Hanging on Every Word

Music has always been a huge part of my existence. As a very young child, I remember my first radio was a little 9-volt transistor AM-only model. It came in a nice leather pouch, which I proceeded to wear out in short order. Well aged even before I received it, the radio itself was housed in a black plastic case with a nice gold anodized speaker grill. It had an earphone jack, but Mom didn't let me have an earphone (she thought I'd damage my hearing playing it too loudly -- given what I've done to a few speakers over the years, she likely wasn't wrong). I loved that little radio. In fact, I remember in the lower right hand corner of the speaker grill, there was an enameled emblem that read "lovely." For me, it was just that, "lovely."

Isn't it amazing how well you can remember the lyrics to an old song? My wife and I have found a jockey-less radio station in Dallas that we just love to listen to together. Most of the songs they play come from our high school and college days and we just love singing along together. (How easily we're entertained the older we get). We are sometimes embarrassed at how "disgusting" some of the lyrics are now (because we either didn't understand what the singer was saying back then, or we didn't much care) and we are amused at how powerfully some of these songs have stuck with us. The fact there is no "talk," only music and advertising, makes it a nostalic paradise for us (100.3 for all you locals)!

We sometimes argue over the lyrics we never did understand. One of us thinks they know and defends their interpretation -- until we look them up on the internet and find out we were both wrong (more laughs)! Still, we sing along frequently amazed at how well we remember the words to songs we haven't heard in a very long time.

Growing up in church -- in a tradition that doesn't use instruments during corporate worship-- you either sang, generally with a hearty spirit and voice, or you were kind of left out of the scene. I grew up to really appreciate "sola vox humana" (the human voice only) and the power of harmonies. Acappella vocal music is nearly unbeatable for beauty when it is done well. When it isn't good, well... never mind.

For years I was captivated by the soaring choruses and mostly sang the words only by rote memory. The words, for me, were merely the "reason" to make good music. I loved the tight harmonies and really loved the bass leads. I didn't much let the lyrics affect me, though I could sing them verbatum (and still can).

I was a tenor that tried to sing bass, because of those cool Stamps & Baxter arrangements for basses, but I was really a baritone or tenor, truth be told. Music was in my blood -- both my parents played instruments, so I came by a love for music honestly. Then one day, I heard words... almost as it seemed for the first time... and I was stopped dead in my tracks. "Oh sacred head now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down... now scornfully surrounded, with thorns thy only crown..." I cried that day... and still do most every time I sing that hymn.

King David, a fairly accomplished musician and songwriter in his own right, once wrote, "May my lips overflow with praise, for you teach me your decrees. May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous... Let me live that I may praise you..." (Ps. 119:171-172, 176). I gather he listened to the words as much as the music. The thought of "living to praise" has gathered my attention lately. Do I live to praise? Oh, how I want that to be my life...

Today, when I worship in a gathering of followers of Jesus Christ, I try to hang on every word of every hymn we sing in those beautiful musical tones. The words now form pictures in my mind's eye and often my eyes fill with tears for the words are so humbling or riviting or convicting. Words in general are such powerful tools. Words of faith and praise... can transform us if we are available to them.

I love music as much as ever, but there is so much value in the words we sing. Listen closely to the words you sing -- especially in church worship. To hang on every word will take your heart to places you may have yet to go and will most definitely influence the way you are going.

Happy listening... and singing. To God be the glory. Amen.

More on Playdough and being kid-like

Summer Bible Quest a.k.a. SBQ (VBS to the rest of the world) is over and I'm now convinced, more than ever, that every adult needs to rush out tomorrow and buy a couple cans of Playdough! No, I've not recently purchased stock in the manufacturer (it's Hasbro, isn't it? I'm not sure but curious because if this teaching catches on, I want to be on the front of that retail stock wave...). My estimated value of a can of Playdough has soared with regard to my concepts of adult spiritual formation. Here is my premise... If you want to be close to Jesus, go buy Playdough! It's that easy!

It is a shame how abused the first few verses of Matthew 18 are by Bible teachers and preachers alike. I've heard so many sermons and sat through countless classes espousing "theories" and "philosophies" for what it means to be a "child" or "childlike" in the kingdom of God. Frankly speaking, NONE of them are found in the text! I've heard we need to have the "simplicity" of a child. We need to be "trusting" like a child. We should be "innocent" like a child. Christians should be "naive" like a child (now that one, we've probably got covered-- but not the kind of naivete we'd be hoping to have). So many "child-like" ideas, but none of them substantiated by Jesus.

While all those concepts of childlikeness may make for great sermon outlines or lesson fodder, the truth is... NONE of them appear in the text! Jesus simply says these words recorded by Matthew, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (18:3-4).

The key is right there in one simple word: humbles. Period. That's it. No more, no less. Just... "humbles." Short sermon. Long life lesson.

Can we do it? Can we ever become like little children and be truly humble? If there is anything we lose as we grow into adulthood (arguably even into adolescence by my observations) it is humility. Go to your next dinner party and just listen to the grown-up conversations. Start keeping track of how many times someone uses a phrase similar to... "Oh yeah? Well that's nothing... one time I was..." I promise, you'll be amazed at how often we "adults" posture ourselves in this manner. One-upsmanship abounds and it eats away at the heart of humility and kingdom living.

What is it with human beings that we always have to "better" ourselves by comparing to someone else? Even with our closest friends, we'll try and top their story with ours. You don't believe me? You are reading this saying to yourself, "I don't do that! I'm not like that. I don't compare myself to other people just to make myself feel secure or superior. I don't! I know other people who do it, but I'm not like those other people." (Okay, was I close? Be honest... you were thinking it, weren't you?). If that is anywhere close to what you were thinking... you're guilty!

