The skit was hilarious. We had been studying this passage and other scriptures regarding the value of each individual and their importance to the the Body of Christ. It was Youth Night so our teens were in charge of the evening service. They wanted to teach what they'd been learning to the adults. As part of the service they came up with this idea of making various parts of the body out of cardboard, poster board, and markers. They wore them to do the skit.
They were fantastic. Imagine a huge talking nose and an ear, an eye, lips, arms, hands, legs and feet. They had this conversation about switching roles. It was gut busting when the hand and arm moved into position to scratch the big nose, nearly poking the eye out. As their conversation continued, they all talked about how they'd really be suited for different roles. Ultimately they decided they all had work together and each part was crucial to the health and well being of the body.
I wish we had a video, because it would have been a big hit on Youtube. I had never seen a more poignant illustration on the value of each person and their ministry to the body of Christ. The ridiculous image of a foot trying to do the ear's job allows you to get the point really quickly. Go ahead, try to picture a foot on the side of someone's head without laughing. It's a bizarre thought. I've seen some pretty big ears on people, but a foot?
God says that we're all fearfully and wonderfully made. He knit each of us together in our mother's womb. On top of that, He grants spiritual gifts to all believers in Jesus, special abilities for spiritual purposes. God has a plan and purpose for our lives. That's why we've all been uniquely designed and then altered in Christ.
God, use me how you wish. I don't want to try to force myself into a role that doesn't fit my design. I do, however, want to give myself over for full use in the areas for which You designed me to serve.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Daily Reflections on Jn. 15:9-14 (Love is Confusing)
Love. Luv. Heart. We write it a variety of ways. We use the word in a variety of settings, with a variety of meanings. We toss the word around carefreely and without much thought. We love a lot of stuff, movies, food, teams, events, songs, groups, actors, parents, kids, spouses, friends. The list is endless. But the level of love isn't always the same.
The flippant usage of love, I think, has caused us in our culture today to minimize its meaning and thus affect our behavior. I hear people talking about falling in and out of love all the time. We talk about "making love" when what we mean is "having sex." The physical act of sex doesn't require love. But a true love between a couple will lead to physical intimacy.
With all the confusion about love today, it has become evident to me that many people do not really know what love means. It's hard for some people today to understand God's unconditional love for them with all the using and abusing that goes on in today's relationships. It's also just as hard for some to understand what loving God is all about. They love God like He's a menu item. They keep ordering Him until the winds of change blow and their palate take them elsewhere.
Living in God's love is hard for many to grasp. As one studies Jesus, one can begin to sense His compassion and caring and self-sacrifice for people, for oneself. Jesus came to demonstrate God's love in practical terms. He allowed us to experience Himself in the flesh through Jesus; to be touched by Jesus, embraced by Jesus. We can look into His eyes and see His genuine love for us.
As you truly experience God's love through Jesus, it becomes only natural and appropriate for us to respond to His love in the same way He loved us, to open up our lives and actions to Him. Loving and being loved by Jesus brings a unique joy, happiness, contentment that overflows into the life of others. How cool is it to say that you are friends with the creator of the universe?
God, I do love you. Sometimes I allow our relationship to grow stale. I fail to live in your love and then find myself doing hand-to-hand combat with the world or my environment. Renew my joy as I draw into you. Allow our love for each other to overflow into the lives of others that they may experience our love, your love.
The flippant usage of love, I think, has caused us in our culture today to minimize its meaning and thus affect our behavior. I hear people talking about falling in and out of love all the time. We talk about "making love" when what we mean is "having sex." The physical act of sex doesn't require love. But a true love between a couple will lead to physical intimacy.
With all the confusion about love today, it has become evident to me that many people do not really know what love means. It's hard for some people today to understand God's unconditional love for them with all the using and abusing that goes on in today's relationships. It's also just as hard for some to understand what loving God is all about. They love God like He's a menu item. They keep ordering Him until the winds of change blow and their palate take them elsewhere.
Living in God's love is hard for many to grasp. As one studies Jesus, one can begin to sense His compassion and caring and self-sacrifice for people, for oneself. Jesus came to demonstrate God's love in practical terms. He allowed us to experience Himself in the flesh through Jesus; to be touched by Jesus, embraced by Jesus. We can look into His eyes and see His genuine love for us.
As you truly experience God's love through Jesus, it becomes only natural and appropriate for us to respond to His love in the same way He loved us, to open up our lives and actions to Him. Loving and being loved by Jesus brings a unique joy, happiness, contentment that overflows into the life of others. How cool is it to say that you are friends with the creator of the universe?
God, I do love you. Sometimes I allow our relationship to grow stale. I fail to live in your love and then find myself doing hand-to-hand combat with the world or my environment. Renew my joy as I draw into you. Allow our love for each other to overflow into the lives of others that they may experience our love, your love.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Daily Reflections on Jn. 15:5-8 (Connectivity)
What does "abide" mean? I only hear that word used in church circles. People talk about abiding in the vine of Jesus. Songs are sung about abiding in Him. I've even see the term as part of the name of a church, i.e. Abiding Word Church and Abiding Fellowship. So what does that really mean?
When Jesus gave the command to abide in Him, He was talking to a primarily agrarian culture. Growing olive and grapes were a huge part of the economy of their day. Olive oil had a lot of everyday uses. Just like sugar is the new oil, according to Jimmy Smits, olives were the old oil. Olive oil was used not only in cooking, but also in medicinal treatments and to light lamps (the old light bulbs). Both the growing of grape vines and olive trees used a grafting process to enhance production and the quality of the product. If the grafting process failed, so did the production and quality which affected everything else in their daily world.
Today, I think Jesus probably would have used the term "plugged in" or "connected." He might have used the term "gassed up" or "filled up." Those are phrases we understand. Without electricity or fuel, virtually everything in our life shuts down. The power goes out in my wife's pharmacy, they can't dispense meds or prescriptions to people.
The internet seems to be an integral part of our world today. Transactions, communication, business, information, phone (VOIP) are dependent on connectivity. Have you ever been to a store and can't make your purchase because the network was down? Or have you desperately tried to take care of an issue online but can't because of network failure or no connectivity?
That's abiding. A computer with no connectivity is virtually worthless today. It gets tossed out. Recently my laptop developed a problem with the power jack. I had to replace it so that I could even turn it on. I have all this wonderful information stored on my computer, but it was totally worthless without power.
God, I want to stay connected to you. I'm glad you have a WiFi signal so that I don't have to go to one place to get connected. Your network is hot everywhere I go.
When Jesus gave the command to abide in Him, He was talking to a primarily agrarian culture. Growing olive and grapes were a huge part of the economy of their day. Olive oil had a lot of everyday uses. Just like sugar is the new oil, according to Jimmy Smits, olives were the old oil. Olive oil was used not only in cooking, but also in medicinal treatments and to light lamps (the old light bulbs). Both the growing of grape vines and olive trees used a grafting process to enhance production and the quality of the product. If the grafting process failed, so did the production and quality which affected everything else in their daily world.
Today, I think Jesus probably would have used the term "plugged in" or "connected." He might have used the term "gassed up" or "filled up." Those are phrases we understand. Without electricity or fuel, virtually everything in our life shuts down. The power goes out in my wife's pharmacy, they can't dispense meds or prescriptions to people.
The internet seems to be an integral part of our world today. Transactions, communication, business, information, phone (VOIP) are dependent on connectivity. Have you ever been to a store and can't make your purchase because the network was down? Or have you desperately tried to take care of an issue online but can't because of network failure or no connectivity?
That's abiding. A computer with no connectivity is virtually worthless today. It gets tossed out. Recently my laptop developed a problem with the power jack. I had to replace it so that I could even turn it on. I have all this wonderful information stored on my computer, but it was totally worthless without power.
God, I want to stay connected to you. I'm glad you have a WiFi signal so that I don't have to go to one place to get connected. Your network is hot everywhere I go.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Daily Reflections on Jn. 15:1-4 (Pruning)
My dad used to grow roses. For a time he was part of the Jackson Perkins experimental rose growing program. They periodically would send him roses to grow and report on. I can't begin to recount how many roses we had growing in our yard. Of course we had more than one bed. And as the number of roses he grew increased, often my dad often tagged the household slaves (also known as his boys) to help with the planting, pruning, digging, and especially the clean up.
My dad gave us special training on how to care for the roses. He showed us how to prepare the beds, the soil, the plants for planting. We had to make sure the right mixture of dirt, peat and nutrients surrounded the roots. We'd spread out the roots a little, trim back the branches a little to force new growth, stick the plant in the ground at the perfect depth, backfill and water.
