Posts Tagged ‘spirit’

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Preparing for Jesus’ Arrival

December 10, 2010

Another popular phrase in Christian preaching circles in December is either advice or admonition to prepare your heart for the coming of Jesus. There is a sense that this is a remembrance. We remember and celebrate the event of Jesus birth as a human in Bethlehem 2013 years ago–more or less.

Try out another sense of what it means for Jesus’ coming. Every new person who is born every day since that first event must welcome Jesus into its being. Some of us have already experienced that dwelling within us of God’s Spirit. But many have not. Some think they have, but are fooling themselves. That is the most lamentable.

But all of us must seek the renewal of Jesus coming into our lives or the expectation of meeting Jesus fresh for the first time. There is an ancient saying that a jar is not useful unless it is empty. The saying must be taken in the spiritual sense. If your mind and life are full of plans for what food you’ll be preparing for family celebrations, with what presents you must give to others, with what presents you wish to receive, with many cares about finances or conflicts, then there is no room for Jesus to enter. If you have something valuable to store, first you must empty a container before you can store the valuable thing.

Just so with Jesus. First, you must quiet your mind and emotions. Seek a quiet place, even if only for 15 minutes at a time. Read something from the Bible. Sit quietly, listen to your breathing and let thoughts, cares and worries drift in and out of your mind until you are finally empty. As you sit quietly in expectation you are now prepared for Jesus to make room in your inner life.

As you learn to seek quiet, you will experience what the Spirit can do for you. You will be refreshed. You will also gain perspective on life. And you will be able to enter the busy world with the attitude of serving in the name of Jesus–the very servant leader Jesus trained his first disciples to be.

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Advent or anticipating Jesus entering our life

December 9, 2010

I was listening to Bill Hybels’ talk from last Sunday this week on a podcast. He talked about meeting a new attendee at Willow Creek. The man was enthused about the worship, the service opportunities, the people. There was just one problem, he didn’t know about “this Jesus / God thing.”

How to understand the total significance of Jesus is a stumbling block to many. The concept of the Trinity (where one God is manifest in three ways–Father, Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit) is not specifically Scriptural and somewhat “intellectual.” It’s hard to understand. To think that Jesus was at the same time God and a human is hard to understand.

That’s the problem. Sometimes we think too much. Our rational mind is best used to harness our emotions and keep us on the right path. But when we try to use our rational, thinking mind to analyze spiritual matters, the effort is less than satisfactory. Some really great thinkers, Hegel for example, tried to wrap the Spirit up in a Rational explanation. The results were devastating.

Early followers of Jesus did not comprehend Jesus’ meaning until after he died and left them in the body. Just as he predicted about leaving the Spirit behind for them, his body was a stumbling block. But when each follower was forced to develop in the faith on his or her own, they experienced Jesus as never before.

Do you know people who say all the right words yet their lives do not appear to be unlike any other people? Have you run across people who can’t express what they have experienced clearly or with the “right” words, yet their lives reflect the experience of Jesus within their souls?

For us, Jesus is not a theory or intellectual challenge. Jesus is actually an experience. When you experience Jesus/God/Spirit directly, it changes your life. If you are still hung up on intellectual ponderings, stop. Don’t be like the Apostle Paul who had to be blinded to make him stop his busy life and actually listen to God. You can do that now. Investing as little as 15 minutes a day in silence focusing on God, you can eventually experience Him and it will change your life.

Don’t get concerned about understanding “this Jesus/God thing” in your head. Quiet your mind and soul and let the experience of Jesus enter. It works.

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No Freedom Without Constraints

November 13, 2010

I was listening to, of all things, a podcast of a speech on computer programming. The speaker brought in illustrations from literature, among other things. The basic point was that you have freedom to create only when you are focused by constraints. You have freedom to creatively express your thoughts once you choose a form–for example, writing in haiku or sonnet forms comprises a constraint, but it also frees your mind to express your thought.

Adolescents are fond of trying out the idea of freedom of action without constraints. When I observe people, I sometimes think that there are way too many adults who have not progressed beyond those adolescent urges. Too many choices leads to chaos, while narrowing your options leads to freedom.

God is wise in these matters. Once again, the adolescent mind says, “I should be free to do whatever I want. There should be no constraints on my thoughts and actions.” But God says, “If you live within the constraints that I have established for a good and fruitful life, then you will truly achieve freedom and life.” It’s a little like a paradox.

You have to experience it for yourself in order to understand the truth. But subduing your emotional reactions to events and your adolescent urges to satisfy every sensual desire, enables a life with God where you are free to change your life and the lives of those you meet.

If you live a life in nature, you will be tossed from emotion to emotion, desire to another unfulfilled desire. But if you live a life in the Spirit, then you bring focus and attention to your life and you are free to live a fulfilled life of peace, joy and service.

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Loving the Giver More Than the Gift

October 9, 2010

Does it seem as though people are obsessed with getting stuff. We are living in a time where the general culture seems to be one of “it’s all about me,” or “what’s in it for me,” or “I need more stuff.” Many people I meet through business seem to be this way. But also many church people, Christians, seem to be more focused on themselves than others.

