A discipline of the preacher is cultivating awareness of God’s presence and movement. The movement itself needs no special casting. It stands alone. By itself it is powerful enough to forever transform a life. All the preacher need do is point to it and by itself it delivers the hope and the promise.
We then shepherd the people of God toward the light of the place where God is moving. When the cloud settles, we settle. When the cloud lifts, we pick up and move.
One of the reasons our evangelism has become doctrinal is because we can’t completely (or even partially) understand what it means to have a “relationship” with God. So we point to “truths” in scripture and ask people to come into agreement with those truths thinking that at least if they do that they will begin the journey of relationship. “Truths” are easier for us to grab hold of. We can walk people through an understanding of a series of logical truths that interrelate with each other and form thematic structures.
But a relationship. That’s the harder work – mostly because we can only point the way. To invite someone into a relationship with God is to be a third-party broker. The person being invited is required to say yes and then do the difficult work of surrendering to the will and the purposes of God. I can’t do that work for them. The most I can do is offer wise counsel about the “benefit” of the relationship or how it “feels right” or “gives meaning.” But even those things ring hollow. It isn’t until you’ve been called and answer “yes” to that call that you have any notion of what that “yes” actually means or entails.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
From Olympics to Politics...
It seems like we've gone from one big television event to the next - from the Olympics to the National Convention of the Democratic Party. The Olympics were amazing this year. Who will ever forget watching the men's 400m freestyle relay as Jason Lezak caught up from behind to beat the French by a "fingernail" of a second! Susan and I tried to be near the TV every time Michael Phellps raced and cheered on in front of the TV when he won his 8th gold medal in the 100m medley relay!
We've also been watching parts of the DNC convention this week. And the one thing that strikes us and that we've been talking about is how while there is great pageantry and commentary about the presidential race this year, the rhetoric is not anything we haven't heard in some form or fashion before. Not that we're discouraged. It's not that at all. Perhaps it's a recognition that the power to change the quality of my life doesn't lie with legislation or bureaucratic change. It's the recognition, instead, that transformation MUST occur first in the heart of the individual believer completely surrenderd to the purposes of God. And that's true no matter what political leader or party is in "power." Truth be known, the time of the greatest advance of the kingdom of God was under a government militarily and ideologically opposed to Christianity - the government of Rome!
It's time for believers to take seriously the power they've been given by God to win the hearts of people and instill real hope in God's presence and provision. We begin the conquest first in our own hearts, allowing God to "burn off" desires and motivations that don''t originate in Him. We follow by telling others of the amazing love and grace we've discovered in surrender to Jesus. And God hasn't left us powerless in that surrender. Rather, God in his awesome wisdom has gifted his people to speak life, heal the sick, minister to suffering, restore to wholeness, engage the powers and principalities, and bring heaven down to earth!
That is VERY exciting to me as we enter the Fall together. That is a "campaign" I can rally behind and believe in. Will you join me in campaigning for the kingdom?
We've also been watching parts of the DNC convention this week. And the one thing that strikes us and that we've been talking about is how while there is great pageantry and commentary about the presidential race this year, the rhetoric is not anything we haven't heard in some form or fashion before. Not that we're discouraged. It's not that at all. Perhaps it's a recognition that the power to change the quality of my life doesn't lie with legislation or bureaucratic change. It's the recognition, instead, that transformation MUST occur first in the heart of the individual believer completely surrenderd to the purposes of God. And that's true no matter what political leader or party is in "power." Truth be known, the time of the greatest advance of the kingdom of God was under a government militarily and ideologically opposed to Christianity - the government of Rome!
It's time for believers to take seriously the power they've been given by God to win the hearts of people and instill real hope in God's presence and provision. We begin the conquest first in our own hearts, allowing God to "burn off" desires and motivations that don''t originate in Him. We follow by telling others of the amazing love and grace we've discovered in surrender to Jesus. And God hasn't left us powerless in that surrender. Rather, God in his awesome wisdom has gifted his people to speak life, heal the sick, minister to suffering, restore to wholeness, engage the powers and principalities, and bring heaven down to earth!
That is VERY exciting to me as we enter the Fall together. That is a "campaign" I can rally behind and believe in. Will you join me in campaigning for the kingdom?
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Back from Vacation - some meditations
Today I officiated the funeral of Richard Jerman - a lifelong member of First Christian Church, Alamo. The Jermans were part of the group that founded the church in the 1840’s and have been members and leaders and servants at the church for the last 165 years. I loved the solemnity of the service – the reverence shown in the face of an important transition for a family and for a church.
Susan and I arrived back in Jackson from our vacation yesterday at 9:30pm after twelve hours of driving. Most of the time, for me, was spent having pain from what one practitioner said was Gout. Isn't that an ailment of older people? They said that it could be brought on by eating lots of certain kinds of seafood - oysters, crawfish, crabs, scallops - which I ate by the bucketful on Tuesday night!
