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Archive for the ‘Ordinary Time’ Category

Lying as a Native Tongue

Posted in Ordinary Time, tagged , , , on July 7, 2009| Leave a Comment »

John 8:44b
“…When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

There is nothing good that comes from a lie. I know this. And yet, how often have I exaggerated a tale in the name of entertainment or passed good gossip with a tiny embellishment.

I stand convicted. And now, I must expose this dark area of my soul. I am ashamed. I have been speaking in my “native tongue.” I have used the language of the enemy.

Lying, particularly the small lies and avoidances and omissions, comes too easily. I also see it in my kids. It pains me when I just “know” they are only telling a half-truth which makes it a lie. But am I any better really?

Lord, forgive me. Guard my lips this day. Guard my mouth. Guard my soul.

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Moment in Time

Posted in Ordinary Time, tagged , , on July 6, 2009| Leave a Comment »

John 9:2b-3
… “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life…”

It’s a hard thing to accept, that my current circumstances might be meant for a particular moment in time where God desires to acccomplish something specific.

I’m a “fixer.” If someone has a problem, I’m out there with a laundry list of solutions. I rarely consider the possibility that God might want the glory for a particular “fix.” Oh, intellectually, I can say that everything is for the glory of God. But honestly, if I have a headache, I take a pain-reliever.

It’s all well and good to put it into a sermon that “in my weakness, I am made strong,” [2 Corinthians 12:10] but walking that out is much more difficult. I have never admired weakness… not in myself or in others.

We’re back to trust again. I’m reading Shaine Clairborne now, “The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical” and he shares several good quotes. Among them this from Mother Teresa, “We are called not to be successful but to be faithful.”

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Keeping the Grace

Posted in Ordinary Time, tagged , , , , , on July 4, 2009| Leave a Comment »

John 8:54b-55
“…My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word.”

I claim the Father as my God. I seek to know Him. But knowing God, the Father, is to keep his word. And there’s the rub.

If I could keep God’s word in my own power, I wouldn’t need a savior.

And when we talk about his word… what exactly do we mean? The 10 commandments? I’m dead in the water there. And what about the Great Commandment from Jesus (coined by Scot McKnight as the Jesus Creed) [Mark 12:29-31]:

“Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no commandment greater than these.

How are we doing on that one? Of course, in the end, the entire New Testament was written to help us work out what these two commandments mean and demand of us as followers of God, as disciples (students) in the way of Jesus.

I have no strength. I fail daily. I confess daily. I call on the grace of Christ Jesus. And that’s THE way.

Grace is the whole point. So now, whenever I see the phrase, “keep His Word,” I replace it with the truth, I “keep the Grace” and for that grace, I give thanks to Jesus who offers it freely.

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Words of Jesus

Posted in Ordinary Time, tagged , , , , , , , , on July 3, 2009| Leave a Comment »

John 8:51
“I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”

The words of Jesus are a big deal. So often, we gloss over these almost unbelievable statements that Jesus made while teaching.

In Jesus’s time and for many centuries before and afterward, the spoken word was the primary way of communicating. People would seek out those who were knowledgeable or anointed in order to hear them speak. They would come away from these experiences changed.

Sometimes, even today, this can happen. We will hear of a person who speaks with great charisma and authority that we want to see and hear him/her in person. But, we’re busy people. We seldom “drop everything” just to go and hear someone speak. So, in an effort to recreate these opportunities, we seek out videos of live events, recordings and podcasts, or YouTube. But it’s not quite the same. Not really.

Oh, yes, we now live in the Information Age. If it’s not recorded, then it’s written down. Thousands and thousands of words are being transmitted every day. The written word is everywhere: Internet sites (and blogs like this one), books, magazines, phone texting, and email, just to name a few. We are communicating more and more virtually. But the written word, though powerful in many ways, can never replace the power of the spoken word in person.

This is especially true in relationships. To connect with one another we need to hear and see one another. True communication is a full body experience. Without all the cues, there are lots interpretations that can ensue. We must be willing to gather together.

We cannot go back and experience Jesus in person. We only have a written record. This record, the scriptures, has been cut up, translated, redefined, interpreted, and analyzed by thousands of people, from scholars to backwoods preachers. We are a long way from a firsthand experience.

In the end, it’s just between Christ and me. What do I understand when I read His Words? What do I hear when I speak His Words out loud? What words of Jesus resonate within me? What decisions will I make? What words will I keep? What words will I believe?

