Archive for the ‘Faith’ Category

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From Gratitude To Advent

December 2, 2013

I pretty much took the Thanksgiving weekend off. At least off from thinking and writing. Not off from all physical activity, though. About 90 minutes in the backyard teaching my grandson how to beat a defender one-v-one (soccer) led to a little stiffness in muscles too little used for three days.

Last weekend in America is all about gratitude–at least in theory. The reality is that while some of us may pause and reflect upon the many things we are or should be grateful for, all the news and hype of the weekend point toward self-gratification (Black Friday–the day when retail outlets determine their profitability for the year).

Sometimes I think that even when buying for others, people generally are thinking about themselves–how they will be perceived or how they will be reciprocated.

Advent

We immediately transition from gratitude to advent–the coming of Jesus. An event for which we should have ultimate gratitude.

But once again we have turned the season from reliving the anticipation of the coming of Jesus into a season of self-indulgence. From marketing messages through mass media, you’d think that all that mattered was what to buy. Then there’s all the “secular Christmas” music that’s all about Santa Claus, nostalgia, what I want for Christmas.

I don’t want to sound like Scrooge, or the Grinch. I love being generous. Christmas trees and lights are fun. (By the way, we found where the Griswalds moved to–my daughter’s neighborhood. Reference to the classic Christmas Vacation–my favorite Christmas movie. See I can have fun, too.)

Where these thoughts were coalescing this morning was around what I see as a major factor in interpersonal dysfunction–why we can’t get along together. That would be narcissism. “It’s all about me.” It’s hard to consider others when it’s all about me. An excellent book on the subject (in addition to Proverbs and the Gospels) is “The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement” by Jean M. Twenge and W. Keith Campbell.

Jesus had every reason to be “full of himself.” Aside from the “I am” statements in the Gospel of John, he was pretty much focused on other people–their needs, fears, hearts, direction, lives.

The writer of the book of Hebrews calls Jesus the “pioneer of the faith.” As a follower, I’m trying to emulate his focus on others. This is a good season to remind ourselves to practice this.

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Those Who Love To Tell Others What To Do

November 12, 2013

There are two types of people–there are always two types of people, I guess. The two I thought I’d talk about today are those who love to tell other people what to do and those who do not like to be told what to do.

I’m proudly in the second camp.

I don’t know how that came about. Maybe I was born that way. Or maybe because neither of my parents were self-confident enough to order us around. I’m not positive about my brothers, but I think they are not the ordering around type either.

When I teach, I prefer to guide. When my kids were growing up, I preferred to guide and suggest rather than order them around (after that early stage of discipline where you have to set the limits and provide strict guidance).

That is some of the problems that Jesus initiated with his message. Since the time of Moses, the Jewish religion was primarily a religion of laws–people ordering other people to do certain things in order to be right with God. There were exceptions, of course, but this passing on of strict laws was the norm.

Jesus came along and said the important thing is not simply obeying a set of laws made up by other people who loved telling others what to do. Jesus said what matters is what is in your heart–that is, what matters is your own attitude and motivation.

Paul tried to explain this, but his explanations often became a little complicated. Then other people came later who tried the first method of developing laws out of Paul’s words and then ordering people around. The whole process started again–this time under the guise of being Christ-followers.

Let’s just go back to where Jesus was. If your attitude and motivation are to live with God, then you will naturally live a good life (allowing for the sins that come through the fallibility of being human). Jesus came to redeem us from a life of being bossed around, and from a life of guilt and shame from our shortcomings (sins), and to release us with love to live with-God and for others.

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I am Worthy or Am I Worthy

November 6, 2013

Jesus is surrounded by people. This usually happens to him after he had performed many miracles of healing and had taught with such authority. His attention is disrupted by a delegation of Jews from another village. Seems that there is a Roman Centurion who has a request for healing for a servant.

“He is worthy,” said the delegation.

They said this to convince Jesus to come to his aid. This is actually shocking. The Centurion was Roman, not Jewish. Jesus was seen as a rabbi, a teacher in the Jewish tradition. Most Jews had as little interaction with non-Jews as possible. Especially if they were the religious ones.

This group said that the Roman was worthy of Jesus’ attention. So, Jesus turned his attention on the problem of the servant. He started to go to the home of the Roman, thinking as they all were that his physical presence was required.

