different today?

In the Church, in our lives, is there a lack of power, lack of miracles and the work of Jesus because in the Church, in our lives, people simply don’t have the faith to believe it can happen, or, even, that we don’t want it to happen?

Jesus was willing, ready, anxious to do great things, but the people weren’t.

What kind of people are we?

 

K-Tel, WCIT, CKLW and Jesus

For more than 3 decades I’ve had this song floating around in my head; actually it been two songs. All I could conjure up were a few lines of the songs but never knew the title of them; there have been times when I wondered if they really existed or if I had just listened to too much AM radio as a teenager.

The song which was most enigmatic to me had the line in it “This is your song
yes I’m tellin’ the world there’s no living without you couldn’t be wrong ’cause I wake up every morning thinking about you.” Throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s this tune would occasionally pop into my skull as though it was anchored somewhere deep in my memory.

I suppose I thought about this song a few times a decade once I’d moved beyond the 70s. Over the past few years I’ve thought about the song and this weekend I chose to mine the internet to see if I could get some closure to where I heard these two songs and why they stayed with me.

All I had to go on was the one line of the song so I did a Google search and to my surprise I found the song. For years all I could think of was Elton John’s “Your Song” but I was positive it wasn’t Elton John, and sure enough it wasn’t. I discovered the song was actually titled “This Is Your Song” sung by this guy from Canada named Don Goodwin.

It was one of those One-Hit-Wonders that somehow made it to my hometown radio station WCIT and a station we used to get out of Detroit and Canada CKLW.

As I researched the song more I discovered it had been released on a compilation LP titled “Music Power: 22 Original Hits, 22 Original Stars” by K-Tel. I remember the K-Tel TV advertisements of the 1970s with their gaudy colors and enticing sound bites of tunes that were on each LP (that’s vinyl for anybody who was born after 1980).

There was something akin to an internal squeal when I clicked on a website that actually showed the LP cover and listed the songs and artists. As I read through the song list I began to recognize many of the song on the LP; Olivia Newton-John’s “Let Me Be There”, Gladys Knights and The Pips’ “I’ve Got to Use My Imagination”, Edgar Winter Group’s “Free Ride” and Barry White’s “Never Never Gonna Give You Up”.

And…there listed as the second song of side one of the LP was Don Goodwin’s “This Is Your Song”…beautiful. Imagine my surprise when I discovered somebody had uploaded it to YouTube and I could listen to it. Man! My mind drifted back thirty-six years to 1973 as I listened to the song and suddenly it hit me; I think I owned the LP when I was sixteen years old.

All the songs seem to fit perfectly into my old head; several of them being other One-Hit-Wonders; K-Tel was brilliant. As I scrolled down the song list there on side two of the LP was the other song that had been flitting around in my head for decades—“Could You Ever Love Me Again” by a couple of cats named Gary and Dave, also from Canada.

Wow! It was like finding out you weren’t crazy after all. It was kind of like finding your initials you’d carved in a tree as a kid and after all these years they were undisturbed. I think I can finally sleep at night now, knowing I’m okay.

I discovered some things about K-Tel; they continued to put out compilations of music until the late 90s. I’m guessing the emergence of the internet and online music providers kind of kicked their butts. In a last ditch effort to be a viable company K-Tel joined forces with Playboy in an attempt to bolster online music sales but they ultimately shut things down.

There’s currently a K-Tel website in development in which it looks like all those great compilations of the 70s, 80s and 90s will be available sometime in the near future on CD or downloads.

I find out this other song “Could You Ever Love Me Again” is on YouTube also; how cool is that! But, I really would like a copy for my Ipod or to buy and burn to a CD. So, I’m researching these dudes Gary and Dave and find a Canadian website that has four of the songs off their Together LP online that you can listen to.

I’m listening to the songs and reading the musical history of the two guys, which included stints with bands called “Edgar And The Allan Poes”, “The Kingbees” and “The Diplomats.” They toured in the mid-70s with the pop group The Stampeders of “Sweet City Woman” fame; another 1970s AM Gold song.

So…all these years later my psyche is quieted because I discovered these songs really existed, and they’re available on YouTube. And maybe someday K-Tel will get that website up and running and I’ll download a couple of memories. But I learned something pretty cool about Gary and Dave that just kind of made me smile.

The guys—Gary Weeks and Dave Beckett–split up in 1977 and became airline pilots for a Canadian company for a while; later Gary Weeks became a Christian missionary and moved to Ireland to serve Jesus. Thanks K-Tel! Thanks Jesus!

 

MANNA-Nov 15 2008

John 20:1

“Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.”

 

When Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus had taken Jesus’ body off the Cross and prepared it for burial, Mary Magdalene, Jesus’ mother–Mary and another woman, Salome were with them (Mark 15 records this). We’re told that Jesus had cast seven demons out of Mary Magdalene, but we don’t know a whole lot more about her. She is often seen traveling with Jesus and his disciples, along with several other women. In all regards, Mary Magdalene was also a disciple of Jesus, but not considered an Apostle.

 

It appears that Mary Magdalene had some wealth, Luke records that Mary Magdalene and the other women supported Jesus “out of their own means.” I’m speculating, as many Bible scholars have done, that Mary Magdalene became a devoted disciple of Jesus out of her gratitude to him for casting demons out of her. Nothing seems to deter Mary Magdalene from following Jesus, even to the Cross. When all the disciples/Apostles other than John had abandoned Jesus, Mary Magdalene was there with him. I think her actions tell us about the true condition of her heart; she could well have been one to sing Amazing Grace had it been written in her time—I think she knew it was Jesus who had saved a wretch like her.

 

I must admit, I am really wrestling right now with God, as a disciple of Jesus. I’m wrestling with how effective of a disciple I am. I do good things, I serve the Lord and people, but I have an overwhelming sense that my discipleship is lacking. I think the area it’s lacking in the most is how often I actually share, or neglect to share, the gospel with others. I keep very busy doing really good things, but I’m not so intentional about sharing the gospel. I get the feeling that Mary Magdalene was a disciple of Jesus and couldn’t help telling what he had done for her in delivering her from demons and offering her redemption and reconciliation to the Father. When I think of my own redemption, I’m not so sure I’m as excited as Mary was to tell other people. And I think I’m failing at discipleship because of it.

 

There must have been the need for a second round of anointing Jesus’ body after his death. Perhaps Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea had given it a cursory anointing, enough to hold it over until the Passover was over; and then it could properly be attended to. Mary Magdalene had come to the tomb, before daylight, to anoint Jesus’ body (Mark 16) only to discover that the stone had been rolled away and the body was missing.

 

“So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’” (v2)

 

Nearly all, if not all, of Jesus’ disciples had missed his teaching on his own resurrection. Mary Magdalene’s first thoughts were that the Jews or Romans had taken Jesus’ body out of the tomb. If I try to climb inside of Mary’s mind I would have to ask the question “what did she think the Jews or the Romans had done with his body, and why would they have done anything with it?” Maybe it was that Mary thought the Jews wanted to thoroughly eradicate Jesus, and by stealing the body they could ensure that Jesus’ disciples had nothing to venerate. Without a body in a tomb, what would there be to remember. Similarly, when we bury a loved one or friend, we place a tombstone over the grave as a memorial and remembrance of that person, to which we will sometimes then go and remember the life of that person. Maybe the Jews wanted to completely eliminate any chance of that happening.

 

Mary Magdalene first meets Peter and John and tells them what has happened. “So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.” (v3-4) I wonder what was going through the minds of Peter and John as they sprinted toward the tomb. Were they mad that Jesus’ body was missing? Were they doubtful of what Mary Magdalene had seen? What did they think they were going to be able to do once they got there and found an empty tomb? Did they even remember that Jesus had said that he would resurrect? Did they realize that THAT day was the day he indicated that he would resurrect on?

 

“And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.” (v5) John is narrating his personal experience when arriving at Jesus’ tomb. All it took was a look on John’s part; he didn’t need to go in once he’d seen the empty tomb and the linen cloths lying by themselves. I can imagine him stepping away from the opening of tomb with a shell shock look on his face. I imagine his eyes glazed over in a distant stare, numb to everything that had happened in the last week, and especially the last three days. It wasn’t enough that Jesus had been crucified, now they had done something with his body. What else could happen?

 

“Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.” (v6-7) Peter was always going to be Peter. John’s standing outside the tomb in disbelief, but Peter charges into the tomb in typical Peter fashion—act first, think later. Peter had always been this way; always the impetuous one, always the one to be first, always the one to speak up first, always the one to do something, first. I’m so much like Peter was that it’s frightening.

 

What Peter sees is really interesting if we take time to dissect the elements he sees. First, the linen cloths were lying there. These would have been the linen strips that Jesus would have been bound in; and for a person to get out of them they probably would have had to been removed one by one, almost peeled off the body. What Peter seems to see is the strips lying there as though they hadn’t been removed, but that Jesus’ body had been removed from them. We’d almost expect the linen strips to be balled up in a corner of the tomb or scattered across the floor of the tomb, if they’d been removed one by one. Second, the face cloth that had covered Jesus’ face had been folded up and was off to one side by itself. Nothing haphazard in how the face cloth had been removed; it wasn’t tossed aside, like somebody might have done had they just come to steal the body. But, with care, the face cloth had been folded and laid aside.

 

I’m curious as to whether Peter was cognizant of these things, or, if all he saw was that the tomb was empty; Jesus was gone.

 

“Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.” (v8-10)

 

Again, John is narrating his own experience that day. When John entered the tomb and saw that Jesus was gone, he indicates that he “believed.” But what did he believe? According to what John says next, it wasn’t the resurrection that John believed, so John must have simply believed that Jesus’ body WAS missing, as Mary Magdalene had told them; and that the Jews or Romans had absconded with the body. In this moment I get a sense of hopelessness on John’s part. He didn’t know the resurrection had taken place; he admits that; and the last thing we see then is that the disciples “went back to their homes.”

 

What were they going to be able to do about any of this? What could the disciples do about the fact that Jesus’ body was missing and it was probable that somebody had taken it? Could the disciples go to either the Jewish or Roman authorities? Doubtful, since they had just both conspired to execute Jesus. What would anybody be willing to do?

 

That resurrection day started off pretty bleak for the disciples. Hopelessness and helplessness had settled in and they had resigned themselves just to go back home; Peter, John the other women and Mary Magdalene. Their grief must have been unbearable, especially to Mary Magdalene; the One who had driven out the seven demons, the One whom she had become a disciple of was gone, really gone. What would she do with her life now?

 

How does one go one being a disciple without Jesus?

 

MANNA-Nov 17 2008

John 20:11-12

“But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.”

 

Why did Mary have this encounter with the angels, while Peter and John didn’t, is my question? John and Peter were already headed back home; Mary lingers at the tomb. Why was Mary crying; I mean, what was the deep reason for her crying? Was she overwhelmed by the grief of the whole crucifixion, and this experience at the tomb was just the capstone? Was she crying because Jesus’ body was missing and maybe she thought she’d never know what happened to it? Was she crying out of anger, sadness, or both? All one can do is speculate.

 

I wonder why Jesus reveals himself to Mary first? Could it be that Peter and John already leaving the tomb was similar to the disciples not being able to stay awake in the Garden three days earlier, and pray for Jesus in his moment of greatest need? Was Mary’s faithfulness for Jesus demonstrated in her lingering at the tomb, while Peter and John’s faithfulness had completely dissipated—they had resigned themselves that they’d never see Jesus or his body again?

 

Two angels are sitting in the cave when Mary looks in; “They said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.’” (v13) It seems as though Mary is grieved over Jesus’ missing body.

 

Of course the angels know what Mary doesn’t, but I wonder if there isn’t more going on here than what we see on the surface. All of heaven knew that Jesus had resurrected; it’s just that people on earth hadn’t discovered that yet. I wonder if these angels are simply being literal—like, “Mary, don’t you know what all of heaven knows?”

 

Jesus’ resurrection was the final piece in the puzzle for man’s redemption, I say this because in 1 Peter 1:10-12 Peter writes “Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.”

 

This redemption, this salvation, was something new in heaven and even the angels were curious about it all; especially since there is no redemption for angels. Salvation of humans is a BIG DEAL!

 

“Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’” (v14-15)

 

Again, there’s more to what is happening between Jesus and Mary than is on the surface. It isn’t the sudden appearance of Jesus at the tomb that is so startling; it isn’t Jesus speaking to her that is enigmatic; it isn’t even Mary mistaking Jesus for the gardener that garners my attention in this exchange; it’s that Mary doesn’t recognize Jesus physically that gets my attention. I think there are just two possibilities that are at the root of Mary not recognizing Jesus. The first possibility is that Mary was expecting Jesus to be bloodied and mangled; the way she had seen him when he was taken off the Cross by Joseph of Aramithea and Nicodemus. The second possibility is that Jesus had been so transformed during the resurrection that he changed physically. I tend to lean more toward the latter.

 

I lean toward the latter because Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:2-55 “in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

 

Not only that, but also because of what Jesus says next to Mary; “Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned and said to him in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, ‘Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.‘’ (v16-17) Something supernatural and amazing had happened with Jesus, so much so that Mary wasn’t permitted to touch him. It seems that something in the resurrection is so transforming that our physical bodies take on a new dimension, and in some ways, not all ways though, our physical appearance is changed, and I think that’s why Mary didn’t recognize Jesus at first.

 

Think of all that must change before we, as humans, can enter heaven; anything about us that could potentially contaminate heaven has to be eliminated, that includes our physical bodies. Any thing sinful associated with our lives has to be eliminated. Anything regarding us that would compete with God in heaven has to be eliminated. All that will result in us looking considerably different than we do right now.

 

When Jesus was facing his crucifixion and he prayed in John 17:5 saying “And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began” I can’t help but think there was something between death and ascension that didn’t allow Jesus to be either human or glorious as he was in heaven, and as such Mary couldn’t touch him because of it.

 

In 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 Paul writes “…as it is written: ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him’—but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit…”

 

I don’t know that we can conceive of what our new bodies will be like when we’re with the Lord, just as we can’t conceive of what heaven itself will be like. Paul indicates that as humans we can’t get our minds around this without the help of the Holy Spirit. However, Paul does indicate that by his Spirit God has allowed us to understand what he’s prepared for us—but ONLY through the Spirit. That includes what John, the same John who is writing here, reveals in Revelation…”Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’” (Revelation 21:1-5)

 

I’m excited when I read of this encounter between Jesus and Mary Magdalene, to me, it’s an image of things to come when my perishable and wasting away body will be exchanged for an imperishable, everlasting, changed and glorious body.

 

MANNA-Nov 18 2008

John 20:18

“Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.”

 

When I read this passage of scripture I’m pretty confident that Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene at the tomb in the very early morning hours. Once Jesus had spoken to Mary she then goes to the disciples and tells them “I have seen the Lord” and she explains the things Jesus said to her. The next account we have is that the disciples are gathered together in the evening. I wonder what went on between morning and evening? Were the disciples skeptical of Mary? Did the disciples not believe her? I have to wonder, if the disciples believed Mary, wouldn’t they have zoomed back to the tomb again to see Jesus if they did—but John gives us no indication that they did that; which leads me to believe the disciples might have been a bit skeptical of Mary. Perhaps they even thought Mary was just being emotional and discounted what she’d seen and said.

 

“On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’” (v19)

 

Something quite unordinary happens; the door to the room where the disciples were meeting was locked, probably out of fear that the Sanhedrin might be looking for Jesus’ disciples to do the same things to them that they had done to Jesus. Suddenly, Jesus is standing among them. This reminds me of those scenes from the movie Ghost with Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore, when, as a ghost, Patrick Swayze can walk through walls, trains and cars. When Jesus had mentioned to Mary Magdalene earlier in the morning that she couldn’t touch his body because he had not yet ascended to the Father yet, maybe this is an indicator why she couldn’t touch him, there was something otherworldly about Jesus physically that allowed him to pass through solid objects. This sounds very science-fictiony, sort of like Scotty beaming Mr. Spock and Captain Kirk up to the Enterprise in Star Trek.

 

Jesus’ first words to the disciples are “Peace be with you.” In the original language that phrase meant something like “may God give you every good thing.” How amazing of a statement is that! God had given the world every good thing and it was all wrapped up in the very One who was speaking to the disciples at that moment. Could there have been anything better that God could have given the disciples in that moment, or for that matter, for their entire lives than Jesus?

 

I was working on a posting for my blog site last night. A thought had come to me and I wanted to add another paragraph to the introduction to my discussion on Better Than General Tso’s and Sex. Here’s the new opening paragraph that I came up with…”Could it be we’re an over-sexed culture in America? Could it be we’re a sex-saturated culture in America? Could it be that all the ”hot sex,” “porn sex,” “rough sex,” “new sex,” “gay sex,” “sex games” “sex movies,” “sex toys,” “sex books,” “sex clubs,” “sex ads,” “sex TV,” “sex novelties,” “bi-sex,” “lesbian sex,” “same sex,” “self sex,” “kinky sex,” “sex stimulants,” “child sex,” “pay-per-view sex,” “sex shows,” “sex websites,” “sex books,” “sex manuals,” “sex therapists,” “sex addicts,” “raw sex,” “hungry sex,” “group sex,” “orgy sex,” ”bestiality,” and “kiddie porn” are all symptomatic that we’re an over-sexed culture? And, why is it that some people pursue all these things, but their sexual appetite is never satiated?”

 

All those things are found in our newspapers, magazines, TV, radio and other media every day, as well as just walking down the streets of the Short North in Columbus; they’re not new to us, and they’re not even shocking anymore. As I asked in the paragraph, why is it that people’s sexual appetite is never satiated? I could take this same point and apply it to countless other things in our lives; we could say a similar thing about food, spending money shopping, being entertained, acquiring material possessions, work and on and on and on. Why is it that we can never be fully satisfied even when we have vast quantities of these things? I believe Jesus speaks directly to it when he says “peace be with you” or “may God give you every good thing.”

 

I think what we struggle with in our world is that we don’t take The Good Thing that God has given us and completely saturate ourselves in it (Jesus). Without saturating ourselves in Jesus we cannot know how satisfying he is, how fulfilling he is and ultimately how good he is. Without saturation we leave room for other things which we think can help satiate the longing of our hearts and minds. There is a Force at work upon us that is trying to get us to believe that Jesus is inadequate in filling our deepest hunger and thirst to be fulfilled. This same Force wants to suggest to us that sex and food and spending money and entertainment and material possessions and work and other stuff can be the “good thing” we need.

 

“When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.” (v20) Could this have possibly been one of the greatest understatements the world has ever known, “then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord!” I’m guessing that John really didn’t have words to express what seeing Jesus meant to him and the other disciples. What it really meant was “it’s all true!”

 

Everything that Jesus said, everything that Jesus did, everything that Jesus promised, everything that Jesus taught, everything that Jesus believed, everything that Jesus claimed was absolutely true.

 

“Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.’” (v21-23)

 

There is so much going on in these three verses that it makes your head spin to think of all of them and dissect them. First, Jesus could have been saying something like this; “God has given you every good thing, and now I’m sending you to carry on what I started—you’ll be the ones to carry the message of redemption and the good news of the gospel to the world. In fact, that will be a message to the whole world; God offers us every good thing in himself.”

 

Second, when Jesus breathes on the disciples and says “receive the Holy Spirit” it’s reminiscent of Genesis 2:7 “then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.” In a way similar to how God first awakened Adam by breathing life into him, Jesus awakened the disciples (and the Church) for the first time to offer new life to the world.

 

Third, when Jesus says, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld” it seems kind of contradictory to what he taught. Jesus had taught that ONLY God could forgive sins. It seems likely that what Jesus is saying here is that he has now fully equipped the disciples (and the Church) to announce God’s forgiveness to the world. In essence, the disciples’ message to the world is the same message that Jesus gave them as he stepped through the wall or door to stand in their presence “may God give you every good thing.”

 

Every good thing had been given to the disciples from God through Jesus, and now Jesus is instructing his disciples to take that same message to the rest of the world.  

 

It wasn’t enough for the disciples to hear from Mary Magdalene that Jesus had risen from the dead, it required the presence of Jesus in their midst.

 

For us today, if we are to ever believe and behave as though God is more fulfilling than sex and food and spending money and entertainment and material possessions and work and other stuff, it’s going to take Jesus’ presence in us. As Jesus’ disciples today he continues to say that same thing to us—peace be with you.

 

MANNA-Nov 19 2008

John 20:24-25

“Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.’”

 

I doubt that it was by accident that Thomas wasn’t in the room when Jesus first appeared to the other disciples. In reading the gospels we often see the intentionality of Jesus when he did something; the case of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman is a good example. While traveling Jesus tells his disciples he HAS to go through Samaria; that “HAS” was intentionality. I guess it could have been by happenstance that Thomas wasn’t there, but by his absence it would be another teaching opportunity for Jesus.

 

When the disciples tell Thomas “we have seen the Lord” there is no way he is going to believe them. Thomas wants physical proof; he wants to see the nail holes, put his finger in them AND the hole in Jesus’ side. But, it’s the last phrase from Thomas that says the most to me; “I will never believe.” Thomas was forcefully adamant that he would NEVER believe in the resurrected Christ unless he could put his finger in Jesus’ wounds. There might be a bit of hyperbole on Thomas’ part as he’s saying this; as though this would be the ONLY proof he would believe. Is he really discounting the idea of simply seeing Jesus, or hearing his voice, or Jesus coming to him in a dream and proclaiming “I’ alive!” Or, was there something else beneath the surface of Thomas.

 

When I hear Thomas say “I will never believe” in the dogmatic way he did it reminds of similar things I’ve heard Christians say over the years; behind their statements rings great disappointment. The people (including myself at times) have a woundedness that comes from some disappointment with God; God let them down, God didn’t answer a prayer, God allowed a loved one to die, God didn’t come through when somebody really needed him, God still hasn’t come through after all these year, or God allowed some other pain that was nearly overpowering, and it has lodged itself in the person’s heart and mind for considerable time. Each of these people, like Thomas, would identify themselves as disciples of Jesus.

 

A few examples come to my mind; I spoke with a young guy not too long ago who carried the wound of God allowing his sister to die at a young age. I once spoke with a woman in her late twenties whose six year old daughter had developed Leukemia; she carried the wound of her daughter’s illness. I had a conversation with a man once who explained to me that his daughter had been molested by a ministry worker in the Church; in his wounded state I think he would like to place his hands around that guys neck and squeeze until his eyeballs popped out.

 

In each of these people I heard comments very similar to what Thomas said when he announced “I will never believe.” This causes me to wonder if Thomas had felt and experienced great disappointment with Jesus. All of the promises that Jesus spoke of; his announcement that HE was the Messiah, the proclamation of the arrival of the Kingdom of God, and the promise of eternal life had likely lodged themselves in Thomas’ mind somewhere and he, like the other disciples (and like us today) put great hope in Jesus. Thomas knew that Jesus had holes in his hands, feet and side, and he knew that Jesus had died, and with his death he took all of the promises. I could see Thomas being disappointed in all that.

 

“Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’” (v26)

 

Once again Jesus performs his walking through the door or wall deal; maybe that alone caused Thomas to believe that it really was Jesus and he was alive. That might have convinced me—in fact, if that happened at my house today, I would surely believe.

 

Jesus offers that same greeting “peace be with you,” or, “may God give you every good thing.” What a juxtaposition Jesus’ statement was as it fell upon the ears of Thomas who was probably doubting that anything good existed in the world anymore.

 

“Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’” (v27-28) The first thing Jesus does is offer proof in the form that Thomas demanded—he shows him his hands and offers him his side.

 

When Mary Magdalene first encountered Jesus at the tomb, she didn’t recognize him until he spoke her name. Her response was “Rabboni”—teacher. When Thomas sees Jesus and his wounds his first words were “My Lord and my God!” All of our first responses to Jesus are different; each of us sees him in our lives in different ways and through the lens of different needs. Some people respond first to Jesus intellectually, others first respond to Jesus as a healer, or a helper, or a provider.

 

When Jesus extends his hands to Thomas, I can’t help but think there something going on that is incredibly deep; it’s almost as though Jesus shows Thomas his own wounds and is saying, without saying it, “I did this for you, for all your wounds, for all your disappointments, for the whole worlds disappointments; this is what my death bought–my wounds for your wounds.”

 

“Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’ Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (v29-31)

 

Jesus gives Thomas perspective in these moments; he’s saying “Thomas, you now believe because you’ve seen my wounds—that’s what you demanded, but there are people who have already believed and who will believe and they’ll never see what you’ve seen!” I can imagine that Thomas looked a bit sheepish at this moment, perhaps even lowering his head over his foolishness to demand to see the wounds of Jesus as proof of him being alive.

 

John makes a great point when he says “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book.” Throughout Jesus’ ministry many people saw the miraculous signs Jesus did, but never became his disciples—they never believed that he was the Son of God. Proof, as Thomas found out, isn’t the tipping point of our belief, it’s faith given to us by God’s Holy Spirit. John indicated that he was writing the things he did so others, others who would read what he had written might believe. Those who would believe because they read would believe out of faith, having never seen Jesus in the flesh.

 

All of those people (and many more) that I’ve spoken with who carry their disappointment with God with them because of their wounds, unfortunately place the blame for their wounds on God, wanting to know why he allowed something to happen to them. But what they fail to see is the same thing that Thomas failed to see– Jesus’ wounds were for the healing of Thomas’ woundedness…and theirs too.

 

MANNA-Nov 20 2008

John 21:1-3

“After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We will go with you.’ They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.”

 

John indicates that this is at least the third time Jesus reveals himself to people after his resurrection; it might even be the fourth if we include Jesus appearing to Mary Magadalene at the tomb. Jesus first appeared to the disciples locked in a room without Thomas, then appeared to them locked in a room with Thomas, and now he appears to seven of the disciples who are out fishing. The more I think about this appearance of Jesus the more I want to believe it was primarily for Peter. Jesus had some unsettled business with Peter and this is where he chooses to settle it with him.

 

There’s some indication that Peter has returned to doing what he did when he met Jesus, fishing. I don’t know that he fully threw himself into fishing again after Jesus’ death; and I’m equally uncertain that Peter fully gave up fishing when he became Jesus’ disciple, otherwise how would he have made a living and how would the collective disciples have had a treasury bag from which Judas had been stealing.

 

I think it’s significant that Peter is out fishing again when Jesus appears to him and these other disciples. Jesus had first called Peter to be one of his disciples with the promise/challenge “’Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’” (Matthew 4:19) The three years that Peter was a disciple of Jesus was his instruction on how to be a fisher of men rather than a fisher of fish. Nevertheless, Peter is back fishing for fish.

 

“Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, ‘Children, do you have any fish?’ They answered him, ‘No.’ He said to them, ‘Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. (v4-6) There are probably a multitude of things happening when Jesus says ‘Children, do you have any fish?’ The fact that Jesus uses the word “Children” might well have been an endearing comment that illustrates Jesus’ close relationship with his disciples, and in a language that they understood to be personal to them. Remember, this was Peter who had initiated the fishing trip, and I think everything is moving toward an interaction between Peter and Jesus. Not to be lost amidst the fishing is that Jesus had done things similar to this while he was with the disciples, and it was with Peter. In Matthew 17 Jesus is confronted by those who collected the temple tax and challenged as to whether he should be paying the tax. In order to pay the tax he send Peter out fishing and tells him “’Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.’” (Matthew 17:27)

 

This is how Jesus has to teach me so often too. The Lord will give me a lesson on some thing in my life; some issue, some blind spot, some weakness, some sin, some area of disobedience, or simply something he wants me to learn about being a disciple of his. I do okay for a while, then things crop up that totally distract me from working on that area that Jesus has brought to my attention. Rather than continuing to focus on learning what it was that Jesus was trying to teach me, I go off on some rabbit trail chasing something else, something I deem more important. Then, Jesus has to come back to me and bring me back around to focusing again on that issue he had me originally focus on; and in lots of cases, he has to start the instruction process all over again—I’ve completely slipped or forgotten what Jesus had originally taught me, or I only learned bits and pieces of what he was trying to get me to learn.

 

Peter doesn’t easily recognize the person speaking to him as Jesus, but John does. “That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.” (v7)

 

We would expect Peter to jump out of the boat and into the sea to make his way to Jesus; that was typical Peter. Peter’s actions often remind me of people I meet on a regular basis in ministry. I come across some people some times who are the first to jump into something in order to serve out of their own neediness. They want to serve others because in doing so a need in their own life is met; a need of affirmation, a need of acceptance, a need of feeling important, a need of measuring they’re serving God, and other needs that fill their emotional gas tanks. In some regards this is Peter too. Peter always had to be the first to do something that Jesus was involved in. Lots of times I want to chock this up to Peter’s immaturity or Peter’s personality, or that he was impetuous. But, in other ways I can’t help but think that Peter had some emotional need within himself that was met each time he jumped to the forefront of something Jesus was doing. Maybe Peter was trying to convince himself that he was a true and good disciple of Jesus.

 

“The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.’ So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.” (v8-11)

 

Peter, more and more, becomes the focal point of Jesus’ encounter with this group of disciples. Peter swims to shore; the other disciples bring the boat and the catch of fish in. For some reason, Jesus tells the disciples to “bring some of the fish that you have just caught,” yet Jesus has already made breakfast and it’s cooking on the fire on the beach. Once again, Peter is the first to react and runs to the boat and begins to haul onto the beach a net filled with 153 fish—I’m sure Peter needed help getting the fish onto the beach though.

 

“Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.” (v12-14)

 

The invitation to Peter (and the other disciples) to come and have breakfast with Jesus was likely a proverbial olive branch; Jesus is extending peace and grace to Peter, and the rest of the disciples, since they all (except John) had collectively abandoned Jesus during his arrest, trial and crucifixion. It’s the offer of redemption to the disciples, even after they’ve blown it, and especially Peter. In the coming verses Jesus will offer restoration to Peter as an individual.

 

This is the beautiful thing about Jesus; he can teach and instruct us, he can call us and have expectations of us, and all the while he knows we are made of dust, that we’re frail, that we fail, that we’re unfaithful, that we’re weak, that we have a tendency to return to what we’ve always done, that in our neediness we take the focus off Jesus and put it upon ourselves, and yet he still pursues us out of his great love for us.

 

MANNA-Nov 21 2008

John 21:15

“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Feed my lambs’.”

 

There’s probably years’ worth of teachings in what transpires between Jesus and Peter in this latter part of this chapter of John. Theologians have taught, pastors have preached, and in some cases people have debated, but clearly the movement of this chapter has been toward Jesus’ restoration of Peter.

