Michelangelo

Michelangelo, the famous sixteenth century artist, gave us one of his best when he painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome. As a Sculptor, the statue of David stands as a masterpiece. The statue stands seventeen feet high and is made of marble and portrays the shepherd to turn king as he contemplates his upcoming battle with Goliath, the giant. Tension can be seen in his face and in the muscles of his forearms and fists. Michelangelo’s detail brings the statue to life and gives off the sense that there is a soul within the rock who is about to burst forth into action.

It is said that Michelangelo could see David within the block of marble long before he took up his tools. He would take raw blocks of stone and then he would sit and stare. Slowly, then, he would begin to chip away, scratch, chisel and hammer until what remained was simply what he saw all along in his imagination. He imagined and looked through the block. He didn’t see the block at all. Michelangelo had to find a way to what he saw in his mind, and to do so was to chisel away and chip off all that was not that.

The pope one time asked him how he did it, how he came up with such magnificent works of sculpture. For instance, how did he create the famous statue of David? Michelangelo replied, “Well, I chip away at everything that is not David.”


I want to do that with Jesus. I want to chip away at everything in my life that is not Jesus…until only Jesus is left and that is all I see. I want to purge all of the religion until only Jesus is left. Jesus alone is all I need.

Jesus with us and we don't notice

As they walked, talking and discussing these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. Luke 24

As the two disciples journey together to Emmaus, talking about the things of Jesus and the events that have happened right before them over the previous days, Jesus joins them. However, as they discuss the activities of Jesus, they do not notice that Jesus himself is with them.

The religious professionals cornered Jesus because he was not following the customary practices of the Law. He replies, “You have your heads in your bibles constantly because you think you’ll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest for the trees. These Scriptures are all about me! And here I am, standing right before you, and you aren’t willing to receive from me the life you say you want.” (John 5, The Message)

In our walks and talks together, even as we speak and act in the activity of Christianity, we can miss him all together even as he stands right before us, with us, speaking directly to us. It will do us good to pay attention and to be attentive to the possibility that Jesus is with us and will show up in the places we may not expect.

Where have you seen Jesus?

Where have you seen Jesus working around you?

In whom have you seen Jesus recently?

a wake of healing, hope, and redemption

And it happened that Jesus was passing through”

People who encountered Jesus were never the same. Forever different. It is impossible to have contact with the Nazarene and remain the same. Jesus’ entrance was a tidal wave of life sweeping through a broken, confused, and searching world. In its wake it left behind healing, hope, and redemption.

“These men who have turned the world upside down have come here. What is more, they are saying there is another kind named Jesus!”

In the land of first century Palestine a band of brothers took the message to the world. The message turned the world upside down. It was hurricane roaring through a barren and thirsty desert; a hard cool rain in the dusty plains. The world has never recovered and the message continues to be spread even today through the least likely of messengers.

The message is a person.
The message is Jesus.

The Word of God became a human being and moved into the neighborhood. This is the message we proclaim: Jesus. Life appeared. The glory of God jam packed into a body of skin and bones. John said, “We have seen it. We have heard. We have touched. It appeared before our very eyes. This is the message we proclaim to you; that your joy may be complete, lacking nothing.

ignoring the flatscreen

For the third straight evening Landon (my five year old son) and I slip out of the house, walk to a nearby lake and fish. Alone, we discover we have the entire lake to ourselves. The water is clear and placid. The bass are hitting the surface as if they have not eaten in weeks. The sun turns the sky a deep red as it drops below the cornfields that frame the horizon. Darkness falls into place and the first star can be seen.

A sense of time well spent comes over me and I look over at Landon who, at five years old, seems to understand. It is as if fishing is secondary to being together and watching the day go to sleep; to be in the presence of one another—father and son. We were there watching God paint the sky and bring out the night and fishing is an excuse to be here.

I look across the lake at the rows of houses. Through the vast bay windows I see monster flat screen televisions flicker. All of them; every home is watching television. Landon and I fish and feel sadness for those who are inside; who have traded in creation for that-for more television. I guess that humanity is not impressed by the sunset anymore. We’ve seen it all before.

