COMPETITIVE INDIVIDUALISM

Henri Nouwen makes an astute observation when he writes, Children, adolescents, adults and old people are in growing degree exposed to the contagious disease of loneliness in a world in which a competitive individualism tries to reconcile itself with a culture that speaks about togetherness, unity and community as the ideals to strive for.

Loneliness.  I have never forgotten Landon Saunders' statement in 1979 that the average person has not one close friend.  I was shocked; tempted to doubt.  Yet, as I work through the rubble of the injured, this appears to be accurate. 

Those of us with countless friends can hardly take this in.

Wasn't there a book in the 70s titled, Crowded Churches and Lonely Pews?

In our awareness to connect and reach to communities, may we be aware that one of the first places to look is upon all the trees where the Zacchaeus-like children, singles, moms/dads, divorcees and old people sit wishing to get a glimpse of somebody in the daily parade who might notice them.

The world gets more populated.  Media increases its volume.  Do not be fooled by believing loneliness is being eradicated.  It is ramping up its power.

IT'S ALL ABOUT GOD

Life is about God.

He is life.  He gives it.  He supplies it.  He recovers and eternalizes it.

We live in Him.

Satan is all about distraction.  That is his ploy; get us to move our eyes from God.

Jesus succeeded because he saw his Father.  The book of Hebrews reminds us to fix our eyes upon Jesus.

In everything?  In all that goes on?  Jesus knows how to deal with misplaced purses, dented fenders, aching shoulders, and disappointments in others?  Jesus knows that kind of life-stuff?

Yes.  He became us to get us.  He gets us.  He gets us so well he is our congressman--so to speak--before the Throne.  And he talks about us to Father as if we are mature, complete, and perfect because we made a decision to be buried into him.  We are him.

When Father looks at us He sees Jesus.  We are hidden in Christ.

Life is all about God.  It isn't about troubles.  It isn't about distractions.  It is about Him.

Our stresses mount when our eyes abort the view of Jesus and dart to the crime, the irritation, or the malfunction.  At those moments, life begins to shrivel.  Thus, we are reminded to focus.  Focus on life because it is all about God.

TYPICAL CHURCH NO LONGER

I am fascinated by church.  I'm still crazy about it.  I will die before I will have figured out about 1/1000th of God's intent.  And, I fear I just bragged for I really will not get that close.

I am driven by the wonder of my God and my privileged calling.  The yearn for "church alive" has never left me one day; not one day.  The reason for that craving is because church in all communities has been presented as so typical.  We do church things church ways using right phrases while keeping everyone from being radically changed. 

Enter.  Sing-sing.  Sip-sip.  Pray-Amen.  Exit.

Conformity, not transformity, has become our game.

We assert ourselves to attend to the young, embark on good works, straighten the songbooks and remember the old.  A quarrel or two may break out but we will all make up at casket day.  The eight hundredth verse is the same as the first.

Churches have gone stale because we began to follow one another (church following church, tradition following tradition) long ago.  Jesus' name seemed to stay intact; but not his Spirit.  Thus rote meandering developed.  Can anybody say Wilderness Wandering?

Bob Goff wrote, There's nothing wrong with being typical, I guess, but there is nothing fundamentally right about it either.  I've never read in Genesis that God created "typical" and called it good.  Instead, I think men who were bored made up typical and called it, if not good, at least acceptable.  People who follow Jesus, though, are no longer typical--God is constantly inviting them into a life that moves away from typical.  Even if they have normal jobs, live in normal houses, and drive normal cars, they're just not the same anymore.

The ones Jesus first picked to follow Him started out typical, to be sure.  They were unschooled and ordinary.  Fishermen, business people, blind people, loose women, rip-offs, and vagrants.

It seems that the more we catch a glimpse of Jesus working with and among us, the more we seem to note "this isn't typical".  Not surprisingly, such moments give the church an incredible boost of Spirit energy.

THE PAIN OF THE "D" WORD

When we commit to life with, in, and for Christ, we are immediately placed within a context that is most challenging.  War erupts.  Battles ensue.  Injury is likely.  We might lose our life trying to find it.

It would seem the D word does not help any.  With all of this rocky terrain before our faith, we surely don't need its troublesome tone.

I speak of being Despised.

This is avoided nearly at all costs for being despised is so very difficult to endure.

Fenelon wrote, You must learn to despise the selfishness of your own heart, and you must also be willing to be despised by others....Learn to draw your strength and nourishment from Jesus, and from Him alone. 

Calvin Miller joins the word parade by writing,  As we serve, we may be taken for granted, but we must remember Jesus' words, "the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mt. 20:28).

For me, I live in a world where many despise me.  This has always been ultra-difficult for me.  I must say their are more who don't agree with me; but these don't despise me.  Yet, much spite has been voiced my direction. 

It should surprise no one that being despised results in loneliness.  For me there was depression in that loneliness.  Yet, would you venture a guess as to what I discovered because I refused to run?  Nourishment from Jesus. 

Once again we find another painful classroom designed for learning yet another way we are truly advantaged by inner conflict.  Our resurrection-powered life seems too often to be on hold because the pain of our cross-walk is too often aborted.

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN

Grief seems to be a bummer.  Sorrow doesn't just happen at casket's sight.  It rears its head when being jilted, abandoned, and abused.

Grief grieves.

Grieving is depressing.

But Jesus.  But Jesus started his State of the Soul address with a stunning sentence; Blessed are those who are down.  An odd way to start a New Life campaign.  Not very positive, Jesus!  Don't you get us?

And then the second sentence trails with more of the same; Blessed are those who mourn.

How blemished can this man's insight be?  And he expects to build a following?  I don't think so.

But....it seems the Son of God knows a thing or two about kingdom operations.  It begins at the beginning with the lowest point of the heart and then builds.  Blue and mourning spirits are the place to begin for authentic, impactive, out-reaching life.

In The Journey of Desire, John Eldredge points us to the enigma of deep and burdening spirit pain.  The paradox of grief is that it is healing; it somehow restores our souls, when all the while we thought it would leave us in despair.  Control is the enemy; grief is our friend.

Because we can miss such a God-moment, grief can seem to be an enemy when striving to control our surroundings is the culprit.

I urge you not to waste your times of mourning.  As Jesus went on to say, these own the kingdom and their future is one of comfort...Mt. 5:3-4.

GOD IMMEASURABLE. GOD UNDERSTANDABLE.

We aren't God.  Yet, He insists upon a working partnership.

God is not to be calculated by the fleshly mind for our evaluation procedures are far too handicapped.

God is to be known by us; even through our restricted thinking processes.

He sent us a Christmas card with note attached; that would be Jesus as God with us from squalling cradle to tight-lipped-when-accused, mature, hung out for all to mock. 

Jesus is our interpreter.

He is the one who displays both God and Word.  The Word became flesh.  The Word had been with God.

Man's most wonderful mountain to climb is that of engaging in the Jesus trek.  Study him.  Look at him.  Watch him move about.  Everything he does is what God would do....in him and in us.

True life is not the champions crowned at heaven's Bible Bowl.  No.  True life comes about on a graduated basis of how much of Jesus' character we dare allow to become a most natural part of our disposition.  The spirit is willing.  It will be the flesh that hesitates.

A thing about God that seems forever true is that, in our search, the more we grow to understand Him the more immeasurable we discover Him.  Good for God...and for us.

THAT WE HAVE NO MAJOR FLAWS IS OUR MAJOR FLAW

Man has a problem.  Basically, he feels that he is no major problem when compared to others.  We demand of everyone else what we don't expect of ourselves.

Until...until we run into Jesus.  He ruins everything for we ego-centered; yet presumed normal folks.

How man has gotten by with living these many long years so critical of one another is because we have failed to run into our Brother who knows things.  We run into conflict.  We run into church.  But we tend to avoid the crash against Jesus for he will undo our higher-road assumptions about self.

For any to believe there is no personal major flaw is a magnificently flawed conjecture.  Each is without excuse for in that you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things (Rom. 2:1).

There is no grinding conflict within humanity's system that could not be gigantically eased if each party admitted we are precisely, exactly, and identical to our opponent in some glaring form.

To move about theorizing that I myself have no major flaws; if all could think and act like me, this surely would cause us all to be better off is, indeed, the majorest of all flaws.

THE PROPER COMPARISON

We are all the same.  II Corinthians 10:12 voices our mistake when we compare ourselves to ourselves in order to attain an upper evaluation over anyone else. 

I suppose it is easiest for all of us to compare sins.  We aren't as bad as.....(you fill in the blank)....for we have/never would do that.

The proper comparison for each of us, my opinion, is to look upon the cross.  When we note Jesus squirming and shifting in effort to avoid suffocation, a new message is thrust upon mankind.  When he took his last breath and gave up his spirit, the world literally went dark for three hours in mid-afternoon.

The reason?

All of our sins had been grouped into one category; sin.  All of them were regarded as enough to choke the Son of God to his death.

Lest we become irritated with some "sinner" out there; it is best to keep those logs out of our own eyes in order to be more efficient in offering assistance; rather than contributing to Jesus' last gasp.

