My Unopened Gift !

My wife promised not to buy any other Christmas gifts for me. We try, like most families, not to go overboard with gift-giving, and stay grounded in the Reason for the Season (the coming of Jesus). I'd pointed out a reasonably priced dress watch (sale price well under $99 for curious shoppers), and looked forward to wearing it after Christmas.

Then we invariably buy each other a few other items - which we claim don't count as 'big' gifts; a music CD and some dark chocolate this year.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day came and went.

We had wonderful family fellowship for Christmas Eve at our home. My wife and daughter, parents, sisters' families, niece and nephews...a relaxing, laughter-filled evening despite lingering health concerns for several among us.

Christmas Day at our church service we played worship music and soaked in the gorgeous sunlight coming through stained glass to spill over the beautifully decorated altar and creche. A truly appropriate celebration of Christ's coming to earth. Then after a late brunch at home we finally opened gifts amongst our small family (including daughter's boyfriend...please don't get me started). 

By day's end we were pleasantly worn out from all the preparation and activity and my girls had to get some sleep in order to face work the following day. That's the morning I remembered it. My new dress watch. I had reached into a drawer to pull out my old one - and laughed out loud.

A fully lived and loved Christmas with an unwrapped - and forgotten - gift still sitting on a shelf in our house somewhere.

I'm wearing it now - and I really like it. But it was a new twist on the 'Christmas is more than giving/getting gifts' theme.  This is a gift that I forgot was there. Purchased, ready and waiting on the shelf. I only had to ask my lovely bride and she gladly gave me the gift. I received it just as gladly. 

Jesus is there - a gift of eternal life and love - unopened by millions of people.  Christmas comes and goes with great joy and fellowship; is there anyone you know who still has an unopened gift of redemption waiting for them?  Why not offer to help them find it? Maybe they know it's there, but are unsure of how to ask. It could be their best Christmas ever.

What do you believe?

Christmas - Date Doesn't Matter

Here's a comment that puzzle's me every year:

"We'll, nothing in the Bible says that Jesus was born on December 25th, and besides, that's really just co-opting a previously existing Winter solstice holiday..."

Therefore, the dismissive reasoning goes, Christ-mas is irrelevant and Jesus is too.

But nothing could be further from...the Truth.

None of the four Gospel accounts of Jesus' life require any dependencies for his redemptive role on calendar dates for his birth. There are two descriptions of Jesus' birth (read the Gospels of Matthew and Luke), but those speak of the census conducted by Caesar - an event, not a date.

Just as George Washington's birthday has become co-opted as "President's Day" in America - the 40+ Presidents who really don't share that birthday are no less real; the day was just chosen for the convenience of those celebrating it.

Jesus lived - no serious historical accounts debate that. He was born - it stands to reason.

When we celebrate the birth of Jesus - December 25th has become the commonly shared day to do so - there are better questions to ask than, "is this really the date?" 

Why did God choose to reach out to us in the person of Jesus - showing us that he understands our human condition?

What is the significance of Jesus' shockingly humble arrival - in a stable, to a poor family in an occupied country?

What was his ultimate, singular purpose as the Saviour?

What does it mean to me and my family?

I love Christmas-time. I love the special music, the special gatherings and fellowship, the special kindness and gift giving. It's unique, and it works. But, pick any other day or date to celebrate the arrival and life of Jesus -- and I'll join you !

Merry Christ-mas !

What do you believe?

 

No One at Head Table

About five years ago I spoke to a co-worker about my mom's pending cancer treatment. I'd heard that this lady was a cancer survivor, and she gave me lots of encouragement, just being willing to talk about it. She didn't overwhelm me with information or instructions - just let me talk whenever I walked by her cube - and let me know that our family wasn't the first, or only family experiencing cancer. She later moved to a different building on our campus, but whenever I've seen her, she's alway's asked, "how's your mom?" And having heard my brother-in-law has cancer, she now asks after him.

Last week she sent me an invitation to a luncheon at work, an annual gathering for cancer mentors and survivors like herself. "I'm not a mentor or a survivor," I said, "I've been on the receiving side of your support."   "That's ok," she assured me, "it's for anyone who's been involved."

Partly because she's been so kind to me, I drove to the luncheon. And, part of me wanted to go because it helps to be around people who understand the unspoken concerns of cancer - even for a family member like me, who is not sick. 

When I arrived, she walked right up to me and put me at ease in her conversational, every-person style. "How's your brother-in-law?" she asked without prompting. And I met other people gathering there - a young mother who's daughter has leukemia. A man who has survived prostate cancer, and just lost a co-worker friend who did not.

We all sat at simple, round banquet tables and chatted - about cancer. It wasn't the least bit morbid or discomforting. It was encouraging and helpful.

When you sensed it was time for a speaker to step up to the microphone podium - there was no head table - my friend of five years from the simple office cube, who was seated inauspiciously next to me at the luncheon, got up and went to the front. She, it turns out, is the leader and founder of this soon-to-be international fellowship of survivors and mentors.  In her simple way, she recalled how they had founded their little group 10 years ago, only to have it touch thousands of lives - like mine - in the process. And then the president of our business walked up and presented her his personal thanks for all she's done, and continues to do.

Jesus tells the parable of a banquet, where people were choosing seats of honor at the front.

"But when you are invited, take the lowest place, then when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will honored in the presence of your fellow guests. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Luke 14:10

I saw my friend take the lowest place, next to me -- only to be called to the front and honored by the highest authority in our business. And, I expect, one day she might receive a similar greeting from the highest Authority of all.

What do you believe?

That's Just Coincidence

30 years ago I used to play a little blues music with a fellow dorm resident, Steve. I play guitar and Steve was (is) the best blues harmonica player I'd ever had the good fortune to jam with.  I have no idea how we met on campus, but I really took a liking to Steve and his friendly, always-outgoing personality. Then we graduated and that was that. No forwarding address or contact info. Never heard from him, or of him, again.

