RENEWING ASPIRATIONS

As a new year begins here are five aspirations that have the potential to bring renewal to any who holds them.

1.     We respond to God’s passionate love for us, drawing us into the divine intimacy, and making us new people, marked, shaped, aflame with his love. Thus in loving response we would champion our theological heritage—to be a holy people, free from the tyranny and damage of sinful self-addiction and free for loving God with our all and loving neighbor as self.

2.     Our focus is therefore to be on Christ at the center.  Our aim is to draw near, as near as humanly possible, aided by grace.  Our journey is movement toward the center.  Our passion is to be so near that concern for the boundaries recedes—what matters is where Christ is, how we and others are oriented toward him, and whether we and others are moving toward him.  On the journey, with gaze fixed on him and while moving toward him, God makes us all he wants us to be, individually and corporately.

3.     What and whom God loves we love.  What and whom God pursues we pursue.  For what and for whom God cares we care.  Therefore, our concern and compassion will be global, but particularly activated toward the “poor,” and toward places where the poor live.  When we care for those whose condition and circumstances in the world offer us no advantage, we reflect the love of God most authentically and powerfully.  And the world sees God at work.

4.     We stand in awe to realize that God invites us into the middle of what he is doing.  Jesus calls us to follow him and learn his ways.  The Spirit empowers us for this journey.  On the way, we share in what he is doing, and carry on his works in his name.  We discern his method and embrace it in relation to others.  Therefore, we look for those about us, within reach, whom God has drawn near and prepared, and we invite them to come along with us, as we continue the journey.  We identify those whom God will raise up after us.  We invest in them.  We pour out our time and energy on their behalf.  Together we anticipate a holy synergy—that God will do more with these little investments than merely add them up, that a miracle of multiplication will occur, sparking a divine fission that releases mighty untapped kingdom power.

5.     We confess our utter inability for the awesome ventures of a truly kingdom journey.  And we humbly seek and submit to the Spirit’s filling and on going fullness in our lives.  We are holy only as the Holy One indwells, and only to the degree that he has his way without qualification.  We repent of anything that blocks his access to the deep places in our lives.  And we yield ourselves and relationships, as deep reservoirs and freely flowing channels of grace and love.

On the Missing at Christmas

Yesterday was the first Christmas in 33 years that Lavone and I were alone.  It was mostly good.  That is, we didn’t mind being with one another exclusively.  In fact, we enjoyed not being on the spot, not having any expectations to match (or try), not having to do anything or go any where.  It was a Sabbath experience of sorts.

Yet, we had moments, especially toward the end of the day.  We had enjoyed being together, exchanging gifts of love which we hoped reminded us of the greatest GIFT.  But the celebration wasn’t complete.  The kids who belong in any true family celebration weren’t there.  The missing diminished our joy.

I’ve recalled the many who have no one, for whom every celebration is a reminder of something or someone missing.  We miss our children and larger family only temporarily (they arrive later today and this week) and this provides us with comfort others never know.  How thankful I am.  How my heart goes out to those who have no one.  How good it would be if someone would include them, and if their inclusion relieved a painful void created by awareness of the missing.

Then, again, my sense of diminished joy reflects an important dimension of God’s great gift to us.  In fact, God misses those who by creative and redemptive intent belong around his table.  My puny and partial sense of deprivation over missing people is dwarfed by this hugely felt void in God’s household.

What wouldn’t we do for the opportunity to include all of our kids at the table? 

What wouldn’t God do?

Lessons from the Mother of our Lord

During Advent 2007 I’ve been reflecting on the opening of Luke’s gospel, especially the narratives recounting Mary’s role in the gift of Messiah.  Here are the bottom line realities that nourish and challenge my Christmas faith, which you can read about in the reflections below.

  • Mary was surprised to be shown such incredible favor and then continually surprised at how the grace of God worked through her and the Messiah.  So, Lord, help me never to get over the wonder of amazing grace, never to yawn at your including me, never to think that I’ve got you and your way figured out, nailed down, inoculated against surprised.
  • Mary was drawn in, enthralled by the wonder of it all, eager to engage in this drama that seemed to be gathering her up and taking her where she did not know.  So, Lord, keep me alert to how your grace makes its inroads in my life and relationships.  Keep me asking for deeper understanding, and taking you at your word when your explanations only raise other questions.
  • Mary was willing to be in the flow of these God-happenings, though she could never have guessed all it would entail.  So, Lord, with Mary I want to say, whatever you say, whatever—let it be!