THE GOAL OF SCRIPTURE IS NOT FOR US TO KNOW SCRIPTURE

True religion is an awesome thing.  What moments I might find myself in its fullness, it surely is the experiencing of the glory of God.  I would assume, too, that there are those many and other moments when I am not eating from the buffet of true religion; but rather an imitation.

Scripture is not the final thing.  For years, in the church, I assumed it was; I pushed it as so.  Yet, Jesus said he was the final thing as scripture speaks supportively.

Francis Schaeffer says, The Bible, the historic Creeds and orthodoxy are important because God is there, and, finally, that is the only reason they have their importance.

Those of us groomed beneath the legal religious umbrella understand the importance of the Bible.  There is no need to back off of its fascinating revelation.  However, the search of many has stopped at knowing the Bible before our trek arrived at God himself.

This would have impact on how we can have so many claiming to be religious while voices of discontent about us and among us seem to rise.  We have taken the best revelation in all of history and short-sheeted it by failing to move into the Presence of the One who gave us the Scriptures in the first place.

Scripture is not for us to merely memorize and then recite.  It is for us to know God. 

May it be so.

THE TRUTH AND IGNOBILITY

Ignobility.  Hmmm.  Some might believe that to be a Terry-Rush-made-up word.  Not.  Just a big non-usaged one for me.  Ignobility is the reverse of nobility.  Authentic truth, oddly, is often found in the ignoble; not the noble.

The Truth of God is a precious gem.  Always.  Yet, this Truth is forgotten by many of us Bible enthusiasts that this very Word says there will always be those of us learning and not coming to the truth; that babies will get what Monarchs and High Priests will never note.

Truth begs the seeker not to assume its direction.

However, we have, we do, and we will.

In all of the parables, nobility is pitted against ignobility.  The Rich Man and Lazarus, the Prodigal and his brother would be a good start.  In all them the ignoble was the truth while the Bible-thumping grouches were not.  Truth often reverses what is assumed to be Truth.  The child gets it when the scholar won't.

We are to be tediously open to redirection of what we have assumed as Truth for very likely much of it isn't.  The truth shall set you free, John insisted.  Free from what?  Free from assumed truth that isn't.

Is this not the issue of every age?  Of course.  The church will forever be in the hunt for the wondrous Truth of our Lord Jesus.  It will not come about by passing tests in school.  Nor will it come about by Sunday School theorizing.  It will come about, under the direction of the Spirit of Jesus, by walking and ministering to the poor and all who suffer injustice.

It's weird to me.  I studied the Word intensely and became a loud-mouthed legalist.  The more I spend hours with the devastated, the closer I seem to developing a heart like His.

I'll always be in kindergarten.  And one of the best things I have learned is that committing scripture to memory is a farce if my feet--my feet to be formed in the image of Jesus--are not committed to the underdogs of our landscape.

Truth is a powerful and wonderful majesticity of God.  It is for our learning of Him; not our parading of our conclusions.

SPEAKING IN TONGUES AND THE CONFUSION OF IT ALL

Try not to judge a post by its title.  What I'm about to write might surprise you.

As we think about the tired and the discouraged and the abused within our great society--who do not know God--I wonder if we have ever weighed the fact that, to them, churches are speaking in tongues.  They hear us talk, shout, testify, and preach....to them....in a very foreign language.

We toss out lingo like born again, propitiation, knowing God, Holy Spirit power and eternal life as if our relatives and neighbors obviously get it for we think they understand kingdom culture.  Many don't.  The majority are clueless.  To them, we are like clanging gongs prattling on about something religious which makes no sense...to them.

What can be the solution?  Well, we can't dismiss terms of God which they naturally would not understand; for many of these truths come from the Word which are essential to our Life.  Thus, the need for interpreters.  Isn't that what going into all the world is about?  We are called to interpret God's message for all to hear. 

When we speak to the cashier or the waitress or the principal or the work colleague, we must not speak in a foreign tongue.  This is a great challenge to us pulpiteers for a foreign language to seekers means their continued disconnect.

Jesus was sent as a man in order translate Heaven's breath-taking wonder into our own hands and feet terms.  It seems that simple.  We are read by all men.  May we be written by the stroke of God in a language our neighbors can understand.  It is eternally important.

May we refrain from speaking in a church tongue that goes over others' heads.  Rather, let us communicate in a terminology that would open hearts to God. 

THE MORE WE LEARN THE LESS WE KNOW

We have no room to be smug, judgmental, nor can we flex superiority muscles in our push toward learning of the kingdom of God.  No room.  Yet, these three traits have dominated many of us in many denominations to the point unbelieving communities hunker down in continued unbelief. 

We must break this mold.  The problem is...we are the mold.

It is true.  The Bible is the inspired Word of God.  It is not true that we have extracted all truth and have the holy assignment of God to dispense morsels of it in Church of Christ buildings. 

Fundamentalists of all stripes, including us, have wielded the Bible as if it is a sword to slice and dice; not a scalpel to do open heart surgery.  The Word of God is more powerful than we will ever come to know.  It has secrets embedded within which will set those shackled within the deepest prisons free.

We must learn more of Truth.  When we do we will not find ourselves exhausting the extraction of scriptural information to the point we know it all.  Rather we will find we have plunged into a pool of holy calling which will freak out the imagination of even the highest thinkers.

A problem with learning is it tends to shatter the falsehoods we build as faithfully accurate.  Learning is a wrecking ball to traditional religion; a religion which survives only because people like us refuse to....learn.

In one way it is true, the more we learn the more we know.  Of course this is accurate.  Yet, in the scheme of God being eternally large we find that the more we gather regarding His Truth, the more Truth multiplies as to what there is available to know.  From that factor, the more we learn the less we know.

LIVE LIKE A BUSH ON FIRE

No wonder so many through the years give little attention to our Heavenly Father and His regime.  Such isn't due to investigation.  Hardly.  It is, rather, due to sheer laziness.  It takes attention and focus to dig through the broad information glut to strike the gold truth of God and His realm.  Discovery is a life-long walk.  I believe it was Jesus who declared that believing him was the work God assigned to man....Jn. 6:29.

Dig away.

The Spirit ways are reverse to the flesh ways.  Mystery topples logic.  Absurdity rules over explanation.  The way to keep is to give away.  Expansion of memory is found by consumption of the Meal. And, life is found by dying.

God gives mankind a hint in a desert setting of long ago.  Moses happened upon a sight that bears the image of real authentic kingdom living for our age; a burning bush that was not consumed.  Get it?  A bush on fire that would not yield to logical and assumed eventual consumption.

Such is our story.

Paul said it another way.  For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.  So death works in us, but life in you.

Our mortal flesh is the burning bush of this century.  The Spirit of God resides in us.  Hurt us.  Injure us.  Distract us.  We will not be put away for we have a Holy Fire within which shines amazingly bright from our flesh. 

Burn....and do so brightly and eternally!

FOCUS UPON THE TRUTH

The Truth.

Such a phrase can mean different strokes to different folks.  It can mean release from false accusations.  It could mean clarification.  And, for some, it could mean a dread for tradition has been labeled as Truth.

In this case, I simply draw your attention to your day; the goodness of it and the joy of it.

Focus on how life is really going; not upon the negative things which would distract.

If you have a broken arm, how many limbs are not broken?  Three.  Are you going to let 25% of your limb-power have your utmost attention?

If your car won't start today, that would be how many days out of the last 241? 

If a harsh word is spoken your direction, compare it to the 8,673 pleasant ones.

If you hear of a bad report, did you remember to thank God that you still have your hearing?

If you owe taxes, do you realize that could only happen if you have an income?

How is your life going?  When you focus upon the Truth, it is going a lot better than it is worse.

Then....think on the right and the excellent and all those things worthy of your attention...Phil. 4:4-9.

WILD IN HEART

Church is not for wimps.

The social church image is not one of courage, bravery, and impact.  Rather, overall, it is regarded as weak; endured by communities much larger than the church numbers.  There is a reason for such a stale perspective from coast to coast and border to border. 

We are empty of heart.  I don't mean all Christians nor all congregations fit such a quick label.  I do mean to say that far too many of every tribe have hunkered down for safety and comfort; eyes fixed on attendance numbers and keeping the light bill paid.  These have only slight regard for those who have yet to be introduced to Jesus, the cross, and the emptied grave.

Something has caused epidemic indifference.  It could be called orthodoxy; doing things the way we have always done them without thought.

Charles Colson wrote, We have, to an alarming degree, become victims of our own mindless conformity--self-absorbed, indifferent, empty of heart, the "hollow men" that T. S. Elliot wrote about in the early part of the century.  Yes, orthodoxy has become unconsciousness; nihilism is the spirit of this spiritless age.

Yes, there are many great and exciting things going on in Kingdom Life.  Progress is enjoyed on several fronts.  Yet, I am highly concerned for the multitude who walk away from us; for while in our midst they did not encounter spirited believers who were wild in heart; but were content as long as satisfaction of "the way we do things in church" was fulfilled.

DARE WE HOPE?

