Time has this annoying way of moving continuously on without my consent...
I cannot believe it's been over two years since my last post! Unbelievable.
I purposely took a break from writing, well, because I wasn't particularly faithful to it to begin with and secondly, dealing with the stuff of life has been a little more important than this particular creative outlet.
So, there you have it. An excuse, such as it is...pretty pathetic I know.
For the two or three of you who subscribed to this innocuous little blog - I am sorry. But hey, it's kind of like getting back together after a break-up.
So here we are, starting over.
If you have an analytical mind, which I typically do not, you have probably noticed that life is full of processes.
Things have a particular order to them... If we use the example of nature - things are sublimely ordered and follow cycles of life and change with clock-like precision, unless acted upon by some outside force, like humanity.
Humans also have a particular order to them... processes in our lives that were seemingly designed, if you will. From birth to death, there is an order, a rhythm so to speak.
When we step outside of those processes, or infringe upon those intended designs, we mess with the system... and things begin to go terribly wrong.
But in our arrogance, we only see that our actions, no matter how heinous, are creating a (perhaps momentarily) perceived benefit to us as an individual.
We "feel" like what we've done or are doing is justified, because it serves to feed our need to "control" our lives; the design thereof and the processes therein...perhaps even making us feel "happy".
But what we fail to realize is that we've screwed up the works.
These designs and processes have a particular rhythm to them and when we function according to design, we flow beautifully in time with with the score.
When we step outside of the design...well, things get mucked up and life becomes an attempt to get back in rhythm.
Now, that isn't to say that life is exempt from outside forces that want to try and disrupt the timing and processes of our lives... However, our job is to recognize those things for what they are and resist the temptation to allow them, (whatever "them" might be), access to our life. And if negative circumstances arise because of interference by an outside force, we have to take responsibility for how we respond to those forces and do our best to get back on track. That might even require asking for help...
And for those who feel like the designed cycles and processes are confining or restricting... they really have a greater margin and tolerance for error than what occurs when we purposely step outside of the design and try to create a different model than what was intended.
What am I trying to say? There is freedom in the process. There is room to create, to try and fail, to thrive and enjoy life. But outside of the process, leaving things to our own devices and perceived, "control", it gets pretty dark and hopeless and messed up.
The timing in all of this gobbledygook, is the one variable that no one truly comprehends... because, none of us knows exactly how much time we have and it just keeps on tickin' away.
And, no one gets more than one attempt at this. One life. That's all.
For me, I want to make the most of the time I've been given, and to do so means operating within the processes that have been designed for me.
A life of purpose and destiny. Not fatalistic or programmed, but life to the fullest. Life in the process, as designed.
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Yeah, we can do that...
This is an excerpt from a recent teaching of mine…
Here are some really important ideas about the life God is
calling us to live…
1.
God wants to use you to impact this world
2.
God can use you to impact this world
3.
Be Prepared to be used by God
4.
Use the tools God provides
Fact: You are Amazing & You are not alone in this…
Greatest part of the tool kit God has given us is: Each
other.
God has designed us to do life together…
Sad reality is, most of us do not do this very well. We suck at relationships…
Phil. 2:3)
A question I want to pose is this:
How can we do life together more effectively?
Think for a moment about why it’s important to even worry
about our relationships with other people.
Here is what I believe scripture tells us…
We can only fulfill God’s purposes for His church, together.
You cannot do anything of value for the church on your own…
It is impossible. No
matter how talented or gifted you may be or how called you may feel to a
specific vision, you will never fulfill the plans God has for His church alone.
It’s like this… Say you were given an enormous object, like
a boulder and told, here move this across the street… you would have a difficult time accomplishing
the task on your own. You might strain
and struggle and exhaust an enormous amount of resources in order to fulfill
the task, but in all honesty, you would succeed more rapidly, with less effort
and resources expended, if you asked other people to help you with the task.
Only together can we fulfill God’s purposes for His church…
But…
Now this may seem somewhat contradictory to the previous
paragraph, but:
Obedience to God’s plans
begins with the individual.
You are personally
responsible for your obedience or lack thereof.
Here’s a key:
What you do or do not do affects the people around you…
Imagine if there was no one to lead the worship, no one to
run the sound and multimedia… no one to serve in the nursery… make the coffee
in the café… and on it goes… it would negatively affect your worship
experience.
So, not only are you responsible for your obedience to God’s
plans,
You have an obligation to the community, the group of people
around you, because they, whether they or you realize it, are counting on you
to do what God has asked of you.
Phil. 2:4)
How does this work?
Doing life together more effectively, begins with taking responsibility
for yourself, and the community, but has to contain a critical element called; Humility.
Define humility - Understanding who I am in light of who God is
and what He’s done for me… not drawing attention to myself.