But the Centurion sent another messenger. “I am not worthy.”

Huh? He is worthy. He is not worthy. This also is a strange comment, that an important Roman leader would say that he is not worthy of a visit by an itinerant Jewish teacher and healer. Is the world turning upside down?

“I understand authority,” the Centurion continued. He accepts commands from his superiors in the army and he issues commands to those whom he leads. And all those orders are obeyed.

He expects the same from Jesus in the spiritual realm. He sees Jesus as under authority from God and having authority over the spirits that were ailing his servants. “Just say the word, and he will be healed.” And Jesus did, and he was.

Jesus used this as an example of faith that he had not even seen from Jewish people.

I’m interested in the concept of being worthy in this story from Luke 7. The Roman had many Jewish friends and he had even contributed to their causes. The friends were afraid that Jesus would shun a non-Jew. They didn’t yet understand that Jesus’ message was for everyone. Non-Jews. Women, even.

For the Roman to say he was not worthy of a personal visit is a remarkable admission. We in the US, some in Western Europe and I think increasingly around the world are living in a time of self-absorption. We have been raising kids to think they are always worthy of everything.

But, we are all under the authority of God whether we realize it or not. And if we do, we can say we are not worthy, but please use your authority to bring us to wholeness (a sense of the word to heal). To say we are not worthy does not mean that we psychologically unhealthy in a low self-esteem way. It just means that we recognize the chain of authority and where we fit.

I believe this is a most misunderstood concept. To be humble does not mean to be docile.

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So That You May Bear Fruit

November 1, 2013

“You may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding…”

Paul wrote to the Christ followers in Colossae that he prayed for this for the people. I know of people who think that this is the end of the sentence. The purpose of life is to be filled with spiritual wisdom and understanding.

Some of these people live as though they have achieved this state and this gives them permission to tell others about how they have not achieved such a state. They either implied or stated boldly that this made them better people.

Do you know people like that? I certainly do. And Jesus met them every day. Back then, they were called Pharisees. And he told many stories about how they were wrong.

How wrong? Well, Paul finishes his sentence, “so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in knowledge of God.”

So that! The end is not wisdom and understanding. These are only the foundation, the means, the tools, for living a life pleasing to God.

And what is a life pleasing to God? Paul tells us. “Bear fruit in every good work” and “grow in knowledge of God.”

What are good works? One story Jesus told was of a man beaten by robbers. Three men passed by him as he lay bleeding. Two were from the higher ranks of Jewish society–they did nothing (and they were listening as Jesus told the story). One was an outcast in the eyes of Jewish society–a Samaritan. The Samaritan took care of the man. That was a good work–as well as a teaching that our neighbor to be helped is whomever we find along the road of life.

Another good work comes from Jesus’ words at the end of the Gospel of Matthew where he tells us to make disciples. Preaching at people does little to no good. Helping them through example, teaching, love, mentoring to be like Jesus is what our work in life is.

What will be your so that today? Will you recognize it?

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David and Goliath

October 23, 2013

The underdog little boy defeats the giant warrior. A story about how the underdog can win. David and Goliath.

I listened to Malcolm Gladwell’s TED Talk about his latest book, “David and Goliath,” on my drive from Chicago yesterday. Gladwell tells a good story. He hits on a point that I’ve often thought about. But then he falls into the storyteller’s trap when it comes to fact by going off on a rabbit trail of speculation.

There is a saying, “Never bring a knife to a gun fight.” Gladwell is right that in some ways it could be considered that David brought a “gun” (that is, sling) to a fight that was expected to be fought closer together–a knife fight.

I’ve wondered since I was small how we could consider David that much of an underdog since he had a significant weapon that obviously gave him a huge advantage. Sure, he was an adolescent not completely filled out into adult musculature. But he never seemed that much of an underdog to me.

David had two things going for him. One of them Gladwell ignores for the point of his story–or maybe his theological leanings. The first thing is that having guarded the family flocks for years, David was accomplished with a weapon–the sling. The second thing is that David had unswerving faith in God.

Any of the “sling-ers” in Saul’s army could have done what David did. But, they didn’t. Why not? Because they did not have David’s faith. It took both elements for David to succeed. Gladwell ignores the latter.