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Birth Certificate or Driver’s License

Posted in Ordinary Time, tagged , , , , , on July 2, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Ephesians 2:8
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God…

I am currently reading The Jesus Creed by Scot McKnight who made this comparison between views of salvation.

So often, people think of salvation as a “birth certificate” and once they’re born again, the work is done and they have their “pass” into heaven. But his Jesus Creed, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. [Luke 10:27] takes more than just a “pass.” Hence, the idea of a Driver’s License in which we learn and become better at the skill.

Love is a skill. Love is conscious. Love is intentional. Love is risk. Love is trust. Love is kind. Love is patient. Love is other-oriented. Therefore, love is also humility.

These do not come naturally to us. I think it’s interesting that I Corinthians 13, the great “love” chapter, actually highlights all the things that love is NOT more so than what love is. Perhaps this is because we more familiar with the “nots” of love.

I have two teenagers who have put off learning to drive a car for almost 2 years. They have plenty of friends, a brother, and parents, who have been hauling them around. They have not seen a “need” for a driver’s license. A driver’s license is a scary business. How many of us remember that first day we got behind a wheel? When did we really start getting comfortable as drivers? So often, we take the whole process for granted.

I can see this applying to a lot of Christians (including me). As long as we remain in our safe environments, go to church every Sunday, drop a buck or two in the offering plate, attend a workshop or a covered dish, we’re good. The driver’s license form of salvation requires more of us… of me. I mean, I’ve had my Jesus license for 30 years. Isn’t it time to start driving into some unfamiliar roads and places?

My daughter has finally started driving practices. She is fearful of all the other drivers. She still drives very slowly. She is very cautious. When we start using our Jesus license, we will be the same way. But, in the end, we must build up our speed. We must trust what we know. We must integrate all the rules with the pleasure of it. We must teach others to drive. And that’s the scariest part of all.

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Always Looking for More

Posted in Ordinary Time, tagged , , , , on July 1, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Luke 17:5-6
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you….”

We live in a “give me more” culture. We don’t seem happy with meeting our needs, but want more. So, now it’s normal for most houses to have at least 1 1/2 baths… if not two or even three. Most of us in the U.S. have more than one car in the family, and even three isn’t considered over the top. Each child must have his/her own car, ipod, cell phone, etc. Most homes have more than one television. Women have more than 50 pairs of shoes and sometimes, handbags. Often, there are two wage earners, and still it is not enough. We live just outside our income so that debt becomes the norm. When will it be enough?

In my work, we are always looking for more customers, more programs, more books. In my church, we are looking for more people to sit in the sanctuary, more ministries, more space, and more activities.

The disciples also asked for more. They asked for more faith. But Jesus chides them, saying if the faith they already had was just as a big as a mustard seed, it would be enough. It would move mountains. This is no different from the rest of our lives. If we cherished and nurtured the little things we had, we would discover how bountiful our lives really are … or could be.

Help me see and appreciate the mustard seeds in my life.

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Becoming Convinced

Posted in Ordinary Time, tagged , , , , on June 30, 2009| Leave a Comment »

John 8:25
“Who are you?” they asked. “Just what I have been claiming all along,” Jesus replied.

Just what does it take to be convinced of something? I mean, at what point, do we have that “aha” moment?

Many people of Jesus’s time never did “get it.” Why? He told them over and over who He was. He performed miracles. He spoke with authority. He was knowledgeable. He was kind. He was inclusive. He was loving. What was the stumbling block?

And today, if Jesus were to appear in our modern age, what would it take for people to believe? If he did miracles, everyone would focus on debunking them. If he spoke with authority, he would be questioned about his curriculum vitae. If he said he was God, he would be analyzed by a psychiatrist. If he had a television show, he would be critiqued. And, God forbid, what if wasn’t good-looking as politicians and entertainers have learned. Would he need a jingle or a mission statement? Would he need an agent? And what race would be acceptable to the world? Perhaps He would blog first and build a virtual following before He revealed himself?

Belief is a funny thing. It’s not always based on proof. In fact, the primary dimension of belief has nothing at all to do with what is logic or reasonable. Belief happens within. And if a person is cut off from his or her interior self, belief is not possible.

So far, the book of John is all about becoming convinced. “Is he really who he said he was.”

When I became convinced, it was 1979, and although I had lived a very “worldly” life that included lots of drugs, alcohol, sex, and self-absorption, his words reached through the fog and inside I knew. I just knew there was truth and I wanted it.

“… he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.” [John 8:23-24]

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