Humility is a cornerstone of unity.
It enables us to do life together more effectively and
accomplish the purposes God has for His church.
So, in light of who I am because of Jesus Christ, the needs
of others must surpass my own. Not that
I become a doormat for everyone to step on…
Or that I take a negative view of myself – “I suck…” or an
overly
confident one either… “I am amazing”.
We must understand that we have a contribution to make, that
God has enabled us to accomplish for the benefit of others… (He’s given us
stuff to do and the ability to do it…not for personal gain or glory)
What does that look like… in real life terms?
Well, we’ve got to start with the prime example…
Phil. 2:5-8)
God may never require you to give your life for someone
else, however, we are asked to take on this mindset… “attitude” that Christ
shows us, in our relationships with other people… others first. Serve in order to fulfill the task.
But Pastor Troy, that’s big… I mean… I don’t know…
I like me, I like catering to me and making me happy… I
don’t know about all this others first stuff…
Don’t I have a right to be happy? Don’t I have a right to be fulfilled and
enjoy all this world has to offer… yeah, you do.
But, Jesus rejected what was rightfully his for
the sake of humanity. (are you willing to reject what is “rightfully” yours for
the sake of others?)
Do you understand what He gave up?
So, here’s how we do life together more effectively and
fulfill the purposes God has for His church…
-
Reject
the idea that this is all there is.
a.
We’ve got to have an eternal perspective… this
life is temporary and our ambitions are so small… ego, fame, wealth, beauty,
all fall short of what really matters and expire so quickly.
b.
Challenge the status quo… is this really as good
as it gets?
Why
would you stay the same if you knew God had something better for you?
-
Reject
the idea that fulfillment only comes by serving yourself.
If you live your life like that… you will be
very lonely, very empty and full of regret.
-
Embrace
the Attitude of Christ.
a.
Welcome the challenge of fulfilling the purpose
God has for your life… Jesus didn’t shrink from what He knew God was asking Him
to do…was it hard? Did Jesus have second
thoughts?
Yes and yes, but he did it and his obedience yielded an amazing outcome.
V. 9-11)
God blesses those who are obedient and who are willing to lay down their
lives for the sake of others… figuratively and literally.
Qualifier… we don’t obey for the sake of the personal benefit.
We
obey because it’s what God asks us to do and we know it will ultimately benefit
others.
might do life together more effectively and fulfill the
purposes God has for His people.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Short term memory...
As a parent, if I pay attention, I can learn a lot from my children... I know that's a loaded statement, but it rings true so often in my life, it needed fleshing out in this medium.
My 14 year old, like most teens, has this ability to recall things from events and conversations that took place years ago... like when he was 2 or 3 years old... but when it comes to remembering what I asked him to do 5 minutes ago, he struggles mightily.
Now, you need to have a little background on my 14 year old son. He has some unique challenges that accompany his adolescent state.
He is autistic.
Autism on its own presents some interesting challenges, but coupled with puberty, autism brings some extreme difficulties.
For instance; our son has very little ability to appreciate that there are consequences for disobedience. He wants the punishment to go away as soon as he apologizes for his transgression. I remember having moments like that as a teen too. "I'm really sorry, can I not be grounded so I can go out with my friends?" "I'll never do it again..." "I'll do the dishes and keep my room clean for the whole month if you let me..."
I, like my son, became an expert advocate for the things I could to do in lieu of punishment.
Like my son, I just wanted the punishment to go away.
So, just like my parents before me, I tell my son; "sorry, it doesn't work that way". Then I throw out some pithy little parental axiom like; "you do the crime you do the time." "Next time, just do what I ask you to do..."
...which frustrates him to no end... and the beat goes on...
This morning, we had another in the long list of conversations surrounding disobedience and consequences, and to tell the truth, I can't even remember everything I said.
But, I do remember that still small voice of the Holy Spirit, nudging me, saying, "Now you know what it feels like".
Ouch.
My mind was taken immediately to the passage in the Bible from I Samuel chapter 15, verses 22 and 23.
Saul, the king of Israel, was given some specific instructions as to what God wanted him to do regarding the take-over of a neighboring kingdom.
Saul ignored God's instructions and proceeded to do his own thing.
Sound familiar?
God sent the prophet Samuel to confront Saul and deal with his disobedience. We can see in chapter 15 of I Samuel, that Saul attempted to cover up his act of disobedience and even shift some of the blame on to the people around him.
God wasn't having any of it and Saul was deposed by God.
...Pretty heavy consequence, don't you think?
Here's why this is so interesting; God, speaking through Samuel, tells Saul that his actions, while not overtly egregious, represented something deeper lurking in Saul's heart... rebellion.