It's awesome to be home. Vacations are good opportunities to get away and re-wire and be with family you don't see but once or twice a year. But being in one's home, around one's friends, and near one's church family is very refreshing.
Susan and I are looking forward to this Fall in ministry. I'm going to start preaching two different sermons on Sunday mornings at the different churches. FCC and Promise Church are different ministry contexts and have some different needs right now. Both churches are poised for "mission greatness" - ready to take their communities by storm offering the unique mixes of ministry gifts that exist inside of their communities. For us, it's exciting to serve two very different ministries. Each allows us to exercise our talents and spiritual gifts in different ways and together fully. It's challenging, but we enjoy the variety of people God has put in our lives.
I'm also excited about our Thursday Night Intercession! service. There is a place in God's kingdom for expressive worship. A mentor of mine - an older Disciples of Christ minister - once said that worship and theatre go hand in hand. If you've ever been to a Broadway play you know what I'm talking about. There is a place for "audience participation" and expression as we move worship beyond the dualistic performer-audience model to the increasingly organic and networked "we are all worshippers in the Spirit." Some have labeled this worship style as "charismatic." Honestly, I don't like that label at all because it suggests that other forms of worship aren't filled with the Spirit's gifts. And that's simply mistaken. I prefer "expressive."
Expressive Worship isn't new. The Greek Orthodox church which is conservative in worship if measured by liturgy and ceremony stands on their feet for hours, chanting, praying, lifting hands, breathing in the aromas of incense and seeking desperately in their physical surrender to the things of God a powerful experience and move of the Spirit of God. I'm conservative in my basic nature. And yet there is something deep inside of me that needs to be able to viscerally express a "YES!" to the love and mercy of God. Sitting in a pew on Sunday morning quietly observing others practice "religion" just doesn't do it for me anymore if that is my only option. There's a place in God's church for noise and motion and expression. And yes, there's a powerful place for solid "liturgy," powerful and meaningful ritual, and moments of deep quiet - listening as it were for the movement of God as He walks in the still of the afternoon of the garden (Gen. 3:8).
I suppose what resolves the tension is simply the Spirit of the Lord. The Spirit is with us when we are lonely, when we are tired, when we are hurting, when we are experiencing loss. But the Spirit is also with us when we are excited, passionate, compassionate, cheerful, and filled with deep joy and hope. There's no expectation that in every emotional state we experience our demeanor will remain quiescent. Instead, if we truly believe that the Spirit lives inside of us, it is appropriate that we speak to that Spirit out of whatever fear or joy we may be experiencing. Our voices may tremble with trepidation, our voices may shout with gladness. But however we speak, we speak as a transparent self before a God who is willing to meet us exactly where we are - not where we think we are supposed to be. Maybe that's what Jesus means when he says that we are to worship in "Spirit" and in "Truth."
Susan and I arrived back in Jackson from our vacation yesterday at 9:30pm after twelve hours of driving. Most of the time, for me, was spent having pain from what one practitioner said was Gout. Isn't that an ailment of older people? They said that it could be brought on by eating lots of certain kinds of seafood - oysters, crawfish, crabs, scallops - which I ate by the bucketful on Tuesday night!
It's awesome to be home. Vacations are good opportunities to get away and re-wire and be with family you don't see but once or twice a year. But being in one's home, around one's friends, and near one's church family is very refreshing.
Susan and I are looking forward to this Fall in ministry. I'm going to start preaching two different sermons on Sunday mornings at the different churches. FCC and Promise Church are different ministry contexts and have some different needs right now. Both churches are poised for "mission greatness" - ready to take their communities by storm offering the unique mixes of ministry gifts that exist inside of their communities. For us, it's exciting to serve two very different ministries. Each allows us to exercise our talents and spiritual gifts in different ways and together fully. It's challenging, but we enjoy the variety of people God has put in our lives.
I'm also excited about our Thursday Night Intercession! service. There is a place in God's kingdom for expressive worship. A mentor of mine - an older Disciples of Christ minister - once said that worship and theatre go hand in hand. If you've ever been to a Broadway play you know what I'm talking about. There is a place for "audience participation" and expression as we move worship beyond the dualistic performer-audience model to the increasingly organic and networked "we are all worshippers in the Spirit." Some have labeled this worship style as "charismatic." Honestly, I don't like that label at all because it suggests that other forms of worship aren't filled with the Spirit's gifts. And that's simply mistaken. I prefer "expressive."