Once the rose was in the ground and growing, we had to keep a sharp eye on the plants. My dad taught us that once the rose bloomed, we were to trim that stem back behind the first five leaves. He also taught us that instead of allowing the rose to produce a candelabra effect of multiple blooms on the same stem, we were to trim back the lesser buds allowing only one bud to bloom. Both prunings were to allow for a bigger, healthier, more vibrant bloom.
Today's hybrid roses are actually grafted onto the base of a wild rose. The wild rose root system is hardier than the many special and colorful breeds of today. My dad cautioned us to be sure to trim off any branch growing from below the graft. If not done, the wild rose would take over and the hybrid would die.
Jesus said that God is the master gardener. He prunes us from time to time to shape us, grow us, develop us, make us stronger and more productive for the Kingdom and simply as human beings. Occasionally a wild branch shoots from our old, human nature that God has to trim off. His discipline isn't always pleasant, but necessary to keep up conforming into the image of His Son.
God, I'm just an old wild rose, full of thorns. There's not a lot of beauty in my life. But thanks for pruning off the old me and grafting on your glory. I want to bloom for you. I want people to see just what you've done in my life. I confess, I don't always like your discipline, your pruning, but I want to be productive. Trim off my wild shoots. Keep me pruned to where I can give you the most glory.
My dad gave us special training on how to care for the roses. He showed us how to prepare the beds, the soil, the plants for planting. We had to make sure the right mixture of dirt, peat and nutrients surrounded the roots. We'd spread out the roots a little, trim back the branches a little to force new growth, stick the plant in the ground at the perfect depth, backfill and water.
Once the rose was in the ground and growing, we had to keep a sharp eye on the plants. My dad taught us that once the rose bloomed, we were to trim that stem back behind the first five leaves. He also taught us that instead of allowing the rose to produce a candelabra effect of multiple blooms on the same stem, we were to trim back the lesser buds allowing only one bud to bloom. Both prunings were to allow for a bigger, healthier, more vibrant bloom.
Today's hybrid roses are actually grafted onto the base of a wild rose. The wild rose root system is hardier than the many special and colorful breeds of today. My dad cautioned us to be sure to trim off any branch growing from below the graft. If not done, the wild rose would take over and the hybrid would die.
Jesus said that God is the master gardener. He prunes us from time to time to shape us, grow us, develop us, make us stronger and more productive for the Kingdom and simply as human beings. Occasionally a wild branch shoots from our old, human nature that God has to trim off. His discipline isn't always pleasant, but necessary to keep up conforming into the image of His Son.
God, I'm just an old wild rose, full of thorns. There's not a lot of beauty in my life. But thanks for pruning off the old me and grafting on your glory. I want to bloom for you. I want people to see just what you've done in my life. I confess, I don't always like your discipline, your pruning, but I want to be productive. Trim off my wild shoots. Keep me pruned to where I can give you the most glory.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Daily Reflections on Mt. 7:15-20 (Good Apples and Bad Apples, Choose Your Friends Wisely)
There's an old adage in business hiring practices that says the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. For the most part I've found that to be true. There have been some rare circumstances that that has not proved to be accurate, but 95 percent of the time it is. It really is hard for a leopard to change his or her spots.
I've watched young ladies time and time again fall in love with a young man vowing to she'll change his evil, lazy, abusive, ambitionless, or godless ways when they were married. It isn't long before reality hits. The marriage struggles, dreams are dashed, and all too often the fading romance gives way to disaster and divorce.
By the same token, I've advised young men to look closely at the young lady's mother to which they are entwined. The values of the mom are more often that not adopted by the daughter. Many times even mannerisms are unwittingly assimilated. How a young woman's mother treats her father is a pretty good indicator of how she'll treat her husband. There's another cliche, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree."
Having done more funerals than I can count, it's pretty easy to tell what kind of person the deceased was in life by the number of flowers and sympathizers at the visitation and/or funeral. Giving, gracious, others-centered persons almost always draw bigger crowds and an abundance of florals. On the other hand, stingy, hateful, merciless, self-centered people produce quiet, unadorned mortuaries.
Jesus said by our fruit people will know who and what we are. He noted that good trees produce good fruit and bad trees produce bad fruit. The first question I have to ask myself is, "What kind of fruit am I producing?" The second question is, "What kind of fruit are my friends, boyfriend, girlfriend, chillin' buddies producing?" If one bad apple will spoil the whole bunch, what kind of apples are you hangin' with currently?
God, all of my fruit isn't so good. I need you to fertilize and water and nurture and prune where necessary. Give me the wisdom to choose my friends and associates. Help me surround myself with good trees and apples. Help me cut off the savory, questionable, negative influencers in my life.
I've watched young ladies time and time again fall in love with a young man vowing to she'll change his evil, lazy, abusive, ambitionless, or godless ways when they were married. It isn't long before reality hits. The marriage struggles, dreams are dashed, and all too often the fading romance gives way to disaster and divorce.
By the same token, I've advised young men to look closely at the young lady's mother to which they are entwined. The values of the mom are more often that not adopted by the daughter. Many times even mannerisms are unwittingly assimilated. How a young woman's mother treats her father is a pretty good indicator of how she'll treat her husband. There's another cliche, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree."
Having done more funerals than I can count, it's pretty easy to tell what kind of person the deceased was in life by the number of flowers and sympathizers at the visitation and/or funeral. Giving, gracious, others-centered persons almost always draw bigger crowds and an abundance of florals. On the other hand, stingy, hateful, merciless, self-centered people produce quiet, unadorned mortuaries.
Jesus said by our fruit people will know who and what we are. He noted that good trees produce good fruit and bad trees produce bad fruit. The first question I have to ask myself is, "What kind of fruit am I producing?" The second question is, "What kind of fruit are my friends, boyfriend, girlfriend, chillin' buddies producing?" If one bad apple will spoil the whole bunch, what kind of apples are you hangin' with currently?
God, all of my fruit isn't so good. I need you to fertilize and water and nurture and prune where necessary. Give me the wisdom to choose my friends and associates. Help me surround myself with good trees and apples. Help me cut off the savory, questionable, negative influencers in my life.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Daily Reflections on Ex. 20:8-11 (Work and Rest)
Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work I go. Work, work, work. If you want to get anywhere in life you have to work for it. You're not here enough. You sales aren't high enough. You're not making your production quota. We need you to work overtime and it's mandatory.
Work is a necessary part of life. The Apostle Paul said if you don't work, you don't get to eat. King Solomon talks about work as a necessary part of life that brings identity, purpose, meaning and satisfaction. However, for many, life is nothing more than getting up in the morning, going to work, coming home, watching TV and going to bed. Work, and often the daily commute, consumes our energies each day. When we do get home, we're beat, worn out, frustrated and unfulfilled. Another typical day at the ol' grindstone.
We like our car, our house, our boat, our bike, our stuff, so we work. We work to get our stuff and then in the end, we're too tired to enjoy our stuff. Then we work even harder to get more stuff, or bigger, better stuff that consumes even more of our time and energy that give us even less time to enjoy our stuff. Or, we have to pay someone else to take care of our stuff. Are we nuts?
Whether you love your job or hate your job, the bottom line is we all have to expend a great deal of effort on our job. After days, weeks, months, years of doing the same basic thing everyday, many become complacent with life, friends, family and, oh yes, work. We're so bored and tired that we don't enjoy life or the relationships around us. Some try to numb themselves each evening or on the weekends with booze or various recreational drugs. Others try to keep that edge through a caffeine buzz or even meth.
God says we all need renewal on a weekly basis. He says we need to put down the Blackberry, the laptop, the cell phone, the tools, the dust rag and mop and REST. Really rest. Work as hard as you want for six days, but one day you need to stop and smell the roses. We need to simply reflect, observe, relish, enjoy, celebrate life and the people in your life. We need a day each week to kick back and chill. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
Having raised a household of young ladies, I've learned that you have to give the hot water heater time to recovery. If you keep draining the tank, the hot water heater keeps working, but just continues to produce cool or at best tepid water. But, if you give it a rest and time to catch up, you can enjoy a nice hot shower. If we keep pressing and pressing without rest, we can't give out what we're capable of producing. We're less effective when we don't give ourselves some time for renewal. Our attitude suffers, our relationships suffer, our productivity suffers, our creativity suffers when we don't stop for a sabbath, for a time of refreshing.
God, I'm guilty. I'm a workaholic. I don't know when to stop until you make me lie down in green pastures. But to be honest, I feel guilty not working. Allow me the solitude I need. Meet me in my times of rest. Give me the refreshment I need to have the best perspective possible and to really enjoy life as you intended.
Work is a necessary part of life. The Apostle Paul said if you don't work, you don't get to eat. King Solomon talks about work as a necessary part of life that brings identity, purpose, meaning and satisfaction. However, for many, life is nothing more than getting up in the morning, going to work, coming home, watching TV and going to bed. Work, and often the daily commute, consumes our energies each day. When we do get home, we're beat, worn out, frustrated and unfulfilled. Another typical day at the ol' grindstone.
