Today, a story with a moral – a story to go with Josh’s story.
Growing up in Duncan, my family and I lived in a house with two large paned windows, stretching from nearly floor to nearly ceiling, in both the front and back of the house. The front window had heavy draperies to help keep out the heat from the westerly sun in the summer. Mom liked to keep the back window open because she liked the view.
Dad, though, had eyes that were sensitive to light and wanted a little relief from the glaring sunlight. Being a thinking man, and not one given to debate, one spring day he drove to Ligon’s Nursery and chose a tree to plant in front of the window. He came home with a seedling (he was too frugal to buy a larger specimen), carefully dug a hole, and planted his little tree. About 25 feet out, in the precise center line of the window, the little tree stood in this vast expanse of grass.
Now, Dad was not given to expend too much effort or expense in landscaping; someone might think of watering the tree occasionally, but no one made a habit of it. Taking care of the yard not Dad’s job; it was the job of my younger brother Bill, and myself. We would take turns mowing. As teenagers, neither one of us was particularly fond of the job as the yard was large, sloped, and terraced. More than once Dad and Bill got into it about the yard, and when they did, Bill would do exactly what he was told: mow the whole yard. In Bill’s mind, this included the tree. Nothing higher than 2 inches was left standing. There are times when one must use precise language, and there are times when one must exercise common sense. Both parties failed.
Yet when Bill entered high school, the tree began to make progress. In those winters, though, that part of the yard looked like a snowman had lost one of his arms while somehow escaping with the other (a fugitive snowman may find this information helpful).
One spring I was laying on my bed reading when I noticed that the light coming in through the window had turned a very particular shade of green. In the same moment, I heard the swelling sound of an approaching freight train. Having grown up in Duncan, Oklahoma, two facts came to mind: (1) there is no 4:00 train that runs through Duncan; and (2) tornados often sound like trains. By the time that I got to the center of the house (moving in the general direction of the bomb shelter – which is another story altogether), I looked out the back window and saw that the entire back fence was missing. So was every leaf on Dad’s tree.
After that, college and married life took me away from Duncan and the tree much of the time. Return visits were designed to catch up with family, not to keep track of Dad’s landscaping efforts. When Ann and I went home to visit one weekend though, I looked out the rear window and was startled. There was green light filtering in through the window. The green was close to, but not exactly the same shade of green that the tornado had brought. This gentle green light was filtering through the branches of a sturdy, mature walnut tree standing outside the window. I had to see. I went outside to get a better look. There, perfectly centered on the rear window of the house was this perfectly symmetrical walnut tree. Its dark green canopy was like a huge, but perfect, umbrella shading the back window of the house. The trunk was scarred but sturdy, something like the mast of a ship. Underneath the tree was a flat roof of limbs about seven feet off the ground, just enough for Dad (6’5”) to walk beneath the tree in comfort. It was one of the most handsome trees I have ever seen.
How many lessons can this tale teach us?
It seems obvious to observe that God is patient, and given enough time, he will bring about his purpose, despite the neglect of the responsible, the sabotage of an adversary, or the interference of nature itself (why do we call those acts of God?). A corollary to this observation is to note that, if we imitate God as we ought, similar patience on our part may bring similar success to our plans. Eventually, success. When we think about how long we must be patient, I think it is important to ask: If we find a tree to be beautiful and complex, just how beautiful and complex are human beings? How long does it take to change us?
A less obvious observation is to note the resilience of life. Despite neglect, sabotage, and storm, this tree sought to become what God intended for it to become. No matter what. This was not some victim tree, puking excuses to the world for its slowness, deficiencies, and failure. This was not a sarcastic tree, spewing bitterness at every good, or different, or taller tree so as to justify its miserable history and failed purpose. This was a victorious tree, scarred by its experience, but all the more beautiful for the story that it had to tell. With trees and people, after all, the beauty of the story is not in the first, second, or third act; the truth and the power is in how the tale ends.
The righteous flourish like the palm tree,
and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
They are planted in the house of the Lord;
they flourish in the courts of our God.
In old age they still produce fruit;
they are always green and full of sap,
showing that the Lord is upright;
he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
Psalm 92:12-15 – NRSV
Grace and peace,
Ron
Showing posts with label story. Show all posts
Showing posts with label story. Show all posts
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Your place in my story ...
Today’s devotional thought is from Shiann:
Donald Miller, in his most recent book, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, discusses writing his story and editing it for a movie. This changes his perspective on how he sees his life. He is coming out of a deep depression and just a general funk and discusses it throughout the book. I wanted to share this quote with you from the book because it profoundly touched me.
In writing a story, I felt the way I hope God feels as He writes the world. Sitting over the planets and placing tiny people in tiny wombs. If I have a hope, it is that God sat over the dark nothing and wrote you and me specifically in the story and put us with the sunset and the rainstorm as though to say "enjoy your place in My story. The beauty of it means that you matter. And you can create within it just as I have created you."