And here, Landon and I fish. We watch the biggest flat screen television of all across the skies. It is free; and there are no re-runs.

the reckless raging fury that is called the LOVE of GOD

Reckless raging fury they call the love of God. The love of a father toward a child is greatest of all loves. There is no thing or no one who can stir the fury of a father than to witness the pain or hurt of a child. Yes, a father will sacrifice all things, including himself, to save his child from harm. “Surely he has born our grief and carried our sorrows; he was wounded for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities and with his stripes we are healed. (Is. 53). “And his appearance was marred, beyond human semblance.” (Is. 52). There is a fury in the love of God for his children; and out of that fury comes the entrance of the Word of God to dwell among us and to give himself a sacrifice for the sins of the world.

The love of a father for a child cannot be quenched. “Many waters cannot quench love; neither can floods drown it out. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised.” Song 8:7

Love covers all offenses. Prov. 10:12
Greater love has no one than this that he should lay down his life for another. John 15:13
But God shows his love for us in this; that he gave his only son… Rom. 5:8
Shall anything separate us from the love of Christ? Nothing! Rom. 8
Love never ends. 1 Cor. 13
The greatest is love. 1 Cor. 13
Above all things put on love. Col. 3:14
Love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8
In this is love, not that we love God but that he first loved us. 1 John 4

The love of the Father needs not be earned; it is given freely. The child does not and cannot do anything to earn it or get it except that they act and be and live in the role of a child. This role of being a child is given not because of anything they have done or any choice on their part, they are just given the role and position of a child…of a son or daughter. And the Father loves the child regardless of any acts or deeds; speech or words. The love of the Father for the child is not earned or born from human activity.

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13

“For in Christ Jesus, you are all sons of God, through faith. Gal. 3:26

“God sent forth Jesus, so that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his son into our hearts crying “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son. And if a son, then an heir through God. Gal. 4

“But now that you have come to know God, or rather you are known by God.” Gal. 4:9

“It is not the children of the flesh who are children of God but the children of the promise (who) are counted as offspring.” Rom 9

“So, it depends not on human will or effort but on God, who has mercy.” Rom 9

Did John the Baptizer pick his role? Did Noah, Abraham, Jonah, Isaiah, Moses, David, Jeremiah, Paul, Joseph, Mary, Matthew, etc? No, in fact many of them tried to get out of what God called them to do for they did not think themselves adequate or worthy enough. Did any of the great servants of the Kingdom pick or appoint themselves into their role on their own? Were they voted in by humans? No, they were chosen by God since before the creation of the world.

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should last. (John 15:16)

True action follows correct thinking

Now days, as I am getting older, I am trying to be about the things Jesus is (was) about. This is harder than I once thought since I am realizing the things that I once gave so much weight are no longer the things that deserve focus. I no longer focus on my behavior but focus on Jesus. I no longer try to change the way I act, but spend more time attempting to change the way I think. How I think will always determine how I act. I can act a certain way to please others, but I can act in a certain way without thinking it is the correct way to act. True and authenic actions always follow thought.

So, more and more these days I am simply trying to focus on Jesus. We are compelled by the love of Christ. Our love for Christ, alone, must encourage us forward into action.

becoming a LISTENER of the gospel

Romans 12
Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. (16)
Live in harmony with each other. Don't become snobbish but take a real interest in ordinary people. Don't become set in your own opinions. (16; JB Phillips)

Last night at Young Life, Brad told kids that Jesus was approachable and available to people. In fact, Jesus associated with all sorts of different people that others refused to be around. I have thought about this often, but his words last night reminded me of this truth.

In today’s culture, the greater you become, the less approachable you are. The more well-known, influential, successful, wealthy, powerful, etc you are (or think you are) the less likely it will be that a person will attempt to simply approach you or have any spontaneous interaction with you.

Thinking through the people in our society who are the most approachable, I have narrowed it down to the thought that a bartender could be that person. Where do people go when they are at the end of their rope? The bar. Where do they go if they are depressed? The bar. Where do they go to talk when no one else is available or willing? The bar. Where can one go where you don’t have to worry about the person you tell gossiping or telling the whole world about your problems? The bar. A bartender may well be the person in the most strategic place to become a listener of the gospel. I like that: a listener of the gospel. Perhaps ministers are more known for the way they talk than for the way they listen. How long could I last in this town if I became a bartender? Not long. The Pharisees would stone me. It is intriguing that a bartender could be the most approachable person in our society. I am not saying that is good, but it just might be true.