 

Much can be made of Jesus asking Peter three times if he loved him; which would correspond to Peter’s three denials of Jesus; equally as much can be made of Jesus’ admonition to Peter to care for his sheep. And for all intents and purposes Jesus could be saying these same things to the other disciples; all except for maybe John, because all had abandoned Jesus at his arrest. Peter was unique in that his denials of Jesus sprang from his proud and braggadocios claim that he would never deny Jesus.

 

In the three instances in which Jesus asks Peter if he loves him, the exchange from Peter is that he loves him with brotherly love, while Jesus is driving toward agape love—sacrificial love; the love the Father has for the Son.

 

But it is Jesus’ first question that plants itself in my mind and is absolutely relative to my life today, in regards to my relationship with Jesus. Jesus’ first question is “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” I notice the question isn’t “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” There is deep significance to what Jesus says when he includes the phrase “more than these.”

 

One has to ask the question “what are THESE?” What are the THESE that Jesus is referring to? I think it’s fairly clear what the THESE are; it’s the fish that Peter had just caught.

 

Jesus is asking Peter “do you love me more than these fish.” Clearly Peter and the disciples were fishing when Jesus steps onto the beach and calls out to them. Up to that point they hadn’t caught any fish. Jesus tells them to let their nets out on the right side of the boat, and when they do they have a huge catch, so much so that it probably should have ripped the nets.

 

Jesus already had breakfast cooking on his little beach Hibachi; fresh fish and bread were waiting for Peter and the disciples. But Jesus does something really interesting; he tells Peter and the disciples to bring some of the fish they’d just caught. There really wasn’t a need for the fish; Jesus already had fish prepared for them. Immediately, Peter springs into action (just as he had been the first to say he would never deny Jesus) and hauls the entire net of 153 fish onto the beach where Jesus is standing.

 

There are so many similarities in what happens here with what happened when Peter proclaimed that he would never deny Jesus, that is shear genius on Jesus’ part to expose them.

 

Jesus is exposing Peter’s heart and what’s important to him when he asks “do you love me more than these.” After Jesus’ death, after his resurrection, after having seen Jesus twice come through the door (or wall) where the disciples were meeting, Peter is back out fishing—and he’s not fishing for men, but fish. It’s additionally interesting that Peter and the disciples caught no fish prior to Jesus telling them where to drop their nets.

 

Jesus’ call on Peter’s life is the same call that he places on my life and every believers’ life; become fishers of men. My struggle is that I find lots of things, good things, to busy myself with that aren’t about fishing for men; in actuality it’s my version of Peter’s fishing for fish. Peter was just doing what he had always done, and that’s what I do far too often also. That’s what many of us modern day disciples of Jesus do also. We all do good and necessary stuff; but to the neglect of the best stuff; fishing for men—the souls of men.

 

Jesus is looking at the 153 fish that Peter has just brought ashore. Somewhere somebody had to have counted how many fish were in that net to know that there were 153 fish. The surprising thing to Peter and the disciples is that the net didn’t break with so many fish in it. I mean…that’s a fisherman’s dream—a catch like that. Fish meant livelihood, fish meant income, fish meant security, fish meant success and catching fish today meant they could probably go back out and fish tomorrow.

 

All the while Jesus wants to know from Peter; do you love me more than these fish. “If you do Peter, then feed my lambs.”

 

“He said to him a second time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’” (v16)

 

Now Jesus simply asks Peter “do you love me.” Not “do you love me more than these fish,” but, “do YOU love ME.” Jesus wants to know if Peter loves him with agape love; the sacrificial love that the Father has for the Son. Peter is correct when he says “yes, Lord; you know…” Jesus knew exactly what was in Peter’s heart; he knew the kind of love Peter had for him. I don’t know if Peter uses brotherly love to describe his love for Jesus partly because the other disciples are around, or simply because Peter isn’t ready to sacrificially love Jesus. Either way, Jesus’ response is “tend my sheep.”

 

When Jesus uses the words “lamb” and “sheep” he is obviously referring to people; and people is what Jesus had called Peter to be a fisher of.

 

In all our lives, as disciples of Jesus, we can get so busy at making a living that we forget what and who we’re living for; I know that I do that. Even as a pastor I get so caught up in the day-to-day maintenance of the church and the direction it’s headed, that I neglect to feed the lambs and care for the sheep and fish for men. I know that it’s equally as easy to do for those disciples who work long and hard days in the office, or in the factory, or in the shop, or on the phones or serving customers. Then, the question becomes “who are my lambs, and who are my sheep, and do I recognize there are fish flopping around me everyday every place I go?” 

 

“He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.” (v17)

 

I don’t think it was Jesus’ intent to rub Peter’s nose in the fact that Peter had denied Jesus three times, by asking him three times if Peter loved him. I think Jesus was simply helping Peter locate his own heart, his own passion and his own level of commitment to Jesus. I think that’s what Jesus does with me regularly too. Jesus will bring people and circumstances and events into my life that causes me to take a step back and evaluate what’s important in my life. Can some THING like preparing for Gallery Hop wait, while I tend to one of Jesus’ lambs or sheep or a fish flopping on the ground gasping for breath? What’s my priority? What’s important? What really matters in light of eternity?

 

We’re not told specifically what Peter’s grief is over when asked three times by Jesus; “do you love me.” We can speculate; we can speculate that Jesus has finally broken through to Peter’s hard heart; we can speculate that Peter is ashamed of his denial and the force of it all hits him for the first time; we can speculate that Peter’s pretty embarrassed about all of this in front of the other disciples; we can speculate that Peter might have been wondering if Jesus was going to continue this line of questioning beyond three times.

 

“Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.’ 19(This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, ‘Follow me.’” (v18-19)

 

When Jesus makes these comments, something has happened. Jesus knows that Peter has reached a point of commitment; his life for the gospel. Jesus describes how Peter will be led when he is older; he will be led to his death as a martyr for Christ. Peter has died to loving fishing for fish and finally understands Jesus’ call upon his life is to fish for men. Peter is humbled over his denial and this restoration process that Jesus has taken him through. Throughout the book of Acts and in the other Epistles Peter’s impetuous spirit and attitude seems to have disappeared. We get an indication that Peter struggles with pride at some point still (but then so does Paul with John Mark).

 

Lastly, Jesus ends his conversation with Peter by reminding him of their first meeting; “While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’” (Matthew 4:18-19)

 

Jesus simply says to Peter, “follow me.”

 

I keep hearing that same thing from Jesus too.

 

MANNA-Nov 24 2008

John 21:20-21

“Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who had been reclining at table close to him and had said, ‘Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?’ When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, what about this man?’”

 

When Jesus said to Peter “follow me” in verse 19 it appears that it might have a two-fold meaning. An obvious meaning was that Jesus wanted Peter to follow his leading, his example, and his direction for Peter’s life. However, it seems there’s a second meaning; I think Jesus was being quite literal when he said “follow me,” and he and Peter got up from the rest of the disciples and began to take a walk.

 

The text in verse 20 seems to point to that when it says “Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them.” In my vivid imagination the exchange between Jesus and Peter, as Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him; after the third time Peter gets upset and frustrated with Jesus, and in that moment Jesus says something like “c’mon Peter, lets take a walk, just you and me, there’s more I want to talk with about, but these guys don’t really need to hear it.”

 

Imagine being in Peter’s sandals; Jesus had just explained to him what kind of death he was going to die, and in that moment Peter realizes it isn’t going to be pretty. Peter would be led captive similar to how Jesus was when he was arrested. Church history and tradition indicates that Peter was crucified, upside-down on an x-shaped cross, in Rome, which would explain Jesus’ comments when he said “when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (John 21:18)

 

I can’t help but think for Peter it was a “holy crap” moment! In that moment of conversation with Jesus, Peter may be thinking to himself “hooooooly crap, THAT is how I’m going to die;” which may be the reason he says to Jesus what he does, “Lord, what about this man?” Peter looks over his shoulder and sees John following nearby and essentially asks Jesus, “what about John, how’s he going to die?”

 

I can’t count the number of times I’ve done something similar to what Peter did. I want to measure my faith walk against other people’s faith walk. I want to measure my dedication to Jesus against others’ dedication to Jesus. I want to compare myself to other disciples of Jesus. I want to look at my circumstances and say “why are you putting me through this; what about so-and-so?”

 

As with Peter, I think Jesus, in those moments, just wants to say to me, “hey, YOU follow me, YOU embrace what I have planned for you, and YOU let me worry about those other people. This is what I’ve called YOU to do with your life; are YOU going to do it?”

 

In that moment of conversation with Peter, I think that’s what Jesus is wanting from Peter. In some ways Jesus could be saying, “Peter, I just asked your three times if you love me; I just asked you if you love me more than fish and fishing, I just told you I’m all about you taking care of my sheep; now, are you going to buy-in to everything I want of you, or, will your commitment to me only be equal to what others’ commitment is. Are you only going to commit to me at the level that others are? I want EVERYTHING, Peter…EVERYTHING!”

 

“Jesus said to him, ‘If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!’” (v22)

 

Peter is learning in a very hard way how to give up his life; all his self-directed responses, all his impetuousness, all of his attempts at being in control and controlling the trajectory of his life. Peter’s surrender must have been similar to an addict coming off of crack or Jack Daniels—the withdrawal was agonizing, the temptation to go back to what was predictable and comforting was always prevalent, the “need” was deeply engrained in him, he had always physically reacted.

 

So often we think others’ life with Christ is so much more easy or sexy/glamorous than ours. Peter looked at John and hadn’t heard any discussion with Jesus that would indicate that John was going to die a martyr’s death. History and tradition however says that John too faced martyrdom when he was boiled in a huge basin of boiling oil during a wave of persecution in Rome. However, he was miraculously delivered from death. John was then exiled to Patmos with a sentence of working in the mines on the prison island. According to tradition John died as an old man, the only apostle not martyred. I’m not sure who had it worse, Peter, or John.

 

“So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, ‘If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?’” (v23)

 

I have a question at this point; when John writes “so the saying spread abroad among the brothers,” I wonder who spread this saying? John writes that he understood perfectly what Jesus had said to Peter; so logically, either Peter or another disciple spread this misunderstanding of what Jesus had said to Peter. I’m kind of thinking it was probably Peter himself, it fits his personality and reputation.

 

I do this too; sometimes I’ll have a conversation in which I almost paint myself and my experiences out to be unique in the entire world for all times. NOBODY as experienced what I have; NOBODY has been treated how I’ve been treated; NOBODY has had to endure what I’ve had to endure; NOBODY has ever felt what I’m feeling; NOBODY has ever been under duress or stress the way I have. Or, I’ll do the reverse; THAT PERSON over there (Christian) has had it so easy in life; THAT PERSON has never experienced pain, THAT PERSON was born with a silver spoon in their mouth; THAT PERSON has done all kinds of junk and still God blesses them.

 

“This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.” (v24)

 

John finally identifies himself as the author and witness to everything he has written about. This account by John must have been very challenging for him. How does one remain humble with the title “the disciple Jesus loved?” How does one write a first person account without making oneself the central figure of the story?

 

John focused his Gospel on Jesus; it was always about Jesus’ deity, Jesus’ love, Jesus’ power, Jesus being God. If John hadn’t experienced everything first hand, then the story might have been more about himself than Jesus. I think that holds true for us today also; when we experience Jesus first hand, he’s the one that we talk about most, think about most and are focused on the most. What’s most important to us is what we talk about the most. Jesus was the most important thing to John.

 

“Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” (v25)

 

As John concludes his Gospel with this last statement it would be easy for us to think that the “other things” that John refers to here; things the “world itself could not contain” in books, would be things about Jesus’ life and what he had done in his 33+ years here on the earth. However, I really wonder if it would be about Jesus life as a man, or, would it be about Jesus as God. Jesus as God would fill every book that could ever possibly be written throughout all eternity and still never contained or never fully encompass all that Jesus is.

 

 

 

 

 

MANNA-Nov 25 2008

Jonah 1:1-2

“Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, ’Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.’”

 

Everybody knows the story of Jonah; God makes a request, Jonah disobeys, big fish swallows Jonah, Jonah repents and does God’s deal and they live happily ever after! That kind of sounds like my daily existence sometimes—God making a request, me disobeying, a metaphorical big fish swallows me, I repent, but the living happily ever after is going to have to wait until I’m home in heaven. Of course there’s a bunch of details in between all those things, and that was true for Jonah also; the in between details of his life.

 

Imagine being Jonah and one day the word of the Lord comes to you. I really like it when the word of the Lord comes to me; I love sensing the connection of God’s Spirit with my spirit; I love knowing that God isn’t silent. So, I wonder if Jonah heard God’s voice audibly, or if he sensed God’s voice in an inner way. I’m leaning toward the idea that Jonah heard directly and audibly from God, especially since Jonah tells us what God said. Jonah hears the word of the Lord, which sometimes can be a fearful thing or daunting thing. God wants Jonah to go to Nineveh, a great city, and call out (preach or prophesy) against it because they’re doing evil.

 

God can lay some pretty heavy things on us as people some times; things that we could never do in our own power or strength; things that seem like an impossibility, things we’re afraid of attempting, things we don’t even want to consider doing because we can’t get our minds around how they’re going to get done. Maybe that’s where Jonah was with what God was asking him to do.

 

I’ve been right there! I’ve been where Jonah was. That’s how Ekklesia came to be. In June of 2003 I had just begun working in full-time vocational ministry; I was Director of Discipleship at New Life Church, I was pastor to young adults and terribly excited those first 3-4 months. However, in October I was having a great restlessness inside of me and could not pinpoint what it was. I spent three days of prayer and fasting alone with God and during that time received God’s vision for Ekklesia. And, as with God’s request of Jonah, the vision for Ekklesia was nearly overwhelming! In some ways I wanted to do what Jonah did, run the other direction. It was all too big for me; I couldn’t get my mind around what God was dreaming and asking.

 

A few days after I returned from my time of prayer and fasting with God I was driving into the office one day, praying as I drove, having a pretty animated discussion with God about Ekklesia. I told God that this whole thing had to be his deal, that it couldn’t be my deal, because if it were my deal I would screw it up—and I had already screwed so many things up in my life that I couldn’t and wouldn’t screw this up. I told God that it was so overwhelming to me and that if it really was him and I was really supposed to do this that he had to confirm it 100 different ways.

 

God spent the next two years readying me for Ekklesia by providing those 100 confirmations. I guess Jonah just needed his confirmations in a different way.

 

“But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.” (v3)

 

Jonah does something pretty brazen, he purposefully moves away from God. I bet if you were to ask Jonah about that today he would likely suggest that you not do that with God. Can there be any more of a safe place than to be where God is? Can there be any more security, comfort, peace and assurance in your life than being where God is? Isn’t that what most of us strive for—to find out where God is and get close to him? And, when we’re in his presence isn’t that where we want to linger? Don’t we always want to be on the mountaintop with God? Not Jonah though; Jonah didn’t like what he was hearing while in God’s presence and decided to move away from God.

 

I’ve done that too! Man, I’m more like Jonah than I realized. There have been times in my life that I purposefully looked at God and said “sorry, but I don’t think I’m going that way, God.” Those might have ended up being the darkest days of my adult life. God will let you move away from him; God will let you go the direction that you want to go—I lived that and did that! Jonah makes his decision to do that too.

 

Isn’t it interesting, when Jonah decides to move away from God, he has to go looking for ways that will help him do that? Jonah heads toward Joppa, looks for a ship that will take him to Tarshish. It’s interesting; nobody seems to really know where Tarshish was. Historians, scholars and biblical experts have all speculated that Tarshish could have been Cilicia in Southeast Turkey or Spain or Tunis in North Africa or Cyprus or Sicily or Crete, or somewhere in the Western Mediterranean or Asia Minor or even the British Isles. So, we’re not exactly sure where Jonah was heading, but we know it was where God wasn’t. Jonah just wanted to be away from God. At that moment Jonah and God were having their conversation near modern day Mosul, Iraq.

 

When I visited Iraq last year we spent part of a day not too far from Mosul. We drove a narrow winding road up a mountain and as we got to the top we were able to look across what were the plains of Nineveh. A small gazebo had been constructed on top of the mountain in honor of Jonah. I remember standing there thinking, “okay, Nineveh is over there, so Jonah must have went THAT way” and I looked 180 degrees the opposite direction.

 

There’s something else that amazes me about Jonah, he paid to get away from God. Jonah purchased passage on a ship that was headed for Tarshish.

 

I wonder if we really consider the cost of following God? When we are introduced to who Jesus is, and we’re told of how good life can become with him; when we’re told of the offer of forgiveness of sin and reconciliation with God; do we realize what it’s going to cost us? In fact, do we tell others what it will cost them? I wonder if Jonah knew what it would cost him to follow God; I doubt it, because by this point he wasn’t concerned with what the cost was to come to God, but what the cost was to move away from God.

 

This time in Jonah’s life reminds me of Madonna the pop singer. In 2000 she married Guy Richie and they seemed like the happily married couple for several years. However, their marriage ended this year, and it’s been reported that Guy Richie may have received as much as 70 million dollars in their divorce settlement. There was a time when Madonna was totally in love with Guy Richie, but in the end she was willing to pay nearly any price to get away from him.

 

MANNA-Nov 26 2008

Jonah 1:4

“But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up.”

 

As the ship that Jonah is sailing on encounters this hurricane-like storm, I wonder what was going through Jonah’s mind? Did Jonah even make the connection that the storm was happening because of him? Did Jonah think that the moment he chose to move away from God that the issue of going to Nineveh was over?

 

Throughout the history of the Israelites they too often failed to see “cause and effect.” They failed to understand that their disobedience led to problems and a miserable life; this can especially be seen in 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings and 1 & 2 Chronicles. Those books of the Bible are filled with story after story of people, including kings, priests and other leaders who lived their lives apart from God and brought terrible consequences upon themselves because of it.

 

“Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep.” (v5)

 

Jonah must have been super annoyed at God when he was asked by God to go and preach to Nineveh. Not only did Jonah say “no” to God about going to Nineveh, he moves away from God so that he doesn’t have to potentially deal with the issue again, and now he’s totally indifferent to the desires of God, so much so that he’s asleep in the bottom of the ship while the storm is raging and the sailors are fearful for their lives.

 

Nineveh was a city of pagans, not Israelites. In fact, throughout much of Israel’s history those pagans from Nineveh were often at war with Israel—Nineveh was the land of the Assyrians. Maybe that’s why Jonah had such a problem going to them, he hated Assyrians, and he knew their murderous history against Israel.

 

It seems as though the sailors on the ship came from a variety of background, and it appears that all of them worshipped something other than God, they “each cried out to his god,” that god with a small “g”.

 

Something I’ve noticed in my own past is that when I choose to move away from God, when I choose not to obey him, when I choose to do my own thing and live life the way I want to live it; I find myself moving in circles of people who don’t know or love God. I don’t know if I’ve done it consciously or sub-consciously, but I did it. Maybe it allowed me to experience less conviction from God, since these people wouldn’t even be talking about God or care much about what God thought. They were almost like “human Novocain” that helped to numb the pain of living life apart from God.

 

The sailors are trying everything they know to calm the storm; they first pray and try to call out to their gods to appease their gods; then when that doesn’t work they take matters in to their own hands and begin throwing the cargo overboard to lighten the ship so that it can move more freely in the storm. That too is a picture of a life I once lived when I lived apart from God. The tougher life got, the more I took matters into my own hands to try and deal with stuff that was going on. If I was having financial problems, I simply took on an additional job and worked more hours. If I was having health problems, I’d simply go to the doctor for a cure. But, I never made the connection that those things were happening because I had moved away from God.

 

“So the captain came and said to him, ‘What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.’” (v6)

 

I can envision it; the captain is in a panic, his ship is about to sink, they’ve tried everything they can to save the ship, they’ve tossed the cargo overboard, all the sailors are doing everything they possibly can to help, people are praying to their gods, the captain’s probably pulling his hair out trying think what he could possibly do next and as he stumbles down the stairs to the lower part of the ship he finds Jonah asleep. I can imagine the captain saying something like, “what the heck…get your sorry behind up; don’t you know we’re about to sink, how can you be sleeping at a time like this?” I’m only guessing, but I’m pretty confident that there were several expletives throw in by the captain, including maybe dropping the equivalent of the “F-bomb” when he refers to Jonah as “you sleeper.”

 

And in that moment God uses the captain to convict Jonah of his sin of disobedience. There’s really nothing that Jonah could do that the sailors hadn’t already done, except pray. In that moment I believe God reminds Jonah, “Jonah, I haven’t gone anywhere, even though you have. And, I haven’t changed my mind about Nineveh either. You can run but you can’t hide.”

 

I’ve had that happen too in my life. When I’ve made a conscious choice to move away from God, to disobey him, to live life on my own, to do what I want to do, God has used people who don’t even have any belief or faith in God as convicting tools in my life. Sadly, sometimes non-Christians are more aware of what Christians should be doing than Christians are themselves, especially when Christians are living like the pagans.

 

The pagan captain, without knowing it, had some understanding of the heart of God in that moment…knowing that God “…is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) God didn’t want Jonah to perish; God wanted Jonah to obey. God didn’t even want the sailors to perish. God’s heart has always been for all the peoples of the earth. Maybe this was part of the problem Jonah was having with God; maybe Jonah fully understood God’s promise to Abram “Now the LORD said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’” (Genesis 12:1-3) God didn’t want the Assyrians of Nineveh to perish either.

 

Some times I see the “cause and effect” in some of its most simple forms, like when I’m having a rotten day and it’s only 9:30am, and in that moment I realize I didn’t spend time with God that morning. Like lots of people, I won’t recognize it for what it is because I think there has to be some other cause—stuff like…people are jerks when they drive on MY freeway in the morning, or what moron took two parking spaces so that I couldn’t have one, or the clerk at Giant Eagle must have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. When in reality it all is me.

 

Maybe one of the best things we can do as Christians is follow the example of the captain on that ship that Jonah was on; when things aren’t going well, when things seem to be falling apart all around us, when there’s no explanation for why life is the pits right now—pray—perhaps God will give a thought to us, and we’ll realize that the problem is us and our relationship with God.

 

MANNA-Nov 28 2008

 

Jonah 1:7

“And they said to one another, ‘Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us.’ So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.”

 

Casting lots seems like a rather superstitious way of getting an answer for something; it seems like it might be right up there with looking into a crystal ball or reading somebody’s palms or reading tea leaves. However, without knowing the God who created everything and knows the beginning from the end, one would tend to look anywhere and everywhere for some help, especially if your ship is about to sink.

 

I came across an interesting website last week called Stumble Upon. The site allows you to build a profile of Interests you have; it puts a small toolbar on your computer then allows you to click a button that will provide you with random websites based upon your Interests. In my Interests I constructed things like religion, Christianity, philosophy, writing, God, Jesus, books and a few others. I’ve spent a little time stumbling upon random websites to discover a vast number of people who don’t know God or Jesus.

 

What I’ve discovered is this; when somebody doesn’t know the God of Creation they tend to create their own gods, and some of those gods are; metaphysics, agnosticism, atheism, Taoism, Jainism, humanism, Islam, Buddhism and the list goes on. I stumbled upon one site that was sort of a clearing house for atheistic organizations. The site had a map of the world that showed countries and continents divided by simple black lines, and then there was what looked like a red teardrop about the size of a pea used to indicate where affiliated atheistic organizations were located across the globe. There were a few of the red teardrops scattered across Europe, an occasional one in the far east and Australia, many more in Canada, and the map of the United States could not be seen because of the number of red teardrops covering it.

 

The sailors on Jonah’s ship had all prayed to their gods seeking relief from the storm, they were convinced there had to be an answer out there somewhere—if they implored enough gods surely they would stumble upon the one that was causing the maelstrom. That kind of sums up our world too; lots of people are looking to lots of gods for their peace. Even though the atheists say they don’t believe in God they’re on as much as a quest to find answers as anybody. After reading a few of their sites it’s very clear to see that their god is themselves—they have the answers for everything.

 

“Then they said to him, ‘Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?’” (v8)

 

Once the lot had fallen to Jonah the sailors want to know on whose account the storm (evil) had come upon them. They supposed that somebody somewhere did something to make God angry. The sailors begin peppering Jonah with questions trying to get an answer out of him. “What’s your occupation?” “Where do you come from?” “What’s your country?” “What people are you a part of?” There’s an implication here among the sailors that if we just ask enough questions, we’ll eventually come up with the answer we’re looking for. That kind of reminds me of Fortune Tellers and some TV prosperity preachers; if they cast a broad enough net, surely something will land in it.

 

“And he said to them, ‘I am a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.’ Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, ‘What is this that you have done!’ For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.” (v9-10)

 

Jonah makes a rather simple statement; I’m a Hebrew, and I fear God! Jonah knows exactly why this is happening, and it doesn’t have anything to do with the pagan beliefs or pagan gods of the sailors; this whole thing is about Jonah and he can’t deny it.

 

At some point, from the time Jonah got on the ship until he was now having this conversation with the sailors, he had mentioned to some of them that he was running away from God; “fleeing from the presence of the Lord.” I think it’s really interesting that Jonah would tell some sailor “uh, yeah, I’m kind of like trying to get free of God because he’s asked me to do something that I don’t wanna do, ya know?”

 

I can’t help but think, in some ways Jonah either wanted somebody to feel sorry for him, or he’s making himself out to be some kind of martyr figure. I’ve found myself trying to do that before. I look back and I think, “man, Dillman; that was strange of you to do that kind of stuff. That totally didn’t make any sense!” What didn’t make sense, now that I look back on it, is that I was having conversations with people who couldn’t do anything about my circumstances, rather than having conversation with God, who could do something about my circumstances. These sailors couldn’t help Jonah in the least, except to affirm his complaint that God wanted him to do something he didn’t want to do.

 

That’s how I’ve used other people as sounding boards too; I simply wanted somebody to agree with me, even though I wasn’t right. And that’s what Jonah is doing here too; he wanted the sailors to empathize with him even though he was disobeying God and doing his own thing.

 

As I stumbled upon various websites the other day almost all of them had one thing in common; they all were looking for other people to agree with them in what their belief was; atheists wanted to find more atheists who would affirm their beliefs; agnostics wanted to find more agnostics to affirm their beliefs; and humanists wanted to find more humanists to affirm their beliefs.

 

I’m certain that God has placed in the human conscience something that tells us there is a God; Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 3:11 “He has also set eternity in the hearts of men.” In order for us humans to quiet our God-consciousness we often need others to help us do that; others who are doing that same thing—trying to eradicate God from their conscience. That might explain why Jonah at some point had had a conversation with some of the sailors explaining the fact that he was running away from God.

 

Just because Jonah was running away from God, it didn’t cause God to stop existing, nor did it stop God from pursuing Jonah to do what God wanted him to do. And just because atheists claim there is no God, it doesn’t impact God’s existence either.

 

MANNA-Dec 1 2008

Jonah 1:11-12

“Then they said to him, ‘What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?’ For the sea grew more and more tempestuous. He said to them, ‘Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.’”

 

I love this turn of events in Jonah’s life, it’s similar to what we see in the lives of other great Bible personalities; people like Samson, when he was blinded and placed between the two pillars of the temple, and David, when Nathan the Prophet confronted him, and Jacob, when he was returning to Canaan knowing Esau was on the way to meet him with 400 men. Jonah, like Samson, David and Jacob, they all had reached a point in their lives where they could do nothing but say to God “do with me as you want, God, I’ve come to my end.”

 

Jonah was willing that the sailors toss him into the sea to spare the lives of those on the ship—Jonah was a broken man. I doubt that Jonah knew that God would send a giant fish to swallow him; I think Jonah was just assuming life was over for him if the sailors did what he was encouraging them to do.

 

Some times God has to empty us of everything that is in us; all our energy, all our resources, all our self-reliance, all our self-will, all our self-confidence, all our resistance, all our desire to turn and run the other direction. I don’t think it’s ever easy or comfortable or pleasant or painless; but it is always necessary, and it was necessary with Jonah.

 

“Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them.” (v13)

 

There something rather amazing in this verse about the sailors—they don’t want to throw Jonah overboard. The amazing thing is that these men in this moment are more righteous than Jonah; the men don’t want evil to happen to Jonah, they want good for him, they really don’t seem to want God to punish Jonah, I mean, they could have said “yeah, this guy’s the problem, let’s throw him overboard and appease his God and the sea will calm down.” These appear to be genuinely good guys; they even rowed harder trying to get the ship back to land.

 

But, the sailors discover something very quickly, and it was some of same things Jonah was learning; you can’t resist God when he is intent on seeing something happen. No matter how much the sailors wanted to keep Jonah, their passenger, safe, no matter how much they wanted to save the ship, the more they struggled against God the stronger the storm became. That’s what was happening with Jonah—the further he ran away from God, the more he resisted, the worse things got, until he surrendered.

 

“Therefore they called out to the LORD, ‘O LORD, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O LORD, have done as it pleased you.’ So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging.” (v14-15)

 

This part of the story of Jonah is like a good Michael Crichton book (Congo, The Andromeda Strain, The Lost World), the tension becomes so thick that you realize that something has to give, the defining moment of the story is about to occur. The sailors are trying everything they know, and with all their might to save ship and soul, and in that moment they themselves begin to cry out to God. Imagine that, men who aren’t believers in Jonah’s God begin to pray to his God; they don’t want to be responsible for throwing Jonah overboard, they don’t want to kill a man.

 

There is a story within the story, God’s attempting to get Jonah’s full attention, and in doing so he’s gotten the sailors’ full attention. God used even the events of Jonah running from him and his journey on this ship to impact the lives of others, others who don’t know God. And, the sailors have great insight to God’s character and work in this moment when they say “for you, O LORD, have done as it pleased you.” The sailors, during this short, tempestuous trip, came to know some things about God.

 

Jonah is thrown into the sea and it stops raging. Do we see what happens at our time of surrender? When Samson was fully surrendered to God, even though his life would come to an end, Samson would have peace in knowing that he had taken the Philistines down with him, and that God would be glorified. When David was fully surrendered to God, even though he would suffer with consequences of his sin, he would be at peace with God again. When Jacob was fully surrendered to God, even though he didn’t know how his brother Esau would respond to him, he was at peace with God about returning to Canaan, at peace with whatever the outcome would be.

 

This reminds me of my son at two or three years old. I remember us going to the Rec Center pool to swim. I stood in about three feet of water as my son teetered on the very edge of the pool wanting so badly to jump into the water with me. He was uncertain about the whole thing; he knew the water was over his head, he knew that there was something really desirable about the water also. He would fidget, hesitate, have second thoughts, but ultimately he would jump, knowing that I would catch him. He could enjoy the threat of water being over his head and deeper than he was tall because as he landed in my arms I would only let he sink so far into the water before abruptly pulling him up; it was the best adrenaline rush a two or three year old could know—all because he had surrendered his fears, his uncertainty and his desire.