I’ve wondered, though, if one of the reasons we fail to acknowledge the brilliance of life is because we don’t want the responsibility inherent in that acknowledgement. We don’t want to be characters in a story because characters have to move and breathe and face conflict with courage. And if life isn’t remarkable, then we don’t have to do any of that. We can be unwilling victims rather than grateful participants.
People seem to find it easy to live as victims. We can “waller” (as my momma says) in our stuff as well as any hog in the mud. Yet God calls us out of that. He gives us people in our lives that need us so we’ll give up the wallerin’. He gives us opportunities to serve and see past our own hurts long enough to see God working for another. If God is working in the life of another, He can work in my life, too!
The other noted point here is to engage in life means to face conflict and “wrassle” (as Momma says) with life. We have the power of God, why not be courageous?!
Shiann
Donald Miller, in his most recent book, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, discusses writing his story and editing it for a movie. This changes his perspective on how he sees his life. He is coming out of a deep depression and just a general funk and discusses it throughout the book. I wanted to share this quote with you from the book because it profoundly touched me.
In writing a story, I felt the way I hope God feels as He writes the world. Sitting over the planets and placing tiny people in tiny wombs. If I have a hope, it is that God sat over the dark nothing and wrote you and me specifically in the story and put us with the sunset and the rainstorm as though to say "enjoy your place in My story. The beauty of it means that you matter. And you can create within it just as I have created you."
I’ve wondered, though, if one of the reasons we fail to acknowledge the brilliance of life is because we don’t want the responsibility inherent in that acknowledgement. We don’t want to be characters in a story because characters have to move and breathe and face conflict with courage. And if life isn’t remarkable, then we don’t have to do any of that. We can be unwilling victims rather than grateful participants.
People seem to find it easy to live as victims. We can “waller” (as my momma says) in our stuff as well as any hog in the mud. Yet God calls us out of that. He gives us people in our lives that need us so we’ll give up the wallerin’. He gives us opportunities to serve and see past our own hurts long enough to see God working for another. If God is working in the life of another, He can work in my life, too!
The other noted point here is to engage in life means to face conflict and “wrassle” (as Momma says) with life. We have the power of God, why not be courageous?!
Shiann
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Because of what you told us ...
Hear the word of God:
“Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, "He told me everything I ever did!" When they came out to see him, they begged him to stay in their village. So he stayed for two days, long enough for many more to hear his message and believe. Then they said to the woman, "Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world."
John 4:39-42
This story is such an amazing story of faith-sharing and personal spiritual growth. We have looked at a woman who was living a sinful life. Which one of us does not have this as a part of our resume? We have the meeting of Jesus and the woman, where he totally convicts her of her wrong lifestyle. This is also something that many of us have gone through. We have the woman trying to change the subject because she doesn’t want things to be that personal in her life. Am I hitting a nerve in your life yet? We are the woman. We are the person who has been stuck in the rut for so many years. We feel like we can never be more than what we have always been. Jesus comes along and challenges us to be so much more.
The story becomes even cooler. The woman was so convicted that she couldn’t help but go out and tell everyone she knew. The apostles stand around, clueless as to what is going on as the woman brings back so many from the village. They believed because of what the woman said, but after Jesus had spent some time with them, it says, “Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves.” They had the faith of the woman in the beginning, but after spending some time with Jesus, they have acquired ownership of their own faith. They spent so much time with Jesus that they couldn’t help but fall in love with him. But it all started with the woman.
As we have gone through this passage, I want you to realize that the story begins with you. We have people that we come in contact with every day who are hurting and need our Savior to come into their lives and make them whole. It begins with you though. I can’t say that enough. What are you doing to grow in your faith? Are your sharing these growth spurts with anyone else? The woman did and look what happened.
Jason
“Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, "He told me everything I ever did!" When they came out to see him, they begged him to stay in their village. So he stayed for two days, long enough for many more to hear his message and believe. Then they said to the woman, "Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world."
John 4:39-42
This story is such an amazing story of faith-sharing and personal spiritual growth. We have looked at a woman who was living a sinful life. Which one of us does not have this as a part of our resume? We have the meeting of Jesus and the woman, where he totally convicts her of her wrong lifestyle. This is also something that many of us have gone through. We have the woman trying to change the subject because she doesn’t want things to be that personal in her life. Am I hitting a nerve in your life yet? We are the woman. We are the person who has been stuck in the rut for so many years. We feel like we can never be more than what we have always been. Jesus comes along and challenges us to be so much more.
The story becomes even cooler. The woman was so convicted that she couldn’t help but go out and tell everyone she knew. The apostles stand around, clueless as to what is going on as the woman brings back so many from the village. They believed because of what the woman said, but after Jesus had spent some time with them, it says, “Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves.” They had the faith of the woman in the beginning, but after spending some time with Jesus, they have acquired ownership of their own faith. They spent so much time with Jesus that they couldn’t help but fall in love with him. But it all started with the woman.