We like our car, our house, our boat, our bike, our stuff, so we work. We work to get our stuff and then in the end, we're too tired to enjoy our stuff. Then we work even harder to get more stuff, or bigger, better stuff that consumes even more of our time and energy that give us even less time to enjoy our stuff. Or, we have to pay someone else to take care of our stuff. Are we nuts?
Whether you love your job or hate your job, the bottom line is we all have to expend a great deal of effort on our job. After days, weeks, months, years of doing the same basic thing everyday, many become complacent with life, friends, family and, oh yes, work. We're so bored and tired that we don't enjoy life or the relationships around us. Some try to numb themselves each evening or on the weekends with booze or various recreational drugs. Others try to keep that edge through a caffeine buzz or even meth.
God says we all need renewal on a weekly basis. He says we need to put down the Blackberry, the laptop, the cell phone, the tools, the dust rag and mop and REST. Really rest. Work as hard as you want for six days, but one day you need to stop and smell the roses. We need to simply reflect, observe, relish, enjoy, celebrate life and the people in your life. We need a day each week to kick back and chill. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
Having raised a household of young ladies, I've learned that you have to give the hot water heater time to recovery. If you keep draining the tank, the hot water heater keeps working, but just continues to produce cool or at best tepid water. But, if you give it a rest and time to catch up, you can enjoy a nice hot shower. If we keep pressing and pressing without rest, we can't give out what we're capable of producing. We're less effective when we don't give ourselves some time for renewal. Our attitude suffers, our relationships suffer, our productivity suffers, our creativity suffers when we don't stop for a sabbath, for a time of refreshing.
God, I'm guilty. I'm a workaholic. I don't know when to stop until you make me lie down in green pastures. But to be honest, I feel guilty not working. Allow me the solitude I need. Meet me in my times of rest. Give me the refreshment I need to have the best perspective possible and to really enjoy life as you intended.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Daily Reflections on Jn. 13:34-35 (Dysfunctional Love)
Fifteen years ago I'd never heard of the word "dysfunctional" used in regard to families. Today, it seems like a regular term I use on a weekly basis. To be honest, back then I really didn't know what a dysfunctional family was. Today, I see them, meet with them, minister to them all the time. At times I've wondered if dysfunctional families were becoming the norm.
I've noted that dysfunctional families struggle with personal relationships. There's often misguided expressions of love or should I say misconstrued expressions of love. More often than not, people who received aberrant expressions of love by parents or significant others have never really understood love. Not knowing what love really is makes it difficult to express love in a healthy way. In fact, those who don't know what love is about, have a hard time accepting love from others. Some who are desperate for love, seek it in all forms and will do almost anything for love and attention from anyone. That frequently plays out in promiscuity and bouncing from one bad relationship to another.
Jesus said that the world would know that we are His disciples by the love we, as believers, have toward one another. Jesus knew about dysfunctional families and relationships long before the word became vogue. The love Jesus taught and expressed was uniquely different from the world, which demonstrated itself in practical service, unconditional acceptance, grace, forgiveness, mercy and encouragement.
But has the church become a dysfunctional family? Recently a church that I'm close to, split down the middle over some questionable leadership decisions. Another pastor friend of mine told me about having to, on two occasions, break up a fight between two ladies in leadership positions in the hallway before services. In my early days of ministry, there was a neighboring church that split over the length of the curtain that covered the baptismal. I was in a meeting of pastors the other day when one of them emphatically stated that he couldn't fellowship with another church who didn't believe as he did.
What happened to, "men will know you are my disciples by the love you have for one another?" Jesus said we're to love one another as He love us. How did Jesus love? A quick glance through the New Testament and you'll discover that Jesus loved people unconditionally, no matter their background. He loved them practically, meeting their real needs. He even loved His enemies, those who disagreed with His teaching, and those who betrayed and killed Him. I just thank God that Jesus loved me when I was separated from Him, a sinner, and even an enemy of God.
God, I'm trying to love like you, but I need your help. I want people to experience your embrace through me. Give me your heart and passion for people and the strength and wisdom to express your love
I've noted that dysfunctional families struggle with personal relationships. There's often misguided expressions of love or should I say misconstrued expressions of love. More often than not, people who received aberrant expressions of love by parents or significant others have never really understood love. Not knowing what love really is makes it difficult to express love in a healthy way. In fact, those who don't know what love is about, have a hard time accepting love from others. Some who are desperate for love, seek it in all forms and will do almost anything for love and attention from anyone. That frequently plays out in promiscuity and bouncing from one bad relationship to another.
Jesus said that the world would know that we are His disciples by the love we, as believers, have toward one another. Jesus knew about dysfunctional families and relationships long before the word became vogue. The love Jesus taught and expressed was uniquely different from the world, which demonstrated itself in practical service, unconditional acceptance, grace, forgiveness, mercy and encouragement.
But has the church become a dysfunctional family? Recently a church that I'm close to, split down the middle over some questionable leadership decisions. Another pastor friend of mine told me about having to, on two occasions, break up a fight between two ladies in leadership positions in the hallway before services. In my early days of ministry, there was a neighboring church that split over the length of the curtain that covered the baptismal. I was in a meeting of pastors the other day when one of them emphatically stated that he couldn't fellowship with another church who didn't believe as he did.
What happened to, "men will know you are my disciples by the love you have for one another?" Jesus said we're to love one another as He love us. How did Jesus love? A quick glance through the New Testament and you'll discover that Jesus loved people unconditionally, no matter their background. He loved them practically, meeting their real needs. He even loved His enemies, those who disagreed with His teaching, and those who betrayed and killed Him. I just thank God that Jesus loved me when I was separated from Him, a sinner, and even an enemy of God.
God, I'm trying to love like you, but I need your help. I want people to experience your embrace through me. Give me your heart and passion for people and the strength and wisdom to express your love
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Daily Reflections on Mt. 6:19-24 (Pornification of America)
Driving down the road I was channel surfing the AM dial in my car. I hit on the Laura Engram Show. She was talking about the pornification of
Jesus noted the power of our visual stimulation on the heart here in Mt. 6. He said that when the eye is good, so is the heart. When the eye is bad, a darkness consumes the heart. Pornography isn’t the only darkening catalyst. Greed, power, lust, envy, bitterness, anger, hatred, partying, pride, sex, materialism, selfishness are also things that can darken the heart. Over eating (the biblical word is “gluttony”) or lethargy (commonly known as “couch potato”) can also lead to a darkened heart.
What you focus on is what you ultimately become or what consumes you. Whatever gains your attention shapes your thoughts, your behavior, your life. When I used to take kids to church camp or on spiritual retreats, we forbade bringing radios, ipods, mp3’s, and even gameboys. Anything that could distract from focusing on God, we requested, even demanded, be left behind or at least in the suit case for the period time we were there. It was always amazing to me what God was able to do in young people’s lives when their eyes were focused on Jesus and His Word.
It was also amazingly weird when we hit the world again and stuff that came over the radio. Listening every day to as Engram says the pornification of
If the eye is good, the whole body is full of light. If the eye is bad, the whole body is full of darkness.
God, I’m choosing to focus on you. I’m keeping my eyes fixed on the finish line and the author and perfecter of my faith. I can’t go live in a monastery or hide in some cave, so I need you to light my path. Show me the light so that I can follow you and your path.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Daily Reflections on Lk. 12:32-34 (In Search of Buried Treasure)
The air is crisp and cool. The hue of the leaves is becoming a goldish green giving us a glimpse of fall to come. The flowers are slowly fading. The birds are beginning to gather in large flocks preparing for their flight to warmer climates. There's a stillness to the air. The season is changing.
The seasonal flow has long been noted as a parallel to life. We see the coming and going and varied qualities of each distinct season. Each phase of the year has its own beauty and distress. Most have their favorite time of year. And many would prefer their desired season to last longer.
Having, in the not too distant past, made one of those transitional seasonal passages of life gives me cause me to reflect back on life and various priorities of each season. Back in the last century, in the days before video games, computers, ipods and cell phones, we kids were encouraged to play outside and use our imagination.
Boys play differently than girls. As little men, we played games like war, capture the flag, king of the hill, and various other "manly" games. My friends and I often spent hours on some adventure where we explored the woods, the creeks, anthills, and sometimes even hornets' nests. Amidst our adventures we looked for buried treasure. That treasure could be anything from turning over a rock in a stream to discover crawdads or digging up some agate or piece of quartz. Our treasure could even be a caterpillar or a strange beetle.
As I reflect on those simpler days of life, it causes me to contemplate the treasures I've searched and dug for through the years. It causes me to stop and ask myself, "What do I treasure today?" "What am I pursuing today?" "What's really important?" "What really has lasting value?" "Where do I want to spend my remaining life energies?"
