When Nothing Else Could Help...

I'm sure that many of you are familiar with the classic hymn of the church called Love Lifted Me. Today I would like to share with you an exercise in gratitude that uses the chorus to that simple song as its basis. The lyrics to the chorus are as follows:

Love lifted me, love lifted me

When nothing else could help, love lifted me

In the song, "Love" represents the love of God whose name is Jesus. And that love does indeed lift us out of many difficult situations and give us hope when all hope seems gone. But there are many times when that love comes to us through other people in our lives. And today, I want you to remember those special people, who have lifted your heart and your spirit when you needed it most. So sing the entire chorus, or if you don't know the tune, just read the words aloud. Go ahead.  "Love lifted me..."  Now do it again. But this time, instead of the word "love," substitute the name of someone who has given you love and hope. For instance at various times in my life I have sung "Steve lifted me" or "Denise lifted me." Again, sing the entire chorus. Keep going, substituting a new name each time. Recognize how often Jesus works in our hearts through the people he places in our lives. Finish the exercise by singing the name of Jesus in place of love. Then take a few moments in prayer, giving thanks for all of the names you have mentioned.

I do this exercise several times a week when I am alone and aware of how important the people in my life who love me are to my spiritual growth and mental health. I encourage you to make this a regular part of your prayer life as well. We all have known so many people who are blessings from God in our lives, and we should live with an attitude of gratitude. Have a blessed day, and thanks for being among the many who have "lifted me." You are needed today more than ever!

Because of Jesus,

Asleep at the Wheel

There are many of us who pray every day that there would be a Jesus Revolution in our land. Today I want to focus on one of the primary reasons such a revolution is so slow in coming. It's at least in part because we Christians have a tendency to fall asleep at the wheel...

In Mark 14: 32-40 we read about Jesus going to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane. This was right after the "Last Supper" and just prior to his arrest. As was often the case at the most important moments in his ministry, Jesus took Peter, James and John with him. They were his guys- his inner circle. As Jesus goes off to pray, he asks them to wait on him there. Three times he does this. Three times they are asleep when he returns to them. It seems unbelievable that his best friends could fail him like that- but they did. Jesus needed them to be there for him- but they simply fell asleep.

In many ways the followers of Christ have been dealing with the same problem ever since. We know what needs to be done. We have all of the teachings and theology that anyone could ever hope for. We read the words of Jesus that command us to love God, to love other people and to carry the message of His love to the world. We know there are things need to be done. But we're asleep at the wheel. Our lives motor down the highway accomplishing "important" things that make us more significant in the eyes of man, but we are fast asleep as we pass the exit signs that say Jesus Revolution. We tell ourselves that others will take care of that stuff. We fool ourselves into believing that after we become successful and powerful that THEN we will honor God. We go to work, we manage our lives, we manicure our lawns and we amuse ourselves. And then we give Jesus what is left over. But there seldom is anything left over- so like the disciples, we sleep.

The institution of the Church (in USAmerica, anyway) is not much better. We are often so busy with buildings, committees, fundraising and "minding the flock" that ministry to the lost and hurting takes a back seat. Too many of our churches today believe that the best way to take Jesus to the world is for us all to be "nice." Christians are nice. We can do nice in our sleep- and that is exactly the problem! Followers of Jesus should be loving and respectful, but we should also be RADICAL! We prefer taking political stances and preserving our "Holy Huddles" to actually taking the risky, radical, world-changing love of Jesus to our communities. Listen to these words from the late, great Keith Green:

The world is sleeping in the dark, and the church just can't fight

Cause it's asleep in the light, How can you be so dead?

When you've been so well fed

Jesus rose from the grave

And you, you can't even get out of bed

The teachings of Jesus seem wild and sometimes outright ridiculous when compared to the standards of the world we live in. If your faith and your belief-system make you feel comfortable and safe, then you need to go back and take a look at the things Jesus taught. You may well be "asleep in the light." If there is going to be a Jesus Revolution that brings hope, peace and joy to those who are sleeping in the dark, it is going to have to come from those who claim to be disciples of the risen Savior. If we are to live out Matthew 25 and minister to the homeless, the hungry, the naked, the criminal and the rest of the "least of these," then we are going to have to get off our couches to do it. If we are going to change this world in His name, then we need to stop arguing politics and theology and wake up to the challenge of sharing God's love with everyone. 

It's time to realize that for far too long we have been happy to play church and take our naps. Nap time is over. The world needs Jesus, and it is time for some spiritual No-Doze. Who's with me?

