"But, God!"

Last night, after a delicious meal, around a campfire on a beautiful evening, I asked the youth, “Tell of a time when you came very close to death.” There followed many stories; childhood illnesses, accidents, allergic reactions, near misses, and other scary moments. We were thankful for being alive!

Ephesians 2:1-3 emphasizes how we “used to live” in transgressions and sins according to the cravings of our flesh (sinful nature). We named specific “transgressions and sins.”  We discussed that when we continue to live in that way, (sometimes unconsciously, sometimes willfully) it desensitizes us to that little “Jiminy Cricket” voice of conscious in our brain, and we continue living without hope under the influence of evil present in this world, v 2.

But, God…

Then we read the amazing hope in verses 4-5! 

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”

Grace! Described by one young person as “Undeserved forgiveness.” Absolutely correct! The word grace shouts out from verses 4-10! In God’s love and mercy, which contrasts the wrath that we deserved, he decided to rescue his wayward children!

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

The Holy Spirit recreates our inner being—we “used to be dead” but God “made us alive with Christ.”

Resurrection! Recreation! Restoration!

I then challenged everyone to think about who they have in their lives who holds them accountable for staying on track; choosing to continue living as followers of Jesus and not slipping back into behaviors that are based on the sinful nature, not the God-nature grace-fully given to us. Who speaks truth into your life? And to whom can you speak truth, helping another person follow Jesus faithfully?

We need each other. We need to speak grace-filled words of accountability and hope to each other. Life is too hard to go it alone. We need to pray for each other, and pray for our church and our pastors.  

And we did just that, around a campfire on a beautiful evening.

God loves you! I love you!

Grace and peace.

Ephesians 2:1-3 "Used to would"

According to Jeff Foxworthy’s Redneck Dictionary, the phrase “used to could” means something you were once able to do but no longer can. For me it would be, “I can’t do a cartwheel anymore, but I used to could.”

The word could is used to indicate ability or permission in the past; “I could run faster then.”
The word would is used to express desire or intent, or to express repeated or habitual action in the past. “I would run faster now….if I could.”

In Ephesians 2:1-3 Paul told the believers how they “used to would” live.

Humanity was created to be in intimate relationship with God. Sin destroyed that shalom, and humanity was separated from God and from shalom. This is the human condition - dead, living in “transgressions and sins” v 1 (two words that together have the same emphasis). In this human condition all people are dominated by:
     -the “ways of the world” v 2
     -the “ruler of the kingdom of the air” v 2
     -and the “cravings of the flesh” v 3

All three realities work to lure us away from God and hope in Jesus Christ.

The Greek word in v 3 for flesh is “sarx.” It shows up as a prefix in medical terminology for certain conditions; sarc-oma is a flesh (sarc) tumor (oma). New Testament writers used “sarx” in reference to our physical body and all its cravings, longings, urges, and desires. Some of which are good.

But Paul’s talking about YOLO.

Well, maybe the ancient people didn’t have that acronym, but they sure understood “If it feels good, do it.” Many taught that the body and soul are separate so how one lives doesn’t matter because it has no effect on the soul. But Paul taught that we are whole beings, mind-body-soul-connected, and our fleshly cravings do indeed have spiritual implications.

“We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Ephesians 2:3 The Message

We need to understand the truth we are in a hopeless condition before we can grasp the truth of the hope that Jesus Christ offers! We'll learn about that next week!

In the meantime, ask the Holy Spirit to help YOLFJ.

Got that?

You Only Live For Jesus

In Christ

This post concludes my reflections on Ephesians chapter 1. In this first chapter Paul wrote about the marvelous benefits of belonging to the Body of Christ. It contains an important phrase—“in Christ” – which is used 14 times in one fashion or another.

NRSV

in Christ v 1, 3, 10, 12, 20

in Him v 4

in the Beloved One v 6

in Whom v 7, 11, 13 (2x)

in Him v 9, 10

in the Lord Jesus v 15

In the Greek these phrases are written in the “locative case” which means that it indicates a location. We do not see that emphasis in English. This emphasizes that the blessings we receive come through Christ and that these blessings are located IN Christ—who is himself IN us through His Spirit. Understanding that gives deeper meaning to the phrase “Body of Christ.” We are members of Christ’s Body, as individuals, and as a community; we become One, IN and THROUGH Christ.

