Well its almost been a week since I talked about the social bubble. I have to admit that my thoughts were not communicated very well with the last post. It seemed like I was jumping all over the place and I never followed through on my original thought. My point was to point out that being part of a social network like Facebook, we may be networking, but not in the truest sense. Facebook is "members only" networking, were we choose who sees what and who is in and out. Facebook in and of itself is wonderful for keeping in contact with family and friends all around the world. The problem arises when we create a life that is like Facebook, where we have our own groups, we have a password at the door; if you don't have the "members only jacket"...you're not getting in.
This "members only" lifestyle is what I see happening in the Christian community today. I recently read a book called, They like Jesus but not the Church (insights from emerging generations) by Dan Kimball. Dan is the Pastor at Vintage Faith Church in Santa Cruz, CA. I have had the opportunity to hear Dan Kimball speak at several Youth Ministry Conferences, and I have a lot of respect for his knowledge and ministry ideas. In his book he has a chapter titled, "Why I Escaped the Church Office", and in here he speaks about "life in the Christian bubble." I would like to share a couple quotes from this chapter to begin today.
"Having relationships only with Christians made it difficult to obey the teachings of Jesus about being on a mission for him and being salt and light to the world. It was like being a missionary to the Buddhists in China but hanging out only with Christians all the time" (p.39).
"As I recognized that we really only socialize with our Christian friends, I also recognized that overall, we are complacent about those outside the church. We aren't thinking about their eternal destiny" (p. 41).
"Church leaders are mainly dealing with complaints about last week's sermon or complaints that the music wasn't good enough, along with threats that people might go to another church where these things are better" (p. 41).
You see these are the experiences of a Pastor in the field, one who was noticing these things in his own life, the lives of those in his flock, and those in Christian denominations around the world. Kimball goes on to layout a very nice 4 phase process on the Christian bubble. This is what I want us to examine, to ponder and to figure out the implications of these actions in our own Christian walks. Kimball comes at these phases from the stand point of one who was without Christ and then finds Christ, but these phases will relate to all of us at some point in our lives.
Phase 1: We become Christian
This is that exciting time when you find the truth that you have been searching for but could never find. Its a time of learning and exposure to the powerful word of God. We have found something that changes lives and we wanna share it with everyone we know...family and friends. We want them to be able to share in the gift of God's love and grace. (This is the phase when our excitement is high for Jesus, and that excitement causes us to want to reach out, to share this message with all those around us.)
Phase 2: We become part of church life
We get involved in the life of the church, we are making friends with those in the church and attending church functions and events. We begin to pull away from our unhealthy environments...such as the party scene (we don't want to fall back into that lifestyle)...although we continue to keep up with all our old friends even if they themselves don't believe. As we grow in the life of the church we tend to lose touch with many of our non-believing friends outside the church. Now as we begin to spend most if not all of our time with church friends we forget about those who don't know Christ.
Now don't misunderstand me here, I find it crucial to have a strong presence in and with our own personal church community. The problem is that we only spend time with those in our own church, how are we to be salt and light to this world if we don't have contact with it? Here is another boggling situation, as we pull away from non-believers in our community, we find it an even bigger stretch to socialize with other churches or denominations.
"If Jesus sent us on a mission to be his salt and light to others, why is it that we have basically set up our church systems and subcultures to remove maturing people from relationships with people outside of the church?" (p. 44)
Phase 3: We become part of the Christian bubble
It was once exciting to share our faith with those outside the circle of believers, but we begin to transition from us doing the evangelizing in our daily lives to something that the Pastor's and ministry leaders take care of... Evangelism becomes something that takes place only when there is a specific program of event scheduled by the church. We may bring others to church, but only to pass them off to the Pastor once we get them there. We have lost contact with our mission as followers of Christ, we don't know what we believe well enough to share our faith with those who need to hear it, so we pass them off or even worse...we just pass by. As Kimball says, "we become citizens of the bubble."
"We get more excited about going overseas to the mission field on summer trips than about the mission field we live in every day" (p. 44).
Phase 4: We become Jonah
"After several years as citizens of the bubble, we begin to complain and point out the terrible things in the culture" (p. 45).
Just think about the story of Jonah, he didn't want anything to do with the city of Ninevah. He ran from God. It is said that there is nothing new under the sun, and so we can look to history to see things happening today. Like Jonah and many others through history we complain, instead to going into the world, we take ourselves out of this world. But why? What are we doing about the things we complain about? Can we do anything?
"We are content living in our little Christian subculture as citizens of the bubble, but we don't even know it because everyone in our social circle is also in the bubble" (p. 46).
I think we need to have a phase shift, we need to think back to Phase 1 in our journey with Christ, when we were excited about God and what he was doing in our lives! Phases in our faith can be important stepping blocks as they can show us our growth. We need to make sure that our growth doesn't eliminate our initial mission as a witnesses for Christ. We must remember that every individual in the history of the world is important. We all have worth not because of anything we do or don't do, we have worth because of the tremendous price Jesus paid for us. He paid that price for believers and non-believers alike. It is our job to make sure this is known by all.
I wanted to close with this...I am not calling out a specific individual or group of individuals. I am strictly sharing my thoughts on this topic because I find it very important. I also pull experiences from others, like Dan Kimball to give us a chance to find out for ourselves if these things are happening in our own lives.