As we have gone through this passage, I want you to realize that the story begins with you. We have people that we come in contact with every day who are hurting and need our Savior to come into their lives and make them whole. It begins with you though. I can’t say that enough. What are you doing to grow in your faith? Are your sharing these growth spurts with anyone else? The woman did and look what happened.
Jason
Monday, March 23, 2009
You will get to gather ...
Hear the word of God:
Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus, "Rabbi, eat something."
But Jesus replied, "I have a kind of food you know nothing about."
"Did someone bring him food while we were gone?" the disciples asked each other.
Then Jesus explained: "My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. You know the saying, 'Four months between planting and harvest.' But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe* for harvest. The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! You know the saying, 'One plants and another harvests.' And it's true. I sent you to harvest where you didn't plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest."
John 4:31-38
I remember it well. I was flying to Guyana for the first time, and actually for the first time, period. I was 19 years old and had never left the state of Arkansas by myself before. We were going on a medical mission trip. When we reached our destination, I was to be one of the teachers. We were to sit down and study with the people as they waited in line to see the doctor. I remember having so many feelings. I thought that my heart was going to explode out of my chest. We had spent close to 3 months studying different things, and going through the gospels and the book of Acts as a mission team. We studied the culture of Guyana, we studied each other, and how we would work together. We did all the preparation for this moment.
I learned so many things, but one of the most important was to make sure I had some nice quiet time to be with God. Our leader would tell us that we needed to go off by ourselves and prepare for the day. I stepped away from the group and just sat down beside three goats that were tied up behind the school we were using. I prayed a very honest prayer. "God help me, I don't know what I am doing. Give me the words to say, please!"
When I came back to the line, they had already started studying. They brought over the first person. Her name was Daphne. She was 20 years old and a practicing Hindu. We studied about sin and about salvation. We talked about her faith, we talked about mine, and why I would even want to come down to Guyana. We talked about Jesus and how much he loves us. After around an hour and a half, she finally said that she believed. She wanted to give her life to Jesus.
I was shocked. The first person I studied with wanted to become a Christian. We prayed and she and I both spoke with our team leader. He then led us around to the front where they had a giant rain barrel set up filled with water. Daphne climbed in and I took her confession and then they told me just to have her hold her nose and push her straight down into the rain barrel. I did and when she came up, she was crying and so excited. I hugged her and totally felt AWESOME! God had used me, but I felt so insignificant. How did this happen?
That next day, she brought her entire family to study and to see the doctor. They all became Christians by the end of the week. We had a wonderful week filled with baptisms and amazing experiences. I was a changed person because of that trip. A year later, I received a letter from Daphne. She and her new husband were moving to be a part of a minister's training school. He is now the minister at a local church there in Guyana, and she is a loving and servant-hearted wife.
The harvest is ready in so many hearts. I felt so much joy that first day with that first baptism. I have been blessed in being a part of sharing my faith with so many others along the way, but I will never forget Daphne. We all have stories similar to this. We all have, and will, take part in many other stories of bringing lost souls to Jesus. The apostles were able to take part in that with Jesus right there; we can take part in it every day of our lives. If you feel as I did, that you are so insignificant and that you can't do it, then do what I was taught and what we have all studied about. Take a break and be by yourself with God. He wants to prepare you for the harvest that is about to come about all around you. Wake up and look around, the fields are ripe! What are you going to do?
Jason
Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus, "Rabbi, eat something."
But Jesus replied, "I have a kind of food you know nothing about."
"Did someone bring him food while we were gone?" the disciples asked each other.
Then Jesus explained: "My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. You know the saying, 'Four months between planting and harvest.' But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe* for harvest. The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! You know the saying, 'One plants and another harvests.' And it's true. I sent you to harvest where you didn't plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest."
John 4:31-38
I remember it well. I was flying to Guyana for the first time, and actually for the first time, period. I was 19 years old and had never left the state of Arkansas by myself before. We were going on a medical mission trip. When we reached our destination, I was to be one of the teachers. We were to sit down and study with the people as they waited in line to see the doctor. I remember having so many feelings. I thought that my heart was going to explode out of my chest. We had spent close to 3 months studying different things, and going through the gospels and the book of Acts as a mission team. We studied the culture of Guyana, we studied each other, and how we would work together. We did all the preparation for this moment.
I learned so many things, but one of the most important was to make sure I had some nice quiet time to be with God. Our leader would tell us that we needed to go off by ourselves and prepare for the day. I stepped away from the group and just sat down beside three goats that were tied up behind the school we were using. I prayed a very honest prayer. "God help me, I don't know what I am doing. Give me the words to say, please!"
When I came back to the line, they had already started studying. They brought over the first person. Her name was Daphne. She was 20 years old and a practicing Hindu. We studied about sin and about salvation. We talked about her faith, we talked about mine, and why I would even want to come down to Guyana. We talked about Jesus and how much he loves us. After around an hour and a half, she finally said that she believed. She wanted to give her life to Jesus.
