Take heart!

The disciples must have been a little confused.  Jesus tells them that, in spite of His death and His leaving, they will have peace.  Then, He appears to contradict Himself by saying that in this world, they would have trials.  So, which is it?  It's both.  Okay, so now I'm confused.

The disciples initially must have felt rather insecure as Jesus spoke of leaving them.  They didn't yet understand about the resurrection and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  They only knew that He had been with them and they felt safe, secure, full of hope.  Now, their hope was about to vanish.  I'm sure we know the feeling.

I refer to this passage quite frequently as I counsel with Christian friends and others who are going through difficult times.  We really have no reason to believe that things will always go well for us or that we will somehow escape the difficulties that everyone else has to face.  Yet, often when we experience trials, we are in disbelief that God would allow us, His precious possession to have to suffer in the same way that others do.  Sometimes, we may feel the same way the disciples did, without hope.

I attended two funerals recently and most likely will experience a third in the very near future.  The first was the funeral of a former elder of a church where I used to attend.  He was a man of great conviction with a witness that had influenced several generations of family and others in the church.  His wife, family, friends, and others would grieve, but we are told in the Scriptures, "It is appointed unto man once to die."  He would be no exception.  The second funeral was for the wife of a man who had worked with me in ministry over the last two years.  His wife was only 48 and they had 6 children.  It took me over an hour to reach him once I entered the church during the visitation, and still the crowds kept coming.  She had meant so much to so many.  It was going to be difficult for the husband, my friend, to raise 6 children on his own.  Sadness would be a steady part of their diet for awhile.  They had reason to question why God would allow them to suffer their loss.

The funeral I expect to experience soon is that of my mother.  She is in her last days of battling cancer.  She has beaten cancer three times already.  The cancer has at times caused her significant levels of pain.  Chemotherapy and other medical treatments have often been very uncomfortable.  She will be spending her last days in a nursing home.  She has suffered from numerous trials throughout her life.  In fact, I was one of those trials.  I caused her a great deal of grief when I left the church, abandoned my relationship with God, rebelled against everything that she had taught and modeled for me.  I praise God she has witnessed the renewal of my faith and my involvement in ministry.  Still, there were other trials.  If there was ever a person who deserved to be spared suffering, it was her.  But, that was not the case.

In this world, we will have trials.  At the funerals I attended, I found individuals who were experiencing peace.  In my mother's situation, I know she has peace.  Most of her family and her friends have peace.  We can have peace when we face trials of different kinds, because of a bold statement Jesus made to His disciples.  He told them, "In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties.  But, take heart! I've conquered the world."  Though we may face trials, difficulties, pain, suffering, we can have peace; because, we know that our Savior has been there, and He has fought that battle and He has been victorious.  Nothing that we face in this world can defeat us.  Victory is ours because of what He accomplished on the cross.

Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome who were enduring significant trials of their own, "Who shall seperate us from the love of Christ?  Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?...No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us...Nothing can seperate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:35-39)."  I encourage you to take heart.  Peace is available because Jesus Christ has gone before us.  He has promised us peace because He has overcome the world.  We win!

Godspeed, Doulos
 

"I mean it."

Did you ever hear someone say something similar, as though it added some note of sincerity to what they had just stated, or somehow it was supposed to help you understand they really were being serious?  Or maybe you have used these words yourself when you made some kind of statement or a promise.  "Honest, I mean it.  I really, really, really do...this time."

Well, God said something similar to the children of Israel.  Only, He didn't have to try and make it sound like He really, really meant it.  They knew it.  They knew they had better take God seriously.  Moses records for us the words God spoke to them.

"Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law.  They are not just idle words for you--they are your life (Deut. 32:46-47)!"

The other day I received a text from my daughter after sending her one reminding her she needed to come home from school and do her homework, practice piano, and clean her room.  The text from her read as follows, "Seriously????? And.i already knew all. that stuff."  Both of my children have made it abundantly clear they don't like to be reminded to do things they already know they are supposed to do.  But, apparently the part of the brain that knows what needs to be done isn't communicating to the part of the brain that tells them to actually do it.

As a follower of Christ, I often send God the same message, " I know.  I don't need to be reminded."  And yet, what I know needs to be done isn't always getting done.  Maybe it is because I don't really take God seriously.  Maybe it's because the consequences don't always seem to follow immediately after the transgression.  Maybe it's because I take God's grace for granted.  Maybe I just don't appreciate that these words, His words, are the source of life for me.