I also want you to know that you are always welcome to leave comments, ask questions or correct me if so needed...
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
...the social bubble
So its been a couple days, probably not enough time to really observe this bubble we call earth completely, but we must push onward!
This morning I came across an article that was written in 2007 about the Social Bubble. In this article, Dori Maynard paints a very nice picture of the social bubble. She contrasts networking with a Social Bubble...here are her thoughts.
"A network, particularly on the hyperlinked web, suggests to me a vast series of connections that naturally lead you away from your comfort zone and into the home of those you might never encounter in your everyday life."
"A social bubble, on the other hand, may still be a large place, with multiple connections, but those connections never truly take you outside of your sphere. You may, in fact, meet people you don't know, but you won't meet people you don't know much about. In many ways, our online social bubbles are simply recreating our analog experience."
Now the article in itself has little to do with what I am talking about here, but I really like her description of the network and the social bubble. Her description, shines some light on the origin and makeup of some of the bubbles I have been in contact with. I would like to state that I am not against the social bubble, I understand why we have them. But some bubbles create difficulties, especially when we are dealing with God's people and the Gospel. These are the troubles we will continue to think about...
I am writing my thoughts and experiences on this digital canvas not to destroy but to try and create an "aha! moment." The moment we can see and understand something that might be heavy on our heart, or the moment we see God's glory shining through the dirt and grime of this life. You see, I don't claim to be anything other than a child of God, and as a child of God I have been charged with a task. A task that takes me out of my comfort zone and into a hurting, humiliated, disease ridden world. A world covered in sin, a world that cries out, a world that longs for that which it does not understand. You see I can't keep this news to myself, I can't put it in the bank and earn interest...the interest is earned when the message is in action. Like the parable of the talents, Matthew 25:14-30, we can see that we have been entrusted with certain things and the question arises...what will you do?
"What will you do?" You see, this is the question that leads me on this journey. Its a journey that opens my eyes to the bubbles I create, to the bubbles I try to get into...but why? Why bubbles at all?
Last time we closed with the prayer that Jesus prayed to his Father. In this prayer, Jesus prays for himself, for his disciples and for all believers. Its in this prayer that I see the light shining through, we sometimes forget that Jesus is in us, that we have been given the Holy Spirit. We forget our task, we get comfortable...
Lets take a couple days to digest this and see where the Holy Spirit takes us next...
This morning I came across an article that was written in 2007 about the Social Bubble. In this article, Dori Maynard paints a very nice picture of the social bubble. She contrasts networking with a Social Bubble...here are her thoughts.
"A network, particularly on the hyperlinked web, suggests to me a vast series of connections that naturally lead you away from your comfort zone and into the home of those you might never encounter in your everyday life."
"A social bubble, on the other hand, may still be a large place, with multiple connections, but those connections never truly take you outside of your sphere. You may, in fact, meet people you don't know, but you won't meet people you don't know much about. In many ways, our online social bubbles are simply recreating our analog experience."
Now the article in itself has little to do with what I am talking about here, but I really like her description of the network and the social bubble. Her description, shines some light on the origin and makeup of some of the bubbles I have been in contact with. I would like to state that I am not against the social bubble, I understand why we have them. But some bubbles create difficulties, especially when we are dealing with God's people and the Gospel. These are the troubles we will continue to think about...
I am writing my thoughts and experiences on this digital canvas not to destroy but to try and create an "aha! moment." The moment we can see and understand something that might be heavy on our heart, or the moment we see God's glory shining through the dirt and grime of this life. You see, I don't claim to be anything other than a child of God, and as a child of God I have been charged with a task. A task that takes me out of my comfort zone and into a hurting, humiliated, disease ridden world. A world covered in sin, a world that cries out, a world that longs for that which it does not understand. You see I can't keep this news to myself, I can't put it in the bank and earn interest...the interest is earned when the message is in action. Like the parable of the talents, Matthew 25:14-30, we can see that we have been entrusted with certain things and the question arises...what will you do?
"What will you do?" You see, this is the question that leads me on this journey. Its a journey that opens my eyes to the bubbles I create, to the bubbles I try to get into...but why? Why bubbles at all?
Last time we closed with the prayer that Jesus prayed to his Father. In this prayer, Jesus prays for himself, for his disciples and for all believers. Its in this prayer that I see the light shining through, we sometimes forget that Jesus is in us, that we have been given the Holy Spirit. We forget our task, we get comfortable...
Lets take a couple days to digest this and see where the Holy Spirit takes us next...
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
...the bubble
What is a bubble?
Well Wikipedia tells me this, "a globule of one substance encased in another, usually air in a liquid."
This makes me think about the bubbles we blew as kids out of our dish soap and water mixtures. What makes the bubble succeed is the substance that separates what is on the inside from what is on the outside. I have been seeing a lot of these bubbles in my life over the past several months. No not soapy bubbles...I have been seeing Christian Bubbles or the (enter denomination, enter worship style, etc...) Bubbles. Now again this is nothing new but it is something I have been wrestling with and noticing a lot lately.
This Human Bubble is similar to a soap bubble. We have someone or a group of someones on the inside separated from someone or a group of someones on the outside. Simple enough. But what is it that actually separates those on the inside from those on the outside? Hmm... Well it could be many different things that actually separate the inside from the outside. Bubbles are all around us, in high school there were bubbles for athletes, for brainiacs, for artists, for the "popular", for the "nerds", and for Christians (and within this bubble there are more bubbles...pretty strange.) And its not only in schools that we see these bubbles, there is separation all over this world. There are groups and individuals taking themselves out of this society on a daily basis.
