Saturday Morning Devotions - James 3, Psalm 3

But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? James 3:8-11 (NASB95)

I wonder what a difference it would make if we could just get this figured out? That is... to make sure that the same fountain (our mouths) only spews forth good water, and not bitter. Just being able to get a filter on the brain/mouth thing.

Friday Morning Community - James 2, Psalm 2

For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, "You sit here in a good place," and you say to the poor man, "You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool," have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? James 2:2-4 (NASB95)

It's so difficult to treat everyone the same because of the way we view the world. How many of our relationships are bringing us some return? That is to say, how often are we thinking in terms of "what I can get" from the relationship rather than what I have to give. 90% of the relationship conflicts I work with people through boil down to expectations vs. reality in interpersonal relationship. Marriage is certainly that way... but I think that's what James is saying in this text. When you say to the wealthy person - "sit here in this comfortable chair" and the person without much - "sit here on the floor by my feet" we're recognizing, even at a sub-conscious level that there is more to gain from the one who has little than from the one who has much! James says that those are "evil motives."

If we spent more of our time asking the question, "How can I be responsible for someone else's success?" I think we would be generally happier. When we expect others to meet our needs and further our progress we're rarely, if ever, satisfied that they've done all they can do.

Perhaps we could spend more time working on the "royal law" which is to "love your neighbor as yourself." We can be self-absorbed (which may not always really be "loving ourselves") and forget that our call is to serve, to love, to give... not live in relationships waiting to get.

Thursday Morning Community, Psalm 1 - James 1

I am intrigued that though we chose James to read, and started at Psalm 1 (ok that's not a big surprise to start at Psalm 1) they have some similar content.

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. Psalm 1:2-3 (NASB95)

Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. James 1:21 (NASB95)

The word of God is both the seed and the water... God uses it in our lives to bear fruit. We were talking last night about the necessity of being in God's presence... even for Jesus! Think about how deeply connected Christ was also to the written word... quoting it often... clearly well versed in it. He lived in it when "not on the spot" so that his life was shaped for the times when he "was on the spot!" May it grow up and bear fruit!

MLCC Student Ministry Community Devotional Challenge

Hey Guys (anyone else can join us also... but the MLCC student ministry group{Jr. High & Sr. High... I really love these guys} are reading scripture together apart from 6:20 - 6:40 AM each day for a week), here is the plan for the week.

Remember that Bonhoeffer said that part of community is sharing the morning together in worship, the word, and prayer. So we're going to be reading the same passages together from 6:20 -6:40 for the next week. Saturday and Sunday we'll just say it's going to be morning since I know some of you are lazy and won't get up early those days... wait... did I say lazy?

Please feel free... and in fact invited... to share through comments... on the reading for the day.

Thursday, September 25: Psalm 1; James 1
Friday, September 26: Psalm 2; James 2
Saturday, September 27: Psalm 3
Sunday, September 28: Psalm 4
Monday, September 29: Psalm 5; James 3
Tuesday, September 30: Psalm 6; James 4
Wednesday, October 1: Psalm 7, James 5

I love this plan... hope you can join us for the week!
John

The Struggle for Power

As we're in the throes of the political campaigning season I can't help myself... I'm just cynical about the real political motivations of those seeking office. One of things that I genuinely appreciate about John McCain is his history of sacrifice and service to the US. He has served a very long time, and given much. Having said that he isn't a compelling candidate overall. Not sure what to think about Obama. I truly don't see any real experience. When his own campaign is citing running for office as an example of his executive experience that's weird. To say, "I'm qualified to be President of the USA because I've run a large Presidential campaign seems something like circular reasoning.

What's the motivation when it's all said and done, for each party? I think it's power and the thrill of being in power. It causes us to completely lose our objectivity. I don't see political parties - or candidates - spending much time truly seeking the welfare of those they serve. I don't see them being faithful to their pledges. I just got a flyer from the Doc Hastings campaign last night. He ran on the "term limits" platform. Now he's been in office... continues to run for office... long after the "time's up" on the limits he was espousing. Why doesn't he get out of the race and throw his hat in with someone he can support? He likes power - and somewhere deep down he probably thinks he can help more in office than out - but he likes power. (Someone please correct me if it wasn't Hastings who ran on that platform - I'll gladly retract).