I was shocked. The first person I studied with wanted to become a Christian. We prayed and she and I both spoke with our team leader. He then led us around to the front where they had a giant rain barrel set up filled with water. Daphne climbed in and I took her confession and then they told me just to have her hold her nose and push her straight down into the rain barrel. I did and when she came up, she was crying and so excited. I hugged her and totally felt AWESOME! God had used me, but I felt so insignificant. How did this happen?
That next day, she brought her entire family to study and to see the doctor. They all became Christians by the end of the week. We had a wonderful week filled with baptisms and amazing experiences. I was a changed person because of that trip. A year later, I received a letter from Daphne. She and her new husband were moving to be a part of a minister's training school. He is now the minister at a local church there in Guyana, and she is a loving and servant-hearted wife.
The harvest is ready in so many hearts. I felt so much joy that first day with that first baptism. I have been blessed in being a part of sharing my faith with so many others along the way, but I will never forget Daphne. We all have stories similar to this. We all have, and will, take part in many other stories of bringing lost souls to Jesus. The apostles were able to take part in that with Jesus right there; we can take part in it every day of our lives. If you feel as I did, that you are so insignificant and that you can't do it, then do what I was taught and what we have all studied about. Take a break and be by yourself with God. He wants to prepare you for the harvest that is about to come about all around you. Wake up and look around, the fields are ripe! What are you going to do?
Jason
Friday, March 20, 2009
Where Jesus met you ...
Hear the word of God:
Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John (though Jesus himself didn't baptize them—his disciples did). So he left Judea and returned to Galilee.
He had to go through Samaria on the way. Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, "Please give me a drink." He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food.
The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, "You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?"
Jesus replied, "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water."
"But sir, you don't have a rope or a bucket," she said, "and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? And besides, do you think you're greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?"
Jesus replied, "Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life."
"Please, sir," the woman said, "give me this water! Then I'll never be thirsty again, and I won't have to come here to get water."
Do you remember the first time you met Jesus? The first time you felt that urge to give everything you have to the Son of God? How did Jesus meet you? Were you sitting in a pew in worship? Were you at a church camp? Were you at college, alone and searching for the first time on your own? Were you just sitting in your room asking for God's help and felt his warm, comforting presence? For each one of us, the place we met Jesus is important. It is the place where we first made a decision. We made a decision to seek God, or at least pursue that relationship.
I want you to remember this, because I am challenging you over the next few days, to share that moment with someone. We have gone over several disciplines and focused our hearts by being silent, praying, studying, and worshiping. We will go back to learning more disciplines after this little break. I am challenging us all to practice these disciplines. Take that time to build up your spiritual muscles, and then share that meeting time with God with someone. For those of you who are houseparents, share that with your boys, or at least one of your boys. Be open with them about your time with God. Tell them how you first met Jesus. Share this passage of scripture with the person you talk with. Use this as an opportunity to discuss Jesus meeting with people. Use this passage to challenge yourself. Here are some thoughts that have been going through my head this week concerning this passage.
Did Jesus go and sit at that well to purposefully meet with this Samaritan woman? He already knew her heart. Did he know that in this conversation, he was going to change her heart and challenge her to speak about him to her entire village? Jesus used a thing as small as a drink of water to start a spiritual discussion. What can you use to start your discussion? Think about the time you first had that encounter with Jesus. Did you drink that living water or did the drink come later? Can you see that the person you are sharing your faith with, has even the slightest feeling about wanting a drink of that living water? That is something we should be on the lookout for every day in our ministry here at Westview. Not all of our boys have made that decision yet, and some have no idea why they made the decision in the first place. Some of them are like the woman. They are just worshiping like they worship because someone taught them that way. It is just something they do. It hasn't become real to them. This woman had come to this same well several times a day for years. She came there through each of her husbands. When Jesus made the comment, "But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling stream within them, giving them eternal life." She wanted that water. Just like we wanted it when we decided to follow Jesus.
The point of giving you the spiritual discipline tools we have already discussed, is to help you have this passion for the Lord, overflowing out of your life. It is overflowing so much that opportunities and conversations just happen because the Spirit is moving in amazing ways in your life. Have you seen it happen yet? Keep your eyes open. You might have a "woman at the well" moment happening today. Don't think you are too busy to share what God has done in your life. Get ready for the overflow.
Jason
Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John (though Jesus himself didn't baptize them—his disciples did). So he left Judea and returned to Galilee.
He had to go through Samaria on the way. Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, "Please give me a drink." He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food.
The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, "You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?"
Jesus replied, "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water."
"But sir, you don't have a rope or a bucket," she said, "and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? And besides, do you think you're greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?"
Jesus replied, "Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life."
"Please, sir," the woman said, "give me this water! Then I'll never be thirsty again, and I won't have to come here to get water."
Do you remember the first time you met Jesus? The first time you felt that urge to give everything you have to the Son of God? How did Jesus meet you? Were you sitting in a pew in worship? Were you at a church camp? Were you at college, alone and searching for the first time on your own? Were you just sitting in your room asking for God's help and felt his warm, comforting presence? For each one of us, the place we met Jesus is important. It is the place where we first made a decision. We made a decision to seek God, or at least pursue that relationship.
