God Cares for You

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” I Peter 5:7

Honestly, that seems a little far-fetched to me… doesn’t that seem far-fetched to you?  I mean, think about it!  Think about that crazy claim!  God cares… for you! 

We’re talking about the one responsible for creating a universe so vast, so expansive we simply can’t begin to comprehend it.  Scientists tell us that the “observable” universe is 46 billion light years in radius.  That’s pretty big! 

And yet, according to this ancient writer, the one responsible for the creation of this universe (we refer to this entity as “God”) not only knows of the existence of one human being on one very small planet in one small solar system in one galaxy in that vast universe (which could be one among many), God cares.  God cares for you!

So how could anyone be expected to believe something that unbelievable?  Who would ever, even for one moment, entertain the thought that it could be true?  It just feels so…well…far-fetched! 

But what if it is…true?

This morning I spent some time meditating on that verse.  I sometimes have doubts like everyone else, but the longer I meditated on that verse the more convinced I became that it must be true.  This morning it kept reverberating through my mind (and some part of my being that is capable of knowing better than my mind).  The audacious thing this writer claimed simply could not possibly be untrue! 

Think about it!  It’s just too beautiful to not be true!

If the universe came into existence through the intentional creative work of an entity we call God, and if that God envisioned “human beings” and possessed the mind and heart to make that dream a reality, then would it not be impossible for that God, with that mind and heart, to not care about every single one of those human beings?

Think about it!  It’s just too beautiful to not be true!  God is just too beautiful for it to not be true!

So here we are, 2000 years after Peter wrote these words and I’m inviting you to embrace the possibility that it must be true.

For a few moments let this thought sink deep into your spiritual psyche.  God cares for you!  Then, in the cosmic wake of such a beautiful thought cast your anxiety on him.  Go ahead.  You can do it.  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Taking a Safer Road

When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter.  For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”  So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.  

Exodus 13:17-18

I took a break from blogging over the summer, which was a good idea since I didn’t have much to say.  Of course, that’s not to say that I couldn’t have said something, because preachers can always talk until we think of something to say.  But it’s almost always better to wait until you have something worth saying to say it.

That being said, I think this passage of scripture speaks volumes.  And the volumes it speaks are worth repeating, and hearing.

The newly liberated Hebrew people leave Egypt celebrating the victory of their God over the gods of Egypt.  Obviously, they must have been on an emotional high.  But the writer gives us some insight into God’s unique perspective.  God knows that they are not ready for the challenges that lie ahead and so he provides a detour, a safer road.  

Instead of taking them the shortest route, which would lead them into the territory of the militarily superior Philistines, he leads them down the desert road; a longer but safer route.  Ex-slaves don’t turn into the X-men over night. 

In this season of my life I feel pretty overwhelmed.  I feel as if I can’t quite get my head on straight.  Have you ever felt like that?  Can you relate to what I’m saying?  Sometimes I feel pulled in too many different directions, like I’m going to splinter into mini fragments of myself.  I’m trying to deal with all the different things competing for my time and attention.  I’m afraid that I will fail to do anything really well because there just won’t be enough of me fully dedicated to one thing long enough to do it right before I have to redirect my attention to something else. (Deep breath!)

I feel like an ex-slave trying to be an X-man.

This passage may feel fairly inconsequential to you but it is having a big impact on me.  Here’s what I’m learning about God.  The God of the scriptures is willing to let me slow down and take a safer route.  He even insists that I do!   

The God I create in my head normally tells me to do more and to do it better.  He tells me to measure up, to achieve, to excel.  But the God of the scriptures tells me to wait, to slow down, to reroute away from the foe I’m not ready to fight.  And the God of the scriptures leads me down the desert road where I am safe. 

I’m trying to get to know this God.  Maybe you’re like me.  Maybe you need to get to know him too. 

What I’m Beginning to Learn about Marriage after 31 Years

Barely babies when we wed, my bride and I were possibly the two most naïve human beings who ever “jumped the broom!” 

At the Lincoln County Court House we began our lives together as husband and wife.  We stood before a magistrate, looked deeply into one another’s eyes and pronounced our life long fidelity; for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health.  Looking back, I don’t think either of us had the slightest notion just how true those words would be… all of those words.

For us, marriage has been an exercise in extremes.  I think we have known almost all of the ecstasy and agony that marriage can deliver.  From honey moon rapture to the birth of grandchildren, we have thrilled to the most exhilarating moments two people can experience together.  From horrific, white hot anger shouting matches, to standing horrified beside a grandchild’s grave, we have lived through the most painful events two people can share.

