Great Weekend

After a hectic week, typical of a semester drawing to a close, Bill and I spent Saturday and Sunday in Dallas. First we attended the wedding of Kathleen Kerr and Charles Blanchard. It was a lovely ceremony and such fun to see Kathleen and Chuck so excited about their new life together.

This morning we attended services at Legacy in North Richland Hills and witnessed something even greater than the love between a young husband and wife. At Legacy we saw the love of a man for his God and the power of a life lived in obedience to God's call. Allan Stanglin, the pulpit minister at Legacy, is a friend from AGST. He is a careful exegete and a gifted preacher (not to mention an excellent writer; check out The Kingdom, the Kids and the Cowboys). Allan has an energy and enthusiasm for God's word and Christ's church that is absolutely infectious.

In the fall of 2005 Allan left a successful career in broadcasting to return to school and earn a Master of Arts in Theological Studies. Immediately after graduation in May 2007, Allan began his ministry at Legacy. Today, as Allan stood in front of the congregation and the audience listened carefully, I saw a man who epitomizes the blessing that comes from trusting God, being attentive to his direction, and submissive to his call.

I pray that Allan and his family will continue to be blessed by their time at Legacy. I also pray that this congregation, that waited so patiently for the right man to join them in bringing glory to God, will grow in ways that only God can imagine and empower.

Oh God, you are an awesome God and I am blessed to be a witness to your work and power in the world.

Celebration

Celebration is at the heart of the way of Christ. He entered the world on a high note of jubilation: "I bring you good news of great joy," cried the angel,"which shall come to all the people" (Luke 2:10). He left the world bequeathing his joy to the disciples: "These things I have spoken to you that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full" (John 15:11). Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline

Celebration is one of the spiritual disciplines. It is hard to imagine that Christians need to discipline themselves to celebrate but we do. We need to truly celebrate our release from the captivity of sin. We need to truly celebrate that our eyes are no longer blind to sin. We need to celebrate that we live free from the oppressive fear of death. We need to celebrate that, as Christians, we are never alone, never without family, and never without hope. Whatever your Thanksgiving Day looks like, I pray that it reflects the discipline of celebration. I pray that it is bathed in the certainty of your hope, annointed with the blessings of family and empowered with the presence of the One who gives us cause for celebration.

What a Pleasure

We've been living in a whirlwind of activity since my last post. Several days were spent in preparations. Then, on November 2, Brandon and his girlfriend, Jana, arrived from Berlin. Since then it has been a challenge to keep up with their hectic schedule, attend class and fit in a few hours of study. They leave today for Denver where Brandon will attend a company meeting and Jana will see another part of the US. Although it has been much too short we have enjoyed their visit. What a pleasure it is to spend time with our adult children. Although I sometimes wax nostalgic about the days when Ryan and Brandon were babies, or toddlers, or on rare occasions teenagers, I find my greatest pleasure is spending time with my adult sons. They have grown to be strong, responsible and hard-working men and Mom and Dad couldn't be more proud. I pray that we continue to grow in love and respect for one another. May your family be blessed as ours has been.

Devotion

In the introduction to The Devout Life, Frances de Sales (1567-1622) makes the following observations about devotion.

…everyone paints devotion according to his own passions and fancies. Someone given to fasting thinks himself very devout if he fasts although his heart may be filled with hatred. Much concerned with sobriety, he doesn’t care to wet his tongue with wine or even water but won’t hesitate to drink deep of his neighbor’s blood by detraction and gossip.

Another person thinks himself devout because he daily recites a vast number of prayers, but after saying them he utters the most disagreeable, arrogant, and harmful words at home and among the neighbors. Another gladly takes a coin out of his purse and gives it to the poor, but he cannot extract kindness from his heart to forgive his enemies.

Another forgives his enemies but never pays his creditors unless compelled to do so by force of law. All these individuals are usually considered to be devout, but they are no means such. Saul’s servants searched for David in his house but David’s wife, Michal, had put a statue on his bed, covering it with David’s clothes, and thus led them to think it was David himself who was lying there sick and sleeping. In the same manner, many persons clothe themselves with certain outward actions connected with holy devotion, and the world believes that they are truly devout and spiritual whereas they are in fact nothing but copies and phantoms of devotion.

de Sales saw a devout life as one that is lived in two dimensions. The vertical dimension is the all consuming love of God. This love creates in us such a desire to be with God that we eagerly engage in the spiritual disciplines in order to draw closer to him. A life lived well in the vertical dimension overflows into the horizontal dimension of love and service for others.

When God spoke the ten commandments four of them concerned devotion to God and six of them concerned living a life that honored and cared for others. When we put God first, truly loving him as our only God, wholeheartedly respecting his name and his institutions then we are able to genuinely love, honor, and respect our fellow human beings. True devotion to God is expressed in love and service to others.

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:

to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke,

to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?

Is it not to share your food with the hungry

and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—

when you see the naked, to clothe him,

and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Isaiah 58:6-7

This week may each of us show our love for God through acts of selfless service to others. May God create in each of us a deeper longing for true devotion to Him.

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I have no idea why this post is single spaced. I've tried and tried to correct it but it has a mind of its own. My apologies but I give up!!!