Some 12 years later, now married and relocated to another state, I was out of work for four months. It's a long story, but I'd amicably resigned from a small company over customer service differences with the owner. I'd been confident that God would honor my decision--only to grow increasingly concerned as the weeks turned into months without another job. But we prayed and waited.

One day my wife returned from a walk through the neighborhood with our daughter, saying she'd met one of my old college friends. Some guy I used to play music with. A Steve-somebody.

Sure enough, it was Steve the harmonica player. He'd been living in the same neighborhood with us for 2 years and we'd never crossed paths. He asked me what kind of work I was looking for and two days later I got a call from a company needing someone with my qualifications and experience. I soon joined their company and eventually became a Senior Vice President in their firm. "How did you get my name?" I'd asked them at the time.  "Steve called us and recommended you," they replied.  Steve the harmonica player.

After another few years of living in the same neighborhood, Steve and his family moved on, and we lost touch, again.  

Some years later I met a new friend, Greg, at an informal prayer group we had at work.  He eventually transferred to one of our other divisions - and, when I asked him to keep his eye out for other career opportunities in that division, I was soon copied on an email to one of his colleagues in that division. When they interviewed me, it was because "Greg mentioned you."

I've worked there to this day, and Greg has long since moved on to another, and then another company. We've lost touch.

30 years ago I used to lay in my dorm bed at night praying, "Lord, I have no idea what I'm going to do with my life. Please help me. Please make it all work out." Just as, I'm sure, millions of other people have prayed.

Steve the harmonica player and Greg the prayer group friend are just two of the countless dots I can now connect when I gaze back to see how God has answered that long ago prayer. "Please make it all work out."

You can call them coincidences, but I recognize them as blessings. And I'm thankful.

What do you believe?

Nobody Told Me about This !

Five of us were packed into the minivan on our way to the basketball arena last night. All of a sudden a few snowflakes hit the windshield and we laughed. It's not even Thanksgiving yet!  Another mile and it became a steady snowfall, and the road is starting to cover. A couple more miles down the highway and it was honest-to-goodness winter storm warning; blizzard like waves of snow, couldn't see the road markings and the minivan was losing traction. In just a few minutes we had gone from jovial pre-game chatter to cautious tension. Was it getting even worse? Should we turn back...pull over?

With no warning or preparation I was suddenly asking myself questions - how good were the tires? (I've been meaning to change them); what if we slide into a ditch ? (no shovel, and not all of us were dressed for the deteriorating temperatures), what if somebody from the other direction crosses into our lane (you couldn't see the road markings anymore)?

I was particularly unsettled because I hadn't seen it coming. I wasn't ready. Sure it snows up here - but nobody told me it was going unleash a blizzard today. Tonight...right this second...

Jesus said,

"Therefore, keep watch because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." Matthew 24:42

I would have checked the tires, thrown in a shovel and made sure everyone had gloves and a hat! I wasn't ready, and I was irritated because no one had told me. But then my friends said, "it was on the radio and the TV before we'd left" - I just hadn't paid attention.

Jesus is coming back with no specific advance notice or schedule, and in that brief shout of glorious transition, people are going to quickly ask themselves..."do I have a relationship with the Lord God Almighty?"

Don't wait for a blizzard to hit before you check your tires.

What do you believe?

First, Stop the Graffiti

I heard once that New York City law enforcement - and their famous mayor - dug in on successful crime reform by addressing rampant, unchecked, city-wide graffiti.  They determined that it bred an overall sense of disrespect in their community. Whether that in itself made a difference, I have no idea - but I do know that my visits to New York City in recent years have been pleasant, I felt reasonably safe, and I didn't see a whole lot of graffiti.

When I finally started reading the Bible - really reading it - I saw a whole lot of room for improvement in my life. Believe me, I had many choices of where to dig in and start! Just read Chapters 5 - 7 in the Gospel of Matthew.

But one theme of "graffiti" that really connected with me was telling the truth. Not lying. It had become incredibly easy for me in those first 28 years to lie for convenience.  "Can't attend because I'm sick,"  "Just tell them I'm not here,"  "I didn't do that,"  "I didn't say that."  

The graffiti was so pervasive - that I no longer saw some of it.  Even my dear wife had been pulled into a couple of my - seemingly harmless - lies of convenience, and she resented having to cover, by lying herself. It had bred disrespect in our community. I really didn't see the harm...until I stopped.  At one point I just declared, "I don't lie."  And God helped to convict and open my eyes from that point on. Of course, things were actually easier when I didn't lie. People respected my honesty, I got caught in fewer convoluted traps of past graffiti.

But the most important object lesson for me was not wringing my hands over what to do.  "I don't lie." So, the course of action was clear - it was liberating!  And I was able to say to our young toddler, with conviction - "honey, we don't lie."  Now, with her as an adult, we will check each other and examine the truth of our actions, as well as words and advise, "as long as it's true."

Look, Christianity is humility. We're not better  than anyone else because we declare our belief in God - we're more aware of where God's ways are better ways. And I believe His Holy Spirit has helped and encouraged me to see so many areas where I can grow to be more like His Son, Jesus. I started with the graffiti. He's still working with me.

What do you believe?

Fix the Foundation

We kept getting these cracks in the drywall at our last house - and they taught me a lot.

 After endlessly patching and painting them, I also realized that certain doors were sticking, then some windows. I'd fix one problem, and another would pop up.  It all led to the foundation of our house, which was literally slipping down our very steep hill on the side of a beautifully wooded ravine.

Turns out that the builder did not fully follow established codes. So we paid to have enormous amounts of concrete and rebar added to stem the tide and a certified engineer determined that it was back to acceptable code. Just because we had purchased a house that looked ok on the outside, hadn't meant that it was built to code...and time revealed that, one crack at a time.

God has made it easy for us by providing a written code - His inspired and revealed Word in the Holy Bible. This is the foundation. I spent the first 28 years of my life constantly applying patches and paint to my life. My moral code was almost comically spackled with contradiction and hypocrisy. Then I read the Gospels. Then I immersed myself in Paul's letters. Then I joined a Bible study...