You see, it is simply an inversion of the "I can top your story" dynamic only on the other end of the spectrum. We simply compare ourselves to those who are more likely to behave in this manner, but we're still comparing ourselves to someone else. It is a sticky wicket and so much a part of our social culture, we aren't even aware we do it -- even when we tell ourselves we're NOT doing it... we're quite likely doing it!

Enter the can of playdough. Every night this week, I watched curiously as little kids worked on making little Playdough animals. Some kids had already "matured" to the "mine is better than yours" stage of human development. But many had not yet found that level of "maturity." Praise God! I wondered if there was some way to stop their "maturity?" I felt a bit desperate... really.

The vast majority of those kids (aged three years through sixth grade) just had fun with their own ball of dough. They apparently didn't even THINK about comparing theirs to someone else's work. They simply created... laughed... and helped their neighbors (the last couple of groups even figured out they could share the Playdough and create multicolored images -- thankfully they were among the last groups of the week or we'd have some radically polychromatic sculptures laying around)!

For me as a host/helper to those kids, I have to say it was so easy to compliment each individual's work without the need to compare the work to someone else's. I complimented each one on its own merit, not on the basis of someone else's work. Were some better than others? By my subjective opinions, of course! But I didn't feel the need to compare one against the other. Each was a created wonder unto itself.

I'm considering if this is one of the keys to finding true humility. Shouldn't we listen for the Heavenly Host/Helper's compliment or affirmation and simply be secure in it alone? If we aren't listening for God's approval, then we are naturally going to seek desired approval in someone else or, worse yet, generate it for ourselves by comparing our "work" to another's and position ourselves in superiority to them. Therein lies the death of "greatest in the kingdom." We pursue temporal "greatness" and lose eternal kingdom value in the exact same moment. A lame exchange, if I ever saw one!

I'm telling you... go get a can or two of Playdough and begin meditating on what Jesus says... I'm not kidding here! It may take some time, but we CAN learn to be kid-like again... We can go and be "humble" (yeah, I know the "h" is silent in some parts of Texas... but I'm still a California boy and the "h" is still there in the dictionary, so go ahead and pronounce it that way, okay?).

Here is fair warning... If you follow this suggestion and start working the "dough," it will really begin to bug you how much we, generally speaking, lack humility. Begin praying for God to reveal your pride... and I promise you it will get down-right ugly before it gets better! But remember Christ's grace is sufficient and you'll be a whole bunch closer to the kingdom of heaven in the process! How do I know, you ask? Jesus said so... and my God is bigger than your god. So there!

Happy sculpting...

Playdough and being young again...

So far every evening this week, I've been hanging out with a bunch of new little friends. It is Summer Bible Quest (VBS) at HOCC this week and I've been volunteering in one of the craft centers. Playdough is so much fun, who knew? I'd forgotten how great it feels when it is fresh out of the can and squeezed between the fingers. There has got to be something psychologically therapeutic in it because its just too much fun! You should have seen the aquamarine colored gecko I made last night. Legendary. I think we bonded!

Working with adults all the time, it is easy to forget just how great little kids are. Tonight, I was having flashbacks to my own childhood and it was just so great to hear the echoes of my past. Little "Sarah" (not her real name) commandeering the entire class with an oration so completely off the topic it could not have been scripted any better. She just went on and on and on... not giving any adult in the room even a chance to break in and head her off at the storied pass.

"Brian"(again, not his real name) making speedy work of a Playdough snake (that looked more like 1/2 a bratwurst than anything even closely resembling a snake) so that he could do what he really wanted to do with the Playdough... roll it out into a flat patty on the table top and bore his fist right through the middle of it until he'd made a hole the size of the Grand Canyon. He proudly proclaimed, "Look at me, look at me... I made a hole!" Woo-hoo little buddy... let's celebrate the hole (was my internal reply)! But... you've just gotta love it... and I did rejoice in the hole he'd made! As far as holes go... it was a good one!

This year our children's ministers have done a great job making VBS a "family" experience. Parents are remaining with their kids and traveling around to all the learning stations and experiences as (grand)parent/child combos. That is really interesting to observe. The varying parenting styles alone are worth a documentary film! But watching the church members engage with the kids is even more fascinating and fulfilling. People have such great hearts... they must still have something "childlike" left in them. Some other adults have expressed displeasure over no "adult" offerings and are staying home. Do they have any childlikeness left in them I wonder?

Jesus' disciples had been dealing with adults for a long time and when the little kids came around looking to hang out with Jesus, the disciples tried to keep them away. Jesus was indignant and quick to let the little kids come around and hang out with him (Matt. 19:14; Mark 10:14). Jesus actually got indignant and had to rebuke His disciples telling them to "back off" a little. It seems to me like Jesus was suggesting they might try remembering they once were little kids, too.

Some don't want to mess with kids. They figure they've raised theirs and they've paid their dues. But Jesus said the kingdom of heaven belongs to the likes of kids. Yeah, I know... it blows me away, too!

Playdough snakes that look like a half-eaten bratwurst, just so I can play the way I want to. Little oratory mouths taking over an entire room with extemporaneous speeches. Exaggerations of what my brother did today, followed by fouled Playdough that has to be discarded before the next group comes in because... well, we won't even begin to share the details of that adventure! No wonder Jesus called these little folks close to Him... they're us!

Yeah... I'll speed through my assignments (even still) so I can do what I want to do. I still talk way more than I listen. I'll spend time talking about stuff that really doesn't matter just to make myself feel good. And let's not even talk about the mess I've made out of a lot more stuff than a can of Playdough in my days...