In Tune with the Culture

Today I came across this quote from The Devout Life by Francis de Sales (1567-1622), "...little faults committed in the beginning of a project grow infinitely greater in its course and finally are almost irreparable...." de Sales observation resonates with truth; truth that is confirmed in our attempt to modify the church so that it will be more in tune with the culture. In an effort to reach the unbeliever, many congregations modified worship, removed Christian symbols from the building and abandoned the language of faith. In an attempt "to make Christianity relevant" to our children and youth we turned classrooms into movie theaters and attempted to find a Christian message in the violence of Halo 3. What are we thinking or are we thinking at all? Why did we decide that tension between the church and the culture was a bad thing? How did we decide that the church needs to be more appealing? 1 Peter was written to first century churches in conflict with the culture, but it has a message for the 21st century church as well.

As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” 1Peter 2:4-6

How did the church abandon its role as a holy priesthood? How did it happen that we no longer trust in the power of Christ to attract followers? How did it happen that we no longer trust in God's word to speak to our children. How did it happen that we think our children will be more faithful if they spend Sunday mornings in a "movie theatre" rather than in a Bible class?

I think it happened because "little faults committed in the beginning of a project grow infinitely greater in its course." The question now, "Are the faults irreparable?"

The Christian Commission

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matt. 28:18-20

We call it "The Great Commission" and literally thousands and thousands of men and women have accepted the call and gone "into the world," baptizing in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. They have gone on to teach these new believers the importance of obedience. Still, many new Christians return to their old way of life, while others never seem to mature spiritually. Nothing is more discouraging to a missionary or minister than to see the promise of new life in Christ abandoned or unfulfilled. Yet, I wonder if we engineer our own failures because we misread the commission. The charge is not to baptize, it is not to convert. The commission is to use the power and authority of Christ to make disciples. Let me make it clear that I am not minimizing the importance of baptism, but a careful reading of the passage shows that the goal is discipleship not immersion. Look at the instruction: Go and make disciples... baptizing them (the disciples)... and teaching them (the disciples) to obey.... Being a disciple comes first. Have you noticed that in the gospels the apostles are continually referred to as disciples? Have you noticed that none of the gospel writers report the baptism of the apostles? In the gospels, relatively little is said about baptism in comparison to the number of times the text referrs to those who are disciples of Jesus. As they recount the life of Jesus, the gospel evanglelists focus on what it means to be his disciple. So what is a disciple? Webster defines a disciple as "one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another: such as "one of the twelve in the inner circle of Christ's followers according to the Gospel accounts" or "a convinced adherent of a school or individual." In the gospels, a disciple is one who follows Jesus. It is one who listens to him, learns from him, obeys his commands and imitates his behavior and lifestyle but a disciple is not a super-Christian. Peter who denied Jesus, James and John who selfishly asked for preferential treatment, Thomas who doubted--they were disciples. They were disciples because they followed, because they imitated, because they learned by being in Jesus' presence. They had no other option. If you traveled with him, you were a disciple. There were no Christians with Jesus, there were no church members--just disciples. Last year Baylor University conducted a poll in which 82% of Americans described themselves as Christians. Yet, The Barna Group reports that only 43% of Americans report attending church in any given week. Mane experts believe that 20% is a more accurate figure. Why is there such an enormous discrepency? Is it because the church has lost the vision of discipleship? Have we substitiuted "Christian" for "disciple"? Have we substituted a title for a way of life? Have we adopted the more attractive approach? Are we afraid to honestly describe the cost of discipleship? There is no doubt that the title is easier to bear than the way of life. It is much easier to have our names entered on the church membership list than it is to lay down our lives in submission to his Lordship. It is much easier to check Christian on the polling questionaire than it is to become like him in humility and sacrifice. Are our churches full of non-disciples? In Devotional Classics, Richard Foster had this to say about discipleship.

Perhaps the greatest malady in the Church today is converts to Christ who are not disciples of Christ--a clear contradiction in terms. This malady affects everything in church life and in large measure accounts for the low level of spiritual nutrients in our local congregations. To counter this sad state of affairs we must determine that, regardless of what others do, our intention is to come under the tutelage of Jesus Christ, our ever-living Savior, Teacher, Lord, and Friend. We seek to undertake the general pattern of life that he undertook--not in slavish mimicking but in overall lifestyle. Disciplines of prayer, solitude, simplicity and service will mark our overall pattern of life.

May you be truly committed to discipleship.