But the questions that arise...
How does this happen?
Why does it happen?
Does it make any sense?
Do these bubbles help or hinder?
What are the difficulties when you are on the inside or the outside of a bubble?
Take this information with you, look around and see the bubbles. Where do you see bubbles, how do these bubbles interact with other bubbles? Observe bubbles in your own life, in others lives.
I will finish my thoughts after we have some time to observe...
In closing I would like you to read this prayer from Jesus to his Father...John 17:1-26
Pay close attention to verse 15 and verse 18...
Well Wikipedia tells me this, "a globule of one substance encased in another, usually air in a liquid."
This makes me think about the bubbles we blew as kids out of our dish soap and water mixtures. What makes the bubble succeed is the substance that separates what is on the inside from what is on the outside. I have been seeing a lot of these bubbles in my life over the past several months. No not soapy bubbles...I have been seeing Christian Bubbles or the (enter denomination, enter worship style, etc...) Bubbles. Now again this is nothing new but it is something I have been wrestling with and noticing a lot lately.
This Human Bubble is similar to a soap bubble. We have someone or a group of someones on the inside separated from someone or a group of someones on the outside. Simple enough. But what is it that actually separates those on the inside from those on the outside? Hmm... Well it could be many different things that actually separate the inside from the outside. Bubbles are all around us, in high school there were bubbles for athletes, for brainiacs, for artists, for the "popular", for the "nerds", and for Christians (and within this bubble there are more bubbles...pretty strange.) And its not only in schools that we see these bubbles, there is separation all over this world. There are groups and individuals taking themselves out of this society on a daily basis.
But the questions that arise...
How does this happen?
Why does it happen?
Does it make any sense?
Do these bubbles help or hinder?
What are the difficulties when you are on the inside or the outside of a bubble?
Take this information with you, look around and see the bubbles. Where do you see bubbles, how do these bubbles interact with other bubbles? Observe bubbles in your own life, in others lives.
I will finish my thoughts after we have some time to observe...
In closing I would like you to read this prayer from Jesus to his Father...John 17:1-26
Pay close attention to verse 15 and verse 18...
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
...pastures of grace
Have you ever played golf? Have you ever laced up the spikes, pulled out a stick and tried to hit a dimply white ball? You know every day of the year their are individuals doing this very thing all around the world. They get to the course early to pay and then they head out to get warmed up. They might hit a few range balls or putt a few balls on the practice green. And what is it exactly that you think about when you here the word golf? ...do you think about Tiger Woods and Phil Michelson, or maybe Arnold Palmer and Ben Hogan? ...or do you think about Ty Webb, Al Czervik and Carl Spackler? You see on any given day you will find scratch golfers, bogey golfers and even those lucky to get through nine holes in a hundred strokes or less. Its a game for everyone: tall/short, old/young, hairy/bald, men/women, poor/rich and the list goes on and on.
I truly enjoy the game of golf. The smell of freshly cut grass, a cool breeze in the morning, sun reflecting off the dew on the course. Its friends and strangers coming together to attempt to play one of the greatest, most frustrating, most difficult, most rewarding, most calming, most aggravating, most relaxing, most beautiful sports on planet earth. Some of my greatest memories are tied to those pastures of grace, those green (sometimes brown) pastures of grace. I can't tell you how many times I have been on a golf course and thought to myself, "wow! how did you do it?" Not the greens keeper, no no no, how did you do this God? Its so beautiful, so breath taking...the grass, the sky, the trees and flowers...wow!!!
I recently played with a couple of strangers and had the opportunity to talking to them. I was telling them how much the game of golf resembled faith, religion, life to me. Now this is not life changing news, I am not Copernicus, remember there is nothing new under the sun. But really when you think about the game of golf. Wow, what a visual picture of everyday life as a Christian. I mean time after time, its as if God created this game to show me exactly what he means when he talks about life, faith, focus.
For example. Take the actual swing and hitting of the ball. There is a ball, a club and me. Sure there are other variables...wind, sun, water, sand, trees, poison ivy, etc... I cant will the ball down the fairway, I cant get the ball 300 yards down the fairway under my power alone, no, I need to tools that have been created to deliver this 300 yard shot down then middle. You see I need the Driver or an iron, and I need to learn how to use these tools. Sure I could pick up my ball and throw it down the fairway (have you tried this...it don't go to far...bad English.) But you see that is not how this game was designed. Ok so what does that have to do with life, religion, faith...
You see as a Christian I am told to share the Gospel. God doesn't say you must become a Professional Gospel Sharer (Professional Golfer), no he says share my words with others (everyone, all ages). Sure I could do it my way, and many have tried, and many have either failed or led people far from God (such as those who tee off from the green.) You see God gives us tools, tools designed for our task. We have God's very own words in the Bible (Golf Lessons, Hitting Instruction), and we have been given the Holy Spirit (the Driver). You see i could go about this without the Bible and forgetting the Holy Spirit and I will fail. Shoot I may have a great time doing it my way, but I will never accomplish the goal set out before me. As I swing my driver I am guiding it toward the ball (Gospel) and the driver itself does all the work. And when I hit that ball it will go somewhere, whether it ends up on the cart path, or among the thorns and weeds, or it may end up in the rocks...but the goal is for it to end up in the fairway or in the short grass.