I had finally realized that I couldn't simply "reason" and intellectualize my way through right and wrong. There was God's foundation, or there was the world's hardware store full of self-help books, philosophies and disciplines. Some look good for awhile, but time reveals them. Or, you can learn their flaws by examining the code upon which they were built.

I still need a repair every now and then, when cracks appear in my life - but I've got a supernatural contractor to work with - and I am assured that there's no longer a problem with the foundation.

What do you believe?

Mom's 80 Today

My mom turns 80 today and we're gathering to celebrate.

Five years ago we thought we'd lose her to cancer. Just 5 months ago she spent weeks in the hospital ICU and we almost lost her to pneumonia. I looked at her in that hospital bed, watching her heart rate climb to 180,  seeing the oxygen cranked up to max. "Nothing else we can do for her..." We were starting to say the things you say when you think you might not get another chance.

But she's back,  spunky as ever, still driving and shopping - and we're celebrating her 80th birthday today. And I thank God for the gift of these past 5 years, more than any of the previous 46 of my lifetime - because I really didn't think her frail body would make it. Thank God for his miracles, thank God I've had this time with my mom.

But I know there's no formula to this. Just weeks ago we lost our friend Marion, who is my mom's age. And just this week a friend at work lost her favorite uncle - and she's heartbroken. And how many others, family and famous have passed on in the last five years?

God has a plan for each one of us - and I know there is wisdom in everything he accomplishes for his purpose.

Steven Curtis Chapman said about the loss this year of his young daughter, "God only has so many chapters written for each person's life - and she lived her six years like she knew that would be all to her story in this life."

I have no idea how many more chapters there are to my mother's life, or mine for that matter - she and God continue to surprise - and delight - us all.  There are countless fond memories and experiences I hold dear for my mother. But nothing compares to the five years I thought we'd never have. 

Today my mom turns 80 and we're going to celebrate a beautiful life well lived. Thank God.

What do you believe?

 

Olympic Pole Vault

One more Olympic-year post.

I think it was Pete Briscoe that I heard share this insight on pole vaulting, the event where athlete's sprint down a narrow runway, holding a skinny rod of plastic and then launch themselves 20 feet in the air to clear a horizontal bar. Crazy, but they do it.

Well, not everyone.

Some people look up at the bar, shake their heads and then walk away. Impossible.

Some people ask to change the rules - lower the bar to a height where they can simply step over it without the pole. Dilutes the challenge and ignores the other participants, but it makes them feel better.

And some people just say, "Hand me the pole" and race down the runway at full tilt - like they believe it.

You have to believe something in order to run toward a 20 foot bar with a pole in your hand.

It's doable. It seems impossible, but with a healthy dose of insight - faith and trust in the process and whoever put the landing pad on the other side - why not take the leap?

Have a relationship with God, for eternity?

"Impossible" feels inadequate to that task and never actually asks the questions - how might this actually be true, and what must I believe? They prefer to keep looking for a more appealing event.

"Rule changer" has just as much doubt as "impossible" but still wants what the other participants are after - and so asks for a lower bar; They reason, "I don't think God actually meant for us to  repent, or change our lifestyle just to follow in the ways of Jesus."   

"Faithful" looks at the bar of sinlessness with humility and realizes that no amount of technical training or exercise is ever going to qualify them for this event -  for all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God (Romans 3:23).  They're in no better condition than "impossible" or "rule changer," and they know it. But there they are still running headlong down the runway toward an impossible height. Why is that? They will never make it on their own...

That skinny plastic pole that Christians hang on to and fling themselves heavenward on, is called Grace. It's the perfect gift we get that we don't deserve. We're not elite athletes - in fact, we're just like anyone else - same flaws, same fears.

But the guy at the end of the runway handing out the poles? His name is Jesus.

"With man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible." Matthew 19:26

What do you believe?  

Alpha and Omega - Jesus, or God ?

Jesus allowed people to identify him as God.

His disciple Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God !" John 20:28

And Jesus himself said, "I and the Father are one."  John 10:30

 Sometimes people are tempted to explain this away and suggest that Christianity is a belief of multiple gods, or that Jesus was a 'lesser' god.

But here are two verses that cut right to the heart of the matter.

In the old testament, the prophet Isaiah is instructed by God to explain:

"This is what the Lord says, Israel's King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty:

   I am the first and the last; apart from me there is no God."  Isaiah 44:6

That's God with a big "G" and it clearly teaches 1 God.

Then in the final book of the Bible, Jesus says,

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the end."  Revelation 21:5

Jesus uses the very words of the old testament prophecy to explain who he is.

The Believers of the Bible are monotheistic - that is, belief in one God.

 So, Jesus claimed to be as One with God the Father Almighty - and allowed his followers to say so.

We can too.

What do you believe?

Beatles Announce: No more touring !

After the 1966 Candlestick Park concert in San Francisco, the Beatles never toured again.

They said they could be a lot more productive in the studio without the distractions and limitations of traveling.  They couldn't record if they were sitting in limo's and airplanes.

The message to fans like me was that we'd actually get a lot more from them this way. They had to "go away" so that we could get a different part of them back in greater measure. I still held hope that they would return for another big event, but it wasn't to be. In that glorious short time between 1963 and 1966, they had transformed my world of music.

Still, even without their living presence, my daughter, born 20 years later, became an avid fan and follower. To this day she can sing from memory any number of Beatle lyrics -- like millions and millions of others...

Jesus said to his disciples,

"I tell you the truth, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you." John 16:7

"The Counselor, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." John 16:26

In three short years, Jesus transformed the world's understanding of our relationship with God. His friends and followers desperately wanted him to stay. But he knew that in leaving, even more could be accomplished by the Holy Spirit of God. Even without Jesus' physical presence, and having been born almost 2,000 years later...I know all his words...and I'm looking forward to his return event...the one that he himself has promised.

What do you believe?