The Miserable Week

Saturday: By some standards it has been a pretty miserable week. This time last Saturday I was in an crowded plane, over the Atlantic on the second leg of my journey home from St. Petersburg, Russia. Although I was tired, my hip hurt and the movie dialogue was garbled, I was in a good place. The thirteenth Come before Winter renewal was complete; I had experienced God's work in me and seen his blessings poured over thirty-eight precious women who serve him in Russia and Europe. This time last Saturday pretty much everything was right in my world. Yet, at that very moment, I was breathing in pneumonia germs and the plane was bucking a headwind that would cause me to miss my connection in Chicago. Back in the states, promises were being broken, loved ones were struggling and United was overbooking every flight from Chicago to Austin. Needless to say, I did finally get home, my luggage was found, antibiotics have the demon pneumonia germs under control and I've had time this week in the book of 1Peter, a great reminder of the importance of perspective. Peter writes to Christians who are being insulted and ostracized because of their faith. They are viewed with suspicion, thought to be atheists, traitors and even cannibals. They have been shunned by family, friends and neighbors. Some may have lost jobs or inheritances because they have turned their backs on the worship of idols. Some are being beaten by their masters, others are being pressured by unbelieving spouses. Some may have been on the fringes of society before they heard the message, now they are even more marginalized. All of them have suffered a loss of identity in their society. So, Peter begins by reminding them of their new identity. They are God's elect, not just the Father's, but chosen by God in all his trinitarian fullness. They have a new identity that came with their new birth and their inheritance from God is waiting for them in heaven, ready to be revealed when Christ returns. This is cause to rejoice!! And the trials they are facing in their present life will make the praise and rejoicing when he comes again all the sweeter. What reminder of perspective! In all honesty, my life is easy and I am blessed far beyond anything I could ever deserve. The trials of my week have been minor in comparison to what Peter's audience endured, in comparison to what some of you have faced recently. Yet I am amazingly grateful for them, jetlag, hacking cough and all. They remind me that I am not meant to be comfortable in this world. I am a stranger here waiting for the final connection on my journey home. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sunday: As I awoke this morning and re-oriented my mind to date and time, my thoughts immediately went to worship and the vastness of Christ’s church. By vastness, I don’t mean just the fact that I am inextricably bound to the women I was with last week in Russia, or even the ones that I know from years past in Brazil, Greece, Albania, Germany, Thailand, Singapore, New Zealand and Fiji who also worship today. By vastness, I mean that I am just as bound to Euodia and Synteche and the jailer who worshipped in first century Philippi; I am just as bound to the original audience of 1 Peter. The vastness of the church embraces both space and time and I look forward to standing before the throne of the majestic Almighty, shoulder to shoulder with Christians from every time and every place, joined in praise forevermore. For now, I am anticipating a precious morning of worship shoulder to shoulder with my brothers and sisters at Westover Hills. May God be honored by our praise.

Whatever Happened to Silence?

I am often amazed at where a train of thought will take me. Sometimes my mind buys a ticket for New York and winds up in Seattle. Recently the train jumped the track. I don’t recall any of the stops along the way, but I started out contemplating the role of poets in theology and arrived at the perplexing question, “whatever happened to silence in worship.” I appreciate those who plan worship, who seek to make it a meaningful experience that pays homage to the Creator of the Universe. I understand the tempo and pace of worship that seeks to meet the needs of a diverse congregation within time limitations. Yet, I desperately miss periods of silence that slow the mind and calm the heart. Silence provides an opportunity to fully experience the presence of God, to ponder the words of Scripture, to orient my soul in relation to the Holy One of Heaven, all of which enable heartfelt, heart convicted, heart engaged worship.

Whatever happened to silence? I miss it!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It has been a long time since since my last post. Preparations for a Come before Winter renewal this month in St. Petersburg, Russia as well as a Canadian renewal for 2008 have consumed all the available time. I leave for St. Petersburg on Thursday and return on September 30th. Unless something miraculous happens this will be my last post until I return from Russia and recover from jetlag. May the rest of September bring God’s richest blessings to you and yours.

What If....

The congregation where I worship has a practice of inviting those with particular needs to spend a few miniutes during worship in prayer with the elders and their wives. This is not an uncommon practice among churches in our fellowship; some congregations refer to it as the "Garden of Prayer." Generally, the congregation continues to sing during this time but what if... What if, instead of singing, the entire congregation fell to their knees and prayed? What if each one prayed in faith for the marriages in the congregation and for the health of all the members? What if the entire congregation prayed with fervent anticipation for the unity of the body, not only in our congregation but in the universal church? What if all the members prayed with certainty for the witness of our fellowship in our neighborhood and our city? What if the entire congregation prayed with eager expectation for God to open new doors of ministry, opportunities beyond our collective imagination? What if 1,000 men, women, and children spent five minutes every Sunday in faith-filled, heart-driven, Spirit-led prayer?

...I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. Matthew 21:21-22

May we all see mountains thrown into the sea.