You see we must practice and learn so we can hit our ball into the fairway. And as we practice and as we learn we understand the power of the tools (clubs) we use. It is the same with the Gospel, as we learn and grow in our faith we are able to share the Gospel and be assured that the Holy Spirit is working through us. For it is not I who has the power to change lives but is God who through me changes lives. Just like that driver gives me the ability to hit a 300 yard drive straight down the middle, so too does God give me the ability to share a message that will change lives forever!
Just as golf is for anyone and everyone; so too is faith and life. Its when we step outside of ourselves and take a look at what we have been given do we truly understand our role. Its at this point that we must choose, do we practice, do we fail and triumph and fail again, do we come back for more or do we throw the towel in and say its not for me. If golf is not your thing that is perfectly fine, but if you say that growing in your faith and sharing this wonderful news is not for you...well I would have to say you better rethink that decision.
Finally, in Romans 7, Paul says some very interesting words. "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." (Romans 7:15) This is golf in a nutshell, and at the same time its life and sin in a nutshell. Those things that I know I should do...keep my eye on the ball, head down, knees bent, hands, feet, mind...and when I shank the ball over into the thorns and weeds I know that, "For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." It is in these moments that God finds out who we are, do we give up and run away or do we straighten up and try again. Life is no bed of roses, there are ups and down and troubles around every corner...sounds like Eagle Bluff Golf Club to me. But we must trust that God does not turn from us, he does not point fingers when we screw up...no he longs to hear us call his name, he longs to hear us spread his message, and he longs for us to be in relationship with him.
Golf...God's reminder to me to keep on truckin' to keep on fightin' to push past defeat, because he is stronger and he can move mountains...He is an awesome God!!!
I truly enjoy the game of golf. The smell of freshly cut grass, a cool breeze in the morning, sun reflecting off the dew on the course. Its friends and strangers coming together to attempt to play one of the greatest, most frustrating, most difficult, most rewarding, most calming, most aggravating, most relaxing, most beautiful sports on planet earth. Some of my greatest memories are tied to those pastures of grace, those green (sometimes brown) pastures of grace. I can't tell you how many times I have been on a golf course and thought to myself, "wow! how did you do it?" Not the greens keeper, no no no, how did you do this God? Its so beautiful, so breath taking...the grass, the sky, the trees and flowers...wow!!!
I recently played with a couple of strangers and had the opportunity to talking to them. I was telling them how much the game of golf resembled faith, religion, life to me. Now this is not life changing news, I am not Copernicus, remember there is nothing new under the sun. But really when you think about the game of golf. Wow, what a visual picture of everyday life as a Christian. I mean time after time, its as if God created this game to show me exactly what he means when he talks about life, faith, focus.
For example. Take the actual swing and hitting of the ball. There is a ball, a club and me. Sure there are other variables...wind, sun, water, sand, trees, poison ivy, etc... I cant will the ball down the fairway, I cant get the ball 300 yards down the fairway under my power alone, no, I need to tools that have been created to deliver this 300 yard shot down then middle. You see I need the Driver or an iron, and I need to learn how to use these tools. Sure I could pick up my ball and throw it down the fairway (have you tried this...it don't go to far...bad English.) But you see that is not how this game was designed. Ok so what does that have to do with life, religion, faith...
You see as a Christian I am told to share the Gospel. God doesn't say you must become a Professional Gospel Sharer (Professional Golfer), no he says share my words with others (everyone, all ages). Sure I could do it my way, and many have tried, and many have either failed or led people far from God (such as those who tee off from the green.) You see God gives us tools, tools designed for our task. We have God's very own words in the Bible (Golf Lessons, Hitting Instruction), and we have been given the Holy Spirit (the Driver). You see i could go about this without the Bible and forgetting the Holy Spirit and I will fail. Shoot I may have a great time doing it my way, but I will never accomplish the goal set out before me. As I swing my driver I am guiding it toward the ball (Gospel) and the driver itself does all the work. And when I hit that ball it will go somewhere, whether it ends up on the cart path, or among the thorns and weeds, or it may end up in the rocks...but the goal is for it to end up in the fairway or in the short grass.
You see we must practice and learn so we can hit our ball into the fairway. And as we practice and as we learn we understand the power of the tools (clubs) we use. It is the same with the Gospel, as we learn and grow in our faith we are able to share the Gospel and be assured that the Holy Spirit is working through us. For it is not I who has the power to change lives but is God who through me changes lives. Just like that driver gives me the ability to hit a 300 yard drive straight down the middle, so too does God give me the ability to share a message that will change lives forever!
Just as golf is for anyone and everyone; so too is faith and life. Its when we step outside of ourselves and take a look at what we have been given do we truly understand our role. Its at this point that we must choose, do we practice, do we fail and triumph and fail again, do we come back for more or do we throw the towel in and say its not for me. If golf is not your thing that is perfectly fine, but if you say that growing in your faith and sharing this wonderful news is not for you...well I would have to say you better rethink that decision.
