Reliable Living

S - "You, Lord, are my shepherd. I have all that I need. You let me rest in fields of green grass. You lead me to streams of peaceful water, and you refresh my life. You are true to your name, and you lead me along the right paths." Psalm 23

O - The shepherd is always in the lead — never the sheep. The sheep rely completely on the shepherd for everything. He is the source for all needs and desires. These words of Psalm 23 are more than an idyllic description. They are both a confession and a commitment for living life one day, one circumstance at a time. 

A - In the world of sheep and shepherds the roles are permanent. Sheep never lead and never rely on themselves. Never! My problem is trying to "help" the shepherd with my living, resting and thinking. Over the years it’s become increasingly apparent to me that he never requires my help and frankly really doesn’t want it. He wants my cooperation in following and relying on him. The result isn’t a life without any storms or wolves. It is a life refreshed, rested and at ease. 

P - Lord,

You are, and will be, my shepherd — THANK YOU! You lead and I’ll follow. Since you are fiercely loyal to me I will be fiercely loyal to you and demonstrate my loyalty by relying on you for everything. Thank you for loving us first, most and for refusing to change your mind (even when we give you reasons to). I love you back.

Baaaa,

Steve

Surprise! Please Don’t Miss the Point

S - "Everyone was completely surprised and kept saying to each other, “What is this? It must be some new kind of powerful teaching! Even the evil spirits obey him.” News about Jesus quickly spread all over Galilee." Mark 1 TS

O - Jesus pretty much surprised everyone all the time. The problem wasn’t in folks missing the surprise. It was, and is, in missing the point. The point is not about a unique teaching but a unique person. He is the point. In fact, Jesus is heaven’s only point. The record is clear, people don’t miss the surprise but are clearly at risk to miss the point. 

A - None were surprised more often by Jesus than those closest to him. For them it never stopped. Surprised by what he’d do and by what he wouldn’t do. Who he’d keep company with and who he wouldn’t. Surprised by storms and by visitors; by his use of miraculous power and by his refusal to use it. This remains the experience of all who respond to his invitation to follow. Earth (secular and religious) wants a policy, a standard, a principle, a plan or a formula. Heaven is offering a person and he’s the only constant in it all. He’s not only the only point; he’s the only point worth not missing. 

P - God who thankfully doesn’t think like me,

I am so very grateful for the simple and clear point you offer to all people — Jesus of Nazareth. Your understanding and power have no limit. Yet, there is only one point you need to make and want to make. I admit that the surprise of the strikingly beautiful and the stridently difficult have found me many times and Jesus remains the intimate, constant and confident resolution; and the revelation of it all. Thank you for loving us relentlessly in this wonderful person and way.

Love you back,

Steve

What’s Your Living Arrangement?

S - "And this is his [God’s] command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us." 1 John 3:23-24 NIV

O - The religions of earth have numerous and tedious commands/instructions which they claim are required by God. They claim that Divine acceptance and approval is dependent upon one’s performance of such. The Kingdom of heaven (here and hereafter) is very different. It requires a simple and straightforward response. It is not performance based. Its major focus is not informational but relational. Believing in the name of Jesus is not informational agreement about an identity but intentional reliance on and confidence in his person. This is coupled to the activity of loving others and completes the “list” of requirements; which is actually a description of relational living. The result is living in him and he living in us. The confirmation of this living arrangement is the presence of his spirit, not the performance of religious activities.

A - Jesus comes to invite all people to follow him and in the following to have eternal life (irrepressible and vibrant) here and hereafter. He himself is this life. His invitation is to a specific living arrangement. He lives in us and we live in him. He is heaven’s message to the world (7.7 billion people) and heaven’s only point. He not very concerned about informational accuracy but rather relational authenticity: Rely on me and love all others. He is always simple but not always easy. All of this is possible notthrough theological precepts but personal presence … his spirit in us and we in him. LIFE! 

P - God over all and God of me,

I accept and embrace the only arrangement of real life here and hereafter. Am gratefully relying on and putting my confidence in your gift - Jesus! Thank you for wanting to live in me/us and for wanting us/me to live in you. Yes to Jesus. Yes to loving all others. Yes to your spirit.

Loving you back,

Steve