A Telling Way to Tell the Good News

S - “While Paul was waiting in Athens, he was upset to see all the idols in the city.  He went to the synagogue to speak to the Jews and to anyone else who gave homage to God.  Day after day he also spoke to everyone he met in the market.  Some of them were Epicureans and some were Stoics, and they started arguing with him. People were asking, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Some even said, “Paul must be speaking about foreign gods!  That’s what he means when he talks about Jesus and the resurrection.” Acts 17 TS

O -  Before this story concludes Paul will be asked to speak to a gathering called the Areopagus and his address is recorded later in this same account. When compared to how people today are “trained” to present heaven’s intent and invitation there are some striking differences and omissions. Paul will not speak of his initial personal encounter with Jesus. He will not mention sin, going to heaven or hell or quote scripture. He will not rail against the myriad of altars which so deeply upset him. He will not assert the Deity of Jesus nor his identity as God's son. His focus will be on the resurrection of Jesus not his crucifixion. He will quote some Greek poets and affirm that we are all God’s children. He will acknowledge a final judgment but make no judgments against any person. He will affirm that God Almighty cannot only be known personally by humans but that God actually wants to be known personally. All of this is made both possible and believable in a person — the person of Jesus whom God raised from the dead. No appeal is made to join a religion or attend a different meeting. Perhaps we need to change our thinking about our focus and method in telling the good news.

A -  Yes, we should seriously embrace a change in thinking and in aliening our thoughts, words and focus! In fact, most of the differences noted above are clearly seen in the presentations made in all the stories recorded in Acts. As I have been engaging this rethinking the result has been striking in me and in many of those I am privileged to talk with. This is happening in my travels (last year in 13 counties, numerous US locations and 200,000+ air miles) with many amazing encounters where God is made known in and through Jesus raised from the dead.

P - Lord God,

Thank you for loving, wanting and working in the whole world. Since you sent Jesus to clarify your person and purpose it is amazing what happens when he is lifted up. Unlike the Jesus of religion, he is immediately relevant to all people. He really does make it all possible and believable. Am so glad to be known by you and to know you.

All my love,

Steve

Quality of Life Issues

S - “Many say, “Who will show us any good?” Yahweh, let the light of your face shine on us. You have put gladness in my heart, more than when their grain and their new wine are increased. In peace I will both lay myself down and sleep, for you, Yahweh alone, make me live in safety.” Psalms 4:6-8 WEB

O - These words written by David are not only inspired by God's spirit but also by his own experience. The interaction described is intimate. The surrounding circumstances are average, earthly and even mundane.  The results are extraordinary. The face to face with God. Deep and peaceful sleep. Gladness of heart and safety. All of these "to die for" results have only one source. "Yahweh alone". Fortunes, armies, religious practice and abundant harvests can't produce or sustain this quality of living.

A - Military, financial, religious, educational and governmental institutions at their best do not produce or sustain such living and at their worst they oppose it. History confirms this with relentless uniformity and unflickering consistency. The point isn't to destroy these cultural realities but to see them for what they are and what they are not; to keep them from opposing the quality of life heaven intends for all. The pursuit of life, liberty and happiness should be open to all and the many paths people think to engage in such pursuit. The finding, however, is in one source alone which transcends them all. “The God who made the world and all things in it, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands, neither is he served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself gives to all life and breath, and all things. He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined appointed seasons, and the boundaries of their dwellings, that they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.” Acts 17:24-27 WEB

P - Lord,

You alone are good and have shown great good to earth and its inhabitants. You have filled the earth with your loving kindness but we have filled it with much cruelty and heartache. Thank you for wanting into our lives at the most basic levels unto safety, sleep and glad hearts. I welcome you and your will on earth the way they do in heaven; completely and without reserve … unto that which is too wonderful for me.