I was reading this morning in the gospel of John chapter three. Jesus and his disciples, along with John and his disciples are baptizing in the land of Judea (v.22ff) because there was much water there. In a discussion between John's disciples and a Jew they asked John a question, "What do you think about this Jesus guy baptizing too?" Are they asking John how he feels about someone stealing his thunder? "Hey! We're the popular baptizing guys... what's he doing horning in on our territory?" I love John's answer -

"You yourselves were there when I made it public that I was not the Messiah but simply the one sent ahead of him to get things ready. The one who gets the bride is, by definition, the bridegroom. And the bridegroom's friend, his 'best man'—that's me—in place at his side where he can hear every word, is genuinely happy. How could he be jealous when he knows that the wedding is finished and the marriage is off to a good start? "That's why my cup is running over. This is the assigned moment for him to move into the center, while I slip off to the sidelines. "The One who comes from above is head and shoulders over other messengers from God. The earthborn is earthbound and speaks earth language; the heavenborn is in a league of his own." John 3:28-31 (MSG)

John effectively says, "Hey guys, this thing is not about me, and I don't need the popularity. The point is Jesus, let's not lose focus." He isn't consumed by power. When John's in prison seeing the handwriting on the wall and his head soon on the platter only has one concern... did I bet on the right horse. He doesn't seem overly concerned about his own welfare - he just wants to know, and sends his disciples to ask, "Are you the one or should we look for another?"

It's refreshing to see that heart and it challenges me to have that heart. My power an success are immaterial in the whole scope of things. It's not about me - or you either if you're reading this I guess.

Out of the Loop

To anyone who actually comes and reads this once in a while, particularly if you were looking for the next Prayer for Beginners installment, sorry I've been away.

Prayer for Beginners: Chapter Two- Part VI

Prayer is Delightful

“There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of continual conversation with God. Those only can comprehend it who practice and experience (Brother Andrew – Letter 5).” No one who has ever tried it has given it a lesser rating than that. For even though our prayer-contact with God may be almost infinitely poor, the God we thus contact is infinitely rich! Therefore “we are to be pitied who content ourselves with so little. God has infinite treasure to bestow” (Letter 4).
Delight is a subjective reason for praying, but it’s a valid one. God accepts the more “selfish” and subjective and natural motive of our own delight and preace and joy and happiness as perfectly proper, for God appeals to this motive throughout scripture. He is not an elitist; he stoops to conquer. He stoops down even into the spiritual nursery and carefully watches over spiritual infants like us.

Recent Reads

Just a note to check out book ideas on the sidebar. These are some of the books that I've read in the recent weeks in case you're interested. These, actually, are the books I've read recently even if you haven't the slightest interest in all the world!

To "anonymous":

Sorry you didn't see my response... it came fairly soon after yours... it's in the comment thread of "Movie Flash." To be honest, I'd prefer you not comment as "anonymous." Though I thought your comment was good, and thoughtful, so I published it. I think openness is best, not sure why you keep your identity secret, unless perhaps that's just your policy with regard to Internet stuff, which I would respect. If you know me, though, don't hesitate to jump in the conversation. If I was trying to hide a topic I certainly wouldn't be publishing about it on my blog. I know people have different ways of approaching issues - as Molak Jedi suggested in saying Angelina Jolie movies are off limits to him. I think it's best in conversation that we know each other.

That said, I just wanted to let you know that my comment on your first comment was in the thread a few days after yours... and it's still there. Go to movie flash comments and follow the thread down.

Prayer for Beginners: Chapter Two- Part V

"Remembering the facts of death and Heaven gives us an even more pressing reason to learn to pray: We do not have an infinite amount of time."

“We are one day nearer Home today than we ever were before. I guarantee you that after you die you will not say ‘I spent too much time praying; I wish I had watched more TV instead.”

“We must learn to pray because infinite and uncompromising Love will not leave us alone until we do.” This reminds me of Augustine in The Confessions, right at the beginning, where he says, “You stir us up to delight in your praise; for you have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless till if finds its rest in you.” (I.I.I.)

“Prayer is like gardening: the growing of something alive – in this case, alive for eternity. It is gradual, it is invisible, but it is the difference between life and death. Prayer is plant food. This plant – your soul – is going to be transplanted at death into an immortal, eternal garden. Learning to pray is dress rehearsal for eternal life.”

I just got an email this morning about a very young child with an inoperable abdominal tumor. It's heart breaking... I think, "Lord you have to heal this little boy!" His life is full ahead of him. We think about life in terms of a long time usually, unless something like this comes along. We hear the word "cancer" and it scares the life out of us before it kills us. In part we think it's sad because in the back of our unconscious we don't have our own mortality in view. We think we have lots of time, and we don't really. We shouldn't go through life thinking we're out of time either it seems to me, but now that I'm 45 I realize how quickly time goes by. My summer went by yesterday! This is the quickest summer on record for me I think. We're going to be in God's presence, the eternal Kingdom, for much longer than we're going to be here. Reminds me of the end of The Silver Chair where Eustace and Jill ask Aslan if Caspian has died. Aslan response is something like... "Died? Yes... that's what you call it in your world... mos people have you know."

To learn to live life in God's presence in prayer surely gets us ready.

Prayer for Beginners: Chapter Two- Part IV

We should pray because God’s honor deserves it, in fact demands it.

