Back to the basics of love

Read a prayer this morning that reminded me of our ground zero space as Christ-followers:  to love God and one another and of course to love our neighbor.  This will speak so much more loudly than protests and tweets and Facebook rants.

Pray this with me today:  "Lord, you have shown us what love looks like. Help us through acts of forgiveness and reconciliation to so love one another that our neighbors know we are your disciples and know that to be good news. Amen."

God's grace

Sometimes we resist it because it seems too good to be true.  When Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesian Christians that is is indeed by grace we are saved through faith and how this is not our doing but God's gift, I tend to want to add, yeah, but I'll go ahead and (you fill in the blank).  Grace and mercy presented to sinners like me can feel threatening - as if there is some fine print involved or strings attached or a no-interest now thing.  In one of my devotionals this morning I read this prayer that stopped me in my tracks (by Robert Capon):

"Lord, please restore to us the comfort of merit and demerit.  Show us that there is at least something we can do.  Tell us that at the end of the day there will at least be one redeeming card of our very own.  Lord, if it is not to much to ask, send us to bed with a few shreds of self-respect upon which we can congratulate ourselves.  But whatever you do, do not preach grace.  Give us something to do, anything; but spare us the indignity of this indiscriminate acceptance."

Unconditionally loved is the reality for us - which, if we embrace, it releases us from the pressure and offers us forgiveness and replaces our fear with faith.  In Christ we are liberated from having to make it on our own.  Freeing right?

Lord, increase my faith to live by grace!

(the devotional I got some of this from is It Is Finished by Tullian Tchividjian, David Cook Publishing 2015)

Well said Mr. Martin Luther King...

Martin Luther King Jr. said this: “There was a time when the church was very powerful. In those days the church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society. Whenever the early Christians entered a town, the power structure got disturbed and immediately sought to convict them for being ‘disturbers of the peace’ and ‘outside agitators.’ But they went on with the conviction that they were ‘a colony of heaven,’ and had to obey God rather than man. They were small in number but big in commitment. They were too God-intoxicated to be ‘astronomically intimidated.’ They brought an end to such ancient evils as infanticide and gladiatorial contest.”  

Lord, restore Your church to be the force of love and good in the world to bring your Kingdom come!  

Lord God, help us to live out your gospel in the world. We pray for those who do not know your love, that they would be wooed by your goodness and seduced by your beauty. Form us into a family that runs deeper than biology or nationality or ethnicity, a family that is born again in you. May we be creators of holy mischief and agitators of comfort . . . -people who do not accept the world as it is but insist on its becoming what you want it to be. Let us groan as in the pains of childbirth for your kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven. Help us to be midwives of that kingdom. Amen.

Prayer in a world of 'shortcuts'

I read and prayed this prayer in my devotional time this morning - may it be a blessing to you!

Holy One, so often we claim to see but prefer our blindness. Send us teachers and saints whose lives speak loudly of faith and perseverance to guide us when we unknowingly stray from wisdom’s course. Help us to find the Way, the Truth, and the Life in this world of shortcuts, deception, and death. Amen.

Abiding Life

In reflecting on John 15, I have pondered much on this idea of abiding in Christ.  The word often means 'accepting a decision or verdict' in our modern culture but, in John's usage, it has to do with close connection.  Walking with Jesus changes us.  To abide with Him is to literally be with Him, hang out with Him, talk to Him, learn His ways, etc.  In fact, the only way our lives produce fruit like love, joy, peace & patience (see Galatians 5) is through being attached & connected to Jesus.

I'm saying this prayer today in this pursuit of abiding:  Lord God, we rejoice in your resurrection and in your promise to return. Help us live today as -people who await the fulfillment of your kingdom. Bend our knees to the hard work of prayer, worship, repentance, and intercession. Amen.

He delights in us!

In yesterday's message from John 14, I talked about the idea of delighting what Jesus delights in which is another way of speaking to our love & obedience.  This morning I ran across this statement from Psalm 18 and how the Lord feels about us:

  "he rescued me because he delighted in me."

This is a big deal.  He doesn't love us or save us because He needs us; He chooses to save us from His overflowing delight in us.  Truly a Father!

Danger in following Jesus

I've been pondering this statement I read today:

Contemporary theologian Scott Bader-Saye has written, “Following -Jesus will mean surrendering the power that masquerades as security in order to love the neighbor and welcome the stranger. It will mean avoiding the safe path in order to pursue the good. But in a culture of fear, we find such risks all the more difficult since our natural inclinations lead us to close in on ourselves when we face danger. How can we maintain the posture of the open hand toward a world that scares us?”