Saul had shown a track record of disobedience to God's instructions and had to be taught a very serious and difficult lesson... and in many ways God was making an example of him. Why? Well, in my estimation, scripture makes it pretty clear that obedience is the scale upon which God measures our dedication to him. We can say we're sorry and promise to never do it again. We can come up with all sorts of acts of kindness and service to others, but that's not really the point.
God doesn't care about how good looking we might be, or what talents we possess or skills we have honed, and He isn't interested in the excuses we come up with or apologies we make, God simply wants us to do what he asks us to do. It's not that God wants to rule over us with the iron fist of a dictator...His desire for us to follow His instructions stems from His understanding of what is best for us.
Now, it would appear that God judges the necessity and severity of the consequence based on the attitude of our hearts...which, consequently, only he can accurately judge.
On the outside Saul appeared to have it all together. According to scripture, he was tall and handsome and pretty chiseled.
But Saul had shown that his heart was not fully dedicated to God.
How do you know that?
You only have to look at his track record... a couple of different times, God had given Saul specific instructions and both times, Saul failed to do what God asked him to do. His disobedience didn't come from the fact that the instructions were incomplete or that someone else had broken the chain of command to make Saul look bad. In each instance it was Saul's decision to deviate from God's instructions and his alone.
And that's where it comes back to us. God has given us some pretty clear instructions... if we're taking the time to hear from Him and familiarize ourselves with the things He's telling us in the Bible, His expectations of us aren't impossible to follow.
So, it becomes an issue of our willingness to do what God is asking us to do.
Ahh...the pride issue. "Father knows best or do I...?"
Will there be consequences if we disobey?
Well, check the history of God's interactions with humanity. Yup, it would appear so...consequences are part of the deal. Am I trying to scare you?
No. ...just some friendly advice; If God wants our obedience more than anything else we can do for Him, doesn't it make sense to follow the instructions and avoid the consequence? Doesn't it make sense to check the attitude of our hearts toward God and deal with any rebellion that might reside there?
Now before you exit this post in frustration, check the following sentence...
Doesn't it also make sense that if we do what God asks us to do, that He will bless our obedience? Not that we want that to become our motivation for doing what God asks of us, but it just makes sense, right?
Hear what He says and do what He asks and He'll take care of us... easy...
Like I tell my son, I love you and want what's best for you... I'm pretty certain it's the same with God. He loves us and wants what's best for us, the trick is remembering...
My 14 year old, like most teens, has this ability to recall things from events and conversations that took place years ago... like when he was 2 or 3 years old... but when it comes to remembering what I asked him to do 5 minutes ago, he struggles mightily.
Now, you need to have a little background on my 14 year old son. He has some unique challenges that accompany his adolescent state.
He is autistic.
Autism on its own presents some interesting challenges, but coupled with puberty, autism brings some extreme difficulties.
For instance; our son has very little ability to appreciate that there are consequences for disobedience. He wants the punishment to go away as soon as he apologizes for his transgression. I remember having moments like that as a teen too. "I'm really sorry, can I not be grounded so I can go out with my friends?" "I'll never do it again..." "I'll do the dishes and keep my room clean for the whole month if you let me..."
I, like my son, became an expert advocate for the things I could to do in lieu of punishment.
Like my son, I just wanted the punishment to go away.
So, just like my parents before me, I tell my son; "sorry, it doesn't work that way". Then I throw out some pithy little parental axiom like; "you do the crime you do the time." "Next time, just do what I ask you to do..."
...which frustrates him to no end... and the beat goes on...
This morning, we had another in the long list of conversations surrounding disobedience and consequences, and to tell the truth, I can't even remember everything I said.
But, I do remember that still small voice of the Holy Spirit, nudging me, saying, "Now you know what it feels like".
Ouch.
My mind was taken immediately to the passage in the Bible from I Samuel chapter 15, verses 22 and 23.
Saul, the king of Israel, was given some specific instructions as to what God wanted him to do regarding the take-over of a neighboring kingdom.
Saul ignored God's instructions and proceeded to do his own thing.
Sound familiar?
God sent the prophet Samuel to confront Saul and deal with his disobedience. We can see in chapter 15 of I Samuel, that Saul attempted to cover up his act of disobedience and even shift some of the blame on to the people around him.
God wasn't having any of it and Saul was deposed by God.
...Pretty heavy consequence, don't you think?
Here's why this is so interesting; God, speaking through Samuel, tells Saul that his actions, while not overtly egregious, represented something deeper lurking in Saul's heart... rebellion.
Saul had shown a track record of disobedience to God's instructions and had to be taught a very serious and difficult lesson... and in many ways God was making an example of him. Why? Well, in my estimation, scripture makes it pretty clear that obedience is the scale upon which God measures our dedication to him. We can say we're sorry and promise to never do it again. We can come up with all sorts of acts of kindness and service to others, but that's not really the point.