"To put it most simply, God is God, the Absolute Reality, Infinite Perfection, more massively real than the universe itself and more worthy than all the ideals together ever conceived by all human minds. If God is not this, then God is not God. Thus, we should pray because prayer is the most realistic thing in the world to do. It is our acknowledgment of reality, our right response to reality, our honesty with reality."

If God is truly God, and truly there then He is interested in us, and our response to him is the least thing we can do. And if we really recognize him as the Absolute Reality it's something we will do.

When the prodigal returns to his father in the story that Jesus tells (Luke 15:11ff) he's not expecting much, but to be one of the servants. He knows that even being a servant on his father's farm is better than anything he's experiencing in the "distant country." What do suppose his deep response is to the sight of old father running down the road to meet him? Think he stopped and let the father come? I suppose that he was overwhelmed with a sense love and compassion from his father and couldn't wait to be in his embrace. He's running to us...

Prayer for Beginners: Chapter Two- Part III

Three reasons that God commands us to pray correspond to our three deepest needs, the fundamental needs of the three powers of our soul: Prayer gives truth to our minds, goodness to our will, and beauty to our heart.

The true, the good, and the beautiful are the three things we need and love the most, because they are three attributes of God.

Prayer gives truth to our mind because it puts us in the presence of truth itself, the divine mind who designed our minds and our lives and our whole universe.

It gives goodness to our will because it puts us “on line with God, in love with God who is love and goodness. That is his essence. In prayer we become like the God we pray to and conform to; we catch the good infection of Godliness by contact.

It gives beauty to our heart because it plunges us into the heart of God, which is the eternal energy of infinite joy. That is why it gives us joy and peace and delight and happiness.

To pray is to enter the tent it seems, as Moses did in the wilderness. When he'd come out of the tent his face glowed; being in the presence of God changed him... the glory of God infused him to some degree. Not to a perfect degree... Moses' face would begin to fade when he was out of God's presence. The difference for us, or so says Paul in II Corinthians 3:18, is that we don't have to go into a tent to be in God's presence... because of Christ we're able to live in God's presence and therefore our glory (the degree to which we reflect the person of Christ) can continue to grow. Still it takes his presence purposefully entered.

II Timothy - Earl Palmer (Regent College)

I've been at Regent College this week taking a class on II Timothy from Earl Palmer (University Presbyterian Church - Seattle). It's been a great class and Earl Palmer is a wealth of interesting information about II Timothy and many other things. He's a guy who knows so much that he can easily talk about anything at the drop of the hat, and does, but connects his musings adeptly to the focus of the class. It's been delightful.

Here's a way of studying the text that he showed us the first day. Nothing substantially new... but a good reminder to me as to how to exegete the text of scripture. You follow the text through five questions. These don't have to relate to "preaching or teaching" but can relate simply to one's personal study of scripture.

I. The Technical Questions
Lower Criticism: What is the best reading of the text? What do the words mean? Why was this particular word used? “Tell me what the hard words mean and you will have done more for me than a 1000 commentaries.” C.S. Lewis

II. The Historical Questions
Behind: What’s the history behind what’s being said… the depth.
Form Criticism: What is the atmosphere behind the text? What’s going on around this writing? What is the context in which it’s given?
Within: Develop a “radical historical curiosity” about the things going on within the text and the time.

III. The Theological Question
What does the text say? What does it mean? What is the author trying to get at… what does he want us to see and know theologically?

IV. The Contemporary Question
Audience Criticism: How would an audience in the first Century hear this text? Why does John the Baptist ask, “Are you the one or should we look for another?” What makes John so disappointed with Jesus that he asks that question? How would those moving down through the centuries view the text? How would a Freudian view the text? We need new commentaries in every generation because every generation is dealing with something or someone new.

V. The Discipleship Question
There’s no great commentary that doesn’t deal with what it means of me? I want Paul to speak to me… to others

Palmer has a very high regard for Calvin's work, and one quote that he's given us from Calvin regards the importance of the biblical text, which says, “The text will always bring you to the ‘living center’ (Christ), the OT by anticipation, the NT by witness.” May it be so.

Movie Flash!!

I've seen a couple movies lately - thought I'd give a quick... I mean quick... rundown.

Get Smart: Particularly for those of us who grew up during the era of Maxwell Smart it's a must see. It's hilariously funny at some points - I nearly wet my pants laughing at two points in the movie. The second time I saw it there was a lady in front of us who was absolutely howling it was so funny. I mentioned this to my brother-in-law with whom I'd seen the movie the first time and said, "that's just what you sounded like the first time you saw it!" I saw it twice in the theatre... I never do that. It's worth the price of admission. There is relatively little inappropriate stuff - good movie.