Do we forget so quickly? Maybe we forget because as adults we quit hanging out with kids? Maybe Jesus knew something we have forgotten?

Among these kids though are so many qualities I still want to have, too. There is a genuine eagerness to learn. The ability to instantly make friends and recover enemies if necessary. The willingness to listen and learn even if it comes only in 30 second spurts. The ability to eat cookies and drink lemonade, get it all over you and the kids on both sides of you... and still have it be "good" with everyone! Yep... Jesus was on to something when he talked about the kingdom of heaven belonging to the likes of kids.

We'd do well to not forget how good a fresh can of Playdough feels between our fingers and what it is like to be young again...

Trust the Angle

Today I took a little time off and spent the day with my younger daughter. We've needed some time together and today presented the "perfect" opportunity. The weather was nice, winding roads beckoned and we answered the call. Together, we put over 100 miles on the bike and hammered down a couple burgers, some fries and nearly sinful chocolate shakes in the process. (Okay... I'll tell you our "secret spot"... for those fortunate enough to live in the DFW area... check out Herby's Soda Fountain in old downtown McKinney just off state highway 5 -- in the antique district -- you'll feel like you've stepped back in time and the chocolate shakes are old-fashioned goodness).

I always enjoy any of my girls (wife included) riding "two-up" with me but I will say, the riding is always different. The responsibility of having anyone (let alone a beloved child or wife) on the back of a motorcycle always feels like "risk exponential." It is strange how what comes so natural to me and taking turns the "faster the better" alone can become so complicated with someone else on-board. Its enough to tame a daring man. I find myself almost being too cautious, which for a motorcyclist can be as dangerous as being too wreckless. There is a line one has too maintain between caution and wrecklessness.

Motorcycles are unique vehicles. Where a car wants to push through a turn (go wider with speed), a motorcycle wants to continue turning tighter and tighter. The lower in the turn the rider goes, the happier the motorcycle tends to be, by nature. But... with little or no warning whatsoever, pushed too far the bike can lose adhesion and "slip" out from under the rider and then the real thrill ride begins! Now, that point of lost adhesion, barring any foreign substances like gravel, oil or nasty demons like radiator fluid (particularly evil), is typically much farther leaned into a turn than most street riders will ever experience. Road racing professionals actually drag their knees on the pavement and still are able to maintain traction (most of the time -- grin here). Deep turns are all part of the risk/reward dynamic of riding one of these silly machines.

As my girls (wife excluded here) have experienced more and more of the thrill of motorcycling, the deeper they want to go in the turns. The deeper we go in turns, the more what seems "normal" for me riding alone, becomes "risk" in my head riding with them. Today, my daughter was getting the feel of it so much that she actually leaned into a turn on her own initiative (instead of following my lead) and it almost got me off balance (we've since discussed always follow Daddy's lead... don't lead on your own).

So... what's the point?

As I ride with God farther and farther in this faith journey, the more I realize we're taking turns faster and deeper than we ever have taken them before. I have never had a reason to question His lead. He has always picked the perfect line through every turn. But... sometimes I find myself leaning too early. At times it is because I think I'm doing so well with Him that I can actually pick the line myself... but when I do that, I seem to get the line wrong and my life winds up someplace over in the gravel (not a good place for street bikes or human life... always remember, asphalt good; gravel bad. Most riders (and lifers) have learned that one the hard way... myself included both in life and riding)!

As much as I want to ride (live) with God, I'm realizing things go best when I just follow His lean angle. He has the throttle... He has the experience... He's my Father in Heaven... so, I'm trusting His angle.

How about you? Are you ready to take life's turns deeper with God on the throttle? I'm finding that's where the ride is the best, even if it means I ride in back!

Ride safely... and maybe I'll see you down the road.

Sacred Trust

In just a few hours, I will be humbled to stand before a room full of people and attempt to bring a word on behalf of Jesus. It is now late into the evening (actually, early into the morning), I've just put the finishing touches to the week's outline and powerpoint slides... and I wait. The "wait" is always a bit difficult for me...

The message begins to churn early, as soon as the occasion to speak presents itself. Text, then angle, then details... but there is little stress there. That is part of the creative nature of the task of preaching and even when writer's block sets in and you don't feel like it will ever come together, it always seems to gel. A gracious work of the Holy Spirit, I've always felt.

For me, the wait is difficult because I realize how unworthy I am to speak. I feel the weight of a mortal man presenting an immortal message. I fog the mirror of self-reflection everytime I step near it. My breath is heavy... the wait continues.

Preaching is a sacred trust which though it may get easier homiletically (presenting it) it only seems to get more difficult spiritually. Can I really live up to this message I will bring? Does my life reflect any of the Light of which I speak? The message is sacred, the messenger is not -- that is truth as much as the Truth proclaimed is Truth.

The only credible witness I bring to this task is that God is merciful and kind. He is gracious to allow a human mouth to even speak His name. His is patient, forgiving and longsuffering when we have trouble living it out. He is compassionate and kind to open the ears of the listener to hear past our mistakes and misgivings. How comical, in a way, it is to speak on behalf of God... and yet, so profoundly good when blessed to do so.

"Lord, please speak through me in such a way as that I not be heard, but that You be heard. Decrease my presence, that Yours may increase. Open the ear and heart of the listener and change our lives, forever more. Glory be to God in the Highest."

Sacred trust, indeed.

A Blessing Interupted...

Over the past few months, I've been focusing quite a bit of my attention on the power of blessing. Blessings are something we hear little about in contemporary Christianity, unless someone sneezes of course! But there is a long and rich history in the power of blessing and in my opinion, we're missing it!