If you listen to the talk that I linked to, watch for the transition when he says (in effect) many medical researchers speculate that Goliath suffered from “giantism” (or the medical terms I don’t know). When a story teller goes off into the realm of speculation, we have left reporting and entered the world of fiction. Interesting story, but not scholarship.

And if you read the book because you think it’s cool that a popular writer chooses a religious subject–be on guard.

The real moral of the story of David–know your strengths and have faith in God.

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In Old Age They Still Produce Fruit

October 9, 2013

“If you keep on living, you’re gonna get old.” from a blues song.

Someone asked me once where I get ideas for posts. Well, from what I read, listen to, and observe. Recently I have been listening to “Bluesville” on Sirius XM when I’m driving and not otherwise listening to podcasts. This line from a song caught my attention.

There was a restaurant our staff frequented in the early 80s in a north suburb of Dayton, Ohio, where the slogan was, “If I’d have known I was going to live this long, I’d have taken better care of myself.” I think that’s the implied message of the song.

From the time I was quite young, I pictured myself as one of those old guru type of guys, wise and calm and focused on God. It’s weird for an adolescent to think that, I guess, but it must have come from all the philosophy and theology I was reading even back then.

Where do you see yourself as you grow old?

Psalm 92 has an interesting picture:

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;

Those who are rooted in God will flourish in old age (if we keep on living, as the song says). Always green, bearing fruit.

I know people who retire in order to essentially do nothing–or to just wallow in self-absorption. I do not see that in my future. I am always looking for new ideas, new ministries, new things to learn, new ways to serve.

“They are planted in the house of the Lord” means that we are rooted in the Word and the Spirit of God. And along with James we live out our faith refusing to become lazy in self-indulgence.

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Leadership Example of Peter

September 25, 2013

Remember the first time you were thrust into a leadership role in your organization?

Did you feel prepared? Scared? Uncertain about the role of a leader?

It looks easy when you sit back and criticize other leaders. But to actually do it yourself…that’s quite another thing.

Or maybe it’s the first time you gave someone a leadership position for their first time. Did you feel you prepared the person? Did you wonder if they were ready?

I think often about the insight of Jesus and the growth of Peter. Jesus gathered twelve close followers in order to give them special training so that his movement would survive his death. The twelve were all talented, but they had different skills.

Jesus looked at Peter and saw the courage and personality of a future leader. But he also saw the rough edges. There was a sort of double meaning when Jesus told Simon that he was “Peter” (rock) the foundation of the movement. But this was the first indication of what Jesus saw special in him.

But still, Peter was unprepared for the events that would thrust him into the position. With John as his intellectual partner who could keep the theology straight, Peter was the man of action. It probably took him three months to digest the new reality of life after Jesus. But then he started preaching, healing, arguing.

And he grew into a great leader.

I love that example that we don’t just become great leaders overnight. It takes years of preparation and testing. It takes reflecting on what we’re doing as we do the work of leadership. We, too, can be like Peter and grow into leadership in whatever situation of life we find ourselves.

Reflect on Peter’s growth and overcome discouragement. Continue onward and grow you future leaders.

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Make Rules or Make Disciples

September 23, 2013
Division like fractals

Mandelbrot fractal image. From Wikipedia.org

We took a vacation last week. My wife’s family gathering. We worshiped in a church of a different denomination than the one we attend. It’s a southern-based, conservative off-shoot of another denomination.

Reminded me of the years I taught a course on American Baptist history. How there was Roger Williams, then Northern Baptists (now American Baptists) and Southern Baptists. And then they split like fractals.

Sometimes these divisions are based on worship style. Some like the solemnity and mystery of high Mass. Others prefer jeans and T-shirts, guitars and drums, hands waving in the air celebration. As for me, I like almost any of the styles.

Most of the divisions are created by rules. We created organizations called churches or denominations. They had to have rules. Then someone said, “I don’t like your rules. I want to make up my own rules.” And off they went. We still do that today.

It is as if Jesus said, “All power in heaven and earth has been granted to me. Go, therefore, and make organizations with individual rule sets around the world so that you can worship God with those with whom you agree.”

But, wait, Jesus didn’t say that. He never spoke about organizations other than to point out the problems with the one religious organization he knew–the Temple worship cult. And he didn’t like it.