Because of Jesus,

I Am Not

When Moses asked God who he should say sent him to save the people of Abraham, God responded "tell them I AM sent you. Yahweh is the "I AM," the God who was and is and is to come; the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I am none of those things, and neither are you. We are but tiny parts of God's plan, like so many before us and so many around us. When John the Baptist was asked if he was the promised Messiah, he replied, "I am NOT...but there is one who will come and reveal everything God has promised." We, like Moses and John and Peter and so many other giants of our faith, are NOT. But we know the great "I AM." As you worship today, be WIDE OPEN to the fact that God is God...and you are NOT. Open your hearts that God might use you so His will can be accomplished on this earth. Submit yourself so that Jesus might have His way with you and that you might quit trying to have your way with Him. Only then can His light shine its brightest. Only then can Jesus truly be the hope of the world.  A sign I used to have up in my office said The Main thing is to keep the Main Thing the Main thing! I pray this prayer today in the hope that it will keep me focused on the things that truly matter.  I hope you will pray along...

Loving God, today I turn my life over to You. My skills, my failures, my sin and my joys all belong to You. I recognize that my life is not about me, but it is all about You. I realize that I sometimes like to play god, but that I am NOT..You ARE! Help me to understand that Jesus did not die on the cross so I could accomplish some political agenda or achieve some lofty position on this earth. Jesus died for my sins, because I am a sinner. Jesus gives me grace so that I might offer love and forgiveness to others, especially to the "least of these brothers of mine" who are in need and to the lost who think themselves to be beyond His grace. In the words of King David, himself a sinner of great magnitude, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit with in me, so that I might serve You." Use me, and I will give you the glory. Remind me today that I am NOT...but I know I AM, and that when I serve You we can offer hope to a hurting world.

In the name of the great I AM,
Amen

Tomorrow

Today is the LORD's day. All over the world people will worship Him, pray to Him and thank Him for the grace and forgiveness He gives each of us through His Son, Jesus the Christ. Yes, today is the LORD's day. Is it the only day we will give Him this week? Our challenge each day is to carry Jesus with us as we walk through the trials and tribulations of our world. We need to be led by the Holy Spirit as we encounter difficult situations. We need to "let go and let God." This is true every day. You may not know it, but for some of you reading this today there has seldom been a more important day to live in God's grace and share it with the world than tomorrow.

Tomorrow is a day in which we may come face to face with the ghosts of the hurt, pain and anger of days gone by. It is a day in which we will have the opportunity to offer hope instead of condemnation; when we can show love instead of disdain; and in which we can offer grace in the name of Jesus. It is entirely possible that you will not want to do this tomorrow. You may prefer to see someone suffer more for their sins, feeling no amount of suffering is enough. You may prefer to ignore a person in need of love and a kind word. You may think they are only getting what they deserve. It is so tempting to feel that way- and temptation is exactly what it is. Judging someone as "beyond lovable" is a thought that comes straight from The Deceiver. Where would we be if God gave us what we deserve? I can't answer for you, but I sure can for me- and I don't like the answer one little bit. "My sin not in part but in whole, is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more..."  Without those words, I am just a sinner, and I am lost. With them, I am a child of God, forgiven and free. It makes no difference who we are or what we have done, we are worthy of God's love. The question is will we accept it...

In the Gospel of John at the beginning of chapter 8, Jesus comes upon a woman accused of adultery. Her accusers are preparing to stone her, because in their eyes she no longer has any worth as a person. When Jesus arrives, the crowd attempts to gain his approval before commencing. Jesus kneels down and begins to doodle in the sand while they await his response. He finally says to them, "Let him without sin cast the first stone." One by one, the rocks drop from their hands and they walk away. Jesus asked her, "Woman, where are they?  Has no one condemned you?" She replied, "No one, sir." Then Jesus declared, "Neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin."

The question for us is, what will we do tomorrow when we encounter "the sinner," for it is an encounter that is bound to happen. Will we see the pebble in their eye, or will we be aware of the boulder in our own? Will we decide that it is our place to carry out judgement, or will we understand that Jesus died for every sin, not just ours? It is so very USAmerican these days to go Old Testament and demand "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth," forgetting Gandhi's reminder that "An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind." To think that way is to forget that the coming of Jesus changed everything. It is human nature to carry grudges and never forget sin; indeed, we love reminding others of their sins. It is God's nature, as demonstrated in the gift of Jesus, to love and ALWAYS forget our sins. With God looking on, with Jesus in your heart and with the Holy Spirit leading the way, how will you respond tomorrow? I say "you" because I already know my answer. I don't know much, but I do know this- "The longer I know my LORD, the more I know- I've got no stones to throw."  

Today is the LORD's day. And so is tomorrow. Share God's love and forgiveness with everyone you encounter. And if you happen to run into any returning prodigal sons (besides me- I have already been welcomed home with amazing grace!), go to them. Hug them. Break out the fatted calf! Because that is exactly what Jesus said to do...