Wanted: If you can get past a couple of early, and graphic, sex scenes the rest of it is just as bad! Truly, I went to see it because it looked like a lot of fun and action. There were some great action spots to be sure. Morgan Freeman is an amazing actor, one of my favorites, I expect to see him in better movies. In the end Angelina Jolie is true to the code... it's just a bit of weird code to be true to! If you have to see it wait for the DVD in my opinion.

Prayer for Beginners: Chapter Two- Part II

Matthew 5:9, 45; Luke 6:35; John 1:12; Romans 8:14ff; Romans 9:26; 2 Corinthians 6:16-18; Galatians 3:26

The second motivation for prayer is because God commands it.

“We pray not simply as some solitary self-improvement program, but because we have been addressed by God. Prayer is a response to a prior divine invitation. No, ‘invitation’ is too weak. God commands us to pray, in fact to ‘pray constantly.’ (1 Thessalonians 5:17) He yearns and longs for us to pray more passionately than any earthly lover yearns for his beloved to turn her eyes and her attention to him.
We pray to obey God, not to ‘play God’. We pray, not to change God’s mind, but to change our own; not to command God, but to let Him command us. We pray to ‘let God be God.’”

This divine invitation is for relationship, and we see it in no better place than the beginning, the garden, when God formed man and woman, breathed life into them, and then, wonder of wonders, walked with them in the cool of the day. It seems this picture is lost; at least it is to me at times, too often in fact. My interaction with God becomes asking, which he’s told us to do. But it becomes only asking. It seems that what God was after with us from the beginning was relationship. We’re uniquely created for it, with Him and with each other.

Throughout scripture the picture is expanded. God is seeking after us for relationship, for a heart that longs for Him. The first chapter of Isaiah is a prime example. The people are jumping through the religious hoops day in and day out, but there’s no heart for relationship with Him. He is simply dissatisfied with their religion because it’s not what he’s after. God is, after all, not looking for subjects as much as he is looking for sons and daughters to whom He desperately wishes to give an inheritance of all sorts of good things. (Matthew 5:9, 45; Luke 6:35; John 1:12; Romans 8:14ff; Romans 9:26; 2 Corinthians 6:16-18; Galatians 3:26)

I’ve been reading Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller. He’s a thoughtful and funny writer (you should read one of his books Blue Like Jazz is popular). I came across this thought there, “The God of the Bible seemed to be brokenhearted over the separation in our relationship and downright obsessed with mending the tear.” And a bit later on, “I realized that Jesus was always, and I mean always, talking about love, about people, about relationship, and He never once broke anything into steps or formulas. What if, because we were constantly trying to dissect His message, we were missing a blatant invitation? I began to wonder if becoming a Christian did not work more like falling in love than agreeing with a list of true principles.” (Chapter 3, pp 45, 46).

Prayer for Beginners: Chapter Two- Part I

In chapter three Kreeft gives ten motivations for prayer. I’m going to give you the ten motivations for prayer, but I’ll take the next few posts to expand on them… today, only motivation number one:

1. Only prayer can save the world.
2. There is a better reason to pray than the fact that only prayer can save the world. We must pray because God commands it.
3. Three reasons that God commands us to pray correspond to our three deepest needs, the fundamental needs of the three powers of our soul: Prayer gives truth to our minds, goodness to our will, and beauty to our heart.
4. We should pray because God’s honor deserves it, in fact demands it.
5. Remembering the facts of death and Heaven gives us an even more pressing reason to learn to pray: We do not have an infinite amount of time.
6. Prayer is delightful.
7. Prayer is the way to know God, and this is Jesus’ definition of eternal life: “This is eternal life: that they know thee, the only true God.” (John 17:3)
8. Prayer, and its effect, knowing God, is the essential prerequisite for all religious teachers, catechists, evangelists, and preachers.
9. Prayer is the only way to spiritual progress.
10. Prayer is necessary because without it we cannot attain the meaning in life, the end and purpose of our existence.

The first motivation is that only prayer can save the world, but what does he mean by it? “Though some claim that prayer is an unaffordable luxury today, or an irresponsible withdrawal from the pressing public problems of our poor, hurting world, I say just the opposite: that nothing, nothing is more relevant and responsible; that nothing else can ever cure our sick world except saints, and saints are never made except by prayer.
Nothing but saints can save our world because the deepest root of all the world’s diseases is sin, and saints are the antibodies that fight sin. Nothing but prayer can make saints because nothing but God can make saints, and we meet God in prayer. Prayer is the hospital for souls where we meet Doctor God.”

Jesus has said that we're supposed to be "light" and "salt". (Matthew 5:13-16). We need to be light because the world, by almost any one's standard is pretty dark at times. We need to be salt because the world, by any one's standard, can be pretty bitter at times. Only God can take flesh and blood people and give them the properties of light and salt.