Expressive Worship isn't new. The Greek Orthodox church which is conservative in worship if measured by liturgy and ceremony stands on their feet for hours, chanting, praying, lifting hands, breathing in the aromas of incense and seeking desperately in their physical surrender to the things of God a powerful experience and move of the Spirit of God. I'm conservative in my basic nature. And yet there is something deep inside of me that needs to be able to viscerally express a "YES!" to the love and mercy of God. Sitting in a pew on Sunday morning quietly observing others practice "religion" just doesn't do it for me anymore if that is my only option. There's a place in God's church for noise and motion and expression. And yes, there's a powerful place for solid "liturgy," powerful and meaningful ritual, and moments of deep quiet - listening as it were for the movement of God as He walks in the still of the afternoon of the garden (Gen. 3:8).
I suppose what resolves the tension is simply the Spirit of the Lord. The Spirit is with us when we are lonely, when we are tired, when we are hurting, when we are experiencing loss. But the Spirit is also with us when we are excited, passionate, compassionate, cheerful, and filled with deep joy and hope. There's no expectation that in every emotional state we experience our demeanor will remain quiescent. Instead, if we truly believe that the Spirit lives inside of us, it is appropriate that we speak to that Spirit out of whatever fear or joy we may be experiencing. Our voices may tremble with trepidation, our voices may shout with gladness. But however we speak, we speak as a transparent self before a God who is willing to meet us exactly where we are - not where we think we are supposed to be. Maybe that's what Jesus means when he says that we are to worship in "Spirit" and in "Truth."
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Vacationing with Susan's Family in Hilton Head, SC
This week Susan and I are spending our last week of vacation with Susan's family in South Carolina before Will goes back to school. Will is out riding his bike with Susan's mom, Neeley is playing on the floor with her three year old cousin Ellie - and Susan and I are secretly wishing that one of her sisters can babysit while we get away for a nice lunch alone!
We so undersestimate the importance of breaking our routines if even for a week and realizing that our daily patterns of living are not life itself. We are not the sum of our jobs or even our relationships. And it takes getting away from what we're used to to realize that who and what we are is understood in relation to God's purpose and provision for our lives.
What does that mean for us? It means that we can build in regular times of departure from the norm to reconnect with God. This happens in daily prayer and scripture reading. It happens when we take a Saturday and spend it fasting or in prayer. It happens when we pick up a good religious book and allow ourselves to be challenged in the way we understand our own ministry and gifts! (I suggest Bill Johnson's, "When Heaven and Earth Meet"!)
So break a pattern, interrupt a routine, or skip a groove. Whatever it takes to place you right in the middle of God's presence where you can hear his voice!
Pictures from our Trip to Hilton Head, SC (with Susan's Family)
We so undersestimate the importance of breaking our routines if even for a week and realizing that our daily patterns of living are not life itself. We are not the sum of our jobs or even our relationships. And it takes getting away from what we're used to to realize that who and what we are is understood in relation to God's purpose and provision for our lives.
What does that mean for us? It means that we can build in regular times of departure from the norm to reconnect with God. This happens in daily prayer and scripture reading. It happens when we take a Saturday and spend it fasting or in prayer. It happens when we pick up a good religious book and allow ourselves to be challenged in the way we understand our own ministry and gifts! (I suggest Bill Johnson's, "When Heaven and Earth Meet"!)
So break a pattern, interrupt a routine, or skip a groove. Whatever it takes to place you right in the middle of God's presence where you can hear his voice!
Pictures from our Trip to Hilton Head, SC (with Susan's Family)
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Take My Yoke
Mt 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
If this is true then I haven’t yet found the easy yoke. What keeps me from fully following the teachings of Jesus? Interesting that the first thought that comes to mind is embarrassment. Embarrassment that all of those years I’ve been wrong and have to admit to others that my forcefulness (my Will to Power?) was just a front for insecurity or worse than that it was simply done in ignorance – a cardinal sin for someone whose intellectual satisfaction derives from being perceived by others as living intentionally.
How weary am I? Obviously not so much that I don’t continue striving by my own power to achieve things that don’t really matter to God. When I get to that point, Jesus says “Come.” When I’ve exhausted all of my faculties to the point that I’m ready to trust in God’s provision, then I’m ready to respond to the invitation given to those who are “weary and heavy burdened.” But not until I’m ready to hand over my burden.
The ease with which one hands over their heavy burden is a direct result of having exhausted oneself. It seems hard now, of course, because I’m still holding on to my burden, convinced that I can still carry it alone. Not to worry, though. I will exhaust myself carrying around all of this baggage. And when I do, in faith, Jesus invites me to come to him.
He invites me to come to him to do what? To give up my burden? To share my burden? To have someone else carry my burden? No. He invites me to come to take on another load, another “yoke” as it were. To someone already carrying a load this is heard as utter nonsense. How can I possibly carry more than I already am? And it’s a good question.