It doesn't really matter what stage or season of life you're in right now. What matters is what kind of treasure you're seeking. Will it make a difference in eternity? Is your treasure for selfish gain or for the benefit of others? Jesus said for true contentment, fulfillment, satisfaction to pursue a treasure in heaven that won't be exhausted, wear out or change with the seasons.
God, I love going exploring with you. The adventure is full of challenges, surprises, joys and discoveries. I don't cling to this world or their empty treasures or promises. I want to find that heavenly treasure. I'm packed and ready for the hunt. Lead me. Guide me. Let's go find that buried treasure.
The seasonal flow has long been noted as a parallel to life. We see the coming and going and varied qualities of each distinct season. Each phase of the year has its own beauty and distress. Most have their favorite time of year. And many would prefer their desired season to last longer.
Having, in the not too distant past, made one of those transitional seasonal passages of life gives me cause me to reflect back on life and various priorities of each season. Back in the last century, in the days before video games, computers, ipods and cell phones, we kids were encouraged to play outside and use our imagination.
Boys play differently than girls. As little men, we played games like war, capture the flag, king of the hill, and various other "manly" games. My friends and I often spent hours on some adventure where we explored the woods, the creeks, anthills, and sometimes even hornets' nests. Amidst our adventures we looked for buried treasure. That treasure could be anything from turning over a rock in a stream to discover crawdads or digging up some agate or piece of quartz. Our treasure could even be a caterpillar or a strange beetle.
As I reflect on those simpler days of life, it causes me to contemplate the treasures I've searched and dug for through the years. It causes me to stop and ask myself, "What do I treasure today?" "What am I pursuing today?" "What's really important?" "What really has lasting value?" "Where do I want to spend my remaining life energies?"
It doesn't really matter what stage or season of life you're in right now. What matters is what kind of treasure you're seeking. Will it make a difference in eternity? Is your treasure for selfish gain or for the benefit of others? Jesus said for true contentment, fulfillment, satisfaction to pursue a treasure in heaven that won't be exhausted, wear out or change with the seasons.
God, I love going exploring with you. The adventure is full of challenges, surprises, joys and discoveries. I don't cling to this world or their empty treasures or promises. I want to find that heavenly treasure. I'm packed and ready for the hunt. Lead me. Guide me. Let's go find that buried treasure.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Daily Reflections on Lk. 12:13-21 (On Being Rich)
I don't consider myself rich by any means. I live in a relatively modest neighborhood. I drive a sixteen year old van and a seven year old car. We don't have the latest gadgets, electronics, or big screen TV. We don't have cable or a dish. We use a lot of coupons for groceries and buy new clothes only when necessary or on special occasions. I don't have a boat or a jet ski or own lots of acreage.
Having said that, compared to many people around the globe, in third world countries and inner cities, I'm well off. I don't worry about where my next meal is coming from or where I'm gonna sleep tonight. Sure, I live paycheck to paycheck, but at least I have a paycheck.
Sometimes I look around and wish I had more. I dream of what it'd be like to be Bill Gates or Warren Buffet. What would it be like to have billions of dollars? I'll probably never know. (Okay, I'll never know.) I guess I'll just have to settle for a few cool million. Right.
Why is it that what we have is never enough? I saw a survey a few years ago that asked the question, "How much money would you need to make to be happy?" Ironically, every income bracket chose the income bracket above what they were currently making.
God has a different definition of what makes for wealth. Rich in God's terms doesn't necessarily equate to the world's terms. To the world, rich is the accumulation of material goods. To God, rich is the generosity of our heart and spirit toward others. It is giving versus getting. Jesus said the two mites given by the poor widow was a bigger gift than the large sums of cash tossed into the Temple coffers by the wealthy man.
Jesus didn't condemn the rich farmer for his material success in this parable. He did, however, point to the fruitlessness of his labor collecting goods only for himself. He didn't condemn the man for having or enjoying his wealth. The criticism came for his selfish hoarding. Jesus points out the futility of amassing great wealth. Eventually, it only ends up in the hands of someone else anyway. How much better it would have been in life, if the rich farmer had been a blessing to others. According to God, I'm rich when I share my resources to the aid and benefit of others.
God, you know I have limited personal financial resources, but I want to be rich toward you. I want to be your vessel whereby you bless others. I open myself to you. Make me rich in your eyes.
Having said that, compared to many people around the globe, in third world countries and inner cities, I'm well off. I don't worry about where my next meal is coming from or where I'm gonna sleep tonight. Sure, I live paycheck to paycheck, but at least I have a paycheck.
Sometimes I look around and wish I had more. I dream of what it'd be like to be Bill Gates or Warren Buffet. What would it be like to have billions of dollars? I'll probably never know. (Okay, I'll never know.) I guess I'll just have to settle for a few cool million. Right.
Why is it that what we have is never enough? I saw a survey a few years ago that asked the question, "How much money would you need to make to be happy?" Ironically, every income bracket chose the income bracket above what they were currently making.
God has a different definition of what makes for wealth. Rich in God's terms doesn't necessarily equate to the world's terms. To the world, rich is the accumulation of material goods. To God, rich is the generosity of our heart and spirit toward others. It is giving versus getting. Jesus said the two mites given by the poor widow was a bigger gift than the large sums of cash tossed into the Temple coffers by the wealthy man.
Jesus didn't condemn the rich farmer for his material success in this parable. He did, however, point to the fruitlessness of his labor collecting goods only for himself. He didn't condemn the man for having or enjoying his wealth. The criticism came for his selfish hoarding. Jesus points out the futility of amassing great wealth. Eventually, it only ends up in the hands of someone else anyway. How much better it would have been in life, if the rich farmer had been a blessing to others. According to God, I'm rich when I share my resources to the aid and benefit of others.
God, you know I have limited personal financial resources, but I want to be rich toward you. I want to be your vessel whereby you bless others. I open myself to you. Make me rich in your eyes.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Daily Reflections on Luke 12:6-12 (A Bad Hair Day)
Growing up it used to be popular for store clerks, fair barkers, youth leaders and others to set out a large jar filled with jellybeans. The object was to guess the amount of jellybeans in the jar. The winner got the jar of jellybeans plus some prize. I never won. Even though I would try to count them, I never came close. Bummer.
This passage always amazed me. Okay, I can kind of see how a sparrow's death could get God's attention. He's aware of everything that happens. I kind of envisioned a security control room with all these cameras manned by angels. "Sparrow down in sector 5." "Roger, I'll let the Big Guy know." But the hairs on the head being numbered baffled me. As a kid I tried to figure out how God counts all the hairs on everybody's head. Where'd He find the time to count? Did He do it while we were sleeping?
It still baffles me to this day. God, how do you know the number of hairs on a person's head; every person's head? It dawned on me one day as I was brushing my daughter's hair and pulling the loose hairs from the brush that the number of hairs on our head change everyday. If God has the number of our hairs numbered, He's either got a lot of angels very busy or He's aware of my day everyday, the moment by moment aspects of my life.
God pays that kind of attention to me? To you? To everyone? Absolutely! He's vigilant. He never sleeps. He's concerned about even the minor details of our life. It's no wonder He knows my needs before I ask them. He knows my every joy and my deepest sorrow. He sees every drop of coffee I spill on myself. If God is that aware and that concerned, what am I worried about?
God, I know you are keeping a close eye on me. You love me and care for even the smallest need of my life. Help me to be aware of you and your presence. Help me to not only acknowledge your presence, but to exclaim your presence wherever I go.
This passage always amazed me. Okay, I can kind of see how a sparrow's death could get God's attention. He's aware of everything that happens. I kind of envisioned a security control room with all these cameras manned by angels. "Sparrow down in sector 5." "Roger, I'll let the Big Guy know." But the hairs on the head being numbered baffled me. As a kid I tried to figure out how God counts all the hairs on everybody's head. Where'd He find the time to count? Did He do it while we were sleeping?
It still baffles me to this day. God, how do you know the number of hairs on a person's head; every person's head? It dawned on me one day as I was brushing my daughter's hair and pulling the loose hairs from the brush that the number of hairs on our head change everyday. If God has the number of our hairs numbered, He's either got a lot of angels very busy or He's aware of my day everyday, the moment by moment aspects of my life.
God pays that kind of attention to me? To you? To everyone? Absolutely! He's vigilant. He never sleeps. He's concerned about even the minor details of our life. It's no wonder He knows my needs before I ask them. He knows my every joy and my deepest sorrow. He sees every drop of coffee I spill on myself. If God is that aware and that concerned, what am I worried about?