Not Sure I can Make it...

My three friends and I started up the steep trails to Half Dome in Yosemite with every intention of getting to the summit. Otherwise, why take on the months of preparation, travel and scheduling - not to mention the grueling day itself. But there was that moment on the steep switchbacks leading up to the final shoulder that I balked.  I looked up the slope and down at the return path and was afraid at the exposure to falling. Until then it had all been about moving forward -- taking the next step, rounding the next bend. But now I could actually see how steep things were and feel the effects of gravity as I leaned sharply into the trail.  I could have gladly been talked into turning back - so close to the end !  So close to victory. Then I heard one of my companion's voice in encouragement -  "come on Tom, its not far now."   I knew it wasn't far, that wasn't the problem - it was actually the closeness and reality that bothered me most. But my friends voice put me back on track. I could do it, and there was strength in that fellowship with my friends. The setting hadn't changed, but my determination had.

When Jesus came to the final days of his ministry he did sense the reality and danger of death, yet he said to his traveling companions:

"Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour?' No it was for this very reason I came to this hour."  John 12:27

He'd been called, he'd fulfilled every step of his ministry - and being fully human enough to feel troubled, he still looked at his friends and said it was no time to turn back - since that was the very reason for which he came.

What do you believe?

A or B ? I choose C...

Some people tried to trip Jesus up with what they thought was a tricky question. They posed it in a way where either of two choices would paint him in a corner -- pitting him against one group of believers or another.

Jesus didn't accept their premise or the prefabricated "terms" of choosing one of their answers.

He simply said,

"You are in error because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God."

He then explained why even their question betrayed their bias and manipulation - rather than an honest pursuit of Truth.

Read the rest of Matthew, Chapter 22, verses 23 - 33 for the lively, enjoyable exchange.

 We need to be wary of questions posed to us in this a) or b) fashion - even indirectly by our culture, media or politicians.

"Would you rather, a) let a woman choose abortion, or b) punish her life with a baby?"

Neither. Let the baby live and a loving family adopt him or her, or give her the support she needs to love and raise the child herself...helping her to see that neither is a punishment, regardless of how the baby was conceived. 

"Would you rather a) force religious views about Intelligent Design on public school students, or b) allow science-based, religion-neutral facts about evolution to be taught?"

Neither.  Teach both equally as what they are, theories, without injecting any religious overtones at all. Let whatever facts are available for each theory speak for themselves.  And, we'll overlook that evolution itself is more faith-based religion, than scientific fact.

In both of these cases, the questions are posed to intimidate people of faith into thinking they have one of two very manipulatively selected choices.

Jesus didn't buy it, and neither should we.

What do you believe?

A friend's passing

A very dear family friend passed away this fall.

Marion was a generation older than me, wife of Tony,  both on the best friends list of my parents since their early 20's.

Marion had an iron will. She'd survived tuberculosis and the loss of a lung in those early years of their marriage. That's when she and Tony had endeared themselves to my folks, and vice versa. They played cards with Marion in the hospital and gave support to Tony at work. Marion beat the odds of tuberculosis, and then some.

By the time I came along, our two family's were close enough that we even traveled cross country in the '62 Chevy - no air conditioning - to visit them when they moved to California for  a job change.

My fondness for Marion and Tony grew stronger once I hit my twenties - staying with them on a few of my business trips and catching a few games of golf when they came to visit my folks.

Marion had a certain joy that was at the heart of who she was. You saw it as a smile and heard it as laughter. A couple times when I called home to my folks and Marion was visiting, my dad would just hold the phone receiver out and let me listen to her laugh. Hearing her laugh, even over the phone, was balm for the soul.

In these final years I learned something deeper though. That river of laughter ran right between the shores of her serenity. Just as I'd felt so happy to laugh with her, there was a relaxed calm sitting beside her with a cup of coffee. I wonder if someone who came so close to death at an early age, not knowing if there would be any future - had a more innate sense that joy is both laughter and peace. I pray, even today, that I will know Joy that is steeped in serenity - maybe like someone who thought their life was over, only to realize there was a richness beyond measure still to come.

"Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."  Nehemiah 8:10

I'm going to miss Marion, more than a person might think. I only wish I could listen in on the receiver and hear the laughter she's stirring up on the other side. I'll bet some of the saints have tears in their eyes, too.

What do you believe?

Tree Rings and Shade

My 80 year old dad is a volunteer historian for our state fair.

He's attended over half the state fairs held in the history of the state, and literally grew up just down the street from the venerable grounds.

So when one of the fair's old maple trees recently succumbed to time and disease, my dad felt more than a  passing wistfulness for an old friend.

He and a local arborist examined the tree's cross section, counting the rings to determine its age at around two hundred years, give or take. Long enough to have seen local Native Americans give way to early state settlers, barnstorming stops by the first airplanes - even a speech about agriculture, by a lanky gentleman passing through from the state to our south, a Mr. Lincoln.

But the arborist pointed out something else to my dad. Something most people would miss. He said that the early years of the tree were spent in the shade of other, larger trees. You could see that the rings are thinner, much closer together, indicating less growth. But then the later years, as the tree became more mature in the grove, and exposed to the light, are thicker and more robust. Maybe some droughts and rainy stretches had their impact as well.

Isn't that exactly what life is like for us? Until we break through the spiritual shade of this world - doubt, sin, selfishness, pride...our growth is stunted, even unhealthy.

But the Light. Ah...the Light.

When Jesus and his teachings reach through to hit our leaves - when we let that supernatural photosynthesis do its work - that's when we grow to our full potential in the grove. Sure, there are some droughts and rainy seasons thrown into the mix. But our family and friends are right there in the grove with us, or down the street.

And the Son is always there too, ready to break through the clouds.

What do you believe?

Stomaching the Truth

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."

I keep a small, white eraser board just outside my office cube. Once or twice each week I scrawl a quotation and note the author. It's usually something simple, just a line or two by the famous and anonymous.  