Clear Vision

Recently I was on a safari in Kenya. Two friends and I spent the night in the most luxurious tent I’ve ever seen. It had a huge marble bathroom, carpeted floors, beds draped with yards and yards of mosquito netting, plump pillows and powerful reading lamps with switches built into the bed frame. Outside was a large deck with comfortable chairs; we sat there in the afternoon and watched a herd of buffalo cross the distant ridge. At night this tent was surrounded with low lights that illuminated the walkways and cast a soft glow inside. In a strange place, with jet-lag, I found those lights comforting as I drifted off to sleep. When I awoke at 2 AM, things had changed dramatically. I could hear the gently dripping rain and smell the cleanness that hangs in the air after a storm but I couldn’t see anything. With the moon and stars blocked by rain clouds, it was the blackest night, I’d ever experienced. For the first time in my life, I could not see my hand in front of my face. I was experiencing a typical African phenomenon—no electricity. The next time I awoke, there was still no electricity but there was a faint bluish glow coming from the bathroom. One of my roommates was using her cell phone as a flashlight. It was great. With that faint light I could see the broad outlines of the furniture. That faint light and hands stretched out before me prevented stubbed toes and bruised shins. That faint light enabled a partial vision that was a great improvement over total darkness but it was nothing compared to the clear vision of the majestic and beautiful African landscape that came with the rising sun. In Mark 8: 22-29 we find the story of the blind man at Bethsaida. The rising sun makes no difference in the life of this man. He can feel the heat on his face when he turns toward the sun, but no light penetrates the darkness. When we meet him, there is something heart wrenching about his situation. At one time he could see; at one time he strode from place to place with confidence. Now he stumbles along the rocky uneven path holding to those who lead him. No longer independent, he goes where others take him. When there is no one to lead, he waits; without a guide his movements are limited to familiar territory. This man no longer pays his own way; he relies on the kindness of others. He is a stranger to pride. Self-sufficiency is a dim memory. He eats based on the whims of those who drop coins into his cup. Begging is the occupation of blind men. If he is anything like most of us, over time he has exhausted every medical hope, endured every new treatment, and tried every home remedy without success. On this particular day, some people take him to Jesus because his only hope for sight rests on the willingness of Jesus to touch him and heal him. Once again, he goes where others take him. As the people plead his case he stands silently waiting. Then he feels it, an unfamiliar hand taking his, leading him away from the noise of the village, into the countryside. When they are well away from Bethsaida, they stop. The man senses Jesus standing in front of him. It is so quiet; Jesus says nothing; the disciples say nothing, the man says nothing. Suddenly, his eyelids are wet; he feels the touch of Jesus’ hand on his eyes. He keeps his head down. Then Jesus speaks to him. “Do you see anything?” Jesus asks. Slowly, the man looks up. After all this time, there is light and color and shape and movement. The all consuming darkness is gone; but everything is fuzzy and blurry. The blind man looks around, taking in everything his limited vision allows. He’d forgotten how bright the sun could be; now it hurts to turn his face toward it. He had forgotten the brilliant blue of the sky and the green of the grass. But, is this as good as it gets? People look like walking trees. The man is no longer completely blind, but is partial sight enough? This is not the vision he had hoped for; this is not the clear vision he remembers. For many of us, the story of the blind man at Bethsaida parallels our Christian walk. From the moment we came to faith, we haven’t looked up. We’ve moved right ahead, working and serving and ministering. Early on we found our niche, our place to serve, and we’ve been right there day after day, week after week, year after year. Head down, eyes down, concentrating on the work that is before us. Then one day, Jesus asks the question, “Do you see anything?” His question can come at any time. Perhaps we hear it on our first short term mission trip, as we build clean, safe houses in the slums of Mexico City. Maybe we hear the question at the birth of our first child or when our last child leaves home for college. Maybe we hear it when we marry. Maybe we hear it at the graveside as we bury our father or mother or spouse. Maybe we hear it in the midst of ongoing, successful ministry. Maybe we hear it at a time when things have gone horribly wrong. Maybe the question comes with the morning paper as we read about AIDS orphans in Africa. Or perhaps it comes with the evening news report on genocide in the Sudan. At some point we hear the question, “Do you see anything?” And, for the first time in a long time we look up from the busyness of daily life, from the busyness of ministry and wonder if we really see Jesus and what it means to be his disciple. When we came to faith everything seemed clear. The light of Christ in our lives was so much better than the darkness we experienced before we knew him. But now, as we look up in response to his question, everything is fuzzy and blurry. We are no longer certain we know our place. We are no longer certain we understand what we are meant to do. We are like the blind man; we have blurry vision. We have lost the clear vision of what it means to be a disciple. Our reaction to blurry vision usually takes one of two forms. After the initial panic settles, those of us who are type A personalities, get right to work doing something about it. We head to the closest bookstore and hit the door at a run. We stop to scan the store; as soon as we see the religion section we move on full steam ahead. When we arrive at our destination we began to collect books on discipleship. We accumulate a stack and head to the checkout. Surely the cure for our fuzzy vision is in one of these books. Type B personalities have a different methodology. More laid back than As, Bs avoid panic. They hesitate to rush into anything. So they lie down to see if their blurred vision passes. There is no need for precipitous action, maybe the problem will just go away. If not, Type Bs can learn to live with it. Either way, whether we take action or we accept our condition, we have failed to rely on the one who truly enables clear vision. For the first time in a long time the blind man at Bethsaida has options. He is fully aware of the blessing that even partial sight brings. He can settle for people who look like trees. If he is a type B personality, he can thank Jesus, go home, lie down and wait to see if his vision clears. If he is a type A, he may want to take things into his own hands. “Thanks, Jesus,” he says, “I appreciate what you’ve done but things aren’t working out quite like I expected. I think I can handle it from here.” But this man doesn’t do any of this. Instead he turns his eyes away from the landscape to the man who stands before him. At that moment he is unwilling to settle for anything less than clear vision and standing before him is Jesus, the One who provides abundantly. This is the One who fed the five thousand and had twelve baskets of leftovers. The man sees no reason to settle for limited sight when Jesus is the one who can enable clear vision. So, the man answers honestly, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” Jesus is silent; he merely reaches out and repeats his touch to the man’s eyes. Suddenly, the man’s sight is restored. He sees clearly. Now people look like people. They are clearly distinguishable from trees. Some are men hurrying about their business, traveling to the next village. Some are women on their way to the well. Their faces have expression, smiles of joy or frowns of concentration. The landscape is wonderful. The trees have rough brown bark and vibrant green leaves. With clear vision he can see the birds soar across the cloudless blue sky. He squints; the sun is even brighter than before. There is magnificent detail in everything the man sees. His vision is sharp and clear. This is the clear vision he needs to be a tent maker or a tailor or a carpenter. This is the clear vision that will enable a full and productive life. This is the clear vision that will allow him to serve others as he has been served for so long. This is the vision the blind man of Bethsaida wanted and needed and he looked to Jesus for it. This is the clear vision that came with Jesus’ repeated touch. In times of spiritual blindness, in times of partial sight where do we go for clear vision? Imagine that the formerly blind man of Bethsaida is standing nearby when Jesus asks those of us who are type A, “Do you see anything?” Our dash to the bookstore startles the man; he can’t believe his eyes. It takes him a few minutes, but then he bolts after us. Doggedly trotting behind us, dodging cars on the freeway, he tries to keep up. He catches up with us as we are pulling books off the shelf. He taps us on the shoulder and in a bewildered tone asks, “What are you doing?” We turn and we are amazed by his appearance, this guy in the robe and sandals doesn’t look like he frequents many bookstores. But we explain patiently that we are a little confused, things have changed in our life and we don’t see clearly what it means to be a disciple. We need a clearer vision, so we’re going to read these books on discipleship. Now it is his turn to be amazed. He takes one of the books and thumbs through it. “I can see,” he says, “how this might be helpful. But don’t you realize you just walked away from the one who is a sure thing, the one who can give you clear vision?” The man from Bethsaida has an easier time with those of us who are type B personalities; we leave Jesus and saunter home. The man walks with us. “Where are you going?” he asks. We explain that we don’t see things quite as clearly as we used to so we’re going home to lie down and think about what it means to be a disciple of Christ. “Well,” he says, “personal reflection is always helpful, but don’t you know you just left Jesus? He is the one who can be counted on to provide clear vision.” In a world of options, it is easy for us to forget that God is our provider. Like the blind man at Bethsaida, we need the repeated touch of Jesus for clear vision. As the disciples watched the healing of the blind man they were a confused bunch. They had seen amazing things but they failed to really recognize Jesus; they were about to embark on a period of intense teaching and their confusion would deepen. It wouldn’t be until they endured the despair of the cross and rejoiced in the hope of the resurrection that they would have a clear vision of discipleship. This was the repeated touch of Jesus for them. Historically, we live beyond the cross and the resurrection but in our times of partial sight, those events are the repeated touch of Jesus that enables our clear vision. In our times of blurry vision, we go back to the gospels. We look at Jesus on the cross as our example of sacrificial love and willing obedience and he shows us what it means to be his disciple. In his resurrection we see hope for the world and us. In the gospels, we experience his repeated touch and he enables us to have a clear vision of discipleship whether we are married or single, whether we have a new baby or an empty nest. With his repeated touch, we have a clear vision of what it means to leave school and begin a new ministry. In the gospels, he touches us again; we have clear vision of what it means to defend the cause of the poor, and the oppressed and we look for ways to implement ministries that bring hope to the world. As we go through life, we do not have to settle for partial sight like the faint glow of a cell phone in the blackest night. The Jesus we meet in the gospels enables clear sight so that we can lead a full and productive life as a disciple of Christ. He restores our vision so that we may participate fully in a life of service and devotion to God. May we always rely on Jesus for clear vision.