God doesn't care about how good looking we might be, or what talents we possess or skills we have honed, and He isn't interested in the excuses we come up with or apologies we make, God simply wants us to do what he asks us to do. It's not that God wants to rule over us with the iron fist of a dictator...His desire for us to follow His instructions stems from His understanding of what is best for us.
Now, it would appear that God judges the necessity and severity of the consequence based on the attitude of our hearts...which, consequently, only he can accurately judge.
On the outside Saul appeared to have it all together. According to scripture, he was tall and handsome and pretty chiseled.
But Saul had shown that his heart was not fully dedicated to God.
How do you know that?
You only have to look at his track record... a couple of different times, God had given Saul specific instructions and both times, Saul failed to do what God asked him to do. His disobedience didn't come from the fact that the instructions were incomplete or that someone else had broken the chain of command to make Saul look bad. In each instance it was Saul's decision to deviate from God's instructions and his alone.
And that's where it comes back to us. God has given us some pretty clear instructions... if we're taking the time to hear from Him and familiarize ourselves with the things He's telling us in the Bible, His expectations of us aren't impossible to follow.
So, it becomes an issue of our willingness to do what God is asking us to do.
Ahh...the pride issue. "Father knows best or do I...?"
Will there be consequences if we disobey?
Well, check the history of God's interactions with humanity. Yup, it would appear so...consequences are part of the deal. Am I trying to scare you?
No. ...just some friendly advice; If God wants our obedience more than anything else we can do for Him, doesn't it make sense to follow the instructions and avoid the consequence? Doesn't it make sense to check the attitude of our hearts toward God and deal with any rebellion that might reside there?
Now before you exit this post in frustration, check the following sentence...
Doesn't it also make sense that if we do what God asks us to do, that He will bless our obedience? Not that we want that to become our motivation for doing what God asks of us, but it just makes sense, right?
Hear what He says and do what He asks and He'll take care of us... easy...
Like I tell my son, I love you and want what's best for you... I'm pretty certain it's the same with God. He loves us and wants what's best for us, the trick is remembering...
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
The snooze bar is my friend...
This is one of those days... You know the type, when you need to post an entry but you're really not feeling it... kind of like when you know you should get up early and exercise, but when the alarm goes off, you're just like, no way... not today... I need the extra 30 minutes of sleep, I mean, really NEED!
So, you crash the snooze bar on your alarm and roll over, covering your head with the blankets in order to hide your shame...
Unfortunately, there is no snooze bar on my blog... I either do it or I don't. So, here I am making a valiant effort at creating a post, when I'd much rather hit the snooze.
Is it a creative block?
Is it my pride...ego? (I don't feel like I have something profound to offer, so I let the blog remain silent...)
Perhaps I misunderstand the purpose for this forum...?
No matter what it is, I've got to get on this horse and ride... and then it hits me! BOOM! like a stick of dynamite exploding near by. (deafening roar, shaking window panes...you get the picture.)
This is about the daily battle we all face to do the things we know we need to do, but lack the motivation, focus, energy, or whatever, to make them happen.
This is about perseverance...about commitment to engaging in those tasks, duties, or other activities that we momentarily lose focus of their importance.
So get out there my friend, seize the moment... no matter how heavy the bags are under your eyes, no matter the thickness of your furrowed brow, or lack of get up and go... get up and GO!
Take hold of your lack of motivation and breathe life back into it... remember the cause you are serving, those who will benefit from your efforts, remember that there is more to what you do than the slight and momentary discomfort you may experience from shaking off the cobwebs of mental impotence... GO man GO!
Today is the day you make it happen! Today is the day you conquer the snooze bar of ineffectual performance! Today is your day to get "it" done.
So, you crash the snooze bar on your alarm and roll over, covering your head with the blankets in order to hide your shame...
Unfortunately, there is no snooze bar on my blog... I either do it or I don't. So, here I am making a valiant effort at creating a post, when I'd much rather hit the snooze.
Is it a creative block?
Is it my pride...ego? (I don't feel like I have something profound to offer, so I let the blog remain silent...)
Perhaps I misunderstand the purpose for this forum...?
No matter what it is, I've got to get on this horse and ride... and then it hits me! BOOM! like a stick of dynamite exploding near by. (deafening roar, shaking window panes...you get the picture.)
This is about the daily battle we all face to do the things we know we need to do, but lack the motivation, focus, energy, or whatever, to make them happen.
This is about perseverance...about commitment to engaging in those tasks, duties, or other activities that we momentarily lose focus of their importance.