Paul wrote about the blessings we receive from the Father through and in Christ v3:

v 4 He chose us

v5 He decided that “in Christ” his children would be “conformed to Christ’s image” 

v6 His grace determined that we receive and live in love

v7 He gives redemption and forgiveness from sins, wisdom and lavish grace

v11-13a We are chosen and when we hear and believe we receive the Holy Spirit

v13b-14 The Spirit-filled life is a foretaste of heaven! Christ who is with the Father in heaven is also present in us through His Spirit!

v16-2 The Spirit of wisdom and revelation helps us know Christ better and teaches us to know hope; the riches of inheritance and incomparably great power that is “in Christ.”

V 22-23 All of these promises and blessings are locked up in the Person of Jesus Christ and can’t be found anywhere else.

Paul prays that the believers will KNOW, UNDERSTAND, and LIVE IN and THROUGH THAT POWER that is IN CHRIST IN THEM!

v18 HOPE is not wishful thinking. Hope is certainty, assurance, and confidence. Hope gives you confidence of your identity as adopted, blessed children of God, You are aware of, and continue to grow in your understanding that you carry Christ’s power in you because the Holy Spirit blows on, in, and through you!

And when you have the Holy Spirit, you can know that no matter what life throws at you, you can trust that God will provide for your needs; that in spite of unexpected sicknesses, disease, job loss, accidents, or disappointments God is in control and you can worship and trust him; and that God is always present to help you.

And because of your confidence “in Christ in you” and the Spirit’s work in you, your whole life is for the “praise of His glory.” v14b

“The fullness of God—everything that God is—lives in Jesus, and Jesus lives in us, and we are complete in Him. Think about that!”

 I'm praying for you, friend!

Dear Rachel, How are you?

When my father, mother, and I lived in the remote village of Akiak, Alaska we had two ways to communicate with family and friends in the “lower 48”; by using the only telephone in the village or by writing letters. The telephone was located in a Quonset hut that was sort of a community building. If it rang whoever happened to hear it would answer and then run to try and find the person who was being called. If you were the caller, you needed to calculate the time zone difference and hope that someone on the other end would answer.

Letter writing was more reliable, but slower. Sometimes my mother would write to arrange a phone call; e.g., “on Friday I will be calling you at 5 pm your time.” I still have some letters that I received during those summers. There is something very intimate about holding paper that you know the sender also held and who spent time writing their thoughts so the two of you could stay connected.

Is letter writing still taught in schools? Or has technology (word processing, email, text, social media, cell phones, etc.) taken over so that pen and paper have become a lost form of communication? I remember learning in grade school how to properly begin an informal letter;

                            September 27, 1975

                                               Dear Rachel,
                                               How are you? I am fine.
                                               Love, Debbie

(Hey, it was grade school; there wasn’t much going on in my life at that time! And please don’t call me Debbie.)

While we are taught to begin a letter by addressing the person to whom we are writing, people in the first century began a letter with their own names, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Eph 1:1-2

“Grace” was a customary greeting for the Greeks. “Peace” was a customary greeting for the Jews. Glance at the beginning of other New Testament books written by Paul and you see how important this greeting was for him. By using both “grace and peace” Paul included both the Greeks and the Jews in his writings;

“For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.” Eph 2:14-18

We don’t think much about Paul’s “grace and peace to you” openings. But it was really radical for his time! With just two words he emphasized that everyone who believes in Jesus as Lord and Savior is part of God’s family. Rather remarkable, really.

How do you greet people? What two words could you use that carry more far more weight than our usual “Hey! How ya doin?” Maybe you can start a new trend by greeting everyone with "Grace and peace, yo!"

Think about it, friends.

What's your super power? Ephesians 1:18-21

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” Ephesians 1:18-21

The Greek word used in these verses for power is dynamai (which is the root of our word, dynamite!). It means force, miraculous power, ability, and mighty strength.

The Greek word used for strength is kratos. It means vigor, dominion, mighty strength or power.

Paul wants the believers at Ephesus to understand and know:

Hope! 

Promise of eternity! 

God’s power for everyday living!

And Paul makes an amazing announcement that the dynamai God used to resurrect Jesus from the dead gives us kratos!