Because of Jesus,

The Sermon on the Hill

Recently I worked my way through the wonders of Matthew 5-6, once again exploring the wondrous words of the Sermon on the Mount. For far too many Christians, these familiar passages are undervalued. This is Jesus at his most radical, turning the world upside down with his words. Just think of all the teachings included in this magnificent message. The Beatitudes, which the late, great Rich Mullins referred to as "the condensed version of everything Jesus wanted us to know." Jesus' teachings on salt & light. His constant reminders that "you have heard it said, but I say" as he explained that he had come to fulfill the law and the prophecies. His admonitions to let our word be our bond, to turn the other cheek and to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Teaching us to pray with the model we call The LORD'S Prayer. Reminding us not to be hypocritical or flashy as we serve others, give to the needy and fast. His much ignored teaching that earthly treasure is worthless in heaven. And finally, his reminder that we need not worry, because his Father - our God - will take care of our needs. This amazing set of teachings must have had the Pharisees pulling their beards out, because it was such a departure from the legalism of the day. And to be honest, it is a departure from the legalism often preached in the 21st century church as well. Jesus calls us to radical action and love. We prefer the words of Paul, which give us guidelines and rules we can argue about. Jesus is blunt, to the point, and preaching a lifestyle change that most of us try to avoid. The Sermon on the Hill is a blueprint for how to be a Jesus Freak. And that scares us.

But it should also give us hope. The sermon is a reminder that God's love is available to one and all, no matter our situation and no matter our sins. Check out these words from Philip Yancey:

“Thunderously, inarguably, the Sermon on the Mount proves that before God we all stand on level ground: murderers and temper-throwers, adulterers and lusters, thieves and coveters. We are all desperate, and that is in fact the only state appropriate to a human being who wants to know God. Having fallen from the absolute Ideal, we have nowhere to land but in the safety net of absolute grace.”   ― The Jesus I Never Knew

Philip wrote another great book called What's So Amazing About Grace?, and his words above answer that question. Grace, given to us in the form of the love of God whose name is Jesus, is always there. We cannot earn it. We will never deserve it. And yet it is always there to catch us when we fall. The Sermon on the Mount teaches us how to live in grace and share it with the rest of the world.

So here is my challenge to you today. Read Matthew 5-6, and read it slowly. Soak in it. Think about how world changing it must have been to stand on that hillside and hear those words. Think about what they mean to us as Christ-followers. And then get serious. Memorize The Beatitudes. They should be written on our hearts. Let's put the power back in the words of Jesus, and to the call he puts on our lives. It's time to get radical...

Because of Jesus,

Blessed Are the Merciful

There has been a lot of buzz and controversy throughout history about the place of the church when it comes to showing mercy to hurt and oppressed people of our world. Today I invite you to open your heart and your spirit to these words of encouragement and inspiration from some very wise men (such as Saint Francis, pictured). Live your life mercy-filled. Have a blessed Sunday.

You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.  - Matthew 5:7 (The Message)

And what does the LORD require of you? That you do justice; love mercy; and walk humbly with your GOD.   -Micah 6:8

You should not let a single person in the world, whatever sin that person may have committed, come before your eyes and depart without having found mercy with you. And should that person not ask for mercy from you, then you must ask it of him. And were that person to come to you a thousand times, continue to love them so as to lead them back to the right path. Always have compassion, for all of us have sinned.  -Saint Francis of Assisi

The litmus test of our love for God is our love of neighbor.  -Brennan Manning

I will be my brother's keeper, not the one who judges him
I won't despise him for his weakness, I won't regard him for his strength
I won't take away his freedom, I will learn to help him stand
And I will, I will be my brother's keeper   -Rich Mullins/Beaker

Do not waste time bothering whether you "love" your neighbor; act as if you did. As soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him.   -C.S. Lewis

The bread that you store up belongs to the hungry; the coat that lies in your chest belongs to the naked; the gold that you have hidden in the ground belongs to the poor.  -Saint Basil

And finally, think about this old quote from entertainer Stephen Colbert, who boldly said what many in the church will not...

Because of Jesus,

As Useless As a Screen Door On a Submarine

"It's about a useless as a screen door on a submarine

Faith without works, baby- it just ain't happening..."

One of my interviews trips during the great job search of 1999 took me to a UMC in Indiana. Strangely enough, it too was located in the suburbs of Cincinnati. Even more bizarre, because Indiana does not recognize daylight savings time, the little community where the church was located spent several months each year in a different time zone from the city to which it was most closely connected. I sure knew how to pick 'em, huh?