So get out there my friend, seize the moment... no matter how heavy the bags are under your eyes, no matter the thickness of your furrowed brow, or lack of get up and go... get up and GO!
Take hold of your lack of motivation and breathe life back into it... remember the cause you are serving, those who will benefit from your efforts, remember that there is more to what you do than the slight and momentary discomfort you may experience from shaking off the cobwebs of mental impotence... GO man GO!
Today is the day you make it happen! Today is the day you conquer the snooze bar of ineffectual performance! Today is your day to get "it" done.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Christmas Time...
"...and he will be called; Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." - Isaiah 9:6
There are so many wonderful images that appear during the Christmas season.
They evoke memories of childhood bliss... decorations, Bing Crosby, sneaking peeks at presents, the smell of the tree, the smells... oh the smells!
My mom made the most incredible Christmas treats... Sugar cookies with home made frosting, chocolate fudge that would just melt in your mouth... my stomach is growling just thinking about it...
I can recall those baking days, when the tendrils of intoxicating aroma would cascade down the hall from the kitchen and seemingly draw me through the air, like a floating cartoon image, toward the source!
The rapture and joy of the season would collide with youthful exuberance, as my sister and I would try and hold it together so we wouldn't get put on the "naughty list".
The anticipation would drive us stark raving mad. Well...we probably drove my parents looney more than anything.
Kathy and I are experiencing some of those seasonal activities with our children; mostly the looney part... But seriously, we are trying to pass along the wonder and tradition of the season to our little cherubs in an attempt to preserve some of those memories from the past.
Don't get me wrong, our desire isn't just that the memories stay alive, but that in creating new traditions we don't lose the beauty and power of this season in the unbridled avarice that has become the "modern" American "holiday" celebration.
The hustle and bustle often overshadows the joy and wonder, as we rush from one thing to the next, stealing that which Christmas was intended to bring to our minds and hearts: Peace on earth and good will toward men.
One of my favorite memories, that still occurs from time to time, was when we would visit my grandparents house for Christmas. After dinner, before we were allowed to tear into our presents, my grandpa would sit down in his chair, just opposite the fireplace and pick up his tattered old King James Bible.
He would turn to the book of Luke, chapter 2 and begin in that soft, feathery rasp of his; "and there were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night..."
As he would read through the familiar story, it was as if we were transported to a different time and place. It was a place full of mystery and ageless beauty, that would captivate our imaginations as we envisioned the stable and the animals, the shepherds and angels, Mary and Joseph and yes, the baby Jesus.
But the most powerful and amazing part of this timeless tradition wasn't in the reading of the words... It was in the subtle change that was brought forth in our hearts as the simple story would unfold. The jostling and wrestling, the volcanic energy of the little ones, the tension of old wounds unforgiven and offenses taken, would dissipate like so much mist under the warmth of the noonday sun.
A palpable peace would come over us as we gave our attention, even if for just a moment, to that for which we do this thing called Christmas,
Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
It's funny to think, that even rational adults can get so tied up in this seasonal celebration, that we lose sight of the purpose and meaning at it's origin.
Jesus didn't come to bring us all the trappings of our constantly evolving interpretation of the holiday.
He came to bring us, I know it sounds simplistic and old fashioned... peace.
Jesus brought peace. Peace for you and me, in our hearts and minds, peace between us and others, but most of all, peace between God and man.
At the root of all of life's troubles, lies the longing for just that... Peace.
I hope peace is at the heart of your traditions and celebrations and
may it be yours this season and always.
Merry Christmas
There are so many wonderful images that appear during the Christmas season.
They evoke memories of childhood bliss... decorations, Bing Crosby, sneaking peeks at presents, the smell of the tree, the smells... oh the smells!
My mom made the most incredible Christmas treats... Sugar cookies with home made frosting, chocolate fudge that would just melt in your mouth... my stomach is growling just thinking about it...
I can recall those baking days, when the tendrils of intoxicating aroma would cascade down the hall from the kitchen and seemingly draw me through the air, like a floating cartoon image, toward the source!
The rapture and joy of the season would collide with youthful exuberance, as my sister and I would try and hold it together so we wouldn't get put on the "naughty list".
The anticipation would drive us stark raving mad. Well...we probably drove my parents looney more than anything.
Kathy and I are experiencing some of those seasonal activities with our children; mostly the looney part... But seriously, we are trying to pass along the wonder and tradition of the season to our little cherubs in an attempt to preserve some of those memories from the past.
Don't get me wrong, our desire isn't just that the memories stay alive, but that in creating new traditions we don't lose the beauty and power of this season in the unbridled avarice that has become the "modern" American "holiday" celebration.
The hustle and bustle often overshadows the joy and wonder, as we rush from one thing to the next, stealing that which Christmas was intended to bring to our minds and hearts: Peace on earth and good will toward men.