While I started the practice for my own encouragement - I very quickly realized that my office neighbors enjoy the diversion from business details as well.

Once, as I washed my hands in the men's rest room, an unfamiliar face looked over in the mirror and said, "you're the quote guy."

Since I work in marketing, I assumed that he had mistaken me for someone in sales who provides customer quotes. I was about to say that when it dawned on me.

Right.......the quote guy.

"I guess I am," I smiled back. And he talked about a couple of his favorites, encouraging me to keep it going. Now I actually receive suggested quotes via email, and friendly admonishments if I've waited too long to update the board.

That's how I came upon Flannery O'Connor's quote:

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."

With due respect to the departed author, I don't know anything about her other writings.

But, if Google searches are any indication, she's left behind a very popular quotation.

In just a dozen words, she's spotlighted the difference between an orthodox application of Biblical teachings, and the newly popular, relative morality of "cafeteria style" Christianity...where someone adopts only those parts that they find palatable or appealing.

But O'Connor's words do convict: "The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."

Make a point to write those 12 words on a piece of paper. Then, with that as your bookmark, read the Gospel of John. Or one of Paul's letters to the Galatians, Philippians, Ephesians and Collosians.

Jesus said, "Sanctify them by your Truth. Your word is Truth."

It's hard to look away from that one -- even if you can erase it from the board on the wall.

What do you believe?

 

Jesus at the Olympics

I attended the 1996 Olympics with my Dad and big sister, Judy.

We're huge track & field fans, my dad a former coach; my sister and I former distance champions.

We strolled a lawn near the Olympic village and pondered how to spend a couple hours before our evening session in Olympic Stadium. Suddenly, my dad held up a hand and said, "do you hear that?" Some Peruvian flute music drifted above the multi-lingual conversations swirling about us. Sure, we heard it, there was a stage across the mall and down a flight of stairs. We made our way through the throng until we were close enough to see the smiling, brown-skinned band of musicians - still quite a  ways off. "I know those guys!" my dad exclaimed. 

My sister and I exchanged a glance.

"Dad, there are dozens of bands like that," I explained. And indeed, in the Midwest we frequently enjoy this ubiquitous brand of music at the many summer festivals and craft fairs. Long pony tails, pan flutes, guitars and a portable sound system. Standard fare.

But my 69 year-old dad was already making a beeline for the band.

Even cloaked in the anonymity of the Olympic setting, my sister and I smiled weakly.

"Oh dad..." but we followed gamely after him, wondering what he intended to do and whether we'd somehow have to endure every child's public spectacle-phobia for a parent drawing unwanted attention.

Then something marvelous happened. 

To this day, I would not have believed it, had I not seen it for myself.

From our vantage point on the stairs, we watched my dad cross the final yards to the stage.

"Oh no," I muttered, "he's walking right up to the stage." 

And then, as we watched in slow motion, first one, and then another of the band nudged each other, obviously recognizing my dad, and with big smiles - even as they kept playing - gave friendly nods of welcome; seeming quite pleased to have him their to appreciate their big Olympic moment. And there he stood, so sincerely enjoying their music that he had no idea that hundreds of people were asking themselves - "who is that gentleman so well known by the band...?"

"How in the world..." my sister asked incredulously.

As it turned out, this was the same group that my dad had seen many times in the Central Wisconsin fairs and festivals he loves so much. And, typical of my dad, he had taken the time to say hello, compliment their music, and then renew the acquaintance on more than one occasion. And on that day in Atlanta, they rewarded his friendship.

Three things stick with me from that Olympic moment.

1. My dad is one of the most fascinating, beloved persons I have ever met.

2. We can, in fact, recognize the voice of our Shepherd, Jesus -- even in the craziness of this world and all its noisy, frenetic distractions.  We can hold up our hand and say, "Do you hear that?" And recognize the Word of God, even the Truth. Then walk towards it to be greeted with the warmth of friendship and acceptance.

3. It isn't at all difficult to believe that the Apostle Paul - with all the other disciples of Jesus - could have made their way through the cities of the first century and connected on a personal level with almost every inhabitant. Imagine someone strolling through Olympia in 68 A.D, centuries after the first Olympics, hearing a voice loudly proclaiming Jesus in the public square. Maybe a returning traveler turned to their family to say..."I know that man."  Sure, their companions might have just rolled their eyes and cringed - like my sister and I did. 

Or maybe....

What do you believe?

Is that a fire in your kitchen?

The Susan G. Komen cancer prevention organization has sponsored a provocative poster-ad in major airports, and a video version as well. My wife and I first saw it in the Minneapolis airport last month, and again in Atlanta's over the weekend. 

In the poster scene, an attractive women is drinking a cup of coffee in her kitchen, evidently unaware - or in denial - that a dangerous fire that has broken out beside her stove.

The ad's obvious message is that we should warn someone of preventable disaster, like cancer.  The organization's slogan even states, "We're on a mission." I wholeheartedly support such cancer awareness campaigns, especially since my own family is no stranger to cancer.

The irony of this particular image -- telling your neighbor about the fire creeping up on them -- is that it's long been used for Christian evangelism.

Question #1: "Should you tell your neighbors that a relationship with God through Christ will help to shield them from worldly risks and temptations in their lives that could ultimately lead to spiritual death?"

Answer #1: "Well, I think that's personal and I don't want to seem pushy; better to leave them to their own journey.

Question #2: "Well, if you drove by the neighborhood and their house was on fire, would you stop and tell them?"

Answer #2:  "Of course, but that's different.

And so goes a reasonable evangelical dialog. If we truly believe the Good News of Jesus, can anyone blame us for wanting to tell the whole world--out of love and compassion? It's not to condemn, it's to save.

Does anyone believe that the same ad used to promote cancer awareness is trying to condemn those who don't take cancer prevention seriously...or is it rather to help people take healthy preventative actions as a result? 

The Susan G. Komen volunteers are on a mission -- so are the Believers of Jesus.

What do you believe?