But that's not what I came to talk about today. On that same interview there was a great deal of discussion (disguised as an argument!) about the direction the adults involved thought the youth ministry needed to go. Some wanted more serious Bible study (I think one guy suggested all the students memorize Lamentations) while others thought that service to others should be the group's primary focus. A few wanted to play more 4-Square. When asked which of these I felt was more important, I presented them with my philosophy of youth ministry. Ministry should be "wholistic" (from J. David Stone) and purpose driven (from Doug Fields). When they said I had not fully answered their question, I went all Jesus on them and told them a parable. A parable I had learned from Rich Mullins.

A man was in a rowboat- the kind with two oars, one on each side. He decided to row only with his left arm so he could make it stronger, but soon found his boat went only in circles. He switched to his stronger arm, his right arm, and rowed- but found he had only reversed the circling. It was only when he rowed with evenly both arms that he traveled a straight path on the water. So it is with faith and works. Following Jesus requires both.

Rich was not trying to say that we can be "saved" by the things we do. We cannot earn salvation. If we have faith, salvation is a gift from God. But it is also true that if we are followers of Jesus we will be in service to others. If we truly believe, our hearts will be broken by the things that break the heart of Jesus. The hungry, the homeless, the sick, the weak- all of the "least of these (Matthew 25)" that Jesus demands we look after, we will want to love in the name of God! As the scriptures tell us, if we truly believe then our lives will show "fruit."

I don't think they liked my answer. They never offered me the job; I wouldn't have taken it anyway. I still believe Rich had it right. He put his thoughts into this amazing little song called Screen Door. Listen, watch and enjoy. But also take this chance to check your own life. If you call yourself a Christian, what do people see in your actions that would confirm that for them? Too many people base the evidence of their faith on the things they don't do. Jesus asks,"What did you do for the least of these brothers of mine?" Don't let your faith become useless...  

A Very Peculiar People

Have you ever noticed that Christians are strange? We fight like cats and dogs about things Jesus never even talked about. We spend way too much time trying to impress each other. We worship a carpenter. Christians are a pretty peculiar bunch. In fact, the Bible even says so. 1 Peter 2:9 (The Message) tells us that we are a "peculiar people" who have been "called out of darkness into His marvelous light." But in this case, peculiar doesn't mean strange, as it so often does when our society describes us. It means special. More specifically, in this instance it means we are special to God, who loved us so much He sacrificed his only Son so that we might spend eternity in communion with Him. Jesus died so that we could follow his example and show others how to walk in the Light. What a peculiar thing to do...

Demonstrating God's love is the whole reason the Church exists. It isn't intended a private club where members go to uphold sacred rituals and traditions. It isn't a supposed to be a place to argue about whether my way of worshiping is better than yours. It isn't a building where people who think they have all the answers and are better than everyone else hang out. It isn't a place where we attempt to dictate the politics of our nation. The Church was designed by God to be a living organism- a body of believers - who bring the light of Christ into a dark and hurting world. When the church gathers our message should not be "we are right and you are wrong." Instead, we should resonate with a message of hope and love. Our very lives should scream that God is love, and that is worthy to receive all the honor and praise we can possibly give our Creator!!! We worry so much about "converting" people to our way of thinking. Our job is to love them and show them Jesus. God still handles all the conversions...

When our churches are truly being the Church, working as God planned, then we are like lighthouses. When we worship God through our music, our messages, our giving and our service it is like we are shining the Light, showing all of the world what a glorious and mighty God we serve. It is true that people cannot see God. It is also true that they can, if we choose to be lighthouses, see Jesus shine through the Church and through each of us. It is not our light, not our wisdom and not our love that the world needs. It is his. Through Jesus, we are God's Plan A for lighting this dark world. There is no Plan B.  

I have heard so many people lamenting lately what a terrible place this world has become. The darkness is thick and heavy all around us. But John 1:8 reminds us that "the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it."  The question, Church, is this: Are we still peculiar enough to believe that? Have a blessed Sabbath, my friends.

Because of Jesus,

Create In Me

One of my very favorite youth group worship songs was a little chorus called Create In Me. I often used it to close out singing and worship times, because it was such a simple prayer. This was yet another song I learned from the godfather of group singing, Yohann "YO" Anderson, the man behind the Songs & Creations songbooks. It was written by Mary Rice Hopkins, who went on to become a very popular writer and singer of children's songs. I was blessed to hear her sing it in person once in the middle of the exhibit hall at a NYWC. Even in the midst of that chaos, the song created a sacred space. It is based on Psalm 51:10-12 which reads:

Create in me a pure heart, O God

and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Psalm 51 is a song of David. David is one of the great men of the Old Testament. He slayed Goliath. He became King of the people of Israel. He led his people through many difficult times and many terrible battles. He was called "a man after God's own heart." He wrote many of the Psalms. He also committed adultery and had the husband of the woman killed. In other words, David was like us. Sometimes a sinner, sometimes a saint. And that is what makes these words so special. David knew he needed his heart cleaned- just as we all do! And we know we cannot do it on our own. We need Jesus.