One of my favorite memories, that still occurs from time to time, was when we would visit my grandparents house for Christmas. After dinner, before we were allowed to tear into our presents, my grandpa would sit down in his chair, just opposite the fireplace and pick up his tattered old King James Bible.
He would turn to the book of Luke, chapter 2 and begin in that soft, feathery rasp of his; "and there were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night..."
As he would read through the familiar story, it was as if we were transported to a different time and place. It was a place full of mystery and ageless beauty, that would captivate our imaginations as we envisioned the stable and the animals, the shepherds and angels, Mary and Joseph and yes, the baby Jesus.
But the most powerful and amazing part of this timeless tradition wasn't in the reading of the words... It was in the subtle change that was brought forth in our hearts as the simple story would unfold. The jostling and wrestling, the volcanic energy of the little ones, the tension of old wounds unforgiven and offenses taken, would dissipate like so much mist under the warmth of the noonday sun.
A palpable peace would come over us as we gave our attention, even if for just a moment, to that for which we do this thing called Christmas,
Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
It's funny to think, that even rational adults can get so tied up in this seasonal celebration, that we lose sight of the purpose and meaning at it's origin.
Jesus didn't come to bring us all the trappings of our constantly evolving interpretation of the holiday.
He came to bring us, I know it sounds simplistic and old fashioned... peace.
Jesus brought peace. Peace for you and me, in our hearts and minds, peace between us and others, but most of all, peace between God and man.
At the root of all of life's troubles, lies the longing for just that... Peace.
I hope peace is at the heart of your traditions and celebrations and
may it be yours this season and always.
Merry Christmas
Monday, October 22, 2012
"The Way Home"
If you've attended church for awhile, you've doubtless heart a number of sermons dealing with the story of the prodigal son.
In this post, I'd like to take a little artistic license and put, perhaps, a little different slant on that story found in the New Testament book of Luke.
Let me set the stage for you...
Jesus is surrounded by the usual crowd of gypsies, tramps and thieves who followed him around each day.
And in this particular setting, he is telling stories in order to get a basic point across that has to do with some principals he wants to convey about the kingdom of God.
Jesus begins with the opening line, "There was a man who had two sons..."
The younger of the two was rowdy and somewhat impetuous, and one day makes a peculiar request of his father.
He says, "Dad, I'd like to go out on my own and have a little fun, so... I'd like my inheritance a little early.
Now his father was a loving father who wanted to provide his sons with the best of everything, and because he was a father who treasured his relationship with his sons, he emptied the trust fund.
A few days later, the younger son takes off to ramble about, landing in a far country where he carouses and cavorts with anyone who was up for a good time. Now the timing of this little escapade couldn't have been worse...
Because, no sooner had he run out of money, than, well, the economy went in the toilet and there was a subsequent famine in the land.
Gone was his money, gone was his fun and gone were his good-timin' friends.
So, the intrepid young man, tightened his belt, swallowed his pride and went out to look for a job.
But, wouldn't you know it, times being what they were, the best he could do was find a part-time gig slopping hogs for a local farmer.
Things got so bad and his belly was so empty that even the muck in the trough began to look like gourmet cuisine... but there wasn't even enough of that to go around.
It was in this moment that he had an epiphany!
"The hired hands at my dad's place have food to spare and here I am drooling over pig slop!" He pauses, and thinks to himself, "I'll go back." "I'll do it. I'll offer myself as a servant to my father."
And he began to take the first steps on that long, humiliating walk home.
Now you can see him can't you? Rehearsing his speech all the way...
"Father I've sinned against heaven and against you..."
"I'm not worthy to be called your son... please accept me as a servant in your house. I'll do whatever you want, I'll even slop the hogs..."
You can see him can't you? ...working up the courage to go home.
What about his father?
You know he was on the porch of the house watching him go...
And, every evening, when the work was done, he'd return to that porch and look down the long and winding road until it crests the hill and watch until the sun set and the shadows began to blend into darkness, waiting, hoping that an all too familiar silhouette would crest the hill.
On one particular day as he sat waiting, wishing, hoping and praying...
The sun was sitting low on the horizon and the sky was awash in brilliant splashes of color... there, what was that?
Wait, was that...? Was someone coming up the road?
Could it be...? No... it's not possible to hope...
The young man reaches the crest of the hill and stops. He looks with fear and longing at the house he had left, what felt like a lifetime ago... so full of himself, so arrogant. But in this moment, wondering if there was ever a way to earn his father's forgiveness...
The scene unfolds and as the son gathers enough courage to take a step toward the house, he sees a figure on the porch...
The figure rises and begins to move toward the gate that leads to the road...