Rough 'n' tough stuff is going on.  Shootings.  Explosions.  Crises.  Minds learn of desperation heaped upon turbulence.  Dare we live with hope?

Of course. 

Hope is what Jesus is all about.  From surviving being misunderstood, to being falsely accused, to being humiliated, to being executed, the end of the tunnel did not conclude until the resurrection.  There is a definitive move coming for all of our aches and pains.  We win because Jesus won.

...in the sight of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.  In hope against hope he believed....Romans 4:17-18.

Dare we hope?  Absolutely.  The empty tomb makes a permanent and cross-cultural, cross-generational statement.  Regardless of pain, anguish, or fear, the end is not the end until we believe God can make something from our nothingness and He can also insert life into the deadest of circumstances.

Hope? 

Certainly.

WHEN LIFE IN THE CHURCH ARISES

Churches come and churches go.  Many open with a prayer and end with one.  Some are vibrant and alive while others are dingy and listless.

What makes the difference?

Caring for others is surely to be found in defining the differences for we get such a call from the heart and walk of Jesus.  Anyone who is a part of the church, yet cares only for self, is both unhappy as well as completely unfulfilled.

Dorothy Sayers wrote that the sin of our times is the sin that believes in nothing, cares for nothing, seeks to know nothing, interferes with nothing, enjoys nothing, hates nothing, finds purpose in nothing, lives for nothing, and remains alive because there is nothing for which it will die.

Church is not structured to please the people.  It is the body of Christ called to die for the very people who despise and would abuse us.  We are not called to enjoy; although the Holy Spirit would bear such great fruit.  We are called to die; die to our whims, our wishes, our wants, our satisfactions.

Ah, I speak as if I know stuff.  Surely we all know better.

I merely point us in an ever-needed direction to remind us that Jesus was at his best when hanging out with the worst.  He died an unfair death after a manipulated trial.  We are called to follow; but in safe America this is difficult for us to take in...my opinion.

Yet, I believe it to be true.  When life in the church arises it is always due to those who would give themselves away for the greater cause of another.

HOW THE CHURCH COULD REVOLUTIONIZE THE WORLD

There is one big swoop that, should it fall upon the church, would turn the entire declining world upside down.

If we could lift our concept of the immeasurable and indefinable God while lowering our assumed self-talent and skill, the world would have a better chance at seeing the invisible glory of Him above.

If the church were to see God, we would melt in humility.  When we humble ourselves, the distracting glare of humanity will be curbed and the glory of the Holy will arise for all to fall on our knees in praise.

WHEN IN YOUR CLOSET, WHAT ARE YOU SAYING TO HIM?

When you meet with God, what goes on?  I would assume talking and listening...for both God and you.

I encourage you to get with Him--if you haven't been--and talk.  Talk about His work.  Talk about His supply you surely could use.  He wants to know.  He is interested.

I pray for two things consistently: (1) that God would show up in the media by being mentioned, credited, or named, and (2) that He would show me something He wishes the church would learn; but hasn't noticed yet.

(1) God's name shows up more and more.  Yesterday I saw the newsreel of the family in Missouri that adopted the five brothers and sisters from South America.  On world television it was declared by the host and then the guest that it was God who was at work here.  More and more we hear of God being credited publicly when it would seem that much of the world ignores Him.

(2)  I go through phases where I will ask Him what He thinks we are overlooking.  To keep this brief I will point to what He subsequently showed me of the arising of Holy Spirit truth which was foreign to what I believed and foreign to what I wanted to believe.  He continues to do it.  This past summer, following a time of that sort of prayer, I received unsolicited books in the mail which were of one theme; our strong security of salvation through the covenant.  This material is outlandishly wonderful and terribly new in concept to me.

Learn to own a closet.  When you pray, talk to Him about things you need for the kingdom; not about things you want for your driveway....unless such is of kingdom importance.  I believe that at the year 2013 man has not scratched the surface of holy truth of God.  We are still playing in the sand pile with an occasional squabble over who got to use the toy truck last.

When you are in your closet; try to talk God about what it is He yearns to do for you.  I feel sure He has things in mind that would thrill all of us. 

WATCHING JESUS BELIEVE

He said he didn't do anything unless he saw Father do it.

For the longest time as a minister, I didn't think to note Jesus' movement for I was busy proving things and generating church action.  I was quite enamored with ministry; but not with the Son.

As I have learned to observe his walk, two things consistently stand out; Jesus gave attentive eye to the underdog and he had zero tolerance for the legalist's need to debate.  He often pitted one against the other in the same story in order to show us the difference between right and wrong. 

Jesus believed Father.  He centered his moves based upon those he read as coming from above.  God delights in His needy creatures while rejecting any who believe they have risen to a personal stature of god.

Watching Jesus believe is a natural train wreck to preacher, elder, and teacher for he never follows the rules.  Just one example would be the bad guy in the Prodigal story turns out to be accepted while the good guy, it turns out, is delinquent of godly behavior. 

All leaders will be challenged to walk such a tedious trek.  It isn't that such is a difficult path for really it is quite simple.  The flesh, however, can't tolerate it....and won't.

Watching Jesus believe will draw us to the side of faith or push us to the side of irritated religion.  He will not leave us on the fence.  May we spend increased time in watching just how it is the Master walked upon the same earth we do.

GIVE ME YOUR IDEAS

Talk to me.  Even if you think your concept to be minor or redundant, share anyway.  Sometimes a spark of just one word or phrase will develop a chapter.

I came away from baseball camp wondering how people find God.  With all of the distractions, how would you suggest to another how to find God?  I'm looking for more than they ought to go to church. 

Many of us were not raised in the church or a church.  He found us...or we found Him...however it works.  I see so many variations of people...habit, locale, disposition...who want to know God.  What we churchers don't get is that such a search is an impossible task to many hearts.  They don't know where to start.

Is there a way we could help? 

If we were to write a book, say, How to Find God When You Don't Know Where to Look, what are some pointers God have given you that would help me help them?

I love such a challenge because God is so big this question can't be answered in five steps or eight pages.  Yet we can join in on the watering and the planting which would lead to a God-given increase.

Ideas anyone?

I'M THE LUCKIEST MAN I EVER MET

Who wouldn't want to get to be me?

I ask not from ego...really...but from incredible gratitude.

Today wraps up the last day of my 30th year of baseball camps with Cardinals.  It is a God-story.

I find it amazing to visit with new friends I met this week as I share with them just a few of the stories of God and this camp.  Each listens with delight as I share about Curt Flood or the three times I asked the Missions Committee not to send me because I didn't see this work producing only to have bizarre circumstances arise that called me back, or the unusual work with the Field of Dreams, or the video High Hope for the Human Heart, and then the many who have been drawn to God because of some seed we planted along the way.

God has shown me to relax.  He will do His work if I will get out of the way. 

Oh, as far as baseball this week?  I've decreased in fielding ability as the eyes don't have it.  Yet, hitting increased...6 for 13 and even a hit in the big game off of Andy Benes. Go figure. 

The overall picture is that God will settle right in the middle of some of our greatest passions if we will have the vision to use fishing, and shopping, and travel, and bowling, etc. to be a tool for kingdom opportunity. 

And would you know why? 

It is because in all of these, and things like these, there are billions who don't yet know that people who believe God are ALIVE!  May we look like we know God and reach accordingly.

BASEBALL IS IN THE AIR

I report from Jupiter Florida.  We are headed into day three of games; two today and one tomorrow.

Two things are taking place game-wise for this too old man; 1) I am 4 for 10 in batting which is raising strong positive comments from the Major Leaguers.  They suspicion I am juiced on Snickers or something, and 2) they try to hide me in right field, but it does little good.  I can't see the ball....on the ground or in the air,,,until it gets much closer to me.  When I hear a bat hit a ball I begin to look to see if any of my teammates are moving.  If so, it must not be at me.

Kingdom wise--and why I am here--God and I are all over this place.  Things are so different from my latter years in that I have learned to let things of God happen instead of trying to make them happen.  The "get out of the way" philosophy remains some of His best advice.

Finally, I want to say that the good news is I am not hurt.  I've done well.  However, I am sorer than I recall any other camp.  I've been on base more, running more, and right field is soooo far away.  My body is protesting big-time.  I'm not kidding, the most painful part of my morning before I board the bus has been trying to reach my toes to put on my socks. 

That hurts! 

When you have to back up and try again to get the sock OVER the toes?  Well....let's just say I'm headed to the trainer as soon as I get to the complex. 

IT'S SO MUCH EARLIER ON THE EAST COAST

It's six o'clock....a.m.  This surely is an earlier six than Tulsa's six.

We made it through our first day of workouts.  I'm glad I worked out in preparation because I am so sore.  However, the good news is I am not hurt.

The thing that strikes me most about camp is I am always so surprised at the special conversations I get to have about kingdom life.  This is a place of searchers.

It seems now I just sit and someone comes along and begins to talk; not about my work, not about my life, but about something they had been wondering or noticing about God.

I gave special attention yesterday to one of my teammate's 8 year old son.  His name is Jake so I called him Arthur.  I visited with Arthur--sat with him lots--all through our games.  One day Arthur will grow up to be a man who will have had some God-seed implanted....at a baseball game....for Arthur is my friend.