I don't know that I ever played and sang this song without getting at least one tear in my eye. Most often I was looking out at a youth group singing along with me, and I could not help but sing this song for the students that I knew were lost and hurting. Over the past decade it has become a daily prayer for me. "Create in me a clean heart, O God, that I might serve you..." I invite you to pray this prayer with me today and every day. Have a blessed Monday.

Because of Jesus,

Jesus Takes Care of the Rest

Keith Green

"You just keep doing your best, and pray that it's blessed,

and Jesus takes care of he rest!"

My senior year in high school (1976-77) I became friends with a dynamo of a freshman girl named Sandra Payne. She and her friends adopted me as their big brother (actually the 7 of them called me Snow White- but that's a story for another day!) and Sandra's family treated myself and my friend Steve as if we were relatives. It still, even some 39 years later, feels funny to call her Sandra. Everyone knew her as Punky. Punky Payne. Among the many things she brought into my life that year was my first introduction to what is now known as Contemporary Christian Music. She played albums for me by artists like Evie, Amy Grant and Keith Green. One of the Keith Green songs she played over and over was called He'll Take Care of the Rest. And just for Punky (wherever she may be) that song is my devotional for today!

Keith Green was truly one of the pioneers of early modern Christian music. As with most of his peers, he saw music as a ministry more than entertainment, and his concerts were often accompanied by some serious preaching. He and his wife Melody were the founders of Last Days Ministries. In 1982, while flying over some land that had been purchased for the purpose of expanding the ministry, Keith and 11 others were killed in a plane crash. His death at such an early age left an huge hole in the ministry of the church, and he is still missed today. He remains an inspiration to many of today's artists and ministers.  

He'll Take Care of the Rest was not one of Keith's best known songs, even back in 1977 when it appeared on his first solo album For Him Who Has Ears To Hear. It would have been easy to pick a more popular (yet still seldom heard in today's world) Green song, such as Asleep in the Light, So You Wanna' Go Back To Egypt or You Put This Love In My Heart. But He'll Take Care of the Rest holds a special place in my heart- in part because of Punky, and in part because it is a reminder that God often calls the unwilling to do the improbable. In many ways that feels like my story too. It is a reminder that God doesn't always call the equipped; sometimes God equips the called. Plus, this song is just flat out fun. So enjoy it, and then go check out more of Keith Green's story online.  You will be inspired. This one's for you, Punky. And just so you know- among the 7 dwarfs she was Dopey.  :)

Because of Jesus,

"You're Soaking In It"

Some of my older readers may remember the old Palmolive dishwashing detergent in which clients of a manicurist named Marge would discover they were soaking their hands in the detergent. She would always reveal her secret by announcing, "You're soaking in it." From time to time I like to provide you with inspirational readings- Scripture, song lyrics, poetry or some other devotional reading- so you can just soak in it. Treat the words like a hot tub. You don't have to DO anything; just sit, soak in them and let them wash over you. Stay WIDE OPEN to what God has to say to you. Today's words come once again from Lois Cheney's 1969 devotional classic God Is No Fool.

"Be still and know that I AM God."

The hymns rise and fall.

The organ lifts and uplifts.

The choir in its practiced solemnity focuses its praise.

Standing at the sound of prayers, we hear the chants of Scripture fill the nave.

The sermon adds its one-voice contribution.

All, all in reverent noise.

The meeting turns on Christ.

The conversation patters to Christ.

The laughter smiles with Christ.

The daily devotional drowns out the Christ.

All, all in reverent noise.

The first bird is heard.

The baby's cry is heard.

The embarrassed cough is heard.

Who is silent?

Who is waiting for Jesus?

Who is listening to God?

"Be still and know that I AM God."

Because of Jesus,

Surrender

Today, in churches all over USAmerica, preachers will offer up some bad theology to anyone who is willing to listen. It goes something like this-"God is good. You are not. Try harder."  This presentation of the gospel is usually accompanied by reminding those in attendance of just how far short of perfection they really fall. It is accompanied by a list of "thou shalt nots" that sometimes includes but is never limited to the 10 Commandments. This rewriting of the Good News of Jesus has been going on for over 2000 years now, but it is reaching epidemic levels in the 21st century. Pull yourself up by your bootstraps. Change your behavior. Go to more small groups. Whine and moan about people who sin differently from you. Adopt an issue to protest against. Attend more church services. Fix yourself. Try harder!