Finally, in Romans 7, Paul says some very interesting words. "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." (Romans 7:15) This is golf in a nutshell, and at the same time its life and sin in a nutshell. Those things that I know I should do...keep my eye on the ball, head down, knees bent, hands, feet, mind...and when I shank the ball over into the thorns and weeds I know that, "For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." It is in these moments that God finds out who we are, do we give up and run away or do we straighten up and try again. Life is no bed of roses, there are ups and down and troubles around every corner...sounds like Eagle Bluff Golf Club to me. But we must trust that God does not turn from us, he does not point fingers when we screw up...no he longs to hear us call his name, he longs to hear us spread his message, and he longs for us to be in relationship with him.
Golf...God's reminder to me to keep on truckin' to keep on fightin' to push past defeat, because he is stronger and he can move mountains...He is an awesome God!!!
Friday, April 9, 2010
...prayer
Where do you see prayer in your life? Have you taken the time to initiate prayer in your daily comings and goings? Have you experienced the power of prayer, the power of answered prayers?
I started a new adult Bible Study this week, and when I sat down to choose the focus I found 1 Samuel. Now I will be honest, I didn't take the time to pray, to ask God where he was leading this group. But even in my weakest moments God is stronger, and already he has opened my eyes to this. What do you think of when I say 1 Samuel? Do you think...boring?...more history?...it probably wont interest me? I have to tell you, 1 Samuel is packed with everyday wisdom for you and me.
In the opening chapter of 1 Samuel we get a glimpse of a woman, Hannah. The story opens with the introduction of Elkanah, and he has two wives, Peninnah and Hannah. Now what just a minute, a man of God having two wives? (Because Israel did not have an earthly king to enforce the law, it is thought that the the people of Israel did what was pleasing in their own eyes. In a sense they turned their backs on God's law to get what they wanted. Kind of sounds like the world we live in today.) Anyway, here we have two wives, one has many children (Peninnah) and the other has none (Hannah). Not to step on any toes here, but the social and economic status of a woman in these days heavily rested on the production of children. If you were a woman who could not have children you were of little use, "be fruitful and multiply" Genesis 1:28. Now if that is not hard enough, imagine being only one of two wives and the "other" wife has produced many children. And to make it even worse Peninnah takes every chance she can to lord over Hannah the fact that she had no children of her own. Stop right there!
At this point in the story, if I were Hannah, I would be mad...oh I would be irate. I would probably want a meeting with God, I would want answers. Why am I barren? Why have you put this on me? What did I do to deserve this? You see what is happening here, I am placing the blame on God, I am taking my insecurities and turning them into fire to throw at God. I see this happening a lot today, I see misplaced trust or misguided faith. As if to say that God owes me something, that his will better be to make my life easier. But Hannah does not respond like me, she doesn't cry out with anger and demand. Hannah lives in this passage by faith, and though it doesn't say those words, we see it in her actions. What does Hannah do when she feels beaten down, when life gave her lemons? Hannah goes to God in prayer, she goes to the temple to speak to God (1:10). She pleads with the Lord. Hannah is pouring out her soul to the Lord, she is praying.
Do you see what she is doing here? Hannah is allowing God to carry her burdens, she is relying on God, her faith is in God. Lord, I can't carry this load alone, please help me. She could have turned her back on Elkanah and on Peninnah and walked away, she could have said I don't need this crap anymore. I'm done! And to top it off the high priest sees Hannah praying, he sees her lips moving but no words and thinks she is drunk! Hannah is deeply hurting, unloading this hurt onto God and she is taken for a drunken woman. (Boy, I would be furious, you're gonna interrupt me?) But Hannah does not get angry, she turns and explains to Eli her actions, her reason for prayer. Hannah walks out of the temple that day with her head held high and a smile on her face...she was happy.
I look at her story and the events that follow and think about a God who understands. I look at Hannah and wonder if I could live the way she does, if I could walk with God through the hardships she dealt with daily. Hannah had a strong faith that led her to God in prayer in those moments of weakness, anxiety, and vexation. Prayer is our open line, our connection to a Father who loves to hear from us, who wants to hear our hurts and our triumphs. We often go to God when we need something, when we are hurting...but we often forget to go back when we triumph, when he takes our lemons are turns them into lemonade. God wants to hear the good and the bad, he wants us to have a strong faith, one that leads us in prayer. You wanna walk with God, you wanna feel his love and his power...you will find that love and power in prayer.
If you look at 1 Samuel 2:1-10, you will see Hannah's Song or Prayer. This is her prayer of triumph, God has turned her lemons into lemonade and she praises him for that. What a truly powerful prayer. There are similarities and parallels in Mary's Song (Luke 1:46-55) and David's Prayer (2 Samuel 22).
I started a new adult Bible Study this week, and when I sat down to choose the focus I found 1 Samuel. Now I will be honest, I didn't take the time to pray, to ask God where he was leading this group. But even in my weakest moments God is stronger, and already he has opened my eyes to this. What do you think of when I say 1 Samuel? Do you think...boring?...more history?...it probably wont interest me? I have to tell you, 1 Samuel is packed with everyday wisdom for you and me.