The pastor or Christian leader is probably NOT the most approachable...simply because their title and position comes with so many stereotypes. Whenever a person gets around a Christian leader or pastor, they immediately clean up their act and their language. People tend to be the most fake at church and people are the least real when they are around pastors and Christian leaders.

Think of those who were willing to approach Jesus: the leper, the prostitute, the tax collector, the blind man, demon-possessed, the little children, and even religious leaders. Jesus was approachable.

Fame separates us from the masses, even though the masses begin to talk about the famous person more and more, they cease to ever have any real interaction with them. Money does the same as does power and influence. Even if that person is extremely grounded and willing to associate with all people at all times, when a person becomes famous and influential, there is an invisible wall that is built between that person and others.

Recently, I coached a soccer team for six year olds and we met a couple who happen to be physicians. Both the husband and the wife are pediatric physicians and work in the same practice. When we first met them, we got along great because they were so nice and welcoming and really fun to be around. Then, we found out they were both doctors and my first thought, was “Why would they want to be friends with us?” I am in Christian missions and we are not wealthy or important and have nothing to give except ourselves. I almost felt that we weren’t worthy to be friends with them because in my mind I pictured doctors hanging out with doctors talking about their new Lexus and sipping $500 bottles of wine.

Even though these two friends didn’t do one single thing to prove my stereotype true, for some reason, and a fault of my own, I didn’t think we were worthy to associate with people who seemed to be influential and important. As it has turned out they have become good friends and are really the nicest people you could ever meet. I am thankful that I have not let me own false expectations keep me from a good friendship. We must be willing to break forth and associate with people who we think would never want to be around us. Also, if we happen to be blessed with influence, power, fame, or wealth, and are on the other side of the fence, we must be willing to take an extra step in the direction of hospitality to those who may be hesitant to approach us.

Let us be intentional about becoming approachable and possess a willingness to be available. We live in a time where you must first call and set up an appointment if you wish to meet with another person. And often you must talk with a secretary first! What is startling is that those who are pastors can be the least approachable. Thinking about this, I realize that I have become like this. When people want to talk, I have told them to set up a time to meet. Why can’t I simply just be around? Why can’t I be available? Do I have control issues? Do I feel like I have to control my day?

To cut pastors and myself some slack, I do understand that there is much work to be done and there are times when our entire focus and concentration must be used and that if people simply walked in and out whenever they pleased, much of this work would never get done. But perhaps the very people that are walking in and out…these people…these interruptions ARE our work! Perhaps the task of the minister of the gospel is to BE WITH people!

the radical grace of the gospel

It is difficult to understand the radical reality of grace: that God needs nothing or wants nothing more from you than for you to come to him as you are. We all need to hear about the reality that you don’t have to clean yourself up. You need to hear the Father tell you that you are ‘OK’ and that you are loved as you are and not only that, but that the Father is very proud of you: the Beloved.

It is dangerous---this grace. Most of us talk about it and know the word, yet the reality of what it exactly means escapes us. It means that we can add nothing to the gospel and we can do nothing to make God love us less and nothing to make God love us more. If we could, then the grace and the cross would be insufficient.

We need to hear the Father say, “I LOVE YOU.” “YOU ARE ACCEPTED AS YOU ARE.”

but our eyes are upon you

For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you. 2 Chronicles 20

Though we are constantly bombarded from all sides and pushed down under the surface of the waters, we know that we will endure. We will endure to find ourselves in the life which is Life. For we know that we will have tribulations and troubles while we are here on this temporary rock, but we also know that Jesus has overcome the world. Peace is to found in Christ, and this peace is not as the world gives, but as He alone gives. But we do indeed long for a home; an eternal home. And in this is our hope; for we cannot hope for what we already have, but we must have faith in Christ that before the foundation of the world, He has gone to prepare a place for us, that where He is we may also be. Amen.

Sundays

Today has been hard. Today seems to be a day where there is a group of birds standing around keeping guard and pecking at me.

We are renting a house, but the builder wants us to buy it or buy another house in this subdivision. He is pressuring us to decide NOW. ...and when I am pressured I usually swing back against it no matter if it is good pressure or bad. I'm not too sure we have the money to buy. Part of me says we should buy something dirt cheap for a while and move out from under the stress of house payments. After coming off of six months of paying for a house in Chicago (which we just sold) and renting the house here, there is something attractive about living in the cheapest place possible...perhaps under a bridge.