Daily Bread - Daily Dependence

We're spending a few days of vacation with our inlaws in sunny (hot!) Florida.
I flipped through the local radio stations in our rental car until I heard a radio preacher teaching about the "Lord's Prayer" from the Gospel. Most of us know it..."Our Father, who art in heaven - Holy is your Name. May your Kingdom come, and Your will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven."
Now here's the part I haven't often thought of:
"...Give us this day, our daily bread..."
The radio preacher pointed this out as a great reminder that we're to depend on God for our "daily" needs. Not just to check in on him monthly, yearly, or even weekly at church.
We should have a "daily" relationship with God - one where we would even place our dependence for our daily source of bread with Him - as well as the "Bread of Life," for our eternal needs.
I intend to keep that daily relationship with God, especially in prayer - as Jesus taught.
What do you believe?

Yosemite - Part I

My wife and I reveled in the power of Yosemite waterfalls gushing with snowmelt last week.
There were spectacular views of mountains, giant sequoias and flowered meadows - even a hulking black bear not far off the trail.
There was also a spiritual matter that unfolded in a new way for me at Yosemite...

We encountered El  Capitan as a unique experience. For quite some time we used binoculars to watch the thrilling rock climbers hanging from the granite monolith, making careful progress to the top.
A few miles down the road we spent many hours around Yosemite Falls, trying to take in the full view - but never quite saw the entire top-to-bottom drop.
And we kept finding ourselves drawn to Half Dome, a dominant view throughout the park. We even hiked a small portion of the 8 mile round trip to it's top.
Each of these three jewels in the Yosemite crown were under the constant scrutiny and reverie of hundreds of our co-visitors. Just seeing them one by one was a trip in itself.
But then we climbed Sentinal Dome...and Yosemite was forever transformed in my understanding.
You see, Sentinal Dome is about 4,000 feet above the valley floor. And suddenly, from a vantage point looking back toward our three unqiue valley friends - you realize that they are each linked to a long running, continuous wall of trees and granite.
If you start a line from El Capitan and follow the ridges and valleys, you'll come to the precipice of Yosemite Falls, and then across Mirror Lake and over to Half Dome -- you see it all from one view. Three unique and distinct visages, all combined through some mysterious, wonderful complexity into what everyone commonly refers to as, Yosemite.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
All combined through some mysterious, wonderful complexity into what we commonly refer to as God. Each unique and distinct.
You wouldn't have believed it standing at the base of El Capitan, neck craned back, staring 3,000 feet up its sheer cliffs. How could something so massive, so powerful be just a part of something even bigger ?
And yet...

What do you believe?

Yosemite and the Trinity - Part II

When my wife and I stepped off the main trail to Sentinel Dome in Yosemite, we were exhilarated with our view of the Yosemite Valley. There to the left, El Capitan; just in front of us, Yosemite Falls; and to our right, Half Dome.
But we hadn't yet climbed to the tippy top of Sentinel Dome. The 8,100 ft. summit was still a brief - but very steep - scramble of 75 yards or so to the top, and past a band of slippery snow encircling the dome.
My wife had no intention of climbing further up the dome.
"I can see everything from here," she reasoned accurately about El Cap, the Falls and Half Dome.
"But the view will be better further up the dome," I urged her.
"It's scary enough here, and I might be afraid to come back down," she replied.
"But it's not that much further and you've already come this far," I pushed.
"Why can't I just enjoy where I am - you're going to spoil it for me," she finally said.

Fair enough. Just as Part I of this blog illustrated a core belief of orthodox Christianity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit - this conversation with my soulmate taught me something about our individual walks with God.
As Believers, we share the same core concept - Jesus is the Redeemer, Son of God who died for our Sins. Turning from our past ways to Believe in Him we have the Promise of eternal life in our relationship with God. That's the common view we share from the base of Sentinel Dome.
But what's a little further up the hill? Additional, different views and perspectives of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit maybe. But while I was exploring Sentinel Dome, scanning and searching for views - taking many pictures, talking to others at the Summit - my wife was happily soaking up her experience there at the base of the hill.
She affirmed some other climbers who didn't want to go further and they found solidarity in their experience.
Once I made the short trip down, we compared notes and eventually walked back down the trail.
Now, as we tell people about Sentinel Dome - we each describe the fact that you can see the three landmarks so beautifully - but its very difficult for me to explain the nuance of that final scramble to the top. I'm delighted to have enhanced my experience that way - but my wife has no regrets either. And we both revel in the shared experience.
Sometimes I look around the room at my Bible Study and wonder why no one else carries around a Bible commentary and a highlighter - or stops to write notes in the margins. But they're quite fulfilled in their walk and we clearly share the same view of the subject matter. Maybe I've just decided to travel a little further along the same trail.

What do you believe?

Got the Book - Start the Surgery

World Magazine just ran an article reminding us that Bible sales are at an all time high, but readership - or Bible literacy - isn't necessarily stellar. I was surprised to read how many varieties and versions there are! Picture the "Athletes" version I gave my GodDaughter, complete with Basketball-like leather cover.
The next day, I happened upon a TV preacher (I can't recommend her, since I have no background or insights about her ministry, this was just a random channel change), who was also talking about Bible reading.
Building on her original premise and adding my own spin...
"how would you feel about your surgeon walking in with his textbook on open heart surgery and you ask him, 'have you read that thing?'  And he answers, 'well, I've been through it cover-to-cover once, but now I focus on my favorite chapters.' And you ask, 'why do you carry it around with you like that?' and he says, 'It gives me a certain comfort and I keep hoping to spend more time with it.'   Whoa!  Is that who you're going to go to with matters of life and death and surgery...or eternity...? ! "

The real life question is...are you carrying around a Bible - or thinking about the one sitting on a shelf (or pew) somewhere? The Apostle Peter said we should be prepared to own up to what we know or don't know when we're asked - a full disclosure of sorts.

1 Peter 3:15
"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have."

What do you believe ?

First, Who's fault was it ?