In the same instance they recognize each other, the son, humiliated and dejected sheepishly begins to walk toward the house, hat in hand, head held low...
The father, oh the father! Overcome with joy, he steadies himself on the hand rail, then leaps off the porch and begins to run, toga in hand, toward his son...
They reach one another and the son is engulfed in his father's embrace.
The son stammers and sputters, trying to get out the first few words of his ill-prepared little speech, but all he can muster is the sound of a heartbreaking sob as he rests his head against his father's shoulder...
"My son, oh my son, is all he hears and ever need hear again.
Instead of judgment and scorn, kisses rain down on him... a ring is placed on his finger, a robe across his shoulders...
Then his father quickly springs into action... "You there, quick! Bring the fattened calf, kill it! Cook it! Let's party!
This son of mine was dead and is alive again, he was lost and now is found... and they began to celebrate!
Now here is where things get really interesting...
The older brother, on his way in from a hard days toil in the fields under the "burden of responsibility", hears the sound of shouting and revelry and wonders what is going on?
He stops one of the hired hands and asks what in the world has happened...
"your brother has come home and your father is throwing a huge party to celebrate his safe return!"
How instead of going in and joining the celebration, he becomes infuriated and heads out back to kick some sheep.
The father is walking though the house enjoying the merriment and notices someone is missing... he stops a servant and asks the inevitable question. Have you seen my oldest son?
"um, yeah, he's out back... kicking sheep."
Father goes out to see him and just as the father starts to open his mouth, older brother unloads...
Sputtering and fuming, his rage spews forth like lava from an active volcano.
"How could you? After what he did... He deserves death, not a hero's welcome!" ...and on it goes, until the father gently interrupts.
And he calmly and cooly begins to attempt to diffuse the situation. "You are the one I can count on, everything I have is yours... your steady reliability are what keeps this place running like a well oiled machine..."
And after older brother cools down a few degrees he tells it like it is...
"Here's the deal... you're brother was dead, now he's alive. ...Was lost and now is found... we all should celebrate such a return!"
Life is so much like that... When we've been wronged or hold the perception of a slight against us...we feel totally justified in our quest for anger... for the well "deserved" pound of flesh, when what God desires is mercy... grace and above all, forgiveness.
Perhaps we should be quicker to extend the same.
In this post, I'd like to take a little artistic license and put, perhaps, a little different slant on that story found in the New Testament book of Luke.
Let me set the stage for you...
Jesus is surrounded by the usual crowd of gypsies, tramps and thieves who followed him around each day.
And in this particular setting, he is telling stories in order to get a basic point across that has to do with some principals he wants to convey about the kingdom of God.
Jesus begins with the opening line, "There was a man who had two sons..."
The younger of the two was rowdy and somewhat impetuous, and one day makes a peculiar request of his father.
He says, "Dad, I'd like to go out on my own and have a little fun, so... I'd like my inheritance a little early.
Now his father was a loving father who wanted to provide his sons with the best of everything, and because he was a father who treasured his relationship with his sons, he emptied the trust fund.
A few days later, the younger son takes off to ramble about, landing in a far country where he carouses and cavorts with anyone who was up for a good time. Now the timing of this little escapade couldn't have been worse...
Because, no sooner had he run out of money, than, well, the economy went in the toilet and there was a subsequent famine in the land.
Gone was his money, gone was his fun and gone were his good-timin' friends.
So, the intrepid young man, tightened his belt, swallowed his pride and went out to look for a job.
But, wouldn't you know it, times being what they were, the best he could do was find a part-time gig slopping hogs for a local farmer.
Things got so bad and his belly was so empty that even the muck in the trough began to look like gourmet cuisine... but there wasn't even enough of that to go around.
It was in this moment that he had an epiphany!
"The hired hands at my dad's place have food to spare and here I am drooling over pig slop!" He pauses, and thinks to himself, "I'll go back." "I'll do it. I'll offer myself as a servant to my father."
And he began to take the first steps on that long, humiliating walk home.
Now you can see him can't you? Rehearsing his speech all the way...
"Father I've sinned against heaven and against you..."
"I'm not worthy to be called your son... please accept me as a servant in your house. I'll do whatever you want, I'll even slop the hogs..."
You can see him can't you? ...working up the courage to go home.
What about his father?
You know he was on the porch of the house watching him go...
And, every evening, when the work was done, he'd return to that porch and look down the long and winding road until it crests the hill and watch until the sun set and the shadows began to blend into darkness, waiting, hoping that an all too familiar silhouette would crest the hill.
On one particular day as he sat waiting, wishing, hoping and praying...
The sun was sitting low on the horizon and the sky was awash in brilliant splashes of color... there, what was that?
Wait, was that...? Was someone coming up the road?