God, I know you are keeping a close eye on me. You love me and care for even the smallest need of my life. Help me to be aware of you and your presence. Help me to not only acknowledge your presence, but to exclaim your presence wherever I go.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Daily Reflections on Lk. 12:4-5 (Appearances)
It’s all about looks. If you don’t have the right look, forget about it. The right look is crucial to attract friends, customers, buyers, takers, etc. If something looks good to us, we’ll try it. If we like the looks of a car or boat or outfit, we’ll buy it. Why? Because looks are everything.
We learn from an early age in school that the best looking kids get all the breaks. They have the most friends. They’re the teacher’s pet. They get the benefit of the doubt. Later in life, we know that the beautiful people continue to get the promotions and raises and better opportunities.
Appearance makes the impression. I noticed as a young pastor when I visited people in the hospital that when I wore a suit and tie, no one would stop me and ask me where I was going or kept me out of the most restricted areas. On the other hand, if I showed up in casual attire, I’d often be stopped even if I were wearing a hospital clergy badge.
We focus a lot of our time and energy on our appearance. It takes my oldest daughter an hour plus primping and preparing to get ready for the day. My guess is that she’s not the only one. We worry incessantly about what people think of us. We don’t want to give a bad impression. Thus, we’re susceptible to peer pressure. We ago along with the crowd, make poor decisions so that we’ll be liked or accepted. We cross the ethical line if it gains favor with someone of importance to us.
The problem with putting on airs or trying to look good in front of people is that it may offend God and in a sense betray ourselves. What kind of life is it when you spend all your energy trying to please others? Even Jesus couldn’t do that. The one we should be trying to please is God. It’s often been said that we should be living our lives for an audience of one, that being God. Easier said than done.
God created us in His image. When God finished creating everything else He said, “Good.” When God finished creating you He said, “Very Good.” You are uniquely created with all the gifts, talents, attributes God designed especially for you. God’s not concerned about outward appearance. He’s concerned about the heart, your heart. Living for Him is the only thing that really matters in the end.
God, I going to live to please you today. Help me find my sense of self worth, value and purpose in you.
We learn from an early age in school that the best looking kids get all the breaks. They have the most friends. They’re the teacher’s pet. They get the benefit of the doubt. Later in life, we know that the beautiful people continue to get the promotions and raises and better opportunities.
Appearance makes the impression. I noticed as a young pastor when I visited people in the hospital that when I wore a suit and tie, no one would stop me and ask me where I was going or kept me out of the most restricted areas. On the other hand, if I showed up in casual attire, I’d often be stopped even if I were wearing a hospital clergy badge.
We focus a lot of our time and energy on our appearance. It takes my oldest daughter an hour plus primping and preparing to get ready for the day. My guess is that she’s not the only one. We worry incessantly about what people think of us. We don’t want to give a bad impression. Thus, we’re susceptible to peer pressure. We ago along with the crowd, make poor decisions so that we’ll be liked or accepted. We cross the ethical line if it gains favor with someone of importance to us.
The problem with putting on airs or trying to look good in front of people is that it may offend God and in a sense betray ourselves. What kind of life is it when you spend all your energy trying to please others? Even Jesus couldn’t do that. The one we should be trying to please is God. It’s often been said that we should be living our lives for an audience of one, that being God. Easier said than done.
God created us in His image. When God finished creating everything else He said, “Good.” When God finished creating you He said, “Very Good.” You are uniquely created with all the gifts, talents, attributes God designed especially for you. God’s not concerned about outward appearance. He’s concerned about the heart, your heart. Living for Him is the only thing that really matters in the end.
God, I going to live to please you today. Help me find my sense of self worth, value and purpose in you.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Daily Reflections on Lk. 12:1-3 (Yeast)
Over the years of ministry I’ve seen a lot of high profile persons demonstrate their feet of clay and come tumbling down in some scandal. It’s a devastating blow to every one involved and affects all of Christendom. The fall of Jim and Tammy Baker, Jimmy Swaggert and more recently Ted Haggard has struck a blow to the credibility of Christianity.
There has been plenty of others who have taken the dive off their pedestals. Preachers, teachers, spiritual leaders have succumbed to temptation and been forced out of effective ministry. Pornography addiction, sexual sin, gambling, embezzlement, etc, doesn’t just suddenly crop up overnight. It’s something that develops over time.
Jesus says beware of the yeast. Yeast has a slow but powerful effect. When my mother baked her own bread and rolls, she mixed the flour and eggs, etc. and then added yeast. She would cover the bowl and place it over a furnace vent or something similar. You could almost watch the mixture transform and grow in to a big puffy dough ball before your eyes.
Jesus warns us about letting the yeast of sin into our life. A little bit of yeast goes a long way. It doesn’t take much for that yeast of sin to grow under the heat of life. Without really noticing, that small amount of leaven has transformed your whole life and made it a big gooey mess. It can’t be contained or hidden any more and it bursts over the side for everyone to see.
Once the yeast is there, it’s only matter time before it does its thing. So the key is keeping the yeast of sin out of our life. Fires that destroy forests, home and lives always start with just a spark. Little things and practices produce big results; sometimes good, often times bad.
Jesus, help me pay attention to the little things in life. Help me to keep the yeast of sin out. Work into my life the seed of spiritual growth. Help me to do the things that are beneficial to me and the Kingdom.
There has been plenty of others who have taken the dive off their pedestals. Preachers, teachers, spiritual leaders have succumbed to temptation and been forced out of effective ministry. Pornography addiction, sexual sin, gambling, embezzlement, etc, doesn’t just suddenly crop up overnight. It’s something that develops over time.
Jesus says beware of the yeast. Yeast has a slow but powerful effect. When my mother baked her own bread and rolls, she mixed the flour and eggs, etc. and then added yeast. She would cover the bowl and place it over a furnace vent or something similar. You could almost watch the mixture transform and grow in to a big puffy dough ball before your eyes.
Jesus warns us about letting the yeast of sin into our life. A little bit of yeast goes a long way. It doesn’t take much for that yeast of sin to grow under the heat of life. Without really noticing, that small amount of leaven has transformed your whole life and made it a big gooey mess. It can’t be contained or hidden any more and it bursts over the side for everyone to see.
Once the yeast is there, it’s only matter time before it does its thing. So the key is keeping the yeast of sin out of our life. Fires that destroy forests, home and lives always start with just a spark. Little things and practices produce big results; sometimes good, often times bad.
Jesus, help me pay attention to the little things in life. Help me to keep the yeast of sin out. Work into my life the seed of spiritual growth. Help me to do the things that are beneficial to me and the Kingdom.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Daily Reflections on Mt. 6:12-15 (Forgiving)
My wife roused me from my sleep. It had been a late elders' meeting the night before. I had crawled into bed sometime after 2:00 a.m.. "A plane just hit one of the trade towers," she said. I climbed out of bed in time to witness the second plane fly into the towers. It's a day I'll never forget. Like the Challenger explosion, I'll always know exactly where I was when I heard the news.
Over 3,000 were killed in a horrendous act of hatred and violence. Emotions that ranged from fear, to anger, to horror, to shock, to sorrow, to hatred erupted across the country. Weeks later when the invasion of Afghanistan was announced, there was a cheer that went up in the 15 passenger van I was driving. Every college student were excited that we were exacting vengeance.
The last six years has continued to evoke a mixture of emotions. For some, hatred has continue or even grown. For some, sorrow has grown. For some, fear has grown. 9/11 has changed the world.
As tragic and horrible as 9/11 was, it's not the only cause for hatred. People are wronged, hurt, and abused everyday. 9/11's happen, where people's lives are devastated at the hands of someone else, all around us, may be even to us. Hatred and bitterness abound. But hatred and bitterness can be even more devastating when allowed to grow and fester. Hanging onto the pain always hurts us more than the offender.
Jesus, here in His message for contented/fulfilled living, says forgiveness is essential to experience freedom and victory. Seeking retribution, getting even, doesn't bring satisfaction, nor does it bring us closer to God. Jesus also said our forgiveness by God is dependent upon our forgiveness of others. It's not that God is unwilling to forgive us. It's impossible for us to experience God's grace when our heart is hardened.
God, you forgave me while I was an offender, sinner, enemy. Thanks for your grace. Allow me to offer grace, mercy and forgiveness to others.
Over 3,000 were killed in a horrendous act of hatred and violence. Emotions that ranged from fear, to anger, to horror, to shock, to sorrow, to hatred erupted across the country. Weeks later when the invasion of Afghanistan was announced, there was a cheer that went up in the 15 passenger van I was driving. Every college student were excited that we were exacting vengeance.
The last six years has continued to evoke a mixture of emotions. For some, hatred has continue or even grown. For some, sorrow has grown. For some, fear has grown. 9/11 has changed the world.