What he said was, “Go…and make disciples. Teaching them what I have taught you.” Making disciples–that’s a one-to-one thing. Not a political thing. You model Jesus so that others can model Jesus by modeling you. It’ not rocket science. But, it requires intentional living.

And the organization thing–that’s a human condition. How many divisions of Judaism are there? Islam? Buddhism? Hinduism?

It’s time to focus on the Lord who showed the way. Not on divisions. Divisions detract us from placing our entire attention on God.

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Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life

September 13, 2013

I almost always meet the nicest people. This week I have been traveling to conferences. Two days in San Antonio and then two in New Orleans. I’m at the Courtyard by Marriott by the convention center in New Orleans right now. The woman who runs the restaurant is a jewel of a person. Just like everyone I’ve met at Courtyards.

Wednesday evening I arrived in town with enough time to check in and then get over to the conference I’m attending. Got back to the Courtyard not having had dinner. She had just closed up the restaurant. But she could get me a glass of wine and rustled up some pita chips and hummus. Just what I needed. I sat in the lounge area yesterday from about 4 pm until almost 9 working. Had dinner and a little wine. She was just the nicest person with everyone.

I’ve met the greatest gate agents in airports, sales clerks, people I do business with. The guy I sat beside on the way from SAT to MSY (San Antonio to New Orleans for those who don’t speak “airline.” Great conversation.

There is a story that I’m told came through Carl Sandburg about a farmer who was asked by a couple of strangers about the type of people who lived around there. He asked them what sort of people there were where they were from. One person replied negatively, the other positively. He told them each, “I suppose you’ll find the same sort of people here.” It’s all in your thinking.

This blog post from Leo about changing your thinking started me thinking. I have had a lot of challenges and changes this summer. Quit a job that paid well in order to gain peace of mind and in order to be creative again. Started a new business. Wound up joining another business to turn it around. Took on a new ministry at church. Then my doctor thought I had some major heart problems, but after 6 weeks of some uncertainty and testing, discovered not much was going on that we didn’t already know about. (I feel great, by the way. Thanks for asking.)

What Leo said in his blog post about being grateful resonated. I found that I intentionally connected with God more often than the preceding few months. I found that in pausing daily to remember all the things I’m grateful for, I gained perspective. I found that by encouraging my natural attitude to believe the best of people, greet people with a smile, be kind all contributed to meeting the nicest people–and finding great joy and peace.

My advice–pause, look at all the things for which you should be grateful, check your thinking and change as necessary.

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Spirit and Action, Can’t Have One Without the Other

September 6, 2013

I’ve been reading and contemplating Isaiah 58. Past posts have quoted extensively. One concept has been made clear with this reading–God directly links the spiritual pursuit of Him with ethical actions toward others.

If we think clearly, we remember that Jesus did the same thing. Almost all the time he linked spirit and action.

I devoted years to spiritual pursuit through meditation and contemplation. The goal was to find God. Experience God. And I did. And the experience is fantastic. But all the while I remembered two of my spiritual heroes–St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila. They left us with some supreme spiritual writing and advice. They also worked hard at reforming their religious orders at a time when people began to notice the corruption within the organization of the Catholic Church.

Spirit plus Action.

Last night I was catching up on my podcast queue while driving home from the Chicago area. Caught this TED Talk by Kelly McGonigal. She is a psychologist who studied stress. Once she believed that all stress was bad for you. Then she discovered some research that suggests that stress may only be bad for you if you believe that to be the case. She urges us to see stress as a positive, and introduces us to an unsung mechanism for stress reduction: reaching out to others.

Turns out that by helping others a hormone is released that not only affects the brain to increase your awareness, but also there are receptors in the heart for this hormone (oxytocin) where the hormone actually helps rebuild the heart.

And you can use the two meanings of heart in English–the actual organ and compassion. The effect of oxytocin in the brain is to cause you to want to reach out to others in times of stress–either yours or theirs. When you do that it impacts your own heart positively.

I know that there are many Christians (and people from other religious traditions) who are skeptical of science. But the more I study science and the intricacies of the relationships of all the components of life, the more I am in awe of the God who created everything.

Use your heart to help your heart.

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