In another biblical analogy (Romans 9:19ff) we are the clay, and God is the potter. In order for us to be shaped in a way that is useful we need to be on the wheel... prayer is the wheel.

Prayer for Beginners - Peter Kreeft

Necessity - Chapter 1

Matthew 14:23; Mark 6:46; Luke 5:16; Luke 6:12; Luke 9:28; Luke 11:1ff; Luke 18:1ff.

"Eating keeps your body alive, and prayer keeps your soul alive. Praying is more important than eating because your soul is more important than your body. Your soul is more important than your body because your soul is you, your personality your self... prayer keeps your soul alive because prayer is real contact with God, and God is the life of the soul as the soul is the life of the body. If you do not pray, your soul will wither and die, just as, if you do not eat, your body will wither and die."



The difficult issue in view of this truth is that it's not as evident to us that our soul is dying as it is that our body is dying. Fasting, though one of the classic Christian disciplines has been almost completely neglected, makes our need for food painfully evident. Most protestants neglect fasting because it's unpleasant. Do you fast regularly? I go through periods of regular fasting; Mondays are the days I choose. I can honestly say that I'm annoyed by 11:00 AM or so on fasting days. It's not just that I'm famished, it's that I like eating... I enjoy it... it's part of my daily routine... I schedule my days around breakfast, lunch, and dinner. So do you. I just don't think of going through a day without eating, unless I'm exceptionally busy. My body misses food and thinks I'm dying if I miss a meal. My soul, on the other hand, doesn't demonstrably complain if I miss prayer for one session... a day... or perhaps even a week!



Kreeft says that prayer is important because it is real contact with God. Unfortunately, however, real contact with God isn't that helpful if GOD DOESN'T SEEM REAL SOMETIMES! Of course we know, intuitively if no other way, that God is real. Like the death of our soul can happen quietly the death of God's presence can also die a quite death. Of course he never ceases to be present, but my awareness of his presence can be severely hindered by my neglect of prayer.



It's fortunate that as humans we have complex souls. That is to say, we don't simply have desires, we can have desires about our desires. Simply put, if we don't have a desire for prayer at this moment, but we recognize how important prayer is to the health and life of our soul, we can have a desire about our desire to pray! Not feeling like praying? Not consistent with prayer? Wallowing in condemnation about not being a "prayer warrior" is probably not the best option for us... rather perhaps it's time to start with this prayer... "Lord give me a desire to pray because I don't feel like it just now, or at least I don't seem to remember it." Let's don't live in what we didn't do with prayer yesterday let's just make a run at beginning today... our souls need food!

It's Been Awhile.. I guess

It's time to get back at this blog... it's been awhile since I've written, sort of lost my way... in a way. It's not that I haven't been having the coffee... it's just that I haven't gotten round to writing anything here. Life has been real hectic, not just busy, but lots of moving around - going from here to there. It's been a great summer so far - visiting family, renewing old friendships, vacationing with Sharlyn and the boys, busy in the yard and at work. It's been a great summer, but it's keeping me running.

In keeping with that I'd like to spend some time over the next weeks thinking out loud about a great book that I've read in the past couple months, Prayer for Beginners by Peter Kreeft. He says in the introduction, "it could be called prayer for dummies - people who aren't good at praying." He goes on to say, "it could also be called 'prayer for Martha's,' not for Mary's, prayer for people with little time to pray, for busy people who keep finding excuses not to pray - in other words, for people like me." I really enjoy Kreeft's writing, and this book doesn't disappoint, there is a lot of good stuff in it, I'll try to hit the high spots over the next few weeks... don't let that stop you from picking it up, it's only about $10. If ever there was a "Martha" I'm one and this book delivers what it promises. It helps us learn how to practice God's presence which doesn't negate the need for setting aside time to be "Mary." I find that I need the challenge and the encouragement that Kreeft delivers here. Hope it's helpful... I hope I can keep it up on a regular schedule.

JJR

Holy Week Readings, Friday, March 21, 2008

John 18:1 – 19:42, Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Psalm 22

"My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning. O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; And by night, but I have no rest... I am poured out like water, And all my bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It is melted within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And my tongue cleaves to my jaws; And You lay me in the dust of death..." (Psalm 22)

The cry of the Christ is so very often our cry, perhaps not with the same intensity of anguish, but with the same sense of lonliness. It seems that suffering is a lonely business. Even when we walk through it with someone we love, at the deepest points of suffering we are by our self with our questions... My God! Why have you forsaken me? Where are you? Food is like gravel in my mouth, I lay awake anxious at night and fret during the day... what is the answer? Where have you gone? Why have you left me in this dark night of the soul?