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, the life.  No man comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6)."  If I really want the life that He has to offer, I need to take Him seriously.  I really think He meant what He said.  Don't you?

Godspeed, Phil

Pay attention!

Do you remember your teachers saying this?  When we are younger, early in our school years, we need these kind of prompts.  Otherwise, our attention is all over the place.  Attention is a skill that is developed and it is developed sequentially.  First, a child learns to put their attention on something, often as a response to directions from our teachers or parents or others.  As our brains mature, we learn to put our attention on something and to keep it there,  We learn to sustain our attention long enough to learn whatever we are being taught or able to experience.  That is how we learn what others are trying to teach us.  Finally, we need to be able to put our attention on something, sustain our attention, and to do so without being distracted.  How are we doing so far?

Ruth Haley Barton ("Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership") states, "Learning to pay attention and kowing what to pay attention to is a key discipline for leaders but one that rarely comes naturally to those of us who are barreling through life with our eyes fixed on a goal."

She goes on to say, "Many of us are choosing to live lives that do not set us up to pay attention, to notice those places where God is at work and to ask ourselves what these things mean."

Ex. 3:1-3--"Moses was shepherding the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian...The angel of God appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush.  Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up.  So Moses thought, 'I will go over and see this strange sight--why the bush does not burn up.'"

Have you noticed that God has a sense for the theatrical.  He could have spoken to Mose as He speaks to many of us, through a song sung by a choir during worship, or from a passage of Scripture read during a quiet time, or in the middle of a conversation, perhaps with Jethro.  But, God wanted Moses' attention.  And, He got it.

For the rest of us, it isn't that easy.  I doubt God is going to light up any bushes because I don't have any in my yard.  Besides, if He did, the fire department would be right out and I would be cited for an uncontained fire.  When God wanted Moses' attention, He didn't want an audience.  He didn't want any distraction.  He wanted Moses to focus.  He wanted Moses to know that it was God talking to him.  He wanted Moses' full attention and He knew what it would take.

When God speaks to us, He wants our attention.  How often do we put ourselves in a place where there are no distractions, where we can put our attention on God, hear what He has to say to us, understand what He is doing, and see where He is at work?  Are there regular times in your schedules for when you meet with God and give Him your attention, times of solitude and silence?

Again, Barton states, "At the heart of spiritual leadership is the capacity to notice the activity of God so we can join Him in it."  If we are not spending quality time with God, listening as He speaks to us of His will and the work He is doing, how do we know what to do from one day to the next?  I see between 7 and 10 individuals a day in my office, all of them wanting to know what God would have them to understand, what He is doing, or what He plans to do.  After awhile, the flesh becomes weak, the mind begins to go numb, and I could easily go on autopilot.  But, each of these persons deserves my attention, and they are hoping that I have something to share with them that comes from God, that will bring them peace, hope, joy.  Before I even meet with them, I need to go before the Lord and give Him my attention.  I need to hear from Him before I speak to them.

But, I also need regular times where I come before the Lord and give Him my attention, times when I try to get away from all the distractions.  I want to see what God is doing, where He is at work, to discern His will for me.  To do so, I have to put my attention on Him, keep it on Him, and not allow any distractions.

 

I wanna live like that!

I love to sing in the car, especially when a song like that from Sidwalk Prophets comes on the radio.  I get all pumped and belt it out (as long as no one is next to me at the stoplight).  It feels like I really mean it.  But, do I?  Do I truly want to live like that?  Did you ever wonder:

How does the faith of those listed in Hebrews 11 differ from my own?
What is it that enabled Fox's martyrs to be willing to die for what they believed?
How is it today that persecuted Christians around the world are willing to meet secretly to practice their faith, knowing that if they are caught or found out, they could lose everything, their jobs, their homes, their families, even their own lives?

I would wanna think I could live like that...if that was what was required of me.  Wouldn't you?

Peter wrote to the persecuted Christians of his day, "Those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good (I Peter 4:19)."  That's all well and good, but do we really suffer for God's will in our little world?  That's where I get hung up.  I know that I don't truly suffer for my faith.  I sat today with a former pastor and friend from a church where I used to attend, as we shared stories of injuries from when we played in the church basketball league.  Suffering for my faith?  Not hardly.  Although I have my fair share of trials from time to time, it pales in comparison to real suffering.  I may be embarrassed to share my faith but it isn't because I risk losing my house, my family, my very life.  It isn't because I am afraid of being persecuted?