Here are two of my favorite stories where that power was at work:
-When Jesus was arrested his words “I am he” knocked the soldiers flat! John 18:4-6
-When Jesus was resurrected, that same power knocked the guards at the tomb flat, “like dead men.” Matthew 28:2-4

Friends, we are not to just exist from one day to the next. We are not supposed to whine about our circumstances or be fatalistic about our future. The incomparably great power that came from the mouth of Jesus, is the same power God used to raise Jesus from the dead, is the same power he gives us who believe…every day!!

Super Friends, you have dynamite resurrection power coursing through your veins right now!! You have the mighty strength of God rushing through your lungs with every breath!!

So write these verses on your bathroom mirror; memorize them!

“For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, 

of love and of self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7 

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” 2 Peter 1:3

And if you ever think or say, “I can’t!” You better add to it “…but God can!”

I'm praying for you!

Surprise? Ephesians 1:4-6

I am the youngest child of five and showed up a number of years after the first four. When I had my first child my mother told me how she thought four children were plenty and then suddenly she learned she was pregnant again, and she wasn’t happy about it. But she said that after I was born she was very thankful for #5. I had never heard that story before and my first response was a teasing, “So I was an accident?” And she quickly and forcefully replied, “No! You were a surprise, but not an accident!”

While I was a surprise to my parents, I am no surprise to God!

And neither are you. God knew you before you were even conceived…

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:13-16 NIV

And God focuses his love on you through Jesus Christ…

“How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.” Ephesians 1:4-6 The Message

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1

 Lavish. 

I just love that word; extravagant, over-the-top, unrestrained, generous, luxurious, excessive.

 “For God so extravagantly over-the-top loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” 1 John 3:16a

“So if your flesh ever tires to rant and rave that you’re not worthy enough to be used or that you’re just an accident, you need to take authority over your flesh and tell it to shut its stupid mouth!” Rick Renner

You are not an accident.

God knows you.

God loves you.

God poured out Himself for you.

God has plans for you.

You. Are. Loved.

Let that sink into your brain, friend.  

Talking about Ephesians, Chapter 1

Those crazy Facebook quizzes annoy me. 

     “What Mexican food are you?” 

     “What Twilight character do you resemble?” 

     “What’s your real age?” 

     “What would be your prison stereotype?” Okay, for the sake of this post I took that one. Results were that I would be a prison leader. Fantastic.

     “What prison sentence would you get?” Life sentence. Well, that’s just great.

Maybe I should create a quiz. 

     “If you were in jail what would you do with all your spare time?”

The apostle Paul spent quite a bit of time in jail. What a great example, huh? Well, actually, yea, he is. Because, he was thrown in jail for preaching about Jesus. But before all that, Saul (the pre-Paul) actually was a Jesus-hater who ran around throwing Jesus-followers in prison (Acts 8:1-3). Then Jesus got hold of him; shined a bright light in his eyes which blinded him, told him to knock it off, healed him, and gave him a new purpose in life (Acts 9:1-22). See, most of the Jews thought Jesus was dead and gone and was no longer a threat to their religious way of life. Then Saul/Paul jumped the fence and preached about Jesus. And the Jews didn’t like that very much (Acts 13:44-52).

Nothing scared Paul. Not shipwrecks (Acts 29), or snake bites (28:1-6), politicians or wealthy people, being beaten or stoned (14:19-20; 21:27-32), being thrown in jail (Acts 16), or even dying for his faith in Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 4:6-8; 16-18). You can read Paul’s own words about all that crazy stuff in 2 Corinthians 11:21-30; 12:9-10.

Jails in the first century weren’t very comfy; dark, dirty, and smelly are fitting descriptions. So, what did Paul do with all his spare time while chained in jail cells?

                -Had hymn sings Acts 16:25

                -Kept talking about Jesus Acts 16:31-32

                -Wrote letters to churches that he had visited on his travels. 

                  Ephesus, Acts chapters 19-20

The New Testament books of Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon are called Paul’s “prison epistles” (letters) because he wrote them while he was in jail, and there were probably many more letters that never survived. Most likely he had a lot of time to think and pray, and the Holy Spirit taught him a lot about Jesus, too. Paul was then able to pass on that knowledge to those first Christians through his writings. And to us!

The beginning of his letter to the church in Ephesus contains rich words of praise and blessing for who God is and what he has done in and through Jesus Christ vs 3-10; how God has blessings for everyone who believes in Jesus v 11-14; and praise and  thanksgiving for the believers in that church vs 15-23. It is an amazing way to start a letter!

