G'bye for Now

Alas, Feetcleaners, all 2 or 3 of you, my blogging energy has moved to a portion of my job. You may find my comments along with Angela Beise's (who ROCKS by the way) and a few other guest writers at the link below.

http://blog.lacroixchurch.org/blog/

Wisdom II

The first two chapters of Proverbs are really quite incredible. Pure wisdom, pure sense. I only wish those who race toward foolishness could really hear it. I only wish I could live it in deeper ways. "God is a shield for those who walk with integrity." When we walk in duplicity, selfishness and deceit, we drop our shield and become vulnerable to that strange woman - foolishness. We become a wide open target to evil.

Lord, help me to walk with integrity by walking with you.

Easter

Lillies
Eggs
Bonnets
Is this the best we have?

Death is defeated. The victory is won!
Fear is cast out. Christ has risen!
It's more than the end of a season.
Our freedom goes beyond our Lenten diet.
Awake, my soul, to the Truth of Monday - everything is different.
My Redeemer lives!

Wisdom

To help me through the book of Numbers, I have decided to read a chapter of Proverbs along with my normal reading. Good call Robert!

Proverbs 1 rocks. It has solidified my understanding that the primary way in which God deals with our disobedience and foolishness is to first call us out on it, asking us to turn away from it and back to Him. But if we refuse to listen, he doesn't zap us or grind us into the dirt; he simply let's us have our way and reap what we sow.

"Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them..."

It is not God who causes their calamity, but their own way, devices, complacency and turning away. This of course is not to say that all of our difficulties or troubles are caused directly by our own sin. Sin has corrupted and broken the good world that God created. Just as the tower that fell on some men in front of Jesus and the disciples was not the result of something they did, things that happen to us are not always the result of something we have done. But, certainly, our disobedience and folly have consequences.

Remembering Melaina

I was asked to do the memorial service for a beautiful 3 year old girl named Melaina Cunningham. Melaina died due to complications with a congenital disease called Nemaline Myopathy. Working with the parents over the past week has reminded me of how nothing is more difficult than the death of one's child.

In Romans 8, Paul says that our current sufferings cannot come close to comparing to our hope and future glory in Christ Jesus. I appreciate this so much for a couple of reasons. First, Paul doesn't say we shouldn't be sad, or grieve, or be frustrated, angry, or even ask tough questions; instead he says these are realities, but realities that do not compare to what is coming. In other words, this hope and future glory does not eliminate our suffering, but prevents our despair.

"Church-folk" need to remember this when interacting with those who are hurting. Platitudes about streets of gold spoken as if this should alleviate the burden of a lost child are not helpful. We are to bear one another's burdens, not try to make them okay with pithy sayings.

Melaina was special; her absence is dreadful. We patiently wait in hope for the redemption of our bodies and our adoption as sons and daughters. Meanwhile, we groan...and the Spirit helps us.

Leviticus

Okay, I'm in the dreaded book of Leviticus. Here's what I get from the first 6 or so chapters. Sin is a real problem, and dealing with it involves death and stench and blood. I don't think we have a really good grasp of the cosmic, communal, and spiritual impact of sin. Just like our faith is personal, but not private, so our sin may be personal but not private.

Perhaps that's where the power of confession rests. I've heard we are wounded in community and therefore are healed in community; perhaps it's just as true that we sin in community so we need repentance and mercy to occur in community. Even if we sin in secret, we are part of communities and these communities are impacted by our sin though we may not recognize it.

A little refurbished poem of mine that's been on my mind

Beloved’s Oasis

Reflect on this pool of love-
unconditional
unsolicited
unending

Trust these waters are safe-
unpolluted
unencumbering
uncompromised

This love is deep, so dive in-
unabashedly
unafraid
unashamed

Rest in the calm, gentle coolness -
unhurried
uninterrupted
understood

A Visit

Age-stained hands
Wobbly legs
I wish you could walk with me
Oh Gray Whisp

Imprisoned mind
Frightened eyes
I wish you could understand me
Oh Gray Whisp

Quivering lips
Tangled tongue
I wish you could talk with me
Oh Gray Whisp

Shining light
Breath of Life
Jesus comes to set you free
Oh Gray Whisp

My Sabbath For Others

Still wandering in the desert with the Israelites via the Book of Exodus. One thing that caught my eye was in chapter 23.