The Greatest Commandment

Those of you who have visited the links on the right know that I am a reader of The Phil Files. Recently, Phil's blog has asked for comments on aspects of his Heartlight articles. The following is taken from this week's article entitled The Jesus Vibe: Daily Altar of Grace.

(C)omprehensive and personal love doesn't leave room for compartments. It's expansive and all-inclusive. My love for God demands every fiber of my being! My love for those around me should be as centered and focused on others' needs and wants as my own awareness is focused on my own needs and wants.

Just in case we miss this point, Jesus comes along and makes it even clearer when he says:

"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to that person; then come and offer your gift" (Matthew 5:23-24 TNIV).

Put in cornbread English, God isn't going to accept anything we offer him — our hearts, our Sunday worship, our offerings, our praise, our hopes, our private prayers, our dreams — if we knowingly remain at odds with a brother or sister in Christ. The two loves in The Jesus Vibe are intricately connected. Loving God and loving each other are not options or choices or degrees of faithfulness: they are the two sides of the same coin. Without both, there is no coin. Without loving our fellow humans, we can't love God.

I agree with Phil that the love of God and the love of neighbor are intertwined. However, saying that without love for our fellow man we cannot love God seems to put the cart before the horse.

When one of the scribes questioned Jesus about the first commandment, Jesus replied, "The most important one is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:29-31)

These commandments represent the Trickle-Down Theory. It's a poor economic policy but a great, God-given plan for loving others. If we love God wholeheartedly, then we can't help but love what God loves. That includes his entire creation: the planet and every creature on it, especially those created in his image. As we love God more and more the focus of our lives changes from self fulfillment to willing obedience. The more we love God, the more we are willing to deny self and put the interests of others first.