And yet within the anguish of the Christ, and our own... there is something calling from deep to deep... from the pits of our souls, out of the pits of our hell, to the reality of our God who is enthroned and able to save... even when we aren't relieved of our suffering. How many stories in scripture and our life experience does God enter into? How many times does he come and fill us with his peace, and comfort... in the midst of suffering... how many times does he bring from the crosses that we bear a new life and vitality? He hasn't left us to write our story alone...

Yet You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel. In You our fathers trusted; They trusted and You delivered them.But You, O LORD, be not far off; O You my help, hasten to my assistance. (Psalm 22)

Holy Week Readings, Thursday, March 20, 2008

John 13:1-17, 31b – 35, Exodus 12:1-42, Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19.

Holy Week Readings, Wednesday, March 19, 2008

John 13:21-32, Isaiah 50:4-9a, Psalm 70.

Who will contend with Me? Let us stand up to each other; who has a case against Me? Let him draw near to Me. 9 Behold, the Lord GOD helps Me; Who is he who condemns Me? Behold, they will all wear out like a garment; The moth will eat them. Isaiah 50:8-9

It’s so easy for us to take up an offense. We are a people who offend living in a culture of offense. We have a “right” not to be mistreated. We should get what’s coming to us - the good stuff. I just finished listening to short argument between two of my sons about who should get the next orange… “You’ve already had two, you shouldn’t get another one!” “It’s not fair!”

Jesus simply didn’t spend any time, or so it seems, worrying about getting “His due.” He never got his “due” which would have been reward and honor because by anyone’s account he was a great man who put others ahead of himself. The prophesy of Him says, “I gave my back to those who strike me, my cheek to those who pluck out my beard; I didn’t cover my face from humiliation and spitting… because God helps me.”

I wonder how I can keep this ever before my eyes when I’m not getting my way… or feeling particularly appreciated. Where were His “rights” in the beating… the plucking… the spitting? Who have we become?

Holy Week Readings, Tuesday, March 18, 2008

John 12:20-36, Isaiah 49:1-7, Psalm 71:1-14.

“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” (Jn 12:23) “You are my servant, Israel, in Whom I will show my glory.” (Is. 49:3)

The glory of which Jesus speaks and of which Isaiah prophesied is a strange sort of glory indeed. Jesus, to be sure, is speaking of the crucifixion… it’s coming. He will be glorified. He’ll soon be wearing a crown… made of thorns; He’ll soon be wearing a royal robe… of mockery; He’ll soon bear a scepter… applied repeatedly to his back; He’ll soon be lifted up on a throne… made of rough sawn wood; He’ll soon be lifted up and spread His arms wide before His people… and be pinned by crude nails in that position.

Holy Week Readings, Monday, March 17, 2008

John 12:1-11, Isaiah 42:1-9, Psalm 36:5-11.

There is no small irony here that Jesus is being prepared for burial by Mary while people crowd around to get a look at Lazarus. How often does the side show religious stuff keep us from what matters? I don't mean that Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead was in itself a side-show, it was a miracle and a wonder to be sure, but the people came "not only for Jesus' sake, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom he raised from the dead."

I'm struck by all the layers of drama and confusion in the few short verses of the John text:

• Mary loves and is anxious to honor Jesus.
• Judas is spoiled by greed and thinking only about getting hold of the money already... and always I suspect, he can't get past the money and greed shaping his heart.
• Jesus is looking toward and foreshadowing his coming death... which no one seems to hear in the hustle and bustle around the moment.
• The Jewish people are just trying to figure this rabbi out.
• The Jewish religious leaders are just trying to shut this rabbi up! They're willing even to commit murder ("but the chief priests took counsel that they might put Lazarus to death also") in order to put a stop to this guy.
• The Jewish leadership is intent on keeping leadership and cannot bear to see that "many of the Jews are going away and believing in Jesus."

Is everyone missing the point at the moment except Jesus for whom the cross looms large?

I guess I'm not much different from the crowds really. I want to honor Christ, but am pulled every which way from the pressures of my day to day existence. Pulled by the pressure of having the money to meet the obligations of clothing, housing, feeding, educating, and transporting three busy boys through life - maybe not falling into abject greed... but not immune from the pull of the dollar, anxious to "see God at work" in amazing ways and probably missing Him at work in a million ways; missing Jesus in the midst of serving Him; concerned about my own place in the world to the point that I sometimes begrudge others their place; being pulled at times to do what I shouldn't do to get what I probably don't need...

Come near Lord Jesus, and draw me to yourself.

If we don't believe... He stays true!

I've been reading The Adventure by Jerry Sittser who will be the speaker this year at "Setting the Mind on Fire" at Moses Lake Christian Academy. It's not profound, but it's good, my son, a 7th grader at the Academy, is reading it in his Bible class.