In the opening chapter of 1 Samuel we get a glimpse of a woman, Hannah. The story opens with the introduction of Elkanah, and he has two wives, Peninnah and Hannah. Now what just a minute, a man of God having two wives? (Because Israel did not have an earthly king to enforce the law, it is thought that the the people of Israel did what was pleasing in their own eyes. In a sense they turned their backs on God's law to get what they wanted. Kind of sounds like the world we live in today.) Anyway, here we have two wives, one has many children (Peninnah) and the other has none (Hannah). Not to step on any toes here, but the social and economic status of a woman in these days heavily rested on the production of children. If you were a woman who could not have children you were of little use, "be fruitful and multiply" Genesis 1:28. Now if that is not hard enough, imagine being only one of two wives and the "other" wife has produced many children. And to make it even worse Peninnah takes every chance she can to lord over Hannah the fact that she had no children of her own. Stop right there!
At this point in the story, if I were Hannah, I would be mad...oh I would be irate. I would probably want a meeting with God, I would want answers. Why am I barren? Why have you put this on me? What did I do to deserve this? You see what is happening here, I am placing the blame on God, I am taking my insecurities and turning them into fire to throw at God. I see this happening a lot today, I see misplaced trust or misguided faith. As if to say that God owes me something, that his will better be to make my life easier. But Hannah does not respond like me, she doesn't cry out with anger and demand. Hannah lives in this passage by faith, and though it doesn't say those words, we see it in her actions. What does Hannah do when she feels beaten down, when life gave her lemons? Hannah goes to God in prayer, she goes to the temple to speak to God (1:10). She pleads with the Lord. Hannah is pouring out her soul to the Lord, she is praying.
Do you see what she is doing here? Hannah is allowing God to carry her burdens, she is relying on God, her faith is in God. Lord, I can't carry this load alone, please help me. She could have turned her back on Elkanah and on Peninnah and walked away, she could have said I don't need this crap anymore. I'm done! And to top it off the high priest sees Hannah praying, he sees her lips moving but no words and thinks she is drunk! Hannah is deeply hurting, unloading this hurt onto God and she is taken for a drunken woman. (Boy, I would be furious, you're gonna interrupt me?) But Hannah does not get angry, she turns and explains to Eli her actions, her reason for prayer. Hannah walks out of the temple that day with her head held high and a smile on her face...she was happy.
I look at her story and the events that follow and think about a God who understands. I look at Hannah and wonder if I could live the way she does, if I could walk with God through the hardships she dealt with daily. Hannah had a strong faith that led her to God in prayer in those moments of weakness, anxiety, and vexation. Prayer is our open line, our connection to a Father who loves to hear from us, who wants to hear our hurts and our triumphs. We often go to God when we need something, when we are hurting...but we often forget to go back when we triumph, when he takes our lemons are turns them into lemonade. God wants to hear the good and the bad, he wants us to have a strong faith, one that leads us in prayer. You wanna walk with God, you wanna feel his love and his power...you will find that love and power in prayer.
If you look at 1 Samuel 2:1-10, you will see Hannah's Song or Prayer. This is her prayer of triumph, God has turned her lemons into lemonade and she praises him for that. What a truly powerful prayer. There are similarities and parallels in Mary's Song (Luke 1:46-55) and David's Prayer (2 Samuel 22).
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
...legacy
What is legacy?
Well this past February at our annual high school Mid Winter gathering we tackled this very topic. Webster tells me that a legacy is...Something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past.
So a legacy has a two fold meaning you might say, or I might just say that... A legacy is something passed down to me, and at the same time I am passing something on as well. As I see it the legacy never ends, whether its being passed to me or i am passing...the legacy is on going.
Now the logo I created above was my visual interpretation of legacy. You will see the graffiti, now why might graffiti represent legacy? Graffiti was and still is used to mark ones territory or to leave ones mark, to leave a legacy...now graffiti is also a very intricate and personal form of expression. Graffiti is not always destructive, but in the end it tells a story, it captures a moment, it is the legacy. You will also see wings, a crown, and a Bible verse...no there is not a Ephesians chapter 512, its 5:1-2. In this passage we given a glimpse of a legacy that was passed down through the generations, its simple. Follow the example set by Christ, as loved children, and walk with love, just as Christ loved you and sacrificed himself to pay your debt to the Father...because you could not do it yourself. Now I said simple, I mean simple to understand...I do not mean it is simple to live. These images are of God, they are our reminder that bigger things are in play in this world. Christ our King, the angels who protect and watch over us, and the rays of light that must shine forth into the darkness of this world.
We can read many passages in the Bible where Christ passes on his legacy, where he imparts wisdom on his people. He has called us to be imitators, to walk in his likeness, to love in the way he first loved us. This is our legacy as Christians or as followers of Christ. It does not matter if you are Lutheran or Baptist or Methodist or Catholic or Presbyterian...what matters is that we imitate the love that Christ showed for us on that cross. On that cross where, "sorrow and love flow mingled down" where "love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all." (Watts, Isaac; When I Survey the Wondrous Cross) Think about those words for a moment...is that not powerful? Does that not urge you to look to the cross, to see a man who's love for you outweighed the pain of that cross...it demands your all!
Now we see that Christ himself left a legacy, Christ Jesus gave himself up to be the final all availing sacrifice to God the Father...he paid a debt for you and for me, he hung in our place on that cross.
Now what will you do?
What will I do?
What will our legacy be?
What will we be known for?