Could it be...? No... it's not possible to hope...
The young man reaches the crest of the hill and stops. He looks with fear and longing at the house he had left, what felt like a lifetime ago... so full of himself, so arrogant. But in this moment, wondering if there was ever a way to earn his father's forgiveness...
The scene unfolds and as the son gathers enough courage to take a step toward the house, he sees a figure on the porch...
The figure rises and begins to move toward the gate that leads to the road...
In the same instance they recognize each other, the son, humiliated and dejected sheepishly begins to walk toward the house, hat in hand, head held low...
The father, oh the father! Overcome with joy, he steadies himself on the hand rail, then leaps off the porch and begins to run, toga in hand, toward his son...
They reach one another and the son is engulfed in his father's embrace.
The son stammers and sputters, trying to get out the first few words of his ill-prepared little speech, but all he can muster is the sound of a heartbreaking sob as he rests his head against his father's shoulder...
"My son, oh my son, is all he hears and ever need hear again.
Instead of judgment and scorn, kisses rain down on him... a ring is placed on his finger, a robe across his shoulders...
Then his father quickly springs into action... "You there, quick! Bring the fattened calf, kill it! Cook it! Let's party!
This son of mine was dead and is alive again, he was lost and now is found... and they began to celebrate!
Now here is where things get really interesting...
The older brother, on his way in from a hard days toil in the fields under the "burden of responsibility", hears the sound of shouting and revelry and wonders what is going on?
He stops one of the hired hands and asks what in the world has happened...
"your brother has come home and your father is throwing a huge party to celebrate his safe return!"
How instead of going in and joining the celebration, he becomes infuriated and heads out back to kick some sheep.
The father is walking though the house enjoying the merriment and notices someone is missing... he stops a servant and asks the inevitable question. Have you seen my oldest son?
"um, yeah, he's out back... kicking sheep."
Father goes out to see him and just as the father starts to open his mouth, older brother unloads...
Sputtering and fuming, his rage spews forth like lava from an active volcano.
"How could you? After what he did... He deserves death, not a hero's welcome!" ...and on it goes, until the father gently interrupts.
And he calmly and cooly begins to attempt to diffuse the situation. "You are the one I can count on, everything I have is yours... your steady reliability are what keeps this place running like a well oiled machine..."
And after older brother cools down a few degrees he tells it like it is...
"Here's the deal... you're brother was dead, now he's alive. ...Was lost and now is found... we all should celebrate such a return!"
Life is so much like that... When we've been wronged or hold the perception of a slight against us...we feel totally justified in our quest for anger... for the well "deserved" pound of flesh, when what God desires is mercy... grace and above all, forgiveness.
Perhaps we should be quicker to extend the same.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Africa... A perspective.
I recently returned from a two week expedition with Overland missions into two separate chiefdoms in Zambia, Africa.
To say that the experience has changed me would be a gross understatement.
It has been my privilege to participate in several "missions trips" over the years, but this trip has left an indelible mark on me.
The experience has marked me, not necessarily because of the cultural perspectives gained or even the type of ministry in which we participated, but predominantly because of the philosophy of ministry practiced by the Overland staff and it's execution throughout our time with them.
What I mean is this; from the time we stepped off the airplane and into the overland trucks, until we walked back across the same tarmac to head west, we were introduced and embraced into a faith community unlike anything I have witnessed anywhere in the world. The genuine demonstration of brotherly kindness and love was/is truly beautiful. There is a recognition of individual gifts and appreciation as those gifts function to help create the ease of flow and operation of the whole. It was the body of Christ demonstrated as I have never seen it before. Sure there were moments of humanity, but these were quickly brought into the filter of the fruit of the Spirit and handled appropriately, in a healthy, biblical manner. Also, I think part of the beauty was that each individual we encountered had embraced the call God had placed upon them individually, but were willing to lay down personal ambitions and agenda's for the fulfillment of the mission/vision of the whole… To take the Gospel to the world… but I digress...
Our team was stretched, spiritually, physically, and even emotionally, as is part of any missions/service experience… but, it was truly a joy to work within the structure that was established for us by the Overland staff. Our team leaders, Ciaran, Cristy and Beau, performed their functions with expertise, seasoned with joy that became infectious. Even as they challenged our team to step out in expressions of faith and ministry, that many of our team had never previously experienced, we did so with a willingness brought on by their joyful encouragement and exemplary Biblical leadership.
I could go on and on, but in the interest of time I will conclude simply by saying thank you. Thank you for embracing and modeling a strategy/model for ministry that should be practiced the world over. I will return to partner with Overland, perhaps again to Zambia with a team or maybe even on my own. I do not yet know… I'm still processing through the experience and the things God continues to speak through it to me.
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