Recently Cindy and I celebrated our 31^st anniversary and, typically, I’m reflecting on what I’ve learned (actually what I’m still trying to learn) in over three decades of marriage.  I thought I might share a few of those thoughts with you.

1.  Marriage is complicated, frustrating, at times infuriating and hopelessly beyond ever figuring out or “getting right.”

Cindy and I used to go to marriage seminars designed to teach us how to “get marriage right.”  Normally the leaders of said seminars claimed to be able to accomplish this feat in just one weekend, during which they would teach us the “seven simple steps to a serene marriage,” or some such nonsense.  Mostly what I learned at those seminars is that the people who lead them are either disillusioned or deceitful.  There’s really no room for a third option. 

First of all, including the weekends we spent at those seminars, Cindy and I have invested somewhere around 1,612 weekends, plus all the days in between, trying to learn how to have a “serene” marriage.  We’re not quite there yet!  At various times, various “S” words have been used to describe our marriage, but I don’t think “serene” has ever been one of them (except maybe when we were both taking naps).

Secondly, there are way more than seven steps.  To my amazement, and chagrin, I have decided that there must be several million steps.  To make things even more complicated, the steps are constantly changing.  I’m being completely serious now!  The steps that worked yesterday somehow don’t work today.  Overnight they completely lost their effectiveness.  It’s truly fascinating!

2.  Marriage is, out of all God’s beautiful, miraculous, breath taking and wonderful creations, possibly the most beautiful, miraculous, breath taking and wonderful.

I find the passage in Genesis fascinating; the one that says that God brought the man and woman together and they became one flesh… and they were naked without shame. (Genesis 2:22-25)  I like all of that description, including the naked part.  There is simply nothing more impressive about God’s creative endeavor than that. 

Over the years I’ve realized that being naked is about more than “getting naked” (not that the “getting naked” part is not really good too).  I’ve learned that being naked and unashamed is also about knowing another human being so intimately that there is simply nothing left to hide. 

I think Cindy is the only person on the face of the earth that pretty much knows my every flaw, fear and fantasy.  She is the only human from whom I’m not hiding at least part of myself.  With her I can be exposed without terror, without fear of rejection or disgust.  (Sometimes there’s a little bit of disgust when I clip my toenails and leave them on the night stand.)

In short, God was bringing his “A” game the day he dreamed up marriage! 

3.  Marriage is constantly changing, forever evolving and endlessly reborn, because both partners are changing, evolving and being reborn.

Here’s the understatement of a lifetime.  I’m not the same person I was when I verbalized marriage vows.  The 19 year old (that’s right) who stood beside my young bride that June afternoon in 1982 no longer exists.  I’m not him.  He’s not me.  In fact, in most ways, we are totally opposite from one another.

Similarly, Cindy is not the same person she was when we became husband and wife.  She is even more beautiful now than she was then, and not only physically.  In the most fundamental ways that make us who we are, she is a different person.   

Here’s the amazing – I would say miraculous – thing.  Those two people who fell in love and got married, who then changed and became two totally different people, are somehow still “compatible.”  And we didn’t even have eharmony!

Sometimes people think about giving up on marriage, some for really good reasons.  But I think sometimes people project onto marriage some kind of Hollywood image that’s simply not accurate.  Marriage is almost never what you expected it to be.  It’s almost always  more… and less than you expected.

Here’s what I would argue.  Marriage is just too big of a deal, too hard, too valuable, too impossible to entrust into the hands of the two people that are in it together.  I would argue that it takes a third person… God! 

That’s one thing I’m pretty sure I’ve learned in 31 years of marriage.    

Violence and Vacation Bible School

Vacation Bible School is happening this week in my church family (Zoar Church).  VBS is a tradition dating back to… well… a long time ago.  It’s basically a whole week of kids singing, snacking, running and learning.

I like the memory verses for our VBS this year.  The first one comes from the most quoted passage in the Jewish tradition, called the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5).  Devout Jews still recite it every morning and evening.  It goes like this.  Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.  Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all you soul and with all your strength.

The second also comes from the Hebrew Scriptures (Leviticus 19:34) and it says, The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born.  Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt.  I am the LORD your God. 

Jesus put the two together and said that they are “alike;” which means, you can’t do one without doing the other (Matthew 22:37-39).    