As tragic and horrible as 9/11 was, it's not the only cause for hatred. People are wronged, hurt, and abused everyday. 9/11's happen, where people's lives are devastated at the hands of someone else, all around us, may be even to us. Hatred and bitterness abound. But hatred and bitterness can be even more devastating when allowed to grow and fester. Hanging onto the pain always hurts us more than the offender.
Jesus, here in His message for contented/fulfilled living, says forgiveness is essential to experience freedom and victory. Seeking retribution, getting even, doesn't bring satisfaction, nor does it bring us closer to God. Jesus also said our forgiveness by God is dependent upon our forgiveness of others. It's not that God is unwilling to forgive us. It's impossible for us to experience God's grace when our heart is hardened.
God, you forgave me while I was an offender, sinner, enemy. Thanks for your grace. Allow me to offer grace, mercy and forgiveness to others.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Daily Reflections on Lk. 11:2-4 (Meaningless Prayers)
A friend of mine and I were musing one day about the ritual of praying before we ate. He jokingly utted the prayer, "Rub a dub dub, thanks for the grub." I crossed myself and we dug in. Another friend joined us and upon hearing our conversation looked heavenward and simply said, "You know I'm thankful." Don't think we were being disrespectful or sac religious. We had gathered at breakfast to spend an hour in prayer, seeking God's will together.
Ironically, however, that is about how many look at prayer. For some, if you swallow one bite of food without praying for your meal, you've ruined it and you'll probably have indigestion for the rest of the day or maybe the week. For some, the words they utter before they devour are as meaningless as my friend's facetious prayer. For some, "The Blessing" magically transforms this ordinary food into holy food which directly goes to the healthful "nourishment to our bodies" even if it's sugar-filled, greasy or high in saturated fat. For some there's barely an acknowledgment of God's involvement in our lives.
The habit of praying before you eat is not to be about dogmatism, ritual or token acknowledgment of God's presence. It's to be a sincere appreciation of God's involvement, concern, provision and protection. Unfortunately for many, the few words spoken aloud or breathed in silence at a meal may be the only time they even stop to recognize God during the day. And because of the harriedness of the day, even that sometimes slides by unattended.
The point of prayer in the first place is to invite God into your life. When teaching His followers to pray, Jesus instructed them to begin by focusing on our relationship with God, asking Him to exercise His will in our life. We share our need with a heart of submission and authenticity, recognizing our dependence and desire for God's involvement. We ask for God's Spirit to continue to transform us into the image of His son. We ask for the ability to offer grace, mercy and forgiveness.
That kind of prayer doesn't happen in 10-15 seconds before we dine on our delectables. That kind of prayer stems from a deep desire to know and pursue God in every element of our life.
God, forgive me when I insult you with my brash or insolent attitude. You're more than a passing thought or personal ritual to bring good luck to my life. God, your the center of my life. I need and want you involved in my daily activities. I thirst and hunger for you.
Ironically, however, that is about how many look at prayer. For some, if you swallow one bite of food without praying for your meal, you've ruined it and you'll probably have indigestion for the rest of the day or maybe the week. For some, the words they utter before they devour are as meaningless as my friend's facetious prayer. For some, "The Blessing" magically transforms this ordinary food into holy food which directly goes to the healthful "nourishment to our bodies" even if it's sugar-filled, greasy or high in saturated fat. For some there's barely an acknowledgment of God's involvement in our lives.
The habit of praying before you eat is not to be about dogmatism, ritual or token acknowledgment of God's presence. It's to be a sincere appreciation of God's involvement, concern, provision and protection. Unfortunately for many, the few words spoken aloud or breathed in silence at a meal may be the only time they even stop to recognize God during the day. And because of the harriedness of the day, even that sometimes slides by unattended.
The point of prayer in the first place is to invite God into your life. When teaching His followers to pray, Jesus instructed them to begin by focusing on our relationship with God, asking Him to exercise His will in our life. We share our need with a heart of submission and authenticity, recognizing our dependence and desire for God's involvement. We ask for God's Spirit to continue to transform us into the image of His son. We ask for the ability to offer grace, mercy and forgiveness.
That kind of prayer doesn't happen in 10-15 seconds before we dine on our delectables. That kind of prayer stems from a deep desire to know and pursue God in every element of our life.
God, forgive me when I insult you with my brash or insolent attitude. You're more than a passing thought or personal ritual to bring good luck to my life. God, your the center of my life. I need and want you involved in my daily activities. I thirst and hunger for you.
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Daily Reflections on Mt. 7:7-12 (Fathering)
What a beautiful picture Jesus paints of God as Father. It's not a picture of some feeble old man. It's not a picture of busy father with no time for his kids. It's not a picture of a neglectful, lazy or abusive father. It's not a picture of an authoritarian or dictator. It's not a picture of a distant father with little to no concern for his children.
The picture Jesus paints of the Father is one of compassion, concern, involvement, care, and action. He's approachable. He's loving. He's giving. He's capable. He's listening. He's there. He provides.
Fathering can be tough sometimes. At times yo have to be gentle and understanding. At times yo have to discipline. At times you have to play with your kids, push them on the swing, let them put curlers in your hair or just wrestle on the floor. At times you have to be the dragon slayer, the protector, the defender, the rescuer. At time you have to be a teacher or challenger or coach or reaffirmer. At times you're the provider, while at other times you're the receiver of special gifts.
I've captured the values of my father. My kids are capturing my values. My behavior, my character, my ethics, my heart, my pattern for parenting will be passed onto my children. How they look at life and how they treat their spouses and children and other people will be drawn from me. No pressure, dads. As "head of the household," dads have the responsibility of setting the pace, the standard.
There is no question that God is a God of grace and mercy. The image of Him as Father makes Him embraceable to us. God is interested in our lives and wants us to invite Him in. As we embrace Him, pursue Him, engage Him, we experience His full nature. As His children, we then adopt His values of love, grace, giving, caring, extending ourselves to others.
God, when I grow up, I want to be just like you. The more I pursue you, interact with you, the more I know you, the more I want to be like you. Help me to have your heart, your passion, your attitude toward others.
The picture Jesus paints of the Father is one of compassion, concern, involvement, care, and action. He's approachable. He's loving. He's giving. He's capable. He's listening. He's there. He provides.
Fathering can be tough sometimes. At times yo have to be gentle and understanding. At times yo have to discipline. At times you have to play with your kids, push them on the swing, let them put curlers in your hair or just wrestle on the floor. At times you have to be the dragon slayer, the protector, the defender, the rescuer. At time you have to be a teacher or challenger or coach or reaffirmer. At times you're the provider, while at other times you're the receiver of special gifts.
I've captured the values of my father. My kids are capturing my values. My behavior, my character, my ethics, my heart, my pattern for parenting will be passed onto my children. How they look at life and how they treat their spouses and children and other people will be drawn from me. No pressure, dads. As "head of the household," dads have the responsibility of setting the pace, the standard.
There is no question that God is a God of grace and mercy. The image of Him as Father makes Him embraceable to us. God is interested in our lives and wants us to invite Him in. As we embrace Him, pursue Him, engage Him, we experience His full nature. As His children, we then adopt His values of love, grace, giving, caring, extending ourselves to others.
God, when I grow up, I want to be just like you. The more I pursue you, interact with you, the more I know you, the more I want to be like you. Help me to have your heart, your passion, your attitude toward others.
Friday, September 7, 2007
Daily Reflections on Mt. 6:5-15 (Why Pray?)
Why pray? If God already knows what my needs are why should I pray? Jesus says it right here in verse 8 that the Father knows what we need before we ask. So why pray? Why wouldn't God just give us what we need if He's really a loving father? Does He want us to grovel and beg?
Actually it's just the opposite. Jesus says when you ask, don't put on a show. He says don't try to make yourself look religious. God already knows your motives. The Bible says that we don't have because we don't ask and when we do, we ask with wrong motives. Jesus says here that God isn't impressed with a show anyway. Instead, God is interested in intimacy.
Let's be honest, God doesn't owe us anything; nor do we deserve anything from God. But the good news is that God loves us. And because He loves us, He wants to be involved in our lives. He knows what our need are because He's paying attention.
Jesus instructs us in this passage to go into our room, shut the world out and spend time just talking and listening to God. Even when you know that your best friend can't solve your problem you share your issues with them in private. Why? If they're your best friend, they probably already know your problems and issues, so why do you tell them? The answer: because sometimes we just need to talk with someone we know cares.
God invites us to share our joys and concerns and challenges and problems and opportunities and victories with Him. He wants us to ask Him His opinion. God has always been interested in our relationship with Him. The Bible tells us that we're the apple of His eye. He wants us to share our life with Him. Prayer is simply communicating with God. It's not rubbing the magic lamp to get the genie to act. It's not proving our worth. It's not trying to get God's attention. It's opening up our hearts to Him. It's inviting Him into our life. That's why Paul says to pray without ceasing.