As Phil said, the love of God and love of neighbor are two sides of the same coin. However, love of God is the obverse side, the one that has the chief image and the primary words. It is the greatest commandment, in part, because it enables us to fulfill the second commandment. Passionate, all consuming love of God leads to wholehearted love of others.

May it be so in each of our lives.

Come before Winter

Thursday through Saturday of last week was spent at the CbW pretreat in preparation for the St. Petersburg renewal. This pretreat was a mixture of reminiscence and anticipation. It was sweet to spend time with dear friends, remembering other trips with tears and laughter. Building bonds with women who are new to the ministry has already enriched my life and I look forward to developing precious new friendships. Despite the pesky problems with visas and the tedious, but necessary, travel details I came home renewed. Time spent with godly women in prayer and study is such a blessing. I look forward to the next six weeks of preparation as I join in fervent prayer with team members and others who love this ministry and the women who serve in it. I can’t wait to see what God does in St. Petersburg and in my life. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Next week is the second week of my summer class in NT Theology so new posts will be scarce. May your week be a blessed one.

Torture!!

I hate buying a new car. I mean I really hate it! As a rule, I only agree to buy a new car when my current car consistently leaves me stranded miles from home. However, for good reasons I won’t recount here, Bill and I bought a new car yesterday. Correction, we bought a new minivan yesterday. (Yes, I know I am well beyond my soccer mom years, but trust me I had my reasons for choosing a minivan.) Because we had spent hours on internet research, I foolishly thought we could accomplish this dreaded in task in four to five hours. We left home at 10 AM and by noon I remembered why I hate buying a car. One salesman left us standing in the scorching mid-day sun while he went in search of a key. We waited twenty minutes before we left; I hope he finally found a key. At another dealership, a young man refused to talk to us about price until we had eliminated all other makes and models from consideration. Another salesman tried to sell us a pre-owned car when all we wanted was directions to the new car lot. One man spent two hours of our time researching the competition’s offer to sell us a different make and model, rather than negotiating price on the car we wanted to buy from him. Eventually, we went back to the very first salesman and purchased a new Entourage, but we returned home feeling curiously unexcited. I think Bill’s “depression” came from the enormous check he had to write. I was down because after ten hours of torture, I have to wait another two days for delivery. It‘s a real bummer to spend all that time and money and have nothing new in the driveway.

More from Eat This Book

Eugene Peterson quotes to ponder: "The Christian Scriptures are the primary text for Christian spirituality. Christian spirituality is, in its entirity, rooted in and shaped by the scriptural text....God does not put us in charge of forming our personal spiritualities. We grow in accordance with the revealed Word implanted in us by the Spirit." "But the 'text' that seems to be most in favor on the American landscape today is the sovereign self.... It has become characteristic of our burgeoning, contemporary spirituality in its various manifestations to take the sovereign self as text. But the results are not encouraging: the groundswell of interest in spirituality as this new millennium has opened up does not seem to be producing any discernible outpouring of energetic justice and faithful love, two of the more obvious accompaniments of a healthy and holy Christian life." "There is an enormous interest these days in the soul. In church this interest is evidenced in a revival of attention in matters of spiritual theology, spiritual leadership, spiritual direction and spiritual formation. But there is not a corresponding revival of interest in our Holy Scriptures.... Those who are enthusiastic about this work, are frequently, even typically disinterested in the Holy Scriptures, the book that is given to us by the Holy Spirit. It is a matter of urgency that interest in our souls be matched by an interest in our Scriptures--and for the same reason: they, Scripture and souls, are the primary fields of operation of the Holy Spirit." Peterson is right; an interest in the Holy Scriptures is essential if we are to experience a healthy and holy Christian life. But more is required than an interest in the Scriptures. I belong to a faith tradition that, through the generations, has placed a high value on Scripture as inspired and authoritative. Yet, in many ways we failed to manifest justice and faithful love. We valued a knowledge of Scripture and we read Scripture searching not for the message that would transform our lives, but as a means of proving our doctrinal position. We used Scripture not to promote love but as a dividing wedge. We used Scripture not to advance justice in the world but to divide us from the world. As a result we are at a crossroad; we have three choices. We can continue on the same path the generations before us trod; we can continue to aquire biblical knowledge and use it in a way that harms the body rather than heals it. Or we can turn down the path that honors the sovereign self as the authoritative text. Or we can turn down the path that reads the Bible to experience the transforming power of its message. If we choose the last path we will need a new way of reading. In future posts I'll say more about Eat This Book, including a new approach to reading Scripture.

Eat This Book

The number one best selling book of all time is The Holy Bible with approximately six billion copies in circulation over the past five hundred fifty years. Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-Tung (The Little Red Book) comes in a distant second with nine hundred million copies sold. What makes the Bible the best selling book of all time? What makes it different from all the other bestsellers? The Bible is God’s revelation of himself. Through the Scriptures God reveals his reality and his relationship with human beings in the story of his actions from creation to the cross and beyond. The Bible, as God’s revelatory word, demands a method of reading that is compatible with the story it tells. In Eat This Book, Eugene Peterson asserts that the Bible demands “…the kind of reading named by our ancestors as lectio divina, often translated ‘spiritual reading,’ reading that enters our souls as food enters our stomachs, spreads through our blood, and becomes holiness and love and wisdom.” Peterson takes the title of his book and the image of spiritual reading from the book of Revelation.