How surprised Mary was!  One day—I imagine it to be morning, but maybe it was at night, just before sleeping—an angel appears.  I resist the temptation to mythologize the story by assuming that angel-appearances were to be expected, since this is the Bible.  No, Mary had never seen an angel, and wasn’t sure about the protocol when she did.  She was surprised, as all of us would be.  But Mary’s surprise turned to wonder and then modest discomfort, humility born of a deep internal reality check.  The angel told her she had been “graced,” highly favored, and that the Lord was with her (1:25).  It perplexed and troubled Mary.  She didn’t know what to make of it.  Among the reasons, I think, was realistic awareness—she was no one special, would never have expected this, and now that it was happening to her she doesn’t know what it means.  In one way she was right, she was nobody special, according to all the canons used to measure “special.”  Yet, the grace of God was extended to her.  As the story that unfolds will make clear, it is especially to people like Mary, unsuspecting, undemanding, unworthy, that this unexpected gift, this grace comes.  Why her?  What now?  I doubt Mary ever got over the wonder and the surprise, the shock at finding and feeling grace reaching out and embracing her.

How intrigued and enthralled and engaged Mary became in what God’s grace proposed.  The angel tells her some of what this grace will mean—conception of a son—Jesus-Savior, her son, but also the Most High’s son, King with never-ending throne and reign.  Talk about mind-blowing.  Talk about impossible!  Revelation raises as many questions as it answers.  Mary wants to know how this could be.  She knows enough biology and has enough integrity to wonder if she really understands the message.  How?  This was a different kind of question than her uncle Zechariah had asked (see 1:18).  He wanted “proof,” a sign that would guarantee what he had been told.  She wanted understanding and insight.  She wanted to know more—how could such a thing happen to her, under the circumstances?

Revelation raises as many questions as it answers.  The angel tells her how.  The Holy Spirit will come, power from on high, and the result—what is begotten—will be … .  I doubt this helped much in the moment, except that it let Mary know that this would be entirely a God-thing.  How?  Well, … God!  With God things that seem impossible have been known to happen.  With God even the inconceivable … .   She can check out Elizabeth.  And, she did.  She followed the path God opened to another place where grace had gone and the inconceivable was even then happening.

How willing Mary was.  “Let it be to me according to your word, O Lord.  Even when I would have said it’s impossible, even when your kind explanations are hard to fathom, I am in your hands, a servant, at your disposal.  Thy will be done on earth with me and through me, now and always!”

Amen!

JESUS IN HIGH DEFINITION–WHAT DO YOU SEE?

In seeking to go HD when it comes to Jesus, here are some things that impress me and draw me further to go and check him out.

First, Jesus was not in to himself.  He didn’t promote himself or strut his stuff.   He was not a loud-mouthed TV commercial type, and he didn’t drag others down to look good.

YET, if anyone had something to talk about he did.  He was some awesome person, capable of out of this world stuff (see Mt. 4:23-24).  He simply allowed his actions to speak for him.

Second, Jesus was approachable.  He was interested in people like you and me, willing to listen, understanding how it is with people.  The most troubled, confused, bound, burdened, burned out, the so-called or self-proclaimed failures and losers (in part or completely)—whoever was welcomed.  You could be yourself and not feel condemned by his responses or reactions.

YET, Jesus stood for something, believed in something, or SOMEONE.  He represented a different way of life, unlike other ways, and felt so strongly about this way, he was willing to die for it, and for others, even if they never followed him.

[In history there have been many who killed for what they believed, but few who gave their lives, sacrificing self for what they believed and in so doing seemed to allow others—like the religious and civil authorities, and the unseen powers—to ”win.”]

Third, Jesus welcomes people just as they are.  They could be themselves, but he was and is on the move. He’s going somewhere.  To be with him—just as you are—means you cannot remain as you are or where you are.  He invites us to walk with him, and to walk into a new way of being, of living, of experiencing our humanity.

YET, there is no coercion, no sense of external pressure compelling you to do what you don’t want to do.  You come, begin to walk, and find yourself wanting to know, see, feel, experience more.  It’s like a taste of something so good that you’ve got to have more, or like seeing something so beautiful that you simply must have another look, even if it’s not convenient or costs you to do so. 