I want you to remember this, because I am challenging you over the next few days, to share that moment with someone. We have gone over several disciplines and focused our hearts by being silent, praying, studying, and worshiping. We will go back to learning more disciplines after this little break. I am challenging us all to practice these disciplines. Take that time to build up your spiritual muscles, and then share that meeting time with God with someone. For those of you who are houseparents, share that with your boys, or at least one of your boys. Be open with them about your time with God. Tell them how you first met Jesus. Share this passage of scripture with the person you talk with. Use this as an opportunity to discuss Jesus meeting with people. Use this passage to challenge yourself. Here are some thoughts that have been going through my head this week concerning this passage.
Did Jesus go and sit at that well to purposefully meet with this Samaritan woman? He already knew her heart. Did he know that in this conversation, he was going to change her heart and challenge her to speak about him to her entire village? Jesus used a thing as small as a drink of water to start a spiritual discussion. What can you use to start your discussion? Think about the time you first had that encounter with Jesus. Did you drink that living water or did the drink come later? Can you see that the person you are sharing your faith with, has even the slightest feeling about wanting a drink of that living water? That is something we should be on the lookout for every day in our ministry here at Westview. Not all of our boys have made that decision yet, and some have no idea why they made the decision in the first place. Some of them are like the woman. They are just worshiping like they worship because someone taught them that way. It is just something they do. It hasn't become real to them. This woman had come to this same well several times a day for years. She came there through each of her husbands. When Jesus made the comment, "But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling stream within them, giving them eternal life." She wanted that water. Just like we wanted it when we decided to follow Jesus.
The point of giving you the spiritual discipline tools we have already discussed, is to help you have this passion for the Lord, overflowing out of your life. It is overflowing so much that opportunities and conversations just happen because the Spirit is moving in amazing ways in your life. Have you seen it happen yet? Keep your eyes open. You might have a "woman at the well" moment happening today. Don't think you are too busy to share what God has done in your life. Get ready for the overflow.
Jason
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Soaking up the story ...
One Sunday morning in mid-January a young man by the name of Mike came and visited our worship services. He came and joined in our youth class, and then afterward, one of our deacons invited him out to lunch. I just happened to go along on this lunch and got to know Mike even better. Our youth group ended up going over to someone's house that afternoon and hanging out and then meeting up again later for a small group at our house. Mike came to all of these.
As we sat and talked about our faith and what Jesus has done in our lives, Mike spoke of his faith and how he had grown up Catholic and where his family worshiped just seemed so fake. He said he was looking for something real to show him that God exists. That Sunday night he said that he thought he had found it. He mentioned all the ways that we had shown him hospitality that day and how we had been Jesus to him that day. That Thursday we met at our local Starbucks and had our every Thursday bible study and low and behold, Mike came. He just ate up every bit of what we discussed that Thursday afternoon. He soaked up all he could about Jesus and that afternoon he decided that he wanted to give his life to Jesus. We baptized him that evening. It was amazing. He heard the Word of the Lord. He dug into every passage of scripture that I showed him and could quote some of the passages. He was a spiritual sponge. He still is.
Hear the word of God:
On October 31 the people assembled again, and this time they fasted and dressed in burlap and sprinkled dust on their heads. Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all foreigners as they confessed their own sins and the sins of their ancestors. They remained standing in place for three hours* while the Book of the Law of the LORD their God was read aloud to them. Then for three more hours they confessed their sins and worshiped the LORD their God. The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Kenani—stood on the stairway of the Levites and cried out to the LORD their God with loud voices.
Then the leaders of the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah—called out to the people: "Stand up and praise the LORD your God, for he lives from everlasting to everlasting!" Then they prayed:
"May your glorious name be praised! May it be exalted above all blessing and praise!
"You alone are the LORD. You made the skies and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and the seas and everything in them.. You preserve them all, and the angels of heaven worship you.
"You are the LORD God, who chose Abram and brought him from Ur of the Chaldeans and renamed him Abraham. When he had proved himself faithful, you made a covenant with him to give him and his descendants the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites. And you have done what you promised, for you are always true to your word.
"You saw the misery of our ancestors in Egypt, and you heard their cries from beside the Red Sea. You displayed miraculous signs and wonders against Pharaoh, his officials, and all his people, for you knew how arrogantly they were treating our ancestors. You have a glorious reputation that has never been forgotten. You divided the sea for your people so they could walk through on dry land! And then you hurled their enemies into the depths of the sea. They sank like stones beneath the mighty waters. You led our ancestors by a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night so that they could find their way.
"You came down at Mount Sinai and spoke to them from heaven. You gave them regulations and instructions that were just, and decrees and commands that were good. You instructed them concerning your holy Sabbath. And you commanded them, through Moses your servant, to obey all your commands, decrees, and instructions.