God, it seems like sometimes I look at prayer as simply presenting my wish list to you. Yet, I know it's about our relationship. Forgive me for failing to foster our relationship through prayer. I want you in my life. I recognize that you're interested in both the big and small issues in my life. As much time I spend each day on the phone or emailing or messenging others, you'd think I'd remember to include you more. Help me to be more aware of your presence.
Actually it's just the opposite. Jesus says when you ask, don't put on a show. He says don't try to make yourself look religious. God already knows your motives. The Bible says that we don't have because we don't ask and when we do, we ask with wrong motives. Jesus says here that God isn't impressed with a show anyway. Instead, God is interested in intimacy.
Let's be honest, God doesn't owe us anything; nor do we deserve anything from God. But the good news is that God loves us. And because He loves us, He wants to be involved in our lives. He knows what our need are because He's paying attention.
Jesus instructs us in this passage to go into our room, shut the world out and spend time just talking and listening to God. Even when you know that your best friend can't solve your problem you share your issues with them in private. Why? If they're your best friend, they probably already know your problems and issues, so why do you tell them? The answer: because sometimes we just need to talk with someone we know cares.
God invites us to share our joys and concerns and challenges and problems and opportunities and victories with Him. He wants us to ask Him His opinion. God has always been interested in our relationship with Him. The Bible tells us that we're the apple of His eye. He wants us to share our life with Him. Prayer is simply communicating with God. It's not rubbing the magic lamp to get the genie to act. It's not proving our worth. It's not trying to get God's attention. It's opening up our hearts to Him. It's inviting Him into our life. That's why Paul says to pray without ceasing.
God, it seems like sometimes I look at prayer as simply presenting my wish list to you. Yet, I know it's about our relationship. Forgive me for failing to foster our relationship through prayer. I want you in my life. I recognize that you're interested in both the big and small issues in my life. As much time I spend each day on the phone or emailing or messenging others, you'd think I'd remember to include you more. Help me to be more aware of your presence.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Daily Reflections on 1 Jn. 5:13-15 (Security)
Assurance leads to security. When you absolutely know something you act in confidence. When you know your car's going to start, you don't a have second thought, you just jump in and go. When you now that your job is there, you work with assurance and confidence. When you know that your spouse or significant other loves you, you enjoy life and your relationship. It's when those things aren't so sure in your mind that the worry, fear, tension, suspicion, doubt, trepidation, and anxiety creeps into your mind and life.
It's amazing to me the people that go through life without the assurance of eternal life in Christ. Many so called "believers" are unsure of their salvation. While many non-Christians hope that their good works are enough to earn God's pleasure, but they're never really sure. Both are locked into the idea of proving themselves to God one way or the other.
How do I know if I have eternal life in heaven with God? John tries to give us that assurance. It starts with a personal relationship with God through Christ. It's not about joining some church or church membership. It's about accepting God's free gift of salvation through His son Jesus. That comes from believing and trusting in God; your confession or admission that you're not perfect and you need His forgiveness.
John also emphasizes how important it is to allow God's Spirit to work in you and through you. The best demonstration of that is the practical application of God's love to others. If we don't love like God, then we're simply not allowing God's Spirit to work. And if we refuse to allow God's Spirit to work, then John says that we don't belong to God or His family.
How do I know if I have eternal life? If I believe in Christ, have chosen to surrender my life to Him and allow God's Spirit to flow freely in my life. In other words, what's really going on in my heart? If I've truly allowed God to have my heart, it will be apparent in my behavior and prayers. My prayers will be about things of the Kingdom of God, things that are on God's heart.
God, I believe in you and your promises. You've shaped my heart with a passion for things of the Kingdom. Help me to be constantly aware of your Spirit. Help me to reflect and demonstrate your love and grace to others around me. Thanks for the assurance of eternal life in you.
It's amazing to me the people that go through life without the assurance of eternal life in Christ. Many so called "believers" are unsure of their salvation. While many non-Christians hope that their good works are enough to earn God's pleasure, but they're never really sure. Both are locked into the idea of proving themselves to God one way or the other.
How do I know if I have eternal life in heaven with God? John tries to give us that assurance. It starts with a personal relationship with God through Christ. It's not about joining some church or church membership. It's about accepting God's free gift of salvation through His son Jesus. That comes from believing and trusting in God; your confession or admission that you're not perfect and you need His forgiveness.
John also emphasizes how important it is to allow God's Spirit to work in you and through you. The best demonstration of that is the practical application of God's love to others. If we don't love like God, then we're simply not allowing God's Spirit to work. And if we refuse to allow God's Spirit to work, then John says that we don't belong to God or His family.
How do I know if I have eternal life? If I believe in Christ, have chosen to surrender my life to Him and allow God's Spirit to flow freely in my life. In other words, what's really going on in my heart? If I've truly allowed God to have my heart, it will be apparent in my behavior and prayers. My prayers will be about things of the Kingdom of God, things that are on God's heart.
God, I believe in you and your promises. You've shaped my heart with a passion for things of the Kingdom. Help me to be constantly aware of your Spirit. Help me to reflect and demonstrate your love and grace to others around me. Thanks for the assurance of eternal life in you.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Daily Reflections on Eph. 6:5-9 (Jobs, Bosses and Coworkers)
Have you ever had one of those jobs where you just hated going to work? The environment was horrible. The boss was a butt. The job itself stunk. You couldn't stand the people you worked with. Maybe you hated the hours or the pay or the conditions. It could have been a job that was simply boring or didn't fit your gift mix or talents or personality.
My wife had a job when we first moved to this community that was all of that and more. The tension and pressure was overwhelming. It messed her up. She was a nervous wreck. She'd come home in tears virtually every day. It crippled her self-esteem. One day she left work in the middle of the day so torn up that she threatened not to go back. They had a constant revolving door of employees.
Finding the ideal job where everything is perfect is a rarity. No job is perfect, because no one is perfect. If you find that perfect job, don't take it because you'll mess it up. Because people aren't perfect, we're always going to have some tough days, tough times, tough situations at work.
Paul in this passage gives some sound advice for employees and employers. The conditions of your work environment begins with you, your attitude and your work ethic. He says here to serve your boss, your company with respect, reverence and sincerity in the same way you would serve Christ. He says put your whole self into it. He goes on to say that God will ultimately reward you for your effort. He virtually says the same thing to bosses. He reminds them that they ultimately have to answer to God.
Not every situation can be magically transformed into a wonderful working environment overnight. Some things are out of your control. But God doesn't promise that anyway. God is concerned about our character, our attitudes, our behavior. Let's face it, Jesus didn't have the best working environment. Paul had to face some pretty miserable conditions/persecution while trying to do his job. But we have to remember, God called us to be light and salt; to brighten and flavor/influence our environment.
God, my eyes aren't on pleasing my boss, my employers or co-workers. My eyes are on pleasing you. Help me to be the best that I can be.
My wife had a job when we first moved to this community that was all of that and more. The tension and pressure was overwhelming. It messed her up. She was a nervous wreck. She'd come home in tears virtually every day. It crippled her self-esteem. One day she left work in the middle of the day so torn up that she threatened not to go back. They had a constant revolving door of employees.
Finding the ideal job where everything is perfect is a rarity. No job is perfect, because no one is perfect. If you find that perfect job, don't take it because you'll mess it up. Because people aren't perfect, we're always going to have some tough days, tough times, tough situations at work.
Paul in this passage gives some sound advice for employees and employers. The conditions of your work environment begins with you, your attitude and your work ethic. He says here to serve your boss, your company with respect, reverence and sincerity in the same way you would serve Christ. He says put your whole self into it. He goes on to say that God will ultimately reward you for your effort. He virtually says the same thing to bosses. He reminds them that they ultimately have to answer to God.
Not every situation can be magically transformed into a wonderful working environment overnight. Some things are out of your control. But God doesn't promise that anyway. God is concerned about our character, our attitudes, our behavior. Let's face it, Jesus didn't have the best working environment. Paul had to face some pretty miserable conditions/persecution while trying to do his job. But we have to remember, God called us to be light and salt; to brighten and flavor/influence our environment.
God, my eyes aren't on pleasing my boss, my employers or co-workers. My eyes are on pleasing you. Help me to be the best that I can be.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Daily Reflections on Acts 9:26-28 (Greatness)
Without the intervention of Barnabas, I wonder if the early Christians would have ever accepted Paul. I wonder if he would have been set aside as a missionary by the church in
Although Barnabas doesn’t get credit for the expansion of Christianity or for being an author of much of the New Testament, he did play a significant role. He opened the door for Paul in
Paul gets the credit, but Barnabas made it possible. Paul’s known as the great preacher/teacher, but Barnabas created the opportunity. Paul wrote most of the New Testament, but Barnabas befriended and nurtured a former and deadly enemy of the church. Paul planted many churches throughout the known world, but Barnabas trained him.
