Faith Venture

Jesus, Others, You

September 15, 2011

Our church sponsors a summer camp with the foundational theme of JOY-Jesus, Others, You. Put Jesus first in your life, then others, then you. Our society, at least in America, seems to be It’s All About Me. When I read about the political situation in our nation’s capital and the state capitals, what I see is “entitlement.” The difference between the parties is simply which group of voters, er, people are entitled to handouts. Even the Tea Party is all about me–they want to keep more of their money (but they don’t seem to want to give up programs that benefit them directly).

I travel a lot, so I spend a lot of time on airlines. As a frequent flyer, I board early in the process. It gives me an opportunity to observe. Last week a middle aged couple boarded with way more than the allowed two carry ons. The plane was a small regional jet with small overhead compartments. The woman had the maximum legal size roller case. Flight attendant told her to leave it on the jet bridge. Woman got mad. Attendant said, “All the green tagged bags must be gate checked.” Woman said, “What if I take off the tag?” Thing is, it would not have fit.

Then the couple starts looking at the limited overhead space to store their goods. Tried to use the space reserved for the bulkhead passengers who don’t have underseat storage. Flight Attendant, now their enemy, explains some things about storage. Man winds up putting a large shopping bag behind his legs blocking seat access. Oops, violation of safety rules. They have a couple of other violations. Flight Attendant makes several announcements over the PA system. Then on final check asks the couple to comply with safety regulation. They get even further mad. “XX is going to hear about this.”

OK, maybe they’ve never flown before. But when the world revolves around you, you don’t notice others.

Yesterday I wrote about a church where all the members care about others. Then I wonder, given our narcissistic society, is it possible to move people from self-centeredness to caring about others. Guess it takes God to break through?

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Develop a Caring Church

September 14, 2011

Recently I was in a meeting where one person shared a burden on her heart. She wondered how we could know if someone was hurting, seeking, wondering, joyful and needed to share.

Programming church people immediately want to develop a program. Let’s have a mentor program where everyone is assigned someone to look after! Oops, who does the assigning? How do they know whom to put together? Is there accountability? What if there’s the wrong match and it lights a fuse? Or we have a formal program of another sort to bring people together.

But in Acts 2:42 and following it is recorded: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common… Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.”

Dallas Willard in “The Spirit of the Disciplines” says that early church members really did organize their lives differently from their neighbors. And the neighbors noticed.

What if—-what if we could develop not a program but an environment where we devoted ourselves to teaching, to prayer, to sharing together, to caring for one another? Wouldn’t that attract people? Wouldn’t that be the kind of place where people ask “how’s it going?” and really mean it. And get an honest response? And start a healing dialog?

Wow. I wish.

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How I Can Find God

September 9, 2011

I am at a technical conference in St. Louis. Last night as we gathered after the keynote address for a late snack and beverage, I found myself in three conversations that are not an unusual experience at these conferences.

The women beside me talked about the manufacturing software business and marketing in that arena. Across the table and to the right from me was a well-known MIT graduate and inventor who was talking particle physics, energy and combating cancer without chemotherapy. The man across the table and to my left was discussing how the failure of organized religion had destroyed his belief in God.

I never find it amazing that dinner conversations broach into spiritual discussions. Almost everyone I meet is seeking for spiritual nourishment–even those who think it will never happen.

Since almost all of us were scientifically trained, I approached him from the standpoint of science. Seems logical to me, even common sense, although some of you may be offended to a greater or lesser degree. That’s OK. I never said you had to agree with me. And I always welcome a reasoned and reasonable comment.

Back to the point. I told him I could prove God exists–actually, I went on, I won’t prove it, he will. But I won’t prove God’s existence with a rational, logical argument–the kind of reasoning you may have been taught in geometry class when you learned to . People much smarter than I have tried that–and failed.

The essence of science is that you observe something. You record the methods which led up to the observation. You write the entire process and publish so that others can do that. Other people follow the method and observe something (or not). Over time, a truth is established.

Over millennia, seekers have discovered ways to find God. By pursuing spiritual disciplines, you will become closer to God and discover Him. The basic disciplines (which really means a habit that you choose to do) include study (Bible and other spiritual writings), meditation, prayer, service, celebration and worship. There are others, but if you develop a daily habit of these things, you will feel closer to God.

So, yes, I can use science to prove God’s existence. But it’s just one human at a time. To those who would argue it’s just a hallucination, I’d answer “you don’t know, because you’ve not done it.”

A word of warning. It seems to be the human condition that you just cannot feel the warmth of God at all times. Sometimes God just doesn’t seem here. The Willow Creek Community Church foundation conducted a massive survey. One question was have you ever felt stuck in your spiritual life. Almost 2,000 answered yes. A follow up question was how did you get “unstuck.” The answer was (not necessarily in these exact words) to return to the disciplines–study, prayer, meditation and so on.