Here’s the thing.  I read a lot of well meaning writers that have a lot to say about violence fueled by religious fervor.  And I can’t really argue with them.  Many millions of people have died, sometimes horrifically, in the name of religion.  The Christian tradition has to share this black mark.  The Crusades, the Inquisitions, religious persecution by the Reformers and other atrocities are part of our history.  No use denying that.  Sadly, much violence is still done in the name of religion.

But may I respectfully make two observations.

First, when we kill in the name of our religion we may claim to be following the will of God, but just because we make the claim doesn’t mean that it is true. 

If we read the Bible through the lens of Jesus Christ, I believe we come away with the distinct impression that those who do violence in God’s name are tragically mistaken.  I think it is really hard to read the teachings of Jesus, or his follower’s interpretation of those teachings, and glean any other idea.  (See Matthew 5:38-48, Romans 12:9-21, 1^st Peter 3:8-12, 1^st John 3:11-18)

Secondly, although many lives have been taken in the name of religion (we can’t minimize that fact, nor should we), many millions of lives have been - and are being made better because our Scriptures teach us to love.  This is the central tenet of the Christian faith; to love… to love with all our hearts… to love actively… to love generously… to love like God loved us… sacrificially, selflessly, with a servant’s heart (Philippians 2:5-8)

If you research the historical development of hospitals, schools, orphanages, hospice care, elderly care etc. you will discover that they all have their roots deeply planted in the Jesus movement.  There is no viable indication that, without the church, the world would have ever known the kind of compassion we now take for granted.

I would argue that the compassionate, philanthropic tendencies of the 21^st century world are largely the result of the 1^st century Jesus Movement.  In fact, I don’t think any historian worth his salt would deny that the world we live in has been forever changed because of a crucified Rabbi named Jesus and the movement he launched. 

Simply stated, the church, with all her flaws (and there are many) is teaching the world what love looks like… and it looks like Jesus!

Here’s what I know for sure.  This week children are learning to love others based on the fundamental belief that God loves… that God is love.  They are learning to put that love into practice by serving other human beings.  They are learning that love looks like giving food to kids who don’t have enough food.  (Literally, they are bringing food that goes into backpacks to be delivered to kids in our community who otherwise won’t have enough food to eat this summer!)

These are great kids that will grow into adults who love and heal their world and it is happening because they are learning the most fundamental teachings of the church.  I would argue that it’s hard to argue with that.

I’m happy to hear your thoughts.

A Chapter From My Story

This past Sunday I shared a little bit of my story with my church family.  (If you’re interested you can listen to it at zoarchurch.com.)  It’s still on my mind.

I told our folks that as a six year old child I embraced the beautiful, expansive, overwhelming love of Jesus Christ.  I remember being enveloped in his forgiveness and grace as I made my public profession of faith and was plunged into the waters of baptism. 

But soon I was being baptized into other, strange, murky waters; waters of doubt, fear and confusion as I struggled to believe (or doubted if I really believed) everything I had been taught.  Unfortunately for me, there was no room for doubt in the faith tradition of my childhood (which I guess would best be described as Fundamentalism).  If you doubted, you were lost.  And so most of the time I felt lost.   

For me faith was complicated. 

Faith, for me, wasn’t really faith in Jesus Christ.  It was really faith in me.  I was actually believing in my ability to believe.  I was placing faith in my capacity to somehow produce faith.  I turned “having faith” into just another way to earn my salvation because “having faith” depended on me.    

I hope that makes sense.  Maybe, for you, it does.  Maybe you can relate.  Maybe it strikes a chord deep in your spiritual psyche.  Maybe the way I felt is the way you feel.

So just a couple thoughts for my fellow recovering fundamentalists.

v  In the Bible “to believe” is not really about intellectual agreement with a set of doctrinal statements; although there is nothing wrong with that.  “Believing” is more about entrusting yourself into the care of another. 

I think that’s what the six year old Rob did.  They don’t call it childlike faith for nothing!  It took years for me to reconnect with that kind of childlike faith.  And sometimes I find myself needing to reconnect again.

v  I think faith and doubt can coexist.  In fact, for me, they go together quite naturally.  John Ortberg has observed that if a person has no doubt then that person doesn’t have faith… he has certainty.  After Mother Teresa died, her journals revealed that she struggled with great doubt and fear. 