Greatness isn’t always measured by achievement. Greatness in God’s scheme is measured by humility. Jesus talked about being last, least, a servant if you wanted to be great. Barnabas modeled true greatness through his grace and surrender. He wasn’t worried about his own needs, his own reputation, his own position of prestige or authority. He focused his life on benefiting others and God’s Kingdom.
God, I don’t want greatness according to the world’s standards. I want to be great like Barnabas. I want to be your servant, your vessel by which people experience your love, grace, forgiveness and hope. I want to be like Barnabas in seeing and fostering the potential of people.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Daily Reflections on Mk. 9:14-29 (IF)
If! It must have been a bizarre scene. Jesus comes off Mt. Transfiguration where He has just met with Moses and Elijah in an awe inspiring experience. Peter, James and John had to still be buzzing with excitement. Here at the base of the mountain were the other nine disciples in an argument with a crowd of people. What a spiritual high killer.
Turns out the other nine weren't able to cast out a demon possessing a boy. So, the argument ensued. The Bible doesn't say what the argument was about, but my guess is that there was some questioning of the nine's spiritual manhood. It's one of the those times in which Jesus smacks Himself on the forehead, rolls His eyes and shakes His head. My interpretation of verse 19, "Morons! Just bring me the boy and I'll show you pin heads how to do this." The text leaves no doubt that Jesus was exasperated with His disciples.
When they brought Him the boy and the evil spirit in the boy started throwing a temper tantrum, the father asked Jesus to heal him, "if He could." That's if He "could" not if He "would." I'd like to have seen the look on Jesus' face at that moment, "IF you can?" Jesus says, "Are you questioning me? You think I can't handle this? Do you believe in God and His power or don't you?"
There's a lot of times we approach God with the same mentality. We bring an issue, a problem, a request to God with the "if you can" attitude. God, please answer my prayer if you can. And God's response is, "If you can?" If we doubt Him, why would He respond? God doesn't have to prove anything to us. The issue is about our faith. God says, "Look around, dude. You think all this got here by accident? Some big bang and the universe just appeared out of gas clouds."
The disciples failed because of their lack of faith and trust in God's power over their own. The man's son might had never been healed because of his lack of faith. IF. Our football coaches used to tell us when we started using the "if" excuse, that "If means I Failed." In this case "if" means "incomplete faith."
Jesus said that everything is possible for him(her) who believes. The father's response was quick, "I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief." Do you believe that God can heal your sick or dead marriage? Do you believe that God can heal your financial woes? Do you believe that God can help you overcome that habit? Do you believe God can get you through this rough patch? Do you believe God can heal your physical issue? Your health issue? Your emotional distress? Your spiritual pain? Do you believe God can supply all your needs?
God, I do believe. Help me overcome my unbelief.
Turns out the other nine weren't able to cast out a demon possessing a boy. So, the argument ensued. The Bible doesn't say what the argument was about, but my guess is that there was some questioning of the nine's spiritual manhood. It's one of the those times in which Jesus smacks Himself on the forehead, rolls His eyes and shakes His head. My interpretation of verse 19, "Morons! Just bring me the boy and I'll show you pin heads how to do this." The text leaves no doubt that Jesus was exasperated with His disciples.
When they brought Him the boy and the evil spirit in the boy started throwing a temper tantrum, the father asked Jesus to heal him, "if He could." That's if He "could" not if He "would." I'd like to have seen the look on Jesus' face at that moment, "IF you can?" Jesus says, "Are you questioning me? You think I can't handle this? Do you believe in God and His power or don't you?"
There's a lot of times we approach God with the same mentality. We bring an issue, a problem, a request to God with the "if you can" attitude. God, please answer my prayer if you can. And God's response is, "If you can?" If we doubt Him, why would He respond? God doesn't have to prove anything to us. The issue is about our faith. God says, "Look around, dude. You think all this got here by accident? Some big bang and the universe just appeared out of gas clouds."
The disciples failed because of their lack of faith and trust in God's power over their own. The man's son might had never been healed because of his lack of faith. IF. Our football coaches used to tell us when we started using the "if" excuse, that "If means I Failed." In this case "if" means "incomplete faith."
Jesus said that everything is possible for him(her) who believes. The father's response was quick, "I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief." Do you believe that God can heal your sick or dead marriage? Do you believe that God can heal your financial woes? Do you believe that God can help you overcome that habit? Do you believe God can get you through this rough patch? Do you believe God can heal your physical issue? Your health issue? Your emotional distress? Your spiritual pain? Do you believe God can supply all your needs?
God, I do believe. Help me overcome my unbelief.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Daily Reflections on Jn. 21:1-19 (Failure, Mistakes, and Screw Ups)
Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly at first. I should know, I've done a lot things poorly. However, more often than not, after doing them again and again I generally get better. Very few of us are experts the first time we attempt something. I've never got "high score" on a video game unless it's the first time it's played.
Life is often that way. We learned to walk by taking a few step and going down. We'd take a few more steps and down again. We learn from our failures, our mistakes. We can be cruising along, enjoying the moment of life and suddenly, CRASH, we've just wrecked.
My daughter and I were tooling down the interstate at 70 mph in very heavy traffic when suddenly everyone stopped. It was like a scene out of a movie; tires screeching, cars careening out of control hitting ditches, sliding sideways. Me, I locked up the brakes and tried to slide in between the 2 lanes of cars, just as a van did the same thing from the other lane. I avoided the van but couldn't quite squeeze between it and the semi-sideways car in front of me.
Gun-shy wouldn't describe how I was driving or even riding in a car for several weeks. Panic would be a better word any time somebody's brake lights went on in front of me. I was a mess. But after one session with our counselor, I was back behind the wheel doing fine. Accidents, mistakes, failures happen in life. You can't let them hold you down or back. Wallowing in self pity or simply accepting a one time incident as fate, takes you out of the joy and potential of life. Besides, sitting on the sidelines prevents you from fulfilling God's plan and purpose for your life.
Jesus restored Peter after his colossal failure. He'd cashed in his future and had settled for an unfulfilling past. But Jesus helped him through it and gave him charge of his own mission. Just a few weeks later, Peter was baptizing 3,000 people into Christ and standing up to the religious hierarchy who threaten to kill him. Quite a change.
Having made my fair share of mistakes, failures and screw ups, I've learned that the more I trust in God and rely on the Holy Spirit, the better off I am. Acknowledging and learning from my screw ups only makes me better. God's grace is always bigger than my disgrace. God already knows I'm a mess. When I admit it, confess it, surrender it, He often takes my very weakness and uses it to His glory to minister to someone else.
God, thanks for your grace. When I'm weak, then you're strong. Thanks for turning my blunders into your blessings. Because of you, my failures don't disqualify me. God re-mold me, replenish me, re-use me for your Kingdom glory.
Life is often that way. We learned to walk by taking a few step and going down. We'd take a few more steps and down again. We learn from our failures, our mistakes. We can be cruising along, enjoying the moment of life and suddenly, CRASH, we've just wrecked.
My daughter and I were tooling down the interstate at 70 mph in very heavy traffic when suddenly everyone stopped. It was like a scene out of a movie; tires screeching, cars careening out of control hitting ditches, sliding sideways. Me, I locked up the brakes and tried to slide in between the 2 lanes of cars, just as a van did the same thing from the other lane. I avoided the van but couldn't quite squeeze between it and the semi-sideways car in front of me.
Gun-shy wouldn't describe how I was driving or even riding in a car for several weeks. Panic would be a better word any time somebody's brake lights went on in front of me. I was a mess. But after one session with our counselor, I was back behind the wheel doing fine. Accidents, mistakes, failures happen in life. You can't let them hold you down or back. Wallowing in self pity or simply accepting a one time incident as fate, takes you out of the joy and potential of life. Besides, sitting on the sidelines prevents you from fulfilling God's plan and purpose for your life.
Jesus restored Peter after his colossal failure. He'd cashed in his future and had settled for an unfulfilling past. But Jesus helped him through it and gave him charge of his own mission. Just a few weeks later, Peter was baptizing 3,000 people into Christ and standing up to the religious hierarchy who threaten to kill him. Quite a change.
Having made my fair share of mistakes, failures and screw ups, I've learned that the more I trust in God and rely on the Holy Spirit, the better off I am. Acknowledging and learning from my screw ups only makes me better. God's grace is always bigger than my disgrace. God already knows I'm a mess. When I admit it, confess it, surrender it, He often takes my very weakness and uses it to His glory to minister to someone else.
God, thanks for your grace. When I'm weak, then you're strong. Thanks for turning my blunders into your blessings. Because of you, my failures don't disqualify me. God re-mold me, replenish me, re-use me for your Kingdom glory.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)