 

“Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows.” (v16)

 

We’re not told explicitly so, but it seems like some of these pagan sailors become followers of The God of Jonah—they feared the LORD, offered sacrifices to the LORD and made vows the LORD. Those were all things that a good follower of Jehovah God did.

  

“And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” (v17)

 

My wife and I have a saying that we often remind one another of; “our worst fears seldom come to pass.” That thing that we fear most, that thing of dread that causes us to be petrified with the possibility of an outcome, that thing that we just can’t get our minds around because the thought of it seems too painful, rarely actually happens. We end up worrying about something and fearing something so much, that most of the time when a thing actually happens we look back and wonder what all the fuss and fear was about.

 

Jonah was about to discover how good surrender to God could be; he discovered that a person can get really close to God cruising around the sea in the belly of a gargantuan fish. And to think, that all God wants of me sometimes is to sit and talk.

 

MANNA-Dec 2 2008

Jonah 2:1-2

“Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the belly of the fish, saying, ‘I called out to the LORD, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice.’”

 

Jonah prayed. What else would anybody do who had just been thrown overboard from a ship in the middle of a storm and you’re swallowed by a huge fish. Could there be a more hopeless condition to be in? Being thrown overboard would be enough to cause one to pray. Finding yourself in the sea in the middle of a storm would be enough to cause one to pray. Seeing a fish the size of a house would be enough to cause one to pray!

 

Jonah’s plight at that moment was like the perfect storm of perfect storms; he found himself in the middle of The Titanic, Pirates of the Caribbean and Jaws all at one time; man, I’d be praying too!

 

There have probably been few fish in the history of the world that could have swallowed Jonah. Most scientists agree that it wasn’t a whale, its physical makeup of its mouth and throat wouldn’t allow it to swallow something as big as a man. There are certain kinds of sharks that would be big enough to swallow a man. There have been some extremely large catfish found in Southeast Asia that have swallowed animals and children, but a full grown man might be too big for even the giant catfish.

 

There are fossilized teeth the size of a man’s hand from what was known as Megalodon, a super shark that was perhaps 50+ feet long; this animal sounds like what the Bible speaks of Leviathan; an amazingly fierce sea creature. In Job 41 God describes Leviathan like this…Can you pull in the leviathan with a fishhook or tie down his tongue with a rope? Can you put a cord through his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook…If you lay a hand on him, you will remember the struggle and never do it again! Any hope of subduing him is false; the mere sight of him is overpowering. No one is fierce enough to rouse him…Who can strip off his outer coat? Who would approach him with a bridle?

 

Leviathan sounds almost indescribable, God continues…Who dares open the doors of his mouth, ringed about with his fearsome teeth? His back has rows of shields tightly sealed together; each is so close to the next that no air can pass between. They are joined fast to one another; they cling together and cannot be parted. His snorting throws out flashes of light; his eyes are like the rays of dawn. Firebrands stream from his mouth; sparks of fire shoot out. Smoke pours from his nostrils as from a boiling pot over a fire of reeds. His breath sets coals ablaze, and flames dart from his mouth. Strength resides in his neck; dismay goes before him. The folds of his flesh are tightly joined; they are firm and immovable.

 

This creature sounds like something only God could dream up, there’s more…His chest is hard as rock, hard as a lower millstone. When he rises up, the mighty are terrified; they retreat before his thrashing. The sword that reaches him has no effect, nor does the spear or the dart or the javelin. Iron he treats like straw and bronze like rotten wood. Arrows do not make him flee; slingstones are like chaff to him. A club seems to him but a piece of straw; he laughs at the rattling of the lance. His undersides are jagged potsherds, leaving a trail in the mud like a threshing sledge. He makes the depths churn like a boiling caldron and stirs up the sea like a pot of ointment. Behind him he leaves a glistening wake; one would think the deep had white hair. Nothing on earth is his equal—a creature without fear.

 

A creature without fear…what if Leviathan/Megalodon was what swallowed Jonah? Leviathan/Megalodon would’ve probably shredded Jonah like Chicken of the Sea tuna, and I think Jonah would have been in for a greater adventure than even The Little Mermaid.

 

However, there was planktivorous fish that was over 60 feet long known as Leedsichthys. The London Natural History Museum has a Leedsichthys tail fin that is 9-10 feet in height. If you extrapolate that out, this veggie eater sounds like something that could have swallowed Jonah without killing him.

 

When Jonah says “I called out to the LORD, out of my distress” I’m guessing he was pretty distressed. And in the midst of that distress Jonah is experiencing first hand what he knows God to be; and it’s the same thing he knew God to be which was a big part of his reason for not wanting to go to Nineveh. Jonah knew God to be compassionate, and in the midst of his own personal Perfect Storm God extends compassion to Jonah.

 

God’s compassion is the hope of redemption for our world. God could have walked into the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve had eaten of the forbidden fruit and simply wiped humans out of existence, but he didn’t. Before the creation of the world the Father, Son and Holy Spirit knew what people would be like, that they are made out of dust, that they are susceptible to failure and sin, and in knowing that, God’s love for us caused him to be compassionate toward us.

 

The story of Jonah is often told as one of pure obedience, but I think it’s good, very good, to let it be a story of God’s compassion too; God’s great, good, generous and loving compassion.

 

Jonah then describes his prayer to God.

 

“’For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me.’” (v3)

 

The first thing Jonah does is acknowledge that all he is experiencing is God’s work. It was God who cast him into the sea, even though the sailors did the deed, it was God who had created the circumstances and put it into the minds of the sailors to throw Jonah into the water.

 

It’s interesting that Jonah uses the phrase “into the heart of the sea.” The sailors had tried to row back to shore but the wind and storm was so intense that they couldn’t even do that. God caused the ship to be so far out to sea that it seemed like it was in the middle of the sea, and, it needed to be in the middle of the sea for a giant fish to swallow Jonah; it’s doubtful that that size of a fish would be trolling along the shoreline.

 

God orchestrated everything. As Jonah describes his experience as being “the flood surrounded me;” he’s describing total vulnerability as huge, hurricane-like waves caused him to bob in the sea like a cork before the fish swallowed him. God stripped Jonah of any ability to do anything about his circumstances; which drove Jonah to utter reliance upon God. When I think of God’s compassion; isn’t that what it really is, just an utter reliance upon God and his mercy, grace and love?

 

MANNA-Dec 3 2008

Jonah 2:4

“Then I said, ‘I am driven away from your sight; yet I shall again look upon your holy temple.’”

 

I’m not sure what all is in the belly of the fish Jonah was in, but I get the sense it wasn’t pretty. Not only that be he was floating around in there for three days. A little later Jonah even mentions that seaweed was wrapped around his head. I’m assuming this giant fish didn’t just swallow Jonah and then go lay on the sea floor for three days so Jonah could have an easy time of it. If the fish was a plankton feeder he was probably on the move constantly—and Jonah didn’t have any Dramamine.

 

When Jonah says in his prayer “I am driven away from your sight” he may be referring to the fact that he’s somewhere in the deepest part of the sea, of which he had earlier referred to it as Sheol. Sheol was the abode of the dead, the underworld and equated with hell and Hades. Jonah knew Sheol was a place where God wasn’t. But, Jonah knows God, and as he’s praying he’s not lost in despair over his condition because he says “I shall again look upon your holy temple.”

 

Of all the things that Jesus and Christianity is, it offers people an escape from despair. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33) and “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

 

I recently sat and talked with a sweet Christian lady who has cancer that the doctors can do little about, it’s terminal. She told me how she wants to fully be used of God for as long as she has life, and too, that she’s ready to go home when God’s ready for her to come home. She wasn’t in despair, she wasn’t grief stricken, and she wasn’t claiming that life was cruel and unfair; she simply had great faith in her Savior, and faith smothers despair.

 

Even with all his running away from God, his anger, his disobedience, Jonah believed God was big enough for this situation too.

 

“The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever; yet you brought up my life from the pit, O LORD my God.” (v5-6)

 

Jonah’s a realist; he acknowledges that in his situation of being in the sea was likely to lead to death. In any other circumstance it would have. If a sailor had fallen from a ship or been thrown overboard, the Nineveh National Coast Guard wouldn’t be out with helicopters and ships scouring the sea for him.

 

There is so much going on in this segment of Jonah’s prayer that it gives us insights into our world that we might otherwise not have had, especially in Jonah’s day. Jonah says that he was at “the roots of the mountains.” That wouldn’t have been something those in the ancient world would have understood, unless they had been to the sea floor. I mean, this is crazy; somehow Jonah is in this giant fish and he sees the mountain ranges along the sea floor! It wasn’t until thousands of years later when deep sea diving vessels were invented that humans could see the sea floor and look at mountain ranges under the sea, yet Jonah is telling us that he has seen these things.

 

Obviously, Jonah doesn’t have parchment and pen as he’s taking his under-sea flume ride. He is writing about his experience sometime later. And in his prayer he’s giving God glory for his mercy saying “you brought up my life from the pit.”

 

God’s mercy is beautiful. God allowed Jonah to say “no” to him, God allowed Jonah to turn and run the other direction, God allowed Jonah to get on the ship and God allowed Jonah to choose how he would respond to God. And, out of his great mercy, God keeps nudging Jonah back toward himself. Whatever our reasons are for moving or running away from God, mercy is big enough for them.

 

I simply can’t figure out why God has allowed me to take up oxygen on his planet all these years. I’ve done things far more stupid than Jonah did, and I did them just as brazenly and blatantly as Jonah did, maybe more so. I did some things year after year, and yet God didn’t cause a lightning bolt to strike me, and I’ve often wondered why. I’ve made some of the same mistakes and same bad choices, only to have God save me from myself. Mercy is one of the things that make God mysterious—I wouldn’t put up with all the junk I’ve done in my life if I were God.

 

When Jonah says “O LORD my God” doesn’t it sound somewhat familiar; didn’t Thomas say something similar when he encountered Jesus after the resurrection “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28) Jonah’s words are an acknowledgment that he has surrendered to God. Jonah’s running and rebellion, at least for now, is over. Jonah discovered what Paul wrote of in Romans 2:4 “God’s kindness leads you toward repentance.” Mercy, in its simplest and purest form is God’s kindness.

 

“When my life was fainting away, I remembered the LORD, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple.” (v7) At some point I think Jonah believed he was going to die, and in that moment he was thinking of his last encounter and conversation with God—probably not the best way to go out.

 

“Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love. But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the LORD!” (v8-9)

 

The words of Jonah’s prayer here are a bit cryptic, but I believe he might be recalling the thing that got him into the fish’s belly to begin with. The Assyrians were pagan idol worshippers whom God wanted to repent and turn to him. In being idol worshippers they don’t have the hope of God’s love in their life. And at some time during the ordeal in the fish’s belly Jonah makes a vow to do the very thing God originally wanted him to do—go to Nineveh. In doing so Jonah prays “what I have vowed I will pay.”

 

“And the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.” (v10)

 

Willingness on Jonah’s part to surrender and be obedient to God brought about freedom.

 

I guess in some way reminiscent of Dr. Doolittle, God speaks to the fish and it pukes Jonah out. I see some parallels in the story of Jonah in the fish’s belly and Jesus’ death for the sins of the world.

 

Our human thinking often takes us down roads in which we believe we have ultimate freedom when we exclude God from our lives and the decisions we make. In fact, that’s pretty much what the atheist does and anybody else who doesn’t want God encumbering how they live their life. This was what Jonah did also. The further away from God Jonah moved it was like trying to dig a hole in sand; everything kept caving in on him and getting worse.

 

It seems somewhat oxymoronic that surrender brings freedom. I had a phone conversation with a friend yesterday who had been struggling with hidden sexual sin for a long time. Finally, everything was brought out into the open and he said to me that he’s never known such freedom and peace as he now has. He now recognizes that he was in bondage to that sin, but in surrendering to God he was free from it. My friend had bought into our culture, and a sub-culture, that believed the lie that freedom away from God was real freedom—only to find that that freedom nearly killed him. But today, he has tasted mercy.

 

MANNA-Dec 4 2008

Jonah 3:1-2

“Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.’”

 

A second chance! How many times do we all need a second chance at something or in life? How many times do we all need a second chance to get right what God desires for us? How many times do we all WISH we had a second chance to go back and do something over? God gives Jonah a second chance at the original assignment he had for him.

 

God brought Jonah full circle; Jonah was back to where he and God were originally when God had a task for Jonah to fulfill. Jonah’s journey away from God has a lot to say about our free will and God’s persistence. God will let us choose what we want to do, however it is limited free will; it has to be or God can’t be sovereign. I think what I sometimes neglect to understand is the persistent power of the Holy Spirit and the work he is capable of doing in our lives even when we are disobeying God, moving away from God or choosing to ignore God. All of that doesn’t mean the Holy Spirit goes off and takes a nap somewhere and says “oh well, I guess Jonah’s gonna do what Jonah’s gonna do.”

 

I love how the King James states Genesis 1:2 “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” God’s Spirit moves; God’s Spirit is constantly moving and working and doing—even before the world existed and was created. And when Jonah was running from God, when Jonah was asleep in the bottom of the ship during a raging storm, the Spirit of God was moving. The Spirit of God moved the sailors to ask questions, the Spirit of God moved the sailors to pray, the Spirit of God moved the sailors to take action, to ask Jonah to pray, to inquire of Jonah if he was the reason for the storm; and the Spirit of God was moving a giant fish into position to gulp down Jonah at just the right time.

 

God’s task for Jonah hadn’t changed; he was still to go to the pagan city of Nineveh, preach against it and warn of the impending judgment that was to come if they didn’t repent.

 

I find that this is how God works with me too. God moves to teach me something; but I’m pretty hardheaded, so I don’t often get it the first time. “Hmmm, so you like pain Dillman? You like frustration? You like hardship? You like learning something two, three or four times? You’re a knucklehead, Dillman!” That might be what God thinks to himself about me some times. Maybe that’s a little of what he was thinking with Jonah too. “So, Jonah, you like to swim? You like fishin’? You like the smell of belly bile? Well, wait ‘til ya get a load of what’s gonna happen on your little boat ride!”

 

I’m sure God didn’t say or think that; God’s way beyond how I think; that’s just how I’d think in my puny mind if I were God. But, God is so much bigger, so much more majestic; oh yeah, and God, he has far more compassion and love than I do.

 

“So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth.” (v3) Nineveh was a rather large city; it took three days to walk across it.

 

As the book of Jonah progresses we see what Jonah’s reason for not going to Nineveh was, he didn’t like the Assyrians. But, with Nineveh being such a large city Jonah could have easily been intimidated by the size of it. In the past, I think there have been times when I’ve ran from God because of how big or huge something was that God wanted me to do or to face. For several decades I would tell God that I was willing to do whatever he wanted me to do; but just don’t send me to be a missionary in Africa. Man, I stiff-armed God in that area; I limited what I would do for God and what God could do with me. All because something like being a missionary in Africa seemed bigger than anything I could handle.

 

God was big enough for Jonah’s hatred of Assyrians and God was big enough for my fears of African missionary work. I haven’t yet gone to Africa; God let me start in Iraq, but Ekklesia sure has a lot of stuff going on in Kenya and Uganda. Yikes!

 

“Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, ‘Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!’” (v4)

 

I’m not sure of the significance of the fact that Jonah journeyed into the city a day before he began to call the city to repentance. I guess there could be a couple of things going on. First, he may have journeyed into the heart of the city to begin ministering; he may have known there was a bazaar or marketplace where large numbers of people gathered and that would be the perfect place to begin speaking to the people. I want to think that was the case; I want to think positively about Jonah. However, there might have been the possibility that Jonah wrestled for a day with being able to get himself to the point to speak to the people. Maybe Jonah was still wrestling with some of his hatred and prejudice toward the Assyrians; later chapters seem to indicate that THAT might be a possibility.

 

But Jonah does it, he proclaims the message that God wanted him to proclaim all along. God not only gave Jonah a second chance, but he gave the Assyrians a second chance. The Assyrians had forty days to repent, turn from their pagan ways and follow Jehovah God. Thank God for second chances.

 

I regularly go and visit a friend in prison at the Madison Correctional Institute in London, Ohio. My friend and I have known each other since 7^th grade; he’s two years older than I am and has spent the last 34 years in prison for killing a police officer. In the Spring of 2009 he comes up for a parole hearing. I remember his last parole hearing almost five years ago; I had spoken on his behalf. Originally, the Parole Board recommended his release, however there was a great outcry from the victim’s family and the Fraternal Order of Police against his release.

 

I sat and listened as the City Prosecutor, who tried my friend’s case thirty-four years ago, came out of retirement to make statements to the Parole Board for why they should keep my friend in prison. I listened to the tormented testimony of the victim’s adult children and I listened to the current City Prosecutor advocate for continued incarceration. During the Parole Board hearing one member of the Parole Board sensed what I too had been sensing and had a few questions for the original City Prosecutor.

 

The Parole Board member asked the former Prosecutor if there were any mitigating circumstances that should be considered in the case, especially since my friend was just a teenager when this happened. The Parole Board member also mention that my friend was “high” during the crime, and asked the former City Prosecutor if any of those circumstances should be factored into why the crime was committed and how it happened that my friend killed a police officer. The former City Prosecutor was adamant that none of those things should be considered; killing a police officer was flat out abominable and deserved no mercy.

 

As I sat and listened to the discussion I could only think that nobody sitting in that hearing was the same person that day as they were thirty-four years ago; I wasn’t, the City Prosecutor wasn’t, the Parole Board member wasn’t, the victim’s children weren’t, the current City Prosecutor wasn’t, and neither was my friend. My friend had been a stupid kid from a broken home, he was a drug addict, he was “high” and all that combined led to one great tragedy. My friend has been a model inmate, is spoken of highly by the Corrections Officers, has been recommended for parole by the former warden of the prison and is remorseful and has written the victim’s family a letter asking for forgiveness.

 

In my mind that day at the hearing I kept thinking to myself, all of us sitting here today have been given second chances by the grace and mercy of God. None of us DESERVED a second chance, but we were given it. My friend doesn’t DESERVE a second chance, and most of the people involved in his case are determined NOT to give him a second chance. Jonah received mercy from God and was spared death in the open sea. However, Jonah could have just as easily lived out the consequences of running from God, much like my friend is living out the consequences of his actions thirty-five years ago, and Jonah could have drowned.

 

Evidently, God in his omniscient wisdom knew that the Assyrians would repent, and that in part is why God gave Jonah a second chance. “And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.” (v5)

 

I suppose it is God’s omniscient wisdom that has allowed me to have second chances, and third chances, and fourth chances too. 

 

MANNA-Dec 5 2008

Jonah 3:6

“The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.”

 

Who could have ever imagined an Assyrian king bowing before the God of the Hebrews? Historically, the Assyrians were ruthless in their encounters with their enemies, including Israel. In fact, at one point in Isaiah 23 it describes the Assyrians as making the Babylonians look like wimps, sissies, patsies, punks, or in the word of AAAAnold—girlie girls.

 

As a follower of Jesus, there’s something rolling just below the surface here that should give us great confidence in God and great hope. If God can turn the hearts of Israel’s dreaded enemies, have compassion on them and call them to himself, can’t God do that with those that we know that are the furthest from him? Can’t we look at this lesson with the Assyrians in Nineveh and see that God can break through even the hardest heart, the most stone-cold attitude and the mind that seems to not want anything to do with God?

 

In reading this account I’m reminded of 1 Corinthians 13 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes…” Love always HOPES! When we love somebody and they’re far away from God, we must cling to hope. When all seems lost to somebody every giving their life to Christ, we must cling to hope. When all seems hopeless, we must cling to hope.

 

There’s an interesting dynamic taking place with the people of Nineveh; Jonah isn’t the one that has love and hope for them, it’s God who has the love and hope for them. God was simply asking Jonah to be obedient in taking the message so that God could lavish his love on people who don’t deserve it. That’s pretty much every one of us. God had hope for the Assyrians when Jonah didn’t. God had love for the Assyrians when Jonah didn’t. So, what does that say about people we don’t like; what does that say about people we’ve given up hoping for, what does that even say about people who seemingly hate God? There’s hope.

 

Nineveh’s king humbles himself completely before God, and what’s astounding is that Jonah could have pleaded, begged, screamed, anguished and tore himself up in trying to get the king to repent; but Jonah didn’t have to do any of that, he just had to be faithful to what God asked and let God bring about the results that God wanted to bring about.

 

“And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, ‘By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.” (v7-8)

 

Once God had broken into the life of the king, it was the king he used to break into the lives of the rest of the Assyrians. The king issued a decree that there was to be a great fast, for both man and animal, no food or water. The decree was that the entire city would humble itself and cry to God for mercy in repentance. And, the king recognized something about himself and his own people once he’d been changed by God—they were a violent and evil people. The king instructs the Assyrians through the decree to turn from evil and violence.

 

All of that came about because Jonah decided to be faithful and obedient to God.

 

Can we, as followers of Jesus, grasp what God might want to do through us if we are surrendered in our obedience to him? Could our lack of obedience be keeping people from coming to God? Could our lack of surrender stymie the movement of God in the lives of people we care about? Could we, holding out on God, defer the surrender of others’ lives to God? Could we be Jonahs and not even realize it?

 

God looked at Nineveh and saw its wickedness. God had a plan to turn the Assyrians from their wickedness into believers in God. The people of Nineveh weren’t Hebrews, they weren’t part of the nation of Israel, but they became converts and believers in the one true God of Israel.

 

Who would we look at today as Assyrians? What group of people would we look at and see it as a wicked Nineveh? Who might God be priming me to go to with just one word from him, and it could possibly change lots of people?

 

I watched a video on CNN yesterday which was rather disturbing and left my heart grieved and hope diminished. The video was an interview with the leadership of Planned Parenthood of Indiana that is offering Christmas Gift Certificates this year for its services. The leadership of Planned Parenthood commented that the Gift Certificates were good for any of the services that the organization offered, including; any type of contraceptive, breast exams, pap tests, condoms, screenings for STDs and HIV and abortions. The leadership phrased all of this as “reproductive healthcare.” Wow, what a grouping of oxymorons! Killing unborn babies isn’t healthy or care. Killing unborn babies isn’t reproductive, it the elimination of reproduction.

 

I was reminded of Alcoholics Anonymous that has a saying that goes something like this…”you’re only as sick as your secrets.” STDs, HIV, the need for abortion and the need for contraceptives are by and large things that happen in secret. With Planned Parenthood offering Gift Certificates for Christmas I’m grieved at just how sick our culture is. The very holiday that we celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world has been commercialized to a whole new level by Planned Parenthood; it has been hijacked and turn into something laughable. Now, all our teenage children can have their friends buy them Gift Certificates for whatever the need might be; contraceptives, STD treatment and killing babies.

 

Is it possible that God would use one person in his Church to change the trajectory of Planned Parenthood, which in turn would change the lives of countless thousands of people across America? Are there other groups do things as equally evil and wicked as Planned Parenthood, that God wants to change for his glory? Is Planned Parenthood today any more or less wicked than the Assyrians were in ancient Israel’s day when they slaughtered children during battles and ripped open pregnant woman while killing them. They sound somewhat similar, don’t they?

 

“Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.’ When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.” (v9-10)

 

Who knows? What an amazing phrase that describes how mysterious God can be and the hope that he can offer. Who in Jonah’s day could have conceived that God would love the Assyrians? Who could have conceived that God would be merciful and loving toward them? Even the king of Nineveh didn’t see this coming; but Jonah did!

 

Jonah knew that God was merciful, loving and longsuffering with people. And somewhere deep in Jonah’s gut he knew that the Assyrians would repent and turn to God.

 

MANNA-Dec 11 2008

Jonah 4:1

“But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.”

 

I’m not sure what Jonah learned in the belly of the fish other than surrendering, and not resisting God. Evidently, Jonah needed to learn much more because when the Assyrians repent and turn to God Jonah gets mad. I wonder if Jonah was mad all along, but simply agreed with God that he needed to, and would go to, Nineveh.

 

In my life I’ve found myself kind of taking the approach with God, “I’ll do it, but I won’t like it!!!”

 

I wonder if that’s where Jonah was; he knew he couldn’t run from God, he discovered that on the sea, but I wonder if his capitulation to God’s will was just for the moment in which he found himself in the darkest hour and the deepest place. At his lowest, in his most desperate moment when he called out to God he may well have been fully surrendered to God; I’ve done that. However, that moment of full surrender doesn’t eradicate what’s anchored deep inside of us as sin.

 

Jesus was once teaching his disciples after the religious elite had accused his disciples of breaking the traditions of their religion by not washing their hands before they ate, he said; “‘Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’ For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man ‘unclean’; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him ‘unclean.’” (Matthew 15:17-20)

 

I can’t help but think that this is what had happened with Jonah; he was truly repentant in the moment and in those three days in the belly of the fish, however he had deep rooted sin, some of the very things Jesus points out—evil thoughts and murder. Jonah hated the Assyrians so bad he was hoping God WOULD kill them all, and when God relented, and Jonah knew God wasn’t going to kill them, Jonah got mad at God.

 

“And he prayed to the LORD and said, ‘O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.” (v3)

 

It’s too bad God didn’t have a digital recorder to record Jonah’s words and play them back for him; God might have said something like this, “JONAH, JONAH, do you hear yourself, do you hear what you’re saying?”

 

In the same breath Jonah is mad at God for sparing the Assyrians and yet acknowledges that God is gracious and merciful. What an enormous contradiction and I think God wants Jonah to hear how nonsensical and incongruous his own words are. Jonah not only acknowledges that God is gracious and merciful, but that he’s slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, as well as relenting. NO WAY! Jonah, you really think God is slow to anger; God could have smashed Jonah like a person smashes a mosquito when they feel the pierce of the mosquito’s bite.

 

But then I think; “couldn’t God do that with all of us?” Doesn’t each of us at some point become a pest to God, a nuisance, a pain when we assess others’ lives by our own standard? That’s kind of what Jonah was doing; he had his own reasons for hating the Assyrians, somehow they weren’t worthy of the grace, mercy and love of God as he was.

 

Jonah gives me pause to think of just how much of God’s mercy I need; moment by moment, day by day in my life. I have so much of that junk that Jesus described inside of me that God needs to purge out, and sadly, it will probably take a lifetime for God to do that. So, what’s worse; Jonah’s hatred of the Assyrians, or the Assyrians’ propensity for murder and pillage? I think they bubble up from the same place in the human heart—that place that Jesus describes as being ‘unclean.’

 

“Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.’ And the LORD said, ‘Do you do well to be angry?’” (v3-4)

 

What a hissy-fit Jonan is throwing; “God, just kill me; I can’t live with the thought of you allowing those filthy Assyrians to live—crap—you’ve showed them mercy and grace; they just don’t deserve it; how can you do something like that, God? CRAP”

 

God responds something like this; “Jonah, what are you so angry about; is there any benefit in you being angry. Do you think I’m going to change my mind and the way I feel about the Assyrians of Nineveh because you’re mad?”

 

“Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city.” (v5)

 

So, Jonah goes out of Nineveh, makes a temporary shelter for himself—some sort of lean-to, so that he has shade from the heat of the day, and waits to see what would become of the city. Jonah was in for a long wait. I think he was still hoping that God would destroy the city—especially if Jonah pouted a little more and threw a bigger hissy-fit. Jonah was crazy in his head!

 

Jonah kind of reminds me of Fred Phelps from the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas. Fred and members of his congregations are the ones we consistently hear about and see in the national news who protest at numerous events. Phelps encourages his congregants to radically picket against homosexuals and even at the funeral of soldiers who’ve died in serving in the Middle East. Phelps, like Jonah, has a warped understanding of Jesus’ love for people.

 

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son to die for the sins of the world. That’s the message that Phelps and his congregants proclaim; but in the same breath they shout “God hates fags!” or “God kills soldiers in Afghanistan because he’s punishing America because of its sexual sins!” Phelps, like Jonah, believes he’s doing what God wants him to, but there can be no question that what comes out of the mouths of Phelps and his congregants are the things they’ve stored up in their hearts, as Jesus said.

 

Phelps forgets what Jesus said in Matthew 5:42-43 “’You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” or what James says in James 3:9-10 “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.”

 

Phelps, like Jonah, has been the recipient of God’s grace, mercy and love, but doesn’t want God to extend that same grace, mercy and love to those he thinks are unworthy of it. Hmmmmmm.

 

Thank God that he saves us; and much of what he does is saves us from ourselves.

 

I’ve had my Jonah moments in life; how beautiful is God’s mercy, grace and steadfast love.

 

MANNA-Dec 12 2008

Jonah 4:6

“Now the LORD God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant.”

 

More grace, more mercy; that’s what God is. Grace and mercy are things God can’t help being; it’s his nature, his character, it’s his attributes, it’s like the skin he wears.

 

And, with Jonah, God is like a wise Father. God could have engaged Jonah in an argument about his feelings toward the Assyrians; they could have bantered back and forth about how the Assyrians in Nineveh were a murderous lot, but God is infinitely wise. Instead of arguing with Jonah he simply puts his mercy and grace on display for Jonah to see once again. Mercy and grace were found at the bottom of the sea; now grace and mercy were being discovered on the outskirts of Nineveh, under a plant that provided shade to shelter Jonah from the heat of the day.

 

The correlation is striking; God’s mercy and grace resting upon the Ninevites, and Jonah now resting under God’s mercy and grace. God tries to paint the simplest of pictures, hoping that Jonah will grasp it at some point.

 

“But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered.” (v7)

 

The words of Job echo in verse 7 when God causes the very plant he just provided for Jonah’s shade to be destroyed by a worm. Job’s response would have been “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.” Job’s perspective on God’s grace and mercy was quite different than Jonah’s.

 

Some times we allow the depth of God’s grace and mercy to be overshadowed in our lives by the depth of our pain and suffering; or in the case of Jonah, by the depth of his anger and bitterness. There’s something beautiful about what God is doing with Jonah though, even in the midst of Jonah’s outrageous anger and bitterness. God is going to great lengths to draw out Jonah’s anger and bitterness, and he’s doing it by extending more grace and mercy.

 

I think that’s a great lesson for my life; understanding that I can impact somebody else’s negativity by pouring out more grace and mercy. God provides amazing insights to this through Peter when Peter writes; “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8) This is the very essence of what God is doing with Jonah, smothering him with love. In fact, it’s the essence of God.

 

“When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, ‘It is better for me to die than to live.’” (v8)

 

God paints with masterful strokes to illustrate for Jonah what life without God’s mercy and grace could be like. Sometimes we have to have something taken from us before we can fully appreciate its value. In this case, God causes the plant to die so that Jonah has to experience the heat of the day.