Part of the difficulty of learning about blessings is that there isn't much written about it. A few books here and there, generally targeted at the parental blessing bestowed on the child, but not much by way of offering "spiritual" blessings. Of course, scripture mentions it periodically but not from a specifically instructional perspective, mostly exemplary. From what I understand thus far, to offer a blessing is to confer on someone or something the abundance of God's richness. While it is a biblical concept often missed among God's people today it is as deeply meaningful as prayer. A blessing can be profoundly influencial in the life on another individual. It is a righteous proclamation by a person in faithful relationship with God. It is a statement that is believed to be true by faith and carried with that person for a significant period of time (maybe for life -- as in the case of parent to child -- see Jacob and Esau for example).

One instance of blessing that has always provoked my curiousity is a blessing of Jesus upon his disciples. Jesus has led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifts up His hands and blesses them (Luke 24:50). What the content of the blessing is, we don't specifically know. The gospel of Luke (and Luke was a stickler for details) doesn't say. But we do learn something about the posture of blessing... Jesus has His hands in the air.

Now, perhaps that is where we've gone astray in the whole ministry of blessing? We don't typically feel comfortable raising our hands in contexts having to do with "spiritual" stuff. Now, we'll raise our hands at a ballgame to praise our team or at a concert to sway with the music... but lest I digress... The thing that I find fascinating about Jesus' blessing on His disciples in Luke 24 is that it is "interupted." Yeah, I know... Isn't that weird? A blessing interupted...

I wonder about how many blessed opportunities have passed me by? Not interupted for the same sake as this blessing on Jesus' disciples, but simply by my own ignorance. How many people before whom I stood have needed a spoken or otherwise experienced blessing from the Lord and I've failed to be available to work in the Lord's behalf in this regard? I'm concerned that the number might be significant.

Part of the problem is an issue of control. We always want to know the "net effect" or the "end result" of everything we do. It is that economic "return on investment" thing that keeps tripping us up. Isn't it reasonable to assume that we can merely intend to be a blessing and let the Lord take care of the distribution results?

This week, our Wednesday Night Spiritual Formation Group just delivered over 200 goodie bags to some people who serve downtrodden and marginalized people in our community. We didn't know who specifically would receive a goodie bag (yummy stuff like chocolate dipped cookies, chocolate dipped pretzels, candies and nuts) but each one had an affixed written blessing intended to affirm their work (ministry) and to encourage them -- brighenting their day -- and reminding them the service they provide is not in vain, but is close to the heart of Jesus. Some expressed concern that the "blessing bags" might fall into the hands of unbelievers or people who might not understand.

Why must we always do "cost analysis" of our service? Can't we just serve for the blessed sake of service and being a blessing? Even if the blessing is interupted, I'm convinced goodness will result. Jesus' blessing was interupted by His ascension into heaven. But Luke records that the disciples then "worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God."

Net effect? You decide.

In Simple Kindness

The call to follow Jesus isn't easy. In fact, the more I try to follow Jesus and His radical ways, the farther it feels I am from His reality. While I know that an increased awareness of the counter-cultural nature of Christ makes me all the more aware of how cultural I've become, I believe there is hope for my continuing transformation into a deeper likeness to the Savior of the world.

The fact that Christianity is an Eastern faith in origin and we come at it with Western trappings doesn't make it any easier for us. Jesus is "outside our box" so much of the time we have trouble catching His drift. However, sometimes the things His followers wanted are not too far from our own desires even a couple millennia later. As we discover what some of His followers wanted from life, we struggle to see much wrong their desires, because they are so close to our own.

The request of a couple brothers is good case in point. In Mark 10:35-45 (also see Matt. 20:20-28), two brothers come to Jesus with a request. They want Jesus to do whatever they ask of Him. At this point, they have witnessed some incredibly powerful things from Jesus... the healing of the blind, healing of the deaf and mute, the feeding of over four thousand people with seven loaves of bread, among other things... usual miraculous Jesus stuff! So... these two brothers have apparently put their sibling rivalries down long enough to make a request of the Messiah. "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory" (10:37). (I've always wondered, if Jesus had given them the positions, would they have fought over which was "right" and which was "left?" My hunch is, they would have and Jesus wanted nothing to do with that stuff...).

As it was, Jesus was prepared to take the moment and move them one step closer to being real members of the kingdom of God. They had no clue what they were asking, but Jesus takes the moment to give them an essential clue as to what it means to truly follow Him. If you want to "win" at life, you are going to have to be willing to "lose" something is the thrust here and that lost is very personal!

Here is where our culture runs off the rails. What's so wrong with wanting to secure a little position in the organization? Isn't that what we are taught from childhood? Work hard, play hard, win hard! Success is in the position and whatever it takes to get to the position is justified by the position. So Western... but not so Jesus!

Jesus tells them, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. No so with you..." (10:42-43).

Ambition can do weird things to people. It isn't that we become such power hungry monsters (though that sometimes happens) that our dispositions become overwhelmingly intolerable. The reality for most is that we miss the subtle nuance of self-sacrifice and self denial. Jesus tells people who follow Him to think "slave" in a culture of "masters" and incline the heart to "serve" as we complain about slow service at the take-out window.

Entitlement is huge in our culture. Many actually begin to think we deserve or are even owed something more than what we have, let alone simply be satisfied by what we have already. It is so difficult in our Western world to grasp true sacrifice, surrender, submission and service. To simply serve in simple kindness. To live the "ransom" as Jesus would put it.