The kids don't seem to notice. They are out riding bikes up and down the street. Landon learned to ride a bike last week and now he doesn't want to get off of it. Nathan is still on the big-wheel going as fast as his legs will take him. Riley runs behind them with our golden retreiver: Jackson. They don't notice stress or pressure. Too bad they will one day.

Me? I seem tired all day every day. I am weary of holding up all the decisions that need to be made. And life? We need a full time professional administrator for our family. Sarah is in school full time trying to get into the nursing program this Fall at Auburn, I am doing Young Life, leading a group of 60 + leaders doing missions at 6 local schools, with the additional weight of being in the midst of training 35-40 college freshmen who want to become leaaders with YL. I'm out four to five nights a week.

For some reason, I was thinking as I got older, that my nights would be slower and more open. Go to work all day and then coach little league a couple night a week. I guess not. I do have a great life and a job that lets me do many things that others my age never get to do. I am thankful. Still, I am tired.

Do we buy a house? If so, do we buy a really cheap house for a few years? Or do we just go ahead and get what we need...can we afford what we need...something big enough for a family of 6? Not sure. Lord? Any ideas?

struggle to pray

“and Jesus told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.” Luke 18.1

“and will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Luke 18:7-8

I am trying more and more to talk to Jesus about life and about the ministry that he has called me to. I do pray often, but my biggest flaw is that I don’t pray very deeply. Too often, distractions come during prayer and bombard me with thoughts and reminders of things forgotten. It’s a fight to pray. It’s a fight to pray and then get to a point to which I feel good about my prayers. More than I want, I find myself starting well as I pray and then the next thing I know I am not praying. My thoughts took a detour from where I was going or wanted to go.

It reminds me of conversations with people who don’t listen to what you are saying. One of my biggest pet peeves is when a person asks me a question and you begin to answer and they get this glazed look in their eyes that announces that they are mentally nowhere on the planet. Likewise, when you are talking to a person and they interrupt in the middle of a sentence to take a cell phone call or to say ‘hey’ to someone walking by. All this, when it happens, tells me that the attempt to have any more conversations with this person is a waste of time. I am thankful God does not think this way.

Thankfully, with God there is grace and mercy and patience. One of the things I am trying to do more and more is to remove things that distract me from prayer. As much as I love to be connected with the world, I have to admit that my cell phone constantly goes off with voice mail, calls, and text messages. My email box fills up to the top and overflows each day. I watch too much TV; too much Sportscenter, history channel, and Man vs Wild. I have a list of things I need to do around the house, another list at work, not to mention the unquenchable desire to spend quality time with my family. So, I struggle.

But more and more I am realizing that I need prayer. I need it because it refocuses me on things that are most important. It lets me sit while God reminds me of who I am in him and how he feels about me. Sitting with Jesus give me courage to attempt things that I am too weak to attempt on my own. It pushes me out of my selfish zone and my comfort zone. If left to myself, I will seek to please only myself. Sitting at the feet of Jesus in prayer reminds me that what I truly want (and need) is to die to myself and imitate Christ who was the servant of all.

Table Turning

“As Jesus was getting out of the boat, a man rushed out to meet him from among the tombs where he was living.” Mark 5:3 JBP

No parent would ever feel comfortable allowing their children to be in such a ministry that led them to these sort of places; the ones that are risky and uncomfortable. No parent would ever feel good about letting their kids go with me to a place similar to the one in Mark 5…that is of course unless it was their own son or daughter who lived among the tombs. Then, they would beg others to go to these places with the message of the gospel in the name of Jesus.

I have a friend who is a student pastor at a local church and he planned to take his high school and college group to a small town nearby and do some work in the houses of the poor and elderly. They would simply go and clean, then they would spend the night in the houses they cleaned and the houses of other members of the church from which they were working. However, this mission trip was cancelled because parents and others in the church did not feel comfortable with allowing their kids to be in that kind of place and then to spend the night there. So, the work trip was cancelled.

I don’t think I understand.

I understand, as a parent of four, that I do want to shelter and protect my kids and that I am responsible for their safety. As they grow up there is a part of me that wants to keep them from befriending kids that will influence them in unhealthy and dangerous ways. However, it’s all fine and sounds like a good idea until it is your kid who is the one who is the bad influence and the one who has gone off on his own rebellious journey. When that happens, I am on my knees praying that God will send someone to him. I am praying that there is a person who is willing to be misunderstood and willing to take the risk of spending time with my son.