You see, Paul wasn’t sitting in his cell pouting about his circumstances (Philippians 4:11-13)! No dank jail cell or thick iron bars were going to stop him from his unending commitment of spreading the good news of Jesus Christ (Acts 28:30-31)! Paul wrote that he was “in chains for Christ” (Philippians 1:13) and a “prisoner of Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 3:1). That was his purpose, his calling, and his goal until his dying day. Church tradition taught that Paul was beheaded in Rome in the mid to late 60’s AD. 

Killed because he wouldn’t stop talkin’ ‘bout Jesus.

So. What’s my/our problem?

What are my current circumstances? I’m not in jail; I live rather comfortably.

What do you do with all your spare time?

What do I consider more important than Jesus Christ? Popularity? My future? My job (wait that doesn’t count ‘cause I’m a pastor)? 

Are we willing to take risks so that the Gospel of the Good News of Jesus Christ will be shared with the people we are with every day? Or anyone we happen to meet?

Is there anything that keeps me from saying, “I, Deb, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you youth…”

I hope not. Jesus might have to shine a blinding bright light in MY eyes to straighten me up.

Captured Imagination

Imagination is a gift from God; with it I am able to envision God, to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” Hebrews 12:2. Without an imagination I would not be able to conceive and know God, or have hope in an eternity spent with God.

But imagination also opens an invitation for my mind to go places it should not go, and whose traveling companion is worry. Worry carries my mind and imagination away from trusting Jesus, who had a lot to say to his followers, to me, to us, about worry, Matthew 6:25-34.

Worry grips, controls, drags, seeps into, occupies, dominates, and sullies the sacred space of my heart, mind, and soul. Worry is not grounded on truth; worry is a product of an over-active imagination which takes my thoughts to unholy and untrue possibilities.

Come to Jesus “Personal contact with Jesus alters everything…the attitude of coming is that the will resolutely lets go of everything and deliberately commits all to Him.” Oswald Chambers

Abide in Me “What I will do, by the grace of God, is to repeat day by day the Master’s blessed command, "Abide in Me,” until it enters our hearts and finds a place there. In the light of Holy Scripture we should meditate on its meaning until the understanding, that gate to the heart, opens to grasp something of what it offers and expects…so we will feel its claims and be compelled to acknowledge that there can be no true allegiance to our King without simply and heartily accepting this important command.” Andrew Murray.

And I will give you rest “I will imbue you with the spirit of life, and you will be stayed by the perfection of vital activity.” Oswald Chambers

Imagine sitting at the Divine Community’s (Father-Son-Spirit) kitchen table. Speak your worries, lay them down on the table, and leave them there.

Then…

May your mind be open and your imagination be captured and fixed on Jesus;

May your hands be open to receive and give Grace and Mercy;

May your entire being be filled to overflowing with Hope and Joy;

May you see God at work each day so that you are confident of His loving Presence and tender care;

May your soul be occupied by the Spirit who is Truth;

And may your traveling companion be Peace.

Amen.

Fifteen Things I Have Learned in Fifteen Years of Ministry

After reading and sharing this post by April Yamasaki, I was challenged to compose my own list. I have been in church pastoral ministry for three years, but if I go back to when I started in Christian camp ministry, I can count almost fifteen years of experience in God’s Kingdom work. 

First, my personal mission statement: “I desire to live a life of integrity and authenticity marked by intimacy with God, to grow in sensitivity to the whispers of the Holy Spirit, and to live a life of faithful, loving obedience to God’s call, Christ’s love, and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.”

There are six vital goals in that statement; integrity, authenticity, intimacy, sensitivity, obedience, and being empowered. You will read echoes of those in the following list.

1. Devotion. I need to continue learning how to love God with my whole being and to focus all my energies into daily worship of Jesus Christ. Without this central core value to my life I would be just another person struggling to find fulfillment and contentment in the vast resources of the world; searching and not finding completion, stressed and not finding hope. Staying centered on God redefines not just the ordinary, but everything. I will spend my entire earthly life working on this.

2. Cultivate prayer as constant conversation. I’ve had seasons of vibrant daily hour+ long prayer times, very dry seasons when all I could whisper was “help”; and unnerving seasons of silence. Over time, what has emerged is constant conversation with God, speaking and listening. If I truly believe God is present at all times (and I do), then I talk to him. Constantly. And honestly.