Gotta go catch the team bus....it's already 6:11. 

LET SPRING TRAINING BEGIN

I am in Jupiter, Florida as the Legends Camp opens tonight.  This event carries such intrigue.  In just a couple of hours it is already detectable that God is working.  I love it.

I've been in preparation for the grueling week of abnormal exercise, etc.  With eyes dimming and reflexes fading, this great opportunity to play baseball is an increasing challenge. Yet the wildness of the Spirit gains momentum

Yes, I've worked out, stretched, and practiced.  And, I've prayed.

Would  you, who would be so inclined, pray for God to work in this camp?  He has trained me to quit trying to manipulate and control His participation.  Would you thank Him for helping me be a man of vision for opportunity and action where sensitivity is needed?

I think you will.  I believe you will.  And, I thank you.  This effort doesn't function well because I have a knack with people. It is effective only because God has a knack with people.

WHO IS PETER TO THINK HE COULD WALK ON WATER?

I love the God-stories.  They fascinate me for two reasons: (1) I believe them to be historical, and (2) I also believe them to be for our learning as well as experience.

What I find most disturbing is that too much of Christianity is presented to an unbelieving world as a philosophy to be talked; but not an accelerated reality to be walked.

I think about this constantly.  There are serious self-questions as to why I don't seem to break through into the superior kingdom life of wonder and awe.  If we can find what prohibits His display among us, we will simultaneously discover what affords it.

My meager observation is that we tend to think we are to plan the big move, the big event, where God would display His wares for all to be wowed.  Such a tendency is dull; if not deadening.

Rather, look at the Word.  Peter walked on water.  Why did he think he could do that? 

I don't think he did think about it.  It seems he simply responded in obedience to a ludicrous admonition from Jesus.  Jesus urged it.  Peter did it.  It happened.  It was when Peter got to thinking about it that his momentary success sunk.

May I suggest that much of our wishfulness doesn't come about simply because we over-think immediate opportunities into failure to seize the moment?  We study, we map, we plot, and we plan.  Upon reflection I can tell you that much of the super-excitement of my walk came about without my bright coordination and effort.

Think about it.  Peter's walk was basically an interruption turned marvelous.

There were no plans in my scheme for life of ever going to church; let alone preaching.  But God started toward me from across the lake and asked me to reach out my hand.

I think of connecting with Jackie Gleason because the power was out on a Sunday evening at home and I subsequently saw him on 60 Minutes.  I'm reminded of simply reading an ad in a baseball magazine which interrupted my stride as I wept over the possibility of reaching into the baseball world.  Tomorrow I leave for my 30th year of Cardinal camp...impossible.

Who is Peter to think he could walk on water?  He is a plain man with an ability to go with the flow....at least for a bit.  This is encouraging.  It takes practice to follow Jesus.  Who do you think you are that you could walk on water?

God calls us to walk across the tops of waves of insult and injury, of confusion and disorientation, and of disappointment and perplexion.  It isn't our call to measure the how or the why.  It is our thrill to simply get to do it. 

We must break from this hypnotic trance of going through the church motion with hope of barely being permitted to enter heaven at the end.  We must open our eyes to the extended hand of God which reaches to us day by day, moment by moment....often in interruption.

BACKWARD PROGRESS

If we are ever to get an understanding of God's Kingdom, it will only be because we surrender all of our human ways, strengths, and means.  We must yield our calculational approach for the non-calculational.  Much reality is upside-down or inside-out or simply backward to the way one would assume.

The virgin birth is matched by the resurrection from the dead.  Neither are logical nor possible.  Both, however, are historical fact.

The church doesn't work the way I had figured.  By now, shouldn't I have a better grasp of this work; what goes, what won't?  So much remains illusive.

Enter God.

I am realizing that any time I gain an inch in understanding God, He then reveals another foot of Truth.  Thus, in our aging years we are thrust into younger material for God is God and we are not.

The GPS to kingdom life is humility; what we don't know, when we can't manage, where we can't advise, and why we shouldn't be fit for any of these will lead us to God's pathway to effective and fruitful labor.  I think they nearly force us to His pathway.

God's way are not ours.  They are higher, wider, mightier, and abundant.  Without His Spirit our works have a problem.  They are ours.

It will take brave faith to enter the land of God's work.  And I say we are fed up with much of ours; therefore, day by day we are more inclined to look for His.

THE BROTHERHOOD IS BASICALLY AS INSECURE AS I AM

I fit. 

One of the marvels in my life is I found a place I really feel like I fit.  The church is an ideal spot for a fiercely insecure grown man.  And, yippee, I get to be a part of the most exciting system on earth because it is completely designed for misfits....like me.

For those mature ones of you--and there are very many--you need to know what you are dealing with.  And for those immature ones as myself, you need to know what the mature ones are dealing with....US!

Insecurity carries awful baggage.  A strong blemish among us categorized in this zone is we don't do conflict.  It isn't that we don't do it well.  We don't do it.

This explains the maze of division among us.  Little of it is about what the Bible says.  Much of it springs from the natural fruit of weak-minded elders and preachers just like me.  We are good in hearts and lousy in dealing openly and honestly with the weaknesses that we convince ourselves we have masked with some sort of faux wisdom.

The good news is we can make it!  We can!

Let us not be surprised at our vast amount of flaws.  But let us be ashamed if we refuse to learn from our inadequacies by continuing to rely on our best logic versus leaning upon the Holy Spirit power.

The Holy Spirit is the dividing line.  We will or we won't pull out of our enormous lack based upon our effort to grow in understanding the Holy Spirit which can't be understood....but is to be experienced.

I wish I were this great example of strength and honor and skill and drive.  But I'm none of these.  I am a weakling empowered by the Spirit of God.  If He doesn't get the job done, the job doesn't get done.

The problem with us isn't that we haven't had many lessons on the need to go by the Bible.  It is that we have defended our shameful childishness in promoting suspicion and anger as a part of leadership in the kingdom.  We try to talk big and walk big....when we aren't anything of the sort.  We are fundamentally in the way of God's willing progress.

At age 65 I am just now beginning to begin to learn more of what it takes to get to be enmeshed into the glorious and striking work of God.

Thanks be to God for those of you who endure us.

BAPTIZED AND STANDARDIZED

Could it be that the one church group that emphasized baptism the most underscores life in the Spirit the least?  It appears this may have been our past trend.  We have taken unity in Christ to mean that one is to become standardized to the herd's way of thinking.

When I was converted I repeatedly heard about two clear routes the believer was to take.  One was a call to stick to the Old Paths and the second was to stick to the Narrow Road.  While both are biblical expressions, neither calls an individual to ancienticity nor legalistic timidity.

Jesus is abundant and provides excessively and lavishly.  We are called to be liberal in God and conservative in self.  Yet, self can be a religious bully which stalks and hounds us to be fearful of everything from our shadows to God's Most Holy Spirit.

The baptized are set free; not reduced to standardized formula.  The best the latter can do, since they are frozen in fear to serve valiantly, is to criticize the free ones.  This is a consistent standardized style which never changes because...it is the standard of being stillborn into the kingdom. 

I was baptized and then standardized.  I preached standard things in standard ways with standard words for standard members to live standard lives.  Few lived robustly in His Spirit.  I certainly didn't because I was preaching my standard sermon against such heresy.  Rather we lived suspiciously of every religious neighbor who had not been properly and truthfully standardized.

God is changing all of this because He is changing a high volume of people which would include us.  Two things seem to be happening simultaneously; the more I see my personal lack the more I see Jesus' heroic essence.  I am glad I was baptized and urge every person who will hear to do the same.

Today, however, I cheer the newborn on to heights of God's terrain that will thrill the soul for it will be eternally far too grand to comprehend such glory and awe.  May we not be afraid to tread upon the majestic possibilities that only the spirit of a person would dare explore.

PETTY LOGIC MAY COME IN A CAN

I really like Gregory of Nyssa's, Concepts become idols. Only wonder understands.

Brian McLaren followed with, This is why I believe that in the end, the most important thing you can communicate to anyone is something beyond your logic and arguments---your own humbled sense of wonder, passion, and love---the very things that canned formulas have a way of squeezing out.

Logic is sacred to some; maybe to most of us.  It gives us measurement, definition, and even much needed stability.  Yet it should be noted that logic is especially in sync with the flesh side of our walk to the extent it often could vote against wonder and awe and mystery. 

When the spirit of man begins to take on stronger form from the guidance of the Spirit of God, inner conflict arises.

Peter walked on water (not logical) and was saved by reaching for Jesus' extended hand (logical).  He also walked out of a prison set free by angels (not logical) on his own two feet (logical).  He was deeply pained at Jesus' death (logical) and was overjoyed at his resurrection (which was not a logical development).

Therefore, our guard needs to be against petty logic; arguments that bring pleasure to fleshly concentration, but are completely indifferent to the possibility (even probability) to spiritual reality of any given moment.