I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll; and he said to me, “Take it, and eat it; it will be bitter to your stomach, but sweet as honey in your mouth.” And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it; it was sweet as honey in my mouth but when I had eaten it my stomach was made bitter. (Revelation 10:9-10)

Our tendency is to read the Bible for information. When we read for information we gather data that we can use for our own purposes—to support our doctrinal position, to exert pressure on others, to justify our behavior. Informational reading is safe reading. Informational reading is safe because it requires little of us. However, spiritual reading requires us to “eat the book”—chew on it, digest it, metabolize it. With spiritual reading, we assimilate the Holy Scriptures into our lives in a way that draws us into God’s world. It makes us participants in God’s reality. When we read spiritually, we read not to gather information for our purposes but so that our lives may serve his purposes. Spiritual reading is not safe reading. It is not for the faint of heart but for those who seek transformation through God’s word, who seek to live in harmony with God’s world, with his saving grace, and with his church. Is that you?

Lazy Summer?

Whatever happened to the lazy days of summer? Lazy certainly doesn't describe my summer. Last week was the first week of a two week summer class in New Testament Theology. The class is taught by Dr. Tom Olbricht, who is a renowned New Testament scholar. This week I am busy preparing for the second week of class and the CbW trip to St. Petersburg, Russia. Still, I am determined to whittle away at my books-to-be-read stack. Right now I am reading Eat This Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading by Eugene Peterson. He has some powerful things to say about the way we approach Scripture. I plan to share some of what he says in this space. The books-to-be read stack also includes: Mere Discipleship by Lee Camp Simply Christian by N.T. Wright Renovation of the Heart by Dallas Willard What's So Amazing About Grace by Phillip Yancey The Sacred Way: Spiritual Practices for Everyday Life by Tony Jones From Symposium to Eucharist by Dennis Smith The Christian Life by Karl Barth What are you reading this summer? Let me know, I may need to add it to the stack.

Theological Reflection

I remember a time when it was impolite to discuss your religious beliefs. Times have changed; Christians of differing faith traditions are entering into dialogues. Christians and non-Christians are participating in a free exchange of thoughts and ideas. There seems to be a greater interest in religious discussion. However, for many Christians one topic still seems to be off-limits--theology. At best, they are disinterested in theology and at worst, they are openly hostile to it. Many consider theology to be the realm of academics and scholars, totally unrelated to the faith and practice of ordinary Christians. Yet, every Christian is a theologian. A theologian is simply someone who thinks about God and his or her relationship with God. In addition, everyone who comes to any understanding of God has a theology. Not only does every Christian have a theology, but we all engage in theological reflection to some degree. Reflection is simply intentional, critical thinking. Therefore, theological reflection is critical thinking about what we believe and do as Christians. Over the last several months I have been observing some of the hardest working Christians I know. These men and women consistently step forward to meet needs in their local congregations and communities. They give selflessly of their time and energy and their only ambition is to glorify God and bring others to Christ through their ministries. They are busy, active Christians but their lack of time for significant theological reflection is taking a toll. Twenty years ago, the church bulletin was the primary marketing tool of ministry. Today, ministry is a multi-media endeavor. As churches seek to connect with members and the community, they employ art, drama and music to convey the gospel message in a way that resonates with those in the pews. Colorful mailings, web pages, banners and videos promote the programs and ministries of the church. Memorable tag lines and eye-catching graphics build "brand recognition" for congregations and ministries. High profile marketing is the latest ministry tool. In ministry, we reveal our understanding of God and of what it means to be a follower of Christ. The way we promote and carry out our ministries sends a message about what we value and believe to be truth. Unless we take the time to reflect on the theological implications of our ministries and the marketing tools we use to promote them, we may send a message that we never intended.

Movie Thoughts

Last night Bill and I watched The Pursuit of Happyness starring Will Smith. Set in 1981 and based on the life of stockbroker Chris Gardner, the film chronicles his struggle with poverty and homelessness as he cares for his young son and serves an internship with a large brokerage firm. This movie is not Academy Award material and many, if not most, reviewers were anything but ecstatic about it. Some called it melodramatic; others found it gloomy and depressing. At least one critic panned the movie because it glorified materialism and the pursuit of wealth. Yet, for some viewers, The Pursuit of Happyness is a "feel good" movie. It reinforces the idea that America is the land of "boot strap opportunity." It reassures the audience that anyone who works hard enough, long enough, will be successful. After all, Chris Gardner's hard work was rewarded with a full-time job at Dean Witter and today he is a multi-millionaire. For me it was a disturbing movie. For every Chris Gardner who struggles and overcomes, there are thousands of people in this country who continue to struggle, who never overcome the grip of poverty. Thirty-seven million Americans live below the poverty level. Minimum wage is $5.85 an hour; a gallon of gas costs $3. As I sat in my comfortable living room watching the movie, secure in the knowledge that I had a place to sleep, I couldn't get Matthew 25: 35-40 out of my mind.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’"

The Pursuit of Happyness is a disturbing movie.

