Archive for the ‘Living’ Category

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I’m All In

July 2, 2010

I guess there’s a phrase in modern poker where you bet all your money–“I’m All In.” When the rich man came to Jesus and said he had followed all the laws but still didn’t have assurance of eternal life, essentially Jesus told him, “You have to be All In.” Being a rule follower wasn’t enough, your whole life–including your money and possessions–need to be dedicated to God.

When he went away sad, Jesus told his followers that it was hard for a rich man to be saved. Not impossible, but hard. The followers were astounded. “Who can be saved?” they asked. Now surely Mark knew what he was doing when he placed this story immediately after the story of blessing children. First Jesus says that we should bless children (in an age where they didn’t dote on them) and be like them in order to inherit eternal life. Then he says that it’s almost impossible for rich people–the most honored people in society–to have eternal life.

No wonder his closest followers, those chosen to be leaders after Jesus left, took so long to figure all this out. They were continually hit with these teachings that overturned their attitudes, expectations and view of society. I’m betting that the same holds true today. We still worship being rich and most people think that being rich is a sign of God’s blessing. That’s not true. Just like being poor is automatically a sign of blessing. No, it’s all an individual thing. When you look at another person, you don’t evaluate external things. Do they seem to be living with God?

How about you? Are you caught in external things? Merely following rules without thought? Looking up to the wrong people? Or, are you trying to live each minute with God?

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Roadblocks on the way to Life

June 29, 2010

A wealthy man approaches Jesus and asks, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus asks if he has kept the laws. “Yes, ever since I was a child,” replies the man. The man here acknowledges that following the law (see all my previous posts about rule-following) does not give him assurance of eternal life.  Jesus sees that. He loves him.

So what is the roadblock in the way of the man from the assurance of Life? Jesus sees the symptoms. This man cannot live a life with God because his wealth occupies too great a part of his life. He needs to focus first on God. Remember Jesus’ two “commandments.” First love God, then love other humans. It’s very simple, but very hard to do. For this man, there was a roadblock to living with God. He needed to put God first, his wealth second. He could not do that.

This passage is often rationalized these days. We in the West are wealthy beyond the dreams of ancient (and not so ancient) people. We know from other stories in the Bible that mere wealth is not the stumbling block. But having wealth–many things, money, possessions–can occupy too much of our time and attention. We need to remember where our attention needs to be.

Now, I’m preaching in that last paragraph. But, I’m a very busy person. I’m trying to build a business. Traveling much (today, it’s Dallas, last week Detroit, before that Phoenix, before that Los Angeles…). When I have much to do, it’s hard to remember my time with God at the beginning of the day. I’m sure that it’s similar for many. We have much to do, livings to earn, money to invest, shopping for more things to do. And so on. The real question is how do we make an appointment for ourselves to be quiet, alone with God, focus on eternal things?

This man? He couldn’t. He went away sad. Outsiders would think he’s perfect from the way he lives his life. But inside, he just can’t open a space to live with God. How about me? How about you?

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Get in the flow of the Spirit

June 26, 2010

People seem to like lists. And lists of rules. You probably grew up with them–after all that’s much of what school is about. Teachers make up rules. Students follow them. Teachers have a list of things students must learn, students follow them. We’ve probably all lived through this experience.

Think of the organizational problem confronting Moses when he led the Hebrews from Egypt. I don’t know how many people there were, but surely the size of a medium sized city today. They had no organization, maybe just some informal leaders from their days in Egypt. They were in a hostile land. They had to organize both civilly (judges, police, ward leaders, and so on) and religiously. After all this situation came about because these people were all descendants of Abraham. They belonged to the same tribe and were supposed to be following the God of Abraham. I suppose that even after all the years in Egypt, they still had tribal identity. No mention is made of priestly leadership, or if there were religious traditions handed down.

Moses was spiritual and talked with God. And God talked to Moses. And Moses listened. But what about the rest of the people? They were afraid to talk with God. Moses scared them because he talked with God. So, God gave Moses a list of rules beginning with the Ten Commandments to guide the people. No doubt God would have preferred that everyone talk with Him, but they were afraid.

We have stories of ancient people. But the stories seem modern as they describe humans. We still have people who talk with God and people who need rules. Trouble is there just can’t be a law that covers every little situation that you might run across. If there were, there would be so many that you couldn’t remember them anyway. Then, laws need lawyers to interpret them. And as you all remember from school, laws also separate people into groups according to which laws you break–or the kind of people that don’t break laws (at least not publicly). Comparison breeds the idea that some are better than others. I can point to someone else and compare.

But Jesus didn’t do that. He said we should live in relationship to God and then in relationship with others. The relationship with others is determined by our relationship with God. You don’t need a list of rules if your behavior is guided by the Spirit. When you are living with God, you just go with the flow of the Spirit and do the right thing. When something interferes with that flow (sin), then you can tell it. Those are the times you feel guilty or ashamed of the way you act.

So, get with the flow of the Spirit. Break the tyranny of rules. Jesus sets you free to live with God without worry.