You are life, peace and safety,

Steve

Activities Worth Doing

S - "King Agrippa, one day I was on my way to Damascus with the authority and permission of the chief priests. About noon I saw a light brighter than the sun. It flashed from heaven on me and on everyone traveling with me. We all fell to the ground. Then I heard a voice say to me in Aramaic, “Saul, Saul, why are you so cruel to me? It's foolish to kick against the spurs! “Who are you?” I asked. Then the Lord answered, “I am Jesus! I am the one you are so cruel to. Now stand up. I have appeared to you, because I have chosen you to be my servant. You are to tell others what you have experienced and what I will show you later." The Lord also said, “I will protect you from the Jews and from the Gentiles that I am sending you to. I want you to open their eyes, so they will turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. They will receive freedom from sins and share the blessings of those who are being changed by relying on me.” Acts 26 TS

O -  The telling, the opening of blind eyes and the turning from Satan to God are NOT activities heaven needs us to do. Heaven is very capable of doing this without any human assistance (as demonstrated by the events on the road to Damascus). These are activities that humans are invited to do with God — the God who, according to Jesus, is always at work and always working everything for good. He has no trouble getting done whatever he wishes all on his own (cf. Acts 17:24-25). Heaven is the major player and is not restricted by having to engage humans to fulfill its intensions. Humans are invited to work with him not for him. It is work he’s already doing. Not only so, these activities CANNOT be done without direct participation by God. The point is working together with him not getting some goal accomplished for him.  It is a cooperation of heaven and earth; a cooperation which results in freedom, blessing and transformation by relying on him.

A - It is such a beautiful and pleasant reality … we don't shoulder the weight of the world nor the burden of the souls of others.  He shoulders all of this and invites us/me to work with him in that which he is already doing.  With all the things that heaven intends to be done on earth there is only one thing the Lord is relying on us for.  He's relying on us to rely on him for everything.  This is the narrow door. It is how Jesus lived each day on earth (John 5:19; Philippians 2:5-11) and how he wants us to live each day too. The point of the invitation to engage heaven's activities isn't us getting something done.  It is being together with him in the work he is already doing. 

P - Lord of Heaven and of Earth,

I am so grateful to be with in and involved in a gentle yoke and light burden. I want to learn the ways of working with you not for you; living in you not to you.  I accept the assignment to rely on you for everything … unto the freedom, blessing and ongoing transformation you intend.

I will live and pray in Jesus and his name,

Steve

Happy New Year! - 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 year, 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 among the reasons why 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 Year, 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 refused to change your mind.  I love you back! Yes, to you and to your new!

Steve  

And in Conclusion…

S - "Peter then said: Now I am certain that God treats all people alike. God is pleased with everyone who responds to him and does right, no matter what nation they come from. This is the same message that God gave to the people of Israel, when he sent Jesus Christ, the Lord of all, to offer peace to them. … Jesus was put to death on a cross. But three days later, God raised him to life and let him be seen. Not everyone saw him. He was seen only by us, who ate and drank with him after he was raised from death. We were the ones God chose to be witnesses. God told us to announce clearly to the people that Jesus is the one he has chosen to judge the living and the dead. Every one of the prophets has said that all who have faith in Jesus will have their sins forgiven in his name." Acts 10 TS

O - It took a very direct intervention from heaven for Peter to come to the conclusion that all of earth's religions, ethnic cultures and social cliques DO NOT want people to accept. The conclusion? Certainty that God treats ALL people the same - no favorites.   He treats them all alike … no matter where they come from.  This is how Jesus lived and taught; how and why he died and was raised from the dead.  He is heaven's good news for all people everywhere.  Not just for Christian people or politically correct people or any of the other categories created by  people to judge, reject and/or even hate others. Jesus is the living proof of this beautiful and unflinching reality: "God treats all people alike."

A - In my life experience, the religion, politics, cultural segments and ethnic alliances around me were willing to accept the idea of “equal treatment by God for all people” as long as the people joined their group and accepted their ideologies. This not the conclusion heaven sent by Jesus nor the one Peter received and embraced. Membership in a subgroup is not required for acceptance or equal treatment. A person may be a part of a group or join one if they wish but at some point, will have to choose between approval from the group or approval from heaven. Perhaps this sheds some context on the words of Jesus in Luke 14: “You cannot be my follower, unless you hate your father and mother, your wife and children, and your brothers and sisters. You cannot follow me unless you hate your own life.” I am gratefully choosing Jesus and his conclusions.

P - Lord of all and Lord of me,

Thank you for coming to earth to clarify the person and purposes of God. I admit and accept your conclusion to accept me, and all others, regardless of where we come from. You were amazing in the first century and are just as amazing today. Thank you for loving us and for refusing to change your mind.

I love you back and will follow,

Steve