"For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops, but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what they leave. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove. Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest and the slave born in your household, and the alien as well, may be refreshed."

This is not the original institution of Sabbath, but it sheds some different light on the purpose of rest. It takes into consideration that when I'm in "go mode," there are ripples that go out to those around me creating their own "go response." When I rest, others (and even creation) are given space to rest as well.

So my Sabbath is, in one sense, for others as well as for myself. If I refuse to find a time of rest, I am refusing rest for others as well. What others? The impact is greatest for those closest to me - at home, at work, etc. It lessens as relationships move outward. If on my established day off I am called by work with a matter that keeps me from rest, the caller has not just robbed me, but my family and my friends.

Sabbath is never urgent, so if life is constantly lived by urgency - there will be no rest; for me or those around me.

Listening, Obedience and Our Agendas

My small group is studying John's Gospel, and we are nearing the end. As Judas and the soldiers come for Jesus, there is an interesting exchange. Jesus asks them, "Who have you come for?" They reply, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus says, "I am he," and the men all back up and fall down.

Later, when they begin to move toward Jesus, Peter draws his sword and cuts off the ear of one of the guards. Jesus, mending the man's ear, tells Peter to put away his sword for "shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?" Not long after this exchange, Peter - who seemed so ready to take on the soldiers in a fight - denies even knowing Jesus three times; once to a little girl.

Two things are happening here. First, Peter's agenda FOR Jesus has not gone away. Earlier when Jesus had spoken about being shamed and killed Peter had told him that this could not be for the anointed one. Jesus had responded, "Get behind me Satan. You have the things of the world on your mind and not the things of heaven." Peter's agenda for Jesus was to WIN; win as he (Peter) could fathom winning. Peter, bolstered by the sight of the soldiers falling backward at Jesus' mere words, is ready to bring about this agenda with the sword. Second, once Peter understands that winning looks a lot like losing - being shamed and killed - he really isn't up for Jesus' agenda. And so...he denies it.

I find this is so applicable to life. Even after a long journey with Christ, I am so ready to draw my sword at the first sight of MY agenda not being fulfilled. In other words, I am so ready to try to resume control when circumstances make it clear that God may not be on my agenda FOR Him. Where are you drawing the sword of control?

A Spiritual Look at Napoleon Dynamite

I know, the movie is old, so I"m irrelevant. Oh well. Here is pretty much the sum total...La Fonda is the Holy Spirit.

Testing or Teasing

As a parent, there are times I've put obstacles in the way of my kids, or put them into difficult situations in order for them to learn how to overcome; or perhaps to teach them that they can trust me. A simple example is lifting one of them out of the pool where they were comfortably bobbing up and down, and putting them on the side of the pool only to say "jump to me."

Now, I suppose to some people this could be construed as "teasing" a kid, but I think it is testing. There are subtle differences and not so subtle differences. Most notably, teasing is an attempt to tear another down, while testing is an attempt to help the other person grow and be strengthened.

In Exodus 17, the Israelites move on to a place called Rephidim "according to the commandment of the Lord." The next line tells us, "but there was no water for the people to drink." Isn't that interesting that God would lead his people to a place where there is no water and they began to thirst. He lifted them right up out of the pool so they might jump to him.

Of course HE'S there for them with water in order to increase their trust in him. This reminds me of when Jesus commands the disciples to get in the boat late in the evening and cross to the other side of the lake, only to have the boat and his disciples end up in a massive struggle against wind and waves.

For those who think that if we are struggling, we must somehow be outside the will of God, I would think again.

What Is It?

In my reading, I've followed the Israelites into the wilderness; and the grumbling has begun. I just read the account of the manna - bread from heaven. Two things struck me about this episode.