 

When I visited Iraq last year and stood on the plains of Nineveh I well remember how tree-less the land was. In fact, in all of Iraq (and Jordan, and I think a lot of the Middle East) there is a distinct absence of trees. Trees, timber and wood are at a premium in Iraq. So Jonah just couldn’t move from one plant or tree to the next plant or tree once God had destroyed the one he provided. The only trees that seemed to be around in any abundance were olive and pomegranate trees, but those were usually planted in groves.

 

We’re not told what time of year all of this was happening to Jonah, but it sure sounds like it was summer; where the temperature easily gets to be 110 to 115 degrees during the day in Iraq. Jonah would have missed God’s grace and mercy rather quickly.

 

Jonah’s reaction was “It is better for me to die than to live.” This is the second time Jonah says something like this. Earlier in chapter four immediately after God had spared the Ninevites, Jonah says “it is better for me to die than to live” (4:3) in his anger. Wow! This seems to be habitual for Jonah. This seems to be Jonah’s response when life doesn’t go his way. Jonah seems to play the “woe is me” card whenever something happens that he doesn’t like. And, in all of it Jonah is demonstrating that life is all about HIM!

 

Jonah misses the point that life isn’t about Jonah, and life isn’t even about the Ninevites, life is about God, and his mercy, his grace, and mostly, about HIS glory that is revealed in his mercy and grace. Jonah was so focused on himself that he couldn’t see how great of a God Jehovah was. Jonah was so focused on his hatred of the Assyrians of Nineveh that he couldn’t see how great of a God it takes to spare people who are his enemies.

 

“But God said to Jonah, ‘Do you do well to be angry for the plant?’ And he said, ‘Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die.’ And the LORD said, ‘You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night.” (v9-10)

 

I’m only guessing, but I wonder if God isn’t saying something like this to Jonah, “Jonah, you sure get angry easy, and at a lot of things. You got angry at me when I asked you to go to Nineveh, you got angry when I spared the city of Nineveh, now you’ve gotten angry because I destroyed the plant that I provided shade with for you. Jonah, you’ve got real issues with anger; which really means you’ve got real issue with self-centeredness. Do you have a reason why you’re filled with such anger, Jonah?”

 

At this point the Lord begins to redirect Jonah’s thoughts and attention when he confronts Jonah with the fact that Jonah has pity for a plant that was there yesterday and gone today. In doing so God sets Jonah up to make a point about people.

 

“And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?’” (v11)

 

God’s point to Jonah is this; “Jonah, you care about a pretty insignificant plant, but I care about the souls of people. Jonah, there’s more than a hundred and twenty thousand people in Nineveh that are ignorant of me. I care for those people Jonah; I care for them just as much as I care for you!”

 

God’s challenge to me in the story of Jonah is that I too can get so absorbed with my own life, my own comforts, my own conveniences, my own prosperity; that I fail to even see there are people that I come in contact with every day who God loves and who are lost without him. And, he loves them more than my comfort, my convenience and my prosperity. And that’s simply mercy and grace personified.

 

MANNA-Dec 15 2008

Philippians 1:1-2

“Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

 

Paul begins all of his letters to the various churches in a similar fashion; first identifying himself as a servant (or bond servant) for Christ. In that culture at that time there would be no mistaking what Paul was saying when he used the word servant, bond servant or slave. In our current culture we’re pretty far removed from slavery, but in the 1800s there would be no mistaking what the word slave meant in our culture too.

 

Essentially, Paul is identifying himself as a person who has been purchased by the blood of Jesus and has no rights of his own. That too is the essence of slavery; a slave was bought and had no rights.

 

And, in using the phrase “grace to you and peace from God” Paul creates what seems like a paradox, an oxymoron or an incongruity at best; aren’t slavery and grace/peace incompatible. But that’s the beauty of Christ; it’s the beauty of the gospel. It’s the beauty of a changed life.

 

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” (v3-5)

 

When I read Paul’s letter I’m amazed at the transformative power of the gospel. Imagine Paul previously as a Pharisee. Pharisees weren’t known for their congeniality, their care and concern of people, their sensitivity and their grace. They were known for just the opposite; they were known as harsh legalist, rigid, demanding people following the letter of the law and willing to persecute those who didn’t. This is the same Paul who stood by holding the coats of those who stoned Stephen to death. Yet there has been dramatic, almost unbelievable change in Paul who now uses words like “grace” and “peace.”

 

Not only did Paul’s attitude toward people change, but his way of speaking changed. I’m sure it didn’t happen immediately, but it did happen. As Jesus once said our speaking flows out of what’s in our hearts. Paul now gives us a glimpse as to what is in his heart as he writes affectionately to the Philippians. The Philippians are constant recipients of Paul’s prayers, and he even mentions that he prays for them with joy.

 

What we see in Paul are things we can’t create ourselves; they are things that we can’t conjure up, they are things that aren’t easily faked; but rather, they are things that are a real expression of a changed heart and a changed life. I’m imagining it would be pretty tough for a crusty old Pharisee to change his ways. Once the legalistic mindset had gotten engrained in you it was going to take an “act of God” to get it out.

 

I too am thankful for grace and peace; God’s grace and God’s peace. God continues to give me glimpses into what my heart once was; a fairly dark thing. And when God does that I am humbled all the more by his grace. The reality is; without God’s grace being poured out in my life (and Paul’s) I cannot experience “peace” with God. By nature I’m a rebel against God and at war with God; but through Jesus peace was made possible.

 

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (v6)

 

WOW! Don’t we all need to hear this? Paul has become a great encourager; a purveyor of hope. I love the forcefulness of Paul when he says “I am sure of this.” No doubts, no unbelief and no questioning.

 

I think I’m like most Christians; we struggle regularly with wondering if we contribute anything to the Kingdom of God. We struggle with what value we have and what worth we have and whether or not we’re useful to God, but Paul assures the Philippians that what Christ began to do in them, he will complete it. The beauty is that we (and the Philippians) not only CAN’T do the work ourselves, but we don’t have to worry about doing the work. We still have to join ourselves to Christ and cooperate with what he’s doing, but what Paul’s talking about isn’t a human effort, as evidenced by his own life.

 

Paul is talking about the work of God’s Holy Spirit in our lives producing our sanctification. It’s the Holy Spirit that keeps refining us, changing us, remaking us, renewing us; it’s all a work of grace—all to be consummated when we stand in the presence of Jesus.

 

I’m so glad that God hasn’t left my spiritual progress up to me; I’d still be a spiritual embryo. As it is, it has taken a mighty work of the Holy Spirit to get me to the point of being a spiritual infant. The work is still happening and I have hope that through the work of the Holy Spirit I will continue to progress in my faith.

 

“It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.” (v7)

 

The tenderness Paul expresses in his letter to the Philippians should give the most hardened old codger hope once they’ve placed faith in Christ.

 

On Saturday we had our annual Christmas Party at Ekklesia, just as the last four of us were ready to walk out the building one of our homeless friends came stumbling down the stairs. Our homeless friend was drunk, and for the next hour repeated the same accounts to us 3-4 times. When I sit and listen to men like this invariably somewhere in the conversation they acknowledge their lost-ness, helplessness and hopelessness without Christ, and in that moment they grow sullen, and along with them I realize that the work is Christ’s for all of us.

 

“For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (v8-11)

 

Paul’s perspective is right on; the affection he has for the Philippians is the affection that Christ has for them. The affection isn’t good ol’ Paul’s, it’s Jesus affection placed inside Paul, and Jesus is working his way out of Paul into the Philippians.

 

When Paul writes “it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more” Paul is imparting to the Philippians the reality of his own life. When he writes “with knowledge and all discernment” Paul is only passing along what he has been given. When Paul writes “so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness” he’s only sharing what Christ has placed in his own heart.

 

We cannot impart to others what we don’t possess ourselves. All that Paul is encouraging the Philippians with are the very things that have been implanted in his heart by the work of the Holy Spirit. And, as Paul acknowledges—it is to the glory and praise of God.

 

MANNA-Dec 16 2008

Philippians 1:12

“I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel”

 

I spent four days in Nashville last week and met an amazing disciple of Jesus. This guy is known for carrying a 12-foot wooden cross across the country and around the world—he’s made headline news.

 

Most of what goes on in his life doesn’t make the news though. There are only two people I’ve ever met whose eyes betray them. Their eyes betray the fact that Jesus is behind them and a glorious sparkle emanates from them. This guy could sit and tell stories all night about his experiences around the world, miraculous things that God has done and miraculous ways God has shown up in some of the most unexpected places on the planet.

 

But, it was the story of his life this year that reminds me of what Paul is writing to the Philippians. I listened as this guy spoke at one point in a soft voice that his wife of 24 years divorced him this year, that his 18-year-old daughter had to have a kidney transplant this year, that his 15-year-old son is autistic, that they had to recently put down the family pet and a few other things. I want to keep his name private because of the battles that rage around him.

 

Could it be that, like Paul, this guy sees the events of this year of his life as things that serve to advance the gospel? I happened to share a room with this guy at the lodge we were all staying at, and I can say with confidence that THAT is his perspective. Everything he has experienced this year, and everything he told in stories about his carrying the cross around the world are all part of God’s plan to advance the gospel.

 

Perspective; that’s what I need to live my life by—a perspective that everything that happens that seems troubling, bad, harsh or painful is for the advancement of the gospel. However, I know that isn’t always the case with me. Like many Americans I’ve developed an entitlement mentality that tells me I shouldn’t have to suffer in any way! That same entitlement mentality tells me that I deserve life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and that nothing should stand in the way of that. That same entitlement mentality is antithetical to what God says in his word though, and what Jesus experienced, and what Paul experienced and what countless numbers of disciples of Jesus have experience over the last twenty centuries.

 

Sadly, that entitlement mentality has warped much of our thinking and in many cases left us angry, bitter, disappointed with God, disappointed with people, disappointed with circumstances and unwillingly to let go of our lives so that God can use these circumstances to advance the gospel. As long as we hold onto shattered expectations, disappointments, hurt feelings, broken promises and ruined dreams we inhibit the advance of the gospel. I have lived this and know from first-hand experience.

 

“so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” (v13-14)

 

Paul gives examples and breaks down how that advancement of the gospel occurs because of his own circumstances and imprisonment. Evidently, Paul has been preaching while in prison, and so much so that all the imperial guards know that his imprisonment is for the cause of Christ. Not only does Paul spread the word of Christ in prison, but other believers have become emboldened because of Paul’s witness. That doesn’t seem to make sense in the world’s eyes; shouldn’t imprisoning a person cause others to be afraid of what might happen to them if they do the same thing?

 

I recently heard a statistic about the Church in China. When the Church was forced to go “underground” because of communist persecution, it was estimated that there were about a million people in the Chinese Church who were disciples of Jesus. It’s estimated that today, after decades of being “underground” the Chinese Church now has about 100 million people in it.

 

Persecution causes the Church to thrive and the gospel to advance much more rapidly than life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. In fact, one could look at our country and see the Church NOT advance the gospel, but retreat from the gospel because of culture.

 

“Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.” (v15-17)

 

To add insult to injury, there are some believers out there who are opponents of Paul; they actually are doing things (thinking they’re doing godly things) that make Paul’s imprisonment worse. At the same time Paul recognizes there are others though, like him that sincerely wants the gospel to expand. That sounds somewhat like some of the believers in our country today. There are pastors, Christians, churches and faith organizations that promote and even litigate for separation of church and state. They believe they are truly representing what God would want, they believe they are progressive thinkers and will gain the respect of non-believers in our culture by taking the stand they do, and in all of it they work against the gospel rather than advancing the gospel.

 

“What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.”  (v18-20)

 

Paul’s perspective was that even those who were his enemies (those other Christians) who were making life more hellish for him were helping to advance the gospel, and he rejoiced in it.

 

Paul could rejoice because he had perspective and he knew that the Philippians were praying for him and God’s Holy Spirit would carry him through it all. Perhaps Paul’s greatest perspective was that he saw his life completely in Jesus’ hands. Whatever happened to him, whatever circumstances came his way, whatever difficulty came upon him, it was all because it was God’s will and God’s way of advancing the gospel. And, Paul understood that in any ONE of those events or circumstances he could either live or die, and the outcome would bring honor and glory to Christ.

 

I want to pray for that kind of perspective. I only have one life; I want it to count for Christ, advance the gospel and honor Jesus.

 

Silver Bells, Dionne Warwick and my Psychic Friends

I was driving this afternoon listening to a local AM radio station that plays classic and vintage music. The Christmas song Silver Bells came on the radio and was being sung by r-n-b performer Dionne Warwick.

It was a rather pleasurable song kindling memories of what I thought was a simpler time. I hummed a little and sang along a little with the song. Dionne Warwick has one of the uniquely recognizable voices in pop music.

As I listened to Dionne sing Silver Bells the lyrics bubbled to the surface in my mind…”…it’s Christmas time in the city…”

In that moment I remembered Dionne peddling the Psychic Friends Network in the early 1990s. Dionne could be found on late-night TV urging viewers to call and speak with a psychic friend who would tell them their future. By 1998 the Psychic Friends Network had filed bankruptcy.

It was a little odd listening to such a perfect lilting voice singing Silver Bells as though the song had been written just for Dionne’s voice. And then it struck me; I guess Dionne and her psychic friends never saw bankruptcy coming!

I say that tongue-in-cheek, knowing that Dionne and her business partners were some of the best charlatans of their day snookering tens of thousands of people into calling the Network to receive a psychic reading about their future. It was all a ruse that promised hope for people, but was a total put-on.

I couldn’t help but think that Silver Bells represents the innocence of Christmas; the best hopes of the season for people. Of course, the ultimate hope of Christmas is Jesus Christ born into a world to bring people to God.

Dionne surreptitiously played in the supernatural world but missed the supernatural life found only in God; she made millions and in the end all those callers who phoned for a psychic friend were left with nothing—including the hope they desperately desired for a future.

 

MANNA-Dec 17 2008

Philippians 1:21

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

 

I’m curious as to what made Paul speak so affectionately of the Philippians. I don’t think there’s any mistaking that this church meant a great deal to Paul and that he had a special place in his heart for them.

 

Can there be any doubt that Paul had met the living Jesus on the road to Damascus? Paul’s perspective on life is one that can only be held by somebody who has experienced the greatness and glory of Christ. “For me to live is Christ.” The essence of Paul’s statement is that Jesus is living through him. There’s a significant bit of wrestling going on in Paul’s heart and mind. His perspective is that as long as he lives he’s allowing Christ to live through him for the benefit of others; his deep desire though is to die, or go to be with the Lord, which is great gain for him.

 

In having this perspective Paul just continues to die more and daily to what he desires. I have to believe that Paul knew what being in Jesus’ presence was like, and it far surpassed anything one can imagine and far exceeded the greatest pleasure in this world.

 

“If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.” (v22-23)

 

“Fruitful labor” is Paul’s reason for continuing to fight the fight, endure hardships and imprisonment and the attacks of other Christians against him and what he was doing.

 

“But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith,” (v24-25) Paul breaks down what that “fruitful labor” is when he says “for your progress and joy in the faith.” Paul’s singular desire for the Philippians, his reason for writing, is for their progress, maturity, happiness and joy in the faith they have in Jesus Christ. Paul is talking about people savoring Christ.

 

I think this is why being a pastor is a “calling;” it was for Paul, it is for me, and it is for those pastors that I know and whom I am closest to. There’s plenty for a pastor to be discouraged over; statistic that I’ve heard this year is that the average pastor stays at a church for three (3) years now, and has an actual vocational life of seven (7) years. All of that means that pastors are only staying in the ministry an average of seven years now and pastor about three different churches in those seven years.

 

It’s a calling to want to help people learn to savor Jesus. It’s a calling to endure the hardships of things like Paul experienced and what pastors today experience everyday. It’s a calling that empties one of their own pursuits in order to pursue Jesus and help others to pursue Jesus. It’s a calling to experience dozens and dozens of negative things, of troubles, of challenges, of criticisms, of disappointments, of watching people falter, of questioning your calling, and of doubting your effectiveness; when it would really be great just to go and be with Jesus. Out of all those dozens and dozens of negatives, troubles, challenges, criticism, disappointments and faltering emerges one small bright experience that is enough to keep you going. I’m sure that was true for Paul just as it is true for me today.

 

“so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.” (v26)

 

Can we see the burden that Paul bears for this church that he loves? Can we see that Paul takes all of this very personally? Can we see that Paul is willing to carry whatever load, endure whatever hardship he needs to so that Jesus will be exalted in the people at Philippi?

 

When I think of Paul and his devotion to the Philippian church I am reminded of a friend of mine and Ekklesia’s, Joanna. Joanna serves Jesus in Uganda; she’s had terrible health experiences during her time of service; parasites, intestinal problems and lots of other sicknesses that would have had me on the first plane back to the U.S. However, thank God Joanna’s not like me; she’s petite but stout of heart; she endures it all because of the call of Christ on her life. Joanna struggles through all the hardships in a way similar to Paul because she knows of the eternal benefits to it in the hearts and lives of the people of Uganda. Joanna has forsaken all she could have in this life in the comfort of the U.S. and exchanged it for whatever God has for her in Uganda so that others may glory in Christ Jesus.

 

It’s beautiful to exchange emails with Joanna and to talk with people in our congregation who’ve had phone or Skype conversations with her. Everything is a labor of love. Joanna gives us updates on Uganda and we send updates back to her from the work happening stateside. And, it all reminds me of what Paul says next when he writes, “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel” (v27) Whether Joanna is in Uganda or home on a visit as she now is, the news is always that we strive together (her in Uganda, us in the U.S.) for the faith of the gospel.

 

What Paul writes next could only have been written because of having great perspective, and that perspective being God’s perspective.

 

“and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.” (v 28-30)

 

Do we grasp what Paul is saying when he writes “for it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake?” Suffering for Christ is a gift from God!

 

All that Paul experienced at the hands of misguided Christians; all that Paul experienced in persecution from the Jews, all the imprisonment Paul experienced, all his shipwrecks, beatings, stonings and rejection; it all was a gift from God so that Paul might know Jesus more intimately. Is there any greater way of knowing Jesus; all he is, all he did, all he went through than to experience suffering as he experienced it?

 

I don’t look at life quite that way most of the time. I look at troubles and strife and hardships as a nuisance at best, and lots of times as greatly disappointing; and sometimes even as heartbreaking. Lord, help me to see it all as a gift from you.

 

A Ten-buck Christmas

I had about 30 minutes between two appointments today and as I was driving to the second one I passed the Infinity 99¢ Store and thought to myself “I’ll bet you can get gifts for everybody on your Christmas shopping list there for fewer than ten bucks.”

I pulled into the parking lot and with excitement oozing out of my pores I made my way toward the door and was giddy with glee when the gigantic sign in the widow read “over 300,000 items in stock.” “Hey, Santa doesn’t even have it this good,” I thought.

I stepped in to a world of 99¢ wonderment; the colors were brighter than Rudolph’s nose, stockers were busily stocking those 300,000 items and Christmas music, glorious Christmas music played over the speakers.

I strolled down the first aisle as I made mental note of who I needed to buy for; there was my mother who is 82-years-old, my wife’s mother who is in her late 70s and my wife’s father who’s in his early 80s; then there was my lovely wife of course, my 18-year-old son and my 23-year-old stepson, and finally my 33-year-old son and his wife. Not a real extensive shopping list, so with 300,000 items surely I could find something that would bring peals of squeals on Christmas morning to one and all.

The first item I stumbled upon was a Foot Stone. I thought initially of buying this for my wife; I’m sure it would promote delicate skin on her feet, but then I thought “she already has delicate skin on her feet.” But then it struck me, I’ll bet this would be a grrreat gift for her dad who’s in his early 80s; I’m sure he could stand to have delicate skin on his feet. Not only that but the package promised that it “removes corns and calluses;” what man wouldn’t want that! Additionally, the package hinted that the Foot Stone would get rid of “dry skin.” Then it struck me, my wife’s dad is woodworker, I’ll bet he could use the Foot Stone to sand his next wood project, like a shelf or grandfather clock, heck, he might even use it to file his toenails, and in a pinch use it to brush his teeth. Into my basket it went! Hallelujah my shopping was well on its way.

In the next aisle I noticed something pink and fuzzy sitting on a shelf so I walked over to where it was. It kind of reminded me of how light and feathery a stripper’s boa would be; and it looked like something a stripper might own. How cool when I discovered it was a 4-pak of scented candles; Angel Love nevertheless! Yeeowza! There were four individual votive-style candles in the plastic box; I’m not sure why the feathery pink stuff was put on top the box but I had visions of sugarplums dancing in my head as I gently laid the box into my basket, knowing that my wife would love them.

As I rounded the end-cap there were box upon box of Brach’s Candy Corn, a remnant of Halloween. I thought to myself “that sure is a lot of candy corn and Halloween is long over baby!” But then I had a thought; I remembered my 18-year-old son last winter was hanging out with a couple of his buddies and one wintry day during a pretty good snowfall they decided to make a snowman. Now mind you, 17-year-old boys can think of some pretty outrageous things to do with a snowman, and my son was pretty creative, but not necessarily in a good sense on this particular winter’s day. After they had constructed a good size snowman in the street, my son thought it would be a cool idea to plow him down with his car. Unfortunately my son hadn’t calculated the velocity of his car, the speed he was traveling and the degree of impact a sturdy snowman might have on his car. As the frozen fellow exploded from the impact of his car, the poor snowman’s head flew into my son’s car windshield putting a nice crack in it. So, I thought to myself, “why don’t you buy him a bag with a thousand pieces of candy corn in it and he can make hundreds of snowmen this winter and create great snowman carnage with his buddies.” Into the basket the candy corn went.

Making my turn up the next aisle I became a little self-focused as I lost track of who all was on my shopping list. I was drawn to an oversized 2-pak of Pill Organizers. I thought “man, I could really use one of those, the one I have is too small.” In my head I was recounting how many pills, vitamins and supplements I take daily, and with a visit to my doctor this week she was adding to my list, so I needed a bigger Pill Organizer I selfishly rationalized. “Let’s see, there’s my Zocor, my Tricor, my Plavix, my Folbic, two baby aspirin, a big capsule of Vitamin C, another big dose of Niacin and one big capsule of CoQ10.” That’s what I currently take, but my doctor this week was adding Cysteplus+, Captomer-250, Liver Cleanse and Heavy Metal Support, along with some fish oil and Psyllium. I definitely needed an upgrade to my Pill Organizer, so into the basket it went. I’m glad I’m as healthy and young as I am; I pity those poor old unhealthy people who have to take lots of pills each day!

On with my Christmas shopping I went.

My 33-year-old son and his wife love wining and dining, in fact my daughter-in-law blogs and has her own site called www.restaurantwidow.com. They love fanciful foods, good wine and pretty much anything edible. I picked up what looked like a package of gourmet crackers; mind you everything I’m tossing into my basket is 99¢–what a country we live in! These weren’t just any crackers these were TUC Ultimate Crackers. Anything that says ultimate has to be over-the-top in my book so I went to toss them into my basket, but then I remember seeing some television commercials a few years back for a product called TUCKS. TUC…TUCKS, boy they sure sounded a lot alike. The more I thought about the television commercial the more I remembered that TUCKS were medicated Hemorrhoidal Towelettes. Hmmmm! Did I really want to run the risk of buying my son and his wife a gift that might be nothing more than freeze-dried Hemorrhoidal Towelettes? Would he really know what to do with those “crackers?” But then I thought, “What the heck,” into the basket it went.

Then in a bit of glorious luck I turned the aisle to find a 38oz jar of Funky Style hair styling gel. Okay, okay, I got a bit sidetracked again because the hair gel was actually for me. Some years ago I especially liked the way Bart Simpson wore his hair and have been wearing mine that way ever since. I knew buying the Funky Style jar for myself might put me over budget, but hey, I was willing to risk it, so into the basket the purple ooze went.

My 23-year-old stepson graduated from Marine boot camp earlier this year and has a penchant for the bloody, barbaric and the bizarre. My timing couldn’t have been better as I came upon a bin of DVDs; beautiful! All for 99¢. The first DVD I thumbed through was the perfect gift for my stepson, it was titled Rodman Downunder. The DVD was a really cool movie of Australian Wrestling, and somehow good ol’ Dennis Rodman, the former NBA basketball star with Michael Jordan had made his way to Australia for a bit of wrasslin, mate! There were bloody pictures on the back of wounds and gashes on the forehead of a wrestlers, there was another picture of a wrestler holding his opponent in a headlock. But it was the front cover that sold me; there stood Dennis Rodman in all of his tattooed glory, hair colored blonde and looking as mad as he did when Madonna dumped him. The DVD promised matches other than Rodman’s; The Road Warriors, Brutus Beefcake and Tatanka, so I couldn’t resist; I knew my stepson would give me a big huuurrah Marine grunt when he saw this; into the basket it went.

As I made my way to the back of the store I noticed that a whole different counter was in the back; the store doubled as a Beauty Supply store. There were fake hair pieces, extensions, shampoos, and all that girly stuff; but it all looked a whole lot more expensive than 99¢. I came to find out that the farther back into the store you went the more expensive things got. I found a gargantuan plastic baby bottle that was about as round as a 5-pound can of Maxwell House Coffee and about 16 inches tall for $11.99. It was a bank filled with a 10-piece gift set that included a baby bottle, rattle, wash cloth, bowl and a few other items. It was at about that point that a young man who might have gone by the name Haji or Mohammad, approached me and asked me if he could help me. I thanked him but indicated that I was simply Christmas shopping. He was very suspicious of me though, I felt violated, all I wanted to do was be left alone to shop.

I mentally ran through my shopping list and discovered that I hadn’t found anything for my wife’s mother who’s in her late 70s. Then an enormous brainstorm lodged itself in my cranium. I could open the 2-pak of Pill Organizers and give one to my mother-in-law for Christmas and save the cost of buying another gift; which made my hair spike up all the more. Brilliant!

As I wound through the last couple of aisles I still needed to find the perfect gift for my 82-year-old mother, and there it was, shining like that bright star that the shepherds and wise men saw in the original Christmas story in the Bible; a box of Argo Laundry Starch! “Sweet mother of all that’s good and pure,” I thought, I haven’t seen a box of Argo Laundry Starch in thirty-five years, and I’ll bet neither has my mom. I had to cross my legs I was so excited, the bottle of water I had drunk a half hour earlier was ready to erupt from my loins. What a find, 16 glorious ounces of Argo Laundry Starch. I read the two side panels and discovered just how perfect of a gift this would be for my mother. I didn’t know that you could make Play Clay from a recipe of Argo; neither had I ever heard that Argo was okay to use as baby powder to fight diaper rash. Jeepers, this was soooo cool! If my mom ever has to wear Depends the Argo will be great for her. Can you imagine my wonder as I discovered that Argo can be used on sunburns, greasy spills in the driveway, good for cleaning pots and pans and even to be used inside your shoes to reduce chaffing and absorb moisture? My mother would beside herself when she opened this on Christmas morning. It was the best find of the day.

As I made my way up to the checkout counter I noticed out of the corner of my eye a sale, there it was 9 Lives cat food, 2 for 99¢, Turkey and Giblet Dinner nonetheless. Holy crap, even our cat, Miss Kitty was going to have the merriest of Christmases, and all for ten bucks.

 

 

MANNA-Dec 19 2008

Philippians 2:5-6

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.”

 

Could there be anything more valuable, anything more desirable than having the mind of Christ? In doing so one would have the mind of God. One would think like God, act like God, see like God, know like God, love like God and value what God values.

 

There is no pride, arrogance or self-promotion in God; those things are human attributes that arise out of insecurity and not knowing who we are in Christ. Paul illustrates that Jesus, the God/man could willingly and freely humble himself, set aside his divine glory for thirty-three years, and as part of the Trinity know the role that he would play; and he was completely secure in it. There was no jealousy, no resentment, and no inadequacy in the mind of Jesus.

 

What might it look like for us, his followers today, to have HIS mind? Paul must have had some idea of the consequences to it because he was promoting it among the Philippians.

 

Would denominationalism cease? Would church splits come to an end? Would people give of themselves freely? Would all people understand the priesthood of the believer?

 

“but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (v7-8)

 

Paul is describing the essence of Christmas; God breaking into our world in the form of a man. Christmas is a cosmic rescue mission that only God could accomplish; all predicated on the humility of Jesus.

 

The nuance of Paul’s words could have incredible meaning if we were to allow ourselves to deeply meditate on them. When Jesus made himself “nothing,” taking the form of a slave, does that describe the human condition? Without God, do we understand we’re nothing? Without God, do we understand we are enslaved to someone else? (whether it be ourselves or satan) Jesus was to be born in the likeness of man because it was something he wasn’t. God isn’t a man.

 

These are all pretty deep things; all part of Christmas, all worth consideration, thought and contemplation. That is if we are to know our God and our Savior, which is what Paul is advocating.

 

The Philippians were experiencing some hardship. In what Paul is saying though the comparison of their hardship to Christ’s is pretty small because it hasn’t cost them their life. The unity Paul speaks of demands humility; it cannot exist without it. The advancement of the gospel demands sacrifice; it might require one’s life is the point Paul seems to be making.

 

I’m so thankful that Jesus modeled life for me; I know what Jesus expects from me and it isn’t anything more than he was willing to do himself. That is a beautiful thing! That is what makes God, God. There is something glorious in that, especially when it comes to the sacrificial death of Jesus. But, there’s something glorious also in knowing that God left something/someplace that we can’t even conceive of, and how uttering amazing it must be, so that he would know what it is like to be a man.

 

In our cultural vernacular “I’ve had a really hard time getting into the spirit of Christmas this year.” Decorating, shopping, sending Christmas cards have all been minimal this year, and I haven’t been able to pinpoint why that is, until this morning.

 

Christmas was never intended to be what our culture has made it; decorating, shopping and sending Christmas cards. Those things aren’t bad; they’re just not Christmas. In fact, I like doing all those things. But, when I allow myself to become saturated in what Paul is writing to the Philippians, cultural Christmas seems to have diminished for me.

 

I was lying in bed this morning, thinking for a few minutes before I rolled out, and something inside of me was struggling to find the right expression of Christmas. When I say the right expression I mean the right embodiment—what personifies Christmas. I guess there was something in me that knew that THAT personification hadn’t come to fruition yet this Christmas. Somewhere in a corner of my mind the Holy Spirit slipped in a thought; I first ignored it, but then I realized that what I was hearing was the voice of God; his Spirit speaking to my spirit. It was a thought about “giving.”