Petty logic's misplacement shows up when the wonder of faith's imagination is overruled.  If not careful, a walk in the church's routine life can be attributed more to petty logic than a risky astonishment and surprise from God.  I believe He wants us to possess the latter....and so do we.

HUMANITY'S BLIND SPOT

While seeing they do not see.  While hearing they do not hear.  It seems Jesus was the one to reflect upon these concepts.

I'm convinced abundant life goes on before me (us) in much greater fashion than my piddly awareness.  Therefore, I wish to draw you into a zone that perhaps could be presently a void where you live.

John Eldredge makes a stunning comment that, I believe, could/should/would awaken an army for Kingdom life.  I believe we must add two spiritual disciplines to everyday life.  The first is worship.  We must adore God deliberately, regularly.  The other is grief.  We must allow a time for sorrow to do our own personal sowing.  I see no other way to care for our hearts.

Worship and grief.  Two things Eldredge calls to our immediate paths.

Worship should be simple enough; except is isn't.  Christians have a tendency to gather (even in massive assemblies) for reasons which are all about us; does the music, decor, message, and minister fit me?  God is to be worshipped, admired, adored.  There is great need for us to intensify our lip service away from us and toward Him.

Grief?  Grief would never be considered as a necessary discipline by most.  Rather it serves as a call to figure a way of escape.  Much of life's value is tossed in the garbage of humanity's walk because we fail to recognize the potential buried within disappointment and suffering.  Grief is not our enemy.  Rather it is an awakening force notifying the soul of wonder, potential, and hope.

Those who sow in tears
       will reap with songs of joy.
He who goes out weeping,
       carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
      carrying sheaves with him.
                                  Ps. 126:5-6

WHERE IS THE JESUS TREND?

The church has always been strongly opinionated about behavior; not as much about belief. 

Beliefs?  Yes.  Belief of, in, and through God?  Not so much. 

Tullian Tchividjian penned, Our survival mechanism is to measure spiritual maturity almost exclusively in terms of behavior--what we do and don't do.  Only the "toxin" of God's grace can turn that mechanism upside down.  Real spiritual progress happens when our typical natural understanding of progress is rooted out.  The key to Christian growth, then, is not first behaving better; it's believing better--believing more deeply what Jesus has already accomplished.

In general, the American church is experiencing fundamental stagnancy because Tchividjian's observation is right on.  We have traded a belief system for a behavior code and then failed (on many fronts) in both.  Even belief (system) has taken a deep hit for such has been focused upon believing right things the right ways instead of believing the right person.

I reference first and foremost myself.  My past is not a religion in vain.  However, it is marred by debate and control over matters that had to do with flesh-behavior religion more than it had to do with the risk all for Jesus.  This pattern continues. 

Watch the trends.  Orphan's homes?  Christian colleges?  Worship?  Women's roles?  Music?  Bible versions?

Where is the Jesus trend?

I believe two things about that question.  1) I'm sure there have been many voices calling for such a trend; but I was too steeped in my decent and in order enamorization that I didn't hear.  2) Next, I believe the call is growing and more are hearing.  I want in on that one. 

WHY IS THERE SO MUCH HOPE?

Hope is not to be moody among we believers.  Our God can do anything He wants any time He wants where ever He wants.  Period.

Our call is not to manipulate His movement in correlation to our wants.  Our call is to know God is never through even when all signs declare it's over.

We are to be a people who look not just to Jesus; but to the resurrected Jesus.  His seating at the right hand of God is to remind us that even when his most intimate disciples walked away that Friday with utmost disappointment....it wasn't over. 

Moreover, the sheer nothingness of the darkened hill that possessed the crucified Lord simply made the storyline of God even bigger. So do not be discouraged.  Let a down time lead to your wow moment!  Darkness only causes the diamond to shine brighter.

We get so moody with God's show.  We are up because things go well; but tend to sink when facts of reality do not give us the message of hope....that we had hoped.

God can cause things that aren't yet to come into existence; plus He can give life to the dead...Romans 4:17.  The next words and context?  Hope!  Of course!  Hope!

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance proven character, and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us....Romans 5:3-5.

When a person is resurrected through the event of baptism, the Holy Spirit is received...Acts 2:38.  Too many have been baptized into Christ only to walk around as hopeless as one who knows not God.  Wake up my friend.  We have hope regardless of the mood of the day...or of the people. 

Jesus sets the tone because he beat death.  He is resurrected so that we can face every beating with a wink.  We win.

ATTENTION: WE NEED MORE QUITTERS

Without notice and if not careful, our lives will conclude as having been led by the collar in circular motion over things--many things--that really didn't matter.  One of Satan's greatest ploys is not laziness nor is it mediocrity.  It is the assumption we must be doing all we are doing for good people do all these things.

Not so.

Years ago I learned by health setback a most valuable lesson.  I will not let the calendar be my boss.  If illness and death can negate a calendar on any given day, why can't health and life?

Seth Godin wrote in The Dip ...if you're sold on being the best, but you've been frustrated in the route you're taking to get there, then you need to start doing some quitting.

Then you need to start doing some quitting?  What kind of advice is that for progress?

Excellent!  That's what kind of advice for progress that is!

From our good hearts we are tempted to be many things for many people....that we aren't.  The solution is there are many people who need to be called, need to be engaged, and would be great at doing what you and I are about to decline.

One of my challenges was in traveling to many destinations as a guest speaker.  I love people, the opportunity, and the messages.  My mind and body were cratering.  I learned to say no.

I learned to say no to many good things.  The result is a clear transformation into productivity that discovers we are bearing fruit even while we rest.

If you are frustrated over the many demands of life, I join alongside Godin to say, then you need to start doing some quitting.

THE EYES ARE TO HAVE IT

(NOTE: I am having difficulty getting some of your kind comments to post.  Know that I have received them and hope to get this resolved soon to where they will be posted for your viewing.)

Life goes where the eyes go.  They are our load-levelers.

Regardless of high winds of life's infractions, our walk finds the balance to keep from tipping over only when we fix our eyes on Jesus.

Close your eyes while standing on one foot.  Do you find it difficult to keep your balance?  As you are beginning to wobble, with your eyes still closed to the point you are about to tip over, open your eyes.  Immediate balance returns.

So it is with wobbly versus balanced life.  Eyes closed to Jesus?  The former.  Open to Jesus?  Balance; not rocked, not worried, not falling apart.

Hebrews 12:1-3 centers our lives by fixing our eyes on Jesus.  It is no accident that this context regards endurance.  When looking at Jesus, regardless of circumstantial distraction, we will not give up; endurance means to finish the race.

Let's cut through all of the worry, fret, counsel, and grasping for hope.  In all that we do or think, may we train our eyes to stay upon the Great Rescuer.  He alone never fails.  The eyes are the GPS to stability.  Of all the parts of our complex body, the eyes have it.

I WONDER ABOUT US

In working with us and living among us and dealing with us...I have experience you know...I have begun to wonder about us.

I think there is a strong possibility that our obsession with control and always being right and continually preserving our self-image are signs that we are just as afraid to live as we are to die.

All want robust life.  We want to see growth and marvel and victory....everywhere. 

Yet, we continue to invent humanistic ways to walk in the shrinking backwoods of humanity rather than the lush forest of the Divine.

Giving.  Serving.  Dying.  All a part of life in the kingdom.

Keeping.  Being served.  Being preserved.  All a fight for self.

Once again....the road Jesus travels is the correct path.

I'VE DONE SO MUCH OF MY WORK ALL BACKWARDS

I want to share with all readers just what it is that's making me tick as I write articles day after day.

I'm not depressed.  I'm surely not mad at the church.

I'm learning.

I'm learning that much of my work turns out to be human both in direction and energy.  At this ripe age I am still learning about God.  And....I hope this trend does not change.

I am not embarrassed that much of my work appears embarrassing.  It's been good for me to learn the hard way.  A great surprise to my desire to control matters--all matters--has been that if I was to stay in this work; of necessity I would have to learn to not get my way.  Not easy.

On the slant of Paul's comments regarding not doing what he wished and doing what he didn't wish, I find myself being criticized for things I didn't do and not getting the criticism for the things I did do.  We live a strange life when it comes to the kingdom path.

Stronger than ever before, I feel the call into the greater truth in the church.  I don't sense superiority for I possess none.  But I sense His leadership for us.  This will mean things will--yet again--be found to be different. 

Would not the very meaning of maturity surely possess the concept of anticipated change?

We live in a church world of yappers and harpers.  Does Jesus' ministry ring a bell here?  My past is marked with return volleys of yap and harp.  Jesus, on the other hand, dished back at times what came his way, but mostly looked at the need for compassion, risked assault from the religious, and showed us how to move through a needy society.

He works all backwards to my work forward.  While I'm not discouraged, I am very challenged.  More than ever I can tell I've spent much of my ministry shifting with the whim-winds of the church.  Shift--in many places I should--but on the basis of the call of the Spirit and not from the perpetual desire to escape the ridicule of any who are in the same religious rut as me.

THE STORY

THE STORY byLucado and Frasee has surely caught me by surprise. 