The problem with this theology is that...well pretty much everything. If we are capable of  fixing ourselves, then Jesus died on the cross for no reason. We don't need to do more, we need to surrender our lives. The work we need to do is to give up, to let go and let God. The theology of the New Testament is this-"God is good. We are not. Jesus loves us anyway. Now follow Him"  We cannot achieve our own salvation, and we need not "work harder" to live life with Christ. When Jesus said, "It is finished!" while on the cross, he meant that the gap between our sinful selves and God had been bridged- permanently. Not everyone will acknowledge or accept this gift of grace. We all must "work out" our salvation, just like we work out our bodies. You don't go the gym to get muscles (salvation), you go the gym to improve them, to make them all they can be. Salvation is there for us all. And it is there NOW. We simply have to bow our knee in worship to the One who gives us this incredible gift. We don't have to wait until we are perfect. God, through Jesus, loves you just the way He made you. He even loves me. And that is the good news.

There are far too many Christian leaders who have obtained their status by exploiting the gospel. They preach guilt and legalism instead of mercy and grace. They emphasize fear instead of love and grace. And in the end, they convince people to follow them. Here's my tip for today: It's not how much a leader knows about leadership that sets them apart; it's what they know about FOLLOWING. And a leader who follows Jesus knows this to be true- there is nothing you can do to make God love you more, and nothing you can do to make God love you less. So get off the treadmill of religious performance and surrender your heart. Say it with me- "God is good. I am not. Jesus loves me anyway."  Amen & Amen!

Because of Jesus,

That Sinking Feeling

The following in an excerpt from my friend Rick Bundschuh's brilliant 2011 book, Deep Like Me. It is my hope that this will comfort you as you walk this season of Lent. It is so easy to feel like we are failing at Lent, falling short of stated goals and expected growth. We often beat ourselves up for our lack of faith, lack of commitment or failure to grow as quickly as we think we ought to. We want the faith of Peter so we can take a few steps on the water; instead we often see ourselves as sinking and in over our heads. Rick writes these words of encouragement. Soak in them today, and remember that God loves you as you are.

You are not alone. Others of us have those same thoughts and feelings.

You are not that weird. Our faith is often convoluted, inconsistent and conflicted.

You will make it. You still have a long way to go, but by hanging on to Jesus, your faith understanding and wisdom will grow, and yes, it is difficult and even baffling a times.

I would like to tell you that the journey gets easier over time, but that would be a half-truth. At the very point that you acclimate and finally get used to the new spiritual altitude, God hollers at you to get and get moving again.

Take comfort in knowing you are not alone. Get charged up knowing that God has more for you. Always.

Because of Jesus,

Building the Perfect Christian

Everyone knows the Frankenstein story, right? A mad scientist seeks to create a perfect human being by reanimating body parts gathered from dead people- and it all goes wrong. Suppose you could take the DNA from some of the greatest Christians you know in a quest to build a perfect Christian. What traits would you want to include? There would need to be solid theology and a commitment to the spiritual disciplines. Certainly you would want the knowledge of a great Biblical scholar, someone who not only knows scripture but is fluent in Greek and Hebrew as well. You would want the gift of evangelism from someone like Billy Graham, whose heart is broken by the lost. You would want the golden voice of one of the great communicators of the faith who could speak words of encouragement and wisdom to everyone they encountered. Perhaps a gene for counselling should be included, along with the gift of song to help the world sing praise to the LORD. I would include a desire to care for the downtrodden and impoverished just as Jesus did.  And the wisdom of Solomon would be a welcome addition as well. This lab creation, a sort of Christian Frankenstein, would be the ultimate leader in our search to complete the Great Commission.

One of my very favorite movies is Young Frankenstein. In that flick, the man becomes a monster because Igor brings the his boss the brain of "Abby Normal" instead of the brilliant brain he requested. Our creation would fare no better. You see, scripture tells us that if we created a specimen with all of the attributes listed above, it would be a failure. Even with all of those gifts, all of that knowledge and wisdom, it could not communicate the true nature of Jesus to this hurting world. Why not? Because we left out the one ingredient that our creation cannot survive without. I'll let Paul tell you...

1 Corinthians 13: 1-7 (The Message)- If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love. 

So here's the deal- we can know more, experience more and be gifted more than any other Christian walking this planet, but if we don't have the overwhelming, radical, passionate and forgiving love of Jesus in our hearts, then we still don't get it. We are indeed like Frankenstein, imposing and overbearing, with nothing real to offer the world.  Theology and public piety will not win hearts for Christ. Love will. There is no such thing as a perfect Christian. But a reflection of God's love and grace in this hurting world? Yeah...we can do that.