 

Doesn’t that personify Christmas—giving? Didn’t God give his only Son? Didn’t Jesus give his life? Didn’t God give us the opportunity of reconciliation? Didn’t God give us eternal life through his Son?

 

While in Nashville a week or so ago I experienced a deeper level of surrender to God. It’s a surrender that is hard to describe in some ways, but the best way that I can describe it is that it’s a desire to never say “no” to the Holy Spirit, never to grieve the Holy Spirit and always to move or act at the first impulse of the Holy Spirit. All of that becomes the power of the Holy Spirit in me; me not resisting the Holy Spirit at any level and me embracing the work and movement of the Holy Spirit in my life.

 

What I’ve discovered since Nashville is that God is speaking a lot, to all of us, in lots of ways that we don’t seem to recognize. He speaks through inner promptings (like he did with me this morning), he speaks through other people, he speaks through circumstances and events, and he speaks through thoughts, images, intuition, inklings, feelings and myriad other things. But, I think most of the time I’m too busy or there’s too much noise to hear the Holy Spirit speak. And, when I think of all that Paul is saying here to the Philippians, I think we may miss it because we don’t stop to think about it in a contemplative way—we’re just reading—but not listening.

 

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (v9-11)

 

Do we see the outcome and results of humility and having the mind of Christ? Look at what God did with Jesus because of his willingness to be humble and obedient—to live the Christmas story. God exalted him (Jesus) and made his name higher than all other names; and it was all done to the glory of the Father.

 

God taught me new things in Nashville and almost all of it was about listening and obeying the voice of God. It’s by listening that I can only know what the mind of God is as his Holy Spirit reveals it to me.

 

It was the same for Jesus when he stepped into our world as a man and created Christmas; he was constantly in communication with the Father, and in order to accomplish all that he set out to accomplish it was necessary for him to be full of the Spirit of God (that’s what happened at Jesus’ baptism).

 

MANNA-Dec 22 2008

Philippians 2:12

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

 

Being a follower of Christ is work.

 

That is if we want to have any success at it. Paul’s encouraging words to the Philippians was for unity; and because Paul is encouraging unity there must have been some absence of it. This could be why Paul says here “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” It would take work to be unified; it takes work for unity to occur in almost any setting.

 

Coaches are constantly working on team chemistry to produce unity in the sports world. Corporate executives and mid-level managers in companies across America are consistently striving to create unity within their organization so that they can achieve success. Volunteer agencies like United Way, Salvation Army, YMCA and churches all strive for unity. Without unity success is pretty much NOT guaranteed.

 

Paul seems to love the Philippians far too much to allow them to fail; to allow their faith in Christ to get sidetracked or fade. And, if unity is going to happen everybody is going to have to work at it. Paul’s not advocating that one can “earn” one’s salvation; Paul is advocating personal responsibility as part of one’s salvation.

 

Unity and spiritual growth don’t come about by spiritual osmosis no more than physical or emotional growth in us comes about by some physical or emotional osmosis.

 

“for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (v13-15)

 

God is at work in each of us; changing us, maturing us, growing us, stretching us; this is what God desires. Our growth, our increasing Christ-likeness brings God pleasure. What parent doesn’t like to see growth and maturity in their child? God enjoys that same thing. The question then is; do we want and enjoy growth and maturity for ourselves as much as God does?

 

Am I okay where I am spiritually? Have I stayed at one stage too long? Do I desire to step up to the next stage? Have I stagnated? Am I still a spiritual babe or infant, when I should be in the childhood stage? Have I checked in with Dad about what He thinks about my spiritual growth?

 

Paul is a spiritual father to the Philippians; concerned for their growth.

 

Grumbling, questioning, complaining are good barometers of our spiritual growth. The correlation to human children is simplistically evident; children complain when they don’t get their way, and we NEVER have to teach children to be this way—it comes natural. A brother punches his little brother because he changed the channel on the TV. A sister gets mad at her older sister because she won’t let her borrow a piece of clothing. Children throw a tantrum in the checkout line at the grocery store when mom won’t let them have a package of Sour Patch Kids, which the store manager has conveniently placed in the checkout aisle.

 

Paul’s admonition is that the Philippians rise above grumbling and questioning; which seems to have led to at least a little disunity. His purpose in wanting them to do this is so that nobody can accuse them of not being the light that God intended for them to be. It’s kind of hard trying to convince the world that we’re light when our grumbling and complaining speak of darkness.  

 

“holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.” (v16-17)

 

Paul uses himself as an example for the Philippians; he explains that he wants to have lived the life of the follower of Jesus in such a way that Jesus himself is proud of Paul. The same is true about us; I’m sure Jesus wants to be proud of all of us as his kids.

 

Paul takes things up a notch, sort of like Emeril Legasse does with his “BAM!” as he adds an additional spice to one of the dishes he’s cooking. Paul’s taking it up a notch is that he’s willing to be poured out as a drink offering on behalf of the Philippians.

 

A drink offering in the Old Testament was poured out upon some existing offering; and because of that there was a line of thinking that was suggestive of “wasting” or “being wasted”. Jacob poured out a drink offering to the Lord to signify that he was giving his life back to God. How cool is that—wasting your life for God!

 

Here, Paul speaks of himself being “poured out as a drink offering” in the/his service to the believers in Philippi. I think Paul knew and understood that he had to give all he had for God, for Jesus, for the gospel while he could because the enemies of Christ might soon take his life.

 

“Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.” (v18)

 

Paul, like Jesus, modeled the life for others that he wanted them to live. Paul’s encouragement to the Philippians was that they too should rejoice that Christ would choose them to do his work, to represent him, to pour themselves out in sacrificial service for the Master.

 

“I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.” (v19-23)

 

Whatever the need was that the Philippians’ had it seems to be fairly substantial. Maybe they just needed strong spiritual leaders like Paul to invest in their lives. Paul has a plan that includes Timothy; Paul’s protégé. Paul has trained Timothy so well that Timothy is now in a position to provide care for the Philippians. Paul knows Timothy well and knows that Timothy genuinely cares about the Philippian church.

 

Not only is Paul planning on sending Timothy, but Paul himself desires to assist the Philippians in person.

 

“I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.” (v25-30)

 

Until Timothy and/or Paul can meet up with the Philippians, Paul sent Epaphroditus to minister to the Philippians. Epaphroditus was another protégé of Paul’s who had nearly died while serving with Paul.

 

It seems as though Paul was going to extreme measures to ensure the unity of the church at Philippi; sending Timothy, Epaphroditus and ultimately himself. These men would help the Philippians to work out their salvation with fear and trembling. These men would help the Philippians to move beyond their spiritual immaturity.

 

Though we may not always recognize it, that is the same reason God has placed leadership within our local church; and not only leaders, but spiritual mentors, people who will disciple, people who will sacrifice for our growth; and eople who understand what it means to pour themselves out as a drink offering upon others; wasting themselves for the gospel and God.

 

MANNA-Dec 23 2008

Philippians 3:1

“Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.”

 

Some times we all need reminded of the basics in life or in faith. It appears that Paul is either (1) reminding the Philippians again of some basic principles of Christian living (things like unity) or, (2) he has written a similar letter to another church struggling with some of the same things the Philippian church was.

 

“Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.” (v2-3)

 

It’s a little challenging trying to identify exactly who Paul is referring to here with this warning. Some scholars believe it was Jewish Christians who were demanding that even as followers of Jesus people adhere to the Law. However, almost always in New Testament scripture when the word “dog” is used to describe people, it’s referring to Gentiles. It’s possible that it could be Gentiles, but then when Paul uses the phrase “mutilate the flesh” he’s referring to Jews who practice circumcision.

 

Whomever it is that Paul is referring to with this warning, he’s admonishing the Philippians that nobody can rely on works of the flesh (any kind of good work) to please and appease God. Prior to Christ the Law was what governed the lives of the Jewish people, however it became obsolete when Christ completed his work. Unfortunately, even in this setting there were some Christians who were so steeped in Judaism that they were insistent upon still upholding the Law, even with what Christ had done.

 

Grace, mercy, the cross, forgiveness, reconciliation and redemption come through Jesus. None of that happens by what we do; none of that happens by any one of us being “good,” and besides; how good is good enough. For those in the church during Paul’s day, those “dogs,” those who “mutilate the flesh,” when would they ever know they had done enough to please God? Paul makes this point very strongly with what he says next.

 

“though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;  as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.” (v4-6)

 

If anybody had confidence in their “goodness” pleasing God or appeasing God, Paul was the one. Paul had been a Pharisee; a religious leader, probably born into wealth, trained in the best religious schools under great teachers like Gamaliel. Paul lists his qualifications for being the one who might be able to brag about his “goodness” in God’s eyes. He was a thoroughbred Jew; he was circumcised on the eighth day as the Law prescribed, he could trace his lineage and heritage to the tribe of Benjamin—he wasn’t a proselyte, he was born a Jew.

 

As a Pharisee he was morally and spiritually righteous and perfect; he kept the letter of the Law, but like many Pharisees he totally missed the intent of the Law. And finally, Paul was a persecutor of the Church; he was going to squash this new cult known as Christianity that was bastardizing Judaism.

 

Surely, all of that would have been good enough to please and appease God in the Jewish religion, under Jewish law.

 

When I look at Paul’s credentials and how he led a morally and spiritually perfect life, and compare it to my own; holy crap, I am light years behind what Paul was. I think that’s the plight of most people too; some will claim to be morally good, or ethically good, or even spiritually good; I see lots of them in the Short North. But, how good is good enough?

 

Even in Christianity, as Paul is illustrating here; sometimes Christians simply create a new kind of Law to adhere to as they practice what they believe will please and appease God. Going to church, serving in some ministry (in the nursery, handing out bulletins, making coffee for visitors, being a Greeter) and in some cases even being a pastor or deacon, or a Trustee or a Board member.

 

Thank the Lord that Jesus did away with the Law. Thank God that Jesus brought to an end the demand of the Law that nobody could fulfill or perfect. Thank God that mercy and grace came through Jesus; because it’s mercy and grace that we all need. We all fail regularly; we all fail to live perfectly morally, ethically and spiritually. We all fail at being holy as God is holy. Fortunately for us Jesus accomplished all of that. Paul recognized and understood this and that’s why he could abandon the pursuit of being a Pharisee and the practice of the Law.

 

Evidently, the Philippians needed reminding of this, and Paul does it with gentleness and love.

 

When I look at how Paul approaches the Philippian church I am reminded of Jesus. On more than one occasion Jesus reminded his disciples that things like love, and gentleness and humility are what is attractional about God. The greatest things that draw people to God are his love and kindness (God’s kindness leads you toward repentance…Acts 2:4), his patience and longsuffering and his gentle Spirit.

 

I think those same things are good for me today; good for Christians and good for the Church today. If we’ll be loving, kind, gentle, patient and humble, people will see that and wonder what the heck it is, because we live in a world today in which there is a great void of those things. We, as people in the Church, can pursue all of those things that we believe will please and appease God, but if we miss being reflectors and purveyors of love, kindness, gentleness and humility, then, is Christ really in us? I think Paul had to have been wondering the same thing about the people he was describing as “dogs” and “mutilators of the flesh.” These people considered themselves Christians and part of the Church of Jesus.

 

“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith” (v7-9)

 

This is the reality of the Christian life; none of us have any righteousness of our own, but can only have righteousness through faith in Christ. It doesn’t matter that we’re charter members of a church, give the most in the offering, are the pastor, the president of the Elder Board, the president of the Deacon Board, the best musician, the best vocalist, the most regular attender (the one who achieved perfect attendance in Sunday School for 42 years) or anything else; all that matters is a deep, life-changing faith in Christ.

 

It’s totally possible to be a founding member, give heartily, be a pastor, be an Elder, be a Deacon, be a musician, be a vocalist and attend Sunday School every Sunday for your entire life, and not be a Christian. Christians are “little Christs” which means our lives have been so dramatically and drastically altered by faith in Christ and the presence of the Holy Spirit that we don’t look anything like we once were. That is a picture of Paul—everything that Paul once had strived for was worthless “crap”—that’s what the word rubbish means that he’s using here.

 

Knowing Christ was Paul’s ultimate goal—not keeping the minutia of laws, rules and regulations; none of that ever allowed Paul to please or appease God.

 

What Paul is addressing with the Philippians he had similarly addressed with the church in Galatia when he wrote “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” (Galatians 5:6)

 

Isn’t that just a mirror image of Jesus; wasn’t it Jesus’ faith in the Father, expressed in love for a lost world that pleased and appeased God?

 

“that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.  Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” (v10-12)

 

I love Paul’s attitude here, it’s an attitude of “I want all of Jesus there is to have!” Paul wants the resurrection of Jesus for himself, and along with it he’s willing to take the suffering of Jesus too.

I’m not so much like Paul; I want the resurrection, but without the suffering. Somebody must have been thinking about me when they coined the phrase “everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.”

 

Like the Philippians, I sometimes need reminded of the basics of the faith, and those basics include; I’m not perfect, but perfection is worth striving for; pressing on even when life is really, really tough and that the life of Jesus involved the agony as well as the ecstasy.

 

MANNA-Dec 24 2008

Philippians 3:13

“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,”

 

Pharisees possessed power, prestige and authority; money wasn’t problem, they demanded respect, they were outstanding in the community, they were looked up to as leaders, they set the course spiritually for the country and they were considered the most holy and righteous.

 

All of this is what Paul says he has forgotten, abandoned; it’s all the stuff that lies behind him. It was all the stuff that the culture valued and people valued. What could be better than being a Pharisee?

 

And, it isn’t just that Paul views it as lying behind, but Paul’s focus is now on something else so much so that he describes the pursuit of it as “straining forward to what lies ahead.” Two diametric views; forgetting and straining.

 

There’s a reason Paul uses the word “straining” to describe his desire to move ahead for Christ, the pull of the past is so strong that it requires great effort to move in a different direction. Sometimes, lots of times, it’s a lifetime struggle. I’m convinced the devil would love for me to spend as much time as he can get me to spend, looking backwards.

 

It’s sort of like the Israelites when God led them out of Egypt; in the desert without food or water Egypt looked pretty doggone good. The memory of the smell of cooking leeks anchored itself in the Israelites minds in unmistakable clarity; so much so that they longed for a whiff of them.

 

Unless we’re straining toward what lies ahead and have some idea of what the future might hold, we’re always going to be drawn back to the familiar, the comfortable, the pleasurable or the profitable.

 

This is what I love about Paul; he never throws somebody out there on their own to muddle their way through something or life, Paul constantly models for people what life is or can be like. He’s doing that same thing here; he’s just told the Philippians how much he COULD brag on himself and put confidence in the flesh in pleasing and appeasing God, and now he’s modeling for them that THAT isn’t what’s valuable to him anymore.

 

He says something like this, “hey guys, you remember my previous standing in culture, how everybody looked up to and respected me, remember how I pretty much had anything I wanted, remember when I could DO pretty much anything I wanted, remember how much power I had and the prestige that went along with being a Pharisee—I gave all that up for Jesus—and I’m never going back. You guys can do the same thing with how you used to live!”

 

“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (v14)

 

Paul’s pressing on, he knows the prize he’s after. In our modern vernacular we would describe that as “pressing into Jesus.” Pressing into and pressing on connotes contact; the only time we can press something is if we have contact with it. Paul’s describing a contact with Jesus that is so substantial that it holds him there and allows him to avoid constantly looking back at what once was.

 

I have to assess my relationship with Jesus and wonder if that’s how I’m viewing life with him. Is there so much contact with Jesus as I press into him that it holds me next to him, or, is my pressing so light that I barely touch him and in touching him I’m looking the other direction of where I once was?

 

“Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.” (v15-16)

 

Boy! Doesn’t that speak for itself? “Those of us who are mature!”

 

That kind of gets to the point rather quickly; either we’re mature or we aren’t. Paul seems to be saying “with maturity comes the ability to see the past for what it is (worthless) and the future for what it is (desirable).”

 

So, what does that say about us as Christians if we’re constantly attracted to the things of the past, or, consistently reveling in what life used to be like, or, drawn back into sins and/or addictions? What does that say about us if we find the same old things attractive and aren’t finding new things about Jesus to be attractive? What does that say if our attraction to Jesus isn’t very powerful? Doesn’t that say we’re not very mature (spiritually), regardless of what we might think? Man, I can’t help but believe that THAT is the last thing Paul wanted for the Philippians—to be immature, while being self-deceived into believing they were mature.

 

“Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.” (v17)

 

Whoa! How can anybody say THAT—“imitate me.” That in and of itself sounds like pride and arrogance, and aren’t those the very things that Paul used to be like when he was a Pharisee?

 

It takes an enormous amount of spiritual maturity to say to any person “imitate me.” One has to be totally confident in what one is doing, how one is living and what one is pursuing in order to say “imitate me.” Again, Paul is modeling behavior that he wants the Philippians to adopt and he’s not afraid to say it, and not only say it, but be righteously confident in saying it. That’s what one can doing when one is “pressing into Jesus” and has contact with him; one can make mind-bending statements like “imitate me” and it not seems ridiculous and utterly absurd.

 

Does that even seem attractive to us? To be able to say to somebody “imitate me?” Are we anything worth imitating? Do we look, smell, act and live so much like Jesus that we’re worthy of imitation?

 

“For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” (v18-21)

 

Oh my gosh, did I just hear Paul say what I thought he said? Referring to “many” (and we’re not told who “many” is) Paul says that those people, who have their minds set on earthly things—things like power, prestige, money, the demanded of respect, the desire to be looked up to as a leaders—all those things Paul pursued as a Pharisee, are enemies of the cross of Christ. It makes sense that Jesus would say in Matthew 12:30 “He who is not with me is against me.”

 

Wow! I don’t know how many Christians want to go there—to think about those things that are a constant pull, a constant attraction of the past, makes us enemies of Christ. Can that really be true? Is it possible? Paul indicates that those who are so focused on and attracted to earthly things worship themselves—“their god is their belly.” All those things that is really deep inside of them that they long for—that’s their god.

 

Paul’s final point in this segment of his letter to the Philippians is this; where’s your citizenship, or, as Jesus once said “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)

 

The Philippians are so dear to Paul that he longs for them to know Jesus as he knows Jesus. To some of us that may sound like an arrogant thing, but to Paul it wasn’t arrogance, it was love. Jesus has that same kind of love for each of us today, and it makes me want to “press into him” all the more.

 

MANNA-Dec 26 2008

Philippians 4:1

“Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.”

 

I wonder if it’s possible for us today to communicate to one another like Paul did with the Philippians. We live in world that moves incredibly fast; what is news right now will be old news within minutes or hours. We no sooner experience something, than we’re on to the next thing to be experienced. And, I wonder if all of this taken together collectively drains from us the ability and capacity to slow down long enough to communicate true depth, love and passion to others; especially those in the faith.

 

Our encounters with other believers happens on Sundays and perhaps mid-week for a small group, a life group, a Bible study or some other gathering; and often our communication comes in the form of emails. But, how often do we write (I guess it could even be an email) to those in the faith with us and offer words of great encouragement and love.

 

As a pastor I get those kinds of communications somewhat regularly; a prayer in the form of an email, a handwritten note of encouragement, a “thank you” or some card of appreciation. I have to tell you, those things go a really, really long way for me in keeping me encouraged. I can’t help but think that it would be the same for others in the faith also. I wonder if we’ve gotten so busy and life has gotten so fast that we don’t know that those little things have great impact.

 

I think Paul understood how much the Philippians needed encouraged; that’s why he said that it wasn’t any trouble for him to write them again. And, look at the language that Paul uses with the Philippians; those “whom I love and long for” and “my joy and crown;” the Philippians meant more to Paul than they probably realized.

 

I would say that THAT is true of those in the congregation at Ekklesia Church; they mean a whole lot more to me than I could ever possibly tell them or effectively communicate to them. I don’t ever want to take those precious people for granted; they are life-giving and givers of life (emotional life).

 

“I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.” (v2-3)

 

Perhaps what Paul says here gives us some clue to the unity that is lacking in the Philippian church. I’m wondering if these two women; Euodia and Syntyche are caught up in some disagreement that’s spilling over into other members in the church. Look at how Paul refers to these women though; they “labored side by side with me.” Paul had love and affection for these women and didn’t appear to take sides with what the dispute was over. Paul’s affection for the women is so great that he asserts their value to not only himself but to Jesus also when he says “whose names are in the book of life.”

 

I love Paul’s actions here; he doesn’t belabor what the problem or issue is, but rather spends time pointing out the value of the women, and their value seems substantial as they were fellow workers who have been so involved in Kingdom work that there is no mistaking that they are true disciples of Jesus.

 

Wouldn’t that be an amazing way of communicating about each other in the Church? Instead of people being swept up in gossip, backbiting, slander and spreading rumors; people brag on one another and what’s been done for the Kingdom of Christ. I’m certain that would build great unity and strengthen the Church in such a way that the devil would have to find other ways of accusing and attacking.

 

I think Paul describes the affects of spreading that kind of encouragement when he writes, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand” (v4-5) Reasonable people who love Jesus can rise above petty differences, by bragging on God and his work in the lives of people we may have differences with. THAT would be something worth rejoicing over.

 

All the victories that the devil gets when there is division and strife within the Church, when brothers and sisters can’t get along, when there is slander, and gossip and cliques, when there are church splits, when church leaders are ill spoken of and derided, would diminish and there would be great victories for the Kingdom of light instead of the kingdom of darkness.

 

Gary Thomas in his awesome book Seeking the Face of God suggests that we can have these kinds of victory in our lives (and in the Church) if we could learn how to “replace a vice with a virtue.” Gary’s point is, if we’re use to being negative, condescending, derogatory, critical and cynical of others; if we can learn to think and act positively toward that person by offering an encouragement, compliment or blessing, then we can replace the vice (sin) with a virtue (value). All of that would change our lives and the life of the Church.

 

“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (v 6-7)

 

When Paul writes these words “do not be anxious about anything” it’s likely that he had a very specific intent in mind, perhaps regarding Euodia and Syntyche. Even with some friction or some disagreement between these women, it didn’t have to be something that troubled the church so much that folks had to be filled with anxiety over it. Paul keeps bringing people back to Jesus. Through their prayers and supplication, in a spirit of thanksgiving, the peace of God would rule, and it would be so significant it wouldn’t be able to be comprehended in human terms. It’s God himself that would protect their hearts and minds (thoughts and attitudes).

 

Those things that irritate us about others in the church; whether it’s the pastor, a deacon, a musician, the janitor, the person sitting next to us, or the one who is so needy that they draw attention to themselves by their actions need our prayers the most. They need our prayers for their sake and our sake; for their sake so that God can intervene and make them all he desires them to be, and for our sake so that God can do the same, even though we don’t realize it’s the same.

 

MANNA-Dec 29 2008

 

Philippians 4:8

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

 

I spend a lot of time thinking about a lot of stuff; I think about what I’m going to have for breakfast, lunch or dinner, I think about the church, I think about scripture, I think about my kids, I think about my wife, I think about God, I think about what to watch on TV, I think about things involving ministry, like a teaching, a serve project, 2009, a new church in Franklinton and people and the needs they have. I think I could provide an endless list of the things I think about. Right now I’m thinking about our cat that just knocked over the Christmas tree and I wonder what General Tso’s Cat tastes like?

 

When I read Paul’s admonition to the Philippians of what he encourages them to think about, it really narrows the importance of things in life. Thinking of true things helps me to think rightly about things that are the opposite of true.

 

I think I should probably spend far less time thinking about things that are NOT true than I should thinking about things that are true. In fact, I have heard that the FBI teaches its agents how to spot counterfeit currency by having them study the real thing. The more I know about truth; the more I’ll be able to spot and understand things that aren’t true.

 

Honorable things are worth thinking about, Paul says. How to honor God, how to have an honorable (trustworthy) name, how to live so as to bring honor to Jesus are a few honorable things worth thinking about. And, it isn’t that I’m just thinking about them willy-nilly; I’m thinking about them because they’re good for my soul.

 

Justice is a big deal to God and think about whatever is just is something Paul’s encouraging the Philippians to do. I’m wondering why Paul might be doing that, and the only reason that I can come up with is that maybe those people weren’t thinking about justice and treating people justly enough.

 

I get irritated at injustice. I got irritated this weekend at an injustice I saw. A single lady (mom) in our church had taken her car in for repairs to a local mechanic. After checking the car out the mechanic called with a verbal estimate over the phone; it was pretty expensive so the lady told him she would call him back and let him know what she wanted him to do. The lady wanted time to check with some male family members to see what options she might have for repairs.

 

When the lady called back and mentioned that the repairs were too expensive, and wondered if she could get used parts for her car, the mechanic tried to downplay the use of used parts only to reveal that he had already put the new parts on the lady’s car without her approval and consent.

 

That mechanic wouldn’t have done that with a man, but knew he could probably get away with it with a single woman. The lady now has to take steps to get legal and other intervention to retrieve her car because the mechanic is unwilling to release the car until the lady pays for the repairs that were done which she never authorized them to do.

 

Could Paul be attempting to get the Philippians to see things they’re not seeing through the lens of justice?

 

Paul wants the Philippians to think on things that are pure. When I consider all the things in our culture that are a frontal attack on the mind of followers of Jesus it is in the area of purity. There aren’t too many places that we can turn where we don’t see some exploitation of impurity; TV, movies, magazines, music, mail order catalogs, billboards, radio, sports events, advertising, and other things that would fill a list as long as my left leg.

 

For Paul to admonish the Philippians to think on these things there must be some benefit to them. Perhaps this is what Paul had in mind when he wrote “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Romans 12:2) I think Paul is saying that we have to be intentional about the transformation of our minds from what we once craved, to now craving the things of God. And, all of these things that we are to think on will help us transform our minds.

 

In thinking on things that are commendable, excellent and worthy of praise, I think there is an implication that these things are worth commending. I get the sense that Paul is attempting to direct the Philippians away from negative thinking; that would probably include stuff like gossip, slander and backbiting—it would probably include a whole lot of things that tear people down rather than build them up. Everything Paul mentions in this list is for the edification of us and others.

 

“What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” (v9)

 

I’m a firm believer in measuring success in the Church. Some churches do it by utilizing a set of numbers; new members, baptisms, salvation commitments and financial giving. Some churches measure success in other ways; like the number of visitors, an expanding number of small groups/life groups, planting churches, serving the community and supporting or sending missionaries. I don’t think there’s anything inherently wrong in measuring those things, but I’m more inclined to measure success by life-change.

 

Paul says something like this; “Okay guys, all the stuff you’ve learned from me, all the stuff you’ve received from me, all the stuff you’ve heard from me, and even all the stuff you’ve seen in me or seen me do; that’s the stuff I want you to live out!” When Paul encourages the Philippians to “practice these things” he probably has something in mind that equates to recognizing life-change. As my friend Claude says “if you believe it, you behave it.”

 

It wasn’t enough for the Philippians to just learn about something; that’s just information and head knowledge. It wasn’t enough for the Philippians to just receive something; they needed to be giving out what they received. It wasn’t enough for the Philippians just to hear something; as James writes “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22). And, it wasn’t enough for the Philippians to see Paul doing something; they needed to live the very things Paul modeled for them.

 

With that said, we can think about a lot of things, and if we think of them properly they will build us up spiritually. There also comes a time when thinking is transformed into doing and living—and that translates into something that looks like Jesus.

 

MANNA-Dec 30 2008

Philippians 4:10

“I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity.”

 

Money is a funny thing, especially in the Church. Paul was once writing to his protégé, Timothy and said, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (1 Timothy 6:10)

 

Many times we’ll hear that verse misquoted, particularly from those outside the church who quote it “money is the root of all evil.” Even the rock band Pink Floyd misquoted this in their hit song Money back in the 70’s.  But, Paul’s lesson to Timothy was that “the love of money is a root.”

 

When CNN or CBS lead with headlines of another money scandal, if we do enough reading and research we find somewhere there was a love of money. That love of money could have been for a lifetime, it could have been for two decades or it could have been for two seconds.

 

Temptation to love money can happen in a few seconds and have ruinous consequences that last a lifetime. I regularly visit my friend, Ross, in prison at the Madison Correctional Institute in London, Ohio. For a brief period of time Ross loved money because it could buy him drugs to keep him high. Sadly, while robbing a gas station in 1974 Ross shot and killed a police officer and has been in prison ever since.

 

Who doesn’t remember Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker and their fall? Who doesn’t recall the extravagant lifestyle they led in which hundreds of thousands of donor dollars were wasted.

 

Paul seems to have had a beautiful relationship with the Philippian church and it was reflected in their financial support of his ministry. It reminds me somewhat of some relationships that we at Ekklesia have developed over the past few years with missionaries like Joanna Voorhis who ministers in Uganda, Joyce Strong who ministers in Russia, our friend Pastor John who is a national pastor ministering to pastors in Kenya and Jamal who seems to touch lots of lives wherever he goes, whether in the U.S. or abroad.

 

We have the relationship we do with these people because we’ve come to love them.

 

I believe the Philippians loved Paul too.

 

“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.” (v11-12)

 

Paul’s confession to his reading audience at Philippi was that God, in a supernatural way, has taught Paul how to be content with whatever funding he has and whatever resources he has. In reading what Paul writes I don’t think Paul ever got on his satellite TV and pleaded for money so that he could go to places like Lystra, Derbe and Antioch. Paul lived within his means and whatever God provided, and it was everything sufficient for ministry.

 

Evidently, Paul knew some of those people he spoke to Timothy about who had wandered from the faith because of their love of money. And, he probably knew some of those people who had much grief because of their love of money. I think Paul wanted to avoid all of that in his life, as well as helping Timothy to understand how to avoid it in his life.

 

As a missionary and minister, Paul says he knows what it is like to be hungry, and he also knows what it is like to have abundance.

 

I’m convinced we can live the way Paul lived when we have our eyes on God’s plan and God’s prize, rather than on ourselves. If all I’m thinking about is what I have or don’t have, I’ll ride a roller coaster of highs and lows and encouragement and discouragement which will ultimately crash. At some point I’ll be so greatly disappointed that ministry, and God, and the prize will all simply seem like a job, and a job I don’t want anymore.

 

I can read what Paul writes and skim over it quickly and not even notice one really important thing Paul says, “I have learned.” Paul had been through all of those times of need and abundance, and it was those things that taught him to have a right perspective of contentment. I’m sure there was some pain along the way.

 

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (v13)

 

I was having breakfast with a friend yesterday and he was telling me about friends he has who are on the cusp of leaving Columbus. The husband is an Engineer; the wife is a stay-at-home mom with one child and one on the way. They’ve been Christians for only 4-5 years and are passionate about seeing lost people around the world come to know Jesus.