Some on our team wanted to enter into that 31 week study for all ages for all classes at Memorial.  I was alright with it; but certainly not enamoured.  I felt my roll would be to stay out of the way as well as cooperate everywhere I could.

Wowie!

This study is such a powerful blessing simply because it leads us to the Word...as an entire congregation.  We are all on the same page; being impressed by different veins by the same texts.  Yippee!

Just as one of our stand-by passages--faith comes by hearing--has insisted, my faith has increased via the tunnels of this rich digging.

I'm not learning what's wrong with other tribes.  Rather I'm learning a bit more of that which is lacking in me.  God is increasing as the Word puts me in perpetual decrease mode. 

It's weird....what the Bible does.  It is constantly a Spiritual Boot Camp breaking me down and then building me up to where my confidence is not in me for I am inadequate.  My confidence is in His Spirit...II Cor. 3:4-5.

I've experienced Him this week; not knowing what to do nor what to advise another to do....but was certain He could and would do.  And....He did.

Our faith takes on too much baptismal water.  We tend to focus on that event and then carry out the most of our days under the format of human reason while we call it smart theology.  It isn't.  It is merely us with a spirit-based lingo that we might sound like we are maturing in faith.

Faith believes God without explanation.  It appears I have been stuck in searching for the best-of-men concepts.

God is to be thanked.  The wonders of His love have not ceased.  They are not over.  We may have passed along such a negative word....but it just isn't true.

I highly recommend your congregation give this study a serious look.

WE GO BY THE BIBLE

From experience the phrase We go by the Bible is usually spoken by one who doesn't.  I reference myself as one in the lead of such a grave mistake.

That phrase was expressed by this new convert at my first family reunion once attending the CoC.  It was good for immediate separation for such smugness is not from Jesus.

We go by the Bible needs the interpretation of our camp.  It means we go by a few things in the Bible and then we also go by several things not in the Bible but others spoke as if it was in Holy Writ.

For instance, let's take the drinking of alcoholic beverages.  In an elders' meeting it was discussed that consuming such was sin.  Understand, I don't drink as I continue this discussion.  I pointed to scripture that such a stand wasn't there.  His response?  Well, it should be.

We go by the Bible is a noble goal; really a holy one.  The goal isn't the spoiler.  The statement of untruth by those of us spouting it may be.  The reason?  Because we go, not by the Bible, but by a mixture of Scripture and tradition....a very strong mixture.

We should continue to strive to function from biblical discourse.  It is the inspired Word of God.  Nothing about that has changed.  With Bibles in our laps, to assume that sitting in rows three times a week without a piano, but with communion on Sunday, is going by the Bible is simply a glaring hypocrisy.

All of that can be done without the Jesus of the Bible as the centerpiece.  This is a grave mistake from which I have suffered my own consequences of deadness to the Spirit and so do many of the rest of us.

STABILITY AND FRAGILITY

We live complex lives.  On some fronts it is secure and stable.  On others, however, it is remarkably vulnerable and fragile.  And we are expected to walk this plank.

How many have recently assumed the stable was simply a way of life until......until that particular job in the organization was phased out or the lump was found or the divorce papers were served.  Suddenly the solid melted into confusing fluidity. 

Train wreck.  Train wreck.

If God is supreme and we believe Him, why the mishap experiences?  Each serves to refocus our eyes upon the Provider.  When life goes unblemished by struggle, humanity begins to assume ownership as well as authority.  This gradually leaves God off to the side as unneeded.

Train wrecks--the stable found to be fragile--are not to alarm us; but rather to awaken each as a strong reminder that taxes and death do occur and the only true stability for us is the resurrected-from-the-dead Jesus.

He alone is our hope.  Deny him if you like.  You will not manage the grave by yourself nor with a host of friends.  You will need to call in the one--the only one--who beat death on its own court.

Jesus is true stability.  We are true fragility.  Therefore, we should hide in him at baptism that we be assured of substantial and perfect hope; not only at the cemetery, but even in routine matters of the moment.

JESUS' WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM

As is true at the turn of each New Year, consumerism is driven with Weight Loss means and methods.  ABC's 20/20 devoted an hour last night to this theme.  Weight Loss is on our minds.

But not until this morning when talking with Lisa Combs at breakfast did the thought occur to me about the Weight Loss program Jesus initiates.  He died on the cross that we not have to carry the baggage of sin and destruction about from day to day.

Come unto me all who are weary laden and I will give you rest, he came to earth to tell us.  Jesus extracts the weight of sin which so easily entangles us.  He came that we might be LIGHTer. 

America is obese with sin.  So is the rest of the world.  It's so frustrating.  Regardless of how hard we try and how often we repeatedly promise God we will not eat again from that Sin-Tree, we do not find we are making progress.  This is clearly one gigantic obesity problem that heaven must solve.  We can't.

So don't give up dear friend.  You are to be credited for recognizing your great need for Weight Loss.  Thank you for not wanting to stay fat in sin.  Be not discouraged.  You will never initiate nor activate a workable solution.  Rather, Jesus did, does, and will.

Walk lighter.  You have been set free because Jesus became sinfully obese upon the cross. 

Happy New Life!

A PART OF THE KINGDOM THAT FEELS SO WEIRD

I was converted when 23 years old, went to Preaching School when I was 25 and began preaching for a church of eight when 27.  Thirty-eight years later I find a very unusual blessing in the midst of kingdom life.

I am in over my head.

Where I had hoped I would become better equipped; I'm not. 

I assumed that somewhere about year seven or twelve the chips would fall into alignment and I would have a significant and mature grasp of how life in the church should go.

Not. 

Not close.

I am in over my head.  Surprisingly....it is more so year by year.

Overwhelmed would be a fitting description.  I know less about local work and workshop approach than ever.  I'm not kidding.  In laboring over the workshop I am tempted to get discouraged because it is just too big.

And....I'm realizing I like it this way and want it this way.....and if it is of God, it must be this way.

The more I am common me, the more I discover my inadequacy and His adequacy.  The more I try, the weaker I really am because the kingdom walk is always going to be above and beyond us.

The disciples' greatest understanding was that they didn't understand....all they could do was learn to trust in matters that had no explanation.

I had hoped I would understand by now.  Disappointment arose when I realized I still didn't.  And then it hit me!  That's the very sign I am doing God's work.  Of course....it was He who declared He would work through us beyond our imagination.  Of course....it was God who rescued every story.

No wonder I feel in over my head.  God is too large, too broad, and too magificent to fit into my very meager level. 

So it is with you.  Don't be discouraged when you feel overwhelmed and inadequate.  This is merely a revelatory reminder that we can't and He can.

A MAJOR CHANGE IN THE CHURCH AMONG US

Two things are changing our tribe of believers.  Each is welcomed.

First, praise of and to God is increasing.  Second, Jesus is becoming more prominent.  These have not always been our practice.

What has been our mode of operation past is that all eyes have been fixed upon the church.  In other words...US.

Little was attributed to the lavish works of God.  Our doctrine minimized His activity to keep us from shifting into a perceived error which, interpreted, meant we don't want things in the church that we can neither control, manage, nor explain. 

To follow Jesus as a living being was basically a courtesy call.  The church was what we were all about.  In other words....US.

I don't mean to imply that God was never praised and that Jesus was never noticed.  We legalists referenced both when needed.  Yet, even our fundamental question to strangers if we were so inclined to reach out was, Do you go to church?  What church do you attend? 

My mission--and I believe to be so of many of my colleagues--was to de-church and re-church the pre-churched.  Possibly many of you just don't relate to my mindset in those days; but my goal was to see that they did church right.

I know this.  Such fruit has prompted a significant number among us to approach the eleventh hour with great fear that I haven't done enough.  How many times I have been called out in the night to hear this verse.  The cure for it is found in two things: (1) praising God, and (2) making Jesus more prominent.

Those two directives shift eyes from self to Father and Brother.  These two put hearts at peace.  Our works won't.  Our church organization won't.  Our piano-less singing won't. 

God will.  Jesus will.  And they gave us Their Spirit to bear what we can't possibly on our own; love, joy, peace, patience, etc.

The very good news among us is that we are growing in both accounts.  This change is surely necessary.

THE YEARN OF THE SOUL

Do you know what I find fascinating about life in Christ?  Our souls are permitted to yearn for more than what the flesh is capable of providing....or even knowing.  We literally operate from another world.

Jesus' on earth as it is in heaven strategy opens the window for personal experience beyond the confinement of human routine.  We are expected to function from greater heights than default living.

No wonder Eph. 3:20-21 is a favorite text.  God vows that if we will take our minds to the highest peak of imagination, He will trump it!  Imagination roosts in what isn't yet.  And whatever we shall dare ponder, God will do it higher, deeper, wider, and farther....in us!

The yearn of the soul is to see life be more than is assumed.

That's why we pray; not for selfish receptivity, but for impossibility to become possible.  The soul yearns to see life look like God.  We want to see His delivery of the wow-stuff.  Each has an appetite for the world of heaven on earth.

My word to you today is to never quit anticipating heaven on earth.  I especially warn you to be aware of people in your midst who could be assumed to be just another billionth in number.  This is not the case.  Each is a rare form of God incarnate. 