Sittser quotes Hudson Taylor the great missionary and hero of the faith who started the Inland China Mission, as struggling with his lack of faithfulness! Hudson Taylor... struggling with lack of faithfulness and falling short? Who would have guessed it. Nevertheless as Taylor struggles through the question of his own faithfulness he is suddenly reminded of the elementary truth... I'll give it to you in his own words... a journal entry to his sister:

"But how to get faith strengthened? Not by striving after faith, but by resting on the Faithful one: As I read, I saw it all! 'If we believe not, he abideth faithful!' I looked to Jesus and saw (and when I saw, oh, how joy flowed!) that he has said, 'I will never leave Thee!!' 'Ah, there is rest!' I thought, I have striven in vain to rest in Him. I'll strive no more. For has not He promised to abide with me - never to leave me, never to fail me?"

Isn't it true... it's not difficult to lapse into the dulldrums of self-pity and condemnation because we're not measuring up. The truth is if we ever get to the place that we think we are measuring up we're probably in trouble. We only measure up because HE MEASURED UP! The reason that we can rest in that is because it never changes. I suppose there is a danger of just becoming lazy in our discipleship and saying, "It doesn't matter what I do, it's all about Him." We're called to be shaped, to draw near, to obedience, to faithfulness, and all the rest... to walk the narrow path. I want to press on, but in his finished work, not my daily busy work. Thank God - He is faithful when I struggle to believe!

White as Snow

"Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.

-Isaiah 1:18 (NASB95)

It snowed a ton here in Moses Lake yesterday... the snow clouding your vision as you looked out the window sort of snow... I really love it. I'm guessing that we got just at 5" of new snow. The snow reminds me of this text in Isaiah, "though your sins are as scarlet; they will be as white as snow." Through the winter months it can be a bit dreary around here. We don't get enough snow to make it beautiful, the desert winter is just brown and bleak. Or we get just enough snow to skiff the ground and not completely cover the grass and grime. I don't mind it terribly, but there's nothing like a new snowfall to cover all the grass, dirt and grime. It gives a new view, a new landscape, it clears the air and covers the ground.

God's faithfulness to give us new starts is amazing to me. He tells us that his mercies are "new every morning." "The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I have hope in Him." Lamentations 3:22-24 (NASB95) He is long-suffering and forbearing with us to a degree that is mind-boggling. Forbearance is one of my favorite words... when you boil it down it pretty much means "to put up with." God just puts up with us; our weakness, our weirdness, our faulty and at times insincere worship.

These musings clarify two thoughts in my mind. 1) When I'm feeling like I'm worthless and not accomplishing much; when I know that I'm falling short in some area of my life, and particularly in my devotion to Him, He's faithful and forbearing to me. Though I fall short of giving myself in a way that He's worthy of he bridges the gap in coming toward me. 2) The world would be a vastly different place if we humans treated each other in the same way that God treats us; giving each other new chances, putting up with each other, loving each other and bridging the distance when someone falls short. We're so often actually the opposite. Rather than giving each other new chances we say, "Sorry, that was your last chance!" Rather than putting up with each other we say, "I'm done with you!" Rather than building bridges we tend to build walls. But it's a new day... and His mercy is new today... we can start over and make a difference. Today I want to work a bit harder to give another chance, put up with someone who surely isn't any worse than I when it's all said and done, and build a bridge.

Time: Some practical advice

I've been reading this new book by Kreeft and have enjoyed it very much. The subtitle is, "Letters to our Children about What Really Matters." It's been great, and each snippet of information is no longer than two pages... it's actually a bit annoying because it's very hard to put down. You think, "Well, just one more... just one more... just one more... just one more.

The idea is little bits of wisdom and advice that Kreeft would really like to pass on to his children. I read one the other night that struck me... I know the truth of it, but I need to be reminded regulary. It's from page 36 and the title is "What to do with Time: Some Practical Advice." Here is the text:

"Amazing how a simple thing like time management can make such a big difference to everything in life. Amazing how a simple, obvious rule can make such a big difference to time management. The rule: Work first, then play. That way the work will be done well, unhurried, and without deadlines and time pressures. And the play will be guilt-free and worry-free because your work is done. You know you deserve to play now, so you will enjoy it more. Otherwise, if you play first and then work, the play is full of worry and the work is full of hurry."

-PKreeft

I think that most of us know this truth, and few of us live by it!

Riverdance

We just got back from Riverdance in Spokane WA. What a hoot. The performance was last night at the Spokane Opera House. We've had a commitment to take our boys to some event like this on a regular basis. Unfortunately "a regular basis" hasn't been nearly as often as we'd like to have taken them. The last time we did something at the Opera House was Christmas two years ago... we saw The Nutcracker Ballet which was also a hoot.