 

The husband is quitting his job as an Engineer to go to a small Seminary in Texas in preparation for going to the mission field. The couple sold almost all their household goods to finance this move and pay for school, so that they can ultimately go some place where Jesus hasn’t been heard much or at all; some place like interior Mexico or Papua New Guinea. This couple will pack everything they own into their car (imagine that, going from having a nice house filled with furniture, to simply having what will fit in your car), drive to Texas and embark on a journey similar to Paul’s.

 

I have the greatest respect for people who are willing to give up everything to pursue the greatness of God.

 

This couple, like Paul, knows that God can and will supply everything they need. It’s interesting how little one needs to be on mission for God.

 

“Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.” (v14-16)

 

How beautiful is THAT! The Philippians loved Paul so much that regardless of where he was ministering, and who he was ministering to, they were supporting him; even when nobody else was. I think it must have been more than just a love for Paul that the Philippians had, I think the Philippians loved God and wanted others to love God too; and that was why they so heavily invested in Paul. When I think of the congregation at Ekklesia, I think that’s how many of the people view supporting our friends like Joanna, Joyce, Jamal and Pastor John.

 

“Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.” (v17-18)

 

What perspective Paul has on this whole giving thing. I get the feeling that Paul has never written to the Philippians asking for money, or asking them to sow a seed of faith so that they can receive more themselves. Paul’s perspective was one in which he recognized the investment the Philippians were making; it was an investment in eternity that would be credited to them and pleasing to God.

 

I received an email yesterday from a friend of mine about an article a person had written concerning tithing and giving in the Church. The point of the article was that Christians are not under the Old Testament law of tithing; which I agree with. The article was pretty adamant in pointing out the mistakes of churches when the pastor demands that the congregation tithe; when pastors chide people about robbing God if they don’t tithe and stuff like that.

 

I can’t help but think in those types of churches, somewhere there’s a love of money.

 

The Church is no longer under the law, and as such we can give anything, any amount to God that we desire. Jesus’ point to his disciples one time was “freely you have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:8)

 

The Philippian church was giving out of love of God and love for Paul. These were freewill offerings they were giving; they weren’t giving out of compulsion because Paul or some pastor or somebody else was pressuring them to give.

 

I have conversations sometimes with other pastors and people about the miraculous things God has done at Ekklesia as people give. At Ekklesia we don’t take an offering; I mean, we don’t pass a plate. I don’t think I’ve ever preached on giving and tithing. There have been times when visitors have asked me how they can give, because they don’t know where, or how to give. I really like all of that!

 

I really like that God can speak to people’s hearts about his work, and out of that conversation comes whatever God intends, and we’ll minister with what we have, and we’ll share it much like the Philippians did. And, I’m always surprised and amazed at how much God allows us to share. I once heard the conscious voice of God say “as long as you keep it going out, I will keep it coming in.” I love to live by THAT!

 

I’ve discovered something about Ekklesia and its congregation; we DO love money!

 

We love what God does with it when we let him do it all. Freely we’ve received, freely we give.

 

MANNA-Dec 31 2008

Philippians 4:19

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

 

When does a need become a need? Do we often confuse need with desire? Do we often confuse need with want? And, could it be that a need to us really isn’t a need but a fear?

 

Could it be that what we many times perceive to be a need is really a fear—a fear of not having something, or a fear of doing without? An example might be that I only have six ounces of milk left in the bottom of the gallon and only two slices of bread left in the package and I say I need milk and bread?

 

It’s not that I’m out of either milk or bread, but that I want to ensure that I have both on hand. Could that apply to the financial side of life also; I get laid off from my job and I need another job immediately because I fear how I am going to pay bills, buy groceries and heat the house. So, when does need become a need?

 

I remember my mom telling me the story of a time in our family when my dad was disabled and in the hospital with a broken back after an accident. My mom had five kids at the time and went to prepare dinner, only to discover that all of the food she had in the house was one can of peas and a little bit of flour. Not much to feed five kids and herself with. Unexpectedly, a friend of my dad’s had been out hunting and brought squirrel by that he had killed. My mom cleaned the squirrel and that night we had fried squirrel and peas.

 

I’m wondering if that might not describe when a need becomes a need. I wonder if a need becomes a need in the instant we need it, and no sooner? But, what we’re use to operating under is fear, desire or want.

 

Paul knew what it was to be in need of something. In the instant that he was being stoned by angry people, Paul needed God to step in and deliver him from being stoned. At some point God did that. In the instant when Paul was shipwrecked in the sea, he needed God to keep him from drowning; at some point God did that. In those instances when Paul was hungry, he needed God to provide, and at some point God did that.

 

We know that God intervened in the moment of need because Paul later writes about what the needs were. God never let Paul down; even though in those instances Paul might have been fearful, desiring or wanting something.

 

Paul is assuring the Philippians that God would supply all their needs. Something not to be missed though is how Paul personalizes that assurance when he says “my God.” This is a totally relational comment, one that reflects that God and Paul were particularly close and one in which Paul had full assurance that the God he personally knew would deliver.

 

It’s in the closeness of that relationship that Paul has come to understand that in the instant that a need arises, God is able and capable of providing for that need. Paul knows that it can be true for the Philippians too, if they have the same kind of relationship with God.

 

There is a caveat to God supplying all of the Philippians’ needs and Paul hits on it when he says “according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

 

First, there is no limit to the riches of God; God created everything, he owns everything, he holds all things together; there isn’t anything that God is incapable of providing or supplying out of his creative power. The same God who spoke the universe into existence can speak anything else into existence that he would desire in order to meet a need in our lives in a given instance.

 

When I was in Nashville in early December I had the opportunity to meet Keith Wheeler. Keith is known around the world for being that guy who carries a twelve-foot cross on his shoulder. Keith has gone to hundreds of countries to carry the cross; even countries in which the State is an enemy of the Cross.

 

One evening we sat around a campfire as he shared stories that were nearly unbelievable with us, and one especially lodged itself in my mind. Keith told how he was carrying his cross in a very remote area of a country, in a barren, almost desert-like setting. Keith’s favorite soda is Mountain Dew (in fact I saw him with one in his hand numerous times in the few days he was with us). At this particular time Keith was very thirsty, so much so that his lips were sticking to the front of his teeth.

 

Keith had a random thought in the midst of his thirst; “I sure would like a Fanta Orange.” This coming from a guy whose favorite soda is Mountain Dew, and who would have greatly appreciated a drink of water in that moment. Within a few minutes of having the thought about a Fanta Orange (soda) a fancy black car comes down the road he is walking on. Keith continues to walk carrying his cross. The tinted window of the driver rolls down and an elderly white lady greets Keith and begins to talk with him.

 

The lady asks him if he’s hot; which he obviously was. Keith is walking at about four miles an hour and the lady in the car is driving along side of him a four miles an hours also as they’re having this conversation. The lady asks him if he would like something to drink; of course Keith says he would. The lady pulls the car ahead of him, gets out of the car, pops open the trunk and exclaims “goody, goody, goody, it really was God.” And, there in her trunk are six bottles of Fanta Orange on ice.

 

The woman tells Keith that three hours earlier God had spoken to her about a man carrying a cross and that she should get the Fanta Orange and take it to him, and God even directed the woman to where the man carrying the cross would be.

 

God knew that Keith was thirsty even before Keith became thirsty and had a craving for a Fanta Orange. God had set in motion the woman getting the Fanta Orange and going to where Keith was three hours earlier, so that within a few minutes of Keith’s thought and thirst the woman arrived.

I can’t help but think this is sort of what Paul had in mind when he told the Philippians that God would supply their needs according to his riches; and it isn’t just his riches, but in the case of Keith (and Paul) God reveals his glory in what he does; how he provides, how he cares and how he meets needs.

 

And Paul concludes his letter to the Philippians with that very thought…“To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (v20)

 

Our needs, in the instant they happen, are the opportunity for God to reveal his glory, and in turn receive glory from us. And that glory of God is something we, who are his chosen and adopted children, will experience forever and ever.

 

And speaking of glory; Paul’s final comments reveals more of God’s glory. When Paul speaks of greeting every saint; and speaks of those in the faith who are with Paul sending their greeting, he mentions the saints “of Caesar’s household.” Paul is in prison in Rome, and even in his imprisonment, Paul’s ministry is bearing fruit when some his captors surrender to Christ.

 

“Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.” (v21-23)

 

Ho’s, Homo’s & Hobo’s

I pastor a church in urban Columbus, Ohio. We moved here three and a half years ago to start a new church. Oddly enough, we now live right across the street from where my wife grew up as a kid in the 60’s and 70’s.

            We started a missional church, some might even call it an emergent church, to minister to marginalized people; people who had bad experiences in church and people who had been ostracized by the church.

On any given day any person from any background might walk through our doors to hear what we have to say about God and Jesus. We’ve had strippers, lesbians, gay men, bi-sexual people, alcoholics, prostitutes, homeless, ex-felons, drug addicts and even a murderer who hung out with us for a month or two. We also have an occasional wayward preacher’s kid show up.

Shortly after starting the church my wife, my 15-year-old son and I were driving down High Street through the Short North, my son straddled the middle of the back seat and scooted up to just between my wife and I and said “we minister to ho’s, homo’s and hobo’s.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at the reality of his statement, and in laughing I realized that God had invited me into something special; he invited me to participate in the redemption of people.

I was reminded of that again yesterday at the conclusion or our worship service when one of our homeless friends stopped in; he was drunk as usual, he stumbled down the stairs and across the room reeking of urine; his jeans were soaked from having wet himself. It makes you breathe a little differently when you smell a urine-soaked homeless man.

In many churches in America we sing “Just As I Am” and invite people to come to Jesus. However, in lots of those churches we really don’t mean what we say, because we don’t like people with messed up lives and we don’t want to have to deal with them in our churches; we want them to clean themselves up before they come to Jesus, we don’t want drunk, homeless, urine-soaked guys stumbling into our tidy services.

Jesus came to rescue people from their failures not to punish them for their mistakes—that includes ho’s, homo’s and hobo’s.   

 

MANNA-Jan 6 2009

This past Sunday I kicked off what I believe is what God has identified for me and Ekklesia as a new identity. It’s not really a new identity, but a defined identity; that I am a person and we are a church that is all about not wasting our lives.

 

This isn’t some fad; it’s not like 40 Days of Purpose where we do something for forty days and that’s it; but rather Don’t Waste Your Life should be the mantra of every follower of Jesus. The Son of God didn’t hang on a cross so that I might fritter my life away with mindless or banal drivel. Jesus is worth so much more than me wasting my life.

 

I was reminded of that as I’ve been reading Hebrews over the past week or so. This morning I landed on Hebrews 10:32-34 “Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.”

 

It was that last sentence that bored deep into my mind and heart; “You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.” When I think of what these people went through that the writer of Hebrews is writing to; confiscation of their property, I seem to get a better understanding of what it means to Don’t Waste Your Life.

 

A person can put up with a lot and give up a lot, and even have a lot taken from them, if they have the assurance of a (ever)lasting possession. Don’t Waste Your Life to these people meant that they could spend everything they have on Jesus because they were convinced that nothing in this life is valuable compared to what awaits in the life to come.

 

The lesson for me is this; I don’t have to have the latest in fads, fashion, furnishings or fun things—I can be very content with the necessities of life (food, clothing and shelter). And, if for some reason I would lose those fads, fashions, furnishings or fun things, it’s not a big deal because I didn’t waste my life trying to accumulate those things; all those things are replaceable, but they can’t replace a (ever)lasting possession

 

MANNA- Jan 7 2009 (truth-telling)

I’m sitting here this morning listening to the song “Captivate Us;” it’s an amazing song about being captivated by who Jesus is. I’m particularly struck by a line in the song that says, “devastate us with your presence,” and another line that says “consume us with you,” and a third one that says “set our eyes on you.”

 

I want so much to live in that framework; I want to live in such a way that I am devastated by the presence of Jesus in the power of his Holy Spirit. I want to live in such a way that I’m totally consumed with who Jesus is—and when I say who Jesus is, I mean the divine qualities that make him God, that make him pure, that make him perfect.  I Want to live in such a way that I’ve got my eyes set on him.

 

The more I know Jesus; the more I know those qualities, and the more I know when things aren’t like Jesus, or when things don’t possess those qualities. And, the more I know when I am not living or behaving like Jesus.

 

I’ve been wrestling with something for a few years now, and I’ve come to the point where I’m extremely troubled by what I’m wrestling with.

 

In Matthew 22:15-22 Jesus has an encounter with some Pharisees who are trying to trick him into looking bad. Many of us know the story (especially since we’re approaching tax season) of the Pharisees asking Jesus if it’s right to pay taxes to Caesar. Here are the few verses that describe what happened…

 

“Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. ‘Teacher,’ they said, ‘we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, ‘You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.’ They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, ‘Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?’ ‘Caesar’s,’ they replied. Then he said to them, ‘Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.’ When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.”

 

Somebody speaks up and says to Jesus “we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.” Wow! What an amazing thing for somebody to say about Jesus, and, wouldn’t that be a great defining statement for somebody to make about our lives as his disciples…a person of integrity…a person of truth.

 

During the past few years I’ve been wrestling with leaders within the Church and leaders of significant (para church) ministries and how they handle the truth. Jesus was recognized as being a person of integrity and operating in the truth of God. However, I’ve become personally acquainted with some leaders who have led me to question their integrity—at least in a small way.

 

Something I’ve noticed in these particular leaders is that they work very hard to put a positive spin on every situation and everything they say. In some ways that is admirable; I like people who think positively (because I tend to see the glass as half empty rather than half full) rather than pessimistically. At the same time I wrestle with whether integrity is being demonstrated and lived out when that happens.

 

If a leader is driven to always make every situation look positive, when in reality it isn’t, then I think there is an integrity issue, because the spin becomes deception. Things really aren’t as good as what the leader wants people to believe.

 

One of the first things Jesus does is recognize the intent of the Pharisees and says, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me.” The Pharisees were hypocrites because they were lauding Jesus on the exterior, but inwardly they hated him.

 

Similarly, when a leader knows he/she is in a difficult/bad situation, but spins the information disseminated to make the situation appear positive, when it really isn’t, that at its essence is hypocrisy. The big question for me is “why does the leader feel like they can’t simply explain things truthfully and trust God with what the outcome might be.”

 

Why does a leader feel like he/she has to spin information to make people believe that things are going better than they really are? Does the leader feel like the people would lose confidence in him/her? Does the leader not believe God is big enough to handle a bad situation? Does the leader believe that this is how Jesus would have really handled the situation?

 

In wrestling with this, what I’ve discovered is that I lose respect and confidence in those leaders that can’t simply tell people what a situation is really like. Personally, I feel deceived, I feel lied to, and I feel betrayed in some way.

 

And, what I’m struck with this morning in listening to “Captivate Us” is that Jesus’ integrity and truth-telling is one of the things that devastates us with his presence, and causes us to be consumed by him as we set our eyes on him. Leaders who have to constantly spin information actually cause the opposite effect in me.

 

There’s one other line in the song that overwhelms me; “Let everything be lost in the shadow of your face.” When I see Jesus; his integrity, his truth, and how clear it is, I see leaders doing what they’re doing and what it really is—deception.

 

The Taste of Worship

I was having lunch today with a friend at a little diner in the Arena District. My sandwich was exceptional; full of flavor yet lite, perfectly warm on a cold January day. We sat and talked about worship; specifically musical worship in church.

My friend plays guitar, so I asked him about his private times of worship with God; those moments when it’s just him and God and worship flows vertically. My friend has taught guitar, so he’s fairly accomplished. I asked him what those times of just him and God looked like, what they felt like, what was the centrality of focus on during those times.

As I suspected, there is no sheet music, there are no cord charts, and there is no formality to the music, to what’s flowing out of my friend and up to God. He described the ‘taste’ of worship to me. When you’ve tasted God in worship like that you simply want more of it. When you’ve tasted God in worship like that you know that there is nothing else that tastes like it.

I guess It’s similar to tasting real lobster, then picking up a package of imitation lobster at the fish counter at Kroger or Giant Eagle or Walmart or Meijers—there really is no comparison. No matter how you dress up the imitation lobster it doesn’t have those sweet, buttery, melt-in-you-mouth sensations that real lobster has.

We concurred that once you’ve tasted God in worship, there is no replacement. Not only is there no replacement, but you want that same taste all the time. Once you’ve tasted God in worship everything else is just kind of lacking.

So we had this discussion about music and (musical) worship in the church and we raised the question; is it possible to have the kind of (musical) worship in the church on Sunday morning that my friend has when he sequesters himself away in his private time with God?

Is it possible to have such a time of worship on Sunday mornings that we lose track of time? Is it possible to be so engrossed in God that we don’t put constraints on the Holy Spirit, and the worship is so vertically intense that no teaching or message by the pastor is needed? In fact, there’s nothing the pastor could add to what the Holy Spirit would do in those moments—it would be like trying to have dessert after a meal that has left you completely full.

As we talked about that kind of (musical) worship in the church I asked the question; would it be possible to have (musical) worship on Sunday that looks and feels like what people have in their private time with God and when we experience it we’re afraid to move because God is there.

I do believe there is room for amazing corporate worship in which we are simply a choir of people desiring God, but woven into that celebration is the contemplation of who God is and his greatness and glory.

We kind of raised the question of whether or not that would redefine (musical) worship in many churches; resulting in a movement away from the ‘show’ or the ‘production’ that occurs in many churches.

I think I would be floored if the congregation at Ekklesia Church came to our Sunday gathering wanting to meet God in a way that one meets God in one’s private worship of him. And that raised another question in my mind; that ‘taste’ of worship that my friend and I crave; could it be that it may not be craved by others in the congregation simply because they’ve never ‘tasted’ God in that way? Oh how I would love to help them taste God in that way—in that way that David described in Psalm 34:8 “taste and see that the Lord is good.

Our expressions to God in our private worship are boundless; we sing, we chant, we praise, we hum, we whistle, we bow, we’re on our knees, we’re on our faces, we raise our hands, we clap, we cry, we scream, we dream of what might be, we moan, we groan, we’re silent, we’re solemn, we tap our toes, we spread our arms in expectancy, we’re empty, we’re full and more. Is all that possible in our corporate expression of worship on Sunday?

Would it make God smile if all his children gathered on Sunday and lost themselves in him?

 

A Taste of Worship (Part 2)

I’ve continued to reflect throughout the week on the taste of worship. I’ve tasted God in worship and it has left me wanting to taste him more, regularly and in those times I gather with other believers.

I didn’t always feel the way I feel to day. Often we’re warned “you can’t trust feelings,” however it was God who gave us feelings and it is with feelings that we respond to him. There was a time when my feelings toward God were rather indifferent; sort of like I could take God or leave him, just so long as I was assured of salvation and heaven.

I’ve been reading in Malachi; I don’t typically hang out in Malachi, but something on Tuesday (that small whisper of God) directed me there. I wasn’t sure why; just trying to listen to the Holy Spirit in obedience, I guess. I first read Malachi chapter 1 in the Amplified Version and a little something kind of jumped off the page at me. At that point I wondered what Malachi 1 in Eugene Peterson’s “The Message” might sound like.

As I read it I was struck with the responsibility I have as a pastor in how our congregation worships. God is speaking through Malachi to the priests of the Old Testament in a time in which Israel has wandered far from God. The degree of Israel’s wandering away from God can be measured in their worship of God in the Temple. Malachi writes…

            ““Isn’t it true that a son honors his father and a worker his master? So if I’m your Father, where’s the honor? If I’m your Master, where’s the respect?”” (v6)

             I don’t know that I’ve historically approached my worship of God with honor and respect, that’s why I can say that there was a time when I was indifferent toward God, as it relates to worship. I guess at that time I just figured showing up for church on Sunday and going through all the motions was my duty, and it’s what good Christians do. But honor and respect didn’t enter into my thinking in those days.

            God continues to speak through Malachi…”God-of-the-Angel-Armies is calling you on the carpet: “You priests despise me! “You say, ‘Not so! How do we despise you?’ “By your shoddy, sloppy, defiling worship. “You ask, ‘What do you mean, “defiling”? What’s defiling about it?’” (v6)

            This is where Malachi begins to get fairly personal for me because God is speaking to religious leaders, the priests in the Temple who led people to worship of God. As a pastor I have a similar responsibility; I can either be like the priests in ancient Israel were—shoddy, sloppy and practicing defiling worship, or, I can desire that the congregation taste God in worship; taste God in the way I’ve tasted him; taste him so significantly that it leaves such a taste in your mouth that causes everything else to seems totally unsatisfying. I’ve tasted God and I want others to taste him too.

            God calls out the priests, the very ones who are to be leading people into the very presence of God; he doesn’t pull any punches with them, he refers to their worship as shoddy, sloppy and defiling; which at its very core isn’t worship, it’s something else.

            ““When you say, ‘The altar of God is not important anymore; worship of God is no longer a priority,’ that’s defiling.” (v7-8)

            God quickly gets at the root of what’s wrong with the priests—worship of God is no longer a priority. I could very easily overlook what isn’t being said by God here through Malachi. The priests were leading the people through the motions of worship; people were still going to the Temple, doing what they always did, bringing offerings, but they were going to the Temple out of duty and not out of expectancy of meeting the God of Creation there.

            “And when you offer worthless animals for sacrifices in worship, animals that you’re trying to get rid of—blind and sick and crippled animals—isn’t that defiling?” (v7-8)

            God causes Malachi to be very bold as he speaks the truth of the Israelites’ worship; they were no longer bringing sacrifices that were truly a sacrifice for them; they weren’t bringing the best of the flock, they were bringing God the blind, sick and crippled animals, they were bringing God things in worship that they wouldn’t bring to a friend or family member. When I think of some of my past offerings of worship to God, what I brought him was blind, sick and crippled—it was me, and I never knew it. I was blind, I was sick and I was crippled in my understanding of what real worship of God was.

            God describes the priests (and peoples) worship as defiling; it was defiling because there was no honor or respect of God in what they were doing. They didn’t understand or see that the reason for them going to Temple was to make much of God, to give honor and glory to God, to make God look like the treasure he is, to be in awe of the one, who above all others, deserves our greatest respect; and our greatest respect is when we lavish him with praise and honor and glory—giving him, not just our best, but our everything.

            That all kind of describes me in how I used to approach God—until I tasted him in worship and it left me wanting to taste him more and more and more.

            God attempts to clarify for the priest how insulting and anemic their worship is, and he does so by putting it in human terms.

            “Try a trick like that with your banker or your senator—how far do you think it will get you?” God-of-the-Angel-Armies asks you.” (v7-8)

            God’s point is “you don’t even treat people the way you’re treating me—they wouldn’t let you get away with it.”

““Get on your knees and pray that I will be gracious to you. You priests have gotten everyone in trouble. With this kind of conduct, do you think I’ll pay attention to you?” God-of-the-Angel-Armies asks you.” (v9)

Here’s where I’m again reminded of my responsibility as a pastor; it’s on me to lead people to where God is. I once heard Louie Giglio say “the pastor is the lead worshipper in a church.” The priests had a responsibility to God to lead the people to worship of him when they came to the Temple. Likewise, as a pastor I have the responsibility to lead people to worship of God. If I have tasted God in worship, and I have, it would be irresponsible of me to not want others to taste what I’ve tasted.

 ““Why doesn’t one of you just shut the Temple doors and lock them? Then none of you can get in and play at religion with this silly, empty-headed worship. I am not pleased. The God-of-the-Angel-Armies is not pleased. And I don’t want any more of this so-called worship!” (v10)

I think back to those days when I was indifferent in my worship toward God, and I can’t help but think there were probably lots of others like me. Collectively we were playing at religion because we went to church but we didn’t worship God. I want the people of our congregation to come and be the church on Sunday and worship God for the great, awesome, mighty, powerful God he is, not just to fulfill some obligation they think they have. I know that once somebody tastes God in worship they’ll never just come to church on Sunday, they won’t be playing at religion.

 ““I am honored all over the world. And there are people who know how to worship me all over the world, who honor me by bringing their best to me. They’re saying it everywhere: ‘God is greater, this God-of-the-Angel-Armies.’” (v11)

This is what happens when people taste God; God is honored all over the world; it doesn’t matter what culture, what language or even what access people have to public worship. Once a person has tasted God they know how to worship him. Worship is a way of life, it isn’t just what we do on Sunday, but Sunday can be our corporate expression of what our lives of worship are.

“All except you. Instead of honoring me, you profane me. You profane me when you say, ‘Worship is not important, and what we bring to worship is of no account,’ and when you say, ‘I’m bored—this doesn’t do anything for me.’ You act so superior, sticking your noses in the air—act superior to me, God-of-the-Angel-Armies! And when you do offer something to me, it’s a hand-me-down, or broken, or useless. Do you think I’m going to accept it? This is God speaking to you!” (v12-13)

I read this and I understand that it’s no wonder that God was angry with Israel. God’s chosen people were dishonoring God, but others around the world were honoring him. Worship, and the way Israel worshipped was so indifferent that it meant nothing to God—actually it was worse than nothing, it was an insult to God. Unimportant worship, shoddy sacrifices, being bored with worship in the Temple is all an insult to God.

            Sadly, that kind of describes what my worship of God was. I remember walking away from some worship gatherings on Sunday morning saying “I really didn’t get much out of church today; I really didn’t care for the music or a particular song, or I didn’t care for the soloist, or the choir or the teaching.” In all of that I had completely missed what worship was; worship wasn’t the music, it wasn’t the choir, it wasn’t the soloist and it certainly wasn’t the pastor’s teaching; worship was an encounter with God, and I had completely missed that.

            As a pastor today, I don’t want people in the congregation to miss worship, which is an encounter with God. I want people to taste so much of God on Sunday that there’s no way they could walk away and think of anything to criticize or feel empty about. If Sunday has left us wanting, then we’ve missed the worship of God.

““A curse on the person who makes a big show of doing something great for me—an expensive sacrifice, say—and then at the last minute brings in something puny and worthless! I’m a great king, God-of-the-Angel-Armies, honored far and wide, and I’ll not put up with it!”” (v14)

God isn’t looking for a big show; he isn’t looking for over-the-top offerings even; God is looking for people who want a taste of him. God doesn’t want puny and worthless sacrifices of us rolling out of bed on Sunday morning and blessing others by our presence at church; God wants us to recognize him for the great king he is, God Almighty (God-of-the-Angel-Armies).

I’ve tasted the great king; I want us to taste him together.

 

Mini Manna January 22 2009

Book or Bible; either we read for life-change or we’ll just be entertained.

 

MANNA- January 30 2009 (The Christian American Dream)

I was reading this morning when I was struck by a comment from the author who said; “Live like you believe that this message really can change lives.” The message the author was referring to was the message of the Cross and Jesus Christ.

 

I’m certain I’ve heard similar comments before, and, I’m pretty sure I’ve made comments like this before. In fact, I think I’ve made them recently.

 

Without warning, a thought came screaming into my head that drew a comparison of people in the U.S. living The American Dream, and, how Christians live a Christian version of the American Dream; I guess that would make it The Christian American Dream.

 

I had an index card I was using as a book marker and begin to write some thoughts on it.

 

For many Christians we live our lives in response to God like we live our lives in response to the pursuit of the American Dream.

 

The American Dream is: Come to (or be born in) America.

The Christian American Dream is: Come to God (or be born again).

The American Dream is: Live in safety.

The Christian American Dream is: Live in safety.

The American Dream is: Enjoy comfort.

The Christian American Dream is: Enjoy comfort.

The American Dream is: Pursue the dream by living as an American.

The Christian American Dream is: Pursue the dream by living as a Christian.

The American Dream is: Get a good job.

            The Christian American Dream is: Go to a good church.

The American Dream is: Raise the ideal family.

            The Christian American Dream is: Raise the ideal family right.

The American Dream is: Buy a house.

            The Christian American Dream is: Find the best church.

The American Dream is: Acquire possessions.

            The Christian American Dream is: Acquire spiritual training.

The American Dream is: Acquire money.

            The Christian American Dream is: Acquire spiritual knowledge.

The American Dream is: Start your own business.

            The Christian American Dream is: Get involved in ministry.

The American Dream is: Make more money.

            The Christian American Dream is: Acquire more spiritual knowledge.

The American Dream is: Buy a nicer house.

            The Christian American Dream is: Find a better church.

The American Dream is: Acquire nicer possessions.

            The Christian American Dream is: Assure the church has the best.

The American Dream is: Ensure your kids have all the above.

            The Christian American Dream is: Ensure your kids have all the above.

 

The more I contemplated this idea the more I thought that many Christians are living both The American Dream and The Christian American Dream simultaneously.

 

Not only do we pursue all the stuff that makes life great in America, but we pursue all the stuff that supposedly makes a great Christian.

 

In pursuing those things that make a great Christian we simply order our lives around Christian things that we do to make a better Christian life for us—it makes for a better Christian subculture. We create Christian schools, Christian music, Christian colleges and universities, Christian books, Christian resorts, Christian concerts, Christian theme parks, Christian clothing, Christian toys, Christian décor, Christian commerce, Christian celebrities, Christian TV, Christian dating services, Christian restaurants, Christian businesses, Christian radio, Christian Satellite, Christian DVDs, Christian sports teams, Christian investments, and the list could go on.

 

We do all of that to convince ourselves that we are Christian. If I’m living all of this…I must be Christian.

 

When we live in the Christian subculture, we do live like we believe this message really can change lives; but it’s only the lives of those living in the subculture with us, because far too frequently we don’t interact with those outside the subculture to demonstrate for them the message that is life-changing.

 

The essence of what I was thinking is that we live The Christian American Dream to perpetuate The Christian American Dream. It’s a machine we’ve set in motion and we want to keep it going, especially since it’s comfortable, safe and predictable.

 

I once had lunch with a pastor friend and we were talking about planting churches; starting brand new works in other areas of cities, states and even globally. The idea of taking a risk was tantalizing for my friend, especially since he was well entrenched in the church he’d been pastoring for nearly twenty years. My friend’s brother was also in ministry and involved in an edgy, risky start-up church. “Sometimes I think I’d just love to go and try something new,” my pastor friend commented, “but then I realize I have two kids getting ready to head off to college—what am I thinking!”

 

I think my friend’s comments about his own life portray exactly what living The Christian American Dream is about; doing the whole church deal had become about assuring a good life for my friend and his family and future generations. 

 

MANNA- Feb 6 2009

As a pastor I regularly receive catalogs in the mail for a wide variety of products. Somehow I end up on many more mailing lists than I want to. I received a catalog this week from a company that provides church supplies.