It’s somehow comforting to me to know that one of the greatest icons of faith also had doubt.  So I don’t feel too bad when I do too.  

v  I don’t think that God is waiting on us to somehow believe enough, or believe all the right stuff.  Wouldn’t that make God more dependent on us than we are on him?  I tend to believe that the heart of God is open to any trusting soul.

Perceptions about Christians – Part III “Homophobic”

“Christians are homophobic, right wing, hypocrites.”  I’ve written a couple posts in an effort to share a Christian response to that statement.  So far I’ve addressed the accusation that Christians are “hypocrites” and “right wing”  With this post we’ll tackle the last one (actually the first in the list).

 

Why are Christians perceived as homophobic?

Well, let’s think about it.  I’m sure the accusation is unfairly leveled against many deeply committed Christ followers.  That’s the problem with being in a family, including the Christian family.  You often get blamed for the embarrassing stuff your siblings do.

However, sometimes the accusation is accurate.  In all honesty, I think many well intentioned Christians practice what might be called “sin-spotlighting?”  (Kind of like poachers who “spotlight” deer at night.)  Sin-spotlighting is when I single out one sin as somehow “worse” than another.  So right now, in some religious communities, the sin that seems to be in the spotlight is homosexual behavior.

I honestly think that’s a fairly objective statement.  I haven’t, for example, heard anyone accusing Christians of being “greed-phobic.”  Jesus (actually the Bible as a whole) says much more about the sin of greed than all the sexual sins put together.  But for some reason, greed doesn’t seem to grab our attention.  I wonder why. 

Do you see what I mean?  All I’m saying is I think we really should be honest enough to equalize all sin.  Let’s give it all equal exposure.  

If I may, let me anticipate an objection.  Some might say (some have said) that the reason we must shine a spot light on homosexuality is because the “consequences” of that sin are more devastating than others.  And to that objection I would respectfully ask why, then, didn’t Jesus spotlight it?  Homosexuality was certainly pervasive in the ancient Roman culture.  Why did Jesus seemingly ignore it? 

If we value the teachings of Jesus at all, wouldn’t we make the use of violence against our enemies a “spot light sin?”(Matthew 5:38-48)  Wouldn’t we say more about “fools” who store up more wealth than they need (Luke 12:13-21), and religious people who judge others instead of being honest about their own sin (Matthew 7:1-5)?  Aren’t those the things that Jesus repeatedly underscored in his sermons?

Let’s be really honest for a minute.  Maybe there is actually some truth to the “homophobic” accusation. 

I would argue that our obsession with homosexuality is fear driven.  I think, especially among evangelical Christians, there is an irrational fear of this particular sin.  (In fact, we have all kinds of irrational fears.  I guess we could speculate about why, but I won’t get into that now.)  The point is, maybe we should pay attention to what Jesus says about the insidious nature of fear.   

Jesus said, over and over again, “don’t fear.”  In fact, he repeated that phrase more often than any other.  Could it be that he knew his disciples would be more prone to fear, and more negatively impacted by fear, than any other tendency?  The Bible says, “There is no fear in love.  But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.  The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” (1^st John 4:18)

Perhaps the first step to regaining some credibility with people who could, I believe, benefit greatly from the message of Jesus is to humble ourselves.  Maybe we could confess our inclination toward fear driven accusations and actions.  (Reference the Crusades, the Inquisitions, Salem witch trials etc.)  Maybe we could apologize for ranking one sin above another.  Maybe we could repent of our un-Christ-like behavior and resolve to “spotlight” only our own sins.

I’m happy to hear what you think.

Perceptions about Christians – Part II “Right Wing”

I’m using three separate posts to address a statement I’ve read in a couple different places.  It goes something like this.  “Christians are homophobic, right wing, hypocrites.”

Working from last to first, I began last week by addressing the perception that Christians are hypocrites.  (If you haven’t read it you may want to check it out at my blog.)

This week let’s think about the perception that Christians are “right wing.”  Of course the term has nothing to do with theology or biblical interpretation or even spirituality.  It’s a political term.  We all know that normally, when someone uses the term “right wing,” they are using it to refer to the most conservative members of the Republican Party.

Years ago one of the most publically visible figures in the evangelical church world, Jerry Falwell, led a group called the “Moral Majority” to endorse and campaign for political candidates who, he believed, would further the causes dear to the hearts of the “majority” of American citizens.  Because of his association with Ronald Regan and other well known Republicans, many non-Christians began assuming that all Christians were “right wing.”  That perception persists to this day and is perpetuated by other public religious figures including Pat Robertson.  (I think that’s a fairly unbiased historical overview.)