Because of Jesus,

Remember, Remember... All We Fight For

Lately my thoughts have been deeply immersed in the subject of friendship. There have been remembrances of good friends that are no longer in my life. There has been reminiscing about complicated relationships that have led to a drifting apart. And there have been joyous memories- more that I can count- of friends who have stuck with me through the years, no matter the circumstances and no matter my own issues. 

My message for this Sunday is not a religious one, but it is deeply spiritual to me. When you reach my age the stories you have of the people you love are among the most important things in life. Friendships are worth fighting for. They are worth the effort, the time and trouble to salvage when they appear to be on the brink. Listen to this song and soak in the lyrics. The song is called Heaven for a reason. It was the final song in the final episode of How I Met Your Mother- and that fictional group of friends knew all about fighting for friendships. Listen...and remember...

As Helen Keller once said, "Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light." Set aside some time today to value your friendships, to repair those that need work and to express love to the people who have carried you when you needed them most. I am blessed to have so many dear friends. I love you all.

Because of Jesus,

It's Time to Bother Jesus

Jesus & Zacchaeus

Stop me if you have heard this one-"Christians are nice." For many people in the 21st century, "nice" has become the defining characteristic of the followers of Jesus. People who are wild, different, rude or aggressive can't possibly be Christians. Christians are polite and that is what sets them apart in this rude world we live in. Christians may not love the people around them and they may condemn them under their breath, but we are always nice to people so they will think we love like Jesus loved. We would never want them to feel inconvenienced, and we certainly don't want to trouble God with our worries. When did this happen? When did followers of Jesus quit being wild-eyed, radically counter-cultural world changing & dangerous disciples and start being "nice?" And more importantly, how do we fix it? How do we get back to being Jesus Freaks?

In Luke 8:40-56 you can read the story of the Jewish leader Jairus and his daughter who is on the verge of death. He goes to see Jesus, to ask him to come to his home and heal his daughter. Jairus has great faith that Jesus will make her whole again. As Jesus begins to follow Jairus home they are interrupted by a bleeding woman who also seeks healing from the teacher. After the delay, as they are about to continue their journey, word comes that the daughter is dead. The messenger ends his statement with these words (Luke 8:49):"There is no need now to bother the teacher." It is a message that we modern believers have taken to heart.

I believe that we have quit being world changers in great part because we have decided not to bother the Master. We concentrate on doing things we might be able to do without him- like being nice. After all, the Creator of the universe doesn't really have time for our petty needs and prayers, does he? In fact, not only does Jesus not mind being bothered, he LOVES it! Think about some of the people in scripture who went out of their way to bother Christ. Blind Bart. The leper at the gate. Zacchaeus.The friends who lowered their paralyzed friend through the roof. Mary and Martha when Lazarus was dying. Nicodemus.The bleeding woman who grabbed hold of Jesus' robe. Jairus and his daughter (she lived!). None of these folks were polite. None of them waited their turn. All of them practically screamed at Jesus for help. And he did miraculous things in every case. Each of them decided that bothering the teacher was the only option they had left, that Jesus and ONLY Jesus could help them. And help them he did...

I don't know about you, but I think it is time to bother Jesus. It's time to pray big prayers and dream big dreams. It is time to return to the faith of those first followers of Christ who knew that in order to change the world they had to be radical believers. If we want to be like the church found in the book of Acts and turn this world upside down then we need to quit being so polite. I want to treat people with love and respect, but I don't want to be known for being nice. Nice is not a fruit of the Spirit. We cannot change the world on our own. It is time to bother Jesus.

Because of Jesus,

A Prayer of Hope & Submission

When Moses asked God who he should say sent him to save the people of Abraham, God responded tell them "I AM" sent you. Yahweh is the "I AM," the God who was and is and is to come; the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I am none of those things, and neither are you. We are but tiny parts of God's plan, like so many before us. When John the Baptist was asked if he was the promised Messiah, he replied, "I am NOT...but there is one who will come and reveal everything God has promised." We, like Moses and John and Peter and so many other giants of our faith, are NOT. But we know the great "I AM." As you go through your day, be WIDE OPEN to the fact that God is God...and you are NOT. Open your hearts that God might use you so His will can be accomplished on this earth. Submit yourself so that Jesus might have His way in you and you might quit trying to have your way with Him. Only then can His light shine its brightest. Only then can Jesus truly be the hope of the world. I hope you will join me in this prayer:

Loving God, today I turn my life over to You. My skills, my failures, my sin and my joys all belong to You. I recognize that my life is not about me, but it is all about You. I realize that I sometimes like to play god, but that I am NOT...You ARE! Help me to understand that Jesus did not die on the cross so I could accomplish some political agenda or achieve some lofty position on this earth. Jesus died for my sins, because I am a sinner. Jesus gives me grace so that I might offer love and forgiveness to others, especially to the "least of these brothers of mine" who are in need, and to the lost who think themselves to be beyond His grace. In the words of King David, himself a sinner of great magnitude,"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit with in me, so that I might serve You." Use me, and I will give you the glory. Remind me daily that I am NOT...but I know I AM, and that together we can offer hope to a hurting world.