 

Normally I just toss the catalogs into the trash once I see what they’re about, but I began to thumb through this particular catalog. On the cover was a “special” on Communion Elements; you know, the little pieces of unleavened bread that churches use during communion.

 

I began to turn the pages of the catalog and became a little pensive about what I saw on the pages; there were colorful Easter banners for the upcoming Easter season, there were boxed sets of Baptism Robes, there was an assortment of portable Communion Sets—the kind you can take into a hospital or nursing home to share communion with somebody who can’t make it to church.

 

There were attractive Offering Envelopes, vertical Banner Stands to go along with banners for Mother’s Day, and even an All-in-One Communion Set that included pre-sealed cups of juice layered by a pre-sealed wafer for communion. It was one of those things that I’ve heard churches do that make communion easier and more efficient.

 

I almost tossed the catalog into the trashcan about ¾ of the way through it, but for some unexplained reason I kept looking through it.

 

Toward the back of the catalog I came across the Children’s Ministry section; it was full of toys and trinkets, Bible lessons and studies, costumes, puppets and just about anything one would need to have an effective Children’s Ministry at a church.

 

Then a rather controversial thought came to my mind. I remembered reading recently that each year two million of our children leave the church never to return. That’s two million kids who have been brought up in the Church choosing to walk away from their faith once they were old enough to make the decision (I’m assuming that most of them have graduated from high school and have begun adulthood).

 

With the memory of reading about kids leaving the Church fresh in my mind I looked a little more closely at the page of the catalog I was on which was advertising a variety of games that can be used in the Church. And then it struck me; I wonder if we’ve conditioned our children to understand (at least at a young age) that Church is about playing games, and there comes a time when they no longer want to play the game—they’re not interested in the game, the game has become boring or not so relevant to their lives.

 

I’m certain there are good intentions behind children playing games in Church to reinforce biblical stories or principles. But, if two million of our children each year decide to walk away from faith, I wonder if it doesn’t give us pause to stop and consider “why.” Why are our kids walking away from God, from faith in Jesus, from Church and from what they’ve been taught most of their lives?

 

My Editorial to the Lima News newspaper in my hometown

In 1971 I appeared in Allen County Juvenile Court on charges of Assault & Battery with my friend Ross Caudill; I was fourteen years old, he was slightly older.

 

We were typical teenagers in some ways; we played basketball on the neighborhood court on Elizabeth Street and sandlot football in a vacant lot on Grand Avenue with our friends from North Junior High. In other ways we were non-typical; not every kid ends up in Juvenile Court.

 

A few years later our lives took two radically different roads in life. Within a few weeks of each other in 1974 I became a Christian and Ross Caudill murdered police officer William Brown. In the thirty-five years that have followed I’ve learned many things from God; perhaps the greatest thing I learned is the line from the song Amazing Grace…how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I’m so grateful for God’s grace and mercy; there was nothing I did to deserve a life different from Ross Caudill’s.

 

I realize it was God’s grace that took me from a fourteen year old boy who was living very much like Ross Caudill (I drank, I did drugs, I stole, I lied and I cheated) and changed the trajectory of my life. Grace too, allows me to say how thankful I am that I’m not the same person I was thirty-five years ago; none of us are. God’s grace has afforded me second chances in life, and third chances and fifteenth chances…

 

In looking at my life and God’s grace and mercy I find myself in the lineage of a long line of murders, liars, cheaters and thieves; all found in the Bible and better known as Moses, Peter, Jacob and David. I never want to forget where I’ve come from because it reminds me that given the right set of circumstances I am capable of doing anything; all of us are. Remembering my past allows me to have great compassion for those who are in the circumstances I once was in.

 

As a pastor in inner city Columbus, Ohio every day I have the privilege of ministering grace and mercy to people who are, or have been, murderers, drug addicts, liars, alcoholics and thieves; all of which Ross Caudill once was. Without God’s grace and mercy none of us would have a second chance in life. For Moses, Peter, Jacob and David all of their actions came with consequences they each had to live with. Nevertheless, each one became something great for God after their failures and sin. 

 

MANNA- Feb 19 2009

I found myself meditating on passages from the book of Revelation again this morning. Over the past eighteen months I’ve been drawn back repeatedly to the early chapters of Revelation and the amazing glimpses of Heaven it provides.

 

Something struck me this morning and I just landed on it for a while, allowing it to roll over and over in my mind because I can’t help but think that what I read that John wrote will be my reaction in Heaven.

 

John was writing in chapter one and describing what he initially saw…

 

“I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos…I was in the Spirit…and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, ’Write what you see in a book…’Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man…When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, ‘Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore…’”

 

I’m trying to imagine my first steps into Heaven and then my encounter with Jesus. John describes Jesus this way…The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

 

I think to myself, is it any wonder John “fell at his feet as though dead?” That’s exactly what I would do. I am certain, that in the presence of Jesus for the first time, I won’t be able to utter a word and collapse when overwhelmed by his glory and majesty. Imagine, a being so bring He’s brighter than “the sun shining in full strength.” I’ve looked directly into the sun on several occasions; it’s so powerful that I have to look away after a fraction of a second. That will be dull in comparison to Jesus.

 

John was petrified until Jesus does something very Jesus-like, “he laid his right hand on me,” John writes. Jesus’ touch…and then the words “fear not” probably sounded familiar to John, he had heard Jesus speak before and knew his incomparable care of people.

 

I try to imagine stepping out of this life and into the next, and into a place like John describes and encountering the glorious Christ. I too will fall down at his feet as though dead. I too will be fearfully unable to move…until he says “fear not” as his hand touches me, and I, for the first time, experience the Divine. 

 

 

MANNA- Feb 22 2009

While spending time with God on Thursday I had some very interesting thoughts; thoughts about being Christ-like, about becoming more like Christ, about looking like and living like Jesus.

 

I’m challenged and tormented daily with the reality of who I am; a person who is very much like the Apostle Paul when he lamented in Romans 7 “So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?”

 

The war Paul speaks of is something that is constantly being fought inside of me; I want to do good, I want to live like Christ; but there is another law at work inside of me, and it battles everything good that I want to be, become and do.

 

Here’s the thought that I had; it actually became my prayer that day…God, unless you change me to be like Christ today, I will be “myself.”

 

The problem is with “myself;” my human self that contains that human nature that is constantly at war with everything good and everything God.

 

Unless God changes me I am going to go on being “myself.”

 

So, I’m wondering; could that become a daily prayer of ours; something you and I pray everyday; something that might profoundly change me and you?

 

Paul gives us hope: “Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” God is the only one who can rescue me from “myself.”

 

MANNA-Feb 25 2009

EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO TO HEAVEN BUT NOBODY WANTS TO DIE

 

I love David Crowder, I think he looks like a human billygoat…he’s freakishly beautiful and hangs out with other freaks like Ted Nugent (yeah, Cat Scratch Fever Ted).

 

Crowder sang a song a few years back titled Everybody Wants to go to Heaven but Nobody Wants to Die; I was listening to it today, and in it he references King Hezekiah from the Bible.

 

Hezekiah’s life was pretty wild; he was faithful to God, at one point is surrounded by a bigger freak-of-a-king known as Sennacherib and his bazillion-man army who threaten to kill everybody and hang Hezekiah by his toenails (my interpretation). Miraculously God intervenes, Sennacherib’s hundred and eighty-five thousand killer Assyrian dudes are wiped out and Sennacherib goes home.

 

Later, Hezekiah gets sick, God tells him it’s time to put his house in order (that’s code for you’re about to become worm food). I’m sure Hezekiah wanted to go to heaven, but wasn’t too sure about this whole dying thing; Crowder doesn’t tell us all this in the song, but it happens.

 

The whole story takes a bit of sad turn though. Hezekiah appeals to God and says something like “Hey God, it’s me, Hezekiah, haven’t I done everything you wanted, haven’t I been a good guy; are you sure you really want to have me die right now?” What’s sad is that God gives Hezekiah a break and allows him to live another fifteen years.

 

Before Hezekiah dies he fathers a child who comes to be known as Manasseh; we know this because the Bible tells us Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king in his father’s place.

 

Manasseh did a lot of evil including sacrificing his own son by fire to pagan gods.

 

I think this is a case of the proverbial “You better be careful what you ask for,

 You just might get it.” And, when you do, will it be good.

 

 

 

 

 

 

UFC 96

So, Mixed Martial Arts is a nice polite way of disguising a little family get together in which the participants beat each other to a bloody mess and into submission. UFC 96 is coming to Columbus, Ohio in March and is being promoted heavily.

The original purpose of UFC was to pit the best combatants of various fighting methods against one another to see who could beat who—kind of like a boxing-verses-karate-verses-judo grudge match without rules (except for eye gouging, groin kicking and a few other rules that didn’t allow one to insert an appendage into a body orifice.)

 A few weeks ago I was having a cup of coffee with a friend of mine who works in Student Ministries. During our conversation he mentioned that one of the things he likes to do with students is take in a night of UFC.

I was taken aback a bit by his comments and questioned him as to whether he thought that UFC was something that Jesus would approve of. After a few seconds of thought he indicated that it was. I was incredulous with his response and challenged him on it.

My friend initially tried to defend MMA by comparing it to the NFL; his rationale was the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the snot out of the Cincinnati Bengals or the Dallas Cowboys or the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, so what’s the difference.

I attempted to point out to my friend that violence in the NFL is a byproduct of the sport, rather than the intent and purpose of the sport as it is in MMA.

I know there are “Christians” in the MMA world and the rationale goes something like this; as long as a “Christian” fighter has compassion for the one whose face they’re pummeling, and give all the glory to God that he was able to break a guys nose so badly the bout had to be stopped, then it’s all good and Jesus would be hip to it.

            Those same people might rationalize that Jesus might not be thrilled with MMA, but he probably wouldn’t condemn it. Of course, Jesus would treat MMA fighters with respect just as he would anybody else; and, he’d rather hang out with MMA fighters than tax collectors. Do these proponents know how utterly ridiculous and absurd they sound, and truly how little they know about who Jesus is? Of course, these people would make the argument that MMA fighters are to be respected more than, say, a priest or clergy who is judgmental.

            Jesus stepped into our world to usher in the Kingdom of God. If we were to study the scriptures we’d discover that our world is currently the kingdom of satan; in essence Jesus came invading a kingdom of darkness; bringing light into our world.

            The kingdom of darkness was easily identifiable; it was all the things Jesus spoke against; evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness (Mark 7:14-23). Though MMA isn’t found in this list, everything it’s about certainly is—greed, pride, wickedness, etc.

            The whole MMA entertainment venture was started by greedy Las Vegas businessmen, pride is the essential driving component in that one man thinks he’s better at brutality than another (or better at fighting), wickedness permeates MMA with everything from nearly naked women showing “round” cards, to the promotion and approval of anger and hatred among combatants and dozens more offshoots that reflect darkness.

            It never ceases to amaze me how infantile “Christians” want to rationalize a lifestyle that is antithetical to the Kingdom of God. In most cases these “Christians” are so steeped in the world that they can’t even see they’ve become part of the kingdom of darkness. Do these same “Christians” believe that the gladiatorial events of ancient Rome were just a “sport” also? I wonder how many gladiators proclaimed their bouts as “God-honoring” when the emperor gave the sign to execute.

 

MANNA-March 12 2009 The Myth of the Sweet Spot

The Myth of the Sweet Spot

 

Somewhere on a baseball bat is a mysterious area known as the Sweet Spot; it’s the perfect spot that a player wants to strike the ball with on the barrel of the bat as it comes across the plate. The Sweet Spot will cause the ball to fly like a rocket with minimal effort from the player swinging the bat.

Similarly, there is a Sweet Spot on the head of a golf club driver; when a golfer hits the ball so that it makes a perfect connection with the Sweet Spot the ball soars into flight; again, with minimal effort from the player.

It’s said that a Sweet Spot also exists on tennis rackets and cricket bats, and it’s likely that the claim would be made about other sports gear and even things beyond the sports world—when there’s a “perfect” alignment at some point.

The Sweet Spot has become part of the Church; in church training, instruction and education, leaders assist church members in finding their particular Sweet Spot of serving the Body of Christ.

I was on a day trip yesterday when I began to reflect on, and think about the whole idea of the Sweet Spot as defined and promoted by churches to their congregations in an effort to get them involved in ministering. The more I considered scripture and the deeper I thought about it; the more I invited the Holy Spirit to teach me and formulate my thoughts for me. The conclusion I came to was that the Sweet Spot approach that the church uses is a myth at best and a danger at worst.

Initially, I was drawn to 2 Peter 1:3-8 which says “³His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. ⁴Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. ⁵For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. ⁸For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

When I read what Peter wrote I’m struck with the thought we have everything we need “for life and godliness” from God. As such, anything that God might want us to do He has equipped us to do it; without restrictions because it is His power.

Peter writes that God has invited us and equipped us to participate in the “divine nature”; a nature that is unlike our human nature with its limitations and desires that run counter to the Kingdom of God.

Because we have been given this ability by God, He has an expectation of us that we grow and mature in our faith; that’s likely why Peter said “make ever effort.” That command “make every effort” is antithetical to our understanding of the Sweet Spot as promoted by the Church. The Sweet Spot in its essence says “you’ve been gifted to do one thing really well; we want you to do it because it’s effortless for you.”

The whole theory behind the Sweet Spot is that when it is encountered it is effortless. Nevertheless Peter seems to be advocating something else; he’s advocating that we not remain static in our spiritual development and do what is simply easy for us; especially if it’s something we appear to be gifted at. Peter says “add to your faith goodness;” I must admit, for myself and lots of other Christians goodness doesn’t always come easy. Continuing, Peter says “and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.” The pursuit of each of those qualities in our lives is a challenge to the Sweet Spot. By inference, Peter’s admonition to make “every effort” means that we don’t naturally have those inclinations.

The myth is; the Sweet Spot is how God has gifted you best and that you should exploit it for the Kingdom of God and serve the Body of Christ with it. It is a myth because scripture doesn’t seem to support the whole notion of a Sweet Spot, unless one is speaking exclusively about spiritual gifting; however that’s not the context in which churches promote it.

Jesus said to Peter in Matthew 4:19 “Come, follow me…and I will make you fishers of men.” Fishing for fish was Peter’s Sweet Spot and Jesus immediately challenges him to leave his Sweet Spot. Jesus was constantly modeling and teaching his disciples the behavior and the life that he desired for them to live. Jesus had something totally different in mind for Peter than the Sweet Spot he was use to living in. It was only when he drew Peter out of his Sweet Spot that he could really use him for the Kingdom.

Once Jesus had been crucified, buried and resurrected he sought out Peter in order to restore him to Himself after Peter’s denial of Jesus. In John 21 Jesus invites Peter to sit around an early morning fire and have breakfast with him. Jesus has just allowed Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, James and John to have a massive catch of 153 fish. Jesus already has fish cooking but tells Peter to bring some of the fish he’d just caught. After eating, Jesus’ question to Peter is “do you truly love me more than these?” Jesus was referring to the fish; Peter had returned to his Sweet Spot of fishing after Jesus had been crucified; and Jesus is once again attempting to lure Peter away from his Sweet Spot by commanding him to “Feed my lambs.”

The danger of promoting the Sweet Spot within the Church is that it causes us to (1) stay where we are, (2) doubt God, (3) and resist change in our lives.

First, when somebody has helped us identify our Sweet Spot in the Church they are inviting us to stay where we are. In essence they’re telling us “this is how God has gifted you, this is your strength, the Church really needs people like you with gifts like you have, and because you’re so gifted in what you can do, don’t change, just do what you’ve been gifted to do.”

Second, when somebody has helped us identify our Sweet Spot in the Church they are encouraging us to “do only what we want to do,” and doubting that God might want us to do something more or different. In Matthew 26:39 while Jesus was in the Garden praying to the Father he said “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Jesus didn’t want to drink the cup of God’s wrath, but he was willing to do what God wanted, regardless of how painful or uncomfortable it was for him.

Third, when somebody has helped us identify our Sweet Spot in the Church they are enabling us to resist change in our lives; change that God may want to bring about, change that would further his Kingdom and bring about spiritual growth in our lives. If somebody has just heaped praise and accolades upon us because they’ve helped us identify our Sweet Spot, why on earth would we want to change? Somebody in spiritual leadership has just told me of my gifting, and why would I consider changing.

Not only does the myth of the Sweet Spot cause us to stay where we are, cause us to doubt God, and cause us to resist change in our lives, it demolishes the whole idea of suffering as being part of life with Jesus. If my Sweet Spot has been identified, and I’ve been encouraged to operate out of that, then suffering for Christ will seem irrational to me. My Sweet Spot insulates me from suffering; I will only want to do what is my Sweet Spot—there is a reason it’s called “sweet.”

Every book of the New Testament speaks of suffering as being part of the Christian experience; it is a guarantee; being hated, ridiculed or persecuted were things that Jesus said we would experience if we followed him.

Too often, in the Church, we’ve become men of clever inventions and slick sales pitches to make the Christianity more palatable and easy. And lastly, the Sweet Spot gives immature Christians the idea that “all you have to do is this” and you’ll be right where God wants you; we’ve got it all figured out for you. And just like with a baseball bat or a golf club, minimal effort is required—resulting in a shallow spiritual depth in the Church.

 

Things I’ve Learned in 53 Years

Poison ivy really is poison

Wild strawberries are the sweetest

Lilacs blossoms don’t last long enough

Billy Graham is beautiful

Third grade kids can be cruel

Toy soldiers are slaves

Milk Duds can be used as a bribe

Heroes die too soon

Permanent teeth aren’t permanent on a playground

Class clowns are insecure

School lunches taste great when you’ve never had one

The Salvation Army was God’s idea

Neighbors want to be left alone to swim in their own pool

Mrs. Bartel loved teaching 6^th graders

Fresh baking bread smells best early in the morning on cold days

Kids who like to spend money make bad paperboys

Black kids and white kids could be best of friends even in the 60’s

It’s hard to play basketball in socks on a gym floor

An Ohio tomato in August is manna

The high dive at Schoonover Pool was high

Walking on a railroad rail is easier for a ten year old than a fifty year old

I use to be able to run fast

A Dr. Pepper can last for hours at the basketball court when you’re twelve

Jesus shows up at Vacation Bible School

Moms make great sacrifices

Little brothers can be quite annoying

Eight people can live in an 810 square foot house

The inventor of Chum Gum was a genius

Toothbrushes are good things

It hurts when you wreck a mini bike in the street

French fries cooked in lard taste best

Dreams don’t always come true

Almost anybody can beat me up

Watching your school burn can be fun

A temperature of 103.5 makes you feel hot

Old men with arthritis can be cranky

Jumping off a garage roof at 10 is felt when your 53

Coke in bottles tastes better than Coke in cans

Male teachers used to paddle harder than female teachers

Teenage boys’ feet stink after playing basketball

Summer school isn’t fun

Jimmy Spees had a great Ft. Apache playset

Fresh mown grass makes you glad you’re alive

God knew what he was doing when he made girls

Sour milk is lumpy and doesn’t taste very good

Tom Jones is a stud

Cussing around little kids will cause a parent to call the police on you

Manure smells good at the County Fair but no place else

Cars get wrecked at a Demolition Derby

Grandmas are special creations of God

Walls don’t move when you crash into them while roller skating

The Kewpee is the best hamburger in the world

The theme song from Bewitched was cool

Smelling like fish will never get you a date

Elvis danced better than Michael Jackson

Unrequited love can last a long time

A car engine doesn’t work without oil in it

Green bananas are the best

45 rpm record fly really far when thrown

Mother Theresa was the best mother in the world

Kissing as an expression of affection is better than slugging a girl

Girls bikes should have been made for boys

Mosquitoes suck

My mom looked a lot like Santa Claus

College gave me a big head

Chugging a Hires Root Beer will create one huge belch

A friend will never get off the teeter totter when you’re in the air

Every family has a black sheep

A day never lasts longer than 24 hours

Hospital laundries are not pleasant places to work

Cats don’t like baths

Elephants never came when Tarzan yelled

Running a marathon hurts

Isuzu makes a bad vehicle

Dads worry about sick sons

Divorce is diabolical

Men don’t have to be drunk to dance

Lingerie is the best foreplay

Soft cookies are better than crispy cookies

You need your mother

Prayer works

Chuck E. Cheese is a rat

Newspapers don’t tell the whole story

People change

Canadian geese will chase you if you get too close to them

Playing full court basketball one-on-one makes you tired

Walt Disney was Sunday nights

I miss Jimmy Stewart

God doesn’t want us to go to church; he wants us to be the church

Jesus loves me

 

This Might Offend You If You Have a Cat or Dog

            A good friend of mine and I were talking this past Saturday; we were getting caught up on lots of things and the topic of pets came up. She asked if we still had a dog; my reply was no just one cat. I told her cats are like kids; you have to care for them, and I’d be happy not to have any.

My friend proceeded to tell me about her three year old dog, one of those that are so small they can fit into a woman’s purse, and all the problems it was having. We discussed how we tolerate our pets peeing (or worse) all over our carpet and she lamented that she was ready for new carpet but that her husband said they weren’t going to get new carpet as long as they had a dog; we both concurred.

She mentioned that her Vet had just told her that her dog will need knee replacement surgery soon, and then follow up therapy. It was at this point that our conversation took a radically different turn.

I saw my friend shift gears from being a loving dog owner to being a logical human being. She explained that there was no way she was paying for knee replacement and therapy for a dog; and asked me if I would like a dog. I declined the offer. One of her adult children thought she was cruel, because it meant at some point she was going to have to put the dog down.

Her adult son said to her “I’m glad I’m not a dog and living with you!” He felt his mother was being cruel and uncaring for the family dog—willing to see it die rather than provide a knee replacement surgery and therapy.

This morning I was sitting in Panera Bread reading the local newspaper and in one section on the front page were photos and an article about The Pet Expo that was held in town over the weekend at the Convention Center. The photos extended to a second page. In one photo there was a lady carrying her tiny pooch as she browsed through doggie clothing.

My mind was drawn back to the conversation I had with my friend whose dog needed knee replacement surgery. We began to talk about what we as humans have done to animals by making them our pets. We’ve taken an animal out of its natural environment and domesticated it.

While domesticating our pets we’ve treated them like human children; feeding and caring for them, and we’ve done it so much that a dog needs knee replacement at three years old. What three year old dog in the wild would need knee replacement? I read a Facebook posting of another person I know whose cat was diagnosed diabetic and needed insulin shots daily—this was a fourteen pound cat. What cat in the wild has diabetes?

Our church is a few doors down from a pet boutique; there is clothing, and strollers and specialized toys, food, and products for pets, just as if they were human. In fact, many pet owners refer to their pets as members of their family.

I think this is reflection of just how messed up our world is; we dress up our pets, we provide better healthcare for them than 90% of the world’s people have and we feed them better than that 90% of the world.  

I can’t help but think that God might have something to say to us one day in eternity when we are questioned about what we did with our money. Might God say something like “I gave you the means to care for AIDS orphans in Africa, and the money to care for starving children in the slums of India, and I gave you money to spread the message of the sacrifice of Jesus to child prostitutes in Thailand, and the money to help a Cherokee woman be liberated from alcoholism; what did you do with it?”

And, in that moment will we acknowledge to the Creator that we paid for knee replacement surgery for our dogs, insulin for our cats, food for fish, and a running wheel for our pet rats so that we could feel good about caring for some living thing?

 

What an indictment on us; I just picked this conversation up off of Facebook today (Friday, April 3, 2009)

 

Facebook Person A: I think my cat needs kitty gastric bypass

 

Facebook Person B: Hehe mine too! I feel so bad..I switched her to indoor formula and try to get her to run around the house and she’s still ginormous! She has knots of fur I can’t comb out around her tail because she’s too fat to clean herself that far back! Nuts!

 

Facebook Person C: Our Susie is morbidly obese. The others are normal weight, but we buy indoor formula anyway. She eats more than all the others…so, so, sad.

 

 

MANNA- April 11, 2009

I am the Body of Christ, at least a small portion of it. I’m not really sure which part I am in a metaphorical sense; I could be a toenail, or maybe an armpit; I mean, somebody has to be those things. I suppose I could even be an eyelash, an earlobe, a nose hair, a molar, a kidney or some other unseen part. As followers of Jesus we make up his Body.

I/we, am/are also Jesus’ Bride. I’ve been reminded of that during this Holy Week. More so than any other time of the year the spirit world is elevated for both good and evil. I’ve seen the evil; I’ve read the headlines on CNN; murders, suicides, war, greed and hurting people. I’ve tasted the good; Jesus himself. Scripture tells us to “taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Psalm 34:8)

Over the past twenty-four hours I’ve been thinking about us as the Bride of Christ. We are the Bride in the sense that one day we will be united with the Lord Jesus– that day is coming.

For too long I think I’ve had the wrong focus as being part of the Bride of Jesus. Rather than helping the Bride become more beautiful I’ve simply looked at the Bride and pointed out things like warts and moles and blemishes and scars. It’s true, some times the warts, moles, blemishes and scars have to be tended to if a body is to be as presentable as possible.

In thinking about the bride, I’ve wondered if I were the groom what I would want in my bride. I remember the days leading up to my marriage to my wife; we talked about her wedding dress and a few other things, but as the groom it wasn’t the dress that I was mainly interested in. I wanted a bride that possessed inner qualities not external perfection.

I can’t help but think that’s what Jesus, as the Groom, wants of his Bride too. Far too often though, we put a lot of time, energy and resources into external perfection. I think it’s something like this; in preparing as the Bride we want our dress to be as beautiful as possible—that thing that everybody sees first. When all heads turn toward the aisle as the bride enters, the primary thing everybody sees is the dress.

If that could be translated to the Body/Bride of Christ, I think that would be the church; not the people who comprise the church but the structure itself, as in a building. We work extremely hard at making sure first impressions of external perfection are the best they can be. As such the physical structure gets lots of attention.

Then there’s the shoes; the shoes have to be just right because they carry the bride, and wherever she goes the shoes, the things that get her there, have to look as good as the dress. If that could be translated to the Body/Bride of Christ, I think that would be the ministries of the church.

On Sunday morning the church doesn’t move without ministries; worship ministries, children’s ministries, hospitality ministries, student ministries, production ministries and the rest. I think the perception is that the Bride can’t go anywhere without the shoes—I mean, who wants to look at the Bride’s feet sticking out from underneath the beautiful dress.

Of course then there’s the veil. The veil is used to obscure the face of the bride until the groom lifts it to see the bride in all her beauty.

If that could be translated to the Body/Bride of Christ, I think that would be the attire of the church—we wear certain clothes that are appropriate for church. However, often those clothes obscure who and what we really are. We look great when it comes to external perfection, but inwardly there are things we don’t want anybody to see or to know about.

And, what bride wouldn’t fuss over her nails, make up and hair? If that could be translated to the Body/Bride of Christ, I think that would be all the things we feel compelled to do thinking that it will make us look alluring. We desire to have our nails look perfect—trimmed, filed and painted; so we make sure our worship team is talented, trained and led in the best possible way. We make sure our hospitality tables are stocked with plenty of coffee, donuts and other refreshments.

Every hair has to be in place so we make sure the climate is controlled perfectly, not too much air conditioning in the summer and not too much heat in the winter. We set the mood with perfect lighting and ambience so that our make up is just right—beautiful.

I don’t really want to focus on the warts, moles, blemishes and scars; I want to focus on the true beauty of the Bride—what’s on the inside.

How disappointed I would have been to discover my own bride was thoroughly beautiful in external perfection on our wedding day; then in the ensuing days discovered that she was hideous on the inside. I discover that she’d put on enough external stuff to seem beautiful, but all it did was conceal what wasn’t beautiful.

The inner beauty of the Bride consists of a heart that is solely in love with the Groom; every action and every thought directed toward what will please the Groom. Warts, moles, blemishes and scars really need very little attention; the Groom knows about them already.

The dress, the shoes, the veil, the nails, the make up and the hair don’t really mean much if there isn’t a parallel beauty on the inside.

As the Body/Bride I want to help us cultivate inner beauty; our Groom doesn’t need us devoting all our energy to polishing our nails, applying make up, having our hair done perfectly; what the Groom needs is our hearts prepared for Him, that He will be our heart’s desire, our longing, our Love. On that Great Wedding Night we’ll stand bare before Him, as we are, with nothing but what’s on the inside.   

 

 

25 Twisted Tunes…

25 songs that might surprise people that I have on my ipod and why I have them.

 

 

Green Light- John Legend: I’m a sucker for a good falsetto; John combines pop, RNB, rap and throws in a touch of falsetto to create a feel good song with a humorous rap portion in the middle.

 

Dead Skunk- Loudon Wainwright III: I remember the dj playing this song at the roller rink when I was a young teen; it just fit my quirky personality; me on wheels.

 

Remind Me-Royksopp: This is the full version of the Geico Caveman Commercial tune when the cave man is on the conveyor walking through the airport and sees a picture on the wall of a caveman; really cool tecno/electronica.

 

Il Diavolo E L’Angelo- Andrea Bocelli: I would’ve never imagined myself enjoying and Italian tenor singing operatic pop but Andrea’s passion leaps out of this song.

 

Crazy- Gnarls Barkley: Just the beat; I could probably dance to this even at my old age.

 

Hookers and Robbers- Charlie Hall: For all the Christian music that starts to sound the same when you listen to it on the radio there are a few artists that break out of the box and Charlie is one of them. The song is a real look at the fallen state of all people.

 

Us and Them- Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon was one of the first few albums (vinyl) I bought when I was sixteen; it was light years ahead of its time, but drugs will do that to you. The older I’ve gotten it’s the saxophone solo that makes the song for me.

 

Bittersweet Symphony- The Verve: Christian, but not! I just dig it.

 

End of October- David Crowder: Nobody talks about this tune. I’ve put this song in my CD player in my car, pressed the repeat button and have listened to it for a couple hours straight. It’s an instrumental that just kind of clears my head and lets me think spiritually.

 

The Man Comes Around- Johnny Cash: This was one of those songs that showed that Johnny had no boundaries or limits to what he could do; straight out of the book of Revelation.

 

Dignity- Bob Dylan: A totally honest song that explores both sides of the human condition, plus, one of the few Dylan songs you can understand the lyrics when he sings it.

 

One of Us- Joan Osborne: This was the theme song to the TV series Joan of Arcadia; asked the question “what if God walked among us—would we recognize him?”

 

Hallelujah- Jeff Buckley: The original, from which much has been borrowed!

 

One of These Days- Ten Years After: Ten Years After played at the original Woodstock; a great blues/rock song.

 

On My Own- Patti LaBelle/Michael McDonald: One of the best duets I’ve ever heard; reminds me of a swirl ice cream cone from Dairy Queen, half vanilla and half chocolate—Michael’s blue-eyed soul mixed with Patti’s tenderness, I think the flavors are mixed up though.