Does following Jesus cost us something?  Is there a sense of danger, of risk, and of holy adventure?  Would that sacrifice and suffering drive us closer to Him?  Lord, awaken my heart to beat in rhythm with Yours.  Amen.

Now that's a prayer!

In the words of Morgan Freeman (taken from the Bruce Almighty film), THIS is a prayer!

"God, give us discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that instead we may live deep within our hearts. Grant us anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of -people, so that we may wish for justice, freedom, and peace. Bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in this world, so that we can do what others claim cannot be done. Amen."

(borrowed from today's reading from commonprayer.net)

The way of humility

From the ancient followers of Christ we can still learn valuable lessons - here is one:

Augustine of Hippo, a fifth-century bishop and theologian, wrote, “The way to Christ is first through humility, second through humility, third through humility. If humility does not precede and accompany and follow every good work we do, if it is not before us to focus on, if it is not beside us to lean upon, if it is not behind us to fence us in, pride will wrench from our hand any good deed we do at the very moment we do it.”

We're called to be humble.  Like the Tim McGraw tune, it ought to permeate our lives.  James reminds us:  "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you."

Lord, may we walk humbly with you in this life!

Pathway of a Songwriter

Lately I've stopped worrying about being interrupted while praying with phrases and ideas for new songs.  Music & lyric have played a crucial role in my life and ministry so, you know what, I'm going to embrace that reality.  God may in fact be spurring me toward new songs as I pray and think on Him in my daily routine!

Here's a few ideas that came to me this morning:

Ring the bells, shout for joy, death has died

From the cross to the grave Jesus Christ arose

Born again brought to life from crimson to white

Tell the world the good, good news

This is the gospel, the gospel of Jesus

The Way of Jesus

This morning I was taken back by the daily Bible readings in Exodus 24 and 1 Thessalonians 5.  In the Exodus passage, Moses and his leadership team actually hang out with God!  Then, Moses gets some special time with God up on a mountain.  I read it several times and am still blown away by the interaction recorded!  

Then, in the first letter of Paul to the Thessalonians, he wraps up with a pretty powerful summation of walking in the light and following the way of Jesus.  Here is how the ESV renders it:

12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle,[c] encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.  23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

Lord, help me as a leader to encourage the idler, lift up the fainthearted, strengthen the weak and overall, be patient!  Help me rejoice always, keep to praying and give thanks always...

So help me God!

Recent books I've read...

I just finished reading Thomas Merton's book New Seeds of Contemplation which he wrote in 1961.  Among the many quotable passages, I really resonated with his thoughts on humility.  He wrote, "When a proud man thinks he is humble, his case is hopeless." (p49)  Not seeing one's own pride is dangerous indeed!

I also am in process of reading through J.R. Parrish's 2009 book You Don't Have to Learn The Hard Way which is written from a business man's perspective on success through great human relations.  Its a great perspective on how to be a person that other people are drawn to.  On being an unnecessarily difficult personality, he writes, "Generally speaking, if you are contradicting, you are losing." (p39).  He speaks of taking ownership of how you react to stress and to people - good practical stuff like:

• Be on time.
• Send hand-written thank-you notes.
• In the presence of others, turn off your cell phone.
• Smile.
• Return calls promptly.
• Compliment.
• Use people's names when addressing them.

And so much more...

Our Past and Our Potential Future...

I just finished reading JD Vance's best-seller, Hillbiliy Elegy, and found the author's frankness refreshing.  Though it reads a bit like a documentary on the poor, white lower class society, I found the ending helpful.  We are all born into a story and our childhood experiences shape our thinking.  As we mature, however, we begin to make our own choices that will determine our own story and potential future.

What choices are we making now that could impact a brighter tomorrow?  Good food for thought Mr. Vance!

Here's a link to the book - probably at the library as well:  https://www.amazon.com/Hillbilly-Elegy-Memoir-Family-Culture/dp/0062300547

Let the Kingdom show!

Read this today in my devotional time.  Here, on day 3 of the season of Easter fasting we call Lent, I found it a powerful statement from an amazing woman of faith:

Pandita Ramabai, a nineteenth-century Indian activist, said, “People must not only hear about the kingdom of God, but must see it in actual operation, on a small scale perhaps and in imperfect form, but a real demonstration nevertheless.”

Indeed, Lord, let Your Kingdom come and will be done!  Followers of Christ, let us reveal the Kingdom in our hearts and lives this season!

Ancient words

I'm finding great wisdom in reading some of the early church's leaders.  Here is one I came across from common prayer.net:  

Clement, an early bishop of Rome, wrote, “When the heathen hear the words of God from our lips, they marvel at them as something beautiful and great. However, when they find out that our deeds are unworthy of the words we speak, they turn from this to blasphemy. They say it is a myth and a delusion.”