We have the boys dress nicely, suits & ties, and go out to dinner, usually stay at the Davenport Hotel. This time was just as great as the last time. Our kids (generally, not just our three boys) have been brought up in such a media immersed age that they haven't been exposed much to such events. It makes us nervous when our kids are "bored" so we just don't make them attend such social occasions. It's clear to me that folks don't expose their children to such events for two non-scientific reasons. 1) We didn't really see any other children (under 18) at the event. I know there were some, but not enough to really notice. 2) People really noticed us... that is to say, nearly every adult that we had any significant contact with made comments about having our boys there, and how nicely they were dressed.

I feel very blessed because first our boys love dressing up. Second, we have enough income, and have been generously blessed by the goodness of others to experience such events. Our youngest, Noah, sort of rolled his eyes a bit through the first half, but was hooked after the break. There isn't much opportunity to be exposed to such amazing music and dancing. I think, at times, that living where we live, if a child isn't athletic there isn't a chance for her/him to find an outlet for their giftedness. It's the saddest thing in the world that we spend so much time, money, and energy exposing or sons and daughters to sports (most of them won't play sports of any sort extensively after high school) that we don't have time to expose them to the arts and society which they can appreciate right up until they fall into the hole in which they'll be buried.

I hope we can keep doing it, and I'd encourage you to also... if you don't have children gain an appreciation for it personally, and build the habit of taking it all in... then when/if you do have children you'll love it or at least appreciate it enough, to want to take you kids.

A Generous Orthodoxy

I’ve spent this past week away. Away from home, away from church, away from noise… which like most people, I find I miss. Mostly I miss the noise of my wife and sons. Other than the daily trip into the Starbucks which gives me the opportunity of a 3 minute interchange with the Barista, I know, why should it take three minutes to order coffee… well, when that’s the only living soul you actually chat with in a week, you don’t want to rush it. Of course I’ve had a few phone calls and misc. email, but that doesn’t count as real human contact.

I’ve gone out each day for about 2 hours to do some cross-country skiing… I’m horrible at it, but it’s given a nice break from the Condo… yesterday was especially delightful at the top of Echo Ridge. I came around a corner of the trail and thought I could see a million miles of sky and mountains… I tried to stay back from the edge!

I’ve spent a lot of time quiet, and a bunch of time reading and thinking. Finished Of Mice and Men (see book review), then read Playing for Pizza (see book review), and started a book that I’ve had on my reading list for quite some time A Generous Orthodoxy by Brian McLaren. I haven’t read McLaren before, but have heard plenty about him (also heard him speak once). One thing that resonates with me so far in the book is the confusion that he’s felt about the church. Perhaps it’s characterized as well as anywhere in a statement on pg.21, “But often I have felt like an ambulance driver bringing injured people to a hospital where there’s an epidemic spreading among the patients and doctors and nurses.” The professor and I speak long and often about the church, our confusion, and for my part at least, my place in it. Probably seems strange since I’ve now been in church ministry for 21 or 22 years and at my current post for nearly 20! I love our church, wouldn’t want to go anywhere else… if I wasn’t on the staff, it’s still where I’d want to go, and yet there’s something missing. As much as we talk about being a “caravan rather than a commissary” I fear that we’re still a commissary. There is a group in the center who are deeply devoted to the body, and then much coming and going around the edges. It’s confusing to me at times. I surely do love the people there though; they are in so many ways, my family.

I appreciate McLaren’s desire to embrace a diverse orthodoxy, as well as a generous one, and I’m on that page in so many ways. What troubles me is at what point we say about a thing, “this is truth.” This is really it. Not so that we can say, “I’m right about this!” But because in saying, “this is truth” we’re saying something about the way things really are… we’re describing not our favorite idea of a thing, but actually saying what “is”. It is exclusive, I know, but then there is exclusivity in our world, there is discrimination. I don’t mean discrimination necessarily as picking someone out for unfair treatment, rather to be “discriminating” is to make a judgment between one thing and another, to discern. There isn’t anything inherently evil in that process. It’s certainly wrong to discriminate regarding race and some of the other issues that get us exercised… but some discrimination, some discernment reflects how the world is and ought to be. I’m honestly struggling a bit with that line just now. I’m sure I’ll reflect more on it and on McLaren as time goes by… I’m on page 140.

"The Bucket List"

Just saw the movie, The Bucket List, it was an awesome movie. Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, two great actors, and a great story. One of those movies that makes you laugh 'till you cry at one moment... and just cry the next. You've probably seen something about it, but if not the essential story line is two old guys who have cancer making "a bucket list." All the things they wanted to do before they "kicked the bucket."

Sharlyn and I saw this with two other couples, and everyone loved the movie, still talking about it a couple of days later. A movie that isn't, strictly speaking, profound. There's nothing really new, but a nice way of telling old truths. There isn't any nudity that I can remember, though there is some sexual talk and innuendo, but not enough to detract from the movie. Of course there is some language... Jack Nicholson... but again, not overwhelming.

You gotta check out this film.
JJR