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It’s about relationship not rules

June 25, 2010

What’s legal? I’m a soccer referee and an instructor of the Laws of the Game. Once I was asked to give a presentation on the game and it’s laws to a high school team and their parents. It was a new program, and no one knew very much about the game other than you ran around and kicked a ball. As I explained fouls, they asked, “How far can I go before it’s a foul?” In other words, “What can I get away with?”

The Pharisees (lawyers, experts in the law), asked Jesus, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” There are two aspects to this question. First, they were like the advisory board of a graduate student which asks the student many questions to see if the student knows the material. Second, they wanted to know, “What can we get away with?”

Jesus replied that you should not get a divorce. That Moses only set up the law that made divorce legal because people were not open to living with God (I’m paraphrasing, of course, the text says “hearts were hardened). He’s calling them out as people who think they don’t need God. Once upon a time, God spoke to Moses. From Moses descended a tradition that tried to make a law or rule that covered every aspect of your life. And if you followed those rules to the letter, then you were living a Godly life. And, if by chance–or planning, you were able to come out better for yourself, then so much the better.

When I teach this passage to people even today with certain personal tendencies to like rules, they immediately say that Jesus promulgated a new rule. You can’t divorce–period. But they forget, Jesus didn’t come to set rules. He said that. There are really only two–you are to love God and love your neighbor. These are relationship rules.

Let’s go back to what he said the reason for the rule was–the people’s hearts were hard. They couldn’t live in relationship with God. They were like small children still being trained by the father. Jesus brought an adult message. Grow up. Develop a deep relationship with God. Then develop a God-like behavior and attitude toward other people. If you have such a relationship, you don’t need the rules. You’ll do what’s right naturally.

I’m sure Jesus would love the woman who is being physically abused by her husband. If he were present, he’d heal the husband of the devils within him that drive him to be abusive. Otherwise, if she needs to escape to protect herself and her children, I can’t believe that Jesus would condemn her. Or for the man whose wife runs away. But in the ways of this world (almost globally, not just in the US) where marriage is selfish and not a committed relationship–I’m sure Jesus weeps over that rejection of God.

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Where to focus

June 21, 2010

I used to have to pass running tests to maintain my grades and certifications as a soccer referee. First you ran a distance within a certain time limit, then you ran sprints. It sort of simulated how well you could run at the end of a match. Since I really don’t like distance running (even the short 1.5 miles of the standard test), I think about how to do the run. Every morning when I face the 3.5 miles at the park, I can’t think about the end. I have to think about one step at a time. Otherwise I wear myself out. Sprints, on the other hand, especially the shorter 40 or 50 meter ones, entail focus on the finish line. I just start as quickly as possible and try to keep going faster until the end. 200 meters is about where I can see the goal but emphasize the stride.

Putting this is the context of patience (and perhaps adding perseverance–the ability to keep going even when you’re tired), sometimes life is like the distance run. You know there is a goal ahead, but you need to focus on a day at a time. The Buddhists have a phrase, “Wherever I go, there I am.” Jesus also said to not be worried about the past or the future. Just live in the moment. And be there in the moment.

Jesus tried to teach us–don’t be burdened down worrying about all the rules of the Pharisees (and the modern pharisees who surround us). Just live each moment in the Spirit. You’ll know what to do. Things will be taken care of. The things of the future you worry about don’t happen. Or, if they do, they are not what you were afraid of. That’s because you just live in the moment with God in you and leading you. And that’s all you need.

Just take one step at a time in the direction of your goal.

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Ways to gain perspective

June 19, 2010

In classic blogging tradition, I’m going to point you to another blog. Jon Swanson writes a blog called Levite Chronicles. In this post yesterday, he thinks of eight ways to gain perspective. Good points. Maybe I’ve introduced you to a new friend.

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Focus takes patience

June 18, 2010

Ever notice how sometimes you’ll think of someone or something and it comes into your life? Three times in the last month I’ve thought of someone and they’ve appeared in my life one way or another. Or sometimes we think of a spiritual fruit or it’s part of a teaching, and there occurs a chance to practice it? Well, that just happened, too. I find interesting and amazing things happen when I’m tuned in spiritually. But when travels and other pressures grow intense and I don’t take time to pause, then I miss opportunities.

We just had teaching on patience–one of the spiritual fruits (that is, ways of living with God)–that Paul details in Galatians. If you are tuned to your spiritual life, you’ll recognize opportunities for patience. Such as cutting a little short the amount of time you allow to drive to the airport, clear security and be in time for your flight. This is a routine part of most weeks for me. Sunday, I allowed enough time but no “what if..” time. And sure enough, for the second straight week there was a traffic jam on I-75 heading to Dayton. It’s a rural area. There shouldn’t be that much traffic at noon on Sunday.

Oh, then I realized–it’s time to cultivate that spiritual fruit I was just learning about intellectually. Now it’s time to make it part of my personality. There’s no sense in getting anxious, complaining, trying to drive aggressively. You just “chill” as they say. What happens, happens. So you just remain calm, listen to some music, and make it when you make it. If you’re late, you just rearrange flights. But I made it, and slept comfortably in Phoenix Sunday night.