Fourth, Jesus treats everyone the same, in that all are welcome.  No one is turned away, which forces all people to face the selfishness and pride within their own hearts.  You find yourself in the company of Jesus and it’s not just “Jesus and me,” but there are all these other folks who have also been welcomed, folks that are not like you at all, some of whom are so unlike you that you would never ever desire to be in their company, but there you are.   And, you must choose between being with Jesus along with all the other strange people he attracts, or hanging on to your people-prejudices and preferences and going it alone.

YET, Jesus treats everyone differently.  He treats each one just as each one needs and deep-down really wants (though this realization usually comes only later), so that each is valued, loved, challenged, corrected, and changed just the way they most needed and wanted (this realization also usually comes only later).  Jesus doesn’t jam anyone into another’s mold!

I am absolutely intrigued by Jesus in HD.  I do not know anyone else who is like this, who can compare.  I am drawn, pulled into the Jesus-way.  I think the world would be so much better if those of us who claim to know about Jesus could follow him in such HD!

JESUS IN HIGH DEFINITION

JESUS IN HIGH DEFINITION

Recently I had the privilege of speaking at a student ministries retreat.  Indeed, to students.  This was truly daunting, since I am no longer a youth and, some would no doubt argue, I am sometimes out of touch relative to North American Youth Culture.  So, I approached the assignment with fear and trembling.

After much prayer and thought I figured it would be good to focus not so much on my fuzzy perceptions of student-culture but on Jesus.  My theme was “Jesus in High Definition.”  I told them of my conviction that in many ways the church needs to “find Jesus” all over again!  Why did and do I say that?

First, it’s all about Jesus, who is the Christ or the messiah.  Most of us are not geniuses, but we can get this—Christianity without Christ is “ianity”   And “ianity” is nothing!  Without a firm and ever sharpening vision of Christ, there’s nothing left to get excited about.  If we get Jesus in HD—we’re going to be on the right track.

Second, it’s so import to get Jesus in HD because a lot of folks look at the church (full of people who claim to follow Jesus), a lot of them listen to the church, and a lot of them experience the church in a way that seems astonishingly different from the picture they have of Jesus in their head.

I know.  You’re thinking that such people often have a picture of Jesus that resembles a little kid’s stick drawing on some proud parents’ fridge.   Be that as it may, still that drawing is good enough so that most look at it and say, “Well, I think it’s Jesus!”

What I’m observing is that a lot of people look at the church and listen to what the church says, and the way it says what it says, and then say, “Is that Jesus?  Or “That’s not Jesus!” or “That’s not Jesus, is it?”

Some people today say, “I like what I can see of Jesus, I’d like to know more about him, but do I have to become a Christian and join the church to do it?”   

Some would even say, “I want to follow Jesus but I’m afraid if I join the church I’ll lose sight of Jesus, and it’ll make me an uptight, sad, critical, judgmental person.  So, I’m OK with Jesus but I’d just as soon avoid those born-agains!”

A little illustration: if you look carefully at the gospel story you find the best people hating him and the worst people loving or at least liking him.  The most religious folk want nothing to do with him, while the really bad people are eager to come close and see what he’s all about.

But today, in general, do the worst people you know, the really bad ones, often try church?  Of course not!  Do they even feel welcome or safe visiting churches?  Usually not!  How can that be?  If it’s all about Jesus, how come the church is so unlike Jesus at this point? How come the folk most eager in the NT to come to Jesus would rather die than come around a gathering of typical Jesus-followers?

In that respect, at least, the church needs to find Jesus all over again, to see Jesus in HD, and to experience Jesus as if in a Jesus-IMAX theatre.

Third, it’s so import that we get HD in seeing Jesus because, when you do you can’t believe how good, beautiful, attractive, magnetic this IC is.

When you see Jesus in HD (as clearly as any human can with God’s help) you are drawn, just like the first disciples who hear Jesus’ call (without a lot of advance preparation) and they get up and go for it, and they begin the adventure of a lifetime. 

Once upon a time, we all understood that it is all about Jesus and following Jesus in just that way.  So, I’m seeking these days to see Jesus with such clarity that original passion, reckless abandon, and all sorts of “foolish” following once again takes hold!