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Maintaining Equilibrium In Changing Times

September 7, 2011

Saturday’s weather was a humid 97 deg F. While I was refereeing a soccer match, I’d stop and mentally scan my physical condition at the end of a sprint. I was looking for any signs of heat problems or dehydration such as dizziness or mouth drying. Probably lost several pounds of water weight.

Monday was like the first day of fall. After a dry summer, leaves have begun falling early. The temperature was a cool 61 deg F. A 37 degree swing. An entirely different feeling as I walked through the woods along the old canal path.

Weather swings can cause or exacerbate mood swings. There are other causes of mood swings. If you get to swinging too far each way, alarm bells should sound as you mentally take stock of yourself.

I can’t help you if your swings border over into a diagnosable illness such as bipolar disorder. But most, if not all, of us suffer from feeling close to God then apart from God — consolation and desolation as the ancient Christian writers put it.

To combat these feelings, you need a rock. A solid foundation of faith and practice to remind you that, even if God does not feel present, He really is. That is where the solid habits of spiritual discipline help you. Just by getting up in the morning early and studying spiritual writing then meditating and praying on them can start your day solidly. You recognize that God is still there even if you don’t feel His presence–or sometimes even when you feel that you don’t even want His presence.

Other spiritual disciplines help, too. Try service. No, not necessarily a big mission trip. Try just saying something kind to someone. Helping someone with a package. Giving something to someone. Or try worship–getting together with other people to focus on God is a wonderful help.

It’s autumn in Ohio. We’re due for more swings in the weather until winter settles in. Establish a pattern of stability in your life to help keep you in equilibrium.

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The Spiritual Power of Waiting

September 2, 2011

I was contemplating on the word waiting this morning. At the beginning of the book of Acts of the Apostles, Jesus tells his followers to wait in Jerusalem because special things are going to happen.

The culture we’ve developed over the past 50 years or so places little value on waiting. Young people don’t want to wait (and gain experience) before becoming CEO. Heck, people don’t even want to wait on a meal or the satisfaction of a desire for something. I want mine and I want it now (I think I’ve heard a pop song to that effect).

It’s not without experience and wisdom that the proverb exists–good things come to those who wait. Of course, you wait with expectation. Watching like the wise bridesmaids in the parable.

And the followers waited–but they didn’t just sit around wondering. They prayed. The first two chapters of Acts notes several times that the followers (there were more than the 11) were in prayer together. So, praying and waiting. And when Jesus said special things would happen, they did.

Pentecost day came. Suddenly the followers, especially the apostles, felt tremendous power within them. Power that they’d always seen in Jesus. Power that they depended on Jesus for. Now they had it. They could feel it. Jesus told them to witness to the ends of the earth. Well, people from the ends of the earth were in Jerusalem for the Passover and Pentecost feast days.

The apostles wanted to witness. From the power within them, they were able to talk to every passerby in their own language. Luke lists several. This was crazy. These guys probably knew Aramaic, Greek and Latin. How could they know all those other languages? The power of the Holy Spirit, of course.

They waited, they prayed, when the time was ripe, they became powerful. 3,000 people became believers that day. And the church began with power.

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Rooted or Restless in the Spirit

September 1, 2011

Are you restless in your mind and soul? Are you unable to sit quietly? Focus on a book? Focus on prayer?

When I teach a Yoga class–which is mostly for strength and flexibility, but also for focus and calm–I end with several minutes of quiet relaxation. It’s interesting to watch the class and see who can achieve quiet and rest and who is restless.

Psalm 1 introduces the Psalms. It talks about how to approach the collection of prayers. It talks of meditating on them. And how people rooted in God will get closer to God but how many people are restless. These are like chaff–empty shells that are blown by the wind first one way then another.

I look around and see a restless world. Herman Hesse was said to be the first “modern” writer in the sense that the protagonist of Steppenwolf could not sit in his room quietly. The first thing he did when he got to his room was turn on the radio (radios were new at the time Hesse wrote).

Our society (especially American and Western Europe, but spreading quickly everywhere) is predominantly restless, unsettled, not rooted in value–like empty shells first blown this way then that. We require diversions. We require noise. We have many desires–but always just for ourselves. We want what’s ours, and we want it now. But when we get something there is no contentment. No resting in God. We just move on to the next desire that appears in our mind.

We need to stop for a time every day and contemplate on the unchanging fruits that come from God. With your roots reaching deeply into God, you can become a being that produces the fruits of love, patience, joy, peace, gratitude, service. I like to be around rooted people. How about you?

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Achieving Spiritual Balance

August 30, 2011

I’ve been pondering spiritual experience and how sometimes you need to see all the bad things that are inside you that need to be dealt with. And again how sometimes you receive the cleansing blessing from God that tells you there is a way to wholeness and God is there to provide a way out of your mess.