So to some extent, I think the perception that all Christians are “right wing” is at least understandable, even if it’s not accurate.  (Some Christians are actually “left wing” and some are “middle winged” and some have “no wings” at all.)

The problem, in my opinion, is bigger than Christians being associated with a political party, any political party.  The problem, again in my opinion, is what might be called religious nationalism.  Religious nationalism is the belief that religion, in our case Christianity, must manipulate the governments of the world in order to accomplish its mission in the world.   

So we hear statements like, “we must take our nation back for God,” or “we need to get our nation back to its Judeo/Christian heritage.” 

(By the way, we may need to examine what we would be “getting back” to.  Do we want to get back to a time when our nation enslaved another race of people and Southern preachers defended it from their pulpits?  Do we want to get back to a time when that same race of people were oppressed and persecuted by people who wore sheets on Saturday night and suits on Sunday morning?  Do we want to get back to segregation, discrimination and oppression of our brothers and sisters?  Could it be that we tend to romanticize the past?  Sorry for the rant.  I’ll stop now. )

The point I’m trying to make, the one I should have already made, is that historically the Church has been most powerful, not when she manipulated the political process but when she transcended it.  The first three centuries of the Jesus movement literally changed the world.  Christians were most influential, not when they controlled the Roman government but when they were persecuted by it. 

I would argue that Spirit of Christ, working in this world through the church, does not need the government’s help.  Maybe when we funnel our resources, including time, energy and money, into trying to get the government to support our cause, we actually show that our trust is misplaced.  How has hiring lobbyists, or soliciting petition signers or getting “God’s man” elected worked for us so far?

Could it be that our propensity to manipulate the political world actually grows out of a lack of faith?  Could it be that we just don’t really, fully trust the power of the resurrected Christ to change our world, so instead we trust our human ability to change Washington D.C.?  Could it be that we need to get back to what Jesus commanded us to do?  “Love the Lord your God will all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. [And] Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:30-31)  

I’m happy to hear what you think.   

Perceptions about Christians – Part I

"Christians are homophobic, right wing, hypocrites."

I read that statement somewhere recently (can’t remember exactly where).  Then I saw a similar statement in a facebook post. 

When I see statements like this I can dismiss them as anti-Christian slurs made by prejudiced people.  Or I can reflect on them as open-mindedly as possible.  What if some people honestly, without prejudice or animosity, think that Christians really are… homophobic, right wing, hypocrites? 

So in the spirit of open-minded reflection let’s think about these “accusations.”  We’ll start with the last and work our way to the first.  This week we’ll think about why we are sometimes accused of being hypocrites.  Next week “right wing” and the week after that “homophobic;” assuming I stay on track.

So how could an unbiased, intelligent, well-intentioned person get the impression that Christians are hypocrites?

You may know that the Greek word translated “hypocrite” comes from ancient Greek dramas in which the actors (Greek “hupokrites”) wore masks during the performance.  So we have traditionally thought about hypocrisy as sort of wearing a mask, playing a part.  We think of “hypocrites” in the church as those who act like they are good when they really know just how bad they are.

But Jesus wasn’t Greek, he was Jewish.  And it is unlikely that, when he called the religious leaders of his day “hypocrites,” he had the Greek actors in mind.  I don’t think he was saying, you act like you’re good when you really know that you are bad. 

Don’t you think that would make all of us hypocrites?  We all have masks that we wear.  I know I do.  If I revealed all the evil my heart produces it would be unbearable, for me and those to whom I revealed it.

Franklin Young, who was a professor at Princeton University, (he died in 2010) said that Jesus wasn’t critical of the religious leaders for “simulating goodness… On the contrary, it is because they are so self-righteously convinced of their goodness that he castigates them.”  (Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible vol. 2 page 669)

Stated another way, I may not be labeled “hypocrite” because I, like all people, tend to cover up my sin.  I may get the label because I really don’t think I have much sin to cover up… at least not as much as you do.  And that means, deep down, I think I’m better than you.  According to Jesus, that makes me a hypocrite. 

Stated yet another way, hypocrites are people who lack humility. 

Maybe some people call Christians hypocrites wrongly.  And maybe some Christians earn the label.  Maybe the Christian community (which includes me) needs to embrace humility more intentionally and confess our hypocrisy. 