"You gave them bread from heaven when they were hungry and water from the rock when they were thirsty. You commanded them to go and take possession of the land you had sworn to give them.
"But our ancestors were proud and stubborn, and they paid no attention to your commands. They refused to obey and did not remember the miracles you had done for them. Instead, they became stubborn and appointed a leader to take them back to their slavery in Egypt! But you are a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful, slow to become angry, and rich in unfailing love. You did not abandon them, even when they made an idol shaped like a calf and said, 'This is your god who brought you out of Egypt!' They committed terrible blasphemies.
"But in your great mercy you did not abandon them to die in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud still led them forward by day, and the pillar of fire showed them the way through the night. You sent your good Spirit to instruct them, and you did not stop giving them manna from heaven or water for their thirst. For forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell!
"Then you helped our ancestors conquer kingdoms and nations, and you placed your people in every corner of the land. They took over the land of King Sihon of Heshbon and the land of King Og of Bashan. You made their descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and brought them into the land you had promised to their ancestors.
"They went in and took possession of the land. You subdued whole nations before them. Even the Canaanites, who inhabited the land, were powerless! Your people could deal with these nations and their kings as they pleased. Our ancestors captured fortified cities and fertile land. They took over houses full of good things, with cisterns already dug and vineyards and olive groves and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate until they were full and grew fat and enjoyed themselves in all your blessings.
"But despite all this, they were disobedient and rebelled against you. They turned their backs on your Law, they killed your prophets who warned them to return to you, and they committed terrible blasphemies. So you handed them over to their enemies, who made them suffer. But in their time of trouble they cried to you, and you heard them from heaven. In your great mercy, you sent them liberators who rescued them from their enemies.
"But as soon as they were at peace, your people again committed evil in your sight, and once more you let their enemies conquer them. Yet whenever your people turned and cried to you again for help, you listened once more from heaven. In your wonderful mercy, you rescued them many times!
"You warned them to return to your Law, but they became proud and obstinate and disobeyed your commands. They did not follow your regulations, by which people will find life if only they obey. They stubbornly turned their backs on you and refused to listen. In your love, you were patient with them for many years. You sent your Spirit, who warned them through the prophets. But still they wouldn't listen! So once again you allowed the peoples of the land to conquer them. But in your great mercy, you did not destroy them completely or abandon them forever. What a gracious and merciful God you are!
"And now, our God, the great and mighty and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of unfailing love, do not let all the hardships we have suffered seem insignificant to you. Great trouble has come upon us and upon our kings and leaders and priests and prophets and ancestors—all of your people—from the days when the kings of Assyria first triumphed over us until now. Every time you punished us you were being just. We have sinned greatly, and you gave us only what we deserved. Our kings, leaders, priests, and ancestors did not obey your Law or listen to the warnings in your commands and laws. Even while they had their own kingdom, they did not serve you, though you showered your goodness on them. You gave them a large, fertile land, but they refused to turn from their wickedness.
"So now today we are slaves in the land of plenty that you gave our ancestors for their enjoyment! We are slaves here in this good land. The lush produce of this land piles up in the hands of the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They have power over us and our livestock. We serve them at their pleasure, and we are in great misery."
The people responded, "In view of all this, we are making a solemn promise and putting it in writing. On this sealed document are the names of our leaders and Levites and priests."
Nehemiah 9:1-38
I know this is a lot of reading, but it is the story of a people who were lost and knew it, but now they have found their way back, by hearing the Word of the Lord. Just like Mike. The Word of God convicts, changes, and reestablishes our feet on solid ground. I pray it convicts us all today and the rest of our lives. Take the time to read, soak it up, and then like Mike and like the Israelites, make the promise to change.
Jason
As we sat and talked about our faith and what Jesus has done in our lives, Mike spoke of his faith and how he had grown up Catholic and where his family worshiped just seemed so fake. He said he was looking for something real to show him that God exists. That Sunday night he said that he thought he had found it. He mentioned all the ways that we had shown him hospitality that day and how we had been Jesus to him that day. That Thursday we met at our local Starbucks and had our every Thursday bible study and low and behold, Mike came. He just ate up every bit of what we discussed that Thursday afternoon. He soaked up all he could about Jesus and that afternoon he decided that he wanted to give his life to Jesus. We baptized him that evening. It was amazing. He heard the Word of the Lord. He dug into every passage of scripture that I showed him and could quote some of the passages. He was a spiritual sponge. He still is.
Hear the word of God:
On October 31 the people assembled again, and this time they fasted and dressed in burlap and sprinkled dust on their heads. Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all foreigners as they confessed their own sins and the sins of their ancestors. They remained standing in place for three hours* while the Book of the Law of the LORD their God was read aloud to them. Then for three more hours they confessed their sins and worshiped the LORD their God. The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Kenani—stood on the stairway of the Levites and cried out to the LORD their God with loud voices.