So turning the tables, if it were your kid who lived among the tombs, you would be thankful that Jesus went there. But as long as it is not your kid you will always be confused on why it is imperative that the church is willing to venture out into these risky and dangerous places and leave the comfort and safety of a building.

As people who are going into the mission field and trying to be intentional about going after the disinterested and unreached, you never know if there has been a mom or a dad who have been on their knees praying that God would send someone to reach out to their child. When parents lose the connection and feel helpless to do anything, and when they don’t know where else to turn, a person like a Young Life leader becomes a life jacket and a light that leads them to the giver of life: Jesus.

You have no idea that there may have been a parent praying that God would send someone to reach their child. You just don’t. Perhaps the whole reason you are where you are is that before the foundation of the world, God has planned to have you in this precise spot at this place in time to answer the prayers of a parent who have come to the end of their rope and are completely desperate. You could be the answer to the prayers of a desperate mom or dad.

So, go, and don’t hesitate to go to dangerous and risky places. Don’t be afraid to go across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes and walk among the tombs. There are dying people crying out in these places. They are thirsty for life and for Jesus. Go there in the name of Jesus.

Sudden Freedom

The very people Moses came to free rejected him and his message. Moses’ desire was that his fellow Israelites be freed from the oppressive hand of the Egyptians, yet they refused to listen. This is the same Moses they rejected with the words: “Who make you ruler and judge over us?” (Acts 7). He was sent to be their ruler and deliverer by God himself, through the angel who appeared to him in the bush that contained fire.”

“You stiffed necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They killed everyone who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And you now have betrayed and murdered him on a cross!” Acts 7

Why do we always reject the “saviors” who are sent to us? Why are the very ones that God sends persecuted? God sent Moses, yet they seemed to have rather stayed in slavery, in Egypt. Even in the desert they refused to believe, even after all the signs. In the desert, they cried and complained. Sudden freedom will do that to you; especially when you are so accustomed to captivity and slavery. In the desert, while Moses was up on the mountain with God, they cried out to Aaron, “Make us gods who will go before us!” they made an idol in the form of a calf. They made a calf and they brought sacrifices to it and held a celebration in honor of what their hands have made.

We tend to celebrate the things our hands make. We are constantly trying to create things with our hands; always trying to make idols to worship, to give us life and identity and meaning. Why do we do these things? Why do we constantly feel the need to accumulate, build, strive, and toil? Why do we always seem to want to build and build; never choosing to enjoy that has already been freely given. Instead we toil and strive for things that moth and rust destroy. We reject what has been given for free and are always building our own cisterns; leaky cisterns at best!

"Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. (Isaiah 55)

"My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water.” (Jeremiah 2)


Then, finally, as a culmination of all that the prophets and the scriptures foretold, Jesus comes proclaiming freedom from sin, bondage, and death and we seem to want anything but what he desires to give us. “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light.” (John 3)

Even now we war against our flesh every day. What I want to do I have such a hard time doing; what I don’t want to do I keep on doing. What a wretched man I am! Who will save me from this body of death and sin? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! Therefore there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Let us cease our constant striving and toiling for things that are not eternal; and count all things as rubbish compared to knowing Jesus Christ our Lord. The Lord freely gives. The Lord freely provides to his children. Wait for it. Look for it. It is best.

adventure

I am watching two little kids ride their bikes down the hill in front of my house. One is older, maybe 10. He rides down the hill with confidence...fast, steady...he's obviously done it a few more times than his younger brother.The other boy is younger. He rides down the hill a little slower...a little more cautious, shaky...his eyes intently focused on the road ahead; not looking to the right or the left. His hands are clinched as tightly as he can grip the bars...as if holding on for his life. Tighter as he lets off the brakes.

They come down over and over again; then returning...walking their bikes up the hill to do it again.There are risks...he could turn his wheel slightly or could lose control and crash...it is a steep hill; made of cement. Yes, there are risks...but they go down anyway. The thrill of the ride; the adventure...the adrenaline they feel...their eyes as big as silver dollars; the wind in their face.Here they come again.

This is what I feel as I stare this adventure in the eyes...what is God trying to say to me?"Courage! Do not fear! Do not be afraid!"Here he comes again...the younger one....Ah! The fearlessness and the ruthless trust of a child!

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." (Helen Keller)