To deny yourself is alien in our culture. To truly practice self denial (rather than self-promotion) is not only seen as weird, it will often get you "run over" by the aggressive, upwardly mobile self-promoter. Jesus gave the two brothers just enough discipleship rope that they could of hung themselves on the tree of self-promotion. Instead, He used the same length of metaphor and corralled them into a life of simple kindness and self sacrifice. A tough transfer, but they made it eventually.

"What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked the brothers. What do you want Him to do for you? What do I want Him to do for me?

Lord, teach me to surrender in spite of myself. Craft me into being a true sacrifice for the sake of another. Break my heart so that I'll finally submit to your ways and lead me to serve until there is nothing left of me... and an ever-increasing reflection of you.

Vantage Point, Divine

I used to despise it when friends and acquaintances would make snide comments about our being the parent of two girls. "Oh, they may be great now, but just wait until their teenagers! Then you'll wish they were boys!" they would say.

So far, I can say having teenaged daughters is a blessing and I'll still take them over the boys (no offense to those of you raising boys -- chances are, our paths are going to cross in the not-too-distant future). Each day seems to bring a new adventure in parenting -- and can we ever really get it right as parents? I doubt it, but it sure is fun trying!

Tonight, one of my girls and I took the motorcycle out for a little late night ride and some Bahama Bucks shaved ice. If you've never had a "Bucks" and don't live in a part of the country that has them, consider packing your bags and moving close to one... they offer the "best" shaved ice on the planet. With a "quadrillion" flavors and ice the texture of Colorado dry-powdered snow, you can't beat it on a summer's night like tonight.

As we were sitting there, sharing a great moment, my daughter cautiously launched into a bit of a confession. She knew I might be angry, but she took the risk anyway. She was articulate, explained her point of view and was forthright. I loved every minute of it.

When she finished, I was a bit upset by the news, but there was something so pure about the "confession" that I just couldn't muster up being angry. I offered a few words of exhortation and caution which were received with grace. I could sense relief on her part and, perhaps, some on my part as well. It was nice to know she trusted me enough to be open about it. I later told her this was a parent's dream, to have a child be open and honest with a parent. Cool stuff, I believe.

After we got home and her mom and I discussed it, we saw the need to set a few parameters and offer more exhortation. All is well, we might say. I think she's cool with it, too.

The whole thing got me thinking about how my heavenly Father must deal with me. At times in my life, I've held my stray behaviors from Him (though He knew them full well). I was slow in confession and even slower in opening my heart up to His instruction and discipline. Of course, I was only fooling myself, knowing I couldn't hide from Him. Finally, when I couldn't stand the pain any longer... I'd have to come to Him feeling even worse than I did before. It is always the same every time and I'm finally learning it is a bummer to keep from sharing stuff with the Father in Heaven. Hollowed be His name.

How pleased God must be when we come to Him in a proactive posture and admit up front, in His presence, that we really need to get our lives right with Him. He might even be angry with us over the choices we've made and our subsequent behaviors, but we're coming back "on the frontside" to repent and to ask Him to begin reshaping us. To take our mistakes and build us into a likeness that more closely resembles that of His Son, Jesus Christ.

This is a bold request of the Lord, but I believe he honors a proactive heart. Somewhere it says (I'll let you look it up, it will mean more to you when you find it) all He really requires of us is that we "do justly, love mercy and walk humbly" with Him. Could any parent ask for a more wonderful relationship with a child?

My daughter pursued justice even before I could have discovered anything out of the ordinary. She loved mercy enough (and, frankly, got some in the process) she was willing to take the "chance" on the frontside of the event and in her humility, I was willing to go a little easier on the pending discipline. In this situation, discipline is still invoked, but both parent and child are being blessed in the process.

I'm trying diligently in my faith walk with the Lord to come to Him sooner than later with my shortcomings and I think it is making a big difference in our relationship. I'd encourage anyone to consider doing the same, if this isn't part of your current faith walk with Him. Justice, mercy and humility are fostered when the child comes to the parent first.



Thank you, Father God, for your patience and love with us, your children.

Down Worship

It appears that much of contemporary church worship today has adopted a particular emotional bias. That bias being the opinion that "good" worship always leaves the worshipper feeling "great" and "up" (never down) when all is said and done. Upbeat music, colorful graphics, high energy presentations all culminate in a rousing "Hallelujah" at the end of a "successful" worship experience. All attenders leave feeling "good about themselves and God."

My home church took a decided and intentional move away from that bias yesterday (not that we typify that bias on a weekly basis by any means, because I would honestly say that we don't) and it was quite a bold step by modern church standards. While the music was filled with energy and was certainly rousing with emotion, the wound of the soul was exposed and allowed to air in the company of all worshippers. The morning was perhaps one of the most moving I have experienced in some time.

According to Solomon, there is a time to tear down, a time to weep, a time to mourn (Ecc. 3:3-4). Yet in many church cultures today, our spiritual woundedness is rarely, if ever, acknowledged. Without the wounds of the soul (sin, shame, reproach) it is difficult to live a "time for everything" as Solomon advises. Generally speaking, we just don't want to worry and just "be happy." We'd rather not wrestle with the pains, sorrow and despair that pursuing a relationship with God can bring. Jesus said it would cost us something to follow Him and some of that cost is the pain of being aware of who we are without Him.