Then the leaders of the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah—called out to the people: "Stand up and praise the LORD your God, for he lives from everlasting to everlasting!" Then they prayed:
"May your glorious name be praised! May it be exalted above all blessing and praise!
"You alone are the LORD. You made the skies and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and the seas and everything in them.. You preserve them all, and the angels of heaven worship you.
"You are the LORD God, who chose Abram and brought him from Ur of the Chaldeans and renamed him Abraham. When he had proved himself faithful, you made a covenant with him to give him and his descendants the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites. And you have done what you promised, for you are always true to your word.
"You saw the misery of our ancestors in Egypt, and you heard their cries from beside the Red Sea. You displayed miraculous signs and wonders against Pharaoh, his officials, and all his people, for you knew how arrogantly they were treating our ancestors. You have a glorious reputation that has never been forgotten. You divided the sea for your people so they could walk through on dry land! And then you hurled their enemies into the depths of the sea. They sank like stones beneath the mighty waters. You led our ancestors by a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night so that they could find their way.
"You came down at Mount Sinai and spoke to them from heaven. You gave them regulations and instructions that were just, and decrees and commands that were good. You instructed them concerning your holy Sabbath. And you commanded them, through Moses your servant, to obey all your commands, decrees, and instructions.
"You gave them bread from heaven when they were hungry and water from the rock when they were thirsty. You commanded them to go and take possession of the land you had sworn to give them.
"But our ancestors were proud and stubborn, and they paid no attention to your commands. They refused to obey and did not remember the miracles you had done for them. Instead, they became stubborn and appointed a leader to take them back to their slavery in Egypt! But you are a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful, slow to become angry, and rich in unfailing love. You did not abandon them, even when they made an idol shaped like a calf and said, 'This is your god who brought you out of Egypt!' They committed terrible blasphemies.
"But in your great mercy you did not abandon them to die in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud still led them forward by day, and the pillar of fire showed them the way through the night. You sent your good Spirit to instruct them, and you did not stop giving them manna from heaven or water for their thirst. For forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell!
"Then you helped our ancestors conquer kingdoms and nations, and you placed your people in every corner of the land. They took over the land of King Sihon of Heshbon and the land of King Og of Bashan. You made their descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and brought them into the land you had promised to their ancestors.
"They went in and took possession of the land. You subdued whole nations before them. Even the Canaanites, who inhabited the land, were powerless! Your people could deal with these nations and their kings as they pleased. Our ancestors captured fortified cities and fertile land. They took over houses full of good things, with cisterns already dug and vineyards and olive groves and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate until they were full and grew fat and enjoyed themselves in all your blessings.
"But despite all this, they were disobedient and rebelled against you. They turned their backs on your Law, they killed your prophets who warned them to return to you, and they committed terrible blasphemies. So you handed them over to their enemies, who made them suffer. But in their time of trouble they cried to you, and you heard them from heaven. In your great mercy, you sent them liberators who rescued them from their enemies.
"But as soon as they were at peace, your people again committed evil in your sight, and once more you let their enemies conquer them. Yet whenever your people turned and cried to you again for help, you listened once more from heaven. In your wonderful mercy, you rescued them many times!
"You warned them to return to your Law, but they became proud and obstinate and disobeyed your commands. They did not follow your regulations, by which people will find life if only they obey. They stubbornly turned their backs on you and refused to listen. In your love, you were patient with them for many years. You sent your Spirit, who warned them through the prophets. But still they wouldn't listen! So once again you allowed the peoples of the land to conquer them. But in your great mercy, you did not destroy them completely or abandon them forever. What a gracious and merciful God you are!
"And now, our God, the great and mighty and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of unfailing love, do not let all the hardships we have suffered seem insignificant to you. Great trouble has come upon us and upon our kings and leaders and priests and prophets and ancestors—all of your people—from the days when the kings of Assyria first triumphed over us until now. Every time you punished us you were being just. We have sinned greatly, and you gave us only what we deserved. Our kings, leaders, priests, and ancestors did not obey your Law or listen to the warnings in your commands and laws. Even while they had their own kingdom, they did not serve you, though you showered your goodness on them. You gave them a large, fertile land, but they refused to turn from their wickedness.
"So now today we are slaves in the land of plenty that you gave our ancestors for their enjoyment! We are slaves here in this good land. The lush produce of this land piles up in the hands of the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They have power over us and our livestock. We serve them at their pleasure, and we are in great misery."
The people responded, "In view of all this, we are making a solemn promise and putting it in writing. On this sealed document are the names of our leaders and Levites and priests."
Nehemiah 9:1-38
I know this is a lot of reading, but it is the story of a people who were lost and knew it, but now they have found their way back, by hearing the Word of the Lord. Just like Mike. The Word of God convicts, changes, and reestablishes our feet on solid ground. I pray it convicts us all today and the rest of our lives. Take the time to read, soak it up, and then like Mike and like the Israelites, make the promise to change.
Jason
Thursday, January 15, 2009
What is the story?