First, the Israelites got what they were looking for...food. But it didn't look anything like what they expected. So much so that they called it "manna" which means "what is it." Second, many of them weren't happy with the amount they were given, even though it was always enough. Whether it was the first recorded leftover, or hunting around for more "what is it" on a day of rest, hoarding of one kind or another had set in.

So I'm wondering, where are we receiving blessings from God that are sufficient for our needs, but we don't recognize it, or we are trying to hoard it?

God's Timing and All That

So we find Moses back in Egypt, telling Pharaoh to let the Israelite people go. Instead, Pharaoh makes their job even harder, and the people then complain to Moses. Moses does the natural thing in this small corporation...he passes the buck and runs the complaint up the line.

Then Moses turned to the Lord and said, "O, Lord, why have you done evil to the people? Why did you ever send me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all."

God probably chose Moses for this task in part because of his boldness; I mean, come on, "why have you done evil to the peope?" and "you have not delivered your people at all." This won't be the last time Moses says what's on his mind to God.

Interestingly, it is the Israelite's impatience, lack of faith and grumbling that will drive Moses bonkers in the desert. Perhaps this is like when parents say, "I hope you have a child who does these same things to you!"

Where in your life have you been saying to God, "And you haven't ________________ at all?"

Joy Complete

I watched a sunset with my best friend
rode the lift for the last run in the Rockies
sailed above the desert in a hot air balloon

I made the last shot to beat our rival
was embraced and kissed by the cheerleaders' captain
mobbed and lifted up by screaming fans

I gazed into the eyes of my life's love and said "I do"
held my son for the first time and gave him his name
bestowed the most honest blessing on my daughter at her confirmation

I was given a potted bulb, trampled and dry
provided water, nutrients and support as she began to grow
watched her blossom into beauty, victory, love...

That Sneaky Little Moses

Back from too long away...been a busy few weeks.

I've made my way to Exodus and came across this little tidbit about Moses, in the Egyptian poser part of his life. He comes across an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, and then we read -

"He (Moses) looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand."

I"m not a rocket scientist, but if you have to "look this way and that" before you do something, and then you have to hide what you did, it's a pretty good chance whatever it is you did isn't a really grand idea.

So this morning, Feeties, I'm thinking about my life and asking, "What are the things I do that require looking left and right before I do them?" God, give me grace and power to overcome the desire to do such things, and the attitudes that lead to those desires.

A Review of "For These Tough Times" by Max Lucado

I have high respect for Max Lucado, and I sincerely believe he is a very intelligent, accomplished writer. But I must be honest and say that I’ve found his Bible Study books to come off as a sort of "Bible According to Max." I’ve also been left wanting from several of his devotional books which seemed to me to be hastily thrown together or overly pithy.

This devotional is the best of Lucado’s work that I’ve read. The first several chapters and the final two are quite good; inspiring and personal without sappiness. However, the fourth chapter, entitled “Good Triumphant” is highly troublesome (particularly for an Arminian!) Lucado tells us that Satan is an instrument in God’s hand, and that all the evil done to us by Satan is simply God doing it to us by this particular tool. So, my dear friend who was sexually abused by her father when she was 10 gets to know that God was quite involved in all of it. Sorry…not the character of God I see.

Lucado is trying to tell us that God works good IN everything when Romans says he works good OUT of everything. Satan is his own tool, but his authority and the pain/suffering he inflicts never goes beyond what God can redeem. Max, buddy, there really is a difference between “cause” and “allow,” but you are using the terms synonymously!

For that reason, I cannot recommend this book to those for whom it is written – those who are dealing with “unspeakable tragedies.”

The One Thing

Went to church last night and in the sermon, the preacher quoted an old hymn that speaks to putting Jesus as the priority of life:

"His glorious light shines brightest when the light of self is dim."

This reminds me of John the Baptist saying "He must increase, I must decrease."

Happy New Year, footies - that's your nickname if you read this blog, I'm sorry to say.