Sin, sorrow and pain are difficult to sell in a market-driven world. You can find pain relievers everywhere you turn. But for most churches, it appears it is easiest to merely avoid the subject altogether. But if we are to have relationship with the Righteous One, the Holy God, we must to come to grips with our unrighteousness and lack of holiness. In other words, eventually "our sins will find us out" and we'll have to deal with the magnitude of them. Even as a baptized believer, it is easy to forget the "downside" of my soul. That part of me is ugly... and I typically want to avoid the ugly. I'll go for "spiritual botox" (inject me with some temporarily numbing agent and let my spiritual insulation swell around my trangressions) before I'll admit the wrinkled depths of my sin, let alone allow someone else to see it. As I recall, Solomon said a thing or two about vanity, too.

This past Sunday, our worship planners and participating leaders chose not to avoid or ignore our sin and shame. Instead, we publicly met the reality head-on encouraging our acknowledgement of it. Once acknowledged, we move toward a deeper realization of our redemption in Jesus Christ. I'll be the first to admit it was a powerfully transforming moment. It was said that it is okay to be sad in church today. Sin is something to be sad about and we aren't going to pretend it isn't a very real part of our lives. Thankfully, there is no condemnation and we find full redemption through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. For that, we are encouraged to give glory and praise to God for He has made us whole. I left that time of worship hopeful. Though our hearts were made sorrowful for the pain we have brought on ourselves, others and the Lord, we left as transformed people -- changed for the better -- ready to serve with deeper humility and thanksgiving.

Dealing with my own personal sins in that hour and fifteen minute worship service, in the presence of 1,500 other sinners was emotionally heavy. Buffalo-sized tears streamed down my face and moistened the carpet in front of me as I felt a renewed weight for what my sin cost of my Savior and the pain inflicted on those touched by my sinfulness. Letting that weight settle on my soul and spirit again gave me an increasing appreciation for just how dirty and ugly I can be spiritually. And yet, the love of God is constant, overwhelming and ever-reaching into the depths of my despair (Ps. 51; John 3:16, Rom. 5:6-8, etc.) and causes me to see what glorious potential I have in Jesus Christ! Why do we run from pain, especially spiritual pain?

Maybe we run because pain is one of the greatest transforming agents of our human condition. If something physically hurts when you do it, the nerve sensors in your body make demands to your brain saying "we should stop doing this right now!" and we'll stop the behavior immediately (barring any mental or emotional dysfunction). Spiritually, doesn't it seem reasonable we need the same level of stimulus telling us of the dangers of sin, rather than just letting it burn our souls away? Spiritually is it really any different than with our body? When we are willing to feel the weight of our sin, we realize the pain it generates (in ourselves, in others, and ultimately in God) and we begin to realize "I can't continue willfully doing this... it just hurts too badly" and we change our behaviors. The old gym tag may apply, "No pain, no gain."

In a culture never allowing, let alone empowering "down worship," how are we going to realize the magnitude of our sin? How are we going to more deeply appreciate the sacrifice of Jesus Christ? How are we going to be transformed into the likeness of our Savior? I believe a little "down" time is good for the soul.

There is a time and a season for "down worship" and yesterday's "down" brought me to new heights of thanksgiving and praise. "It is well (again) with my soul."

Creative Worship

Jesus once said if the people of His day kept quiet, the stones would cry out in praise of His name (Lk. 19:40) and I've always wondered what the sound would be. Would it be in a language I would recognize? Would they simply click together as in a landslide? Would they have their own unique tongue and voice?

While I believe it could happen as Jesus spoke it, I want to be careful and not lose the point as His detractors apparently did. As I live in and around nature, I can't help being aware of nature's role in worship to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

As God continues to grow me through days and breath, I have become increasingly aware of the "praise" nature offers its Creator. Most apparent to me in recent years is the beauty of clouds and the sounds of songful birds singing their tunes. There was a time in my life when I found the squawking of certain birds obnoxious and annoying. By way of confession, I will admit there was a time early in my life when I took ready aim at the singing fowl with a slingshot... just to watch them scurry away (before for you call the SPCA...not to worry, I wasn't a young David and my aim not all that good). My thoughts and disposition have changed in recent years and now I'll actually stop my business in order to appreciate theirs. I may not spend a long time listening, but I will listen long enough and closely enough to appreciate their "words of praise." How beautiful it must sound to the Creator. Does my voice sound as sweet? Are my praises as varied as theirs?

Perhaps St. Francis of Assisi (c. 1181- 1226) is the one who turned my ear around. Founder of the Franciscan Order, Francis had a particularly keen awareness of nature and was diligent in spending time in it. It is said that on one occasion, while walking with some of his students, he actually walked among a flock of birds (who seemingly were not flushed by his presence) and preached a brief sermon to them reminding them to give praise to the Creator for the beauty of their own createdness.

Nature has much to offer us regarding worship. The lillies of the field don't labor or spin, the birds of the air don't store away in barns and yet they are well taken care of by their Creator. Maybe that is why lillies are so beautiful to our eyes and bird songs as pleasant when we take time to listen. Nature is teaching me the simplicity of worship. How much more equipped are we to give praise than the lillies and the birds? If we don't make a very concerted effort in our praise, the lillies, the birds and even the rocks will have one up on us. But together, somehow along with them, we can offer worship for which our Creator is worthy.

Radiant Worship

When Moses came down from the mountain, he was not aware of the fact that his face was "radiant because he had spoken with the Lord" (34:29). When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, they were afraid to approach him or even be close to him. Moses had an "effect" from the event of worship and being in God's presence.

I've known people afraid to approach Christians, but generally speaking it wasn't because those Christians were "radiant" as a result of being close to God. Typically, I've observed people who are "afraid" of Christains are fearful because Christians likely haven't been close enough to God! People are afraid Christians will act too human and not enough like God. People fear they will be approached with judgement and condemnation. People are afraid of all the conditional baggage other humans bring to relationships and, frankly, that can be pretty scary when you think about it.