In the name of the great I AM,

True Joy

Last night, while walking the dog in an amazing evening breeze, I found myself thinking about joy and how to define it. A blissful image entered my mind. I was transported to North Myrtle Beach, SC, and one of my favorite places in the world- the three story house known as The Betsy B. I was sitting on the oceanfront porch, starring out at a full moon over the Atlantic Ocean and playing my guitar while people I love gathered around me. And I thought about how happy those moments always made me. But is that truly joy? Today I bring you words from Lois Cheney's 1969 devotional masterpiece God Is No Fool (Abingdon Press) that seek to answer the question- what is joy?

Joy is a old-fashioned word. What did it used to mean?

Like "happy" maybe? Or was it "silly" and "giggly?" Could just anyone get to it? Or was it buried in book and brow?

I wish I knew what it used to mean,  for I need a word- a good, solid word that shows how I feel when the day is over, and I've worked well and I'm so glad to be tired.

I need a word for when I've spent hours and hours with those I love, and I'm talk-sore and smile-aching. I need a word for when I'm alone, and over the miles are parts of my heart, deep in others who are warm, safe and at peace.

I need a word for when a job looms like a greyhound and I can do it, and I want to do it, and I tingle to get at it. I need a word for that warm, gentle flow that covers every corner of my being. And says, "Lo, I am with you always."

I need a word. Real bad. And I think it might be "joy."

Or maybe it's God. Then again, maybe they're the same word...

Because of Jesus,

70 X 7

Last night in a movie theater while waiting for Mockingjay to begin I overheard the following bit of a conversation: "I just can't believe she did it again. I forgave her once; how many times should I forgive her?"  I don't know who she is or what she did, but it occurred to me that Jesus already answered the question...if they really wants to know the answer.

Matthew 18:21-22 (NIV): Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "LORD, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? 7 times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not 7 times, but 70 times 7."  

Not recorded is Peter's response of, "HOLY CRAP!" That's a lot of forgiveness. Most of us have trouble with once. But that is not what Jesus requires of us. It's hard, and it may not seem fair, but that's the deal. Just as there are no limits on God's grace in our lives, we are to take the cap off our well of forgiveness. 70 X 7. Lots of scholars believe that means an infinite amount of times we are called upon to forgive others...and ourselves. But I'll make a deal with you today. You forgive someone 490 times, and we'll not worry about the infinite stuff. 490 times. We'd better get started...

Because of Jesus,

Choose Hope

Marilyn, Will & Michelle are headed to EPCOT this morning to spend the day, eat at Mexico and see Neil Patrick Harris do a legend-wait for it-ary job of narrating the Candlelight Processional tonight. They will have an amazing day. And yes, it does seem even more difficult this year to know I cannot go with them. There was hope back in April; now there is none when it comes to me being able to see this amazing event again. It is one of my favorite Christmas traditions.

It is very frustrating. So frustrating, in fact, that I wrote a lengthy post yesterday about my personal situation and the inequities of our justice system and double standards present in our society. But on my way to publishing that post I came to a realization. This is an often difficult, sometimes very dark world we live in, and sometimes hope is fleeting. People lose hope everyday. The Ohio State football player they found this past weekend had lost hope. Robin Williams lost hope. A sweet young woman I once knew very well lost hope last week. It happens every day. Compared to the real trauma and desperate situations so many people face and that are often magnified this time of year, my post just felt like a whole bunch of whining. So I ditched it.

We put up our Christmas tree last night. Every ornament tells a story- tales of Christmas past. When the tree is lit, it always fills my heart with joy and reminders of how blessed I am. Last night, this tree gave me a little kick in the butt. We celebrate this season because God knew that hope was often hard to come by if we try to live life on our own. The gift of Jesus is a gift of hope. Hope for the weary, the suffering, the hungry, the sick, the heartbroken, and yes, even for those who feel persecuted. But we have to chose hope. HOpe is not found in believing we can save ourselves, it is found in remembering there is a greater force at work in our lives. We have to choose to believe that Jesus came for ME. ..and YOU! Without that hope, my story would be very different. Very, very different...

The lights we will see this holiday season should remind us all that Jesus is the light that shines in the darkness of our souls. And the darkness cannot overcome that light. Today I invite you to join me in pushing aside the darkness and embracing that Light. Choose hope.

Because of Jesus,