3. Always follow through on nudges of the Spirit (this requires item #2). Expect surprises!

4. Cultivate stillness. I am not very good at holding still. When I was little my mother would give me a quarter if I would hold still or be quiet for five/ten/fifteen minutes (I did not make much money on that offer). However, in the stillness of both body and mouth, I learn to distinguish God’s voice from that of my own, and the lying voices of the world and God’s enemy.

5. Participation in communal worship with a body of believers. It is within the assembly of believers that I will find my identity as God’s child and a member of the family of faith. There we commit ourselves to God and each other for accountability, mutual love and concern, ministry, and witness. I am blessed, so very blessed, by my Lindale family! 

6. Allow others to minister to me. I am human, too. I must admit when I struggle and ask for help when needed. I have been so well-cared for by my brothers and sisters during my seasons of anxiety, sorrow, and fear. What beautiful gifts of grace! 

7. Integrity. I strive for consistency in behavior and principals so that my words and deeds are undivided. I desire to offer a complete witness of a life given to following Jesus Christ. Again, a life-long endeavor.

8. Hold ministry loosely. This is God’s work to which he has invited and empowered me. Any praise goes right back to God (a pride check). Likewise, complaints must also be filtered; what is true in what is being said to me, and how should I attend to it? Conversely, what, as I like to say, are “not my monkeys” and can be released to God for him to attend to? Sometimes I’ve needed a trusted friend to help me with that processing.

9. Holistic self-care; spiritual; mental/psychological, and physical. My choices in all areas of life can be life-giving or life-draining. I need to be attentive to my whole being and care for all aspects of my person. I really need people to hold me accountable to this, as well! 

10. Family first! I learned this through a very difficult lesson. I do not apologize for taking time to care for my family relationships.

11. I am not indispensable. There are thousands of people who can perform my job as well or better than I. Ministry is God’s work and it can and will continue without me (and in spite of me)! I want to do what God has called me to do and do it passionately, but need to remember to be humble through it all.

12. Close friendships with like-minded individuals, as well as those who can offer me challenge, are beneficial to my whole being! God has been blessing me with friendships that are mutually life-giving!

13. Laughter and fun! At camp, we had quote boards that were always a source of mirth (and only a few people knew of the one on the back of my office door). Something as simple as a Lego figurine can provide a lot of entertainment.

14. Hard Work. Do something that has immediate satisfying results. Ministry often does not have visible results. At camp I would mow, or help clean, or organize something just so I had a gratifying reward. Working in the soil also provides me enjoyment because it is very tactile; dirt under my fingernails and grass stains on my feet make me happy.

15. Always be willing to do anything. I would always tell the camp staff; “I will never ask you to do something that I am not willing to do myself. Unless it involves reptiles.”

So, there you have my list of things I have learned in fifteen years of working alongside God. I am thankful for these lessons and for every person with whom I have shared the journey!

Ten minute sabbath

You know you need it.
Stress. Anxiety. Worry.
Busyness.
God rested. Jesus rested. The Holy Spirit rests upon us.
We are commanded
invited
welcomed
to cease
to rest
restore
commune with God.
Sit back in your chair, take a couple deep breaths, click play, and close your eyes.
Listen.

Close enough

“Close enough”

     I have this big bay window in our front room. Finding curtains for this thing was a challenge, but years ago, after perusing JCPenny catalogs (pre-internet days) I came up with this:

     However, I could not afford the curved curtain rod that I needed. So I busted out my creative energy and gently bent straight rods to fit this curve. I hate taking them down to wash because it is such a pain to hang them back up, and it requires two people. But when I was decorating for Christmas I noticed that they needed washed so down they came, washed they were, and my dear hubby (who made fun of me for having to stand on a stool when he could just reach up) helped me put them back up. Then I had to readjust the tie-backs and the tops so that it all was balanced.

Because, yes I need balance.

     But as I worked on getting those curtains perfectly spaced I remembered one of my favorite phrases, “Close enough.” I learned it from my dad. A carpenter. He once told me that there are many things in carpentry that do require perfection (finish work, plumbing, electricity, etc.), but there are some things for which “close enough” works well. I've discovered that this phrase is appropriate for other aspects of life, too.

Like, folding fitted sheets.