Notice them.  See them.  Believe in them when they may not in themselves.  Each has a yearning of the soul.  We want to see life reversed from wither to unfold.  The yearn of the soul says, We are still alive!

A SIGN OF THE TIMES

The Fiscal Cliff still stands.  Iran is showing off the testing of major weapons.  Employment concerns mount.  And, sometimes the city workers overlook our trash pick-up.

And God's people are growing in spiritual depth toward things that deserve life's attention.

God never wastes a crumb.  He demonstrated His great arm when the Israelites were cornered among mountains, armies, and the swallowing Red Sea.  Too, we could be reminded of a jar empty of oil as well as a rambunctious disciple named Peter up to his knees in fear of sinking. 

Ah, that arm of God!  How it shows up at the last moment. 

What's thrilling about God is that His signature move was when mankind assumed the last moment had passed.  I speak of the Great Resurrection.

Signs of the times: they can be good and they can appear troubling.  All of them fit His mysterious plan. 

Our job is to fix our eyes upon Jesus; the author and perfecter of faith.  May 2013 find us looking at that precise man who still baffles the invented laws of man.....as well as our assumed reasons to worry.

WHAT'S UP WITH ALL THIS MUCHNESS?

There is just so much muchness!  Everywhere....much muchness!

Much to care for.  Much to operate.  Much to learn.  Much to do.  Much to think upon.  Much to worry over.  Much to clean.  Much to sort.  Much to answer.  Much to seek.  Much to know.  Much to remember.  Much to file.  Much to code. Much to read.  Much to prepare.  Much to hear.  Much to evaluate.  Much to say.

On the muchness list extends!

What's up with that?

First is it a way of life.  And, it must have attentive discipline; else it will seat itself as demanding Ruler.

Second, I bring our awareness to this spreading vine for it is very capable of choking out our time with God.  With all of our clamoring and debating the "rights and wrongs" of religion, the most overlooked factor is our delinquency in honoring God.  He has been driven back by the tactics of the phone, the email,  and the calendar.

May we find great joy in the abundance of muchness all around.  But may all of it be tempered with a firm drive to notice Father and to credit Him for giving us the wonderful life.

OUR ONLY HOPE

Our only hope is in Jesus; not in church, not in devotion, and not in our works.  Jesus is our only and our "all" hope.

It was Jesus who said that many will say to him in that day, Lord didn't you notice how much I did for you?  Didn't I do church in your name?  Didn't I perform incredible miracles in your name?  Afterward, he will insist we depart from him for he never knew us.

What's the point?

I'm one of many who are guilty of believing in church brands, functioning from church rules, and working for kingdom credits without focusing upon--not just the name, but--the person of Jesus.

How easy it is for churches to fall into this trap.  We worship our worship style rather than the Living God.  No wonder the world rejects us.  If and when we grow to be more Christ-centered, a couple of significant transitions take place. (1) We find ourselves arguing and whining less, while (2) we lean toward assisting the poor of our community.

In other words we grow to walk where Jesus walked and care where Jesus cared.  Remember, it was organized religion that could not find his favor...so they killed him.

I preached way too long about church traits while basically overlooking the walk of Jesus.  I didn't study him as a person.  I didn't know him.  I was focused on being right.  No one is ever right except by Jesus.

When I was not filled with adoration for Jesus, I would not have understood this article.  My perception of Jesus was that his name endorsed our prayers. 

Yet, he is a person to be both seen and known.  He gets us when we don't get ourselves.  Our communities are not rejecting Jesus; they are avoiding our churches when we are trying desperately to save ourselves with our own understanding.

Jesus is our only hope.  We begin with him.  We live with him.  We conclude with him. 

When this is true, religion and church and spiritual matters begin to take truer form than ever before.

GRACE IS NOT CHURCH FLUFF

Before we start, we all know I don't know enough to define grace.  Therefore, this will simply be an exercise to water the grace-knowledge already within you with hope of growth from God continuing among us.

It is my observation that grace tends to be easily dismissed as sorta the church fluff side of spiritual life.  It isn't.  It's the stamina and the sturdy rock-solid element from which we are to behold confidence.  Grace is all about Him in us, with us, and for us.  Grace is God's holy and righteous arm of bold love to do for all men what none can do for ourselves. 

Until each surrenders the silly notion that we can live independently of God and others if we simply work shrewdly, we will forever whine and complain....for we will always finish in disappointment.  And, if we reach disappointment without awakening to His heart of grace, we will live blaming others for our misfortune...including God.

The task of defining grace is not as simple as looking at a dictionary for it is the very essence and presence of the participating Living Lord. 

May we refrain from believing it to be a church fluff word by realizing it is the beauty of God's elected involvement among us.

1 Corinthians 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.
2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;
2 Corinthians 9:14
while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you.
2 Corinthians 12:9
And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
Ephesians 2:8
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
Ephesians 4:29
Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
Colossians 4:6
Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.

A NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION CONCEPT THAT IS A WINNER

I think I have hit upon the secret to successful diet. 

Since on New Year's Day most of us make resolutions we don't keep past four weeks (for some four days), what if we vow to not do something good for us?  When we say we aren't going to drink pop or eat candy or cookies or pie for the whole year, we always, always eventually and quickly cave.  Right? 

Why not reverse the claim so that it would be beneficial to us?

For example, since we can't seem to keep a resolution, what if we said something like, I am not going to eat healthy this year?  What might happen?  If true to past and consistent pattern, wouldn't we break our vows and begin to cheat by eating fruits and vegetables? 

It seems to me that with this approach we would beat ourselves at our own game!  The good news is by losing we would win! 

CHURCH GROWTH AND HOW TO FIND IT

Life in the church is simply complex and complexically simple.

Yes.

Filled with ambition we are primed to roll up our sleeves and get at it.  Or, loaded with confusion we are ready to throw up our hands to say, I don't know what else to do.

Yes.

Church growth is God's responsibility.  Our job is to sow and water; He alone causes increase.

Yes.

A bottleneck in the church is usually found in elderships who feel inclined to dispense Permission Granted to work requests.  In the name of shepherding the flock, many congregations cannot proceed toward God's handiwork simply because some elder(s)'s most vital need is to control.

This is a trait belonging to God.  And haven't you noticed He operates with one constant surprise after another?  The Restoration Movement has not taken us back to God.  It has taken us back to what the second generation restorationists insisted upon as God's way when much of it wasn't; it was more of man's....again.

The Bible is not a tidy handbook of How-Tos.  It is simple in its call to God's refusal to be trapped by man's authoritative arm.  He will not be cornered by our weak and self-laden understanding.

After these many years in the church, I am increasingly enjoying learning that God still has it about His wits to present believers with the surprise and mystery of beyond-imagination kingdom.

Father didn't run low on creative concepts after He parted a sea and a river and then caused a jailhouse to look like it was constructed with Legos.

Church growth and how to find it is never to be found in man's conclusion for such is Tinker Toyish at best.  Participating in church advancement is found in God's provisional hand.

The surrender of our own efforts is a move in the right direction.  A belief in the Son is the absolute work called for....John 6:29.

FINDING A LIFE FIT THAT SATISFIES

Do you think it seems that the majority of us, if not all, spend our time trying to get life to fit?  From education, to location, to occupation, to circulation (of friends), we spend exorbitant amounts of time and energy on the hunt for what pleases the self.

It seems as if happiness is a secret buried within the ruins of experience.  Elusively, satisfaction seems to hopefully reside just around the corner or over the next horizon.  Landing such a catch, however, appears to be rare.  Temporary placation doesn't count for we are seeking the permanent sort.

Enter the life vows of Jesus.

The narrow road to satisfaction just happens to be the one few want.  Yet there is no other way to authentic contentment.  We must lose our life in order to find it.  The announcement is clear.  However, the heart balks.  Roads and alleys of momentary satisfaction are sought only to be discovered as yet another temporary map to meaningful life.

Jesus lost his life to save the rest of us.  We are called to imitate him.  We are called to get lost to what we can imagine for ourselves by stepping out on a road of travel God has designed.  This will scare the living daylights out of us. Yet, to decline leaves us on perpetual hunt for meaning and purpose.

We are invited to lose our dreams and our intents in order to find bigger dreams and larger meaning. 

But....we hedge.  We trust the proverbial bird in the hand is better than two in the bush theology that sounds wise to we habitual theorists.  We have yet to understand that if that bird actually lands in the hand, it will soon take flight only to leave us once again empty-handed.

The reason for such massive struggle among these masses is that we want to do life with our toe on the bottom of the pool.  We hold on to our familiarities for comfort is our game.  We refuse to risk because such would involve mystery. 

If any are to find life with deep meaning, personal fear has got to go.  We are destined to lose our life in order to find it.  Willingness to endure failure by dying to fleeting dreams for the moment will prove to be amazing in both adventure and gratification. 

Whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it...Lk. 9:24

TO EACH OF MY FRIENDS...

Merry Christmas to each of you. 

Thank you for dropping in on occasion to check out my random quirks or wishful-thinking wise ponderances!