Our orthodoxy meets orthoproxy in a beautiful partnership to show the world the good news of Jesus!

Counting the cost

Too often people see the church as an emergency help organization or another agency to work among the poor or marginalized.  In one sense, this is true, however, if that is all she is, there is a great bit of truth missing.  The cross, suffering, sin, and the whole idea of God's Kingdom and eternity.  I read these words this morning related to this:

Flannery O’Connor said, “I think there is no suffering greater than what is caused by the doubts of those who want to believe. I know what torment this is, but I can only see it, in myself anyway, as the process by which faith is deepened. What -people don’t realize is how much religion costs. They think faith is a big electric blanket, when of course it is the cross.”

I would walk...15,000 miles???

I was doing some research on the walking situation that would have been the norm for travel in the first century and I ran across this article in Christianity Today:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/issues/issue-59/on-road.html


The article points out that Jesus likely logged 15,000 miles of walking in His short life.  Wow!

Those early followers of Christ walked!  Jesus walked.  People did some serious walking.  It makes me think that in our world, walking might just need a resurgence!  When we walk or hike, we're talking, observing, connecting with each other, with nature, with God's presence.  We are experiencing the natural world and our senses are engaged.

Maybe the most spiritual thing we might do this new year is endeavor to WALK more!  I know I am!

J.D. Salinger and The Jesus Prayer

Most know Salinger's book The Catcher in Rye but I'd never read anything else of his until his book Franny & Zooey was recommended.  I was pleasantly surprised that the main content of the book involves a brother and sister's wrestling with the place of the Jesus Prayer in life and the Spiritual journey.  Today I reread this phrase by the brother to his sister Franny:

"Jesus...in the New Testament...He's only the most intelligent man in the Bible...Jesus realized there is no separation from God...Jesus knew - KNEW - that we're carrying the Kingdom of Heaven around with us...

I wonder if the early church leadership would say the same?  Sounds like Jesus' teaching on prayer doesn't it?  "May your kingdom come, your will be done..."

Ben

Charming the muse...

In an effort to jump-start my own creative work this new year, I read the book The War of Art by Steven Pressfield today.  He mentions praying / mediating on this invocation before he starts his writing work each day.  It at least provides an insight into some of the mystery of the creative world that artists occupy...sort of odd, but, hey, I'd never heard of anyone going through such a routine!

The Odyssey of Homer

translated from the Greek by T. E. Lawrence

INVOCATION

---

O DIVINE POESY
GODDESS-DAUGHTER OF ZEUS
SUSTAIN FOR ME
THIS SONG OF THE VARIOUS-MINDED MAN
WHO AFTER HE HAD PLUNDERED
THE INNERMOST CITADEL OF HALLOWED TROY
WAS MADE TO STRAY GRIEVOUSLY
ABOUT THE COASTS OF MEN
THE SPORT OF THEIR CUSTOMS GOOD OR BAD
WHILE HIS HEART
THROUGH ALL THE SEA-FARING
ACHED IN AN AGONY TO REDEEM HIMSELF
AND BRING HIS COMPANY SAFE HOME

VAIN HOPE—FOR THEM
FOR HIS FELLOWS HE STROVE IN VAIN
THEIR OWN WITLESSNESS CAST THEM AWAY
THE FOOLS
TO DESTROY FOR MEAT
THE OXEN OF THE MOST EXALTED SUN
WHEREFORE THE SUN-GOD BLOTTED OUT
THE DAY OF THEIR RETURN

MAKE THE TALE LIVE FOR US
IN ALL ITS MANY BEARINGS
O MUSE

Stay-cation

From Christmas through New Years my family took a break from our normal routine of work and spent time resting.  During that time I was able to read 3 books - one of which I took several notes on called What God You Here Won't Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith.  A few notes I made were:

p82 We can’t see in ourselves what we can see so clearly in others.

p90 I won’t learn less (by hearing people out)

p154 There’s no on/off switch for caring, empathy and showing respect.  it’s always on.

p174  Helping people be right is more productive than proving them wrong!

p221 The great Western Culture disease lies in the phrase, “I will be happy when…"

Some good stuff to ponder here and some sound very familiar to the Biblical texts like...

Matthew 7:1-4  "Plank in your own eye first..."

James 1:19 "Be quick to listen..."

Galatians 6:9 "Let us not become weary in doing good..."

Matthew 20:16 "So the last will be first and the first will be last..."

John 10:10 "I have come that they may have life, and life to the full!"