Will we be remembered for our house, our cars, for our collections, for our money, for our looks...or will we be remembered as ones who loved God, loved our neighbor, lived a life of love. What will your legacy be? God did not give each of us an expiration date, we do not know what day will be our day. We have not been guaranteed 80 years or 90 years, so your legacy begins now, as you read this what will you do? How will you live the legacy that has been left to you, and how will you live what will be passed on to future generations?
It starts NOW!
Monday, April 5, 2010
...role model?
As you may know, this Thursday the the 74th Masters Golf Tournament gets underway at Augusta National. The buzz in the golf world is that Tiger Woods will make his return to the game, the game he left because of his actions off the course. You may have watched as he tearfully apologized to his family, friends, fans and his sponsors.
The hype was big as it usually is with professional athletes, everyone had an opinion, everyone had a diagnosis, everyone took their opportunity to judge Tiger Woods. I guess it feels good to look at someone else, especially someone who is famous and point out their flaws; as if to say because you are famous you must be perfect and now you owe me something for your actions. (this may not have been your experience; but this is what i noticed happening on every news network, every sports channel, etc...)
When I watched the first news conference live, when Tiger first spoke to the media after his accident and personal problems were first revealed. I was amazed at the commentary after that news conference; actually i think i was more frustrated than amazed. Here we have Tiger Woods: amazing athlete, perfect swing, fan favorite, supermodel wife...oh and human, father, husband, son...did I say human? Here is the point; Tiger Woods doesn't owe me anything: not an apology; not an excuse; he doesn't even owe me an explanation. I am a huge Tiger Woods fan, and to tell you the truth I am happy that he looks to his faith to get centered again, but I really wish he had been impacted by a Christian during this time. And maybe he was, but my suspicion is that most Christians were looking for the apology, they were mad, they were disappointed.
I find it difficult to understand how an individual can place so much trust in another person that they don't know personally. To look at Tiger Woods as their role model, that they will look to Tiger to figure out how to live their lives. Now if this were the case, and I assume it was for many Americans, I can understand why they may be hurt, why they may want an apology. But that doesn't mean Tiger owes them anything...
The point...Tiger Woods is human, just like me. He may be the greatest athlete to ever play the game of golf. But in the end, when the cameras are gone, when golf is no more...Tiger will die. He is not a god, he will not live forever, he is not supernatural, he is not perfect, he does not grant 3 wishes. Professional Athletes and those who are famous might sometimes become idols (not American Idols) for people, I mean idols that are looked to as gods. As if faith and trust are placed on those individuals. And when this happens we will be let down, we will be hurt, we will expect an apology 99% of the time.
Imagine if you told your wife or your mom you would be home at 6 and you got home at 11. You didn't call and you didn't check in. Imagine waking up for work or school and your neighbors, friends and individuals from your community were standing in your yard with cameras and video and they wanted to know why you didn't call your wife or your mom, why you didn't come home at 6. They follow your wife or your mom around and they track your kids or your friends down at school to find out why you didn't come home at 6. Your response, probably similar to mine, its none of your business. Now why is Tiger's business mine? I understand why his sponsors know his business...he represents them. But Tiger does not represent me, and I hope he doesn't represent you.
At what point do we place faith and trust in something that does not let us down? At what point do we stop pointing fingers? At what point do we actually have compassion? At what point do we allow forgiveness? What was you reaction to Tiger? Where do you place your faith and trust? Jesus Christ. This man will not let you down, his forgiveness is now and eternal.
(What Tiger did was wrong, but I don't think its my job to tell him he was wrong, I don't think its his responsibility to apologize to me, and forgiveness and life eternal were won for Tiger Woods too. Now...will he ever know this wonderful life changing truth?)
The hype was big as it usually is with professional athletes, everyone had an opinion, everyone had a diagnosis, everyone took their opportunity to judge Tiger Woods. I guess it feels good to look at someone else, especially someone who is famous and point out their flaws; as if to say because you are famous you must be perfect and now you owe me something for your actions. (this may not have been your experience; but this is what i noticed happening on every news network, every sports channel, etc...)
When I watched the first news conference live, when Tiger first spoke to the media after his accident and personal problems were first revealed. I was amazed at the commentary after that news conference; actually i think i was more frustrated than amazed. Here we have Tiger Woods: amazing athlete, perfect swing, fan favorite, supermodel wife...oh and human, father, husband, son...did I say human? Here is the point; Tiger Woods doesn't owe me anything: not an apology; not an excuse; he doesn't even owe me an explanation. I am a huge Tiger Woods fan, and to tell you the truth I am happy that he looks to his faith to get centered again, but I really wish he had been impacted by a Christian during this time. And maybe he was, but my suspicion is that most Christians were looking for the apology, they were mad, they were disappointed.
I find it difficult to understand how an individual can place so much trust in another person that they don't know personally. To look at Tiger Woods as their role model, that they will look to Tiger to figure out how to live their lives. Now if this were the case, and I assume it was for many Americans, I can understand why they may be hurt, why they may want an apology. But that doesn't mean Tiger owes them anything...
The point...Tiger Woods is human, just like me. He may be the greatest athlete to ever play the game of golf. But in the end, when the cameras are gone, when golf is no more...Tiger will die. He is not a god, he will not live forever, he is not supernatural, he is not perfect, he does not grant 3 wishes. Professional Athletes and those who are famous might sometimes become idols (not American Idols) for people, I mean idols that are looked to as gods. As if faith and trust are placed on those individuals. And when this happens we will be let down, we will be hurt, we will expect an apology 99% of the time.