What would it look like if we did that?  What if we put that on billboards beside the highways?  On behalf of all Christians everywhere, we’re sorry for our hypocrisy!  What would our non-Christian neighbors say about us then?  Some might slander us still.  But maybe we would win over some others.  Maybe it would be worth the effort.

I’m happy to hear what you think.  

The scene is still etched into my memory.  The room was huge, at least in the eyes of a five year old.  Chalkboards and colorful posters lined the walls.  The furnishings consisted mainly of kid sized chairs and tables, the only exception being the big teacher’s desk at the head of the classroom.  I distinctly remember a weird smell in the air that made me feel a little bit nauseous.  I discovered later that it was the teacher’s perfume.

I was one among many curtain climbers crowded into the big room for my first day of kindergarten.  Unlike some of the others, I had never seen the inside of a daycare building or a baby sitter’s house.  I’m not ashamed to say I missed my Mommy!

My Mother in 1963

You may call me a Mama’s boy, but I must tell you that I soon discovered the only way I could endure a day of kindergarten was to carry a photograph of my Mother with me to school.  I remember taking it out during lunch and looking at it for a long time.  I thought she was the prettiest lady in the whole world. She had dark hair and the bluest eyes you’ve ever seen; (and this was before colored contacts.)

This is just one of many childhood memories locked away for safe keeping.  I remember Mom canning vegetables in the hottest part of the summer so I could eat like a hog in the coldest part of the winter.

I remember watching her sew a cowboy outfit that I proudly wore to school.  Somewhere there is a class portrait that includes me sporting my brown tasseled suit and a big grin.  When I was in high school, she also sewed a tag in my gym shorts that read, “Hand made for Mommy’s little boy.”  (Took me a while to live that one down!)  I remember Mom taking me to get my driver’s license and comforting me when I failed the test.  

I remember being scolded, spanked and spoiled all in the same day!  For the spankings and the spoilings and the sewing and the canning and a million other things I don’t have room to include in this article, I would like to say Thanks Mom! I love you!

Not all people have happy memories of childhood.  Not all had a good relationship with their moms.  Frankly, not all people grew up with good moms.  If you don’t have good memories of your mother consider this text from scripture.  God is the speaker.   

“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?  Though she may forget, I will not forget you.” (Isaiah 49:15)  Paraphrase; God is a good mother. 

Here’s another one.  “Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.” (Psalm 27:10)  Paraphrase; God is a good father.  God is a good mother.

If you are like me and you have good childhood memories, consider yourself blessed and celebrate this Mother’s Day by saying “Thanks Mom!  I Love You!”  And perhaps it is appropriate to say the same thing to God.  “Thanks Mom!  I Love You!”

Trying to Cry

I’m a little bit tear deficient.  Actually, I remember the day I stopped crying.

On a hot summer day I was playing in our yard when I crossed paths with a yellow jacket.  (Perhaps you have personal yellow jacket knowledge.)  That day a little guy, probably four years old, experienced his inaugural sting.

My father was nearby (I call him Pop) and came to my rescue.  He took me in the house, sat me on the kitchen counter and administered some sophisticated emergency medical treatment.  He took a pinch of chewing tobacco out of his mouth and applied it to the injury.   He told me to hold the tobacco poultice in place and it would draw out the poison.  A fascinating piece of information!

I remember something else about that kitchen counter conversation.  After “doctoring” on me Pop said, “Now stop crying.  Big men don’t cry.”  And I did.  I stopped crying and, to be honest, I’m having trouble starting back.

As I write this I’m sitting in a hospital room with my father.  He looks up at me with childlike confusion as I try to explain why he can’t take the blood oxygen thingy (the technical term) off his finger.  I just paused writing long enough to explain to him that Medlen is not pitching now because the Braves are batting.  The man who educated me about stuff like bee stings and baseball gets confused easily these days.

A few minutes ago I lifted him out of the bed and helped him stand while he used the urinal.  As I held him upright I couldn’t help but notice that the man who was once an imposing six feet, one inch is now several inches shorter than me.

And still the tears won’t come.

Pop fell the other day.  I was mowing my parent’s lawn when my mother rushed out to get me.  When I walked in he was sitting in the floor.  Mom told me he wanted to watch me out the window but his legs were just too weak.  I lifted his way-too-light frame into his chair. 

Back on the mower, I tried to cry.

It was the perfect opportunity.  I could have had a good cry without fear of intrusion.  Yet, despite a willing, hurting heart, my eyes were dry.  Puzzling!