It is worthy of note, when God describes Himself to Moses, He describes Himself as compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin (Ex. 34:6). God also speaks of punishing the guilty, and He must do so because He is Just. But as a mere mortal, I will rightfully receive punishment from the God who's nature is like that. Wouldn't most people? Even folks who haven't yet come into a relationship with God appreciate the value of justice being served. In fact, doesn't that open the door wide to the grace and mercy afforded us in Jesus Christ? I'm accepted, because He was forsaken!

This brings me back to the whole worship idea. What "effect" does my worship (my God- encounters) have on my influence with other people? Realizing worship is something more than what happens on a Sunday morning... I believe I must consider if being in the presence of God on any occasion has a net effect on how others encounter me. Aaron and the Israelites were "afraid" to be in the presence of Moses after having been with God, but Moses "called to them" (34:31) and they came. Moses veiled his face to reduce the amount of stress it put on his visitors, but he had much to offer them because of his encounters with God.

I'm concerned we might not have much to veil. I'm concerned we simply don't encounter God with enough significance that there is much to astonish anyone about the lives of Christians who claim to know God. Do Christians really appear much different from those who aren't Christian? It may have something to do with our God-encounters (our worship).

If our worship is merely a "man encounter" we really don't have much to offer people. Apart from God, I can't offer people anything more than something temporal and human. Perhaps we should take a lesson from Moses and better prepare ourselves for "encounters with God." The result may be that we bow to the ground in worship, because there is nothing more appropriate to do when in the presence of God and the net effect might become radiance in our own lives and in the lives of others.

Active Worship

Worship is an amazing experience -- at least I believe it should be. When we read of "encounters" (worship) biblical characters had with God, we discover quite often their lives and the lives of those around them significantly changed following the worship. As I observe and experience worship in our American churches, I wonder if something is missing. What did those biblical characters have in their worship that we lack? God is the same God. The essence of worship and the primary acts of worship remain relatively unchanged. But something must be missing because people don't appear changed the way the biblical characters were as a result of their worship. But what might be missing? Is it practical, liturgical, emotional? What could be the matter?

Worship literally means to "ascribe worth to." People worship that which is venerated or held in high esteem. Today, perhaps the most common example of worship practiced among most people is what happens in arenas, ballparks, collisiums and race tracks on a nearly daily basis. In the USA, we love sports and consequently we virtually "worship" the teams or players as our favorites. (Since moving to Texas, I have found quite a stir can be made with the mere mention of either the Aggies or the Longhorns. Devotion to either of these teams can border on the fanatical -- and there is much "ascribing worth to" the team one prefers). We actively root for and defend "our team" and few things or people will stand between us and them. Many fans will prepare for a game as much as the players do. Reading statistics, dressing in logo clothing, face (or shockingly more) painting -- and all this before excessive consumptions of alcohol and pretzels (could this be the communion of sporting masses?) -- indicate a certain level of active participation with "our team."

After Moses broke the first two stone tablets, God told him to chisel out two more like the first and God would prepare to write on them. Before God began to write, He told Moses to "Be ready in the morning, and then come up on Mount Sinai. Present yourself to me there on top of the mountian," he said (Ex. 34:3). I find it interesting that God told Moses he had to "prepare" (be ready) in order to meet with Him. Moses had to move into an "active" posture to encounter God. He had to "be ready" to meet with Him and God then, "came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord...Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshipped..." (34:5-8).

Christians spend time each Sunday morning physically getting "ready" for worship, and I wonder if we are as actively prepared "spiritually" for it? God called Moses to be prepared for Him to pass in front of Moses as God proclaimed His nature and character. Moses' immediate response was to "worship" (34:8). God prepared Moses for the experience of encounter and Moses' immediate response was to worship! Moses got ready. Moses got set. God showed up. Then, Moses worshiped!

Of course, worship is more than what we do collectively on Sunday mornings, but is there a principle from which we might benefit for the times we do gather for worship? I believe there is.

Perhaps the fundamental difference between Moses' worship experience and ours is that Moses got ready to "encounter" God? Moses worshiped as a result of being in God's presence, as a direct implication of experiencing God. Moses didn't just start out "worshiping" and then hope to run into God in the process. But I'm afraid that is the way we, far too often, come into the community of worship. Not that worship for worship sake doesn't have some value, I believe it does (God is always worthy of our praise). But transformational worship (people being changed through worship) seems to have a God-encounter associated with it. Chicken vs. Egg proposition? Perhaps. But then again, I'm just wondering outloud...

In our culture, we tend to worship hoping to "come into" God's presence. And sometimes, frighteningly, we may even worship with little or no expectation for coming into God's presence whatsoever. That would be truly sad, indeed if this were the type of "preparation" I bring to worship -- to never anticipate God showing up in a powerful manner. So maybe we should "encounter" God first -- as part of our daily faith journey -- and then see if it leads to transformational worship?

If we spent our week "actively preparing" for an encounter with God, wouldn't it likely change the experience of our worship and we just might leave having been changed in the process?

Have We Missed the Point?

Preachers preach. That's what they do and I'm quite familiar with it. I've heard preaching since I was six weeks old and haven't missed many Sundays since. Additionally, I've spent the better part of my life preaching. Now, though my ministry doesn't expect me to preach every Sunday morning, I still have opportunity to preach -- my teenaged daughters might still argue for my weekly frequency as raising kids often calls for proclamations and altar calls (of a sort) -- and I am humbled and blessed any time I am given opportunity to speak of the good news of Jesus Christ.