Cleaning

I believe my mother spent her entire life incognito. I am convinced that in reality she was Mrs. Clean. Her home was spotless. No dust bunny had the courage to enter my mother's house, much less take up residence under a bed. Those beds were made every morning, with military precision, almost before the sleepy occupant vacated. Her hardwood floors shined with paste wax, hand applied and hand buffed. The second greatest day of my life was the day she bought a power buffer. The greatest was the day she could finally afford carpet for the entire house. Yes, boys and girls, there was a time when hardwood floors cost less than wall-to-wall carpet. My father was definitely not Mr. Clean. He was an accumulater. A complete set of law books--he worked for the electric company. A drawer of pencil stubs--he always wrote with a hard lead pencil, the shorter the better. Dad wore a hat every day and I believe he kept every one he ever owned. He kept all his important doucuments using the file-by-pile system. I am a genetic blend. I am definely not Mrs. Clean (dust bunnies are my pet of choice) but I do need a neat house. Unfortunately, I inherited the accumulater gene from Dad. Since visible clutter messes with my mind, in busy times I tend to stuff things into closets and drawers. This preserves my sanity during the school year when reading, research and exams consume all available time. This is a workable system for six or seven months but before the spring semester ends, the closets reach critical mass. Today we have reached the point of no return; it is time to re-organize the closets, bookcases, desks, etc. So unless something really profound strikes me, the next few days will be postless as I tackle the dark and dangerous caverns of my home.

Spiritual Watering

Much of Texas is experiencing a rare summer phenomenon—excessive rain. The average rainfall for Austin in June is 3.81 inches. This year we are way above average. Nearby Marble Falls flooded with more than eighteen inches of rain in twelve hours. (To see pictures, visit Allan Stanglin’s blog: The Kingdom, the Kids and the Cowboys.) Here it is the end of June and we have not turned on our sprinkler system; yet the lawn is as lush and green as if we had a $200 water bill. The plants on the deck have benefited from the abundance of rain and I have enjoyed a reprieve from dragging the hose around from pot to pot. However, I was shocked this morning to look out the kitchen window and see the zinnias drooping as if we were in the midst of a drought. Yesterday we escaped the daily downpour; it was the first day without rain since Bill and I returned from England. What a difference that day made for two pitiful looking zinnias. Of course, I rushed out to water. As I stood there with hose in hand, I was amazed at how quickly these plants had suffered. Only one day without rain and they were wilted. The leaves were curled and the vivid flowers hung limp from the stem because in the midst of abundant rain, I had failed to establish a regular watering schedule. It is the same with all God’s creatures—plants, animals and humans. We all need regular water to enable our physical survival. As God’s children we also need spiritual water for our spiritual survival. Spiritual water revives and refreshes us; it strengthens us to endure harsh days in the wilderness. In the midst of abundant blessing, it is easy to forget that we need to establish a regular watering schedule for our hearts and our souls. Refreshing spiritual water is found in time with God—time spent in his word, time spent in prayer, time spent in silence and solitude. I pray that each of us will find time for regular spiritual watering this summer.

Birthday Thoughts

It’s a funny thing about birthdays. When you are a child, it is an eternity between birthdays. They seem to arrive once a decade, but with increasing age, the “birthday clock” over compensates for its slowness. Before his death, at age 92, Dad said that his birthday seemed to roll around about once a month. Yet, he celebrated each one because it took him a year closer to his goal—the big 100! He missed the goal but we will celebrate for him in 2010. I had a birthday this week. It did not drag its feet in getting here, nor was it precipitous in its arrival. June 27th was just right – the perfect day to be a year older. After a fun birthday celebration at the Hammocks we ferried kids to Family Bible Adventure. Amazingly, I was able to find a quiet corner amid the joyous chaos and reflect for a few moments on the way God has blessed me in the last year. I have included a few of my thoughts here. These blessings are not prioritized, just appreciated. I am so grateful… For my relationship with the Father made possible by the sacrifice of the Son.

For another year with my wonderful husband Bill. This past year he graciously cooked meals and washed dishes while I studied for exams, practiced sermons and wrote papers. As I write this post, he is assembling two more bookcases and another file cabinet to house books and papers accumulated in two years of graduate studies. He is the best!!!

For time spent with my sons. I am so proud of Ryan and Brandon. They are hardworking men of integrity and I cherish the time God gives us to be together in spite of busy schedules and long distances.

For the ministry opportunities I had this past year. God blessed me with new friendships and new experiences as I served here at home and around the world.

For Karen, Jeanene, Mariana, Suzy, and Heather. Time spent with them in ministry always changes me for the better.

For our group that meets each Sunday night. Our times of Bible study and fellowship have transformed us into an extended family.

For Scott and Heather who welcome us into their family and allow us be “grandparents” to Nancy, Dade and Peyton. We are blessed!!!

For another year of worship, fellowship, and ministry with the body at Westover Hills.

For the professors, staff and fellow students at Austin Graduate School of Theology. They encourage me to think theologically, to look at the big picture.

For the daily challenges that lead me to a stronger faith. I pray that I may always recognize an opportunity in adversity.

This list could go on and on and perhaps it will be continued another day. For now, I simply declare with a grateful heart that I am blessed beyond measure. Thank you, Almighty Lord.

It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp. For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of your hands. Psalm 92:1-4