What’s even more puzzling is that the tears have started sneaking up on me.  When I would normally be in complete control, a paragon of composure, the tears intrude.  It happened a couple weeks ago when I was leading our congregation in prayer for a little guy, six years old, fighting for his life in an ICU.  I choked up!  That wasn’t supposed to happen!  Why did that happen?

So maybe I’m just messed up.  My tear ducts don’t know when to work.  I want them to get this right… because right now I could use a good cry.

Burnout

It’s been a while since I blogged.  Actually, I’ve been struggling. 

Let me tell you part of my problem.  Therapists, psychologists and pastors refer to it as burnout.  I think I’ve been battling a mild case.  The good news is, after twenty-five years of being a pastor; I think I’m fairly self-aware.  I can see and feel the signs, normally a few days or weeks or months after my wife does.  (I said I was fairly self aware, not keenly self aware.)

I don’t think as clearly or creatively.  I’m distracted easily.  I’ll start a sentence and lose my train of… uh… thought.  I have less patience with myself and pretty much everybody else too.  I become short tempered, impatient, frustrated and tired… very tired… the tired when you wake up in the morning kind of tired.   

I vaguely recall my first bout with burnout when I was still a young pastor.  My response to the above list of symptoms was different then.  First, I felt guilty.  Then I confessed sins; all the sins I could think of.  I even made up some sins to confess.  But it didn’t help.  I determined to work harder, dig deeper.  But when I dug deeper there was nothing there.  When you dip out of an empty well, you come up empty.  I was empty.  Maybe you can relate.   

These days I follow a different treatment plan.  I go fishing.  Of course, fishing is not all I do.  I also sleep a lot.  There’s no agenda.  I just step off of the spinning wheel.  When I do, time slows, my mind clears and, without trying harder to do it, I commune with God. 

I was reading a book by Lauren Winner entitled

Still: Notes on a Mid-Faith Crisis.  Lauren retells an ancient legend about a monk who was disappointed with his spiritual development.  He thought he should feel closer to God.  So he goes to three different spiritual advisors who all give him the same advice.  “Go back to your cave.  Pray as you usually pray.  Drink when you are thirsty.  Eat when you are hungry.  Sleep when you are tired.”

I think there is a distinctly Western way of thinking, a way our minds are programmed, that tells us the solution to every problem is to do more.  If you’re doing poorly in school, study more.  If you’re not making enough money, work more.  If you’re dissatisfied with your social life, date more.  If you don’t like the way your body looks, work out more.  If you don’t feel close to God, do more; pray more, read the Bible more, give more, serve more.

Probably my favorite words from the lips of Jesus are found in the gospel of Matthew (11:28-30).  I like Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase of the verses. 

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Do you connect with this passage at a deep, intuitive level?  Does it create a longing inside; a longing to experience rest?  Does it conflict with another intuitive drive, a drive to do more; an internalized message that doing more will somehow make fatigue better instead of making it worse?

If so, maybe the lesson to be learned is the one I’m still learning.  Instead of combating burnout by doing more, combat it by doing less.  Listen to Jesus!  (Followers of Jesus do more than proclaim that Jesus is the Way.  They follow the Way of Jesus.)  Stop!  Get off the spinning wheel!  Go fishing!  Sleep a lot!  Get away with Jesus and recover your life.

Christus Victor

On Sunday March 10th we will begin a new series of sermons at the church I serve. (zoarchurch.com)  The title of the series is "The Cross: what really happened when Jesus died."  This is a video blog to invite discussion about the first of those sermons; the ancient "atonement theory" called Christus Victor (Victorious Christ).  The idea is that on the cross, through the death and subsequent resurrection of Jesus Christ, God won the victory over the forces of evil.  Anyway, if you would like, take a quick look at the video and feel free to offer comments or questions.

Dental Clinic and Clothes Closet

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father… for I needed clothes and you clothed me.  I needed my teeth filled and you filled them for me…’  Then they will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you needing clothes and clothed you or needing your teeth filled and filled them for you?’  The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine you did for me.’” (Matthew 25:31-40 paraphrased)

I know… I know… I’m taking some liberties with the Holy Scriptures.  Some may be offended but, in my opinion, the paraphrase is true to the original intent of the speaker; who, by the way, was Jesus.  And, in my opinion, he is delighted; not so much with my loose translation, but with what is happening outside my office right now… right now as I’m writing.

