The Peak of Productivity

S - "Stay joined to me, and I will stay joined to you. Just as a branch cannot produce fruit unless it stays joined to the vine, you cannot produce fruit unless you stay joined to me. I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me. If you don't stay joined to me, you will be thrown away. You will be like dry branches that are gathered up and burned in a fire. Stay joined to me and let my teachings become part of you. Then you can ask for whatever you want, and it will be done for you." John 15 TS

O - The world (secular and religious) tends to be focused on productivity (fruitfulness) and dedicating all one's effort and energies to that end. Jesus says, please don't do it! Instead, focus your energies on intentionally staying connected to me … and you won't be able to miss. The fruitfulness Jesus is referencing is not limited in scope or category. It is not reserved exclusively to internal, spiritual dynamics. While such will be a part of  every productive outcome his followers engage, he clearly says "ask for whatever you want." A productivity without him ends in fire and futility. Connected to him the possibilities are limitless.

A - My religious/theological training taught me to see these words of Jesus as only related to matters pertaining to the same. While he said ask anything he only "meant" that in that limited context. Jesus is leading and teaching me something very different. His life and the lives of his followers demonstrated something unrestrained in application. Not just inner peace, prayer and teaching but wine for weddings, fishing excursions and paying taxes are included. I am accepting both the person and teaching of Jesus … unto the fruitfulness heaven already has in mind … exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask or imagine (Matthew 17:20; Ephesians 3:20).

P - Lord of heaven and earth,

I want and need to stay joined to you and for YOUR coaching, instruction to become a part of me … into transformed thinking, living and loving. I admit that the choice of where to focus my energies is mine. I also admit that in choosing as you say it will be impossible for me to sustain without direct and ongoing help from your Spirit. I choose you and rely on your help unto all you already have in mind.

Committed to you and to asking anything,

Steve

'Years Later' Living

S - "Years later, in the desert of Judea, John the Baptist started telling the people: “Change your thinking! The kingdom of heaven has come near.”  John was the one the prophet Isaiah was talking about, when he said, “In the desert someone is shouting, ‘Get the road ready for the Lord! Make a straight path for him.’” Matthew 3 TS

O - "Years later" is a striking phrase. There was the flurry of activity when John and Jesus were born, a brief glimpse into Jesus' childhood at twelve and then another eighteen years until John and Jesus fully engage their assignments on earth. Clearly the "straight path" that makes "ready for the Lord" is not an efficient one. There appears to be an awful lot of downtime in the lives of both men. Both would die prematurely from unjust death sentences. Both would actually spend a small portion of their short lives in the essential activities their assignments required (roughly one tenth). Why would this be? It seems that the answer lies in the relational nature of God and his kingdom. Earth places its emphasis on performance and output. Heaven, and the kingdom that is near, is focused on being and relationship. This really does require the change in thinking both of them herald.

A - I am certainly living in the 'years later' category. Looking back, I find that the greatest difficulties and satisfactions have come in relationships and being in/with Jesus. He would rather have me near than busy; loving more than being right; compassionate more than efficient; and then working with him and never for him. Neither John nor Jesus did everything they could possibly do. Both did everything they were asked to do. The straight path and ready way of the Lord is one of relational integrity not activity. According to Jesus the kingdom of God is relationships. His kingdom is not primarily efficient. It can't be because it is a kingdom of love and love is not primarily efficient. Even in the face of a major public failure Jesus has only one question to ask Peter and us all. It’s also the question to be asked at our greatest successes. It’s so important he'll ask it three times.  Do you love me? With Peter I say, yes Lord. You know everything. You know that I love you.

P - Lord who is love,

Thank you for coming to be God with us. Thank you for coming to clarify the person and purposes of God. Thank you for loving us first and most and for refusing to change your mind. I choose being over doing and relationship over production. Because of grace I'll come near, love, be compassionate and work with you not for you. I am convinced you are already working and will complete everything you intend to do. The joy is not in getting it done but in being together.

I love you back,

Steve

Road Trip

S - "I am the way, the truth, and the life!” Jesus answered. “Without me, no one can go to the Father." John 14 TS

O - It's crystal clear in the mind of Jesus.  There is only one way to the Father and he alone is the way.  The reality which religion misses and misrepresents is this: the way to Jesus.  There is only one way to the Father but there are currently 7.4 billion ways to Jesus.  Religion wants people to think that it is the only way to Jesus.  Both Jesus and the Scriptures dispute this openly and consistently.  It is true that "all roads" do not lead to Jesus.  It is equally true that Jesus is working all the roads.  The way to the Father is not found in a religion, method, formula, worldview or predetermined circumstance.  It is found exclusively in a person. 