     Once upon a camp-time, I chose the word “excellence” as the yearly theme for the year-round staff. We challenged each other to strive for excellence in every task we did at camp, including how we lived our faith. The verse for this theme was, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Mt 5:48.

     One day during our weekly Bible study we had a discussion about perfection versus excellence. Excellence means setting a high standard for yourself in everything you do and working towards doing the best that you can. Perfection means being free from flaw or defect. Excellence is the process by which one may achieve perfection. However, it was noted, perfection is often unachievable, daunting, often frustrating, and can cause someone to not even begin a task. Why would Jesus say that we have to be perfect LIKE GOD?! Is that not IMPOSSIBLE?

     Look at this verse in context. Jesus was talking about loving your enemies. Be perfect in love. The Greek word for perfect means “brought to its end, finished; wanting nothing necessary to completeness.” Love like the Father. Love like the Son. Love like that is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit.

     Paul’s often left off introduction to the “love chapter,” 1 Cor 13, is this:

 “And yet I will show you the most excellent way.” 1 Cr 12:31b.

     The Greek word for excellent means “a throwing beyond.” Paul is saying, "Set this high standard for yourself; go beyond what is considered normal and strive for the already finished perfect love of God!"

     No, I cannot achieve perfection in love on my own. "Close enough" does not apply to loving others. But by striving for excellence in all things (1 Cor 13), I have set my feet on the path of the Father’s already complete and finished perfect love of Christ. The only way to achieve perfection in loving others, especially those who may be my enemies, is by submitting to the power of the Holy Spirit. In doing so, I have already tapped into the finished and complete, perfect, self-giving love of the Father.  

For my spiritual life the most excellent phrase, "Close to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit" is the epitome of perfection.

Reordering our world

Some people do not like change. Some people like things to stay just the way they are, if those things are healthy and full of good memories. And if change happens, they lament about the way things used to be and wish for a return to those times. When I was packing orders for Lehman’s Hardware there were oil lamps, washboards and hand wringers, make your own soap—I don’t really want to return to those things! Give me electricity and a flush toilet, thank you! But sometimes the new reality that comes about is so much better that there is no longing to return to the previous way.

Now about this “reordering” thing of God’s…raising valleys, leveling mountains, clearing paths and such. Mary poetically spoke about God’s activity in Luke 1—humble/blessed, scatter the proud, humble the rulers, raise the humble, feed the hungry while the rich go hungry. Jesus quoted Is 61 when he spoke in the synagogue in Nazareth, with words of reordering….Lk 4:18-21…and it nearly got him killed right there at the beginning of his earthly ministry. It just seems so obvious to us that God was CHANGING stuff…or rather returning the world to the way he had created it to be.

And sometimes I wonder; if God wanted to reorder the world why didn't he just do it! Just use the “big guns” of MIGHT & FORCE to get the reordering business accomplished! Instead, He went to all the trouble of humbling himself…Phil 2:8-11…and Jesus did indeed feed the hungry, set free those imprisoned by sin and sickness, and preached good news. Why didn't God just keep that going?! Jesus, just hang around and keep doin’ whatcha been doin’!

           But, no. Jesus was crucified, rose from the dead, and…went back to heaven. Then, the Holy Spirit arrived.

One of the astounding beliefs of the Israelites was that their God “saw” their distress, he “heard” their cries, and he “came down” to deliver them. Theirs was no idol of wood or stone; their God was alive and active, caring and merciful. Yahweh lived among them and dwelt in a tent of animal skins. 2 Sam 7:6-7. And all-mighty God lived and traveled among his people.

THAT WAS UNEXPECTED. “Be holy because I am holy,” He said.

Now look at Mary’s song in Lk 1:46-55. She talked about being blessed by God. The Israelites thought of themselves as blessed by God. But their understanding of blessing was more of simply reversing the world’s hierarchy—“take away Rome’s power and give it to us!” But simply switching who is on top and who is on bottom leaves the old order in place, and God has something else in mind—exploding the whole system. The promise God made to Abram Gn 12:1-3 was not that Israel would rule over all the other nations but that it would be a blessing to them. Raised valleys and lowered mountains create a level, cleared plain.