I don’t think this is a recent phenomenon. The Bible records many stories of selfishness and greed. Writing in the Middle Ages, Thomas a Kempis says, “The wise lover regards not so much the gift of Him Who loves as the love of Him Who gives.”

Love is an attitude. That attitude more highly regards the love of a person or of God who gives us a gift than the gift itself. We ought to rejoice that someone thinks enough of us to give us something rather than focus on the gift. Maybe someone you love gives you something that is less than what you expected. Do you pout because you wanted more? Or do you rejoice that they thought of you at all?

This is one part of love that Christians should be displaying. My prayer is that those who have not yet overcome the human emotions of selfishness, greed and hate will eventually be overcome with love for God, the Giver, and for people, His creation.

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Find God In Stillness

October 6, 2010

“Can’t you sit still?” “Be quiet.”

Did you grow up listening to that music? Even as adults, we have trouble being still. At those times where we do have an opportunity to sit in a quiet room, our thoughts are racing at hyperspeed. When we think we are praying, we just have words tumble all over themselves.  Even when we are in a “conversation” we spend more time thinking about what we’ll say next than listening to what the other person is saying. Sort of reminds me of the quote I used last night to finish up the Yoga class from George Bernard Shaw. “The problem with communication is the illusion that it really happened.”

I have been asked how I can maintain perspective and balance in a world of people screaming at each other and hating each other. Actually, I can’t maintain perfect balance, but the answer comes from stillness. Living most of my life having periods of silence with God. I listen. I feel His presence.

T.S. Eliot, in his poem “Burnt Norton” in the Four Quartets, says it beautifully,

At the still point of the turning world. Neither flesh nor fleshless;

Neither from nor towards; at the still point, there the dance is,

But neither arrest nor movement. And do not call it fixity,

Where past and future are gathered. Neither movement from nor towards,

Neither ascent nor decline. Except for the point, the still point,

There would be no dance, and there is only the dance.

I can only say, there we have been: but I cannot say where.

And I cannot say, how long, for that is to place it in time.

Seek the still point. That is the best advice I can give. In the stillness of the very early morning, relax, let your mind clear, and empty yourself. Much like you cannot put something in a bowl if it is filled. It must be empty to be used. If your mind and soul are full of much idle conversation, there is no room for God to come in. And it’s all about letting God enter in the stillness to help you gain perspective, balance–and to gain insight into what God wants you to be doing in His name. Find that still point and dance with God.

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Speak Evil of Others

October 4, 2010

In yesterday’s class that I teach, we were looking at James where he says (after the teaching on curbing your tongue), “Do not speak evil of others.” Someone said, “But can you only speak evil about people you know?”

I’m not sure what she meant by that. Could it be that speaking of people you don’t know doesn’t count? I’m not sure. But I answered that it is easier to speak evil of others, precisely because you don’t know them. Although I’ve lived long enough to hear plenty of judging, put-downs, gossip, derogatory comments and the like directed at people the speaker does know.

But the Internet, email and the Web give us instant communications. We can connect with more people more rapidly with more misinformation than at any previous time in history. Therefore the hate emails that get blithely spread from so-called Christians full of untruths and exaggerations passed off as fact designed to get your emotions aroused against certain groups–usually gays or Muslims these days, but could be directed at anyone.

James had an answer to this human condition. It was to tame your tongue. Speak out of mercy, peace, truth, gentle without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. I certainly have long tried to live up to this Christian ideal. I wish I could say I always succeeded.

God, I tame my tongue, help me when I fail.

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How to handle obnoxious Christians-or anyone

September 10, 2010

Ever notice that sometimes when you’re going in too many directions and barely keeping your nose above the metaphorical water your body, tired of being ignored shouts, “Stop!” ? I’ve pondered my next post on this blog from many angles. In the evening of 8/31 as I prepared for a quick drive up to Cleveland for a meeting. Then from the perspective of laying on my back on the garage floor Wednesday morning 9/1 when the muscles in my left leg told me rather forcefully “you ain’t going nowhere, buddy”. Then I received one of those dreaded calls that one of my friends was about to die from cancer.

Even I could finally stop the frantic space and just rest a little. Even in the early morning pain when the pills haven’t done their job and I can’t sleep. Slow down, breathe deeply, focus — on God.

I’m contemplating attitude. What’s my attitude about life right now? How do I approach small setbacks? Then news started hitting. Pastor of a small church in Florida (I think) decides it’s a great time for a publicity stunt. He’ll burn a pile of books he doesn’t like and generate a lot of attention (I think that idea was tried in the late 30s and early 40s in Europe–didn’t work too well). Well, he got a lot of attention, but problem in a connected world is that one small-time opportunist can create havoc for thousands. He literally could fan the flames of hatred and put the lives of thousands of Americans in danger half-way across the world. Is it time for growing responsibility? Or are we headed toward another era of hatred and warfare such as the Nazis incited?

Problem is, the guy claims to be a Christian (I leave the judging to a higher authority). So how do you deal with an obnoxious Christian? Well, how do you deal with an enemy? With love, right? So…

Jon Swanson is one of the best writers I read on these subjects. Try this on for size.