 

Unknown Legend- Neil Young: One of the few unplugged songs I’ve ever found that I liked.

 

Doe Eyes- Clint Eastwood: Not a lot of people know that Clint Eastwood is a composer and wrote this theme song to the movie The Bridges of Madison County. The movie was mediocre at best except the scene when Eastwood is standing in the rain watching Meryl Streep leave town with her husband as this song plays in the background; almost cried—almost, but nary a tear.

 

Roll Over Beethoven- Electric Light Orchestra: This song came off of ELO’s first LP, has classic orchestration and was an 8+ minute version of the song in symphonic rock.

 

Human Work of Art- Maxi Priest: Just a cool reggae song.

 

The Dutchman-Robert Waller: This is a song about a man with Alzheimer’s disease who is cared for by his wife; full of love, life and hope; kind of a folksy tune.

 

Bullet- Mat Kearney: There is no white boy who combines rap and pop in the way Mat does—period.

 

When Love Comes to Town-U2/B.B. King: Bono and B.B. King! What else can I say?

 

Missing Your Touch-Acoustic Alchemy: A convertible, driving down the pacific coast highway with the top down at night, moon kissing the ocean. Perfect.

 

Let Your First Thought Be Love-WhiteHeart: Granddaddies of Christian rock, they paved the way for what we have today; the song is for today as much as it was in 1983.

 

It’s Too Late, Brother-Darrell Mansfield: This is an amazing blues song written in 1956 heavy with harmonica; sung by 70’s Christian blues man Darrell Mansfield and at its zenith makes me want to scream, fall to the floor on my back, kick my feet as I spin in circles and shout “sweet mother of all that’s good and pure!”

 

Why I Am Pro Choice

It may come as a surprise to many people but I am Pro Choice! Sometimes, when Christians hear those words they cringe and are certain heretics that say that will fry in hell for eternity—fry like a moth caught in a bug zapper.

Perhaps I should clarify; I am Pro Choice before conception! That’s right, I encourage men and women to choose as to whether or not they want to have sex and make a baby. I encourage men and women to choose what kind of birth control they’ll use so that an unwanted pregnancy doesn’t occur; and all of that within God’s plan for intimacy and propagation.

However, once conception occurs I am Pro Life!

I speak from experience when it comes to this issue; I fathered a child out of wedlock and my girlfriend’s mother pushed her to have an abortion. I was seventeen, my girlfriend was sixteen; we stepped outside of God’s plan for intimacy and propagation and it changed our lives dramatically. Two wrongs wouldn’t have made anything right, it just would have ensured a baby die so that life, career and future went uninterrupted.

I wonder if in the tens of millions of babies we slaughtered in the United States if somewhere tucked in the midst of them was a future scientist who would have discovered the cure for AIDS/HIV that a friend of mine has, or the cure for cancer from which dad died, or a cure for Alzheimer’s disease which my mom now has, or a thousand other things that plague mankind.

Every time I speak with my son face-to-face I’m reminded that I need to continue to be Pro Choice prior to conception and Pro Life after conception, otherwise the Short North would be missing one gifted Advanced Sommelier and I’d be missing one my life’s greatest joys.

 

Things I Learned in the Back Seat of a Car

        I just returned from a week in Nashville and Atlanta attending a conference for Christians who are businessmen. I’m all about conferences, but the accommodations sometimes trouble me, as they did this time.

        The conference was held in a beautiful retreat center nestled in the hills of Georgia, an hour or so from Atlanta. I shared a bunkhouse with about twenty other guys, and the first night I discovered one of my roommates had swallowed a locomotive-a freight train to be exact. You might think I’m speaking metaphorically, but until you dissect his gut to prove to me otherwise, I believe there was a train engine inside of him.

        I sleep especially lightly; I try to explain it to people by telling them “I can hear a mouse pee on cotton.” We turned in for the evening around 11:15pm and another fellow roommate felt the need to read by book light until midnight or so. The reading wasn’t bad; it was just that I kept wondering where on earth he found a book light as bright as the high beams of Cadillac Escalade.

        Just as my friend was finishing up reading for the evening and had clicked the high beams off, my locomotive friend began what seemed to be a straining train engine climbing up Pikes Peak. Even with my heavy duty wax ear plugs the sound was unbearable. I got just about an hour sleep that night.

        When the white light of morning cracked the eastern sky as it came over the hills we were nestled in I prayed that God would strengthen me for the day. I don’t do well with sleep depravation; the night before had well exceeded depravation.

        I felt great throughout the day considering I’d slept a whole hour. Additionally, my mind raced with a plan for how I might escape another night of an oncoming train. I knew I couldn’t stay in the same bunkhouse, so I explored the possibility of changing bunkhouses; then I thought “there are twenty guys in each of the other bunkhouses too.”

        Somewhere around the middle of the afternoon I came upon a plan that I thought would give me relief for the evening; I’d bunk in the back seat of my rented Hyundai Sonata. Once we’d finished our evening session I made my way back to the bunkhouse, grabbed my pillow, blanket and top sheet and headed for my car. I moved my car out of direct overhead lighting and tucked it off to one side of the parking lot.

        I shoved my gear into the back seat, tossed a few items up into the rear window to block out as much light as I could and settled in for a reasonable nights sleep. I figured if I even got 3-4 hours I’d be in better shape than the night before.

        There were a few things I learned in the back seat of a car that night; first, even a guy that’s five foot seven can’t stretch out fully; second, Georgia in middle May actually has pretty pleasant weather for camping in your car. I learned that it gets cooler as the night progresses and that the back seat of a car provides as about as much insulation as a tent does.

        I learned that none of my bunkmates missed me that night. I learned that sleeping in a car while it rains could be considered a gift from God (I thought of how many times I’d love to fall asleep listening to the rain), I learned that my cell phone picks up text messages in the hills of Georgia as I’m trying to sleep.

        I also learned that crickets chirp loudly at night, but it’s a beautiful noise. I learned that bull frogs aren’t nearly as bad overweight bunkmates. I learned that being alone in the back seat of a car at night can be as pleasurable as being with somebody else in the back seat of a car at night. And lastly, I learned that God answers prayers in the back seat of a car because I had a great nights sleep.

 

Sex is the Source of my Sanity

I never know what CNN’s going to post on their website as news, but when I read the headlines yesterday that said “Brooke Shields Regrets Not Losing Virginity Sooner” I was intrigued.

            I must admit, in my 53 years of life, this is the first time I’ve ever heard anybody say they wished they had lost their virginity earlier; usually I find just the opposite, and quite often it’s filled with regrets.

            In dissecting the article I think that Brooke is more confused today at 44 than maybe at anytime in her life, and the article revealed why. “I think I would have had sex a lot earlier,” Brooke told Health Magazine. “I think I would have been much more in touch with myself.” Brooke went on to say “losing her virginity sooner could have helped her with body image as a young adult.”

            I sure got in touch with myself when I became sexually active at 16. I knew what sexual ecstasy was for the first time.

            Somehow Brooke speculates and equates having sex earlier in life with emotional wellbeing—she would have felt better about herself and how she looked. She indicated that she carried an extra 20 pounds in college kind of as an emotional protection. I think what she was trying to say was “if I pork up nobody will want to have sex with me.”

            Actually, I think most guys wouldn’t have given a rip about the extra 20 pounds Brooke was carrying around; they would have gladly used her for sex.

            “I think I would have lost my virginity earlier than I did at 22” was Brooke’s sad analysis.

            This now comes from the mouth of a 44-year-old woman, but it seems to me it’s rather shallow at best, and highly damning as a potential role model for young women and girls.

            What Brooke in essence is saying is “I can’t have a guy appreciate me for who I am and qualities like intellect, personality and character; I have to spread my legs for them to appreciate me.” What Brooke is describing is having some guy affirm or validate her only through sex, and because of that she then cared what she looked like physically.

            I find it rather egregious that at 44 years old Brooke Shields is advocating girls and women embrace the behavior that freed her from thinking less of herself, by actually acting in a way that perpetuates a wrong self-image; she received her identity from her ability to be sexually active.

             She simply exchanged one lie for another.

 

I Hate God

“They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.”

I was reading the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans when I came across this in chapter one. What was particularly interesting to me was what Paul said when he wrote “…they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator who is bless forever! Amen.”

Sometimes, we Christians, want to condemn people for behavior that seems perverse or evil; people like pedophiles, whores, hookers, pornographers, pimps, sluts, politicians, lesbians, homos, perverts, rapists and the such. In essence we condemn their behavior which is nothing more than symptom.

All of those acts and lifestyles are symptoms of people who’ve suppressed the truth about God…that he is God, he is glorious, and he is Creator. The truth that has been suppressed is that He is worthy of worship. When suppression happens, as Paul observed, people exchange worshiping the Creator for worshiping the creature (or, created things). We become self-worshippers.

In reading history one would have to conclude that Paul gave a pretty fair assessment of Roman life. Historians and archeologist have documented the perversity and pleasure that drove Roman culture and society.

Paul didn’t just pick out the outrageously perverse, he gave us a snapshot of the full spectrum of those who suppress the truth about God; some are full of envy, but aren’t a pedophile; some murder, but aren’t a whore; some catalyze strife, but aren’t hookers; some practice deceit, but aren’t pornographers; some engage in maliciousness, but aren’t pimps; some are gossips and slanderers, but aren’t sluts.

Right in the middle of his list the Apostle Paul plants the fact that they are “haters of God.” One has to hate God more than ones self in order to suppress the truth about God. God can’t be as important as I am…therefore “I hate God” is the reality.

As such they can be insolent or haughty, lesbian or politician, boastful and inventors of evil, homos and perverts, disobedient to parents and foolish, or rapists; and in so being they are faithless, heartless and ruthless. That pretty much described life in Rome.

As I read this it sounds all too familiar; it sounds like America. All the junk is just symptom of what we’ve done to suppress the truth about God…that he alone is worthy of worship.

 

Blood Sugar Sex Magik

In 1991 Red Hot Chili Peppers cut a CD with the title Blood Sugar Sex Magik; that could have been the title given to my weekend at Comfest this past weekend.

Friday afternoon started off pretty innocuous as I manned our booth with my friend, John, We were giving out free Frisbees this year with our church’s name and logo emblazoned on them. It was pretty cool tossing a disc fifteen or twenty yards to somebody you made eye contact with as they moseyed through the park.

It was a swelter summer afternoon; high humidity and in the upper eighties. Mid-way through our shift I walked over to the Lemonade Shake Up shack that sat on Park Street and bought us a couple of drinks. HOLY COW! I couldn’t recall pure sugar with a drop or two of real lemon juice sloshed around in some water tasting so good—that’s where the SUGAR part of the weekend came from. By the time my shift ended around 5:30pm I felt like a piece of chewed gum somebody had just spit out, I was so sticky and hot.

When Saturday rolled around the weather had turned much better; the humidity was down, as was the temperature. My shift at our booth started around 6:00pm and another friend named John manned it with me Saturday night. There was an utter mass of humanity that filled the Park and the adjacent streets Saturday; at one point the beer tent on Park Street was lined with twenty-five people wide, stretching completely across the street and about twenty yards into Goodale Park, there were two other, bigger tents on Goodale Boulevard.

The sidewalk in front of our booth reminded me of the conveyor belt walkways they have at some airports; so many people were passing by that it was difficult to make eye contact with them. The scene on Park Street and Goodale Boulevard was elbow to elbow. I had a sense there was something in the air that I couldn’t put my finger on— sort of an oppression, but not. I don’t really know how to describe it, maybe a feeling of uneasiness?

I spent about forty-five minutes talking with Heather. I attempted to hand her one of our small buttons that said “Don’t Waste Your Life” on it. As I extended my hand I mentioned we were a church in the Short North, and when I said that she withdrew her hand. “I’m not really into church” she said. She was a nice girl around twenty-five years old, but with a walker. I didn’t ask why she had to use a walker, but for the next forty-five minutes we had a really intelligent, polite conversation about our differences.

Heather had some bad experiences with church; her dad was Jewish and her mom was Presbyterian. Some years ago she’d abandoned church and God and took a position as an atheist. She told me she had a sister who is Christian. Through our discussion I discovered that she wasn’t really atheist but agnostic; she left the door open that there was a possibility that there was a God. Our conversation was proof that intelligent people can have reasonable dialogue about something they differ on, without getting their panties in a bind.

Just before 8:00pm the police came down the sidewalk clearing people out of the way; they were followed by a golf cart ambulance that had a young dude stretched out on it; he wasn’t moving and was ashen white. We learned that he’d been stabbed about seventy-five yards from our booth. That was the BLOOD part of my weekend. I learned Sunday morning the guy had died; he was just eighteen years old. However, by Monday word was circulating that his own friend had stabbed him—ten times in the chest. But, by Tuesday I’d learned that his friend was trying to protect him from himself; evidently the guy was stoned out of his head and was stabbing himself.

After the excitement of the ambulance rolling by I had another forty-five minute conversation at just about sundown with a woman named Peggy. She was pleasant, gregarious, and slightly drunk. My friend, John talked with her friend, Matt while we talked. Peggy identified herself as a practicing pagan. During our conversation I discovered that meant that she was very in tune with nature, had ESP, had premonitions about things that would happen, she said she had the ability to cause tornados and stuff like that; she said she could bend the flame of a candle to a 45 degree angle with her mind.

That was the MAGIK part of my weekend. To speak with Peggy one would think she might be a Christian; she talked with God a lot, believed in Jesus, was very generous, and didn’t speak ill of people. She used very colorful language—but that’s to be expected at Comfest.

I really believed Peggy when she told me some of the stuff she could do with her “gift.” I asked her if she ever wished she could be free of the “gift” and she replied “Oh God yes!” She mentioned there was an overwhelming responsibility with the “gift”. I shared some things about our church and my own faith in Jesus with her, but she indicated she could never be a Christian; I asked her why not and she said it was because she had that “stuff” in her genes.

What Peggy told me was that not only did she have the “gift” but that her mother had had it and her grandmother had had it too. She said, “couple hundred years ago they would have burned people like us at the stake.” I really liked Peggy—freaky—but I liked her. I mentioned to her about Mary Magdalene in scripture; even though she had had seven demons in her Jesus was able to free her from it. I told Peggy that Jesus could free her from what was in her genes too.

As our night was just about to finish on Saturday, about fifteen minutes until 11:00pm a young man and lady in their early twenties walked into our tent. They asked about some of our ministries and the things we were doing; then asked about a program we had at our church similar to Exodus International which helps those people who want to come out of homosexuality to come out.

I indicated to the guy and lady that we didn’t have a program like that, but we did have several individuals in our church who had chosen to come out of homosexuality—by their choice. This was the SEX part of my weekend. Almost immediately the guy and lady turned antagonistic toward us, even though I’d told them we didn’t have the type of program they were assuming we had.

The lady indicated she’d been raised Jewish and was now bi-sexual. We had quite a bit of conversation about the Old Testament, Jewish life and law, the scriptures, culture and we were miles a part in our beliefs. The guy wouldn’t divulge his sexuality nor his religious proclivities, but grew more antagonistic. I realized that they had come to pick a fight with us on the issue of homosexuality, knowing we were a church.

I indicated that my foundation for truth is the Bible; the guy indicated he had his own ideas about religion, but that they weren’t anything like mine. I told them I make no apology for what I believe, and made some very pointed statements to the lady about her heritage as a Jewish person. Our conversation ended abruptly, and maybe it was a good thing it did because the lady made some comments that I could have taken very personal.

Sunday was rather uneventful other than the fact that I was given five minutes on the gazebo stage to talk about our organization. I had nearly forgotten that I had signed up for the opportunity, and I was dead dog tired by Sunday afternoon.

I was at the booth for our 2:00pm shift change and once I got everybody settled in I headed home for lunch; I had just come from our church service a few minutes earlier. As I was leaving the Park I stood for a few minutes to listen to a pretty good reggae band jamming on the gazebo stage. As the band was finishing their last song the lead singer raised his arm and pointed his finger to the sky and said “glory to Jah.”

As I walked up Park Street to head to my car I heard one of the speakers on the stage as the reggae band was tearing down and the next band was setting up. The speaker identified himself and the organization he was with—a well known church in Columbus. A few people in the audience of several thousand booed the guy. In that moment Satan planted a seed of fear in me; I would be getting up to speak in a couple of hours and they might boo me too.

As I drove home I thought about the lead singer giving glory to Jah—Jah was the Rastafarian name for God. I thought, if he could give glory to God surely I could, even if some people booed me like they booed the other speaker.

My time to speak was 4:40pm and it rolled around really quickly. I was nervous, but talked to God about it. I took the stage as the two bands were setting up and tearing down; I introduced myself, mentioned that the organization I was with was Ekklesia Church just around the corner on Buttles Avenue. I mentioned that we were partnering again this year at Comfest with Camp Sunrise—a camp for kids ages 6-17 who are impacted by HIV/AIDS.

I went on to tell of other partnerships we have in the community; Wings of Hope a ministry to the homeless, Blood: water mission that drills clean water wells in Africa to help prevent the spread of AIDS and Project Open Hand an organization help adults living with AIDS/HIV. There were no boos to this point. I indicated we had a booth about a hundred yards to the south of the gazebo.

I finished my talk off by saying we’re trying to help people because we believe that that is what God would do. And, my last statement was “We want to make Jesus famous in the Short North.”

There were no boos and my weekend of Blood Sugar Sex Magik ended a couple hours later.

 

I Cried Today

I guess I must be a tough guy, a hard ass, impervious to true sensitivity. About two months ago my wife and I were talking and she asked me, “when was the last time you cried.”

As we talked it became apparent that my wife had never seen me cry. Somewhere lodged in my mind might be the thought that to publically cry might be a sign of weakness—but that’s just me self-analyzing, but it could be true.

I told my wife that I had cried just a week earlier; I explained that in my time with God I cry regularly, she just doesn’t get to see those times.

I cry for several reasons. I cry out of joy; I know God, how amazing is that, that the Creator of all the worlds would reveal himself to me? I cry because I’ve been crushed with the truth of my own wickedness; God has placed a mirror in front of me and shown me the awfulness of my behavior in the past.

I cry for my kids, both out of joy and concern. I cry because I’ve failed God. I cry for wandering friends and family. I cry because I recognized I’ve wasted a lot of my life. I cry because I feel the presence of God when I’m alone with him.

I cried today!

I sat in my bed spending time with God; I had a book about the Holy Spirit next to me, my Bible and a small journal I keep monthly—but I didn’t even get to any of those.

On my Ipod I had the song “Hear Our Praises” performed by Hillsong. I began listening to the song just as a way of locating my heart next to God’s. Then, something unexpectedly happened, a worship service broke out. For some reason the lyrics to the song began to lodge in my cranium by some invisible force and the words rolled over and over until there were tears rolling down my cheeks. Of course my wife wasn’t around, as usual; I think she was having coffee and entertaining our cat, Ms. Kitty.

I think it was the shear joy of the words that captivated me…

 

may our homes be filled with dancing
may our streets be filled with joy.
may injustice bow to Jesus
as the people turn to pray.

 

            “May injustice bow to Jesus” had a particularly strong effect on me; I think that’s when the first tears came. What an amazing prayer; that all the injustice that our world suffers from would bow to Jesus!

            Then the chorus began…
from the mountains to the valleys
hear our praises rise to You,
from the heavens to the nations
hear our singing fill the air.

And, in that moment I just got a much bigger glimpse of heaven and the glory of God. It was God himself who was carrying my praise…our praise…from the mountains to the valleys…praise to Him! And, I remembered that God’s love is for the world—not just me. I’ll come back to that in a moment.

may Your light shine in the darkness
as we walk before the cross
may Your glory fill the whole earth
as the water o’er seas.

So, I found myself undulating in the pure joy of knowing God, and so much so that I got out of the bed, cranked the volume higher, and just worshiped God there by myself…tears flowing down both cheeks. Too bad my wife wasn’t there, I would have slipped one of my ear buds out and given it to her and we could have worshipped together.

            Then there came a point where I simply couldn’t contain myself anymore; it was the bridge of hallelujah’s. I can’t put it into words, just thankfulness.

hallelujah.hallelujah
hallelujah,hallelujah…
hallelujah,hallelujah
hallelujah,hallelujah

So, I cried today. It wasn’t mushy stuff—it wasn’t over some “chick flick” I’d watched with my wife, it wasn’t because I’d heard somebody’s story of rescue, freedom and redemption at the hands of God. I think it was because I was made aware of my own redemptive story at the hands of God.

After listening to “Hear Our Praises” a half dozen times I settled in to read, but that never happened either. I began to listen to a song called “Spirit Song;” it was an instrumental performed by a guy named Michael Gettel, and God triggered something in my mind.

At that moment I remembered a guy from my hometown that I used to be friends with, his name was Kenny Gatchel. In that moment I heard the whisper of God say “pray for Kenny Gatchel, wherever he might be right now; pray that he would hear My voice and know that I love him.” So I did.

Then, seemingly out of the blue God seemed to bring to my mind names of people I hadn’t thought of in years, even decades, and prompted me to pray that same prayer for them. That’s when I remembered that God’s love is for all people; everybody in the world. I hadn’t spoken with Kenny Gatchel in thirty years. Hallelujah!

 

Are You a Statistic?

            I spent Thursday evening, all day Friday and all day Saturday this weekend ministering with Bill Glass Weekend of Champions in the Southeastern Correctional Institute. SCI is a prison of 1560 men, most of them under thirty years old.

            I went with 22 other men and we had the opportunity to share the gospel with the inmates. I spent time with a young man named Rich and another young man named James; both of them made commitments to Jesus Christ. I spent several hours with about another dozen men encouraging them to go deeper with Jesus while in prison.

            As my teammates and I were driving back to Columbus in a van I realized that these men had stopped being a STATISTIC.

            George Barna, the pollster of Christians and the Church, discovered through his organization’s interviews that the average Christian in America will NEVER lead somebody to Jesus in their lifetime.

            Between the 22 of us that went to SCI we helped point 100 men to Jesus and how to be personally related to him and become one of his followers and disciples. Another 115 men re-committed their lives to the Lord over those two days of us sharing with them.

            These guys had stopped being one of Barna’s statistics because they had in their lifetime led somebody to faith in Christ. I’m estimating that each man had the opportunity to share Christ with no fewer than ten men. That too took them off the statistics list because in a week’s time the average Christian DOESN’T share their faith with a single individual.

            All of this makes me wonder what the average Christian is doing with 168 hours in a week, and those 611,520 hours in an average lifetime of 70 years.

            I know many Christians who are expert at playing Halo, Resident Evil, and Warhammer. I know many Christians who watch every UFC pay per view event. I know many Christians who engage in hours on Facebook with Mafia Wars, Bejeweled Blitz, YoVille and about 2,000 other nonsensical things. I know many Christians who’ve read every Harry Potter book and seen every Harry Potter movie, even attending the midnight openings. Yet, the average Christian will NEVER lead anybody to faith in Christ or share Jesus with somebody this week.

            Jesus once said “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

            Statistically speaking, I can’t help but think when Jesus said “small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” he really meant FEW. I believe those few are going to be far fewer than most of us in the Church think. I’m convinced that on that GREAT DAY the Church is going to be surprised with just how many people Jesus will say “I never knew you” to.

            Are you a statistic?

            What are you going to do about it if you are?

 

Van Gogh, the Apostle Peter and Malchus

I’m not an artist, never studied art, but our church operates an emerging artist art gallery in the Short North for each Gallery Hop.

I never thought I would use Vincent Van Gogh and the Apostle Peter in the same sentence accompanied by a little known man by the name of Malchus, but hey, I suppose if you live long enough stranger things will happen.

I was reading John 18 this morning about Jesus’ betrayal in the Garden by Judas. The turncoat disciple had come to the Garden knowing this is where Jesus often gathered with his followers. Judas came with a band of soldiers and officers that the chief priests and Pharisees had assigned to him; they were armed with torches and weapons in the middle of the night.

“Whom do you seek” was Jesus’ question when they arrived. Their response was “Jesus of Nazareth.” “I am he” Jesus replied and at that the group fell down like a row of dominos; or the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes if you prefer.

Jesus poses the question a second time, with the same answer coming from the soldiers. At that moment the Apostle Peter drew his sword and cut off the right ear of Malchus the servant of the high priest. I guess the guy was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I got a vision of a WWE Smack Down when I read this, you know, kind of like one of those wrestlers knocking an opponent to the mat, only to leap into a flying head scissor just as the guy is getting up off the mat, showing him no mercy.

As I read this for some reason I was reminded of Vincent Van Gogh…you know, the whole ear thing. Van Gogh had an amazing and interesting life; unless one has read or studied the life of Van Gogh they probably aren’t aware that he was a missionary in Belgium ministering to a poor coal mining town, to those considered the most wretched and hopeless in Europe when he was in his mid-twenties.

Van Gogh was so committed to ministry that he lived in a decrepit small hut and slept on straw, for which the church authorities dismissed him because he was giving the priesthood a bad name. Imagine that! (Van Gogh’s commitment reminds me of Jesus when he said the birds have nests but he had no place to call home and lay his head at night.)

That was a turning point in Van Gogh’s life, after which he began to pursue art and a life that was the polar opposite of what he had previously been committed to. At various times Van Gogh lived with an alcoholic prostitute and multiple times contracted syphilis and gonorrhea, and was accused of impregnating one of his young models. It has been speculated that syphilis contributed to his mental collapse.

At 35 Van Gogh was hanging out with the famous artist Paul Gauguin. Once their friendship had deteriorated Van Gogh began to stalk Gauguin with a razor and it was at that point that he cut part of his own left ear lobe off and gave it to a prostitute to keep for him.

Life spiraled out of control for Van Gogh until he was institutionalized and finally killed himself by shooting himself in the chest with a revolver.

Impetuous Peter was quick to draw his sword and quicker yet to shoot his mouth off; multiple times in scripture we see Peter get himself in trouble instantaneously. However, over some years as he grew closer to Jesus his knee-jerk reactions began to temper and he ultimately became a mature follower of Jesus. Van Gogh’s life seemed to flow in the opposite direction; he’d started off strong with the Lord but little by little moved away from Jesus and was literally and figuratively consumed by the wretched world around him. And, poor Malchus, he was just stuck in the middle, losing an ear for no good reason.

 

How I Missed 4 Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl Championship Games

            Brennan Manning, the former Franciscan priest and alcoholic wrote “The legalists can never live up to the expectations they project on God.”

            When I began my journey with Jesus 35 years ago I somehow managed to begin attending a Baptist church that was quite legalistic; a good Christian didn’t play cards (of any kind), didn’t dance, didn’t go to movies, didn’t listen to rock music and read only the King James Bible (plus several other things).

            I was a true adherent to legalism because I didn’t know what else to be. I remember living that way for the better part of fifteen years. I am a HUGE Pittsburgh Steelers fan, however when the Steelers won their four Super Bowls in the 1970’s I never saw a game live on TV because it was always on Sunday night; and as a good legalist I was in church on Sunday night (and Sunday morning and Wednesday night and New Years Eve).

            It took me those fifteen years to begin to get to the point where I understood that I was free in Christ; that playing cards, dancing, movies and rock music in and of themselves are not evil, but my motives and what I do with those things are what can lead to sin.

            In 1989 I began a radical shift away from legalistic living, so much so that the pendulum of my life swung extremely far in the other direction—I took my Christian liberty quite literally. As such I really didn’t care what anybody in the Church thought about it if I did play cards (including gambling), I didn’t care what anybody thought about me going to clubs to dance and have a good time, I didn’t care what anybody thought if I went to an R-rated movie and I certainly didn’t care what anybody thought when I listened to rock music and performed as a DJ.

            I didn’t become a hard-core drinker or hang out at bars, but if I wanted a glass of wine, a wine cooler or a whiskey sour I would have one. I loved dancing with my (to be) wife at clubs that played trans-techno, club, house and hip hop music. I didn’t become a debauched backslider, I just understood for maybe the first time in my life that I was free in Christ.

            About ten years ago I began a deeper journey with Christ and I began to notice some changes in myself. The deeper I journeyed with Christ the less appealing some of that stuff that I was free to do became to me. I’m a music freak and love all kinds of music, but one night while I was DJing for a wedding reception I saw a dance floor full of twentysomething young adults, including the bride and groom, having a raucous time to a song I was playing; Highway to Hell by AC/DC.

            It was in that moment the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said “what are you doing?” You’re proclaiming Christ to people, yet you’re providing the inspiration for this group of people to party like hell (for hell).

            The Holy Spirit showed me the huge incongruity in my life.

            Over the past ten years as my journey has deepened more with Christ I’ve noticed something a little peculiar; the pendulum of my life has swung significantly back toward what looks like the legalistic side of things. I say “what looks like” because rather than being told how I am to live by a person I am being gently persuaded by the Holy Spirit in the areas of personal holiness and purity.

            I still play cards any time I want to; in fact when I get together with my brothers during the holidays we play for money. I still go to the movies that I want to, but now I’m definitely under the influence of the Holy Spirit when I get ready to choose a movie. I still dance; I went to a great 70s party several months ago and had a great time. In all those things my motives were pure.

            I’m certain that sometimes when I preach, the message may come across as legalistic—it certainly would have seemed that way to me twenty years ago when I took my Christian liberties to the extreme that I wanted, and did what I wanted, without regard for what the Holy Spirit might want.

            In recognizing that the pendulum has swung significantly in the other direction I am careful not to do what Brennan Manning describes when he suggests that the legalist cannot live up to the expectations they project on God; there is only one perfect God, we humans cannot be perfect. However, our inability to be perfect should not stop us from pursuing God’s perfection; in fact scripture tells us to do just that (1 Peter 1:16).

            What I observe way too often in the Church are people who were just like I was twenty years ago; people who take their Christian liberties and do what THEY want without regard for what God might want. Because of that, the pursuit of personal holiness and personal purity is not a pursuit of some people—rather being sin managers becomes the focus.

            We become sin managers by knowing all the stuff we’re not supposed to do (steal, lie, lust, cheat, cuss) and work really hard at not doing those things, but that doesn’t make us holy or pure, and it also doesn’t demonstrate that we’re living in a new kingdom.

            Living in a new kingdom means living like the King lives.

            I think Brennan Manning sums it up well when he also writes “The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today are Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle…That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.“

            As a legalist I had it entirely wrong, I was attempting to live a godly life because somebody said I needed to. Now, I’m attempting to live a godly life, and lead others in doing that same thing, because I love Jesus and want to be part of his pure Bride. Which leads me to a question: Can one ever become too pure or too holy?