After Pentecost, after the Holy Spirit “came down,” suddenly the whole murky concept of reordering the world began to be seen. Acts tells wonderful stories of God’s followers who “get it.” The Spirit pushed the edges of their human understanding of God’s Kingdom. Suddenly the believers saw what God had wanted, what Jesus had come to do! Suddenly Is 61, Mary’s song, and Jesus’ summarization of the Ten Commandments as “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind; Love your neighbor as you love yourself” BECAME REALITY through the power of Holy Spirit living in and through us. If God had used MIGHT & FORCE (brought out his big guns) to get this world reordering business accomplished, then we would have done the same.

But God came as a baby. Quietly, during the night, with animals in attendance. A few shepherds enjoyed an angelic concert. Some wise men brought a few gifts. Peaceful. Wonderful. Counselor. Mighty God. Everlasting. Father. Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.

We serve a God who lifts the lowly, fills the hungry, and chooses an unwed teenage girl for a role of greatest honor. God’s shalom overturns the world’s assumptions about what matters and what doesn't. And we followers of The Way, who carry the power of the Holy Spirit in our tents of human skin, are to do the same. We, through the power and the strength of the Holy Spirit, are to continue to reorder this world one baby step at a time, with love, joy, and peace.

           But HOW?! How do we begin to demonstrate this new kingdom reordering now? How am I supposed to change the world? It’s too overwhelming!

Opportunities to be a person of the Light; to lift the lowly, comfort the sorrowful, to stand firm in truth—are everywhere. However, every day, you & I are literally surrounded with opportunities to NOT be a child of the Light, Peace and Love! What we watch, what we read, what we think, how we speak, how we interact with others; the list goes on and on. But because of the presence of the Divine living in me, and the call to reorder the world with God’s peace and love, every morning on my way to work I beg God for the strength to stand firm in truth. It is not easy–every night I have to ask forgiveness for failing.

How are we to change the world? Just like this:

     First, ask God to open your eyes and ears to what he is already doing around you.

     Second, ask God for the strength to stand firm in Truth. And guess what? Truth is a person; the Spirit of Truth whom you carry around with you.

I have to say, that once you pray the first thing (open my eyes and ears) you will be amazed, you will be saddened, you will feel conviction, and you will be encouraged by what you hear and see. God is always at work around us; we just aren't always paying attention. And when you pray for the first AND the second (stand firm in the Spirit of Truth) you will be convicted. It may be the same conversation as the day before, the same situations, the same people you work with, but because you opened the door for God to reorder YOU, you either won’t be able to participate in that sameness, or you’ll be moved to engage in it in a new way; with words of love, joy, and peace. That co-worker, or fellow student, or family member, or neighbor, or person you avoid at all costs, or person you have labeled weird or gross…God will change YOUR attitude towards them.

The point God wants us to understand is that REORDERING THE WORLD begins with REORDERING US. We want God to do what we want God to do!!! And God has said and continues to say, “I want you to do what I want you to do—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. I started it; you keep it going. Spread the Good News of Jesus everywhere.”

There are some believers who go into the world and do large, highly visible world reordering stuff; Mother Teresa, Billy Graham, Shane Claiborne, Leymah Gboowee (EMU grad who was one of three women who recently were awarded the Noble Peace Prize “for their nonviolent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work" in Liberia (nobelprize.org.). However, the majority of us will be called to the smaller, behind-the-scenes world reordering stuff.

Acts 4:13 “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”

Acts 11:19-21 “Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.”

Reordering the world with the Good News of peace with God, peace with others begins with reordering me, you, us. God raises the valleys and lowers the mountains within US first! Then—it is no longer just about us! Leveling begins the minute you step out into the world, the second you encounter another human. First, ask God to open your eyes and ears to what he is already doing around you. Second, ask God for the strength to stand firm in Truth. Expect the unexpected; the Spirit is all about change!

Our challenge is to expect the unexpected acts of God! Practice 1 & 2, be so loyal to the Spirit within you that HE can do HIS WORK through YOU.

Mystery

Story 1
I sat beside the bed of an unresponsive dying person, surrounded by those who cared and who expressed their love with tears and touch. Someone said, "Go ahead and do what you do." So I read some scripture of promise and assurance. Then I opened my hymnal. I sang the verses of "Amazing Grace." I silently asked God what to sing next, and turned to "Oh, the deep, deep love of Jesus."

The breathing began to slow, color to fade.

"Jesus, I am resting, resting"

Quietness, peacefulness, slowing of time and breath. Until, with the words "Resting neath thy smile Lord Jesus, earth's dark shadows flee" the veil between present and eternity parted and the dying one breathed celestial air in the presence of God.