Once a year our church sponsors a dental clinic.  The Baptist State Convention provides a bus that houses two dental offices.  Along with lots of other volunteers, dentists and dental hygienists from our community give their time and talent so that people can receive dental care free of charge.  The clinic is going on right now.  Over the course of the next two days, around 100 patients will receive dental care! 

While they are here, the patients can also walk through our clothing room and pick out what they need, also free of charge.  The people who come here to receive this service are treated with respect and dignity.  They have the opportunity to talk to people who will listen to them and pray with them – really listen and really pray!

It may sound like I’m bragging on our people a little bit… Okay, I am bragging on our people a little bit.  But, in my defense, I think I have a good reason.   

I know that the Christian community gets a lot of bad press these days.  (A couple weeks ago I wrote about "Bad Press for Preachers.”)  I know that some of that bad press is deserved.  Some people who claim the name of Jesus can be crude and cruel, rude and ruthless.  Some vent their hatred and call it “standing up for the truth.”  Some attack others and call it “righteous indignation.” 

I want to say as clearly as I can that those people do not represent Jesus Christ!  Let me say it again.  Those who hurt others in the name of Jesus are not speaking for Jesus, they are speaking against him!  They are not representing the Jesus we read about in the gospels.  They represent some kind of misguided and distorted religious expression but it is not Christianity.  It is not the movement that Jesus launched 2000 years ago.   

So if you are outside of the Christian community maybe you have a good reason.  Maybe you have been burned by a form of religion that claims the name of Jesus but does not reflect his heart.  If so, I hope you can see the other side of the coin.  I hope you can see followers of Jesus actually following Jesus.  I hope you can see that there are many people who not only claim that Jesus is the Way, they actually follow the Way of Jesus!

The Heart of Jesus

“im going to church is fun and u go to learn about god and jesuse.” 

That’s a “sentence” that was posted on my friend’s facebook page last Wednesday night.  My friend is an eleven year old boy who’s growing up in really challenging circumstances.  His mom is trying hard to help him and his siblings break the cycle of family dysfunction.  She has a big job.

My friend (I’ll call him Douglas) was introduced to our church through a tutoring ministry we sponsor in his neighborhood.  He was instantly drawn to the volunteers who were genuinely kind and interested in him.  So naturally, getting tutored led to more.  He and his family requested transportation to our worship services on Sunday morning.  Which naturally led to more.  He and his family requested transportation to our Wednesday night activities which include a good meal and classes for all ages. 

And so last Wednesday night, after he got home, Douglas posted “im going to church is fun and u go to learn about god and jesuse.”

I write about this because I believe what our church is doing for Douglas and his family reflects the very heart of Jesus. 

The Jesus biographers (the writers of the four gospels) tell us that people were bringing children to Jesus so that he could touch them and bless them.  In the ancient world children were not considered to be very valuable, or even noticed by adults, until they were old enough to become productive workers.  (I think sometimes the same thing happens in our world.)  So the disciples were discouraging these people (probably mothers) from bringing their children to Jesus.  Surely the Messiah wouldn’t want to be bothered with the little disease carriers. It would be like the president ditching a Cabinet meeting to baby sit his sister’s kid.

The Bible says that when Jesus saw the disciples turning children away “he was indignant and he said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’  And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.”   (Mark 10:13-16)

 

This is the heart of Jesus.

The gospel writer Matthew says that Jesus once looked out over the crowds of people and “he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’”  (Matthew 10:36-38)

This is the heart of Jesus.

The gospel writer Luke records one of the first speeches Jesus gave.  It would be kind of like a politician publically outlining his agenda for the first time.  Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”  (Luke 4:18-19)

This is the heart of Jesus.

In another important speech Jesus said… “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.  Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.  Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.”  (Luke 6:20-21)

This is the heart of Jesus.

Sometimes some well meaning person will ask me why our church’s vision is to see our city transformed as we become more like Jesus and lead others to him.  Shouldn’t we be focused on “the church family?”  Sometimes someone will “correct” me by telling me that my primary job is to care for “the flock.”  Which begs the question, who does Jesus consider his flock?  Remember, Jesus looked out on the crowd and thought of them as his flock… his responsibility… his disciple’s responsibility.

So I tell people my job is to make sure the heart of the church is like the heart of Jesus.

By the way, Douglas and his brother and sisters will be baptized as followers of Jesus Christ next month.  I think they will be baptized, at least in part, because our church has a heart like Jesus.