A - One of the greatest misconceptions in first century Judaism was that the Christ was only for the them in their tradition laden way. When Jesus arrives to clarify the person and purposes of God they refuse and reject him. The Jesus God sent is for the whole world (John 3:16) and with his Father is working in the whole world. "I am the shepherd, the good one. I know my sheep, and they know me. Just as the Father knows me, I know the Father, and I lay down my life for my sheep. I have other sheep that are not in this sheep pen. I must also bring them together, when they hear my voice (John 10)."  This is the work he is doing and it is so wonderful to be with him in this work.  It is so beautiful to believe Jesus about Jesus and not someone else's take on Jesus. His invitation remains the same to the entire world - no religion, politics or social status allowed … follow me (i.e. my person).  I will follow.

P - Jesus sent by the Father,

Thank you for working all the roads. For your sheep from different pens all responding to your person.  Thank you for wanting us all and doing all that can be done to bring it to pass.  You lead and I'll follow.

Glad to be one of your sheep,

Steve

Understanding?

S - “And Jesus said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything that is written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and would rise from the dead on the third day, and a change of thinking and the freedom from sins would be announced in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” ‭‭Luke‬ TS

O - Understanding the scriptures still requires a direct interface with the person of the resurrected Jesus.  Up to this time the followers had read, believed and talked about the scriptures.  The problem was that they did not understand them as they were intended.  The key to such an understanding is not found in a better theological framework, linguistic study nor a more accurate historical perspective.  It is found in a dynamic relationship with the one about whom the scriptures are written.  According to Jesus, the primary purpose of scripture is to testify about himself so that the reader/hearer would come to him for vibrant, irrepressible life (e.g. John 5:39-40). The result of this relational exchange will be an ongoing change in how one thinks about everything and freedom from sins. 

A - Jesus was not asking his followers to keep an open mind so they would discover a better understanding of the scriptures. An open mind is certainly a good thing but will not, of itself, produce the needed understanding.  Education is a good thing, but it won't do the trick either.  I need my mind opened by Jesus. I not only accept this, I'm admitting it and welcoming it day by day. When I read the scriptures, I acknowledge their purpose -- to encourage me to come near and stay near Jesus unto transformed thinking, understanding and the life that is really life. 

P -  Lord of all and Lord of me,

Thank you for wanting in to all of my living, thinking and being.  I want and need you in.  I admit that you must enable me or I'll miss you and the point completely.  I accept the need for ongoing transformation in my thinking and for freedom from sins.  I make myself entirely available to you and say - you lead, I'll follow … unto all you already have in mind to do. I do love you back!

Steve

No One and Everything

S - "Jesus then told them these sayings: No one uses a new piece of cloth to patch old clothes. The patch would shrink and make the hole even bigger. No one pours new wine into old wineskins. The new wine would swell and burst the old skins. Then the wine would be lost, and the skins would be ruined. New wine must be put only into new wineskins. No one wants new wine after drinking old wine. They say, “The old wine is better.” Luke 5

O - These sayings are told in response to a challenge given to Jesus about the religious practices of his followers.  In his reply three "no one" statements are made.  Of course, no one would patch an old coat that way.  Of course, no one puts new wine into old wineskins.  And no one who drinks the old wine wants the new.  Yet, the "old wine" drinkers of culture (religious and nonreligious) often attempt to do just that.  Jesus is not heaven's "patch" for the old coat nor is he old wine for old wineskins and those who drink it.  He is the new coat, the new wine and he is perpetually incompatible with the old.  

A - The passing of time is the factor in a new coat and in new wine becoming old.  Comfort, familiarity and taste are the lawful results of the old.  And this really is the "no one" problem for all who follow Jesus.  Over time I learn to live a cadence that becomes comfortable, familiar and tasty to me. Yet, from time to time I'm offered a new coat and new wine by Jesus. The question is what will I do with them when offered?  This is one of the reasons Jesus requires his followers to give up everything … even the old coat he gave me and the old wine he's been sharing with me along the way.  “In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my followers.” I will welcome the new coat and the new wine and give up the old … unto the life that is really life! 

P - Friend of sinners and therefore friend of me,

I accept the terms of following … everything!  I accept the without exception reality you describe … no one! Am so very grateful for your provision of "coats", "wineskins" and "wine" day by day in my decades of following. I will accept the new any and every time you offer.  I do admit that I often like the old taste and old feel better than the new.  Nevertheless, you lead and I follow.  I am glad to be with you regardless of attire or taste.  You are vibrant, irrepressible life. You have loved us first, most and refuse to change your mind.  I love you back! Yes, to you and to your new!

Steve