So, when do I get an opportunity to live like that?

Sometimes, I feel like an imposter.  I feel like a weinie because it is so easy to live out my faith.  The truth is no one cares whether I believe in Jesus and am a follower of His, as long as I keep it to myself.  Or, as long as I manage to be politically correct, or as I like to say, be "sensitive" to those around me, and not "shove my faith down their throats," I am no real threat to anyone and I won't make anyone uncomfortable.  But, is it their comfort I am truly concerned about or is it my own?

I came across a prayer by St. Ignatius of Loyola in Richard Foster's devotional, "A Year With God." 

"Teach us, Lord, to serve You as You deserve and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds; to toil and not to seek the rest; to labor and not to seek for any reward, save that of knowing that we do Your will."

What if I lived like that?

I have prayed this prayer for a few weeks now and I am realizing that while I am not called to be a martyr, to experience persecution for what I believe, or to suffer for taking a stand; I can live like that.  And, when I choose to live like that, God can do amazing things through me.  It isn't as easy as it may seem.  If we allow God to search our hearts and are sensitive to the Holy Spirit in our lives, we will see that we need to make sacrifices, to suffer, and experience the enemies persecution.  Maybe, then, I can feel like I am living like that.

I want to live like that
And give it all I have
So that everything I say and do
Points to You

If love is who I am
Then this is where I'll stand
Recklessly abandoned
Never holding back

I want to live like that
I want to live like that

http://www.songlyrics.com/sidewalk-prophets/live-like-that-lyrics/#uRBtsiL2hrVstyVL.99

Wanna fight?

"Meet me on the football field after school."  Junior high school had a few frightening moments, but nothing caused my stomach to churn like what I heard coming from Toby's mouth.  This was not an invitation to a friendly game of touch or flag football.  I wish it had been.  I was new and eager to make new friends.  But, on this occasion,  I was being invited to a fight, as the guest of honor.  Don't ask me why.  I don't recall doing anything offensive, other than being puny.  They didn't have Geeks and Nerds in my youth, but I think you get the picture.  Of course, I didn't take them up on their invitation.  Are you kidding!? This guy was a descendant of Anak.  It would not have been a pretty sight.

To this day, I still don't like to fight.  I will avoid one if at all possible.  Sometimes, a fight though can't be avoided.  And, sometimes, a fight is exactly what is needed.  When I do premarital counseling, I ask the couple what they fight about.  If they tell me they have never had a fight, then I tell them they aren't ready to be married.  Fighting, or some other form of conflict is inevitable in any relationship.  Many individuals believe that conflict is to be avoided because it is always destructive.  I believe the opposite is true.  Conflict is to be embraced because it can be constructive.  It can result in growth in relationships, especially in the church.

Conflict is typically about differences between individuals relative to what they want and what they believe is important.  When I teach conflict management, I encourage parties to argue in front of me.  It isn't that I am sadistic and like to see people get hurt.  I want to point out to them where their communication is breaking down.  Quite often, the argument goes something like what I hear at home between my two kids.  "I want this." "I want that."  "That's not fair, he got to choose last time."  "No, I didn't."  "Yes, you did."  "Wanna fight?"

That type of fight is destructive.  It is entirely about self and pride in one's own position (James 1:9-10) and shows a complete lack of concern for the welfare of the other.  Even more significant, if it takes place in the church, it is a total disregard for the body of Christ.  Paul counseled the Philippians, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others (Phil. 2:3)."

 I am not advocating that we back down to bullies, especially in the church, and just let them have their own way.  But, we need to take time to consider what people want.  Where we need to focus most of our attention is on why that is so important to them.  When we take the time to listen to what they want and why, they will realize that we care (James 1:19).  And, it may be they have a good point to make, or a perspective that we haven't considered.  Then, they may be more inclined to listen to what we want and why that is important to us.  Ultimately, we may want the same thing...to bring glory to God.  Where we differ may just be in terms of how we want to accomplish that.

So, yes, I do want to fight.  I don't want to avoid conflict; because, that just breeds resentment and bitterness, and often results in hostilities down the road.  But, I want a fight where there is a willingness on both parts to listen, to talk about what we want and what is important, and to find a solution that will honor God and edify the body of Christ.

Meet you on the football field.

Doulos