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Grieving About Separation

August 25, 2010

My heart breaks when there is separation–when couples separate, when peoples decide to separate into hatred against each other. This week I’ve heard two talks based on stories from Luke’s gospel. One was based on the story of Zacchaeus, the “wee little man” of kid’s song lore. He was a tax collector and “sinner.” The other talk was actually based on three stories in response to the religious leaders’ criticism that Jesus hung out with “sinners.” The three stories from Luke 15 regard the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son.

Now, when one group labels another group “sinner,” that must mean that there are two groups–them and us. They are sinners, while we are, evidently “not-sinners.” We’re perfect, in touch with God, in fact blessed by God. They are not. Jesus said that is not true. God loves sinners and fervently wants to “find” them. In fact, God says everyone is a sinner. In reality, there is only one group–sinners. That’s all of us. When we forget that, then sin has entered us.

I thought about this after reading a couple of news reports this week. First was a Lutheran pastor who has separated from his church because they are letting “sinners” into the ministry. Sorry, but I think I detect a couple of sins by interpreting his comments–in him. He’s classifying people into the good guys (him, of course) and the bad guys (people he doesn’t like). Instead of bringing healing, like Jesus did, he is bringing division. And I think division grieves God’s soul.

The other item is the hatred popping up in New York because a Muslim group wants to build a cultural center in lower Manhattan. One group says that having anything to do with Muslims in the area is an affront to the memory of those who died in the tragic attacks of Sept. 11. But that is to divide people again–and probably falsely. There are Muslim (or call themselves that anyway) terrorists. They have perpetrated some horrendous deeds. On the other hand, there are Christian terrorists (or call themselves that anyway) who go around killing people they don’t like. No one reading this would say all Christians are terrorists because we have a few who go over the edge. Likewise to call all Muslims terrorists because of a few is a travesty.

These divisions grieve me. I have friends from around the world who are spiritual, but from within their home religious traditions. To classify them as less than human or less than spiritual grieves the heart. Only when we can be like Jesus and get over those classifications and realize we’re all in this together will we start the healing process that will bring everyone to God.

The theology sounds simple–it’s them vs. us. But the reality is, in the words of the comic strip Pogo, “We have met the enemy, and he is us.”

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Jesus is with you

August 23, 2010

Returned from another business trip where I’m on the go from early until late. Still pondering Mark’s gospel, though.

There are two endings to the gospel. It appears that some in the community long ago added another ending–perhaps because what appears to be the original ending seemed to stop short. No one can know for certain today. But both endings have a similar conclusion. Jesus went with the disciples as they spread the gospel of God’s salvation.

Sunday, our pastor challenged us (based upon the three stories in Luke 15) to find the lost. Remember the three stories? The lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost son. While he was talking, I was thinking–how do you approach those who have been in the church then left in bitterness because of something someone said or did years ago? It’s hard. I’ve had those conversations. You don’t just sweep in and drop a few words of wisdom and solve all the problems.

Then I read the conclusions of Mark again and it dawned upon me. You don’t approach situations just within your own emotions and intellect. You step back momentarily and find that Jesus is with you (you could say the Spirit or God–all the same). Then you use the added help that you now have because you are with Jesus. He’s helping you do the work.

Those early Christ followers really felt Jesus’ presence. How long since you have? What better things could you do if you realized that he’s walking with you?

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Figuring Out Jesus

August 16, 2010

We’re coming up on Jesus’ last two days on Earth as a human. His closest followers, indeed almost everyone, thought they had him figured out. That doesn’t mean everyone agreed with him. After all, he threatened the positions and spiritual security of many. But they thought they had him figured out.

Then he’s arrested, questioned in several tribunals, found guilty of a trumped up charge, and executed as the King of the Jews. Jesus has shown many great powers. Both his friends and his enemies expected him to use those great powers to avoid execution and assume leadership of the Jewish nation.

They were all confounded. When it appeared that the authorities had won, his male friends disappeared. His female friends, however, watched everything and waited. His enemies taunted him with his own words, but still they thought they had him figured out.

What extraordinary power did Jesus exhibit? The power of self control in the face of nasty, false accusations and violent treatment. But nobody could figure out where that was going.

The description of Jesus dying is not really detailed. But what we do know that the way he died was extraordinary. It was different from any other execution the people around had ever experienced. It was so different that a pagan Roman officer exclaimed, “He truly is the Son of God.” That must have been a truly “other worldly” moment. The sky turned black, the curtain in the Temple was torn. It was as if (or maybe better said, he actually did) God reached through the fabric of the universe he had created from wherever God is (he must be outside the universe since he created it) and changed the course of history at that point.

Everyone was looking for evidence of who Jesus was in the wrong places. He was the one person in history who walked (in the Hebrew sense) totally with-God. So, his dying was no ordinary event. It was extra-ordinary. So significant that pagans noticed.

Are you looking for Jesus in the wrong way? Think you have him figured out? Probably not. He is extra-ordinary. Don’t trap him in a little wrist band. To meet him, you must live with-God. And that is a challenge.

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