Beginning in ancient times, Christian writers called the first desolation and the second consolation–not feeling God’s presence and feeling God’s presence. Ignatius counseled people to not make decisions when you are in desolation. He is correct. Making decisions when you are depressed will lead to panic decisions that will not be helpful in the long run. But just as important is to watch yourself when you are in consolation. Because that could be a euphoric feeling. Ignatius did not live in today’s environment where we are constantly presented with euphoric images of the type of people we could be if only we bought something. People have made disastrous decisions–financially and with relationships–by getting euphoric about something and doing the wrong thing.

Most important is first to understand your situation. Then prayer and study can lead you to understanding that desolation leads to consolation and consolation can be followed by desolation. Understand yourself then make balanced decisions. Reading the lives of saints, you often learn that they were often in desolation (feeling apart from God), but they practiced spiritual discipline through study, prayer and service to keep themselves balanced and open to God’s work.

This is a practice worthy of emulation.

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Planting Good From Your Heart

August 26, 2011

Not only my own experience, but from the witness of many spiritual seekers before me, I see it is necessary to understand the bad that dwells within you. I can’t find the source of the quote right now, but someone said that awareness is the first step toward confession and redemption. Covering up your guilt is not healthy.

On the other hand, we are not all bad. Well, at least most of us. As you study the Bible and meditate on God, you can also see where God is leading you. That you are forgiven the bad. There is a hope. That God is there. I’ve had subsequent experiences in meditating on God and His Word where I’ve experienced God. It’s a vision to nurture. A reminder when life hits you with setbacks. Or when you are tempted to grow bad fruit rather than good.

As you meditate on your heart, it’s good to visualize the fruits of the spirit growing from it. That gives you a guide for the day. Spread some joy and peace where you go. It’s one of those things that the more you give away, the more returns to you.

Peace.

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If your heart were planted like a seed, what plant would grow

August 25, 2011

At the end of a Yoga class, we spend about five minutes in “final relaxation.” We lie on our backs in “corpse pose” and focus on slow, rhythmic breathing. For many people this is the highlight of the hour. Often I give the class something to meditate on. Sometimes it’s good to meditate on nothing–just focus on breath and clear your mind. Other times I’ll have them visualize lying on a beach or in a meadow or something.

There is one meditation that I like to give. Lie quietly, focus on slow, rhythmic breathing, then meditate on the question, “If your heart were planted, what would grow?”

There is more to this question than might meet the eye. Have you ever looked inside yourself? Do you know you, or do you know the you that you think you are? This may come as a shock to some, but you may not be the perfect person of your dreams.

Once when I was deep in meditation, I had an experience (some would call it a vision) of entering a basement room and seeing all manner of evil. Murder, adultery, specifics that I don’t really remember. What I remember is thinking that deep inside I really am capable of committing sin–maybe even grievous sin.

I remember this vision to this day even though it happened many years ago. It reminds me that I’m not perfect. I am in need of God’s grace (a later experience–probably first you have to realize you are sinning and capable of much more before you can really receive God’s grace).

So, where are you in life? What would grow. Are you living with God, and the fruits your heart would grow are love, peace, grace? Or are you still enmeshed in lust, self-love, materialism, greed, hate? Realizing where you are helps you focus on becoming what God would like you to be.

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You Need Structure In Your Life

August 22, 2011

Henry Cloud was the speaker today on my iPod during the morning workout. He is a prolific author, fantastic speaker and very deep spiritually. His new book, Necessary Endings, discusses signals and times when you need to call an end to something (relationship, job, career, and so on). Although today he talked about recognizing when it doesn’t have to end.

One thing he discussed which really stuck is the need for structure in your life. My daughter is a therapist who works with troubled adolescents. One thing that is constant in her clients is that they grew up in a family without structure. Even if there were a “traditional” mom and dad, their lives were not structured. My wife taught elementary school. The biggest change she saw over the years (aside from lack of parental support) was the lack of structure in her students’ lives.

By this I mean no regular meal times, no regular study times, no regular bed times. We all need to organize our lives so that we don’t have to think about these things and then we are free to concentrate on our work, our relationships, our hobbies, on God.

If you stop by regularly or subscribe, you’ll notice that I am absolutely terrible about posting regularly. This is partly due to the fact that I travel a lot. When I travel, my life has little structure. I may have breakfast meetings, then meetings all day, then dinner with customers, then return to my hotel room late facing an email inbox of 300 messages to sort through.

That sure sounds like an excuse…a poor one. And you’d be correct calling me on that. One reason I’m preparing to teach a course on spiritual disciplines is that I need to remind myself to continually work to develop them.

Where do you need to put some structure in your life so that you then have freedom to get closer to God and to others? Must be time for us all to get to work.

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