The answer to that question is again found in Jesus’s invitation to take on HIS yoke. This is another of Jesus’s paradoxes. Trade off my yoke for his yoke which is no yoke at all and yet is the most difficult yoke of all to bear. That’s the paradox. Difficult because I’ll never bear his yoke as long as I’m stubbornly intent on carrying my own.
Rob Bell has descibed in the Nooma Video Series that a rabbi’s yoke was their teaching. So to take on a yoke was to take on their teaching. But Jesus’s yoke wasn’t so much a compendium of teachings as is was a entirely different way of life. Something about Jesus’s yoke – about his teaching – has something to do with being humble and gentle in heart.
It’s interesting as I carry MY yoke how prideful I am about it even though I despise the very thing I carry. This is MY yoke – MY burden. My identity has become so caught up in my own pain and suffering that I can’t see past it to another identity that carries with it the promise of Life and Freedom. It’s the old adage that it’s better to trust the demon you know than the demon you don’t. At least that’s the calculation that occurs in my spirit when I’m finally reaching the point of exhaustion, finally at the point of giving up my yoke and taking on the yoke of freedom in Jesus.
Because when I do, I just might find rest through a new-found humility and gentleness. And my life of striving through which I have so completely identified myself for all of these years might just come to the end. My yoke would be lifted. Still, even in the face of absolute REST, my fear kicks in – that in that rest I might not recognize myself. What I have longed for – freedom from the burden I’ve been carrying – is the place where I must cross the wilderness in faith. It is the point of crisis and the point of decision. It is the point of exhaustion. It is where I say in fear and trembling and tears “No More!” and in submission and humility cry out “Yes” to the invitation of Jesus to “come.”
If this is true then I haven’t yet found the easy yoke. What keeps me from fully following the teachings of Jesus? Interesting that the first thought that comes to mind is embarrassment. Embarrassment that all of those years I’ve been wrong and have to admit to others that my forcefulness (my Will to Power?) was just a front for insecurity or worse than that it was simply done in ignorance – a cardinal sin for someone whose intellectual satisfaction derives from being perceived by others as living intentionally.
How weary am I? Obviously not so much that I don’t continue striving by my own power to achieve things that don’t really matter to God. When I get to that point, Jesus says “Come.” When I’ve exhausted all of my faculties to the point that I’m ready to trust in God’s provision, then I’m ready to respond to the invitation given to those who are “weary and heavy burdened.” But not until I’m ready to hand over my burden.
The ease with which one hands over their heavy burden is a direct result of having exhausted oneself. It seems hard now, of course, because I’m still holding on to my burden, convinced that I can still carry it alone. Not to worry, though. I will exhaust myself carrying around all of this baggage. And when I do, in faith, Jesus invites me to come to him.
He invites me to come to him to do what? To give up my burden? To share my burden? To have someone else carry my burden? No. He invites me to come to take on another load, another “yoke” as it were. To someone already carrying a load this is heard as utter nonsense. How can I possibly carry more than I already am? And it’s a good question.
The answer to that question is again found in Jesus’s invitation to take on HIS yoke. This is another of Jesus’s paradoxes. Trade off my yoke for his yoke which is no yoke at all and yet is the most difficult yoke of all to bear. That’s the paradox. Difficult because I’ll never bear his yoke as long as I’m stubbornly intent on carrying my own.
Rob Bell has descibed in the Nooma Video Series that a rabbi’s yoke was their teaching. So to take on a yoke was to take on their teaching. But Jesus’s yoke wasn’t so much a compendium of teachings as is was a entirely different way of life. Something about Jesus’s yoke – about his teaching – has something to do with being humble and gentle in heart.
It’s interesting as I carry MY yoke how prideful I am about it even though I despise the very thing I carry. This is MY yoke – MY burden. My identity has become so caught up in my own pain and suffering that I can’t see past it to another identity that carries with it the promise of Life and Freedom. It’s the old adage that it’s better to trust the demon you know than the demon you don’t. At least that’s the calculation that occurs in my spirit when I’m finally reaching the point of exhaustion, finally at the point of giving up my yoke and taking on the yoke of freedom in Jesus.
Because when I do, I just might find rest through a new-found humility and gentleness. And my life of striving through which I have so completely identified myself for all of these years might just come to the end. My yoke would be lifted. Still, even in the face of absolute REST, my fear kicks in – that in that rest I might not recognize myself. What I have longed for – freedom from the burden I’ve been carrying – is the place where I must cross the wilderness in faith. It is the point of crisis and the point of decision. It is the point of exhaustion. It is where I say in fear and trembling and tears “No More!” and in submission and humility cry out “Yes” to the invitation of Jesus to “come.”
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