Imagine if you told your wife or your mom you would be home at 6 and you got home at 11. You didn't call and you didn't check in. Imagine waking up for work or school and your neighbors, friends and individuals from your community were standing in your yard with cameras and video and they wanted to know why you didn't call your wife or your mom, why you didn't come home at 6. They follow your wife or your mom around and they track your kids or your friends down at school to find out why you didn't come home at 6. Your response, probably similar to mine, its none of your business. Now why is Tiger's business mine? I understand why his sponsors know his business...he represents them. But Tiger does not represent me, and I hope he doesn't represent you.
At what point do we place faith and trust in something that does not let us down? At what point do we stop pointing fingers? At what point do we actually have compassion? At what point do we allow forgiveness? What was you reaction to Tiger? Where do you place your faith and trust? Jesus Christ. This man will not let you down, his forgiveness is now and eternal.
(What Tiger did was wrong, but I don't think its my job to tell him he was wrong, I don't think its his responsibility to apologize to me, and forgiveness and life eternal were won for Tiger Woods too. Now...will he ever know this wonderful life changing truth?)
Sunday, April 4, 2010
...he is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Happy Easter! Its simple, and as our Vicar told us this morning in worship. Our Savior either rose from the dead or he didn't, its either true or its false, there is no middle ground, there is no riding the fence. Its not true for me and false for you, its not relative, its not an opinion. 2+2=4 now this is either true or its false. This example does not allow for opinion, its true or its false. We live in a world that chooses what is true and what is false, everyone is given the right to choose their own truths, we must be politically correct, we must not step on toes, we must honor and respect, we must, we must...
Jesus Christ did rise from the dead, that is a true statement, it is written in the books of history. I don't get to pick my Jesus, I don't get to pick my commandments...that is not how God works. Jesus Christ did indeed rise from the dead, he was seen by numerous witnesses and because of his life, death and resurrection I have been redeemed! He has defeated death and won us eternal life! He has restored us to God's original plan, to live forever with God. Alleluia!!!
Now, what will you do with the truth? Do you hide it away? Do you push it away? Do you embrace it? Do you guard it? Do you share it? Do you acknowledge it? Do you dissect it? Do you accept it? What will you do with the best news this world has ever heard?
Has Easter affected you? Or have you put away Easter until next year? Does Easter live on in your daily life? Will you allow Jesus Christ to saturate your very being, will you allow him to transform you, to use you to transform others? Did you go to church this morning because that is the one day of the year that you feel you need to be there? Did you go because its church, and that is what you should do? OR Where you in worship, praising God for his love, for his pardon, for his blessings, for his son, for his restoration, for his sacrifice, for his dedication to a miserable sinner...
Jesus Christ has risen today...Alleluia!!!
Jesus Christ did rise from the dead, that is a true statement, it is written in the books of history. I don't get to pick my Jesus, I don't get to pick my commandments...that is not how God works. Jesus Christ did indeed rise from the dead, he was seen by numerous witnesses and because of his life, death and resurrection I have been redeemed! He has defeated death and won us eternal life! He has restored us to God's original plan, to live forever with God. Alleluia!!!
Now, what will you do with the truth? Do you hide it away? Do you push it away? Do you embrace it? Do you guard it? Do you share it? Do you acknowledge it? Do you dissect it? Do you accept it? What will you do with the best news this world has ever heard?
Has Easter affected you? Or have you put away Easter until next year? Does Easter live on in your daily life? Will you allow Jesus Christ to saturate your very being, will you allow him to transform you, to use you to transform others? Did you go to church this morning because that is the one day of the year that you feel you need to be there? Did you go because its church, and that is what you should do? OR Where you in worship, praising God for his love, for his pardon, for his blessings, for his son, for his restoration, for his sacrifice, for his dedication to a miserable sinner...
Jesus Christ has risen today...Alleluia!!!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
...holy thursday
Well Holy Thursday is upon us and what a blessing it was this morning to be part of the Stations of the Cross at Belvoir Christian Academy. We had Pre-K through 8th grade and they were able to experience some of the moments that our Lord endured on his way to that bitter cross. Its such a blessing to be able to share these important moments with our students at BCA. I feel honored that I was able to join Chris, Mark, Gil, Scott, Jon, Jake, and Barry in presenting these precious acts that ultimately led to forgiveness and eternal life.
Now I am preparing to help led the Seder Meal tonight, again I look forward to sharing this experience with everyone in attendance. To be able to take part in what was the disciples last meal with their teacher.
I know that these next few days are supposed to be solemn; before the victory is proclaimed on Easter morning with Christ's resurrection. I just find it difficult to not be overwhelmed by the sheer weight of these 4 days, and their impact on my life. I find it hard not to look ahead to Easter morning when the angel informs me that he is not here, for he has risen!
Now I am preparing to help led the Seder Meal tonight, again I look forward to sharing this experience with everyone in attendance. To be able to take part in what was the disciples last meal with their teacher.
I know that these next few days are supposed to be solemn; before the victory is proclaimed on Easter morning with Christ's resurrection. I just find it difficult to not be overwhelmed by the sheer weight of these 4 days, and their impact on my life. I find it hard not to look ahead to Easter morning when the angel informs me that he is not here, for he has risen!
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