The experience of singing while a child of God took those final earthly steps and first heavenly baby steps exposed a glimpse of mystery to me. There was a part of me that wanted to follow; imagine the surprise, the party, the glory! But we who remained at the bedside began to pick up, clean up, grieve, and go about the work of living on this side of the separating veil

Story 2
I recently attended a retreat during which the speaker used this painting The five thousand on a meditation of Mark 6:35-44. There is much going on in the painting and I encourage you to study it along with the biblical text. One of the major movements in the painting goes from the bottom right, diagonally up and around to the top right. The pastor is faceless (and thus genderless), is preaching from the Bible--"breaking the Bread"--feeding the people's souls, while they eat the fish and chips that feeds their bodies.

And right behind the pastor is a rectangle of blackness. Mystery.

It overwhelms me, as it should, this call to be the faceless one who stands before the hungry, the indifferent, the busy, the attentive; to preach and teach, to enter the mystery and be the hands and feet of Christ.

"Am I willing to be faceless one so that others will see and feed on Jesus?"

---
These two stories represent my call to active work and to sit vigil; to minister to the living and the dying. I passionately want, desperately need, to continue to grip this mystery; the presence of the Holy Trinity in the daily rhythms of being and doing.

Ever lift Thy face upon me,
As I work and wait for Thee;
Resting 'neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus,
Earth's dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father's glory,
Sunshine of my Father's face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting,
Fill me with Thy grace.

Fall near

Musings from a fall day a few years ago...

In the foothills of the Appalachian mountains, in a small house with a lot of people. Inside it is hot and noisy with conversation. Outside there is a cool fall morning; yellow leaves, red poison ivy, misty and quiet.

 I need quiet and calm. I need to be near God.

There is very little human sound outside. In fact, my own steps and movements of clothing seem a rude interruption. So I sit on a narrow, winding strip of blacktop smack in the middle of the road. This is where the sounds and sights greet me.

Owls, chickadees, crows, cooper’s hawks, blue jays, flickers, pileated woodpeckers, turkeys, titmice, catbirds, chipmunks, kingfishers, chipping sparrows, spider webs, sassafras bark, redbuds, leaves falling, nuts dropping, goats with bells, and cows mooing. Nature can be noisy.

A hillside covered with trees, thick foliage, but a single yellow leaf falling draws my eyes. A bird jumps from branch to limb. Tiny movements, tiny sounds.

Silence isn’t so. Is there ever silence? How can one silence the voice in one’s mind? If there is an absolute absence of external sound, the voice in one’s mind seems exceedingly loud. There is no way to stop that sound.

So, how does one guide the inner voice to whisper, to express only valuable words or thoughts? To stay focused on the purpose before one? For me that purpose is to listen for and be aware of God’s presence. But my own inner voice interrupts, makes inappropriate comments, strives to change the subject, yammers about nothing particular, and has the attention span of a five year old.

Controlling my inner voice is difficult. It’s like there are two personalities in there; the inner child who just loves to talk and have attention, and the inner adult who tries to keep control. Often the child wins, and often it is the child who learns something fascinating; the way a dew drop magnifies the veins on a leaf, the pollen-filled legs of a bumblebee, tiny yellow flowers and small purple asters in the ditch. But always, the adult is listening for a deeper meaning; where is God in the small stuff, do I magnify God in my life, am I carrying the pollen of the gospel?

Everyone decides to go on a walk; some run, some walk, some ride. I walk but linger behind the happily noisy group until they are far enough ahead and I can no longer hear them. Again trying to find space to be alone with God. 

If I can’t see, hear, smell, taste or touch God, with what sense do I know Him? How do I become aware of Him?

And right there, in that moment, the Spirit whispers to both my inner-perpetual-motion-child and my seeking-calm-and-purpose-adult that it’s a "soul-sense"

the Spirit of God within that is in tune with the Father

who provides the awesome sense that 

bestows the inner surety that 

when I am still

silent 

and seek to draw near to God, 

I will discover that

God…is…always…near.

Religion and spirituality

 

 

Religion and spirituality are like the notes of a song; moving and playing throughout my life. Sometimes the notes are in harmony, sometimes in unison, sometimes in dissonance, but they are always a part of the music of my being.

Deb Horst