I listen to many Christian radio preachers via podcast. Pete Briscoe suggested on his Telling the Truth podcast last month that one day you may happen upon a terrible traffic accident. What if, he posited, there were hundreds of agonized, suffering people strewn everywhere on the scene - desparately needing help and comfort? Would you start by wandering through the crowd and asking each of them, "were you responsible for this tragedy?" before helping them?
Of course not!
And yet that is how many of us - to this day - have viewed the AIDS crisis. Wondering, or suggesting, that helping people who are literally dying before our eyes may somehow "endorse" some of the contributing factors we oppose.
Faced with Pete's brilliant metaphor of a traffic accident - every one of us would jump in and help the suffering accident victims now - then ask questions and put up a better stoplight later.

I finally get it.

What do you believe ?

God Saves = Saved

The crowd was finally thinning out after the last night of the Billy Graham crusade in Cincinnati some years back. I was standing on the football field, looking up at my daughter and her girlfriend, who were leaning over the railing of the first row to chat with me. Her, friend, whom we'd known since Kindergarden,  had often posed questions about her faith. This day, although
 she'd enjoyed Billy Graham, she "just didn't like the way they said 'saved,' " as in, we could be 'saved' by knowing Jesus.
And since then, I've met other people, either seekers, or from liturgical churches, who will say, "I don't know if I'd say I'm 'saved' but I go to church and I believe in God."
Whatever the discomfort with the word itself, it makes perfect sense for any believer to use it, or a seeker to be curious about it.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Joseph named his son, "Jesus," or "Joshua" meaning "Yahweh saves" or..God Saves. This, after the angels are quoted in Luke as having said, "...there is born to you this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."
What is the object of one who saves...but those who are...saved.
How does that come to be, that we are 'saved' from our natural tendencies of sin by the "Savior" who came to redeem us?
Most everyone has seen the quote from John's Gospel, "John 3:16." If you've never read it, I encourage you to find a Bible, turn to the Gospel of John, chapter three, verse 16 and read it.
But it's the next verse, verse 17, spoken by the Savior Jesus, that explains his own mission,
"For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved."
"He who believes," Jesus says, "is not condemned."   vs. 18
Why would you believe in Jesus as your savior, and so be saved?
Why not?
Please read the rest of the Gospel of John and then consider...

What do you believe?

"No honey, we can't just kill people"

A friend was sharing his very sad family situation where an elderly uncle had to be moved from his home to a care center, no longer able to care for himself or his home. (neighbors had called the authorities who found him fallen and sick in the house). Unfortunately his uncle no longer recognized anyone, even my friend, who is the only surviving relative. So, the poor uncle finds himself abruptly in a new environment with literally
no one he knows or recognizes and his health is not good.
I encouraged my friend for the compassionate way he attended to the situation, having
literally saved the uncle's life from a precarious balance, alone in that house.
My friend agreed reluctantly, and noted in passing that his young son had asked about the seeming hopelessness of the situation.
"Can't someone do something in these situations?" the youngster asked.
"What else could we do?" my friend asked.
"Well, isn't this where people consider assisted suicide?" came the answer.
My friend handled the question appropriately and explained the slippery slope of "assisting" someone who no longer has their mental reasoning faculties. "It's not 'suicide' in that case," he rightly explained, "we'd have to use a different word for doing that..."
My friend was right--a different word indeed. I sense that we don't share the same Spiritual worldview, but my friend's innate sense of morality is correct. We  can't just kill ("assist in the transition of") people because we feel sorry for their situation or reason that they--or we as care givers--would be better off.
But take note, the baby boomer generation will be facing this reasoning test up close and personal
in the course of the next 20 to 30 years...and the 'adults' who will be helping to decide our 'time of transition' have been raised in a culture that has no problem doing away with inconvenient pregnancies; no problem manufacturing and killing embryos (babies, pre-born humans) to grow spare parts for someone else; and no problem 'selectively reducing' the 
body count of multiple child pregnancies to make the economics more manageable.
"We'd have to use a different word for that..."

What do you believe?

Prayer from Fasting - What's it Like?

I went cross-country skiing at my favorite state park yesterday--took a trail I've known for over 30 years.  I love this one long ridge of rolling hills and straightaways where you can really open up and ski hard.

Here's the thing about classic cross-country skiing technique. Once you hit a certain speed on a straightaway, it's no longer efficient to simply kick off from one foot to the other--you can't push off hard enough to match the speed, so your motion is wasted. So, to "shift gears" you start pulling through with both your poles in between kicks. That propels you even faster as you hit a ryhthm where both arms move forward to plant your poles in combination with alternating kicks of your ski's. 
It takes awhile to learn the technique, but when you're in the "zone" and everything's working together, there's a sublime sense that the whole is more than its parts.

What's this got to do with prayer and fasting?
Just this--when you start to hit that transitional speed on your ski's, you can simply settle into a nice rhythm right where you're at, without bothering to do more (no need to add the double poling).
You can even back off a little, so as to enjoy the kick-glide-kick without missing the need to go faster.
It's all good.
But skiing is more than covering ground for me. I get that sense that I can go a little harder, put in a little more, and...I know that sublime sense of the "zone" is on the other side.
I don't fast very often, but when I do, my sense of prayer and communication with God is heightened. There seems to be more to talk about, and a sense that I can more earnestly express myself.
I woke up around 1:30 a.m., as I usually do, a few nights ago and found myself praying for friends 
of ours who are struggling.
"Oh Lord, please help my friends. Please grant them comfort. Please bring them reassurance," I prayed over and over. 
Kick-glide-kick...kick-glide-kick...
But I really wanted to have an even more earnest conversation with God and do everything I could to cover them in prayer.
Start double-poling...or not?
 
What do you believe?

But is that an Orthodox View?