Blessings,
Terry

HAVE YOU NOTICED THE CONSISTENT HAND OF GOD?

It is a little more than unexplainable to note how God cannot be outdone.  Yes, the flesh might think so; just where have we seen that before?

Remember Jesus dying and bound for the cold tomb?  The unbelievers mocked and the believers wept as they walked away.  Over....it was all over.  This God-thing was a hoax.  Except....

....except believers and unbelievers alike didn't yet know the hand of God; His reach nor His strength.  It as if God was toying with the schemes of enemies to turn their momentary celebration into His grand theater for the well lit stage of all drama.

He emptied the grave and darkness has never recovered.

Every time death goes on a mission, life breaks out; even increases.  Every time.

When our family encountered one of its roughest times, I recall driving numb and stunned to the murder scene and thinking on my way, God, I bet you will use this tragedy in some way to enhance your church. 

That evening of darkness brought about amazing wonder.

Backsliding hearts returned immediately to God...much more in number than the two murdered. The lingering effects of light that came from that experience are still productive.  That cold December night was not a victory for Darkness.  It inspired even more Light.

Recall the Twin Towers of 9/11? 

What broke out immediately?  Renewed and resurrected faith!  Ashes were strewn in New York while renewed faith was ignited from Tallahassee to Tacoma.  Prayer groups sprouted in office complexes, coffee houses, and churches...unrehearsed, unplanned.  It was like some sort of God-ordained revival that we would never have organized on our own.

Death can't find victory; but rather, to its own embarrassment, causes life to break out!  It actually re-lit the wickes of fading hearts!

And look at the present pain in Newtown?  Twenty-six deaths and yet multitudes times multitudes of hearts have been quickened and stirred by the true Spirit.  Initially, it may seem that God may not get as much world media attention as the calamity itself. 

He's getting significant mention there, though, as well as breaking out in other aggressive and far-reaching connections.  Yet, that's not His only avenue.  God will arise (raise up) to become new life from books given, and small group assemblies, and inspiring messages aroused by this momentary affliction.

We should take note.  Death takes its best shot at us and loses even when it believes it has won.  We will not give darkness the credit it wishes.  We will turn it toward Father.  He alone dispels the darkness. 

Jehovah is at the other end of every grave.  He...our Living God...is consistent.  Victory is always His; never a defeat...not one...not ever.

God....He knows darkness and has the perfect response....every time.

PRAYERS FOR PHILIP AND JANET

I believe what I am about to share will encourage you about the arm of God and how far He reaches with, to, and through each of us.

I have this friend that writes stuff.  He's always writing...or lecturing...or listening...in some formation which would lead others to deeper spiritual understanding.  I speak of Philip Yancey.

Yesterday's eVolleys noted once again why I love and admire this brother so much.  He lives to see that societies are permeated with the hopeful touch of Jesus.  His words yesterday proved consistent.

He and wife Janet are invited to work with the devastated in Newtown, CT. in a few days.  He will speak to community groups and then field questions throughout the weekend after Christmas. 

From Germantown to Germany, readers of this blog wonder what we can do to assist the heartbroken of the Northeast.  I ask that you pray...really...for Philip's words and Janet's counsel to carry Holy Spirit backing and impact. 

Philip is a plain, common man with desperate need for God to flow from him for he is far too small left on his own.  Consider his request...and then thank God in prayer for His supreme presence and guidance over this troubling time.  May the abundant tears be transformed into telescopes to see the reality of kingdom life just a bit clearer.  Hearts are wide-open for help.  Let us be a part of a team that gives it.

See a portion of his humble note below. 

We've arranged two community-wide meetings, Friday and Saturday, Dec. 28-29, on the theme, "Where Is God When It Hurts?" and then two church services on Sunday.  Churches in the region will come together, and many who attend will be unchurched.  I've had some tough assignments (Virginia Tech, Mumbai, Sarajevo), but this one is horribly unique.  I would truly appreciate your prayers this week as I prepare--not exactly what I had planned for Christmas week--and then New Year's weekend as we travel to Connecticut........I'm not sure why I get picked for these assignments (God doesn't ask my permission in advance), and I feel unworthy, especially in this case because I am not a parent.  It helps mightily that we go not alone, rather buoyed by your support and prayers.

WE CANNOT SAVE OURSELVES

Being an intensely conscientious group, we strive for the ultimate; to please God.  Yet, such determination has backfired.  We have replaced His efforts with our own.  We work laboriously to save ourselves.  This move isn't made from ego as much as assumed responsibility.

But it is all wrong.

When we work to be in the saved mode, two warped manners develop: (1) we become lenient and understanding of ourselves with great grace to overlook our sins, and (2) we simultaneously become highly critical of others regarding even their slightest detraction from God's Word. 

Strangely, both oppose the call of God.

We cannot save ourselves.  This is up to God through Jesus.  We are not God.  Our job is to submit to His call and let Him provide salvation.  We want this; yet, somehow in the name of responsibility, we take on the role of judge for self and for brother.

It's weird, really, that the apostle Paul could see himself as sin-failured (Romans) and the very essence of chief sinner (Timothy); yet any who live in the church self-saved don't identify.  Those of us who do identify get the picture that the need for salvation is bigger than once assumed.

Some of the Jews regarded Jesus as prophet and good man; nothing more.  When one works for self-salvation Jesus has just been relabeled similarly...a prophet, a good man, but not a Savior.

When we realize we cannot possibly save ourselves via steps or service, we will then enter into the glorious reign of Jesus as King.  Salvation then means something for we realize how far he brought us.  Church shifts from obligation to gratitude.  And, fellowship is filled with over-joy rather than endurance.

We cannot save ourselves.  Thank you, God.

ARE WE THE BIG "C" OR THE LITTLE "c" CHURCH OF CHRIST?

The churches of Christ salute you.

During my conversion process in 1970, great pride swelled within to find my new church actually spelled out in the Bible.  We were listed!  The news (to me) that we were not a denomination, but were the true Bible church, was deeply meaningful and impressive.

I loved the simplicity.

However, it wasn't long until I learned that such a name represented some in a movement that had gradually become the very thing they had stood against; a denomination.  Church of Christ has become a brand name while the church of Christ is the one he continues to build.

The church owned by Jesus strives to live in tenderness willing to absorb God's unfolding truth.  The Church of Christ denomination knows all of the answers while being blinded to our own denominational practices. 

The church that Jesus builds remains flexible in the Holy Spirit in movement and heart.  The Church of Christ, however, is riddled with the very traditions we have long mocked other groups for possessing.

The Christ's church wants to advance in spiritual depth as well as meaning.  The capital C church wants to preserve what thirty-eight things we have rightfully concluded.

It isn't that we Church of Christers have no grip for Truth.  It is that we have been a people far too long heavy on Church and light on Christ.  Furthermore, I never experienced any persecution from our brotherhood to the level I did when shifting that very emphasis. 

The capital C church is enamoured with rules and forms.  The small c church is refreshingly dependent upon God for instruction and guidance day by day.  The former doesn't like the word new while the latter is new.

Finally, the capital C-ists believe that the true church has to have the name Church of Christ.  Biblical names like church of God or church of the firstborn are dismissed mainly because we are capital C-ists.

Small c-ists believe the church is Jesus'.  Its label for the street sign or listing in the yellow pages may be Battle Creek, Cornerstone, Brooklyn Tabernacle; on the list goes in great abundance.

To believe one to be a member of the true church is a very right concept.  To believe it has to have a capital C in order to be the only right one is subject to possible transference into the very denominational realm we bemoaned.

The churches of Christ still salute you.

THE RAT RACE: TO SHED OR NOT TO SHED?

We have choices.  Life circumstances can happen to us; yet we get to choose every response. 

We can choose to shed the Rat Race. 

Jesus did it. Others do it.  We can do it.

Friend Keith Roberts points to wisdom by saying, Spiritual apathy, the waste by-product of prayerlessness, creeps up on you because of this simple mistake: when the schedule gets crowded, prayer is the first thing left in the dust.  Let that happen and you lose perspective. Back to the Rat Race, running and circling but accomplishing little of real value.

Prayer calms an otherwise bossy, demanding, pushy, and hurried world.

When we aren't in prayer for God's provision and when we are forgetful to live immersed in thanksgiving toward Him, we take charge by two things; worry and control.  Neither help.  Each calls for more of the same.  And still, neither satisfies.

We find life running at us from too many directions because we put the cycle on speeding spin.

Prayer leans upon God.  If He responds immediately; very well.  But should He wait, we learn to wait with Him and for Him.  God runs the show.  We don't.  Prayer helps us to trust during the wait.  He will be there.

Fear moves in if prayer moves out.  We fear we will miss the bargain, will not be keeping up with the world's expectancies, or that we will fail to gain certain accolades if we should fail to be assertive.  Prayer, however, moves fear out.

Prayer believes God; believes He is functionally aware and perfectly capable to handle our little piece of space on earth.  He knows how.

The Rat Race can be shed.  It takes discipline to say "No" to the many things one feels pressed for engagement.  Prayer threads life's dailiness together for peaceful production.

This may be the 21st Century; but it is not the boss.