What is the story that shapes our lives?
In the worldly community, this is the story
that shapes that community:
Wealth is the ultimate objective,
because it enables satiation, security, and status.
There is no such thing as excess wealth
because as long as someone else has as much or more,
you can’t have security or status.
There is no such thing as excess wealth because
disasters can happen.
Whatever the problem is, if we have enough
resources (wealth), we can fix it.
People who have more are worth more.
People who have more are more powerful, and rightly so.
People with enough talent, opportunity,
and willingness to sacrifice everything else
can move up a few socio-economic notches in a generation.
In the Jesus community, this is the story that shapes that community:
Relationship is the ultimate objective,
because it enables satisfaction, security, and meaning,
and does away with the need for status.
There is no such thing as excess wealth
because those who have wealth help those who have need.
There is no such thing as excess wealth
because wealth is used to help others recover from disaster.
Whatever the problem is, God is the provider of resources
Who will enable us to cope with it, whether we can fix it or not.
People are worth more than things.
All people have at least some power over their own lives,
because God made it so.
Relationship with God is available to every generation,
and there is no way to move up from there.
How does that shape the story of our life today?
Blessings,
Ron
In the worldly community, this is the story
that shapes that community:
Wealth is the ultimate objective,
because it enables satiation, security, and status.
There is no such thing as excess wealth
because as long as someone else has as much or more,
you can’t have security or status.
There is no such thing as excess wealth because
disasters can happen.
Whatever the problem is, if we have enough
resources (wealth), we can fix it.
People who have more are worth more.
People who have more are more powerful, and rightly so.
People with enough talent, opportunity,
and willingness to sacrifice everything else
can move up a few socio-economic notches in a generation.
In the Jesus community, this is the story that shapes that community:
Relationship is the ultimate objective,
because it enables satisfaction, security, and meaning,
and does away with the need for status.
There is no such thing as excess wealth
because those who have wealth help those who have need.
There is no such thing as excess wealth
because wealth is used to help others recover from disaster.
Whatever the problem is, God is the provider of resources
Who will enable us to cope with it, whether we can fix it or not.
People are worth more than things.
All people have at least some power over their own lives,
because God made it so.
Relationship with God is available to every generation,
and there is no way to move up from there.
How does that shape the story of our life today?
Blessings,
Ron
Thursday, December 25, 2008
The revealed mystery ...
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o'er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ Whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
See Him in a manger laid,
Whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While our hearts in love we raise.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Sweetly singing o'er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ Whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
See Him in a manger laid,
Whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While our hearts in love we raise.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
How it matters
“Love never fails….”
-1 Cor. 13:8a (NAS)
Here’s another song…
Why It Matters
Sit with me and tell me once again
Of the story that’s been told us,
Of the power that will hold us,
Of the beauty, of the beauty,
Why it matters.
Speak to me until I understand
Why our thinking and creating,
And our efforts of narrating,
About the beauty, of the beauty,
Why it matters.
Like a statue in the park
Of this war torn town,
And it’s protest of the darkness
And this chaos all around.
With its beauty, how it matters,
How it matters.
Show me a love that never fails,
Some compassion and attention,
Midst confusion and dissention,
Like small ramparts for the soul,
How it matters.
Like a single cup of water,
How it matters.
-Sara Groves, Add to the Beauty
Blessings,
Julia
-1 Cor. 13:8a (NAS)
Here’s another song…
Why It Matters
Sit with me and tell me once again
Of the story that’s been told us,
Of the power that will hold us,
Of the beauty, of the beauty,
Why it matters.
Speak to me until I understand
Why our thinking and creating,
And our efforts of narrating,
About the beauty, of the beauty,
Why it matters.
Like a statue in the park
Of this war torn town,
And it’s protest of the darkness
And this chaos all around.
With its beauty, how it matters,
How it matters.
Show me a love that never fails,
Some compassion and attention,
Midst confusion and dissention,
Like small ramparts for the soul,
How it matters.
Like a single cup of water,
How it matters.
-Sara Groves, Add to the Beauty
Blessings,
Julia
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Our place in the story
After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' assistant, saying, "My servant Moses is dead. Now proceed to cross the Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the Israelites. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and the Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, to the Great Sea in the west shall be your territory. No one shall be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.”
Joshua 1:1-9 NRSV
This is precisely where passion and courage come in. When we understand our place in the story, passion and courage are required. When God's children truly see the possibillities that God places before them to change the world, the godly response of their heart is the passion that drives them to pursue that dream, that opportunity for God to glorify himself through them.
At the same time, when that dream is tested (and God will allow it to be), courage is what is required to persevere. Our passion pushes us to finish the course even though it presents obstacles that our vision (but not God's) did not allow us to see at the beginning. Our godly courage keeps us in the boat precisely when the human part of us wants to bail.
Let's try to find our place in the story, and for our children's sake, let's help them to passionately seek and courageously discover their place (it won't be the same as ours) as well.
Grace and peace,
Ron
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