"orthodox" with a little "o" -- not meaning the "Greek Orthodox Church" as in the Christian denomination that is similar to Roman Catholicism.
I'm thinking more along the lines of a dictionary definition for orthodox:
"...conforming to what is generally or traditionally accepted as right or true; established and approved..."
Here's my theory...
I think there are tens of millions - perhaps hundreds of millions -  of people who would affiliate themselves with one of the world's major religions; without actually deciding to accept or conform to what has been established and approved as the central tenents or beliefs.
For example:
A self-defined "Christian" who says, "but I don't actually believe that Jesus is the Son of God, or that he actually came back to life after being crucified."  So...not orthodox in their beliefs.
Or a Mormon (LDS) who says, "but I don't actually believe the book of mormon supersedes the bible or that I can possibly become a god myself"   Then...not an orthodox LDS believer.
Or a Muslim who says, "but I don't actually believe in Sharia Law to restrict conversions to Christianity or that women should be recognized as half that of men..."  More likely considered a "Moderate Muslim,"  but not an orthodox believer.
Or a Buddhist who says, "sure, I like the self-discipline of our beliefs, but that doesn't mean I don't believe in God..."  Philosophically acceptable, but not an orthodox believer, either.

All of these positions are perfectly fine and pretty common for lots of very nice people--including numbers of my friends and family.
But I think they probably have more in common with each other as a separate, distinct group - they are the "secular" believers...secular meaning, "not subject to, or  bound by religious rule."
In fact, the non-orthodox believers often share a willingness to blur crisp lines of belief with self-defined alternatives, possibly to avoid the awkward confrontations of orthodoxy. Better to say, "I'd like to believe there is an alternative view...." than to say,   "I find it challenging, but I do believe that to be truly stated in our beliefs....'

Back in the third century, people, including the Gnostics, were pressing Christians to articulate their orthodoxy. Something called the Apostles Creed has survived since that time:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:

Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell.

The third day He arose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic [universal] church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.

What do you believe?

Part 4: The Global Spiritual Question

Continued from Part 3

Here's the fourth of four looks at,

"Is the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ sufficient?"

I'm one of the folks who answers, "yes."

My spiritual diversity accepts that Jesus' is the unique, supernatural incarnation of God among us. If he is who he said he is, then other religious expression is unnecessary - Jesus, through his life, death and resurrection is sufficient. My own relationship with God has a point of access (in the name of His Son, Jesus); validity (reconciliation of all that I've done that is sinful, through Jesus' atoning death on the cross), and a promise of an eternal relationship with God, even after my death (the promise of everlasting life, death defeated on the cross).

That is sufficient.

I continue to respect and appreciate the diversity of my other friend's beliefs - and they are many. But I do find myself wondering over the sufficiency of other belief systems.

If an eternal outcome depends on how good someone is in this life, or how well they live their life (merit, works)...then that process is ultimately insufficient - or at least fraught with risk and uncertainty. By what defined standard is someone worthy of keeping company with the Holy God of the universe? 

If a philosophy is only successful if all believers of it achieve a certain level of consistency and discipline at the same time -  then it is insufficient, or at least improbable, as history proves.

Even believers in the 'tenets' of Christianity - if self-separated from the divinity of Christ - are ultimately defining their own, customized religion, perhaps sufficient for a party of one or two, but easily trumped by the next version, and therefore - insufficient.

Is the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ sufficient?

What do you believe?

 

Part 3: The Global Spiritual Question

 Continued from Part 2

Next, when asking the conversation starter, "Do you believe that the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is sufficient?"

Some candidly open people answer, "I'm not sure..."

"I'm not sure whether this simple belief and acceptance can, or will, actually bring about eternal resolution and residence with God."

My guess is that there are a whole lot more people in this camp than anyone realizes. In fact, I believe that many (millions...perhaps tens of millions) of people who have declared themselves for another monotheistic (Judaism, Islam) or polytheistic (Hindu) religion, or philosophy (Buddhism, atheism), actually fall into the "I'm not sure" category. 

These folks truly wonder whether - and even hope that - the claims of Christianity are true:

 Forgiveness for past wrongs; prayer access to God, eternal life in God's presence...if I could only be sure...

And once again, I believe that many (millions, perhaps tens of millions) of self-proclaimed Christians wonder the same thing.

Can the free gift of God's Grace be that easy - is belief in Jesus truly sufficient?

If you asked the question and started the conversation, the next questions include,

"Why not?" and "What if it were true?" and "If it's most definitely not true--how would you lead your life differently?" 

In Part 4, I'll blog briefly on the "Yes's"

What do you believe?

Part 2: The Global Spiritual Question

Continued from Part 1

As a global spiritual conversation starter, I posed the question:

"Do you believe that the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is sufficient?"

Sufficient, meaning sufficient for eternal reconciliation and resolution of the believing person.

There are three conversational answers: No, Yes, and I'm not sure.

Many will answer,

"No, I don't believe that Jesus is sufficient."

People who have already thought this through to a confident conclusion of "no, I don't," either have an alternate spiritual solution, or believe in no spiritual solution.

So, for example,

I have friends who are believers of Islam, Jain, Buddhism and Judaism who love me dearly, but are quite sure that Jesus is not sufficient. Most notably they don't believe in his deity and therefore he alone is not sufficient for any eternal purposes. He is, in fact, insufficient to their way of thinking, since what a person does and how they live is also important to their eternal equation.

That's exactly what you might expect from some globally known religions.

But some of my self-professed Christian friends also squirm a little at the sufficient-question. They too have yet to reconcile whether belief in Jesus' (and his atoning sacrifice on the cross) is truly free of any conditions...truly sufficient. Truly a free gift of Grace. They've even said to me, "well, I hope I'll spend eternity with God in heaven, but I guess we can't know for sure until we die."

So...they're not really sure if Jesus' life, death and resurrection are sufficient. And, they're not all that different in that manner from my friends of other global spiritual backgrounds.

Of course, a confidently believing atheist believes that none of the worlds' spiritual beliefs are consequential in anything other than a social or political context; therefore Jesus is clearly insufficient for any supernatural purpose.

In Part 3, I'll look at the "I'm not sure's"

What do you believe?