Being exposed to preaching as much as I have been gives me a curious point to ponder: Have we missed the point of preaching? While we are there in theory, I wonder if we have missed something in the practice of preaching itself. I'm not confident the New Testament places preaching as the central dynamic activity of the faith community in Christ and yet in American churches we have tended to locate it as the central event.

Each Sunday morning in most churches across this country, preaching is the centerpiece. It is given the majority of time and attention in the assembly of the church. Tune in any number of televised church assemblies this weekend and I can confidently assert they won't show a half hour of praise and worship or communion. It will be preaching basically from start to finish of the broadcast.

Preaching, in the "live" church context, is often the base standard by which the merits of a worship assembly are evaluated. If the sermon is deemed "a good one" then the general opinion of the service is favorable as well. (We don't have space nor time to discuss what merits a "good" sermon -- but the theological and consumerological audience opinions will differ considerably, I assure you). Consequently, preachers are "had for lunch" in rivaled quantities, and as voraciously consummed as much as the best pasta dishes or fried chicken fingers church attenders rush out to get as soon as the closing hymn is sung. Preaching is a tough gig and most people naturally miss it for what it really is -- until they themselves try to do it for a while. I will always have a heart for weekly preachers whether I am one or not. Subsequently, I praise God for the preacher I am blessed to hear week in and week out. He is a good man and works diligently at the craft of preaching.

Having preached weekly for many years, I wonder if even we preachers miss the point? Is it possible preachers have construed Christianity more as a platform of philosophical rational principles rather than as an active encounter with the Divine? I believe so.

When Jesus sent out the twelve (Matt. 10 and Luke 9) he did mention preaching, but it seems almost as a secondary thought to His plans, not as a central or primary point of contact. Jesus called the disciples to Him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness (Matt. 10:1). Jesus provided power (authority) to do amazing things that would result in extraordinary impact in people's lives. Jesus actually said, "As you go, preach this message: The kingdom of heaven is near" (10:7). Here is where I wonder if we have missed the point... Have we missed what we're supposed to be doing "as we go" preaching?

The phrase "as you go" is a present participle indicating an incomplete action. It is followed by the present imperative "preach" and Jesus is quite clear what to preach regarding the nearness of the kingdom. The question is, "Did Jesus send these guys on a preaching expedition and along the way they were to do powerful acts of service or did He send them to transform people's lives and to do some kingdom preaching along the way?" I believe it was the latter. It is my conviction we should be oriented the same way today.

Our preaching today is often reduced to "what rational people ought to believe" rather than proclamations of the power by which amazing and transformational things are happening in the lives of people being touched by the power of God. Somewhere along the way if we are not very aware, God can be left out of our equations of faith, even when God may be the central theme of the sermon! Without accompanying actions of God's evidence and power, the "nearness of the kingdom of God" is lost and our preaching is lame of the true power it is intended to possess.

The kingdom of God is power on the move... it always has been. "From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it" (Matt. 11:12). Like a mighty wind, the kingdom of heaven advances while changing the landscape in its path. Preaching should always be a proclamation (a wind -- hot or otherwise) of the advancement of God's kingdom in Christ Jesus, not merely interesting perspectives on it. It should always strike one's heart as profoundly as it strikes the intellect.

Hearing good preaching should be as though you just encountered a presence whose sum total is far greater than the preacher and the hearers and all else combined. Preaching is to be a direct and powerful encounter with the person of God. Preaching should be an act that brings us into a living, dynamic and lifelong encounter with Jesus Christ. Preaching is transformational in nature and this should be the standard by which it is measured. Preaching is an event in which we are changed, both the speaker and the hearer together. God bless those who preach the kingdom of heaven is near and may those who hear, have ears to hear, and be equally blessed.

Independence Day

Happy Fourth of July! Today is the day our country celebrates our independence. 230 years of independence from the "Motherland." As far as world nations go, we're still just youngsters... we're walking pretty well, but probably still wearing diapers and needing someone to help us get dressed from a historical perspective. But all in all, we've become arguably the most powerful economic, political and militaristic nation on the globe. Happy Birthday, America!

The independent spirit that characterizes our brand of society is renown across this planet. Admired by most, there are others who find us as a people to be arrogant and selfishly independent. Ranked among the "best" in the world, we are also the top consuming nation in nearly every category available. While generous to other nations the world over, there is likely room for improvement.

A couple months ago, I had the privledge of hearing Bono (the front man for the Irish rock band U2) speak on the plight of Africa. I found him to be quite articulate and well versed in the needs of the world around us, but specifically with regard to the needs of the African people. Among many powerful points made that evening, he suggested that if the USA increased its benevolence to the world by only 1%, world hunger would be eradicated. That simply did me in. Only a 1% increase could change the world? Amazing.

But could we do that? Could we increase our international benevolence by 1%? The answer is obviously "yes," but it might also be "no."

I wonder about our "independence" and what happens when people are "free" to pursue the American Dream (if there truly is such a thing). How many populations get left behind in our pursuits? I begin to listen more closely to the words of Jesus and how, at times, His kingdom speeches challenge the virtues of our modern American independence. Jesus speaks often of being more blessed by giving than receiving, of losing your life only to find it, of giving not only your coat to anyone who has need, but also your shirt, too. Stuff like that really knocks at the door of my comfortable American independence and it makes me wonder.

New Testament authors also write of being a "body" and each part a dependent part of another and it makes me wonder if in our independence, we have only become more isolated and insulated from the real pains of the world around us.

If my independence only feeds my insatiable thirst for more and more stuff and my illusions of self sufficiency consequently move me farther and farther from the true heart of Jesus, is it really independence? On this Fourth of July holiday, maybe I need to rethink "with liberty and justice for all."