And patience is actually tied into focus and distraction. I could have been distracted by all manner of “what if” thoughts–and actually those thoughts did start. Then I returned to focus, remembered the teaching on patience and calmly made my flight.

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Ruthlessly Remove Distractions

June 15, 2010

The TV is on tuned to one of those endless pseudo-news shows where the schtick is argumentation. The computer is also on with the email client and Web browser (with 20 tabs open) are displayed. Perhaps there are other distractions, and your mind is flitting from one thing you must do to another.

The arguers on TV say something that makes you angry (of course the point of the whole thing, so that you’ll continue watching). You receive an email from someone forwarding another provocative issue. Someone enters the room and you want to argue with them.

There’s too much distraction, too many things to needlessly raise your emotional intensity–all for the wrong things. It’s stuff you have no power over, so that further intensifies your feelings and response.

People have asked how I can maintain perspective and composure (well, most of the time–after all, I’m human not perfect). Well, you must ruthlessly remove distractions from your life. You can only focus on so many things–and one at a time is best. I have removed all TV news from my life. I choose my news sources–almost all over the Web. I try to get just news–what’s going on in the world. I choose what I read. I try to place everything in the context of higher, spiritual principles. Take the long view of events.

In this you try to emulate Jesus, our teacher and the pioneer of our faith (as the writer of Hebrews puts it). He showed anger when he could do something about it (clearing the Temple courtyard). He dealt with controversy with the point of view of God, not human emotions. He was focused on his mission in life.

Ruthlessly remove all distractions from your life. Try it.

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Things that cause distraction

June 13, 2010

There is a debate raging in Web circles that has spilled over into the Wall Street Journal op-ed pages about whether the Web is making us dumber or smarter. The smarter argument is that we have access to so much more information for learning than ever before. That’s true. It’s been a big help to me in my profession and for personal learning. The dumber argument is that there is so much information coming at us so quickly that we cannot focus–we’re becoming an ADD culture. That’s also true. I have over 20 tabs open on my browser (usually Firefox, but sometimes I try Chrome or Safari–see, I even have trouble focusing on one browser), not to mention email, a Twitter client called Seesmic, and many other programs for writing or thinking.

But that really is just the surface. I was thinking of the relation between my last two posts–distraction and who’s the greatest. Sometimes we’re distracted by focusing on the wrong goals. The goal of Peter, James, John and the rest should not have been who is number 2 to Jesus. It should have been on emulating Jesus’ life in relation to God. The focus and attention should have been on God. Power and status were a distraction.

What other distractions can you think of in the Bible? Probably number one in Jesus’ book was the focus on rules rather than people. Legal relationships instead of relationships with God and the people you live with or meet. The Pharisees (legalists, rule followers, list keepers) constantly tried to trip up Jesus with questions of legality. Jesus usually turned the question around into a discussion of the right relationship with God and with people. What about divorce? Well Moses said this because your hearts are hard, but God says it’s all about relationship. What about paying taxes? Well give to Rome what it’s owed, but more importantly, give to God what God is owed–don’t be distracted by economy but focus on God.

Focusing on the important and avoiding (or dealing with) distraction are your life’s work. They are also a minute-by-minute challenge. What has your attention this week? Where will you focus each minute? Those answers will determine your life’s direction.

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I am the greatest

June 12, 2010

Boxing legend Muhammed Ali generated a lot of publicity in the 60s with his boast, “I am the greatest.” The rock group Queen followed in the late 70s with the perennial sports anthem, “We are the champions of the world.” But it’s not just 20th Century America who is concerned with being the best.

The closest followers of Jesus became embroiled in a heated discussion as they were walking toward another city. Imagine an animated yet whispered (because they didn’t want the teacher to know) argument–who is the greatest disciple.

So Jesus naturally asks, what were you discussing? They were ashamed. Of course. Ever see a kid get “busted?” Even a dog has a look of shame when you call it out for doing something even it knows it shouldn’t be doing. But for Jesus every life experience is an opportunity for teaching. So he throws out one of his paradoxes. If you want to be the greatest, you must be the servant.

He then pulls a child to him to emphasize the fact. You see, children were not romanticized in the ancient world as they are today–especially in Britain and America. They were little people, and being little and unable to do much work, they had little value. We, on the other hand, tend to get gushy sentimental about kids and think our goal in life is to provide them everything they could possibly want to make them happy. (That doesn’t work, but that’s a different teaching.)

Organizations have been built on the principle that all honor and glory should be given to the CEO (or bishop, or whatever role). That person gives orders to people who give orders to people and so on until finally work gets done. This has been the manufacturing model–a model upon which schools and churches have been built.

But all that is changing. We’re seeing a change in manufacturing, where the insights and ideas of every person in the company is solicited and valued. We’re seeing CEOs (often the most successful) who understand their role is to support others. We’re seeing the most successful churches are those where the leadership gifts of everyone are encouraged, and missions and ministries are built from the ground up–rather than ordered from the top down. Maybe we’re finally learning from Jesus.

If you want to be the greatest, be the servant of all.

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